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After a really hard game, that the Trojan’s came out of with a win, Jeremy and Jean are on media duty. Everything was fine, talking about the game, the impossible plays that Jean had, and the respect for their opponents. That is, until Jean’s eyes catch a darkness walking down the steps of the stadium. Jean’s face goes pale, his breathing stops completely, and the interviewer asking Jean a question starts to look around.
“Jean?” Jeremy asks, seeing the rise of panic in Jean. “Thank you for your time.” Jeremy mumbles to the interviewer, leading Jean back into their locker room. He brings Jean into one of the medical rooms, hearing his breathing still stopped. Jeremy presses a hand to Jean’s chest, looking at him. “Breathe.” Jeremy says, making Jean gasp out a shuddering breath. “What’s going on?” Jeremy asks, running his hand gently along Jean’s chest.
Jean shakes his head, his hands shaking. “Jean, love, take a deep breath. It’s just us, you’re safe.” Jeremy says, seeing Jean shake his head in protest. “No to what?” Jeremy asks softly, pulling his hand back.
“Not safe.” Jean speaks, his accent thicker than ever as his body shakes. “Call Neil.” Jean says, needing to talk to Neil.
Jeremy fishes his phone out of his bag and dials Neil’s number, putting it on speaker against Jean’s thigh. He knows that the time zones will screw up the call, and Jeremy doesn’t expect Neil to answer, but on the second ring he does.
Jean quickly switches to French, too scared to remember English. “He’s here.” Jean says, making Neil pause whatever he was doing as he goes silent.
“Who?” Neil asks, also switching to French.
“The boss. He’s here. Why is he here, Neil?” Jean asks, his voice cracking. Jeremy has gotten better at French, but he’s sure that he heard Jean wrong. Who is the boss?
“Are you sure? He has no reason to be there.” Neil asks, also clearly panicking a little.
“Yes. Neil, what is he doing here?” Jean asks, his hands shaking worse than before.
“We’re getting on a plane. We should be there in the morning. The FBI will follow me, it may help. Don’t stay at home tonight, don’t book a hotel under any of your names, make sure nobody follows you.” Neil says, obviously shuffling around, probably throwing clothes into a bag.
“It’s not safe. You can’t come.” Jean protests, but Kevin’s voice comes onto the call.
“Jean, we are coming, shut up.” Kevin says, obviously pissed off and scared at the same time. “Stay off of social media, don’t look at the news, don’t look at shit unless it’s me, Neil, or Andrew calling. You and Jeremy need to get out of there.” Kevin says, making Jeremy quickly speak up, continuing the French conversation.
“Where are we supposed to go?” Jeremy asks, making Neil and Kevin discuss for a minute before deciding.
“Out of the state, preferably.” Neil says, shutting a door behind him as he leaves a room. Likely heading to the airport.
“We can go to my father’s cabin. Middle of nowhere, but still California.” Jeremy suggests, but everyone shuts that idea down quickly.
“Stay somewhere public. Somewhere that he can’t get you alone. You need witnesses.” Kevin immediately says, making Jeremy realize the level of danger they’re in.
“Okay, we’ll figure it out. Let us know when you get here.” Jeremy says, making them all agree. Jean hangs up the phone, his hands still shaking.
“We need to go when there’s still a crowd.” Jean says, making Jeremy nod an ‘okay.’
Jeremy and Jean change out quickly without showering, and Jeremy tells their coaches some excuse as they rush out of the stadium and to Jean’s motorcycle. Jean gets on, handing a spare helmet to Jeremy. “Can’t believe I’m getting on this thing.” Jeremy says, scared of the bike, but more scared for Jean’s life. “Are you sure you can drive?” Jeremy asks, worried about the state that Jean’s in right now.
“Yes. We need to go. Hold on.” Jean says, feeling Jeremy’s hands wrap around his waist. Jean quickly pulls off, checking his mirrors multiple times, seeing a black car that has been behind them since they left the stadium. “Fuck.” Jean curses in French, speeding up way too much.
