A/N Somewhere last week I came up with something very indulgent, a few days later I asked my followers thoughts on should I write something or not? I was told to do it and follow my dreams so I guess here we are lmao. Charoix indulgence and history, cause I'm a history nerd lmao, anyways enjoy!

Croix smiled to herself as she watched her first class walk through the door. They talked to each in whispers, close comments as they filled her classroom which she currently wasn't in. No, she was on the other end of the corridor, watching her class come in the room where they would be confused to find no teacher. Their teacher, her in fact, would be doing something far more important. She peered into the geography room closest to her and saw students preparing stuff and chatting and more importantly, no teacher to supervise.

She grinned to herself as she opened the door and let herself in, the students quickly fell into silence as she walked by, eyeing the small container of pen markers on the predictable neat and tidy desk. "Don't mind me, please carry on chatting." She said as she got the green marker and wrote all over the whiteboard, WELCOME BACK ARTIST DU NORD? READY FOR MORE COLOURING IN?

She smiled at her handiwork before turning round to the random students she will forget in around 5 minutes. "Please don't rub this out, now excuse me I must get going." She said as she replaced the markers in the pot with her own, homemade markers. The ones that when used doesn't just squeaks when used in against a whiteboard, it squawks like a bird but only in random intervals. She hummed as she walked to her own class, not at all surprised at the loud bickering she probably caused that came from it but before she entered it and diffused the entire fight she stopped near the open door and listened.

"There is not a word on the ceiling!"

"Yes there is! Just look! There is the word gullible on the ceiling!"

"Like I said before Akko, I won't fall for that obvious trick again."

Yep, that's her cue. Without warning Croix waltzed right in her room and slammed the door shut behind her which, to her utter most delight, made a few people jump. "Rule 1 of History!" She declared as vaulted over the desk to get to the middle of the horseshoe seating design. "Always check the facts for yourself." She looked up and pointed to the word on the ceiling all the while looked at the students around her with a smile. "That right there, means gullible in Japanese." Before someone can prove her wrong she pulled out a remote control from her blazer pocket and pointed it at the whiteboard that had the words: GULLIBLE IS ON THE CEILING. Within seconds the projector whirled to life and displayed the google translation from english to japanese of the word gullible over the big writing on the board.

"Now if we were to settle down at any random seat, we shall begin today's lesson since we already wasted 10 minutes." She ordered as she sat on an empty desk near the front of the room and faced everyone. "Not that I care, I'm not Professor Lukic I won't be inflicting rules on the first day though please be aware if you are more than 10 minutes late I will ask an explanation after the lesson."

She noted the change of looks with a few of them, whilst some were passive, most were attentive whilst a few were eager and excited. "My name, if you haven't heard and if you haven't please do tell me, is Meridies." Croix paused and waited to see if people heard of her and her stories before. Not to her surprise, the blond girl with hair full of curls on the far left of her, narrowed at the name before it disappeared the moment Croix caught her. Croix smirked at her, recognising her as Diana Cavendish, one of the renowned and most student student in the year and perhaps the year above before looking away to the rest of the claas.

"But I'm sure you may know me more as Croix."

Like a bullet fired, the reaction was instantaneous. A girl on the far right with spiked amber hair and a not tucked in shirt stared at her with wide eyes and a jaw dropped. Croix recognised the look and registered her as none other than Amanda O'Neill, someone who gotten a fair bit of record in term of detentions and isolations, some Croix thought were unjustified. Another girl, the one near her in fact with long brown hair and a small ponytail, slammed her hands on the table with wide eyes. "You're Croix!"

"I'm glad my reputation precedes me," Croix laughed as she went off the table, straightened her clothes and faced everyone again. "So, who heard of me and what for? Please state names as well even if a few of you are recognisable."

"Amanda O'Neill!" Amanda said as she turned to the people next to her, "Cons, Jas and I heard you blew up the school when you went here years ago!" Croix winced at the rumour, not the greatest thing to start it off, since it was blown way out of proportions but it looked like it caught most people's attention. "And that you said fuck you to Finneran before as well."

