All of the Lights by Kanye West and others
"Explain why suddenly most of the football team suddenly is covered with bruises and cuts?" Coulson frowned leaning over his desk and eyeing the boys in front of him. "They look like they got bulldozed over."
Coulson had called them in about half an hour after the fight and now they were in his principal office. Danny and Sam are both slightly slouched in their seats in front of the desk, Danny has one arm over the back of his chair, Sam's crossed. Luke sits straight and the only one who seems a little uneasy.
Sam shrugs. 'Football?"
'It is quite a physical sport." Danny murmurs.
'I am aware of that.' Coulson says with the slightest strain of patience. 'I'm also aware that Mr. Alexander here has a cut lip, bruising nose and assuming jaw cut.' He points at his chin which was beginning to bruise. Sam shrugs. "And Mr. Rand here has a slightly bruised fist.' Danny ever so slowly turned his hands to hide his knuckles. He had punched one of the guys a little too hard and cracked his sun glasses. 'And Luke is sweating.'
'What, no!" Luke answered hastily. Sam glared at him and Danny raised an eyebrow. 'What, it's hot and stuffy."
Sam rolled his eyes and resumed glaring out the window that showed all gray with clouds.
"Look, just tell me what happened.' Coulson said. He looked each one into the eyes. Luke sighed.
"We were attacked."
'Is this true?" he looked at the others. They glanced at each other and nodded.
'Yeah." Sam sighed.
'By who?"
Sam had a perfectly neutral face and serious tone. "By rabid squirrels. Tons of them."
It's all Danny can do to burst laughing. He turns his head to the side so to cover his smile, and shakes his head slightly. Luke looks at him in disbelief and surprise.
"They came from the shadows and attacked us." Sam puckered his lip slightly nodding in sad truth. "I was scared for my life.
Coulson opened his mouth but didn't seem to have words to say. He looked at the others. Luke refused to meet his gaze now and seemed very interested in his shoes. Danny turned back and met his eyes. 'Nightmare, just out of nowhere. I now have a fear of squirrels."
Now Sam is trying not to laugh.
"Really?" Luke grumbled. Danny shrugged.
Coulson sighed and clasped his hands. "I'm trying here boys. I know it was you three and frankly it is slightly disappointing given your records. I was hoping to see improvements, not falling back into old patterns.'
"It wasn't us!" Sam growled as he stiffened and Luke winced. Danny frowned.
"I know it was you three." He repeated as he got up and had his hands clasped behind his back and paced in front of them.
'No you don't.' Sam seethed.
'To be fair how would you know?" Danny asked.
"Did they say it was us or something?" Luke asked with a slight frown.
'No, they refuse to comment." Coulson said. "But I know because of facts and I know who you are."
'Doubt it." Sam snorted.
Coulson raised an eyebrow. "Danny you are, for lack of a better word, anti social and have little interaction with others. You would not intercede in violence unless you see it necessary. Maybe a friend in trouble or a personal attack. Something you are not unused to due to your professional training, very neat fighting with as little as possible damage but enough to daze or make your opponent incapable. I thought of you three; you'd be able to keep a leveled head the most.
Luke, you grew up in the streets and gang violence. Fights, even those outnumbered ones; you have fought before since you were young and seen things, some you shouldn't have at such an age or done at such an age. You hardly went to school and if you did you were usually sent back home. Not to mention the jail violence and other things you have experienced. You also have tried to turn all that around and become protective, of your friends and new family, and try to limit your strength so not to damage others. You have the past.
Sam, multiple suspensions even expulsions from schools, including private and boarding school. Mostly due to fights and you have left your opponents in bad states, and yes even hospitalization. Complaints from staff and teachers on disrespect and are very flippant. Reference due to absence of one or both parents and other family trouble, you have the emotional anger. You will not back down and will attack on any threat. You are constantly late and ditching as well as out spoken. Am I wrong?" he looks at them all reading their emotions.
They're mixes from shame to anger to resentment to reserve. But that's because he isn't off.
"And that is only school related troubles. I 'm sure I don't need to point out personal and family matters."
They are all tense and stiff. Sam is visibly shaking with anger and his face reads loathing. Danny is keeping himself composed. Luke is staring outside the window.
Coulson sighed. "As you see it's not hard to put the pieces together. Sam got into some confrontation with a student, Danny went to help seeing things go out of hand or maybe he got targeted as well. Luke jumps in to protect both of you.'
'So you're blaming me?" Sam spat.
