GUYS! GUYS! I'm actually going to try to not be so angst-ridden this chapter! It'll be difficult but I'll do my best.
Loki:
The next day Loki had texted Tony that he was going in to school early to re-take a test for psychology so it wouldn't be necessary for him to drive him into school. Tony, being Tony had protested of course but eventually gave in. So here Loki was, incredibly early, walking to psychology, not to re-take a test, but honestly just to have a deep chat with his favorite teacher/sometimes therapist.
"Loki, hello" Professor X smiled at him from his seat at his desk, Loki grinned back and held up two starbucks that he had picked up on his walk to school.
"Peace offering for so rudely skipping class last week?"
The teacher laughed and took the offered coffee "Loki that was one of the few times you've ever missed my class. Honestly I'm madder at the people who showed up while you were gone. It was a room full of annoying, foul mouthed teenagers and I had no eye of the storm to keep me grounded."
Loki couldn't help but blush, there was a reason why Professor X was his favorite teacher, everyone liked to be considered better than they really were right? "See all of you teachers who've had me have been terribly spoiled. You think our generation is so great and intelligent and then you meet people other than me like, oh I don't know my brother for example and your illusions are shattered."
The teacher smiled sweetly "Oh yes your brother. Now if you two aren't the typical ying yang relationship I honestly don't know what is."
"I wanted to talk to you about something Professor." Loki's voice was suddenly serious, all humor and lightness gone from it.
The smile dropped off Charles's face as well "What is it Loki?"
"Well...Raven and...and Professor Lehnsherr."
"What about them?" the psychology teacher's voice was low and more serious then Loki had ever heard it at the mention of his significant other.
"Raven likes him...a lot...and well I'm worried about it. She's my friend but she's absolutely gone for him, and she's really different from how she used to be. Raven thinks the world revolves around him and I just thought you ought to know. Just in case, I don't know, if something happens I just thought I should warn you."
"Thank you Loki, but Erik already told me about her crush on him. If she tries to make any advances on him then he will pull her aside and talk to her about it. So you don't need to worry about it, he tells me everything." Professor X was leaning forward in his chair towards Loki who had dropped into the chair opposite his desk. The man's brown hair fell into his earnest eyes and his hands were folded neatly on top of the desk.
'Well...if he already knows there must not be anything to worry about right?' Loki thought to himself, still rather conflicted.
"Ok, I just thought you ought to know what I do."
"Well I appreciate that Loki."
The two sat for a moment in companionable silence, sipping at their coffees in unison. After a few minutes Professor X spoke up again. "Is there anything else you wanted to talk to me about Loki?"
The sophomore contemplated that for a minute, because he hadn't really thought this out. He had woken up that morning and gone to see his favorite teacher on a whim. And then along the way his mind had come up with a sensible, accepted reason for such a random meeting. The situation with Raven had been bugging him lately, but not so much that he would go talk to a teacher about it. Really hadn't his subconscious just been trying to pull him towards an intelligent, kind adult that could help him out of the situation he was in?
"I…..don't know." He finally said softly, staring into his coffee with a confused look on his face.
Charles:
Charles sighed and leaned back, settling into his comfortable chair, honestly he was too old to still be dealing with teenage drama. But Loki, he was different from so many of the other kids he taught. And the kid had been so sincere and sweet in telling him about that girl's crush on his Erik.
'Gosh Erik, what am I going to do with you? Always making students fall madly in love, it'll end badly for you one of these days.' He almost smiled; his best friend/partner had been breaking hearts left and right since they were college students together hoping to change the world. But now they were old (in their 30s!) and yet still dealing with tears from students and grades on tests. Being a teacher could be quite the ridiculous and nostalgic job sometimes.
"Well Loki you know I'm a counselor first and a teacher second. Unless it's something like bringing a gun to school I'll do my best to protect you from the principal."
The boy's bright eyes rose to meet his. "Ok, thank you, I'll keep that in mind."
Charles smiled, alright he'll admit it, though Erik teased him relentlessly about it, helping teenagers with their problems really was what he lived for.
