•• February 2000 ••

THE LIVING ROOM was vibrant. Streamers, balloons, and superhero decorations were strung up on the walls and hanging from the ceiling.

The 19-year-old Y/M/N L/N finished fixing up a streamer that had fallen. In the dining room nearby, her mother was busy cooking the dinner they were about to eat. Her father was in his room getting ready as he had just showered. The young woman also had one of her favorite songs, When I Hear Music by Debbie Deb, playing from her radio in the corner of the room as she worked.

She stepped back and made sure the decoration was leveled and hanging correctly. Her focus was soon brought to another thing: her four-year-old son, who had just run into the living room. The boy had a cape on, an inflatable sword in one hand, and an eye mask in the other.

"Hey, baby." Y/M/N grinned and looked at him. "What's this?"

He held out the eye mask, wanting her to put it on. "Let's play, mommy."

"Not right now. I gotta help grandma with the food. Maybe when Grandpa gets out of the shower, he can play with you."

He nodded. "Hm. Okay. I need someone to be the bad guy so I can fight."

"I'm sure he will be glad to be your bad guy." She chuckled, thinking of the times her dad would play fight with him. "Again."

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. Grandma L/N immediately called out from the kitchen.

"¡Responde a la puerta! Estoy ocupado! (Answer the door! I'm busy!)"

"¡Yo sé! ¡Ya voy! (I know! I'm going!)" Y/M/N responded.

She went to the front door and answered it. Through the screen door on the other side, she saw a familiar face and someone new.

"Vanessa!" She greeted with a smile and opened the screen door. "You're here!"

Vanessa Laine, her best friend since childhood, beamed back.

"Of course I am. You think I'm missing my godson's birthday?"

The two embraced. Meanwhile, Vanessa's guest stood behind them with his hands in his pockets and a soft smile. Once they parted, Vanessa introduced him.

"I told you about my boyfriend, right? When we met a couple of months ago?"

"Yeah." She replied, remembering him now but still wasn't sure about his name. She held out her hand. "I'm Y/M/N."

The tall man shook her hand. "I'm Kobe. It's great to meet you finally. Vanessa's told me a lot about you."

"She's talked about you too. It's nice to finally put a face to all the chisme (gossip)."

Vanessa scoffed. "Girl..."

She chuckled. Kobe did as well.

"Hope it was all good." He remarked.

They were brought in and stood in the living room. Kobe looked around and eyed the decorations. He pointed at a couple of the balloons.

"Batman? Spider-Man? That's cool. Your nephew got good taste." He also heard the music. "And Debbie Deb? Awesome."

Moments later, Grandma L/N came out of the dining room. She saw Vanessa and her guest and smiled.

"Vanessa! Qué alegría es verte. (What a joy it is to see you.)"

"Igual (Same.)" She replied and hugged the lady along with a peck on the cheek.

Grandma L/N parted and looked at Kobe. She continued smiling and tried speaking English.

"Hi. And you are?"

Kobe cleared his throat. He spoke some Spanish that he knew since dating Vanessa and watching telenovelas with her.

"Hola, señora. Mi nombre es Kobe. Encantado de conocerte. (Hello, ma'am. My name is Kobe. It's nice to meet you.)"

The older lady was surprised to hear that. She kept smiling and nodded her head.

"Y/G/M." She introduced herself. "Muchas gracias por venir (Thank you so much for coming.)"

Grandpa L/N came out sometime later. He sported his polo and jeans and had his beard trimmed along with his hair gelled. He saw that Vanessa had arrived.

"Hey, Vanessa. I'm glad you came." He greeted with a hug.

He soon parted. Kobe didn't wait for him to question him; instead, he introduced himself right away.

"Hello, sir. I'm Kobe. Vanessa's boyfriend."

The man eyed him as if he looked familiar. He shook his hand.

"Kobe? As in Kobe Bryant?" He questioned.

"Sound familiar, huh?"

He took a moment to pinpoint where he heard him from. He raised a brow and nodded.

"You're that kid on the Lakers."

"Bingo." Kobe replied.

"You're doing some good shit out there." Y/G/M remarked. "I mean...you're no Magic..."

Kobe snickered. "Ain't trying to be."

The man pointed. "Good. Make your own legend."

The 21-year-old nodded, appreciating the statement. Moments later, Y/M/N came back in with her son. The boy still had his superhero get-up and inflatable sword.

"Oh!" Vanessa reacted with glee. "There's mi Precioso (my precious boy)."

She crouched down and kissed the boy on the cheek, who in turn hugged his aunt figure. Y/M/N introduced her child to her best friend's boyfriend.

"This is my son, Y/N." She looked at him. "Say hello, baby."

The boy waved. "Hi."

Kobe smiled and crouched down. "Ah. Birthday boy. What's up? My name's Kobe."

He held out his fist, and Y/N bumped it.

"Who are you?" He asked him.

Vanessa replied, "This is my boyfriend."

"Boyfriend?" Y/N was stunned and a bit down. "I thought I was going to be your boyfriend."

Y/M/N and Vanessa laughed at the four-year-old's statement. Still oblivious to how love and romance worked, Y/N thought he would end up marrying Vanessa once he was older. That's how much he liked and appreciated her.

"Ah, don't worry, man," Kobe told him. "I won't take her away from you."

Vanessa caressed the boy's face. "You'll always have a special place in my heart."

Y/N's spirits were soon lifted and he smiled again. Grandma L/N called her daughter over, and she went over to see what she needed help with. Vanessa followed as well, wanting to assist in any way she could. This left Y/N and Kobe alone in the living room, and the young man stood around, looking at the decorations again.

Seconds later, Y/N reached out to him. Kobe looked down and saw what he was giving him: an eye mask. He arched a brow as he stared.

"Can you play with me?" Y/N asked. "I need a bad guy to fight."

Kobe smirked and let out a chuckle. He took the eye mask, looking at it momentarily before putting it on. He stared back at Y/N, who had a toothy grin.

"Okay, Batman," Kobe said. "Let's do this."

•• January 2006 ••

IT WAS CAREER DAY at Y/N's school. His 4th-grade class sat together in the auditorium with several other groups, waiting to be spoken to by various guests about their career choices.

