Two For One
Disclaimer: The Mighty Ducks, characters, and whatever was referenced from the movies do not belong to me. I'm just reliving childhood memories. haha
Author's Note: This will be a Julie/Portman fic. I'm still a slash fangirl at heart, so I couldn't help but add some Charlie/Adam slash. It'll probably be at the end so hey, I'll give you a heads up in case you're dislike the whole malexmale thing.
...
Julie placed a hand over her mouth, attempting to stifle the yawn that ultimately came from her mouth as the clock ticked eleven o'clock.
"Library's closed!"
The librarian's voice rang throughout the building despite the poor acoustics. To ensure every student heard, she rang a large cowbell obnoxiously. Despite the ludicrousness of hearing a cowbell ringing the first day, it quickly became apparent that it was needed, especially when it finally brought Julie and several other students to look up from their major cramming. She nodded to herself in satisfaction when every student made a move to pack up for the evening.
Tucking her canary yellow overcoat tighter around herself, Julie exited the library's double doors. She blinked as the sudden harshness of the dark evening blindsided her. She made a note to study outside a little more often. Her dorm room was only ten minutes away on campus. She knew she should have called Connie to meet her halfway from their dorm to meet up with her before she exited the library. It was just…this would be the third time this week! The lingering guilt about asking her roommate to walk out of their warm dorm and into the cold Minnesota night air was unbearable, especially since the last time Julie called, Connie had been asleep.
Straightening her shoulders, Julie took a deep breath, her shoulders straightened in determination. She was a Duck! A can of mace in her side pocket and the athleticism obtained from years of training were on her side. She could easily take down any guy if they even dared look at her the wrong way.
Briskly walking toward her dorm, Julie planned for an otherwise boring and quick walk.
She heard guffawing at the distance.
She rolled her eyes, stuffing her hands further in her pockets, her fingers brushing against the can of mace. Pressing her arms closer to her body, Julie quickened her pace.
"Hey baby!"
Julie ignored them. She saw the flash of red from a letterman jacket and ground her teeth together in agitation.
A football player.
There were jocks and then there were jocks.
Apparently, the guy couldn't- or rather wouldn't, take the hint.
She could hear his steps quicken alongside hers, his breathing heavy as he attempted to match her pace.
Julie's skin prickled. She grabbed the mace from her pocket, finger on the button to release blinding heat onto the other's face when-
"It's rude to ignore peop-hey!"
Julie had a smart remark on the tip of her tongue to the arrogant jock, ready to use her blistering hot pepper spray and combine it with the self-defense lessons she and Connie attended earlier that week, except someone stood between her and the football player.
Portman seemingly materialized from the shadows of the surrounding trees. His hand grasped the wrist of the outstretched hand of the rowdy guy mere feet away from Julie. A deep-set frown was on his face, his eyes narrowed similar in a way when he was on the hockey rink during a particularly ferocious game.
"Chill," Portman growled, released the other's hand with a firm push that sent the other guy taking a few steps backward.
Portman moved slightly until he was directly in front of Julie, an arm raised slightly to keep her behind him.
The other guy sneered, his hand trembling by his side relaying his nervousness. He turned away, "She ain't worth the trouble."
Julie sighed in inaudible breath of relief, the pent up tension she didn't know she had released from her shoulders.
"You okay?" Portman turned around, taking a step forward toward her, only to stop before he actually reached her. "H-he didn't-"
"No," Julie shook her head. She smiled, taking that extra step forward until she stood inches away from him. She raised her hand to briefly touch the sleeve of his leather jacket. "Thank you."
"Nah," Portman turned away, rubbing the back of his neck as his lips quirked into a smile, "You had it handled."
"I did," Julie easily agreed. She lightly shoulder checked him on his side, "I'm not going to say no to a little assistance." Her grin brightened, "On or off the field."
"Heh," Portman shrugged but that didn't stop the warm, undeniable feeling of accomplishment from Julie when she saw his profile against the low-lit lights of the sidewalk lamps. A wide grin was on his face as he attempted to hide it from her, like a child receiving a compliment.
It was surprisingly endearing.
