Chapter Text
The university gymnasium is said to be the only place where equality and world peace has been achieved because –regardless of major, years spent studying, or whether they even play sports– everyone hates it.
The bleachers are rickety and haven't been changed since the founding of the university. The air has a permanent smell of old sweat that no amount of air fresheners and air conditioners can hide. The floors were splintered enough to make players and volunteers trip enough times to start avoiding them. At least it gives the home team an advantage during tournaments.
For all those reasons and more, Dew hates coming to the gymnasium outside of futsal practice. Unfortunately, he has pledged his eternal loyalty to a bunch of psychopaths for friends. Hence why he's here, adjusting every couple of seconds to not let his butt be punctured by exposed nails on the bleachers.
One of the senior players, Force, comes back after a round of tripping and duct taping loose wood. The students waiting for the try-outs keep watching with utter terror.
"Six spots!” he announces, like the forecast has announced sunshine after weeks of rain “Better than last year’s fifteen.” Then, he turns to a guy in casual wear and a laptop. “Bookie, we still gotta cover them up before tournament season starts. Can you note that down to bring up with the dean?”
Bookie –or Book from Chemical Engineering– nods and types something significantly longer than whatever Force said.
At the click of a tongue, another person appears beside Book. This person is taller than half the room –a feat considering more than three-fourth are basketball players.
"We were supposed to start an hour ago," the new person (Dew nicknames Tall Dude) says to the clipboard in his hand, frowning like the words are changing languages the longer he stares at them. With an irritated glance at Force, he adds, “You could’ve told me about the wood needing to be taped earlier.”
“Hey, I saw the wood this morning too! And let my poor back rest after being hunched down for so long,” Force moans before plopping beside Book to snuggle into him. Book grimaces, mutters something that Dew knows is a threat to Force’s life, before letting him snuggle closer like a cat.
Dew keeps watching Tall Dude having a staring match with his wristwatch and clipboard to notice that another player –somehow even taller– slides up beside him.
"It's alright, tryout periods are longer this year. We have time," Taller Dude (as Dew names quickly) says with a pat on Tall Dude’s shoulder, more to comfort Tall Dude than dismiss him. Despite rolling his eyes, Tall Dude nods and goes to kick Force awake.
"I didn't know Joss and Gawin became a thing," Nani says from Dew's right, wearing sunglasses indoors due to the bright morning light from the eastern windows across them.
"Who?" Dew asks, still staring at Tall and Taller dude. Fed up with shuffling, he shoves his bag under his butt to be used as a makeshift cushion.
The senior players are now going through the clipboard together, occasionally pointing at potential names. Some of the aforementioned names smile politely under the attention, others have begun paling from an oncoming panic attack.
Nani's index finger makes an appearance in Dew’s vision. "Gawin–" the finger lands on Tall dude– "and Joss–" then Taller dude– "are co-captains of the basketball team."
Dew finally perks up with interest.
"Co-captains?" he asks. Then, in a more scandalous stage-whisper, says, "Isn't it some ethics violation for co-captains to date?"
"We've had multi-captain systems for a while," Sky chimes in from Nani's right. "As for dating, the university doesn't really care... but, they do have a bad history of co-captains dating and falling off hard."
That makes Dew lean in closer. He may hate involving himself in drama, but he never claims to be a saint either. Besides, this counts as ‘enriching his social life’, as Nani put it, outside of poking classmates for assignments details.
With a long inhale, Sky starts. "Back when we used to operate under a single team, Nanon was assigned captain of the futsal team alongside Ohm Pawat in second year. They started dating by the end of it.
“However–” Dew leans in closer, almost climbing into Nani’s lap– “By the first day of third year, they ended things very badly. So much so that Nanon left the futsal team to play basketball, even if he sucked at it. This made the coach step in and form two futsal teams led by the two."
Both best friends hiss in pain on behalf of the unfortunate coach.
"So that's why we have had two futsal teams and tournaments for the last two years," Win comments for the first time despite not moving his eyes on his hunt for his brother and his boyfriend. "I always thought it was some departmental feud."
