Story #9: ...Though, That Kind Of Disturbs Us.

A/N: I haven't posted one of these in a really long time! But inspiration strikes at really random moments.

Axis Powers Hetalia belongs to Hidekaz Himaruya.

Antonio didn't know how Francis had gotten a hold of a pair of handcuffs, but like everybody else, he wasn't surprised.

He was currently sitting in Algebra II, just across the aisle from Gillian. Francis, who had always been the smartest of the three, wasn't with them that period, having moved on towards Pre-Calculus. However, he had left the handcuffs in the care of their favourite silver-haired sophomore.

A very smart move, indeed…

The handcuffs were actually real. Solid metal rings connected by a sturdy chain. The only way to unlock them was by a tiny key that Francis was protecting at all costs from others. Which is why, Antonio thought, it was probably really bad idea to let Gillian alone with them for a whole hour and a half.

But, it was absolutely hilarious too.

Mrs. Kung was gazing sceptically at the grinning girl, who was dangling the device from her left wrist, where one end was tightly fastened.

"No worries, Mrs. K," she assured her. "I have figured out ALL the secrets of this thing!"

Next to her, Roderich let out an irritated snort. Once again, Antonio pondered the ridiculousness of this situation. It didn't make any sense at all to have these two particular students sitting next to one another. Gillian was forced to take the seat when she had come dashing in late, as it was the only unoccupied one. Now that he was thinking about it, Antonio realized that he probably should have saved a seat for her. He glanced to his right. Erik stared listlessly out the window, evidently not caring a single jot about logarithms. Leaning towards him, Antonio could sense a whiff of sickly-sweet aroma. It was rare for Erik to actually attend class, being the resident stoner of the school. Antonio regarded himself lucky for catching the elusive boy.

His thoughts were interrupted by Gillian's insistent voice.

"No, really! Look, it only locks when you close it all the way. I could totally do this -" Gillian slipped the other end around the leg of her desk. "And it's perfectly fine! I won't get stuck or anything, promise."

A comment like that was simply begging for it, but their math teacher simply sighed and returned to the front of the classroom, marker in hand. Gillian winked at Antonio and continued clicking the handcuffs obnoxiously. Roderich scooted his chair even further away from her, practically in the aisle now.

Matrices and polynomials had never held much interest for Antonio, so he ended up spending most of the time watching his friend loop the handcuffs around anything small enough to fit inside. From her water bottle to the chair, to Roderich's bag…

Roderich's bag.

It was one of those fancy messenger type deals, with a thick padded strap and secure belt fastener. It definitely created a contrast, from Gillian's battered old knapsack dotted with buttons to the carefully well kept leather satchel. Roderich was bent over his TI-83, busily graphing out a parabola. So Antonio was the only one who was looking when one of Gillian's fingers hooked around the two metal rings that kept the open flaps together.

"Gilly!" He jumped out of his seat, earning an irritated grunt from Erik. "Sto-"

Click.

She paused in surprise, and then melted into an expression of horror.

"NOOO!"

Roderich's head jerked back up and he shot her a glare. "What now?" His eyes travelled down to the back of his chair.

"…GILLIAN!"

"I didn't mean to!" Gillian began tugging her wrist away, but in vain. "Crap, and I just said I'd figured these out, too!"

Roars of laughter echoed throughout the classroom as Mrs. Kung tried to help her most irresponsible student, but to no avail. When class was let out fifteen minutes later, Antonio scooped up his books and hurried after his two panicked classmates.

Francis was mildly startled when he heard his name being shouted from down the hallways by two different voices. He was also mildly confused when Gillian and Roderich ran up to him together. Or rather, Gillian ploughing through the crowd, her left arm pulled back by a very expensive book bag dragging on the floor, with Roderich trying to pick it back up.

"Francis!" Gillian waved her wrist in his face. "Unlock this. Now."

With one glance, he took it all in. As Antonio caught up to them, panting, a smirk had spread across Francis's face.

"No way. This is the best thing I've seen all day."

"WHAT?"

"Hey! Not awesome, okay? Get it off me!"

"Francis!" Roderich spoke up again, pleading. "I can't even get into my bag at this point, and I have to hand in my book report to Miss Vincent next class!"

The bell chimed again, and Francis shrugged.

"Speaking of next class, sounds like it's time. Don't want to be late. Have fun, you two."

He slung an arm around Antonio's shoulders and herded him away from the horror-struck teenagers.

"Francis, you ass!"

"You are SO off my awesome list! Now and forever!"

A/N: However random this seems, it actually has basis in real life. One of my closest friends in high school handcuffed herself to a water bottle in French class. It's a memory I shall always cherish.

My life is weird.

Also, math was easily my worst subject, so forgive me if I made a few mistakes there.