Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“Ready for media day?” Marnie asks Cressida as she leaves her apartment to head to the rink. She left once already with Lula to walk her, but now she is leaving for work.

“As I’ll ever be,” She says with a harsh laugh. She’s nervous and also excited; it's a mixed media of emotions, and she’s not sure she can identify them all. 

“Good luck today,” Sadie calls over her wife’s shoulder. 

“Thank you,” Cressida responds as she heads out the door. Sadie and Marnie are technically her landlords, but she’s leased the lower floor of their house for so long that they are more like friends than anything else. 

Cressida walks into the rink through the players' entrance with nerves running through her. She knows at least some of what to expect, after all, she’s had media days before, but this one is different. First of all, it's a pro team, not a college team, and second of all, she knows far less people. At least she thinks she does until she sees Ione walking in.

“Oh, Hey, Kallio. How have you been?” She asks as she quickens her pace to catch up with the one person she knows. Her words come out strained, and she feels awkward approaching her ex-girlfriend. It's not like they got into some big fight; they were just two kids going to different colleges states away, and so they broke up. 

“Shit, Mizzy, what have you been up to?” Ione asks her. 

“Hockey,” I tell her, laughing.

“Can’t believe we’re on the same team again.” Ione laughs as they go into the locker room. Cressida changes into her goalie gear and heads out to the first media station, and she can’t believe what she sees, or more accurately, who it’s him, Roy.

He went to college with her, and while the two of them never really talked, she always thought he was cute. Unfortunately, she was always too focused on hockey to worry about relationships and never made a move.

“Roy, right?” She asks him, flipping up her goalie mask to make sure he can see her face, hoping he recognizes her.

“Yeah.” Roy says before turning around, and his eyes go wide with recognition as he asks, “Hi, Cressida, right?”

“Yeah,” She smiles at him before asking, “What are you doing here?”

“I’m the Social Media manager that’ll do your little things like interviews and funny bits,” Roy tells her. 

“So I’ll be seeing a lot of you then, will I?” She asks just the barest hint of a flirt in her tone. 

“You will indeed,” Roy tells her, and Cressida thinks she hears the hint of a flirtatious tone in his voice as well.

“Well then, what do you need me to do?” She asks him.  

“I got a list of games you’ll have to explain; we're just waiting for your buddy,” Roy tells her.

“Any idea who that is?” She asks him.

“That's for me to know and you to find out,” Roy teases her with a smirk. 

“You’re such an ass,” she says with no acid in her voice as she grins at him. She didn’t realise how much she missed talking to Roy until now, even if they never talked very much. 

Roy almost couldn’t believe his eyes when Cressida walked into his media station. He had seen her name on the roster and mentally prepared to see her, but no amount of thought exercises can compare to seeing her in person for the first time since the party after the Women's Hockey team had become champions for the first time in twelve years. She had almost kissed him that night, although he doubts she remembers it, given how much she drank that night, so he tries his best to keep it from his mind. 

They stand there for a few minutes waiting for Kyana, so they can start the various games and bits they will record to be played during halftimes and such. 

Roy knows it's also going to be odd seeing Kyana in a more professional setting, as they normally see each other at family dinners when Kyana comes with her girlfriend and his adopted sister, Dani. His assumption is thankfully proven incorrect when, just a few moments later, Kyana walks in.

“Smithy, what's up?” She asks as she comes in, using her nickname for him that they agreed she would only use in professional settings, so it would be easier to compartmentalise their personal and professional interactions. 

“Not much, just waiting for you, Hanson-Ward,” Roy tells her, using her last name as they agreed.

“Mizzrym right?” Kyana asks as she turns her focus to Cressida. 

“Yep,” Cressida confirms before telling her, “You can just call me Cressida, though.”

“In that case, you can just call me Kyana.” She tells Cressida.

Kyana and Cressida make a good pair as they play off each other's energies as they explain the various challenges and audience games.

“I think we’re going to have Fun together,” Kyana tells her once they leave Roy’s station and head over to get their photos taken.

“Why do you say that?” Cressida asks. 

“You have great vibes.” Kyana tells her, before adding, “and I think we’d get along well.” 

“I see,” Cressida says. 

Throughout the day, they talk, Kyana tells Cressida about how the Main goalie for the Boston Bruins, Finbar, is practically her big brother, to which Cressida definitely doesn’t squeal. Kyana also tells Cressida about her girlfriend Dani, and how, after not seeing each other for years after being on rival 13U teams, they ended up being roommates, and one thing led to another. Cressida tells Kyana about how she got into hockey and how much she looks up to the Main goalie for the Fleet, Aerin Frankel, both now and when she was younger.

The first few days of Training camp go by pretty quickly, and Cressida settles into a routine of taking Lula on a walk to tire her out before heading to practice, and all is going well until one day they’re having a quick session of interview-style questions, and she feels her phone Buzz in her inner pocket and decides not to worry about it. Then, only moments later, Roy asks her, “Who is the last person that texted you?” 

“Uhh, let me check,” Cressida says, reaching for her phone, hoping the anxiety she feels when she sees the number of her mom on her screen for the first time in five years isn’t readable as she lies, telling him, “My friend and landlord. She was asking me if I needed her to let Lula, my dog, out.”

Cressida makes an effort to quickly leave the room once Roy asks all his questions, not talking to anyone as she pulls her phone out again. 

