The Snake in the Garden Of Eden [Yandere Arlo]

Chapter 3

As John was brought into the infirmary by Arlo, he couldn't help but appreciate the simple gesture. Yes, his threat to expel students just because they were picking on him—well maybe not just pick on him—did surprise John a little. Because this ensured that no one would try to touch John again once the news was spread. Expulsion is a very serious punishment, and would only be used for heavily serious incidents—but definitely not this.

The fact that he stood up for John and said those words made him feel safer around the blond. It's weird though, before they met, Arlo never cared about these fights, in fact, he always turned a blind eye to this. Could this have been because he was Seraphina's friend? That would make sense, after all, it was what he told him just the other day—though, John took it as meaningless talk. He really didn't think that Arlo would stick up for him, especially when low-tiers students at this school has suffered this kind of harassment for a long time.

Maybe... some part of Arlo changed after meeting John? ...that thought only encouraged the will to befriend Arlo. It was a tough and strenuous process to befriend Seraphina, but Arlo seemed to be much easier to get along with than her.

During their walk, neither of them spoke a single word, and the tension was building higher by the second. John was the first one to break the silence. "H-hey Arlo," A hum escaped the blond's throat for him to continue, "Thanks for helping me. I'd probably be in big trouble if you hadn't shown up..." He chuckled a little at him, his arm was held around his abdomen, maybe the punch that landed on him was more severe than he thought. "Not much people help low-tiers like me... So it's really nice to have someone as strong as you care about us."

The thing is, Arlo doesn't care about the other low-tiers, he only cared about John.

He simply couldn't have someone else lay their hands on his body, whether it's abusive or intimate—they were all tainting his beloved doll. One who could smile so brightly at him with such purity, it could make Arlo blind.

"I'm going to get a lot of anonymous backlash, but... at least I know you're safe, so that's fine." The blond gave a gentle smile towards John. As they crossed the hall, everyone's gaze turned to look at the two with surprise. Wellston's king and Wellston's infamous cripple, chatting as though they were good friends and even walking together? This was bound to spread more than rumors, and Arlo knew it, but at the same time, he couldn't help but feel a sudden burst of excitement that people are seeing the relationship between them.

Maybe if he gets a little closer. Just a tiny bit closer. They'll start rumors of them being something more? No, no, that might bring pressure to John and make him feel awkward around Arlo—he couldn't have that.

But despite that, Arlo wanted everyone to see that John belonged to him, and him only. He wanted his name written on the boy with permanent ink, marks all over his body that just screamed "Arlo's possession." Despite the aching and intense voice inside of the blond, telling him to just touch John, he knew that he needed to get closer gradually. Not too fast, or slow, not too needy or distant, he needed to show just the right amount of affection and desire for John. "Hey, if students at Wellston are treating you like this... Does that mean that people also harass you on the streets?"

The pair made a left turn, "Well, no... That's because they don't know I'm a low-tier. Unless... a student decides to follow me home to know my address... but normally, I'd just get home safe."

"That's good to hear." The blond hummed, "You know, Seraphina was worried about you when she isn't around. I know her mother on a more personal level as my family has connections to the authority—" Arlo noticed how John flinched slightly, it was minimal but the sudden shift in his gaze told Arlo that he was afraid of the authority in some way. This only made his craving to know John's background much stronger. But he decided to continue, "—and as a result of this, I sometimes get to know her plans outside of school by chance. She's asked me to take care of you in case students try to pick on you that way."