Chapter 9 of this Might Ducks fic is posted (ao3 link)
This is the actual end of the fic but I'm working on a multi-timejump-epilogue-thingy for 10 that will probably also include what actually happened at the party during Chapter 1.
I have really loved writing this. It'd given me a much needed break from some other works I was feeling really dry about recently and also writing this chapter has gotten me most of the way through this damn flu. If you read it, I hope you like it.
This was going to go into the epilogue of my Might Ducks fic but it didn't fit with the vibe of the rest of the chapter since it takes place when they are still at Eden. So I thought Id post it here in case the whole 2 people who read TMD and follow me want to read it (below the cut)
Charlie had been more open to the idea of coming out than Adam from the start. He had even out right asked if they could tell the team, or even just the district 5 group, because it was getting really exhausting hiding and not having that freedom to even hold hands outside of the dorm.
Adam thought Charlie might be so much more ready because the people he cared the most about in his life, Guy, who was like a brother to him, and Casey, his loving mother, already knew and were happy for him. Adam's family was another story, and while he did have Julie, and now, Kate, there wasn't much they could do aside from lending emotional support if his parents kicked him out.
He knew there was a large possibility that the team suspected he and Charlie were together by how they acted, and by how everyone had suddenly stopped barging into their dorm room despite the habit still being widely exercised by, and against, everyone else. He had accepted that there was nothing he could do to stop people from assuming whatever they wanted, and that if one of their friends asked him out right, he would not lie, he would not act ashamed. He couldn't do that to Charlie, or to himself, and lately Adam found himself almost hoping someone would ask, because it would make the decision easier.
Thing was, they didn't have a lot of time all together left as a team. As the top seed team with 13 consecutive state championships, there was an additional amount of pressure and expectation to win, so everyone was pushing their hardest, giving 100% at every game and every practice. Most of the seniors had decided on paths, with or without hockey, for after graduation, and it wasn't lost on any of them that they were making some of the last memories they'd ever have all together.
So naturally the chirpping and shittalking was at an all time high.
-
"Damn, Banskie" Goldberg's voice rang out across the locker room. "Someone had a good time, eh?"
He pointed to a set of scratches just left of Adam's neck that ran around toward his shoulder. They were redder than they might normally have been from all the sweating at practice, but still not that noticable.
"Oh, yea" Adam said with a shrug. "I scratched myself."
And it was true. He'd been chased by a bee the size of Texas all the way across the campus, and when it landed on his shirt, he panicked and ripped it off as quickly as he could, scratching himself in the process. He had barely felt the marks at all, too relieved the fucking bee seemed to be bored with terrorizing him, and annoyed with Julie who was laughing so hard she was actually on the ground, not caring at all that he was allergic and could have died.
"Oh right" Goldberg said with a dramatic eye roll, clearly unconvinced. "You did it to yourself."
"Nah those are love scratches my friend" Luis chimmed in, nodding as if an expert on the subject.
Dean stood up and turned Adam around by the shoulders to face the room so they could all get a better look. The scratches were already fading since he was starting to cool down, but Adam knew no one was going to let this go. The team energy from a good practice was too high, and the opportunity to fuck with him too good.
"Well he looks like he was mauled by a lion! I mean who is this person?! Because we need to have a conversation about being more gentle with our golden boy."
Dean pulled Adam in under his arm, but Adam shoved him off with a laugh, not at all missing the way he had said person instead of girl.
"My money is on Charlie" Averman called across the room, wiggling his eyebrows a little.
Adam could feel himself flush. He looked over to Charlie, not sure what to do or say. Is this the moment? Is this the time when someone asks and he has to be honest?
But Charlie just threw his sweaty towel straight at Averman's face with an easy "Jealousy isn't a good look on you, Les" and the entire room erupted into fits of laughter as Charlie turned and gave an overly exaggerated wink to Adam. It looked playful, like it could be a joke.
And it was really that easy, Adam realized. They could keep playing that game where they skate around the truth with jokes and sarcasm because he wasn't ready, but he was so very sick of feeling like he was lying by omission to his very best friends in the world. He was tired of hiding from people who clearly already knew the truth, but were waiting for him to be brave enough, to feel safe enough, to actually admit it.
"That sounded like a confession to me" Averman sang out playfully, throwing the towel back at Charlie with a knowing grin.
Charlie gave Adam the smallest glance, an almost longing look that seemed to say 'I wish...' and Adam felt his heart tug. He gave Charlie a look he hoped would be warning enough as he walked over to his side of the locker room, voice raised just enough so he could be heard in the rapidly quieting room.
"Just don't listen to Portman" he said, putting his hands flat against Charlie's chest. "Golden boy doesn't need you to be more gentle." Then he placed a quick kiss to Charlie's lips before turning around and heading toward the showers.
There was a wave of whoops and wolf whistling and a gleefully loud "I fucking knew it" from Jones as Adam reached the door, and even though he knew there would have to be an actual conversation about them not being out yet later in the chat, he let the high of their positive reactions temporarily eclipse his anxiety about the whole thing. He was still terrified, but he was also really fucking happy too. And knowing Charlie was probably sitting on the bench in front of his locker blushing wildly in that cute way Adam loved while he fielded dozens of likely inappropriate questions and jokes from their friends while he enjoyed a peaceful shower just made it even better.
Final chapter/epilogue for my Might Ducks fic is posted here (ao3 link)
What was suppose to be a few cutsie snapshots of their post-Ducks life together quickly turned into a 12k word essay documenting the 10 years after Charlie and Adam graduated Eden Hall Academy together.
just wanted to say i absolutely love all ur prompts and all the things you write 🫠
you’re really keeping my banksway soul alive 😂 thank you
Umm wow thank you so much! This... makes my day 🥹
I honestly love this fandom so much. It took me literal years to start writing for it because the fandom is so small it's a little intimidating (maybe that's weird but in my other fandoms I can disappear in the masses if my shit sucks lol) I kinda want to kick myself for that sometimes. Here's to hoping the fandom grows a little and only gets better and better (because the Ducks and Banksway deserve it!) 🥂🥰🫶
