"You're on the Ravens right! You're Luke Castellan!"

The sound of the voice woke Luke easily. He opened his eyes and looked around finding an excited little boy standing beside him. Luke gave him a tired smile, "I'm usually benched, but yeah I am. How'd you know?"

The boy beamed, "I looked up and learned a bunch about each of you! I'm gonna play when I grow up!"

"Really? For what team?"

"Any team! But the Ravens would be awesome!"

Luke tried not to let his smile slip at the boy's enthusiasm, "Well practice a bunch then okay?"

"I will," he nodded. "I'm a striker, I'm gonna take your job one day!"

"Hmm, maybe then don't practice too much."

"Nope too late, I already said I would."

Luke gave a chuckle as he stood and he gritted his teeth not to cry out in pain. He smiled down at the kid again before looking up to see his mother mouth a "Sorry".

"Well I should get going, be sure to watch the games."

"Uhuh. But can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"Why did you join the Ravens? Were you thinking of going for another team or always the Ravens?"

Luke felt his fake smile falter. He tried to force it back on his face as he gave the kid a wink, "It's a secret."

With that said he began walking off, he was stupid to even go to this park in the first place. He should've been in a motel not passed out on a park bench. He shouldn't be out in the open where even a kid could recognize him.

Why did you join the Ravens?

The thought of why made Luke want to laugh at the boy's naivety, and then puke at the truth. Because he couldn't tell that happy kid that he had never really wanted to join the Edgar Allan Ravens. Hell he never even meant to go to college at all.

Exy was a way to past time, a way to put his unused demigod skills into something. He was given a second chance at life so he had intended to lay low and coast through it.

Until he received notice that he was being recruited for the Ravens. He had hurriedly decline the offer, but apparently they were more than serious because next thing he knew his mom had got hurt in a car accident. And when he was hand delivered another invitation to the team as he sat beside his mother in the hospital, he got the point.

At the time he was so worried about her condition, and worried about what would happen when those of his past saw his name plastered on their TV screens. He hadn't even really thought to worry about being in the Nest itself, or Riko Moriyama.

When he first walked in the Nest he remembered how shocked he was to find he'd be living under the stadium. Like there would never be a break from exy, turns out he was right about that part. He had been brought in after another striker had gotten injured and not allowed to play. He had been brought in after everyone, and that meant he had to learn quick.

And it was during his first practice Luke wished he was still dead.

He had acted stupid, questioning and laughing about the fact they called their coach "Master", and it hadn't ended well. "Master" had called something to group and in moments Exy sticks were slammed against Luke's body. His arms screamed in pain as he blocked his face, but it didn't do much good. But he supposed the method had worked, he quickly understood what kind of place this was.

And he understood and hated was how used to it he was.

He hated how easy it was for him to slip back into a life of keeping quiet and doing as he was told. How even after all he had fought and died for, he still found himself in the same fucking position. At the beck and call of those who thought his life was nothing more than an insignificant piece of their game.

But still he had no choice, Riko had a hostage- two of you included Luke's partner- and all Luke had was a personality Riko hated.

A personality which dropped the hostage count from two to one.

He had overheard someone else talking about him, talking about his situation, talking about how his mother had died.

Luke had grabbed him, hit him and screamed repeatedly for him to explain. And no one even tried to stop him, until Riko arrived.

He was pulled off his teammate and brought before "the king" himself- and he passed out soon after.

His next conscious thoughts occurred when Luke was in a car speeding down a highway. He had no real memory of what had happened, but the shape his body was in would reveal it soon enough. He didn't even remember getting in his car or entering Virginia, but apparently that's where he was according to the signs around him.

And when he came to a gas station, he parked and dumped his car. He had no belongings on him, just some cash and now worthless car keys. And on top of all that nowhere to go and no plan.

After a bit of debate he spent some of his cash inside the gas stations store buying himself bandaids, which wouldn't do much good, and water.

When he was finished he began walking at random, he considered hitchhiking but in the shape he was in and with nothing to defend himself with and had decided against it. Until he felt himself getting dizzy simply by the act of walking.

