The "new arrival", for Matt was entirely oblivious to Michael's powers, was a most welcome source of distraction. Forest-green eyes rose as the light-elemental tried to focus on something more palpable than his own conflicting thoughts. Scott's harsh rebuke, directed towards anyone but he, had not managed to get through, but direct questions had this tendency to be filtered out a lot of times; even if their content was as ridiculous as this one. Of course Hood couldn't know what was going on inside of him, how should he? It was also most likely for the best that he didn't. His rather unconventional attire fortunately kept Matt from returning into this state of self-reflection where he'd just stare and zone out entirely. Was there a costume party going on he didn't know about? The thought was as random as the stranger's arrival seemed to the contrasting mutant, and yet he took a glance around just to make sure there wasn't anyone else in fancy dress around.
It was through that by which he noticed Michael's form, collapsed on the ground. "I'm alright," he said with as much conviction as he could muster, voice hoarse as if from a long time of inactivity, "but we should get him into medbay, shouldn't we?" A nod was directed into the disabled student's direction, concern underlying his words. A task - the best way to silence the mental groan threatening to grow ever louder! It wouldn't solve anything, but it had to be done all the same. There was no way he'd be able to fight his demons at this point.
And even if he had attempted any such thing, there wouldn't have been anything for him to do about the way he felt, would there? Such things happen, Matt told himself, and there was no way for him to change his feelings at this point. No matter how foolish, no matter how obviously doomed any pursuit in that direction, this was nothing to be changed by will but only by time and patient waiting for these emotions to wither. Love! Love of all possible things. How could this have happened? It proved once more just how utterly unreasonable the heart worked.
He couldn't let him find out about it. Whether it was in fear of a similar response or exactly the lack of reciprocation, Matt had not the strength to explore. "Matt?" Gods no, he couldn't talk to him now. Not Max of all people. He could hear the freakish abomination inside of him, reacting, scratching at the improvised cage he had built up around in a panicked rush. Just looking at him took so much will power, it was almost too much, succumbing just a slip of self-control away. "I..." Eyes were closed for a moment, a deep breath taken - an attempt to focus he knew he could only risk because signs of affliction would not seem off at this point. He had to seize the chance to reinforce this bulwark of reason before everything came crashing down on him.
"I'll do that," he eventually finished his sentence. "Let's just take care of him and then..." Matt's voice trailed off, the encaged beast within feeding off the untypical consideration, interpreting where there was nothing to read into it as far as the part of Matt's brain was concerned that had maintained the ability to think logically. Trying to debate with yourself is always such a futile endeavour when feelings are part of the equation. Still he had to try. And hell, he would!
There comes a time when everyone of us has to take over responsibility for their actions. It stands to argue whether there is also a time when we can get rid of it again.
Re: Sons and fathers.
It was of course a stupid question but still the inevitable one to ask. Even if Michael knew none of the three of them would give it an honest answer. You never did in circumstances like this. You blustered and smiled and put on a brave face. Then, when you were all alone, far from those watching eyes, you sat and shook or simply threw up when the reaction finally kicked in.
It was a little scene he had played out many times in the past and Michael knew he’d get through it now just as he had then.Though it would inevitably leave its mark! Less so on him, though, than on the other boys, he thought. For after all he was an outsider in what was essentially a domestic drama. And he was far from being sure that was the case for the young Goth who still struggled for breath beside him.
There had been something horribly personal in that last attack, something other than the anger and malice that had been turned against him. It was clear that there were things going on here that they Scot knew nothing about but then again that was as it should be. He hadn’t been invited into this touching father son reunion. He had stepped in of his own accord. The whys and the wherefores weren’t his business. All that mattered was that Max was safe. That they all were. Even if they were further than he would have liked from being well.
As expected though the denials were quick to come. "I'm alright," the pale youth told him looking even whiter now than when he had first come onto the scene. , "but we should get him into medbay, shouldn't we?"
For a moment Michael was confused , looking up at Max to see if he had missed something, noting that Paige’s friend did look as if ,right at that moment ,he had more need of the crutches he had picked up than Michael himself.
