Changing Hearts (GeminiFourth Fanfiction)

I

Chapter One

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The air in the architecture classroom hung heavy, thick with the scent of stale coffee and the unspoken dread that clung to the first day back after summer break. Fourth stepped inside, the familiar chaos of the department washing over him like a wave. He sighed, the weight of the upcoming semester settling on his shoulders, a weight compounded by the familiar ache of anticipation, the knowledge that the storm was about to break.

His gaze fell upon his chair, a battlefield of crumpled papers and scrawled insults. It was a scene that had become all too familiar over the past two years, a ritual of humiliation that had become as predictable as the sunrise. Fourth had learned to accept it, to expect it, to brace himself for the onslaught. He reached into his bag, pulling out the plastic garbage bag and wet wipes he always kept on hand, a silent testament to his resignation. He knew better than to try and fight

the inevitable.

Just then, Ford arrived, his usual bright smile faltering as he saw the familiar scene. The air around him seemed to deflate, the carefree energy he had been radiating moments before replaced by a quiet frustration. "This is so annoying," Ford muttered, grabbing the wipes from

Fourth's hand and helping him clean the chair. "It's only the first day, and he's doing it again."

Fourth couldn't help but feel a bittersweet mix of emotions. He was grateful for Ford's presence, the quiet understanding in his friend's eyes a balm to the sting of the situation. But the situation itself was disheartening, a constant reminder of his own powerlessness. It had been two years of this constant harassment, a relentless barrage of insults and petty humiliations, and he was starting to feel defeated. The weight of the past two years pressed down on him, a crushing sense of futility.

Ford, sensing his friend's weariness, said, "You know, you don't have to put up with it." His tone softened, laced with concern, a genuine desire to see Fourth break free from the cycle of abuse.

Fourth's smile faded, replaced by a wistful sigh. "I know, Ford. But what's the point? If I react, he'll think he's won. He'll just keep doing it anyway." His words were a confession, a reflection of the internal battle he waged every day. He knew, deep down, that he deserved better, that he shouldn't have to endure this, but the fear of escalation, of making things worse, kept him

frozen in place.

Ford knew this was a conversation they'd had countless times before. Fourth's quiet resilience was both admirable and frustrating. He wanted to see his friend stand up for himself, fight back against the relentless bullying, but Fourth, with his gentle nature and unwavering kindness, seemed content to simply endure. It was a frustrating paradox, a testament to the insidious nature of bullying, the way it could chip away at a person's spirit, leaving them feeling powerless and defeated.

As they settled into their seats, a crumpled paper sailed through the air, landing with a thud on Ford's desk. Caught off guard, Ford instinctively reached for it, his brow furrowing in annoyance. He unfolded the paper, his face hardening as he read the words scrawled across it:

"You're just a nobody. Nobody cares about you."

"You're so weird, you make me sick."

"You're so stupid, you'll never amount to anything."

"You're so ugly, nobody would ever want to be your friend."

The words were a venomous cocktail of cruelty, designed to inflict maximum damage. Each sentence, dripping with disdain and malice, was a blow to Fourth's already fragile self-esteem. Fourth, who knew the source of the torment all too well, looked down, his gaze fixed on the floor, a silent acknowledgment of the powerlessness he felt. "Ford, just ignore it," he mumbled, his voice barely audible, a desperate plea for normalcy in a world that had become anything but.