Our Beginning—Chapter One

by taitofan

Rated T for sexual situations

Disclaimer: I don't own Randy Cunningham 9th Grade Ninja or its characters.

Author's Note: There aren't enough RandyxJulian fics out there, so I decided to help the cause. This takes place during Randy's sophomore year, around early October, so everyone is currently fifteen-years-old. The ending to the second season stands, but there are a few loose ends I plan to tidy up. If a third season ever happens, consider this au to that.

If you have any CC, please share and I'll listen. Please read, review, and enjoy! Finished 08-16-15

It all started with a series of mistakes.

A misstep here, a flubbed jump there. Small things, but mistakes that could prove costly in battle nonetheless. Sure, there was no more Sorcerer to worry about, but a ninja's work was never done in Norrisville. That meant that Randy Cunningham, a little over one month into his sophomore year, couldn't afford to be messing up so frequently.

He'd thought long and hard about why this was happening, and the best he could come up with was that he was… distracted. But, the only thing he could think of that could be distracting him, well, that just wasn't possible. Nope, no way, no how. There was definitely not a classmate of his who kept showing up, preoccupying him with their very presence. Because that would mean a few things that he really wasn't ready to deal with. So he'd gone to the Nomicon instead, seeking its guidance. What he got, as usual, left him more confused than anything.

"The Nomicon said, 'The source of your distraction is your key.' What the juice does that even mean?"

"How should I know?" Honestly, Randy hadn't really expected Howard to have any ideas, but sometimes his best friend surprised him. Alas, it appeared that this wasn't one of those times. "…Wait, it said, your key, not the key?"

"Yes, and?"

Howard looked thoughtful for a moment before shrugging. Randy groaned, though he couldn't stop thinking that Howard was onto something. He'd thought the same thing after the Nomicon had released him. The wording made it seem more personal, but again, no way. If the Nomicon was suggesting what he thought it was, it could just forget it. His distraction wasn't—

And that was the moment Randy got a brilliant idea.

"Howard, I need you to watch my battles closely. Like, really closely. Maybe you can see why I'm messing up!"

That was it—maybe he just needed a fresh perspective. Howard could help him, even if he didn't understand the Nomicon anymore than Randy himself did. It was the perfect plan!

"…Only if you buy me chili fries after every fight."

"Deal."

"Alright Cunningham, I'm starting to see the reason you're being such a shoob."

They were sitting in Charlie Clucker's Chicken Bucket, Randy having just destroyed the latest McFist robot sent after him—and here he'd thought the Sorcerer being gone would stop that nonsense!—and Howard eating his promised snack. It had been two weeks and six orders of chili fries, and Randy was very relieved to hear those words.

"That's great! So lay it on me—what's my problem?"

Howard took his time answering, eating a fry, taking a drink, looking around… It seemed as if he was making sure they were alone, but Randy wasn't really sure why. The only way anyone was hearing them was if they started yelling like shoobs. Of course they were away from everyone when they were talking about ninja business! What could Howard have to say that needed to be kept a secret more than that?

"Well, I was looking at everything, right? And nothing seemed to stay the same. Where you were fighting, the weather, the time of day—all different. So I started looking at the crowd." Oh no. "And I didn't see anything strange." Oh thank ninja. "…Except Julian was always around. Like, always."

"J-Julian?" Now it was Randy's turn to glance around nervously. Someone finding out he was the ninja? Bad news. But someone hearing that he was the ninja and Julian was distracting him? Worse news ever. "Why would Julian be distracting me? Come on, that's just crazy!"

Except it wasn't—every time he so much as looked Julian's way lately, he found himself staring and wondering why the other boy looked so fascinating all of a sudden—and that was the really crazy part. Howard was supposed to notice something else, not confirm what Randy had tried to deny! Now he couldn't even deny it anymore!

Well, not to himself at least. To Howard? Hell yeah he could.

"Cunningham," Howard grumbled through a mouthful of fries, "why the juice should I have any idea why you have some weird crush on Julian?"

