Curveball [BL] COMPLETED

12

Playing on the field is different with an audience. It's exhilarating, Juda feels. But he doesn't focus on the audience, or even the other team, but on Nico instead. When Nico's pitching, it's all Juda focuses on. 

Front and center, Nico claims Juda's attention as his and his alone, unwilling to give it back.

And Juda wouldn't have it any other way.

They bring out the best in each other. Juda makes him f*****g shine, calling for shots that are risky but worth it, and playing around with every different pitch Nico has.

The Nixon's hardly stood a chance.

Juda and Nico are a powerful battery who hardly fold under stress. If anything, they get off on it, and it gives them that edge the Nixon's lack. In the end, Bailey wins with six runs, outnumbering Nixon's two.

After three long hours, their first game of the season is a success.

⚾️

"Man," Jax chuckles, "What the f**k was up with you today? You came out blazing."

His compliment goes straight to Juda's head. Juda conceals the high he's riding from their win and shrugs with a small smile. "Really wanted to win, I guess." He toys with his empty cup, the wet traces of liquor still beading at the bottom.

"You were great." Jax shakes his head and takes another swig from his beer. "A home run on the first swing? Couldn't f*****g believe it. And those pitches you were calling for - I almost felt bad for Nixon."

"They've got strong batters." Juda shrugs, fighting off a grin. "And they know Nico's fastballs. Had to call for something they're not used to."

"Yeah, well," another swig, "it was a hell of a game. Coach might give us the whole f*****g week off with the results you gave."

Juda finally lets his grin spread, boyish and full of pride. He waves Jax off and goes on about how it was the team. The team did it, but even he knows today was an especially good day for him.

First game of the f*****g season, of course he had to be great. His family was watching, his little sisters holding up handmade signs in the stands. He didn't notice them until the end but when he did, he hit another pitch far into right field, helping Roman secure a run.

He's been buzzing ever since. The few cups of alcohol he's had does little to fizzle his high. And hell - he lets himself knock back as many drinks as he wants. Because he was f*****g amazing out there.

The promise of three days off was the cherry on top.

"I think I'm gonna tell them," Juda blurts.

Jax looks at him with raised eyebrows. "Tell who what?"

Juda waves a hand in two different directions, and Jax quickly hums in understanding. The infamous 111 trio is surprisingly split tonight. Nico's off with Bear and Reese while Carmen knocks back drinks with Rio. Even so, Juda's gaze trails to them now and then. Always surveying the cafeteria to see if they've wandered off.

"You must be feeling pretty fuckin' good," Jax chuckles. "Last time we talked about this you didn't sound like you knew what you were doing."

"I don't," Juda says, "But I feel good today and think this is the only time I'll be able to say it without making a fool of myself." The liquid courage certainly helps.

Jax taps his beer bottle against his lips while watching Juda's boys, as he likes to call them, and huffs, amused. "They are pretty nice to look at, huh."

Juda grunts.

"How're they in bed?"

"How's Rio?"

Jax laughs softly and takes another swig, "Sorry I asked."

Juda looks around the room again, eyes skimming for wherever Nico went. He's not sitting with Bear anymore, but by the large tv they have set on one of the cafeteria tables. It was meant to be a one time thing last year, a night where they all squeezed in and had a video game tournament, but then the tv just stayed.

Juda squints, "Is that the Royals playing? Right now?"

"It's from yesterday," Jax assures. "Practice ran late last night so they didn't have time to watch it."

"Who won?"

"Didn't watch it," Jax shrugs. "Not the Royals from what I've heard, though. Something about an injury."

"Do they ever win?" Juda counters, shaking his head. He shouldn't have even asked.

"Only against the Twins."

A round of winces sound through the cafeteria, shared by most of the guys watching the screen. Juda wasn't watching, but can only imagine the injury Jax was talking about just happened.

"Sucks," Jax sighs. "No way he's gonna be back in season for at least a f*****g year, and that's being generous." He throws a glance at Juda, "Don't go getting injured, especially after the way you played today. At least wait until I'm graduated and out of here."

"Sure thing. I'll schedule my routinely leg sprain, let's say.. July? Does that work for you?"

"Perfect." Jax holds up and ok sign. "Not too sure how well your boys would take it, though."

His boys. Juda likes that a lot more than he's willing to admit. "They'd be fine without me. They've got skill all on their own, a whole f**k ton of it." Like hell he'd ever give them the option, though. Two years. Two years and they're headed straight for the minors, all injury free.

"Yeah, but you make them better. Not just on the field. What's your big plan, anyways? Gonna take them out to dinner, f**k them, then confess? Or maybe throw them right on the sheets and claim them as y-"

"You're pretty imaginative today. Maybe keep those thoughts directed at Rio."

Jax huffs in amusement. "C'mon~ I'm not asking how tight they are. I'm serious, how are you gonna ask them out? You are asking them out, right?"

Truthfully, Juda hasn't thought that far. He feels on top of the f*****g world and figured the surge of confidence would help him confesses. "Should I? The season just started."

"Who f*****g cares." Jax rolls his eyes. "Baseball runs all year long. And you're all basically dating, anyways. I'm surprised you make enough time for me with how much your head is stuffed up their asses."

It's a nice, tight ass. Can you blame me? Juda doesn't say.

"The only thing you're doing is adding a label," Jax says. Juda thinks he might be right. "Do it before you p***y out. Now or never." He slaps Juda on the shoulder and pushes him forward, startling the catcher. "Go get 'em, tiger."

"Wait- Jax-" But he's already walking away, pretending not to hear Juda's protests as he hums to himself and plucks another beer from the cooler.

Fucking hell.

Juda's weak when it comes to his boys. He already knew this, but the rest of his night just drives it right home, reminding him. He usually has no problem with confrontation, or even speaking his mind in general, but his words tie in his head, knotting so much he's not sure where to unpick.

Hey, I like you both. Hey, I think maybe we should try dating? Hey, wanna f**k but make it romantic? Everything seemed wrong.

He sports another drink for the next thirty minutes, watching the two of them like a f*****g creep. He knows how he probably looks to someone paying attention, but f**k he doesn't care. He's working himself up, convincing himself that they'll all be fine after this. Even if they reject him.

He just hopes they don't.

He really f*****g hopes they don't.

There's only so much rejection a man can take. One? Sure, Juda could bounce back from that. But two? He might need a few months to recover.

He shakes his hair out, downs the rest of his beer, and hauls himself up with a deep breath. I can do this - I can f*****g do this. Nico and Carmen are together, it's the perfect opportunity for Juda to pull them aside somewhere quiet and hopefully gain a relationship.

But he should've known, really. He played an amazing game on the field, surely that luck wouldn't follow him off. The universe is only so generous. "Juda," Coach calls from the cafeteria doorway, "I need to talk to you."

Juda's eyebrows raise as he walks over, momentarily forgetting all about his mission. "What's up?" He asks, naturally settling into baseball mode.

Coach nods his chin outside. "Let's talk."