Rating:

Teen And Up Audiences

Archive Warning:

No Archive Warnings Apply

Category:

M/M

Fandom:

Game Changers | Heated Rivalry - All Media Types

Relationships:

Kip Grady/Scott Hunter, Eric Bennett & Scott Hunter

Characters:

Kip Grady, Scott Hunter (Game Changers), George Grady, Eric Bennett

Additional Tags:

Alternate Universe - Magic, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Valentine's Day, Werewolves, Scott Hunter Loves Kip Grady, Kip Grady loves Scott Hunter

Language:

English

Series:

Part 3 of relax, it's only magic (Skip Autumn Bingo fics)

Stats:

Published: 2026-09-23 Words: 3,854 Chapters: 1/1

and all I ever want is just a little love

Summary

“I had such a good time tonight,” Kip whispers, and traces his thumb over the curve of Scott’s smile.

“Even with the unexpected werewolf encounter?”

Kip knows he’s not entirely joking. Scott is always half-convinced they’ll get to a point where his life is simply too complicated and it will scare Kip off, but honestly, what’s a little surprise werewolf compared to what they’ve already made it through?

-
For the Skip Autumn Bingo prompt werewolf: Scott and Kip’s date night doesn’t go as planned.

Notes

Kip is going on his first-ever Valentine’s Day date. It’s not something that he ever thought he’d actually care about, but everything is different with Scott. Scott is the biggest romantic he’s ever met, let alone dated, and any trace of bitterness in Kip’s heart is simply being drowned in love these days. So, Valentine’s Day.

Despite Kip’s friends and his dad knowing about their relationship, and Scott recently having told his three best friends on the team, they’re still very careful about being in public together. And Kip understands that. He’d have been happy to have a night in, order some food or cook together, let Scott unleash whatever new ways of dreamy domesticity he’s invented for them lately.

But Scott is nothing if not stubborn, and also a lot braver than he gives himself credit for, and he wants to take Kip out for the occasion. Thankfully, he decides to share his thought process about the whole endeavor and Kip can discard some of the crazier ideas (no, they’re not renting out an entire movie theater, even if it’s just small). They manage to settle on a reasonable compromise and that’s that. Valentine’s Day date night out.

Scott picks Kip up at home, because he says he wants to do things properly, but Kip suspects he also just enjoys how traditional and movie-like it all feels. Scott loves doing movie boyfriend things. It’s very cute.

There’s a routine for Scott coming to the Grady house: his car service drops him off around the corner and he crosses their little backyard, knocking on the back door so as not to alert the neighbors. (The neighbors see everything. Especially Kip’s boyfriends. It’s been a curse since highschool, though luckily entirely non-magical this time.)

Kip slips by his dad in the kitchen, wanting to be the first to the door, and pulls Scott inside by the hand with a big smile on his face. He looks amazing in gray jeans that remind Kip just how long his legs are and a dark blue coat over a buttoned shirt.

“Hi,” Kip whispers and kisses him, only quick and chaste with his dad right there.

They make some small talk with George and Scott gives him a bottle of wine he brought. He’s always bringing him things, wanting to make a good impression. Kip keeps telling him he really doesn’t need to try so hard, but Scott loves trying hard and George enjoys the gifts, so everyone is satisfied with the current arrangement. They get along really well, and that’s what matters to Kip.

“Well, you better have him home by midnight,” George says sternly and Kip watches Scott sputter in slight confusion. “That’s when us Gradys turn back into pumpkins, you know.”

“Dad, come on,” Kip chides him and Scott laughs a little nervously, finally realizing he’s being teased. He really can be a little antsy around George.

“I’ll see you this weekend, kiddo,” George says and reaches out to ruffle Kip’s hair, but then thinks better of it and claps his shoulder. Good – Kip hasn’t done the full four-step curl routine today for his dad to upset the arrangement before the night even begins. “And you too, Scott, if you’re not busy. Open invitation, you know the drill.”

“Thank you,” Scott says politely and takes Kip’s hand. “We’ll be there.”

