Sky High
Title: Preconceptions
Summary: Everyone harbors preconceptions about Warren.
Warren looked at Will, and an objective person would have figured it all out from that glance.
It had been a year since the fateful Homecoming Dance, and Warren had been Will's very reluctant best friend for about half that time. It would have begun sooner, but Warren had an unfortunate tendency to flame up or simply walk away every time Will approached him, that made things difficult. Even now, knowing that he held the longed-for spot of 'best friend of Will Stronghold!', Warren was more than likely to stand up in the middle of a conversation and just walk away, leaving Will to rush after him.
No one really understood why this was, because no one really understood Warren - not even Will, though he longed to. The Commander didn't trust the boy, and Jetstream, though kinder about it, wasn't exactly comfortable with having him in her house. Warren knew this. Will… didn't. He kept inviting the older boy over, oblivious to his parents' looks, flinches, or swiftly-concealed expressions of relief when Warren refused.
The majority of the students at Sky High, and perhaps even one or two of the teachers, thought that Will was in love with Warren. What other reason, they asked themselves, could he have for so obstinately chasing after Warren all the time? They insisted that his relationship with Layla - which, true enough, fizzled quickly back to friendship - was just the last throes of denial, and they snickered when they saw Warren striding swiftly down the halls, Will trying to keep up with him and talk to him at the same time. Warren knew this. Will… didn't. He kept up his actions, and took questions such as 'Will you and Warren be there?' at face value.
Will's friends knew Will thought Warren was his best friend, and thought that was the extent of it; because Zach was as dense as Will himself, Layla was positive her ex wasn't gay, Magenta thought the whole thing too hilarious to be true, and Ethan… Ethan didn't put that much thought into the relationship issues of his friends when it could be better directed towards the latest Mad Science project. Warren knew this. Will did too, sort of. He never really talked about his relationship with Warren to anyone anyway.
No one ever considered that it wasn't Will.
Preconceptions were powerful things; and no matter that Warren had aided in the defeat of Royal Pain, and saved the school - some things never changed, and among them was the fact that everyone who knew Warren, still viewed him through a thick lens of preconceived notions.
Though everyone had attempted to put away the largest false conclusion - that Warren was going to follow in the footsteps of his father - they didn't give a thought to any others, and some of them (the Commander and Jetstream, for instance) never quite managed to dispel that one, even.
Among the ones that still held true were as follows: Warren's a badass, a rebel, he's not nice, he's scary, he hates everyone, he's not into romance, he is into girls, he would as soon hurt you as talk to you.
But if you took all of those away, and just looked at this moment, you would understand something no one else in the world even sees. No one else, but Warren.
Walking away, always checking that he'll be followed; staring, rather than talking; never touching, overheated when he does; and now - Warren looked at Will, and in his glance was a whole slew of emotions, bubbling up and almost over, eyes full and expressive, and quickly suppressed as he looked away again.
Another misconception, preconception: Warren would never like Will!
Warren knows this, and knows the real truth behind it. Will… doesn't.
Summary: Everyone harbors preconceptions about Warren.
Warren looked at Will, and an objective person would have figured it all out from that glance.
It had been a year since the fateful Homecoming Dance, and Warren had been Will's very reluctant best friend for about half that time. It would have begun sooner, but Warren had an unfortunate tendency to flame up or simply walk away every time Will approached him, that made things difficult. Even now, knowing that he held the longed-for spot of 'best friend of Will Stronghold!', Warren was more than likely to stand up in the middle of a conversation and just walk away, leaving Will to rush after him.
No one really understood why this was, because no one really understood Warren - not even Will, though he longed to. The Commander didn't trust the boy, and Jetstream, though kinder about it, wasn't exactly comfortable with having him in her house. Warren knew this. Will… didn't. He kept inviting the older boy over, oblivious to his parents' looks, flinches, or swiftly-concealed expressions of relief when Warren refused.
The majority of the students at Sky High, and perhaps even one or two of the teachers, thought that Will was in love with Warren. What other reason, they asked themselves, could he have for so obstinately chasing after Warren all the time? They insisted that his relationship with Layla - which, true enough, fizzled quickly back to friendship - was just the last throes of denial, and they snickered when they saw Warren striding swiftly down the halls, Will trying to keep up with him and talk to him at the same time. Warren knew this. Will… didn't. He kept up his actions, and took questions such as 'Will you and Warren be there?' at face value.
Will's friends knew Will thought Warren was his best friend, and thought that was the extent of it; because Zach was as dense as Will himself, Layla was positive her ex wasn't gay, Magenta thought the whole thing too hilarious to be true, and Ethan… Ethan didn't put that much thought into the relationship issues of his friends when it could be better directed towards the latest Mad Science project. Warren knew this. Will did too, sort of. He never really talked about his relationship with Warren to anyone anyway.
No one ever considered that it wasn't Will.
Preconceptions were powerful things; and no matter that Warren had aided in the defeat of Royal Pain, and saved the school - some things never changed, and among them was the fact that everyone who knew Warren, still viewed him through a thick lens of preconceived notions.
Though everyone had attempted to put away the largest false conclusion - that Warren was going to follow in the footsteps of his father - they didn't give a thought to any others, and some of them (the Commander and Jetstream, for instance) never quite managed to dispel that one, even.
Among the ones that still held true were as follows: Warren's a badass, a rebel, he's not nice, he's scary, he hates everyone, he's not into romance, he is into girls, he would as soon hurt you as talk to you.
But if you took all of those away, and just looked at this moment, you would understand something no one else in the world even sees. No one else, but Warren.
Walking away, always checking that he'll be followed; staring, rather than talking; never touching, overheated when he does; and now - Warren looked at Will, and in his glance was a whole slew of emotions, bubbling up and almost over, eyes full and expressive, and quickly suppressed as he looked away again.
Another misconception, preconception: Warren would never like Will!
Warren knows this, and knows the real truth behind it. Will… doesn't.