Rating:

Mature

Archive Warning:

No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories:

M/M, Other

Fandoms:

Game Changers Series - Rachel Reid, Heated Rivalry (TV)

Relationships:

Brad Hammersmith/Sebbin, Shane Hollander/Ilya Rozanov

Characters:

Sebbin (Heated Rivalry), Ilya Rozanov, Cliff Marlow | Cliff Marleau, Victor St. Simon, Ryan Carmichael, Connors (Heated Rivalry), Shane Hollander, Brad Hammersmith, Ryan Price (Game Changers), Fabian Salah, Scott Hunter (Game Changers), Boston Bears | Boston Raiders Team Ensemble (Game Changers), Arya St. Simon

Additional Tags:

Angst with a Happy Ending, Angst and Hurt/Comfort, Crack Treated Seriously, Crack and Angst, No Smut, Married Shane Hollander/Ilya Rozanov, The Boston Bears Share One Brain Cell, No Beta We Live like Ilya, Soft Hockey Boys, Post-Book 6: The Long Game (Game Changers), Post-Canon, Texting Fic, Idiots in Love, Scott Hunter Always Catches Strays, Established Relationship, Friendship/Love, POV Sebbin, Mixed Media, POV Brad Hammersmith, POV Alternating

Language:

English

Series:

Part 15 of Just Game Changer things that my brain needs to write, Part 9 of Hammer/Sebbin is my close personal headcanon

Collections:

*Heated rivalry melts my heart*

Stats:

Published: 2026-03-28 Completed: 2026-04-05 Words: 9,967 Chapters: 3/3

Last Seen 48 Hours Ago

Summary

Hammy <3 left the conversation.
Sebbin added Hammy <3 to the conversation.
Hammy <3 left the conversation.

Or, Hammer doesn't want to be found, and Sebbin doesn't handle the silence well. The Bears try to help.

Chapter 1

Chapter Notes

omfg I can't believe I've devolved to angst so soon. As sorry as I am to put both you and me through this, I like writing angst, and they do need some stakes before they can be the normal sort of idiots in love again. Enjoy!

P.S. The series Hammer/Sebbin is my close personal headcanon is very much recommended reading for this fic, because there's a lot of assumed context.

Sebbin

@Hammy <3 if you don't want to talk to me

at least text in here that you're ok

Connors

*tabloid screenshot of sebbin with a brunette*

is this why

Marly

is that toronto girl

Hammy <3 left the conversation.

Sebbin added Hammy <3 to the conversation.

Sebbin

hammy talk to me

why are you doing this

Hammy <3 left the conversation.

Sebbin added Hammy <3 to the conversation.

Sebbin

talk to someone else if not me

please

Hammy <3 left the conversation.

Sebbin

fuck

fuck fuck fuck

FUCK

is hammy with any of you

@Marly @Viggy @Carmy @Connors

rozyyy

why not me

Sebbin

is he in fucking ottawa rozanov

rozyyy

uh oh you are serious

sorry he did not text me

Hollzy

me neither

sorry

Connors

are you back with that toronto chick

Sebbin

no of course not

i would never

fuck is that what you think of me

Connors

no no bad timing sorry

he didn't text me either

Marly

hammer’s seriously gone???

Viggy

i'm checking with other bears now

Sebbin

i already talked to his parents

all his siblings

and my parents

no one has seen him

Carmy

he didn't text me either

Sebbin

fuck fuck fuck

Carmy

i'll come help

5 min away

breathe seb we'll find him

Sebbin

thanks

where did he go then

Viggy

bears haven't heard from hammer

who else would he call

Connors

maybe he got a hotel room?

Sebbin

do you think he would do that

Viggy

arya's on call with a bunch of pr people

they know this kind of stuff

Marly

i'm at viggy's place

don't worry

arya says it's all handled discreetly

Sebbin

not what i'm fucking worried about rn

could he be at your place @Marly

Marly

i checked the security cameras already

hammer's not there

Connors

give hammer time to cool off man

Sebbin

it's been 2 days

i think i've given him enough time

where is he

Hollzy

sorry to interrupt

but isn't this a bit of an overreaction?

rozyyy

no shane

hammer does not get angry off ice

Marly

we've never seen him mad enough to not return anyone's texts

Sebbin

look hammy's mad at me i get it

but he hasn't replied to his ma either

she's been texting him since he left

i came home from brunch and he wasn't home

took his suitcase and some clothes

Connors

wdym

he was clearly reading messages until he left the group

Sebbin

he turned read receipts off

didn't know he was reading messages

not until you posted a fucking picture of the tabloids

fuck

Connors

sorry man i didn't mean to make it worse

Sebbin

no i'm sorry

hammy was already mad

at least now we know he's reading messages

rozyyy

hammer would not be angry alone

Sebbin

yeah i know

hammer def called somebody

Viggy

but who

Carmy

let me in @Sebbin

Hollzy

would hammer call scott?

rozyyy

fuck no

why would he call dinosaur

Sebbin

no yeah hammy doesn't know hunter well enough to call him

or anyone on the admirals

Connors

hart?

Sebbin

not for this

he's an okay dude but

hammy thinks the only good thing about hart is that he’s gay

Viggy

okay arya says he's not in any boston hotels

and no pictures waiting to circulate from the last 48hrs

Sebbin

fuck

so he's not even in boston anymore

Carmy

uh seb is breathing super hard

what should i do

Connors

shit

Hollzy

keep your voice calm

talk him through breathing slowly

tell him he's doing fine

Carmy

he's crying now

fuck

breathing is better tho

i'm going to rub his back

Marly

viggy and i are on the way

15 min

keep him calm @Carmy

Connors

i'm back with my parents but lmk how i can help

do you think hammer would call price

rozyyy

maybe but price is in toronto

Marly

would he go to toronto after

you know

Hollzy

what happened in toronto

Connors

only thing worse than rose landry era was toronto era

Marly

that was only a few weeks of roz being a bigger asshole than usual

but toronto oof

Connors

yeah that toronto year was like being silenced in the pits of hell

Carmy

btw seb is better now

*attached side photo of a tired seb drinking water*

but man was toronto era bad

rozyyy

yes toronto year was more hell

and i was the one who actually hated rose

Hollzy

ilya i'm sorry

rozyyy

is fine Моя любовь

was long time ago

but it was hard for hammer

Sebbin

it was hard for me too

Connors

was it tho

Sebbin

what does that mean

Connors

no i mean you had a girl and everything in toronto so

rozyyy

it was just harder for hammer

Sebbin

it was?

was he angry with me

rozyyy

no very sad i think

was my fault i did not talk to him as captain

just i was finally with shane and did not think of anyone else then

but hammer did not talk a lot that year

Marly

yeah he was mostly quiet

i don't think i heard his voice much

he looked sad all the time

sorry i know you know this already

Carmy

i guess seb didn't know any of that

he's crying again

Marly

buzz us in

rozyyy

what does he mean he didn't know

Carmy

uh i think he's saying that he and hammer were not talking back then?

