Okay, I'm not really happy with myself because I missed my deadline for this story. The 6th of each month. Sorry about that, so I tried to mix in the Capoeira, the fluff and some actual flirting on X23's side.
The reason I have been behind is partially my fault and my journey to college approaching but also because of my job, concert and stage technician, I have been swamped with work.
I'm sorry for the lateness of the chapter and apologize again. I shall amount to bring the next chapter on time.
Now, read on and I hope you enjoy.
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Second Step of Capoeira: The Escivas
The bell for lunch rang loudly and X23 walked down to her locker. Dumping her entire bag in the metal box and retrieving her lunch, X23 made her way through the swarms of students to the lunch tables.
Class had actually been alright, despite the awkwardness surrounding her and Todd. He didn't pester her about what she had said but let her get on with the work in class and immersed himself in the art work he had to do.
They had to split up for their next class, X23 going to Physics class and Todd going to Computer Technology class. X23 actually was surprised to find herself waiting slightly impatiently to get out of class so she could meet up with him for lunch. Today being Thursday was her most annoying day but she was looking at it better since she had met Todd
Scanning the tables, the clone smiled when she caught sight of his green hair lowered over a drawing pad. She started to go over there when someone tapped her one the shoulder. Turning around, X23 felt the urge to twist her face in disgust and fought it down at the sight of Kurt.
"Laura, vhy don't you siz withv uz today?" He offered kindly, his dark eyes slightly shifting to where Todd sat.
"Thanks Kurt, but I'm going to hang out with a friend." She said kindly, starting to turn when Kurt's next comment stopped her cold.
"Friendz withz zhe enemiez, eh Laura?"
X23 turned back around to Kurt and the boy gulped when he saw the killer intent flooding out from her eyes. She took a step towards him and grabbed his shirt when he stumbled back. Her green eyes bore into his eyes for a few minutes, the skin raising on the back of her hand from her claws to let him know he had gone too far.
She then caught a glimpse of something and smirked. Perfect…
"I don't hear you jumping up and down at Kitty while she and Lance are dating." X23 said in a dead calm voice before walking away with one last comment. "Their ones that talk about their teams; not me and certainly not Todd, but those love sick calves."
X23 smirked unseen to the German teenager, the sight of Kitty and Lance flirting in open public giving her a much needed distraction from her and Todd. She shook her head when she heard a series of German curses being spewed forth from Kurt's mouth.
But she had a valid point. She and Todd were just friends and they had never talked about each other teammates unless it was in an incident related topic. Kitty and Lance, however, the ones that wanted to start lip locking at each private moment they had.
X23 plopped down next to Todd and watched as he smirked down at his drawing. Smiling slightly, X23 began to unpack her lunch while she listened to the scratching of his pencil.
"Are you doing the homework that Otero set us for Tuesday?" X23 asked as she chewed in her sandwich.
"I've drawn four of the six required still life pieces, all full sheet size and shaded with multiple tones." Todd said, still looking at the paper. "This, however, is something else."
Todd sat up and blew over the paper, eraser shaving fluttering over the metal table as he studied the piece he had done. X23 glanced at him while she pressed her thumb through a can of Pepsi, completely ignoring the aluminum tap to pop the lid.
Todd smiled and looked toward X23 before handing her pad of paper. Furrowing her brow in curiosity and gracing her face with a small smile, X23 took the pad and turned it over to look at the paper.
"Whoa…" X23 said before looking at Todd with a weary expression. "You just love to show off girls, that's the whole top and bottom of it."
"Well, I figured I could get a woman's input now that I'm friend with one that doesn't try and hex me through a wall or that drops energy bombs down the back of pants, yo."
X23 giggled at Todd and looked back at the drawing he had shown her. It was logo, made for the advertisement of Capoeira classes. There were three people around what X23 assumed to be the Capoeira School's logo. She easily recognized two of them, both being Todd and Otero respectively.
Todd was doing a handles cartwheel, his long hair splaying everywhere. There was a white belt wrapped around his waist and he had skimped on some of the definition of his body. X23 brushed her nails over it and smiled, glancing at him briefly; the move was becoming a signature move of his.
Otero was in the beginning stages of an aerial spin kick, one leg tucked under his body while the other was perfectly extended. His arms were raised to guard his head and he was wearing orange pants instead of the traditional white. Some how the move seemed suiting to the man, X23 figure he would suited to aerial moves.
