today there was a strange atmosphere at school and Jack felt it, he didn't know why but something was strangely wrong, he realized this after Rusty simply left him alone a few days ago, which came as a surprise to everyone.
Jack was in the stands watching the others play a good game of dodgeball, he doesn't participate because he knew it would be more of a hindrance than a help, looking around he notices someone who wasn't there before, Rusty for some reason was in the corner watching the game which was weird he really loved sports and hitting others violently with a ball without taking punishment was his favorite thing, but the strangest thing was how he was, he had dark circles under his eyes, his fur was messy like someone who's just woken up, and his gaze was cold and lifeless.
Jack normally wouldn't mind this after all this was rusty we were talking about, but Rusty's state made him a little curious and worried, he decides to get up and go ask if he was ok but Rusty walks off the court towards somewhere, what only made Jack more curious, he leaves there without anyone noticing and starts to make the possible path that Rusty did.
walking through the corridors he knew where he was going, to an "abandoned" area of the school, the lights failed there and there were some classrooms that were incomplete construction, the Director said several times that he would fix that part which never happened, and several students took advantage of this place to do some forbidden things, Of course after Zechariah found out he severely punished all the students involved and everyone was afraid to go to that place again, Jack walked slowly through these dimly lit and cold corridors making him shiver and question if it was really worth all that effort for Rusty, he was approaching the end of this area which was a door leading directly into the courtyard.
but then jack hears some noises coming from a room and when he approaches he recognizes the noise, it was someone crying and crying a lot, arriving at the door of the room he looks inside and is very discredited with what he sees.
it was Rusty but he was really bad and shaken crying intensely holding his knees in the fetal position on the floor, it was a scene that would shake anyone's emotions, jack instinctively runs over and helps him to sit down.
Jack: RUSTY!!! Y-are you okay?? what happened???
Rusty sits down and sniffling a little he wipes his tears and says in a shaky voice
Rusty: J-jackson? W-Why are you here??
Jack: I ask you, why are you on the floor crying??? did you get hurt?
Rusty: N-no... did you come here to laugh at my deplorable situation?
Jack: damn, of course not!!! Why would I do that??!
Rusty: what have I treated you so badly in-all these years...
his shaky voice soon gave way to more tears, it wasn't hard to see that he was emotionally unstable, Jack not knowing what to do hugs Rusty putting his head on his chest trying to comfort him.
Jack: C-calm down rusty, take a deep breath and relax
jack gently strokes Rusty's neck and back, Cameron had taught him that the best way to care for someone who is upset is to show affection and comfort, and Rusty still weeping and sniffling hugs jack tight he buries his face in the jackal's chest, and still whimpering he says:
Rusty: My father was right, I'm good for nothing...
Jack: What?? did your dad say that? why?
Rusty: because I'm useless, I don't know how to do anything but torment others... maybe if I die everything would be better...
the last words left jack in shock.
Jack: N-no!!! don't say such a thing!! Why do you think that???!
Rusty: my dad said so, he says everything would be better if i hadn't been born...
jack is shocked hearing this, was it really true? how can a father say that to his own son!
Rusty: a-and to remind me of that he did t-that...
he stammered as he cried even harder and slowly took off his sports jacket, at first he didn't seem to have anything on, but jack ends up rubbing his back and feels several scars probably made by a belt.
Jack: Damn...
Rusty squirms a little, he was shaking and whimpering a lot, Jack hugs him tighter and gently rubbing his head to calm him down.
Jack: R-rusty, why never said anything? why did you never do anything??!
Rusty: I've wanted so many times to tell someone or run away but I never had the courage...
his cries session when Jack gives him a warm and comfortable hug, Rusty is amazed at how comfortable jack was, without realizing he starts rubbing on jack's chest seeking comfort, Jack notices this and normally would be uncomfortable but he lets Rusty seek comfort on his chest, Jack pats him on the head gently, Rusty realizes this was getting pretty intimate and blushes a lot and pulls away.
Rusty: S-sorry about that...
Jack: It's okay, are you better?