Tony:
He was leaning against the door of his first period, playing with his phone, scrolling through old text messages and making the screen light up. He checked the clock and rolled his eyes. Still 5 more minutes until the bell, ugh…..all he wanted was to hang out with Loki and hold his hand but the kid had said something about re-taking a test. Humph, for whatever reason he was feeling kind of suspicious about that. Then he smacked himself on the head. What the hell was wrong with him? Why did he doubt Loki of all people? Loki was his favorite person right now; if he had lied to him then he probably had a good reason for it. If he didn't trust Loki then who could he trust?
Tony glanced up and saw to his surprise two people were moving down the hall towards him, unfortunately neither of them was the slight, pale, green-eyed figure he was hoping for, but instead he saw two somewhat familiar people. Logan's dark hair spiked around his face and leather jacket slung over his broad shoulders and the smaller form of Victor beside him.
"Hey" he said once they reached him, smiling at Victor and giving Logan a tight nod.
"Hey Tony!" Damn Victor seemed happy about something; Tony couldn't help but notice that he was walking very close to Logan and that the older boy was looking down at him with a protective expression. "Do you have the same 1st period as Logan?"
"Yes" Tony and Logan said at the same time, they both glanced at each other and then quickly away, embarrassed.
Victor smirked "Where's Loki? I thought you guys were inseparable."
"Apparently Psychology tests take precedence over our undying love." Tony said dryly, allowing a smile to spread across his face when Victor chocked on a laugh. He saw that Logan was struggling to hold back a grin as well when he looked at Victor and wondered. He had assumed that Logan was crazy for Loki, hell it had been incredibly obvious in the way he had talked at lunch, the way he had threatened Tony. But Tony seemed to be seeing a probable interest in Victor. Hah! Now he could have Loki to himself and get Logan off his back. And Victor was a sweet kid; he deserved someone that would protect him.
"Whoa, already besties I see." Drawled a familiar, sarcastic voice, Tony turned and smiled at Loki as he walked up, messenger bag thrown over his shoulder and blue cardigan unbuttoned and swinging around his tight black tee-shirt.
"Hey gorgeous" he whispered into Loki's sweet smelling hair as he hugged him hello. He could feel Loki grin into his shoulder and when he reluctantly let him go Loki's expression was wide open and warmer then Tony was used to seeing.
"Hello there" The sophomore replied softly to him, smiling up at him, still staying close to him and Tony, feeling the positive vibes rolling off of the younger boy, slid a arm around his waist, biting at his lip to hold in his happiness when Loki allowed it.
"So what's up?" Loki asked, looking hard at Logan. From what the younger teen had told him Tony knew that he hadn't really talked to Logan lately, they had been avoiding each other. Loki didn't understand it, Tony did. It sucked to like someone and know that they could never think of you in that way.
But that's why Logan needed to pay attention to the boy beside him instead of the one next to Tony.
Victor:
He was watching Logan as he tried to think up something to say to Loki. Victor couldn't help but feel terribly for him. Lately he had just felt so in tune and sympathetic to Logan it was insane. He wasn't used to this depth of feeling that he could have for someone. He almost wanted to go back to the way things were even just a few weeks ago when his biggest problem had been his homework load and whether or not he was going to be allowed to go sleep over at Raven's that weekend. But being able to sense Logan like this was just as amazing as it was terrifying. And he could tell that Logan was no longer as oblivious to him as he had been. The guy watched him now, the way he would watch Loki sometimes. With a protecting look in his gaze that rattled Victor to the bone.
But it excited him to, it made him want to protect Logan right back.
"Hey Loki, ready to glare at Lehnsherr all class for leading on Raven?" He asked, forcing a smile on his face because as much as he liked Loki and respected him as a friend he could really piss him off sometimes.
Loki grinned "Oh god yes and I have stuff to tell you about that as well."
Victor widened his eyes to show the expected level of interest and smirked, still staying close to Logan (and making sure Loki noticed just how close he was standing) as the bell rang.
"Bye" he whispered to the junior, smiling up at him and touching his arm with light fingers. Logan smiled down at him, his eyes so warm and gentle. Victor hoped that everyone could see this, see Logan so sweet and open and see that it was all for him, no one else.
"I've actually got to stay in my first period today." Logan said quietly, so only Victor could hear. "I'll walk you to 2nd though."
