Hey, I hope you guys enjoy this story. I was planning on making it a one shot but it turned out to be way to long for my liking so I thought, let's make this a three chapter story. The second part is already written and will be uploaded on Monday, September 5th. Also, I would like to start accepting any prompts regarding this story, characters and respective powers to motivate me into writing more again, and finally updating and editing my old stories. I feel bad for leaving them for so long and sorry for making you guys wait. So if you have any ideas of what you want me to write about feel free to put them in the comments below or tweet me GirlinBlue2364. Be sure to follow me on twitter for updates on all my stories across all three of my writing platforms!
Enjoy.
As a child Michael loved his powers, he used them every chance he got and thought they were the coolest of all the abilities that existed. His younger days were spent in his pool, the river near his house or at the beach. It was only natural that someone who can breathe underwater was always near a body of water. Therefore it was also natural for him, at the age of seven to join his school's swim team. Michael's ability made it so he can swim during tournaments and practices without the need of surfacing for oxygen. This meant easy wins and undefeated time records during competitions and practice races. He was the fastest swimmer on his and several others teams; a fact that his parents were very proud of.
Over the years he was awarded so many medals and trophies that his room ran out of space for them and his father started putting shelves in his home office to be able to house all the awards but with each win and each medal or trophy, his reputation at school grew. And by the time he was eight his classmates and other kids started calling him 'fish boy', and other related nicknames, Michael adopted them with pride. When his ninth birthday came around and the names changed from ocean related things and took a turn for derogative names like 'freak', 'cheater', 'loser', "useless", amongst others things, that's when Michael started to realize how cruel kids can be. Gone were the days were all he got were some cool nicknames, in his opinion, and some taunts from his simple minded classmates only to be replaced by groups of bullies beating him behind the school or in the lockers for having 'stupid and useless powers'. The red head didn't care if he was an outcast, he never really had a lot of friends there to begin with and those he had left him to defend himself from his attackers in fear of becoming outcasts themselves. This is despite the fact that a lot of them had offensive type powers. Moreover, his friends with defensive abilities never lifted a hand to protect Michael and this angered him.
The young red head started to resent his so called friends; he hated his classmates and the school he was forced to go to. Most of all, Michael hated his powers, they were the sole reason people treated him this way and that's why he pulled away from everyone including his neighborhood friends that didn't even go to the same school. He quit the swim team and started fighting back at school. His parents were tired of coming home and finding their only son bruised and bleeding most days. They had enough when the school called them in for a meeting 3 times a week or phoned their house 5 times a week to complain about Michael's behavior and threatened them with the boy's suspension for an undetermined time. The only reason they didn't flat out do it or immediately expel him was because Michael was one of their best students in terms of grades and he brought a lot of trophies in for the school during his swimming days.
Seeing no other option, they moved Michael to another school where no one knew him. Michael didn't try out for their swim team even though his parents insisted since he loved it so much. The red head was as stubborn as a mule and never caved to his parents ideas nor gave them a reason why. Eventually they stopped trying to get him to join any team. Michael spent his elementary to High School years pretty much alone, only focusing on his studies and not on making friends or any type of romantic relationship for that matter. The only friends he did have were three people he met outside of school that lived near him. They hanged out a lot during the High School years and even though one of them had no powers, an odd thing these days, they still got along great. He's never been the discriminatory type, short tempered yes but he's not going to hate someone for something as stupid as not having powers.
He did come to find that people in his school aren't as open minded as he was pretty fast. Most people ignored him, call him a loner and avoid him but others like his old classmates like to torment him for having shitty powers. They even went so far as to say it's as if he didn't have any. The rumors spread so fast all around the school to the point where it changed. So most of the school population was under the impression Michael had no powers and the fact he doesn't attend any power honing classes doesn't help the idea either. Those courses are mandatory for all except those who have their powers completely under control, something rarely seen in people their age. Michael used his powers on a daily basis for almost 8 years straight. He had his down pat a long time ago and he showed the administrator this on his first day in his new school in a private session with the sole intention of avoiding power honing classes.
He passed the test and therefore was not obligated to take those courses. As for the bullying, he mostly ignored them now since he hate to see his dad disappointed in him or his mother crying again due to his reckless behavior. His parents wasted a lot of money on this school just for him to throw it all away like that over some dumb fights.
