Perhaps, Azame thought, taking such a hefty pledge to keep his grades up wasn’t the smartest thing he could do. In fact, he rapidly found that if he put his mind to it, he could flunk every single class he had. He hadn’t known where the time flew until he was looking at more F’s. He could only feel disheartened with himself. The years repeated, regardless if he tried his best. There were some things Azame could never understand no matter how hard he tried. Others would leave him more confused than when he first started. 114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPhTmHOx5Cr
This time, Azame had tried. He’d even had Ajax’s help with sorting out all his assignments and keeping the more pressing ones in front of him. However, his concentration would stray. Soon, Azame would forget about them and do something else. 114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ96yKCgijoT
Now, he was holding his mid-terms in hand. Back hunched over his desk as the lamp burned long into the night. He’d watched the leaves turn from green to the pretty auburn of fall… and before he knew it, he was too far behind to attempt catching up. Gone was the first quarter, and the second quarter’s end rapidly approaching. Just a few weeks remained on calendar. 114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4RewEmIeZm
Azame bit at his knuckles as he tried to not let the disappointment get to him. For as long as he knew, he’d failed more classes than he’d passed. If he was being technical, he shouldn’t even graduate this year if it wasn’t for the teachers pushing him through, regardless. The boys hated him, and so did the teachers. They held no soft spots for Azame. 114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh5gfqQOdIj
His eyes felt wet, and he rubbed them in irritation. He couldn’t help but curse faintly to himself. He couldn’t help that he was different and things didn’t come to him easily. Alas, no one would ever understand, regardless. He glanced at his little clock on the table and sighed. 114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtRVaUtfgiY
“It’s no use,” he said, leaning back in his chair. 114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtbILfZHmjs
Startling him from his thoughts was a hand appearing on his windowsill, before someone pulled themselves up into the light. However, that pounding in his chest eased when he saw Ajax’s face from across their room. He landed heavily before stifling a yawn. 114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3yKWOROsH4
“Still up?” Ajax asked as he plopped down onto his bed nearest the wall and worked his shoes off. 114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡieyLwFupbQ
Azame watched him for a few moments, letting his mind wander. He watched Ajax reach around his waist and loosen the pouch close to the skin of his back. It flopped to the bed faintly before Ajax pulled it close to himself. He unsheathed the blade, and it glimmered in the low light of Ajax’s lamp, a blade so dangerous and deadly that Azame couldn’t touch it. There weren't many weapons that could fight a shadow. A blade that could kill Shadows, where mortal and human made weapons failed. These mighty weapons, though, weren’t safe in Azame’s hands. The blade wasn’t intelligent, unable to tell friend from foe. That required the Protector’s expertise and a great deal of that, too. Stronger Shadows, the ones who’d developed into Promised Ones… they could take on the face of anyone and hide in plain sight, so perhaps it was better that the blade couldn’t differentiate between friend and foe. 114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWFHhWvE1up
It was terrifying, and while Ajax was unnaturally good at telling Shadows apart from people, there still existed the chance that one would inevitably slip under Ajax’s radar and go for Azame’s throat. They were lucky, of course, that few Promised Ones existed. Protectors made it their mission to hunt Promised Ones down when they reared their ugly heads, but even then… they often met. Promised Ones were stronger than any other Shadows, after all. They’d evolved into a higher being, a creature capable of a solid form even in bright midday sunlight. They could speak and think for themselves, tendrils strong and plentiful. 114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡml1zb4wAk2
Every Shadow wanted to become a Promised One. It was an instinct that they held deep inside them. But few often could. They had to eat a lot of Sirens to begin their changing… and even then, sometimes it didn’t work out. They were terrifying, though. Azame had only faced off against one Promised One in his whole life… and his entire family had died. 114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtoRwXhvZPP
Most Shadows couldn’t exist in the bright sunlight. It was too harsh on their bodies and they would dissipate. Most steered clear during the day, and only prowled at night. That only made evenings and nights more terrifying. 114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP3eFMvDme2
