NHL Imagines

Tampa Bay Lightning #90: Vlad Namestnikov

ok I just wanted to start off by saying that Vlad is my literal angel and no one requested this but I wrote it one night when I was in the feels so...if any (of the few) Vlad girls like...vote and comment! I am also working on the other requests )

You and Lexi had only known each other for a month or so, nonetheless, you had become fast friends. Tonight was your first hockey game together, and you were a little nervous. You didn't know how you'd react to seeing Vlad after the game. You'd only met him once or twice and he didn't seem interested. Lexi didn't know how you felt about him either and you didn't want to scare her off.

"So where's your jersey?" Lexi asked, motioning to your plain outfit.

"Ah, the only one I have is really old..."

"That's okay! People wear Vinny jerseys all the time!" Lexi smiled and grabbed your hand. "Cmon lets go get that jersey!" She lead you back into your apartment building. Once you were in the elevator, you decided it was best to tell her about your little crush on Vlad.

"Lexi, my jersey really isn't old..." you began, unlocking your front door. You lead her into your apartment and went into your room. You heard her sit on your couch.

"That's fine, it's just we're gonna be late to the game if you don't hurry your ass up!" Lexi teased.

You grabbed your Vlad jersey and put it over your arm, waiting to put it on when you got to the rink. You walked back into the living room. "Alright, let's go!" Lexi got up from the couch and walked out of the apartment, waiting for you to lock your door. She was silently smiling the entire way down to her car.

"So...Vlad, huh?" Lexi asked suggestively. You looked down at the jersey in your lap and back up at her.

"Lexi, please. Don't make this weird." You begged, seeing the arena in the distance ahead of you.

"Let's just wait till the end of the game. In the locker room." Lexi pulled into the player lot and parked her car. "With Vlad." Lexi looked over at you with a smug smile on her face.

"Whatever, let's just go." You said, hands shaking a little as you held your jersey and tossed it on over your head.

***

"A Lightning goal!" The crowd cheered and whooped and hollered at the sound of the goal horn. "Scored by....Vladislav Namestnikov!" The cheering continued and a small smile made its way onto your face as you looked up at the Jumbotron. Lexi nudged you and you playfully hit her arm. The assists went to Brown and Hedman, Lexi cheered loudly for her man and the two of you shared in the love for Heds.

"Are you excited?"

"For what?"

"To see Vlad after the game!" Lexi laughed.

"Lexi, seriously stop. If you embarrass—" You were interrupted by the horn that signaled the end of the game.

"It's time!" Lexi squealed excitedly, getting up from her seat.

"Shouldn't we wait a while so they can, you know, do the interviews and reflect on the game?"

"Eh, they won! They don't need that! And Vlad almost never does interviews." Lexi winked at you before going down to the tunnel. The guard recognized the two of you and let you through. Your heart rate went up when you entered the locker room through the double doors. Pally was getting interviewed about his hat trick tonight and you and Lexi walked fast behind him so as to not be on camera for long.

"Hey, baby!" Lexi pranced over to Brown and he smiled, wrapping his arms around her waist and giving her a sweet kiss on her lips. You awkwardly stood there and smiled, they were so cute. You realized that you still had your Namestnikov jersey on and made a frantic move to take it off but a voice stopped you.

"Привет! Не сними это! не хотел бы Влада ревновать. (Hey! Don't take that off! Wouldn't want Vlad to get jealous.)" Nikita Kucherov walked up behind you, giving you a teasing smile. You and Nikita ad also become fast friends when Brown introduced you, mainly because you were Russian and you both loved to tease Brown.

"Куч! Стоп! Теперь вы не единственный, кто знает, что я люблю его! (Kuch! Stop! Lexi knows about it so you aren't the only one who knows that I like him!)" You answered, gently punching him on the arm.

"You what, now?" Another voice said, in English this time. Your eyes widened and Kuch smiled sheepishly at you.

"Hi, Vlad..." You laughed nervously, crossing your arms.

"What was that I heard, (y/n)?" Vlad also crossed his arms and gave you a serious look.

"She like you." Kuch said before you could say anything.

"That's what I thought I heard..." Vlad offered you a small smile and nodded his head. None of you spoke until Lexi came up.

"What's going on?" She asked, looking between you, Vlad, and Kuch.

"Vlad knows (y/n) like him." Kuch said, shrugging his shoulders and walking away. Lexi widened her eyes and looked at you. You nodded at her, begging her with your eyes to take you home. You wished you had driven.

"Oh, don't look at her like that, Lexi. I already knew." Vlad said, his eyes still on you. He walked over to you, arms still crossed, your faces 4 inches apart. "It's okay," Vlad whispered, "I like you, too." He smiled.

"Stop teasing." You said quietly, not able to look him in the eyes.

"I don't tease about these things." Vlad said. You just shook your head and kept looking at the floor. He uncrossed his arms and lifted your chin up with his fore finger so that your eyes could meet his. You were focusing on how blue his eyes were so you didn't notice when Vlad closed the gap between your faces and kissed you.

The kiss was soft and sweet, just as how you imagined it to be. Because it was just like him, soft and sweet and gentle.

The two of you pulled away once Lexi started squealing. "Vlad, you're scoring twice tonight!"

***

"So, let me get this straight...you didn't want to wear a jersey because it had my name?" Vlad laughed, following you into your apartment. Lexi had suggested Vlad take you home and neither of you thought differently. You could only nod because you were laughing too hard to answer.

Vlad had still not gotten over your embarrassment, even though you had told him right before you left the arena. Once both of you had stopped laughing, you both realized that you were in your apartment. Alone.

"So, this is it, huh?" You asked, trying to not sound as sad as you were.

"It doesn't have to be." Vlad shrugged, taking your face in his hands and kissing you again. It was the same sweet, gentle, soft kiss. But it was different. Somehow. You pulled away to grab his hand and lead him to your room.

"Before you start to wonder, I don't want to do anything..." You stopped and turned around to look him in the eyes. Vlad looked confused. You blushed and felt embarrassed. He'd probably had sex with every girl he's been with on the first date. "I just want to sleep. Just sleep." You said quietly, looking at your bare feet. "If you'll stay."

"That's the best idea I've heard all day." Vlad smiled and picked you up bridal style, giving you a peck on the nose before continuing into your bedroom. "And, (y/n)...I'll stay as long as you want me to."