Curveball [BL] COMPLETED

2

It's hot, the sun so bright and scorching Nico swears he can almost hear it. Really, he insists, listen. It makes a buzzing sound to him but to everyone else, it goes left unheard.

Nico wipes the sweat from under his cap after he steps into the dugout. "I feel like Satan's rimming my asshole," he exhales loudly and slumps onto the bench, right next to Juda. Carmen sits on his other side.

It's natural, the way they all gravitate toward each other.

"I hate summers," Juda agrees, taking his cap off. His catcher's gear sits beside him, momentarily off as he waits for his turn to bat. "At least mornings are more bearable."

Nico agrees with an unrecognizable grunt, too busy chugging his water. Except it's not morning anymore. Without the haze of sleep and the somewhat beautiful scenery of the sun rising, not much is keeping Nico from throwing the towel in and quitting his career. Besides the 40k he makes a year.

"I don't mind afternoon practice," Carmen chimes in, gaze heavily set on the field. Nico's mistaken, it's not the field, but their manager Gia instead, their manager who only comes to afternoon practices.

Juda notices and rolls his eyes. "Stare any harder and she might actually notice." Maybe if it was a longing stare that showed Carmen's one sided crush, Juda would've teased him, but no, he was staring directly as her t**s that constantly threatened the strength of her buttons.

Carmen's eyes shift to Juda, creasing with a smile. "I wasn't staring~ But, if I was, it would've been out of appreciation. Our manager is so nice and kind, don't you think?"

Juda holds off another eye roll.

Nico stares too, almost curiously. He's never been a boob guy, never been a girl guy period, but give him a nice ass, even nicer d**k and he'll understand the urge to stare. "I don't understand the appeal." He admits, squinting now. They're just boobs, he thinks, what's so special.

Juda can't help but agree. "They're nice but.." Juda is also really gay, so what does he know.

"No, no, no-" Carmen shakes his head. "You guys aren't imagining it right. Picture this, yeah?" He adjusts on the bench, turning to them. "You're balls deep inside this girl, right, and now she wants to ride you. You settle against the pillows, hold this beautiful girl in your lap and just see her t**s swinging in your face. What do you do? Bury your face between them, of course. That's when you can really appreciate how wonderful a pair of t**s are."

"You lost me at girl." Nico brushes his hair back and readjusts his cap. "Nice description though, try one for a guy and I might get hard."

"I could do a guy." Carmen shrugs. An all boys Christian school wasn't as innocent as one might think. If anything, it was an eye opening experience to the wonders of men that Carmen appreciates he went through every time he presses a man into his sheets, f*****g him deeply.

"You have me kind of curious now." Juda's head tilts, staring at the subtle movement of Gia's boobs as she walks. "More of an ass man, though."

Carmen and Nico both agree with quiet noises, unable to refute. Who doesn't love a nice ass.

"I kind of like thighs," Nico admits. "They're.. cute."

"Cute?" Carmen laughs. "Can thighs be cute?"

"Of course." Nico pretends to look offended. "Have you ever taken the time to appreciate a nice pair of thighs? Really appreciate?"

Carmen drawls a soft hum, eyes trailing to Juda. His gaze is teasing, eyes creasing with a smile. "Of course." His intent is clear, so clear and suggestive that Juda almost believes him. "A catcher's thighs are nothing to joke about." Carmen pulls his batting gloves on and grabs his bat as he stands. "I'll tell you more after I hit a home run."

He steps out of the dugout, Nico and Juda silently watching him go. "Hate to see him leave, love to watch him go." Nico sighs, eyes glued to Carmen's ass, and what a lovely sight it is.

"Amen." Juda holds out his hand, gaze unmoving from Carmen. They share a handshake, bonding over the beautiful wonders an ass can hold.

Carmen doesn't hit a home run, but it's close. And just because he's a cocky little s**t, he merely jogs to first base, even makes it to second before they've got the ball. Nico has his suspicions he stops at second because Gia is 'coincidentally' standing right beside it.

Carmen grins at her, showing off every pearly white tooth that his whitening strips have bestowed upon him. He doesn't stare at her t**s, knowing well enough not to do it in front of her, but his stance might as well say it all.

There's just something so.. enticing about Carmen.

"He's so fuckin' cocky," Juda mumbles, watching him.

Nico agrees with a soft noise, eyes never trailing too far from the blond. "Yeah." He itches his cheek thoughtfully. "..It's kind of hot."

"God- I wanna f**k him."

Nico immediately laughs, Juda saying what he didn't. He doesn't agree, but their shared look is more than enough to know what Nico thinks.

Juda stands from the bench, pulling his gloves on, and Nico hands him his bat, silently wondering how serious Juda's taking this practice game against the second string. Nico himself can't say he's taking it all that serious. "Knock 'em dead." Nico lounges against the bench, reminded again of the scorching heat.

Carmen's at third base now, Bear hitting far into right field which helped advance them both. "Juda~ Bring me home and I'll give you a kiss." Carmen calls, posture lax compared to their real games.

