Jim and David returned from the gym and immediately got into bed. It didn't take long before they were both asleep. David snored away with Jim's head on his chest.

Jim was splayed on top of David, one leg over David's and one arm curled up at David's side. His other arm was stretched over David's chest. In his sleep, David was rubbing Jim's back. He scrunched his brow together and pulled the blanket up over Jim's shoulder. He sighed contentedly and resumed his snoring.

Vinny stepped out of the bathroom in boxers and a t-shirt. When he saw everyone sleeping he tip toed to his bunk and climbed in.

He couldn't help but take another glance at Jim and David as they snuggled. 'Killion's right.' He thought. 'It's just envy what they have. That's all.' He smiled and rolled onto his side to fall asleep. But he couldn't turn his brain off. 'So, why can't I stop thinking about it? Argh! Turn off already!' He rolled onto his other side to see if it would help. It didn't. He opened his eyes and watched Jim and David as they slept. 'Just let them sleep. You can talk to Jim tomorrow.'

He watched as Jim's brow furrowed. 'He must be dreaming.' Vinny thought. Jim tried hiding his face in David's chest but his dream wouldn't let him. 'Something bad.' Jim tossed and turned, his breathing becoming labored. He shot up from the bed.

David stirred and grabbed Jim's arm. "Whattissit?" He grumbled. He turned his head and tried looking at Jim. "Wha wron' baby?"

Jim patted his hand and squeezed it. "Nothing. Go back to sleep." He whispered. David's arm fell back onto his chest and he started to snore gently. Jim rubbed at his face.

"Hey." Vinny called from his bunk. "You alright?"

"Yeah. Just a dream." Jim looked up at Vinny.

"Jim, can we talk?" Vinny fidgeted with his blanket. Jim nodded and moved over David to get out of bed. Vinny climbed down and the two sat on the floor together. Vinny rubbed his hands together and looked at Jim. "Rough nightmare, huh?"

"The worst." Jim nodded and wiped some sweat from his brow. "What's up?"

"Well," Vinny focused on his hands. "Jim you know I'm happy for you and David right?"

"Yeah?"

"Just don't go thinking I'm homophobic or anything after what happened, okay?"

"Of course not. You idiot." Jim pushed his shoulder.

"Just checking." Vinny smiled. "What was your nightmare?"

Jim's face fell and he looked down at his feet. "It's nothing. I just have this recurring nightmare. Wakes me up sometimes."

"Oh." They sat for another minute before Jim moved to get up. Vinny followed. Vinny held out his hand, and Jim clasped it. "We're cool?"

"Yeah." Jim squeezed his hand and let go. They returned to their beds and nestled down to sleep.

Jim cuddled up against David and laid on his outstretched arm. David felt him lay down and turned on his side. He wrapped his other arm around Jim's waist and pulled him close. He rested his face against Jim's neck and sighed. Jim smiled gently and soon fell fast asleep.

The time Almrez was suspended was one of the calmest times the boys had at the academy. Jim didn't need protection anymore and he felt like he could breathe again. Studies were the same but PT was less annoying and lunch was actually pleasant.

But all things come to an end.

Almrez was allowed back after the dean ruled that he was not responsible for his friend's actions.

Jim was leaving his dorm to meet his friends for lunch. When suddenly a gag was pulled into his mouth and he was dragged into the room of Jernish Pline. He writhed and bucked against his attacker but to no avail.

!!!WARNING! TRIGGERING CONTENT AHEAD! ATTEMPTED SEXUAL ASSAULT!!!

Almrez wrapped one hand around his neck and the other clamped around his wrists. "Hey there, Hawkins. I want you to meet my new friend. He's just like you!" Almrez and Jim fought to gain control but Almrez was stronger and taller. He wrapped up Jim's wrists and restrained him through a hook on the back of the bathroom door. "See, my friend and I had a deal. If I could get you alone where he could get his hands on you, then I'll get to beat the shit out of you."

Sebna walked out from the back of the room. "Told you I'd see you around." He grinned. Jim tugged against the restraints, trying to pull one hand free. "I'm a man who knows what he wants, Jim." He reached out and stroked Jim's cheek. Sebna ran a hand down Jim's throat and smiled. "I know you're gay. So am I. This just works."

Jim scoffed.

"I can't be here for this. Let me know when you're done." Almrez walked to the door. Sebna put his hands on Jim's waist. As he did, Jim grabbed hold of the hook he was strung up on and lifted his legs to his hips. He kicked with all his strength into Sebna's chest.

"Hey!" Sebna stumbled back.

Jim worked his hands together harder, desperately pulling his wrist against the restraints.

Almrez just laughed before opening the door. "Good luck."

