The Aces beat the Falcs, but since their two captains were by now well-known friends, the loss didn't prevent the Falcs from inviting the visiting Aces to a nearby bar for after-game drinks.
Alexei always looked forward to seeing Kent Parson at these events, helped along by the fact that Kent and Zimmboni were good friends and Tater and Zimmboni were good friends, so he'd been introduced to off-ice Kent early on. They hung out after games like this, but also at other events like Zimmboni and Bitty's wedding and the Zimmerman-Bittle annual Christmas party. He'd even tagged along to Vegas last summer for Kent's birthday party.
He and Kent had begun a sort of teasing friendship that Alexei was exceptionally fond of. So, when he spotted Kent in the crowd, he immediately felt comfortable enough to drop an arm around his shoulders and guide Kent back to the booth where Zimmboni and Bitty were already planted. Alexei liked that even though the Aces won, Kent rarely talked hockey when they met off the ice. Alexei wasn't sure if it was in respect to Jack (they all knew Zimmboni hated losing) or if he truly didn't want to talk about work when they were hanging out.
They spent the next couple hours in that booth. Others would come and go, sometimes squeezing into the booth, squishing Alexei into Kent's side, which he can't say he minded. Kent was obviously smaller than him, but he was still a solid, muscular presence next to him.
"When are you guys leaving?" Zimmboni asked Kent.
Kent laughed before responding. "We'd rather spend an extra day here than in Boston, so we're in Providence for most of tomorrow. I think the bus leaves around seven to drive us up to Boston to sleep."
Jack laughed at his response. "Smart. Maybe you can meet us for brunch tomorrow, then?"
"Sure," Kent nodded. "Is this you saying you're leaving now to go to bed?"
Alexei watched Jack roll his eyes but nod despite it. But then Jack froze, and his eyes narrowed on Kent. "You okay, Kenny?"
Alexei turned and found Kent staring out into the crowd. He could see why Zimmboni was concerned. In just a few seconds, Kent had paled and was gripping the edge of the tabletop with white knuckles.
Kent quickly snapped out of it, though, and returned his gaze to Zimmboni. His hands fell to his lap, and he began nodding at Jack's curious gaze.
"Just thought I saw someone I knew," Kent explained with a shrug. "You guys should text me where to meet you tomorrow."
"Okay, hon," Bitty waved as he followed Jack out of the booth. They both said goodbyes and their seats were soon taken by Snowy and the Aces goalie, Miks, who demanded Tater and Parse settle an argument between them.
When those two also left, Alexei turned his body so his back was to the room, practically shielding Kent from the crowd. Maybe he didn't know him as well as Zimmboni did, but it was obvious to him that the Kent who had first arrived that night and the Kent sitting with him now were two very different guys. Current Kent was stiff and still looked anxious.
"Okay, Kent?"
Kent glanced at him before his eyes traveled past Alexei's shoulders and into the crowd behind him before he met Alexei's gaze again.
"You ever have a fan that seems to show up everywhere?"
Alexei thought about it, but before he could answer, Kent was talking again.
"I mean, I love our fans, you know? But. This guy shows up wherever the team is after a game. Different places all over Vegas. And maybe it could've been for anyone on the team. Or the entire team. Like, just a big Aces fan."
Kent isn't even sure how many times the man could've been there before Kent realized something was off. Maybe he could've passed off seeing the same man with the scar that ran through his left eyebrow repeatedly if they always went to the same bar. But they didn't.
Kent met Alexei's concerned brown eyes and Alexei nodded in encouragement. "But then he was in the grocery store the other day when I was by myself. And I walked out of Kit's vet appointment, and he was in the parking lot."
Alexei's face twisted in concern. "You tell Aces management? Or police?"
"Yeah, but the police said there's nothing they can do about a guy not causing a scene in public places."
Alexei's eyes traveled over Kent's face as he thought about Kent's problem when a thought struck him. "Wait, that someone here? Now?"
Kent's eyes traveled over his shoulder again – and Alexei noticed they were currently a dark blue without any of the gray or green he was used to – before Kent nodded.
Alexei's brows flew up his forehead. Some guy was not only following or even stalking Kent in Vegas, but he'd flown across the country to do the same here in Providence?
