The punch was pretty solid and connected with the detective’s jaw square and true. Jorge was expecting this. After he had thrown his body blow, he knew that he left himself open just a bit. What he did not count on was Andrew actually exploiting that area so quickly. The kid was a damn quick learner and Jorge had to chuckle slightly as he stumbled back a little, more from surprise than pain. After he cleared his vision, he turned back to Andrew again, gloves raised high as he once more began to move forward.

“Alright Andrew, I see you’re getting a handle on this,” he said as he started t weave around the boy again.

He could see that Andrew was already starting to get tired and that meant that he was going to make a mistake. So Jorge pushed forward, feigned to make a couple of hits but only proceeded in dancing around Andrew expertly. He weaved back whenever the kit tried to make a punch for him, but Jorge did not respond in kind. Instead he kept his fancy footwork up as he moved left and then suddenly right. He was trying to keep Andrew moving. Even though the kid was tired, he was going to have to push this. This was important and key when it came to fighting. Sometimes it was best just to out move your opponent, especially if they are the uberly strong ones like Mittens. Speed and timing sometimes did win over sheer strength.

“Keep your feet moving Andrew, don’t take your eyes off me,” Jorge said as he danced left and then right and repeated the process backwards. “The second you take your eyes off, you leave yourself ope-“ but instead of finishing his sentence, Jorge jabbed twice and feigned another low body hit before he suddenly dodged to the left jabbed again towards Andrew’s face. It wasn’t a strong punch, but it was a disorienting one if connected.

Jorge danced back a bit, gloves still up. His jaw was still sore where Andrew had nailed him pretty good. He knew now not to underestimate the kid.

The brief respite he earned with the punch to Jorge's jaw Andrew used to regain the breath he'd lost from that last attack. Considering it was his first time at this Andrew thought he was doing incredibly well. He'd always been good at learning. The problem would come when he was called upon to use it in the real world. Outside of this ring his opponents wouldn't be as kind as Jorge. They wouldn't hold back so he could learn. If Andrew used this outside this ring the people he used it again would be trying to injure him or worse.

Andrew planted his mind firmly back on the fight and on Jorge. He was moving around again. He was getting tired but he did his best to keep up with Jorge. Jorge didn't seem like he was going to attack yet. Merely keep Andrew moving to wear him out. It was working too. By the time Jorge finally unleashed his barrage Andrew was too worn to do much about it.

He managed to block the jabs, sloppily though. The third punch impacted and knocked Andrew for a loop. For a few moments he didn't know which way was up. He tried to keep his guard up as best he could but that was difficult when his head was spinning. After a couple of precious minutes, that a less kind opponent would have taken advantage of, Andrew finally managed to put up a decent guard again and nodded to Jorge that he was ready to continue.

He had gotten Andrew pretty good with that punch, yet the kid had taken it pretty well. The punch had disoriented him and while that would have been the perfect opportunity to take him out, Jorge restrained himself as he stood back and waited for the kid to regain his breath. This was not about beating the kid into pulp, but he was trying to point certain things out: open shots, chinks in his armor, any spot that could be taken advantage of. But as Jorge exploited those, he also noticed that as soon as he was done, Andrew would recover himself and guard those spots.

The kid is a quick learner, Jorge thought to himself. Good, maybe he won’t be killed out there after all.

Jorge nodded when he saw that the kid was ready again. This was going to be long, but Jorge was determined. He would drill what he could into that kid’s head. As he approached, the experienced officer began to pull up more of skill. He found that he actually had to if he wanted to maneuver around the kid’s speed. Ah to be young again. Still this knowledge did not discourage Jorge. Instead in only managed to push him harder.

