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[Atsushi enters first, as urged to, looking around and... honestly feeling a little out of his depth. He's not used to this kind of setting. At all.]

I'm not sure where to start, but... Do you have ability users, in your world?

When I said I know how to fight, it's only because of my ability.

[Not only that, really, but it's true that at least 99% of his skill comes from his ability. To show what he means, he makes sure he's at a "safe" distance - he's not trying to scare Foster, after all! - and raises one of his arms, transforming it to a giant white tiger paw. Honestly, it looks kind of ridiculous on his scrawny body - but it's powerful and deadly, for sure.

And then he transforms it back again.]

It's proven useful more than once, but... I can't rely on just my ability. I need to become a better fighter, both with and without using it.

[ He watches, both out of genuine fascination and observing the duration of the transformation, as well as its completeness. ]

We do, they're called metahumans. [ more importantly, ] Can you transform your entire body, or just your limbs?

[Metahumans, huh? Another world that files him under the not-quite-humans, it seems. Atsushi doesn't really mind, but it's still weird to him. There are many things that he's been made to feel inferior about by others, but his ability isn't one of them.]

Mostly my limbs, and my eyes... I grew a tail once?

I can transform fully, but not at will. More than that: I don't want to. I don't know what I'm doing, when I become the tiger... Oh - but that hasn't happened since I gained more control over my ability, so there's no need to worry!

[No more giant tiger trashing the place, he promises!]

[ This is useful, but someone out of control is a possibility that could happen the longer they're in the same space. He'll work something out. ]

How long can you hold the form?

[basically this]

Hmm, I haven't really tried... If I lose consciousness, it tends to go away. If I'm badly injured, sometimes I can't hold it anymore - or it's just easier to drop it - but I can usually bring it back?

[ So he needs to concentrate. ]

Let's try without you changing your form. During the fight, I'm going to surprise you with some movements. If you feel a change coming in self-defence, let it happen.

We should know the limits of your powers.

[It doesn't feel like concentrating, but it's definitely a conscious act, if sometimes fueled by instinct. Maybe most similar to something like tensing a muscle.]

Yes! [Atsushi beams, very grateful for the help. He adopts what he presumes is a half decent fighting pose... which may or may not be terribly impractical.]

[ Bruce holds up a hand for him to wait, and comes over to nudge at Atsushi's feet with his own, to centre him. ]

This is a better stance.

I see! Thank you.

[It does feel much better, actually: he takes note of the position both in practical terms and in how it feels for his body, trying to etch it into his memory.

He's also kind of not paying attention to Foster anymore, oops.]

I'm going to hit you.

[ That's all the warning Atsushi gets before he's attacked. Bruce's blows are all calculated to test his speed and strength, but still. Think fast, dude. ]

[The warning is enough to put Atsushi on his guard again - and his reflexes are fast, his strength greater than his skinny frame would suggest, even without transforming. He'll manage to block a punch or two, at least... but the problem is: that's all he does. He sticks to defense, freezing up if anything, and before long, Foster will be able to hit him all right.]

[ It doesn't take long for him to stop, and pull away. Again, he adjusts Atsushi's stance with his foot, and rotates his elbow lightly to keep his arms balanced, and not so close to his body. ]

[ Now he's going to try and trigger a transformation in self-defence. Bruce lunges to hit harder, faster. ]

[Atsushi tries to defend himself as he is, really he does: that's what he'd intended to learn, after all. (That, and fighting offense that way, but one thing at a time.) To his credit, he keeps up fairly well, always a little too slow, but not getting any worse, oddly enough: when Foster speeds up, for a while Atsushi simply follows suit.

When things get more serious, Atsushi will take a blow or two if he has to, but if a hard hit comes his way and he knows he can't take it - or he's simply, on some level, afraid of the pain that would follow - he holds his arms in front of him, transformed, as a shield, hunching over and literally hiding behind them.]

[ He stops then, he's not here to cause fear, not like this. ]

How do you feel?

[Realizing what happened comes with a bitter sense of defeat. Atsushi can't keep relying on his ability. Straightening up, he transforms his arms back, and takes a deep breath.]

... Sorry. I didn't mean to. [Any fear or lack thereof goes ignored: that's not important. What matters is that Atsushi is trying to learn how to fight, and Foster took the time to teach him, but Atsushi flaked out on him.] It won't happen again. Please can we try once more?

[ To ask him not to use it would be like not breathing — it's easier to accept what is and channel it than resist. ]

[ He smiles faintly. Gently, ]

That didn't answer my question.

[How did he feel..? Atsushi is fairly in touch with his feelings, normally, but things like fear and sadness, he was told most of his life he has no right to feel. They're a little harder to pinpoint, depending on the circumstances.]

... I panicked. I couldn't keep up anymore.

[That's still no good reason to freeze up, though, is it? Especially if he transformed.]

I could have fought back, but... I didn't want to risk hurting you?

[Huh. Somehow that's a little unexpected - not that he enjoys hurting people, but he still wasn't expecting that kind of motivation here. He smiles, a little sheepish.]

... It's a little easier to not worry about that when it's a real fight against an actual enemy.

[ Hard to pinpoint, but necessary for understanding. No one — no matter how well trained — can control their emotions. Only feel and channel them. ]

[ He's so often angry. ]

That's good. [ No one can teach another that kind of care that comes from not wanting to hurt someone. ] And it is. But don't worry about it. I'm well-trained.

Try again.

[Atsushi nods, mostly to himself. Of course Foster is well-trained. Of course Atsushi shouldn't hold back, but... he really doesn't want to hurt people. For his own sake, as well.

But this is not the time to worry about that. He has to improve his fighting skills if he's to handle Akutagawa, should the guy ever wake up.

So he tries again, as ordered. He'll start from scratch again, not transforming until he really needs to, and then only in self-defense. This time, he doesn't freeze, instead using the broad tiger arm to hide his next move as long as possible, striking out at Foster with the other, simple human arm.]

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