Illyana and Yuri, way backdated

[ax_amur]

The Russian kids meet--and find more common ground than that.

When Corbeau handed Yuri his first homework assignment, Yuri stared at it and said, "Yobannye passatizhi.*" Seriously, this was too fucking much. He had training til eight!

Corbeau stopped and looked at him. "What's that?"

Yuri mumbled under his breath, "Nothing." Then waited for Corbeau to move along before adding, "Hitrovyebannyi**," glaring directly at the teacher's back.

Behind him, Illyana let out a snort of laughter. "Why pliers? she replied in a whisper, in Russian. Granted, she could understand the sentiment - homework sucked - but pliers?

Yuri sat up straighter when he heard a girl's voice speaking Russian at him. Hm, the blonde behind him. He couldn't tell much from her accent, but it was good. He'd thought she was American...

And actually, "I don't know," he admitted, frowning. "It's just an expression when something's awful. Fucking pliers!" He turned to look at her from behind pale bangs. "You're not Russian? You speak it like you are."

"I left when I was little," she explained. "You're from there, then? I didn't realize anyone here was."

"Moscow." And he had no intention of speaking English if he could get by in Russian, so he didn't. "Thought I was the only one. I've traveled here, but never..." he made a sulky face that was entirely in earnest "... stayed."

"And you're not real thrilled that you're staying now," Illyana observed, her lips quirking up in a half smile. Because that much was obvious.

It was also obvious that Dr. Corbeau was watching them, so she cleared her throat, glanced pointedly towards the teacher, and made an effort to look as if she were paying attention.

Yuri made a face, but also turned back around. And then, finally, when Corbeau stopped flapping his lips at them and released the class, Yuri said, "No. I'm not thrilled. Were you--or were you too small to know?"

"Too small to realize I wouldn't be going back, at least." Illyana got to her feet and started gathering her books. "You're just here for school, then?"

Yuri grunted an affirmative. "And training, now, though I'd rather be at my home rink." He added as an afterthought--getting used to people not knowing who he was now-- "I'm a competitive skater."

"Really? That's cool," Illyana smiled, hopefully hiding the fact that she'd had absolutely no idea that that was even a thing. "You're training near here, then?"

"Near ish," Yuri replied, stuffing his notebook into his pack. "You know anywhere nearby good for Russian food? My--friend showed me a place in the city, but it's too far for every day."

"I haven't really gone looking," Illyana admitted. She grinned impishly as she picked up her bag and slung it over her shoulder. "But the city isn't far. If you can teleport, anyway."

"Ah!" Yuri actually smiled and looked enthusiastic for once. "That Shinobi told me there were teleporters. You could get good food any time you liked. Now that's a useful power."

"It has its pluses and minuses," Illyana admitted. "What's your thing?"

Yuri flushed. But since she didn't know anything about him, she wouldn't know why it was embarrassing, right? And not like everyone wouldn't know in the powers training. "I can shift into a tiger."

"Seriously?" Illyana's eyes widened. "Like, an actual tiger? Not like Nick who looks like he tried to turn into a wolf and got stuck halfway?"

Yuri had seen that guy around. He looked like a nightmare. Yuri's nightmare, specifically. He made a face. "An actual Siberian tiger. Though... I'm not that... used to turning back. It takes some time." He looked away, not wanting to admit to the ears and tail.

"Yeah, I think everyone gets that. I'm still missing my targets a lot of the time," Illyana shrugged. "How long since you started shapeshifting?"

Yuri hummed thoughtfully, brow furrowed. That... actually made him feel a little better. Still humiliated, but slightly less? "I guess... six months. It was fine, until it started happening partway when I got--whatever. Angry or something." Sprouting cat ears just off a podium was not a good look.

"Mmmm. Yeah, my eyes go red when I'm pissed, sometimes." Illyana grinned, just a little. "Luckily, I look good in red." She cocked her head and grinned a bit more. "How do you go partway to a tiger?"

"That's pretty bad-ass," he said, about the eyes. But then he flushed slightly. "Sometimes... the ears and the tail won't go back. Or they... pop out. It's humiliating."

"I don't know. A tail could be pretty cool," she speculated. She jerked her head towards the door. "Do you have another class? Or do you want to go grab something to eat?"

"I'm always hungry," Yuri said without hesitation. He stood and started toward the door with her. "The tail is all right--at least it's a cool tail. Tigers are awesome. But it's... less awesome for balance on the ice. And not being disqualified for being a mutant."

"Can they actually disqualify you for that?" Illyana looked indignant. "That's messed up. What would being a mutant have to do with ice skating?"

"Who knows. They'll find a reason," Yuri said darkly. "Something about my agility or flexibility or who knows what. Unfair advantage. As if there's such a thing as an equal starting point."