Which of course was to all too true and which also explained the other students strange comment. Hood was calm and steady on his feet, ready to act or fight if he needed too. And, judging from the weird looks he was getting from his two companions, all too inappropriately dressed for thisor any other occasion. There was nothing to link him to the fallen body on the grass. Not if you didn’t know about Michael’s powers that was. Which this newcomer apparently didn’t!
Max on the other hand had pulled himself together slightly and he obviously understood all to well the link between the leather clad athlete and the frail crumpled form that lay so disturbingly still at his feet, for he thrust the crutches into Hood’s hands with a hurried “Here” before turning his whole and complete attention towards his friend.
If it hadn’t been clear that the two boys were close before, it was in that moment. Michael wondered if they were team mates or if this relationship had been built up since childhood. Or if perhaps they both had families that they wished they hadn’t and that had drawn them together. In any case the bond was there. It could be heard in Max’s voice as he finally gave Michael a name by which to call this young man who had probably come forward to help Max but who had none the less caught him as well. “Matt?”Shaken as he was himself it was still clear that his first concern was for the dark clothed boy. "Maybe you should go lay down for a bit?" Max asked, looking as if he wanted to do more but didn’t know what.
If it hadn’t been for the fact that he was obliged, rather awkwardly as it turned out, to physically reclaim his body Michael would have just have offered a quick goodbye and taken his leave. As it was though he could only stand by, feeling like the proverbial fifth wheel, while the moment, whatever it was, passed and Matt found his voice again. I…."I'll do that," the Goth said, the mere fact of speaking aloud obviously a trial though Michael wasn’t sure whether that was because of the abuse his throat had suffered or because of the tension that hung in the air between him and Max. Though when he spoke again it was to reiterate his concern for Michael himself. . "Let's just take care of him and then..."
“Oh don’t worry about me” Michael said quickly. “ falling downs an occupational hazard when you’re on crutches. And this wont be the first time someone’s knocked me off my feet. Ah…right” he said seeing the confusion in the green eyes before him. “Introductions. I’m Michael ..” he pointed the body on the ground “and this…” he indicated his astral form “is Hood. Hence the costume…long story, don’t ask… em that’s clear as mud.. here. This should make things easier to understand. Laying the crutches within easy reach he bent and touched Hood’s astral fingers to Michael’s all too real ones.
As always it was a journey back into pain and a pain made all the worse by the fall and the shoving that had proceeded it. So it was with an involuntary gasp that Michael opened his eyes and pushed his torso off the ground, holding himself up on his arms, head bent and eyes closed ,still breathing hard as he struggled for a composure that was horribly hard to come by. “Damn” he said raggedly. “I had hoped to pull that off with quiet dignity and maybe even a little flair. Guess that’s not going to happen. “
Re: Sons and fathers. "I..." There was definitely something wrong, and Max felt responsible for it, it was his fault, some how even between them, between the two wrongs, it was somehow entirely his fault Matt was in this position. After all, it hadnt been one of Matt's parents coming down on all of them with a seemingly justified wrath, but one of Max's. It was Max's dad that yelled and threatened, and Max's dad that had pushed and shoved. Though in the end of it all, Max knew it was his fault that his dad had acted like that, Max's fault that Matt had gotten his father's anger directed upon the slightly older student.
"I'll do that," At this point Max was convinced there was no other option other then doing all he could to make it up to Matt. At this point, Max didnt realize how difficult a task that alone was going to be. The urge to inch closer was almost embarrassing, and the shame of others seeing was all that kept Max's stone feet planted where he stood. And it took a nervous rub of his hands across his arm before he realized he still could not feel any sort of physical sensations. While the mutation was not under Max's full control, he was partially frustrated still with the inability he held to control it, usually he was really good at stopping it from happening. All he had to do was focus really hard on a single thought and almost will himself to think of nothing else, to distract himself so much on that insignificant spot that even his body would be too distracted to change. Or so it seemed, and it worked well enough, as long as Max could just hold his focus.. and he couldnt do that here, not with so many people staring. And now he was so wound up and frustrated and angry and ashamed that he didnt seem to be able to calm himself down enough to revert to his flesh form.