The ten-year-old Y/N sat in the row with his friends, including his longtime companion, Hailee, and Donovan, who had just enrolled last year. The two had gotten to know him and really enjoyed his company.

"What are you again?" Donovan asked Y/N.

The boy held up his fake microphone. "I'm a singer."

"You want to sing? Like...Michael Jackson?"

"Yeah."

"I think that's really cool," Hailee remarked. "I want to be an actress."

She beamed as she said so. The girl seemed to have casual wear, but she explained earlier that she came dressed as Dakota Fanning's character from Man on Fire. Seeing her performance in that film solidified her desire to be on the big screen.

"See? The screen..." He pointed at her, then back at himself. "The stage."

Hailee and him giggled. Donovan, dressed as a baseball player, touched his mitt and smirked.

"I'm going to be the best Mets pitcher ever. I'm going to be so rich."

Nearby, two teachers sat with each other and talked about the Lakers game the night before. Y/N could somewhat overhear what they were saying.

"I've never seen anything like it, man. Dude dropped 81."

"Eh, against that garbage Raptors squad, I could've too."

"Yeah, right. You can't even make a layup when we play pickup."

"Hey, I was fouled that one time. You saw it."

"Sure."

The boy knew what they were talking about. It was a huge thing last night that even appeared on the news in the morning. Kobe Bryant had scored 81 points in a win against the Raptors, which set a Lakers franchise record and set the bar for the 2nd most points scored in a game ever, behind Wilt Chamberlain's 100 in 1962.

Y/N and his family had watched the game on television with Vanessa, who stopped by. There were mass cheers and shouts every time a big play was made and when Kobe scored. It would surely be a day everyone in the sports world would remember.

The class sat there as the principal came onto the stage and began the assembly. He called a few parents, who volunteered to discuss their careers.

But there was a surprise guest who came onto the stage last. The principal introduced him, and the NBA superstar waved at the audience, which reacted in shock.

"I'd like to thank Kobe Bryant for taking the time to talk with us today."

Y/N was in awe, as was some of his class. Most of the shocked reactions came from upperclassmen, teachers, and staff.

"Holy shit." The teacher nearby reacted. "Now you can ask him to teach you how to make a layup."

His colleague slapped his shoulder. "Dude, shut up."

Kobe waved at the crowd and saw Y/N, nodding at him. Y/N smiled and waved back at his family friend.

They ended up asking the volunteers questions about their profession. They went in a particular order, and Kobe's interview was last. No offense to the people before, but everyone looked forward to hearing from him the most.

"I'm here on behalf of Y/N L/N, whose family I'm very close to."

Again, Y/N smiled. Hailee held his shoulder and was happy for him, too. They were all excited to hear from the hooper.

"I guess most of you know who I am. I'm Kobe Bryant, I'm 27 years old, and I play basketball for the Los Angeles Lakers."

People, both teachers and students alike, asked questions from where they sat.

"How long have you been playing basketball?"

"Ever since I was three. My dad played basketball, as did my uncle. I ended up moving to Italy and that's where I started to get seriously into it. I moved back to my hometown, Philadelphia, and played on my eighth-grade basketball team."

"What is your typical day like?"

"Well, it depends on the day. Let's take a home game, for example. I'd wake up around 4 AM, mediate for about 15 minutes. Made me feel good both mentally and physically. Then around 5 to 5:30 I'd get my woke out done. I'm very meticulous with it and what I do and I'd rather not get too deep into right now. Afterward, I'd have breakfast, play with my three-year-old daughter, talk with my wife, then by 10 AM I'd get to work on my skills, whether that's at the training facility or my own place. It's a rotation of training and mediation up until game time."

"What do you like best and least about your job?"

"What I like most is the impact I make not only to the team but to everyone who watches us. I get people watch it for entertainment...but it could also serve as an escape. And seeing that can also inspire someone who is looking for inspiration. What do I like least? Uh, I'd say having to deal with Kwame. Don't tell him I said that."

"What type of interests, abilities, and skills would help a person to be successful in your occupation?"

"Many might say be tall, but people have been successful athletes despite that. Muggsy Bouges was a menace even at 5'3. Spud Webb was a high flyer at 5'9. Iverson was an MVP at a little over 6 feet. All that matters is the work you put into your craft and how serious you are about achieving what you want to achieve. You gotta have resilience, patience, and high mental fortitude."

"What advice would you give a student interest in this career?"

"Like I said, you gotta dedicate yourself to your craft. That can also be said for any other career path you seek."

Kobe looked at the kids before him and pointed at a few of them.

"Whether that's a policeman, an astronaut, a teacher..." He looked at Y/N. "A musician. You have to put the work in. Work hard enough that you make a lasting impact...a legacy that people can look back at."

Y/N took in his words. Kobe kept his gaze on the boy and softly smiled at him. He finished with one last statement.

"Leave everything on the floor. Leave whatever area you're in better than you found it. And when it comes time for you to leave, leave a legend."

•• October 2009 ••

Y/N AND HIS AAU team were up against another squad in a Palmdale-based tournament.

Although he had just started getting into basketball earlier that year, he was one of the best on his team. As coaches stated, he just had a natural talent and intangibles that could not be taught, or at least very hard to.

It was the fourth quarter of the match, and there was about one minute left. The score was 42-40, with Y/N's team having the lead. While everyone pitched in scoring-wise, the two carrying the team were Y/N and his teammate, Christian Wood, a fellow seventh grader.

Their coach shouted at the team to get back on defense as the opposing squad got the rebound. The clock continued to count down.

"Back! Back!"

Y/N stayed on his man. The other team's guard dribbled until ultimately driving past his matchup. He went for the basket, but the taller Wood met him by the rim and blocked the shot.

Unfortunately, nobody was there to get the ball, and it was caught by the guard defended by Y/N, who had gotten open by the three-point line since Y/N was ball-watching. He quickly shot the ball and made it, putting the game at 42-43.

There was a collective groan from those supporting the away team and a cheer from the fans of the other squad. Kobe, who had attended the game, called out to Y/N from his seat.

"What? Come on! Eyes on your opponent! Never give them space!"

Y/N glanced at him, taking his criticism and advice to heart. They inbounded the ball to him, and he dribbled up the court as his coach shouted a play.

"Quick 4 horns flare! Quick 4!"

