Fia walked into her room and closed the door behind her. It was only 5:00 in the evening and she was absolutely exhausted. At today's rehearsal, all the director seemed to do was nit-pick at her performance. How was she supposed to kiss someone she didn't love, even if it was just acting? Closing her eyes, Fia turned around to slump against the door with a sigh. When she opened her eyes again, she was greeted by her white-haired roommate, inches from her face.
"TSU-CHAN!" Haven greeted her in a high-pitched squeal. Fia scrambled backwards as much as she could, wide-eyed. "How was your day, Tsu-chan? Mine was crap."
Fia sweat-dropped as she searched Haven's hyper expression. "My day was terrible too," she admitted. "We had to quit rehearsals early because I couldn't get my scene down… But are you okay, Angel?"
"Nope!" Haven sang as she pranced away. "It was a shitty day!"
The Italian frowned. Haven never swore. Like ever. What had to have happened to her to make her swear? Sighing, Fia made her way over to her bed and opened her script for the millionth time that day. "Once more, from the top."
"I'll read the script with you," Haven giggled and smiled at her roommate goofily.
Fia froze for a moment but hesitantly looked to her roommate. She didn't trust her NOT to actually kiss her in this sugar-intoxicated state. "T-That's okay, Angel. You'd just get bored with the romance a-anyway, right?" She laughed nervously.
"Ahhh," Haven pouted. "I thought it would be fun."
"Angel," Fia began tentatively, "How much sugar have you had?"
"No idea," Haven flopped her head side to side and shrugged, "All I know is that I've never had this much in one sitting before." Fia went over to the mini-fridge in their room and opened it. This morning, it had been relatively full. Now, one lone pudding cup sat on the middle shelf.
"They won't stop," Haven's laugh trembled as she lifted two severely shaking hands. Fia sat her friend down on her bed and held her hands in her own. Haven placed her head on Fia's shoulders and the bursts of giggles slowly began to turn into sobs that rattled the petite girl's body.
Fia looked down at the figure sleeping relatively peacefully on Haven's bed. She had fallen asleep a while ago, but had just recently stopped thrashing around. The Italian snapped around as she heard the door slowly creak open.
"Oh, it's just you," Fia relaxed as the bluenette stepped into the room.
"I came as quickly as I could after I got your text. What happened?" Nagisa asked as he rushed over to Haven's bedside.
"I don't know. She didn't tell me," Fia shook her head
There was a knock at tentative knock at the door. "I just wanted to know how Haven's doing. I know she's had a hell of a day," a familiar voice called from the hall. Fia went to get it.
"What happened?" she asked as Rebecca stepped into the apartment and Nagisa closed the girls' door behind him.
"From your reaction, I assume she hasn't told you?" the girl crossed her arms. "Well, first off, she missed her thesis presentation."
"Can't you usually reschedule those? There's a month left in school," Nagisa asked.
"Yes, usually. But the Computer Science department's booked full next month. Most of the seniors this year left their presentations for the last moment. It wouldn't be a problem if she was just a normal junior, but Haven's considered a prodigy by many of the faculty members. This is bound to be the talk of the department for a while. Especially since it'll put off her graduation for at least a semester, which means she'll miss out on the graduate school program they were all urging her to go for."
After a few moments of complete silence, Rebecca added, "So, she didn't tell you any of this either. Can I go see her?"
Nagisa and Fia looked at each other and then the closed bedroom door before turning back to Rebecca.
"I don't think that's the best idea right now…" Nagisa trailed off.
"She's asleep," Fia explained.
"Well, maybe you guys can explain this, then. I saw her in one of the school cafeterias right before her presentation time. She was sitting with an older man with white hair. They look like they could be related. Apparently, he might be hired on next year as a psychology professor. Do you guys know anything about that?" The two housemates sweatdropped.
"Come on, guys. I don't gossip that much," Rebecca pouted.
"H-how about this instead?" Fia began. "I… I, uh… I heard about s-something fishy the other day…"
"Really? Do tell!" Rebecca used her index finger and thumb to frame her chin. Fia sweat-dropped profusely, unsure of how to continue, especially under Rebecca's inquisitive gaze.
"I think I heard about it too," Nagisa chimed in. "Something about a professor and a student, right?" Fia nodded her head vigorously in agreement.
