Author's Notes; University AU. Lots of Plot. Tidbits of Shounen Ai. This chapter might as well be a backstory chapter because there's a lot of exposition here..German translations; "X werde bei uns zu Haus gehen. Kannst du zu ihm etwas von der Arbeit bringen?"=X will come home with us. Can you bring him something from work?, "Klar, aber was will er?"=Ok but what does he want?, "Bis bald, alle"=See you soon,all, "Bis bald, Mein Sohn"=See you soon, my son, "Wahrheiten"=Truths..Please enjoy..
X and Zero were the first two into the English classroom. Nikole looked up from her desk and smiled. "Good afternoon, boys. How's your first day going?" X nodded shyly. "Its been ok. Physical Education was tiring." Nikole nodded with a chuckle. "Ja, it can be such when you're out of shape especially. Do you have anymore classes after this one, X?" X gently shook his head. "No...I wanted to wait on Zero during his Intro to Physical Science class, but we don't know if I can wait in there with him." Nikole shrugged. "I don't know the teacher, but I do know the class is just across the hall from my Biology room. I also know the Intellectual Technologies department where your dad is working now has no tolerance for distractions. You might be stuck with me until Zero's done." Zero nodded gently. "I would feel better if you did stick around with my mother. At least I would be certain you were safe." X nodded a little too. "When you put it that way, I guess I'll do so." Nikole smiled. "You could get a headstart on the Biology reading I assigned." X nodded again, setting his backpack down under his desk. "Is today one of your workdays, by the way?" Zero sighed. "I'm afraid so. I would invite you there with me, but as you well know, Iris is there also." Nikole nodded. "With what happened with Vile, I'm sure your father won't be happy if something happens. Plus, with how controlling and jealous Iris can be, she'll probably start something if she sees Zero giving someone special attention. You'd be safer just coming home with me and your father." X sighed, growing frustrated that so many things kept him away from Zero's side. "If you insist."
X walked with Zero to his last class of the day after English concluded, waving at him. Zero waved back before taking his seat. The brunette then walked across the hall and into the Biology room, closing the door behind him. Nikole looked up from a teacher's edition of the textbook she had assigned to the classes. X got out the textbook he had as he sat at a desk, setting his backpack under him. "What degree are you trying to earn here?" Nikole asked. X looked up too. "I'm not entirely sure. I am curious about Biology in general. Though another part of me wouldn't mind becoming a nurse or doctor either." Nikole smiled. "Both noble pursuits and you've picked a great place to pursue either. Perhaps you can major in Biology and minor in Nursing or vice versa. The university is looking for more Biology researchers lately, since most have gone abroad. We always give an opportunity to intern for a while in the summer. As for nursing, there are a good few medical businesses around here. Zero might know a little more about those, since there's one very close to the restaurant." X had gotten out a notebook, jotting down Nikole's advice. Nikole chuckled. "Biologist or doctor is a long way from Roboticist, though." X shrugged. "I never shared too much in my father's interest in Robotics." Nikole nodded. "Relatable regardless. Being the way they were, my parents saw my interest in Biology as absurd. It was only when I was kicked out that I was able to pursue it." X's eyes grew curious. Nikole came closer. "My parents were full blood angels, resulting in the same for me. I was one of the few that felt God didn't will anything at all. That it was all nonsense. I was kicked out for such thoughts, but I'm glad for it in the long run. Otherwise, it would all be a dream." X felt a little sorry for Nikole now. "Wow...I'm sorry that happened to you, but it is great you were able to work towards your dream." Nikole nodded. "Ja, even demons, our enemies, view intellectual pursuits as stupid and a waste of life. I truly did get lucky with Albert, but I guess the luck couldn't last. I am at least thankful my son didn't end up with the same barbaric mentality as his father gave in to." X had to agree.
"There is one thing I'm curious about. Do you feel you are..romantically involved with Zero?" Nikole asked. X blushed brightly, shyly nodding. "Yeah, if that's ok by you." Nikole smiled. "Its fine by me. Frankly, I haven't seen him so happy since he was a young child. You seem like a kind and gentle child. I'm not bothered by the idea at all. Of course, your father needs to know too." X nodded. "Does Wily need to?" Nikole shook her head. "We need not make mention of it to him. Anyone involved with Zero is just another target to him." X nodded deeply. "Right..." Nikole's smile disappeared. "I encourage you not to let Wily get in your way. If you love Zero, that's all that matters. Let me handle Wily. I can keep him at bay at least. Last time, I sealed him in the underground. It will take some time for him to get through again. You need not fret for a while." X sighed a little in relief. "That's good to know. You're ok with Zero and I being an item?" Nikole nodded. "Others of my kind would likely be resentful, but I have no problem with it. Different people have different tastes after all."
When Zero's class was over, Nikole, X, and Light met him in Nikole's Biology room. "X werde bei uns zu Haus gehen. Kannst du zu ihm etwas von der Arbeit bringen?" Nikole asked. Zero nodded. "Klar, aber was will er?" Nikole looked at X. "Is there anything you would like from the restaurant?" X pondered a little. "Can you do anything off menu?" Zero smirked. "Oh ja, I can cook things well outside our menu. About the only thing I can't do there or at home is alcohol." X looked down nervously. "Well..I've never tried sushi before..or sashimi. Oh, and chicken fried rice." Zero pondered. "I haven't worked with raw fish very often, usually a different cook does that department. The chicken fried rice is no problem, but the kind of fish we have at the restaurant is going to dictate what you get, ok?" X nodded. "Sure, I understand." Light spoke up too. "I'd like to try those as well. What do we owe you for them?" Zero chuckled. "Not a thing. The only thing better than getting paid to cook is getting an off menu challenge. At least that's how I view it." Light chuckled. "I like your enthusiasm and that's very generous of you." Nikole smiled and waved. "Bis bald, mein Sohn." Zero nodded, waving as he walked towards the restaurant. "Bis bald, alle."
