Akira Fan Fiction / Fan Fiction ❯ Project: Evolution ❯ Highway 02: Welcome Wagon ( Chapter 2 )

Highway 02

Welcome Wagon

"What the fuck?!"

Xavier sighed at the new student's reaction and language.

"Oi, oi, back up a sec, Charlie," Tetsuo continued his interruption, leaning forward in his seat. "Whaddayamean, we gotta go ta school?"

"I mean exactly that, Tetsuo. And also, I'm afraid you'll have to work on moderating your language."

"Th'hell's that supposed ta mean?" he grumbled.

Jean sat off to the side, looking more than a little self-satisfied. "He means you can't go around cursing up a storm whenever you feel like it," she answered. "You'll have to learn to hold it in."

Tetsuo eyed her distastefully. "Yeah, great, thanks Red."

Jean rolled her eyes.

"Well. I suppose we will address that in due time. More importantly, as I was saying: yes, you will be required to attend school, as do all students at the Institute. I would like you both to stay, at least long enough for us to discover how you came to be here, and until Kinuko is completely well. We can take care of your lack of legal guardians, at least for as long as you both remain underage. We have here the resources to offer both of you the opportunity of a good life-a life in which you can do more than just `get by'-if you give us that chance."

Tetsuo scowled and glanced toward Kinuko where she was sitting just a few feet away in one of the overstuffed chairs in Xavier's study. She scarcely looked any more pleased with the prospect than did Tetsuo-actually, she looked seriously uncomfortable.

"I am really not that bad," she answered, her English not as fluent yet as Tetsuo's, spoken haltingly and more thickly accented. "A little dizzy. A little... sore, still."

She paused.

"And my English..." she added, frustratedly, trailing off.

Xavier smiled benignly and shook his head. "Your English is by no means bad enough to keep you from attending school, Kinuko. Besides which, there really is no better way to improve it than to spend time with people who speak it on a daily basis. Even if you plan to leave soon, improving your English fluency would certainly be valuable to you, to say the least."

"I... yeah, I guess so," Kinuko muttered reluctantly.

Shit, thought Tetsuo, sinking into his own chair. First the Stiffs, an' now school. We died an' went ta fuckin' Hell.

"Che... fine, fine, fine," he said, "we'll stick around an' do this school crap. Whatever y'say, Destro. But don't go thinkin' this's nuthin' permanent, a'right? We're just stickin'round `till we decide it's time ta hit th'road again, got it?"

"Yes, yes, I understand," Xavier answered, soothingly; after years of knowing Logan, he was accustomed to gruff attitudes. "It isn't our policy to force anyone to stay, if the Institute doesn't suit him or her. I only ask that you give us a fair chance to convince you."

"Okay, okay, whatever. So when do we gotta start?"

"Actually, the school will be expecting your arrival today, which is why I asked for this early meeting. Scott can give you both a ride to-"

"Eeh? Today? Shit, man... che, okay, okay. An' nah, that's a'right," Tetsuo replied, brushing the offer away with a hand. "A couple'a scratches ain't gonna keep my bike from runnin' me where I gotta go. An' if you ain't sure I can drive, I got Claws fer a witness, last night."

Xavier raised an eyebrow, amused. "`Claws' being Logan, I suppose. Yes, well. How long have you been riding, exactly?"

Tetsuo's face lit up as he grinned with unabashed pride. "Since I was like ten-`bout six years, now. C'mon, Teach, I've prolly been outridin' pi- uh, cops longer'n Shades' been behind the wheel. I can take care'a myself an' Kinuko-kun jus' fine."

Jean had to stifle a laugh at Scott's expense.

"Promise we won't go runnin' off noplace but th'school," added Tetsuo. "Cross my heart an' short my wires, if I'm lyin', slash my tires."

Xavier sighed and smiled to himself, shaking his head.

"Very well," he said, "for the time being. But I absolutely will hold you to that promise, Tetsuo."

Tetsuo grinned and stood, saluting in a lackadaisical parody of military form. "Oi, I wouldn't have it no other way, Charlie."

"I will have the necessary school supplies made available for you in the livingroom before you leave," Xavier added as Kinuko stood slowly. "And both of you, please take care at school."

"You got it, Charlie," Tetsuo answered as he left the office with the uncharacterically taciturn Kinuko.

Jean sat back in her chair, looking to a thoughtful Xavier.

"You sure seem to let him get away with a lot, Professor."

