Disclaimer: I don't own anything. BITCH
The next morning Nero awoke on the mattress that lay on the cold wooden floor in the room.. Well, closet he slept in. Somehow he must have fallen asleep on the rooftop of the school and been carried home.. But, by whom?
It didn't matter he just shook his head and stood up, walking over to the one of the crates, sliding his coat over his red vest and pulling the sleeve up over his devil bringer before reaching down to put his boots on.
Once dressed he left his room to go to the foyer. Dante was at his desk, of course. But his head was leaned back and he was sleeping, feet propped up and there were pizza crumbs on the front of his outfit. Nero smirked a little, wanting to take a photo of this really badly.. But that would put him at risk of being punished.. WAY worse.
Today was the day. The sun was rising.. The birds were singing.. A slight dew was present outside which gave everything a better clarity. But there was nothing to smile about, so Nero just frowned walking over to the window and looking out. There were minimal people out this way in Fortuna.. It was a step up from the slums.. But nowhere near as good as the treatment Kyrie had.. She was living like royalty.
"Nero?" A voice sounded from behind him.
Trish was standing next to Dante at his desk, but he was still passed out.
"Yeah?" He asked, looking back.
"You're up early today. I would have expected you to be up later.." She said with a slight furrow to her brows.
He shrugged, "Well, today I've gotta face the music so I figured I'd have to wake up this early."
Trish nodded, "I didn't know you were going to start today." She stated with a gentle voice. "That reminds me, I got you something." She turned to walk to her room.
Nero was now turned around, but stood at the window waiting for her return with thatever it was she got him.
The woman returned with a piece of fabric in her hands, to the looks of it.. It was leather. She approached him, holding it out to him.
Nero reached back and took it slowly, looking it over. It was a glove. First he didn't know what to think then it donned on him. Oh right.. I never thought about that.. Thank god for Trish. He smiled, "Thanks.. I'd completely forgotten.
She smiled, "That's okay, but.. Yeah.. This is a very special glove.. My father's before he passed away. I have the other one in my room, but this one is yours."
Nero blinked, looking from the glove to her. "I can't take this.. It means to much to you.. What if it got ripped.. Or.. Dirty somehow."
She smiled more, "Lets hope it doesn't rip.. But that's why I trust you with it.. Gifts that are important like this are the best gifts worth giving." She pushed his hand that was holding it, closer to him. "It's yours."
Nero thought back to when he heard that the first time… it came from Dante when he gave him Yamato after the Savior incident with Mundus. He smiled slightly, "Thanks, again.. I honestly don't know how I'd be able to live without you, Trish."
She nodded to him again, "Again, you're welcome.. Don't mention it.. You better hurry up though, don't want to be late on your first day." She said in a slight sing-song tone.
He looked back down to the glove in his hand, "Alright.."
Trish walked off again, kicking Dante's foot along the way on purpose to wake him up.. And so he did.
Dante's form sat up quickly and his eyes opened widely, "LADY DON'T SHOOT!" He shouted before realizing he was awake now.. His eyes glanced around before landing on Nero who looked just as bewildered as himself.
"What are you lookin' at, Kid. Get outta here." He snapped, resting his face in his hand while the man's elbow anchored to the surface of his desk.
Nero raised a brow but didn't question, he just went back to his room to grab the paper that Dante had shown him yesterday. It was also a registration note that he'd picked up for Nero later that day when he went out.
After grabbing the paper he folded it and slid it into his pocket before trying out this glove. It was dark brown and went up to just below Nero's elbow. He sighed, having to slide his sleeve down a bit to cover the remaining skin. On his way out he stopped and looked in the reflective pane of one the windows, it didn't look to bad.
That was that and he left now, on his way to the school and whatever hell that came with it. Also making note, he purposely left his weapons behind. That wouldn't look right with a gun strapped to him walking in like he owned the place.. That or a sword the size of Kyrie on his back. So today.. Nero felt slightly naked and wouldn't know how to handle a horde of scarecrows if he ran into them on his way.