Coulson shook his head. "Never. I know it's not your fault."
Sam is taken aback by his honesty but looks to the side, aloof.
"I'm only saying what must have happened. The fault doesn't matter, it's the action. These kids are not like you. They don't have the training or experiences you have and even though they don't know it, they are at a completely unfair advantage. Is that right?"
'No.' Danny answered quietly. He is kind of feeling bad about it now.
"I just don't want your old habits to pick up again. This is a fresh and new start, agreed?"
'Yes." Luke nodded.
'Good. I don't want this to happen again." He walked back around to his desk. "You guys have detention. The real kind.'
They groaned as they got up and went to walk out. Coulson couldn't help but smile a bit, those kids!
In the hall they went to their lockers. Pete looked at them with a frown of disapproval. "Really you guys?"
"Not now Parker." Sam glared.
Pete looked at Luke and Danny. "And you two?"
They shrugged. He rolled his eyes and slammed his locker shut. He caught sight of Ava and MJ walking down the hall. "Coming?" he said curtly.
"I'll meet you guys over there." Sam merely said. They shrugged and left.
He replaced his book and grabbed a folder then a candy pack of Sourheads.
Maria was walking down the hall when she passed Sam at his locker. She considered just walking by but something compelled her to stop by. "Hey you're going to be late for class again." She said teasingly as she leaned her back on the locker next to him.
He opened his candy with a shrug. 'Nothing important." And turned to her.
'Uh huh like you- oh shit!" she cried looking at his face. "What happened?!"
He gave her a slight glared and deadpanned. "Thanks.'
'No, no it's cuz you have bruises and-" she looked surprise and concerned. Even though Sam had dark tanned skin and the bruises were fresh she could see where they were. She also didn't miss the cuts. "What happened?"
"I fell." He shrugged then blinked in surprise at what she did.
She ignored his sarcasm and raised a hand to his face. Her fingers lightly fluttered at his bruising jaw and the cut on his forehead. 'It was Jake, huh?"
He shrugged again, trying not to wince at his shoulder but it didn't go unnoticed. She frowned. 'I told you not to bait him."
He was going to tell her she hadn't said a word to him since Tuesday but then he realized she didn't have to. When their eyes had met in the hall and she shook her head that had been enough, he knew what she had meant because she knew what he would do. Instead he smiled. "Couldn't resist."
"You're going to get yourself killed." She muttered then tugged at his arm lightly. "C'mon, you need to get cleaned up."
"I'll just wait till I, uh, get home." He stumbled slightly. Maria noted it but said nothing. 'I can't exactly go to the nurse.'
'Fine, I'll do it for you."
He looked at her blankly picturing how she would wrap him. "I know I'm gifted but you can't wrap me like a present."
She snorted. "Where do you come up with this stuff?"
"Gifted remember." He wiggled his eyebrows at her.
She couldn't help but giggle. "You're such a dork." She made sure no one was in the next hall as she turned and opened the door to a supply closet.
"We're going to be late." He muttered. He didn't need to be taken care of.
'Nothing important, remember?" she turned on the light and he followed her in. It wasn't exactly a supply closet more like a room, fairly big enough. He closed the door and she glanced around the room. She went to a shelf were the bandages the nurse use are left as well as cotton balls and rubbing alcohol.
"How do you know about this?"
"Took a first aid class.'
"I meant where everything is."
She motioned for him to sit. "I'm simply aware."
She opened the bandage wrap and the alcohol. As she poured a bit on a cotton ball Sam popped another candy in his mouth. He held up the bag for her. She blinked in surprise but took one. "Thanks."
"Welcome." He watched her face as she ate it. "There not sour for you?"
"Not really. I love sour candy." She said as she grabbed another cotton ball and poured water from her bottle on it.
He nodded in approval. She held the cotton ball ready to dab but he pulled his head back. "It's going to hurt.' He whined.
She rolled her eyes. "Don't be a baby.'
'But it will!"
She rolled her eyes. "The close your eyes so you won't see me do it or know when."
He pouted slightly but leaned forward and closed his eyes. She used the water cotton ball and wiped in over his forehead. She barely touched him when he let out a yelp and pulled back.
She sighed impatiently. "It's water!"
'Oh.' He resumed his position.