*screenshot of the announcement that Cressida is on the Fleet*

Cress, just saw this, hopefully that means you’ll give your parents a cut finally. After all, they’ve announced how much they're paying you, so you can’t claim you’re broke anymore. Plus, your dad and I have really been looking forward to finally taking that vacation to Europe. Just give us $250,000, and we’ll call it even for all the years of hockey we paid for. Not to mention it would pay back for all the things we gave up for you. Love you, Mom 

Chapter Text

Roy remembered Cressida was a shit liar but he didn’t think it was that bad. Some part of him wants to follow her but he knows he can't. He has to stay here and ask the next player the same question. 

He makes it through the rest of the interviews quickly and after he’s done. He waits for Cressida outside the locker room, his arms crossed. 

“Cressida wait,” He says, reaching for her as she leaves. 

“What do you want, Roy?” she asks icily, bruising him off walking faster.

“I wanted to see what's wrong. You lied earlier, don’t tell me you didn’t, you have a shit poker-face. I just wanted to check on you,” He tells her, keeping pace with her, not letting her run away. As he speaks his voice sounds harsh to his own ears, as he adds. “Is that illegal now?”

“Why do you care?” Cressida scoffs as they enter the players parking garage. 

“Becuase I do, you seemed stressed about it, still do,” He says making an effort to calm his harsh tone. “I know we weren't really friends before but you can still talk to me if you need to.”

“Right and how do I know you won’t go running off to the nearest journalist once I’m done?” She asks him. 

“Do you really think I finally got the media job I’ve always wanted just to run to the press with the first information I get from a player?” He asks her sarcastically before adding, “If I wanted to get a headline I could have done it when I was a Cheerleader for the Bears.”

“Do you have any plans tonight?” She asks him with a sigh.

“No, why?” He asks.

“Give me Your phone I’m texting you an address. It's a long story and my dog needs a nice long walk in the park.

 “Oh?” Roy questions, before adding, “I presume you want me to join you and you’ll explain?”

“Yeah,” Cresida tells him before she gets into her car, closing the door before he can get another word in.

As she clips Lula’s leash to her harness Cressida wonders if she’s made an idiotic decision to invite Roy. She knows that even if she had explained what was wrong in the parking lot it would have just led to more questions that she wouldn’t want to answer in the parking lot of their place of work.  

Cressida sighs as she makes sure she has water for herself as well as Lula’s collapsible water bowl before heading out her door and walking to the park.

“Hey Cressida,” Roy says standing up from the bench he was sitting on as she approached. 

“Hi Roy, hope you weren’t  waiting too long. This one decided every tree needed to be sniffed on our way here. 

“Don’t worry about it,” Roy brushes off, before he carefully crouches putting his hand out palm up not meeting Lula’s eyes as he asks Cressida. “This must be your dog, what's her name?”

“This is Lula, don't be offended if she’s not too friendly, she's not a person dog.” Cressida tells him only to be proven wrong when Lula licks his face and instead she quickly apologizes telling him, “I’m sorry about her.”

“It's ok, I find most women have that reaction to me” Roy jokes with a cocky grin and even as Cressida's heart skips a beat she rolls her eyes at him and asks, “So you wanted to know why I lied earlier?”

“I want to support you. If that means you tell me why you lied, so be it.” Roy clarifies. 

“My mom texted me,” She tells him not quite meeting his eyes as they walk around the park Lula stopping occasionally so that she can sniff things. 

“Oh? I take it you don’t get along with her?” Roy asks.

“No, no I do not. Once I was 18 she made it clear that she didn’t accept that I was bi, and expected to be paid back for, ‘The time and money invested into hockey for you.’ Safe to say we don’t talk and getting a text from her was incredibly off putting.” Cressida explains. 

“I see. Why have me meet you here then? Why not explain earlier?” He asks before he hesitantly laughs and adds, “Not that I’m complaining or anything.”

“Becuase I know you have more questions. Everyone always does,” she sighs. 

“Not if you don’t wanna answer them I don’t.” Roy promises her. 

“I don’t really care. I’ve answered them all a million times before.” Cressida sighs. 

“What do you mean she didn’t accept that you were Bi?” Roy asks. 

“Ione and I were going out and our parents found out and hers kicked her out. I offered to let her stay with me at my parents house and my mom told me ‘You will have no dalliances with that girl under my roof. You need to focus on Hockey.’.” Cressida tells him watching him cringe as she quotes her moms words that day. 

“Ione, like Ione Kallio? As in Ione on the Fleet?” He asks her his eyebrows raised.

“One in the same.” Cressida says laughing watching him trying to hide his shock with a low whistle making Lola turn to him. 

“She responds to whistles?” Roy asks, reaching down to pet Lula.

“Yeah, makes recall easier than her name.” Cressida laughs reaching to pet Lula as well trying to ignore the way her skin tingles when she’s not paying attention and her hand brushes his as they try to pet Lula at the same time.

“For what it's worth I am sorry your parents are shitty,” Roy tells her as they approach the bridge that marks the halfway point of the trail. 

“Lula, You want some water baby?” Cressida asks, squatting down as she pours some of the water from her bottle into the collapsible bowl, before standing up to look at Roy and telling him, "It's not your fault, they’ve been like this my whole life.” 

“Doesn’t mean it doesn’t suck.” Roy sighs and Cressida watches as he starts to reach out to comfort her only to catch himself before he does. 

“Yeah,” Cressida laughs awkwardly.

“Anyway, changing the topic, when did you get Lula?” Roy asks her, and Cressida grimaces just thinking about that night. 

“The night I left my parents house, last time I saw them,” She explains succinctly leaving no room for extra questions.

