I FOUND YOU (Soarindash)

The Athlete

The house was quieter the next morning-but not by much.

Sunlight spilled through the curtains, catching on the gold of Blaze's medal where it hung proudly from a chair. The smell of pancakes drifted through the air, mixed with syrup and just a little bit of burnt toast.

Rainbow Dash stood at the stove in an oversized tee, flipping pancakes with practiced ease.

Rainbow Dash: "Okay, who turned the stove up to 'dragon fire'?"

Aurora, sitting at the counter, raised her hand immediately.

Aurora: "I wanted them extra crispy."
Raindrop didn't even look up from carefully slicing strawberries.

Raindrop: "That's not how pancakes work."

Blaze shuffled in, hair messy, still half-asleep-but the second he saw his medal, he lit up again.

Rainbow Blaze: "Oh yeah."

He grabbed it, slipping it over his neck like it had never left.

Rainbow Dash glanced over her shoulder, smirking.

Rainbow Dash: "You gonna wear that all week?"

Rainbow Blaze: "Maybe."

Soarin leaned against the doorway, coffee in hand, watching the scene with quiet amusement.

Soarin: "Let him, First win's kind of a big deal."

Rainbow set a plate down in front of Blaze-stacked high.

Rainbow Dash: "Fuel up, champ. You've got practice again tomorrow."

Blaze froze mid-bite.

Rainbow Blaze: "Tomorrow?"

Rainbow Dash: "Yep, no rest for soccer legends."

Blaze swallowed slowly..

Rainbow Blaze: "What if... I don't play as good next time?"

The room softened a little at that.
Rainbow didn't answer right away. She turned the stove off, walked over, and leaned her hip against the counter in front of him.

Rainbow Dash: "You won't.

Blaze blinked.

Rainbow Blaze: "I won't?"

Rainbow Dash: "Nope. Some days you'll be better. Some days you'll trip, miss passes, maybe even lose."

Aurora gasped dramatically.
Aurora: "Lose?!"

Raindrop calmly ate a strawberry.

Raindrop: "That happens."

Rainbow crouched slightly so she was eye-level with Blaze.

Rainbow Dash: "What matters is you show up anyway. You try again anyway."
Blaze looked down at his medal, turning it in his fingers.

Rainbow Blaze: "Even if I mess up?"

Rainbow Dash: "Especially then."

There was a small pause.
Then Soarin stepped in, setting his mug down.

Soarin: "Hey. Wanna know a secret?"

Blaze looked up.

Rainbow Blaze: "What?"

Soarin: "Your mom still gets nervous before every show."

Rainbow Dash: "Hey-"

Aurora gasped again.

Aurora: "You do?!"

Raindrop looked mildly surprised.
Raindrop: "Even now?"

Rainbow rubbed the back of her neck, caught.