The day had started off great. Just great. Dawn had gotten up late for school and already missed half of his second period. By the time he walked to school, he'd have missed the whole thing. He'd only gotten half a night's sleep. Mistletoe had begged him to come along with her to a party on the block. He wasn't much for social gatherings. But amongst other things of caring for her deeply and wanting to see to it that she got home safe. He agreed. They hadn't come home until half past three. He snuck her in through the window and went home.
He loved Mistletoe, he really did. So it was no trouble to him. "Some people are worth it, some people are worth it-'' He sped walked across the school campus. Wiping his tired eyes and trying to run his fingers through his messy hair. "Some people are worth it, she is absolutely worth it-'' He smiled to himself thinking of her for a moment. Her smile could brighten the room. 'Yeah- definitely worth it' He thought.
Had he not been focused, he might have missed it. A small detail. A glimpse even. A scene caught the corner of his eye as he passed the boys bathrooms. That small fox from before.
He was clutching his satchel, backed against a locker. A nervous smile played on his face. Standing over him, a notorious delinquent. A young albino buck in his prime. Went by the name of Butters. His school uniform just managed to cover the sleeve tattoo along his body. Peeking out from the neck of his collar. They seemed to be having a conversation. But it didn't take a rocket scientist to see past that demeanor.
Pip was being bullied.
Dawn slowed his tracks. Taking in the sight for a moment. Seeing if it would escalate. He couldn't hear them, cursing his long fur. It caught in his ears and made him practically deaf. He watched how Pip never backed down. He didn't seem very afraid of the deer towering over him. Nor did he seem like he made any move to fight him. He almost seemed content. Then there was Butters.
His eyes were something unreadable. Hooves In pockets, he leaned over him in a dominating way. Dawn tried to make out if this was something about territory.. a common animal squabble. He watched the fox shyly shift away and try to walk away from him. Only to be stopped. Butters grabbed his bag, rather gentle, even for him. He didn't seem like he wanted the boy to go anywhere.
Pippen let a sheepish chuckle escape him. His ears pinned to his head. He gave the bag a pull and turned away again, only to be stopped once more.
"Please, I have to get to class- this is a lovely conversation but-"
"Knock it off Butters-" He interjected. The two looked over, noticing their new company. Butters stood straighter, releasing the fox from his grasp. He let out a dragged sigh. No longer hovering over the fox. "What do you want furbrains- this doesn't concern you." his voice was cold, hardened, and hollow. "I'm just having a little chat with pipsqueak here, aren't we girly?-"
Butters gave Pip a shove of the arm. Prompting him to respond, but Pip stayed silent, Seeming embarrassed. "She said she has to go to class, I'm sure your lovely talk can wait-" Dawn huffed. Butters grew increasingly annoyed. "You got a problem with me man?" He popped up. Dawn was inclined to be honest. "No, not entirely. But I'm not blind- I see what you're doing. And I'm not above reporting you to the administration for bullying-"
Butter's hackles raised. His fur bristling the slightest. He dragged his hoof on the floor, a small detail that dawn picked up on. He was becoming territorial. Dawn really couldn't determine over what though-... maybe..Pippen? "You're really starting to get on my nerves dog breath-" Butters hissed under his breath. Dawn held his ground silently. The two, mere feet apart from each other, had a silent standoff. Pip made no effort to move-
Dawn repeated. "She said she's late for class- pip you can leave now-" He spoke, granting him access to move. Butters interjected, putting an arm out in front of Pippen. "She's staying her-"
"He-"
The two paused- both equally surprised to hear the small foxes voice. "What-" Butters queried. He watched as Pip put a paw on his forearm. Slowly lowering his arm from in front of his face. "Im a boy..." he said, now softer than before, yet confident. He tapped the pin on his chest. Dawn took a moment to take in the scene. Three thoughts popped into his head.
1. Pip could defend himself with ease.
2. Butters had never let a soul touch him, and been fine with it-
And 3. What goddamn time is it anyway-
Butters demeanor seemed to soften. It was clear there was something about this fox that made him..different, even for a stag. "Sorry-" was all he had muttered as he backed off for the last time. Dawn watched the interaction and decided. He was also in the wrong- perhaps. He shouldn't have intervened at all. "Im- sorry too." It was almost funny. The two were so wrapped up in their fight, they'd forgotten what they were fighting over. And that was- if pip was happy. It was an odd way to fall out of an altercation.
Pip said thank you, and pat Butters gently. Butters said nothing and simply watched him walk away. And dawn? Dawn only followed Pip, and the two left for class.
He almost felt stupid in a way. What exactly was he expecting? Some form of heroism, a thank you? "He doesn't scare you at all?" Dawn blurted out. They were out of earshot now. The small fox only shook his head and smiled. "Is there a reason I should be afraid?" He still clutched his bag as he walked.
"Well- I mean.. everything about him- he's rude, aggressive, territorial too. Boy let me tell you- we have history-" He mused. "Off topic too, but I don't know any deer with canines-" He pointed as a matter a factly. "Maybe he's mixed with a predator, have you ever asked?" Pip pointed back.
Dawn paused. And he thought. And he spoke. "No, I guess I haven't." He thought back to why he never really liked Butters, and he figured it was because he'd used to tease Mistletoe. It left a bad taste in his mouth. Judgement. Then he thought, that's why most people didn't talk to him. He looked high-
No one really bothered to look at the bigger picture. "I see nothing but a deer being a deer." Pip laughed. It snapped him from his thoughts. He looked up to the class door in front of them. "Yeah- I guess you're right-'' Dawn muttered to himself. Pip thanked him, but only for walking him to class. Dawn waved it off, having learned his lesson a bit too well to accept thanks.
"It's Pip by the way-" He finally introduced himself, after two weeks of being at the school. He stretched out his paw in waiting. Dawn gave him a fist bump instead, a smile resting on his maw.
"Dawn."
