Child of Grimm Ch. 7
The days continued on in the pattern that had been established. Derek never had to act as Drake unless it was sparing class, or Grimm studies. Otherwise, the other teachers seemed to ignore what he was, but they couldn't ignore the productivity of his work in the class. Derek was excelling in the academic side of the school. He got asked to assist his team, and other teams as well. He ignored the other teams for the most part, always able to give them the cold shoulder, and just helped his own team. Today was another day of history, and Derek wasn't excited. History mostly consisted of faunus rights, and that was a topic that he despised. Why bother studying faunus oppression, when it's not history. Either way, he loathed this subject. Faunus oppression is much more favorable to my current predicament. Still, I did assist that Velvet girl yesterday. It was true, he had the day off of Sparing and got the report from the rest of his team. He heard that Jaune continued his struggles in Sparing, and that didn't surprise him. You can't fix something that refuses to be fixed. During lunch, Cardin set his sights on a rabbit faunus. Derek stepped in, and Cardin backed off immediately. Now, it was time for history. Derek stood up, and stretched out his wings.
"Derek," someone said behind him. He turned to face Monica, and he just tilted his head. "Can I get a ride to history today? Since Gwen and Nathan are off in their history course." Derek let out a heavy sigh. "Please Derek. I won't tell them and I want to, just once." Derek opened up the window, and he could hear Monica pouting behind him. He didn't even have to turn around to see it. He finally faced her, and saw her lip quivering and her eyes had a sad look. I thought we were at a school for warriors. He let out an even larger sigh, knowing that Monica would never give in until he agreed.
"Fine," he said. He opened up his arms, and waited for her.
"Wait," she said, confused. "I thought I would get on your back."
"I'm not a full Taituo Monica, so I have to hold onto you if you want to fly. Now, are you going to change your mind or are we going to get this over with?" Monica walked up to him, and let him grab her. Derek dove out of the window, and let his wings catch a breeze. He flapped his wings a few time, and started to speed in the direction of history.
"THIS IS AMAZING!" Monica yelled over the wind. "HOW DO YOU NOT FEEL JOY WHILE DOING THIS?"
"Easy," Derek replied in a normal voice, his mouth close enough to Monica's ear for her to hear him. "You remember why you can do this."
"LIGHTEN UP DEREK! ENJOY THE MOMENT!" Derek had never been so happy to see history class in his life. He landed, and released Monica. She stood up, and smiled at Derek. "That was fun."
"That was a one time deal, you promised me that." Monica's happy expression disappeared for a moment, but then it returned.
"Worth it." She walked into history, her expression happy.
"I've got next," came a voice from behind him. Derek turned to see Blake right behind him.
"No," Derek replied. "I have to live with her, I don't have to live with you. That's the only reason I did what I did."
"Are you sure Derek?"
"Positive. I couldn't stand that obnoxious pouting face that she has anymore. Gwen and Nathan know not to bother me. She does not."
"There's a good reason for that."
"She's persistent." He walked by her, towards history. He quickly leaned into her ear. "Little kitty." Blake let herself smile at this, and they both walked into history. As was the norm with history, Oobleck started to give a lecture, and Derek just leaned back in his chair and let himself relax. He just sat back next to Monica, and let his mind wander, waiting on his name to be called. So Blake thinks that there's something more between myself and Monica. I've never enjoyed someone being wrong so much. Monica isn't even really a friend to me, just a teammate that I have to live with. Well, I guess that now I have to consider her a friend. She knows me for what I am, and accepts me for that. I guess I could call Nathan and Gwen friends as well. Even some of the other students here I can consider friends. But I will never get close to people. Not again. Not after what happened to them. He snapped back into reality, not knowing why. He felt Monica's hand on his own, and he quickly pulled away. She looked at him, and pointed over to Jaune.
"He needs help," she whispered. "Oobleck called on him, and I don't think he knows the answer."
