Blood, Sweat and Tears Part 85
An even mix of red-and-gold and green-and-blue filled the Atlanta stadium for the AC207 Super Bowl. Before the game even began, the fans were stomping, cheering and whistling loudly in anticipation of the last game for the season. Overhead, the night sky was clear for the sun that had just begun to set.
It was the perfect night for a game.
"Welcome, one and all, to the NFL's Two-hundred-and-twenty-ninth Super Bowl!" Tim announced excitedly with a wide smile for the camera. "And we have an epic face-off for you tonight! The final two teams have been bitter rivals from as early back as spring training. The San Francisco Cougars of the National League and the Pittsburgh Wolverines of the American League will challenge each other for the most coveted prize."
Adam nodded firmly to the viewing public at large, "That's right, Tim. Many football fans had been hoping to see these two meet in this championship. While they had a taste of what it may be like in the pre-season match-up, the game did not count. The Wolverines have only improved since then. Now, there will be a clear winner here tonight. Everything that these gladiators have been working for this year comes down to this."
* * * * * *
In the San Francisco locker room, Alex finished pulling his short sleeve over the tiny penetration hole in his left arm where he had been injected the night before with a fresh shot of Tinopin. Smirking, he gripped his helmet and turned to the door just as Treize entered.
The head coach headed right for his star running back and leaned in to whisper, "This is your chance, Denton. You now have the chance to show the world what you're made of."
His smirk growing, Alex reassured in a growl, "Don't worry. I'm not about to let this opportunity slip by." Satisfied with that, Treize pat him on the back before heading for the center of the room to call everyone to order for his speech.
* * * * * *
"Amen," Zechs said quietly at the end of the prayer that he led his team in. His players echoed the salutation as they raised their bowed heads. Instead of praying for a victory, the main theme was simply asking for the safety of everyone on the field.
Winning was not something that could be asked for, it needed to be earned. That was the motto of any coach and athlete associated with the Wolverines. In addition, they also sincerely believed that winning was not everything- regardless of how nice taking the championship would be.
Slowly taking in the faces around him, the head coach smiled, "I'm going to save the pep-talk tonight. You all know how proud I am of all of you, and you know what odds you have had to overcome to get this far.
"All that I'm going to tell you is to enjoy tonight. Few teams ever get to see the Super Bowl, so be sure to take it all in. No one will ever be able to take away what you've accomplished to be here." Trent and Howard smirked and nodded firmly to echo the sentiment.
There were several tear-filled eyes amongst the players, every one of them wearing a proud grin on their faces.
On the verge of being overwhelmed himself, Zechs cleared his throat to rid the lump that had formed there. Holding his hand in the middle of the circle that they made, he said, "Wolverines on three. And head for the field." Instantly, every hand piled atop one another as he called, "One. Two."
Every voice shouted, "Wolverines!" before pulling their hands back. Helmets in hand, the players cheered and hooted wildly in their storm down the long corridor. When they reached the end of the tunnel, they paused for the introductions to begin.
* * * * * *
Up in the San Francisco owner's box, Sylvia entered the grand room in a fashionable emerald business suit. Her hair pulled back and a light dusting of makeup finished her noble look. Head high, she stood beside her business-attired father and mother at the massive windows overlooking the lit field.
Her father turned to smile, "There's my little girl." Leaning in, he kissed her cheek and chuckled deeply, "You're about to witness a milestone for our family. Be sure that you smile for the cameras when we take to the field after our victory. The whole world will be watching."
Forcing a grin, Sylvia nodded firmly to him, "Of course, father. How could I not be happy for you and Treize? Win or lose, you should be proud of yourselves for everything that you've accomplished."
Lightly patting her head as though she were a child, Noventa smirked, "Oh, but we will win, my dear. Failure after making it this far would not suit anyone well. I'll accept nothing more than a total victory." Standing at his other side, his wife looked over with wide eyes.
Without having to turn his head, the team owner could feel her gaze on him and laughed. "Of course that is just a joke, my loves. I have to lighten the air somehow with a bit of jesting," he snickered while peering from one face to the other. Placing a hand over her chest, his wife laughed along with their daughter.
Biting her lip, Sylvia focused back on the field. Stomach churning, she took a deep and calming breath. Her father had not been joking when he made that remark and she knew it.
* * * * * *
Dorothy spun away from the large windows of the Pittsburgh owner's box when the door behind her opened. Smiling from ear-to-ear at the chorus of her name being shouted, she opened her arms and squatted down as a wave of children ran in to embrace her. Quatre, Lady Une, Noin, Hilde and Solo followed after the lot with grins on their own faces.
After having the chance to hug each of the youngsters, Dorothy straightened herself and her lilac suit coat that matched her skirt. "It's wonderful to see all of you," she greeted kindly. Holding out her hand to the wait staff and cushioned seats, she offered, "Please make yourselves at home and feel free to order whatever you wish."
