A Natural History Lesson PV: Kim Aoki Closed

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Kim's head was down on the table, resting on top of his arms. He was at the far corner of the table, away from everyone else. Therefore, when Colin came over to him, Kim didn't realize anyone was there. At least not at first, that is. It was only when Colin leaned forward, bringing his head and face closer to Kim's that the nearly fifteen year old heard someone talking to him. Having been put through the mill by the magical parasitic slug inside him and battling with depression on top of this, Kim didn't even know where he was anymore. Everything was all jumbled together and mixed up and he wasn't sure what he was doing or what he'd done these past few months. A rakish smile met his vision as he looked up at Colin and the wolf's face blurred and then morphed into a familiar slightly tanned face with clear soft skin. Molten chocolate brown eyes could be seen along with pink supple lips as the young man gave him his signature smirk. Kim's lips parted slightly and his heartbeat quickened upon seeing someone he'd never thought he'd ever see again. "It's you!" He exclaimed breathlessly.

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The bustling of the students in the Great Hall continued around them, most of them oblivious to what had just taken place between the two boys at the Gryffindor table. Everyone was occupied with their own business and most likely had no interest in what was going on with Kim and Colin. Kim himself was lost in the fantasy that his beloved crush had returned to him. Having the two of them kissing passionately was enough for him and it was what Felix would have done. He'd never really been much for saying sweet things and been more into showing his feelings through actions and sarcastic, sassy words. Kim's fingers remained curled around Colin's neck, keeping him in place and his other hand came up to twine through his soft silky hair. For some reason it was white now, instead of the dark brown with bangs that he normally liked to show off. But that might be because he'd been influenced by Kim! There was always a reason for everything. Felix had returned to him, that was all that mattered. "You came back!" Kim murmured into his mouth, almost deliriously happy about this fact.

Actions: Influenced by the magical slug, Kim kisses Colin, thinking he is Felix...

Colin watched with mild interest as Kim seemed to rise up out of whatever deep waters he was swimming in. His old friend's head was resting on his crossed arms. Colin wanted to apologise for, well, for abandoning Kim all this time. But really, he just had no idea what he could do. Kim had been so withdrawn since Sophia left. Even Bailey seemed to be just barely able to get through to their Gryff friend. A brief smile flashed across his lips. Bailey Glade could make the History of Magic gargoyle happy to be her friend! If she couldn't get through to Kim, no one could!

"I---" Colin began.

Kim's eyes focused as Colin began to speak, but he interrupted! "It's you!" Kim cried out.

Colin was not expecting this response! All he could think to say was: "Er. Aye, tis me?"

But Kim didn't appear to be listening. In stead, Kim threw his arms around Colin's neck and drew the surprised boy down into a sitting position. "I---" Before he could get any more out, Kim leaned in for a snog! Colin's heart raced! It was a proper snog and all! His brain kind of oozed and splintered. What do you even do when your mate gives you a snog? It wasn't like he'd never kissed a lad before! So, Colin just held on to the thick wood of the Gryffindor bench and snogged Kim. He briefly wondered if they were breaking a school rule. Pfft. Probably.

When Kim finished, he said: "You came back!"

Colin blinked, still sitting in Kim's embrace.

"Er. I --- I never left? I mean, I know I sort of abandoned ye, Kimmo. I --- I'm sorry for that! But. I'm here now/" Colin was truly perplexed by what Kim was saying. What did he mean that Colin came back?

@Kim Sato

It was almost the end of the school year- but that didn't actually mean leaving. Lea had opted instead to stay on the school grounds for summer camp, some frustration still towards her parents that the homesickness and distance had yet to fully subdue. It was an annoying thought to start the day with, groaning as she shoved the comforter away and got up out of bed. Despite many attempts, the Hufflepuff was not a morning person- she had succeeded on some occasions to be up and active, but today was certainly not that day. It was a good thing that she wouldn't have to wake up for early classes soon, tightly holding onto the countdown of days until a lazy, warm summer.

