Moral Support
--TWO HORSE RACE--
Sburb Academy had many extra curricular clubs. One of these was the Athletics club, of which Equius Zahhak was a proud member.
Today was the day of a competition between Sburb Academy and Derse Academy. The team had been training hard for months for this competition and there was good reason for this. Derse was infamous for winning by cheating but it was very hard to even chest against athletes who were at the top of their game E.g the Sburb Academy team.
The stands around the 400 metres track were packed with support for both schools. The sky was blue and the sun was shining as Equius and the other competitors warmed up at the starting line for the 1500 metres. Equius' strength meant his stamina was phenomenal, which is why he was up for this event and also some field events later on.
":3 hey Equius! Ofur here!" Equius turned his head to see Nepeta waving enthusiastically at him. Aradia was next to her and when she saw her matesprite looking in her direction, she smiled and blew him a kiss. Equius pretended to catch the kiss and press it to his chest.
As he continued to warm up, he gradually spotted more and more of his friends in the stands. He was in pretty high spirits until he was shoved roughly aside.
"D-> Excuse you-" Equius began through gritted teeth before the words died on his lips.
The troll who stood before him was equally as ripped as Equius (which is saying something) and about two inches taller. And that was without taking his large, wickedly jagged horns into account.
None of this intimidated Equius, though. What intimidated him was the irises that were a bright shade of indigo, closer to violet really. This troll was almost a sea dweller. From his authoritive posture and cocky attitude, this troll knew his blood was high and used that to his advantage.
Now, the hemospectrum hadn't been a justifiable system for many centuries now. At some point, someone had figured it was bullshit and thus it was abolished. But there were always fanatics who still believed in it.
Equius' caste had a long history of submitting to any blood colour from indigo to fuschia. This was a deep, primal instinct that would never leave the darker bluebloods and that was why Equius...for want of a better word, shrank away from the troll.
But Equius couldn't let this other troll psych him out. He just had to focus on the race and perform as he always did. He looked back at Nepeta and Aradia who were both looking at him. Nepeta held a thumb up in question and Equius answered it with a small smile and a nod.
The runners took their place on the starting blocks, heads bent, knees crouched and ready to run. The starting gun sounded and the runners took off.
It became a two horse race within 200 metres: Equius vs the purpleblood from Derse. The purpleblood seemed surprised at this, believing he'd intimidated Equius into submission.
He didn't realise just how STRONG Equius was.
They were neck a neck for the following 500 metres and the purpleblood seemed to be realising that Equius was going to give him a fight. Derse's infamous reputation made a come back 750 metres into the race.
The purpleblood jerked his foot out and sent Equius sprawling into the dirt. Equius actually skidded a bit and scraped all up his legs and arms. He watched as the purpleblood ran on, hearing his laughter on the wind.
There was a cacophony of booing and yelling from the Sburb supporters and Equius could see medics already coming over to him.
No.
It was not going to end this way.
Equius pushed himself out of the dust, fixing his eyes on the purpleblood ahead of him. He adjusted his shades.
Then he ran.
He had 50 metres to make up, it would be close but Equius could do it.
He felt the adrenaline pumping through his body.
(45 metres behind.)
The pain from his scrapes was non existent.
(30 metres behind.)
And he could hear Aradia and Nepeta yelling at the top of their voices,
(15 metres behind.)
Even above the rest of the cheering crowd.
(10 metres behind. 9, 8, 7....)
":3 Mew can do it, Equius!"
(6, 5, 4...)
3 metres.
2 metres.
1 metre.
"D-> Surprise." Equius snarled as he caught back up to the the purpleblood.
The purpleblood's face was priceless.
"How. HOW. I tripped you up, you were down, it was OVER." he growled.
"D-> It was not over." Equius smiled as he saw the finish get closer and closer. "D-> But it is now."
He put on a last burst of speed and crossed the finishing line. Sburb Academy supporters went fucking insane.
"D-> Yes!" Equius yelled, punching the air.
":3 Equius!" Equius turned and was pounce-hugged by Nepeta ":3 Mew did it! Mew did it, mew won!"
"D-> I know, and it's all thanks to you, my little kitten." Equius smiled, forming half a diamond which Nepeta completed.
Aradia came over carrying a towel, with Sollux at her heels. Equius' matesprite was beaming like the sun in the clear sky above them.
"Great job, Eq." grinned Sollux "Here, let me heal tho2e 2crape2 for you."
"D-> Much appreciated, Captor."
