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haiky-u-lously · 4 years

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SA-Manga AU

Hi all! Hope everyone is well. I decided to write a thing because I have been pretty bored with what I normally spend what little freetime I have outside of work and being with irl peeps. However my self-prescribed ideas flow is lacking, so I thought a kickstart would be to adapt a pre-existing story with characters I currently enjoy. Then a online friend wrote a request I had asked and it made me so happy so this first chapter is dedicated to @kurokoxstraydogs because she is amazing.

For those unaware! SA is a manga/anime called Special A. This is legit that story line with HaikyuuXReader! So enjoy!

As always, questions/comments/concerns/ideas are always welcome and encouraged!

--Admin Red

Chapter 1—Trouble begins

Background:

You’d always been second place. No matter what you challenged him to, you could never beat him. Classwork? Forget about it. If you got 100s across the board, you just new he found a way to get extra points somewhere. How you help take care of your family? Please, He takes care of the FAMILY BUSINESS. And that’s not even to mention sports. The boy was ranked in the top three of the nation in Volleyball. How could you ever possibly live up to challenge him? It was a question that sometimes would plague your mind as you stared up at the midterm results once again.

This was the first time since entering this school, the place you had come so selfishly just so you could continue to try and ultimately defeat the one you had to beat. This was the first time since as long as you could remember that you had immediately been dropped from second place.

“No! I might’ve looked at it wrong!!” You exclaimed aloud, though you were not speaking to anyone in particular. Following the announcement board up from the bottom with your finger you saw it again clearly.

2nd place—Kuroo Tetsurou

“—YourName

“We have the same 2nd place score...?” You couldn’t believe it. After all your hard work. After dedicating your whole life to beat him, truly believing he was the only one you couldn’t hold a candle to…here comes this new transfer student, Kuroo Tetsurou. Who does he think he is? How can he just take your spot? Well, you thought, guess that just means I must work twice as hard then. With newfound determination you reminded yourself once more what your ultimate goal was. “I must defeat Ushijima-san this year.” Fist in palm, face set in what could only be described as others as blissfully determined you set back off to rejoin your friends at the greenhouse.

The story:

On your way to the other side of campus you overheard that new name.

“You’re amazing Tetsurou-kun!”

Your ear felt like it wiggled upon recognition, and you decided to listen in. Even if that meant stopping directly in front of other students.

“You transferred right into 2nd place!” The high-pitched girls voice rang out. Reminding you of your freshly observed defeat.

You were about to leave anyway, but the response from the one being addressed piqued your curiosity a little too much and had you turn to face the speaker.

“Shut up.” He said plainly. You had been trying to determine if he was really upset, or embarrassed by the comments, it was so hard to tell from such a distance. Disinterested eyes facing away from those commenting at him. “I said to be quiet.”

By now you were standing right in front of him, and his side sweep-look around caught your glance.

You stood motionless under the blossoming flowers.

Quickly, you let a smile overtake your features, “Hi!” Your energetic personality quickly wiped away his sour mood, not that your obliviousness would let you in on that. You remembered having met him briefly in a chance encounter a short while ago. “I’m surprised to meet you again. And, at my school no less!” You laughed in high spirits as your pair made way over to a bench.

“It’s because I have just transferred to this school that I was able to meet you again.” He said, turning to face you, giving you his undivided attention.

You half turned away in thought, “Ahahah, I see. Even so. Suddenly your second place! Congratulations!”

He hummed before responding, saying directly, “I am not satisfied with just 2nd place though. I will become 1st at this school, and I…”

“We’re comrades then!” You yelled excitedly. Shooting up into a standing position, and turning back to face your new acquaintance in one move.

Laughing, the boy in front of you let his head fall back, before he too stood up straight and shook your hand. “Then, please. Let us both do our best!”

You excitedly waved goodbye before taking off back to your initial destination.

Upon arrival at the greenhouse you overheard your friends discussing some certain matters.

“It seems he came to this school because his father told him to.” One was in the middle of reporting.

“Oh, really? Is that so?” You asked offhandly, joining the conversation as smoothly as you could. Taking a seat in your normal place among the soft couch and preparing to intently correspond with the rest of your class.

Only…

“Should you feel so relaxed, miss #2? If you space out this much, then your new goal will just to be to keep 2nd place? Yea?” Ushijima Wakatoshi announced haughtily while coming up from behind your sitting figure.

