Ruth Sadelle Alderson

Also on AO3

"How's it going in St. Louis?" Taylor's mouth twists around the city name.

Ryan shrugs. "It is what it is. Been hanging out with Biz." Ryan smirks. "He keeps saying he's going to take me out and get me laid."

Taylor predictably bristles at that. "Fuck him."

Ryan raises his eyebrows. "I don't think that was what he meant." He ignores Taylor's attempt to keep talking. "Are you going to let me see your dick, or what?"

"Not if you're going to talk about going to pick up with Biz."

"Big talk from a guy who can only get laid by relying on his name."

Taylor flips him off, and then adjusts the laptop so Ryan can see it when he takes his dick out.

"Yeah," Ryan says, "that's it."

"This isn't a free show," Taylor says, stilling his hand after a few strokes.

Ryan laughs and gets his dick out so they can jerk off together before the exhaustion of training camp sends him crashing into bed.

*

"This time difference is going to be a bitch," Ryan says.

"We'll figure it out," Taylor says with a shrug. Then he frowns. "You look tired."

Ryan has to cover a yawn before he can say, "Jet lag. It'll get better."

Taylor hmms. "You meet your team yet?"

Ryan shakes his head. "Just the coach and management. I'm supposed to meet everyone else tomorrow."

"I guess I should let you get some sleep," Taylor says.

"You should get your dick out," Ryan says, but he ruins it by yawning in the middle.

Taylor laughs softly. "Yeah, right. Get some sleep, babe. I'll get my dick out for you next time."

*

They don't have a regular schedule, exactly, but there are times of day that they tend to Skype. It's nowhere near any of those when Ryan finds out about Eakins getting fired. Get on Skype, Ryan texts Taylor. Whenever you can. I'll be here.

Taylor Skypes him later, looking haggard and older than his years. "Hey."

"Hey," Ryan says. "How you holding up?"

Taylor sighs, and looks miserable. "Maybe it is me," he says. "Maybe I'm the problem."

"Fuck that shit," Ryan says. And fuck this being a full day of travel away from Taylor shit too. "You're the best thing that team has."

"You don't know that," Taylor says, voice cracking.

"I do," Ryan says. "I was there for a while, remember. It's not your fault."

He pretends not to see the tears in Taylor's eyes, or the shaking of his shoulders when he covers his face with his hands.

"Baby," he says, gentle, after Taylor has looked away to wipe his eyes and looked back, "I love you." It's true, and they both know it, but he doesn't say it very often.

Taylor musters up half a smile for him, and then it drops away. "There's talk about trading me."

Ryan bites back both his opinion that it would be the Oilers' stupidest move to date and his opinion that it would be good for Taylor's career. "In the organization, or coming from outside?"

Taylor scrapes a hand over his face. "Outside, for now. I called my agent, though."

Ryan hmms for a second. "Well, if they trade you to Boston, you know you have a place to stay."

It surprises Taylor into a laugh that looks genuine.

Ryan grins at him. "My place is just sitting empty while I'm here. And my mom would probably cook for you."

Taylor laughs again. "Thanks." Ryan knows he means it for more than just the offer of the apartment.