Disclaimer: We don't own Kingdom Hearts, Final Fantasy, or either of the aforementioned's characters. They are the copyrighted property of Disney and Squeenix
Chapter 4 Of online chatting and history projects
Time wore on as Roxas became better friends with everybody. Already a week had passed in the first semester, and things were finally beginning to settle into a routine.
Sitting with their lab partners in Vexen's Chemistry class, the students of Starlight High were slumped over, writing copious notes, sleeping, or, as a certain redhead was doing, messing with things they really shouldn't be messed with.
Axel curiously sniffed at the vial he held in one hand. It smelled flammable…if that made any sense. So he added it to the solution he was currently creating in a boiling vat on the burner in the centre of the counter lab he shared with Demyx.
Demyx, in turn, sat slouched on his stool, head resting on the counter top as he stared blankly up at the chalkboard where their creepy-ass teacher, Vexen, wrote some complex chemical formula. He wasn't all that interested in the class. When the hell in life am I going to need the memorization of the periodic table of the elements? He thought to himself with a heavy sigh. He was so bored.
In front of Demyx and Axel, who was still mixing things that probably should never be combined, the dark-haired jock, Rai, sat with his lab partner, Seifer, who wore his usual blue beanie that covered his blond hair. The two rarely spoke to each other, but they cooperated enough to pass the class…well, hardly. Rai wasn't exactly the sharpest tool in the shed, and Seifer just plain didn't give a rat's ass.
Rai was snoring rather loudly, drooling a bit on the black counter top, while Seifer glared off into middle space. Demyx sighed again and turned his head to look over at Axel, who had a vial in each hand and an overflowing vat in front of him. The redhead looked like a possessed, evil scientist with that wicked grin and almost satanic glint in his green eyes.
That hardly looks safe… Demyx thought fuzzily, making no move to stop Axel.
Suddenly, the strange, green concoction bubbled over and, as Demyx's eyes widened, Axel jumped up in alarm and picked the vat up, holding it away from his face…which unfortunately aimed it right at the backs of Rai and Seifer's heads.
With a rather disturbing "boof", the fuzzy, lime green stuff shot out like it'd been fired from a cannon, covering both boys in a sulphuric smelling substance that was, dare Demyx think it? The color of boogers… hehe.
"Whoops," Axel said, laughing and totally ruining any sincerity there might have been in the statement. Rai had fallen from his stool to the floor with an ugly curse, and Seifer was on his feet, trying to wipe away the nasty ooze, but only managing to spread it over himself more. "My bad,"
Demyx sat up, holding his stomach as he laughed like a maniac. Now this was interesting. The blond held up a hand for a high-five, Axel immediately obliging with a snicker of his own. Everybody was staring, but neither noticed nor cared.
Seifer glared at them both and, jabbing a finger at Axel, he snarled, "You. Me. Lunch time."
Blinking blankly at the angry boy, Axel turned and shared a 'wtf?' look with Demyx, who shrugged, then giggled.
"Sounds like a line I once heard in a porno." Demyx laughed.
Axel snorted and turned back to Seifer. "That's a nice offer…but you aren't my type, Seifer-baby."
Vexen appeared from nowhere next to the four boys, making them all jump in surprise. Long, ice-blond hair framed a sharp face dominated by a sadistic looking smile and acid green eyes. "Are we going to have problems, gentlemen?" he asked in an icy-cold tone.
"Um… no sir." Demyx managed to stutter out, afraid that Vexen was going to eat them.
He glanced over at Rai and Seifer, his mouth curving into a disturbing grin. "Axel…I expect you to clean up your mess…and I trust you won't do something so foolish in the future…" he cast one more long, amused look at the stinky, green-coated boys before whirling away, emitting a laugh that made infants cry.
Teens too, Axel and Demyx thought at the same time as a girl in the corner of the room began sobbing in fright. They shared an 'our-teacher-is-F'ing-creepy' look before bursting out into laughter again.
Okay, so…maybe routine isn't the right word…
Later that morning…
What was the true purpose of computer classes? Was it to learn how to control the almighty technology that, since its creation, has ruled the world?
Or was it just a free opportunity for strange men like Cid Highwind to attempt to brainwash the youths that attended Starlight High, and in the attempt, put them to sleep?
