Rachel-X

[cutting_edgex23]

The trip from Milliways to X's apartment is never very complex. The trip from X's apartment to a series of rooftops suitable for free-running is a little moreso.

Hopefully Rachel continues to not mind the use of motorcycles as urban transport.

It saves time.

Comments

[theresnodoor]

It's kind of fun. Though driving it herself would probably be more fun.

Until then, and without a license anyway, she'll be shotgun.

She has no idea where they're going. It doesn't matter, though, not when the roads they're speeding on leave a blur of buildings, people, vehicles - a real world.

[cutting_edgex23]

Next time, Rachel. Next time. There can be lessons.

Since this is still this time, however, X's vehicular decisions take them on a winding drive through the city before pulling up in front of some less-than-stellar-looking three and four-storey buildings.

X knows the Tenderloin backwards and forwards. It is where she lives, after all. (But the motorcycle ride seemed like a good idea at the time.)

"This building is abandoned," X offers, matter-of-factly. And people here do not always look up.

[theresnodoor]

"Good," is Rachel's simple response, looking up as she swings off the bike. She's still not great at parkour, especially not when she's spending time with X. But it's a good workout, and if she keeps at it, her arms won't let her down forever.

"You'll lead the way?"

[cutting_edgex23]

"Yes," X says, flicking a glance at Rachel after she finishes taking off her helmet.

"Unless you are worried about falling?"

Sometimes it is better to check.

[theresnodoor]

"I can catch myself."

In the way that wings are pretty easy to grow, when necessary.

She glances at X and grins, excited. "I'm good."

[cutting_edgex23]

"Okay," X says.

She looks pleased, too, even if it is accompanied by much less of a grin.

These things happen.

"There are things you prefer not to do?"

X tosses that over her shoulder as she opens the door to the building and starts climbing the stairs.

[theresnodoor]

There's no break in her step as she follows, sneakers - with good tread - light on the stairs.

"We'll find out."

[cutting_edgex23]

"Okay."

Does X sound very satisfied with that response?

The answer might be yes. Because she is.

Four sets of stairs to the roof, and an access door whose padlock X slices off with an easy swipe of her claws.

There's a replacement in the bike downstairs. It will be fine.

And then -- the roof.

"East is best," X offers, checking the nearby rooftops for useful accessories.

"North is also acceptable. South and West have increased population densities. It can be problematic."

[theresnodoor]

Rachel is quiet for a moment, following. Then, somewhat reluctantly, "We can skip the problem areas. For now."

When she's better - or when there's a reason beyond fun to run - they can try southwest.

[cutting_edgex23]

X does not quite give Rachel a narrow-eyed look, but it is close.

"When you are very good," she offers, after a moment, "we can go at night."

It's like bribery.

[theresnodoor]

A little too much. Which means X is getting frowned at for a moment.

She may as well have offered candy in exchange for doing her homework.

"One of these days, I'm going to find something I'm better at than you are," she says grudgingly.

[cutting_edgex23]

X coaches a Little League team. Some things stick.

"I do not think it will be difficult," X offers, after a moment.

"If it is not combat-related."

She moves toward the edge of the roof, pausing and looking back at Rachel before beginning to stretch.

They will need it.

[theresnodoor]

Rachel frowns, but has nothing to add.

Combat, need-driven, would be easier.

But she follows X's lead, moving into her first stretches. "I want to learn this."

She's been chased, barefoot and alone, through a mall alone at night. If she had known of parkour then, practiced then, the ending might have been very different.

[cutting_edgex23]

"You will," X says.

It's kind of like a promise.

"Your muscle memory is very good. It will be okay."

[theresnodoor]

The quiet confidence in her abilities is enough to get Rachel to look up again.

She only nods once and continues her stretching. She'll get better. And with X around, watching her, she'll find the flaws quickly. Correct them.

Adamantium claws won't slip out of her hands, but Rachel can at least build her human body up to be less useless.

[cutting_edgex23]

"Okay," X says, after several more minutes of stretching.

She hops up onto the wall that lines the roof, looking out toward the next building over.

"You will want to go down first, or across?"

[theresnodoor]

Stretching is immediately abandoned. Rachel straightens and follows, standing a few feet before the wall. And she can't help but smile a little at X's question.

"I'll follow you."

[cutting_edgex23]

"Okay," X repeats, then drops to a crouch at the edge of the wall, sliding her feet over the edge and dropping down onto the rusty fire-escape.

She drops again almost immediately after that, hanging on by her fingertips before swinging her legs forward and dropping down onto the next level.

[theresnodoor]

She watches first. That's just smart.

Then drops, following her, knees bent to hit the rust-encrusted landing, fingers flexed for a moment before she drops again.

Fingertips scrape on the iron, but she follows. Legs swinging like the parallel bars, propelling herself forward to land feet-first and crouched on the lowest level.

[cutting_edgex23]

X does not quite grin, but she certainly looks pleased.

Then she's pulling herself up onto the railing, gauging her balance for a second before jumping over onto the closed top of a dumpster, boots smacking hollowly against the surface.

She jumps again a second later, using that momentum to hit the wall and push herself up, grabbing the railing of the fire escape on the next building and climbing up.

[theresnodoor]

Okay.

Okay.

She has to pause, watch carefully. Run it through her head a few times. It's just a routine.

A routine a few hundred feet above the ground, but a routine.

She jumps, arms up, grabbing the first rung of the railing. She has to swing to get a leg up, foot on the landing and arms straining to pull. Climbing up, taking a second for her own balance, then leaping into space.

Her knees bend again as she hits the dumpster, sneakers making a softer, rubbery sound on the lid. She leaps again, hits the wall with a grunt, grabs the rail--

Misses it with her right hand, scrabbles with her left to get a grip. Rachel swings for a moment, free-born, then growls softly in her throat as she grabs with her right hand again.

Then climbing.


She'll learn. She'll get better. Until then, she'll snarl her way into passable.

[cutting_edgex23]

X hardly paused to look down when she heard Rachel grunt.

She can hear just fine, even down to picking up the uptick in Rachel's respiration and heart rate with exertion.

Looking down would imply a lack of confidence.

She's now up on the next level of the fire escape, pondering whether continuing on the rusty metal would be more effective, or if going up by way of window ledges would be more entertaining.

Hmm.

[theresnodoor]

This is hard.

It's a thought that only occurs to her when X stops, when they both have a moment of standing still. And X is relaxed, pondering.

Rachel is panting, forcing her breath through her nose rather than her mouth, and letting her pride keep her from buckling over with hands on her knees.

Nope. She is straight, tall, and totally fine.

[cutting_edgex23]

X believes her. Utterly.

Which may be why she opts for clambering up the 6-inch-wide window ledges rather than using the rest of the fire escape.

It is a good workout for the arms, really.

Not to mention the legs.

[theresnodoor]

Watching her, Rachel takes a deep breath, jaw setting and eyebrows low.

Then she reaches again, fingers curling on the window ledges, bracing a foot on the brick wall and scrambling - fast, not relying on the tread of her shoes.

If she feels this in the morning, she's going to argue that she cannot possibly be dead. Dead would hurt less.