Disclaimer: Well, even though I own the first three English tanks, I still really don't own Megami Kouhosei. TokyoPop's translations are inferior, anyways. Ehem. Yes. MK belongs to Bunny-sensei. I belong to me. It all works out.
A/N: Well, I was REALLY close to finishing this part for the LONGEST time, but...I kept screwing around and procrastinating, so...when I finally did finish this up, I only had to do a couple paragraphs. Which were influenced by the Ju (see endnotes). So enjoy that, everyone.
Found My Place
Part II: Lucky Charms
"Hey, Garu! You didn't eat all of my Pocky up again, did you? The one in here?" called a sandy-haired boy from the kitchen.
"Sorry, it was me, Rio!" Zero called from the next room. It was 11 p.m. on a Saturday night, five months into the school year, and Gareas, Ernest, Rioroute, Zero, and Erts were crowded into Gareas and Rioroute's "Everything" room to watch movies and anime. Ernest, for once, was wearing a sleeveless shirt--a violet sleeveless sweater--with his jeans. The same couldn't be said about his brother, Erts, who was wearing a tan sweater and jeans.
"Zero! You owe me, man! That was my last box!" Rio growled.
"No, it wasn't. Garu ate your last box. The one that you were hiding behind the manga in your room. I ate the ones that you hid in that empty box of crackers. Don't worry," Zero added. "I already got you another box." Zero held up a red box so that Rio could see.
"Well, at least someone pays me back when they take my things," Rio snarled, glaring at Gareas as he sat back on the couch. Zero grinned innocently at Gareas as he shot a death glare his way.
"Guys, don't start this again," Ernest sighed from his spot next to Gareas.
"So, what're we showing tonight, guys?" Erts asked, changing the subject.
"Zero was supposed to supply the movies tonight," Garu commented.
"I did. Scary Movie 3 and School of Rock." Zero held up two DVD cases. "Got 'em while I was getting Rio's Pocky."
----------------------
Nearly six hours later, Zero and Erts were alone in Garu and Rio's everything room. Everyone--Erts, Zero, Ernest, Rio, and Garu--was staying in the apartment. Garu supposedly had enough room on his floor for Ernest, so he was sleeping up there, leaving the two younger boys to fight over who got to sleep on the pullout bed and who was stuck with either the floor or the oversized chair.
"So, Erts, how do we decide who gets the bed this time?" Zero asked as he munched on a stick of Pocky. "Rock-Paper-Scissors? Tic-Tac-Toe? Truth or Dare?" Erts laughed at the last option.
"I don't think so, Zero. Knowing you, you'd really pry if I said Truth, or you'd make me do something horrendous if I said Dare." Zero grinned wickedly. "I think I'll just stick to Rock-Paper-Scissors."
"How do I know you won't cheat," Zero taunted. Erts glared playfully at him. "All right, Rock-Paper-Scissors it is. Although it would've been 'very interesting,' to use Clay's phrase, if we'd played Truth or Dare." Erts rolled his eyes as he sat down on the floor across from Zero. "Okay. Ready?" Erts nodded. "One. Two. Three!" Zero held out a fist; Erts a flat hand.
"Ha! Paper beats rock! I get to sleep on the bed." Erts smiled, standing up.
"Not fair! I bet you cheated!" Erts shook his head. "Okay, maybe you didn't. Umm…well, it is a queen-sized bed. We could share…" Zero put on a winning smile.
"You're just saying that because you lost, and now you have to sleep on the floor."
"Awww, come on, Erts! I don't make you sleep on the floor when you come over," Zero whined.
"This isn't my house, Zero. Besides, the only reason I wasn't sleeping on the floor is that Clay let you borrow his cot."
"Pleeeaaaassse! Please, please, please! I don't want to sleep on the floor, it's so uncomfortable," Zero said, pouting.
Erts made a big show of sighing. "Well…I suppose, but ONLY if you give me the rest of your Pocky and stop whining." Zero perked up and eagerly handed over the box of Pocky.
"Thank you, Erts!" Zero commenced in pulling the cushions off the couch. "You go grab the sheets and blanket, and I'll make the bed," Zero sang out.
As Erts pulled out a set of sheets and a fluffy comforter out of a cabinet near the foot of the stairs, he felt an odd rush of happiness that wasn't his own. /I bet Garu's "floor" is quite comfortable,/ Erts thought with a sigh as he set the sheets and comforter on the floor within reach of Zero.
"So Erts," Zero grabbed the stick of Pocky that Erts had taken out for himself; Erts made a face. "Have they said anything about coming out, yet?" Zero asked, referring to Ernest and Gareas.