"Crush?" He laughed, but even to his own ears, it sounded completely forced. "What makes you think I have a crush on Julian?"

Howard gave him a look that clearly said, "Don't treat me like an idiot you lovesick shoob." Randy thought it was a little amazing that Howard could say so much with one disapproving stare.

"If just the sight of the annoying creepy goth boy whose evil side almost murdered you last year is almost getting you killed, either he scares you or you've got the hots for him. And since the Nomicon said Julian, your "distraction," is your key, I'm betting it's that last one." Howard laughed and ate another fry. "Julian, your closest key. Of all the guys it could have been…"

Randy felt a surge of irritation and protectiveness run through him. Even if he hadn't had some kind of thing for Julian—he really didn't want to say it was a crush, oh cheese, not a crush—he knew the poor kid had gone through enough already. Julian didn't need Howard making cracks about him being annoying on top of everything else.

"Okay, first off, Julian is not creepy and annoying—"

"Says the guy with the hots for him."

"—and just because he doesn't freak me out doesn't mean I like him. That's insane!"

"What's insane is you liking Julian," Howard insisted, waving a fry at him for emphasis. "I mean, come on. You're the reason he went all crazy, got an evil twin, and got stuck in the Land of Shadows. He has no reason to like you. Why not like a guy who might actually like you back? I think you'd have a better chance with Doug."

Randy ignored the fact that Howard was right about it being his fault—and unfortunately the Nomicon had already taught him that he was still responsible even when the ideas had been Howard's—and shivered at the very thought of him and Doug. No. No way. And this time, he really meant it.

"Um, ew. Please, never ever say anything like that about Doug ever again." He paused, realizing something very odd about his friend. The friend who never missed an opportunity to tell Randy what he felt in the bluntest manner possible. "…You're being awfully okay with this whole hypothetical 'me liking a guy' thing."

"And there you are, admitting it."

"No, I'm not," Randy groaned. He was getting frustrated and didn't notice as his voice began to raise. "I've just realized that I've shoobed up Julian's life enough and don't want to hurt him anymore this year. That has nothing to do with me having some kind of secret feelings for Julian! I mean, it's not like I think about him a lot and end up staring at him without realizing it during class. And I totally don't think he's attractive or that his laugh is endearing. And don't get me started on how much I don't love that thing he does with his hand when he giggles—"

"Might want to turn the volume down," Howard interrupted, frowning and sweeping his hand out to the side. "I think only half the school knows you're gay for Julian now. Say anymore and the whole school will know."

While it was an overstatement, Randy was horrified to see everyone in the restaurant staring at him. Especially when Debbie and Theresa were among them. Theresa looked ready to cry, and Debbie—oh, of all the people to hear!—looked positively ecstatic. Oh, so not bruce.

"W-wait, I said I don't do those things!"

Debbie ignored the weak protest and whipped out her phone. Before Randy could do or say anything, he heard the worst possible thing.

"Heidi! I've got the juiciest news! Randy Cunningham just told your brother about his forbidden love for Julian! …Yeah, the goth kid with the hat. Why yes, I can get him on the phone. Give me three seconds."

"Howard," Randy whispered, wondering if he could make it to the door before being accosted, "we need to leave. Now."

"I'm still eating!" Howard hissed back, shoving a few more fries in his mouth and decidedly not leaving. And sure enough, it was already too late. Debbie was at their table, shoving her phone against Randy's ear.

"Sandy!" Heidi's voice could be heard from the phone. Randy wanted to die—if Heidi knew the things he'd said, the whole school was going to know soon. That meant Julian was going to know. And that meant that Randy was going to get turned down by a crush that he hadn't even admitted to having for five minutes. "Debbie tells me you just very publicly confessed your love for another boy. Anything you'd like to say to that?"

"Yeah," he muttered, staring down at the table so he wouldn't have to see Debbie's grin or Howard's smug face. "I'd like to say that my name is Randy, and the rest of that is none of your business."

"So it's true?"

