it's gonna take more than a hand [closed]

[rideme]

WHO: The Iron Bull & Canada Kaneda
WHERE: Outside Nonah's Ark -- the backyard.
WHEN: Early Morning.
WHAT: Training Kaneda to actually fight and defend himself.
WARNINGS: Language probably? Maybe Kaneda's Problems.

[The sun isn't even up at the time the Iron Bull is. It's somewhere around 5:30 in the morning. It's about as late as he's willing to let the kid sleep. This is all part of the 'training' -- a strict schedule. Up before the sun, warm up, run drills, then let the day do whatever else needs doing.]

[With all the kid's gone through lately, with all that might be coming, this is really all Bull can do for the kid, short of becoming his personal bodyguard. And that would probably go over about as well as a brick wall. Being thrown. At Kaneda's head. It galls him more than he'll admit to anyone, that there isn't anything he can do right now to wrangle the one responsible for all these issues, make them both sit down and talk things out like rational people. That would take a miracle. And he's been fresh out of those since that day on the Storm Coast.]

[Since the day he'd made the call. Turned his back on everything for a handful of people who meant everything more.]

[One of the cats -- dark brown, slender, wild orange eyes, Skinner -- goes tearing down the hall and through his legs before he has a chance to dwell on that further. Heh. Good cat.]

[He doesn't have proper weapons for this. Hell, he doesn't have proper weapons in general. So two heavy sticks hacked down to the proper length will have to do. If the kid complains, he'll spray him with the hose. A great invention, that hose.]

[Looking remarkably chipper for this hour, Bull quietly makes his way to Kaneda's room -- there had been a light on in there earlier. No footsteps toward the door, no careful rustle of moving windows. Kid should still be inside. At least for now. So...]

[Whack!]

[No knocking. Just shouldering the door open, slapping the light on.]

Up and on your feet, Canada.

Comments

[rassera]

[Kaneda's sleep had been sporadic at best this month. When he wasn't sleeping at a friend's house to catch up while he was out constantly searching for Tetsuo. So when he was home, which was usually only at night when he got back from Maurita Falls (not for searching, but for an entirely different purpose), he walks in, feeds Capsule, plays with him a little in the living room, and then hits the hay.

Sleep. He never thought he'd appreciate it so much. It wasn't the best--he had a hard time with it most nights. Mostly because of how quiet Nonah is. Which is really saying something for the bustling city. Sure, he hears traffic, but it's not enough. Hours will pass, though time will seem like it's stopped. So when sleep finally comes...he's going to sleep in.

NOT TODAY.

He hears the sound first, and his heart literally leaps up into his throat, feeling it practically want to burst out of his body right then and there. Eyes squint open, hand reaching up to block out the light of the switch being turned on. It still filters through his fingers, to his disappointment, and then travel to his hair, running through it.



The other hand, which was semi under the pillow to start, grabs that pistol he'd acquired from the Swear-In, pulling it out ever so slightly in case whoever decided to barge in was less than friendly. After all, it's not like he hasn't made enemies while here. All he has to do is listen for Capsule, and if that told him anything, he'd pull it out. Fortunately, all he hears from his dog is the thumping of his tail against the ground. Whoever it was...it was welcome. He can't even describe what a relief that was. Capsule was still a puppy, sure, but he was starting to get a good feel of people by now. A good guard dog.

Dammit. Now he has to see who it is. Those eyes slit open wider, leaning up on his elbows.

He doesn't recognize his 'attacker' at first, the blob barely making itself out. He sits up, hair almost completely mussed up from the pillow as he blinks a few times, squinting to get a better look--

Oh, it was just Bull. He gives him -that look- (you now, the one that looks at the person getting you up like they're absolutely ludicrous. Because for one, why are you awake and two, why are you awake so much that you are waking up other people?) But once the image starts becoming more clear after a few blinks, his frown widens, turning over right away, putting his back to him.]

You're such a dick, you know.

[He has no idea why Bull's got him up so early, but he will play that 'five more minutes' game.]

And it's Kaneda.

[rideme]

[Bull doesn't move. Doesn't relax the overly enthusiastic grin on his face. Partly because he recognizes that sudden tension. The way the kid only relaxes when the dog identifies him as friendly. Any sudden movements right now would be detrimental for a lot of reasons.]

Hey, Sausage.

[Yeah, that's right, even Capsule gets a good morning.]

Up. On your feet. Grab a snack. Then we're headed out back.

[Deliberately short sentences. Cheerful tone. Both just to annoy the ever-loving shit out of Kaneda and to make sure the words get through his sleep-fogged head.]

