Beetlejuice and Elizabeth

19. More work?

(I may go back and rewrite this)

Mom had kissed me off to school and told me to be safe but I jerked my thumb toward the tall corpse behind me. "Like he'd let me break anything." I tease making her laugh before swooping me into a hug full of kisses.

"I'm so glad you're both happy." She said softly. Rising again she moved toward Beetlejuice also giving him a hug.

"I could use a kiss too." He smirks to my mother making me hit him in the leg. He turns to me with an innocent look. "It's just my nature, babes." He purrs leaning an arm against my shoulder as he twirls a finger in my hair. I grin at him with my eyes closed before stepping out of his grip and he stumbles slightly.

"Off to school you too. Try not to get into too much trouble today."

"We won't!" We answer in synch before setting off.

🪲

Staring at the gate I grin remembering seeing how it shut when the reporters got in. "You don't have a pass." I grin stepping over the threshold. He moves to follow and I wag my fingers. "Wouldn't wanna set off the alarms would ya?" I tease him. Bouncing in and out of bounds I laugh. Apparently I antagonized him too much as he grabbed me and tucked me under his arm.

"Then I make them let me in." He informs. "You're a hostage." He chirps.

Rolling my eyes I let my body dangle. "How long ya think it will take?" I asked watching students continue past us. None of them being my classmates. "You don't have a heartbeat or a heat signature, what else ya think they measure as people pass through?" I ask to fill the silence.

Apparently it took a few moments. But then we were greeted by present mic and principal Nedzu.

"That's right. It's me, Nezu, the one who could be a dog or a mouse or a bear, but more importantly... I'm the principal!" The small stout creature announced and I felt my hands clench to hold him. Teddy bear.

"I want in." Beetlejuice didn't hesitate to demand. Twisting in his grip Elizabeth dislocated her arm to get out and stood beside the corpse. Twisting her wrist they all watched as she casually reset her arm before kicking at the ankle of the tall pinstriped man.

"Be nice Beegs." She then turned to the principal and bowed the proper ninety degrees. "I'd like to request if my..." she hesitated unsure how to refer to him. To her, he was just Beetlejuice. "Summons, could join me for classes?"

"I don't see why not?" The chimeras eyes sharpened. "I will provide him a one day pass for today's classes. If he can behave himself around the students, faculty, and staff I may consider him permanence." Something dark hid under the stouts undertones. Something insane and manic but tamed.

My lips lifted into a grin. Eyes shining in curiosity.

The stout moved and pulled a day pass out of his cute tiny waistcoat and presented it to us. I took it gently knowing Beegs would have jerked it.

The chimeras parting words were only that I don't let my classmates know his real name if I wanted to keep Betelgeuse around. With that we moved to enter the school and toward 1-A.

We were the last to arrive before the teacher. Speaking of, he was walking toward the door from the opposite direction. One arm in a cast and a few bandages around his face. It could've been worse. He gazed at me and the tall man behind me before turning back to me. He didn't say a word but I think I got the message. He knows what I did. He knows I died. He knows I would've killed those villains in cold blood. I was suddenly feeling sick.

They know...Midoriya, Kirishima, Todoroki, Asui, Mineta. They know...I died. They saw me—about to kill—and they couldn't look me in the eye. Couldn't even spare a glance.

It was true that I felt desensitized to death. If it meant protecting others I would use lethal force without hesitation. Even against myself. It wouldn't affect me so much as others. But to see those I know. My teacher, surrounded in a halo of blood. My chest constricts and my mind goes haywire with screams. I guess that's empathy? Why does it hurt?

A strangled chuckle catches in my throat as it becomes tighter. My fingers grasp the edge of Beetlejuice's coat. Grounding. Words to say but I can't get them out.

Please, don't get hurt like that in-front of me again.
Please don't die so easily.
Please keep your blood to yourself. I can still smell it over my own.

Something touches the top of my head and I realize it's his hand. "You have a minute." He says retracting his hand and opening the door before entering and closing it.

I hear his voice telling the class to quiet down while I gather my breath. A minute passes and we enter. I keep my face still of emotions while walking to the side of the podium. From the corner of my eye I catch a few classmates flinch away. Great.

Standing beside the podium now I turn to address my classmates. "My—summons, will be joining us for the day. His name is—" I see Bakugo about to say it and I glare him down. "H. Bee, Jeebs. Short handed for Heebie-jeebies. I apologize in advance for any interruptions he might make." I bow and take my seat by the window. Beegs following he leans against the windowsill beside my desk.

Class passes in somewhat normal fashion. I can feel stares on me constantly. But each movement I make they scatter again. Beetlejuice must sense my unease, my anxiety because he decides to distract my attention the only way he knows how.

His tall form bends at the waist as he hovers his head by my ear with a grin. "Are they always this tense?" He teases letting his eyes sharpen as he glances over the students. I hear Mineta whimper from behind us and my grin grows to match his. I rest my chin lazily on my propped hand and turn my head so we're nose to nose.  "Not everyone can stand your terrible fashion beegs." I say taunting. "Did you die in that suit?" I click my teeth, grin growing and my apprehension lessens. Why should I be ashamed of my quirk? Why should I care what they think?

"Careful toots, this is genuine stripes!" He flaunts making me smile. "Hey, so show me that regeneration thing, couldn't do that before?"

I have Beetlejuice. That's more than enough.

"Yeah, I don't die anymore either, I mean, I'm conscious now." I whisper back taking my free hand I show him my finger before breaking it. The sound was loud and startling but then they snap again back into place. I don't flinch but those around me do. And before I can feel ashamed Beetlejuice is praising me.

"Wicked, doll face, think you'd grow back bones?" He distracts.

"Probably."