(A/n: Please enjoy)
Chapter 12: Changes And Conflictions
Along the cafeteria hall, Gregory, Ike, and Pip spot Stan and Gary. The two of them are leaning against the wall next to the cafeteria doors, presumably waiting for their arrival. Stan is either angry, troubled or both Gregory assumes based on his expression, and as for Gary, he may seem like his usual self on the outside - occasionally quelling some students out of harming Stan who are taking the teen's glaring the wrong way - but Gregory knows that he is just as anxious.
"What seems to be the problem?" Pip asks them once they close the distance. They stand beside Stan and Gary.
There is a couple seconds of silence between them, the conversations and laughter from the vampires entering the cafeteria making it slightly less tense. With a frown, Gary looks to Stan to see if he's going to answer. "Did you tell them?" Stan asks ignoring Pip's question, not looking at the person he addressed.
"Of course," Gregory answers crossing his arms. "But we have to be subtle about how we approach him otherwise-"
"He's not in there," Stan says bitterly.
By this point, the number of vampires dwindle down to over a dozen. Most of the students glance their way, assuming they're nervous to eat with them and they snicker at the thought. A teacher walks up to the group, his height is a few inches over 6ft tall and he has long black hair tied into a mid-length ponytail. He looks at each human in a suspicious manner from his angular-shaped dark red eyes, Stan weakening his scowl as he stares past him whereas Pip, Ike, and Gary begin to sweat under the man's scrutinizing gaze. Before he can open his mouth to question them, a voice does it to him instead.
"May we help you?" His eyes travel over to Gregory, who's appearing unfazed amidst his presence.
He narrows his eyes slightly at the human's snarky attitude, although he isn't showing the emotion on his face. "Why are you all idling here?" The adult demands, his low-pitched voice tinged with a faint foreign accent matching well with his young and attractive face.
"We were just discussing something before heading in." Sparing not another glance at the man, Gregory moves away from the wall and walks into the cafeteria with the others following suit.
The teacher glares at their backs, he is another vampire that isn't happy with humans attending an academy not meant for their feeble kind, even if there's only six of them. Which leads him to a short recollection of only seeing five of them just now...
"Where is the sixth one?" He wonders to himself before sauntering into the lunchroom.
/
After dinner, which lasted two and a half hours, everyone is ushered out of the cafeteria.
The color scheme this time were only two, they were silver and, of course, black. Throughout the entirety of supper, the teacher that had approached the humans in the hallway wouldn't stop glancing their way. He was seated at the same table but on the opposite side several seats down from them, maintaining his glower of skepticism that didn't go unnoticed by Gregory. But despite his obvious glimpses, Gregory ate his food undisturbed and talked when addressed, thinking that the teacher was the least of his concern.
What Stan said about Kyle not being inside the cafeteria turned out to be true, the redhead was nowhere to be seen and neither was the blonde-haired friend of his. Due to both of their absences, Gregory had gotten the suspicion that the two of them were together, but doing what exactly? He knew Kyle wasn't foolish enough to try and harm Tweek again, was what he figured at least. He didn't expect the redhead to hurt him at all, with him being President of the Student Council Committee from what Principal Brimestone had overtly stated last night. Gregory thought the vampire teen knew better.
It's evidently clear by this point that Gregory disliked him, and now he's never to be trusted. It was really pointless to have them meet the three dangerous bloodsuckers because they attended dinner also, though they were isolated from everyone else. They sat at a circular table covered with a black cloth up on the stage, chatting, flirting, and eating without a care in the world.
Whatever remaining trust Kyle imprinted on Pip, Ike, Gary, and Tweek after the incident in the infirmary, Gregory was sure they were all on the same boat now. Stan most likely distrusted Kyle after what happened between Craig and his lovers. This would actually be the first time in a long while the two of them shared the same sentiment towards something, Gregory thought since they weren't really on good wavelengths with each other. Although most times the banter was annoying and juvenile, deep down Gregory enjoyed riling the teen up, his tantrums were laughable.
But back to the matter at hand. As the five teenagers walk back to their bedrooms, Gregory feels the familiar pair of eyes watching them from behind. He's opted to ignore the teacher seeing as how the man is doubtlessly still wary of them, but Gregory decides to make use of this opportunity. Maybe if he's fortunate enough, this guy might turn out to be one of Kyle's instructors.
