His good eyebrow raised as he let out a small laugh, ”You know what it might be a possibility if you can pass my test for your first lesson.” Sam said with a reassuring smile making it seem like he had a shot when Sam knew that Gawain didn’t stand a chance. Taking a step over to towards Gawain and placing one hand on the boy’s shoulder Sam pushed down and then stepped quickly throwing out another calf to calf sweep.

”Your last lesson for the day before the test is to figure out not only how to throw this sweep but also to counter it.” there was a few ways to properly counter it one of them Sam’s favorite was to rotate with the weight shift so instead of just the victim going down the attacker falls as well, the best part is that the victim can end up landing on the attacker if executed correctly.

Taking a step back Sam looked from Gawain then up to the god room, ”Computer, Sam files, Custom attacker 0012-A!” the Danger room echoed with Sam’s voice for a moment then the danger room started to create a figure for Gawain to practice on. Blonde thicker build that Gawain but not much. Between Sam and those who knew of his programs there were attacks built for speed power and both, the one Gawain had for a partner was meant for strength he was defiantly the slower modle but if Gawain made a wrong move he was going to get thrown around a bit.

”On your start Gawain! Let me know when you are comfortable with it!” taking a step back Sam decided he’d watch his newest student do what he could to challenge the target. All he had to do was perform calf to calf a few times till he got the idea then he had to counter it.

>>”You know what it might be a possibility if you can pass my test for your first lesson.”

Gawain didn't believe him. Not. For. One. Second.
But, he decided, it would be fun to pass that test anyway.
And then Sam would owe him a beer.

He saw the sweep coming, but he couldn't counter it; his back hit the ground once again. At least he knew what was going to happen and shifted his weight to soften the fall.

>>”Computer, Sam files, Custom attacker 0012-A!”

"Now that's a funny name to give to a child" Gawain smirked as he stood, looking at his holo-opponent. He looked surprisingly real. And surprisingly stupid.

>>”On your start Gawain! Let me know when you are comfortable with it!”

"Ready, steady" the young knight nodded, trying to size up his opponent "Go."

Performing the sweep proved to be easier than he'd expected. He had to dodge a punch, and a kick, and since CA already had one foot in the air the only thing he had to do was get on his other side. The sweep was executed perfectly apart from the small detail that Gawain went down with it too.
"Ouch."
Rolling off his opponent he gained some distance, stood, and tried again. And again. And again. It took a few tries till he managed to get it right. Once he did, it seemed easy.
"All right, Sam" he grinned, glancing at the captain, displaying a classic rookie mistake "I think I got it..."

The next moment he was on his back again, with CA staring blankly down at him. The young knight made a face.
"Sorry pal, not my type."

Countering the sweep: now that's the tricky part. It took quite a few falls and rolls for Gawain to find his balance in the midst of being thrown around. He managed to bring CA down with him, but it took long moments of wresting before he ended up on top; he experimented with shifting his weight to his other leg while one was being swept, and twist his way out of the opponent's hold. He finally settled for holding on to CA's shoulders: this way he ither brought him down for some wrestling, or got the opponent to support his weight till he found his feet again and kneeled him in the stomach. Good thing Gawain was relatively lightweight.

"All right, I got it" he panted after long minutes of fighting, and backed away from CA "But he's not too smart is, he."

A real opponent would have figured out his techniques before he managed to perfect them.

Sam nodded his head ”Indeed he is a bit slower than the others, designed mainly for those who are just getting started, so he was perfect level for you. It will be a little bit before you advance to the next model he is a little faster and a little stronger, something that your not exactly ready for just yet.” Sam said as he patted his hand on the back of Gawain’s current sparring partner. The partner started to fade right there as Sam looked over to Gawain with his lone eye.

”Now regarding that first test of the day.” Sam looked up tot the god room and called for some sparring gear, as he started to look down footpads and cushioned gloves were created, ”Put those on and take off your shoes!” Sam said as he did the same and put the gloves and footpads over his feet.

”Show me what you learned!” Sam said loudly changing his tone from a calm instructor to a more aggressive one. Charging in and throwing up a front punch directed at Gawain’s chest Sam held back on the power but kept the speed on the high side hoping that Gawain would be pushed to go all out to avoid the attack.

