#Juraj Slafkovsky x Original Character

[puckmaidens]

If I Say It, Will You Respond? - Juraj Slafkovsky x OC

This is for @2manytabsopen as a part of @wyattjohnston ‘s summer fic exchange!

- I’m so sorry for making you wait Kesh, but this story went up and off the rails with Arber’s meddling (as big brothers do 🤣)

The story of Dinah and Jura is one that I definitely struggled with from an intimacy perspective. How do I make Dinah fall for Slaf without feeling like insta love?

Dinah Faye Clark doesn’t regret anything, actually almost anything. She’s gazing at her diploma on the wall, Bachelor’s in Media and Journalism from the University of Montreal.

“Another successful day of work finished. The article on the Habs blueline will go up tomorrow before the draft and hopefully that goes over well.” A soft *ping* goes off and Dinah sees a tweet from the Habs Twitter.

The Montreal Canadiens have the first overall pick for the 2022 draft. Find out more about what that means here. Link Here

Another ping.

The Hamilton Bulldogs are your 2022 Ontario Hockey League champions! They will advance to the Memorial Cup Tournament!

Dinah’s heart thumped as she saw the players raising the Ross Robertson Cup. She sees the Xhekaj jersey and smiles.

Proud of you, big bro. So proud of you, Arber.

Dinah and Arber hadn’t spoken in years, but the sibling bond they share was unshakable across country lines and team switches. When Dinah left for university, Arber stayed and went to the OHL. The first few terms were easy when he was with the Rangers before getting traded.

Everything almost fell apart once he went to the Bulldogs though. Texts were getting lost, calls never making it to voicemail and nights full of tears. They never held it against each other, especially once Dinah graduated and Arber was front row and dead center waiting for her.

Dinah didn’t have both parents, just an Aunt. Having a hands off guardian made her independent and headstrong, from getting on the yearbook and newspaper teams to starting her own blog about the Canadiens before her junior year.

Six years later, she’s a trusted source and media channel for the Habs. What she’s lost in affection and time she’s got back in a supportive network virtually and adventures embedded into her brain. She’s a storyteller, analyst and writer who’s damn good at her job.

When Arber was traded from Kitchener to Hamilton, Dinah struggled with giving space to Arber. Her feelings of being too much to be around drove her into distancing him. The championship brought them back together.

Dinah asked him where his mind was in an interview and suddenly the conversation got deep fast.

Draft Day

”The Montreal Canadiens are proud to select Juraj Slafkovsky from TPS in the Liiga!” Dinah watches the first overall selection stride down to meet the GM, President, and Head Coach of his new team. Her hand flies across her notepad faster than she can comprehend, really.

He’s soft. Teddy-bear like, but not weak.

Dinah dragged her eyes back down to her notes as she waited for the next team to select their draftee.

Someone might say Dinah fell in love that day, but Dinah felt something stronger.

She wanted to tell his story, again and again.

#

1. Juraj’s first game

Mullet Arena is tiny and too cozy, Dinah muses. Everyone seems uncomfortable, too close, intimate in a way that bothered them instead of coming naturally. The warm-ups were starting and as the lights came up Dinah noticed that just right along the opening where the players came out she saw something. It was him getting ready to take his rookie lap. Dinah’s heartbeat got heavy and fast. She got warm although she barely had anything on save for a coat. She couldn't stop staring as he made his loops round and round and the wide oval shape that the ice was. Loop, loop, loop. The sight of him taking his lap on the ice and then heading back off burned into her brain. It was somehow too much but also not enough. She wanted to see more.

2. His first goal

C’mon Juraj, stay on him. You’re almost there, do not let up.

Nearly 12 minutes left on the clock and he’s passing Arizona’s Maccelli and aiming. It misses. The sound of bodies hit the wall ring in Dinah’s ears. The shot is clear this time, now 11:43 left in the second period. He aims, and it passes Ingram. He’s scored his first goal. Jake grabs him first, then Arber and everyone else crashes into Juraj. His first goal has been made and Dinah is watching the ice.. A volcano of feelings screaming to rush out of them as Juraj fist-bumps the lines not on shift.

“His First of the National League, Slafkovsky!” Arber is right behind him, whooping and hollering with everyone else.

After the game ends, Dinah goes to their media availability and records most of the post-game conversation, asking some questions of her own and getting Coach St. Louis to laugh.

Then there’s Juraj, laughing and blushing. Dinah feels her heart stop beating for a moment, but she manages to ask one good question.

“You think this a good start to your career?” 

Juraj laughs, and Dinah knows this feeling is more now, tied and infinite.

3. End of Season

It was a loss. Boston 5 - Montreal 4. Dinah had to hold back her tears when she saw the final score on her screen. Pasternak really shut the door on them. Her phone is a Roman Candle in a room of near darkness. She unlocks her phone and sends a text to Arber and Juraj.

