3rd throwdown | of future and revenge

[overexertion]

Solo practice; Closed to Nagisa; morning

[Sousuke had felt restless in the early hours of the morning so he had decided to leave for the Quidditch fields to practice some. It was the perfect way to get his mind off things - even when his mind was full of quidditch related angst.

Unfortunately, practice wasn't going very well. After being in the air and practicing some swings for a while, he had felt a jolt of pain and had to make an emergency landing on the ground. There he was, lying and staring at the morning sky and breathing heavily.]

Library; right after classes

[As opposed to the last time we heard of him hanging out in the library, this time Sousuke is actually studying. With career counselling nearing and his condition not getting better, he needs to start figuring out what to do with his life and actually study to be able to choose something he decides.

On the floor there's a letter from his father with attached pictures of famous aurors and some articles that "might interest him". Clearly it's decision making time when the head of Yamazaki family starts making more and more attempts at pushing Sousuke to the "right path".

After some time, Sousuke will just give up on trying to remember any more transfiguration things and eventually just naps.]

A corner in a hallway; late evening, before curfew
Warning for violence

[Sousuke had been cornered by three guys - one of them who was a guy he had punched and sent to hospital wing two years ago (there were stairs involved) and the other two were apparently his very good friends; the ex beaters of the Slytherin team. Even if he was at a disadvantage, he didn't seem all that worried.]

Is today some sort of a closet cleaning day for all bent up revenge and hate feelings?

[The first had a good reason to be angry still (even if Sousuke had been made apologize), the second was thrown out of the team because Sousuke came back and the third was take off the team because Sousuke brougth Baldur in. Some very good reasons to be angry.

It seems it was also a good reason not to talk and get their fists to do the talking. Sousuke mentally shook his head and dodged one of the punches by moving out of the way and another by blocking it with his hand. The third guy he just chose to trip as he approached.]

Guys, none of us really want detention right? So just back off.

[They could just walk different ways? No? Fine. He could use this as a chance to relieve some frustration as well. Sousuke lets himself deliver a punch to one of the guys who was already attacking again. Of course, he can't defend himself from all sides so he's prepared to get at least one punch on himself.

A punch, not a spell that knocks him down on the floor. Hey, that's cheating in a fist fight. Sousuke's not fast enough to react and get up before he even gets kicked on the side. Oh great. He does react and kick at one of the guy's feet to knock him down and as he's getting up, he'll tackle another. That's two down - now where's the third-

Ah. Right there, shooting another spell at him. What's going to hit him next...?]


Wilcard

[Anything in between, before or after events.]

Comments

[overexertion]

[Of all the teachers to see the situation it had to be Sano, huh? The three attackers all back off to the same place, after Sousuke let one of them actually get up, looking angry and making angry looks at Sousuke who was still chilling on the ground. Chilling, because he feels like he did nothing wrong.]

He started it out of nowhere! We were just returning to dorms.

Yeah right. I was merely defending myself from an angry mob.

[While looking a little excited and maybe grinning a little, but it had been self-defense. For the most part.]

[fireredspear]

[The corners of Sano's mouth are turned as far down as they have never been before. He can tell they're lying, unashamedly invading their mind to access the entire incident. He looks completely calm, but it has more the impression of a calm before a storm, like the heavens will split apart in divine punishment any moment now.]

Don't bullshit me.

[Not that he'd trust them across the way, if he didn't have his abilities. The one good thing about this entire clusterfuck? He finally caught them in the act.]

There's no excuse for an act of cowardice. If you have the time to feel inferior and plot plans how to get back at someone who surpassed you fair and square, you have the time to improve your skills as well. But then you wouldn't be the cowards you are. You won't escape a suspension this time, I promise you as much. I got me eyes on you for some time now. I need to thank you for providing me with a reason.

And YOU!

[Sano turns to Sousuke again. Defending yourself in all honor an respect, but no matter how he twists and turns it, he knows it wasn't pure defense. He has seen the punch Sousuke had thrown in their memories, he can feel the indifference towards the other Slytherins, and a certain kind of annoyance and frustration.]

