Getting A Jump On Things With Tsuyu Pt 2

"Ten... Nine... Eight... Seven..."

Walt hefted the pack and slipped it on. He cinched the straps tight looking down the slope the direction Tsuyu went. She had a darn good lead now.

"Six... Five... Four..."

He cracked and popped his joints and shook them out. He didn't look it. Hell he didn't feel it. But he was old. Much older than he looked. "The big birthday is coming up "old timer"," he mumbled. "Everybody's not so secretly making a fuss over nothing." He took a starting position.

(("Says the supercentenarian. Three... Two... One and-"))

"Zero", he said and started running. He smiled and veered to the right. Tsu was right. He knew the area like the back of his hand... Maybe better! It wasn't as straight but there was a path of sorts that was worn as it sloped downwards. Great for kids on sleds or folks on ski's or snowboards in the winter and not to bad the rest if the time if you needed to get downhill in a hurry and you didn't mind getting leaves and dirt all over yourself but-

(("Usually one would wear clothes doing this. And for any other fool this is a good way to break something. Enjoy the dirt up your-"))

" You're a bit lipier than usual this morning, Fri," he said sliding/skidding down the hill... And trying to ignore the fact that she was right. He could already feel dirt and leaves getting in uncomfortable places. "OK you're right. Libido got the best of me this time. This was not one of my better ideas... But not my worst either."

(("True. That bar is set rather high. But usually someone your age has the good sense to know better. Also try not to bite your tongue, "Boss"."))

Walt grunted as he dodged a tree. "Silly nonsense. Knock it off with that age junk. Lot's of folks have lived to one hundred and eleven. Bilbo Baggins-"

(("A fictional demi-human character is your defense? Really?"))

Walt showed his "good sense" by keeping his mouth shut. Particularly as he took a short cut off a jump provided by a somewhat rocky outcrop. Making the landing and coming up running he said, "OK. But some people lived to that age before our current advances. Besides that's just my "Prime" age. I'm not actually a hundred and eleven-"

(("True you're quite a bit older than that thanks to time compression which-"))

"Isn't the point, Fri!" He grumbled crashing through some pines. "Pwah! Needles in my mouth! Sptoo! You did that on purpose!"

(("I most certainly did not. Walter your gambit is working. You are gaining on Tsuyu and quickly but I should warn you-"))

"But what, Fri?" He asked irritated. "The bear or something? I'm kind of busy!"

(("The bear was tracked and passed through this area recently but is most likely not currently in the area..."))

"Good to know," he said crashing through some bushes out onto the trail... Directly in front of Merida mounted on top of Angus most likely making a morning bear patrol. Her jaw dropped. Angus's jaw dropped. Walt, wearing nothing but the backpack and his hat took the hat off the top of his head and covered up sidling across the trail. "Morning you two! Nice day for a wee stretch of the legs! Bit warm out! See you later for breakfast! Bye!" He dashed back through the bushes.

"Crivvens!" Merida said blushing as red as her hair. "Did ye keek tha'? Friggin huge, healty knob on Big Yin! Help ma boab! That'll ruin a lass!"

"Whinny!" Angus agreed nodding. That certainly helped explain Walters popularity with all the fillies! He was indeed hung like a horse. He rolled his eye at seeing his friends face, grinning. Her reaction said it all... Wee lass was going to have a grand time if she didnae die! Also... "Whicker!"

She looked at Angus thoughtfully and nodded. "Aye... ye maybe right! Maybe a new hat for his birthday, ye think?"

Angus nodded and Merida nodded back. "Ah'll talk it o'er wit' th' others. Until then haud yer wheest, Aye?"

Angus nickered and nodded and away they went.

"Well that was embarrassing," Walt muttered running. "You couldn't have warned me sooner?"

(("I did try, Boss. Also so you know there are a fair few of the others up and about. Demona, Pirotess and others of the nocturnal persuasion but also several of the early risers-"))

"Show me on the HUD," he grunted and then grumbled when she did. "Whiskey Tango Foxtrot are so many doing up and about already?!"

(("Many have started following your example I assume. Others simply are early risers as well or are eager to start their "jobs" and/or chores before the day gets hot. Some will be joining the Marvel infiltration, invasion and subjugation forces with you and so are getting an early start on preparations and others-"))

"Yes, I see," he grunted. "Looks like at least one had the same idea as I did. That's a bit awkward. Hang on." He slowed a bit to make a wide detour around the real master of the mountain. Not him or the bear... but the wolverine. The critter already had it's hackles up hearing him crashing through the wood. "Morning Brother. Just passing by and not looking for trouble... rather tangle with the bear." *and vice-versa I'm sure for the bear!" He thought as he swung wide around and well away from the cantankerous creature so as not to incite it's berserk fury. It made a warning sound watching him warily but Walt not giving him a reason he dismissed him as insignificant and went back to it's meal. Walt smiled and tipped his hat to his neighbor and then was on his way again. "Friday. Ask the one that's already there if she doesn't mind company or staying out of sight and not embarrassing Tsu? She's a good girl and will probably say yes. I'll make it up to her personally."

(("She agrees. She'll try to keep out of sight though if you're "playing" she wants to "play" also."))

