deathproof (deathproof) wrote in wizardland,
@ 2011-04-05 01:44:00

open to Apollo
Link didn't come from a long line of magic. He was one of the few kids who had cropped up seemingly out of no where. The Ministry kept a look out for youngsters just like him, and there was a fun set up to help put such kids through school if they couldn't afford it. Everything had started to change when he was just thirteen. He started to notice things that he could do that he couldn't explain. It was always without intending to do them, too, which usually made for awkward situations. When he was fourteen and just about to go to high school, he was plucked up by a wizard and for the past year he'd been at Gorsemoor Academy. He'd hated returning home for the summer, and if he could have helped it he would have stayed at school. Both of his parents were alcoholics and they dabbled in illegal drugs quite often. The little trailer park Link had come from was a hell to the boy for many reasons, and this place? It was everything he'd ever wished for. Whenever the holidays came around, he was the one who always stayed, so it was no surprise that he'd stayed for spring break. It had been quiet, and he'd read a lot as well as wrote. He liked being on his own more than anything, and when the school started to fill up again he had to sigh in disappointment.

At the moment he was sitting outside beneath a tree, enjoying the weather while he listened to music and read over a book on herbology. He didn't see Apollo in the distance. He hadn't realized that Apollo and Ares had returned from break yet. The Avel twins were ruthless and he always tried to avoid them.

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criminalminds
2011-04-05 08:08 pm UTC (link)

It was so easy to pick on Link. No one's cheeks got as pink as his did. There was an undercurrent of anger that ran through the boy; Apollo could sense it just begging to break through to the surface and he wanted to be the one who broke open all the cracks and forced the mild mannered mudblood to erupt. Torturing Link had become an official Avel past time and Apollo never missed an opportunity, even if Ares wasn't around to enjoy it as well.

They're family had returned from the Bermuda Triangle. Apollo had been there on business even though his family had gone there to vacation. The Avel family was little more than a wizarding crime syndicate dating back centuries. They had seen more money come and go than perhaps any wizarding family from here to Europe. Each generation either built up or squandered the fortune of the past. Apollo and Ares parents were more of the squandering sort, so the boys didn't have a great deal of wealth. Apollo was determined to restore their fortune though and while he was very thuggish in his social behavior, he was wicked smart and savvy.

Business hadn't gone too well and he was cranky to be back at school early with nothing to show for it. "HEY," he called out to Link, amused that he'd caught the kid alone. When Link didn't look up--because he probably couldn't hear him over the music--Apollo got really pissed. He jogged up to him and grabbed the book out of his hands and yanked his headphones off. "I'm talking to you, jackass," he snapped.

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deathproof
2011-04-06 02:50 am UTC (link)

When the headphones were ripped away as well as his book, Link jumped and looked up at Apollo in surprise. He frowned and moved to get to his feet as he started to gather his things up. He wasn't about to sit around and be bullied by Apollo.

"You never talk to me," he said quietly. "You push me around and make fun of me. Can I please have my things?" he said as he straightened up and held his messenger bag in his hands.

He was a little shorter than Apollo, but they were both rather thin. And pale. And they both had dark hair and pretty blue eyes, but that was the extent of the things they had in common.

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criminalminds
2011-04-06 02:58 am UTC (link)

"Maybe if you say pretty please," Apollo smiled. The way his mouth looked was plush and inviting, as if that smile had charmed thousands of people before Link and would charm thousands after. But the sweetness of it never reached his cold eyes.

He looked down at the book and wrinkled his nose. "Like you need to study boring, dirty plants. You have so much in common with them that I would think you'd know all there was to know about being smelly, muddy, and fairly useless." Apollo was pure Aeris. He valued the cerebral things, nothing of the earth for him, nothing so base as getting his hands dirty. There were other people he could manipulate or bully into doing that for him.

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deathproof
2011-04-06 03:05 am UTC (link)

Link straightened up and his lips pursed together in a frown. He was clearly not amused, and he definitely wasn't up for this. Then again, when was he ever up for this kind of thing?

"If you hate me so much, why do you even bother with me at all?" he asked as he reached out and managed to snag his headphones back. He shoved them into his bag and looked back up at Apollo with a frown. "Why don't you just ignore me. Clearly I'm not worth your time and effort, so why bother? Are you really just that bored?"

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criminalminds
2011-04-06 03:21 am UTC (link)

Apollo nodded slowly as one would nod to a very small child. "Yes, Link, I'm really that bored and you're really that fun to torture. You don't deserve to be here. I don't know why your parents didn't just send you to an insane asylum where all good little mudbloods belong."

He kept flipping through the book as if he couldn't care less that Link had been bold enough to snatch the headphones back. Deep down, he felt a blast of fury that the kid had even dared to raise a hand against him, even in defense of his stuff. "Did you stay here all spring break?"

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deathproof
2011-04-06 03:35 am UTC (link)

"Yes," Link answered, but he didn't offer anything further than just that single word.

