Chapter Text
The weather situation around Kinkaid Academy was usually mild and predictable. There was no snow, or typhoons. And the sky was almost always a neutral blue-grey on sunny days. With the chaos surrounding this place, Rev always expected to look out his window and find kittens and puppies raining from the sky, or waking up to an earthquake caused by a stampede of mythic beasts from Viviana Kinkaid’s closet.
His worst enemy, weather-wise, had yet to rear its ugly head.
Until this week.
Sweat pooled on his scalp, turning his layered hair into a slow heating oven. It was only an hour past noon, and he was uncomfortably hot. Everyone seemed to be affected too, he noted with a hint of satisfaction. At least he wasn't making a big deal of things.
Harry and Harrah were currently begging their way into the cafeteria kitchen so they could cool off their thick coats of fur/feathers in the industrial fridge, all of the aquatic-adjacent freaks had special permission to access the pool to stay moisturised and hydrated, and some gnarlier students (Akuma) had opted to shred off the sleeves of their school uniform entirely.
And Rev was trying to hold a dignified front, but the summer heat was melting the last of his resolve away. He already had the first two buttons of his shirt unbuttoned, and his tie hung loosely around his collar. With a conceding shrug, he shucked off his blazer and threw it over his shoulder, growling to himself.
If it was a frostwave instead of a heatwave, he would have minded less. You can layer on all the clothes you need when it's cold. But this damned heat would drive him to the point he'd have to strip naked and still have to peel his skin off to stay at a reasonable temperature. He'd take hypothermia over this any day of the year.
While stewing on ways to kill the sun, he didn't notice he was being spoken to.
“Hey Rev! Nice weather we're having, right?” Mark chirped, skipping to reach him faster. Sera followed smoothly behind, and they flanked him as they made their way to the courtyard.
Sera's wings drooped, “It's actually kind of hot…”
The Vampire hummed cluelessly, “Really? I think the summer heat is the best!”
Rev wiped sweat off his face with his sleeve, “How are you of all people enjoying this?” He squinted as a cloud passed the sun, sending hotter, brighter rays down on the school courtyard, “Aren’t you supposed to be burning up right now?”
“Well, usually! But Dad has special sunblock that helps me beat the heat,” Mark patted his cheek and pulled up one of his sleeves as he said this, revealing pale, moisturised skin. He wriggled his fingers, “Wanna feel?”
Sera poked a finger onto Mark's arm, then her whole hand, “Cold…” She said, relief in her tone. She grabbed his forearm and stuck it to the side of her face like an ice pack.
Rev sighed, “Please don't tell me it'll be this hot for the foreseeable future.”
The trio picked the shade of a large tree to lounge under for the lunch period, and he could see Sera visibly sag at the relentless attack of the sun finally letting up a little. As the other two took out their lunches– A beef wrap for Mark, and a salad with fries for Sera– Rev hid his pout with his hand. This heat wasn't letting him think straight. There was no way he could plan anything cohesive like this.
I hope Kinkaid is having a hard time too.
The thought brought a small sense of vindication to him, before he realised the Principal could just hide out in the cold, limitless, cold, vacuum of the void. He let out a long, broken sigh.
“Oh, there you guys are!”
“Hey Bella! Sorry, we couldn't find you on our way here…”
Rev blinked out of his heat-dazed thoughts and looked to his friends. The Witch took a seat between him and Sera, bending her legs and folding them under herself daintily. She shook her head, “Don’t worry about it, Mark. I was just talking to Miss Yaga about Spellcasting homework.”
She looked as bright and cheery as ever, and if Mark being a pocket full of sunshine didn't piss Rev off already, this definitely put him over the edge. He groaned, “How are you guys in such a good mood? It's so hot…”
“So hot…” Sera echoed. Rev felt a twinge of camaraderie with his Angel, “Sera, just take your blazer off. The teachers would have to be crazy if they expect us to follow dress code with this weather..”
Sera followed immediately, breathing a sigh of relief at the loss of the extra layer of fabric. Bella looked over the two melting students, then to Mark, “How about you?”
Mark shrugged, “I love summer!”
