#everything is a little bit shit but keep fighting bitch! do it for cosette!’

[lawisnotmocked]

maybe the real misérables were the friends we made along the way 😌

[myselfinserts]

❝ what the f uck did you just say to me you little bitch ? ❞

The buzz around the school was as vibrant as always, andnormally Sorley didn't give two thoughts about it. He didn't have time forgossip. But today, as he entered the cafeteria, he noticed something different.Maybe it was because he's been acting a little different since his old friendhad shown up. Or maybe it was because he'd seen firsthand what a hero raidlooked like. He certainly got asked about it a lot since he got back. Having anasty burn scar on your arm was enough to raise a few eyebrows, that's forsure.

Whatever the reason, as Sorley tried to find a table for himand Renato, he couldn't help but feel as though he were being watched.

"Hey." Renato tapped him on the shoulder, pointingto a girl with white hair and wolf ears. "Over there."

"Hey Sorley!" Cosette cheered. "Probie! Overhere! We saved you two a spot!"

Of course she would. Cosette, Amorette, Lita, and Nerinewere all practically joined at the hip the last two months. And they'd alwaysinsisted on him joining them for lunch when extra work wasn't to be done. Itwas strange seeing all his exes hanging out with him and getting along. Thenagain, maybe he was just more used to Harper's tall tales of lovers past.

Regardless, they always seemed to be together. But that wasfine. If it meant Renato could have a good circle of people to depend on,that's all that mattered to him.

"Thanks Cosette," Sorley said.

"For real." Renato smiled happily, sitting besideher. "Thanks Lupin."

"Call me Cosette, probie. We're friends outsidetraining." She looked Sorley over, licking her lips pleasantly. "So,did you ask your dad?"

Sorley snickered, holding up a box of pastries."Today's specials. As promised."

"Allard, you are a saint."

"Not really. I just do my best." He shivered."Hey, is it just me, or…is today off?"

Amorette nodded, twirling her pink hair around her fingers.."It's not just you. The upper-class has been all a whisper the last coupleof days."

“My bad,” Lita said, not looking up from her book. “You know Aristide Lacroix?”

“I’ve heard of him.” Sorley continued unpacking his lunch, passing out some of the extra to the others. “Papa has said some...fairly disconcerting things about his father Edgard. Why?”

Nerine stifled a laugh. “Lita and her family went on vacation and she found one of the ‘Lacroix Aid, Support, and Style’ regional offices.”

Lita nodded. “Was able to get his entire North-African branch shut down due to safety violations and attempted cover ups. The workers are currently in the middle of a lawsuit, with a 97% chance at a multi million settlement.”

“Watch what you say, lavender losers. We can hear you.”

Sorley looked over at one of the tables a little ways off. Staring him down was an older student with longer blond hair partly bushed back, and piercing green eyes. He wore the soft baby blue of the Advance Course’s Support Department. And his anger seemed directed at Lira and Sorley. 

There was no mistaking it. It had to be Aristide Lacroix

“Funny,” Amorette sighed. “I thought you were the loser. Isn’t your inheritance going up in smoke?”

“Maybe not,” Aristide snickered. “Still a chance dad’s gonna win. And then he’ll be suing the Dubois for everything they have for trespassing and stealing company property.”

“We were on a tour, which your father’s company offers. And your father left the offices unlocked, and important papers strewn about all over his desk. And I have a provisional licence.” Lita set down her book, adjusting her glasses before reaching for her tarot deck. “The chances of LASS surviving this suit is slim to none.”

“Look,” Sorley said calmly. “As long as LASS reaches a settlement and makes the fixes, everything should be fine. No need to be so aggro, Lacroix.”

“I suppose that’s easy for you to say.” Aristide glared at him, tossing a few grapes at his head and chuckling as they bounced off. “Better enjoy your cozy life while you can, Allard. Only a matter of time before Dubois shuts down Atelier Allard.”

Sorley caught the last grape in his mouth, eyes narrowed in warning. “As if my Papa would let that happen.”

“That so?” A wicked shine crossed the upperclassman’s face. “So, if don’t mind me asking, how much did your father pay to get you in here?”

“Nothing. I signed up and took the exam same as everyone else. Unlike some people, I earned my way in.”

“Sure you did. And I’m the secret son of All Might. Oh, and speaking of which, weren’t you born in a test tube? Like, literally? You’re like a homunculus or something. A freak of nature. Kind of fitting.”

Sorley rolled his eyes as the other students laughed. Of course they didn’t believe him. One of the few downsides to having a famous father. You have to work harder for your achievements. And while he wasn’t overly vocal about his origins as most of his peers, most people were able to figure out how his parents had him. He didn’t care. The method just made him feel more assured most days. His parents actively chose to bring him into their lives. He loved them, and they loved him. And he made it clear that people knew it.

“Whatever,” said Aristide. “It doesn’t really matter if he paid for you or not. He’s just biding his time with that crappy support company he has.”

