Chapter Text
Inco groaned slightly as he felt his back hit the wall behind him put his arms up behind his head to make sure it didn’t make contact as he made sure his glasses stayed in place on his face.
“Come on you fucking skinnie?” A female voice hissed in his direction. “Did you not see me walking there?”
“I am just trying to get used to the area so if I just apologize can we pretend this never happened?”
The girl scoffed as Inco flinched, feeling something hit him in the right leg around his knee before he collapsed slightly. His hand went back to his glasses before he felt his wrist getting grabbed and he was yanked roughly back to his feet.
“Oh trust me, you had your chance to apologize but acting like you didn’t see me…that really pissed me off. You seem more focused on those glasses of your so maybe if I took those you would be more focused on me.”
As Inco heard this he tried to move along the wall he felt the girl’s claws dig into his wrist as she shoved him back against the wall as a few other girl’s giggled. Inco coughed slightly as he moved his head to try to keep the girl from grabbing his glasses though she seemed to freeze as someone cleared their throat.
“I think that is quite far enough Mia, he is clear not comfortable so either let him go or I will have to take a more direct approach.” Another female voice barked out.
This only made the other girl, Mia, scoff again though Inco could feel her grip loosen on his wrist for a moment before it got tighter causing him to wince more in the process.
“You wouldn’t dare to do anything Olivia.” Mia growled. “You are already on pretty thin ice with Principal Scaler so I think if she heard about you get into a fight outside of school then you would be going well over the line.”
“You say that but I already have a few witnesses that can vouch that you are the one causing the issues here Mia so if you want to try to play at that game then I am more than ready to bring my own weapons to the fight.”
There was some more muttering from Mia’s friends before the main aggressor blew out her breath in annoyance.
“Fine, if you want this skinnie fuck then you can have him.” Mia hissed as she quickly pulled Inco forward and tossed him towards Olivia.
Inco stumbled forwards as he tried to stop his fall before he felt a pair of hands grabbing his shoulders slightly as Mia and her friends wandered off, laughing to themselves the entire time.
“Hey dude, are you okay?” Olivia asked as she made sure Inco was steady on his feet before taking a few steps towards a picnic table. “I have a few friends here as well if you would like to hang out with us.”
“I uh…sure.” Inco told her as he reached out to try to grab her arm to only find empty air.
Olivia had been nearly to the table, expecting the guy to be following her but Damien gestured back to behind her where Inco was taking unsteady steps with a hand stretched out in front of him. She was confused for a moment at his behavior before she spotted a badly bent white cane a few feet from Mia had had him before she cursed softly to herself. She made her way back over to where Inco was before carefully grabbing his wrist and walking with him along the paved path to the picnic bench.
“I….I’m sorry about just walking off like that.” Olivia muttered as Inco slowly sat down across from Damien. “I didn’t know that you were…you know.”
“There is no need to apologize Olivia. You really saved my skin back there, so I really appreciate it.” Inco told her as he glanced in her general direction with a smile.
“Man, it is crazy to think you got here all by yourself.” Damien told him, reaching out slightly to grab Inco hand. “I’m Damien by the way, you can say I am Olivia’s brother of sorts and the girl beside me is Liz…shit sorry.”
Inco chuckled softly as he shook his head. “Once again, no need to apologize. Sometimes I forget about being blind at times as well. I can see somewhat…but my eyes are sensitive to light, and everything is pretty hazy so it can be a headache to try to look at thing. My glasses pretty much block everything out so that I can function for a decent amount of time.”
“Do you have another guide cane at home Inco?” Liz asked him. “I don’t think we would really be able to salvage to one you brought with you…”
“I have a couple of spares at home for an emergency and I guess that Mia chick could count as one.” Inco chuckled softly before he sighed. “It would be a pain to get back to the train without one, though but I am sure I would be able to figure something out.”
“Wait you took the train to get here?” Damien asked him. “How far away do you live?”
“I wouldn’t say that my house is too far from here.” Inco replied as he put his hands in his pockets. “How do you all know each other?”
“Well, we all go to the same school and I stay at Damien’s house while my dad is away.” Olivia replied, though before she could ask Inco any Damien leaned forward quickly.
“Yeah, St. Hammond.” Damien told him quickly. “It’s an amazing art school, Olivia actually has an art piece up in the main area. Though why did you and your parent’s move here?”
