C3: Student body

"Why are you wearing sunglasses inside? Hungover?" Meg plonked herself down next to Claudia, her eyes never leaving her friend's face.

"Fashion," Claudia grumbled but came clean to her friend, "I didn't get much sleep last night. Had some business to attend to down town."

"Oof. Did you also get bitten by a vampire?"

'Shit. What can I say? Car accident? You don't own a car. Fell down the stairs? I sound like someone trying to cover. Shit, shit, shit. Wild Animal? Oh!'

"Someone let their dog loose in the park and it took a bite out of me. It's not bad, no stitches."

"Yeesh, did you check for rabies?!"

Claudia turned with a smirk.

"If I had rabies, I wouldn't be sitting here," she leaned forward and said in the sincerest tone she could, "rabies can be fatal. I'd be dead."

"You mean, you're not a zombie RIGHT now?" Meg slapped her cheek and asked sarcastically, "So your outfit today is purely for fashion?!"

"Damn right."

To cheer herself up after last night's events, she wore her newest outfit and LOVED how it looked on her.

Skintight, black faux leather leggings, an Oversized T-shirt with skull and crossbones on it, and black doc martens. Whilst she wasn't actively trying to hide her bandage, she didn't have any shirts or tops that covered the area, and it was too hot for a jacket or scarf.

Besides, if Doctor Octavius saw it, he couldn't possibly know it was her. Could he?

'Who cares, he can't attack you in front of a whole class of students. I'm sure that's against his parole violation or whatever.'

Speaking of which, the man himself came barrelling into the room from the office, looking like a bull ready to fight.

"Good morning, Class. No need to reply, let's just get on with this. You don't want to be here," he practically threw his briefcase on his desk and turned towards the blackboard, "and frankly, neither do I. Since you can gather, I've had a bad day, no stupid questions, please. Keep it to yourself."

He turned around and looked around at the silent auditorium

'Good. That'll keep them quiet.'

His eyes roamed over the stunned faces and sought out a specific pair that he had irked yesterday.

And there she was.

Claudia Coleson. Looking…just as pissed today as she had been yesterday. At least, her posture gave off that 'don't fucking mess with me today' vibe that he was so used to seeing in young women recently. He couldn't read her eyes since she wore thick black sunglasses, but her tight pout was also a sign she was trying to maintain some semblance of normality whilst something burned beneath.

He also couldn't help but notice the flash of a white bandage by her neck and for the first half the lecture, he wondered what had happened to her. But during some equations, he paused and had a thought.

It couldn't...could it?

He tried not to stare, but he did keep glancing at her when he expected someone to answer a question and he would think on it. Same height. Same frame. And her voice would be easy enough to disguise.

He was going to have to check something, but it would have to wait.

After class…

Claudia thought she did a pretty good job at looking non-plussed about the whole situation in class. She took her notes and stared with the blankest expression she could whenever Otto looked at her.

Which was a lot.

It was strange, it was almost like he was PUSHING her to answer, but she refused. She had debated not coming in but then thought that in turn would be suspicious and he would think he probably frightened her off after one lecture.

And she wasn't about to give him that satisfaction.

"Tonight, Class, I want you to read 'Hacking the Atom', and then tomorrow, I want you to tell me WHY I have made you read it. Good luck, Godspeed," he nodded his head and seemed to be in a calmer mood, "that'll be all."

Claudia took a deep breath and felt a little bit more relaxed.

"So do you want to grab some lunch now at that new pizzeria?" Meg asked as she stood up, her question almost drowned out by the sound of everyone else shuffling about and gathering their various stationary items.

"Yes and this time, I'LL pay," she lowered her glasses and winked at her friend, "you got it last time, don't try and cheat."

"Alright, I-" Meg would have continued, but a small order interrupted them.

"Miss Coleson. A moment after class. I need a word."

'Oh fuck.'

"Well, looks like the pizzeria will have to wait," Meg turned and lowered her voice so only Claudia could hear, "God speed. If he kicks you out, try not to hex him."

"I make no promises."

Meg left her then, though Claudia knew she would wait outside, eagerly anticipating what Octavius wanted to berate her for.

Claudia climbed down the steps until she was standing only a couple of feet away. He didn't look mean or stern or ready to fly off the handle.

Just calm.

'And full of himself.'

"You can stop looking so worried, you're not in trouble."

Claudia quietly stared at him, not wishing to use angry words at the man who had attacked her last night. Especially since he didn't know.

"Could you please remove your glasses?" He asked her sincerely and she made a show of removing them slowly, shaking her hair out in the process.

"Well, Doctor? If I'm not in trouble, why did you ask me to stay?"

"Just a simple question," he paused for a moment before his eyes moved to her neck, "are you alright?"

"Dog bite. I'll be fine. Is that all?"

"No, that wasn't the question," he wasn't stupid. Her demeanor and body movement had been different, but that attitude was the same. She also tried to disguise her voice. He almost wanted to gloat in her face that he knew, but he was genuinely curious about her now. Something about her stirred something in him.

"Why did you take this class?"

"I look great dressed as a mad scientist," she answered drily, and he chuckled.

"Really?"

'What game was he trying to play?'

"Really? I thought I wanted to change the world…now I just want to make a difference in life."

"Whose?"

'Mine.'

She shrugged her shoulders, feeling like she was only fourteen again.

"You want to help people? You could become a doctor."

"I don't have the bedside manner."

He arched his brow.

"I meant a doctor of science."

"I'm not changing my answer," she couldn't help but smirk and when he did it back, catching onto her little joke, it almost felt like they were flirting.

'Oh My god.'

She felt her face and body grow hot but quickly slipped her shades back on.

"I'm sorry Doctor Octavius, but I'm afraid I've really gotta' go," she busied herself with her bag strap and cocked her head at him, "was there anything else?"

He shook his head and turned his back to her, waving her away.

But she took her sweet time leaving, admiring his fine, strong shoulders, and how well trained he had the claws.

He may not have been an actual teacher and he was much older than her….and yet, it didn't really bother her that much. He was handsome, that was the truth.

"Have a good day, Doc," she said sweetly, knowing he would be up to his same old tricks tonight. And she'd be there to get him.

"Good day, Miss Coleson. Try to stay out of trouble tonight. Wouldn't want you to aggravate that wound."

She paused briefly in the doorway, wanting to turn around but struggling to do so, knowing if he was insinuating what she thought he was insinuating…

'Nah,' she shook her head and left, only a tiny bit of uncertainty niggling away at her.

He couldn't possibly have guessed.

"So? Are you out? Did he single you out?" Meg appeared suddenly in front of her, and Claudia had to think about that.

The tone of his voice stayed with her.

'Try to stay out of trouble tonight.'

"You know," she tried to remain calm behind her sunglasses, "I think I'll be able to handle whatever he throws at me."