Marly

oh fuck apparently they didn't really talk the whole year

Connors

no wonder toronto year was bad

Viggy

i put seb's phone away for a few min

he looks like he hasn't eaten or slept in 2 days

we brought him some food

Marly

i can update in here until then

can you talk to price @rozyyy?

rozyyy

tell seb i will ask now

Marly

seb thought hammer was fine all of toronto year

*deleted message*

*deleted message*

*deleted message*

*deleted message*

*deleted message*

Connors

omfg

rozyyy

ok he is there with price and fabian

does not want to talk to seb

and does not want to talk to me

or anyone

Sebbin

thank god price has him

does hammy really think i would go off and date some girl from the past

and without telling him

i didn't think he thought that badly of me

Viggy

not to take hammer's side on this

but you did go off and date some girl once before

i'm just saying it's not a far off conclusion to draw

tho it's fucking irresponsible to run off like that

without telling people he's okay

Sebbin

he's more responsible than all of us combined

Marly

we know hammer is always responsible

Viggy

which is why i'm surprised is all

Marly

we all are

Carmy

why tf were you out with that woman anyway

Sebbin

she said she was in town

wasn't going to sleep with her or anything

i thought brunch would be better than dinner

Connors

explains how the tabloids got such good quality pictures

it was in fucking daylight

brunch didn't do you any favours man

Sebbin

don't you think i fucking know that

i clearly fucked up

@rozyyy can you ask price if hammy is okay?

Carmy

i mean you weren't wrong

brunch is def better than doing dinner

Viggy

how were you to know hammer would react like that tho

Marly

it's not like you guys weren't fucking other people

right???

Sebbin

i wasn't

not since before roz and hollzy's wedding

i thought hammy knew

do you think he was fucking other people

Viggy

i don't know seb

but i don't think he knew that you weren't

Marly

that's why he was so surprised at all stars

when you asked kip and hunter about fucking without condoms

told me and roz he wasn't sure you were talking about him

Carmy

he's breathing really fast again

fuck

rozyyy

i was talking to price

tried to talk to hammer

but he says hammer needs some time and is fine

is sebby ok

Carmy

yeah better

Hollzy

does hammer usually react like that

rozyyy

no he always wants to talk like you

this is outside character

Hollzy

out of character

rozyyy

same thing

Connors

does hammer have some beef with toronto girl

Sebbin

what beef could he have

he's never even met her

rozyyy

what is beef

Hollzy

having beef is like being enemies

rozyyy

oh then obviously he has this beef with toronto girl

you think i met rose landry when i hated her

does not mean i did not have this beef

he is jealous @Sebbin

Sebbin

jealous of me?

rozyyy

no you fucker

he is jealous of that girl because she was fucking you

Sebbin

you think so?

Marly

we knew hammer was jealous when you were dating her

Carmy

that much was obvious

Viggy

did you and hammer not talk about toronto at all???

Sebbin

not really

i was glad we were friends again and didn't want to mess it up

Connors

what do you mean friends again?????

Sebbin

we didn't talk much that year

i was so worried all we had in common was fucking and boston

but every time we met after games during the season

even without the sex

it was like coming home

didn't understand why he was being weird

didn't know why he wasn't talking to me

and it was all because i had a fucking girlfriend

i thought hammy told me the important stuff

i'm a fucking moron i guess

Carmy

seb

you're not a moron man

Viggy

he should have told you if he felt that strongly

how could you have known if he didn't tell you

rozyyy

how could hammer tell seb

he would sound crazy for being jealous of friend's girlfriend

and so stupid

i understand why he did not say

is better to say nothing

Hollzy

i mean it's not the healthiest choice

but saying you're jealous of a girlfriend

when you're just fucking sometimes is a lot

Connors

but you came back and it was fine?

Marly

@Sebbin you two must've made up at some point when you got back tho

weren't you fucking again by the time roz left for ottawa

Sebbin

i broke up with her like less than a month after i got back

then hammy and i slept together after roz's farewell party and yeah

we should've talked but i was scared hammy would say we should stop

i don't want to hear hammy say we should stop

i can't hear it

Hollzy

you know that's exactly why i never said anything to ilya for so long

i didn't want it to end

but then i ran away when he tried

then i tried to date rose because i wanted to be normal so badly

whatever normal meant then

rozyyy

shane

Hollzy

no it's okay

i know it's probably not why you dated that woman in toronto

but when i realised what i wanted

i went to all stars determined to tell ilya

no matter what

i knew he wanted me in some way

you already know hammer wants more

you need to talk to him @Sebbin

rozyyy

i was scared hollander would tell me he wanted rose more than me

maybe hammer also does not want to hear it will end

then shane told me he was gay after so many years of me fucking him

it was funny

Hollzy

fuck off

rozyyy

but you do not need to do this i think

i think hammer wants same thing as you

you should tell him this

Carmy

oh fuck he's crying again

Marly

he's trying to book a flight

i'll take care of it

there's one to toronto in 2 hrs

rozyyy

i would come to toronto if we were in ottawa

Connors

coach will murder the others if you miss practice

even if we're out of the fucking playoffs

i don't have to cuz i'm fucking retiring baby

toronto is 4 hrs from detroit

i'll make it in time to meet seb at the toronto airport if i leave now

Viggy

good

wish we could go

but carmy is helping seb pack

we'll drive him to the airport

rozyyy

i love you @Sebbin

time for game 4 now

text me update

Sebbin

love you too rozy

all the best @rozyyy and @Hollzy

and thanks for driving out @Connors

i'm terrified but i have to try

wish hammer had talked to you instead

i love all of you so much

Connors

us too man

i'm going to wring hammer's neck when we see him

he could've come to detroit instead of toronto

fucker

leaving now

Marly

*attached flight ticket*

fly safe dude

hope it goes well

Carmy

hammer will listen to you man

you guys are tight

Sebbin

i hope so

wish me luck

Viggy

you don't need luck

text us when you land

Chapter End Notes

Note: Please allow that they’re still texting while being in the same house. It just makes sense for a texting fic.

I'm so so sorry! I always end up writing angst even when I don't mean to, but I did try to tone it down for these cuties, though I'm not sure I did very well with dialling it down lol because angst is so fun to write through my tears, and I wrote so much of it. I love how supportive these boys are of Seb and Hammer, and how they're not supporting one over the other. I'm really looking forward to writing Hammer's POV of why he didn't go to any of the Bears and instead flew all the way to fucking Toronto. It wasn't just for Price, I can tell you that! Though I'm excited to be writing Ryan/Fabian for once :)

Also, this is going to be 2 or 3 chapters because it makes sense for the current angst to be in one place? The rest of the fics in this series were independent-ish, so I want this fic to have a somewhat isolated resolution as well.

