Chapter Text
Ever since Xeno met the tall blonde boy named Stanley, they had become inseparable. It turns out, they even were in the same grade, Xeno insisting to his mother to transfer elementary schools to be in the same class as the boy. Stanley was never aware of that fact, Xeno explaining that his mother switched him because they didn’t want to pay private school tuition anymore.
Going from private to public school was a change, the lack of uniform and more casual atmosphere making Xeno realize that he was missing out on a lot. The blonde helped him catch up, however, showing the white haired boy the ropes of third grade. Xeno learned that they celebrated a variety of holidays, festivals, events and spirit week. Despite being standoffish, Xeno actually did enjoy the events, the cheap off brand soda and grocery store cookies just sweet enough for his tongue.
The next event, soon after returning from winter break, was Valentine’s Day.
The teacher had dedicated that Monday to the class creating valentines for their fellow peers, each student set to work in making twenty six crudely cut out heart cards. The children were tasked with supplying their own candy to slide into the pink envelopes to be handed out on Friday. While Xeno found the whole thing a little silly and tedious, he did as the teacher said, quietly working at his desk with the kid scissors he was forced to use.
“How are yours’ coming?” A familiar voice asked, prompting Xeno to look up. Stanley was chewing on a piece of gum, blowing a bubble as he looked at the young boy's work.
“Good, I only have a couple left,” Xeno replied, pointing to the stack on the corner of his desk.
“Dang,” Stanley remarked, pulling a card off the top. “You don’t need to be so careful with your cuts.”
“I like to have consistently good work,” Xeno huffed, setting his scissors down. “It would be better to use the laser cutter at home but Ms. Luer told us to do it in the classroom.”
“It’s just silly valentines for the class,” Stanley said, crossing his arms. “It’s not like they really mean anything.”
“Maybe,” Xeno said, resuming his cutting of the pink colored construction paper. “But I like to do everything with the same amount of effort.”
The blonde just shrugged, black sports coat zipped up to his neck. His hair was messy, he still hadn’t combed it from playing kickball in gym class. They had played it in the gym, as it was still too cold to go outside. It had recently snowed, Xeno glancing out the window at the dreary February day, a dusting of snow covering the playground. Stanley and him had plans this coming Friday to test a new gun that Xeno was working on, they were hoping with it being a holiday the cops wouldn’t be combing the riverbank for the two young boys.
Shaking his head out of his thoughts, he realized Stanley was still standing by his desk, flipping through the cards Xeno had completed, scanning the shaky handwriting Xeno had put on each.
“I haven’t done yours yet,” Xeno said, finishing cutting out a card. He picked up his pencil, the rocket shaped eraser stuck on the end.
For some reason he didn’t want the blonde to see him make his valentine, Xeno deciding to make his at the very end. He chocked it up to Stanley peering over his shoulder and pressuring Xeno to give him more candy than their classmates.
“Aww, I wanted to make sure you gave me more candy,” Stanley sighed, grinding his bubblegum between his teeth.
“And why would I do that,” Xeno replied, writing out a generic quote on the inside of the card before handing it to the blonde to stack.
“Cause I’m your best friend, duh,” Stanley grinned, setting the stack of cards down. “I get special treatment of course.”
Xeno rolled his eyes as Stanley laughed, ruffling his neat, white hair. Xeno batted his hands away, grabbing the kid scissors to threaten him before the teacher spoke up.
“Stanley, if you are done making cards you can start on your homework,” Ms. Luer called, her long skirt weaving between the desks to stand over the two boys. “Leave Xeno alone to work.”
Ms. Luer had a weird mindset that the two of them weren’t friends, the teacher pulling Xeno after class multiple times to ask him if Stanley was ‘not treating him nicely’ which Xeno always denied. Perhaps it was the blonde’s reputation of fighting, getting into more than one scuffle even since Xeno had transferred that fall. Despite Xeno’s insistence that Stanley was in fact his best friend, the young teacher didn’t believe him, maybe thinking that he was scared of the blonde bullying him if he snitched. The pair had just let the teacher believe what she wanted, Stanley calling her less than nice names under his breath when Ms. Luer would forcibly pull them apart or not allow them to partner up in science class. She even made them move seats, construing that their constant whispering was Stanley asking for the answers to the quizzes.
