Hector couldn't believe how his birthday turned out thus far-it was amazing and definitely not what he expected it would be a year ago. Last year when he'd turned seventeen-he just assumed every birthday for him until he moved out or finally snapped on someone for how he was always treated would be boring and lonely but he did something no one expected or knew about for seven months-he joined the military and just bailed without telling a soul anything other than Gobber to tell him to trust him and he'd be alright. Joining the military was more than a job for Hector-it was a lifestyle to him. Joining gave him confidence, strength, skills, a purpose, and even the best friends he could've ever hoped for. Now a year later: he was eighteen and a freaking Lieutenant in the military. His birthday today wasn't lonesome-it wasn't just a happy birthday from his parents and them going out to eat for dinner like it had been up until Heather and Darius became his adopted siblings. After they came around-his family really didn't have any time for him and Hector spent birthdays alone in his room. This year he had his family, friends, and even people who had bullied him for years making an attempt to be his friend-which was still incredibly awkward to process at all.
He spent most of the morning with his friends-the real ones who accepted him without even a second thought and as soon as he got home for his party with everyone else-Cody showed up to introduce him to the six soldiers replacing the ones they'd lost in the last seven months and promote him to Second Lieutenant but still called Lieutenant to make it easier. He was a commissioned officer now and could command the Dragon platoon on his own terms as long as he let Cody know what was going on in his decisions. It was a good feeling to have what he did right now and to think it wasn't even 4:30pm yet-the night was still young and a lot more fun to be had. After his friends were done freaking out over his new promotion-he got it from his parents and siblings and then small congratulations from the others there too. When that was over-Hector went back downstairs to change into his civilian clothes, just a simple black tee shirt with a dragon on it, gray jeans, pair of socks and the always dog tags around his neck and military grade watch on his left wrist.
"I still can't believe you got promoted again!" Ryan stated.
"It's not...that big a deal guys-I'm not in this for promotions," Hector shrugged.
"Still-what the hell man, that's awesome. You command the whole platoon now," Tallon smiled.
"I kind of did before anyway. I just never did it with everyone at the same time," Hector replied calmly as he finished his soda and tossed it in the garbage from his spot on the couch.
"Well ya do now-missions are gonna be a damn breeze with all of us," Evan chuckled.
"Actually-they are likely to get harder. That's forty-seven soldiers plus myself I gotta keep an eye on," Hector sighed-it was a cool promotion and all but it meant more responsibility for him on missions to have to watch more people and he had trouble keeping half the platoon safe from danger, now how was he going to keep them all safe?
"You'll be fine and you got us. You gotta remember you ain't alone no more man," Thaxter told him. "We got your back just like you've had ours,"
"Thanks guys," Hector nodded to them.
"Now-I think it's high time we celebrate your promotions and you turning eighteen! Viktor-go get the party supplies outta the car," Ryan grinned.
"Party...supplies?" Hector arched a brow questioningly at them as Viktor went outside to the car then returned inside with a twenty-four pack of Berk Ale also a small bottle of Fireball. "Uh, isn't the rule not to get fucked up?" he asked.
"We won't get fucked up-only taking one shot and then enjoying the beer," Viktor chuckled as Hector only facepalmed as he got up then went downstairs and returned three minutes later holding a small box.
"Well if we're taking a shot as the unit-then we're gonna do it right," Hector said opening the box and revealing six shot glasses with their unit crest on it-something that Hector drew out and had it special ordered when they were still in Iraq. Each one had the crest, the unit name of Inferno, then the first letter of their first names followed by their last names written out: H. Haddock, T. Furysen, E. Larsden, T. Solborg, V. Grimborn, R. Grimborn. "My gift to you guys-for being the best fucking friends I could ever ask for,"
"These are so awesome, where'd you get the design?" Tallon asked.
"Made it and had it special ordered-was gonna wait until the night before we went back to had them out but I didn't think us drinking the night before was a good idea-Cap would have our asses," Hector stated as they each took the glass designated to them.
"Alright boys, let's line 'em up." Thaxter grinned as they all put them down on the table and Viktor poured a shot in each glass then put the bottle down as they all got theirs and looked at Hector now.
"What?" he asked.
