Wildest Dreams 1

[ovielove.livejournal.com]

Title: Wildest Dreams
Chapter: 1
Pairing: Alex Ovechkin / Nicklas Backstrom
Rating: G
A/N: Nicklas's POV; at the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, Vancouver

The pile of shredded paper in my lap got bigger and bigger with every passing second. Any minute now they would call my name - someone would - and I would have to go up there, in front of everyone.

 

Everything would be fine if I could make it to the stage and back without falling down.

 

I heard Erik’s name called, then Jordan’s. I saw them both go up and get their jerseys, shake hands, take pictures as if it was the easiest thing in the world. Jonathan followed, same thing. Why was it so easy for them? I had met them all briefly and everyone had admitted to being nervous. The potential horror stories had flown around – what if you tripped? What if you threw up all over the commissioner? What if you didn’t get picked at all?

 

Horror stories, yes. Probably not feasible ones, either. But now they all seemed like possibilities, potential disasters now staring me in the face as I awaited my turn. I glanced at my mother to my right as Washington made their way up to the podium; her face was ashen, a pile of shredded tissue in her lap rivaling my paper mountain.

 

Did she think I was going to fall too?

 

A cheer from the crowd filled the air, a cheer louder than before, and I frowned, glancing at the stage to see what the fuss was about. Clad in the black Capitals jersey next to the general manager was Alexander Ovechkin, a calm smile on his face as he gave a little wave to the crowd. Mr. McPhee was saying something but the nerves and adrenalin in my body had filled my ears with a soft buzzing noise and I couldn’t hear, didn’t know why Ovechkin stepped to the podium.

 

His thick Russian accent tumbled out of his mouth, forming words that washed over me but didn’t register.

 

“The Washington Capitals are happy to pick Nicklas Backstrom.”

 

I knew all those words. I did. They were familiar to me. But I didn’t know what they meant - in that moment, just then, it was another language. After a split second I realized my mother was crying, my father hugging me tightly, strange hands patting my back from the rows behind me as I stood robotically and started to walk down the stairs.

 

The weight of the moment eluded me. All the way down all I could think was…don’t fall. Don’t trip. One foot, the other foot, all the way to the stage.

 

Don’t fall.

 

The stairs seemed to be a mile high but I was up them before I could register their presence. I pasted a smile on my face, shook hands with Mr. McPhee and someone named Mr. Patrick.

 

And then someone handed me a black jersey, someone already clad in a matching one, someone tall and broad-shouldered. It was Alexander Ovechkin. His smile was big and warm, bordering on goofy, his nose just a little crooked, and his eyes were shining down at me beneath a crop of messy brown hair. As he shook my hand I noticed how firm his grip was, how confident…how big. My hand looked so tiny in his, the strong, sun-kissed hand dwarfing my pale white one as he held on for just a moment longer before letting my sweaty palm slide from his grasp.

 

“Welcome,” was all he said. The word sounded more luxurious with his accent, though, and I had to focus my mind to remember its meaning. Welcome. You know this one, Nicklas, I told myself. Now you say…

 

“Thank you,” I managed, earning another smile.

 

Finally I broke eye contact with him and returned my focus to the finely choreographed dance that everyone else had done. Pose for a picture here. Shake his hand, say thank you, walk down the steps again, shake more hands, sit.

 

Don’t fall.

 

Back at the table I was introduced to everyone and then I was done, left to cling to the chair shakily and watch as the rest of the draft unfolded. I felt someone sit next to me but I stared straight ahead, unsure of what I was supposed to do now.

 

“Nervous?” came a voice next to me, thick with accented syllables and echoing a friendly smile. I bit my lip and nodded, finally turning to see the same beaming smile that had greeted me on the stage.

 

“Is okay, you do good, Nicklas.”

 

I felt my eyes grow wide at the sound of my name. It was so beautiful and different and mysterious in that accent. Neek-las. I repeated it in my mind a few times and suppressed a shiver. Neek-las.

 

“Thank you,” I said shakily, trying to smile.

 

“Alex,” he finished. “You can call me Alex.”

 

“Thank you…Alex.”

 

He laughed. “Is all you say, thank you?”

 

“No,” I answered, feeling a faint blush start to creep up my face. “I…can say other things.”

 

“Good,” he said with a wise nod of his head, a falsely serious expression on his face. After a minute he broke the façade, laughing happily at his own joke. The sound and the look on his face was contagious, even when it was laughter at my expense, and I couldn't help but laugh with him.

