Blood, Sweat and Tears Part 65
The thrill from the victory over Baltimore carried into the locker room as the team exchanged hugs, handshakes, slaps to backs and shoulders and laughs.
It was decided by all that rather than focus the praise on only one or two players just after the win that Zechs would be the only one interviewed at the press conference. After all, he was the one who guided his coaching staff and players on their journey to the playoffs.
His eyes quickly adjusting to the constant flashes from cameras as he sat at the table before dozens of reporters, the head coach smiled at the many words of congratulations. "This has been quite the year for your young team," the first reporter called on stated. Electronic pen and pad in hand, she asked, "What do you think your chances will be when the playoffs actually begin for you in three weeks?"
Taking a deep breath, Zechs answered, "I try not to expect anything when going into any situation. Things happen that are beyond your control and so you adjust accordingly for the best possible outcome. With the exception of Maxwell, no one on this team has ever been to the playoffs before, so it would be impossible to predict anything right now."
As he watched the live press conference in his father-in-law's office, Treize snorted bitterly, "Why the hell is everyone making such a big deal about their getting lucky enough to get in this time? They'll be knocked out of the first round."
Behind his desk, Noventa shrugged, "Everyone loves an underdog, my boy. We're expected to always be in there, so there are no surprises where that's concerned." Gesturing with his head to the now empty field behind him, he stated, "We've been locked in for the playoffs for the last two weeks. That's why there is not a commotion over our win this afternoon."
Still frustrated, the head coach chewed on the inside of his cheek. Raising an eyebrow, the owner smirked, "No use being jealous, Treize. That team is nothing more than a bunch of children in a man's sport. Just as you said, they'll be taken out of the playoffs their first game. Luck won't stay on their side forever. Remember, this is still our year. The moment Pittsburgh is out of the running, the attention will rightfully stay on us."
While he also believed that this was their year, Treize could not help the resentment at having the season also be one of Duo Maxwell's finest moments. In mere months, he went from being the hated and disrespected rebel of the league to a beloved hero. Ever since his sharing of his past and his family, the running back was revered by most. And his being involved with one of the most admired players of their time- Heero Yuy - only helped boost how the public viewed him.
He was far from the only one fuming over the day's events.
* * * * * *
Alex was livid at watching his recording of the Pittsburgh game. Maxwell had once again widened the gap between their stats for the season. Not only that, but the commentators were making comments about the Wolverine's seeming to have replaced the 'weak link' of their team.
Weak link. They were suggesting that Denton was the weak leak.
Growling deeply, the blonde running back threw the remote control that was in his hand at the television screen. On the other end of the couch, Mueller jumped an inch from the sudden display. Unable to handle his lover another moment, the tight end rose to his feet with narrowed and hissed, "I'm getting some air."
"In other words, you're getting a drink," Alex snorted. "Have fun at the bar." Not bothering to look back, Mueller grabbed his black coat and stormed out. The door swished closed behind him as his hands began shaking with the need for something to take the edge off.
'That goddamn bastard,' the tight end thought to himself. For nearly a year up until that point, Mueller had been sober. An alcoholic for some time, he enlisted the help of his teammates and friends in the Wolverines to get through his addiction. Now, all that he wanted was to be numb again. Hard as he worked in getting clean, he could not handle his situation any longer.
As things stood, the only person whom he really needed to be loved and understood by was Alex. And now their relationship was in shambles. The team that they were on was led by a crazed owner and coach hell-bent on winning the championship at any cost. His teammates were not the type of people that he would ever consider friends off the field.
Much as he wanted to step forward and reveal everything that Treize and Noventa were doing, Mueller knew that there would be no future in football for him. Fingers would be pointed back at him by the coach and owner in a blame game that would have no end. No one would respect him or come to his aid, thanks to his burning bridges with the only people he could trust.
There was no spark of light in the dark hollow life that the tight end now led... and had no one to blame for it all but himself.
... Yea... Being numb was a pretty good thing.
* * * * * *
Joined together at Dorothy's estate that evening for a celebration where all friends and family were invited, the Wolverines danced and enjoyed each other's company. Relena, Catherine and the whole cheerleading squad were ogling over Duo's children. Marcus and Tai were wide-eyed and all smiles at being asked by them for dances through the night.
Watching the teenage boys from the table he shared with Heero, Quatre, Trowa and Wufei, Duo smirked as he shook his head in amusement, "Lady killers. Just like I thought they would be." His lover and friends snickered around him.
Noin approached at the start of the next slow dance and asked the quarterback, "May I have this next dance." Politely accepting, Heero rose and led his long-time friend to the floor by her hand.
Alone with the running back, Trowa and Wufei shared a look before leaning over the table. "So," the center began quietly, "you've been to the playoffs before. What do you think our chances will be out there?"
Smiling sadly to his teammates, Duo shrugged, "Sorry, guys, but they're the most exciting time of the football year for a reason. You never know what's going to happen. And I haven't played for the American league for some time to know who brings their A-game in the post-season."
