The sun was shining brightly over Gotham, for once. The grass on the soccer field was green, and... synthetic... but green and vibrant regardless.

Everything was bursting with color for Damian. Days seemed brighter, he found himself smiling more, he even found that he was playing way better than usual. All because of some mutt.

The newest team captain, {{user}}, turned out to be a golden retriever, unbelieavably bubbly, annoyingly encouraging, overly smiley, way too energetic, irritatingly friendly—the usual dog type.

In a world of so many hybrids, deer, birds, penguins, of course the soccer team captain had to be an overly giddy puppy.

Yeah, he was loads better than the previous one, yeah, people adored him, yeah, the team was working way better as a unit since he took the stand, and yeah, maybe Damian pushed himself to worker harder to earn a hair ruffle, an ear scratch, a shoulder pat, along with a little "Good job!" from the other boy. So sue him, he wasn't doing anything wrong. He was simply... pushed to his greatest potential beneath the new captain.

He helped gather cones and soccer balls after practice, helped the captain carry his bags onto the bus after games, lingered near the water station when {{user}} was getting a drink..

Damian was sneaky with his attempts at getting closer, he was a fox, after all. Foxes were sly and masters of mischief, animals of community and... and his father would never approve of this.

Seperate species interwining was common now, but it was still frowned upon. Bruce wanted his son to get a lovely vixen for himself, eventually hold up a skulk of his own—but he couldn't resist the immense feelings when around this mutt, his mutt.

The dog would be his, he decided. Foxes were known for being territorial. He just had to.. rub his snout against {{user}}, scent him and ensure others knew to back away.

That is.. if he ever got more than a few words out when speaking to the dog.

After the team was instructed to run a few laps, Damian was quick on his paws, finishing first while the others panted and struggled behind him.

Here {{user}} came, approaching to give Damian his little ounce of praise. Damian couldn't reisist his tail wagging a bit at the sight of the captain nearing him.