Chapter Text
The pavement outside the school was still warm from the afternoon sun, and Finney walked fast, head down, hoping today would be one of the quiet days.
It wasn’t.
“Hey, f*g!” one of the boys called from behind him. Finney’s stomach dropped. He didn’t even turn around before a hand shoved his shoulder.
His books hit the ground. Laughter followed.
“C’mon, say something,” another boy sneered, nudging him with a foot. “Or you gonna cry again?”
Finney swallowed, staring at the cracked sidewalk. His hands shook as he reached for his math book.
Then a familiar voice cut through the noise.
“That’s enough.”
The laughter faltered.
Robin stepped between them like he’d been there the whole time. He didn’t raise his voice, didn’t puff up his chest — he just stood there, calm and solid, like a wall that wasn’t going anywhere.
One of the bullies scoffed. “What, you his bodyguard now?”
Robin tilted his head slightly. “You still here?”
The boy hesitated. Everyone knew Robin didn’t bluff. He fought like it was second nature, like getting hit didn’t scare him.
“Yeah,” the boy muttered, but he took a step back anyway.
Robin didn’t even look at him. “Go home.”
A long moment passed.
Then, one by one, the boys backed off, muttering under their breath until they finally drifted away down the street.
Silence settled in.
Robin crouched and picked up Finney’s books, brushing dust off the cover before handing them back. “You okay?”
Finney nodded, though his voice came out small. “Yeah. Thanks.”
Robin gave him a half-smile. “You gotta stop letting them get the first move.”
“I try,” Finney said. “I just… freeze.”
“Then don’t freeze alone.” Robin nudged his shoulder lightly. “Stick with me, mi amor.”
Finney blinked. “Mi… what?”
Robin paused just a second too long, then shrugged casually. “Means ‘best friend.’”
“Oh.” Finney adjusted his grip on the books. “That’s… cool.”
Robin nodded like it was nothing, but he didn’t look at Finney for a moment, kicking at a pebble on the ground instead.
They started walking together down the block.
“You know,” Robin said after a minute, “you don’t have to be scared of them forever.”
“I’m not scared forever,” Finney muttered. “Just… most of the time.”
Robin huffed a laugh. “Fair.”
They walked in comfortable quiet for a bit. Kids rode bikes past them, and somewhere down the street a dog barked behind a fence.
Robin glanced sideways. “You still practicing?”
“Yeah,” Finney said. “Not good yet.”
“You will be.” Robin’s voice was steady, certain. “You just gotta keep swinging. Even when you think you’ll miss.”
Finney smiled faintly. “You always make it sound easy.”
“It’s not easy,” Robin said. “You just do it anyway.”
He reached over and tugged lightly on Finney’s sleeve so he wouldn’t step into the street before checking for cars.
“Careful,” Robin added, softer now. “I’m not saving you from traffic too.”
Finney snorted. “You probably would.”
Robin didn’t answer right away.
“…Yeah,” he said quietly. “Probably.”
They stopped at the corner where they usually split off — Finney toward the smaller houses, Robin toward the busier road.
For a second, neither of them moved.
“Thanks,” Finney said again. “For earlier.”
Robin shrugged. “Anytime.”
Then, almost under his breath, he added, “Siempre, mi amor.”
Finney frowned. “That’s Spanish again.”
Robin rubbed the back of his neck. “Yeah.”
“What’s that one mean?”
Robin hesitated, then gave a crooked grin.
“…Still ‘best friend.’”
“Oh.” Finney smiled, satisfied. “You say that a lot.”
Robin’s expression softened in a way Finney didn’t quite notice.
“Yeah,” he said. “I do.”
A car passed, wind rustling the trees above them.
“See you tomorrow?” Finney asked.
Robin nodded once. “Count on it.”
Finney waved and started down his street, already digging into his backpack for homework.
Robin stayed on the corner a moment longer, watching until Finney disappeared past the hedges.
Then he exhaled, shoved his hands in his pockets, and headed the other way.
“…Best friend,” he muttered to himself, almost smiling.