Bonding
Walking through the courtyard, I make my way back towards my home from visiting Kain. Really, having a friend is nice. Having a friend that's open and accepting is even nicer. I chuckle to myself, shaking my head as I remember how much of an goof he acts like. It's even funnier when I remember how truly terrifying of a hunter he used to be, can be if needed. I think that's why it's so easy to be close and open with him. He's not scared of me and he's strong enough to at least get away if God forbid, I lost control.
I don't notice Kaname and Takuma walking from their dorms as I pass by them to get to my own home. I also don't notice them making eye contact with each other, worried about the man they're currently escorting out of the night dorms. Asato Ichijo. "Peverell?" The man calls out to me.
I snap out of my daze, blinking and looking over to the man that's pushed his grandson aside, hurrying over to me. My eyes flash with disgust before I'm blinking and smiling at him pleasantly. "It is you!" He says with a slimy amount of sweetness.
I chuckle, nodding. "It is I." I tilt my head, looking up to him with a healthy amount of confusion. "Aster? Asher?" I scratch my head. "I'm horrible with names. What was yours again?" I ask sheepishly, enjoying the anger he fails to hide.
Kaname and Takuma watch my every move, humor filling them at my act. I look up to them when they get to us, one standing on each side of us. Takuma smiles brightly. "Hadrian! This is my grandfather." I conceal my surprise, but not well enough from the two vampire students observing me discreetly. "Asato Ichijo."
I smile up at him sincerely. "Thank you, Takuma." I say fondly, forcing myself not to reach out and ruffle his hair in front of this man. I look back to the man in question, nodding. "That was it. Asato Ichijo." I nod to myself.
The man's anger is drained as he watches me interact with his grandson. "You know my grandson?" He emphasized the title, and I can see through the scheming. This man never gave up getting in my good graces when I was well intertwined in the vampire world. Regardless of how much I rebuffed him. Kaname is obviously a threat to him, and Takuma is his best friend so clearly the man is trying to use him.
I smile back pleasantly, nodding. Before the man can open his mouth, I loop my arms through Takuma and Kaname's, pulling them both into my side. "I know all of my cute little students." I smile brightly, enjoying his reddening face at me including Kaname. "I was so grateful Kain invited me to teach here. Getting to know all of them..." I shake my head with a sigh. "It feels like they're all mine, you know?" I ask airily.
Seeing he's caught my meaning, and believing the students to think I was just being nice and not warning the man that they were under my protection, I release them. "Well, I've got to get home. Kaname, Takuma, don't stay out too late." They look down to me, smiling and nodding.
"Of course, Hadrian." Kaname smiles softly.
"Will do, Hadrian!" Takuma says brightly.
I look back to Asato with a pleasant smile. "It was... nice, seeing you again, Aster. " I nod to him, turning around and grinning to myself when he chokes at the wrong name.
Kaname and Takuma continue escorting Asato, Takuma feeling too many emotions to process them all at me basically claiming he's under my protection to the man constantly threatening him. Kaname can't take his eyes off of my back, another fond feeling filling him.
I begin humming a tune, feeling like I just had a super-secret conversation in front of my oblivious students, not knowing I've been the oblivious one the entire time.
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Sitting out back with all of my ducklings, I watch Zero and Hanabusa fight. I got them gloves to soften the blows. A safer alternative to letting out their frustrations on each other.
Our newest addition, Rima, sits next to Senri, snacking on cookies, watching the two fights.
Ruka rolls her eyes from where she's sitting in front of me while I do her hair. "They're both idiots."
Akatsuki chuckles from where he's sitting next to her, working on the new math problems I gave him and asking occasional questions that I answer patiently.
Teddy is cheering them both on, occasionally bumping Senri who shoves a snack into his mouth to calm him.
I continue on the braid I'm currently working on for the crown I'm trying to make out of hair, biting my lip as I concentrate, when a throat is being cleared. I look up, seeing Kaname and Takuma.
"Kaname-Sama!" Is shouted by every vampire and I smile up at them both.
"Hello. Did you need them?" I ask sheepishly.
He gives a small smile, waving his hand. "No. Mind if we join?" He asks.
I nod quickly. "Of course!" I say happily.
Takuma cheers, going to sit next to Teddy and introduce himself. I watch as they both begin chatting animatedly and chuckle when Ruka groans. "Great. Those two together will be a non-stop headache."
I laugh, tying the braid I finished and patting her head. "You'll just have to watch over them, hm? I'm sure Akatsuki will help." I comment.
The boy in question nods, beginning to talk with Ruka while I turn to Kaname who sits next to me on the double chair. He's watching Zero and Hanabusa and I grimace, speaking to him quietly. "They've gotten over the animosity, but they're still hotheads that clash easily. I figured a safe... well, safer, environment to let that out, would help."
He looks back to me, his eyes softening. "It's a good idea. I approve." He nods.
I beam at him, nodding quickly, before noticing him looking at the different sweets on the table. "Go ahead." I grin, tilting my head to them.
He clears his throat at being caught and I laugh, beginning my next braid on Ruka's hair.
"Underhanded!" Hanabusa shouts, jumping back at Zero.
