Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

i.

A red tray rattles on the lunch table as Tye tosses his meal, sitting himself down to join his friends in the cafeteria.

Asami, sat next to him, reaches out to adjust his orange headband back into its place. Eying him as he repeatedly stabs his food, palm to her cheek, she lazily leans against the edge of the round table before passing her judgment. “Someone woke up on the wrong side of bed today.” 

Briefly glaring at her from the side of his eyes, he responds with silence, as he continues to knife at his food. 

Downing his juice, Virgil pauses to take a good look at his clearly disgruntled friend sat across from him. “Dude, what did the Mac and Cheese ever do to you?” 

The crease in Tye’s brow burrows deeper. 

“Uh guys, something tells me it’s related to them.” Ed says as he nods to the table at the corner of the lunch hall. 

Virgil and Asami follow his line of sight.

Ah.

Tye ends up scowling as he can feel their eyes pitying him. He gives up, letting his fork drop as he shoves his tray away from himself. “Yeah, no shit genius.” He snarks harshly at the 16 year old Argentinian. 

Virgil tries to placate the situation with a pacifying raise of his hands. “Look Tye, you can talk to us brother. The past couple months have been hard on you. But we were there for you then and we are here for you now, the start of the school year isn’t gonna change that.” 

“Exactly, which is why you’re gonna ignore them and actually enjoy today’s food with us.” The 16 year old Japanese girl picks up his fork and eats the impaled collection of macaronis as she slides the tray back towards him, before returning the fork. “It’s been three weeks and I swear, it’s the first time lunch is actually edible for a change. Better not waste it.” 

With a reluctant glance to his three friends, the 17 year old Mescalero boy loses his steam as he accepts the fork and actually takes a bite out of his food. “You’re right.” He grumbles with a full mouth to Asami. “Doesn’t taste like mush.” 

Ed snorts. “Aaaand he’s back.”

The long-haired boy sighs. “Sorry. It’s been three weeks and it’s embarrassing that I’m still hung up on all that bullshit from last year. It’s not fair to you three either.”

Ed rests a reassuring hand on his shoulder. “Tye, " last school year " was only a couple of months ago and seeing him here again after so long is just reminding you of everything, every day. We knew it wasn’t gonna be easy on you. You’ve got nothing to be sorry for bro.”

Asami backs him up. “Listen to the golden one over here-” Ed protests with a hey, “whether he likes it or not, he takes after his dad.” 

Virgil groans in complaint. “Clearly not in the height department! Did you have to have your growth spurt this summer? What happened to the little guy from Taos! I miss my arm rest.”

Asami grins as she leans back. “That’s the nice thing about being the new kids on the block. You can be whoever you want to be in a new state, new school, with new people.” She smiles warmly at Tye, reaching out to gently hold his hand. “Old people meeting new people. It’s all about new beginnings.” 

“You calling me old?” He jokes, smiling for what seems like the first time today. 

She innocently fixes her own green bandana. “Me? No, I would never.”

Virgil fake gags at them. “Eurgh! Eduardo, take me back to Taos, they’re making me sick!” 

The younger boy crosses his arms, unimpressed. “That’s rich coming from Mr. forced me to watch the Notebook five times in a row.”

“Hey, we promised the kids at the centre movie night every day that week! Wasn’t my fault it was by some force of nature the only one we had.” 

Ed peels the foil off of his yogurt as he retorts. “Luckily with the funding of the new El Paso centre, we can now afford like 50 movies that aren’t the Notebook. You'd think it was the only reason I chose to move here.”

Asami rests her case. “See Tye, dumb and dumber. You’ve got some good friends this year, watching your back. There’s nothing to worry about.” 

The roars of laughter coming from the corner of the food-hall don’t bother him as much as he thought they would. Maybe she’s right. 

He might’ve lost his childhood best friend this summer, but he’s got three new friends that have been through thick and thin with him throughout just the few months of knowing them. Whilst Tye has always taken these type of sentiments from his grandad with a pinch of salt, he has a good feeling that they won’t be going anywhere. And right now, that’s all he really needs. 

ii.

Two days have passed. Same spot, same time, different food. 

How’s it possible to go wrong with mashed potato?

“Please Ed! You’re my only hope!” 

This time, Virgil is late to join them. Confused, the 17 year old asks. “Uh, what did I miss?” 

“Sam is trying to convince Ed to join her Spanish class.” Tye answers as he watches his mash goop down from his spoon. 

Virgil huffs a snort as he places his tray down. “For real?”

Asami looks to him very seriously. “Yes, Virg. For real. Look, it’s way harder here than in Houston, the whole class is practically fluent. I need the moral support.” 

Ed raises his brow at her. “You just said a minute ago it was because you wanted to copy off of me.” 

Tye chimes in. “Eduardo my young Jedi, that is moral support.”

“Thank you!” Asami agrees with a mouthful of potato. They all frown in disgust. How’s she actually eating this? 

“Well too bad.” The Argentinian practically gloats. He’s given up on the mash and moved on to the pudding cup. “They told us at the beginning of this term that we could only transfer to different classes within the first two weeks. Newsflash, we’re on week tres. That’s Spanish for three by the way.” 

Asami mockingly mumbles back his sarcasm, clearly not appreciative of it. 

Previously distracted by the potato goo, prodding at it, Virgil is reminded of something. “Wait, that’s what I thought too!” 

The three look at him with confusion. “And?” Ed says.

“I mean- yeah, that’s what I thought. But then today we got a new transfer in both my AP Calculus and Physics classes!” 

Surprise paints Asami’s face. “AP?”

“I know right? It was strange y’all.” Virgil confirms. 

Ed asks. “Who was it? Anyone we know?” 

Virgil blanches in realisation. “Oh, uh, well- I mean, I guess? Technically? Like it really depends on the meaning of-”

Ed rolls his eyes with a groan. “Out with it boludo.”

“Uh. You know, that Bart Allen kid.” 

“What?!” 

Ed continues, pudding long forgotten. “How? Isn’t he a sophomore?”

“Look guys, I’m just as confused as you are but he suddenly showed up out of nowhere and the teacher didn’t say a word!” 

“Typical.” Tye laughs dryly. “Can’t say I’m surprised.” He shoves a spoonful of potato in his mouth. Ew, what was he thinking. 

Virgil raises a brow at that. “What do you mean?” 

Tye was never really one for gossip, but it’s been a strange couple of months. Up is down and right is left, nothing makes sense any more. Anyway, it’s not really gossip if it’s just a fact. 

But before he says anything, he decides to teach by demonstration. Looking over to the table at the corner of the cafeteria that’s currently the bane of his existence, he says. “Check it out.”

Cassie Sandsmark, Bart Allen and Jaime Reyes. All three are currently laughing their heads off as Tim Drake rushes to stand, trying to shake his head dry. He’s dripping in water for some reason. The blonde girl seems to have some mercy on her boyfriend as she urges him to sit back down, giving him her jacket to dry his hair with?

He glances over to Jaime.

He never thought he’d ever look at Jaime roaring with laughter with so much... hate. If anyone had told him this at the beginning of the year, Tye would’ve confidently laughed in their face and said that’s impossible. They’re practically blood brothers. Family. 

At least they were. 

Whatever.  

A red headed guy is seen walking up to the group. He practically yanks Bart from his seat into a side hug, ruffling his hair like crazy. The younger boy looks up at him like he hung the moon. The two cheekily high five. 

“Wally West? The track-star senior?” 

“Exactly.” Tye practically grits through his teeth. “And son of Vice Principal West.” 

“Okay, so they’re close?” Virgil adds.

Tye dishes, he wouldn’t have been caught dead doing this shit months ago, but this has become personal. “Not just close, try related. Even before that Allen kid came along, whenever anyone from this school is in trouble for whatever reason, the go to hotline isn’t 911, it was- is the Allens. Apparently some relative works for the police or some shit. I don’t fucking know.”

Virgil is very much invested. “Damn, so Allen’s practically a nepo-narc? White poeple sure are coming up with new breeds of privilege everyday.”

The long haired boy couldn’t agree more. “Tell me about it. And the worst part is, they’re not even hiding it. The only reason I know they’re related is ’cause West keeps going on about being a proud cousin, like, what kind of world are these crackers even living in?”  

Ed adds sarcastically. “Well, Jaime sure seems to have made his priorities clear.”

Hearing it out loud is quite different to simply thinking it. Even with everything that’s happened, a part of Tye had naively hoped that this was all just a really bad joke. 

“Dude!” Virgil whispers with a harsh shove to the younger boy. “Foot in mouth disease much?”

Tye answers for him, tone light despite the bitter message. “No, Ed’s right. Reyes has made his priorities more than clear by now and apparently ditching extra baggage and replacing it with white people of the year, was first on his list.”  

“Tye-”

“And that’s okay! The garbage practically took itself out, he did me a favor.” And with that, Tye leaves.

Who was he kidding, he was never planning on eating that junk on his tray in the first place. 

iii.

It’s the end of the school week, which means the Juniors were just finishing up with PE. The girls and boys are in their respective locker rooms. Virgil and Ed are discussing weekend plans, whilst Tye simply listens in from the background. Seems like it’s a tie between the skate park and the arcade. Even though his work at the El Paso youth centre this summer was considered volunteering, Ed’s and Virgil’s dads liked to make sure he had some extra pocket money lined up, to show how much they appreciated his efforts. Little did they know, he had nothing better to do, but it’s not like he was complaining. The cash didn’t hurt and he’s still got some left over. His vote goes to the arcade.

“What the fuck Reyes! Ese, since when did get that big ass tattoo?” Someone practically yells from the opposite end of the room. 

Tattoo?

The shy Jaime Tye grew up with, who was just the slightest bit dorky with a hint of awkward, would’ve rushed to hide this supposed tattoo. Making up some excuse to downplay it. 

But the shy nerd Tye thought he knew all too well, wouldn’t have gotten an illegal tattoo at 17. And he sure as fuck wouldn’t have ghosted him all summer when Tye needed him the most. When he was seconds away from running away, for real this time.  

Fucking asshole.

Yet despite the rooted resentment that had festered within him against his former friend over the past few months, curiosity is a bitch and Tye can’t help but look at what everyone’s gawking at. Even Virgil and Ed can’t help but stare either. 

“Oh this thing?” Jaime casually points to his back with his thumb as he turns to give everyone a better glimpse, before he chuckles heartily. “Got it this summer. Trust me though hermano, you don’t want to know how I got it.” 

Some other classmate butts in. “What the hell Reyes, saying that makes us want to know a million times more! Out with it! What the fuck is it and whilst we’re at it, since when did you get so buff, are you like doping or some shit?” 

Jaime genuinely laughs like they’re sharing jokes. As if he weren’t the centre of attention, the eye of the storm, something that his former friend would’ve stuttered his way out of just a summer ago. 