>>"...next model he is a little faster and a little stronger, something that your not exactly ready for just yet.”

Gawain made a frown that disappeared just as soon. When the fight was for real, anyone who survived was good. 'Not ready' was something people only said in training.
Oh well. At least they finally got to the test.

>>”Show me what you learned!”

Sam charged at him, trying to punch him and scare him at once. One of them worked. Gawain moved out of the way, but not fast enough; the fist collided with his left shoulder, and sent him to the ground. It was not that hard a hit - the young kight was adding his own momentum to the fall, which he caught with his hands before he hit the ground. Using the momentum left he tried to sweep Sam's legs from under him before he rolled and stood up, grinning.

Tests are fun.

Gawain was grinning, he was either afraid (which was a more common response to someone throwing a punch at you with the intent to inflict harm) or he was enjoying himself. Sam’s lip twitched slightly. Oh he was far too much like Sam, younger Sam would be laughing while he was being attacked.

Deciding to kick it up a few notches Sam jumped up dodging the sweep completely. Had he been a few years less experienced the kick would have landed and would have taken him off his feet and in some pain (a fact that Sam was impressed with and would point out later), however Sam was a teacher for a reason.

When Gawain stood up he had a second to respond from a palm strike that was shooting straight for Gawain’s chest, Sam was getting faster which meant there was also more power behind his strikes, Sam wanted Gawain to know that this was serious business and should be treated as such, and so the onslaught began, punches and palms, elbows and kicks all would be thrown to test his newest student.

(OOC: Feel free to do a time skip to the end of the test)

Gawain didn't stand a chance, and he knew it.
That didn't stop him from trying.

Sam was stronger, faster, and better trained than the mirrorwalker, and since the Danger Room currently lacked reflecting surfaces, he didn't have a chance to use his powers to his advantage. Oh well.
Gawain's tactic was surprise. He could tell certain moves, kicks and punches had their counterparts in blocking and dodging, ways one was supposed to respond to them - and he avoided those. Of course, it took a lot of extra effort, and a lot more movement, but at least he didn't get knocked out in the first few rounds. He got a few punches in, and hit Sam a few times too; nothing serious enough to end the test.

Sooner or later, the young knight was bound to make a mistake.
And when he did, it resulted in a punch right in the face that sent him on the floor with the aching promise of a black eye and a mild concussion.

"Well, ouch." he muttered, and stayed down, pressing a palm against his face. He peered up at Sam "I guess I didn't pass, did I..."

The one eyed teacher smirked as Gawain commented after the sparring session was over. ”Looks that way doesn’t it?” Sam smiled and reached down to pull Gawain up by his hand, ”But you did a fantastic job, really did, it’s clear that you’re a quick study!” Sam said as gave Gawain a praising smile, there were two types of students Sam met, those who were the naturally gifted with the ability to absorb everything thrown their way and then there was the other kind, the ones that couldn’t absorb everything, the ones with no natural ability what so ever.

While he enjoyed teaching the ones with the ability to learn quickly he sometimes preferred to teach those that had no talent for the art what so ever, the main reason was because they tended to work harder than anyone else. He was one of those quick study ones things along the lines of self defense often came easier to him than others. It seemed Gawain was those quick study students like he was, he had a feeling the biggest problem for Gawain was repeating the same strikes and counters over and over again, which is what he was going to have to do, practice makes perfect after all.

A few spots on his body were twitching slightly where his mirror jumping student had struck him, some of them were better positioned than others and few were on his arm where it seemed Gawain was striking just to hit then again one of the strikes to his arm disrupted a strike Sam was planning on throwing. Sam smirked not sure if Gawain knew exactly what he was doing or not, either way Sam was impressed.

”Maybe next time I’ll be blind, you might stand a chance then!” Sam said jokingly as he patted Gawain on the back, ”Here,” Sam said as he held out his hand to Gawain as a block of ice formed, ”Put that on your eye, keep it there for a while, if you want we can go see Doc and have him take a look, but I gotta say keeping it would serve a better purpose…” Sam said a grin widening on his face, ”That shiner will have the girls all over you!”

