School Daze

[Tinker Bell]

Quinlan wasn't expecting that, but it made him happy to hear that he liked pizza. His face grew redder when Tegan started to kiss his hand. His heart skipped a beat and his mind was hazy. "Y-Yeah, you can help." He said, smiling a little bit. He was almost certain that this was the first time he saw Tegan look actually happy. "Don't worry, it's easy." He told him. He took Tegan's hand and walked to the kitchen. Bear followed them. Quin moved to open the dog door and Bear went to the backyard, bounding through it as if he never went outside before. Then he started to gather the things he'd need to make pizza. The kitchen was like something out of a magazine, the only thing that made it feel like a home was the fridge. It was covered in old pictures, mostly of his older brother Sean, and a dry erase calendar that had important things written on it.

 

[-.-.Lucifer.-.-]

Tegan allowed the boy to drag him into the vast kitchen. His yellow-green eyes lit up at the sight of the boy's cooking area. He'd never been in such a large room with so much counter space, being use to the clutter of beer cans, whiskey bottles, and shot glasses. He watched intently as the small figure moved things around in the kitchen. His gaze wandered across the boy's face, falling down his neck and chest. He gazed at his small arms working as he picked tomatoes sauce out of a high cupboard. He walked behind the boy, brushing his chest against the back of his head as he leaned up to pluck the ingrediance down and placing it in his hand. He ran his palm up the side of Quin's shoulder, choline his cheek before lightly missing the nape of his neck. He didn't know what brought about these out of character actions, but he enjoyed it immensely. After this small gesture settled in, he backed away slightly. "I'm sorry... this isn't like me." He said, rubbing the back of his head, his cheeks burning red. He thought about Jacob, and how the redhead would disapprove strongly. Tegan was compramising their agreement, and he knew what he was doing was wrong. He just couldn't help it.

 

[Tinker Bell]

Quinlan's face grew red again when Tegan grabbed the sauce for him. "Um, thanks." When he was alone, he usually just sort of got onto the counter to get things. He felt Tegan's hand move up and felt goosebumps again, glad the sweater stopped from Tegan from feeling them. Then Tegan was suddenly away from him. "I-It's okay." He wasn't going to lie and say he hated them. He quickly checked to make sure he had everything they needed. Dough, sauce, cheese, pepperoni, olives, peppers. That was what he usually put on his pizzas. Then he remembered something. "Oh, do you, um, want something to drink?" That was what you were supposed to say when you invited someone over. This was still new to him and he wasn't sure how to really act.

 

[-.-.Lucifer.-.-]

Tegan shook his head, white hair slapping against his cheeks. He stood on the opposite end of the counter, ocassionally glancing at the digital clock within the microwave screen. He hoped the visit could be longer then expected, knowing Jase was probably awaiting in the small dark livingroom, his dagger-like pupils burning holes in the floorboards. It was obvious the man waited for Karma to come home, all his anger getting pent up throughout the day. The frozen fear was back again, attaching itself to the tall boy's face. It burned in the back of his mind, and the sudden reminder made his stomach twist. "So what do you do for fun?" He asked, quickly trying to pin his mind on a different subject. His brain had a nasty habit of drifting off into heavy areas. Parts of his mind where the darkness was too deep to hoist himself back out of.

 

[Tinker Bell]

Quinlan nodded a bit. He got a big bowl from a lower cupboard, where they kept the dishes used for baking. Then Tegan asked what he did for fun. What did he do for fun? "Um, I don't know." He said quietly. "I guess I play with Bear." He added as he started to make the dough, mixing it in the bowl as it started to get thicker and harder to stir. "Sometimes I pull out my mom's old recipe book and bake things." Not his birth mom, but the woman who adopted him with his dad. He didn't do much really, it was hard to do anything with no friends. "Sometimes Sean'll hang out with me when he's home, but that doesn't happen much." His voice grew quiet at that statement Sean was five years older and he rarely came home anymore. "What do you do for fun?" He asked, feeling slightly weird for talking about himself as he just did. He rarely talked about himself, before Tegan came he was sure he never said anything about himself.

