Chapter Text
The afternoon air had the unmistakable bite of early autumn—crisp enough to carry a chill but still warmed from the sun that cast long, amber shadows on the ground. There was a faint smell of smoke lingering in the breeze, mingling with the smell of last night’s rain.
A boy with a mop of fiery red hair stood at the center of the group, his face pale, eyes wide with a mix of fear and humiliation. His freckles stood out starkly against his flushed skin, and his hands, trembling slightly, reached up toward the older boys who loomed over him.
"You want it? Come and grab it!"
The red-haired boy’s lips moved, but no sound came out. His hearing loss made it hard to communicate, and the words died in his throat. His eyes darted around, desperate, as he made another weak grab for the hearing aid, but the bullies just jerked it higher, far out of his reach. Tears pricked the corners of his eyes, but he refused to let them fall. He wouldn’t—couldn’t—give them the satisfaction.
“Deaf and dumb, huh? Can't even hear how stupid you are.”
A girl emerged from the school building, her wild raven curls tumbling over her shoulders like a dark cascade. She had been minding her own business, but something about the way the crowd moved caught her eye. Her stride quickened when she saw what was happening. "Hey! Leave him alone!" She was small, but there was a fierceness about her that made her seem larger than life. "Give it back," she demanded, her hand outstretched.
The ringleader smirked, looking her up and down. "Or what?" he challenged. Without hesitation, the girl stepped forward and kicked him squarely in the shin. He yelped, his hand opening reflexively, sending the hearing aid flying. The girl caught it deftly.
"Pick on someone your own size," she spat, turning to hand the hearing aid back to the red-haired boy.
The boys sneered, their earlier amusement gone. "Look who's talking," one of them muttered, stepping forward, his fists clenched.
As the first boy lunged at her, she sidestepped, using his momentum to send him crashing to the pavement. The second boy tried to grab her, but she ducked under his arm, delivering a sharp jab to his ribs that left him gasping. But they were relentless, and she knew she couldn't fight them forever.
Before the remaining boys could react, she reached out, grabbing the red-haired boy’s hand. “Come on!” she urged, pulling him toward the corner of the schoolyard. They ran together, their feet pounding the pavement, their breaths ragged. She could feel the boy’s hand trembling in hers, his fear palpable. She squeezed his hand tighter, an attempt to silently reassure him. They ducked behind a brick wall, crouching low.
For a moment, it seemed like they might be safe. But then, one of the bullies shouted, “There they are!” From their hiding spot, they watched as the bullies scrambled to their feet and started after them, but suddenly they stopped short.
A boy, taller and broader than the others, stepped into their path. His blond hair gleamed in the afternoon light, and beside him stood a large, imposing dog—muscular, with a thick, golden coat and a posture that radiated strength and alertness. The service dog stood ready, its sharp eyes locked onto the group of bullies as they faltered.
“What do you want?”
“That’s enough,” the blond said. His voice wasn’t loud, but there was something in the way he spoke that made the bullies stop in their tracks.
The leader snorted, trying to mask his nervousness as he nursed his bruised leg. "What are you gonna do about it?"
The blond boy didn’t reply. Instead, with a simple gesture, he let the dog loose. The service dog barreled into the group of bullies, knocking them down one by one. The sheer force of the dog’s body sent them sprawling, their cries of shock and pain echoing through the schoolyard.
"Leave them alone," he said.
The raven-haired girl watched in awe as the bullies staggered to their feet and fled, limping and holding their bruises. The dog trotted back to the blond boy, wagging its tail as if it had just completed a routine task.
The girl and the red-haired boy stood up from their hiding spot. The blond boy approached them, his dog at his side. He gave them a small, reassuring smile. "Are you okay?" he asked. The girl nodded, her breath still coming in ragged gasps. The red-haired boy looked up at him, his eyes wide with gratitude. He raised his hands, his fingers moving in a fluid dance. The blond boy watched and turned to the girl, a silent question in his eyes.
"He said thank you," she translated, a small smile playing on her lips.
The blond boy smiled back, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "You're welcome," he said, looking at the red-haired boy, before turning his gaze back to the girl. "And thank you," he added, his voice soft.
"Come with me," she said. She held out her hands, one to each boy. They looked at each other, then at her, and nodded, their hands slipping into hers. And so, they walked off together, their shadows stretching long and thin in the late afternoon sun, their laughter echoing through the schoolyard.
As they walked, the red-haired boy looked up at the girl, his eyes filled with a question. She looked down at him, her eyebrows raised. He pointed to himself, then to her, then to the blond boy, his fingers dancing again. The girl watched, her eyes softening as she understood his question.
"Friends," she said, her voice filled with conviction. "We're friends." The red-haired boy smiled, his face lighting up. The blond boy looked down at them, his own face mirroring their happiness. He nodded, his hand tightening around the girl's.