This chapter was really easy for me to write, surprisingly. Probably 'cause bullies piss me off so much. Though now that i think of it, all my stories seem to be at a depressing plot point at the moment... damn. Whatever, this is my favorite chapter of this story so far, despite being mostly narrated by an OC, and really depressing...

This chapter is dedicated to anyone who's ever been bullied. Know that no matter what, there's always someone who cares about you.

Enjoy.

Ch 18

Mickey's POV

All of a sudden I see Robin get real tense, staring over where Beastboy is. I don't see why – it's just some of the football players talkin' to him. Sure they're jerks, but…

Robin's fists clench as Tony knocks Beastboy's food to the floor. He looks real pissed. "I know what you're thinking, but what about your secret I.D.? John wouldn't interfere if he saw an idiot knock food outa a kid's hands."

"But it's Beastboy. I can't just sit here!" he hissed back. "He doesn't deserve that! Nobody does!"

"Well, no harm done, right? Just a bit of tofu wasted, and–"I stop, jaw dropping when I see Tony throw the first punch, and dummies 1, 2 and 3 all attacking. "Oh my god…" Before I can say 'super pissed,' John/Robin is storming over there, prying the jocks off of Beastboy. This can't end well.

Robin's POV

Alright, Mickey was right about the identity issue, but… but it's Beastboy. We may not always get along, but he's like a little brother to me. I can't-won't just sit here. I clentch my fists, and Mickey tries talking sense into me. Whatever she says though, I ignore her as soon as I see Beastboy getting tackled.

Filled with rage, I run over to where they are, pushing the assholes off of Beastboy. "What the hell are you doing!" I yell at them. "Leave. Him. Alone." Beastboy's barely conscious. Great. He's going to need a nurse or something…

"Leave him alone," the morons mock. "Yea? And who's gonna make me?"

"I am."

Mickey runs over to us, and gets between me and Tony."Guys, leave 'em alone! Both of 'em! They're harmless!" She tries to talk sense into Tony.

"Ha! You just don't want your tutor to be totaled!"

"Just go away, Tony! All of you!"

"And why should we listen to you, babe? You can barely speak English!"

"Why you little nadie! dejarlo en paz, si no quiere que le patee el culo personalmente!

"Mickey…" I warn her. "Just… go. Get the nurse for him."

"But-"

"Go!" reluctantly, she starts to leave, and I turn back to Tony. "Now I suggest you get the hell out of this hemisphere, before you get hurt."

"Hah! A pussy like you? Right. Now get the hell outa my way, Ulman!" He pushes me backwards, but I stay between them and Beastboy.

"NO. And if you know what's good for you, you'll leave him alone."

"No? Are you stupid? Get the hell out of my way!"

"I said, no! What did he ever do to you, except possibly save your life a few times?"

"Move, before I make you!"

"NO. Now leave. Him. ALONE."

"Sure, I'll leave – leave you in a body cast!" He throws a punch at me, and I dodge. It takes a lot of restraint not to flip out of the way. It takes a lot more restraint not to just kick their asses. So I pretend to be as sucky of a fighter as they are.

They need to get away from Beastboy though… can't put him in more danger… So I punch the head dummy in the face, and then do what any sane 'nerdy kid' would do – run like hell.

"Why you little freak!" Like I knew they would, they chase me down an empty hallway. I honestly didn't notice the mop in front of me, until I tripped over it, banging into a row of lockers. "Looks like we need to teach you a lesson, punk!" He grabs me by the shirt, hoisting me up. Typical.

"You teach me a lesson?" I ask, "How? A squirrel's IQ is higher than yours!" I'm expecting a punch, which is exactly what I get – a hit to the face. I cry out in 'pain' though his hits are nothing compared to, say, Slade's. I try to block a hit in the stomach, but am surprised when I can't move – the other guys are restraining my arms, and Tony's hand has moved from holding me by my shirt, to holding me by the throat – is it me, or is it getting harder to breathe?

Squirming about like the average hostage, I try to kick my way out of his grip. No dice. "Joey, go check the supply closet o'er there!" Supply closet? Suddenly, I'm very worried, as 'Joey' comes back with duct tape… and a- where on earth did they find a crowbar? Joy.