"No!" He wondered how she got a confirmation out of what he'd said. Then again, he supposed that pleading the fifth did seem to sound like an admission of guilt most of the time. "I mean, well, yes, it might have sounded like that, but no. I didn't confess to anything."

"Cunningham, the jig is up," Howard all but yelled, obviously wanting his sister to hear him through the phone. "Just tell my sister you have the hots for Julian so Debbie Kang will leave us alone."

"Howard," he snapped, lifting his head up to glare at his friend, "I'm not telling anyone that I'm in love with Julian, so stop it."

"Oh, this is great," Heidi all but squealed. "I have everything I need for the greatest story! Thanks Andy!"

"It's Randy." The sound of a dial tone was all the response he got. He sighed and put the phone back in Debbie's awaiting hand. She ran back to Theresa—who Randy was relieved to note no longer looked sad, just contemplative—looking as if she'd just uncovered the greatest scoop of her life. It was beyond irritating. Was this even newsworthy? "What the juice is your sister blabbing about? How did I give her anything for a perfect story? I didn't admit to anything except that I admitted to nothing!"

"Something tells me she's going to cut around what you said and it will be all over her show tomorrow."

It was that moment that Randy realized the order he'd said certain words in. A certain L-word in particular.

"…This is so honkin' unfair."

"Hey, if you'd just admitted that you have a weird crush on the weirdest guy in school, none of that would have happened, so don't go blaming anyone but yourself. Besides, what's really unfair is that I just helped you, and I'm almost out of chili fries." He turned the container upside down and shook it impatiently. "I think I deserve more, don't you?"

Randy only smacked his face against the table and groaned pitifully.

The next morning, Randy immediately knew that he wasn't getting through the day without a few awkward conversations. His fears were all but confirmed when Heidi's show started up all over the campus, with even more people tuning in throughout the city. With as many people that were obsessed with that show, he'd be lucky if his mother didn't know by the end of the day.

"Hey everyone, H-dub in the house! Today I have a totally inspirational story of a boy who loves another boy so much that he loudly and publically declared it in the middle of Charlie Clucker's Chicken Bucket. Norrisville High's very own Randy Cunningham has been bitten by the lovebug!" A clip played then, and sure enough, Heidi had edited it so only 'I'm in love with Julian' could be heard. The students around him began to whisper, and Randy wished he could just sink into the ground. And to think, the one time Heidi got his entire name right… "And now, here are some eyewitness accounts!"

"I don't think he meant for anyone to hear, but he was really caught up in saying how cute Julian is." The prerecorded image of Debbie shrugged. "I mean, I guess if the goth look is your thing…"

Randy frowned. The goth look wasn't his thing. If it had been, Julian would have caught his attention when they were children. It just so happened that Julian still dressed that way, and now he did have Randy's attention. Which was something absolutely no one needed to know, and yet, there he was, surrounded by people hearing his business. At least that had only been Debbie, not someone like—

"Cunningham will try to deny it, but I was the one he was talking to." Howard was standing in his living room in the video, which lead Randy to believe Heidi had shot this as soon as they'd gone home. He glared at the real Howard, who ignored him and watched the TV screen. "And let me tell you, he has it bad. I mean, who goes on about how cute someone's giggling is unless they have the hots for them? No one, that's who. And I've known Cunningham since we were three. I know when something's up with him."

"Howard!"

"What? I do!"

"Oh. My. Squee!" Rachel's clip showed her clapping her hands together and bouncing on her toes. "They're so cute together! I hope they start dating! So adorbs!"

"…Wait, was Rachel even there yesterday?"

"Nope."

"Um, well…" Theresa looked nervous to be on camera, but she smiled shyly. Randy felt his heart beat a little faster at the sight of her, but it was nothing like it had been during his freshman year. He still liked her, but… It just didn't feel the same anymore. Now he felt that wild beating in his chest when he looked at Julian, and he couldn't even pinpoint exactly when that had happened. It just had. "It's great that Randy is comfortable admitting that he likes another boy. I'm… I'm proud of him. I hope it all works out."

