Listen Well (Luk)

[Lukan Moore]

Lukan snorted and looked at Andi with disbelief. Him? Make things easier? Oh please! The teen rolled his eyes as he spoke. "Sure you do." He proceeded to mumble a few halfassed insults under his breath, as usual, before quieting down again. Andi couldn't be trying to help him... and even if he did, surely he wouldn't be successful. Right? Luk simply couldn't believe that anyone had the capability to help him. To him, it seemed that any assistance would only make things worse. Even if some highly trusted person offered help, say a teacher or even a policeman, Luk figured he was more likely to end up dangling over a cliff than closer to his goal. That's what he learned through childhood, anyway. Policeman showed up, and guess who got a few more lashes with the belt or another punch to the gut? Lukan. He just couldn't let go that instinct to reject all forms of help... not without some heavy persuasion that is.

"I do not have bad ideas! They're good! Maybe not like... go to college or whatever, but who caaares?" The teen uttered another snarl at the professor then leaned back with his hands folded over his chest. Well isn't he just the picture of stubborn... and bullheaded. But, Andi's words had him thinking... or rather, he was stewing. The boy sucked his cheek in utmost irritation when Andi proved Lukan's guess right; so he was going to be made to stay here. Luk narrowed his eyes challengingly. "We'll see about that." The sixteen year old stood up and slung his bag over his shoulder before storming off towards the classroom door.

[Garrett Andvari]

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
LEAVEMYDOOROPENJUSTACRACK
((T A K E M E A W A Y F R O M H E R E))!!!

[/i][/color][/size]
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
[/font][/center]

Lukan’s rolling eyes obviously meant that he obviously hadn’t thought Andi’s comment. But his retort and mumbling were only half-hearted, so Andi would just assume that meant Lukan was warming up to him. Except . . . well, Lukan’s face didn’t exactly look like he was mollified. Andi had to wonder yet again about the root of it all. According to the file, Lukan’s life hadn’t exactly been all roses and smiles – far from it, to be honest – but still . . . it couldn’t have been so bad that it ruined Lukan so totally. Could it? Andi frowned slightly at Lukan, looking forward to that heart-to-heart less and less. If he was right about Lukan’s past, it was even less likely that he’d want to talk about it at all. And Andi wasn’t sure he really wanted to hear it . . . something in his gut was sure it wouldn’t end well.

He chuckled at Lukan’s retort. “No, your plans are much more the ‘going to prison’ than the ‘going to college’ type. And we’ve been through this – I care. I’m not investing this sort of time just so you can go and mess it all up.” He was also getting a little tired of all the snarling and bad attitude. This kid went through moods like a bipolar woman around that time of month. Nor did he seem to realize that he usually followed up his denials with something that backed up what Andi had said in the first place. Like now, crossing his arms and looking just as bullheaded as ever. When he finally stood and grabbed his bag, Andi could only gape for a minute. He wasn’t . . . he couldn’t seriously believe . . . They’d just reached an agreement! Fine. Andi could play his game.

He launched off the desk he was using as a seat, slipping into the form of a snake in midair and hitting the ground on his new, scaly stomach. There was always a moment of disorientation when he changed, but he’d made the door a pretty straight shot ahead, and he was ready, so it took only a part of a second to get moving. He shot between Lukan’s legs – and, okay, he’d picked the snake because they did tend to freak some people out – and twisted, shifting back to his human shape as he reached the doorway. He was on his feet again, but he had to grab ahold of the frame next to him to keep from falling over, and kept his jaw locked to fight the urge to taste the air. Because that would be both ineffective and really weird. Once he was sure he wasn’t going to fall over or be sick, he fixed Lukan with a very irritated glare. “What the hell is wrong with you? You had already agreed to attend class.” Sorta. Well, okay, not really . . . “Dammit, you’re going to get over this childish idea that you’re never going to need help with anything. And if this is some problem with authority, drop it. There’ll always be someone telling you what to do, and short of becoming a bridge-dwelling hobo, there’s nothing that’s going to change that.” He folded his arms and drew himself up imposingly, “So? Let’s have it.”



Comments││ Andi's snapped! Run for it! AAAAH!
Outfit││
Lyrics││ Fireflies by Owl City
Word Count││
Status││ Complete
Credit││ Goes to caitlin_express@CAUTION 2.0<3

[Lukan Moore]

He couldn't care. Or at least, Lukan didn't want Andi to care. He didn't want anyone to care. And if someone really did want to help him, then Luk thought the best they could do was to leave him alone. When he was left alone... well, that's when he thought he was safest. Complete bullshit of course, but Luk didn't think that he'd experienced anything to prove him wrong yet. "I didn't ask you to care! Or spend time... whatever! Just quit it!" Lukan emitted another growl and stormed towards the door. In his rage, the boy blindly bumped into a desk, but he barely winced. He just wanted out of this damn room.

