Static

~Feels like I'm destined~

The first day of school holidays, and the last thing I expected was to be confronted by the boy Robin was beating up... Moose was his name?. But here we were, me and Bruce, trying to have some downtime. It was nice for once, no classes, no homework, just the two of us hanging out.

Bruce had suggested we go grab something to eat. We were walking down the street, past the park, laughing about some dumb thing that happened in PE. I'd been enjoying it, maybe too much, when I caught sight of a familiar figure leaning against the lamppost, arms crossed, jaw clenched.

"Great," I muttered, my stomach tightening.

Bruce shot me a confused look. "What? What's wrong?"

I didn't respond immediately, keeping my eyes trained on the guy who had ruined my first real impression of Robin. Moose.

He was back. And from the look of it, he hadn't changed one bit. He was a tower of muscle, even more intimidating up close than from the bleachers. His eyes locked onto mine, and I felt a wave of anxiety wash over me.

"Moose," I said, my voice not as steady as I'd like.

Moose straightened up, an unpleasant grin spreading across his face as he took in Bruce and me. "Well, well. If it isn't the little fags."

My chest tightened at the slur. Bruce's shoulders stiffened beside me, and I could feel his pulse quicken too. It wasn't like I hadn't been expecting this; I had, but it still hit me hard every time. Moose had never been anything but a bully, and now that I was with Robin, I knew what kind of trouble we were walking into.

"What do you want, Moose?" I asked, trying to keep my voice calm despite the rising anger in my chest.

He took a step closer, eyeing Bruce like he wasn't even human. "I was just wondering when you two lovebirds would show up. Thought I'd come say hi. You know, let you know your little fairy tale's just that, some stupid, weak-ass fantasy."

I bristled, clenching my fists at my sides. But Bruce, ever the protector, stepped forward.

"Shut up," he said sharply. "Don't talk to Finney like that."

Moose let out a harsh laugh, throwing his head back. "Oh, I'm sorry. Did I hurt your feelings, sweetie? Was that too much for your sensitive little ass to handle?"

Bruce didn't back down. His jaw was set in a way that meant he wasn't going to let this slide. But as Moose's words kept cutting, I could feel the familiar heat rising in my chest. This wasn't the first time I'd faced off with people like him, but it didn't make it any easier.

"I don't have time for this," I muttered, stepping around Bruce. "You're pathetic, Moose. Grow up."

Moose's expression hardened, and before I could even register the movement, he was shoving me back, sending me stumbling into Bruce.

"Pathetic, huh?" he growled. "You think you're better than me, fag?"

"Moose-" Bruce started, but I held up a hand to stop him.

I was beyond the point of words. I knew what it was like to feel the heat of a bully's anger close to you. And this time? I wasn't going to let him get the better of me.

I took a breath and squared up, stepping towards Moose. "You've got a problem with me, fine. But don't drag Bruce into this. He's not your target."

Moose sneered, clearly annoyed. "So you're standing up for your friend now? Is that how it is? You've got a whole pack of gay losers now?"

Something inside me snapped. I wasn't some punching bag, some target for people like him. "You don't get it, do you?" I said, my voice calm but full of sharp anger. "I'm not your punching bag. And I won't let you take me down."