Long overdue.

Life has been busy these couple of months. RL stress and writing low that left me with little time or desire to write. It's been a slow get up to this, but here it is! The final piece on what has been a tulultous journey for Julian Cross-Kiraly. Fall, self destruciton, depression, all leading to this day. See how it went now.

Dated by this game http://furrybasketball.com/wiki/ind......03.19/SAS@HWI

FBA spearheaded by  steviemaxwell and created by  buckhopper

Featuring characters made/owned and helped by AND special thanks to  mongooseink,  Ada_Oz,  qovapryi,  FFRedXIII among others mentioned I might be overlooking.

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MARCH 19TH.

“Why does he want to do this? I thought the spectacle was over”

“He said it’ll only take a minute, Mr. Onca. Plus I haven’t seen him since.” replied the civet player.

“Whatever, not trusting you alone with him.”

The saluki waited on one of the offices he requested, tapping his foot. This meeting wasn’t by all means where he wanted to be now, but it was something he felt to be done in order to complete this healing process: He needed to know. The door opened, revealing three figures, those of the Spectrums head and assistant coaches, both requesting to be present in the room once they heard the briefing, and the fellow rookie that was Aditya Anggun, all decided to skip sitting down and face the stoic, tattooed canine.

“I’m going to keep this brief…”he addressed the Californian gentlemen. “…I could’ve just left it as a tweet and call it a day, but I felt I should address it to Adi and to you, since I have the opportunity to address you personally.”

“Can’t trust you with him…”

“Julio, please…” added Alan.

Julian continued. “I just wanted to see and check on Adi. Tension was had, the worst case scenario happened. No one likes being lied to, but he verified his own past.” Alan looked at Julian; there was this frankness of him that was both risky and admirable, and he felt identified at that part, him also having discrepancies with Adi not long before. “Had my own downward spiral and I felt I had to face you for a last time to finally… close this. Complete the circle”

They all looked at each other for a moment. There was tension, but nothing to be worried about like last time.The saluki was straightforward and sincere.

“Well, glad to see you’re willing to face us and admit your mistakes, now that you mind has changed about your stance about Adi, and now with this opinion issue ove-”

“I didn’t…”

The interruption prompted a double take. “What?!” the feline blurted out.

“I said I felt terrible about the injury and him being sidelined... But my opinion about skill still stands.”

Julio interjected. “Then what was the point of all of this, you dog?”

“I said I was sorry about his injury and now that I know his story is true it’s okay, but he’s still competition regardless of conditions and, as any confident competitor, I feel with my passion and heart I’m able to have my own merits and eventually be the best I can be, including besting him”

“If you think Adi shouldn’t even be in the FBA, then why yo-”

“That’s not what I said at all, please don’t put words my muzzle, sir.”

The rookie let out a short gasp of surprise, yet his coach just watched the ordeal as stoic as he could muster. The cat sneered at the saluki, who stood his ground. “Are you living in a… fucking delusion!?”

“I was in a dark place, even got physically ill because of it…” he lifted his shirt and jacket, pointing to his appendectomy scars. “…and life taught me it’s better to be honest and upfront about anything, whether the other parties agree or not.” He took their silence to continue. “Everyone has good or bad opinions over others. Whatever you may think, I’m sure you won’t be the last one to be in the same line. Just stay true to yourself. And I say I’m glad Adi’s alright.” Despite the tension, the civet himself looked satisfied. He thought Julian had lost his center, but the way he was talking, despite frank, showed his growth; the canine was truly glad he was ok, and was still himself.

The civet interrupted the panther’s upcoming retort. “I appreciate the conversation, Mr. Cross-Kiraly. I get the reasons, but may I say I feel… your healing is complete.” He smiled.

“I’m glad you’re up and about too… But damn sure I won’t take this or any game lightly.”

“You’re not worth my time…” the cat growled.

“I guess I’ll prove it to you tonight. Bon après-midi, Monsieur Foster, Monsieur Onca, Adi…” he said as he walked away.

The feline grunted. “I can’t believe after all this shit he didn’t learn a single thing. What a boneheaded bastard.”

"I disagree," Foster objected. "He's been waiting for today; planning. Maybe being out for a few games himself cleared his head, but I'm not sure. Watch out for him on the court, Adi, if you think you're ready for this one..."

Adi looked back at the saluki, who was walking away. “Sure…”

___________________________________________________

"Absolutely not, Kiraly. Not until you're 100% again."

"Coach, trust me on this. This game is important and I feel I can handle it."

"I can't afford to risk you again. Not after the accident against Bangor, where you also felt you could ‘handle’ it" Berk glared at the canine.

Julian grunted. He knew very well how his own downward spiral affected the team’s run. “That was different. I wasn’t in… the right place, sir… But I’ve recovered, listened to everyone around me and I feel I’m ready”

The badger stared at Julian. “Kiraly, I swear to God, have you been following the trainers after all this?” The dog nodded. “...I’ll talk to them; they tell me something off, you’re on bench remainder of season, no exception….”

“Then I’ll be glad to start...” he commented, making the badger look over his shoulder.

“...Careful, Frenchie. You faint again, I’ll leave you on the court until the game’s over.”

The dog smirked in return. “Yes, sir.”

______________________________________________

Game time. It wasn't easy, but the saluki moved everything he could to get time starting, and was sure to make the most of this game. The teams positioned and got ready as the referee threw the ball up.

