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Axel sat under a tree in Yellowstone National Park. The evergreen swayed above him in the breeze, drifting pine needles down onto the brim of his cap. He was resting his forearms on his knees, clutching a Wild Wings jersey in one hand and his opposite arm in the other.
Being away sucked.
Sure, this park was fine, nice even! And the players were okay, from what he'd actually paid attention to their welcomes.. but it wasn't his team.
His team was the Wild Wings.
He needed to be there, whether or not he was of any use to anyone he didn't care, it was just about being there. Among the statues and memorials to his friends. Everything left of Miguel and Wichita and Case and, oh God Yong....
He was so wrapped up in his spiralling thoughts he didn't hear the crunch of leaves under workboots approach him until a man spoke.
"Yer gonna wanna keep an eye out, kiddo, there's some untrained birds in this here tree."
Axel looked up, squinting behind his shades.
"Huh."
Smiling down at him softly stood Francisco Preston, wizard hat askew on his head.
"I was gonna get t' them during the post season, but... well, we got a few bigger priorities than all that now."
Axel scoffed, looking back down at his very interesting knees.
Francisco sighed quietly. He'd had a problem child or two, and he'd heard about Cardenas what with his sudden return to the Wings in time for the weird reverse season. He knew this man... wasn't going to be an easy win. But that hadn't stopped him before, and he wasn't going to let it get in the way of trying his darndest to make their newest player feel more at home.
"Ya mind if I grab that seat there?" He gestured to the grass, beside the other man.
Axel huffed, shrugging. "Whatever."
Francisco took it in stride, plopping himself down next to the younger man and kicking back.
"Ya really found a nice spot, kiddo. Not many people make it all the way out here, y'know! It's a real trek. But it's all worth it in the end, right? The view here is spectacular."
Axel looked up as he spoke, actually taking a look at the scene.
The local wasn't wrong, the trees here seemed to shine a rainbow hue in their leaves, and the wildflowers graced the air with a soft scent of sweetness not unlike fresh popcorn.
"Uh. Yeah. Its alright."
"I'm glad ya think so!" Francisco beamed, looking down at Axel.
"Y'know, some of these flowers are native to the park." He continued, gazing back out at the field.
"They've always been here, and they wouldn't do all too well if ya tried to move 'em somewhere else. 'Specially not if you didn't get 'em ready for it."
Axel rolled his eyes, he could already see where this metaphor was going.
"But, y'know... if you did a little something for 'em, got 'em a Greenhouse, or a special kinda plant food... they'd probably flourish just as nice somewhere else. Ya get what I'm sayin'?"
Bringing his free hand up Axel pinched the bridge of his nose below his aviators.
"I do. Yeah. Ain't taking native plants elsewhere gonna stunt 'em, though? Could even make em rot." If this stranger wanted to play metaphors, then fine.
Francisco hummed. "It can do, but sometimes it's for the best. They might be rotting where they are, and moving them.. might be the only way to save em."
"I wasn't rotting with the Wings." Axel spat, already sick of this personal talk. He wasn't going open up to someone just because he'd sent a couple twenties by on his birthday.
The pink haired man blinked. He hadn't expected Axel to be quite so... bristly. He raised his hands placatingly, softening his expression.
"I didn't say ya were." Lowering his hands, he put one in his lap and the other in the grass.
"But there's somethin' yellowin' yer leaves, Cardenas. I might just be meeting ya now, but I can tell. Ya can tell me, yaknow. I swear on the Park, it wont leave this glade."
With that he held up his hand in a scout salute, crossing his heart with his other hand.
Axel's brow furrowed, but looking at this man... he could tell he meant well. He really was just trying to make him feel better and... he'd been uncool.
He sighed. He could hear Burke in his ear telling him to apologize.
"...Sorry. I don't like bein' away from home." He muttered, unable to maintain his gaze on him and turning his head away.
Francisco smiled, glad he was making progress. He leaned forward just a little, resting on one hand.
"Why's that?" A simple enough question, to start.
Glancing over his shoulder at the expectant yet patient look on the other mans face, Axel was silent for a while, mulling his words over in his head before speaking.
"The guys might need me. If.. If we lose someone." His shoulders tensed, thinking about it again.
