xavier_institute

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First of all - don't ask.

[It's pretty clear what he's referring to. He is currently dressed in an absolutely horrendous sweater, which he keeps scratching at in annoyance. Making bets with a certain saucy language arts teacher is not recommended.]

Second, for god's sake don't listen to that Yeager kid. I'm sure most of you are smart enough to realize it, but it looks like he's under the impression that it's a "violation of his rights" to learn to keep his powers under control. Seeing as skipping classes wastes time and makes it that much harder for us to teach you how to survive once you get out of here... you see where I'm going with this. I figure if you ignore him long enough, though, he'll get the hint that he's doing more bad than good.

[And then he suddenly brightens up, with that smug grin he only has when he's making someone's life hell.]

Third, if you've got some spare time on your hands, the security club should still be taking members. Come on down, keep Officer Adachi company and bust some trouble-makers or something. Maybe you can just get someone you hate in trouble.

[Bigby, don't give them ideas. They'll take it seriously.]

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I didn't say I wanted to be killed. I said I should be punished for my crimes, whatever they are!

[Not knowing what happened makes it a bit harder to argue his point, but he's not sure if he wants to know.]

You're wrong. I'm not a victim. I'm a danger to the community. Whatever I did I did of my own free will, and that's what I'd say in court. And I'm not going to practice becoming a monster!

And I'm pretty sure the death penalty applies for something you did.

[Shrug.]

Kid, I'm more of a danger to the community than you are, and I practically rescue kittens in my spare time.

But, if you'd rather go on another murderous rampage...

Then I'll accept the death penalty, if that's a fair sentence for my crime.

You should be punished, too. They're wrong to shield you, but I guess they protect their own.

[Typical mutants.]

No, I don't! That's what I'm avoiding. I know what I'm doing! I'm going to figure something out.

[It also hasn't escaped him that as a gigantic, regenerating monster, someone else might find his power useful. He's not going to let himself be used.]

No one's protecting me. In fact, I'm in charge of protecting other mutants.

[This is really silly to him.]

Kid, you have no idea what you're doing. All you know is what you were taught to do, and that doesn't apply here.

If you haven't been tried for your crimes, then yes, they are. Who would put someone like you in charge of anyone?

I can't argue that, because obviously, I'm not going to tell you what I'm going to do.

I was tried for my crimes, and I served my punishment. And spent the last fifteen years making sure people don't make the same mistakes I did.

Fine, don't tell me. I guess that means I can't help you.

Really? You were?

[He's suspicious. If he murdered people, then why would he be working with kids? Something's not right. He's not going to trust him, but he's calmed down now. He just can't bear the thought of innocent people being killed by mutants.]

I can't tell you. But I'm not going to become a monster. Even if I was going to practice, which I'm not—there's not even any way for me to do it! I can't do it here. I just want it to go away.

[No one even seems to understand what that thing's like.]

You know... it's a lot easier to control powers like yours if you accept them.

[He was reluctant, but now his voice is kind of... comforting.]

If you know it can happen, and you're not scared of it, then you've got something to work with. If all you want is for it to go away, you'll panic, lose control and it'll take over.

[He still doesn't feel like he was given enough proof that this guy really got his proper punishment. So he's not going to trust him!]

How am I supposed to accept it after what happened? I won't! I can't even go home now! I don't know what happened, and no one will let me be punished!

Maybe I am too dangerous...

[There's no way he can become a monster, and people say he's going to hurt people. But he doesn't want to die.]

[God you get hungry one night, eat one maybe nine people, suddenly no one trusts you...]

What happened is you had an uncontrolled transformation. People got hurt because you were crowded and panicked. You're strong, sure, but you can be controlled. You have good intentions. That makes you way less dangerous than other mutants can be.

[That's nine people too many!!!]

But there's no way to control it if I don't know what I'm doing. I can't remember it. I wasn't myself! How do you know everyone can learn to control it?

I don't know how I'd start it! But yeah... I don't want to hurt anybody.

I don't know, but I know it's stupid just to tell yourself you can't control it. It's just making excuses for it.

[That much, at least, he knows he can put in terms Eren can understand.]

Listen, I know plenty about losing control of powers like that. I think they're pretty close to mine. So you can trust me, okay? I know what I'm talking about. And if you listen to me, you won't hurt anyone any time soon.

I'm not making excuses! It's just the truth! It's horrible!

[It seems so much worse than the other kids' powers.]

I'm not anything like a wolf.

How can I trust you? After what you said— I can't trust anyone here. So even if I wanted to... I couldn't. There's no one who can help me.

You're not like a wolf, but you do have a transformation that runs wild if you lose control. A lot like me.

Thing is, I learned to get control. And now I can use it whenever I want, instead of being afraid of it. [Though he's leaving out that he does still lose control under pressure.] There are a lot of other kids who had powers too strong for them, and they got better at controlling them until they never had to use them again.

And, hey... I'm sorry for picking on you. I don't suppose I can make up for that with snacks from the vending machine.

Yeah... it's like that.

[He has to admit that, grudgingly.]

You mean I could get it to go away forever? I'd like that.

[He's briefly hopeful. That is what he wants most of all, to make that awful monster disappear. But isn't there anyone better to learn from? He still doesn't trust this guy!]

But... I don't forgive you, and I don't want any snacks. I'm not a kid.

[In case Bigby didn't notice, Eren is the grudge-holding type.]

[Well, at least he's getting somewhere. Maybe Eren's not so terribly annoying after all.]

What if I told you I knew a way to control your powers without using them?

[It's an annoying way and more akin to phobia treatment than anything else, but he likes doing good in the world. It brings nice rewards.]

There's something like that?

[No, he still doesn't trust Bigby, but that... if there really was something like that, that would mean he could stop it without having to become a monster again.

Not as good as a real cure, but better than nothing.]

What is it?

It's a form of self-discipline, you'll take to it like a fish to water.

[Since, if there's anything he's picked up about Eren, it's that he's a little more self-disciplined than is strictly... healthy.]

It also takes months to get right, though. If you promise not to be a pain in the ass I guess I could teach you.

[Eren is so lucky Bigby likes his spunk.]

[Still wary, Eren's not entirely sure whether he's being mocked or not, but he doesn't think so... He's not stupid, but he's not good at picking up on jokes and sarcasm, being painfully earnest himself.]

Right. I can do it. I'm not afraid to work hard.

[For someone not going to classes, he works an awful lot.]

I can't promise that. I'll be true to my ideals, no matter what.

[Because that seems to be what most people think makes him a pain in the ass, around here. He's not going to compromise!]

Well, you can at least set them aside while I'm teaching you. Or be quiet about them.

[Not that he really minds terribly... he has hope that he can eventually get Eren on everyone else's side.]

When are you free for practicing this?

I won't set them aside. But I don't talk about them all the time.

[Just most of the time. Not when they're not coming up! It's just that things are different here.]

I train in the mornings, and then I have work, but I can practice in the afternoon.

[No one can accuse him of skipping classes from laziness.]

And I won't do it anymore if I decide I don't like it.

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