We've got some knifework to try.

[rassera]

[The moment Bull throws him a 'hello', Capsule's tail is like a drum against the ground, practically itching to get out of that bed and run over to him. He starts to get up to go over, unable to contain his--]

Hey.

[Kaneda sleepily looks over and clicks his tongue, the dog immediately sitting in that bed as still as stone. Another click of his tongue, two consecutive ones this time, and Capsule practically bolts for Bull, body wiggling in every which way. His body rubs up against Bull's body, trying to get any kind of pet out of him. YES GOOD MORNING LARGE HORNED DOG.

Kaneda, on the other hand, was getting his extra five minutes for that, barely listening to what Bull has to say. He's not doing chores, he's hungry but far too lazy to get out of bed, he's--

Never bolted up so fast in his life. You'd think he'd just been electrified.]

What?

[rideme]

[He arches an eyebrow at the dog. Huh. Good for him. He's been working hard with the little guy, that's for sure. And when the dog comes charging over to him, he can't help but bend down and ruffle those floppy ears a bit.]

[It's adorable.]

Good Sausage.

[He keeps on petting the dog. Ignoring how goddamn funny it is the way Kaneda pops up like that. No, no hurting the pride.]

You heard me. We're doing some work.

[rassera]

[You have no idea, Bull. It's something to focus on, really, probably one of the more healthy things he's done here other than going on a wild goose chase. Capsule seems to enjoy the attention, obviously, panting as his whole butt seems to wiggle with it.

Kaneda, however, is already getting out of bed, albeit groggily. His palm rubs against his eye as he walks over, grabbing his bike pants and tank to go change really quick.]

Why 5 a.m.? Your clock busted or some shit?

[Yeah, even if he's excited, he's still gonna complain.]

[rideme]

[No wonder Hawke likes dogs so much -- if this little thing is THIS happy to see a damn Qunari, a mabari must be even better. Pity the Chargers never got their hands on one. Or Cole.]

[Damn, maybe a dog would have been what that kid needed -- no. Focus.]

[He gives the pup one last pat before he straightens up, folding his arms.]

Nope. Best time to do it. Gets your muscles primed and ready. Do it too late in the day and you're too stiff to learn anything.

[rassera]

[With a last pat from Bull, Capsule wanders back over to Kaneda as he slips those pants on over his boxers sleepily. His hair's beyond disheveled, practically sticking up from bedhead as he rubs the back of it, other hand rubbing under the dog's chin.

Someone's still groggy.]

You'd be surprised what you can do once night rolls around...

[But that's all he says, pulling on one of his tank tops and reaching for his boots.]

You said food too, right.

[rideme]

Yeah, I know. But this is different than all that.

[Like partying. Which is what he means. Granted, Kaneda probably doesn't, but oh well. No reason to root around in that can of worms today.]

[He just jerks his head toward the door.]

After. Don't need you puking on my knives.

[rassera]

[After he gets everything on, he clicks his tongue again, Capsule going back into his bed and lying down, going over to rub those ears and give him his tennis ball--that should keep him busy, at the very least.

And with Bull's gesture, he takes his cocky swagger and puts his hands in his pockets, walking out the door to the hallway.]

Didn't think you'd follow through on this...

[Most adults say anything to shut a kid up, you know.]

[rideme]

Why wouldn't I?

[It's genuine curiosity. He doesn't see why he wouldn't. After all, it's best the kid learn how to protect himself. To fight back. Given the situation lately, any form of defense that doesn't entail Kaneda punching things is a better option.]

[Far as he's concerned.]

[He's leading him out to the back yard. To where a folding chair has been stacked with a few objects -- wooden planks. A box of chalk powder. And knives.]

[rassera]

...Some guys say anything to shut people up.

[Kaneda follows Bull outside, not exactly answering the question, but more out of no real want to even get into it. His brows raise as he walks ahead of him, towards the folded chair propped up in the backyard.

Bending over slightly to look at the goods.]

Not baaaaaad!!

Cake and knives...[Whistle!] What a birthday!

[rideme]

... Generally speaking, I tend to say 'shut up' when I want to shut someone up.

[Unless it's Solas. Then it's a lot of swearing and whatnot. But more often than not, he's very to-the-point with his attempts to shut people up.]

[He pauses by the chair, before gesturing at the yard.]

All right. You ever worked your arms before?

[rassera]

[See, he can get behind that. Granted, he wouldn't take being told to shut up very well, but he appreciates the honesty.

All things considered, that's what HE'D do too.


