Lance (Wildfyre, G, ALB) sighed as he missed yet another free throw. What was wrong with him? I mean, in regulation play he was expected to have a lower percentage because of his height, but with no one else on the court, he should have been hitting 9 out of 10. Or, at least  6 out of 10 on a bad day. A very bad day.
Today, he was 4 for 46. 
Ok, just line up the shot, focus on the basket, and then just…WOOSH. 
Make that 4 for 47. The basketball didn’t even make it to the rim, as it swished underneath instead. 
“Hey, loosen up there, kid,” a gruff voice said from behind him. Lance inwardly groaned. It was that new crocodile guy. The one who replaced Jack Hinks (Landseer Dog, C, ALB SAS). Jameson? Johnson? No, it was Jackson. Lance couldn’t remember his first name (Phineas, F, ALB). 
He knew it wasn’t the crocodile’s fault, but his presence was a constant reminder that it was unlikely that he’d get to see his dog friend again outside of playing the Spectrums. Everyone knew the two were good friends, and as the team rookies, they shared a strong common bond. But the rabbit had a tendency to wear his heart on his sleeve, and it as no secret that he had feelings for the dog that were much stronger than friendship. Now, whenever he saw the croc, he couldn’t help but feel betrayed, even if it wasn’t quite the crocodile’s fault. He supposed he just needed someone to blame. Especially since, despite all his extra work in the gym, he was getting even fewer playing minutes than ever before.
“See, that’s the problem, you’re all tense…” 
The rabbit jumped when he felt the rough paw on his back. He swung around and glared at the owner, almost slashing out against the reptile, but when he saw the crocodile’s face, his own expression changed too. The croc looked sad, but earnest. Lance realized he was just trying to help.
“Oh… uh… thanks,”  was all he could muster. 
“Sorry. Just thought I coulda helped you out.” The rabbit stared at him, conflicted. The croc must have misinterpreted what he was thinking, because he blushed and looked away, embarrassed. “I know… well… some of the guys said you was missin’ your friend, and… well… I’m sorry he had to go. This wasn’t an easy trade for me, either, yanno?”
The words seemed strange, coming from such a gruff demeanor, but none of them were forced, and Lance realized what things might be like for the crocodile. Here was a person who was living the dream, his dream, and been in the league for 10 years.  Yet, once the approval went through, OMEN traded him away without a second thought for a rookie, who, by all rights, was still finding his feet. That had to suck. Lance suddenly felt terrible for not bothering to learn the reptile’s first name yet. 
After a moment, the rabbit agreed in a low voice. “Yeah, I guess it probably wasn’t.”
They stared at each other, both feeling awkward for the situation. They sighed almost in unison, which startled both of them into a smile. That’s a start, at least.
“Look, I just – if we’re gonna do well, then we gotta be a team,” the croc said, now that the tension was broken.  “I… thought that if we couldn’t get along, the least I could do is help you play better. Right?”
The rabbit looked a moment longer, then nodded.  
“I’m sorry I’ve been so cold to you, I just… feel like things aren’t fun anymore. The more I try, the more I feel like I can’t find my game, and the more frustrated I’m getting.  I know I’ve gotten better but I feel like I’m getting worse because no one seems to notice the short, fat rabbit when there are so many other better players on the team. No one would ever wanna trade me out like that. I mean, not that I’d wanna leave the Alphas, but still.”
“Heh, Evan warned me you might be feeling that way.” Thanks, Evan. You’re a real pal. “You gotta realize, kid, that if you ain’t havin’ fun, you’re doing something wrong. In this case, I think you just worry WAY too much for a lil’ guy like you.” Lance grumbled. Where did this guy get off calling him kid? Or short? Still, he had to admit, Jackson had a point. Since when did he ever worry about a game?
Since I started believing I didn’t have a right to even be here, that’s when. He blinked when the reptile’s words eerily echoed his own thoughts.
“You gots every right to be here as anyone else. Ya wouldn’t have made it this far if ya didn’t. Who cares about what the coach says, I know you’ve got moves. I saw ya on that funny clip they played in the highlights a couple weeks back. Heck, I thought at least if I gotta move, I getta be movin’ to the team where the next Buck Hopper’s gunna be. But then I heard you was upset, so I felt bad, too, yanno?
“Even if you don’t feel like you’re not doin’ your best, you can’t show it! Take it from me – think I lasted this long bein’ timid? Nah.  It’s cause I scare them on the court. You gotta do the same. I know you gots drive, but I see the fear in ya, too, yanno? I gots fear in me too, but that fear’s a window. It lets other people in and lets them control you. 
“You gotta control them instead. Look for their windows. And you gots an advantage I don’t.”
“What’s that?”
“You’re short. And fat.”
Lance was crushed. How on earth was than an advantage? And besides, it was one thing for him to call himself those things, but a near complete stranger? Who did he think he was? Wh—Oh. Shit. I’m doing it again, aren’t I? Lance tuned back in just as the reptile started again.
“You gots a vantage point that most people don’t. You can SEE holes where other people can’t. Literally. And because of your size, people are gunna underestimate you no matter what. If you’re not playing much? Even better. You’re getting better every day – and when ya get off that bench when a real shot at playing comes along, no one’s gunna know you’re faster and stronger than ever. I bet coach knows that, too. He’s saving ya up for something important. That’s it. 
“But when that comes, you gotta do what I said. Off the court, you seem like a pretty good kid. On the court, you gotta be a lion. Not a rabbit. Heck, be a croc. They’re scarier.” He grinned at Lance, who shied away involuntarily. “See? Now, you try. You ever been so mad at someone, you could just rip them apart? Try to find that place and—whoa.”
The croc took a step back, startled; he’d never seen a rabbit do that. Lance’s eyes went completely cold and lifeless. “Heh, that... tha’s good.” The croc started to dribble a little. “Now, uh… try and get the ball from m—*whistle*“  
Lance bolted to the basket and shot a perfect layup. Now it was the croc’s turn to blink. “Well, shit.”
Lance returned to the croc, idley dribbling as he waited for some instruction from his new teammate. His eyes were still that same, cold, blank gaze.  The croc just stared; this was definitely not what he expected. The rabbit was all rudiment, and no pleasure. Still, if it helped them win their next game…