LOG: Detention
Kovacs
Mr. Kovacs is in his classroom after school, serving detention for a few students, if and when they show up. He sits at his desk, reading through his journal and scribbling notes from it onto a scrap of paper that lies flat on the desk.
Walter
Walter slowly pulls open the door to the classroom, then peeks his head through the door, noticing that only Mr. Kovacs is inside. He creeps in, trying not to draw attention to himself, then takes a seat near the door.
Kovacs
He looks up as the door opens and frowns. He hadn't wanted to give his younger self detention, but the boy had come in late and he can't compromise on his authority in his classroom.
He nods to the boy in acknowledgment and notes the time. He allows ten minutes to pass and, when no other students come in, he walks to the doors of the classroom and locks them, then comes over to stand by Walter's desk.
"Why were you late today?" he asks, not actually as pissed off as he sounds, asking more out of concern than anything else, but he's been in a sour mood all day and it carries in his voice.
Walter
The teen looks up at his older self through unruly red curls, "Hurr, think you know why...sir."
Kovacs
And that actually did grate on his nerves a bit. "To disrespect me, or something else of more importance?"
Walter
He shoulders slump a little, "Didn't mean to show disrespect... Just." He looks back to the door, even though he knows Mr. K just locked it; he wants to be sure they are alone. "Couldn't let injustice go unnoticed."
Kovacs
He sighs and frowns, feeling a twinge of guilt that he quickly shakes away. Kovacs pulls a chair out from a nearby desk and sits down. "What was it?" He hasn't seen the boy in a while. Neither has he been out on the streets himself.
Walter
"Hur." He grunts, "Bullies, preying on the weak. No matter how many times make example of them..." he clutches at his hair, "they do it again, or others take their place." He runs his fingers through his hair; it doesn't make it any neater but it doesn't make it any messier either. "Will be leaving in a few months. This school is as bad as it was when started..." He looks up to his older eyes, "Has it all been for nothing?"
Kovacs
He takes a deep, slow breath. This. "Often wonder that myself." He shifts to sit back in his chair a little bit. "If the fight is worth the sweat and blood and pain put into it if evil is only going to re-spawn while I recover." He gives the boy an honest look. "Alternative is far worse, however.
"Standing aside and doing nothing is what everyone else does. Makes them all accessories. All participants to murder, and rape, and filth. It is worth it."
Walter
Seeing the sincerity in his other self's eyes, Walter nods "Yes. Thank you."
Kovacs
Mr. Kovacs sighs and checks his watch. Walter still has twenty minutes to go before detention is supposed to be over. "Free to go," he mutters. "Don't want to waste your time. Don't let it happen again."
Walter
A little surprised by this, Walter stands and turns to leave, but then turns back to Mr. K and offers his hand for a shake. "Thanks."
Kovacs
He takes Walter's hand and squeezes it hard, his expression and voice turning rough again. "If there were other students here, wouldn't allow this. Mean it. Don't let it happen again. If you have more important matters, would rather you skip and come to me later than make a fool of me in my classroom."
Walter
"Hmmm, am sorry." He really means it.
"How are you?" he indicates to Mr. K's heart, "Healing ok?"
Kovacs
"Fine," he replies. "Healing slowly. Frustratingly slow. Anxious to get back out on the streets."
Walter
"How much longer do you think?"
Kovacs
He shakes his head and looks down, disappointed, turning his back to the other. "Don't know."
Walter
"Hope not too much longer." He lifts his bag onto his shoulder. "Things have been... A little too interesting on the streets lately."
Kovacs
He turns to look at him. "Oh?"
Walter
Walter shakes his head, "Not the place to talk." He walks over to the door and unlocks it. "Will tell you about it all soon. Should be going."
Kovacs
He sighs and nods. "Be seeing you."
And then, before Walter can leave, he adds, "Keep your chin up. Doing the right thing."
Walter
He turns back to his older self with a small smile and a nod, "Thank you, Mr. Kovacs." Then slips out the door and runs off to catch trouble makers.
