Happy Thought: The One With The Intramurals
It's been too long since I've done one of these! And since the future!fic was giving me a headache tonight, I decided, why not.
To say that Brendon was not exactly enthralled with sports in high school would be sort of an understatement, actually. He survived his mandatory freshman and sophomore year P.E. classes, then, on the last day of school, dumped the offending uniform (bright orange, *seriously*) into the first trashcan he saw.
"Never, ever again," he said. "Ever."
Which is why he was a little surprised (or, you know, a lot surprised) to find himself volunteering for FBR's intramural volleyball squad, his first term in the house. Mostly he blames it on Andy (Hurley) because he's, well, persuasive. I.e., he asks Brendon to be on the team. He says, "So, Urie, can we count on you?"
Brendon opens his mouth to say, 'um?' and 'I'm really not-' but what ends up coming out is, "Absolutely."
*
In high school, Brendon remembers his teammates glaring at him for not being quite fast enough, or, you know, preferring to duck out of the way of the ball that's coming directly at his head. So, the first game they have-against one of the dorms-Brendon worries, because he doesn't want his brothers to glare at him.
Even though he's only been in the house for a month and a half, though, he should know better, because the first time Brendon misses the ball, Travis just says, "Next time, roomie." After that, Brendon does passably. He manages to get the ball over the net when he serves, manages to volley it back to the other side a few times. Then: on the second to last serve of the game, the guy on the other side attempts a spike right in front of Brendon, and Brendon may be short, but he can jump, really, and he manages to block it, sending it back in the direction it came from.
They lose, but only by two points, and when they walk back into the house after the game is over, they're all smiling.
*
This is what Andy never told Brendon: his 'absolutely' seemed to actually be a blanket agreement to participate in all intramurals, which is why Brendon finds himself playing touch football with Jon and Tom at his side, Andy their quarterback, and ultimate Frisbee with Gabe and Ryland, who spend hours perfecting their leaps through the air.
The only time he says no (and actually means it) is when it's time for basketball, because, well, Brendon is short. Short and basketball are not generally mix-y things. Andy frowns and sighs, but Brendon doesn't think he has much room to complain, since he has, like, Travis and Beckett and Gabe signed up already, all of whom could probably reach the basket if they stood on their tiptoes.
Still, when the games come, he goes to root his brothers on, and sometimes that's even more fun than actually being on the floor.
*
The first time Cash comes to one of Brendon's games, Brendon's not expecting him. He's just about to serve the volleyball when he sees Cash walking into the gym, backpack still slung over his shoulders from his late afternoon class. He serves, and the ball goes over the net, thank god, and by the time the point is given (to Brendon's team, thank you very much) he sees that Cash has joined Haley (since Spencer somehow got roped into volleyball this year, too) and Ryan in the stands, bringing their cheering section up to six.
When the game is over, Cash meets Brendon on the floor, and he doesn't push Brendon away when Brendon gives him a hug, even though Brendon's all sweaty and stuff.
After that, Cash is pretty much a regular at their games.
*
Which is to say, when Cash and Shane and their friends Trace and Mason sign up to do intramural basketball, Brendon marks all of the games on his calendar, and he goes to every single one.
It's a little awkward when Cash has to play the FBR team-not nearly as tall as last year's, but the Alexes are sneaky, and Ryland and Disashi aren't *short*--but Brendon still goes. He wears his FBR sweatshirt, but he sits behind the basket-alone for the first five minutes, until Haley joins him and cheers with him when either of the teams makes a basket.
He's actually maybe a little happy when FBR loses, but that's only because it's Cash who makes the winning shot for his team. He collapses on the ground as soon as the buzzer sounds, and Shane and Trace pull him back up, give him hugs of congratulations. Brendon's actually never been so proud of his little brother before in his life, because Singer is next in line to give Cash a hug, too, and now that Brendon's looking around, he thinks that this is maybe the friendliest post-game he's witnessed.
Brendon's alone-Haley having made her way back to Spencer-by the time that Cash makes his way over to him. He throws his arms around Brendon and presses a kiss to his ear, then whispers, "Sorry 'bout that."
