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[b][code]Grand Ridge Academy - The Hallway to the Male Dorms.[/code][/b][hr]



Hagan visibly cringed when Martin said all these things to him. No. No way that he's getting his fag on him - he reached in and grabbed Martin by his collar, staring him real close in the eye. Teeth barred.


"I don't know what faggy thoughts are goin' through that weird little head of yours..."


He pulled a fist back, keeping it hovering at a very threatening distance. He added on, "... but keep me out of 'im."


Just a little too close for comfort. 

Hagan had responded how he'd anticipated, and yet he'd still given a startled yelp. Luckily, it wasn't an immediate hit. If he egged him on any more then he was destined to get a swift punch to the face. It wasn't so much that getting punched [i]scared[/i] him, it was that Hagan was particularly [i]good[/i] at punching. He had been punched a lot, it wouldn't be the first or the last time but he really didn't feel like having his nose broken today.


Still, he'd obviously struck a nerve, even if he wasn't quite sure how. He'd never seen anything to indicate that Hagan was harboring any unspoken feelings towards men but then again, [i]he barely knew him[/i]. Of course, he could just have an unnatural repulsion towards homosexual men. That didn't seem like a stretch.


"[color=c4df9b]Listen, Hagan, as much as I'd love to dick around with you some more, I don't want to get punched.[/color]" he casted his glance pointedly at Hagan's fist, wrinkling his nose as if it was an offensive substance. "[color=c4df9b]So, if you could politely let me off the hook for smearing my gay flirtations all over your atmosphere, that would be great.[/color]"


"Well, nobody wants to get punched," Hagan replied, shortly and sweetly. "But, they do get socked any way."


Of course, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't ever keep his mouth shut entirely. "[color=c4df9b]I've really got to ask though,[/color]" [i]he really should shut up[/i] but he had to know and maybe it would distract Hagan from beating him senseless. "[color=c4df9b]Can you really see that tattoo on my neck? It's an actual, physical thing?[/color]"


"The fuck? Are you some kinda sparkly vampire that can't use a fuckin' mirror?" Hagan asked with a raised eyebrow. "[i]Of course I can see it.[/i]"


"[color=c4df9b]No, but it would be really fucking cool if I [i]was[/i]- Not the point! Not my point.[/color]" he grimaced, "[color=c4df9b]Can you [i]uh[/i]. . . let me go for a second? I promise that you can deck me in the eye if none of what I'm about to say is of any interest to you.[/color]" He threw Martin off, silently nodding his head and taking him up on his offer - no matter how retarded it sounded.


[i]That was a wager that he could lose very easily.[/i] "[color=c4df9b]I didn't get a tattoo, I don't know [i]where[/i] the hell that thing came from. Honestly, I'm kind of freaking out that you can see it because my doctor sure as hell couldn't. I mean, don't get me wrong, she could be an unreliable source but I highly doubt that.[/color]" he spun his hand as if it might speed himself along. "[color=c4df9b]I guess I'm saying that-[i]Jesus[/i], I don't know what I'm saying. I really don't want to get hit. How high is the likelihood that someone gave me a tattoo when I was passed out on pain medication or something?[/color]"


Hagan took a moment to think about it - but not too hard. He didn't want to think too hard about what fag-boy is saying... but at the same time, he has a similar tattoo on his chest. One of a mighty shield... he noticed it on him the night after everything that happened. Though, this wasn't something he was gonna say to Martin of all people. "... I don't know," Hagan shrugged, "Seems like one hell of a stretch."


"[color=c4df9b]You're telling me, man, I'm the one with the weird fucking tattoo on my neck.[/color]" he was mostly glad that he wasn't getting punched, that was preferable, at the very least. "[color=c4df9b]I can't really say that I know how it got there then. One night it's not there, the next night it is. I've had more consistency with guys that don't call me back.[/color]" 


"Ew."


A grimace followed that statement as well, he couldn't really hold back the honesty, it was one of his more irritating traits. "[color=c4df9b]I mean, hell, I don't even know why I'm telling you this shit but I figure if you can see it then maybe I'm not insane or we're [i]both[/i] insane.[/color]"


"No, you're just crazy," Hagan rolled his eyes as he crossed his arm. "What she probably thought was that tattoo was so damn ugly that she didn't even want to mention it so she didn't hurt ya' feelings."


"[color=c4df9b]Ouch,[/color]" Martin said, though his tone didn't portray any sort of hurt. "[color=c4df9b]How did you know that my weak point was the tattoo? Curse you and your ability to tear me down with your words.[/color]"


He was trying to keep himself from getting prickly about this. Perhaps choosing to share this with Hagan instead of [i]anybody else[/i] had been his first mistake. He hadn't expected that anyone could see it though and the fact that Hagan [i]could[/i] was startling to him. Startling enough that he'd taken the chance on asking him about it.