"Hey, she'll probably still be your girlfriend if Julian rejects you."

"Will you just please stop talking?" he muttered, secretly wishing that Bash would come along and shove him into a locker just so he wouldn't have to listen to Heidi's show or her brother anymore.

"Oh, and why's that?" Howard asked, that smug look back on his face. "Want to hear my sister go on and on and what a brave gay kid you are?"

"I'm not gay!" he cried, throwing his hands into the air. "I still like girls!"

"Fine, bi, whatever." Howard waved him off, and Randy couldn't argue that time. He was bisexual, and the stupid Nomicon had been right. Julian had been his key. Sometimes he hated that the Nomicon was always right. "She's still trying to turn you into an inspiration for the school. I know, I saw her script."

"I don't want to be an inspiration," he sighed, slumping against his locker. "No one was even supposed to know! I didn't even want to admit it to myself until yesterday. I don't know what came over me… You just started ragging on Julian and it was like I couldn't help but defend him. Man, this is all so wonk…"

"Then you're really, truly saying that you one hundred percent have a crush on Julian, our classmate?"

"Fine," Randy admitted, not wanting to deal with any of this anymore. "You win, yes. That is exactly what I'm saying. Somehow, after everything that happened, I got a crush on Julian." He paused, straightening up and giving Howard a suspicious look. "Wait. Why? Why did you say it like that? Please tell me Julian isn't standing behind me."

"Okay—Julian isn't standing behind you."

That didn't inspire any confidence in Randy.

"Now, did you say that because he isn't, or because I told you to say that?"

"Because you told him to say that."

A familiar voice coming from behind him answered, and Randy flew around to see the smiling face that had been on his mind way too much lately. Oh, right. How could he be so stupid as to forget that Julian had the locker directly to his left that year? This whole fiasco was showing that the answer was: Pretty stupid.

"J-Julian! How long have you been there?"

Julian giggled—and he did that thing with his hand, argh, how was this boy so charming?—and smiled at Randy.

"Around the time Howard's sister played that clip of you saying you loved me." While he didn't seem disgusted or upset about that, Randy still couldn't believe that his situation would end in anything but disaster. Howard was right—there was no reason for Julian to like him in any sort of romantic way. "Perhaps it would be best if we had a little chat. Alone. Possibly at lunch?"

Julian looked over Randy's shoulder to Howard, and Randy followed suit, shooting his friend a pleading look. He remembered what had happened the last time Howard faced the prospect of eating lunch alone…

"Don't give me that look, Cunningham," Howard answered after a few moments, completely ignoring Julian. "I don't want to be around to hear you talk about your feelings and have to see you cry when you get humiliated. I'll find some other shoob to eat with, just for today."

Randy nodded and turned back to Julian, who seemed to be even closer now. Was it just him, or was Julian's smile even wider? No, it had to be a trick of the light.

"Um, alright," he agreed with a nod. "At lunch, sure."

"Oh, excellent!" Julian clapped his hands together, and Randy found himself wishing that he hadn't treated Julian so badly in the past. Why hadn't he just listened to that story about his love of magic? Why did he ditch him in that ice maze? Why hadn't he appreciated Julian before he'd gone and ruined his chances? "Then I'll see you at lunch. Well, I'll see you before that, but I'll talk to you at lunch. Though I suppose we might talk before then…"

"Okay, right, lunch, see you there, bye!"

He snatched his books and sprinted off, faintly hearing Julian saying goodbye to him as he made his hasty exit. He just couldn't stand it anymore. Why was Julian still being so nice? Just so he could get his public revenge at lunch when he turned him down? No, Julian wouldn't do that. That thing with Der Monster Klub had been about the meanest Julian got, and even that had been done with good intentions. Maybe Julian just didn't realize that the wait was just hurting him more? The sooner Julian told him to get lost, the sooner he could start trying to convince himself to fall back in love with Theresa.

"Smooth Cunningham," Howard laughed as he caught up, looking far too amused by everything going on. "Real smooth. Just run away like a scared little shoob."