"What do you mean? Just natural ability?" Illyana asked.

Yuri grunted something affirmative. "Some people are naturally better at different things, but it's more work than talent. That and resources. Saying it's not is insulting."

"I get that." It wasn't much different than magic, then. She might have been born with the spark for it, but she'd worked her ass off for everything, since. "How much work do you put into it? And what do you mean, resources?" She looked awkward and shrugged. "I don't know much about skating, I'm sorry."

He shrugged right back, one-shouldered but graceful. He didn't care if she knew or not; he was getting used to--and even sort of liking--being around people who had different ideas about life. Hadn't changed his, but it wasn't uncomfortable, either. "I live it and breathe it. When I was twelve, I moved from Moscow to St. Petersburg to train full time. I train every morning and evening until it's time for bed, even here.

"And resources are coaches, rinks, gyms, teachers, studios..." He waved his hands as if to say 'that sort of thing'. "Not to mention the travel and other expenses."

"It sounds like you lucked out on that, at least?" Illyana guessed. "I mean, seeing as you've got a rink and everything, even here. And a studio - you're taking dance?"

"There's nothing lucky about it." Yuri snorted. He'd a thousand times rather be back in Russia. A hundred thousand.

Not that he needed those idiots. He was fine here. Just. He skated for his country, so he should be there. That was all.

"I'm taking advanced dance here. I go to Stevie's studio on weekends. She's helping with choreography."

"Stevie's the best," Illyana observed, ignoring the grumbling. He didn't want to be here - well, some days she didn't, either. "I have her for beginning dance twice a week. I just wish it was offered more often."

"She is much better than I expected," Yuri admitted, though a little grudgingly. "Much better than almost anyone I've seen. I wouldn't mind having that class more, either. It's the only one."

"I know, right? Why do they have the boring ones every day and dance and gym only twice a week, anyway?" Illyana gave her bag a glare. "And then give homework on top of it."

Yuri's upper lip curled. "Who needs all this crap in life anyhow? Do they really think they're helping, or are they just sadists?"

"Sadists," Illyana answered without hesitation.

Yuri snorted. "Just what I thought. In St. Petersburg I had classes, but it was more like... tutoring. That was annoying too, though. Someone looking at you all the time and expecting you to know answers."

"Mmm, yeah, I have some experience with that." Illyana wrinkled her nose. Granted, she doubted his tutoring was much like Belasco's lessons, but still. Having to know everything sucked. "That's one thing that's better about classes - at least you only get called on once in a while."

Yuri nodded, hair falling into his eyes. "It's stupid anyhow. Do we really need to know any of this? If we do later, we can just learn it then. I'm a skater not a mad scientist."

"Hey, don't look at me - I'm a demon sorceress," Illyana pointed out. "None of this science stuff even makes sense."

"Really? That's what you do? How does that work?" Somehow, he believed that far more easily than dog-boy's 'dog demon' story.

"Badly, here." Illyana wrinkled her nose. "A whole lot better in the dimension I teleport to and from. But it's kind of hell-like, so I don't recommend tours."

"Huh. Weird. But cool." Yuri cocked his head and narrowed his eyes. "That idiot Inu-Yasha isn't really a demon, right?"

"Not sure," Illyana admitted. "He could be, partly. He definitely fights like one." She frowned. "What's your problem with him?"

"He burst into my room uninvited and told me I smell like a cat, then threatened me." Yuri rolled his eyes. "He's a dumb ass."

"Nah, he threatens everyone. It's like a messed up hello. The cat thing is new, though." Illyana grinned. "I really need to give him shit about that. Ask him if it's dog demon instincts or something. Anyway, if he threatens you again, just ask him how he liked the back to school party. He'll take off."

Yuri smiled unpleasantly. "Good to know. Any other dirt I need on annoying students?"

"Tamara's a self-absorbed bitch from hell," Illyana replied promptly, returning his disturbing grin with one of her own. "And being from the closest thing to hell anyone here's seen, I can say that with authority. Oh, and in case he doesn't mention it to you, Simon in the lab can take in your whole medical history by touching you. And he's kind of an ass."

Yuri nodded, taking this all in and noting it. Bitch from hell, he did not need, and he'd have to just see about this Simon guy. Kind of an ass, he could handle... maybe. Not that he was looking for a buddy. "Good to know. This is enough of a pain in the ass--I don't need more from other students."

"I hear you." Illyana turned in to the kitchen and raised her eyebrows. "Want anything? I warn you, I can't cook, but I do pretty decent sandwich assembly."

Yuri thought of his conversation with JP and nodded. "I could stand to learn better sandwich assembly," he admitted reluctantly.

"Cool. Because I may have exaggerated." Illyana grinned. "But whatever. They always end up edible."

*fucking pliers!
**tricky-fuck