As discreetly as he can, Gregory peeks over his shoulder spotting the tall noirette's distinct figure. Five or six more vampires are in front of him, he's not even bothering to hide the fact that he's tailing them. Gregory can't help but feel a little miffed by this, thinking the man is flaunting his superiority all because he is leagues way above humans. It's a fact that Gregory isn't afraid to acknowledge so he shoves the feeling of demoralization down as he faces forward. Right now is the time to get some intel on Kyle's whereabouts, that is if the teacher knows anything.
Pip, who is walking alongside him, takes notice of his serious expression when he's about to ask him what they are going to do. He doesn't get a chance to say anything, because Gregory beats him by speaking first.
"I want the rest of you to go on ahead," he says camouflaging the volume of his voice to match with the rest in the hallway.
Pip gets a worried look on his face. "Why?"
"Just do it," Gregory nearly hisses, keeping the man who's following them a secret. "I'll meet you and Ike in the room after a couple of minutes, I need to take care of something." He turns and walks back down the hall, locking with a pair of piercing crimson eyes as he does so.
"Gregory-" The moment Pip turns around, he acquires a nervous feeling in the pit of his stomach when he sees the long-haired man they met hours prior behind them past a number of students.
The second Gregory is side by side with the teacher, he glares at him throughout the corner of his eye. "Please come with me." And he keeps on walking, not looking back to see if the vampire will oblige or not.
The noirette stops in his tracks as it takes him a moment to comprehend the words that Gregory just uttered to him. He looks at the other four humans, then the boy wearing a brown cap over his blonde hair looks away and ushers his friends into resuming on their way to their bedrooms. Narrowing his eyes with increasing doubt, the teacher turns and presumably trails after Gregory.
"Where's Gregory going?" Stan asks.
Pip shakes his head. "He didn't say so I don't know, all he said was that he needed to take care of something."
It doesn't take long for Stan to figure out Gregory's strategy, but why is he starting with that teacher and doing it alone? Heaving an irritated sigh, Stan turns around ready to follow after the assassin.
"Stanley, wait!" Pip hurriedly says. The four of them stop, the students behind them complain as they amble past them.
"Uh, what's going on?" Gary questions, both him and Ike very confused though glad that their scary fourth period teacher is gone.
"Gregory being an absolute idiot is what's going on." Stan looks at the three with an annoyed scowl. "He knows we're supposed to be looking for Kyle together, yet he's all of a sudden doing things solo!"
Pip frowns. "L-let's trust him, okay? I'm sure he has his reasons for doing this by himself."
His mousy reply only aggravates Stan more. "We're going to the infirmary," he declares in a tone that leaves no room for objection. He walks down a separate hallway that leads away from the bedrooms. With brief reluctance, the others follow after him.
/
Heavy rain accompanied by a faint boom of thunder fills the silence within the hallway Gregory is in.
His back is against the wall, eyes shut and arms crossed, his posture relaxed. He's waited a few minutes for the teacher's arrival, and during that time frame he realized that it was very foolish of him to suddenly take matters into his own hands. He's never committed such a careless mistake before. He asks himself, "What led me to act so rashly?" He frowns as he opens his eyes halfway.
. . .
No answer comes to mind.
If he had done this on one of his assassination missions, he would either be dead or in prison. Gregory doesn't dare envision neither outcome, he's already steadily becoming angry. He directs that ire at no one but himself.
Is it because of what happened to Tweek that led him to think up this seemingly fruitful plan without proper preparation or is it because he's in an academy full of vampires and he feels that he needs to be alert 24/7? He'd never even thought of avenging his partner when he was killed, it was that boy's fault for allowing his emotions to get the better of him. So Gregory, of course, felt no sympathy when the child was backstabbed by that so-called friend of his. They're both in the afterlife now.
Gregory heaves a soft sigh, shoving the past behind him. What matters now is the present, and progressing along with his current predicament. "It's just one mishap. Learn from it, move on, and never repeat it a second time," he thinks, calmly berating himself.
"Gregory."
Caught off guard by the voice, the teen looks toward where he heard them from, appearing puzzled at who's approaching him. "Principal Brimestone?"
The mint-green-eyed man smiles at his frown. "Enjoying your first official day here?"
Gregory pushes himself away from the wall, keeping his arms folded as he faces him. "I don't mean to be rude, but what business do you have with me?" He isn't in the mood for idle chitchat and knowing this man based off his behavior last night, he's probably here to ask more than just about his day at his academy.
Principal Brimestone's grin drops. "I think I'm the one who should be asking you that," his tone took a serious dive. "What's the reason for inviting Mr. Akuma to a one-on-one talk?"
