Who: Chase Stein and Thor What: Catching up When: Recently Where: Thor's house Rating/Warnings: None Status: Complete when posted
Chase had been keeping himself out of trouble as much as he could - and if keeping himself out of trouble also meant he could spend time getting to know a gorgeous woman or two better? Even more perfect for him. He was leaning against the railing opposite Thor’s door, texting his teammate to see if he was home before knocking. Not admitting that he was already outside when the older man confirmed he was home. He’d gotten bored at home and a bored Chase was trouble and he knew it as well as anyone else. “Open up old man. It’s cold out here!” He shouted, a grin on his face and his voice made it clear he was joking. Or at least he hoped it was clear.
***
The door opened and Thor reached out and yanked the kid in. “Come on in, kid. Food is on.” Somehow, Chase always knew. Somehow.
Thor shook his head. “How’ve you been? Staying out of the camera eye?”
***
Chase grinned as Thor told him food was on. “How do you always know when I’m coming over?” He said, shrugging out of his coat as the door closed behind him.
“More or less. I guess my antics haven’t been as interesting as some other people’s lately. I got in a snowball fight on a ship but I can get why that didn’t get picked up by the tabloids.” He wasn’t going to tell him about the conversation with Allanon. Not right now. Not until after he’d decided what he was going to do.
***
Thor laughed. “How do you always come over when there is food? Sometimes, I think you have a sixth sense.” He eyed the other man. “How are you doing?”
“The tabloids are often attracted to the more lurid events, this is true.”
He nodded and led the way inward.
“There’s stew, and cookies.”
***
Chase grinned at him. “You mean there’s not just always food cooking here?” He said following him towards the kitchen. “Maybe it’s my secret talent since just about everybody out here seems to have one.” He shrugged as he made himself at home in the kitchen.
“I’m alright. Still figuring out what this whole being an adult in the eyes of the court thing really means. How you been?” He wanted to ask who’d made the cookies because he’d heard some talk from some of the guys that Thor was involved with a baker or something but he wasn’t sure he really wanted details of the older man’s lovelife. It was almost too much like hearing about your parents.
***
Thor snerked. “No, not always. Maybe most of the time.” He chuckled and smiled at Chase ashe waved toward the food. “You know where the plates are. Help Yourself to as much as you like. I made an extra-large batch. And that would be a good talent to have.”
Thor nodded, understanding. He had not been emancipated, but he had sued to become a ward of the state in order to escape his parents. Not quite the same thing, but he had sympathy for Chase’s plight.
“I’ve been well. Working on exercising the leg and back more.” he wore an extensive back and leg brace right now, and sat in special chairs, like he did now, to keep his body from getting worse while he tried to get better. If he could. He banished such negativity from his mind.
***
“Yours is knowing when to prepare extra.” Chase teased, moving into the kitchen to make his plate. “So old man - now that we’ve covered the work and health stuff. What’s this I hear about you and some girl? Or woman. I’ve heard both terms from the guys.” Deflection was another skill he had. If he could keep the conversation off him for as long as possible - he would. He’d been staying out of trouble but he wasn’t expecting that luck to stick with him forever.
***
Thor smirked. “Quite possibly, or making enough for more than one all the time.” he chuckled as he checked things, then nodded, pouring himself a juice and holding the container up to offer to Chase.
“She is a woman, yes. Not a girl, though when put next to me, almost all women look like girls, so I can understand the confusion. And her name is Catherine.” He grinned lopsidedly at Chase. He knew what his charge was doing, but he didn’t mind. “She’s a cook, and a good one.”
***
Chase had just taken a bite out of his food at Thor’s offer and he shook his head, pulling a bottle of water from his coat pocket. “Gotta balance out the pizza diet you know?” he said with a grin. He had started balancing it out with Thai food but pizza was still his go to most meals.
“So...Catherine huh? You know how unfair it is that you're having to go for treatment and still get the girls?” Chase wasn't exactly having a dry spell himself but one night stands (even if repeated) weren't the same as actually having someone you got noticed with.
“Where'd you meet her?”
***
“Makes sense. Just be sure to replace electrolytes as well!” Thor waggled a finger at the younger man. Then he grinned and got his own plate and started in.
“Yes, or Cathy. She is a smart, and strong, and beautiful woman. And I met her at the bakery.” He only went to one, so that was known. “She was nervous and getting a job there.” he grinned at Chase.
***
“Yes Dad,” Chase said, rolling his eyes. “I'm making sure to replenish them. Gatorade during my workouts and juice. Luckily cereal doesn't call for a lot of cooking skill.”
“And you showed up in time to calm her nerves huh?” He shook his head in amusement. “You have all the luck old man.”