"Do you think I'm being unfair, Jean?" he asked, glancing in her direction, but continued without an answer, anticipating her response. "Perhaps I do, but understand, he has a great deal of adjustment to make, far beyond simple culture shock. It has never been my policy to force my help upon anyone; and so long as his quirks don't cause too much trouble, and he takes responsibility for his actions, I believe we can afford to be patient with him."

Jean smiled to herself.

"He reminds you of Logan, too, doesn't he?"

"I wouldn't let Logan hear you saying that," Xavier answered, evasively and half-jokingly. "And I believe you ought to be getting ready for school, as well, Jean."

"That's another way of saying `conversation closed,' right?" she asked, unresentfully, as she stood as started for the door; she had grown used to Xavier's habit of avoiding that sort of topic.

"I also have business I must tend to, on behalf of our two newest students. Oh, one more thing, Jean. Would you please ask the others to keep an eye on Tetsuo and Kinuko? I believe that more than anything, right now, they will need friends."

Jean smiled to herself and nodded her agreement.

"Sure thing, Professor. I'll talk to them."

* * * * *

It was pretty short notice.

Tetsuo and Kinuko had arrived late Saturday night. Sunday, they had some time to look around and get a feel for the Institute; although some places were still restricted, like the Danger Room. They were shown about the grounds, allowed some time to relax, and told a little about Kitty, Storm, and Beast-the remaining X-Men-who were out for the day, investigating reports of what might be another unidentified Mutant. At night, Xavier had said that he wanted to meet with the two new arrivals early Monday morning, and asked that they get some sleep and show up in a timely manner.

Nothing had come up about school until that meeting took place, and stacks of school supplies had seemingly materialized from thin air by the time Tetsuo and Kinuko were out of Xavier's office. In the course of a half hour meeting, they had somehow been transformed from footloose and fancy free bikers into students with homework and study to worry about.

Neither of them was looking forward to the rest of the day-nor, for that matter, were they looking forward to attending school once again. They had agreed to give Xavier and his Instutute a chance, at least, but there was no enthusiasm to it; that absence showed itself in the time it took them to prepare-in distraction and sluggishness.

Tetsuo was busy cramming school supplies into the rather limited cargo compartment of his bike when Scott and Kurt-the latter with his image inducer activated-stepped into the garage, headed for Scott's car. Kinuko was nearby, packing the rest of the supplies into one of the two backpacks they had been provided.

"Ready for your first day?" asked Scott, tossing his bag into the back seat.

"Eeh? Oh, hey Shades. Yah, really lookin' forward to it," Tetsuo answered sarcastically.

"Try not to take a sving at anyvon today," grumbled Kurt.

Tetsuo stared a moment. "Woa. That you, Devilman?"

Kurt crossed his arms and stared back sourly.

"Oi, oi, woa!" Tetsuo laughed and held his hands up, grinning sheepishly. "Chill out, Blues! Sorry'bout tryin'a clock ya, a'right? Ya kinda startled me an' shit, ya know? No harm done or nuthin', right?"

"Ja, vell, I suppose..." answered Kurt, still eyeing Tetsuo warily.

Kinuko continued stuffing the bookbag quietly, but more roughly.

Tetsuo scratched his head. "Yeah. So anyways. Guess we'll c'ya there, or somethin'."

"You sure you don't need a hand, there?" asked Scott, leaning against his car while Kurt climbed in.

Tetsuo crossed his arms and leaned against his bike as if in mimicry. "Nope. We're doin' fine, right Kinuko-kun?"

"Fine," she muttered.

"You got helmets?" continued Scott.

"Nope. You gotta helmet?" countered Tetsuo.

Scott scowled from behind his red sunglasses.

"What's that got to do with anything? I don't know about where you're from, but we've got rules around here. And one of them says you're wearing a helmet."

"Che... th'fuck crawled up your squeaky-tight ass, Shades? Idunno'bout you, but I do know I know howta keep my head off th'fuckin' pavement."

"First, it's Scott. And second, I'm just watching your back. Last I heard, your friend didn't-"

"Yah, whatever Scooter," interrupted Tetsuo, waving a hand as if physically swatting away Scott's objection. "Go watch yer own fuckin' back, an' get th'fuck off'a mine. Go on, get goin'. Y'wouldn't wanna be a fuckin' minnit late ta school, an' lose yer nose's parkin' spot up yer teachers' asses."

Kinuko kept packing, hiding a smirk.