It was silent for a moment, the occasional chatter of students in the distance the only noise on Eden Hall campus before Portman looked around then at her, his brow furrowed in curiosity. "Where are you going alone at night?"
Julie blinked. "Dorm." She narrowed her gaze, "What about you?"
"Same, but you're walking alone."
Julie narrowed her gaze, "You're walking alone as well."
"Well I'm-" Portman stopped.
"You're….?" Julie looked at him straight in the eye, her blue eyes cold as she dared him to continue his statement.
"I'm scared," he stated. "After that incident, I'm even more scared."
That through Julie for a loop, but she patiently persisted, "You're scared?"
"Of walking to my dorm alone," Portman finished easily. "My dorm is across from yours," he raised his arm in offering, "Wanna accompany me to it?"
Shaking her head, Julie laughed but still saddled up by his side, looping her arm into his. She was surprised at how much warmer she was in comparison to before when situated next to him. She looked up at her teammate and said teasingly, "I'll be more than happy to. Ducks have to stick together after all."
"Of course," Portman replied, squeezing her arm as they walked, at a slower pace than either had before, back toward their dorms.
It was surprisingly quiet. They could've talked about their team, upcoming games, even schoolwork. Instead, every few steps, she would bump her shoulder against him, looking up to grin at him while Portman grinned manically at her, wagging his eyebrows, causing her to giggle.
Their walk could have gone longer, in Julie's opinion.
Her shoulders sagged slightly when she saw her building coming up. She knew she would see him tomorrow for practice but this moment.
This was moment was special.
"Julie, there you are! Connie was looking all over for your" Charlie opened the door to dorm, relief clear on his features. He stopped, looking from Portman to Julie questioningly. "Hey Portman."
"She was escorting me back to the dorms," Portman answered immediately. He turned to Julie, "My dorm is right over there, thanks for walking me back."
Julie blinked, realizing her arm was still wrapped around Portman. Regretfully, she pulled away.
"Good night." Julie internally winced at the curtness of the statement. She wanting to say more, anything to him for helping her save face and pride, but…Charlie was watching them, a weird smile on his face.
"Night," Portman waved his hand as he walked away.
She followed in after Charlie, half-listening to him chat about the upcoming physics exam he was busy studying for with Connie. She shivered, even with the warmth of the dormitory surrounding her. She rubbed the arm that had been wrapped around Portman's, a feeling of loss in the pit of her stomach.
…
"You should talk to her," Charlie commented as he settled into the seat next to Portman. He popped open his history book next to the taller teenager's comic book. He grinned wryly as he added, "The librarian is burning a hole in the back of your head for the comic, by the way."
Portman removed his headphones, sending Charlie a wicked smile before he turned around and sent a less-than-innocent grin to the frowning older woman –she glared even harder- before he waved at her and turned back around. He lightly bumped his shoulder against Charlie's, "I'm just a babe-magnet." He brushed off his shoulder with a smirk, "It's a curse."
Charlie chuckled, returning Portman's shoulder bump, his blue eyes sparkling mischievously, "Not the librarian." Leaning closer, while indicating in the direction where Portman was facing –a familiar girl was hunched over, her eyes trained on her notes as she absently chewed on the eraser attached to her pencil- he whispered, "Julie."
Portman froze, his dark eyes wide and his mouth slightly opened in shock. "I-I have no idea what you're talking about man," Portman turned away with a huff, wrinkling his nose as he aggressively turned the page of his comic book.
Charlie patted Portman's shoulder for moral support only to have it shoved off.
"Portman, wait-"
"Shove it," he growled. Portman shoved his belongings back into his book bag as he abruptly stood up from the study table. He pushed an arm through the sling of the backpack, sending Charlie a glare as he made his way to the exit, "Don't-" he grabbed him by the collar of the shirt until their faces were mere centimeters from one another, "Stay out of my way."
Charlie blushed as the students studying nearby that had just watched as the high school bad boy walked noisily out of the library, then turn their attention to him.
He shrugged, focusing his attention onto his history book, "He really had to go."
The librarian shushed him.
…
Averman looped an arm around Charlie's shoulders as they made their way to the cafeteria.
