Disclaimer: The author of the fanfiction (babbler) does not, in any way, profit from the story and that all creative rights to the characters belong to their original creator.

Subaru's Apartment

7:40 AM

Subaru POV

Packed by the door, in a messy collection, were the many things I needed for the day. I had several work sheets to give back, an essay, and a journal for Teana…It's so obvious that Fate was living with Teana, how could I not have noticed it the moment I walked into her apartment. I guess my professors were right when they said I was a little dense. Fate turns into a little pussycat when Teana's around and she was blatantly looking down her shirt the other day! Seeing their lips so close made me sick! I can feel my body tensing up just thinking about it.

"What? 7:45 already?" I checked through my things again and scooped them up

and ran for the car. Did I take my journal? It's too late now even if I never. I started my car and raced out onto the road.

There was so much traffic. How could fifteen minutes make that much of a difference? I flicked on the radio; if there was something holding up this highway I wanted to know about it…I already learned my lesson last week.

"Low APR financing on all Nissan vehicles. Nissan Teanas as low as 700,000 yen…"

Teana's always so strict and stern with everyone. Why is she so lenient with Fate? That girl is probably the biggest delinquent in school! Probably selling drugs out of Teana's apartment for all she knows. She goes to a bar, who knows what else she does that she's not suppose to?

Honk! Honk!

I narrowly missed a Wingroad as I swerved into the school's parking lot. I hope that wasn't Chrono's car. I pulled in a parking space still shaking from the near miss. The car next to mine was a blue sedan…which I think is Teana's…MUST RESIST...URGE TO KEY…CAR. I shoved my keys into my jacket pocket. I had too much stuff to carry anyway.

Teana's Office

8:30 AM

Teana POV

"How come you have to do this assembly Teana-chan?" Nanoha was sitting on my desk and swinging her legs.

"The grand master demands it." I wonder what he'll be doing this hour? He always says he has meetings but just about all parents come to see me and both Shamal and I handle the most of the administration functions. Shamal should be paid more and Chrono much less…if at all really.

"What do you think…" I looked up from my assembly notes and noticed Nanoha had slipped into a chair and looked engaged in a book. When Nanoha was quiet, I didn't bother her. It was a lesson I had learned a long time ago.

I read over my notes once more making sure I knew the dates for the upcoming holidays and events. I already had this all memorized but I couldn't help myself. Butterflies were fluttering around in my stomach totally oblivious to the fact that I've been teaching for years. How could those butterflies be so clueless?

"Here my journal." A folder fell onto my desk and I nearly knocked my chair over as I jumped back. When was Subaru ever quiet enough to sneak up on me? Then again, she'd hugged me from out of nowhere the other day.

"Ah." I briefly leafed through the journal. "Oh yeah! Thank you for the meal last night. It was great." The mess she had left behind truly wasn't though. I'm going to have to paint my ceiling to get rid of that brown stain. I wonder what she exploded?

"I'm sure you enjoy eating Fate more…I mean her cooking. Hehe."

"Fate isn't past the instant ramen stage yet."

"Are you teaching her? I can see the two of you now all hot and sweaty, thrusting and fingering to make that perfect…hehehe."

What was she even talking about? This would be the point where Nanoha started picking on me as well but she was still just obliviously reading the book.

"Why are you here so early all the time Teana?" She flicked Nanoha's ear. Nanoha ignored it and kept on reading.

"I coach basketball…coaching probably isn't the best word." One of the girls struck me square in the face with a ball I was supposed to catch. It wasn't my proudest teaching moment. "Everyday it gets harder to get out of bed that early! I hope they find a coach soon."

"Why don't you just have a tumble with Fate? If I had that Ferrari, I'd be riding it all morning long."

Do I need some decoder ring with this girl? What cereal would I even get it in? I suppose is the logical answer would be Fruit Loops.

