ARC 1: Arrival

Prologue

The noise blurred around Theo in the courtyard. A mix of grunts, heavy breathing, and the rustle of clothes being pulled at.

Loren had him by the shoulders and so did he, only Theo was trying to push him away. Every time his grip slipped, Loren would catch on his tie, his sleeves, and even his hair.

The blur sharpened into a chant as the crowd came closer.

“Fight! Fight! Fight!”

Loren's elbow clipped the side of Theo’s head in the scramble. Theo's world tilted from gray skies, faces, then wet concrete.

Everything darkened for a moment until a pair of blue eyes appeared. Loren had Theo forced to the ground, both hands squeezing down on his wrists.

Rain slid from his blonde hair, making Theo blink. The bandages on Loren’s face came into focus, one of them dangling off the side of his chin. He didn't seem to notice or care for it though.

Theo could have pushed Loren off of him or roll on his sides, but he did neither.

White sneakers muddied by the rain shuffled around them, the chants dying into murmurs.

Then one voice rose above them. “Hit him already.”

Theo couldn't read Loren’s expression properly. He looked like he was angry at first, then scared.

Loren held Theo’s collar with one hand. He raised the other with his fingers slowly curling into a fist. Theo shut his eyes, his body bracing for impact.

Loren didn't strike. 

Instead, his arm trembled, fingers loosening around Theo's collar.

Coward.

Theo didn't know what came over him. Either way, the crowd was watching, and something had to happen.

“It’s okay,” Theo whispered.