"Sooo…"
"Spit it out Averman," Charlie braced himself for the worst. Nothing good could possibly come out of Averman's mouth with a beginning like that.
"The school body's at an uproar," Averman stated conversationally. "Apparently, it looked like Portman declined you."
That was unexpected.
"What?"
"You know Charlie," Connie rounded Averman, a tender smile on her face as she tucked her body against Charlie's side, "We're here for you."
It took a moment.
A good, long moment to realize.
Oh.
With the amount of time Charlie recently devoted to Portman and his insistence that the other should talk to Julie off the ice, it did like he was…maybe/sorta pining after the Bash Brother.
Charlie blushed, but squeezed them both reassuringly. "I-I'm not into Portman." He turned redder; "And Portman is not shunning me for what reasons you think you are."
"Oh yeah?" Connie and Averman exchanged a look.
Charlie halted right outside the cafeteria and carefully situated them so that their intended target wouldn't see them He nudged them toward the general direction where the Duck's congregated. Although they didn't necessarily sit with one another (cliques formed), but they sat in the same vicinity. They were Ducks; they stuck together, albeit in different tables.
In one particular, with the typical head bangers and borderline delinquents of Eden Hall, Portman was chatting away, a wide smile on his face. Although, when he thought no one was looking, his dark eyes would stray to a table directly across from his.
Averman and Connie followed his gaze. Their eyes widened with realization.
Julie sat primly in her seat, a reserved smile on her face as she listened with rapt attention as her classmate recounted a story only they could hear.
She was directly in Portman's line of sight.
She looked up.
At the same time, Portman turned his head away, guffawing extra loudly and rubbing the back of his head.
"Oh…"
"Yeah," Charlie replied easily.
"But you're still…" Connie dared to venture.
There was a pink tint on Charlie's cheek as he bashfully turned his gaze toward the floor, "Thanks for supporting me, even if it's regarding the completely wrong person."
"Well, at least we got something correct," Averman stated happily.
"Hey, the girl's bathroom gossip is legit," Connie persisted, batting Averman's shoulder lightly with a hand.
Charlie lightly nudged the two. "Now that you clearly see I'm not being spurred by Portman, you mind helping me with his situation?"
"Sure," they both chorused.
"It's like typical story: delinquent falls for Straight-A sweetheart," Averman noted.
Connie jabbed him in the stomach. Charlie turned around, attempting to stifle his laughter.
…
"Um…Charlie."
"Hey Fulton." Charlie grinned, holding up a fry, "Wanna trade me half your grilled cheese for my fries?"
"Sure," he slid his tray closer to Charlie. "Dude, I'm always happy to see you but-but why are you sitting here?"
Charlie neatly sliced the sandwich in half, placing the smaller half on his tray. "This seat looked free." His head snapped up, and he looked distressfully at Fulton, "I didn't take anyone's seat, did I?"
Fulton cringed. Charlie did a perfect imitation of a kicked puppy. "No, man, it's nothing."
"I do," Portman growled from Charlie's other side.
Charlie had ever so subtly sandwiched himself between Fulton and Portman at their table. Their friends, students Charlie saw in passing or hanging out with Fulton and Portman, were just as pleasantly surprised as Fulton. However, they grinned, welcoming the Bash Brothers teammate as an honorary member of their table.
"Come on, man, isn't he your bro?" One of tablemates stated with a grin. He leaned forward, attempting to swipe a fry from Charlie's tray.
Fulton glared, batting away the guy's hand. Those fries were rightfully his.
Portman hunched further, sending daggers with his eyes toward Charlie as the blonde bit into his sandwich.
Of course it didn't end there.
"Charlie! Did you get the question for last night's math homework?" Connie grinned as she dropped her tray on the other side of Portman, "Hey Portman! How are you?" Then leaned forward to look at Charlie, "Question thirty-one has me stumped."
"I tried to get Banks to let me see his homework, but it was a no go," Averman commented as he settled himself next to Fulton. He motioned toward Adam as he sat chatting at Julie's table. He feigned a disheartened sigh, "I, for one, feel scorned."