Sky shrugs. "The futsal coach had banned dating for futsal players in general, though you’re good as long as your captain knows. I don't know much internally about the basketball team to say what's going on here."
"That, I can." Nani takes off his sunglasses, like he’d worn them just for this moment– before squinting at the horrid sunshine and pushing them back on.
He still maintains enough gravitas to continue. "Joss over there has trained with the Thai national basketball team and won against our national player here, Neo.” They all watch as Joss catches and tosses back a ball without interrupting his chat with a freshie. “Since their coach has always been busy handling unnecessarily huge admin work, he's the first person that cared enough to train the team properly and, within his first year, they got the university their first championship trophy in a decade.
“Since then, the uni is willing to bend over backwards for whatever the basketball team demands. Some say the gymnasium might even get renovated before his third year so that Joss can invite the Thai national coach to train them."
Win, still keeping his eyes on the court, leaned in to say, "Okay, we got it –Joss got insane aura and influence. What's the deal with Gawin?"
This makes Nani grin like a cat that got the cream. (Dew is getting uncomfortable by the number of feline homo sapiens surrounding him today.)
"Gawin was just a casual player, but he's the first to beat Joss at a 1v1." Sky and Dew gape at Nani. He takes it as his cue to continue. "Gawin came to the field as a recommendation from Force during second year. Before that, he casually played with Neo and AJ sometimes since his first year. Apparently, for the whole time Gawin was on the court, Joss never looked away from him. Later, they talked and trained together until Joss got him to play that 1v1, and lost with the biggest grin anyone has seen on him. When selection for Captains arrived, Joss convinced the coach to have him and Gawin share the spot."
"That sounds a little too much like favoritism," Dew counters.
"That's what everyone outside the team said,” Nani says with the wave of a hand. “Inside the basketball team however, everyone’s way too happy about the decision. Besides, no one in the team ever complained about either of them as captains, so the coach didn’t interfere either."
"Still doesn't answer the ethics of dating kinda-nepo Captains.”.
"This is where we get to today," Nani gestures to the court like a museum tour guide. "Everyone and their mother knows Joss likes Gawin, but Gawin has been painfully oblivious. Some say the ignorance is deliberate, to avoid conflict. Others talk about Joss' own reluctance to confess, because, as good friends as they are, they are polar opposites –oil and water stuff. He thinks that they won't work out."
Dew snort. "As if Force and Book are identical twins."
A voice on the megaphone pulls their attention back on the court. "Sorry for the delay," Gawin starts, standing in the middle of the court and smiling like his enthusiasm will calm the nerves of freshies. "We had to duct-tape some wood here and there –shout out to Force for that." The players on the bleachers start gulping when Gawin’s smile stretches to a concerning width. "Don't worry too much about it, we'll hopefully get it fixed before season practices starts."
With that, he switches to calling names and having them stand in a couple of lines. Joss and Force herds the confused players until they're in position.
After that, Gawin takes the speakers again. "Alright! With everyone in position, we can start now. Follow my good friends Joss and Force, and have fun!"
As squeaking shoes, slamming balls and angry whistles take over the air, Gawin later adds, "If anyone in the audience wishes to try-out, come down to the front to sign up." He switches off the megaphone, tosses the clipboard to Book, and jogs to get another bin of balls. Soon, a small crowd starts gathering around Book as he adds new names.
Win suddenly stands up. "There he is: that tempter woeing my baby brother!"
Dew follows his fingers to the cluster of players about to walk into the court. He finds Mick first and easily –wearing some band t-shirt, black basketball shorts with the number 2 on it, and a headband to keep away his bangs. (Thank god he lost that buzzcut.)
Just behind him is another boy. A little taller with longer black hair, bangs occasionally getting jerked away from fox-like eyes. He's got white shorts, wristbands and a black t-shirt under a black basketball jersey, probably from high-school.
