Log: Noriko and Julio

[x-kaminari.livejournal.com]

Julio's de-stressing when Nori comes upon him and a simple game of soccer becomes rather more complicated when a new aspect of her powers reveals itself.



It was way too cold outdoors to do anything beyond huddle in your coat and go from one heated area to another, which meant to Julio he had to find a means to entertain himself. Luckily, Xavier's had many indoor, heated facilities. So much so that Julio's t-shirt was soaked with sweat and he'd had to tie all of his hair back in a bandana. But it was amazing how much annoyance you could work off just by kicking a ball against the wall.

Nori was wandering, as she tended to do between classes (and sometimes during classes, although these days she was attending more than she skipped). The repeated sound of the rubber ball smacking into the wall caught her attention, though, and she poked her head into the gym space and blinked at the sight. "Saaaa, Julio. What's do?" she called out, stepping inside and looking curious.

Julio cradled the soccer ball against his foot, and then gave it another hard kick, sending it bouncing off the wall. He chased after it, and then caught it when it bounced towards him. He wiped his sweaty head with his forearm and turned around. The figure was slightly blurry, but Julio knew her voice and he wasn't blind yet.

"Hola, Nori. I am just working out," he spun the ball between his hands for emphasis.

Crossing the room to stand closer she wrinkled her nose at his sweaty form, eyes sparkling as she said, "Kusai." Noriko grinned and went on, "Is play soccer one? Boring, deshou?"

"A little," he smiled. Truth was it was more of a venting thing smacking the ball against the wall. "Do you play?" he said innocently.

"Nori can, a little. Soccer is Japan ninki... eh... popular. Very popular." She shrugged - her outfit wasn't exactly designed for sport, but she had black leggings on under the plaid skirt, and running shoes, so why not. "Is want play with Nori?"

"I am not going to comment on that," Julio muttered under his breath. Loud enough for Nori to hear, he added; "Yes, I would like to. You know one on one, que no?"

Nori tilted her head, then shrugged, the motion looking a tad forced - something she'd learned to do over her months here at Xavier's. "Maybe?" she said. Which was true, she'd found. She knew a lot of the games the students played, even the younger ones. She just called them different names.

"Okay, so, that wall is your goal," he pointed behind Nori, "and this wall is mine," he pointed behind himself. "You ready? Ichi, nii, san!" he dropped the ball on the ground and kicked it towards the back wall.

He must be going easy on her, she decided, because she'd seen how hard he'd been knocking the ball about before, and there wasn't anywhere near that much power behind this kick. It didn't take too much effort to get between the ball and his goal, taking posession for the moment and heading towards her own. That or he was testing her. But she'd spoken the truth - she could play, a little. Knew how to dribble, could aim a goal shot more or less acurately, and was kind of fast. But she wasn't anywhere near as good as he was.

Julio let her get the ball away from him, and chased her down the length of the gym, before twisting in and stealing ball from her, making a break for his own goal. It was actually harder for him to play down for her, he had to actually slow down and think about what he was doing. And, he was actually starting to enjoy himself.

The noise Nori made when Julio swiped the ball would most accurately have been described as a squeal of indignation, although she'd have denied it if anyone accused her of such. Turning to race after him she knew she'd never catch him in time to stop him lining up a shot, and so simply did her best to get in range to try and deflect - not that she had much hope.

Julio did a move where he stopped suddenly, and then spun around Nori, and then making a break for his goal. Nori was keeping up with him, like he knew she would. Past were the days when he thought that women couldn't do certain things, like play sports, or kick his ass.

The sudden move succeeded perfectly in getting Nori just enough turned around and off balance that when he took his shot she knew she'd never get their in time to stop it. She briefly considered trying anyway, but all that would get her would be a couple of bruises and no chance of recovering the ball. "Julio no gooru," she called out as the ball thudded against the wall, already moving to take control of it and turning about to head back towards the far wall.

Julio ran around, alert and ready for Nori to make her next move.

