This is a grounding fic. Cross-posted on A03.
Professor Balam placed his piece of chalk aside. "Even in the absence of horns," he remarked, momentarily halting his notes to gently massage Iruma's back, who stiffened at the contact. "With wings, at the very least, you could..." he paused as his other hand continued to move lower along Iruma's back. Balam's eyes widened in surprise as he turned to face a frightened Iruma, and effortlessly lifted the boy onto his shoulder.
"Whoa!" Iruma cried out.
The class gasped, many of them certain they were witnessing the rumor of Balam kidnapping students for experiments right before their eyes.
"Iruma!" Alice called out as Clara reached out to grab Iruma back. She franticly hopped and scrambled, but nowhere close enough.
Professor Balam faced the class, pointing at them collectively, "You guys return to your classrooms immediately!" Then he ran off with his wriggling bundle.
"Excuse me!" Professor Balam shouted as he busted through a door. He nearly collided with Professor Buer as he called out to the few people in the room "Someone! This is bad news!"
"What's wrong?" asked Professor Bars.
"Professor Balam, what seems to be-" Professor Morax attempted to get answers gentlty.
"This is bad! This kid has no wings!" Professor Balam bellowed. Pointing to the squirming child tossed over his shoulder.
"His wings!?" cried Professor Morax her eyes darting to Iruma who was struggling intensified.
"He might've stored it into his back..." Professor Marbas pointed out dryly.
Professor Balam set Iruma on his feet.
'Oh no!' Iruma thought as he tried to scramble away. Professor Balam kept him in place to the point that Iruma's knees bent under the pressure.
"There's no wing roots on his back either! Feel for yourself!" Professor Balam demanded wrangling Iruma even closer.
'It's over, I'm human and soon they'll all know!' Iruma thought with terror, no longer struggling, but on the verge of hyperventilating.
"Iruma, show me your back!" Professor Bars demanded as he pushed himself closer to the petrified human teen.
Iruma was left speechless, just stammering. He tried to get out, "I'm fine," but Professors Bars and Balam acted before he could. They took hold of him and turned him away, making him scream in fear.
"Take a look!" Professor Balam said, holding Iruma in place as Professor Bars lifted the shirt and jacket in one swoop.
Professors Morax, Buer, and Marbas had gathered around.
Iruma felt the air shift as everyone gasped together, and to his surprise, the pressure on his clothes lifted. He staggered a bit and turned slowly, still trembling, his eyes quickly moving to the scared faces of the adults.
"W- Wh- What's wrong?" Iruma was grateful not to be eaten and so far, no one had said the word "human" he hoped to survive this altercation.
"So many scars!" Morax cried out, and tears began to form.
"No wings, only scars," Marbas whispered, eyes wide.
"What-?" was all Buer could manage.
Iruma's heart was pounding, his knees knocking together, and his mind completely blank. He yelped and staggered, falling to the floor when the door creaked open.
There stood Professor Naberius."What?" he asked dully, his eyes locked on Iruma as he picked himself off the floor. "Iruma, what are you doing here?!" he strode over, fist clenched, and head lowered.
Professor Bars rushed to Professor Naberius, taking hold of his arms, and swiftly made his way to Iruma. Kalego stumbled as the considerably smaller person pulled him a short distance. "Release me at once!" Professor Naberius cried out, seizing Robin's head and lifting him from the ground.
"Iruma, show Proffesor Naberius your back!" Professor Bars called out while still being held by his head in the grasp of his colleague.
"Do I have to?" Iruma asked voice barely audible even to acute demon hearing.
Professor Naberius dropped Professor Bars and set his sights back on the trembling human. "Yes, you do! Iruma, you stupid brat, a teacher gave you a direct order!"
"Please don't be so hard on him Kalego," said Professor Balam gently.
"You're too soft Shichiro" Professor Naberius accused with a growl and pointed finger.
"Look!" Professor Bars cried out to put the focus where it belonged. Nevertheless, he remained deeply disturbed by the sight of numerous scars adorning the young back, devoid of any wings.
All eyes turned to Iruma, who, under pressure, had removed his jacket and raised his shirt. Retaining his shirt felt like a minor attempt at maintaining control and privacy that he desperately wanted to uphold. As gasps, murmurs, and growls permeated the atmosphere, tears began to well in his eyes. His thoughts were in disarray: one part appreciated the evident concern from his instructors, feeling troubled by the circumstances, while another part was frozen in fear of the truth being revealed and the possible shift in their perceptions. Iruma could not suppress the scream of terror that escaped him when two firm hands seized him, forcing him to face Professor Naberius, as the others observed silently and at a distance.
"When did this happen?" Professor Naberius asked tone cold, and hard, not leaving room for disobedience he would get his answers.
All present remained silent, their gazes locked onto Iruma, prepared to respond to any request he might have. They were entirely oblivious to the fact that their intense focus and close proximity rendered them more akin to predatory figures than to concerned adults.
"-"Iruma attempted to speak. When he realized he failed, he took a deep breath and tried again "Some of the scars are much older than others. Which do you mean?"
"Whatever caused you to be grounded," Professor Naberius clarified, forcing the words past clenched fangs, forcing himself not to shout in such a delicate situation.
Iruma blinked, eyes looking to the other teachers, no one spoke, instead, they got closer as if in danger of missing what he had to say. "I-I-I'm really sorry, but I don't know what you mean. What's grounding?"
"How can you not know?!" Professor Naberius demanded, losing composure and completely forgetting tactics.
Iruma backed away until he collided with a wall. The minor ache from the impact paled in comparison to the rising dread within him. Many teachers had observed his scars, but he was once again, ignorant of something so common it made him seem strange. He was being shouted at, and as a result of his overreaction, he found himself much further from the door and any windows. His perceived weaknesses seemed to exacerbate Professor Naberius's unfounded anger.