Too many of the students enrolled in Computer 101, it was the latter. Seeing as they were of the generation of computers. They'd learned how to control their parents' online bank account at the age of about five, and found all this 'tutorial' boring and a waste of time. Perhaps Cid was so enthralled with the wonders of the computer, because it hadn't been a part of his life from day one? Who knew what went on in that crazy, blond hair covered head of Highwind's?
His gruff voice filled the almost silence of the room, his lecture on how to navigate and 'master' Microsoft Office laden heavily with, what he deemed, 'mild' curse words.
A crumpled piece of paper smacked Roxas upside the head, startling the blond out of his half-asleep stupor. He jerked upright, blinking around the room before his wide blue eyes rested on the culprit.
Casting quick looks around, he spotted Sora waving his arm to get Roxas' attention from across the room. Cid currently had his back to the class, demonstrating something on the projector, giving them ample opportunity to do as they wished…for a short time, anyways.
The brunet made the motions of smoothing out the top of his computer monitor, and Roxas raised an eyebrow in question. It took him a full two minutes of spastic motions from Sora before he caught on that he was supposed to open the paper.
Nodding at Sora, Roxas uncrumpled the paper and smoothed it out on his keyboard, seeing a small note written in Sora's, surprisingly, neat handwriting.
'Get on MSN. We'll chat!'
Roxas glanced up at Sora in trepidation. Was the brunet serious? They were in school!
Scribbling a response, Roxas aimed and tossed the paper back, smacking a rather annoyed looking Sora in the face. He didn't so much as blink, just crossed his arms and huffed quietly.
The paper came sailing back at him faster than he could blink, and Roxas ducked instinctively. He plucked the paper off the floor and opened it, only to see that Sora didn't reply to him, but had simply circled his original message.
Grumbling, Roxas checked one more time that Cid wasn't looking before he opened Messenger, and signed in.
Not everyone can be a Hero has just signed in
Dear, your name here has just signed in
Not everyone can be a Hero says: should we be doing this, Sora?
Sonata Arctica has just signed in
Dear, your name here says: Chill Roxas, it's cool 3
Not everyone can be a Hero says: Still…
Sonata Arctica says: Oh, grow a pair!
Dear, your name here says: HEY FUU!
Sonata Arctica says: . . .
Not Dishwasher Safe has just signed in
Not Dishwasher Safe says: HI PEOPLES!
Dear, your name here says: Demyx?
Not Dishwasher Safe says: ^w^ Yeppers!
Sonata Arctica says: WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING HERE?
Not everyone can be a Hero says: Um…what's with your sn, Dem?
Not Dishwasher Safe says: IT'S SEXY! 3
Zexion has just signed in
Zexion says: You should all be ashamed of yourselves…
Dear, your name here says: Why?
Zexion says: Chatting in class can get you in serious trouble
Not everyone can be a Hero says: Then why are YOU chatting during class?
Not Dishwasher Safe says: NICE ONE ROXY!
Not everyone can be a Hero says: …don't call me Roxy…
Sonata Arctica says: Gah, you guys are absolutely no fun to chat with!
Not Dishwasher Safe says: What's up your butt?
Dear, your name here says: Yeah, Fuu, you've been grumpy all day…is it 'that time of the month'?
Not everyone can be a Hero says: SORA!
Not Dishwasher Safe says: XD
Sonata Arctica says: . . .
Zexion says: No, it's not that time for her yet, Sora…that's next week
Not everyone can be a Hero says: Wha? o.O;
Not Dishwasher Safe says: HAHAHA!
Dear, your name here says: Oh…
IBroughtSexyBack has just signed in
IBroughtSexyBack: 'Sup Bitches?
Not Dishwasher Safe says: AXEL! OMG!
Sonata Arctica says: Great…
Not everyone can be a Hero says: Axel?
Dear, your name here says: Where are you?
IBroughtSexyBack says: Not that it's any of your business, nerd, but I'm in the Main Building, watching Mr. Mansex's sexy swagger, lol
Not Dishwasher Safe says: LOL!
Zexion says: Skipping again?
IBroughtSexyBack says: always
Sonata Arctica says: I'm going to laugh my ass off the day you get caught…
IBroughtSexyBack says: don't hold your breath on that one
Not everyone can be a Hero says: Wait…if you're skipping…then how are you online?
