Chapter Text
Slim was hesitant about attending Hexside in the brief moments he thought about it in the Demon Realm, but if it was anything like Earth’s school, it wouldn’t be half bad.
The Night Walker was used to learning on his own, so learning from others was a completely different experience. Thankfully Luz and the others were there for support, making the hectic transitions between different periods more bearable. He’d take fried griffin over the school lunch any day of the week, but it wasn’t terrible.
And, surprisingly, he took to some of the subjects rather well!
Math and science were difficult, but he took to history, and especially English, almost instantly. Learning about past inventions, hearing stories about different mythologies, especially werewolves, were fascinating. Shade had trouble containing snickers upon literary analysis for those Dusk stories with the human-vampire romance and its portrayal of his species, and hearing about different histories like the Greek mythologies or Spartans got his newly found creative gears turning.
Still, other parts were…less than appealing.
Hearing about past conflicts and the lengths people would go to for their goals was concerning, and no one spoke the day they learned about the Salem Witch Trials. The social aspects still evaded Slim, which wasn’t helped by his hearing picking up the whispers directed towards “that weirdo Luz and her freaky friends”. The others didn’t act on anything they heard, so neither would he, though the smaller gestures of affection and solidarity were appreciated.
“C’mon, Looney Luz, don’t you want to hang out with us?”
A pair of laughs brought Slim to Luz, taking books out of her locker and ignoring a sneering boy and girl beside her. Slim quickly walked by, assessing her face.
“Hey Luz, do you have that textbook for Mr. Johnson’s class? I think I left mine at home.”
The other students looked at him with subtle sneers, “You can get that later, Pointy. So what do you say, Luz?”
Heat briefly traveled through Slim’s body, Shade and Firefly subtly simmering within as Luz shook her head at him in warning. Slim tried asking her to leave with his eyes, but she only took a small breath.
“Don’t worry Slim, I’ll get you the notes in class.”
Slim subtly gulped before going on his way, slowing his steps and keeping his ears open. Just as he reached the end of the hall, their voices came back.
“C’mon Looney Luz, we’ll help you get some real friends. That sounds fun, right?”
“Thanks, guys, maybe later.”
A hard tap on the lockers stopped Slim in his tracks, turning to see Luz trapped by one hand beside her head.
“Maybe studying for Ms. Kelsie’s class would be a good way to bond. Think you could help us?”
Slim walked back to the lockers, pleading to Luz with his eyes as he approached.
“Actually I just remembered, Luz. Mr. Johnson had that partner project due today, and we need to go over our notes before class. We need to go or we’ll be late.”
“She’ll get those notes in time, Wild Willie,” the girl pushed Slim away, “Social events are more important than reading with weirdos.”
The name pushed the Night Walker over the edge, only barely seeing Luz’s pleading eyes before he grabbed the girl by the throat and pushed her into the locker, widening Luz and the boy’s eyes as his own slowly gained a red color.
“Leave her alone. She doesn’t want your invitation.”
“Hey, back off freak!”
The boy tried pushing the Night Walker away but was pushed back for his efforts. Slim snarled in irritation, the noises becoming more guttural and wolf-like as the girl tried hitting his arm. The effort only made Slim madder, bringing more red to his eyes and unsheathing his claws. The girl finally dropped her façade, looking at him with fearful eyes.
“Leave. Her. Alone.”
“Slim, stop, please.”
The boy looked to his friend, seeing terror in her eyes, but for him. Hunter, the others, and more students were coming through, seeing the fight and already whispering. The Demon Realm natives shared Luz’s fear, bringing Slim into a more focused mindset.
One that finally allowed him to see the girl’s teary eyes. That fear traveled down Slim’s arm and to his heart, chasing the red away and leading him to yank his hand away while sheathing his claws as the girl coughed on the floor. Thankfully the group managed to get to class before any adults showed up, but the anxiety didn’t leave.
“Listen, Slim, thanks, but…” Luz’s whisper was sad and carried an anxiety of its own, “I think you should take the woods home today. We’ll have to talk later with Mamá.”
The boy only nodded, settling into a seat in the back of the classroom with a sigh as English started.
“Hey…Are you okay?”
Amity put a soft hand on Slim’s shoulder as the group sat at the dining room table. The palismen quickly came out, trying to comfort their hosts and the Night Walker, whose eyes drifted to Luz.
“I’m sorry about scaring you, but I can’t say I regret most of the other stuff.”
“I appreciate it, Slim, but you need to be careful. I don’t want you getting hurt because of me.”
“We chose to step in of our own volition,” Shade emerged, “and we’d do it again.”
“But we don’t want to be at risk of being exposed or hunted.” Hunter spoke, “I know it’s hard to not act, believe me, I do, but…it’s safer to stay stealthy for now.”
The group slowly separated, Slim going to the dishes as the others mostly stayed in the living room. Camila came home shortly after, sighing in relief as she put away her keys and coat.
“Slim, may I talk with you for a moment?”
The Night Walker stood completely straight, completely still for a moment before gulping and taking a small but deep breath. Camila and the others looked at him with nervous eyes before he nodded, following Camila to her room and sitting at her bed to her direction, the door being softly closed.
Camila sat beside him, seeing the fear in his yellow eyes.
“I got a call from the principal today.”
“I’m sorry…”
“Oh, Slim…” The mother hugged the boy, “I’m not mad, but I need to know from you what happened.”
So Slim told the story, unable to maintain eye contact.
“…And I took the woods to get home.”
“That was, probably for the best.”
Slim looked away, feeling tears start to build as he slightly folded into himself.
“I’m sorry for making you mad during your workday. I only wanted to protect Luz.”
“I’m not mad about you helping her, and I appreciate it. Believe me, I’ve had my share of outbursts over the years,” the woman lightly chuckled, “But control is also important, cariño. I don’t want you to accidentally lose sight of what’s important like I did.”
Slim looked at the woman as she put her hand on his shoulder.
“I…I’ll try.”
“That’s all we can ask. Though this should be talked about with Andrew when you next meet with him.”
“Yes ma’am.”
“Also, you’ve been suspended from school for the rest of the week. You’ll-“
“I’m sorry, I-“
Camila hugged Slim close, giving him gentle shushes as he slowly cried.
“I understand, cariño. You’ll need to get class notes from the others, and I’d like you to help out more while you’re here for the week. Sound fair?”
“More than fair, Ms. Noceda.”
“I told you, call me Camila.”
The Night Walker slightly smiled, nodding as Camila gave him another hug and patted his shoulder before escorting him out of the room. The boy returned to the living room, giving nods to the others before joining Hunter and Gus on the couch, watching a series similar to Cosmic Frontier. Camila joined them soon after, watching in vocal silence, but Slim could tell her eyes spoke of a hidden, wild passion for the story on display.
It wasn’t a bad way to end the day, but the work ahead was slightly intimidating for Slim and his parts. Something for later though, he supposed.