Two Weeks Later
I dreamed of this day but I didn't think it'd be so nerve-wracking. Craig thought as he stuffed the last bin into the back of the taxi. He swept his hair back, with the shakiness of his hand messing his hair up a lot more than he'd liked. He closed down the trunk of the taxi. He looked back toward his family Mary held Silver tightly with a proud smile on her face as his father tried to remain tall and steady watching his son, fighting back tears of his own. A lump crept down his throat.
I always wanted to leave Cifer behind and yet. I failed to fully consider what I was leaving behind. "Are you sure I need to dorm? I mean I know it's far but I could find a-" "Craig, trust me you'll have so much more fun at school living there. As much as it pains me to let you go, you'll grow much more on your own." Papa Warren took a deep breath. "I love you but trust me you need to. You'll meet so many more people, ones that can change your life." Craig winced at this idea, he hasn't been much of a people person since elementary.
The older Warren looked off to the sky dreamily as he reminisced, on his college days, with an embarrassing smile. Mary had the same smile on her face as she looked towards the sky as well, thinking of the now empty space in their apartment and all that it could be used for. Craig noticed this growing ambition shooting her a warning look before rolling his eyes. If she touches my room…
Papa Warren snapped out of his daydream of his youth to look at his son. He fought back tears seeing how his boy had grown from a chick to a hawk leaving the nest. He pulled his son in for a big tight old bear hug. The only thing stopping Craig's ribs from cracking was the enhanced durability he gained from Aiko's parting gift. "Your mother would be so proud of you. I'll miss you so much son." "I'll miss you too Dad..." Craig said warmly as Mary approached with Silver in tow. She held up Silver to Craig's face attempting to cover her face from his gaze. "Silver said he'll miss you." she stammered. Silver responded with a purr as Craig scratched behind his ear. He noticed her welling tears as she hid her face behind the tom cat.
Craig smiled as he ruffled her hair. "I'll miss you and Silver too. Just do me a favor and don't get too tall while I'm gone." Craig chuckled as she leapt onto him with a hug as Silver jumped to their father's shoulder. She muttered something while her face was pressed into his hoodie. "What was that?" Mary looked up with an exasperated look. "I know you heard me don't push it you dweeb." "Alright, alright. I love you too." Craig chuckled, for the first time in a while the streets of Cifer felt quiet and calm. Mary parted away from the hug and she walked over to her dad's side as Craig entered the back of the taxi. His family waved goodbye as they watched Craig head off towards Kyoshi. Craig looked back with a feeling of sorrow seeing his family standing together knowing this'll be the last time he sees them for a bit. He resolved himself to make them proud as the taxi sped off his hand reaching out to them resting on the window.
"Can I have Craig's room, Dad?" Mary said with a gleam in her eyes as her father started laughing. "I'll think about it." he said as Silver rolled his eyes while perched on his head.
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Cifer seems different today, it seems almost brighter? No, that's not quite right. Craig thought to himself as the taxi moved through the city. The trash is still there, that smell ain't any better and…those memories still sting. Craig looked at his hand as he peered over the window looking at his old high school, shaking his head and biting his lip as the taxi moved down the road. Almost mistaking the rough roads for the cause of his bouncing leg, stirred up by brief flashes of the concoctions Caden and lackeys came up with daily to make his life hell.
His fist balled up before it calmed as they passed the dojo. Craig stared out the window as they passed by the abandoned dojo. I wish Sensei Aiko was still here, that statue she gave me…I want to learn more about it, but she's across the world now. Some wisdom from her would help, it was only a few days since she left and I already forgot the first thing she taught me. The palm of his hand met his forehead in a fast manner. Whatever I won against Lance, twice, I think?
Craig's mind wandered over to that night and considered each move he made. He looked over at his arm and his hand wandered over to his hair, he was fine now but back then not so much. It took a bit for him to be able to use his arm properly again without that regeneration he would've been in deep trouble and dear old dad would have a heart attack at seeing his first kid down an arm. Craig mulled over the potential consequences of his actions again and again.
What could he have done to his family if he slipped up? But there was something about doing what he did…. Like an electric charge flowing through a circuit, fighting like that it energized him. Its been weeks since that fight and still nothing has managed to catch that feeling again. That fever, that rush, that spark. It felt like the first time I won against Nathan, that adrenaline flowing through my veins like a surging torrent.