But he walks out in front of the chair, rolling his shoulders.]

You mean...lifting, right?

[rideme]

That's one way.

[He gestures at the ground, then at his own tree trunks biceps. Making a sort of "push-up" motion.]

Hop down and start lifting yourself a bit first. Warm up.

[After a pause, though, he adds:] Then we'll do something else. [Bull picks a big square of wood off the pile on the chair.]

Then, there's other ways to get ready to fight than just picking up heavy crap. [He cants his head to the side, thoughtfully.] You probably won't be swinging around a hammer. Doesn't fit. We'll go for speed. Get you to be able to fill a guy's ribs full of holes before he knows what hit him.

[rassera]

[At the gesture, it's like a lightbulb goes off. Pushups? No problem--they were a gym requirement back home, and you had to be good at them if you wanted to keep your teeth. He gets down, into the push up position and starts, doing pretty well for what his body looks like. He wasn't overly muscular--your typical teenager body, muscles defined more from hormones and puberty than actual strength training.

There's hints of muscle forming, though and that's what's important. They'd served him well on the streets, and here he could really work at it.]

Ngh, used a lot of pipes back home. Things like that--[Whatever they could find really...]

[rideme]

Pipes aren't what we're going for. This is for when you don't want to bruise. You want to take them down.

Permanently.

[Yep, that's right. This is a lesson in how to stab someone to death. Or it will be, as soon as Kaneda is warmed up to Bull's satisfaction. Meanwhile, he holds up one of the bigger scraps of wood, looking between it and Kaneda.]

[Nodding. Yep. This will do. As long as he's careful not to break it.]

[rassera]

[That gets his attention, and his head turns from concentrating on the pushup, looking up at him. It was right then that Kaneda realized that this wasn't just some way to entertain him.

Bull was actually going to teach him how to use something like that. This went beyond just a switch blade. This would have finesse.

Those push ups are more vigorous now, those muscles really straining the more he does them. It's been awhile since he's had to do something this regimented, but...for this? He'd put up with it.]

I think I'm gonna need that here, with Crane running around.

[rideme]

[He sees that look. And nods. Just once.]

You probably already know this shit, but I'm going to say it anyway. If you're going to get a weapon from the Iron Bull, you're learning to use it right. I'm not giving you fancy toys here, kid.

[These are tools, not toys.]

[But that's what he figures the kid knows already. So he leaves it implied. Instead of said.]

Good. Then you'll listen to what I tell you. Out here, in the yard, I'm Chief. Outside this yard, these sessions, we're back to normal.

Agreed?

[rassera]

[His pushups slow, Bull's words heavy as he gets up. He can see why Bull's saying what he says, but there's a little defiance in that stance.]

I know.

[Thankfully, Bull implied it as a reminder, and not a lecture, so he won't go further, hair on his neck settling after it's all said and done. You know how to speak to him, Bull, even on that.]

Fine, fine. But only til we're done here, yeah? Don't think this gives you rights to boss me around all the time.

[rideme]

Good. So I'll save the long bullshit.

[No pun intended. This time.]

[But then he nods, firmly. Honestly, there's not much reason to shout the kid down outside of the yard. And turns around to hand Kaneda one of the pieces of wood. It's not even remotely knife-shaped. It's more like a shield.]

You're used to using your hands, right?

[rassera]

[He was expecting that pun, brows raising when it didn't come--honestly? You're not going to cash in on that one?

The plank of wood is thrusted into his hands, though, and naturally, confusion washes over his face. Did...Bull misunderstand what this lesson was supposed to be about?]

Yeah...?

[There's a cautious tone to it, wondering just where Bull might be going with this.]

[rideme]

Thought so.

[He picks up another piece of wood, this one more like a two-by-four.]

We're going to get you used to working with a tool, instead of just your hands. Otherwise using blades is going to go to shit real quick.

[rassera]

[Another look to the planks of wood, as if trying to make the connection to Bull's words.]

With..wood?

[Blades cut wood, Bull, he doesn't see the connection. But at least he's not arguing or defying authority. That's...something!]

[rideme]

Yeah. Because the worst you get from a hunk of wood is a nasty splinter.

Knives are different. We'll get you used to defending with more than your hands, for now. Once your reflexes figure out what you're doing, we'll move on.

[See, he's got a plan, okay.]

[rassera]

...[Kaneda looks at the piece of wood once more, brows raised up in a way that seems to suggest 'not a bad idea.'

The pouted lip turns to a smirk, flipping his hair out of the way.]

Teach on, sensei.

[You smug little shit.]