A/N: Hello! This is set in modern day AU. There's no Solomon but there are demons. M/M pairing obviously. May have some sexual undertones and bad language but nothing explicit. Thanks for reading!
New school, new year and a new me. Right. William repeats his new mantra several more times as he slowly walks to his first period class. Stradford University for Boys was the most prestigious school in the country. Williams lineage was the only reason he was able to attend without paying the first semesters tuition beforehand. It was a generous courtesy from the headmaster and William was even more nervous about how he was going to pay for schooling. His status was at risk and more importantly, his future plans hung by a thread.
His family always had money, that is, until his idiot Uncle got a gambling bug and blew it all on the races. Once William found out, he packed his things and left. He couldn't be associated with that type of bad reputation. Being without parents for most of his life he was used to doing things on his own anyway.
Shouts down the hall bring William back to reality as he watches a red headed kid stoop to pick up books and papers that were scattered across the hall. "Get your head out of the clouds nerd!" The leader of a group of boys sneers as they walk off, the other students leaving a wide path for them. Great, even prestigious schools have bullies. William had always been the prime target for bullying because of his excellent grades. The only thing that really saved him from the worse treatments was his old family lineage. Most of the boy here were in families that had been supported by the Twining family at some point.
"Here let me help." William stoops and picks up the last of the books. The titles were all an array of subjects from God to Demons to Fairies. "You like this bunk?" The words are out before he can stop them realizing this was the source of those boys bullying.
The red head nods slowly, looking at him with shining eyes. "Thank you so much! My names Isaac Morton but you can call me Isaac!" He's trying to shake hands while not dropping all the materials again.
William sighs and returns the handshake. "William Twining. I guess you can call me William…" He trails off as Isaac's eyes go as wide as saucers. Thankfully his excited remark is cut off with the last bell ringing. He was going to be late to his first class of the semester. Wonderful.
As luck would have it, they were right in front of his first class, English Literature, and apparently Issac was in his class as well. The excitable redhead makes a beeline for the back of the class and William takes a seat up front just as the teacher walks in the door. Perfect timing William!
A collective sigh goes through the boys and William looks up to see the most feminine male walk to the professors' podium. When had long lavender hair separated into low pigtails become fashionable for men? And is that makeup? Is he wearing blush and lipstick? William tries to analyze the professors appearance without appearing to openly ogle him like the rest of the class was doing.
Professor Sytry Cartwright didn't seem to notice the collective nosebleed happening as he flips one of his long pigtails over his shoulder and starts taking roll. After the initial shock of seeing him, William got over Professor Cartwrights girlish looks quickly. He didn't have much interest in relationships especially ones where the person looked like the opposite sex. Nothing against men who wanted that sort of thing but William had more important things on his mind. He had high life goals for himself and it all hinged on him collecting enough tuition for this semester, let alone the 5 semesters following this one.
The end of class bell rings jolting him out of his dark thoughts. "William! Please say you Phys Ed with me next period!" Isaac shouts even though he's right next to Williams desk.
William nods glumly and follows Isaac to the locker room to change. Physical Education had always been the bane of Williams existence. He was not a physically fit person. He spent 99% of his days exercising his brain, not his body. Plus, the locker room was always a cause for embarrassment for him. He'd die before he ever admitted it out loud but he had the hardest time keeping his eyes off the undressing boys, especially the fit ones. There was something about their tones backs and slender waists that brought Williams mind to a skidding halt. Yes, death was an adequate alternative to ever voicing those hideous thoughts out loud.
Isaac's constant chatter was a welcome distraction and they were dressed and out on the gym floor before most of the other boys were done.
"I heard the gym teacher used to play professional rugby and he is undefeated." One boy said excitedly.
"I heard he almost killed a rival player to score a goal." Another boy whispers earning a gasp from his friends.
"This professor sounds like a demon." William mutters to Isaac whose eyes light up instantly. Of course, Isaac would take that literally. Williams sighs and scans the room, wondering where their professor was at. It was already 10 minutes past the start of class. Did this school really employ faculty with tardiness skills?
William heads back to the locker room. He didn't have time to waste on a class with no instruction. He had scholarships to fill out and those usually required lengthy essays.
