WHO:Natasha and J'onn WHAT: Sparring between the new employee and the old one WHEN: Recently WARNINGS: Comic book violence STATUS: Closed and Complete
J’onn stepped onto the mat, his human form stripped to the waist, and wearing pants designed for this sparring. He had memories of this from his own world, so long ago, and he wondered how much like his fighting hers would be. He waited, kneeling, letting himself relax and push away anxiety.
He had joined the business just a few days ago and it felt, already, like he could do this, could be a part of it, but he imagined today would really show him, one way or another. He already was prepared both to talk, and to spar. It was important, he felt, to be able to do both. Since he had started training both Kara and Alex back home, in different ways, sometimes, he felt he had learned a lot of how humans and humanoids fought. Even if he was still technically a humanoid, his body morphed freely when he was not around humans, and it was far from humanoid at rest.
But today was about learning, as well as putting old learning to the test.
***
Natasha had been asked to put the new employee to the test, something she was more than happy to do. She didn’t know much about him, so she thought this would be a chance to get to know him as well. Though anybody who fought usually revealed more about themselves unspokenly than anything else. Still it was going to be interesting she was sure.
“I’ve been told you have some experience at this so let’s just get into it and see yeah?” she asked him after also stepping up to the mat. Natasha didn’t do much to prepare, she was always ready to fight. Red room and SHIELD training saw to that.
***
“Of course.” J’onn stepped up, let himself flow into a starting position for Kerei-Turitae, a Martian art. Using his weight, and his height, he spun into an attack. He let one leg lead him into a spinning attack toward her lower right leg, pulling his whole body along with it.
Getting to it was a go.
***
Natasha responded as she had been trained to and they spent the next thirty or so minutes sparring. He definitely knew his stuff and had an interesting style. Natasha had to admit she liked that he gave her a bit of a challenge, most people didn’t.
Holding up her hand with a smile she said, “Water break?”
***
J’onn nodded as he stretched and answered. “Sounds good.” Stretching a little more, he shook his head. “It has been a long time since anyone challenged me the way you do. Your style is impressive.”
He smiled faintly. “I would be interested in learning your style.”
***
“I was going to say the same thing to you actually, I’ve seen a lot of techniques over the years but never come across yours before” Natasha told him, “I’d be happy to trade lessons with you” After all it was never a bad thing to have more tricks in your back pocket.
***
“Sounds like a plan. Then we can both be of better assistance to our clients.” He sipped some water, sitting for a minute.
“In the interests of full disclosure, I am not human. We’ll have to carefully see which techniques are possible in your human form.” He nodded to her, feeling ever so slightly vulnerable for having said it, but also not bad.
He had admitted it to no one who did not know before he had gotten here, until now.
***
Natasha nodded, “Exactly” she agreed, though most of the people she currently taught were beginners.
“Oh okay, well I can be the test then” Natasha said, not reacting too much to his revelation, after all when you were friends with Thor and had fought the chitauri, aliens weren’t a surprise anymore, “It’s fairly safe to say that if I can’t do it then it’s not possible” She wasn’t a modest person when it came to her skills. “So where are you from?” she asked curiously, as she took a sip from her water bottle.
***
J’onn nodded. “Exactly.” He shrugged as he settled to the mat opposite her, then simply shifted, becoming taller, larger, and most notably, greener. “I am the last survivor of Mars, of my people, and of the disaster that destroyed all life on the planet.”
He spoke it with visible sorrow, though muted from how a human would have expressed it. His people tended to pull back from emotions, some. And despite his long time with humans, he tried to still honor his people’s ways.
***
Natasha found it rather fascinating when his appearance changed, though outwardly she didn’t show it so as not to make him self conscious.
“I’m so sorry” she said with true empathy, “Being alone is a hard thing. I hope you’ll find new friends and possibilities here” It was never easy to start over, but especially hard when you were truly the only one of your kind. Madison would perhaps offer him opportunities he wouldn’t have otherwise had, like it had to so many of them.
***
“Thank you. People like you give me faith that it might be so. This job, this life, here, are both things I am hoping will go well.”
J’onn gave her a humble smile, and nodded. After a moment, he spoke on. “On Mars, I was a Manhunter, which was something like your police are on Earth. That is where I was taught my fighting styles.” He paused, then chuckled. “Though I also learned some things from a human man named Bruce Lee.”
***
“I’m sure they will, most of the people here are friendly, I’ve certainly never had any issues” Natasha assured him.
“Well from what I’ve seen you had some amazing teachers, of course Bruce Lee is always incredible” she added with a grin and a wink.
***
J'onn nodded. “It has impressed me so far. I’ve never seen so many people with so few… hatreds.” He had dealt with so much madness, so much hate. This was refreshing.
“I have, yes. And he was. He was a good and kind man.” Bruce had met him when he had thought he could find little good in the world.
***
“It’s pretty good. Almost like we’re being picked for our tolerance levels or something” Natasha mused, she’d wondered about it before. How they got picked to come here.
“I imagine it was. He’s a pretty big hero for a lot of people” she smiled, it seemed so amazing to her that he’d actually met Bruce Lee. Not that she showed it of course, she didn’t want him to think there was anything wrong with it.
***
“It could easily be so. Someone has very specific reasons, I would think, for bringing this group here. Whatever they are, they seem to be almost… in our favor.” J’onn didn’t want to play that too far, but… yes.
J’onn nodded. He had many emotions about the man who had taught him so much. Bruce Lee had laid the groundwork for who J’onn would be on Earth. For now, he shook his head, then smiled at her.
“Could you show me a few of those moves you did, slower? I’d like to learn them.” Sparring with someone who… well, felt interesting, sounded like a good way to spend a few hours.