It's only when he turns to move his face closer to Mick's ears does he see the back of the jersey:
Luke
2
Dew and Nani, on instinct, jump into action: Nani grabbing Win's waist to put his butt back on the seat and away from marching over onto the court, while Dew slaps a hand over his mouth to prevent any vulgar exclamations from getting out. Despite stares from other audience members and even a curious glance from Book, Mick continues laughing at whatever Luke whispered while the boy grinned like he won the Olympics.
Win thrashed around a bit longer before slumping in defeat. Nani and Dew hold tight for a few more seconds, before letting go. The man manages to slump further into the plastic seating, looking like a kicked puppy while he mutters something about "that little spawn of Satan got to my baby brother".
Nani stands up, slow and graceful. Sky gets up as well. "We’re gonna go get us some smoothies. Think you can hold down the fort?"
“Only if I’m getting some too.”
“I’m not paying for that.”
Sky opens his mouth–
“No, you’re not paying for him again,” Nani says with a stern stare at his boyfriend.
Both his boyfriend and best friend deflate, giving the same sad look so pathetic that Nani groans. “Fine, for the last time. You’re paying for chicken rolls today, then,” he says while pointing in warning.
Dew waves him off with an innocent grin. After another annoyed glare, Nani leaves, Sky following after a quick smile at Dew and Win. Win stays defeated enough to not see it.
With nothing else to do, Dew's eyes go back to the court.
The majority of the players were done with the tryouts, moving to the side and flocking Joss for feedback, while Force cleaned up the balls and cones. The clipboard has gone to Gawin now, adding some more things a little aggressively before freezing.
A moment later, Gawin marches over to Force on the court and smacks the clipboard over his head to get his attention. Force swirls around, ready with an indignant punch, before almost kissing the contents of the paper. He moves back a step to squint at the contents.
Force finds what he's supposed to look at, blinks, then dashes to Book.
Dew is close enough to hear Force from his seat now. "Book, where is the kid?"
"I do not remember having children with you," he replies without looking from his screen while typing at a speed that makes Dew grow concerned for his keyboard.
Force rolls his eyes. "Babe, I'm talking about that kid. Y'know, the one I saw at the cafeteria but my phone was dead so I used your phone to get his number to come for the try-outs?"
Book's typing pauses and he looks up. "Yeah, I remember. Why?"
"He didn't show up for tryouts."
Boom blinks then pulls out his phone to check. "No calls, no texts." He hands his phone to Force, who walks to the side to dial the contact.
Joss, after politely kicking out the last freshie with a promise to talk later, spots Force on the phone and goes to Book. "What's up with him?"
"The sophomore Force recruited hadn't shown up yet," Book fills in. "Cybersecurity Major. Force went up and down to convince him to come to the try-outs."
Joss blinks. "We got try-outs open tomorrow too."
"The kid said he can't after today. Busy with some major switching stuff."
Gawin enters the circle now. "Well, the futsal team would be coming in soon, and Nanon would be pissed about the delay, if he wasn't angry enough about duct-taping the court."
"Joss, you're coming to the dean with me," Book orders with the tone of a courteous request. "I came here instead of catching up on labs and I cannot promise not saying something that could make him permanently disband the team."
Joss hesitates, looking at Gawin.
Gawin returns a soft smile. "I can handle the tapes with Force. You two, go ahead.”
This gets Joss to relax. However, whatever he's about to say next is interrupted by a shout at the entrance.
"Sorry for being late, P'Force!"
The audience on the bleachers turn their heads. Dew notices the shout to be from the doors on the other end, hidden from his view by the bleachers. He returns his eyes on the senior team players instead.
Force looks like he's about to kiss the court from sheer relief. "Kid, I was about to launch a hunt down for you."
Nani and Sky have returned just then with the only good thing in this shit place: vanilla smoothies.
"What did we miss?" Sky asks, taking a sip from his coffee before passing it to Nani, who uses the same straw.
Dew only grimaces at that disgusting act of domestic romance before replying "Force almost passed out because a kid he recruited didn't show up. Some sophomore in Cyber Security."
