Work Text:
Dina was already flustered when she went into detention. She refused to talk about it, but Syd was willing to bet it had to do with Brad's sudden passing. Or maybe it was something completely unrelated. She wasn't sure what to think anymore.
Syd was standing a bit close to the gymnasium door when the taller girl walked in, so Dina bumped into her on accident.
"Syd" Dina said, annoyed. "Personal space bubble, yeah?" she asked with a raised eyebrow before walking over to the bleachers.
Syd felt like someone had just poured a bucket of ice water over her.
Dina fucking hates you a voice in her head spat. As she should it continued. First, you kiss her, then you stand in her way. All you do is breach her comfort, you fucking creep.
She silently walked to the bleachers and sat a few feet away from the other three students. You shouldn't go near anyone ever again the voice told her. That's the only way to keep them safe
Once the principal had given his spiel and left, Syd got up and went down to the locker room. The only person who seemed to notice was Stan, who followed her, concerned by her sudden self-isolation.
He walked in to find Syd breathing heavily, repeatedly slamming her fists into a locker as everything in the room shook.
This went on for about another minute before her energy drained and she sank to the floor. Stan cautiously cleared his throat to alert her of his presence.
She stilled and slowly turned toward him, her eyes wide with anxiety. The lockers began to rattle behind her. "How long have you been standing there?"
"Long enough to see you punching shit" the boy replied with a shrug. Syd looked away, embarrassed. "Do you want to talk about it?"
"It's silly"
"Try me" Stan challenged, getting a weak smile from the ginger.
"Dina just said something when she walked in, and..." she trailed off into a sigh. "Like, it's not really her fault- This is just me overreacting, I know that- But she struck a nerve"
"What did she say?"
"I don't wanna talk about it"
"Okay"
The two sat in silence for a moment as Stan contemplated how to continue with the conversation.
"Do you want to be left alone?" he eventually asked. Syd wanted to cry
"If you want to leave, that's okay"
"That wasn't my question"
"No, I..." Syd took a deep breath and the lockers' rattling died down a little bit. "I don't want to be left alone, but if you want to leave, that's okay" she explained. "I'm not trying to keep you hostage"
"You're my friend" Stan smiled. "I don't feel like a hostage, Syd" he added, and the rattling stopped. "Do you want a hug?"
"I'm not supposed to touch anyone" Syd frowned. "I'll only hurt you"
"Syd, I'm offering"
Didn't he see? Didn't he know how dangerous she was? Couldn't he see how much of a disgusting, perverted freak she was?
"Yes, if you want to, but again, you don't-" she was cut off by Stan kneeling in front of her and wrapping his arms around her. Before she could stop it, tears began to fall from her eyes. "This is ridiculous"
"It's not" Stan countered. "Brains just do this sometimes"
"This isn't normal, Stan"
"It is for us"
"Wait..." Syd seemed to realize something, pulling away to look at him properly. "You've felt this before?"
"Oh, yeah" Stan chuckled. "My doctor called it 'Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria'" he explained. "It's a common symptom of ADHD" he gestured to himself. "But it can also happen to Autistic people and the like" he gestured to Syd.
"Oh..."
"Yeah, no, this just seems like a classic case of RSD to me" he smiled. "And, I know it sucks, but it doesn't last forever"
"I've felt this before" Syd told him. "I just didn't know there was a name for it" she chuckled humorlessly. "I thought I was just being sensitive and angry"
"You? Angry? Never"
"You're an asshole, you know that?"
"I know" Stan smiled. "But, you're stuck with me"
"I'm okay with that"