 

[-.-.Lucifer.-.-]

The follow-up question smacked Tegan in the face. He wasn't prepared for Quin to ask him about his life, more. He pondered for a second, flashing through the hobbies that trailed through his head. You couldn't consider drugs something to do for fun. That's definitely not normal. Neither is loitering anywhere in order to avoid going home. He thought about the many times he'd taken solace in repeating the names of his fellow classmates in his head. Recalling all the moments where he'd sit motionless and gaze at the bags of flesh with robot minds. He could bring about many memories of his silent stalking, knowing his strange world had no other interesting aspects to it. "I people watch." He said blankly, resting his chin upon the counter top, watching the small boy work at the sticky dough. He patted the side of his thigh lightly, making sure the red note-book was still neatly tucked close to him. "I don't really have fun."

 

[Tinker Bell]

Quinlan waited for an answer. People watch? He guessed that could be interesting in a way. Then he said he didn't have fun and Quinlan thought that was sort of upsetting. Everyone deserved to have fun at some point. "Well, maybe we could have fun while you're here." He said quietly. He wasn't sure how they could do that, but he wanted to try. He finished mixing the dough then he grabbed the flour and covered a section of the counter. "You can help with this part." He told him. Shaping the dough into a circle was kind of fun, but he struggled with it sometimes.

 

[-.-.Lucifer.-.-]

Tegan liked the idea of spending his time with this boy, his presence no longer annoying, but giving him solace. He nodded at his statement, enjoying the thought of finally loosening up and taking advantage of the quiet. He came up behind the brown-haired boy, placing his palms over the back of Quinlan's hands and moving his hands with the dough. He pressed from the inside of the large clump, rolling it under their fingers until it spread out along all sides. He pressed his cheek to the side of Quin's head, his back arched in order for him to maneuver around the small figure. When the dough had been sifted into a perfect thin disk he lifted a flour coated hand and brushed the powder on the boy's small nose, planting a sweet kiss on his neck with a small smile. "This is nice." He breathed, his lips lingering at the boy's earlobe, his nose nudging into his soft brown hair. Their close proximity made him feel giddy, the full-feeling in his chest had returned, dampening the swirling hole, if only for a few moments.

 

[Tinker Bell]

Quinlan's heart raced a little bit when Tegan moved behind him. It was definitely better than being alone. He watched their hands move and shape the dough. Then it was a perfectly flat circle. That was easier than it usually was. He blinked a little bit when Tegan brushed his nose and it took him a moment to realize that he put flour there. He smiled a little bit and went red at the kiss. He nodded a little bit when Tegan said it was nice. He looked up at Tegan and, without thinking, put some of the flour on his hand onto the taller boy's nose, smiling a little bit.

 

[-.-.Lucifer.-.-]

Flour fell across his nose, drifting across his lips that had been spread wide in a broad and genuine smile. The color of the baking ingredient blending perfectly with the color of his thick snow-like eyelashes. He grabbed the boy's wrist rubbing his soiled nose lightly against the tip of Quin's. "You'll pay for that." He said with a low chuckle, and slapped his hand down on the flour covered counter top flicking a few puffs against the back of the boy's head. Small flecks of pale substance falling to the floor. He laughed, spinning the boy around and pinning him against his chest, his flour-covered hands falling to the small of his back. He looked into his emerald hues, getting lost in the color of his sea-green irises. Tegan's smile faded, his chest tightening. His breath caught in his throat for a moment, the sight of Quin making his heart give way. He cleared his throat, pushing his feelings through the thick wall of sticky spiderwebs that coated the back of his mouth. "Quin..." He took a deep breath. "I've never felt like this before." He said softly, pressing his fingers lightly to the shorter male's shin, tilting his head up. He let his lips fall over the boy's small soft mouth, taking in his taste.

 

[Tinker Bell]

Quinlan closed his eyes when Tegan rubbed their noses together. He smiled wider when he heard the other laugh. Although he gasped when Tegan put flour in his hair and he tried to get it out until Tegan spun him around. He looked up at him, blush growing on his face. He saw Tegan's smile fade and he grew unsure. His heart skipped a beat when Tegan said his name. He never felt like this before either. Then he felt Tegan's lips on his own. He wrapped his arms around Tegan's neck and leaned into the kiss.


A moment later there were footsteps in the kitchen. "Quinlan Matthews, what is going on here?" His dad did not sound happy. Quin quickly pulled away from Tegan.


"D-Dad, you're not supposed to be home yet." He said.


