howlingplayground | Kevin and Soo

Kevin and Soo

He's leaning against the doorway. He'd been dared, by a senior X-Man of all people, to do this. Said his puppy love was getting on nerves. Damn Wolverine anyway.

He's got his hands shoved deep into his pockets and he's wearing his typical black. His back is slick with sweat. He's never done anything like this before. Not even back at his high school. He'd always avoided dances and movie nights and everything that other kids had taken for granted. And now, he's here to do the exact opposite of that avoidance.

He closes his eyes and thunks his head back against the wall. This is going to be so bad, so so bad. Why is this a good idea?

Right. Dawn in the Danger Room with Wolverine and Jubilee. That's just not fair. Ask the girl he likes out or be pummelled into the ground. He closes his eyes on a groan.

This is going to go badly. But he hears the swish of fabric that is particular to her. He knows that sound. Opening his eyes, he pushes off the wall and clears his throat. "Hey, Sooraya? Ya got a sec?"

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Sooraya is, to be fair, not much like the other kids either; something about being from a hotbed of terrorism and dressing in a very obviously non-conformist way (though her roommate trie her best to outdo that) means she doesn't usually go for the crowded events. But she likes Kevin, because Kevin doesn't come with lots of hangers-on.

"Sure," she says with a lift of her cheekbones under her veil that indicates a smile. "What's up?" She's got a few hours until the next thing she needs to do, anyway; classes are over for the day and she doesn't have plans until the evening.

It's her differentness that gives him what little courage he has to do this. That and the threat of Wolverine. He's pretty sure that Miss Frost and Mr. Summers won't allow him to be killed in the Danger Room, just wish he had been. For days.

"Well," He pushes a nervous hand through his too long hair. The bangs are getting long again, and he should probably ask Miss Frost for a haircut, but he's... getting off track. Right, doing this. "I was wondering if you'd like to go to the movies with me?" His voice at least doesn't crack on the final word.

Right, it's all in her hands now. She can say yes, and he can be glad and then go borrow the car Mr. Logan had offered, ooooor she can say no, and he'll just take his chances in the Danger Room.

The threat of Wolverine is indeed enough to make a great many people do a great many things, and Sooraya's no stranger to that: Logan was one of the very few people who'd seen what she could do firsthand in Madripoor.

She lifts her eyebrows at Kevin's hesitation, and it's as she wonders what he's so nervous about that his words hit her. "The what?" she asks. "You want me to go out with you?" It's not incredulous, not derogatorily at all, but Sooraya's obviously surprised.

No one asks her out.

"Are you sure?"

Kevin doesn't relax, his shoulders bunching up, right until her last question. "Yes, I'm sure." He says, as confidently, as he can. "Why wouldn't I be sure?" He says, gently. "You're a pretty lady, inside and out."

And dangerous, but he kills with a touch. He hates it, but at least she can control her power.

"Maybe tonight? That one movie you wanted to see out of Bollywood is playing at the theater, and I thought we could go?" He really wants to go with her. On a date. Just the two of them. He'd already told Jubilee that he was doing this - she'd been with Logan - and she'd promised to keep others from interfering. However, it was... that she did whatever it was she did.

"I...Nobody ever does," she says blankly.

She opens her mouth to reply, but stops short several times; she'd never expected Kevin to ask, and didn't know what to say, though she was touched by the sincerity and smiled slowly, shaking her head. "I'd love to go to the movies with you, Kevin," Sooraya murmured.

"But you don't understand Urdu. Would you be able to understand the movie?"

He finally smiles. She's willing to go with him. That's a relief. "Well, I understand a little?" Some very basic phrases, thank you language programs that Kitty had made. He'd been practicing with them, for the last month or so. "And, I called the theater, there's subtitles." So, I'll be fine." It's more important that she has a good time. "Movie's in about thirty minutes, if you wanna go now?" He clears his throat. "Or later is fine. It's up to you."