Once they were home, X retired to his room, reading the chapter assignment from Biology. Nikole prepared a light meal for herself, Light, and X, careful not to spoil the dinner Zero would bring home. She prepared some breads, cheeses, sausages, and a small vegetable soup just enough for the three of them. Light called X to the den after Nikole had setup plates and spoons for them. X bookmarked his spot in the textbook before walking to the den. "Nikole has prepared an appetizer of sorts while we wait on Zero." Light told him. Nikole nodded. "Its called Abendbrot. Literally 'Evening bread' Its a sort of snack platter I guess you could say. There's bread, cheese, sausage, and soup. Though the soup is more common in the winter." X smiled, taking a seat next to his father. "How was your first day at university?" Light asked. X nodded a little. "Long, but ok." Light nodded, trying the bread. "No mishaps, I hope?" X shook his head, trying the cheese. "No, I share classes with Zero. He was there until his last class of the day. I stayed with Nikole then." Light sighed in relief. "Good. As long as either Zero or Nikole is around, I feel better about your safety." X nodded. "I feel the same. Also, father.." He started a bit nervous. "Zero and I...We're going out.." Light chuckled. "I saw that coming with how well you two seem to get along. Its fine with me, as long as the two of you are happy." X sighed in relief now. "Thank you." Light grinned. "He does remind me of his father, but much more benign and grounded. I can't see him having a mental flipout and snap in the same fashion though." Nikole shook her head. "He's had many bad days already. Often reluctant to go to work because of Iris. He often seemed lost in thought, sometimes unwilling to get out of bed. He feels inferior because of how Wily treats him. In his mind, he wishes his father saw him better, but knows because of Wily's snap, that won't happen. Its too bad. He's always been a good child. He's rarely done wrong. Wily just treats him primitively; Since he's a greater being than him, attack and kill. There's no hope for Wily." X and Light shook their heads too before one tried the soup and the other the bread. "It should never have to go like that." X managed.
It was dark and close to midnight when Zero got home. X and Light had stayed up, waiting for him. "You certainly work long hours." Light chuckled. Zero smirked, locking the door behind him. "Sorry for the wait. The place closes at 23:00 most nights. Midnight on a few other days, but those I have off." He took off his shoes at the door before coming to the den, bringing the food he had to the table. X made some room for him on the couch. Zero grinned as he sat down, setting the bag on the table. He got out two styrofoam boxes and opened both. "So..tuna sushi and sashimi, salmon sushi and sashimi, eel sushi, and flounder sushi and sashimi. Chicken fried rice. And lastly, Miso Soup." X was surprised. "Wow, this looks great, Zero. But what exactly is the miso soup?" Zero tried to answer to his best ability. "Its a sort of stock mixed into a miso paste. Its way outside German culture of course, so the details elude me. We had some sushi and fish stuff lying around by chance. The fish cooks let me use what they didn't. The soup is rather salty, so I'll get you some water." Light and X opened and broke their chopsticks as Zero got their water. The blond also got what remained of the Abendbrot. Light and X thanked him for the food and water as Zero came back to the table. Zero nodded gently, eating some cheese. X tried the sushi rolls first, starting with the tuna. "Wow, these are great." Light started with the chicken fried rice. "You cook rather well, Zero. I can see why you have such a high position at that restaurant." Zero nodded shyly. "I originally applied for pastry chef, but ended up moving up the ranks. Meats, vegetables, and pastries are the easiest for me to cook." X tilted his head. "I'm not too surprised with meats, but I never would guess pastries. I certainly would like sampling your pastry creations." Zero smirked. "Maybe we can arrange that on a day with no school and no work. That would be a Sunday for me." X blushed a little. "How about this Sunday?" Zero nodded. "As long as mother doesn't assign too much homework. She goes overboard sometimes, so the story goes." Light chuckled. "Leave no stone un-turned. By the way, how did you work your way up the ranks at the restaurant?" Zero chuckled. "That's actually a funny story. At the time, nobody was working with fish. We didn't have fish items on the menu until recently. The cook in charge of meat called in sick, but I had gotten there already. So, the manager asked me to try and cover for him. By some coincidence, there were a few food critics who were supposed to come at different hours. They all ordered meat dishes, sausages, beef steaks, and such. I'd had a lot of experience with meats and vegetables already, so I was able to keep mostly calm under such high tension. Those critics were surprised that I was able to prepare good meat entrees and vegetable soup sidings, since I was a pastry cook. The manager ended up promoting me to the cook in charge of meats and vegetables. The guy who had it before was given fish. Then, one other time, we were short staffed. It was only me and Iris. Iris is no good in the kitchen so I was doing all the work. Yet another critic comes in and orders a fish entree. The manager supervised me since she hadn't seen anyone else with fish besides the other guy. In the end, the reviews blew us away and got me promoted to sous chef, where I usually end up with special orders and off menu items." Light and X were surprised by Zero's story as they ate. "You've got natural talent, to be sure. What degree are you going for in university?" Light asked. "Physics. I want to be a Physicist. Though, I won't rule out Engineering either. Cooking is more of a hobby." Zero answered. Light tilted his head. "Curious. Perhaps we could work together someday." X chuckled a little. "That would be cool to watch."