"Howard?"

"Yeah?"

"Shut up."

When Randy got to lunch, he already wished he could go back in time and stop himself from ever asking Howard to help him. He could just go on denying that he'd somehow become attracted to Julian, and no one would be coming up to him and telling him he was brave or laughing at him or giving him dirty looks or wishing him good luck… He'd gotten every response he could think of in just a few hours and he didn't like any of them.

"Well, there's your lover boy." Howard's voice snapped Randy back to attention, and sure enough, Julian was sitting near the back of the cafeteria at a small table, waving to him. Randy shoved some money into Howard's awaiting hand and headed off towards Julian, not in the mood to eat anything himself.

"Hello Randall," Julian greeted as he got closer. He noticed that Julian didn't have any food either. Was he nervous too? What reason did Julian have to be nervous? All he had to do was turn him down! "I'm so relieved to finally speak with you. So many of our classmates are suddenly quite interested in talking to me. They all want to know if we're dating yet."

"And did you tell them to mind their own honkin' business?" Because that was definitely his response to everyone. But Julian giggled and shook his head.

"Why, of course not. I told them 'not officially.' Though we both share a mutual attraction, we can't exactly be dating if neither of us has asked the other out." Randy could feel his jaw dropping with every passing word. Wait, what? "Randall, are you quite alright? You don't look well."

"Mutual attraction?" he managed to spit out after a few moments.

"Yes?" Julian looked very confused all of a sudden, and Randy felt like the biggest tool in the school. He'd been so convinced by what Howard said that he'd completely ignored how Julian had acted that morning. He was acting happy, because he was happy. Because he liked Randy too. Holy cheese Julian liked him too. "You didn't think I dislike you, did you?"

"I, ah, haven't exactly been very nice to you in the past," he admitted, not really knowing what he was feeling anymore. This was all happening so fast! "I mean, I sort of caused a lot of problems for you last year. Howard said you had no reason to like me, and I believed him."

"Well there is your problem." Julian's smile dulled considerably at the mention of Howard. This was one reaction Randy had no trouble understanding. "Please don't listen to Howard when it comes to me. I can assure you that he does not understand someone such as myself, nor do I confess to understanding him. I've had a… fondness for you for a long time, Randall. A very long time. A few mishaps that you fixed in the end anyway won't change that."

Randy was about to ask how long "a very long time" was, when his brain realized that there was a slightly more pressing statement in there.

"That I fixed…?" Julian's hand flew to his mouth, as if he just realized what he'd insinuated. That, in turn, made Randy freeze. Did Julian…? No, he couldn't! This time, he really couldn't! "W-what do you mean…?"

"Perhaps we should go somewhere more private…" Randy glanced around, only to see that they had an audience. No doubt people wanting to see if they ended up together, like some gay science experiment. And, of course, no one looked as excited for that answer as Debbie. No doubt, she and Heidi would both have the latest scoop on this, airing bright and early the next day. Even if they went somewhere else, Randy was pretty sure they'd be followed. Unless…

"Julian," he said much more loudly then was necessary to get the cafeteria's attention, standing up from his chair and walking to Julian's side. He took Julian's hands within his own, and while he was doing this for show, he was still doing this for real too. Even if he knew what the answer would be, it was a little nerve wrecking. He'd never asked anyone out before, and this crowd certainly didn't help. But he had to talk to Julian, and if Debbie followed them, it could be a disaster. Dealing with her thinking he was the ninja once was more than enough for him. "I know I've been a total shoob to you, but I've realized how wrong I was and how important you are to me. So if you can forgive how wonk I've been lately, maybe you'd go out with me…?"

All around them, students whispered. Some sounded grossed out, some thought this was sweet, he was pretty sure he heard Howard mutter about how cheesy that was, that oh-em-squee was definitely Rachel, and more than a few unknown voices seemed to think this was all an act to get attention. Well, they were kind of right, but not in the way they were thinking. But Randy couldn't pay any of them much mind, because Julian squeezed his hands and nodded.