Dear, your name here says: He's using his phone, Rox
Zexion says: That's rather obvious…
Sonata Arctica says: duh…
Not everyone can be a Hero says: Well, I didn't know you could use your cell phone for MSN!
Not Dishwasher Safe says: Chill, little dude
IBroughtSexyBack says: Yeah, ROXAS! Chill out…
Not everyone can be a Hero says: QUIT THAT!
IBroughtSexyBack says: Or you'll what?
Not everyone can be a Hero says: I'll…I'll…embarrass YOU for once!
Not Dishwasher Safe says: XDDDDD
Zexion says: I'd like to see that…
Dear, your name here says: Yeah, Rox, you can't embarrass Axel…you just can't
Not everyone can be a Hero says: WATCH ME!
Sonata Arctica says: Now things are getting interesting…
IBroughtSexyBack says: So ROXAS, what shall be my embarrassing punishment?
Not everyone can be a Hero says: . . .
IBroughtSexyBack says: C'mon, you can't back out now :3
Dear, your name here says: Yeah, Rox, show him!
Not Dishwasher Safe says: Roxy?
Zexion says: The look on your face is rather amusing, Roxas…
Not everyone can be a Hero says: YOU'VE BEEN WATCHING ME?
Zexion says: Kind of hard not to…you're sitting right across from me…
Sonata Arctica says: HA! Your expression is even MORE priceless now!
Dear, your name here says: I totally gotta see!
Not everyone can be a Hero says: KNOCK IT OFF, GUYS!
Not Dishwasher Safe says: I'm starting to wish I'd come along with you guys to the lab, instead of rotting in the library…things sound funner down there XD
IBroughtSexyBack says: I'm still waiting for you to teach me a lesson, ROXAS!
Not everyone can be a Hero says: FINE! Axel, I dare you to come into our classroom and shout something random and embarrassing!
IBroughtSexyBack says: Such as?
Not everyone can be a Hero says: I have no idea, just pick a random word! But you have to do it in our class so we know you did it!
IBroughtSexyBack says: A'ight, see ya in a few
IBroughtSexyBack appears to be offline
Dear, your name here says: Didn't see THAT coming…
Zexion says: Roxas…you clearly don't know what you've just done…
Not Dishwasher Safe says: Oh, Oh, I SOOO have to see this!
Not Dishwasher Safe appears to be offline
Sonata Arctica says: I take back what I said earlier about you guys being no fun to chat with…today might just be entertaining
Dear, your name here says: Rox…I don't see how this is supposed to embarrass Axel…
Not everyone can be a Hero says: Ugh…neither do I…but you guys wouldn't stop bugging me!
Zexion says: How so? All we did was comment on your facial expressions…
Sonata Arctica says: Yeah, you can't really blame US for you being a complete moron, that's your OWN fault
After about five minutes of Zexion, Fuu and Sora insulting him online, Roxas was more that ready to hurl his computer out the window…when the door to their classroom flew open, slamming into the wall and stunning Cid into silence.
"Demyx?" he shouted. "What the fuck are you doin' 'ere?"
Demyx grinned sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head. "I, uh, have a message I was supposed to deliver to…ah...Zexion!" he waved a piece of paper under Cid's nose, to which to older man answered with a snort.
"Whatever, just give it to him and get out!"
A low chatter began to circulate around the room as Cid returned to his lecture and Demyx sauntered over to the back corner, leaning against the counter next to Zexion's computer. "'Sup?"
Zexion smirked up at Demyx. "Nice to see you made it before Axel."
"Yeah, well, he was all the way in the Main Building…I was just in the library…"
Roxas peeked over the top of his computer monitor at Demyx. "Isn't that in the Main Building too?"
"He means the old library, Rox," Sora supplied in a loud whisper from where he sat, three computers away behind them. A muffled scoff followed, which they all assumed came from Fuu, who sat one chair away from Zexion.
Roxas opened his mouth to respond, when the door flew open for the second time. Cid turned a frustrated eye to the newest occupant, who looked more than pleased at the full classroom. Axel's grin only grew as he spotted all of them sitting relatively close together in one place.