Michael likes to think he outgrew those idiots a while ago and he doesn't fight anymore but he does yell at them from time to time so they got scared and leave him alone. He likes going to the beach alone every weekend just to swim around with no one to bother him; it helps him relax somewhat. But as soon as he's out of the water he remembers all his problems, the bullies, being ostracized and goes right back to resenting his abilities for sucking.
For years a young and hopeful Michael wished he could lite on fire or fly like his dad. Maybe even shape shift like his mom; to be able to somehow change his abilities but teenage Michael stopped fantasizing and lost hope a long time ago. He stopped whining and decided to move on with his life. As for the people in his school that thought he didn't have powers and liked to mock and bully him because of this; he never denied nor confirmed it because deep down he wished he didn't have them…
Years later Michael is working in Rooster Teeth, a job which he loves, and he's a part of the Achievement Hunter group with his 5 amazing boyfriends. All in all he was happy with his life. The boys and him were currently in the process of moving into one big house together. His boys had incredible powers and at some point he was jealous of them but eventually he pushed the feeling aside and got over it; that's what he tells himself at least. The oldest of the group is Geoff and he's a telepath. Apart from reading peoples thoughts and the ability to speak to others through mental links like most telepaths can, he can make mental shields as well and protect others as well as himself from other telepaths that mean to do harm and make people do as they say. At the beginning Michael felt weird knowing that his new boss, friend and later boyfriend, could read his every thought and control his body without his consent at any given moment but he soon found out Geoff didn't use his powers to invade other people's privacy on a whim or just to mess with their heads. He always waited for permission or asked to make a mind link if he so desired one with a specific person. Michael also found out Geoff hated telepaths who forced others to do things against their wills just because they can. Moreover, the telepath never resented the fact that people are wary of him at first; it's something he's used to by now since it comes with the territory. The first time they met he just smiled reassuringly and promised he wouldn't invade their thoughts and he kept his word until people trusted him and relaxed. Though if he deems a situation as an emergency and knows the information he needs is right there for the taking and it can save a life, he doesn't hesitate to use his ability and ask for forgiveness later. And while he does use this information, he always does it for the right reasons like saving a friend or loved one and not for some sick sense of amusement.
Jack's powers are a different type from everyone else's. He's an elemental, making him able to control fire at will, one of Michael's dream powers back when he hadn't presented yet. He's great to have around during winter due to his abnormal body temperature. He's perfect to cuddle with when it's snowing, though he never tell him that but Michael is pretty sure Geoff heard that thought at one point or another if his random laugh and teasing hints was anything to go by. Another thing about Geoff's power which he loves is the fact that it brings them so much closer as lovers. And not in the sense that they all can hear each other's thoughts, but more in the way that they all trust him so much that they instinctively let him in and in response Geoff showed them how to block him out as well. In case they wish to at any point in time, for privacy's sake, he taught all of them how to protect themselves from all telepaths including strong ones like him. And that's something Michael is both grateful for and respects.
Ryan, on the other hand, had the most impressive power out of all of them in Michael's opinion, not to say the others weren't cool but he loved Ryan's the most. The blond has super strength, and he loves to watch the man lift Geoff's and Jack's car for the sole purpose of exercising even if the two playfully complained and said he better not break anything or else. Michael always let him bench press his car without complaint as long as he let him watch him do it. For someone so strong, Ryan is incredibly careful and gentle with all of them and all of his friends. He's always looking out for his boyfriends and shows impressive control over his powers, which is something Michael admires greatly.
Then there was Gavin…
Michael was at his desk in the office editing a new Rage Quit. He had his head phones on and wasn't really paying attention to his surroundings. Out of nowhere he felt hands slam on his shoulders and a loud scream in his ears, loud enough to be heard over the audio coming from his headphones.
Startled the red head jumped in his seat and turned around quickly only to be greeted by an empty office. "Gavin, you asshole. How many times do I have to tell you to stop doing that?" The man exclaimed, irritated at no one as he pulled off his headphones. Just a second later a blond man appeared out of thin air, laughing hysterically.