Jabs, crosses, uppercuts, punches flew left and right as both figures danced around each other, trying to take advantage of the other’s weaknesses. Jorge was a good teacher when it came to this, or may be Andrew was just that inherently good at boxing. Both gave each other a run for their money, but while the kid was beginning to tire from Jorge’s fancy foot work, Jorge still had plenty of reserve energy to go. He was the more experienced after all. He knew how to converse and when to expend, and that would be their next lesson. Instead he merely kept just out reach of Andrew’s punches, only to come forward when he wanted to hit.

And it was this constant motion that led to the final move. Jorge stepped in, feigned with a left jab before he delivered two, then three more with the same hand before he suddenly swung out with another cross aimed directly for Andrew’s cheek. It was a risky move because it also left his own guard down…but would the tired Andrew catch onto that before his fist connected?

Now it turned into something resembling a real fight. The two wheeled about, each throwing punches and feints to test and try the other. Andrew was exhausted but he kept going for the sake of the exercise. He kept up his defense as best he could and used what Jorge had taught him and was teaching him at that very moment. However what little energy he had left was dropping quickly. Andrew just would not be able to go on much longer.

That was when Jorge struck with a combination of moves that Andrew didn't really catch well enough to figure out what they were. A punch landed solidly on his cheek, knocking him backward some what. As much as he wanted to continue Andrew just couldn't hold out anymore. If he did he'd just be making himself a punching bag for Jorge. He left his guard down and looked at Jorge with exhaustion.

"I'm done."

Andrew didn't hold anything against the cop so there was no bitterness to the statement. You had to take your lumps sometimes. Especially when you were learning to box. The rest of the gym suddenly seemed to exist once more as Andrew hopped out of the ring and headed over to the bench to take off his gloves and take a drink of water. For a first effort Andrew figured he'd done fairly well. He obviously needed to improve in certain areas. Punches were getting through his defenses more often than he'd like and stamina was an issue. He needed to build up a greater reserve of stamina and figure out just how much energy to use in the first place. For now though that water tasted pretty good as he sat on the bench and recovered from the impromptu bout.

>> "I'm done."

For a moment Jorge thought he had hurt the kid’s feelings. When he had felt his punch connect, he knew it was not as hard as he could have made it, but still, it had to be quite a sting. He saw Andrew stumble back, but luckily the kid had not fallen. That was a good sign. At least he could take one of his half-strength punches pretty well. With that he watched as the kid climbed out of the ring, obviously exhausted from the faux-fighting they had just completed. Andrew was a good kid. He had a lot of heart and he could take a punch, as well as deliver them, but he was still a little raw.

Jorge followed after him, undoing his gloves and carried both in one hand as he headed back to the bench where all of their equipment was. He tossed both gloves into his bag and watched as Andrew took a long drink of water. He had to grin as he clapped him on the shoulder again.

“You got some moves, Andrew,” he said as he grabbed his own bottle of water from his bag and took a sip. “You keep practicing and polishing them up, you’ll be a force to reckon with.”

From anyone else this might have sounded condescending, but the truth of the matter was that there was nothing but sincerity in his voice. After he spoke, he started to pack away a few of his left over items and with his free hand reached up and rubbed the sore spot where Andrew had walloped him earlier. He knew that was going to leave a mark, it had already started to turn red. He glanced again at the kid and could see that he must have really worked himself up out there. Still Jorge saw the potential. Couple more trainings like this and he’d definitely give the detective a run for his money.

“Well, I don’t know about you,” he said as he placed the last of his items into the bag. “But getting clocked always makes me hungry. You want lunch?” He stood and looked serious at Andrew, waiting for an answer.

A grin crossed Andrew's face at Jorge's remarks about him being good but needing some practice and polish.

"Gonna need a lot of polish then."

Andrew stowed his own gloves and such in his bag. He was wiped out. Jorge suggested they go get something to eat and Andrew's stomach informed him that it agreed with that idea.

"Yeah that sounds like a good idea."

Andrew quickly traded out his tank top for the shirt he'd worn to the gym. The tank and empty water bottle went into the bag to keep his gloves and pair of pants company. Of course Andrew hadn't forgotten his usual glove and that went on his left hand as per normal.

