Cuteness Curse

Annoying Nerds [2]

Kier's eyes snap open as dawn breaks. He throws his blanket off as he leaps to his feet. Kier gives his nude body an appraising look in the mirror. He smirks at his reflection.

"Now this is how things should be!" Kier chuckles to himself.

The chiseled muscles adorning his broad shouldered body reassure him of his masculinity. Kier's smile drops when he notices the black scarring on the small of his back. It is as if the curse is mocking him. Kier's shoulders tremble slightly, but he quickly smothers his distress.

Now's not the time to be a pussy.

Kier exhales while putting a smug smile back on his face. Someone knocks on his dorm room door, and Kier's smile turns genuine. He opens the door to see Sneeve and Garu waiting outside with matching looks of elation.

"You're back in tip top shape, Boss!" Garu exclaims.

Kier flexes his bicep whilst grinning proudly at his underling. His bulging muscular body puts his puny underlings' flabby bodies to shame.

"Damn right I am!" Kier boasts.

"So what's the plan Boss?" Sneeve cuts in eagerly.

Kier cocks his head at Sneeve. His smirk turns to a flat line, and he stops the gun show to consider a plan of action.

First I need to deal with that prick from yesterday...
Then we'll look into this curse bullshit.

Kier slaps his lackeys on the back with a pair of large hands, and leads them both out of his dorm room with ease.

"Today we're going to repay a certain guardian what he is owed." Kier says ominously.

~

The grinding sound of a pencil sharpener is accompanied by a flurry of wood shavings. Reed's knuckles are white as he focuses on sharpening his pencil. He pulls out the sharpened implement, and dusts off the wood shavings.

Reed returns to his desk with a wide grin on his face. He's alone at the moment, and takes the opportunity to draw a little in his notebook. He's practiced for countless hours, and each time he's grown in skill. His old drawings from last year look like garbage to him now, and he knows soon enough this year's will look just as inadequate to him.

Reed looks at his drawing with a thoughtful expression on his face. There's a few flaws, but he is satisfied with the quality of his work. Muffled footsteps signal the end of his solitude. Other students enter the classroom whilst chattering about their own lives and gossip. They ignore Reed's presence, and he ignores theirs.

None of them appreciate true artistry.

The sound of someone scooting their chair up to his desk catches Reed's attention. He's relieved to see Thomas, his best friend, bringing his seat over. The guy is a bit on the heavy side with a passion for many of the same things Reed enjoys. They both appreciate the finer arts and share their artwork with one another on many occasions.

"Is that a new piece?" Thomas asks curiously.

"Yup. I decided to do one of Arin. What do you think?" Reed replies.

Thomas gives the drawing an appreciative once over before focusing on some of the finer details. There's a lot to take in, and Thomas mutters to himself a little bit as he absorbs the fine artwork Reed is presenting.

"You did great capturing her look, but why did you go for the season two look instead of the original?" Thomas asks curiously.

Reed shakes his head as a smirk plays upon his thin lips. The boy pushes his glasses up the bridge of his nose. He expected such a question.