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, Kip Grady & Elena Rygg

Characters:

Kip Grady, Scott Hunter (Game Changers), Elena Rygg, Maria Villanueva, George Grady

Additional Tags:

Alternate Universe - Magic, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Witchcraft, Curses, Kip Grady loves Scott Hunter, Scott Hunter Loves Kip Grady, Good Friend Elena Rygg

Language:

English

Series:

Part 1 of relax, it's only magic (Skip Autumn Bingo fics)

Collections:

Scott/Kip Autumn Bingo

Stats:

Published: 2026-09-12 Words: 4,332 Chapters: 1/1

you are my antidote

Summary

"These road trips are just killing me. I mean, it's brutal. I think I'm cursed," Scott sighs, throwing the last couple of shirts into his bag. No smoothie, no win, has been the trend lately. And it's not like he can just whisk Kip away and take him on the road with the team to ensure his good luck.

"Don't even joke about that." Kip looks thoughtful where he's leaning against the doorway to Scott's bedroom. And so, so beautiful. Scott can barely make himself stop looking at Kip some days. Staring. Marvelling. "Maria got cursed once, it was terrible."

-
For the Skip Autumn Bingo prompt witch: A glimpse into Scott and Kip's story in a world where magic is real.

Notes

Being with Kip feels like all of New York City's November shades of gray have suddenly turned into gold. Kip's smile is Scott's personal sunrise every morning and his touch feels like the warmth of a late, lazy summer on Scott's skin. He still can't believe it. He went after what he wants and – it paid off? It makes him happy?

It doesn't mean that Scott isn't subconsciously waiting for the other shoe to drop, but the feeling is so far in the back of his mind that he sometimes forgets to worry about it at all.

He has Kip in his arms. He's playing better than he has in ages, his slump from a couple of weeks ago long forgotten. One smoothie was all it took – or rather, one look at the lovely barista that Scott just couldn't stop himself from flirting with. And he's glad about that. It's the best thing that's ever come of a weak moment.

🍂🎃🍁

At first Scott thinks there's maybe just a difference in energy levels between Kip and him. If he's honest, he doesn't really hang out with anyone who isn't a professional athlete, so he isn't sure what's normal for…well, regular people.

And it's not that Scott isn't regular in many ways, too. It's something he has in common with Kip, actually: no magic. Or at least, so far. It's not completely unheard of for people to manifest talents even in their late twenties or early thirties, but definitely the exception. Scott isn't really bothered about not having any abilities though. The use of any magical powers is strictly forbidden in hockey anyway, so what would he even use his gifts for?

Anyway. He thinks maybe Kip being tired as much as he is all the time is a non-athlete thing. He could definitely mistake his body for an athlete's if he didn't know any better. But there's a difference between strength and stamina. So maybe that's what it is. Scott can't hold him to his own standards.

But then Kip starts complaining about it, apologizes to Scott when he falls asleep on the couch at eight o'clock, and assures him that this isn't actually normal for him. Well, maybe the excitement of their new relationship is using up a lot of energy? It definitely does for Scott, though it also gives him some back. He feels like he could move mountains when he looks at Kip.

Either way, it doesn't seem like anything to worry too much about. Everyone gets a little tired sometimes.

🍂🎃🍁

"There's pasta salad in the fridge. Chicken, no feta."

"Oh yeah? From where?"

"From me. I made it."

"You did?" Scott can't help the reaction he has to something as simple as Kip making food for him. He hasn't felt so cared for in…maybe forever. Kip seems amused by his excitement and smiles when Scott presses a kiss to his jaw.

"And also, I stole some of your supplements and pre-workout and whatever you had that looked healthy. I think I'm probably deficient in…something."

"Did you have it checked?"

"Ha. Spoken like someone who has health insurance. Nah, I'll just take the usual suspects and see if it does anything to give me more energy."

Kip has been even more run down lately. Complaining of feeling weak all over, dizzy, and like he can't focus. Maybe it is some sort of deficiency.

"You know what I think I might be missing?" Kip asks with a wicked grin, letting his gaze travel over Scott's body. He likes where this is going.

"Some, uh, protein?"

Kip laughs. "I was gonna say Vitamin D but we're clearly on the same page here."

Magnesium, Scott thinks as Kip drags down his sweatpants. Whenever he's had any issues (with pretty much anything, actually), the doctor always said to take magnesium. He'll have to remember to tell Kip about that.

