TMD; The Mighty Ducks; Preferences and Imagines

𝕣𝕖𝕢𝕦𝕖𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕕- 𝔻𝕖𝕒𝕟 ℙ𝕠𝕣𝕥𝕞𝕒𝕟; 𝔽𝕣𝕒𝕞𝕖𝕕

𝕣𝕖𝕢𝕦𝕖𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕕 𝕓𝕪: AshTray367

The first time I saw it, I thought it was some kind of joke.

Dean and I had just come back from a late-night drive, our usual way of unwinding after long days. We were curled up on the couch, me flipping through my phone while he absentmindedly scrolled through his own. The TV was on low, the usual nightly news playing in the background. I wasn't really paying attention until I heard Dean's name.

I turned my head just in time to see his picture plastered across the screen.

"Teen accused of violent altercation—Internet outrage ensues."

My heart dropped. The news anchor continued speaking, listing off accusations that didn't make any sense, paired with blurry security footage of someone who vaguely resembled Dean shoving another guy outside a convenience store. The headline underneath read: DEAN PORTMAN: TROUBLEMAKER OR MENACE?

"What the hell?" I whispered, sitting up.

Dean, who had been rubbing his face tiredly, frowned at the screen. "What?"

And then he saw it.

The change in his expression was instant—first confusion, then irritation, then full-blown anger. He shot up from the couch, running a hand through his hair as he stared at the TV in disbelief.

"You've got to be kidding me." His voice was tight with fury. "That's not me. I wasn't even near that store last night!"

I swallowed hard, already clicking on the news article linked to the story. The comments were flooded with people ripping him apart—calling him a delinquent, a violent thug, a danger to others.

What a punk. Send him to juvie.

Hope he gets expelled.

Just another kid who thinks he can get away with hurting people.

The words made my stomach churn. I turned my phone to show him, but he had already grabbed his own, his hands shaking as he scrolled through the flood of notifications.

"Dean, don't—"

"No, no, this is—this is insane." His voice cracked as he read through the comments. "They think I did this? They think I—" He exhaled sharply, his body tensing. "I didn't touch anyone. I didn't do anything."

"I know," I reached for him, but he took a step back, his whole body rigid.

His breathing was heavy, his jaw clenched so tightly I thought his teeth might break. "This isn't just some dumb rumor, this is—this is the news. They're making me out to be some kind of—some kind of criminal." He laughed bitterly, but there was no humor in it. "And everyone is eating it up like it's gospel."

I stood up, placing a hand on his arm. "Dean, listen to me—"

"I try to stay out of trouble," he said, voice rising. "I keep my head down, I don't pick fights, I don't even look at people the wrong way, and this is what happens? People who don't even know me are calling me a piece of trash!"

I could see it then—the cracks forming beneath his anger. It wasn't just fury. It was hurt.

I stepped closer, wrapping my arms around him. At first, he stayed tense, his fists clenched at his sides. But then, after a few shaky breaths, he let out a ragged sigh and let his head rest against my shoulder.

"It's not fair," he muttered, his voice breaking. "It's not fair."

I rubbed his back soothingly. "I know, Dean. I know it's not."

He let out a heavy breath. "They don't even care about the truth. They just want someone to blame."

I held him tighter. "We'll fix this, Dean. We'll clear your name. We'll get proof."

"But what if they don't listen?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. "What if they've already made up their minds?"

I pulled back just enough to look him in the eye. His usual confidence was gone, replaced by frustration and uncertainty. "Then we fight," I told him firmly. "Together."

He stared at me for a long moment before exhaling shakily. "You're the only one who believes in me right now."

I smiled softly, gripping his hand. "And that's not going to change."

Dean finally let himself relax into my embrace. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

"You won't ever have to find out."

No matter what, I wasn't going to let them tear him down. Not now. Not ever.