"Thanks for this Jorge. Somehow, I think I'll be needing it."

Call it a hunch based on his current circumstances and future goals. Learning how to defend himself, and by extension others, couldn't hurt at all.

>> "Thanks for this Jorge. Somehow, I think I'll be needing it."

“You planning on joining some Ultimate Fighitng League, kid?” Jorge asked with a smirk. “Cause trust me, you’re going to need a few more lessons if that is the plan.”

Jorge laughed a little, good naturedly, as he excused himself for a second to pull out a change of clothes he had his in bag. He grabbed a fresh t-shirt, one that simply was dark gray and had the words “Miami U” printed across his and pulled his still clean smelling hoodie back on. After this he stuffed everything back into his bag, zipped it up and returned to where Andrew was waiting for him. This had turned out to be quite the training session so he did have a mighty hunger now to satisfy.

Once he rejoined Andrew, he led him back outside and nodded only a little ways down the street. There was a building on the corner and hanging out in front of its door was a small flag that hand a sandwich waving its arm, as if inviting passer-bys to come on in.

“Ray’s Deli. Some of the best sandwiches I’ve tasted since coming here.” He led the way, carrying his gym bag with him. He saw the inquisitive look on Andrew’s family and shot an apologetic, ‘Sorry-for-not-explaining look. “I’m from Miami. I only moved here recently to join the MRC.”

The image must have been odd, to see this young college kid and an older police officer as they walked side-by-side towards the delicatessen, but in this city, would they really garner a second look? Jorge paid no one a glance as he lead Andrew over to the shop and stepped in, holding the door open for Andrew. As soon as they were in, Jorge sighed as he looked over the menu and then noted that Andrew was doing the same thing. He had to smirk. He would’ve given them a second look as well. But Jorge did not give it any more attention than that and merely pointed out a few of the more delicious sounding items as they waited in line.

Finally Jorge sighed as he shot Andrew another glance. “How you feeling kid? Hope I didn’t whoop you too bad?” At this he smirked. They had had quite a work out and Jorge was simply just trying to lighten the mood.

Outwardly Andrew laughed at Jorge's remark about joining some UFL or another. However inwardly he was thinking that that probably wasn't too far off of the mark. Not that he thought he'd ever get to join the X-Men but just being around was probably danger by association. Plus he did want to help them out as best he could. If that meant he ended up on the team well then that was a good thing he supposed. However it probably was a lot less safe than a UFL match.

"Something like that." was his amused and slightly snarky reply.

Jorge led him down the street to a deli that he claimed was pretty good. An inquisitive glance from Andrew netted him an explanation behind the Miami U hoodie. So Jorge wasn't from New York? No surprise there. Andrew wasn't either and the evidence was all over the slight Kentucky drawl in his spoken words. While they waited in line for once Andrew didn't think of the people around him or their chances of guessing his status as a mutant. The workout had served to stop him from worrying too much. Jorge's question pierced Andrew's calm consideration of the menu and he turned to the elder man with a grin.

"Just tired. You've got a lot of energy for an old man."

He grinned unabashedly for a minute more and turned back to the menu to figure out just what sounded good.

>> "Just tired. You've got a lot of energy for an old man."

Old man? he thought. He did just hear that correctly didn’t he? The kid had called him an ‘Old Man’. At that point Jorge thought it was best that he did not immediately pull the kid into a headlock and squeeze until he passed out. No, that would not be that uncivilized. Instead Jorge took a breath, sighed and shot Andrew an icy stare that could have frozen a rampaging buffalo in its tracks.

With a raised brow, Jorge gave him a grin. “I guess all that eating before 4:00pm and drinking my fiber has been helping,” he replied sarcastically, but it was all in good fun. Before he knew it, he shoved Andrew gently as they moved up in the line. “What would you like? It’s on me today.”

