Relationship Status: It's Complicated

We've Got a Problem

(Cover Art by ChubnChocolate)

*Trigger Gaslighting, physical harm, manipulation 

Sega slammed his palm on the table. The school was pretty much empty and they all stood in the Council room, the air heavy with different levels of rage. A strand of hair fell in his face and he didn't even bother fixing it, that was his level of mad. He didn't realize his claws were extracted until the sound scraped in his ears. He pushed away from the table, pacing in agitation.

Saalah sat on the table, face brooding. Aiden leaned against the wall, his soft expression blackened with stormy emotions.

"Does he just assume because we are on our campus, that I would not slice a hole in his gut? Fucking telling me I'm not good enough to be around Naki. I go to the fucking Academy owned by his goddamn clan. Does he think I fucking infiltrated the place just to slide next to Naki?" If he hated one thing the most, it was people telling him he only belonged on the slimy side that belonged to his father.

Sega rummaged in his pocket, long legs taking him to the window, forcing it open. A white stick stuck in his mouth as the sound of clicking rang out in the room. Bai Yusheng was soothingly stroking Saalah's legs before they suddenly spun, moving faster than expected. Sega had leaned down to be able to blow out the window and their nimble hands plucked the cigarette away.

"Sega! Absolutely not."

Sega huffed, a growl in his voice, "Bai Yusheng I just had to ask for that like a bum. Give. It. Back."

Bai Yusheng pursed their lips, not even bothered by the growl. "No. I won't let you have this. You are agitated and if you let a guy like him make you smoke this, you will be angry with yourself." Without hesitation they broke it.

Sega's mouth dropped, "Bai Yusheng! Are you freaking-urgh!" He turned to the window, body rigid. "I have no fucking candy right now!"

Bai Yusheng quickly walked to the table before returning. "I have lollipops, taffy, gum, jawbreakers."

Sega's breathing was ragged but at the sight of the handful of candy, he came down a little. "I didn't mean to bark at you. I've smoked since I was 16, though the effects don't work on me, it's still a nasty and smelly habit. I've only been off it a few months."

Bai Yusheng gave a soft smile. "No worries, thank you for letting me know. I kept these to keep Naki on track but I think you need something in your mouth right now."

Sega accepted the taffy, biting into it like a carcass. 

"How can you like someone and threaten their safety as a weapon? I'm so sick of people like him who ruin people!" Aiden's fist hit the wall, "I'd rather go to jail than sit and let scum like that take Naki's smile away. I fucking love that smile!"

Everyone turned to Aiden, his eyes were hot as molten gold and he did not swear often. "Alerting his parents would probably not go over well. I think he'd only lie and it'd push him away more. That is what that guy wants. To bait us into acting rashly and twist Naki's mind to think we are the unhealthy ones. I could see it in his eyes and hear it in his voice. He doesn't have feelings for Naki. Did you hear the way he spoke of his title? And about them being permanent. From what I know about the Shiva, the head members can pass their higher power to their partners through mating, right?" Saalah added.

Aiden nodded. "Yes, it's not just mating for the Head Clan members. Since I'm half Sha and half Shiva, I know quite a bit about both. For Head members of the individual families, like my adoptive father and Naki's father, sharing the trait is something they can do at will. It's why becoming partners with an heir is so sought after." Aiden's arms bulged with hidden power, "that guy has power I can tell, but he's still unable to obtain more power on his own. If he thinks his trait is stronger, he can Fuck around and find out."