This might be a one-shot, or I might continue it. Not really sure yet.
Oh, and I actually wrote down where everyone was sitting, which was a pain in the ass since they kept moving around. I re-watched Deception for this, so yeah, research.
Disclaimer: I own nothing but the concept.
Warnings: Minor cursing, probably
March Fifth- Day One
"Spy." Seymour said conclusively, leaning into the table.
Karen jerked back. "What are you talking about Seymour?" Hank looked up from his intense studying of the Sloppy Joes.
"Earth food is really disgusting. I don't see how you people can eat this stuff."
Seymour scoffed. "Obviously, I don't eat it. Remember? Stop looking for reasons to be elitist. Anyway, the new kid is, without a doubt, most definitely, a spy."
"And your evidence of that is what Mr. Detective?" Karen asked scornfully, resuming eating. Seymour wrinkled his upper lip at her willingness to eat, but went on.
"Um, hello. Never saw the guy in our life, never even heard of him. Plus, he comes to this school of all places without notice, and you know the teachers would delight in telling us about him if they knew he was coming, and I have other reasons."
"Do you now? Just because you've never heard of him doesn't mean he's not legitimate." Karen said. However, she also privately nursed her own disbelief about the character of the fabled new kid, but chose not to share. Who would come to a school like the Hive willingly anyhow?
"I know everyone, or at the very least, know of everyone, who has ever set foot in Jump in the history of ever."
Karen grimaced at that, but didn't dispute it.
"As much as I hate to agree with Karen, ever, she has a tiny point." Hank said matter-of-factly. "He could be from out of town. Anyway, you guys have missed a major problem in the conversation.
"Which is?"
"Why do we care? Seriously, who gives a shit about some loser we don't even know?" Hank said.
"Because it's interesting!" Seymour whined. He was about to say more, but was cut short.
The entire cafeteria fell silent as the person of everyone's conversations entered the room with a full plate of food clutched in his hands. Seymour's eye zoomed in on the missing person picture on his milk carton. The woman in the picture looked vaguely familiar, but he couldn't come up with her name. That was unusual for him. The new guy blanched at the combined pressure of everyone's stares, plus the magnified awkwardness of the suddenly halted discussions.
"Mmm, Sloppy Joes," He said nervously, taking a deep whiff of the food, "just like what the mad scientist who created me used to make!"
Hank snickered. "Lame."
The Hive students collectively decided to spare him any more embarrassment and started talking again. Elliot switched tables in a quick whirl of his cape. He cocked his head at Seymour and Hank, ignoring Karen. She scowled at the back of his head.
"I dunno yet dude, it's a little too early to tell." Seymour shrugged.
"I don't know what the big deal is." Hank scowled fiercely. "And bee-tee-dubs, you totally still owe me thirty bucks for that stupid CD you just had to get."
Elliot waved him off glibly as Seymour protested Hank's dismissal. "Hank, we never get new students that aren't like five years old. It's cause for wonder! Celebration! Interest! A crappy novel dedicated to the angst of coming to a new school! It's inspiration for Christ's sake!"
"Lame." Hank remarked again even as Elliot nodded in agreement to Seymour's evaluation of the situation.
"It is weird though," Karen said hesitantly. "Why would he bother sneaking into the school? We've pretty much gone downhill since the headmistress went missing."
Hank nodded thoughtfully. Elliot and Seymour wrinkled their brows. "Who?" Seymour vocalized their shared question.
"Um, the headmistress. You know, before Brother Douche?" Hank said.
"Oh yeah." Seymour said in sudden revelation, finally placing a name to the woman on the milk carton. "Jesus, I wonder how I forgot about her. She was a slave driver!" Elliot shrugged, not remembering.
"At least we learned something." Karen groaned. "All we learn nowadays is how to be machines built for murder and stealing."
"What were we before?" Hank snickered. "Collected freaks trained for murder and stealing?"
"Organized!"
Seymour shrugged. "We're more or less organized now." He grinned. "Oh man, I didn't notice before. Poor shmuck's sitting at Jinx's favorite table."