 

I was about to say something else when I was pulled away to do a series of interviews. After that both Alex and I were whisked off with the other new Capitals to a team-hosted reception in one of the hotel suites. Throughout it all Alex seemed to be watching me carefully, shepherding me through the process and taking it upon himself to introduce me to people or to taste test the food before I put it on my plate. I watched in awe as he seemed to instantly feel at ease with everyone, attracting people from across the room to his side. He was perfectly content to have me trail after him like a puppy, and when I got left behind he would crane his neck around and shout my name without caring what anyone thought until once again I was securely at his side.

 

By the end I was full of good food and I had dozens of names and faces running through my head – but one stood out more than the others. As my family and I started to leave Alex pulled me aside and reached out to shake my hand.

 

“I will be seeing you soon, Nicklas,” he said with a smile that already felt familiar.

 

I could only nod, still overwhelmed and awed by the enormous presence he brought to even the simplest conversation, and after I left his side I found myself wondering just how he did it. There was just something magnetic about him. He was everything I wanted to be and wasn’t - rebellious yet motivated. Arrogant but not obnoxious. Larger than life and still personable on the most basic level. 

And I wanted more.

Comments

[teagoblin.livejournal.com]

this was so cute!!!! thank you SO much for sharing XD

[ovielove.livejournal.com]

Aw thank you - and you're welcome! XD I've got more chapters planned so...as long as people are interested I'll keep posting them here.

...oh, who am I kidding, I'll post even if the interest isn't there ;) Glad you liked it!

[teagoblin.livejournal.com]

I am SO interested ^__^

[fic-of-elise.livejournal.com]

fantastic as usual.

[ovielove.livejournal.com]

Aww *blushes* thanks...and I'm going to wear you down on this Ovie thing, just you wait!

[fic-of-elise.livejournal.com]

Here's the deal with Ovie.

I just read your O2 series, after refusing to read them cuz of Ovie's presence... then I watched that vid you posted of ovie on a.. segway, I think? There were a group of them. He's just endearing, and im very upset at myself. So currently, I am in the closet about Ovie. lol. I have deep seeded fears of my Sabres crew attacking me. He's SO not liked in Buffalo.

[ovielove.livejournal.com]

I really do get the hatred some people have for him over that whole...incident, but I'm so glad you're starting to see beyond it! Um, the segway video kills me. KILLS me. He's beyond adorable ;)

COME OUT OF THE CLOSET!!!

[fic-of-elise.livejournal.com]

i can't! i'll have stones thrown at me!

I'll just secretly enjoy your stories, and read the interviews hidden beneath a blanket, behind locked doors. Hard knock life.

haha, anyway, He just needs to not make dirty shots, thats all there is to it. Other than that, he's growing on me. Now, if i didn't know his personality... i'd have a different opinion, like most of buffalo, but he's adorable... and so i'll just be confused.


ALSO, not that this means that i LIKE him by any means, but are you updating o2 anytime soon? hmmmm????

[ovielove.livejournal.com]

Aww...well, I can understand being upset for the hit that even I agree was worthy of at least a suspension. But having watched him for almost 3 years now I promise you he's not a dirty player - he just made a mistake and not that it makes it better but he's never really hit anyone from behind like that before or since, so there's that.

But yes, he is adorable. I can't make this stuff up, you know? ;)

I am actually updating O2 very soon! I'm going to try and balance these two stories (although I'm crazy for doing so since they're giving Ovie quite the workout :P) so hopefully I'll have something posted in the next day or two on my own journal.

[fic-of-elise.livejournal.com]

yes but these are the types of workouts that we like to see Ovie do.

As for him being a dirty player, to be honest, after that hit, i just assumed he was a dirty player. I assumed he was some hot shot who doesn't care about others. If youre right, and im sure you are, that he hasn't hit people from behind before or after beautiful Danny, then I guess i need to re-evaluate. I mean, everyone makes mistakes. It pisses me off that it was done, and the interview afterwards, he was unremorseful (not sure if thats a word). Just feeling protective of my fav. player. But... you promise he's not a dirty player, and I hope thats true. It has been my main gripe about him. I don't care about the fame and fortune of it all, just that you play the game honorably.

[fic-of-elise.livejournal.com]

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/dcsportsbog/2007/01/alex_ovechkin_drinks_five_beer.html


"...Anyhow, after rattling off all the celebrities he's met in the States (Celebrity No. 1: Olie Kolzig), Ovie is asked about the differences between playing in Russia and in the NHL..."