"Let's just take care of him and then..." ..Then what? Max wasnt sure but he had a feeling whatever the words would have been they'd hardly be so obvious a comment that would just cause to upset things more.. Or maybe the whole reason Matt trailed off was because of that? Max almost shifted on his feet awkwardly as he fretted over what he should do to try and apologize and make things up to Matt.
“Oh don’t worry about me” It wasnt until the newst arrival actually answered Matt's question that Max let the words Matt had previously spoken sink in. Another look at Michael, who laid sprawled on the ground in a most awkward of manner, left Max feeling rather unsure of what he should do. When he'd gotten beat up on the few occasions someone tried to lend a hand it seemed to hurt more from their efforts then if they'd just left him to help himself. “ falling downs an occupational hazard when you’re on crutches. And this wont be the first time someone’s knocked me off my feet. Ah…right” Max agreed, the amount of times he himself had toppled over.. if it wasnt because of some random thing in his way that he couldnt navigate around properly, it was coz he got his own legs tangled up and just tripped himself over, or just didnt balance his weight properly.
“Introductions. I’m Michael ..” Although a hand was motioned to the ground, Max remained focused on the facial features of Hood. It was a little odd seeing Hood with Michael on the ground, but Max was far too used to mutants and the fact that Hood and Michael had similar features... well they had the same colour hair and the same eyes in any case.. Max assumed without really thinking much about things. “and this…” Almost as if doing the opposite of what Hood was wanting, Max looked over towards Michael as Hood pointed to himself, though quickly looked back as the astral projection continued to speak. “is Hood. Hence the costume…long story, don’t ask… em that’s clear as mud.. here. This should make things easier to understand." A quick glance was given to Matt, just to see if any of this was distracting him enough to perhaps take away the feel of... whatever it was that was effecting the darker dressed student. Max wasnt sure what he was looking for though, Matt was completely different in so many ways, and Max's capabilities when it came to consideration for other people was severely lacking and even he could admit that at times.. to himself at least.
The struggle that proceeded Hood's vanishing was almost awkward to watch for Max, as it felt there might be something expected of him to do and yet knowing how much he himself hated people throwing arms down at him to help him up he just stood there and watched. Michael looked like someone who had gotten used to the crutches and the burden they caused.
“Damn” As Michael spoke, Max focused on his hands, trying to will them to revert and stop making him look so pathetically spooked still. His dad thought he was being insolent, but the students would think he was scared.. ok, so he was a little but that wasn't for them to know! And he hated that he showed weakness like that in front of them, and they werent shy in showing how glade they were for it. "I had hoped to pull that off with quiet dignity and maybe even a little flair. Guess that’s not going to happen." There was a moment as Max stared at Michael that made the stone shifter realize he too would probably have to go through the same thing, his dad didnt know his own strength and the bruises left would undoubtably swell after the constant grabbing of his wrist.
All this pain and fuss.. and for what? Max's own stupid... what? Even he wasnt sure he liked calling his interactions with Matt stupid any more, he was still ashamed by it, but at the same time he wouldnt be happy if it had to stop before he was himself ready to walk away. And surely enough given time he'd be able to, he had always been able to in the past after all.. For a brief moment, Max turned his eyes to the front drive that wound its way outside of the school. If only Max could talk with his dad, of course Steven would never accept or like or tolerate what Max had done, but still.. maybe if Steven could just talk with Max, get it out of his system, enable things to at least be calmed.. Max wasnt sure he could deal with another situation like this, and if his dad remained this angry, he was sure the situation would reoccure.
Re: Sons and fathers. (OOC: Just a very short one...)
Confusion and curiosity are two mighty brothers who like to join forces and distract their target of, well, everything really. Matt was no exception and glad about it. Connecting that rather unusual-looking stranger and the boy who had stood up against Steven so bravely (or stupidly, the two are always so close and easy to be mistaken), that was something he hadn't thought of the slightest. Just because you lived in a school full of mutants didn't automatically enable you to spot respective activities whenever they occurred. It made it so much easier to accept certain things though.