Rev rolled his sleeves up to his forearms, and grabbed his necktie, tugging and pulling the loop off of his head. He shoved it into his pocket, raising his face to the leaves above them.
When Bella didn't respond to Mark, Rev looked back at her, only to find her eyes already on him, lilac turned to a dusty lavender in the shade. Her gaze flicked down, then back up to his eyes before she twitched and turned her head away, unwrapping the peanut butter sandwich she brought for lunch.
What's her deal?
“What about you, Witch? Is your hat fighting the heat off or something?” Rev poked, crossing his arms. Bella was mid-chew, she quickly swallowed and shook her head, smiling, “Actually, I might have a spell to help. But I do need a volunteer.”
Rev paused, and looked at Sera, “You do it.”
“Okay.”
Sera shuffled closer, arms braced on her knees, unsure of what to do. Bella cleared her throat, lifting a hand, “Iacuit Glaciei” She tapped Sera's forehead gently.
The Angel's wings fluffed up instantly, and she blinked as small, fractal-like particles stretched across her skin, before fading within seconds.
“Bella,” Sera breathed, flapping her wings once.
“Yes?”
Sera put a hand on Bella's shoulder, speaking seriously, “I would die for you right now.”
“Please don't.” Bella laughed, and Sera returned to her seat, visibly refreshed.
Rev was suddenly very interested. He perked up like a dog hearing its name when Bella turned to him, “Okay Rev, your turn!”
He sat up, legs crossed, and stuck his hand out, “It doesn't have to be on my face, does it?” He muttered.
“It’s usually cast where you want its effects to be felt the most, so…” Bella raised her brow at him, and he drew his hand back. She giggled, “Good. Ready?”
Rev glared at her, keeping his eyes on her hand as she mumbled the incantation, “Iacuit Glaciei.” and poked the tip of his nose, “Boop.”
Before he could protest, a chilling sensation washed over his body, spreading from his head to his feet. The hair on the back of his neck stood for a moment, and he shivered slightly before the chill melted into a refreshing coolness all over his body. Even his hair felt clean, no sweat on it any more.
Rev breathed, “Thats… actually pretty good.” He admitted, sighing. Bella looked very pleased, nodding to both of her friends, “You’re welcome, guys. It should last another hour, but that's exactly when class ends, so…”
Sera smiled, “Thanks a lot, Bella. Long hair isn't nice when it's this hot.”
“Right. It's much appreciated, Witch.” Rev said, giving her a small nod.
She glowed under their thanks, and wore a smile while she went to eat the rest of her sandwich. Rev huffed, and smoothed down his rumpled uniform, finally being able to button up his shirt like usual. When he went to grab his tie from his pocket, he met Bella's gaze once more.
“..What?”
“Huh?”
“What’re you looking at?” Rev asked, looking down at his shirt, then back to her. Bella's eyes darted away, color rushing to her cheeks. What, was the heat getting to her, too?
“It’s nothing. I just wanted to see how you tie a tie.” She said, taking a bite of her food. Rev stared at her, and then pulled out his necktie, which still had the loop made, “Nah, all I have to do is tighten it, like this.”
Rev fit the loop over his head and under his collar. Holding on to the knot, he grabbed the end of the loop and tugged until the tie nestled around his neck somewhat neatly.
“Bella.”
He finally didn't feel like he was being suffocated to death under the sun. Maybe learning spells outside his necromancer scope would be useful. It wouldn't be very versatile of him to be a one-trick pony, after all.
“Bella, your food, dude!”
Mark nudged the Witch gently, and she blinked in surprise before gripping her sandwich as it began to slip from her fingers. Rev looked at her with confused amusement, wondering where her head was.
“Sorry!” She managed, coughing, “Thanks. Thank you, Mark.”
“You forget to cast that fancy spell on yourself, Witch?” Rev poked, leaning back against the tree and taking his sleeve in one hand, and pulling it back to his wrist. Bella stared at him like he hadn't spoken English, her eyes drifted to his other arm, and lingered.