“Nah man, just been working out a lot to keep my head clear. And the tattoo- well, it’s a bit embarrassing to say out lout but uh, it’s a blue sca- uh, beetle. I just-” the nervous, unsure Jaime that gets successfully bullied by his kid sister made an appearance for a brief second, before being swiftly replaced by this stranger, with a smile of peaceful confidence. “-really like it, is all. Thought it was crash, so I was like, why not.” He finishes with a nonchalant shrug. 

“Crash?” Virgil mumbles to them with questioning eyes.

It’s not like Tye has any idea. He doesn’t even know who the fuck this guy, with a blue pest plastered across his back is. He simply responds with a “Fuck if I know. Anyway, I’m heading home. See you guys at the arcade tomorrow?” 

Ed groans in complaint. Virgil celebrates with a wide smile. “Arcade it is, 2pm. Don’t be late hermano.” 

Tye confirms with a nod and a smile of his own. “2pm. Catch you losers tomorrow.”

“And bring your girlfriend with you! Don’t forget to tell her!” Ed yells in reminder.

As he leaves, he misses Jaime throwing a glance at him. Face unreadable.

Chapter Text

i.

It’s Saturday morning at the Longshadows and Tye had just returned from paying his granddad a visit. He loves the old man, don’t get him wrong, but the endless metaphors he speaks in could drive anyone crazy. He’s convinced that Tye is finally finding his path, whatever that means. 

Sure, since Maurice had been arrested and his mom finally kicked him out of the house, he’s been able to relax and enjoy himself with his granddad a bit more. Especially with all the time he suddenly had available since his best friend, no, Reyes, decided to go AWOL throughout the summer break. 

So if that meant that he was getting more in touch with his heritage as a result, well, at least his grandpa is on to something. 

“Ma, I’m back!” He yells from the entrance. 

“Tye! Oh good, that means I can kiss you goodbye.” Shelly rushes to him, dressed in her work uniform. Slipping on her shoes, she swiftly kisses the top of his head. “How’s grandpa?” 

“Eh, the usual. Drinking his water and watching the world go by. Said something about finding my way. And that you have found yours already and that he’s proud.” 

“Oh? Well, can’t complain about that.” Shelly beams. “Holling never says that to just anyone you know.” 

“Yeah, yeah.” Tye lightly waves away. Taking off his shoes, he shares with her a small smile. “I’m proud of you too ma. Hope you have a good day at work today.”

The boy yelps, stumbling, as Shelly pulls her son into a tight hug. She murmurs into his head. “I love you Tye, never forget that.”

Free from her embrace, he stumbles again as he continues to try to slip his shoes off. Blood rushes to his cheeks. “Yeah, yeah. I’m hitting the arcade with the others later. Want me to bring anything back for dinner?” 

Grabbing the door open, she replies. “Maybe some pizza? We could watch a movie tonight if I’m not too tired.”

Tye tries to tone down his excitement. “Okay, sure. Be safe ma!”

“Say hi to the boys and Asami from me!” And with that, she’s left the house. 

He goes to grab some cereal. Munching on the flakes and the sweetened milk, Tye basks in the peace and calm of his house. 

His home. 

A place, where he can finally breathe freely without fear. Without the burdening weight, pulling on his shoulders, of what it means to live with someone so foul, so toxic, dragging him down. 

He’s always hated his ma’s ex. Ever since Maurice had moved in with them, the past two years have been a living hell for him. The constant tension, threatening to snap like a an elastic-band at any second, daring to snap right in his face with a slap or a taunt. 

Maurice was scum. He ruined his life, his ma’s life, for so long. Tye never thought he’d see the day that this place could be considered safe again. 

Jaime would’ve celebrated with him, would’ve congratulated Shelly on finally leaving that vermin’s ass to rot. Jaime’s mom would’ve supported her decision to steer clear of men for now, to focus on herself and her career. On Tye. On what’s important. 

But Jaime’s gone, he’s not by his side anymore. No longer his brother. He’s been replaced by some poser who gets tattoos and hangs out with trust fund kids. Why stop at illegal tattoos, he can go do drugs for all Tye cares, he’s got his little narc friend to bail him out now. 

As furious as Tye might be, the reason it hurts so bad is that ultimately, he just feels plain sad. Betrayed, by the one person he considered a constant throughout his life. A safe place, back when his own home wasn’t one. He’d regularly considered running away, just for Jaime to offer his own home to seek refuge in. The Reyeses were a second family to him for so long. 

And now all that, gone, like a ghost from an other life. 

At least he can freely mope about it on his couch now without fearing for his peace of mind.

ii.

It’s Saturday at the Reyes’ household and it’s bustling with life. Alberto is doing the laundry, Bianca is preparing for tonight’s dinner, Milagro is jumping from sofa to sofa, filming a TikTok. Jaime flops on to the couch with a yawn, sleep still in his eyes as he scratches his stomach. 

“Cabrón! Get out of my way!” Milagro screeches as she kicks his butt. “You’re ruining everything!” 

“Mamá!” The older brother complains drowsily, “Did you hear that?” 

“Qué? Jaime, I can’t hear you!” His mom yells through the noise of the blender. “Come to the kitchen!” 

“Heh.” His 12 year old sister grins broadly, eyes painted with mischief. 

That is the portrait of pure evil, Jaime can’t help but think. “Tch, fine. I’m coming, I’m coming.” He stands to leave, but not before quickly grabbing his sister by her legs and dangling her upside down. 

She squeals with laughter as she shouts at the same time, not putting any effort to escape. “Let go of me! No! Swing me!” 

Gently swinging her by her legs like a rocking boat, he puts on a voice. “We got her captain. Should we feed her to the sharks?” 

“Never!” Milagro proclaims with the utmost determination a 12 year old could muster, which is to say, a lot. “Unhand me stinky butt!” 

Jaime carefully settles her back on the couch before quickly throwing a pillow at her. “Until next time, monkey.” 

“Booooo, come back coward!” She complains as he makes his way to the kitchen, throwing the pillow back at him. 

“Buenos días mamá.” He greets as he pulls the fridge open, taking out the juice and bread. 

“Hm.” His mom greets back, focused on her mixing bowl. “Did you greet your father?”

“Not yet.” He responds with an other yawn, eyes dampening. “I will later.” 

“How’d you sleep mijo?” 

“Good. Too good.” He answers as he waits for his bread to toast. “I think that stuff really knocks me out at night.” 

“Better that than the other side-effects my love. Besides, you always wake up late anyway.” 

He snorts as he stands beside her. “True. Need any help?” 

“No. Eat your breakfast. You and your sister didn’t mess up the living room, did you?” 

“Uhhhh, no?”

She just gives him a look. Seeing his guilty smile, she can’t help it as endearment floods her face. “Just tidy up before you leave.”

“Yes ma’am. I’ll be back before dinner.”

“Good. Remember to take ur meds after you eat, ok?” 

“Mamá, I know you love your job but you don’t need to nurse me. I know what to do.” He tries to reassure. 

“I know Jaime. But your well-being is my top priority. Remember, your family is always there for you, no matter what.” She says sternly through her glasses, holding his eyes. Jaime doesn’t miss the split second her lips tremble as she frowns. “Don’t ever think you’re alone in this. Never again. You understand?”

The crumb of guilt that eats at him is drowned out by the overwhelming comfort and warmth he feels at the reminder. His family is there for him, he knows that now. 

They love him, always will. No matter what.

No matter what.

That is a flawed statement.

He breathes in deeply, face briefly slipping into a moment of self-doubt, eyes still fixed to those of his mom’s.

No, it’s not. 

“Yeah, I know.” He reaffirms with a warm smile and before he can help himself, he squeezes his mom into a warm hug.

“Ay, cuidado Jaime, my hands are covered in meat.” 

“Sorry, sorry.” He jokes as he lets go, taking his food to the table. “Want me to buy anything for home?”

Milagro rushes to join him at the dining table, hurriedly answering. “Yes, milkshake! Don’t forget butthead.” 

“Okay, zero milkshakes for Milagro.” 

“Hey!”

“No milkshakes Mimi.” Bianca firmly interjects. 

“No! That’s so moded, Jaime is leaving for milkshakes with Bart and I can’t have any! That’s sexist!” She bellows.

“It’s not just milkshakes, we’re going to be doing homework together dumb-butt. And clearly, you should be doing yours too if that’s what you think sexism is.” 

“Why can’t you losers do it here? Why do you need to go?” She says, solemnly. 

“I’ll only be out for a couple of hours Mimi, what, you’re going to miss me?” He teases.

“No! I just want my milkshake.” She huffs stubbornly with crossed arms. 

“Okay, okay. So? Are you gonna show me the video you were making?” He asks with a knowing smile. 

Milagro’s eyes glimmer with joy.

iii.

“That… was brutal.” Tye grumbles as he steps foot into the diner, hand in hand with Asami, Virgil and Ed following behind them. 

“I told you that we should’ve headed to the skate park instead, those brats are driven by some force of evil.” Ed reminds them, hands in his pockets. 

“Well, we live and we learn. No Arcade after 2pm on a weekend.” Virgil similarly groans before he nods to a free booth. “Guys, other there.”

As the four settle down, Sam squeezes Tye’s hand. “It’s on me today, foster fam gave me some extra pocket money for the week.” 

“I guess today isn’t all too bad.” Tye smiles sweetly at her. 

“Hey, what about us Sam. Come on, have some sympathy.” Virgil exaggerates as he points between him and Ed. “We come as a package deal with Tye.”

She smiles at him cheekily. “Afraid it’s a boyfr- oh oh.” She says, unease taking over. 

“What’s wrong?” Virgil asks, turning to where she’s looking behind him, before Tye could. “Oooh.” He winces as he quickly looks back to his friends. 

Tye simply raises a questioning brow. 

Ed’s blunt about it. “And you guys talk about me. I saw them the minute we first got here but didn’t say a word, I think you two could learn a couple of things from me.”

The Mescalero boy finally connects the dots as he sees them. “Just my fucking luck.”

Virgil tries. “I guess you two used to come here often?” 

“Yes.” Tye grits. “Should’ve known he’d be here at some point. Ugh. Whatever, I don’t-”

Interrupted by the clinks of water filled glasses being placed in front of them, a perky blonde waiter smiles with his bleached pearly whites. “Can I take your orders?” 

Three booths away from them, a 15 year old white boy with auburn hair is gnawing away on his strawberry milkshake straw, as he attempts to finish his English assignment. 

Key word, attempts. 

Dramatically throwing his hands in the air he slaps himself in the face, before dragging it down. “Blue… please kill me, like, seriously dude.” He mumbles through his hands. 

“Don’t even joke about that hermano.” The 17 year old sat across from him, focused on his chemistry homework, responds absent-mindedly. 

Essay long forgotten, Bart pushes it aside as he gets a start on his second plate of burger and fries. “Nah man, I’m so serious. Those assholes who murdered my parents should’ve had the courtesy of killing me too whilst they’re at it. Imagine being a criminal with no manners? What is wrong with this world, honestly.” 

