Chapter Text
“Holy shit,” says Albedo, tearing his eyes away from the screen in front as he rips his phone out of his pocket.
Next to him, Sucrose raises a questioning brow. “W-what’s wrong?” she asks, eyes flicking around the room nervously as the teacher in front stands up and begins to walk towards them.
Closing his laptop (that wasn’t a crack he just heard, was it?) he unlocks his phone to see two missed calls from the police. “Holy shit,” he repeats, which definitely doesn’t ease Sucrose’s worries. “Klee just blew up a building.”
“What?!”
Kaeya cackles when Albedo tells him, hunching over as he hugs his stomach, not even trying to stifle his laughs.
“Wait a minute-” he says between gasps for air. “Your ten year old sister - the one with a strange obsession with bombs, exploded a fucking building?”
“Yes,” Albedo says in response, his patience wearing thin. He’s about to dial back the police, but his thumb hovers tentatively over the call button. “She was on a school trip I think, and whatever she did must’ve set off a catalyst reaction. I’ll call the police and find out.”
Kaeya raises the eyebrow not covered by his eyepatch, smirking. “Will you now? Because it’s been five minutes- I’m starving by the way - so can you just hurry this up and I can get to lunch.”
“No one asked for you to be here,” Albedo grumbles.
“Aww, don’t be so grumpy,” Kaeya teases, laughing again. “But seriously, get a move on, don’t you want to hear how your ten year old sister became a terrorist?” He thinks this is a joke, which, if it was anyone else’s sister, it probably would be. But this is Albedo’s sister, and therefore his problem to deal with.
“Everyone’s going to find out,” he mutters. “It’s all over the news.”
Kaeya pats his shoulder sympathetically, though he’s still smirking. “Yeah, and that’s a good thing. You’ll be famous for your terrorist sister.”
Albedo is now one second away from screaming. “I hate you,” he says meekly.
“That’s hot,” says Kaeya in response.
His cheeks have definitely turned red, but Albedo pretends not to notice, even though Kaeya’s snickering.
“Leave me alone,” he says in that same petulant voice.
“I’ll miss you,” he winks.
"Fuck off," he says, almost pleading.
"Very hot," Kaeya says.
Fuck, Albedo thinks, and covers his face with his hands. “I’ve got to call back the police,” he says. “Go find your friends.” A part of him wants to add ‘Oh wait, you don’t have anyone’ and he would, under any other circumstances. But he needs to focus and letting Kaeya… flirt? is that what it is? with him will not help matters. He presses the call button finally and Kaeya walks away, winking again because he’s like that as he leaves.
“FUCK YOU!” he hears someone scream in the distance, and sees Kaeya barely avoid an apple which hits the tree behind him.
Someone tackles another and there’s a lot of cheering and yelling, from both teachers and bystanders. Albedo turns away, not interested in getting caught up in it (or getting in trouble, because he’s certain all those involved definitely will).
Ah, he thinks as his phone rings. Just a normal day at Teyvat High.
—
“As you are all probably aware, there are two new students who are going to arrive this week,” Jean says to the council. “Be sure to make them feel welcome and safe here.”
Ganyu raises a hand. “Wait, Jean, who's coming here?” she asks with a frown, tilting her head to the side. “I wasn’t aware we’re getting more students.”
“Well you do now,” says Jean, closing her book of notices for the week. She stands from her seat. “Their names are Lumine and Aether - they are twins and will be joining the Anemo homeroom.”
“Thank the gods they’re not in the Pyro homeroom,” Amber mutters, across from Jean. “We have way too many in there.”
“Who is leading them around?” Zhongli asks, eyebrows furrowed. “I presume they’ll be given a guide, of course.”
“Yes, they will be given a guide,” Jean confirms, nodding.
Ganyu looks up. “Who is the guide?”
“Oh, haven't you heard?” Amber asks, a mischievous grin tugging at her lips. She avoids Jean’s gaze, who only sighs“Kaeya, Childe and Venti have been appointed for the job by the principal herself.”
