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Kungfu all the way!

Really? I was leaning more toward MMA. Why do you like kung fu better?

[Bart ran his fingers through his hair for a moment as he seriously considered the question. When he finally finished thinking he smiled again.]

MMA stuff is cool but Jet Li would wipe the floor with those guys! Plus you got Chuck Norris, the crane kick, and Jackie Chan in the Kung Fu corner, and that is a sweet trinity!

Okay, but that's all stuff in the movies. I want stuff I know will work in real life. Are those guys still as badass when the camera stops rolling, you know?

Whoa now...Jet Li is a freaking master at that stuff and not just in the movies! Granted I do question the might of Chuck Norris after watching those infomercials but you don't mess with the crane kick.

What do you need the training for anyways?

Okay, okay. I'm just saying. I don't want any of those "girly" things that don't actually help when you have to fight.

[And why yes, that is the $64,000 question.]

Self-defense.

That makes sense, been in a few fights myself and I can hold my own, but I prefer to run when the chance comes round!

[Bart frowned slightly at the thought of someone trying to harm her.]

Hey, if someone's bothering you just say the world and I'll do what I can...

Depends.

Who said anyone was bothering me?

[She looks unimpressed, especially since he just said he'd rather turn tail and run than stick out a fight.]

On...?

[Bart tossed his hands up in mock surrender and smiled.]

Fair enough! Didn't mean to offend you.

I'm not offended.

[Although her tone suggests otherwise. She crosses her arms.]

Why are you so ... [Searches for the right word.] Hyper? Maybe you should cut back on the coffee or something.

You'd be pretty hyper too if your body was in a constant state of rapid acceleration for a few years...don't get me wrong, the super speed is freaking sweet but it's hard as heck to remain still for too long!

[Bart knew he must sound like a crazy person, so he grinned slightly as he decided to offer a tiny demonstration. The kid moved with such imperceptible speed that it simply looked like he vanished. One second he was standing in front of her, and the next he was behind her holding two ice cream cones that he had picked up from a little store two states away.]

I uh, I wasn't sure if you'd like vanilla or chocolate so I got one of each.

[He smiled again as he held out the ice cream for her to pick from.]

[She is indeed skeptical, but the demonstration is pretty convincing. Athena whirls at the sound of his voice, eyes widening. The ice cream doesn't even look melty. Whoa.

She likes both, but today feels like a vanilla day. She takes the cone, trying not to let her surprise show too much. She licks at the cone slowly, nonchalantly.]

Thanks.

[Another thoughtful lick.]

How does that happen? The, like, rapid body acceleration.

[Bart grinned as he tasted his ice cream and nodded.]

No problem, like I said I enjoying running...and eating!

I uh, I wish I knew. Was just a kid when it happened, there was this bright flash of light and next thing I know I've got freaking superpower but no memory of anything before it happened...my parents got freaked out, couldn't really look at me like I wasn't a monster, so I bolted and was on my own for a few years.

Met a few others like me, but none with the same abilities.

Huh. That sounds like an alien abduction or something.

[Lick lick lick.]

That sucks about your parents, though. They should be able to accept you for who you are.

Could have been, but I don't have anyway of knowing for sure.

It sucked but I couldn't really fault them for not wanting a freak around...took a while for me to find people that didn't mind and I'm just happy to be part of a family again.

But... you are who you are! It wasn't your fault aliens showed up or whatever really happened. Your parents sound terrible if they couldn't love you anyway.

[She huffs a bit.]

...I know what you mean, though. Finding people to belong with. It's hard sometimes.

True enough, but in their eyes I was somebody different, which was also sorta true. Man, I kinda hope it wasn't aliens cause then I'd be that guy...the one who was abducted and stuff, and I really doubt they'd be all like Alf or ET!

[Bart flashes a grin when he hears the note of concern in her voice and nods slightly.]

Hard, but not impossible! Luck has a bit to do with it, but there are a tone of cool people out there, and you already strike me as being one of them!

Um, well. Maybe it wasn't aliens. Maybe it was weird government experimentation.

[Like that's any better. She snorts a bit at his compliment.]

Thanks. I know I'm awesome.

...Do you ever give piggyback rides?

Huh, could see that being a possibility...seen enough research labs to know that it's happening.

[The mention of the piggy back ride brought a broad grin to his face and he turned around to offer her his back. Bart looked over his shoulder and winked at her]

Where would you like to go?

Yeah. [Nod nod.] Totally happening.

[She finishes the last of her cone, licks her fingers, and comes at him with a running leap.]

I dunno! The ocean?

[Bart grinned as she hopped on and took a moment to secure her legs around his waist. He looked back again and spoke.]

You may wanna hold on tight!

[Without another word Bart took off at a run, keeping himself running at a slow pace of around 800 mph until he cleared the city. The second they were free from the densely populated are his speed increased until the world seemed to blur away.

Shapes and colors became unrecognizable as he broke the sound barrier, and as he ran across the top of the ocean waves his smile grew. The trip took close to eight whole seconds but when he came to a stop, he grinned at the beach side view of the ocean before them.]

Welcome to Waikiki! Got this killer little restaurant a little ways down the beach, thought we could grab some food to go and you can get to exploring...sound good?

[Athena wasn't exactly thinking what this would be like, but the sudden rush of booming wind on her face and pressure on her eyeballs and the scream that keeps trying to force its way from her throat but never quite getting there is... different. Also, it's probably better she couldn't properly see the entire time, because if she'd seen that they were on top of the ocean she might've had a panic attack.

When the motion has stopped and the ground is once again beneath her feet, Athena barely hears his explanation for where they are or what they can do there. In fact, he hasn't even stopped speaking before she pitches forward onto hands and knees and pukes into the beautiful beach sand.]

[Bart stopped speaking the moment she became sick and the kid started to panic. He had carried dozens of people before, mostly rushing them out of harms way or from burning buildings and stuff, and even carried pets, but none of them had ever gotten sick before.]

Holy cow, are you freaking okay?!

[It was a stupid question that tumbled out of his mouth, for he could see she wasn't well. Without a thought he vanished and reappeared in a flash carrying a towel, bottle of water, a cold can of ginger ale, a box of crackers, and a first aid kit he borrowed for an ambulance a few miles away. He set them all on the sand and knelt beside her as he tried to figure out what was wrong.]

What can I do to help?

[Urghurgeugh.]

I-I'm fine...

[She looks up, seeing herself surrounded by... supplies. She grabs a towel and wipes feebly at her mouth.]

Just got a little dizzy, that's all.

[He nodded slightly as he watched her for a moment, unsure of what to really say or do. In the end he just plopped down into the sand next to her and waited to see how he could help.]

I uh...want me to take you to the hospital, get checked out or something?

[She shakes her head, taking a sip of water to rinse out her mouth.]

No, I'm fine. Really.

[She gets to her feet, unsteadily.]

[Bart carefully helped her get up on her feet, the expression on his face a mix of sorrow, uncertainty, and guilt. He still had no clue what to do or say to make things right, so he simply stood there and waited to see what she needed.]

I uh...okay.

[She leans against him, with her head on his shoulder, catching her bearings.]

Thank you for taking me to Hawaii.

[His smile returned slowly as he gently held her.]

Anytime chica! Though I think I'll just carry you instead of the whole piggy back thing.

That's probably a good idea.

[Definitely not thinking about how they're getting home...]

We should do something. While we're here.

Cool beans! We can do whatever you like, I mean we are at the beach and there is plenty of cool stuff to check out around here, so you lead and I'll follow chica.