Stage of Illusions: Stage Fight

[x-wolfcub.livejournal.com]

During a rehearsal of the show, Julian pushes Nick to the limit until Professor Sefton steps in.



"You overacting hack! If you step on my lines one more time, I swear I'm going to hurl you into the nose bleeds!" Julian yelled at Nick, a greenish glow already surrounding his hands like amorphous boxing gloves. It had been a simple mistake and one that probably hadn't been intentional, but Julian was sick of Nick and everything he stood for.

"What is your problem?!" Came out in a growl. Since his work with Kurt yesterday Nicholas Gleason had done a good job of keeping his emotions in check. But this was not helping. After forcing another stop in the cue to cue because of his giant wolf feet tripping as he tried to leave the stage, he was frustrated, but the outburst was what was causing the bristles on the back of his neck to stand on end.

"You're my problem, Gleason," Julian snarled in return. "You shouldn't be the lead in this and you know it."

Nick's fears of Professor Sefton's reassurance began to well up inside of him again, but he quickly tried to settle them. "Maybe, maybe not," came a growl. "You don't have to be an ass about it." The sting of his words caught in his mouth, and Gleason knew that he needed to quickly find a way to control his rage. His eyes quickly began darting around for Catseye backstage, or even Professor Sefton.

Julian leaned in, his voice dimming to a whisper, "Now I'm the asshole, Gleason? Come on, make a move, I dare you." He'd had enough, and with Fred still comatose, Callie avoiding him and Doreen no where to be found around the stage, Julian didn't have much in the way of a voice of reason.

"Try me..." was barely more than a snarl as Nick leaned in closer, lips pulling back from his teeth, and his legs beginning to crouch. The boy would not be able to hold himself very much longer.

"Boys!" Kurt snapped, stepping hastily out of the wings after catching the last exchanges. "Enough. Nick, change back to human now... and Julian, I am surprised at you."

As Nick shrank back down, he was breathing heavily, but was happy to hit the ground again. He wasn't sure of how much longer he could have controlled his wolf brain, and inside the theater, who knows what would have happened. "Sorry professor."

Julian looked similarly admonished, but was- none-the-less- still quite angry. "Sorry, sir," he half-said, half-hissed between his teeth, eyes still locked on Gleason.

"Look at me, Julian", Kurt ordered. "Not at Nick. And I want both of you to tell me what happened here. One at a time."

"I tripped... again..." Nick added as his eyes dropped to the ground, but quickly he was back up, pointing his open hand towards Julian. "But then he flew off the handle. Saying that I tripped on purpose during his monologue. Why don't you try walking with twice as much bulk and a tail Keller..."

"You're just proving my point," Julian mumbled, looking away from the both of them. His arms were now crossed over his chest. It wasn't like anyone was going to take his side in this argument, even if Nick had ruined the monologue he'd worked on the entire night.

"Julian!" was the sharp response. "Nick did not spoil your monologue on purpose. He is dealing with challenges you are not, and I expected better of you than to provoke him deliberately. I heard you, before you deny it... though Nick, you and I will have to work on your emotional control some more as well."

"Agreed professor." But as he broke apart from Kurt, the boy's eyes lingered slightly on Julian, a small snarl that looked like a wolf plastered on his face.

Julian sighed and begrudgingly accepted his fate, "Sorry, Nick." He was even partly sincere, though it was a very small part of him. In all likely hood he'd be getting punished for this, it just wasn't fair.

Nodding his head, Nick decided not to push the issue. He had to get through this play one way or another. "Professor, are you ready to work through some of my emotions again?"

"Of course." Kurt turned to the other boy. "Julian, please go and wait for me in the green room. This discussion is not over."