Word Count: ~4.3k

Au: Highschool AU

This was honestly just an exercise of metaphors and stuff

 Doc didn't want to move. He was perfectly content going to a private high school. The home he grew up in was a little on the small side, but it was the perfect amount of room. Spending junior and senior years at a public school was the worst idea he had ever heard. Now, was he one of those kids who saw himself better than other people his age simply because he didn't go to public school? Yes, but he'd never admit it out loud.

-

He placed down the last of his boxes in front of his empty bookshelf and stepped back, wiping his forehead. A mix of the late-morning August heat and the exercise causing him to sweat, making him feel disgusting. His parents had insisted they didn't need to turn on the air conditioning yet. He moved over to the window next to where his desk was placed and opened it. Unfortunately, it only made his room slightly cooler, but what he noticed outside was a small group of people heading towards his house.

The hybrid leaned back, lazily stepping around his room as he groaned. Of course, the neighbors were going to be welcoming. And surely his parents will make him come say 'hi'.

"Doc, come socialize!" his mother called from the bottom of the stairs.

There it was.

Swiping his phone from his desk and slipping it into his back pocket, he went downstairs. The front door was still open. His parents were standing on the porch, chatting with five adults and a boy who looked a little younger than Doc. He mustered a small smile and awkwardly joined his parents. The adults were holding containers of food, which meant only one thing.

-

Everyone was gathered in their kitchen around the island, and somehow Doc and the other kid were shoved off to the side. They found themselves sitting on the couch, and boy could the kid talk. He was a bubbling mass of blinding light, and the hybrid wished he could tone him down. And apparently, he was wrong. This kid, whose name was Bdubs, is actually the same age as him.

"Trust me, join a club and you'll make friends in no time!" he assured him. He had spent the last half-hour going on about the school, with Doc making occasional responses. While the other talked, he had taken the time to study his features. Light brunette hair, heterochromatic eyes - brown and green - tan skin, and freckles. Now he wouldn't say it out loud, but the red bandana looked a little... weird.

"I'm not interested in a club," he bluntly stated, shrugging.

"Oh c'mon, you gotta have hobbies, right?" Bdubs teased with a grin.

"I do have hobbies, I just prefer indulging in them alone," Doc spoke slowly in an attempt to keep calm. Although, the more the shorter talked the harder it was. This guy was pushing his limits.

Finally, finally, the guests left and he was allowed to relax in his room, organizing his possessions. By the time he finished, it was still only the afternoon. Not wanting to make a waste of a perfect summer day, his parents urged him to use his bike. So reluctantly, he pulled his bike out of the garage, double-checked the air in his tires, and began to ride.

-

He was biking down the road, keeping to the side, when a car came in his direction. Since he was right next to a driveway, he simply pulled in and hoped they didn't live there. Thankfully, they drove past. But before he could take off again, he thought he heard something coming from the garage. Curiosity pushed him forward and he climbed off the bike, pulling it beside him as he moved towards the garage door and leaned his ear towards it.

Doc blinked. Someone was singing. Their voice bouncing off the walls and seeping through the door, into his ears. It was a song he didn't recognize, but then again he didn't listen to a lot of music. The voice wasn't perfect, but it was... pretty.

The words that were pouring out of the singer's mouth were full of longing, sorrow, and love. It was as if a ribbon was wrapping itself around Doc's torso and spiraling around his limbs, holding him there, making him listen. Their voice continued to build and they belted their emotions, their voice cracking from the weight of the feelings pressing against them. Doc covered his mouth and his heart jumped. He was never one to get emotional over music, let alone some amateur singing.

Breaking free from the contains of the invisible ribbon, he pedaled away, terrified of the water in his eyes. As he biked he clenched his jaw. He hated that feeling, it wasn't real. Those weren't his tears, his feelings, it was that person's. He doesn't hold those emotions, he's never felt that way about anyone. Doc made a mental note to steer clear of that house the next time he rode his bike.

