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The first and only time Jeremy Knox got red carded, no one was expecting it. It all started toward the end of their last game of the season, the first season that Jean Moreau was playing with them. It was strange that someone could ever work up the nerve to fight Jean Moreau. However, there they were, only a couple of minutes left on the clock, and someone tried to do just that.
It was right after Jean managed to take the ball from him, passing it to Jeremy who shot at the goal. The goal lit up red and they were officially in the lead. That’s when a player on the opposing team walked up to Jean, shouting obscenities at him. Jean didn’t even know his name. He crossed his arm, eyebrow raised, as he let the man continue to yell at him. It was pathetic really. Jean was just playing the game. It wasn’t his fault if he was just better at it than him.
“You aren’t worth the ground you stand on,” the man shouted. “Riko was king. You should’ve died in his place.”
Jean didn’t even notice Jeremy coming up to them. He only realized he was there when the man got tugged backward, then shoved against the plexiglass wall.
“Say that again,” Jeremy spat. “I dare you.”
Jean had never seen Jeremy this angry. He’d never seen him angry at all. In the three months they’d been living together, there was never anything less than a smile on Jeremy’s face. He couldn’t even recall a time where he saw Jeremy frown, let alone be angry.
“Jeremy—” Jean tried to stop what was happening, but it was no use. Neither of them heard him. They were too busy glaring at each other, watching to see who would make the next move.
The man shoved back at Jeremy, then crowded his space. Jeremy held his ground. “I said, your new toy over there should be dead.”
Jeremy was fuming. “You shut your mouth.”
“And if I don’t?”
Jeremy scoffed and started to walk away. The refs that had made their way onto the court to deescalate the situation paused in their tracks, unsure if they were needed anymore.
“Yeah, run away, Knox,” the man yelled after him. “Though, I guess that’s your area of expertise, isn’t it?” he asked, turning to face Jean. “Maybe you should learn your place again, you—”
Jean never found out what he was because, before he could finish his sentence, Jeremy whirled back around and punched the man in the face. Jean’s brain took a second to process what just happened. It was only when Jeremy yelled “motherfucker” and clutched at his hand that he moved into action.
“Are you okay?” Jean asked Jeremy softly as the refs continued on their path. They helped the man up who had fallen to the floor from the force of the punch. Either Jeremy was really good at punching or the guy was playing it up for the crowd. Jean guessed it was the latter at the way Jeremy was soothing his hand.
“I’ve never punched anyone before,” Jeremy said, wincing as Jean examined his hand. “I didn’t know it hurt so much.”
Jean almost wanted to laugh. “That’s because you did it wrong.”
“Did I?”
Their team nurse finally made their way over to them. “Come on, Knox. You’re red carded. Let’s take a look at that hand of yours.”
Jeremy looked from their nurse to Jean, eyes slightly wide at the mention of a red card.
“Go,” Jean said. “We’ll be okay. I’ll make sure no one gets past me.”
“That’s not what I’m worried about,” Jeremy said.
“ I’ll be okay, then. Is that what you were looking for?”
Jean watched as Jeremy’s smile came back. It reenergized him, ready to give it his all in the last five minutes of the game.
They ended up winning. Of course, they did. How could they not even without Jeremy there to help them out? But, that wasn’t what they would remember the most that day. Winning was always exciting, but it had become expected at that point. Unexpected was the first ever red card since Jeremy Knox had become captain.
When they got back to campus, a few of the Trojans gathered in Jeremy and Jean’s room with a few bottles of alcohol they’d somehow managed to snatch. Laila, who was one of the only Trojans who didn’t drink, raised her cup filled with soda. The rest of the group slowly followed.
“To our win,” she said.
“And to Jeremy getting red carded,” Alvarez added, leaning into her girlfriend. “May there be many more to come.”
“Don’t encourage him,” Jean stepped in.
Jeremy shrugged. “I wouldn’t mind getting red carded more often if it was for you.”
Jean felt his face heat up. He turned his head away. “No more red cards,” he said.
Jeremy laughed that perfect laugh. “Okay, okay, no more red cards.”
“You’re no fun, Jean,” Alvarez said.
Jeremy ignored her in favor of getting Jean to look at him again. When he finally did, he held out a pinky. “I promise.”
The first time Jeremy stuck out his pinky, Jean had no idea what he was doing. The concept of a pinky promise was completely foreign to him. After Jeremy explained it, it sort of became their thing. Even that little bit of contact made Jean’s heart rate pick up the slightest bit.
Jean wrapped his pinky around Jeremy’s own, the little bit of warmth leeching the cold away from Jean’s finger. Not for the first time, he wondered how it would feel to have Jeremy’s hand in his. He shook his head of the thought. There was no use in thinking about it now.
For now, he would just enjoy the other’s company, a feeling he was still getting used to. There were a lot of feelings he was still getting used to. Though, it was all worth it in the end when Jean and Jeremy kept their pinkies linked for the rest of the night.