Fired up fully, you steamed as your faced him, screaming “WHAT!?!!” You ignored the others around you, thinking about what more you could do to make sure you wouldn’t lose either. As it was time for class you quickly grabbed your items and made your way back to the main building. Even though your classmates of the Special A class refused to attend normal lessons, you could not afford such luxuries. You had to work hard, keep keen eyes on your studies and health and keep pushing to beat Ushijima!

“We thought we would go out of our way to include you, and yet here you are. Ignoring us or being plain rude. Is that anyway to treat people who are trying to treat you as a friend?” The rough toned voices carried through to the end of the hall. You quickly made a beeline straight for the owner of the voice, all while listening for what came next.

“As a friend?” It was Tetsurou, your new comrade. Now what could he be doing with the rough sounding voices from just now? Your pace quickened with that thought at the forefront of your head. “If I’m with you stupid celebrities’ kids, then your ideocracy will rub off on me.”

EHHHHHHHHH...?! You thought, halting your quick pace as you saw the other boys leaving Tetsurou after that single comment. While you were not fully aware of the situation, you decided it was best if you stepped in just a little. Afterall if everyone’s not happy the school can’t run happily. “You, well…You probably wouldn’t have stupidity rubbed off on you had you joined them. Right?”

Tetsurou hmphed in response. Rolling his eyes, he more vocally answered, “Those guys came to tell me to cut class and hang out with them. I guess I apologize for not being with those idiots. But I refuse to hang with those who can’t make an effort.” You were entranced by the seriousness in his eyes, as they reminded you of something you’d seen before. But he continued speaking in his rude yet earnest manner, “I like you (Y/N)-san. You are well known for being one of the hardest working people in this school. And you even said we were comrades since we were aiming for the same thing. But I cannot accept those type of people.”

With that concluded, he left you.

When the bell finished ringing you out of your daze, you realized it was probably to make sure he got to class on time.

“Ahhhh! I won’t lose either!” You screamed as your sprinted to your own classroom.

The rest of the school day went without a hitch. You attended your classes, despite being the only one from SA that did so, and made the most effort you could…nothing out of the norm. You had planned out your entire evening. Determining just how much time after your 20K jog would be used to study ahead of the next examination time. Five hours of sleep a night is fine, right?

Unfortunately, your parents needed your help. And, called for it as soon you had sat down to start working your mother called, “Y/N! Can you go by some meat from the store? We’re a bit short from dinner tonight!”

You excitedly yelled back in affirmation. Your parents had done so much for you, going so far as to pay for multiple years of schooling at a very expensive school meant for the rich and famous, not meant for your mediocre family income. They had worked so hard to help you achieve your goals, how could you ever reject such a simple request? It wasn’t possible. So out you went. Towards the quaint market near your building.

Walking down the aisles you were surprised to run into non-other than Kuroo Tetsurou. You were doubly surprised to notice the employee uniform he was sporting with a clearly labeled nametag. “Yo! You work here? Part-time job, huh?”

He smiled innocently back at you in recognition, “Oh, Y/N-san. Yeah”

This guy, while suddenly entering the school right into 2nd place, he also has a part-time job. This insanity! I can’t lose to this either! You thought energetically. “Well, seeing as you work here, maybe you can help me. I would like to find this item.” You showed him the coupon for beef your mother had given you in order to help cheapen the price of the meat.

“Of course, follow me dear customer!” He bowed over his hand, sending you into a fit of laughter at his over the top antics.

The following day at school you whole-heartedly announced you were going to once again start looking for a part-time job, thinking it would be a good way to make sure you didn’t lose in the amount of effort you were putting towards your goals.

You classmates did not appreciate this announcement.

“WHAT?!” Satori exclaimed indignantly, “Do you need money? I can help you!”

Semi just rolled his eyes, “We are prohibited from having jobs as students. Don’t you realize if you get a job, even a part-time job, you’d have to drop out? How stupid are you?”

Drop out?! You thought, no no no, I can’t drop out!

“You should just stop. Okay?” Ushijima said. Trying to nip that thought of you working after school in the bud.

You faced him directly, “But Ushijima, you work all the time. How come you don’t have to drop out? And Semi to!”