“Ahh not a happy story I take it.” Roy laughs. Cressida feels Lula pulling done with her water break and bends down to pick up the bowl dumping the rest of the water from it before collapsing it back down as she tells him.  “Not really no, I don’t have any entirely happy stories from before college and you were there for a good portion of those.”

“That fucking sucks Cress,” Roy tells her as they continue walking. Normally Cressida hates being called Cress, it's too associated with her parents. Tts not a nickname its a title; Cress, The goalie star from Dawson, Aaron and Thaisa’s precious daughter. But Cressida doesn’t think she will mind hearing it fall from Roy's lips again. It sounds like the skates on fresh ice from him, not the nails on chalkboard grating her soul she is used to.

She’s not quite sure what to say in response and instead just shrugs letting silence overcome them as they walk through the woods, the chirps of birds in the trees the only noise.

“Thanks for letting me come and answering my questions,” Roy laughs as they stop by the bench they first met at. 

“It was no problem,” Cressida tells him with an odd feeling in her chest that they will separate that she’d rather not identify. “I take Lula on long walks like this once a week if you’d wanna join us.”

“I’d like that,” Roy smiles, his brown eyes sparkling and Cressida feels butterflies in her stomach.

“It's a plan then.” Cressida smiles feeling her cheeks heat. 

“See you tomorrow,” Roy tells her.

“See you,” Cressida smiles, giving him a small wave as she and Lula start on their way back home.  

Chapter Text

“Are you ready for the home opener?” Roy asks Cressida as they walk. It's been a few weeks since she first invited him to join him and he has every week even as the leaves have changed and what was a chill has become normal. 

“Yeah, nervous but ready.” Cressida tells him with a small smile. Roy loves when Cressida smiles; it's a rare occurrence on the ice but here on their walks it a regular occurrence and he has to remember to breathe every time he sees it light up her face.

  “I bet,” He laughs, letting her talk about what she needs to, whether that be hockey or other things.

“I actually am going to visit the bears rink if you wanna join me?” Cressida asks him. 

“Yeah,” he tells her grinning even as he tries to disguise the majority of his excitement. 

“Cool I just gotta drop Lula off, wanna follow my car to my apartment and we can just take it to the rink,” Cressida tells him.

“What, you don’t wanna be my backpack?” Roy asks, unable to help the flirty tone in his voice as he imagines Cressida's body pressed against his back as he rides his motorcycle.  

“Pretty sure you don’t have an extra helmet.” She says smirking and Roy curses internally knowing she is right.

“I’m gonna take that as a yes.” She surmises with a laugh, and he just nods. 

“Another time then,” Cressida winks as she gets Lula into the car and starts driving. Roy stands frozen for a moment before remembering he has to follow her and putting on his helmet and getting on his bike. He starts the bike, and it hums to life under him as he follows Cressida the wind whipping around him on what will probably be one of the last days he can ride his bike, as Thanksgiving is in just a few weeks. 

“I’m good to wait for you out here,” Roy tells Cressida as he takes off his helmet tucking it under his arm. 

“Do you want me to put the helmet inside?” Cressida asks as they stand in front of her duplex. 

“If you don’t mind, yeah.” Roy tells her, handing it over, watching her disappear into the building while he leans on his bike.

“Who's the hot biker boy?” Sadie asks, opening the door to her side of the duplex as Cressida goes into the entrance.   

“Roy, he’s my friend and coworker.” She says hoping her short answer will shut Sadie up. 

“Is he now?” Sadie says, wiggling her eyebrows suggestively. Cressida doesn’t bother to engage, instead going into her side and putting his helmet on the counter and making sure Lula has everything she needs before she heads back out. 

As she walks out she is met with the sight of Roy in his leather jacket leaning against his bike looking like something out of a romance novel as he asks, “All set?”

“Yep.” She tells him, getting into her car as he gets into the passenger side. She slides him her unlocked phone telling him, “Make sure you pick the good shit.”

“I’ll do my best,” Roy grins, pressing play on her liked songs before going through them to find songs he knows. 

Cressida forgot Roy could sing. When they were in college the cheerleaders would sometimes do karaoke with the hockey players and Roy’s performances always got everyone on their feet and his voice is no different now as he sings along to On My Mind by Alex Warren and ROSÈ. Cressida sings along as well but she feels like a vulture trying to harmonize with a songbird. 

“So is there something you're gonna do on the ice?” Roy asks Cressida as they walk into the rink.

“Yeah skate,” Cressida says, pulling out the skates from her bag.  

Roy watches as Cressida skates a few laps thinking about how she’s bared parts of her soul to him but still doesn’t know his. As she joins him at the board he asks her, “Is it bad I’m gonna miss my cheer uniform?” 

“I mean you pulled off a skirt real well.” Cressida smiles remembering the day that they first met, when Roy walked out of the cheerleading uniform area in a skirt and a crop top. 

“I did, didn't I?” Roy laughs remembering his slight embarrassment when he was told he would be wearing a skirt but also the confidence he felt when he realized how much the uniform showed off the ridges and valleys of his muscles.

“You wanna go shopping then we can get you another skirt?” Cressida asks him with a smile.

 “I can get a skirt all by myself thank you very much,” Roy reminds her. 

“Maybe you want moral support.” Cressida laughs and the sound is contagious and it's not long before Roy is laughing alongside her. 

“I think I'll be all set.” Roy tells her. Cressida skates a few more laps before she puts back on her shoes and they head out to her car. 

“You wanna come up and get your helmet?” Cressida asks as she parks her car.

