School Daze

[Tinker Bell]

Quinlan closed his eyes when Tegan kissed his forehead. He closed the door after a moment and just stood there watching as Tegan slowly made his way across the street. He turned around before Tegan made it to his house.


He walked through the house and went to his dad's study. Knocking softly on the door, Quin opened the door and stepped inside. "Dad?" He asked quietly making his dad look up at him with concern. How was he supposed to say it? "I'm worried about Tegan." He said after a moment. His dad then removed his reading glasses.


"The entire street has been worried about that kid for one reason or another for years." He said softly. Quin was confused.


"Th-Then why hasn't, why hasn't anyone done anything?" He asked next. He didn't understand.


"Son, there is more that goes into it than just thinking something is wrong." His dad told him. He'd thought of doing something for years.


"But dad--"


"You should go do your homework." End of conversation apparently.

 

[-.-.Lucifer.-.-]

Darkness surrounded the young man, his eyes drifting open to come face to face with a snoring pig. Whiskey-breath fell across his cheeks, making him screw up his nose. Like every night, the man known as Jase had a gun tucked to his chest. Tegan sat up, his naked body shivering as the cold air fell across his shoulders, making goose-bumps rise against his fresh bruises. He winced, moving into a standing position, his eyes pinned on everything and nothing at all. A million thoughts raced through his head, making the strings attached to his heart give way. The rest of the stitches holding him together unraveled, tears spilling over a the sides of his lids as he bent down to retrieve his clothing. He heard the disgusting man stir, his stomach flying into his throat. He froze in his stance, listening to the startled breaths of the pig as he rolled back over. The snoring picked up again, releasing Tegan from fear's grip. He thought of Quin, and how disgusted he would be in him if he knew what happened behind closed doors. He thought about Jameswood High, and how the hallways were always lined with animals coated in peach-colored flesh. He thought about how many times he'd ventured through those hallways, feared by some, and ridiculed by others. His brain raced back to his mother, who knew what happened when she wasn't at home but never did a thing about it.


He glanced back at the sleeping man, anger rising in his throat. He wanted to wrap his fingers around the male's neck, and ring it out like a wet cloth. He wanted to cut Jase's belly open, and watch his insides spill over his perfectly white sheets. Tegan wanted to see blood, he wanted to see the look of fear in someone's eyes when he loomed over them. Quin's face flashed behind his pupils, the first day they met. The boy had been quaking with fear, tripping over his own words in Karma's presence. He remembered the rush of pleasure he'd gotten by breathing down the side of the shivering male's face, almost tasting how scared he was.


Then the feeling of guilt washed over him. Guilt for what he'd done to the poor guy, for making him feel worthless.


The boy shuffled out of the dark room, his light green hues scanning the hallway before making his way into his perfectly lit room. His gaze pinned on the shade-less window, eyes widening as he realized how much light was spilling into the street. Almost everyone in the neighborhood could look up and see a very hurt, very naked Karma standing mouth-agape in his own bedroom. His hand slammed onto the wall to his right, the lights shutting out quickly. Tegan fumbled with his door, trying to force the bottom to un-stick from the hard ground. It raked across the wood-flooring, making a loud screech that echoed down the hall. He went still, holding his breath to listen for any sudden movements.


After what seemed like ages of endless waiting, he quickly slammed his door shut, and locked all three deadbolts.

 

[Tinker Bell]

Quinlan had left his dad's study, knowing he wouldn't be able to convince him to do anything. He grabbed his backpack and walked upstairs, hearing Bear follow him. Bear was sort of like a protector of sorts. He really only trusted people that came in with him, his dad, or Sean. Other than that everyone was an enemy. He also was always at Quin's side when he was home, if Quin wasn't busy that is.


He sat down at his desk and Bear laid down on his bed. Quin started to do his homework. Normally he did it as soon as he got home, but because he'd invited Tegan he didn't. It didn't take him long to get it done. Then he took a shower and went to bed. He was tired and as soon as he laid down, Bear was curled up next to him.