“Well, neither of us get paid right, so they don’t really count as ‘jobs’ for us to the boss.” Semi replied, referring to his mom as the boss once again. Just because he was the son of the school director, anyone would think he would get special treatment, but more often then not the director was harder on him than others.

Reluctantly accepting that reasoning, you hurriedly went to find Tetsurou to make sure he understood the consequences he’d face if he were to be found out.

“Drop out? Yea, I know.” He said plainly, about to return his focus to his notebook.

Astonished, you just out right asked, “If…If you know, then why? Why do you have the job? Aren’t you…Won’t you be worried about getting forced to leave?”

Tetsurou looked up at you, locking eyes as to make sure you fully understood the answer he would give. “To earn money. There is a certain thing that I need and other things I want, without this part time job, none of the goals are doable. Thus, if is okay to be so blunt, since you found out about my part-time job, could you keep it secret from anyone else? I have a specific dream I want to fulfill.”

Listening to the drive behind his voice reminded you of how hard you have worked towards your own goals. All those you had selfishly burdened for your own means. How could you possibly ever think of being the reason someone else couldn’t fulfill their own dreams. “Y..Yea…Yeah. Of course. I’ll help to keep it secret for you!” It’s the first time you’d met someone so determined to work towards his goal, that which he calls his ‘dream,’ he is striving towards it and putting his best foot forward each step along the way.

“Thanks, Y/N-san,” He bowed out to hide the pure bliss of a smile that had etched itself onto his features.

As the days go on, you spent more hours at the school library. Each day working through a set amount of material as you kept pushing yourself harder and further. Continuing the mantra in your head of, I won’t lose either. I won’t lose either. On one of these days you had been enraptured by the material in front of you and were caught off guard by the sudden voice directed at you.

“Wow, that’s amazing.” Tetsurou called out.

Jumping slightly, you faced him before speaking, “AH! Tetsurou-san! You scared me, sorry!”

He smiled sweetly and took the seat beside you with his own materials. Laying them out in front of him, “Nah, I won’t be defeated either, Y/N-san.”

Smiling at his challenge you exclaimed, “Oh no! I won’t lose!”

Your pair laughed before continuing your separate work. Yet, while you were working separately a sudden thought came to mind. Except the SA class, aren’t the other classes meant to be going on right now? You glanced over but saw Tetsurou working intently on his material and decided it was best to ignore that thought and resume your own work.

Whenever a tough problem came up, you would pause, think back to everything you’d learned up until that point, consider the stuff you were reading and working on now and then be able to figure out the correct solutions. Every time, unknowingly giving a little smirk and shoulder wiggle as you would be proud of yourself for figuring it out.

“You really enjoy studying, huh Y/N-san?” Tetsurou abruptly interrupted your train of thoughts.

Smiling happily, you exclaimed, “Oh yea! Definitely. Don’t you enjoy it? Every time I understand a previously difficult question, I feel like I am getting closer and closer to my own goal.” You had been working so intently, you hadn’t realized how cold you neck felt. Now that you were not so concentrated, you decided to untie your hair to get a little amount of cover between the wind from the window, and your neck. “Should we take a small break Tetsurou-san?” You asked, fully intending to take a small break yourself.

So encompassed in your own ministrations you were ignorant to the enraptured eyes and the intense stare Tetsurou projected towards you. When you faced him, he immediately let the shock of seeing you with a truly relaxed and happy smile take over his face. For once, oblivious to his own blushing mess of a face.

For every troubling thing I understand, little by little I get closer to being on Ushijima’s level. Little by little, I’ll feel like I can hold a candle to him and be worthy of being next to him. Your internal thinking was what had you so happy, it’s also what caused your eyes to miss Tetsurou’s blush.

Leaving school, Ushijima approached you. “Oh, Ushijima! How was your afternoon?”

“It was fine.” He answered plainly, side eyeing you.

“That’s great!” You exclaimed happily. “I’m working harder lately, because I’m not planning on losing!”

His little smile was all you needed to know what he was thinking.

“Oh, but that probably means I won’t be in the greenhouse as often. Okay?” You continued, as though this wasn’t going to shock him.

The next day, you decided to do a little investigation to your fleeting thought from the day prior. Approaching some girls from B-class and asking about the still relatively new student.

