Disclaimer: Connor MacLeod and all 'Highlander' characters are copyright Davis/Panzer Productions, and Balthazar Blake and all 'Sorcerer's Apprentice' characters are copyright Disney. This fanfic is based off a lengthy Role-Play, heavily edited for added narrative. No profit made, but a hell of a lot of fun. Being an RP, this is effectively co-written by my girlfriend, who played Balthazar.
Sorry for the delay, this was a long chapter, and I'm on a shared computer.
Sword and Sorcery
26. The chair was too much for him
Each day, Connor's restless offers to get out of their way lessened, as he seemed to adjust to staying in their home. After a few days, Balthazar was up early, going through books and papers and packing up what he needed for Dave's lessons. The immortal came down rumpled but dressed, went straight for the coffee, and then watched him intently over the rim of his mug.
"Morning." Balthazar said absently after a moment. Connor's piercing stares were hard to ignore. "…Dave's done with his physics project. Time to show him some wand and staff work."
Connor looked broody, but he often did in the morning, and the first thing out of his mouth was anything but. "With or without Veronica?"
"She's going to st-" He broke off as the innuendo sank in and turned to glower at Connor.
Connor simply raised an eyebrow and put up his hands. His expression was striving to be innocent, and failing. "Who am I to question what sorcerers do with their apprentices?"
"I never knew you were a pervert." Balthazar accused him, "Drink your coffee, or you'll be wearing it." It was good to see the immortal making jokes, even dirty ones.
"…Really? You must not have been listening right, all those years." He looked shameless, but went back to drinking his coffee. The signs were subtle, but he was beginning to look just a little healthier for his stay in their home.
"Hmph. Just for that, I'm bringing you along. Some of these spells go better with a live target."
Connor paused, and looked intrigued. "Any of them likely to decapitate?"
"Not really, no." Balthazar looked amused. He'd hoped the idea would catch his interest.
"I bet you'd owe me, after." Connor took the last of his coffee in a gulp and set the mug down.
"Maybe. What would you expect in return?"
He shrugged, hiding the flicker of a smirk. "Scotch usually suffices as coin of the realm…" His face sobered quickly. "I owe you, anyway, for letting me stay here."
"Wouldn't have it any other way." Balthazar smiled. "I think I can swing a bottle of scotch. I'll tell Veronica we're going."
Connor nodded, and was ready to go with coat and sword before Balthazar reached the door. He carried his carpetbag out to the car, and Veronica accompanied them that far to give him a kiss goodbye. "We'll be back for dinner," He nuzzled her cheek. "I'll bring something home."
Connor waited quietly, restless, but he seemed to be in a relatively good mood. Balthazar snuck a guilty glance at his expression as they got in, but the immortal no longer seemed to mind their displays of affection. He nodded at Veronica as she waved them off, and headed in towards the city, careful to avoid their old haunts in Manhattan. The immortal watched intently out the window as they went, anyway, and didn't speak until he was parking near Dave's laboratory.
"Did you ever get your stuff out of storage?"
"Some of it. Most of it's safer where it is." Balthazar got out and stretched.
Connor nodded and got out, rolling his shoulders and neck a little. His expression was quiet and guarded, and he looked tense.
Balthazar led him into the entrance and the elevator. When it opened up on the floor below, they could see David carefully moving a Tesla coil to one side of the huge, dingy room.
"You never told me what grade you got," Balthazar said as he stepped out.
"What do you think, man? I eat and breathe molecular physics." David grinned over his shoulder, then almost lost his grip on the Tesla coil in surprise as he spotted Connor.
Playing silent shadow, Connor was pacing after Balthazar with a predatory air. It struck Balthazar that the intense, roving gaze might look intimidating, but he knew that Connor was taking in potential exits and entrances, and spots for a good defensive stance. He often assessed new places that way, especially when he felt at risk from headhunters. Considering he'd been out of Manhattan for fifteen years, that was a good possibility.