And now he's babbling like an idiot. He really shouldn't talk so much. Plus, he has something he wants to show her after. It's something that had been given to him, that he's still excited about. Something about "true X-Men" having their own place to just be. He's excited to share it with her though.

She can't help but smile at his earnestness, the ripples of laughter shake her shoulders as he talks, and Sooraya nods. "Thirty minutes sounds good. I don't have anywhere to be." And she wouldn't mind if they didn't get back for a long while, either; she likes Kevin, and more importantly she feels at ease around him.

"It's okay. I'll help you with the words you don't know. Maybe you'll pick it up faster than you think." He heard her talking in it enough when she was muttering to herself, or when--rarely--she was saying something snide back at her roommate that she didn't want Noriko to understand.

He nods. Alright, so it's a date? He hesitates to say that, because he doesn't want her laughing at him. Not that Soo would just it's something his mind reminds him will happen. Thank you Atlanta high school. "Then, I'll meet you in the garage in a few minutes?" He says, hopefully.

Jubilee had better have cleared it with Mr. Summers about him taking one of the cars. He's not taking Jubilee's bright yellow Bug. That damned thing is a clown car, no matter how many people she's fit in it before.

"I'll grab my wallet and meet you there, okay?"

"I'll meet you down there. Just let me change cothes?" Sooraya was trying to dress more...Western, for lack of a better term, and didn't usually wear her full abaya in public. "It won't take me a minute."

And it didn't: she slipped into a pair of jeans and comfortable boots, coming down to the garage still pinning her veil into place again. "I didn't make us late, did I?"

Kevin smiles, seeing her in jeans and her veil. He would have understood if she wanted the full abaya and would have dealt with anyone that said anything about it. He fully supports her wearing whatever the hell she wants whenever she wants. He's also stood guard outside the indoor pool, when she and the other girls want to have a swim. If she's not comfortable wearing a bikini around guys? He'll make damn sure she can wear one around people she's comfortable with.

He opens the passenger door to the Chevy sedan that he'd been given permission to take. "Nah, we're not late. Your chariot awaits." He says, bowing ridiculously, just to make her laugh. He likes her laugh, and her smile, what he can see of it anyway. Someday, he hopes to see more of it, but he can be patient.

Sooraya laughed at his bow and danced around him to get to the car door.

"Thank you for asking, Kevin." She'd been often left out of the group invitations because she said no to being in mixed company in the places they wanted to go. "I'll translate for you when we get to the movie."

Kevin often gets left out because he's a basketcase in large crowds, and inevitably, that's where the others want to go. But a movie with just Soo and a few others that are scattered around the theater? That he can do.

He shuts her door, and scoots around to the driver's side. He slips in and puts his belt on, starting the car and getting them out of the garage. "You're welcome, Sooraya. I'm glad you agreed to come." He says, turning for Salem Center. "And I'd appreciate that. My Urdu is still rudimentary. I can ask for a glass of water, and a translator and that's about it." He admits. He hasn't been as diligent with his lessons as he probably should have been, but it's at least something.

"And after, we can come back and get something to eat?" He knows there's a lot of dietary restrictions for her, but isn't sure where in town they could even get take out, but he's a decent cook, and can put together just about anything.

"I should teach you, then. No one ele really speaks it at the school. Obviously the Professor undertands, but he doesn't speak it fluently."

She smiles, watching the scenery fly by through the window. "If you want to get food while we're out, we can. Halal is much like keeping kosher, it's not so complicated once you're used to it. And you don't have to eat it."

"Think Mr. Logan understands some too?" He's asking, because Wolverine speaks... everything. At least, he's pretty sure he does.

"Well," He rubs the back of his neck embarrassed. "Actually, I had something I wanted to try?" He's a little embarrassed now. "I've got all the ingredients for bolani? Thought you might like it." He clears his throat. "But if you'd rather go out, we can do that."

He glances at her, out of the corner of his eye, and then turns back to the road. "And I like some of the dishes that you've had at the mansion." Meaning, if she eats it, so will he.

