Trigger Warning: self-harm, suicidal ideation, abuse from a person in power

Dr. Quincy Smith stalked irritably down the halls of Wharton's Academy. All he wanted was time to work on his research and writing. He had been trying for years to get published and to make a name for himself in the physics community. But life had thrown him to the wolves. After years of trying but failing to make a name for himself he was forced to take a job teaching, he had long since run out of funding for his research and he was living on the meager paychecks of dead-end jobs. He had no patience for children or for teaching, but he had to make a living. Now he was back where he started. He had been a student at Wharton's Academy himself, he had loathed it then and he loathed it even more as a professor.

As if fate wasn't cruel enough, his first semester of teaching had landed him in a classroom with the arrogant spawn of Jefferson Tracy. Jefferson Tracy had been in the same graduating class as Quincy, he'd had everything that Quincy wanted. Tracy had been intelligent, athletic, popular, good looking, he'd gone on in life to be successful in everything he did, he'd become a hero and a household name the world over. Back in high school Tracy had bested Quincy in everything. When there was a science fair, Tracy took first prize; an academic competition, it was Tracy in the lead; class president, Tracy again. Though Quincy himself had never been particularly interested in sports, his anger was only fueled when Tracy made football captain and led their team to victory. By far, the worst of Tracy's transgressions came the night of their spring formal in junior year. Wharton's had always hosted a co-ed dance in partnership with their sister school, St. Catherine's School for Girls. Quincy had taken a liking to the lovely and intelligent Lucille Taylor, but she never seemed to pay him any mind in return. Rumors spread like wildfire that Lucille Taylor would be attending the formal with Jefferson Tracy, and on the night in question Lucille was so transfixed by Tracy that she didn't glance at anybody else. She practically worshipped him, just like the everybody else. After high school they went on to marry and Tracy's career took off with the world watching in awe while Quincy's own pursuits failed over and over again. It wasn't right for one man to just have everything while men like Quincy were forced to watch from the dust.

Quincy knew of Tracy's many achievements; he knew all about Tracy's precious family and how his sons had each become famous in their own right; how could he not when they were constantly plastered all over every tabloid and media outlet in the country. Must not be that hard to become an acclaimed author or an Olympic gold medalist with daddy's money to pave the way. And this youngest Tracy was here at Wharton's so life could continue its mockery of Quincy's existence. The youngest Tracy looked so much like Lucille Taylor, reminding Quincy of the fact that Tracy got absolutely everything Quincy had ever wanted, even her.

Quincy was absolutely sick of the whole family. He felt himself losing control; he couldn't help it, every time he saw the kid he saw red and had to hold himself back from beating the snot out of him. And honestly? With the direction Quincy's life had taken he really didn't care any more, he had nothing left to lose. He'd put the arrogant little brat in his proper place if it was the last thing he did.

It was just before the last class of the first day of school. Alan was exhausted from very little sleep the night before, but for the most part the day had gone okay. Since it was the first day of the new semester there was no homework that he had to turn in, people were generally in a good mood, there was a fresh start on all of his classes, and he got to catch up with a couple of friends. He'd gotten a text from his brothers saying that they were back and wanted to video call him after classes today, this went farther in lifting Alan's mood than he cared to admit. It was not easy to know that your whole family was involved in a life or death situation somewhere and you had no way of knowing that they'd make it through until they texted you after the fact. To the world it was thrilling when the Thunderbirds were called to a rescue, but to Alan it was also a bit terrifying.

Now, if Alan could just get through his last class without any trouble, he'd call it a successful day! Unfortunately, his last class was physics, and there was a fat chance of making it through unscathed. Entering the classroom with resignation, Alan tried to sneak into the backrow undetected. Unfortunately, Dr. Smith had other plans.

"Tracy! Where do you think you're going? You'll sit up front, I won't be tolerating any of your screwing around in my class!"

Alan clenched his jaw so that he wouldn't sigh out loud. Physics was the one class he had never zoned out or messed around in. But it wouldn't do him any favors to argue the point, so he took the front center seat that Dr. Smith had pointed to. The rest of the students looked at him with mirth, obviously thinking that he had already done something to earn the teacher's wrath. During the course of the class Alan had stumbled over two questions back to back from material that had not been covered in the last semester, but would be covered in the upcoming reading. He didn't think it was quite fair to be called out for something the class hadn't learned yet, and he wondered if the teacher had called on him because he knew the rest of the class wouldn't know the answers either. His lack of knowledge saw him called to stay after class. This was par for the course. Dr. Smith only ever openly berated him when nobody else was around. That's why it was so difficult to come forward about the bullying, who would believe him?