Professor Andi however, didn't seem to want to comply. Lukan's knees knocked together as Andi twisted around the boy's ankles. He fell on his stomach with a loud thud and grunted. "Fuck you!" The teen aimed a punch at Andi's ankle and reached out for the door, but he stopped cold in his tracks the very second Andi started to lecture. This wasn't... the usual warning. Lukan glared up at the teacher, still on his hands and knees, and seethed. But he listened. Through the blood pounding in his hears, somehow Luk had listened to Andi's rant. For a few moments after the teacher finished, all Luk could do was stare with a dumbstruck expression. He eventually gathered up enough strength to utter a response. "You don't get it.... you don't understand!" A low whine rose from the boy's throat as he continued. "Whatever you're trying to do... it won't help! It never helps! All the teachers and the fucking parents.. policemen even, they can't do shit! Never been able to!" Lukan growled something animal and pitiful, then struggled to continue. By the time he could remember how to speak, tears had formed in the young boy's eyes. "So why can't you all just leave me alone..." The shadows around Lukan's feet scattered, as if frightened of their distressed master.

[Garrett Andvari]

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
LEAVEMYDOOROPENJUSTACRACK
((T A K E M E A W A Y F R O M H E R E))!!!

[/i][/color][/size]
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
[/font][/center]

Andi watched Lukan processing his words, frowning when it didn’t seem like it was going all that well. Lukan was only fooling himself if he thought Andi wasn’t going to follow through on what he’d started. He’d been raised better than that. And anyway didn’t think it right to act like he wanted to help, and then bail out and run for it at the first sign of trouble. What a gutless wonder he’d look then . . . and he’d never live that down if his family somehow found out about it. So here was, sitting on the desk and frowning more and more severely as Lukan snapped his answer. He tried to keep his own voice even – even casual – when he responded, “If people only cared when asked to, then everyone would lead very short, unhappy lives. And it’s too late for me to quit now; I’m too invested.” And it had all become somewhat personal now. He wouldn’t admit it to anyone if he could help it, but at some point he had decided that – professional responsibilities aside – he wanted to help Lukan.

He hadn’t intended to trip Lukan, he’d just been intent on getting to the door first. Of course, he wasn’t going to pretend like it wasn’t kind of gratifying (once he was sure no serious damage had been done) –and doubly so when Lukan’s punch clipped his ankle and caused a disproportionate amount of pain. Only the fact that he was already fighting against the snake-like tendencies kept him from making any noises and let him adopt the proper expression for his lecture. He even managed to hold it throughout, despite the glare he was receiving from the boy – hold it right up to the whine. That was so pathetic and so . . . un-Lukan. He could only gape, then, as Lukan went on, seeming to get more frantic as he went on. “I . . .” For one of the only times in his life, he was struck speechless. He had sort of assumed that no one had ever really tried to help before (it wouldn’t be the first time parents had shipped off a gifted child because they didn’t want to deal with it), and it was . . . disconcerting to see that wasn’t it. Not at all as disconcerting as the shine of tears in Lukan’s eyes. Oh no. Andi struggled to fight down the initial urge to panic, and after a minute managed a faint sigh. “I don’t like to lose, remember? Walking away is just the same.” He smiled, but it wasn’t very enthusiastic, and after a second he began digging through a pocket for his handkerchief. He didn’t know what to do – this confrontation hadn’t gone exactly the way he’d imagined. After a second of fidgeting, he squatted down to be on the same level as Lukan and offered the folded square of white cloth. “You can’t give up on the world just because your dad was barely human. Hell, have hope to spite him, if that’s what it takes.”



Comments││ Bleh, it was hard to write.
Outfit││
Lyrics││ Fireflies by Owl City
Word Count││
Status││ Complete
Credit││ Goes to caitlin_express@CAUTION 2.0<3

[Lukan Moore]

Lukan's cheek pressed against the classroom floor as he draped one arm over his head. Why... why couldn't the shadows just make everything dark when he wanted them to? He glared tiredly at one quivering black figure and hissed with displeasure. Just do what you're fucking told to do, for once. Like a rebellious child, the shadow darted away to the far corner of the room. Lukan swore he heard it laughing at him. He glared at every fleeing shadow and quietly cursed them for what he could only assume was cowardice. But, they weren't alive. They'd never been alive. Lukan, though he didn't know it, had made them skirt away to the edges of the room. Perhaps his somewhat calming behavior, pitiful as it was, provided the teen with just enough control to push them away, as he desired earlier. It was if they were just now understanding his command, yet couldn't comprehend his most recent desire: make everything go dark.