Santa Ana started and kept strong, always keeping a lead on the Kahunas… But there was something in the dog that clicked: Getting that pass from Teo for a gorgeous three at the end of the 1st quarter, Double teaming with Scoonie as the wall for great shots. Several assists to Cross, prompting the announcer to coin the term “Double Crossing”. While Santa Ana kept great scoring, it was followed by great efforts to keep them at bay. The air got tense as a shot from the civet got recovered by Julian, many expecting a deja-vu, but it went without much consequence.

The saluki’s face said it all. It was unyielding, yet determined; steely, yet aware. In short, absolutely ready to prove himself.

The game ended 114 to 99. But Julian looked at his own numbers. He had to prove himself a worthy competitor for this game. With 20 points, 9 assists and 4 whooping steals, he felt he definitely made his “I’m back” statement with one of his strongest games to date. Taking a last look at the away bench, he whistled to Adi, who came by. Many chose to look over this brief exchange, the first in public after the accident.

“Bien joué” Julian commented, patting the civet’s back.

“‘Ma kasih.” Adi replied softly. Both making eye contact as they left the court. The languages foreign and unknown, but with the intention and context, making it pretty clear for both of them. On the sides, the Spectrums’ generals overlooking the situation, talking discreetly.

“Wipeout. Expected” the big feline trainer said to the head coach. “Got to prepare for the next game.”

“Mr. Onca. I’d keep an eye out for Mr. Cross-Kiraly’s games for now on...”

“Huh?”

“He’s playing under a new light. He did manage to outscore and outperform Vos, even got some crucial steals and almost double-doubled...” Foster elaborated.

“I’d rather keep eye on Masalia and Barrett… Stronger assets, more experience-”

“Julio, I know setting away the bad blood is still hard, but you won’t know where the dagger in a game will come from. You can’t close yourself just because you don’t like someone...” the coach looked at his trainer. “They might be vulnerable with the Alphonse situation, but I feel that Julian already found his focus. That counts one more player as a possible threat in a future, no?” Foster sighed, walking away. The feline growled under his breath at the sight of the rival side of the emptying court before following the dingo.

________________________________________________

Even if they lost, there was still some nods and pats to the back for Julian, for that game marked an improvement from last ones, especially since his return from his illness. Sitting down in a bench still in his used jersey, minding his business: aloof, but not entirely distant, on a bench in the locker rooms. It wasn’t long after when the head honcho of the team, the Coat, Gerry Cross sat down to check on him.

“What’s up, Julian?”

“Comme ci, comme ça. All good overall.”

The mustelid sat down next to him. “I’m sure these last couple of weeks weren’t the best for you. But I’d say… Not many players are capable of returning from such a traumatic period with the will you had. You had a pretty brilliant game today despite detractors and the loss”

The saluki looked over at him. “Fuck each and every one of them.” his tone, while serious, not really menacing nor meant to be taken as a relapse for his past pre-surgery demeanor.

Gerry was caught off-guard “Huh?”

Julian started talking while he was gradually getting undressed. “I’ve hit a point where I don’t care anymore. I’m here to be successful and satisfied, and only I know when I’ve hit that point. My motivation is my game, My goal is the playoffs and I’ll get there.”

“All in due time. But keep your game up like that and it’s as good as ours.”

“I know I’m not in the same page as Adi or even other rookies. I’m working to be great, while others can be just seen as great without much...”

It was threatening to get down that route again? “Julian, please. That’s not t-”

The saluki cut his colleague. “However… They’ll wish they find themselves in the same page as I.”

Gerry tilted his head confused. “What do ya mean?”

“I’m a free spirit, Gerry, I earn my victories with my effort and resolve my problems by my own means. I have control, I can do what I want to do. When I do great, those who matter will notice and that’ll be fine with me. The search of acceptance has consumed me, but all in all, I realized that… I don’t need it. I’m here to learn about the game, but still able to do my thing. Like it, don’t like it.... Casse-toi. Basketball, C’est mon fucking truc” he shrugged.

“You may be going too brash...” the mink patted Julian’s shoulder. “...But I feel you’ve grown from this. And that’ll show on-court and your life. Greeting Adi after the game, that was really cool from your part.”

“Adi… well… he’ll likely win a ring this year, be incredibly lauded, maybe win as the best rookie of this season, Rookie of the Year and that stuff...but at what cost? At what effort? Stuff is raining to him right now, but… I think he doesn’t feel vindicated himself. He won’t feel the satisfaction if it all comes because an image he doesn’t have control of. Come to think of it, his case is... kind of sad. Smart enough to not fall on an ego trap, aware of surroundings and a very developed sense of work… It’s a pity...”

Gerry sighed. “It’s not... exactly like that Julian”

“Maybe, maybe not… But at least I ain’t self-harming myself in the process, no?”

“Point”

“It’s my way of coping for the time being, captain, it’ll change”

“Here’s hoping, eh? Anyway, keep it up and we may just see that playoff spot. You need anyone to talk to, I’ll be right here” He patted the saluki’s back before walking to the showers. “Whatever happens, I’m proud of you, Frenchie”

Julian smirked at the captain… huh, “proud of him?”. Not the words the canine heard a lot in this period of time; “Your fault” seemed a better fit. “Merci.” he replied. Off for a long hot shower, thinking on the following games and hopeful of getting that playoff spot. Opinions, comments, replies… those fuckers can wait. Julian Cross-Kiraly doesn’t care for the time being, too busy balling... and living.