Jaime joins him in the surrender as he decides to focus on his slice of apple pie. Bart has long eaten his own ages ago i.e when it first arrived. “ “What is wrong with this world” you say, more like what is wrong with you. This is why you’ve been taking up half of my therapy sessions dude, Jesus.”

The younger boy dramatically wails. “Oh, he said the Lord’s name in vain, what will your mother ever do with you!” 

Jaime pauses mid-bite. “Man, you’ve never even been to church. You told me that yourself.” 

Bart clicks his tongue as he shoots Jaime a wink with finger guns. “Amen to that brother.” 

The older boy can’t help but lose it at that, snorting as he tries to stifle his laugh, shaking his head. Bart grins in response as he leans back into the comfort of the booth seat, taking his milkshake with him. Stretching out his legs, he continues to trap Jaime’s.

As he slurps up his drink, he asks. “Talking about therapy, you excited for tomorrow’s session?”  

“Yes Bart, digging up all my issues and being judged to see if I’m fit for society or not is a real highlight of my week.”

“Now, now, tone done the excitement there.” 

Jaime kicks him in response. 

“Wow, increase in violent tendencies. Suspicious.” Bart says distastefully, squinting his eyes at his friend, whispering out the last word.

Jaime looks to the side and a couple seconds pass before he says “Yeah, we won’t be doing that.”

“Okay, okay, I get it, you don’t need to share everything with her.” Bart waves him off. 

Jaime just sighs at his usual antics. Folding his arms to his chest, the older boy leans forward as he chews the inside of his mouth pensively for a bit. Mustering up the courage, he says. “Listen, tomorrow I need to update Dinah on whether or not I’m bringing anyone with me to the support group meeting next Wednesday. It’s after school, at 7.” 

Bart mirrors his posture, leaning forward too, attentively listening. He nods to spur his friend on. 

“I know, I should be bringing my mom or dad but- like, don’t get me wrong, things have been going good with them, great even, it’s just- I’ve never been that honest with them about it before. And I- I don’t think I’m ready for that, just yet. That level of openness where I’m not like, having a meltdown or something, you know?” He asks with a nervous laugh, humor not quite reaching his eyes. 

He’s faced with a reassuringly sweet smile of understanding. “I gotcha Blue, you don’t gotta worry. Look, it hasn’t even been two months. You don’t have to rush into everything in the name of progress.” 

Jaime grins. “This coming from you?”

Bart pouts. ”Shut up.” He kicks him back softly. “Anyway, count me in. I’ll be there hermano. Dressed to the nines!” 

The older boy laughs genuinely this time. “It’s not a party dumbass, you’re gonna be the only one there in a tux.” 

The younger boy looks at him in horror. “Wait, so you’re saying there won’t be any snacks?”

Three booths back, the four have just finished sharing their order. Ed’s eyes follow the retreating form of the waiter. 

Fingers keep clicking in his face. “Hey, earth to Eduardo Dorado Jr, earth to Eduardo Dorado Jr, I repeat-”

“Tch.” The Argentinian clicks, shoving Virgil’s hand away from his face. “What’s your problem boludo?” 

“My problem?” The older boy barks a laugh. “My problem is that I won’t let you go after some white-ass rando.” 

Asami butts in. “Even if it’s the love of his life?” 

“Especially if it’s the love of his life. Like son, have some standards.” Virgil preaches. 

The younger boy crosses his arms. “That’s rich coming from you. Your best friend is literally a white boy!” 

“There’s an exception to every rule lover boy. Richie’s different.”

“So you’d let him date Richie then?” Tye asks, lowkey invested in the discourse. 

“Oh nah, don’t even speak that into existence. This bad boy over here?” He says, pointing to Ed who’s sat beside him. “Not even a chance.”

Tye huffs a laugh, incredulous. “Bad boy? Our Eduardo?” 

“Have you seen his jeans? Rips and tears everywhere, like what’s up with that?” 

Losing themselves into the conversation, it reaches a lull as their drinks arrive. 

Basking among the comfortable presence of his friends, he remembers Sam’s words from the other day. 

What are friends there for, if not to share personal thoughts. He finally opens up about the tiny thorn that has been growingly stabbing at his back. 

“I just can’t believe that the same random kid Reyes ditched me for during summer, turned out to be some annoying sophomore prep. Sure, his parents have always been on him about his grades and I know he cares too, but how does that even happen?” 

“It is strange that he’s also a new kid like us. Usually when people ditch friends it’s for established cliques and all.” Virgil adds. 

Asami points out. “Well we did say that he’s some type of nepo-narc hybrid. That kinda full-fills that criteria.”

Virgil nods in agreement.

Ed sighs. “Listen, guys. I of all people don’t want to be that person, but…” He trails off. 

Tye nods at him to continue. “But?”

The other two also look at him curiously.

“Did you ever consider the fact that they could be, I don’t know…” He raises his brows in subtext. 

Virgil copies the motion. “Wha- what’s that?” He does it again. 

The Argentinian groans. Seriously?

“You know…” He looks intently between the three, hoping they’ve reached that stage in their friendship, capable of reading each other’s thoughts. 

Their lost expressions pretty much guarantees that they still have a long way to go.

“Ugh.” He rolls his eyes dramatically. “That they’re together, you know, dating or some shit.”

Tye’s eyes almost bulge out of his head whilst Asami nods as hypothetical dots start connecting. Virgil just thinks to himself for a bit before facing his friend. 

“You really think so?” 

“Well-”

Tye still looks like he’s processing everything. “That’s literally impossible. Jaime’s not gay, he would’ve told me.”

Ed raises a brow at that. “He doesn’t need to be gay to be into guys. He could be bi.” 

“Even then, he would’ve said something at some point. We’re 17, it would’ve come up by now. Isn’t that something you know your whole life?”

The younger boy folds his arms. “Not really. Some don’t realise it until way later. I’ve heard about people figuring it out in their 20s, late 30s even. Just because guys like me realise when they’re younger doesn’t mean it applies to everyone.”

“No but you don’t get it. Sure we didn’t share everything but we had an understanding and-” 

What is he saying. If Tye has learnt anything recently, it’s that Jaime wasn’t who he thought he was.

“Okay, whatever. I won’t rule it out on his end. But Allen? The guy is a walking copy and paste of his poser cousin and if he’s anything like him, then he makes a living out of harassing girls.” 

Eduardo looks at him unimpressed. “Being gay isn’t genetic Longshadow.”

“Hey actually I’ve got a theory-“ Virgil starts before Ed cuts him off. 

“Look, all I’m saying is when we walked in, I saw them playing footsie and sharing food.” He raises his hands in surrender.

Asami holds her chin as she thinks. “I’m with Dorado on this one. I get what he’s saying.” 

Tye just grabs his lemonade and before he gives himself the excuse of being too busy drinking to say anything else, he relents. “Okay fine, I get it, whatever.” He slurps from his straw with a disgruntled crease in his brow and a pout.

Throughout the months of being ghosted, it’s not like it never crossed his mind that maybe- that maybe he was the one responsible for the discord. That he did something so wrong, so upsetting, that Jaime decided to simply cut ties with him. That he had hurt his friend in some way or worse- he just wasn’t there for Jaime the same way Jaime is- was, has always been there for him. 

But Tye tried. He really did. It took a month of simmering anger and incredibly low moments, but throughout the couple weeks of August, when Jaime resurfaced and decided to show his face around town again, Tye had attempted to approach him. To talk, of all things. To do the very thing that Jaime always insisted they do, every time Tye was in a bind.

But then Jaime had intentionally avoided him. Spotted him from the corner of his eyes before blatantly walking right past him, without so much as sparing him a second look back. 

Tye received the message, loud and clear. But this was a ten plus years friendship on the line. He wasn’t about to throw it away without a fight. So he tried and tried, even managed to grab a physical hold of his friend. 

-just for Jaime to quite literally push him away, looking at him with? Tye just couldn’t figure it out. Was it anger? Fear? No, Tye knows fear. He knows anger. But he just couldn’t for the life of him figure out what it was, that his friend was so consumed and plagued by in that moment. 

But being burnt so many times, well Tye has his limits. He might as well fuck off, like Jaime so clearly wanted him to. 

But there are nights where he still thinks and wonders and turns and tosses. Restless nights where he just can’t place, where did it all go so wrong. 

And where does he always end up? Back at square one. 

They were childhood friends. Best friends. Childhood best friends. They grew up together, shared moments of broken bones, embarrassing stories, first crushes, sixth crushes, aspirations, fears, hopes and dreams. Sure, they didn’t share every single detail of their life with one another, they were guys after all. But enough that they’d consider each other to be brothers. In every sense of the word. 

Tye had always felt that even when they disagreed with each other on things, which was practically all the time, they still had a mutual understanding and more importantly, always had each other’s backs. 

He was so sure that he would know whether Jaime were gay- bi or not. So quick to assume out of habit- as if the past months weren’t a testament to the fact, that Jaime has practically become a stranger to him. 

But maybe everything started before the fall out. It’s not like Jaime knew about all the moments Tye had embarrassingly cried himself to sleep because of Maurice’s tyranny. About how even though he knows his mother loves him, it always felt like another layer of hurt when it seemed like she would just let everything happen. The sense of betrayal, that would surface every now and then, whenever he would so much as think about how his mom had let such a monster into their house in the first place. The jealousy he would feel at Jaime’s every mention of his stable little family. 

There are just some things you can’t share with someone, no matter how close you are. 

So what could Jaime have possibly been hiding from him all this time? What was Jaime’s version of crying himself to sleep at night, of hidden sense of betrayal, of unsaid jealousy? What was it? 

Tye risks a look.

The Allen kid is gesticulating dramatically, clearly engrossed in whatever tale he’s telling as Jaime concentrates on his work. At first glance, it would seem like the older boy is practically ignoring him, eyes glued to the school books, but the constant grin with the occasional snicker betrays him. 

He looks unburdened. Carefree. Not like someone who’s mourning the loss of a friendship. Not like Tye.

Chapter Text

i.

It’s Monday, lunchtime, and Tye isn’t found at the cafeteria for a change. Don’t get him wrong, as much as he begrudgingly loves his friends, he’s not mad at the peaceful lull of the hallway outside of the vice-principle’s office. He’s sat there patiently, waiting for Megan to finish up her meeting before she takes him to her office.  

As Maurice used to work at the school as a caretaker, ever since it was revealed that he got arrested for pirating DVDs, the school has for some reason made Tye its business, mandating him with bi-weekly check in sessions with the school’s social worker. 

Noticing the orange bandana that’s usually wrapped around his ankle loosening, he bends down to retie it. 

“-it’s simply unrealistic to expect problem free behaviour, especially for the beginning of the school year!” Megan’s raised voice seeps through the door, calm but stern. 