Listening to and understanding Michael's explanations wasn't as difficult as the teen seemed to think it was. Astral projection as a concept was something rather familiar to Matt who had been interested in what once had been called paranormal abilities for quite some time. Why exactly he had chosen the form of a quite toned guy in tights, however, remained a mystery. Then again, if Contrast remembered correctly, it wasn't always that the person in question had an actual choice when it came to appearances; the subconscious tended to claim the right to decide a lot.
Intrigued contemplation of whether or not this particular manifestation was capable of physical contact in general and in combat in particular were cut short by Michael's rather cynical comment. Half lying, half sitting there on the ground, propped up on his arms, his position could have been taken as being a comfortable one had it not been for his voice and the fact that he had been relying on crutches earlier. "Well, at least as far as dramatic entrances go, you've scored a straight A," he replied with a half-crooked smile, silently admiring the other youth's inner strength to deal with his disability - or whatever it was that kept him from moving without the aids.
A moment or two passed, time in which Matt wondered what he should do. Was Michael just gathering strength to get up, or did his remark actually mean he was unable to do so on his own? If the former was true, offering help would have held the risk of insulting the other, but with every passing second the awkward silence did its best to make him just go for it regardless. "Do you need a hand?" the light-elemental asked casually, providing the other with an easy way out by leaving it to him to accept or just shrug it off with another ironic comment.
For everyone comes the time when they have to take over responsibility. It stands to argue whether there is also a time when they can get rid of it again.
Re: Sons and fathers.
Maybe he had done better than he thought on the whole “gosh well no of course I’m alright” stakes. In fact he may even have done a little too well. Certainly noone was rushing to fuss over him and that was all good, wasn’t it? So why did some part of him feel that a little fussing might well be in order? If he was actually going to move any time soon that was.
The others didn’t seem to notice his predicament though, or at least not to grasp the full extent of it. Max in particular seemed lost in his own thoughts, gazing off into the distance rather than at either of the boys beside him, while Matt was obviously coming to grips with the whole Hood/Michael situation before he would presumably come round to the Michael/crutches one.
"Well, at least as far as dramatic entrances go, you've scored a straight A," he told the disabled boy with a smile. Ah well it seemed then that flair had not after all been entirely lacking from the days proceedings. Michael just hoped that he wouldn’t ruin it all by making an equally dramatic exit, like, for example being carried out on a stretcher. *Oh come on* he reprimanded himself sternly *That’s not going to happen. Any minute now the pain will ease off a bit and ill be fine. Maybe not exactly bouncing with health but upright at least! And after that I’ll just have to take it slow… *
Michael took another deep breath waiting for the foretold miracle to happen but he had to admit it was a long time coming. So long in fact that at least one of his companions caught on and stepped into the breach. . "Do you need a hand?" Matt asked him the offer of help extended readily and without undue awkwardness.
*God yes I do need a hand* Michael thought bitterly *though what I need even more are two legs that work!*Strange, it could still catch him off guard, how much he actually hated being like this. Broken and useless.. The moment of self pity intense as it was quickly came and went though as it nearly always did . because if it didn’t then he just wouldn’t get up and that wasn’t in his nature.
Knowing that instinctively, Michael firmly turned his mind to more positive thoughts. Yes he was broken. He couldn’t argue with that. Especially not feeling the way he did just then But he was far from useless? Ok he was on the ground.. but hey he had gone down fighting. And that wasn’t something to be so lightly overlooked. There were plenty of able bodied students standing around who couldn’t say as much .Or at least there had been till Mr Summers had scared them away. So if he needed a little help now what of it. Especially if that help came from a comrade in arms. Which he supposed Matt now was.
So it was with wry appreciation that he finally answered the Goths polite inquiry “Oh I need a lot of things at this precise moment in time” he said with a faint laugh “A nice cup of tea.. a long seat on a comfy sofa.. a damned lift installed in the Institute.. god I hate those stairs .. but yes.. He gave Matt a grin that strangely enough didn’t seem at odds with the pain still reflected in his eyes. “A hand up would be a good place to start!”
Re: Sons and fathers.
The voice that spoke in the background went reletively ignored as Max's attention remained elsewhere, his eyes skimming over the surroundings without really paying them any attention.
