fool (lester averman)

chapter twenty-four

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chapter twenty-four: america vs. iceland, for the gold

a/n:

god, I hate writing hockey. esp mighty ducks hockey. this shit doesn't work like hockey should.

there are a lot of deviations from canon in this chapter! be forewarned.

tw(s) - mild sports violence and strong language

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"Coach!" Adam's cheery shout precedes him as he rounds the corner into the locker room, his gear in hand and his sling nowhere to be seen.

Rory's head pops through the hole of her jersey and she, despite her nerves about the upcoming game and mounting confusion, manages to grin at him as he walks by. Her greeting comes earlier than anyone else's, but she watches him as he walks through the crowd to Bombay.

"I woke up and the pain was gone!" He says, turning his wrist over to demonstrate.

The rest of the team erupts into cheers, happy that their friend was able to recover in time for the game, but Rory's eyebrows pinch, slightly. Her eyes go from Russ to Bombay who, while smiling, doesn't seem quite as excited.

"Adam, I'm sorry, we already have a full roster."

The energy zaps out of the room immediately and the team quiets. All of their eyes turn to Russ, the placeholder they'd hired along the way who really became one of the team, and his shoulders fall.

Rory's lips turn down into a frown as he starts to tug his jersey over his head.

"Wait!" She says, her mouth moving faster than her mind can. "Adam can have my spot."

Her friends all stare at her as if she's just said something strange, people murmuring amongst themselves, but none of them can beat Adam's owlish expression.

"What?"

"Russ has his knuckle puck, and Adam's the best scorer by far. Between the two of them, Guy, and Jesse, you wouldn't even need me, anyway." Rory swallows, talking to Bombay rather than anyone else in the room. "Besides, Adam loves hockey, and Russ is way more of a real American kid than I'll ever be. He's worked just as hard as the rest of us and it wouldn't be fair to turn him away."

"Rory--"

"I don't even like hockey that much. I can deal with my dad and Tibbles, honest. Take me out, coach."

Bombay appears hesitant but, before he can say anything, Charlie interjects.

"No. Take me out, coach. Adam can have my spot." He side-steps to almost be in front of her. "Rory's right, it isn't fair, but she deserves to play, too."

Her moment thoroughly stepped on, and fully shocked by Charlie's willingness to do this for her, Rory blinks as she stares at the side of his head. (Nothing she's feeling, though, could be compared to the look of adoration on Adam's face.)

"She's a better player than me, anyway. This is what I can do for the team-- for my friends. Let me do it."

She flushes, equal parts flattered and indignant, at his words. Bombay claps a hand down onto Adam's shoulder.