College Baseball/Softball AU
Warning: physical abuse, language

Chapter 1

The relationship between the baseball team and the softball team varies widely from university to university. Anna had heard horror stories from old teammates about how the baseball players at their colleges absolutely hated the women's team and we're constantly hiding their gear, vandalizing their field and torturing them on bus rides. But apparently that was not the case at Arendelle University.

Tiana, the second baseman had been dating one of the catchers, Naveen, for almost a year now. Rapunzel, Tiana's roommate and the center fielder for the team, was even engaged to Naveen's roommate (and best friend) Flynn Rider who was one of the starting pitchers for the men's team.

And there was a smattering of other less serious relationships, hook ups and flings that always made their way through the two teams too, or so Rapunzel said.

"And it's only a matter of time until one of those boys falls head over cleats for you."

Anna just rolled her eyes and swung at the new ball her blonde teammate had replaced on the tee. It soared quickly to the back net at the end of the hitting cage.

It was well past dark on a brisk Tuesday in late September. Courses had been in session for weeks now but fall ball was just beginning. With baseball and softball being spring sports, schools used the fall term as a warm up to the real season. With incoming freshman and junior college transfers, every fall is a new team and it takes time to mesh well together.

Anna and Rapunzel clicked right away though. It probably helped that Anna was the newest roommate at, (she still couldn't believe they called their house this) The Palace. Five softball players in total lived in the suburbs next to the campus in a house on Palace Drive. Rapunzel, Tiana, Merida, Moana and now Anna.

Apparently, everyone referred to their house by the weird nickname. It was the central location for team meetings, study groups and parties.

It had only been about 2 months since Anna transferred to Arendelle University from her junior college up north. But it had been a whirlwind. AU was a huge Division 1 school and a dominator in the North Mountain Conference. They were known for their sports, although the academics weren't bad either. Anna had done well for herself her two years at her junior college and had somehow caught the eye of the Arendelle scout. Before she knew it, she had her AA degree and a full ride offer to the school of her dreams.

The campus was gigantic. It was like its own little town with everything you could ever need: grocery store, drug store, fast food places, sit down restaurants, three rec centers, a bowling alley, full gym and countless coffee shops.

Then there was the sports complex. Anna could drool just thinking about it. On the south side of the campus stood The Stables. Another nickname that Anna had to learn. The complex was actually named after some old coach from the 80s, but no one ever referred to it by its proper name anymore. The Stables housed the baseball field, softball field, each teams' clubhouse and practice facilities—where Anna and Rapunzel were now. The practice building consisted of two sides, one for the women and one for the men. The stupid thing had a lobby (a freaking lobby!) that separated the sides.

It was essentially a huge warehouse with tall ceilings, exposed beams and bright lights. But everything else inside was the best money could buy. The university spared no expense; they never did when it came to sports.

"Just load the tee Blondie." Anna rolled her eyes at her teammate's comment.

Rapunzel laughed as she grabbed a bright ball from between her legs from the bucket she was sitting on. She placed it on the hitting tee for Anna as she commented again, "You should see the freshman in the dorms though, it's like a meat market with our girls and their boys. But you're in a unique position."

"Girl," Anna swung again, the ball hitting the same exact spot on the back net. "I'm not in any position."

Rapunzel was a hopeless romantic, and she was, of course, bias to romance blooming between the two teams.

"Are you finally going to tell me about your ex or what?"

Anna's relationship status was one of the first things her teammate had asked her about when she had been moving into The Palace. Although Anna has been single for months when she came to Arendelle, the subject was not one she wanted to broach at the time. She continued to avoid it, but she was tired now and her resolve was thinning.

Rapunzel placed another softball on the tee between them, but Anna just rested the end of her bat on her shoe, showing she was indeed ready to talk.

"Fine."

The light in Rapunzel's eye brightened at that, "Start at the beginning!"

Anna's stomach hurt at the thought of 'the beginning' because everything had started so easily.

"I met Hans last year when we were both sophomores at our juco. He was very serious about the game. And for good reason. He was good. Great, actually. And the scouts already had their eyes on him from high school. He was the epitome of 'big man on campus' but surprisingly didn't get involved with anyone. He was only focused on making it to the league and didn't want some girl messing it up for him." Anna's eyes darkened at that last part, but Rapunzel stayed quiet.

"We had mutual friends and saw each other occasionally at house parties but had never actually talked. Until one late night bus trip when my seatmate wanted to switch with him to sit by her boyfriend. Everyone was half asleep anyways, so the coaches didn't know.

"I don't know, we just clicked, I guess. Most of our dates consisted of going to the hitting shed or taking extra ground balls after dinner, just casual but fun. But after that...It all happened pretty quick."

The memories flashed through Anna's mind painfully.

Hans had a temper. And when it came to baseball it only got worse.

Both teams had made it to the playoffs, but they played on different weekends, so Anna was able to go and watch Hans play after her own games.

These games were obviously a big deal. Hans had already committed to playing for the University of Southern Isles in the fall, but this was his last chance to impress a major league scout and get drafted instead.

Hans was the starting 3rd baseman and the lead off hitter for the team. He was typically their best player but that game, something was off with him. He didn't get on base once and even made two errors in the field. It was not like him at all. And for that to happen in this game, it was a big deal.

Anna knew it would be best to give him some time to cool off after the loss. But that night, when she went over to his apartment...