Y/N knew the play. He began to motion to his teammates, who orchestrated the play. Christian Wood set a screen for Y/N and allowed him to drive to his left toward the rim. The boy who was screened ran back to Y/N, freeing up Wood, who got behind the three-point line.

With him open, Y/N quickly passed it back to Christian. With the split second of space, he had before his matchup got in his face, Wood shot the three and made it. With the score now 45-43, their fans on the bleachers cheered.

"Yeah!" Y/N also reacted.

The opposing team called a timeout with 25 seconds left in the game. Wood ran back with Y/N and high-fived him before the two jogged back to the bench.

Y/N looked over at the seats and saw his mom and Kobe applauding. The man pointed at him and commended the 13-year-old for the play.

"That was great! Great!"

The boy nodded in appreciation before he went back to listening to what his coach had to say in the huddle.

"They need a two to tie and three to win. Keep close to your guy, and don't give them any open opportunities. If they drive into the paint, watch for the kick out."

Soon, the timeout ended, and they were back on the court. The opposing team inbounded the ball and passed it around.

Y/N kept close to his opponent. Ultimately, the ball was put in the hands of who he was guarding, and a one-on-one matchup ensued. He dribbled it through his feet and tried to shake Y/N, but he stood his ground.

With 5 seconds left, the boy ended up shifting to his right quickly and getting past Y/N. He followed close behind though, and before the boy could lay the ball in, Y/N reached out and blocked the shot. The ball went straight into Wood's hands and he bear hugged it until the buzzer sounded.

Their supporters cheered upon the realization of their win. Y/N raised his arms in delight at his game-sealing defense, and his teammates celebrated with him. Christian high-fives him again.

"Block party!" He exclaimed.

Y/N repeated in a sing-song manner. "Block par-tay!"

The team soon commended that other team and shook hands with the players and coach. After a small celebration amongst the team in the gym, the kids returned with their parents and guardians.

"That was amazing!" Y/M/N said as she hugged her son. "You were such a star."

He smiled. "Thanks, Mom."

They parted, and Kobe patted his back. He had a proud expression.

"How'd you like that block?" Y/N asked him.

"Oh, it was cool. I would've loved to see more, though." He replied. "Didn't Christian have like three?"

Y/N chuckled. "Well, he's like five inches taller than me."

"Ever seen Shannon Brown? Dude is like one of the shortest on my team, and he can leap up and block any shot."

Kobe had a point. He remembered that highlight block earlier in the year that had everyone in Staples Center going crazy. Shannon was explosive for such a short statured dude.

"But you know what I like the most about your performance?" Kobe asked. "Your resilience."

Y/N nodded. His mentor continued.

"Even when you had difficulties with your matchup, you came back at him. You understood your flaws and fixed them. He hit that shot over you, which could've possibly won the game, but you drew up the play, which got the lead back. You could've let him score on you and deal with the fallout in overtime, but you didn't leave him and got the block that sealed the win."

"I did what I had to do so the team could win. I might not have scored as much as Christian, but I wanted to make an impact in other ways."

"And that's what it's all about," Kobe replied. "Play your own game. Make your own legend."

His mom chimed in. "Be a superstar in your own right."

"Now that's good." Kobe agreed. "Your momma knows best."

Y/N chuckled. Kobe smiled and patted his back once more. The three started to make their way out of the gym.

"I'm kinda hungry." The boy said. "Can we get like McDonald's or something?"

Kobe snickered.

"Fast food? Before your next game in like two hours? Trust me, that's a bad idea."

•• June 2014 ••

Y/N WAS AT home getting ready for prom. His grandma, grandpa, and mom were all there frantically helping the teenager get ready.

"Grandma..." Y/N stood there as the lady checked his face. "I'm good."

"¿Te pusiste crema? (Did you put on lotion?)"

"Sí, sí (Yes, yes)."

Grandpa L/N came by seconds later, holding his ironed-out tie, and immediately put it on him.

"Okay, this is how you do a Windsor knot..." He began.

"I know, I know. You know how long I spent watching a video about it?"

"Psshh, back in my day...we didn't have that." He replied and finished tying it. "Had to actually ask and learn on the fly."

"Yup, I get it. Thanks, though."

Y/N was all ready to go. Y/M/N soon came in with a camera and a massive smile on her face.

"Say cheese!"

Although he was caught by surprise, Y/N smiled at the camera. His mom took a couple more that had his grandparents before handing it off to her dad and taking one with Y/N.

Y/N let out a breath, feeling nervous about tonight. His current girlfriend and date to the prom were on their way, and Y/N was going to drive them to the venue. He wanted things to be perfect.

"You all right?" Y/M/N asked, noticing his mood.

"Yeah." He breathed out. "Just..."

His mother reached out and held his shoulders, understanding the jitters he was feeling.

"I get it. Just relax, and everything will go as planned. You will have a great night, one that you will remember."

Y/N smiled. He hoped so. He thought back at his high school life up until that point. He was a great student and basketball player, had amazing friends, and had an extraordinary support system back at home. Everything was perfect...but he'd be lying to himself if he didn't admit something was missing.

Someone.

But that was just how the cards were dealt. Sure, he wished Hailee had gone to high school with him. Maybe then their friendship could've blossomed into something more. Perhaps he'd be going to prom with her instead. But he had to let go of those hypotheticals and keep on going. He was content with what he had now and his relationship.

"It will be, Mom," Y/N replied with a smile. "Thanks."

Soon afterward, he got a call. Y/N checked his phone and saw that it was from Kobe. The teenager knew he was likely at home still rehabbing from his injury from last December. He quickly answered the call.

"Hey."

"Hey, man." Kobe greeted back. "I hear you're going to prom."

"How'd you know?"

"A little birdie told me...and you posted about it."'

He chuckled. "Oh, yeah."

"I wish the best for you, man. Have a great time."

"Thanks. Um...what do you remember about your prom?"

"Oh, well, it was a pretty crazy one. I asked Brandy Norwood, you know...from Moesha."

"Right," Y/N remembered hearing about that. "That is crazy."

"There was a media frenzy. People thought we were actually a thing. A lot expected her to sing that night. But we just hung out and had a great time."

"That's cool. And Vanessa's? Did you go to hers?"

"No. I had a playoff game that night. She didn't go either because of that."

"Oh, damn."

