Orion At School

The chatter in the classroom buzzed like static electricity, faintly hushed yet charged with curiosity after Lydia's departure. Stiles tapped his fingers lightly on the desk, the rhythm faint and aimless, while Scott shifted uneasily, still glancing over at Allison every few seconds.

The door creaked open, cutting through the ambient noise, and the classroom fell silent almost instantly. A man walked in, his presence commanding without effort, like the air had suddenly thickened. Orion moved with a deliberate ease, his tall, broad frame exuding quiet confidence. His hair, white as freshly fallen snow, shimmered under the fluorescent lights, while his golden eyes—impossibly vivid—swept across the room with an almost predatory awareness.

Allison stiffened in her seat, her eyes narrowing slightly as she watched him. Lydia, who was casually flipping through her notebook, froze mid-page, her lips parting ever so slightly in surprise. Even Jackson, sitting with his jaw still tender from earlier, blinked at Orion, his usual bravado faltering as if something about the man unsettled him.

But Scott and Stiles exchanged only a glance. There was no shock in their expressions, just a knowing calm. Stiles leaned back in his chair, arms folded across his chest, and raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. Scott, though quieter, had his attention fixed on Orion, his expression unreadable but alert.

Orion stopped in the center of the room, hands in his pockets, and looked around. His smile was slow and deliberate, curving with an almost feline amusement as he seemed to revel in the tension. "Well," he began, his voice deep and smooth, with a faint, almost playful edge, "I can see you're all captivated by something… or someone."

A faint chuckle rippled through the room, though it was more nervous than amused. Orion tilted his head slightly, his white hair falling over his forehead, the golden hues of his eyes catching the light as he looked directly at Lydia, then at Jackson. His smile widened.

"Let me guess. It's the hair, right?" he said, gesturing casually toward himself. "Or maybe the eyes. Golden and white together—rare combo. People always ask me if it's natural." He paused for effect, then added, "It's not." His smile turned roguish, his gaze flickering with mischief, and a few students laughed, though the sound was uncertain, like they weren't sure if they were allowed to relax.

Lydia's lips twitched at the corners, though she quickly masked it with her usual cool demeanor. Allison's expression softened slightly, though her brow remained furrowed, as if she were trying to figure him out.

"But don't worry," Orion continued, his tone lighter now, as he strode toward the front of the classroom. His steps were fluid, measured, like a big cat strolling through its domain. He turned, leaning casually against the desk, arms crossing over his chest as he faced the class. "I'm not here to hypnotize you with my dazzling appearance. I'm here to teach."

There was a beat of silence before he spoke again, his voice lowering slightly, drawing the students in. "The name's Orion," he said, his tone slower now, almost intimate, like he was telling them something meant only for their ears. "And for the next semester, I'll be introducing you to a subject most of you probably don't even believe in yet."

Stiles straightened in his seat, his smirk fading as his interest sharpened. Scott tilted his head, his eyes narrowing slightly. Allison leaned forward ever so slightly, her fingers curling lightly over the edge of her notebook. Even Lydia, who rarely showed more than polite disinterest, was now sitting perfectly still, her gaze locked on Orion with an intensity she rarely revealed.

"The occult," Orion said simply, letting the word hang in the air like a held breath. "Mysteries of the unknown. The unexplainable. The things that go bump in the night." His golden eyes scanned the room, landing briefly on each student, as if daring them to question him. "And the things that don't."

A few students exchanged uneasy glances. Someone in the back whispered, "Is this guy for real?" earning a sharp glare from Lydia.

Orion didn't seem to mind. If anything, his smile grew wider. "Most of you probably think this is some elective fluff class," he said, his tone suddenly cutting through the room like a blade. "A chance to slack off, maybe even take a nap." He straightened, his arms falling to his sides as he stepped closer to the students. "But I promise you, by the time this semester's over, you won't be able to sleep at all."

The tension in the room spiked. Jackson, who had been sitting with his arms crossed, now shifted uncomfortably, his jaw tightening. Lydia tilted her head slightly, her eyes narrowing as she studied Orion with a mix of intrigue and skepticism. Allison's fingers twitched as she took her pen and began jotting something down, though her eyes flicked up to Orion every few seconds.

Stiles broke the silence with a low whistle. "Well, that's one way to make a first impression," he muttered under his breath, earning a sideways glance from Scott.

Orion's gaze flicked to Stiles, his golden eyes glinting with something that felt almost like recognition. "You look like someone who enjoys a good mystery," he said, his voice lighter now, but no less direct.

Stiles grinned, leaning forward on his desk, his usual bravado returning. "I do," he said, his tone matching Orion's playful energy. "As long as I don't end up as one."

Orion chuckled, the sound low and rumbling. "Stick around, kid," he said, turning his attention back to the rest of the class. "You just might learn how to avoid that."

As he began to outline the syllabus, his voice captivating despite the unusual topic, there was a palpable shift in the room. The initial unease was giving way to curiosity, the kind that made every student sit a little straighter, lean in a little closer.

Scott exchanged another glance with Stiles, his expression not very good as he is wondering what the hell he was doing here.