"Ooh, interesting indeed," Rebecca stared at them. "Tell me more."
"Well… I h-heard the professor was m-married…" Fia continued.
"And they were seen at a high-end restaurant together," Nagisa added.
"Y-Yeah," Fia nodded quickly.
"Ooh, this sounds juicy," Rebecca left quickly, calling, "The truth must be uncovered!" as she ran down the hall.
Haven woke up suddenly and all she could see was white, endless white in every direction. She looked down and saw she was wearing her classic black sneakers, jeans, black button-down shirt, and pink tie. A few moments later, she began walking around. She walked and walked and walked. Where was she? After a while, she finally saw someone and ran towards him. As she approached, she slowed down.
"Doctor Brown?" she asked the male with white and wavy hair.
"I do not know who you speak of," he said hotly as he turned around to look at Haven with disdainful black eyes. His eyebrows furrowed together in annoyance. He was wearing a black dress shirt, a pink tie, black slacks, and black dress shoes.
"Who are you?" Haven asked.
"Yes, that is the question, isn't it? I did not call for you," the taller of the two replied.
"What would that have to do with anything!" Haven exclaimed.
"Well, this is obviously, a lucid dream. Therefore, I am in control of everything that happens. Who are you?"
"Obviously, you're not," Haven crossed her arms in irritation. "I'm here and I asked first. Who are you?"
"Oh, but ladies first." The man gave her a mocking bow. "Who are you?"
"Could you be my male counterpart? I hope not."
"What are you talking about?"
"Apparently, my housemates have been visiting their genderbent-selves in their dreams recently." Haven suddenly had a realization and began asking questions rapidly. "Do you know Tsu-chan and Nagisa and Akabane? What are they like in your world? What about Kavi and Rebecca?"
"Who are they?" The boy looked at her with puzzlement in his eyes.
"Our friends?"
"Do you spend much time with them?"
"Yes. I even share an apartment with some of them."
"What a waste of time and effort," the boy replied.
Haven stared at him, dumbfounded. "Then… then, who do you spend all your time with?"
"Mother," he answered flatly.
"... So, what's it like to live in a house with your half-sister?" Haven asked. If their world was truly a genderbent version of hers, he would be living with Dr. Brown, right?
"I do not have a half-sibling," the boy replied.
"But if your world is genderbent, then you'd live with my father and he has a son."
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Okay, who is your dad?"
"I don't have one," the boy proclaimed haughtily.
"Fine. Who's your mom?"
"Pearl Lee."
"But that doesn't make sense. Why aren't my parents genderbent in this world?"
"I only have one parent. Singular, not plural."
"Okay… changing topics. School! I'm majoring in Computer Science. What about you?"
"Psychology."
"Even though Dr. Brown… I mean our father does that?"
"I have no father, and I expected you would be a computer science major."
"What? How?"
"Just the way you are acting. It is similar to many other computer scientists."
"Sheesh, you're reminding me of Dr. Brown more and more. Do you do any activities outside of school? I'm part of the computer science club, I ice skate, and I lion dance with my cousin."
"What a waste of time. I am in chess club because Mother believes I need to interact with my peers."
Haven sighed. "Okay, family. Um… how's your… uncle?"
"If you are referring to Uncle Happy, he is as annoying as ever."
"Annoying? I never thought Aunt Joy was annoying… maybe a bit nosy, but never annoying. That's cousin Earnest's job."
"I do not tolerate Cousin Hope's demeanor," the boy huffed.
"So… so you spend all your time with Mom, then?"
"What if I do? Mother is sick. Mother needs help," the boy replied righteously.
"I get that, but Mom also wants you to enjoy life. At least, my mom does and it sounds like your mom does too."
"Mother knows not best."
"Wrong catchphrase, buddy." Haven sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose as her male counterpart gave her an irritated look.
Fia checked on her sleeping roommate one last time before heading out into the living room with her script in hand. She read for a little bit, letting the words play silently across her lips. When she came to a kiss scene, she scrunched her eyes shut and brought her lips dramatically to Bacio's. After a moment, Fia let the plush drop with an aggravated sigh.
"I can't do this!" she declared as a knock sounded on the door. Fia shuffled to the front door and opened it, revealing a tall boy with side-swept sea-foam green hair falling just above earthy brown eyes. "Peter?"