Kip grabs his backpack and they go out the back, across the yard and to the waiting car without any neighbor’s prying eyes on them, as far as Kip can tell. The ride isn’t long; they’re staying in Brooklyn for their date.

If Scott wants to spend his money, Kip figured it can at least go to someone who deserves it: Henry and Violet must be around his dad’s age and have owned a little wine bar in Bay Ridge for as long as Kip can remember. It’s a tiny place, bar seating and three tables, and always very cozy when he comes in with his dad to eat pasta or with Elena to get the classy kind of drunk for a change. More importantly, Kip knows the owners are good people and he trusts them to keep Scott’s secrets.

There’s a little sign on the door letting everyone know the place is closed for a private event, and Kip doesn’t even feel anxious about that. He’s comfortable being an event here with Scott.

Violet greets them warmly at the door, shaking Scott’s hand and giving Kip a little hug. She looks so genuinely happy for them to be here together. There’s some sort of Spanish music playing and the place is dim, illuminated mostly by the warm glow of the many strings of fairy lights arranged along the walls and the candles on the tables and along the bar. There are black and white photos everywhere, taken on journeys to different wine regions, always looking for unique new flavors. It feels very personal and homely.

Violet talks to Scott for a bit, telling him about the history of the bar and thankfully keeping the stories of four-year-old Kip making a mess eating his spaghetti to a socially-appropriate minimum. Finally, she assures them with a little wink that they’ll be left alone as much as possible.

It feels a little strange for a minute, like a first date all over again. Other than the somewhat disastrous gallery visit and that one time at the Kingfisher, they’ve never really been out anywhere together. Scott also seems slightly unsure what to do at first, but then Kip takes his hand on the table, and something settles between them. He leans in close over the small table and brings Kip’s hand up to his mouth to press a kiss to his knuckles.

“Kip, I love this,” he says in a hushed voice. “You picked the perfect place. Thank you.”

“You were about two minutes from renting out The Modern, I had to do something,” Kip replies with a smile and Scott ducks his head.

“I just want to make you happy. And it makes me think big sometimes when that’s maybe not...needed.”

“All that’s needed is you.”

Scott gives him a soft look, and Kip’s heart feels so full that he doesn’t quite know what to do. It’s the correct day to turn up the romance, at least.

They eat an entree of gazpacho and warm sourdough bread while choosing their wine, and then a main course of pasta with shrimps and a spicy mango sauce that makes Scott sigh in what sounds like absolute bliss. Kip feels the wine heat his cheeks and make his head feel pleasantly fuzzy as they sit and talk, fingers tangled together on the table and their knees pressing together in the small space.

Their dessert is a surprisingly light type of cheesecake with a lemony flavor, which Violet brings out on a single plate with only one fork and a sparkle of mischief in her eyes. It makes Kip smile, and he pulls his chair over to Scott’s side of the table so they can sit side-by-side and take turns feeding each other cake.

They agreed beforehand that Kip will pay for their food and Scott for everything else, and even if the balance is quite obviously off, Kip feels happy with that now. He sees Scott add a large cash tip to the agreed fee for closing the bar for the night, and Violet very happily tells him to please come again anytime he’d like.

“We definitely will,” Scott says warmly and Kip leans into his side, arms around each other. He loves having Scott in his world, and Scott seems very content there as well. Kip can feel it sometimes, how he longs for a feeling of home. He wants to give Scott that, as much as he can.

It’s dark out by the time they leave, and Scott decides the cover of night and putting a beanie on are enough so they can have a little walk together before he calls his car service to take them back to Manhattan. Shore Road Park is empty this time of night, and they walk quietly, hands brushing with every other step. The streetlights glow orange around them and the full moon over Verrazzano Bridge peeks out behind the clouds. It really is ridiculously romantic.

When Scott gets out his phone to call a car, he frowns at it.

“Why do I have…” He looks up at the moon, then back at his phone. “Aw, shit.”