Gregory digs his nails into his arms, the faint pain dulled by the long sleeves of his sweater. He guessed right about the Principal coming to him to talk, however him and that teacher being the main topic was unforeseen. What is Mr. Akuma's purpose for getting him involved?
Gregory lessens the light pressure on his arms. "I just wanted to ask him where Kyle is, that's all."
"Oh? And why do you assume he would know where he is?"
Gregory deepens his frown. "To be honest, I'm not one-hundred percent sure if he knows or not, and I just confronted him on a whim," he responds truthfully.
The vampire crosses his arms over his chest. "I see," he hums. Gregory is unable to discern if he believes him or not. "But why is it that you wanna find Kyle?"
"Do not say a word about last night's encounter with 'The Dangerous Three' to anybody, especially the Principal. We'd be in serious trouble otherwise."
Gregory completely ignores the redhead's warning from this morning as he quirks an eyebrow. "You don't know?"
"I always have far more important things to do than look over every student in this building so no, plus Kyle's mature. Wouldn't be Student Council President if he wasn't."
"I have to disagree. Not only did he have us needlessly meet Craig and his boyfriends, they hurt Tweek, and today Kyle did too." Gregory doesn't care what kind of trouble they'll be in, Kyle will bear the burnt of it anyway.
"...Is that so...?" The pause and look on the Principal's face tells Gregory that he's probably cooking up some ideas for their punishment. "Tell me, who opened their door?"
"Kenny did, but only because Kyle told him to." He got this info from Stan while in their third period.
The man becomes quiet again, but then his lips break out into a smile. "Was scary meeting them, huh?"
"..." Gregory cannot believe this guy, how disgustingly immature. "This is no joking matter, Tweek could've died last night or this morning."
"Yes, that's very true, but I expected your friends to be worried about him, not you Mr. Assassin. Thought people of your profession were unable of feeling such 'useless' emotions."
Gregory's breath hitches in his throat, a light blush coloring his cheeks. He looks off to the side in embarrassment. "I'm not that heartless..."
Raising an amused eyebrow, Principal Brimestone broadens his smile. "You're not? Yet you kill people, whether they're good or bad. Do you enjoy it or are you only in it for the money?"
Willing the blush away, Gregory looks back at the man with a vexed glare. "I didn't peg you as the childish type." The Principal just chuckles at the insult. "Do you know where Kyle is at least?" Gregory asks constricting the irritation in his voice.
"Nope, but I'm sure he's somewhere around. Well anyway, I need to get going. Was fun chatting with you, Gregory." Flashing him a teasing grin, Principal Brimestone disappears leaving behind a black mist, but that too fades into the air, and Gregory is by himself yet again.
He sighs for a second time while massaging his forehead with two fingers and a thumb, feeling a headache coming on. He turns around and walks to his shared bedroom. This was a huge waste of time, he didn't get anywhere by doing this. Neither adult was helpful nor cooperative, he guesses this is what he gets for acting alone. Suddenly, Principal Brimestone's comment about assassins basically being cold-blooded replays in his mind, he lowers his hand from his head with a weak scowl.
"He wasn't wrong, it's only natural for an assassin to be void of any compassion."
"Do you enjoy it or are you only in it for the money?"
Gregory stops, gazing blankly at his reflection through the floor. No, he didn't relish ending peoples lives, innocent or not. And neither was he in it for the tremendous amount of pounds the missions supplied. Not when he first started, not even now. He was very detached back then, when he was in the orphanage. He was like a robot, which was a suitable attitude the assassination industry needed in someone. They provided proficient training there, and it didn't take long for him to be a pro at wielding different sorts of weapons. It was like he had a hidden talent for using deadly blades, except for guns. The only weapon he was closely attached to was a cutlass, something about it just felt so right to brandish. And it was the very first emotion he'd ever experienced.
Gregory blinks slowly, lifting his head as he forces his feet back into walking. Recalling that far into his past worsened his headache, and his mood. Fortunately, the trip down memory lane went no further. He remembered all of that simply because he concerned himself with Tweek, he felt sympathy and he could not suppress it.
He makes his way up the stairs, spotting someone heading for the staircase he's on from behind the balcony's ceramic railing.
"I think I might know where Kyle is." Gregory pauses, focusing his eyes on the person. It's Ike and he's stood near the foot of the stairs. "You said that you checked everywhere for him, but are you sure?"
Gregory knits his eyebrows. "I didn't say that I looked everywhere for him."
Ike makes a startled face, then shakes his head, disappointed. "Well no wonder you didn't find him." He sticks a hand into his pants pocket, and pulls out a set of keys on a golden metal ring, he dangles them in the air on his finger. "The nurse gave me these to a storage house."
