Arrow Hawk: Gronk Smash! (Book 5)

This Time Chaos Cheats (Chaos vs Iceshot on the Ice)

The next day, after the Bruins game, the Tampa Bay Lightning return home to host the Colorado Avalanche. Vladislav Namestnikov stands in front of his stall chucking darts at a dart boards with Gabriel Landeskog's face on it. He smirks as he tosses the darts at the picture. He is so engrossed with the act that he doesn't hear Steven Stamkos, the current captain of the Tampa Bay Lightning, enter the room and come up to him.

"Vladdy?" Stamkos questions, causing Vladdy to spin around to him. "Why are throwing darts at the Avalanche captain?"

"Because Stammer, I hate him."

"Why?"

"I just do." He thinks to himself, Because he did something I can't forgive.

"Did he hurt you in any way off the ice?" Stamkos presses, wanting to know.

"No. It's just on the ice...a year ago."

Stamkos sighs and puts an arm around the forward. "Oh Vladdy, you have to learn to put the past behind you." He plucks the remaining darts from Vladdy's hold and sets them in the square shelf space where his helmet and gloves are. "Hakuna Matata man."

Vladdy rolls his eyes. "I know Stammer, but I--I just can't tell you why. But trust me you'd never let it go if you were me. Gabriel's a cheater!"

"Gabriel is a nice man, a talented player and good captain. I know him personally, so does Strals and he's nothing like you say he is. He's respectful and trust me, he'd never cheat. Whatever it is he did do, it was an accident and you must put it behind you. Do not go looking for a fight, because we need you for offense."

"You don't understand Stammer. You don't have powers!" Vladdy blurts out, before he slaps his hands over his mouth and gasps.

"Powers? Like superpowers?" Stamkos inquires, chuckling.

"Yeah."

"You know those aren't real, Vladdy," Stamkos laughs. "Superpowers are fantasy...X-Men, The Avengers...all fantasy. They aren't real."

Vladdy shakes his head. Should he show him? If he did, would his captain freak out? He didn't know and he ultimately decided to forget about it.

A few hours later,

Vladislav Namestnikov takes the ice with his teammates. It is game time and a rematch against Gabriel Landeskog and the Colorado Avalanche. Both teams take the ice for the warmups. Steven Stamkos follows his younger teammate and keeps an eye on him.

Vladdy glares at Gabriel, who returns the look. Stamkos throws his arm out and grabs Vladdy's shoulder by the jersey.

"What did I tell you? Leave Gabriel alone. If he does anything, you let me and Coop handle it."

Vladdy rolls his eyes. His captain would never understand.

"Got it Vladdy?" Stamkos growls, giving his friend a hard glare.

Vladdy shakes his arm free from Stamkos' hold. "I can fend for myself. I'm not an idiot. But I'm not going to let him get away with anything. I owe him a few cross-checks!"

"No, Vladdy."

"Listen to him, Vladdy! He's looking out for you and we really need you for offense," Ondrej Palat states, skating toward them.

Vladdy glances between them.

"Leave Gabriel Landeskog alone," Ondrej and Stamkos say in unison.

The Russian forward looks between them, to where the Avalanche captain is. He is flipping his hair around and messing with Nathan MacKinnon. He steals a glance toward center ice, where Vladdy, Ondrej and Stamkos are standing, chatting. He slyly winks at Vladdy and laughs.