"Yeah, but it's all right. You don't have an all or nothing playoff game to worry about so I expect you to enjoy the night."

"With the jitters I got right now, it sorta feels like it."

"Jitters? For what?"

"I don't know."

There was a beat. "Ah...I get it."

"Huh?"

"You and your date are gonna get it on afterward?"

"What? Wai—"

"I'll tell you what I'd tell my son if I had one. Remember to wrap it up."

"Kob—"

"Does your mom know about this? I think she should...but again, it might be awkward—"

"I wasn't thinking about all that," Y/N interjected with a chuckle. "It's just a big night, you know? After four years of constant studying, training, improvement...I'm near the end. And today just sorta feels like a signal that it's ending."

Kobe took in his words.

"But it's not the end, man. It's gonna keep going from here...and it's only going to get harder. You still got your year at UCLA, and if all goes well...the big leagues. And I really do mean if all goes well, because what you've done so far won't mean shit if you throw it all down the drain your freshman year."

"I understand." Y/N replied.

"I know you do." Kobe replied. "But even saying that, you do have to welcome the leisures you're given. Cherish them. Like tonight. Don't think about that outside stuff. Be a high school senior and enjoy prom night like everyone else. You don't want to look back and have regrets."

Y/N appreciated his advice. He always welcomed anything Kobe would tell him and took it to heart.

"Thanks, Kobe. I really needed to hear that. You know, aside from my mom and grandparents, there's nobody here that I can go to for some...wisdom."

Kobe understood that. He knew it was somewhat of a struggle for Y/N that he didn't have a father to ask said questions and get advice from. Even today, Kobe wished he had a stronger relationship with his own dad. Kobe didn't want Y/N feeling like he didn't ever have that fatherly support, so since he was there, Kobe offered it as much as he could.

"You know I'm here, Y/N. Always."

Y/N softly smiled. "I know."

"Have fun tonight, man. Good night."

"Good night."

The call ended. Y/N put his phone away and sighed, relieved after talking with Kobe. Like he said, he wouldn't think about the past or the future and would just cherish the present.

They all heard the doorbell, and Y/M/N immediately knew it was Y/N's date. He gestured toward her son, telling him to go to the door.

"I know, I know," Y/N said, chuckling at how his mom flailed her hands.

Y/N went to the door and opened it. On the other side was his girlfriend and date to the prom, who was a junior at their school. The blonde had her hair done and wore a lovely pink formal dress.

The young man smiled. "Sydney. You look amazing."

She smiled back.

"I could the say the same about you. Wow."

•• March 2019 ••

Y/N HAD SOME free time since the Lakers were eliminated from the playoff hunt. He and LeBron were recovering from their injuries, as were most of the roster. At least they, along with the fans, were enjoying the feats of Alex Caruso and other guys as they neared the end of the season.

He ended up stopping by Kobe's place in Orange County. As always, he was welcomed there and spent time with the Bryant family. He enjoyed eating whatever Vanessa cooked, and it was always a highlight of his visit.

Y/N shot some hoops outside on their court with Kobe and his daughter, Gigi. The 13-year-old showcased her moves and shot-making, which impressed Y/N.

"Whoa!" He reacted at her stepback and pointed at Kobe. "No way he taught you that."

"Come on..." Kobe responded.

Gigi shrugged. "I saw Trae Young do it."

"Which he most likely learned from me." Kobe cut in.

Y/N laughed. He knew about Gianna's fascination with Hawks' guard Trae Young's game and play style, often stating that he was his favorite player. The two of them have met several times that year since Kobe took her to many games during the season.

"He's a great player to learn from. Even with his size, he's quick on his feet and quick with the trigger." Y/N said, then pointed at his head. "And quick with his mind. He could lead the league in assists and scoring if he wanted."

Gigi passed him the ball. Y/N dribbled it between his legs and stepped back for a shot, where it swished in.

"That's if I don't do it first." Y/N added.

The two laughed. Kobe called for the ball and was given it, where he did a simple pull-up. It went in and he let out a breath.

"Ah, yeah. Remember to stretch, sweetie." Kobe told Gigi. "You feel it when you don't."

"Adding that to the long list of Kobe-isms." She replied. "Don't forget to stretch..."

"No fast food before games." Y/N added.

Gigi pointed. "Mediation heals all."

"Oh, you really got it down, sis."

Y/N high-fived her. Kobe looked at them and chuckled.

"Good to see my wisdom prevails."

Gigi checked her smartphone and saw a message from her friend.

"I gotta start my project." She told them.

"Go along, then." Kobe replied.

The teenager bid them farewell and left the court, leaving Kobe and Y/N. The young man picked the ball up and dribbled a bit before palming it.

"So..." Kobe began. "Season didn't turn out as you hoped?"

Y/N chuckled. "Figured you'd bring it up sometime today."

"Never really brought work talk home unless Vanessa asked. Especially in my later years."

"Yeah, those years kinda sucked."

Kobe scoffed. "And you were part of the last one. Don't forget."

The two laughed. Y/N bounced the ball again and shot it into the hoop. Kobe picked up the ball next.

"But even in those down years, there is always something to look forward to. That, uh, how would you say it? That one bright light within the darkness."

"Pretty dramatic way to put it...but yeah." Y/N replied.

"Think of one thing this year that you can say is that. Through all the losses, the injuries, the shortcomings..."

Y/N thought about it for a bit. As he did, Kobe put up a shot and got the ball back.

"I'd say...improvements. Zo, BI, Kuz, Hart...they all got better. They helped me get better. We have each other's backs."

"That's good." Kobe replied.

"The rise of AC," Y/N added. "Alex Caruso. He's all hustle. An energizer. We needed someone like for real."

"Said the same thing about D-Fish during my time. He was electric."

"Constant support from the fans. From friends. Family. Hailee."

Kobe nodded. Y/N continued.

"That one guy on Twitter who stans me."

"What?"

Y/N shrugged. "It's a whole thing. I'll explain it another time."

Kobe laughed it off. He passed the ball back to Y/N, who looked at it momentarily.

"It was just one down year," Y/N added. "We'll get better and be ready to make noise next year."

"That's what I like to hear."

Y/N shot the ball, and it went in. Kobe rested his hands on his waist.

"I look back at my last year. The farewell tour. 17 wins."