Kurt only stared in astonishment; he hadn't heard anyone talk that way, especially not at the Institute, and especially not to Scott.

Scott, himself, tensed quietly and climbed into his car.

"Whatever you say, Usuda," he answered as he started the engine and pulled out of the garage. "Good luck with that attitude."

"Whatta fuckin' hardass," Tetsuo groused in Japanese, and contemplated the cargo space inside his bike's seat. It looked about as full as it was getting, and he closed it up.

"So. What's been eatin' you, Kinuko-kun?" he asked, looking up once more.

"Huh? What d'you mean?"

"Aww, c'mon. I've been ridin' with you like three years. You ain't always all quiet an' shit, an' I'm pretty sure it ain't yer head."

"Idunno, Tetsuo-kun," she answered, reluctantly.

"Oi, c'mon, spit it out."

Kinuko scowled at the bag, then sighed and zipped it shut.

"I don't like Xavier."

"Wha?" Tetsuo blinked. "Xavier?"

"I don't know," she sighed frustratedly, "okay? I just... I've just got a bad feeling."

"A bad feelin'?" Tetsuo echoed, and scratched his head. "He seems like'a pretty decent guy ta me, so far. I mean, even if he is kinduva stick in th'mud, he does sound like he wants ta help, an'-"

"Damnit, Tetsuo!" Kinuko glared with sudden ferocity, silencing Tetsuo with surprise, and clutching the backpack almost savagely-and then looked away, rubbing the side of her head.

"I just..." she murmured, haltingly. "I don't know why, okay? I just don't trust him."

Tetsuo hesitated, running a hand through his hair, and cussed under his breath.

"Yeah. Yeah, I getcha," he said, climbing onto his bike. "Oi, hop on, Kinuko-kun, an' let's hit th'road."

Quietly, she slipped on the straps of the backpack and held onto Tetsuo. The acceleration and squeal of tires came as soon as she had a firm grip, and the wind blew past them as they raced toward Bayville High, all but heedless of traffic and the speed limit.

* * * * *

"I don't like it."

"Scott..." Jean sighed, raising a hand to the side of her head and rubbing absently.

"Yeah, I know, we couldn't just leave them there," he finished for her, scowling behind his red-lensed sunglasses. "But I still don't like it. This Tetsuo joker has a dangerous attitude, Jean-a Brotherhood attitude. I don't doubt Professor Xavier has the best intentions, but have you seen the way the guy acts? I know you've heard how he talks; he's got a mouth like a train wreck."

Kurt sat off to the side, looking uncomfortable at the reminder of that morning's confrontation in the garage.

"A `Brotherhood attitude?' So we're supposed to just give up on them, I guess?" asked Jean, crossing her arms. "You remember Rogue used to be with the Brotherhood, too, right? And I guess we should ask the Professor to send Logan over there, while we're at it, since he's still got a few rough edges."

"Whoa, whoa, I didn't say that!" Scott answered, holding his hands up defensively.

"What about Ray, Roberto, and the other kids at the institute?" she added, putting on a thoughtful look. "They don't always behave themselves too well... let's see, who else..."

"Okay! Okay, I get the point!"

"Do you really, Scott?" she asked, more seriously. "I can't deny that they've got problems, but that's exactly why they need the Institute. And I hope you aren't that eager to quit when things get tough-this is what being in charge is all about, right?"

"Jeez, I said I get it! And I never said anything about quitting, Jean. I'm just saying I don't like having to put up with whatever that kid feels like doing, okay? It's not like he's the only one around here who has a hard time, but that doesn't mean we can all do whatever pops in our heads, you know?"

"I know, Scott," she sighed, "but this is a special case... and the Professor has a reason to be so worried about them. They don't have anyone else here-in New York, in America, maybe not anywhere, from what he's said. They don't even have an orphanage or foster parents to turn to. And I don't think you really want to send them off to the Brotherhood, do you?"

Scott sat back, scowling, and clasped his hands behind his head.

"Ugh. I guess not. Oh well; maybe after a week of double sessions with Logan-you know, to catch up-Tetsuo might start to toe the line."

"Double sessions?" Kurt asked, paling, wide-eyed. "Ja, he might, if he can survive ze veek."

"Isn't that going just a little overboard?" added Jean.

"You think so?" smirked Scott. "How about I ask Tetsuo if he thinks he can handle it. I'm betting he'll jump at the chance."