Gasping and gawking at the view of the field, the kids moved to the large windows for a good look before moving anywhere else. The owner shook her head in amusement and moved to welcome her friends.
"This is going to be quite the game," Noin stated as she moved for the windows at the end of the greetings. "I don't think Zechs was able to sleep for more than a couple of winks last night."
Lady Une stood beside her and chuckled, "Neither did Trent. As excited as they are to be here, I have a feeling that they'll be looking forward when this long season will finally be over. Nodding, her new friend in the head coach's wife giggled as her boys wrapped themselves around either of her legs.
* * * * * *
Practically bouncing from one foot to the other in anticipation, Duo looked from one nervous teammate's face to the next. Beside him, Heero took his hand and squeezed it with a soothing, "Relax."
Violet eyes wide, the running back turned towards him and huffed, "Relax!?" Appraising his partner in his state of calm, he asked, "How the hell are you holding it together so well?"
A mischievous smirk tugged the corner of the quarterback's mouth. Leaning in, he whispered in his lover's ear, "Because I know that win or lose, you'll still love me."
Duo blinked in surprise in hearing his own reassurance and smiled widely in appreciation. Raising their joined hands, he discretely placed a kiss on the back of Heero's hand.
As much as he wanted to throw his arms around him, the running back was not about to press the understanding of their teammates when it came to their relationship. He received another squeeze from the hand in his own as they looked back out to the field.
Through the speaker system, the music that the crowd had been clapping and stomping to quieted just before the voice of the announcer opened, "Welcome to the AC207 National Football League Super Bowl!"
At that statement, the crowd was instantly on its feet and cheering at volumes that the Pittsburgh team had never heard before. That reaction was enough to send a chill up each of their spines.
"First to take the field, give a warm welcome to the National Conference Champions-the San Francisco Cougars!" the commentator cheered just before the roar rose. The green-and-blue uniformed gladiators charged through their opening. Helmets raised high, they waved and pointed to their supporters in the stands. In the light, the hunter green and image of the fierce cat's bared fangs on the sides on their helmets shimmered.
If the nerves were not already there, the Wolverines all felt it as they watched the starting lineup called on one-by-one. Each player was massive, older, even meaner looking than any one athlete from Pittsburgh. Next to the San Francisco team, they were nothing more than children lining up for a slaughter.
Finally, the last player was called, "And last, but not least, Number 25, Alex Denton!" the announcer cried as the crowd whistled and hollered the running back on. Smirking, the blonde ran out to wave to his adoring fans wearing his number and colors.
Rising to his own feet with a proud smile amongst the fellow spectators, Denton's father shouted excitedly, "That's my boy! Bring it home, Alex! Show them who the best running back in the league is!" His wife and children were all shouting their own words of encouragement.
Alex stopped just short of joining his teammates at the center of the field to gaze over to the Wolverines' entrance just across the way. His smirk darkening on his former teammates, he raised a hand to curl and uncurl his fingers in a gesture challenging them to come out. From the Pittsburgh fans, a blend of hisses and boos joined in with the cheers and accolade.
The Wolverines narrowed or rolled their eyes, folded their arms, laughed mockingly or made some physical retort in response to the taunt.
Up in the commentator booth, Adam shook his head and snickered, "Now we start to see some of the bad blood between these teams and the game has not even started. Alex Denton has opened the floodgates on the tension that had been building over the season. After two weeks of keeping the peace, the gloves are going to be coming off now."
"Yes, this is what so many people have been looking forward to," Adam grinned. "There's nothing like a personal rivalry like this to make the big game that much more exciting. And you could not have asked for a better scenario for that than what we have tonight."
From there, Tim stated, "The Cougars have been a dominant team for the last decade, always just on the brink of reaching their league's championship. Finally, they've made it and are the heavy favorites to win."
Shaking his head, he continued, "On the other hand, you have the Wolverines who no one ever expected to get close to a league championship let alone the Super Bowl. They've had to fight hard to get where they are and have become the huge crowd favorite just for being the underdogs that had to work for this chance."
Treize and his coaching staff were called out into the open. Waving to the audience, they headed for their players. From her place high above, Sylvia's eyes narrowed at the sight of her husband. Silently, she wished a slow and painful loss for him and her father.
Relena led her cheerleading squad to make two columns at either side of the Wolverine entrance. Especially dolled up for the big event with glitter in their hair and on their faces, the young women smiled widely as they raised and shook their shimmering pom-poms.
Each right cheek on the girls had red paint smeared down to look like the scratch mark on their players' helmets. Focused on the team, they yelled reassurances like, "Good luck, guys!" and "You can take this!"
