An eyelash fluttered to the ground, almost ethereally.
   Brooklynn clutched her face in her hands, gasping for air and whimpering in fear. Titus stood tall, looking down on the cowering girl in silence. "OUCH, OUCH! FOUL! I DIDN'T GET TO PUNCH YET!"
Titus looked down at his fist, moreover, the blood and mascara smeared across it. Brooklynn stood back up finally, and attempted to angrily press a finger against his chest. Titus wasn't having it, however, and slapped her across the face before socking her straight in the nose and pushing her to the side.
Shaking his head, Titus tuned everything around him out. He walked past everybody, not being able to hear or comprehend their words. Around him, sevvies lunged and shrilled at him for 'hitting a woman', and the extravagant Daesha just stood there recording the situation with her friends. He didn't care.
Suddenly, Titus felt a hand on his shoulder. "Titus."
He shakily turned to face his dad, a cold, stern, angry gaze filling his eyes. "Come with me."

"What was that for?" Brian cried. "You're my son, a teacher's son at that. You're supposed to be a good example!"
    Titus responded bitterly, "What else do you do when someone's being harassed?"
    "Report it, maybe? Did you ever think of that?" Brian spat.
    "You know how the school is in situations like these." Titus retorted.
    Brian demurred, "You're my son, what difference does that make?"
    "It would make a difference if it was me in the situation!" the younger practically shouted.
    Brian stood in silence, narrowing his eyes and sighing. Titus leaned back in Brian's office chair. His father looked out to the confused students attempting to peek through the window and eavesdrop before sighing and gazing back at his son with more of a remorseful look.
    Before he could get a word out, Titus spoke complacently. "I did what I had to do, and I would have done it for anybody else. Maybe it'll sound different to you because maybe this never happened to anybody you know and you'd do the same thing for mom, I get it, but I had a reason to do what I did and I know that if it were any of us, Accimus, Judah, Zion, or Justus, in the situation? The thought of doing much worse would have crossed your mind in a heartbeat."

    The younger looked back at his parent, his hands clasped together over the back of his head in frustration as he paced around the back office. He turned to Titus, attempting to say something but he just couldn't piece anything together.
    Titus frowned, "It's okay, dad. You don't have to say anything."
    "Listen, okay?" Brian urged. "I'm not mad. After hearing what you had to say, I... understand. You did what you had to. The only problem is, I don't know what I can do for you once this gets taken to admin. I'll do my best for you though, son, and I'll do it for Braydin, too."
    Titus nodded, watching his dad waddle out of the classroom for a tardy pass. He murmured, smiling, "He said his name... and he didn't even stutter."
    After walking back in, Brian began to jot down basic information. Titus Koch, 12:35pm, To Ms. Giles. "Be careful, okay?"
    "I will, dad."
    "Good, now get to class."

Titus listened to the sound of his own footsteps echo down the math hallway. He approached the math classroom door, and reached for the doorknob. It didn't budge. Groaning, he brought his hand–the one covered in now dried blood and mascara–and knocked on the glass one, two, three times.
    And just like that, after maybe six or seven seconds of incoherent shouting, he was met by Carter Rhymes looking up at him. He was ushered into the room and braced himself for the gasps and glares.
    He looked to Braydin, watching concern paint his lover's face as his gaze went from his bloodied, dirtied fist to his eyes, as blue as forget-me-nots. Titus grimaced at the look on his face, but snapped back to reality hearing his name. Why does this keep happening today?
    "Titus, hey. They just called you into the office. Go grab the office pass from Abi." Ms. Giles commanded, staring at him.
    Titus paced over to Abi, and couldn't even put on the 'equivocal, alien white guy' facade. He just held out a hand to take the pass. Upon feeling it plop into his palm, he turned to his boyfriend.
    "Baby," Braydin looked up at him from his seat, running an affectionate, worried hand up his partner's forearm.
    "Listen," Titus murmured as calmly as he could, ignoring Abi, Dezzy, Carter (both of them), and everyone else in the room's horrified looks, "Text me when you get home, I promise I'll respond. I love you."

    "I love you," the boy sitting responded, face contorting in ever-obvious worry.
    Ms. Giles cut the moment short. "Cute, but you gotta go, dude. They called you in at like 12:25." And for the second time, Titus had to leave a classroom during class time, pass in hand.

Mr. Hunke stared him down. "So. Let me ask you one thing, squirt."
    "Go on."
    "What were you thinking?"
    "Clearly not a lot."
    Mr. Hunke furrowed his eyebrows at the response. Titus almost snickered at that, but kept it to himself. "I don't even know what to say."
    "The problem here isn't even me, sir. It's Brooklynn; talk to Braydin and you'll see."
    "The problem is that you punched a girl in the face and gave her both a nosebleed and a black eye."
    "Deserved," Titus sassed.
    "You seem to be refusing to acknowledge the severity of this transgression. Titus, you do know you're a student athlete, correct?"
    Titus nodded his head. "And you know you just made the basketball team, right?"
    "I did?"
    "Hush. Anyway, I hope you're aware this can land you in emergency expulsion. I hope it doesn't have to go that far, however. Maybe, perhaps, the best you'll get is temporary suspension from extracurriculars. Yes, this would mean basketball practice. And you and I know what happens when you miss practice?"

   "Yes."
   "You cannot participate in the first game of the season."
    "Okay. I did what I needed. It doesn't matter that much to me anyway. She won't be bothering Braydin anymore, and that's what matters."
    Mr. Hunke scowled, shaking his head. "I know your... er, friend, Braydin. was quite discomforted–"
"Harassed."
"Ahem, harassed by that young lady, but that was not an excuse to lay your hands on her. I'm sure you understand what I'm saying."
"Yes, sir."
"Next time, hit her with an open fist, because if you do it with a closed fist we'll have to call the cops. You're being let off with just a scolding, son. Be happy about it."
    "Yes, sir."
    Mr. Hunke spoke. "Good. I don't want to see you in here again, young man. We'll call Braydin in here shortly regarding the situation. The bell's about to ring, make your way toward your sixth period."

Titus waited for Braydin out in front of the math hallway in silence. He ignored all the chatter around him of his violent actions, keeping his eyes dead center on the door for his lover.
    "I don't know, I don't exactly– oh my god." Braydin worriedly ranted to Jack, who had his AirPods in without an ounce of care, before spotting Titus gazing at him and running like he's in a marathon toward him. Jack shook his head and laughed, continuing on to Mrs. Barker's class.
    Throwing himself practically on top of Titus, Braydin shrieked, "What happened?! Are you okay?!"
"I'm okay, baby," Titus assured, "You will be, too. Things are about to get so much better for us."
Braydin pulled Titus into the tightest hug he could, burying his head the fabric of his top. Titus held him just as tightly, lifting him up just a little bit. Titus set him down, surveyed their surroundings, and then walked him to Mrs. Patterson's front door.
"I love you, Braydin. So much. More than we'll ever be able to find out. Stay safe for the both of us." Titus spoke, cupping Braydin's face. The shorter gave Titus the warmest, most honest smile before leaning in to kiss him passionately. Then, Titus leaned down to kiss his cheek and then ran across the building to Mrs. Zimmer's room to avoid yet another tardy.