Jean shook her head and sighed, standing. "I know it's difficult, Scott. But you don't have to lower yourself every time someone tries to pick a fight with you, either. At the end of the day, after all's said and done, you are on the same side."

"Why don't you tell him that?"

"You're right," she replied a bit icily as she walked away. "Maybe he'll actually pay attention."

"Hey! I was paying attention!" he called after her, with no answer. "Argh."

"So... vhat are ve going to do vis zem?" inquired Kurt.

"I guess we'll give them some time," Scott answered uneagerly. "But I'm definitely keeping an eye on that Tetsuo."

Kurt hesitated, glancing at the table.

"I sink she vas right-about Tetsuo, I mean."

"Huh?" Scott looked over toward Kurt.

"Vell, about giving him a chance, zat is... and zat ve should try not to fight vis him."

"We're talking about the same guy who tried to clock you with a pipe the other night, right?"

"Ah- ja, I know, I know. But I sink he vas just surprised, like he said he vas, you know? If zere really is... no von like us vhere zey are from, zen..." Kurt trailed off, looking thoughtful.

"But the Professor already said he thinks they are," Scott answered. "Although it does sound like they don't even know it, however weird that sounds."

He paused, watching Kurt for a moment, and then shook his head. "I'll try and turn the other cheek or something, okay? If he blows a gasket because I'm going on easy on him, though, I'm sending him to you and Jean."

Kurt looked up and smiled sheepishly. "Ja, I suppose I cannot argue vis zat..."

"Meanwhile, we've got something else to figure out."

"Ja? Vas is zat?"

"Pizza or burgers?"

* * * * *

Kinuko sat in homeroom (that limbo period of the day which was neither structured nor genuinely free), eyeing her schedule distastefully. It wasn't all bad: four of her six classes, she shared with Tetsuo, the one person there she really knew, and he could both keep her company and help translate when needed-although she would almost have preferred to join Tetsuo's Geometry class, the pride of being in the more advanced Algebra II soothed some of the discomfort of being in it "alone."

The best class she had was Mechanics-not only did she share it with Tetsuo, but it was something she was familiar with and knew she could enjoy and learn quickly.

The worst, which she dreaded, was ESL: English as a Second Language. She had never been terribly much of a people person, but the thought of that class only made her feel more foreign than she already did-more alien-more disconnected from her peers.

More alone.

She didn't look forward to Speech class, either-the thought that someone decided she needed to relearn how to speak only made her more conscious of her poor English and distinct accent. Tetsuo would be in that class with her, however-there to make her less alien and less foreign, by association.

Both of these dreaded classes would wait until the end of the day, however. The first class was Mechanics, and that at least went smoothly. It was an introductory class, so even though it was near the middle of the semester, Kinuko and Tetsuo had no trouble catching up-they had been, after a fashion, studying a very hands-on kind of mechanics all the time they were members of the Hungry Wolves. Their bikes had always needed of maintenance, to be kept at their peak performance, and Eiji-the leader of the Hungry Wolves and a jury-rigging genius-expected everyone to be able to take care of his (or her) own bike, intimately, forward and backward.

Afterward, she had Algebra II. It was an uneventful class going over material she still mostly remembered, and she could follow along well enough through the context of the mathematics-she had grown up on the standard mathematic notation using arabic numerals and roman letters for variables. Much of it was review, and the class proceeded with a slow enough pace and enough repetition that she could get through it with little trouble.

In Gym, she reunited with Tetsuo-although there were others there who they recognized, Kinuko and Tetsuo mostly kept to themselves, speaking Japanese. Kinuko quietly enjoyed the opportunity to converse in a language she felt relatively comfortable in, and letting someone else be the foreigner and the alien, just for awhile; it helped make up for the fact that she was by no means the most athletic member of the class, especially with official members of the X-Men present-Kurt was markedly more agile than Tetsuo, whom Kinuko had always thought of as practically being a gymnast.

The game of the day was soccer. Kinuko first had to learn to call it "soccer" instead of "football"-in America, "football" apparantly described a version of Rugby with heavy padding and more rules, which was ironic, since the ball was mostly carried or thrown. Tetsuo knew, but insisted on saying "football" instead of "soccer"; American Football, he called "Sissy Rugby." That was the first thing the instructor yelled at him for.

