SUMMARY: In which Leo Valdez meets a guy who is attracted to pans. And he wants to make it absolutely clear, that he looks nothing like a Raphael. AU. Rating - T
SONG: Moment / Nate Ruess
Chapter 2
"I just need a moment to cry"
As always, Leo showed up at the worst (and best) of times. It was redundant, he supposed, because finding out secrets always resulted in a punch to the face or death threats. It was obvious that everyone had a secret - one that was humiliating, or one that killed you slowly down to the very core. Either way, if anyone found out, it would be tragic.
Which explained why, right now, the brown-haired boy was facing a rather angry but cute guy.
"I cannot believe you."
"Me neither. Why would anyone make out in this bathroom?" Leo gestured around, and figured that telling jokes may not be best in this situation, but it was his defence mechanism.
"You can't tell anyone. And we were not making out - it was just a kiss." The guy looked cross, but a worried look flashed, betraying any hint of intimidation. Of course, he could probably break Leo in half. He was taller, bigger build, and clearly had no sense of humour.
"I won't."
"How come I don't believe you?" The person stepped closer, invading Leo's personal space.
However, it wasn't a problem at the moment, because the Latino was too busy taking the opportunity to check out the guy. Either he was too short, or didn't have a higher standard, but those abs and muscles were huge. Not even playing on the football team could cause those. The guy looked assumably Chinese, with a buzz cut. "So what if people in this school know you're gay?"
"I prefer the term pansexual."
"Wait, you're attracted to pans?"
"Pansexual," the boy said, drawing the word out, as if he had this conversation before, "is not limited or inhibited in sexual choice with regard to gender or activity."
"Still don't get it." Leo wondered why it was even a big deal - honestly, it didn't matter if you were attracted to boys, girls, pans, or aliens. A bit kinky with the last ones, but love was love, right?
"Octavian and I are friends, and well, I like him. When you barged in, though, he denied any fact of ever being interested in guys, so it's all your fault."
"Whoa, is it my fault you did it in a public place?"
"Nobody goes to these bathrooms!" The boy said. "The toilets are broken, there's blood on the taps, and the urinals have suspicious brown stuff."
"It's not very romantic, uh, to kiss in here though. You and Octavius could have done it on a teacher's desk."
Pansexual Guy was glaring daggers. "Octavian, and - ugh, I don't know why I'm having this conversation. Point is, you can't tell anyone."
Feeling brave, or maybe the better term was stupid, Leo challenged, "On one condition."
"There are no conditions. Just mind your own business."
"Uh, I could, but maybe not. You're the one with the choices. You could finally be able to express yourself, or you can stay in the closet, being unhappy forever. All I want is for you to be free."
"Let me guess, you're also 'free'?"
"Flaming homosexual."
"Eh." The guy rubbed his neck, looking scared for once. "Some people are not that acceptable."
"Not everyone is," Leo agreed. "I . . . I know. But I think it's one step closer to showing that it doesn't matter who you are. Or even what."
There was a slight pause, before in a much nicer tone, "I'm Frank Zhang."
"Huh, that last name is really familiar."
"Yeah." Frank didn't elaborate further, though. He clearly expected a name.
"My name is Raphael," Leo said, the words easily falling from his mouth. Wait - why did I use a fake name? I mean Leo! Wait, maybe this is good. I mean, Frank doesn't need to know who I am. He's like a Senior or something. It doesn't matter.
"Huh, I guess you kind of look like a Raphael," Frank said. "Well, see you around, Ralph."
Leo was about to protest at the whole comment. He looked nothing like a Raphael, or 'Ralph', for that matter!
Once the lunch period was over, which was unfortunate, because Leo didn't get a chance to eat yet, he met up with his friend, Piper McLean. "Guess what happened, Beauty Queen?"
"You got mobbed by a stampede of chimpanzees," Piper replied immediately. "Luckily you escaped when a doctor passed by."
"Oh, that's not too cliché." Leo nodded his head, feeling much calmer around his friend.
Leo and Piper both had a weird sense of humour, that molded together perfectly. Although Piper was sometimes hard to understand, with a mix of sarcasm and random things, she was mostly a quiet girl who spoke when needed. She was a vegetarian and women's activist, two traits that placed her in a 'save the world' clique (which she denied obviously, sticking with Leo in his own loner group).
They both entered their next class, which was history. Although most teachers were boring, droning about things with lack of expression, Mr. Brunner was different. He actually cared about the students. He was passionate about his job, always adding interesting facts about the timeline. For example, Richard the Lionheart was suspected to be homosexual (although there was no clear evidence about this).
Suddenly, Leo choked. "Why are there so many people?"
Most of the seats were already filled, and of course those who were shy sat alone so Leo and Piper couldn't sit together.
"This is going to be a tenth and eleventh grade split, because we're introducing the same topic," Mr. Brunner said, overhearing the confusion. "I know for a fact that all of you are intelligent and mature. We should have no problem getting along. We are starting with the impact of Globalization."
Piper sat beside a random girl, and Leo looked around for a spot. Most classmates were avoiding his gaze, and someone even had the decency to put their backpack on an empty seat. If getting along was always like this, it was really inviting.
"Hey, Ralph, you can sit beside me," a voice said.
Of course, Leo ignored the person before registering that it was Frank Zhang. The guy who was pansexual. From the bathroom. Really, what were the odds? If this was some TV show, Frank would try to befriend, and they'll trade numbers or something; shopping together and gossiping like wannabes. Some people who already knew Leo laughed, thinking that Frank was purposely calling him by the wrong name.
"Cool," Leo said, taking the vacant spot.
Frank visibly relaxed. "Thank the gods. I hate always sitting alone."
"Really? You're a geek?"
There was a glare. "I'm not a geek - I just don't like people."
"Someone's sounding antisocial."
"Leo, Frank, can I please have your attention?" Mr. Brunner asked.
Frank looked guilty, probably one of those teacher's pets, and then slowly frowned. "Leo?"
Nickname, Leo mouthed.
Frank gave a small smirk. "You definitely look like a Leo."
