Phoneme 3: The day I got cheated by Death

I always hated unheralded visitors. Just imagine you are the owner of a café. A very well-known café. In fact, it is so well-known that most of the visitors book a place in advance. It's a nice place. Do you see the pictures on the wall and the colours of the carpet? Good, I don't. But now imaging that one day nobody is expected to come by and you'd have a free day just for yourself. Relaxing, isn't it? But then, after you just went to the restrooms, someone's there and you have to work.

I learned that the burning hands belonged to a third year named Leto and were caused by dust, so no harm done to my face. I never understood how this works but as long as it does it's fine with me. On my way back to the workshop I remembered I had to sample the stuff and sighed. A day full of explosions and similar effects wasn't my definition of fun but it had to be done anyway. At least the girls accepted me as their friend and believe me, few things light up your mood as much as Nightshade's messed up humour. Lab, or Lablab if you want to use her full name (which would lead to your certain death by a certain scarf of a certain someone), on the other hand is nice without really wanting to. She is... I don't now how to describe it. You'll see eventually. And Mirabelle, well, she's the captain. I mean the captain. Like a mother but less awkward and more friend than family. Seriously, you got a problem and she'll listen. As I returned to my workshop I was confused by noises and as I thought, I found someone rummaging around in my stuff.
"What the heck", I demanded a little bit pissed, "are you doing with my stuff?! In my workshop?!" I felt like you in your café. What, you haven't forgotten, have you? Your customer is waiting, bring him the cake he ordered, I can wait. Finished? Good. I like working, I really do. But this guy made a total mess in here. "I ask you only once again", I was angry, yes, "why are you messing with my newly organised workshop?" The intruder seemed sorry, as if he didn't know anyone was working here. He slowly turned towards me and opened his hand. A broken gyroscope...
"I'm sorry, I didn't know anyone was working here. The last years this cellar was only a storage for replacement parts." I was thinking... technically it wasn't completely his fault but...
"You know what? Help me tiding up and sampling some stuff and everything is fine." He agreed and so we spent some time putting stuff back where it belongs. Eventually I began to talk, something I regret a little bit now to come think of it. Seriously, my life and my job for and at Beacon and IKARUS would have been much easier without him and his gang of troublemakers... "I didn't know there was someone at least partly similar to me here." The boy, I learned his name was Necros Charon -or Morrigan, depending on who you ask- and he has earned himself the nickname Reaper, didn't understand. "Might surprise you but I'm blind. You're wearing an eyepatch so I thought..." He interrupted me with a snap of his fingers.
"Don't say it", and then towards the ceiling, "why, world, do you hate me?" At some point of time someone of his team told me that literally everybody had asked him whether his right eye is blind but at that moment I only understood that his eyes were working, both of them. So I did something clever.
"So this thing is only for coverage and protection of the eye?" The Reaper sighed in relief. Suddenly, he began to laugh, quiet but happy.
"Exactly! You're the first one understanding this so quickly. Blind as a bat but bright as a bulb! So, you said you need help with some stuff?" I wanted to talk, but his scroll buzzed. Whoever it was, this person chose the worst time ever possible. "Sorry Gian", Necros excused winking, "girlfriend." He answered and moved towards the stairs. I can understand that. The reception in my workshop is really poor. "Lucy, what's up?" And as I went up a few moments later he was gone. That friggin' third year tricked me, willingly or not.

So I had to identify the dust myself by triggering it. Believe me, you're better off with being able to distinguish this junk by colour. I mean even if I work mostly analogue something has to power the mechanism... But my saviour that day came, a scarfed one to be particular.
"You look absolutely horrible", Lab greeted me after she switched on the light. That's one thing I like about her, this honesty.
"Why?", I answered raking my fingers through my hair, "I can't see any flaws or stains on my appearance." We both began to laugh, of course. It just must have looked really funny, me sitting there with a sooty face, grinning and breaking icicles from my rumpled hair.
"No, seriously", she grabbed a crate to sit on and pushed me aside, "let me do this for you. Just tell me what to put where." It was amazing. For half an hour I've exploded and were only able to label a few crystals. With her, I named the vial and she put some of the dust which seemed completely alike to me inside the flask.

"What is the headmaster thinking?", Lab snorted after work was done.
"Why so upset?", I replied confused. You should get used to Lab. She's often complaining about things but...
"No windows", she just answered gesturing, still sitting on the crate.
"So...?" Interestingly, if you looked at her clothes you'd never imagine her spending time in a workshop. But there she was, seated on a box full of metal junk and replacement parts.
"That's not healthy!", Lab huffed vigorously, "I can't believe this. Doesn't he know sunlight is important for the body? He surely doesn't want you to get sick, you're an asset for the students!" You see, she is complaining. Unlike sissies she's never moaning for herself, though. Many students call her a diva, snooty or a snooty diva but those don't pay attention to what she's actually speaking.

I laughed at the top of my lungs. Due to this girl's positively negative attitude my day was saved. Even dinner was relaxing. Except maybe for the fact that the Grimm-guy had the idea to feed his Nevermore by throwing bits of food to catch through the air. But if you find yourself in my position, in company of four girls, all of them charming in another way, you can consider yourself one lucky bastard.


A/N: Finally I wrote chapter 3. By the way, the third year students were OCs from the main story Lucien and I are working on together, Team NOBL! But I hope you enjoyed this chapter and feel free to leave reviews. ;)