“Yeah sure, I can give Lula some goodbye pets that way too.” Roy laughs trying not to let how nervous he is show on his face. 

Cresida smiles leading the way.

Once they are inside Roy sees a photo of Cressida with a hockey coach and two people whose faces are crossed out in black sharpie. Suddenly he's eight again, his parents just died and He and Egan have been placed in the emergency care of Uncle Oto. It's their first weekend since the crash and he finds a photo on the counter of his parents, Egan, uncle Oto and himself, except Oto has crossed out his parents' faces. 

“Uncle Oto, why are mom and dad’s faces crossed out?”  Roy asks, showing uncle Oto the photo.

“Because they’re not here anymore and there's no use in feeling sad at their faces. Instead we’re gonna do the best with the three of us.” Oto tells him in what's probably meant to be a kind helpful tone but instead feels harsh.

“I’m adopted,” Roy blurts out, his mind still stuck in the past. 

“Oh?” Cressida questions. 

“Yeah my parents were in a car crash when I was seven, and my little brother Egan was four. We were placed in the emergency care of our uncle Oto, he did his best, but he never wanted kids and he made that clear to our case worker. He didn’t want to be a dad, he wanted to be an uncle so we got moved to where we are now pretty fast, and then Molly and Leo adopted us.” Roy explains as gently sits down on the couch knowing if she asks any questions the whole story is a long one. 

“Do you mind if I ask you something?” Cressida asks giving him the same respect when it comes to questions about his trauma that he gave to her.

“Go ahead,” He tells her. 

“Do you still talk to Oto?” Cressida asks, sitting on the other side of the couch twisting so she can still look at Roy while he speaks. 

“Every now and then. He normally calls me on my birthday, he used to call me and hang out more when I was younger.” Roy tells her.

“Do you ever miss your parents?” Cressida asks in a softer tone hesitating before she adds, “You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to.”

“It's fine, Cress. I do miss them sometimes, yeah, but I was just a kid when they died. I don't have much to miss, every time I’ve needed a parent, Molly and Leo have been there.” Roy tells her, his voice laced with emotion. 

“I see,” Cressida says, picking at her fingers.

“Don’t fuck up your hands they need to be in good shape for tomorrow.” Roy says, reaching over, taking her hand in his. 

“You gotta vested interest in my hands, there Roy?” Cressida asks, in what Roy is pretty sure is a flirtatious tone. 

“Yeah I do, you're the goalie for my favorite team and you know what they say about goalies,” Roy says, unable to help but flirt back. 

“We’re good with our hands?” Cressida asks in that same flirtatious tone tugging Roy a little closer by their still intertwined hands.

“Exactly,” Roy says with a wink as he runs his thumb over the back of Cressida's hands trying to ignore the sparks that go through him. 

“I will admit I’ve never gotten any complaints.” Cressida grins pulling him so he’s just inside her personal space. 

Roy wants to say something flirty back to her but he knows he shouldn't so he just kisses her hand like a knight meeting his queen for the first time, as he lets the moment fizzle out. He pushes it to the back of his mind as he rubs his neck and tells her, “I should head out soon.”

“Feel free to stay a while. We can watch Love is blind. I know you said it was your guilty pleasure a few weeks ago and I’ve been meaning to check it out ever since.” Cressida says, grabbing a crochet blanket from the couch that Roy hadn't noticed before.

“Did you make this?” He asks her. 

“Yeah I crochet as my hobby, give me something to do.” Cressida says, shrugging.

“That's wicked cool” Roy says with a wide grin on his face. Cressida pulls up Love is Blind and even though Roy has seen this season before he can’t help but get sucked in as they both make comments about the different couples.

“Do you want Pizza?” Cressida asks him after they finish the first few episodes. 

“Yeah that sounds nice,” he admits and his stomach rumbles after he finishes speaking, making them both laugh.

“Cheese ok?” Cressida asks

“Cheese is perfect,” Roy grins hoping the heat he feels in his cheeks isn’t showing.

“Cool,” Cressida says ordering online and they play the first bit of the next episode before the pizza arrives and the pause momentarily so Cressida can go get it, Lula smells the food and Cressida feeds her before the dog goes to curl up in a lounge chair in a way Roy doesn’t think her large body should be able to.

As they watch the rest of the season they slowly get closer to each other. Roy’s arm goes over the back of the couch offering space for Cressida who cautiously rests her head against his shoulder. Roy doesn’t say anything, just letting his hand drop to her shoulder and hoping she doesn't recognize how fast his heart beats. 

Roy isn’t sure how it happens one moment he’s blinking his arm around Cressida’s shoulder as they watch Love is Blind, Lula snoring on her dog bed in the corner and the next he’s waking up with her head slumped into the crook of his neck and the TV is off and the clock on the wall reads 5am, and Lula is nowhere to be seen. 

“Shit,” He whispers as he slowly tries to extract himself from Cressida’s sleeping form. He tries not to wake her but she stirs, reaching for his hand as she blinks sleep from her eyes and asks “What time is it?” 

“Five in the morning, I think we fell asleep last night watching Love is Blind.” He tells her resisting the temptation to run his hand through her sleep mused hair, instead running his thumb over the knuckles of their intertwined hands

“Sorry, I guess I should have let you go sooner.” Cressida says. 

“I could have left anytime, it's not like you were holding me hostage. I’ll see you in about three hours for the season and home opener.” Roy tells her, squeezing her hand hard once before letting go. 

