Chapter Text
"This isn't favoritusm, but I'm going to tend to Ash first since his face seems to be in a bit of a mess." Blanca says calmly as he signals for Ash to sit on the bed in the nurse's office. Ash dismisses him saying Yut-Lung should be tended to first.
"If you say so."
Blanca begins to thoroughly disinfect the very visible scratches and cuts on Yut-Lung's otherwise milky white skin. Their proximity is making Yut-Lung's heart thump at an abnormal rate, so he decides to just keep his eyes closed.
"Sir, can I help to clean the wounds?" Eiji asks, just as he is about to open the medicine cupboard.
"Do you know how to?"
"Yes, I did it a lot in Japan. I trained to help out incase of injuries of athletes."
"Knock yourself out then."
Eiji too gets out cotton pads and disinfectant liquid. He pours some on to saturate the pad.
"This might sting a bit." He says gently as he places it on Ash's collarbone. Ash flinches a bit but sits still for the most part.
"Is somebody going to tell me what happened? Sing?" Blanca poses the question.
"Some boy shoved into Eiji purposefully and then when I asked him to apologise he said just ignored me. Yut-Lung confronts him and he basically says he won't hit girls and that Yut-Lung shouldn't touch him as he's just a fa-, you know what I mean, like Ash and Eiji are."
"And so you fought them?"
"I don't stand for people messing with my bros." Shorter says, still proud.
"Good. I know as an adult member of staff I should be telling you that violence is never the answer but homophobes really do need a good slap sometimes." Blanca laughs.
"You're really the coolest teacher." Skip says with admiration.
"I know good kids when I see them and you all are exactly that. Well, maybe not behaviour wise or even attitude towards to learning but-"
"Thanks Blanca." Ash says as Eiji finishes cleaning up his cut.
"Sooo," Blanca says in a suggesting sing-song manner. " You two are a thing then, eh?"
Ash and Eiji look at each other. Ash nods with approval and so does Eiji.
"Yeah, he's my boyfriend." Ash almost boasts.
"How'd you get someone as lovely as Eiji here to agree to be with you?" He teases.
"I wonder that all the time." Yut-Lung adds.
"Shut up, you're only taking sides because Blanc-" Shorter abruptly ends his sentence. The teacher raises a brow but seems to ignore it with the exception of a slight smirk which remains on his face.
Between Eiji and Blanca, they clean up the injured boys at a leisurely pace.
"I guess we should head back to the principal's office before she thinks we have ran away." Skip huffs.
"I bet we are going to be suspended" Shorter predicts.
"I fuc-freaking hope not. My parents are going to be so disappointed." Sing sighs, censoring himself midway due to the presence of his coach.
"Well if it means not having to see some faces for a few days so be it."
"Alright." The principal says formally. "I am yet to here your side of the story but regardless some of you will be facing exclusion for the rest of the week."
Tired of reciting the story Sing explains what had happened with the others making comments here and there.
"I hope you know that I completely agree that the behaviour of the other boy and his friends was unacceptable. However, as it was you which initiate the fight, you'll have to be punished for those reasons. Skip, Sing and Eiji will be doing duties before and after school as punishment as they involved themselves very little. Yut-Lung, Shorter and Aslan, you are suspended for the rest of the week. I will call your parents now to come collect you."
"My parents are at work right now, do you think you could-"
"Well maybe you shouldn't have started a fight then Mr Wong."
"Bitch" Ash mutters under his breath.
"I could uber myself home. I don't think my parents will bother to even pick me up." Yut-Lung rolls his eyes.
Max arrives promptly after being briefly informed about the situation. He storms into the oh-to-familar office, prepared to scold Ash but his face softens upon seeing who it is Ash is sat with in the office.
The principal explains the situation very vaguely, but not forgetting emphasis how Ash 'continuously punched other pupils in the stomach.' Ash can tell Max is only half-listening as he always asks Ash to tell him what happened on the car journey home anyways.
"I apologise again for Ash, I mean Aslan's behaviour." Max says like it's a script he's had to memorise. He looks at Eiji who gives him a weak smile. Bless that kid, Max thinks to himself. Ash walks out of school, with only an hour till it ends anyways.
As he clicks his seatbelt, Max turns to him.
"Did they really call you guys-"
"A faggot? Yes. It comes with being queer."