The last figure surprised her, since it had been recently added to the fray. It was a dark hair girl doing a one handed handstand, one leg straight up in the air and the other was at a ninety degree opposite to it, her left hand wrapped around it.
It took a minute or two but when she read the "Don't Mess With" on the tank top, she knew it was her.
"You put me in the poster?" She said with a bright smile that only grew when she him blush slightly. "Thank you, that's really sweet."
"You're one of the few students that we have, yo." Todd offered as an explanation. "I figured you deserved to be on here anyway after you tried your best against me."
"Oh har har." X23 said sarcastically and gave him a one armed hug. "The thought was nice none the less. Even if I can't do the move..."
"Oh please, yo." Todd said dismissively. "I know you just started all this Capoeira, but it won't take you long to learn the advance moves. It's the basics that can be a pain in the ass, yo."
"Is that how you found it?" X23 asked curiously.
"Nah. Because of certain….'aspect', Capoeira came very easily to me, yo." Todd explain, his fingers carefully turning the pencil between his fingers. "I was more flexible in my back, stronger leg muscles and had a slightly faster reaction time that made me extreme suitable to Capoeira."
X23 nodded. His mutation did make him extremely adaptable for an martial art but Capoeira was one of the few style that really highlighted flamboyant actions that made up his personality. Some Chinese style did but what he was doing now suited him much better.
Todd really wasn't one for a whole bunch of rules and regulations and Capoeira was a lot of fun, allowing him to use it else where. Plus, he was able to create his own moves and Todd had the needed body strength for some pretty crazy moves.
"You think I'll be as good as you, Todd?" X23 asked as she had his notepad back.
"I know it, X'. Come on, yo." Todd said as he got up and when she was still sitting, he pulled at her arm. "Time's a wasting."
"What are we doing?" X23 asked she got up in amusement, following him outside.
Todd shrugged and beckoned her on and X23 followed curiously, pestering him constantly with question of what they were doing. The amphibious boy remained tightlipped as he led her away from the lunch tables. This brought up a familiar memory to X23 but this time it was much happier.
But Todd mysteriousness was starting wear thin on X23's patience. "What are we doing, Todd?" X23 asked in a tone that held no argument.
"Having class, yo." Todd answered as he trotted over to the bleachers and despite having a ten to fifteen pound back pack, flipped up to it. "We got a few minutes to get some techniques down, so why not?"
X23 went jaw slack at the proposal while Todd took his backpack off and she then blushed when he stripped down to a sleeveless shirt. Todd smiled and beckoned her to play, his body lowering in the kadera stance.
"What about your teammates, Todd?" X23 asked as she looked around. "I thought you didn't what them to find out."
"They won't; they have detention at lunch for the rest of this month, yo, and the detention room is at the other end of the school." Todd threw his body into a handless cartwheel off the bleachers and landed next to her as he talked. "We have lunch for a few days to do a few lessons before Otero gives any classes."
"What did they do?" X23 asked, curious as to what the "bad boys of Bayville High" had done this time.
"Apparently, they had a bit too much fun in chemistry class and took some of the experiment for a few pranks." Todd explained, suppressing a laugh. "It had something to do with making a class pink and the canceling of some out door gym classes."
"So, that's why the field had scorch marks and reeked of methane." X23 comment, the tow failing to keep straight faces.
Inside, X23 was overjoyed by this unexpected proposition; this meant that they could actually spend time in school without having to worry about those jerks screwing around to keep Todd away. This also meant he wouldn't get pulverized by them for teaching her.
X23 was sure of the fact that they were responsible for his bruises worse than what they had. And they had the nerve, the audacity to call themselves the Brotherhood? The sneering, the scowling, the verbal and physical abuse that they handed to him everyday made her sick.
But this gave her a chance to make Todd get his confidence back, or at least feel more than sub human.
"So, you said something about escivas after our class yesterday?" X23 asked as she took her jacket off and tossed it aside with her lunch container, stretching her arms a bit. "What are they, attacks or defenses?"
"Defenses, of a sort I suppose, yo. Why don't they work against violent women
like yourself?" Todd said with a smirk, wincing and laughing at once when she whacked his arm. "Seriously, though, they are the defenses, but rather escapes, yo. Hence the name, esciva, means to escape in Portuguese."
