The door flew open, and the teammates, loud and euphoric from the win, rushed over to Baby.
However, their celebratory noise suddenly died down as they saw the person standing across from their captain.
Their sworn enemy was casually leaning against a locker, his face unbothered like he'd rather be playing golf with his grandfather.
Someone suddenly chuckled from the crowd, pushing his way through to stand in front of Baby.
"Captain! What's Kross doing in our room? Did he come to beg for mercy?" Rode, the strongest defenseman stepped forward, wearing a subtle frown.
The team members burst out laughing, expecting Baby to side with them by giving Saint an insulting remark or even a punch, but Baby had been stripped of his usual confidence as he struggled to deliver the humiliating news.
Baby gritted his teeth, taking his eyes away from Saint's unbothered face. He cleared his throat and said, "Listen up, everyone. Things have changed. This... this is Saint. He's... effective immediately, he's our co-captain."
"What?!"
"You've gotta be kidding us!"
"I'd rather quit the team! Hell to the no!"
"Over my dead body!" Rode's angry voice boomed above all else.
"I wouldn't mind that, Rode," Saint finally spoke, his eyes fierce as he stared from one teammate to the other.
"I'll wipe that stupid smirk off your face –"
"No," Baby pulled Rode back, gritting his teeth as he stared at Saint's calm pride, "Trust me, Rode, I want to punch him more than anything in this world. Unfortunately, we can't. THC has eyes on us." He informed them.
"What?!" Cam, Baby's best friend asked, stepping forward to stand between Baby and Saint, his shoulder-length red hair packed in a tight pony.
"THC? Wants you two together?" Cam questioned in disbelief.
The teammates shared shocked glances, theurveyes speaking volumes than their voices could ever speak.
"Yes. They did," Baby said and proceeded to tell them everything.
The confusion and the disbelief spread through the heated locker room like a curse.
"I've always wanted to get you back for breaking my nose on our last match, and now, you're right under my nose." Rode faced Saint, his eyes vengeful and hostile, "Watch your back, rich boy, THC laws don't apply to me, I'll break your nose at the slightest chance you pose." He roughly pushed Saint's chest and walked past him.
Slam!
"Fuck, you bastard!" Rode roared as Saint suddenly pulled him back and slammed his back against a locker.
"That's no way to speak to your captain, Rode. Do I need to teach you some manners?" Saint's lethal voice slithered through the room, his arm pressing firmly against Rode's chest.
Rode's face darkened. He was about to hit Saint's face when Baby suddenly got between them and shoved them apart, standing between them.
"Enough!" Baby's voice boomed in command, his eyes sharpening as he glanced at everyone.
"It is what it is! Anyone who has an opinion can feel free and contact THC! And until then, it is one team, two captains. Understood?!" Baby barked.
Everyone was quiet, eyes glaring daggers at Saint.
"Understood?!" Baby roared, his eyes turning angry as he pointed his eyes at Rode.
"Yes, Captain!" The teammates replied, accepting their unwanted fate.
"Good talk," Saint smirked and quietly walked away. He reached the door and paused, "Practice by six in the morning. Lateness equals punishment." He said, finally left the locker room.
"Shit!" Baby cursed and kicked the locker in front of him.
He pushed through his teammates, grabbed his bag, and left the locker room in a blur.
"Baby! Wait!" Cam was beside him in a matter of seconds, falling in step with him as they walked the long walkway.
Baby didn't slow down, furiously walking to get to his dormitory apartment.
"Oh, come on, Baby, are you really going to ignore me because of the appearance of a Sainf?" Cam asked, trying to get Baby to smile but failed.
"Alright, fine, I know this is bad, but look at the brighter side, THC has their eyes on you, bro!" He hooked his arm over Baby's shoulder, smiling widely.
Baby stopped walking and glared at Cam's hand on his shoulder.
"Too close? Right," Cam cleared his throat and wiped his hand on his shirt.
"Um, I know this new club, it's VIP, but who wouldn't let Baby Danvers in. Ready to party all night?" Cam questioned, wiggling his brows at Baby's interested face.
"Girls?" Baby asked, a smirk forming on his lips.
Cam smiled mischievously, "International and national." He winked at Baby.
"Now, you're making sense. Should have just led with that," Baby pulled Cam's wrist and resumed walking, ready to divert his attention to something else that wasn't Saint's annoying face.
Baby stumbled into his dormitory apartment with his lips locked on his new catch. He pressed her gathered wall and hooked one of her legs around his waist, groaning at the contact.
His hand frantically reached up and searched for his light switch, turning it on and immediately unbuttoning his shirt, hungry for a distraction
"Oh, my God, are we having a threesome?" The girl suddenly broke away from Baby's lips and stared over his shoulder like she'd been hypnotised.
Baby paused, confused. He lived alone, had he picked a psycho who saw ghosts?
He slowly untangled the girl's limbs from his body and turned to see what she was talking about.
His breath invisibly got punched out of his lungs as his eyes fell on the last person he expected to see in his living room.
Saint stood by the bar with a glass of wine, a black tank fitting like a second skin, and joggers low and easy. Calm. Correct. Infuriating.
"You've got to be kidding me," Baby felt a lot of things as he stared at his rival: hatred, confusion, bewilderment, and shock.
"Oh my God, it's like a dream come true. My two most wanted men, in the same room, with me!" The girl purred, hugging Baby's arm.
"Don't let me stop you," Saint nodded once and turned to walk into the room.
