Chapter 9
Springtime sprinted for the academy. This left the cadets in brighter moods, after such a short winter break they didn't have to endure cold nights doing schoolwork. Instead, flower buds were popping out of the ground and birds were already coming back.
Graduation was right around the corner. It started raining a week before and didn't stop until the day before.
One of those days was a day for the cadets to do the obstacle course in full gear. In the rain. They ran through the mud, did tug of war with thick braided ropes, and climbed slippery rope ladders.
They also had hand to hand combat in the outside ring. Jim waited for his turn on the side lines. David was at a separate ring, already squaring up. Jim was distracted by talking with his friends. He didn't see his opponent would be Almrez until it was too late.
"Great." He groaned.
"Hawkins!" Almrez stood with his arms open. "Ready to spar?"
"Ready." Jim challenged before standing in his beginning fighting stance.
Their commander blew a whistle and the two started circling one another. Almrez threw the first punch, but Jim was quick enough to dodge. Jim aimed for Almrez's left ribs, and followed through with a swift punch. Almrez just smirked. He aimed for Jim's face but just scraped past his ear.
Jim punched his left side again and then crouched to avoid the sucker punch Almrez planned. Jim grounded himself with one hand and kicked hard into Almrez's abdomen. He skittered back in time to avoid an elbow to the head. This time Jim punched his right side with a quick one, two. Almrez grunted his frustration and landed a punch onto Jim's shoulder.
"Stop avoiding me, Hawkins." Almrez sniffed and shook the rain out of his eyes.
Jim took this as a cue to aim for Almrez's left side again. When the alien dodged, Jim slammed a surprise punch into his elbow, causing the alien to wince. He threw a punch and got lucky Jim was so close. He got Jim's clavicle, making the brunette back up a step.
Almrez advanced and threw punches when he was close enough to hit. But they became erratic, and Jim became occupied with dodging them. With his hands up, guarding his face, he didn't know Almrez's next punch would actually be a grab for his forearm. Almrez used the element of surprise to pull Jim under him. He pinned Jim's arm behind his back and pushed Jim's face to the ground. Almrez huffed a laugh and pressed Jim harder onto the asphalt.
"There we go, Hawkins. You're right where you belong." Jim felt the slick asphalt under him and slowly brought himself to his knees under the alien. "I can't wait to have the chance to put you in your place. Again. And again. Almrez pushed Jim's skull harder, but loosened his grip as he leaned down to whisper in his ear.
Before he could speak, Jim used his legs to slam into Almrez's front legs, sending his head down lower. He moved his hand to catch himself, giving Jim the chance to head butt the alien and roll out from under him. He pushed the aliens leg and slid out to safety, getting on his feet. Almrez's face slammed into the pavement, and he roared up in anger. He made a rush at Jim but was stopped by the commander's whistle.
"That's time! Next!"
Jim walked out of the ring and got pats on the back from his friends. He went off to get something to drink, and to get to his dorm.
When he walked in the door, he heard someone in the bathroom using the sink. He walked into the open door and saw David rubbing his face with a damp rag. "You can't tell me you're hot after being in the rain all day." Jim smiled. David looked up from the sink. "Oh my god!" Jim put a hand on David's shoulder. "Babe, what happened?"
David's face was covered in freshly forming bruises. He had a cut lip and a bleeding ear. He had the beginning of a black eye and was currently dabbing the blood from his cheek. "Got my ass handed to me." David smiled and shrugged. "I was not prepared to go up against Delge."
"They put you up against that rock alien guy? Damn." Jim turned David to face him. "Damn."
"Could've been worse." David dabbed at the nose blood.
Jim took the rag and ran it under the water in the sink. Gently, he dabbed at the blood coming from his ear. He turned David's head to examine his other ear. "Did he box your ears?" He gently rubbed away the blood and sweat from his forehead.
"Yeah. Lucky break. The bastard wanted to disorient me." David rested his eyes and let Jim clean him up. Jim accidentally pressed on a bruise. "Ow!"
"Sorry baby." Jim rinsed the rag and got the first aid kit from under the sink. "You're gonna use up all our Neosporin."
Jim gently put some of the ointment on David's cuts then washed his hands. "Com'mon babe." Jim took David's hand and led them to his bunk. David laid on his back, and Jim on his side. They cuddled gently and Jim rubbed David's chest in circles.
"You got out much luckier than I did." David commented.
"Yeah, well, Almrez was forced to fight fair with so many people watching. But you're right- I did get lucky. He barely got me. I don't want to think about how I'd look if he really got his hands on me."
David gripped Jim's shoulder and pulled him closer. "Not while I'm around, he won't." David grunted. "He wouldn't dare."
"Well, I won't let him get to me. Mentally or in a fight. And if I keep up this pace past graduation, it won't matter. I'll be a higher rank than him." Jim smiled. "He'd risk insubordination if he messed with me."
David sighed. "I still don't like him."
"Neither do I. There's something about him…I don't know what it is. But he is never in trouble for anything. When he threatened me that time, when you were with Catherine, he barely got a slap on the wrist even though he threatened to beat my face in. Something's up."
