Conflict and Harmony 1/?
Story Title: Conflict and Harmony
Chapter Title: Chemistry
Author: sakamotomhira
Rating: PG-13 - R (language)
Pairing: None
Summary: The struggle to find love in a world full of hate and hope.
Warning: Language
Word Count: 1,439
Notes: So! If you're reading this that means you've decided to check out what I have besides my Glee fanfiction. I really appreciate that. This is an original story I've been working on for about...2-3 years now. I've started over and over again and finally managed to get a plot line I was happy with. I have bios for each of the characters that I'll post in an entry after this one and have it linked. Pictures may take a bit longer but they'll be up before long. I have the first two chapters written, it's just a matter of typing them up. But, I hope you enjoy!
--
"Fag!"
The cruel slur rang in his ears, setting his teeth on edge. 'Ignore them, Mason,' he thought to himself. 'They aren't worth getting upset over.'
"Look, there goes the little faerie!"
A shudder ran up his spine, his breath catching in his throat.
"Leave him alone." Mason looked over to see his older brother Lance standing in front of the speaker, arms crossed over his chest, eyes narrowed in a glare. "What has he ever done to you?"
"I just don't want a little homo lusting after me." An ugly sneer spread across his face. "I may be a stud but I ain't gay."
"You aren't his type. Trust me, I know, I read his diary," Lance smirked. With that, he turned from the bully and walked to where his brother was. "Hey, you okay?"
"You've read my diary?" Mason hissed, eyes wide with disbelief.
"Dude, relax, I was joking." He paused, a thoughful look passing over his face. "You have a diary?"
"Shut up, that's not the point," he grumbled. "Don't go looking for it. It's...private."
"What's private?" a voice asked from behind them.
"Mason's diary."
"Shut up, Lance!"
"You didn't read it, did you? He may be your little brother but that's a dick move."
"No, Dakota, I didn't read it. I already told Mason. What you two get up to at night remains between you two," he teased.
Dakota rolled his eyes as Mason flushed dark red. "Just because we're both gay doesn't mean I'm interested in him like that."
Mason flinched slightly at the comment. 'Don't get upset,' he thought harshly. 'He has no idea how you feel.'
"You know I'm just joking, right Mason?" Lance asked. He didn't want to seriously upset his little brother. Mason dealt with enough crap as it was.
"I know. You're a geek but you're not evil."
"Yes, but Dalton is," Lance huffed, thinking of their older brother.
"I can't believe he's so cruel to you," Dakota said.
"He's just ignorant," muttered Mason, his ears tipping down slightly. "Dalton thinks it's a choice." He scoffed. "It's as much of a choice as my stupid coloring."
"It's not stupid," Dakota sighed. "It's unique. How many times do I have to tell you that?"
"At least once more, as always," he replied cheekily.
"Hey, I'm William Turner. You're Elizabeth Swann," said Dakota, poking Mason in the side. The shorter teen smacked his arm in responce; he was very ticklish.
In a faux-British accent, Lance chimed in, "And I'm Captain Jack Sparrow, savvy?"
A bell rang shrilly though the hall, announcing the start of classes.
"See you guys later," Lance said before walking away.
"C'mon, the horrors of public education await," Dakota said, clapping Mason on the shoulder.
--
The day ended without further incident. Mason and Dakota grabbed their belonging from their lockers before leaving the school.
"Wanna grab something to eat? We can get started on our homework," Dakota suggested.
Mason chuckled at his friends behavior. "Even if we didn't have homework, you'd be after food. Always thinking with your stomach."
"Well, not always" Dakota responded, snickering.
A slight flush stained Mason's cheeks as he groaned and rolled his eyes. "You are such a teenage boy."
"And you aren't?" He looked down at the cat, a playful smirk on his lips. "There hasn't been one instance where you felt frisky?"
Mason's face reddened as his ears folded back against his head. "N-not in the way you're implying," he stammered.
"Seriously?" The shorter teen remained silent. "Whatever. You coming?" Dakota asked, stepping away from the lockers. He recieved a sheepish nod and a quiet "yeah, let's go," and the two made their way out of the school.
Half and hour later they found themselves sitting in a small café, munching sandwiches while pouring over chemistry notes.