It stopped being defense with the first punch you've thrown. If you're man enough to fight, you're man enough to bear the consequences. Y'all will follow me into me office now.

[overexertion]

[The three guys go quiet over Sano's words and just look like they'd rather be anywhere else but here. Well, Sousuke can't blame them. Sano's pretty scary when he's angry since he usually wasn't.

That's why even Sousuke needs to jump mentally a little at being addressed. He's been on the other end of his yelling before and he's pretty sure Sano looked at how things went by now. Must have been convenient to have legilimency when you were a teacher.

Sousuke finally got up and gave a small shrug, mostly to hide the small nervousness from the other three present.]

I wasn't going to try avoiding the consequences.

[fireredspear]

[Legilimency is definitely a handy skill, in many regards, whether you were a teacher, or a referee, or whoever, really. But it's also a double-edged sword. Sometimes you come across of things you'd rather not know. Sano's back is squared as he guides them through the halls and up the stairs to his office. It's not the first time he's walked this path with a student and most probably not the last, but that doesn't mean he's enjoying it a lot. Moreover, he's already warned Sousuke once. He couldn't care less about a bunch of trouble causing douche bags, who had caused more trouble than they are worth, but Sousuke is a fine lad. Short fused and stubborn, but with his heart in the right place. If it only didn't turn him into a monster, on one of the worse days. It sorta reminds Sano of himself, when he had his ideals, muscles to support them, but too little brain to know the difference between the important and unimportant.

Well, there's no helping it now. He can let someone get away only so many times. He stops in front of his office and turns to the students.]

You all will wait here until I call you inside. If you leave, you will only make it worse. Yamazaki, you're first.

[He opens the door and walks in, waiting for Sousuke to join him. He doesn't sit into his comfortable sofa chair, like so many times before, walking towards the window instead, behind his light, modern cut table (transfigured from the ridiculous massive oak table, that used to be in there instead), motioning with his hand towards the single chair in front of it.]

Sit.

[He gazes out of the window, not looking at the kid, as he tries to think of what to do, waiting for the rustle of clothes and the creak of wood, as Sousuke sits down. A big part of him just wants to grab his broom and break through the glass, fly away somewhere and not think at all. Maybe he'll do that later. But without breaking the glass. Finally he sighs, running a hand through his hair. No avoiding this. Crossing his arms, he turns to Sousuke, making sure the frown is still in place, as he asks.]

What, by a Dullahan's severed head, was that about?

[overexertion]

[Once they're alone, Sousuke lets himself act more uncomfortable and affected by what's going on. It's really painful to have someone you respect so much be disappointed in you. It really sucks it had to be Sano that caught them.

Sousuke doesn't look at him, clearly frustrated and disapointed he'd ended up in this situation.]

I couldn't just take a beating without fighting back. Especially not when they started using spells on me.

[fireredspear]

Of course not!

[Sano sighs in frustration and scratches his head again.]

I'm not telling you to willingly take a beating just to avoid trouble. But how about trying to walk away from it instead? You need to know how to pick your fights, lad, or else trouble is all you'll be getting in life. It didn't look to me like you were exactly unhappy about the opportunity to rearrange their faces. Or trying to end it quickly. Correct me if I'm wrong.

[He really wishes he is. He knows Sousuke is not entirely innocent in that fight, but if the boy can explain himself an acknowledge his part in the fault, Sano will at least know his judgement in the boy wasn't entirely wrong.]

[overexertion]

[Sousuke is silent for a while before sighing.]

... I was glad that I had an opportunity to went out some frustrations myself because of something that happened earlier. I know I should have defended and left instead.

[fireredspear]

[Sano watches him for a moment, before sighing and slumping down into his chair.]

At least you realize that.

[He also doesn't need legilimency to guess what could have caused that kind of frustration, gaze wandering to the boy's shoulder.]

You'll go see Madame Pomfrey after we're done here.

[Except that doesn't solve the current situation.]

You and your temper... What am I gonna do with you?