A brief lull fell once the whole of the Cougars were brought out just before the announcer's voice returned. "And now, please welcome the AC207 American League Champions- the Pittsburgh Wolverines!" The crowd was on its feet once more with an explosion of applause and cries as the red-and-gold clad athletes ran past into view and past the cheerleaders.
Jumping and waving excitedly, the second and third-stringers just took everything in to enjoy the moment. For every sign in support of San Francisco, there were two more backing Pittsburgh. Never before did any of the athletes think that they would live to see the day of such an overwhelming show of adoration for them.
The special teams were called out first, soon followed by the starting defensive line. Standing at the door's entrance, Heero pat the back of each of his teammates as they ran out to the field.
Finally, the defensive team was called. Unable to hold back some of his emotion, Trowa's eyes shimmered just a bit as he was announced. Helmet raised, he charged out to join the others. Wufei gave Relena a loving smile and a wink when he was called.
Over the speaker system, the announcer's smile could be heard as he stated, "The starting running back-" The spectators only needed to hear that much before they reached deafening levels.
Goosebumps raising on his arms at the sound, the said player took his place in the doorway with a mouthed, 'I love you,' to Heero. The quarterback returned the same mouthed sentiment.
"Number twenty-one!" the commentator had to shout over the crowd. "Duo Maxwell!" Planting his feet in as he would before the start of a play, the running back pushed off and sprinted onto the awesome energy bursting from the stands. His free hand waving and free braid flying behind him, he made his way to the rest of his team.
Slowly inhaling a deep breath, Heero waited in the entrance. His heart starting to race, he took in the build-up from the audience in knowing that he was the last player to be called. He watched his teammates grinning from ear-to-ear and looking like they were kids again.
Making it to the Super Bowl was something that every boy that ever played football dreamed of. And now they were here. A bit overwhelmed by that, the team captain had to clear a lump that suddenly formed in his throat.
His fingers wrapped around the silver cross hanging around his neck, he thought of his parents and how proud they must be watching from wherever they were. There was a bit of ease in that as well as his dedicating his performance in their memory.
Breaking through his thoughts, the announcer shouted, "Last, but not least, the Wolverine's starting quarterback." Once more, the spectators erupted in such a way that the air seemed to pulse. "Wearing the Number one, Heero Yuy!" Running into the vibrating air, the Japanese athlete ran with his helmet raised and free hand waving.
When he reached his lover and comrades, Heero gave and accepted one-armed embraces as they completely ignored the Cougars on the other side of the field. Rather than start anything, they continued on with their class act that the every football fan appreciated.
Across the field, Alex watched with his arms folded and smug smirk still in place. "I hope they enjoy it now. That's about all the celebrating they'll get in tonight," he muttered. Standing beside him, Treize chuckled deeply and nodded.
In the owner's booth, the kids jumped and cheered for their guardians. With a gold 121 painted on her right cheek, Flora smiled as she folded her hands together. "That's our parents," she whispered in awe. At either side of her, with their own eyes wide with wonder, Marcus and Tai couldn't help the face-splitting grins on their faces.
Zechs and the coaching staff were just as warmly received by their audience as they took the field. Noin and their boys were curled up together on one of the large cushioned chairs. Sniffling, the young woman wiped away a stray tear that rolled down her face.
The introductions out of the way, the two teams stood behind their sidelines while placing their hands over their hearts for the National Anthem. A show of a few fireworks and a flight of military planes over the stadium high lightened the end of the song for a grand finish.
Once the center of the field was cleared of the small stage, the lead official and his fellow referees moved to stand in its place. Nodding firmly to either team, the white-capped young man silently called for the three representatives of each side to join him for the coin toss.
Heero, Duo and Trowa strode together as Alex and his team's quarterback and center walked up. Meeting in the middle, they sized up their opposition with narrowed eyes.
"Now, because San Francisco ended their season with the best record, they will make the call," the lead official announced through his microphone. Without taking their eyes away from their challengers, the Cougars grinned darkly. The Wolverines remained still.
Taking the large coin in his hand with an eagle for heads and a football for tails, the referee flipped it high. "Heads," Alex called, eyes still trained on Maxwell in their fierce stare-off.
Carefully examining the coin when it fell to the ground, the tall man nodded, "It's heads!" The grins on the Cougars' faces only spread.
Everyone wearing the green-and-blue hooted and hollered in elation. "Will you be receiving the ball or kicking it away first?" he asked over the noise.
"We'll receive so that we can score first," the blond running back replied, still focusing on his adversary. "I don't think we should prolong their suffering any more than we can help." His supporters laughed and cheered all the more while the Wolverine fans hissed and booed.
Slowly, the representatives turned and headed back to their sidelines. Along the way, Duo muttered under his breath, "It's going to be a long game."
TBC...
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