"Yeah." Y/N replied.

"It came with its highs and lows. But you know what was the bright light I saw?"

He shrugged. "That ceremony you know you were going to get at the end?"

Kobe snickered and shook his head. There was a beat as he looked directly at him.

"You."

Y/N stopped dribbling and looked back at Kobe. The man continued.

"I told you before, I knew the Lakers were going to be left in good hands once I was gone. You showed me day in and day out, ever since you were in middle school, that you had the intangibles to be not only a great player, but a great leader. A great man in general. Someone...who can make an impact not only on the court but also off it. You've done it, man. With your music and community service. You are a prodigy. The Prodigy."

Hearing that almost made Y/N emotional. He looked down at the ball and nodded.

"I left a legacy. I left a legend." Kobe added. "And I left them with you. Someone who can leave their own legacy. Someone that has the same hustle and heart that I had."

Y/N looked back up at Kobe. Those were words he was going to cherish for the rest of his life. He appreciated the bond he had with Kobe. People would pay millions of dollars for even a minute of listening to him and getting advice, and he got to talk to him daily. He got to be raised by him.

Unlike everyone else, he didn't see Kobe Bryant the player, he saw Kobe Bryant the man.

The friend.

The husband.

The father.

Y/N bounced the ball one more time and held it. He smiled at Kobe.

"And I'm going to continue living by it, Kobe."

The older man nodded and reached out, patting his shoulder. Kobe smiled.

"I know you will."

•• January 30, 2020 ••

Y/N SAT IN his condo. He had a photo in hand, one that he took out from a photo album he was given by his mom the day before. He kept staring at it somberly.

It was of him and Kobe on the boy's fourth birthday. Y/N was in his Batman getup while Kobe was wearing the face mask the toddler had given him. Y/N thought back on that day, and how Kobe didn't mind spending time with a kid he had barely met.

It was a sign of what their bond was going to blossom into. Kobe was there for him then, as he was many other times later. From his time in elementary school, middle school, high school, and so on. He was there for Y/N every step of the way.

In his eyes, Kobe Bryant was his father. Surely, that's what his heart felt, too.

Y/N let out a ragged breath. At the same time, he felt a hand on his shoulder. Hailee sat beside him on the couch, rubbing his back.

"Aww..." She looked at the photo. "Is that you?"

Y/N let out a soft chuckle and nodded.

"It was my 4th birthday. My aunt Vanessa brought her boyfriend to the party. That's where I first met Kobe. I...I asked him if he could play superhero versus bad guy with me, and he said yes. He didn't have to, but he did."

"He cared for you even then," Hailee replied. "That's just the kind of guy he was."

Y/N sighed. "Yeah."

He looked through some more photos in the album. One he caught sight of was of Y/N with Gianna as a toddler. It made his heart swell, and he took another breath, which Hailee noted.

She got closer and hugged his arm, resting her head on his shoulder. He welcomed the warmth, and it made him feel a bit better.

"It just sucks that they both went. I know...I know Kobe would have rather it been just him than her, too. Hell, the same goes for everyone that died."

Y/N felt for not only Vanessa, who lost her husband and daughter but also for the other families affected. A lot of people were lost, and that meant many families were going to be affected, not just his.

There was a moment of silence. Y/N kept looking through photos and stumbled upon one from when he was 12. It was of him and Kobe at the park. They weren't playing basketball but throwing a football instead. Y/N softly smiled.

"I—I remember showing this photo in class. A teacher asked me who it was in the picture...and since you can't really see his face because of his sunglasses and hat...I told her it was my dad. Felt like the most reasonable thing to say. I don't think she would've believed me if I said it was Kobe Bryant throwing me the football."

Hailee smiled at the story. She glanced up at him, her chin still on his shoulder.

"But he was." She replied. "You've told me. I've seen it. For years now. What you said is not wrong."

Y/N nodded. He wasn't wrong. It was true as true can be. He was molded into the man he is today because of Kobe. He looked up to him and strived to be as great as he was...both on and off the court. Y/N saw him as a role model as a son would look at his father.

"Yes, he was," Y/N replied. "And I'm going to do right by him and keep on doing what I'm doing."

•• SOCIAL MEDIA ••

1-30-2020

@/NBACommunications
Presenting your Western Conference All-Star Reserves!

Team Captains will draft their team live on TNT on February 7th.

1.2K Retweets 🔁 | 10K Likes ❤️

Replies 💬

@/Alex_the_baller DEVIN BOOKER SNUBBED WTF???

@/KN1GHTFALL why is Y/N a reserve lol he's better than Luka
^@/MK11_EGY cook that fraud lol Trae betta

@/_JacksonSinclair Y/N dropping 80 for Kobe

• •

1-31-2020

@/SportsCenter
The 2020 NBA All-Star game will pay tribute to Kobe and Gianna Bryant 🙏

💜 Team LeBron will wear No. 2 and Team Giannis will wear No. 24, their jersey numbers.
💛 Both teams will wear patches with 9 stars, representing those who lost their lives in the helicopter crash.

25K Retweets 🔁 | 121K Likes ❤️

Replies 💬

@/ST2004Comics GOAT

@/KyogoFuruhashi8 that's dope

@/toofoolishauthor both teams dropping 200

@/223FutureHero19 🙏

• •

1-31-2020

@/Lakers

4.4K Retweets 🔁 | 35K Likes ❤️

Replies 💬

@/Dragonsw Dame better watch out lol we getting that ass
^@/ThatGingerMatt pause bro lol
^@/Dragonsw no pause lol

@/liambrown7794 lets get this win 🔥

@/dav1233555 I'm a Celtics fans but I hate Dame so pls cook him

@/DarthTalek we will be there

@/LockRequiem get this dub for Kobe 🙏

• •

1-31-2020

@/NBAonTNT
💜💛

6.8K Retweets 🔁 | 36K Likes ❤️

Replies 💬

@/OhhWoow__ those bout to go on eBay for like 1K each
^@/_CamWrites_ and suckers are gonna buy it
^@/projectmmbape im the sucker sadly i need this now

@/stargirl1515 💜💛

@/Uzumaki1047 im broke so I'll be watching from home
^@/ConnorJ7 like most of us my friend

• •

1-31-2020

@/Lakers
Together.