Victor's face must have betrayed his shock because Logan was quickly closing off from him and backtracking hurriedly. "I mean, if you want me to or whatever." He said awkwardly and Victor grinned.
"Ok" he savored the quickly disguised look of happiness that Logan gave him and grabbed Loki by the arm. "Come on then, let's not be late."
Loki waved weakly at Tony who was grinning like an idiot at the younger boy and Victor couldn't help but glance over at Logan again, he wasn't even looking at Loki, his eyes were fixed on Victor. And slowly warmth unfolded from his stomach to engulf his whole body, a gentle, kind type of warmth, no nervousness or fear here, just pure, un-corrupted happiness.
Tony:
"So then" Tony said, drawing out his words as he followed Logan into class and took a seat next to him "you dig Victor."
Logan looked at him sharply "What the fuck are you talking about?"
Ok maybe they weren't quite friends yet. But Tony could play the tough guy game; he had played that part for years. "Oh come off it. Any shithead could see you two have got a thing, so what's the deal?"
Logan took out a notebook (Hah, as if Logan actually takes notes in class!) obviously trying to buy time. "We're not together." Was all he said and Tony rolled his eyes, how the hell did one get this guy to open up?
"Yeah I got that, but well….you like Loki don't you?"
Logan froze and his expression was steely and old in its seriousness "Aren't you two dating?" he asked, tension in his voice and god he still wasn't looking at Tony.
"Well not officially, I'm still getting him comfortable around me but we probably will soon." Yeah once he finally got up the nerve to talk to Loki about it and actually kiss him and not just think about it.
"Huh" was all Logan said and the two were silent for a few minutes while the teacher told everyone to break up into partners and start working on a work sheet. Then finally, as the conversation got louder all around them Logan spoke up again. "We're just friends."
"You and Victor or you and Loki?" Tony asked, chewing on the end of his pencil as he stared down at the worksheet on his desk.
"Both" Logan said, a touch of despair and loneliness in his voice. Tony looked up, unable to hide the sympathy he felt for his fellow junior. Goddamn, he certainly knew what it felt like to be so surrounded and yet so horribly lonely. To be thought of as the cool, untouchable guy when really he just wanted someone to help him out and protect him sometimes. Because no one can always protect themselves, everybody needs someone that they can lean on.
"Well then, seems like somebody needs to get in the game. And as Loki is taken I'd say Victor seems like quite a good choice."
Loki:
"So then" he said smoothly, raising a slender eyebrow at Victor and leaning forward across his desk to get the other boy's attention. "I talked to Professor X about Raven and Lehnsherr." He mouthed the last word, nodding at the teacher who stood at the front of the room.
Victor grinned gleefully "Oh fun, what did he say?"
"Well apparently he already knew and there's nothing to worry about." Loki shook his head "I disagree."
"He doesn't get how dedicated Raven is to the guy." Victor rolled his eyes
"Exactly" Loki agreed nodding rather frantically making Victor's gaze sharpen and Loki knew that his friend was starting to get suspicious. He was acting to hyper and bright, normally he was so downtrodden that Victor had to realize that he was hiding something.
"Boys let's focus on our work shall we?" Professor Lehnsherr said, standing in front of them, arms crossed over his chest. His dark eyes were narrow and Loki knew that he had overheard at least part of their conversation.
"Alright Professor" he said in a sing song voice and smiled inwardly as Lehnsherr glared at him.
It was funny to think of him and Professor X together. Two totally different people, sarcastic and cynical trying to get along with adorable and accepting of everyone. But they really were his two favorite teachers. That's why he really didn't want Raven to screw things up for them. He wanted at least two people in the world to have a happily ever after.
Thor:
He was skipping with Fandral, hanging out in the parking lot, sitting in his truck with the windows rolled down so they could soak up the late-fall chilly sun. The radio was playing softly in the background as the two seniors stared outside, both lost in their own thoughts.
"Loki was flipping the fuck out last night." Thor finally said, damn he hated it when things just popped out of him like that. But it had just been building up in him since yesterday night when Loki had slammed his door in his face and ignored him.
