Chapter Text
face-off: the start of a game
It was unseasonably warm and humid outside for a Fall day, which only served to make Raelle grumpier than usual as she dragged herself out of the grimy cab that had brought her from the airport. Brought her, unwillingly almost, all the way out to the semi-secluded, all-female, Salem University in historic Salem, Massachusetts.
Raelle hadn’t really wanted to come here- hadn’t wanted to go this far from her dad. But her mom had wanted her to go to a good school, get a good education, have a good life. So she accepted the scholarship that had been offered and shipped herself up north to begin her next four or so years at the prestigious Salem U.
Salem U had one of the best athletics programs in the country, with a reputation for churning out future pros. And it had the academic records to support it as well. A well-rounded, top tier University-
And Raelle couldn’t wait to get out.
~.~
The auditorium thundered with the sound of stomping feet. The excitement was palpable and the air positively hummed with anticipation.
A woman stood at the podium on stage, tall and imposing, a no-nonsense look on her face. She surveyed the crowd of students with a keen eye, noting each and every face.
She held up a hand and silence fell.
“Welcome to Salem University. I am Sarah Alder, Dean of the University. I am glad to see so many returning faces this year, and glader still to see so many fresh ones. This place is a rich, generous environment, full of opportunity for those who care to seek it out.”
From her place in the audience, Raelle rolled her eyes.
“You are here because you were invited. We at Salem U recognized your talents, your skills, your dedication and your hard work. But more importantly, we recognized your desire. Your drive to get up, get out, and thrust yourself into the world at full speed! To fling yourself from the highest mountain top and fly.”
Raelle glanced around and rolled her eyes again at all the faces staring up at Alder, hanging on every word.
“You will find a home here, you will find family here, in this place. Good luck to all of you. Give us your best, and you will receive the best in turn.”
Alder smiled and nodded to the crowd and departed in a wave of raucous cheering and more stomping.
Where the hell am I??
~.~
The Athletics Clubhouse- “Fort Salem,” as the students called it- was absolutely packed. The two weeks before school officially started were reserved for the start of pre-season training for Fall sports. Every team was elite and only the best were invited to join. And being on the team one year didn’t guarantee your spot the following year.
There were two strings for each team in each sport. The first saw the playing field, the second usually just saw the bench. Competition for a coveted first string spot was fierce and brutal. Many players would struggle for the first time as they competed against athletes who were at least as talented and driven as they were.
Most everyone in the clubhouse was greeting each other at the moment. Groups of friends from previous years clumped up and joked and shoved each other around, while the freshman either watched nervously or tried to join in depending on their natures.
One girl in particular fell into the latter category: Tally was busy going from table to table, introducing herself and shaking hands with everyone she could, no matter what year they were. While some were put off by her enthusiasm, most greeted her back and were welcoming.
She had come all the way from NorCal with her friend Glory, also on the lacrosse team, and she was happy to be away from home for the first time. Her mother had not wanted her to move so far away, but Tally had a desire to leave home and see the world, and when she was offered a spot on this team, for a game she loved, she couldn’t say no.
A hush fell over the room suddenly, and Tally whipped towards the door.
A woman stood in the doorway, blocking the light behind her, casting her in shadow. She slowly walked the room, studying the faces around her with an impassive expression. As she approached the front, Tally felt a hand slip into hers. She glanced down at her friend Glory, always uncomfortable and nervous around crowds and new people, and squeezed her hand reassuringly.
The woman up front cleared her voice, and all eyes were on her.
Authority was about to speak.
“I am Anacostia Quartermaine, head of the athletics program here at Salem University and coach of the lacrosse team.” A single stomp rang out from the team’s players from the year before. Anacostia nodded once in acknowledgement before continuing.
“My job is to get you all in shape for the season to come. You might have been the all-star in high school, but this is the real world. The big leagues to get you ready for the major leagues. You will work hard, sweat, bleed, cry-but-not-on-me, until your bones give out. And then you will do it some more. Survive the Storm, become the Fury.”
