When Fate Plots and Portals Glitches

Murky Walks

It was late November, but with the snow it might as well be December. Meaning that one month was spent in the streets and two months were spent with Jerry (mostly with Jack if he was honest with himself).

It also meant that his school career was three months delayed.

Danny didn't know how to feel about the whole matter of going back to school. He didn't remember if he did or not, so its not like he knew what to expect or if he'll do well. Or even if he ever had a proper education.

Danny faintly wondered if he would like the other kids.

"Hey, out of curiosity, do you know where the school is?"

Danny stopped his walking, peeled his eyes away from the sidewalk. After seeing that no one was around, he looked back at Jack "I thought you were taking me."

Jack blinked "Ah, right. We're going to have to turn around then."

The only thing that stopped Danny from doing a face-palm was the fact that Jack was currently holding his hand. Jacks hand was cold, dry and comfortable. Too comfortable to let go and Danny was too lazy to just use his left hand.

Danny settled with giving Jack a glare as sharp as daggers.

Jack shrugged apologetically, pulled him to the right direction and they continued their walking.

In the end, Danny dropped the glare and traded it for a much more curious glance. Abet, still annoyed "Where you going to take me anyways?"

"To the park. A jogger from the left is coming by the way." Jack informed.

Danny knew that he should look away, but he couldn't help but watch the young woman with a set of silver headphones and a bony frame faze through Jack like he was thin air. While Jack dulled the response,  he winced in reflex.

In the corner of his eye Danny saw the jogger gain distance as he kept his eyes on Jack "you could've moved."

Jack shrugged once again and tightened his grip on Danny's hand, even if only slightly and his voice was quiet "I didn't really feel like getting out of the way, you know?"

Danny could understand that, the achromatic sky and light fog added a certain drowsiness to the air.

Danny leaned against Jacks' shoulder. Jacks' blue hoody was soft and smelled crisp "yeah, but its the premise of it."

Jack leaned back against Danny "eh, anyways.  You do realize that people are going to think that you're walking funny. Right?"

Danny rolled his eyes "people will also think that I'm talking to myself, but here we are."

"Look man, I know that you're crazy. But we don't need the whole town to know that." Jack huffed with a playful gleam in his eye. 

Danny grinned "not yet." he then took a deep breath "Its not like anyone's here anyways." Plus, leaning against Jack was a bit more snug then he would like to admit.

Jack hummed in agreement.

"Ah well, we're here" Jack said.

Danny stopped leaning against Jack and straitened his back "seriously?"

"Yup."

Danny took one long look at the building "... huh," Its red bricks, though faded with age, boldly stood against the smog. Across the top has the name Burgess Jr./Sr. High school in bronze and had two stone lions that mirrored each other.

Danny didn't take his eyes of the building "ever been inside?"

Jack shook his head "nope." Jack then gave Danny a Chester-like grin that had nothing but mischief written all over it "good luck."

Danny turn back at Jack to give a frown in return.

That was a big mistake. Because abruptly, like it did every once-so-often, it hit him.

Because, suddenly, even with all the grey Jack was vibrant in more ways then one. Despite wearing the same thing every damn day and never changing, Jack still had something that put Danny in a forbidden awe. Maybe it was the way he smiled, or the way Jack moved like poetry or the inner warmth that he held in his ice blue eyes despite themselves. Because moments like these Danny was breathless. 

"Danny, are you alright? You're giving me that weird look again and you look really red."

Danny cleared his throat and forced himself to look back at the school "Um, yeah. I'm... I'm fine Jack."

Jack gave him a strange look "... okay, just checking."

They stood there in awkward silence as the seconds ticked by.

Danny was the first to let go of Jack's hand "Alright, see you later."

Jack waved, and didn't move until the school swallowed Danny in and Jack couldn't see him any more. Only then, did he let the wind take him.