"Hey Loki" Thor called, standing in the doorway of his brother's room. He had been planning to talk to Loki about that Tony kid, make sure he was being safe and smart, typical big brother stuff.
"What?" Loki snapped his voice thin and wavering like a kite in the wind. He was lying on his stomach on his bed, mountains of homework surrounding him, a steaming mug of tea in his thin hand.
"Um, where…..were you after school today?" Thor asked, uneasy now, shit Loki, thanks for completely screwing up his good mood. One single word from his baby brother and he would crumble, this was ridiculous.
"Out" he drawled, contempt and teenage superiority obvious in his voice.
"With who?" Thor asked, leaning against the doorway and crossing his arms, glaring down at his brother.
"What's it to you?" Loki sat up in bed and Thor saw that his eyes had been wiped clean of makeup and were tinged with red, his mouth looked slightly swollen and Thor flashed back to the night of the party.
He tensed up, his hands curling into fists as his protective instincts took over and he took a step into Loki's room. "Brother what happened?"
"Again, what's it to you?" Loki smirked, and Jesus this was going to kill Thor, when would things be normal and bright again?
"You're my brother Loki. What the hell happened?" He kept his voice low, his mother couldn't hear this, couldn't know just how scary things had gotten for her two sons.
"Nothing Brother, don't you have Sif or Steve to go make out with? No use talking to me when you have something better waiting for you." Loki said with an obviously fake smile crossing his face, there was something desperate and frantic about that smile, something hidden lurking behind his eyes.
"Fuck Loki when will you talk to me again?" He asked his control seriously shattering at the fakeness of his little brother's expression.
Loki stood up and strode across the room, with quick, jerking steps and shoved Thor back with a small push. It was nothing, he could barely even feel it but the force in Loki's expression was enough to knock him on his back so he stepped out of the doorway. "I'm talking right now aren't I?" Loki hissed, malice quavering in his voice as he slammed the door shut in Thor's face. And he couldn't even be mad at Loki, because all that rudeness and that huge wall around him was so obviously fake, all just a ploy for attention and love that he still wanted to comfort his brother.
But he sure as hell couldn't tell Fandral all of that. Speaking of Fandral….the guy had tensed all over and was snapping a rubber band around his wrist in uneven time with the music that played on the radio. "What did he do?" Fandral asked and his voice was completely normal and chill, rather uncaring sounding actually so Thor put the oddness out of his mind.
"I don't even know. He just flips out on me for no real reason. And those losers he hangs out with! That Logan kid is a criminal, I know it and he has some new boyfriend to, it's disgusting."
"So did he actually come out to you?" Fandral asked flippantly and completely off subject in Thor's mind.
"He didn't have to. I've known since we were little. The kid used to dress up in our mom's clothes all the time. And he always wanted to be the mother whenever we would play together." Thor smiled fondly at the memory of little kid Loki, all big eyes and curls of black hair as he stumbled around in Frigga's high heeled shoes. And the way he used to just watch his baby brother have fun doing that, or reading a book, or just staring up in the sky, he had loved that as well. Thor had been content just to watch Loki as he disappeared into his own fantasy world, he would watch him to make sure he stayed safe. He had never understood how Loki could find fun in things like that but he kind of liked that they were so different and at least they would always be similar in blood, that was something that rose above likes and dislikes.
But oh hell, that had been too sensitive and girly to say, Fandral had rolled his eyes at him and changed the subject to dissing on his psychology teacher, Professor X. Thor shut his mouth, that was Loki's favorite teacher but he just nodded and agreed, because that was what was expected of him.
Logan:
So Tony had been trying to become best friends with him all class long and it was starting to piss Logan off. Though he was pretty surprised over how accepting Tony had been over his liking of Loki and Victor at the same time. He had been amazingly accepting and supportive actually. Ok Logan could admit it, Tony was a good guy, if he hadn't been crazy for Loki for 2 years now he probably would even want to be friends with him. As the bell rang for second period he waved a goodbye to Tony who was watching him with a crooked smirk and hurried out the door.
