Protector, Protector (BL)

Chapter 5

Mrs. Lang guided Ajax to her classroom, where she sat down at her desk. It seemed cleaner than Ajax had last seen it and he nervously scratched the bottom side of his arm. Last time, he’d gotten in trouble and had to have an ‘intervention’. That was last year, and he was nervous. 

The classroom at his back was empty, and Ajax realized that Mrs. Lang had a free period around this time, which was rare for the always busy English teacher. It was almost like the very instance Ajax had walked through the doors to the school, outcasted and so much more different then all the other kids around him, he’d been targeted. Whether it be other teachers’ passive racism towards the color of his skin, or Mrs. Lang’s mother hen nature. As soon as she saw him struggling academically, she had tried to jump in and help him. And Ajax hated it. He hated it because he wished his mom would do the same, and be just as kind as this random, human woman. They didn’t even know each other outside of school, but she always slipped him snacks and made sure he could go on all the extra trips.

And Ajax hated it that Mrs. Lang was his English teacher, and his mother was a Protector. If only they could switch roles and then Ajax could have a mom as kind and loving. She was still strict, as well, but it wasn’t like his own mother who would be quick to throw him down if he did anything that wasn’t a part of their culture. Or if he did something wrong, but Ajax had started to realize that even if he breathed too loud, it was wrong. Mrs. Lang would look at him disapprovingly but she never hurt him. Never hit him, never yelled at him and when he messed up she helped him figure it out. Ajax would die for Mrs. Lang. 

“Ajax,” Mrs. Lang snapped once Ajax had pulled up a chair. “Where did you go last night?” 

“Uh…” Ajax paused, being dragged free from his head. He scratched the back of his neck. Last night, he’d snuck out to head out a few miles north because of his gut feeling. He hadn’t found anything, though. “To go see the girls.” 

“You’re a horrible liar,” Mrs. Lang replied bitterly before sitting down in her own seat. “I thought you were trying to turn over a new leaf this year, and yet, you’re still doing the same things as the last few years. Don’t you care about your future?” 

Yes, I do. But I can’t afford to care about that! Ajax thought bitterly inside his head. “I’m trying.” 

Mrs. Lang slammed down a paper in front of Ajax and hissed at him. “No, you’re not. I thought being around Grant would help you get better at this stuff, but you’re getting worse.” 

Ajax leaned across the table in shock as he peered at the paper. He reached his hand out and pulled it closer to him before sighing. It was his own midterm grade sheet, and this time it was all F’s. In all honesty, he’d tried this year. So far. The first three weeks, he’d given it his all to study and prepare for exams and assignments. Grant had even been on his case the whole time, pushing him along. Grant, the ever studious kid who’d taken a liking to both Ajax and Azame. But then he fell behind one day and it was just like dominos falling down in a strict line, and Ajax was left drowning at sea. He hated that look on Mrs.Lang’s face, like she understood but yet, expected better from him. 

He wanted to do better, he wanted to be better. Mrs. Lang had been the only teacher who had ever spoken with him, face to face, when he was struggling. The others, they wanted him to fail to rub it in his face that because he was so dumb, he could never expect to pass. That he was a charity case and not like the other boys. And Ajax wasn’t. 

Even his human side was different then the others, it was the same kind of side that had people point him out in grocery stores. The same kind of side that had people come up to him with anger boiling over in their eyes shouting “GO BACK TO YOUR OWN COUNTRY!” Here, the teachers were no bit better so he didn’t give two shits if he didn’t live up to their expectations. But for Mrs. Lang… He wanted to succeed. 

He looked up at Mrs. Lang apologetically. “I’m sorry.” 

Mrs. Lang sighed, putting her head down for a few moments. When she raised her head once more, she looked straight at Ajax. Through him. “You’re not stupid.”

“W-What?” He whispered, eyes widening. 

“I don’t care what the other teachers think,” she replied honestly. “They’re always looking to fail you, but at least in my class, you’ve always done good. What happened? Is this how the year is going to go?” 

“No… I’m…” Ajax found himself at a loss. “I don’t know why but I don’t understand everything like everyone else. And the teachers don’t like to help me because I’m the only latino boy in the class and I just…” 

“I’m going to have Grant tutor you again this year to get you through. I want you to get into a good college and be happy,” Mrs. Lang stated. “I won’t let you get swamped this year and get so far behind like you did last time. You told me once that you wanted to write and the work you’ve produced is so real and heartfelt. You can make it big, and I want to help you. Grant does, to.” 

“Thank you, but I think last time, I drove Grant insane,” Ajax chuckled miserably. “He was always so fitful whenever I slacked off and…” 

“First off, you’re not annoying. There was only one complaint I had from Grant last year. That you didn’t believe in yourself, and anyway, here. He wrote this and sent it to me a week ago,” Mrs. Lang commented before sliding over a small, folded up piece of paper. 

Ajax unfolded it and let his eyes glance over it quickly before looking up at Mrs. Lang in shock. “He really said that?” 

Ajax is intelligent, but he doesn’t apply himself when he should. He holds back. Can I tutor him again, this year? This year, we’ll have a breakthrough.

“Mhm,” Mrs. Lang stated before pausing to purse her lips. “I don’t know what it is you have with Azame that keeps you held back so much, but we want you to succeed too. Not just Azame, because of course we want him to become successful, but you. You’re no bit less important than Azame.  Think about it, and then let Grant know if you’ll take him back.”

Ajax’s cheeks were brushed with redness as he stood up and nodded his head towards her. He reached the door before turning around suddenly. He paused, raising his hand before letting it drop back to his side. 

“Thank you.... For believing in me,” he said honestly before giving her a smile.

Mrs. Lang mirrored his smile, but it seemed more sincere and softer. “Don’t you forget that you always have a safe place here in my classroom. You can always come to me if something has you down. It doesn’t matter what it is, this is a safe place. And… I’m an Ally to the l***q+ Community, so if that’s what’s holding you back then… you are safe.” 

“Thank you Mrs. Lang. You don’t know how much that means to me,” Ajax replied before he got up.

As soon as he shut the door behind him, he took a deep breath. He clutched the paper tight in his own hand and tried to will down the erratic thumping of his heart against his chest. He eyed the piece of paper, letting a giddy smile spread across his face. 

Grant liked him. He may not have said the words exactly, but he’d said it in the most Grant way he could ever say. He slapped his cheeks gently. “Calm down idiot.” 

But he couldn’t deny how it made him feel, how warm and fuzzy inside. Like a million butterflies had taken flight right inside of his stomach. Pure and warm, ah! The fact that Grant believed in him, Grant Synder of all people, he was a foot with glee.