In the morning, Quin shut his alarm off and went through his usual routine of getting ready. He grabbed his backpack after getting dressed and went downstairs. He slipped on his shoes and went outside just as the bus was pulling up. He locked the door behind him and was quick to get on.

 

[-.-.Lucifer.-.-]

Tegan glanced from the window to his bed where his backpack lay half-heatedly chucked on top of dirty clothes. At least Jase had the common courtesy to place his things back in his room before he could re-gain consciousness. It made his heart sink knowing this was the only good part about the man that slumbered a few doors down from him. He slumped on the edge of his bed, staring blankly at the floor below his feet. He felt a rush of sadness overwhelm him, his vocals giving way to the agony inside. He whimpered, the hole in his belly expanding in all directions, swallowing the seed that Quin had planted earlier that day, stealing his hope for tomorrow out from under him. He stood to his feet watching himself wander to the mirror, the stranger in his disgusting black-and-blue skin staring back at him with salt-water pouring down his grime-covered face. He let his eyes travel over the slit in his lip, swollen and caked with dried blood. The sight of himself made his world crumble. His body falling in a heap on the floor, where he landed the night before. A loop in his events that he couldn't skip over. Someone had pressed repeat on the tape of Tegan Karma's life, placing him as the butt of a sick joke.


He made himself look up at his slumped figure in the mirror, how could anyone love something like him? How could Quin stand to look at his putrid face, glance into his soul-less eyes? Because he can't. He can't see the hate inside your heart, the monster inside that endless pit.


He cried, his shoulders shaking with every sob he heaved. Tegan pulled his aching body onto his bed, sliding his black phone from the front pocket of his bag. He flipped it open, and sent a text to Jacob.


**We're disposing of the Pig tomorrow night.**


With that he fell asleep, his tears staining the pillow as he drifted into a dream-less slumber.


----------------


Tegan awoke to the same song ringing in the same alarm-clock. Something was wrong though. His eyelids fluttered open, realizing there was no slamming against his wooden door, no angry snarls form the putrid man he knew as a step-father. Confusion wrapped around his head as he heaved himself into a sitting position, grimacing at the pain that shot through his body. He looked down to see a long black splotch along his middle knuckle, narrowing his eyes at the fact that he'd broken a bone while trying to shield his face from the rage of Jase.


He glanced at his clock.


7:33


He had enough time.


Tegan grabbed a pair of black jeans and a white wife-beater, his combat boots tucked in his fist tightly. He unlatched the three dead-bolts, glancing around the hallway before slipping into their cramped bathroom. He undressed, watching himself in the mirror as he did so. Though his chest was cut nicely, muscles rippling along his torso, they were cluttered with blue and purple welts, making him drop his gaze to his feet. He tried hard to keep the sickness in his stomach as he slipped under the hot water. A blanket of steam rolled around him as he dipped his white hair under the shower-head, his hair going limp as the liquid rolled over him. The tips of his hair turned a light blond, going darker as it soaked up the shower. He cleaned himself quickly, wincing as he rubbed soap over his banged-up limbs.


When he finished he dressed quickly, knowing the bus would be rolling up soon.


He slipped on his black boots, slowly descending the stairs, expecting to turn the corner and see his mother standing in the kitchen with Jase looming over her shoulder. Instead he glanced into the cooking-room to see a very angry Jase chugging a bottle of whiskey, a piece of paper held tightly in his fist. He glanced up at tegan, the vein in his forehead rising. "This is your fault!" He screamed, pointing the bottle at the teenager. This was something he was use to, people pointing at him with objects instead of fingers. "What the fuck did I do?!" He yelled back, anger rising in his chest. He flinched when Jase got to his feet quickly, walking towards him with a stumbled stance. "You... You!" He couldn't stammer out what was on his mind, instead shoving a piece of crumpled paper in his hands. Tegan glanced down at his mother's handwriting, eyes going wide as he read.