Victor was waiting in the hallway for him, a smile that he was struggling to hide on his face. Logan grinned, unashamed to have his cool composure broken because this kid was so goddamn adorable. His dark hair was messy around his face and brown eyes bored into Logan, florescent lights bouncing off that silver scar that ran the length of his cheek. One day he would have to ask him how he had gotten something that looked so painful.
"Hey there" Victor said when Logan neared him, adjusting his backpack by the strap "I've got art next, kill me now please."
"What's wrong with art?" Logan asked, confused and pointedly ignoring Loki as he walked out of Lehnsherr's classroom.
"I'm a math and science person, not a draw about your feelings type of person." Victor smirked, flipping Logan's stomach around and tying it in knots over just how cute this kid could be.
"Oh I see, so you're a push everything down with logic and numbers type of person. No wonder we get along so well." Logan took him by the elbow and shoved past people in the hallways, acting as a barrier for the slighter boy.
"Hah, except you push feelings down with cheap beer and smashing things." Victor laughed, poking Logan in the arm sharply.
They were silent until they reached the door to Victor's art class and Logan stopped him with a hand closing around his wrist. "Victor…."He trailed off and glanced away, expression frantic and a little wary.
"Ok Logan what are we doing here?" Victor asked brusquely, his voice trying to be hard but Logan could hear the softness and concern in them no matter how much he tried to hide it.
"What do you mean?" he replied, automatically evading anything that required emotions.
"Don't hide out in there Logan, what are we? Do we like each other or not? Cause last time I checked you were panting after Loki and didn't know I existed." Victor had taken a step closer to him and grabbed at his hand, eyes wide and conflicted.
"I don't know Vic, I like you." Logan was trying hard not to be overcome by the feel of Victor pressed so close to him, they were practically flush against each other. But students were streaming past them into the classroom and he could feel the weight of their stares. This school wasn't to accepting, the only reason there weren't evil words being thrown at them as well as the stares was because of how imposing Logan could be.
"But?" Victor asked his eyebrows drawing together as he took a cautious step away from Logan.
"I don't know if I can get over Loki. I'm sorry Victor."
Victor:
There was something final in Logan's voice that worried Victor. He didn't want whatever this was to be over! He just wanted to understand what was going on! But shit that pissed him off that Logan was still so crazy in love with Loki. Logan had been on his radar for years but he had put it out of his mind because who would ever like someone like him? But now there was a chance, a crazy, terrifying, amazing chance to have something exciting and Loki was in the way of it! The guy had never liked Logan, not in the same way that Logan had liked him. Why continue loving someone who couldn't ever feel the same way? Damn, those were words that he could apply to himself. Because Logan was someone that he could fall in love with given the chance and he didn't want to fall with no one to catch him because they were too busy waiting on someone else.
Then the bell rang.
Victor let go of Logan's hand. "I feel sorry for you Logan. You know he can't love you, why torture yourself like this?"
Raven:
She was late to art class; the bell was just ringing as she hurried into the arts building. She saw Logan walking away from her class, his head down and posture stiff. He swept past her seemingly without noticing that she was there and Raven was pretty sure that his eyes were red.
Raven dove into her classroom just as the teacher was about to close the door and shot him a winning smile and a quick "It won't happen again, sorry." Then she took her seat next to Victor and got out her sketch book, flipping to a portrait that she had been working on.
"Such a bad kid" Victor tsked her and shook his head despairingly.
Raven tapped him on the head with a charcoal pencil. "Shut up and get out your work dear."
He glanced at her portrait and his gaze rose up to meet hers, eyes disapproving. "That is supposed to be a picture of me and yet it's somehow starting to look like Lehnsherr."
"Huh wonder how that could have happened." she smiled, fake innocence in her voice and Victor's glare intensified.
"Listen to me Raven. You're getting in too deep. I know that nothing has happened yet but what if it does? There's a reason why relationships with teachers are illegal, it always ends with somebody in jail and somebody else screwed up and in counseling."
Raven sighed, Victor meant well, they all did but they just didn't understand. Loki had Tony now, Logan had Loki, and Victor seemed to have Logan. They all had somebody to sigh and dream over. She had never had that. She had always just been that girl who hung out with all the gay people at school and never got a boyfriend. She was weird, her hair and style was ever changing and apparently that intimidated guys or something so most of them stayed away from her. And then finally she met someone who didn't even seem to notice her outward appearance. He listened to everything she said and would be there if she needed a shoulder to cry on. But of course he had to be a teacher with a sweetheart of a life partner. Why was it that Raven always seemed to attract gay guys?