“Yeah I’ll see you then.” Cressida as he grabs his helmet and heads out for his bike.

Chapter Text

Chapter Text

Cressida stares out her window watching as Roy puts on his helmet and climbs onto the bike. 

It's not long that she stands there watching the point where his bike disappeared into the horizon before there's a loud knock at her door. 

Cressida sighs heading for the door. Looking through the peephole to see Sadie and Marnie there she opens the door. 

“A friend and coworker that stays overnight is he?” Sadie asks, raising an eyebrow.

“We fell asleep watching TV,” She tells them as they come into her apartment baring breakfast sandwiches 

“Is that so?” Marnie asks disbelievingly.

“Yes,” she tells her as they eat, before she asks them, “You two will be at the game tonight right?”

“We wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Marnie promises. Cressida leans closer to them leaning into their almost parental touch. Cressida’s own parents were never one for much physical affection but once she met Sadie and Marnie they took her under their wings and made themselves her gay mothers. 

“In that case I will see you in a few hours.” Cressida tells them once she finishes her breakfast sandwich. Cressida knows she will have a few hours of interviews at least before the game, not to mention the Morning skate she had in an hour and a half. 

“Good Morning.” Kyana says as they walk towards the locker room.

“Morning,” Cressida sighs, sipping her Dunks. She’s not normally one for coffee but after the odd night's sleep she had last night and her early wake up she needs it. 

“Long night?” Kyana asks. 

“Long night and an early morning,” Cressida admits, eyes catching on the sight of Roy standing a few paces ahead nursing a large coffee cup of his own.

“Morning Smithy,” Kyana calls cheerfully. 

“Morning  Hanson-Ward, Morning Cress-ida,” Roy says greeting them both and Cressida hopes Kyana doesn’t notice how Roy almost called her Cress as she greets him, “Morning Roy.” 

Cressida gets changed and morning skate goes as planned but she’d be lying if she said she wasn’t hyperaware of Roy’s presence and how his gaze would fall to her. It seemed every time she’d sneak a look at him he’d already be looking at her slight grin on his face and her cheeks would heat in a way that had nothing to do with exertion as she smiled back.

“Psst Mizzy. Why do you and Smithy keep making eyes at eachother?” Ione asks her voice a low whisper as to not be overheard in the locker room. 

“We’re not making eyes,” Cressida scofts as she gets in her gear for the second time that day, this time for the regular season home opener, honored that she, a rookie, is starting instead of Frankel.

“Ok then why are you looking at him the way you looked at me when we were in the friends who flirt and sometimes make out stage of our relationship?” Ione says her voice is still low, as to not be heard by anyone else in the locker room.

“We’re just friends, Nothing more, Nothing less.” Cressida hisses even as she knows she is lying to both Ione and herself. 

“You keep telling yourself that Cress.” Ione says and from her lips the nickname feels like being pelted with rain on a cold day, so it's freezing as it falls cold and piercing.

“Don’t call me Cress,” she hisses louder than she means to drawing the attention of a few people in the locker room that are close by. 

“Sorry I forgot,” Ione apologizes remembering the history behind that nickname. 

“It's fine,” Cressida breathes as she starts tapping her stick. 

Adrenaline races through Cressida’s body as she gets onto the ice and makes saves and plays her first regular season pro game, and after the game she practically runs to Marnie and Sadie Waiting for her. They wrap her in a hug that feels more caring than any hug she's ever gotten from her actual parents.

Good game tonight Cress!

You were on FIRE

Hope your resting up well

Thanks Roy the complement is appreciated

I’m planning on resting if my adrenaline will let me…

Having a hard time falling asleep after a win like that?

Something like that yeah…

Well I hope you get some sleep soon

You get some sleep to Roy

I’m planning on it

I’ll see you at the stadium tomorrow

See you tomorrow Cress

As Cressida lays in bed trying to fall asleep she thinks about Roy. About how his hand feels intertwined with hers, about how he makes her feel like she could tell him anything, but mostly she thinks about how she actually doesn’t hate when he calls her Cress. When Ione, someone she’s known since they were both children called her Cress it felt like a fork scraping a plate the noise sharp and irritating but whenever it falls from Roy's lips it sounds like skates on fresh ice. She doesn’t hate when he says it and she doesn’t wanna think about what that means, but she knows, deep down she knows. She thought Roy was pretty in college, aesthetically at the very least, and now, she’s gotten to know him and she knows he’s kind and caring and feels deeply for everything. He likes watching Reality TV and compliments every dog he sees. She has a crush, and she wants to pack it all inside, he’s her coworker for Christ’s sake, but she doesn’t know if she can. She just hopes it goes away. 

Chapter Text

Roy wakes up still thinking about the game last night. He’d be lying if he said he watched anyone but Cressida. She looks at home on the ice. He saw what she looked like asleep, in her most peaceful vulnerable state and when she was one the ice he saw that same serenity but with an undercurrent of intensity. He could hardly take his eyes off her. He knows the crush he had on her throughout college that he hoped would go away hasn’t, but he also knows that they are coworkers and he can’t act on it, at least not at work. 

As he looks through the photos and videos he took of the post game celebration from last night Roy realises he took a photo of two mid-thirdy year old women hugging Cressida tight. While Cressida may not have come out and said it Roy assumes she’s not in contact with any of her family so he has no clue who the two women could be, and despite how good the photo is he is hesitant to post it on the Fleet Socials without talking to Cressida first.