She grinned and shook her head but continued. Her hand held his chin lightly so he wouldn't move and she started there. She wiped all dirt and dried blood, cleaning the small cuts and his busted lip. She did so gently so to not hurt his jaw. She couldn't help but to run her finger tips over it again and she felt kind of piss at Jake. Her fingers cupped his face as she wiped up the sides of his face up to his forehead. She cleaned the cut he had there, it wasn't as bad as it had seemed because head wounds tended to bleed more. She also wiped his eyelids, he had such long lashes. She found it unfair that boys had such pretty eyes, especially Sam's. They were such a nice green that could change tones easily but always that twinkle that made you grin. Even now looking at them they had it and another look. Something . . .
She blinked realizing she shouldn't be able to see his eyes. While she had been cleaning him he had opened his eyes and was staring up at her. They were frozen unsure how to move. His breath felt so warm on her and her slightly parted lips were inviting. She abruptly straightened and turned. "The cuts aren't that bad."
He blinked then nodded. "Yeah not that bad.'
"You've had worst?"
He chuckled. 'Yeah."
"I guess you like to pick fights."
"Just happens.'
"What? Shit?"
"Yeah. Shit happens." He closed his eyes again seeing her grab another cotton ball.
This time she started at the top. She wiped around his wound then gently right on it. He hissed in pain and winced.
'Hold still.' She said as she grabbed his face again.
"Trying but it burns!'
She wiped again, he shuddered but didn't move. She did a little more then moved to his lips. She dabbed lightly and his chin jutted taught but he didn't pull back. She then moved to the smaller scrapes and cut. "Your face is done." She said.
He opened his eyes. 'Yeah, thanks." He touched his head then pulled back in pain.
She held out her hand and he gave her his arm. She pulled the long sleeve up and began to clean the scrapes on his knuckles and wrist. "Guess you gave him a nice upper cut." She said examining his hand.
'Him and others.'
'It wasn't just him?!" she asked in surprise.
"Na he brought friends."
She sighed. "Tell me what happened, from the beginning."
As she worked on him he told her about the party then how the thing in the hallway started. She stopped him mid way because she noticed that he kept wincing at every touch on his shoulder. "What happened there?" she tapped it.
"Hey! I got kicked." He rubbed it lightly with the palm of his hand.
She rolled her eyes. 'Do you want me to wrap it up?"
"Yeah." He admitted. He shrugged out of his shirts and put them on the floor next to him as he stood. She blushed and turned away to hide her face as she grab the bandage wrap to but not fast enough. He saw and chuckled. 'Oh, c'mon it's not like it's the first time you've seen me shirtless."
"Shut up!" she frowned as she took a step forward to inspect his shoulder. It was getting bruised to. She placed it on his shoulder and pulled it under his arm then over his shoulder then around his torso.
"What's wrong?' he teased and leaned down to whisper in her ear. "You know you like it!"
Heat flushed her but instead she pulled the bandage tighter.
"Ow!" he yelped and pulled away.
'Sorry." She said sounding very not sorry. She repeated her process.
'Gosh what is it?"
She placed a hand on her hip. "'Continue with your story. You were at the part where you got punched in the face."
He frowned down at her but continued. He ended when he got called to Coulson's office. "So he talked and yeah that was about it.'
She frowned as she was finishing up. "He's such buthead. And a coward, he really had to bring in people to back him up.' She rolled his eyes. 'Idiot.'
"Yeah, real charmer.'
"At least you got him, it'll make him think twice. He's always picking fights with other guys."
"Bully." He smirked.
"Not really. Flash, he's a bully. But Jake's an ass that likes to pick fights. But at least your okay, no big damage."
"Aaww, you care." He teased.
"No." she retorted.
"Then why'd you help me.'
She blinked. 'I'm not sure.' She murmured. She finished tying it. "There you go all done.' She said as she grabbed the stuff and placed it back.
"Great, all done?!" he grabbed his shirts and carefully put them back on.
"Yeah." She said as she grabbed her backpack and placed it on.
'That's it?"
"Yup." She turned but only stepped into him.
His arms immediately reached out to steady her and she was wrapped in them. She looked up at him and he looked slightly surprised but then his face cracked into a grin. "What, no get well kiss?!"
"I think I should save that for Sussie." She said rather curtly.
He frowned. 'I don't even like her, hell I hardly know her. I think she was using me just to get under Jake's skin. And I didn't mind!" he gave her a mischievous grin. "It's nothing. And why do you care?"
"I don't."
"Sure. So do I get one?" he asked hopefully.
She frowned, ignoring her pounding heart. Then she quickly placed a kiss on his jaw then slipped out of his arms and out of the room.
