Disclaimer: The wonderful series of Megami Kouhosei belongs to Yukiru Sugisaki. Not me. I may own the first two English tanks, but I doubt that really means anything. Besides...my opinion of their translation isn't very high.
Author's Notes: Okay. A lot of Dual people were complaining that there wasn't enough good fanfiction here at ff.net, and I have to say that I agree, so I decided to write this. Besides, I figured I needed something more than Bloodied Hands for fics. Not that I can garauntee that this is all that good.
This baby was intended, at first, to be a one-shot fluff Zero/Erts fic. But it's not, because it kept getting longer...and longer...and don't get all sick-minded on me, you pervs! Anyways. Warnings: I'm pretty sure the characters are at least a little OOC. This fic has shounen ai. Nothing intense yet, but still it has shounen ai, so you are warned. Pairings include Garu/Ernest, future Zero/Erts, and probably some Rio/Phil, depending on how involved they get in this fic. Oh, yes, before I forget. Words in /slashes/ like that are what Erts can hear in his head. Mostly his own strong thoughts, but also a few thoughts that are not his own. Now, have at it.
Found My Place
Part I: A Freezer Full of Ice Cream
by silvermyth
Hundreds of eyes watched as the freshman class lined up in front of the assembly. Only fifty students had passed the exams to enter Crow's School for the Gifted, a special high school for students with exceptional intelligence and potential for special abilities. All fifty students were above average in almost every aspect, and all had received full scholarships. One boy, a blue-eyed brunette, however, seemed separate from the group. Whether it was because he was shy or simply of an entirely different ilk of the others, Zero Enna stood apart.
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"So Mr. Know-it-all Clay, when are we supposed to be paired up with the juniors for that problem-solving thing?" chirped an energetic Zero at lunchtime. Already three weeks into the school year, Zero Enna and his classmates had been learning at an increased rate--they had learned in three weeks what should have taken two months.
"It is not a "problem-solving thing," Zero. It is called Problem Solving for the Future. Or PSF. We are participating in it to--"
"Yeah, I know all that, Clay. But when do we get to pair up with the juniors?"
Clay Cliff Fortran sighed. Zero had been really excited about pairing up with the juniors--probably because their problem solving instructor, Azuma, had paired him up with the top student of the class, Erts Virny Cocteau. "Two weeks, Zero."
"Aw, that long? I hear this Erts guy is supposed to be really smart."
"Of course. How else would he be the top of his class?" But Clay snickered. "But then...you're at the top of our class. You don't seem very smart to me." Zero rolled his eyes.
"Hey, Clay," Zero said after a short silence.
"What now?"
"Is that him?"
Clay glanced up to see where Zero was pointing. Sitting at a table in the corner, a young blonde boy was eating his lunch alone. Clay adjusted his glasses. "Yeah, I think so. Hmm...I hadn't noticed him before."
"Why's he all alone?" Zero pushed his lunch aside and rested his head on his hand, staring at the solitary boy.
"I dunno. He's probably just shy." Clay looked at the boy again, then back at Zero. "You know, it's not polite to stare, Zero."
Zero blinked and looked at Clay. "Oh. Yeah," he smiled. "Hey, maybe I should go and see him--you know, get to know him before our problem-solving thing. I mean--hey, who're they?"
Clay glanced up at the blonde boy's table again. "The other juniors in the top five, I believe," Clay said, adjusting his glasses again.
"Ah." Zero watched as the tallest boy put his hands on the table in front of the blonde and leaned towards him. Zero couldn't see exactly what was happening, or what the taller boy was saying, but he could tell that it was hostile--he'd been on the receiving side of stuff like that often enough to know.
Without even the slightest hesitation, Zero got up and stalked over to the blonde's corner table.
"Hey!" he called. The tall boy straightened up and turned around.
"Who're you, newbie?"
"Zero Enna. And you are..." Zero paused for a second to think. "You're Force, right? Second of the junior class?" The taller boy nodded. "Anyways, I wanted to come over and meet my partner for the problem-solving thing." Zero grinned and looked at the blonde. "You're Erts Virny Cocteau, right? I'm Zero Enna," Zero beamed, holding out a hand for the blonde to shake. Erts, who had kept his face lowered since Zero had first spotted him from his table, looked up.