"Stop right there, Saint," Baby ordered, glaring at him.
Saint paused, resuming his position by the bar.
Baby quickly turned to the girl, "And, you, Linda –
"Melinda–"
"Whatever. Just go, I have something to deal with," He said and slid his arm out of her hug.
Melinda's eyes watered, 'No threesome?"
"For God's sake, get out! No threesome, leave!" Vaby barked, heaving angrily.
The last thing he wanted right now was sex, Saint was a mood killer, and he'd rather fuck a crocodile than participate in a threesome with Saint.
Melinda's lips trembled as she slowly turned to leave, she took a step but suddenly turned and slammed her lips on Baby's, "Call me, sugar." She winked and sashayed her hips out of the house.
Baby closed his eyes to gain some control before facing the devil that had suddenly appeared in his apartment.
"That's no way to treat a lady. The gentleman you are," Saint taunted, sipping his drink.
Baby scowled, his anger from earlier returning doublefold.
He stormed over to Saint and grabbed the drink out of his hand, slamming it down on the counter, the contents spilling over his hand but he didn't give a shit about it.
He lifted his head, eyes blazing with fury as he stared into those annoyingly calm steel-grey ones, "I'm not going to ask why or how you got in here. All I need you to do is to turn around, and walk your stupid self out of my door." He said, breathing harshly from contained anger.
Saint sighed, "I would love to, but I can't. You might want to call the coach on that one...Baby." his voice dropped low as he said Baby's name, smirking as he reached for his glass of wine again.
"Get out!" Baby snapped, slapping the glass out of Saint's hand.
The clattering and shattering sound filled the room, foreshadowing the anger that was about to shatter within Saint.
Before Baby could register what was happening, his back collided harshly against the counter, a painful grunt leaving his lips as his sides dug into the blunt edge of the counter.
Saint's eyes darkened as he caged Baby between his arms, "Now listen, you spoilt little brat –"
Baby forcefully pushed against Saint's chest but Saint easily confiscated Baby's hand behind his back, gripping his wrists tightly together and gripping his chin to force his face up.
Baby wanted to spit in his face — but his pulse betrayed him, hammering too fast. 'Damn it.'
"Let go, you fucking bastard –"
"Shh... I wasn't done talking, Danvers," Saint's voice was incredibly icy, and so was his glare.
Baby gulped, trying to act tough and not cry out from the pain in his twisted arms.
"Outside this apartment, I might ignore your silliness because... THC is watching. But in here, you meet the real Saint and you're about to find out that I'm no saint, Baby," Saint whispered beside Baby's face, deliberately tugging his wrists to hurt him.
"Ugh, you idiot, you'll pay for this!" Baby groaned.
Saint's love chuckle reverberates through his chest, "I don't give a fuck if you don't like me... It's mutual. But you're going to accept that I'm your housemate, schoolmate, teammate, and maybe... soulmate –"
"I'll crush you, Saint, I promise you. Fuck you." Baby cursed out.
Saint couldn't hold his husky laughter, "But I'm the one crushing you now, Mr. Danvers, I guess I'll wait for my turn to get crushed." He smirked.
"My point is, I'm here to stay. You either treat me with respect or pretend I don't exist. Don't fuck with me, remember... I'm no saint –"
The door was suddenly pushed open and someone gasped behind them.
"Whoa! What the fuck is going on here? Get your hands off him, you fucking bully!" Cam hurried over but Saint gently released Baby and stepped over the broken glass.
"Clear your mess, Baby. Or have your 'Golden Retriever' do it," Saint said and walked into the room right next to Baby's.
Baby stood there for a few seconds, rubbing his wrists that now had faint marks of Saint's fingers around them.
Cam glared at Saint's closed door before walking over to his best friend, "What happened? What's happening? Why is he here?" He asked, worried and curious.
"I'm thinking THC wants me to do everything with the bastard," Baby said, pulling out his phone from his pocket.
"But that's not fair," Cam frowned, "They don't have the right," He furrowed his brows.
"Looks like they do," Baby said bitterly as he placed his phone on the counter.
"Baby?" Nickel's voice called from the phone.
"Saint Kross is in my apartment, coach. Mind telling me why?" He asked, flexing his jaws.
"I was just about to send you the email, but since you called. The Apex had instructed that you two live together and do everything together. You share classes and sports. Also, you have a weekly meeting every Friday with the school's therapist, they need you two in your best shape of mind and body. See you at the rink, Baby."
The beeping of the phone signalled the end of the call.
Baby was seething, the last of his space had been invaded. His apartment was the one place he let loose, but not anymore because Saint fucking Kross has stormed into his life like a tsunami.
"Wow..." was the only thing Cam could utter.
"Like hell I'm going for a therapy session with that animal," Baby said and grabbed a bottle from his minibar, heading over to sit on his sofa.
"I guess I'll just help you two clear this up... but I'm no Golden Retriever!" He shouted toward Saint's closed door, muttering inaudible words under his breath.
"He's my housemate, right?" Baby asked as Cam walked over to sit by his side.
Cam groaned tiredly, "Seems like it, Baby." He replied, resting on the headrest.
"Then I think I should throw him a welcome party," Baby sipped his drink, a slow smirk forming on his face.
Cam narrowed his eyes, "What are you planning, Baby?" He asked slowly.
"You'll see," Baby smiled and pushed the bottle into Cam's hand, "You'll see." He murmured and walked away, a perfect revenge plan forming in his mind.