Psylocke Vol 2 Ch 16: Training With Zuri, Thd Excited Titan!

Darcy stood tall in the center of the room, her arms crossed, a grin playing on her lips. "All right, Tristan. You'll be starting your training with Zuri today."

Before Tristan could even process the statement, Zuri let out an excited squeal. She jumped to her feet, her movements causing the ground to quake beneath her like an earthquake. "Yes! Finally!" she exclaimed, her voice booming with enthusiasm. "I've been waiting for this moment forever!"

Her excitement didn't stop there. She began bouncing up and down, the tremors growing more intense with every jump. Tristan clung to Grace's hair for dear life, his stomach lurching as the world around him shook violently. Grace crouched slightly, her hand instinctively moving to stabilize Tristan on her shoulder.

"Zuri!" Naomi's firm voice cut through the chaos. The tall, confident Brob sat back in her chair, an unimpressed look on her face as she waved a hand to calm Zuri. "Knock it off before you level the whole house—or worse, crush our guests."

Zuri froze mid-bounce, her eyes wide. She laughed nervously, brushing a strand of her curly hair out of her face. "Oops. Sorry about that, little guy!" she said, peering down at Grace's shoulder where she knew Tristan was perched, though he was barely a speck to her.

Tristan let out a shaky breath, trying to settle his nerves. He looked at Zuri, who was practically vibrating with excitement even as she stood still. She seemed nice enough—her energy was almost infectious—but she was too excitable. Someone that big, that clumsy, was a walking hazard.

Darcy, seemingly expecting his hesitation, stepped closer, her towering frame casting a shadow over Grace and Tristan. "Don't worry, Tristan," she said reassuringly. "Zuri's got this. She might be a little excitable, but she'll take care of your training."

As if to prove her point, Zuri bent down, her massive face drawing closer to Grace's shoulder. Her large, dark eyes squinted as she tried to make out the tiny man on Grace's shoulder. "Hey, Tristan!" she said, her voice softer now, though still rumbling like distant thunder. "I promise I'll be super careful. You'll see—this is going to be so much fun!"

Tristan swallowed hard. Zuri's face filled his entire field of vision, her breath warm against him as she spoke. It wasn't like he had a choice in the matter. He sighed and gave a small nod. "All right," he said reluctantly, his voice barely audible.

Zuri grinned, showing off a row of gleaming white teeth. "That's the spirit!" she said, straightening up.

She extended her index finger toward Grace, the ridges of her skin forming a ladder-like surface for someone of Tristan's size. "Come on, Grace, put him on my finger!"

Grace's protective instincts flared, and she stepped back slightly, her hand rising to shield Tristan. "I don't think so," she said firmly. "I'm coming with you."

Darcy sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Grace," she said, her tone patient but firm. "We need to have a talk. You can't be there for every step of his training. He's got to learn to handle things on his own."

Grace hesitated, her brow furrowing. She looked down at Tristan, her protective expression softening into one of concern. "I don't like this," she admitted.

Tristan placed a hand on her neck, his small touch barely noticeable but comforting nonetheless. "It's okay," he said, though his voice wavered slightly. "I'll be fine."

Reluctantly, Grace nodded and carefully extended her hand toward Zuri's waiting finger. "Just... be careful with him," she said, her voice firm as she gently placed Tristan on Zuri's fingertip.

Zuri beamed. "I promise!" she said, holding her finger steady as Grace withdrew her hand.

Grace's gaze lingered on Tristan, her lips pressed into a thin line. "I'll be right with you as soon as I can," she said, her voice softer now.

Zuri, with Tristan perched on her finger, carefully carried him outside. Each step she took was slow and deliberate, but to Tristan, it felt like riding atop a moving mountain. He clung tightly to the ridges of her skin, the faint grooves giving him just enough grip to avoid sliding off. The air grew cooler as they exited the house, and Zuri's massive frame cast a shadow over the backyard.

She approached a large table that stood in the middle of the yard, its surface smooth and vast like a plain. Lowering her finger gently, she waited patiently for Tristan to climb off.

"There you go, little guy," she said encouragingly. "Take your time."

Tristan scrambled off her fingertip, landing on the table with a grunt. He turned to look up at Zuri, who towered above him like a skyscraper. She crouched down, resting her elbows on the table and leaning in close.

"Okay, here's the plan," she said, her smile as bright as ever. "This is a simple test to get us started. See my finger?"

She held her index finger upright, the massive digit casting a shadow over Tristan.

"Yeah," Tristan said warily, craning his neck to look up at her.

"I'm gonna place my finger on the table a little ways from you," Zuri explained. "Then I'm gonna slowly move it toward you. All you have to do is stop my finger from moving for five seconds. That's it!"

Tristan stared at her, his jaw slack. "Excuse me?" he said, his tone a mix of disbelief and worry.

Zuri's smile widened. "Don't worry, I'll go super slow," she said, as if that would somehow make the task less impossible.

Tristan sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Yeah, sure. This'll be great," he muttered sarcastically.

Zuri didn't seem to notice his tone. She placed her finger on the table a short distance away—what was just a few feet for her might as well have been a football field for Tristan. She wiggled her fingertip slightly, the motion making the table vibrate.

"Ready?" she asked, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

Tristan squared his shoulders and sighed again, more resigned than ready. "I guess I don't have a choice, do I?"

"Nope!" Zuri said cheerfully.

As her massive finger began to inch forward, Tristan couldn't help but think, This is going to be the longest five seconds of my life.