AN: Thanks for visiting the first installment of this story. I've got six chapters saved so I guess I'll just post it. I don't know how long it'll be but I like to write it so here it is. I'm rating it as a T for now because of the language used, and eventually I might rate it higher. If you like it, please let me know. I'd really appreciate some feed back because I think this is something I'm most nervous about. Anyway thank you! And if anyone wants to beta the other chapters for me, you know just look through it and look for mistakes, send me a PM. Thanks for reading!
Mycroft Holmes really hates being sixteen. On his birthday this year, everyone told him being sixteen would be amazing. His grandfather told him that he can go chase a few girls, have a little bit of fun, and next year will be the time to focus on getting into university. But his grandfather was terribly wrong. Mycroft doesn't chase girls. Mycroft doesn't have fun. And now is the time for university talk.
And nobody really likes Mycroft. He doesn't even do anything to make everyone hate him, except that he's smart –he's performs at a school level higher than everyone else, but he has to complete certain lessons before he moves on to university— and he's beautiful –he's 5'11 (180 cm), skinny, with perfect features, blue eyes, straight auburn hair that's long enough to go to his eyes, and he just looks better than most teenage boys. That's pretty much why everyone hates him. He's a polite boy who keeps to himself most of the time, but he's the least liked kid at school.
And sixteen year olds are just mean. Every day brings a new form of torture for Mycroft. Some days it's name calling, some days it's physical abuse, some days they hide his clothes during gym class. They're just mean.
Gregory Lestrade is the new boy. He's tall and muscular and athletic, so he fits in quickly. Girls instantly notice him, and the boys assume he's an athlete, so everyone talks to him. He makes his mark during gym class as they're playing football; he makes a clean tackle against their star player, then freely dribbles down the field to score. Everyone is in awe, even the star player, so Greg is accepted as one of the guys.
That's when he meets Mycroft, in gym class. Mycroft doesn't participate in football; instead he gives the teacher a note that says he can't participate. The teacher rolls his eyes and tells Mycroft to get out of his face, so Mycroft sits on the side bench and reads from a very large book the whole time.
When the match ends and the boys have to go take showers, all of the boys purposefully march past Mycroft on their way.
"What's your problem today, Holmes? Menstrual cramps?" one boy mocks.
The rest roar with laughter.
"Very funny, Dave," Mycroft mutters, picking up his bag to follow the boys.
"Maybe he's afraid he's pregnant or something," another boy offers.
The others laugh again.
The boys make it back to the locker room as the laughter is dying down.
"You know, maybe he is pregnant. All that cock I hear he gets," the first boy, Dave, says.
Mycroft rolls his eyes and stands by the door. The other boys begin undressing and Mycroft purposefully diverts his eyes.
"Yeah, you'd better not look at us," Dave says. "Queer," he mutters as he pushes past Mycroft to the shower.
The other boys file past.
One walks by and says, "I hope you get switched out of this class anyway. Don't want to catch your…gayness."
Mycroft takes deep breathes and presses himself as much as he can against the door.
Greg walks past in the back of the line.
"Right, Lestrade?" one guy asks, hitting Greg's chest.
Greg glances at Mycroft before muttering, "Yeah, sure."
Greg comes to realize that everybody treats Mycroft that way. Greg wonders why kids act that way if being gay (if Mycroft is even really gay) isn't anything new, but he just guesses that that's the only thing they have against Mycroft. His old school was much more understanding. Kids were out and proud at his old school. Greg sadly regrets switching schools.
The next day, Greg is standing at his locker when someone comes to the locker next to him, forcefully throwing it open and beginning to throw books in and out. Greg is stunned at first, but then he glances over and sees that it's Mycroft.
Greg clears his throat and glances at Mycroft again. "Hey," he quietly says.
Mycroft looks to his other side, to see if Greg's talking to someone else, then he glances at Greg. "Hey?"
"I didn't know you had this locker," Greg says.
"I'm sorry, I'll try not to—"
"No," Greg stops him. "I wasn't making a comment I was just stating a fact."
Mycroft lets out a deep breath and continues unpacking and repacking his bag.
Greg pulls something out of his locker and offers it to Mycroft. "Maoam?" He holds the candy up.
"Uhm, no thanks," Mycroft says after taking one look at the candy.
Greg nods and puts it back in his locker. He's silent for a minute, and then he says, "Look, uhm, I'm sorry about yesterday."