“Oh, Tetsurou-kun?” They clarified. “Um, that person isn’t in class very much. He has pretty much isolated himself from all of us.” They paused momentarily and you’d just asked ‘Really?’ as though they would lie to you about something so seemingly insignificant to them. “He is always in the library self-studying. We think he just doesn’t like us. Like maybe he looks down on us.” They continued.

This shocked you. Quickly thanking them for the insight, you left to make your way to the library yourself, fully prepared to confront Tetsurou about the attitude he presents to his class. Believing there could not be anyway for him to actually feel the way his classmates perceive him to.

“Tetsurou-san,” You greeted directly, “Aren’t you supposed to be in class now?”

He hummed before turning to face you, a lazy look turned into a wide grin upon seeing you specifically. “Oh! Well, to answer you, since the level of the class is so low, isn’t it better that I should study by myself?”

His answer had your mind hurtling back in recollection of the things other students had said about the newcomer: ‘Tetsurou-kun just looks down on us.’, ‘…doesn’t have a good relationship with the teacher either.’, ‘He speaks roughly if he even decides to respond.’, ‘If he caused some sort of problem then he’d just be kicked out of school, huh?’. The things the students had thought and said were in fact nearly all true. But! You continued thinking, That just can’t happen. He can’t be kicked out of school like this! You sent an irritatingly stressed out face towards him, before grabbing his hand to legitimately drag his ass back to class. “It’s your class!! If you skip class too often and drop out..It will be absolutely terrible! You won’t be able to get 1st place in this school, or accomplish the goals you want to work so hard towards!” Upon reaching what you knew to be the boy’s classroom, you opened the door and flung him inside. He landed on his but and half stretched, half twisted from his sitting position to look as you gave one final announcement. “Do you best then!” A smile thrown out at the end; you were ready to leave him to his own devices.

“Thank goodness, huh?” A voice rang out.

Another chimed in, “At least Y/N-san is able to sympathize with him.”

You directed a response to the speaking students, “I’m not sympathizing with anyone. He’s just a guy with high ambitions. How am I sympathizing?”

The first student thought before asking their own question rather than answering yours. “If you’re not sympathizing towards him, then…is this your strategy? Make him do all you can so he will eventually let his guard down. And, at that guy’s weakened point, you would kick him all the way down?”

“Besides,” The second student continued at the first’s pause and directed look, “You won’t beat Ushijima-san and get 1st even with all that effort, right? So, you can’t stand leaving Tetsurou-kun out of it, huh?”

Before you could even react, Tetsurou had moved to holding the second student off the ground by his collar. Growling through clenched teeth, “Let me correct you and your limited brain’s thought process. Let me make you understand that smudging dirt all over her hard work is what makes you and those like you complete and utter trash. Let me correct that in fact the only one putting in wasted effort in anything is stupid, worthless, unspirited, and down-right bul—!!!”

A quick swing of your fists, and a landed punch to the side of his face sent his body swinging in the force’s direction. Making him release the student he had been preparing to continue verbally attacking.

“What the hell do you think you are doing?!” He fiercely turned on you.

You calmly looked up into his eyes, “Don’t start a fight about something this stupid.”

The shock in his eyes grew, and he exclaimed in astonishment that you were crazy. “How is this stupid? They are insulting everything! Everything you…”

“IT IS STUPID THOUGH!” You shouted back. Interrupting him yet a second time. “When you compare it to dropping out of school and the important goals you are working towards...! It is really freaking stupid! Don’t just treat your aspirations, the things you hold so dear, don’t go treating them carelessly!” You were screaming at Tetsurou, but the words you said were just as much to yourself as they were to him. Knowing that each and every day you are making effort in order to someday…someday reach and surpass your goal. Knowing, you’d struggle as much as necessary to finally reach your goal.

Immediately, Tetsurou turned to face to almost forgotten student. “I’m sorry for behaving rudely.” The class mumbled to themselves in surprise at his comment as he turned back to you with a new inquiry. “You’re satisfied with this, yea?”

It made you happy to see sense once again settle in your companion and smiled appreciatively. You were about to head back to the library to do your own work for the day, when you noticed a weight on your hand. Looking back up to him, you noticed Tetsurou’s eyes avoided your own.

“How about,” He started promptly, stopped himself and then changed his question. “Next time, can I thank you?” You must have looked confused to him because he reiterated, “I would like to thank you for stopping me from being stupid.”

Once again, grinning from ear to ear, you nodded enthusiastically. Excited that everything seemed to be in order for the year to progress smoothly.