"She has a favorite?" Hank asked curiously.
"Today it's probably that one." Seymour pointed at the table the new guy had crept over to. "Like she of all people could miss the wonderful opportunity to mess with the newbie."
Sure enough, Jinx entered the cafeteria and, upon seeing the new kid at the table, smiled crookedly. She winked at Seymour and turned to Baron and Mikron, who had also entered with her. Seymour snickered and turned back to his table. Bailey and one of the numerous Billys in the cafeteria migrated towards their side of the table, dragging over seats.
"Conversation looked interesting." Bailey shrugged, halfheartedly eating some undercooked peas.
"I can't believe you'd be willin' to eat that shit." Billy scowled, slouching in his seat.
"Angel's been on my back for not setting a good example eating wise," Bailey rolled his eyes, "she's right though. You kids don't eat enough, but then, neither does she."
"Earth food's gross." Hank piped in. Elliot nodded emphatically.
"Guys, quiet." Seymour whined. "It's gonna start soon!"
Elliot frowned and teleported back to his original table. "Jesus Seymour, we don't all have to shut up so you can watch your one true love." Billy said.
"I have better things to do than watch Jinx humiliate someone." Karen added.
"Like what? Do the nasty with Brother B?"
"Ugh!" Karen stood up, slamming her hands on the table. "Screw you." She stalked off.
"She wouldn't get so pissed if it wasn't true." Billy remarked.
"Man, shut up, I want to watch this."
Reluctantly they turned to Jinx, Baron, and Mikron approaching the new guy. Unfortunately, from their distance away, they couldn't hear the conversation. Hank snickered when Baron ate the entire Sloppy Joe in one bite. "Oh my god, that was totally advertising the benefits of eating for us, wasn't it Bailey?"
Bailey shrugged again, but didn't deny it. Angel had been on his and Baron's case lately.
They laughed a little bit louder than necessary when Mikron sent Stone flying from his seat. It was all part of the humiliation. It wouldn't be embarrassing if they gave the prank the little attention it deserved. Elliot scowled at the interaction from the other side of the room. He didn't like that sort of thing. Angel was livid.
They watched in interest as the new guy destroyed the table by turning into stone and hitting it. "My name is Stone," he said fiercely, "and it looks like you need to find a new table."
Seymour got up and pranced across the room to Stone. He was the official friend maker of the Hive because of his weaseling personality and general confidence. "Waste of a perfectly good table." He informed Stone cheerfully. "What did it ever do to you?"
Jinx shook her head sadly. "I actually really liked that table, you stony jerk."
"You know," Seymour's face lit up as if he was making a startling revelation. "There are probably starving kids in Africa desperate for a table of that caliber. And here you go and destroy it. Didn't your mother ever teach you not to waste resources?"
Stone looked flummoxed. He rubbed the back of his bald head sheepishly, wilting under Jinx's glare. "I've never heard that applied to a table before."
"That's because people can be thoughtless. Luckily for you, I'm here to teach you right and wrong." Stone's eyes flickered slightly.
Mikron rolled his eyes and took Seymour's abandoned spot a few tables over. "Shut up Seymour." Baron said fondly. "You're gonna scare the poor bastard."
"Speak for yourself." Seymour replied easily. "That was a cheap trick you pulled with the Sloppy Joe." His eyes locked with Baron's.
"Um, am I missing something?" Stone asked uneasily.
"Be glad for it." Baron said to Stone, not taking his eyes off of Seymour's face. "It's nothing important."
"I beg to differ." Jinx began, but stopped at the sound of Angel's voice.
"Jinxy, Mikron, can I see you for a minute?" Angel's voice was sickeningly sweet. Jinx winced, and Seymour grimaced in sympathy.
"Good luck." He called at her retreating, and very rigid, back. She flipped him off without looking back. Mikron rolled his eyes and got up as well, following her casually.
He rotated around to face Stone. "So, when did you arrive?"