"Nanoha, can you help me out? I think all the noxious gas our kids spew out has gotten to her. Though it could be the radon seeping into the building…but that usually causes lung diseases and stuff."

"Shush, I'm reading."

"I'm just saying," Subaru said, putting her hands behind her back and walking toward the door, "F**KING Fate should cure whatever ails ya."

…I fell back into my seat. What was that? Did she really just yell that out?

Nanoha was still just sitting there reading …or were her cheeks a little more red than normal? Shamal hadn't said anything and Chrono is in his office. Did I just imagine her saying it? Surely, there be someone chewing my ear off…or Subaru's at least if that actually happened.

I walked to the door and looked out at Shamal, who looked back at me, and I back at her….

"Nanoha? Was Subaru just in here?" Maybe that leak in the exhaust had opened up again in my car. Oooh! I could use that excuse to explain the basketball incident earlier as well. The gradual degradation of my brain function would explain a lot of things really.

"Oh, look at the time. Nyhahaha. I have to get something in the staff room." She raced out the door so fast she left a ghostly image of herself behind like in one of those Looney Tunes cartoons.

I wonder what other amazing things I'll see now that I'm actively losing my marbles one by one.

I stared out at the 200 senior high school student, whom in equal measure, stared back at me with disinterest, boredom, and anguish. They all had the exact same lecture every year.

"Good morning everyone." My voice boomed out from the huge speakers on both sides of the stage.

"GOOD MORNING LANSTER-SENSEI." I must have looked a little shocked because some of the kids had started laughing. I wasn't expecting that. Boos would have been expected…but not this.

"Unfortunately your principal couldn't be here today. He was called away to defend the mushroom kingdom. With any luck, we won't hear back from him for a while." They all knew Chrono kept gaming systems in his office even though he told them it was for when his little brats came to visit him in his office on the weekends. The hard work of Shamal and I, kept his reputation good, unfortunately.

I waited for the chorus of giggles to subside. I could do this in my sleep. It was the same old stuff I'd heard a million times back when I was in school. Why did they take away an entire period just to tell everyone the rules again? These are senior high students! They've been following these rules for the past six years! A perfectly good teaching hour wasted for all.

I tried to keep everything short and to the point but it looked like there were already some sleepers among this bunch…namely Subaru.

"Signum's now going to talk to you about the new fitness program were implementing at the school. Please give her the same respect you gave myself. Oh, I almost forgot! The principal wishes to speak with the choir members in the library after the assembly…that is if he's back from saving the princess by then."

I walked off the stage. I wonder if I'm ruining my image by making them laugh. Kids listened better when they thought you might make the occasional joke… or could be pants-wettingly scary like Nanoha.

"Hey," someone patted me on the shoulder, "Harlaown-san wants to talk to you."

I peeked out around the side of the stage and looked for his blue mop of hair. I didn't expect him to actually show up. Out of all the assemblies we've done, since I was here, he hasn't attended a single one.

Finally I saw him standing next to a brightly blushing Subaru. A dark scowl contorted his face and he seemed to be scouring the stage for something but hopefully not me.

As quietly as I could, I made my way over to him. He motioned me toward the door.

"What's this about?" I asked, stepping out into the hallway as he pulled the door through behind us.

"What the hell do you think you're doing? Are you always undermining me like this behind my back!"

"You're this mad over that little joke?" His face suddenly became deep at my reply.

"I don't appreciate my staff disparaging me in front of everyone! It's the most unprofessional thing I've ever seen."

"That's quite a stretch…"

"What was Fate Testarossa-chan doing in your car this morning?"

"I saw her walking so I gave her a ride." It wasn't a lie. Every morning Fate walks to my car and I give her a ride.

"Not good enough! Especially from you…that girl's always in your office and then there's all that other crap about you…if it was someone else I might believe it but not from you."

"What other crap?" It felt like someone jabbed me in the stomach and didn't take their fist away. That sudden contraction and that tingling feeling sweeping through my veins. What was being said about me behind my back?

