[closed] in learning you will teach

[earthy]

who: Jonathan Kent (supersweet), Terra (earthy)
what: A talk at recess
when: Before the arrival of the fireflies, maybe April 19th
where: Riverview Elementary School
warnings: None

[It doesn't take the staff of Riverview Elementary School long to figure out that their new teacher's assistant is uniquely suited for some tasks... and completely, astonishingly useless for others. He's pretty much a dud when it comes to helping kids with their schoolwork, reviewing lessons with them and answering their questions. Turns out he only knows the basics of a couple subjects himself, his own schooling having revolved around far different material.

He excels at the supervising part of the job, though. He's a fair and friendly enforcer of the rules and manners besides.

And there's his magic.]

You've gotta be very brave now.

[Another day, another recess, another kid sitting on the playground with a minor injury, a pouty lip, and tears welling in the corners of their eyes. Terra crouches next to a little girl, one hand hovering over her lightly scraped knee.]

My magic requires bravery... [It doesn't, but these lines work wonders on the smaller kids.] If you're not brave enough, the spell will just fizzle out.

[Channeling magic without the Keyblade on-hand has always been a challenge for him, but the bumps and bruises kids collect at playtime really only require the weakest of healing spells to repair. Cure isn't too tough to cast empty-handed. He focuses a moment and a faint green light shimmers across the battered knee, patching it up in seconds. Terra wriggles his fingers for effect and checks out his handiwork. Yep, all better.]

Good as new! [He declares before standing and helping the student to their feet. He dispenses a quick hair ruffle.] That spell worked so well, I bet your heart's about as brave as they come.

[The girl scampers back to her friends with a giggle. Dusting off his hakama, Terra returns to his spot in the shade of the school building and resumes his watch. He notices the boy a few minutes later. Ten or so years old. One of the teachers pointed him out earlier. Another new arrival, they'd said.

Jonathan, Terra thinks his name is. Jon.

Strange that the portal would pick up a kid... Did he need a new home, too?

Terra wanders over, thumbs hooking in his pockets.]

Hey, how's it going? How are you settling in?

Comments

[supersweet]

Their dads wouldn't flip if they came back with some bruises.

[ Probably. Jon's dad, however, totally would. ]

[earthy]

[Hero dad is extra protective, duly noted.

Terra raises his right hand and a swirl of green light passes between his fingers.]

My magic works on bruises, too.

[All injuries, really. But not illness. Hopefully this world doesn't have a cold/flu season.]

[supersweet]

[ Jon zeroes in on the light with wide eyes. ]

Does it work on everyone?

[earthy]

[A nod.]

Yep. Or it's supposed to, anyway.

[supersweet]

[ Jon wonders if it'll work. His father has never been fond of magic. ]

Are there any exceptions or rules?

[earthy]

No, no rules with Cure spells. And the only exception is that the magic won't do much for you if you catch a bug...

[Or if an actual bug bites you and you have a bizarre emotional reaction, as he'll find out later.]

But it's got you covered if a monster roughs you up... or if you fall off something.

[supersweet]

[ Jon weighs his options. ]

. . . That's not the real reason.

[earthy]

Huh?

[Terra bends down some, searching Jon's expression.]

You mean... the reason why you don't want to play on the handlebars?

[supersweet]

Yeah. I'm . . . stronger than I look. If I slip and grab on the bars, I might accidentally bend them.

[ Or even break them. His powers have never been reliable on what they can do. ]

[earthy]

[The second the words are out of Jon's mouth, Terra's staring at him. He doesn't mean to but that's... not something he expected to hear. Not something he was in any way prepared to hear.]

... Accidentally.

[There's nothing skeptical there, in his look or his voice. He just seems and sounds sort of stunned.]

[supersweet]

[ Jon ducks his head, feeling a little self-conscious. This is the first time he's spilled the secret on his own terms. And he didn't say everything. Besides . . . Terra was nice. Jon doesn't feel like Terra would ever do anything to hurt him. ]

If you got something metal and strong you can spare, I can show you.

[earthy]

[Terra watches him a moment longer. As the shock begins to wear off, he's able to wrestle down all the unpleasant things surfacing in his heart and consider the situation clearly.

He doesn't need a demonstration. He's very sure Jon's telling the truth about this and he can imagine metal bending easily enough.

But that doesn't mean Jon shouldn't have the opportunity to show his power.

Terra pushes himself up onto his feet.]

Come on.

[He offers his hand.]

[supersweet]

[ Jon puts his snack away neatly before reaching for Terra's hand and looking up at him guilelessly. ]

Where are we going?

[earthy]

[Terra says nothing but heads straight for the handlebars.]

[supersweet]

[ Jon resists the urge to dig his heels in, panic quickly seeping in his expression. ]

H-Hey!

[earthy]

[He flinches slightly at that but keeps right on walking.]

If you don't trust yourself, trust me.

[Then he calls out ahead to the kids milling around the handlebars.]

Go find somewhere else to play for a while, huh? Jon and I want a turn.

[supersweet]

[ Some of his panic subsides at that, but he's still baffled. Thankfully, the younger kids don't notice, leaping off the handlebars and running off without a care. ]

What are we doing?

[earthy]

[Terra steps up to the deserted handlebars and checks the thing out. He runs a hand over one of the bars.]

Bending a couple of these.

[supersweet]

With . . . your magic?

[ Jon rests his right hand on the bar tentatively. ]

[earthy]

With yours.

[He flashes Jon a small grin and moves his hand away.]

Go ahead.

[supersweet]

[ Jon grins, immediately climbing the bars. He gives his control less credit than its due. He's not too terrible at climbing and the bars don't give way under his strong grip. He swings on it, unafraid.

But since Terra knew the secret, he was safe. ]

Thanks.

[earthy]

[Terra leans against one end of the handlebars, letting him have his fun.]

Definitely not afraid of heights.

[supersweet]

[ Jon scoffs. ]

I definitely wouldn't be scared of heights.

[earthy]

[With his back to Jon, Terra's able to keep his thoughtful expression hidden. He doesn't have to pretend he's not giving some serious consideration to this handlebars business.

He turns his head just enough to glimpse Jon swinging around. On bars still noticeably unbent.

... Yep, the kid's got plenty of control.

Something else Terra hadn't really expected, especially after all the fuss, but it makes sense. Fear, worry... Any sort of strong emotion makes power hard to control.

And he could leave it at that but now he's kind of curious. What's Jon's power like? It's not darkness, that much he's sure of... So, how does it manifest? Is it just a physical strength or what?

Well...

Schooling his face blank, he turns back to the handlebars and grabs on to one again, this time hanging some of his weight on it. It doesn't budge. Pretty sturdy construction.]

And why's that? You have a lot of experience with heights?

[Or just ten-year-old bravado speaking?]

[supersweet]

[ Jon's powers tend to fluctuate with his moods. Confidence helps, but Jon isn't naturally confident all the time. He's not shy by any means, but he does tend to force himself in the background, so that no one notices how unusual he is, how strangely he moves among other children.

None of this is particularly conscious, just the inner workings of a child still dealing with change. The handlebars creak, but do not bend. There might be imprints on them later though. ]

Yeah. My dad and I fly a lot.