Lea would emerge from the Hufflepuff common room still rubbing a bit of the sleep out of her eyes. The walk down would give her enough time to roll her shoulders and wake up a little bit more, but it would be the loud excitement of the Great Hall that finally startled her awake as she glanced between the open seats at the different house benches. It was a ritual to glance around, even if typically the girl ended up right back at the Hufflepuff table to eat her breakfast on her own, half listening in to whatever conversations happened nearby. Today was different though, as she noticed Kim- a duellist she fought that had been having a particularly rough time throughout. While they had certainly crossed paths before- it was almost impossible not too around campus- she hadn't noticed him until now. And considering all the Hufflepuffs on her team had stayed conscious, Lea had only stayed in the Hospital Wing long enough to make sure they were okay.

Well, now seemed as good a time as any to check in on him, a small sigh as she almost instantly regretted the decision. Talking to people was- fine, but not as much when the Fourth Year had little clue how much concern to give the Gryffindor or what even to talk about afterwards. Still, she marched on over to the Gryffindor table, slowing her pace as she grew closer and noticed the other there. "Oh- am I interrupting something?" Talking to two people had not been in her plans, but turning back would only be rude. She'd stand, glancing between the two for a moment- perhaps an explanation was in order. "I wanted to see how you were doing- or how practice has been going since?" She didn't have any questions for the Slytherin, so she just offered him a wave instead. "Hi. Lea." That would have to suffice as an introduction.

Interactions. @Kim Sato, @Colin McCoire

x..-.

HOGWARTS, GREAT HALL Felix returned his kiss with his own passion. Kim couldn't help but fall deep into the rabbit hole and his heart began to race. After some time, their lips parted from eachother and Kim gazed at the Hufflepuff before him. He wasn't dressed in his school robes but Felix never really tended to wear them unless it was during class time. But at the same time, there was something a little off about him. He couldn't quite place it though and Kim gazed at him for a few seconds. Felix was still sitting in his embrace which was also strange, because usually he would have moved away by now. That or tried to seduce him more. He might have even tried to say something snarky after their little make-out session. But he was too silent.

x..-.

Why? Felix had responded to his earlier words. He'd even confirmed what Kim had said about him. As the badger told him he'd never left and said he'd sort of abandoned him but apologized for it by telling him he was there now, Kim smiled at him. "Mm. My rabbit's come home." The dark haired teen said, using the nickname he'd begun to call Felix a few months before he'd disappeared from his life. Their time together was interrupted when a familiar face made its way into his view, a female. A girl with red hair. SOPHIA! Kim's eyes widened as he stared at the girl.

"YOU'RE BACK?!" The dark haired teen exclaimed, finding it difficult to believe. "How could you just disappear on me like that?! After all this time you finally decide to come back?" The words said by the girl before him were pretty much lost on him, other than she wanted to see how he was doing and something about practice. Kim got up and closed the short distance between them to wrap his arms around Sophia's waist. He lifted her up off the floor and kissed her, because after all the last time he had seen her she'd been his girlfriend back in the past.

Even if the feelings hadn't really been intimate by nature, technically their status had been real. It was only after she'd disappeared that he started to develop some feelings for her. Although, his feelings for Felix had probably been more. They always had been, the two of them had been closer than anyone else had ever been to him. Kim's make-out session with Sophia didn't last as long as it had with Felix, but it was just long enough to make the slug come out of his mouth and into hers. Not that either of them would be aware of this particular fact until much later this summer.

Despite wanting to continue kissing her, Kim finally broke their kiss together and smiled down at her. "Did you tell Irish you're back too?" He asked, his eyes a little glazed but still somewhat active. Kinda. It was obvious he was kind of not exactly in his right mind and probably sick to boot but at the moment it didn't matter. Kim was looking much more alive now than he'd been in the past year. His dream was literally coming true, the two people who mattered the most to him in this life, other than his family, were finally back with him. He couldn't ask for anything more.

