The Sharpest Shards of Glass

Chapter 1: The Rebel Who Wasn't Such A Rebel

He huffed as he sat down in his rightful place in orchestra with his cello in between his legs. His conducter, Paavo, had nodded in approval when Eicca handed the sheet music in. Eicca was very pleased with himself after that, but his pleasant mood had been dropped when he saw Perttu enter the building. And the sad part was that he had to sit next to Perttu for the entire class period. 

Eicca wasn't bothered at first when Paavo put the seating arrangements because he had been chosen to be first chair for cellos, but after a few weeks, people began poking him in the back with their bows and whispering awful things in his ear. And not only that, but he often got teased at how he "definitely had a crush on Perttu" simply because he was sitting next to him. He shook his head pitifully at the thought. How childish. 

He pulled his music out, deciding that he wasn't going to stare for any longer. He slapped some rosin on his bow and started to tune himself. He already tuned himself like three times before, but he always wanted to be very careful.

Just as he was doing so, he felt something vaguely sharp press into the skin and fabric on his back. He didn't turn around. He already knew that if he did, he would get poked in the eye or be told something nasty. It's happened once before.

So, he merely grabbed the tip of the bow and shoved it away. That brought the intruder to poke his back even harder once more, then they stopped.

Eicca didn't let it audibly slip out, but he exhaled relief and the tension in his body untangled itself from his shoulders. But just when he thought it was over, the person decided it would be funny if they poked him really hard in the nape of his neck. 

Just as Paavo stepped on the podium, Eicca cried out and brought a hand to the back of his neck, bowing his head. He didn't lift it because he knew everyone was staring at him.

The people behind him were giggling and chuckling and making it obvious that it was them that caused him to cry out.

Paavo cleared his throat and clasped his hands together. "Is there a problem, Mr. Toppinen?"

Eicca didn't say anything, just shook his head 'no'. He could feel a bruise forming on the nape of his neck and inwardly cried, "Dammit!"

Paavo smiled down at him and nodded. "Okay then. Today, we're..."

Eicca drowned out the rest of what his conducter was saying. He didn't know why, but the back of his neck really hurt. That person poked hard.

But beside him, he heard Perttu whisper to him. "Are you alright?"

Eicca, who was inwardly shocked, nodded, keeping his head bowed so he wouldn't see his rose colored cheeks.

Suddenly, he heard and round of applause and felt people pat him on the back from behind. He shrugged their hands off. He knew they were clapping because he wrote new music. Usually, he would be happy about this, but he was put in a bad mood. 'Where's my therapist when I need him.'

Yes, Eicca had a therapist, Mikko. Mikko made him feel very comfortable when he was arouund him and he wasn't a typical therapist. They actually walked around the camous while Eicca talked about how he felt for the day's events. He almost considered Mikko to be his friend. 

"Would you like to hear it?" Paavo asked in enthusiasm. 

He got many affirmative noises telling him to do so. 

"Then it's time to learn how to play it," Paavo said with a grin.

Gorans were heard throughout the building, but Eicca didn't care too much to register. Having his own sheet music, he started to play the beginning (for Apocalyptica fans, just think of "The Shadow Of Venus"). It was captivating, haunting, and almost seductive. Intense. 

He didn't realize that Perttu was staring at him in unnoticable awe as he played with ferocity set in his baby blue eyes.

Eicca could feel tears welling up in his closed eyes and he squeezed them tighter to will them away. He had plenty of time to cry when he was with Mikko.

Eicca stopped in the middle of it. He knew he had to. It was getting emotional very quickly. He opened his eyes and looked up, seeing that Paavo was glancing at him with slightly raised eyebrows. Eicca wondered how long he'd been staring.

Paavo smiled down at him. "Are we ready to start?"

Eicca nodded, blushing as much as he would allow it.

In that class period, Eicca had to say they learned pretty fast, considering the fact that he didn't step anywhere out of their comfort zone when he wrote this. 

He couldn't have packed up faster when Paavo dismissed him and just as he was ready to leave, Paavo called him over. His immediate thoughts were, 'Fuck my life.' as he walked over to him on the podium. 

Paavo had a concerned look in his eyes. "You alright today, in class? You weren't being much like yourself this afternoon."

Eicca shook his head as he waved it off. "Nothing was wrong - just some difficulties with the people behind me. It's fine, honestly."

Paavo narrowed his eyes. "You're sure?"

Eicca smiled in reassurance, knowing on the inside that he shaking his head frantically. "I'm positive."

Paavo stared at him for a moment more before looking down and nodding, patting his shoulder. "Off you go then."

Eicca wanted to run out of there, but he didn't, just because he knew that was rude. 

But as he stepped out, he sprinted, not geting much farther when he bumped into somebody. He wanted to fling himself off a cliff when he found out who it was.

Perttu.

He could hear people whispering around him and gawking at the both of him. He expected Perttu jump him right then and there. 

But he didn't.

Instead, he extended a hand and Eicca took it. When he got up, Perttu asked, "Are you okay?"

Eicca smiled slightly as he brushed some dust off of his front and back. "Yeah, thanks. I'm sorry."

Perttu shook his head slightly. "No, that's fine."

As Eicca looked up, he took that moment to take in Perttu's dark apperance. His black hair halfway down his back and his lips were perfectly thin and pink. His eyes were intensly hazel and he had a good two inches on him. 

Then realizing that he was staring, he nodded and walked past him, a big red blush painted on his cheeks. 'Wow, Eino. Lovely job.' 

Then he noticed something. Perttu wasn't threatening all of a sudden. Months ago, he wouldn't have given a shit if he was getting hurt by those two pieces of fuck behind him - now he suddenly cared and asked him if he was okay. Eicca narrowed his eyesbrows. 'The fuck? What is this?'

Since Eicca had a lot of trouble with trusting people, he was skeptical. Why was Perttu being tolerable now? Where was that "bad boy" side Eicca always saw? All Eicca knew was that he didn't want to find out.

(NOTE: Just keep in mind that this is an AU story and this is simply a prompt that popped in my head.)