"W-what?" Simon spluttered, gaping like a fish at this unexpected piece of news.

"It's true Simon," Penny said soothingly, patting Simon's hand where it lay on the table.

"And people are being stupid about it," Ryan added, giving Simon a sympathetic look.

"Some people are just- stupid," Howie exploded, "it doesn't affect them in any way, so why is it even such a big deal?" he glared around at the dining hall, saving his dirtiest looks for where Agatha and Monique were sitting.

Simon was still in shock.

"It's okay, I'm sure that this will all blow over, and by this time next week everything will be back to normal," Penny said somewhat desperately.

"Agatha and Monique had better hope so," Howie said grimly, looking around at the group sitting around the table. Baz and Ryan nodded their agreement, while Penny rolled her eyes and Simon still gaped at nothing.

"How are they taking it?" Simon asked quietly.

"About as well as can be expected," Baz replied, equally as quietly, "they just found out their hero is in a relationship with someone of the same sex, of course there was going to be a bit of an uproar."

"I'm sorry Baz, for putting you through this," Simon said, looking down at the table.

"Don't apologise Simon, it's not me I'm worried about," Baz replied sincerely. "I'm a nobody, but you are their hero, they all think they have a right to an opinion on our relationship, and they could get quite vocal about it. I just hope that you will think it's all worth it."

"How are your old team mates taking this news?" Simon murmured.

"Fine, they suspected during the match. They've actually been defending some of the claims." Baz answered shortly.

"And all of your teachers?"

"Houdini, Simon!" Baz didn't raise his voice, but the tone was cutting, "Stop being so selfless! I will cope, people are scared of me and I have a reputation as being tough. You have no such reputation."

Ryan, Penny and Howie stared slightly stunned as Simon gathered his wits.

"How else am I meant to react?" his voice was soft, raw, "I am shocked, I am scared, I can't walk into class anymore without people looking at me differently, seeing a label. I want to be Simon. I'm just Simon."

"You're still Simon to us." Penny's voice quivered slightly.

"Simon," Baz whispered, this was a world just for the two of them, "Do you want to go somewhere away from here? Just for today while they are at their worst?"

"No," Simon was certain, "but I need to know what they're saying, what are they saying?"

They exchanged looks, none wanting to be the one to break the news.

"Well," said Ryan, the ghost of a smirk playing on his lips, "they say you make a 'pretty' couple."

"And that the hating act that you two had for the past eight years was just a display to cover up your love." Penny bit her lip.

But it was Howie's words that rocked Simon's world the most.

"They're asking how a gay turd is going to defeat the Insidious Humdrum, ignoring or forgetting that you've already faced him every year since you began at the school."

"Howard," Penny hissed in reproach, "I thought we were going to reveal that slowly."

"Well Penelope," Howie replied, "Some things are like ripping off a Band-Aid, it's best to just get it over with."

"But still," Penny protested.

"No, it's alright. I should have expected this really, why would they bother respecting me and my decisions, after all, what have I ever done for them?" Simon's words were biting.

"Simon, it's going to be okay, we can get through this," Baz said.

"I know we can, but we shouldn't have to!" Simon exclaimed.

"No, you shouldn't, but that's just how people are, mostly stupid, and only occasionally kind." Ryan said.

"You're so optimistic Ryan," Baz said drily.

"I'm being realistic Baz," Ryan said, "Simon needs to be prepared for what could be coming in the next few days, and he is a public figure, so the backlash could be huge."

"Even among people who know you, and have known you for years the reactions have been quite extreme, so there's no telling what could happen next," Penny remarked, "we need a plan of action."

"I think we should just ignore it. We can't let them see that they get to us, they have no right to judge us, so we can just not listen to them," Simon said.

"Need I remind you of the backlash?"

Baz scowled ferociously at Ryan.

"I'll be fine, I mean, they're just words, right?"


Sorry that this weeks chapter is such a short one, we've had a lot on this week!

Hope you enjoyed it, though! :)