"Okay first of all, no swearing in class and please address my co workers as Mr, Mrs, Mx or as professor, me included." Croix intervened with apologetic look and a shrug, "Wouldn't look good on you or me if you did that Amanda. Also I did not blow up the whole school when I went here but I did say that to Ms Finneran when she taught me but that is a story for another time, I have a feeling though you might enjoy it."

"I heard you fought Ms Finneran over a cape once." Jasminka said next to her, Croix nodded towards the lavender haired girl next to Amanda who was currently in the process of eating a potato chip. "Oh, my name is Jasminka Antonenko."

"That is actually true and funny story I won that fight. You can see it though when we got a charity event." Croix laughed, subconsciously noting the russian accent as she turned to the other person Amanda addressed. She was a small girl with a ponytail and was currently unpacking a board from her bag and began to write on it. Croix's eyes widened, "Oh don't worry!" She said as she brought her hands to her chest and started signing with them. "I know and can understand sign well so you don't need to write on the board unless you want to though."

The small girl, stared at the hands, mouth wide open before she looked up to reach Croix's understanding smile and beamed. It made Croix's heart melt. "My name is Constanze Amalie von Braunschbank-Albrechtsberger and I heard you scared Professor Lukic with robots."

Croix laughed, nodding as she did so, "Yes Constanze, I did scare Professor Lukic with robots a few years ago, it was on halloween so I was valid." Croix clapped her hands together as she turned to the other students. "Now does anyone have any wonderful stories you heard about me before I start the lesson." She downright cackled when everyone else's hands shot up from the ground like it was a fast growing bamboo grove. "Alright random pick!" She called as she closed her eyes and spun around the room with her hand outstretched. "When I learn everyone's names I just use the hat but for now I will just pick you!"

When she opened her eyes, she found herself face to face with the girl who slammed her hands on the desk as a response to her being the one and only Croix Meridies. Croix smiled as she lowered her hand, eagerly waiting to see story or rumour made her create a reaction like that. "So, what have you heard about me…?" She asked, leading her on to at least say her name.

The young girl smiled at her nervously before looking at her friends, a speckled gingered one to her left and a dark skinned, purple haired girl to her right. "So uh, my name is Atsuko Kagari- but you can call me Akko!" She points to her left, "She's Lotte Yanson." Lotte does a small wave as a hello and Croix nods back in acknowledgement, turning her head to see Akko pointing at the girl on her right. "And she's Sucy Mavaran? No, thats wrong sorry Sucy, Maba-"

"Manbavaran," Sucy corrected, her voice more detached and indifferenced than what Croix initially imagined. "Nice try though but you're deflecting again."

Akko laughed nervously, a finger scratching her cheek as she looks up at Croix. "Am I?"

Croix gets it straight away, Akko was too nervous to speak, random pick isn't the greatest thing and would often make students panic and flounder if it was them. Damn, she was an idiot for using it on the first day. Croix shook her head, "No it's alright if you don't to share anything, it's perfectly fine Akko."

"No!" Akko bursted out, "I mean- I do know something but I… uh, don't want to impose?"

Croix waved her off, "I've heard everything Akko, from being a secret agent to being a witch, even if it is a rumour it's fine to share it." Croix paused again before carefully adding, "That is if you want to, like I said you don't need to share if you don't want to."

"Well, I just heard- uh…" Akko stared at the desk, cheeks flushed and her hands fidgeting on her hand. Croix raised a brow at the sight, her curiosity killing her on what rumour or gossip about her is so juicy that its burning her cheeks this way. "I just heard you and Professor Chariot have some sort of history?"

Ahhh. Yeah she now sees why. So the saying was right, curiosity did kill the cat, after all she wishes to do nothing more than die right now and traumatise the kids as she does so. She better not be blushing about the statement, oh gosh she was, it's the smallest heat on her cheeks but it was still something!

"This, is uh, something I haven't really heard of, or well phrased in that way," Croix laughed as she looked up to the ceiling and just for the hell of it read the word gullible up there, rubbing the back of her neck as she does so. "So kudos for that I guess Akko."