Maybe I cried a little writing this, so thank you for reading mwah mwah, and let me know what you think!

Chapter 2

Chapter Notes

I'm back with some Hammer POV. Thank you so much for reading, and enjoy!

Hammer’s chest felt tight, and he wanted to look away because it hurt in a way he couldn’t name, and he couldn’t breathe right, but he couldn’t stop himself from peeking at the post almost every five minutes since he had first seen it. The caption even mentioned Toronto, reminding him of a time when Seb had been someone else’s.

Hammer pressed his fingers against the screen, zooming in until all he could see was Seb’s smile, until the edges of reality seemed blurred, until it didn’t matter that Seb’s eyes weren’t on Hammer.

Seb

this sourdough is awesome

i'll bring you some

Without even realising it, Hammer was standing at the closet, pulling out a suitcase, tossing in clothes, shaking his head at himself. He needed to go somewhere, anywhere that wasn’t here, where the photo didn’t exist, where the knowledge of Seb with someone else wasn’t reality.

Seb

*attached picture of a half torn poster of hammer's underwear ad on a wall*

🔥

Maybe Seb would see the tabloid photos, decide Hammer had overreacted, and carry on with his life. Seb was so wonderful and so social that he always had people orbiting him, whether it was their friends, teammates, family, Hammer’s family, women, men, everyone in between, or fans.

Maybe Hammer had never been the centre of that universe, no matter how much Seb liked to act like he was. Hammer had no right to assume he was, no matter how much he wanted to be.

Seb

what do you want for dinner

i want thai

ooh maybe indian

or mexican

no you choose

Seb had become the centre of Hammer’s universe a long time ago.

It would probably be the healthier outcome if Seb didn’t come looking for Hammer. Hammer could stay gone long enough for everything to cool down, come back once the playoff noise swallowed the whole thing, and they could both pretend none of it had mattered, and maybe they could go back to what they were without Hammer’s irrational feelings.

It would be the sensible move.

Teresa

where are we going for brunch tomorrow

Seb was not the sort of person who let things go.

He would start looking for Hammer when Seb’s ma told Seb that Hammer didn’t show up for brunch. Hammer knew that much with the same certainty as knowing the sun would come up tomorrow, but there was the uncomfortable question of whether he was assuming too much, because maybe Seb wouldn’t come after him at all.

Dad

hey brad

come over to watch the game tonight

bring seb

and beer

If Seb didn’t come after him, Hammer could accept that, but he couldn’t go back.

Hammer could move to Alaska or somewhere equally remote and spend the rest of his life quietly crying himself to sleep every night. It was starting to feel like a viable backup plan.

Ma

hi baby

has alex talked to you about her dissertation

she's stressing

talking to her would help

Hammer had built his entire life on being responsible. He had made sure his family moving cities for hockey was worth it. He had saved money instead of spending it. He had made sure all his siblings’ college funds were overfull. He had made Seb invest for a retirement he could now have even without Hammer. Seb would probably be fine without what Hammer had made him do, so it wasn’t like Hammer was indispensable, but Hammer had tried to be responsible enough for both of them.

Nicky

okay alex needs a slap in the face

she needs to be done with this like yesterday

ugh seb needs to talk to her asap

Hammer hadn’t meant to go to Toronto, not really, or rather, he had booked the ticket in the strange, very empty space in the car on his way to the airport, when he had been running entirely on the fumes of jealousy and wounded pride. Hammer’s brain at least had the foresight to order a cab, so he wouldn’t have to pay for parking at the airport, thieves that they were with the pricing.

Seb

hammy?

Fucking Toronto.

The city had a habit of doing showing up in Hammer’s life with Seb in the most inopportune moments, like that terrible year with the distance between them that Hammer had spent pretending didn’t bother him while it hollowed him out from the inside, like the ex girlfriend who was now in Boston who made Hammer so irrationally angry he was flying to the city she was from. Hammer wanted to claw her eyes out like Chelsea had attempted to do with the girl who had cheated on her. Hammer had two hours at the terminal to imagine how he could do better.

Chelsea

broooooo

alex is fucking cuckoo rn

seb and nicky are trying their best

i'm not getting in the middle of that

Being at the Boston airport waiting to board a plane to Toronto was not a responsible move, but the more Hammer thought about it, the more obvious the problem became.

Toronto was the problem.

Seb

your note probably slid under the fridge again

did you hear about alex freaking out

anyway text me when you see this

Toronto had taken a version of Seb away from Hammer once before.

The flight attendant’s voice droned in the background as Hammer wondered what part of Seb this time would take away from Hammer. The easy closeness they used to share when they were younger in Boston had vanished already, replaced by a planned ignorance of the things they didn’t want to know. It had ended the times when they used to speak without thinking, even if they pretended otherwise, and Seb had stopped telling Hammer of the others he slept with, and Hammer had stopped sleeping with others altogether.

Alex

braaaaaaaad

my advisor is getting on my last nerve

nicky too

can you talk me down

or them

i'm not picky

Hammer tried to convince himself this was what he wanted as he felt the familiar weightlessness that came with a plane taking to the air. Instead, he found himself staring at his phone on aeroplane mode and thinking about how many people would try to figure out where he had gone.

Seb would wonder most of all, and Hammer held on tight to the dangerous, dangerous thought.

Dad

my turn with alex

i'm doing better than nicky

seb is doing better than me

Hammer blamed the sinking feeling in his stomach on the landing as he turned his phone back on and tried very hard not to imagine Seb looking for him.

It seemed unfair, somehow, to picture it too clearly, like he was setting a trap for Seb because if Seb didn’t come, Hammer would have to live with the version of events where he had expected him to.

Ma

your dad and i are hiding from alex

seb bribed chelsea with a manicure to brave your other sister

Hammer had played hockey in Toronto plenty of times. The city was just a place, from the airport to the hotel to the arena and back, the same as any other stop on the schedule, and yet, he found himself staring out the cab window on his way to the hotel like the buildings might explain something to him. Hammer had come because Toronto had been the place where something between them had broken.

What did Toronto have that Hammer didn’t?

Seb

is your phone out of battery again

you left your powerbank at home

If Hammer had turned his phone off, then the silence would have been simple. Instead, the screen kept lighting up in quiet little bursts beside him.

Looking out at the city from his hotel room, Hammer felt vaguely embarrassed by his entire thought process. He stared at the messages despite himself, his thumb hovering uselessly over the keyboard, then locked the screen and put the phone back in his pocket. Once he replied, the silence would be broken, and Hammer wasn’t ready for whatever came after that.

Seb

chelsea is out crazying alex lol

how many times have i told you to keep the powerbank in your pocket

Hammer’s knee hurt from when that fucker Chambers had skated straight into it.