Nico's lips pull to one side as he adjusts his cap again. He wouldn't mind seeing that.

Juda steps up to the plate while loosely holding the bat. His foot digs into the dirt, lazy smile pulling at his lips."Is that a promise?"

With the promise of a kiss of course Juda has to try his best. So when that ball comes flying at him, his foot steps out, plants itself on the dirt, and his hips adjust as the bat collides with the ball. Except, it's not the hit Carmen was hoping for, but a bunt instead. "Juda~!" Carmen complains, immediately taking off. "You asshole!"

Juda laughs to himself, jogging to first base. Knows the opposing teams pitcher is gonna be a lot more occupied trying to get Carmen out. And he's right, their pitcher runs out and scoops up Juda's bunt, focused solely on Carmen, not wanting to give up a run.

He does give up a run, but at the cost of Carmen's uniform. It's covered in dirt by the time he's stepping back into the dugout, grumbling about how much Juda sucks.

If it were anyone else, Nico knows it would've been an out. Nobody on their team is quick enough to outrun a bunt so close to home base, not after being picked up by the pitcher - nobody except Carmen.

Nico think it's fitting that Carmen's a shortstop. He's by far the fastest on his feet, and not just on their team, from any college team that Nico's seen. Being a pitcher makes Nico front and center and a lot of the game rests on his shoulders, but being a shortstop is the hardest position in baseball.

He thinks a lot of Carmen's efforts go unnoticed at times, but it's undeniable that he's always the one covered in the most dirt by the end of a game. A lot of the time, it's Carmen saving his ass after giving the other team a hit.

"Juda," Coach grunts, tone disapproving. "Let's take this serious guys! It's not a playground!"

"Yeah, yeah," Juda mumbles to himself, foot digging in the dirt. "Just practicing my bunts, Coach."

"Wanna go practice your laps?"

Juda stands a little straighter, takes the game a little more serious. Carmen snickers.

Coach is right, Nico knows, but it's not the easiest to take a game you're dominating completely serious. Their second string is good- great in fact, they wouldn't be part of the team if they weren't, but they're no first string. No- the first string is made up of guys carefully plucked and scouted to be molded into the perfect players, ready to enter the Majors at any time.

⚾️

Later into the night, Nico lays out on the field, staring up at the midnight sky. He's prepared for another night of only getting four hours of sleep. The quiet chirp of crickets and the still sky makes it worth it.

Orange dirt stains his back as he lays on the mound. He'll need another shower, but he leaves these worries for later.

Nico didn't forget how much he missed this, he thought about it every moment he was away, but he's a little blown away with how good it feels to be back- to see Juda and Carmen again. He adores all his teammates, truly. Hell- if he suddenly got married tomorrow, all those fuckers would be invited. He's especially fond of the second years, Bear in particular.

Bear's the type of kid you can't help but want to take under your wing- even if he is an entire foot taller than you. He's eager to learn, eager to play, and eager to praise you with anything his stupid little brain can think of.

He's simple in the best ways, just how Nico likes them.

Bear doesn't just think of his teammates as teammates. It goes beyond family for him, they're his entire life. He's hinted a few times that his 'home' isn't much of a home, baseball being the only home he truly considers. And it's cute, Nico thinks. In a lot of ways, Nico feels the same.

Nico's positive Bear's going to be living in these dorms until they have to kick him out. Wouldn't even be surprised if he tries sneaking in after he graduates. And that's the thing that separates Nico and Bear- suddenly makes them a lot less similar.

Truthfully, Nico doesn't stay in the dorms for all of that team bonding bullshit that Bear loves. It's definitely a bonus, the late nights they spend together, having video game championships, and midnight practice games the coach pretends not to know about, but Nico would be okay without it.

He's got the money for his own apartment, a pretty good one at that. There's no reason to stay cramped in one room with two other guys while simultaneously sharing showers with 40 others.

It's also not the easy access to the batting cages that makes him stay, nor the extra 20 minutes of sleep he gets from staying on campus versus having to commute every morning. It's something he's realized over time instead, that being the familiarity of Carmen and Juda.

His boys.

He loves those asswipes to death, and isn't afraid to admit it. He'll shout to the heavens he doesn't believe in about how much those boys belong to him.

Nico can't imagine another world where he'd willingly share soap with god knows who if they weren't there. Nico thinks about it at times, getting his own apartment- especially after his brother finally threw in the towel and got one for himself.

He can't give this up though, not yet.

Logically, he knows they would move into an apartment with him in a heartbeat, and when Nico's feeling especially whimsical, he actually considers it. But because he can't guarantee everything will stay the same, his wishful thoughts stay as just that - thoughts.

"I'm starting to think you don't know we have beds." Nico's head lifts, seeing Juda a few feet away. He's walking over, changed into pajamas, a simple pair of sweats and black t-shirt. There's a water bottle in his hand. "You know they work before twelve o'clock, right?"