"It's not my fault you're so slow." Zero sneers.
I chuckle quietly, shaking my head. Kaname makes a noise, and I look back to him. "Did you make these?" He asks.
I nod. "Yeah! Ruka helped. She's been my little helper." I grin down at her when she covers her face in embarrassment.
"Hadrian." She grumbles, not truly upset.
Akatsuki snorts, pulling at a piece of her hair. I look back to Kaname when she peeks at him, grinning. He's smiling back, clearly happy, and it makes me happy. "So, do you like them?" I ask hopefully.
He nods. "I do. They're very good." He compliments softly.
"So, is this where everyone is always disappearing too?" He asks quietly, leaning back in the chair and brushing up against me so we can speak to each other quietly.
I nod, tying off the next bread. "Yeah." I say quietly. "Most need help with something, others just like the quiet away from all the other students." I pause, looking up to Hanabusa before looking over to Kaname. "I'll tell you later." I mumble to myself as I begin positioning the braids around Rukas' head, forgetting his vampire hearing.
Kaname hums, and I feel my hair being lifted. He plays with it, and I smile over at him before looking back down to Ruka, missing the softness in his eyes as he not only watches me with Ruka, but the rest of his inner circle, that I've believed to be his friends.
"Why do the letters even matter?" Akatsuki mutters, looking up to me in true irritation.
I chuckle softly, reaching out to pat his head. He calms at the touch, and I look down to his paper, beginning to explain. He asks a few more questions and I answer them patiently. When he finishes, he sighs in relief, leaning back against my leg and closing his eyes.
I add the final pin to Ruka's hair and nod to myself. "Alright, all done." I say happily. She lifts the mirror, eyes widening in happiness. "I love it!" She squeals, causing Akatsuki to flinch.
I laugh, nodding. "I'm glad. Why don't you check on the cakes, hm?" I ask with a fond smile.
She becomes serious, always taking her duty as my assistant seriously, standing. I cover my smile with my sleeve, watching her go as Akatsuki sighs, sitting up. "I'll help her."
I laugh, ruffling his hair. He grumbles, but I see his ears turning a faint red. "Go on then, she enjoys adding the toppings, but dislikes cutting them up."
His eyes light up with the information and he speeds off, surely to be her knight in shining armor, cutting the fruit for her. I have to cover my laugh once more. "These kids are truly enjoyable." I mumble, forgetting Kaname is right next to me, observing constantly.
When he hums, I startle, looking back to his fond gaze. I flush, groaning. "God, I'm always doing something embarrassing that you're catching." I chuckle to myself.
He shakes his head, smiling. "I enjoy it. Seeing all the different sides to you." He says quietly.
I roll my eyes, not catching the sincerity. "Yeah. Yeah." I wave my hand back and forth before turning towards him more and bringing my legs up, crossing them so I'm facing him, giving him my full attention. Something he enjoys greatly, unbeknownst to me. "So, do you need help in anything?" I crease my eyebrows. "Your grades are all good." I mumble, looking back to him and tilting my head in question.
He smiles again, shaking his head. "I don't. But if I do, I'll come to you. Promise." He teases.
I huff, crossing my arms. "You better." I eye him before my attention is being caught by Zero standing over a downed Hanabusa, Teddy and Takuma cheering loudly.
Hanabusa is helped up by Zero, before he's walking over to me, grabbing a drink and sitting on the ground in front of me. My hand automatically goes to his head, patting it as he drinks, pouting at his loss. I withhold a smile, leaning down to speak to him quietly. "Zero is trained to fight vampires." I whisper. He nods slowly and I continue. "If you learn how vampire hunters fight, and mimic them, you'll win."
His eyes widen and he looks up to me in excitement. "Hadrian." He pleads and I smile, nodding, watching the happiness grow in his eyes.
"I'll give you a book on a few of their fighting styles, that's if you want to read that instead of the one, we're reading right now?" I ask softly.
He nods rapidly. "Yes!"
I chuckle, ruffling his hair. "Alright."
He thanks me before moving over to the group of the others, sitting in front of Rima and beginning to converse, leaning against Zero, much to his mock displeasure.
I sigh, looking away and resting my head on the chair where I've rested my arms. My eye's meet Kaname's and I smile softly, becoming tired. He reaches out before pausing and meeting my eyes. I look between his eyes and his hand, before nodding.
He finishes his movement, placing his hand on my head before beginning to run his hand through my hair. I sigh in content, closing my eyes. "I always wondered why you pat everyone's head." He speaks quietly, mindful of my sleepy state as the sun begins to rise. "It's because you enjoy it." He murmurs.
I hum, leaning into the comfort of his caress. "It's nice." I mumble. "Safe."
"Safe?" Kaname prods.
I hum. "Touch with no pain. Safe." I whisper.
I don't see Kaname's eyes flashing red at the knowledge that someone hurt me.
I drift off to the chatter of the students, Ruka and Akatsuki bringing out the desserts as Kaname shifts closer to me, wrapping his arm around me and pulling, placing my head on his lap. He continues running his hand through my hair, speaking quietly, dangerously, his vampire close to the surface.
"No one will hurt you. Ever again."