Archive of Our Own ^beta

Ahhhh....

Today was a fairly normal day here at.... Wherever we currently are. The sun was bright, though not the kind to cause any sunburn if you stood outside for long enough, being just the right amount. All the while, the birds flew by once in a while, chirping occasionally.

It was almost.... Peaceful you could say!

RIIIIIIIINNNGGG!

The bell rang loudly, loud enough for the entire highschool building on the block to hear its call, indicating the end of the day for the students.

The brief sound of chalk scratching the board halts.

"Alright class, that'll be all for today."

Four's voice echoed through the room.

"Remember to prepare for a quiz for next week—"

His reminder was abruptly interrupted as all the students inside his classroom began to stand and hurry out, the sounds of desks and chairs screeching loudly alongside the chatters of different voices echoing throughout the room and into the hallway outside as they fled to freedom outside the school.

He only stood there, watching as everyone except him left the class, leaving a mess of pencils, papers and rubbish scattered everywhere on the floor.

 ...

Right.

His shoulders slumped once everyone had completely left, his head hung low as they closed their eyes in exhaustion for a moment and rubbed his temple. He could feel a headache forming from the noise earlier.

It was friday today(thank the heavens to whoever god is up there), and he didn't exactly have anything else to work on, having already prepared the quiz a few days prior to today.

Always gotta be prepared, they say to themselves.

Which means... It is the perfect time today to relax from.... Whatever this is!!

Well... If you count having tonight and tomorrow as your only rest days.

Actually no... Two days! Since last semester had already passed by, Four doesn't need to worry about sending in grades at an ungodly hour on sunday.

Yay......?

 Okay that sounded very enthusiastic.

And no, Four doesn't hate his job, OF COURSE not!! Why would he??? 

This WAS what he sought after in highschool after all.

It's just.... The workload you have as a teacher can be too much sometimes. As deadlines quickly creep behind your back while you endlessly work and work to finish everything before the end of a semester.... Yeesh.

There weren't many teachers here as well, the ratio of students to teachers being so uneven you'd probably be asking how this school is still managing to this day.

So yeah! It's... A lot.

Especially to someone like him.

Also, it isn't like the pay here was any good as well.

And the students... Some of these kids have no respect whatsoever, did they not go to elementary or something?? If they can't manage to do even just basic etiquette in general, why does Four expect them to get a high grade in his subject?

It's just.... It's just—

EUURGHH....!!!!!

The thought of it makes him wanna.... Makes him wanna—

Nope.

Four shook his head at the thought, his fists clenching and unclenching, not wanting the headache to worsen from it.

As the noise outside finally began to diminish in volume, he forces himself to open his eyes, eyeing the open door of his classroom. There were still a couple of students left it seemed, a few walking by the hall every now and often. But overall? It wasn't as chaotic as before at least.

They sat down on his chair, the worn little thing squeaking from the weight as he lets themselves relax and lean against it.

Siighh....

As silence looms over him, he couldn't help but let his mind wander.

Was this really something he wanted?

Was this all he was really supposed to do for the rest of his life?

Was this his only purpose?

His only jig in this sad life of his?

Four already knew the stress of how being a teacher could be, the amount of work needed and all but he hadn't expected it to be THIS bad.

And he's got to admit... The little spark? The little glimmer of light that held this dream?

It was starting to diminish. Quickly.

Too quickly than he'd like to admit.

Like a star's light beginning to flicker, signifying it's end being near.

But... He loved his job. It held a special place in his heart.

He still loved it, still cherished it yes, but GOD. The times he stayed up late trying to get everything turned in in time.... The students.... God, the STUDENTS.

However... Despite it all... He still manages to stick around.

But why would he be thinking about things like these? He shouldn't be thinking about these.. Teaching is his passion! His dream..! His...

His....?

...

Four let out a sigh, brushing back his messy blue locks at the thought.

Gah... What was he thinking? All this tension is starting to affect his thinking. Badly.

