Blood, Sweat and Tears Part 7
By the time Duo finished his shower, the remainder by the team had headed home to leave the locker room empty. There, he tried the end of his damp braid and moved to his pile of clean clothes sitting on the bench in front of his locker. Slipping into his boxers, blue jeans, socks and brown shoes, he reached for his red T-shirt.
With a glance at himself in the mirror of his opened locker, the running back frowned deeply and his right hand over the long and jagged scars that stretched and crisscrossed each other along his bare chest. His back bore the same, angry markings that now looked pink after the warm shower. Sighing deeply, he threw his shirt on to hide them away once more.
Taking up his duffle bag, Duo stepped out of the locker room and down the long corridor to the head coach's office. Zechs looked up when the braided athlete stepped into his opened doorway and grinned, "Ready?"
"As ready as I'm gonna to be, I guess," the young man shrugged. Slipping the strap of his bag over his shoulder, he stated, "Might as well get this over with so that we can both get home at a decent hour tonight."
Satisfied with that, Zechs rose from his seat and stepped from the room. Closing the door behind him, he led the way towards the elevator further down the hall. After a long silence between the two of them, the head coach looked out of the corner of his eye to appraise his player for a moment. "You don't seem nervous."
With a laugh, Duo turned his head towards the blonde man and asked, "Why should I be nervous? I've met plenty of team owners before. They might have better checking accounts than most people, but they're a dime a dozen and nothing to be afraid of."
Unable to help the smirk that tugged his lips, Zechs replied, "Even though this team owner happens to be Treize Khushrenada's cousin?"
Instantly freezing in mid-step, the running back stiffened with wide violet eyes. "W-wha?" he managed in little more than a breath as his skin paled. Never in the time that he worked under Treize did he know that he had any family that was also involved in the professional football league.
Memories of the last time Duo had seen Treize rushed into Duo's mind. The blood pouring from the arrogant man's nose and the throbbing of the American's right fist were all too vivid. "Oh, fuck me!" he shouted as he buried his hand into the hair at the top of his head. His gaze falling back on his coach, he all but whimpered, "You're serious!?"
Humming an affirmative, Zechs patted the young man's shoulder and smirked, "Let's go. She's been anxious to meet with you." Arms falling limply to his sides, the braided running back followed a few steps behind.
The ride in the elevator was made in silence. Duo swallowed roughly a few times as sweat started to form on his brow. The coach, for his part, was looking rather pleased to be witness to a much more humbled version of his cocky player.
Finally, the elevator stopped at the top of the stadium. The doors opened to a short hallway with a closed office at the end of the stretch. On the door, the gold name plate with the letters spelling out 'Dorothy Catalonia' shimmered in the sunlight that poured through the windows.
"Well, here you are," Zechs announced with a wide grin. Slapping the young man on the back, he said, "Good luck."
Snapping his head up with fright-filled eyes, he cried, "You're leaving me!?" He forced a nervous smile and spoke in a hopeful tone, "But I thought that we were in this together- one for all and all for one and all that jazz."
Gently patting the American's shoulder once more, the head coach chuckled deeply, "She only wanted to meet you. I only stuck around to show you to her office. I'm afraid that you're on your own now."
With a light shove, Zechs forced the running back to stagger into the hallway. When those scared violet eyes looked back at him, he waved with a pleasant, "Have a good night. Send Dorothy my best."
The silver elevator doors slid closed leaving Duo only his reflection to stare at. Groaning to himself and muttering several colorful swear words, he slowly turned toward the office at the end of the hall. His shoulders slumped, the American sighed deeply, "Come on, Duo, you can do this."
Slowly approaching the metal door, the running back raised his arm and rapped very lightly just below the name plate. When there was not an immediate response, he grinned widely, "She must not be in. Oh well. Better luck next time." Turning on his heels, he was just about to make a quick escape when the door slid open.
Frozen in mid-stride once more, Duo slumped before heading back to the entrance. As he peeked his braided head into the room, he was shocked to find the team owner to be near his own age. Long, straight blonde hair framed the thin face that looked up to meet his gaze. 'She's definitely related to Treize,' he thought to himself. 'Not with those eyebrows.'
A smart smile spread on the owner's face as she rose from her seat behind her long, oak desk. The paperwork that she had been sifting through was forgotten as she said, "Ah. The infamous Duo Maxwell. So we meet at last." One of her long, slender hands extended to the empty leather chair before her as she offered, "Please have a seat."
Swallowing roughly, Duo obeyed and walked past the entrance for the door to slide closed behind him. Approaching the desk with an air of caution, he looked to the hand that was still extended to him. When he reached the chair, he lifted his head to the ice-blue eyes that seemed to look right through him. In a rush, the words came before censorship could intervene, "I'm sorry I punched your asshole of a cousin!" Dorothy's eyes widened and the athlete's mouth fell open.
After a long and uncomfortable pause, still looking like a deer in headlights, Duo bit his lip and explained weakly, "Okay, that apology sounded way better in my head just a minute ago. Let me try that one again."
