Leverage Cassian AU: Sports!

[last_kallig]

It was probably inevitable, considering just how many people saw her catch that soccer-ball, but Pilar and a few of her other friends have convinced Ibani to try out for the soccer team that Pilar is on. (And rumors about what happened to the bully didn't hurt either, most likely. Ibani's just grateful cell phone camera footage of her reaction didn't wind up on the internet.)

Ibani has broken down and worn shorts in deference to the tryouts and the heat. She's not exactly THRILLED about her scars being visible, but it's probably best to get whatever reactions people are likely to have at the first sight of them over with.

Comments

[childofrebellion]

Pilar stares for a moment at Ibani's scars but with gym class, everyone's been getting used to them, "Do you want socks and shin guards?"

[last_kallig]

"Those sound like a great idea, thanks Pilar," she replies, smiling.

"Lot of people here today, to watch and to try out. It is usually this busy at one of these?"

[childofrebellion]

Pilar shrugs, "Football tryouts are this afternoon too and there aren't any games happening yet."

The crowd is a decent size but many of them are also going to try out or sitting and doing homework.

[last_kallig]

Ibani nods, it makes sense! She has a number pinned to the back of her shirt, a 22.

The tryout process is going to involve scrimmaging, which is more or less just playing soccer, whew!

Ibani reminds herself NOT to augment her speed or reactions with the Force. The LAST thing she needs is to 'out' herself in front of this many witnesses!

The people who are trying out are divided into two teams, seemingly at random. She waves to Cassian as she goes to take her position on the field.

[childofrebellion]

Cassian was surprised that Ibani invited him but he's glad to be a support for her and waves back. The two teams are assigned sides with the people interested in being goalies going in.

[last_kallig]

Ibani is one of those people interested in being a goalie!

She's not the first in that position though, that would be another girl Ibani vaguely knows whose name is Raquel. By happenstance or the will of the Force, Cassian happens to be standing next to Pilar's mother. "You must be Ibani's father, Cassian Andor," she says to him, a friendly smile on her face. "I'm Carmen, Pilar's mother. I don't think we've met, though I've seen you in passing."

Some of the students are better at handling the soccer ball than she is, as Ibani only started working with one not that long ago, but she's very good at reading where the ball is going to go and where she needs to send it.

[childofrebellion]

"Yes, I've seen you at Maz's and around. Nice to talk, Pilar's becoming a great friend for Ibani," He claps as Ibani has a few chances at the ball.

[last_kallig]

"I'm so glad to hear that," Carmen replies. "I remember it being very hard when I was growing up and started school somewhere new."

Ibani does pretty good at passing the ball, especially once she gets a feel for how hard she actually needs to kick!

She gets rotated to a goalie position and decides that this is a safer position to 'show off'. Her classmates have already seen her ridiculous soccer ball catch, her doing it over and over again should be believable.

[childofrebellion]

"Its never easy being new but she's adjusting well," And she looks like she's having a good time out on the field.

[last_kallig]

Carmen smiles. "And how are you adjusting to her being in school? It was hard for me when Pilar started school, I was a mass of nerves."

She is enjoying herself! The other team is having difficulties getting anything past Ibani. She's not moving as fast as she CAN move, which Cassian has seen, but she's working at the limits of what her body will let her do without enhancement.

[childofrebellion]

"Pretty well. I trust her and she knows that I'm not far away," That's the biggest gift he can give Ibani at the moment. He's done a few delivery and transport jobs but nothing that would require him to be anywhere overnight.

"It looks like she's going to be the new goalie. I don't think I've seen anyone block so much," Carmen says as she shakes her head in awe.

[last_kallig]

And Ibani has appreciated him not being gone overnight a lot!

Soccer is not supposed to be a contact sport, but accidents happen. When Ibani, the goalie, is going as far forward and down as she can to block a shot and someone loses their footing and suddenly tumbles forward in an out of control manner, they both collide with the edge of the goal.

The frame of the goal snaps, sharp plastic drawing blood in a long line across Ibani's forehead. It's not THAT deep, but head-wounds bleed quite a bit!

Ibani is confused when the coach blows her whistle and everything stops. As as slave and an acolyte, injury or illness never meant that she got the 'luxury' of stopping with whatever she was doing!

[childofrebellion]

Cassian stands up and heads down the bleachers as the coach comes over along with someone with a first aid kit to check Ibani and the other girl over. Ibani is bandaged and they do some concussion tests. Student's health is important and this coach especially doesn't want her players hurt for the sake of the game.

[last_kallig]

Ibani does, in fact, have a mild concussion. This is incredibly annoying, and she intends to be rid of it as soon as she can manage! The other girl is fine other than some bruises and scrapes, since Ibani was between her and the goal and absorbed a lot of the impact.

"Hello, Cassian," she says as she's being bandaged up. "Was doing good at blocking until the end there, didn't see this coming." Sense it in the Force, she means.

[childofrebellion]

The concussion means the end of her try out for today but the coach gives Cassian a nod as he approaches. Then says, "They came in fast but you did great. Heal up from his concussion and then start coming to practice. Next week, I'll have the roster and schedule worked out and we'll go from there. For now, go home, rest and take care of yourself. I'm Coach Erin and look forward to getting to know both of you better."

Cassian smiles at Ibani and Coach Erin, patting Ibani's hand as the coach talks.

[last_kallig]

"Thanks, Coach Erin," Ibani replies. She's not really used to praise from adults, except from Cassian.

The hand patting is nice, as she really hadn't considered ACTUALLY winding up on the team and is flailing a little on the inside.

Once they're safely in Cassian's truck, Ibani leans back and shuts her eyes. "At least I can fix the concussion now," she mutters.

[childofrebellion]

"Yes, but you'll still need to wait to start playing which works out as they'll need time to figure out the rest of the team. Do you want to do anything special tonight to celebrate?"

He knew she hadn't planned for the team but he thinks it will be good for her.

[last_kallig]

Ibani can feel his pride in her and it makes her flush. She wants him to be proud of her, but it still surprises her on some level.

"Ice cream and movies on the couch?" Ibani suggests. "Maybe Shakespeare, since we're studying that in school?"

[childofrebellion]

"Shakespeare has lots of choices; tragedy, comedy, history as well as movie or play. Which one are you reading now?" Cassian likes Shakespeare, the words are able to capture big emotions.

[last_kallig]

"A Midsummer Night's Dream," Ibani answers. "It's not supposed to be one of the sad ones, at least." Ibani and Cassian have both had quite enough tragedy in their lives, thank you!

She works on healing her concussion as they drive home.

[childofrebellion]

"No, its not. I like that one a lot. Do we have enough ice cream at home or do we need to stop and restock?" He's fairly certain there's one tub but she might want more and a selection is more fun.

[last_kallig]

"I'm glad you like it!"

"If we're celebrating, we should probably pick up some more," Ibani says after a moment's thought.

They can make all kinds of creations and see what happens!

"Concussion gone," she says, sighing in relief. "So irritating to heal, not difficult, just TEDIOUS."

[childofrebellion]

"What makes it tedious?" That's a word he associates with paperwork and he takes a turn to get them to the grocery store with the best ice cream selection.

[last_kallig]

"You have to go very slowly, and there are a lot of chemical and metabolic changes you have to address one by one." she explains.

She smiles wryly. "Could be worse, could be having to use the Dark Side to heal."

[childofrebellion]

"How is it different?" He imagines that its more painful, the only question is how.