A/N: sorry about the impromptu hiatus. One of the authors got knocked up, while the other one started college again. And while you try to figure out which one is which, here's a chapter to help you mull things over in your mullet.
Passing the Torch
6. Story of My Life
Despite his ability to awaken with the sun in time for class, Ian O'Neill had always been a night owl. The first and second day as an assistant teacher proved that, for he stayed up until well past midnight in favor of watching a talk show and instant messaging his girlfriend. This is why, all caffeine and natural morning affinity aside, he remained a bit grouchy on this third morning of classes.
"How can anyone be that perky at this hour?" The red-headed man grumbled to some of the other instructors standing around the coffee pot as the morning newscaster prattled on over the TV.
"Don't know what to tell you about that." Professor Mendez, the man in charge of the geography class, shook his head.
"Magic perk-up spell?" Riven offered. "No, wait, that's called coffee."
"Just be sure you're awake enough to do your job, O'Neill." Professor Battaglia snorted.
"Speaking of awake, where's Regnier?" Mendez asked as more people filed into the lounge. "He's usually up early."
"Let's see…" Ian scanned the crowd "Headmaster Cordatorta, my brother, that new guy in charge of the Survival class—nope. No Regnier." He offered a half-hearted shrug, which earned a laugh from the headmaster.
"Don't worry about him!" Cordatorta chuckled. "He'll wake up in time. Always does."
No sooner had the old warrior spoken than Regnier came dashing into the room. He flitted around the breakfast tables like a hummingbird on a sugar rush, stuffing a muffin in his mouth while trying to pour himself a glass of hot tea.
"Uh, professor?" Will glanced at the teacher warily, much like the rest of the room.
"No time." The man said through a mouthful of blueberry muffin. "Late for class."
"It's only 7." Riven stated. "You have a whole half hour before classes start."
In his shock, the battle tactics teacher spilled his tea all over his shirtfront. All this while Ian watched curiously. "Aah! But my clock said 7:35…"
"Your clock must be fast." Cordatorta said.
"Like light speed fast." Ian muttered as the headmaster continued, causing Riven to nearly choke on his hot coffee.
"Take time to chew your food and collect yourself…and change that shirt. You've got all the time you should need."
Teacher's assistant literally means "grunt" or "errand boy". His duties in Professor Battaglia's class included fetching chalk, cleaning the chalkboard, and emptying the trash can after classes wrapped up for the day. Fourth period, however, brought a change in his hum-drum routine.
"Can anyone tell me what the main export of Isis is?" Ian rolled his eyes at the question. Of course Rodney would be first to answer. Isis was his home realm, so he should know all about it. Which is why it took his brain a moment to register that the blond Medici boy hadn't been the first to speak up.
"Precious stones and metals are the main export of the realm of Isis." The other blond prince, Sean Del Solis of Solaria, responded with a yawn. Ian shook his head as Professor Battaglia praised him and Rodney shot the boy a stupefied glare. Since the last few lessons had been over Realms and their Key Features, all major realms would be covered. This meant more questions about Isis and invariably Solaria.
True to form, Battaglia fired off another query. "What about the government there? What is unique about it?" Ian now watched with open amusement. If Rodney wanted to regain his pride, he'd better answer first.
Apparently his pride wasn't that important to him. "It is one of the few true absolute monarchies remaining among the more "developed" realms." Sean answered in a bored tone. "Currently the realm is bound by marriage to the Kingdom of Terra in Southern Geos through the marriage of Prince Peter of Terra and Princess Diaspro of Isis."
The green-eyed assistant drew a sharp breath as Rodney turned on the death glare. Judging by the prince's expression, things were about to get ugly.
"How do you know that?" the platinum blond boy hissed.
"Puh-lease!" Sean waved. "I'm the freakin' crown prince of Solaria! I learned all about your realm both from my private tutors and my last school."
"You mean the one you got kicked out of?" Raphael Harper of Eraklyon, Sean's squire and roommate, smirked. The circumstances surrounding the Solarian boy's arrival at the school were hardly secret.
"You peasant!" The Isisian royal exclaimed at Raphael before whirling on Sean once more. "You just got lucky! I bet you don't even know those facts about your own precious realm!"
Suddenly, Ian wished he'd brought a bag of popcorn into this class with him. He needed it for this fight.
"Mr. Del Solis?" The professor asked. "How do you respond?" Ian cocked his head, trying to analyze the situation. He knew Rodney just made a huge mistake; unlike his fellow royal, Sean could spout off every impressive fact about his home world on command.
And that he did, his head held high with pride. "Solaria, once an absolute monarchy, has now moved to a constitutional monarchy, complete with a parliament that aids in the making and approving of laws. Our main exports are concentrated sunlight and solar panels, and the main industries are energy, tourism, and fashion."
The red-headed half-breed nearly choked while trying to contain his laughter. The expression on Rodney's face was priceless! The student wordlessly opened and closed his mouth as his face turned pink. The boy continued his impersonation of a goldfish a few seconds more before he finally cracked. "That's impossible! You must have cheated!"
"You're the one who asked him about his own realm, idiot." Raphael rolled his eyes as Ian now found himself torn between laughing and wincing in anticipation of Rodney's next move.