More stomping and a chant broke out as Tally grinned and looked up at the mascot on the wall: a Fury from Greek mythology, fierce and teeth bared, ready to fight.
I’m ready to fight too.
“Here’s how it works: in four weeks we have string placement. You have until then to prove you belong on top. Succeed, and you get to help bring this fine establishment to another year of domination. Fail, and you get to watch that happen from the bench. Freshmen, you’re not just competing among yourselves, but against the veterans as well. Everyone is competing for a spot, having it last year means nothing.” She paused and looked over the room.
Tally felt her heart racing in her chest.
“Finally, a new initiative this year. We are putting a stronger emphasis on teamwork. So, all of you have been divided up by sport, and put into teams of three. These are your room assignments, yes, but they are also your ticket to the top spot.” She paused as players began to look around, confused, muttering quietly.
“In order for you to make the top, your Unit must make the top.”
A shocked gasp went up from the crowd as more muttering broke out. Anacostia smiled, almost too pleasantly.
“The athletics dorm, your ‘barracks’, are on the other side of the fields from here. Room assignments are posted on the floor assigned to your team.” She paused. There was some awkward shuffling. “Go!”
The crowd jumped and dispersed quickly.
Glory looked worriedly at Tally who smiled and said, “Don’t worry, it’ll be fine.”
~.~
Having to rely on two unknowns to get her top spot had not been part of Abigail’s plan. She wasn’t too concerned though. Presumably everyone here had gotten in due to hard work and skill, and she was confident she could whip these two into shape enough to propel her to the first string, maybe even the Captain spot by next year.
The dorm room was basic, and she hand claimed the free standing bed instead of the bunks. The spot where a leader would be.
It didn’t take long before a redheaded girl bounced into the room and introduced herself as Tally Craven. Abigail thought she was a bit childish, but she was enthusiastic and energetic and very willing to be a team player.
This is fine, I can work with this. She should be fairly easy to control. If she’s half as talented as she is excitable, this should be smooth sailing.
Those thoughts were forgotten after the arrival of their final Unit member.
She trudged in wearing too-big jeans, ratty sneakers, and a jacket that was possibly older than Abigail. She swerved Tally’s enthusiastic greeting and plunked her bag on the lower bunk.
Her name was Raelle.
She was standoffish and snappy, and brushed off Abigail’s initial attempt to get some order in the room, before disappearing behind a blanket curtain she erected around her bed.
Oh, she had better just be tired from a long flight or something.
Abigail was not about to let some Southern scholarship-riding Shitbird get in the way of her plans. She would give the girl her space tonight, but starting tomorrow she’d help her find some motivation.
Whether Raelle liked it or not.
~.~
The next day, bright and early, saw the lacrosse team out on the LAX field, ready to officially start the pre-season haul. They lined up on the edge of the field as Anacostia split them into their positions.
Abigail joined the attackers group, scowling at another girl: Libba, a Freshman, who was about Raelle’s height with curly hair. Tally was a midfielder, and she waved at Glory as she walked over to them. Glory remained with Raelle and the other defenders.
Once they were organized, Anacostia called them back over.
“Ok! No reason to stand around, let’s get the fun started. Warm-up drills with your Units, then break off into your position groups and we’ll go from there. Go!”
They went.
Training was… brutal. As they had been warned. It wasn’t just lacrosse drills, over and over, or practicing different plays.
It was obstacle courses, weight training, stretching, and running. Endless running. They ran everywhere: from the field, to the field, to the dorms, to the dining hall, everywhere . They ran until they dropped and then they were picked up so they could run some more for stopping.
In the rain, mud, or blistering heat they worked, eyes always on their goal. Anyone who started to fall behind was quickly overtaken. Friends were for off the field.
As for the Bellweather Unit, things were rocky, to say the least. Though all three girls were incredibly talented, one of them lacked certain… discipline.
Raelle only ever gave the minimum effort to get herself through practice. She didn’t care in the slightest about making first string. And she often let herself be distracted on the field.
