He was exhausted after his battle, mostly mentally. He had never as a child had much of a chance to use his power at full capacity like that - and it honestly scared him. Sure, none of his future classmates were dead, but they could have been. Taking out that ring of foes had made him so aware of his own strength: far too aware. He could kill with the mere flick of his hand if he focused enough and if he targeted certain points of the body- he wouldn't even have to produce that much electricity. It also made him realize due to a lack of training he has no precision or speed with his ability. It takes so much time for him to charge up even the smallest blast of lightning. He wasn't even excited to see his dorm room - for as he had walked about the castle using his map: he found that it was terribly drafty, stuffy, and all-around drab. The entire look of the place made him fall deeper into his grumpy self.

But, hey, at least he doesn't have to share.

He slides his door open and freezes. Skylar slams the door closed behind him not even needing to turn on the light to know who's in his room standing backdropped against the sunset beaming through the window. He's the only man Skylar knows who wears a skirt.

"Hey, kiddo." Kiwi speaks up, flipping on the lamp that stands beside him to bathe the room in proper lighting. "I know I'm the last person you would expect to be here- but,"

"Leave." Skylar growled out and he stalked around the white-haired man: not even glancing his way. He grabbed the suitcase that had been delivered to his dorm: and popped it open on his bed. "I have no want nor desire to speak with you."

Kiwi frowns, "I see what's happening...You're pushing me away. Your father tried to do this years ago too-"

The air buzzes a bit, a soft warning as Skylar's blonde locks of hair lift slightly off his head. "Don't compare me to my father. You're not wanted here: I I'm pretty sure every single teacher in this school would love to get a hold of Soreli."

They visibly wince, his entire face darkening a bit. "So...we're on a hero-name basis? What happened to Uncle Kiwi?"

"You lost that title when you let him ruin my life!" the blonde shot back, turning on the other male in the room. "Did you even try to talk to him!? And don't try and say you don't have any power over him - I know you do."

Kiwi shakes his head, and he sits down on the end of the young man's bed, sighing deeply. "There's a lot you don;t know about Matthew-"

"Because he never talks about our family! Like apparently, there's been a villain Dair before me!" A growl slips between his lips with ease, he knows deep down: he shouldn't do this. Kiwi is his last connection to the life he had, to the life he might be able to have again if he convinces the New Zealander to help him - but he knows that's foolish thinking. That part of his life is gone. Its locked behind a door that is boarded up and chained, every little nail in it was hammered there by his father. His mother doesn't do anything and that's her problem. She's always just there - going along with his father's plans and all his ideas. She didn't even stop him. She just stood there and cried. Some help her tears had been.

"How," the man spoke slowly. "Do you know that?" Kiwi's face was furrowed deeply, and he looked highly disturbed by this information.

"The teachers here talk. And so do I,"Skylar points to the window from where he came. "Out."

He stands slowly, and they nod. "Alright: I'll go but just know..." he sighs deeply. "You're not alone." He doesn't get an answer - all he hears is a soft huff of air being released,covering up and hardly hid sniffle. Kiwi deeply inhaled, but he retreated as he had been asked. He slips out the window, and with a little manipulation upon gravity using his own powers - it allows him to walk down the side of the building and slip into the night unseen as he takes to the sky.

Soon: he finds himself leaving behind the gloomy woods and entering the sparkling city, as clean as every uptown. He lands with a solid thump on the front-yard of the Dair mansion it's flowing fountain's water glimmering. The security alarms don't go off - having long ago been modified to identify Kiwi on sight. He furrows his brows, as he notices that Matthew's room light is still on - him and Lisa haven't ever shared a bed save for sex. He slips in through that window too, startling the burly man who sits at the edge of his bed. Matthew's face is blemished with red spots and the tall-tale signs of tears.

He wipes at them desperately, "Kiwi - what have I told you about not going through the door?"

Kiwi wrinkles up his nose, already able to smell the alcohol that is on the man's breath. He isn't sure how he does it: how he keeps up this facade for the media, for the world. The other man knows for sure that he would have crumbled under the pressure within moments. The bed creaks as Kiwi takes a seat beside the other man, who moves over for him making room. "You're really torn up about this - aren't you?"

"How could I not be! He's my son - but if Lisa found out...if she..." Matthew shakes his short head of blonde hair, which through the last couple of years has been thinning out tremendously. "She would rip me apart. You should have seen her! She cried on the spot, acting like she cares...She tried to force me to sleep with her when we got home: to 'make another heir'. "

"You know, Skylar doesn't know the difference. Between Matthew Dair - Goliath and Matt,his father. You never - you never showed him the real you." the shorter man explains, "He thinks you hate him - and always have."