He was able to flag down a trucker. The guy was headed for North Carolina and Luke promised him fifty bucks for the ride. That would only leave him with less than fifty for himself, but at the time it didn't seem to matter.

~~~~

"You can just drop me here," Luke told the man handing over fifty dollars.

The man didn't touch the money, rather instead he looked Luke from head to toe. Something he had done at least six times since Luke had got in the truck's cab. "You sure you don't want me to drop you at a hospital?"

"No I'm fine," Luke told him setting the money on the dash and climbing out while the truck was still stopped at the light.

"Here," the guy said handing the money back to Luke. "You're gonna need it when you realize you need a doctor."

Luke rolled his eyes but took the money anyway.

He was in the middle of some city. He should be able to find a cheap motel or something that would let him spend the night. But somehow his feet had protested against that idea and instead brought him to a bench in the city park.

~~~~

When night fell he stole a car.

Who knew that old ability to unlock anything still worked?

Once in the car- a nondescript one probably bought as a first car by some teen- he popped open the panel and grabbed a hold of the wires. He paused taking a deep breath trying to remember what exactly he had to do.

When he had it started he got on the highway and headed south. That's all he knew about his situation. He was headed south of New York, and south of the Ravens. He had no clue besides that.

Maybe he'd head down to Florida, maybe he'd veer off and head toward the west coast. He didn't really know, maybe he'd just pick a place and live on the streets until Riko calmed.

He slept in the car when he crossed the border into South Carolina. When he woke up and found out it was afternoon he left the car and made his way to a convenience store for snacks.

From there he hitchhiked to Columbia. From the city he hoped to find a truck driver heading states away. So he wasn't exactly sure how he ended up letting random people talking him into getting food at a diner.

Sweeties.

Luke smiled and nodded listening the words of the people across the table. He really wasn't interested in them or their lives, but Luke had turned on the charm and got himself a decent meal for free. He was also debating which one of their wallets would be easiest to take when someone stood next to their booth.

"What the hell are you doing here?"

Luke's eyes turned to take in the form of the tall dark skinned boy beside him. His arms were crossed and across the restaurant Luke could see a table of people watching him.

"I'm eating," Luke responded easily picking up a fry as he tried to remember where he had seen that face.

"What are you doing here?" He repeated and behind him Luke could see the people who were with him rise. And the boy's identity clicked.

"You're Nicky Hemmick."

"Get out," Kevin Day said from behind him.

Luke swallowed, he hadn't actually met Kevin Day before. But he felt like he had. Luke pushed down the memories that bubbled up, as he turned the group he sat with, "I'm leaving."

They said words of protest and Luke headed for the door. He didn't know where to go, he'd figure it out. He just needed to get away from here- not that the hand on his shoulder would let him.

"What are you doing here?" Kevin demanded letting go.

Luke's eyes flickered at the group around him, specifically at the Minyards.

"Answer me."

"Running," Luke answered honestly looking back to Kevin's face.

"Where?"

"Anywhere."

"You can't run from the Ravens forever," said another voice. Luke recognized him as "Neil Josten" but Riko had always called him Nathaniel Wesninski.

"I'm expendable, and not afraid to die Nat- Neil."

Nathaniel gave a frown, but didn't respond.

"He never moved your stuff," Luke told Kevin quietly. "I don't matter like that. So I'm gonna run."

Kevin's eyes shifted to Andrew Minyard (Luke decided since he wore armbands), and his twin shook his head.

"No! Are you running a charity now? How many Ravens are you gonna take in?" Aaron demanded.

"He can play," Kevin told Aaron.

"Doesn't mean I will," Luke put in.

"You will," Kevin told him.

"No I won't. Fuck this, and fuck exy," Luke said stepping back. "I only played because my mom was alive. Now she's-" Luke's voice caught. "She's not. And I'm done with the sport."

Andrew Minyard took a step closer, and then walked past him, "You need a drink."

Luke was about to protest when he was grabbed and ushered toward a car.

Gods he hated exy.