“My papa’s company is the best in Paris. Watch your tongue.”

“Why stand up for him? He’s just gonna drop you once he’s done bleeding that old cafe owner dry. Then he’ll shut down his operation and leave you penniless in the street. Its only a matter of time before the bastard robs the monster blind. Or should I say blinder?”

A switch seemed to flip.

"What the fuck did you just say to me you littlebitch?"

Everyone around the table went quiet. Nerine’s mouth hung open, and Cosette nearly dropped her eclair. Renato tried to put ahand on Sorley's shoulder to stop him, but Sorley brushed it off, standing upand slowly walking right up to Aristide. No one had ever seen this level ofsheer, cold anger radiating from him before. The effect seemed to ripplethrough the cafeteria, as soon everyone had gone silent. A circle eerily beganto form around them.

"Sorley," Renato whispered. "Don't."

Aristide smirked, hands on his hips as he leaned down so heand Sorley could see eye to eye. "I said your dear 'papa' is a no goodgold digger. Why else would he be married to such an ugly one-eyed raisin andagree to have someone as pathetic as you? One of these days he'll make off withthe money and cut you and your family loose like the tramp he is."

He didn't have time to laugh. Sorley's fist met Aristide'sjaw faster than anyone could blink. Aristide stumbled a bit, only before recovering and punching Sorley square in the face, shattering his glasses. He stumbled back, quickly clearing the glass from his face before lunging forward. 

“Holy shit,” Amorette gasped, rushing for the doors. “I’m getting Rosine!”

Sorley didn’t even register her. He threw another punch before grabbing Aristide’s blazer and throwing him over his shoulder. He felt a foot hit him in the chest and the chin, but he shook it off, pinning him down long enough to land three more punches before he was sent flying back into one of the tables. A handful of potatoes and a splash of applesauce, and soon the two were locked in a food fight. The students circled around them, chanting rapidly. 

“FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!”

Sorley raised a foot, preparing a quake. 

“THAT’S ENOUGH!”

Sorley felt his entire body be surrounded in water and hard light. Stars circled him and Aristide, holding them both back as the water cleaned them and healed their wounds. Sorley turned around to snap and whoever was holding him back, only to feel his entire body run cold when he saw Nerine and Renato, both near tears and holding their hands out to keep their quirks active. 

Seeing his glasses broken on the floor made him go limp.

What did I do?

Everyone began to scatter when Madame Rosine stormed into the cafeteria, riding crop in hand. One snap on the table, and the two dropped the fighting students. Everyone went silent once more. Rosine glared at him and Aristide, clearly pissed beyond belief.

“My office. Now. We’re calling your parents.”

Sorley felt his stomach lurch. 

Sorley said nothing as he waited outside the Headmaster’s office in his gym clothes after he’d given his written statement on the events that transpired. Lacroix had already come and picked up his son, who had been given three weeks suspension for instigation and attempting to impair a student’s eyesight. Étienne was now in the office having, what Sorley could only describe as, a ‘strong debate’, with Headmaster Palomer. Madame Rosine seemed to be siding with Étienne.

I can’t believe how stupid I was. The first ever fight in the school’s history, and I was the dumbass who threw the first punch.

It was all he could do not to cry when his papa finally exited the office. 

“My apologies for taking time out of your day,” Madame Rosine repeated. “I promise you, this sort of incident will never happen again.”

“I should hope not.”

Rosine nodded, turning to Sorley. “You’ll be suspended for two days. And for the next three weeks, your lunch period will be spent with me in my office.”

“Yes Madame,” Sorley muttered. 

Étienne gestured gently for him to stand up. “Come on, Sorley. Time to go home.”

Sorley nodded, grabbing his schoolbag and hurrying off after his papa. They both said nothing as they made their way down to the parking garage to where Chris and the car waited. It wasn’t until they were both buckled up in the back and leaving the school grounds that Sorley finally spoke up. 

“I’m sorry, papa. I crossed the line.”

“Bitch had it coming,” Étienne stated simply. “I read the statements. The moment I saw Lacroix on the paper, I knew what this was about. A spoiled brat taking his fear out on the nearest target.”

“I shouldn’t have let him get to me though.”

“Perhaps.” Étienne gave him a gentle pat on the head. “But that’s something we’ll work on.”

“...You’re not a gold-digger.”

“No, I’m not.”

“And you love dad.”

“Of course.”

“And you’re not going to leave him?”

“Made that mistake already. I don’t like to repeat my mistakes.”

Sorley managed a smile. “Neither do I.”

Étienne smirked. “Is that so? Then why did my pliers go missing? Again?”

“...Promise not to be mad about my next rescue?”

“As long as its not another talking polar bear.”

“Its not. Its a lioness. Already called the zoo ahead of time.”

“Then I suppose I’ll just have to have Ceri skip desserts for a week as punishment.”

“I can live with that.”