HULK SMASH (er....sorry Oriel)

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Finally, after what seemed like forever, finals were over at Hammel, which meant Rue didn't have to work around Jackson's studying schedule like he had before.  The only difficult part was making excuses for the two of them to see each other, now that Rue didn't need to 'tutor' the boy until classes started up again.  He figured the best thing for them to do was just act like good friends and hang out together despite their age difference.  Nothing too strange about that, right?

Well... As long as Rue could keep his eyes and hands to himself when they were around people oblivious to their situation (so, pretty much everyone but Finn and Vicky by this point).  It was really difficult for the normally collected man, however, and he wasn't sure how well he always succeeded at it.  At least Jackson seemed to manage to look clueless most of the time.

He looked forward to times like now, when they could escape somewhere fairly alone and quiet, and expect no one to bother them (or at least, no one that really mattered).  They had found themselves in an alley in downtown Pilot Ridge, and were meandering down it slowly, joined hands swinging slightly.  On a normal day, Rue would have already bent the boy over backwards and assaulted his lips, but... Well, today he had a few things on his nerves that he tried not to show, but was probably at least somewhat obvious by his unusually quiet, un-invasive behavior around Jackson, and the tightness in his jaw.  He hadn't said anything about it, and hoped Jackson wouldn't ask.

Rue finally managed to lean over and peck the boy on the cheek.  Guh... His mind was really roiling at this point, but he was trying to enjoy their time together.  He gave a thin smile.  "Want to stay here for a while, or go somewhere?" he asked quietly.

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Jackson had (somehow) noticed Rue’s mood. Or rather, he noticed that Rue was holding himself back a lot more than usual. In that he wasn’t even trying to flirt with the high school student as the two of them walked alone through a rather desolate alley. He hadn’t even said anything about Jackson’s newly bleached hair, something he never thought he’d ever do in the whole of his lifetime. Phoenix and Finn had talked him into it, somehow…and now that it was done, Jackson didn’t hate it(Grams had a fit when she saw it though, whoops). However, he was hoping to a little more reaction from Rue than just a simple “it’s nice”. Maybe Rue didn’t like it?

Or maybe Jackson should have just given it another day before calling Rue out? Or another week? School wasn’t technically out of session yet, it was just that exams were over with and their classes were more or less going over any last minute details they might have forgotten to cover or thought might be useful to the students but wasn’t necessarily in the curriculum. Jackson liked days like these because it meant he didn’t have to pay attention as much in class. And then the days overall were just short, which left him with little to do honestly, so he would often stay after and help out his teachers with an array of small, menial tasks.

Jackson sighed as the memory of a recent encounter resurfaced when he least needed to think about it. Some jerk senior had been lurking about and caught Jackson in not one of his brighter moments, truthfully, while he was cleaning one of the classrooms. Words were exchanged. Harsh words. Words that you can’t say in a PG setting. Suffice to say, Jackson had been left more than a bit unsettled by the end of it, such that he could barely collect himself enough to finish his task and bail to his room where he stayed for the rest of the afternoon.

The boy took in a deep, therapeutic breath and let it out slowly. He shook his head, tousling his now blonde hair and ridding himself of that memory. He had much better things to think about right now. Like, what he wanted to do with Rue, and where he wanted to go.

Jackson’s eyes danced a little when Rue finally dove in and granted him some of that much yearned attention. He squeezed Rue’s hand in response to the affection. “I don’t care,” he said honestly. Despite saying that, though, his mind was already searching for a more concrete answer. “There’s a sweet shop just down that way,” he offered, pointing further down the empty alley. “Marisol’s. You ever been to it? They have great licorice.” The prospect of candy always put Jackson in a good mood. He was childish to think it would do the same for Rue.

