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Funkita - No word of a lie my friend! We're literally in the midst of chapter 51 and still going! Yes Deuce is very fortunate to have such a good support system. Thanks for reading! Can't wait to see what you thought of this chapter.
Pow!
Clawd rushed into the auditorium with Deuce in his arms, Jackson followed and Mr. Where locked the doors behind him. He didn't have any classes booked during this period however he felt he should fasten the doors shut in case anyone tried to intrude.
Jackson folded out the auditorium seat and Clawd set the hardly responsive gorgon down into it. "Deuce..." he kissed his cheek, sitting down in the seat next to him, he took the shorter's hand and caressed it gently.
Mr. Where frowned, he couldn't imagine how upset Clawd was. The wolf wasn't a victim of panic attacks – that he was aware of – so it must be quite confusing to him.
Deuce looked up at Clawd for a brief second, glancing around the room then placing his head back down onto the wolf's shoulder. Deuce began to wonder how he got to auditorium, wasn't he just in Mad Science? "Clawd?" The gorgon called out in a shaky voice.
"I'm right here, babe. I never left your side… are you okay? I'm so sorry." It were as if he was cycling through words on auto-pilot and trying to add all the right ones together.
"Clawd," Jackson put his hand on his other shoulder. He didn't need the werewolf experiencing his own panic attack for the first time in this auditorium. "he's alright now… you did well."
The wolf rubbed the hand of his gorgon, the same motion on repeat.
"She wants to try and fix me Clawd, but I didn't know I was broken." The gorgon whispered as he leaned into his wolf, Deuce was finding the other's scent very grounding.
"You're not broken, Deuce. If you were, I'd help you put the pieces back together." He caressed the gorgon's cheek.
"We gotta thank Jay, If it weren't for him, I don't know what would've happened." Deuce informed the wolf letting his eyes slide closed once more. The gorgon forgot how much these panic attacks took out of someone, boy was he ready for a long nap.
"Oh you're welcome Deuce," Jackson gave a smile. "When I have my next panic attack, you gotta help me. Deal?" He joked softly with Deuce, as they came on rather suddenly and there was no way an attack like that could ever be planned.
Clawd nuzzled the sleepy gorgon's cheek.
Mr. Where smiled softly, he'd hate to say he told his colleagues so... but in the back of his mind he'd been waiting patiently for something beautiful to blossom between these 2 students for quite some time. He normally wasn't wrong when he had a hunch about these things. "Jackson, why don't you gather Deuce's things for him? I think he's done at school today. I would be."
The resident Drama teacher knew for a fact he was right, he had a rather troubled childhood growing up and unfortunately he was no stranger to panic attacks, he had them often in his youth. As a matter of fact, he met his very dear friend while having one years ago.
Deuce tensed when he heard Mr. Where say he was done for the day, the drama teacher wouldn't send him back to his mother - would he? His mother did inform him that the teachers and staff knew he be out tomorrow. The worried gorgon crawled forward into the wolf's lap, trying it make it difficult as possible for anyone to take him away from Clawd. A small whimper escaped from the gorgon as he held onto the other's shirt, hiding his face in the wolf's neck.
Clawd rubbed Deuce's back. "Shh, the only location you're going is home to my place okay?" The werewolf didn't even realize he said the exact words Deuce wanted to hear.
Jackson left the auditorium promptly, the doors locking behind him as he did. He already knew the combination to the gorgon's locker, he swung the dial lock a few times in the normie's presence and that was all he needed to do.
Meanwhile inside the auditorium, Clawd sat back and brought his tired boyfriend further in his seat to make it easier to snuggle into his shoulder. "You're the best thing for him, right now." Mr. Where told the werewolf.
"I sure don't feel like it." Clawd wished they were in the same classes. He wished he wasn't graduating at the end of this year. He wished he had more time with Deuce... a small part of him wasn't sure it'd be fair to keep Deuce attached when he was leaving.
Mr. Where could see panic settling in within the young wolf. "Clawd whatever's going on up here," he pointed to his head. "stop it right now. I can see you torturing yourself. Please don't. You made this as smooth as possible on him. It's easier to be grounded with the presence of someone you care about than to come out of them alone and confused. I speak from personal experience."
Clawd swallowed hard, he gave a nod. He rubbed Deuce's arm gently. He desperately wished he could take everything away from Deuce. All of his pain, his hurt, his panic... he'd take it all if it meant the gorgon would be alright.
Deuce shifted his head so he was looking up at the wolf. He just silently admired Clawd, he could tell the wolf was worried about the future. They had this conversation already. The gorgon himself was scared too.
But that's why they had cellphones and vehicles. Plus he knew the wolf would come home from time to time.
The gorgon began playing with a few strands of the wolf's soft fur. "Love you." The gorgon mumbled shifting slightly so all his weight wasn't on Clawd's one leg.
Clawd nodded and nuzzled his gorgon once more. "I love you more, Deuce. Don't ever forget it."