At the mere mention of Adam Banks, Portman roughly pushed his tray away. "You," he didn't finish his sentence as he grabbed Charlie's forearm and pulled him up from the table toward a nearby exit. Charlie managed to keep a hold of his sandwich, munching on it as Portman forcibly dragged him along.
The cafeteria quieted as they watched the two leave.
Several of the Ducks sitting in tables nearby shot Portman, Connie, and Averman concerned look. Fulton was at a loss for words, while Averman and Connie exchanged smiles.
"You know…" Charlie began to say before he was abruptly slammed him against the locker rooms. Arms were on either side of his head as Portman loomed above him, his forehead nearly touching Charlie's as the other glowered at him.
"The girl's bath room is probably going think we're dating now," Charlie finished. His smile didn't lessen as Portman groaned in irritation. "That, or you're being really mean to me due to your repressed inner desire for me or something along those lines."
Portman blinked before he pulled away and punched the locker behind him.
"Too soon," Charlie shrugged before continuing. "You should tell her."
Charlie absently wondered how much it would cost to repair a locker while Portman punched it again. He was an enforcer for a reason. "It's our senior year. It's been nearly five years."
"Ms. Perfect?" Portman spat, his fists clenching and unclenching in agitation as he stepped away from the locker –it was only dented, Charlie sighed in relief- and toward Charlie. He took a few steps forward only to whirl around and take several steps in the other direction. "And me? You know this isn't a fucking fairy tale, Charlie."
Charlie quirked his lips into a smile, watching Portman pace from his leaning position against the locker.
"You've thought about it though."
"I'm a guy, I'm basically walking hormones," Portman stated wryly.
"Five years though," Charlie insisted.
"I-" Portman stopped pacing. He huffed in frustration as he ran a hand through his unruly hair, "I don't want her to think that I'm…"
"That you're…"
"She's not another notch on my bed," Portman finally stated, "You know the rumors about me!"
"Rumors," Charlie persisted, "We're a team. There aren't rumors between us."
Portman sighed, standing still, his arms resting against his sides as his shoulders slumped in defeat. "I know."
"Good."
"So if I confess and she says no-"
"She won't," Charlie interjected.
Portman turned around to look at him. He marched directly toward Charlie and resumed his former position, which was basically pinning the other to the locker. There was a glimpse of desperation in his voice. "If you're lyi-"
"I'm not," Charlie said with certainly. "Do you really think I would lie?"
"It's always the nice ones," Portman muttered, "You all are sneaky. Like ninjas or something."
"Hm. Ninjas. Still, Julie looks at you the way you look at her," Charlie stated. He patted Portman's shoulder comfortingly. This time, he didn't shake it away. Charlie placed that in the 'win' column. "Clearly, you don't watch her as much as you think you do."
"I don't watch-"
"You really do."
"I-"
"It's not creepy though. It's actually rather endearing," Charlie stated earnestly.
Portman looked at him, his eyes unguarded, questioning the sincerity of the shorter teen. He opened his mouth to speak only to be interrupted.
"Charlie, are you okay?" Adam's voice rang through the hall. Suddenly, the lanky teen rounded the corner, coming to an abrupt halt. As did the rest of the Eden Hall Ducks as they nearly ran into his backside.
"What are you…" Adam began before snapping his mouth shut. His blue eyes hooded as he stared questioningly at the two before him.
Julie was right behind Adam, peering at them with wide eyes.
"Hey guys!" Charlie chirped, completely disregarding the compromising position he was in while Portman froze. "I'm fine, we were just having a discussion but it's over now."
Connie and Averman sent them sympathetic looks, mouthing 'sorry'. They couldn't the rest of their teammates back before Charlie and Portman could finish talking.
"I hope you saved my pudding for me, Connie," Charlie remarked as he ducked from underneath Portman's arms. Walking toward the cafeteria and past a stunned group of ducks, he remarked absently, "I was looking all day to that pudding."
SS: Don't you love misunderstandings? haha I hope whoever managed to read this far enjoyed my fic. Hopefully I'll update it soon. Reviews with comments or criticism are totally welcomed!