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Rue did like Jackson’s new hair. He really did. It suited him well, and the older man would have been tempted on any other day to run his fingers through it and enjoy the change. Today, though… Today he could only muster the smallest of compliments. He was so dreary about the human race at the moment, it was just too difficult. This was why he shouldn’t read the news…

Fortunately for him, at least, his own term was over as well, so he didn’t really have a lot to worry about outside of volunteering and working and feeding his cats. Well… That wasn’t keeping him from worrying about other things now, though. Like how the world seemed to be getting darker every day, and there was nothing he could do to stop the injustice…

He felt Jackson’s hand squeeze his, and gave a teeny tiny smile in return. “Mm… I don’t care too much either,” Rue said softly, his voice unusually hollow. He really wasn’t doing well at the keeping-emotions-in-check thing today. He wondered if his hand was shaking, and if Jackson could feel it. He wasn’t holding the teen’s hand too tight, was he? Like a drowning man desperate for support? At the suggestion, he lifted his head from where he’d been staring blankly at the ground. “It sounds familiar,” he replied slowly. “If that’s what you want to do, I don’t mind.” He really didn’t care where they went, he just didn’t want to lose what little comfort he was getting from being around the younger boy. Rue likely wouldn’t buy anything for himself, but he would offer to pay for Jackson, like usual. “Lead the way…”

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Jackson wondered what was so wrong that Rue was so dispirited like he was. Maybe there was something he wanted to talk about? Jackson wasn’t sure if he should ask though… If Rue wanted to tell him, then he would have done so already, wouldn’t he have? Maybe…

He supposed it was just best to pretend like there was nothing wrong and not let it ruin his own mood(though it was doing that slightly). Jackson was the sort who preferred to be happy and excited, bouncing around with endless energy, rather than slumping around sluggishly in a depression or what have you. If only he could transfer that energy to Rue, then they could have fun again.

At least he was trying. Jackson returned the smile with a slightly larger one of his own. “Okay!” he beamed. “You’ll really like it! They have all sorts of things there!” Maybe Jackson was being too obvious with how he was trying to keep the mood up all by himself, but…honestly, he didn’t know what else to do. What did someone say during times like this?

Jackson took the older boy’s hand and pulled him slightly forward as he headed further down the alley, towards the street where the candy shop was. It was around that moment that another figure rounded the corner, hands in pockets, and started trudging his way down the alley as well. Jackson didn’t recognize him right away, so he didn’t pay any attention until they got closer. The boy had turned around to pull on Rue’s hand even more, as if to make him hurry up, like a child pulling their parent along on one of their escapades. As the other person walked past them, Jackson casually turned to glance up at him briefly. He did a quick double take and…the color drained from his face as he realized who it was. That senior from the classroom…!

Oriel himself had stopped, recognizing the other man in the alley as Rue, Phoenix’s ex-boyfriend. The one who ditched him. “….oy,” he greeted awkwardly. “….been a while.” Oriel and he had stopped interacting altogether after Oriel so proudly revealed to Rue his engagement to Phoenix. His eyes panned down to the hand which was conjoined with another, shorter boy's that Oriel hadn’t bothered to remember yet. “….the fuck’s going on here?” he asked casually. “You on a date?” Good for him, he thought. The guy needed to move on and not be available for Phoenix to ever hook up with again.

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Rue wasn’t sure if he was glad or bothered that Jackson hadn’t asked what was wrong. Probably glad, because he didn’t want to have to explain himself. Most people didn’t worry about this stuff like he did, he knew. So the teen might not even really understand why he was upset if he did explain. At least he had a therapy session tomorrow, so he might be able to talk himself out of his dreariness.

But at the same time, did Jackson not ask because he didn’t notice, or didn’t care? In the mindset that Rue was in, he was leaning for the latter, and he wasn’t sure how to feel about that…

He tried to appreciate that the boy was acting as energetic and excited as usual, at least, but all Rue could do was nod and keep that small, forced smile plastered on. “I’m sure I will,” he replied softly. “Maybe I could have you choose some things for me, I don’t know if I’ll know what to get.” In a moment of weakness, Rue let his head drop slightly to nestle into the younger boy’s neck, breathing in his scent and trying to take comfort from his presence. Tentatively, he kissed Jackson’s shoulder. “… I really care about you… You know that, right?” he murmured, his eyes closed for a moment. Rue wasn’t sure what was coming over him. He just… He felt like he needed to protect the innocent young boy from all the horrible things in the world that might hurt him.