"I asked a question." His father said simply. Quin wasn't sure what to say now. He was horrible in situations when his dad seemed mad. He usually tried to get away from it, but now he couldn't.

 

[-.-.Lucifer.-.-]

((Oh god I didn't think you were actually going to do it! xD Oh how awkward!))


Tegan leaned into the kiss, savoring the feeling of Quin brushing against him. He raked his hands through the boy's hair, shaking the flour out as a truce in their small baking-war. He felt small arms wrap around his neck, making Tegan pull him closer. Eyelids fluttered close, a small sigh of satisfaction falling from his lips. Footsteps ripped his attention away from the burning in his cheeks, and the soft mouth upon his own. "Quinlan Matthews, what is going on here?" The stern voice made the white-haired boy jump, ripping his arms away from Quin quickly. His eyes fell on a bright-haired man, his gentle eyes full of anger. The sight of an older man made Tegan's eyes widen, his face freezing in fear. He'd never met an older gentleman without expecting a shot to the jaw or a kick to the stomach.


The stuttering was back, "D-Dad, you're not supposed to be home yet."


Dad? Oh shit.


Tegan held his hands up in surrender, mouth trying to form words, but the vowels seemed to shrink away inside his maw. The presence of the elder made him quake in his combat boots, his hand shooting up to cover the large bruise under his eye, thick white bangs doing the job for the freshly scabbed over gash along his forehead. "I was kissing him." He blurted out, realizing his choice of words were most likely not the greatest. "I mean, it wasn't his idea... I mean he didn't stop me... I mean... I should go." His voice cracked, fear creeping up his tongue, gripping his jugular with force.

 

[Tinker Bell]

((I saw an opportunity and I went for it!))


Quinlan saw that Tegan seemed afraid and he had to try and help him. "N-No, you don't, y-you don't have to." He said quietly. He felt so bad, his dad wasn't supposed to be home for at least another hour. "D-Dad?" He looked back at his dad. There seemed to be a slight change in his dad, barely noticeable. This was the first time that Quin had ever brought anyone over and the first time that he stood up for something he wanted. Besides, it was hard for the man to hate Tegan, he had a feeling that his life wasn't the easiest for him. He had taken note of the things on the counter behind them.


After a moment, a small smile appeared on the man's face. "Make sure to save me a piece." He said before walking out. Quin was confused. He wasn't mad? Quin thought for sure he would be. He relaxed a little bit, feeling better that he was okay with Tegan being over.

 

[-.-.Lucifer.-.-]

Tegan was speechless for a long moment, staring at the spot where Quin's father had loomed just moments prior. He hadn't realized he'd been holding his breath until his head began to swim. He exhaled, his body going limp. He fell against the counter top, his hand flying to his forehead. Was it normal for parents to be so... under bearing? He stared blankly at the floorboards, trying to re-gain the remaining slivers of his mind that were held in tact. His elbows quaked as he pushed himself up, his chest scraping against the edge of the granite counter. "Your dad..." He breathed, his voice slowly returning to normal. "Scared the shit out of me." He admitted, realizing he'd been in the same state of mind just then that he would have been in if he were to venture home. If it had been any different, and Quin's dad had lay a finger on Tegan, an elbow would have slammed into his body, repeatedly.


With shaking fingers he raked his hand through his bangs, the large healing gash visible under the full-spectrum lights. He remembered what Quin had said bout him staying over, realizing the situation had completely swapped their personalities. Karma lifted himself into a straight stance, his pupils glancing at everything and nothing at all. "I thought I was going to die." He said, a nervous laugh falling from his teeth.

 

[Tinker Bell]

Quinlan turned to Tegan and saw that he seemed very freaked out. He felt bad for it. "I-I'm sorry." He said quietly. His dad could be sort of intimidating when he wanted to be. Then Tegan said he thought he was going to die. "He wouldn't, um, hurt you." He told him. His dad never would hurt anyone. He just looked intimidating.


He felt like changing the subject would be a good idea right about now. "We should, um, we should probably finish the pizza." He said after a moment. He was sort of hungry now too and knew that it would be best to finish it.

