By the end of the day, the whispers weren't whispers anymore.
They were louder, bolder, slipping into conversations Riven wasn't meant to hear but couldn't escape. In the cafeteria. In the corridors. Even from the lockers next to his.
"Did you see them? Sitting together again."
"Bet he's desperate for attention."
"No wonder he's always alone—who'd want him?"
Each word was a blade, slicing deeper than the last. Riven kept his head low, shoulders hunched, trying to vanish into the sea of noise.
But Eli… Eli walked beside him like he didn't care if the whole world stared.
---
The Cornered Moment
It happened after last class. Riven was at his locker when a group of boys blocked the hallway. Smirks painted on their faces, voices dripping mockery.
"Hey, freak," one of them sneered, "how's your boyfriend?"
The others snickered, eyes darting toward Eli, who had just appeared around the corner.
Riven froze. His stomach churned, throat tightening. He couldn't even form words.
But Eli didn't hesitate. He strode forward, eyes cold, his presence enough to make the laughter falter.
"Say that again," he said, voice low, steady, dangerous.
The leader of the group shifted, feigning confidence. "Just calling it like we see it. What? Gonna hit us for telling the truth?"
For a second, it seemed Eli might. His fists clenched, jaw taut. But then his gaze flicked to Riven—shaking, pale, desperate for this not to explode.
Eli exhaled slowly and stepped closer, so close his words were a whisper meant for them alone.
"Keep talking, and you'll regret it."
The smirks faltered. One boy muttered something under his breath, and then they backed off, leaving Riven and Eli standing in the charged silence of the hallway.
---
Breaking Walls
Riven's hands trembled as he shoved his books into his bag. "Why did you do that?" His voice cracked, thin and sharp.
"Because they were out of line," Eli answered firmly.
"No," Riven snapped, slamming his locker shut. He finally looked at Eli, eyes brimming with frustration. "Because now it's worse! They'll keep coming, Eli. And one day, you won't be able to scare them off. Do you get that? I can't—" His voice broke again. "I can't survive this if it keeps getting worse."
The hallway emptied around them, leaving only the echo of Riven's shaking voice.
Eli reached out but hesitated, hand hovering just short of Riven's shoulder. "Then let me carry it with you. Don't push me away, Riv. Please."
Riven's breath hitched. He wanted to scream. To collapse. To disappear.
Instead, his body betrayed him. He swayed forward, forehead brushing against Eli's chest.
For a heartbeat, Eli didn't move. Then, gently, he wrapped his arms around Riven, shielding him from the world in the only way he could.
"You're not a burden," Eli murmured into his hair. "You're not broken. And I don't care what they say."
The tears Riven had fought all day finally spilled, hot and silent. But for the first time, crying didn't feel like weakness. Not when Eli held him as if he was something worth protecting.
---
The Flicker of Hope
Later, as they walked home in quiet, Eli broke the silence.
"They'll keep talking, yeah. But let them. They don't know you like I do. And one day…" His voice softened. "One day, you'll stop caring what they think. Until then, I'll care enough for both of us."
Riven glanced at him, torn between disbelief and the fragile thread of hope that tugged at his chest.
It was terrifying.
And yet, for the first time in a long time, it also felt like maybe—just maybe—he wasn't walking through the fire alone.