“Hey Cressida, can we talk real quick?” Roy asks using the most professional voice he can manage as he walks into the weight room to the sight of her squatting one hundred pounds and making it look easy. He knows logically she is strong but seeing the reality of it makes his mouth go a little dry, especially combined with the sight of her in a sports bra and leggings, that makes him have to remind himself to keep his eyes on her face and not let them wander. 

“Sure thing Roy what's up?” Cressida says, racking the weight with Kyana’s help and following him out of the weight room to the more private hallway. 

“I was just looking through the videos of the post game celebrations and I noticed I took this photo of you and these two.” Roy tells Cressida showing her the photo he took before explaining, “I, well we, The Fleet media team, are going to post the Post game celebrations on the Socials but when you did your onboarding paperwork you left the section about the friends and family we could photograph blank so I need to check with you before I post this.”

“Yeah you can post it. They’re fine to post. Is that all you needed me for?” She asks.

“Sure is Cress,” He smiles at the nickname he calls her falling from his mouth without him realizing and she just smirks at him before going back into the workout room where Kyana is waiting for her. 

Later that night Roy's phone buzzes with an incoming call from Kyana as he makes his dinner. 

“Hey Kyana, what's up?” He asks as he sautes the onions and garlic.

“Why did you call Cressida, Cress?” She asks him. 

“Uhh, it slipped out,” Roy lies grateful that she can’t see the blush that knowing she overheard him call Cressida Cress brings. “Why do you ask?”

“Becuase I wouldn’t call her it again if I was you. Ione called her Cress and she was not happy, and they seem to have a history.” Kyana tells him. 

“Oh?” Roy questions, biting back the fact that he’s been calling Cressida Cress for weeks now and she’s never said a thing to him about it. 

“Yeahhhh…” Kyana trails off. 

“Was that the only reason you called me?” He asks her with a laugh. 

“Honestly yeah,” Kyana admits. 

“Bye Kyana. Love ya, I’ll see you at family dinner next weekend.” He tells her.

“Bye Roy. Love you.” She says before hanging up and leaving him alone with his thoughts. He knows he could just text Cressida and ask her if she doesn’t like being called Cress but he also assumes she’ll probably wonder exactly how he found out about her being possibly upset by it in the first place.

It takes Cressida a few days to notice that Roy isn’t calling her Cress anymore, at first she thinks it's because they are both at work, but then he’s calling her Cressida in their texts too. She’s not sure why he’s doing it but she can’t help but wonder if perhaps conversations about the fact that she told Ione not to call her Cress have made their way back to his ears. 

The weekend comes faster than Cressida feels like it should, and before she knows it her and Lula are heading to the park to meet up with Roy. 

“How are you this fine afternoon?” Roy asks as Cressida approaches.

“Cold,” Cressida admits despite being bundled in a sweatshirt and coat, as she rubs her hands together in the light gloves she wears. 

“You play hockey, how are you cold in this weather? Isn’t it colder on the ice?” Roy asks with a laugh, shoving his hands into his pockets. 

“I’m wearing more layers on the ice, I don’t think Garou would like it if I tried to take my gear home.” Cressida tells homs as they walk through the woods the leaves under their feet having now lost their crunch as Halloween looms just a week away. 

“Yeah he scares me,” Roy admits. 

“I don’t know, I think he’s a secret softy under that beard.” Cressida laughs adding, “Like I know he, Tris and Katya are at least somewhat friendly.”

“True, he’s just intimidating,” Roy says and Cressida shrugs. 

They walk in silence for a while until they reach the bridge and Cressida works up the nerve to ask, “Why did you stop calling me Cress?”

“Uhh…” Roy hesitates before admitting, “Kyana told me you yelled a Ione for it.”

“Thats what I thought,” Cressida sighs as she tries to figure out how to explain why its not ok for Ione to call her Cress, but for Roy it's fine, especially when she’s not sure herself. “Ione knows the history of how the nickname came to be, you don’t. When she calls me Cress it feels like she’s doing it how my parents would, like I’m their precious daughter, Goalie star of Dawson, but with you… It just doesn't.”

Cressida hopes Roy can’t hear the softness in her voice as she trails off looking over at him as they stand in the middle of the bridge looking at the creek below. She knows all the things she feels for him, the crush she’s been trying to fight back is written on her features, and for once that vulnerability doesn’t scare her, it excites her. She can feel the walls she built around her heart when she left Dawson crumbling and for once she’s not bothering to rebuild them. 

“I’m glad I can be that for you Cress,” Roy tells her with a small smile as he takes her hand in his, looking over at her like he’s wondering how he got here. He laughs as he admits, “You know I think my college self is dying right now.”

“Why is that?” Cressida asks him, letting her tone dip into flirtation ever so slightly even as she is genuinely curious.

“Oh because I had the biggest fucking crush on you. You’re pretty, Still are, now I know it's not just your looks” Roy admits a blush painting his cheeks. 

“You think I’m pretty?” Cressida asks, feeling her own cheeks warm as a small smile grazes her mouth. 

“Yeah I have fucking eyes Cress,” Roy tells her bluntly squeezing her hand in his. Cressida feels her smile widen as she drops her gaze from his, her cheeks heating more as she admits, “You know I think past me is dying too, she thought you were cute, and now I know just how right she was. You care and that's rare, especially with boys as pretty as you are.” 

Roy smiles squeezing her hand harder before asking, “You wanna go on a date sometime? Just you and I?”

“Yeah I think I’d like that.” Cressida tells him. 

“Wensday of next week maybe?” Roy suggests before adding, “I know there's no practice that day so.”