Sebna grabbed at Jim's waist and started pulling on his pants. Jim pulled back against the door and tried kneeing Sebna in the balls. He missed. Instead he worked on keeping his pants on and moved his mouth to remove the gag. Sebna got the two buttons free quick. The zipper was smooth and silent. His smile was nothing short of wicked.

"Com'mon, Jim. We're the only two openly gay guys in the academy. We might as well sleep together. Everyone will think we're doing it anyway." Sebna nipped at Jim's jaw. Jim pulled away until he saw the hoop in Sebna's ear. It was an open hoop, just big enough. Jim pushed the gag with his tongue as far out as it could go before getting near Sebna's ear. The alien took this as an attempt at affection so he paid no mind. It took two tries but he finally caught the gag on the hoop. He jerked up to remove it and it fell around his neck. Sebna hissed in pain.

"Fuck off." He tried kicking the alien again. Sebna just moved to the side. He leaned away from the alien as he kissed his neck. Jim got another good kick into Sebna's side but the alien brushed it off. Sebna ran a hand under Jim's shirt. He explored his chest and rubbed his palm against one of his pecs. Sebna grinned and dragged his hand down to Jim's navel. He tried leaning in to kiss Jim again. Jim went in to head butt him. He missed.

"You're so rude. Wouldn't let me get a word in before and now you're just getting violent." He tsked. He started rubbing Jim's chest and along his sides.

"What did you expect? A willing participant?" Jim wriggled his hands. If he could just get one wrist past the other.

"Nah I expected a fight. That's why I brought the big guy." Jim felt a chill of revulsion as Sebna moved his hands to rest over Jim's heart. Then he moved down to Jim's hips and started rubbing them. It didn't take long before Sebna moved down into Jim's pants. "But I don't get why you're not interested. Not human enough for you? All the right parts are there."

"Sebna, I wouldn't fuck you if my life depended on it."

"Funny you say that." Sebna pressed their hips together and held Jim there. He started to grind on Jim. With only a thin layer between them, Jim felt sick. He felt a wave of disgust roll through him."Uriratha said he was going to beat the shit out of you. Or don't you remember? I could be, persuaded, to talk him out of it."

"This was a pretty desperate move. And incredibly risky. What're you gonna do now? Explain your plans and shit?" Jim's hand was almost free, if he could just get the first knuckles through.

"Nah. I'd rather get to it." Sebna started pulling on Jim's pants again, and began kissing at his neck. "This was bound to happen, Jim. It'll go a lot faster if you'd just-"

Jim's hand slipped free.

"Fuck you." Jim smiled and jump kicked Sebna one more time. It sent him a few steps back, enough for Jim to jump up and free his other hand from the hook. He moved quick, wrenching the door open and leaping for the hallway. Almrez was leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. Jim pulled on his pants as he tried racing down the hall. Almrez and Sebna were too quick. Almrez had him by the back of the collar, ripping one of the buttons of Jim's shirt. Almrez pulled him back and threw him onto the floor of Pline's room. He walked in and shut the door.

"So ungrateful. I go to the trouble of getting you a boyfriend, and you run away on the first date?" He tsked and shook his head. "I hope your seven minutes in heaven was enough time."

Sebna stepped to Almrez. "I'm not finished yet."

"I don't give a shit."

"We had a deal."

"Listen fawn, as much as I love torturing Hawkins, your times up." He cracked his neck. "Fuck him after I'm done. I don't care. But their lunch is almost over. And-"

The door opened behind them. Almrez and Sebna looked to see who it was. Jim scrambled between Almrez's legs and shoved Pline's roommate out of the way. He bolted down the hall. He could hear Almrez yelling profanities.

!!!TRIGGERING CONTENT OVER!!!

!!!WARNING! DISCUSSION OF TRIGGERING EVENT!!!

Jim turned a corner and bolted to the cafeteria. When he approached the entrance he slowed down and calmly walked to his friends' table. Heffren, Warven, Vinny, and David were there, laughing about something. Jim sat down next to David and tried to calm his racing heart.

"Hey Jim!" Vinny greeted him. "Hey are you okay?"

Jim saw an uneaten sandwich on his tray. "Can I have that?" Vinny handed it over.

"You don't look so good, man." Warven observed.

"Jim, what's wrong?" David whispered and put a hand on Jim's leg. Jim just shook his head. David leaned a little closer and looked Jim in the eye. "Something happened. Spill it, honey." His accent poked through on 'honey.'

"I can't. Not right now." He started eating the sandwich. Warven offered him a fruit cup. He nodded his thanks.

"Hmph. I bet I can guess." Heffren scoffed and stared at Sebna as he walked into the cafeteria. It wasn't long before Almrez and Pline walked in too. "Trouble's back."

Everyone turned to look. Then turned away.