Deflated by that, his comrades' shoulders sagged. Duo grinned, "But hey, we can take it easy during the last game of the regular season next week and we're off the following for the wild card face offs. If anything, we'll be more rested than most of the other teams that we'll meet up with." [1]
Quatre threw in, "You'd all be best off just relaxing and enjoying the party. Win or lose, this has been the best season that you've all played."
Unable to argue that, Trowa and Wufei brightened a bit. Standing, the receiver went to join his girlfriend on the dance floor as the center and agent followed hand-in-hand. Heero returned shortly after to sit beside his partner once more. Lightly kissing the braided athlete's temple, he smirked, "Any chance you'll be awake for some private celebrating after we tuck the kids in?"
Chuckling deeply, Duo leaned his back against his lover's chest and purred, "Oh, I'm sure that can be arranged." His own smirk widening, Heero wrapped his arms around the running back's middle and held him close as they watched their friends spread throughout the ballroom. For a while, they just sat in silence as they took the moment in.
* * * * * *
It was nearly bar time when he finally cut himself off for the rest of his outing. Bleary-eyed, Mueller looked to his watch and mumbled a cursed to himself. Through his haze's state, he knew he would be dealing with a tremendous hangover if he did not get to bed as soon as possible. At least there wouldn't be practice to have to deal with that day.
Pushing himself off the bar that he was slumped deeply over, the tight end threw on his windbreaker and slipped through the emptying bar unnoticed. There was a light mist hanging in the San Francisco air that early morning. Stumbling a couple of times on his way to the parking lot, Mueller's less than cooperating hands fumbled for the keys in his jeans pocket. Finally coming up with his keys and cell phone, he smirked in triumph.
Simply out of curiosity, he turned the cell phone back on to see that Alex had tried to call him almost a dozen times. A with a small snort, Mueller tuned the phone back off in case his lover tried to call and act like he cared again. It took a few attempts to get it back into his pocket.
And it took even more tried than that to get his keys into the ignition after he all but fell into the driver's seat. Much as he would have loved to stay away from the apartment and his partner, Mueller knew that it was time to head back and deal with his sad reality.
...at least until the next time he could get away for a few rounds to reach his comfortably numb state once again.
Finally, the car started rumbling to life.
Quietly chuckling to himself, the tight end smirked in recalling how many times he was told that he was not able to handle himself when he drank. If he was able to reach his car and start it after a night of drinking, there wasn't anything that he couldn't handle.
Slowly pulling out of the lot and onto the streets, Mueller blinked to clear his blurring vision against the misty haze around him. For just a second, the voice in his head screamed in fear that he was making a mistake. Just as quickly as it came, it echoed off into the numb distance.
To hell with that voice. To hell with anyone that said he couldn't do anything. Even if he had to grip the wheel so tight that it felt like his fingers were shaking.
He was perfectly capable of taking care of himself.
* * * * * *
The sun rose over the San Francisco horizon hours later and Alex was still pacing the living room floor of the apartment. Running a hand through his blonde hair, he sighed deeply, "Where the hell is he?"
Mueller never stayed out this late. Alex knew that. No matter how bad their fights would get, he would never stay out of reach this long. The pit of his stomach churned in knowing that something was definitely not right about this.
Frustrated and scared, he grew tired of waiting and grabbed his windbreaker. Just as he was on his way to the door, the telephone rang. Eyes wide, the running back ran to answer the call with a rushed, "Hello," when he placed the receiver to his ear.
"Alex, it's Treize," the head coach's voice announced. There was a hint of something in that tone that the young athlete could not place- but he did not like it. After a pause, there was the sound of a slow and deep breath on the other line before the tall man asked, "Are you sitting down?"
Nearly dropping the receiver when his hand went slack, Alex gripped the edge of the bar where the telephone sat. Swallowing roughly, he replied roughly, "What is it?"
* * * * * *
Only a couple of hours later that same morning, in Pittsburgh...
Heero and Duo sat before a camera across from Tim and Adam in their national station's studio. Cards of questions in hand, the ladder of the journalists leaned back in his chair and began, "First off, congratulations to you and your fellow Wolverines on officially making it to the playoffs. You've all been impressive to watch this year." Kindly, the athletes nodded and gave their words of appreciation.
Tim folded his arms and addressed the running back, "So, Duo Maxwell, in the blink of an eye you have gone from being called the bad boy of football to a role model for everyone. That's quite the feat."
Both football players chuckled as Duo replied, "To be honest, I'm still getting used to being called a role model. It's not exactly something that I ever thought I would hear. But I'm very honored by it, as well."
A frown of concern crossed Tim's face when he commented, "The most important question that we have is something that I know many are wondering. How is your oldest son faring after the shooting that he was involved in?"
"Marcus is recovering very well, thank you," the braided athlete answered. "His physical therapy is coming along and he does not need the assistance of a wheelchair any longer, so we're through the worst of it now."