"You see, you never stop an attack, yo, because of the gather momentum is too powerful; it would break any normal human's bones." Todd stretched out his arms as he continued to explain. "So the esciva is designed to dodge and allow the person to see an opening in his opponents attack so he can counter or do what ever he wants."
X23 nodded, his explanation making sense and explained more about Capoeira as it did so. In a way, at least to X23, Capoeira shared many traits with various styles of Kung Fu, particularly Tai Chi and Shaolin Boxing. They emphasized on dodging the attack so you didn't have to block the attack and when you did, you did for countering purposes.
Also, while those types of Kung Fu used their hands, Karate and Boxing were the styles that truly used their fist the most. Capoeira and Kung Fu were two styles whose foot work had a greater determination in their fights, especially since that was all you used in Capoeira.
Todd's body dropped into the ginga position and stepped up into a kadera position, his body flowing naturally. While he was in the kadera part, he lowered himself down into a lower squat and twisted his body to the left. His back leaned forward and his right arm went across his body while his head duck behind his arm, his left swinging behind him.
"This is called esciva latérall, probably the most commonly used esciva in Capoeira." Todd said, his amber eyes glowering playfully in the shadow of his arm. "My preferred one, yo, because I find it allows me to respond faster and it just seems better."
"This is the one you kept using on me then." X23 deduced and Todd merely nodded with his eyes shut.
Shifting back to his ginga position, Todd moved from side to side in his stance before he dropped down to his right side. The bend in his right increased and his left leg had its knee nearly brushing the ground. His right hand was placed open on the ground, his finger pointing away from his foot. Essentially, he looked like he was doing a stretch on the ground.
X23 saw how this time his spare arm was across his face, not as close as it was in esciva latérall but it would block a kick if it was necessary. Todd had tilted his head to the side again but this time he lifted his head to speak to her.
"This is called esciva de French, why, I don't know. There isn't anything French about it." Todd joked as he held himself there with ease, X23's scoff making him smile. "Don't doubt this maneuver, X'. This is particularly esciva is good for moving around and going into various ground moves, even fancy ones"
As if to prove this, Todd swung his back leg around and waited his left leg was in front of him. Rolling to the side, Todd placed his hand on the ground and held himself in a handstand, his head resting on the ground with his legs bent flat.
The clone girl chuckled at him and shriek slightly when she had to step away from his legs when he did a head spin, his long legs spinning around like a helicopter's propellers. Todd crossed his arms over his chest, his initial momentum continuing to carry him around.
As he slowed down, Todd's hand slammed against the ground and flipped him around in a crouch with his back to her. X23 smiled as she walked up to him and rested her hands on his shoulders, shuddering slightly at the warm feeling that penetrated into her hand.
Leaning down to his head, X23 spoke quietly in his ear. "You like showing off?"
Todd gulped softly and glanced at her. X23 was delighted at the fact that she had caught him off guard, but her own feelings were starting to dispel her confidence.
"Just a bit, yo." Todd said awkwardly.
X23 leaned forward move and suddenly kicked off the ground, her body swing upright until she was dead straight above Todd's shoulders. Her body started to sway, so X23 wiggled around before her body was completely still.
Her bones might had been laced with adamantium like her father, but like Wolverine she had developed enough muscle to move with even more fluidity than an average human. In fact, the adamantium allowed her to acrobatics that normally couldn't be done because her bones were permanently braced.
"See? You don't always get on top, Sapo." X23 said in a teasing tone that made Todd clear his throat nervously.
Her long black swung around Todd's face and the amphibious mutant sputtered for a moment. X23 felt her balance wobbling as he lifted on hand and swiped the long lock behind his head.
X23 couldn't help but giggle as Todd tried to help her balance until he gave up and put his arm down.
"You're a sneaky little hellion, X', to get back at someone like his." Todd said, making X23 giggles increase even more. "You pin down all guys you know like this or just friends, yo?"
X23 was glad her head was right above his and facing the other way, so that he didn't see her blush. It was bad enough she was this close and she was proud of herself for not losing all speaking abilities.
Todd's arms suddenly lifted up, his hand grabbing her hips. X23 squeaked and then laughed as he stood up shakily, her legs jerkily countering his actions. Todd carefully moved his legs to he was in a more sturdy position. Some other kids whistled and cheered as they held themselves there.
