How Green Becomes Wood

"He's fortunate, because if he had them, I wouldn't know and therefore couldn't hold him down and remove them by force, so they'd just be stuck there," Daizi laughed, "Alright, I won't keep you. You know where we'll be."
 
The twins went upstairs to work on their assignments, working together for most of them and figuring out things together. It was not typical for Xander to work with Alec, but when Alec asked him - as he always did - this time he said yes. Alec was savoring that time. They got a lot done, and then it was time for their classes.

Xander took Alec to Cyr wheel, and then he went to Judo. They worked hard, and Alec's teacher told him about a possible used Cyr wheel he could buy for much cheaper than usual, and the original owner was willing to take the payment in three installments, provided Alec sign a simple contract stating that it was his intention to pay. It was uncomplicated but legal, and Alec took it home for Dark to look over before he agreed to anything.

They both came home sweaty and worn out, so while Alec showed Dark the contract, Xander took advantage and went to take a shower first. It was always a race normally.
 
Dark took the contract very seriously, not entirely certain if he liked the idea of his son going into what was technically debt over a wheel, while at the same time knowing this was a better deal than he was likely to find elsewhere. If he was being honest, although he fully and emphatically supported Alec in this endeavor, he did feel some apprehension about Alec dropping this much money on what felt like a relatively new and complicated hobby. By now it had been a good number of months, but he couldn't quite shake that worry. And he still didn't know where they'd store it or where Alec would practice with it.

"Are you able to see and test this wheel before moving forward with it?" Dark asked, glancing up at Alec.
 
"Yes," Alec said promptly. "If I'm serious, she'll meet me after my next class and let me handle it. It breaks down, too, so it'll be easy to store. Like a small bundle of really thick sticks! I'm still trying to decide where a good place to practice would be. The gym is too far to be convenient. So is the skate park. I could do it at school, but I don't want people messing with it or me. I might end up just going to the gym where we hold class more. Others practice there, too, and as long as we don't get in each other's way, it's okay."
 
"Okay," Dark replied, nodding his head slowly, "Well. The contract seems fair enough. There does not seem to be any concerning or predatory clause. But if you go ahead with this, I want to be there when you make the purchase, I do not want someone to take advantage of you. I am very sure you can handle yourself fine, but I would feel better."
 
"It was excellent!" Alec enthusiastically attempted to explain to Dark the new technique they'd learned, stretching his body out like a starfish and twirling from foot to foot as he tried to demonstrate. It did not really explain much, but he was trying.
 
Dark absolutely did not understand what Alec was attempting to demonstrate, but he was nonetheless enthusiastic and supportive because he knew it mattered to him. One day, he'd get to see Alec perform an actual routine on the wheel, and he knew it would all make sense then. Until then, he would provide support and encouragement.
 
Alec tired himself out, and when Xander came down from his shower, he went up to take his own shower.

Xander flopped down in a chair near Dark and ran his hand through his still damp hair.
 
Dark looked over at Xander, remembering long, long ago when the teenager beside him thought there wasn't a point in hobbies, and remembering when he would've preferred to do just about anything other than sit beside him. But now, fresh out of his shower, Xander came right down and joined him in the living room.

"How was judo?" Dark asked, wondering if Xander recognized how wonderful the fact he came to sit there was. It was a big enough house, he could've gone anywhere, but he didn't choose anywhere else.
 
"It was pretty good," Xander said with a nod. "But I'm kind of getting... I dunno, restless? Most of where I'm at now is sheer practice and honing what I already know. Learning how to read opponents better. Good stuff, not going to knock it, but I want to learn new stuff, too, you know?"
 
"Hm." Dark replied, scratching his cheek with one finger before stretching out his legs, "Are you able to move into a higher class? I am sure you do not know everything already, you have not been working at it for a long time, comparatively."
 
Xander shrugged. "I guess so, maybe, but it it's mostly you have a specific set of moves, grips, and things like that, and what makes you better, what makes you a champ, is how you string them together and doing that better and faster than the person you're fighting."
 
"What do you want to do?" Dark asked, looking at his son but not demanding or judging, "Do you think it is something you want to continue with? It is okay if you are no longer enjoying it and want to try something different. Maybe there is a different martial art, or something completely unrelated you may enjoy more. Or, if it is something you like, but feel..." He hovered one hand in the air, trying to remember the word for plateau before saying, "stuck... Have you spoken to your teacher? They may have a recommendation I would lack."
 
Xander leaned back, staring at the ceiling contemplatively. "I dunno," he finally admitted. "I do like it, but I'm not sure what I'd do instead. I guess I gotta look into it more because I'm not familiar with other styles, but I think most of them involve more... touching. Judo, you pretty much only touch the gis. The uniform. Skin to skin is accidental. I guess I could talk to my teacher, but he mostly tells me I should compete."
 
Xander shook his head and sat up so he could lean forward, looking down now. "Sloan gave me a hard time about it, and I get why, and the teacher says the only way to truly improve is to go to the competitions and face new opponents and push yourself, but... I just... there's something about... I dunno. Peter does it. He dominates a lot of them, too, but he's been doing it forever. Could have done it professionally, but that requires a heck of a lot of time and commitment."
 
Dark nodded slowly, still keeping his eyes on Xander, "Is that why you do not want to compete? You think you will not do well? Or that you will do worse than Peter? You have also been doing it for a much shorter time than him."
 
"Nah, that's not it. I don't mind losing. I even beat Peter once, but I got lucky," Xander said, rubbing the back of his neck. "I dunno why I don't. I just... don't want to. Can't really improve if I don't. Not sure I want to improve. Just feeling stuck, yeah."
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top