"He understands a little," Sooraya agrees. "Not much, but he knows some. Enough to tell if someone's insulting him."

She may or may not have done that when they first found her. Sooraya was not in a mood to be bundled off to anyplace she wasn't familiar with, and at the time had been very short on patience. It's likely that the only person who could speak to her temper firsthand would be Logan.

Maybe Kevin should have been warned.

She lets out a delighted little laugh when he mentions wanting to cook for her. "You learned how to make it? I'd love to try it, then. It takes me forever to go get it on my own." Mostly because she has to drive the hour one-way to New York City to get it, and by then it's just not worth the effort. "You know you don't have to be nervous, Kevin. I like spending time with you."

He chuckles, and glances at her again. "First hand knowledge?" He teases. While Logan wouldn't warn Kevin about anyone's temper, Kevin can imagine. People seem to think he's a pushover, just because he doesn't get angry... right up until he does and then they remember he can kill with a touch.

Kevin never would've heeded any warnings, anyway. He likes Soo, and likes spending time with her because she respects his mutant power, while at the same time knowing that he is not his power. It's... nice to be around her.

"Always nervous around pretty ladies." He says, gently. It's the honest truth. Women tongue-tie him. But it's easy to talk to her. But that doesn't mean he doesn't find her pretty.

"Something like that," she says lightly. "He was one of the ones that found me." Found her in a slave ring after she'd lashed out with powers she didn't know she'd had and killed someone. But not many people know that story.

"Oh, if you wanted pretty you should have asked Noriko. She's much more willing to show off for boys." She doesn't mind, really. Sooraya understands she and her roommate are very different people. "Don't be nervous. You make me comfortable, Kevin."

He chuckles, because he can just imagine what she'd called Wolverine. He's called the man a few choice words in his time too.

"Nah, Noriko's too loud for my tastes." He says, with a shrug. There might be others who enjoyed Noriko being herself, but he likes the quieter moments. He can blare his music with the best of them, but that's about it. He's a sweet and thoughtful boy who tries.

"LIke I said, always nervous around pretty ladies."

He glances at her. "And you're near gonna convince me you're not one of those."

Sooraya just shakes her head gently, a soft chuckle of laughter only barely audible. "Thank you, Kevin."

She isn't overly demonstrative in liking him, but as he's driving she does lay her hand on his arm with a smile.

He takes a bold step, and gently squeezes her hand with his, and then pulls into the movie theater. He even walks around and opens the door for her. "Ready?" He asks, offering his arm. It's the same old movie theater that they always go to, but to him it looks better tonight. Maybe that's because he's out with a pretty girl that actually wants to spend time with him.

She doesn't bother hiding a smile when he squeezes her hand, and when they get out Sooraya takes Kevin's arm, lacing their fingers together. She doesn't mind holding hands with him, becaue he's nice, and he won't push too fast to do anything else. And she really likes him.

"I'm always ready to spend time with you. I like you, Kevin."

He smiles, that same, sweet, crooked smile that she always manages to get out of him. Not many people do. Especially since his run-in with the FBI. (He doesn't talk about that, or about how they got him out, or about what exactly went on in that detention center.)

He laces their fingers together, his gloves brushing against her skin. He doesn't dare take them off, not even for her, but it's nice that she doesn't shy away from him, that she's not terrified of him.

"I like you too. S'why I asked you out," Kevin admits, softly, stepping up to the window to pay. He mangles the Urdu name of the film, but the ticket person is apparently used to it, and offers him the pair. "Do you want a drink for the movie?"

"We can share one if you don't mind that I use a straw," she says lightly, not minding his gloves at all. Kevin is one of the few people who've never looked at her askance, who never expected her to stop wearing her veil, who don't complain when she won't join them in the pool.

"Thank you for being patient with me," she murmured. "I know it's not the usual way of dating."

He nods and gets a drink for them. He's still holding her hand, and doesn't want to let her go. She might disappear. When they're out of the crowd around the concessions, Kevin looks at Sooraya, and stops walking. "Dating me isn't normal, Sooraya. I can't do a lot of things that people do."