18K Retweets 🔁 | 107K Likes ❤️

Replies 💬

@/CobrasPhantom this fire as hell

@/Snoopdoggydaaawg something about this team man they bout to go demon time
^@/CanYouBeCarr 2020 Champs i can feel it

@/ByEmmet RIP

^@/y3s957 tuff pic

@/XaeviAlways 😭 😭
^@/y3s957 im crying too

@/BlackRosier_ Y/N Bron AD Kuzma idc one of them gotta drop 81 tonight

• • •

THE MOOD IN Staples Center was somber. Even in a sold-out arena filled with thousands upon thousands of people, it was as respectful as possible.

It was the Lakers' first game since the death of Kobe Bryant. They were supposed to have their matchup against the Clippers a couple of days ago, but they postponed it for a later time as it was too recent from when the news dropped. They would play that game sometime later in the season.

Before the game versus the Portland Trailblazers, they all paid tribute to Kobe Bryant. Usher kicked off the ceremony by singing Amazing Grace to everyone attending and those watching at home. Clips of tributes to Kobe around the league and the world played on the big screen overhead.

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

Once he was done, a chant of Kobe and Gigi's name sounded throughout the arena. The lights were kept off, and a spotlight lit up both of Kobe's jerseys on the rafters.

The lights came back and a violinist played as a video of Kobe started on the big screen. He talked about the process and working hard as they showed clips of his time as a Laker, including the highs and the lows. He even spoke of the impact people could make and what he wanted to make, where it showed clips of him off the court.

It then showed a segment from an interview in which he talked about his family and how he wanted his daughters to thrive, knowing they were strong and independent.

"I just love spending time with my family and just being a husband, being a father, being a goofball. Just...having a good time with my kids."

They showed clips of him with Gianna, Natalia, Bianka, and his youngest, Capri, as well as some including his wife, Vanessa. Everyone smiled at the heartwarming videos.

To end it, they replayed Kobe's farewell at the end of his final game against the Jazz a few years ago.

"Appreciating the journey we've been on. You know we've been through our ups and we've been through our downs. I think the most important part is that we all stay together throughout. You guys will always be in my heart. Thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. God...I love you guys. What can I say? Mamba out."

The violinist finished the piece, and the lights shut off once more. After a brief tribute to those lost in the tragedy, they read Kobe's accolades and achievements both on and off the court, emphasizing his greatest accomplishment of all: being a father.

As both teams stood on the court, everyone was silent as they counted down the 24.2 seconds on the shot clock. Y/N stood in line with his teammates, quiet, and still hadn't said a word since coming into Staples Center.

Boyz II Men came on and sang the national anthem shortly afterward. Y/N had his hands behind his back as he stayed still, but Quinn Cook, who stood between him and KCP, put his arms around them as he looked down. At that moment, Y/N let out a ragged breath and teared up.

Once they finished, AD embraced a tearful LeBron. Y/N took another breath, and LeBron embraced the young man, too, after parting from AD. They shared some quick words then.

"You sure you don't want to?" LeBron asked.

Y/N nodded. In all honesty, he wasn't ready to speak about it yet, and he felt like he was the right guy to talk about Kobe. Not just for the team to hear...but for the entire country and the world.

"Yeah. No better person for it, really."

LeBron nodded. The rest of the team stood on the side as LeBron stayed on the court to give his speech. He looked down at the paper he had and sighed.

"Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome...LeBron James."

The crowd cheered and applauded as he stepped forward to the middle of the court. He held the mic and looked up at the thousands of people before him.

"Before I get started on the speech that I have...I want to acknowledge all the lives lost Sunday morning." He read off their names. "Alyssa Altobelli. John Altobelli. Keri Altobelli. Payton Chester. Sarah Chester. Christina Mauser. Ara Zobayan. Gianna Bryant. And Kobe Bryant."

There was a cheer. LeBron put down the slip and took out another from his pocket.

"Now...I got something written down. You know, they asked me to stay on course or whatever the case may be, but...Laker Nation, man, I'd be selling y'all short if I read off this shit, so I'll just go straight from the heart."

He dropped that paper as well, and there was another cheer. LeBron rubbed his head and paced in the middle of the court.

LeBron talked about family. He explained that we look to lean on family through the hard times. For the last several days, he really learned how much of a family the Lakers all were. He seen it not only in the players, coaching, and organization, but from everybody. He truly got to realize how much of a family it was and he knew Kobe and Gianna would thank them for that.

He knew there would be a memorial soon and counted tonight as a celebration. That night, they were going to celebrate the one man who came into the league at 18 and retired at 38 as not only a spectacular player but also one of the best fathers he'd seen.

LeBron saw Kobe as a brother and always looked to him. They both shared the determination to win and to be great. It meant so much to him to be there now, and he wanted it to continue along with his teammates to continue his legacy not only this year but for as long as they could all play the game of basketball, as that is what Kobe would have wanted.

"So, in the words of Kobe Bryant...Mamba out. But in the words of us...not forgotten. Live on, brother."

There was loud applause and cheers as he placed the mic on the floor and went back to his team. The first person to embrace the team captain was Y/N, who was struck by his heartfelt words. As he predicted, there was no better person to talk about Kobe then than LeBron James.

They all hugged each other as the crowd continued to applaud. Soon, all the lights came back, and game time was on the way.

For the starting lineups, they did something different. Instead of calling up the player's actual name, height, and alma matter, they were all introduced as Kobe Bryant. They called on Danny Green and JaVale McGee before going to Y/N, AD, and LeBron, all saying Kobe's information instead.

There was yet another loud KOBE chant throughout the arena. The team huddled up around LeBron as he gave words of encouragement.

"Let's hoop, brothers. Pour your heart out all on the floor like Mamba would."

Tip-off soon came. McGee won it and tipped the ball to Y/N, who dribbled it up the court and stayed there. Like how it had been every game that week, the team with the first possession let the 24-second clock run out in remembrance of Kobe.

Once the buzzer sounded, Y/N handed the ball to the Trailblazers. Damian Lillard got the inbound and stayed backcourt, allowing an 8-second violation to pass. The buzzer sounded, and he gave the ball back to the Lakers.

After that, the game really started.