"Do you need a hand?" Again Matt's voice spoke, this time Max did allow his focus to be directed towards the other two young men. Matt was standing there with his arm outstretched to Michael... Matt always seemed to be the one caught in these situations, and for a moment Max felt bad that the guy didn't seem to get a break lately.
“Oh I need a lot of things at this precise moment in time” The comment was a little confusing at first, Max frowned slightly as a light laugh came from Michael. “A nice cup of tea.. a long seat on a comfy sofa.. a damned lift installed in the Institute.. god I hate those stairs .. but yes.." The stone shifted mutant inched towards Michael, the smile on the disabled boys face and an echo of pain in his eyes just caused the well known youth to stare.
“A hand up would be a good place to start!” Distant eyes watched as Michael's hand reached out for Matt's extended arm. The motion seemed to pull Max out of his stupor, stone reverting to flesh as he stpped in to lend some support. Saphhire eyes blinked quickly for a moment, Chadstone moved behind the astral mutant, making sure he was able to stand and balance. There had never been a group of people around before when his father chastized Max about whatever he did wrong, at most it'd be Lara or when he was young James would be around... but never something like this. The 18 year old also made sure Michael's crutches were with him, ready to take over the weight and heko support the slightly younger boy.
Doing this made one thing clear... Max's wrists hurt. But it wasn't until Michael was standing on his own feet till Max held his wrists out to allow his eyes to examine them. So far the skin was just red, they hurt but hopefully he wouldn't bruise, that'd just be irritating. Rubbing the back of his head, Max turned his face to Mr Summers, nursing fingers leaving where his father had earlier grasped the hair on the back of Max's head. If Mr Summers thoughts Max would take another talking about how much of a disturbance he was and how it wouldn't be constantly tolerated... Max would just walk off. Infact he should just go now, and sort things out with his parents maybe?
Or maybe he should call James? Now that he had a big brother again.... but then James would wnt to know why their father lost his temper. Riley now that still wasn't something Max was willing to explaine, and MAx found himself staring now at Matt again, only able to hope he too wasn't eager to explain things as well. Hands reached to rub Max's eyes, this was all a bit too much, first Logan and his lunatic training tactics, now this?
"So what now? Can we get going?" He didn't really sound impatient, but he sounded as if standing around was definitely not something he wanted to do. And yet he wanted to remain with company, at least Matt's, if he did walk off he'd just want to find Matt again later, and it would just be easier in the long run to stick with him now.
Re: Sons and fathers.
Michael’s transformation from fallen victim to able backup had largely gone unnoticed by Scott, concentrated as he was on Steven and the threat he still posed to the three student, so the words which rang out , as much a challenge in their own way as the ones he had just uttered came as a surprise. If a pleasant one. . “So,” Cyclops thought as the leather clad figure moved efficiently into position *this is Hood* He had of course been told about Michaels alter ego but there was a difference between knowing something existed and actually seeing it in the flesh so to speak. Certainly the astral image looked a force to be reckoned with, a useful addition to any team,but was that enough to compensate from the all too obvious drawbacks of Michaels disability? Scott still wasn’t sure, but he knew that this was neither the time nor the place for such reflection. Not with Chadstone still refusing to back down.
Scott heard Max’s whispered plea, knowing it wasn’t what caused his father to loosen his grip on the boy he had been holding but relieved all the same to see Matt free and safely caught in Max’s arms,arms that, this once at least, despite the tell tale greyness that spoke of granite, seemed strangely gentle as they held him. Not that this concession was cause to relax. Even if this battle was coming to its end, Stephan wouldn’t just walk away. He still had some spite to vent and he intended to cause as much harm as he could before he would finally retreated.
It must be said that he chose his target well and the vicious comments struck home with all the force of an arrow from Hood’s bow. "And how many of your precious students had died due to their own misguided bravado?" he asked Scott savagely. "Enough to have you're own graveyard established within your grounds” Jean would have known how much it hurt her husband to hear such an accusation and know that in the end it was true. To anyone else though Scott’s face remained unchanging, giving no sign of any emotion other than the anger he had shown since he first arrived on the scene. Those who had died serving as X men were a burden he carried always, their faces etched on his memory with the acid of remorse. No matter where they had fallen, no matter what the circumstances Scott felt responsible for their loss. But then leaders always did.