His eyes, which had been focused on one of the hall windows, found their way to meet Fia's. Peter smiled tentatively and rubbed the back of his head. "Hi, Fia. You have a moment?"
Looking away to hide the pink rushing into her face, she nodded quickly and stepped aside to let the senior in. Noting the shoes at the front door, Peter took off his own before walking with Fia into the living room and taking a seat on the couch across from her. He glanced between the fidgeting girl, the discarded script, and the stuffed guinea pig.
Chuckling, he asked, "Still struggling with the scene, I take it?"
"Y-Yeah…" Fia admitted. "I'm really sorry… You must be disappointed in me, especially as my co-lead."
Peter shook his head. "Not exactly, but I want to know what's been bothering you - You were doing so well during the earlier rehearsals. Well, I know the director had a few harsh things to say to you, but don't take it to heart… Brian's just being Brian."
Fia blew some hair out of her face but the action seemed like more of an involuntary sigh than a deliberate action. "I don't really want to burden you…"
"A little late for that, isn't it?" He smiled under furrowed brows. "If we're going to make this performance phenomenal, then every actor and actress has to have their heart in it. So, as your co-lead and as your upperclassman, I have this responsibility."
"I guess you're right" Biting her lip, she sweat-dropped and slowly began to speak. "I've got a lot of family things going on right now. I hope things get better when I go to see them tonight. I'll be refreshed and ready to go Monday!" Fia promised.
"That might explain your lack of focus, but that doesn't explain why you won't kiss me," he responded with a growing smile. "I'm handsome. I'm talented. I'm enough, aren't I?"
"W-What? I-I mean, yes, b-but I, uh, I -" Fia covered her hands in her face even as she stifled an embarrassed laugh. "I'll never understand how you theater people build up so much confidence." She lowered her hands with a shaky but full exhale.
Peter shrugged his shoulders with a smile. "You kind of have to be to get yourself noticed, especially when you want the opportunity to put your feelings out in the spotlight. It took me a long while to get Brian's attention, even though he is my roommate and my junior." He laughed. "That kid is hard to impress."
Fia ran her hand through her hair. "I think I get it… But, um, the reason I'm having trouble is that I kind of have someone I'm in love with, so trying to kiss you feels… wrong. I know I can pretend but even getting that close is really…" Fia dropped her gaze shyly.
"Well, practice makes perfect. We could run through the scene now, free from the pressure of being onstage and under Brian's intense glare," he suggested, picking up the script and scanning it before putting it aside and shooting a questioning glance towards his partner. "Let's start with scene four, when Tony and Maria actually begin to interact."
Taking a deep breath, she nodded resolutely. After taking a moment to clear her face, she opened her eyes and stared intently into Peter's. "My hands are cold," she declared abruptly. Peter, his expression mystified, took Fia's hands into his own. "Yours too." She noted. He moved her hand to his face as she softly touched his fingers to her cheeks. The ghost of a smile graced her lips. "So warm."
"Yours, too," he responded.
Fia smiled knowingly. "But of course. They are the same."
The pair dropped their hands but joined them in between them while never breaking eye contact. Peter spoke first, "It's so much to believe - you're not joking me?" he asked, a slight tone of bewilderment in his voice.
"I have not yet learned how to joke that way. I think now I never will," she replied sincerely.
He pulled her hands quickly up to his lips to kiss them and then held them tightly as they paused to stare into each other's eyes. More carefully and gently, Peter leaned in towards Fia and stopped before his lips could touch hers. As he was about to pull away and cut the scene, the front door clicked open and a redhead appeared.
"At least I keep it in the bedroom," he commented as he walked in and solemnly analyzed the scene in front of him.
Fia abruptly pulled away from Peter and turned red. Incohesively, she tried, futile as it may have been, to defend herself and the situation at hand. Unable to get more than one clear word out at a time, she desperately turned to her senior for help.
He just laughed. "Looks like Bernardo decided to show up after all."
"PETER!" She shot him an accusatory glare as her cheeks flushed. "That's not funny!"
Karma quirked an eyebrow at the two and scowled slightly.
He smiled. "It kind of is, if you think about it. He shows up just to break up Tony and Maria."
