Boat boys fic

Chapter 1

Etho's POV

Etho adjusted his mask and nervously avoided the pointed looks he was attracting. 

Why couldn't I have gotten Beef's hair, or even Gem's?  Etho found himself thinking for the 1000th time. 13 new schools in 11 years, 13 fervent wishes for a normal appearance. 

He self-consciously ran a hand through his spiky white hair one last time, coupled with yet another nervous adjustment to his mask. A group of cheerleaders snickered the second he walked past, and though they were focused elsewhere, Etho was sure they were laughing at him.  Whatever, Etho was a loner. He didn't need to be popular, or even known to exist. The lower under the radar he could fly the better. After all, If Etho's dad had taught him one lesson, it's that people suck and should never be let into your life. It only hurts more when you realize they dont care.

Etho kept his head bowed low as he rushed to homeroom, finding the tenth-grade sector with ease. All schools were built similarly, Etho had learned. He stole one last glance at his reflection, using a nearby locker as a mirror. With a grimace he hurried into his homeroom, taking a quick inventory of his fellow students. 

There were six rows of desks, each with five desks per row. In the first row, four kids with rapt expressions much too alert for 7:30 am perched on the edge of their seats, pencils poised at the ready. Five kids with similar expressions sat in the second row, though Etho noticed some of them looked ready to drift off. One girl with blond hair and flight goggles strapped to your head was bent at the waist, digging in her backpack frantically. Next to her, a boy with red hair who could have been Gem's twin was chewing his pencil like a beaver. In the third row sat three kids, looking thoroughly tired, but ready to try. These, Etho guessed, were the B students, creeping under the radar but still passing. This was Etho's crew. He slid into a seat next to a boy with brown hair and a yellow "i" on his shirt. 

The kid gave Etho a bleary smile, while the white-haired youth gazed at the rows behind him. In the fourth row, four kids were fighting a losing battle against sleep. The girl directly behind Etho gave a jerk as she caught herself falling into dreamworld, shaking her wavy red hair out of her face. In the fifth row, there were only two kids. One boy in a constricting suit was snoring away, the startings of a black mustache twitching at each breath he took. The other boy was gazing admiringly at the row behind him, two brown dog ears sticking out of cutouts on his cowboy hat. 

All five people sat at the desks in the sixth row. Well, Etho noted, 'sat' was a bold term. One boy with a green bandana, wild blond hair, and a bow slung on the back of his chair was on his desk, howling like a wild dog. A boy with stunning red, gold, and green wings sat perched on the back of his chair, his wings flapping wildly. Next to him, a boy with ragged scars sat quietly with his lips pursed and a skeptical expression on his worn face. A boy with flaming hair stood next to bandana boy, blue sparks mixed with the orange flames and a hateful glare focused on the archer. A pointed orange tail stuck straight out from the boy, flicking occasionally with an emotion Etho could only read as pure unadulterated hatred-born rage. 

There was one more person in the row, sitting in between Bandanna and Birdie. It was a boy with a simple brown vest, soft chocolate eyes, and a green streak in his fluffy brown hair. Two green antennae were perched on his head, nearly hidden by his hair. He sat with his arms crossed and his head drooped over the back of his chair, facing bird boy. He had a dangerous-looking grin on his face, but his eyes were tired. 

Etho drifted off, not paying much attention to anyone else, though he did return 'i' boy's smile. A few more kids filed into the classroom, and the teacher started class by taking rolecall. Etho yawned. Suddenly, a screech was heard from the back of the room snapping him out of his reverie.

Grian's POV

Martyn was being especially crazy this morning. The first day of school was his domain, as was the rest of the school year. Grian knew how to deal with him. They had been friends since middle school, though maybe allies was a better term. Grian joined in the craziness, perching on the back of his chair. He was lighter than most, being an avian, and had exceptional balance.  

Joel sat next to him, kicking his desk's legs.

"Another year, another stupid first day of school act," he said with a smirk and a glance at Martyn.

The skilled archer paused mid-howl, turned to Joel with a scowl and leaned closer. "At least my mom wasn't a troll, booger face." Joel's face turned pale and his antennae stood straight up. 

"W-what did you just say?" 

"I said, I wouldn't be caught dead near your OGRE mother." 

A/N Well that escalated quickly 

Grian blanched, turning to Martyn with a desperate signal to stop. Joel's mother was a sensitive subject. She left him when he was a baby, so Joel didn't remember her. He lived with his workaholic father, who was unmistakably human. So where did he get his antennae from?

"SHUT UP!" Bellowed Joel, standing up so quick his chair flipped. His normally brown eyes glared with a green sheen, and his skin began to change color slightly. 

"Joel! Wait for me in the..." The teacher tried to scold, but it was too late. Joel had marched out of the room, tears in his eyes. Grian was shocked. He had never seen Joel cry. He turned to Martyn with a glowering expression. He noticed everyone turn to him but he didn't mind. He jumped off the chair and drew himself up to full height, which admittedly wasn't that tall. Scar tried to protest but Grian was too angry. He let his wings shift back to their natural form, over 18 feet of wingspan. He took up most of the room with his rage. 

"You take that back..." He hissed, his eyes glinting with purple, his hands turning into talons.

"Never," Martyn smirked, looking brave for someone about to be mutilated. "We all know your mom was a chicken, how else would you look like this?" Grian roared, his hair bristling with electricity. 

"GRIAN XELQUA!" The teacher bellowed, phone clutched in hand. "GO TO THE HALL! I WILL TALK TO YOU AFTER CLASS!" Grian seemed to shrink in size. His wings became smaller, his eyes faded back to black, and he landed back on the ground with a thump. He turned to Martyn, his talons outstretched. "You'll pay for this," he muttered. He felt extremely exhausted, and he nearly fainted walking out to the hallway. He heard Scar gasp with worry. 

But at least Martyn looked almost a little nervous.