“Jean, breathe, if we crash, we die.” Jeremy says, obviously terrified at the speed they’re going. He hasn’t yet seen the car following them, clearly.
Jean slows down a bit, but weaves in and out of traffic, trying to decide where to go. He eventually sees a restaurant that looks crowded enough that nothing could happen to them. He pulls into the parking lot and grabs Jeremy’s hand as they quickly get inside. The car that had been following them wasn’t far behind, so they would see where they were going.
“Jean, what’s going on?” Jeremy asks, seeing Jean make a beeline for a table in the corner, somewhere that he could see the whole room.
Jean doesn’t respond, he just sits down, looking at the door, obviously worried. “If someone comes in here and starts speaking to me in Japanese, discreetly call Kevin.” Jean says, tensing up.
“Jean,” Jeremy says, but when somebody walks through the doors, Jean’s breath stops.
“Call Kevin.” Jean says, making Jeremy nod and pull his phone out, pressing the call button on Kevin’s contact. Kevin picks up just as someone walks up to Jean. Jeremy keeps his phone under the table, looking between the two nervously.
“Jean-Yves Moreau.” The voice says, with an obvious Japanese accent. Jean doesn’t reply, he just nods. The man sits at the table, next to Jeremy, making Jean obviously tense up. He starts speaking in Japanese, of course Jeremy couldn’t understand it, but he can see how Jean’s body language changes a bit. “We’ve never officially met. I thought I’d come to your game tonight to make sure the deal we made was going to hold up.” He says, making Jean nod quickly.
“It will,” Jean replies, nervously. If the Moriyama family thinks that he isn’t good enough to go pros, they’d be wasting their time, and would rather just go ahead and kill Jean instead.
“It better.” He says, taking Jeremy’s water from the table, bringing it to his own lips. Jeremy doesn’t know what’s happening, but when Jean sends him a look that practically screams ‘don’t react,’ Jeremy doesn’t. “Because if it doesn’t, you know what will happen to you. You know that your captain here would try to get in the way, and then you’d know what would happen to him.” The words make Jean’s breath shake a bit, but he nods quickly, understanding. “As well as Nathaniel for insinuating that you would be good enough for me to get the earnings.” He says simply, drinking the last of Jeremy’s water.
Jean is silent, but he nods, knowing the consequences. “Coaches have already reached out to me.” Jean replies, knowing that his voice is shaking. “They’re coming to games. I expect an offer soon.” Jean says, making the man nod, as if he cares at all.
“You have until the end of this season to find a team.” He says, making Jean nod, nervously. He needs one of these coaches to get him an offer now, or everyone will face the consequences. The man stands up from the table, a gun now visible in his waistband to them both. Jeremy clearly flinches, making the man speak up again. “If he flinches at the sight of a gun, I can only imagine what he’d do with one pointed at his head.” He says, making Jean’s breathing stop.
“It won’t have to come to that.” Jean says, more confidently than he expected.
“Good.” The man says, starting to turn away. He switches back to English, wanting to see Jeremy’s reaction, “I hope not to have to see you again, Jean-Ives.” He says, Jeremy wonders about the name thing, but he doesn’t ask.
“You won’t have to, Lord.” Jean says, switching back to English too. He knows that it’s a test, he just can’t figure out what kind of test. He sees Jeremy flinch a little, looking at Jean confused. Jean doesn’t acknowledge him, but the man walks away, without saying another word.
“Jean, what was that? Why did he have a gun? And why did you call him that?” Jeremy asks quickly, seeing Jean’s hands shake. He can’t explain, not now, not in public.
“Is Kevin on the phone still?” Jean asks, his voice obvious that he’s on the verge of a breakdown.
Jeremy hands Jean the phone, and Jean puts it up to his ear, speaking in French now. “I need to get an offer now.” Jean says, stressing the ‘now,’ only further confusing Jeremy.
