Chapter Text
Andrew had gone pro right out of Palmetto. He traveled to see Neil as much as his schedule would allow, Neil meeting him on school breaks. When Neil graduated they split the amount of travel to see each other, Neil also on a pro team. Andrew hadn’t complained about Neil’s last year at Palmetto, but he was happy to travel less.
Last year Neil signed with Andrew’s team. They’re based in Pennsylvania, which isn’t the best, isn’t the worst state Andrew has ever lived in.
Andrew wants nothing. He needs even less. Least of all money. Outside of the bare necessities, like alcohol, ice cream, cigarettes; which Neil was particular about, Andrew was not. He has enough money to enjoy a few luxuries like a fast car and a roof over his head. Andrew has a huge salary that he doesn’t waste the effort to spend all of. Not so say he wouldn’t happily burn through the money on stupid things but Neil would make that face. The one where he’d scrunch up his nose, his lips a thin line of disapproval, and his brow ever so slightly furrowed. Yeah Andrew hated that look. Almost as much as he hated Neil himself. So no, no buying three cars when there was only the two of them to drive them.
Andrew decided that he should invest some of his money into something worthwhile. Maybe all those calls from Renee were rotting his brain. She had way too much invested in charity, Andrew thought and shrugged. But last summer Neil and Kevin started helping out Wymack, running an Exy clinic for high school kids. The thing was half recruiting, half charity cause, Andrew didn’t think much of it until Robin started talking about it. That has some of his attention. He’d be at Palmetto anyway, since Neil was going to be there for the week, no sense in missing a road trip.
Andrew enjoyed watching the idiots (Kevin and Neil) play and interact with the kids. But he enjoyed that view from the stands of the stadium, not on the court. He played for a living, doesn’t mean he’s a junkie like his partner. Leave the obsessions to Josten, Minyards were more level headed than that.
Mentally shaking himself for getting lost in thought Andrew re focused on the list of sports related charities, domestic and abroad. There were pages of the things, he could spend all afternoon looking at them and still not find the right one. He glanced up from his computer screen to see Neil playing with a pen as he read through his latest stack of fan mail. Junkie , always reads and responds to the kids mail, and sometimes the other stuff too. Andrew let his agent and PR manager take care of most of that stuff. But Neil, always the idiot , had PR filter the mail to him so he could read it. As Andrew watched Neil pulled his notebook closer to his spot on the floor, to jot down something.
It's just like when they were in school. Only instead of class work on the floor its fan mail. In an instant Andrew has an idea. He redirects his attention back to his computer screen, quickly pulling up his email to put his idea into motion. Maybe Wymack wouldn’t useless after all.
Wymack has recruited drug addicts, criminals, abuse victims and just about everything in between. But there is always a first for everything. This is the first time he’s recruited a Canadian, an inuit too. He had to reschedule his recruiting trip in the earlier part of spring because of logistics and other school board meetings and obligations at Palmetto.
He counts himself lucky that this particular recruits’ coach, Coach Gagnon, also runs a community league. Gagnon invited Wymack to see one of those games since the High school’s season was already over. Wymack agreed and while watching her play he texts Andrew.
Found the recipient- W
Good.- A
Care to know more?- W
Guy or girl?- A
Girl. Canadian. Dealer, O or D. -W Sends a quick video of her game.
Good. She meet the requirements?- A
Yeah, her background almost as sad as yours.- W
He isn’t surprised when he doesn’t receive any more texts.
Wymack puts his phone away, and watches more of the broader game. He sees some other potential, Flint’s Backliners are dangerous. They look a little disheveled in borrowed gear, and both using sticks too short for them. But Wymack sits and observes longer.
The pair seem to be perfectly in sync with each other. Quick glances across the field followed by fast coordinated movements, the pair yell to their teammates to keep the dealer and goalie acting as one strong unit. The Dealer, when on Defense also falling into their influence it seems. The Strikers are good, but they seem to act more independently. When the dealer is on offense they connect back with her, but the backliners are constantly making quick gestures to each other.
The Bears (Gagnon’s team) beat the Moose 9 to 7. A really good game. Wymack asks to have Ms Flint wait after the game for him to talk to her. But on a split second decision he also asks about the backliners.
The Gagnon gives him a knowing smile, “Ah, Becket catch your eye?”
“Which one is that?”
“The backliners”
“yeah. Becket and?”
The Gagnon smiles and rolls his eyes, seems to be having fun at Wymack’s expense. “Hope you have room for both of them on your line, because they seem to come as a pair.”
Wymack looks at the coach for a moment, understanding that must be family. He doesn’t ask how they’re related. He does some quick calculations to see if he can swing 3 new recruits.
“You better talk to them first then, they have a habit of splitting right after. I’ll go grab them.” With that the Coach is gone.