"I know, I'm a convincing actor - aren't I?" the blonde laughs humorlessly and he brings his knees to his chest. "I don't know what to do.I don't want to lose him - but what else can I do? It's Rudy all over again... And like the coward I am, I'm going to just sit around." Matthew chokes on a few sobs, and without warning he grabs Kiwi pulling him into an embrace. "I wish it was just us again...before I was married. Before I was ever the heir to the Dair legacy."

Kiwi's heart shudders in his chest, he must be truly drunk: if he is remembering those days. They never speak of them - for the white-haired man's sake mostly. He swallows and he carefully observes the other's face, he isn't still - in love, is he? That can't be possible. Matthew has certainly moved on, unless, Kiwi has led him along without meaning to? The man's thoughts are swirling and are broken by a knock on the door.

Unaware that Kiwi is there, Lisa snarls through the door. "You better not be drinking again! I can't believe you, Matthew - falling apart over this! He is a disgrace and you know it!" she sighs deeply, "Anyway, get some sleep. We have a press conference about our son tomorrow."

A sickening sweet tone enters her voice, "Love you~!"

Matthew chokes on bile, "Love-ve you..."

As her footsteps retreat, Matthew buries his face into Kiwi's chest: and allows himself to sob - looking more like his son than he'll ever know.

[☆☆☆]

"Good morning, my first lovely class!" Perseus's voice was far too loud for such an early start, especially considering a blaring and screeching alarm had awoken the students from their slumber. Skylar frowns at the sight of him and checks his schedule- realizing that yes, this is his homeroom: and the class he'll spend the most time in. He groans deeply and flops down into one of the many empty desks, wincing as it creaks and nearly splinters.

The short-blue-haired man winces, "Careful! The desks are delicate, been here since the 2060s." with a piece of chalk that crumbles in his hand to nearly nothing he stretches his name onto the board. It's hardly legible, and the blonde aristocrat questions if Perseus ever went to school. The second arrival to the classroom is Kankuro. He glances around - spots Skylar and seems to visibly wince, as the blonde grins at him.

"Who would have thought, we'd be in the same class." Skylar comments, as the well-dressed one takes a seat beside him.

"It's not like we got to choose our classes." Kankuro puts his head into his hand. "Like everything else in this world..."

Perseus grins and he points the crumbling chalk at him, "That's the spirit! We encourage pessimism here!"

Kankuro rolls his eyes, as he scrutinizes the man's trench coat and neon blue flower leggings. "And bad fashion sense...why in the hell are you wearing sunglasses inside?"

The teacher chuckles, and a dark grin forms on his features, a track contrast to his friendly greeting earlier. "Oh trust me, you don't want me to take them off."

Skylar furrows his brows, and in all honesty: he does want the man to take them off now but assumes there's a good reason for it. Stumbling through the door, looking confused and frazzled, was Endymion, he glances around, spots Skylar, and instantly assumes this is the right classroom. Even if it wasn't it was obvious that he wouldn't leave either way. He makes note that Kankuro is here too - so it's likely that since they were the last three standing, they're in the top class along with a few others. He sits down beside the blonde, giving him a smile.

"How'd you sleep? I had to sweep an entire colony of mice out of my room!" he wasn't quite sure why he said this with joy, but it had been fun batting at them with a broom. He watches Skylar's face pale, and he nearly pukes.

"Mice? I'm going to catch so many diseases from this place..." he shifts uncomfortably in his chair, and beside them, Kankuro does too. Of course, the man always knew he'd be a villain - but damnit, couldn't they provide better funding? Kankuro sighs deeply.

"I'm shocked you didn't eat the mice." he looks over at Endymion, who's face scrunched up.

"Ew, I wouldn't stoop that low. What do you think I am?" the ginger's tail flickers with annoyance. Before the ravenette can get in another cruel remark, Perseus brings attention back to him, by violently throwing textbooks at them. Skylar catches his, while Endymion nearly smacks him in the face - and Kankuro, well, he just dodges it and it falls apart upon impact on the floor.

Perseus grins, "We don't actually use those: I just wanted to get your attention." he rubs his hands together. "As part of your first day, we do a little power assessment. So - how much control you have, and all sorts of boring technical stuff. " He walks over to the closest, and drags out a large plastic manakin and he sets it in front of the door. "First, I'll be showing you my own ability!"

