Orphanage AU: Lams

Chapter 62: Another Shot

Thomas and James. Jeff/Mads. FIGHTING, which I seem to have quite often. Huh.

---James' POV---

Yesterday King almost managed to corner me when I narrowly escaped into my apartment. This time I knew it would be different because I wasn't nearly close enough to dart through the door. And instead of behind me, King was between me and the apartment.

Also, Charles and Samuel were there as well. Cowardly much? At least Jefferson wasn't with them I let a mild vine of happiness grow twistingly through my heart at the fact that he'd passed on beating my ass.

Samuel gave me a cruel smile that he never would have had the bravery to pull off if he wasn't half a step behind King.

King, though, pulled his confidence solely from himself. Of from his record of pretty much never losing a fight, even though he picked so many.

Except for that one time Jefferson and King fought... Jefferson won. I didn't remember what it was about, except that I didn't care because it was stupid.

"Too bad T couldn't join us," Samuel lamented gleefully. "He would have loved the terror on your face."

I tried to decide whether to set my jaw- if I gave signs of resistance, they'd only beat me up harder. There was no way I could successfully fight three people who fought pretty much all the time.

On the other hand, was I really just going to crumple at their feet?

I set my jaw.

King sighed in a way that made it clear he was neither disappointed or tired. "Oh well, too bad. Fuck him and his fever, now let's get on with it."

Fever. Of fucking course. Jeffershit didn't care about me, he cared about the shame of these three finding out he had a broken leg.

It was surprising how much the realization hurt. I thought I was on the road to getting over him.

But if I was honest, it was nothing on the punches that came next.

---Thomas POV---

Yesterday Jemmy almost caught me watching him from my window. I don't think he felt me though, because the set of his shoulders hadn't been tense. He just... looked up. As if he was thinking about me.

I wondered pitifully if maybe, possibly, his thoughts weren't taking my name and dragging it through the mud. I didn't think I could bear it if that's what he thought of me- but I knew it most definitely was. How could he not?

But even so, I still sat in my chair, watching people pass, waiting by the window.

I hoped to stay hidden most of the day, or at least from the trio, but I knew I'd see them coming soon enough to get into bed and cover my leg if they did come to visit, which I knew they wouldn't.

It was so empty without Jemmy. Not like the life had gone out of the room, really, but like the sun had. The house felt so big, and I felt so small.

Shit. There were three swaggering figures waiting past Jemmy's house- I'd know them anywhere. I was just about to duck away from the window so they wouldn't spot me when they stopped.

Just in front of Jemmy's house. Their intentions couldn't have been more obvious if they'd brought giant signs and wrote here to beat up f*gs on them, then proceeded to parade them about, screaming slurs at the top of their lungs.

Which, for some reason, hurt for me to picture.

The scene before me hurt more, though. They were waiting for Jemmy, and when he got there... I couldn't let that happen. I couldn't. I'd do anything to stop ot.