"He doesn't study for this class," Derek replied. "Let this be a lesson to him as to why." He looked over to see that everyone was laughing at whatever Jaune said.
"Mr. Winchester," Oobleck said. Derek looked up at the boy, and waited on his answer.
"Well," Cardin said. "I know it's a lot easier to train an animal then it is a person." Derek quickly stood up, his moth fuming.
"Mr. Flame, take a seat!" Derek complied, but kept his gaze on Cardin. He won't be able to save Cardin if he says something like that again. He was vaguely aware that Blake and Pyrrha had teamed up to give the correct answer, while embarrassing Cardin at the same time. But Derek was paying no mind. He just kept his ears tuned to either Cardin, or his name being said. Class ended shortly thereafter, and he was vaguely aware that Jaune and Cardin had to stay after class. He walked outside, and unfolded his wings.
"Hey," came a voice from behind him. He turned to see Monica standing there once again. "Can I get a ride back?"
"Sorry," Derek replied. "But it was a one time thing."
"I thought it extended both ways?" Monica tried. Derek looked back at her, and sighed.
"I know that Gwen and Nathan aren't back yet," Derek started. Monica's eyes widened in excitement. "So I will give you a ride back." Monica jumped into the air excitedly. She practically jumped into his arms, and whispered into his ear.
"Can we go on a long ride? Like, take me around the school?" Derek let out an even deeper sigh. "Please?" Derek shook his head, and Monica's smile widened. He flew up into the air, and veered to the right. He took them around the perimeter, through the tower, by Ozpin's office, and finally to their dorm. Monica didn't stop yelling in excitement the whole time. Derek just smiled the whole way through. I guess that my curse isn't always something filled with misery. He opened up the window, and landed. He let go of Monica, who was still beaming with excitement.
"That was amazing," she said.
"You sound like a child," Derek said as he leaned back in his bed.
"How do you keep so calm during your flights?"
"I'm used to them. It's no longer exciting to me. Plus, it's too easy to remember why I am what I am."
"Well, why not share. Take it off your mind." Derek looked at Monica angrily.
"I already told you, my past is off limits. I've killed people for digging into my past."
"Have you really?" Monica's face was shock.
"You know that I'm a monster Monica. I was created to fight, and that's what I do." The door opened and Gwen and Nathan walked into the room.
"Hey you two," Nathan said. "How was your history class?"
"Fine I guess," Monica replied. "Jaune is in trouble and so is Cardin since neither of them study. I thought about offering him some help."
"I say let him turn to his team," Gwen added. "They're there for a reason."
"I'm with Gwen," Derek said. "I'm sure that Pyrrha will offer some assistance. She seems to be willing to do anything to help him. For reasons beyond my comprehension."
"That's what you do when you care about someone D," Nathan said. "You help them as much as you can."
"It still doesn't explain helping someone that seems so unwilling to accept help." They all shrugged and changed into their pajamas. Derek and Nathan's beds were on one side of the room, and Gwen and Monica's beds were on the other side. They just turned the other way, and promised not to look. But today, Monica stole a glance back at Derek. She saw his well muscled back, that shined with the scales on it. She quickly turned around, and kept changing. As long as no one saw her, that was acceptable. She had begun to hope that her years of work had started to pay off, and that she had begun to get through to him. They all finished changing, and everyone fell asleep. Everyone except Derek. He walked to the open window, and listened for what he knew would happen. He saw the looks of it setting up, and he leaned his head out slightly. Oh Jaune you wonderful fool. Your pride got you to cheat, and your pride will be your downfall. Suddenly, the voice of Cardin was added to the mix after Pyrrha had left. Oh Jaune. Now you've done it for yourself. You've screwed yourself over, and I can't see this ending anyway but poorly. Derek stood up, and entered his bed. Should I of have had helped him? No. It's a mess that he created and made worse. I can do nothing now, but idly spectate.
End: Questions, comments, and feedback is appreciated.