Hammer tried to guess what Seb was thinking as he rubbed at the offending knee, but it was harder than it should have been, considering how many years he had spent doing exactly that on the ice. Anticipating where Seb would go before Seb even knew it himself had been a good chunk of his job. Seb lived the same way he played, like instinct was a physical force pulling him forward, and Hammer had always been the one making sure the rest of the world didn’t crash into him too hard.

Seb

are you out drinking

with who???

Hammer’s heart hurt when he woke up from a nap he hadn't lain down for. He had spent too many years pretending the thing between him and Seb was simple because the alternative was messy and dangerous and involved feelings that would hurt Hammer when he found out Seb didn’t reciprocate them.

The hotel room had a couch he hadn’t sat on and a little table by the window that was perfect if he were the sort of person who brooded alone in hotel rooms.

Hammer sat down at the table and waited for dawn.

You missed a call from Seb.

You missed a call from Seb.

Seb

did you crash with someone

Hockey had never allowed for much solitude.

Hammer had never realised how unused he was to being alone, and he had only been staring at the window in this hotel room for three hours. There were always teammates, trainers, media people, fans, family calling or visiting, and Seb. Seb was always there. Even when he wanted quiet, there had always been Seb, the farthest he had been was the next room or a call away.

Seb must have heard from Hammer’s ma by now.

Seb

mom says she hasn't heard from you about brunch yet

how hungover are you from last night

The year Seb hadn’t been there, Carmy had stayed in the guest room after every breakup, which was every few weeks. Connors came by for dinner most days. Marlow came by every time he wanted to complain about anyone because he knew Hammer would listen. Viggy and Arya showed up for no reason but that they were bored at home. Roz texted all the time like he had his phone glued to his hands, even when he was sitting next to Hammer watching Hollander’s games.

Seb had never stopped trying with Hammer, even though Hammer hadn’t been able to bring himself to reply. Even after Hammer had stopped responding entirely, Seb hadn’t stopped texting.

You missed a call from Seb.

You missed a call from Seb.

You missed a call from Seb.

You missed a call from Seb.

It haunted Hammer that it might have taken just one more day of his absence for Seb to stop reaching out. He was so glad that day had never come. Would today be that one more day?

Suddenly, Hammer wanted someone to validate this dumb, impulsive, unthinking decision to come to Toronto.

Brad Hammersmith

hey price

are you in toronto

Ryan Price

hey hammer

yeah i live here

what's up

Brad Hammersmith

i'm in toronto

want to get coffee?

Ryan Price

oh nice

is seb here too

Brad Hammersmith

no just me

Ryan Price

fabian and his friends do brunch on sundays

but we're home if you want to join us

they don't mind hockey players

Brad Hammersmith

i don't want to be a bother

we can meet later

Ryan Price

PLEASE COME

WE LOVE HOT HOCKEY PLAYERS

Brad Hammersmith

uh price?

Ryan Price

sorry that was vanessa

i understand if that was too much

but really we would be happy to have you

Brad Hammersmith

ok

Ryan Price

sorry that was fabian

*map pin*

whenever you're ready

Brad Hammersmith

thanks i'll get a cab

Ryan Price

we have pancakes and blueberries and face masks

i see you're hot

are you gay

are you single

Brad Hammersmith

what is happening

Ryan Price

sorry that was marcus drunk on mojitos

bring peanut butter

Brad Hammersmith

um ok

i'll stop by the store

Ryan Price

sorry that was tarek

this is price again

you don't have to bring anything

Price was the only person Hammer knew in Toronto, which was why Hammer was in a cab again, heading across the city to a place he might not feel quite so much like a ghost. A little hope crept in under the weight of a night of unread messages, ignored calls, and a city that didn’t want to answer Hammer. Very little about the last day had been part of the plan, if there had ever been one at all.

You missed a call from Seb.

You missed a call from Seb.

You declined a call from Seb.

Seb

why are you declining my call

wtf is going on

You missed a call from Seb.

Hammer’s world was small and tidy and predictable, and he didn’t have secret friends scattered across random cities, which meant Seb’s list of possibilities would be small. Seb would first have to ask Hammer’s family if they had seen him.

Seb

hammer missed brunch with mom

have any of you heard from him

Chelsea

did he get lost on the way lol

Seb

he didn't come home last night

Dad

@Brad ?

You missed a call.

You missed a call.

Ma

what's going on baby

Dad

are you okay buddy

You missed a call.

You missed a call.

You missed a call.

Chelsea

are you hiding from alex

Alex

fuck off

Dad

language alex

Nicky

at least she's not raging anymore

thanks man

Chelsea

good plan

worry alex enough for her to shut it

You missed a call.

Alex

you shut up

@Brad is everything fine???

Nicky

are you guys fighting or something

You missed a call.

Seb

not fighting afaik

i saw him yesterday morning before i left

he was fine then

but he wasn't home when i got back

You missed a call.

You missed a call.

You missed a call.

Chelsea

fuck is he seriously missing

where tf are you @Brad

Alex

maybe his phone turned off

Ma

i've been trying to call him since yesterday

it can't have been off the whole time

Dad

@Nicky check his location?

Nicky

he turned it off

Alex

why do you have his location

Nicky

sent it to me when he picked me up last month

i think he forgot to turn it off lol

dad and i have been spying

Dad

brad is always either home or at the arena

Nicky

yeahhh hasn't been super useful until now

doesn't he share location with you @Seb

Seb

no

i'll ask the boys if they've seen him

You missed a call.

You missed a call.

You missed a call.

You missed a call.

You missed a call.

You missed a call.

There would come an inevitable moment when Seb would ask why Hammer had disappeared in the first place, but that moment was not yet. Hammer did not know how to answer that question without either sounding ridiculous or breaking his own heart.

Seb would next ask the Bears boys about Hammer, and Connors would find the tabloid post in return. That thought made Hammer wince, but he could at least decide which peanut butter he needed to buy while he waited.

Seb

@Hammer if you don't want to talk to me

at least text in here that you're ok

Connors

*tabloid screenshot of sebbin with a brunette*

is this why

Marly

is that toronto girl

Hammer turned the jar of expensive peanut butter over in his shaking hands, organic and no added sugar. He couldn’t even bring himself to hear about that tabloid again, and for the first time in more than a day, he did something on his phone.

Hammer left the group.

Hammer left the conversation.

Sebbin added Hammer to the conversation.

Sebbin

hammy talk to me

why are you doing this

It wasn’t that Hammer didn’t want to talk to Seb.

Hammer’s fingers drifted over the screen long enough for the screen to dim, but every response he began to type sounded wrong. I’m fine was too much of a lie. I need space sounded like he was on one of Seb’s reality dating shows. Sorry felt like admitting to something he didn’t even know how to explain.

Hammer left the conversation.

Sebbin added Hammer to the conversation.

Sebbin

talk to someone else if not me

please

Hammer left the conversation.