”Oh you passed by the way, however, you didn’t last long enough to deserve a beer or anything, so don’t expect one, however you did earn something, turns out Bruno won’t get a new chew toy!” looking at the danger room clock Sam nodded, ”I think you learned enough for today, tomorrow same time, Got it?” Sam asked knowing his student wouldn’t disappoint him.

Gawain flashed a proud grin. He was good. He did a great job. He passed the test. He was told so by the Captain of the X-men.

>>”That shiner will have the girls all over you!”

Annnnd for the first time since he caught him stealing, it occurred to Gawain that Sam might just be a lot cooler than he appeared at first.
(Pun not intended)

"Ah, now I get the eye patch." he grinned, pressing the ice against his face with a hiss.
Twyla will have my *ss for gettin' beaten up again...

No beer.
Well, damn.

Gawain rolled his eyes (it was a painful process right now). The last sentence brought the grin back to his face though.
Same time tomorrow.
Suuure.

***********

At the same time on the following day, Maya showed up at the Danger Room with her left eye decorated in the vivid colors of a tropical sunset. She was wearing a black top and cargo pants, and leaned against the wall as she waited for Sam to show up.

Let's see who surprises whom this time...

‘He should be sore’ thought Sam sore and slow, which would be perfect for today, today was joint lock day, it was slower paced but Gawain would still get a workout a different one but if he did it right he would still be tired after it was over. Sam never said his training would be easy; in fact his training was designed to keep Gawain out of trouble and if he was too sore to do anything that put him into trouble so be it.

He was late again his way of teaching his student the skill of patience it was a lesson that would take time to learn to appreciate and if Gawain stuck around he would. Sam yawned as he walked towards the danger room barefoot in shorts and an old ratty shirt. As he approached the room waiting to find Gawain waiting for him Sam was surprised when a girl was waiting for him. Black tank top and cargo shorts, decorated with a left eye covered in a hue of colors, it was a black eye that much was obvious who she was however Sam wasn’t sure.

She looked familiar though, her facial features were similar to someone he knew. ”Can I help you?” Sam asked as he approached the danger room door punching in a few numbers disappointed that Gawain had yet to show, maybe Bruno would get his chew toy after all.

It took a different amount of time for different people to catch up with the gender-shifting thing. Some (like Twyla) guessed right away that Maya and Gawain were the same person; for others, it took several meetings to figure it out, especially if Mirror played his roles right.

But, for goodness' sake, she had a friggin' sunset on her face, and it was Sam who had put it there. The day before.

>>”Can I help you?”

"I don't know about that" the girl answered with a grin, following Sam to the danger room "But my brother couldn't make it, so whatever it is you're supposed to be doing with him, you'll have to do it with me. He said to tell you he's busy right now. He sounded pretty hung over too."

Maya looked at Sam with hands on her hips, and waited for the coin to drop.

Sam eyed the girl in front of him for a moment or two and then scratched the back of his head, either Gawain hit his sister in the same spot Sam hit her or someone else hit her in the same location. However it was far too much of a coincidence. It also made sense as to why this girl and Gawain looked so similar they were siblings no doubt twins. ”That’s a nasty shiner…” Sam said in all seriousness as he continued, ”How did you get it?”

He was catching on quickly, he knew enough about punches and bruises that and he knew his own work, he didn’t know how but this girl had the same bruise as Gawain, they must have had a link of some kind, however he doubted what she said about her brother was true. ”Looks like Bruno gets a new chew toy then.” Sam said nonchalantly as he entered the danger room and entered.

”Not sure I can teach you what I was going to teach him, I don’t really know who you are and to be honest your brother was at a level I was confident in, you on the other hand aren’t so sure of.” Sam had an idea now they were more similar than the girl was leading on the grin she flashed him earlier was far to similar to her brothers.

”How old are you anyways?” Sam asked curiously as he made his way to the center of the danger room, ”Tell me a little bit about your brother, his personality I mean.” Sam said as he looked up to the danger room then called out for a simulation as the danger room turned to a run down city block.