Jorge then went over some of the more tasty items he has had in the past, sandwiches mainly, both regular and toasted. He then pointed out the things that were and were not good combinations until he had explained everything to Andrew that he had so far figured out or knew about the deli. So when it was their turn, he made sure that Andrew was well informed so that he could make a good decision. After that, Jorge sighed as he led Andrew over to one of the tables and took a seat as he sipped a fresh bottle of water he had just bought.

“So, Andrew,” he said as he relaxed back in his seat a bit. “I hope you don’t mind my asking, but you’ve got quite a few scars. I take it life’s been difficult?” Jorge was too the point but he would take no offense if the kid didn’t want to talk. Instead Jorge made himself an open book too. He pulled down the neck of his hoodie a bit to show just the tip of the nasty gunshot scar he had on his shoulder. “Quite a few years back. Got this memento on the docks in Miami. My mistake, I didn’t check my blind spots during this drug raid.” He did not mean to be so graphic, but hey, Jorge was going to train this kid, might as well tell him a little about himself.

Throughout Jorge's reaction to his comment Andrew smirked a little and stayed silent. Once they'd gotten their food and drinks and had sat down Jorge asked after his scars. Andrew thought carefully about it. One of those scars was obtained in a way that would likely get him arrested if he told Jorge. However he could tell him the others and a modified version of the other. Jorge shared the tale of one of his scars. Probably to induce Andrew to share.

"Upper right arm was from experimenting with my mutation to see if it could do something more than cause me pain." he spoke in a quiet voice to avoid attracting attention, "Lower right arm was from breaking a promise to stay out of a certain section of the city. Some ruffians took exception to my being on their turf apparently."

Andrew paused to once again consider his tale of the third. It was difficult to tell without casting guilt on himself. He wanted to be honest with Jorge but he didn't really want to go to jail either. Just because Sam had arrested the guys that had coerced him into it didn't mean that he couldn't still go to jail if he told.

"The one on my shoulder...I made a bad promise. I have bad luck with running into unsavory characters. That time it was muggers. I didn't have any cash. They decided to have me get some for them. I accidentally promised it. I didn't go through with it and that's where that one comes from."

There, that would do. The essence of the tale remained the same but any guilt of his was conveniently absent.

>> "The one on my shoulder...I made a bad promise. I have bad luck with running into unsavory characters. That time it was muggers. I didn't have any cash. They decided to have me get some for them. I accidentally promised it. I didn't go through with it and that's where that one comes from."

“Sorry kid. That sounds tough.”
Jorge nodded as he listened to each of Andrew’s stories just as intently as the last. He was glad that the kid decided to open up, but it really must have been a tough life for him. Having and ability like that, forced to keep promises, though did not seem hard, could actually be difficult. He wondered how many promises he had broken in his own life? He already knew one of them, he had promise to his mother when they had just moved to Miami that he would never put himself in danger again, as he did when his abilities first manifested all those years ago in California. Unfortunately it was not long after that he decided he wanted to be a police officer.

But he loved the job, even if he ran the risk of being stung, shot, choked, skewered, stabbed, burnt, squished, and any of another hundred words that can be associated with pain.

Jorge sighed as he took a bite of his pastrami sandwich, made sure to wipe away any mustard with his napkin and regarded the kid closely. During their fight he could sense the amount of anger the kid had welled up. He was focused and quiet and for Jorge, those were always the ones you needed to keep an eye on. Not that that was the reason why he was training the kid. He truly did feel that Andrew needed to know how to defend himself, otherwise he could just end up like another one of the victims he and his division would have to scrape up off the street. That or it would land him in whatever hot water the kid just now alluded to with his last scar.