Skylar watches with intrigue, he's been collecting mental data on his fellow classmates: trying to do as his father taught him, learn all he can about the people around him. Well: he was taught this skill so that he could manipulate but that doesn't make it inherently a bad skill. So far: he only has knowledge of Endymion and that's just because he's so easy to read. Kankuro of course is a mystery besides the fact that he's a pompous jerk. His two classmates are having a hushed - and seemingly angry discussion with each other about, what the blonde can assume eating mice.

Perseus doesn't seem to care much, and he gestures around - as if talking to a full class: and not three hardly functional students, only one of which is paying attention. "Our powers, are what makes us so great! And everyone's is different - making some, of course, naturally better than others. But with training and time - even the strangest ability can be honed into a weapon! For example mine."

With that, he takes off his sunglasses after looking directly at the manakin, and suddenly: the door, and the manakin - everything he's facing in about a five-foot radius, starts to turn to stone. Skylar watches in shock and he elbows Endymion who jumps a bit and gapes right along with him. Kankuro remains unimpressed by their professor. Perseus placed the sunglasses back pon, and the stone stops spreading.

"I have the quaint ability to turn anything I look at - to stone. Including moving objects and living beings. Luckily, the effects wear off in 24 hours - so when my power awakened and I turned my father into a statue: I wasn't orphaned!"

Skylar stared blankly at him, "Wait...you turn things to stone? Then why - Perseus? Why not Medusa?"

The teacher chuckled, "Because Perseus killed Medusa! Get it?"

Endymion popped off with, "I have no idea what either of you are talking about."

The tallest male frowns and Kankuro stares at him, "Of course someone like you doesn't know the story of Perseus."

The dragon-male growls softly, and he stands a bit. This guy is getting on his last nerve, sure, he was ready to be his friend - but clearly Kankuro wasn't willing to let that happen. Why? Who the hell knew: friends are great. He inks as he feels a hand on his shoulder, Skylar's blue eyes staring him down.

With a huff, he slams himself back dkwn into his seat. Kankuro's brow is raised high on his face, wondering what in the world the ginger had planned to accomplish.

Perseus claps his hands together, gaining their attention again: he smiles, brushing his blue hair from his face. "And..." he stares up at the clock for a moment that hangs on the back wall. "Class is dismissed!"

Skylar bulks, "But sir, we haven't learned anything! And - well, we've only been in class what; twenty minutes?"

The teacher hums, "And that's all I'm required to teach! When your fellow students get out of the hospital," he gives Skylar a pointed look, or he assumes so. The Dair looks down at his desk, cheeks flushing. "Then, we'll have a real lesson."

Kankuro shrugs and he stands, grabbing his bag. "Fine by me." He walks out the door, ducking under it so he doesn't hit his head. Skylar turns to Endymion who is waiting expectantly for him.

"Go on and wait for me in the hallway. I have...personal business with our teacher to attend to." He turns to look at his professor, who you never truly know if he's looking at you due to the sunglasses.

"Alright! Don't be too long, I want to explore with you!" The ginger gives him a heartwarming smile, and Skylar has to return it. It's an almost unspoken rule that if someone as sunny as the dragon-male smiles at you: you smile back. Or perhaps, Skylar just feels compelled to match his energy. He was raised to shift and shape himself for any situation - when in Rome, do as the Romans. He could hear his father's voice now.

"If someone smiles at you, showing genuine happiness; smile back, Sky. Even if you're faking it."

Bitterness swept through his body, he spent his entire life without genuine connection didn't he? Always faking smiles. Faking laughs or whatever was needed to convince some stuck-up jerk: that he was a Dair. Well: he isn't anymore, so, he grins a bit wider and laughs softly as he watches Endymion hit his tail on the doorframe on his way out.

"You want to ask me something, or lots of somethings." Perseus's voice rattled Skylar from his train of thought and he turns to him. He was sitting at his worn desk, feet up on it, trench coat pooling around his body: to reveal his purple shirt.

The blonde swallows, his mind already forming so many questions: and even accusations. He wanders over to the desk - realizing how truly unnerving this goofy man is. There's something about his air thay Skylar didn't notice before. He may be sitting there with a kind smile, but without seeing his eyes: do you ever truly know.