Greg doesn't miss Mycroft's confused look. "What about—"
"In the locker room, when we were all headed to the shower. I just…at my old school I would have stood up for anyone. I don't know why I didn't yesterday."
"Because you're the new kid," Mycroft adds. "I understand the want and need to fit in."
Greg frowns. "That's not really an excuse. I shouldn't…I'm just sorry, ok?"
Mycroft nods.
Greg half turns to Mycroft, to not make it seem like they're talking, and starts to ask a question, "Are you…uhm…"
Mycroft makes an uncomfortable face.
"I'm not…I'm not judging," Greg turns a bit more towards Mycroft. "I'm just…I'm…" Greg cuts himself off as a girl Mycroft's never been this close to before nudges Greg as she walks by. "Hey!" he greets her, and then turns back to his locker when she continues walking down the hall.
Mycroft finishes with his books and throws his bag on his back. He takes a pen out of his locker and puts it in his pocket. He closes his locker and turns towards Greg to walk down that direction.
Greg grabs his bicep before he can walk past. Mycroft involuntarily clenches under Greg's touch, obviously quickly frightened. Greg quickly lets him go. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you. I just really want you to accept my apology. I feel terrible."
"Don't worry about it. I'm used to it."
"But I'm not that guy. I don't want to be that guy at this school."
Mycroft nods. He looks down the hall, obviously uncomfortable and scared.
Greg reaches into his locker and pulls out that piece of candy, then presses it into Mycroft's palm. "Take it. It's the last one of my favorite flavor."
Mycroft nods and puts the candy in his pocket, then disappears down the hall. Greg discreetly watches him go.
The next few weeks calls for the same behavior. Greg laughs and jokes with the guys in gym less and less, and every afternoon they meet at their lockers, Greg gives Mycroft a single piece of candy. Mycroft places the candy in his pocket, and every day he puts it in a bowl on his desk at home.
On the Monday of the third week, an incident occurs at the lockers.
"Oh man," Dave from gym says as he approaches Greg at his locker. "I didn't know you had the locker next to this queer."
Mycroft frowns and tries his best to quickly stuff his bag.
Greg doesn't say anything.
Dave stands next to Greg's other side and puts an arm around his shoulders. "My man," Dave says, "Have you got plans for the weekend?"
Greg shakes his head.
"Now you do. My brother is having a party, and I'm going to get you smashed!"
Greg chuckles. "Sure. Just text me the details."
Dave glances at Mycroft as he's about to walk away, and Greg knows he's going to say something rude. As a diversion, Greg offers him a candy. Dave takes it and leaves without saying anything.
Greg waits until Dave is out of earshot before saying, "Man, that guy's an arse."
That's when Greg sees Mycroft crack a smile for the first time.
Greg goes to the party that Saturday. He's eager to go only for the prospect of alcohol. There he, of course, meets Dave's brother, plus his friends. Dave tries to set him up with a girl, but Greg says he's very much not interested and decides only to stick to drinking.
Monday rolls around, Greg and Mycroft meet at their lockers once again.
Mycroft, the teenager who notices everything, sees the small patch of discoloration on Greg's neck. It's obviously a hickey.
"Fun weekend?" Mycroft asks. It's the first time he's ever initiated conversation.
Greg looks stunned for a minute. "Sure. It was alright."
Mycroft nods in understanding.
They're silent for a minute until Greg says, "Say, you're good at math and things, right?"
Mycroft nods.
"Do you think maybe you could tutor me? After school? I could go to your house or you could go to my house. I just, I need some help."
Mycroft doesn't say anything.
"Look, if you don't want to you don't have to. But I could, uhm, I could pay you…or…"
"I just don't know how well it would go over for you, socially, if everyone finds out you're being tutored by…me."
"Fuck them, I need help."
Mycroft smiles for the second time. "Alright," he agrees. "I'm free Wednesday after school."
"Actually Wednesday is the only day that doesn't work for me," Greg says. "Well, except the weekend. But I doubt you'd want to—"
"Saturday's fine," Mycroft says, a little too eagerly.
Greg smiles wide. "Great, man. Thanks."
Mycroft nods. "You could, uhm, just come to my house. It might be easier."
"Hey, no problem. You're doing this for me, I could meet you on the moon if need be."
Mycroft smiles again. "Alright. See you then." Mycroft turns to leave.
"Hey, wait," Greg calls after him. Mycroft turns around and Greg tosses him a candy.
Mycroft pockets it as usual and disappears down the hall.
Greg, as usual, watches him go.