Angel and Namor || Swim Off

[x-firestar.livejournal.com]

Angel and Namor compete for ruler of the pool.



The sun was reachin' high noon at the swimming hole, and two figures stood squarely facing off against each other in then midday sun. Namor Mazur, a skilled laner with a formidable reputation with all things aquatic and prestigious bloodline, stood squared off with opponent on the other side of the starting blocks. She still had her goggles holstered, but her swim cap was primed. Their eyes, locked on each other, shared the silent agreement that only one could have the pool.

"Been runnin' these waters since 2006, Mr. Mazur," Angel said with a bit of a smirk. God, she was old. No, no time for that. "I'm not about to lose 'em now."

She actually was willing to share - she was hardly selfish. But this was too much fun to pass up. It had been a long time since someone had actually been able to properly challenge her to a race in the water. She was excited. She fixed her goggles over her eyes, the green tints shining with determinations. She was pretty sure she didn't stand a chance against someone whose mutation lived and breathed water, but she was still going to try.

"Ready when you are."

"That's Marqués de McKenzie, Miss Jones. It may be time for you to head off to shallower waters." Namor wasn't sure how this could be a real race -- his mutation made it a sure-shot -- but the atmosphere was highly enjoyable. "It is only right that you get the choice of weapon. What stroke will it be?"

"Dude I don't have five minutes to say your name," Angel said with a good-natured grin - not wanting to come off as rude, she was just teasing - as she looked out at the water. That cockiness of his would work to her advantage. He didn't see her as a real challenge. It almost amused her. "Breaststroke?" She finally decided, looking back at him.

A weaker man may have made a lewd comment there, but Namor was a respectable gentleman. In theory. Plus, there was nothing funny about competition. "Ah, a slow burn. Are we going for speed or distance here?"

Good man, not making a joke of it. "Distance." Anyone could swim fast. It was how far one could get without burning out and going belly up in the water that was important.

"So the 200m it is. Unless you want to up the stakes and make it a 400m Medley," Namor replied with a smirk. "Let's get started."

"Let's do two-hundred to start show off." She was good, but she wasn't totally invincible. She already knew she wouldn't win this, no reason to push it. "On three, then." She turned, waiting until Namor was ready to call, "One. Two. Three!"

Namor took the starting position on his block, but then waited. Angel had gone on three, but he sat there (admittedly admiring her form). She was halfway across the pool before he dove to follow. An acceptable lead.

What a gentleman. Well. Sort of at least.

But Angel wasn't just a bunch of hot air when it came to her swimming skills. Granted she was slightly out of shape from being laid up for so long, but she'd gone straight back to early morning Danger Room runs and even done extra gym rounds to make up for the time she'd missed.

And not to toot her own horn, but she was good. And she had every intention of making Namor work for his victory.

So she took full advantage of that, and when she heard him splash into the water she only pushed herself on faster.

And it was close, even if Namor recovered Angel's lead before the first hundred meters. Angel did not disappoint, of course, but Namor's mutation gave him an edge. He didn't need to breathe when submerged. He could see equally as well underwater as he could above with need of goggles. His wings worked just as well at giving him speed underwater as they did in the air. However, Angel's stroke far exceeded his own in its beautiful streamline. Her two-point turns were deft. Namor kept pace with her if only to watch this.

Seven laps down, it was now time for the final stretch.

He was holding back, which Angel took advantage of. She didn't like being underestimated, even if Namor did have good reason for his cockiness. That was the kind of stuff that lost battles, after all.

But in the end, the cockiness proved to be well earned. Though only barely. Angel fell behind just a bit on the last lap, despite all her best efforts. Which was honestly what she had been expecting all along, and was surprised it was only just happening. And she was only a few strokes behind when all was said and done. She wasn't too ashamed by that.

She touched the wall mere seconds after Namor, popping up and giggling as she filled her lungs with sweet oxygen. "That was awesome!"