The locker room door bursts open just as William reaches it and a large form barrels out right into William. He's knocked back with such force he's sure he'll get a concussion and braces for impact that never happens. Instead, two larges hands grip his forearms keeping him from falling any farther.
William looks up dazed and wonders if he's in a coma dreaming. The man holding him wasn't human, or at least, had features William had never seen on another human being nor read in any Biology books (and he had read a Lot of Biology books). His eyes were a shade of red that reminded William of the cabernet his father always loved to drink; eyes that were not natural; maybe contacts? Though, how could he explain the long pointy ears? The numerous earrings and cuffs weren't unnatural but William had never seen even prosthetic ears to look that pointy and real. Still dazed, William looks further down to the mouth that was moving, seeming to say the same thing over and over. Those were the sharpest canines William had ever seen. This guy could audition for one of those ludicrous vampire movies and not need fake fangs. The most surprising thing, however, was the man's overall masculinity. William was immediately engulfed in a warm bubble that smelled of Earth and spices he couldn't name.
His body starts shaking and he realizes the man is shaking him looking increasingly alarmed at his unresponsiveness. "How are your ears that pointy?" William murmurs and the shock in the mans eyes jolts him out of the warm bubble. He jerks back as if burned, cheeks flushing instantly. How could that come out?
"William! Are you okay?" Isaac is tugging on Williams arm and the man visibly gains his composure in an instant. Wait, why did he look normal now?
William ignores Isaac as he openly stares at the man, getting a full look at him now. Normal looking ears and teeth. Only thing the same was his eyes. That same cabernet color and they were curiously watching William as he made his assessment.
"I apologize once again for not seeing you in my haste to get to class. I was running late and well…my situational awareness was unchecked." The man speaks with a slight accent that William can't place and the situation finally clicks together; it was the Phys Ed professor, Dantalion Huber.
"It's….no it was my fault, Professor. I wasn't watching where I was going either." William says quickly, not wanting to think about how his forearms still burned where Professor Huber's hands had been. Right. Best to focus on the task at hand; surviving Phys Ed.
"Right…" Dantalions eyes scanned William for a split second before his attention refocused on the class who were all watching the scene with a mixture of jealousy and impatience.
"Class, everyone lines up single file by last name." Dantalion commands in a voice that meant he wanted immediate results. The boys scramble to get into line and are then split into two groups to play dodgeball.
William can feel those red eyes on him as he tries not to be the first one out. Did he imagine the fangs and ears? A ball strikes him right in the chest knocking the air out of his lungs. Better this way anyway. Rubbing his chest, William sags against the bleachers watching Dantalion referee the game. Even his hair looks different. Same color just…different style.
The game ends and the boys head back to the locker room to change for lunch. Isaac chats on and on and William once again is grateful for the distraction. Probably need more sleep. Too much stress is causing delusions. Yes, that must be it.
He's just about to leave the locker room with Isaac when he senses him before the voice rings out, "William, can I talk to you for a moment?" Isaac waves and heads off to the cafeteria leaving me in the locker room alone with Dantalion.
William turns and meets his eyes, keeping the confusion at bay. Dantalion looked normal. Maybe more fit and handsome than your average Phys Ed professor but human nonetheless. "What can I do for you Professor?" His voice is steady and calm. Good job William! We got this.
"I wanted to apologize again for crashing into you. Are you hurt? Do you need to see the nurse?" Dantalions face was a mixture of calm and worry; like he wasn't sure if he should even be this worried over a small incident. He must really care about his students to worry this much, William deduces.
"I'm fine professor, thanks to you. You caught me just in time."
"You said something…about my ears being pointy?" Ah that must be why he's so worried. To hear such a ridiculous question come out of his students' mouth would make any Professor worry.
"It was my imagination Professor. You obviously don't have pointy ears. That isn't a biological human trait after all." William says more for himself than Dantalion. Yes, it wasn't real. Science doesn't support that type of human trait. It's not possible.
"I see. Well then if you insist you are fine…" He steps closer still looking unsure. The smell of spices hits Williams nose again and his head reels. Time to go.
"I—I need to get to lunch. Thank you for the class professor." William bows and dashes off, hoping Dantalion didn't notice how much he was shaking uncontrollably.