Stone looked uncomfortably and unconsciously glanced at Baron nervously. "Just this morning."
"Why bother sneaking in?" Baron asked. Seymour smiled delighted.
"How cute, you came to the same conclusion as us!" He crooned. Baron held up a threatening fist. "Easy big guy. No disrespect intended."
Stone laughed hesitatingly. Seymour felt his Good Samaritan pity kick in. "So, want us to show you around or what? The only one who knows this place better than me is Elliot, and that's only because he skips class to sneak around."
"Sure," Stone said, "but don't we have class?"
Seymour scoffed. "The only class that matters today is combat practice, and that's only because Brother Blood is supervising that one today."
Baron groaned. "I am so not looking forward to that." He looked over towards Angel, Jinx, and Mikron. "I'd better go help them, Mikron's probably going to say something sarcastic right about now. Good to meet you Stone."
"Good to meet me? He totally stole my Sloppy Joe!" Stone grumbled as the other teen ambled away.
"That was more of a friendly message to us than hazing, don't worry about it." Seymour said kindly. "That was Baron, by the way. The pink-haired girl is Jinx, and the little guy is Mikron. I'm Seymour." He grabbed Stone's hand and shook it. "Oh, and I'm also Seemore, get it?" Stone smiled.
He turned toward the cafeteria. "Elliot, want to help me break him in?"
Elliot grinned and teleported over. He smiled shyly at Stone. "Hey," Stone smiled. "I'm Stone." Elliot nodded enthusiastically.
"He already knew dude." Seymour said dryly, "You kind of shouted it in the middle of the cafeteria."
Stone flushed and rubbed the back of his head, something that looked like it was going to become a habit. "Oh, yeah. I forgot about that. Sorry."
Elliot shrugged and waved his hand dismissively. "No blood, no foul." Seymour said. "We should start going to gym though, lunch is almost over. Tour's afterwards, okay?"
"That sounds great, thanks." Stone said.
The rest of the cafeteria started to empty as students went to their various classes, or various hang out spots if they were skipping. Stone watched them all interestedly. "If you have any questions you can ask." Seymour said wryly. "We're not big on secrets here."
Elliot went through a series of complicated hand motions. Seymour, who had known the other boy for a really long time, was able to translate. "Anyway, we'd find them out before long, everybody's so nosy here." Elliot nodded fervently.
Stone seemed to blanch. "Relax dude. We don't really pry that badly." Nonetheless, Stone's expression didn't relax as they walked down the halls. Seymour pointed out the various classrooms on the way, giving a brief description of the course and the teacher.
"That's Toad's room. He teaches Tech. Mostly stuff about not putting huge red on/off buttons when building your own doomsday machine, plus how to build it in the first place. Things like that. Mikron, Billy, Hank, and I have him. You will too if you are any good at technology." Seymour said as they passed a metal door that was shut tightly.
"Man, I own technology." Stone said eagerly. Seymour observed as his face suddenly became guarded and annoyed. He seemed to be kicking himself for something.
Of course Seymour, being Seymour, decided to encourage the potentially awkward conversation. "Great! It'd be great to have someone actually decent in the class! Mikron's too good at it, Billy's an asshole, and Hank might as well be Billy."
Elliot tugged on Stone's arm and shook his head. "He doesn't think Billy's an asshole," Seymour explained, "but he totally is." He thought back to the previous conversation. "Oh yeah, so Toad's pretty awesome. But kind of weird looking, not like most of us have room to talk. You'll like him, probably. The only one who didn't was Karen, and she dropped the course."
"Why didn't she like him?"
"He doesn't like kiss-ups."
Both Elliot and Stone raised one eyebrow. Seymour grinned. "Yeah, but I'm a persistent kiss up. There's a total difference."
"Not much of one." Stone muttered. Seymour's grin only got wider.
When they finally reached the gym Seymour had pointed out everything on the way, Elliot chiming in when he felt like it. Stone still looked wary, but seemed to be relaxing somewhat under the pressure of Seymour's ingratiating personality. Seymour opened the gym doors with a flourish. "Gym!" He announced grandly. "Home of glory, power, and gym teachers with whistles." He looked over at the teacher. "Sorry," He said falsely, "Physical Education teachers with whistles."