The Lakers couldn't score on the possession as Wenyen Gabriel blocked JaVale's dunk. Portland got the rebound but couldn't score on the other end, either. Y/N got the board, where he dribbled up and passed the ball to AD, who ran the lane and got a dunk.

Hassan Whiteside scored on the next possession. The Lakers couldn't get anything on their turn, leading to CJ McCollum's jumper. JaVale got a dunk on the next possession, but Damian came back with a layup.

There were no points scored in the next couple of possessions by both teams. Portland got the ball and tried to pass it full court, but AD got the steal and threw it back to Y/N, who immediately passed it to LeBron for the dunk.

It went back and forth for a bit, with Lillard scoring again and AD getting a dunk. Trevor Ariza got the ball and ran to the rim, but AD blocked the shot, recovered the ball, and quickly passed it to a running Y/N.

Y/N had the free lane and soared upon reaching the basket, slamming down a two-handed dunk. The crowd roared, and the young man ran back on defense with the same stoic look.

The first quarter ended with the Trailblazers leading 38-36. Both teams seemed to have no problem scoring. It must have been the Kobe aura in the air.

Y/N returned to the game with 9 minutes left in the 2nd quarter. He had 9 points, 2 rebounds, and 3 assists. On the court with him at that moment were LeBron, Jared Dudley, Alex Caruso, and Dwight Howard.

The Lakers ran a play that led to Caruso passing the ball to Y/N in the corner. He dribbled past CJ and drove to the basket, but upon seeing Portland big man Caleb Swanigan, he dished it to an open Dwight, who quickly dunked it.

On the other end, Portland could not score, and Y/N got the rebound. He dribbled up the court and eyed a running Dwight, who was open once again. He passed it to him, and Howard threw down the jam.

Portland ended up scoring. Y/N got in the lane and pulled up for a fadeaway but missed. Dwight got the offensive rebound and passed it to LeBron, who quickly saw Y/N open and gave it back. Y/N shot the three-point jumper and made it, giving him 12 points and giving them a five-point lead.

It continued to be a battle. Damian Lillard started to heat up as he always did, and he affected the game not only with his scoring but also with his playmaking. But it was mostly his scoring. By the start of the fourth quarter, he had 42 points, 23 of which were in the third. The Lakers were down 96-103.

By then, Y/N only had 17 points. Although he was having a good game, it wasn't enough for him. He felt he needed to do what Lillard was doing...which was to take over. He had to channel his inner Mamba like he did against the Sixers last week.

The Trailblazers scored a couple more times, putting them up by 12. Y/N got the inbound and dribbled it up, where he called the play for the screen. He received it thanks to Kyle Kuzma, and with the split second of freedom he got, Y/N pulled up for three and cashed it in.

On the other end, a good defensive play by Dwight gave the Lakers the ball back. Y/N had it again, and he called for a screen again. This time, Kuzma and LeBron screened for him, and Y/N rose for three once more. It went in, and the crowd celebrated.

"L/N is heating up!"

"Just at the right time, too."

McCollum tried to score on the other end but missed. LeBron got the rebound and threw a bullet pass to a running Y/N. He didn't go all the way and willingly stopped behind the arc, where he pulled up for three again. Again, it was cash.

"Whoa! L/N!"

"He's feeling it now!"

"Blazers call timeout!"

After Y/N's burst, the score was 105-107, but they were still down two. In the huddle, they all knew Damian Lillard was going to check back into the game, and they'd have to deal with him.

As Coach Frank Vogel finished reviewing the game plan, Y/N spoke for the first time since the start of the game.

"I got it. Give it to me."

The team saw Y/N's eyes, ones filled with determination. Out of everyone, it shook Dwight Howard, who remembered seeing Kobe's eyes the same way when they played together in 2012.

"We get youngin' open," LeBron told the team. "Move. Set screens. Get the defense thinking, and when Y/N makes himself available, you swing the rock to him. We got that?"

There was a collective agreement as the buzzer sounded. LeBron looked at Y/N for a moment before he put his hand out.

"Kobe on three." Y/N said.

Everyone joined in.

"One...two...three..."

"Kobe!"

The Lakers were back on the court, and the quarter continued. Portland ended up scoring again. LeBron got the inbound and passed it to Y/N, who went up the court rather nonchalantly. He walked past the Lakers logo in the middle before immediately shooting a three from quite a distance. Still, it went in, and the crowd cheered.

"He's still hot!"

CJ ended up putting in a jumper off a loose board. Y/N threw up a heat-check three, but it was missed, leading to a Trailblazers fast break that resulted in a Lillard layup.

It went back and forth for a few minutes, and the score was 119-115, with Portland leading. Y/N found and opened Kuzma in the corner, who shot a three, but it missed. Thankfully, AD leaped in and got the putback dunk.

"Davis on the follow!"

Afterward, both sides couldn't convert, and the Trailblazers were back on offense with 1:34 left. Y/N matched up against Lillard and stayed in front of him as he dribbled. The entire arena kept shouting DEFENSE as the two tangoed at the top of the three-point line.

Damian was quick and tried to shake off Y/N. Ultimately, he got some separation and shot a stepback midrange jumper over Y/N's extended hand, which rolled into the hoop.

"He puts it in! Damian Lillard with 46."

The score was now 121-117. Y/N called for the ball and quickly went up the court. He found an open LeBron, who shot the three but missed. Portland came back down and tried to shoot one themselves, but Anthony Davis blocked Gary Trent Jr. The Lakers got the rebound back and threw it back to Y/N.

Immediately, Y/N ran up the court. He passed by Nassir Little, who was too slow for him and went straight at Hassan Whiteside. He did a reverse layup to avoid the shot blocker, where it ultimately went in and gave him the foul as well.

"And-one, L/N!"

"Whiteside has nothing for The Prodigy!"

For the first time that night, Y/N showed immense emotion and shouted in elation as he was on the floor. Kuzma and AD helped the man to his feet and hyped him up as he walked to the free-throw line.

Y/N made the extra point, putting the score at 121-120. After a Trailblazers timeout, they got the ball back and tried to make something happen on offense, to no avail. The Lakers got the ball and ran a play that gave Y/N the rock again.

"Quick 4!" He called out. "Horns flare! Quick 4 horns flare!"