“Yeah that works for me,” Cressida tells him, squeezing his hand as they continue their walk with their hands entwined.

Chapter Text

Roy’s heart feels like it's beating at double time as he and Cressida make their way back to the parking lot fingers entwined.  

“Wanna come back to my apartment?” Cressida asks him with a blush before adding, “Not for that just, we can watch more Love is Blind.”

“More Love is Blind sounds like a plan Cress. I promise not to fall asleep on you this time,” Roy tells her grinning. 

“Even if you did, I wouldn’t mind.” Cressida says laughing. Roy smirks at her before they get into their cars. 

Cressida is unlocking the door when Roy pulls up, parking and getting out. They go up to her apartment and as they sit beside each other on the couch Roy’s arm around Cressida’s shoulders Lula jumps into his lap. 

“Seems you’ve won her over,” Cressida tells him. 

“Good,” Roy grins, petting Lula with his other hand. 

As they watch Love is Blind they talk and eventually Roy asks the question that's been ping ponging aroung his head for months. “Do you remember that night after the Bears won the state championship for the first time in twenty years?”

“Vaugly, its hazy. There was a lot of champagne involved.” Cressida admits squinting as she tries to cast her mind back. 

“Do you remember what happened between us?” Roy asks, his hand shaking slightly against her shoulder.  

“Uhh…” Cressida blushes, not meeting his eyes. 

“Look at me Cress,” Roy says, moving his hand from Lula on his lap to cup her face, before asking again, “Do you remember?”

“Yeah, we almost kissed,” she tells him, biting her lip, her breathing hitching slightly. 

“Yeah we did,” Roy agrees, his gaze falling to her lips. 

“Cressida, It’s Taco night open up,” A voice calls from her door as someone knocks on her door, breaking the moment. 

“Fuck, Sadie and Marnie,” Cressida says as Roy pulls back slightly. 

“I’ll head out then. See you Wednesday,” Roy tells her, encouraging Lula to get up as he stands. 

“Wensday,” Cressida grins, kissing his cheek as she goes to the door. Letting him out and Sadie and Marnie in. 

“Oh we didn’t know you had a boy over, we can go.” Sadie grins. 

“No, it's fine I should head home soon anyway.” Roy tells them before turning to Cressida and telling her, “I’ll see you, Cress.”

“See you Roy,” She tells him mentally preparing for the shit Sadie and Marnie will give her. 

I’m so sorry about Sadie and Marnie…

Its fine

I hope you had a good time and that tacos where good

It was

We do it once a month. They bring food and we catch up

That sounds like a good time. 

My parents insist we do a monthly dinner at their place once a month. 

I am really looking forward to Wednesday though…

Me to Cress Me too

Cressida stares at her open closet trying to figure out what to wear on her date with Roy. She knows they are going Mini-Golfing and luckily it's not too cold out which means she has more options. 

She stares for a while longer before deciding to wear a pair of nice black jeans and her maroon cashmere sweater. 

A little while later there's a knock on her door, and Cressida runs to open it. 

When she does Roy is standing there hair obviously mused by his helmet wearing black jeans and a riding jacket unzipped to show his white shirt with the words, ‘Everyone watches women’s sports’ across the chest. Her mouth goes dry as she looks him up and down, and that's when she realizes he’s holding a bouquet of Dalilahs and Marigolds with a few Lilly’s mixed in. 

“Hi Roy, you look really nice” Cressida says blushing before asking, “Did you get me flowers?” 

“Thanks, and of course I did, you deserve all the flowers,” Roy tells her, handing her the flowers, before adding, “You look nice too, Cress.” 

Cressida blushes as she giggles, “Thank you. Why don’t you come in real quick and I’ll get these in some water.”

“Sounds good.” Roy says. Cressida gets out the vase she rarely ever uses, filling it with water and making a mental note to trim them later. 

“Ok I’m ready now, although I gotta ask cause I see it out there are we taking your bike?” Cressida asks with a grin. 

“Yeah got you an extra helmet and everything,” Roy tells her grinning, taking her hands in his as he leads the way. 

“Ok so how does this work?” Cressida asks as Roy hands her the helmet. 

“Just stay still, let me,” Roy tells her tilting her head up, making her swallow hard as he adjusts her helmet. “There we go.”

“Thanks,” Cressida says as she swallows hard. 

“No problem. Once we get on the bike you're gonna hold onto me tightly ok, Cress. There are mics in the helmets so if you need something just say it. Remember under no circumstances do you let go until we get to the Mini-golf place.” Roy tells her his voice low and serious as he puts on his own helmet. He straddles the bike and Cressida gets on behind him holding his hips, her front pressed against his back in a way that sends sparks down her spine. 

As Roy drives to the mini-golf course Cressida’s grip is iron clad and the only thing going through her head is holy shit over and over again, for many reasons; One being that holding Roy like this is hot, and she refused to be embarrassed by it, and the feeling of the bike beneath her fills her veins with adrenaline. 

“Here we are,” Roy tells her as he parks the bike and they get off.

Cressida struggles with her helmet, before relenting and asking, “Roy can I get some help please?”

“I got you Cress,” Roy says, undoing her helmet for her. His helmet is already off and the position leaves Cresida helpless not to stare at his lips as he holds her chin.

“We should head in,” Roy says, not bothering to move, still holding her chin in his hands as her hands go to his shoulders. 

“Yeah,” Cressida agrees with a hum even as she leans in slightly.

“Later Cress,” Roy says, his voice low and his eyes dark, as he drops his hand to hers, entwining their hands and leading her into the building. 