"YOu were amazing! Sweetie I'm s0 pr0ud 0f y0u!" praised Aradia as she wiped Equius' brow with the towel.
Equius only smiled and pressed a kiss to Aradia's cheek.
"I'd congratulate you on your sportsmanship, but then I see the scum you keep for company." drawled the purpleblood, approaching their group.
":3 Say that again you cheating-" Nepeta began to snarl.
Equius held Nepeta back then strode to meet the purpleblood face to face.
"D-> If you speak like that about my moirail,
matesprite or any of my friends again," Equius began slowly, as though he were talking to a grub "D-> I shall be forced to retaliate. It matters not what caste you are, if you talk hoofbeast shit, pardon my 100d language, about anyone I care about, I will put you in your place. With my shoe so far up your wastechute you shall require medical attention to remove it. Good day." Equius turned to go back to his friends.
"You think you're so fucking strong..." hissed the purpleblood, pulling back to release a blow to Equius' horn.
"Equius l00k 0ut!"
"EQ!"
":3 Equius! Behind mew!"
Equius turned and stopped the punch with his own hand, staring at the purpleblood coolly.
"D-> I do not think I am STRONG. I know it. I can show you if you want." Equius applied pressed to the purpleblood's hand.
The purpleblood grunted in pain.
"D-> Fortunately for you, and I believe a friend of mine would be proud of me for this, I am not an asshat." Equius released the purpleblood's hand "D-> Pardon my 100d language."
And without another word to the purpleblood, Equius and his friends left the track.
~
--GETCHA HEAD IN THE GAME--
In the changing rooms belonging to the Sburb Academy female basketball team, said team was currently getting ready for one of their biggest games of the season against Derse Academy.
Nerves were high, not because the team doubted themselves but because Derse were famous for cheating and foul play.
Feferi Peixes, the captain of the team, was with her two deputy captains, Vriska Serket and Jade Harley.
"Hey," Jade took hold of Feferi's hands to stop her friend twisting the ends of her hair around her fingers "it'll get all frizzy if you keep doing that."
"Sorry...I'm just reely nervous about this game." mumbled Feferi.
"Is gorgeous hair a price you're willing to pay for a few little nerves? Here, let me take away the temptation."
Jade had Feferi sit down and quickly worked Feferi's voluminous hair into a fishtail braid.
"Do you have a hair band?" asked Jade.
"Um, I'm not shore..." frowned Feferi.
"Use this." Vriska held out a cerulean blue ribbon.
"Thanks Vriska!" smiled Jade, tying the ribbon into Feferi's hair.
"Also, Feferi, don't worry." Vriska knelt down and held Feferi's hands in her own "8etween Jade's a8ility to kick ass, the fact that I have all the luck-"
"All of it?" interrupted Jade.
"All of it." nodded Vriska "So yeah, Jade, me and 8loody hell Feferi, I've seen you play, I've have the honour of playing 8y your side for the past 5 years, we got this. You have got this. Ok?"
Feferi sat there with wide eyes. Then a shark-toothed grin lit her face up and she hugged Vriska tightly.
"You're right." she pulled away "We got this! Hey T--EAM! Gather round!" she stood up and clapped her hands.
The team gathered around their captain.
"Ok everyone. Derse Academy are going to be a tough shoal of motherglubbers to beat. No point denying that. But as long as we play exactly as we have done in every single one of our practices, we will win. Let me hear you say WE CAN DO THIS!"
"WE CAN DO THIS!" cheered the team.
"I can't hear you!" teased Feferi.
"WE CAN DO THIS!!!" yelled the team.
"We go in five minutes people, team dismissed." grinned Feferi.
The game began and it seemed like some upper power was on their side, whether due to Feferi's pep talk or Vriska's luck or simply because they were a good team.
The defenders did an amazing job, Derse Academy couldn't even get close to score and the attackers (Jade, Vriska and Feferi) were a constant threat for Derse.
The first points were scored 4 minutes and 13 seconds in by Sburb Academy and the stands roared.
"Nice one, Harley!" yelled Dave Strider and Jade grinned at him.
"J4D3, VR1SK4 4ND F3F3R1 FOR TH3 W1N!" cheered Terezi.
Jade felt her face heat up but she quickly moved back into position to resume the attack.
Things were going very well for Sburb Academy, they scored five more times with Derse only sneaking through their defenses twice.
Vriska had Jade and Feferi flank her as she aimed to make their 7th basket before half time.
"Feferi!" Vriska yelled, passing the ball to her.