When two tall blondes, faces still flush from the game, come out of the locker room Wymack forces himself not to roll his eyes. Of course, more blondes , I’ve not had an easy time with blondes, ever. A quick mental image of Andrew comes to mind, Wymack dismisses it.
Stepping towards the pair the slightly taller boy with hair short cropped and styled reaches his hand out to shake it. “I’m David Wymack, Coach for the…”
“Palmetto State.” The other boy says, hair a shade darker, eyes a little more shadowed than the boy’s hand he was currently shaking.
“Rals, let him speak. Sorry.” He shrugs and releases Wymack’s hand.
“No no, quite alright. Saves me half the trouble if you know who I am. But you are?”
“I’m Yancy Becket,” the taller boy jerked a thumb at the other boy, still standing behind him an arm length away from Wymack. “This is Raleigh my younger brother.”
“Ah, glad to meet you,” Wymack then reaches around Yancy to offer his hand to Raleigh. The younger brother inching backwards as he quickly shakes Wymack’s hand. As soon as Wymack lets go Yancy steps back into the space between Raleigh and Wymack. Wymack thinks, yup at least one of these boys has enough issues to make the cut of the Foxes. Wymack plasters a big smile and rally’s on, “You boys played an amazing game out there tonight.”
“Thank you sir.” Yancy does the talking, little bro keeps his eyes trained on Wymack.
“I’d like to offer you boys a scholarship to play for me.”
“What?! Play for Palmetto state?!” Raleigh practically squeaks
“yeah, that’s usually the deal I make. Well, what do you say?”
“I’d say you’re a year early.” Yancy’s face remains calm.
“You’re not a senior?” Wymack looks at Yancy, trying to read him. A icy look descends over the young man’s face.
“I am, but he isn’t. And we play together, that’s the deal.” Yancy crosses his arms, driving the position of power home.
“Yancy! Don’t be an idiot! This is your opportunity! You should take it, it's a chance at college.”
Yancy peers over his shoulder at his brother, then eyes Wymack, “Excuse me for a moment.”
Wymack doesn’t wait, “I can offer you both a scholarship, I’ll happily recruit you now, and start when you graduate… which is?”
“Another year.” Yancy grinds out, like the year might kill him.
“Yancy” Raleigh sounds between pleading and whining.
“Hold on a second.” Yancy turns his back on Wymack, whispers to his brother, hunched close together. There is some angry sounding muttering, Wymack realizes it doesn’t matter if he can overhear them, they’re speaking... French? Wymack just grabs a cigarette from his coat pocket, stuffs it into his mouth and lights up while he waits. It's just like old times, multiple languages, secrets being kept . Yup he’d dealt with this all before, Wymack starts to attribute it to blondes, but realizes that Nicky and Kevin and Neil weren’t blonde. Just blonde brothers then. Yeah, that might help explain some of it.
Yancy turns around, a stern look on his face. “Do I have to accept right now?”
“Uh, no. Give me your contact and I’ll send the paperwork for you to look through. But it’d be nice if you could give me a response as soon as possible.” Wymack twists his face to blow smoke away from the boys.
“Fair.” Yancy nods.
Wymack looks between Yancy and Raleigh, a sour expression on the younger brother’s face. Someone is upset to not accept right away.
“Does Gagnon have your contact info?”
“No, he doesn’t.” Yancy states flatly.
“Well then fine, here.” Wymack reaches into his folder and grabs out a blank copy of the usual 5 year contract that he has his recruits sign. “Here’s a blank copy with my business card” he taps the card which has his contact information and phone on it. “Feel free to use the number, call if you have questions, or want to talk about it. If you get me your info I’ll have contracts made up for you both, along with the time delay on, Raleigh, was it?” a quick nod from the boy, “I hope to hear from you soon.”
Yancy grabs the folder and clutches onto it hard, turning he drops a set of keys into his brother's hand as they walk away.
“Nice to meet you!” Raleigh chirps before following his brother out. “It's my turn to drive, isn’t it?”
“Yeah, your turn kiddo. Give me time to read this stuff anyway.”
Wymack listens in as they walk away. The door closes behind them and Wymack stubs out his cigarette. He wanders off towards Gagnon’s office to meet with his hopefully new Dealer.
Renee is super excited. She can’t believe she gets to be a part of this surprise. She waits near the back door of the auditorium, eager for Andrew and Neil to arrive. Dan is with her too, pacing around as they wait. There is the sound of a car door closing, Dan jumps over to the door, opening and looking around.
Renee steps back, giving the two men space to get inside. She looks them both over quickly, even now, they both look so young. Very catching in their black suits, Neil wore a white shirt and orange tie, while Andrew wore black shirt and a white tie, very striking indeed. Renee quickly closes the space and hugs Neil close, a small squeeze and quickly releases him.
“Come on, lets get in before we miss it.” Dan says as she smiles at both men.
Renee rolls her eyes at her friend, “Miss it Dan? It takes a bit longer than that.”