🐺🌘🌗🌖🌕🌔🌓🌒🐺

Kip finds out what “aw shit” means while they make their way back to Manhattan. He really has to admit that whatever he expected, this wasn’t it.

Scott talks to his doorman and arranges for his friend Eric to be let into the apartment. Which isn’t that unusual. Except, as it turns out, Eric didn’t just happen to stop by because he was in the area; he is currently sitting outside Scott’s apartment building howling mournfully at the moon. Because Eric is a werewolf.

“Look, you really don’t need to worry,” Scott assures him when Kip initially finds this new bit of information slightly alarming. “Whatever you’ve heard about werewolves in the media, most of it isn’t true. Benny’s such a nice guy, and he just – becomes more himself, as the wolf. That’s what happens. People become more of what they already are.”

“So if you’re a violent werewolf, that’s just because you’re already kind of an asshole as a human?”

“Exactly.”

Okay, then. More Twilight than Buffy, maybe. Kip really is learning so much more about all kinds of supernatural things lately. But it still doesn’t explain why Scott’s friend is doing his howling at Scott’s apartment and not his own house.

“Look, he’s – no one knows this yet, but he’s getting a divorce from his wife. It’s all very recent and I guess with it being the first full moon afterwards, and on Valentine’s Day of all days, he’s just feeling lonely. And he’d never tell us that, but the wolf, well… Carter and I should have offered to hang out with him, but I got a little carried away with our plans, I guess.”

“Hey, I’m sure he gets that,” Kip says softly. “Do you want me – I mean, I can just go back and stay with my dad, if you guys would prefer…?”

“What? No, Kip, not at all.” Scott sighs and squeezes Kip’s knee. “This isn’t exactly the romantic ending to the night I’d planned. Or the circumstances I’d imagined for you to meet one of my friends for the first time. But my place is your home, you never have to leave.”

“That sounds familiar,” Kip says with a smile. He knows Scott means it, but it still seemed polite to at least ask. And also, maybe five percent of the reason is that he’s a little intimidated by the whole werewolf thing. But if Scott isn’t concerned...

When they get to the penthouse, Kip hangs back a little, letting Scott go in first. His doorman has escorted Eric up and let him into the apartment in Scott’s absence, and Kip mentally prepares himself for whatever awaits them.

“Hey Benny,” Scott calls, and a moment later, he is greeted by an armful of giant gray wolf. Scott stumbles backwards a little when two large front paws hit his chest, the wolf up on its hind legs about a foot taller than Scott and definitely much stronger.

There’s really nothing aggressive about it though. The wolf – Eric, Kip reminds himself; that’s a person in there, even though he looks just like a regular wolf, only larger – puts his head on Scott’s shoulder and lets out a sad little whine.

“Oh buddy, I know. I’m sorry. We didn’t even think about what today would be like for you.” Scott strokes his hands through thick, shiny fur. “Carter’s out, I was out...sorry. But we’re here now.”

Eric drops back down on all fours and looks up at Scott. He seems almost...shy?

“Yeah, Kip’s here with me, look.”

Scott takes a step to the side and Kip is face to face with Eric. Eric, the wolf. He seems very calm and definitely friendly enough, but something in Kip’s body signals danger at the sheer size of him, and Kip feels his heart speed up.

“Hi,” he says awkwardly, giving Eric a little wave. He can probably smell Kip’s fear. “Uh. Nice to meet you? I hope this is okay?”

Eric makes another sad little sound and drops his head, leaning it against Scott’s shin.

“None of that,” Scott says gently and bends down to scratch behind his ears. “You’d be there for me too. You’re not imposing.”

He turns to check on Kip and Kip nods, taking a deep breath. This is possibly the least dangerous and definitely the saddest werewolf in all of New York City. His nervous system just needs to get that message.

“How about we put a movie on?” Scott suggests. He gets Eric settled on the couch and goes to the bedroom with Kip for them to change into something more comfortable than their nice date night outfits.

When Kip closes the door behind them, Scott immediately wraps him up in his arms and presses a kiss to his temple.

“You okay?”