"Careful," Balthazar chided David, a little amused by his reaction. "I brought Connor along for target practice."
"Uh… are you sure that's cool with him? I mean, Tank could use the break, but…"
Connor spread his arms wide and looked down at the apprentice with a predatory smile. "Scared I can't take it?"
"Ah, he needs something to occupy his time." Balthazar gave Connor a friendly thump on the back, and trotted down the stairs. He was hoping his own casual behavior around Connor would show the boy that he didn't need to be so fearful of him.
"As long as I'm not gonna get hit…" He gave the Tesla coil a last shove into place.
"That depends what you do to me." Connor came down eyeballing the coils, relaxing just a little now that the initial inspection was over. "Building your own power station down here? Hey Balthazar, remember that fake Quickening in the park? You should have had a set of these…"
"Experiments with plasma." David shrugged and gestured dismissively.
"I remember. They're useful, but a little conspicuous." Balthazar paused by a table as something caught his eye. He picked up a pink bra delicately, by one strap. "Whoa, Dave! In the lab? Not much of a romantic, are you?"
David turned red and came over to snatch the bra away. "It's not like that! Her washing machine broke down; she was doing laundry and it got left behind…"
"Well that's one way to pass the time while waiting for the spin cycle." Connor was wearing an evil grin.
Balthazar snickered. Connor's dirty sense of humor was just fine, as long as it was applied to anyone but himself.
"…I can do this music thing? With the Tesla coils? She kind of likes-" Dave flailed a little, put the bra in his pocket, then thought better of it. "I'm… gonna go put this in a bag for her…"
Balthazar almost doubled over as the boy galloped off upstairs.
"Guess you've been teaching him well." Connor gave him a solid thump on the back.
The blow sent him staggering a little, unprepared, and he straightened as he tried to recover from laughing. "Ahh. He's a good kid."
"Must be, if she forgot to take that home with her." Connor seemed ready to milk the joke for all he could.
"Heheh. Good to know he's living a little. He's not lying about the laundry, I'm sure. He's the worst liar I've ever known. But I bet there was more going on."
Connor shrugged, pacing the room slowly and taking in the details. "He's the right age for it."
"Nineteen. Raging hormones." Balthazar opened the carpetbag and took out three wands, and two large staves longer than the bag was deep.
Connor gave a grunt, eyeing Balthazar's expression. "What are you going to have him do to me?"
The sorcerer gave a sly smile, teasing Connor gently. "Not sure yet. You mind being levitated for a start?"
"Never have been, so how should I know?" He let the unspoken taunt go.
Dave returned, having tamed his blushing. "R-right, all taken care of. What are we doing?"
"Get in the circle, in the section for Mind."
Connor gave a put-upon sigh. "Where do I stand?"
"Mind?" Dave's eyes widened a fraction. "I don't like Mind. I have a bad history with Mind."
"I patched you up last time. You didn't even scar. Don't argue." Balthazar took a calm, matter-of-fact tone.
"That's not the point!" Despite the protest, he went over to the circle meekly and wreathed himself in magical flame.
"Mind is the subtlest circle; if you don't master it, Horvath will use it against you." Balthazar turned to Connor. "Sit for now. That chair by the desk is fine."
Connor eyed the chair as if it might hold a bear trap, and sat reluctantly, elbows on knees, using only half the seat. He watched with interest, and that subtle magical curiosity Balthazar had noticed long ago. Since taking Kane's head, and Nakano's Quickening in the process, he'd grown noticeably more powerful.
Balthazar glanced at him with interest, but said nothing for the moment. Connor wasn't the one he was there to teach. After leading Dave through some brief meditative exercises, they discussed levitation while shielding. Here, Connor got to be helpful, as Dave was put in charge of levitating him in his chair and shielding him while Balthazar hurled plasma bolts.
