[u][b]In the classroom[/b][/u]

Bits sat in the far corner of the classroom, her mouth closed and her head down.  The woman – for at 20 she was among the oldest in the class – didn't look up upon the arrival of their instructor.  Instead she watched him from the edges of her vision, and through a curtain of wavy brown hair.  At the desk next to her, her brother turned around from where he'd been talking to the two students on his other side.  Sparks did spare a glance to the man's injuries, but his main focus was on the lecture.  He disagreed with some of what was said, not that he'd voice that disagreement.  Yes, some humans – perhaps the majority – were like Joux said, but not all.  And those in AMRO were very much human, despite their alchemy.  Not to mention that some of his ideas didn't seem to fit together at all.  The teen drummed his fingers silently on his leg, wishing yet again that their instructors were more teachers and less soldiers.  There were only a few that would tolerate any sort of debate – the rest saw it as contradiction, or worse, insubordination, and didn't take kindly to it at all.  Sparks wanted to be able to discuss things, play with ideas and viewpoints, and he rarely got to.  Such was the life of a student at Innocence.  And after, well...that would hardly be much better.

The class was interrupted by cursing and banging.  Bits tensed, and her head moved a little, though not enough to be called looking in that direction.  Sparks considered getting to his feet to find out what was going on, and maybe see if the situation could be diffused, but he didn't get a chance.  Before he could come to a decision, a head was thrust through the door.  He leapt to his feet, but by then it was too late.  Student and door flew across the classroom and out the window, by sheer chance not catching on the frame and instead plummeting downwards to crash on the ground.  Sparks winced at the sound, hoping there was someone down there who could and would help, but he sat back down.  He knew better than to try to leave class before the bell.  He glanced at his sister.  She was staring fixedly at her hands, which were clasped atop her desk.  He could tell by the way she sat that she was upset about what had just happened.

The bell for dismissal came shortly thereafter, but Bits wasn't willing to push her way through the students to make it out the door as quickly as possible, as she would like to.  She stayed at her desk until most of them had filed out, and Sparks stayed nearby.  That gave him the chance to overhear one of his classmates speaking to the instructor.  The girl looked to be about his age, dressed all in black.  He was sure he'd seen her before, but he'd never been in her class until now.  He regretted that they'd never talked when he heard what she had to say.  The siblings seemed to be heading in the same direction as she was, though Bits nudged her brother's arm as he headed past the turn to the cafeteria, her expression puzzled.  [color=6699FF]“That kid,”[/color] Sparks replied.  [color=6699FF]“I want to make sure he's alright.”[/color]  To his surprise, the black-clad girl seemed to have the same idea as he did.

Through some stroke of insane luck, the kid was alive, though injured.  Sparks took his other side.  [color=6699FF]“Dude, that was intense.  I'm glad you didn't break too many limbs.”[/color]  The unfortunate teen hobbled between the pair, one leg at an awkward angle, and Bits trailed along behind, her expression nervous.
[color=6699FF]“Hey, I'm Sparks, and that's my sister, Bits,”[/color] he said cheerfully, directing this comment at both of the others.  [color=6699FF]“I'd offer to shake your hand, but...well, we'd better get to the infirmary.  Oh, and I heard what you said back there to Mr. Joux.”[/color]  He looked at the girl past their injured peer.  [color=6699FF]"And I think you're right.  It's the only thing that makes all this bearable."[/color]