Knock Knock.

Four's nubs twitched slightly from the noise, turning his head slightly towards the door.

It was X, standing right outside the door of his classroom.

"Four?"

X called out his name, concern written obviously all over his face.

He simply just hummed in response, eyes lazily glancing at them. X's worry only grew, eyebrows furrowing as they stared at Four's unreadable expression.

"Are you doing alright? You look—"

"Miserable? Pathetic?"

Four interrupts, his tone becoming harsher on the second phrase.

"I don't need a reminder."

He deadpanned, crossing his arms and turning away from X with a heavy huff. But X only seemed to sigh at the sight.

"Exhausted, you look exhausted, Four."

They replied softly, his eyes showing sympathy towards their fellow co-worker.

X knew how hard Four had been working, being a teacher for this school for what? 7 years? A hefty time to be teaching if you ask him.

X had worked at this school for only about 4 years, not as long as Four. But he knew how stressful this job can be, with the constant deadlines, the couple of students Four liked to complain to them and all that.

X would guess he was probably burnt out from all of this. His first too probably, because Four wasn't the type of person to be burnt out very easily.

Which really surprised them.

To be burnt out only after 7 years?

Quite impressive if you think about it!

"Was it not obvious already?"

Four grumbled, closing his eyes again in the process. X could sense his grumpiness today with the way he talks and all. But the tone in his voice was noticeably more softer, more tired... But less aggressive.

Like he was trying not to accidentally snap at them.

Hum.

"Well... If you're free this weekend, would you like to come with me for an event tomorrow?"

....

Event?

That seemed to piques Four's interest, now glancing at them with a raised eyebrow.

What event?

Now Four wasn't the type to... Attend things like these. Especially back when he was still a student. Usually opting to just stay home and study ritually for any potential pop quizzes for the next few school days.

That memory alone made him grimace a bit.

He.... Probably shouldn't have became a weird little shut-in nerd loser that obsessed with a niche show that nobody seemed to know nor watch.

Look where that got him. Working in a school that was barely holding itself together. With only one friend to help and accompany him.

...Big yikes indeed.

But maybe perhaps...

This COULD be the redemption arc that he so desperately needed. And the distraction that he really really wanted, because fuck YES does he want to get drunk on expensive ass alcohol.

(Totally not because he wants to try and make friends because he doesn't have anyone besides X... And a few others that he definitely remembers.)

"Who invited you?"

He eyes X almost suspiciously, as if expecting this to be some dumb and stupid prank to get his hopes up. (Because no he is NOT that desperate, definitely not.)

But X only smiled lightly at this, glad to see that his friend was actually interested in accompanying them.

"Well, a good friend of mine invited me to a party they're hostin and..!"

X stammered, fidgeting with their fingers.

"They said I could invite anyone if I wanted to as a plus-one soo....?"

Four blinked at them, letting his words sink into his brain for a moment as silence loomed over for the two teachers.

Hm...

Hmmm.....

A moment passed by. And then another.

He nods curtly.

"Okay."

X blinks for a short moment out of surprise before grinning, smiling earnestly towards Four despite the short and blunt response.

"Really? Hooray!"

He cheered.

"You won't regret this!"

Four nodded again as he turned his head away, murmuring a quiet 'Yeah, yeah.' before being quick to shoo X off with a wave of his hand. Despite this, you could tell he was embarrassed by the way his cheeks flared up slightly in color.

They nodded at the request, giving them a quick and short goodbye before closing the door behind them, leaving Four alone once more inside his classroom.

He remained quiet, his lips nothing but a thin line while staring off onto nothing in particular. The only sound interrupting the silence was the quiet hum of the fluorescent lights above the ceiling of the room and quiet tick of a clock at the side of the wall.

Is he actually going to do this?

...

Finally, Four moves forward, leaning against the table now with his hands clasped together. He sighed heavily, resting his head on their hands.

He really hoped he won't regret this decision.