Mr. Kovacs is in his classroom after school, serving detention for a few students, if and when they show up. He sits at his desk, reading through his journal and scribbling notes from it onto a scrap of paper that lies flat on the desk.
Walter
Walter slowly pulls open the door to the classroom, then peeks his head through the door, noticing that only Mr. Kovacs is inside. He creeps in, trying not to draw attention to himself, then takes a seat near the door.
Kovacs
He looks up as the door opens and frowns. He hadn't wanted to give his younger self detention, but the boy had come in late and he can't compromise on his authority in his classroom.
He nods to the boy in acknowledgment and notes the time. He allows ten minutes to pass and, when no other students come in, he walks to the doors of the classroom and locks them, then comes over to stand by Walter's desk.
"Why were you late today?" he asks, not actually as pissed off as he sounds, asking more out of concern than anything else, but he's been in a sour mood all day and it carries in his voice.
Walter
The teen looks up at his older self through unruly red curls, "Hurr, think you know why...sir."
Kovacs
And that actually did grate on his nerves a bit. "To disrespect me, or something else of more importance?"
Walter
He shoulders slump a little, "Didn't mean to show disrespect... Just." He looks back to the door, even though he knows Mr. K just locked it; he wants to be sure they are alone. "Couldn't let injustice go unnoticed."
Kovacs
He sighs and frowns, feeling a twinge of guilt that he quickly shakes away. Kovacs pulls a chair out from a nearby desk and sits down. "What was it?" He hasn't seen the boy in a while. Neither has he been out on the streets himself.
Walter
"Hur." He grunts, "Bullies, preying on the weak. No matter how many times make example of them..." he clutches at his hair, "they do it again, or others take their place." He runs his fingers through his hair; it doesn't make it any neater but it doesn't make it any messier either. "Will be leaving in a few months. This school is as bad as it was when started..." He looks up to his older eyes, "Has it all been for nothing?"
Kovacs
He takes a deep, slow breath. This. "Often wonder that myself." He shifts to sit back in his chair a little bit. "If the fight is worth the sweat and blood and pain put into it if evil is only going to re-spawn while I recover." He gives the boy an honest look. "Alternative is far worse, however.
"Standing aside and doing nothing is what everyone else does. Makes them all accessories. All participants to murder, and rape, and filth. It is worth it."
Walter
Seeing the sincerity in his other self's eyes, Walter nods "Yes. Thank you."
Kovacs
Mr. Kovacs sighs and checks his watch. Walter still has twenty minutes to go before detention is supposed to be over. "Free to go," he mutters. "Don't want to waste your time. Don't let it happen again."
Walter
A little surprised by this, Walter stands and turns to leave, but then turns back to Mr. K and offers his hand for a shake. "Thanks."
Kovacs
He takes Walter's hand and squeezes it hard, his expression and voice turning rough again. "If there were other students here, wouldn't allow this. Mean it. Don't let it happen again. If you have more important matters, would rather you skip and come to me later than make a fool of me in my classroom."
Walter
"Hmmm, am sorry." He really means it.
"How are you?" he indicates to Mr. K's heart, "Healing ok?"
Kovacs
"Fine," he replies. "Healing slowly. Frustratingly slow. Anxious to get back out on the streets."
Walter
"How much longer do you think?"
Kovacs
He shakes his head and looks down, disappointed, turning his back to the other. "Don't know."
Walter
"Hope not too much longer." He lifts his bag onto his shoulder. "Things have been... A little too interesting on the streets lately."
Kovacs
He turns to look at him. "Oh?"
Walter
Walter shakes his head, "Not the place to talk." He walks over to the door and unlocks it. "Will tell you about it all soon. Should be going."
Kovacs
He sighs and nods. "Be seeing you."
And then, before Walter can leave, he adds, "Keep your chin up. Doing the right thing."
Walter
He turns back to his older self with a small smile and a nod, "Thank you, Mr. Kovacs." Then slips out the door and runs off to catch trouble makers.