Hammer muted the phone and got back in the cab, told himself he would answer the next message with something short that would stop people worrying and tell Seb he wasn’t ready for a conversation yet.

Roz

hammer

you are missing

Hammer didn’t unlock his phone. He was at Price’s place already, and any conversation with Roz would take longer than the time it would take to go up to Price’s apartment. Hammer stabbed at the number in the elevator, urging it to go faster.

Marly

dude where are you

you can stay at my place if you need a few

you know the code

i can stay with viggy

You missed a call from Marly.

Hammer hadn’t planned this far enough ahead to think about what would happen after the door opened, but Fabian and Price stepped aside easily, like it was the most normal thing that a hockey player they hadn’t seen in almost a year had appeared on their doorstep with three jars of peanut butter that Hammer hadn’t been able to choose between. A woman Hammer presumed was Vanessa from the pitch of her voice that sounded like the capital case she texted in reached for the jars with obvious delight, turning them over to read the labels.

You missed a call from Viggy.

Viggy

if you don't text me back i'm going to start texting everybody

arya's going to start calling hotels

Fabian and Vanessa were already halfway down the hallway with the peanut butter, calling out something that made the laughter in the living room spike.

“You good?” Price asked as he nudged the door shut, looking just as awkward as he had looked a decade ago, a year ago, and every other time Hammer had met him in between.

Hammer nodded automatically, then winced a little when Price’s eyebrows went up.

“Okay,” Price said mildly. “Let’s try that again later.”

Connors

hammer my man

come to detroit if you need to cool off

promise i won't say a thing about toronto

You missed a call from Connors.

They walked closer to the voices somewhere further inside the apartment, laughter drifting out from what sounded like a living room, the low hum of music that wasn’t Fabian’s. Hammer shrugged after he shook hands with everybody but Marcus, who seemed to have dipped his hands in honey, suddenly unsure what to do with himself.

You missed a call from Carmy.

Carmy

hammer

you know i wouldn't just take seb's side right

i can be your friend

You missed a call from Carmy.

Someone handed Hammer a mojito and a frozen waffle as they gestured to a toaster in the centre of the table and leaned forward to open the jars of peanut butter Hammer had brought. Hammer hoped he had made the right choice coming here.

Nolan

why is viggy asking if i've seen you

i said no because i haven't seen you

Price’s phone buzzed on the counter, and Price tilted the phone, like he was debating whether Hammer needed to know about the text. Hammer knew who it would be anyway. Price stepped a little closer, lowering his voice even though the others were deliberately not paying attention.

“It’s Roz,” he said quietly. “What do you want me to say?”

The apartment smelled like sugar in a way that reminded Hammer of Seb, who tasted sweet and smelled sweet and was sweet, and Hammer missed him like no one’s business. He rubbed a hand over his face.

“Just tell him I’m here,” Hammer said, “and that I don’t want to talk to anybody.”

Sebbin

you're not even in boston?

You missed a call from Seb.

You missed a call from Seb.

You missed a call from Seb.

You missed a call from Seb.

Hammer ignored the buzzing in his own pocket and watched the small movements of Price’s gigantic thumbs, thinking about how quickly the boys had found Hammer, faster than the plane he’d taken to get to Toronto.

Smith

how drunk were you dude

Price looked down at his phone, then let out a quiet breath through his nose, like someone who had expected exactly that response. “Roz again.”

“Just tell him I’m fine,” Hammer said, snuggling deeper into the couch like it would keep him from answering the questions Price hadn’t asked yet, “and that I need some time.”

Price nodded and started typing again.

Chapter End Notes

I really like how this chapter turned out, not too angsty, not too blase, just exactly the Cinderella Hammer I envisoned? Writing that Valentine's Day character study really helped my understanding of Hammer. Also, I think I really like Chelsea now? She needs her own fic soon lol, and yes, she's the youngest of the lot. Order goes Hammer, Alex, Nicky and Chelsea.

We're doing one more chapter because I thought Sebbin would arrive in Toronto already, but I wrote more than I expected, and I want Connors to have his 'you fucker' moment, and Sebbin to have his romcom moment, and Price to be uncomfortable to be in the middle of this haha. This was almost parallel storylines running, so it was challenging to write, but I think it really brings out all the information I wanted to get across without having to preach.

See you in a few, and hope you liked it :) lmk what you think as always!

Chapter 3

Chapter Notes

Seb’s a fucking poet and wouldn't shut up until I wrote almost 5k words lol. There's also some Hammer POV in there, because he needed a few things off his chest too :) Thank you so much for reading, and enjoy!

Sebbin

landed

Connors

i have him

Don’t cry.

Don’t cry. Don’t cry. Don’t cry.

“Is that some manifestation thing?” asked Connors, putting the car in gear when Seb slid into the car after stashing his bag in the back. “I didn’t know you were into that sort of stuff.”

“What? No.” Seb stopped muttering under his breath. What the fuck was a manifestation thing? “I’m reminding myself not to cry.”

Toronto traffic moved at a snail’s pace, the kind of grey afternoon where everything looked like dishwater mixed in with the rain. Seb stared out the window and tried very hard not to think about the fact that he was actually back here in Toronto, not that Seb hadn’t come back since, because he had, but this time reminded him of when Hammer hadn’t been speaking to Seb. Seb would do anything to prevent that from happening again, which was why Seb was now sitting in Connors’ dad’s car, being driven to see Hammer. Seb just had to keep it together.

“Dude, what the fuck,” Connors complained, leaning on the horn as a silver SUV cut them off near the Expressway, “Did you see that? Who the fuck drives like that? Wait, what are you doing with your face? You okay?”

“I’m fine,” Seb managed, repeating his mantra, and tried to relax his face. Don’t cry. Don’t cry. Don’t cry.

“Do you think Price has snacks? I bet he has those fancy organic snacks that taste like cardboard but cost twenty bucks,” Connors continued, undeterred by Seb’s lack of contribution to the conversation, “I’m starving! Mom’s snacks lasted me only an hour. I don’t know what she was thinking.”

Seb would usually be the same amount of starving, and he probably was starving, considering he’d eaten one meal in two days, but he couldn’t feel the hunger. He didn't even have the energy to answer Connors. Seb leaned against the car door, his nose to the glass, and watched the familiar Toronto skyline blur past.

Connors must have felt Seb’s unusual silence a bit much, so he made up for it by spending the entire ride from the lobby to the Price’s apartment on the twelfth floor checking his hair in the mirror and narrating floor numbers.

“Five. Man, this thing is so slow. Eight. Still not crying? Good. Eleven. Showtime!” Ding.

The doors slid open, and Connors practically bounced out. Seb had jumped onto a flight to Toronto, but what if Hammer didn’t want to see him? Seb hadn’t considered that before and had never felt like Hammer would turn him away, even when Seb was in Toronto. Seb knew that Hammer’s door had always been open to him, even now that they shared the door. Would it still be? When Seb hesitated at the door, Connors grabbed Seb by the arm, something Seb was grateful for, and hammered on the door. Price had a doorbell and everything too, but Seb knew Connors thought doorbells were a waste when he had a perfectly good fist.