"Yeah, actually, they have. Ernest says he doesn't want anyone to know because he doesn't want any of us being teased for maybe being gay, whether we are or not, but Gareas says that he wants to show Ernest off to the world, and he doesn't give a "flying fuck" what anyone has to say. He also says that they wouldn't be the first nor the only non-hetero couple at the school."
"I think Gareas is right. I mean, Ernest's right for wanting to protect us, but we can take care of ourselves, right? But Gareas is right. If I were him, I'd want to show the person I love most off to the world." Zero finished making the bed and plopped down on it, making room for Erts.
"Truth or dare, Zero," Erts asked, sitting next to Zero.
"I thought we weren't playing that."
"Not for the bed. Truth or dare?"
"Okay, then. Truth."
"Are you gay, Zero?" Erts asked solemnly.
"Nope. Truth or dare?"
Erts screwed up his face. "Truth." /Prepare for the worst, I guess./
"Same question. Are you gay?"
"No. Truth or-"
"Dare," Zero said, cutting him off.
Erts thought for a moment. "All right, Zero. I dare you to trash Rio's room."
"Trash it? He'd flip! Okay, I'll do it. If you help me," Zero said, grinning.
"You can't do that, it's your dare!"
"Sure I can. It can count as your dare, too."
"But who says I'll say dare?"
"Are you chicken, Erts? It's Rio. You know he'll get over it."
Erts sighed. "Fine then. I'll help you."
Zero grinned and got up. "How shall we do this…" He glanced at the half-empty bowl of popcorn on the counter and opened the fridge. "Eggs…" he pulled four out of the carton; "Whipped cream…" he pulled out the can of cream and shut the fridge door. He opened a cabinet; "Sprinkles…"
Erts stared at him from his place on the bed. "I thought we were going to trash Rio's room, not start making stuff in the kitchen," Erts said pointedly. /What is he doing?/
"I know," Zero chirped as he dashed into the bathroom and brought back a can of shaving cream and two rolls of toilet paper. "Do they have Lucky Charms?" He opened another cabinet. "Yes! Lucky Charms." He put everything that he had gotten out into the bowl with the popcorn. "Do you know where they put the silly string?" Erts shook his head. Zero put a finger to his lips and started creeping up the stairs. Erts got up and quietly followed Zero.
They reached Rio's door with only a little creak from a stair that Erts stepped on. Zero glance warningly at Erts as he eased the door open. He walked over to Rio and his bed and set the bowl down next to it and motioned Erts over to him. Ignoring Erts' aversion to being touched for any reason, Zero grabbed his wrist and put another finger to his lips as Erts opened his mouth to protest. /Hush, be quiet! Watch this./ Zero grinned and let go of Erts' wrist and picked an egg out of the bowl. He leaned over Rio and cracked the egg over his hair. Erts made a horrified face as he watched the egg ooze through his hair. Zero's grin widened, and he handed Erts the can of whipped cream, purposely brushing his hand as he did so. /Do I have to tell you what to do with this?/
Erts still looked horrified as he sprayed whipped cream in one of Rio's shoes. Zero sprayed the shaving cream in the other shoe before putting that down and cracking another egg on the pile of clean clothes that Rio had failed to put away. Zero tossed Erts a roll of toilet paper before opening the sprinkles and pouring them over the egg in Rio's hair.
Ten minutes later, Zero stepped back to admire their handiwork. Toilet paper and the silly string that Zero had found on a shelf hung like spider webs from every surface; Rio's hair had egg, sprinkles, whipped cream, and a topping of Lucky Charms. The whole bed and floor were littered with popcorn and Lucky Charms. One pair of shoes were full of whipped cream and shaving cream; the two remaining eggs had found their way into another pair of shoes. One of Rio's outstretched hands was covered in whipped cream. Zero could barely keep himself from laughing outright.
As the boys crept back out of the room and down the stairs, both were thanking their lucky stars that Rio was such a heavy sleeper. "So, Zero, truth or dare," Erts whispered as they put away the things that they had left over from trashing Rio's room.
"Truth," Zero replied, yawning.
"What would you do if I was gay?"
"Are you?"
"You already asked that question."
"Did you answer truthfully?"
"Of course. I'm just wondering, that's all," Erts mumbled.
"Okay, well…" Zero glanced at Erts. "I wouldn't do anything different than I do now. We'd still be friends, right?" Erts nodded. "You'd still be the same person who happens to be my best friend, so there'd be no reason for me to act differently." Erts smiled one of his small, serene smiles. Zero smiled back. "So, Erts, truth or dare."
