Title : Always on the Outside
Fandom : Shelter
Characters : Zach p.o.v
Rating : PG-13
Written for the prompt : Shelter, Zach, He's used to being the one without, the poor kid in a rich school
Disclaimer : All characters belong to the owners and creators of The Losers and no gain is being made out of this endeavor and no offense is intended.
Always on the Outside
He walks back to Shaun's apartment from Cody's new school listening to Cody's chatter about how he had done painting and played in the sand tray and all the other intricate little details about his day, his friends, his classroom and his teacher. He's listening and asking questions in what he hopes are the right places but his mind is wandering.
He's struck by how different this neighborhood is to the one he and Jeanne grew up in, to the one Cody had lived in until . . . until Shaun took them in. Nobody here lives hand to mouth wondering where the next meal is coming from. Nobody here has to worry about finding the rent or shoes that are worn through and jeans that have anything other than designer holes. Cody doesn't notice just how different it all is. Zach wonders what that means for their future, because the only reason they're here now is Shaun.
Zach will love Shaun forever of that much he's sure. He'll love him for standing by him, for giving him the courage to fight for what he wanted and needed. He'll love him taking not just him but Cody too, for giving them a home and a chance when it seemed like everything might be lost.
Right now, he's certain that Shaun is in love with him and he's also certain that Shaun isn't going to go back on any of the things he's offered. But what happens a year from now or maybe two? What happens when Zach isn't the only one to know that he's different? Zach has been the poor kid in a rich school for so long that he's used to being the one without, the one who stands out. Shaun's giving him a chance at something more, but basically, Zach knows, he's still the poor kid in a rich neighborhood. He wouldn't be surprised if the curtains flickered as he and Cody walked past, the neighbors looking and gossiping about the two of them.
One day Shaun is going to notice; one day he's not going to want to be part of it any more. One day he's not going to want to be the rich kid who took pity on the poor kid and became his friend and he's going to want to be back with his own kind.
Zach is terrified of that day. He can't bear the thought of it ever arriving. He can't bear the thought of Shaun looking at him the way he's sure everybody else will always do.