Which is how she ended up nearly taking a ball to the head.
A last second scoop from Glory saved her from that concussion.
“Shit! Um, thanks,” Raelle said.
“No problem,” Glory replied, with a tentative smile.
“Collar!” That was Anacostia’s ‘angry voice.’
Ah, shit.
Raelle trotted over to her, ignoring the furious look Abigail was shooting her way. She planted herself in front of the coach.
“Collar, your head is in the clouds. Get the hell off my field until you find it.”
Raelle saluted ironically and went to get her stuff.
~.~
After a shower and a short walk, Raelle was feeling better. Not desiring to return to her dorm room yet, and face the wrath of the High and Mighty, she decided to wander the campus grounds.
They were stunning, with lots of grassy areas and even a clump of gardens tended by students. She headed that way, intrigued by the colors she could see from where she was.
There was a botanical garden out behind where the fields were. Raelle passed under a large tree with low-hanging branches, and stopped to survey the area. It was lush and beautiful, and for the first time since arriving at Salem U, she felt a bit of peace settle over her.
“Nice isn’t it?”
Raelle jumped and spun around and came face to face with possibly an actual goddess.
“It’s mostly for the Botany and Earth Science students, but they don’t mind the rest of us hanging around. I wouldn’t mind learning to do that,” the maybe-goddess said as she approached and stood next to Raelle.
Raelle smiled at her, “Yeah it’s pretty nice. I didn’t think there were any other students around yet, semester doesn’t start for another week.”
The girl shrugged one shoulder and tilted her head. “I could tell you, but then I wouldn’t be as mysterious,” and she winked.
Raelle chuckled. There was something about this girl, Raelle felt a kindred spirit in her. It was in the way she smirked, the way her eyes glinted with hints of mischief.
She decided if she was going to be stuck here anyway, she might as well have some fun.
“Come on, they should be serving dinner in the dining hall. Walk you there?”
The girl smiled and nodded.
“I’m Scylla.” Soft voice.
Scylla.
They started walking.
“Raelle.”
~.~
Unfortunately, Scylla couldn’t stick around to eat, but they talked the whole way there and Raelle was looking forward to running into her again. She smiled as she went back to her dorm.
The smile faded real quick though when Abigail burst in not long later and began tearing into her.
“I don’t know what kind of game you think you’re playing here, but it ends now,” she shouted.
“I’m pretty sure it’s called lacrosse. Or LAX, if you’re a frat boy,” Raelle deadpanned, reclining on her bed. She was still eyeing the blanket that Abigail had torn down upon her entry.
“Look, this is serious, Ok? We’re talking about the difference between playing the game and watching it. If you’re not first string you might as well be in the stands. How do you not care at all?? This is your future too.”
Raelle came off her bed and stood toe to toe with the High and Mighty.
“Don’t pretend like you care about my future, or anyone’s but yours. You only care about putting yourself on top, no matter who you need to use to get there. Stop acting like you’re God’s gift to sports,” Raelle spat, enraged.
“Guys? Maybe we can just cool-” but Tally didn’t get a chance to finish.
“You spout Anacostia and Alder’s words like they’re scripture. You sound like a propaganda poster. Unity? Teamwork?? Come on Bellweather. Me ‘n Tally are just tools to you. You want step stools, not a unit. You don’t even know what that word means.”
~.~
Unsurprisingly, things were a bit strained after that.
The next day was a rest day, and while Tally went off to spend it with Glory, and Abigail went to the gym anyway, Raelle got some housekeeping done.
She called her dad, did laundry, reread her mom’s old letters, did the stretches her mom had taught her, and spent the day generally at ease. She enjoyed having the room to herself and for a while she could pretend she didn’t have to put up with High Energy and High Atlantic.
Later in the evening, her roommates returned and Raelle decided she wasn’t ready to give up her peace yet, so she yanked on some sneakers and headed out. It was late and she didn’t have a particular destination in mind, she just wanted the fresh air and quiet.