“Did you find anything?” Azame asked as he glanced up at Ajax. 114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXb7iPFRuSY
The boy looked tired again, with deep bags under his eyes. Protectors were notorious for their lack of sleep. He envied them. If Azame didn’t get at least 8 hours of sleep, he was a literal zombie in need of slaying. Azame liked to chalk that up as just one more evolutionary advantage Ajax had over Azame. Azame the useless toad and Ajax, the literal rock that held them in place. He couldn’t help but sigh once more. 114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpLqnK4IBGy
“Nothing,” Ajax said with a quick glance. “Not that I expected there to be anything. It’s been quiet for the most part. Not that I think that’s good or anything.” 114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡto8q7wKpbx
“It’s probably nothing,” Azame concluded before he crossed his arms over his chest. 114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5xnznDgJbu
He was lucky to have Ajax, and Azame liked to chalk up the reason they hadn’t moved in six whole years precisely because of the Protector. Ajax was careful where most others wouldn’t be. He watched everything, even if it was a picture taken by one of the boys with a hint of Azame’s face anywhere near it. They were safe because of him. 114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUYXLoQt2Qs
“You sound upset,” Ajax said as he leaned back onto his bed and closed his eyes. “What’s wrong?” 114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOEnzHIcBpX
“Nothing,” Azame answered quickly before he tucked away his grade sheet. “Midterms.” 114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpQzb1UNba9
Ajax finally sat up before putting his hand out. “How bad is it?” 114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0CCmS0G5ex
Azame shuffled his own grade sheet around before he grabbed hold of Ajax’s. “Well, thank god we have Grandmother. Or we wouldn’t graduate this year. Albeit, you’ve done a lot better than me.” 114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtvZSiC6g7B
Most of Ajax’s grades were lower C’s, and a B compared to Azame. Yet, he was the busiest out of the two, and still could keep up. It set the bar pretty damn high for Azame. It also meant that Azame would have another meeting with that headmaster who probably hated his guts by now. BRAE was unique, a school for all ages. And yet, they didn’t appreciate the very kids who went there and tried their hardest. 114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5bEEwkVlfq
Azame wasn’t stupid. He refused to believe it. He was just… hard-wired differently, to see things differently than most. Numbers, words? He didn’t understand that. He liked shop classes more than anything, but there had been no open and now Azame was stuck with sitting down and attempting to pretend to be an outstanding student. After all, their whole lives were pretend. 114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQasLs5OdDY
Azame wasn’t the same boy whose family had been murdered by some monster long out of control. He was just a Southern California boy who came from a wonderful family that had cared for him greatly. Ajax was his ‘adopted’ brother who’d been taken in by Grandmother. They lived lies upon lies in their lives and he was so damn tired of it. 114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtjBt5Kn1Mm
Ajax sucked in a breath. “This is…” 114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRpP0uZm7Nn
“Not the first time we’ve sucked at literally everything,” Azame finally said. “We would have had a better chance if Grandmother would have placed us in a public school.” 114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡThZaecqhwB
Ajax looked at him. “This is your last year anyway, it’ll be fine. Azame, it’s fine. Anyway, public schools are dangerous.” 114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcPdY46YeFy
“Everything is dangerous, Ajax,” Azame said with a huff. 114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNIDpoeWq6z
“It’s a distinct danger, Azame. Public schools have other problems besides Shadows. Do you ever watch the news?” 114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqu3NwPJrv4
“No,” Azame said. “I don’t have time for that.” 114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrFKC4dOKDg
Ajax snorted from where he’d wandered back towards his bed and cleaned his blade slowly. “Be moody over there. I’m busy.” 114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEHAAEhik5i
“You care for that blade entirely too much,” Azame said in a mood. 114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4QgknosFXM
Ajax rolled his eyes. “Yeah, it’s not like it’s the center piece of all my power or anything. Yeah, it’s just inconvenient.” 114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBO7O1s5isv
Azame couldn’t help but laugh light heartedly. 114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTEEECRqh36