Dear Tegan,


After years of enduring your attitude, and the way you and Jase clash heads, I've decided to leave. I know what goes on in this house, and thinking baout it makes me sick. You both make me sick. I can't stand to look at you anymore. I feel that you're old enough to leave, and at the age of eighteen you should have left months ago. I can't believe you keep letting this man take advantage of you. I've left two-hundred dollars on the counter, enough for a months-worth of food. I'm not telling you where I'm going, because I don't want to see you or Jase. Just know I'm doing this for your own good, if I'm not there you have no reason to stay. I love you - Mom





Hands trembling, Tegan looked up at Jase with doe-like eyes, green hues dripping with tears again. "I-I-"


"You scared her away! You're useless, boy! Bloody useless!" Jase screamed, the back of his hand slamming against Tegan's good cheek, leaving a red burn behind.


Tegan didn't stay to find out what else Jase had up his rage-induced sleeve. Fleeing from the house in time to catch the bus before it shoved off. He stumbled onto the bus, heart in his throat. The piece of paper had still been clutched in his hand, making his eyebrows turn up in pain. He grabbed the only seat that was open, one next to Quin.


He didn't meet the boy's gaze, instead he placed a hand over his lip, trying hard to cover the fresh scab that had formed over-night. But the black welt on his broken knuckle couldn't be hidden. Tegan had left his Letterman jacket at home in his rushed activities, his bruised arms exposed. He mentally slapped himself for his carelessness, leaning his forehead against the brown seat in front of him.


The bus lurched forward.

 

[Tinker Bell]

Quinlan almost thought that Tegan wasn't going to come to school. However he made it before the bus pulled away. Quin looked up at him and was shocked and scared by what he saw. Then his eyes filled with concern. He didn't understand how someone could be so hurt and no one doing anything about it. It took him a moment to say anything, almost entirely certain that Tegan didn't want him to say anything. Before he would have remained totally silent, too afraid to say anything.


He nearly reached out to put his hand lightly on Tegan's arm, but he remembered what he did yesterday. His hand landed back in his lap. His heart started to pound hard in his chest as he tried to say something, anything. "A-Are y-you, um, are y-you o-okay?" He asked quietly. His fear that he would make Tegan mad and the fact that there were so many people on the bus brought his stutter back.

 

[-.-.Lucifer.-.-]

Tegan didn't look at Quin, a veil of white hair creating a wall between him and the world. He felt the hole in his stomach quiver as the words fell form the only light in his life. It slammed into his chest, rippling along his vocals and forcing words to crawl from deep in his throat. "No." He said simply, and shoved the letter into Quin's hands. He brought his feet onto the edge of the seat, knees pressed tightly to his sore chest. He could feel sadness rise behind his eyes, tears falling along his dark pants, a repeat of the day before. Only this time, Quin would know why, almost. His mother never went into detail on the page, but the words were there in black and white. His shoulders shook, silent sobs making him bite his wounded lip, sending pain. If I shall perish in the attack, I can ask for nothing more.

 

[Tinker Bell]

Quinlan felt like his heart broke at those words. He wanted Tegan to be okay. He flinched just a little as something was shoved into his hand. He looked down at the wrinkled piece of paper and slowly opened it to read what it said. Somehow his heart both rose in his throat and sunk into his stomach at the same time. The wording of it made it very clear what happened in that house, maybe not specifics but enough. He wished he could go back to last night and make his dad do something. He hadn't had some irrational worry about him. He should have tried to do something from the very beginning, but he was always too afraid to.


"T-Tegan, I, um--" His voice was quiet, barely audible. What was he supposed to say at a time like this? Was there anything to say? Quin was no longer sure of anything.

