He still didn't understand why Die would do something so unfair.  No, actually, scratch that, he did know. The Swede had always hated his guts since day one.  He hated Anti and Dark's relationship, hated how they could love each other so much.  How they could be so incredibly happy all the time.

Then, just when Anti thought everything was going great and he thought he could have an unusually pleasant future and grow old with Dark, adopt a couple kids, maybe live past 18 goddammit, Pewds had to ruin everything. 

 
Just thinking of that day made his blood boil.

It had all started on the day they'd been walking through the league's dark halls on their way to class. It was just another mission briefing, nothing special. It wasn't so much where they were, as it was what exactly happened.

Anti remembered every detail like it was yesterday.

He had stayed away from Die for as long as he could, ignoring his vicious teasing and scathing remarks. Dark had sort of woke up one day and decided, Hey! I'm gonna actually care about you from now on!  It wasn't that Anti disliked the protection, but it almost worsened the bullying, and he was pretty sure it couldn't get any worse.

Leave it to Die to kick a guy when he's down,  Anti thought bitterly.

They had been minding their business, a couple of students walking together, when the dumb blond called to them from across the hallway.

"Faggot! Irish pussy! Bitch!"

Name calling wasn't uncommon between older and newer kids, so the teachers kept walking.  The students, however, stopped going about their own routines to listen. Often times the cruel slights were as common nicknames among regular kids, it was just something they did to relate to one another. But this was different. As soon as the names were thrown into the atmosphere, the dynamic of the hall changed completely.  Even if you didn't know either of them, you could tell these weren't two old friends saying "what's up?" These were two powerful fighters who were easily riled.

Anti clenched his fists and narrowed his eyes. His palms grew sweaty with pure fury. He had been dying for some action lately, and this would be a great way to relieve some pent up stress. And, he had almost mastered his powers. Now would be the perfect opportunity to smack the cocky smile of the blond bastard's face.

"Don't," his companion Dark grabbed his collar roughly. Normally, Dark's eyes made his breath catch in his throat, but today the small beauties were drowned in the rage he was feeling. "He's only looking for a reaction." His grip was surprisingly strong, but nothing Anti couldn't easily escape from. He had a feeling that Dark hadn't really been trying to withhold him, only give him a warning.

Now, looking back, he knew the Anti-Mark had probably just been trying to save his own skin.

 It would be too embarrassing to have my blond bitch brag about beating my pet during sex.

"Relax, I'll be fine,"  Anti tried to smile nonchalantly. He wanted to prove to Dark that he could fight better, that he could be better. Beat Die, win over Darkiplier. A win-win. He gestured to the mob slowly making a clear path from the blond to the green head. He knew what they wanted, and he knew there was one thing that Dark wouldn't impose on. Public recognition. That was one way Dark and Mark were completely different. Mark would do most anything do get a person's attention, but Dark preferred to take people down in the shadows. "After all, give the people what they want."

Anti struck home. Dark released him and stepped back. He gave Anti a look that said, Go right ahead, kid.  The green parasite smiled and mock saluted his future lover. "Wish me luck."

"Trust me," Dark had patted him on the head like a proud father would do to his son, "You don't need it."

In that moment, Anti wished he hadn't fought.  He wished he would have launched himself back into Dark's arms and stayed there forever.

He didn't.

He walked confidently across the hall, every student giving him a wide berth. He stopped a few feet in front of the Swede, glaring at him defiantly.

"Got something to say, dumb blonde?" Anti smirked. He had thousands of insults to throw at the bastard, but he couldn't let himself get too cocky. He had dedicated his life to this moment, analyzing and memorizing Die's fighting style in practice sessions. Everyone revered the blond and his power, but that was part of his weakness. Pewdiepie relied way  too much on his magical abilities, so he had very little skill when it came to hand to hand combat. Without his sorcery, he wouldn't survive a day in the streets.