"Hon, did Almrez say something to you? Do something?" David rubbed on his leg a bit.

Jim just swallowed and said in a small, low voice: "I can't say right now. I'll tell you when we're alone."

"Jim, there's almost no one in here anymore. Just tell us. Say it really quietly." Warven gave him a small sympathetic smile.

"No, because David will freak out and Vinny will join him and then Heffren will start a fight."

David turned his body toward Jim. "If it's that serious you need to tell us right now. Please, babe." He pleaded.

"It's humiliating." Jim whispered.

"I'm already rearin' to kill 'im. Whatever it is, he will pay." David put a hand on Jim's shoulder. "Jim?" His voice changed its tone. "What happened to your shirt?"

Jim chewed his lip and gave in. He motioned for them to huddle. "Almrez and Sebna cornered me in one of the dorms. I got tied up, and Sebna-" he looked around to make sure no one was near. "Sebna felt me up."

"Fawn guy?" Heffren asked.

"What do you mean he felt you up?" Vinny whispered.

"He had his hands, like, everywhere. He wouldn't stop."

David got up from the table. Vinny and Heffren followed.

"No, Day. Vin! Come back! Oh shit." Jim leaned on his elbows and face planted into his hands.

"That fawn guy molested you? That's horrible." Warven remained seated but watched as their three friends approached Sebna. "What do you need?"

Jim looked up. "Some space."

Warven gave him a look and stood to his feet. "Come on." The two of them walked out to the courtyard tables. He could see Jim start to relax.

"Thanks."

"No prob." Warven hid his hands in his jacket pockets. He usually knew what to say in these situations. He was the chatty one. Now seemed as good a time as any. "Whaddya think David'll do to Sebna?"

Jim looked back to the cafeteria door. "I dunno."

--

David pulled Sebna up by his shirt collar. Ignoring his protests, David pushed him up against the nearest wall. Heffren and Vinny flanked him. "I told you to stay away from him." He growled in a dangerously low voice.

Sebna looked for a teacher or someone to get him out of his predicament. There was no one. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"I don't know if yer head is fulla straw or what but if you ever come near him again you'll have us to deal with." David's accent thickened, causing Sebna to smirk. David pulled on him and slammed him against the wall. "This a joke to you?"

"You're just a little ol' country boy, aren't you?" Sebna looked at Vinny, then Heffren. "They gonna drawl at me too?"

Heffren reached over David's arm and pulled Sebna up to his face. "Let's see if this clears it up. If you touch Jim again I will beat the ever loving shit out of you. Got it?"

"This is harassment!" Sebna called out. No one paid any mind.

"An eye for an eye. You harass Jim we harass you." David glared. Sebna gave him a once over.

"Why do you care about this Jim kid anyway? I was just trying to ask him out. He's just shy."

"He is not shy." David slammed his back against the wall. "And he doesn't want anything to do with ya- so if I see you anywhere near him again you're dead. Are we clear!?"

"That goes for us, too. You even walk down the same hallway and you're asking for it." Vinny added.

"You can't expect me not to be down the same hallway. That's nuts-"

"We expect much more than that. You do anything to aggravate Jim and that's it. I don't want you to even look at 'im. Got it?" David's forehead was almost touching Sebna's.

"Didn't peg you as the jealous type, Mogtrevo." Sebna smirked. "If you're his man why not just save the trouble and speak up? You got a claim on him? Just say so."

"We've got a claim as his friends. Go find someone else to harass with your bullshit." Vinny sneered.

"Alright. Pretty boy's off limits. Got it." Sebna held up his hands, palms out.

David gave him one last shove against the wall before the three friends left. They saw the table was empty, but caught a glimpse of Jim and Warven in the courtyard. When David reached Jim he pulled them behind some trees out of view of the windows. "Jim, are you alright?" He gently cupped his face.

"Um," Jim hesitated. "Yeah. Yeah I'm fine."

"Should I not touch you?" David pulled his hands back immediately. "Do you not wanna be touched? I'm sorry."

"No you're fine." Jim smiled but didn't reach for David's hand. "You didn't kill him, did you?"

"I wish." Heffren scoffed. The friends drew closer together. "Fucking scum bag."

"We threatened him but we'd better stay true to that threat."

"Jim you can't go anywhere alone. Almrez is on the loose and this creep just assaulted you. We can't risk it. Even having Killion with you could help. This can't happen again." Heffren looked sympathetically at Jim.

"It could've been so much worse Jim. He could've- I mean, he could've had sex with you." Warven looked like a worried mother hen.

"I know. But he didn't. I still got away."

"But you might not have." Vinny pushed.

"But I did." Jim bit back. "It's okay-"

"Jim!" David barked. "None of this is okay. Let's be honest. Someone just tried to- well, tried to assault you."