 

[-.-.Lucifer.-.-]

Tegan didn't look up when his name was uttered by the staggering boy, nor did he show any sign of caring that the teen had acknowledged his pain finally. On top of everything that had ever happened to him, everyone he loved left. Soon, Quin would too, he just knew it. He draped his hand back over the piece of paper, grasping it from the boy's hand and shoving it in his pocket, nestled next to the red notebook he carried with him everywhere. After a long moment of silence, a low voice finally crawled from between the white-haired boy's lips. "Save your breath." He said, his voice not hinting any sign of anger, annoyance, or even compassion. "Please, just..." Just what? Just put all this heavy information over your shoulder and forget it even existed? Take the bruises, scrapes, scratches, broken bones, and shattered hearts and shove it into the back of your throat until you choke on the darkness that he never knew existed? Just don't go to school tomorrow. Don't turn on the TV, don't flip on the news, stay off the computer, and god-forbid you even get out of bed. Ignore my pleas, ignore my cries, ignore the hate that's built up inside my chest. Ignore my lies, and my impulsive behavior. Forget you ever met me, because by tomorrow you won't know who I am anymore. "Just don't hate me."

 

[Tinker Bell]

Quinlan flinched a little bit when Tegan's hand covered his. He let him take back the piece of paper. He remained silent, waiting to see if Tegan would say anything. Then he finally did, but his voice seemed hollow. Quin still didn't know what to do, but he knew he wanted to do something, anything. He had to try, right.


He didn't say anything, thinking Tegan was going to finish what he was saying. At the finishing of it, Quin looked up at him. "I don't hate you." He told him. He didn't think he could ever hate Tegan. No. He knew he could never hate Tegan. No matter what happened to Tegan, Quin didn't hate him.

 

[-.-.Lucifer.-.-]

The sentence that cleared the space between him made Tegan's cries deepen. His shoulders shaking violently as he pressed a hand over his lips. How could Quin take all of this in without thinking bad of him? How could one begin to cope with the fact that someone you cared about has been violated, repeatedly? The boy has barely known him for a day, and he's suddenly decided that 'hate' was not a word he could use to describe Tegan. You have no idea...


The bus rolled to a stop, making Tegan stand abruptly to his feet. The doors swung open and a sea of bodies rammed themselves into the boy's tender shoulder, all clambering to get off the suffocating yellow dragon. He stayed standing, trying hard to keep his vision pinned on the window in front of them instead of letting his gaze fall over the boy to his right.


Too late.


He met Quin's eyes, his own full of salt-water and regret. He wished he could take his actions back, take back the past few days. He wished he'd never stopped the bus for the boy, wished he'd never begun to grow close to the stuttering twerp. He couldn't control himself. All the heavy bodies had fallen off the large vehicle, leaving Tegan and Quin.


He broke.


Tegan's hand fell away, sobs ripping from his vocal cords as he fell back in his seat, draping his arms around the boy's neck and crying into his soft skin. There was nothing for him to say, all he could do was force out screams of agony. The bus driver had stopped his motion, leaving the door open and waiting quietly. He began to write a pass down for the two, knowing well that this wasn't something he could just kick them off for, the boy was obviously needing his friend. He'd watched the wounded boy trudge on the bus day by day without question.

 

[Tinker Bell]

Quinlan wanted so much to pull Tegan in for a hug, but he didn't know how the other would react. So he didn't move. Then the bus stopped and Tegan stood, waiting. Quin looked up at him, eyes full of concern. He didn't avert his eyes when Tegan looked down on him. However he was a bit shocked when Tegan fell back into the seat and threw his arms around him.


Without hesitation, his own small arms wrapped out Tegan. Tegan had helped him out more than he ever needed to and Quin was going to help him now. He started to softly rub Tegan's back, not saying anything for awhile. School, for once, was the furthest thing from his mind. Tegan needed him more an unlike, apparently, everyone on their street he was going to do something. Or try to.


"I-If you don't want to go to school, we can leave." He said quietly after several moments. He didn't think Tegan would want anyone to see him like this, especially after that group of people saw yesterday. However he would do whatever Tegan decided.

 

[-.-.Lucifer.-.-]

After a few moments of letting himself pour the darkness out of his mind onto the shirt of Quin's he shook his head. "No, I have to go today." He said, trying to pull his pieces together. He wiped the back of his hand over a bruised eye, stitching half himself back up with cheap thread. He sniffled, wiping the other side of his face. He bound his stray slices of who he'd thought he was back into place, working hard to hold it in place. He took a deep breath, looking at Quin with a weak smile. "Thanks." he said simply, before moving off the seat and offering Quin his hand, like nothing had happened.