Bursting into a run he made it there in 5 minutes tops, glad he didn't run into anything along the way. Some of the kids were outside again talking, not even sparing him a second glance. He hesitantly walked in, strangely he wasn't much taller than anyone here. There were even some people that were just freaking huge and towered over himself.
Upon reaching the front office he walked in and stood before the counter where a large woman clad in a violet smock sat. She looked up, "Can ah help you?" She asked, looking him over, but her eyes seemed to linger at his alabaster locks that fell before his eyes. Oh shit.. he'd forgotten how weird it was to be the only person around with white hair.. Besides old people and Dante.. Who kinda fit into the old people category anyway too.
Nero pulled from his thoughts as someone bumped into him accidentally, He turned to look but the kid walked off and he looked back to the woman who was still expecting an answer, "Oh yeah.. I uh.." He reached his normal arm into his pocket and pulled out the paper, handing it to her. "I'm new.." He said in a small voice.
She looked it over, grinding her teeth while doing so, "Mhm.. Nero, hm?" She said before mumbling "Strange names kids these days.." And stamping it with something and putting it in a stack with others like it.
He watched her do this until she looked up at him with a confused look, "Well get outta here.." She shooed him off and went back to whatever it was she was doing before.
Nero walked out of the office and into the halls which bustled to the brim with students of all sorts of ages. Now.. Where the hell do I go? He looked around up and down the halls, not realizing that a few boys were looking at him funny from the corner next to the lockers. Their cheerleader-like girlfriends next to them watching. Nero looked around before finally just shaking his head an walking down the hall.
Halfway down the hall he ran into some kid by accident when he looked the opposite way. The kid was a bit shorter than him and had brunette hair with green eyes. Nero stepped back some, catching his balance however the other kid tripped, almost falling over before looking up at Nero.
"Woah, sorry about that.." Nero apologized.
The kid shook his head, "Nah, man it's okay. Hey.. Wait.. are you new here?" that kid stood up straight again looking Nero over with a confused look. The young devil hunter really stood out..
"Y-yeah.. I am, and I have no idea where to go." He looked around once more.
The kid shifted his weight, "Did you get your schedule?" He asked and Nero shook his head, "Of course, Miss Tarnia's screwed ya over... She was supposed to hand you a piece of paper with your classes on it. C'mon lets go get it." The kid started weaving through the kids to the front office again, Nero in tow.
"Hey, Miss T can I have this kid's Schedule.. He kinda needs it if he's gunna make it around here. Okay?" He asked with a snippy tone to his voice.
The large woman looked down and grabbed the schedule reluctantly and handed it over. That kid took it and passed it to Nero who looked from the lady to the kid and down at the guide.
"Thank you." Nero said, a faint smile on his face.
The kid shrugged, "Meh, no problem.. The hippo bitch over there did that to me my first day too.. Usually singles out the odd ones and picks on em a little." He laughed a little. "Nice hair.. By the way, what's your name?" He asked.
Nero felt like crawling in a hole and dying because of his hair now.. Never had something as simple as that get him embarrassed.. That or his arm, which lucky was being overlooked because of the glove. THANK GOD FOR TRISH. "Nero. My name's Nero."
The kid raised his brows a little, "Nice name too.. I'm Jake." He held out his hand to be shaken.
Nero was about to shake hands when he realized the only free hand was the gloved one so he switched hands, putting the schedule in the gloved on and shaking with his normal hand. Jake seemed to notice this and raised a brow, cocking his head.
"S'up with the glove?" He asked a bit slower than normal, a curious eye looking it over before glancing back to Nero's face who looked downright pale right about now.
He felt a slight cold feeling go down his spine, "Oh.. I ahh.. Uhh.. Um, Skin.. Problem.." He scratched the side of his nose a bit awkwardly.
