Will of Fire

"Didn't anyone help you?" Panzela asked, wipping away some of the tears on his cheeks.

 

Anthony shook his head and looked down.

 

Panzela sighed, "here, let's get some ice on your eye. Then we can talk about it, okay?" she smiled at him, a little weakly before going to get ice in a towel, as a makeshift ice pack.

 

Anthony nodded and went with her to get the ice pack.

 

Panzela closed up the towel around ice and handed it to him, "That should help to stop swelling." she explained, walking back to his room with him. "Keep it on for ten minutes, and then off for ten minutes, kay?"

 

Anthony nodded and laid down on his bed once they got to his room, placing the ice pack on his eye. He winced a little at the cold, but soon got used to it. "Thanks..." He said to Panzela in sign language and gave a small smile.

 

"your welcome." Panzela replied, returning his smile. "So, about these kids at school. Why are they picking on you?" she asked, gently.

 

"They always make fun of me because I can't talk..." He replied. "They think that I'm weaker because I have a disability, so they pick on me..."

 

Panzela crossed her arms and frowned, "That's so stupid of them." she sighed. "Maybe we can fix this..." she said, thinking out loud.

 

Anthony quickly shook his head. "No! Please just leave the situation alone... It'll only get worse if we try to do anything," He signed, panicked.

 

Panzela took held up her hands, "Anthony, calm down." she said, soothingly. "I only meant maybe I can teach you some defence. Just so if they try and hit you, you can avoid it, okay?"

 

Anthony sighed in relief. "Okay..." He replied, calmer now, and smiled.

 

"Not that I don't want to go kick their scrawny butts for you..." Panzela admitted, "But I'm not going to because I know you wouldn't want that." she added. "When you feel better, I'll teach you some self defence." she smiled.

 

Anthony giggled when she said that and nodded.

 

Panzela sighed, "You know, it's very hard to see you hurt like this." she said, "Does it happen often?"

 

Anthony looked away, sadly. "Yeah..." He replied.

 

Panzela frowned, "at least you can learn how to protect yourself now, I guess. But..." she trailed off and let it go. "Well, anyway... it won't happen again, okay?"

 

Kairuto swore. "Then what the hell are we supposed to do?!"

"Calm down for one thing, partner. You're going to burn a hole in your floor." Rei chuckled.

 

Becky heard Kairuto shout, and she glanced worriedly at the wall that separated their rooms. "Kairuto, are you okay?" She called, not liking the sound of his voice. However, she found it best not to get up, as she knew she was sick.

Anthony nodded and hugged Panzela.

 

"good." Panzela said, soflty. She hugged him back.