jtigerclaw and I collaborated on this story. Enjoy!

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Leonard Mack (Fox, F/C) entered the Patriot Stadium practice gym and smiled. He heard the famiiar squeak of sneakers, bouncing of basketballs on the hardwood floor and the swishing of nylon. He expected that everyone would have gone home by now.

The tall fox spied Teo Masalia (Black Panther, SG) and Nick Nwabudike (Elephant, C) at one side of the court performing some trick shots. He said hello and ducked into the locker room to change into his practice uniform. The outfit, sported by the others, featured a white t-shirt, navy jersey and matching shorts. The red lettering on the chest signified the wearer was affiliated with the Minutemen basketball club.

Minutes later, Mack emerged, properly dressed, and tossed his gym bag at the bench. It settled beside the chairs on the gym floor, as Mack sat beside Marron Gwosdz (Arctic Vixen, PG) and watched Vera La Tiérra (Red Vixen, PG), the last player in the room, shoot baskets.

Her form was perfect as she jumped into the air, her release flawless. The tresses of her long brown hair settled back onto her shoulders as she landed. The rotating ball made an ear-pleasing swish through the hoop.

Beautiful.

"She's pissed off, y'know..." Marron said. Mack looked at the arctic vixen quizzically. 'Are you sure, Marron?' he thought.

Then he looked at Vera again. The red vixen's look was sour, as if she was seething about something. Very unusual for her.

"I see what you mean," Mack said. Marron nodded and brushed back her red hair.

"She's doing the Spanish-speaking thing again," the white vixen continued. "Teo says that she's saying nothing's wrong. He tried talking to her about the Rookie of the Year vote, but she didn't really want to listen."

Mack nodded in reply. "I guess it's my turn to take a shot, then," he said. The big red fox felt unusually determined at that moment. Maybe it's because he cared about Vera so much. Maybe it's because he knew a friend was hurting inside. He wasn't quite sure exactly what the reason was for his feelings. He did know that it was his mission to make Vera feel better, though.

Marron smiled and patted Mack on the shoulder. "Well, good luck. I need to get going," she said, getting up and walking to the locker room. Nick and Teo followed her shortly afterwards. Nwabudike told Leonard that he and Teo promised to be at the YFCA for a basketball clinic that evening. The fox nodded, wished them well, and walked over to Vera.

She looked over as Mack walked in her direction. She was so focused on her own thoughts, she didn't notice her teammates' conversation.

"Hola, Leonard. ¿Cómo estás?" she asked. Her tone was flat. Leonard nodded, understanding the elementary Spanish.

"I'm fine, Vera. What's wrong? Why weren't you talking with anyone else?" he asked. The vixen frowned.

"Everyone's asked me what's wrong, and I tell them the same: nothing," she said. Mack continued to look at the vixen.

"Don't give me that, Vera. You're not even smiling; you look plain unhappy. You weren't this upset even when Lorain blew us out of the building in January," Mack said, recalling the 32-point home loss to the Firestorm. Vera angrily bounced the basketball on the floor and caught it on the return bounce.

"¡No seas tan curioso!" she snapped, turning away with a growl. Mack didn't understand what she said, but he assumed "curioso" meant "curious". The fox heard a laugh and saw Teo coming out of the locker room.

"She told you not to be nosy; don't worry, amigo, she said the same thing to me. Take care, guys," the panther said, waving as he left. Leonard and Vera wished him goodbye and Mack returned his attention to the vixen.

"Vera, listen... I care about you. We all care about you. Talk to me. I know you were upset about not winning the Rookie of the Year award," he said. Vera sighed and looked down at the floor and her toes.

"I feel foolish..." she admitted.

"Why?"

"Because I cared so much about winning the award," she said, sighing. "It's not so much that I didn't get a trophy. It's the recognition."

Leonard rubbed the back of his head. Vera had never been so open to him before. It seemed as if she was waiting to tell him all this. He continued to listen, though:

"It's a slap in the face. I was better than Paul (Shepherd, German Shepherd, PG, MON). I started from the day I came here. I led the team in points, assists and steals. I did everything right. Everyone said I was a great leader... why didn't I win, Lennie?" she asked, looking up at him.

Mack saw a look in her gray eyes that he had never seen before: sadness. She looked like she was about to cry. It broke his heart to see her feel this way. But he felt something else himself: strength. He put his paws on her shoulders and looked into her eyes.

"Vera, you don't need recognition from a poll of sportswriters or a trophy to prove anything to anyone," he said softly. "Everyone knows what a great player you are. Your teammates, your fans, everyone."

Vera nodded. "Everyone else told me the same thing."

Mack hazel eyes twinkled. "Then that's all that matters."

He put his arms around Vera and gave her a gentle hug. He wasn't sure why he did it in his mind, but it felt right.

After Leonard let go of the short embrace, he smiled. "How about we hold ourselves a little three-point contest? Loser buys dinner." Vera grinned back. She couldn't resist that kind of a challenge.