The only reason he stood there indulging Apollo at all was because he wanted his book back, though he had a feeling that he probably wasn't going to get. He could always get another book. Settling the strap of his messenger bag over his head and onto his shoulder, he turned to head off away from the other boy.

"Keep the book," he called over his shoulder. "I don't really need it."

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criminalminds
2011-04-06 03:39 am UTC (link)

When Apollo wasn't with his brother, he felt almost pathetic chasing after Link like a rabid puppy. But that didn't prevent him from trotting after him. "Why didn't you go home? You go home during the summer." Apollo knew quite a bit about Link's habits. One must study their prey to be a truly effective predator. He'd practically memorized Link's schedule and every time he changed it to avoid him, Apollo adapted. He was the worst of the twins.

He stayed neatly on his heels until finally he fell into stride next to him, book tucked underneath his arm as if he was merely carrying it for him.

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deathproof
2011-04-06 03:50 am UTC (link)

Link's eyes rolled up to the sky as he drew in a deep breath, and then he exhaled it in a sigh. He should have known that Apollo wasn't going to let him go so easily. He never let him go so easily. The strangest thing to Link was how attractive he found Apollo when the boy did nothing but torture him. He supposed it came from his childhood - the abuse had been great, and somehow he looked to please his parents still despite it all.

"Because I didn't want to go home, and during the summer - we have to go," he said softly. "Why are you asking?" he said as he paused and turned to face the other boy.

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criminalminds
2011-04-06 04:03 am UTC (link)

"Because it's a free country," Apollo snapped. "Everyone knows that you have to do research on a mark before going in for the kill." He spoke like he actually meant killing and with Apollo's background there was really no telling if he could ever graduate to actual murder, so the result was unnerving.

It was difficult to admit genuine curiosity about Link's life. The boy had caught Apollo's attention long before he'd found out that he was muggle born. Maybe that's why Apollo hated him so much--he'd wanted to be his friend, wanted to find out about him. Then the little shit had had the nerve to turn out unworthy of his friendship and adoration. Everything about Link was soft and kind where everything about Apollo was sharp and cruel. He'd wanted to dull his edges on the other, but now he couldn't and that feeling of disappointment had quickly grown into hatred.

He stood there facing Link, just seething about it and how he liked to look at him. "What do you do at home?" It was one place where Apollo couldn't stalk the kid.

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deathproof
2011-04-06 04:19 am UTC (link)

Link never liked when Apollo spoke to him as if he was something the boy really meant to kill. He roughed him up, and that was enough to make Link afraid of him. He wondered if Apollo really could do it, if he really could just kill him because he wasn't a pure blood wizard.

"Nothing," he said with a shrug as he lowered his gaze down to the ground, and Apollo's shoes. "This place is more home than home is."

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	criminalminds 2011-04-06 04:42 am UTC (link)
	Apollo gave him a sharp shove to bring his attention back upward. "Nothing? You just sit in a corner and breathe? Seriously? Come on, tell me what you do at home in muggle land." Now that he'd asked the question, he wanted details. His hungry mind was dying to know exactly how Link spent his summers. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

deathproof
2011-04-06 05:18 am UTC (link)

The shove had come unexpectedly. Link should have known better to let his guard down, but for whatever reason Apollo had a way of getting him to almost trust him despite the fact that Link knew it was stupid. Whenever Ares was around, it never happened, though. Only when it as Apollo.

He stumbled back, but managed to catch his footing as he reached out to steady himself on a tree. Frowning, he looked back over at the other boy.

"Read. Draw. Write. Do chores. Listen to music. Nothing exciting," he said quietly.

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criminalminds
2011-04-06 05:21 am UTC (link)

"Nothing exciting like sitting and reading about herbs?" He smirked. Link's life here at Gorsemoor didn't seem all that exciting either.

As soon as the other boy was touching the tree, Apollo was striding toward him so that he could pin him there with one strong hand. He splayed his fingers out across Link's chest, crushing him hard back against the tree. "No friends there, I suspect."

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deathproof
2011-04-06 05:47 am UTC (link)

When he found himself pinned up against the tree, he swallowed hard. He hated that underneath the fear, there was a hint of desire there and he often had thoughts of Apollo kissing him. It was absolutely ridiculous, and he knew it.

"I have a friend," he said softly. "His name is Christian, and he lives next door," he added.

He'd been his boyfriend at one time, but when Link had been sent away, they couldn't maintain a relationship and now they were only friends.

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criminalminds
2011-04-06 05:54 am UTC (link)

Apollo cocked his head to the side, angling his face like a hawk examined prey. "Yeah? So what's Christian like? Is he super nice and super sweet and super duper?" His cruel mouth twisted into an equally cruel smile. The high he got from talking any way he wanted to Link was like nothing else in the world. He hated to admit that it was different without Ares around. This felt like just their little secret. Link could always be counted on not to tattle. He was a mudblood but at least he wasn't a snitch.