-

The next day, the weather was slightly cooler, but it didn't feel any different. Desperate to forget the events from the day before, he pulled a book from his shelf - it was one he had read before - and sat at his desk. He tapped his finger on the desk while he read, but he soon had to pause. It wasn't just senseless tapping, it had a rhythm.

The same as that song.

As if possessed by a siren, he turned on his PC and typed in a line of the lyrics. Now just drumming his fingers it took him a minute to find the song and play it. It wasn't one by any popular artist, but just a small creator online.

Listening to it was a mistake.

He immediately recognized the voice, however, it didn't sound the same. In the video, it was just them singing. Sure there was some emotion to the words, but it didn't feel as raw as in that garage. A quick check to the description let him know the lyrics were original, but the music itself came from another song. Drawing a hand over his face, he shut down his computer and closed his book.

A little bit of fresh air and bike riding should help clear his head, calm him down.

At least that's what he told himself.

-

Doc found himself slowing down when he neared the house. Just keep pedaling. Bike past it. He told himself, tightening his grip on the steering wheel.

But he looked around and found no one outside, or by a window. And despite his own protests, he hopped up the bike and walked it up the driveway.

Sure enough, he heard the voice, the ribbon wrapping around his arm and pulling him closer. He leaned his side against the garage door and closed his eyes. A different song began to filter through his ears. This time he recognized it. His mother had played it on the radio on the drive here yesterday. The voice wasn't any quieter, but the feeling was softer. The words massaged his head and soothed his mind. A smile tugged on his face and he closed his eyes.

But the soft song was a trap.

The singer smoothly transitioned from the song to something much more emotionally violent. The person seemed to have snapped, the words no longer soothing him, but cutting deep gashes into his chest. He gripped his shirt and took a sharp breath. He wanted to leave, to pull the voice from his ears, but he was trapped there, feet sinking in the pavement.

Thankfully, the voice began to calm as it wavered and it brought back the initial song before coming to an end. He heard the door leading into the house open and close and he took a deep breath. Hopping back on the bike he pedaled away. We're not doing this again. He told himself.

-

The voice was a drug, and as much as he hated to admit it, he craved more. Forgetting the bike for today, he gave his parents a half-hearted wave and stepped onto the porch. However once at the bottom of the stairs, he paused. Is this really how you want to spend the last days of your summer break? Spying on some random person while they sing?

Letting out an exasperated sigh, he began the walk.

Inner conflict aside, it truly was a beautiful day for a walk. He pushed the hair out of his face and forced himself to slow down. But alas, he found himself outside the pale yellow house far too quickly. Once again, there was no one around so he approached the garage door.

Today's song was another new one. It was much slower than the others and pulled Doc down. He sat with his back against the garage, hugging his knees. Instead of cutting him, the lyrics just pierced his chest, impaling him with each word. It was slow, but the voice sounded so powerful and rich. They were brimming with emotions; pain, desperation, regret, and longing. The singer was reaching out but wasn't finding anything to latch onto.

And Doc found himself wishing he could be that thing they could latch onto. The lyrics may not be their own, but the feeling behind them was genuine. As their voice continued to climb, so did their power. They were climbing a mountain until finally, they reached the peak. They belted the note, and their voice cracked, all of the built-up emotion spilling out.

Then they fell. They plummeted from the mountain and the song ended when they crashed. Doc slapped a hand over his mouth as he choked back a sob. He scrambled to his feet and wiped his eyes. Stuffing his hands into the front pockets of his jeans, he hurried away.

-

The voice found its way into his dreams.

He was in the water, a strange source of light filtering through. He wasn't breathing, but he wasn't drowning either.

And then he heard it.

A familiar voice fell towards him and wrapped around him. The sensation of ribbons holding his place was so much stronger than before, especially since there were actual ribbons around his limbs. As the voice grew louder, the more it pressed against his chest making him sink in the water. The further he sunk the harder it was to breathe. Arrows sunk through his shoulders and the words sliced his face.