"Get back here brat! You are extremely underinformed, naïve, gullible, and foolish and I'm sick and tired of it!" Professor Naberius said as he stalked towards Iruma. "That worthless grandfather of yours failed to prep you for the school, he allegedly runs!"
"Be gentle Kalego and don't take your displeasure of The Chairdemon on Iruma" Professor Balam said firmly. He and the other teacher followed Professor Naberius as he closed the distance between himself and Iruma who was still pressing himself against the wall and looking for an escape route.
Professor Naberius sighed, rubbed the bridge of his nose, and sighed once more. "You're right, Shichiro," he growled, rubbing his eyes. He opened his eyes and could not deny he had made the situation worse. He didn't allow regret to show. He dropped his shoulders and, in a gentle voice, said, "Please have a seat, and we'll talk this out." He smoothly walked to the couch and sat on one side.
The combination of Iruma's apprehension and his profound inclination to please others led him to instinctively obey. He found himself seated opposite Professor Naberius and Balam, with the remaining faculty members clustered behind them. He sat, trembling slightly, his eyes wide open as he attempted to guess the direction of the conversation could go.
"Please don't be scared Iruma, we're here to help you," Professor Morax said gently "I know this must be overwhelming to be pulled out of class, your body being examined-" she trailed off realizing how crazy it was "It's because we care. You're not in trouble, please answer all the questions we ask you, but take as much time as you need"
Iruma flinched when Professor Morax spoke but relaxed and saw the care and sincerity in her eyes. "Yes, Professor Morax, I'll cooperate"
"Well, I'll make some tea!" her voice had some false chipperness and she walked with some stiffness.
"I'll help!" said Professor Bars, he too had a strain in his voice and his stride had less bounce.
A good amount of the tension was dispelled, but some of it still lingered. Professor Marbas and Buer grabbed seats and flanked the ends of the couch.
"What do you want to know?" Iruma asked with a strained voice and smile.
Professor Naberius leaned in but Professor Marbas raised his hand for attention."First, you need to know what grounding is. I am Professor March Marbas, I teach Torture Arts. Grounding is an illegal torture method of removing a demon's wings and wing roots. Heavily damaged wings can grow back, but not if the roots are destroyed."
Iruma gasped, "How terrible !"
The teachers nodded except Professor Naberius, who remained still, arms crossed and eyes locked on his student.
"It is obvious to me, that you have been grounded," Professor Marbas said.
All the other teachers nodded grimly, with slumped shoulders and sad eyes. Professor Bars, Morax, and Buer looked as if they would cry, but willing themselves not to.
"but it's also clear to me, that since you had no knowledge of your condition or what grounding is at all, you must have been so young, it's normal to you. Please, explain your perspective" said Professor Marbas.
Tea, with snacks, was set on the table. Professor Morax gave Iruma a large mug of tea directly. Professor Bars and Morax grabbed their chairs and flanked Iruma's side.
"Oh, thank you Prossfor Morax! Well, you're right Professor Marbas, I've never had wings, so to me it's normal," said Iruma.
"That doesn't explain your general ignorance and naïvety," Professor Naberius said sternly but still made an effort to lower his voice.
"I suspect Chairdemon wanted to protect him from emotional harm of disability and discrimination and trauma," suggested Professor Buer
"That's!" Professor Naberius started to raise his voice. His body language tenseed.
Professor Buer raised his hands "I'm not saying I agree, I'm guessing that was the mindset. That Iruma might feel bad and limited if he was told he was tortured at such a young age he doesn't remember it"
"Or could it be, that it happened recently, but his mind earssed it? Extreme turma can cause memory loss, right Professor Marbas?" Professor Bars looked to the torture specialist to validate his hypothesis.
Professor Marbas tapped his chain as he considered his response. "When extreme pain causes memory loss, it usually makes memories hazy but not completely lost. I'll ask Professor Murmur."
The door banged open with such force one fell off its hinges. In the doorway, Opera bowed low as Lord Sullivan strolled past.
"Ask Professor Murmur what?" Lord Sullivan asked with a tilt of his head.
"Lord Sullivan/Chairdemon!" most of the teachers said as he entered the room.
"Grandpa, Opera, it's great to see you both!" Iruma cheered. He ran to hug his demon grandfather. Never in his life, was Iruma happier to see him. Now Iruma felt truly safe.
"My adorable, sweet, precious grandson!" Lord Sullivan cheered as he scooped Iruma in his arms, and twirled in place, holding him tight.
"Chairdemon!" Professor Naberius stood but did not dare approach. Opera was far too close by, dutifully at Lord Sullivan's side. He saw a spark of mischief and scheming in Opera's eyes and without realizing it, took a steep back. "We've all seen the scares and he's obviously been grounded. We need to talk"
Without a word, Sullivan carried Iruma to the empty couch. Professor Bars and Morax moved their chairs to be on the teacher's side of the table and Opera took their place, standing at Lord Sullivan's side, ready to serve as needed.
Lord Sullivan cuddled up to Iruma, and very quietly "Tell me what happened Iruma"
Iruma retold the his day. He neither sugar-coated it nor exaggerated just a plain and honest retelling of his actions, thoughts, and feelings, with no extra drama.
Lord Sullivan exhibited a tender demeanor, employing soft and encouraging language. Once Iruma had retold the events of his day, Lord Sullivan remained composed, beaming at his darling grandson. He embraced Iruma, "Thank you, Iruma for your honesty and time." He then smiled warmly at his cherished child and made eye contact with Opera, "You know what to do"
Opera bowed low "As you wish sir," said Opera and held a handout for Iruma. "Please follow me, young master"
Iruma took the offered hand "Okay" he said easily and allowed himself to be guided out of the teacher's lounge.