Mighty ducks imagine/ preference

What i shouldve said sooner. (L. Averman)

Mia didn't mean to notice.

She really didn't.

But it was hard not to when Les was laughing with them again.

"Hey, Averman!" Connie called, bumping his shoulder playfully. "You're actually trying today. I'm impressed."

Les grinned. "What can I say? I rise to the occasion."

Julie rolled her eyes but smiled. "Try not to get distracted showing off."

"I don't get distracted," Les said, glancing briefly toward Mia in the stands. "I stay focused."

But then he turned back to Connie and Julie, joking, laughing... staying there longer than he usually did.

Mia felt something twist in her chest.

It was small at first.

Easy to ignore.

But it kept happening.

They'd laugh.

They'd talk.

They'd stand close.

And even though Mia told herself it was nothing...

It didn't feel like nothing.

⸻

Later that day, Mia walked past the locker room, her steps slowing when she heard voices inside.

"...you two really spend a lot of time with him," someone joked.

Mia froze just outside the door.

Connie laughed. "What? You jealous?"

"No," Les said quickly, but there was a hint of amusement in his voice. "It's just—Mia doesn't mind."

Mia's heart dropped.

She didn't hear the rest.

Because all she could think was—

Doesn't mind?

⸻

That night, Mia sat alone on a bench outside the rink, arms wrapped around herself.

She tried to tell herself it was fine.

That she was overthinking.

That Les wouldn't...

But the doubt wouldn't go away.

Footsteps approached.

"Mia?"

She didn't look up right away.

Les stopped in front of her. "Hey... I've been looking for you."

"I was here," she said quietly.

He frowned slightly, sitting beside her. "You okay?"

Mia hesitated.

Then she asked, softly, "Do you... spend more time with Connie and Julie because you like them more?"

Les blinked, clearly not expecting that.

"What? No—Mia, no," he said immediately. "They're my teammates. You're—" he stopped, searching for words. "You're different."

Mia looked down. "That's not what it sounded like earlier."

Les tilted his head. "What do you mean?"

"I heard you," she said, her voice quiet but shaky. "In the locker room. You said I 'don't mind.'"

Les froze.

"Oh," he said, realizing. "Mia, I meant you trust me. That you don't worry about stuff like that."

"But I do," she admitted, finally looking at him. "I just didn't say anything."

Les's expression softened instantly.

"Mia..." he said gently. "I'm not cheating on you. I wouldn't do that. Ever."

She looked at him, searching his face.

"I don't like anyone the way I like you," he added, more serious now than she was used to hearing him. "Connie, Julie—they're friends. You... you're my person."

Mia's breath hitched slightly.

"I thought..." she started, then shook her head. "I thought maybe I wasn't enough."

Les's eyes widened. "No. Hey—no. Don't ever think that."

He moved a little closer, voice soft.

"You don't have to compete with anyone," he said. "You never did."

Mia's eyes filled slightly, and she quickly looked away.

Les gently took her hand.

"I should've said something sooner," he admitted. "I didn't realize you felt that way."

"I should've asked," Mia said quietly.

Les squeezed her hand. "Yeah... but we're fixing it now, right?"

She nodded slightly.

A pause.

Then Les said, a little more nervous than usual:

"You know... I don't say this enough."

Mia looked at him.

Les took a small breath.

"But I care about you. A lot."

Her grip tightened slightly on his hand.

"I care about you too," she whispered.

Les smiled softly.

Then, after a moment of silence, he added:

"No—wait. That's not enough."

Mia blinked. "What?"

Les looked at her, a little unsure, but honest.

"I think..." he said slowly, "I think I love you."

The world seemed to go still.

Mia stared at him, surprised.

"You do?" she asked softly.

Les nodded, a little nervous now. "Yeah. I do."

Mia's expression softened, and a small smile formed through her lingering worry.

"I love you too," she said quietly.

Les let out a breath he didn't even realize he was holding, smiling wide now.

"Good," he said. "Because I really didn't want to mess that up."

Mia laughed softly, wiping her eyes.

"You didn't mess anything up," she said.

Les nudged her gently. "Yeah, well... I still had to say it better."

She leaned her head against his shoulder, calmer now.

"Next time," she said, "just talk to me."

Les rested his head lightly against hers.

"Deal," he said. "Always."

And this time, when they sat together in the quiet, there was no doubt between them.

Just understanding.

And something that felt a lot like trust