Erts yawned. "Truth."
Zero put away the last thing, the box of Lucky Charms, and plopped onto the pullout bed. "Does Rio know about Gareas and Ernest yet?"
"Well, they haven't said anything, but I'm pretty sure he knows," Erts replied, sitting down next to him.
"Yeah, I suppose so. It may not be obvious, but Rio's not an idiot, even if he does act like one." Erts nodded in agreement. "And before you ask, truth."
"Are you ever homesick?" Erts asked, a hint of nostalgia in his voice.
"Yeah, all the time," Zero sighed. "I really miss my mom. And I miss waking up every morning to have a nice breakfast with her. Even when I have breakfast with you guys, it still isn't the same." Zero smiled wistfully. He laid back and stared at the ceiling. "Truth or," Zero let out a huge yawn, "dare?"
Erts hesitated. "Dare," he replied tentatively.
"Don't wear long sleeves tomorrow." Zero adjusted himself so that he was under the comforter and closed his eyes.
Erts stretched out on his stomach next to Zero. "Zero, I only have long sleeved shirts," he protested.
"No problem," Zero mumbled. "You can borrow one of mine. G'night, Erts."
"Good night, Zero," Erts whispered. He watched silently as sleep slowly stole over his friend. Zero mumbled something unintelligible in his sleep. /What are you dreaming about, Zero?/ Erts forced himself not to touch the sleeping brunette to see for himself. /I'm curious, but I can't intrude in on him…/
Erts jumped a couple minutes later when Zero shifted in his sleep so that he was facing Erts and had a hand outstretched that was almost touching Erts. Erts let out a soft, nervous laugh before easing himself off the bed. Erts tiptoed over to the cabinet where he had gotten the sheets and comforter for the bed, and pulled out the other fluffy blanket, which he pulled with him onto the oversized leather chair. He curled up in it and adjusted himself so that he could watch Zero and still be comfortable. Erts laughed mentally, imagining Rio's reaction to the mess in his room when he woke up. /Even though I knew the consequences won't be pleasant, it was still fun. Now I know why Zero and Gareas and Rio are always getting into trouble. But that still doesn't mean that they should be doing things like that./ Watching the sleeping Zero, Erts slowly drifted into sleep himself.
Erts was jerked out of sleep six hours later by a shriek, followed by a string of loud curses. It took him a couple moments to remember what had caused the noise, but when he did, he glanced at Zero, who was also awake, and hid under the fluffy blanket, even though he knew it was useless.
"Come on, Erts, let's go check it out," Zero chirped, suppressing a laugh. Erts followed Zero up the stairs grudgingly. As they reached the top they heard another yell, and the mess that was Rioroute came bursting out of the bathroom.
A shirtless Gareas stepped out of his room and started laughing. "GAREAS ELIDD, DON'T YOU LAUGH!" Rio screamed.
Zero laughed, too. "Yeah, save your laughter until after you see his room!"
Rioroute turned to Zero. "You did this?" Zero nodded boldly. "You little bastard, Zero," Rio said quietly.
"I had a lot of help, you know. It was Erts' idea. And he put the whipped cream and Lucky Charms in you hair. I just put on the egg and sprinkles."
"Don't drag me, into this, Zero!" Erts cried.
Gareas poked his head into Rioroute's room and let out a low whistle. "Nice job, guys. I'm proud of you."
Ernest finally appeared, fully dressed, out of Gareas' room. He, too, laughed at Rio, and let out a low whistle at the room. Rio ignored them and continued to carry on. "-wrecked two pairs of shoes! And eggs on my clean clothes! Wasted all those Lucky Charms-"
Zero cut him off. "Oh, come off it, Rio, you know it's funny." Rio glared at him. "On the other hand…" Zero smiled tentatively. "Um, I have a lot of homework to get done before school tomorrow…and Erts needs to help me…"
"I do?" Zero nodded hugely. "Oh, yeah, that's right, I do."
Rioroute glowered at both of the younger boys. "I don't think you're going anywhere until you help me clean this stuff up."
"I was just kidding, of course," Zero said quickly.
Rio stepped back into the bathroom and slammed the door. "I better be able to get this stuff out!" he yelled. "And I expect you two to be in there cleaning up that mess by the time I'm done," he added.
"You two better do what he says," Gareas commented as he wrapped his arms around Ernest's waist from behind. "He'll get over it later, but…well, you know how he is." He chuckled and winked at the younger boys. Ernest gave them an encouraging smile before the two boys disappeared back into Garu's room.
"Well, I suppose we had better get started," Zero said after a pause. He beamed at Erts and dragged him by his sleeve into Rio's room.
