Tullio opened his eyes slowly. Very slowly. How long had it been since....whatever just happened.... happened? It couldn't have been too long.
The scent of burning oil hung heavy in the air. He'd heard the explosion that caused it, certainly. It was the last thing he heard before he was launched from the car. Burning oil and burning.... something else. Metal, perhaps? The paint on cars did have a few chemicals in it that could give off a horrible odor, but.... but surely not like this.
Thick black smoke was everywhere, and everything hurt. Everything. He moved his arms, his hands, neck, legs.... it was all sore, but definitely not broken. The impact had been hard... he was lucky to have come out of it mostly unscathed. Severe bruising and probably few torn ligaments, but nothing too serious. The impact of the other car and the explosion had been on the passenger side, after all.
Wait....the passenger side?!!! Fletcher!
He hurried back towards the burning car, fretfully trying in vain to look inside. He saw nothing. Did he get out in time?
His eyes scoured the area, and finally landed on the form of his student knelt down on the side of the highway. He seemed alright from what he could see!
The closer he got to his pupil, however, he noticed that awful smell again. It got stronger the closer he got to Fletcher. ....was it....?!
Tullio broke into a run, not caring about the excruciating pain his battered body put forth in protest of his actions.
"Fletcher!" he called out, kneeling beside him. "Fletcher, are you alright?!" The smell was terribly strong now, a scent that made him feel sick to his stomach. Slowly, Fletcher looked up. Tullio had to cover his mouth to stop himself from letting out a bloodcurdling scream.
The entire right side of his face was gone, burnt to such a degree that it resembled a piece of cooked meat more than it resembled skin anymore. Even his eye was scarred over.... Tullio knew just by looking at it that that eye would never see again. The damage extended down his neck and over his shoulder, any hair or clothing in the wake of the explosion having been singed.
It wasn't the smell of burning paint or oil at all.
It was burning flesh. He was smelling Fletcher's skin burning off.
".....help me......." were the only words his horrified pupil could manage, his hands shaking. "H-help me.... help me...... help me......"
((Hi I drew Fletcher after the accident that scarred up his face and blinded his eye 8( poor bby. Tullio was giving him a ride from his work back to the university to do some extra tinkering work, and a car hit the passenger side and there was a small explosion oops. hi what do i do with my babies i hurt them BUT THIS IS WHY HIS FACE IS BUSTED. He's got shoulder scars too.))