Snow Addiction [Vikklan AU]*ON HOLD*

Chapter Four: Lachlan Loves Guys

☕Lachlan☕

Lachlan wrote on the paper, scribbling words on the lines. He brushed off the small bits of graphite from his pencil, making sure he had done it right.

What's your favourite number of the alphabet? Mine's U, R, A, Q, T.

Lachlan quickly erased his mistake, not wanting to think about what would've happened if he hadn't noticed it.

He folded the paper carefully, before sliding it across the table. It passed a boy, who Lachlan never bothered to talk to, and stopping in front of the girl he'd been stalking for weeks now. Kayleigh Wordley.

Lachlan watched as she noticed the folded slip, carefully opening it and smoothing it out. She looked confused because Lachlan was gay as fuck and shouldn't be hitting on girls.

Lachlan decided to find out her reaction later. She'd either show gratitude or slap him. Probably the latter. He looked over at the professor, trying to pay attention, but it was harder than it looked.

Writing poems were fun. Listening to some old guy lecture about them? Not so much.

Class ended, and once again, Lachlan savored his freedom. As he was grabbing his stuff, someone tapped his shoulder.

"Excuse me?"

It was Kayleigh. She held up the note that he had given her during class. Lachlan felt hope burst in his chest.

"What does this mean?"

He felt the hope deflate, replaced by a feeling of embarrassment. "J-Just read it out loud."

She unfolded the paper, smoothing it out, opening her mouth to read the message. Lachlan stopped her with a frantic wave of his hands. "N-No, no, no!"

Kayleigh stopped, staring at him with a weird look. "What d'you mean? Am I not supposed to read this, after all?"

"Preferably not in front of me," Lachlan said. "Um, anyways," he pretended to look at a clock, "I'd better get going. Good luck in your studies!"

"But there's nothing on that wall, what the fuck are you lo--"

"Bye!"

He rushed off campus, hoping Kayleigh wouldn't see him as too much of a loser.

He took his normal route to the coffee shop; down the block and across the road.

Lachlan didn't know what the feeling bursting in his chest was as he saw the alley where he had seen Vik. It was weird.

Excitement, maybe?

Whatever it was, it sure as hell wasn't fear. Or disgust. Or whatever a normal person would feel if they saw someone selling drugs in a sketchy alley.

But if excitement was what Lachlan felt when he approached Vik's alley, what was the feeling when he saw what was in the alley?

Shock, for one

Fear, two.

And one last emotion.

What was it? It wasn't anger. Not vengeance. Most definitely not bloodthirsty.

It was some type of feeling that made him want to punch whoever did this to Vik in the face. Then in the gut. Then in the most painful place possible for a guy. Or a girl, depending on the gender.

That feeling.

Vik was lying in a curled ball on the ground, his eyes shut tight.

The feeling, Lachlan decided, was protective.

Lachlan had never seen so much emotion in Vik's face. Well, then again, he had only known him for about a day. But still, Lachlan had never seen so much fear in one person, ever, in his whole, entire life.

Vik looked up, what used to be a stony, guarded expression now a broken one, seemingly cracked at the edges. His dark skin was even darker in some spots, purple bruises forming on his skin.

Lachlan said what seemed like the most helpful thing to say at the moment. "What the fuck happened, Vik?"

Then he remembered he was socially awkward.

Vik shivered. "What do you fucking think happened?" he asked, his voice scratchy.

"You--"

"For fuck's sake, Lachlan, you aren't helping."

"How am I--"

"For starters, you can let go of my fucking wrist, you're cutting off the fucking circulation."

Lachlan quickly let go. "S-Sorry, sorry," he stuttered. "I'm not good at this kind of stuff."

Vik snorted. "I can tell."

"But seriously Vik, what happened to you? No offense, but you look like absolute shit." Lachlan looked at the various marks on Vik's skin.

"I'm not--" Vik's voice broke as his body convulsed once.

"Vik?" Lachlan asked sharply.

Vik shivered again. "C-Cold."

Lachlan took off his coat, draping it over him. "Better?"

Vik was still shaking slightly. Lachlan couldn't tell if it was from the white that had fallen from the sky, or whoever, or whatever, had beaten up Vik.

"C'mon," Lachlan said, helping him up. "You can come back to my dorm! I don't have class until later today, so you could just stay there, and--"

"Lachlan," Vik interrupted, "I'd rather not go to your dorm."

Lachlan was taken aback. "But where are you going to go?"

Vik stood up on shaky legs, letting go of Lachlan's hand and supporting his weight on the wall. "Home, of course."

"Well, I'm coming with you," Lachlan insisted stubbornly.

Something seemed to frighten Vik by that statement. "Please don't."

That was the first time Lachlan had ever heard Vik sound so desperate, so wanting. It was probably the last, too. But it scared Lachlan as much as it scared Vik.

"Why not?" Lachlan asked. "You need someone to take care of you."

Vik shook his head, taking a small step forward. "I don't need taking care of. I've already--" He clapped a hand over his mouth, as if he had said something wrong.

"You already what Vik?" Lachlan demanded, gripping Vik's arm, making sure he didn't grab it too tight, this time. "Tell me."

Vik glared at Lachlan. Blue eyes met brown, the latter sighing as Vik muttered, "I've already got someone to take care of. Now let me go!"

Lachlan released his grip on Vik. Vik struggled, finally able to walk out of the alley. He turned back to look at Lachlan. "Thanks for the help."

"But I didn't... what did I even do?" Lachlan asked, wanting to help Vik more.

A hint of a smile formed on Vik's lips. "You were there for me. Thanks for that."

He slowly limped away, leaving Lachlan in the cold.