The boys filled the silence with a cheerful dialogue as they cleaned Rio's room. In no time, the silly string and toilet paper had been cleaned up, and they stripped the sheets and blankets off the bed and shook them out, causing more popcorn, sprinkles, and Lucky Charms to scatter over the floor. The pillow Zero stacked on top of the pile of egged clothes.
By the time Rio emerged from the bathroom twenty minutes later, he was in a happier mood, and the only things that Zero and Erts had left to do were vacuum, wash the clothes and pillow, and clean out the shoes.
"You know, you were right, Zero. It is funny. Especially watching you two clean like a couple of little maids," Rio chuckled before he bounded downstairs for breakfast.
Erts vacuumed while Zero tramped down to the apartment building's community laundry room and started washing the pillow and clothes. A happy Gareas volunteered to clean out the shoes, so Rio's room was clean in a record hour.
"I bet you guys had a blast," Gareas commented as he, Ernest, and Erts waited with Zero in the laundry room.
Zero nodded. "Man, I had to stop myself from laughing the whole time. It's a good thing Rio's such a heavy sleeper, because I don't know what I would've done if he had woken up before we were done."
"What gets me," Ernest interjected, "is that not only that it was Erts' idea, but that he also helped you."
Zero grinned. "I guess I'm just very good at persuasion." He jumped as the dryer he was sitting on emitted a loud buzz. "Done. Now Rio has nothing to complain about. Hey, I gotta run this up to his room, but then I really do have to go home and do my homework." He glanced at Erts. "And I might need your help with some of it, Erts."
"Alright, then," Gareas replied as Zero gathered up Rio's pillow and clothes. Zero led the way as they all tramped back to Garu and Rio's apartment. "Hey, how long do you guys think you'll be?" Gareas asked as Zero laid the clean pillow and clothes on Rio's bed.
"A couple hours," Zero replied, picking up on Gareas' hint. "I'll call you when we're done."
Rio, who was sitting at the table doing his homework, waved as Zero and Erts left, picking up jackets on the way to the door.
"So, Zero, what do you need help with?" Erts asked as the boys walked.
"English. We have to write five pages on Greek mythology, and then we have to write another five analyzing the myth of our choice. And you know how anal Becker is when it comes to English. If you don't follow instructions to the letter, you lose almost an entire grade." Erts grinned. Everyone knew Mrs. Becker, and everyone, with the exception of the number one student in the whole school, Teela Zain Elmes, hated her. Crow's School for the Gifted was a strict school, but Becker was strict compared to even Crow's standards. Even Gareas and Rio, troublesome as they were, always avoided getting on her nerves.
"I see. How far have you gotten, and when is it due?"
"Haven't started yet, and it's due Wednesday."
"At least it's not due tomorrow." Erts gave Zero a withering look. "You should have started it right away on Friday, though. Or whenever you first got the assignment."
"I know, I know. But come on, Erts. If I did that, I wouldn't have had enough energy to go over to Rio's house yesterday." Erts smiled, but shook his head.
"Whatever Zero."
They walked in companionable silence the rest of the way to Zero's dorm, where Zero led the way to his room and immediately retrieved his laptop and backpack. After a moment's hesitation, Zero pulled a short-sleeved shirt out of his closet and gave it to Erts. "Remember, your dare? You're not allowed to wear long sleeves today." Zero grabbed the bottom of Erts' sweater and started pulling it up.
"Zero! Knock it-hey! Zero, stop!" Erts cried, trying vainly to stop Zero without touching him, and finally shoving him away. Erts pulled his sweater back down and glared at Zero, his face red and looking quite ruffled. "I can manage it on my own, thank you," Erts said flatly as he left the room and tramped to the bathroom with the shirt.
Before Erts returned, a bespectacled head appeared around the edge of the doorframe. "Oh, you're back," Clay piped.
"Hello, Clay," Erts said, returning with Zero's shirt on and his sweater folded neatly in his arms.
"Good afternoon, Erts," Clay said, saluting. "I see that you're wearing short sleeves today-very interesting. I don't think I've ever-"
"Go away, Clay," Zero ordered. "He's not here for you to ogle over, he's here to help me with my essays. Why don't you go bother someone else."
"Fine," Clay replied airily. Without another word, he disappeared, and Erts reentered Zero's room.
"You don't have to be so rude to him, Zero," Erts chided him.
