Starstruck II: Saruman's Curse

Changing Dynamics Pt 5 (Basketball Team AU)

That wasn't the end of the gay moments for Charlie. As she was walking out of the lunch room, she saw Kevin and Harry walking together. And I mean together. Kevin had his arms wrapped around Harry's waist and was resting his head on his shoulder. Charlie saw them, and, unfortunately, made eye contact with Kevin, who froze up and immediately released Harry, which she felt bad about.

Throughout the week, it didn't get any less gay. In fact, Charlie was concerned for the team. They were so distracted and caught up in each other, she wasn't sure how the game on Friday was going to go.

As it turned out, the game went perfectly. The team was so in sync with each other, there was no way the other team stood a chance. The Lions won by nearly 30 points. The opposing team was utterly defeated, and the Lions had never felt more alive.

But that's when everything started to go wrong. While the team was still celebrating and the student section was still partying, the lights in the gym started to flicker. The rain outside seemed to grow louder as the lights went out and the darkness surrounded them. Silence, then hushed whispers, filled the gym.

The doors to the gym suddenly burst open. Fog started to roll into the gym. A group of people walked in, wearing faded gray basketball jerseys, which were the same design as the team's jerseys, just more beat up looking.

Dean didn't recognize any of the team members. The one in front was elderly; he had a long white beard and long white hair to match. In one hand he carried a basketball, and in the other he carried a staff. Something about him screamed "wizard" for some reason.

The rest of the team looked about the same. They all gave off the vibe of being magical in some manner, which was terrifying, yet confusing.

The one with the staff spoke first. "James Kirk," was all he said.

James stepped out of the crowd and towards the man, the rest of his team following closely behind him. "Who are you?" James demanded.

"The name's Saruman, and this is my team." He introduced the rest of the members of his team. He had with him Gandalf, Dumbledore, Merlin, Tim Bombadil, Lucius Malfoy, Jafar, Oz, Voldemort, Glinda the Good Witch, The White Witch, Hecate, The Wicked Witch of the West, Ursula, and- the most feared of them all- Shaun from the Motor Inn.

James just shrugged. "Is that supposed to mean something to me?"

"I suppose it wouldn't," said Saruman. "But it should. You might better know us as the last team from this high school to win five consecutive championships. At the moment, you're on your way to winning your sixth, and we refuse to have anyone beat our record."

"There isn't really anything you can do about that, though. No offensive, but you all look way past your basketball prime."

"Well that's not entirely true, it is true that, if we were to play you right now, we would most likely lose. Which is why we came up with a different, even more brilliant plan. Surly at least one of you must have noticed the changing dynamic of your team?"

After a moment of silence, Dean spoke up. "Honestly what the fuck are you on about?"

"I needed a way to mess with all of you that wasn't just beating the shit out of you in a basketball game. So I decided to use my magic to turn you into what you hate most: The Gays! That way you would be so distracted and distressed, you would forget all about basketball."

"When did we say he hate gay people?" James asked.

Saruman looked genuinely confused at this. "You're all always on about 'no homo' and calling things gay as an insult. You gave off a pretty strong homophobic vibe."

"Alright, hold the fuck up old man," said Dean. "Didn't it even occur to you that the reason we say 'no homo' so much is because some of us were just hiding our insecurities? Let me tell you, I've had one hell of a week for self-discoveries, so let me tell you what I realized. I don't like when people say 'oh haha that's gay' like it's an insult, cause it's not. I don't like wearing Nike all the time and trying to fit perfectly into the 'Fuckboy' stereotype. Nike is expensive and overrated anyways."

"I don't know if I'd say that," Sam muttered.

"What I've come to realize this week," Dean continued, "Is that I'm not happy wearing this mask of masculinity. I realized I was doing it so I didn't have to face who I really am. But I'm sick of hiding and I'm sick of the bullshit! I want to be free to live my life as free and as gay as I please, as should everyone else who has ever fallen into this dilemma. No one should have to live in fear of the ridicule that will follow them as they come out and come closer to being who they want to be. Something I have been thinking about lately is how, when we were all younger, we didn't act like walking stereotypes; we were free to act as unique as we pleased. I say we go back to when being unapologetically ourselves was what was cool, not just basketball and shitty rap. The only rap I like anyways is Nicki Minaj."

"So let me get this straight," Saruman said when he saw that Dean was slowing down. "You're saying behind every stereotypical Fuckboy, is a gay soul."

"No, what I'm saying is that everyone should be free to be themselves. Whether that has to do with doing what they love or being with who they love, people shouldn't have to hide behind the masks that society hands out. And I'd like to correct something you've said. I'm not gay. I've decided that I'm bi. And James has been out as pan for quite some time. Cas is gay; Sam is straight. We may all be fuckboys, but that's not what determines our sexuality."

"That's too much- you kids and your labels. Back when I was in high school, we didn't have any of that rubbish. You were straight, or you were gay and hidden- the way it's supposed to be."

"Well guess what old man? You're gonna die soon, and times are changing, and there's nothing you can do to stop it. You didn't even succeed in messing with us. In fact, you just made us more comfortable with who we are. So for that, I'd like to thank you. But the reality is, we're gonna keep playing basketball, and were gonna make it gay as hell. You can't stop that changing times, so suck it up and live with it. Now get off our court."

***

The team won, so naturally they went to Denny's after the whole incident with Saruman was sorted out.

"What a dumb fucking plan," Dean said to Cas. "He's a wizard, why didn't he just kill us or something?"

"I'm glad he didn't do that," said Cas. "If he did, I wouldn't have gotten to spend as much time with you."

"Bro," Dean said affectionately, then leaned in to kiss Cas.

"I told you!" Charlie was saying to Ezri. "I knew something weird was up."

"I mean, all that would have probably happened eventually anyways, with or without Saruman's help," Ezri said, poking her pancakes with her fork.

"Yeah, but only magic could have been powerful enough to break through those idiot's heads."

In the end, all that was to be gay became gay. James and Steve eventually discovered that they had both had raging crushes on each other since freshmen year, and from that moment on Charlie was convinced they spent more time connected at the lips then sleeping. Kevin eventually worked up enough nerve to ask Harry out, to the relief of everyone who was sick of watching their mutual pining. Troy and Chad eventually told everyone they had been dating for a few months, but didn't tell anyone out of fear of what people would say. As it turned out, they only thing people had to say was kind words, much to their relief. Spock and McCoy started dating, and soon afterwards, they started both started to date Chekov, as well. Zach and Nathan started to get closer, but no one wanted to ask them about it, since they were still so shy around each other. Sam and Ezri's relationship was as strong as ever, as was Charlie and Arwen's. Kaia and Colin were another story all together.

With the team as close and as strong as ever, they easily went on to win the championship. As they held up their trophy, the world around them faded to black, and the team found themselves plucked out of one world and into the next.

By: Luci