The Wonderful Queer Story of Racetrack Higgins

Trouble

Oof, I did not leave the story in a good spot. Now I just need to figure out how to get Race out of there. Eh, we'll figure it out together.

Enjoy! :)

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Warning: violent transphobia

Race looks around, trying to figure out what his next move is. If he tries to fight, it'll probably end badly for him. If he doesn't try to fight, it'll be worse, much worse. Either way, there's going to be a fight: these aren't the cold and calculating type that you can negotiate with.

Did they find out? How could they have figured out that Race wasn't born a boy? He's been careful. Really careful. Is there a chance that they don't know and they're just here for a fight? He hopes that that's it; it would mean that this is fight for much simpler reasons.

But what did Race do to end up in this situation?

I need to think of something. Fast.

"I don't want no trouble," Race tells them, fighting hard to keep the tremble out of his voice. "I just want to go home. I don't want to fight."

"You really think we're going to let you go now that you're here?" Oscar sneers.

"Look, I know we like tauntin' ya, and we was on opposing sides during the strike, but the taunting was all just fun and games, right? There wasn't that much harm."

"Oh, that's what you think this is about," Oscar chuckles, sounding exactly like a villain.

If Race's heart was beating fast before, it's beating even faster now. "Then what is this about?"

Morris tugs roughly at Race's shirt, exposing the bandages.

Oh.

So they do know.

Race is going to die.

"Why are you trying so hard to be a boy, girl?" Oscar snarls.

Race stands his ground, readjusting his shirt. "I ain't a girl."

Oscar's hand starts reaching for Race's chest. "Something tells me that's not true."

Race slaps Oscar's hand away, and does the one thing he can think of: uses his other hand to punch Oscar in his face. Surprised, Oscar stumbles back a little. His nose is bleeding. Good. 

That started it. Race knows that there's no turning back now. 

He's going to have to fight, or he's going to die.

So while Oscar is away from him, Race turns to punch Morris. He socks his arm, but it's not enough. Not to mention that Morris is stronger, and definitely more of a brute.

Race gets knocked down.

Oscar leans over him. "You know we need to take care of people like you? People who don't belong?"

This is the end. Race knows it.

Suddenly, someone new comes into the fray.

Race's senses are overloaded; he can't see anything; just can hear the sound of punches and a lot of shouting. He has no clue how long it goes on for. He stays there on the ground, huddled in a ball, trying to shut the world out.

To his relief, finally, the Delanceys take off running. His savior won the fight.

It takes a few extra moments, but with deep breathing and his vision clearing up, he uncurls himself, the world comes into persepctive again. He sees that Spot is the one standing over him, face expressive with concern.