Gavin Free has the most appropriate power that matches the man's personality out of anyone Michael has ever met in his life. And that can be described in one word, annoying. Someone decided this idiot with a tendency for pranks and annoying the hell out of others deserved the ability to go completely invisible. An awesome power in itself but put it in the hands of someone like Gavin who missuses it every chance he gets and it can get pretty boring very fast.
"I'm sorry Michael but you looked so concentrated. I couldn't help myself. Do you forgive me, boi?"
Michael sighs deeply, "That depends, are you going to keep doing it?" The British man smirked.
"Yes."
"Why you little…" Michael lunched at the cause of his annoyance and just barely missed him when the man leaped backwards and disappeared before his very eyes once again. "Show yourself you prick."
"Not if you're going to talk to me like that. You've got to be nicer to me Michael."
"Oh I'll show you how nice I can be. Come here." The red head walked around blindly trying to pin point the blond's location by following the sound of his voice.
"Oh I'm not there anymore Mikey. You have to do better than that if you want to catch me." Gavin teased him as he walked around the other in the small office, constantly changing places.
"Come out come out wherever you are Gavy wavy. I have something for you." There was silence followed by a thud and a loud exclamation. "Ow, bloody hell."
Michael turned around and saw Ray standing at the door with his arm up facing the couch. Just as he was about to say something Gavin appeared on the couch rubbing the side of his head where Ray's ball hit him. Gavin grabbed the ball that was previously on Ray's desk before said man used it as ammo and started to berate Ray for helping Michael.
"Well, you weren't being fair so I decided to help Michael out instead. Besides that thing you do where you jump out of nowhere and scare us shitless is getting old." Michael laughs and thanks Ray for his assistance and then proceeds to pin down Gavin and wrestle him until he makes the man swear he won't do it again.
Ray, who is the last member of AH to join their little 'fuck wagon', as he like to put it, has telekinesis and Michael loves it when Ray's on his side against Gavin in times like these. His powers are amazing to the red head, especially when the remote is too far away and both of them are too lazy to get up or when something is too high or too heavy to carry. In all seriousness though, he is very impressed with Ray's abilities and while he knew of his powers the first day they met, as is the social norm to state your name and soon after your power, Michael had no way of telling if Ray was any good with them or just how in control of them he really was. He soon found out that the raven head was in fact an extremely powerful telekinetic at Ray's one week mark at AH when they witnessed a car accident on their way back from lunch.
They were all piled into Geoff's truck since it was the only vehicle that could fit them all, as the others that were in possession of a car didn't feel like driving that day. On the drive back to the office, right before their eyes a car swerved out of control while trying to avoid running over a motorcyclist who was driving recklessly. The car in question collided with a barricade but before it plummeted into the highway below them, the car started floating. Startled, everyone looked at Ray who only had one hand in the air, eyes fixed on the car. He was silent and motionless, face hardening in concentration but regardless of this he effortlessly and quickly set the car back on road. The truck was silent for a second, its occupants still in shock from what they just witnessed before everyone burst out in celebration, all the while saying how incredible that was and how Ray was a hero. The telekinetic simply blushed and try to shut them up before getting out of the truck to go check on the people he saved as did the others. Turns out, it was a family of 5 people, the two parents who were both elementals and incredibly thankful to Ray, once the others announced he was the one who helped them, for saving them but mostly for saving their kids. The three kids were around the ages of 5 to 11 years old; one boy was an elemental like his parents, the other boy was a speedster and the little girl turned out to be a telekinetic like her savior. The little girl was also very thankful and said she wanted to be as strong as him when she grew up, and while Ray only blushed, the boys found that unbearably adorable and didn't let Ray forget it. At the end of the day Ray got praises from everyone at the office when they arrived and his new nickname hatched from this event, that Gavin insisted was worthy of a hero such as Ray. And that name was X-Ray, and even though he insisted it had nothing to do with his powers everyone only referred to him as that for the next week or so until eventually, the name spread to their fans base and the rest was history.
After Michael let's Gavin go and the blond kissed his cheek and begged for forgiveness, the red head only rolled his eyes and ruffled his already messy hair in a show of affection. "Hey Ray, how did you know I was on the sofa anyways?" Ray looked at him for a second before smiling, "I saw the foot imprints being made when you were climbing on it as I came in." The gamer pouted like a child as Michael laughed again. The others came back from lunch after an hour and the day went on as normal. They recorded an AHWU and a Minecraft Let's Play before they left together. After they had dinner in a restaurant they spread into 4 different cars and went to collect what was left in their old apartments and houses to finish the process of moving in together they had started the previous day.