“Yeah, just – not used to this, I guess?” Kip tilts his head up for Scott to kiss him properly, but they keep it short. “He seems really sweet though. It’ll be fine.”

“Are you sure?” Scott asks and Kip nods and kisses him again.

“Absolutely.”

Scott, seeming satisfied with that, pulls away and digs a couple of pairs of sweatpants and soft shirts out of the closet for them.

“Though if you take off your clothes in front of me right now, I can’t guarantee I’ll be as well-behaved as the world’s nicest werewolf,” Kip adds and Scott laughs.

“Turn around then,” he says, “be a gentleman.”

Kip definitely doesn’t turn around (or keep his hands to himself like he probably should), but they’re mindful of their guest and his superior hearing and really only kiss for a little bit.

Scott goes to the kitchen to get them some drinks and snacks (and suddenly that open bag of dog treats he keeps in one of the cabinets and that Kip has wondered about before makes a lot of sense) and Kip sits down next to Eric on the couch. He's much calmer now, and the careful look Eric gives him almost makes him feel a little guilty for being skittish before.

“Hi,” he says again. “Scott has told me a lot about you and I’m really glad we get to meet. I’m, uh – I’m sorry about your wife.” Kip really hopes he’s not overstepping with that, but Eric just sighs heavily. The gesture is very human somehow.

Kip’s compassion activates his magic and he can feel it reaching out for Eric. He learned how to stop it first, which was the most important thing, but he’s still getting more and more attuned to it. He can feel it now, the glow of it he’s seen with Scott when they took the pills like a warm, comforting sensation wrapping around him, its threads weaving themselves together. It still likes to reach out on its own to Scott or George or Kip’s friends, and Kip lets that happen. He can feel where it goes now, and he can pull it back, so he sees no harm in letting it roam a little first.

He’s more cautious with Eric, allowing a small exploration but nothing more. And his magic finds nothing to fix anyway, retreating on its own. So maybe the broken heart really is just a broken heart, nothing magical about it.

Kip wonders about the werewolf thing though. What is that, exactly? If it was a curse, it would be something he could (in theory) heal, and he’d be feeling the tug of his magic wanting to fix it. If it was a supernatural injury of some sort, the same. But there’s nothing, so maybe it really just...is what it is.

“All right.” Scott returns with human and wolf snacks, settling between them. He puts a soft sofa blanket and his arm around Kip's shoulders, pulling him close, and Kip cuddles into his side, wrapped up in warmth. He kind of loves that Scott is so easily affectionate even in front of his (presumably straight?) friend. Eric seems very unbothered by it all anyway. He rests his massive head in Scott’s lap with a little huff, a clear invitation for pets.

Scott puts on Zodiac (which is a bit of a choice for a late evening, length-wise) but Kip suspects Scott will be the only one awake through its entirety anyway. Kip watches him pet Eric, fingers absently stroking through his thick coat, both of them clearly used to the routine. And it makes him happy, for both of them. Scott always seems...well, starved for human contact sounds a little mean even in Kip’s head, but that’s what it is.

Kip can get a hundred hugs a day if he feels like it, whether from his dad or his friends. It doesn’t seem like Scott ever lets himself get close to anyone like that, and with the environment he’s in, Kip understands. His friend Carter is definitely a hugger, Kip has seen that on the ice. He’s always all over everyone after a goal. But Scott wouldn’t have been comfortable with that for a long time, maybe still isn’t, even now that he’s out to him. And from what Kip has heard about Eric, he just seems pretty reserved in general.

This whole werewolf thing though – it’s like someone has given the two men a loophole to take physical comfort in each other. So maybe Kip’s magic is right, and it’s really not a curse at all.

With his earlier moment of fear now long forgotten, Kip thinks Eric actually looks really...cuddly. He kind of wants to pet him, too. Kip’s timid question about it is met with an equally shy little tail wag, and then he’s running his hand over the soft fur on Eric’s head. He makes a content little sound, nowhere near as sad as the earlier whines. Maybe that pack animal nature is happier with more people close by?