He stood there for awhile in surprise but couldn't help but grin.
"He's such an idiot." Ava muttered. They were in history and the two boys had recounted what happened. "And you guys two."
"He did good." Danny put in.
Luke frowned. "How are we idiots?"
"I don't know!" she sounded frustrated.
Danny smirked. "Because we didn't call you in for back up?"
"Yeah!"
They chuckled and Pete frowned. "Not helping!'
She shrugged. "They deserved it."
"Please pay attention!" their teacher exasperated. He was putting in a film. They nodded and turned back to face the classroom. He turned off the lights and had the air on. As the film on historical government played they begin to quiet.
It wasn't terribly interesting. Ava glanced around, she saw Harry and Pete were quietly talking, Luke was listening to music. She turned to Danny next to her. His face was like if he were watching any movie and again she smiled but she noticed his hands. He was also picking at hands and dropping something on his desk. She realized what it was.
'Here' She whispered as she reached for his wrist.
He blinked and looked at her. "Oh, it's okay."
'Not it's not." She pulled his hand onto her desk.'
He chuckled quietly. 'I'm fine.' But didn't pull back.
She ran her fingers lightly over his knuckles. There was pieces of glass sticking out and it had been bleeding.
"How does this not hurt?" she whispered in surprise, he was so composed. Some were small shards but they looked to be pretty deep. He had paper towels in his hand that he was using to wipe the blood and they were soaking red.
He shrugged. 'You get used to it. Not the worst."
She shook her head but with her nails began to pull the pieces out. She placed them on the desk so she could throw them away afterwards.
His hands were rough and calloused but still warm; she also knew how gentle they could be. His long fingers had many small cuts and scars that came from years of training.
Danny trying to learn how the Romans set up their government but he was finding it very hard to concentrate. It seemed as if the senses in his hand went up tenfolds. Ava ran her fingers gently over his knuckles, nails dragging slightly. How she gently pulled the small shards of glass, bringing only minimal pain and a slight tugging feeling. He suddenly felt very warm and realized how Luke must have felt when in Coulson's office, under pressure.
She went on with the task grateful for the distraction, even she agreed the movie was a complete bore. She removed the last shard and gently ran her fingers over his again. "There you go.'
She turned to him with a slight smile. He was also looking at her with an odd expression. Their eyes met and it was like an electrical current running between them in the dark. Her fingers were still over his and he curled his around hers.
Suddenly the classroom door open. They jumped not only at the new light but at the breaking of tension. Danny quickly took his hand back and Ava looked down before then they looked up again to see who came in.
Sam walked at a slow gait to his seat. He was casual as if though he was taking a seat at home.
"Nice for you to join us Mr. Alexander." The teacher said sarcastically.
"Wish I could say the same." Sam sighed as he sat.
The teacher shot him a sour look but said nothing else.
Sam put his chin on his hand facing the film. Luke nudged him. 'Where were you?"
"No where." He shrugged and turned to them.
"Did you go to the nurse?" Pete asked seeing how much better he looked.
"Uh, no, just cleaned up.' He said evasively.
Danny smirked slightly. "You mean someone did it for you."
"I bet I know who it is?" Ava snickered.
He glared at them then turned back to the screen.
For awhile they tried to concentrate at the movie like diligent students but even they couldn't. Ava gave a shiver and was rubbing her arms to get warmth. Danny glanced at her. "Cold?"
"Yeah, swear it's going to snow in here.'
"Why'd you wear a dress?"
"I didn't think it be this cold!"
He chuckled and removed his sweater then handed it to her. 'Here."
"No, aren't you cold." She shook her head.
He smiled. "No. I'm used to way colder weather. Besides you need it way more than me."
She gave him a sideways glance that was slightly a glare at being teased but she then took the sweater and gratefully put it on. She practically sighed. It was extra warm from his own body heat and felt so soft and good.
It also fit her a little big. It was long enough to practically the hem of her dress and the sleeves were long to. She rolled them up to her wrist and pulled the collar up so it was up her neck. She grinned at him. "Thank you!"
"Welcome.' He shrugged then grinned at her playfully. "So how about now?"
She knew he meant about being even. "Nope, not a chance."
Suddenly Pete chuckled.
They gave him a look then glanced at each other wondering why he was laughing.
"You okay man?" Luke asked concern.
"Telling you, totally lost it.' Sam whispered to Danny, Harry and Ava.
Pete merely grinned. 'I just realized I'm the only one who doesn't have detention."
They all groaned.