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Finn Ames is just a normal teen
Living a normal life
It’s what he’s always wanted
For most of his younger years he’s had what most would consider a difficult childhood
His mother and father had left this world early on in his life, and as far as he could remember since then, nothing’d be the same.
The only constant in his life since then was his older brother Rayne.
House hopping from estranged relative to estranged relative before being subsequently kicked out, that’s been the norm for the Ames brothers since they became orphans.
Finn wasn’t the social type but he’s managed to make a few friends here and there, of course, but seeing as how nothing seems to last with Finn, he’s gradually stopped trying since god knows when.
Countless times he’d sit on the porch of some distant uncle or aunt of theirs, watching as other children his age got to play, ride on broomsticks to race and such.
And he’s jealous.
Not of their play things but of their playmates, though he knows he could afford neither.
It’s lonely, even with Rayne.
They’re different in both power and personal. Rayne was powerful and fearless, protecting Finn from the horrors of this world ; while Finn was weak, easily scared and always doubted himself, it was only natural when he’s believed that their parents left them because they no longer loved them.
Rayne is a distant person, even with him, even when they only had each other , but with so much on his older brother’s shoulders Finn knows it’d be unfair of him to demand even more from him.
If Finn isn’t the one running around the house helping those who host them it was Rayne, but it was always Rayne who’d shield him away from any trouble.
Any mistake Finn would make, intentional or not, baseless or not, Rayne would always be the one to take the blame for him, shielding him from any cruel words or actions, inflicting them on himself as consequence.
Finn would always ask him if he’s ok afterwards, but his brother would never tell him the truth, preferring to hide into his room like a rabbit in a burrow and Finn wonders if it was his fault.
Eventually they’ve lost even shelter, no roof over their young heads and no shelter to live under.
Another step further away from normalcy.
It was just the two of them against the world
They’d work their little heads off and if they’re fortunate, they might be able to eat stale bread to fill their stomachs.
The looks they’d receive on the streets, pity and disgust were not uncommon.
But it was a time in which Finn still felt that his brother cared.
Rayne has two lines, one straight under each eye, born to possess strong magic at birth. Even with the lack of professional training as a child he was naturally talented, naturally talented enough to be personally chosen to be enrolled to one of the continent’s most prestigious magic academies for training, by the director no less.
Finn still remembers the first time he step foot into the academy with Rayne, how he marvelled the interior while Rayne talked with principal Wahlberg, wandering the halls until Rayne walked out and announced to him how they have a place to live now, never having to worry about shelter, never needing to feel outcasted.
Rayne wrapped his hands around Finn, stoic and calm as ever as he spoke, maybe even a little scared, but it was the warmest hug Finn has ever received.
But the departure was the coldest he had ever felt.
Rayne has left him as well
Left alone to live in one of the dorm room in Easton while his brother studies and strives to become a divine visionary, rarely coming to see him if ever now.
Finn’d study and practice hard to try to reach his brother’s level; He didn’t want to be a burden anymore.
It’d be until another year for Finn to officially become a first year student in Easton. Another year to chase the dream of living a normal life free of unfortunate circumstances, free from being alone as he could study like a normal teen his age, make normal friends, get average grades and live the average life he’s always wanted; to fit in with no trouble.
First day of high school and Finn was excited as ever to officially start a new chapter in his life.
There was no trouble when he was assigned the Adler dorm, the same dorm as his brother.
There was no trouble when he went to class, didn’t get lost or anything.
Of course making friends would not be immediate, but he’d rather get to know his fellow classmates better first, he wasn’t overly sociable like that.
The first lesson wasn’t something too hard, after all, it was just covering the basics of using magic. A teacher who he didn’t remember the name of was just issuing a practice to unlock a lock, something everyone should probably be capable of given they passed the 3% enrolment rate of Easton. And Finn was no exception when he opened his given lock with a click, using a type of magic he’s learned to handle in the last year.
A snap
A loud snap could be heard in front of him as a mushroom head student broke open a lock using just his hands, effectively snapping the thing in two.
Earning a scolding from the teacher but showing no real fear or concern.
“God is dead”
Freaky
This year’s student really are quite the anomaly
This kid probably wouldn’t last long in Easton.
Finn hopes to never cross path with this boy.
But nothing ever goes to Finn’s plan, does it?
The assigned dorm for Finn was room 302, structure familiar to his old room but now with a shared bed, he’d be sharing a dorm mate, Finn thought as he peeked into the doorless room.
Wait why is the door to his dorm room absent
A hand was placed on his shoulder and he turned around to see the strange boy from his previous class holding the door in his hands.
He knows that this is his new dorm mate and his face can’t help but scrunch up.
Why him out of all people?
“ My name is Finn Ames, nice to meet you.”
His brother didn’t single handily raise a kid with no manners
“I’m Mash Burnedead, I’m not familiar with this place, nice to meet you as well.”
How surprisingly normal…
“And this is Kevin, this is Mike..” Mash said as he was pointing to his muscles.
Why would anyone name their muscles??? Better keep his distance…
Mash Burnedead, a strange individual indeed; wishes to become a Divine Visionary for whatever reason, but he doubts he’d be able to stay until then.
“Well let’s both try our hardest together!” Finn said, not really meaning it.
“You’re such a nice person.” Mash replied. He did not smile, but he sounded earnest, Finn wonders if it was just him thinking too much.
Finn borrowed his broom to Mash without thinking too much thought, it’s been a weird day already; Reality has strayed too far from his expectations but he should’ve known life’d never be normal for him.
Finn thinks this as he watched his new roommate throw and jump on a broom at light speed.