(He doesn't. He barely remembers his own name after a couple of minutes.)

🍂🎃🍁

"These road trips are just killing me. I mean, it's brutal. I think I'm cursed," Scott sighs, throwing the last couple of shirts into his bag. No smoothie, no win, has been the trend lately. And it's not like he can just whisk Kip away and take him on the road with the team to ensure his good luck.

"Don't even joke about that." Kip looks thoughtful where he's leaning against the doorway to Scott's bedroom. And so, so beautiful. Scott can barely make himself stop looking at Kip some days. Staring. Marvelling. "Maria got cursed once, it was terrible. I guess this guy she turned down was a witch and he didn't take it well?"

"What happened to her?" Scott asks, brows furrowed.

He isn't very well-versed in these things. Witches and magic and spellwork and rituals. The way his heart feels when he looks at Kip is all the magic he needs in his life.

"Oh, she couldn't touch plastic anymore. Which sounds silly, but do you know how many things are made of plastic? All the things, that's how many."

"Wow, that's…creative, I guess." Poor Maria.

"Luckily Elena was able to break it after few days."

Scott is touched when Kip gives him a pair of blue banana socks to bring on his road trips. Of course it's more the man than the smoothies making him play better, but this will feel like having a piece of Kip with him. Reminding him that Kip is at home watching, thinking of him.

"I love them so much," Scott says softly and Kip smiles into their kiss. He feels so perfect in Scott's arms. He could win any game in the world for Kip, he just knows it.

"Can I fuck you?" Kip asks, eyes dark and searching.

"Absolutely."

They fall onto the bed, all thoughts of curses and hockey games forgotten for now.

Kip falls asleep right after, even though it's the middle of the afternoon, and Scott strokes his fingers through his sweaty hair and watches him as he rests.

Kip has been getting more and more exhausted lately. He's probably stretching himself too thin, getting up so early to open the smoothie shop most days, working his shifts there and doing catering gigs with Shawn whenever he can, and then of course spending all his free time with Scott, adjusting to whatever time Scott's busy schedule allows them.

It feels like it just keeps getting worse, like it's getting harder for Kip to even get out of bed in the morning. Scott vows to keep an eye on it. He'll make sure they go to sleep at a reasonable hour, that Kip eats a decent breakfast before he goes to work. And if he doesn't feel better, maybe push him a little on booking a doctor's appointment. He'll have to convince Kip to let him pay for it somehow.

✨🔮🌙

Scott plays much better on his road trip than in the last few games that weren't in New York. He scores two goals in his first away game, which hasn't happened all season, and he excitedly tells Kip that it must be the socks. Kip smiles on the other end of their Skype call, looking pleased but also very tired.

"Are you sleeping okay?" he asks and Kip shrugs.

"I feel like I do nothing but sleep. It just doesn't help. I don't know, maybe just fighting off a cold or something."

"If you don't feel up to going to the fundraiser…"

"Oh, no, I'm absolutely gonna be there," Kip says. "Besides, Elena would kill me. She asked me to go like two months ago. And now that I have a suit, you know, no excuses."

"I'm looking forward to seeing you in it," Scott says, and it's the truth, even though it makes his heart ache a little. What he wouldn't give to walk in there with Kip on his arm. Posing for photos together, showing him off, introducing him to Carter. It's wishful thinking, of course. He knows he can't do that.

✨🔮🌙

The day of the fundraiser, Kip looks like he must definitely be getting sick. He's pale, always leaning against a table or the wall, as if his legs aren't strong enough to hold him upright on their own. Scott wants nothing more than to go over to him and comfort him. Take him home and tuck him into bed, kiss his forehead and hold him while he sleeps. God. He's in so deep if these are his wild fantasies.

"Dance with me," Elena says urgently and drags him off, away from Kip.

"You wanna tell me what the hell is going on and what that thing on your back is?"

"What?" Scott asks, at a loss. "What - thing?" He looks over his shoulder as if he might be able to see what she means, but of course there's nothing there.

"Okay, so you don't know about it."

"No?"

"Fuck."

She briefly gives the couple dancing next to them a fake smile, letting Scott spin her around, and continues in a hushed voice.

"Full disclosure, I put a spell on you. To reveal your secrets to me, any ill intentions, whatever."

"Oh," Scott breathes. He didn't even know that was a thing. Could anyone just find out his secrets if they used magic on him?