"Anyways," she coughed to her fist to regain control of the situation, if she ever lost it, not that she will ever admit to ever losing it. "Despite the rumours, and there will be a lot of rumours you will suddenly hear, me and Professor Chariot have no history whatsoever."

"Croix where have you placed my markers!?" Chariot asked as she slammed open the door and marched right up to her. From the corner of her eye she can see a few students snicker about the uncanny timing of the whole situation.

If she was a better teacher she would tell them off right now, enforce some sort of rule but if she was a better teacher she wouldn't steal her markers in the first place for a petty, mischievous reason. If she was a better person on the other hand, she would just laugh and give it back there and then but if she was that kind of person she would live without seeing the wild fire in Chariot's ruby eyes and that's something she can't afford to live without. Therefore, she must do what she needs to do, even if it only fuels the flames of Akko's comment.

"I have no idea what you are talking about professor Du Nord." She said calmly with a nice smile on her face, a nice smile that was full of shit and they both knew.

Chariot stared at her, fist clench and teeth bared and Croix smiled so innocently back, admiring the lively fire in her eyes that only wish to burn her alive like she was Joan of Arc in 1431. Instead of saying something, anything that would lead them on a tangent of taunts, smirks and raised brows, Chariot grabbed her binary designed tie and yanked her forward. "I have no time for games Croix," She said as she pushed her forehead and grind it against her own, messing up Croix's hair in the process. Well, looks like someone wants to give the wrong impression, again.

"There's always time for a bit of games Chariot my dear," Croix shrugged as her lips curled upwards in a coy, taunting manner, using her dazzling smile to distract Chariot and undo her tie in a way to escape. She then placed her hands in her blazer pockets as she walked backwards, the sound of rattling came from them as Croix smiled, shaking the content purposely when Chariot eyed them. "Care to play?"

As she expected, Chariot didn't budge just yet. No if she was this easy to rile up and cause a scene they both would've been kicked out of the school years ago. She knows the line to not cross with new spectators, the same way Croix knew she just sighed and rubbed out her nice welcome message in her room. After all, this year is just the start of the show for the kids for the next three years.

Chariot just stared at her, analysing the situation as Croix smirked back with a raised brow and as she shook her pockets once more. "Tock Tick Chariot," Croix sang, amused at the bristle of not only Chariot's body but the other students when she phrased the iconic line wrong. "We don't got all day."

"You're right," Chariot agreed, a knowing smile on her face that made Croix somewhat worry. She knows that look, she understands the language of Chariot's various looks and smiles more than she understands italian; and that's saying something considering it's her first language. That look meant she found something to use against her, a weapon or some hole she overlooked and that meant this little game would come to an end, quicker than she expected.

Chariot twirled the tie in her hands and in that split second, Croix knew what she missed out. "You give me my pens back and you can have your tie back," Yep, she shouldn't undid it in the first place and they both know where this would end, especially since Chariot grinned at her in a pre victory way before she stopped twirling one of her favourite ties and winked. "It will be an equivalent exchange."

Damn, she throws an anime reference too. Chariot was right, she isn't playing any games today… but Croix would not be Croix Meridies if she wasn't going to at least try and bluff her way through. "And what would happen if I don't?" Croix grinned, completely ignoring the deadpan look on Chariot's face.

"Then I will go back to my room, use your pens on your tie and if Professor Finneran asks why you aren't wearing proper work clothes then have fun explaining what you did." Chariot explained, ending the "threat" with a sweet innocent smile that Croix really wouldn't mind wiping off her face.

"Fine," Croix submitted with a sigh as she tossed back a few of the markers in her pockets. She tried not to look so pleased when Chariot beamed whilst she placed the markers in her breast pocket. The little game they played today was short and she did lose but it was fun, despite how petty and time wasting this thing is, it was and shall always be fun. "Now can you pass me back my tie Chariot?"

Except when Chariot grinned at her like that. The way she looked at her with fake surprise and a gentle smirk on her lips, it was a look that meant Chariot wasn't done with her just yet. "I could…" she hummed, pressing her glasses back into place as she 'thought' about the situation. "But I won't." She said flippantly as she walked towards the exit, leaving Croix to splutter in confusion.