***
Thor smirked at him. Chase calling him Dad was cute, and sometimes, it was nice, just to help watch over someone. “Good. And true. I used to eat a lot of it, and instant granola.” He chuckled. “I hated that stuff by the time I got out of training, but it helped me get through it.”
Thor nodded. “I was lucky. The cafe was full and she had an empty spot at her table, and I joined her… and we talked.”
Thor chuckled. “I am very lucky. Add that to being willing to make a fool of myself, and that explains most of my success.”
***
Chase tried to pretend that he only called Thor dad as a way of trying to annoy the older man when he got to be a little to on the looking after side but the truth of it was - Thor had been a better father figure to him than his own dad had ever hoped to be. And there was a little part of Chase that was always going to wish Thor was his dad. “I’m already sick of instant granola. And oatmeal. At some point I should probably learn to cook.”
“All the luck old man I swear. If it was me I’d have ended up sharing a table with some woman who insisted on showing me pictures of her cats in all their sweaters for two hours. You seem happier though. When you talk about her.”
***
Thor would gladly have taken the kid in, even earlier, if he had known. Frankly, though he did not believe in violence most days, there were days he wished he could meet that man in a dark alley.
“You probably should.” Thor chuckled. “I know a few people. I could hook you up.” He smirked and nodded.
“I am happy. She is… she makes me smile.’ He nodded again.
***
“Maybe one of these days I’ll take you up on that. Right now though - I’m going to keep just harassing all of you guys for food. Our teammates wives love me.” Chase said with a wink. Probably because he was close to their kids ages and didn’t mind playing games with them and steered clear of their daughters for the most part. (Holiday parties with mistletoe over each door and teenage girls following him under it was not his fault). “Between that and delivery I’m not in any danger of burning the place down. Plus I’ve got a friend with a yacht and it’s kind of fun messing around with the galley.”
He ate some more of his stew before asking his next question. “So...what’d the doctor say about you being able to play again soon?”
***
Thor laughed. “I bet.” he shook his head. “You keep making the rounds and you will end up nice and big and strong like me.” Thor casually made a arm, flexing it as he did so. He did rigorous workouts both at home and with the pt people everyday. Careful, but steady.
He smiled “Be careful of yachts. Could get underwater if you don’t watch out.” He grinned as he ate his stew.
His face faltered at that question. “NO time soon. There’s more damage than they thought. I’ll be in injury for at least the next year. “ He didn’t say more and he didn’t have to. If it took that long, he might never play again.
***
“It’s going to be the Thai delivery place that’s the end of me and I know it. Their noodles are addictive.” Chase rolled his eyes at Thor’s flexing. “Doubt that. I’m coming to the conclusion that I’m going to stay wiry and not muscley. But that’s alright - less for the other team to try and grab onto on the field.”
Chase grinned back at him. “Not always a bad thing with the right company.”
He let out a low whistle shaking his head slowly. “It’s going to work out man.” It had to. The team needed him to keep them from killing one another at times. That many men in one area with all their personalities? It got bad.
***
“Hah!” Thor chuckled as he sipped water and nodded. He knew Chase was a different body type entirely. And that was good. The young man had skilled to go with that body, as well.
Thor nodded. “Catherine and you should meet sometime. She is a good woman. I think you’d like her.” He grinned at his friend and mentee.
Then his smile fell. “Maybe. Maybe not. I’m not as young as I used to be, Chase. I’m hopeful, but I also know that people my age are lucky to still be playing,and not stuck in a hospital forever.” Or a grave, he did not say.
***
“Anybody else and I’d think they were trying to set me up for something kinky old man,” Chase joked.
Chase frowned. “Yeah Thor. I know. I just...fuck it’s weird without you on the field you know? Or at least without you in the locker room.” And there was a part of him that was scared of what the injury could mean for his friend and mentor outside of his career.
***
“Hah! I’m the most vanilla of all of us.” He chuckled. He knew he had a reputation as an old man and as a old fashioned one and he didn’t mind that at all. It happened to be true. He knew what he liked and he like what he knew.
“Well, maybe I can drag my ass out to see a game, at least, maybe sit on the sidelines and yell at the judges.” he smirked again.
***
“Definitely out of you and I at least.” Chase was pretty proud of the reputation he had as a troublemaker. Even if he was trying to stay out of trouble for the most part these days.
“Not like we can’t figure out a way to get you a ticket. You and Catherine if she’d want to go.” He added with a shrug as if he didn’t care one way or another. Maybe after his sports career he’d look into acting as a backup. He was getting pretty good at it he thought.
***
“I’ll look into it. I can sit and yell at everyone as they play.” He snerked and shrugged. Not minding the idea. He supported the team, even now. And always would.
He smiled at Chase. “Thanks. And I’ll even introduce you.”
***
“Just make sure you yell loudest at me. I’ve missed hearing it. And you tell any of the guys I said that I’ll deny it.” Chase said, draining his water bottle.