Stars flash before my eyes, as I'm hit in the head. Then the ribs. I cry out in real pain. Someone's restraining my legs with the duct tape, and I can't fight back – the lack of air is slowing me down. I'm thrown to the floor, and while I'm glad I can breathe again, the feeling is lost when someone jumps on my ankle. I hear a snap. My ankle feels like it's on fire. They keep hitting me though, even as they continue to wrap me in duct tape. I just hope they didn't hurt Beastboy this badly… with another hit to the ribs, I cry out in pain – I really need to go hunt down whoever invented the crowbar...

Mickey's POV

I run down the hallway to the nurses, ignoring the freshie hall monitor yellin' at me. Why the hurry? I don't think we're gonna need the nurse for just Beastboy… as soon as I saw Robbie runnin' I knew he was back to bein' John. Quiet, shy kid persona up – he ain't gonna be such a spectacular fighter. He wouldn't purposely put himself in danger… A little voice in the back of my head reminds me. I just hope it's right, and 'John' is track team material.

"Mrs. DeHare!" I shout, as I barge into her office. "We need you in the cafeteria!"

She jumps up, and starts following me briskly down the hall, medical bag in hand. "What happened?"

"One of them titan kids, Beastboy – Tony and his buddies got ahold of 'em. Last I saw he wasn't totally conscious. Another kid stepped in, and they're chasin' after 'im. Dunno where they went though." Shakin' her head, DeHare follows me to the cafeteria, where I point out Beastboy, though it's not necessary – a huge crowd is surrounding him, and I see a girl from my math class, Jenny, kneeling down next to him, helping him sit up.

"Go find the other kid," the nurse orders me, and I take off down the hall in search of the boy wonder.

Takin' the opposite direction of the nurses office, I start callin' for him, "John! John, where are you?" I hear a door slam, and see Tony and his buddies rounding the corner. "Tony! What the hell'd you do with him! Where is he?"

"He who?" the asshole asks, looking around. "I don't see anyone."

"I swear, if you did anything to him-"

"What's that, Mick? No comprend-o el you-o. No espanola."

"Shut up! Where is he?" I see the janitors closet behind them, and try to push through them. "Outa my way!" Eventually, they let me pass, and I walk over to the janitors closet. Alrighty, he's in the janitors closet, and either unconscious or fakin' it or something… but he's Robin… how bad could it be? I open the door.

"Mierda ... me voy a patear el trasero lo siento todo el camino a Júpiter para esto! El infierno - ¿de dónde encontrar una palanca? Ellos van a pagar por esto!"

I guess the nurse heard me screamin' my head off in Spanish or somethin' cause pretty soon she was running over here, seein' him, and lookin' like she was gonna cry. Honestly I wasn't too far from it m'self. I mean, he's a good kid, you know?

I mean, I don't personally know him, but damn, he's Batman's kid. He shouldn't be found like this; in a closet, wrapped in a few layers of duct tape, bloody and bruised, broken nose, unconscious, taped to the wall… and to top it off, a note sharpied onto his forehead proclaimin' him a "Friggin Fag." Joy. To. The. World.

"How could anyone be this cruel?" Mrs. DeHare asks, but I have no answer for her. Instead, I silently help 'er cut the duct tape off the wall, and lift the now duct tape-cocooned wonder boy up onto a gurney Jenny had been sent for, after havin' taken Beastboy to the nurses office, where we're now headed…

The nurse's office is conveniently right past the office. I tell Mrs. DeHare that I'll catch up, and as if understanding what imma do, she shakes her head, and keeps walkin,' so she'll see nothing.

Tony and his dummies are waiting outside the office, while the principal calls their parents to pick 'em up – expelled or suspended, I don't really know or care. Personally I hope the police and courts haul their asses of to juvy. I get a coy smile on my face. "Hey, Tony?" I ask, battin' my eye lashes.

"Yea, baby?" he asks. I giggle, though it's hard- just the sight of him makes me wanna puke.

"You wanna know what I think of what you did to that kid?" I ask him, sugary sweet tone. He nods yes, smirking. Thinkin' he won me over or something equally stupid. So smoothly, I get real close to his face, his lips inches from mine…

Then draw back and punch him as hard as I can.

The detention will be more than worth it.

... And that last bit? dedicated to bullies - you'll get what's coming to you. Please let me know what you think - it means the world to me! let me know your opinion on bullying, world peace, fried chicken, whatever... but always speak your mind.