Jeremy doesn’t hear when Kevin says, “Jean, you will. You have to, you’re good enough to. We will be there in the morning.”
“Kevin, you heard what he said, he’d–“ Jean says, realizing that Jeremy can understand him. He can’t explain it now. “I can’t let it happen. I just got free of them.” Jean says, his breathing picking up as he starts to panic.
“Say it, Jean.” Kevin says, making Jean take a deep breath.
“It’s not true, not anymore. I’m not safe.” Jean says, spiraling.
“So, say the other one.” Kevin says simply, knowing that it hurts to say, but he needs to hear it so he doesn’t spiral.
“I am Jean Moreau.” Jean hesitates, saying the next part, knowing that Jeremy will understand, but he has to say it. “I belong to the Moriyamas.” He says, making Jeremy look at him, puzzled. “I will endure.” Jean says, taking a deep breath. “I will endure.” He repeats, making Kevin hum in agreement.
“Don’t say anything to Jeremy until we’re all there, okay? We have a flight late tonight; we’ll be there early. Let me know where you end up.” Kevin says, making Jean nod, still taking deep breaths.
“Please hurry.” Jean says, knowing that his voice sounds wrecked. He’s going to spiral, and Kevin knows it.
“Endure.” Kevin reminds him, making Jean nod again.
“Endure.” Jean replies, hanging up the phone, handing it back to Jeremy. Jeremy’s still looking at him confused and concerned, he doesn’t know the conversation that was had, but he knows it can’t be good. “We need to leave.” Jean says simply, standing up from the table, not addressing the clear questions on Jeremy’s face.
Jeremy follows him out, going to Jean’s motorcycle. He sees that the back tire is flat and curses. “Jean, talk to me.” Jeremy says, looking at the tire, obviously getting more concerned.
“Not yet.” Jean says, pulling up his phone and calling Laila. They don’t speak again until Laila pulls up at the curb in Jeremy’s car. They get in, and him and Jeremy end up in a hotel for the night under a fake name. A name that, surprisingly to Jeremy, Jean has an ID to prove. It’s late now, almost one in the morning, but when they get to the room, they can’t even think about sleeping.
“Shower.” Jean says, walking into the bathroom, needing to get the sweat of the game off of him. He knows that water is not a good idea right now, but he doesn’t care. He feels like he needs to punish himself to some extent.
When Jean’s not out of the bathroom within ten minutes, Jeremy panics a bit. He walks to the door, knocking, but hearing no answer. He pushes it open and sees Jean sitting on the ground in the shower, his knees to his chest in the corner, just out of the water’s reach. “Jean,” Jeremy says, walking over to the shower, “Jean, come out here.” Jeremy says, trying to stay calm. Jean doesn’t respond, but his eyes move up from the floor, and Jeremy sees the panic in them. “Come here, love.” Jeremy says, making Jean nod shakily and practically crawl out of the shower.
When he’s out, Jeremy cautiously wraps a towel around him, sitting him on the lid of the toilet. “Do you want to talk about it?” Jeremy asks, making Jean shake his head violently. “Are you in danger?” Jeremy asks, worried that if Jean doesn’t say anything to him and he is in danger, Jeremy can’t do anything to stop it. Jean doesn’t shake his head this time, but he doesn’t nod either. “Love,” Jeremy sighs, bringing his hands to hover over Jean’s shoulders. “Can I touch you?” Jeremy asks, knowing that Jean’s still in a panic, and he’s unsure if he’s able to touch him. Jean nods though, and Jeremy puts his hands on Jean’s shoulders, feeling him shaking under his touch.
Kevin, Neil, and Andrew get to the hotel at around four in the morning. Jean and Jeremy hadn’t slept at all, but Jeremy had Jean hugged to his chest. He told the front desk to give the others a key when they got here, telling the manager to check ID’s first. When the others walked in the room, Jeremy jumped a little until he saw Kevin. They all look panicked.
