Open Case File [COMPLETED]

Becoming Friends

Another flash back! Wow we're really pulling a Barry Allen here and visiting the past a lot!

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Donovan pulled his shirt over his head and reached for his bag. Around him, the boy's locker room was a chaos of sound. Boys jeered, taunted, challenged, mocked and laughed at each other. There was a loud crash and a weak groan as one kid was knocked sideways into the wall of metal. Laughter sprung up from the guilty party. As someone retaliated, a body stumbled into Donovan, knocking him into his locker.

A stab off irritation shot through him, knowing he couldn't pummel whatever idiot had bumped into him. Instead, he looked around at the younger kids who had done the pushing. The smiles on their faces faltered at Donovan's cold eyes and controlled expression. Having to deal with the immaturity of Link's classmates had not been one of the problems he had foreseen, but it was one that was the most frustrating. Compared to the twenty and thirty-year-olds he had grown up with, everyone was like kindergarteners.

Collecting his bag, he closed his locker, his eyes never leaving theirs. Scared, the boys shuffled back to getting changed, waiting for Donovan to leave before continuing their antics. On the opposite wall of lockers, Donovan found Link just opening his to get changed. When Donovan paused next to him, Link shook his head in annoyance.

"I don't need a babysitter to change," he muttered under his breath.

"I'll be outside."

"Like I care," Link said as Donovan walked away.

Beyond the door classes were still in session, the patter of voices humming in the air. Donovan stepped away from the door and leaned against the wall, shoving his hands into his pockets. Despite the couple months that he had been protecting Link, they seemed no closer than before. Though Donovan knew Link's anger wasn't meant for him, but for the man who had put him in this situation, it still didn't mean it wasn't tiring to constantly be fighting with the person he was charged to watch.

A steady stream of boys left the room, jostling each other as they raced towards the school entrance. Across the way, the girl's locker room door swung open. The buzz of gossip slipped out as a group exited. When the collection of girls noticed Donovan, they scurried away whispering and giggling together. One girl broke away from the group and approached him. She barely looked thirteen with lengthening limbs that weren't natural to her yet, a sweet round face and wispy black hair that she wore up high in a ponytail. Hugging her binder, she smiled at Donovan, a dimple appearing in one cheek.

"Hi, Donovan," she said, her voice high and innocent. "What are you waiting for?"

"Link. His mother drives me home."

"You live in the same building, right?"

He nodded.

"That's cool. So," she tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "It's my birthday today-"

"Happy birthday," he said.

The well wish made her blush and her smile to widen. At the look, Donovan knew it had been the wrong thing to say. With each day he was learning the best ways to navigate this small world and more likely than not the best thing to do it was keep silent.

"Thanks," she said. "Well, I'm having a pool party tomorrow and I didn't know if you wanted to come?" She pulled out a colorful piece of paper and handed it to him. Across it in bubble letters was information about the party. "You can bring Link if you want to."

Donovan took the offered paper. "Thanks."

Wishing for more of a positive response, the girl paused. But when Donovan said nothing more, she shuffled awkwardly.

"I hope to see you there!" she said, then joined her waiting friends.

As she was pulled into their fold, their voices rose and snippets of their conversation made it back to Donovan.

"I can't believe you actually asked him!"

"He's so hot!"

"What did he say?"

"I hope he comes, I want to see him shirtless."

The last comment sent the girls into rounds of giggles as they hurried away. Donovan let out a sigh, trying not to feel annoyed at girls that were simply growing up. The door beside him opened and he looked over. It wasn't Link. From inside he heard the taunting remarks of someone pleased with their strength. Sensing that something was off, Donovan walked back into the locker room.

At the center of the room, a circle of five guys were shoving Link around like a ball in a pinball machine. Their laughter was harsh and their smile jeering.

"Where's your boyfriend, wimp," one asked.

"I don't have a boyfriend," Link growled back, trying to fight the strong grips that pushed and pulled at him.

"You should stop," Donovan said.

The boys around Link looked over. They were the ones that had already hit their growth spurt and easily stood as tall as Donovan.

"You worried we're going to hurt your
special little friend?" one of the biggest taunted.

As Link tried to use their distraction to break out of the circle, one of them yanked his collar, jerking him to a stop. It was then his eyes found Donovan's and in them, he could see Link's fear, shame, and anger.

"Let him go," Donovan said, calmly.

A boy with a face made for scowling took a step towards Donovan.

"Or what?" he sneered. "You're going to make us?"

"Yes."

This made all the guys laugh, their eyes connecting as if to make sure none of them were going to ditch.

"There's five of us, idiot."

"Makes no difference, you're all equally stupid."

As if they had rehearsed it, the group charged at Donovan. When the first guy reached him, he stepped to the side and shoved the boy's shoulders, using his momentum to send him sprawling onto the floor.

A fist came from the left and Donovan caught the arm, twisted it and kicked the boy in the side, making him fall into a bench. Another fist appeared and Donovan blocked it while kicking another kid in the stomach. He flicked the throat of the guy who had tried to punch him. Choking for air, the boy clutched his neck. The final boy lunged for Donovan, letting out an angry cry. Donovan twisted and the boy collided with his other fallen companion. The fight was over in less than a minute. Link stared at Donovan wide-eyed.

"Can your mom still give me a ride home?" Donovan asked.

The question snapped Link out of his thoughts and he nodded. They left, Link glancing back at the moaning figures.

"Umm...thanks for that," he said, as they headed towards the entrance.

"Sure." After a pause, Donovan spoke again. "You're coming over to my apartment."

"Why?"

"Cause I'm going to teach you how to fight your own battles."

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Hey hey hey!
(Okay I got excited, don't judge)

What did you diddly do think?

(Wow that makes no sense 🤦🏽‍♀️)

Haha poor Donovan having to deal with all those girls. I know it sounds funny cause I wrote this, but I never realized HOW young everyone was when he started protecting Link. I mean being sixteen and surrounded by twelve-year-olds is really hard.

Any who! Vote, comment, follow