"You can say the word."

"Please don't." Jim groaned. "It's humiliating."

"What is? It's a fact! It's a word that describes what really could've happened!" Warven stated. "What almost did happen!"

"I'm not interested in playing the victim, okay?" Jim crossed his arms in front of him protectively. "Let's be honest. I'm humiliated and I just want some space. I don't mind you all being here, but I just need some space."

!!!DISCUSSION OF TRIGGERING CONTENT OVER!!!

David sat down on one of the benches with Heffren. Vinny and Warven sat on one opposite. Jim slowly sat with David.

He breathed quietly and pushed his hands against the wood of the bench. The stimulation was a good distraction, but he soon became anxious. He scuffed his shoes in the dirt, picked at a spot on his pants. But the quiet wasn't doing him any favors. He gently slid his hand across the bench and reached out his pinky to touch David. His partner scooted closer instantly.

"What's up?" David whispered almost inaudibly.

Warven and Vinny started talking on the other bench to give them some privacy.

Jim leaned closer to David, until they almost leaned against one another. "I'm embarrassed. I want them to stop thinking about it."

"Baby, their best friend was just harmed, how can they not?" David whispered back.

"I shouldn't have told them. Now- now things will be different."

"No, baby. Not at all. They're just going to be more aware of that creep Sebna. Things won't be different between you and them."

"They probably think I'm weak." Jim choked.

"Not at all, Jim. You were ambushed."

"A lot of that's been going around. I get jumped too often. Like I can't handle myself."

"They don't think that. They think Sebna's a piece of shit." David put his hand gently over Jim's. "And he is."

"I'm just, humiliated and frustrated and gods I just want to shower." Jim looked up at David. David felt his heart breaking.

"Com'mon then. Let's go." He squeezed Jim's hand and they stood. "We'll see you guys later."

"Bye, Jim."

"See you later, guys."

"Bye."

The shower helped Jim feel better. He washed away the grimy gritty feeling on his skin and scrubbed away at the places Sebna had touched him. He could hear Sebna's words in his head.

"This was bound to happen."

"Told you I'd see you around."

"This just works."

He shook his head under the hot water and let the rush of it fill his ears. He heard David knock on the door and open it.

"Hey, doin' okay?"

"No." Jim's voice was quiet.

David walked in and peeked past the curtain. He saw Jim standing in the water with his arms around himself. "Baby.." He saw the bruises on Jim's wrists. He tried to calm his breathing and his fury.

Jim shook his head. "Why aren't I strong enough?"

"Babe.."

"Why can't I intimidate them? Why can't I get them to leave me alone? What is it about me?"

"Sweetheart..." David was at a loss for words.

"Why do I feel so pathetic? Why do I feel like some child who can't hold their own?" He held himself tighter. "I'm just tired. So tired." He pressed his forehead against the tile. David turned off the water and put a hand on Jim's shoulder. Jim looked up at him.

"Com'mon." David held out a hand. Jim took a towel and dried himself before pulling on some sweats. Then he took David's hand. David led him to their bunk and hugged him. "You don't gotta say anything."

Jim held David closer. They stood for a moment in silence. "What am I doing wrong?"

"Nothing."

"Why can't I fend them off?"

"It's not your fault."

"What do I do?"

"Keep being strong."

"I want to be able to do it alone."

"You don't have to."

Jim looked up at David and his chin on David's chest. "Will you love me even if I need help?"

"I consider it a very strong move to ask for help." He pulled Jin's wrists to his lips and kissed both of them. "It doesn't make you less of a man to ask for help."

"Doesn't it though?"

"No. It's bullshit to go it alone when you can get help."

Jim laid his head against David's chest. "Why do I still feel pathetic?"

There was a knock at the door. The couple stepped apart, and Jim opened the door. It was Vinny.

"Just checking to see if I can come in."

"Sure, come on." Jim opened the door wider.

"Alright, Jim?" Vinny sat on Killion's bed.

"Yeah." Jim got a shirt and pulled it over his head. "I've got class. I'll see ya later." He grabbed his bag and headed out the door.

David gave Vinny a pointed look. Vinny got up and grabbed his bag. "Uh, I'll come with you! Gotta get to class early anyway, to study." He smiled at Jim, and the two of them left together.

Jim and Killion returned to the room late that night. Exhausted, Jim pulled his shirt over his head and tossed it onto his dresser.

He crawled into his bed with David. He welcomed this touch. Loving and strong and calm. Not the frantic, sloppy, gross touch he'd had earlier. David wrapped Jim in his arms and held him close. Jim's legs needed to be held too, so he put them between David's legs, and they snuggled down into the covers. Not a tear in sight, Jim filled himself up with all of David's love and fell fast asleep.