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"Hey, aren't you that Minyard guy from the Atlanta Terrapins? The hell are you doing working in a dive bar in San Diego? Your $15 million contract not enough to make ends meet, eh?"
Andrew Walker ignores the man asking the question, his back to the the rest of the bar as he refills the maraschino cherries. He has never been to Atlanta, never seen a terrapin, and is certainly not a Minyard. How fucking ridiculous would a man of his height look to have the last name Minyard? The bar he works at is already named Tiny Pony. Andrew's reputation wouldn't survive an equally on the nose surname.
After replacing the cherries in their proper slot in the well, Andrew grabs a rag and begins to clean the handful of dirty tables. He gathers the dirty glasses and wipes down almost every table when the same voice breaks through the monotonous sound of the tinny television in the corner of the bar.
"Seriously, bro, you can't tell me that's not your face on the fuckin' TV right now."
Andrew turns towards the screen, preparing to toss out the increasingly annoying man when he feels his breath catch in his throat. Plastered above the headline "THE MINYARD-JOSTEN RIVALRY CONTINUES IN ATLANTA" is undeniably his face smiling in a teal Exy jersey next to a photo of the most gorgeous man Andrew has ever seen. A shrill ringing blares in his ears, his vision graying around the edges as he watches the scene change to game footage of what he assumes are his doppelganger and the pretty boy yelling at each other from across the court. Andrew can't hear what's being said over the shrieking in his head and suddenly, Renee is in front of him, muffled words and bloody hands gesturing him towards an empty chair.
The sounds of the bar slowly come back to Andrew as Renee's gentle hands pluck shards of glass from his hands. Andrew can barely feel the sting, his eyes sliding away from the mess he made of his palms back to the television. The Terrapins are slated to face off against the South Carolina Swamp Rabbits in three days.
"Renee," Andrew says, his eyes finally moving away from the screen as it segues to a segment about fallen police officer Deidre Mengedoht. It's the end of his shift— Andrew and Renee always carpool and she often drops by the Tiny Pony for a snack after she finishes her work at the library. Her presence is wholly welcome while his world shrinks and expands in a second.
The look on Renee's face forces tension out of Andrew's body. What Andrew would do without his sister, he's not sure, but her knowing and familiar expression comforts him more than he will ever admit.
"As if I needed another younger brother," Renee teases as she pulls the final shard of glass from Andrew's hands. He raises an eyebrow at her but says nothing, still trying to wrap his head around what has transpired in the last ten minutes.
Family has always been a bit of a fickle subject for Andrew— for the first 10 years of his life, he did not believe he was meant for one. His time with foster families full of evil fathers and sons came to an end when Stephanie Walker began her investigation into the San Diego Department of Child Services and their poor screening criteria. Andrew watched her from a waiting room chair one morning, shivering in his Spider-man pajamas.
Stephanie had crouched in front of him and asked why he was sitting alone. When Andrew told her he'd spent the night curled up on the chair, he flinched away from the anger that blazed in her eyes. She quietly reassured him that he was safe before Stephanie stormed up to the desk. A few hours later, Andrew found himself in Stephanie's living room with her daughter Renee offering to play a game. In the years since Stephanie whisked him away from that cold office, she and Renee showed him day after day what family should mean.
A small feeling of betrayal settles into his stomach as Andrew thinks about the years he's missed with his twin before he bats it away. Wallowing in the past will solve nothing; Andrew needs to act.
After a few moments of silence, Andrew says, "I need to find him."
"I know," is Renee's response.
"He's a famous athlete."
"He is."
"I work at a gay dive bar called the Tiny Pony."
"You do."
"How am I supposed to convince him I'm not a crazy murderer who wants to wear his face?"
"You already do wear his face, so I don't think that will be his primary concern."
Andrew glares at Renee as a giggle slips out of her mouth.
"You are not helping."
Renee raises her hands in defeat, a teasing smile still on her face as she placates him. "I know, I'm sorry. Let's ask Mom, okay? She's got contacts everywhere, and I wouldn't be surprised if she knows whoever works in the Terrapins' PR department."
He nods slowly and repeats the action when Renee's hand hovers carefully over his wrist. Her cool hand wraps around Andrew's skin and he sags slightly into her, an action only his family could see or receive.
"We've got you, okay? No matter what, you'll always have us. You're not in this alone; not ever."
As expected, Renee is correct about their mother's breadth of contacts. Two days after discovering he has an identical twin (confirmed with a quick Google search after they returned home from the Tiny Pony), Andrew stands in the lobby of the nicest hotel in downtown Atlanta. One of the perks of Stephanie's job is extensive travel, which means more free hotel rooms and flights than she will ever need. One packed carry-on, one pack of cigarettes, and an anxiety-fueled plane ride later, Andrew is less than 12 hours from meeting his long-lost twin.