To: Big Bro, Juraj

Hugs. god, I'm so sorry. I know how hard you both fought this season. Do you need me to come over?

From: Big Bro

You know where the key is, Dee. We wouldn’t mind company.

A new message pops up, just between Dinah and Juraj.

From: Juraj

I’ll keep the couch warm. You want to pick a movie?

Dinah comes over and slips her shoes off before shuffling over to Arber, resting her head in his lap. Juraj toddles over and shoves his head in Dinah’s lap.

“You’re a puppy dog, I swear Slaf. Needy baby.”

That made Arber laugh, Juraj turning pink as the movie started.

4. Arber, Juraj and Dinah hanging out before Juraj asks Dinah on a date

Dinah sat themselves down, fiddling with the ring on her index finger as she waited for the boys. Now that the season was truly over, exit interviews done, there was a tiny, faint buffer of time before everyone scattered for the summer.

“Baby Dee!”

“Arber!” They crashed into each other, squeezing tight as Arber lifted Dinah off the ground.

Juraj follows Arber, quiet as he blinks at Dinah.

“Can I?”

“I’m a hugger Juraj, it’s fine. C’mere.” He’s gentle and wraps himself around her.

“So, I hear you’re heading home soon?” Arber nudges Juraj into a corner, raising his eyebrows.

“To finish my schooling, yes. In a few days, but I want to ask you something. Dinah, would you join me for a walk? Nothing too —“

“It’s a date Dee, Slaf is just shy. Meet him at the park Saturday, hm? We both know you think he’s cute.” Both Dinah and Juraj turn crimson.

“HEY. I told you that in confidence you dork!”

“You think…I’m cute? Not just something Arber is saying to be funny?” Arber gets up, heading to the bathroom and the air gets still.

“No. He’s telling the truth. I didn’t want to distress you—“

Juraj grabs Dinah’s hand and squeezes it.

“I like you more. I remember…. I remember my draft day and you couldn’t stop looking at me and I couldn’t stop thinking about you writing wondering what was making you scribble so fast.”

5. Dinah and Juraj’s First Date

“Time with you is never a waste, Slaf. You make any day less gray.”

“Sunshine, the sun is telling me I make their days better. Follow me. I have a surprise for you.” Dinah links pinkies with Juraj and follows him down the path to a picnic blanket laid out with food.

“How in the… Jura how —“

“Arber. Said feeding you would be the best way to woo you. Love you.” Dinah squeezes Juraj’s pinky again, the sentiment sending butterflies through their spine. The blanket has a bowl of strawberries at the center.

“Sandwiches, lemonade and oh, oh I love fruit! Jura, I thought you don’t like strawberries?”

“They’re not my favorite, but you are. Sit, let me feed you.” Dinah shuffles herself between Juraj’s legs and lets her body relax fully into his chest.

The basket shifts closer to the pair, and before long the taste of strawberries breaches Dinah’s lips. Sweet, tart, and juicy. They stay like this, Dinah being fed til every last strawberry was gone.

“How did you know that you wanted to be a journalist?”

The question makes Dinah freeze. Their head tilts back to meet Juraj’s eyes, and Dinah smiles.

“I’m fond of telling stories, and the only way I really could convey it is by following other’s stories. I tried writing fictional stories but it didn’t stick. The only common thread my family seems to share is hockey, from the love of the game to the thrill of watching it. It’s the only way I know how to do what I do best. To show my love to the people in my life.”

To show love? Juraj takes a breath, eyes meeting Dinah’s. He tries to kiss them, getting their nose. Again, their forehead before Dinah tugs his face to hers.

“I still like you most.”

“You’re not right. I wanted to kiss you proper —“

Dinah kisses Juraj again, but deeper, eyes shutting closed.

“I see.”

“I hope so because you seem ready to explode.”

5. The Summer Haze

Juraj is going to surprise her. The box in his hands feels heavy, but after talking (and getting laughed by Arber) he’s sure this is the right choice.

Two steady raps on the door, and the door swings open to show a sleepy Dinah.

“You’re back early. What has you coming over?” Juraj gives Dinah the box and blushes.

“For you. I noticed the recorder was falling apart, so I got you a nicer one.”

“I like this. I like you.” It gets quiet for a moment before Juraj tugs Dinah close to him.

“I like you most.” A kiss to her head, her cheek and her lips.

“I like you most, Jura. Stop trying to one up me.”

“No. I’m always going to like you more.”

As Dinah pulls Juraj inside to cuddle, the thrum of her heart finally goes steady.

#Juraj Slafkovsky x OC #lydia writes! #Dinah Clarke OC #Juraj Slafkovsky x Original Character #nhl rpf #hockey rpf