So it seems Dr. Kero allowed them entry into his workspace, but Gregory is skeptical about something else. "Why didn't he give them to Stanley or Gary?" Pip means well, but he isn't all that responsible so he's out of the question.
"I dunno," Ike shrugs. "But what does it matter? I'm not a kid now let's go." He descends the stairs, twirling the keys around his finger. When he passes by him, Gregory turns looking at the noirette's back with strengthening incredulity. There's something strangely amiss about him. Cautious, Gregory follows Ike and they go below the set of stairs.
Gregory knows about the storage house, he stumbled upon it while scouring one of the classrooms that had a backdoor. He only opened it and peeked past it, that was it. Even though he was curious about the 12ft x 20ft wooden building, he'd gotten the notion that it was forbidden territory so he left it be.
After walking a few minutes down the hall, they stop in front of a classroom door. Gregory watches Ike randomly pick out a key and stick it into the doorknob, a click from it shows that he chose the right one and he pushes the door forward. They wander in with Ike closing the door, the classroom would've been utterly dark had it not been for the windows.
The two of them approach a door in the back, walking down the aisle of desks. Their footsteps and the rain are the only sounds overlapping the silence. The peculiar feeling Gregory is getting from Ike suddenly begins to feel familiar, the alien sensation causes him to tighten his guard. Once they're in front of the door, Ike once again chooses a key then puts it into the lock. Being successful once more, he opens the door, receiving a cold welcome from the frigid downpour.
The area enclosed by a towering wall made of cement bricks is only spacious enough to contain the storage house and perhaps a garden or two, there isn't anything else to see.
Gregory and Ike step outside, both calm to the damp, cold weather. Ike raises one of the keys in between his finger and thumb out towards Gregory. "You wanna unlock it?"
"How did you know which keys unlocked both doors?"
Lowering his arm, Ike smirks. "The nurse told me which ones, obviously," he replies to which Gregory does not buy.
He stops. "Cut the bullshit and show yourself."
Ike halts, cocking his head back with his grin curling into a bemused frown. "What are you talkin' about?" He turns his body around to face the platinum-haired blonde. "I get that you're suspicious of me for whatever reason, but why?" He asks innocently.
Gregory glares at him. "How would you know about the storage house if you were in the library earlier? You aren't even supposed to be aware of it."
Ike's eyes grow big in shock. But after a second, his lips curl upwards into an ominous smile. "Damn, I was hoping you'd figure it out until after we'd gotten inside. Oh well." Black fog erupts from underneath the boy and surround him entirely.
Even though he doesn't have his cutlass, Gregory is far from being defenseless. He was also taught martial arts just in case he didn't have his weapon or if his target somehow fought back, but he preferred using his cutlass instead of fighting with his bare fists.
"This is what I hate about you, Gregory," the unmistakable voice seethes through the wicked mass. "You think you're tough shit or somethin', actin' all arrogant when deep down you're actually scared shitless being in this academy."
Gregory stifles a laugh. "You are so naive to think that, Eric," he goads, earning a growl from the vampire.
Like a gust of powerful wind, the dark smoke disperses to reveal a pissed off Cartman. "I'm gonna make you learn your place here, even if I have to beat you half-dead!" He fumes tossing the keys to the side, his chocolate brown eyes being swallowed by red.
Gregory readies himself by getting into a fighting stance. Cartman smirks. "You really gonna take me on without your sword? Heh, who's the naive one now?" After taunting him, he dashes towards the human in the blink of an eye, only briefly catching him off guard.
Closing his eyes, Gregory concentrates, trying to detect where the fat teen might strike him from. In that split moment, he blocks a punch with his arms. "Ngh, of course he'd go for the face." The force of the blow sends him skidding backwards. Preserving his blocking stance, he exerts every ounce of strength into his feet to prevent himself from falling. Eventually something hard makes contact with his back, stopping him. Its rough, wet texture belongs to the wall. He lowers his arms, unsure if they're broken but knows they are most definitely bruised.
"Are you fucking kidding me?! How?!" Cartman bellows. If it wasn't for his soaked hair clinging to his forehead, you would probably be able to see a vein sticking out. That's how enraged he is.
"Is that all you've got?" Gregory smirks, disregarding the numbing ache in his limbs.
Cartman's blood boils, and he charges at Gregory once more.
(A/n: Gregory and Cartman rivalry lol I hope you enjoyed and the next chapter will be up soon)