Winged Cupid Painted Blind Chapter 6 - His unkindness may defeat my life, But never taint my love
A/N- Thank you all for your reviews, they let me know I'm doing a decent job of weaving a tale of romance and angst, Dshell99 only time will tell if they remain friends or not, Hazelbaum I'm glad you enjoyed the sonnet, when I read it I thought of that night and yes 1992 (I'm so old), LoverofSleep it is cute I know, now back to reality (insert evil laugh) erinleigh121 and Kiraloverless I am glad you all are enjoy a smart Kevin, though I must admit a two way intelligent conversation is hard to produce sometimes (bangs head on desk)
Edd slept soundly, all things considered, he had a dreamless sleep, no stars no moon no warm arms and no sonnets whispered in his ear. He awoke the next day looking forward to school and a possible run in with his new friend. He quickly brushed his teeth, took a shower and got dressed, gathering his book bag he heads downstairs for a quick breakfast. Eggs, toast and bacon with a glass of OJ, once finished he heads out the door and down the street to the bus stop to wait in the chilly morning air. Being the first kid there he drops his book bag on the ground and sits upon it, waiting for his friends to arrive. Ten minutes later other kids began to file down the road to join him at the corner, his friends being one of the last to arrive. Regaling each other with recaps of the comic genius that was last night's show, Edd just listened and nodded his head ever once in awhile. Having missed most of the show due to his phone call with Kevin, though he was sure he had a better time.
The bus arrived a few minutes later and the children loaded up, the boys making their way to the back to sit together and not be disturbed by others. Sitting down in their seats, Eddy turns to look at his friends who were sitting behind him, "Hey lumpy, why don't you tell Edd here what you got into Saturday while he was out with prince charming."
"I got to third base." Ed said rather enthusiastically with a big old grin on his face.
"Ed you didn't," Double D said with his mouth a gap, "Where, how?"
"Bathroom stall," Eddy said a big grin etched across his lips, "The sly devil."
"Ah she was so warm and soft," Ed was looking off into the distance as though he was recalling the event.
"I'm very happy for you Ed, but can we please refrain from such lewd topics in public." Double D could feel the burn of a blush dancing upon his cheeks.
"What are we embarrassing you?" Eddy teased, "Afraid your morning wood will be seen, God forbid some hot chick sees what you're packing and does you the favor of taking your virginity." Eddy huffed and sat back down in his seat properly.
"As if the size of one's penis is all the fairer sex is after," Double D folded his arms and turned his head in a pout, "Do grow up Eddy."
Twenty five minutes later the bus arrives at the school, and the boy's disembark and head into the building. Sitting in the lunch room until the bell rang to signal the beginning of the school day. Edd kept his head down and his nose in a book trying his best not to draw attention to himself, at the best of times he could go through the day without an incident. Today would not be one of those days, feeling a slap to the back of his head that knocked his beanie askew he hears a harsh voice behind him. "Hey faggot, saw you walking with the captain the other day."
Edd sets his book aside and readjusts his hat, trying to keep his eyes on the table, "What, did you think that he'd let you taste his dick." Another boy said leaning down so his face was next to Edd's and so the boy could smell his rancid breath.
"Why don't you leave him alone, Tim." Eddy said getting to his feet, Ed following suite. Behind the two bullies another three jocks stood up to show the three dorks they were out matched. Five against three wasn't very good odds at the best of times, but you might as well say two seeing how Double D wasn't much of a fighter. The standoff had started to draw attention from the people closest to the group, all eyes eagerly awaiting the ensuing carnage.
"What're you going to do about it Skipper?" Tim had a wicked grin upon his face, daring the shorter boy to take action. When Eddy hesitated he let out a laugh, "Just what I thought nothing." Double D was still keeping his mouth shut and eyes away from the boys, knowing any action he took, verbally or physically, to defend himself would only spur them into acts of violence. The jock only saw easy prey however and grabs Edd by the back of the head and exerts force, Edd in an attempt to stop the action braces himself with his hands on the table but the jock was to strong for him and his face meets the table with a slam that echoed through the room drawing more attention from the crowd. Ed and Eddy lunge forward once they saw what was happening but the other four boys bare their path, Tim leans down to the struggling Double D and spits his venomous words in the boys ear, "Keep your cocksucker away from the captain, do I make myself clear?"
Double D's eyes were shut fearing what would come next, some thrashing no doubt, a physical reminder of how helpless he was against these bullies and that he should stay in his place within the social order of things. But no fist made contact with Edd's body, only a familiar voice was heard, "Hey Tim, whatcha doing?" Opening his eyes Double D saw Kevin standing mere feet away, with his hands casually in his Letterman jacket's pockets as if he didn't have a worry in the world, Nat right behind him with the same casual posture to him.
"Teaching this queer his place in the world." Tim's face had an expression of confusion on it, why did the captain care what the hell he did to this dork, he never has before. The grip Tim had on Edd's face was loosening up but still held him firmly to the table.