"Well, sir - you told me that, well you implied - that another Dair before me was a villain? Was that my uncle? Rudy Dair?!" He began to raise his voice a bit. "Or was it someone else? A Dair erased from the family history? Do you know Rudy? My father! You knew him in his prime, before he had me: what was he like-!"

A finger against the young man's lips shut him up. Perseus was rubbing at the bridge of his nose. "Slow down, kid. One at a time...well actually: I can answer most of those." The blonde leans forward in anticipation.

The man sighs, and he runs a hand through his hair revealing darker roots: nearly navy blue beneath the light color. "You'll have to get into the school's files to learn about Rudy, but - I did know your father. Before the Destiny Test: we were friends." He frowns a bit. How much is he willing to tell - he stares at Skylar, and his gleaming gaze. So, he continues.

Skylar sits down, pulling up a desk. "It was strange...He was such a good man, while your grandparents: let's just say - not so much. And then: he was betrothed to Lisa-"

"Betrothed!?" Skylar cut the man off, shock rocketing through his body. He never knew his parents were an arranged marriage, but, he guessed it made sense. Perseus had his brows furrowed, clearly not happy at being interrupted. The blonde shook his head. "Sorry...continue."

Perseus scuffs, but he does so. "After they were married - he changed completely. He became this cold - and fake person. I don't think I ever saw him really smile again. Not even Kiwi could get him to... not in public. Then, we took our Destiny Test and he cut all communication with me. Trust me, it was a shock seeing him when he stopped my bank robbery...so, so different." He shakes his head and he stands, gesturing for Skylar to leave.

"That's all I got for you. And again - if you want to learn about Rudy: Miss Hood's office. Though, watch out: Fate will kill you if he catches you in there." He chuckles.

"Wait...are you telling me - I should break into her office?!" Skylar said, shock ringing in his tone. He was still processing what he just heard. His father- a good man? A good friend? It was hard to believe. But then again: he taught Skylar how to play pretend - maybe, that's what his father does.. play pretend.

Perseus grins."Why not?"

"Because you just said, Fate will murder me if I get caught!" The blonde argues, and his teacher shrugs.

"Guess you don't want to know about Rudy then."

His brows furrowed deep on his face, and he pouted. "You're a cruel man, Mr. Perseus."

The bluenette shudders, "I may be - but please drop the Mister. Makes me feel way too old. Now, didn't I dismiss class already? Go. Run along with your buddy."

The young man sighs, realizing he's not going to get any further with him. Skylar grabs his things and he heads out of the classroom- deep in thought: and wondering how in the world he's supposed to break into the mistress of the school's office.

He sighs, "I must be insane..."

[☆☆☆]

Skylar soon found out: where the school's budget goes, and that's into the food. For lunch they were serving hot & ready burgers. The woman who served them looked as if she were only twelve: and turns out, her ability was to change her appearance at will - as long as it was someone of the same gender. He watched her go from a petite little girl, to an elderly grandma right before his eyes. The blonde and Endymion sat together, finding a lonely table in the corner- trying to avoid being harassed.

Skylar felt bad about it: if Endymion didn't hang out with him - he was sure he could make so many friends. But, the part-dragon man refused to bend to the will of his peers. And Skylar's apparently.

"So...I know this is out of the blue: but," the Dair began, as he watched Endymion devour his burger, well these three burgers. "Wanna help me break into Miss Hood's office?"

Endymion stares, and he grins. "Is that even a question? Yes! It will be our first crime we commit together!" He blinks and shivers. "But honestly, that woman terrifies me."

Skylar chuckles, "I had a feeling you'd say, yes. I don't have a plan or anything yet- but meet me in my dorm and,"

"And what?" A silky voice purred and the blonde felt chills course through his entire being, he swallows: mouth feeling dry. He turned his head, trying to not act like an idiot in front of Tanyin, but it wasn't him. He frowns. Well, it was him - but not exactly. The same white hair and the yellow eyes, but he looked groomed and well kept.

He jumps a bit, as Skylar had spun around - looking mildly confused. "Um, sorry. I'm not sure why I'm over here... Hi! I'm Luoyang. " He extends his hand and swallows. "You may know me - well sorta know me."

Skylar frowns, and he sighs -- disappointed. Endymion stares, thoroughly confused, because that had to be Tanyin, but, it clearly wasn't him. He sniffs the air - same scent too. He stares at Skylar, he doesn't seem so enthusiastic about Luoyang.

"Skylar." The blonde introduces, and he raises an eyebrow. "Do you want to sit with us?"