As they played, Kinuko's listlessness and Tetsuo's flamboyance and standoffishness set them apart, making them both less than popular on their impromptu team. Tetsuo got yelled at again-partly for mixing a capoeira-flavored set of moves into his playing, and partly for taunting the other players. Kinuko quietly enjoyed that, too, even when she had to talk him out of picking a fight with the teacher: even if everything else was changing, at least Tetsuo was still Tetsuo.

The game ended in the other team's favor, through better planning and better teamwork; Tetsuo was vexed but jovial as always as they all headed back inside, and he promised to see Kinuko at lunch. Unbeknownst to Kinuko, throughout the hour of Gym, Scott had kept a stern eye on Tetsuo, looking plainly displeased all the while.

* * * * *

"So how'zat high-falutin' math class'a yours goin'?" Tetsuo asked in Japanese, as he seat down across from Kinuko at her table outside the school building. He had a lunch tray with pizza and a cream soda, and he was grinning ear-to-ear.

"Wha?" Kinuko looked up from her lunch, which sat neglectedly intact before her. "Oh, Algebra... it's okay, I guess. I can keep up with it, if that's what you mean."

Tetsuo eyed his compatriot's lunch-it looked as though it might have been shuffled about, but there wasn't much missing-and scratched half-consciously at the back of his head.

"Oi, there sumthin' botherin' you, Kinuko-kun?"

"Bothering me?" She stared at him for a moment, as though surprised by the question; then she shook her head absently and looked down, nudging at her lunch with a fork. "Not really. I'm just not that hungry."

She paused.

"I guess I'm just not looking forward to the rest of my classes," she added, at length.

"Eeh? Ohyah," Tetsuo replied around the pizza he was already hungrilly digging in to. "You got stuck withat Speech thing, too, did'ncha. An' that ESL crap, like y'already don't speak no English."

"Yeah, I know. It's going to suck. A lot."

"Hey, it ain't gonna be that bad," he grinned. "Yer English ain't really that bad, so y'gotta head start, right?"

"I guess," Kinuko answered unenthusiastically, and nudged her lunch around on her plate as she fell silent.

You just don't understand, Tetsuo-kun, she thought to herself. But how can you? Where were you ever the one who didn't fit in?

"Hey, Kinuko-kun," Tetsuo began, scowling to himself, "y'ain't-"

He was interrupted by a hand clapping down onto his shoulder from behind him, and he glanced back, expecting to see Scott or Kurt-instead, he saw a tall, dark-haired student, smirking sinisterly.

"Well, isn't that something," he said. "Looks like we found the newest additions to the dork patrol, Toad. What a coincidence, huh?"

"Hah! And look, the new kid's even gone and got a drink for us," answered a voice from Tetsuo's other side. "Why don't ya just be smart and hand it over, new kid!"

Kinuko looked up from her lunch to see Tetsuo swatting away the hand on his shoulder. The one addressed as Toad was short and scrawny, with a pasty, almost greenish complexion.

"Che... ta start with, I never said y'can touch me, Biff. An' you"-he turned his head to scowl at Toad disdainfully-"keep yer fuckin' hands off'a my soda, Kermit."

"The name's Lance, kid," answered the tall one, pushing down on Tetsuo's head and mussing his hair with a grin.

"Leave him alone!" growled Kinuko, standing from her seat as Tetsuo struggled, grabbing at Lance's arm and trying to force it away.

"Ohh, I get it," Lance answered, laughing. "He's got a girlfriend here to take care of him, huh?"

"Hey, look! I'm keeping my hands off!" Toad cackled, and snapped his tongue out twice an arm's reach, snatching up Tetsuo's soda can in the midst of the commotion.

"I said, leave him ALONE!" shouted Kinuko, grabbing up the first thing she could get her hands on-her plate-and whipping it at Lance.

"Wha-" was all he could get out before Kinuko's plate smacked mashed-potato-first into his face, setting him stumbling backward.

Toad backed up slowly with his hands held up defensively and his tongue still wrapped around the soda can as Kinuko's eyes locked on him next, glaring balefully.

Tetsuo growled, scowling over his shoulder at Toad while Lance was occupied with a faceful of potato. "Che... you wanna soda, y'fuckin' freakjob? Fine! Y'can have this, too!"

He turned, grabbing up his lunch tray from the table, and whipped it at the retreating Toad like a frisbee.

Toad ducked the flying lunch tray narrowly, mockingly sticking his tongue out fully at Tetsuo-who kicked the can wrapped in the end of Toad's tongue, sending both crashing into Toad's face.

