He doesn't always get up in the morning, and he never really wants to face another day of school, just knowing that its going to be hell. Its not that his life is particularly terrible or even worth complaining about. It's just that he always has this draggy feeling in his gut, like a sticky warm smog in his head that no legal amount of caffeine can cure, keeping him from a singular part of mind that would give him thought or reason. Most of the time he tries his best to cover up that little taste of instability, usually with a snark grin and the occasional arrogant remark. To anyone who got a glimpse at his imperfections, and to whom would ever call it out, he would simply deny it and pretend as if everything is alright. Its not a part of him that he really holds any pride for, but its one that he thinks he'll always need.
"It's about time you got up."
He rolls his eyes and attempts to move around Howard, who in turn, grabs his arm and hauls him back a few steps until he is finally facing the man who, sadly, gave him life. Though he's not really looking at Howard at all. Rather his eyes are trained directly to the floor, because that is where he feels more comfortable to look. He hates seeing the grim look on his fathers face every time he looked down at his son like hes nothing red-letter, like hes just another useless employee ready to be replaced. God Tony really hates that look, and mostly, he kind of hates Howard too. He believes that the feeling is mutual.
"Yeah, bye." He knocks the offending hand off with the back of his hand, pushing his way past the man he's supposed too be proud to call his father. He just wants to get another day over with. So he doesn't have to pretend that he even likes his friends, or that hes even a little bit interested in sports and girls. Pepper, his girlfriend going on 3 years, doesn't even want him for him. He's popular, and she's head of the cheer-leading squad. Society put them together, because that's the way it's supposed to be for those who are deemed one of the 'cool kids'. It's all so very childish, but Tony won't do anything to change it, because people can be frightening when given a reason.
He understands just how true that really is, when he walks down the hallway that morning, and his friends shove a kid into one of the schools lockers. It all happens so quickly that his instant reaction is to do what everyone else was, and as it seems, every one else was laughing. So he did, and for a second, it seemed funny. Until the guy looked up and Tony see them, clear as day, the boys irises were covered in a white film that indicated his blindness.
"Woah, dude is he blind?" He's surprised by his own surprise. Of course he is, it's pretty obvious even from a far away view. All of a sudden it doesn't seem as funny anymore, because well fuck, who does that? To a blind guy? The boy didn't even have one of those canes, so God only knows how lost he is even without someone shoving him around.
"What? Who cares, this guys a freak." Says Kyle? He vaguely remembers, not all that interested in who said it. To Tony, it should be true. He shouldn't care, because in that moments, its what everyone expects out of him. It's what they want, but he's not sure if he has that in him. Tony's a dick on a good day, but hes certainly not this cruel. Tony watches them leave, and when one of his friends 'Rhodey' looks at him strangely when he doesn't follow, he just shrugs. Its a good enough answer apparently, and when the other guys leave he's by the blind guys side like flies on honey.
"You okay?" He said, and the other guy panics.
The others lips part to speak, as if he's about to say something, but no real sentences are uttered. All he hears is an embarrassingly incoherent grumble of words and noises. He sounded broken, in a more literal sense. Its ugly, and Tony winces slightly as he hears it. He smiles, because the rambling words are actually kind of cute, he doesn't even realize what they mean until he tried to joke about it, chuckling softly, "wow man, you really are kind of weird." He knows that its not the time for jokes when the other boy straightens, bowing his head like hes ready to get hit. Tony's smile fades quickly, and is replaced with a small scowl. "Wait, fuck - no I didn't mean it like that. I was just kidding " and he was, but even when he tries to lay a comforting hand onto the others shoulder, the boy jerks away like he's been burned.
Tony has never felt like more of an absolutely shitty person then he did at that moment.
After a long a tense and pregnant pause, he sighs just under his breath, stepping back for a second in hesitation before he walks away.
Three days later, he cant stop thinking about the encounter he had with the blind boy.
But he tells his friends not to mess with him anymore, that if they do, he'll stop paying for their party's and that means no more endless rivers of alcohol. They agree instantly, and he makes sure that they keep their promise.
No ones going to hurt him anymore.
And its all Tony's fault.
He has never felt so proud of himself.
The week is almost over, and everyday hes looking out for that boy. He doesn't know what makes him so captivating. At first Tony thinks that it might be the hurt in his dead yet still so marvelously expressive eyes that are the deepest of brows. Just like his mothers had been before she died. Or it could be just the way he looks, curly messy hair that doesn't look like its been brushed ever, and his gangling limbs attacked to the straight and narrow core of his body. Needless to say, even though Tony watches, he cant bring himself to do anything. As much as he wants to talk to the strange boy, he doesn't know if he wants to be seen doing it. And that thought makes him so sick. So utterly done with this conformist life-style, that he's actually on his feet before he can stop himself.
And he gets to the boys table.
But he doesn't know what to say.
That's right, loud-mouth I-have-something-to-say-about-everything, Stark, couldn't think of one witty starter line to say to someone he barely even knew. But this someone was different, this particular someone was was Tony looked around the boy, catching sigh of his bookmark. On it was scribbled in a messy scripture "Bruce Banner". That's his name? A big bush? Tony grins and sits down, feeling a new wave of confidence rolling over him.
"Hey." Is what he starts with, practical, and its not the most alluring commentary, but it worked since he did get the others attention. Tony could have frowned whenever 'Bruce', closed and held his book in a vice like grip, but he didn't. He just stared, and waited for an answer that probably wouldn't come. And one that, as he quickly realized, didn't.
So he settled for flattery, something appropriate that needed to be said, "I'm sorry about my friends I actually haven't talked to them since you know. So-are you okay? It looked really painful when you hit that locker." His hands moved expressively as he spoke, only because it was a habit, not because he actually thought the other could see. Either way, his statement went unanswered again. And so just like before, he switched tactics, "don't want to talk? Fine, yeah, that's alright. You really don't have to " he peeked at the other male, sighing when he still didn't get any reaction.
Oh well. At least he tried.
Tony got up to leave.
But he didn't, at least not right away.
"My names Tony by the way. Tony Stark " he saw the other look up in surprise, and scowled. Maybe the other knew his name through his father. Probably. It just flat out disappointed Tony that the mention of Howard was most likely the reason he had looked up. But Tony just licked his lips, stowing those gut wrenching emotions down as he always did, "well I guess I'll see you later then bye Bruce." His voice softened, but he looked away before he could see whether or not Bruce noticed. Tony fled then, feeling confused and stunned by the teen he left behind.
OOC: I'd like to thank everyone who has given me a positive review, and or follow. I cannot express how happy I am that all of you are enjoying this. That being said, the fourth chpt will be open to suggestions. I'll try to fit in as many as I can. I won't be doing that for the third because I already have something planned. Thank you again, and please keep on reviewing! Constructive criticism is welcome.
This is edited!