It was three minutes into the second half. One of the Abes' best forwards had been substituted for a benchwarmer, and the Whelks of F-South were up one point, three to two, with every defender checked on the offense. From where Auron sat, the digital scoreboard ignited the pulsing water with electric blue energy as the numbers on the timer flickered past. Two minutes remained, and a turnover gave the Abes control of the ball. Excitement masked behind his shades, the guardian silently read the action to himself.
Goffa to Damasca. Damasca breaks on Whelk rusher Pippek and makes a pass over the center line to Rilo, the forward. Rilo tackled by Vendt, and fumbles! Caught by Lammu, Whelks ball, but Rilo tackles! It goes through! Abes ball! Rilo passes to Fineat, who dribbles three meters and makes a pass to …
Auron leaned forward and clenched his jaw.
… the benchwarmer! Youngest substitute center forward in Abes history, and royal pain in the neck, Tidus!
The Whelks, with most of their team offsides per the sudden interception, launched an offensive towards the front, but were too late. The Abes defensive formed a barricade around their youngest blitzer, Goffa took down the Whelks center forward, and Tidus' leg cut the water to send the ball torpedoing into the goal. The buzzer blared sharply, and the scoreboard turned over. Auron almost shot right out of his seat and stifled a cheer, swiftly sitting firm on the bench for fear of making a fool of himself. Looking down, worried that his excited vise grip on his sleeve might have left a permanent crease, he caught a glimpse of his reflection in a puddle between his feet.
Who is that? Unshaven, russet lips pursed, cheeks brushed with an alcoholic blush, peppery hair unkempt and flaring out like the fins of Sin itself - Auron stared at his image a moment too long, leering bemusedly as he pondered what Braska and Jecht would think if they could only see him now. What happened to the boy with the round chin and broad shoulders? With soft skin and two eyes? He's just an old dog now, but when was he a man? His attention drifted off as he passed a fingertip over the smooth hollow of his eyelid, when suddenly the sound of the buzzer shook him alert. Auron glanced up just in time to see his protégé waving at him from the sphere pool, surrounded by his animated teammates who took turns high-fiving and jostling him about. Behind them the scoreboard burst alive with color, the timer flashing double zeroes, the marquee loudly announcing an Abes victory, four to three.
Yes! He did it! Yes!
Heart racing, Auron shook himself of his thoughts, puffed out a proud breath and smiled, waving coolly back as Tidus gave a thumbs up and swam to the center of the pool where Whelks and Abes exchanged handshakes. Rubbing his shades clean with the fabric of his sleeve, Auron let his head dip down, awash in the fading electric light. It was just his birthday, he's fourteen now. You would be so proud of him. I wish you could have been here to see him. He grinned a bit, picking at the whiskers on his chin. You'd be proud of me, too, you know. I know all the rules now, all the players, too. I even have a t-shirt. I have to go now, I need to take him home. Talk to you later.
Tidus clapped his guardian on the shoulder with a still-damp palm, plopping down on the bench beside him as he furiously ruffled his stringy hair with a towel.
"Good game," Auron remarked.
"I didn't think you'd be watching. You know this was just a scrimmage, right?" Tidus snickered. "You were the only one in the stands!"