Jude Kinkade/Zero [Gideon] centric spin on S2 E12~'Winner Takes All.'
An hour later, Jude was up and had just finished shaving when there was a knock on the front door.
"Jude Kinkade?" asked a middle-aged man in a blue blazer. He flashed an L.A. County Detective's badge. "I'm Detective Ray Harris. May I, uh, come in?" He peered into the apartment as if he were expecting to see someone else.
Zero had left 10 minutes before, for an early morning appointment with the team exercise physiologist.
"I'm actually running late." Jude gestured with the towel he had around his neck, that draped his bare chest.
"This should just take a second," he said stepping into the apartment without an invitation. "I was wondering if you could tell me where you were at 10:26 the night Olivia Vincent died." He did a quick cursory inspection of the living room.
"Why are you asking me?" he said looking at the badge in the other man's hand. "Is this official police business?"
"It is and it isn't," Harris replied with a humorless laugh. "Since Chase Vincent's been cleared, I'm talking to anyone who has ties with Devils management."
Instinctively Jude knew he was lying. "I was on the arena floor."
"Alone? That late at night?"
"I go sometimes to clear my head…by myself."
"But Oscar wasn't giving you that kind of access to the arena, at the time."
Alarm bells immediately sounded. Who was this Detective Ray Harris, that he called his father 'Oscar?' Not 'Mr. Kinkade', ' Kinkade', hell 'Your father?' Also, how the hell would he even know what kind of access Jude would have, at any given point? He knew his father had his fair share of cops on his payroll…he couldn't help but get the feeling that this Harris was one of them…Jude wouldn't be surprised if he was the same 'investigator' who had followed Olivia and him and had questioned his neighbors.
"I'd sneak in," he said with a short laugh. "It sounds crazy, I know."
The detective looked at him unflinchingly serious.
"I have to finish getting ready for work. Good luck." He opened the door, indicating that he wanted the cop to leave and that they were done.
"Thanks," Harris said as he left. Meaning anything but.
Jude closed the door and leaned heavily against it. opened his front door and immediately was presented with the sight of Zero on his couch. His bare feet on the coffee table, dressed in Jude's striped boxers and a white t-shirt. He was eating cereal, from a ceramic bowl that Jude's mom, Lisa, had bought him in college.
'For someone who purported not to want a relationship, he was in Jude's apartment and tucked in often enough', thought Jude wryly.
"You close any of those endorsement deals? Negotiations are taking forever," he said rising from the couch.
"You're still in PR jail. Gonna take more than the possibility of a championship to push the boulder up the hill. Gonna take more than a ring!" he said taking off his jacket, gesturing with irritation. "If you want your life back, you need MVP."
Jude took a deep breath. A singular focus and doing what it took to achieve it; blocking out all other distractions that stood in the way of his goals. That was Zero. It was exciting in a way. One of the reasons he loved him. One of the reasons why he was often frustrated.
"You're wound up tight. Even for you. Something happen today?"
That detective. That cop. Harris had been crawling around the arena. It hadn't taken long for word to get around that he'd talked to everyone from Jelena to Kyle to Derek to Emile. Which meant the cop in Oscar's pocket was probably interviewing everyone that Olivia had something on and may have been blackmailing. Ties to Devil's management Jude's ass.
Before he could answer, there was a knock at the door.
"Delivery."
He turned, answered the door and silently took the small package from the delivery guy.
"Is this a joke?" Jude said looking down at the stiff paper in his hand.
"What is it?" Zero asked between a mouthful of Rice Krispies.
"A wedding invitation. From Lionel and Oscar."
'You're my man of honor. Look sharp. Lionel,' read the yellow post it note attached to the black and cream-colored invite. It was to take place at Oscar's Beverly Hills mansion, this Saturday, at 5:00 pm…
'Christ.'
He looked at Zero, who looked equally confused. Oscar had just divorced his second wife in the last year, and it was pretty well known, even though the Devils owner had kept the details quiet, that it had been contentious. Hence, he'd sworn off marriage.
"I guess we're goin' to a wedding?" said Zero.
Both understood that much like a funeral or a club opening, a wedding was a PR goldmine in the Devils Nation."Relax. You're sweating through your suit," said Zero as he and Jude walked into the wedding.
A lot like Olivia's funeral, anyone, who was anyone, was there. Players, dancers, executives mingled with actors, directors and other executives; sports and Hollywood rubbed shoulders once again.
Jude hadn't even known what to wear. Other than the handwritten note attached to the invitation, he had not a clue about any aspect of this sideshow. It was spring in California, so he'd opted for a grey suit, blue accented tie and shirt. It was the best that he could do.
To his surprise, Zero had asked him to pick him up from his L.A. Penthouse. When the baller had first relocated from Cleveland to L.A. he'd rented a mansion, but pretty soon realized it wasn't for him and had moved into a chic and contemporary 2 bed 3 bath, downtown.