"You said it was an equivalent exchange!" Croix called out as she went after but only stopping at the entrance to her room, ignoring the different reactions to her chasing after the geography teacher: Sucy and Amanda's snicker, Lotte's hidden swooning and Diana's unamused glare at them.

"It wasn't equivalent exchange when it was first used in the anime remember!" Chariot called back, her laughter filling the corridor.

"But what about Finneran!"

"Headmistress Holdbrooke said that she won't be in for today, didn't you listen at the staff meeting this morning?" Chariot grinned, laughing at Croix's sigh and head hanging in self shame. "Hey Croix," Chariot called making Croix lift her head up. Chariot dangled the tie in her hands before she tied into into a ball and flung it across the room, hitting Croix straight in the face before heading back inside her room without a single word. Croix chuckled to herself, looking at the knotted ball of what was once a tie in her hand before she went in and closed the door behind her.

"No history whatsoever right?" Amanda asked as she leant back on her chair, hands behind her head. Croix laughed as she shook her head, walking back to the front of the class, going the long route to make Amanda not lean on her chair anymore.

"Okay, so I may have lied a little." Croix admitted with a shrug as she threw her knotted tie on her spinning chair. "But I was going to tell you soon, or at least you were going to find out soon but not this quickly." She faced everyone, once more sitting on the closest free table near her. "Professor Chariot and I have what everyone in the school dubbed, 'war of the humanities' and in those terms, we do have a history of what you just saw-"

"Blatant flirting in front of a bunch of teenagers." Sucy commented, making everyone, including Croix herself laugh.

"That's a good one," Croix acknowledged before she sobered up and talked in a more serious tone. "But no, no matter what you believe, we do not have a romantic history or anything else like that. We just have a small rivalry on which humanity is better, geography or history? And this war is more than just petty things we do against each other by the way, it's also a way for us to improve our teaching to you in our respective subjects, which is important because…."

Croix reached for her remote on the table and used it go to a presentation she made on Prezi. Behind her head she heard several people groan at the heading of the presentation which was definitely valid: Geography or History? What to choose for GCSE?

"This is the reason why you never had me before by the way," Croix commented as she stood up and sat on her spinning chair in the front corner of the room where her desk was. "Unless I was covering someone, I don't teach years 7 and 8 cause I only focus on GCSE history but I take year 9 so that I am familiar with everyone and maybe could help you decide the better option, which is history of course."

"I know it's the first day in the new school year and I won't pressure you to make a choice but I will do a quick run down for a few things and what I will do and what we would cover this year." She paused when she found the GCSE explanation page on the presentation. "Such as GCSE also uncommonly known as the General Certificate of Secondary Education. This where at the end of year 11 when most of you are 16, if not going to 16, will be doing a set of exams for a set of subjects you chose minus the core three. The results of those exams will act as a qualifications which would help you decide what you want to do after Luna Nova."

She turned away from the board with an apologetic smile on her face. "I'm laying it a bit thick aren't I?"

"Very Miss." Diana Cavendish said without any hesitation, her deep blue eyes staring straight at Croix, who turn stared right back with a mask of neutrality. "And my name is Diana Cavendish."

Croix nodded in acknowledgement, a familiar feeling churning inside her as she struggled to not see and replace deep blue eyes with her own dull green. "I'm aware, your own reputation precedes you Diana, many teachers including the headmistress have a high expectation from you." She turned away from her to face the rest of the class. "Don't expect it from me."

"Anyways that's future stuff and we don't generally talk about future stuff here, that's mainly geography." Without looking she turns off the projector and stands, taking out the only marker she didn't give to Chariot as she walks to the whiteboard and draws a very simple, very chibified skeleton before she turned to her class with a smile. "We talk about dead things."

What she thought was a funny, dark humour joke apparently wasn't as no one really laughed, maybe a few people snickered from disbelief that she just broke down the bare basics of studying history in one crass sentence but nothing else. "Well," Croix nodded, mainly to herself cause she found herself in this awkward situation. "Talk about dead silence." Again silence, again she should really learn when to stop beating a dead horse. "I should really stop making dead jokes shouldn't I?" She watched as several if not all of her students nodded and she shrugged. "Well it is true y'know."

