CHAPTER 38
Bullies and Lectures

If it hadn't been official before, it was now. Josh hated school, and couldn't wait until this whole "education" process was over. The soccer ball had hit him square in the face and knocked the eleven year old to the ground, and to say it hurt would have been an understatement. He could hear footsteps rushing over to him, and groaned as he was pushed over onto his back gently by the large red mech that was their physical education teacher, Ironhide. "You alright, Beller? That seemed to really pelt ye hard." Ironhide stated with concern as he scanned him over "You don't appear to have suffered any fractures though."

"Yeah, he's fine, he's just a wimp." One of the kids from his class stated from the back of the group "You know how that goes, Coach Ironhide, some people just suck at sports... Or life." This got a chuckle from most everyone behind.

It was only after Josh had slowly sat up that he noticed it was Brian. He frowned, and gave a small scowl in return, another thing he was pretty sure of, he hated that guy. He didn't care what his issue was with his father, or how hard he had it, all he cared about was that he was a jerk and he couldn't stand him. "Brian, I really suggest you keep that trap of yours shut." Ironhide grunted "I've had to send you to the principal's office plenty of times for bullying other kids. And don't think I didn't notice you were the one who kicked the ball to Joshua."

Brian grimaced, staring down at his classmate as Josh was helped to his feet. The boy didn't look too happy, but then again, neither did Josh. In fact, had this been the streets, Josh may have been the slightest bit tempted to give him what he liked to call a good "licking". But these were not the streets, and to be frank, he didn't want to incur Ironhide's wrath either. "Whatever." Brian replied "Just call First Aid over here and let the kid cry in his office again."

Josh nearly lept to his feet, and would have if Ironhide hadn't held him back a little. "Don't stoop to his level." Ironhide told him "That boy's a little brat, but I know you. You're more mature than to take him on." Josh frowned a bit, he hated to admit it, but the mech was right about that much "Now, just tell me, are ye hurt? Ye look like you're frazzled."

"My head hurts." Josh replied "Just don't call my dad, okay? I don't want him worrying."

He knew Ironhide, being one of his father's trusted friends, would understand. The mech frowned a little, and nodded his head. "Alright, I'll leave Magnus out of it this time." Ironhide told him calmly "But yer still going to see First Aid. Just in case, because you and I both know Brian probably aimed that to hurt ye." Josh nodded as Ironhide spoke into a com link "Can ye walk yourself to the medic's office?"

"Yes, sir."

Josh had to admit, he was very happy to leave the field, and away from the whole sport. Who needed soccer anyway? It was lame and hard to play, and quite frankly, he could go a lifetime without it. He reached the medic's office within ten minutes, and soon found himself seated on a medical berth with the large form of First Aid looming over and scanning him. "Everything okay? No light-headedness?" Josh nodded his head, rubbing the back of it quietly "Well, that's good at least, I don't see a concussion." He added.

Josh nodded, then looked over at the door. "Do I have to go back then?"

"Not a good idea." First Aid noted "Ironhide said the ball hit you hard. I wanna keep you in here for a half an hour and make sure there wasn't any damage we haven't seen yet." He commented "The good news is, I don't think we'll have to call your father. Last time that little punk got you in here, he nearly threw a fit and I don't want that again." Josh giggled a little "Okay, kid, lay down and rest it off, I'll come get you in a half an hour."

Josh did as he was told, and after thirty minutes had passed, First Aid supplied him with a pass and he left. He was thankful that the pain had subsided and he seemed to be fine, at least for now. "Hey, Beller!" Josh froze as he noticed Brian sitting by the principal's office "Learn how to play soccer, you nimrod! You got me sent to the office again!"

"You kicked it at my head on purpose." Josh groaned.

"It's not my fault you can't play soccer and just bounce it off your head."

"What is your problem!?" Josh shouted "I get it, you don't like my dad. But I never did anything to you."

Brian seemed to stare away from Josh for a moment, not interested in answering his classmate's response. Josh only sighed in annoyance, rolling his eyes, and starting to walk back towards Kup's classroom. "Hey! Where are you going!?" Brian shouted "I'm not done talking to you, yet!" Josh simply kept walking, trying his best to ignore him "God, I knew you were a "special case", but did your parents beat the brains out of you too?"