The Vice-Principle responds, muffled by the door. “And I “simply” don’t care Ms. Morse. Frankly, that child belongs in a reform school! I won’t repeat myself again after this, you report everything to me immediately. One wrong move and he’s out of here.” 

“Vice principle West, might I remind you that reform schools no longer exist-”

“Fine! Detention centre! Juvie! I don’t care. That kid needs to be locked up. Not free to wonder around my halls.” 

“Furthermore,” irritated, Megan practices restraint as she continues her train of thought. “-you were the one who allowed his placement tests to be used for consideration.”

“That was out of obligation to the Allens. His poor attendance from the past two years should’ve annulled any chances of admission in the first place. I don’t know how the Principle could even allow someone like him to be here.” 

Allens? This is about Bart? What the hell-

“With all due respect sir, students deserve to be given second chances in order to prove themselves and reach their full potential.” 

“Yeah I’ve just about heard enough of that.” 

“I will see myself out.” Megan says coldly before leaving. 

Upon opening the door, Megan looks surprised to see him close by. “Tye! You’re early.” 

He shrugs as he stands to walk beside her on their way to her office. “It’s not like I’m missing much. Pretty sure today’s meatloaf day.” He shares with a shudder.

“Yikes.” She winces. As a former student herself at the school, she can easily sympathise with him. Unlocking her room, she gestures to his seat as she sits across from him. “Well good thing I’ve made extras. Feel free to enjoy some of my home-made pizza with me. I understand it’s not fair for you to miss lunch with your friends for this, so I hope I can soften the blow.” She offers, unwrapping a plate. 

Tye can’t lie, the free, actually edible food is part of the reason these sessions don’t go too badly. The last session involved brownies. “Thanks.” He mumbles, grabbing a slice and a paper plate. 

As the two quickly eat in the backdrop of small talk and academic updates from Tye’s end, the boy recognises an opportunity. Chewing up his last bite, he cleans up the grease of his hands with a paper towel. 

“So… Allen’s a case of yours?” 

Megan tries to hide her tired smile. “Guess that door really isn’t as sound proof as everyone pretends it is.” 

Tye doesn’t respond, he wants a proper answer. 

She sighs. “I’m sorry Tye, I’m not at liberty to share student’s private details with others.”

“Even though it affects me?” He blurts.

His desperation doesn’t go unnoticed as Megan raises her brow. “How does it possibly affect you?” 

Tye groans at being called out. He’s got to pull himself together. “I’m just saying, he’s in some classes with my friends.”

Clearly, Tye has learnt the technique of the pressure behind silence from somewhere, as she wordlessly looks at him to continue. 

His heart races slightly.

He stutters. “I keep seeing him everywhere and well- it’s just strange how he appeared out of nowhere and suddenly acts like he’s been here all along.” The boy tightly folds his arms close to his chest.

Megan very clearly puts on her counsellor voice as she folds a leg over the other. “There are many new students this year, why does he stand out to you? Shouldn’t he be integrating in his new environment?” 

“That’s not what I’m saying.”

“So what are you saying Tye? What are you trying to ask?” She asks, leaning comfortably back into her chair as she looks to him, knowingly.

“I don’t know.” He confesses.

She passes him a gentle look. “Listen kid, I walk the halls daily. I hear chatter among staff. It’s important that I have a good social profile of my students for your own benefit.” 

Tye fumbles around with his dog tags hanging from his neck, a nervous habit. 

She continues. “Am I correct in assuming that you and Jaime Reyes are childhood friends?”

Tye widens his eyes, unsure of himself, before swiftly looking away. “… Yes.”

Recognising the tension he’s hunched over with, she continues. “Listen Tye, remember. I’m only here for your benefit. If you feel burdened by any thoughts that you’re struggling with, this is the right place to completely let loose. It’s within your own right.” 

He nods slowly, pace picking up as he realises she’s right. He started off the school year thinking he was past and beyond all that. That he had already spent the summer processing all his anger and well, grief, at the loss of his friendship. But if the recent weeks have taught him anything, it’s that he’s clearly got some more work to do. 

“It just doesn’t make any sense Ms. Morse. Before Maurice finally disappeared from our life for good, there was this one day, this one day where…” He trails off.

“Where?” She urges him on. 

“That one day, Maurice didn’t come back for the night.”

“Was that unusual?” 

“Not really. Sometimes he used to stay out late doing whatever.”

“So why does that day stick out to you so much?”

A couple of minutes of silence follow before Tye can properly collect his thoughts.

“Because now, whenever I think back to it, it feels like it was both the beginning and end of everything.”

ii.

It was a Thursday. The day after the last day of school. 

The first day of summer break.

It was naïve of Tye at the time, but he thought for some reason that maybe, he could relax that day, sleep in.

Maurice was having a bad morning, as he usually did too often. 

Tye called Jaime at 1 in the afternoon. 

A groggily grumpy voice picks up. “Tye… It’s too early, what?”

Kicking at the gravel, Tye tries to keep his voice steady, anger bleeding through regardless. “I’ve had enough Jaime, I’m done letting Maurice push me around. I’m taking the next bus to Houston and nothing can stop me this time. I’m at the depot now.”

That wakes the boy up. “Woah woah woah, slow down hermano-”

“No. Not this time. I just called to say goodbye.” 

The latino doesn’t let him have the last say. “No, no. Tye, listen.” There’s a rushed stumbling noise in the background. “Ow, shit- I’m on my way okay? I’ll meet you by the statue of Cochise, we’ll talk. Just promise me you’ll wait ’till I get there.”

The Mescalero boy hangs up with a “No promises.” Swiftly shoving his phone back into his pocket. 

He’s all talk though, face scrunching with conflict before he sighs in resignation. Who’s he kidding, he’s already heading straight for the bench by the statue. 

Keeping his skateboard and helmet close to him, Tye fishes some plasters out of his pocket. Spitting on his hand, he tries to wipe the blood away from his face, before sticking the bandaid across his cheek. 

It wasn’t the first time this had happened. He knows by now it would take Jaime at least half an hour to get here. The next bus leaves in 20 minutes, but-

He wants to see his brother in person. At least, just one more time.

Elbows to his knees, he holds his face in his hands as he breathes out deeply. 

Why is his life so miserable.

Time passes, before a nasally timid voice cuts through his thoughts. “Hey kid, are you alright over there?”

He’s greeted by a bald man standing by the bench across from him, looking at him with blatant worry.

Tye looks away stubbornly, if he ignores him maybe he’ll just go away. 

Clearly the 20 something year old is just as stubborn as he decides to join him by the benches, sitting opposite him.

“Pretty nasty bruise you got there. You need any help?” 

Tye defensively grabs his board. “No. It’s none of your business.” 

The weirdo seems to have all the time in the world as he just sits there with a small smile of sympathy. 

What the hell would this guy know about anything.

Almost as if his thoughts were read, the guy responds. “You know, there’s a new youth centre preparing to open up just down the road from here.” 

“And what’s that got to do with me?” 

“Nothing. Just thought you might be interested.” The bald white man says vaguely before eyeing his board. “You skate?” 

Tye rolls his eyes, why won’t this guy quit it. “No genius, I just carry it around for decoration.” 

The older guy chuckles. “The kids down at the centre, about your age, also skate. They’re new to the area and have been looking for some good spots. You got any recommendations?” 

Tye just wants this guy to go away. Jaime should be getting here any moment now. 

“No.”

 The guy sighs with a resigned smile. Decidedly standing up, he says. “I’ve got to go talk with some of the staff here.” 

The younger boy doesn’t even try to respond to that. 

Minutes pass, the depot is finally quiet again. Sure he can hear the background talk of the bald man with the bus-staff over by the depot, but it’s still peaceful. 

He looks up to the statue. The strong and steady stare Cochise has been crafted with is familiar. He feels safe in this open space, with the kind, fresh air and lack of Maurice. 

But where the hell is Jaime? It’s long past half an hour, he should’ve been here by now.

Tye takes out his phone. No messages. 

He redials his friend. Ring after ring, but no answer. 

Where r u?  He texts.

Jaime has been increasingly late to things recently, Tye notes. He gets it, life can get in your way sometimes, he’s hardly on time for most things either. But his friend always makes an effort to be on time for important things, like this and is always there without fail.  

Footsteps break him out of his wallowing. 

It’s the bald guy again. 

He sits back on the bench. “I’m part of that Youth Centre I told you about. Worked there for a couple years over in Taos. Now we’re here with more funding and better facilities.” 

Tye just doesn’t care, refuses to meet his eyes. 

The guy continues, undeterred. “With no official police report, depot stations aren’t obliged to report suspected runaways. But the guys here seem friendly enough and happy to cooperate with our new program. I’ve got a good feeling about it.”

The boy just about had enough of this guy’s rambles. “Why are you telling me all this? You think I’m some kind of potential runaway or something? For your program’s little science experiment?”

The man shakes his head with a timid laugh. “Oh no, no. You misunderstand me.”

“Oh really?” He replies, unconvinced.

With raised hands in an attempt at truce, the man explains. “The facility here is in its early stages, still being put together. We could use some extra hands and I was wondering if you’d be interested in helping out? There’s free food and a recreation centre is being set up, I just think you’d get along with the other kids already volunteering there. Honest, no other intentions.” 

Tye takes a good look at the man. Hunched in on himself, in a humble way, he seems genuine. 

The second Houston bus rolls in. That means he’s been sitting here for over an hour now. He looks around, people are hurriedly boarding the vehicle.

Jaime is nowhere in sight. 

It’s daytime and the staff did seem to recognise the bald guy earlier. The chances of this guy being some crook is low. 

The bus revs its engine, Tye watches it go. 

He made a choice that day. Turns out? It was one of the best decisions he had made in a long time. Ed and Virgil were cool guys and it was a special type of feeling, being able to help out with something that he could personally see the importance of. 

In hindsight, the guy, Nathaniel as he later found out, probably knew exactly what he was going to do that day. But he also just so happened to know exactly what he needed. 

And as if the day couldn’t get any better, he returned home later that night just to find out that Maurice had been hospitalised. Why? Tye doesn't know, but he couldn’t have cared less either. 

He went to sleep that night with a content heart, peaceful, only really registering days later, that his best friend had disappeared from his life that day. Vanished, without so much as a word, nothing. 

iii.

If Megan notices his eyes getting watery, she doesn’t mention it. 

“So you and Jaime haven’t been in contact since?” 

With a cough he clears his throat. “No.” He doesn’t elaborate on his attempts on reaching out throughout the summer, he’s run out of energy for that. 

“I see.” She comments, writing some notes. “How about recently, since the start of school? 

He simply shakes his head. 

“Okay-”

The words slip out of his mouth before he can help himself. “So can you tell me what the hell has been going on with him or not.” He didn’t mean to sound that angry, but he is. He’s furious. He’s devastated and resentful, sad and enraged. His voice is raised and wet with unshed tears. 

