Chapter Text
Equius pulled his truck into the student parking. He was dreading everything about today, especialy leaving the truck he had worked so hard on over the summer out in the open where someone could vandalize it.
He parked his car but stayed in the driver’s seat, head in his hands. He was a senior this year, so the actual school things would be rather simple. However, he hated the first month of every other year at Alternia High. There will be weak and confused freshmen who will play into anything the upperclassmen say. He hated the horrid things they did to their peers here.
He touched his neck to wipe away sweat rolling down it and was reminded of yet another reason he didn’t want to be here. He pushed those thoughts to the back of his mind and broke free of his car.
He yanked his messanger bag out of the trunk, tearing the strap in the process. “Oh shoot” he muttered to himself, tucking it under his arm with a sigh. “Once again, I will have it repared later.”
Equius walked onto campus, heading towards his first period class when a though struck him. He turned towards the Home-Ec classroom. “Perhaps Maryam can fix this…” he thought aloud.
Nearing the building, he saw a small girl walking. Her jacket was far too long, and he had no idea why she would be wearing it in this heat. She seemed so frail, so helpless. He knew she would be first pick for hazing, but not if he could stop it.
He tossed his bag towards the building as lightly as he could, though he was sure he broke something anyway, not that it would be difficult to purchase again. He walked toward the small girl and was soon behind her. He gripped her shoulder, harder than her had intended.
In a flash, he was pinned on his stomach, his arm behind his back and her knee in his spine.
“Not going to be taken down that easy, fuck your element of surprise.” She dug her nails into the inside of his wrist. “What do you want, creep?”
Equius squashes the urge to fight back against her. “No, please, you misunderstand. I saw you walking and you looked like an easy target for the ruffians around here. I wanted to protect you from them.”
She dug her knee in harder. “Oh, so I look like some weak little girl who needs to have her hand held throughout her life. Well looks can be deceiving, jackass.”
“I understand that, and you have surely proved it. I am sorry to have offended you. Please, allow me to take you out as an apology.”
“Like hell I would date someone who just assaulted me.”
“No, No! Not a date! Not like that I swear! Also, the only one to get assaulted here was me. Would you, perhaps, get off of me? People are starting to take notice.”
“Fine” she released Equius from her hold. “You can take me somewhere to apologize. NOT A DATE.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it.” Equius replied thoughtlessly, dusting off his chest.
“EXCUSE ME?” She looked ready to pounce again.
“No, no, oh fiddlesticks. That isn’t what I meant. I… I just really want to be friends with the only person I’ve ever met who could take me down.”
“Fine,” she bent down to pick up the book-bag Equius hadn’t even seen her drop. “you can take me out on our not-date after school. I have science with Ms. Harley last period. Know where that is? Pick me up behind it.”