Walt chuckled. "Alright. I promise to play with her either after or later." He grinned he could just make out Tsuyu ahead. Her sexy body bounding freely really was quite a beautiful sight. He almost wanted to hang back and watch her move... Bbut that wasnt very sporting! He grinned and picked up the pace!

"On your left," Walt said surprising Tsuyu. She glanced backwards quickly over her shoulder in amazement. He"d already caught up and showed no sign of slowing down. *Peak superhuman fitness isn't to be underestimated!* she thought. She made a series of extra long leaps... And Walt raced past anyway. She shook her head. His form was perfect and sure enough his knowledge of the terrain was incredible. Avoiding bad spots and obstacles with almost supernatural uncanniness. He never missed a step except to avoid making bad ones. He and Roberta had a similar almost inhuman intensity and concentration when they exerted themselves. For Roberta it was like she was a perfect, unstoppable human machine plowing ahead relentlessly. For Walter it was like he was perfect beast. The human animal perfected. Raw power met grace and economy of movement. Nothing wasted. Like watching an apex predator move.

She gulped as she watched him pass despite her best efforts... And it was a thrilling sight! Seeing his sexy, masculine body in action... She almost just wanted to be a spectator. She remembered something she'd overheard the others talking about. Watching him work was exciting. Splitting wood, riding the horses, working out and just doing chores in general. He wasn't just a handsome man. He had a beautiful body and it was breathtaking to behold it in action.

She sighed smiling watching her m race ahead towards where the water awaited. *Well... I've lost. Oh well... That can be exciting too! Better not keep him waiting!*

It didn't take her long at all to reach the area. The river flowed down into a not so small waterfall creating a goodly sized pool like area before flowing away. That's where she found him building a small fire near the shoreline.

He looked up smiling holding out a canteen. "Hiya, Tsu! Good run! Have a drink and then get in the water."

"Thanks!" She panted taking the canteen and drinking before handing it back. That's when she confirmed what she'd already suspected. "You uh,... You haven't gotten in yet?"

Walt smiled at her and smacked his forehead. "Whoops! Guess not! I got distracted as you can see. Oh well... I'm busy tending to this so when you get in you win. Congratulations!" He shrugged and went back to stoking and feeding the small fire.

Tsuyu regarded him shaking her head. "You're throwing the match? But you clearly won. Ribbit. "

Walt smiled happily. "We both had fun and enjoyed ourselves... Everybody wins that way in my opinion. Who actually " wins" is a pretty minor thing in the face of that, besides," he winked at her. "I'm excited to see just what your request will be after you claim it!"

She stared... then started to laugh. He was excited to hear her request just like she was to hear his! It was funny... and made even funnier as he cocked his head to one side grinning confused. He didn't get what it was that tickled her sense of humor but he was happy just to see it!

She walked off laughing... But not towards the water. Tsuyu started gathering up dried wood to use in the fire. "So why a fire? You did the same thing when we all went swimming last weekend. Ribbit."

Walt shook his head smiling. He wasn't surprised that the fairminded Tsuyu hadn't gone for her victory right away. "Well that water's mountain fed. Even during the hottest days of summer it's pretty cool. A nice fire to come out to will feel nice after swimming around for a bit... and you're susceptible to cold temperatures, right?"

Tsuyu was surprised. "I am. Cold sets of my froglike abilities to hibernate. But... how..."

Walt shrugged and smiled. "I studied up. I'm still learning about all of you but I need to take good care of you all, yourself included. Having you go into hibernation, let alone me hetting hypothermia, isn't going to be fun for anyone."

She smiled. "That's... really thoughtful, Walt." She brought over the wood she'd gathered up and piled it with his. The warm fire did feel nice. He was always thinking about others... especially her and the other ladies. She reached out and down to stroke the hair on his head as she felt a different kind of warmth welling up inside her as her heartbeat thudded loudly. "Thank you. Ribbit. Walt..."

Walt looked up at Tsuyu and swallowed. He kissed her hand and then rose. She smiled and took his hand gently pulling and he followed her lead, down to the shore together hand in hand to enter the water. A tie. They could both make a request of one another that way.

-Meanwhile...

The big red dragon behind the waterfall sighed. Ilulu smiled though as she moved away into the cave to give them some privacy. "Tsuyu and Walt are pretty cute! That'll be good... And Walt said he'd "play" with me later! Now that I chased off the bear to bathe in the river, I want to "play dirty" and then have to get clean again!"

She settled down to wait and possibly nap. "I can be a good girl and wait my turn to play. It's more fun that way anyway."

[Walter Stark Penny Polendina F.R.I.D.A.Y Neopolitan Pyrrha Nikos Nora Valkyrie Yang Xiao Long Blake Belladonna Kali Belladonna Sienna Khan Willow Schnee Glynda Goodwitch Zwei Ahnassi Lifts-Her-Tail Senko Sayoko Shinozaki Roberta Cisneros Haruna Sasha Blouse Ilulu Rachel "Raven" Roth Manami "La Brava" Aiba Tsuyu "Froppy" Asui Haruhime Sanjouno Anastasia "The Baroness" Cisarovna/DeCobray Demona Mystique Pirotess Lydia Aela the Huntress Serana Mission Vao Curie Ada PAM KL-E-O Merida Gwen "Gwenom" Stacy Jublation "Jubilee" Lee and Jennifer "She-Hulk" Walters

Will Return In

TBD

Coming Soon]