Elliot rolled his eyes and formed his fingers into his sign for something like 'tomato, tomahto'.
"It is not the same thing you little brat." The gym teacher, Harold, replied harshly. "Gym teacher implies that I only supervise crappy games of Capture the Flag, and I don't"
"Of course not. Hive only accepts the best." Seymour said, just a little sourly. Harold grimaced back.
Harold was a short balding man built like Hercules who spent the gym classes where they weren't learning to fight, due to Blood's lesson plans, reading motorcycle magazines. During said lessons he would direct his students to play kick ball or something, and ignore the fact that they never actually played kick ball or something. During weight room he read Sports Illustrated. He hated being called a gym teacher because he hated teaching gym, he much preferred teaching the kids how to fight, which was fine because the kids preferred to learn how to fight anyhow.
"Who are you?" He demanded of Stone harshly, looking down at his lesson plans in irritation.
"S-stone." Stone stammered back. "I'm new here."
"A-a-are you?" Harold false stuttered. "Well you're not on my list, boy. Does Blood know you're here?"
"Who?"
"The headmaster! Seymour hasn't given you a crash course yet?" Harold demanded.
"I started it!" Seymour whined. "But the whole gym class supervision thing interrupted. It is so totally not my fault!"
"He'll know I'm here soon, sir." Stone said.
"You bet he will. I'm putting you with Jinx, Mammoth, and Gizmo for this one."
"What?!" A screech came from behind them. Jinx stormed over. "No, no, no, no, no! You absolutely can't do that to us! We have routines! Especially since the headmaster's going to be there! We can't just work out a whole new attack plan!"
"Improvise." Harold sneered. "I know you know how to."
Jinx looked like she wanted to say more, but finally just muttered a resentful "fine" and stomped back to Baron and Mikron. Stone hesitantly followed. Seymour cackled because it was all so damn amusing and continued pestering Harold with Elliot.
"He wants us to what?" Mikron demanded. Baron rolled his eyes and flashed a weary smile at Stone who returned it.
"I know!" Jinx whined.
"Ugh, fine." He muttered, brain working furiously. "It's no big deal, we'll figure it out. Maybe if instead of the beta pattern we have Stone go first and Mammoth take up the rear to cover up any screw ups we can-"
"Whoa." Stone said. "I won't screw up alright? I can fight just as well as you all."
"How do you know?" Mikron demanded. "Have you researched us previously? Any prior knowledge of the course? Any reason we shouldn't be worried that someone who we don't know the abilities of is affecting our grade?"
"I'll be alright." Stone insisted.
"No." Mikron said. "We'll be alright. That's the problem."
"Mikron, shut up." Baron said. "We'll deal with it."
Mikron rolled his eyes up. "I'm surrounded by morons."
"Hey, don't lump me in with them." Jinx grimaced.
Stone drifted off to the side as Harold created the order of team and gave them instructions to "just wait in the bleachers when you're done, and don't fuck up." Jinx looked over at her team, her real team, speculatively. "What do you say that we do our Alpha attack anyway?"
"Jinx." Baron said warningly.
"Now hold on a second Baron." Mikron interrupted. "Think about it. We get to see how he responds, and how he fights. It's a perfect way to really check the guy out."
Baron reluctantly acquiesced. He too wanted to see what that Stone guy was really made of. The scene in the cafeteria, while impressive, wasn't nearly indicative of his true strength. Besides, if he knew the others as well as he thought he did, everybody else wanted to see his fighting skills. And what better way then to plunge him in head first?
Mikron nodded decisively. "I'm right; you know I'm right, so let's have a good run yeah? We definitely can't screw this one up."
Jinx frowned. "I really hope we don't mess up. It's weird. My powers have been easier to control than I remember them being, for a while now, but they've lost…"
"Power?" Baron asked. "I know what you mean."