Andrew runs his fingers around the perimeter of his hotel room keycard while he waits for the elevator to descend to the ground floor. His body tenses slightly as someone approaches the elevator from his left side. A quick glance sends Andrew's heart racing.
Neil Josten, the other half of the Minyard-Josten rivalry from the news report that flipped his life upside down.
Also known as the star of Andrew's fantasies for the rest of his life. Pretty blue eyes, hair that looks sexy and messy in equal measure, and scars like constellations across his face, arms, and legs… Andrew doesn't stand a chance against this man.
"The goth get up is new. Is that a piercing? Whoa, I didn't realize how much you've been working on your pecs so— you're not Aaron," Neil says, his sentence coming to an abrupt end when Andrew slants a look his direction. There's acid in his tone at the end, almost like Andrew can hear Josten's hackles raising in defense.
"No," Andrew agrees, wishing for the elevator to hurry or stall in equal amounts.
Neil stares at him for a moment, his head tilting slightly to the side like a Labrador. "He's never mentioned having a twin in the fifteen years I've known him."
"Funny, no one mentioned it to me in the twenty-six I've been alive, either," Andrew replies. "I can not fathom a reason that his rival would know I exist when he did not until a day ago." Neil's eyes widen slightly before they resume searching his face for—differences? Clues? Something unknown to Andrew.
The elevator dings, doors splitting open to a surprisingly spacious elevator. Andrew glances at Neil again, placing his hand on one side of the elevator to prevent it from closing.
"Are you going up?"
Neil blinks and gives himself a little shake like he had been lost in examining Andrew. "No, I need to find Aaron." The vitriol from a moment ago has dissipated, his voice oddly strangled. Andrew feels protectiveness flare in his chest. The flat palm he holds against the elevator door clenches into a fist before straightening out again. Neil looks at Andrew's hand quickly before returning his gaze to Andrew.
"What do you want with Aaron?" Andrew's practiced disinterest feels more forced than it has in years. Confusion creases Neil's brow.
"What do you—" Neil's words are cut off by an angry ring in the elevator.
"Sir, please do not hold the door of the elevator! If you are going to continue your conversation, please step out or in, but the door must close!" Andrew traces the source of the new voice to the concierge desk. He releases his hand and steps back into the elevator, watching as the doors close on Neil's beautifully confused face. Andrew presses his back to the cool metal of the elevator wall as it begins to move, rubbing his face with his hand. It's just his luck that Aaron's number one antagonist is exactly Andrew's type. Long legs, gorgeous face, and a mouth that Andrew is sure gets him into a mountain of trouble.
"Do not think about fucking your famous identical twin's rival," Andrew mumbles to himself as the elevator dings to announce his arrival to the 15th floor. He steps off the elevator, musing about why Josten is looking for his brother if they hate each other so much. Is Josten trying to hurt him ahead of their game tonight? Get into his head?
When Andrew finally gets to his room and sees the bed, he drops face first onto the plush comforter, a slow groan leaking from his mouth like a deflating balloon. Grabbing his phone, Andrew tilts his head to read a handful of messages from Renee and Stephanie. He provides proof of life with a quick picture of his duffel on the ground next to his bed, sets an alarm for an hour, and does his best to not dream about ice blue eyes and a crooked smile.
Exy hasn't passed Andrew's mind since he begrudgingly attended tryouts with Renee during their freshman year of high school. His disinterest in running meant he was relegated to goalie, where he deflected the first attempt on goal straight back to the striker's head. The girl was smart enough to bring her racket down slightly to protect her face, but she still ended up with a cast on her wrist for most of the season. Renee opted out in solidarity with Andrew after the coach deemed him too much of a hazard to have on the field. To comply with Stephanie's request for an after school activity, they ended up in the theater department for the next four years. Renee swapped between the pit orchestra and the stage while Andrew donned his signature all-black look with the tech team.
Though Andrew is not one for crowds, he does have to admit to the magic of a professional sports game. The smell of the overpriced concession stands calls to him the second he makes it through security and $25 later, he secures a pretzel with hot cheese in a commemorative Terrapin-shaped bowl and a medium Sprite that is more ice than soda. Classic.
Andrew steps away from the mob of Exy fanatics at the food stand and begins his trek to the seats that the Terrapins' HR team provided at the box office. As he walks through the outer portion of the arena, someone jostles Andrew's side, almost sending his precious snack to the ground. Andrew steps off to the side to adjust his hold, sending a glare towards his assailant. She's a brown-haired woman in her mid-to-late 50s in a Terrapins jersey with the number 05 embroidered on the front. It's identical to the one Andrew wears now, Aaron's number and all.
