Thirty-Three: Rage

~AUSTIN~

Austin could feel the testosterone crackling like electricity in the locker room before practice had even began. Austin was seated upon a bench, his eyes down staring at the ground while wrapping his knuckles tightly with gauge, wincing against the raw skin that began to throb with pain up into his fingers. If asked he would've usually said, "you should see the other guy".. followed with a cocky laugh but considering his sore knuckles were paired with a split lip and bruised cheek, he knew he didn't have bragging rights in that moment. While he sat in pain amongst his teammates, he could still picture Finnick in the back of his mind. The other boy simply wore a cut brow from the night before along with a devious smile which he continued to wear til the next day as Finnick had entered the school that morning for basketball training at the same time as the Backnott team.

Tess, was missing. The panic of the night before was still sizzling into the morning. Austin found himself without any sleep, up all night trying to find Tess in his sheets or under the mattress. He admittedly gotten into a fight amongst Finnick and some other boys because Darrick was going around asking where she was, who had taken Tess in a loud voice and even started a brawl, breaking one of Austin's fathers expensive vase's in the process. Austin was in a panic, anxious all day and night not knowing where the small human could be was a terrifying thought. Who she could be with was even more terrifying. They all had an inkling on who had her..

A clang of a locker startled Austin from his thoughts and he turned his eyes up just as Darrick appeared within the change room, broad shoulders taking up the doorway with his eyes dark and looking as if he were about to commit a murder. Darricks eyes looked sucken from lack of sleep and hair a mess on his head. Standing quickly, Austin moved toward the taller black haired boy, hoping to speak to him but to no avail. Instead he was simply shouldered out of the way and causing him to stumble, Darrick stepping forward further into the room not to change but instead in the direction of Lenny. The spiky white haired boy had arrived not too long before Darrick and was oblivious as he stood currently shirtless while tugging on his jersey for training that started in only ten minutes.

"Darrick~" Austin called seeing as the boy wasn't stopping anytime soon and with a shout, Austin saw as Darrick attacked, grabbing at Lenny's neck to shove him into the lockers with relenting force, the sound echoing like thunder around the change room. Darricks large meaty paw easily wrapped around the smaller boys throat, pressing into his oesophagus until Lenny made a strangled sound for air. It would leave a bruise, seeing how tight his grip was on Lenny. Darrick moved so fast that half the team didn't know what was happening until Lenny shouted , five guys moving to try pull Darrick off of Lenny but froze in place when sent a look that could kill, not wanting to earn a broken nose or limb from Darrick.

"Where is she! You fucking sick bastard! WHERE!" Darrick shouted to the gods and Austin shifted close to confront the larger boy, who's voice boomed like the crack of a whip. Darrick spat while snarling, his fingers tightening on Lennys wind pipe. Austin grabbed at Darricks shoulder trying to pull him off Lenny but was simply shoved aside, making him stumble over his own feet into a bench and he looked up with wide eyes not knowing how to react to Darricks anger. Hadn't seen him so angry before in all the time of knowing the other boy since they were kids.

Lenny seemed shocked at first, squirming in Darricks grasp trying to pry at his large fingers from his throat in desperation for air. For a split second Austin saw fear in the other boys eyes as Lenny was held against those lockers, his confidence dwindling further. For a brief moment Lennys eyes were wide and he cowered against Darricks words, face twisting and cheeks turning a tomato red. Lenny had always been somewhat of a coward, using for tactics such as word of mouth and the power of persuasion. The fear quickly faded upon his features and the usual dark cockiness came over him, smirking up at the taller boy with icy eyes which only seemed to annoy Darrick more. Darrick slammed a hand against the locker door with inevitable force making a loud clang by Lennys head.

"I haven't the slightest idea who you mean," Lenny spoke calmly, too calmly especially in the situation he was in while looking sadistically up at Darrick with a wheeze to follow, like a snake his eyes narrowed and he eyed the larger boy down "who is it your looking fo-"

"Don't act dumb you weasel!" Darrick shouted making Lenny flinch as his collar was then grabbed and like a rag doll Lenny was slammed up against the lockers again, on his tip toes as Darrick held him eye to eye against the wall "I know you have her, your minions aren't so bright with their big mouths and you left Austin's just as she so happened to go missing!" Darrick snarled similar to an animal. Austin knew that when tension is high between Lenny and Darrick he should interject their anger, but sometimes it just isn't that easy with Lenny and Darrick, two very stubborn alpha males. When either Lenny or Darrick get all up in each other's faces, Austin will get this urge to smack them down but if he were to do that they'll probably turn on him. So instead Austin takes a step back to suppress his violent impulses to stop the two.

"Get off me you freak! I haven't bloody got anybody!" I don't know what your talking about" Lenny snapped then, his face turning red as he squirmed but it seemed every word that left Lenny's mouth stung Darrick more, only fueling the fire that burned inside of Darrick. Every word like gasoline to him, Darricks fists began to clench until they turned white and jaw rooted into a sharp line. Austin could've sworn he could see a vein pulsating from Darricks forehead, face like a hot kettle about to blow.