Looking towards Karma in dismay, Fia pleaded with him to understand. "We weren't doing anything weird - We were just acting!"
Expression unreadable, Karma shrugged a shoulder. "Acting lovey-dovey? Whatever, I don't really care. Do what you want." He kicked his shoes off and steadily made his way into his own room, shutting the door behind him.
Fia and Peter exchanged glances, but while one appeared horrified the other looked on in slight interest.
"So…" The brown-eyed boy started. "I take it that he's the guy you like." The girl's shoulders sagged. "Well, that could have meant one of two things. Either he is really not into you or he really is and doesn't want his jealousy to show."
Absentmindedly combing her fingers through auburn hair, Fia sighed. "Jealousy? I don't think so…" The Italian sighed disappointedly. "He has no reason to be jealous about me…"
"Where's that theater-kid confidence we talked about? Do you throw in the towel every time you don't get a callback? Or do you move onto the next audition with pride in your eyes and new experience, therefore a new character, in your heart?" Peter asked playfully as he flipped his hair out of his eyes and shoved his hands into his pockets.
Fia smiled. "How poetic of you. I'll keep that in mind. But, in any case, I think I should go pack my things and leave since it'll take awhile to get home. I'll practice more over the weekend and blow you away Monday morning." She grinned a guarantee.
Peter laughed and began making his way towards the door. "I don't doubt it. Try to get some rest, Fia."
She nodded. "Thank you, Peter - You too. I think we all need it," Fia replied, glancing furtively in the direction of Haven's closed door.
Wysteria stopped in front of the bed and batted at Haven's hand, which was hanging off the side. She moved to rub her head against the girl's hand instead. Nagisa sat on the edge of the mattress and smiled at his girlfriend's sleeping face. Sweeping the bangs hanging over her face away, he leaned over to give her a kiss on the forehead.
A few moments later, a pink-faced Haven was looking up at Nagisa with wide eyes. She had woken up as Nagisa's lips gently pressed against her skin and was thoroughly surprised.
"You're prettier when you have a bit more color in your face," Nagisa gave her a small smile. Haven just squeaked in response and blushed even more, causing Nagisa to chuckle. "How are you doing?" Nagisa asked.
Haven's blush faded and she averted her gaze, "Fine. Why do you ask?"
"I heard you've had a rough day," Nagisa replied.
"Not so good."
"Want to talk about it?"
"Not really."
Nagisa reluctantly sighed and let it go. After a few moments, he said, "I overheard a few of your conversations with his dates."
Haven looked away, "I shouldn't have been so catty…" Wysteria meowed at the couple. "Ah! I fell asleep and forgot to feed her!" Haven exclaimed and was about to get up when Nagia stopped her.
"I'll do it." He left the room with Wysteria for a few moments and came back.
"Karma's never been great at dealing with his problems. He's always deflected them in one unhealthy way or another. I see where you're coming from, but pranking him isn't helping. I will admit it's getting out of hand. I'll talk to him about it later," Nagisa promised.
"Thanks, Gisa," Haven gave him a small smile before standing on tiptoe and pressing her lips softly against Nagisa's cheek. She quickly rushed from the room, leaving a slightly-stunned, profusely-blushing Nagisa.
Haven sighed and picked up the centipede looking robot that had been crawling around the floor. Her high hopes had been dashed. This could have been some revolutionary technology here. She had implemented a simplified version of Wally's code into its program. She couldn't submit it now though. Her next thesis project would have to be entirely new. She needed to turn it off now - no point in just letting the thing wander. Haven sighed again and placed the robot back onto the floor. She couldn't bring herself to turn it off yet. Letting it run for another day or two couldn't hurt. "Gisa, what time is it?" Haven asked as she plopped down on her bed.
"About 7:30, why?" the bluenette reading an article on teaching methods at her desk replied.
"Don't you think it's a bit early?" Haven shot a glare towards the boys' room. Fia sighed heavily from her desk, where she discretely was filling out some travel forms.
Haven stared at her two housemates. "This is what… the fifth time this month?"
"Fifth he's brought home, yes. He's been staying out recently too."
"How… How do you guys tolerate it? I don't usually care what he does and I can't stand it." The two others just gave her sad smiles and sighed. The room went silent after that.