“Jean,” Kevin says, walking over to the bed that Jean and Jeremy are on. Jean lets out a shaky breath, and Kevin sits on the edge of the bed next to him. He doesn’t care that Neil and Andrew’s eyes are on them, he puts a hand in Jean’s hair. “We’ll figure it out, okay?” Kevin says, letting his fingers card through the dark hair.
Jeremy nods at Kevin, thankful that he’s here. “What is going on?” Jeremy asks after a few more minutes of silence.
“Is there roof access here?” Neil asks, needing a cigarette.
“Yes.” Andrew says, having already checked. Kevin looks at Jean in question, and Jean nods, sitting up, pulling Jeremy with him as they all leave the room and go to the roof. The second they’re up there, Andrew pulls out a pack of cigarettes, taking two, one for him, and one for Neil. Surprisingly to Jeremy, Kevin takes one too, looking at Jean. Jean nods, taking one as well. Jean is a freak about his health, so that made Jeremy worry that much more.
Back in Evermore, Kevin and Jean used to sneak cigarettes whenever they had a particularly long day. They couldn’t ever smoke for long, knowing that the scent could linger, but the few puffs they got made it a little more bearable to be in the shittiest situation. They all light their cigarettes, and Jean takes a bigger drag than the rest of them, blowing it out shakily. “Okay, how do we want to do this?” Neil asks, making Kevin take a breath.
“Honestly.” Kevin says, making them all nod. “Jean, do you want to say anything before we…” Kevin asks, making Jean look at Jeremy.
“Not yet.” Jean says, making Kevin nod. It was the first words he’s said in hours, and Jeremy’s at least glad that he’s speaking again.
“Okay. Jeremy, the Ravens aren’t just a violent team. It’s a cult. When my mother died, the master took me in, and I became Riko’s brother. It was okay at first, but then the violence and the… assaults started and then Jean was there. It got worse when we made it onto the team. You know about the sixteen-hour days, but it was brutal, especially on Jean.” Kevin says sighing. “I wish I could’ve stopped when they…” He trailed off, but Jean spoke up.
“Not the point. Move on.” Jean says harshly, making Jeremy flinch a bit. That’s when Neil spoke up.
“Tetsuji took in Riko because second born children aren’t important to the Moriyama family. The family branched, and Riko’s father was the head of the other branch. The world knew him as a CEO, but in reality, he was the head of the mafia.” Neil says, as bluntly as he can. Jeremy looks shocked and confused, muttering a ‘what’ but nobody acknowledged it. “They used my father for a lot of the more… violent murders, but they had him on a leash. When he died, Ichirou, Riko’s brother took over. Because my father was on their leash, I was supposed to be promised to the family, but me and my mother ran. Riko figured out who I was at the talk show, and they tried to take me again.” Neil says, trying to get the timeline right. It all seems like a blur. “I was taken to Evermore last Christmas, they… they tried to get me to sign with them, since I was supposed to be promised to them.” Neil says, making Andrew speak up, obviously pissed off.
“Yeah, by torturing you for two weeks.” Andrew says, taking a long drag of his cigarette, crushing the butt under his shoe, and then pulling out another.
“Yes.” Neil says, making Jean tense. “Jean?” Neil asks, wondering if he’ll speak up about his own history with the Moriyamas.
“My father sold me to them.” Jean finally says, making Jeremy’s eyes go wide.
“What? What do you mean?” Jeremy asks, realizing just how deep this goes.
“I belonged to Riko. He bought me.” Jean says, his hands shaking again.
“Endure.” Kevin reminds him, making Jean nod.
“When Ichirou took over,” Neil says, picking back up, “He didn’t see why I shouldn’t be killed. Kevin and Jean too. We were loose ends left by his father, so I made a deal with him. When we go pro, we pay him 80% of our earnings for the rest of our careers in order to keep us alive.” Neil says, making Jeremy’s hands shake as well. Their lives depend on if they go pro.
