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Gepard Landau was one of the most flawless honor students in Qlipoth High- top of his grade, head of the fencing team, and even part of the student council since his freshman year. Many teachers and students alike praised his efforts, with the teachers especially saying how much more composed he was compared to his older sister. Yet, for such a brilliant young man, he was easily distraught by a violet-haired troublemaker by the name of Sampo.
Sampo Koski.
Sampo fucking Koski.
If Gepard had to hear the name one more time that week he was going to lose it. Ever since their first year, Sampo has been a pain in the student council’s ass. Especially for Gepard. For whatever reason, Sampo always went out of his way to make Gepard’s life a living hell. A week couldn’t go by without a new report along the lines of “Sampo jumped out the window again” or “Sampo caused another fight.” Honestly, he had no clue how Sampo managed to start so much trouble without being directly involved. Hell, out of all the fights he caused, he only actually fought in two of them. He managed to win both too by pulling some random bullshit. At least that was what Gepard heard. He only arrived after the fights ended and was met with a cheerful greeting along the lines of, “Gepard! Ol’ buddy, ol’ pal! I know what it looks like, but I swear I’m innocent!” Sampo was placed in detention shortly after. Gepard also wondered how he managed to aggravate everyone, yet still have connections to get anything he wanted. Frankly, he didn’t care- that’s what he told himself. All he wanted was for Sampo to cease his antics and stop bothering him for at least a week.
Unfortunately for him, the same troublemaker was the one he was assigned to “assist.” So here he was, sitting at the opposite end of Sampo’s desk while the latter simply smiled at him. Both of them knew well enough that Sampo didn’t need tutoring. Surprisingly, he was rather smart and took almost the same classes as Gepard. In fact, he’s been in at least one of Gepard’s classes ever since they started high school. Now Sampo’s grades were hardly comparable to Gepard’s, but to say he was just an idiot was inaccurate. If he spent his time actively participating in class instead of running some shady business as a drop shipper, he could pass as an honor student. However, this was obviously not the case, and the two were stuck together until Sampo either finished his work or detention ended.
“Gepard! Whatcha glaring for? Why do you always look so upset to see me?” Sampo gave his usual suave grin as Gepard’s face loosened. He honestly didn’t realize that he was glaring at Sampo since he entered the room. “Shouldn’t you be at least a bit more excited to see little ol’ me, Captain Landau?”
“Why would I be excited to see you of all people?” Gepard scoffed. “And don’t call me captain.”
“Well, because I’m your favorite, captain!” he teased, knowing how flustered Gepard got whenever he was called captain outside the fencing team. Was it really so wrong to take advantage of it? No, no it wasn’t.
“My favorite what? Delinquent? I don’t have a favorite in the first place, and if I did, it would not be you. Quit calling me captain while you’re at it.”
“Wow! Loosen up a bit more captain! I’m just joking! You can be a little too uptight, you know?” Sampo snickered, spinning the pencil in his hand. “And what’s the harm in me calling you Captain? It’s a suitable name for someone of high regard as yourself!”
“You’re mocking me.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it, Captain Gepard Landau of the Silvermane Knights.”
“You-“ Gepard refrained from saying anything more. At this point, he was well aware of how red his face was, but he couldn’t tell if it was out of anger or embarrassment. He hated how Sampo addressed him. Captain was a title given to him out of respect and power, but here Sampo was, calling him Captain Landau like it was a simple nickname. The only thing worse was the fact he actually liked the way he said it. It rolled off his tongue so casually and was followed by his signature grins and smirks that Gepard couldn’t help but find mesmerizing. He audibly sighed, causing Sampo to raise a brow. “Just- Just finish the work so we don’t have to be stuck here for the next hour. We both know you’re more than capable of completing it.”
“Now why would I complete it when I could spend my time with the one and only Captain Landau?”
“Well, unfortunately for you I would rather not waste mine sitting here.”
“Why’s that? You got a girl to meet up with?”
“What? No, I don’t.”
“Yeaahhh, figured.” Sampo laughed, while Gepard sat there confused. “You can’t pull bitches for the life of you!”
“What.”
“Ah, well,” Sampo trailed off, trying to figure out how to word his thoughts. “You’re smart, respectable, and handsome sure, but…”
“But what? Spit it out Sampo.”
“You just have no charm, man! But I guess that’s charming in itself.” Gepard stared at Sampo blankly, who actually started doing his math work. He didn’t know how or what he was feeling. Honestly, he should scold Sampo for swearing in school, but he couldn’t be bothered, not when there were other words he focused on. Smart and respectable. Those were words many used to describe him, but handsome? Sure, he’s had some relatives tell him that he’s “grown up to be a handsome young man” and maybe some other classmates. It didn’t get his heart racing as it did when Sampo said it.