[It's not like Sousuke had much fault in the entire thing. But the way how he always seemed to revert to his fists, as a solution to his problems, worries Sano and he can't ignore it either. He knows he can't let Sousuke off the hook scot free, but he doesn't want to be too hard on him either, since that would be unfair, in this situation. Except... Except this isn't the first time Sousuke got into a fight, and the last time had been provoked entirely by him. If the incident with the stairs wouldn't have happened, Sano could be more lenient, but he's afraid if he's too mild now, Sousuke will never learn how to manage his problems, or worse, try to push the limits a bit more. Sano hates doing it, but his hand is already reaching for a piece of parchment.]

You will receive a written warning for this one. I can't have you go berserk, whenever you need a vent for your emotions.

[He doesn't apologize, or say he can't act differently, because that won't make it any better, but he hopes Sousuke understands... Or will. Eventually. When the testosterone stopped oozing from every pore. As for the detention... He could go the easy way and give him a week of candelabras, but that won't really help anyone, in this case, least of all Sousuke. Besides, that could make the shoulder worse again. He gives it a moment of thought, before deciding.]

I hear your Potions need improving. I'll have to talk to Fai, but you might get a week of detention in that. You'll be informed as soon as I work it out with Fai. I'd give you candelabras, but it doesn't seem to be helping your thick head any.

[overexertion]

... she'll immediately notice I was in a fight and it's almost past curfew.

[At least Pomfrey most likely wouldn't get him more detention, but a lecture from her would be just icing on this ridiculous cake. Though he also knows that he can't really argue against Sano so it's mostly said in a "are you really sure about that' tone than "I refuse" one.

The written warning doesn't surprise him. It's true that he needs to learn to control his emotions or he'd be in trouble even more. Maybe the Occlumency lessons suggested by his father would help with that as well.

The Potions detention, however, makes him cringe. Rin has been trying to help him improve but it was still a thorn in his side. At least he hasn't made anything explode - his potions just looked more like poison and something that could melt a few layers of metal... or just didn't work.]

I'd just be causing him a headache with my lack of skill...

[fireredspear]

[Giving Sousuke a sharp look, Sano pulls out a second piece of parchment, scribbling on it something very fast, before folding it and handing it to Sousuke.]

If someone's got a problem with it, show them this.

[When Sousuke opens the letter, he'll read these few lines:]

The student carrying this parchment, Sousuke Yamazaki, has been allowed to be outside of his dormitory past curfew, for the purpose of a visit to the hospital wing.

Signed by,

Sanosuke Harada

[He's staring at Sousuke with an unimpressed look, as the boy expresses his concerns about the Potion Master's well being. It would be justified, if Sano didn't know, that Fai's head was made of stuff harder than concrete.]

If an entire bottle of single malted fire whiskey from the heart of Eireann can't do shit to Fai's head, I assure you don't hold that power either.

[overexertion]

[Oh. Well that will make things easier. It seems he really has no choice put to give Pomfrey a visit then. At least he could probably get some painkillers, which would be needed tonight.

At the talk about Fai, he chooses just to sigh.]

... understood.

[fireredspear]

Good. You're dismissed. Professor Flowright will inform you about the start of your detention. Now go and get that shoulder treated.

[Sano wonders if he's being too hard. A part of him thinks with Sousuke's hard head and short fuse it can't be helped, but another part of him, the one that's a big brother, makes him feel a little bad. The kid is hurt, just got bullied and already has his dreams falling apart in his hands. It's hard enough as it is for the kid.

Sighing once again, he looks at the student, his expression and tone softer this time.]

And Sousuke? Stay out of trouble. It would be a shame if you let your temper ruin, or rule your life.

[It's enough Sano made that mistake, it doesn't need to be repeated. Though he has no regrets, he's also gotten lucky. And that's not something one can count on.]

[overexertion]

[Sousuke gets up with the parchment in hand and starts walking to the door before he stops and looks over his shoulder at Sano. There's a quiet mental voice in his head that would like to say that his life is already in ruins, but he doesn't.]

I will try. Good night.

[Well, as good as it can be, seeing as he's still got Rin on his list of people who will see and he will notice that something happened.]