Jake blinked and nodded, "Mkay then. Just hope it's not contagious." He laughed a bit more before turning to walk out. "See ya round, Nero." He waved just like Dante did after the Savior attack.
Cerulean eyes floated back to the paper in his hands. First up.. English. Okay, sounds easy.. Nero started to the hall again where he was pushed a bit by other kids while trying to find the way. Once he finally did he went right in to a half full room. They all turned to look at him some with surprised looks.. Some with questioning looks.. And some just like a zombie.. Nero blinked and went to sit in the back.
The teacher who was at the front was a skinny short woman with her hair up in a bun, embellished with beads and a bandana. Her clothes said that of a Gyspie and her shoes were beaded sandle-like.. Deals. Nero didn't know what to label her as.. But freaky lady who dresses funny.
I bet Kyrie would like her shoes. He said in his mind while sitting at a desk in the far back, looking over the schedule. Suddenly the bell rang for all classes to start their sessions and Nero jumped a little, looking around. Some kids noticed and started snickering. He settled down right after though with another embarrassed look on his face.
"Okay class." The teacher's voice was simple and quite raspy. "Now, today we'll be discussing Clauses.." And the teacher began the lecture. While listening to her Nero kinda faded out, looking around the room aimlessly.. Just examining things and thinking.
"H-who are you?" The teacher spoke up and felt like it was directed to him so he looked up and saw that all eyes were on him, feeling his face pale instantly.
"Oh, I'm new here.." He said lightly.
The teacher smiled, "Oh well, welcome.. Whats your name?" She asked again.
"Nero." He said, and got a few snickers from the kids around him.
"Oh stop it all of you, today's his first day.. Make him feel welcome. Well, Nero I'm Mrs. Greyhorn. English.. Of course." She smiled and laughed a bit.
Nero smiled crookedly, "Good to know.." He said.
"Also, deary don't worry if you can't follow along right away.. We've been in this for quite a while now.. We'll get you started at the end of this term, that sound okay?" She asked.
Nero nodded, "Sounds fine to me." He said. This lady was possibly the nicest person to him all day… well besides that Jake kid.. Nero leaned on his desk some listening to the lecture, when finally it was over the bell rang, this time.. Nero didn't jump.. That much. Some kids looked over to see if he would or not to get their cheap thrills and laugh again.
To think the 'kid' who is scared by the bell fights devils on the side made Nero laugh for no apparent reason and some guy from across the room shot him a weird look. That and some girls who were walking past him to get out of the class.
Just keeping his head down he looked at the schedule again.. Next up Science. Chemistry. Nero was just glad it wasn't math. He smiled and looked up just as a really tall football played stood before him. The face of the kid was that of those from in the corner earlier.
Nero raised a brow and stepped to the side to get around him but the Jock mirrored him, obstructing his path.
Nero looked down and stepped to the other side but was stopped again, just as another bunch of jocks came up behind their buddy. "Excuse me, I need to get to class.." Nero spoke up, looking right at the Jock. The two were almost eye height. The jock had blonde hair and blue eyes, standing maybe and inch taller than Nero.
That blonde folded his arms across his chest, "Hah, that's not happening till I'm done with you, punk." The kid looked Nero over. "And.. What is with your outfit.. Did you come from Japan or something?" He laughed with his buddies.
Nero just sighed, "No, I didn't.. I've lived here in Fortuna all my life thanks." He said with a sneer towards the end.
The blonde jock just stopped laughing slowly, "Oh and that old man hair.. Really.. Is that dyed or are you just.. A freak or something?" He laughed more.
The young devil slayer shifted his weight and looked to the side with another sigh. "Okay.. You've picked out my flaws, I'm going now." He said proudly and turned to walk around them all but again was held up by the leader's hand stopping him.
"Woah woah waoh, we're not done with you yet, punk."
Nero snarled a little just wanting to get through this fucking day with no problems and the biggest one yet was standing right here staring him in the face.