Yet despite everything, despite the pain, he felt himself smiling. The words formed warm hands that cupped his face, soothing the pain. He couldn't see the face of who was singing but could feel tears dripping onto his face. He reached a robotic arm up, wishing to touch their face in return, to comfort them.

-

He sat up in bed, chest heaving and sweat dripping down his forehead. Doc scrunched his nose. The hell was that about? He thought. Feeling gross and groggy, he took a cool shower. As the water dripped down his back, he ran a hand through his hair.

We're not doing this anymore, it's gotten too weird.

-

"You aren't going for a walk today?" his mother asked. He looked up from the porch chair and closed his book.

"No," he said, shrugging. "I'd rather read." Truth be told, he didn't even know what he was reading. He had started the book earlier and was already almost two hundred pages in, but he hadn't processed a single sentence. His leg was bouncing and he couldn't focus, but he refused to acknowledge why.

His mother crossed her arms and pursed her lips. "But it's just so nice out, and you should really keep up with the routine," she pointed out. He suppressed a groan and put the book down, standing up.

"Alright, I'll go for a walk," he agreed, trying to sound as nonchalant as possible. A smile formed on her face.

"Great!"

-

For the rest of the week, it was the same. He'd go for a walk or a bike ride and stop outside the house just to listen to the person sing. It would rip him apart, break him down, and just drown him. Each day a different song, each day a stronger emotion.

And then it was Sunday. Last day of summer, the last day before school started. He sat next to the garage and quietly listened.

Today's song was the same as the first. Their own song. Their true emotions. Doc could hear them moving around the garage, and occasionally they'd move closer to the door, each time making his heart jump. He suppressed a laugh. Despite the sad song, they were dancing.

He traced his finger on the pavement, mouthing the words with him. His heart pounded in his chest. Despite having heard them sing this before, something about this time was... different. He couldn't decipher how, even as tears clouded his vision and poured down his face. He pressed his lips into a thin line, holding back an audible sob. As the song came to a close, he took a moment to collect himself before getting up.

But the person didn't stop.

After singing one song every day for the week, today they decided to sing a second. And Doc wasn't emotionally prepared for that. It was the same song from yesterday; a deceivingly sweet song. The melody was a warm mug of hot chocolate until he drank in the lyrics and he found the poison. He slowly sat back down and buried his face in his palms. Paralyzed in the spot, his heart crumbled like a piece of paper. The singer bit into their words, and it sounded like they were crying as well.

Leaning his head back against the garage, Doc squinted at the sky. One day I'm going to speak to you and when I do, I'll hug you. He startled himself with his thoughts. As the song wound a close, the last of the poison dripping off the stranger's tongue, he slowly stood up again. A deep sigh escaped from his chest. Once school starts tomorrow there's no way I'll be able to do this again.

Before he could walk away, he heard something else. The singer moved closer. "Thank you." The soft words echoed through the garage and reverberated through his body.

He was a deer in headlights.

Should he run or say something back?

When a moment of silence passed, the voice continued. "I see your shadow, y'know? And it's okay, I appreciate the company."

That voice. Doc didn't recognize it when he was singing, but now that he spoke he knew it right away. He had no idea Bdubs had such a captivating voice. Even though he had only one interaction with him, never in a million years did he think he'd like someone so seemingly annoying. It was like he was a completely different person all of a sudden.

He opened his mouth to respond, but he couldn't form the right words. Clenching his fists he panicked and took off, praying Bdubs didn't chase after him.

-

Doc felt like a coward. He was a coward. After what happened yesterday, he just stopped functioning. But now he had to put up a front, first day of school and all. With his bag on his back, he walked up the street and couldn't help but grimace when he saw Bdubs at the bus stop. The shorter looked over at him and gave a big smile, waving.

From that look alone the hybrid would never have guessed he was suppressing such harsh and concerning emotions.

"Excited for your first day?" he asked once he got close enough.