"I'm so sorry, dear, I was shoved and— oh, oh my God, you look just like him," the woman says, her eyes wide with wonder when they meet his. "I'm Betsy, but please, call me Bee. Aaron's my son." Bee puts her hand out but seems to rethink the offer after a moment. Andrew's only response is to hold his snack closer to his chest. Surprisingly, she takes his silence in stride and continues on.
"I'm on my way to the family box. Would you like to join me? It's much quieter up there," Bee offers, gesturing towards the elevator a few feet from Andrew. He considers his options for a moment before nodding his agreement. They both step into the elevator and Andrew feels a small bit of tension seep out of his shoulders. While meeting his twin brother's family solo is not how he intended to spend his day, it definitely outweighs rubbing shoulders with drunk fans in general seating.
Betsy leads them to the family suite, greeting staff and familiar faces on the way. Andrew gets curious looks from each person they pass and ignores them. When they enter the suite, Bee guides them to a group of four people in waving from the front row of seats looking out towards the court. A woman Andrew's age with long red hair pops up to wrap Betsy in a hug while the other three remain seated, giving Andrew the opportunity to figure out who rounds out Aaron's family. Interestingly, only Katelyn wears a Terrapins jersey. The other three wear what looks like two jerseys that have been sewn together - one half teal, one half maroon with 15 emblazoned on the front.
The tall man with striking green eyes and a queen on his cheek could be none other than Kevin Day. When Andrew was researching his twin, it was nearly impossible to find an article about his time at Palmetto State University that didn't mention the Son of Exy's transfer to the worst team in the NCAA. The man sitting next to him is recognizable for similar reasons. While David Wymack does not hold the same sort of notoriety of his son, his picture was often featured when discussing the Foxes' chances against their region.
"Bee! We were getting worried! Who's— oh my god!" The younger woman gapes at Andrew after she pulls away from Betsy. "I'm Katelyn, Aaron's fiance! Please, come sit down." Both Katelyn and Betsy settle down, leaving Andrew as the only one left standing.
Andrew lowers himself into the final seat in the row, tucked between Katelyn and Bee, carefully setting his pretzel and drink on the ledge in front of him. When he turns to look at the crew to his right, Andrew finds all of their eyes locked on him expectantly. His eyes drift to Katelyn who offers him a smile before she starts speaking again.
"I'll do introductions really quick. That's Kevin and David over there, and next to David is his wife Abby." Katelyn gestures to each person in turn before twisting back to Andrew. Her elbow knocks into a plate of nachos as she turns, sending the tray flying off of the bar. Andrew's hand shoots out, catching the tray before hot cheese and pickled jalapeños have the chance to cover Katelyn's Minyard jersey.
"You can call me Wymack, kid. Everyone else does," Wymack says. Andrew gives him a short nod.
"Have you every played Exy?" Kevin asks as Andrew passes the nachos back to Katelyn. Andrew looks over at Kevin, slightly wary of the hungry look in his eyes.
"Once," Andrew confirms.
"Goalie?" Wymack guesses.
"Got it in one."
"Why did you stop?" Kevin presses, leaning forward in his seat.
"Coach didn't want any more broken bones." Andrew hesitates a moment before continuing. This is Aaron's family, right? He should try to make an effort. "I liked being a theater tech with my sister more, anyways."
Bee seems to notice his mild discomfort and begins telling stories about how they came together as Aaron's family— Aaron was adopted by Betsy at age 10 after his mother overdosed when Betsy was transitioning out of CPS to her position at Palmetto State. Wymack, Abby, and their hoard of second-chance Foxes helped her get him adjusted and transitioned. The conversation continues from there, everyone contributing tidbits about Aaron and what his life has been like without Andrew. Andrew doesn't speak much, only nodding or giving short responses when asked.
"Oh, and you'll meet Neil at some point, too," Kevin adds after he tells his (presumably abbreviated) story of mob bosses and evil adopted brothers.
"Neil Josten?" Andrew asks, dipping his final pretzel piece into the mostly-congealed cheese sauce. "I thought they hated each other."
Aaron's family laughs before Katelyn answers. "The Minyard-Josten Rivalry, right? I'm guessing you've seen the articles." Andrew nods, a slight smirk popping up.
Katelyn laughs again, shaking her head. "Do you speak German?" Andrew raises his eyebrow at her, attempting to connect German to the rest of their conversation and failing.
"Da," Andrew responds.
More than one jaw drops in surprise. "Really?" Katelyn asks as she shares a knowing look with Betsy.
"My mom wanted us to take a foreign language in high school. German was the most interesting."
"The crowd will be loud, but they've got microphones on both Aaron and Neil tonight to play up the whole rivalry thing. Just listen to what they're saying, okay? They broadcast the player mics straight into our box. It's new for the game tonight; exciting, right?"