Jude's heart dropped when he thought about the fact that, while he'd been to Zero's for business and even socially prior to them hooking up, he'd not been there as his lover. Not overnight. Not even a quick fuck in the afternoon. Always Jude's place…
Jelena had been there. Zero and he'd even discussed how she made a point to never stay over...or let him stay at her condo either.
Although, he supposed if he showed up and left at 2am in the morning, the front desk receptionist sitting behind the massive marble desk, contemporary art flanking them, might just wonder why his twenty something agent was constantly in and out of his apartment at all hours.
Would that be so bad? In Zero's eyes, yeah, it would.
"Sorry. The last time I was here, I was being disowned," he said dryly.
"Now you're here as Lionel's special guest," Zero replied teasingly.
"So special I haven't even spoken to her yet."
They walked side by side and stopped in front of a very pretty event coordinator.
"Welcome. I'm a big fan" she uttered, staring at Zero, completely ignoring Jude.
"I'm a big fan of yours too," the baller replied, as he eyed the young woman, licked his lips and turned on the magic and charm.
'Fuck. Really?' thought Jude.
"Can I take your coat?" She looked at him appreciatively in tailored white and blue.
"It's a suit," chimed in Jude. 'Fuck her. Fuck Zero. Fuck it all.'
"Or anything else?" she said with all smiles and no subtlety.
He looked from Zero to the young woman. "He has crabs. Excuse me." He then walked away.
He made his way over to the champagne fountain and picked up a glass and turned to watch the circus. He saw Pete…and Sloane. Wait, what? He shook his head inwardly and took a sip, a moment later Zero was standing next to him, holding his own glass, giving him a sly smile. Jude couldn't help but smile back and look at him with a softness in his green eyes…god he was so weak.
"Attention everyone, if you would please take your seats, the ceremony is about to begin!" interrupted the voice of the previously flirty event coordinator.
Zero along with everyone else headed to his seat.
Jude straightened himself, downed the champagne and searched the house entrance for Lionel as he moved into place by the aisle. He spotted Derek and Ahsha talking. He wondered if he looked like that when he saw Zero, the way she looked at Derek…
~~~
The processional music started, and Lionel appeared. Pale. Beautiful. Composed. She wore a designer, form fitting black dress. Holding a bouquet of chrysanthemums and roses.
Jude practically jumped out to walk next to her. 'Shit.' "This is messed up. You realize that, right?" he said to her as she tucked one of the white roses into his lapel and took his arm. "The fact that this is the first conversation we're having about this is a sign of how truly messed up this is. What the hell are you thinking?"
They had traded war stories. He knew about Oscar's 'Indecent Proposal', and she was aware of his homophobic disowning of Jude. Both were properly caught up on the episodes.
"This is an awfully short aisle," she quipped. He stared at her for a moment, before becoming stone faced in the presence of Oscar as they quickly arrived in front of the minister and him.
"You have a beautiful bride," the officiant said to Oscar.
"Sometimes when someone asks you to marry them, you just can't say no."
Jude shook his head and couldn't hide his confusion. 'Christ, what the fuck was going on?'
"You look dapper too. I'm sorry about not signing a prenup. My pen just ran out of ink," Lionel said with a light smile.
"Of course. Do you know what you're getting yourself into?" Menace in every syllable.
"I do," she said easily as the three of them turned toward the minister.
"Dearly beloved we are gathered here today to join this man and this woman in holy matrimony…"
The rest of the ceremony was a blur, as was the reception. Jude figured that whatever the hell was going on, Lionel would eventually clue him in.
Tomorrow was the big day. The finals. He dropped Zero at his penthouse. The baller needed to rest up. Jude then made his way back to Studio City. As he sat in bed, he thought about how regardless of whether they were an out couple, how even when they were together the other man could never say, 'we are in a relationship.' It was always, 'I don't do relationships' as he sat on Jude's couch reading the Los Angeles Sun or using up all the hot water. If Zero could never acknowledge anything real between them, when it was just the two of them alone in this apartment, was there a chance in hell that he'd ever do it in front of the rest of the world?
~~~
Jude, like everyone else, was pumped for game seven of the finals, he was in the stands, eyes darting from the Devil Girls waiting in the wings for their final dance to the weird dance that Lionel and Oscar were doing as they sat courtside.
Devils got the ball first. Terrence pulled a layup. Devils were on the board first! By the end of the first half, The Boston Cranes were ahead by 4 points.
~~~
Jude watched as Zero stole the ball. He then passed it to Fahey. Fahey then went back to Zero. He made the shot! 'Maybe there was a chance of MVP,' Jude thought, with his hands in his pockets as he stood with the crowd and smiled proudly.
~~~
At halftime they announced,"Ladies and gentlemen, for the last time on the floor this season, the Devil Girls!"At the fourth quarter Terrence scored taking the game into overtime! Suddenly, Terrence went down and stayed down. There was chaos. More so than would have been at even a normal final game. Jelena ran to Terrence. For all that woman's faults she loved that man, and wasn't afraid to show it, observed Terrence had been taken away to the hospital and the floor cleared, the game continued.