Megan remains calm and composed, barely shaken with the turn in conversation. 

“Tye, I will be totally transparent with you. I genuinely don’t know. It’s never come up in my sessions with Bart and of course, even if it did, I wouldn’t be able to share it with you.” She leans forward, fixing him with a heavy stare. “Tell me, how do you feel right now, in this moment?” 

He laughs, void of humor. Is she serious? “What does it look like Ms. Morse? Maurice is finally out of my life, my mom is working again, I have an amazing girlfriend, new friends, great friends even. But every day, I still feel like shit and I don’t even know what I’ve done to be treated like this by the one person who was always by my side. It’s like-”

He smashes his fist down against the table beside them, rattling the pens. “Fuck.” He pants. “It’s like I’ve lost an arm or something, I don’t fucking know.” His face is contorted with fury as tears start falling off his face. He rubs his face with his arm. 

The bell rings. Lunchtime is over.

Chapter Text

i.

The days come and go. It’s Wednesday evening after school and as promised, Bart is getting ready to leave for Jaime’s group session. 

Rushing down the stairs, he jumps over the last set of steps. Landing on his feet, Joan gently raises her voice from the living room. “Bart, sweetie. Remember, slow and easy, especially down the stairs.” 

Joining her by her favorite arm chair, where she is found knitting a scarf, he smiles softly. Leaning against the armrest of the sofa beside her, he pulls at a loose thread of the furniture. “Sorry Joan, just got a bit excited.” 

Over at the kitchen, Jay can be heard cleaning the kitchen in preparation for his wife to cook. “Do you need me to drive you there kid?” 

Lightly falling back into the sofa he was leaning on, Bart rests his eyes. With a calm inhale, enjoying the peace of the Garrick household, a serene smile rests on his face. “Nah, I’m good Jay. Track was kinda boring today so I’m gonna run there.” 

From the kitchen doorway, Jay can be found drying his hands with a kind face, shaking his head. “Oh if I were only 10 years younger.”

That earns a burst of laughter from the teen. Rolling his eyes up, to look over at Jay from where he’s spread across the sofa, he teases. “What are you saying old man, we caught you on your so called light jog last weekend. Clearly being in your 70s isn’t stopping you any time soon.” 

Joan sighs dramatically as she continues to loop her threads. “No matter what I say, you can’t keep an old dog from doing his tricks.” 

“Yah hear that Jay? When will you ever give Joan some peace.” He plays. 

“You two…” The older man grumbles, before walking to the same sofa Bart is sprawled across. Sitting by the boy’s head, he playfully pinches the kid’s nose as he rattles it about. “You think it’s funny to gang up on me with Joan, do you?” 

With a nasally yell, Bart tries to free himself, pushing against the other. “Hey, let go!” 

Jay relents with a laugh as he affectionally pats Bart by the cheek. “Remember kiddo, your court hearing is tomorrow and you’ve been doing so well. You can’t afford to risk anything, so please be back before curfew, okay?” He emphasises, age showing within the deep lines Jay’s expression is framed with. 

Despite having known them throughout his life, Bart hasn’t been with the Garricks for too long. Only a couple of months so far, in fact. But his heart swells each and every time at the sincerity of Jay’s worry, at the tender tone Joan always addresses him with, at the comfort, that is his newfound refuge of their home. His eyes clearly reflect that. Softly, he responds. “Of course Jay, you don’t gotta worry over me. Once the meeting is done, I’ll zoom right back.”  

Slightly lifting himself up, Jay reaches to his back pocket to slip out his wallet. Handing over twenty dollars, he looks to Bart sternly, but not without its kindness. “This should be enough, so there’s no need for your sticky fingers, do you hear me? You’re going to be in a group setting, so you better be on your best behavior.” 

Bart rushes to sit up right, playfully saluting as he chants a “Yes sir. Yes sir. No sticky fingers!”

Jay simply rolls his eyes at that, the sides of his mouth tugging upwards no matter how hard he tries to remain stern with the kid.  

Joan snickers as she moves on to her next row of threaded loops, knitting away without end. “Are you going to invite Jaime over for dinner after? His family is always feeding you, it’s long overdue for us to return the favor.” 

“It’s up to him, I’ll let you know if he does decide to come over.” Glancing over to the clock pinned on the wall above the TV, he jumps to his feet. “As soon as the meeting finishes, I’ll be rushing back, you have my word.” 

Seeing the two look at him with unconditional trust, well, Bart is not used to it at all, even now. Feeling his heart squeeze, he swallows as he rushes to the hallway, slipping on his shoes. 

Jaime was ultimately right all along. It is nice to have a stable place that he can call home, with people, that he can comfortably refer to as family. Sure, it’s only been two months and Bart has spent the past two years closing himself off from his literal blood relatives. But maybe that’s all the more reason as to why he so easily slipped into viewing the Garrick’s as such. Ever since he lost his parents over two years back, he had almost entirely forgotten why something like family was valued so much. That spark of connection, the softness behind familial touch. Something he could never properly establish with his grandparents, particularly his grandpa, severed by their lack of understanding and trust in him. 

He can’t blame them, after all, he had been acting out for the past years and just as he had been mourning the loss of his parents, they had been mourning the loss of their son. Both sides refusing to entirely open up to the other. But Bart can’t be mad, after all, it has lead him to where he is right now, at this moment. And he wouldn’t trade it in for anything else in the world. Jaime was right about having a home and Bart would even go so far as to say, he was right about having a family. What Jaime didn’t realise at the time, was that he has also easily become a part of that picture. One, that Bart cherishes so deeply. 

Tying his shoes with his nervously racing heart, a calming hand rests on his shoulder as Jay joins him in the hallway. “I know you’re a tough one son, but please be careful out there, okay? Let us know when you’re with Jaime and when you’re on your way back.” 

The unwavering care Jay approaches him with is always so overwhelming, but Bart doesn’t mind it at all. In fact, he welcomes it. “Of course Jay.” He beams back before quickly rushing in for a tight hug. Selfishly letting it linger as he enjoys the warmth of his guardian, he eventually pushes away. “Alright, gotta run! Can’t be letting Blue down.” And with a final wave, he’s out the door, into the crispy cool air of the evening. 

ii.

It’s half past seven in the evening over at the Youth Centre and the gang are all huddled over by the bean bags of the recreation room. Eduardo flops on top of Virgil who wheezes at the sudden force. 

“This was attempted murder, what the fuck.” The older boy croaks. “You guys saw that right?”

Tye and Asami are too busy cuddled together, snickering over whatever is being shown on the Japanese girl’s phone to respond. 

With a wide grin, Ed snarks. “Wow, romance really will be the end of you Virg.” 

“Alright, that’s it.” He responds decidedly, shoving the younger boy off of him, at which the Argentinian falls with a yelp. 

“Ow! Asshole.” 

Resuming with his own previous scrolling, Virgil ignores the complaint as he asks. “So? Any news?” 

Stubbornly moving to his own beanbag, Ed huffs. “Yeah actually. We’ve got a new girl settling in today. 13. Australian.” 

That catches the others’ attention. Asami curses. “Only 13 and all the way from Australia? That’s messed up.”

The Argentinian agrees with closed eyes as he relaxes into the comfort of the beanbag. “Tell me about it. Moved all the way to be adopted, just for it to be some scam and no way of contacting her foster family back home.” 

“How did she reach us then?” Virgil asks.

The younger boy shrugs in response. “No idea, guess all the overtime the centre’s been doing is paying off at least.” 

“Hey man, it’s all about the small wins in life. Second chances and shit.” Tye muses out loud. 

Thinking back to how excited the girl, Wendy, was to talk to him, eyes shining at the prospect that, everything will be okay. Yeah, Ed couldn’t agree more. “Second chances, exactly.” He repeats.

No one has addressed it out loud, but ever since Tye had returned from his Monday session with Megan, it’s as though a significant weight had been lifted off his shoulders. Something about him feels lighter, more free. They all respect each others boundaries, so they wouldn’t push to get an answer out of him, but then again, he wouldn’t say anything he wouldn’t want to. Ed is curious.

“Hey, Tye.” He calls out.

The older boy responds with a hum.

“You had a good session with Megan on Monday?”

Virgil and Sam continue as though they were mindlessly scrolling, curious eyes quietly looking to the long haired boy for a response.

With a crease in his brow, Tye pauses before he answers. “Yeah, actually. It was good. Didn’t realise how much pent up shit I was still hung up on.”

“What did you guys talk about?” Sam asks. 

With an arm around her, he pulls her closer to him. “The day I met those two fools over there and-“ at which said fools protest “-by some twisted sense of coincidence, the same day Reyes basically cut all ties with me.” 

He’s met with silence. Virgil can’t help but quietly say an “Oh” at which the Latino cringes. 

Blissfully oblivious, Tye just settles deeper into the bean-bag with a sense of calmness, half cuddling Sam by his side. “Yeah, it was a weird day. But it’s in the past and you know what. I’m done with it. Who knew all it took was some complaining to move on.”

Though the older buy is resting with closed eyes, Ed fixes him with a probing look. “I mean, I don’t know if calling it `some complaining and moving on´ is quite right, but yeah, sounds like you really had to get some shit out.”

“Yeah.” Tye sighs, relaxed. “I’m not delusional, I know I still got shit to work through but- with you guys, life is pretty good right now for me, what else can I say.”

A comfortable silence settles as the four enjoy each other’s company. 

“ `Get some shit out´ you know Eduardo, normal people call that taking a dump.” Virgil jokes, before being swiftly knocked out by a flying bean bag. 

iii.

The group had been sitting in silence for hours, all looking expectantly at the hunched over frame of the tawny haired man with hollow cheeks, sight fixed to the floor with a shaking leg as he keeps muttering to himself, thoroughly rubbing and picking at the skin around his nails.

Okay, maybe it hasn’t been hours, just a minute or two. Bart heaves a sigh through his nose. Best behavior, best behavior, best behavior. He made a promise to the Garricks. 

And while he didn’t necessarily promise his friend his best behavior either, it practically goes without saying. This is for Jaime, after all.

As introduced earlier at the start of the session, the man’s twin sister, Jennie, makes a grab for one of his fumbling, sweaty hands, fixing him with a look of unwavering support, in hopes of spurring him on. “Todd, those places exist for that exact reason. There’s nothing wrong with what you did. Remember.” 

“This is a judgement free zone.” The group counsellor, basically a moderator, gently reminds him. 

With crossed arms and crossed legs, Bart sure as hell is judging. What if this guy is secretly some asshole pimp or beats up babies for a living. Would this still be a judgment free zone?

A light hand rests on his thigh to still Bart’s own shaking leg. He turns to the offender. Of course, it’s Jaime, with a raised questioning brow. 

Pulling a face, he whispers back. “Ah, sorry.” Stopping, he doesn’t realise he’s resorted instead to drumming his foot rapidly against the floor. 

