Tangled Hearts And Classroom Smiles

Chapter Two: Shadows of Curiosity

Fourth was having one of those days. The kind where everything felt slightly off, like his balance was tilted, and no amount of caffeine or cheerful chatter from Nan could fix it. It wasn't that anything had gone wrong, per se-it was just that lingering sense of restlessness, the kind that gnawed at him from the back of his mind.
Nan, of course, was blissfully unaware. She bounded ahead of him in the hallway, skipping with the boundless energy only a five-year-old could muster after an entire day of school.
"Papa, can we stay a little longer today? I wanna show you something in the art room!"
Normally, Fourth would have said no. He was exhausted, and they had to get home, make dinner, and go through their evening routine.
But something in her eyes made him pause.
"Just a little longer," he agreed, smiling when Nan's face lit up in joy.

She practically dragged him down the hallway to the art room, where she proudly showed off her latest project-a series of clay animals she'd been working on for the past week.
Fourth knelt down beside her, genuinely impressed by her focus and creativity. It was easy to forget, in the chaos of their everyday lives, just how brilliant his little girl was.
But as Nan excitedly explained her process, Fourth's mind drifted. He couldn't shake the odd feeling that had been gnawing at him all day. It was something about Gemini, of course.
It always seemed to come back to him lately.
Since their last encounter, where Gemini had been his usual flirty self, Fourth had found himself more attuned to the alpha's presence.
He wasn't sure if it was annoyance, curiosity, or something else entirely, but Gemini had this way of getting under his skin. And the worst part was, Fourth couldn't decide if he liked it or hated it.
"Papa, are you listening?"
Fourth blinked, snapping out of his thoughts.
"Sorry, sweetheart. I'm listening. It's just been a long day."

Nan gave him a knowing look, like she understood more than a five-year-old should.
"You should go home early sometimes, like Teacher Gem says. He always tells us to rest when we're tired."
Of course, she brought up Gemini. She always did. And why wouldn't she? The man was practically a hero in her eyes. Fourth couldn't deny that part of the reason he felt so conflicted was because of how much his daughter adored him.
"Yeah, maybe I should," Fourth said absently, glancing at the clock on the wall. The other kids had all gone home, and the hallways were eerily quiet.
Nan continued chatting as she packed up her art supplies, her voice a distant hum in Fourth's ears. He was distracted, his thoughts looping back to Gemini. That man-there was something about him that didn't add up. How could someone be so friendly, so easygoing, and yet so... mysterious?
Fourth had heard whispers about Gemini's personal life, but no one knew much. It was like he had a perfect facade, a shiny surface that hid something deeper.

As Nan finished packing up, Fourth realized they'd lingered longer than usual. The school was practically empty now, the fading light casting long shadows across the hallway. He glanced toward Gemini's classroom, curiosity tugging at him.
"I'll be right back, Nan. Stay here for a second, okay?"
Nan nodded, preoccupied with her art bag.
Fourth made his way down the hallway, his footsteps unnervingly loud in the empty building. He wasn't sure why he was doing this
—why he felt the need to check. Maybe it was that nagging restlessness, or maybe it was something else. Something deeper.
As he approached Gemini's classroom, he noticed the door was ajar, just a sliver of light spilling into the hallway. His brow furrowed.
Gemini was usually meticulous about locking up.
Fourth hesitated at the threshold, his hand halfway to the door. He didn't mean to invade Gemini's space, but a small part of him wanted to satisfy the curiosity that had been building over the past few weeks.
What he didn't expect was the scene that greeted him inside.

Gemini was at his desk, leaning back in his chair, but he wasn't alone. Fourth's breath hitched as his eyes adjusted to the dim light. A mana stranger, someone Fourth had never seen before-was straddling Gemini's lap, his hands buried in the alpha's hair as their lips met in a deep, heated kiss.
Fourth's stomach dropped.
For a second, he thought about turning away, pretending he hadn't seen anything. But his body refused to move. He stood frozen in the doorway, his breath shallow as the shock of what he was witnessing sunk in.
The man on Gemini's lap shifted, his fingers tightening in Gemini's hair as their kiss deepened, a soft, muffled sound filling the room. Fourth felt a strange mix of emotions wash over him-confusion, anger, and something that felt uncomfortably like jealousy.
He wanted to say something, make his presence known, but no words came out. His pulse quickened, his heart pounding in his chest as he tried to process what was happening.
Gemini hadn't mentioned a partner. There had been no indication, no signs. In fact, Fourth had almost convinced himself that Gemini's flirty behavior was nothing more than innocent teasing. But now...

This was different.
As Fourth stood there, rooted to the spot, the man on Gemini's lap suddenly shifted, his eyes flicking open for a brief second. And then, their gazes met-Fourth and the stranger.
Recognition flashed across the man's face, followed by a slow, knowing smirk.
Gemini, seemingly oblivious to the fact that they were no longer alone, didn't break the kiss.
Fourth's blood ran cold. He took a step back, his heart racing. He couldn't believe what he was seeing, and yet there it was, right in front of him. His head spun with questions, with doubt.
Without another word, Fourth turned and hurried down the hallway, his footsteps quick and silent. His mind raced, but one thing was clear:
Gemini wasn't the man he thought he was.
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A/N
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