"We're about to get on the highway." came from the gruff voice of the taxi driver. Craig's attention snapped forward to the taxi and their location. "U-Uh ok. How much longer then?" he blurted out. "I'd say about 30 minutes, maybe 45 depending on traffic." said the taxi driver in between a yawn as he sipped on his cup of coffee. " "Ok, thanks." "No problem." "You're lucky right now kid you're leaving Cifer at a good time. The city's been getting more dangerous." Craig paused and gulped nervously. "Yeah I guess I am lucky. Ha ha…" Acting as Ace Dragon wasn't one of his safer moves. It was dangerous but that altercation was nothing more than a one time thing for him. Kyoshi was much more safe than Cifer but the bar is in hell. However, he doubted he needed to play dress up so often down there.
The taxi moved down the highway at high speeds. Craig moved to get more comfortable as he continued his stream of thoughts, his hand shifted to his pocket pulling out a new flip phone. With Mr. Brock giving me this, money won't be a problem for a bit. I just gotta drop off photos to the Kyoshi Branch, respond when they ask for tech support and I'm perfectly fine. Craig slid the phone back into his pocket. Still not used to having a phone though. Craig grimaced as he leaned his head back onto the seat of the taxi, his head starting to sink into the leather of the taxi. His already poor sleeping schedule, big breakfast and missing out on his morning coffee was all catching up with him. Maple syrup always made him incredibly sleepy and he was so antsy he had to go play dress up last night to burn himself out a bit only for that to fail. His lids grew heavier and heavier, even more than the rubble from that warehouse before they shut completely as the taxi moved down the highway towards Kyoshi.
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"We're here." the gruff voice of the taxi driver said, shaking Craig. Craig rolled over awake with a big stretch. He looked out the window to see the bustling campus, students walking around calmly, chatting away, beautiful blooming bunches of blue sacria's, white roses and daffodils gracing the paved walkways along with huge trees.
Craig stepped out of the car to enjoy the clean air and the serene sounds of birds chirping around campus and returning students hanging around playing frisbee or relaxing on hammocks reading. "Kane University. I made it…" Craig muttered under his breath as he looked around seeing other freshmen moving in, watching as they also advanced towards the next steps in their future. Craig dazed off as he stared out at the campus and those around him consumed by wonder and anxiety.
"Good luck kid" said the taxi driver putting a firm hand on his shoulder, snapping him out of it. "T-Thanks." "No problem and don't be so nervous you'll be fine as long as you keep your head straight." "Right uh thank you again."
The driver got back into his taxi. "Don't mention it. Also, kid, stop slouching so much!" The driver yelled out before speeding off. Craig never really paid attention to his posture and he attempted to stand up straight for a bit before immediately returning to his usual position as he signed in with the school.
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Craig rushed toward the elevator, his backpack half-slipping off his shoulder and boxes clattering behind him. He winced as he saw the elevator door closing—before a set of violet nails held it open.
"Oh, thank God, thank you so much!" he blurted out, stumbling in and turning with a grateful smile. "You're welcome! What floor?" came a cheerful voice.
Craig straightened, finally looking up. The stranger was a cute girl with black hair, big dark eyes framed by round-rimmed glasses, and two pink dots on her cheeks. His words caught in his throat for a second, his mind scrambling as he hoped he wasn't staring—or worse, blushing.
"Uh, four, please…" "Already pressed!" she said, flashing a grin. "Looks like you're on my floor. What room?" "407," Craig said, feeling a little relieved he didn't trip over that at least. "What about you?"
"402. Aw, I was hoping we could be neighbors. Guess I'll have to walk all the way down to bug you."
Craig let out a nervous laugh that came out louder than he wanted. "R-right, yeah… Less of a hassle, I guess."
The elevator dinged, and they stepped out together. She gestured toward the corner of the hallway. "That's your new home—lucky spot, right by the elevators. Less time to waste getting in and out."
"Yeah, lucky," Craig nodded quickly, like a bobblehead. He scrambled to think of something clever, something that didn't sound completely lame. "Saves time, I guess." "Mmhmm," she said, already turning slightly as if to head down the hall. Then, almost as an afterthought, she glanced back. "I'm Katherine, by the way. What's your name?"
"Crap—I mean, Craig." He cleared his throat, trying to keep his voice steady. "I'm from Cifer." Katherine's eyes lit up, a little spark of excitement flickering. "No way! I always wanted to visit Cifer, but my mom kept me stuck in Starrk. Are the rumors about that vigilante true?" She leaned in slightly, curiosity bubbling. "And have you been to the fountain there? I've always wanted to go!" Craig froze, feeling his pulse quicken. He forced a grin, hoping it didn't look too stiff. "Uh, yeah, it's… a nice fountain."
