the greatest game on earth

[notplaying]

Toby had walked out of the compound feeling satisfied with the day. He was done. Basically. He just needed to corral the island's citizens in one place for an hour and tell them that. More or less

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[playingstupid]

He had recognized the scrawl on the bulletin board, but he hadn't believed it. He followed the directions, moving faster as he got closer to the beach. No. No way. It's not--

He froze at the edge of the trees when he heard it-- CRACK- he blinked up into the sun, and his heart ached for a moment, memories flooding back. He watched the ball sail across the sky and a slow smile spread across his face, until his dimples deepeened. Baseball.

He let out a whoop of joy and dropped his overshirt and sandals by the trees, sauntering quickly towards Toby. He called out- "I'll be damned." It might have been the light, but for a second there, he almost thought Toby was smiling.

[notplaying]

Toby pointed at Josh with the baseball bat, then swung it in an arch to point to the pitcher's mound.

"Get a mitt."

[playingstupid]

If Josh's grin could get any bigger, it did. His face felt like it was going to bust in two. He jogged over, grabbed a mitt, and then hit the mound. Toby had already left a few balls, so he reached down, feeling the warmth of the leather. Hell, yes. He tossed it lightly in the air before catching it, grinning. He turned his shoulder to Toby, his arm curling up in a pitcher's stance. He needed to get loose, but he let one loose just to remind him of how it felt.

[notplaying]

Toby lifted the bat to signal he wanted one high and outside, although knowing Josh, it would probably be aimed at his ear. Still, he stanced himself and lifted the bat, keeping his wrists loose.

"Come on, Connecticut."

[playingstupid]

"You're asking for it, Brooklyn." High and outside. Josh nodded, rolling his shoulder a little before finally winding up and letting loose. It wasn't quite outside, but it was about where Toby was asking for it.