Pretty When You Cry Prologue
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Title – Pretty When You Cry
Chapter – Prologue
Warnings – Language, yaoi, bullying, violence, rape (depending on how you look at it), AU and angst.
Rating – R
Summary – How far would you go would to protect someone you love? What would you be willing to do to keep them safe? And what price would you pay to someone you hate to keep it that way? KaiTala Yaoi!
Author's Note - Yes, yet another new fic idea! As usual it's KaiTala, but I might even throw in a very bloody weird pairing for y'all. But that's a maybe. There may also be some BryanRei. Dunno yet. As mentioned, I'm going with this on inspiration alone. Enjoy!
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He had always hated gym. He was small, he was almost painfully thin, he couldn't see without his glasses and this combination made him an obvious target, especially in the locker-rooms. Especially in fourth period on Monday's, where the football team had a free period straight after lunch and so started their training as soon as the bell had rung, symbolising the end of class and the beginning of lunch, and they had changed. The problem was that by the time Kenny had just started changing back into his clothes, they always seemed to turn up.
His brother tried to help him – sometimes managing to rush from his own class and make it in time before the football team did. At others his brother tried forging notes to excuse him from gym, and he would be sent to study hall. This time, the coach hadn't bought the note. And he'd told Kenny that if he didn't get changed-up and on the court, he would be sent to the principal. That was the last thing the brunette wanted. Grades, an almost perfect attendance record and favour amongst his teachers was all he had in high-school.
Of course, those things didn't help him stay off the radar of the jocks. It made him flash like an enemy battle-ship waiting to be sunk. Hurriedly he tugged off his gym t-shirt, throwing on the school shirt that was already waiting, and began to button it up as quickly as his fumbling fingers would let him. He didn't care if his body was still slightly damp from the showers, nor did he care if his clothes clung to him. He needed to be out of the room before the jocks got there. Quickly patting his matchstick thin legs over the towel to dry them slightly, he began to loosen the knot.
Another tighter one formed in his stomach as the door swung open and the usual loud chatter of the football team filled the room. All the freshmen promptly threw their eyes to the ground and pointedly ignored Kenny, knowing that as long as they didn't interfere, everything would be fine for them. They filed in one-by-one, most of the players too sturdy to fit through the door in groups of two or three at the same time, and each and everyone had a remark to throw.
"Hey loser."
"Nice piece bookworm."
"Yeah, you got the worm part right!"
"Lose any leaves today, twiggy?"
"Hey, check it out; he's grown a whole centimetre!"
"You know something, that kid's so skinny he could hang glide on a Dorito."
The insults stopped, and Kenny felt his body tightening as he lifted his eyes ever so slightly to meet the crimson pair that flicked to him as soon their owner realised he was being watched, eyes freezing over as he paused. "You are no longer worthy of my contempt or insults. Let alone the pride and standing to even look at me. If you're half as intelligent as you think, you'll understand and stop staring."
Kenny dropped his eyes before the words were finished being murmured in a tone so low he could hardly hear them over the beating of his heart. He saw the bluenette's sneakers leave his line of sight, and almost sighed in relief. Kai was the worst. Sure, he never got actively involved in the beatings, but his insults always hurt more than the half-assed moronic ones he received from the others. Kai Hiwatari's insults hit the bone and kept on cutting.
As usual, most of the team followed Kai's lead and departed to get changed, but three of them hung behind, smirking at him. He couldn't help but cower back into the wall, an instinct that was pretty much like blood in the water, causing the sharks to circle in closer. "Aww, baby-freshman is scared of us Steve." The first murmured lowly to one of his compatriots, who chuckled and nodded.
"Yes, s'not like we'd hurt a little thing like him, wouldn't take much." Steve tilted his head, a wicked smile curving his lips. "Though I think he'd be too tight to take too much." He tossed a lewd wink back to Crusher, who laughed heartily at the words while the small brunette blushed and continued to change, trying to ignore the three considerably larger seniors.
"He'd only be good the first time anyway, and that's solely because he's a cherry. But if you two would wanna take my left-over's, you'd be welcome to these ones." Rik shrugged, unimpressed. "Now his brother...that's a different story."