Which he was, but that didn’t mean Xeno wasn’t a willing participant in giving him the answers.
“Yeah yeah,” Stanley sighed, stomping away to sit at his seat a couple rows away.
“And spit out that gum,” Ms. Luer said, hands on her hips. She turned to Xeno, leaning down to chat with the young white haired boy. “Are you okay? You are doing some beautiful work here.”
“Yeah I am okay, Stanley was just talking with me cause he is done making cards,” Xeno politely replied, ignoring the pity dripping off the teacher’s words. He finished up the last card, sin Stanley’s, and placed it on the stack on his desk. “I’m done now, can I work on my homework?”
“Yes, you can,” Ms. Luer smiled, standing back up straight to address the class. “You guys have five minutes left, then we will start Social Studies.”
The class gave a mumble of acknowledgement as the teacher made her way back to her desk, bouncy black curls shining in the fluorescent lighting of the classroom. Stanley caught Xeno’s eye, making an ugly face while mock choking himself before pretending to die and slouch against his desk. The white haired boy just laughed, stifling his giggle behind his hand as he put his cards in the top shelf of his desk.
Xeno tried to work on his vocabulary homework, but his mind kept wandering back to making Stanley’s valentine. Making him a standard, thoughtless card didn’t sit right with him, the blonde’s own words echoing in his head.
“It’s not like they really mean anything.”
But weirdly, to Xeno, it did. The blonde was really his first true friend, who helped him with his experiments even if it scorched the ends of their hair more than once. The boy who stood up to the upperclassman when he first transferred to the school, taking the detention so that Xeno wouldn’t get in trouble. Who shared his candy, even if it was clear Stanley wanted to keep it to himself.
So, it does mean something, at least to him. A generic, construction paper card wasn’t going to cut it.
=
The cards felt heavy in his backpack as he sat on the bus, a headache starting in his temples as his peers shouted around him. Stanley wasn’t with him today on the bus, serving out the last of his detention for punching an older boy for making a first grade girl cry. Xeno found the whole thing to be quite unfair, managing to pour hydrochloric acid on the boy’s backpack without getting caught as to further the embarrassment the fifth grader experienced.
He wobbled down the aisle to hop off the stuffy bus into chilly February air, shifting his backpack against him. Stomping through the slush, he walked the short way down the street before turning into his driveway, the small one story house nestled behind a large oak tree.
The tire swing out front was covered in snow, a short haired orange cat curled up underneath. It peaked an eye open as Xeno stomped up to the small porch, stretching before trotting over to the young boy.
“Hi Curie,” Xeno said, bending down to scratch behind her ears. “Stanley isn’t here today.”
The orange cat rubbed up against his leg as he unlocked the front door, kicking off his boots on the porch as he stepped inside. Curie had had kittens last spring, right underneath the porch. There were only three, in which Xeno’s mom gave away to the neighbors before insisting on getting the she-cat spayed.
The storm door slammed shut as Xeno shrugged his coat off, the orange cat padding away, most likely going to lay on one of the porch chairs. Closing the wooden door, Xeno turned to face the small living room and took in the warm smell of home. He dropped his backpack by the front door, skating around the couch to enter the kitchen.
“Hi sweetie,” Xeno’s mom said, looking up from her computer that was placed at the dining room table. “Did you have a good day at school?”
“Mmhmm,” Xeno nodded, walking over to peer at his mother’s work. It was a bunch of numbers, spreadsheets and medical jargon, like always. “We made valentines today in class.”
“Oh that sounds fun,” his mother smiled, resuming typing at her computer.
“It was okay,” Xeno replied, turning around to open the snack cabinet. “I need candy for the cards though. Do we have any?”
“Hmm, I don’t think so,” his mother idly said, pausing her typing to pour over a paper. “We can make a stop by the grocery store tonight. Is there anything you have in mind?”
Xeno just shrugged, pulling a granola bar out of the cabinet before closing it. He really didn’t know what candy to give on Valentine’s Day, his only reference for sweets being Stanley.
Stanley.
The blond usually chewed on the suckers you got when you went to the bank, or the hard caramel lollipops that were at the cashier stand in the gas station.
“Could we do those caramel lollipops?”
“Like the one Stanley chews on? Sure,” his mother replied, watching him open his snack. “Don’t fill up on snacks. We can go out for supper then get that candy for your classmates.”