"Very funny, asshole. Let's skip the small talk." the Swede rolled up his pink sweater sleeves and clenched and unclenched his fingers, trying to get the magic in his veins flowing.

Anti held up his fists and braced himself. He knew this was going to hurt. A lot. Suddenly, out of the corner of his eye, he saw Dark shaking his head. Of course, he thought. Die wants me to use magic because he knows he'll win. I have to play this my way if I want even a slight chance. "Let's see what you're really made of, ass-licker. One on one, no magic, no tricks."

The class looked back and forth between the two. They could tell Anti wouldn't submit to the rule of the superior student, but Die couldn't resist a challenge. Though, it looked like the Swede would insist upon his way, when Anti changed the game yet again.

"Unless you're....scared."

This sent Pewdiepie over the edge. He got a dangerous look in his baby blue eyes, and Anti wondered if he'd really done the right thing. He'd find out soon enough. "Fine," Pewdiepie snarled, retracting his magic, "But pussy boy, I'll send you packing."

"Careful what you wish for. Are you sure you wouldn't miss me?" Anti taunted, smirking devilishly and inching forward, fists still raised. This was it. He still couldn't believe it. The moment he'd been waiting for ever since he joined. The clever banter was really just for show. On the inside, he was shivering in fear. He would either win and finally receive well-earned respect, or he would go down in a humiliating and excruciatingly painful defeat.

Die roared and surged forward, hands outstretched like bird's talons. They almost hooked Anti's hood, but he was too quick. He also had several advantages. For one, he was way better at street fighting, and for another, he was smaller and stealthier. Anti ducked and rolled under the blond. Just before coming out on the other side, he stroked Die's cock outline through his black ripped jeans. Anti jumped back to his feet just as Die regained his footing and snapped back around.

Anti smiled and bit his lip in mock flirtation. Sexual gestures during fighting seemed to put his opponents off. "Not as scrawny as I look, eh? I'd say I'm pretty good looking for my age. By the way, that is one big, beautiful erection you have there. This must be thrilling you quite a bit!"

On the upside, his comments had their intended effect. The audience laughed quietly, as if they were honestly trying not to smile but couldn't help it. On the downside, they enraged Pewdiepie to the point that blue sparks danced across his fingertips.

"Fucking faggot! Don't touch me there, you perv!" he spluttered in rage, trying to control the sparks.

"Hey!"  Anti protested. "It isn't me who's getting horny, ok? Jesus, Pewds! Just calm down!"

Another wave of chuckles emitted from the crowd. This did nothing for the Swede's complexion, which seemingly grew redder and redder with every tease. 

 "I'M GONNA FUCKING KILL YOU!!!" Pewdiepie screamed, his eyes bulging out of his head and his teeth elongating into spider like mandibles. He keeled over and two extra arms ruptured his sides. Every fist held a ball of blue fire. The Swede's breathing slowed as he got used to his Alpha form. An Alpha form was basically like the top Pokemon evolution for parasites. It held the most power and even one blow was lethal. Still, even as Pewdiepie's body erupted into flames that didn't burn him, Anti knew he still had a chance.  

He can't hold a form of that magnitude for long. Eventually, he'll get exhausted and then I can take him down.  Anti's mind raced, examining every angle of the hallway. None of the students would help him. He could see the terror and hunger in their eyes. They were either too afraid to aid his fight or their inhuman nature won them over. As his eyes skipped over the crowd, he desperately looked for one the person who might actually take pity. His breath caught in his throat when he saw Darkiplier's dark red hair in the crowd, and their eyes met.

The only thing Anti found in those dark chocolate eyes was icy indifference. 

 Darkiplier would not help him today.

Fine, he thought bitterly, holding back tears. I guess I'll go it alone, like I've always done.  He grabbed the knife out of his back pocket and brandished it menacingly. "Come on, dumb blond. Do your worst."