Though she wasn't too sure about his sexuality anymore, she had overheard something a week back…
She had stayed after school to get some help for the upcoming history test with Professor Lehnsherr, or as she liked to call him in her head, Erik.
"Raven, pay attention will you?" the smile in his eyes betrayed the harshness of his voice so Raven didn't take offense.
"Sorry Professor." She directed her attention back to the board where he was going over dates and battles of the civil war.
She took notes for about 10 more minutes until Erik put down his white board marker and walked over to her desk and knelt beside it. "Raven, I'm glad you've been so dedicated to doing well in this class but I have to wonder if everything is alright at home."
Her eyes darted up to meet his; he was close, really close to her. The school was mostly empty, the door was shut. It was like all of her fantasies come to life. God he was beautiful. The strong bones of his face, and that short dark hair, his large hands and the way his black sweater tugged along the lines of his broad shoulders. She couldn't handle this; it was too much perfection, to close to her.
"Of course Professor, everything is fine." She smiled, knowing that he would see the truth in her eyes. Everything was fine; it's just that she was so dedicated to him, that's why she was coming in after school so often and for so long. But so way could Raven tell him all that.
"How about you call me Erik when we're after school." He smiled
"Ok then" she grinned at him, leaning a bit closer and he didn't move back. He stayed where he was, and his hand was on her desk, Raven's hand darted a bit closer, the tips of her fingers touching his. They stayed that way for the space of a few seconds until there was a knock on the door and Erik shot away from her as if he had been electrically shocked.
Professor X stuck his head in the door. "Erik, you ready to go home?" he asked, a sweet smile on his face. When he saw how close the teacher and student were his eyebrows furrowed together and his soft brown eyes looked confused.
"Yes, of course." Erik replied smiling easily at Charles and heading over to his desk to gather up his papers. "Raven do you have a ride home?"
"Yeah Er-" She cut her self off, warned by the way Erik's hands had tightened compulsively on his briefcase. "Professor, my mom should be here in a few minutes to pick me up."
"Ok good, I'll see you tomorrow then." That was obviously her cue to leave so Raven picked up her notebooks and shoved them into her backpack, hurrying out of the room with a nod to Professor X. she was phoning her mom out in the hallway when the door slammed shut and she heard voices coming from inside the classroom. She ended the call on her phone and crept closer to press her ear to the door.
"What was going on Erik?" Charles's voice was low and sad and damn Raven felt like such a bitch now.
"Nothing, I was helping her study for a test."
"Then why did you jump up like that when I walked in, the look on your face Erik, I know that look."
"Darling come on, don't talk like that. You know I've never cheated on you." Erik sounded so imploring and betrayed that it made Raven's heart ache.
"I trust you honey, I'm just worried. This is a hormonal teenage girl with a crush, nothing could stop a force that powerful." There was a bit of humor in Professor X's voice now and Raven felt the tension leave her, he didn't sound to distraught, maybe she hadn't ruined everything.
"Don't be worried Char, nothing is going to happen." But there was something in his voice just then, a little quaver that made Raven think that maybe he wasn't being entirely truthful.
"I just….I can't help it Victor. I've tried to stop liking him, believe me I have tried."
Victor looked sympathetic and looked away from her to work on the shading of his charcoal drawing of her. "I know you have, just try a little harder alright? This can only end badly."
"Most things in life end badly, that's just the way life is." She looked over at Victor's drawing and smiled indulgently, it really looked nothing like her. He wasn't too good at art; the only thing that he had gotten right was her bleached white hair.
"Here, let me help." She laughed taking his sketchbook and tracing out light lines for him to shade in.
My dear, lovely readers this took awhile and I sort of failed in the whole not being depressing thing that I was going for but that's ok because Logan and Victor are so freaking cute I could die. Also I know that all of these guys are just ridiculously ooc but deal with it, their pretty and sad, what more could one ask for?
Reviews make me feel better about myself!