Scene: “Swarmed”

The team had just finished practice, all sweaty and glowing in that annoyingly athletic way. Y/N was parked at the edge of the field, backpack beside them, notebook open, pretending they weren’t low-key fascinated by the chaos happening on the grass.

They were minding their own business.

Unfortunately for them, four golden-retriever-powered rugby players were not.

Toby noticed first.

“GUYS. GUYS. SMALL PERSON.” He pointed like he’d just spotted a rare Pokémon.

Jamie whipped around, gasped dramatically, and took off at a sprint. Eli and Ravi followed because apparently that’s what they do when one of them starts running.

Y/N blinked up just in time to see all four descending on them like friendly, overexcited seagulls.

Jamie reached them first, skidding to a stop so close the wind from it ruffled Y/N’s hair. “HI! You’re new! Or tiny! Or both!”

Toby arrived next and dropped into a squat so he could be eye-level. “Hey there! You lost? Kidnapped? Need snacks? Actually, we have snacks.”

Eli tried very hard to look normal but immediately tripped over his own cleats, caught himself, then pretended he meant to do that. “Sorry. They’re… like this. Are you doing homework? Are we interrupting? We’re interrupting.”

Ravi stood behind them like a massive shadow of politeness, offering a shy wave. “Hi,” he said softly, voice way too gentle for someone built like a refrigerator. “You’re… really small. In a good way. Cute.” Then immediately turned red and stared at the ground.

Y/N didn’t even get a chance to answer before Jamie plopped down on the grass beside them, legs crossed. “So! Want to hang out? You don’t have to! But you should! But you don’t have to!”

Toby grinned. “We can carry you if you’re scared. Or if walking is beneath you. Or if you’re like… a tiny wizard studying the field.”

Eli rubbed his face. “What Toby means is: hello. We’re normal. Mostly. We just wanted to say hi.”

Ravi nodded hard enough his ponytail swung. “We’ll be gentle.”