They arrived at the new place they will be sharing one after the other. The gang started unloading the cars filled with boxes and other things. Ryan's and Ray's power became very useful during the whole moving process. While Ryan carried entire sofas and mountains of boxes in and up the stairs by himself, Ray carries boxes and furniture by the dozen every trip they made to collect things from the cars. The rest of the guys were thankful because that way they can focus on getting the boxes opened and the items in their rightful place even faster now since they barely have to carry things in. Ray's powers helped a lot in that area as well.
Michael was helping Jack put the kitchenware away while the others did different jobs in other areas around the house all while talking through their almost permanent and constant mind link. Sometimes they fought over where a certain object or piece of furniture should go. One of this fights actually led to Ryan standing in the new living room while holding the couch up for 5 minutes straight due to Geoff's and Jack's arguing where said couch should go. After putting it down and picking it up only to have to move it again, 4 or 5 times, Ryan decided it was faster to just hold onto it as his input into the discussion was completely ignored. And any attempt at him leaving was squandered just as his complaints of being tired. In other words Ray shouted through the mind link 'Don't be such a pussy, you've super strength so man up.' A comment that made Ryan grumble a response dejectedly therefore efficiently sent the other half of the R and R connection into a fit of laughter.
On the other side of the house, Michael wondered up to the next box of plates that was by the kitchen door with the intention of setting it on the counter and finish at least that part of the house. However, when the red head tried to pick up the box the sheer weight of it unlabeled him to do so. He struggled with it for a few seconds before he felt the box lift completely out of his grasp. Michael quickly looked up only to be greeted with a pair of ice blue eyes and a teasing smirk. Ryan was amused to see the spit fire red head struggling with an unanimated object but eventually he decided to give him a hand as soon as he was done with the couch fiasco. "You should let me do the heavy lifting around here, faire maiden, we wouldn't want you to get hurt." He couldn't help but to tease the smaller man and was suppressing the urge to laugh as Michael directed an annoyed glare his way. "Keep spewing shit like that and I won't lend you my car anymore. Let's see how far you'll get with your exercise regimen without it." Michael retorted with fake annoyance lacing his tone.
"Oh, like you can go a day without checking Ryan out while he exercises…" Ray exclaimed from his position in the living room, hands in the air while he holds the TV midair and sets in its rightful spot. "Ray, he doesn't need to know that. I was trying to make a point man, whose side are you on?" Michael complained making the blond chuckle at their banter as he placed the box full of porcelain on the counter. "The side which benefits me more. Sorry Michael, but I would rather have him help me when needed than take your side and just be able to make out with you underwater in our pool."
Michael just stared at Ray for second too long before the brunet started to wonder why he hasn't heard a snarky reply but before he could turn and look, the red head had recovered, placing a fake smile on his face. "Then why did you want a pool so badly if it wasn't for that purpose?" He tried to make it sound like a joke but it sounded too forced even to him. The tone was what made Ray turn from his task to look at his boyfriend with a confused expression but before he could say anything about it out loud Ryan appeared from the kitchen once more. "Well I don't know about the others but that's one reason I wanted a pool. Though, mainly it's for you of course. We wanted to make you feel comfortable here and have easy access to water if you wished to use your powers." Ryan said as he passed him.
I never asked for a pool.
The thought came uninvited and the second it crossed his mind he stiffened. Dread coiled in his stomach as he looked over to where he last saw Geoff categorizing the video games and was immediately pinned down by a pair of blue eyes. The older man's normally drowsy expression was a mix of surprise and confusion, no doubt having heard what he thought. The resident telepath gaze went from bewildered to determinant in a matter of seconds. "What's that supposed to mean?" He asked as he abandoned what he was doing. The others were apparently, fortunately for Michael, not paying attention to the mind link anymore as they focused on their tasks at hand. All except for Ray who wouldn't have noticed if not for the previous comment the red head said that made him feel uneasy. "Yeah, Michael, what's with that bitchy comment?" Ray's question made Jack stop in his tracks as he came down the stairs with a now empty box. "What are you guys talking about?" The elemental asked, confused by Ray's demanding tone. Ryan stood in the middle of the kitchen's doorway with a new box in his hands, and while he didn't pay attention to Michael's thoughts, he did hear Geoff when the older man spoke out loud. Now intrigued as to what the other two were asking about and what provoked such reactions, he also stared at the red head for an answer.
