Work Text:
“Alright everyone, I know last class I briefly mentioned the end of year assignment. Did everyone look at the instructions over the weekend like I asked?” Mrs. Hughes asked the class.
A few hands shot up in the air. Though Xeno doubted they did little more than skim the page and look for the minimum length they had to present.
However, even if that was true, Xeno (And it seemed Mrs. Hughes too) expected a few more raised hands. “Alright then.. For those who didn’t, you’ll have to get into groups of 3 and you will have to present in front of the class,” A collective of small groans echoed as one. “I know I know, but come on y’all. Try to end your senior year strong,” Mrs. Hughes tried to encourage the half interested class.
Good luck with that.
“You can summarize or act out your favorite parts from the play. As long as it’s longer than 2 minutes. Any questions?” No one asked any questions but there were a few silent nods between friends or neighbors. “Alright well go ahead and form your groups. I’ll give you guys aboutttt… eh about the first 30 minutes of the class. Oh and make sure to come and a tell me who’s in your group,”
By this point in the year, the normal groups had already formed. The first wave of groups already made their way up. The more reluctant second wave started to stand and look around the class for those who had yet to form a group.
Xeno, on the other hand, kept his head down, pulled out his own notebook, and flipped to the section on Macbeth. He felt the two who normally grouped with glance his way before turning back forward.
There was only 24 people in this class but despite that the two of them tried to go up and claim themselves as a group.
That more than worked for Xeno.
They had been fine to work with the past few times but their schedules and motivation simply didn’t match with his. There was some elegance in them figuring that out as well.
Though when they reached Mrs. Hughes’s desk, she didn’t seem to agree. “Xeno, can you come here real quick?”
Xeno took a second to breathe in and out through his nose before standing up from his seat and walking to the front. “Yes?” Xeno raised a brow.
“Do you mind joining Ava and Sam for this project?” Mrs. Hughes asked for the second time this year.
“I’d rather do this alone,” Xeno replied… Also, for the second time this year.
“Xeno we’ve been over this. Group participation is worth 20 points for these projects,”
I know, I’ve read the rubric," Xeno replied. “I also noticed that that’s the only part affected by group participation. After doing the math, one B on an assignment this far into the year won't bring down my GPA too far,”
“And you know this for a fact how?” Mrs. Hughes rhetorically asked.
A decent enough threat. Under normal circumstances he wouldn’t, but if he just so happened to have broken into the school’s records, seen the salutatorian’s GPA, and her last 2 report cards that were showing a bit of senioritis, then Xeno had nothing to worry about. Of course that was only if he had broken in and he could never get away with something like that. “Just do,” But Stan could.
Mrs. Hughes leaned forward. “Ava, Max, you’ll only need to present for 2 minutes. That sound fair?”
“Yeah,” The two said.
“Great, you may go back to your seats now,”
Xeno didn’t miss how the two very intentionally kept from looking at him as they turned back.
“Xeno, I understand your grades are exceptional, but this isn’t about academics. Group projects are about being able to communicate with a team. You could find a cure to cancer or discover life on mars but if you can’t communicate that to others… no one’s going to listen,”
“Science speaks for itself,” Xeno retorted the same response he always gave.
Mrs. Hughes pushed her hair out of her face with a (in Xeno’s opinion, unnecessary) sigh.“Fine, but I will be emailing home about my concerns,”
“May I sit down Mrs. Hughes?”
“If you would,”
Xeno laid in his bed looking up at the glow in the dark stars that he and Stan had put up years ago. They had stopped glowing long before but he’d never imagine taking them down.
It had taken a sleepless sleepover, a notebook spread, a dollar tree pack of glow in the dark stars, and a lot of duct tape to put the stars up in the same pattern that was above his ceiling.
The whole time Stan insisted he was fine while he yawned every other sentence.
He never did break out of that habit.
Stan was probably the best partner Xeno could've ask for.
Maybe I could make him something…
They did have leftover metal from their last experiment. The question was what to do with it. Something that'd be both practical and meaningful to Stan.
…
That might be acceptable… Though I’m sure I’m missing something.
It’d give him something vaguely illegal to do besides laying in his bed, cooking in the Texas heat.
Click click
Xeno sat up hearing the familiar metallic sound. “Xenon?” His mother called, opening the door. “Geez it’s so hot in here. Xeno?”
“Yeah I’m in my room mom,” Xeno called.
“Oh good,” Xeno’s mom pushed the door in. “I thought ya might have fried yourself up in this house,”
“Nah I had the fan going for a bit,” Xeno replied before noticing the plastic bag hanging off his mom’s arm. “Did you bring something back from work?”