"Don't worry, it's not that easy. I'm very good. And it's not - very concrete."

"Okay." He still isn't quite following what's going on here.

"But you, my friend, have a giant ugly curse stuck to you, but something is protecting you from it."

"What?"

"I'm thinking Kip is. Unintentionally. You do see he's miserable, right?"

"I - yeah. He's so tired all the time. I think he needs to see a doctor," Scott says, glad to hear that someone else shares his concerns.

"No doctor can fix this," Elena scoffs. "We need somewhere we can talk."

✨🔮🌙

They go to Scott's apartment together, Kip barely even on his feet. He leans into Scott's side heavily as soon as they're on the elevator, head on his shoulder. Scott wraps an arm around him, holding him against his chest.

"We'll figure this out, okay?" he whispers to him and Kip nods weakly.

Scott wants him in bed as soon as possible, but Kip insists on being part of the conversation, which only seems fair anyway. He changes into soft clothes, a pair of sweats and Scott's red Admirals hoodie, and lies down on the sofa, head in Scott's lap.

"Let me look at you," Elena says. She stands behind Scott and runs her hands over his shoulders and upper back, like she's searching for something.

"Definitely a curse. Disgusting little thing. It's not even…elegant. Someone just threw this together and hoped for the best. Gross."

Kip makes a sad little sound, blinking tired eyes up at Scott.

"You were right."

"I didn't - it was just a joke. I had no idea what I was talking about." Did he somehow speak this things into existence? Is that how it works? Scott always thought he was just superstitious. Hell, everyone on the team is.

"It would have something to do with hockey, right? That's the most obvious reason someone would put a curse on you."

"Like to play badly? I mean, yeah. The season was going terribly before…" 

"Before you met Kip," Elena finishes for him. She walks around the sofa, kneeling in front of Kip and observing them together for a moment. "It's not doing anything right now. But it's definitely Kip keeping you safe from that thing somehow."

"Is it eating me?" Kip asks, sounding pitiful. "Is the curse feeding off me?"

"Okay, so - just thinking out loud here. Curse says you lose games, Kip comes into the picture, suddenly you win. It's not just that you don't lose, but you play really, really well. It would take a lot of energy to turn it around that way."

"Yeah, I've been playing really well and Kip's been getting worse and worse," Scott says quietly, stroking his thumb over Kip's cheek. Fuck. He's been the reason all along why Kip's been doing so badly? Kip's been miserable because he's been protecting Scott from a curse? It all seems completely unreal to him.

"It doesn't make sense though, you don't have magic," Elena says to Kip. "I don't understand how you're even doing this."

She puts a hand on his wrist, closing her eyes like she's focusing very hard, staying completely quiet for long moments, and then -

"Kip!"

"What?" Kip asks, sounding groggy.

"There's, like…a healing energy? It's still hidden pretty deep. It's so small, but it's so beautiful," Elena says, sounding awed.

"Gee, thanks," Kip mutters and Scott can't help the little smile his lips curl into.

"I think you're manifesting, babe. I think you're going to be a healer."

Scott isn't sure what exactly that even means, and Kip isn't saying anything, so he sticks to the more urgent questions.

"Okay, but how does he stop - healing? Me, or my curse or whatever?"

"He can't control it yet," Elena says quietly. "You have to stay apart until he has control."

"No," Scott says immediately. Surely that can't be the solution?

Kip shakes his head and curls in on himself. "I'll just - no more game day smoothies. And you have to give the socks back. I won't even say good luck or anything."

"That's not enough. You can't even think about it, Kip."

"No, we can't - I can't - " Scott feels like he can't breathe. Elena is taking Kip away from him.

"Do you want him to die?" Her voice is harsh and Scott recoils as if she just slapped him. "Because that's where this is going. This thing is zapping all his life energy while he's fighting it. You'll keep winning games and Kip is gonna keep getting weaker and weaker until there's nothing left."

He wasn't even thinking about his games. That's not why he wants Kip around. Elena must know that. But if Kip has been keeping the curse at bay…

"Is there a way to break the curse?"

"Yes, but it's gonna take me a minute to figure out how. This thing is a mess, some of the usual stuff won't work on it."

"So, just until then?" Kip asks. "Until you figure out how to break it and then..."

"Maybe," Elena says vaguely and Scott feels all his hope slipping away all over again.