Mr. Where's eyes widened. He didn't realize the both of them were already exchanging those precious 3 words. He swore his heart swelled with adoration for the werewolf and gorgon. "Y'know Clawd, you are very much your father's son." He smiled fondly as he thought back to when he first met Barkley Wolf - they both attended Monster High back in the day. At first he was an acquaintance but then he became an irreplaceable friend, an excellent listener and someone vital in his life - especially when he was kicked out of the only home he'd ever known for being homosexual at the tender age of 16 - and the Wolf family took him in with arms wide open.
It was a debt that Mr. Where felt he could never repay.
Deuce stirred slightly, he could hear the comforting tone of Mr. Where's voice and the words he spoke. "Your father, Clawd, left a legacy at this school. It was no surprise that hands down he was Valedictorian. Barkley was a model student. He adored everyone and everyone adored him. Faculty, fearleaders especially..." Where chuckled briefly and cleared his throat afterwards. "That's why I worry about you kids and the pressure you're put under. There's a lot to live up to being attached the Wolf name."
Deuce continued to play with the strand of hair as Mr. Where talked about Barkley with Clawd. If you didn't live under a rock, you knew about Pops and the giant footprints he left in the school. He was and still the only freshman to ever win Prom King their first year of high school. He was sure the music teacher still had the saxophone Barkley used all through his years of school. He remembered looking at the yearbooks and Barkley was almost in every single picture, he was in almost all the extra-curricular activities too.
Deuce placed a small kiss upon the wolf's neck, he knew Clawd wanted to make his father proud. That's why he put his heart and soul into everything. Barkley wasn't just a father he was their friend as well. If there was ever an issue, his children knew they could come to him instead of trying to hide it.
Clawd hugged Deuce and kissed the other's forehead. "I just wanna make them proud, y'know?"
"And you absolutely do Clawd, you've grown to be a fine young gentleman. If you don't believe me, ask your significant other in your arms." Mr. Where couldn't help but to smile. 'Hmm, pretty sure Igor owes me money.' Not that he truly cared at all but the thought briefly crossed his mind.
Deuce looked up from his the piece of fur when he heard Mr. Where address him, a small smile swept across his face. "He isn't wrong, y'know. Ma and Pops are very proud of you." The gorgon informed his wolf before snuggling back down against the other. "I mean, Pops cheers the loudest at all the games he can make it to. If that isn't a proud father, then I don't know what is. Remember there's been times where Ma had to put him on time-out so he wouldn't distract you." The gorgon couldn't help but chuckle at the time Scarlet had to drag Barkley out by his ear.
Mr. Where could see that the wolf was still brooding in his thoughts. It was the distracted mind most likely caused by heavy amounts pressure put on him. Maybe not necessarily by his parents… could be his siblings too. The teacher was an only child himself, a good thing in hindsight, so he could only imagine the younger pairs of eyes that looked up to him. That could be intense on its own. "Will you be alright to drive, Clawd?"
The wolf was preoccupied staring at his gorgon, still wishing he could take all his ailments away. "Sorry, what?" He registered what the question was after he asked for clarification. "Oh yeah, Mr. Where I'll be alright. I drive a lot safer with someone in my passenger seat. Sibling, parent... my whole heart... " He trailed off, his eyes settling on the resting gorgon.
This pair was absolutely adorable. "You should be driving safe all the time young man, but I understand."
"But there's no fun in that." The gorgon mumbled after hearing Mr. Where's last comment.
Before the resident Drama teacher could argue with the gorgon, Jackson came back with Deuce's bag. "The longest it took me was to break back into the auditorium. Did no one hear my knocks?"
Mr. Where cursed himself. "I apologize Jackson, I didn't put 2-and-2 together."
He shrugged. "It's all good, thank Clawdeen - she had a sturdy enough bobbypin to pick the lock."
"If your academics don't work out - thieving could be your calling." The Drama teacher joked. "We'll just wait it out until the students are settled in their next classes before you leave with Deuce. I want as little a scene as possible." He never thought he'd see the day he'd say something like that in his own theater.
Deuce couldn't help but chuckle, "Nerd by day, jewel thief by night." The gorgon glanced at his friend, honestly he was thankful for Jackson knowing how to help calm him down. "Thanks again Jay."
The dual-natured teen gave a smile. "Don't worry about it. Anytime."
The auditorium doors opened yet again and closed, the lock was fastened this time. They could recognize that whistling anywhere… it was Mr. Hackington. He didn't have to go too far as Clawd was parked with Deuce in the second last row of seats at the end of the aisle. "Hello boys, good to see all of you."
"Greetings, Hack." Despite how haggard and rough-around the edges the Mad Science teacher seemed to be… he was actually a real nice guy. As long as no one pissed him off, showed up late to his class or insulted his intelligence. Getting on the bad side of Hackington was absolutely not a wise idea.
"I suppose you'll be needing this," he extended his arm out and handed the smashed up phone to the stunned gorgon who wasn't sure how to react. He took it and leaned back into Clawd, feeling a bit light-headed still. Maybe a new bit of panic beginning to set in? "don't mind me at all, I've no issue with what's going on here." He motioned to both Clawd and Deuce. "It was only a matter of time as my dear chap here said."