"Hey, hey," Crusher interceded before the blonde could go into too much detail, eyes darting over to his Captain only to find his full attention on Rik, "wouldn't go there my friend. That's the captain's booty, if you know what I'm saying."
"He isn't doing too good a job of claiming his 'booty'." Rik shrugged once more, totally nonchalant.
"No, but who has? Only guy I heard he dated was Bryan, and that guy left over a year and a half ago. And no one knows if he even got inside those tight leather pants." Steve added.
"Main point," Crusher insisted firmly, "Kai's claimed that bounty, and you know he won't stop till he gets it. And anyone gets there before he does, he's gonna be pissed, so just leave him outta it."
While the seniors argued amongst themselves, Kenny had managed to finish changing, and was hugging to the wall as he tried to escape before it finished. Unluckily, the argument ended too soon for his liking and Rik blocked his way with an arm, forcing him back into his corner. "Now where d'you think you're going?" Crusher asked, and from the corner of his eye he noted Kai's attention move back to changing. "We've got plans for you sweetheart."
"Yeah...you want to start through here and work our way to the shower, or d'you just wanna skip the foreplay and get right down to it?"
Kenny almost slumped in relief, eyes wide as he saw the lean form of his brother sidle up behind the football players. They didn't seem to notice him until he was pressed up against Rik's back, smiling coldly as his chin was propped on the blonde's sturdy shoulder, arms looped around his waist, hand held discreetly above the crotch of Rik's jeans, silver bracelet and a four inch blade glittered in the bright light from the ceiling, tapping teasingly. "Hi Rik."
"Tala." Was the curt response, and the smile on the face of the redhead widened, head tilting as the tapping become more annoyed - faster, harder. The remaining two jocks did nothing but watch, not willing to risk getting too close lest the blue-eyed teen turn the knife on them or their genitals. Tala had never had a problem pulling the blade, and they were sure he would mind using it after what he'd apparently done in grade-school. None of them needed an injury that could jeopardize their future careers, or their life, and kept back. To his credit, Rik remained calm even when a knife beating rhythmically against his crotch.
"How are you this afternoon?"
Kai couldn't help but smirk slightly as he caught sight of the angry but composed redhead standing behind Rik, who refused to reply to his question and remained as still as a statue. His eyes shifted to the figure behind him and allowed them to trail down the lightly shivering body. Repressing a chuckle he tugged his shirt over his head, half his focus on continuing to change, the other half on the scene in the corner, and waiting for when he would inevitably have to intervene.
"Oh, how am I, you ask? Well, I'm a little pissed-off, if you hadn't guessed. Why, you ask? Well, your last comment pretty much speaks for itself. Think of touching a single hair on his head, and you'll be missing a part of your body that is so very dear to you...and I'll make sure to keep it for the six minutes so that it can't be sewed back on. Not that I'd enjoy keeping it near myself for that long, mind you. But I would enjoy taking it off. The question would be...how? One quick, clean slice so you don't bleed to death straight away and die of shock...or should I do it slowly, just saw it off a bit at a time?" The redhead's free arm snaked its way around Rik's broad chest, a finger lifting to tap his lips thoughtfully. "Which one...which one...which one...well, for now I'll just settle for deciding, next time, you won't be so fortunate. Now why don't you be a good puppy, and skip on back to your Master hmm?"
The deceivingly strong arms slid away, and Rik put space between himself and the redhead quickly, snapping around and glaring at him. "I ain't no ones puppy!"
A smirk pulled at the redhead's lips as he nodded. "You're right, you're right...you're too ugly to be a puppy. How about I re-phrase and say why don't you be a good bitch and go heel beside your master."
"Why you little..." Rik took a threatening step forward, fists clenched by his side as his body shook with rage. A sharp voice sliced in, stopping him in his tracks, though he did not fail to notice the way Tala moved his body in front of Kenny, knife still held casually by his side, eyes glowing with mirth and amusement.
"Rik, enough." Kai strolled over to the other five teens, knowing all eyes in the room were on him and revelling in the power he had over his underlings. Unfolding one arm from before his chest, he gave a dismissive wave to the team-members who were already changed. "Practise." He reminded, and obediently they scuttled out via the showers and onto the pitch. Steve and Crusher nudged Rik, and the trio also set off into the showers, realising they would be forced to change in there as Kai wished privacy. And getting on Kai's bad-side was something none of the three wanted.