"Nice, man." X23 managed to tilt her head around to see a couple of guys and girls standing nearby, a kid in a beanie speaking. "That's flippin' tight, dude."
"That's some sick wicked shit." Another teen said, this one with his ears pierced.
"Heads up, X." Todd said mysteriously and X23 looked down at his green hair.
Todd suddenly twisted her hips, ripping her hand from his shoulders and sent her falling before him. X23 watched as his arms swung around in their sockets and she was suddenly being cradled in his arms.
For one long, everlasting moment, there was nothing but perfect beauty to X23. Todd slowly grinned as he shifted her in his arms and X23 held onto his arms and neck. Her legs were loosely hanging over his arm, Todd's other arm wrapped around her back to bring her close to his chest.
She felt small in his arms but not in a negative way, like she could be even more powerful and wanted to show her how. X23 could have sighed in exasperation, the amount of things that attract her to him amusedly annoying her.
Todd Then grinned wickedly and X23 gulped, the amphibious mutant tossing her in the air. X23 twist in mid air, her body spinning upright so she landed on her feet.
"And you are worried about doing the acrobatics of Capoeira?" Todd asked jokingly.
X23 smiled and shrugged her shoulders, the bell for class buzzing loudly.
Todd and X23 entered the gymnasium laughing, the clone girl immediately spotting Otero turning up an odd one string instrument. The metal cord twanged highly as they approached their teacher and he smiled at the sight of the two teenagers.
The rest of the day had been a breeze, X23 nearly falling asleep in Ms. Galvin's math class again. When a couple of people in her class just sat there and did their own thing, she had gone thermonuclear, sending them out into the hallway. X23, because Todd had already put her in a good mood during lunch, buried her face in her book so Galvin didn't see her laughing.
"Hey guys, what's happening?" The older man asked them as he carefully wrapped the spare length of the cord around the top.
"Not much, just pretty much the same as normal." X23 answered, Todd shrugging and nodding in agreement while she looked at the instrument in Otero's hands. "What is that?"
"This?" Otero held the instrument up as he slid a hollowed gourd attached to a woven piece of rope up the. "This is the berimbau, the main instrument of Capoeira. It's what the pace, beat and everything else are set to."
"What's the gourd for?" X23 asked, tapping it.
"The Cabaca? It allows the sound to be amplified." Otero explained picking up a smooth, flat rock and holding it up. "This is the Pedra and you press it against the cord to change the sound of the berimbau."
"Wicked." X23 said as she looked up and down the instrument. "It's a beautiful instrument."
"You'll learn to play it, yo." Todd said as he pulled his Capoeira pants and shirt out, handing them over to X23. "Here, you can keep these, X. I got a spare pair at home."
X23's eyes went wide as she took the clothes from him and her smile seemed to broaden until her face hurt. The gesture that he had made was overwhelming, her emerald eye glancing in his ambers questioningly.
"I figured since your goanna be practicing Capoeira, you might as well have the clothes." Todd said kindly, winking at her as he did so. "Beats having your friend embarrass you."
X23 giggled and threw her arms around his neck in a hug. Todd was obviously surprised by her because he didn't hug back for a few minutes, his arm carefully and somewhat haphazardly wrapping around her.
He went stone still when she pecked him on the cheek, his jaw dropping as she said "Thank you".
X23 squeezed him and then skipped off to the girls changing room. As soon as the door was behind her, X23 let out a shuddered breath as her back leaned against the wall. Her hand reached up and shakily touched her lips as she smiled, hugging herself in excitement.
Sweet and smooth, that's all she had tasted at first, the sensation of his skin lingering like a bittersweet tingle. As she ran her tongue over her lips, X23 found that the taste reminded her of Easter lilies and peppermint chocolate. It was intoxicating taste and scent that made X23 feel slightly lightheaded and she steadied herself on the wall before going to change.
Amber eyes studied X23 carefully as she did the ginga back and forth as the other teenager followed her and Todd spun around slowly, his right leg crossed over his left leg stalled before arching up slowly to her face. As he started turning, X23 stepped up into the kadera and twisted to her left as she dropped down, dodging his leg completely.