Nori'd made it about half way across the gym when Julio made his move - she'd been expecting him to try to swipe it again and had been trying to keep as much distance between them as possible, but she'd hoped to get closer to the wall... As it was, she wasn't going to let him pull that trick again and, though she didn't have time to line up the shot properly, she took it anyway, knocking the ball ahead with all her strength. Unfortunately her aim was off more than she thought and it hit outside the bounds of what he'd indicated her goal was. "Kuso!"

The ball rolled back from the wall, where Julio scooped it up and tossed it back into the playing field. "Es bueno," he said, running to catch up with the ball. This was really what he needed, some good mindless stress relief.

Digging her sneakers in to get more grip Nori launched herself after Julio and this time she at least managed to catch up, although her attempts to get the ball away from him were largely unsuccessful.

Julio followed her carefully, she was able to keep the ball away from him a couple of times. But then he streaked forward and stole the ball out from between her legs. He jogged towards his own goal a little slower himself, not because he was winded as Nori, but because it was more fun if she caught up to him.

Julio ducked around Nori, bending the ball and faking her out, before twisting around and launching it towards his own goal. The ball connected with a satisfying smack against the wall. Julio, to his credit, didn't look smug in the slightest.

Noriko stuck her tongue out at him as she reclaimed the ball, and this time she took her time about getting it back to her side, partly because she was getting a bit winded but mostly so she could be on her guard, very deliberately and defensively dribbling across the room.

Julio followed her carefully, she was able to keep the ball away from him a couple of times. But then he streaked forward and stole the ball out from between her legs. He jogged towards his own goal a little slower himself, not because he was winded as Nori, but because it was more fun if she caught up to him.

"Julio!" she exclaimed as she set off after him again, although she wasn't nearly as exasperated as she sounded. At least he wasn't making the game impossible, even if two to nothing was more than a bit embarrassing.

Julio only laughed. It sounded like 'catch me if you can...'

Nori didn't even bother to reply, pushing harder and harder yet to catch up. The gym seemed impossibly long and she was still several feet back when Julio planted and took his shot. "Yada!" She pushed forward even harder and then suddenly the soccer ball was rebounding off her chest and, unable to stop, she slammed into the wall with her back.

"Nori!" Julio yelled, running over to where the girl was. That was ...she moved so fast. "Are you ok?"

Stunned and feeling at least as drained as after her energy projector classes with Mr. Summers, Nori didn't answer for a moment, simply sliding down the wall, blinking. "Eh... nani sore?" The words were not necessarily comprehensible, but the tone very clearly said 'what the hell?'

"I do not know, you just went PAH!" Julio smacked his hands together for emphasis. "Are you ok?" he said again, clearly concerned. He knelt down beside her, their game totally forgotten.

"Aaa... Unn. Yes. Is think." Although she definitely wasn't going to be standing up for a bit.

"Can you stand? Do you need me to go for the doctor?" Julio's chilvalry did have it's uses sometimes, it seemed.

"No doctor," she said, wrinkling her nose. Noriko tried to push herself up, then stopped, wincing slightly. Her back felt like one big bruise. Sighing, she held out her hand - if he wanted her to stand, he was going to have to help.

He held her hand in his, and gently laid a hand on her back to help guide her to her feet. She was a light thing, and easy to help up. "Are you sure? ...Have you ever done that before? You went so fast!"

Nori shook her head, then pressed her spare hand to her temple. "Itai... Is don't think. Maybe is first."

Julio gave Nori a wry look. "Perhaps we tell someone then, yes?"

Nori scowled, but there wasn't much force behind it. "Hai, ok... Kedo not bitch doctor."

"Si, let is go to my favorite doctor. I believe she is in residence for now. If you are nice, she will feed you." It occured to Julio that Doctor Moira was prone to treating him like a puppy, with the headrubs and treats and such, but he seriously wasn't going to complain.

"Hai, hai," Nori said with a sigh, not protesting as he steered her towards the door.