Fandom: The Adventure Zone (Balance)
Summery: Angus gets in trouble at school and Taako is actually quite proud of this (and also hates Lucas Miller).
Requested: Yes - @punks-n-rec (I'm so sorry it took me so long to post this!)
"...Mr. Taako?" Angus's small voice came through Taako's stone of far speech.
The elven man was sitting in his office at his school, desk covered in papers -- both for the school and ideas for new dishes and different things for the brand in general. ...It was all a lot of work to keep up with, and he was prone to distraction, which was why he kept everything on the desk at once. Made it easier to concentrate.
"What's up, bubula?" Taako asked, pulling out his stone of farspeech.
"I… need you to come get me." The boy sounded upset and Taako frowned.
"Yes, sir. ...Mr. Miller wants to talk to you…"
"I'll explain when you get here… it'll be easier."
Taako didn't really like the sound of that, but he figured it would be better to get to Angus quickly and go from there, so he said, "Okay, I'm on my way. Hang tight, I'll be there soon."
The stone frequencies disconnected as Taako stood up, grabbed his cloak, and made his way to Lucas Miller's school.
The moment he made it to the school, Taako went straight to Lucas's office, only to find Angus sitting on a bench outside of it.
"Hey, Pumpkin," he said, making a B-line for the boy and sitting next to him, "What the fuck is going on?" He was acting as nonchalant as he could, but there was a tinge of worry in his voice that he couldn't shake, despite his best efforts.
"Okay… I'm gonna need some context here, Ango."
"...I was late to a test."
"And they wouldn't let me take it…"
Angus nodded and Taako frowned, "How late?"
"...They wouldn't… let you take a test because you were just ten minutes late…?" Taako asked, his voice that certain kind of even that meant he was angry -- though Angus knew it wasn't with him, and he nodded.
"...Okay," Taako said and stood up. "Okay," he said again and went to the office door and abruptly threw it open, yelling, "Miller!"
Lucas practically jumped out of his skin when the elf bounded in, "T-Taako…! Uh, good, you're here. We… we need to talk."
"Yeah, we fuckin' do!" Taako said, going over to the human's desk where he was sitting and slamming a hand down on it, "You got something against my kid?"
"Of course not," Lucas said, "He's been struggling in class… and then today…"
"And then today you idiots wouldn't let him take a test."
"They were just following the rules, Taako."
"You don't have a time limit on tests in your school?"
"Not like that! They show up late they just have less time to take it, I don't make them fucking leave!"
"Taako it's not just that," Lucas sighed.
"What else, then?" Taako asked, crossing his arms and narrowing his eyes at the human man.
"...Angus… had a little outburst in class…"
"...The point, Miller. Get to the point."
"That… is the point. He yelled at a teacher. And several students."
"Well then they probably deserved it," Taako said.
"I know you don't like me," Lucas said, "But this is serious."
It was at this point that Angus entered the office, going to stand next to his adoptive father, a bit nervously.
"What makes this serious? Did he injure anybody?"
"Did he start an uncontrollable fire?"
"So he just yelled at some people?"
"...I did… yell at a teacher, sir…" Angus said, looking up at Taako anxiously, possibly even ashamed, and then looked to Lucas, "I'm sorry. I'll take my punishment--"
"Nope," Taako said, interrupting the boy. He placed a hand on his shoulder and took a step in front of him, "Stop talking. Let me do one thing right and get behind me. Now here's what's gonna happen," he added to Lucas, in an almost dangerous voice, "You are going to leave my kid alone, you're going to let him make up that test for full credit, and I'm not going to have to come back to this school until he graduates. Are we understood?"
"...I suppose… as long as it doesn't happen again," Lucas said, mostly because he was afraid of Taako.
"Good," Taako said with a short nod before swiftly turning on his heel and leading Angus from the room.
Neither said a word until they were out of the building and making their way down the street, when Taako spoke, "...So how long have you been havin' trouble?"
"...Not long, sir," Angus said, averting his eyes.
"Angus," Taako said, giving the boy a look. The fact that his mentor was using his real name was enough to tell him that he was serious, though. He didn't need to see the look.
"...Since the beginning of the semester…"
"Why didn't you come to me for help? Or Krav, or Lup?"
"...I didn't want to bother any of you. I thought I could handle it. I'm sorry, sir."
"Don't be sorry, I don't care if you yell at people. ...But you usually do care about shit like that, so if you lost it, obviously something's up."
"I just got frustrated," Angus sighed, "I was studying all night, which is why I was late, and I was sure I knew everything for the test and that I was ready, but then they wouldn't let me take it, and…"
"It caught up to you," Taako said, nodding in understanding.
"...Yes… I really am sorry, sir."
"You really don't have to be." He gave the boy a small smile, "I've never been prouder."
"Sir!" The boy looked reprimandingly at Taako, who laughed.
"You don't have to be perfect, Ango. Just do your best, and for Pan's sake, ask me for help when you need it! ...And remember, when in doubt, tell Lucas you're gonna call Killian. She really hates that guy. ...But then, don't we all."
"I don't hate him. I just feel I was treated a bit unfairly…"
"You were, and you should hate him. But you'll learn," Taako said, patting Angus on the back. "...Now. What do you say we go get some ice cream?"
"I don't know… I don't feel like I should be rewarded for how I acted today."
"Well, I do. But if you really insist on punishing yourself, then you can just watch me eat said ice cream." Taako gave the young boy a loving smirk, and Angus smiled back up at him.
"You got it. ...Just next time, call me before you yell at people so I can come take pictures."
"Mr. Taako!" Angus said incredulously.
"Let me have this, Agnes," Taako said, and it put Angus at ease to hear him use the incorrect name like that.
"Yes, sir," Ango said with a small, slightly amused smile.
"Good boy." Taako smiled and ruffled the kid's hair.