Just before they reached the showers Tala called Rik back, and when the burly blonde glanced over his shoulder, the redhead lifted a hand and gave a coy wave, knife flickering in warning with the movement. With a snort Rik, Steve and Crusher disappeared behind the tiles, and Tala was forced to turn his eyes back to the smouldering crimson pair before him. They grew larger as the bluenette stepped closer, clucking his tongue disapprovingly, torso exposed and just asking to be attacked...at least, in Tala's opinion it was. Coming this close without all his protective gear on? He would admit Kai was braver than many.
Kai leant down, arms extending to land on the wall at either side of Tala's head, staring directly into the baby-blues that flashed threateningly as he left the redhead completely cornered, Kenny still cowering behind him. Dismissing the small brunette from his mind he tilted his head, lips so close to the others ear that Tala could feel the amused smirk curling the bluenette's lips as he spoke. "You know, you should be careful who you point that thing at, one day someone is going to pull a bigger one, and I might not be there to save you." He felt a feather-like brush against his clothed thigh through the light-weight material of his pants, but didn't glance down, knowing what it was touching him. The cool firmness of steel let him know exactly what it was.
"Why don't you pull a bigger one right now, then, and we'll see who needs saving?" Tala asked lowly, pulling his head back just far enough to meet Kai's eyes, refusing to back down from the senior.
Kai's smirk widened. "If you put the knife away, I'll pull out something even bigger for you."
That did cause Tala to step back, sneering and shaking his head in disgust, eyes narrowed disdainfully at the chuckling bluenette, who stepped back and away, turning and walking towards his shirt.
"So easily offended Tala...like a virginal bride." He quickly pulled the sweater over his head and, without a backward glance, dismissed Tala from his thoughts with an abrupt, "Though I would love to continue this discussion, I would set a bad example to my team if I were to show up late for practise. So if you'll excuse me, we will pick this up later."
Tala watched until the bluenette was completely gone from sight, and everything was silent apart from the harsh breathing of his little brother. For a moment, he just glared at the exit Kai had gone through, then he realised what was going on, and immediately turned around, anger dissipating within the blue-orbs and being replaced with concern as he sat down, taking Kenny with him and hugging the younger boy to his chest, but not to tightly. The frail body quivered violently as his lungs strained to draw in oxygen, and Tala allowed a hand to soothingly stroke the brunette's torso, whispering softly to him. "You need to calm down. You know there's nothing wrong anymore, and there's nothing to be worried about, so just relax and take a big deep breath, okay? That's it, like that, just keep breathing deep, remember what the doctor told you..."
"Tala...I'm...I'm going to...to be sick..." Kenny managed to gasp out, eyes stinging with tears at the burning he felt just below his lungs and at the top of his stomach, trying to curl into himself but feeling Tala's strong arms keeping his torso straight. He heard his brother shush him gently as he rested his temple upon the younger boy's head.
"No you're not, you're just a little worked up, relax. You have to calm down." Tala began rocking him slowly, making sure his body did not curl in on itself. "You have to keep yourself straight Kenny, I know it hurts, I know, but you know that if you're all bent up it'll only make it harder to breathe. Please calm down. Remember what that doctor told you? Just close your eyes and imagine you're holding a flower. Take in a deep deep breath to smell it, and hold the scent in your lungs...that's it, now come on, blow it out like you're trying to blow the seeds off one of those wishing flower things. That's it, do it again."
"I need to be sick!" Kenny whined, squirming, trying to escape his brother's hold. It was futile and he knew it, and he knew he shouldn't try to fight because it would only tire him more and would only make breathing harder, and so he reluctantly stopped, trying to keep his stomach in order and breathe deeply at the same time, closing his eyes as he felt his lungs physically shaking with the strain that was being put on them.
"That's good, you're calming down, see? Now just keep it up, you're going to be fine." Tala was worried as hell. He just wanted to scream at Kenny, tell him to calm the fuck down and take a deep breath, to get up off the floor and leave, but he couldn't do that. If he did Kenny would only get more worked up and wind up hurting himself. He had to remain calm and strong, keep his brother from getting worse. "See, everything's okay, its working, now just keep going, you're nearly there."
