Actions speak louder then words
"Sorry, we're closed." He grabbed his coat and stood up to look at the one that just entered. His eyes widened.
"I've noticed." Bobby said. Yamato stiffened as his defenses shifted into place. His eyes hardened and his muscles tensed. He did not like this boy. The rumors about Bobby's gang were hideous and he didn't want to add to them. He slipped on his jacket as his eyes regarded Bobby cautiously. The dark boy moved to the front desk and placed his forearms on the wooden surface. His eyes held an amused glint and never left the blond-haired boy.
"Then would you like me to make an appointment for tomorrow," Yamato asked, thinking the best method would be professionalism. Yamato's hand moved to turn back on the computer but saw the other shake their head.
"No. Actually I came to see you."
Yamato paused before asking, "Why?"
The question was diverted. "What happened to your job at the bar?"
"I got fired. Is there something you want in specific?"
"Ohhhhh." Bobby said sounding amused. "Don't tell me it was because of that little fight I had with your boy toy."
Yamato's face paled. "What are you talking about?" Yamato tried to sound ignorant of Bobby's known facts. "I don't…."
Bobby laughed. "Don't be flustered. It's a dead give away." Bobby lifted his one arm off the oak surface and turned sideways, weighing himself on the table using only his left arm. He fixed his eyes on Yamato's intense blue ones and raised his eyebrows to show his strict seriousness he was about to give the conversation. "By the way, everyone knows about you two. Even though's who don't pay attention to gossip. And it's not just in your school. It's on the streets too." He smirked at Yamato's worsening expression. "You didn't actually think you could date someone as known as Taichi and go completely unnoticed, did you. Things like that just want to be out of the closet."
Yamato narrowed his eyes on the boy and fisted his two hands at his sides. "Why are you here? Did you come to taunt me?"
Bobby let out a quick laugh. "Don't be ridiculous, little boy. I have better things to do with my time then paying someone a visit just to watch them cry. Not like you would." Bobby made a thoughtful pause before adding, "In public."
"Then why?" He didn't regard the statement with either an affirmative or an argument but did loosen up slightly and let his hands go limp at his sides. Yamato walked towards the opening at the far side of the desk. There heads turned as they kept eye contact, one set of eyes held the same amused glint from the beginning and the other's harsher, more defensive glare, stayed hard in the blue orbs.
Now on the same side of the desk as Bobby, Yamato turned his whole body to him, willing himself to stay firm no matter the other boy's intent. "Are you afraid?"
"Why do you keep avoiding my question?"
"I don't." Bobby stayed amused despite the other's obvious frustration and anxiety.
"Then you don't have a purpose for being here so I suggest you leave. I'm trying to close up."
"And what if I don't." The other challenged. "You don't have any bodyguards here like you did at the bar."
Yamato raised an eyebrow. "What makes you think I need a bodyguard?" Bobby chuckled again as he stood tall and flexed each of his muscles in a demonstration of his power of the blonde in the matter.
"As you were saying…" he taunted. Yamato felt a fresh new bout of fear travel through his veins but pushed it aside as he forced himself to remain visually calm.
"What do you want?" Yamato tried again.
"Are we back to that, so soon?" The darker boy sighed in mock annoyance but then the amusement returned to his face. "We do have a lot in common, you know."
Yamato raised his eyebrow at the statement, which seemed to come out of nowhere. "What are you talking about? I'm not like you."
"Oh, but don't you have two ears and one nose and two eyes, which are quite lovely by the way. But we have more in common then that."
Yamato blinked a few times, a bit disturbed by the compliment but stayed silent. Bobby took a few steps towards him and smiled when he saw a flash of fear pass over the others face. Yamato's left leg start to lift slightly though stopped as if the blonde was trying to debate if he should take a step back or not.
"A lot in common." Bobby said as his hand retched out to touch the golden hair of the other. His fingers merely brushed it as the head jerked away and Yamato took a few steps back. Yamato's eyes widened, now realizing, for the first time, what Bobby had meant by saying they had a lot in common.
