PEVENSIES

You don't know a single thing about me [peter + edmund]

an angsty one shot for MagicofNarnia  cause yeah, why not?

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Edmund was 10 at the time, and Peter still remembered what happened. It was pretty hard to forget since it was the first time Peter felt like he'd lost the brother he knew.

.....

It was a Thursday afternoon and Peter had felt like dozing off at his seat. He didn't mind history class but sometimes it bored him more than anything.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity the school bell rang. Peter grabbed his books and his bag and rushed out, happy about the school day ending.
He saw Susan waiting outside of his class and he smiled
"How are you here before the bell?" He asked raising an eyebrow.
"I finished the quiz in class early so Miss Lila said I could leave early" Susan said shrugging, clearly a little proud of herself.
Peter just nodded, being used to his sister being perfect at everything.

Both Susan and Peter were in secondary school and in a few months Edmund would be too, which was a strange thought. Edmund was still a small little boy in peters mind.
Their high school was the building next door to the primary school which is where they'd usually wait for Lucy and Edmund. Then they'd walk home as usual.
The secondary school students bustled out of the building and that was before they spotted Lucy. Somehow she had made her way over to the secondary building alone. Usually she would wait for Peter or Susan.
She looked worried and a little shaken which caused Peter to run over.
"Lu?" He asked in concern.
Lucy just wiped away a small tear and wrapped her arms around Susan who appeared next to her.
"What's wrong? Where's Edmund?" Peter asked, realising that his brother wasn't there.
Before Lucy could answer Peter heard shouts coming from the primary school grounds exit. It was only a short distance from the secondary school building but it could be heard very clearly.
Peter and Susan exchanged a glance before running over to the other building, Lucy running next to Susan, still shaken.

What Peters eyes saw, he couldn't believe. There was his little brother, punching a smaller boy in the face.
Susan hugged Lucy a little closer so she didn't have to watch. Peter felt shocked, confused and angry all at the same time.
Almost every student was crowded around them, cheering Edmund on and Edmund seemed to be....enjoying it.
Peter pushed past the crowd of students and pulled his brother away from the other boy, who was crying.
Peter couldn't believe it. Edmund had attacked an innocent boy that was at least 3 years younger than him.
Edmund pushed Peter off of him, not even realising it was his brother before he turned around.
Suddenly Edmund's smirk faded and he crossed his arms. Lucy ran forward and helped the smaller boy to his feet, seeing that he was sobbing.
Peter gasped when he saw blood on Edmunds fists and could see the other boys nose was bleeding.
"What on earth is going on?!" Peter yelled, causing even the most confident of students to back off a little.
The whole crowd went silent as Edmund and Peter's eyes met.
"I..." Edmund tried to explain but there really wasn't too much of a valid reason.
"He was teaching that kid a lesson" said one of Edmunds friends, standing beside him.
Peter shook his head and looked at James. He hadn't been sure about Edmunds new friend and now he definitely was doubting that there was any goodness in him. James had been corrupting Edmund for months now and this was the last time Peter would stand by and watch.

"Really Edmund?" Peter asked, his eyes wide "you beat up an innocent kid just because you could?"

"Yeah" Edmund asked, feeling a little more daring with his group of friends behind him. Well...a group of James' friends.
Peter glared at James and not his brother, knowing deep down that it wasn't Edmunds fault.

"Violence isn't the answer Edmund..." Peter said angrily "it never is!"

"How would you know?! You're always
Mr Perfect!" Edmund retaliated and the whole crowd let out a shocked laugh.

Peter tried his hardest not to get too angry "that's it" he said before grabbing his brothers arm as gently as he could "we're going home"

"No.." Edmund said pulling his arm away "I'm hanging with my friends.."

"No you're not! You're coming home with us" peter said "now!"

Edmund flinched a little, hoping no one noticed. He looked at his 'friends' and just smiled apologetically.
"See you tomorrow" he said to them before following peter out of the school exit.

....................

The walk home was tense and silent. Peter didn't know what to say and Edmund didn't want to go to owe Peter an explanation.
When the Pevensies finally got home Edmunds small voice spoke up.
"Please don't tell dad" Edmund said, his voice making peter frown.
"Why shouldn't I?" Peter asked "you hurt someone Edmund"
"I just.....please don't tell him" Edmund said "he's going away tomorrow and I don't...want him to leave and be...disappointed in me"
"Good to know you care what someone thinks about your irrationality" peter murmured before walking into the house.
Lucy ran over and hugged her mother, still shocked by what had happened. But Lucy wouldn't tell her parents about it, she didn't want Edmund in trouble.
Susan didn't say anything and went to her, room, trying to process the situation.
Peter and Edmund were greeted by their father and they both forced a smile.
He hugged his sons before frowning.
"Where's Susan?" He asked.
"She had homework or something" Edmund lied before going to the couch.

"How was school?" their father asked and Peter and Edmund made eye contact.

"Dad there's something you should know..." peter said crossing his arms.

"What? Is everything alright?" Their father asked in concern.

Edmund's looked down, not ready for his fathers disappointment. That was when Peter glanced over, seeing the regret in his brothers gaze.

"I....I...." peter stuttered before sighing "I almost fell asleep in history class again" peter said. It wasn't technically a lie.

"Well history is boring" was their dads response making Lucy giggle slightly.

Edmund sighed with relief. And that was that.

.................

Peter and Edmund didn't talk until that night. Peter had been finished his assignment when Edmund had spoken up.

"I....I didn't mean to...hurt him" Edmund said, barely above a whisper.

"I wish I could believe you" was peters response.

"I just...wanted to...to show..."

"Let me guess. You wanted to show and James and his group that were tough enough to hang out with them" Peter guessed and raised an eyebrow, finally lifting his eyes from his assignment to look at his little brother.

Edmund nodded and sighed.
"They....they called me weak" he said "so I...tried to show them that I wasn't"

"Ed..." peter said walking over and sitting next to him "I know you think James and his group are your friends but.....they're not..."

"Yes they are...."

"They're not friends, they're bullies" Peter said firmly before sighing "and you're not a bully Ed. They know that and they're trying to change you"

"How do you know that?" Edmund asked defensively

"Because I know you Ed and you wouldn't do anything like that..."

"You don't know a single thing about me" Edmund said, tears forming in his eyes before turning away from Peter. "Just go away..." he murmured.

"Edmund I'm your brother, I can't..."

"Well I wish you weren't"

The words came out so fast and thoughtlessly that Peter wasn't ready for his heart to drop so quick.
Peter stood up and walked away, slamming the bedroom door behind him. That had hurt more than he could explain.
Peter knew he should go on a walk and clear his mind so that's what he did. It was all he could do.

What Peter didn't know was as soon as he stepped out of the door, he'd left his little brother sobbing in their room.