"Er..." The blonde blushed a little and looked at Zero's hand.
"Hey, newbie, don't you know?" Force smirked. "He doesn't like to be touched. He's a telepath--that's why he's wearing long sleeves, you know." The blonde grew redder and lowered his head again, his face becoming hidden behind his hair. "He'll be able to read your mind if you touch him. Anything in your mind." Force leaned over to Zero and whispered, "Even your deepest, darkest secrets." Force turned around with a laugh and Zero watched as he left the cafeteria.
"Whoa...he's mean," Zero commented. "Hey, I'm sorry if--" Zero stopped because the blonde boy had stood up and was picking up his lunch tray. His face was still hidden behind his hair. "You're not leaving are you? I haven't even gotten a chance to talk to you!"
"I'm sorry," he mumbled. "I have to go." Zero trailed him as he dumped his tray and walked out of the cafeteria.
"Does he always pick on you like that?" Zero asked sympathetically, catching up to Erts when he reached the hall. Erts stopped. "Hey, you know, it's kind of hard to talk to someone who's hiding behind their hair." Erts raised his head and looked up at Zero. "That's better. Now, I'm Zero Enna. You're Erts Virny Cocteau, right?"
"Yes."
Zero beamed. "You probably already know this, but I'm supposed to be your partner for that problem-solving thing."
Erts gave a weak smile. "Yes. You said that to Force." Zero put out a hand for Erts to shake again. "Er..." Erts blushed again. "I don't think you want to shake my hand. I might..." Erts bowed his head again.
"What, read my mind? I don't care, really." Zero smiled again. "I mean, it's not like I have anything to hide, right? Well...I guess you wouldn't know, because we've just met." Zero glanced at Erts' hands. "Oh, come on, shake my hand!"
Erts grew redder, but put out a tentative hand for Zero to shake. Zero grasped it and beamed. "See? No problem. But...you're doing that again. Hiding behind your hair." /You really shouldn't hide behind your hair. There's nothing for you to be ashamed of./
"Oh!" Erts pulled his hand away and looked up. "I'm...I'm sorry."
"Ah, it's okay." A couple seconds of silence passed before Zero said, "So, we still have twenty minutes left for lunch. Want to go outside?"
"...Okay."
"So, um...you're top in you're class, even though you are two years younger than everyone, right?" Erts nodded. "Wow. And...you've done this problem-solving thing before, right?" Erts nodded again. "Is it really hard?" Erts shrugged. "Hmm...so, do you always sit by yourself at lunch?" Erts shrugged again. "Because you're a telepath, right?" Erts nodded. "Your brother, Ernest Coure, he's in the top five of the senior class. Is he a telepath, too?"
"Yes." The boys had reached the door leading outside, and were now walking on the school's front lawn.
"If you want, you can come sit with us at lunch. Or I can come sit with you. You won't be alone that way."
"Oh. Thank you." Erts smiled another weak smile.
"Hey! Erts!" called a voice from a nearby tree. Both boys looked up. "Hey, what's up?" A tall boy with green hair and eyes dropped out of the tree. "Oh. You've got a friend," he said, grinning.
"Hi, Garu," Erts said, really smiling this time. "Are you guys ditching again?"
"No, never!" exclaimed the boy Erts had called Garu. He grinned slyly. "How do you expect us to keep the top slots if we ditch?"
"Gareas Elidd, you should be number one, you know, but it's your own fault you're not," a quiet voice said from the tree. A second later, another boy, a tall blonde who resembled Erts, dropped out of the tree.
"Oh!" Zero chirped. "You're in the senior class! I'm Zero Enna," he beamed, sticking out a hand to the older boys.
"Er," Erts said. "You...really don't know how you're supposed to greet your seniors, do you?"
Gareas grinned. "You're supposed to salute. Like this." Gareas demonstrated a salute, and then stuck his tongue out playfully.
Zero laughed and saluted the older boys. The older blonde smiled and glanced at Erts. "Aren't you going to introduce us to your friend, Erts?"