Suddenly, the three heard screams from the boys' room. They each tried to continue their work, but all six cheeks had turned a bright shade of crimson.
"Do… Do you think they're okay?" Fia asked after the screaming didn't stop. She was answered by Karma storming into the room in a pair of boxers.
"WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS?" He threw the centipede-looking robot wiggling in his hand to the ground. Upon impact, several parts went flying in different directions and the machine jerked around for a few seconds before becoming completely still.
Haven went over and picked up the broken object silently, placing it gently on her bed. As she did, Karma's date came into the room. She took one look at the girl holding the object and her face twisted into an arrogant expression.
"You're the department favorite who missed her thesis presentation today, aren't you?" she asked snidely. "Everyone says you're some super genius. But I guess you're not. Now that you've shown you're just some average, irresponsible junior, I wonder what all the professors think of you?"
Haven's face flushed, but acted as though the girl wasn't there. "It was an accident and, seriously, Akabane? Someone from my major program?!"
"How the hell was I supposed to know?" he shot back.
"This is the last straw!" Haven shouted at him. "First, you're being really disrespectful to the girls you bring home. I mean seriously, you didn't even know her major. Second, you're disturbing our neighbors. Do you know how many times Rebecca has complained to me? Third, you're causing our housemates to worry. You don't come home at all some nights."
"Fourth, you're inconveniencing Nagisa. You bring girls home so often and sometimes you even forget to tell him. How can you forget that you have a roommate? You're not the only one with goals and ambitions, " Haven defended her quiet boyfriend.
She continued. "Fifth, you've stopped helping out around the apartment. Fia does almost all the cooking and cleaning now. It's not like she has all the time in the world, you know. She's in the musical and she has her own school work to do - I'm not the only one close to completing my major here. She also has her family to deal with - both her main household to take care of and Felicia to check up on. Plus there's still training! Or are the bruises not a good enough reminder? And, and…" Haven got quiet for a moment and looked at her friend who shook her head furiously, begging her not to say it.
"How can you not see that what you are doing is hurting people! It's so obvious even to me! Are you truly more emotionally dense than I am or do you just not care!" Haven flailed her arms around in frustration before barging past the couple in the doorway and running out of the apartment.
Karma turned to his date. "That was really unnecessary. You should go now," he responded coldly.
"Bet I wouldn't have enjoyed it anyways." The girl left the room and its red-faced occupants with a huff.
"Well, I'm going home for the night," Fia mumbled awkwardly to break the silence and began gathering her stuff. "Someone please text me when Haven gets back." She ran out the door, trying to escape as soon as possible.
"Karma, we need to talk," Nagisa said as he led his roommate out of the room.
Sharply, a sound shot through the still room and was absorbed into silence. The only lingering evidence was the wine-like stain on Fia's cheek under dark green eyes that stared after her mother's retreating silhouette. Fia slowly bent down to pick up the crumpled study abroad forms scattered all across the living room floor. She didn't speak, even when her father tried to meet her eyes with a sympathetic glance and turned to follow her mother back into their bedroom.
Fia gingerly smoothed the wrinkles in the sheets down with her fingertips and placed them on the coffee table. With a sigh, she made her way towards the kitchen where she sat down at the table they had played poker at over Thanksgiving break. She smiled bittersweetly as she stared down at the ripples in the wood. A melancholy melody was born from the knot in her throat, the consoling cry a caged bird sings to itself in the midnight hour.
A creak alerted her to the presence of an awkward teenage boy trying to hide himself behind the doorframe. Grain-gold eyes glanced between the girl at the kitchen table and his parents' door, from where a pair of arguing voices could be heard very clearly.
Nervously wringing her hands in her lap, Fia shot Gio an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry… I didn't mean to bring this -" she paused to listen to her mother yell at her father "- back to the house."
Gio scowled and shuffled into the kitchen as he pointed accusingly at Fia's slightly-swollen cheek. "You're supposed to put heat on that right? You don't want to make your face any uglier than it already is." He crossed his arms indignantly, averting his gaze as color rushed into his own cheeks.
"Heh… You would actually use an ice pack in this case," Fia corrected him with a gentle tone. "Why? Are you worried about me~?" she teased lightly.
"HUH?! N-No! Why would you think - I don't - Oh, sh-shut up!" The angry teenager stormed over to the fridge and pulled out a cooling pack, which he ungraciously pushed against his sister's face. "Shut up o-or it goes down your shirt!"
