Steel Waste

Steve doesn't open his eyes for fear of the stew burning them, allowing Afton to walk up and deliver a roundhouse punch to his face, knocking the teen to the floor.

Apparently that wasn't enough as they slowly get to their feet, anger allowing them to ignore the hot liquid on their face. He charges at Afton, throwing his arms around at random in an attempt to hit him. Clearly no one had taught him how to fight, or even punch properly...​​

Afton gets clipped on the shoulder by one but it isn't all that effective, dodging the next and dashing forwards, hugging Steve to prevent anymore flailing punching being thrown. The boy tried to wrestle him but found that Afton was actually stronger somehow.

Veronica had taught him how to punch and fight in general, but it was Christine who'd shown him how to utilise other things that weren't his fists. Afton takes a small step back to get space before slamming his elbow into Steve jaw, the metal fixtures on his Initiate uniform providing an almost unfair advantage.

*Crack!*

Steve's jaw made an awful sound as he slumped to the floor, backing his head on a nearby table as he's knocked unconscious. Afton just looks down at Steve with a small amount of disappointment... His first real fight in this world and even his previous one, and he'd not even been challenged. He shook his head, this was the difference between a trained and untrained combatant he supposed.

The cafeteria was silent when he walked back over with his tray to get more stew, the Initiate tasked with giving everyone their meal blankly just handing him another bowl, not realising that giving Afton anymore was against the rules due to rationing.

...

Afton found it hard to ignore everyone staring at him, even Melissa and Miles with mimicking owls towards him...

"That... Was... SOO COOL!" Melissa finally exclaimed after recovering from the shock of seeing Afton utterly decimate an older Initiate.

Miles rapidly nods, "How did you do that, who taught you!?" he quickly asks, apparently wanting to get tutored himself.

Afton just shakes his head, "You should ask to learn some hand-to-hand combat when you become Initiates." he say simply, not wanting to trouble Veronica or Christine.

Soon enough Paladin Edgar Hardin and their teacher Scribe Doran Dumble walks into the room, scouring it with their eyes before both find Steve Lynch's unconscious body and Afton.

"Initiate Parker, with me!" Paladin Hardin commands as Doran gets some help from other Initiates to carry Steve's body to the infirmary.

"Can I take my food?" he asks just as Hardin is about to leave the room, causing most of the room to look at him as if he were crazy...

Hardin glances at Afton and an almost undetectable smirk finds its way onto his face, "As long as you clean up after yourself." he states and walks out, Afton picking up his tray and quickly following, getting confused and awed looks from everyone else.

Afton was lead into the man's office where he was already sat down, the fact he was wearing his Power armour made it look like the chair was a small stool, but he managed to keep himself from chuckling at the sight.

Hardin gestured to the chair on the opposite side of the desk and Afton sat down, placing his meal on the table and biting into a potato nonchalantly.

"Do you know why I have called you here Initiate Parker?" the mans asks with a stern expression.

Afton shrugs and swallows his mouthful, "No sir, I was simply defending myself so I see no reason for action against me."

Hardin slowly nods, "... I agree, you were provoked first, and hadn't made the first move. Not only that by that idiot Initiate managed to hit a young student in the face while he was at it, someone he was supposed to be protecting. It seems we've misjudged his character if Initiate Lynch is capable of doing that." he explains.

"Why did you call me then?" he asks, confused.

"Because regardless if you are at fault or not, I need to be seen investigating it, even if I already know what happened. I'm proud that you handled it in such a way, and impressed you managed to take on someone two years older than you. Those lessons you're getting from Veronica seem to be paying off." he says with a small grin.

"Ah, you knew about that?"

Hardin nods, "Who do you think covers for Veronica when the Elder is unable to find her? Even when she's on break the Elder comes looking for her, the man doesn't seem to understand not everyone can go on without sleep for days... Plus, I think what you're being taught is valuable knowledge, initiates are taught hand-to-hand combat a couple of months after they are promoted, which is too late in my estimation.

Being trained at a younger age instils the movements and attitude required of a warrior, it makes you more combat-oriented and confident, something that will never be a bad thing. As the old proverb goes, it's better to be a warrior in a farm, than a farmer in a war." he explains.

Afton had just finished his stew as the man was talking, but he nods in understanding, he agreed with the man. Knowing how to fight did make him more confident, and being thrashed by Veronica so many times had given him a wider perception of others actions... To most someone gripping their fists and tensing their jaws as nothing, may just irritation, but to him, it was potential aggression.

"May I leave now? My classes should start soon." he asks and the man nods.

Afton picks up the tray and is about to return them to the cafeteria when Hardin grabs his attention.

"Oh and Initiate Parker? Good job in there today." he says sincerely, despite the fact he'd beaten a fellow Initiate and potentially broken his jaw.

"No problem sir, hopefully this won't happen again anytime soon though." he says as he finally leaves.