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"You should come home with us," it's Andrew who corners him today. Andrew, as in Andrew Minyard, world famous exy goalkeeper, with two days of stubble and even gaze. Kevin is a sucker for talent, you see. If they're not alone in the universe he can swear Minyard's stardom goes far beyond this planet, but Kevin got lucky once and ended up on the same planet as him, the same country. The same state, the same team, though he worked really hard for these two.
"I already come home with you every day," which is true, since Neil took to drive Kevin home even when Andrew stayed at the court for additional goalie practice, he lavished in the opportunity not to use public transport to go home.
"Not like that. Our home," Andrew Minyard deadpans. Neil stands smiling beside him, very interested in their conversation.
"Can I say no?" Kevin doesn't know why he asks that. Of course he can say no. It's not like the team management expects rookies to never turn down any proposals from their teammates. It's not like he ought to say yes to every thing his team veterans ask for.
"Uh, of course you can." Neil is interested enough to participate in the conversation, it seems. "You should say no, actually. He likes it more when it's hard to get."
Neil winks at him, which is, whatever. Stupid and childish and Kevin can't bring himself to understand what there is that is hard to get.
"Then I have to say no. I wanted to know if it's a one time offer. I'd like to drop by some time later," Kevin really tries to still his voice, he feels so awkward trying to negotiate his weird wish to come, to see, to feel their home. "If that's okay..."
Andrew relaxes his shoulders a bit, Kevin didn't realise he was so tense before.
"Of course! Kevin Day can drop by anytime he wants, eh, Andrew?" Neil grins, pushing his fist into Andrew's shoulder.
"Of course, let me know when you're ready." Andrew nods at Kevin, then turns to his husband: "Josten, the couch awaits you for the long night to come."
Kevin huffs and starts gathering his equipment before anyone notices his red face.
This is how he ends up in Andrew's car, too expensive and too black for someone like Kevin to even think about, a week and a half later. Of course he wanted to jump at the opportunity and into Andrew's car that same evening they offered to visit, but not to sound too eager he refused. And then sabotaged himself four times before finally letting Andrew know that he'll be ready tomorrow. Which is today.
Kevin pushes his seat as far as it goes while Andrew looks really good driving his stupidly fast and stupidly good scented car. Kevin bites his tongue when Andrew says nothing to him for fifteen minutes since their gym day ended. After all, Kevin doesn't really want to come across as a too eager rookie who wants to talk his teenage crush's ears off. So they sit in silence while Andrew navigates the casual traffic of a busy city, when he stops at a bunch of red lights making Kevin even more nervous than he is, and finally when Andrew parks in front of a grocery store. Kevin doesn't know this place, but the design looks like he would go there if he had a little bit more to spend on groceries looking for more high-quality vegetabls. He looks at Andrew, hoping his face looks puzzled enough to ask some questions by itself.
"What do we need?" Andrew asks, rolling up the windows.
"Like, a beer?" Kevin tries, really tries to sell his 'I am a normal guy who knows how to talk about simple things like a beer after a gym day' persona.
"A beer? Is it what you've come up with? Josten said you'd cook, should I question his comprehension abilities?"
Even if Andrew isn't sure what's happening, he files out of the car and motions Kevin to do the same. Kevin doesn't really know what to to with his hands as they walk to the entrance, so he starts fixing his still wet from the shower hair. He must look really stupid with long strands falling down his back like weird icicles, but he really didn't want to make Andrew wait.
"I, uh." Very normal, very cool. "If that's what you want, yeah, I can cook. Do you have a frying pan?"
Maybe Kevin asks stupid questions, but don't expect many thoughtful things from him when Andrew opens and holds the fucking door for him. It's okay to act a little dumb, alright?
"Firstly, did you say that to him, or should I order pizza, secondly, a frying pan?" Andrew tsks his tongue, smiles a little amused smile of his. Kevin enters the store. "No, we live in a cave."
"I might have mentioned that I prefer cooking to myself rather than eating out or ordering in." They filter into the fruit and vegetables section, Kevin looks at prices and normal looking oranges. Are they really better, he asks himself. "But I'm fine, really, I can cook anything you like as long as it's not seafood."
"You can cook anything you like. If you want. Make sure it's not meat or fish."
That's new. Kevin looks at Andrew, then promptly looks back to the fruit. Cool, okay?
"We'll work with that. You're paying, right?"
Andrew almost looks offended by his question, adding more oranges into the reusable bag he got out of his very small jacket pocket.
"No, you're the one who's got a huge signing bonus, Kevin! How much exy pays to its prodigy sons?" Andrew makes the tone that lets Kevin know he's joking, and he smiles at the joke, though his face must look really sour with the knowing that the entirety of his bonus is very likely now used to kill, maim or torture people. Or to put them into prison, if they're like, super lucky.
"I can cover the liquors, though," he tries to argue when they move from the vegetables section, Andrew sighs dismissively and puts some fancy lemonades into their cart.
"We have some at home, I can mix you something. Are you old enough to drink?"
Andrew really looks at him, waiting for an answer.
"No, I'm nineteen!" Kevin shouts, so the whole store thinks he's a teenager hanging out with an old guy who doesn't even know his age.
"So you've forged your papers to be on the team? I know some people do that."
Andrew talks like he finds the topic really funny, which ragebaits Kevin into snapping.
"Can you stop? I don't know why you two think it's funny. I'm an adult, you know how old I am."
"Of course I do. You're just cute like that," Andrew doesn't even look at him, which is really good, considering Kevin's burning cheeks. His rage dissipates like it weren't there in the first place. "You're twenty five, six, seventeen."
"What is... Oh, like you know my age down to days?" Kevin chuckles, "That's impressive, didn't know you were such a fan."
Kevin really doesn't think too much into it, tries and excels, though he's ready for the night full of overthinking.
The cashier looks at them tiredly, waiting for Andrew's credit card to work, and smiles at them when Kevin thanks her. She's a sweet girl, Kevin wonders if they pay her well.
When they're back in the car, Kevin makes a stupid move:
"So, did you google it? How do you know? Even I don't know it like that."
Andrew retorts with simple:
"You need to shut up and fasten your belt, Kevin."
suspects: @orionchildofhades @kevin-david-day @chaoticgremelin @minyards-pipedream (letme know if you're not guilty and don't want to be there ofc)
