Warnings: Yaoi (which means guys are loving guys), more than likely bad language, horrible school grades, stereotypical high school B.S., possible OOC, and alternate universe. Oh and clichés. Lots and lots of clichés.

Pairing: ZexSo (HOLY SNAP!), possible mentions of AkuRoku, RiSo

Author's Note: WOW! You all should be so proud of me! Posting something not even ten days since the last one. (dances) I am epically awesome and you know it, lol. Just joking, I'm just really proud of myself right now. So Academia has one chapter and an epilogue and then it's finished. My first fic (that isn't a oneshot) finished. How cool is that? It's taking me long enough lol Hope you enjoy the chapter, it's significantly longer than the last. Almost double the last one... still kinda short thought... I'll make it up to you all later.

Chapter Six: Planet Hell

He sat at his desk, trembling in feelings of dread and embarrassment. Too many thoughts were streaming through his mind at once and he couldn't grab a hold of one for more than a few nanoseconds. The brothers had arrived home and Zexion immediately barricaded himself inside his room with his laptop and Jane Austen novel. He sat on the ground at the edge of his bed, his office chair pressed against the bedroom door as if to prevent his older sibling from bursting in.

He heaved a sigh, gaze lifting to the ceiling. By Monday everyone who didn't know about his crush would definitely know. The school appeared to be generally open with anyone whose sexual preferences was 'abnormal', judging by the way Axel and Roxas's relationship was accepted. And while that rumor of Riku and Sora dating was going around, Sora didn't seem to get any problem.

Then why did it matter so much that Zexion likes Sora? Was it because of the supreme social differences? Sora being top of the social latter and Zexion near the very bottom (Academic Decathlon wasn't exactly considered popular, even though their school won the past three years in a row).

It didn't matter, Zexion thought to himself. He began to write, every thought every incomplete thought. The text covered the page with layers and layers of words. "It doesn't matter," his whispered, holding back the depression that loomed over him. Illusion had always been his gift. He had convinced himself there was hope and ended up breaking his heart; he had been held in the captivity of his own illusion, how pathetic was that? Caught in one's own trap. He was too attached to the athlete.

Too bad the one he wished dearly to come true would never happen. He took a shaky breath, trying to ignore the way his eyes tear up slightly. "I guess even illusionists get caught in their web occasionally." Zexion pretended he didn't hear his voice crack; another lie to add to his pile of words. He grabbed his Austen book, the book he carried almost everywhere, and read Emma.

-.-.-

Just outside the door, Saïx rested, his head propped against the door to listen in on his brother's musings. The college student felt his heart clench at the very recognizable sounds of his brother crying. Growling slightly, the older brother stalked to the living room and flopped ungracefully on the couch. Huffing Saïx could feel himself slipping back into memories, of when Zexion was younger, in elementary and junior high, teased for his extreme intelligence and unique hairstyle. Just like how Saïx was around that age, only for his facial scar. However, where Saïx had no problem punching people out and getting suspended, Zexion just took every comment and physical beat down and would come home and cry. Or write out every single thought on that computer of his.

Zexion put all his focus into his studies, and he technically could have gone straight to college and by passed high school altogether. But Zexion was adamant about going to high school, to attempt being a normal student once again. Saïx punched the side of the couch. It was obvious to see how well that all worked out.

At one in the morning, Saïx's cell rang, a number he didn't recognize at all. The temptation to plug it into Google and find out who it belong to was quite tempting, but at the moment the couch was quite comfortable. He merely reached over and turned up the television (an old school B rated horror film that would only bring a smile to his face).

"Saïx?" Zexion's voice floated down the hallway, sounding scratchy.

Saïx sat up from his lounging position. "In the living room." Zexion padded down the hallway and met his brother's gaze. It was like a punch to the solar plexus for Saïx, his brother just looked like a slightly older version of that boy he used to be. The older brother felt his protective instincts rising.

Zexion plopped on the couch beside his brother, staring unseeingly at the 'gore' onscreen. "…I don't know what to do."

"Do what you can," Saïx yawned. "You only have three weeks left until graduation. Then you can leave Feyt High and never have to look back." Zexion nodded, closing his eyes. "You have a bright future ahead, Zexion. Some of the best schools in the world are begging for you to attend, once you've graduated you can leave Destiny Islands and never return if you wish."

"What will you do if I leave?" Zexion murmured, slowly slipping off into sleep.

Saïx shrugged. "Nothing but you is keeping me here. Maybe I'll leave and find a job somewhere else. Something more productive than a teacher's aide at DIU."

"And leave Xemnas?"

Both brothers erupted into chuckles. "Yep, I'll even leave Xemnas." And as their chuckles fell into yawns, both Illusiers fell asleep.

-.-.-

Monday morning, before classes even began, Zexion decided that the rest of the school semester was doomed. His locker was littered with graffiti and derogatory pictures. The inside was filled with combination pity notes and hate spam. His books were destroyed and his assigned desk was taken apart.

However it wasn't until just before lunch that the actual physical bullying began. On his way to trade out his books for the later classes, he was shouldered into a locker. While working the lock, someone began throwing some small objects like erasers and such at him. Zexion made his way to the library, moving to the encyclopedia section instead. As much as he enjoyed that table in the dead center of fiction, being surrounded by encyclopedias and in the direct eyesight of the librarian was the safest move he could make.

Finishing his minute lunch of half a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, Zexion quickly packed up his items and rushed to his next class.

"Hey!" Zexion felt himself get shoved into one of the snack machines. He kept his head turned away, his long bangs hiding his eyes from his assailants. "Look at what we've got here boys." The voice was familiar, but no one Zexion could specifically name. "The little, gay mouse."

A series of laughs came from his friends and Zexion tried not to sigh. He mentally began to prepare himself for the pain. Pain always came with confrontations like these. "Who do you think you are, crushing on Sora like that?"

Zexion shrugged, glancing up slightly. His eyes widened in shock; at the end of the hall stood Sora. Even from this distance he could tell Sora was uncomfortable with what was happening. It could mean Sora didn't order these attacks (which was very comforting), or it could mean he was afraid of getting caught (not so comforting). Not like anyone would put the blame on Sora, the whole school would rally around him to be sure he'd not get one ounce of punishment.

Someone punched him in the gut; the abrupt sting of pain caused the academic to drop his books and notes. One of the bullies, a girl, picked up the collection of Jane Austen's works, laughing. "Look at this! He's a romantic!" She fake swooned before the group laughed. Someone kicked at Zexion, just scraping his knee. "Maybe we could ruin this book. It seemed to survive our earlier attacks."

"Yeah! Give it to me, I have an idea." The girl handed the large book over to one of the smaller guys. "Let's rip it, page by page."

"I still want to beat the crap out of him."

"Gotta leave some fun for Seifer."

Zexion tried to keep his gaze on Sora, but hearing them tear up his book hurt more than anything. He'd owned that book since… Zexion couldn't help the mental chuckle, since he first realized he was in love with Sora. How symbolic.

The bell rang and the bullies scattered the pages around him before taking off. Zexion, wincing in pain from the few injuries he sustained, glanced to over where Sora had been. He was nowhere in sight.