Nico lays his head back down and laughs softly. "I just wanted to stay on the field a little longer."

Juda hums and settles onto the mound next to Nico. He doesn't lay down, but he stares up at the same sky. Dark and littered with stars. "You've always been obsessed." Nico feels a cold pressure against his cheek. It's the water bottle. "Here."

"For me?"

"Can't have you getting dehydrated and passing out. Who will pitch to me then?"

Nico takes it with a grateful noise and twists the cap open. "Where's Car?"

"Decorating our room," Juda huffs in fond amusement. "He found your posters and started hanging them up."

Nico immediately perks. "The Angels?" He forgot all about those posters. He left them here over the summer, stuck in the back of their closet. Now that he remembers, he's eager to go see them hung up. "I can't believe I haven't already done it. I love them."

"I know," Juda teases. "I'm sure everyone in a five mile radius knows how much you love them."

The Los Angeles Angels - they've been Nico's favorite MLB team since he was young. His dream is to play with them one day. "Do you think we'll make it big one day?" Nico abruptly asks. "Like- will we ever be as big as some of those players."

Juda gives it some thought, staring at the black sky. "I don't know about the other guys, but you and Car are different. You'll both.. grow into something big." He glances down at Nico, offering a boyish smile. "I'll bet my left nut."

Nico laughs, something soft and airy.

If any of them can do it, he knows it'll be Juda. Juda's always been a little greater than all of this. He should've gone to the Minors straight out of high school. It's not easy to head straight to the Majors without starting on a Minor team, few have done it, but if anyone could, it would be Juda

Nico wonders if Juda knows he could do it too.

For now, Nico let's himself be a little whimsical, "After college, we're heading straight for the Majors. You, me, and Carmen. All on the same team." He doesn't include Bear, but he knows Bear will be something huge one day. He's a monster when he's batting.

"The Angels, huh?" Juda wonders to himself. "Imagine us in California."

"We'd probably look so out of place," Nico agrees.

Juda looks ready to add onto their fantasy, but his eyes shift to the side when the gate creaks open. He squints, before perking and calling out, "Car! C'mere!" Nico also lifts his head, chest buzzing at the sight of Carmen.

He looks confused why they're out here but still gives a little smile. "What are you guys doing?" he asks when he's close enough. "I thought you were drowning in the showers or something."

"Can you drown showering?" Nico wonders aloud.

"I'm sure someone's done it."

"Car," Juda reels Carmen's attention to him, and Carmen hums with a quirk of his eyebrows. "What Major team are we playing on after we graduate?"

Carmen's eyes flick to Nico. "The Angels, right? LA?"

Nico feels his chest tighten again. "The Angels, yeah." He can't stop himself from grinning, because he loves these boys. Nico doesn't believe in God and maybe not even some greater power, but he truly believes they're meant to be something to each other.

"Why?" Carmen asks, settling next to them.

"Just thinking about the future," Juda says before glancing at both of them. "We should all take a trip to California one day."

Nico's eyebrows raise in curious surprise. "The whole team?"

"I mean, sure," Juda shrugs a shoulder. "But I was thinking more just us three. It's always been your dream. We could check it out and see what it's really like before moving there."

Carmen stares at them, lips subtly twitching up. "You guys are actually serious about this? California? The Angels?"

"'Course." Juda nods. "Did you not hear? We're gonna be famous, Car."

Carmen laughs. It sounds sweet to Nico. "Should I start apologizing to high school friends now then? I had a couple falling outs."

"Ah," Nico hums, "Your rebellious stage."

"It wasn't my rebellious stage," Carmen stresses.

"We've heard the stories~ You were a little b***h who didn't listen to anyone."

Carmen rolls his eyes, but he doesn't confirm or deny. He leans over and pats Nico on the thigh, before repeating it with Juda's ankle. "C'mon, let's go inside. We'll be able to get five hours of sleep if we go now."

Juda considers this, before giving Carmen a look.

Nico recognizes that look before Carmen does.

Juda's already up when Carmen realizes he's being advanced on. "Juda," he immediately complains, scrambling. "Not tonight- I had a big dinner." His pleas go ignored, and he's turning with a yelp when Juda reaches out for him. "Nico! Help me! Don't just sit there!"

Nico laughs and lazily picks himself up. He grabs his water bottle and looks up just in time to see Juda grab Carmen by the waist. He's over Juda's shoulder the next second, twisting and turning, complaining to be set down.

"C'mon, Nico!" Juda calls, easily carrying Carmen. "Gotta get princess to bed. He has a bed time."

"f**k you," Carmen curses, but his laugh betrays him.

Nico strolls after them, humming with content. He gives the moon a last glance before jogging to catch up. "If it makes you feel better, you still look pretty upside down," Nico shrugs with a little smile.

Carmen deflates, giving up. He admits, "It kind of does, thanks."

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i was almost completely done with this story when i came back and rewrote this chapter