David shook his head. They sat there a few more minutes before David patted Jim's shoulder.
"Okay," he groaned and sat up. "Time to go back to classes."
- - -
Lunchtime was more of a relief than usual. The food was decent, the company was great and it always felt like they could take a breather at lunch.
Vinny shook his head for the fourth time, staring at David's face.
Jim glanced up at him again and gave him a look.
"We get it, dude." Warren budged his shoulder. "Stop gawking."
"Sorry." Vinny murmured. Again. There was about two seconds of silence. "It's just like, super bad. That was an unfair match, dude."
"They're not meant to be fair." David gave Vinny a pointed look. "They're meant to prepare you for anything." Vinny opened his mouth again. David pointed a fork at him. "Mention my face one more time and I'll take you out to spar." Vinny's mouth clicked shut. "Okay then."
Killion spoke from behind his book. "It is very rude to carry on so. Maybe fixate on something else?" He briefly glanced around the room. "Like that guy coming over here, for example."
Everyone looked behind Jim, David and Heffren. The boys turned their heads and looked too. It was the guy from the elevator on Jim's first day. Jim groaned and returned to his food.
"Son of a bitch." He grumbled. A hand came down and slammed on the table top by Heffren's arm.
"Hey." His raspy, cool toned voice greeted Jim. And Jim alone.
"Can we, help you?" Heffren asked.
"I'm here for him." The guy gestured at Jim with his chin.
"He doesn't want to talk to you." Killion stated. "He doesn't like you. And he doesn't want you around. Neither do I for that matter. So you should go." He said all this from behind his book but still managed to sound a bit forceful and rude.
"Yeah," Vinny gave the guy a once over. "Don't you have a forest to prance through?" He smirked. "Fawn- guy?"
The guy scoffed and tried to get Jim's attention. "Hey. Pretty boy."
"Very original." Heffren smiled. "I guess you are kinda pretty." He nudged Jim affectionately.
He got Jim to smile. "Shut up."
David turned in his seat and stared the guy down. "I'm pretty sure I was clear last time. Go away." Jim squeezed David's knee gently under the table.
"Your face looks like shit." The guy smiled wolfishly. It took David a blink to go from sitting down to being right in the guy's face. The guy didn't flinch but he did lean back. "Mreow, kitty cat." He teased.
Killion spoke again, this time almost setting down his book to get the guy's attention. "I wouldn't underestimate him if I were you." The guy's face didn't move, but one ear twitched to indicate he was listening. "David isn't afraid to fight you, he's just too polite to do so right now. He may have only confronted you in the past, and now that he looks beat up you might think he's all talk. But if you're into wagers I'd take the bet that you'd be on the ground in seconds."
"Killion, how did you get so polite? And yet so fiesty?" Warven smiled at the smaller alien.
Killion just blinked at him and smiled. "I have many talents."
A teacher that was supervising the lunch came over to David and the alien. "Okay boys, let's simmer down now. Sebna, just go sit with your friends. David, why don't you finish that lunch while it's hot?"
The boys backed down but not before Sebna smirked and scoffed at David. He gave Jim a different smirk but Jim just returned it with a glare. "See ya around…Jim." He walked away with his friends.
"Oh good!" Heffren exclaimed sarcastically. "I gave him your name! Wonderful!"
"Don't worry about it.." Jim watched David sit down. "Thank you." He smiled. "But please don't kill him."
"No promises." David pouted.
"David! That would get you expelled!" Killion actually put down his book. "I can't lose one of my most intelligent roommates!"
Vinny took the hint really fast. "Hey! Who are you calling stupid?"
"I didn't call anyone stupid." Killion stated matter of factly. "I said one of my most intelligent roommates."
"Uh huh." Vinny gave him a gentle noogie.
"Remind me who that guy was?" Warren asked.
Vinny answered. "The creep approached Jim in the showers and said he wanted some... company. And Jim said no. But he kept asking." He looked at David. "Maybe we should let Jim kick his ass."
David smiled. "Yeah maybe. If he won't listen to me..."
"He won't take me seriously." Jim shook his head. "He just wants sex but he's not being very subtle about it." He whispered.
Killion looked up from his book again. "First Almrez and now Sebna. I wonder," he mused. "Jim do you think the reason for this bullying could be the fact that your-" Vinny slapped a hand over Killion's mouth.
"So much smarter than them?" Vinny finished rather loudly. "Absolutely!" He turned his voice down to a whisper. "Are you trying to get Jim expelled?" He hissed. Killion's eyes widened.
Jim let out a long breath. "Killion, please. Not here. You're probably right- and it is... that reason. But we don't need to tell everyone, okay?" He smiled gently. Killion nodded. Vinny removed his hand. Warven leaned toward the middle of the table, and Heffren rested on his elbows.
"What're we talking about?" Warven whispered.
"Jim's-" Killion started in a too-loud whisper. Vinny slapped his hand over his mouth again.
"Lower your voice!"
"Sorry." Killion murmured.
"I think we got that part." Heffren furrowed his brow and budged Jim. "What's up man?"