"[color=c4df9b]Hagan, I know you've got some sort of hang up on making me feel like shit but can we be serious for a second? Why are [i]you[/i] the only one who can see this? I mean, it's not that I don't  [i]love[/i] your shining personality and pretty brown eyes but if I'm slowly spiraling into psychosis, you're not the guy I'd pick to have along for the ride. You haven't clocked me in the eye yet, so this must resonate with you a little.[/color]"


"That can change at the droooop at a hat, friend," Hagan said, while rolling his eyes. "I don't know why I can see this tattoo - maybe you should ask a uh, say, a third party." That was Hagan's advice. "Then, we put this weird shit to rest."


He knew very well that Hagan would have no complaint with hitting him in the eye. At least he cared  enough to honor a wager, [i]how charming[/i]. It almost made Martin like him, he was sure that Hagan didn't share the sentiment.


"[color=c4df9b]Okay, so you want me to find some rando and ask him if he can see my tattoo? Just any old person?[/color]" he could respect that, at least then he'd be able to prove that it wasn't just visible to anyone. "[color=c4df9b]I can do that, in fact, in a hallway full of fleeing teenagers, I'd venture to say that would be easy. [i]Jeez[/i], have we really taken the time to think about how idiotic it is that we're standing around admist a fire alarm?[/color]"


He didn't stand around further to ponder that query, instead he brushed off his coat and [i]squeezed[/i] around Hagan to get back into the hall. From there, he grabbed the arm another one of the evacuating young men and he smiled at him very brightly, perhaps a bit too brightly, it was a little more than forced. "[color=c4df9b]Hey, man, so I know we've never met and that's a damn shame but I'm Martin. Do you like my  neck tattoo? I always wanted a senseless swirly thing, it's meaninglessness is what makes it so special to me.[/color]"


"What tattoo?" was the slightly confused and just a little scared response. "You don't have a tattoo."


"[color=c4df9b]Well, gee, it seems I [i]don't[/i], sorry about that confusion.[/color]"


"[i]Okay then?[/i]" the other party was already trying to retreat and Martin hurried it along with a shooing motion. 


He turned back to Hagan. "[color=c4df9b]And there you have it, Hagan. What the hell is going on? You're listening to me and you're not beating me senseless, so, what does this mean to [i]you?[/i][/color]"


When he turned back, Hagan had a raised eyebrow... okay, maybe there was a bit of something to think about. Maybe this was just one big prank that he was playing on him? Yeeeeeeah... that was what was going on. "I bet that 'rando' was a bud of yours - maybe your boyfriend, even." Hagan said. "There ain't no other explanation for this, fagboy. Everything's backed by a bit of science...."


"[color=c4df9b]It's cute that you think I've got a boyfriend, flattering even.[/color]" he said, "[color=c4df9b]It's even cuter that you think that I've got friends. Literally, my only friend is Rita and unfortunately for me, she's not here at the second.[/color]"


"Who the fuck is Rita?" Hagan incredulously asked. "Actually, I don't wanna know."


He was getting irritable, he wasn't a person that was known for his temper but he [i]was[/i] known for being easy to push over the edge. It was then that the room went black, the color drained completely out of it. It could have easily been mistaken for a flickering light, it came back relatively quick but it had killed every speck of light in the hall for the few moments that it had happened. 


"The hell?" Hagan exclaimed with a raised eyebrow. The flash of darkness definitely didn't go unnoticed by Hagan. Though, for a moment, his sigil activated as if it was some kind of defense mechanism.


"[color=c4df9b]You know what, Hagan, it doesn't really matter. [i]I[/i] wouldn't even take my own word on this. So, if you're not going to believe me and you're not going to deck me then why are we loitering about? Someone might start to think that you can tolerate my presence and that would be [i]awful[/i].[/color]"


"I can always change that," Hagan raised a fist. The way he kept bringing it up made it sound like maybe he wanted to be punched. Or shoved into a locker. Or something.... "Know what...." Hagan just threw a punch right for Martin's gut. Not exactly a full force blow, but enough to knock the wind outta him.  


The boy doubled over and reeled backwards, instinctively throwing his hands up over his face as if to block any other blows.  The room went black again, another moment of solid darkness, this time it was just a bit longer. Almost as if he were trying to conceal himself in the shade. It flickered away again, the lights searing into Martin's eyes when they returned.


He had gotten sort of used to the darkness flickering in and out around him lately, he had also gotten used to the onset of grogginess that followed it.


He was expecting to get hit and he had mentioned it enough that it might as well have been an invitation. "[color=c4df9b]Okay-[/color]" he wheezed. "[color=c4df9b]I know I kept  [i]saying it[/i] but you didn't have to [i]do it.[/i] Jeez, I'm used to these things ending in the shit getting kicked out of me. It's like [i]weird[/i] to me that you're not ripping my head off my body. Forgive me for being baffled, big guy, but that's just normal for me.[/color]"


At least Hagan hadn't gone full force on his face. That was nice. "[color=c4df9b]Can I ask you something, Hagan? Like, as a fond acquaintance that you bully sometimes.[/color]"


Hagan narrowed his eyes, with a strange curiousity, "What?"