"Oh! Yeah. Zero, this is my brother Ernest," Erts started, pointing at the taller blonde. "And his friend, Gareas," he finished, pointing at him. "Guys, this is Zero Enna. He's going to be my partner for PSF." Erts beamed. Zero smiled; Erts had opened up a little now that his brother was there, and had indirectly called him a friend.
As everyone sat down and started chatting, Zero was making observations. He noticed how both Ernest and Erts were wearing long sleeves and pants despite the warm weather, while Gareas' shirt was sleeveless, although he still wore pants. Erts was wearing all white, from his button-up shirt to his cotton pants. Ernest wore a similar shirt, but it was a dark green, with blue jeans. Gareas' sleeveless shirt was bright red with "CANDIDATE" written in yellow, and black pants. When Zero compared himself to them, he was almost exactly like Gareas in dress. He wore a red shirt, albeit without the yellow writing, and a pair of black shorts.
"Hey, Zero, Ernest asked you a question."
Zero blinked out of his thoughts and looked at Ernest. "I'm sorry. What was that?"
"I said maybe you might want to come over some time. Tonight's a study night, but tomorrow we're watching a movie."
Gareas laughed. "Usually the girls come over, but we can ditch them and have a guys night. I can tell Rio to show up, too. He's always fun."
Ernest laughed, too. "Yeah, but then we'd have to make him something to eat. You know Rio. He'll only come if it involves food or girls." Erts and Zero laughed, too. Zero noticed another thing: Gareas and Ernest sat so close together that their knees were touching.
"So...um...you guys are both telepaths?" Zero asked tentatively of the two blondes a few minutes later.
"Yes," replied Ernest.
"Do you get picked on a lot?" Zero asked, referring to the incident with Force.
Ernest looked a little uncomfortable for a moment before he responded. "Well, I used to, all the time. But Gareas got pissed off and started scaring off anyone who mentioned it. So it doesn't bother me so much anymore. I just have to avoid people I don't know, now, since everyone I do know either avoids me totally or doesn't care. They know I won't read their mind without their permission, but some are still cautious." Ernest glanced at Erts. "Erts, however...I don't get to see him often enough during the day to watch out for him." A bell sounded from inside the school. "Oh, we'd better get to our next class. Why don't you meet us here after school, Zero? We can go get some ice cream. Garu's treat." The older blonde grinned as he stood up.
"WHAT!? My treat?" Zero watched as the older boys bickered up to the door.
"So, um, I'll see you here after class?" said Erts, a little quieter again. Zero nodded and headed to his next class.
For Zero, the rest of the day passed so slowly. He was only barely aware that Clay was yelling at him again, and that he nearly got a detention from Rill in Health for not paying attention. He was too excited about meeting Erts after school. Erts and his brother and Gareas were the nicest people he had met since he had started attending Crow's. It wasn't that he didn't have friends, because he had Clay, Yamagi, and Roose. But they weren't best friend material at all; they were competing against Zero, and Zero doubted that he could ever trust any of them if he told any of them anything personal. Erts, on the other hand, was quiet, gentle, and kind. Also, he wouldn't be competing against Zero for rank in the class, as he was in a higher class than the other boys. Zero had few doubts that Erts would make a perfect friend, and hanging out with the younger boy away from school would be the perfect start to such a friendship.
For a certain blonde, however, the rest of the day was passing a little faster than he would have liked. Erts was still a little shy about being around people that weren't Gareas or Ernest, and he was nervous. Erts had gotten an idea about the type of person Zero was when they had shook hands. Zero was a friendly, energetic, intelligent, and above all, honest person; however, Erts still had lurking, ominous feeling about spending more time with the older boy than was absolutely necessary. The only comfort he could find about meeting him after school was that Ernest and Gareas would be there.
History was Zero's last class for the day; Zero didn't hear when the bell to release them rang at first because he had been staring so intently into space. By the time Zero realized that the bell had rung, the class was empty, except for the teacher, who was staring expectantly at him. "Mr. Enna. I suggest you pay attention in class. Since you failed to do so today, I am assigning you an extra three-page essay on Ancient Rome, to be due tomorrow during your detention."
"Ah! You're kidding me! Three pages! How am I supposed to get that done in one night!?" Zero cried out disbelievingly.