None-thee-aware of the looming presence outside the main hall’s doors. The presence of your glaring boyfriend as he saw this new kid hitting on his girlfriend. As he thought of all the ways he could devour the weakling across the hall, he established the new goals of keeping you away from this flirtatious-sneaky cat and obliterate Kuroo Tetsurou with everything he had.

#haikyuu!!#haikyū!!#haikyu #hq #ushijima x reader #kuroo x reader #reader insert #semi eita #tendou satori #those two are purely reacurring characters though #dedicated to Pocky cause she amazeballs #this is why I asked you questions #hope you enjoy #admin red #SA #Special A AU #trouble starts

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radiojamming · 6 years

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(hi this is dutchisland, but y’know, sideblog) so, i really like how you write jacobs and wanted to know how you think that jacob handles intimacy? like, as far as canon goes he avoids it entirely. he lacks a connection to anyone besides john and joseph, leaving us 0 ground to base intimacy in a non-platonic relationship on. i feel like it would be a very private thing for him.(1/2)

ooooh that’s a good question (ALSO HI

like i’ve actually found it kind of hard to write jacob being intimate with anyone in the canon he’s in, because the situation makes it feel like some kind of switch has been flipped on in his head and it would take eden’s gate legit leveling the resistance and ending the war for good to make it stop. the only clues you really get are in his monologues and broadcasts, and even then, he’s rambling. he sounds like he’s off somewhere else, giving his philosophy (i’m totally onboard with the ‘he was absolutely stoned’ theory about his one solo video broadcast where he’s coughing), but you get the idea that his actual concerns are on a different level.

(also i’m gonna put this under a cut because it got looooong)

i think if he does have an s/o in canon (with the war going on, because that’s important), it’s not guaranteed to be a happy relationship. intimacy and affection probably take the lowest rungs of his ladder. if i ever do write for that–and this sounds lame–i kind of consider the maslow’s hierarchy? partially because tons of jacob’s personal outlook is based in psychological theory. sooo we have:

now at the stone chalet in the whitetails, you hear his broadcast about why people are weak. he fucking quotes maslow’s hierarchy straight out of the triangle. i don’t have the direct quote, but he says early man was strong because they made fire, searched for water, and hunted their food. he goes on to say that culture and technology have softened us. when it comes down to it, he’s starting at the bottom and knocking the top right off, saying we’re better off without it. so to him, i think he’s focused on those bottom two rungs almost exclusively. he’s head of security for eden’s gate, and it’s his job to make sure that his paramilitary group runs smoothly.

now he gets into that third layer up a little, and only with his family. but tbh what do we see of that other than him bonking heads with joseph and accepting his praise? unfortunately we don’t even see him interact with john, and we get hints mainly from the book of joseph where joseph says jacob looked out for the two of them and took hits for them. and the prestige part? he doesn’t need it. he’s a herald and he knows what he’s good at, but all that does for him is allow him a position where he’s able to exercise his philosophies in real time, on real subjects. and he whittles all of them right back down to physiological needs.

i think in his mind, he doesn’t need intimacy. he has the basic needs that he believes make him strongest, because primal, instinctive, early man was the strongest thing there was in his opinion. nothing is stronger than someone who is reduced to their basics. the further you go up that triangle, the weaker you become.

but do i think he’d shake off any attempts at intimacy? probably not. he accepts joseph’s praise (i think you could call that prestige), and he returns his gesture of affection. and it might be a stretch, but i think he hits the ‘creative activities’ section, even if he doesn’t intend to. the man has got his aesthetics right in a row. he’s showing himself off as a soldier, and everywhere you look, the reminders are constant. the comment on the pack hunter plane is that it isn’t subtle, but neither is jacob. like it or not, he’s creative, and he’s capable of affection. it might be possible that if his s/o reminded him of this (carefully, very carefully) he might be more receptive to intimacy. or, if they wanted to go in the opposite direction and say that it’s kind of an instinctual need to seek affection (we were hunter-gatherer packs at one point, after all!), he might accept that, too.

now he’s not going to be flowery or even outward with his signs of affection at all. and when it comes down to it, intimacy, sexual or not, might be a lot more like a vent to his frustrations than anything purposefully pursued. and yeah, you’re right, he wouldn’t let anyone else see it. if his s/o is around, he probably puts a pretty firm moratorium on any affectionate gestures or even a single sign that they’re romantic with each other. i mean, this is a ‘no touching’ kind of prohibition. you save that shit for when the doors are closed and locked.

