The Iudex's day off

Chapter 10 - Lost control

 He had slumped down onto the floor the moment the girls were out of sight and was now barely leaning against the wall.

 "Neuvillette! Look at me!"

 With some difficulty, he raised his head to look at me and-

 Oh god...

 He was losing control of his form.

 Fast.

 His eyes which were usually just slightly different than normal were now clear slits, glowing with power, the blue streaks in his hair hardening into horns.

 His body was hot as if he was running a fever and oh...  How I wish it was merely a fever.

 His scales which usually appeared only in small patches under his clothes had already climbed past his collar and I had no idea how to stop it.

 This wasn't the first time I had seen Neuvillette slip out from his human form into a slightly more draconic one, but at those times, he was in complete control.

 But now, he clearly wasn't.

 Just what-

 What am I supposed to do?

 What can I even do?

 His emotions were a mess and I could feel it all.

 They were overwhelming not just him but me as well.

 What can I-

 "Neuvillette... Please..."

 It was then that I felt myself getting yanked to the side.

 I locked eyes with a pair of steady light blue ones, feeling his hands holding my shoulders firmly.

 "Lady Furina. I need you to talk to me. What is going on right now?" He asked.

 His tone was steady, calming even.

 I forced myself to take a deep breath before starting to speak.

 "He's losing control and he needs to be stopped before he does so completely. Otherwise..."

 Otherwise even I'm not sure what will happen.

 "Alright. How do we do that?" 

 "I- I- I don't know. I don't- I can't-"

 "Lady Furina. Take a deep breath and think. Someone like Neuvillette would have surely told you something to do in case of an emergency like this."

 When I heard his words something seemed to click.

 Right.

 Neuvillette would never leave any uncertain factors that could potentially lead to disaster.

 So what is it?

 When did he tell me?

 "Lady Furina."

 "What? Why are you being so serious all of a sudden?"

 "Should I at any moment look like I'm about to lose control, you need to give me a blow big enough to knock some sense back into me."

 "What kind of ominous nonsense are you saying?"

 "It doesn't have to be a physical one."

 "A blow."

 "What?"

 "A strong blow, either physical or mental will do."

 Right. 

 That was it.

 But...

 "I'm guessing punching him won't do the trick."