She found herself walking towards the large tree in the gardens.
It was closed.
Raelle held the padlock mournfully, resigned to just going back to her room.
“Ah, she returns.”
Raelle jumped and spun, coming face to face with Scylla Ramshorn.
She recovered quickly and smiled, “We gotta stop meeting like this.”
Scylla chuckled and came up next to her, linking her fingers through the fence. Suddenly she pulled out something thin and metallic and started fiddling with the lock.
“Um, what are you doing?”
The lock clicked open and Scylla parted the gate just a bit. She sent Raelle a sly grin.
“Come on, I want to show you something.”
“It’s… closed? Isn’t this trespassing?”
“Come on, live a little!”
Raelle found herself powerless against the excited grin Scylla wore, and found herself smiling in return. With an acquiescing chuckle, she followed.
The garden was even more stunning at night, with little lights spaced out here and there, keeping it warm. Raelle stopped at a very tall looking flower-thing with many buds, but a hand wrapped around her arm, tugging.
“Not here, further in. Come on.”
Raelle happily allowed herself to be towed along, until they reached a small greenhouse in the back. Scylla turned to her and winked.
“This is way better than some flowers.”
This door was unlocked.
Inside, Raelle gasped. The room was full of odd-looking plants (if they even were plants) sitting in pots, bowls, some even growing straight off logs that had been brought in.
Raelle tore her eyes away and looked at Scylla, who had been standing next to her, watching her take it all in, smiling.
“Cool, huh?”
“I mean yeah it’s kind of cold in here, but what is all this?”
Scylla laughed obligingly at Raelle’s lame joke and started leading her around.
“This is the fungus house. They call it the “Necro Den” because of all the mushrooms and other fungi they grow and maintain here. You know, “dead” stuff.” Scylla started naming some of the fungi around them, which completely flew over Raelle’s head. But the passion and excitement in the girl’s voice kept her listening.
Probably with a dumb smile on her face.
“So are you, like, a botany student then?” Raelle asked when Scylla paused. She glanced over.
“No, I’m a Bio Science major, emphasis on human biology. I like to know what makes people tick. But I also really like this stuff, I think it’s fascinating,” she added, sweeping her arm across the room. “What about you?”
“I uh, haven’t declared yet.” She shrugged noncommittally. Scylla didn’t pry.
They chatted a bit more, laughing and flirting, until they suddenly heard a rustling outside.
They froze.
Suddenly the door swung open and a flashlight blinded them both.
~.~
“What were you thinking? Trespassing? Really?? The school year hasn’t even started yet, Collar, and you’re already trying to get kicked out?”
Anacostia had been reaming them out for the better part of the past twenty minutes. After Izadora, head of the Science Department, had brought them both to Anacostia’s office, they were now sitting in hardback, uncomfortable chairs as Anacostia unloaded on them.
Scylla was barely listening, choosing instead to sneak glances at Raelle. The girl didn’t seem mad at her, or particularly concerned about the situation. Just bored almost.
Anacostia came around her desk to stand in front of Raelle.
“You. I should kick you off the team right now. Just send you home.” Raelle’s face twitched, the slightest hint of concern. “But I am choosing to believe you have learned from this incident, and will now be considering the fact that you do have talent, you do have equally talented Unit mates, and you do have a shot at making something of yourself here, should you choose to apply yourself.” She sighed and rubbed her eyes tiredly.
“Get out of here, Collar. Get to bed. Do not be late tomorrow. My graciousness is not infinite.”
Raelle stood, turned, and left.
Anacostia rounded on Scylla. She looked the girl up and down, unimpressed, the anger returning.
“You,” she began in an icy voice, “will stay away from her. Do you understand me? I don’t know what your game is, but that girl does not need you. Mess up your own life, not hers.” Scylla felt a trickle of fear slip down her spine. “Stay. Away. Like your future attendance at this University depended on it.”
Funny you should mention that…
Anacostia held her gaze for a moment longer before jerking her head towards the door, dismissing her.