"What the fuck do you want?"

Anna was taken aback by his words. Yeah, she knew he could get mad but it had never been directed at her before.

She stood in the entryway, embarrassed for having come over. The apartment was open concept, so she had a clear view of him sitting on his couch.

"I-uh...I just wanted to uh-"

"God just spit it out already! Shit!" Hans raked his hand down his face in annoyance.

Anna's courage returned as she entered further into the apartment, "Hey, I know that was a tough game but don't take it out on me."

Hans' eyes shot to her; anger clearly written across his face "Tough? Are you fucking kidding me?"

"There will be more opportunities. USI is a great school and they have players drafted every year." Anna tried to sound understanding. This was one of the biggest differences between their sports. Anna was just looking for a free ride to a good school to get a degree and job recommendations, but for Hans this was his future career.

Anna's empathy was lost on Hans as his anger surfaced. He sprang up and was towering over Anna within 3 strides of his long legs.

"You stupid bitch. This is all your fault." His voice was like acid seeping down her back. But still she stood strong.

She was about eye level with his chin, so she took a step back to see him properly, "Excuse me?"

Before she could move farther away from him, Hans grabbed her right wrist, halting her. Instinctively, she yanked it back, but he was obviously much stronger than her and his grip only tightened.

"You've just been a distraction from the very beginning. A stupid, slutty, annoying distraction."

Again Anna fought against his grip, her own anger bubbling up now "Fuck you, you fucking pric-" but the word died on her tongue as Hans pulled back his free hand in a closed fist. Pain burst across the left side of her face as stars spun behind her eyes. She knew she was on the ground now, but she couldn't focus.

As she groaned and tried to roll over, a new pressure was suddenly on her throat. It was like an iron ring was closing in on her. She no longer felt the hard laminate flooring beneath her as her feet barely touched the ground.

"Don't you ever just shut the fuck up? The sex almost wasn't even worth it with all the bullshit constantly spewing from your mouth." Anna's eyes cleared but her breathing was so constricted that she didn't know how long she could stay conscious. Clawing at his hands on her throat was doing nothing. As a last stitch effort, she flailed her right leg and managing to connect with his most sensitive area.

Instantly he released her, and she fell to the ground. But before she could make it to his front door, his hand was tangled in her loose hair, pulling her back. Another second passed and she was on the ground again. She didn't know how, but it felt like she had been stabbed in the side. Whimpering, she tried to move her hand and was met with the glass and wood of Hans', now shattered, coffee table.

Opening her eyes, there he was. Looming over her, pure fire in his eyes.

"If you tell anyone about this and ruin my career, I will fucking kill you."

And then her eyes refocused and Anna was back in the hitting cage with Rapunzel.

"He went to a different university and we just didn't want to do the long-distance thing." Anna lied with a nonchalant shrug of her shoulders.

"And you haven't talked to him since then?"

"Nope." Thank God.

"Do you miss him?"

"No." 'fucking way' Anna finished in her head.

"So, are you turned off of baseball players now? I do have some friends on the basketball team..." Rapunzel grinned, wiggling her eyebrows. Anna had only met Flynn a handful of times but clearly, he had been rubbing off on the blonde.

"I just want to focus on school and the team Blondie. I've got my eyes on a ring but I'm not talking about engagement." Rapunzel just laughed, "Fine fine, but you let me know when you're ready because I've got a list of potential suitors for you."

Anna smiled at her new friend and took a final swing at the tee. "Did you want any reps?"

"Nah, I'm good. Let's just clean up and get out of here."

The girls were laughing about a particularly funny play from their practice scrimmage when they entered the facility's lobby.

"Hiya Blondie." They were greeted.

Rapunzel turned to the familiar voice and squeaked with joy. Before Anna knew it, her teammate was in the arms of her fiancé Flynn.

"Red." Flynn nodded his head in Anna's direction. The nickname had annoyed her at first. It's not like her hair was as red as Merida's or even Ariel's but there was not point in fighting it now.

"Rider." She greeted with her own nod.

"I didn't know you were coming here?" Rapunzel, now safely on the ground, said.

"Yeah, Bjorgman wanted some cuts and I said I would throw to him."

"Ok well..." Rapunzel drawled.

Anna, realizing she should give them a few minutes alone, "I'll meet you at the car girl." And started towards the exit.

Anna scanned her key card, checking out of the building when she was suddenly face to chest with a substantial blockage in the doorway.

"Oh, shit, excuse me." A smooth voice said as the blockage disappeared out of Anna's personal space.

She looked up to find a man now outside the building, holding the door open for her to exit. He was dressed in team-issued navy-blue sweats with a matching AU baseball cap.

'He's tall.' That was the first thing Anna thought. 'Perfect build for a baseball player' was the second. Which was true. If she had to guess, this guy stood at at least 6'3 and had a solid body. Wide shoulders, narrow waist and legs thick with muscles.

"Like what you see?" Anna's eyes flashed up to his face now.

So maybe she had stared a little bit too long...

"I've seen better." Was her quick-witted response, unfazed, as she walked through the doorway.

The arrogant smirk on the guy's face only widened. She could see some shaggy blonde hair sticking out from under his hat hanging in his hazel eyes. In all honestly, he was quite good looking.

'Understatement of the year.'

"Watch out for her Bjorgman, she's a feisty one." Anna heard Flynn call as she walked down the path to her car and away from the handsome douche.