Rainbow Connection, AFTG ✔️

2.21

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
PORTER

By an hour to serve, every parking lot on Edgar Allan's campus was packed. The stadium grounds were swarming with black-clad fans. Staccato bursts of camera flashes and hefty bodies in suits marked the arrival of big-name celebrities. Everywhere the eye could see was filled with security, and an entire section was cordoned off for news vans.

The bus ride was eight hours, and Porter had been sick for all eight of them. The closer they got to Evermore, the worse it got. Actually seeing it made him dry heave, and James quickly grabbed his shoulder and said, "Shove it down, or so help me, God."

The nerves weren't only effecting Porter. Nicky drummed his fingers on his hips as he took it all in. Aaron stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Katelyn, knuckles white with how tight he was holding her hand. Andrew looked unimpressed by the madhouse they'd stepped into, but his calm gaze tracked the crowd for threats. Renee was fiddling with her cross necklace, gaze distant as she prayed. Dan and Matt stood arm-in-arm behind her, twin pillars of strength ready for a fight. The rapid tap-tap-tap of Allison's heel against the asphalt gave her unease away but she wore a contemptuous look.

Even James wasn't immune, though he looked far more hungry than scared. He had Hayden on his arm, and somehow, Hayden looked more fearful for the upcoming game than James did.

But, at Neil's side, Kevin was untouchable. Porter watched him, mesmerized, and let everything else fade away. The game would be soon, but it was years away and months ago all at once, because Kevin was always beautiful, but when he knew his worth, he was gorgeous.

Kevin and James had shown off his their tattoos as soon as they'd gotten on the bus. The team's celebration was loud and excited. Wymack hadn't reacted with more than a quick, tight smile, which meant he'd known about it before any of them did. Considering Wymack had his own pair of tribal flame tattoos on his arms, Porter wondered if their had been a very strange level of father-son bonding happening last night.

Last night's spectacle wasn't born of drunken grandeur. Kevin had committed; there was no going back. He faced Castle Evermore now like it was just another worthless stop on his way to glory. It was the hottest thing Porter had seen in his whole life. Kevin's new-found grit and strength settled Neil and Porter. If Kevin had snapped, then Porter knew he believed they could win.

James had snapped months ago, Porter thought. He hadn't realized it until the tattoo incident, but Porter thought James stopped caring about Riko as soon as he laid his hands on Hayden. It must have been building up from every time he hit someone in front of James, who was ever empathic and couldn't stomach to see his childhood friends being thrown to the concrete. Approaching Evermore, James looked ready to burn it to the ground with just one match.

Two women collected the Vixen squad. Four security guards escorted the Foxes from the bus to the stadium while another six stood guard along the short route. It was a little excessive, perhaps, but Edgar Allan's board wasn't taking any chances. Cameras flashed as the Foxes went by, and it was only a matter of time before someone realized Kevin and James' ink had changed. An incredulous shout got all attention on their faces, and suddenly ten guards seemed entirely insufficient. There was a chorus of boos on all sides as the news swept through the crowd, but breaking through that vicious disapproval were a few scattered shouts of "Queen!", "Knight!". Kevin kept his expression haughty, but James grinned, wolffish, both at the boos and the cheers, like he enjoyed the rage of the Raven lovers.

Evermore's Away lower room was twice as large as the Foxes' locker room but it seemed a hundred times smaller. The walls were bare of any decoration and everything was pitch black from the floor to the ceiling. It took an immediate toll on the Foxes and they spread out as quickly as they could, slinging orange bags into every corner of the room to try and break up the crushing illusion. It felt like a tomb.