“I won’t,” Xeno said around a bite of his granola. “I still need to work on my cards.”
“How many do you have left?”
“Just one,” Xeno admitted, turning to look at the fridge. His mother had put up his report cards, Stanley’s alongside his. A shaky picture of his mother, Stanley and him at the beginning of the school year was held up by star shaped magnets.
“Stanley’s?” his mother asked, the typing on the computer pausing as she shifted to face her son. “I thought that would be the first one you would do.”
Xeno didn’t answer, just quietly eating his snack as he felt his ears get hot.
“I…wanted it to be something different than my classmates,” Xeno squeaked out, crumpling up his wrapper.
“Well, I think that would be very nice,” his mother said, getting up from her chair to pad the short distance over. “What are you thinking of doing?”
Xeno let his mother pat his head as he mumbled out his answer.
=
Today was the day, Xeno setting the bag full of valentines next to his desk. Stanley’s valentine was in the bottom of his backpack, carefully wrapped by his mother the night before. Xeno had insisted on the wrapping being camo, his mother relenting with a small laugh. He glanced over to look at his friend, surprised to see Stanley already looking at him.
The boy had his own bag of valentines, shaking them as he grinned at the white haired boy. Xeno gave a grin back, tapping his bag with his foot. He felt unreasonably nervous, the neatly wrapped valentine in his bookbag overwhelming his attention.
“Alright class, it's time to pass out your valentines. Remember to be respectful and no throwing!” Ms. Luer called over the rising volume, their classmates already beginning to pass out their cards.
Xeno politely placed his valentines on each of his classmate’s desks, skirting around Stanley’s when he was preoccupied with delivering his own. After finishing, he quickly made his way back over to his desk, pulling the small box out of his bag. Sitting back up, he turned to deliver it to the young blonde, who was now seated at his desk.
Xeno quickly noted that Stanley had more valentines than the normal twenty six, a young girl handing him two as he watched the scene unfold. He tried not to rip the delicate wrapping paper as Stanley accepted the valentines, placing the two envelopes on his desk. The blonde quickly realized Xeno was watching, turning to wave at the short boy, ignoring the brown haired girl. He got up from his chair with a clatter, weaving between the desks.
“What do you got there?” Stanley asked, the tightness in Xeno’s chest fading as the classmate retreated.
Xeno opted not to say anything, handing the valentine over with a little more gusto than necessary.
“For me?” the boy asked, taking the small box. He turned it around to read the neat writing his mother had put on top. “From you and Ms. Wingfield?”
“Just open it,” Xeno huffed, crossing his arms.
“Okay okay,” Stanley grinned, ripping open the camo paper to reveal the cardboard box beneath. “A box? Wow, I love it.”
Xeno smacked his arm at the bad joke, Stanley pushing back as he peeled the tape off. He felt sweat bead up on the back of his neck as the blonde opened the box, revealing the small gift, tucked in pink tissue paper.
“It’s a stun gun,” Xeno said as the boy picked up the small gun. It wasn’t his best work, quickly crafted in the spare bedroom he called his lab. It was small and resembled a water gun, the sleek steel polished, but unpainted. “I was going to engrave it but mom said to wait and see if you wanted to paint it instead.”
Stanley was quiet, staring down at the small tool in his hands, flipping it over to peer down the sight.
“If you don’t like it-”
“I love it,” Stanley interrupted, setting it back in the box. Xeno gripped at the hem of his blue sweater as the blonde stood up, box placed delicately on top of the mound of valentines on his desk. “I really do. It’s perfect.”
“You can test it out after school when we do our experiment,” Xeno replied, chewing on his bottom lip. “I put a D battery in it so it should give a good enough shock that-”
Xeno’s jaw clicked shut as the other boy pulled him into a tight hug, Xeno hesitating before wrapping his arms around him, squeezing back. His nose was smushed into the taller boy’s shoulder, the smell of detergent comforting. After a moment, Stanley released him, Xeno’s fingers dragging on the boy’s hoodie before stepping back.
“Thanks Xe,” Stanley smiled, grabbing the stun gun out of the box to look at it again.
Xeno smiled back, face hot as he watched Stanley examine the gift. He puffed his chest as Stanley nodded, fingers measuring the sight and barrel. Before he could boast about the strength of the steel, a reedy voice piped up.
