WATCHING THROUGH MY FINGERS / discussion

[wormwood.]

i was born, on the highway, in a train wreck

with a heart, that was beating, out of my chest

When Miller approached the scene... it took all of Aurum's self control to not throw himself at the cheetah. Up to this point, Aurum had actually been rather fond of the male, thinking that while he was a bit of an oddity, he was a good clanmate, and a pretty good strategist as well. He was useful and helpful, and Aurum hadn't thought there would be any real issues with the other. However, it seemed as though Miller liked causing trouble, or at least thought that forcing someone out of their comfort zone was the best way to learn. Yet here Roy was, shoved far out of his comfort zone with nothing to show for it except the unshed tears glittering in his eyes. The proxy found himself digging his claws deep into the earth when Miller addressed Roy so softly, as if to prove that he really cared about the boy. Aurum could feel the flames curling in his chest, suffocating and choking him with their magnitude as he found himself wanting to roar, if you cared about him, you wouldn't make him do this shit, Miller. Still, though, Aurum doesn't make any sudden movements. Doesn't scream or shout like he wants to, and certainly doesn't launch himself forward to crush Miller beneath his paws and fangs. No, he doesn't want to hurt Miller, not truly. He just wants Roy to be safe, and continue to be happy. He wants to protect Roy, a boy that he knows has seen horrors that most adults couldn't even understand and has still come out smiling on the other side, even if a little worse for wear. Aurum knew the viciousness of the world well, and hated it with all his heart, but that didn't mean he wanted Roy to have to face it head on, like this. He isn't violent because Miller isn't a Pittian. He isn't an enemy at all, he's just a fool who chose to stare the horrors of the world straight in the face, and ended up like this because of it.

Listening stiffly to what Miller had to say, Aurum could feel his one aqua blue eye glancing over at Roy occasionally, trying to gauge his son's reaction while breathing through the anger. Some of what the cheetah is saying makes sense, but most of it is just the military was of looking at things. Roy showed promise, Roy could be useful. All or it just sounded like various ways to say that Miller didn't see a child when he looked at Roy, but a tool. That, perhaps, was what infuriated Aurum the most. That his son, a male that had already been degraded and reduced to a tool or a weapon in the past, was being told he showed promise in something that he didn't even want to do. That he was being made a tool for. When Miller turned to face him, Aurum was honestly a bit surprised that the male didn't burst into flames, given the intensity of the lion's gaze upon him. After all, it was entirely possible given the proxy's fire elementals. Aurum's claws sank further and further into the ground below him, his tail lashing behind him and twitching angrily the only true sign of the rage festering down below. After Miller spoke, Aurum opened his mouth, a long pause in the air before the lion finally muttered, "I am... aware. Of his abilities as a mediator. He's a good kid, with a good heart. And he tries hard to make sure that everyone is safe. And that this place isn't a battlefield. I love him for it. It's one of the reasons why I think this is a pisspoor job for him... but it's the task you assigned, so I won't do anything." His voice was stiff, rough and barely managing to hold it together as he spoke, allowing his claws to slip free from the earth and back into his paws. He took a deep breath inward, letting the fresh air soothe his frazzled... everything, really.

Even if he was yearning to just scoop Roy up and get the fuck away from here, the proxy still forced himself upwards to stand, his gaze calm as he looked over the crowd that had gathered. Thinking back on what Abathur had asked, Aurum flicked one of his ears, looking thoughtful before he started, "A few days ago, a Pittian known as Kydobi showed up on our border. He wanted to be here in order to see his son, Piers. However, he was trespassing on Tanglewood territory, and took to insulting us when we started to explain that to him..." Christ, this really wasn't helping with the anger, or with his blood sugar. Another deep breath in, and another deep one out, "Eventually, he refused to get off of our territory because of his connection with Piers. Seeing as he had been trespassing and causing nothing but trouble, I ordered an attack on him. Not only did he trespass, but he also brought another Pittian with him. That damn bug thing that took Roy. I don't even know if it has a name... anyways. Kydobi and that damn bug thing ended up running away, but not before they caused a hell of a scene and almost took Leroy with them." A sigh left the lion before he continued, shaking his head firmly, "In my opinion, Pittians shouldn't be allowed on our territory at all, family or not. If he really care about Piers, he would've arranged something with Indie out in the rogue and loner areas. He came here just to fucking rile us up."

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