"Yeah but it sounds weird." Someone said, a girl with brown hair and hazel eyes sitting next to Diana. Croix looked at her expectantly and she stared back confused before it finally hit her. "Oh, Hannah England Miss."

"Well Hannah, history is extremely weird when you look back. Aristocrats victorians had a eating mummy phase actually no that's the whole 17th century europeans really. King George I was german instead of english and the parliament of iceland is the oldest, active parliament ever since it was made in 930 AD. Also spoilers for what we are going to learn farmers hired painters to draw their sheep to send to other farmers to make them jealous." Croix listed, putting a finger out for each point she made. "So yes, history is weird but only when it is placed out of context."

"Hey question?" Akko asked, raising her hand. "Are we going to learn about weird stuff in history for the year or for the rest of the lesson, cause uh I'm confused?"

"We aren't learning anything today," Croix said as she leant on the against the board, tapping the lid of the maker against her chin thinking, "Well I'll learn your names but you guys won't learn much cause this is like a general talk, something easy since we all just came back from the holidays. Next lesson I will start teaching you what the school board wants to teach you unfortunately, but you get your books and what not."

"Wait what do you mean by unfortunately?" Lotte asked, confused, which caused a chain reaction for other people to be confused as well.

Croix sighed as she ran her hand through her hair. "Well, the history taught is predominantly european and western centered. I mean it is important considering we are going to discuss the slave trade at some point and how Britain got involved with it as well as the industrial revolution and the first world war but I am annoyed that it's the only stuff being taught." She gives the class a sad smile and shrug, "I prefer teaching and learning the histories of other countries other than the US and British especially since history can be dull, dark and depressing."

She lets the class settle, allowing her words to pour over them. It was something she always does with the year 9s. She says something that they don't expect to hear and question, and sometimes, if she was lucky like now, she would give them something to question, history always should be questioned, it used to be written by the winners after all.

"But don't worry," Croix smiled catching everyone's attention as she paused for a dramatic effect. "Cause I will teach those different history lessons anyways." She waited for a response, anything from a widened look to a sound of distress, so far she got a mix review of happiness, shock and scepticism? "It will be fun, random things that only will be for one topic, like pirates or a certain period like the Sengoku Jidai or-"

"You know about the Sengoku Jidai period!?" Yelled Akko who stood up from her chair, smile wide and in awe.

Croix in return, smiled back as an excited thrill spun inside her. "You know about Sengoku Jidai?"

"Know it? I LOVE IT!" Akko laughed, throwing her arms up in the air as her feet tapped against the ground in a rapid pace. The general excitement and enthusiasm Akko showed towards the historical period full of betrayals, ninjas and samurais was almost enough to make Croix forget that she had a lesson and just delve into the past like she always does, almost. Croix laughed at Akko's energy but she knew that as much as they wanted to, she can't spend the whole day just talking to someone who knows the topic, she has a job to teach after all.

"I enjoy your enthusiasm Akko but-"

"Have you heard the legend that Toyotomi Hideyoshi made a castle overnight whilst he and Oda Nobunaga were doing a siege?"

Croix blinked at the sudden interruption, completely caught off guard with the sudden information. "Yes, it was against Saito clan in 1566." Croix stated, trying so hard not to say anything else cause she knows it would just lead to a long discussion.

"What about the warrior monks of Hongan-ji and-"

"Heidi?" Croix cutted in with a sad smile, "I heard of them as well, what happened at Heidi was a tragic story." Akko's energy dropped as her wide smile faded into understanding as she nodded their heads, leaving both of them to have a moment of silence in remembrance of the Heidi warrior monks. "How do you know about the period anyways Akko?" Croix asked after the moment was over.

"Oh, I'm from Japan Professor Croix."

