Andrew Minyard hates exy. Anyone on the Seahawks can see that. You could be in the middle of a conversation with him, but as soon as the word ‘exy’ is dropped, he will leave like you weren’t just talking.
He seems to have a silent agreement with the coaches to block out at least 75% of shots thrown on him, however it is not uncommon for him to sit down in the goal box after that percentage is reached, only to stand again when the percentage drops back down.
The only time that he’s seen to give half a shit is when he’s facing Neil Josten and Kevin Day from the Denver Eagles. Whenever they are on court, Minyard tries his danmedest to make sure they do not score, even going as far as directing the backliners that are meant to protect him.
Matthew Boyd is all too happy to take his suggestions, but even the two best strikers in exy struggle against Boyd without Andrew’s help.
So the team knows that Andrew hates exy, with a few exceptions.
Today is one of those exceptions.
They’re in the third quarter of the game and the Eagles are losing by four points. Neither Josten or Day are on court, having played the first and second quarters, and Andrew played the first half, so he won’t go back in. Almost a guaranteed win with Boyd playing second half.
What was unexpected was the little spat between Day and Josten across the court. Day was waving his arms animatedly and gesturing to the Seahawks side and Josten stood there quietly seething.
After a few minutes of Day practically tearing into Josten, Josten said one word that made Day go mute, taking a step backwards. Minyard took a walk around the court.
“Minyard! Come back here!” Coach Limmens yelled. Andrew ignored him.
Altrez watched the exchange, having been a Fox fan himself, their weird dynamic always intrigued him.
Andrew made it over to the Eagle’s side and seemed to start up another verbal fight with Day, Josten, and the Eagle’s coach. It wasn’t long before it was over and Josten was entering the court.
As soon as the court door closed, Andrew punched the Eagle’s coach in the face.
Andrew stalked his way back over to their side and immediately picked up his pads. “I’m going in Coach.”
“The hell you are. Jamie’s barely been able to play.” Coach Limmens said, dismissing Andrew completely.
“If you don’t put me in, right now, then Johnson’s going to get hurt. Josten’s on a mission and he’s too stubborn to listen to reason.”
“And you’re the voice of reason.” Limmens scoffed.
“No, that’s The Queen,” Minyard said jabbing a thumb towards where Kevin Day stood across the court. “I’m what’s standing between Josten and your team.”
“Right, I’ll take that into consideration. Sit down.” Limmens said.
Altrez could feel the rage coming off of Andrew, but he ultimately shrugged.
“Good Luck, Johnson. Hope you have good health insurance.” Andrew said sitting down next to Altrez.
Not 30 seconds after the play started, Josten got the ball, gave a nasty check to Boyd—weren’t they friends?—and made it towards the goal. He swung and Jamie dove out of the way, not even trying to block the goal.
The crack of the ball against he plexiglass wall was felt in the floorboards.
Boyd scrambled off the floor and made it towards the striker. Josten blew him off and went back to get into position for the next play.
For a scary moment, Matthew Boyd looked directly at him. No, not at him, at Minyard. All Andrew did was look at Coach Limmens.
Boyd can apparently read minds because he ran to the door and asked coach to put Andrew in, if not, Jamie was going to get hurt.
Coach finally relented and Andrew went out on the court.
Things happened faster than they probably should have.
Josten got the ball. Josten bypassed Boyd with some crazy footwork. Andrew left the goalie box and met him in the middle, hitting Josten’s racket against his own before pushing Josten backwards.
Rise. Repeat.
Josten never being able to get a shot off, and both teams growing increasingly frustrated.
This time Hendricks, the second Seahawks backliner, got to Josten before Andrew, hitting him down with a definitely illegal check. Josten went down… and did not get back up.
Then the fight broke out. Team against team letting their frustrations out as refs tried to break them up.
Minyard and Boyd fought together to get to player on the ground but didn’t seem interested in anything else.
By the time the refs got everything under control and players cleared out. Andrew was leaning over Josten with Day on the other side of the glass where the boy laid, and Matt stood guard making sure no one got too close.
By the time everything was said and done, Altrez was fairly certain that the bets he made on the Minyard-Josten rivalry were going to be paying out soon.
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I already knew Andrew and Neil were going to be a couple before I read the books, but imagine someone going into them with 0 knowledge of the plot and thinking oh, yeah, Kevin and Neil will totally be an item (or alternatively thinking Kevin and Andrew are probably together from the beginning).
Only to realize the little gremlin with an Exy stick, standing in the locker room, begging for Neil to give him a reason to swing it is ACTUALLY the one Neil ends up with and Kevin is forced into a random relationship that isn't even hinted at until the last book.
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