#kandriel

The Washington Generals were okay, as far as professional Exy teams went. They were looking for a comeback and they’d come close—but not close enough. In the fourth quarter, their goalie had let an easy shot slip by and, flustered, another one after that. They couldn’t recover.

The game was a loss. Kevin’s first season was over.

Neil banged on the glass in encouragement anyways, a way to say: Come on, Kevin, you did well. Enjoy it.

One of his teammates knocked shoulders with him.

“Good job, rookie,” the backliner grunted. It was the first words the man had said to him all season, but Kevin took it in stride.

Kevin removed his helmet and spun to face the crowd, holding up his racket as he cast them his camera-worthy smile, his hair sweat-damp and his skin glistening.

The crowd went wild, shuddering their home-made signs and shouting his name in girlish shrieks. His heart trilled, and his stomach jumped. It was the best, best feeling in the world. And he was about to lose it as they transitioned to the off-season. Practicing wouldn’t be enough to match this feeling–the feeling of thousands of people, all on his side.

In all honesty, D.C. had been lonely.

The rest of the team hated that Kevin was more famous than them. And richer, they thought, not knowing a ridiculous amount of his paycheck went to keeping Ichirou off his back. Thank god Ichirou didn’t dip into his paid promotionals and brand deals. Kevin needed that money to fund his new lifestyle. Regardless, the majority of the Generals resented Kevin.

Kevin fuckin’ Day, the captain had said the first day of practice with a mocking grin as he examined Kevin head to toe like he was a piece of meat. Let’s see if you’re all everyone says you’re cracked up to be.

Kevin wished he had gotten drafted to Jeremy’s team in New York, but the former sunshine captain was their star rookie and they didn’t need another.

That wasn’t to mention how Andrew and Neil had each other back at Palmetto, and though Kevin knew they still cared for him, it wasn’t the same without sharing a room and a stadium. Their texts and calls only went so far. Who would be there when Kevin woke up from a nightmare about the Nest? Who would be there when he felt too sick to even make it into bed after a night out?

No, it was just him cleaning up his own messes, night after night. He didn’t think they knew how bad it had gotten. He didn’t think he wanted them to know.

But the even harder truth? Kevin was only still playing Exy because he was scared. Too scared not to.

He didn’t find it fun anymore. Maybe he never had. Maybe the Ravens had taken that joy away from him a long time ago. Maybe Riko had.

Maybe his team had just lost. But tonight, he would party like a champion.

Once he was changed into the standard dress code by the league–a suit, required on the way in and out–he met the others by the back doors where security had been told to let them stay.

Andrew grinned with animosity as he took in Kevin’s after-game glamor. “Didn’t know you could clean up nice.”

Kevin cast him the middle finger. “Be an ass, and I’ll take away your present.”

Andrew’s eyebrows scrunched together. Kevin loved how they were a shade darker than Andrew’s hair, attempting to be all intimidating but really just filling in his pretty face. “What present?”

“You’re making me look rude,” Kevin said, extending his hand to the couple in front of him. The short girl seemed a bit starry eyed but still no-bullshit, while the golden-haired boy beside her seemed happy to see Kevin again. Gansey, his name was. The last time they’d seen each other, they’d rambled on about ancient history until they both were slurring so badly, they couldn’t continue.

Then the other two: a sandy-haired boy with light freckles and tan who seemed like he wanted to be anywhere but here. And nowhere near the man next to him–Ronan, who had undeniably caught Andrew’s attention.

Over spring break, the last time the Foxes had come to visit Kevin, Andrew had picked up a stray: the tall, punk-looking man with a shaved head and never ending back tattoo. It wasn’t hard to see what Andrew saw in him. Ronan stood with his arms crossed now, leaning against the bricks like he didn’t have a care in the world.

Okay, fine. Maybe Kevin got jealous too. Just a little.

Kevin grimaced and said to them, “Thanks for joining us.”

Neil tugged on his elbow.

“It was a good season,” Neil said, because he knew Kevin would beat himself up for the entirety of his break. Kevin waved the comment off. A honk interrupted their conversation, and Andrew and Neil looked for the noise, alarmed. A shiny black bus pulsed with purple, pink, and blue light, the music slipping through the tinted windows.