Hearing Mash saying he was a good friend made him felt…
“So you’re roommates with that weirdo over there right?” Lloyd Cavill, son of a VIP in the Magic Bureau and his lackeys approached him one day after class. Intimidated, Finn just nods slowly.
“I can tell from the look in your eyes that you want him gone as well, so let’s make a deal. You help me burn his books and generally discourage him from school while I make him do my bidding,; if not, I’ll beat you up. Caprice?“
Finn’s just a normal guy wanting a normal life, he doesn’t have a choice here does he?
So he does what he says, burns Mash’s books when he slept and acts distant even when he sees Mash being taken advantage of to do Cavill’s bidding. He shouldn’t care now that he’s partially got what he wanted, that’s just how it was.
“Finn can I sit next to you? I might need to borrow your book since mine was burnt.”
Finn couldn’t even look Mash in the eye when he quietly said that his book was borrowed too. Mash, either not hearing that or deliberately ignoring what he said just scooted closer, surprising Finn.
“You’re such a good friend!” Mash said in earnest while remaining expressionless, Finn hears the joy in his voice and the sinking feeling in his stomach just sank deeper.
Finn felt guilty.
He felt guilty for lying to Mash but he also felt guilty for actually wanting to be Mash’s friend.
Unsurprisingly
Lloyd Cavill came looking for him after class when Finn rejected to burning Mash’s books.
He just couldn’t do it anymore.
“So why were you getting all chummy with that kid?” His face plants into the floor. “Didn’t I tell you to keep your distant?” Another smack “ It’s your fault that brat is still here.” And another smack, but then it seemingly stopped when footsteps approached.
Cavill wouldn’t stop for any teachers or students if he wanted to, which means he intentionally stopped to pull his head up from the ground and make his eyes meet
Mash.
Mash who came over calmly to assist Finn with his wounds
Mash who softly asked,” are you ok?” Immediately when he came over.
“I was the guy who burnt all your book, I’m sorry I was too weak to fight back, I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry.” Finn’s voice trails off, Turing into hiccups and sons instead.
“See? I’m just helping you make him apologise to you” Cavill’s voice sounded sinister, his actions no less, but what caused Finn’s tears to fall wasn’t the pain of his skull being bashed to the stone flooring but the feeling of guilt he felt when he looked into Mash’s eyes.
They were unreadable.
“So I’ll be having lunch with the staff later, you want to come with, Mash?” Cavill’s eyes smiled “ After all we shouldn’t really be associated with scums that only know how to apologise.”
Finn knew he was right, he only knew to run away and apologise when he gets caught in a situation. He’s weak, he hides behind other people and he’s ashamed of himself.
So Finn was surprised when he looks up to see Mash stand up and bash Cavill’s head into the ground .
“You’re the one who should apologise.” Mash said, again monotonously when he let go of Cavill’s hair.
Mash is strange, in physical strength and the way he thinks. He’s fearless in a way.
“Aren’t you scared of getting in trouble for fighting Lloyd Cavill?”
“Is that important?” Mash replied cooly, before close consideration when he realised that yes, it was quite important.
Mash then proceeded to plant the vice principal into the ground when he came looking for Cavill, he tried to bury him too but then Director Wahlberg intervened.
Mash visits him in the infirmary on the way back, Finn was all patched up and ready to go.
“Are you alright?” Mash asks thoughtfully while he watches Finn sign out of the infirmary, and Finn can’t help but smile a little, ”I’m fine now, except for the occasional headache.”
Thinking makes his head ache so he decides to try not really think about it when Mash picks him up bridal style back to their shared dorm room. “Better?” “Yeah” they didn’t get to talk a lot as Finn rests his head onto Mash’s shoulder. He really smelled like cream puffs, so sweet and buttery.
What transpired after that day was… out of the ordinary to say the least.
To be approached by an upperclassman who says bamboo after everything convince Mash into joining flying rugby or something,
meet a girl with a red bow on her head a little to obsessed with Mash,
get locked into a vial relic by a double liner who just wants to save his sister and to befriend all of them.
Oh and there’s this spiky red guy that just appeared, antagonises previously mentioned siscon but seems nice enough to be a friend of Mash.
Now they sit together, around the little coffee table of 302, enjoying Mash’s freshly made cream puffs while sipping red tea brewed by Dot (“it’s fragrant and it’s one of my favourites, try some!” )
Planning their next move to win against Fang members of the Lang dorm and help Mash become get closer to becoming a divine visionary.
There’s arguing, soon transpired into a fist fight between Dot and Lance.
Lemon, basically ogling Mash from across the table.
And Mash
Right next to him, munching on the last cream puff.
Finn is happy
School isn’t what he expects it to be, the friends he made are not normal in any way and he’s getting himself into more trouble than he would’ve wanted.
Life wasn’t normal in the sense that he wants it to be, nothing ever was,
But he’s glad
He’s glad to be in Easton, he’s glad he’s made friends, he’s glad to have his brother, wherever he is and he’s glad to have Mash,
A phenomenal person farthest away from normality yet so caring of those around him.
He’s kind and strong and everything Finn wants, despite being such a strange individual,
Finn Ames gets exactly what he wants in the form of Mash Burnedead, stability.
The upcoming fight for Mash to become a divine visionary is tough; He’s weak, the journey won’t be easy but screw all of that, Finn just wants to fight and be there side by side with Mash.
His life was one unfortunate event after another, meeting Mash feels like one of the little fortunate things fate so kindly straight up gives him and he plans to cherish this blessing forever.
“Mash, let’s both work our hardest together, ok?”
He means it this time.