Connor put up with this with folded arms and a scowl, but that was good grace, coming from him. At least he didn't weigh any more than Balthazar did, and Dave had levitated him before. Only once was he nearly dropped, but Dave managed to set him down gently.
"Good." Balthazar nodded approvingly. "Now you have a choice- wands or staves? We'll go over both, but I'm not sure how much we'll get through today."
David stepped out of the circle to get a drink of water. "I dunno. You're the master…"
Connor paced, stretched, and generally looked like he was done with sitting. "What do you do with those?"
"They can be used for either rituals or combat, but we're focusing on combat today. Wands are better for split-second transfiguration, staves for physical combat mixed with magical battle."
Connor grinned, and without a warning he had the blade in his hand, flashing in a figure eight. "This sounds more interesting."
Dave's eyes grew very big, and he looked to Balthazar for rescue.
"Relax," Balthazar grinned. "He's not going to cut off your head. Get back in the circle; we'll start with staves."
As the apprentice returned to the circle, Balthazar picked up both staves and tossed one to the boy. "These are both oak, and they're blessed, but they don't have to be for combat."
Connor sighed, sword lowering. "Just because I'm a headhunter doesn't mean I'll hurt just anybody." He gestured to Balthazar's staff with the katana. "If they're magic, what will those do to my blade? I don't want to have to make another one."
"They're just wood. You could probably slice through them. One of the things I'm about to teach is magical reinforcement, though." He turned to explain this briefly to David, then showed him some basic moves with the staff, blocking and swinging with ease. Balthazar had never been much for physical combat, but he knew he could hold his own.
The immortal watched from the sidelines with an expert eye, still as a rock with the katana at his side. Arms training was likely as familiar to him as breathing.
David didn't have the grace or strength to hold up long, but he was spirited and got up again and again to keep trying. Balthazar thumped him on the back reassuringly. "Don't worry, it takes time."
"Yeah, I… pretty much have always sucked at this kind of thing?"
"You're only nineteen. You have plenty of time to stop sucking. Any advice for him, Connor?"
"I started learning arms before ten, and when I was nineteen I rode into battle against the Frasers." Balthazar seemed to recall that was how Connor had taken his first death, but to be fair, that had been at the hands of another immortal. Connor regarded David critically and tucked the katana away in his coat. "Toss me that, boy." It didn't sound patronizing, but he'd slipped into gruff teacher mode.
David blinked and tossed him the staff gamely.
Balthazar backed up to give him room, trusting Connor.
Connor caught the staff and twirled it once, then shrugged his coat off onto a chair. "Watch while your arms rest; It's your turn next." He faced Balthazar measuringly. "You want me to defend?"
"You choose. You're stronger, though."
He smiled faintly, but looked all business. "Speed matters as much or more than strength. Attack me."
"Yeah, you're faster, too." Balthazar lunged, swinging upward.
Connor moved to block easily, hands shifting as he continued the move to throw Balthazar's staff wide, and jut the end of his own staff for the sorcerer's throat. It stopped a few inches short, he paused, then returned to the guarded pose he started at.
Balthazar tried to dodge, and used the other end of the staff to sweep at Connor's legs. The immortal leaped back as he blocked, but it was a narrow thing. He hadn't been fully on his guard. Balthazar knew he would be, now, but he grinned at the near miss. He backed up a step, twirling the staff once, waited for a moment, then made a move for Connor's midsection.
Connor blocked and his staff slid up Balthazar's for a jab of his own, but once again he stopped just before making contact. For a while Connor played defense, showing how to parry the blows and turn them to advantage, but the first time he actually tapped Balthazar he apologized. As they went on, the pace picked up, Connor grew a little more aggressive. Eventually a swing he may have expected Balthazar to dodge knocked the sorcerer down, and Connor was quick to haul him to his feet again with an armclasp, smiling apologetically.
Balthazar had held his own reasonably well, and didn't mind getting knocked down, but it was a good excuse to pause to rest. He looked over at David, who was looking intimidated. "Got a better idea of how it works yet?"