Nani nods as if he'd prophesied this. "Force has a really weird sense of scouting potential players. He'd chased AJ after seeing that dude tripping over thin air at the library. Dude prides on his potential radar as much as his boyfriend, of course he's gonna be worried."
"Also, the kid just arrived." Dew turns while pointing, only to feel his heart stop.
‘The kid' is tall though much, much leaner, making his legs seem to go on forever in his white shorts. And, god, those legs look like they'll make you see heaven. He's got a mop of hair that's starting to dry weird –after a rushed shower probably– but Dew can feel the breeze running through those dark brown locks, caressing some strands away from the brightest eyes he's ever seen. Brighter than the North Star– no, the Sun itself. He has a band shirt that, despite being a size bigger, manages to hang onto his frame with artistic grace.
Dew forgets how to breathe until Nani almost breaks his shoulder blade to get his attention.
"What the fuck is up with you?" Nani says while putting the sunglasses back in his bag.
"Huh?" he asks, though the question gets lost in a dreamy tone.
Nani follows his gaze, and can only sigh. "No wonder you and Win are friends."
Dew does not hear Win's affronted yell nor Sky's applaudable attempt at preventing a homicide from occurring. All his senses, mind and spirit focus on capturing every frame of the sophomore (he fittingly nicknames Pretty Angel) running through the court, skidding to a stop in front of the senior team, and almost double over in his attempt to suck in deep breaths while also talking.
"Sorry about–" one breath, chest rising– "being late–" another, long fingers running through his hair– "I just–"
Force hurls the new arrival onto the bench by his shoulder. "Just breathe, man. It won't be the end of the world." He pauses, then meets the ever unimpressed eyes of his lover. "Nanon might throw his shoes at us, but they could be good for dodging practice."
"This isn't dodge ball," Gawin deadpans through a tightly polite smile. His tone softens when addressing Pretty Angel, "Really sorry, but we don't have the time for a full-assessment like the rest. How does a 1v1 sound?"
By now, Pretty Angel has recovered and is now staring at Gawin, boba eyes at full display. Screw the Sun, those eyes can light up the entire Milky Way galaxy.
"Is it possible to do a 2v1?" Pretty Angel suggests.
This makes Joss raise his eyes. "A teammate would really complicate things."
"I meant I'll play against two players."
The senior players go quiet. Dew scoots closer to the end of his seat, closer to the conversation.
"What do you have in mind?" Gawin asks, tone a subtle mix of amusement and curiosity.
"One to show offense, one to show defense. I can explain more in court. I promise it'll be quick."
The four exchange glances, a silent conversation taking place. Eye brows rise, irises jerk, and eyes roll until the three of them are staring at Joss while the Captain stares thoughtfully at the court (or the patch of duct tape just by his shoes).
Finally, Joss looks up at Pretty Angel. "Sure. Gawin and Force will play. And if we don't find it sufficient, we'll have to ask you to come the next day."
Pretty Angel nods.
They move to the center of the court, discussion far from any prying ears.
Whispers start to travel from the row Dew and his friends occupy, then the ones behind, until the entire audience body is whispering like a family of hornets.
"Is it cockiness or just comes with being stupidly good without trying?"
"That's Force’s recruit, so both are possible."
"Joss is really gonna make him earn his spot: he sent out his best offense and defense player."
"Wait, I thought everyone was supposed to be good at both. When did futsal rules apply to them?"
"Not literally– like Force is a more aggressive alpha player, while Gawin's like a viper. Though, truth to be told, I can totally see them both being alphas."
"...you should really consider spending even a quarter of the time you spend on omegaverse to study."
Nani leans forward with keen interest and crossed legs. "This is getting interesting."
"Only you'll find something interesting about someone being put on a social guillotine," Win grumbles, yet never lets his eyes stray from the court.
The crowd of five disperse. Joss and Book take a spot on the side lines, Book holding the clipboard now. The other three lightly stretch before taking their places: Gawin and Force on the right half of the court, Pretty Angel on the other.
