The moment he stepped outside the covered gym, he saw the blonde go to the back of the building. Strangely, he hurried to reach it.
― Hey, Theodore, wait!
The hooded boy had stopped walking, without turning back. Trying to calm his panting, Gabriel leaned on his knees before slowly approaching the blonde.
― I couldn't talk to you today. Are you okay?
― I'm fine.
The dry response had made Gabriel swallow hard.
― Theo!
― Come back here, you little prick! We got a little business to attend to.
Gabriel had closed his eyes suppressing the will to swear when he heard the voice of Nicolas and Milles so close to where they were.
― Shut up, you asshole. Go back to your troupe and I'll talk to my friend.
― Oh, you're already hiding behind your wife.
― Hey, Theo! Will you stop running away from me?
Theodore turned his head minimally over his shoulder, noticing those three figures looking at him so curiously. Swallowing hard, the boy just pulled more of the hood covering his face.
― I'm sorry, I have to go home.
― Won't you take the test? ― Asked Gabriel before the other ran away again.
― I'll do it another day, along with the other class.
― Eh... it seems that someone is not confident.
— Will you shut your fucking mouth, Milles? - Scold Nicolas with your hands around your waist, then turn to your friend trying to soften your expression. ― Hey, did something happen this weekend?
Gabriel's chest looked like a real stir of emotions when the weekend was mentioned. The only thing that was going through his head was that the omega would have seen the damn picture, and he could now walk away from him. It would be a misunderstanding that Gabriel would need to undo in order not to lose Theodore's friendship.
― Nothing happened at all.
― Don't lie to me, Theo. Did he do something to you?
Milles and Gabriel realized Nicolas's threatening tone, and remained mute awaiting Theodore's response. The blonde, on the other hand, only denied with his head.
― No, Nico. You have nothing to worry about.
― Then look into my eyes, otherwise I won't believe you.
Theodore had once again looked over his shoulder, noticing the three standing staring at him with curiosity and concern.
― Why are you looking for me? I need to go home.
— We are worried about you. ― Gabriel had responded by taking a few steps near Theodore, having an immense desire to lower that damn hood that prevented him from seeing the cheerful face. ― We are your friends.
― I'm not his friend.
― And here's why then, piece of feces? ― Replied Nicolas.
― To punch you in the face, you prick...
— Can you stop it? ― Gawked Gabriel showing those three, for the first time, the anger in his brown eyes. ― Is that all you can do? Piss each other off?
― Stay in yours. Or rather, you should go back to your girlfriend's arms instead of running after Theo.
Gabriel rolled his eyes at Nicolas, already imagining that the harsh words would be directed at him. But he had not responded to his captain, not when Theodore seemed to take advantage of the argument to try to escape.
The alpha had been quick to hold Theodore's wrist in order to stop him, but had heard a low groan from the blonde the instant he had used too much force. Releasing him immediately, Gabriel lamented.
― Sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you.
― Will you let my friend go?
Theodore lowered his hood and turned to the three boys behind him, from which they frowned at the bruises strongly apparently on the blond's face.
Both Nicolas and Gabriel were surprised and horrified at how hurt Theodore looked. His lower lip, to the left, was bruised as was the corner of his lips. The jaw and cheekbone had strong marks, and a cut scratched his cheek where Beto's ring had wounded him.
Milles had burst a laugh pointing at the injured boy.
― Are you hiding because you got into a fight? You must have lost badly to get away with your tail between your legs...
Gabriel had silenced his friend with the light punch in his belly, scolding him with his gaze.
Nicolas, on the other hand, approached his friend with slow steps and wide eyes.
― What did that monster do to you this time, Theo?
― He didn't do anything.
― How am I supposed to believe that, Theo?
― I know who did this to me, don't you think?
Swallowing hard with his tired eyes teary, Nicolas pulled his friend's elbow rolling up the sleeves of his blouse where he turns more purple marks on his wrists. Gabriel held his breath in realizing that it was there where he had held moments before.
― Where else did he hurt you?
― I told you he didn't do it...
― Where else?
Theodore had taken a deep breath giving up arguing with his angry friend. Without saying a word more, the boy had just lifted his shirt and uniform shirt showing the purple marks on his abdomen and ribs. He still turned on his back, where there were some more marks where he had hit the handle of the truck.
When Theodore lowered his shirt, he realized that his best friend clenched his trembling fist. Probably containing his anger.
― It wasn't him. It was someone else.
Raising his eyes to his best friend, Nicolas arched his eyebrow.
― Someone else? Who?
― No one you know. No need to be angry, they are already dealing with the situation.
― Did you have a fight with someone you tried to hit on? Cheating on your husband is not very good...
Even with Nicolas's angry look on him, Milles did not undo his mocking smile. However, it was Theodore who had nasalized laughter, in total disbelief to stare at the third blonde.
— Do I hit on others? What makes you think I'm always trying to seduce? Do you think you're so beautiful? I didn't do shit, I stayed in mine holding the looks and gossip about me. And yet I was followed and almost abused. You think that's funny, Milles, that I get beat up just for saying I like men?
― Hey Theo, uh...
— Yes! I'm an omega and I like men. I feel good when the guy I like hugs me and kisses me. I like when I'm touched by the person I like. But you don't think just because you have a pretty face or if you think you're the fucking man in the world that's gonna make me want you.
― Theo doesn't have to waste his time.
The blonde turned to his best friend breathing deeply.
The only person who remained changed all that time clenched his fists tightly. The brown eyes of which they were accustomed to show kindness and charisma gave space for a new unknown feeling.
From the moment he saw those injuries, Gabriel's world seemed to lose the sound becoming too slow. His body had ceased to act according to consciousness, his expression had become empty despite his eyes...
Ah.
Gabriel intervened between Theodore and Nicolas, his eyes reflecting well that new feeling. Milles and Nicolas were mute when their instincts screamed in alert to the emptiness and coldness that those brown eyes transmitted.
His voice, then, had sounded as hoarse and threatening as never heard before.
― Leave him. Now.
Nicolas was about to fart his team-mate and put him in his place, however the hand on his shoulder had stopped him. Turning back, he saw Milles face his friend seriously, as if he really feared the threat that voice had conveyed.
About to complain, Nicolas had had his mouth covered with a large, warm hand. A strong arm held him tightly preventing every body debate. Milles had managed to drag his captain away without saying a word.
Theodore had blinked a few times without understanding what had happened. When Gabriel turned to himself again, he smiled gently as if nothing had happened.
― Weren't you in a hurry to leave?
― What is it?
― I just scared them a little. ― Gabriel stood before Theodore, stroking his hair. ― But before you can not leave without hearing this.
― Listen to what?
― Good morning, Theodore.