The tawny man, Todd, seems to have reached a resolution, mustering up some courage, Adam’s apple rolling as he swallows. He holds on to his sister’s grip for dear life. “The past month, y’all might have noticed I’ve been missing from these meetings. It’s not- it’s not ’cause everything’s been going great or because I had nothing to say but- I’ve just been feeling so ashamed. I-“ He stumbles through the tears that begin to dampen his face, trying to collect himself. “All this progress that I told you all about months ago, it’s gone.” He laughs with a wet sob, voice cracking. “I blew all my recent savings on some grams, vials, the usual, and three weeks ago I-“ With a pitched sound of shame, he bites his lip. “-I went to the injection site for meth.” He whispers loudly, as though terrified by his own confession. Haunted by it even.

Fan-tas-tic. The guy, Todd, is full on bawling now, snot and all, face scrunched up and twisted with pure misery and shame.

Guilt. 

That’s what finally gets to Bart. It’s the face, the exact same expression. 

It used to be etched on to his friend’s face not too long ago, line for line, crease for crease, all too often. Lost in a haze, Jaime would break down, grabbing on to him like a lifeline, eyes wild with fear for the future, at the prospect of loosing himself with no one to turn to. 

Bart starts tearing up too. Fuck this shit man, what the hell, he didn’t come here to cry. But he can’t tear his mind away at the reminder of how lost Jaime used to be, how he was hurting like this guy, how no matter how much the younger boy tried to stay rational about their situation, by the time he realised he was in too deep, there was no point of return.

He just feels so much for his friend. 

He looks to his left. Damp eyes heavily furrowed, Jaime is practically mirroring the guy, deeply immersed.

Bart swallows. He wants to reach out, hold his friend’s hand. It wouldn’t be out of the ordinary for them, after all, Bart, the resident touch-starved brat and Jaime, the disoriented loner, well, their friendship was naturally on the touchier side as the two navigated the landscape of surviving the summer. 

But as the two started to settle into the routine of their respective rehabilitation, Bart had some time to process a few things. He realised, his interpretation of things weren’t always on the same page as Jaime’s. 

And that’s on him. But it’s okay. Honestly. The past months, Bart has become more than comfortable in the face of delusions. Embraced them even, literally. He holds their friendship too close to his heart to risk anything, as bullheaded as he can be about some things, this, his feelings, it’s just- it’s just not worth it. Not when it’s in the way of the closest thing he knows to stability. An unmoving rock. Bart needs that right now.

Just as much as Jaime does. He’s just happy to be here, by his side. As a friend.

The man has gradually calmed himself down, soothing words of encouragement being whispered from his sister. 

The counsellor speaks up. “Thank you Todd for your brave honesty, as you are well aware by now, it is always without fail the first step in the right direction and I’m sure everyone here with us concurs. This is why we do these check-ins and we hope you recognise the strength it took for you to come here today with Jennie.” She looks to everyone to voice their agreement before continuing. “We are opening the floor again and remember, this is not a moment for judgement, only perspective. We respect one another here. Be mindful of what you say or ask.”

Self named Crazy Jane by one of her multiple personalities from her dissociative identity disorder, real name Kay, full name Kay Challis, is the first to raise her hand. “Last I heard, your voices were gone. Did they come back?” 

The counsellor nods at her question. From his previous sessions, Blue’s given Bart the impression that Kay is usually the one dead-set on making everyone uncomfortable, asking the most ridiculous questions. Seems like this time round, she did a good thing. Maybe she’s on good behaviour for her friend sat beside her, Danny. 

Or maybe she also saw something in Todd, that has left no room for anything but empathy. 

Either way, Bart thinks, it would make two of them.

Todd, who first introduced himself as 19 years old, rubs the side of his arm, essentially hugging himself, as he answers. “They never left Kay. I lied. I thought, if I pretended they were gone, they would be. I’m so sorry.” He apologises, letting his head fall, eyes flitting to the ground in sorrow.

The room stews over his confession, clearly quietly rattled by the admission. 

Before the counsellor could move the session forward, Jaime hesitantly raises his hand.

The counsellor brightens up at the sight of it. “Yes, Jaime.” 

Blue pales as he realises he’s been put on the spot. “I just wanted- You know, the fact that you went to those supervised injection sites is a huge feat Todd. I know you might feel, a certain way about things, but give yourself some credit where it’s due.”

The rest of the group voices their agreement with echoes of “yeah”, “that’s right Todd.”

The sister, Jennie, quietly communicates her thanks with a soft nod. 

“Well said Jaime.” The counsellor says, making some notes.

It’s quarter past 8 at night. Jaime’s taken off his hoody to enjoy the soothing breeze whilst Bart tries to balance on the edge of some bike racks, backwards. 

“Freedom.” The older boy relishes as he deeply breathes in the freshness of the night. 

Bart hops off to join Jaime by his side as they walk back. “So, how you feeling about your assigned goals? Ready to tackle them like a real man?” He asks, making mock punching motions with his fists. 

“I think there’s a higher chance of winning the lottery than Tye ever forgiving me.”

“Dude, do you even hear yourself? Either you get filthy rich or you manage to patch things up with him, it’s a win-win!”

“Yeah Bart, that just about accurately describes my situation.” 

“Hey Jaime.”

“Hm?”

“What were you really gonna ask back there?”

“…”

Minutes pass. Bart hums the night away. Their combined steps blend in with the tune.

Suddenly. “I wanted to ask if the voices will ever truly go away.” 

Briefly pausing at the confession, the younger boy then resumes his humming, before asking. “Hey, the Garricks wanna know if you’re coming over for dinner?”

“If they’re willing to have me, then of course.” Jaime replies with gratitude in his eyes, smile sweet as always. 

Bart dramatically rolls his eyes. This guy.

“Uh, duh. Man you don’t even have to ask, it’s a no brainer.”

Sweet smile turns cheeky as the older boy tosses his hoody to cloak over the younger’s head. 

“Oi, what the fuck?!” Bart flails his arms in a lazy attempt of freeing himself.

Laughing heartily, Jaime reaches out to help his friend, not realising he’s walking straight into a light pole. 

Cursing, he stumbles, tripping over his feet. Still covered by the darkness of the material, Bart tumbles over him. 

On the ground, their eyes meet. Bursts of shared laughter dance through the night.

Chapter Text

i.

Thursday morning. AP Calculus.

Virgil leans back in his chair, softly flicking through his notebook. Two rows to the front sits this girl with a bob, cheek resting in her hand, similarly going through the lesson’s notes, expression clearly bored. She’s a junior too, he knows that much.

He was planning on talking to her earlier, before the lesson starts. Weeks have passed, it’s clear by now they’re both the class’ ace students. Common grounds and all that. 

But stupid Sharon and her stupid everything. His older sister just had to ruin things for him, hogging the bathroom for way longer than necessary. She could spend hours in there and come out looking exactly the same. 

Skin-care routine his ass, more like skin-care scam. It’s an essential oil Virgil! Essential, meaning, more important than you! 

He could’ve- Well, actually Sharon, essential means the essence of the herb is still- 

Shut up Virg, no one likes a know it all, dweeb. 

Man, even in his imagination he still loses. Anyway, he ended up getting here later than planned, left with simply not enough time to play up the charm. 

What charm?  Man there he goes again, catching strays left and right, Richie and Ed mocking him, echoing in his mind. He shudders, thank God those two ran in different circles back at Taos. Why does he have to be stuck with the mean gays, where are the nice ones at? 

Lost in his thoughts, Virgil doesn’t notice the sophomore in front of him, unceremoniously dropping his bag beside Reyes, who’s sat by the windows. 

“Pffft.” Muffled snickers pop his bubble of thoughts, huh? 

“Dude, what happened to your hair?” Shoulders shaking, Reyes asks as he tries to contain his giggles. 

Dressed in a light brown suit with matching pants and a white shirt, Allen has cleaned up nicely, damp, wind swept, ruffled hair aside. Scratch that, somehow, it still kinda works for him. 

Is this for some type of dare or did Virgil miss an important public announcement?

Kicking back the chair to take his seat, Bart responds back with a bite. “You know Jaime, you don’t mess with a guy’s emotions like that, it’s not attractive.”

“Yeah, yeah. My bad.” Jaime waves him off with an amused grin. “Nice suspenders though. Looks like you walked straight out of the set of The Godfather.” 

With a broad smile, Bart says. “Watch out Blue, just might get Mimi to leave you a special surprise on your bed.” 

Blue?

With the teacher returning back to class with a pile of print outs, the two start to unpack their school supplies. 

“Real talk though, is this all for your court hearing?” Jaime asks quietly, gesturing to Bart’s clothes.

The younger sighs as he rocks back and forth on his seat, balancing the chair on its hind legs. “Yeah, Joan wouldn’t let me leave looking like anything other than “a gentleman” and who am I to deny her.” He says as a matter of fact. 

Jaime snorts before concern briefly furrows his face. He asks. “You sure you don’t want me there?” 

Bart responds with a small tightlipped grin as he shakes off the older boy’s worry. “Yeah man, it’s not a public hearing, they’re just gonna have you stuck outside. I don’t want to waste your time like that.”

“It’s not a waste, you know I-“

“Morning class, if you could please turn to page 201 for me.” The teacher booms.

Court hearing?  Virgil wonders as he flips the pages. His first thought is to immediately report to Tye, clearly something shady is going on. 

But Tye has made it perfectly clear that he’s more than ready to move on. And Virgil doesn’t want to remind him of something that’s been dragging him down for so long. 

But what the hell is going on with Bart and Jaime?

ii.

Turns out, Virgil was gonna find out sooner rather than later as Sunday rolls around. 

It’s little past eleven in the morning and he strolls in to the staff lounge where he finds Ed eating his PB & J for breakfast. 

Whilst the Dorados practically live in the centre, due to Virgil’s mom being a paramedic, the Hawkins live a little further away. Not that he has any complaints, Ed Sr is practically a workaholic, whilst his own dad manages a better work-life balance. Luckily the Dorados have worked through their own share of issues, with Senior slowly taking things easier for both his own sake, as well as his son’s. And as much as Ed hates that aspect of his dad, it’s no secret that he can lose himself to his own responsibilities too. 

That’s why Virgil is so grateful for their little friend group. The centre’s relocation was a huge project and he can’t lie and say he was dreading the first few months of settling down here in El Paso. Dorado Jr isn’t exactly the definition of sunshine, easily getting carried away by his temper at the wrong times. He’s definitely calmed down over the years, but Virgil still had his concerns, especially considering how stressful the whole thing has been for the both of them. 

That’s why befriending Tye and Sam couldn’t have come at a better time. It gave the two boys something else to think about, outside the stress of their dads and the centre, as well as not having to dread about how they’re going to fit in to their new environment, the usual relocation 101 woes. In fact, the summer turned out to be one the best breaks Virgil’s had in a long time and he knows the same could be said for his friend. 

