Chapter Text
Tango wakes up to the alarm blaring in his ears, reminding himself for the first day at his new school. "Why did I have to be born like this? ”he mumbles to himself.
Sitting up,he hobbled to the bathroom to wash his face,careful not to get water on his blazing hair that got him into this mess.
He still remembers the day when the principle called him into her office to tell him about the new government mandated hybrid school and that he would have to be leaving soon for “safety”
Leaving the bathroom,Tango changed into his new fire-proof shirt and walked downstairs. Before he could leave,his mom stopped him to say goodbye.
“Alright my little ember,it’s your first day at a fresh new start! Now I want you to try and make new friends at your new school. Everyone is going to love you and that flame of yours.” Tango’s mother said with a smile “Now goodbye my sweet little ember!I love you more than a thousand suns.”
“I love you too mom!” The blaze haired boy said before giving his mother a hug ”see you soon!” he yelled before Tango picked up his suitcase and stepped out the doorway.
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After ten minutes,Tango could see the school looming over his flaming head.The huge sign with “Hybrid Academy of Integrated Education” on it, the silver shield logo and the crimson red bricks made Tango nervous about this school.
He is halfway to the main doors when he hears two voices behind him, loud and teasing..
“Dude I have never seen this many hybrids in one place before,like look how big that girl's wings are and that guy's epic fire hair!” The louder boy exclaimed. “Yeah, how does that guy shower without getting the fire wet?”the other boy mused.
Tango glanced around.Right, nobody else with that description. Tango remembered what his mom said before “Now I want you to try to make new friends at your new school”
So he turned, took a breath, and said, “Shower cap.”
Now that Tango properly turned around,he can see the boys behind him fully.One of the boys have dark brown hair,short horns and pointed tail;A demon-hybrid.The louder boy had a small halo,bright blue eyes,a suit with the arms ripped off and large white wings;an angel hybrid
“Huh?”
Right, that was dumb.”The answer to your question,I use a shower cap to protect my hair” I probably sound stupid right now.Stupid stupid stupid.They probably think im a freak
“Really?”
Tango blinked. Usually this was the part where people backed away,but these two stayed put, grinning.
“Yeah, the fire hair thing is mostly cons to be honest”
“No way,it's good for camping because you don't need to make a fire!”The angel boy jokes.
A beat passes
Tango starts giggling then laughing then absolutely bursting with tears;the other two join in as well.
After they all calmed down the devil hybrid introduces himself.”,Alright man,my name is impulse;Class B,and this is my brother Skizz ;Class C”
Tango squinted. “Wait, how can an angel and a devil be brothers? That’s not-”
Skizz smirked. “Guess which one of us is adopted”
Tango freezes. “Uh,I'm not answering that question.” He gives a nervous laugh “But my name is Tango Tek,Class S.”
Before they could keep on talking,the bell interrupted them. “Oh I forgot we had to go to the assembly" Impulse says with wide eyes “We need to go before we’re late!”
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The three boys sprinted across the hallways until they saw the assembly hall door,seconds from becoming late.
As the crowd rushed into the hall, Tango hesitated in the doorway. His hands felt clammy despite the heat radiating from his skin.
Class S. Dangerous. Threat.
Words like that followed him everywhere.
He shook his head and tried to focus on what his mom had said “a fresh start”. Maybe this time, people wouldn’t look at him like he was a walking wildfire.
He takes a deep breath and steps inside.
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Inside hundreds of hybrids of all species sat in specially colored-coded rows.A list of where all the students sit hung next to the door.
Class D: Green.
Class C: Blue.
Class B: Yellow.
Class A: Orange.
Class S: Red.
“Aw man,guess this is where we split up.Maybe we can meet up after the assembly” Skizz says with disappointed eyes. “
“Yeah alright!” Tango said,forcing on a fake smile. “See you guys later.”
Tango walked towards the Class S section at the back of the room.He took a seat.The heat shimmering off him making nearby students shift uncomfortably.
He notices two other Class S hybrids near him,a vex and a zombie. He notices the cold look on their faces and decides not to talk to them.
Turning back to the front Tango can feel the hum of fluorescent lights, wings brushing together, tails flicking nervously.