He managed to pull himself out of his slump a little when Jackson tugged on his hand, and Rue followed after slowly, gaze still pointed somewhat at the ground. It took him some time to notice that they weren’t alone anymore; in fact, he didn’t look up until the new arrival said something, and when he did, he paled slightly, and then his expression hardened. “… It has,” he replied cautiously. What did Oriel want? Had he been following them? Logically he should know that he hadn’t been, but he was paranoid enough now to wonder if he had been. Rue’s gaze followed Oriel’s to see his hand joined with Jackson’s, and he thought about letting go, but… It didn’t matter, the younger boy had already seen it. Hopefully he wouldn’t tell anyone. “…. Sort of,” he admitted in a low voice. “Come on, Jackson.” Rue didn’t want to deal with this right now. He started leading the blonde away from the long-haired kid, hoping that their interaction would end there. The last thing he needed was something to set off his temper that was dangerously close to exposing itself.

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Jackson was only going to be able to keep up this bright and bouncy mood for so long before he got tired of trying to do it for the both of them. Not even Jackson had that much stamina. And…quite honestly, if he wasn’t getting any response from Rue, then that just made it harder. Reactions from other people were what gave him his energy, most of the time. He was such an extrovert in that sense….the complete opposite of Rue, he noticed, who seemed content to not have to talk to somebody just to fill the silence. Jackson didn’t like silence, if he could help it. As it was, he was running out of things to say/do in order to keep the energy level up.

Maybe he should just suck it up and ask Rue what was bothering him? It might get him talking about something, at least, that way Jackson didn’t have to struggle to do this all by himself. Jackson nodded. “Okay! I’ll pick something out for you, but don’t blame me if it’s something you don’t like~” he warned with a small giggle.

Then suddenly Rue’s head was on the boy’s shoulder and Jackson had to freeze in his surprise. Just having Rue talking so close to his ear made shivers crawl up and down his spine. He tilted his head slightly opposite the side that Rue was nuzzling…and where he kissed his shoulder….and where he said…. A full blush bloomed in Jackson’s cheeks at the admission. “I…” Jackson hesitated. How was he supposed to respond to that. “…..I know. I…” Jackson couldn’t say it…he still wasn’t even sure what ‘it’ was…so instead he rubbed the side of his head affectionately against Rue’s. “I know….”

Jackson was thankful that the boy hadn’t witnessed that at least when he rounded the corner into the alleyway, thought their conjoined hands was bad enough. Jackson pulled their hands apart himself when Oriel asked his question. “No, we’re not, it’s nothing…” he said, covering up the scene very unconvincingly.

Oriel stared at the shorter boy who seemed to protest their relationship so fervently. He didn’t believe him for a second. And hadn’t Oriel witnessed that sort of fake attitude before? Oriel narrowed his eyes at the boy, finally recognizing him as the two-faced goody-two-shoes he’d seen at school a few times before. Oriel snorted, unimpressed. “Right. ‘Sort of’.” He scoffed, leaning in towards Jackson. “Guess you gotta be fake here too, huh kid? What’s that like, by the way?” he asked. “You know….pretending all the fucking time that you give a shit?” Oriel hated doing that himself, so he didn’t get why anyone else would want to do it voluntarily.

Jackson turned his face away from the older boy, his mouth fixed into a scowl. “None of your business,” he said back. “Leave me alone, jerk.” Yes, Jackson disliked this jerk. A lot. He hated how he saw right through him and his ‘good boy’ act….and that unnerved him. A lot.

Oriel shook his head and turned back to Rue, glaring at the man up and down as though he were judging. “And you….didn’t know you were into diddling kids either.” He sneered and huffed out a condescending laugh. “Hey, whatever floats your boat, man. Just make sure you don’t get caught, alright?” Oriel cackled, thoroughly impressed with himself. He’d love to play with them more, but he had an appointment to keep~ heh heh heh heh…

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Poor Jackson… He was only trying to keep the energy up, and Rue wasn’t doing anything to help, was he? Normally he could at least muster up energy from somewhere and pretend, but… Today was just too hard. His depression was cutting too deep, and he knew he was in dangerous territory, because it could so easily lead drastically into anger for him. If he was less selfish, he would make some excuse and go home so he wouldn’t risk anything bad. But… “Heh, alright,” he replied to Jackson’s enthusiasm, giving him a tiny affectionate glance. “I’m sure you’ll choose something I’ll like. I trust you…” And that was all he could think of to say.

