Twenty-Three Mark
Coming out was the last thing I expected Dustin to do in this situation. I would've been happy to let him deny me in front of everyone. In fact, it probably would've made things a hell of a lot easier. But standing beside him with his hand held in mine gave me a sense of belonging that I'd never felt before. Heat filled my chest as the love I felt toward him boiled over. Usually when things got difficult, people had a tendency to pull away. But not Dustin.
He'd chosen me despite the consequences. I didn't know it was possible to love him more, but there I was. I'd never seen such a brave gesture.
The silence that followed his proclamation was deafening. Even though there were hundreds of people celebrating on the other side of the stadium, our little group was dead silent. The NFL scouts were confused and uncomfortable, surprised they'd somehow gotten involved in such a deeply personal moment completely by accident. Dustin's mother looked like she was about to faint or cry, maybe both. His father was beet red and not breathing. The vein on his forehead bulged, and I was sure he'd explode if he didn't let it out soon.
But my favorite reaction was Leroy and Travis. Both stood there with their jaws hanging open, completely flabbergasted that Dustin admitted our relationship. Bullies like them only had power over people when they had something to hold over their heads. But now that Dustin had laid claim to the rumor and made it truth, they no longer had anything to lord over him. Suddenly, all their power was gone, and they were floundering, desperately searching for something else to latch onto.
"It's true," Dustin repeated. "Mark and I were roommates this year by accident, and we hated each other at first. But that was because I felt an undeniable bond with him, and I was scared. But it wasn't until these two assholes," he said, pointing to Leroy and Travis, "attacked him that I knew I couldn't deny it anymore. One thing led to another, and well… I… I love him. He's my mate, and that's just the way it is."
Dustin's mother let out another gasp as tears rolled down her cheeks. I couldn't tell if she was proud of him for admitting it all or crying because she wouldn't get grandchildren. Either way, there were no words of support coming out of her mouth, and that was telling. On the other hand, Dustin's father opened and closed his mouth several times, like a fish gasping for water. But nothing ever came out. Judging by his clenched fists and the vein bulging in his forehead, he wanted to scream. But he just stood there.
"I'm sorry this comes as a shock to all of you, but I'm not gonna hide it any longer," Dustin added. "So, get it out of your systems now, I guess."
"H-Have you always been…" his mother gestured to the pair of us. "Like this?"
She meant gay but couldn't say the word, apparently. It was amazing how one little word could get people so worked up.
"No," he replied. "Mark is the first." Then he turned to his father, who was on the verge of an aneurysm. "I'm gonna start making my own decisions now," he said softly. "About the NFL, about my mate, and about my life. I know you have dreams for me, and I appreciate everything you've done to get me to where I am. But I have my own dreams now, and I want to live my own life."
Silence.
"I'll give you guys some time," Dustin sighed, pulling me away from the group. There was such a tone of defeat in his voice that it made me want to cry. "Just let me know if you want me to stay here for Christmas."
But Leroy and Travis stepped in front of us to block our path.
"You and your little faggy boyfriend aren't going anywhere," he snarled. "You broke my fucking jaw, got me kicked off the team, and now that I'm finally back on, I do nothing but warm the motherfucking bench because of you!"
"Why do you care, Leroy?" Dustin asked. "You weren't going to go pro anyway. You don't even want to."
"You made me look like a fool," he snapped. "And Travis, too! Ever since you started fucking this witch, you've abandoned everything you used to care about! Nobody turns their back on the pack!"
"We're not a pack!" Dustin yelled, spreading his arms wide. "We were never even friends! A real friend wouldn't have spent the past six weeks trying to make my life a living hell!"
"I thought we could bully the fag out of you–"
Dustin's arm reeled back, his fist held high, but he stopped himself and lowered it once more. "Stop saying that word!"
"Or what?" Leroy sneered. "You gonna hit me again? Maybe your little bitch can cast another spell on us."
"You need to stop all this, Dustin," Travis added, although his tone was more pleading than threatening. "Don't you want to be normal?"
I felt a tingle of magic on the back of my skull as a silent message worked its way into my brain.
