Chapter Text
On a mild spring day, as the tender scent of flowers filled the air, two young birds were enjoying each other's company as much as time would allow.
The large courtyard in which they found themselves was more than a little noisy, which is why the younger of the two wore a pair of headphones over his ears, which helped him slightly to soothe a panic growing within him. The second was by his side, enjoying much more the noisy atmosphere they had to put up with as young middle schoolers.
Moments like this were not out of the ordinary for either of them, and the two had obviously adopted one of the furthest benches to wait for the break to end. The blond sat on it, leaning his back slightly against the redhead's shoulder as he hurriedly filled in a few sheets.
“- You could have told me you hadn't had time to do your homework Cass... I would have helped you...”
He spoke without even looking up from his book, obviously seeking to channel his attention to certain details. The reply he received, however, was far more panicked.
"- I knoooooow... But I forgot... There was this big show at preparing!!! And we taught these new tricks to the lions !!! You should have seen it it was great !!! How do you expect me to remember my homework after seeing something so amazing???
- I guess... But you won't even let me help you now...
- Well duh-! You put so much effort into making me these little cards so that I could do this homework without any problems... I don't want to make your work useless!"
A thin smile played on Jeremy's lips as he listened to Cassidy's explanations, feeling inwardly honored to see such efforts on his behalf. Obviously, he kept quiet in the hope of allowing his best friend to remain at least a little focused in such a mess.
It had already been several years since he had met this boy, and sometimes this friendship seemed more than unlikely. Just imagine, the ever-popular boy, brimming with energy and kindness, whom everyone wants to be friends with and whom no one dares to harm... And the shy little boy, barely sociable, with passions considered too feminine, with a rather nerdy side and apparent social and emotional difficulties. To say that these two are total opposites would be an understatement. Apart from their few shared passions, nothing really linked them.
Yet fate decided that their mothers would be best friends, that they would live just a few blocks apart, and that they would spend their entire school years together.
In other words, since becoming friends, the two have always been inseparable.
"- Hey Cass... Remember when we became friends...?"
The blond asked in a small voice, as if his thoughts were no longer just caught up in his book, they were so worried that his voice sounded more like his thoughts.
"- Well, of course! Bill was bothering you and I helped you! And you gave me a flower, I believe... What was its name again?
- A columbine...
- That's it! A columbine !! I remember you were all shy and all scared back then..."
A laugh escaped the young boy's lips... Hearing this sentence in the past tense seemed ironic to him.
"- I still am, you know...
- Hum! But you're not as scared when I make loud noises or move around a lot!
- That's true..."
His gaze wandered between the lines of the paragraph he was reading, finding himself totally disconnected from it, leaving entirely to his thoughts. It was true, despite his many difficulties in handling different types of stimulation, he had surprised himself by sensing a kind of habit in his friend's behavior. He who was so easily startled by his big words or gestures now listened attentively without interruption. He who used to panic instantly when he took him in his arms without warning now responded to him with joy.
At least... when he was able to withstand such stimuli. It was obvious that these difficulties had not disappeared, but were simply attenuated when they came from the redhead, but a simple external stimulus and everything could come tumbling down. But the very thought brought a small smile to his face, accompanied by a fine hint of pink on his cheeks. To his dismay, the bell indicating the end of break rang at the same time, forcing a groan of discomfort from the side of the blond who seemed to wait a few seconds before finally standing up, putting his book away in a courtly silence.
"So your homework...?
- Haha... Don't worryyyy... You know... I could always finish them before the teacher collects them!!!"
And Jeremy's only response was a sigh, a simple mix of disappointed and amused working far more effectively than words in such a context. Their passage to class was rather routine. After all, nothing different from normal happened there, Jeremy always remaining extremely focused in his work, assisting Cassidy in the few misunderstandings he might have. However, once the last hour of class was over...
" - Mister Lewis, could you come to my office please? I need to ask you some information about the coming weeks to adapt your work.
- Ah-! No problem sir!"
Obviously, his work wasn't entirely adapted simply because he couldn't come to class all the time for circus reasons, but also because the rest was caught up thanks to the many extra lessons his best friend gave him when he came to visit. This made the teachers' task technically easier, concentrating on the main subjects with the little redhead, leaving his improvised tutor to help him with the rest. Out of respect for the teacher, this said tutor left the classroom with a serene step, seeming to wait for Cassidy at the school exit so that they could make the journey together.