"Nothing Jack, don't worry about it. It just something I thought but it doesn't matter." Michael responded while looking at Geoff dead in the eyes before walking pass Ryan and into the kitchen. The red head was about to start opening the boxes that Ryan put on the counter but Geoff interrupted him, yelling at him from where he stood in the living room. "It didn't sound like nothing and it does matter, it matters to me. I want to know why you said that." Geoff insistence was starting to get to Michael. "I didn't say anything, I thought it but I didn't mean it, alright? Would you let this go already?! We still have a lot of unpacking to do." His tone was equal parts annoyed and nervous. The read head worked really hard, monitoring his everyday thought, so others wouldn't find out about his resentment towards his powers and started pitying him for it or trying to help him accept his powers, he doesn't need anyone's help. And having a telepath for a boyfriend made it all the more difficult to hide.
"90% of things that people think are meant, even if they don't say it out loud. And you getting this worked up over a question and trying to change the subject makes me think there's something more to it." Geoff walked into the kitchen and stood behind Michael, staring at his back and waiting for his response. Michael didn't need to turn around to know he was there because he could feel the man's eyes on his back, just as clear as he could feel Geoff's shifting and prodding his mind for any information that would point him to the cause of his reaction.
Michael knew if he blocked him out abruptly Geoff would be more suspicious so he opted against that. "You're right, it would be more suspicious but hearing you consider that as an option is just as suspicious as actually doing it because it means you've something to hide." The telepath said, confirming to Michael that he really was reading his mind.
You know Geoff; sometimes this whole mind reading thing is very annoying.
The only answer to Michael's attempt at annoying Geoff so he would drop the discussion was met with a sharp laugh from the older man before he heard a familiar voice inside his head.
So I've been told. Now out with it!
As Michael realized almost everyone was tuned into their mind link and that they heard his sad and desperate attempt at distracting Geoff, a loud crash was heard coming from above. The noise was soon followed by a cry of pain. Michael whipped around to meet Geoff eyes which were just as wide and startled as his own for a second before they had the same thought.
Gavin!
Everyone raced upstairs to check on the British man, Jack arrived first since he was closest to the stairs and had been with Gavin moments before meaning he knew in which room he was in. "Gavin, what happened? Are you ok?" The ginger asked concerned as his eyes landed on the foot the man was cradling in his hands, obviously in pain. The others entered soon after Jack and took in the scene of the man on the floor withering in agony and the box with spilled contents next to him, it was easy to surmise what had occurred but they still asked.
"I bumped into that tower of boxes, it toppled and one fell on my foot." Gavin replied with an anguished tone. Normally in moments like this one, Geoff, Michael and Ray go out of their way to always tease the man for his clumsiness but they didn't think it was appropriate this time. They could all clearly see he was in a lot of pain and not one of them could find the amusement in that. Jack carefully took Gavin's sneaker and sock off as slowly as possible and examined the foot. "I'm no doctor but I think he broke his toe or at least severely bruised it." Jack said as he gently touched the Brit's left foot. Gavin's toe did in fact look out of place, like it had been misaligned; it already started turning a dark color. The dorsal of his foot was also showing signs of turning an ugly dark tone as Jack observed it carefully.
"We should go to the hospital and get that checked. I'll start the car." Geoff offered, worry evident in his voice. While everyone agreed with the idea, Gavin protested through gritted teeth that he hated hospitals, obviously trying and failing to portray that the injury was less severe than they thought it was. The older man sighed before crouching down in front of the disappearing man. "Gavin, we have to get that looked at by a doctor. If Jack's right they need to heal you. We have to go now, alright buddy?"
