Kicks and Grins

Tempest’s Outfit

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Tempest was, unfortunately, running late to her soccer practice with Dane. Adalbert had to have help repairing one of the appliances in their small cabin. Tempest had to hold things up so he could work underneath. She really needed to buy him a forklift or something like that!

She muttered in German underneath her breath as she jogged towards the park. Her long blonde hair was pulled back into a ponytail that bounced back and forth. She wore a sweatband across her ears and forehead to keep the small strands of her hair back. She also had sweatpants on her wrists, just in case.

She rounded the corner and spotted Dane. He was playing soccer by himself – pretending to be the star. If he was still on the team, Tempest was sure she would have had him as a rival for the captain position she held so dearly. She watched him for a moment as he scored a goal and celebrated, her lips turning up into an almost teasing smirk. He was really so predictable! He started to make more goals, and she finally approached him.

Rather than speaking she dove right in and blocked a goal he had tried to make. She kicked the ball between her legs before she darted behind Dane and kicked, aiming her ball for the opposite goal. She really was thankful the community park had all sorts of sports nets set up!

”Practice is going good, yeah?” She asked. ”Sorry I am late. But it seems you had plenty of fun without me,” she mimicked his little cheer that she’d seen earlier, pretending to be surrounded by a cheering ground. ”It is a gaaaarate date for practice, ya?” She imitated Tony the Tiger as she spoke and finally focused her gaze onto Dane.

Tempest rose an eyebrow dangerously at Dane, her expression teasing. She kept position, watching Dane’s feet with the ball. She wondered why he couldn’t play on the team but did not comment on it – after all he seemed fine to her! But he said he could not due to doctor’s orders and it seemed foolish to Tempest. After all, Dane was right there, kicking the ball and scoring! He was so good! It was such a shame, really.

She maneuvered herself to follow Dane’s fakeout and, sensing a slightly hesitation, moved to defend her goal. However the ball did not come and she watched as he juggled it, before he gave Tempest it back with a swift kick. She caught the ball with her foot and put her hand on her hip, glancing over at Dane as he asked her a question.

”I forgot to eat breakfast this morning,” Tempest said easily. It technically wasn’t a lie, she had forgotten. She just didn’t feel like detailing what she’d been doing with Adalbert – or mentioning him at all. He didn’t like to be asked about; Tempest suspected he had a criminal past and didn’t want people to be too nosy. While she spoke Tempest began to juggle the ball, took aim, but then faked left and shot an attempt at a goal at Dane.

Tempest rolled her eyes at his comment.

”All of them except for me, plainly.” She deadpanned, mocking his seriousness with her tone. She was used to playing against Dane and he often liked to fake out the ball. She knew to expect a fake, and often there were small cues he’d do before he changed direction. Little involuntary twitches, small changes in body tilt, that led her towards victory.

As she suspected he faked her out, and she knew to expect it. She saw him sweep to the side and followed him, her pace quick. However she had not expected for him to pop the ball up – it flew up by her head and she jumped to reach it, but failed. The ball flopped to the ground and Dane was moving towards her completely open goal.

Switching immediately to the defensive Tempest flew down the field, paying no mind to Dane as she positioned herself in front of her goal. It was pointless to try to steal the ball back now – not when he would, with one slow movement, score a goal on her! Tempest went on the defensive and watched Dane’s body movements with the ball, prepared to jump or lunge forward if she had to to prevent the ball from entering her goal.