The chair screeches as he moves it to join his friend by the table. “What’s up my man E.D.” He greets, prompting the other for their signature handshake. 

Chewing through his bread, Ed quirks a brow. “What are you doing here so early on a Sunday?” 

“I could ask you the same thing.”

The Argentinian maintains his stare, taking another bite. 

“Okay fine.” Virgil complains as he deflates into his seat. “I was supposed to game with Richie this morning but he cancelled on me.”

Rubbing his hands off the crumbs, the younger boy tidies his mess as his face scrunches into a smirk. “So you had nothing better to do basically.”

“I had nothing better to do.” Virgil parrots as he just lies on the table. A pile of crumbs stick to his face.

As he tries to rub his face clean, Nathaniel walks in, chirpy as always. 

“Morning guys!”

“Morning.” Ed responds as Virgil just grunts in disdain, crumbs still sticking to his fingers. 

Stirring sugar into his coffee, the bald man asks from the counter. “Are your dads done with the meeting yet or is it still on-going?”

The boys share a questioning look before they turn back to the older man, puzzled. Virgil asks. “What meeting?” 

Surprise colours Nathaniel’s face. “You guys didn’t hear?” With a final stir, he throws the wooden stick in the trash before joining them by the table. “On Friday we got a call from a probation worker asking for community service. I had no idea what to say so I just passed the call on to Mr Hawkins. Turns out, some kid received a reduced sentence so he could choose what public service he wanted to do. Apparently he wants to volunteer here.”

“No way!” Virgil exclaims as Ed clearly shares the same sentiment, looking at Nathaniel with surprise.

Ed asks. “ `Some kid´, how old is he?”

“No idea, but there were two guys here this morning. Both about your age, one maybe a bit younger by a year or two. I don’t know, I didn’t really get a good look.” 

Tone raised in disbelief, Virgil crosses his arms. “That’s crazy. We never had anyone do any community service with us, how does that even work out. What if they’re a drug dealer?” A thought passes his mind and he rushes to lean closer, whispering with conspiracy. “Or an arsonist? A murderer?”

“That’s why they’re having the meeting. You really think your dad would let someone dangerous anywhere near the centre?” 

Ed and Virgil share another look. 

With confusion, the younger boy mentions. “Wait- but you said there were two guys?”

“Right.” The 24 year old confirms. “From my understanding, I think the community service is just for one of them, but honestly, I don’t really know.” Blowing on his coffee, he takes a sip. “Oh! I just remembered, they go to the same school as you two. Dr D asked them on the way to his office.” 

“What?” Ed says, clearly shocked. 

Suddenly, something clicks.

“Nathaniel-“ With his crossed arms, Virgil leans against them on the table. “Were these two guys by any chance a latino about our age and a shorter white guy, maybe about a year younger than Junior over here?” 

The bald man looks at him stunned. “Yes! How did you know?”

Virgil slaps the table in celebration at his guess being confirmed, Ed looks to him with suspicion, before realisation dawns on him. “Don’t tell me-”

“Thursday. Bart was all dressed up, Dorado here knows for sure, he kept checking him out through the day.” 

Taken off guard, Ed curses with a blush. “La concha de la lora Virgil, no I did not.” 

“You brought up la concha Eduardo, you are guilty as charged.” 

“Motherfuck-“ Before he can properly stand up to yell, Nathaniel intervenes. 

“What’s this got to do with the two boys?”

“Right, right. Yeah so Bart, the white kid, was all dressed up. I never actually told Ed and the others this, because, you know.” He finishes the rest of the sentence with a look. “Anyway, during Calc, Reyes and Allen got talking. Turns out, Bart had a court hearing right after school!” 

“A court hearing?” Ed repeats.

“Yes! So he must be the one doing time.” Virgil concludes with finality. Damn, he’s feeling real Sherlock Holmes right now. That makes Ed, Watson. It’s perfect. 

“This is not good.” Ed complains as he rubs his forehead. It already feels like it’s been a long day. 

“Why not?” Nathaniel asks. 

Talking more to his friend than the older man, Ed answers. “What exactly are we going to do when Tye’s here and they’re around?” 

“Oh.” Virgil winces. “Right, maybe they won’t be allowed to help out here anyway, like I said, we’ve never had any convicts as volunteers before.”

Eduardo looks unconvinced as he responds. “Maybe.” 

Hours pass and Ed is found playing a soccer match with some of the centre’s kids whilst Virgil is indoors, finishing up homework. It’s a friendly match, but if anyone asks, Ed’s team is winning by a landslide. Double dribbling, he’s mocking his current opponent, a 12 year old, as he keeps the ball just out of the other’s reach.

There are no friends or guidance counsellors in the world of football. 

“Eduardo!” His father yells, waving at him to come, distracting him. He loses the ball. 

Fuck.

With a pissed grunt, he jogs out of their makeshift field to where his dad is waiting for him. Pulling at the bottom of his t-shirt, he wipes the sweat off his face. “What do you want?” 

“We have two new volunteers joining us today. I want you to show them around, familiarise them with the facility and their responsibilities. They’re both from your school, Bartholomew Allen, Jaime Reyes, you know them?”

Briefly closing his eyes, he groans at the news. Virgil was right, damn it. “Yes. Tye hates them dad! Why didn’t you tell me about this before?” 

Taken by surprise, his dad asks. “Are they bad people? Did they do something to him?”

Eduardo doesn’t even know where to begin with the whole story, how to remotely get the nuances of the whole situation across. “No it’s- it’s difficult to explain, Tye used to be friends with Jaime and-“ He struggles.

His dad raises a hand up to stop him. “Have they done anything specific to directly make you and your friends uncomfortable?”

With a dramatic roll of his eyes, he huffs. He knew his dad wouldn’t get it. “No but-“

“Okay, then I expect you all to work through your differences and get along. Look around Eduardo, we need all the help we can get.” 

Without much thought, he does ends up scanning their surrounding. One of the kids trips on the uneven mounds of the field. 

“Don’t you think I know that!” He says defensively with a slight raise in his voice and grit teeth. “But Bart is literally a convict, he might make the kids here uncomfortable.” 

“Robert and I spoke to him and his probation worker for hours Eduardo. We both agreed that he’ll be a good fit for this centre.” The older Dorado briefly pauses, conflicted on whether he should share this with his son. “Oyé, Eduardo. Bart and Jaime both seem like sincere kids. I could easily see you getting along with them, that was one of the reasons why I accepted them in the first place.” 

“Again you’re just assuming things! You just go on and make decisions without thinking to even talk to me-” He vents, again raising his voice.

“I think you should at least give them a chance. If they still continue to make you and your friends uncomfortable then I promise, I will remove them from here. But until then, please try to cooperate with them, for the sake of the centre?”

As frustrated as he is with his dad, they’ve been having a good understanding for the past year. He knows his dad means it.

“Ugh, fine.” He relents. “Where are they?” 

Eduardo honestly can’t say if the sight he’s greeted with surprises him or not. Perched on the floor, Allen is on his knees with an arm stuck in the vending machine, clearly trying to make a grab for one of the items. Reyes is crouched behind him, pulling at his friend in an attempt to free him.

He clears his throat. The two immediately turn to face him, upon which the older boy yanks Bart out of the vending machine in surprise, both stumbling backwards with a yelp on the floor into each other.  

“Oh, shit. Blue, you almost fucked up my arm! Ow.” Bart complains as he gets up. 

Back on his feet, Jaime ignores him as he tries to explain themselves. “Eduardo! Hi, we were just waiting here, I promise we weren’t doing anything strange.” 

Ed just crosses his arms, face quirked with doubt. “Really? Cause it kinda looked to me like he was stealing from the vending machine.”

Bart dramatically rolls his eyes. “You steal one thing and suddenly-” Jaime interrupts with an elbow to his chest. “Ow! I mean- look I was starving and put in some change. This moded machine ate it all up and now I’m still starving and 3 dollars poorer.” 

“He’s telling the truth. Honest to God.” Jaime reiterates, strangely desperate.

Ed relents, making way to the vending machine as he stands beside it. “Yeah, this one’s a little broken. You need to give it a couple hits.” He reluctantly explains as he demonstrates his point, banging it at the side three times. A small pack of sour candy falls out, as does the spare change. 

The younger boy makes celebratory sounds of delight as he grabs them, before fixing Ed with a beaming smile. “Thanks.” 

Eduardo simply grumbles out a “Yeah, welcome.” averting his eyes a second too quickly. 

The smile never leaves the younger’s face as he and Jaime follow Ed around, while he explains the facility’s layout to them, introducing all the different staff. 

Jaime and Bart seem friendly enough, but the whole thing is just so weird, it’s draining. After having covered everything that Ed deemed important, he decides to share the burden. “Over here is the staff lounge, technically you guys aren’t really allowed in but since we are practically always understaffed, volunteers can also use it for lunch breaks and stuff.” He explains on their way in. 

Virgil freezes mid-writing. Meeting Ed’s eyes, he can just hear the guy gloating in his face without even a single word being passed between them. 

“Hey Virgil.” Bart greets energetically. 

“Uh, hey guys.” He responds with a type of uncertainty.

A moment of silence passes. 

God, it’s so fucking awkward. Where can Virgil delete himself from this situation.  

Ed joins him by the table and the two follow suit. 

Jaime speaks up. “So, you guys help out here after school?”

Virgil nods with a forced smile. “Yeah.”

“What homework are you doing?” Bart asks as he tries to glean a look.

“Physics. AB.” 

“Oh, crash.”

"Crash?"

"Yeah crash. Cool."

“Oh yeah, cool.” 

“How’s it going?” Jaime asks.

“Uh, it’s going. Okay, I guess.” 

“Cool.”

“Yeah… cool.”

…

Ed is clearly enjoying himself at Virgil’s expense, leaning back, eyes lit up. 

Bart drums his fingers for a bit to fill the silence, looking around restlessly before he tries. “So who else volunteers here? It can’t just be you two.”

Virgil is clearly dying inside, so Ed takes over. “Asami and Tye. They help out about twice every week. They used to come by almost every day during the summer but with school, it’s less frequent.”

“Hey I know, why don't we call-“

“Bart.” Jaime interrupts with a charged look and a subtle shake of his head. The auburn haired boy simply huffs back, indignantly tilting his seat to balance on it. 

Okay this is getting ridiculous. If he and Virgil are going to need to suffer through this, they should at the very least get something back in return. Sure, Tye has supposedly moved on, but if they could get any information that they know he would actually want to know, then might as well.

“So,” Ed starts, casually. “What’s this about community service? And how do you two know each other? You’re new too but Tye’s mentioned seeing you around during the summer.”

