"What are you doing?"

I pursed my lips and continued to stare at the dreary brown carpet at my feet; tearing yet another page from one of the useless texts throughout the library. I knew that voice, I knew it well. It belonged to the one person who never laughed at me. I could feel my face flushing, embarrassment flooding through me at the memory of earlier.

I felt a hand on my shoulder and I finally snapped my head up. Those eyes hardened at the pain etched into my own and I felt a thumb gently rub my cheek.

"Why do you let them win? You're so much better than them."

I shoved his hand away and leant back, pressing myself against the wall. No one dared torment the boy in front of me; his record for retribution keeps everyone away. Yet they all knew—they know—that I'm his. His fingers trailed up and down my arms as he pressed himself into my space, his warmth permeating between us.

"James, tell me, who did this to you? Was it that Powers boy again?"

I bit my lip; I always do when he calls me James. Not even my parents call me my given name; it's always Jim-boy, Jimmy, or some other sickeningly sweet pet name. I felt his breath ghost over my forehead before the briefest press of his lips. His fingers danced up my arms, across my shoulders, till he could cradle my head between them. His thumbs tracing patterns only he knows along my jaw.

I finally nodded, my gaze turning downward, looking at the hideous tie that's requirement for uniform—he can actually look decent with it around his neck. Everyone else looks foolish. I felt his lips brush a path from my forehead, down my right cheek and finally rest at the corner of my mouth.

"I'll take care of it."

With the barest hint of a smile, I lean into him, wrapping my arms around his waist.

Erm, so, yeah, I ventured out on a limb, this is my stab at a teen!Jim & teen!Seb...um...and obviously it's slash. XD

Not sure if I'll make something out of it or not, but at the moment, this is what it is.

Feel free to tell me if you hate it, loved it, indifferent, what-have-you. :)