Mikron frowned, but didn't say anything.
The line of Hive teams slowly dissipated. Stone stood next to them hopping nervously from one foot to the other, stopping sporadically in an effort to hide his nervousness, then starting up again. Mikron found the entire thing hilarious, and snickered the whole time. Jinx was out for blood. Baron was mixed, he thought Stone should just get over it, but also understood why he was so nervous. He hoped that wouldn't affect Stone's performance, because the course was getting more rigorous as the years went on.
Or maybe they were, for some reason, getting worse. The thought was unapproachable.
When it was finally their turn, the last of all of the groups, they stepped onto the platform and began to rise. Stone looked down at the retreating ground, and hoped fervently that he wouldn't make a fool of himself. He had forgotten how it felt to worry about what other people thought of him, and his return to high school, villainous or not, sent the feelings crashing back.
It was weird to be back in school. He hadn't been in years, even before he joined the Titans he had dropped out because of the accident that lead to his change. He couldn't help but think that in a school like this, his cybernetic body wouldn't be a problem. They had some real freaks here; he would've blended right in. It was too late now, of course, and he didn't have the morals for it anyway. Still though, it was an interesting thought.
They stepped on to the platform and started to be raised towards the ceiling where a small hole opened to accommodate the rising floor. He was momentarily blinded by the bright light while his cybernetic eye assessed the surroundings. The gym was made almost entirely of metal and brick (38 percent iron, 12 percent tin, 14 percent oak, 22 percent stone and 14 percent various other substances). Quite a few life forms were settled on the bleachers beside it. He looked over to the crowd quietly conversing to the side of the arena when his eye adjusted. Seymour and Elliot were the only ones he recognized, and he vowed to get to know the others. For the good of the mission and all that.
The whistle was blown and Jinx led away her teammates, shouting some attack pattern. Stone growled, annoyed but expecting it, and shouted the obvious. "Hey, I don't know that one!" He ran off after them and vowed to avoid getting his ass kicked. There was no way he was letting them make a fool out of him.
The course was just as rigorous as the one he had made for the Titans. Luckily, he was used to those sorts of things because of Robin's mandatory daily practice with them, so he was more or less able to continue without much hindrance. He had the added advantage of having built his own course, and was therefore able to roughly predict what would happen and what wouldn't.
He made it to the other side without much hindrance, and took a moment to bask in the glory of what was Jinx, Mammoth, and Gizmo being bound by the metal (54 percent tin, 24 percent iron, and 1 percent copper). He was in such a good mood about this turn of events, and just sadistic enough to realize what it would mean to them, that he rescued them from the bonds, and crossed the finish line with them.
Just like when he was with the Titans, he shouted at his victory. "Zip it, crud-for-brains!" Gizmo hissed. "The headmaster's coming." The entire room was dead quiet.
Stone felt himself getting nervous. It had been ages since he had been told off by any principle, head master, teacher, or anything of the sort. The closest he had come was Robin bitching at him, but that was easily ignored. He couldn't remember how he was supposed to respond, but supposed the best thing to do was just stay quiet and look repentant.
An older man approached followed by the student's worried eyes. He was shorter than Stone, but somehow seemed infinitely taller. His eyes were a curious red color, dark enough that they seemed brown, but red nonetheless. He started out with his voice crackling with suppressed fury. "You sneak into my school, ruin my course, and make my top students look like common pick-pockets;" he spat, and then paused, "well done, Mr. Stone."
Stone wondered how he had learned his name. He looked into the crowd and met Seymour's concerned eyes.
The headmaster turned away from him and began to talk about a weapon. Stone's eyes widened, but he kept his eyes locked with Seymour's one eye. The other boy hadn't yet looked away. He seemed to be attempting to communicate something, but Stone couldn't understand what it was for the life of him. His eyes were still fixed there when Seymour's eye turned red. He swallowed a gasp and looked nervously around the room at the sea of red eyes, and realized suddenly that he had never felt more lost and alone.
Welcome to the Hive.