Boston to inbound the ball. Derek stole the ball! He dribbled to the top of the key.
Zero was wide open. "I'm open. I'm open!" Everyone could see the blond baller yell, but Derek decided to go in for the shot.
Going for the win himself. He slam dunked. The Devils won the championship!
Jude knew in that moment that Derek was the MVP. He knew that Zero knew it too.
Los Angeles had the title, and the home crowd went crazy.
He stayed in the stands and watched the Jumbotron as Derek picked up his mother, Pete kissed a bountifully curled Sloane, and so many other scenes of happiness and celebration marked by falling confetti and pumping anthems.
As all the players, dancers, coaches, agents, and execs made their way off the court and gathered to talk to the press, do photo ops, and congratulate one another away from the crowd and fans, Jude straggled behind, watching. He caught Zero's eye as he was being interviewed by Lauren Beach, a sports reporter for Channel 3.
Jude just gazed at him and didn't care if anyone saw. He could see the regret in the other man's eyes, and maybe something more, a look of apology? Before Zero turned back to an enthusiastic Beach…Jude idly thought how the reporter's interest was a good sign in turning around Zero's image.
He eventually moved further into the arena area. He really needed to speak to Lionel…
Suddenly, everyone's attention was on something behind him. He turned around to see the cops come rolling in…he immediately recognized Detective Harris, who was flanked by four uniformed police. They made their way to Oscar.
"Are you making an arrest?" asked Oscar.
"Yes, we are," replied Harris, then to everyone's surprise, "Oscar Kinkade. You're under arrest for the murder of Mia Sertner." He then proceeded to handcuff him. Oscar stared unbelievingly, as did everyone else.
The two men whispered something to each other that Jude, nor anyone else could hear. But Jude had an idea.
Suddenly Sloane and some of the other Devil Girls came into view, and his father lunged at her. "You have no idea what you've done!" There was a cold threat to his tone. He had to be restrained by the two boys in blue.
He watched along with everyone else as his father was perp walked out of Devils Arena.
"I warned you about hiring her," said Jelena knowingly as he passed her, Jude and Lionel.
Jude didn't know how to feel. Smug wasn't the right word. Vindicated, maybe? And yet, if that man hadn't been so hateful and dismissive, he would have known about Sloane and could have gotten ahead of this…
"I'll call your lawyer. Don't worry!" Lionel stressed, before giving Jude a conspiratorial wink.
Suddenly, reporters were yelling questions and cameras were flashing.
~~~
Later, that evening, Jude walked into the locker room. It was dark, with the lingering scents of cleaning fluid, sweat and cologne . Zero was showered and dressed in a blue pullover and white jeans. He was seated and flanked by the alcoves bearing some of his teammates' names; Malina, Holmes, and Otis.
"Congratulations. Ring number two," he said softly.
"I didn't come here to be some schmuck on a team. I came here to be the star. That's what you promised me. Instead, I lost everything."
"You can't blame me for that. You were the one who got caught with your pants down. On more than one occasion."
"Are you still angry about that girl I flirted with at the wedding?"
"What makes you think that?" Jude replied sarcastically.
"I lied to everyone else but you." Zero rose off the hard bench. "I told you; I don't do relationships."
"No," said Jude, coming closer with a shake of his dark head. "You don't do relationships with guys. I do. You know how I know? Because I want one, with you. After the game, all I wanted to do was kiss you. And what would you have done? You would've freaked. Not because people would think you're gay or bi or. Whatever you are. Because they would've seen an ounce of anything real from you. You're so full of crap. One disguise after another. You're buried so deep in there; you don't even know yourself."
"You just figured out you're gay or whatever-"
"- Not "or whatever."
"- And you're coming down on me?" he asked with a stare of amazement
"You're right. I'm sorry. I'm mad. Mad at myself, mad at this situation! Mad that I need something from you, mad that I can't get it. Most of all. I'm mad that there's nothing I can do
about any of it." He turned and headed out of the locker room.
"Where are you going?" Zero blocked his path, with his arms wide open. "You're my agent," he said in weak defense.
"I'm done settling for percentages. Percentages of my father, percentages of you. I want it all.
And I can't stick around waiting for it." He then proceeded to leave again.
"Gideon!"
"What?"
"That's my name. Gideon." He turned around and looked at Jude.
Jude knew how hard that had been for the other man. For a moment, Jude really did want to fall into Zero…Gideon. Grab his face, taste his fresh tartness, be naked, skin to skin. Let him fuck him, until he forgot about everything…but it would be settling and right now, with everything that had happened, he just couldn't. He needed. Wanted. Deserved more. No matter how much he loved him.
He let out a little laugh. "I would love to take Gideon on a date. To a public place."
He could see doubt and apprehension play across Zero's face as he spoke.
"And listen to him tell me exactly who he is. If you want that, give me a call sometime." One final time, he turned and left the locker room.