"I guess," the darker brunette shrugged, looking at the road.

"Oh, I didn't mention this but since we're one of the last stops the bus will be really crowded, so you can just sit next to me." He made it seem like it was some honor. If anything, it was a punishment for creepily listening to him all week. Bdubs may have said he didn't mind, but that didn't stop the guilty feeling boiling in his stomach.

Doc didn't say anything else and let his thoughts be drowned out by whatever the other was talking about. Something about him rambling as if he didn't have a care in the world made him feel... warm. Even if the joy in his eyes is just a mask.

Finally, the bus arrived and he followed the freckled boy on. Bdubs let him sit by the window near the back and slid in next to him.

-

The first day was boring and met his low expectations. Public school was so loud and a lot of the kids didn't have any respect for the teachers. Thankfully he was taking all honors so he was able to avoid most of the obnoxious kids.

Most of them.

Bdubs was in almost every single one of his classes and every time he saw his face he couldn't help but wonder if he knew. If Bdubs knew he was the one outside his garage.

And then lunch arrived.

The hybrid knew before he even stepped into the building that he was not going to each lunch in the cafeteria. His English teacher had told him the library was always open as long as he didn't make a mess.

He was late to leave the gym, as he was one of three people who stayed back to help clean up. Once he did, he walked past the band room and saw the door was cracked open ajar. And he heard something.

-

A part of him wondered if Bdubs was secretly part siren, seeing as how easily his voice drew him in. Unlike the garage performances, he was much softer, much quieter in school. He peeked in and found him sitting at the piano, eyes practically closed. His fingers touched the keys, but he never pressed down to make a noise. The song he was singing was a new one.

It was a bittersweet tune. Like a spoonful of honey that bit back when you swallowed it. The bright smile he had on his face all day was broken down to a troubled frown. His brows were creased and he looked so focused.

I should go. He thought but made no effort to.

When Bdubs reached the bridge of the song, he drove a knife straight through Doc's chest, pushing deeper with each note. It was slowly pulled out when he returned to the chorus one last time, but if anything that hurt more.

By the time he ended, Doc's heart had clenched up so tight he couldn't believe he was still breathing. The shorter's eyes fluttered and he looked over at him. He jumped and he opened his mouth to provide some form of explanation, but the sad smile that formed on Bdubs' face left him speechless. Was that how he looked when he talked to him through the garage yesterday?

Somehow he managed to form a sentence, but his voice was strained. "You have a beautiful voice." He spoke so quietly, he wasn't even sure his classmate even heard him.

A tint of red appeared on Bdubs' cheeks and he giggled. "I'm gonna go out on a limb and guess you're the one who's been listening to me when I'm in the garage?"

Doc's face flushed from embarrassment and he looked away, scratching the back of his neck. "Maybe- yeah- sorry," he stammered. Hesitantly, he glanced back at the other, who had stood up and grabbed his bag.

"I already told you it's fine, really. Now, are you coming to lunch?"

"Oh uh, I was going to eat in the library," he admitted, warmth slowly leaving his face.

Bdubs grinned. "Can I join you?" he asked as the two began to walk down the hall.

"Sure but what about your friends?" The shorter brunette pouted, which he couldn't help but find cute.

"None of 'em have the same lunch block as me this semester. It's so stupid," his mood brightened as they cut through the cafeteria and up the stairs towards the library. "But at least I get to eat with you!"

-

The rest of the school day wasn't all that bad. On the bus ride home, Doc silently listened to Bdubs chatter with a classmate across the aisle. Once at their stopped, they walked in silence down the street, and one thing led to another and the hybrid found himself sitting in Bdubs' garage, on the small step below the door that led into the house. His new friend was sitting beside him, eyes closed and head swaying side to side.

