#leo foster

masterlist

the difference between the two of them

because Leo says ‘there you are’ when Jeremy starts to get sharp; he’s saying ‘there you are’ to the old Jeremy who he knew, the reckless addict, the boy boldly defying his family out of what Leo probably assumes is spite, the man who he thinks is only putting on an act by trying to play by the Trojans’ standards.

but when Jean says ‘there you are,’ it’s because he sees who Jeremy has become, who he’s trying to embrace being: the captain who is willing to do anything for his team, the kind, patient partner who has been holding Jean up since his first day in California, the insanely talented player who deserves to pursue what he so clearly loves.

"I liked it. I want to do it again," Jean says.

Derrick and Derek, who have accompanied Jean to the lofts, try to escape when Jean goes to his room to change. Jeremy intercepts them immediately.

"Why does Jean have a split lip like he got into a fight?"

Derrick and Derek exchange glances.

"Because Jean got into a fight," Derek says.

"Actually, he didn't hit anyone. He just got punched, and… they arrested the person. He's in the brig," Derrick adds.

No one understands anything. Jeremy starts to get irritated by Derek and Derrick's secrecy.

"Start from the beginning," Jeremy orders in an excessively harsh tone, so much so that Derek and Derrick flinch slightly.

"We went to a bar," Derrick says.

Laila grunts. Jean isn't even old enough to drink. Catalina bites her lip at Jeremy's stern glare as she's about to laugh.

"Oh, no, Jean didn't drink. You know how he is. Anyway, everything was fine, we talked about a lot of things and… Suddenly, someone came in, looked at Jean, recognized him, he made a comment and left with his group," Derek recounts.

Derrick swallows hard before continuing the story.

"After that, some time passed, and someone from that person's group came in to say that their car had been vandalized. That person blamed Jean for it," Derrick continues.

"Jean's great, we all know that… And we also know he's got a sharp tongue when he wants it to," Derek finished.

"He tore him to shreds, Captain. You should have heard it. It was one clever insult after another. That idiot couldn't even respond to Jean. Thank goodness English isn't our brother's native language, because if it were, that moron wouldn't have survived," Derrick continued admiringly.

"The moron punched Jean. Jean didn't even flinch. He took it with his hands up… And the police arrived."

"They arrested that guy for assault and disturbing the peace. They totally got him. He also lost his car. They wrecked the tires and the bodywork."

Laila had to stop the "Big D" story, as they were getting more and more excited as they told it. They seemed proud and were having a great time.

"I'm lost. Why did he blame Jean for wrecking his car, and what did he say to Jean to provoke him like that?" Laila asked.

"He literally said, 'You're the Raven… Now I understand Knox,'" Derek confessed.

"And there's no proof that Jean did anything to his car. He was with us the whole time… Except for the seven minutes it took him to go to the bathroom," Derrick said with feigned innocence.

"Seven minutes is a long time to pee," Catalina commented.

Jeremy's question was much more pointed and husky. He was snorting like a rhinoceros when he opened his mouth.

"What's the name of the person they arrested?"

The Big Ds looked at each other again before answering.

"…Leo Foster."

Cat covered her mouth with one hand, and Laila let out a hurt whimper. Jeremy took a deep breath for almost half a minute before speaking again, all barely contained anger.

"Jean doesn't know who Leo is, does he?"

Cat and Laila looked away. Derek and Derrick shrank even more. Jeremy wanted to die at the thought that Jean knew he was worth less than a car.

"I know we messed up, but… It was the Most fun night of my life, Captain. Can Jean come back out with us?" Derrick asked pleadingly.

Jeremy slammed the door in their faces. He headed for the first aid kit.

"What are you going to do?" Laila asked.

"I'm going to treat Jean."

"And… Leo?" Cat insisted curiously.

Jeremy looked at them both as if they'd grown two heads.

"He attacked Jean. Leo is where he belongs."

"In the brig," Laila clarified.

Jeremy didn't understand.

"He hit Jean. Of course he has to be in the brig."

Laila and Cat smiled as Jeremy headed to Jean's room, his voice nine tones softer and sweeter than it had been just a minute before.

Laila sighed.