"I don't want to go to a hospital. If I need healing, why don't we just call Caleb?" The pain and desperation in his voice did not seat well with Geoff. The man turned and looked a Ray, they were clearly having a private conversation between the two of them, and seconds later the brunet pulled out his phone and dialed a number. "Hey Caleb, how's it going? Yeah, I'm ok. Where are you right now?" Ray moved to the hallway to talk on the phone with the healer while Michael, Ryan and the others stayed with Gavin, trying to console and calm him to the best of their abilities. A minute or two passed before Ray came back. "He said he'll be here in 20 minutes." He answered Geoff's question out loud, everyone breathed a sigh of relief at the proclamation and Ray kneeled next Michael, and joined his boyfriend's efforts of trying to take Gavin's mind off the pain until Caleb arrives.
While everyone's attention was on Gavin, Michael momentarily forgot about tense moment in the kitchen a few minutes ago. Much to his chagrin, a certain telepath was kind enough to remind him.
Our conversation isn't over.
Geoff's manly but almost high pitched voice penetrated his thoughts and made Michael jump. He quickly looked around the room only to find no one took notice of his reaction, all their attention was focused on the injured man. They also apparently didn't hear Geoff's comment meaning the telepath didn't want them to; he made a private mind link just to remind him of the talk that has yet to come. The red head glanced at Geoff but the man wasn't looking at him.
I have nothing else to say about that.
Geoff eyes snapped up to his in a second, annoyance and determination shining through and it made Michael's heart skip a beat. He did not want to have this conversation, he would be ecstatic if the telepath just forgot the whole ordeal but that seemed highly unlikely at this point.
I do and we're talking after we get Gavin all sorted out, got it?
We'll see.
Michael didn't need to look at Geoff to know he did not appreciate his sass and in fact was starting to loss his patience, and while he knew he was fighting a losing battle since his "opponent" is a very experienced mind reader, he couldn't help not giving into Geoff's demands. Call him stubborn but after so many months of censoring his very thought to make sure he didn't know Michael's secret, he couldn't just give up so easily.
This is exactly why we have to talk. I want to know what that secret is after so many months of wondering and waiting.
Geoff's words were hauntingly and purposely similar to his just to drive a point home. If the first comment Geoff made startled Michael, this one made him shit his pants. He could feel his heart hammering in his chest, trying to escape. His stomach dropped and suddenly Michael couldn't meet Geoff's eyes anymore as if the man could read his thoughts just by looking into his. An idea which is borderline ridiculous but the red head couldn't help tearing his wide eyes away from the telepath and staring intently at Gavin seating in front of him trying to hold back tears of pain.
Shit Gavin, how can I forget about him? Where the hell is Caleb?
It's only been 5 minutes since he hung up, there's still 15 minutes left and you're mind seems to be frazzled today. It's as if you can't concentrate on one thing at a time. Maybe that secret of yours is starting to eat you up from the inside.
Michael closed his eyes in dread at Geoff's words. He had always wondered how in the hell had he managed to keep Geoff from finding out ever since he met him almost a year ago, and he had his suspicions that the telepath was letting him tell him on his own terms but now those suspicions are confirmed. What's worse is that he doesn't seem willing to wait anymore for Michael to bring the subject of his powers up.
You're right, I'm not. And I always suspected that whatever it was it had to do with your powers from what little bits I got here and there.
How? When did you suspect something was up?
Michael desperately asked, giving up the 'everything is fine' act, honestly curious as to know where he fucked up.
Like you said, I'm a very experienced mind reader.
Michael took a deep breath, not really that surprised at hearing the man's words if he was completely honest with himself. Now Michael can hear the other man's amusement through the link, and it lessened the tightness in his stomach knowing he wasn't mad at him anymore.
Geoff, is there any chance that you can just go back to waiting for me to approach you?
After tonight, no chance in hell! Sorry, buddy.
I didn't think so. Could you at least not tell the others?
Michael could feel Geoff's questioning stare on him so he turned his head to meet it straight on.
I don't want them to know.
Michael, you know you can tell us anything, right?
Geoff's hurt and worried tone made Michael's heart race for entirely different reason.
Yes, I know that. I'm just not ready to talk about it, ok? And while I'm being honest, I'm not sure I'll ever be.