Which was why he’d nestled his face into the boy’s shoulder and started muttering pathetically. It wasn’t fair of him to be putting all of this on Jackson, but… He just… Rue just felt like the boy needed to know. What if something happened to one of them tomorrow and… No, he didn’t want to think about that. He didn’t know how he expected Jackson to respond, but he was content with the boy nuzzling against his head and reassuring that he knew. “Alright…” he breathed. Rue could have stayed there for a while longer, but he didn’t want Jackson to get too uncomfortable with the sudden ‘confession’. “I just… I want you to be happy, and healthy, and… Not get hurt…”

He tried not to get upset by how quickly and nervously Jackson pulled his hand away from him, but Rue couldn’t really blame him. He knew how much the younger boy didn’t want word of their relationship to get out, and Oriel… Well, Rue didn’t trust Oriel at all. Still, he winced at how badly Jackson did at trying to hide what they’d been doing. It was pointless, he knew; the long-haired boy would likely blow everything out of proportion anyway.

But then he was saying… what…?

Rue was quiet for several moments while the interaction took place. With every word that Oriel spoke, he began to feel that familiar burning in the pit of his stomach, the fire that had nearly ruined his life so many years ago that he still fought against every day to keep under control. Seeing the look on Jackson’s face, and the sneer on Oriel’s, a boy he already disliked, was just adding fuel to the blaze that threatened to consume him without any control. Rue’s expression grew dangerously dark, even before Oriel addressed him personally.

“That’s enough,” he rumbled lowly, stepping between the two boys. He hated that Oriel had an inch or two in height from him, but he knew that it wouldn’t matter if he really needed to take control of the situation in a way he hadn’t in years. “I suggest you leave and don’t say another word to Jackson. Got it?” His voice was frighteningly calm and controlled, despite the emotions flaring up inside of him. “I don’t want to have to put a lowly bully in their place, but I will if I have to.”

Beside him, his Kermode bear was completely crimson.

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Ahhhh, this was going to get frustrating before too long, Rue being so lethargic like that. Honestly, Jackson was starting to get really worried about him, wondering if maybe they should’ve just postponed their outing for a later day. One when Rue was feeling more up to it. He wished Rue would just say that he wasn’t doing well, then Jackson wouldn’t be here trying to keep the energy up all by himself. Maybe he should just tone it down after all? Maybe….maybe…. “Okay…” he said, somewhat deflated, then he tried to pump himself back up again. “I’ll pick out something just for you~” He gave Rue a poke to the stomach, an attempt at being playful.

Maybe his bouncing around was annoying to the older man? Jackson knew he could be such a kid sometimes, and that he liked to talk when other people just wanted it quiet, so he couldn’t help but wonder if Rue didn’t just want Jackson to shut up and let him brood over….over whatever was bothering him. Jackson wasn’t very good at the comforting thing…he was only 16 after all, and hadn’t had anyone to have to do that for since his mom left….the best he could do was what he was already doing, but he couldn’t tell if it was a good thing or a bad thing.

He was also glad that Rue didn’t seem to be upset that Jackson didn’t reciprocate the confession. Jackson wouldn’t know how to answer, even if he did know his own feelings. They were all so complicated. Jackson raised a hand to ruffle through Rue’s hair, like Rue had done for him often enough. “Okay….” he said softly, continuing to rub his head against Rue’s affectionately. Why couldn’t they just stay in this peaceful moment. It was a little awkward, but definitely preferable to what happened next.

If there was one thing Oriel hated, it was two-faced people. People who acted and pretended to be one way in front of others while being something completely different when they thought nobody was watching. Oriel had witnessed that change in Jackson by happenstance, hearing him mumble out a series of phrases that completely contradicted his so-called ‘good boy’ image. Like griping about the teacher he offered to do favors for with a fake grin on his face. It’d been such a small incident, but…nope, Oriel could see right through him, and the look on the twerp’s face right now told him he was right. “Right right, because you’re ‘so innocent’, right? Fucking poser.”

Rue was addressing him. Not surprising, considering what Oriel had been saying, he’d be surprised if Rue didn’t say anything. What was surprising was that look in his eyes. It was…dangerous, he sensed. Maybe? Reminded him of someone. And honestly, it gave Oriel the shivers.

