- Chapter 26 - Not Only Are They Forgotten Boys, but They're Protective and Persuasive Boys too -
Warnings: mentions of bullies, bruises
Third Person POV

"Specs!"

Specs looked up, seeing Jack dragging David towards him.

"Jack," David started again, "I swear. It's an old one, it's fine," he tried to tell him, struggling to pull out of his grip.

Jack ignored him and looked at Specs, stopping in front of the boy. "What colors are bruises when they're fresh?" he asked him.

"1 to 2 days after you got the bruise, it's bluish-purple or black," Specs explained. "5 to 10 days after, it turns green or yellow, and after 10 to 14 days, it turns light brown or yellow," he finished. "Why?"

Jack looked back at the bruise on David's arm. He sighed in relief. "Thank God... it's an old bruise," he muttered.

David sighed. "I told you that," he mumbled. His cheeks were a bit red.

Specs looked up. "Bruise?"

David sighed softly, looking at him. "Jack noticed an old bruise on my arm and got really protective," he explained, showing him the bruise on his arm.

"Jack," Specs chuckled softly as he looked at the bruise, "you need to calm down. I get you care, but it's an old bruise," he told him.

Jack shrugged, his cheeks a bit red. "I just wanted to make sure it didn't hurt and that there were no other injuries that came from it," he mumbled defensively, diverting his eyes.

"I tell Jack to calm down all of the time when I get bruises and he doesn't listen!" Race exclaimed, his cigar in his hands as he waved them around crazily. "But he listens to you?!"

Jack and Specs both shot him a look. "You're well aware why we don't listen to you when you say that, Racetrack," Jack responded.

Race rolled his eyes and stuck his cigar back in his mouth, his arms crossed and him pouting a bit. "Meanies."

Boots patted his arm. "Brothers," he corrected him.

Race rolled his eyes fondly and walked away. "Get your best friends, we're playing BS," he told him as he left the room.

Boots chuckled. "Okay." He walked away to find Ike and Knobs.

Specs looked back at David and Jack. "So... where was that bruise from anyways?" he asked David.

David frowned. "Uh..."

Jack looked at him, starting to get concerned again.

"Nowhere?" David tried to play it off.

Specs put his book down. "Bruises don't appear out of thin air, Davey," he reminded him. "I know you know that."

David frowned. "Yeah," he mumbled.

"Then where did it come from?" Specs asked him.

David sighed a bit. "Just bullies," he muttered. "I'm a nervous wreck and a nerd, I was probably destined to be picked on," he explained.

Jack clenched his fists. "What are their names and at what school?" he questioned.

David's eyebrows furrowed. "Why?"

"I'm going to teach them a lesson," Jack declared, looking determined.

Specs sighed. "Jack, you can't-" he started.

The door flying open cut him off. "I'm going with you!" a little voice announced.

The three older boys turned around, finding Les standing there, with Lucky by his side.

Specs pursed his lips and sighed. He shook his head. "No one is going anywhere that isn't in this house," he told them. "It's too dangerous, and you're going to get yourself caught."

Jack and Les both opened their mouths to argue.

Specs shot them both stern looks that shut them up. "I'm serious. I will get Race, Finch, and Blink to tie you to your bunk, Jack, and Les, I'll get Mush, Elmer, and Henry to tickle you," he threatened.

Both boys' eyes widened at the threats, Jack's more because he was fully aware that Specs would go through with his threats and had done so before.

David's eyebrows furrowed. "Tie someone to their bunk?" he mumbled, looking over at Specs. "Isn't that a bit extreme?"

Specs shook his head. "Not when you live in a house full of overprotective idiots and leader-children who won't sleep or take care of themselves," he muttered.

David blinked, having a feeling that Specs had dealt with this before.

Les tilted his head as he looked at Specs. "I thought Medda was your mom..." he mumbled, confused.

Specs rolled his eyes at what he was implying.

"Yeah, but Specs kinda acts like our mom," Finch commented, leaning against the doorframe.

Specs rolled his eyes again.

Les nodded a bit. "So he's like David?"

"Les!" David's cheeks burned.

Les giggled, grabbed Lucky's hand, and ran off. "I'm not wrong!" he shouted as he left.

David sighed, shaking his head and turning back to Jack. "I promise it's fine, Jack," he assured him. "Plus, I probably won't ever see them again."

Jack looked annoyed at this, but nodded. "Fine," he grumbled.

David sighed, a bit relieved that Jack wouldn't try to go after his bullies.

Jack looked around, silent for a moment. Then, he looked at David. "Want to go talk and have some peace and quiet?" he asked. "I know a beautiful spot up on the roof. It's peaceful and pretty," he informed him.

David smiled a bit, but it was clear this idea made him nervous. "Thanks, but I really hate heights, so I'm all set," he responded.

Jack brushed it off. "I'll help you; you have nothing to be afraid of," he assured him. "Especially when I'm here." He grinned at him.

David raised an eyebrow at him, a bit nervous. Nonetheless, he agreed.

(Especially since Jack's grin looked so darn cute and David wanted the grin to stay and for Jack to be happy.)

946 Words