When Eric is already asleep and Kip is definitely in danger of nodding off against Scott’s shoulder as well, Scott turns off the movie and carefully slides a pillow under Eric’s chin so he can move his leg. Eric huffs and shifts around on the couch, but doesn’t stir, and Scott and Kip sneak off to the bedroom as quietly as they can.

Neither of them is about to start anything with Eric sleeping on the other side of the door, but Kip kisses Scott for long minutes once they’re in bed, hands wandering over warm skin.

“I had such a good time tonight,” Kip whispers, and traces his thumb over the curve of Scott’s smile.

“Even with the unexpected werewolf encounter?”

Kip knows he’s not entirely joking. Scott is always half-convinced they’ll get to a point where his life is simply too complicated and it will scare Kip off, but honestly, what’s a little surprise werewolf compared to what they’ve already made it through?

“Yes, Scott,” he says emphatically. “I want to know every part of your life and I want you to know every part of mine.”

“I want that too,” Scott agrees quietly.

“And as werewolf encounters go,” Kip adds with a yawn, “this one was pretty cute.”

“I’ll send you a photo next time we’re on the road during a full moon. Vaughny just holds him like a big teddy bear, it’s so cute.”

Carter Vaughn, as expected: confirmed cuddler.

🐺🌘🌗🌖🌕🌔🌓🌒🐺

Kip wakes up early the next morning, and his brain is still on autopilot when he presses a kiss to Scott's shoulder and slides out of bed to let him sleep a little longer while he goes to get the coffee started.

He's not even thinking about Eric until he sees him on the sofa.

Eric is very human again. And also, very naked.

Kip lets out an entirely involuntary little squeak of surprise, which seems to be enough to wake up Eric, who lifts his head and blinks at him with his eyes still clouded by sleep. When he realizes what's happening, he makes an almost equally undignified sound and quickly grabs one of the throw pillows that he then doesn't seem entirely sure where to place.

At least he was sleeping on his stomach. Treating Kip to a view of his objectively perfect ass, two globes of flesh that look like pure muscle (not that Kip is actively looking, but...), as round as the full moon last night.

"I'll, uh – sorry," Kip mutters and turns around, fleeing back to the bedroom.

Scott, woken up by their voices, looks adorably confused, and Kip closes the door and crawls right back into bed, his cheeks hot.

"I think the universe just wants me to have a really awkward start to my relationship with your friend Eric," he mutters into his pillow and Scott cuddles close, face pressed into Kip's cheek and clearly not quite grasping the gravity of the situation.

"Oh," he says after a minute. "Yeah, I need to give him some clothes."

"Yeah," Kip agrees, his voice coming out unnaturally high.

"Since when are you scared of naked men?" Scott mutters, still all sleepy and relaxed.

"I wouldn't say scared," Kip admits and Scott makes a questioning sound and then chuckles when it clicks.

"Are you thinking about sandwiches again?"

That was one time. One little throwaway comment about Matti Jalo that Kip jokingly made while Scott was on the road, and now that Scott has gotten over his initial mortification, he seems dead set on teasing Kip about it for all eternity.

"No," Kip lies.

It's not his fault all of Scott's teammates look like that. And he didn't even see that much of Eric. (But it was enough.) He really doesn't know how Scott survives communal showers with these guys. Kip thinks he'd have to go in with his eyes closed just for his own sanity.

"Is that what happens when I take you out on a nice date and don't fuck you after?" Scott asks in a low voice, which is very unhelpful; and then he starts kissing Kip's neck, which is downright rude. "You make up a little fantasy in your head instead?"

"Oh my God, stop," Kip groans, trying to keep his voice down. Eric may not have a wolf's sense of hearing anymore, but he still has ears, and he's right on the other side of the door. So Scott isn't allowed to make him horny now, when they can't do anything about it. It's been a difficult enough start to the day as it is. "And I'm not."

"All right," Scott laughs. "Let's try all the introductions again while everyone is human and fully clothed."