“Aren’t hockey players normally good at golf?” Roy asks as Cressida misses another putt. 

“This isn’t golf it's mini-golf,” she tells him, unsubtly flipping him off.

“You're so mean to me,” Roy grins. 

“And yet you still like me,” Cressida says as she sinks her ball finally. 

“I do yeah,” Roy admits a blush painting his cheeks. Cressida smiles at him, resisting the urge to kiss him on his cheek or lips. 

A few holes later a girl who looks just a few years younger than Cressida comes over to them, saying, “Hi, I’m so sorry to interrupt. My name is Elisabeth, I’m a huge fan of the Fleet, and I play Goalie just like you Cressida.” 

“Its not a big deal at all. It's nice to meet you,” Cressida says, her stage smile overtaking the real one she had been giving Roy just a few moments earlier. 

“Can I get a quick photo and then I’ll leave you with your…” Elisabeth trails off clearly not sure who Roy is to her. 

“You sure can, why don’t we have my friend Roy take it?” Cressida suggests but even as the words leave her lips calling Roy her friend feels wrong.

“Yeah I’d appreciate that.” Elisabeth says and Roy takes the photo on her phone before Elisabeth heads on her way leaving Roy and Cressida to finish up their game. 

“Wanna hang out for a little while?” Cressida asks Roy when they get back to her apartment.

“Yeah I’d like that.” He tells her internally hoping that he will get a chance to kiss her this time like he wanted to just before Sadie and Marnie had knocked at her door. 

Cressida smiles at him as he follows her up, their hands still intertwined. 

“Do you want anything to drink?” Cressida asks him as she closes the door behind them. 

“Nah, I’m good for now. Plus I’ve been here enough that I know where to get things if I need them.” Roy tells her, sitting on the couch. 

“I’m just making sure,” Cressida grins, joining him on the couch. She hesitates before shifting her legs over his lap, back against the arm rest, head on his shoulder, as she asks “Is this Ok?”

“Yeah,” Roy consents, shifting so he can hold her ever so slightly closer. 

“Love is Blind?” Cressida asks. 

“Sure yeah sounds good," Roy says even as his eyes never leave her face.

“You gonna watch the show or just stare at me?” Cressida asks him after half an episode goes by and Roy’s eyes still haven't strayed from her. 

“I mean I think you’re more attractive then them anyway so,” Roy shrugs, his hand on her calf squeezing ever so slightly.

“I’m not more attractive than some of them. They are gorgeous.” Cressida says scoffing in disbelief.

“Maybe but you also are kind and caring and give back,” Roy tells her watching as she ducks her head with the compliment, a tell tale sign she’s blushing even if he can’t see the color in her rich black skin. 

“I guess yeah,” she sighs. 

“Baby you gotta get better at taking a compliment,” Roy tells her his finger hooking under her chin, getting her to look him in the eyes, losing himself momentarily in her almost gold eyes.

“Yeah?” Cressida asks, biting her lip, the movement drawing Roy's gaze.

“Yeah,” He says, staring at her lips as he sifts his hand to cradle her face narrowing the distance between their lips before he asks, “Can I kiss you Cress?”

“Yes,” She consents and Roy closes the distance bringing his lips to hers softly. Their kiss is soft, just lips pressed against each other, his hand tangled in her hair as he pushes their lips together over and over again. Cressida’s hands are on his chest fingers wrapped around his leather jacket, as she nips at his bottom lip experimentally. 

“Cress,” Roy gasps as she repeats the action. 

“Yeah?” She asks panting, pressing their foreheads together. 

“I really like kissing you,” He says into the space between their mouths as his other hand moves to her waist. 

“Yeah you gonna do it some more Pretty Boy?” She asks one of her hands going to the nape, his neck fingers tangling in the hair at the short hair there.

“If it's all right with you, yeah I am.” He tells her, shifting so she is more fully on his lap. 

“Definitely,” Cressida smiles into it as she starts kissing him again. This kiss is more passionate Roy nipping at her lower lip licking into her mouth tasting her tongue against his.

“Can I take this off?” Cressida gasps as her hands go to his t-shirt pushing off his leather jacket. 

“Be my guest Cress,” He groans, staring at her kiss bitten lips.  

“God your arms,” She says, nails running over the muscle of his arms, sending goose bumps everywhere she touches. 

Roy flexes with a smirk and Cressida looks up at him, her eyes dark as she kisses him pushing him back against the couch. Roy is helpless but to melt into her kiss as she practically devours his mouth with hers. 

“Fuck Cress.” Roy groans when she shifts just right putting pressure and friction on his cock through his jeans. “We should stop before this goes too far.”

“Yeah you're right,” she says shifting so she’s not pressing anymore. 

“You're gonna have to give me a second before I have any real thoughts on the show.” Roys tells her with a laugh trying to break the tension. 

“Take all the time you need baby,” Cressida says, kissing his neck. 

“Fuck thats not helping,” Roy groans even as he arches his neck giving her more space to work with. 

“I could help,” Cressida says and Roy knows what she’s implying.

“Nope, but you can tell me what you're going for the halloween party the Fleet is hosting.” Roy tells her, holding her so she can’t shift her hips or kiss his neck. 

“Normally I go as a Hockey player but Coach literally told us we cou;dn’t so I’m thinning Storm or Poison Ivy,” Cressida tells him before asking, “What about you?” 

“I’m going as Spiderman.” Roy tells her. 

“That's a good one.” Cressida smiles and they go back to watching Love is Blind.