Footsteps echoed in the shower room and Tala's head snapped around, eyes poised in a venomous glare which lessened into a peeved look as he saw the coach of the football team standing at the entrance, about to step closer when Tala shook his head. "He's fine." It was a rough snap that momentarily shocked the coach, before he regained composure.
"What's wrong with him?"
"There's nothing wrong with him." Tala seethed, continuing to caress his brother's torso. "He's fine."
"Really? Well he doesn't look fine." The coach snapped in return. "Should I go get the nurse?"
"No, he's just had a panic attack. All he needs is to calm down. I'm his fucking brother, I've seen this happen before, and I know how to help him."
"Are you sure he doesn't need the nurse?" The coach persisted, unsure.
"No, but I'll take him after he's calmed down. Right now it's best he gets his breath back...just like after you've been tackled by a guy twice your size with enough force that it feels like your ribs have been broken, you need to get your wind back before moving too much. He'll be fine as long as he calms down."
"I'm calmed down." The shivering bundle in his arms spoke breathlessly. A small smile touched Tala's face, a soft fond smile he showed only to Kenny.
"You sure? You're shaking pretty badly..."
"He's calmed down. His body is shaking because of the strain leaving, he'll be fine in a minute or so. I'll take him to the nurse then."
The coach's green eyes shifted to Kenny, guiltily looking him over. "Is this what that note was about?"
Tala nodded. "Yes. It doesn't always happen, but he knows when he's going to have one when he wakes up in the morning, his sides and stomach hurts. When the attack hits...we don't know. But they can also be triggered by too much strain, which is why my mother and I prefer he not do gym."
The coach nodded in understanding, gaze sympathetic. "From now on you just go to study-hall okay Kenny? Unless you feel up to doing gym. If you're not present, I'll know where you'll be."
"T-thanks coach."
The coach nodded and, sure everything was fine, headed back outside. Tala gently turned Kenny's face so he could make sure he was okay, wiping away a few of the tears on his cheeks. "Feeling better now?" He received a timid nod in return, and he bent down and lightly kissed the boys clammy forehead. "Can you get up?"
"N-No..."
Tala nodded to himself and got carefully to his feet, arms around Kenny's waist to help him stand. "Come on, let's get you to the nurse." He sighed, feeling the tension melt out of his body as his brother took a tentative step forward. "Sorry I was late, I thought you were in study-hall, by the time I realised you weren't..."
"It's fine Tala." Kenny mumbled under his breath as they exited the locker-room, a shiver going down his spine. "You've got your own things to do." He heard the redhead snort from beside him.
"Like what? Go out and smoke pot with the stoners? You know that isn't my thing." Tala gave a long stretch, his shredded green and black clinging tightly to his frame and baring his arms, arching his neck from side-to-side, as if trying to make it crack. "Besides, you're my brother, I have to watch out for you don't I?"
"I suppose so..."
"So how'd that exam in English go?" He asked, quickly changing topics and keeping his voice distant and emotionless as a throng of students walked past, several giving him long, appraising looks but carrying on, knowing they stood no chance in hell. "Another A?"
"Yeah."
"You say that like you're not happy about it. Best I ever get is a B, and that's a very lucky day for me."
"Horsecrap." Kenny muttered under his breath, glaring at his brother. "You could get A's, you just don't try."
"...true." Tala smirked at him wickedly, pausing outside the nurse's office. "You want me to come in with you?" Kenny shook his head, smiling, and knocked softly on the door and slipping inside, and Tala turned from the door and walked towards one of the many windows in the hall. He had a clear view of the football field, of the players tackling and tossing the ball to one another, one side with added yellow vests, the others with simply their own uniform on. His eyes almost automatically picked out the Captain who stood beside the coach, the two talking lowly about something or other.
Something Tala had always found strange was that Kai knew when someone was watching him. And like always, the bluenette paused and turned away from the board the coach was furiously scribbling upon, his eyes first searching the field, then moving on to the windows. It didn't take much time for him to spot Tala, and the redhead tightened sharply at the knowing smirk he was sent before the eyes left him to move back to the coach, nodding his head. A shiver rolled down his spine as the smirk that had flashed across Kai's face replayed itself in his mind, eyebrows scrunching into a frown.
Why did that smirk look so much like that of a cat who knew where the mouse hid, and was merely buying time before attacking?