"Alright, write this down," Dakota said. He took a bite from his sandwich while Mason pulled out a paper and pen. "Alright, barium, carbon." He paused. "Oxygen." Another pause to let Mason write. "Nitrogen."
"Should these be the full names or the atomic symbol?"
"Atomic symbol."
Mason nodded. He grabbed his periodic table and started to rewrite the elements. "Barium, carbon, oxygen, nitrogen. Alright, that's Ba, C, O...N." He looked up to see Dakota with an impish grin on his face. "Bacon? Really?" he deadpanned.
"It's funny," Dakota sniggers. He blinked as he felt something hit him in the back of the head. He picked up the object, a balled up piece of paper, and smoothed it out on the table, dropping his sandwich back on its plate. "The hell?" he muttered. The hybrid pulled out his own periodic table after reading the paper.
"What is it?" Mason questioned, brows burrowing in confusion.
"Random elements," Dakota replied absentmindedly. He found the element listed and wrote their atomic symbols below the words. A sharp gasp left him as he read the "hidden message."
"What? What does it say?" He was growing concerned with his friends odd behavior. Dakota slid the paper over to him, features set in a scowl. "Dysprosium, flourine, silver, sulfur." Mason looked beneath to see what Dakota had written in. His breath caught in his throat.
Dy, F, Ag, S. Die, fags.
"Who could-" Mason glanced around the café, eyes wide with horror. His gaze quickly locked on to a group of laughing males. A growl worked it's way out of his troat as he recognized one of them. "Dalton," he hissed.
Dakota turned to where Mason was facing, wings rustling as anger coursed through him.
Dalton looked over to see their harsh looks and returned them with a sneer of his own, a cruel twist to his mough.
"C'mon, let's go," Dakota said, gathering their things quickly. He shoved loose papers in to his bag, grabbing his book as he stood.
Mason got up, belongings in hand. He turned to the door and gasped as Dakota placed a hand on his back, steering him towards the café entrance. The large palm was warm and the heat seeped through his shirt where it rested just below his shoulder blades. Blood rushed to his face as he supressed a shudder. 'Why am I being tortured like this?'
"How can he be so cruel to you? He's your brother, for crying out loud!" He snorted with disgust. Dakota moved his arm to curl around Mason's shoulders, tucking the cat against his side. Anger surged through him on his friend's behalf, curling in the pit of his stomach. "Wanna come over tonight?"
"Can't. It's my turn to make dinner." Mason looked up, a small smile on his lips. "Tomorrow?" he asked hopefully.
Dakota returned the smile. "Sure. Mom's making beef stew."
"Oh, yum!"
"Get a room, you sickos!" The shout caused Mason to tense up and Dakota scowled as he turned to the man.
"We're just walking, leave us the hell alone!" he said curtly. "How exactly are we bothering you? It's not like we're having sex in the middle of the street!"
"There's a special hell for people like you," the man spat.
"Well, then, it's going to be utterly fabulous, isn't it?"
The man flushed with anger before storming off, a stream of curses trailing behind him.
"No matter where we go, people are going to be like that," Mason mumbled.
"And there will always be those who accept us." Dakota gave Mason a light squeeze. "I still get a lot of shit for being a hybrid like this. My mixed heritage is really obvious."
"You look fine."
"So do you. Stop getting down on yourself for being a genetic anomaly."
"I'm green. My hair, ears, and tail are green. My mother is grey. My father is ginger. I'm green. People have asked if I'm adopted or if I'm the child from a previous marriage. Someone even accused my mother of cheating!"
"They just hate you 'cause you're prettier than them and they're jealous," Dakota said firmly. "Your family's awesome with the exception of Dalton."
"He's hated me for half of my life. I came out at eight and he's been cold to me for the past eight years. Soon it'll be nine years. That's most of my life." Mason blinked rapidly as tears stung his eyes.
"You have people who love you that are worth your time. Don't let him get to you, okay? You're too good for that."
"Thanks." Mason leaned further into Dakota's hold. "You're more important to me than he'll ever be."
'More important than you'll ever know,' he thought sadly, the warmth surrounding him as comforting as it was painful.