Price finally opened the door and looked slightly overwhelmed by Connors’ hug, something Seb was sure had never happened before. Connors didn't even wait for an invitation. As soon as Price extracted himself, Connors slapped one of his paws on Seb’s shoulder and pushed Seb through, still talking. Seb was a big guy, six foot five on a good day, but Price still had a few inches on him, and Fabian appeared from behind Price’s shoulder where he had been standing. The size difference between Price and Fabian always amazed Seb, no matter how many times he saw them together.

Hammer and Seb were so much more perfect together. They fit like they were meant to fit, their nooks and crannies pieces of a puzzle that only worked together, and they worked so well. Seb hoped Hammer would still let them fit. It would be the absolute worst if now was when Hammer decided he was done with Seb, when they were almost there, almost at the end of the interference that had kept them apart for so long. It would break Seb if they made it this far and didn’t make it to the happily ever after that had sustained Seb all these years. His only other choice would be to move to Alaska and cry himself to sleep every night if Hammer said no, or that they had to stop, or anything that could make Seb cry. Seb was going to cry. Don’t cry.

Connors was still talking when Seb finished calming himself down. “—and I love the whole aesthetic you’ve got going on. Was that you or Fabian? I didn’t know you had a bit of an artist in you, Pricey.”

“Hey Sebbin, how’re you doing?” asked Fabian, smiling tentatively at Seb. He supposed he looked ready to cry and didn’t attempt to speak, nodding back at Fabian.

Seb followed the couple and the rambling Connors, who Fabian was entertaining with details about their home, and Seb would have listened if his brain wasn’t entirely focused on Hammer. It was a familiar litany in his mind. Hammer. Hammer. Hammer. Where was he?

"He's in the kitchen," Price told Seb, keeping his voice low. "Fabian’s friends just left, and Hammer wanted to help with the dishes.”

Hammer was standing at the sink, his back to the door, when Seb stepped into the kitchen. He was wearing a hoodie Seb recognised, one of his own that Hammer had borrowed a while ago, a tad snug on Hammer’s wider shoulders. Hammer was slowly drying a glass that Seb thought looked rather dry. How long had Hammer been drying it?

"Hammy?" Seb whispered and watched Hammer stop moving. Hammer’s shoulders dropped, and a shaky exhale escaped him that sounded like a balloon losing air.

"You got here quickly," Hammer said, without turning around. Connors drove like there was no one else on the road, and Seb rarely ever got in a car with him, but he did get them here fast.

“Connors drove,” Seb said, taking another step into the kitchen until he was only a few steps from Hammer’s back. Didn’t Hammer even want to look at Seb anymore? Seb could feel the tears gathering behind his eyes. Don’t cry. Hammer was wearing his hoodie though, so maybe Seb stood a chance. “Are you okay?”

Hammer finally turned, and he looked as exhausted as Seb felt. They stood there for a long minute, and Hammer didn’t seem inclined to answer Seb, looking at Seb like Hammer hadn’t seen Seb before. Hammer had been looking at Seb for fifteen years, and it wasn’t like he would find something new in Seb’s face today, so why was he looking so seriously?

Seb had never before questioned whether Hammer liked Seb and had taken it for granted, but what if he was wrong? No, he wasn’t wrong. Hammer running off to another country after seeing Seb with someone in the tabloids reassured Seb that Hammer liked Seb outside of being convenient to sleep with, but like how much did Hammer like like Seb? Seb usually laughed at Alex with Hammy and the rest of her siblings when she talked about how much the dudes she wanted to date like liked her, but here Seb was, doing the same thing. Alex would cackle at him for the rest of his life if she ever found out what Seb was doing.

"Oh, for fuck's sake," Connors’ voice boomed, cutting through the thick tension like a skate through fresh ice. "I didn't drive four hours to Toronto for you two fuckers to stare at each other.”

Seb startled, but before he could shush Connors, Connors planted a massive hand in the middle of his back and shoved, sending him stumbling forward into Hammer’s chest. Hammer’s arms went up instinctively, catching Seb by the elbows to keep them both from toppling into the sink. What the fuck was Connors doing?

The air left Seb in a sharp woof, and his face pressed into the familiar fabric of the hoodie Hammer had stolen from him. Hammer smelled like the shampoo they both used, and an expensive coffee blend? Maybe Connors had been right about Price buying unnecessarily expensive shit for no reason.

"There," Connors said, sounding way too satisfied with himself, "now start talking, or I’m going to—”

“Sorry!” Fabian appeared in the doorway as he ran after Connors, too wound up for someone who had only run through their short hallway. Did the guy have zero stamina?

Price appeared behind them and grabbed Connors by the scruff of his jacket. “We’ll keep him out of your hair.”

"I was helping!” protested Connors as he was dragged out, and Price slid the kitchen door shut with a definitive click.

“I brought your power bank,” Seb said, his voice cracking a little as Hammer frowned and traced Seb’s cheek. Why had Seb brought up the stupid power bank? Please let it not be a goodbye. Don’t cry.

"You left it next to the Thai menu on the counter, and I thought maybe," Seb added, needing to say something so Hammer wouldn’t, his eyes fixed on Hammer’s ear, "maybe you forgot to put it back in your pocket after ordering lunch, and that's why you weren't answering.”

It was a lie. They both knew it was a lie. Seb stared at the power bank he pulled out of his pocket, and felt Hammer’s stare on him.

Hammer hadn’t let go of Seb’s elbows, and his grip tightened, fingers digging into the fabric of Seb’s jacket.

“I’m an idiot, aren’t I?”

"You're not an idiot," Hammer breathed, his forehead dropping until it rested against Seb’s shoulder.

"I am," Seb whispered, his hands coming up to bunch tight into the sides of Hammer's hoodie. He let out a shaky, wet laugh into Hammer’s neck. "I brought you an empty power bank. This one’s useless.”

𓅢𓅢𓅢

Hammer let out a sound that was half sob, half chuckle, pulling Seb into a hug he desperately needed. Seb gently cradled the back of Hammer’s head as he wiggled further into the hug, and desperately tried not to sob. They just stood in Price’s kitchen, anchored to each other like it hurt to be apart, because it had. The longest they had been apart in years was only a few hours at most, and it had hurt to be so far away.

“Hammy?” Seb sounded as tired as Hammer felt. Hadn’t Seb slept enough?

Being retired didn’t mean Seb shouldn’t be taking care of himself, especially when Hammer usually had to nag Seb into sleeping at least six hours a night. Seb wouldn’t sleep at all if it were left up to him, worried about missing out on learning things that weren’t any of Seb’s business in the middle of the night. Sometimes Seb counted the lines on the ceiling until Hammer either put a hand over his face or fucked him to sleep.