Because kissing his date could kill them. Not, exactly, the easiest thing to deal with.

"Dating you? That's the most normal thing I've done since getting these powers. Everything else..." He shrugs. "It is what it is."

"Both of us can do things no one else can," Sooraya says gently. "I like the idea of dating you. We'll make it our own normal."

He smiles and nods. "Our own normal. Think I'd like that." He passes her the drink, and opens the door to the theater.

There are a few people scattered about, mostly art students looking to get film credit, though there are a few in head scarves, looking to hear the sounds of their birth country.

Kevin finds a good spot for them, just as the commercials at the beginning start. "You're going to translate a little for me, right?" He asks, leaning as close as he dares.

"Of course," Soo laughs, holding Kevin's hand over the armrest shared by their chairs. "We used to do this at home, you know. When I was really little I remember people playing smuggled movies in basements. We'd hang up sheets and those of us that knew English would translate," she says gently, comfortable talking over the little promotion reels and reminders to silence their phones.

"That was before everything, though."

Kevin glances at her. "I didn't mean to bring up a bad memory." He says, gently, holding onto her hand. She's so delicate, he's afraid of hurting her. But there's a strength there to her, that means that he knows she could knock him on his ass if he were to step out of line.

He glances up at one of the reels, before turning his attention back to his date. "I... I have something I want to show you, after the movie, and we get something to eat." He's been keeping it secret from the other kids, because he knows some of them would laugh.

But not her.

"You didn't," she chuckled, shaking her head. "I have very fond memories of home in Zaraj. I remember my mother and I raised goats. They were cute."

She smiled at the mention of showing her something else. "What is it?"

"Goats?" He asks, surprised. He can't imagine her passing the time herding the animals. He sees her doing something far more fabulous. Fashion design perhaps.

But then his smile turns a bit teasing. "You'll see. It's a surprise." He says, as the movie starts. "C'mon, movies' startin'."

"Yes," she laughs. "Little ones. I love animals," she confesses. "We raised them for milk and wool to make money."

She smiled at his teasing, nose wrinkling as she grinned. "Oh, I'll see? You're starting to be as closemouthed as Logan is."

He chuckles. He's glad she likes animals. She'll love the pest that is currently living in his forge. The pup had wandered in there, and due to some quirk, or genetic mutation (can animals have the XGene?) she's immune to him. He'd taken her first to McCoy to make sure that she would be safe around him.

He grins at the comment about Logan but settles in to watch the movie. Luckily, there are English subtitles, so he's not completely lost.

The movie is a beautiful love story, about a pair that are kept apart by feuding families. It turns out much better than the Romeo and Juliet story he was expecting. But he holds her hand through the whole thing.

When it's over, he glances at Sooraya, and then gently tugs her to her feet. "Come on. Food and then the surprise." He teases.

"Very well," she laughs, gladly holding on to Kevin; she likes his company, she likes him being nearby.

"Not going to tell me what this surprise is, are you?"

He waits until they're outside the theater in the cooling evening air, before he grins. "Don't like surprises?" He teases, heading for the car. He's bursting to tell her, but he wants to show her as well. There are things he just can't explain. One of them being the puppy he's been hiding for a week. Only McCoy, Forge, and Summers know about her. He likes it that way.

He opens the door for her. "So," he leans on the door, grinning like a fool. "We can go get food and then show you the surprise, or we can just head straight for the surprise and raid the fridge."

Sooraya pretends to consider that. "Oh, I'm always okay with raiding the fridge with you," she chuckles. "By all means, show me this surprise you have for me."

Kevin does something that people don't see him do very often: He laughs. "Alright, alright. We'll go back to the Mansion and I'll show you." He teases.

He's sure if there's nothing in the fridge that catches his fancy, he can whip up something.

He climbs into the car and buckles in. "Trust me, you'll be surprised and it'll be worth it."

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Kevin and Soo

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