Back Again (old version)

PRIDE

So hello Again! I decided to post this chapter in honor of Pride Month. Don't hide your true self. Be open! You might get some hate, but remember that there are always people here supporting you. Alphabet Soup is something I totally support, and just know that there are way more of us supporters out there than you think!  Have the bestest day ever! 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈 #unlimitedpride

~thePurplest~

(Ps. These are going to be with random OCs. And this will not relate to the main story.)
_____________________

I could hear the pounding of my heart as I ran down the busy street.

Crap! Why did he have to get so close?!?

My face was still hot, and I knew my checks would still be flushed. I stalked down the street with my hands in my pocket muttering to myself.

He was just so close! What was he even thinking?! I sighed. There was nothing wrong with it. Not in his perspective at least. We were both guys. He was just wiping something off my face. Just one bro helping other. Things like that weren't supposed to get weird.

But crap! It totally did!

He was probably so confused why I ran out like that. I know I would be. I just couldn't let him see me so flustered like that!

I sighed, putting my face in my hands. This day couldn't get any worse.

That's until I heard loudening footsteps behind me.

"What the heck dude! Why'd you run off like that?" He reached me and grabbed my wrist. "Come on! You're worrying me. Talk to me, man!"

The instant his hand touched my wrist my face shot red. I wouldn't let myself turn around and face him.

He tried facing me, but I just looked away. I was so scared of what he'd think of me. I yanked my wrist away and ran off again. I felt so bad but I didn't want him to know. I couldn't let that happen. He'd just abandon me. I knew it!

I heard him running after me.

"Stop this, Z!"

I didn't stop. I kept running. And running. And running. And I didn't turn back.

When I finally stopped, I was in an alley. My breathing was really heavy from running so much. Unlike Ned, I wasn't in very good shape. I don't know how he never caught up to me.

I leaned on the wall I was next to and slid down to a sitting position. I finally took the time to look up and realized I was lost. The area look completely foreign to me, and I left my phone at the place we were at beforehand.

I closed my eyes and threw my head back. My day was getting worse than I thought it could. What would I say if I saw Ned again? What would I tell him? My mind was going in all sorts of directions when it was abruptly interrupted.

"Look what wimp the rats dragged in this time."

I looked up to see a tall man with a stubble beard and nose piercing give me a wicked grin. His smirk showed me his teeth along with his fake gold ones.

This was not good.

I tried backing away but someone. Came up behind me.

"Read him, Mange."

The guy called Mange came forward and put his hands on my head. I pulled away but to no avail. I felt a wave of pressure before the guy removed his hands. He looked at me and smirked before turning to the other.

"He ain't got a quirk, Boss. We caught a quirkless."

People laughed around us and the Boss man just smiled.

"This will be easy then."

He took me by my shirt collar a threw me into the wall. I landed and couldn't get up before someone kicked me in the side. I coughed and rolled over just to get kicked again. I held my side as they all laughed.

"Hey! Why do you even exist? Who do you th-?" The guy was cut off when a stream of lightning came and shocked him. He twitched and fell over, putting all of them on alert.

It came again. Men fell over left and right. The lightning shot towards me, and I closed my eyes in fear. But it didn't hurt. It felt... familiar... safe.

My head jerked up to see Ned standing in front of me. Protecting me. We were surrounded but he didn't seem to care.

"Who are?! Why are you protecting his loser?"
The guy laughed. "What? Is he your boyfriend or something?"

Ned just smiled back at them. His confidence was something I could never reach.

"Well, yes actually. He is." Wait... what?! I stared at him shook. Did I just hear him correctly? I must of just heard him wrong, right? "He's my boyfriend."

What?

So it wasn't my imagination? But it's all just an act, right? Just an act to protect me. Just an excuse. Ya. That's it. Has to be.

Before my thoughts could clear completely, Ned ran in and took out the rest of the bad guys. This was one of the reasons I liked him. He was so strong and determined and loyal.

He picked me up before I was able to protest and took me to his apartment. I was really nervous, but I tried to hold it in.

He set me on his couch and left the room. He came back and treated my wounds. We didn't say a thing during the whole time.

He got up to put the med kit away, so I decided to try to break the ice.

"Umm... Ned. So-."

Before I was able to finish, his strong arms came from behind me and wrapped me in a hug. He placed his head on my shoulder and my face was beat red. My pulse was pounding.

"I'm sorry I wasn't there sooner." He squeezed me tighter.

Silence followed. I mustered up my courage and began to speak again.

"N-ned... I... umm..." Come on Z! You can do this! "I... umm. Sorta... a..." I took a deep breath. Now or never. "Ned, I... umm l-li..."

To my surprise, Ned cut me off. His arms were still tight around my waist. His words echoed in my hears.

"I, Ai Ned, pledge to always protect you as long as we live." He smiled.

I was lost for words. He took my head and made me face him. We were so close again, and this time he could see my blush...

"Z..."

...and I could see his.

He leaned in and gently placed a kiss on my lips. He looked me in the eyes and smiled.

"...I love you, too."