"I'm gay." Jim's lips barely moved, allowing for an almost inaudible whisper.
"Oh!" Heffren leaned back and scoffed. "I knew that."
"You are?" Warven looked surprised. "I thought Almrez was just spewing bullshit."
"He does spew bullshit." Jim countered. "But he doesn't know that- I mean- that his bullying is based on fact." He turned toward his other friend. "Wait- how did you know?"
"It's so obvious." Heffren shrugged. Killion nodded his agreement. "I could tell a little after we first met."
"Do I give off a vibe?" Jim joked.
"No, you idiot. I could just tell." Heffren punched his arm.
"I guess, the more I think about it, it makes a lot of sense." Warven smiled and shrugged. "Cool."
"Thanks." Jim smiled at him.
"Jim- you're gonna wanna finish that lunch now." Heffren warned.
Jim turned to him. "What?" Heffren nodded his head. Almrez and his friends were now headed over to the table. Jim sighed and watched as they approached. Almrez opened his mouth but Jim spoke first. "Okay look. Let's just skip the "pleasantries" and just go for the throat okay? I'm not in the mood." This made Almrez furious.
"Now you say something rude." Killion offered. "Then Jim ignores you."
"Then we tell you to fuck off." Vinny joined in.
"Then you hurl one last insult and promise you'll be back for revenge." Warven yawned.
There was a hilarious moment of silence where Almrez was unsure of what to say. Just as he opened his mouth,
"Yep I'm pathetic and wimpy and stupid. Thank you for your input." Jim blinked. The bell for the end of lunch rang. "And that's... time." Jim and the others stood to leave.
Almrez grabbed the front of Jim's shirt. "You punk ass. You got lucky earlier - don't think you're invincible just 'cuz you're friends are here."
"Hey!" David snapped. "Back off now. I'm sure you have things to do."
Almrez shoved Jim back and moved around him to leave. Jim smoothed his shirt. "I think we pissed him off."
"Good." Heffren threw an arm around Jim's shoulders. "He pisses us off all the time."
"Who do you guys have exams with?" Warven followed close behind. "Jim and I have Slaker."
"I've got Korlph." Heffren replied.
"Breepen." David chimed in. Vinny punched his arm.
"Good luck." He smirked. "I've got Korlph, too."
"Professor Himes." Killion mentioned with his nose in his book.
"Alright, party at our dorm once we're done, huh?" Vinny slapped David's shoulder. "Bring something to eat though- we only have chips."
"Sounds good." Heffren waved as he walked down the hall. Vinny walked with Jim until he and Warven were at their class then ran to catch up.
"Jim?" Warven half whispered.
"Hmm?" Jim held the door open for him.
"What do you think Almrez will do if he fails exams?"
Jim thought for a moment before they made it to their seats. "I think he'll be pissed. Then I don't know what he'll do. He's unpredictable."
"That's what I'm worried about." Warven set down his pencils and wrung his hands together. He looked around like Almrez would be in the room, but he wasn't there. He was in a completely different hallway, to Warven's relief.
"You've got bigger things to worry about." Jim said as he took the exam booklets from another student and passed them to Warven. "This exam, for example."
Warven took a packet and passed the rest along. "You're right. Good luck." He smiled.
It was another few minutes before the teacher checked that everyone had a test packet before letting them begin.
- - -
Warven walked out of the classroom looking quite happy with himself. Jim was waiting on the opposite hallway wall for him.
"How'd you do?" Jim smiled.
"I think I did great. But we'll see when the results are posted." Warven stuck his pencils in his shirt pocket.
The hallway was silent as they made their way down. All the classrooms were shut for exams and even the janitors were away during test times as to not distract anyone. One or two students exited classrooms but they didn't interact with the boys. One of Warven's ears twitched as they were nearing an intersection. He put a hand on Jim's shoulder to stop him.
"Jim? I think we should go another way." He stated warily.
"What?" Jim laughed. But the look on Warven's face was serious. Jim looked back at the intersection. There was nothing suspicious besides the quiet. But it was always quiet during exams. He held his breath to listen but there were no sounds to be heard. "Alright." He whispered. The two of them turned around.
At the intersection, Almrez's friends had been waiting. When they heard the boys leaving they scattered. Two of them had ropes, one held sacks for their heads, and another had a bat in his hand.
- - -
Warven and Jim waited for everyone to come back to the dorm. Killion was there already, reading over his notes. Jim flopped onto his bunk and closed his eyes. Warven picked up a deck of cards and played solitaire. It wasn't long before the others returned. Heffren came in, then David, and finally Vinny.
"Alright who else wants a drink?" Vinny offered as he shut the door behind him.
Jim peeked one eye open and turned over. David came and gave Jim's head a kiss before sitting in a folding chair beside the bunk. "Over here." David held up a hand and caught the tossed beer. David moved his other hand to rub Jim's head. He looked down. "You okay, babe?" Jim just gave him a sleepy nod. "Okay, honey." David turned back to face his friends. For the rest of the day they drank and made jokes together before going their separate ways.