Just let me get through today without any scenes.

 

[Tinker Bell]

Quinlan nodded a little bit. School it was then. He still wanted to make sure that Tegan was okay though. However something had stuck out to him. He'd said he had to go, like he didn't have a choice. Quin was confused as to why he'd word it like that. He didn't have much time to linger in thoughts about it though. Tegan was off the seat and holding his hand out for him. He put his bag on his shoulder and took Tegan's hand. Standing up, he mentally prepared himself knowing that if the students were going to make a fuss about the two of them, the worst part would be today.

 

[-.-.Lucifer.-.-]

The bus driver grabbed Tegan's shoulder as they passed. The boy looked from the hand to his skin, wimcimgnat the pressure on his new wounds. He ripped away, his heart ranking loudly against his eardrums. "Get o--"


"Tegan, Quin, here are some passes. You'll be late, but it will be excused." The grey man croaked generously, looking at both of them with generous brown eyes, hidden behind thick frames.


Tegan stared at the two small pink slips that he held between his fingers, almost shaking. Please don't be here tomorrow. I can't let you see me like that. He took the passes from him with a weak smile. "Thank you, sir." He said politely and then pulled Quin out of the vehicle behind him.


Ring! Ring ring! Ring!





The white-waired male didn't rush them on the way to class, staring at his surroundings. He glanced at the camera above the entrance, his gaze sliding down to the office window, their curtains pulled down. His free hand traveled down to his pocket, fingers brushing over the rough leather. He couldn't write anything down with Quin so close, afraid he'd catch a glance at their methodically planned mission. His heart almost gave way, thinking of the boy who's hand he'd been holding in the range of fire. An image flashed before him.


The school's hallways dark, dank, and a cloud of dust settled around him. He reached for a slab of concrete, rubble scattering the surrounding area. He pulled with all his might, rocks falling from his fingertips as he heaved it to the side. "Quin?!" He cried, his eyes pinning on a small face frozen in fear. His face covered in long gashes, blood dripping from his nose and lips.





Tegan's grip on the smaller male's hand tightened, his other flying to the silver handle and yanking it open. A rush of warm air hit them, making Karma blink rapidly. He lead Quin down the empty hallway, glancing occasionally at the position of the cameras, searching for blind-spots. "Today will be interesting" he murmured, slinking to their lockers.

 

[Tinker Bell]

Quinlan looked at the bus driver. After the years he'd picked them up, he didn't think that he knew Quin's name. But he guessed that of a lot of people. It was just easier than thinking they did and having it turn out that they didn't.


He walked off the bus with Tegan, giving a small smile to the driver. He kept his eyes down as the door came closer. It was the first day that he was nervous to go to school.


Tegan's grip tightened and Quin looked up at him. The air hit them, warmer that outside. It was almost ominous in a way. He walked with Tegan, almost behind him, as they made their way through the halls.


When they made it to their lockers, Quin opened his and started to put his things away, keeping out what he'd need for his first few periods. Which wasn't a lot considering the music classes he had.


Sent from my iPod touch using Tapatalk

 

[-.-.Lucifer.-.-]

Tegan stuffed his whole backpack in the locker, not bothering to arrange the cluttered tin box. Papers fell to the ground, broken pencils brought down with them. He gently nudged them to the side with the tip of his steel-toed boots. He looked down at his scuffed shoes, remembering how much damage he'd done to the pig's groin before. Why did he think of that now?


He grabbed out his english book, another wave of useless things falling around his combat-covered feet. This time he didn't care to kick them to the side. He closed his locker, a sigh blowing the bangs over his brows up, his long scab looking a bit better then the day before. His lip, however, was stinging with every move he made with his face. He placed his hand on the nape of Quin's neck, moving them to their destination, his brain reeling.


All he could think about was his first objective, growing impatient as he glanced sideways at the clock.


