Co-written by Diamond's Cloak.
Nia Grayson, Misaki Akane, Riley, & Meimei Shui Hua belong to me.
Shirokuma, Arian Silther, Warwick Grayson, Auron Minos, Flare Jewel, & Dr. Ohm belong to Diamond's Cloak.
Professor Peach belongs to Monty Oum & Rooster Teeth.
Warwick was heading back to his dorm, a grin on his face after the bet made with Meimei. Only thing he could hope for was that it, like the bet with Flare, didn't go sour.
Misaki was also headed back to the dorm. "Hello, Warwick. Whatchu grinning about?"
"Misaki...well, one of the new kids and I just made a bet...if she could make Arian nicer, I would pay for her lunch all year."
Misaki laughed. "Well, at least he'll behave."
"Maybe, and paying for lunch is the risk I'll take...but all these new students are broke..."
Misaki raised a brow. "All of them?"
"From what I've seen, at least. Nia had to pay for Flare and Riley's meals, then Flare mentioned he was broke after I bet with him...and then Meimei says she lost her wallet..." Warwick shrugged.
"Well, that's...interesting... How can all of them be broke? Are they all street rats? Or maybe their families cut them off?"
"I'm not sure...but...their names are also weird...aren't they? Flare, I can understand but...what kind of name is Riley?" Warwick shrugs, "And if Riley were a street rat...she wouldn't be able to handle her dual guns so great...would she?"
"I kinda the like the name Riley. And besides, plenty of street rats turn to crime to feed themselves."
"Still...Flare and Riley claim they're from Menagerie and know Meimei...plus I think I saw two others and a pair of kids...that's a lot of people..."
"It is odd." Misaki shrugged. "But I don't pry. As long they're not hurting anyone, let them have their secrets."
"I shouldn't either...but it's jusy really odd..."
Misaki shrugged again. "Actions speak louder than words. I assume they've been nothing but nice?"
"They have, yeah..." he says, nodding. "Probably best to let them do their thing.."
Misaki nodded.
"So, how's your day been?"
"Oh, fun. Professor Peach near bored me to sleep in Plant Science."
"I can understand that, whoever thought we would need the likes of advanced geometrics with Dr. Ohm?" He shook his head. "I wished my Momentary Pause would've worked on the clock..."
Misaki laughed. "What's advanced geometrics?"
"No idea...I think its like math and shapes..."
"Well, anyway, how's Auron?"
"Auron is doing better, from what I can tell. He's standing and walking straight and-"
"And is doing much better off than I have the last couple of days," Auron says, popping their door open.
"How long have you been eavesdropping on us?" Misaki asked, putting her hands on her hips.
"Since you asked how I was," He answered. "Nice pose."
The fox rolled her eyes and headed into the dorm.
Auron sighed, letting them through. "Sorry..."
Warwick sighed, stretching out. "Auron, think you need to grab something to eat?"
"Why would I need t-" He looked at Warwick, who was glancing at Misaki. "To think about grabbing something to eat...I'm starving," he says, winking to Warwick and stepped out.
Misaki was laying on her bed, reading a historical crime drama.
"Whatcha reading?" Warwick asked, moving over to his bed and checking his scroll for news.
"Nothing, really."
Warwick took a glance at the cover of her book. "Hmm, the tale of Sharpay and Troy...the would-be hunters turned to crime."
"Yeah. I love them. I know they were bad guys, but what can I say, they're a great story."
"Sometimes, the most beautiful thing comes in such tragic forms...like those two."
Misaki raised a brow. "Since when are you an expert on romance?"
"Never have been," he answered, "But their story is very much romantic..."
Misaki shrugged. "Yes and no."
"Hmmm, true..."
Misaki looked at him, obviously wanting his opinion.
Warwick looked away. "I-It's just...the two of them going to hell and back like they did...through thick and thin as they had. Not separating and doing the crime together...as bad as it was, them going through it all in each other's grasp is..lovely."
Misaki nodded. "Yes. Though it's probably heavily romanticized. Did you know Sharpay was already married for four years when she met Troy? And she stayed married until the man was killed seven years later. And Troy was thought to probably be rather controlling, or possibly have violent tendencies. Possibly."
"I...didn't, actually...but, love always finds a way."
Misaki shrugged. "I guess so."
"Well...take a modern love story...Nia and Shiro, for example. Yes, they're weird for liking Grimm, and one is a jungle boy...but their love seems to have transcended the stars despite only knowing each other...two weeks...almost like destiny."
The fox chuckled. "Are we sure the two aren't insane?"
"I'm not a doctor, so I can't diagnose them...but they both seem to agree they're crazy." He says, chuckling.
The fox chuckled with him.
"But...maybe a thing or two can be learned from them..."
She raised a brow. "Oh really? Like what?"
"Well, you could be of two different worlds...but there's always a chance to have some sort of romantic connection."
Misaki shrugged. "They're not that different."
"Well...not physically. But one has been without human contact since he can't remember, and the other is...well...her story isn't exactly written in stone...but Arian somehow brought them together..."
Misaki gave a laugh. "Your cousin's actually good for something..."
"Agreed...from what I heard, he chucked a shake at her and blamed Shiro...and the rest was history."
Misaki chuckled. "He actually thought that was good idea?!"
"He expected her to punch him!" Warwick answers, shaking his head. "Arian's a jerk, yeah...but I feel there's more to it."
"He just wants someone to notice him?"
"Maybe...but, his parents and brother look at him..."
Misaki shrugged. "Who knows."
"Well, lack of parental affection would explain why he's an ass..."
Misaki's fox ears flattened and she looked away sadly. "Oh..."
"But I don't know that for sure...his parents always seemed nice," he says, looking to her. "...yet you understand that clearly..."
Misaki kept quiet.
"I-I'm sorry...I don't mean to pry..." he says, looking away.
Misaki simply grabbed her pj's and headed into the bathroom.
Warwick sighed, watching her leave. "...I'm sorry..."
When Misaki came back out in her pj's, she silently climbed into bed and turned her back to Warwick.
Warwick had kept his glance away until she had returned. "...I don't know what you'd gone through, nor do I expect to ever know...but I'm terribly sorry you had to go through it...you and your siblings."
Misaki only shifted in place.
Warwick sighed, getting up and moving to change into his own PJs.
Everyone's favorite beta couple have returned! Don't worry, you'll eventually find out why Misaki shut down, if you haven't figured it out already.
Sharpay & Troy is essentially Bonnie & Clyde.