She smiled through a wince and nodded. "Got it. Thank you, Gio."
Sitting down beside Fia with a huff, Gio propped his chin up on his hand as he rested his elbow on the kitchen table. "So you want to leave us?"
Fia's eyes widened but her countenance became solemn. "I guess you could look at it that way," she began slowly. "I have my reasons. I -"
"Oh, save it." The younger brother interjected with a very discernible roll of the eyes. He waved dismissively. "It honestly doesn't matter to me why you have to go, but I know you will anyway. You should just know that… You should go." When Fia stared blankly at him, Gio immediately blushed and rushed to explain himself. "I-It's not like I like you o-or anything, but… even we can see that it's not healthy for you to be here anymore."
Her lip quivered and her gaze dropped. "I don't want you to think that I won't still be there for you, or that I've regretted any of it."
"Yeah, I know." He glared disgustedly at the water dripping from the ice pack and onto the table. "W-We kind of owe you a lot and stuff… We depend on you a-a lot and it's better to let you leave than lose you." Gio muttered under his breath.
There was a heavy silence until Gio spoke up again. "Honestly, if you had tried to deny that you were leaving, I would have been pretty pissed off with you, but-but you didn't. You still… Are worried about us and saying stupid things l-like 'I love you' … " He rubbed the back of his neck as his ears turned scarlet. "I'm a-annoyed with you now, b-but I'll forgive you as long as you come back, o-okay?"
Unsure of what to say, Fia nodded and placed a secure kiss on Gio's temple, a promise of return. Hesitantly, Gio leaned against her and the two sat in comforting silence, listening only to the ticking of the clock and each other's subdued sighs.
"You think she'll sign the form…?" Fia asked quietly.
Gio shrugged a shoulder. "I don't really know. At this point, it's hard for me to believe that she'd even show up for your performance. You really pissed her off this time and -" He froze and sweat-dropped, a pink cloud rising into his face. "I-I mean i-it'll be fine, somehow!"
Fia nodded slowly with a rueful smile. She knew he was just as bad of a liar as she, but she appreciated the effort and resolved herself to do the best she could, both in their upcoming mission and the performance.
"I wonder who would be here at this hour," Kavi mused as he went to get the door. After seeing who was on the other side, he joked, "I was going to kill you for skipping the presentations, both mine and yours, but it looks like someone's already done that for me." Kavi stepped to the side to let her in. "What happened?"
Fia: (Getting an ice pack held to her face by Fino) Owie… Grazie, Fino!
Fino: No problem. I guess it was bad, huh?
fem!Karma: You should just ask the idiot to kiss it better.
Fia: (Blushes) T-That's…!
Karma: Oi, leave her alone, idiot.
Fino: Please don't call my girlfriend an idiot. She's difficult, but she's intelligent, striking, beautiful -
fem!Karma: Fino. If you want a kiss, all you have to do is say 'please.'
Fino: (Blushes) T-That's…!
fem!Karma: (Going to sit next to Fia and looking towards a pair of bluenettes) How are you doing, Nagisa-san?
fem!Nagisa: Karma-san? It's been awhile! (Smiling politely) I'm alright. How are you?
Fino: (Wrapping his arms around Fia and fem!Karma) Is that your friend from middle school?
fem!Karma: Yeah. This is Nagisa. Nagisa, this is my boyfriend, Fino.
fem!Nagisa: It's nice to meet you, Fino-kun.
Fino: Likewise!
Karma: (Rolling eyes) Glad to see that everyone is getting along.
Nagisa: Well… That might not be true. Is Haven alright? (Watching a pair of white-haired people argue just a little bit in the distance)
Haven: A prequel to Psycho much? All you ever do is Mother this and Mother that!
male!Haven: And you don't care for your mother enough.
Haven: Well, at least I'm not a clone of our father!
male!Haven: I have no idea what you are talking about. I have no father.
Haven: And no family either! I mean, there's Aunt Joy and Earnest! Our half-sibling's not that bad!
male!Haven: I have Mother.
Haven: There we go again, Norman Bates!
Narrator: Well… Next time, Noriko and Classified will make an appearance and Karma and Fia will act like a couple.