Brendon presses his forehead to Cash's neck, breathes in. "I'm not," he says, before he kisses Cash again.
To say that Brendon was not exactly enthralled with sports in high school would be sort of an understatement, actually. He survived his mandatory freshman and sophomore year P.E. classes, then, on the last day of school, dumped the offending uniform (bright orange, *seriously*) into the first trashcan he saw.
"Never, ever again," he said. "Ever."
Which is why he was a little surprised (or, you know, a lot surprised) to find himself volunteering for FBR's intramural volleyball squad, his first term in the house. Mostly he blames it on Andy (Hurley) because he's, well, persuasive. I.e., he asks Brendon to be on the team. He says, "So, Urie, can we count on you?"
Brendon opens his mouth to say, 'um?' and 'I'm really not-' but what ends up coming out is, "Absolutely."
*
In high school, Brendon remembers his teammates glaring at him for not being quite fast enough, or, you know, preferring to duck out of the way of the ball that's coming directly at his head. So, the first game they have-against one of the dorms-Brendon worries, because he doesn't want his brothers to glare at him.
Even though he's only been in the house for a month and a half, though, he should know better, because the first time Brendon misses the ball, Travis just says, "Next time, roomie." After that, Brendon does passably. He manages to get the ball over the net when he serves, manages to volley it back to the other side a few times. Then: on the second to last serve of the game, the guy on the other side attempts a spike right in front of Brendon, and Brendon may be short, but he can jump, really, and he manages to block it, sending it back in the direction it came from.
They lose, but only by two points, and when they walk back into the house after the game is over, they're all smiling.
*
This is what Andy never told Brendon: his 'absolutely' seemed to actually be a blanket agreement to participate in all intramurals, which is why Brendon finds himself playing touch football with Jon and Tom at his side, Andy their quarterback, and ultimate Frisbee with Gabe and Ryland, who spend hours perfecting their leaps through the air.
The only time he says no (and actually means it) is when it's time for basketball, because, well, Brendon is short. Short and basketball are not generally mix-y things. Andy frowns and sighs, but Brendon doesn't think he has much room to complain, since he has, like, Travis and Beckett and Gabe signed up already, all of whom could probably reach the basket if they stood on their tiptoes.
Still, when the games come, he goes to root his brothers on, and sometimes that's even more fun than actually being on the floor.
*
The first time Cash comes to one of Brendon's games, Brendon's not expecting him. He's just about to serve the volleyball when he sees Cash walking into the gym, backpack still slung over his shoulders from his late afternoon class. He serves, and the ball goes over the net, thank god, and by the time the point is given (to Brendon's team, thank you very much) he sees that Cash has joined Haley (since Spencer somehow got roped into volleyball this year, too) and Ryan in the stands, bringing their cheering section up to six.
When the game is over, Cash meets Brendon on the floor, and he doesn't push Brendon away when Brendon gives him a hug, even though Brendon's all sweaty and stuff.
After that, Cash is pretty much a regular at their games.
*
Which is to say, when Cash and Shane and their friends Trace and Mason sign up to do intramural basketball, Brendon marks all of the games on his calendar, and he goes to every single one.
It's a little awkward when Cash has to play the FBR team-not nearly as tall as last year's, but the Alexes are sneaky, and Ryland and Disashi aren't *short*--but Brendon still goes. He wears his FBR sweatshirt, but he sits behind the basket-alone for the first five minutes, until Haley joins him and cheers with him when either of the teams makes a basket.
He's actually maybe a little happy when FBR loses, but that's only because it's Cash who makes the winning shot for his team. He collapses on the ground as soon as the buzzer sounds, and Shane and Trace pull him back up, give him hugs of congratulations. Brendon's actually never been so proud of his little brother before in his life, because Singer is next in line to give Cash a hug, too, and now that Brendon's looking around, he thinks that this is maybe the friendliest post-game he's witnessed.
Brendon's alone-Haley having made her way back to Spencer-by the time that Cash makes his way over to him. He throws his arms around Brendon and presses a kiss to his ear, then whispers, "Sorry 'bout that."
Brendon presses his forehead to Cash's neck, breathes in. "I'm not," he says, before he kisses Cash again.