Alexei turned his head to eye the crowd. He wanted a headcount of who was still here from both teams. A lot of teammates had said goodbye already and he didn't see many Aces left. The bar was within walking distance of the Aces hotel for the night, but Alexei wasn't about to let Kent walk back alone. Then a new idea struck him.
"Let's get out of here. You come hang out at my place. We watch a movie."
Kent definitely appeared surprised by the offer, but his mouth still lifted in a small smile as he nodded. He sent a quick text to the Aces group chat that he was heading to Alexei's place and a separate text to Jeff and Javi to make sure his alternate captains knew Dinger, Sams, and Sally were still at the bar. They didn't have a curfew tonight, but someone needed to make sure their baby rookie, Sally, made it back at a decent hour. Then the two of them quickly left and Alexei guided Kent to his car for the short ride to his place. He parked in the underground garage and led Kent over to the elevator, up to the sixth floor, and into his apartment.
"This is a nice place," Kent complimented as Alexei turned on the lights. The front door opened into the living room, and he swept an arm towards his couch to invite Kent to sit.
"Is okay," Alexei conceded. "Thought about looking for house, especially when Jack and Bitty were house hunting for theirs, but not sure with free agency coming up this summer."
Kent nodded as he sat, although he didn't really know what that was like. The Aces had always made it very clear that Kent was not going to be traded, and when his first contact had ended, they made a very competitive offer to keep him. Kent had felt comfortable buying his house years ago. But he'd seen teammates who were hesitant like Alexei. It was a part of the game that he disliked. He wished everyone in the league could feel comfortable and settled with their home lives as he was.
"Is nice place for now, though, because -"
Alexei's sentence was cut off by a loud bang on his front door, as if someone had kicked it. They both jumped, but when Alexei spun on his heel to go open his door to see who was out there, Kent sprang to his feet and grabbed Alexei's arm.
"Don't," Kent whispered harshly. Kent had a terrible feeling that this was connected to the man he'd seen earlier, and if it was, then this was an escalation in behavior, something a Vegas victim advocate had warned him about. He couldn't let Alexei put himself in danger.
Alexei considered the request as he glanced back and forth between Kent's worried face and his front door. He really wanted to charge whoever it was that was doing his best to scare Kent. He dropped a hand to cover Kent's and conceded with a whisper, "Will just look through peephole."
Kent's hand fell off his arm as he walked to the door and peered out. Unfortunately, all he could see was just empty hallway.
But they both jumped again when they heard another loud bang. It wasn't against his door this time, but maybe a neighbor's? The noise repeated a couple more times before it was finally quiet.
Alexei didn't want to upset Kent by opening the door, so he pulled his phone from his pocket and dialed the apartment building's management office. He explained that someone had just banged on his door and maybe a few others on his floor and asked if they could immediately look at their security cameras.
The apartment's manager called in the police, especially after other sixth floor neighbors complained. The hallway, elevator, and garage cameras were all reviewed. After Kent and Alexei boarded the elevator from the garage, the camera recorded the man Kent recognized from Vegas appear in the garage and watch the elevator indicator to where it stopped. Then that man rode the elevator up to the sixth floor. He paused at the start of the hallway before aggressively kicking all five doors on Alexei's floor before he exited at the other end of the hallway. He took the stairs down before leaving the building via an emergency exit at the bottom of the stairway.
"I'm really sorry about this, Alexei," Kent apologized as soon as the cops left. Kent didn't have a name to identify the man for the cops and while they were going to be on the lookout for the guy, they didn't seem optimistic that they were going to find him, especially if he didn't even live in Providence. Plus, it seemed all they'd really be able to do was trespass him from the building.
"No sorry," Alexei shook his head. "Not right he do this to you."
"I should probably go back to the hotel."
Alexei adamantly shook his head again. For whatever reason (that he would think about later) he wanted to keep Kent in his sights right now.
"Nah, we go back to my bedroom to watch movie. Better TV back there," Alexei said. He watched Kent hesitate, but it only lasted a few seconds before Kent agreed with a small nod and shrug.
Kent followed Alexei through the kitchen where he grabbed some water bottles and a bag of pretzels, before leading Kent to his bedroom.