"Hahah!" Tetsuo grinned, bobbing lightly on the balls of his feet. "Eat biker wrath, Flytrap!"

"Grr... that's it!" Lance snarled as he recovered, raising a foot and stamping it down against the ground. "Why don't you take a seat, kid!"

Tetsuo was going to make a clever reply, but he forgot about it when the ground bucked and shivered under him, dropping him roughly and ungracefully into his seat once again-Kinuko staggered, too, grabbing hold of the table to keep from falling.

"Hah! Not so clever, now, are you, punk?" Lance grinned, raising his foot again, preaparing to create a more powerful, ground-rending seismic shockwave.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you, Alvers."

"Eh?" Lance paused, glancing to the side on being addressed by his surname-something only a few people were in the habit of doing.

Scott was one of them.

"How about you walk away nice and quiet," he said calmly, one hand holding his red-lensed sunglasses by the frame, "and take your `friend' there with you."

Tetsuo glanced toward Scott as Lance froze briefly, weighing his options-Scott tilted his sunglasses slightly, as though cocking the hammer on a revolver. Lance glared at the interuption and made a scoffing sound, but started marching off.

"Yeah, fine, Summers," he said over his shoulder. "I've wasted enough time on you guys already. C'mon, Toad." Lance kept up his pace as he snagged his dazed comrade by the back of his shirt, casually dragging him away.

"You two okay?" Scott asked, walking to their table.

Tetsuo eyed Scott warily, getting up again and dusting himself off in a deliberately casual display. "Yah, we're fine, right Kinuko-kun?"

"Fine," she answered uneasily. "But what-"

"Is there some trouble?"

All three looked to see Principal Kelly approaching.

"There ain't nuthin' th'matter," answered Tetsuo, crossing his arms confrontationally.

"Well, that's not quite what I heard," the principal continued. "Actually, what I heard was something about a fight. Now, I know you haven't been here long, but this doesn't seem like a good way for the two of you to start out-" he glanced between Tetsuo and Kinuko "-getting into fights, like this."

Tetsuo tensed and bristled visibly. "Che... you-"

He paused, feeling a hand rest on his shoulder, and glanced back to find Scott there.

"I can back him up, Principal," Scott said from Tetsuo's side. "Alvers and Tolansky started it; Kinuko and Tetsuo were just protecting themselves from a couple of bullies."

"Is that right, Mister Summers?" he asked in reply-then he sighed and shook his head wearily. "Yes, well. I suppose I'll have to speak with them, then. But you should remember that fighting isn't the way to deal with problems; especially not here, at school."

Tetsuo glanced from Scott to Kelly, and then huffed, arms still crossed. "Yah. I'll try an' remember that," he answered, trying not to sound obviously sarcastic.

Tetsuo looked back to Scott once more as the principal left, and ran a hand through his hair. "So. Uh."

"Yeah," answered Scott.

"What-" started Kinuko, "what- who were they?"

Scott glanced around briefly to make sure the coast was relatively clear, then nodded to himself. "Todd Tolansky and Lance Alvers-or Toad and Avalanche. They're like us, except they're part of the Brotherhood; they're like some kind of gang of bullies. They live in this run-down house someplace out of the way, and spend their time making everyone's lives miserable."

"Brotherhood..." Kinuko repeated.

"The Brotherhood, uh?" Tetsuo echoed, scowling and glancing away in thought.

"Yeah," Scott answered, pausing briefly and scowling behind his sunglasses distastefully. "Uh... hey, look. About earlier today..."

Tetsuo glared off at the distant trees.

"Chekuso," he muttered, and paused briefly; glanced at Kinuko, and then back at the trees; and then reluctantly added, "thanks. Fer havin' our back, I mean, like y'said b'fore."

Scott nodded, after a moment's pause. "Hey, don't worry about it. I'm really not out to give you a hard time; but we've got rules, and you've got to learn to deal with them. People who can't handle rules... well, you just saw a couple of those."

Tetsuo stuck his hands into the pockets of his rather timeworn bombardier jacket, still looking off at something else uncomfortably. "Yah, well, I ain't so big on rules, neither." He paused in silence, and scuffed a tattered sneaker against the ground thoughtfully.

"But I s'pose if they ain't stupid rules," he added, "it ain't gonna be a problem."

"Same team," Scott answered, offering a hand. "Right."

Tetsuo glanced at Scott's hand-then flashed a grin and slapped it with his own. "Sure thing, Scooter."

"Rule number one: it's Scott."