Chapter Text
Marvin hates sports. He hates watching them. He thinks they are a waste of time, but when his son begs him to take him to the first Yankees game of the season for his perfect attendance over the school year, how could he decline? So here he sits. At Yankee Stadium with his horrendously priced nine dollar beer and fifteen dollar bucket of popcorn. In his way too expensive seat behind home plate, with a very excited fourteen year old beside him. Marvin could care less about the outcome of this game. Instead, he uses the time to catch up on work emails.
“Dad!” Jason says with annoyance to his left, trying to get Marvin’s attention out of his phone and onto the field.
“Hold on kid, I’m scheduling a meeting right now give me one second.” Jason lets out an annoyed huff to his side but doesn't say anything further. Marvin tries his best to be a present father when he has his son on weekends but the apartment isn’t going to pay for itself, and it is not a cheap apartment. This paired with wanting to make sure that Jason has a college fund that will fully set him through school means Marvin works a lot. A lot more than Jason would like him to. Marvin tries to make up for it, but gifts do not a father make.
Finally he puts down the phone half way through the second inning, tuning in to what is happening on the field. His eyes lock onto the pitcher. He is handsome. That is the first thought that pops into Marvin’s mind. He is handsome from what he can see at a distance. Strong arms, muscular frame. Marvin leans forward in his seat. Maybe this game wouldn’t be so boring to watch after all.
As the game progresses Jason continues to dump all of his baseball knowledge on Marvin. Dropping facts about the team dating all the way back to its inception. He notices Marvin’s attention on the pitcher and starts dropping more specific facts about the man.
“That is Whizzer Brown. This is his third year pitching for the Yankees. They call him ‘The Kid’. He’s the youngest ever pitcher to throw a no hitter in the first game of his first season.” Marvin lets out a hum and a nod at the information. He continues to watch the game with more rapt attention than he has payed to any sport in his life. Not even really understanding what is going on.
Jason is ecstatic in the seat next to him. Finally being able to enjoy something with his father. Marvin is not so interested in the innings where the Yankees are batting, but he is very interested when they are in the field and ‘The Kid’ is pitching. Marvin watches the movements. The way he holds his glove in front of his face for a few moments, closing his eyes and letting out a deep breath. Then pulling down the glove, lifting it back up with his right leg also going up before throwing it. Hard and fast.
Jason leans over to his father excitedly once more.
“He’s a left handed pitcher!” Marvin has no idea if that is good or bad so he just nods and gives his son a smile.
“You’re left handed too,” Marvin adds. Jason smiles and nods excitedly. Marvin continues to watch the game. So far the score is tight. Four to three with the Yankees up by one. For the first time Marvin finds himself caring about the outcome of the game.
It is the bottom of the ninth and Marvin finds himself on the edge of his seat. Watching as each batter goes up to the plate. Then he sees him again. The left handed pitcher.’The Kid’. Marvin watches him as he approaches the plate, body angled to bat toward left field. He takes his first swing. Strike. Then something happens that confuses Marvin, he moves to the other side of the plate. Now batting right handed. Marvin turns to Jason quickly, confusion written clear across his face.
“He is ambidextrous,” Jason whispers quietly, eyes still locked on the field. The second pitch is thrown and the crack it makes against the bat is loud. The ball sails, flying far into the outfield. Whizzer Brown doesn't make it to home plate, but two of his team mates do. The score now six to four. The last batter strikes out and the game is over. The stands are loud. People cheering and jumping and hugging each other. Jason had noticed his dad staring but had ignored it. Choosing instead to focus on the game. Jason knows that his father is gay, it is the whole reason his parents had gotten divorced.
They had figured it out early, Jason had only been two years old when the divorce had happened. It had been amicable and Jason still has two very present parents in his life and a bonus step dad. When he was younger he used to see his dad more than just on weekends but ever since he started school he lives with his mother and her husband during the school year, seeing his father only on weekends then. Then he lives with his father the entire summer. It works well enough. But having this? Having his father actually show interest in one of his interests? It makes Jason feel ecstatic.
Marvin had sprung for the most expensive ticket option which includes a meet and greet with some of the players. There are only three of the players present. Their catcher, their shortstop, and Whizzer ‘The Kid’ Brown. Marvin hangs back, not really interested in meeting any of the players but Jason rushes to the front of the line.
“My dad likes you.” Jason says curtly when he gets his chance to talk to Whizzer. The player raises a shocked eyebrow.
“Hi, what’s your name?” Whizzer asks. Jason wastes no time.
“My name is Jason. That is my dad,” He points his finger over at Marvin who is looking down at his phone, “His name is Marvin and he is gay like you. He likes you.” Whizzer’s jaw hangs open briefly before he closes it with an audible click. He doesn't know what washes over him but as he is signing the poster for the young boy he looks back up.
“Do you have your ticket?” Whizzer asks him, tone hushed. Jason nods quickly, pulling the ticket from his front pocket and handing it over to the player. Whizzer takes it, scrawling down some numbers quickly.
Marvin is tapping his foot impatiently from where he stands on the wall. Unsure of what is taking Jason so long to get his overpriced poster signed. Suddenly Jason is running back over to him, forcing his ticket in Marvin’s hand. Marvin looks down on it and there is a note written in sharpie with a phone number under it.
‘Call me for coffee some time. In town all week.’ Is all it says. Marvin looks up, eyes wide. They lock eyes and Whizzer shoots him a small wink before going back to autographing items.
Marvin finds himself stunned, yet he also finds himself slipping the ticket into his wallet.
What the fuck had just happened?