She scatted.
Outside she paused, taking a deep breath of night air.
“You alright?”
It was Scylla’s turn to do the jump-and-spin at the sound of the voice behind her. Raelle was leaned up against the wall of the building, smirking at her.
She had waited.
Scylla said, “Yeah, I’m good. She’s intense though, I’d say.” Raelle pushed herself off the wall and shrugged.
“Eh, could be worse. So, how much trouble are you in with Izadora?”
“She’s not too hard on people, pretty laid back. She’ll probably punish me with greenhouse maintenance for a while, which I’d do anyway.”
“Well I’ll stop being worried then,” Raelle said with a wink.
“Aww, you were worried about me?”
“You’ll never know now.”
There was a charged pause as they looked at each other; the tension was palpable. They stood face to face, fairly close to each other.
Raelle broke the silence first, “I’m really not looking forward to Abigail’s pretentious speech tonight. Might sleep in the clubhouse instead.”
Scylla raised an eyebrow. “Sounds safer. But forget the clubhouse, come with me.”
And for the second time that night, Scylla led Raelle off into the dark.
~.~
Scylla had a single room.
Raelle’s first reaction was envy. Privacy, quiet, personal space- it sounded like a dream to her.
It was small, but comfortable. A standard dorm-size bed, a desk, and a wardrobe took up most of the wall space. There was a window that looked out over the building’s courtyard.
“Nice! I’m jealous, wish I had my own space. Freshman aren’t allowed the single rooms,” Raelle said, running her finger along the windowsill. Scylla leaned against her desk.
“So, what is going on with the whole ‘lacrosse’ thing? I’ve seen you guys practice. You do seem good at it, but you don’t seem to care much.”
Raelle looked sad for a moment, to Scylla’s great surprise. But the look was gone quickly, replaced with her signature smirk.
“Watching us, huh?”
Scylla smiled and shrugged, “Hey if I have to be here two whole weeks before classes even start, I might as well enjoy the many fine views this school offers.”
Raelle leaned against the wall, opposite Scylla now. “Me too.” Another long, charged pause. “I got the scholarship didn’t I? I showed up, I’m here, the education is free. I don’t really care what string I’m on, don’t even care if I ever play. Just trying to get in and get out.”
Scylla laughed out loud and shook her head, running her fingers through her hair.
“Your plan is hot garbage. You know they can drop your scholarship right? If you get kicked off the team. Which can happen if they think you’re not trying hard enough.” She crossed the room towards Raelle.
In a low voice she said, “I know a better way.”
But Raelle was done talking.
She wrapped her hands around the back of Scylla’s neck and pulled her forward, crashing their lips together. She felt Scylla’s surprised gasp against her face as she quickly spun them around and shoved Scylla against the wall. She pressed herself up against the panting girl, pinning her. Scylla’s hands flew up to her shoulders, clinging to them as Raelle kissed her again.
Their faces pulled apart slightly as they both gasped for air. Raelle slid a hand through Scylla’s hair and fisted it, pulling the girl’s head back just a bit. Scylla gasped and let out the tiniest moan.
Raelle laughed breathily into her mouth and said, “Tell me.”
Scylla’s eyes slid shut as Raelle used her grip to tug the girl’s head to the side, and slid her mouth down her neck. Raelle pressed kisses and ran her tongue along the soft skin there.
Scylla stammered out, “Let- let them train you. Let them make you b-better. Strong- ahh - stronger.” Raelle felt the girl’s chest heave against hers as she gasped for air.
Raelle pulled away from marking her neck with a slick pop. She waited, smirking, until Scylla met her eyes again.
“Okay. And?” Raelle’s hands left Scylla’s face and traveled lower, pulling the girl’s shirt from her pants and running her fingers along the skin she found there.
There was barely an inch between their lips as Scylla finally managed, “Th- the way over, is u-under.” Her eyes squeezed shut Raelle pressed their cheeks together and flicked open the clasp of Scylla’s belt. One hand played with the button of Scylla’s jeans while the other grabbed one of the hands clutching her shoulder and pinned her wrist to the wall above their heads.