Her opponent smiled contentedly at her enthusiasm. Namor had propped his elbows on the gutter, leaning backward to rest. "You're faster than I expected. The hype is true."

"Well I don't have a mutation to help but I've swimming since basically before I could walk — according to my parents anyways — so that's gotta count for something." She smiled as she leaned against the edge of the pool, relaxing, lifting herself up a bit so her legs could kick around under the water.

“You’ve got me. I’m a horrible cheat,” Namor responded good-naturedly. “Although swimming for me is a state of being. When you grow up by the ocean and can explore it freely, it becomes like walking.”

"Hey it's not cheating, it's just taking advantage of the gifts God gave you," Angel said with a smile as she kicked back in the water, floating along. "Some people are natural, some people have to work for it."

"I agree. It makes your skill all that more impressive." There was another grin from Namor. He loved seeing people shine.

"Aw, why thank you." She made a show of stooping into an over the top bow. "You're quite the charmer, but I'm sure you know that already."

Namor bowed back as much as he could in the water. "I'll never say no to hearing it again. Tell me: why don't you swim for Columbia?"

She winced a bit at the mention of Columbia. "Um...well I mean, by the time I got there I was already an X-Man, and that took up a bunch of time, and then my sophomore year I went to England for a few months and...well, you're getting the gist here. Been busy. Plus I mean, I like the races every once in a while, but I got over the whole competitive thing. I just like swimming."

"I see," he replied without any actual clue why someone would not choose to compete and dominate when they could. Namor did understand a lack of time. "I'll admit that most times I'm underwater I just go to think."

"Right? It's just a whole different world when you're in the water." She grinned as she flopped back and spread her limbs out, stretching. "It's like flying -- except not at all because I actually do fly -- but you just float along and it's all wonderful. And everything gets so quiet when you're underwater. It's incredible."

Namor sighed, not sure how to explain. "Have you ever been in the ocean? There's the quiet, but then there is also so much life. No petty clashes of personalities like on the surface."

"Oh I love the ocean." Angel sighed. "Haven't been in forever. I should fix that. You know what I want to do someday? I wanna go scuba diving. 'Cause unfortunately I can't do the whole breathing underwater thing without a tank of oxygen, and it would be sooooooooo much fun."

"Well, it's worth it. There is so much..." Namor paused, sighing sadly. "Of course, I'm not including what New York city counts as an ocean in this."

"Oh no, I've been to real actual oceans. I've never really been down deep enough to actual see real ocean life - hence the wanting to scuba dive - but I've been. It's wonderful. It really is."

"I agree. Let's go."

Angel blinked at that. "To the ocean? Right now?"

"Of course not," Namor replied very pragmatically. "We both have our classes. It is an open invitation."

"Fair enough." Although the reminder that she didn't have classes was a little bittersweet. "Spring break is just around the corner though...."

"See? I knew we could negotiate a compromise," Namor said with a nod. " So, how do you spend your time when not being an X-Man or hanging out in the pool? We only see each other here."

"Um...well, I'm the person in charge of making sure the New Mutants have something to keep themselves occupied every once in a while so they don't blow themselves up. Or take over the world. Or something. Oh and I spend a lot of time in the boathouse." She kicked at the water a little bit, lips pressed thin. "Wow, my life is boring right now."

"I've met most of your New Mutants," this was offered with an apologetic smile and apparently was sufficient enough from Namor's viewpoint to act as a passing of understanding. "And this when you've not being attacked by demons or fighting giant scorpions." Namor paused, considering. "You have an odd definition of 'boring.'"

"If there aren't demons invading, it isn't interesting." She paused, looking around. "I shouldn't say that, it might tempt some unseen fate somewhere."

Her companion laughed, "From what I've heard, it doesn't matter what precautions one takes here." Namor smiled coyly. "Maybe it'll be giant sea monsters next time. That sounds like fun."

"One can only dream," Angel sighed wistfully.