Still it seemed that this was to be Steven’s parting comment. Looking more disgusted than chastised the businessman turned away and made for his limousine, slamming the door behind him as he got in and sped his way out of the grounds. Scott watched him leave with unbridled frustration. That was twice Chadstone had violated the protection of the Institute bringing violence within its walls and then walking away unpunished. And while the first time he had caught them unawares, this time they had known what he was capable of and yet they had still let it happen. And even if there were reasons, good reasons even for having done that, it rankled none the less.
So there was more than a little anger crackling in his voice as Cyclops announced to the gawking crowd of onlookers “Its over There’s nothing more to see! ” Yet still they hesitated , waiting for what? Tears? Accusations? More pain? Hadn’t they already had their little drama fix for one day? Well if they had found this entertaining then the least they could do was pay for the front row seats fate had so graciously accorded to them and which they had accepted with such relish. And by the way. he told them ominously For everyone who stood and enjoyed the show. 5000 words on the nature of civic duty. Due tomorrow! Enjoy.. Groans accompanied his words and the beginning of protest, but he cut any dissention off short. “and just so you know.” he continued sweeping his hidden gaze over them as if it was his beam I don’t wear this visor because my eyesight is faulty. Don’t even think I didn’t see you.”
The threat worked, dissolving what had been a crowd into small groups of suddenly unhappy students, each one fading away in their own particular direction, no doubt to discuss what they had just seen and pass their own petty judgement on the so called justice of Max’s unexpected humiliation. Scott waited till they had all gone, his cold presence keeping them from reforming, giving the three youths some chance to pull themselves together away from further prying eyes. Which, when he finally turned back towards them he could see that they were doing.
The athletic archer had vanished, leaving only a fallen boy in his place but a boy who was trying to get up. And who wasn’t alone in his efforts. A hand was offered and taken. Care was shown and crutches held ready for when they were needed, all the small but necessary acts of kindness provided readily and without fuss so that he could stand once again even if his palor said that perhaps standing wasn’t the easiest thing for him to be doing at that moment in time, his pain all to clearly read though he tried valiently to hide it. . Max too was looking at his wrists the source no doubt of his discomfort but his head came up as Scott approached and his words held the faint traces of sullen defiance that the teacher had heard ever since he had first arrived at the gates of the Institute all those years ago. "So what now? Can we get going?"
Was that what he wanted to do? Walk away and pretend this had never happened? Or was it more that he needed time to digest the implications of the scene that had just played itself out before the eyes of his less than sympathetic classmates? Because there had certainly been implications, for him, for his father, even for the two boys who had been drawn into his private conflict, or rather who had chosen to step into it. In any case it was clear that what they all seemed to need right then and there was to be elsewhere. To deal with this in their own way. And that wasn’t something they needed him to help them with. Not yet at least. Later perhaps! And if they did want either assistance or advice then he would be there for them. If only they could see that.
So when Max asked in his rather abrupt way if they could leave Scott answered “Yes, if you are all feeling up to it?” He looked particularly at Michael as he said this letting the young Scot know that it would be no shame to say no, he wasn’t but the stubborn light was back in the grey eyes and Scott knew that wasn’t going to happen. Cyclops shook his head and sighed.” Very well , off you go but… I want to see you all in my office, tomorrow, after classes. I think a little discussion is in order.
Re: Sons and fathers.
He hadn’t lied when he had said that falling down was an occupational hazard. Being intentional knocked off his feet though…. that was rarer occurrence; and one that left its marks. It took a certain kind of person to knock Tiny Tim’s crutches out from under him. That was something that Michael had learned years ago when he had been crippled. When the bullies who had happily stomped on him when he had two good legs suddenly gave him a wide berth! Still he struggled to find something positive in the fact that someone had done just that taking advantage of an all too obvious weakness. Because if those who had been present hadn’t seen the cruel streak that such an action necessitated then they were blind and deaf and beyond his reach Even if it was only a reach that disability had somehow offered him.
