Chapter Text
There was a loud slam of a locker as the day ended. Xiao sighed as he walked away from the noise he'd caused. The junior pulled his hood over his head and put his earbuds in to avoid any conversation with his peers for the end of the day. One of the more preppy kids, Venti, was that his name? It didn't matter, he'd walked up and started attempting to talk to Xiao anyway. Even though he was clearly trying to avoid any interaction it didn't seem like this kid was gonna give up unless Xiao responded.
"What do you want?"
"Oh so I finally got a response? Goodie! Hi, I'm Venti! I'm in your science class. I was wondering if I could maybe borrow your notes from today's lesson..I kinda uh..fell asleep.." Venti scratched the back of his head and gave Xiao a light uneasy smile.
"And how is that my problem? I don't even know you anyway." Xiao scoffed, already annoyed that this guy had bugged him into talking.
"Pleaaseeee Xiao! I've already asked everyone else and they've all said no!" Venti gave Xiao his best puppy eyes . Xiao nearly gagged just looking at him.
"No, now leave me alone and go bug someone else." Xiao turned himself to face Venti, crossing his arms and giving him an annoyed glance. Venti scoffed and lightly kicked the ground in frustration. As Xiao turned to walk away Venti put his foot in front of Xiao's ankle, tripping the junior. Xiao started falling, but he didn't hit the ground.. he hit... someone else?
This someone else didn't seem to like being run into- as any normal person may have been. Xiao was aggressively shoved off the other boy before he was pushed into the lockers lining the halls, a fist wrapped in the collar of his shirt. Deep purple eyes burning with rage stared right into him, the fall victim's teeth tightly clenched.
"What is your fucking problem ? Can't watch where the hell you're going in the halls?! I'll punch your nose in!" Scaramouche yelled, already visibly bruised- most likely from a fight earlier in the day. "You and your friend! I'll send you both to the nurse!" The small man was making pretty large threats for being in the middle of a school hallway.
Xiao glared back, his amber eyes already filled with annoyance now filled with anger. He pushed the other man away from him clenching his fists at the remark.
"He's not my friend! And it's not my fault I fell into you anyway! This little shit tripped me cause I wouldn't give him what he wanted!" Xiao turned around to see Venti had already run away, must've been because of who had been confronting them. The man clenched his jaw and gave a small grimace. So he could bug Xiao but not be confronted by this guy? Who is he anyway? He turned back to face the still seething man in front of him.
"Sucks you couldn't handle that, then! Should've just turned and given him a little sucker punch, but you didn't . Now you're dealing with me ." Scara grabbed Xiao's shoulders and, with some effort due to their similar size, threw him to the floor. There was a small group off to the side that the purple haired kid had been walking with, a notable ginger-haired delinquent- known for nearly being expelled due to fights- had a wide grin on his face while betting with the blonde woman next to him.
"Not even a fucking apology, just going off and blaming the other guy! What an asshole!" Scaramouche stepped slightly on his ankle. "Fight back!"
Xiao winced lightly, fine, this guy wants a fight. He'll give him a fight. Xiao used his free leg to kick Scara's other leg out from under him. Scara landed with a thud on top of Xiao. The junior pushed him aside and threw himself on top of the delinquent. He pinned one of Scara's arms to the ground, and used one of his own to land a solid hit to his face.
"You want a fight you'll get a fucking fight you bastard!"
Scara growled, a little winded from his fall to the floor. He arched his back up and flung his upper body forward, slamming his head into Xiao's. The impact sent him seeing spots for a second or two, nothing he couldn't handle- though he'd probably regret it later. He brought one of his knees up swiftly between the other junior's legs, hoping to hit him with a low blow.
“You best know you're not winning this- I've fought those fuckers back there, you ain't got a chance!"
Xiao lost his breath after Scara kneed him. But he regained his composure and scoffed back at the other junior. "You might've fought them but you've never fought me." Xiao put a hand around Scara's throat. "I fight dirty, little man. I don't fight fair ." He tightened his grip on Scara's throat before lifting him slightly from the ground and slamming him back into the floor.
Scaramouche's eyes widened at the grip on his throat, his breath hitching as strain was put on the airflow to his lungs. He dug his nails into Xiao's wrists, his knuckles turning white. A smile tugged at the corners of his lips. "Better than a knife." The junior coughed, spitting at Xiao.
Xiao winced, Scara's nails had already started making marks deep enough to bleed in his wrists. He already hadn't wanted a fight today, but here he is sitting on top of some guy choking him out. Xiao sighed and released his grip. He pushed Scara's hands away from him and stood up, leaving the other junior still laying there confused.
"What the- where are you going?!" Scaramouche laid on the floor catching his breath while rubbing his sore neck. "We aren't done!"
"We are now." Xiao hadn't even turned back to reply to the man on the floor. He just wanted to get home so he could go to bed, and hopefully this guy would let up enough for him to at least leave the premises. He pushed past the guy's friends and continued his way out the door. He grabbed his car keys out of his jacket and unlocked his car, Xiao sat down in the driver's seat and put his head on the wheel. Letting out a long sigh before starting up the car.
Scaramouche growled and pushed himself up off the floor, shoving past the snickering group that had been watching and marching right out the door. The junior mentally swore the next time he ran into that guy he'd knock his lights out, starting on his walk home, Xiao arrived home moments later. He didn't really live that far from the school so he technically didn't have to take his car, but he figured it was better than walking in the heat and snow during the year.
He pulled into the driveway and got out, stretching his aching arms. Who knew restraining that guy would've been so tiring. Xiao walked into his house, greeting his father as he passed and going straight to his room. The junior dropped his bag and flopped down onto his bed, instantly relaxing into the soft pillows and blankets that sat there waiting all day for him. It didn't take him long to fall into a long awaited sleep for the night.
On his way home, the ginger and blonde woman that had been with Scaramouche earlier had decided to trail along behind him. Childe skipped ahead a little, turning around to walk in front of the smaller teen.
"You almost got your ass beat back there, tiny! Maybe you should go back to beating up taller guys." The taller one laughed, a wide grin on his face. "But hey, maybe the shorter ones could be good for ya. Well- for me, since I won the bet." He stuck his tongue out in Signora's direction, flipping back around to walk forward down the sidewalk.
The woman rolled her eyes and continued to type something out on her phone. "It was only 10 mora. Your little bitchboy bet has hardly hurt my wallet."
"Whatever, assholes. I'll get him back tomorrow.." Scaramouche grimaced and quickened his pace, opening the gate to his front yard as fast as possible, slamming it shut behind him. He stomped up the steps and flung the door open without announcing he was home, kicking his shoes off at the door and heading upstairs. His bag was discarded next to his desk, homework forgotten for the rest of the night as he turned in early.