"You figure it out. Maybe next time you'll pay more attention," the teacher replied coldly, turning away.
Zero glanced at the clock as he left the room and nearly blanched. The bell had rung five minutes ago, and he still had to stop at his locker; he hoped that Erts didn't mind waiting too much.
Zero was out of breath when he finally reached the tree where he was supposed to meet the Erts and the older boys, but he still managed to pant out an "I'm sorry I'm late," between gasps. It took him a moment to register that only Ernest and Gareas were there waiting. As soon as he was breathing regularly, he asked, "Where's Erts?" He didn't have to wait long for an answer, however; at that moment, Erts walked out of the school's front doors, bag slung over his back and face hidden behind the hair again. "Oh! Hey Erts! I guess I'm not the only one late," Zero called, grinning.
Erts lifted his head, revealing a slightly pink face, and quickened his pace. "Er...hi, Zero," Erts said quietly once he had reached the others. Erts bowed his head again, and when Zero glanced at Ernest and Gareas, he found both smiling.
"So...um...I guess I'm buying ice cream, huh," commented Gareas after a moment of silence. Ernest beamed at him. "Well, I don't have any money. But we can go to my place; I have a couple different kinds of ice cream in the freezer."
Ernest smiled. "That's fine." Ernest turned to Zero. "Garu's is about a mile away, but we can walk. Besides, it's a nice day." With that, the four boys started walking, with Gareas and Ernest leading side-by-side, and Zero and Erts following closely behind.
"So Zero, what made you late? Were you misbehaving?" Gareas asked conversationally.
"Er...kind of. I was staring out in space in History last hour, and the now I have to do a three-page essay on Ancient Rome. Due tomorrow! Can you believe that? How am I supposed to write three pages in just one day?" Zero glared at the ground. "Not only that, but I have to serve a detention tomorrow," he added, kicking a rock on the sidewalk.
"Eek. Rough."
"Kind of reminds me of a certain green-haired idiot I know," Ernest laughed. Gareas glared at him.
"So, Erts, why were you late? Did you get in trouble, too?" Zero asked.
"Erm..." Zero glanced over at the blonde; he was blushing and still hiding behind his curtain of hair.
"Oh, were you talking to a girl?" Zero asked, a sly smile lighting his face. "That would explain why you're blushing so much," Zero stated, grinning.
"Er...no..."
"Erts, you're being silly," Garu commented, looking over his shoulder. "I bet it's because you're the first person we've ever invited over for Erts," he added to Zero.
"Oh? Well, don't worry, Erts. I don't bite." Zero's grin widened. "I promise," he added.
"I'm sorry...I didn't mean to be shy," Erts said after a second, lifting his face.
"He speaks!" called Gareas from ahead of them.
"Garu! Stop teasing him!" Zero watched as Ernest put out a hand and gently shoved the green-haired boy, who took it in stride.
"So Erts!" Zero said suddenly, putting a hand on the younger boy's shoulder. "Do you--what's the matter?" Zero asked as the younger boy flinched and stepped away from him.
"Ah--I'm sorry," he said, flashing an embarrassed smile. "I'm just not used to people touching me."
"Oh, yeah, that's right. I'm sorry. Err...anyways...do you have a girlfriend? Or are there any girls you've been wanting to ask out?" Zero grinned.
"Err...not really. Rome, my lab partner, is a close friend. But she's not a girlfriend." /And even though she's close, we still haven't touched. You're the first person, Zero./
"Well, if you're ever having trouble asking someone out, because you're so shy, you know, then just let me know and I'll help you out."
Zero continued questioning Erts until Garu called out, "Hey, this is it," as they turned and followed the sidewalk to a door. Zero noticed that it was not a tiny dorm, like he shared with Clay and Hiead, but an apartment. "My humble abode where I room with Rio. I'll give you a grand tour, if you want."
"Sure!" Zero grinned, following the green-haired boy up a set of stairs.