i can definitely see where people get the whole possessive jacob vibe, and it might be fun to show that in fanworks, but i’m kind of in the camp that he’s got some extreme self control measures. hell, he hardly budges in expression around his own family, aside from v level looks and inclines of the head. the most emotion you see is directed at the deputy, not at joseph. he smiles at you, he glares at you, and when he’s dying, at his most vulnerable, where those basic needs aren’t… well, needed anymore, he shows you a pretty good gauntlet of emotion that he hasn’t shown at any other point. you might see something similar directed at his s/o, but like with the deputy, it’s only in private.

ANYWAY I’M SORRY THIS GOT SO LONG HHHHH i hope this is like, semi-coherent. and again, obvs this is all my opinion. OTL

#far cry 5 #jacob seed #some kind of meta #i don't know what to call it #IDK IF IT EVEN MAKES SENSE

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ghozt1ng-blog · 7 years

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Chapter 1 - Rescued from Boredom

It was the Monday before Thanksgiving and all Trick could do was glumly look around at the half filled classroom. So many people had already skipped town with their folks to visit with family or go on an early vacation. As usual, he had to stay put with his parents. Susan Brown’s work usually kept her occupied all the way to the night before Thanksgiving. It had been years since they even had a turkey! And without half the people here who made this high school semi-interesting, Trick felt like he was stranded on a deserted island.

There was also the fact that his life was suddenly so normal again. So incomprehensibly and unapologetically boring! For Pete’s sake he had fought with supernatural monsters, helped solve a crime the FBI couldn’t, and defied his parents in the most epic way imaginable! Running off with a girl he barely knew to investigate a case handed to the most dubious and ill-fated division of the FBI, the Q Files. Thinking of which, Naomi was still not talking to him. Not that she was angry with him or anything; she just had a ton of other stuff on her mind and was busy getting three months ahead in her school work and polishing that already glowing application for her future university career.

Meanwhile, Trick was finally free from his recent grounding and the prank he had pulled a month ago was old news. Since then some people had tied egging him on to try the next big thing. He had declined. After solving a supernatural case and using all of his skills to dupe adults and teens alike, pulling a simple prank was beyond sophomoric. The very idea was freshmanoric! Yes, he was going to make that a new word!

He sighed and doodled in his notebook while his teacher presented a boring slideshow on the events leading up to World War II. Seriously, how could someone make one of the coolest subjects in history, the only event that anyone cared about since the American Revolution, sound so boring? The presentation was nearly as boring as his life had become in the last month. Trick had hoped beyond hope that Agent Conturbatio, often referred to as the Sphinx, would suddenly show up and tell him that he was needed for some new, dangerous investigation. But there had been neither hide nor hair seen of the strange man. Trick still couldn’t pin down from which show he had seen Conturbatio’s likeness before.

Now twirling his pen absentmindedly, Trick stared into the middle distance. He half wished that the pictures on the projector would suddenly come to life and interact with him. It was something like what some nut jobs had said had happened in Provo a few days back. But that was obviously a domestic terrorist attack. Not only had his mother confirmed it, but there had been word from the Department of Homeland Security as well. They had a lot of solid evidence in favor of their claims.

He jumped when he suddenly heard his name getting called. I’m not doing anything! He thought frantically. He then saw that his teacher was waiting with a student messenger. There was a note in her shriveled hand. He got up and accepted it. The old hag calling herself Mrs. Hudson glared at him as though he would transform the note into a bomb. If only I could do that. Then maybe this short week would actually be worth something.

He was even more surprised to see what the note contained. It was a message from his mother that he was going to get picked up in an hour from the front office. He was excused for the day from the rest of his classes. He was going to meet with Agent Conturbatio for lunch and discuss something. It was all he could do to keep his jaw from dropping.

Startling the remainder of the class in their seats, Trick jumped into the air, pumped his fist, and let loose a whoop. “Yes! I’m back in business!”

Everyone started giving each other looks and then darted their eyes to the nearest exit. They all expected something really bad to happen. Fortunately for them, they were too boring of a lot for Trick to waste his time and considerable mental capacity on them. He then realized that the next hour couldn’t pass fast enough.