>>”That’s a nasty shiner... How did you get it?”

The trickster's brain was already one step ahead of the question. Mirror and Mom had long ago figured out a comfortable explanation for situations just like this one.

"You did it." she smirked "To Gawain, I mean. It's... part of the whole, mirror-mutant thing. Basically, whatever happens to his body, happens to me." she grinned "I pray he never gets a tattoo."

>>”How old are you anyways? Tell me a little bit about your brother, his personality I mean.”

"Seventeen. We're twins." Maya explaind, working really hard to keep the grin in check "About my brother... well, he's a brat. Annoying as hell, an' don't get me started on his ego." Maya ran her fingers through her hair as she pulled it back into a pigtail "I seriously have no idea what chicks love 'bout him so much."

Finished with pulling her hair back, Maya looked at Sam again. "But whatever he can do, trust me, I can do too. Bring it on."

Sam nodded his head; it was already a thought that crossed his mind a twin link wasn’t that uncommon however he still had his doubts about the real link between them. When she explained that she could do what ever he could do he smiled, then blinked with one eye turning it into a wink. When she said chicks his thoughts were starting to shift away from the link she claimed chicks don’t call chicks chicks they call them girls or women. This he thought was common knowledge.

He smirked slightly, ”Alright, I’m guessing the link would teach him as well right?” Sam asked curiously hoping for a good answer. Taking a step forward Sam yelled for a scenario as people started to fill the streets, ”Let’s start off with side stepping and dodging, no strikes, got it?” Sam asked not really feeling the need to explain… ”What’s your name?” Sam asked as he looked to the girl.

A few dozen people walked up to them their fists covered with rags and cloth to soften the punches so they could add more power to their punches. Sam would be joining in the warm up exercise as well; only he wouldn’t just be warming up his body but his mind as well. Turning his back to the female Sam activated his mutation lowering the temperature around him a few degrees it was a small radius but enough to allow him to train his new ability. Any one of the figures entered his field he would dodge and fake a counter, another purpose of this training exercise was to watch and confirm his suspicion of Gawain’s sister.

Feeling the heat around him Sam felt the heat coming from behind him, it was the girl, he would be sure not to hit her on accident. The first man ran towards him and Sam reacted to the heat that was filling in to his small field around his body, turning accordingly and locking his eye on the attacker Sam bent down and pushed him away waiting for the next attacker. While his field was active his eye occasionally trailed over to the female to see how she would go about dodging.

>>”Alright, I’m guessing the link would teach him as well right?”

"Nah, but I will, once he drags his sorry ass outta bed." Maya grinned, getting ready for the lesson. There was really no way to overdo this.

>>”Let’s start off with side stepping and dodging, no strikes, got it? What’s your name?”

"Maya."

Side stepping and dodging. Gotcha. At least this way it was easier not to show off any moves Sam had just taught her the previous day.
And then the warm-up began.

In spite of being the same person, there were subtle differences between how Gawain and Maya moved, or fought - mainly due to the differences between the male and the female body, and the fact that Maya was slightly lighter, and more flexible. Lately she noticed that Gawain as getting slightly taller too, a phenomenon that annoyed her to no end.

Maya dodged, ducked and rolled, making sure to be more unpredictable than precise. She also moved around, keeping an eye on Sam to let him see as little of her fighting style as possible. The longer she could keep the twin story up, the better.

She hadn't played that game in a very long time, and now she was having fun with it.

A few minutes went by and he noticed that the fighting style between the two wasn’t the same however he did notice the dodging and sidestepping was more unpredictable than anything else, one could say forced even. Sam’s eye twitched slightly, ”Good, now strikes kicks and sweeps!” Sam said already throwing a punch directly in the face of the nearest target rendering him unconscious, when he fell he turned to light and faded away as more and more people started to form a massive mob around both he and Maya.

If he had the experience he would have turned his back to her making sure his eye wouldn’t lock on her what so ever just relying on his heat sense however as it was he still didn’t have enough control so it would have been impossible.

He had to see something to confirm his suspicions, ”Maya! Sweep!” Sam said as he pushed a rather large man Maya’s way.