"Well-not gonna say nothing? We can't take a shot the night before we leave for motivation-do it now," Tallon told him.
"Sure put me on the spot, assholes," Hector shook his head sighing, "Fine," he took a breath looking at them now-ignoring the fact he was in the room with his family. "Know what-I'm gonna do what you guys always ask me to do," Hector said putting the shot down then going downstairs as he left his friends blinking in surprise at what he said. Hector came back upstairs with his laptop and his electric guitar. Hector opened his laptop, put in the password then hooked it up to flat screen with the HDMI cord as he opened one of his files-then another program started up as stood up with his guitar strap going over his head and across his chest. "Here's to the rest of us." Hector stated as he hit play on the laptop started playing the notes from his guitar to match the beat.
"YES!" the guys cheered leaving the rest of the room very confused at what was going on.
"I'm okay, I'm okay. Gonna be awkward socially. With the fact, with that girls, don't lose their shit when they look at me. It's okay, it's okay: that I'm not that good at anything. And I don't hit the notes, perfectly when I try to sing...Oh! I know I'm not alone. So turn the music up and let go..." Hector sang as the guys were laughing-Hector hated singing in front of people but right now didn't seem to give a rats ass in hell about it, he was being himself and his friends gave him the courage to do just that.
"Here's to the rest of us! To all the ones that never felt they were good enough. I wanna hear it for the chased and confused, the freaks and the losers...Let's point them up," the guys lifted their shots but didn't drink them-they'd wait for Hector to be able to do the same, "Here's to the rest of us(The rest of us)!"
"I'm okay, I'm okay. I don't need to be a billionaire so freaking bad! And my trust fund hopes are looking sad. I confess, I'm a mess, I'm perfectly dysfunctional-but I don't give a damn. If you feel the same let me hear you sing! Oh! I know I'm not alone! So turn the music up and let go..." Hector paused as the others in the room were just kind of shocked honestly-they'd never known Hector could one: play instruments or two: sing the way he was-this was a side of him they never knew existed.
"Here's to the rest of us! To all the ones that never felt they were good enough. I wanna hear it for the chased and confused, the freaks and the losers. Let's point them up...Let's point them up, up, up!" Hector smiled-he normally wouldn't do something like this but when his friends were around, he felt like there was nothing he couldn't do-they gave him the confidence to be himself and no care about what others thought, "Here's to the rest of us! We do it better than the rich and the fabulous. I wanna hear it for the nothing to lose, with something to prove...Let's point them up! Here's to the rest of us!" when the music slowed slightly the guys lined up with Hector-their hands on his shoulders but not in any way constricting him from playing.
"We don't need to apologize for anything. We're who we are, I just wanna hear you sing," the group smiled when they saw Hector, "Oh! I know I'm not alone!..." Hector sang out before his friends nodded and joined in.
"Here's to the rest of us! To all the ones that never felt they were good enough. I wanna hear it for the chased and confused, the freaks and the losers. Let's point them up. Let's point them up, up, up! Here's to the rest of us! We do it better than the rich and the fabulous. I wanna hear it for the nothing to lose, with something to prove...Let's point them up! Here's to the rest of us!"
"The lost, the geeks, the rejects, the losers. The wrong, the freaks, the hopeless, the future(The rest of us)! The lost, the geeks, the rejects, the losers. The wrong, the freaks, the hopeless, the future...The rest of us!" Hector finished strumming one last note on the guitar that held a few second as Tallon handed him his shot glass and they clinked them together before downing it.
"That was an amazing song-who is it by?" Astrid asked now.
"By yours truly," Hector said as their eyes widened slowly.
"You wrote that?" Heather asked as Hector nodded to her putting the guitar down.
"You guys didn't know Hector plays instruments, makes his own music, writes songs and sings them?" Thaxter asked as the others shook their heads. "Yeesh-you really don't know him at all,"
"That's because he never told us he could!" Jessie stated, "Why did it take him joining the military to find the balls to show us all this, he was the one keeping secrets." Hector's smile seemed to drop as he turned slowly and faced him.