After a long and quiet minute, Lukan finally drew himself up onto his knees to face Andi with reddened eyes. He sniffled and defiantly raised his chin to the older man, but made no snarky retort. Lukan didn't know how to wipe the defiance from his face. He didn't have the energy to fight anymore, but he couldn't give in either. His pride refused to let him. So, he stared with uncertainty and anger at Andi for a long time, then finally dropped his head. Something white eventually caught his eye and Luk glanced at Andi's hand; he was holding a handkerchief? The boy looked at the cloth and with another sniffle, tentatively snatched it away from the teacher's hand. He held it, as if confused about what to use it for, then finally dabbed at his teary eyes. With the tears drying, Luk found his voice again. "I'm n-not giving up on the world..." He breathed something shaky and swallowed hard. "I'm just recognizing it for what it is: cruel."

Lukan shivered then exhaled in an attempt to gain his strength back. But, whatever control he managed to capture felt weaker than what he had before. Another realization had suddenly struck Lukan, and it disturbed him: he'd told Andi a lot. The sixteen year old swallowed again and furtively glanced up at Andi. He twisted the fabric in his hands nervously. Luk wanted to leave the room, and he wanted to leave badly, but rather than lunge for the door again... Luk finally complied. "I... I'll attend the classes." He didn't have the strength in him to start up another fight.

[Garrett Andvari]

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
LEAVEMYDOOROPENJUSTACRACK
((T A K E M E A W A Y F R O M H E R E))!!!

[/i][/color][/size]
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
[/font][/center]

Andi saw the shadows fleeing Lukan, and some part of his brain logged that away for study later. It seemed a little crass to be analyzing the situations when the kid was face down on the floor with his arms over his head. Later, though, he’d pick it apart until he at least had theories about what was going on with the boy and shadows, and how to make things go more smoothly. He wished Lukan understood it (since that would do a world of help), but he supposed at the moment he should just be thankful that he’d gotten Lukan to even consider taking the help that was being offered. That was for later, though.

He would have braced himself after his own remark, but he was still thrown off by the look on Lukan’s face. Which worked out, since Lukan seemed to have lost all his steam too. Andi couldn’t believe he was in a situation in which he missed Lukan’s idiocy, but sure enough . . . anything would have been better than red eyes and sniffling. If the Headmistress found out he’d made a student cry, his life would likely end. Not that the Headmistress was cruel – or kind, he rather thought – enough to just kill him. No, she’d just make his life a living hell, and he’d never have another moment of peace. He tried repeating to himself that that was why he felt like he had to calm the kid down. The handkerchief had just been the first thing that occurred to him, and he smiled when Lukan looked like he wasn’t sure what to do with it. “It’s a little old-fashioned, but it works.” He waited as patiently as he could manage while Lukan cleared his face, and then shook his head in exasperation. Rather than spout the first thing that popped into his head - since it probably wasn’t the best for the situation - he hesitated for a long second before saying slowly, “You haven’t exactly had the best sampling of humanity to judge the world against. Silas isn’t so cruel, if you give us a chance. Aside from the general crapiness of school, of course.” One more thing to deny saying if the Headmistress ever asked . . .

Lukan’s shuddering breath almost made Andi groan – if he started sobbing, Andi didn’t know what he was going to do. Fortunately, that wasn’t what happened. I fact, quite the opposite. Andi resisted the urge to throw his hands up in victory at Lukan’s admission, instead smiling and nodding. He’d push the participation thing later, when Lukan was less volatile and he had more energy for it himself. “Good. I’m taking that as your word, so if you back out, there will be trouble.” He straightened up and offered a hand to help Lukan up as well. He wasn’t sure it’d be accepted, but he supposed he owed at least that much. “And just so we’re clear, if the Headmistress asks how I got you to attend, it was my natural persuasiveness. Right?” It wasn’t – strictly speaking – a lie. If you thought about it just the right way. As soon as Lukan was on his feet, Andi stepped aside to let him pass. Details could be hammered out later, when he got around to that participation thing.



Comments││ *spectacular death by explosion*
Outfit││
Lyrics││ Fireflies by Owl City
Word Count││
Status││ Complete
Credit││ Goes to caitlin_express@CAUTION 2.0<3