Colin's brows knit in thought. R---Rabbit? Who the heck was Rabbit? Colin knew that Kim liked to make nicknames for people. He wracked his brain as a kid came up to Kim. An older girl, or maybe in their year. She seemed to know Kim anyway! And by the way Kim just dropped Colin and started snogging this new girl, he must have known her as well! Colin thought this was all very queer. Kim had been shut off for a year or more, and now he's snogging everyone in sight!

"Well, that's not sus at all, Kimmo," Colin whispered. It was Kim's next question for the girl that piqued his interest. Did you tell Irish you're back?] "Wait." Colin knew exactly who Irish was --- twas none other than himself! That was his nickname back in first year and early second year! There were only a few kids who really even knew! Sophia, of course, and Pax and Gem.

Colin really became concerned as another kid came up to say hi to Kim, and got the same queer response: a weird statement about kids returning, use of old nicknames, a proper snog for each of them. Colin wasn't complaining about the snogging, mind! But the circumstances were really rather suspicious! And then as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened, Kim just said "Let's eat!"

Colin looked around at the other kids who'd gathered around Kim. "Oi! Kimmo!" Colin began. He lightly bapped his friend on the shoulder. "What's with all the snogging, eh? You never used to do that, not even with Bailey!"

@Kim Sato

'You're back' were certainly words that could have applied to Lea but considering their last interaction had been the Hufflepuff beating up the Gryffindor in a sport, it didn't seem quite right. The enthusiasm especially caught her off guard as she took a half step back with a very confused look towards the boy. The rest of the words following certainly didn't help either, now almost sure that she was going to get attacked- and in the Great Hall no less? Brown eyes shot a desperate glance towards the other one here, searching if he had any answers or if he would be threat soon too.

"I-" She was about to dispute or pull out her wand or something but it seemed the duelling training didn't quite translate to the rest of her life. Kim was able to scoop her up in but a second, a hug certainly not what she was expecting as her brain scrambled between the danger instinct only seconds before and the physical affection she now received. The Gryffindor wouldn't give her anytime to process it all either as their lips connected and was this her first kiss??? She had anticipated any other situation, red rushing to her cheeks as those imaginings popped to the forefront of her mind: picnics, cozying up by the fireplace, something romantic and planned and not nearly so sudden-

She would still be stuck in her thoughts as her feet finally touched back down to Earth, only able to half pay attention to the question asked. A confused and soft, "No??" followed, staring off into the distance before glancing up at Kim's smile with nothing behind her eyes.

It would be Julian that crashed Lea back into reality as he cleared his throat. She would slowly turn her head, praying to be proven wrong that it wasn't one of her captains having just seen the kiss. All the blood would immediately drain from her face, the voices and conversations and plates scratching that the Hufflepuff hadn't heard before would come roaring back, a painful reminder of how many people might have just seen this make-out session. It was mortifying, certainly when she had a witness that Lea had to talk to on a regular basis. Her next glance would be to the fellow Hufflepuff, grasping for any words to potentially explain or remove the awkwardness. Instead, she would by met with Julian getting his own kissing session as Lea stared, stunned. Her mouth fell agape, trying to make sense of the image before her. She had lost her first kiss to someone who just- kissed anyone? And not even someone she really liked? Her entranced had missed the Slytherin and Gryffindor at it too, but that certainly wouldn't have cooled Lea's anger down any. Her ears burned, eyes filled with betrayal, questions, and daggers. She had very few words left, evaporated from the moments before, but the next exclamation would give her just enough. Food- the last thing on her mind.

"Oh, absolutely not." She hissed, taking a step back before sharply turning away and storming away. They would not get a single glance back as Lea beelined out of the Great Hall, disappearing off into one of the nearby corridors.

Interactions. @Kim Sato, @Colin McCoire, @Julian Pritchard