"You KNOW very well what I'm talking about. Nanoha is probably the most beloved teacher here…and the most professional too. You should take a lesson from her! You've got a bad reputation and it just keeps getting worse…if this keeps up I'm going to have to let you go."

"…"

"Go have a nap or something. You look awful."

I wonder what caused that? I wanted to smash his stupid face into the display case, but I just couldn't get my arms to work. The thumping of my heart in my ears drowned out all noise on my way back to the office. Maybe I really should go to science room and have a nap. No one uses it anyway.

I punched the button for the air conditioner and sat down. How could Chrono be this stupid? I'm not doing anything wrong…not really. If someone jumps me with a hug what am I supposed to do about it?

I had to finish writing up a handout, but the computer was useless when I was this mad. You try typing with your tightly balled fists and see how it turns out. All I could do was sit there and stare at the screen with the vein on my forehead about to explode.

Ding Ding Ding

The bell brought me out of my stupor. The room was freezing so I turned the air conditioner off and starting fixing my spelling mistakes from earlier. I selected the science room printer and hit print. It's always difficult to find a working printer in this school but the science room's always worked and I had to get the magnets for the activity I was going to do.

The science room, math room, and French room were all in a wing of the building above the gymnasium. Walking up the stairs I could already hear noises from the gym. No one came here since it was always so noisy and the rooms were cramped and without air conditioning. The constant thump thump thump of basketballs didn't add to the ambiance

The science room had that burning smell to it from the chemistry materials they used to have in there. I guess no one realized that keeping all those chemicals in a small-unventilated room wasn't a very good idea…and that was only four years ago.

I swung the door open and plunged in. This was like pulling off a band-aid; something you had to do quickly. Get in and get out. That was the point where Nanoha usually appeared from nowhere to take a dig at me… she must be busy at the moment.

The smell wasn't too bad now with the ventilation running…

A set of blue eyes and another of crimson peered back at me in darkened room. The only light came from the doorway since the room lacked a window, it took a couple of seconds for my eyes to adjust…and then I saw two unmoving forms pressed tightly against each other in various states of undress. The blonde was topless and pressed hard against the school's beloved most professional teacher. Her clothes were hanging off and even in the darkness I could see blush filling her cheeks

…so was this the lesson Chrono wanted me to learn?

The blonde's eyes went wide and she quickly withdrew her hand from between the older women's legs. Her lips started moving but if she said anything it didn't register as I took a step backwards and closed the door. I have a class to get to anyway. We can do the magnet activity tomorrow.

Getting home before 4:00 is quite weird; hell, getting home before 6:00 most days is a luxury. I took a taste of my beer and tried to sink myself further into soft confines of my couch. Something my mentor once said to me came to mind about days like this: "In this profession, some days you come home and need a bottle of wine, and then some other days… you need two!"

Chrono must be a total idiot. I wonder what would happen if I went to the school board? I took another long drink.

Then again, I'm living with an underage girl and I can already see Chrono on the news telling everyone that I'm always hugging and touching the kids. There's no way I can win out of this. Even if they find me completely innocent, I'd probably be blacklisted, they'd stick Fate in a foster home, and that's not even counting the police investigating me as a potential sexual predator.

Bang! Bang! Came a knock on my door and I sat bolt upright nearly knocking over several empties on my coffee table. Who the hell could that be? I grudgingly made my way to the door.

"Teana-chan!" Hayate grabbed me in a bone-crushing hug.

"It's….nice…to…see…you…too."

"Hayate? I think she's dying love." Carim pushed her way between us. "What did I tell you?"

"The only things I remember you telling me are things I shouldn't say in polite company…does Teana-chan count as polite company?" Hayate smiled and twirled her way over to the couch.

"She'll be the death of me." Carim wiped her forehead, obviously a little winded from the walk up the stairs, and sat besides her lover.