Seb was vibrating, and Hammer could feel the tremors that ran straight through Seb’s hands where they were bunched into Hammer’s jacket and into Hammer. Seb really needed to sleep before he vibrated himself across the floor, and Hammer intended to say so, frowning harder.

A fat tear tracked through the stubble on Seb’s cheek, and Hammer’s heart ached with a burning pressure he would worry about if it didn’t feel like that every time Seb worried Hammer.

“Have you slept at all?” Hammer accused softly, his thumb brushing away the tear under Seb’s eye.

Seb let out a wet breath and finally looked Hammer in the eye. "Hard to stop counting when the person who tells me to shut up isn't there to do it.”

The kitchen was quiet, except for the hum of the fridge and the ringing in Hammer’s ears. Why were his ears ringing? Hammer wanted to say he didn’t want Seb to see other people. Would Seb tell Hammer to fuck off, or would he agree to try dating? Hammer peered at Seb, who had closed his eyes again and was holding on to Hammer as if he would never let go. It would be so nice if Seb never let go of Hammer, and they could be joined forever, but Hammer needed to say his piece before he ran out of steam. Seb was still holding onto Hammer after Hammer had made him participate in a chase from Boston to Toronto that lasted almost two days, so there was hope yet.

“I saw the picture and couldn’t stay,” Hammer said, the truth tasting bitter, “and I know you want to see other people, Seb, you see whoever you want, just not her. Please not her, I can’t—”

Seb’s eyes searched Hammer’s, wide and bloodshot. “I’m not—” He wasn’t what? There were so many things Seb could not be doing, and Hammer hoped one of those things was that woman. Hammer knew she was a good lady, and had been good to Seb, and Seb had nothing but good things to say about her, but even hearing about her made Hammer’s blood boil.

“Anyone but her, okay?” Hammer repeated, looking away at the counter so he couldn’t see if Seb felt indecisive about Hammer’s ultimatum, because it was that. Hammer wanted Seb to agree, and Hammer needed Seb to agree to never talk about her again. “I’m sorry, but I can’t deal with you seeing her again, so if you want to see her, I can move out or whatever, but I’m sorry I can’t. I’m sorry, Seb, I’m trying to be cool but I can’t, not with her, okay?”

Hammer shuddered, the words draining the tension out of his legs until he couldn’t stand upright anymore, and Seb steered him towards one of Price’s kitchen chairs, pushing him down into it before his knee gave out from the pain that had flared up due to the stress of the weekend. Weekend was a word that meant nothing to Hammer, the hockey schedule the only work week he had ever known, but if anything had ever required a word, it was this weekend, and it wasn’t even over yet.

Seb leaned against the counter right in front of Hammer, keeping his knees boxed around Hammer’s, and cupped Hammer’s cheeks in his palms, his gaze steady through the tears Hammer could see gathering in Seb’s eyes. Please don’t let Seb say that was not what he wanted. It was unlikely that Seb had fallen back in with her after a single meal, but Hammer wanted Seb to agree outright, not drag it out like he currently was. There was no alternative that Hammer would accept that included her in their lives, no matter the capacity it would be in.

"I'm not going back to her, Hammy," Seb said, the words desperate in a way Hammer hadn’t heard Seb say outside of sex, "I don't even like brunch that much.” What? Seb loved brunch. Who was he kidding with that nonsense?

“I mean, I like brunch, but I meant not with her or anything. I just, she said she was in town, and I thought if I went to brunch, it would be less of a deal than dinner, and she wouldn’t expect anything, and she doesn’t anymore.” Seb hadn’t said he didn’t want anything from her, and Hammer was so happy nothing had happened that he didn’t care about Seb wanting to sleep with other people, at least for now. Tomorrow would be another day, and Hammer would figure out what to do about his icky, inconvenient, not-so-little feelings then.

“You are who I want, Hammy, I promise.” Hammer closed his eyes and leaned his forehead against Seb’s, relieved that Seb still wanted him, even after Hammer had run away, but Hammer didn’t want to do it the way they had been anymore. Hockey had been his distraction from the other people Seb fucked around with, and without hockey, Hammer didn’t know if he could do it anymore. He would if he had to, and he probably would have to if Seb still wanted to sleep with others, because he couldn’t live without Seb, but he really didn’t fucking want to. Hammer had somehow become an insecure asshole, but how could he tell Seb that without sounding like an insecure asshole?

𓅢𓅢𓅢

Why was Hammer saying he didn’t care if Seb slept with other people? Seb wasn’t going to sleep with his ex anyway, but he wanted Hammer to want Seb to not sleep with other people, and Seb wanted Hammer to be with no one but Seb. He should say that to Hammer, right?

“I don’t want you to see other people.” There, he said it. All Seb needed was Hammer to agree, and they could start discussing marriage, right? No, Hammer would want a nice, fancy proposal that involved Seb crying through half the speech, because for someone who claimed he wasn’t romantic, Hammer loved being pampered. Hammer loved Thursday date nights at fancy restaurants with Seb, and blushed when Seb bought him flowers, and cuddled into Seb when Seb cried at reality shows, and was such an all-around lovely man who Seb wanted to keep entirely to himself.

“Will you be seeing other people?” asked Hammer instead of agreeing to Seb’s demand right away. Did Hammer want to negotiate seeing certain people? Was he seeing someone Seb didn’t know about? Seb's stomach dropped, acid rolling up his throat so fast he was going to throw up if Hammer said he had someone serious who wasn’t Seb.

“No.” Didn’t Hammer know Seb hadn’t slept with anyone but Hammer in almost a year? There had been a time when they talked openly and knew every teeny tiny thing about each other, to the point that they didn’t have a meal without an update to go with it. When had they stopped? When had they stopped talking to each other, and why did it seem like the answer to all of Seb’s problems was fucking Toronto?

“I’m not seeing anyone, and I won’t.” Hammer nodded, then nodded again, like he was debating whether to say more. Eventually, he decided to go for it. “I only want to see you, Seb, no one else.” That sounded super promising for wedding plans.

“Me too,” Seb agreed, the tears he had been holding back slipping out of pure relief, “I don’t want anybody but you, Hammy.”

“Thank fucking god. Will you kiss me now?” Seb hadn’t flown to Toronto to not kiss Hammer, so he grabbed the front of Hammer’s hoodie and pulled him in like Seb had been holding his breath and Hammer was oxygen. Seb half expected violins to start playing in the background from the sheer depth of his relief when Hammer kissed him back.

Obviously, Hammer kissed Seb back. Hammer had never not kissed Seb back, not even at Roz’s farewell party, Seb fresh out of a breakup, back in Boston, when Seb had felt like he might drown if he didn’t kiss Hammer.

Hammer had always been his oxygen.

