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Once the team had finished their celebrations and the trophy had been passed around for everyone to admire, they began walking home, Rayla's sports gear slung across her shoulder and Runaan carrying her backpack. It wasn't too far, just a few blocks away from the school.
She was walking ahead of him, absent mindedly watching a bee fly around a large rose bush as she passed when he called, "Rayla, come here."
She turned around and saw that he'd stopped a little way back, just outside a... sweet shop?
Raising a brow, she came to stand next to him looking up at the vast array of delicious sweets lined up in the display glass, "What is it?"
He smiled, taking two paper bowls from the top of the counter and handing one to her, "A little celebration for what you did today."
She grinned at him, holding out the bowl for the two large slices of Moonberry Surprise the shopkeeper handed her, "Really? But I just made that last goal, there's nothing to celebrate about that."
Runaan shrugged, taking a bite out of his own slice, "Perhaps. But you still played very well, and you played nicely with the others. I think that calls for a bit of a reward."
"Hey, I play nice," she protested, swallowing another piece of the mouth-watering pastry in her own bowl, "It’s just that dummies like Kita and Tylo don't know how to not make people want to punch them in the face. Seriously, I'm holding back from doing the whole team a favour. "
She licked some icing off her finger, "And besides, Coach Princeton let me tackle as many training dummies as I wanted during training so I kinda burned some of the energy off."
"I noticed that, yes,"Runaan said. He gave her a knowing look,"And I also noticed you deflecting."
Damn it. He knew her too well.
"Yeah, well," she looked around, fidgeting with the strap of her bag, "It wasn’t anything great, an' it’s not like I'm the only person who made a goal–"
"But you made the important one," he said firmly, cutting her off, and when she looked up at him hesitantly, he smiled gently, "And I'd still be proud of you if you hadn't."
Her mouth ticked upwards then, and Runaan saw a flicker of real happiness reflected in them at his words.
They had come so far. It hadn't been easy, what with the move, fitting in at school and coming to fully accept him and Ethari as her parents. He was determined to do whatever he could to give her the strength and support she needed, and it filled him with warmth to see her make progress.
He only wished that she'd see herself the way he did.
Then her smile turned cocky again, and she nudged him, "Proud enough to let me have another piece?"
He huffed a laugh, eyes widening in a mock glare, "Absolutely not. You've had enough sugar for one day, and don't think I don't see you trying to steal my Moonberry Surprise—oh, Rayla give that back right now-!"
She stuffed the last piece in her mouth before he could do anything, eyes sparkling as she grinned," 'oo wate."
Runaan stared at her before shaking his head, a sigh that was part exasperation and part affection escaping his lips, "You're lucky I love you so much. I don't tolerate Moonberry Surprise thievery."
She stuck her tongue out at him with a wink, taking the tissue he handed her and wiping at her mouth as he did the same. "I think I deserved an extra bite."
He wrapped an arm around her shoulders then, pulling her close as they began walking home, "Yes, you did, my little blade."
She hesitated for a moment, before bumping his side affectionately,
"Thanks, Dad."
" Always."