A whistle goes off, and Dew forgets how to breathe.
Pretty Angel springs across the court, spinning on his feet to get the ball from Force while trying to avoid Gawin's defense. The seniors show why they're on the team: every move is delivered with intent, as if they can predict the next three moves before their opponent can decide how to execute them. However, Pretty Angel held the advantage of being new and moving faster than their attempt to intercept his moves. Both sides came neck to neck, screeching shoes and slams of the ball quieting the entire gymnasium.
The ball finally landed in Pretty Angel's hand, and he just manages to dash past Gawin and finally shoot the ball when–
The final whistle goes off, just as the ball bounces off the hoop.
"10 minutes up," Book calls out. He writes something more in the clipboard and shows it to Joss. At Joss's nod of approval, Book says, "You can leave now. Final results will be out on the board, or Force will text you. Practice starts from Saturday."
"Rodger," Pretty Angel gives a finger salute despite being drenched in sweat. They look more like glitter under that specific angle of light from the spot Dew is watching from. "Thanks for letting me play, and sorry again for the inconvenience," he says, putting his hands together and bowing in a deep wai.
Force, after chugging half his bottle in one go, waves him off. "Nonsense, kid. You're about to be a big name, focus on getting used to the fame rather than apologizing."
"What he means to say," Gawin intercepts smoothly while Book smacks the back of Force's head, "is that you played good, let's work on getting better instead of listening to Force over here. He thinks terrorizing juniors into the team is some kind of flex."
"But I’m not–"
Book slaps a hand over his mouth. "Have a good day.”
Pretty Angel takes it as his cue to wai again in gratitude before jogging off court and snatching his bag. Dew feels his soul bleed out as he vanishes behind the bleachers, beyond his sight, never to be seen again.
Force is finally released to cough his lungs out while Book turns to Joss. “Joss, let’s go to the dean now–"
"Who the fuck ductaped the court again?"
"–without me. Take Gawin. All you need is in the clipboard, at the back– you know what? Just take my laptop. Just don't break it unless you want me to drown myself with all of you as my witness." After handing over the clipboard and laptop to Gawin, he grabs his bag and his boyfriend before booking it for the gates.
The sight of one of the Futsal team Captain makes everyone follow Book's lead and scramble off except Dew's friends. Being friends with the boyfriend of said Captain's brother grants you many immunities in life.
Joss and Gawin stay back too, because they're the only people who can make Nanon smile and politely say, "Joss, one Captain to another, I thought we agreed about the duct tape in the gymnasium."
"We're sorting that out with the dean today," Joss says apologetically while Gawin goes through Book’s notes on his laptop. "We were gonna clean up, but the try-outs went overtime. Gawin and I can take them off quickly, and you can have an extra hour here, the majority of our try-outs are done anyway."
"No, no, it's alright," Nanon waves off. "We can take them off, as long as Force didn’t do the taping like last time."
Joss and Gawin still and blink slowly, share a glance with one another, then shoot eerily similar customer service smiles that's conveying the weight of a thousand apologies.
It tells Nanon enough to tighten his jaw and grind out, very politely, "We'll still help."
At a bark from Nanon, five juniors spring to the front, looking like war battered soldiers rather than try-out finalists. Joss shows them how to take off the duct tape without worsening the wood before they work on it in the other five spots.
"Sorry again for the trouble, Nanon," Gawin smiles while Joss goes to gather both their bags.
"No need, I get that try-outs can be stressful," Nanon says sympathetically. "Besides, you guys always overcompensate for the barely-there trouble. Practice would've been light today anyway."
That last sentence is a lie everyone could sniff out from a mile away. Regardless, Gawin only smiles back, before exchanging farewells once Joss is done packing.
Only after the basketball co-captains walk out does Nanon's head snap in their direction. Everyone (including Nani, no matter how quietly he does it,) gulps.
"If I have to send separate invites to you four for try-outs, I'm sticking every single one of those duct tape to your hair."
This gets them to scramble onto the court.