"I don't know man," Kent commented as they entered the bedroom. His voice was slightly shaky, but Alexei could tell Kent was about to chirp him. "I don't normally see a guy's bedroom this quick."
Alexei laughed and threw a water bottle at him and Kent laughed as he caught it. He was grateful that Alexei wasn't acting like hiding out in his bedroom was a big deal.
"Is because of Russian charm," Alexei joked as he settled on his bed, back resting against his cushioned headboard, legs stretched out in front of him. "Russians best." He turned on the TV and began flipping through movies to find one for them. "And if you fall asleep here during movie, then I not have to change guest bed sheets tomorrow."
Kent nearly choked on the water he'd been drinking as he laughed. "I wouldn't want to give you extra chores."
"Yes, be thoughtful house guest, Parson."
Finally, Alexei noticed Kent relax back against the headboard. He offered the bag of pretzels and Kent glanced at him briefly before taking a handful.
"Hope you didn't have other plans tonight," Kent offered.
"Just eating pretzels alone," Alexei grinned.
They made it halfway through The Matrix (which Kent had never seen and Alexei was determined to remedy) before Kent dozed off. Alexei wanted to wake him up and suggest he undress a bit to be more comfortable. Or even to borrow something from him to sleep in. But Alexei left him alone. He was happy enough that Kent felt comfortable enough and safe enough to fall asleep.
Alexei eventually turned off the movie and fell asleep as well, but he slept lightly. He found himself waking often to check on Kent and to listen for strange sounds. At one point, though, he opened his eyes and found Kent's eyes half open and peering up at him. Kent had the comforter pulled up to his ears and Alexei saw the subtle movement and listened to Kent's light groan which indicated he was stretching himself awake.
"Morning," Kent murmured.
"Sleep well?" Alexei asked.
Kent nodded, his blonde hair brushing back and forth against Alexei's spare pillow. "Yeah, actually. Your bed is super comfortable."
"Russian bed."
Alexei snickered as soon as he saw Kent roll his eyes in response.
"Brought this mattress from Russia, didja?" Kent asked.
"Sheets made by adorable Russian grannies."
Kent snorted and pressed his face into the pillow to hide his smile from Alexei.
Jack and Bitty both stared with wide eyes when Alexei slid into the booth with Kent for brunch.
"That looks like Tater's hoodie," Bitty remarked with a sly grin as he sipped his coffee.
Kent rolled his eyes and asked for a coffee from the waiter who appeared as soon as they sat.
"Is my hoodie!" Alexei exclaimed proudly, partly because he figured it would make Kent roll his eyes again, and partly because he was enjoying seeing Kent in his clothes.
"Something you two want to tell us?" Jack asked, although Kent noticed that Jack was currently frowning at Alexei.
"Alexei let me borrow some clothes. It's my fault - I haven't been back to the hotel yet."
"Fault not right word, Kent," Alexei argued.
Jack and Bitty's confused expressions morphed into alarm as Kent haltingly explained to them what he'd told Alexei last night, before sharing what happened at Alexei's apartment, including the police report. He was going to have to explain all of this again today to Aces' management, so this was probably good practice.
"Kenny," Jack breathed when he stopped talking, "you could've called me last night."
Bitty shot a curious glance from Jack over to Tater, who clenched his jaw and ducked his eyes down to the table.
But Kent was shaking his head already. "I was good, Zimms. I mean, Alexei's building security team swore they'd watch the cameras the rest of the night, but I was safe with Alexei." Kent leaned over to bump his shoulder into Alexei's. "I'm still sorry you got dragged it last night."
"Well, thank you, Tater," Jack said before Alexei could respond to Kent.
Kent steered the conversation to something new and Alexei pretended he didn't notice Kent glance around the diner or through the large windows to the sidewalk while they ate.
Jack and Bitty offered to drive Kent back to the hotel, but Kent waved them off and explained that Alexei had already offered. They both hugged Kent as they said goodbye, and when Jack hugged him tight for a little longer than normal, Kent rolled his eyes but didn't say anything about it.
"Boston tonight?" Alexei asked as he pulled into the hotel's drop-off lane and put his car in park.
Kent nodded as he peered into the hotel's sliding doors. He could see Jeff and some additional members of Aces management sitting in lobby chairs. He'd texted on the way back to the hotel to let them know he was about to arrive and needed to talk with them.