As Andrew is nodding his agreement to Katelyn's suggestion, a horn blares and the announcers begin the introductions for the Terrapins. The home crowd roars as each player takes the court, and somehow, as the Swamp Rabbits are announced, they boo even louder.
Play begins and Andrew can't keep his eyes off of Aaron. He's fast, but not faster than Josten. Not too long after the beginning of the half, Neil is running headfirst at Aaron, his body turned towards the Swamp Rabbits dealer, his net in the air. Josten catches the ball and drops to his knees, sliding under Aaron's legs as Aaron launches himself into the air to avoid the collision.
"Josten! What the fuck were you thinking? I could have concussed you, you fucking moron," Aaron yells in German as Josten launches the ball at the net. A buzzer roars as the ball flies past the goalie into the net.
"They are friends," Andrew comments in slight disbelief as the crowd erupts into a cacophony of boos and cheers.
"No," Betsy corrects him quietly, nodding towards Kevin, Wymack, and Abby. "He's family." Andrew follows her gesture to where the trio stand clapping. On the backs of their mix-match jerseys is another 15 with "MINTEN" printed across the top. "David and Abby adopted Neil not quite a year after I brought Aaron home. They've been thick as thieves ever since."
Hours later, after the Swamp Rabbits claim their 3-2 victory over the Terrapins, Andrew finds himself in a booth sitting across from his twin brother. Josten's assessment of their differences outside of the elevator were on the nose; outside of a different hair style, some piercings, and a preference for pec work-outs, Aaron Minyard and Andrew Walker are identical.
"I wish I had known about you sooner," Aaron admits as he twirls his straw between two fingers. They've almost finished their meals "I feel a bit robbed of a life with you."
Another glaring difference between Andrew and his twin is this vulnerability that Aaron seems so comfortable to share without a second thought.
Andrew brings a bite of pasta to his mouth to buy himself just a moment of time before responding. "We cannot change the past. Only thing to do now is decide how to move forward."
"Ah," Aaron says with a laugh, "You've been to therapy, too, huh?" Something warm builds in Andrew's chest, simultaneously familiar and foreign.
"My mom and sister found their solace with God. I found mine with a middle-aged woman named Gemma and a daily Zoloft."
Aaron's laugh fills the quiet room. "Everyone needs something. I've got a built-in therapist with Mom, but I have a Jeffery, too."
They sit in comfortable silence for a few moments, Aaron sipping from his Jack and Coke while Andrew takes his last bite of Alfredo.
"So, the Minyard-Josten Rivalry is all a hoax?" Andrew asks. His twin smirks, the expression so familiar on Andrew's own face.
"You'll see how irritatingly reckless Josten can be the more you stick around. He's got a mouth on him and he uses it without discrimination. I'm just trying to make sure no one else tries to kill him," Aaron replies, piquing Andrew's interest. The blogs and news articles had mentioned some of the horrors from Neil's past, but Andrew had been too far down the holy shit I have a long-lost identical twin rabbit hole to pursue another.
"I've been murderer free for over five years now, thank you very much," comes a voice from Andrew's left. Both twins' heads turn towards the sound, Aaron rolling his eyes when they see who has spoken.
"Neil," Andrew and Aaron say in tandem. Neil's eyebrows raise with a smile while both twins duck their heads, the tips of their ears turning a rosy red.
"You'll have to get used to that," Neil advises as he scoots into the booth next to Aaron.
"I told you that you didn't have to come. He's my brother," Aaron says lowly. Andrew's eyes flick between the two, interest bubbling against his skin. This mysterious man full of scars and secrets and protectiveness. Neil's eyes flick up to Andrew's, catching his perusal. Andrew raises one eyebrow at him and Neil lets out a low chuckle.
"I needed to make sure that Andrew and I were on the same page. Our conversation outside of the elevator ended before I could clarify that you and I are not enemies."
Aaron's brow creases in confusion. "You two have met?"
"Briefly," Andrew replies, "In the hotel after I checked in. He thought I was you."
"No, I didn't!" Neil objects. "Well, not after I got closer to you. You guys really aren't all that identical when you're less than 6 feet away."
Andrew and Aaron share a look, a small smile growing on both of their faces.
"We might have to put that to the test some day," Aaron says with a laugh. "See who can tell us apart between our families."
"Family," Andrew corrects. "There is no way Renee and Stephanie will meet your brood without being sucked in, too."
"There's nothing wrong with that," Neil says as he steals a sip of Aaron's drink. His nose wrinkles. "I cannot believe you drink that. It's so sweet." He looks up at Andrew a moment later, his eyes fierce and sincere. "Getting sucked into this family was the best thing that ever happened to me."
Aaron nods his agreement. "I think my life would have turned out a lot differently if Bee hadn't taken me in."
"Yes," Andrew agrees, "We ended up exactly where we were meant to."