 

[-.-.Lucifer.-.-]

Tegan glanced sharply at Quin after the words fell from his lips. "He wouldn't, um, hurt you." They rang in his head like a billion bees, screaming from the inside. How could Tegan know he wouldn't lay a hand on him? How did he know the man never struck Quin? He let his eyes wander along the male's skin, like he was rechecking for any marks. He stayed in that position, his green eyes like daggers for a moment before he calmed his features, sliding his hand over Quin's. The feeling of his flesh under his palm made him feel at ease, and the fact that his father had let him stay made it even better. "Thank you for having me over." He murmured, his lips barely moving as he said this. He helped Quin spread red sauce over the thin dough, sprinkling cheese on top. His stomach growled loudly, making Tegan blush and clear his throat. "I could eat this thing raw." He said, tilting his head back and sprinkling some cheese in his mouth.

 

[Tinker Bell]

Quinlan wasn't sure what to do when Tegan looked him over. He didn't know what he was thinking and the staring almost made him feel like he wanted to disappear. Then Tegan's face changed and he seemed a bit more relaxed. He looked down when Tegan's hand ran along his own and he turned his hand over to lightly hold Tegan's. "I'm glad you said yes." He told him. Then he turned to the pizza and started to put the things on it. Then Tegan mentioned eating raw. "But it'll taste so much better cooked." He said with a smile. He then put some of the pepperoni on top of it.

 

[-.-.Lucifer.-.-]

Once they were finished building the Pizza, Tegan took the responsibility of shifting it into the oven. For some reason he had a strange feeling of protection over Quin for a moment, mostly afraid of the male burning himself. It was a strange and irrational fear, but the thought of the boy getting hurt in any way made Tegan's heart-strings loop together tying around his bones and tugging tightly with every movement. He glanced up from under white lashes, placing the pizza-pan directly in the middle of the hot-rack. He closed the large white door, glancing at the many plastic buttons scattered along the fancy stove. "How the fuck do you work this thing?" He asked, feeling like an actual kid again. He was so caught up in Quin's company, he almost didn't hear the small rumbling of his cell-phone in the back of his black book-bag. He hadn't checked his cell in over a week now, almost dreading it as he faced the black bag. He unzipped the front pocket, plunging his hand into the mess of jumbled papers, a black flip-phone held in his palm. The phone vibrated against his palm, making his stomach feel tight. "It's Jacob." He said, a small pang of anger in his tone. He looked up at Quin, an apology flashing across his brows as he flipped the device open and placed the speaker along his ear. "Hello?"


"It's about damn time you pick up!" the red-head yelled on the other end, his voice thick with anger.


"I'm sorry, I was busy."


"Busy fucking your new girlfriend, Quincie?"


"Jacob, it's not like that." He growled, range rising under his skin. "What do you have against him anyways?"


"I didn't think you would flake on me over some flower-boy." Jacob yelled, if Tegan could see his face he would have guessed it was beet red.


"I didn't flake on you, okay? I'm just hanging out with some new people. There's nothing wrong with that."


Jacob kept talking, their conversation turning hushed. Tegan cupped his hand over the phone once or twice, never glancing up from his shoes. There was a long pause. Tegan was listening intently, his pale fingers running over the red book in his side pocket.


Jacob's voice raised once more, making Tegan angrier. "Grow up!" He yelled before slamming his cell shut and stuffing it back in his bag. He planted his palms on the kitchen table, a gust of hair blowing between his teeth, making his bangs ruffle.


"Sorry."

 

[Tinker Bell]

Quinlan smiled a little when Tegan asked how to work the oven. He watched Tegan then answer his phone, not really minding too much. He turned to the stove and set the timer. The start of the conversation made him feel awkward. He could tell that whoever was on the other end was made. Was it the one guy Tegan was friends with? He started to clean up as he waited for Tegan to be done. Then he heard him hang up the phone and he turned to him.


"It's okay." He said. It wasn't really his fault. He was almost done cleaning up the counter now.