Ningguang chokes. “ What ,” she whispers. “Please tell me you’re kidding.”
Jean sends Amber a Look™ who only snickers. “Those three will not be leading Lumine and Aether around,” she says. “I don’t think the principal is interested in giving second chances to those three, especially since they’ve turned up to school late most of the year, and get in detention more often than not.”
“Thank the gods,” Ningguang murmurs. “We do not want their behavior rubbing off on the new kids.”
“I assure you, Childe is not as bad as you all make out,” Zhongli tries to reason.
“Oh here we go,” Amber mutters underneath her breath with a small giggle. “The simps are at it again.” Jean sends her another one of those Looks, and she slouches a little in her seat, crossing her arms in a defiant manner.
“As for my cousin and his friend,” Zhongli continues, either ignoring Amber’s comment or completely oblivious to it. “It is safe to say you are correct.”
“Oh that’s right, you and Venti are cousins,” Ganyu nods. “I forgot about that. You two really don’t seem like you’re related.”
Zhongli cracks the tiniest smile, and inclines his head in agreement.
“Well if that’s all out of the way,” Jean says. “You are all excused, and you can go to lunch now.”
The student council basically sprint out, leaving Jean alone in the room, wearing a baffled expression. “Huh,” she says, blinking.
“Wait,” Ganyu says. Jean flinches, she hadn’t even realized she was still there. “So who is leading around the new students?”
“Amber will,” Jean says.
“Ah,” Ganyu says. “Cool. I’ll see you, Jean.”
Jean offers a smile and a wave, as Ganyu begins to leave. “Bye.”
—
“ Klee, ” Albedo snaps into the phone, though his tone is as soft as he can make it. “ Why in the world would blow up a building ? Is everyone okay?”
“Everyone’s fine ,” Klee replies, giggling. Albedo pinches his brow. “Aw, come on big bro, Albedo, I didn’t MEAN to,” she says, and he can almost hear her pout through the phone. “Buuut it was SUPER cool! There was a loud BOOM! And it looked really pretty!”
“What did the police say?” he asks.
“Huh? Oh them! They were kinda strict, but they weren’t too mean. They even gave me a lollipop when I told them it was an accident!”
Albedo sighs. “I know, but what did they say ? I suspect you won’t be let completely off the hook.”
“Oh yeah, that ,” she groans. “They said I gotta go into solitary confinement.”
Albedo chokes. “ What ?” he gasps.
“Yeah,” says Klee. “So I’ll be at home all the time! I can help you with you and Rose’s experiments!”
That is the last thing Albedo wants.
“Are you at home now?” he asks.
“Nah, I’m still at the police station,” she says. “They let me call you, silly, and I don’t have a phone at home!”
“Okay, um, I’ll pick you up,” he says.
“The day’s almost finished right?” she asks. “Just pick me up when school’s finished.”
“But you’ll be alone there-”
“No I won’t! The police are here to keep me company!”
And they make great company, Albedo thinks.
“Fine,” he mutters. “I’ll see you soon, okay? Stay out of trouble alright!”
“I will!” she promises, though he’s not sure how reliable her word is. “You’re the best, Albedo, see you later bye!”
She hangs up on him which 1, is rude, and 2, worries him even more. But he can’t do much about this situation (mainly because he doesn’t even have a car) so he returns to Sucrose beside one of the trees in the schoolyard.
“Is everything okay?” she asks.
“I guess,” he says.
Sucrose’s eyes widen. “Oh no, is Klee in trouble? Is it- is it bad?”
“She’s… fine. I think. She just has to be in solitary confinement for a while,” he says. “I’m going to pick her up when the day’s over.”
“I suppose it could’ve been worse,” Sucrose says. “At least she’s not been arrested? Can ten year olds even get arrested?”
Albedo snorts. “I doubt it. But thank the gods for that.”
—
“Don’t leave me,” Paimon wails from the passenger seat she’s stuck in. “Ugh.” She crosses her arms, pouting. “Why do you have to go to a different school anyway? It’s so stupid and it’s gonna be boring without you guys!”