"Your…" Yamato asked with wide eyes.
"Gay? Yes, just like you…like you." Then he scowled. "But that bitch, Taichi, got his hands on you and he expects everyone else to just step back. Let him have all the fun." He growled. "Like always."
Yamato forgot his earlier promise to act strong as he started to hate how this conversation was going. He wished that he wasn't alone, that Clair was in the tanning room teaching a new tanner about the machine or he wished he had finished with his co-worker and had left with her but it wasn't so.
Unable to find anything to say, he swallowed the lump in his throat and stayed silent, hoping that the discussion wasn't leading to where it seemed to be. "Now your afraid." Another chuckle left the taller boy's lips and he licked them to add moisture to the surface, then he shook his head. "But I'm not here to scare you, I'm hear to offer you something. A place in my gang."
Yamato's brows knitted together in confusion. "What?" He asked.
"Leave Taichi's gang and join mine. You and that jock can't have been together all that long, I'm sure he won't be too heart broken, if that's what your worried about."
"I'm not apart of any gang." Yamato stated sounding offended at the thought. "I'm not- I'm not…"
"Yes you are. Don't lie to yourself. By dating that bush head, you've become one of their members. You should have known that, or did he hide the fact from you to keep you with him. Keep you to himself."
Yamato lowered his head while trying to think if the information was true. It didn't feel all that true since, even though Tai had tried to intermingle Yamato with Taichi's friends, it seldom worked. Akeno would constantly shoot him glares, though more out of habit then any actual momentary reason, and he'd felt distinctly uncomfortable around them for he felt that when he wronged Akeno that the others had judged him as Akeno did. Tai knew he was uncomfortable so didn't try too hard to get them all to intertwine. Because of this, he wasn't really around them as much as someone would have to be for a gang… right… though maybe that didn't matter. He didn't know. He didn't know much about these things and never tried to learn; now he was wishing he did.
Yamato didn't know what to say so he kept quiet. "Now this is your choice, stay with him, who will delude you to get what he wants or you can be mine and I'll always tell you the truth and I promise you won't ever have to fear people knowing your relationship."
Yamato didn't even have to think about the answer. Yamato tensed in awaiting the effects of what he was about to say. "Of course I'm not leaving Tai, especially not for you."
Fury swept, momentarily, over the other's face before being replaced with strict seriousness. "You'd rather stay with him and let him manipulate you instead of being protected by me?"
Yamato's eyes narrowed as he regained his composure and took a step forward. He stood as tall as he could, bringing himself as close to the other's height as he could, even though he was still a good four inches shorter. "Like how you're trying to manipulate me. I'm not the idiot you think I am, or maybe you're the idiot who's foolish enough to think someone would fall for that. You just hate Tai and want to distract him by using me. Then you can hurt him how you want, is that right."
The other chuckled, though it was obvious that it was to hide his true feelings of anger and to struggle to get the upper hand again. "Is that what you think? That's not true at all. Your foolish, little boy, for that's not it at all. Yeah I hate the bitch and all his little friends too but I truly do want you to join us."
Yamato snorted. "You lie. You can't deny it. Now, I have places to be so if you don't mind…" Yamato turned towards the entrance in which the light switch was beside it. He started walking towards the two but was forced to a stop as one of Bobby's large hands grabbed hold of Yamato's upper arm, completely encircling it. Yamato's hardened eyes went from the hand that was roughly holding his arm to the infuriated eyes of the dangerous boy before him.
"You really do think a lot of your self, don't you." Bobby taunted. "Maybe I wouldn't want someone as shallow as you. What good would it do?"
"You seemed to manage." Yamato retorted, jerking to free his arm but failed as the hand squeezed painfully tighter. Yamato bit his lip as his other hand came up to try and pull the tanned hand off his arm but as it came to do so, his wrist was snatched as well and held just as roughly. "Let. Go." Yamato growled though, despite his angered voice, he was swiftly becoming panicked.