"So we'll start up here. This is the bathroom," he pointed at said room, "this is Rio's room," he pointed at a closed door with "Rioroute Vilgyna" written on it, "and this is my room," he pointed to the other door, this one halfway open. Through the half-open door, Zero could see that it resembled his own to a point. The bed unmade, and a few clothing articles littered the floor. The walls were covered in posters and shelves, and a computer occupied on corner. And from there, it had it's own personality. Zero had a poster from an old movie, and a bunch of sports posters. His shelves held only three or four books, lots of CD's, and a couple of trophies from his old school. Garu's shelves were dominated by books, and a few framed pictures graced the shelves, as well. Pictures of groups of people, as well as a couple pictures with only one person in them. The posters featured a wide variety of subjects, from Shakespeare to football.
"I like your room," Zero commented on their way back downstairs.
"Yeah, thanks. Well, some of that stuff is from Ernest and Erts. Like the Shakespeare poster and all the books," he said, making a face. Both boys laughed. "I suspect they only gave them to me so that they would be here when they come over." They reached the ground floor and Garu led Zero around some more. "This is the downstairs bathroom, which is smaller than the one upstairs. This is the kitchen, slash dining room," he said, gesturing to the small room, "and this is the everything room. We eat here, watch TV, play games, read (at least, Ernest and Erts read), and sometimes even sleep here. This couch," he nudged a black leather couch, "folds out into a bed. Sometimes," he added, snorting.
"Why do you get an apartment? All we get is this tiny dorm room--three rooms that hold twin-size beds, a closet for a bathroom, a tiny "sitting room," and a mini-kitchen," Zero whined.
"Well, to begin with, I'm second in my class. And I have a part-time job. And Rio lives here, too, so he helps pay for the extra costs. This is one of the school's apartments, but you have to pay to live in these ones, since they're bigger; however, since both of us are in the top five of our class, we don't have to pay as much as the other people rooming here."
"That must be nice." Gareas nodded. Zero followed him back into the kitchen.
"Now, this is where all the food resides. Including," Gareas grinned, opening the freezer, "all the ice cream." Zero let out a low whistle.
"That's a lot of ice cream. How do you fit it all in there?" Zero asked, surveying the numerous buckets and boxes stacked in the freezer.
"I'm not quite sure myself," Gareas replied with a chuckle. "Now, let me see... We have your basic flavors: vanilla, chocolate, strawberry; we have your classics: Rocky Road, mint chocolate chip, cookie dough, Cookies 'n Cream, and sherbet; and we have some other tasty flavors: Moose Tracks, Strawberry Cheesecake, Bubble Gum, Blue Moon, and Tropical Sundae. Moose Tracks is vanilla ice cream, with marshmallow and chocolate swirls, and peanut butter cups; Tropical Sundae is a lot like sherbet, but with a lot more exotic flavors." Gareas grinned. "So, what's your poison?" he asked, already pulling out the Moose Tracks, Blue Moon, and mint chocolate chip, and setting them on the counter. Ernest was bringing down four bowls from the cupboards, and Erts was getting spoons and an ice cream scoop.
"Umm...geez, this is like an ice cream parlor, not a guy's apartment."
"What can I say? Rio absolutely loves ice cream." Gareas grinned again. "And he loves putting stuff on his ice cream--we also have hot fudge topping, caramel syrup, chocolate syrup, rainbow sprinkles, chocolate sprinkles, Oreo cookie crumbs, marshmallow topping, strawberry topping, pineapple topping, and gummy worms."
Zero laughed. "Yeah, and what's his favorite ice cream?"
Gareas grinned. "He likes to take Blue Moon and drown it in rainbow sprinkles."
Zero laughed again. "That actually sounds good. How about I have that?"
"Sure." Gareas opened another cupboard and pulled out a large, clear container with rainbow sprinkles. "I think he buys this by bulk, the way he pours it onto his ice cream. Hey, Ernest, hand me two bowls and the scoop." Ernest obliged, and minutes later, two bowls were filled with Blue Moon. One bowl he set aside, and the other had soon disappeared beneath a torrent of rainbow sprinkles; this too he set aside before returning the Blue Moon to the freezer. Ernest handed Gareas the other two bowls. One Gareas filled with the mint chocolate chip, the other, with the Moose Tracks. "Et voila! Quatre coupes de glace!"