Geoff's surprised and concerned look was one Michael didn't want see ever again. Luckily the doorbell rang at that precise moment and he quickly volunteered to go and open it just to get a reprieve from Geoff's penetrating gaze. He makes his way downstairs, taking the time to compose himself, and lets Caleb in the house. "Hey, you got here faster than expected."
"Hi. Well yeah, I might have ran a few red lights or stop signs; it's all a blur really. Where is he?" Michael silently pointed to the staircase as an answer to his question before closing the door behind the healer and making a hurry retreat back up the stairs. Caleb was at his heels and when they got to the room where the guys are still waiting, he immediately started working on Gavin. After Caleb finished healing his foot, now confirmed broken toe, the night went on relatively uneventful. They thanked the healer a dozen times and decided to hold off on the unpackingfor another night.
The owners offered Caleb a movie night as thank you and the man left after eating snacks and watching an action moving, leaving the AH guys go to bed at a relatively decent hour. Morning came and the fellas finished unpacking by noon so they decided to celebrate with a trip to the closest beach. They packed up the car and left as soon as possible in able to take advantage of the remaining sunlight.
After an hour or so on the road, they arrived at their destination and picked a spot to set down their belongings. Gavin and Ray wasted no time and immediately went for a dip in the ocean to cool down in an attempt to fight off the intense Texas heat. The last member of the Lads was somewhat less enthusiastic to dive into the water but soon after the other two left, he decided to join them. It took a while but the Gents went in as well after they got bored on the shore.
An hour went by and the Gents headed back to shore, soon followed by Ray, leaving only Gavin and Michael in the water. The blond kept trying to get Michael to race him, disregarding the red head's advantage thanks to his powers and the fact he used to be a competitive swimmer.
"Gavin, for the last time there's no point. You and I both know who's going to win." Michael was starting to get irritated with his boyfriend's insistence. "How do you know that? We haven't even tried."
"Um maybe because we already raced like 5 times in the last 6 months and oh yeah, I can fucking breathe underwater." He was really tired of this argument so when the blond kept persisting he wanted a redo, Michael gave in just to shut him up.
They picked the finished line which was a buoy a few feet ahead of them and on Michael's say so they took off. The race was short and ended quickly with Michael as the obvious winner while Gavin arrived almost a full minute after the red head and was greeted with a cocky smirk. The blond man was slightly out of breath while Michael didn't show any signs of being affected. And while Gavin started arguing and giving excuses about his lackluster performance, they received a message through their mind link. Geoff and the others were going to get some food and they wanted to know if they were hungry as well. As soon as the two said yes and asked for some hamburgers and milkshakes the link disappeared but the slight buzz of activity could still be felt at the back of their minds of both men as it wasn't truly and completely gone. The other AH members could be seen from the duos vantage point, getting up and walking to the board walk to get the food before disappearing between the buildings.
The two Lads went back to talking, or in Gavin's case, having a one-sided argument which fell on deaf ears as Michael went below the surface of the water and started swimming back to the shore. When the water was waist level, he remerges and waited for Gavin to come back. As he waited for the invisible man to reach him, he heard yelling coming from his right. He turned to see what the cause of the disturbance was since up until now the beach had been pretty empty for a Saturday evening and quieter than usual as a result.
The source of the yelling turned out to be a group of kids on the shoreline a few feet from where Michael stood. At first he thought it was just a bunch of friends hanging out and enjoying their weekend together but two seconds after he thought that he saw one of the boys push another into the water while two others laughed at his misfortune. Immediately, Michael knew what was really going on; those three kids were bullying the other boy he and the guys saw earlier today walking along the beach all by himself. At first, he thought it was a little weird that a kid that was presumably only 12 or 13 years old was walking alone on a beach without parental supervision but he quickly brushed it off thinking the parents can't be too far. Now, he wished he put more thought into the matter because if the parents were actually there, he thinks those kids would've been stopped by now.
The red head felt Gavin reach his side and heard him complaining about Michael abandoning him mid-conversation but he paid no mind and focused on the events unfolding in front of him.