Clearing his throat, the redhead took a deep breath and screamed:
"SPATULA!"
Everyone jumped in their chairs, one person even falling to the floor in stunned disbelief. Cid's eye twitched as Axel took a bow and backed slowly out of the room. "Thank you, thank you," he chirped.
Demyx doubled over in laughter, while Zexion covered his mouth to keep the majority of his chuckles at bay. Sora was consumed with a case of the giggles and, for the first time since he'd met her, Roxas saw Fuu smiling and laughing.
Cid threw the projector at Axel's head, but it ended up slamming into the closing door as Axel ducked out just in the knick of time.
"GET THE HELL OUTTA MY CLASSROOM!" he shouted at Demyx, who snickered his way out after Axel.
My god…these people truly are insane! Roxas thought as the bell rang.
Sora jumped up in triumph. "YES! LUNCH TIME!"
Cid's PoV
The heavy door creaked closed behind him as Cid Highwind stomped down the stairs. The sunlight was irritating, and he headed for a shaded area besides the building. The bell for lunch had just rang, but the chaos caused by butt-ache 1 and butt-ache 2, also known as Demyx and Axel, in his class had left Cid hankering for a cigarette.
He leaned his back against the cool stone wall, lighting up with a relaxing sigh. Yeah…nothing beat a cig after the kind of shit he'd had to deal with. It was bad enough that the students who took his class didn't give a flying rat's ass about the subject he taught, and the online chatting he knew was going on behind his back was actually something to be expected…
But he wouldn't wish the hellions that are Demyx and Axel on anybody…let alone the two of them together.
Feminine laughter caught his attention and Cid took a long drag as he slowly made his way towards the back of the building. Standing in a semi-circle around an individual, well-known student, was a group of five girls who looked to be about the same age. All of them were smoking, and the short buds still held between their fingers gave him a good indication of how long they'd been outside, laughing about something one had said. While he didn't know the names of all the others, the one girl standing against the wall was hard to forget.
Larxene.
Wearing black jeans and a ratty, dark green windbreaker, Larxene stood taller than the rest of the girls, even though she was leaning back. Her green eyes were narrowed as she stared off into space, not really paying any attention to those around her. The soft wind stirred her short blonde hair, the two strands that stood up from the rest fluttering gently.
Cid was about to confront the girls and tell them that skipping to smoke was against school rules, but stopped himself before he could. Who the hell was he to give them a lecture about such things? Shit, he did the exact same thing when he was in high school.
Grinning, Cid flicked the remainder of his cigarette away, turning to leave the girls to their own devices. He stuffed his hands in his pockets and headed for the teacher's lounge for lunch, curious as to what troubles would be stirred up today.
The atmosphere of the teacher's lounge was warm and open, the occupants exchanging boisterous talk, most complaining about the students in their classes and how they could hardly wait for the first holiday break.
Yuffie was currently flirting shamelessly with the History teacher, Cloud Strife, who mostly ignored the hyper-active woman as he sipped at a mug of coffee. Vexen was perched on one end of the ugly ass green couch that served as the only comfort in the lounge. On the opposite end sat Marluxia, the home ec. teacher. He was an odd one. While the others talked, some mildly, some colorfully, only every so often, Marluxia took great pains to speak with them all. It was rather odd and sort of creepy how outgoing he was.
Or maybe it was the pink hair…
Aerith, the school nurse, came in with a bright smile. She nodded at Marluxia and pinked in the cheeks a bit as he replied to her inquiries. After retrieving her packed lunch out of the fridge, the brunet woman left as suddenly as she had come.
Cid dropped himself down in one of the metal chairs set up around the folding card table. With such a large campus, one would think the teacher's lounge would be bigger…or at least more comfortable.
Saïx, the foreign languages teacher came through, the principle, Xemnas, right behind him. Those two seemed closer this year than before. They'd always gotten along, seeing as Xemnas had a god-complex and Saïx was naturally submissive to his orders. The blue-haired ninny was just a suck-up, plain and simple.
Gazing one last time around at his fellow teachers, Cid scoffed and picked up a three day old newspaper. It'd been a long day already, and it was only half way over…and it seemed like lunch was going to live up to the day's goal of 'last forever, piss us all off'.