"Can I - is there a way to give some energy back to Kip? Like a blood transfusion? I'm strong, I can spare some." Kip smiles up at him, so much warmth in his eyes. Scott would give him anything if it just made him feel better.

"I don't have that power," Elena says quietly. "And the only energy worker I know in New York is - well, let's just say I wouldn't trust him with this. With you two."

Not great, but at least they know that's an option now. Scott likes knowing all his options. Even if some of them might be difficult to actually put it into practice.

"The most important thing is to just stop it for now."

"But you can't just lose all your games," Kip whispers. It's sweet of him to care that much, but that's really not what Scott is focused on at the moment. Which surprises him, too. There used to be nothing in the world that was as important to him as playing well, but now, seeing Kip like this...

"Don't worry about that. We'll figure it out."

Scott helps Kip sit up and holds him close again, face tucked against Kip's neck and breathing him in. Who knows how long they'll have to be apart now. It makes him want to cry. Not just being away from Kip, but the whole thing. What has he done to Kip? He could have died if Elena hadn't seen the curse? Just so Scott wouldn't lose his hockey games?

He keeps holding Kip while Elena packs up his things for him (including the pair of banana socks, right from Scott's laundry basket, and he doesn't want to think about how those must smell). Kip is close to falling asleep again and Scott presses a kiss into his hair.

"I love you," he whispers, and Kip mumbles something back, swallowed by the fabric of Scott's suit jacket. "You're going to be okay. Just get some rest, baby, all right?"

🍂🎃🍁

Elena texts him updates over the next few days. Kip is staying at her apartment and they told his dad and his boss at the Straw+Berry that he caught a really bad flu. It's December after all, and half of New York is currently coughing up a lung, so that seems to be an acceptable explanation for everyone. She also has him under a couple of spells, helping him sleep as much as possible and helping him not think of Scott so much, lest he accidentally keeps using his new powers on the curse.

They've been trying different things to break the curse, Elena coming over to the apartment and performing complicated rituals on Scott, but nothing has worked so far. Now that Scott knows it's there, he'd swear he can feel it. Like something got its claws into him and is clinging to his back. He plays terribly.

"Do you think I could see Kip for his birthday?" he asks Elena. "I know it's not - great, but…"

"I know he'll want to see you then," Elena says gently. "And he's been getting better, so…I mean, maybe."

Scott holds on to that maybe, even if it comes with more complications: Kip is going to his favorite gay bar for his birthday, the first outing in days for him because he's needed so much rest. He must be so excited to see his friends and get out of the house for a bit. And if Scott wants to see him…well.

He does his own research about curses, even though it's probably pretty useless compared to Elena's attempts, because nothing he reads means anything to him. Some curses require magic to be broken, some need a sacrifice, and some a resolution of conflict. He wants to find a source that just tells him a true love's kiss will cure them both, like in a Disney movie, but he's already kissed Kip plenty of times anyway and it hasn't changed anything. Some curses are mind games, and need you to stop thinking about them for them to go away. Which is a little difficult in this case, but Scott tries it just to be doing something. It lasts until his next game that afternoon, reminding him that his curse is definitely alive and well.

Maybe a sacrifice, then. What could he give up? Not Kip, that much he knows.

🍂🎃🍁

The morning of Kip's birthday, Elena sends him a selfie of the two of them together, a small cake on the table in front of them. That's one good thing to come out of all this: Elena has really warmed up to him. Scott won't pretend he wasn't a little terrified of her that first time they met, but she cares about Kip fiercely, and after seeing that Scott does the same, she seems to have accepted him into her circle. She's nice to him. Still a little scary, but on his side; on their side. It makes Scott feel a little better in all of this.

Kip looks healthier in the photo than he did the last time Scott saw him. There's a bit of color to his face again, and Elena seems optimistic that he'll be fine to go out and sit in a bar for a couple of hours that evening. Scott is allowed to stop by.

And he's scared. God, he's scared. Going to a gay bar in New York? Anyone could see him. But not seeing Kip today isn't even an option. Not after everything. And he could just go see him at Elena's, but he knows this will mean so much more to Kip. That this is what he wants. And Scott will do his best to give that to Kip.

So he puts on his coat and shoes that evening, heart pounding in his chest, and decides to be brave.

✨🔮🌙

The Kingfisher looks cozy enough from the outside. Inviting, even. Definitely very non-threatening. Scott can see Kip and his friends inside through the window, Kip sitting in a chair and everyone gathered around him. Handing him a little cupcake, giving him hugs. Loving him.

