Back to the Academy - High School AU: Blue/Steven

Delilah waits, patiently, smiling the whole time. She always thought of Scarlet as a second daughter, practically raising the Narukami kids alongside her own.

"Alright. I'll wait right here. You get ready too." she tells Scarlet.

Looks like there's no getting out of this.

"Okay..." She allows Delilah to come inside while she informs her mother about the situation.

In time, the entire Narukami family sits at the table, even Professor Oak himself is at the table.

Blue is sitting next to Scarlet and he can't stop but stealing peeks at her. He's not eating anything, just poking at his food with his chopsticks.

The Professor looks around and says
"What a surprise to have everyone here. It's been a while since we've had our families together."

Wallace grins.
"A great a idea, no Grandfather? You're welcome."

Delilah puts her hands together.

"It really is like we're just one giant family. Isn't that right Sorrel?"

Sitting on the other side of his daughter, Sorrel Narukami takes his hat off and tosses it onto the couch.

"Well Delilah, you and I are practically siblings n' all."

He grins.

"And if Joseph or Maki ever show their hides around here."

He makes a gun with his fingers.

"Bang!"

He starts laughing as he puts an arm around his wife.

Scarlet can't help but grin at her father's remarks.

Steven never felt in place in the Oak household, he picks at the curry feeling tired after the long day.

"Now Sorrell, remember the last time you got carried away?" Sienna can't help but grin.

Wallace is between Suzaku and Steven. He puts an arm around Steven.

"Come now, you know you love my cooking. Why the sour face?"

He begins trying to spoon feed Steven.

Blue tries talking to Scarlet.

"Hey...you know, for a meddler, Wallace's food is pretty good."

Delilah merilly eats. She does care for Wallace as her own kid too. When she was married to Joseph, Wallace was always Steven's closest friend. She counts Wallace as being responsible for Steven making it through the divorce and marriage to Maki.

The Professor talks to Sienna.
"How is your mother? You really should bring her back to town. She should spend her twilight years with her family."

Meanwhile, Sorrel talks to his son.

"So Suzaku." he whispers. "Isn't that the girl who's picture I found in your room?"
He's grinning.

"Hey! I'm just tired okay-" Steven is interrupted by Wallace shoving food into his mouth.

Scarlet says nothing, instead, she's busy stuffing her face with curry.

"Oh, stubborn as always." Sienna answers. "She's content where she is and doesn't want to move."

Suzaku's face goes red. "Y-Yeah! How'd you- they're from school..."

"There's a good boy Stevie." Wallace says with a grin as he feeds Steven.
Blue slowly tries to hold Scarlet's hand.
Delilah continues to eat and the Professor eats as well.
And Sorrel continues to tease his son.
"Is she your girlfriend?" he whispers. "I was putting your laundry away and you have her picture tucked in your drawer."

"Don't call me that," Steven objects. "And you don't have to feed me!"

Scarlet does not desire to have her hand touched, her first priority being to consume her meal. She does not appreciate Blue's need to cling to her so much.

"It's not like that." Suzaku's face is flushing.

And thus, Blue is defeated. Different universe, same outcome.

Wallace merely shoves another spoon into Steven's mouth.

Sorrel whispers to Sienna.

"Who's kid is that?" he asks, indicating to Wallace.

Scarlet continues to say nothing, still eating.

Steven is unable to refrain from saying anything else because Wallace still insists on feeding him.

"I think that's the peculiar friend of Steven's," Sienna replies.

Sorrel had been watching his daughter. With a grin, he could guess at what had been happening between her and her young friend.
Young love, he thinks. He starts to giggle.

He decides to mess with them as well.
"Blue." Sorrel says "Its been a while since you and Scarlet had a sleepover. You're coming on over tonight."

Blue's jaw drops.

"What?!" Blue cries out.

"What?! B-But Dad- it's a schoolnight!" Scarlet protests.

Even Suzaku's jaw has dropped.

"What's the big deal? You guys go to the same school. Just go together in the morning."
In fact, Sorrel gets up from the table and leaves for a moment, returning with a bag.
"Already got your stuff. Alright Blue, finish eating and we'll get going."

Blue looks around the table with a look saying HELP ME, but nobody said a word.

Scarlet can't believe what her father had just done. What was he thinking?! So she says nothing.

Suzaku, also shocked, and protective, says nothing.

Soon enough, dinner is over, with Wallace picking Steven up and bringing him to his bed.

Delilah had fallen asleep at the table, snoozing with her elbow in a bowl of unfinished rice.

The Professor had gone to bed about an hour ago, and Sorrel was practically dragging Blue by the arm.

"Let's go Blue!" he says

All the while, Steven attempts to refuse Wallace's assistance. "I have crutches, I don't need you to drag me around everywhere!"

Scarlet can't believe her father, why? Why did he have to do this to her? She simply heads out the door with her head low over her face.

Suzaku isn't quite thrilled about having Blue dragged over, either. He may have to intervene at some point in the night. His mother on the other hand, can't help but sigh with a smile.

Sorrel taps his son on the shoulder.

"Son, I need you to go take the train and pick up something for me. I need headlight fluid from a store ten stations over. Since you don't have school or anything at the moment, you're the only one who can do it. Can I trust you?"

Suzaku looks over at his father.

"Oh- of course you can. Just tell me where to go and I'll go over."

And thus Sorrel sends Suzaku to get headlight fluid, a task which would take him all night.

Then, he looks to Blue.

"Alright, both of you to Scarlet's room. Have fun."

Blue is blushing.
"Do you um...wanna play Mario Kart or something?"

Scarlet sits on her desk, hugging her knees to her chest.
"..."

Blue just kinda sits on her bed.
"Oh come on, we're buddies n all. And if you don't accept my challenge, that means I win. Ain't you supposed to the the Nintendo Champion or whatever?"

Scarlet looks away, her face burning hot red.

"Yeah b-b-but..."

"Then get your butt in gear." Blue tells her. "What? Wanna bet on it or something? Alright. Let's spice things up. What do you have in mind? How about the good ol' 'If I win, you have to do what I tell you?'"

"I'm not playing like that!" Scarlet buries her head into her knees.

"That's how we've been betting since we were like 3." Blue reminds her. "What? Chicken? Afraid you can't beat me? Bawk bawk bawk."

He begins to flap his arms around.