Chuckling deeply, the young woman shook her head and suggested, "Actually, maybe you should quit while you're ahead. We'll get to all of that later." The smile on her face grew as she offered her hand once more. "As am sure you know by now, my name is Dorothy Catalonia. Please call me Dorothy."
His violet eyes widening once again at her pleasant introduction, Duo looked back to her hand before taking it into his own. Relaxing the slightest bit, he grinned, "Nice to meet you, Dorothy. Thank you for the bringing me onboard." When their hands broke, the running back and team owner took their seats.
Folding her hands over her desk, Dorothy began, "I have been very anxious to meet with you and I do apologize for not haven had the time to meet you sooner. I've been on business trips for the better part of the last few months. And the few times that I was here, you had been away."
With a tilt of her head, she smirked, "Zechs tells me that you've already had quite an impact on the team in more ways than one. Especially Heero, I understand."
Duo winced at that and chuckled nervously, "Well, I kinda have that effect on people sometimes. But, we don't have much trouble putting our differences aside when we're on the field." When one of those long, blonde eyebrows raised and the owner folded her arms, the braided player was quick to add, "For the most part."
"Well, I'm sure that you'll be able to work it out," Dorothy waved nonchalantly. "This meeting was simply to meet with you to help get to know me better." Sitting up, she stated, "My father loved football more than he loved my mother or myself.
"Four years ago, he announced that he was considering retirement after a few more seasons. To earn his respect, I asked to take up the responsibility by paying him a large lump some of my grandparents' inheritance. So here I am, in my first year as team owner of the Pittsburgh Wolverines."
At that, the running back smiled, "Well, it's pretty impressive. As long as football's been a professional sport, there have only been two other female team owners. And you're already making steps to improving the team by bringing on yours truly."
Sighing deeply, Dorothy's smile faltered with a quiet, "I hope so. Pittsburgh is in quite a bit of economic trouble. If we were able to ring in bigger crows to our hometown games by playing better than we ever have, it would be a real help. More business would come out of a large mass of people traveling here. What's more, these people need something to look forward to for a change. Something that makes them proud of this place."
As she turned back to meet her new player's violet eyes, Dorothy went on, "At the rate the team was going, they needed a wake-up call. And I could not think of a better person than yourself to do that. Even if it meant pissing the team off to no end at having to work with such a strong personality. I'm very happy to see that I've been right so far."
Duo's braided head fell back as he laughed. "Well, one thing I am good at is stirring shit up," he replied when he was able to catch his breath. Finally sobering, he nodded firmly, "I'll do whatever I can to help, Dorothy. To be honest, I have played with far better teams in the past, but there is a lot of potential there." Sitting back in the leather chair, the running back grinned, "It's pretty rare that a team owner concerns themselves with anything but themselves."
"The way that my Uncle Treize would have been," Dorothy smirked. "All that he ever wanted was to become a team owner to stroke his own ego. So, he was quite upset that I outbid him to be the owner of this team when my father first announced his impending retirement.
"With that option gone, he moved to San Francisco to become the head coach for the Cougars owned by Marshall Noventa. Marshall and my father have been friends for many years, and so that kind old man welcomed my uncle in with open arms."
Frowning deeply, she shook her head and sighed, "While he claims that his intentions are good, I believe that Treize took advantage of Sylvia Noventa. That girl was smitten by him for some time and it was not long before he arrived that they were dating and then married. Marshall does not have a son to pass his ownership on to. Being advanced in years, himself, he will be retiring soon as well. When he does, my uncle will have his wish."
His mouth snapping closed after falling open wide once again, Duo sputtered, "Y-you think that he would go that far, hurt that many people, just to get what he wanted?" Before the team owner could reply, he bit his lip and answered himself aloud, "Actually, it does sound like something that he would pull."
"I have no doubt in my mind," Dorothy stated. "There is quite the rift between my family and Treize over the whole mess. Now our relationship with the Noventas is strained as well. They simply cannot see him for who he really is. All that we can do is hope that perhaps we are wrong about him, but we may never know the truth."
A long, heavy silence fell in the office. Duo's mind was reeling with everything that he had come to learn. While he despised Treize, he always had a respect for Marshall Noventa and his family. Sylvia was a sweet but very young and naïve young woman. Like her father, she was far too trusting of people. If there was any truth to Dorothy's theories on her uncle, there could be no worse act of betrayal.
Finally breaking the stillness, Dorothy folded her hands and said excitedly, "It has been simply killing me to ask you what it felt like to punch that son of a bitch."
Without a breath of hesitation, the running back grinned from ear-to-ear, "Pretty fucking good. I never could stand that asshole. I've never met a person that actually made me look modest!" He shared a nice, long laugh with the team owner.
Reaching up to wipe at her watering eyes, Dorothy giggled, "We'll have to exchange stories some time." As she regained her composure, she rose from her chair while announcing, "I don't want to keep you here any longer than I already have. You have an early start to the day again tomorrow, so I am sure you would like to be off."
She held out her hand once more with that friendly grin. "It was very nice to meet you, Duo. If you need anything, please don't hesitate to ask me."