Austin himself was frozen on the spot, staring in disbelief like many of the other boys on the team, confused and disoriented from what was happening. No one knew, no one understood why this was happening. Only Austin, it was his secret he was holding onto so dearly. No one knew about Tess and Darrick, nobody knew about Austin and Tess. Austin wanted to strangle Lenny himself but also didn't want to appear to be on Darricks side, to be a human lover. It pained him knowing he was too weak to stand up for Tess, his heart ached and he mentally hit himself in the face. If word were to get out about what was happening, about Tess's disappearance and being Darrick girlfriend would end him. Stepping forward a little Austin reached out again, trying to calm the situation and Darrick, to reason with the large boy "Darrick.. your gonna get suspended from the season if~"

"Fuck Backnott, Austin! The hell are you on about!" Darrick snapped, swiping Austin's hand away from him with a fiery gaze "don't you dare touch me. You don't even care about Tess, do you?! Your a absolute prick and don't deserve shit" Darrick grunted, fuming at the seams and looking ready to burst whilst still holding onto a struggling Lenny. Austin couldn't help but stutter, his mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water gasping for air. Austin's eyes glazed over and he felt frozen to the ground, heels heavy as if they were made out of concrete. Austin's heart began to pound heavily in his chest at a rate he'd never felt before. Austin's head throbbed as a splitting headache pounded at his brain, making his eyes tear up and nose run. He'd come all too use to the headaches lately, beginning to wonder if it was because of stress of the situation or just the hangover from the night before

"D-Darrick I~" Austin stuttered out, looking around him at his teammates faces. Did they know, did they understand what was happening before them and what the topic of this argument actually was! He felt his face flush red and the back of his neck burnt as if someone had cooked up a fire behind his head. He could see everyone whispering, as thick as thieves while they watched the fight unfold. Were they talking about him? Did they know?

"I don't care what you have to say Austin, get out of my face and leave me alone." Darrick growled "while I fix this mess"

"Isn't that sweet, looks like Darricks in love~" Lenny snickered lowly

"Shut up, tell me where she is now or I'll~" Darrick just snapped. All that rage came out faster than magma and just as destructive. It consumed all that he was, Lenny looking delicate under Darrick gaze and in his hands. Lenny shrivelled before Darrick while Austin stood motionless as if stepping on thin ice. But Lenny of course couldn't keep his mouth shut and kept on going doing far more damage with his words.

"What Huh!" Lenny grinned maliciously "Fuck me~" Lenny smirked and cocked his head to the side as he looked to Darrick "fuck me like your little human slut. Imagine if your mother found out what you we're upto, you wouldn't want to hurt your poor mother any more than you already have." Lenny licked his lips slowly with amusement on his face, knowing each word cut Darrick with every flinch in his eyes

"Shut up!" Darricks face turned red and Austin could've sworn he saw tears behind his eyes, his knuckles whitened more as he gripped Lennys collar tighter. Darricks hazel eyes became glossy and his black hair fell into his eyes, Lenny knew. Lenny knew about Tess, knew Tess was Darrick and didn't seem to care. Like the rat he was he smirked, finding amusement seeing Darrick upset

Lenny didn't stop instead leaning in toward Darrick and spoke softly under his breath, not loud enough for the entire room to hear but just for Austin to catch the words under the boys breath "I'm sure she wouldn't be too happy, just considering it was your fault that your father died in that accident, imagine her hearing the news about her son.. a human fucker too" Lenny spat, trying to push Darrick off of him

Darricks face turned whiter then bed sheets, his mouth stuttering open as he looked to the boy he held in his hands. Austin couldn't help but look to the red angry scar upon Darricks forehead, a tragic forever reminder of that horrible day. Darrick softener for a second, his hand loosing its grip on Lenny and he looked lost looking around him and looking as if he were going to be sick. But as quick as his anger faded it quickly rose deep within him again as his features hardened.

"You son of a bitch!" Darrick snarled and Austin watched as his hand draws back in a white fist to hit Lenny, Austin didn't know if he should jump forward. Stop this, stop Darrick before he physically hurt Lenny and found himself in even more trouble. In his emotional rage Darrick looked as if he could snap Lennys neck.

"DARRICK! LET GO OF HIM! NOW!" Everyone turned simultaneously when interrupted by a loud voice. Their coach, was one teacher the kids could never get the better of. Whatever witty retort they had, he had one better. He took their disobedience and turned into an advantage for himself, through belittling them or stamping authority.

"Save your fighting for the field! Now get out of here! Darrick, get your ass home. NOW" the older man shouted, his nose was curved and beaky. The old man had eyes of palest blue that fixed you in ice should you dare disagree or talk out of turn. Darrick was left frozen in his tracks, first hovering in the air staring with pure rage at Lenny while warm tears ran down his cheeks.

" You've crossed the line, Lenny and I will never forget this. I won't rest until you're beaten " Darrick hissed under his breath, leaning in with a coldness in his eyes "you can't hide from me, I know you like the back of my hand.. I will destroy you. I don't care how it happens. WHEN I find her, I swear if so much as a single hair is harmed upon her head I promise to you, I will kill you. I don't care about you" Darrick had to use every bone in his body to not break Lennys nose in that moment, pulling away he slammed his fist into a locker out of anger before he hurried out of the room, more than likely not home but instead to find Tess. Austin and Lenny, left standing looked to each-other with wide eyes. Lenny smiled toward Austin, moving to grab his shoulder but instead was met with a glare as Austin quickly followed after Darrick into the halls.

"Aw come on, Austin! Not you too!" Lenny called after Austin but instead was met with utter silence as Austin hurried to catch up to Darrick, needing to sprint to match Darricks long stride .

Leave a comment if you liked! I hope it was good and I hope your enjoying all these updates. Gonna try update quicker for you to enjoy