The sunshine in his complexion had melted, leaving behind a hollow shell. For once, Doc couldn't focus on the words, as he was too captivated by his sound, by his face. A familiar feeling of drowning resurfaced in his chest and he gripped the edge of the stair. His warm voice massaged his brain and rubbed circles into his back. Though as he traveled further into the song, the comforting circles became claws, sinking into him and slowly moving down his back leaving gashes behind. He began to truly listen to the lyrics and found them wrapping themselves around his heart and pulling tight enough to constrict his pulse.

Bdubs tilted his chin up slightly, eyes opening to reveal they were glistening, tears threatening to fall. This song of longing, of heartache, he was pulling these emotions out from deep within. The Bdubs Doc had seen at his own house a week ago, the Bdubs from school. That was a completely different person. That Bdubs was a ball of pure light that could never be dimmed, but the Bdubs in front of him had lived and breathed through something Doc had only read about.

Someone had hurt him, and that made his heart shatter.

As the song began to slow down, the words enchanted Doc's thoughts. It took everything in him not to reach over and cup his cheek, wipe the few tears with his thumb and-

Stop, you're getting weird. His thoughts grounded him as the song came to a close. Though he wasn't able to stop himself when he blurted out, "Is everything okay?"

The shorter blinked, looking up at him. His eyes were wide but he remained still.

"Bdubs are you okay?" he repeated himself, this time much softer.

A bitter laugh escaped the tan boy's lips. "To be honest, not really!" He sighed, leaning his head back against the door. "But it's fine, I'll be fine."

This time Doc didn't prevent himself from pulling the other into a hug.

Which was strange since he typically wasn't one for giving out hugs. But he figured Bdubs was a good exception. He felt the other hesitate before wrapping his arms around him and squeezing him in return.

When they pulled apart, the hybrid remembered seeing him in the music room. "Hey, can you play the piano?" he asked. The shorter wiped his eyes with his sleeve and nodded.

"Yeah, but I didn't in school so I didn't bother anyone," he explained, slowly standing up. Doc quickly followed, his words spilling out.

"I have one in my house, if you want to use it that is." A grin formed on Bdubs' face and he nodded.

-

Although Doc also knew how to play, he much preferred just sitting next to him, watching the other play a song from a musical. Because he didn't know the show, he didn't know when - or if - Bdubs would start singing.

But then he did.

Despite sitting on the cushioned piano bench he felt like he was floating. The soft words of hope and pining lifted him and quickened his heartbeat yet again. He was so used to being torn apart from the inside out that he was waiting for it to happen again. After all, he was addicted to the feeling.

And yet it never came.

For the entire song, Bdubs' voice covered his heart with a warm blanket and fed it sweet honey with only a faint bitter aftertaste. His words pulled him closer, the soft smile on his face trapping him. Doc was hypnotized, convinced none of his thoughts were his anymore.

Nor his actions, for when Bdubs ended, he waited for the last note to fade away before slowly looking up to the hybrid, the same smile sitting on his face. To the tune of his beating heart, Doc braced a hand on the bench behind Bdubs' back and pressed their thighs together. He closed the gap between them as he used his free hand to lift his chin and kissed him, shutting his eyes.

Pure euphoria erupted inside him and flowed through his body as natural as the blood in his veins. When they parted, he opened his eyes to meet shocked green and brown that drove a spear right through his heart. Realizing what he did, he pulled back, retracting both hands. His heart pounded before ultimately destroying itself and shattering like a delicate piece of china. The freckled brunette covered his mouth, his cheeks flushing.

"I-I'm sorry! I didn't- I shouldn't have- it was never-" he stammered, unable to form the right apology. Bdubs stood up and backed away.

"I-I should go." Turning around he quickly headed for the door. Freaking out, Doc got up and desperately followed.

"Bdubs, seriously! I'm really sorry!"

The lighter brunette opened the door and paused, Doc stopping a couple of paces behind him. He glanced over his shoulder, revealing a small grin. "Don't be," he hurried down the porch steps and began his walk home. The hybrid stepped outside, blinking in confusion. "See ya tomorrow!" Bdubs called, waving.