But Oriel the Stupid wasn’t about to back down just because this guy told him to. Hell….he almost wanted to see it…no, he did want to see it. Just like he always did, with his ‘antagonize the people’ game, Oriel wanted to poke at this pimple to see just how much it’d take to make it explode. And when it did, how bad would it be? It was definitely one of his habits he’d gotten better at…but only slightly, especially when faced with something just so interesting. Oriel straightened and kept his condescending stare down at Mr. Ching-a-ling growling over there. “Right, gotta keep your little boy ‘innocent’, right?” He snorted out a sound of disdain. “So tell me, Pedo, when do you plan on laying hands upon this kid? Or did you already? Hope you weren’t expecting something ‘unspoiled’, ‘cause I’m 100% certain the kid’s faking you out like he done to everyone else.”

Jackson, the ‘kid’, was shaking by this point, and the tears collected in his eyes were starting to fall. “S-shut up!” he screamed. “That’s not true! I’m not….!” Why wouldn’t he just go away?

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Rue would have preferred to just stay like that too… His arms wrapped around Jackson, holding him close, breathing him in and trying to use it to assure himself that everything was okay… But of course the world had to be cruel and send something triggering their way. The last person that Rue wanted to see, especially right now. He didn’t know what Oriel was going on about, with Jackson being a ‘poser’ or whatever, but he wasn’t having any of it. Granted, Rue didn’t know that it was true, but he also didn’t think, even if it was, that it deserved being ridiculed for. It was better than being a shitty person in general, like someone.

He half-hoped that Oriel would take his advice and leave before Rue could do anything drastic. The other half of him, the devil on his shoulder, hoped that he would stay, so the aura reader could release some of his pent-up rage on the teenager. It was this half of him that was going to be entertained, it seemed, as Oriel didn’t make any move to leave, and only continued to taunt and tease. Rue kept that deathly cold glare on the boy as he smirked and prattled on, fists clenching up automatically. It was only when he heard Jackson’s crying behind him that the older man finally, really snapped. Explosively.

Before he was even really aware of what he was doing, Rue’s large fist was smashing into the younger boy’s face with a crushing force. He thought he might have heard something snap, but he wasn’t sure. Soon after the first one, his other hand crunched into the opposite side of Oriel’s face, driving him towards a brick wall nearby. Using this convenience, Rue grasped the back of the boy’s head and drove it into the wall. All of this was done in complete silence, and when he was done, the aura reader was panting only slightly. He glowered down at the bloodied and beaten boy, nearly letting his rage consume him completely as he stepped closer, wondering how much more damage he could do. But before he took more than two steps, he stopped himself.

Oh, God…. What had he done!?

Rue’s furious expression turned horrified, and he stumbled back, stunned by what he had let himself do. No, no… He had more control than this. This wasn’t him. And Jackson… Jackson! Rue whirled to look at the younger boy, terrified that he had traumatized the teenager with his sudden violent outburst. He scrambled back from him too, ignoring the throbbing from his bloodied fists. “…. I’m s-sorry,” he gasped, overwhelmed with guilt.

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Yes, it was true, and Jackson…..was in denial, of course. Just like he was about so many other things. So having the truth pointed out to him so blatantly, and with so much contempt, had him on the verge of panicking. What would Rue think of him if he knew these things about him that Jackson refused to acknowledge himself? Yes, Jackson was a coward. And surely Rue would hate him for it. Everyone would, if they knew just how….spiteful he was towards…well, pretty much everybody.

Oriel could see it, in the kids eyes, even when he wasn’t pretending. Oriel could see it because he’d seen that look in the eyes of all the adults he’d grown to hate. The ones who would be nice and sweet to you to your face, but then talk shit with their true feelings behind your back. Lying. Oriel hated liars. That’s why he was poking at the kid so badly.

But against the older of the two…it was really just stupidity. Just to see what would happen. But…the second the man stepped forward, Oriel instantly regretted his decision to stick around and ‘play’.

Rue didn’t leave Oriel much time to react before taking the first hit, and he was left even less time before the second one plowed into the side of his face. Even if he had time to dodge out of reach from the older boy, he hadn’t the orientation to do so. All he could feel was pain and something wet dripping down the front of his face, no doubt blood from when his nose was broken. The smash against the wall made everything go dark for a moment, though he wasn’t completely unconscious yet. No…he was still awake and could hear…screaming.

