Chapter Text
“Fulgur, you sure you’re ready for this?”
“Not really, but…I have to be.”
“Then let’s get your shit out of the truck, Fungus.”
Fulgur smiles slightly before he takes a shaky hand to the car handle and opens it, taking his first steps out to his proper first day at university.
For the past few years, Fulgur had been doing his course work online in the stability and comfort of his home while living with Vox. School in the afternoons and evenings, eventually picking up a bartending job into the night, and barely getting enough hours of sleep in the mornings, or even trying to get in some naps whenever he could.
It even took him a while to pick up that job in the first place. But since he didn’t want to further impose Vox with just feeling like an incompetent potato at home, he took the terrifying steps of applying for jobs. Of course, that comes with being picky about what jobs reached back to him. Which is completely normal! But in Fulgur’s case, the less people to burden and interact with, the better.
Fulgur had been beating himself up with the feeling like he couldn’t do anything yet wanted to do something . In his past, through his eyes, people around his age back then and authority figures often disciplined him and showed annoyance and frustration in his direction, no matter how hard Fulgur tried to feel like he was doing something for them. It was just never good enough. Fulgur was always found on the sidelines, just watching as others around him progress in life while he’s just eating away at himself, constantly wondering “what’s the point?” and “maybe they’re right.”
Fulgur and Vox had been going to school together, despite the few years grade difference throughout them growing up together. Unfortunately, Vox hadn’t seen what Fulgur was going through until Fulgur brought it up to him one day after his first year of high school where he couldn’t take it anymore, trying to keep it together. Vox was extremely understanding and was willing to help Fulgur out in any way he could. So, with enough persuasion to the principal, Vox had Fulgur pulled out of school and had Fulgur attend online classes, mostly so Fulgur wouldn’t be bored throughout the day.
As thoughtful as that was, Fulgur, for a while, stayed pent up in his room just doing nothing. Swimming in his thoughts, not getting any better. He didn’t have any friends, relationships, or other known family that would bother checking up on him. Just only Vox. Even though Fulgur consistently felt the guilt eating away at him about putting Vox through his unnecessary troubles, Vox made sure Fulgur was doing his work as best as he could until Fulgur graduated high school.
They had gotten inheritance from their parents with them owning corporations before they passed away so they could live a relatively comfortable life up until they decided to go to university. With the leftover amount of money Fulgur had, he applied at the same university as his brother in the states, with enough coercion from the latter.
Which leads us back to where they are now.
They had gotten an apartment in a complex close to the campus, so it’s an easy walk to and from classes. At least it’ll be nicer than residing in the dormitories the university provided. The apartment’s one floor, living room being simple with couches already prepared, and two rooms on opposite sides of the apartment. To the immediate right is the kitchen that comes with a refrigerator, microwave, and a stove-oven combination.
The brother duo brought in their possessions and decided to unpack it later, wanting to take a breather and relax for a bit. Fulgur walks over to the windows near one of the couches and takes a glance, revealing a soft smile when he sees not a cloud in sight, and barely any traffic a ways away. Even though he prefers cloudy and rainy days, this was okay. It’s peaceful for now.
“Want me to show you around campus for a bit? Show you where your classes will be?” Vox offered.
Fulgur shrugged and grabbed his phone, opening it and displaying his schedule. Vox takes a quick glance to familiarize himself with where each class is before he and Fulgur take off to explore.
The closest building to explore was the science building, where Fulgur will be taking some pre-med classes, as that’s his intended major. The building next door is the English building, where he’ll be taking some writing classes, and maybe some reading to check out the books the university offers.
Even though they haven’t walked for long, Vox recommends they take a breather and find a place to chill for a while. Fulgur just nods along, following wherever his brother takes him. They’re walking over to the main hangout building to grab a bite to eat.
“Okay, I know what the answer might be, but if you’re interested in any clubs, I can give you some recommendations,” Vox mentions.
“Hmm… Give me time to think about it,” Fulgur mumbles.
“Of course, of course.”
Fulgur goes to open the door for Vox, allowing him to go first. Before he could follow, he heard a person with hurried footsteps. He glances over to the noise and his eyes widen in awe.
A person with short, ombré violet to magenta hair, with heterochromic eyes to match, violet on the left and bright magenta on the right. It looks like they had a light amount of makeup as well, even though some others may barely tell. They wore a white dress shirt that was covered by an oversized dark brown sweater, only the collar and sleeve ends peeking out, and has black baggy pants to match, shoes being mostly hidden, but also black.
They look extremely cozy, and yet so pretty that it throws Fulgur in for a loop. He feels like he’s in a trance the moment their eyes lock. Sucked into the stars that twinkle in his eyes. Time goes by extremely slow in Fulgur’s mind. As if he were to breathe he would break this moment.
But to prevent appearing like a creep, Fulgur blinks a few times and breaks away his gaze. Time continues to flow.
“Ah! Thank you!” they say with a calming, soft spoken voice.
“N-No problem…” Fulgur mumbles, looking off to the side, hoping they didn’t hear him and walked by already.
“Hehe~ See you around!”
Fulgur quickly glances up to catch a gorgeous smile before they head further inside. Wait, did he just see them wink? He feels his face grow hot, quickly hurrying inside to catch up with Vox. He greets his blushing brother with a smirk and puts an arm around his shoulder.
“Ah, so you’ve met Mr. Violeta,” Vox smizes. “Quite the beauty, isn’t he?”
Fulgur can only nod, partially paying attention to his brother and looks down to further hide his tomato red face. Just labeling him as a simple beauty is an understatement. At the same time, a quick glitch appeared in his mind, making Fulgur suddenly remember an old dream where he was running through a grassy field. He appears in a daze as Vox shakes him out of it.
“Already fallen head over heels, have you?” Vox wonders openly, dragging Fulgur along with him.
“N-No—!” Fulgur tried to argue.
“No need to deny it, Fungus, it’s quite alright. However, you may need to get in line for that man.”
“A line—?”
“Hm… But who knows. Maybe you’ll be able to cut it.”