Smooth, Warren. Real smooth. Katherine just laughed, a soft, melodic sound that made his heart flip-flop. "Well, guess I'll have to find out for myself someday. See you around, 407!" Katherine suddenly stopped though trying to feel around for her keys before smacking her forehead then quickly running to the elevator again. "Doh! I left my keys downstairs!"
With a quick wave, she darted into the elevator, leaving Craig standing there, still gripping his bags and wondering how he managed to survive that without combusting on the spot.
Craig sighed, a mix of satisfaction and lingering embarrassment settling in his chest as he stepped through the door to his new dorm room. It wasn't much—bare walls, generic furniture—but it was his. His eyes landed on the small common area where a TV, a DVD player, and a neatly folded blanket had already been set up on the couch. Looks like my roommate's already settled in.
He adjusted his grip on his stuff, peering into the bedroom to the right. A figure with messy hair hunched over a cluttered desk, muttering something under his breath as he tinkered with what looked like a pile of scrap metal. Craig hovered awkwardly in the doorway before clearing his throat. "Uh, hey there."
"Hello," the figure replied, voice flat and exhausted. He didn't look up, fingers still fiddling with a tiny screwdriver and a nest of wires. Craig hesitated, expecting… something more.
"I'm your—" "Roommate, yeah. I figured," the guy cut in, still not turning around. "Craig, right?" "Yeah, that's me." Craig shifted his weight, glancing around the room. "What's your name?"
"Mason." There was a brief pause, then Mason sighed and set down his tools, finally turning around. "Hold on, almost done." He lifted the contraption off the desk—a mismatched mess of metal plates and circuits, held together by what looked like duct tape and sheer willpower.
Craig blinked. "Is that… a coffee maker?" "Yep," Mason replied, eyes bleary but a faint trace of pride flickering in his gaze. "Took me a bit longer to put together than usual, but it's functional." He gestured to the front panel. "Added a few features, too—self-heating, drip timer, even a built-in grinder. No more dorm coffee sludge."
Craig stared in awe. "You made this… from scratch?" "Mostly." Mason shrugged, nonchalant. "Figured it'd be easier than relying on the campus café." Craig let out a soft laugh, feeling some of his nerves ease. "Sweet. Easy coffee in the room is a necessity for me."Mason raised an eyebrow, eyes flicking up to meet Craig's for the first time. "Same," he said dryly. Then, with a half-smile, he added, "if you didn't like coffee, we might've had a problem."
Craig grinned, the tension in his shoulders easing a little more. Perfect common ground now. "Mind if I give it a spin now? I could barely sleep last night."
Mason placed the coffee machine on his desk and plugged it in. "Do the honors." Craig pulled out his favorite mug from his bin and downed his first cup of coffee all day. "Pretty solid cup. Is this peppermint?" "Yeah, my mother bought me a bunch of them on sale.
I prefer my coffee plain and dark though" Mason muttered. Craig smiled as they chattered away and unpacked, he was slowly easing up."By the way Craig. Relax, no need to be so anxious on move-in week." Craig flushed a bright red with his eyes giving off a slight glow as he started rubbing the back of his neck, thinking about how he probably came off to Katherine earlier before covering his face completely. "Sorry…"
"What are you apologizing for?" Mason said with a deadpan gaze as his tired eyes met Craig's. "Just relax dude." Craig took a deep breath. "Right."
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A while had gone by as Mason and Craig finished unpacking. The room had evolved from barren to cluttered chaos to a slightly more organized mess. Strings of lights now decorated the common area, and cheap rugs covered the scuffed floorboards. Their bedroom felt lived-in already. Mason's side was meticulously arranged, the only pop of color coming from the unsolved Rubik's cube on his desk. Craig's side was a bit more chaotic, with his MF DOOM poster half-peeling from the wall and a stack of books that seemed moments away from toppling over.
"So, you're here for the engineering program?" Craig asked, leaning back on his bed." Clearly, I'm here for the English Department," Mason replied dryly, still focused on arranging his desk. Craig smirked. "Right. Dumb question. So... why engineering?" Mason shrugged without looking up. "It's the closest thing to fun for me. And I'm good at it. I just like to tinker." Craig nodded. "Fair. Why do you think I'm doing computer science?" "Money," Mason said flatly. Craig blinked. "Well, yeah. Is it wrong to want to make money?"