Jaime stills. Looking to his friend from the corner of his eye, Bart chuckles nervously before an earnest expression roots itself on him. “You know, it’s all actually a really, really, super sad story. What can I say-“ Bart gently grabs Jaime by the back of his neck, rubbing it affectionately. “Jaime over here saved me from a life on the streets. You know, things can get real bad out there. Just a couple months back, I was just down the block, making a living off of dealing yo-yos, and now? I play with them. I hear Hollywood’s gonna write a movie about us.” He finishes, tone all too serious. 

“Yo-yos?” Ed repeats with a confused squint. 

“Like- what is that, some type of drug or something?” Virgil whispers, not at all hiding his blatant curiosity.

Completely straight faced, Bart answers. “No, literal yo-yos. With the string and you go-“ He mimes a yo-yo toss. “You see, it’s a booming market.”

Ed and Virgil don’t even bother with a response, glaring at him, completely unamused. Jaime in the meantime is clearly doing a bad job at restraining a grin. “Don’t worry guys, he grows on you eventually, like mould.” He ruffles the younger’s hair into a mess. 

“Hey! Stop it!” Bart tries to slap him away. 

Well that was a complete waste of time, the two other boys think as they watch. 

Whilst the walls of the new rooms were a priority that needed to be painted, Bart suggested that since the weather was on the milder side today, they could start with some outdoor work. Honestly, Ed just shrugged them off. He has his own stuff that he had to tend to, so he wordlessly left, letting them sort themselves out. He covered their tour, so now it was Virgil’s turn to be stuck with them.

Hours pass by and he wonders whether Virgil survived his turn. 

Survived would apparently, be the understatement of the century, considering what he’s seeing before him. 

Lazing on the terrace floor, cartons of pizza are sprawled around them as Virgil and Bart are deep in conversation.

Long forgotten, Virgil’s phone is found playing a clip of some video game walk through in the background. Ed picks it up. 

“I’m telling you man, it works!” 

Bart shakes his head in amused disbelief, licking his fingers clean of the pizza grease. “Nuh uh, I gotta see it with my own two eyes. That build makes literally zero sense and all those videos were pure clickbait, not a single one of them actually used it. You just proved my point!”

“You’ve never seen nuclear fusion in person, doesn't meant it doesn't exist. Is that the type of person you want to be?” Virgil counters.

Bart dramatically points to the sky. “Uh, the literal sun says hello? And that’s something that actually makes sense, your build wouldn’t even uphold the game’s mechanics.”  

“Would so! What’s your user name? I’m going to make a believer out of you.”

With a grin, the younger boy is happy to answer. “It’s-“

The Argentinian clears his throat.

Mirroring Bart’s joyful expression, Virgil looks up to him. “E.D! Just in time. We’ve got you your fave, pineapple pizza, the food of the devil.”

Joining them on the floor, he questioningly accepts the box. “Uh, thanks.”

“Don’t knock it ’till you try it Virg.” Bart winks at his friend.

Okay, Eduardo must have died and woken up in some sort of weird alternate reality. Because what the hell could he have missed in a couple of hours that lead to Virgil, seconds away from previously passing out from awkwardness, and their group’s local most trashed white boy of the year Bart, to suddenly becoming the best of friends. 

“Dorado you missed a wild one, having Jaime here was insane. The guy practically dug up the entire yard in two hours.”

Folding up the empty cartons, Bart protests. “Hey, I did my fair share of digging too!”  

Virgil simply smiles in response. “Look up the definition of digging in the dictionary. I don’t think you’ll find cheering, patting the ground flat and mowing the lawn there.” 

A light laugh complements the scenery as Ed takes a good look at the formerly uneven field the kids and him would trip over all too often. 

It really does look good. Playable.

Bart joins him in looking out towards the vast space of the grounds. “Don’t worry about the patches. We planted some grass there too. Hopefully it won’t take too long until they grow to even the field out, but at least it’s something, you know.” 

Ed finally breaks his own speechlessness. “Where did you get the seeds from, we don’t have any here at the centre?”

With a small shrug, the younger boy points behind him. “Bought some at the DIY store down the road.”

The latino points out with suspicion. “The closest DIY store is 5 miles from here?”

The black boy is quick to quell his doubts. “The kid literally ran there and back, can you believe him?” 

With surprised eyes, Ed looks questioningly back to Bart.

For all his loudness, Bart is sheepish as he quietly answers. “Just wanted to get the job done and needed the jog anyway.” 

The Argentinian looks down to his half eaten pizza slice. “I missed a lot it seems.”

Virgil huffs a laugh. “You sure did man. Hey, did you know Jaime’s mom is also a paramedic? She works some of the same shifts as mine, what are the chances!”

Ed hums in acknowledgement, before realisation sets in. “Where is Reyes anyway? Did he leave already?”

Folding up his own empty pizza-box, Virgil answers. “Had some appointment or something?” He looks to Bart for confirmation.

“Yeah.” Is all the younger says, not bothering to elaborate any further as he continues quietly looking back to the field. A moment passes before he appears to recall something. “Oh! I need to get a signature from one of your dads to confirm my service hours, do you know where I can find them?”

Eduardo responds. “They’re usually hard to find around this time, it’s a big building and there’s a lot to do.”

“Actually, you know what, don’t sweat it. I’ll go grab my dad. I’ve got to talk to him anyway and we don’t want you getting lost.” Virgil adds as he stands on his feet, dusting himself off.

Moving to follow him, Bart is about to join him before the oldest waves his hands to keep the boy seated. “Nah it’s alright. I’ll bring him here for the signature so that we can also show off the revamped field, you guys stay, I’ll be right back.”

Ed quietly chews in silence, eyes fixed to his food. 

“Your dad mentioned you’re a soccer-head, excited to break in the new field?”

He looks up, meeting lime green eyes. “… Sure. You guys did good work I suppose.”

“You suppose?” Bart’s mouth quirks in amusement. 

The nerve of this guy- “Why do you even care so much, you play?” Ed counters brazenly.

Bart snorts as he shakes his head. “No, not really. But I love running, which- they’re practically the same thing, aren’t they?” He asks with a knowingly coy smile.

The older boy is appalled. “A football player can easily become a runner, but the other way round? Not a chance.”

“Really? But soccer is nothing without speed.” 

“Those with skills have the speed, it’s common sense.”

“So you’re saying if someone has the speed, then they got the skills.”

“No, if you have the skills, then you’ve got the speed.”

“Hmm, I’m not so sure about that.”

“It’s true. It’s a fact.”

“I don’t know. I know a lot of guys who’ve got the skills but no speed.”

“Well then they suck. You can’t have the skills without the speed and I’ve got both! End of story.” Eduardo exasperates.

All he gets in response is a lop-sided grin. “… Never even questioned it boss.”

A heat crawls along the older boy’s skin. Whether it’s from frustration or something else, he doesn’t know. 

This fucking guy, Ed thinks. Okay, sure he can play it cool too, he can spin this to his benefit. Eduardo is grown after all, no longer dictated by how easily his blood can boil. 

That’s more of a self reminder, than anything. 

“No idea how Reyes puts up with you on the daily, can't even imagine how he got stuck with you in the first place.” 

The underlying cheekiness that seems inherent to Bart briefly disappears as he directs his attention to the cartons of trash. Clearly thinking back to something, he looks distracted.

For some reason, the younger humors him. “We actually ran right into each other.” Bart laughs to himself, almost in disbelief. “I don't even believe in that type of stuff but I can’t lie, it almost felt like fate that day.”

Ed straightens up in suspicion. What the hell is this guy talking about-

The younger’s wistfulness passes all too soon before Ed can say anything about it and Bart’s signature teasing smile cements itself back in place. “It was love at first sight, what else can I say hermano.” He sighs dreamily. 

Oh.

So Eduardo was right? All along, they're together after all. 

Something is pulling at him, disappointment? But why-

Bart snorts. “I’m just messing with you dude, it’s all jokes.”

Oh. Now he’s pissed.

“You joke about being gay a lot, do you?” The older boy asks snidely.

Bart quirks a brow at him, taking note of his unease. “Joke about being gay? Nah. But if you’re asking about joking around and being gay, then yes, practically all the time.”

Oh.

Eduardo has been on a rollercoaster of thoughts in just the past thirty seconds alone, clearly he has some self reflection to do. 

iii. 

In the meantime, Virgil is found whistling, walking the halls, heading directly to his dad’s office. The chances of him actually being there are slim, but it’s always a good shout to check first. 

Bart seems like a good enough kid. The type to jump face first into a pile of snow. He’s simply got that lightness to him.

Maybe this whole thing, this whole mess between Tye and Jaime, is ultimately all really just one big misunderstanding. 

After all, even Jaime with all his hulking strength, uprooting an entire field, the guy just couldn’t hurt a fly. He was literally sidestepping away from the ants, in fear of flattening them. 

Despite heading to the office in search of his dad in the first place, Virgil is still surprised to find him there, leaning against the edge of his desk, talking away on the land line. 

“With all due respect, the point of a fund raiser is to gather as much as possible and what you have given us to work with doesn't exactly set the precedent for this. Please understand-“

Virgil gets comfortable in his dad’s office chair, he’s clearly going to be waiting here for a bit. Grabbing the ball of rubber bands, he toys with it as he slowly spins the chair around, absent-mindedly trying to keep up with whatever his dad is discussing.  

The white of loose sheets on the opposite end of the desk, away from his dad, catches his attention. He quietly rolls closer to them, trying to glean a better look of their content. 

They’re copies of something. He skims the pages.

BILL OF INDICTMENT...  The State of El Paso v. Bartholomew Allen... Case Number: EP_IIIIIIII_IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIBA...  The defendant Bartholomew Allen is accused over the following count(s) of offence(s):  COUNT I  Criminal mischief in the first degree (Section IIIIIIIIIII, El Paso County Penal Code): The defendant is charged with causing damage to…  COUNT II  Grand larceny (Section IIIIIIIIII, El Paso County Penal Code): The defendant is charged with stealing property with a value exceeding...  COUNT III  Theft of property (Section IIIIIIIIII, El Paso County Penal Code): The defendant is charged with stealing property valued at less than…  COUNT IV  Obtaining a controlled substance by misrepresentation (Section IIIIIIIIII, El Paso County Penal Code): The defendant is charged with obtaining a controlled substance by fraud...  COUNT V  Unlawful distribution of controlled substance (Section IIIIIIIIII, El Paso County Penal Code): The defendant is charged with selling, giving, or delivering a controlled substance...  COUNT VI  Unlawful possession of controlled substances by a person without a prescription (Section IIIIIIIIII, El Paso County Penal Code): The defendant is charged with possessing...  COUNT VII  Possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute (Section IIIIIIIIII, El Paso County Penal Code): The defendant is charged with possessing a controlled substance...  COUNT VIII  Conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance (Section IIIIIIIIII, El Paso County Penal Code): The defendant is charged with conspiring to distribute a controlled substance... 

...

"Virgil?"

He looks up to his dad. The man simply sighs.