An Unexpected Snap TW: Violence (Closed)

Asher walked into the cafeteria and rolled his shoulders. It had already been a long day but it wasn't over yet. He had just gotten out of a trigger training session with another student and he could feel like he was almost at his limit for the day. He could feel the tightness in his shoulders and down his spine. It was as if his muscles were still made of metal wire and the wires were frayed and rubbing together. It was painful but there was no way that Asher was going to let it show outwardly to anyone.

He looked over his shoulder at the younger student close behind him. "Come on, Baram. You wanted to try to take another big step in the right direction." Professor Oakleigh and him had been watching the flow of students in the cafeteria and had worked out a time in the later after noon after lunch but before dinner when there wouldn't or shouldn't be many students to trigger Baram or make him nervous. Asher had to hand it to Baram he had been working really hard lately, especially after running into that childhood friend of his in the hall earlier that week.

His pace slowed down a bit to match Baram's so they were walking more side by side. Asher rolled his neck, casually trying to stretching and unzipped his hoodie, showing the very badly bleached and damaged t-shirt underneath. He enjoyed being a TA for Oakleigh but man was it killing his wardrobe. So many of his shirts had to be thrown away or drowned in bleach to try to get the blood out of them and some were just ripped to shreads. He reached over and gently patted Baram's shoulder blade, trying to be encouraging, eventhough Asher felt like he, himself needed a pick up.

Baram watched his guardian a few steps a head of him. He was going through everything that Oakleigh had been teaching him. Don't be tense. Nothing bad will happen. Remember who you are. Remember who you are!

He blinked when Asher spoke to him and tried to give a small smile. "Yeah, I do. Doesn't mean I'm not a bit anxious." Baram wasn't sure if he was really the one that wanted to take this step. Though, if Baram had his way he would just be secluded from everyone in a deep part of the castle. . . actually if Baram had HIS way none of this would have happened. He would be at home and this other side of him, a monster would not exist. Baby had been helping though, reminding him who he really was that he could go back home. And he would, someday.

Baram moved slightly to the side to give himself some more space when Asher fell in to walk next to him. A glint of something caught Baram's eye. He glanced at Asher's collar bone which still had the shine of metal that blended into his neck and the rest of the metal ended somewhere under his shirt. Baram didn't know much about Asher's abilities, except that it kept other's safe and Baram was grateful for it. However, he had seen Asher in moments of weakness very fleetingly over the past half a year, and he had seen enough to know that when Asher had trouble changing back. . .Maybe coming here today was a bad idea.

"Asher. . ." he mumbled, trying not to draw attention to the two of them, "You're collarbone, you might want to look at that."

"Hmm?" Asher glanced down at his chest. Well, he hadn't noticed that from earlier. But then again, he was so used to most of his body being metal it felt just as natural as his normal skin. He slowly lifted up one of his hands to rub his collarbone and part of his chest, trying to help the process in changing back. His eye twitched for a moment as he felt the stubborn sting and burn around the edges of his natural skin and his metal one.

He didn't want Baram to be hesitant about this new excersion. Asher just shrugged and grumbled, "It's stubborn sometimes. You know it will go back eventually." He smirked at his charge. "Think of it this way, if anything bad does happen, I have the upper hand cause I'm already partially ready to beat you back down."

Baram couldn't help but chuckle; Asher had a way of knowing how to make him calm down a bit. "You know, you say that but I don't fully believe you. I did almost dent you once. You deny it but I swear that I saw a bruise on your rib that one time."

He glanced around the cafeteria, taking in his surroundings. It was an open area, which was good. No where for him to get holed up easily. Thankfully, there only seemed to be a handfull of students in the area. And a bear. . .if the bear was a student.

Baram sat at one of the empty tables, just trying to get accustomed to this new space.

Kemekin enjoyed having the hole in his schedule later in the afternoon-- that meant he could spread out his work on a table when the cafeteria was low traffic and not have to worry about being in anyone's way.

He looked around the room as he sipped his drink, and happened to look at the doors just as a familiar figure walked through them.

"Roo! Hey, Freckles!" He lifted his hand in greeting, but the girl must not have heard him. Kemekin sighed and whistled to catch her attention-- a short, high pitch blast of sound through his teeth. Roo certainly heard it. She flinched and looked around, and smiled when she saw Kemekin.

A high pitched sound cut through the room and Baram snapped. Without any hesitation or warning he turned on his heels and tore in the opposite direction of where the whistle had come from as he had been trained. His eyes were blank but full of rage as he ran towards his target. . .Roo.

Baram hefted one of the large cafeteria tables out of his way with one arm, breaking any of the chairs or anything else that was in his way. He felt a tug on his shoulder of someone or something trying to hold him back. An almost inhuman snarl escaped his throat. His arms and upper body were being held back and he heard a loud sound near his head. Then an opening. Baram, turned and hit Asher as hard as he could, freeing himself.

He turned his attention back towards his target. He lunged towards the small girl, grabbing her by the neck and pining her down onto the ground. Baram's legs kept Roo's lower body trapped beneath him as he kept one hand tightly around her throat. He sat up a bit to lift his other hand above his head, to slam his fist into her face to crush her skull.

