Chapter Text
T.K.O. sat alone as usual, dark cape keeping his ice-cold body warm in the winter. New Year, new semester. New semester, new project.
He hated these projects, and unfortunately he wasn't left alone, usually roped into a group of three and kept away from his brother, K.O. .
His eyes scanned the room, hoping to find a male student to work with. Possibly Bobo, a zombie, or the lizardfolk kid.
Their teacher stepped in. A real hard-ass. Never married. Ms. Quantum, an electric humanoid. One of only three who lived in this town.
"Good morning, children." She greeted dryly.
T.K.O. watched the teacher from his seat, silently thanking her for putting him under one of the heaters this quarter. She always called her students children, even though they were in High School.
There was no response to her greeting and she passed out the previous grades. T.K.O. watched everyone's reactions. He pretty much knew how their expressions would be.
One group made up of a demon and werecat nodded to each other. Satisfaction, T.K.O. identified.
Zombie and Lizardfolk, half hearted smiles. Disappointed.
Faun and Aarakocra, high fives would probably be whooping if not for Ms. Quantum. Definitely met expectations or exceeded.
His brother and a kappa. His brother's tail wagged as the kappa seemed upset. K.O. tried to calm his partner down, but the kappa wouldn't listen and seemed to pout.
"T.K.O." a voice squeaked and a chair scooted next to him. T.K.O. sighed.
Now he didn't know what the Were-rat and Robot got.
He turned to see his partner. A harpy. "Faenylia."
"You want to partner up again?" She leaned against him.
"No."
"No?"
"Yeah. I don't want to partner up again with you. Why don't you find someone else?"
"But...but-"
"But what? When we partnered up, all you wanted to do was meet at the movies and insisted on dates. I'm not interested."
"But our project-"
"I had a horrible time working with you, so. No."
Faenylia burst into tears and ran back to her friend, who glared at T.K.O. . The Ecantado was last year's partner. And was bi. If Faenylia's the same, they'd definitely get together.
T.K.O. was handed his grade. A perfect "C."
K.O. usually got Bs, B+s if lucky.
"Now, next project will focus on creating a school parking lot. You will apply knowledge of geometry, civics, law, engineering, and public speaking, as well as extra research according to the syllabus. You will learn more about the subjects as time goes on." Ms. Quantum paused as she saw kids start to turn to each other. "And I'll be choosing your partners."
Everyone disliked that. They started talking over each other in protest. "QUIET!" Ms. Quantum shouted.
"Ahem, Faenylia and Genesis." Harpy and Werecat.
"Fink and K.O." Wereanimals together.
"Darrell and Bobo." Robot and zombie.
"Sylvia and Cameron" Selkie and Lizardfolk.
"T.K.O. and Dendy."
T.K.O.'s eyes scanned the room to see someone looking at him. The kappa. He couldn't tell the gender.
Flatchested and short but muscular legs and androgynous clothes.
He didn't know what to make of them.
"T.K.O.!" His brother called.
"Hey, K.O. . Ready to walk home?"
"Actually, you remember Dendy, right?"
T.K.O. shrugged. "Don't remind the presentation."
"What?" K.O.'s fur fluffed up in disbelief. "Well, she didn't show up because she was hibernating. But she-"
"Wait, she? Great. Now I have to work with another bimbo." T.K.O. snarled.
"She's not like that! She's really focused on work, I'm not even sure if she has anything to deal with emotions."
"Ugh. K.O., you are so lucky that everyone is over werewolves. Being a vampire in a school where every female student is a flirtatious and needy thot is so infuriating-!"
"What is a thot?" A new voice chirped.
"Dendy! You remember T.K.O., right?"
"Not personally, usually he was in his room or out with Faenylia when we were at your home to construct the bridge together." The kappa presented her hand. "I look forward to working with you, my name is Dendy Ylil."
T.K.O. glanced at the hand, then back to Dendy. He grabbed it. "T.K.O." Goosebumps exploded onto the kappa's arm, and her hand was clammy.
"C'mon T.K.O., you can give her your full name! I already told her mine."
"No, it is quite fine." Dendy dug her hand in her pocket to grab her phone. "Could I get your number?"
"Why?" T.K.O. snarled.
"So we may be able to get into contact about going over homework that may help us with the project."
"Oh, right." T.K.O. got his phone out and they exchanged numbers. "Now, no texting, calling, emailing about anything except the project."
"Of course." Dendy said in a way that she already knew that and was disgusted by the idea of talking to him outside of school.
As Dendy walked away, T.K.O. was dumbfounded. "What just happened?"
"You just met a female at our school with basically no interest in you. Believe me, she treats everyone the same."