Chapter Text
“Wow look at that sweetie the jackpot!” Her kind eyes and smile beamed down at him. “You’ve got enough to go get a prize if you want.”
“Yesss please mama.”
“Okay lets go.”
The arcade was loud, colourful flashing lights filling the room so Scott could make his way from the games over to the prize cabinet. The entire way his tiny hand gripped so tightly onto his mum’s larger one.
“So, you have 300 tickets now. Do you wants some sweets or maybe a toy.”
He took a moment, staring at all the prizes in front of him.
“I want that one.”
“The teddy bear?”
“Yeah.”
”Okay sweetie sure.”
It was a cold day, the frosty air nipping his nose as they walked through the New York streets back to their apartment, the only real warmth being in his mother’s hand as it held his own.
“What are you going to name him?”
“Name who?’” He asked in confusion.
“The teddy bear silly.” A loving smile filled er face as she looked down at Scott.
“Kip.”
“Kip?”
“Yeah. Kip.”
“That’s sweet honey. Is it short for anything like Christopher maybe?”
“No. Just Kip.”
She chuckled slightly at her son’s insistence.
“Just Kip it is then.”
Scott was 28. He started playing hockey at 8 and always had his good luck charm with him. Four years later he’d lost his mom. He still remembers the day that he won it with his mother. They didn’t have much, when they’d gone to the arcade he hadn't expected to be able to get more than a few pieces of candy with what he won. Then he hit the jackpot and proceeded to get Kip. 23 years he’d had him, 20 years of hockey games with Kip somewhere in the locker room, or even on his person for games he was particularly nervous about. 20 years and now he was gone. He knows that Kip should have been in the side pocket of his duffle bag as always but apparently not.
It wasn’t just that he’d lost the bear though, it helped him feel closer to his mom. When Kip was in the locker room he could just imagine for a moment that his mom was in the arena. She’d be so proud getting to see him now, all grown up and captain of their home team.
She never is in the arena though. And she never got to see him grow and get drafted and become captain.
But Kip, one of the last physical things linking him to his mother, had seen it all. And now Scott lost him too.
Just had to play this one all him he supposed.
“Do we seriously have to go?” Kip lamented.
“Yes we do Christopher. You said you’d come with me now hurry or we’ll be late.”
Kip honestly had no clue how he landed in this situation however here he was, scrambling to look semi-presentable to accompany one of his best friends to what was probably going to be three of the longest hours of his life.
Not wanting to disappoint his friend, he threw on the closest jack and pair of shoes and walked out into his living room.
“This okay?” He asked, arms out to display his outfit.
Elena looked him up and down, a judgy look on her face. “It’ll have to do.” She said hesitantly before turning to the door and walking out of it, not even looking back to see if Kip was following.
As much as Kip was very much so not looking forward to the next few hours, he was always very happy to go out with Elena as it meant Ubers and not the subway (Lord knows he's seen a few things). Plus them going out always meant drinks after together- the only time she’s not glued to her work phone.
The walk to the arena was thankfully only a few short minutes; it would have been shorter but the driver got confused and dropped them off at the back entrance intended for players and WAGs, not general spectators.
“So who’s playing tonight?” Kip asked, trying to remove the slight tensions that had built up from him nearly making them later.
“New York Admirals and Montreal Metros.” Okay, if the shortness of her words was anything to go by she was still slightly mad. Or working.
They walked in silence for a little while until Kip noticed something on the ground.
“Aw look at this poor little guy.” He squatted down to pick up the small beige teddy bear on the ground. “Some kid must have dropped him.”
“Shame.” Elena glanced up from her phone and pulled a sympathetic face. “But if it's a kid’s it's probably covered in disease. Just leave where you found it and wash your hands once we get into the arena.”
Kip just couldn’t bring himself to leave it on the ground though, part of him felt guilty. As if leaving it on the sidewalk would resign it to a fate of being knocked into the road and run over by cars until it no longer existed.
Nope, couldn’t do it.
Instead, he pocketed the bear and caught up to Elena where she’d kept on walking.
7-1
They had lost the game fucking 7-1. The defence was distracted, the offence decided to just lose any sense of urgency and aggression and the goalie acted like he forgot how to operate any of his limbs. Ridiculous.
And worst of all, he as captain was too distracted by losing a stupid little teddy bear to pull the team together. That’s his entire job and he failed. He was sad and distracted and he failed and his team suffered as a result. Now they would all have to work twice as hard if they wanted to make it to the play offs this year as they started to trail behind.
“What the fuck was that boys?” He shouted as they all walked back into the locker rooms. “That was embarrassing for all of us. 7-1. We lost 7-1. Defence you guys just forgot how to play. Offence do you know how to skate? Clearly not if you couldn’t move the puck forward. Bennett you getting too old and forgetting and how to stop goals?”
The team all just kind of stood around, heads hung low.
“I expect to see all of you at 8:30am tomorrow. If any of you are late, you’re doing bag skates. Clear?”
A litany of “clear” and “yes cap” echoed from the locker room.
“What’s up with you tonight man?” Bennett asked as he sat on the bench in front of his cubby to start taking his gear off.
“Huh?”
“You’ve been acting off since before we even stepped onto the ice. And it's not like you to yell at the team like this, normally you just give a pep talk and we move on.”
“It’s gonna seem really stupid, you probably won’t believe me.”
“I’ve been playing for like a decade longer than you.” He looked at Scott very plainly, a challenging almost bored look on his face. “Try me.”
Well, might as well.
“I lost my good luck charm, I’ve had it since I was 5, me and my mom won him at an arcade and this is the first hockey game I’ve ever played without him. I guess I'm just in my head about it a bit.”
“A bit?’
“Okay a lot.” He conceded with a half chuckle, throwing his hands up.
“I get it. We all have rough days.” Scott leaned down to start undoing his skates, head crooked to look at his friend as he spoke. “Today just happened to be one of them. What’s the lucky charm then so me and the boys can look out for it?”
“Uh he’s a little brown bear plush toy, like smaller than your palm small.” Scott smiled slightly to himself. “His name is Kip.”
“Kip?” Bennet laughed, talking slightly louder than appreciated. For Christ’s sake Scott was 28 still carrying around a teddy bear.
“Yes. Kip.” Scott made a point of leaning in slightly, keeping his voice lower in the hopes that Bennett would take the hint and do the same. “There an issue with that?”
“No cap, it's just Kip? Really?” Bennett was still laughing slightly.
“Yes, okay. In my defence I was five when I got him.”
“Okay okay, no need to get your panties in a twist. I’m sure well find Kip.”
Scott thanked his friend too soon to see the tint of mischief in his eyes and grin.
“Hey boys,” Bennett shouted to the whole locker room much to Scott’s dismay. “Cap here lost his teddy bear. Little brown one called Kip. Keep an eye out.”
All around the locker room the players laughed or agreed to look out for it, all of them finding it amusing on some level. Bennett however wasn’t laughing when he sat down and turned his head back towards Scott.
“We’re doing bag skates tomorrow aren’t we.” Bennett asked, his voice thick with regret.
“Yep.”
Look, Scott was smiling after all.