The pants, an abada were what Otero had called them, hung around her waist far better than the cargo pants did. The drawstring on the inside held her pants up tightly and the white rope made it just a bit snugger.
The top was actually a girl's halfshirt, something that Otero had brought in for her. The top part was like a sleeveless shirt and the rest of it hugged to her mid riff. It did reveal her stomach but the fact that she was often in constant movement so it wasn't the focus of her, made X23 feel more comfortable about it.
Todd suddenly stopped and swung the other way just as slowly, performing the same spin in the opposite direction. X23 pushed off with her left leg and dropped down with her left leg behind her and her right leg bent. Her body dropped down and X23 pressed her hand against the floor, her body perfectly in esciva de french. Tilting her head to the side and raising her right, X23 watched as the foot went clean over her again.
Grinning impishly, X23 returned to the ginga but stopped short when Todd dropped down to the ground and his leg swung up and around. His foot stopped and he looked at her from between his legs in confusion.
"You okay, X?" Todd asked, his body reversing his spin so he stood up.
"Yeah, I just got caught off guard." X23 said, telling half the truth.
The rest of the truth was that she was a little scared of that kick, since it sent her flying clean across. This was especially scary since the adamantium on her bones gave her extra weight and Todd had the strength to move easily with a single kick.
"Well, you got the esciva latérall and esciva de french pretty much well down pat, Laura." Otero said as they stood there. "Has Sapo shown you the third one yet?"
"No, we started playing around after the first two." X23 said, Todd shrugging innocently.
Otero nodded and rolled his eyes, turning his body sideways to the two teenagers. He dropped down into kadera and raised his arms on either side of his body. His back was arched down so it was completely flat, his head turned sideways to fit into his body.
"This is the last esciva, esciva parallel." Otero said as he held himself there. "This and esciva de french are not a frequently used but can be quicker to get into from another esciva. This one is very good for doing the queixada or any negativa move."
X23 spread her legs and lowered herself into the kadera, raising her arms while she ducked her head. Turning so she could look under her arms at Otero, X23 caught Todd squatting down in front of her head.
"Bending your legs more, get low to the ground." Todd explained as he pressed on her thighs. "That way your less of a target."
X23 nearly jumped at his contact, his skin tingling at his touch as he pressed slightly. It took all of the girl's willpower not to moan in ecstasy. Standing up, Todd stood behind her and pressed down on her back slightly so it was completely flat.
Todd then pushed down on her hips and X23 let a giggle slip, making Todd and Otero chuckle too. But her giggle wasn't humor, but rather a form off affection and nerves. Still, the humor was a nice mask to wear.
"Sorry, X. It's just…you need to keep down, yo. Or else, you'll be smacked around like a Ping-Pong ball." Todd explained as he swiveled around so he was in front of her.
"Already know what that feels like." X23 said stubbornly. "Not something I plan to repeat."
"Just trying to help, yo." Todd said, his tone slightly annoyed as he stretched his arms.
"I know." X23 said standing up. "And as awkward as it is, thanks; for all of it."
"Okay, enough mushiness you two." Otero said and the two teenagers bawled out laughing. "Are we goanna practice these drills or not?"
"Yes, Mestre!" The two coursed and fell into their sparring drill.
But secretly, as she dodged the slow, training kicks of her amphibious training partner, X23 smiled at the idea Otero had suggested. She hoped that one day she would be comfortable and brave enough to tell him what she really thought of him and how important he was becoming to her.
Todd arched his leg high and X23 dropped down to the right defense. As she stood up again, he spun kick again and this time she dodged without flinching. She was allowed to hope and with the way things were going, it definitely could happen soon.
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So, on a slight side note, I am very happy at the amount of people visiting the story and I hope this continues. I shall try to keep the quality at a high standard and enjoyable to all readers.
As a side note, I put out a small one-shot called X23's Winter Solace. I will be doing a revamped version, but for now please check it out since it is based in the Capoeira de Toad verse. I think you might enjoy it that's all.
Check you all later and I hope to hear from all of the readers, regarding comments, concerns, queries or anything else in the reviews.
-Lin
A.S
Just as a very slight hint at what is to come, I want you readers to think up of what come to mind when you hear this. Capoeira Vs. Wrestling. That's it, all you get.
Also, if you want, I can send a Capoeira De Toad Image I have created. Just let me know in the reviews and I'll email a scanned image.