“Huh– What? I did. I so did, cast that…on myself.” Bella said, finally, not taking her eyes off him. Or his arm, rather. Rev looked at where she was staring, lifting his hand for her to see, “What? The scars? I do blood magic, Witch. And I own a cat that hates getting her nails clipped.” He huffed, feeling a little insecure, “I know it's not pretty to look at, so–”
“What? N– No, I wasn't! It's not– Not about those, Rev.” She stammered, her face red. Mark raised an eyebrow at her, “Was it about the tie? I haven't seen him tie that thing properly since the beginning of the semester.”
“No! Really, it's nothing,” The Witch lied, obviously. Then she pointed at Rev, “Also, you're only supposed to bloodlet from your palm, Rev.” He rolled his eyes at her. Rulebook-kisser.
He continued to stare at Bella as she avoided his gaze. Why is she being weird now? Did she cast the wrong spell on him, or something? But Sera seems fine. Rev glanced at the Angel quickly, she had finished her salad and was happily munching on her fries, looking out across the courtyard. Hmph.
Rev kept his eye on Bella as he grabbed his other sleeve. Oh? He pretended like he didn't see her looking, and gently pulled down. She looked away, and hummed in agreement at Mark's question about her nails. He furrowed his brow, and tugged his sleeve further up his forearm. Bella glanced back, and he felt the weight of her stare crawl from his hand up the length of his arm.
???
A second passed, then two, then she suddenly seemed to catch herself and became incredibly interested in the last of her food.
What the hell?
Rev looked at his own arm. Then he rolled the sleeve down.
Bella looked away.
He rolled it up.
Bella looked back.
Down. Away. Up. Back. Down–
“Rev,” Mark's voice cut through his experiment, “What’re you doing?”
Rev pointed at Bella.
Bella choked on her sandwich, “Nothing!”
Mark raised a brow at her, “I wasn't asking you!”
“I know!” She said shrilly.
Sera looked between the two of them, before nodding in realization, “Oh.”
Bella buried her face in her hands, “Oh my God.” She groaned.
“ ‘Oh’ What?” Rev questioned, making a face. Sera hummed, “Bella likes your arms.” She said, matter of factly.
The Witch let out a strangled noise, like that of a dying bird. Rev watched Sera grab another fry.
“..What?” Bella said shakily, trying not to scream.
Sera shrugged, “You keep looking at them.”
Bella scoffed, trying to act scandalised, “Uh, yeah, because he keeps pulling his sleeve up and down like it's a window blind!” She said accusingly. Mark snorted.
Rev bristled, and threw his hands up, “What?! You're the one staring! You're the one being weird!”
“Me? You're weird! Why are you doing that?!” She argued, gesturing to his arms.
Mark piped up, “You were kind of staring first. Sorry Bella.” He laughed.
“What?!”
“You’re both being weird.” Sera said simply.
Bella sighed, vindicated, “Thank you.”
“Oh. I wasn't talking about Mark.” Bella's smile disappeared.
Rev barked out a laugh, before realising what the Angel meant, “–Hey!”
The bell screamed across the school, and the group froze in their bickering, packing up their lunches. Mark was still laughing at their antics.
Rev looked down at his hands in suspicion. Scars and small burn marks littered his skin, all accidental, if you counted reckless deaths as accidents. He looked up, and grinned.
Potions 101 was the class that Rev and Bella shared. The group dispersed at a crossing hallway, Mark to Applied Biology and Sera to Cryptid Linguistics. Rev had his blazer hung over his shoulder still, and he sped up to catch up to Bella.
“Bella…” Rev called, drawing her name out mockingly. Red crawled up the back of her neck, and she walked faster, “Go to class, Rev!”
“We’re Potions 101 partners, Bella~” He said in a sing-songy tone. He had no idea what was going on with her, but seeing her twitch and scream like a tickled mouse was incredibly entertaining.
Rev settled at their shared cauldron setup, where Bella was dutifully preparing the components of their brew for this practical lesson, quiet apart from reading the measurements under her breath. She looked up and met his stare, and he hooked a finger onto his fixed sleeve and gently gave it a tug, wrist showing, shoving a wicked grin in her face.
She punched his shoulder.
Class went without a hitch.