"Why did it take me joining the military for anyone to notice me?" Hector countered slowly now after putting his shot glass down. "Why does it take me disappearing for a year without a word for anyone-with the exception of Gobber to take an interest in anything regarding me? Why did it take all this for people to have time for me?" he asked now as no one said anything. "Let me tell you something, Jessie. I never hid a fucking thing about me. I've always been me-I've always drawn, played instruments, written songs, and had a really fucked up sense of humor. I've always known how to have a good time-none of you ever gave me the chance because all you saw was a nerdy loser who got straight A's. All you saw was a kid to pick on, to bully, to use for your entertainment, to ignore and make feel worthless, useless, hopeless, nothing about himself because you secretly all hate your own god damn lives," Hector stated now.
"I don't hate my life," Jessie remarked.
"Then why the fuck do you go around making everyone around you miserable! I didn't need the military to have the balls to show who I really was. I didn't have secrets! You just didn't give a fuck-that's all it ever was and ever will be. You hate how your life is so you make yourself feel better by picking on the kid you think is weak. I've never been weak-I could have fought back at anytime and likely put you on your ass too. But I didn't because that's not who I am. If I'd ever fought back to the bullying you inflicted on me: it would make me no better because I would of become a bully myself and that's not who I am and it's not what I do. I don't do to others what they do to me because two wrongs don't make a right. I joined the military because I wanted to-I wanted more than what I had-but even that's not accurate to say: I can't add on to what I had when I never had anything to begin with," Hector retorted coldly. "Tell me, Jessie, what the fuck do you get out of bullying me? Actually-better question, why the hell haven't you bullied me since you found out where I've been all this time? Is it fear perhaps?"
"I ain't afraid of you," Jessie scoffed.
"Nothing ever stopped you before. Nothing ever stopped you, Drew, Trent, or Skylar before so why now? Nothing stopped you pushing me into lockers, punching my arms, sides, stomach-nothing stopped you from calling me a weak nothing loser. So what changed? Had to of been something and I want to know," Hector said firmly.
"We just noticed that you were cool," Trent said.
"Exactly. You finally noticed the real me-finally gave me a chance. So my case stands-before the military: I wasn't noticed, I wasn't liked, no one had time for me, and no one gave a flying fuck. Don't worry-I heard the rumors. Everyone at school thought I went off and killed myself. Well he's a little piece of information that should take everyone by surprise. With how everyone made me feel before I saw Cody at the school-I almost gave in and considered death to be better than living every single day being bullied, teased, and ignored." Hector said which did in fact take everyone by surprise.
"Hector..." his friends seem to whisper in shock but Hector's eyes never left Jessie's form-or all his friends who actually looked down a little while his family and Gobber were still in shock.
"Does that make you feel better about your shitty life? Knowing you and your stupid friends almost made some else give up their life because he had enough of being everyone's punching bag and never knowing why? Fuckin take that to bed with you tonight-because I don't know how anyone can sleep knowing they spent all day making other people feel so shitty they they would of preferred death over getting up the next morning knowing it would never change. I felt so Gods damn alone that no one even noticed how fucking depressed I was to the point I wanted to commit suicide just to get away from it all." with that he walked downstairs and slammed the basement door as he went down.
Tallon and the rest of Inferno glared at Jessie and then his friends, "You know-you wouldn't even be here if it weren't for me convincing him to give you all a chance. He told me you guys were just his bullies and would never be his friends-I said everyone deserved a second chance but after hearing all that-I can see why he shut himself down and preferred not to tell anyone where he was the last year. Hope you feel good about yourselves,"
"Hey, don't you pin this all on me-I wasn't the only one who did it!" Jessie yelled back.
"Doesn't matter-you started with him. This was supposed to be a good day. The only reason he invited you was because Heather said you were trying to be his friends-so he decided to give you a chance but it's pretty damn clear that you only want to be his friend now because you see how awesome he really is. You've known him longer than us but we know more about him than you do. We accepted him day one when we knew nothing. We're his real friends-not you. We saw the real Hector Haddock-he didn't have to hide with us because in the military, we don't judge one another. You stay away from our friend or you're gonna have to deal with us," Viktor warned.
"Alright that's enough," Spencer stated stepping between the group of boys who looked like they were ready to fight. "Now I'm not sure what is going on here and as much as I'd like to-my concern is Hector."