Luoyang smiles wide and he adjusts his glasses sitting down beside the blonde. He swallows a bit, feeling a wave of menace wash over him. He glances over at Endymion, and smiles awkwardly. "Hey: no hard feelings?"

"None, at all." The ginger smiled a bit strangely, but his tail was swishing behind him in a slow: cat-like way, ready to pounce. Skylar glanced in-between them, utterly confused. He slowly catches up though. He assumes that Luoyang's ability has something to do with turning into Tanyin. Probably some kind of Jekyll and Hyde situation.

"I think you do..." Luoyang comments softly and he swallows. "I'm really sorry about, Tanyin: he just - well-"

"He just what?"

Skylar sighs, and he stares at Endymion. "What in the world is up with you? You didn't even lose the fight, are you - okay?" He realizes halfway that his tone was harsh, and he watched as the ginger huffs and he slumps in his seat.

"Whatever...and nothing's wrong." He gives Skylar a grin. "I just - have a hard time sharing. Dragon and all."

Luoyang chuckles, nervous, as he messes with his food a bit: he swallows.

"I guess I should go..." his voice is soft and almost disappointed: another thing his other half ruined for him. Just then, the strangest thing happens. The white-haired male starts to stand a little taller: and he seems to be a bit more - mature, despite his actions as he turns his coat jacket inside out: revealing the roses that decorate the inside. He loosens the collar of the shirt.

"Excuse me," the male snarls. "But who gives you a right to make Luoyang sad?" Skylar stares, and he swallows. This must be Tanyin - what a fascinating ability! He frowns a bit, or perhaps: it's a side effect of his ability? The blonde is starting to get lost in thought but he snaps himself out of it.

"Um-m, no! No." He could sense malice dripping off the man's words. So, he jumps in to maybe save his ginger friend's life. "I'm sure Endy, is just a bit wary of you since the fight." his words trial as he stared, unable to help it. The other man is gorgeous - especially as he undoes his previously groomed appearance. You can feel the air crackle with tension as Tanyin gives Endymion a sickening grin.

"And you're the little lizard boy. Salty about our fight?" He purrs, and he takes a seat beside Skylar - Luoyang was only a little sad. And anyways, he was interested in this Skylar - with his whole hero lineage and power thing going on. He had seen right before Luoyang decided he had beaten Endymion enough - the blonde let out a shockwave of electricity.

Endymion growls a bit, the sound coming from deep inside his chest. "Perhaps. But what the hell are you smirking for, you lost."

Tanyin chuckles, "I did - but," he had noticed Skylar's strange behavior towards him: the poor guy was so obvious with his stares and flushing cheeks. "I think I won someone's attention."

Skylar swallows. Damnit - is he onto me? I knew I was obvious! He spoke up quickly, managing steady words to his own surprise. "Well, it's just I have no idea what your ability is. I'm trying to figure it out."

The white-haired man smiles a little. "Well, I won't be telling you - so you'll just have to find that out. I'm sure you can, you seem like a smart cookie~" Tanyin leans over and pays Skylar on the head who nearly melts.

All the while: Endymion is finding out just how deep his greed runs - and how firey his jealousy can be. He knows that the man sitting across from him is doing it on purpose, that he shouldn't give in to the game. Yet, the sight of the way Skylar is hanging onto his every word like a love-sick puppy makes his blood boil. He tells himself, it's just because Skylar is his only friend.

Nothing more. Nothing less. The reality of it was a bit too much for his heart to handle - a crush? So soon and early? Impossible! His tail sways slowly again: and he swallows down bile - as he watches Skylar lean into Tanyin's space- picking up some kind of conversation between them. He can't hear it. Before he can really lose his temper - he stands: and marches off.

He can hear Skylar calling out after him, but he continues to march. The further he gets, the slowly and less angry his steps become. By the time he's out of the cafeteria he is already wishing he had just sat there and been civil. He blinks a bit as he finds a hand on his shoulder.

"Hey! What was that all about?" Skylar pants out, having run to catch up with the ginger. "I'm really sorry about Tanyin - I know you don't like him-"

"I'll see you tonight okay." Endymion smiles at Skylar, but the blonde doesn't feel any relief go through his body. "And then we can do that thing together."

And then, he's gone: turning around a corner. Skylar stares into the empty space where his friend used to be.

"Damnit."

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4859 words
Edited By: Pleasenobodynoticeme

Wowie: pratically 5,000 words of filler-