"You have… roommate? Someone stay with you?"
Kent turned back to Alexei and let a small smile pull at his mouth. "You worrying about me?"
Alexei narrowed his eyes at him in a mock glare. "Just want to know if you have someone with good taste pick out your movie tonight. There's two more movies after first Matrix and you didn't even finish first one!"
Kent chuckled and shook his head. He glanced towards the lobby again and groaned a bit when he saw Jeff get up and start towards them. "Now I have to go through this entire story again with them."
"Want me to come help?"
"No, you've done more than enough, Alexei. I guess I'll see you…" he stared through the windshield and tried to remember when the Falconers were coming to Vegas.
"Six months before Falcs go to Vegas," Alexei stated quietly.
Kent sighed. Six months felt like an eternity suddenly. He leaned over the console and wrapped an arm around Alexei's broad shoulders in a hug. Alexei leaned into it, snaking his own arm under Kent's so he could press a hand to Kent's back to reciprocate.
"Maybe I can call you later?" Kent asked.
"You call anytime you like."
Kent gave a little nod into Alexei's neck and then pulled back so he could hop out of the car. He nodded to Jeff, who had stepped outside but remained by the doors. Kent leaned back into the car to offer Alexei a resigned smile. "And don't worry about me. After this meeting, they're not going to let me room by myself tonight. Or probably even be by myself the rest of this roadie."
"Is good thing."
Kent rolled his eyes but kept the smile on his face as he shut the door and Alexei waited till he was inside with Jeff before he drove away.
Once back in Vegas, Kent had been instructed by Aces management and the local police to alert them if he saw the man again. Kent knew if he was out with the team and saw the man, the Aces could ask the establishment to have the man leave the premises, at the very least, which would maybe get them the man's name so Kent could file official protection paperwork. Which of course meant that the man stopped appearing at post-game team celebrations.
Kent almost stopped looking for him, which is right when he began to pop up again, but only when Kent was alone in public. Thankfully, he never approach Kent directly, but it was enough to creep him out.
"What you doing about it?" Alexei asked on the phone one night.
"I just avoid being alone now," Kent admitted. "Have all my groceries delivered. Don't stop anywhere unless there's a drive thru."
"Good. Keep safe," Alexei said. "But… you okay? Sound sad, Kenny."
Kent sighed. "It's not like I'm trapped in the house. But. It's starting to feel like that, I guess."
"Should get guys to go do things with you other than practice. So, you can get out more. Safely. You know how to bowl? Golf?"
Kent laughed as he pictured any of the guys taking bowling as seriously as he knew most of them took golfing. They did, at least, invite him golfing, but he hated it. And there was a very small window of time in Vegas when anyone wanted to be outside golfing.
Kent's phone beeped in his ear before he could voice these thoughts to Alexei. "Hold on," he said before he pulled the phone away enough to see that it was Jack calling. "Jack's calling."
"Want to answer him?"
"Nah, I'll call him back later. Did he tell you he got Jeff's phone number? He's calling Jeff even more than he's calling me to keep tabs on things."
Alexei chuckled. "He want you keep safe, too."
"Yeah, well I'm going to Jeff's for dinner tonight."
"That's good thing."
"For the fourth time this week."
Alexei outright laughed. "Don't be annoyed," he tried to placate, even as he continued to laugh. He loved these new frequent phone calls with Kent. Kent had called the first time, but now they both seemed to equally call each other throughout the week. "Good food at least?"
"So good."
Kent posted a pic of himself holding Jeff's baby while three more kids were climbing on him to his private account later that night. Alexei always commented on his posts, and Kent always looked for those comments.
His thoughts were, thankfully, becoming less and less of the strange man and he was able to focus more on his season. He'd be lying if he said he wasn't concerned with how the team was doing this year. They'd fallen into a slump of tying games and then immediately losing in overtime. Morale had definitely dropped. The trade deadline was looming and while he wasn't included in discussions, he knew trade talks were happening with management.
And then he exited the locker room after a morning skate to the news that one of their D-men, Camper, was being traded to Providence.
And in exchange, the Aces would receive Alexei Mashkov.