Mr. Where chuckled sheepishly. "Yes well, let's just forget that tidbit of information shall we?"
Hackington chuckled, he enjoyed making the teacher. "Sod off, you pansy."
The Drama teacher laughed and gave a shake of his head – he was used to Hack teasing him and he'd heard it all so there was nothing anyone could call him that would faze him anymore. He knew his colleague meant it all in good fun.
"Thanks, Hack." The gorgon looked at the totaled screen, there was even a chunk missing. Deuce ran his finger along the sharp edge, how could he be so careless?
"You're welcome, mate." Mr. Hackington also looked at the phone in terrible condition. "Looks like that got bodged right up there, innit?"
"Can I see that for a sec?" Jackson took the phone from Deuce and tried to play around with it… or so he made it seem. In all actuality he was trying to find the texts that sent the fragile gorgon into a full-blown panic attack to begin with.
Clawd cleared his throat, giving Deuce's knee an affectionate rub. "So… Hack, I'm supposed to be in your class next..."
"Don't you fret about it, you're excused. You've already missed a week's worth what's another class?" His toothy grin made it obvious to the wolf that he was just teasing.
"Haackk, seriously?" Clawd groaned lightly.
"I'm just pulling your tail, Wolf." He smirked. "Take as much time as you need. You've already completed all my assignments anyhow."
Jackson winced slightly as his thumb was just sliced on the broken screen of Deuce's phone, but he managed to get rid of the text messages. He wanted to double check there was no way to recover them before he handed it back though. His blood slowly trickled down his wrist.
"Jay, you're bleeding." The gorgon said watching the small amount of blood run down the other's wrist. He honestly felt bad that his damaged phone attacked his friend.
Jackson shifted his gaze downward and noticed the blood. He transferred the phone over to his other hand and wiped it off on his jeans. "Sorry." He didn't mean to make the gorgon queasy or anything.
Clawd was speechless and slightly uncomfortable. How could the normie not realize he was bleeding?
Hackington shared a worried glance with Mr. Where. Jackson Jekyll was his prized student… the thought that he would make himself bleed on purpose nearly shattered him.
"How dare you insult your denim jeans with the crimson leakage of your soul?" Mr. Where nudged Jackson playfully.
"Wow, that was deep." He laughed. "Hate to break it to you but my soul is black, not red." He wiped his blood off Deuce's phone and handed it back to him.
"Thanks." Deuce studied Jackson for a moment as he stuff the phone back into his hoodie pocket. "Honestly Mr. Where... wasn't that a bit over dramatic?" The gorgon inquired as he snuggled back down against Clawd. He honestly loved his fluffy pillow.
Mr. Where smiled as he gave a half-bow. "And scene."
"Have you met this chap?" Hack grinned, "Everything this pansy does is dramatic."
Where narrowed his eyes. "And that'll be enough out of you. Get out of my theater. I don't barge into your class calling you a flaming heterosexual now do I?"
"It'd be a lot more interesting if you did," Clawd interjected, biting down on his lip after he said it. "no offense Hack."
"Yeah, yeah – I'll see you around. No more screwing around to get outta my class, Mr. Gorgon." Hack gave him a knowing wink, he was only kidding of course.
Clawd rubbed Deuce's shoulder. "How are you holding up? Are you okay to get going soon, love?"
Mr. Where cleared his throat to cover up the fact that he might've squealed. He could hardly get over the fact that they were together and clearly in deep… nevermind the fact that they were exchanging 'I-love-you's.
"I'm good." Deuce said glancing up at his wolf. "I'm sorry you're missing class 'cause of me." The gorgon kind of felt like a burden on the other. He missed a week of school due to the venoming and now he was missing yet another day.
"Aww, Deuce don't worry about it. Mr. Where will bust into a class of Hack's next week for me." Clawd grinned this time.
Mr. Where chuckled, "It's a date."
Clawd nuzzled Deuce's cheek. "I told you I'd be here for you no matter what and I intend to prove it… forever if you'll let me."
Hackington was fine with displays of affection, but when lips were about to touch he decided he'd take his cue to leave. "I'll be handing out a bloody hard pop quiz if anyone needs me."
Mr. Where chuckled at his colleague taking the first exit he could get. The drama teacher didn't mind the display of affection between them. He was honored they felt safe enough in this auditorium to do so. He knew how badly it hurt to stay hidden.
"I think I hear silence in the halls, Jackson I'll give you a pass so no one bugs you about where you've been." Mr. Where told the normie, who nodded. "Perhaps the both of you should get home to rest?"
Clawd gave a smile, he could do with a good rest. "I'm game, how about you babe?"
"As long as you're there, I'm down." The gorgon said smiling at the wolf, he honestly felt a good long nap might do him some good.
The wolf stood long enough to give his legs a stretch and he held his hand out to his gorgon. "C'mon you. Let's go call off Pops, pretty sure my phone hasn't stopped going off."
Despite his legs feeling a little bit like jelly, Deuce managed to follow Clawd out of the auditorium to make their escape to his vehicle. Boy he couldn't wait to get to that comfy bed of Clawd's and nestle into the fluff of his boyfriend.