Quickly rising to his feet, the young man took her hand in his and smiled, "Nice meeting you too, Dorothy. I'll keep you posted if anything comes up." He bent at the waist to pick up his duffle bag and headed from the room.
When the door opened, however, a fuming Heero Yuy stepped inside. Cobalt eyes narrowed, the quarterback walked past his teammate as he growled, "Good. You're both still here." Stalking towards the desk, he pointed to the running back and exclaimed, "Dorothy, I want him off of my team! Now!"
"Oh, this ought to be good," Duo snorted, folding his arms with an amused smirk on his face. "What's the matter, Yuy? Can't handle your own problems without getting someone else involved?"
Not bothering to directly acknowledge the taunting, Heero kept his heated gaze on the stunned young woman and pounded a fist on her desk. "I've had it with this bastard! And so has the rest of the team!" he exclaimed.
Raising a hand, the running back grinned in his own defense, "Except Trowa. Not everyone on the team has a stick up their ass."
Heero snapped his head to face him, mouth opening for some loud retort when Dorothy shouted, "Stop! Both of you!" Their backs stiffening, the two young men slowly turned their wide eyes from each other to the irritated blonde at the desk.
Fixing her gaze from one face to the other, Dorothy warned, "Not another word from either of you until I give you permission to speak first. I don't want to have to penalize either of you for insubordination." Like scolded children, the two athletes lowered their heads and muttered apologies before falling still.
"That's better," Dorothy sighed deeply with a huff of air that played with her long bangs. Folding her arms, she focused on the quarterback first. In a calm but commanding tone, she said, "I'm sorry, Heero, but, last I checked this was actually my team. I will, however, give you the floor to say your peace as to why you want Duo off of the team."
She concluded with a warning glance to the braided American, "Without any interruption. " Snapping his opening mouth closed, Duo swallowed hard with a firm nod.
His shoulders slacking a bit, Heero frowned deeply, "Dorothy, with the exception of Trowa, Maxwell has managed to alienate himself from the rest of the team. His track record is already hurting the public's view of us by adding someone like him on. He takes too many risks on the field and it's starting to have an effect.
"Chang pulled a leg muscle earlier today because he's pushing himself to his limit when it's only spring training. If we keep up at this rate, we'll be starting the season with less than half of our first string players because of injuries."
Resting his hands on the edge of the wooden desk, the quarter back leaned in and all but pleaded, "You can't keep someone on the team that is only going to drag us down. He is breaching his end of the contract to be a valuable member to this team and so we can breach ours by letting him go."
When the Japanese football player took a deep breath at the end of his speech, Dorothy smiled, "Finished?" Heero just nodded and straightened himself. Looking from one anxious face to the other once more, the team owner commented, "Well, I certainly see what Zechs was referring to when he mentioned a breakdown in communication between you two."
Slowly rising from her seat, the blonde young woman folded her arms behind her back. "The quarterback and the running back are the heart and soul of the offensive team. And I have who most consider to be the best men for those positions in the whole league. With that, I will not be 'letting go' of either of you." Duo sighed deeply to himself with his shoulders slumping in relief while Heero looked chagrined.
"If you cannot work together," Dorothy frowned sadly, "We've lost the season before it even began. You will simply have to find a way to put your differences behind you. The only time that either of you deal with each other is when you're on the field. It certainly does not help matters when trying to understand each other."
Gasping softly, her ice-blue eyes widened in sudden realization. A wide and mischievous smile tugged her lips as she gazed on her two athletes. "That's it," she breathed. Clapping her hands together, she laughed, "Of course!" All but collapsing into her chair, she pulled out two filed from one of her desk drawers and started making notes on her tablet of paper.
Both Heero and Duo looked on her worriedly. "What's 'it'?" the running back finally inquired.
As she continued to write, the blonde young woman answered, "As team owner, I can add clauses to both of your contracts. It was part of the agreement that you both signed to." Quickly finishing her note, Dorothy looked up and smiled, "You're going to be living together."
"What!?" the pair cried in one, shrill voice. Immediately, they began talking over each other in protest with several swears and colorful names for each other. Their talking stopped when the owner raised her hand.
Sitting back, Dorothy told them simply, "You leave me no choice but to force you to spend more time together. Where you live and how the arrangements will be split are of no matter to me. However, you will be under the same roof from now until the end of the season if you wish to play for this team. I want the move finished before the end of this coming weekend."
With a small sigh, she raised her hands again when it looked like her rogues were going to argue again and questioned, "Is that clear?" After a long pause, she received two very hesitant, muttered affirmatives.
Their tails between their legs, the quarterback and running back stepped from the room. When the door closed behind them, Duo leaned his back against it with a deep sigh" Okay, tell me that did not just happen back there," he moaned through his hands that were rubbing his face. Heero just snorted and headed down the hall.
Watching his new housemate departing, the running back shook his head, "This just gets better and better." As he pulled the strap of his duffle bag higher up on his shoulder, he followed the quarterback to the elevator.
TBC...
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