A peek open of his quickly swelling eye revealed the youngest of the three, looking on with his lips pulled back in a horrified grimace with his face white as a sheet. Over and over he heard the boy scream. God…..even when Oriel was like this, that kid was annoying…

Jackson couldn’t believe what he’d just witnessed, and how fast it took place left him even more shocked, unable to think or move or do anything other than look on in horror as Rue beat and slammed the other boy into the wall until his body went limp and slumped to the ground. Even when it was all over, Jackson…..what was he supposed to do!? Say?? This was not okay! This was…!

Tears were streaming from his eyes and his body was shaking and his heart was thumping so heart he feared it might burst from his chest. “R-rue…..” he whined pathetically. “W-what just….what’d you just…..?” He swallowed and looked down at the crumpled body of the senior who’d just been strutting around them not more than a minute ago. Jackson’s lip trembled as he tried to speak again. “I…I wanna go home….” was all he could think to say before more tears poured down his cheeks. He covered his mouth and closed his eyes tight as he wrapped his arms around himself tightly.

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Rue wasn’t aware that Jackson was screaming until he snapped out of his overwhelming fit of rage; when he did become aware of it, his heart dropped into his stomach and panic gripped him. What had he…. What had he done? What was he thinking? All that time spent concentrating on controlling himself and making sure this didn’t happen, and yet it still did. It may have been years since the last one, but all those years felt pointless now that he was staring at Oriel’s limp, bloodied figure on the ground. How hard had he hit him? Oh God… He wasn’t…. He was still breathing, wasn’t he…?

Rue couldn’t find the courage to check. He was too horrified by the entire situation to really move much, other than stumble away from both of the boys. When he finally dared to look at Jackson, the horrified look on his face said everything. Rue had… what they had between them was over. And it was all his fault. His breath was ragged and there was blood spattered on his shirt, likely from Oriel’s bloodied nose. He must look like a serial killer, he thought.

Rue shakily held his hands up, afraid that Jackson might think he was coming for him next. “…. I never wanted you to see that…” he whispered brokenly. He couldn’t look the boy in the eye, not with those tears streaming down his face. “I’m sorry… I’m so… so sorry…” When Jackson hugged himself and said he wanted to go home, the aura reader felt his heart squeeze painfully. “… You should. You should go, before…” Before what? Someone found Oriel unconscious on the ground and called the cops? Oh God….

Panic gripped Rue, and without another word, he twisted on his heel and ran out of the alley like the hounds of hell were chasing him. He blindly made his way through the backroads towards his apartment, hating himself, hating his weakness, hating that he hadn’t even checked to see if the boy was critically injured or worse…. You’re despicable, he told himself as he ran.

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Oriel was down for the count.

Jackson, on the other hand….he had no idea what he was supposed to do! Rue just….he just..!!

Jackson didn’t even know how he was supposed to react! He was horrified, terrified, but worried for Rue all at the same time and he just didn’t know what was happening and the only thing he could think of to do was to run away from it all and forget anything ever happened.

He stared at Rue. Rue, who had always been so gentle and kind with him. Maybe he imagined it? Maybe this wasn’t real? Jackson closed his eyes and shook his head, hoping that he’d wake up from the nightmare and find that the day still had yet to begin and the two of them could still look forward to a peaceful outing together. When he opened them….no….no! It was still there! And he didn’t know what to do!!

“O-okay…” he whimpered when Rue agreed with his plea to go home. “Okay.”

Jackson took a step forward, towards the way they came through the alley, expecting Rue to follow beside him the whole way….but then Rue bolted right past him, and Jackson stared at his retreating back until it turned out of the alley and out of sight. “Rue…?” he mumbled in shock. He….he left. He left him behind! With—! He just—!

“Rue, you—!” Jackson’s face twisted into an unreadable expression and he took off after the older man as fast as he could. “RUE YOU DUMMY!!” he shouted after him. Jackson wouldn’t catch up with the man…but that didn’t matter. Jackson just wanted to get away and be anywhere but in that alley where the senior boy still lay crumpled on the ground.