“Tonight, Ichirou visited Jean to tell him that if he doesn’t have an offer by the end of the season, the deal is off.” Kevin says, making Jeremy look at him with wide eyes. “We’re all targets now.” Kevin says, making Jeremy look over at Jean, completely shocked.
Kevin reaches for two more cigarettes, Andrew handing them over easily. Jean takes one and lights it, his hands still shaking. Nobody says anything for a while, but they all stare at each other. Jeremy eventually speaks up, knowing that nobody else will. “If he comes back… What will he do?” Jeremy asks, making Andrew sigh a bit, exhausted with all of the shit with the Moriyamas.
“Kill us all.” Andrew says simply, making Jean flinch. “Unless Jean finds a team.” Andrew adds, making Jean nod.
“I will. I’m not putting you all in danger because of this.” Jean says, looking at Jeremy. Jeremy then realizes, the ‘us’ and ‘we’ and ‘you all’ includes him.
“Kevin told me that if there was danger, me and Andrew would be in it too. Why?” Jeremy asks, not sure who he’s asking.
“Anyone we care about is a liability.” Neil says, making Jeremy look at him. “If they think you may know anything, you’re a loose end if they do kill us.” Neil explains, making Jeremy tense.
“I’m sorry.” Jean says quietly, at Jeremy’s side.
Jeremy shakes his head. He knows he should tell Jean that he shouldn’t be sorry, but he’s too startled to say it.
“Ichirou called Jeremy ‘my captain,’ is there a way he doesn’t know?” Jean asks Kevin. Kevin shakes his head.
“If he knows about Neil and Andrew, he knows about you and Jeremy. He was testing you.” Kevin says, making Jean nod. That’s what he suspected, but he held on to the possibility that he may be wrong.
“He doesn’t know about you and Thea.” Jean says, surprising Jeremy. Theodora Muldani and Kevin are together?
“No, because there is no me and Thea anymore.” Kevin says simply, making Jean nod.
“What’s the plan?” Neil asks, needing some kind of closure.
“We need sleep first.” Andrew says simply, making Kevin nod. Jeremy doesn’t know how they’re able to sleep with all of this, but he nods anyways.
“We got a room with two beds and a couch.” Jean says, making them all nod.
They make their way back to the room, Kevin heading for the shower, needing to get the plane and cigarettes off of him, but the rest head to the beds. Neil and Andrew get into one of the beds, surprisingly far away from each other, Jeremy notices.
“They wake up swinging.” Jean says quietly, seeing Jeremy’s eyes on Neil and Andrew. He’s still panicking a little, but having everyone here, and finally telling Jeremy what’s going on calms him a bit. He knows that he has protection. “Did the FBI follow you?” Jean asks Neil.
Neil nods, looking over at Jean, “Yeah, saw them when we got to the hotel. Most are in the lobby, and one in the hall.” Neil says, making Jean sigh out a breath of relief.
“He won’t risk being seen by them.” Jean says, making Neil and Jeremy both nod.
Kevin makes it out of the bathroom in a t-shirt and flannel pants, heading for the couch. When Jean tenses a little, Jeremy speaks up, “Kevin.” Jeremy says, making them all look at Kevin. Jeremy nods and Kevin makes his way to their bed.
When Kevin gets into the bed, cautiously Andrew and Neil look at them curiously. Jean simply lays with his back to Kevin, his head resting on Jeremy’s chest. Kevin presses a hand into Jean’s hair, “Sleep. Endure tomorrow.” Kevin says, making Jean nod.
Jeremy nods at Kevin thankfully, and Kevin allows himself to wrap an arm around Jean’s waist. Neil and Andrew don’t say anything, but they look at each other, silently agreeing to ask later.
They all fall asleep, worried, but knowing that for now, they are okay.