Scylla’s head hit the wall with a thud as she squeezed out, “The way- fuck, fuck - way o-out, is- is-,” The words failed her as Raelle again attacked her neck and slipped her fingertips beneath Scylla’s waistband just a bit, teasing.
Raelle pressed her mouth back to Scylla’s and breathed the words into her.
“Is in?”
Her grip on Scylla was almost bruising as she pressed her even further into the wall and flicked open the button of her jeans.
“ Yes. ”
~.~
The rest of the week was better.
Raelle showed up to practice right on time the following day. Abigail and Tally shared a look but said nothing at her happier-than-usual appearance.
Drills started with just moving the ball up and down the field, keeping track of the others players’ positions, finding them quickly. Just move, move, move.
Something amazing happened, as the week progressed.
For the first time, the Bellweather Unit moved in tandem. They called out to each other, moved the ball, communicated . It was like a song and dance. Raelle held her defensive position, keeping an eye on the movement of the field; Abigail kept up the pressure up front, never letting the momentum drop; Tally ran back and forth between them, a bridge.
One day the players broke up into opposing sides for a scrimmage. Raelle proved to be quick and light on her feet, faster than she had shown previously. Tally proved to be tireless, racing the length of the field countless times, never slowing. Abigail proved to be dauntless, powerful, keeping the ball with their offense for most of the scrimmage.
And the Unit proved to be working.
Anacostia watched them, a satisfied smile creeping across her face.
~.~
Raelle joined Tally and Abigail for breakfast the next Saturday morning, and Tally was giddier than usual.
“Guys! Did you see Anacostia watching us yesterday? She couldn’t stop! She looked impressed !” She bounced in her seat with barely-contained excitement.
Raelle and Abigail looked at each other and rolled their eyes.
“Yeah, Tal, we know, this is only the third time you’ve brought it up,” Abigail said, but not harshly. Raelle just shook her head and started eating.
Tally gave Abigail a Look and nodded towards Raelle.
She stood and said, “Oh, I need more tea!” And she left.
Raelle watched her go.
“Do you think she thinks she’s being subtle?”
Abigail responded, “Who knows.”
They regarded each other for a moment, before Abigail broke the silence.
She sighed, “Look, Raelle, we got off to a bad start, Ok? I apologize, really. I’d like to start over.”
Raelle gave her a long look, searching for a lie or condescension, but found none.
She nodded thoughtfully. “I accept your apology. I look forward to bettering our Unit standings with you.” She lowered her chin. “But we don’t have to be friends.”
Abigail nodded, business-like.
“Agreed then.”
And they shook on it.
~.~
Later that evening, Anacostia called together everyone in the athletic program, including all the coaches, assistants, everyone .
“Listen up! You may have seen on the news lately that there’s been a sort of betting scandal going around. Several colleges and universities have been found to be part of it. Someone spies on a team, maybe sells a training secret or two, maybe someone throws a game.”
Murmuring broke out in the crowd as people either agreed because they had heard of this happening, or were shocked by the news.
“Quiet please. If anyone sees anything odd, if you see anyone hanging out where they shouldn’t be, or any non-department individuals in athletics-only space, you are to report it immediately to either your coach or myself.
Additionally! If anyone here is caught participating in any way in any kind of illegal betting scheme, or fraud, they will be removed from their team, removed from the University, and delivered to the authorities.” Anacostia surveyed the room as a heavy silence fell.
“I hope it goes without saying, but we are a family here. We look out for each other, and hold our fellows up. We don’t sell each other out. Dismissed.”
The crowd began to break up, groups chattering excitedly on the way out.
It was shaping up to be an exciting semester, for certain.
~.~
“So, how is it going so far?”
“I have an in. A good one.”
“Excellent. Which team?”
“Lacrosse.”
“Even better. Keep this up, there’s going to be good money in it. We’ll expect regular reports, Scylla.”
The line went dead.