Francisco frowned sympathetically. It was often him the Magic turned to in their darkest moments. Even though Axel didn't at all seem the type to rush to comfort anyone... his calm demeanour must've been a vital backbone to the team in times like that.
The boy had it tough.
"It ain't all gotta rest on your shoulders, Axel. If it does, even you'll give out eventually. It's good to keep yer friends happy... but ya gotta look out for yerself. Did you talk to anyone? Back home?"
Axel scoffed, quietly.
"What? No. Didnt need to. Its fine." He paused for a moment. "Burke's a good listener though." Not for him, of course. He was far too cool to stay up until the early hours of the morning making sure he didn't forget anyone.
Nodding slowly, Francisco's wizard hat bobbed on his head.
"Well that's good. Can I ask what ya talked about?"
"No."
"Alright. I wont." He held a hand up, lowering his head an inch or two.
He needed to steer the conversation somewhere else, away from the topics Axel didnt want to open up about yet.
"Well.. how were things when ya left? Things good over at that big ol Bucket?"
Axel smiled a little, despite himself.
"Yeah."
Francisco waited a moment, and then realised that was actually all he had to say.
"What was goin' on? Anythin' nice?" He prompted, just wanting to get the other man talking again.
"Huh? Oh. Been gettin' a lot more birds. The Cells like it." He shrugged, trying to seem nonplussed.
"Cell.. Cell Cell Cell...." Francisco tapped his chin, trying to recall a face to accompany the girls name. He snapped his fingers, chuckling a hearty belly laugh.
"The Bird girls, of course! Its amazin' what ya forget... they like it with all the birds around, eh? I'm sure she likes visiting the park then, eh?"
Laying his legs in the grass Axel nodded.
"Yeah. She likes when we play here, I think."
In the time he'd been speaking with the quieter man, Francisco had noticed he really did observe what his friends- no, Family liked. He noticed the little things about them, committed them to memory. Even if his image didnt allow him to act on his knowledge openly.
"What about you, kiddo? I know yer no friend to the crows, but what d'you think about birds?"
Honestly, that wasn't a question the cool guy had anticipated. Blinking a couple times behind his shades.
"Uh... yeah. They're alright. Can be pretty cool sometimes."
Francisco smiled, nodding.
"Maybe we can teach ya a thing or two about 'em t' take home? Impress all your cool friends with ya cool bird facts."
Axel glanced at Francisco, looking at the slightly silly, but warm smile on the mans face.
He huffed, amused.
"Yer really tryin' here, huh?"
Francisco smiled back, placing a hand on one knee. "What, ain't bird facts cool anymore?"
Axel chuckled, quiet but genuine.
"Yer really somethin' else, Francisco, ain't it?"
He nodded holding his hands up with a touch of cheek. "Guilty as charged, kiddo! Why? Dont wanna be seen with yer old man?"
Axel shook his head. "Just checkin'."
Both men were quiet for a minute, and they both turned to gaze out across the glade. Watching the trees sway and the clouds drift lazily across the sky.
"We don't like change."
Francisco perked up, turning silently to face the hispanic man.
"The Wings, I mean. Always hated it." He sighed, short but heavy. "Whole lotta changes recently, roster gettin' changed, suns gettin' changed... we're changing. Us original Wings? There ain't many of us left. Even less with me n Ro' gone. What're we gonna be? …I don't wanna think about it."
He shook his head, falling silent and gripping the Wings jersey still in his hand tighter.
"You'll be different." Francisco's words cut through the tension around Axel like a knife.
"Ain't nothing wrong with that. Change can be real scary, kiddo. I know that first hand!" He punctuated by raising a hand to pat against his chest, the transgender flag bracelet jostling with every firm clap.
"But.. its good for ya. If ya dont change... you get stale, stuck in one place. And it might feel safe but if yer not changing, yer not growin. And ye need to grow. Everyone does."
He shifted, gently placing an arm around Axel and patting his shoulder.
"Even the coolest Wild Wing ever known."
Axel was quiet for a while, looking out from under the tree and just thinking.
Eventually, he leaned into the hold, just a tiny fraction.
"Hm. Maybe yer right. Miggie always said pink was my colour."