“Oh no, actually~!” His mother dug into her bag. “I picked up something from the convenience store. Put the leftover hamburger in here and we got ourselves a whole meal,” She pulled out a small magenta packet out. “Clark said they had gotten in some new ramen flavors and I thought why not?”
“Sounds good,” Xeno pushed himself off his bed.
“No no, sit,” She made a motion like she was swatted at the air. I got this. You do whatever science-y things you gotta do. Though try to keep any fires to a minimum please,”
“Don’t worry, not wielding yet,” Xeno reassured.
His mom lightly shook her head as she disappeared behind the wall. “You and your projects,” She humorously sighed.
It had been a while since his parents asked what he was doing. Xeno assumed at some point it was going over their heads too much and that they trusted him not to set fire to the house. It was much appreciated since he was sure any other family would not approve of a rifle being constructed in their home.
“Oh ya, the stockpot is in the cabinets by the oven. ‘Already cleaned it,”
“Thank you hon’,” She called back.
Xeno pulled up the seat at his mess of a desk. There were almost 7 spirals worth of ideas sprawled out in front of him. The newest notebook was still open to the walkie talkies/ telegraph that now sat by Xeno’s bedside. Considering Stan was once again grounded, he expected another late night talk through the scratchy microphones. Regrettably,it was becoming more and more common. How Xeno wished Stan would stop getting caught.
That manual Stan showed me. What did it say again?
Xeno tapped the pencil to his temple as he tried to recall Stan’s father’s rifle manual. He scanned it quickly before giving Stan the all clear. One of the pages mentioned the model and the materials used. Xeno just had to visualize it.
As if it were a slideshow, Xeno paused his memory at the page he was looking for.
Hard plastic we have… We’re missing steel though. For that we’ll probably have to break into the assembly plant again. Though that may have to wait until Stan is ungrounded.
And all because Stan tripped on his night stand trying to sneak back in after curfew.
…
Though that wasn’t fair to Stan. The only reason he got caught so often was cause Xeno so often asked him to do things that would get him in trouble. Maybe… he ought to feel more guilty about that. As he stirred on the idea, his pencil dug itself deeper into his page. Later he wouldn’t remember how that hole was made.
On top of that, can’t really make the right bullets… Guess I’ll have to buy them.
He only lifted his pencil when he heard the familiar sound of keys opening the front door. “Hey Mary, Xenon, ‘m back,” His sentence punctuated with the sound of his work shoes getting kicked off.
“In here dear,” Xeno’s mother called. “Just finishing up dinner,”
“Alrighty there,” Even through the door Xeno could hear the grunts it took his father just to stand up right again. “Give me a second to wash up Mar,”
“Xenon! Can you pour the water?” His mom called.
“On it,” He set the pencil down and joined his mom in the kitchen.
Xeno opened the cup cabinet and looked at the collection of different branded plastic cups. Some cups' brands were still clear as the day they got them. And then there were the cups with the print barely visible. Of course he chose those.
“Humm, whatcha got there Mar?” Xeno’s father came back from the restroom. “Smells new,”
“Well, I stopped by the convenience store on my way back and Clark told me about the new flavor of ramen they got in. Thought I’d cook it up and pair it with some hamburger,” His mother strained the last of the water from the pot.
“Sounds good,” His father slipped into his spot at the table with the ease of a man with decades worth of experience behind him. But he sat like a man with the weight of an extra decade or two.
Xeno popped out a few extra ice cubes from the tray into his father’s cup. “Here,” Xeno offered.
“Thanks Xenon,” His father sat up just a bit straighter.
Xeno hummed an acknowledgment as he threw away the plastic water bottle. “Sorry for asking, but did something happen?”
His father sighed. “Nghhh, it’s nothing new. Same do nothings telling me the cost of labors’ too high,” He leaned back and Xeno assumed his bones made the same sound as the wooden chair under him.
“They want you to lay more people off?” Xeno questioned.
“Ya, said all I need is some more training,” His father said. His expression looked like he had just bit into something bitter.
“Well,” Xeno’s mom put a plate down for both of them. “Let us thank God that you get to keep your job and pray for those who will find themselves in a difficult situation soon,” She sat at her end of the table and extended her arm towards Xeno. Xeno took both his father's and mother’s hand before looking at the food below him. He knew his mother’s and father’s eyes were shut but he didn’t dare look to check. “Thank you, Lord, for this food and the hands that prepared it. And Thank you for your favor and may your grace be shared with those less fortunate. Amen,”
“Amen,” Xeno and his father echoed back.