He scratched his own scar on his shoulder absentmindedly before he took a sip of his water. “Lot of recovery time from this one. You see, my best friend at the time, my partner on the force, was a dirty cop. He was running with the drug cartels, selling them information behind our backs. We confronted during the a raid, I had my suspicions about him which is how I caught him red-handed. But…” he grinned as he shook his head. “Didn’t check my blind spot. So, he got me in the shoulder and I…” he looked at Andrew closely, no real emotion on his face as he related this story. Either he was dead of emotion, or he had told it so many times it did not really bother him as much. He then pointed at his own heart to indicate where he shot his former friend. “Got him dead center.”

"It isn't easy. Never has been. But you get used to it. You learn not to use certain words. You learn to never make a promise lightly. Most of all you learn to always be careful because you never know when someone you trusted with your secret might betray you."

The words Andrew let slip were a window into the demons of his mind and he was glad he'd stopped talking when he had. The familiar nervousness was back with a vengeance. Though he did not turn his eyes darted about to all those he could see. Caution was best. Yet Jorge was here and Andrew remembered that in time to smile wanly and listen to Jorge's own tale.

Betrayal was what he spoke of. A friend turned foul. How fitting that Andrew had just spoken of that very thing. Andrew felt for Jorge but the man had obviously either gotten over it or learned to wall up the pain just like Andrew walled up his anger. So he busied himself with his own sandwich, a reuben, and didn't say a word for a minute or two. Then his earlier wondering came back to him.

"Do you mind if I ask how your ability came about?"

He was curious. If Jorge wanted to know about his own story afterward then he'd likely share it.

>> "Do you mind if I ask how your ability came about?"

Million dollar question. Jorge was used to it. Whenever it came to somebody know that he was a mutant and especially what he could do, this came up. Not that he was irritated or anything, but ironically enough, that was the one that still hurt him most of all. It’s difficult when the most important two of the most life-changing events a person can have happen on the same day. And still, he would never forget either of them, no matter how many times he closed his eyes and tried to wish them away.

He took another bite of his sandwich and another sip of water before he decided to get into his story. The kid wanted to know, so he would tell him.

“Back in California, when I was 15, I was in love, with my best friend at the time. Her name was Rachel. We grew up as neighbors, we argued, we rough housed…then in high school something just clicked. We wanted to be like the couples we’d seen on TV and in the movies,” he sighed a bit in remembrance before turned back to look at Andrew. “Well, one day, one hot summer day, we decided to go to the beach. You see, one argument we always had was that I didn’t know how to swim, I nearly drowned once when I was younger so I guess it scarred me a little. Ironic huh?”[/color] he smirked as he grabbed a potato chip and chewed on it mindlessly before he continued. “Anyway, we had gotten into one of our usual arguments about me not wanting her to teach me how to swim, and she ran into the water without me. Then…one second she was there…the other she wasn’t.”

He sighed as he remembered that day. The feel of the hot breeze against his skin, the smell of the ocean as it rolled up and down the soft, squishy sand. If he closed his eyes, he could still hear the laughing of the other beach goers and the roar of the small waves as they pummeled the coast, he could even hear a bird cry or two from the seagulls. But above all that, he could hear his own heart. Not the same heartbeat as today, but the quick panicked one that occurred all those many years ago when he realized…

“She was gone. Pulled down by a riptide. I panicked and ran towards the water, nobody seemed to notice she was gone. Then…I dunno, I felt something tug inside me. Something in my chest, like an anchor had been thrown into the water and its chain was attached to me. I could feel the water, feel its movements, I was connected to it. I didn’t know what was happening, obviously, but before I could comprehend it further, I thrust out my hands…and the water reacted.” He sighed a bit as he got to this point in the story. One more bite and then he continued. “I parted the water. It looked like something from that ‘Ten Commandments’ movie with Charleston Heston. The actually parted the water, huge waves split open, pushed back like towers as he staggered over the sand. And there I found her, lying at the bottom, soaked and not breathing. So, with as much strength as I could muster, I grabbed her, hauled her back to the beach, amid the gathered group of awe-inspired spectators who thought I was some miracle from God. Then….the waters fell and I fainted.” He shook his head at the memory before he took another sip of his water. “I slipped into a coma for months. Then…when I woke up, my parents were there. They told me she had died. Drowned before I could get to her.”