“Ms. Luer, Xeno gave Stanley something dangerous,” the girl from earlier called, pointing at the pair.
Stanley’s head shot up, shoving the gift back into the box and quickly closing it, Xeno grabbing it out of his hands to hide it behind his back. They both gave their best smiles as the teacher approached them, class falling silent at the scene.
“Xeno, what do you have behind your back?” Ms. Luer said, hands motioning in a ‘give it’ motion.
“It’s Stanley’s gift,” Xeno said, ignoring the question. “It’s not dangerous.”
“I still need to see it,” the teacher replied, stepping closer. Xeno saw Stanley give the snitch a nasty look before stepping beside him. The blonde nudged his shoulder, just giving a reluctant shake of his head.
Xeno pulled the box from behind his back, handing it to the young teacher. Stanley had stepped in front of him, Xeno resisting snatching the box back as the teacher inspected it.
“What is this?” Ms. Luer said, tone firm as she looked into the box.
“It’s a fake stun gun,” Xeno lied, crossing his arms as Stanley held an arm in front of him. “Stanley and I were going to play cops and robbers at recess.”
“This doesn’t look fake,” Ms. Luer said, closing the box and putting it under her elbow. “Does your mother know that you brought this to school, Xeno?”
“Yes, she helped me pick it out,” Xeno insisted, irritation growing. “It’s not yours, it’s Stanley’s.”
“I am keeping it until the end of the day,” Ms. Luer replied, looking down at the pair. “Both of you are going to the office to explain yourselves. I am calling your parents.”
“Stanley had nothing to do with this,” Xeno snapped, stomping his foot against the ground. “He shouldn’t be in trouble!”
“I don’t want to hear it. Both of you, office, now.” the teacher said, pointing to the classroom door. “I am quite disappointed in you, Xeno.”
Xeno just huffed, grabbing Stanley’s arm and dragging him through the rows of desks, turning back to look at the teacher. Ms. Luer had a stern look on her face, nodding toward the door with a determined set in her jaw. He resisted flipping the young teacher off as he pushed through the door, dragging the blonde behind him.
He stomped down the hallway, releasing Stanley’s wrist so he could walk beside him. Xeno crossed his arms as they turned the corner, the front office windows coming into view.
“It’s stupid,” Xeno gritted out, shoes squeaking on the waxed linoleum floor. “It’s not harmful or anything! It was for you! How dare they take it away.”
“It’s okay Xe,” Stanley quelled, bumping his shoulder as they reached the office doors. “Maybe your mom can get it back.”
“I’ll make sure we get it back,” Xeno assured, pulling the door open. “I made that specially for you.”
Stanley didn’t say anything, the heavy set secretary eyeing them as they stood on the short, dirty carpet. Xeno held his chin high, furrowing his brow as the woman motioned to the seats on the west wall.
“Wait there for Mr. Mudwell. He is talking with you two’s parents at the moment.”
Xeno led the pair over to the chairs, hopping up on the stiff plastic, Stanley soon following. The blonde’s amber eyes were trained on his feet, suddenly caving in on himself at the mention of parents.
He never felt the right to pry, his mother always warning him to be careful around private things. All Xeno really understood is that Stanley spent a lot of dinners at his house, and his mother showed up for both Xeno himself and the blonde when it came to parent-teacher conferences. Stanley himself had alluded to little, only really telling the white haired boy that he didn’t have a mother and that his sister moved out a couple years ago.
Stanley was kicking his toe into the rough carpet, scuffing his worn tennis shoe. His fingers were drumming his legs, thick eyelashes obscuring his faraway gaze. Xeno felt a sudden sense of responsibility, leaning into the taller boy to get his attention.
“You can always stay at my house if you want,” Xeno whispered, aware of the secretary eavesdropping. “Mom can put the air mattress in my room.”
Stanley’s foot stopped, turning to meet Xeno’s eyes. He didn’t mention how watery the blonde’s eyes looked. His palms were sweaty as he reached a small hand out, grabbing Stanley’s in a firm grasp. His hand was warm against Xeno’s, fingers gripping the back of his hand as they waited for the principal to call them into the office. His heart was going a mile a minute as they waited, Xeno keeping his eyes trained on their intertwined hands.
A small part of him was happy they got in trouble, Xeno soaking in the warm contact between them.