Leaning against one of the walls, in a corner sheltered from the racket of the exit, the blond waited as he continued with his book, his headphones covering his ears well, preventing him from noticing the few boys approaching him with a wicked grin. He probably wouldn't know the end of this book for a little longer, given the state he found himself in. A few minutes were enough for Jeremy to find himself kneeling on the floor, held by his long hair not far from the wall, his belongings entirely overturned mixed with the tattered pages of his book. A scenario he knew all too well, but one he couldn't change, his entire body becoming paralyzed each time.
An interminable rumbling echoed in his ears, his heart drumming deafeningly, cutting off his already ragged breathing, his vision blurred by a few tears not even daring to look at his assailants, surely not wanting to see their satisfied expression at his state... His body was barely recovering from the last time and yet... He swallowed, wincing at the taste of his own blood mixed with his saliva, mumbling vain pleas.
Most of the time, his mind seemed to shut down, waiting for them to finish having fun... But something made him react... His head was pulled back with a jerk, then a noise, fast and metallic... And the sensation of tumbling forward again at full speed, so fast that he almost couldn't catch himself with his hands.
Huh? Why can't he see his hair fall into his field of vision in such a position?
Yet everything seems so obvious. All he had to do was glance in the direction of the boy holding the other piece of his hair to understand what had just happened...
And despite all that, it still wasn't the moment for him to calm down, quickly surprised by another loud crash, followed by an angry rant and numerous debates and insults. The blond could only move closer to the wall, covering his ears in a trembling movement, eyes closed in trying to calm his breathing, probably in vain for long seconds...
“- Mimi...?”
A more than worried voice rang in his ears, causing him to tense up on the spot, although he opened his eyes after a few seconds to observe his best friend, as well as the many wounds that had just mysteriously appeared on him. But he didn't give him time to respond before he spoke again.
“- Too loud...?”
Cassidy's request surprised him slightly, but seeking some peace, Jeremy nodded instinctively, still mechanically covering his ears. But of course, the redhead's voice became calmer and softer.
“ - Better like this...?”
Obviously, this was still a lot for him... But his best friend's presence already reassured him enough for him to nod a little more slowly this time. He who was yet as energetic as ever took the time to lower his tone when he understood he needed to.
"Are you sure you don't mind, Cass? You must do so much for me..."
The blond muttered, his voice still slightly shaky. It was normal for him to think that. Cassidy could have had such an easier life if he hadn't decided to protect him. Everyone could be his friend, who would want to hurt the popular kid even? He doesn't deserve to find himself fighting against several people simply because he wants to protect a poor kid unable to defend himself on his own...
" - Well of course Mimi... You're my best friend... Why would I mind protecting you? You can't protect yourself on your own, someone has to protect you for you to be happy! Don't forget that I'm your knight anyway... I wouldn't have become it if I didn't want to..."
Jeremy watched Cassidy gather his things on the floor before letting himself slide against the wall next to him, staring at the horizon in silence, seemingly waiting for him to calm down. Of course, staying so still was very difficult for him, visible by the tips of his feet tapping gently against the floor in order to keep some form of stimulation.
Regaining a little composure was always a difficult task for the poor blond, but this time his friend's words seemed to resonate in the back of his mind, which seemed to hit him. The reason why he was no longer bothered that much by his behavior.
The reason why he enjoyed responding to his hugs so much. The reason why the days he spent by his side seemed so oddly simple compared to those when he was alone. The reason why his heart sank when they couldn't interact for a certain period of time. The reason why Cassidy was always the first person he thought of in the most hazardous situations, from what reminded him of his presence to what he knew in advance he'd want to mention in their next discussion... The reason why he wasn't so afraid of his big noises and gestures anymore...
The reason why sometimes he sought out the presence of that redheaded fluff... That presence that magically seemed to make all fear disappear...
The reason why he never doubted his words, despite his own insecurities...
The reason why the term “best friend” has been sounding strange in the past few weeks...
" - Thank you dear knight..."
He murmured with a thin smile, turning his head in the opposite direction to hide the flushing cheeks appearing to the rhythm of his heartbeat.
"- It's nothing dear prince... Let's stay here until you've calmed down... And then we'll take care of all this... Ok...?
- Okay..."