Jorge’s face was blank again as he drifted into memory. It really did get easier every time he told it. After all, it did happen so many years ago. But still, it did hurt and the pain only lessened at miniscule amounts at a time. Finally he turned to Andrew and gave him that well-meaning, friendly smirk.

“How about yourself? If you don’t mind me asking, that is?”

Man, that story was way better than the tale of his mutation. In comparison Andrew's story was going to suck majorly. Of course Andrew had sympathy for what Jorge had endured but Andrew also knew how after a certain point you got really tired of pity. So he decided not to try and sympathize verbally and what have you.

"I'm afraid mine doesn't make for quite as good a story as yours. I was sixteen, only four years ago even though it seems like a lot longer than that. I'd just gotten my driver's license. Back then I had quite a few friends and they wanted me to take them out to celebrate my newly won ability to drive legally. Mom made me promise to be back by nine. I had no idea it would be a problem. Didn't notice the black mark or realize why I was so obsessed with the time while we were out.'

'My friends didn't really care about the curfew and wanted to stay out. Eventually I got them to agree to leave but I didn't have enough time to get back home by nine. We were on the highway when nine o'clock came. My head burst out in this searing pain. It was so bad I couldn't really see to control the vehicle. We swerved into the opposite lane. Luckily the pain subsided in the nick of time and we barely avoided hitting someone.'

'After that a few more incidents occurred but nothing quite as serious. Eventually I figured it out and stopped making promises. Stopped hanging out with my friends too to avoid having one of them wrangle a promise out of me. I dedicated myself to my studies and basically ignored everyone else. It's been that way ever since. Well until recently anyway."

And that was that. It was long-winded and no where near as interesting as Jorge's story but that was it. While Jorge absorbed what he'd said Andrew tucked back into his sandwich.

>> It's been that way ever since. Well until recently anyway."

Quiet was all the filled the air between him and Andrew. Jorge had listened intently to Andrew’s story and he had to admit there was a small moment of sympathy, but he did not let that show on his face. After all, the kid had probably heard enough pity in his time. He certainly did not need any more of it from him. So Jorge simply shook his head and returned to his sandwich as he Andrew finished his story. What was there really to say to him? Sorry you can’t be around people because someone might be able to take advantage of your ability/curse? That was just a little depressing.

But instead, Jorge only nodded as he raised his water bottle up to Andrew for him to clink his drink with his. “Here’s to ill-timed abilities and the curses they lay upon our heads.”

Jorge smirked as he tried to lighten the situation. It really must have been difficult for Andrew but he has obviously proved himself to be a fighter. Not only because of the boxing they just did in the ring, but because the kid was here. Ever since he discovered his abilities, it seemed as if Andrew had a hard life of solitude and loneliness, but at least he was alive and breathing. A little traumatized in some areas maybe, but what about Jorge himself? He was also traumatized from his experiences, it did not mean it had to rule either of their lives.

He admired the kid just that much more now.

“Listen, I understand some abilities can be tough on people. I know, I’ve had to arrest or talk down plenty of them,” he said with understanding. “But I also know from experience how much a pain the butt having powers can be. After the incident in California, you’ve no idea how many religious groups wanted to get their hands on me. Some wanted to praise me as a saint, as ‘Moses Incarnate’, return to preach the word of God. Other groups wanted to crucify me, saying that I was an abomination and liar. Imagining waking up from a three month coma for that!” Jorge chuckled a bit at his experience before he sighed and turned back to Andrew. “But I guess we just have to keep working at them. Learn to live with them and change our lives accordingly. They’re apart of us for a reason and eventually, we’ll learn what that reason is.”