Mason tilted his head, blinking a few times as if turning the thought over. "Nope. Makes sense. You're from Cifer, after all." Craig chuckled. "And what's Wayne like?" "It's alright. I can't go two blocks without bumping into some dude in a suit." A sudden knock on the door cut off their conversation. "Expecting someone?" Mason asked without looking up. "Nope." Craig stood and crossed the room to answer the door.
The door swung open, revealing a girl with two-toned red and black hair, her bright red eyes gleaming with energy. Before Craig could even say hello, the girl grinned. "Hey! I'm Angi! I'm just making the rounds, meeting people, saying what's up, ya know?" Her gaze darted past Craig's shoulder. "Wait, is that a TV? And a stereo?!"
"Uh—" Craig began, but Angi had already stepped inside, her excitement pulling her forward. "I'm Craig…" he muttered, closing the door behind her. "Nice to meet you, Craig! Where are you from? What's your major? Favorite color? Ice cream flavor? Artist? Where's your roommate?" Angi shot off her questions in rapid-fire succession, leaving Craig scrambling to keep up.
Before Craig could answer any of them, Mason emerged from his room, adjusting his glasses with a sigh. "Craig, who's at th—Oh it's you." Mason stopped when his gaze landed on the energetic stranger bouncing around their room. "Hi! I'm An-Oh hey Mason." she said, her joy shifting to something more annoyed. Mason looked slightly more irritated than he normally does. "So you're Craig's roommate?" "No, he broke in and won't leave, like you" Mason said with a deadpan expression.
Angi rolled her eyes. "Oh chillax Mase! You don't have to be so stiff all the time" Without missing a beat, Mason muttered. "And you don't have to talk all the time. Save some oxygen for your brain. You clearly need it." "Like how you need more sunlight! You're practically a vampire!" Angi said. Craig looked at the two back and forth before clearing his throat. "Uh so you two know each other?" Craig interjected as Mason seemed like he was showing the first bit of emotion he's had in years. The two of them looked back at Craig realizing they just left him out. "Oh sorry about that Craig. Yeah we know each other." "Orientation." Mason said. "She wouldn't stop talking." "And he couldn't stop glaring at me!" Angi retorted. The tension between the two was palpable. "You could've sworn I shot him or something." "If only I were so fortunate then I wouldn't have to hear you." Mason quipped. "What?! Well I'd just follow you to heaven just to annoy you more." Angi yelled back. "The afterlife isn't a thing and even if it was I guarantee you'd be looking up at us." Mason retorted. Sweat beaded down Craig's forehead as he watched these two go at it. This campus sure has some…interesting people.
"So uh Angi where'd you say you're from again?" Angi stopped herself mid sentence realizing they accidentally ignored Craig again. "Oh I'm so sorry Craig!" Angi and Mason looked over at Craig. Angi clearly had some feeling of guilt while Mason seemed to feel slightly embarrassed but was still hard to read. "I'm from Roku, East Side." Angi said "Ah so that's where your accent is from! I wasn't super sure. I'm uh…" Craig rubbed the back of his neck very meekly. "I'm from Cifer…" Angi's red eyes beamed again with excitement. "Oh I have some family down in Cifer! I used to visit the fountain there when I visited my cousins. It's so fetch." Mason went back to being his usual deadpan self chimed back in. "The fountain in Cifer's really something. My grandpa took me there sometimes when I was a kid." "You had a childhood?" Angi chimed in sarcastically. Craig couldn't help but laugh. Mason groaned as another set of knocks rapped against their door. Craig opened it to see that same girl from the elevator again. "Hey Craig." she said as Craig stammered, trying to remember her name. "H-Hi Kai-Katherine." "Sorry to bother you but have you seen my roommate anywhere? She's about yay- tall and has really cool hair, black choker?" Katherine said before noticing Angi bickering with Mason. "Oh there she is! Can I please come in?" Katherine said Craig moved out of the way as Katherine walked into the room as he tried to suppress the slight glow emanating from his eyes. Chillax Warren. Angi waved over Katherine with Mason sighing in slight annoyance. "Hey! This is my roommate Katherine, be nice to her Mase." Angi said sternly as she glared over at Mason. "Hello, Mason, right? You must be Craig's roommate, your guys' setup is really nice!" Katherine said, extending out her hand. Mason shook it. "Nice to meet you, have you come to collect your sassy lost child?" Mason said Katherine and Craig laughed as Angi steamed in the background. "I hope she hasn't caused you too much trouble!" Craig shrugged. "Eh she hasn't caused us too much trouble" "Yet." Mason said candidly "Give it a few hours" Angi said cheekily The group shared a laugh excluding Mason who was betrayed by a slight smirk.