And that's when Josh had it. For the last several months since he'd been out of the youth sector, he'd stopped himself from causing a ruckus, or fighting. But his fist connected with Brian's face so hard at that comment that the boy looked almost stunned. The next thing Josh knew, a fist of Brian's own was connecting with his face, and he had tackled him to the ground. After a few more fists had been thrown, with Brian quickly getting the upper hand, Josh felt Brian pulled off of him and the leering eyes of the principal down on him.

"I-." Josh began.

"My office, now."

Magnus was going to kill him.

...

"I am so disappointed in you, soldier."

Josh stood in front of Magnus with his head hung slightly. The mech was glancing down at him sternly, standing in front of the desk in his office. The disappointment the mech felt was obvious, and had been since he'd been called down to the principal's office earlier that day. "Dad, you don't understand. Brian's a JERK!" Josh shouted "He had it coming! He's had it coming for a while!"

"We had this talk plenty of times in the Youth Sector, Joshua. Violence is not the answer." Magnus spoke as calmly as he could "What in the name of Primus convinced you that this was acceptable behavior now?" He asked sternly "Well? You might as well tell me your side of the story before I instill the punishment you know is coming."

Josh looked down at the ground, then took a seat in one of the human sized chairs in the office. By the look in his eyes, Magnus could already tell that something more had happened in the story than a simple smack in the head with a ball. (which he had been told about after his arrival to talk about the fight) "... He made fun of what my parents did to me." Josh told him quietly "He asked if they beat my brains out... And I just..."

Magnus grimaced, but quickly kept his composure. It was a low blow, and it made him angry, that much he would admit. But he needed to remind himself that he needed to teach his son that violence was not the answer to conflict. Especially if they had any hope that the younger generation would be able to keep the peace on Cybertron going. "That does not excuse your actions, Joshua." Magnus commented "It was wrong for him to do, and it angers me. But you do not answer cruelty with violence."

"That's what the Autobots did with the Decepticons!"

"That was a war, Joshua." Magnus replied "That was very different."

Magnus rubbed the temples of his foreplate as Josh seemed to get tears in his eyes. He hated to see Josh cry, and he knew that the comment Brian had made had undoubtedly hurt. But he knew he could do this, if he could scold his subordinates there was no reason he couldn't scold his child. "It's just hard enough going through this without Brian making fun of me." Josh whined quietly "Why won't he just leave me alone?"

Magnus shook his head, uncertainty in his own optics. "Perhaps because he is hurting just as much as you are in some ways." He told him honestly "I am sorry that you are hurting on this subject... But you must understand that I cannot have you fighting like this. It is not becoming of a young man that I know is quite bigger than his actions today showed."

"You're not going to return me now, are you?"

"Of course not!" Magnus replied "You're not going anywhere. Other than out in the waiting room in a minute, without your video games." Josh frowned a bit at that "I'm grounding you for the next two days. Be thankful the brat started it or I might have made it a week." The boy looked down, and Magnus slowly approached, crouching "Are you going to be okay, Josh?"

"It hurt..." Josh replied "Why would someone make fun of me for that?"

"I don't know, I don't understand why bullies do a lot of the things they do." Magnus admitted uncertainly "But don't let it get to you, son. He is nothing in the scheme of things... And you are bigger than stooping to his level." He carefully wiped some of Josh's tears away with the back of his index finger "And that's why I need you to promise me this is the last time I'm going to be called in for you two fighting."

Josh looked thoughtfully at the ground, then up at his father. It was clear that Magnus was only trying to teach him to be the bigger man, and not taking his side. And thus, Josh finally nodded his head in response. "Yes, sir." Josh told him with a nod "It will be the last time."

"Good." Magnus patted Josh on the cheek a little "Now, run along. I'm sure you have homework you can finish out there." He then added "I love you, son." Knowing that Josh needed a gentle reminder of that after being scolded.

"Love you too."

As Josh quietly walked out of the room, Magnus noted as Skids stepped inside. It was clear by the look on his face that the mech had been, either intentionally, or unintentionally, eavesdropping. "If you ask me, that kid deserves the licking he got." Skids admitted as Magnus frowned a bit "Right, not helping, sorry. I got those data pads you wanted though..." He began "So, maybe that helps?"

Magnus merely smirked as the mech held the data pads out to him and he took them. "Let's not encourage more violence after my lecture, Skids, thank you." Skids rolled his optics at that "Now, let's get down to business on the situation in Kaon discussed in these..." He held up the data pads "Shall we?"

He'd need the distraction after that day.