"I wanna know whats up with you.. Why you're dressed like a douche bag and grey headed like an old guy." His buddies laughed more than him this time.
"I dress like this because I fucking want to.." Nero spoke, venom lacing his voice. "And I don't dye my hair.." He mumbled narrowing his eyes.
The jock raised his brows slightly, "Are you challenging me, punk? Do you wanna go there? I'll beat you up you little pussy." The jock punched his own palm, threatening him.
He didn't have time for this.. "No, I'm not.. Now I have to go." Nero quickly jetted around them all and into the nearest classroom which was luckily the next class. As he turned around the tall spindly teacher with bluish grey hair eyed him curiously before laughing a little.
"Alright, either you're lost or new." The man's low voice said.
Nero walked over to him, "Yeah.. I'm new." He said.
"Whats your name, kid?" Kid.. Only Dante can call me that…. Wait..
"Nero."
"Funny name, lemme guess your mom named you." He laughed more.
Nero was slightly pissed now, "No.. I have no idea.. I'm an adopted." He said matter of factly, causing the laughing teacher to stop and look at him.
"Well then.. Have a seat.. Nero." The man said that awkwardly, letting it roll off his tongue in such a way Nero thought the man had speech problem.
However he did as told and sat in the back again, right next to some girl with her chin the table. There were about 8 tables in the room with two stools behind each one, a bunch of beakers and tubes out, some cleaning supplies, and other utensils scattered around. As Nero sat down the girl looked up with a shocked look on her face.
Nero noticed this and brought a hand up to his face, "Is there something on my face?" He asked, wondering why she was looking at him funny.
She smiled a little and shook her head, "No.."
He smiled some too and looked back, "Oh good.. Well, why the look, then?" He asked.
She blushed slightly and looked forward again, but slightly down to the black-top table. "Well, it's just that no one really ever sits by me.. So, it was.. Different."
He blinked, "Why wouldn't anyone want to sit beside you?"
She shrugged, the tassles hanging from her sweater bobbed up with her shoulders. She had mid length curly brown hair and glasses. "I guess they just don't like me cause I'm different. I don' know.." She trailed off as the bell rang.
"Well, I'll sit here with ya.. Cause I'm different too." He smiled and gestured to his head of hair, which she looked at now with brows raised.
"That's cool.. I-is that natural?" She asked while the teacher wrote on the chalkboard.
Nero nodded, "Yeah, it is."
She smiled more, "Amazing." This caused Nero to smile more too.
"So, what's your name?" He asked after a moment.
"Saoirse. (1).. It's a weird name I know.." She shrunk down a little.
He huffed, "At least your's isn't Nero." He said, causing her to look back with a bright smile.
"Well I like your name. I'd trade you anyday."
He laughed a little, "Yeah, but don't you think It would be a bit odd for me to walk around with Saoirse as my name, afterall I'm not a girl."
She laughed too.
"Quiet back there, mousy.. You too,…anime." The teacher called and the girl immediately stopped talking and piped down to her own little bubble what got him was the fact that this guy nicknamed Nero Anime..
Just sighing and going back to listening he finally just channeled it all out and drifted away in thought again.
The loud bell made both of the outcast-like kids jump. Nero stood up and headed out the door, followed behind by the rest of the students.
That oddly familiar hand shot out again and obstructed Nero's path, "I didn't think we were done talking yet.. Right boys." And on cue the two behind this blonde jock nodded.
Just fucking great..
OKAY! Anotber chapter done for ya! I might actually start working on the fourth today as well, have it posted by tonight or tomorrow. We'll never know! That is.. Unless I actually DO post it. Meh, either way.
(1) Saoirse - Pronounced: Seer-sha. Like Saoirse Ronan.. The famous actress from Hanna, The lovely bones and, The city of Ember. Yes the blonde girl with the innocent face who is still stunningly gorgeous.