He tried pulling away again and had succeeded in stepping back but Bobby had only taken another step closer. "You bitch. You think you're so good. Lets see you now." He then roughly threw Yamato back, letting go of him fully, causing him to loose his balance and fall hard on his back, head only barely missing the wall.
Yamato quickly tried to raise to his feet but it wasn't fast enough for then a kick connected with his sides. Pain shot through his ribs and he hoped they weren't broken. He pulled himself into a ball to defend any further damage but instead heard the door open and looked up as Bobby stared at him with anger and disgust.
"Don't think this is over.".
**
A quick rush of air ended the moment Taichi Yagami hit his mattress, face down, with his arms up and ready to support his forehead. His body was mostly on the mattress, feet dangling off on an angle, the same angle he had himself fall onto his bed at.
His head throbbed and eyes stung. The alcohol was wearing off, by this time, and he knew a hang over was about to set in, though the headache wasn't from the possible alcohol poisoning, it was from all the yelling his father had just directed at him.
The police had taken him to the station and saw that the stunt he pulled earlier was his first offence, so had taken the liberty upon themselves to return him home. When his parents had opened the front door and had seen him standing there, only partly drunk by that time, with the officer standing next to him with a rough hand fixed to the neck of his jacket, his father had blew a fuse.
Yelling lasted for hours. Lecture after lecture about the dangers of underage drinking and any drinking in particular. Stories were thrown in his face about jail and the things that happen there and his father continued to call him stupid for the vandalism and lack of responsibility that was displayed.
But it wasn't his father that had frightened him into silence throughout the lectures. It was not the jail stories nor the constant reminders of how alcohol can ruin his liver… it was his mother… His mother sat on the couch throughout his father's rampage and had said nothing, not a thing. She didn't even look at her son but remained so still that he had almost mistaken her for a porcelain doll.
He had gazed at his mother for moments in time to try and catch her eyes in hopes that she would display what she was thinking, but his efforts were for nothing and had only had gotten himself in trouble for ignoring his father.
Thoughts tumbled through his mind of what his mother must think of him. She, to him, never seemed the type to stay silent when Taichi had gotten in trouble. He remembered countless times how she would put her foot down and demand better behavior from him for whatever he had done. She wouldn't even have to raise her voice to get a reaction out of her son who always coward in her presence when he knew her to be angry. But now she acted so different.
Hinges squeaked, signaling the many times the door attached had been used and how a new presence had then entered into Taichi's domain. The white wooden frame was carefully closed with a click that seemed loud in the still room. Small footsteps were heard crossing the hardwood floor then a small warm hand was placed on his lower shoulder.
"Tai?" His sister had asked concern molded her voice.
"I really messed up." Taichi stated in an alien voice. He sounded so sad and hopeless. Kari shook her head and, even though his face was buried in his arms, he knew the gesture she had just displayed and what it meant. She had agreed.
"Tai…" She had started but had not known how to continue.
"Mom… Is she okay?" He spoke so low it nearly didn't make it to his sister's ears. Tai, though he couldn't see her, knew she then furrowed her eyebrows and the bridge of her nose in thought of what could be said but he hadn't given her a chance to answer. "She must be so disappointed."
"Oh, Tai." He then felt her small frame hug him the best she could in his position.
"She probably never expected for me to be brought home by the police. To be… caught drinking and… I had done worst, you know." Kari then nodded against his back. Taichi wasn't surprised that his sister had known more then she had ever let on. She was such a smart girl, he thought as a sad smile began to play on his lips. So good. Someone who wouldn't ever get into a fight, who would not ever try to hurt anyone and would always have the respect and trust of those who she would meet. Oh, how he envied her. "I made some mistakes." She had nodded again.
"Tai…It's okay. Mom just…" Kari started but stopped for a moment to collect her thoughts. "You know what happened to Uncle B. Mom's brother. His drinking had gotten the best of him. Mom probably thinks she's watching what happened to our uncle happen to you. She's probably scared."
Tai sighed and nodded against his forearms. "Yamato doesn't like me drinking, either." Tai felt the small weight from his sister lift from his back and felt the bed move as a pressure was placed beside him.