"Yes, I do. He doesn't know how to take a hint, so he needs someone to be a little blunt to him." Zero fired his laptop up and set it aside while he rummaged through his backpack. "Here's the assignment," Zero handed Erts two typed pages and a handwritten page. Judging by the messiness of the handwritten page, Zero had taken notes while Mrs. Becker explained the assignment. Erts sat down on the end of Zero's bed and scanned the assignment as Zero pulled out a package of loose-leaf paper.
"Well," Erts stated, "you should definitely start with the essay on general Greek mythology. That way, you have a better understanding of the myths, and their influence on the ancient Greeks. That makes it easier when you're analyzing a single myth by itself."
"Yeah, I thought so. Let me see that," Zero added, taking the handwritten paper out of Erts' hands. "She told us a few sites where we could find legit versions of the myths." Zero typed something on his laptop. Erts leaned over and looked at the website that Zero had brought up.
"You might want to start out by taking notes on some of the main myths, like Pandora's Box," Erts commented as Zero browsed the site.
"Yeah, I know," Zero said, jotting something down on a blank sheet of paper.
"I thought you needed my help," Erts snapped.
"Nope, I just wanted your company," Zero grinned. "Because you know, no one is better company than Erts Virny Cocteau." Zero pounced at Erts and hugged him. /You're the best friend a guy could have, Erts!/
"Ack! Zero! Get off!" Zero pulled away and patted Erts on the head. Erts gave Zero a stern glare. "If you don't stop harassing me like that, I'll go home!"
Zero made a pouty face. "I can't help it if I'm hyper. I think you're just too uptight. You know what you need, Erts?"
Erts sighed and rolled his eyes. "What do I need, Zero?"
"You need…" Zero paused dramatically, "a girlfriend!"
Erts turned crimson. "I…I don't want a girlfriend!"
"Oh, come on, Erts! Everyone wants a girlfriend. Even Rio wants a girlfriend." Erts gave Zero a look. "Okay, so Rio isn't the best example." Zero bowed his head, at a loss for who else to use as an example.
"What about you, Zero? Don't you want a girlfriend?"
It was now Zero's turn to blush. "Well…kind of…I…I just haven't met the right person yet…"
"…uh-huh."
Zero glared at Erts. "Okay, so maybe I have met the right person."
"And?"
"I don't think that that person would want to be my girlfriend…"
"Have you asked?"
"Well…no…" he answered truthfully.
"That's not like you, Zero," Erts replied, beginning to sound a little concerned. "Who is it?"
"I…it's…" Zero bit down on his lip and looked away from Erts. "I don't think I want to tell you who it is. I don't think anyone needs to know who it is."
"Zero?" Erts prompted quietly.
Zero looked back at Erts. "I'm sorry, Erts. This…this is just one of those things that I have to keep to myself."
"I…I'm not feeling too well…I think I'm going to go for a walk," Erts said suddenly, rising from the bed. Zero nodded in consent.
As Erts stepped back out into the world, he put his sweater back on. His shields. He couldn't forget what Zero had told him without saying anything. He had almost tasted Zero's pain, the pain he held inside. And his final thought before his mind shut Erts out, almost tangible: I'll keep it to myself no matter how much it kills me. Erts bowed his head, hiding his face and tears from anyone who might chance to see him. /Zero, why do you need to keep this to yourself? What would it hurt if you let it out?/ Erts hugged himself. /I…I want to know what's giving you so much pain. I want to make it stop./
Back in his room, Zero was laying facedown on his bed with the door shut and locked. He was silent, and even his mind was shut off to the rest of the world. The only hint of what he might be thinking was clutched tightly in his hand: a large, authentic gold coin with a hole in it--a gift from Erts.
End Part II
Endnotes: The end of this chapter was written under the influence of Munkey Ju. For those of you who are familiar with...well, Dual Potential, Distracted, or Four Fingered Discount, I'm sure you know her/have heard of her. For others...well, she's just...one of the coolest MK webmistresses out there. Here's a little quote from the conversation that influenced me (I had shown her the clip where Zero was telling Erts that he needs a girlfriend, and how "even Rio wants a girlfriend")
Myth: Does that seem okay? For some reason, those few lines don't seem right to me...
Munkey Ju: It's because Zero wants Erts to be HIS girlfriend. That's why.
And of course I just couldn't stop laughing. And she totally made me change the direction of the fic. Damn her, even though she's so cool. So...yes, there you have it: Found My Place, Part II: Lucky Charms. I hope you enjoyed it--please leave me some helpful criticism--because reviews that aren't helpful are worthless.
Oh, a note to Mr. James Laidler: As much as your reviews flatter me, I don't need you attacking my stories with reviews, begging me to update. Give me some time. I'm a busy girl. If you ask me, two months is a short synapse.