Though it had to be said that Michael had never wanted to play the victim! God no! He had waded his way into this drama as if he could still have turned and run if things had gone awry. Though even if he had been as physically perfect as Hood seemed to be he would never have done such a thing. Because it wasn’t in him to run from bullies like Steven! It wasn’t who he was inside! Which was all fine and good, he told himself cynically, but didn’t help much when you had to face the consequences! As he was doing now!
Matt’s hand wasn’t just a help, it was a necessity. Although he had in the end gone down more gently than Steven had intended, his legs didn’t seem to want to take this into consideration. Ok he had to be honest and admit that the pain would have been much worse if he hadn’t been saved from that first fall but that didn’t mean that it was anything to cheer about as it was. With one leg permanently stiff and unyielding and the other one, the one which usually could be coaxed into something like mobility stubbornly refusing to cooperate on this occasion Michael didn’t so much stand up as was hauled up as ungainly and unstable as a new born foal and, until Max more or less stuck the crutches under him, just as likely to take another tumble.
Michael hadn’t really see the stone mutant move behind him so intent had he been in the mere physical process of getting to his feet but in those wavering seconds when he wasn’t at all sure he was going to stay on them Michael felt his presence, sensed that if he did slip someone would be there to catch him and that was comforting beyond words. It was also a blessing that the other students had moved off sparing him from their pitying glances and half whispered remarks. And for that he had Mr Summers to thank.
A Mr Summers who was heading back over to them looking if Michael’s eyes weren’t deceiving him thought it had to be said that right at that moment they could well have been for darkness was still playing tantalisingly round the edge of his vision as his body complained in no uncertain terms about what it had been put through. Michael took a gasping breath and pushed it back ,focusing on the approaching mans visor, knowing he should be saying thank you Matt and Max but barely able to managed more than a quick look of appreciation before he had to concentrate once more on the difficult business of hiding his pain.
Thankfully Max helped distract attention away form him asking directly if a little shakenly. “So what now? Can we get going?" That could be easier said than done Michael thought to himself even if he fully sympathised with his fellow students desire to get away from this spot where so much unpleasantness had happened. Mr Summers seemed to understand this feeling too for he said readily enough “Yes, if you are all feeling up to it?” His look didn’t go unnoticed by the young Scot nor did the concern that lay behind it and part of him did want to say ‘well actually now that you mention it I may not be up to it’ but instead he kept quiet and tried to look as if he was perfectly fine, not wanting to condemn the other two youths to hanging around any longer, effectively paying the price of his weakness.
How convincing his playacting was he couldn’t tell. Not very he suspected judging from the sigh the teacher gave but at least the man didn’t push the subject any further. “Very well , off you go” he told them his words sending a flood of relief through the disabled boy as he realised they were going to be left to their own devices. The sensation was short lived though. but…Michael didn’t like ‘buts’ They usually meant complications and this one proved to be no exception. “I want to see you all in my office, tomorrow, after classes. I think a little discussion is in order “
It was said calmly enough, no trace of the anger he had shown all to clearly when Max’s father had been there present in the visored man’s voice but all the same… Michael felt his heart drop as he watched Mr Summers turn and walk away. What could he want to talk with them about? Michael could only think of one thing, as far as he was concerned at least. And it had very little to do with Max’s personal problems and everything to do with Michaels ability to be on a team.
Michael wasn’t stupid. He had known from the start that there would be those who looked on him as a liability despite Hoods capabilities. After all hadn’t he feared that reaction from his own teammates? God knows he had been lucky beyond words to get placed in Green rescue squad with people who not only accepted his limitations but actively concentrated on his strengths. He had been doing well, he knew he had. The whole team had been doing well.
But…. now someone in authority had seen him knocked around like a childs toy, only kept from serious harm by someone elses intervention. He couldn’t imagine how it must have looked to Mr Summers or no, that wasn’t true, he was afraid that he could imagine it only too well. And it was very far from being a pretty picture.
“Oh crap he said softly. “Crap, crap, crap. That can’t be good!”
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