"Got it!" Feferi broke ahead, dodged between Derisian defense. "C'mon Fef!" Eridan Ampora yelled just as she scored.
But it was not cheers that broke out when she did. It was gasps of horror and boos.
She turned and saw why: Vriska was on the floor, clutching her head. Jade was already by her side, signalling to the referee for a time out.
"Move! MOV--E!" Feferi fought her way over to her friends.
Jade had helped Vriska sit up and was currently trying to pry Vriska's hand off her head.
"Coach! Over here!" Feferi called, their coach being at their side in an instant.
"We need to get her away from this crowd." mused the coach.
They got Vriska sat on the side lines, Terezi and Kanaya by her side. No one had been able to get anything coherent from Vriska, just growls, whimpers and snarls along with a shit ton of glaring.
"Vriska, you need to move your hand so we can see what the damage is." Jade sighed as Vriska snarled at her again.
"VR1SK4!" Terezi came running over to them, kneeling in front of her moirail.
"I'm glad you're here." Jade smiled at Terezi and Terezi felt her heart flutter.
Nevertheless, Vriska was the one who needed attention right now, so Terezi looked back at the ceruleanblood and began to shoosh pap her.
"Feferi, go and find Sollux please?" whispered Jade.
"Shore fin, I'll be right back." Feferi quickly left.
When Feferi returned with Sollux, Vriska wasn't glaring as venomously as she had been. She still observed Sollux warily.
"Alriighty Vk, a2 2oon a2 we fiigure out what'2 wrong wiith you be2iide2 the obviiou2-"
"SHUT UP, SOLLUX." snapped Terezi.
"Eheheh, 2orry. Anyway, ii'm here to make you all better. 2ound good?"
Vriska nodded begrudgingly.
"Tz, keep Vk relaxed ok?" Sollux instructed.
"GOT 1T." nodded Terezi.
Sollux gently prized Vriska's hand away from her head and swore under his breath.
"You want the good new2 or the bad new2?" he asked through gritted teeth.
"Bad news." decided Jade.
"The bad new2 ii2 Vk ha2 a cracked horn." Feferi and Terezi both gasped and protectively put their hands on their own horns.
"What's the good news?" asked Jade.
"ii can fix iit. But iit'll hurt." he said simply.
Terezi took one of Vriska's hands and and squeezed it reassuringly. Vriska's other hand curled around Sollux's wrist.
"Ok we're doiing thii2." Sollux muttered, placing his hand over the crack in Vriska's horn and sending psionics through it.
Vriska immediately tightened her grip on Sollux's wrist like she was trying to crush it and her eyes were screwed shut.
"2hiit....ju2t a liittle more, Vk. Promii2e." grunted Sollux, his wrist feeling at breaking point.
When Sollux was done, Vriska slumped down in her seat, breathing hard.
"I need...to get...8ack out there..." she mumbled, trying to stand up.
"OH NO YOU DON'T." Terezi pushed Vriska back down.
"You're a liittle 2edated, Vk. Your horn'2 2tiill healiing a liittle, iif you go back out there, ii can't promii2e iit won't completely break iif you get hurt agaiin." Sollux told her.
Vriska stared him down before sighing "Fuck it, fiiiiiiiine...Jade, Feferi. Win this one for me, got it?"
"Got it." replied Jade and Feferi in unison.
If anything, the team came back fighting harder than ever in the second half. Jade and Feferi were particularly spurred on to win as way of avenging Vriska's injury.
But the Dersians came back stronger to and the game ended up being closer than either team was comfortable with.
The seconds ticked down.
30, 20, 10...
5, 4, 3, 2, 1.
"Sburb Academy wins!" announced a voice over the speakers and the stands nearly exploded. This victory made it twice now that Sburb Academy students had been directly affected by the actions of Derse Academy students and come out on top. And it was a good feeling.
Jade and Feferi were hoisted onto their teammates' shoulders and carried from the gymnasium. Terezi watched, or rather, smelled, them leave and looked like she was brooding over something.
Vriska placed a hand on her arm.
"Go get her. Give her something else to cele8r8 today." she smiled slightly.
"BUT WH4T 4BOUT YOU?" pouted Terezi.
"I have a m8sprite. Now get yours."
"BUT-!" Terezi tried again.
"Go!" laughed Vriska, giving her moirail a light push in the direction of the changing rooms.
Terezi would carry on in that direction. Now or never, right?
But first, she needed to make a detour to her locker.