Warnings: mild (!) profanity, jargon (all of one instance!) ...

Updated: 4/28/2013

3. At the Plate

Yusei had become increasingly annoyed throughout the game as Crow eyeballed him periodically, looking like he was dying to say something to him, but had to wait. Despite Crow's scrutiny, Yusei managed to have a good game, going 2 for 3 with a walk.

The team walked into the clubhouse in a relatively good mood, having put the game into the win column. Yusei barely noticed the new member of the team—he seemed to have dressed quickly and then made himself scarce. Meanwhile, Crow begged off the usual post-win celebration, telling the usual bunch that he and Yusei had decided to grab a steak.

Sure enough, that's exactly what they did and soon Yusei had an outsize slab of steak sitting on a plate in front of him along with a baked potato. "So what is this all about, Crow?" he demanded. "I know you can't wait to talk to me, so could you spit it out already?"

"Jack Atlas," he said, as though that explained everything.

"So? It looks like we're stuck with him. But on the good side, he's a great pitcher so—"

Crow rolled his eyes. "Remember Cullen? This is exactly like him!"

Yusei rolled his eyes back at Crow. "Cullen? What the—How can you say that? And you say that as though it's a good thing! Cullen was a horrible mistake I made all the way back in high school. Are you saying that you want me to repeat that?"

"Of course not. I'm just saying that Atlas is exactly the same type as Cullen was. Your type, Yusei."

"We don't even know if Jack Atlas is gay or even bi. Odds are that he's not, right? Cullen wasn't. I ended up doing homework for that jerk basketball star for two solid years, Crow!"

"So, it doesn't have to be that way this time. Just figure out who he likes and see how it goes."

"Yeah, and what's the probability that someone like him is unattached, straight or gay?"

"Well, how do you know until you ask? Besides, if he bats for your team, you're far better than anybody he's likely to have going!"

"Damn it, Crow, why are you being so meddlesome? And what would you know about it, anyway?!"

"Because I saw you sneaking looks at him. Because it's obvious to me that you're interested and you still haven't had a meaningful relationship, Yusei!"

"You think I can have a 'meaningful relationship' with Jack Atlas? How desperate do you think I am to seek meaning in a relationship with someone who has all the depth of a dewdrop?"

"Are you sure that there isn't more there than that? C'mon, Yusei, you're the one who keeps telling me not to judge a book by its cover."

"Damn, Crow, there's a difference between deciding to get to know someone better and planning a romance with someone you don't even know." Yusei scowled at his plate, idly pushing a snap pea from one side to the other with his fork. "Good grief, is this why you asked me to have dinner with you? Can't we talk about your latest squeeze or the Vikings, or something?"

Across the restaurant, Jack Atlas was seated at a table with his agent, Rex Godwin. "So, Jack, how do you like your new team?" Rex asked.

"They're a little ticked. Apparently they sent a popular pitcher down to make room for me."

"Strange, you're improving their odds of making the playoffs quite a bit. Have you seen the latest Vegas sheet?"

"You know I don't follow those things. I have my hands full watching my own stats. But you know how guys are, they care more about their buddies than their record sometimes."

"Give it time. They care about their record and as you get closer to the wire, you're going to get a lot more popular, believe me." Rex settled into his chicken, then pinned Jack with a significant stare. "Oh, and another thing. No grandstanding at the plate. I know that you can hit, but show a little humility, kid, OK? There are some folks who actually resent the fact that you have that sort of excessive talent."

"It's jealousy."

"I don't care what it is. You need to work with your team and you need the support of your fans. Arrogance has a certain attraction to a point when you can back it up … but there's a lot to be said for humility."

"Coming from where I did, humility gets you nothing but a sock in the jaw and …" Jack looked at his plate and started cutting his steak assiduously, murmuring, "worse abuse."

"Yeah, well … the fans don't know that, do they?" Rex shrugged. "Anyway, how do you feel about your team? Your teammates?"

"I don't know why you care about that."

"Look, Jack, I know you don't believe this, but I do care about you as something more than a money machine."

"And I'm one hell of a money machine. I suppose I should thank you for the salary boost."

"You're welcome … I think. But could you answer my question?"

"The team? I don't know. They're being difficult about the change for some reason that I don't quite get."

"Maybe it's the homer?"

"That probably didn't help," he allowed. "Hnh. I guess …" Immediately his mind presented him with that challenging shortstop again, with his slightly sullen poker face and sharp, intelligent blue eyes. "Yeah, there's some great talent on the team, and … if they warm up a little, they could be cool."

They ate in silence for a little while before Rex spoke up again, saying, "About that girlfriend of yours, Jack …"

"What about her?" Jack said, annoyed.

"When are you going to let her down?"

"What?"

"You know that it's nothing long-term, but you've been dating her over a year. Don't you think it's time for you to let Carly off the hook?" Rex looked at Jack's surprised expression, and said, "I know."

"You … you what?"

"I know, Jack. I know you're not interested in Carly and I know why."

Jack stared at him for a moment, then finally relented, sighing. Speaking quietly, he said, "If you know, then you know how reasonable it is for me to have someone to prevent other people from knowing. I'm in baseball, dammit. This isn't my choice! Baseball is all I want to do and I could be kicked out if anybody else found out. If Carly had anybody else, I'd step aside."

"Yeah, tell yourself that, but your being there keeps her from looking seriously. Obviously she doesn't know the score. Do you have someone?"

"What? How is that your business? What is it with the third degree?"

"You're an orphan, Jack. I'm probably the closest thing to family that you have. Excuse me for taking a personal interest in you."

"Right. Mr Money cares. Pardon me if I'm not convinced."

"Yeah, well, my clients aren't just numbers to me, believe it or not."

"Fine, but … I'm not telling, not today, anyway."

"That's a no, then."

"What? Whatever." Jack dug into his potato, annoyed. He hated that Godwin had figured out that he was gay, hated even more that he couldn't admit it publicly, and—most of all—hated that he didn't have anyone special. All the fans drooling over him and he still didn't have anyone special. He tried to look cool and completely unconcerned. He was positive that everyone in the restaurant was fooled.

Everyone except Godwin, that is.

Author's notes:

4/28/2013: Corrected interrobangs (now allowed), added warnings.

Cullen: An homage to Kalin, the 4Kids version of Kiryu. Of course, this Cullen is more of a Jack Atlas type, at least as far as Crow is concerned. Honestly, there aren't enough characters in 5D's to put together a decent team and assorted competitors, so ... got to throw in some OCs for sure.

Vikings: Not a football team in this fic. It's another baseball team that Brave, Dragan, and Harald play for. I'd make it the Valkyries, but they're female.

they care more about their buddies than their record: Their win/loss record.

And a preview ...!

"Hey, Rook, we're going for a beer after the game. I need to talk to you." Jack Atlas was suddenly looming over him, leaning on the wall, those blond tendrils of his practically hanging in his face. "If anyone asks, I'm trying to make up for the bad foot we got off on."

"Uh, OK, yeah, but—"

Jack was gone. Why was No so difficult to say? No was easy to say, so …

The two come to an understanding ... sort of.