The confrontation after class had escalated from the previous semester. Once the last student was out of the room and the door had been closed, Dr. Smith wasted no time in grabbing Alan's shoulders and pinning him against the wall. His fingers squeezed painfully into Alan's skin as he breathed fiery threats into his face. Though Alan had made sure that his facial expressions remained passive, he nearly lost control when Dr. Smith reminded him that he had nowhere to turn, "Do you think you can get rid of me? Maybe tattle to the principal? Nobody will believe your word against mine. And who else could you run to? Daddy? Do you think your father wants anything to do with you? You were a mistake, why do you think you're sent away to school while the rest of your family continues on without you? You're nothing." And Alan felt in his soul that there was some truth to his words. His brothers picked on him, his father was too busy for him, and he always seemed to screw up. Still, in spite, Alan briefly wondered if Dr. Smith's fingers had left a mark, and if he'd be able to convince the school nurse that it was done by a teacher, but he didn't think there was enough proof. And what stung more was that he didn't think he was worth saving even if anybody did believe him.

Scott Tracy was proud to be a Thunderbird. He held his head high knowing that when people were in the most dire of situations they still had somebody they could rely on, and he was a part of that. He was honored to save lives, reunite loved ones when they thought they'd be parted forever, give people hope, keep them calm as they faced what otherwise would have been certain death. He was also proud to serve alongside his father and brothers, to be a part of something so special together.

But everything great requires sacrifice. He rarely had time off to go to the mainland, as his girlfriend (who didn't even know he was a Thunderbird) liked to remind him. And sometimes rescues came up at the least convenient times. This was the case the day before. It was the end of Alan's Christmas vacation. John had headed back to Thunderbird 5 early in the morning. Scott had wanted to do a little rock climbing with Alan before the Sprout had to head back to school, but just as they were getting ready to head out the klaxon rang out across the island, signaling a rescue. It was an earthquake that had trapped dozens of miners, the rescue was not particularly difficult, but it took hours and hours. Scott, Virgil, and Gordon had missed out on saying goodbye to Alan for the semester.

There was a very subtle air of bittersweetness that flavored the room as the three older brothers rang up Alan on video call that afternoon. It was bitter to have missed yet another goodbye; another lost in-person opportunity. It was a good opportunity, though, to check in on the first day of classes. Well, and also to get a feel for how the Sprout was faring. Their father had seemed uneasy and more concerned than normal upon seeing Alan off the day before. Sure, the brothers liked to joke around and pick on the kid (especially Gordon) for being a moody teenager, but if they were honest they were all a bit worried. Alan had been so downcast and out of sorts throughout the whole break.

Scott realized that he had been lost in thought over his little brother when he was snapped out of his reverie with the changing scenery of the video call. In the blink of an eye Alan's face was there grinning a greeting for his earthbound brothers. The four of them exchanged banter and small talk. They were all sorry to have missed Alan's sendoff, Alan was glad they made it safely back from their mission and wanted to hear every little detail.

One topic of conversation was conspicuous by its desperately attempted absence, and that was school. Most kids were still optimistic on the first day of a new semester! Alan did his level best to skirt around the topic altogether. It didn't sit right with any of them. Alan had always been a day dreamer and mischief seemed to follow him like an excitable lost puppy, but Alan was a brilliant kid when he put his mind to things, and he had always seemed to make friends easily before. It didn't make sense for him to be this despondent about his new classes.

And Physics, that was its own can of worms. Alan had been so excited to test into such an advanced class, over the summer they couldn't shut him up about it! He had called John up on Thunderbird 5 nearly daily to talk physics with him. His near-failing grade in the class had the entire family baffled, but Alan was stubborn. Perhaps something rubbed him the wrong way and his lacking effort was his protest. Scott wished he could believe that-they all wished they could believe that. Scott knew he was playing with fire by bringing it up, but their father had asked them to try and sus out what was going on with the kid….

"Hey, Sprout, I know fall semester was pretty rough, but we all survived high school physics. If you run into anything in your homework that you can't work through or if you just need someone to study with we've all got your back. All you have to do is ask, okay?"

But the fire never came. In its place was a look that would haunt all of them; futility. They watched in helpless confusion as their exuberant brother's eyes filled with tears of desperation before his shoulders slumped and every muscle in his face seemed to droop in defeat. It wasn't a passing look, it remained on his face for several long silent seconds before he found himself again.

He didn't acknowledge Scott's offer; he didn't look any of them in the eye. He hung his head just enough to avoid having to truly see any of them staring back at him, then simply said, "I should really get going, thanks for the call."

And with that abrupt dismissal, they all said their goodbyes, imploring him to call often, but feeling distinctly as though he wouldn't.