Note - I forgot to warn readers in the first chapter that this story contains referenced/implied relationship between a teacher/student - not Keith and Shiro, but there is also implied/referenced non-con.

Winter Tree: Roots
Doubly Toxic

"Adults suck. Adults really suck," Keith muttered to himself. Hiding out on the roof of the unused hanger could only last so long before someone in the staff would come looking for them, but the new teacher somehow managed to find their hiding place, meaning they would likely have to find a new spot soon, something he wasn't looking forward to. The places which were outside out of the view of staff where Lance could freely smoke.

Of course, not hiding meant actually attending class and Keith found himself in his math class which he definitely did not share with Lance or Hunk. His bookbag dropped beside his desk right before she dropped into the desk, wishing the seat wasn't attached so he could push back easier so he could lean back and look at the ceiling. Of course, looking up at the ceiling meant seeing the face of James Griffin when he came into class.

"I didn't expect you in class Kagone, given the fact you'd already skipped your first period, but then I've never seen you skip Professor Atkinson's class. He really puts the fear of God in you, doesn't he, unlike some of our other teachers."

"Fuck you, Griffin," Keith gave the other boy the middle finger while narrowing his eyes.

"Mature Kagone, real mature."

"Boys, I've already told you I want no fighting in my classroom."

"I've not gotten into a fight since my first year in middle school division." James gave Keith a very pointed look meaning he purposefully brought up the one fight they got into in the first few weeks of being there at the garrison. The words regarding his parents not caring still stung. "Unlike some other individuals."

Keith sat up, leaning forward on one arm glaring at Griffin while the other cadet sat down at his own desk, leaning back ever so slightly and looking quite smug with himself. He felt a hand on his shoulder, making him tense up. "I also heard you were skipping class this morning." He didn't look up at the man, a cold running over his entire body, his eyes widening. "See you after class during the lunch period for a tutorial session."

His throat tightened slightly, bile rising in his throat, but he held it back. The teacher let go of his shoulder and he turned his attention towards James, his mouth pressing together as certain words started forming in his mouth. "F…"

"No cursing in my class Kogane."

"Yes sir," Keith lowered his head slightly, his nails digging into the desktop while he took a deep breath before burring his head, not paying the lesson any attention, though he did hear Griffen say something about not having to go to the tutorial sessions if he actually paid attention in class and he did feel the teacher's device tap the top of his head one time as he went by, making his stomach stir nervously and his fingers dig into the desk again, something everyone chalked up to him having issues.

Eventually, the bell rang and the other students headed towards freedom while he remained stuck having to deal with a certain someone, but he stopped by his locker to drop off his math book, but let his head rest against the open locker, not caring that it would possibly leave temporary marks, his mouth slightly open while his mind lost focus. Hunk speaking drew him back to reality. "Lunch, lunch, wonderful lunch."

"Good for you, buddy?" Keith smiled at his larger friend, but the way Hunk's facial features fell he knew something was worrying him.

"Something the matter."

"I, um, just have a tutorial with Professor Atkinson again."

"Oh." Hunk frowned. "Our tutoring sessions not working?"

"More of he hates Atkinson's tutorials," Lance stated, giving a quick pat on his back which didn't at all help Keith feel better.

"Why not just skip?" a third voice chimed in. Keith turned his head to look at the person in question, a smile weakly appearing on his face. Lance of course pointed a finger at his mouth and gagged, but the person in question said, "I already know you don't like me, McCain. No need to be such a drama queen."

"You're one to talk Tamara," Lance grimaced.

"No Lance, you know…"

"I don't care that she and Keith are a thing. She's bad…"

Hunk clamped a hand over Lance's mouth and started pulling him away. Keith stood up, trying to smile at Tamara yet he didn't really feel it, let alone going through the motions expected of someone in a relationship. She leaned forward, kissing his cheek, not noticing the fact he felt the same way about her as he did someone else, yet he couldn't explain in his head why, given the fact… "Sorry. The last thing I need is to have him on my case. He'll hound me until I show up, but you should know that by now."

"Yeah, but you're the rebel cadet whose the top of the class, well, minus a few things, but everyone expects…"

"Yeah. Not today. I don't feel very sociable today."

He started closing his locker when she said, "Aren't you going to take your math book with you?"

"Oh. Yeah. Almost forgot." Reluctantly, he grabbed the book, tucking it under his arm and heading to the professor's office. With each step, his body grew even tenser, but eventually, he arrived in the place he dreaded. Stepping into the man's office, his eyes nervously went to the couch, but he avoided looking the man in the eye.

"Be sure to lock the door behind you," the man said, referring to the already closed door.

The lock clicked while Keith's teeth ground together, his entire body seething yet knowing punching a teacher would result in being put into isolation given the fact he didn't have a home to return to, or something worse. He took a deep breath, his back still turned to the man, not at all pleased with having a tutorial session. He turned and looked at the man before starting to unbutton the top of his uniform, so his chest and stomach were exposed.

"Drop the pants already Kagone."