Brngg brngg
The home phone, now with two pairs of eyes on it, rang in its holder. One pair of eyes was still trying to ratio out ramen to hamburger meat.
Probably a telemarketer.
“Strange time to be calling,” Xeno’s mother sat up.
“Oh, you know what, maybe it’s Daniel. He’s meant to call me after they release him,” His father added.
Oh right, forgot about his co-worker.
“Hmh? Oh no it’s… someone else. Excuse me a second," Xeno’s mom took the phone from the holder. “Hello?” She said walking towards the master bedroom.
Xeno ran the towel inside the pot again before putting it back with the others. Roast beef flavored ramen and ground beef was definitely a unique flavor. Left an even more unique mess in the stockpot. Left alone any longer and it may have made its only layer at the bottom of the pot.
With quick once over Xeno placed the pot in the dark dish sink. He had meant to ask for an advancement of his allowance during dinner but after his mother came back from taking the call, the air in the room tensed up.
Xeno quickly washed his hands before heading to his parents room.
Wonder what’ll cost more, the raw materials or the bullets.
Xeno stood parallel to the door and was going to knock before his brain processed some of the murmuring coming from the slightly cracked door.
“I”m just worried, David,” He made out his mother’s voice. “That- That doesn’t sound like my son at all. Dismissive and arrogant? We’re never seen that from him,”
So his teacher did end up calling after all. Half of him thought she had forgotten or was just making empty threats.
Arrogant and disrespectful huh? Not an elegant way to put it but she’s not wrong.
“We’re been over this Mary. It’s the same as when they tried to hold him back. Xenons’ a special kind of gift. God… well, he took his time with Xenon. He’s going to be a little different from his peers,” His father replied. “Plus he’s still got Stanley and they’ve been joined at the hip since they could walk,”
“And I’m grateful for that. But what I mean is, Jane’s description of how he is at school. It just doesn’t sound like my Xenon. Sure he’s quiet but he’s still plenty polite,"
Wait what?
“Causse it’s not,” The older man’s voice grew softer. “He’s just not meant for this town. Never has been,” The bed creaked like someone sat on it. “And we’re his parents. We know who our Xenon is. Nothing's gonna change that,”
“Augh.. Course, you’re right,” His mom's voice shook a bit. “Maybe I’ll meet with Jane Sunday before service,"
Xeno stepped back from the door and back from the conversation he was probably not meant to hear. If he was honest, one that made something in him felt uneasy.
Xeno turned back to his room hoping it’d alleviate the uneasiness he was feeling, but the more questions he had the worse it got.
His parent’s argument made sense. They had known him all his life, of course they’d know his personality. But if that was right- Shouldn’t he know his own personality best?
Xeno clicked the button on the side of the walker talkies. “Stan, you there,” Xeno flopped in his bed.
“Ya I’m here.’s just me and these workbooks my parents got me,” the voice crackled from the other end.
“I see,” Xeno hummed. “May I ask you something?”
“Yeah?”
“Do you like my personality? I’ve heard I can be rather arrogant and dismissive,” Xeno asked before releasing the side button again.
Xeno sat and waited for a moment too long. For a second he was worried he had broken the walkie talkie. “So what if you are?” There was a razor thin edge of fear in Stan’s voice. “Arrogant I mean. Don’t even know who’s calling you dismissive ” But it quickly vanished.
“Just something I heard about myself,” Xeno replied. “Just thought I’d get you opinion on it,”
“Heh, ya you don’t got to worry about anything like that Xe. Love you just the way you are,” Xeno heard what he assumed to be Stan flopping on his bed. “And I know you more than anyone else,”
And there it was again. “Supposed you would,”
“Ya?” Xeno could picture the way Stan’s eyebrow raised. “So don’t question it,” Stan said through a few light laughs.
Stan’s logic held up well. They had known each other since they were 4. Of course between a teacher that knew him for less than a year and his best friend, his best friend would know himself. Only… following that logic, wouldn’t that mean his parents would know the most about him and his personality?
He had always just acted the way he wanted to. He assumed personality was just the aftermath of that. “I’ll keep that in mind,” Xeno said before the sentence could fully process.
“Ehhh don’t think you will,” Stan half sang. “But hey, if it’s bugging you we can talk about it in the morning,” Stan softly enunciated the constants more and more.
“Tired?” Xeno hummed.
“More like my brain turned to goop from looking at all those workbook pages,” Stan groaned.
“Sounds like you got a lot done at least,” Xeno felt his lips tug.
Stan let out a playful hiss. “Really Xe?”