Erts handed out spoons--he brushed Zero's hand as he gave one to him, and immediately pulled back--and Gareas handed out the bowls of ice cream to their respective owners: Ernest with the mint chocolate chip, Erts with the plain Blue Moon, Zero with the sprinkled-to-death Blue Moon, and Gareas kept the Moose Tracks for himself.
"Garu, don't you think Rioroute will be mad when he finds out that we got into his ice cream?" Ernest asked as they all sat down at the small kitchen/dining table. "I mean, he got pretty upset when we ate his last box of Pocky last week."
The older boys' voices faded into the background as Zero concentrated on his ice cream. When he was nearly done, he realized that Erts was looking at him, trying to get his attention. When the younger boy realized that he had it, Erts spoke up. "I could help you with your essay. I had to do a six-page essay on Ancient Rome my freshman year, too, because I was sick the day we had the lecture on it. If...if you come over to our place, I still have it, and we can look through it and break it down and rewrite it in three pages. That is...if you want to." /Is this really a good idea?/
Zero smiled. "That'd be great. I wouldn't have to spend three hours just researching it. What a relief." Zero finished his ice cream with a flourish and pushed back in his chair. "So, where do I put this?"
"Sink," Garu said, pointing. As Zero rinsed out his bowl, he heard Erts telling his brother what they were going to do. Ernest consented and added that he would stay a little longer and be home later.
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Five minutes later found the two boys in the dining room of the Coure/Cocteau apartment, working fervently on Zero's essay. Erts would read a few paragraphs of his essay, Zero would take notes, and the boys would find a precise way to word the notes, and the process would repeat itself.
Two and a half hours later, Zero had a final draft of his three-page essay, along with a bibliography page, copied from Erts's essay. Erts was feeling more comfortable around Zero, and Zero was about to say goodbye and head home, when his stomach growled.
Zero half-grinned. "I guess am feeling a little hungry. I noticed that we passed a little burger place on the way here, so if you're game, I'll buy."
"That sounds good," Erts replied, smiling. "But...I can pay for my own. I'll go grab some money, hold on." Zero watched Erts disappear up the stairs, and return a minute later wearing jeans, instead of his white cotton pants, and probably a couple dollars richer. "That's where Rioroute works--he's the cook. Don't see how he keeps that job, the way he eats," Erts told Zero.
Zero laughed, pulling the door open. His laugh stopped short at the sight that he met. "Oh...um..." Standing in front of the door were Gareas and Ernest. Sharing a goodbye kiss. The two older boys hurriedly pulled apart, blushing at the intrusion.
"I...I'm sorry," Ernest blurted. "I...we..."
"I-I understand," Zero stuttered, blushing furiously. Ernest ducked his head and rushed past Zero and Erts into the house.
Gareas watched Ernest leave before focusing his gaze on Zero. "You won't tell anyone, will you." It was both a question and a statement.
"I promise I won't," Zero stated solemnly. Gareas nodded and turned, heading back to his apartment. Zero turned to Erts. "So, I have..." he glanced at his watch. "Oh, crap! I told Kizna I'd meet her at quarter to seven so we could get started on our science project! I have five minutes to get to her place, and it's nearly a ten minute walk." Zero looked at Erts apologetically. "I'm sorry, Erts, I really have to go."
"That's okay," Erts replied.
"I'll see you tomorrow at lunch, I promise. Bye!"
"See ya." Zero waved, and Erts watched as he dashed off. /Have...fun./
End Part I
End notes: "Et voila! Quatre coupes de glace," is French and translates into "And voila! Four bowls of ice cream." I just wanted to put that in there, but if it doesn't seem to fit to you, let me know. This is still a work in progress, so I'd REALLY appreciate constructive criticism. I need to know how I'm doing, people.
Anyways, I absolutely had to bring in the Garu-kissing-Ernest scene. Because I love those guys.
Ice Cream notes: As far as I know, there isn't any ice cream called Tropical Sundae, but I just thought that it'd be something different. And as for the sprinkled-to-death Blue Moon. That kind of came from myself--whenever we go to a buffet where they have ice cream and sprinkles, I smother my ice cream in them. And Blue Moon is awesome. So I thought that would be fun, too.
Myth luvs ya!