Naomi’s phone buzzed next to her computer as she typed up a report on the effects of different combustible fuels in cars and how they compared to the newest electronic and computer driven models. Mere child’s play for her; she could have a report like this researched and written to perfection in under twenty-four hours. She was even playing an episode Gravity Falls on a hidden window. That show really made her laugh. She would then switch over to an episode of My Hero Academia once she was done. It was one of the newest rising series out of Japan, and she was loving every bit of it. It was nice to have some privacy for her nerdy exploits, but right now someone was intruding on her personal time.

She raised an eyebrow when she saw who was calling.

“Agent Conturbatio, I thought my mother wanted to screen all future communications between us. Especially after what happened last month.”

“That’s all water under the bridge,” Conturbatio said airily. “I have something that I want to discuss with you.”

“You have piqued my interest,” Naomi admitted. “But can you please be quick? I have an essay to finish.”

“Is that Gravity Falls I hear in the background?”

Naomi flushed a little and answered, “It is. How do you know about that show? Don’t you have a job?”

“I love a good show that has a plot and mystery element that goes way over kids’ heads,” the agent replied smoothly. “In any case, I will be brief. There is a new case that I am taking on. One of the primary witnesses is a teenager, who most adults find hard to deal with. I was hoping that you and Patrick could come with and help mull things over with him?”

“That would be Trick’s area of expertise,” Naomi huffed. “I think you’ll be fine without me. Last time was fun, to say anything about it, but I am very occupied right now. I have a lot to get done before Thanksgiving.”

“I understand of course, but you see, Patrick knows how to talk to people, but you have a greater sense for more, um, technical things. And from what I hear playing in your room, I think you will have some good insight on this case. That is, if you know anything about fan-fictions?”

Naomi grinned behind her cell. “Of course I do. There is a lot I can tell you, and even more about the original source material.”

“There’s a good girl. I’m about to meet with Patrick to discuss the finer details of the case. I wanted to see if you might be interested as well. If so, would you be able to meet up with Agent Miles in half an hour? She’ll come over and treat you to lunch and tell you the particulars.”

Naomi wanted to groan. She wasn’t a fan of the woman, especially after she had been so condescending to her the last time they met. But she figured she should at least the bigger woman and swallow her pride. This case might be interesting, and it sounded like a free lunch after all. She took up the offer. Conturbatio hung up on his end and Naomi pulled out an energy drink.

“Alright. Let’s see about getting this done before Agent Miles shows,” she said, opening the can and then taking a deep drought. With some of this juice coursing through her veins, it should be an easy task!

Trick greeted his mother in the front office. As usual, she looked annoyed and very official. Once they were in and on their way she explained that they would be meeting up with Agent Conturbatio at Los Roberto’s, the only legit Mexican restaurant in twenty miles. The gray clouds overhead finally broke and let loose a soft rain. It was going to be a cold winter, Trick thought. As they drove along, he needled his mother for details about the case he was summoned for. He couldn’t help but let his excitement show through.

His mother gave him a sidelong glance and then sighed, “I’m not sure that you will enjoy this case that much, son. It’s not really your thing.”

“Are you kidding me?” he fired back. “I have been rotting at school for a month now! There has been nothing interesting! Nothing to stretch me! Not after all the craziness we went through. That was amazing. Real life is terribly mundane by comparison. Any case with the Q Files sound better than listening to Mrs. Hudson butcher the Second World War!”

Agent Brown shook her head and replied, “You don’t even know what you asking for.”

“But I do know! Don’t worry mom, this will be just fine. I am surprised that you agreed to this though. I thought you wanted me away from the Bureau from now on.”

“That is true, but Conturbatio made a pretty good argument for bringing you two in.”

“Two?” Trick asked, trying to keep the hopeful air out of his question.

“You and Naomi. You are both needed it seems,” his mother said grimly.

“Why’s that?”

“Because you are supposed to interview an insufferable, anti-social geek and learn everything you can about a curse he believes is stalking him and hurting others.”

Trick paled. This was not something he wanted to do. He could be around nerds and geeks at school. But spending large amounts of time with them beyond the school’s gates. Nope! He had the sudden urge to throw himself from the speeding vehicle and into the cold rain.

#my writing #mysteries of the q files #sphinx #school is killing me #fun times ahead #teenager

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