Sora's Point of View
Sora ran through the corridor in a rush, not to be late for the lunch with his friends. Tifa had held him back in the corridor to talk to him about some assignment they'd gotten back.
"Hey Sora!" Said brunet looked up and saw a girl from his math class wave towards him. He grinned and waved back. Of course when you're in a rush and someone calls your name, you usually don't see where you're going and naturally this happened to Sora. And it resulted in him running straight into an open locker door.
He looked up in shock from his sudden position lying straight on the floor. A pair of aqua blue eyes stared down on him and of course due to Murphy's Law it had to be the most popular dude in school that he had to run in to. The silver haired guy looked surprised and extended a hand towards the brunet.
"Hey, are you okay?" Sora took the hand and got helped up.
"Yeah I think so.. I was in a hurry and didn't exactly see where I was going…" The silver haired guy just smiled towards him.
"It's okay, as long as you're not hurt. I'm Riku by the way. What's your name?" Once again the hand was extended towards Sora who hesitated slightly before he shook it.
"I'm – "
"Sora!" Both boys spun around to see the redheaded misfit/Axel and his crazy blond friend/Demyx standing there.
"Axel, Demyx, what are you guys doing here?" Axel crossed his arms over his chest and Demyx walked up to the two boys and poked Riku hard in the chest.
"What are you doing with Sora? He has done nothing to you so leave him alone. Come on Sora." Demyx grabbed the brunet's arm and dragged him away with Axel walking up towards Riku, standing eye to eye with the silver haired teen.
"If you so much as split a hair on the brunet's head I will make you suffer so help me God. I swear on my parents' graves." He walked away after his two friends, leaving Riku perplexed and speechless. When they rounded a corner a hand was laid on the silver haired teen's shoulder and he once again spun around.
"Hey Riku" Kairi's voice was sweet as syrup with a bitter undertone. "What were you doing with that nobody?" Riku shrugged his shoulders.
"He accidentally ran into my locker door, I just helped him up before his friends came and started bitching about me hurting him or something." Kairi snuck her arms around him and whispered in his ear.
"It's not good for you to be seen with those creatures, think about your reputation Love." Riku forced a smile at the wine haired girl.
"I'll remember it. I don't even know who he is."
"Sora, what were you doing with that geek?" Axel didn't look happy, not at all while Sora just shrugged his shoulders.
"I accidentally ran in to his locker door and he helped me up." Demyx leaned back in his chair in the cafeteria, arms crossed.
"Promise he wasn't giving you a hard time? 'Cause if he did I will get him, I will get him so bad he'll never see the sun rise again." Sora smiled.
"Don't worry Demyx." The blond smiled again at the words.
"Alrighty then… Let's eat!" At his own words he started to munch away on some fries while Fuu just looked at him with a disgusted look and started to pick at her salad. Axel ate from a burger and noticed that Roxas didn't even touch his food.
"What's bothering you Rox?" Said blond glanced up.
"Nothing, and it's just Roxas."
"Alright then, just ROXAS." He sniggered at his own joke and stole a fry from Demyx who smacked his hand, but too late; the redhead got away with the fry and celebrated his triumph by eating it. Demyx muttered something inaudible and went back to his fries, protecting them with his life.
It was an unusually quiet lunch, even Sora was quiet. Demyx tried to stir up a conversation, but he failed miserably to his great distress so he once again returned to his fries. The warning bell rang, declaring it was only five minutes to the next lesson so everyone got up. Axel ran first.
"Bye Bitches, 'm having a smoke." He was gone before anyone got a chance to blink. The juniors from their group headed towards their world history class and managed to get a seat just seconds before the bell rang again. Their teacher looked up and they were met by a pair of clear blue piercing eyes and blond spikes. The man looked like he was in his early twenties and rose, turned his back towards them and started to write on the blackboard in slightly spidery handwriting. When he was done he turned around and the black board said "World History, teacher: Cloud Strife"
"Alright kids. My name is Cloud Strife, welcome to World History. We're going to start a project today. You are going to write an essay on at least 8 pages –" at those words the class sighed and Cloud continued "- about a world, town or country of your choice, I want background, where it got its name from, and some of your own questions. It's due in a month, so I want it back on my desk October first. This represents 30 per cent of your grades so don't you dare get it in late. You can search for information everywhere, but I want a clean and complete list on where you got the information from. Every book, website, magazine or anything you use, I want the name of it.