Rusty: Y-yes...thank you...
he sniffs some more, wipes the rest of the tears from his face and puts his jacket back on.
Rusty: d-don't tell anyone about this... please...
Jack: no problem
jack gives a friendly smile and pats Rusty on the head, they have a few more minutes before they have to go back to class, and then they spend some time talking, Jack is surprised that Rusty could be so sensitive and soft, the two talk a lot and even have a few laughs together, the two started a small friendship but the two felt something more than that.
their moment is interrupted by the bell ringing.
Jack: we better go...
Rusty: yeah... Jack, thanks
Jack: no problem, if you want to talk again you can talk to me, but you should talk to mrs. cameron she can help you
Rusty thinks for a moment and nods, he smoothes his fur a bit and they both head back to their classes.
A few days later...
Jack and Rusty kept talking in secret, Rusty felt very comfortable and warm with Jack, but for some time he felt that it wasn't friendship that he felt for jack, and the fact that he had an erotic dream with Jack only reinforces that, he had fallen in love with Jack.
when he realizes this he is shaken, Jack and he had a lot of intimacy but not enough to start a relationship and he didn't know if Jack would accept something like that, after all he was bullied by Rusty for several years and it would be difficult to forgive him easily.
That day he and Jack agreed to meet on a nearby hill to talk, Rusty was already there and he was thinking about how to declare his feelings to him.
Jack: Hi Rusty!
His thoughts collide when he sees Jack approaching with his usual friendly smile which made him blush slightly.
Rusty: H-hi Jack...
Jack walks over and sits next to Rusty.
Jack: I hope you don't mind that I'm early, Damian managed to ruin band practice again
he says a little frustrated.
Rusty: You two don't have a good relationship, do you?
Jack: I even try, but he never cooperates, almost everything he does is to get attention
Rusty: I understand...
Jack notices that Rusty was more strange than usual, he looked very thoughtful.
Jack: some problem?
Rusty: well... it's complicated... if you needed to declare yourself to the person you like, what would you do?
Jack blushes a lot at this question and thinks for a while.
Jack: it was a very specific question... but well, I guess I would just say that I love her and tell her my feelings, like...
he puts his hand on Rusty's head, Rusty is very confused and blushes a little.
Jack: You know, ever since we met, I've had a weird feeling for you, I don't want to be too sappy or anything, but I wanted you to know that I love you...
Rusty turns tomato red and just nervous and stuttering nonsense, he slaps Jack's hand away and flinches a little.
Rusty: D-DON'T SAY SOMETHING LIKE THAT TO ME!!!!!!
Jack: I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean to embarrass you...
Rusty takes a deep breath and continues a little flushed, his mind was in conflict, for a moment he almost replied that he loved him too.
Jack: and then?
Rusty: hm? what?
Jack: who is the person you like?
Rusty turns into a tomato again and gets really nervous trying to think of an answer.
Rusty: I-it doesn't matter!... and you? You must like someone to think of a statement like that!
Jack didn't expect to be hit like that, he blushes a little and gets nervous and shy
Jack: i-that's kind of ridiculous... it was for someone I've known for a long time... but only now did I realize that I liked this person...
he blushes a lot and holds his knees to his chest
Rusty: that's funny, it's the same with me...
he chuckles and the two are silent for a while until Jack can't take it anymore.
Jack: Oh! SCREW THIS!
Rusty: Wh-what?
he grabs Rusty by the jacket and pulls him into a deep passionate kiss, Rusty is confused at first and blushes a lot but it doesn't take long for him to give in and return the kiss, the two kiss for a while until they finally break apart.
Rusty: D-Did you know?? How?
Jack: honestly I just found out now with you acting like that, sorry for being so direct but I couldn't take it anymore...
Rusty: Y-no problem, you had the attitude that I couldn't...
he sighs in relief.
Jack: So Rusty the Bully is gay?
he chuckles and lays his head in Rusty's lap
Rusty: S-shut up, and don't call me that...
he blushes a little and gently strokes jack's head, he sighs and watches the sun go down, it was an unusual situation, but he was happy enjoying the moment with his new mate.