8:56


16 hours until D-day.





Tegan dropped his hand from Quin's nape as soon as they reached the english room, his gaze darting to Ms. Darwin's frustrated-looking face. She opened her mouth to speak, but the taller male beat her to the punch, sliding their passes in her hands. "Carry on." He said, moving to the back of the class. Some of the students gawked at the blue marks along his muscular arms, eyes wide as he'd entered behind the smaller man. A hush of voices rolled across the isles, gossip of the two's unnatural affair falling from their fast lips. Tegan narrowed his eyes at a group of guys who made a kissy-face at Quin. Feeling the burn of Tegan's glare, they dropped their charade and focused on the teacher as she droned on about upcoming finals. He'd forgotten how close it was to the end of the school year, but the notion that he'd be rid of the school soon fell from his mind, pinning his thoughts back on the task at hand.


Tegan grabbed his notebook, unraveling the long leather thread, and turned to the tenth page from the end. The blank paper stared up at him, ready to be filled with the impending fate of his fellow students. He scrawled the names of the jocks who'd just been teasing his light, imagining the look on their faces when a 9mm slammed into their skulls.

 

[Tinker Bell]

Quinlan didn't mind much when Tegan put his hand on the back of his neck. In fact, it made him feel a bit better. He knew people would take the chance to make fun of them and he wasn't ready for that yet. However, somehow Tegan made him feel okay. The halls were empty and it felt weird to Quin.


Getting to class, he looked down. He'd never been late before. Thankfully they didn't get in trouble because of the passes. He kept his head down as they walked to the back of the room, knowing people were talking about - and probably laughing at - them. He just hoped it wouldn't get worse than this. Although he had a feeling in his gut that it would.

 

[-.-.Lucifer.-.-]

The rest of the class was full of boring test stuff, mentions of the practice finals that would be passed out tomorrow. Ms.Darwin passed out a thick packet, full of deffenitions and essay questions they had to fill out in order to be able to take the practice exam. All this trouble for a test that isn't even part of our grade. Tegan rested his chin in his hand, propped on the oak desk at his elbow. He glanced down at the twelve-pages stapled together in the corner, not recognizing the words sprawled over the page.


allegory-


consonance-





enjambment-





hamartia-





He stared down at the letters, confusion clouding his vision. He felt something pull in his chest, frustration; at himself for being so stupid, at this class for being useless, at the school for drowning him in a sea of empty shells all looking the other way while he crumbled. The teacher continued on, mentioning them to get into pairs again. He glanced up to see a Blonde-haired jock stroll over to Quin, his hands slamming on the boy's desk. Caleb Wendt


"Hey fruit!" He said, voice dripping with malice. "Why don't you let me be your partner, take a break from your girlfriend." He chuckled, glancing sideways at the angry white-haired teenager who's grip on his pen caused the blastoff to crack. "Leave him alone." He chimed in, shooting up from his desk so fast his chair toppled over.

 

[Tinker Bell]

Quinlan listened to the teacher, hoping that he could concentrate enough to ignore the comments being made. He looked down at the packet on his desk, mentally going through the definitions of the different words. When the teacher told them they were to work in pairs, his first thought was Tegan. He was the only one in the class that Quin could actually talk to.


However hands landed on his desk and he jumped a little bit. Someone actually came over to him? He realized why when the person had come to him. It had been a sort of joke. He didn't look up, but he heard Tegan and was glad that he wasn't alone. He jumped a little when he heard the chair fall and he looked up at Tegan. He wanted to say something, but even if he knew what to say he knew he wouldn't be able to say it.

 

[-.-.Lucifer.-.-]

Caleb turned towards the man who'd butt into his joke, blue eyes narrowed. "What are you going to do about it? You look like you've already gotten your pansy ass kicked."