Hammer had never let Seb wonder if he needed Seb, and it was Seb’s job to show Hammer how much he was needed, and Seb had been terrible at his job. He was going to be better, he was. Seb was going to spoil Hammer so much from now on that Hammer wouldn’t know where he started and where Seb ended.

Hammer made a small sound against his mouth, something halfway between a laugh and a sigh, and tightened his grip on Seb’s hips like he wasn’t quite convinced Seb was real, and Seb suddenly realised Hammer was shaking, even though Seb was the one who had been crying.

“I’m hungry,” Connors whined from the now open door, leaning against the doorframe like he had been there the entire time, which, knowing Connors, he probably had, “Are you done yet?”

Seb pulled back just enough to glare over Hammer’s shoulder. Hammer, for his part, had latched onto Seb’s hand with a grip Seb hoped he’d get lucky enough to experience soon on his dick.

“Starving!” Connors continued, “Ma didn’t even pack me enough snacks, and Pricey here finished all the waffles in the living room before we got here.” Seb was fairly certain Connors’ mom had packed enough snacks to sustain a gorilla through war, but apparently not Connors for a few hours.

“I already told you Fabian and his friends finished the waffles.” Price said as he slipped in behind Connors. He paused, then added, even more awkwardly, “Sorry, uh, again for interrupting.”

“Hey,” Fabian said carefully, walking up to Seb and Hammer, “you boys doing better?” Seb was sure they were at least a year or two older than the other couple, so who was Fabian calling boys? “I told Ryan and Connors we should give you guys space to work it out.”

Seb was rather sure neither of them knew a Ryan.

“Who’s Ryan?” asked Connors from where his head was inside the fridge, already chewing on what looked like bread. Why did Price keep bread in the refrigerator?

“What do you mean, who’s Ryan?”

Seb thought it was self-explanatory that they didn’t know who Ryan was, but what was up with Fabian today? Too much sugar had rotted his brain, Seb decided and then decided he needed some sugar for himself after his day. “We don’t know a Ryan.”

Price raised a hand in an apologetic wave. “Ryan’s my first name.” Seb had learnt Roz’s, Connors’ and Price’s first names in a single season, a record, since he didn’t usually bother to find out, and he certainly wasn’t going to use them. Seb had only ever called Hammer Hammy, and his family called him Brad so often that Seb knew it, but it felt odd to call Hammy that himself.

Fabian gestured vaguely at Hammer, who was still attached to Seb’s hand like a limpet and asked Price, “You don’t know his first name either, do you?”

“Bob?” Bob was the absolute worst guess for Hammer. Did Price think a fucking amazing man like Hammer, with a name like Hammer, would have the name Bob? What the fuck was that? Seb made a disgusted sound at Price.

Hammer’s fingers were cold, and the shaking hadn’t fully stopped. Seb squeezed Hammer’s hand harder, and Hammer squeezed back automatically. “Brad.”

Connors was chewing loudly on a large slice of sourdough from what Seb could tell, and Seb wanted some too. Connors had taken over Seb’s crown for the day by saying all the idiotic things Seb would otherwise have said if he weren’t starring in the drama. “I’m Connor.”

Fabian rolled his eyes. “We know your name, Connors. What’s your first name?” Okay, Fabian had definitely had too much sugar this early in the day. Would alcohol fix Price’s boyfriend?

Boyfriend! Did their conversation mean Seb could call Hammy his boyfriend out in public now? Seb had seen the astonished expression on Hammer’s face when Seb had called him boyfriend at the cookie shop on Valentine’s Day. That’s what not sleeping with other people meant, right?

Seb wanted to see that expression on Hammer’s face as often as he could, possibly several times a day. Seb was going to say it to the people at the airline counter when they flew back, and the cab driver who would drive them home, and the lady who cleaned their house, who would be home when they got back because Sunday was cleaning day, and who else could Seb say it to? They could stop for coffee on the way so Seb could say it to the barista, or they could go for dinner so Seb could say it every time the staff passed by them.

Connors must have clarified that his first name was Connor because Price was laughing quietly when Seb snapped out of his boyfriend spiral, hand securely tucked in with Hammer’s.

“Thank you,” Seb said to Price and Fabian, interrupting their discussion, “for being here for Hammer.” Seb was really glad Hammy hadn’t been trapped alone in a hotel room with his feelings, and that Price had been good enough for Hammy to be able to come here.

Hammer ducked his head slightly, still holding Seb’s hand. “Yes, thank you, and sorry for dropping in on you like that.” Seb wished they were home so he could cuddle the shit out of Hammer, who looked wrung out.

“Alright, your fridge sucks, Price.” Connors said, wiping his hands on his jeans, having already finished the big chunk of bread he’d been holding, “Are you done with the feelings? Let’s go out for an early dinner, my treat!”

Seb tugged Hammer up by their still joined hands, and Seb loved that Hammer hadn’t let go, and he never would if Seb had anything to say about it. “I’m hungry too, and I’m pretty sure my boyfriend is also starving.”

Hammer made a choking noise next to him, and Seb grinned, already planning the next time he’d say it.

Seb couldn’t wait to say it again.

Chapter End Notes

I think I might be physically incapable of writing too much happy. I love angst, and I love funny, and I can absolutely do remotely happy, but just sappy chapters are a slog for me, which means I find it so very difficult to write the last chapter of a fic, and that's why this took me so long to write. That reminds me I need to finish The Words We Cannot Take Back with a last final chapter that I've now decided will also be angsty instead.

I decided not to resolve more than monogamy here (poly is great, but I'm a jealous bitch), because I don't particularly like writing big chunks of talking feelings, and who does that anyway? I mean, I do like reading good feels writing, and I suppose it’s the adulty thing to do, but I’m not one of those people who can do it justice, and neither are my Seb and Hammy <3 I feel like finding out neither of them has been with other people for a while is one of those things that needs a Bears intervention.

> I promise you, my dear, wonderful, amazing author, the beautiful story you have woven about these himbos makes me believe fully and truly that even if there was not a crisis, three of them could absolutely sit next to each other on a couch manspreading, at least one person with a hand down their pants just resting there, texting in the group chat with even just one other person not in the room, completely silent except for random huffs of laughter.
@Savee said this in a comment, and it made my entire day so thank youuu, and I’m completely on board haha, I'm writing them all in the same room, texting and trying to resolve (some of) Seb and Hammer’s communication issues. Maybe even a quickie fic about Hammer being added back to the group chat?

> Sometimes Seb counted the lines on the ceiling until Hammer either put a hand over his face or fucked him to sleep.
If you were wondering, I also count at night when I can’t sleep, and I love math, so Seb inherited it from me.

And what do you mean, did I check if driving from Detroit to Toronto takes the same amount of time as taking a flight from Boston to Toronto in two hours, ofc I did.

Thank you for reading mwah mwah, see you in the next Hammer/Sebbin fic, and let me know what you think!