Straight to the point, "[color=c4df9b]You've let me waste way more of your time than I deserve. I'm glad you're willing to waste more, it warms my heart. I think we're really bonding.[/color]" he cleared his throat. "[color=c4df9b]Has anything odd been happening to you since the camp trip? Like, weird dream kind of odd. I haven't really gotten to ask Rita, but I know that [i]you[/i] were there too.[/color]"


"... Like what kind?" Hagan entertained him.


"[color=c4df9b]Like uh,[/color]" he couldn't believe he was about to get confessional with Hagan but honesty demanded honesty, [i]right?[/i] 


He refused to believe that there wasn't something more to this, there had to be a reason that Hagan could see that marking. "[color=c4df9b]I've had [i]a lot[/i] of fucked up dreams lately, I'm not really going to go into detail but last night, I had this one in particular. With these two kids and this jacked up park ranger. He was like  [i]literally[/i] trying to feast on their entrails or something. It was gross. The whole thing was just really messed up but one of the kids, he got this mark on him. They called him "awakened". Have you been having dreams like this? I know that's weird to ask but it can't be any weirder than imaginary tattoos, right?[/color]"


".. they were saved by those weirdos in robes?" Hagan said, his aggressive, dismissive demeanor shrugging off, over time.


This was progress and the fact that he'd responded honestly was enough to ease Martin's tense shoulders. "[color=c4df9b][i]Yes![/i][/color]"


For the first time since they'd started talking, a very earnest smile found it's way onto Martin's face. "[color=c4df9b]You had the same dream, that's- well, I'm going to be honest, that's [i]weird[/i] but I think this means something, right? It has to mean something. Hagan, be honest with me here, do you have a mark like mine?[/color]"


Looking away a bit awkwardly, Hagan decided to just pull his T-shirt aside a bit, and show Martin the sigil - the shield that was on his chest.


"[color=c4df9b]Dude, [/color]" he arched his eyebrows. "[color=c4df9b]That's- That's something alright. So, this is a thing. This is happening.[/color]"


He was a little more than confused, a little grateful that he wasn't crazy, and extremely curious. "[color=c4df9b]Thank you for being upfront about this, it means a lot. I've been freaking out and knowing that it's not just me. . . Well, I feel much better. [/color]" the dark-haired boy looked thoughtful. "[color=c4df9b]We both got these weird ass marks after the camping trip. Things were obviously pretty jacked up that night, I mean, that thing was barely human. Did this happen to everyone that was there? I can't imagine it's just me and you, as great a team that we make. What do you make of this, Hagan? What do you think it means?[/color]"


"I don't have a good answer to any of these god damn questions," Hagan just bluntly stated with a shrug. Everything that happened here goes past any possible explaination. "Everything's been pretty screwy lately... but how's about this..." He trailed off, realizing he had a good way to get away from this fag. "... How about we ask everyone who was there about these marks?"


"[color=c4df9b]That's a lot of people, big guy.[/color]" though, he [i]did[/i] think it was a good idea, for the most part. "[color=c4df9b]Let's start smaller though, I can ask Rita, because I know her. Hell, I could probably ask Kimberly or Rien. You seem to know the punk chick, you could probably ask her.[/color]"


Claire immediately came to mind - the firecracker that he had a thing for, but yet she didn't seem to feel the same way. Was it because he didn't dress punk? Buuuuut... Martin boy here had a point. He could ask her... where ever she was.


Though, it was a long shot, he didn't want to struggle to contact Hagan again. "[color=c4df9b]Don't take this wrong but can I get your number? It might be easier to check back with you and you won't have to be seen in public with me. I'd [i]hate[/i] to hurt your image.[/color]"


Hagan bared his teeth - he didn't want to do this, but he sighed as he said. "... Get out your damn phone."


"[color=c4df9b]Thanks, pal.[/color]" he couldn't help but find this a little amusing but he brandished his phone and pulled up the contact screen, handing it over to Hagan. Hagan sighed again... he was gonna regret this at some point, but there was some serious weird shit goin' on. Even though he hated Fagboy, he also hated being one step behind everyone else more. So, he merely punched away his number, and shook his head.


"[color=c4df9b]Alright then, man, I think it's safe to say that we're set. We should probably get the hell out of here. I'll message you with the details if I figure out anything important.[/color]" he tucked his phone back into the pocket of his coat. "[color=c4df9b]Seeya, wouldn't want to be ya or whatever the cool kids say.[/color]"


"... Riiiiight back at you." Hagan rolled his eyes, praying that this wouldn't end horribly.