Xeno felt his lips tug back even more. “Right, of course. Forgive me for asking such a question,” Xeno rolled onto his side.
“Ya, ‘s not like you at all man,” Both letting small giggles blossom from their chests. Uncorrnated and giggles that took the air from their lungs.
Stan’s laughs trailed on a little longer than Xeno’s. It was short but it gave way to a thought. This is easy. Whether it was as a best friend or boyfriend, being with Stan often felt natural. Maybe even a little innate.
As if his own DNA told him Stan was part of him. Or maybe it was his soul and Aristotle had a point. “In any case, I’ll see you at school tomorrow?”
Stan yawned “Yeah, I'll make sure to be there bright and early. Love ya Xeno,”
“Love you as well,” Xeno let go of the walkie talkie button. When no further response came Xeno rolled onto his back again. A smile still fixed on his lips.
It had been a while since he got to laugh like that. Reminded him of being a kid with duct tape and all the time in the world again. And wouldn’t that just be easier?
How things had changed.
“She threatened to call your parents cause you’re fine with getting a B?” Stan asked as they pace the school’s hallways. “50”
“51,” Xeno counted the small wooden cross next to Mr. Richard’s class. It was a continuation of the game they had started yesterday. “And more or less,”
It was about half an hour before the first class of the day and by this time most people were waiting in the cafeteria. It freed up the halls for him and Stan to walk. Stan clicked his tongue. “All that over Macbeth too?”
Xeno raised a brow. “What an odd tone. Do you have a grudge against Shakespeare, Stan?”
“52. Hmmhh… Not Shakespeare, just Macbeth,” The taller one sighed. “Like I get what Shakespeare was going for but I kept wanting to scream at Macbeth to just make up his mind already,” Stan explained. “‘S like he didn’t even know who he was. 53,”
Xeno almost stopped in his tracks. Realistically it was probably a frequency illusion but targeted or not, it hit a nerve, but with nowhere to direct, Xeno thought of an experiment. “Speaking of which, Stanley-” The name felt foreign to him. He normally saved it for arguments but even then.
“Uhh- Did I say something?” Stan looked comparable to a deer in headlights.
Xeno crossed his arms. “No, I didn’t say you did, did I? 54” That felt wrong too.
But despite the words souring his mouth, Xeno continued to look forward as he walked. Xeno waited for Stan’s response or even a sound. Strangely enough Xeno heard neither. Not even the sound of Stan’s footsteps.”Stan?” Xeno looked next to himself and then further back.
Xeno watched Stan shift the weight into his back leg as he asked- “Xeno?” - like he wasn’t right in front of him. His glare tightening the same way it did when he looked through a cross-hair. If Xeno didn’t know any better, he would’ve taken it as a threat.
So clearly that wasn’t right. “Relax Stan, it’s just me,” Xeno opened his arms. “‘S not like you don’t know me right?”
In Xeno’s recollection of this moment, he would remember the hallways being longer and the path much thinner, but he would be able to clearly recall Stan’s glare. And how much it annoyed him.
Stan’s eyes quickly scanned him. “Why are you acting differently?”
The other sighed pulling his arms back in. “You remember what we talked about last night? It was Mrs. Hughes who told my parents I was dismissive and arrogant. Personally, I agreed with her but my parents don’t agree,”
Stan eased his shoulders down. “What did your parents say?”
“Hmh?”
“You said your parents didn’t agree. What did they say?” Stan rephrased.
Xeno looked at the distance still between them. “Stan, will you cut it out and get over here?”
“What did they say Xe?” But it seemed like Stan’s feet were firmly placed.
Xeno took a second to look at his boyfriend. The halls went back to their normal size and length as Xeno processed what he was seeing. “You’re scared?”
“It’s not like you,” Stan’s tone was cold yet not harsh. “For all the time I’ve known you, you’ve barely changed, now you’ve suddenly started acting differently and caring about what people think?”
“And that scares you?”
“You’ve always known who you are and what you need from other people. You never question it or let people tell you otherwise,”
There was that guilt again. Xeno had known for a while about Stan's need for stability outside himself. He even knew that was part of Stan’s unwavering loyalty, but he had always tried to downplay it to himself.
“And you’re scared if I start questioning myself, I’ll question other things as well?”
“Am I wrong?”
Xenon looked at Stan one last time before turning back around.
I guess Stan gave me my answer.
“I see,” Xeno instead spoke. “You don’t have to worry about what my parents said. They got it wrong anyways,”
“So…Just like that?” Stan asked.
“Just like that,” Xeno answered. “Anyways, moving on from 54, 55,” Xeno pointed.