He watched as those three kids surrounded the other in a semi-circle as to prohibit him from escaping their torment, he watched as they berated him, he watched as other adults simply ignored the blatant assault in front of them, he watched as they insulted the poor kid and he even watched as another kid kicked him while he was down. It looked too familiar to him, and it both hurt and angered him to see how adults just brushed it off as kids fooling around, just like they did when he was at the receiving end of those words and kicks. And it killed him to see this things still happening despite how people claim that this generation is more opened minded and accepting of others with different powers or no powers to speak off. The only difference he could see from observing this encounter from one of the many he had all those years ago, was the fact that the little red headed boy with shitty powers was just as fierce and blatant as the color of his hair. He never backed down and always defended himself from those that tried to hurt him; never once did he sit helplessly on the sand, crying as his attackers kicked him and spitted disgusting remarks his way. Michael watched, and for the first time he saw what his personal childhood hell looked like to outsiders…
All the while his boyfriend stood to the side, oblivious to the rage rising inside the red head. Gavin only realized something was wrong when he saw his boyfriend was non-responsive and silently glaring at something. He turned to look at what had Michael so worked up. Needless to say, the sight that greeted him sat as well with him as it did with Michael.
The red head kept staring at the group of bullies; silently seething until he saw one of the bullies arms go completely black and some sort of obsidian matter grow from his hands as if it was alive. It only took Michael a second to realize that the kid was using his shadow powers and turning them on his, from what he could hear, powerless victim. The moment he processed this thought, his body was moving on its own accord, storming out of the water all the while telling Gavin to stay where he is over his shoulder.
The second his feet hit the moist sand, he took off running towards the group, yelling at the bullies to fuck off and leave the kid alone. In his angered haze he didn't see the way the kids jumped in the air at his words and looked at him in fear, or how the shadow user's powers disappeared and he definitely didn't notice how the kid that was crying was not responding to his presence. He reached the kids and scolded them harshly for their behavior, all the while resisting the urge to grab one by the collar of their shirts in hopes to shake some sense into them.
The kids were practically shitting their pants as they stared up at the furious red head, frozen in place with eyes wide as plates in fear and shock. Michael was so angry he didn't dare check on the kid's victim yet for fear of yelling at him as well instead of consoling him but he did hear a meek voice coming from his feet as his stopped his tirade for a second to catch his breath. Michael looked down and asked the boy as calmly as he could to repeat what he said.
"Why?" It was the only thing the gamer could hear over the sobs of the boys and fearful whimpers of the bullied behind him. "Why do you hate me so much? I haven't done anything to you!" This time the kid yelled so loudly that it made Michael jump as he was not expecting it.
The red head tried his best to calm him down and even offered him a hand to help him up as he was still sitting in the ocean, waves dancing around the now hysterical brunet boy. His gesture went unnoticed as the boy started yelling at his tormentors, fear and desperation in his voice.
"Why do you always do this to me? I don't even know you. The only time we have talked is when I beg you to stop hitting me or throwing things at me in school. I just want to be left alone. I don't know why you can't do that?! God, leave. me. alone!" The brunet screamed at the top of his lungs. The scream was blood curling and it made Michael and the bullies cringe at its intensity. It was only when Michael took a step back from the boy in shock and looked down at him again, that he noticed the ocean water was retreating.
He watched in horror as it kept folding in on itself and a figure of a wave starting forming as it kept going from where it once came. Michael looked down at the boy in terror as he was the obvious cause of the ocean's strange behavior, and saw the most heinous glare he has ever seen on a child's face directed at the kids who are now screaming in horror as they watch the wave grow in size. It was only when he saw those kids take off running to the pier that he snapped out of it and remembered he didn't come here alone.
Michael heard screams, he felt people running all around him as the wave only grew, desperate to escape; everything slowed down as he turned to face where he left Gavin. The man he loved was sitting on the sand, frozen as he watched the water he was standing in a few seconds ago turn into a behemoth wave in front of him. His breath was caught in his throat as his heart dropped; green eyes filled with panic met his for a second before Michael was able to breathe again.
"GAVIN, RUN!" The wave started moving forward just as Michael did.
The last thing Michael saw as he desperately ran towards his boyfriend was the wave drop and Gavin running at him with a hand reaching out for him, tears in his eyes, before being swept away.
To be continued…
Well, that's that for chapter one, let me know what you think in the comment section below. Remember that chapter 2 is all set to go and will be posted this Monday so stay tuned.
I hope you liked it and have a great weekend!
Until next time,
Girl in Blue