“Glad you’ll miss us,” Aether says. “I’ll miss you too, it’ll be a shame not having our emergency food around.”
Paimon screeches at him. “How many times do I have to tell you? Paimon is not emergency food!”
“Of course not,” Lumine says with her classic deadpan. “See you, Paimon.”
She begins to climb out of the car when Paimon grabs her hand, scowling at her. “I don’t wanna go to 4th grade. Can I come with you guys?”
“No,” says Lumine. “We’ll see you.”
“Wah~” Paimon begins to protest before Aether closes the car door waving. “Bye little sis,” he calls as the car begins to drive away. He turns to Lumine, smirking. “And hello other little sis-”
“Fuck off, I’m older than you,” Lumine snaps, shoving him. He shoves her back, cackling when she stumbles a little.
“Sure, you tell yourself that,” Aether says, turning away from her and towards the gate. “This is gonna be one shit year, isn’t it?” he asks with a resigned sigh. “Ugh. Why did we have to move? I actually liked home-schooling.”
“That’s because you didn’t have to do any work,” Lumine points out with a scowl. “But you're right, it’s gonna suck-”
“Hello there, new students~” a bubbly voice calls. A brunette waves at them from inside the gate. Lumine drags herself forward, Aether following. “My name is Amber, I’m your guide. I’m certain you're going to love it here at Teyvat High.”
“Really,” says Aether.
The girl - Amber - doesn’t seem to pick up on his sarcasm, instead shooting him a blinding smile. “Yep! I’ll take you around campus and take you to your dorms here.”
“Wait, we're living here?” Lumine asks, frowning. This is news to her.
“I mean you don’t have to,” Amber says. “But most kids do cause it’s just more convenient.”
“Can we leave? ” Aether asks, eyes going wide.
“After school hours you can, though the curfew to get back is 10pm.”
“Ah,” Aether nods. He turns to Lumine. “Paimon’s gonna get so pissed, isn’t she?”
Lumine shrugs. “She’ll be fine with mom and dad. We’ll make sure to call her though.”
“Of course,” he says.
Amber looks a little confused, but she still grins. “Alright!” she says. “First is your homeroom - Anemo. The people there are…” She trails off, and regret curls in Lumine’s stomach. “They’re all um, nice people. And you won’t be stuck with just them all of the year.”
“Cool,” says Aether. “Is there a cafeteria? I’m starving.”
Always straight to the point.
She looks a little caught off guard, Lumine notices, barely holding back a snort. “Yep, there is. I can take you there first, if you want.”
“That would be great,” Aether says, just as his stomach growls.
He laughs, while Lumine fights back the urge to screech, her cheeks turning hot.
Amber begins to lead them away, yammering on about the school, and the history, and Lumine soon gets distracted. “Hey,” she mutters to Aether, relieved to find that Amber doesn’t hear her. “Is it just me, or is Amber like, really hot?”
Aether chokes. Amber turns around, eyes wide, but he waves off her worries. “I’m gay,” he reminds her in a quiet whisper. “Why would I think she’s hot?”
“Okay so it is just me,” Lumine says. She sighs dreamily. “Ah, girls .”
“Hey don’t include me in your lesbian fantasies,” Aether mutters, smirking.
“Oh fuck off,” she says with a laugh. “It’s not like you ever spare me from your own sexual fantasies.”
“Shut up.”
“ You shut up.”
“No, you shut up-” he retorts.
“Um, we’re at the cafeteria,” Amber says.
“Oh, fuck, food, ” Aether exclaims before his stomach rumbles again and he’s suddenly running the fasted Lumine’s ever seen him run towards the counter where food upon food is displayed. Lumine watches after him, amused, completely unaware that Amber is looking at her.
“I admit,” Amber begins to say, “there are some interesting characters here, but then again that’s what makes Teyvat High really stand out from other schools.” She smiles again at Lumine. “I hope you’ll enjoy it here.”
“Yeah,” Lumine agrees, now completely unsure if she’s being serious or not. She returns Amber's smile with a small one of her own. “I hope I will too.”