Is everyone here as nervous as I am? Tango wonders.
The room buzzed with quiet chatter until the lights dimmed. A tall man stepped onto the stage, his large boots thumping against the polished floor. He wore a gray government-issued suit, his badge gleaming under the light. The microphone gave a brief squeak before his voice filled the hall.
“Good morning,students. I am Principle Solen,and this is my Vice Principle Mrs Carrow.” He raises his hand towards Mrs carrow.
“We welcome you all into a new year of Hybrid kind. We have started this school to help our students learn how to control their powers and create safety for others.Now Mrs Carrow will tell us more about our classification system.”
Principal Solen passes the microphone to Mrs Carrow. “As you know our class system is meant to drive safety towards others and to ensure every hybrid learns to manage their abilities responsibly.” She turns towards the projector behind her.
The screen flips into a different slide.
Class S- Extreme danger
Class A- Dangerous
Class B -Dangerous with limits
Class C- Slightly more dangerous then humans
Class D- Not dangerous
“We have rules according to these classifications.” Carrow continues. “Classes D to B may not use their abilities in the lunch room or in assemblies ,Class A students may use their abilities within regulated areas.
Mrs Carrow pauses,the room tense with fear. “Class S students may not use their abilities without teacher supervision.”
The words hit Tango like a brick. A few students glanced back at the red section,with fear, or pity, or both.
The room burst with outcry
“Are you serious?!”
“What’s the point of having powers then?”
“Regulated zones? That’s so unfair!”
The chaos of voices rose like a storm,people shouted, argued, the rustle of wings and tails as the students vented their frustrations. Principal Solen raised a gloved hand, and the room quieted under the weight of his stare.
“Order!” he barked,his tone sharp enough to cut through the air. “These rules are important for every student's safety”
Mrs. Carrow gave a tight smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “Continuing on, every student has been given classes to hone in their ability.For example,any student with wings or other ways of flying will have a class on how to navigate flying.”
Mrs Carrow passes the microphone towards Principal Solen.
“Your dorm assignments are posted outside the hall,” Principal Solen added. “Uniforms are on your beds. Classes begin tomorrow. Use the rest of today to explore campus.”
Tango waited until the last of the announcements faded before standing up with the rest of Class S. The crowd funneled toward the double doors, everyone eager to escape the stuffy hall. As he stepped into the hallway, the cool air hit his overheated skin, making the flames in his hair flicker higher for a moment.
Great. Exactly what he needed; more attention.
Tango scanned the crowd for Skizz and Impulse but the hallways were filled with students screaming and causing chaos,around 50 people were crowding the dorm list and 50 more were breaking the no abilities rule.
A voice called out from above the noise.
“Tango! Over here!”Tango looks over his shoulder and spots Skizz waving him over with Impulse by the water fountain.
Tango walks toward them.
“Dude, that was insane,” Skizz said the moment he got close enough. “Class S can’t use their abilities at all? That’s… dude, that sucks.”
Impulse elbowed his brother. “Yeah, way to greet him with positivity.”
Skizz rolled his eyes. “I’m just saying! That rule is garbage.”
Tango shrugged, trying to look unbothered even though the words still felt heavy on his chest. “It’s whatever. I’m used to it.”
But Impulse shook his head. “Nah, man. You shouldn’t have to be. We’ll figure something out.”
Tango blinked. We? He wasn’t used to people including themselves in his problems.
Before he could respond, a loud crash echoed down the hall. Two kids started screaming at each other Sparks flew, wings flapped, a tail whipped someone in the face. Total chaos.
Impulse gestured dramatically at the scene. “See? And they say you’re the dangerous ones.”
Skizz snorted. “Exactly. Come on, let’s go find our dorm assignments before someone sets the carpet on fire.”
Tango’s flames flickered at that, and both boys turned to him at the same time.
“…No offense,” Skizz added quickly.
Tango laughed,a real one this time. “None taken.”
Together, the three pushed into the crowded hallway, side by side. For the first time in a long time, Tango felt a slight amount of hope.
Maybe, this “fresh start” thing wasn’t a lost cause after all.