Chapter Text
Wymack sighed, stepping off of his plane in the Baltimore airport. He glanced to the side to make sure that Andrew was still following before walking briskly towards baggage claim. As he gathered his bags, minimal as they were, he considered what should have been the third member of their party. Kevin really should have been there as well, to meet the new potential member, but he had taken one look at the scarred face in the profile, blanched, and refused to go anywhere near the kid. He had even threatened to leave the team if he was signed. Wymack thought that this was a load of bull, and just the regular Kevin day dramatics. He had only just signed on himself, and he was too obsessed with exy to give it up. Sure the kid had some shifty records, but so did everyone else on the team. Kevin lived with Andrew for gods sake.
Speaking of, Andrew had gotten that maniacal look in his eye when he saw the picture, and insisted upon coming along. Why, Wymack didn't really want to know, but he let him because no one can really stop Andrew from doing what he wants, and maybe Andrew showing an interest in a new recruit was a good sign. Wymack almost laughed at his own wishful thinking.
The kid, Neil Josten, was perfect fox material. Sketchy background records, a short stint in juvie for pulling a knife on someone, and an investigation by the FBI for the inexplicable disappearance of his parents. Enough black marks and red tape to stop him from being accepted into most teams. Despite all this, the kid plays like a dream, and according to his coach, is more obsessed than Kevin.
On the drive to the school, Wymack found himself questioning even more the decision to bring Andrew. From what he'd heard from the current coach, Neil is jumpy on the best of days. Being faced with a psychotic midget wouldn't help with any of that. As they pulled up to the highschool, some fancy private institution, catering to the children of politicians and business people. Wymack turned to Andrew.
"No causing a mess, you hear me?" He ordered sternly, in his best "I want no arguments" tone. Andrew continued to grin lazily, not even looking at him, but eying the school predatorily, as if he was a starving predator, and could smell his next meal.
"Whatever you say coach,"
"Good, now come on, and try not to stab anyone on the way in."
School was out, and so the two of them made their way in, dodging the meandering teens on their way to the office of the exy coach. As they walked up, the door clicked closed and a voice emanated from inside.
"What did you want to see me for?"
"Well Neil,-" the coach was cut off by Andrew throwing the door open and marching in. Neil started, turning to take stock of them. His eyes skated over Andrew, catching for just a moment, but lingering warily on Wymack. That was unusual. People generally tended to focus on Andrews crazy grin, rather than his own grumpy face. The coach continued talking, causing Nathaniel to turn himself towards his coach again, but he seemed unwilling to fully look away from them. Wymack noticed the tenseness of his shoulders and the twitch of his fingers that he recognized from having been around Andrew and Renee for far too long.
"Neil this is-"
"Coach David Wymack, of the Palmetto State Foxes. And Andrew Minyard." Neil interrupted the coach. Wymack picked it up from there.
"Good, you know who we are, and you probably know why we're here," he grumbled, gesturing with a packet of papers.
"I didn't send my tapes."
"I did. You're good, Neil, and they're probably the only college team who would take you," Said the coach..
"Thanks for the vote of confidence there coach, I wasn't sure if my sob story would be enough to get me into Palmetto."
"Oh Nathaniel, it's not a sob story is it? That implies that you regret some of it," right. He'd brought Andrew along. Wymack had almost forgotten, he'd been so quiet. Neil grinned, at that, and Wymack saw for the first time, the face of someone who, according to reports, stabbed someone that came up behind him a little too quickly.
"I could say the same to you, couldn't I? Do you regret any of it?" Nathaniel obviously had a mouth on him. Or a death wish. Or both. Either way, Wymack decided to intervene before it got nasty, smacking the paperwork down on the desk and placing himself bodily between the two antagonistic midgets.
"You don't have a plan yet, right? Sign with us, play for five years. You could go professional. We've seen your tapes."
"No," came the answer, flat out and almost before Wymack had finished speaking. Wymack scrubbed at his eyes with his hand and sighed in annoyance.
"Listen kid. I know your type. I know you'll end up as a criminal and in prison within three years if I let you be. Sign the goddamn paper. You get five years of exy, then maybe you go pro. I don't know, you'll be out of my hands then, but right now I need a striker sub and you're my best bet. It's also your best bet." Neil studies him levelly, for a moment, eyes calculating.
"Kevin won't be happy with this. I bet he was supposed to come with."
"Yes well Kevin is a drama queen and I'm the coach, cut the theatrics and sign the damn paper." Neil smiled at him again, sardonic and sharp before signing, a quick scribble on the dotted line.
"There, that wasn't so bad. Why are all my players so damn difficult," he grumbled, not really meaning it.
"Fax those papers to me Monday. I'll see you in the fall." And with that Wymack left. Andrew trailed after him, though he and Neil seemed to be having a crazy grin contest behind him. When the door finally clicked shut, Wymack led the way back to the car and drove away, considering the newest human disaster he would be taking in.