Even though the two were now in private, Carim appeared to be hesitant to sit close to Hayate. It makes me wonder how they were caught in their little love affair in the first place. No one knew anything until Chrono blew up and fired her; suddenly and out of nowhere.

"Teana, I've heard you've got a Ferrari around the house now." A lopsided smile crept across her face.

"What? I have a Toyota." A cheap one at that I didn't add.

"No, no, no. I mean you're living with a younger women." The way she said living made me feel like a shower. She definitely didn't mean mere roomies.

"She lives with me! We aren't living together." That vein on my forehead was throbbing again.

"Has she done the hadaka apron for you yet. It certainly brightens my day." Carim smiled at the now slightly blushing Hayate.

The only thing that could have made this conversation more awkward would be if we were all in the nude. I wonder if I started stripping off clothing would they leave quicker? On second thought they'd probably stick twenty-dollar bills in my underwear?

"You are quite lucky to be living together. It's difficult to rendezvous when everything is against you." She put her hand on my knee in a knowing way and I in turn took a long drink. I'll need something stronger if this keeps up.

"We almost got caught so many times! Hehehe. It's so hard to hear anybody with that sexy British voice in my ear."

"The science room, the little shed behind the gym, and the janitor's closet way over by the science lab are definitely the best places, but I supposed you already found some little nooks yourself."

"Carim, she has a sound proof office." Two big smiles turned toward me. Were they doing this for torment or did they actually think I'm dating Fate? Now I remember why I avoided them the last few months.

"You should be telling this to Nanoha, NOT ME." There was definitely enough venom in my voice to kill a small moose.

"FATE-CHAN!" Hayate jumped over the couch and grabbed the girl.

"Hayate! What did I tell you not twenty minutes ago. Let the poor girl go!" Carim bounded out of the chair, or least she tried to bound, but it took several tries for her to get up off the deep recesses of my leather couch. Her bounding days were behind her now. If anything, she was more like an arthritic buffalo than a gazelle, but don't tell her I said that.

Fate avoided my glare but she let Hayate drag her over to the loveseat. They were whispering about something lurid and Fate's face told the story with a deep blush; sweat already dripping off of her chin.

Fate reached for one of my beer and simultaneously, Carim and I moved the case out of her reach. That reaction was sort of funny for me. Carim would break all kinds of laws and rules pursuing Hayate, but she'd stop Fate from have a beer (not that I would let her have one anyway).

Finally, there was someone more uncomfortable than me in the room.

"How long have you been living with Teana-chan?" She tried to ask casually, but there was a slight smile on her face.

"A…a…about a month." Hayate was still whispering in her ear, but now there little filthy topic was draining colour from her face rather than adding it.

"Anyway, it has been nice bothering you again Teana-chan. We should do this again sometime." Carim eased herself out of the chair and grabbed her lover by the ear. I don't think she liked Hayate tightly embracing Fate nor the sexual like gratification that she was getting out of torturing her the poor girl.

Fate remained stationary until the two had said their goodbyes and the door was tightly closed behind them. Only then, did she slowly turn to catch my eyes, and she welted like a flower in the noonday sun.

"I'll make us some dinner. What would you like to eat?"

"Are…are you mad?"

"No, I'm not mad that you're doing something incredibly stupid. Even though I should probably go to the police about this." I rummaged through the fridge.

"Why does it matter to you? I'm sixteen! I'm not a naïve little moron and she didn't rape me."

I turned the burner on high. I guess it'll be curry tonight. "Nanoha shouldn't be involved with you…it's just not right."

"Carim-san and Hayate-sempai dated in high school…"

"Carim ended up fired and Hayate almost had to switch schools right before finals." I still hear the kids gossip about them yet.

"No one's going to find out! You've been with Nobue and Kana…and…"

"I WHAT?"

Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed it so far. The next chapter will probably take another month since I'm very busy at the moment.

Please review! I want to know what you think!