"Don't say that! That makes it sound inevitable. Who started the fight then?"
"Shorter but I helped him pin the dipshit against the wall. Then Yut threw the best slap I've ever seen and-"
"How is Yut-Lung? I know you've told me he struggles because of his feminity."
"He's a lot tougher than he looks. I think his family aren't helping though."
"They're a bit, how do I phrase this, neglecting..?" Max says reluctantly, not wanting to gossip on other people's parenting skills.
"Neglectant? More like non-existent. They're never home. I've known Yut for how many years now and I've seen his parents like a few times."
"So Yut-Lung is independent then?"
"He's loaded and knows how to cook so he's fine in that sense. Plus Nadia's restaurant is closeby so food is never an issue."
"How about Eiji then?" He didn't get involved did he?"
"He wanted to, but I told him not to. God, if he got hurt I don't know what I'd do."
"You're beginning to sound like a helplessly in love protagonist of a romance novel Aslan. How you are growing up so fast."
"Shut up old man." Ash tuts. "I want Chipotle."
"What now?"
"My lunch got thrown on the floor amidst the fight so I haven't eaten today."
"What happened to eating breakfast? Remember what Dr Riley-"
"I know I know. But I don't get an appetite on a morning. And since I'm asking for a food for once I suggest you take advantage of this opportunity."
"Well aren't you demanding. Okay Chipotle it is."
Max and Ash arrive at Chipotle and Ash immediately tucks in, using the tortilla chips as a vessel to transport insane amounts of guacamole into his mouth.
"By the way, how do people know you're bisexual at school. I mean, you never even officially me or your mother about you and Eiji."
"Someone got a picture of Eiji and I kissing and sent it round."
"Kids these days are just little shits aren't they."
"I actually agree with you." Ash says with fake shock.
Ash's phone pings.
'Hellloooo.'
It's Yut-Lung.
A: I'm at Chipotle atm. Thanks Max.
YL: I'm still sad in the office cause my parents are at some work conference the principal seems to the think I'm too much of a threat to do last period.
A: I would've just left with Shorter. You live close enough.
"Who are you texting?"
"Yut-Lung. His parents won't pick him up so he's being kept in the principal's office until the end of the day."
"That's sucks. We can go pick up him up at the end of school if he wants. Ask him." Max offers.
YL: I'm just gonna uber. Tell Max that I love him tho.
YL: Are you up for that camping trip still? If only we were all suspended so we can could just do it tomorrow >_<
"Could I go camping with my friends this weekend?"
"Is Eiji going to be there?"
"Yeah… why that's matter?"
"Then yes. He will keep you in check."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Max just winks and takes a bite out of his hefty burrito.
A: I can come. Also even if we all we suspended, most parents wouldn't let their kids go have a fun camping outing in replacement of school.
YL: Best thing about having pratically none-existing parents.
YL: Ok Blanca just entered so I finally have some company other than the bitch sat opposite me. Bye x
"God," Ash sighs.
"What is it kid?"
"Yut-Lung has this fat crush on Blanca."
Max loudly chokes on his drink.
"B-blanca. My a-d-u-l-t friend?"
"No, Blanca the neighbours 3 month old nephew." Ash says sarcastically.
"Very funny. But wow, I mean, how do I react to that?"
"I'm used to it now. It won't be as disturbing once Yut is legal, assuming he still has this obssession."
Max's phone rings suddenly and he picks up.
"Yeah. Oh ok. Sure sure. Love you, bye."
"After we finish, we need to go pick up Michael from his friend's house."
"Fun."
"Your mother is working on a really exciting project at the moment you know?"
"Mm hmm." Ash says disinterested.
"Oh c'mon Ash. She's working with top agencies and everything now."
"She tried to scout Eiji as a model earlier."
"The kids got a cute face. I'm sure if two males could create children you'd have very pretty kids."
"What the actual fuck Max."
"Back to what I was saying. She needs new photo examples of her to send to this magazine that is thinking of hiring her. I'm thinking it would be nice if you offered to~"
"Absolutely not."
"But Ash"
"Nope"
"You know how much it would mean to her if you offered to model. Imagine her submitting a picture of her own handsome son."
"Fine. I'll think about it."
"Good because I already told her you and your buddies will do it."