Azame would not get upset over his grades. He promised himself that this year he’d take it in stride, and remember that regardless of what that damn sheet said, he was still smart. He’d prepared for the inevitable. It was so easy to get lost in school, and get behind in assignments and tests. 114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn6cMcihpVP
Azame leaned his head back quietly. “It doesn’t matter, anyway.” 114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbi4SWCRCCv
“It will,” Ajax said, expecting Azame’s reaction. It wasn’t like he’d lived with Azame since they were nine, after all. “This will not be a forever thing, Azame. It’s going to matter.” 114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQGqx3Lo7a4
Azame scoffed as he turned his swivel chair back around and bared down on his English assignment, that he was surely to butcher any second. He picked up his mechanical pencil and squeezed it tight in hand. 114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB0CZU9aPH3
“It’s not like you’re a tasty morsel, everyone wants to eat,” Azame retorted before he closed his eyes with a sigh. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said that.” 114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCfBxQDciqu
He heard Ajax stand from where he’d been sitting and cross the room, quieter than most. He placed a hand on Azame’s shoulder. “It’s ok to be stressed and get upset. You don’t always have to apologize.” 114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuZRhHzA68o
“You guys suffer the same shit as us,” Azame answered. 114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9TVFClVHKJ
Ajax patted Azame’s shoulder as he peered over his shoulder. “There’s still time to fix your grades, Azame. You don’t need to get upset about it.” 114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtQ3eoSvPgj
Azame was quiet as he scratched at his chin awkwardly. “Regardless if I fix my grades and can prove to everyone that, hey I’m not actually an idiot, it won’t matter. Everything is already planned out for us in the end. There’s no control. So, it doesn’t matter.” 114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMyDGGvZ1PO
“Azame,” Ajax started. 114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW55uSBQnRh
Azame pushed the boy’s hand off his shoulder and whirled his chair around before facing Ajax. “It doesn’t matter because my life doesn’t exist here as a kid attempting to live out their last school days. My life exists somewhere else, where we have to constantly keep running. Stay ahead so that one bad thing doesn’t find me and inevitably, eat me. Not everyone can say that they have to live a life of lies!” 114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9iVhQMCx8X
Ajax stepped back. “Azame.” 114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡawU2QTHcyB
“It’s fine, it’s fine,” the boy repeated weakly as he rubbed at his eyes. “It’s whatever. The headmaster will bumble after me, demanding that he speak to me tomorrow, anyway. Just like that, history repeats itself.” 114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDJaPPSlFlT
“Azame, it's just one more year in the long line of years we’ve already lived,” Ajax said. “This too, will pass.” 114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiacIWWvhgP
Azame shook his head as he looked away. Growing up, his biggest dreams were to go to school and be like the big kids. Only to find out that he could never truly be one, because every day was a gamble that they had to play. There was no magic button to fast forward through time to see if they made the right decisions or not. 114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb0dCVSomJR
Azame gazed towards the window, where the curtain had been drawn. Effortlessly cutting their light off from the dark, outside world. He wondered, briefly, just how many Shadows truly milled around outside without them ever knowing. They could only fight what they could see, after all. That night, so many years ago had been a reminder of the borrowed time they lived off of. Or at least, he lived off of. Azame tried to not be scared of the dark, but in the darkness only true fear lived. 114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl34EaQ2FL4
Eventually, the letters turned into renditions of words Azame could never understand and he called it a night. He turned his lamp off, drug his feet to bed and plopped down to sleep peacefully through the night. Or at least, he hoped. However, nightmares seemed to plague him most days. All in the same tune as the actual events of that night long ago, or sometimes, those nightmares would morph into something he would only see when he saw Shadows. That, and their limitless cruelty. He liked to chalk those nightmares off as past events, something he’d had to live through, and successfully did so. Sometimes, those nightmares felt like omens of a future that had yet to come to pass. Those nightmares were what kept him up at night. 114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMvuWc2sRsX
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