"Jou're on!"

The two set up five basketball racks in the style of a standard three-point competition, with five balls on each rack. Vera let Leonard go first. The fox's shot style centered on thrusting the ball up from his chest. He struggled on the first and last racks, but made a perfect run on the middle rack; he scored 14 points.

Vera clapped and playfully, yelled at him to miss his shots, and complimented him on his perfect middle rack. As Mack gathered the balls up for Vera's turn, the vixen smiled at him as he got close.

"I'll make jou a deal: I'll only shoot with my left paw," she said. Leonard raised an eyebrow.

"I would LOVE to see that," he said, then cracking a smile. That was the Vera he knew: extremely confident.

Vera began shortly after the racks were readied. She was more consistent than Leonard, making more shots. As Vera hit four of five on the middle rack, including the money ball, Mack let out a whoop.

"Nice rack, Vera!" he shouted approvingly. Then he uttered an odd squeak as he realized what he just said. The vixen turned to him, said rack easily visible, and she smirked.

"Jou really think so, Lennie?" she purred. The fox blushed hotly and nodded, embarrassed. With a giggle, Vera returned to her shooting.

At the last rack, Vera had 11 points, and was poised to take the contest. She made the first shot, missed the second, made the third, and missed the fourth. As she lined up to take the last shot, Leonard snuck up behind her and tickled her sides. Vera yelped and threw back an elbow, catching Leoanrd in the chest and making him stagger.

"¡Ay, zorro loco! ¡Permítame tirar!" Vera said firmly. Leonard rubbed the spot where she accidently elbowed him and wondered if she was joking by calling him a "crazy fox". She probably was joking, he assumed.

Vera's shot was perfect, the ball swishing through the hoop. She cheered happily and pumped her first, then yelped in surprise as Leonard hoisted her into the air. Mack showed his strength by helping her onto his shoulders for a piggyback ride.

"Victory parade for the winner!" he cheered, singing a nonsense parade tune as he strutted around the gym. Vera laughed and held on to his shoulders, enjoying the ride.

"You two having fun?" a voice asked. It was Teo. He looked like he had just discovered the juiciest gossip in the world and he was going to tell everyone all about it.

"ACK!" Mack yelped, nearly dropping Vera from his shoulders. She screamed briefly and held on for dear life as he temporarily lost his grip.

"Teo! What are you doing here?" Leonard stammered.

"I forgot my gym bag. I might ask you the same question, amigo," the panther said, grinning evilly.

"Well, I, er..."

Vera smiled and patted Leonard on the head. "Jes, what are jou doing to a poor vixen, jou crazy fox?" she teased.

"Oh, come on, Vera!" Leonard whined, his cheeks as red as his hair. "Teo, I was only giving her a victory ride because she just won a contest between us!"

The panther laughed. "It's all right, amigo; I was jus' playing with you," he said. "Kind of like you're playing with Vera there, heh heh."

Mack groaned and Vera laughed again as he helped her down. Teo retrieved his gym bag and bid the two good-bye again, giving the two soul shakes.

Leonard shook his head and looked at Vera after Masalia left. "That Teo, what a guy, huh?" he said. Vera nodded and looked up to Mack.

"Lennie," she said, "I was truly feeling sad, and jou really made me feel better. Gracias."

Vera kissed Leonard on the cheek and hugged him, leaning her head on his chest for a few brief moments.

Leonard's heart skipped a beat and his mind swirled with possibilites. The smooch was gentle, the hug more intimate. Did this mean something?

The fox was left to ponder that question long after the two dressed and went to eat. Vera chose a local Mexican restaurant. Like many others of its kind, the eatery was staffed by Hispanic immigrants. Vera told Leonard on the way to the restaurant that she'd pay for the meal. There were no objections on Leonard's part; he figured she was doing that so that it wouldn't seem like a date.

A cute, black-haired cheetah took their orders. Vera ordered for herself and Leonard in Spanish, which the waitress seemed to appreciate. A few words later, and the two ladies were chatting like old friends. Leonard felt lost with the Spanish conversation, but Vera smiled at him as the waitress left to the kitchen.

"She's from Puerto Rico, and she knew I was too. We were talking about home," she explained. Leonard nodded.

"It's nice to meet someone like that, it doesn't happen to me too often," he said.

Ten minutes later, the waitress returned with their combination plates and the foxes enjoyed their dinner and talked.

Leonard's stomach was a mass of knots, though. It could have been that the refried beans and taco meat were doing a number on his insides, but he was also confused as to the nature of Vera's feelings for him. Was she viewing him in a different light? Did that kiss and hug mean anything? Did she even love him? Though he enjoyed the dinner, his mind was tortured by these questions.

Vera is a free spirit who wasn't attached to anyone. That's why Mack loved her. He hoped she'd never change.

He knew he loved her.

All he wanted was her love in return.