Noriko and Jean-Paul

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Noriko shows up for her lesson several days early and takes her teacher out for some exercise.



Jean-Paul had considered going for a run that evening, so of course the universe proved just how attentive it was to his desires by deciding to drop buckets of summer rain down on Westchester. He made comment about going out anyway, but Nathan had given him a Look, made warning remarks about lightning strikes, and generally made his disapproval known without actually forbidding him from going out to play in the rain in the exact words.

A knock saved him from any true display of petulant behavior. He opened the door to the hall to find Noriko on the other side.

"Nori." His expression had started life as a smile, but never quite made it there. He hadn't been expecting to see her before the weekend. "It-it is good to see you. Did you have a question?"

Noriko's dark eyes and expression were serious as she gave Jean-Paul a good look up and down, clearly checking for significant damage before she said, "Sensei, is really all right for lesson?"

Jean-Paul resisted the urge to try and straighten his hair; that could only draw more attention to his thin face and tired eyes.

"I think I am," Jean-Paul said softly. "There is nothing wrong with me physically, just a few new scars. Would you like to come in?"

Nori nodded slightly and then, after another slight hesitation, decided to take him at his word, stepping forward and wrapping her arms around him in a tight hug. Not the overexcited tackles he'd gotten before, there was uncertainty written all over her and her grip was definitely on the clinging side. This was something that Julio would have recognized instantly but few others got to see - the scared, lonely, abandoned little girl she hid from the world behind foul words and uncompromising scowls clung to one of the few adults she'd ever known to make her believe she was more than just a problem.

Jean-Paul was aware of Nathan and the work spread out on the coffee table behind them, but kept his focus on Nori, returning her embrace firmly, to reassure her as much as himself. People who vanished didn't usually come back, in his experience. He hadn't really expected to either, not deep down, not once he'd lost himself.

"Is good to see hashiru-no sensei," Nori muttered, hiding her face in his shoulder for just a moment before stepping back and scrubbing the back of her hand across suspiciously bright eyes. "Nori was very... worry."

"I am sorry you had to worry." Jean-Paul squeezed her shoulder gently. Jean's words on the roof kept coming back to him, the mental block keeping them a step removed, but still carrying more of the weight that should have reached him the first time. "I...cannot tell you that everything is completely healed now, but I am getting better and I will keep trying to get better. Getting back to what is normal, I think that will help me too."

The girl nodded, the look in her eyes suggesting that while she might not know what had happened to him, she understood about sometimes just not being completely healed, about needing the routine, about having to just keep trying. "Maaa, yes, normal is good. Normal is go for run maybe? Not lesson, not push hard..." She sounded hopeful, and was clearly unconcerned about the weather, although then again, lightning strikes probably wouldn't bother her that much.

Jean-Paul stole a glance over one shoulder, then grinned at Nori, dropping his voice to murmur for a moment, "Let us see what Mother says, shall we?" He turned back to Nate and called out in sing-song: "See, Nathan? Nori knows that a little rain is not going to hurt anybody. That is two to one. The speedsters win."

Nathan had been watching, expression carefully neutral but the look in his eyes best described as 'touched', changing to 'amused' as Jean-Paul turned back to him. "You need to watch him for me, Nori," he said to the girl. "Make sure he doesn't get himself in any trouble. He requires careful watching, you know."

Nori cocked her head at Nathan, giving him a serious look as she nodded. "Hai, is will do." Reaching out she caught at Jean-Paul's hand, tugging slightly. "Let's run."

There was absolutely no second urging needed; the pair took off.