Okay. He can do this. It's probably more conspicuous to be seen standing across the street from a gay bar staring at it longingly rather than actually being in it.

It's only been a few days since Scott last saw Kip, but it feels like ages. He looks better, as much as he can see through the window. Scott's palms feel sweaty with nerves just thinking about feeling Kip in his arms again. And also, thinking about going in there.

Fuck it, Scott thinks. He's been playing like shit. He has some sort of magical curse on his back. He can't be around the man he loves too much or he might die so that Scott can play better hockey. His life is currently a bit of a dumpster fire anyway. Why not risk fanning the flames, at this point. He opens the door.

It's warm inside, the lights low and music playing softly, and Scott instantly feels a sense of comfort. He can see why Kip likes spending time here.

Six pairs of eyes are immediately glued to Scott, but he ignores it. There's only one face in here that matters.

"You came," Kip says with a big smile and gets up from his chair. He's still a little unsteady on his feet, his steps towards Scott slow, but that sparkle in his eyes is back. The sparkle Scott and his stupid curse stole.

He crosses the distance between them decisively, wrapping Kip up in his arms. He has to feel him, has to touch him, make sure he's still here.

Kip makes a soft sound of surprise when Scott hugs him, clearly in more than just friendly greeting.

"Can I kiss you?" he whispers into Kip's hair. "Please?"

Kip's arms come around his waist and he nods fervently. When he looks up at Scott it's almost like he can't believe what's happening.

"Are you sure? Here?"

"Gained some perspective on a few things lately," Scott says and brings their mouths together. There's no hesitation; he isn't unsure of what he's doing in the least. There's just Kip, and his wonderful warmth and his lips soft against Scott's, his hands gripping the fabric of Scott's coat that he hasn't even taken off yet.

Scott knows he should probably tone it down, with Kip's dad right next to them, but he can't make himself hold back. He kisses Kip like he's starving for him, and he has been.

Something shifts between them then, the air crackles with energy and Scott feels hot all over for a moment, and then -

"Whoa."

"What the hell?"

The Kingfisher lights up, a flickering orange glow illuminating the interior, and Scott feels like something is ripped out of him. It hurts, but only for a few seconds, and then it feels like a weight has been lifted off his shoulders.

The energy settles, the light around them gone.

"Uhh…" Kip looks around, still pressing close to Scott. "What just happened?"

"Congratulations, you just broke a curse," Elena says dryly. "Damn."

Scott clears his throat. Everyone is staring at them.

"So, this is the boyfriend I've been telling you I don't have for the past two months," Kip says. "Tada. Sorry."

"Hi again, Scott." Maria gives him a little wave and he nods at her.

"How - how did we…?"

"If you ask me, by caring about something more than you do about hockey. It's like that broke the code. Whoever cast the curse wasn't anticipating that to be an option," Elena explains. "I could have thought of that."

"Oh, yeah, and uh, Scott was cursed for while," Kip tells the others. "It's kind of a long story."

"How are you feeling?" Scott asks him. Kip looks so much more lively again. There's an energy to him that Scott only remembers from the first two or three times he saw him.

"I…feel great, actually. I feel like I wanna go to the gym."

Scott breathes a big sigh of relief and laughs, pulling Kip into a hug again. It's so good to see him do better.

"Yeah, breaking the curse would have done that," Elena explains. "All the energy you put into it came back to you."

"Okay," Kip's dad says. "I have absolutely no idea what's going on here, but it's really nice to meet you. Scott. Scott Hunter." He visibly swallows and extends a hand for Scott to shake. "This is, uh - a bit of a surprise."

There have been many surprises in Scott's life lately.

✨🔮🌙

It's all over social media the next day: Dallas Kent suspended from the MLH for putting curses on fellow players. Results from all games of the season declared invalid. All players asked to come forward if they suspect their game may have been tampered with.

Huh. So it wasn't just Scott.

It never even occurred to him to turn to the league with this. Apparently Shane Hollander's mother was the first one to suspect foul play when Montreal went on a losing streak.

His phone doesn't stop buzzing, but it's still early in the morning, so Scott figures all that can wait for an hour or two. He sets it to airplane mode and turns his attention to something he has recently realized is more important than his career: Kip, in his bed, cheeks a healthy pink again, and his smile as stunning as ever. Downright magical.