"Yamato's that guy you gave a ride home when you took Dad's car, right?"
"…Yeah…"
Kari sighed. "Are… you two going out… because at school…"
"Yeah…" Kari nodded again.
"…I like him."
Kari placed a comforting hand on her brother's back as a silence settled amongst the room. The hand was removed as Taichi turned over and stared at the ceiling. They no longer had the bunk bed they had shared when younger. Kari needed her privacy now that she was heading into her teens, so she was given the guest room. It was a sign that she was growing up and the changes people make in there young years. Tai wondered if there was still chance for him to change if he could. If he could still become the good child his parents had hoped and dreamed he would be.
As if reading his thoughts, Kari said, "Tai don't beat your self up about it. People can do, what is considered, bad things yet still be good people… It's all about the shades of grey…"
**
The winds blew heavily against the almost bare trees, twigs cracking and breaking off to be sent hurling towards a far off destination. A threat of rain was carried on these howling winds while the sky grew darker and darker as the thoughts of a storm was brought clearer to the mind.
Yamato shivered has his hand fell on a cold metal handle that would open the school doors. It was reasonably cold outside and he couldn't seem to wait for the comforting barrier the school provided, of course this didn't mean he wanted to particularly to attend school.
Bobby had been proven right when the taller boy, though he could be considered a man if maturity hadn't anything to do with it, had said that everyone would know about Yamato's relationship. He had been asked by three people, who he was sure he never met before, if 'the rumors' were true. He felt embarrassed, thought he knew he shouldn't, that people knew he was gay. He was ashamed of it and had been told how wrong it was since he was young. His father along with his mother had both told him it was a disease. He wasn't sure if they believed it or not but it didn't really matter for what he did know was that, when the time came, his father had been pushed his beliefs aside for his son and his mother did not.
Yamato felt instant relief as he stepped through the doors into the school as the chilling wind could no longer make contact with the skin that had lost all feeling in it no more then fifteen minutes ago. It was cold outside but feeling was bound to come back in mere moments now that he was heated building.
Yamato took a deep breath but then tensed upon the realization to the fact that people had been staring at him, though these people were trying not to make it noticeable. Immediately self-consciousness set in and he stuffed his hands into his pockets and tried to ignore the stares.
It took him five minutes to reach his locker and, when he did, he let the backpack fall to the floor with a thud. He put in the combination then opened it. He hoisted it up and hung it in his locker. He then removed the coat that had been given to him by Taichi and placed it into his locker with utmost care. He stared at the blue coat, a good one for winter, and smiled kindly. He had grown quite fond of Taichi over the past month and he wasn't even sure when the brunette had weaseled through all his defenses and into his heart, but he had. Of course that didn't change the fact that Taichi had made a few promises to him that seemed to now be broken.
He couldn't be sure if Taichi had fully meant for his secret to get out but he did know that a talk would be needed to be scheduled. Yamato, sighed and scrambled through the stuff in his hung up back to get his first period books out and, when he did, he shut his locker and spun his lock.
He was only in the midst of turning around when a heavy weight knocked into him and forced him into his locker, which wouldn't have hurt so bad if that arm that contained a large bruise on it from the previous night hadn't of taken the impact.
"FAGGOT!!!" A deep voice sounded in his ear and probably was loud enough to be head throughout the hall.
The weight was removed and Yamato's head spun around, flaxen hair spun with it and out of the way of his eyes as he saw a boy with green died hair walking away from him laughing.
"OH, GROW UP, ASSHOLE!!!" A feminine voice now shouted to his assailant as he shot the guy a glare. Yamato knew he had heard her voice before but didn't know where. A moment later a girl walked out of the crowd and, as Yamato's eyes strayed from the boy, he instantly recalled her name to be Mai.
Yamato turned to look at the boy again as the mentioned person turned around with a cocky smirk and shouted. "MAI?? WHERE'S YOUR GIRLFRIEND??? I WAS HOPING TO HAVE A BIT OF FUN WITH YOU TWO LATER ON!!!" He shouted with a laugh and no mind to the people around.