"Oh Randall, I've longed to hear you ask that…" His voice sounded a bit thick, and Randy hoped he didn't cry. He was pretty sure fixing that eyeliner Julian always wore took a while. But Julian just smiled brightly and nodded. "Of course I will."

There were cheers and jeers, but this time Randy didn't hear a single one. Julian looked as happy as Randy felt. Why had it taken so long to realize how much this boy meant to him? Why couldn't they have ended up here without evil Julian almost enslaving the earth and Julian getting stuck in the Land of Shadows and Randy needing to live with the fact he could have stopped it but didn't—

Wait. Right. He'd made this so public for a reason.

"Come on," he whispered, tugging Julian to his feet. "I think we can get away now."

Julian nodded and followed as Randy began to leave the cafeteria, keeping one of his hands in Randy's. Randy felt his cheeks flush ever so slightly as they walked past the other students. This was going to be everywhere before the day was through, and everyone would know Randy had taken Julian off somewhere private after making a spectacle of asking him out. The rumors were going to be ridiculous…

But at least no one was going to find out he was the ninja. That was something, he supposed.

Randy lead them to an unused classroom, still not completely rebuilt from a monster attack the previous year. He was pretty sure the monster in question had been a stanked Julian, but he wasn't about to bring that up with his present company. He doubted Julian even remembered doing it. It was rare for anyone to remember their emotional rampages, and Julian had been one of the most stanked students that year.

Another wave of guilt washed over him. How many times had Julian's fear been caused—or at least worsened—by him? Or him listening to Howard? Too many. He still couldn't really believe that Julian hadn't rejected him, longstanding crush or not. It must have been pretty major for Julian to keep it after all that had happened since high school started.

The thought made Randy smile. Julian really liked him… If only he'd realized how he felt sooner…

"Randall? May we talk now?" Randy nodded and let go of Julian's hand to sit at one of the unbroken desks. Julian followed suit, sitting beside Randy so they could see each other. He looked thoughtful for a few moments, then nodded to himself, as if he'd come to a decision. "I know you're the ninja."

He should have denied it, he knew. Even with the Sorcerer out of the picture and McFist only occasionally sending out robots when he was in a bad mood, there were still weird things in Norrisville. Howard got into enough danger as it was, and if Julian knew, he'd be at risk too. But then again, hadn't Julian already been through more than anyone but him and Howard anyway? And neither of them spent months trapped in the Land of Shadows completely by themselves, directly after practically begging not to be left alone and then getting ditched in a reflective maze with an evil embodiment of themselves trying to get them…

Holy cheese, how did Julian stay so happy all of the time?

"How did you figure it out?" He hoped the Nomicon didn't chew him out later, because he knew Howard sure would. But Julian looked so pleased to have figured out the truth, and really, he trusted Julian. And he was determined not to give Julian any reason to lose that trust.

"Well, you did have that powerful magical ball at my birthday party. And after evil me and myself reunited, I received his memories. I know about all the battles you had, and you, Randall, are never present when the ninja is around. Plus, the way you and Howard acted in the Land of Shadows… Howard doesn't behave that way around anyone but you. It really just took placing together all of the pieces. I…" He paused, and his pale face was getting pinker. "I suppose I paid more attention to you after you gave me the golden doctor's note. I've always liked you, but after that, my little crush on you got more serious. And every time you saw fit to be friendly with me, it grew a bit more…"

"Wow." He could almost hear Howard mocking him for being smooth again. He cleared his throat and tried once more. "The way you acted after Evil Julian merged with you, I thought you forgot most of that. I didn't know you just ended up knowing more."

"I'm not stupid." Julian frowned, just a bit. "If I'd told you this back then, you wouldn't have reacted so favorably. I don't know what's happened in the past few months to change your opinion of me, but I'm grateful. Please don't think I'm not! I just know you would have been suspicious of my intentions at that time. So I didn't say anything."