They knew the play call, and AD set the screen. Y/N quickly went left and faked a shot by the key, tricking Whiteside into a block attempt and separating him from AD. With Davis free, he popped behind the three-point line and received the quick pass from Y/N. AD shot the three, cashing it in.

"Davis with the three!"

With the score now at 123-121 in favor of LA, Portland immediately called their last timeout. AD was hyped and cheered at his feat. Y/N was also hyped and dapped up his teammate before returning to the huddle.

Once again, Coach Vogel laid out a game plan to keep the ball out of Lillard's hands. They needed a three to win or a two to tie, and knowing Dame, he'd likely want to show off and end the game on a three. They needed to plan for that.

They came out of their timeout, and the clock was 19.4 seconds, which gave the Trailblazers plenty of time to work with. Lillard was given the ball, and he dribbled it in front of Y/N, who still matched up with him at the top.

Y/N watched as he dribbled the ball and tried to shake him as the clock winded down. A part of him expected Damian to shoot a stepback three over him in the upcoming seconds...but he eyed the way he held the ball and how his pivot foot was. Even the way Lillard looked at him and not once at the rim...it told Y/N all he needed to know his next move.

Immediately, Damian crossed over to his right and seemingly got a free lane to the basket. Looking to tie the game, he found some space by the top of the key that was a good distance away from the shot-blocking AD for an easy jumper. He rose up, but before he could let the ball fly, it was blocked from behind by Y/N.

"He's blocked by L/N!"

"What a play! Oh, my!"

Y/N recovered the ball, and the last few seconds ticked down, ending the game. His teammates celebrated and commended the hooper for his game-sealing defense.

"Good shit!"

"You rocked him, man!"

"He couldn't get past you!"

Y/N dapped some of them up. He did his handshake with the gleeful AD.

"Joining the block party!" He exclaimed.

Y/N laughed. "Block par-tay!"

"What a win for this Lakers team. And it couldn't have been on a better night."

"I'll say. This will be a win to remember and will fuel them for the rest of the season."

Y/N ended the game with 32 points, 4 rebounds, and 7 assists. And, of course, one block. Other contributors included AD's 37 points and 16 rebounds, along with LeBron's 22 points and 10 assists.

The 24-year-old was called for a postgame interview, but he declined. He knew they would ask him about Kobe, and he just didn't feel ready to talk about him yet. He was going to eventually, and he hoped they'd understand for the time being.

Y/N ended up asking for some alone time as he sat on the bench. He had a towel over his head, his hands folded in front of him, and his elbows on his knees. He looked up at the rafters where Kobe's jerseys were and stared at them.

It was a great win, but it was only one. There was still more to come, and Y/N would make sure of it. He had one goal in mind...and that was a championship.

For him.

For his teammates.

For the fans.

For Kobe.

After that moment, he looked down and closed his eyes, blocking out all the outside noise.

•• SOCIAL MEDIA ••

1-31-2020

@/KlutchSports
🐍 ♾️

3K Retweets 🔁 | 12K Likes ❤️

Replies 💬

@/NR6Swagger this gotta be hung in my room ngl
^@/cringefestWP someone drop the Etsy link
^@/JediBandit any got it yet
^@/cringefestWP no
^@/JediBandit smh

@/GrownishGambino oh nah man they got Bron crying in 4K i finna cry too

• •

2-8-2020

@/Lakers
Y/N L/N appreciation tweet.

4.4K Retweets 🔁 | 35K Likes ❤️

Replies 💬

@/JustSomeWackyWriter I appreciate the 12 free throws too

@/Almod1119 Kobe possessed him these last few games
^@/MrOliverWrites real

@/W0rty18 thank god for those threes cuz Danny Green was BRICKIN
^@/Yvng_Breezy69 how is he so ASS
^@/W0rty18 IKR

@/Silent_Hawk_7 keep cooking king
^@/_L/NsWorld_ don't call him king bro stg
^@/Silent_Hawk_7 ???

@/tyresetheweeb we coming for that MVP

• •

2-10-2020

@/ArchiveHailee
Hailee Steinfeld attending the Vanity Fair Oscar Party (via IG)

1.8K Retweets 🔁 | 12K Likes ❤️

Replies 💬

@/KN1GHTFALL Mmmmmmm
^@/YER_MA728 ???
^@KN1GHTFALL what
^@/GhostOfWakanda we know what you are
^@/projectmmbape caught bro in 4K
^@/KN1GHTFALL i know y'all aint talking don't make me bring up them msgs about Sabrina

@/WilsonsWits my wife
^@/Original_L/N ???
^@/WilsonsWits I'm your creator bro
^@/Original_L/N fair enough

• •

2-12-2020

@/DodgersNation
Star outfielders Cody Bellinger and Y/N Maddox rank #1 and #2 on MLB.com's Top Players Under 25 list.

*link*

1.3K Retweets 🔁 | 7.9K Likes ❤️

Replies 💬

@/WhisperQM huge W

@/Rekkon hanging with Sabrina Carpenter really does improve your game
^@/Suzz_13 whoa who hanging with Sabrina?
^@/Rekkon Maddox

@/Almod1119 lets go dodgers!
^@/toofoolishauthor BOOOOOO
^@/HungrySavage BOOOOOOO

• •

2-17-2020

❤️ liked by kingjames and 894,333 others

@/Original_L/N After taking the time to process everything, to reflect, to mourn, I feel like I'm finally ready. Every time I tried to come up with something earlier I'd just break down and cry. I cried every time I jotted down a word or tapped a letter on my keyboard. But now I have the strength to say what I want to say.

I cherished every moment we shared together. I love you. I love Gigi. I love Vanessa, Natalia, Bianka, and Capri, and I'll keep loving them and caring for them while you're gone. I'll continue being the man you raised me to be and become an even better one at that. I'll make sure to leave a mark on the world like you did. I'll leave a legend like you did. I'll be your legacy.

On a more personal note, I don't know if I ever told you this straight up, but I don't think you ever needed me to...but you were the father I never had. And I'm forever grateful that you were that for me. I hope that when I have my own kids that I turn to out to be as great of a father as you were.

Rest in power, Kobe. Until next time. 🐍

Comments 💬

@/kingjames 💜💛

@/haileesteinfeld forever a legend

@/spidadmitchell 🙌

@/zendaya you're not alone

@/qcook23 REST IN POWER!!!

@/NBA #MambaForever