You will be pretty free on the lessons but please don't leave it until last minute. I don't need you to report to classes, but I will be here if you need me for help or if you have some questions. It is also okay for you to compile your information here, but also as I've said; don't even dare leave it to me late. Make backup copies and safety files so you won't lose it. Any questions? Good. Begin."
During his ten minute speech he had written everything down on the white board behind him so no information was missing. The students sat quiet and perplexed for a few minutes before silent mumbles were heard through the class room. The blond teacher looked out over the class.
"What are you waiting for? Get out of here and start searching facts. Oh and by the way; yes it is okay for you to work in pairs of two, but not more, and if you are two I want twelve pages instead of eight. Got it? Good, get out." Roxas slowly rose and the other students did the same, one after another and headed out. Safe and sound out of the class room Roxas turned towards Sora.
"How the hell can one person talk for so long without breathing?" Sora just smiled.
"I have no idea, but he's always been like that, he doesn't like talking much so he says everything he needs to and then he's quiet… You should hear his lectures." The brunet chuckled.
"Come on, let's find Zexion and Fuu and head over to the library and I'll show you a talkative man."
"No need to look for us, we're right here." Sora and Roxas jumped and spun around and found Zexion and Fuu standing there. Sora smiled brightly.
"Alright, then let's head of to the library." They left the pink building and headed towards the library. Sora skipped happily down the way.
"Hey Roxas, can I work with you? It's more fun to work together and you don't have to write as much, this way we only have to do six pages each." Roxas shrugged his shoulders.
"Sure, what world or town to you want to work about?" They chatted about what to work about and little details as Zexion and Fuu walked behind them. Zexion smiled slightly at the two and shook his head. Fuu bit her lip and looked up at the slate haired boy.
"You… um.. You wanna work with me?" Zexion blinked a couple of times to process what she said.
"That's a really nice offer Fuu, but you know I work better alone… Besides I know it'll be complete if I do it myself and I feel more secure about the work. Not that I don't trust you, it just feels better." The girl just shrugged her shoulders.
"Fine, whatever." Zexion grabbed her wrist and turned her so they stood face to face.
"Sure it's okay?" Fuu glanced away and nodded. The taller boy smiled.
"Good, come on then, they're leaving us." They walked after the other two boys and headed in to the library. They library was huge and filled with bookshelf after bookshelf with thin and thick books and Roxas thought to himself that this must be paradise from someone who loved reading. Several new and hi tech computers stood in rows, free for students to use, some occupied with youths searching for information or just wasting time.
Sora skipped ahead to a counter where a tall dark haired man stood and stared at a computer screen, every now and then writing something on the keyboard.
"Come on Roxas, get over here!" Said blond walked up to the counter.
"Roxas, this is Leon, Leon this is Roxas, he is new here and he needs a library card." The taller brunet eyed Roxas who felt uncomfortable under the gray gaze and shifted foots slightly. Finally the man named Leon nodded.
"ID." Roxas looked confused.
"Excuse me?" Leon looked at him with one eyebrow raised and Sora nudged him in the side.
"Give him your student ID." Roxas mouth formed an "oh" and he handed over the plastic card. Leon took the card, looked at it and started tapping frenetically on the keyboard. After about five minutes he handed over a bunch of papers that Roxas had to fill out and finally, after about twenty minutes, he got his card. Sora smiled his usual bright smile towards the not so talkative brunet.
"Thanks a bundle Leon." Leon just grunted and started to tap on the keyboard.
"yeah one more thing…" The older man looked up again. "We're doing a history project that Cloud assigned us… Where can we find information about Twilight Town?" Leon looked down at the computer and started to write something before he looked up again.
"Section B 347." Sora smiled and waved.
"Okay, thanks, bye" He dragged Roxas away from the counter and started searching for "Section B 347". When they finally found it, they searched for books and walked towards a table with several heavy thick books. After a while Zexion and Fuu joined them at the table and they sat there for almost two hours, since this was their last lesson.
When Roxas finally was on his way home, he felt like he actually had done something useful this day and half smiled on his way home, greeting everyone he met that he knew, and didn't knew.