"Uh… sort of."
"Good. Your turn." Slightly out of breath, he handed his apprentice his own staff.
Connor chuckled and shifted his weight on the balls of his feet. "Maybe I'd better let you attack first, too."
"I still don't see what this has to do with magic…"
"You will. Trust me."
David gave him a skeptical glance, but obediently took a swing at Connor.
"It's about survival." Connor blocked the first blow without apparent effort. "Come on. You didn't even mean that one."
"Relax, Dave, he's not going to beat you up. Even if you hit him." It seemed like a very big 'if'.
Steeling himself visibly, Dave took a more determined swing, imitating Balthazar's upward strike.
Connor threw the attacking staff wide. "Better… but you still don't mean it." He lunged in suddenly, his staff swishing harmlessly an inch above Dave's head.
"Dude!" He protested, ducking.
"Dave! Concentrate." Balthazar snapped his fingers once, stalking around the circle. "Pretend he's Horvath."
"O-okay…" The boy was still for a moment, then made a much more genuine lunge.
Connor dodged nimbly, parrying, and moved into the rhythm of blocking and dodging. He kept to defense at first, but gradually moved into attacking with his parries. Just as with Balthazar, he pulled every blow, until he sensed Dave was getting a little overconfident, then he landed a sweeping blow against the young man's side. It didn't look full force, but it was still enough to send him staggering.
"Ow! Ow!" Dave protested, more startled than hurt.
Seated now, Balthazar gave a snort. "Don't embarrass me, Dave. You've had worse."
Connor gave a hoarse bark of laughter, panting just a little. He'd fought both of them without a break, but didn't seem ready to throw it in yet. "You'd better learn what to do about it." He aimed a similar blow for Dave's other side, but slower, trying to force a reaction.
Startled, Dave darted to block, and vines emerged from his staff and whipped around Connor's, trapping it.
Balthazar straightened and clapped, delighted. "Excellent! That's how it relates to magic."
Connor grunted, trying to tug his staff free. He frowned mildly at Balthazar. "Did you teach him that?"
"No, he's always been good at improvising. Let him go, Dave."
David looked apologetic, and the vines vanished.
"That's it; you're not a beginner anymore." Connor lunged in, on the attack now. It still looked slow, for him.
Wide-eyed, David dodged, blocking and weaving around furniture.
"Good. You're fine, you're doing fine." Balthazar stayed in his seat, watching the fight roam all across the room.
Connor kept coming, relentless and quick, but the blows he landed were fairly light. It was only a matter of time before Dave's magical instincts kicked in. There were flashes of light and minor sparks, then a chair galloped into Connor's way, tangling with his legs. The immortal went down hard, but kicked the living furniture off and rolled to his feet again, looking a little startled.
"Uh… sorry?" Dave looked wary, taking the chance to catch his breath.
"Creative." Balthazar stood to move with them, albeit at a safe distance.
Connor swept the staff at Dave's feet.
The boy jumped gracelessly over the swing, but kept his footing.
Expression calmly determined now, Connor kept coming, pressing the boy hard and only mildly hampered by having to kick away or jump over the attack chair once or twice every minute. A patch of the floor grew soft and squishy under his feet, slowing him down, but in the end Dave went down with a gasp, dropping the staff and holding both his hands up defensively.
Connor's staff came end first at his face, and hit the floor beside his head with a solid thunk. Connor gave a breathless chuckle and leaned on the staff, offering his open right hand out to help the boy up.
"Aah!" The apprentice flailed a little, then caught his breath with relief. After a moment he accepted the hand up.
"That was brilliant." Balthazar was pleased. "I should have filmed it."
Connor hauled Dave up and gave him a few solid thumps on the shoulder, his version of praise, then went down heavily to the attack chair. He must have assumed it would stop when Dave surrendered, but instead the chair flailed over him while he was down. Kicking at it, he cursed in Gaelic, but Balthazar could see he was worn out and had a real fight on his hands this time.
