"Oh, I see Janus and the others," Remus said, pulling Roman along.
It was Friday and Friday's were all booked for power training, everyone was already in their class uniforms. Everyone was separated into groups by grades, and all the 10th graders had gotten a portion of the forest today.
Remus pulled Roman to the other four, where Virgil and Logan were watching Janus and Patton fight with sticks they found on the ground as they casually talked.
"There you two are," Patton said, only glancing away from Janus for a moment. "I was starting to think you guys got lost."
"We did!" Remus said proudly. "But we eventually found our way."
"It's a good thing class hasn't started yet," Logan commented. "Otherwise you two would be in trouble."
"If it was your mom yeah," Janus said, parrying one of Patton's attacks. "But our teacher is Remy this year."
"Oh yeah, him."
"What's wrong with Remy?" Roman asked.
"Logan's mom hates him," Janus said. "She thinks he's too childish, but he's awesome!"
"He's really fun, just like Thomas but y'know, more childish," Patton added.
"Acts like a teenager, he's a chill dude," Virgil said. "A bit loud and annoying, but still chill."
"You think everyone's annoying," Janus said.
"Not Patton."
"Alright listen up, kids!" a voice called, and everyone turned to see a guy in a leather jacket and sunglasses come. He was holding a cup of coffee that was from the Starbucks at the mall and a box under one arm. "Sorry I'm late, but I'm really not."
"See, childish," Logan scoffed.
"There are some new names here so first off hello to you guys. This is power training, blah blah blah, you're gonna learn how to fight in this class every Friday. We'll be switching between terrains, don't worry when we go to the marshes you will be given boots but if you fall down and land in the muddy water I will laugh. My power is being able to suppress other powers so if you act out in any way I will shut that down faster than a racist celebrity being cancelled, god I miss my phone. Today's lesson will be simple, I'll be teaching you how to fight other supers without any of your powers."
There was a quiet murmur through the crowd when he said this.
"Well, this will be boring," Janus huffed.
"This class isn't just going to teach you how to control and strengthen your powers, it will teach you how to fight, even without your powers. So we're going to be using these bad boys." Remy set his cup down and pulled a thick collar out of the box.
There was a lot of groaning from the other students who were probably familiar with them.
Patton shivered, "I hate those things."
"If you're not familiar with these, they suppress your powers. For the new kids, and for my own entertainment, there'll be a demonstration. I'm going to go with... Janus. You'll be the super, so the villain in the scenario, and you'll be able to use your powers. And you'll be fighting... Virgil."
"Haha, you have to wear the collar," Janus teased.
"I'm still going to kick your butt," Virgil countered.
The two boys walked up and Remy handed Virgil the collar.
"Sorry Virge, but this is your terrain here," Remy said. "Would be unfair if anyone fought you while you didn't have this collar on."
"Doesn't mean I don't hate these things." Virgil put the collar on with a click and instantly a chill went down his spine. He shivered it off, but it was still uncomfortable.
"This isn't going to be a fair fight," Roman murmured.
"Yeah, Virgil's going to destroy Janus," Patton said. "Well, not really, but he's going to win."
"Wait, really?"
"He's here all year round, he trains all the time."
"Ready," Remy called, stepping back. The students followed his lead and stepped away, giving the two boys plenty of room. "Begin!"
Janus disappeared and around Virgil several more copies of him appeared. Virgil crouched down in a fighting stance and looked for any sign where the real Janus would be.
The copies were all smiling, slowly walking around him as if getting ready to attack. Virgil could hear all of their footsteps and saw the grass and leaves bending and cracking. Janus had been practicing, good for him.
Wasn't good enough when he saw a footstep form in a small patch of dirt on his right and a leaf crack as Janus got closer. He made a roundhouse kick and Janus appeared there, catching his leg just in time.
"You've gotten better," Virgil admitted.
Janus growled, looping his arm around Virgil's leg and twisting him to the side. Virgil fell down with a small shout but pulled his leg away from Janus.
Janus disappeared again but Virgil got up in enough time to run and tackle him to the ground.
The other students saw leaves and grass flatten as Janus struggled, but Virgil held on tight enough to impress a pro wrestler.
Janus appeared again, no use in using his powers if he was already caught, and tried to kick Virgil back but the smaller was holding on tight.
Eventually, Virgil had to let go, being pushed back by Janus's legs. The two boys got up but before they could go at it again Remy blew a whistle, startling everyone.
"Man I love this thing," Remy chuckled as most students shot him glares. "I think that's enough for a small demonstration."
"But there was no winner!" Janus complained.
"Oh you just want me to kick your butt, don't you," Virgil said.
"As if, I had you where I wanted you."
"With me pinning you down-"
"Boys, enough," Remy interrupted, pressing a button that unlocked Virgil's collar who gratefully took it off. "Check your powers."
Virgil raised a hand and it looked like the shadows around him lifted off the ground and swirled around for a moment before Virgil dropped it. Roman thought it was beautiful.
"All good," Virgil said.
"Okay, let's say that Virgil won, he defeated the villain or was able to fend him off long enough for back up to arrive, day saved. But if Janus, who was playing our pretend villain, won, then Virgil would have been killed. There have been many supers who aren't related in any way at all that have the same powers, you could come across a super with the same power as me who might not like you too much. Or you could come across a villain that has somehow found a way to take away powers. If you become a superhero, or just come across a villain that attacks you at all, you must learn how to fight as if you have no powers. I'll teach you some techniques and moves, then you're going to spar with one another with the collars on."
Virgil rubbed his neck as he and Janus made their way to the group of students.
"Dude, how'd you know where Janus was?" Roman asked in a whisper.
"I looked for the signs, you have to be very observant in fights," Virgil answered. "He might have silenced his steps, but I saw a leaf crumble under his foot."
"That's awesome."
Virgil couldn't help but smile at the compliment. They both turned their attention back to Remy who was explaining basic self defense tips.
YOU ARE READING
Learning Control
Hayran Kurgu*Completed* Roman and Remus were born with super powers. To help learn how to control them, their parents send them to a school that teaches young children how to control their powers. While there, they make several friends, and everything seemed to...