"You knave!" The offended prince roared, standing up and swinging his fist at the green-eyed sophomore from Eraklyon. Before his punch connected, though, Sean threw one of his own, knocking the other prince off his course and into the desk of a green-haired student from Polaris.
"Who died and gave you the right to hit my squire?" The Solarian spat, glaring daggers at Rodney. Enraged, the platinum blond gave a battle cry and charged Sean. The pair were about to declare an all-out war on each other (if they hadn't already) when Ian, upon Battaglia's instructions, grabbed each boy by the shoulder and forced them apart. He then stuck a hand on the chest of each prince in order to keep them separate.
"That's enough!" Battaglia boomed, staring menacingly at the two royals. "Fighting in my classroom is completely unacceptable!"
"But he…"
"No buts, Medici!" The stout man ordered, causing the boy to glance at the floor in defeat. "Both of you two have just earned yourself detention in addition to having to clean out the washrooms and empty every trashcan on campus. Am I clear?" Ian would have smiled with glee if he hadn't still been standing in between two angry and offended students. This meant he got off work early today!
"Yes, sir." Both boys muttered.
"What was that?" The professor asked, holding his right hand to his ear and leaning closer.
"Yes Sir." The two said, louder this time.
Being allowed to leave Red Fountain earlier than expected put the eldest of the O'Neill boys in a very good mood, one that he hoped to keep up through his date tonight.
Yes, Date.
Since last year, he and Amethyst Elfman had been going out on a semi-regular basis. Their relationship at the moment was best described as 'comfortable', being passed the awkward first date stage and not anywhere near asking for her hand. Besides, it would be considered very forward for him, the son of a simple nobleman, to ask anything so bold from a princess like her.
Which is why he now found himself waiting at Ell's Café for her to show up.
Soon enough she walked through the door, dressed in a sensible blue button-up shirt and a pleated blue, cream, and grey striped skirt. "Sorry to keep you waiting." She blushed, her voice sounding just a bit on the nasal side.
"Are you feeling okay, Amy?" He asked, noticing the tissues peeking out of her purse. She smiled apologetically.
"Allergies. Didn't have time to pick up my prescription today. Aachoo!" She sneezed into one of her unspent tissues, causing a few forks to momentarily rise up off the table.
"Are you sure you're okay?" He inquired again, feeling an inexplicable sense of foreboding about tonight's plans.
"I'll be fine." She waved, blowing her nose into her tissue. "So, what are you having?"
"The Wild West Burger." He said, eying her warily as she again blew her nose.
"That sounds goo—Aaachooo!" This time, the knives flew up and whacked him on the side of the head.
"Ouch!"
"Oh, Ian! I'm sorry!" She said as their server arrived with the two drinks the green-eyed man ordered prior to her arrival. He knew her well enough to know what she'd want with dinner. "I just can't seem to control it—Achoo!"
This time it was the drinks that levitated…and subsequently dumped their icy contents all over the red-haired man. "Damn it!" He stood abruptly, trying to daub water off of his pants with a table napkin. Amy gasped in horror, her eyes wide as dinner plates.
"OMiGoodness! Ian, I'm so sorry!" She blurted out. A strangled sigh escaped the Eternian's lips.
"I think dinner tonight may be a bust." He said simply. "Come on." She stood in confusion as he left their payment on the table.
"What? Where are we going?"
"We are going to the nearest 24-hour store and buying you some allergy medicine." He said, escorting her to the door. "You need it and we can't go out anywhere without it."
Thirty minutes, one irate pharmacy clerk, and a package of nasal allergy spray later, the date resumed, and the pair now strolled up the bustling sidewalks of Magix.
"I'm so sorry I ruined your plans for tonight." The violet-haired Fortune witch apologized for what seemed like the hundredth time.
"Come on, Misty, get over it already." He said, running a hand through his hair as the other wrapped itself around her shoulder. "So we skipped dinner and had to settle for a couple bags of corn chips at the drug store? We didn't get kicked out, and you're doing better, so it's all good now."
The Endorian princess blushed when he used his nickname for her. Just how he'd turned her name into Misty, she didn't know, but she kinda liked it…she just wished he wouldn't use it in public. "I just…"
"Don't." He stopped, putting a finger up to her lips. "Don't you say it again. No one got hurt. Nothing to be sorry about. Stuff like this just happens."
"Be that as it may, I still don't like it." Her eyes looked down at his shoes. He cupped his hand under her chin and gently raised her head up so that their eyes met.
"You don't have to." He said softly. "But it's out of your hands now. Even the power to see visions is no match for seasonal allergies. You know that."
A soft laugh escaped her lips. "I guess I should have gotten my prescription refilled yesterday when I had the chance, huh?"
"Well, you can get it done first thing tomorrow." He smirked. "But don't beat yourself up over something you can't control. You'll only wind up hurting yourself and nothing will be accomplished."
"I won't."
"Promise?"
"Seriously? You're making me promise?"
"Yes, now do you promise?"
Sigh. "Yes, Ian, I promise not to obsess over the little things I cannot change." She stared up at him with somewhat annoyed, but still honest, blue-violet eyes.
"Good." He smiled. "Now, are you up for a late-night walk through the woods?" A smirk played on his lips as a fit of girly giggles shook his date's shoulders.
"Oh, I think that sounds just perfect."