Kevin looked from the hand on Edd's face to the jock who it belonged to, "And where might that be?" Tim's expression went from confused to downright flabbergasted, "Let him go Tim." Kevin said in a commanding but calm voice, it took the jock a few seconds to work out that Kevin meant what he said before he removed his hand from Edd's face and thus freeing it from the dirty cafeteria table. "Come here Tim." The jock followed the order quickly, Kevin puts his hand on the guy's neck digging his fingers into the his skin and starts to lead him away from the trio of friends, the other four boys follow suite quickly, Ed and Eddy go to their friend to make sure he was alright. "Tim, Tim, dim Tim, do you think I am so incapable of taking care of myself that I need your protection?"
"No captain, I-I just thought h-he needed a reminder of where he…." Tim stammered but was cut off.
Kevin's face went from calm to showing his displeasure at the boy in his grasp, "So you thought you would hurt a friend of mine, for what, because he doesn't measure up to your standards."
Tim motioned in the general direction of the Ed's, with shock on his face that Kevin had called him a friend, "But captain he's a faggot."
The scowl on Kevin's face deepened and his grip tightened on the boy's neck making Tim flinch in pain, "And if he did something that I didn't want, do you think me powerless to stop it?"
"But your rep?" Tim looked almost desperate, as though Kevin's standing in the school somehow reflected on his own.
"I don't care, Tim," Kevin said stopping and turning to face the jock he releases his grip on the boy's neck, "I graduate this year, and I'm not going to see the vast majority of these people after that," Looking Tim in the eyes with a serious look upon his face, "So to hell with my rep, but you touch that boy again and I'll show you why I'm top dog around here." Slapping Tim on the cheek a few times, "Enjoy your day, Dim." Walking back to the Ed's Kevin could care less that Tim was staring daggers into his back, he was of no consequence to him, but he would be damned if he would allow someone he liked to be harassed for their perceived sexuality. Coming to stand behind the trio, he sees Ed looking at Double D's face, holding his chin with his right hand so he could angle the head and examine it for any bruises or cuts, Eddy looking on with a worried expression. "How are you doing D?"
Double D turns his head to look at the red head and opens his mouth to say something, Eddy blurts out, "We don't need your help or your pity!" Standing in such a way as to try and block Double D from him.
Not paying Eddy any attention at all, Kevin's eyes were examining Double D's face to make sure no damage was done seeing how no one was telling him. "Shove off Skipper, I got the job done didn't I and without the use of violence." Kevin's voice was calm and collected, Nat looked on from a distance wondering what this dork meant to his friend, Kevin gently pushes past the shortest of the trio to sit next to Edd, Eddy huffs off to return to his seat and talk to Ed and ignore the jock. "So are you going to answer me?" Kevin's green eyes were looking intently into Edd's ocean blues waiting for an answer, and Edd was lost in the green forests of those eyes.
Edd snaps back into reality when it hit him that he was taking too long to answer the jock, "I-I'm fine, nothing seems to be to damaged, but maybe my pride."
Kevin touches Edd's chin, turning the boy's face so he could get a better look at the side that had been pressed against the table. "Everything looks alright," Kevin released his grip on the boy's chin, "Let me know if he bothers you again, I'll put him in his place."
"As kind as that offer is, you do realize now that he has lost face in front of the school he will undoubtedly double his efforts to restore his standing," Edd looked away and fiddled with the strap on his book bag, "Which means he will try again to get his point across to me."
"Yeah that's the only thing that has me worried, I know assholes like him." Kevin let out a frustrated breath through his nose and slides his thumb across his lip as he thought about his next move concerning the arrogant jock that was threatening his friend.
Meekly Edd spoke again, knowing how what he was about to say would sound to the red head, "As terrible as it may be, it might be best to just let him regain his standing, lest his rage becomes too great."
"What are you saying D?" Kevin knew what he meant, he just needed to hear it from the boy's own mouth.
Edd opens his mouth to speak but decides against it then changes his mind, "That maybe you shouldn't help the next time, with each thwarted attempt his rage is only going to grow, and you can't be there every time anyways."
"D, I can't do that, you're my friend and I will not walk on by if I see someone hurting you." Kevin said as his hand started to move toward Edd to comfort him, but seeing the dork recoil a little he changed his mind and withdrew his hand.
"I appreciate the sentiment, I really do," The bell rings and the room jumps to life as students begin to file out into the halls to go to their lockers and then to their first class, "But I know what I'm talking about, it will only get worse for me." Edd leaves the jock to sit there and think over what the boy had said to him, is it truly better in the long run to let Edd take the beating or should he stick up for the boy and do his best to keep him safe. Would Tim really just keep coming after him until he had gotten a hold of him and would that subsequent attack be worse than if Kevin had let him do it now? Kevin was determined to keep the boy safe from harm, but Edd's words rang true in his ears, he couldn't always be there. He pondered, if we truly are civilized why do we succumb to our base animal desires of the strong preying upon the weak.
"You alright man?" Nat said standing next to him, wondering why he hadn't moved from the chair yet.
Kevin snaps out of his thoughts and looks at his teal haired friend, "I'm fine," standing they start walking toward the lockers, "Do me a favor and keep an eye on Edd for me."
"Does he really mean that much to you?" Nat couldn't understand how one night of camaraderie could instill such loyalty.
"He's a good kid, I just don't want to see him get hurt." He slaps Nat on the shoulder and then waves goodbye as he turns left to his first class, he knew his friend would help but he also knew it probably still wasn't enough.