[ovielove.livejournal.com]

Okay. I remember seeing that article and laughing but it was pre-O2...now? I think my brain just exploded a little bit.

And look at you going off in search of Ovie articles!! I'm so proud ;)

[fic-of-elise.livejournal.com]

im sick. that must be it. it was a mistake. its not my fault. i didn't do it. I was insane at the time.
AH! look what you've done!

[slasher48.livejournal.com]

*glomp* OVIE!

That name has taken on a new life and love for me.

It's the nickie of one of my favorite sexy hockey babes.

And it's yours! And I quite adore you.

Reading this, it's fucking simple to see why.

You are SUCH a good writer.

And you must be reading my mind! I watched the YoungStars and went OMG BACKSTROM IS HAWT!

And then you put him in a story.

Please, feel free to come back into my head and take great ideas anytime.

I loved this. Alex IS all of those things and more.

It's sad to me that I now have to post Deny and make him suffer horribly at Sidney's hands.

Oh, and by the way, for Elise?

There are tons of Buffalo fans who love Ovie.

Even after what he did to Danny. O.O

♥ Love you Ovie. Please don't make me wait so long for your writing!

And check out my Crovechkin ficcie. I think you'll like it. :)

[fic-of-elise.livejournal.com]

really? Because i mostly hear people attempting to plot his death. I just, I love Danny. Even playing for philly, I love Danny, and it was such a cheap shot. Perhaps Ovie can come to my home personally and explain to me why i should like him.

or ovielove can update o2, whichever.

[slasher48.livejournal.com]

They're in the closet, too, love, don't worry.

No one can resist the power of Ovie.

I love Danny for Philly too! Danny is my main hockey man.

And it was, but Danny can fight his own battles. No lifelong hate of Ovie needed. ;)

That'd be nice. I'd love Ovie at my house for any reason. :D

Yeah. *poke* Update, Ovie! ;)

[fic-of-elise.livejournal.com]

*sigh swoon* Yeah, Danny can take care of himsel, because he's so great, really.


danny is my main hockey guy as well, along with Miller. it was ovielove that got me looking at other teams. I've been getting into the capitols. I haven't picked favorites. She's wearing me down on the ovie thing. Slowly. I'm sure it'll happen.

[slasher48.livejournal.com]

*glomps Danny* He can. He is, he really is. He's beyond.

*grin* Fellow Danny lover! Ryan's definitely tied there too.

Partly because he loves Danny so much. :D

Ovie, the player, and Sidney...got me looking at other teams.

and the pretty Taylor Pyatt, Roberto Luongo

Evgeni Malkin, Jordan Staal, Erik Christensen, Colby Armstrong,

and Olie, Sasha, and now Nick, definitely.

♥ Slowly or not, she'll do it. ;)

[ovielove.livejournal.com]

Slowly or not, she'll do it. ;)

Ha! Damn right ;) My goal is to make people love Ovie, if not my whole team...and that will follow, I promise. Boyd Gordon? Brooks Laich?? OLIE KOLZIG??? And that's just 3 of them.

Mwahahahahahaha! :P

(Seriously, I used to be a normal fan and then my team went and got all cute on me - wtf? XD)

[slasher48.livejournal.com]

*grin* I know. I know. You've already got me to be a Caps girl. ;)

I shunned a Penguins game AND a Sabres game last night to watch Ovie's attempts to score! It ended in a shutout and I was STILL WATCHING!

Damn you, Ovie.

OLIE! :D

Hehehehe.

(Same with me! Sabres just went OMG HOT and my entire fandom changed!)

[ovielove.livejournal.com]

You shunned the Pens AND the Sabres for my boys??? Holy...crap. That may be a first! HaHA! I've broken your brain...and I love it. ;)

[fic-of-elise.livejournal.com]

i will never like sid the kid, no matter what.

Ovie, maybe.

Sid? Hell no.

[slasher48.livejournal.com]

Note to self. Work on that.

You'll miss my best work ever because of your Sid hate.

And there's no reason for it. He really is amazing.

[guitargirl39.livejournal.com]

AAAAW. *snuggles Nicklas* This is adorable and I demand to see more.

[ovielove.livejournal.com]

Aw, thank you so much!! There will definitely be more. I've got a few more chapters written and seriously, they're writing new chapters themselves every damn day ;) Stay tuned!