 

[-.-.Lucifer.-.-]

Tegan plucked discarded trash from the counter, helping Quin clean up the mess they'd made. He couldn't help but look down at the boy every so often, his lips parting in a longing smile. He liked to watch him move, his arms working to clean up the counter. Tegan placed his hand on the boy's waste, pulling him towards him. The fact that Quin's father was there didn't seem to bother him anymore, mostly because he hadn't rushed at him in a drunken fit. The white-haired boy ran his other hand down the boy's shoulder, his palm falling over the top of his hand. He couldn't control his actions around the other, the weird overwhelming full feeling in his black pit giving him solace. Something weighed heavy in the back of his mind now, school. What would happen to them tomorrow? Would people gang up on Quin? Did this mean guys would be openly expressing their feelings to him? Would Tegan lose him too? "What do you think will happen tomorrow?" He asked, genuine curiosity in his voice. "I'm kind of worried." He said, letting his words hang in the air for a moment.

 

[Tinker Bell]

Quinlan smiled when Tegan started to help. Then Tegan pulled him close and Quin's heart started to beat a little faster. He looked down at Tegan's hand going down his shoulder and ending on his hand. Quinlan flipped his hand over and held Tegan's hand again. Then he looked up at him when he asked about tomorrow. Right, the entire school probably knew by now. What was going to happen tomorrow? He would be lying if he said he wasn't worried. "I-It'll be okay." He said, trying to reassure both of them. "Don't worry." Advice for both of them as well.

 

[-.-.Lucifer.-.-]

Tegan shook his head, white hair falling over his eyes, a shadow casting over his cheeks. "I'm not worried about me." He said wrapping his arms around the male, fingers still clasped together. He rested his chin along Quin's hair, brain kicking into autopilate. His defensive would be heightened tomorrow, taking extra care to keep this boy out of harms way. "People are cruel." He said, a small pang of darkness in his voice. "If someone gives you a hard time, and I'm not there, tell me their name." He said this in a stern manner but gently kissed the top of Quinlan's head shortly after. He knew he said this before, but he felt he should repeat himself. Tegan was being serious.


"Is your Dad just okay with us?" He asked, not quite understanding what 'us' was. He wanted to know what these feelings meant.

 

[Tinker Bell]

Quinlan's face grew redder when he said he wasn't worried about himself. That could only mean one thing and Quin didn't know how to react to that. Then he said something about people being cruel. He glanced down for a moment, feeling more unsure about going tomorrow. He knew he had to though, he'd never missed a day of school before. Looking up at Tegan, he nodded a little bit. "Okay." He sounded dead serious about making sure Quin told him.


It took him a moment to think of how to respond to the next question. "I don't know." He said quietly. "But he didn't kick you out, so that's a good sign." He said. "I think he was just glad that I invited someone over and they actually came." His voice turned slightly sad at it, remembering the birthday party he wanted in third grade. He had invited the whole class and no one showed up.

 

[-.-.Lucifer.-.-]

Tegan's face fell at the pang of sadness in the boy's voice as he spoke. He understood what it meant to be lonely, even if he did have Jacob. The redhead wasn't perfect company to keep, but then again neither was Tegan. If he could read minds. The white haired man spun Quin around again, his palm resting over the boy's forehead, their noses touching. He brushed bangs away from the young man's face, getting a good look at his features. "I won't forget you Quin." He murmured, never tearing their gazes away. "You, and your dad, have shown me more compassion within the last few hours then I've ever received." His eyes tinged dark when he said this, mouth falling shy of a weak grin. It stung to move his facial muscles much, the wounds among his skin searing whenever something would make him frown or grin. He had no idea why those words fell from his lips. He wished he could have attached them to a thread, slurping them back up in his maw. Why didn't he say these things? Why was he so ruthless around Quite, spilling everything his mind had to offer. He dropped his hands away from the boy, opening the oven a few seconds before the timer went off. Tegan let his unwanted words pile up in the corners of the room as he slipped on an oven not and slid the pan from the racks. He placed the round disk on the stove, bumping the oven-door up with his right hip. The smell of melted cheese and pepperoni grease filled the room, making his mouth water and his empty stomach yowl.

 

[Tinker Bell]

Quinlan was a bit shocked at what Tegan did next. He held his breath for a moment as their noses touched. Then Tegan said something that Quin thought he'd never hear. He wouldn't forget him? What did that mean? Then he felt horrible at what he said next. Was he telling the truth? He wasn't sure what to say, if anything at all. The Tegan turned around and got the pizza out of the oven. He guessed it took longer than he thought to clean. He opened a cupboard and got some plates down and then he moved to a drawer to find the pizza cutter. It took a bit of searching, they hadn't had pizza in awhile.


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