“What does? What are we here for?”
Renee and Dan exchange a look with each other, then look to Andrew.
“Still keeping him in the dark?” Renee asks quietly.
Andrew shrugs. “He’ll know soon enough.”
“I’d hope so.” Neil sounds exasperated, “I still haven’t been told why I had to dress up and sit in the car for hours, if we were just going to get together with the foxes! We could have done that in half a dozen places.” Neil looks around the back hall of the auditorium, taking in the place, “Nicer places than the back of an auditorium too.”
Andrew shoves Neil a little, “Lead the way ladies.”
They do without any more complaints or fanfare. They climb up the stairs to the balcony seats, a whole section with orange ribbon and ‘reserved’ signs hanging off them. Dan leads them to the section, Matt relaxing in a seat, arms thrown around the back of the seats. He jumps up at seeing them approach, giant grin on his face.
“Neil! About time!” Matt envelops Neil in a bear hug, picking him up off the ground momentarily. Neil back on the ground, Matt smiles again and releases him. Neil steps to the side, Matt’s smile carries on like a love sick puppy, then sticks his hand out, “Minyard, looking good.”
“You too.” Andrew decides he doesn’t want to goad Matt into a fight, and leaves his other comments unsaid.
Renee makes eye contact with Andrew then, she knows him too well. He shrugs, neither acceptance nor denial of what was left unsaid. She smiles at the group. Looking around, she notices the others aren’t there yet. She turns around in time to see Allison, looking stunning as usual, along with Brian, Robin, and Holly approaching from the end of the aisle. Allison waves, Renee waits for the group to arrive.
“I was afraid you weren’t going to make it.” Renee says softly, looking from Allison to the other three now standing together.
“I had to pick these lame ass kids up from the airport. Can you imagine?! Commercial flights are such a pain. Tch” She affects an air of annoyance, then smiles and hugs Renee. Allison lets go of Renee, breezes past to the rest of the group. “Minyard, glad to see someone in your house knows how to dress properly. Neil!” She hugs Neil too, a genuine smile on his face.
Renee looks at the group all around, when the lights flicker twice. “Come on everyone! Find your seats.” She takes it upon herself to act as usher for this rowdy group. Andrew allowed the end of the aisle, Neil next to him, followed by Robin, Brian and Holly. Renee, Allison, Matt and Dan seated in the row behind the guests of honor, even if it'sd a bit lop sided. No one wants to sit next to Andrew but Neil, well most days. Andrew seems to be calm despite all the commotion of the night. Renee can’t help but think Neil has been a good influence on her friend.
The awards ceremony gets under way with a boring speech. The School’s President introducing the different department heads, who make up the committee that decides who receives most of the awards. Blah blah blah, Renee zones out most of it and watches her friends in front of her. Neil leans ever so slightly towards Andrew on occasion, whispers something. Andrew mutters something back quietly. When they start with the merit awards in the sciences department Andrew turns bodily toward Neil, his hands a flurry of quick motions. Neil watches him and without hesitation signs back something brief. Andrew has a short response, Neil nodding a sharp agreement.
They sit through an hour of nonsense, which Renee is thankful that her friends don’t cause a scene during any point. The foxes are all in different stages of zoned out from the here and now when someone announces Wymack on stage.
Renee sits up, attention caught in full. She pokes Neil and Andrew quickly in the shoulder, and nods forward to redirect their attention. Andrew nods and Neil just looks forward.
Wymack walks on from somewhere. He too is dressed up, suit and tie, even has an orange pocket square in his sport coat.
“I’d like to thank you all for coming. Now I don’t want to bore you with a long winded story. But this award needs a little preamble. An alumni of my program came to me and wanted to help. I was happy to receive the help. But there was a catch.
The award would be in the form of a scholarship to Palmetto, but I had to pick and get approval of the recipient. They wanted it to be someone that was in a similar place, a kid with few options and the only place to go is up.
“… the runaways and strays of the Exy community…”
“… The Josten Scholarship is awarded to Ilisapie Flint, who has fought through countless hardships just to make it this far in the sport. She has embodied the driving spirit I look for in any athlete, but she also has triumphed despite the hurdles and obstacles she’s faced.”
Renee no longer paying attention to the stage, looks back to the two in the row ahead of her. Neil has actually jaw dropped, and Andrew is almost smiling, his lip looks to be quirking up just a touch.
Renee is happy to take pictures of Wymack and the newest Fox, Ilisapie Flint, and then a couple of other shots, with Neil and Ilisapie, and then the three together. She also catches a couple of candid shots of Andrew and Neil, looking a bit awestruck. Andrew’s face betrays nothing but Neil’s says it all. This is a legacy, something that they can both be proud of.
Renee wonders if Neil’s happy that Andrew did something good, or that Andrew named it after the other good thing in his life. She shrugs, doesn’t matter.