The tips of his fingers curled in against the other boy's chest through his shirt.

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deathproof
2011-04-06 06:01 am UTC (link)

Link clenched his jaw a bit and he narrowed his eyes. For some reason, he was much more challenging when it was just the two of them. He talked back more, carried on a real conversation instead of just going silent like when Ares was around.

"He's a hockey player. He's also pretty smart, and he's a great kisser," he said snarkily.

As soon as the words came out, he was shocked that he'd dared to even say them. The last thing he needed was Apollo calling him a faggot, but there wasn't anything he could do to take it back now.

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criminalminds
2011-04-06 07:19 pm UTC (link)

At first, Apollo lost the mean smile. His expression faded into the barest hint of disappointment. In the deepest parts of his brain, he'd imagined that Link had never been kissed before. Why that even mattered was beyond Apollo and he didn't like to think about the reasons for anything.

The momentarily soft expression snapped away as he leaned closer. "So he's your boyfriend or something?" he snarled. His first reaction was not to call Link queer or a fag. For all of his intolerance, Apollo did not see much problem with being gay. He liked both. Sex was power. What bothered him was the idea that Link had experienced any of that.

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deathproof
2011-04-07 02:13 am UTC (link)

Link was surprised that Apollo hadn't launched right into an awful assault of cruel words, and he couldn't help but wonder if maybe Apollo liked boys, too. Immediately his heart skipped a beat and he felt a faint fluttering in his stomach at the very notion of the thought. Maybe Apollo did like him, deep down. Maybe that's why he paid so much attention to him, even if it was negative attention. The second he started to think it, though, he realized just how ridiculous that really was. The soft expression on Apollo's face was only noticed for a split second before it was gone, and as he stepped closer, Link shrank backwards some - as much as he possibly could, really.

"N-no," he said very softly. "I mean, he was," he explained before he wet his lips nervously. "Now we're just friends because... Well, I'm here and he's there and..." he shrugged a little.

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criminalminds
2011-04-07 02:50 am UTC (link)

"That's the dumbest reason not to be someone's boyfriend. Are you afraid he's going to cheat on you while you're away so it's better to just be friends?" Apollo pulled back, giving Link some space though not because he was showing him mercy. He just wanted some room for himself to breathe. He hated the idea that Link had had a boyfriend.

"Well, I guess it's good to find out you won't be breeding anytime soon. I could just picture you getting some muggle heiffer pregnant and having a perfect little white picket fence life while you further infect magical bloodlines." It was something his father would say while he was drunk and raving. To hear it so faithfully spewing from his own lips made him wrinkle his nose a little. It was just so easy to follow in his footsteps.

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deathproof
2011-04-07 03:00 am UTC (link)

"No," Link answered. He ignored the rest of Apollo's little rant and focused on the question that he'd posed at the beginning. "I can't even tell him who I really am. How can you be with someone and not tell them who you really are? It's just - it wouldn't work," he said with a shake of his head. "We're young anyway, it was never serious," he added with a little bit of a shrug. "Why do you even care?"

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criminalminds
2011-04-07 03:13 am UTC (link)

"You wouldn't tell him unless you ended up like, marrying him or something. Wizards marry muggles all the time. Do you think he wouldn't like you anymore if he found out you were so much better than him?" Because even if Link was muggle born, he was still a wizard and thus automatically better than any stupid human.

He offered a shrug. "Why the fuck do you think I care? I'm just bored. You're practically the only other person around. Sue me."

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	deathproof 2011-04-07 03:17 am UTC (link)
	Link glanced around. It was true. They were the only pair in the court yard right then, and now they were off to the side where the trees were. Turning his gaze back to Apollo, he reached out to snag his book from underneath the boy's arm and then he reached up with his free hand to try and work Apollo's grasp from his shirt. "Are we done?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	criminalminds 2011-04-07 03:48 am UTC (link)
	Apollo clenched harder and leaned back in toward the other boy. "No, we're not done. I'm still bored." He liked it best when Link struggled. It made his own heart beat really fast. "If Christian is such a good kisser, then you must have learned something." Apollo glanced down at Link's mouth, the way it was so close, just begging to be used. "Show me." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

deathproof
2011-04-07 03:54 am UTC (link)

When Link felt Apollo's fingers tighten around his shirt, the boy's own fingers tightened around Apollo's wrist in return. He didn't move to push him away just yet, though. He was trying to figure out a way to get out of this, but then Apollo's words finally reached his ears and for a moment all Link could do was stare back at him in surprise.

"What?" he asked, furrowing his brow as he realized just how close Apollo really was to him.

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criminalminds
2011-04-07 04:33 am UTC (link)

Apollo slowed down his speech as if speaking to a very stupid person. "I said show me what that muggle boy taught you about kissing."

He tilted his head, jutting his chin forward so that their lips were almost touching. At this point even he didn't know if he was mocking Link or if this was real. "Come on. Unless he wasn't that good at all and you're even worse at it."