"You've known for almost half a year and you haven't said a word?" Julian nodded, and Randy forced aside those feelings of guilt. They weren't going to help. He needed to stop pitying Julian and himself and work on making it up to him. He needed... He needed to be a good boyfriend! Yes, that's what they were, right? They were boyfriends, and Randy was going to be great at this!

Even if he'd never dated anyone before. Even if his parents didn't know he liked boys too. Even if Howard and Julian didn't exactly get along.

This was going to work, because he was going to make it work. He'd work hard to make it happen! Because he really, truly did like Julian, and Julian deserved to be treated the best Randy could treat him. He was going to mess up, that was inevitable, but it would work out. It had to…!

"Randall?" Randy's worried musing ceased as Julian took his hands within his own. He was smiling again, and Randy felt himself do the same.

"Yeah?" He really wanted to kiss Julian right now, he realized. Like, he really wanted to kiss Julian. It was a normal enough desire, he supposed, since they were dating now and all. At least, he was pretty sure it was. Was it okay to kiss if they hadn't been on a date yet? They could go on one after school, he supposed. If they could shake Howard. Or if Howard thought it was too snasty to tag along. Or—

"You've been distracted lately. As the ninja, I mean. Now I can see it's as Randy too." Randy flushed a bit again, and Julian giggled. Great, even his new boyfriend could see how spacey he was being…!

"I have this ancient book of ninja secrets called the Nomicon…" He explained the book and what it had said, as well as Howard's part in everything, and the incident at Charlie Clucker's. Julian found the whole thing rather amusing, and he rolled his eyes when Randy made him promise not to tell anyone. Well, except Howard, because he already knew.

"I'd be more surprised if Howard didn't know, honestly." Julian paused and tapped his fingers to his cheek, then smiled mischievously at Randy. "Well, ninja, if you want my silence, perhaps you can buy it. Say, with a kiss?"

"That's a steep price," Randy played along, leaning in closer, "but I guess if I have no choice…"

Randy hadn't been sure what kissing Julian was going to be like, but he hadn't really thought it would taste like cherries. Whatever Julian had on his lips, it was sweet, and it explained why the sensation was so very soft and smooth. Any lingering doubts about being with Julian vanished when he realized that kissing him was completely pleasurable.

He once again had to push down his guilt when he realized that Julian had been right—if he'd known about Julian's feelings for him or that Julian knew he was the ninja even a few months ago, he likely would have avoided him. He certainly wouldn't have asked him out. And that was taking into account that, by that point, he'd started to realize that he perhaps liked Julian more than he'd thought. In fact, if Howard hadn't pushed it, he wouldn't be there at that moment, Julian humming softly into their kiss.

After a while, Julian pulled back, looking shyly at Randy. He looked so... enticing. It made Randy want to pull him back in and kiss him harder.

"Was that acceptable?" he asked, biting his bottom lip gently. Did he really think Randy was going to say it had been bad? Man, they needed to start working on that little issue, stat.

"If by acceptable you mean, the brucest thing I've ever done, then yes." Julian's expression brightened, and Randy couldn't help it—he placed another kiss to his lips, pulling back before his boyfriend had a chance to do anything further. The pout he received was worth it. "I really hate to say this, but lunch will be over soon. And though I'd totally rather stay here and kiss some more, we can't really go on a date after school if we get detention, can we?"

"Date? You'll take me on a date? Today?" He looked so eager that Randy had to chuckle.

"It's not like we need to hide it with people like Heidi and Debbie Kang around. And really, I think I have enough to hide anyway." He stood up and offered Julian his hand, which was readily accepted. They began to leave the classroom, neither making a move to break contact. "I know it's October, but I was thinking ice cream…"

"That sounds delightful!"

And as they headed back to the populated part of the school, Randy let himself stop thinking about his remorse, and things that could go wrong with Julian knowing he was the ninja, and Howard and Julian's strained relationship. He focused on the feel of Julian's hand and the knowledge that his feelings were returned. Life was looking up. Maybe tenth grade would change everything around.

He didn't notice the wispy pink smoke drifting from a nearby air vent…