Grinning, Adam sighed in relief, "That's great to hear. We wish all the best to him." He then bowed his head to the quarterback and stated, "And a very special congratulations to you Heero, in finally reaching the playoffs. I can imagine that after so many disappointments in the past this must be a pretty surreal thing for you."
A wide smile spread on the team captain nodded, "It's been an incredible season for everyone on the team. I'm just glad to be able to enjoy it with the team. Everyone's played a huge role in our success this year." Duo nodded his braided hear in agreement.
Shaking his own head with a smirk, Adam said, "Always nice to hear you give your fellow teammates the credit that they deserve instead of taking all the glory for yourselves. It's just another reason to why so many people like the two of you."
"And many seem to like the thought of you being together, as well," Tim remarked. "I don't think anyone could help but notice all of the one-two-one's- combining your jersey numbers- on signs and markings in the stands during this last game. Did either of you imagine that you would receive such a show of support for your relationship from the fans?"
Once more, the couple snickered. "We would have been happy with our fans just understanding," Heero responded. "But they've been amazing at going out of their way to show more than just that. It was very overwhelming to see that yesterday." One of his hands gently falling on his partner's leg, Duo smiled warmly when their eyes met.
Leaning forward a bit, Tim smirked, "So how are things at the Yuy household with a small army of children living there?"
Duo's smile grew as he shared, "Well, the kids are loving it, that's for sure. I don't know if they're happier to be staying with me or Heero right now." His lover, Adam and Tim laughed at the statement.
Shrugging, the running back grinned, "But really, this last week has been the happiest time of my life. I go home to them every night after a long day of practice. I wake up to having breakfast with them before they're off to their new schools and I'm off to practice with Heero." He paused when his voice hitched at the end at the first signs of a lump forming there.
Heero looked to his partner with a small frown of worry. Biting his lip, Duo shook his head and gripped the quarterback's hand for a tight squeeze before he focused back on the interviewers to explain, "I've wanted this for my family for more than a year now, and it's finally here. None of this would have happened without 'Ro's help. I'll be indebted to him forever for this."
"It's all right," the quarterback whispered as he rubbed the back of his lover's neck soothingly when those violet eyes began to shimmer. Tim and Adam sat back, remaining silent as they allowed the couple a moment of peace. Both fathers themselves, they knew the heavy burden of looking after another life that was completely dependant on them.
With his head bowed, Duo leaned heavily against Heero as he collected himself. With a small smile, the team captain took over as he stated, "This last week has been the best of times for myself as well. For most of my life, I wondered what it would have been like to be part of a large family and now I have the privilege of knowing that. I would open my doors to those kids any day." Swallowing roughly, the running back's hand squeezed onto his once more.
The sports commentators both looked on in awe at the raw show of emotions and nodded with grins on their faces. "Well, I think that we could leave the personal questions at that," Tim suggested much to the players' relief.
Adam tilted his head a bit when Duo pulled himself together and inquired, "So, any hint to whether or not you'll be taking it easy on the last game of the season this weekend?"
More than happy to have something easy to answer, the braided American sniffled back the last of his emotional wave and snickered, "We haven't taken it easy all year, including the pre-season, so why start now?"
That remark earned another round of laughter.
* * * * * *
In the back of the room following their interview, Heero and Duo had a moment to collect themselves. Pulling back from the lips pressing against his own after a long round of soft kisses, the running back sighed, "Thank you." He paused before adding, "For everything."
A small smile spread on the quarterback's face as he shrugged, "Just like I've been telling you, there's nothing to thank me for. If anything, I should be thanking you for everything."
Laughing, Duo raised an eyebrow and commented, "You realize that we're becoming one of those sickeningly cute couples, don't you?"
Heero chuckled, "Is there anything wrong with that?"
Quickly leaning back in to claim those lips once more, Duo kissed his teammate deeply and soundly. Wide-eyed for only an instant, the team captain's cobalt eyes drifted closed with a soft moan as he pulled the smaller athlete close. If anyone walked in on them at that moment, neither of them was about to care.
"No," the running back breathed when he finally came up for air. Violet eyes smiling along with his mouth, he shook his head, "There's nothing wrong with it at all."
The sound of a throat clearing had the pair looking to the doorway of the dressing room. Standing there was a pale and grim-faced Quatre. In the agent's white-knuckled right hand was his cell phone.
Frowning deeply at the sight that his friend made, Duo stepped towards him with a worried, "What's wrong, Quat?' Heero stayed close, hand on the small of his partner's back in the event that he would need immediate support. Seemed the only news lately seemed to surround the running back in some way.
As if in a daze, the agent shook his blonde head and announced quietly, "Trowa just called me with something he saw on the news an hour ago." His friends remained in place with anxious eyes on him before he informed them, "Mueller Clayton was killed in a car accident this morning. His body was just identified."
TBC...
[1] The Wilde Card games happen between those teams that were not solid locks for the playoffs, but had the third and forth best standings. They go against each other to see who progresses to the actual playoffs.
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