Mai returned his comment with a gesture that clearly stated 'UP YOURS', which only cause the boy to laugh and walk away without another word. She glared at his retreating back for another moment before bringing her attention to the watchers. "What's your problem?" She asked in a threatening manner and they all went back to what they were doing while trying to avoid her eyes.
A smirk found her way onto her face and she turned to the one whom blue eyes were still on her. "You shouldn't have done that." Yamato stated simply as he readjusted the books he still carried even after the shove.
"Says you." Yamato turned and started walking to his first period class while Mai walked beside him at his speed.
"Your Mai, right?"
"Uh huh. And your Tai's boyfriend?" Yamato tensed at the inclination. "Tai's right. You are touchy about it. That could be really insulting if someone takes it the wrong way."
"And which way would that be."
"The way where people think your just embarrassed about Taichi. Not that I know anyone who would think that. I'm just hypnotizing."
"I don't care what anyone thinks."
Mai snorted. "Yeah right. If you didn't care then you wouldn't want to keep the fact that your gay a secret."
Yamato narrowed his eyes in irritation. He bit his lip, trying to keep any rude comment from flying from his lips like they usually did when the subject aroused. It was a touchy subject for him and he didn't like talking about his sexual preference with anyone.
"You shouldn't care." She said softly, though more to herself as if caught in a memory. She shook her head not even a moment later a smile again formed on her face. "That guy back there is like the only jerk in our school who's acts as you've seen. Well, him and three others. Not including Akeno who only acts as if he's homophobic here and there but he's not… he's just… Akeno. It's hard to understand the block head." She said.
Not seeing anything else that was necessary to say, Yamato let silence fall between the two as they continued to walk towards their Japanese class as the hall began to empty. It was only a few moments later that they walked passed the large oak door into their first classroom of the day and it was there that Yamato hesitated upon seeing Taichi.
The brunette was talking to a few of his friends who seemed to be plaguing him with questions. Only a few of the people who he was talking to Yamato knew the names of, one of which was Akeno who was the first to see the blond walk through the door. Yamato could tell, even from his distance that the other boy had forced himself to not give the blond a distasteful look and slipped Taichi on the shoulder with the back of his hand to get the brunette's attention. Taichi turned his gaze from one person, which Yamato didn't know the name of who had obviously taken time out of writing something to talk to Taichi, to Akeno who had pointed to the blond.
Taichi's brown eyes fixated on Yamato's blue ones. Taichi looked hesitant for a moment, Yamato noticed before Akeno said something to him that caused Taichi to break the eye contact and smack the other over the head.
Yamato started moving towards his desk, which was in Tai's direction, as the brunette looked to him again and walked towards him.
"Yamato…"Taichi began, ready for a discussion about Yamato's loose secret.
Yamato, on the other hand, was aware of the looks they were getting, standing at the front of the class even if most of the pupils were not sitting in sits and were –more or less- in little groups scattered in various places around the classroom. Yamato stopped briefly in front of the brunette, emotions shielded from the spectators as usual, knowing that he didn't want this discussion so public and that class was about to start. "Just tell me you didn't know." Yamato stated simply, voice neutral.
Taichi's eyes widened innocently, preparing to say anything he could to keep the relationship. "No." He said. "I didn't, I only found out…"
"Then we'll discuss this later." Yamato then moved past the brunette without meeting the other's gaze to take his seat. Taichi didn't understand Yamato's behavior until his eyes wondered throughout the room and realized Yamato must have felt uncomfortable in the eyes of so many so didn't argue and retreated to his seat behind his boyfriend just in time for Ms. O'Brien to walk in and demand order.
A/N: since I'm having a bit of trouble writing up the next part, and it took me long enough to get out this, I'm just posting it how it is. Sorry for the wait, by the way. Also, yamatoforever, thanks for alerting me to the author who had copied my idea but it's no big deal. (Not like either of us are making money off it anyways) I'll confront the author as soon as the overload message goes away. Thanks.
R/R and help me get through this writers block please. ^_^