"Huh," Croix said as she quickly processed the information, come to think of it, that does explain why she knew gullible was on the ceiling. "Well then if you want you can call me Sensei. Anyways, enough of the Sengoku Jidai, I can teach that on a later date." Croix was about to continue something else but the bell to signal the end of first period went off. Except it wasn't the usual bell that would just repeat one loud sound seven times, it was the beginning of a song, the short catchy song that was kinda familiar.

Croix snickered at the sound, trying so hard to hide the impish grin on her face as she watched her class look around in confusion, some hesitantly stood up and started to pack. On her desk her phone was vibrating, her text tone kept ringing and made many students stare accusingly at her. Croix gave them a helpless shrug when someone's eyes widened. Amanda stared at Croix, mouth hung open, index finger wavering as she pointed accusingly at Croix. Croix caught her reaction, laughed with a guilty smile and winked.

Over the alarm, an iconic lined played out and someone in the room screamed.

"SOMEBODY ONCE TOLD ME-"

"CROIX MERIDIES WHAT DID YOU DO?" Chariot came through the door in the same time as the music, making Croix cackle at the uncanny timing.

"WELCOME TO YEAR NINE GIRLS NOW OFF YOU GO!" Croix shouted over the chaos as Chariot stormed through the girls to reach her. Croix laughed at her, enjoying the chaos she created before Chariot slide over a table so that she is in the middle of the horseshoe design, looking right at Croix who was closer to the front.

Right now, where they are like a metre apart, Croix can see the fire in her eyes and the annoyance on her face and the scowl with a hint of laughter on her lips. It screamed that this entire thing was stupid and a waste of time and that is annoyed at herself that she was enjoying this as much as Croix is. It amused her greatly. "Chariot!" Croix cheered, raising up her arms in triumph. "What do you think of my music taste?"

"Croix I have no time right now just please turn it back to normal please." Chariot asked as she edged closer, Croix moved back as she raised a questioning brow at her. "Oh come on, we all know you're the one behind this!"

"Oh I know Chariot my dear," Croix smirked as she waited for the remains of the class to filter away, "But what are you going to do about it?" Croix mentally thanking Lotte in her head as she closed the door on her way out, not only it would limit the amount eyes that would be watching them but it opens the possibilities of what would happen behind closed doors. Chariot continued walking forwards and Croix continued to step back till her back hit the wall and they both stopped moving. The stupid meme song was gone now, it was gone after the first song and chorus so Chariot didn't really have a reason for her to stay, at least not one that Croix knows about. "Especially now with no one looking."

Her words were met with actions instantaneously as Chariot closed the distance but she paused when her hands were up and pinning Croix's arms to the whiteboard, faces inches apart and when Croix wore a gentle smile instead of a taunting smirk. Croix stared right in her eyes and watched as the wildfire in them slowly dimmed to a soft candle light, where the scowl on her lips slowly turned upwards, where the tension just mellowed to a soft breeze. Croix savoured the sight and the feelings and like a bottle of alcohol she drank it all in and went back to being reckless.

"So," Croix laughed, the smirk back where it should've been when Chariot approached as she pushed Chariot's arms off, one of them still holding the remote that allowed her to even control the alarm sound in the first place. "What are you gonna do about it art teacher?" She teased, calling her the wrong subject once again, a quick sure fire way to get them back on the lane they were used to and always has been using. She ignored the quick shake of Chariot's head and the double blink of clarity and how the softness of her face was shielded again with the fierceness she always known Chariot to have.

Chariot scowled at her, snatched the remote from Croix, turned off the homemade alarm and shoved it back into Croix's arms without a single word, something that somewhat surprised Croix. Who knows, maybe she wanted to get out of what just happened as much as Croix did? Maybe she just was just dazed and forgot who was in front of her? Who really knows? Without anything else to anchor her to the room, Chariot walked out. Croix sighed, she ran her fingers through her hair and close her eyes, relishing that moment seconds ago before snapping awake at the sounds of another class started to walk in.

"Hey Professor Croix why was Professor Chariot was in the room?"

Croix smirked at them, forcing herself to the role of the teacher as she went to her desk and got herself ready whilst the class started to settle themselves in. "Just another war of the humanities," Croix smiled as she stood up and got ready to teach. "Don't think too much about it."