It took Asher a second to process what had happened. "Shit!" He grumbled under his breath as he turned to see Baram's back. His charge was tearing through the cafeteria, towards a small girl that he had seen in the infermary before. Asher had to act and quickly. He made the mental choice to turn his arms into metal so he could grab Baram and try to ground himself to keep Baram from going anywhere. But he felt the draining burn in his arms instead. Now was not the best of times for his mother's Fae blood to negatively affect his magic.

But he threw his body into the motion anyway. He wrapped his arms around Baram's shoulders, anchoring himself as best he could to try to keep Baram from getting to his target. "RUN!" He yelled at the small girl. He moved one of his arms, loosening his grip to try to grab one of Baram's pressure point, but as he half expected Baram took the opportunity. Asher staggered a few stepps back from the power of the blow he recieved and groaned, trying not to show pain. He was now very grateful that his collarbone and sternum were still made out of metal because otherwise something might have gotten fractured.  He had to take a moment to regain his breath before he ran back after Baram. He had to keep people from being hurt, or at least killed.

Kazuo 's ears perked at the animal howl as it echoed through the cafeteria. Without thinking he bounded forward, gaining momentum with each heavy thud of his paws against the stone floor. He roared and collided with Baram, knocking him off of Roo with enough force to make the both of them skid across the floor for several yards. He rolled to all fours and hunkered down, positioning himself solidly between Baram and Roo.

A low growl escaped him, rumbling from deep in his chest.

After being knocked off of his target he managed to roll and pulled himself back up onto his feet. If he was injured he couldn't feel it. Baram bulked himself up, flexing his chest and arms a sound escaping his throat somewhere between a snarl and a yell.

Baram ran towards Kuma as fast as he could. He tried to tackle the bear and managed to punch Kuma in the muzzle. His hands made into claws he tried to scratch and grab anywhere that he could to get a hold on his furry nemesis.

Kazuo whuffed and shook his head, lumbering onto his hind legs, ten feet of fur and sinew that he then whipped around, slamming both forepaws into Baram's chest to knock him off balance, then gripping his shoulders to throw him, hard, at the nearest wall. Away from Roo. He barrelled forward, preparing to pin Baram down once he landed.

Roo was having trouble willing herself to move. The wind had been knocked out of her, and something was wrong with her throat-- her breath was coming, yes, but with a strained whistling noise. She managed to roll onto her front, sore all over from her impact with the floor and from Baram's weight on top of her, and slowly pulled herself to a kneeling position. She was aware of her attacker and Kuma-kun going at it, nearby, but the fight seemed to be moving slowly away, whether intentionally or on accident she couldn't know.

She felt hands on her shoulders, helping her to her feet.

Kemekin sprinted over to Roo the moment the way was clear, and pulled her to her feet.

"Get back," he hissed, helping her back towards the tables. Once he felt she could move on her own, he turned on his heel and ran back towards the two brawlers, wondering how in the hell he could get to Baram without having his own limbs snapped. He could numb legs or arms enough to take away his ability to charge, at least...

Asher was finally able to get a handle on his magic but not before Baram started a fight with the only student who prefered to spend most of his time. . .as a BEAR.

"Kazuo!" He yelled at the bear, trying to get him to stop the fight. He needed Baram in one peice still. Asher moved as close as he could without getting fully into the fray.

He turned all of his skin and muscle into the strong silver reflective metal. "Baram! Come on! You are trying to get home!" He spoke loudly enough to be heard over the sounds of the fight without sounding frantic.

Baram shook his head after being thrown down and about, trying to get re-oreinted. He growled as he moved onto all fours.

home!

That word managed to cut through the mist in Baram's mind and he blinked a bit. His breath hitched for a moment, becoming more hyperventilating. "A-Ash. . . " The moment of self awareness was very short lived. Baram screamed and barely managed to get past Kuma, lunging towards Roo and Kemekin.

Asher jumped in front of Baram at the last second, Baram's body colliding with Asher's metal one. Asher grabbed Baram by his bicep and twisted his charge around on the floor so his back was exposed.

His knee slammed into the back of one of Baram's thighs, holding him in place as Asher pinched the spot in the younger boy's back along his spine that he had found that would work as a switch. Just to make sure that it worked, Asher carefully hit a few more pressure points to knock Baram out.

He remained still as he watched his charge's body grow still and he sighed, standing slowly. He hefted Baram's still body over his shoulder, intending to carry him to one of the confinement rooms. He looked over at the small girl and the other boy. "Take her to Miss Ellie to make sure that Baram didn't do any permanent damage."

His gaze turned to Kazuo and he gave a small head bow of respect. "Thank you, sir. Hopefully that won't happen again."

Kazuo toddled forward, muzzle twitching as he nudged Baram's shoulder. He looked at Asher and tipped his head, wondering if the unconscious male was okay.

He nodded and nudged Asher's arm with the side of his head, then ambled over to check on Roo.

His eyes softened as he saw that Kazuo was concerned for Baram. "He will be fine, Kazuo. He has been through much worse. I'm just glad that you were here to help."

He adjusted the weight of the unconsious Baram on his shoulder and walked out of the cafeteria. He would need to spend some time, writing down documentation for Baram's file. He felt bad leaving the small female student without personally attending to her but he knew that Kazuo and Kemekin were fully capable of looking to her needs. Besides, he needed to take care of Baram before he came back on conciousness.