Through the Noise

Terms and Conditions

The days following their first meeting were filled with quick, passing interactions. Beam made sure not to push too hard, playing his part as if this connection with Forth wasn’t a big deal. But he could tell that Forth was watching him closely, and he used every opportunity to subtly show his strengths and appeal.

Beam was back in the engineering building one afternoon, grabbing a snack in the common area, when Forth walked in, his expression as unreadable as ever. He spotted Beam immediately and walked over, making it clear he had something on his mind.

“Let’s take a walk,” Forth said in his deep, steady voice, nodding toward the hallway.

Beam raised an eyebrow, hiding his curiosity behind a smirk. “Sure,” he replied, pushing away from the table and following Forth down the corridor and out to a quieter part of campus.

The two of them walked in silence for a moment, the air thick with unspoken words. Finally, Forth broke the silence. “I’ve been thinking about what you said,” he began, glancing at Beam as they strolled. “And I need to know something. Are you serious about this, or are you just looking for an easy way out of trouble?”

Beam chuckled, shoving his hands into his pockets. “I thought you would’ve figured that out by now. I’m not looking for an ‘easy’ anything.” He met Forth’s gaze, letting his confidence shine through. “I’m interested in making this work for both of us.”

“Then there are going to be terms,” Forth said, stopping to face Beam fully. His expression was serious, his gaze intense. “I don’t babysit, and I don’t handle people’s personal messes for free. If I’m getting involved, I want to know exactly what you’re expecting from me.”

Beam gave a nod, already prepared. “Simple. I don’t need anyone to clean up after me, either. What I need is someone who can back me up if things go south. A presence. You know, the kind that says ‘don’t mess with this guy unless you’re looking for trouble.’”

Forth gave a slight smirk, his eyes holding a glimmer of amusement. “And what are you offering in return?”

Beam leaned back, considering his words. “I can give you freedom, Forth. People know who I am, and with me on your side, you’ll get access to circles you wouldn’t normally be part of. Plus, I know how to handle people, keep them from getting too close if that’s what you want.”

Forth seemed to consider this for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then he gave a short nod. “Alright. But there’s one more condition.”

Beam tilted his head, intrigued. “Go on.”

“You follow my lead in public,” Forth said simply. “I don’t need my business being everyone’s entertainment.”

Beam’s smirk widened. He’d been expecting something like this. “Fair enough. I can play by your rules.”

Forth studied him for a moment longer before extending his hand. “Then we have a deal?”

Beam clasped Forth’s hand firmly, meeting his gaze with a determined look. “Deal.”

---

It didn’t take long for their arrangement to be put to the test. A few days after their deal was struck, Beam found himself surrounded by a small group of students from another faculty who seemed intent on causing trouble. Normally, Beam would’ve handled them himself, but something in the air told him this was the kind of situation that could escalate fast.

Before he even had a chance to react, though, Forth appeared, his presence commanding and intimidating. He stood behind Beam, arms crossed, radiating a sense of danger that made the other students pause.