"Dave, call that damn thing off!" Balthazar sputtered, trying not to laugh.
"Sorry! Sorry!" David grabbed the chair and physically pulled it off Connor. It strained and writhed under his hands a moment, then settled back straight and stilled.
Chest heaving, Connor scrambled to his feet, bruised and tired. "Get my damn sword. I'm turning that thing into kindling."
Balthazar lost it at Connor's irritable growl, turning away to cackle into his sleeve.
Ever obedient, Dave scrambled to fetch Connor's sword for him meekly. The immortal made a sideways lunge to clamp a hand on the boy's shoulder to stop him, while scowling at Balthazar. "I'll throw a chair at you sometime, see how you like it." It wasn't a serious threat, and the sorcerer knew it.
Dave averted his eyes and rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "Uh… how about we take a break? I'm thirsty…"
Balthazar recovered a little, still grinning. "Sure, that sounds like a good idea."
"Just let me catch my breath for the second round." Connor looked worn out from fighting them both, and the chair. A few days of solid meals and sleep had done him good, but he still didn't look like a healthy man.
Dave nodded and went upstairs to fetch them some sodas.
Balthazar smiled at Connor. "Thanks. That was helpful."
"He needs a lot of practice…" Connor sank into another chair wearily, eyeing the one that attacked him. He didn't look like he had the strength left for a second round, but the sorcerer could bet he'd try anyway.
"He does. He may never go up against a sword or staff for real, but he should know how in case."
"You want to try him against the sword, too?" Connor rubbed one knee.
"Not today, but it wouldn't hurt." Balthazar got up. "I assume there's no serious damage?"
"What, to me? I'm fine. I can take whatever that little punk can dish out." He smiled, clearly tired.
"Yeah, but the chair was too much for you." The sorcerer grinned, knowing he was asking for it, but Connor would have to get up to smack him.
The immortal aimed a well-placed kick at his shin, instead. Apparently his arms were tired.
Balthazar yelped and staggered, clutching a bruised leg.
David walked in just in time to catch this, carrying three cokes and a package of Oreos. "Um…"
"Heheh. There, now we're even. Mine hurts too." Connor sat back with a satisfied air.
"Is the violence over? Is it safe to come sit down?" Dave took a few steps down hesitantly.
"The violence is over." Recovering, Balthazar gestured him closer and took one of the sodas.
"For now." Connor grinned with just a hint of menace.
Dave handed the immortal a soda, then sat in the attack chair warily. It abruptly fell apart under his slight weight.
Balthazar snickered. "…Too much energy flow. You killed it, Dave!"
Connor threw back his head and laughed, wheezy and weary, but the happiest Balthazar had seen him since he found him again. The lesson had been just the distraction he needed.
After soda and cookies, a snack that he had to admit was nutritionally deficient, Balthazar resumed lessons. He showed Dave split-second transfiguration with wands, changing his own from wood to whip to dagger in fractions of a second. He enlisted Connor for a demonstration in fighting this way, but it was a short run because Balthazar himself was tired. Connor seemed willing to spar as long and as hard as they asked him to, but he was starting to look drained and battered. It was clear he was a harder taskmaster even than Balthazar, and willing to push himself all the harder, but Dave wasn't his student. Balthazar went over some theory with the boy, giving Connor the chance to rest again, and made plans to return for lessons again the next day.
Dave seemed to be growing more comfortable with Connor by the end of things, reassured that the immortal wasn't out to do him any serious harm. Connor followed them up to the elevator and out a little warily, tense and watchful on the street, but Dave gave them a cheerful wave goodbye, and on the car ride home the two friends discussed the finer points of Dave's training, and exchanged a little mild teasing. Sneaking a glance as he drove, Balthazar saw Connor in the passenger seat looking tired, but relaxed and content.