Want me to kill them?
It was Todd's voice.
I shook my head, replying back. Get out of here. We'll be fine.
You sure?
Yeah.
I won't go far.
There was a sudden surge of magic behind us and a small pop as Todd disappeared into a puff of flower petals. I gripped Dustin's hand a little harder, taking half a step forward.
"We're done here," I stated. "I don't care what's gone on between you three, but clearly, you have zero respect for Dustin or me. And I don't think either of us want to waste another moment on your abuse."
"Shut the fuck up, fag!" Leroy barked.
Dustin started forward, but I held up a hand, pushing him back.
"You know what, Leroy?" I said, pointing a finger at him. "The only reason guys like you get so upset about people being gay is because, secretly, you're worried you might be gay yourself." I leaned close, lowering my voice. "How many times have you fantasized about another man when you were all alone?" I glanced over at Travis. "Or maybe you've had a friend help you out before."
Leroy's jaw worked furiously as he tried to come up with a retort. But nothing came out. His face turned red, and I could see I'd gotten the response I was looking for. Suddenly, he was no longer the one casting judgment but the one everyone else was now questioning.
"Come on," I said to Dustin, pulling him along. "Let's go."
A fist connected with my sternum and I was lifted off my feet. White hot pain streaked through my body as I hit the frozen earth. Before I could even open my eyes again, I heard a scream of rage and the sound of fist striking flesh. Dustin's mother cried out and I heard the whoosh of breath leave someone else's body as they hit the ground. Cries for help rang up from the scouts, filling the air.
It took me a long moment to gather my thoughts, the world around me still spinning as I gasped for air. For a moment, I was worried that Leroy had broken one of my ribs. Reaching up, I tested the area, pushing against it gently. I was bruised, that was for sure, but nothing felt broken. Once I got enough air in my lungs and my brain started to come back online, I forced my eyes open. In front of me, I saw Dustin with both Leroy and Travis in wolf form, their jaws wrapped around his arm and the other around his ankle. I couldn't tell if Dustin's father was trying to help or hinder, but from where I was standing, all I could see was the arm around Dustin's neck, cutting off his air supply. His mother shouted, trying to pull her husband away.
But the worst part was the blood. It was running down Dustin's leg and dripping off his arm. He cried out, trying to pull away, but they held fast. He was hurt, and seeing my mate, my familiar, in pain drove me over the edge.
"ENOUGH!" I screamed, golden sparks erupting from my body. Slowly, I began to float upward off the ground. I spread my arms wide as I rose above everyone's heads, glaring at them all as the magic swirled around me. "Your idiocy ends here!" I paused for a moment, the magic around me turning bright violet. "I hope you can fucking swim."
There was a series of yelps as Travis and Leroy were yanked away from Dustin by magical tethers. His father was next, all of his limbs bound tightly. Dustin stumbled away, grasping at the bruise forming around his neck. Blood dripped from his skin and I felt the anger burst in my chest.
"If any of you attack my mate again," I growled. "I'll kill you all."
With a wave of my hand, a portal opened up behind the three of them. I could see the rolling waves of Lake Erie, the dark shore only a few hundred feet away. They'd survive, but they'd no longer be able to hurt the man I loved. With a flash of violet light, the three of them were yanked backward and tossed into the waves, the portal snapping closed behind them.
I held out a hand toward Dustin as I slowly descended back to the ground. "We're leaving."
He took it without hesitation.
I turned to his mother, who was a right mess and now terrified as well. "They're alive. You'll find them on the southern shore of Lake Erie." I thought about it for a moment. "Just a little west of Sandusky."
Reaching into my pocket, I produced the stone that Todd had gifted me. Muttering under my breath, I released the flying carpet within. It popped into existence, and I helped my injured boyfriend up onto the rug. When his mother made a movement toward us, I held up a hand in warning.
"No," I said firmly. "Not after you didn't stand up for him."
"But I–"
"No," I repeated. "He'll be in touch. And I'll heal him myself."
Stepping onto the carpet, I kneeled down next to Dustin, grabbed the fringed edge, and took off into the night sky.