Pewdiepie looked back and forth at each of his hands. When he looked up, Anti felt a icicle of horror stab his heart. He'd seen lots of bloodthirsty parasites in his time, but this, this was completely different. Pewdiepie had the look of a man who knows he can win. That look was sometimes admirable, but today it was terrifying. "You cannot win." the Swede barely moved his lips, but his voice echoed throughout the hallways. "Surrender now. Your precious concubine won't be here to save you."

The tables had turned. Anti's one defense, the strong, sturdy rug called humor had been swept out from under him. The crowd laughed uneasily.  Anti could feel Pewdiepie's magic impeaching on the other student's wild sides, making them more and more prone to take the Swede's side. Anti was already mad at both Dark and his opponent. 

 Now he was pissed.

"What makes you think I need that fucker to fight?" Anti raised an eyebrow, lying through his teeth. "I can humiliate you all by myself, thank you."

Pewdiepie smiled, and his skin stretched so that he was quite literally grinning from ear to ear. His mandibles clicked dangerously. "Can you, Antisepticeye?  Do you really believe you can defeat me single-handedly? Without an Alpha form? You're more ignorant than I thought."

Another laugh rippled through the watchful students. They slowly relaxed back into minding their own business, assuming the poor green haired boy's fate was sealed. He would get killed or maimed in a hasty defeat. The thrill of the fight was over. There was no more appeal, no more interest. The athlete's shook their heads in disappointment, the full-blood parasites debated going to class, and the fanfiction writers heaved a heavy sigh, knowing the sexual tension cultivated through fighting had disappeared.

"You see? They already have faith in your demise." Pewdiepie grabbed Anti's collar with and held him close.  Anti could feel his hot breath and see the absolute certainty of his death reflected in Pewd's baby blue eyes. "They know what you are. You're useless. Disgusting. Half-bred. Practically a walking safety hazard. I would tell you to kill yourself, but I want to have that pleasure." he leaned in, and whispered in Anti's ear. His breath tickled Anti's neck. "I want to see the look of despair on your fucking annoying face as the light goes out of your eyes. I want to see your limp body hit the floor. I want to watch that damn Darkiplier move on and forget he ever saw your ugly mug-" Die choked on his words. He seemed to catch himself before saying any more.

Anti's throat constricted as he tried to bring air to his pipes. He clawed at Pewdiepie's hands as spots danced before his eyes.  His knife fell to the floor.  He was unarmed and completely defenseless.  He couldn't go down like this, destroyed at the hands of his enemy. He'd face shame for ages, in the very unlikely case that he lived to tell the tale. "D-D-Dark!"  he rasped as Pewds lifted him off the floor. "H-H-HELP!"

He waited.

Dark did nothing.  

 Die laughed hoarsely. "You fucking think that bitch is going to lend a hand? He'd let you die and wouldn't think twice!" his laughter grew more and more maniacal. 

 
Anti's vision blurred. Blood roared in his ears. He felt his heartbeat slowing. His body slowly began to self-destruct, trying to end his misery. Though he knew this was the end, he looked over at Dark one last time.

He guessed he would find unforgiving eyes, but the look plastered on his face was vulnerable and...scared. Anti never guessed he would see Dark get scared. For so long he'd hid under the shadow of his mentor, making sure to stay out of the way. So long that he'd forgotten Dark was really half human. He felt heartache, loss, and sorrow. Most of all, hidden beneath layers of cool, collected mannerisms, was an undeniable flicker of insecurity. A slight faltering in his strong persona he would never let see the sun.

This frightened Anti. The notion that such a put-together being as Dark could look so horrified. Anti had always felt like it was Dark's job to be leader, to be the head of their relationship. Now he wasn't so sure. He'd always felt out of place with everyone else at the league, but with Dark he'd always felt...safe. Felt whole.

This cold sweat that squeezed his heart as the darkness closed in around him was awful, but it wasn't the worst thing he'd ever experienced.

No, the only thing a million times worse than the chilling fear...

was the silence.