The word could never feel as exhilarating compared to when Sampo Koski said it, and he didn’t know how to feel about that.
Sampo had his way with words, he always had, but never had they made him feel this way. He called him handsome like it was a fact everyone was blind to, and Gepard wanted to believe it desperately. At the very least, he wanted to believe Sampo thought he was handsome. It was something he couldn’t make an excuse for. Aeons, even saying it out loud sounded silly.
“I want the school’s biggest troublemaker to think I’m handsome.” What was he even thinking anymore? Hell, he didn’t know, so he sat there uncomfortably in silence while Sampo worked away. Until he broke the silence with more stupid questions, of course.
“You ever kiss someone?” And to that, Gepard snapped out of his thoughts and nearly choked.
“I-“
“Psh, why’d I even ask? It’s obvious you haven’t.”
“W-well” he stammered, his face burning up even more as he tried to piece his words together. “I’m far too busy with school activities to… indulge in a romantic relationship.”
“Whatever you say, Captain! You ever wanna try it though?”
“Try what?”
“Aeons, for the school’s top student you sure are an oblivious idiot!”
“Just get to the point, Koski.”
“Kissing!” a smug grin formed on his face. “With me, of course.” Gepard sat there, speechless. His first kiss, with Sampo of all people? The same Sampo who caused him so much trouble that there was a cabinet dedicated to him in the student council room? The Sampo who he thought he hated until now?
Despite all the questions shaping his head, he responded. “…Sure. Why not?” he tried his best to maintain eye contact with Sampo, who looked rather surprised for a moment before his expression was replaced with another cocky smirk.
“Well then,” he scooted his chair next to Gepard, “If the one and only Captain Landau wants a kiss, then the great Sampo Koski shall provide!” Gepard was about to comment on the use of his title again, but he found himself speechless as Sampo’s hand rested on his cheek. He felt his heart pounding as his lips trembled, his eyes shut as their lips finally met. His first kiss was far from what he imagined it would be. Instead of a romantic evening with a future partner, here he was, in detention with Sampo Koski kissing him as if his life depended on it, and he wouldn’t have it any other way.
Gepard gasped as Sampo slowly pulled his face away. He reopened his eyes and realized that Sampo’s face was still only a few inches away from his. For a few seconds, they both sat there quietly, Gepard’s face redder than ever as he tried to process what he just did.
“Bahaha!” Of course it was Sampo’s laughter that broke the initial silence.
“What are you laughing at Koski?”
“You for being a bad kisser.” Gepard’s blushing mess of a face immediately reverted to its original glare. “I’m joking! I swear I’m joking! I was just laughing ‘bout our situation: you, Qlipoth High’s golden boy, making out with that wretched troublemaker Sampo Koski! Oh, the school would be devastated!”
“…Are you trying to get at something?”
“No, not at all! I wouldn’t dream of it! Just something I found interesting.”
“…Pft-“ Gepard snickered, trying to hold back the laughter building in his throat.
“Oh? So our uptight captain can smile after all, huh?” Surprisingly after that whole kiss situation, they just started… talking. It was strange when Gepard thought about it. He hadn’t had a long casual conversation for probably weeks or months since he’s been so busy, yet he was chatting away with someone he just kissed. Said someone also being the cause of his headaches for the past few years. After some time had passed, Sampo finally got up, but Gepard’s grasp on his arm held him back. He had no idea why he was holding Sampo back, but at this point, he didn’t think he knew anything.
“As much as I know you can’t resist me, dear captain, I’m afraid I have to go,” he shook Gepard off his arm, grabbed his bag, and walked towards the window as Gepard was reminded of the reality of their situation once again.
“W-Wait you’re still in detention, you can’t just lea-”
“Sorry, but my business won’t work itself!” Sampo opened the window and lept out, landing on the tree nearby as Gepard finally brought himself to get out of his seat. By the time he ran to the window, Gepard looked down and saw that Sampo was already on the ground. “I’d love to talk more, I swear, but I really gotta go! You can turn that math homework in for me! See ya, captain!” Sampo yelled as Gepard sighed and turned away from the window. It was too late for him to go after Sampo, so he just decided to let him go, just this once.
He went to gather his things and Sampo’s work when he realized: Sampo actually completed the entire packet. Every single page and problem was completed, but as he flipped back to the front page, a largely written series of numbers with words on the bottom caught his eye.
“726-765-6754 - call me ;)”
Gepard stared at the note dumbfounded, before laughing and adding the number to his contacts. Walking back to the window, he looked out and let his fingers graze over his lips. A minty aftertaste still lingered in his mouth from their earlier kiss, probably due to all the mint gum Sampo was always chewing. He closed the window, then checked his newest phone contact and smiled.
Maybe he did have a favorite delinquent after all.