"Spencer, I think we have bigger problems. Our son just admitted he wanted to commit suicide at one point," Val cried.
"He's fine, Mrs. Haddock. If he felt that way at all now-they wouldn't of let him join because he wouldn't of passed the psych evaluation. He said he used to feel that way-somewhere, something changed." Evan stated.
"I understand that but it's still something we never knew until today," Spencer replied to him as he went to the basement door and knocked on it. "Hector? Will you please come back upstairs?"
"Leave me alone, Dad," Hector replied in a voice just loud enough to be heard.
"Let us try sir," Ryan offered, Spencer nodded as Tallon took his place by the door and knocked a few times.
"Hec? Come on bro, come back up and chill with us." Tallon said to him.
"I'm not really mood to party with everyone, Tal..." Hector replied.
"Then just chill with us-your team of best friends. It's still your birthday, just say fuck it like you did this morning at the range when you saw those guys there. You ain't here for them-you're here to have a good time with friends. We're your friends-your real ones," Thaxter added now.
"Yeah and we aren't gonna drink all this beer ourselves," Viktor chimed in.
"And you gotta open your presents from us still," Ryan came beside his brother now as all of them were standing by the door.
"Come on, Hector-don't leave us hanging. We'll do anything you wanna do-want to go back to the range? Bowling? Wrestle? And hey-we're about to go out for a cigarette, and we all...forgot our lighters so help us out before we all lose it. Please come back up?" Tallon asked him.
"That's never going to wor-," Skylar began to roll his eyes but then the basement door unlocked and opened as Hector stood there and the eyes of anyone but his friends began to widen. It actually worked? They managed to get Hector out of his room by saying what they had?
"You would all forget your lighters. I get first drag," Hector said as his friends grinned at Skylar.
"Told you-we know him better," Evan chuckled.
"No-they just don't know me at all and never will. Come on," Hector stated pulling a cigarette from behind his ear and putting it in his mouth before lighting it and heading to the door and walking outside as his friends followed him. "You're right guys-I'm saying fuck it, I got you and that's all I need."
"Fine with us-pass that over here," Tallon said as Hector took another drag before passing it over to him and like always it went around the circle a few times while they just talked outside-even started laughing. How did Hector's friends know what would get him to calm down and come back up? Why was he willing to listen to them but no one else? Did he really care more about his friends than his own family? "So birthday boy-what do you wanna do today?" he asked as they came back inside and Viktor passed each of them a beer.
"Honestly-put on a movie and just relax with my buds," Hector responded.
"We're good with that, what movie? I wanna see Deadpool but it's not out yet," Thax gave a fake pout. Hector chuckled a bit as he handed his beer to Tallon then went down stairs-he returned about two minutes later holding a DVD case, Deadpool written across the top. "That's not due out for another two months! How the hell did you get it!?"
"I know a guy," Hector grinned.
"You lucky, son of a bitch!" his friends yelled at him.
"So you don't wanna watch it?" Hector asked.
"Don't even play! Put it on you dickhead," Tallon demanded as Hector got up laptop set up again-which was really just opening it and putting in the password, the desktop picture was of him and guys in Iraq right after a long mission where they looked like they'd been fighting fires or something. "Hey-I remember that picture,"
"It's my favorite one. That mission was hell, showers were most welcome that night and sleep-up for seventeen fuckin hours on the guard detail," Hector put the DVD in the drive and waited for it to load as the menu screen came up now.
"Val-are we really gonna let this happen?" Spencer asked.
"Ssh, Spencer. He's back upstairs, laughing, and having a good time. I'll take that over him downstairs by himself-just let him be right now. He hasn't told us to go away so if we just stay quiet and let him do what he wants to do then it'll be okay," Val sighed as Spencer nodded. The movie began and all anyone hoped was that when it was over-Hector would stay calm and continue the party, everyone had been having a good time until Jessie messed it up but pissing Hector off with his comments. Everyone just stayed pretty quiet and sat around the living room as the movie started. It was shocking that Hector didn't kick anyone out after all that-or tell them that they couldn't stay to watch. He didn't seem to care as long as his friends were with him. He was content right now so they would just leave him alone and let him do what he wanted to do which was watch a movie-that hadn't been released on DVD yet-with his friends.