This made anger swell loudly in Tegan's ears. He stepped forward, his hands jammed in his black pockets. Yellow-green eyes flashed with malice. "You don't want to mess with me, Wendt." He spat, eyes growing wide as rage took over his actions. The jock leaned towards him, silence falling over the class. They ended up being nose to nose, Tegan standing barely an inch taller then the football star. "Watch your back, Karma." He murmured, his jaw clenched. Someone dropped a pencil, slicing the tension in the air. Tegan jerked his head forward quickly, causing the blue-eyed male to flinch. Ending the standoff.


Once the male had wandered back to his desk, Tegan knelt next to a nervous Quin, placing his palm over the boy's cheek affectionately. "Are you okay?" He breathed, making some of the girls in the class swoon. They thought it was cute, while the straight-as-a-rail boys scoffed in disgust.

 

[Tinker Bell]

Quinlan's heart raced when the two seemed to be ready to fight. He wanted them to stop. He could feel his heart pounding in his chest, blood rushing in his ears. The day was not starting off very well. A pencil fell and Caleb walked away. Quinlan looked up at Tegan when he knelt net to him.


He managed to nod a little bit. "Y-Yeah." His voice was barely audible. He could still feel all the people staring at them and it made him more nervous. Although just feeling Tegan's hand on his cheek made him feel okay.

 

[-.-.Lucifer.-.-]

Tegan almost forgot they were in the presence of other students, leaning down to kiss his forehead. He stopped himself before the action could take place, and instead swiped a lock of brown hair from the boy's face. He turned on his heal, grabbing a desk that was right next to Quin, and slid it over to his side, the chair being pushed by the tip of his foot. The sound of the legs scraping against the floor made some people wince, exactly what the man had been aiming for.


He then grabbed his things and lay them gently on the wooden surface before sitting next to the small boy.


"Do you know any of this?" He asked, pointing to the front page and laying his arm across the back of Quinn's chair.

 

[Tinker Bell]

Quinlan's face went red as Tegan leaned down, almost like he was going to kiss him somehow but he just brushed hair from his face. He flinched as the sound of the desk being scrapped against the floor. He looked up when Tegan sat in the chair that was now next to him. At the question, Quin nodded just a bit.


School was what he was good at and he remembered almost everything they'd learned this year, even small things from the very beginning. He sat up a little straighter, picking up his pencil. Then he went through the words with Tegan, taking a moment to remember the definition for each.

 

[-.-.Lucifer.-.-]

Team stared down at his paper as Quin went through the material with him, his notebook tucked next to his thigh. Half the stuff they'd covered this year, he never remembered. He didn't know where most of the information regarding classes went, when everything else seemed to make it into the vault. He wrote down the deffenitions as they fell from Quin's lips. His chicken scratch handwriting reminding him how useless he was in the real world. If the mission didn't go well, and he survived like he wasn't meant to, he didn't want to know what would happen to him. Would he go to prison? Would they bronco him to a mental facility? Would he be gunned down in front of everyone? Would it hurt?


He tried to focus on the task at hand, acting normal. The voice of Quin almost lulled him into a trance, no longer writing down the deffenitions. He stared at the shape of the boy's mouth as he spoke, wanting to take them between his lips. He placed his hand over Quin's, slipping the pencil from his fingers and grasping his hand in his palm. "You're really smart." He said, guilt selling in his chest. This boy needed to live on, to bless the world with his knowledge. He could see Quite achieving great things, growing old and having a family. He tried to imagine himself in the boy's life, but it was difficult for him to push past the mission. He'd have to die, there was no other way. He had no idea how he could live on. "How is it that you can speak so well to me now?"

 

[Tinker Bell]

Quinlan didn't even notice that Tegan had stopped writing. Then his hand was over his, taking the pencil from his hand. He looked up at him when he held his hand. His face grew red again,he hadn't been expecting that. "Um, th-thanks." He mumbled quietly. He never really thought he was very smart. He was just good at remembering facts. To him there was a difference.


Then Tegan asked why he could talk so good now. Quinlan thought about it and realized he didn't really know. He was still nervous around him sometimes and it was worse when they were around other people. "I don't, um, I don't know." He said after a moment, looking down at their intertwined hands. He just felt...okay around Tegan.