Chapter Text
KEVIN
"Jean-Yves Moreau?"
As one they look up from the muted DIV I game they were studying on the TV in the common room. It's a small room with glossy white walls, it looks like Josiah's medical office but gutted, repurposed to give them somewhere to stay so they can be easily found.
Coach Coer stands in the doorway with his arms crossed, looking unhappy. He's a tall man, taller than the Master and the other assistant Coach; though that isn't hard, Coach Sato is barely five foot.
It's weird to see him outside of the stadium, and weirder still that he would want Jean. Unease slows Kevin's thoughts, his mind spins through possibilities but nothing comes up. Jean had been on his best behaviour since he got his tattoo a few months ago. And the Master made it clear when Jean joined Evermore that he was Riko's responsibility, so why would the assistant coaches get involved? They never had before.
Kevin risks a glance across the table. Nathaniel and Jean's face are unreadable, but Riko looks annoyed, probably because Coach used Jean's old name.
Coach Coer continues without joy. "Congrats. You're joining the team. Hope you are ready."
Kevin's head snaps back to the doorway fast enough that it feels like a rough check. His thoughts screech to a stop, and then all of a sudden start tumbling over themselves. They are joining the team? He knew that the school year was starting soon, but Kevin's only seventeen! Plus Nathaniel's even younger, not to mention tiny. This is a deviation from the plan. He always thought he would have more time to prepare.
What would his Ma do? He recalibrates. These are the new facts of life – they are joining the Ravens, this year, and this is happening, now. Excitement sparks through his nervous system. This is what they always wanted. But the grim faces around the table don't make sense, why is he the only one who is thrilled by this news?
"Qu-wha?" Jean catches himself just in time, but Kevin winces knowing that Riko won't let it slide. A quick glance confirms Riko's eyes are already narrowing and darting from Coach Coer to Jean as if struggling to figure out which problem he needs to address first.
Nathaniel beats them all to it.
"What do you mean, Coach?" Nathaniel asks with an innocence that doesn't suit him.
The Coach's jaw sets in annoyance, he might seem more forgiving than the rest of the Ravens staff, but no one is fond of Nathaniel.
Sensing his misstep Nathaniel quickly adds, "I just mean, Sir, aren't we all going to be joining the Ravens at some point?"
Kevin frowns, is that not what Coach said?
Coach scratches at the back of his neck like he's trying to figure out if Nathaniel is challenging his authority on purpose, and surprises Kevin by relaxing his posture into something verging on smug and patronising. "Well. Yes. Nathaniel. That is the idea. But Moreau is old enough and the Master thinks he's ready." It's obvious from his clipped tone that he disagrees.
Nathaniel's worry glances off of Jean and lands on Kevin like he has any power to fix this. Apprehension, definitely not the excitement he felt a moment ago, grips Kevin's heart like a vice.
They aren't joining the Ravens, only Jean is.
Jean is the same age as Riko and Kevin, but he's built like a weed starved of sunlight. Against his will Kevin's mind whirls to memories of college aged players built like brick shithouses crushing opponents against plexiglass walls hard enough to make the court quake. Kevin has no doubt, without Nathaniel and Kevin at his side, the other players snap Jean like a dry twig.
As if sensing the protests building inside of Kevin and Nathaniel, Jean stands, chair squealing against the floor in his haste.
"Yes, Coach. Should I… my things?"
Christ, thinks Kevin, even if Jean might be good enough to join the team there's no way his English is good enough for college.
"Yes, go gather them up now. Follow me."
Jean exits the room, grey eyes wide and searching, his gaze skitters along the walls, not meeting anyone else's. Kevin has no idea what he's thinking.
This is what they wanted, wasn't it? But not like this. It was supposed to be all of them, together. But now Riko is going to be angry about not being selected, and then Riko is going to retaliate – this Kevin is sure of, he just doesn't know how. Unless… Unless this was Riko's idea? Riko's revenge for Jean's unexpected progress in Japanese despite his struggle with English? For his competency in keeping up with whatever drills Riko set for him?
Kevin turns away from the empty door and finds a small sharp smile on Riko's face.
"How exciting," Riko says. The words sound false but Kevin can't figure out how.
Beside him Nathaniel sits, mouth shut tight but fury burning like the hottest part of a flame in his eyes. He hasn't taken his eyes off the empty doorway. Probably hasn't even blinked. It makes sense that he's annoyed. Jean is Nathaniel's partner. He wonders what this will mean for training, how they will adapt. It's been almost three years since they were just a trio. It'll be strange to go back. Can they even go back?
Kevin's mind snags on a thought.
Jean is Nathaniel's partner.
That's not right. Not anymore. The word is like a stone dropped in machinery, grinding everything to a stop.
Was.