“My parents work in architecture, so they came here for some good work opportunities though I rarely ‘see’ them.” Inco replied. “Right now, I am sure they are out on a business trip so that’s why I am here. It’s better than being stuck at home.”
“Wait, your parents aren’t home?” Liz asked him worried “I don’t think we should really let you go home by yourself.”
“I appreciate your concern Liz but I am quite used to fending for myself for extended periods of time.” Inco responded. “I just need to get back to the train station and I should be fine.”
Inco paused for a moment as he felt Olivia grab his wrist gently.
“Inco, I am sure that the Payne’s would be more than happy to welcome you even if it is just for the night and then we can get you home tomorrow.” Olivia told him. “That way you don’t have to worry about running into Mia randomly again.”
“I know you are trying to look out for my Olivia but I can’t always avoid someone if they are going to be an issue, and besides I wouldn’t want to be too much of an issue for anyone.” Inco replied.
Before Olivia could even frown at his response she saw Damien grinning widely as he moved to sit on the other side of Inco and put an arm around his shoulders.
“Too late Inco, my friend. My parent’s already interested in meeting you.”
Inco sighed before nodding as his hands were pretty much tied though he could hear Olivia huff but he wasn’t too certain why she was in such a bad mood. Liz smiled softly at Olivia as she put her phone down at glanced at Damien who only grinned slightly in response to her annoyance.
“We are probably going to be walking around for a bit to enjoy the weather before it starts to get cold if you would like to join us, otherwise we could do something else.” Damien told him.
“I wouldn’t want to affect your plans too much.” Inco replied.
“Oh you can just hang onto me if you want to, besides we can’t just leave you here by yourself.” Damien chuckled though there was a long pause before he spoke again. “Or Olivia can help you if you would prefer that.”
Inco nodded again, confused slightly by the quickly change in Damien behavior as he shook his head slightly.
“Its just whatever you all prefer I am fine either way.” Inco responded. “It would be good to get to know the town better.”
“So…I know everyone else is probably thinking it but how did you manage to get to the park by yourself?” Liz ask him.
“Mainly from the kindness of people actually giving me proper directions.” Inco replied.
“Well, at least you got to learn that we aren’t all bad before you met Mia.” Liz sighed.
“I mean if I didn’t have deal with that minor inconvenience I might not have met all of you.” Inco pointed out.
“How about we celebrate with some ice cream then?” Damien posed as he got up. “There is a great place a couple blocks down and I think Olivia has a punch card so it could be her treat.”
“How did my punchcard get roped into this mess huh?” Olivia questioned him, the annoyance clear in her voice. “I have been saving that for a special occasion.”
“What is a more special occasion that showing a new friend a nice time?” Damien proded her teasingly as Inco could almost hear his smile.
Liz shook her head as she sighed. “I will cover it if its really that much of an issue.”
“Oh Liz, you rock.” Damien laughed as he pumped his fists into the air. “I have in mood try out some of their newer flavors, maybe a triple scoop. I promise to share.”
“You said that last time and you definitely did not share.” Liz huffed.
Inco raised an eyebrow for a moment before he felt Olivia tug slightly on his sleeve causing him to glance towards her.
“They are going to be like this for a bit so how about we start heading over the ice cream parlor?” Olivia whispered as she slowly got to her feet. “Hey you two, we are going to start heading over there so catch up whenever…this is over.”
As Inco got to his feet Olivia held her arm out slightly him to grab onto her arm as he did so, feeling the soft fabric of her jacket before they started to make their way towards the ice cream parlor as Damien and Liz went back to their argument. Olivia made sure that she wasn’t walking too fast as Inco made his way beside with the two of them slowing down more as they reached a set of stairs before Inco paused.
“Is there a fountain nearby?” Inco asked her. “Man, I would’ve killed to be able to get a picture of in the past.”
“You were a photographer in the past?” Olivia asked her as she led him over to where the fountain was.
Inco nodded as they sat down on the edge of the fountain and he put his hand down into the water as he looked down at the water silently for a moment before he cleared his throat.
“I am sure it is one hell of a sight…though someone who has lived their entirely life here has probably gotten used to it.” Inco sighed as he shook the water off of his hand. “We should get going. I am sure you’d prefer not to just sit around here with seeing it ever day.”
Olivia huffed slightly as she sat down next to Inco and flicked him in the forehead, scowling slightly.
“Who said I wouldn’t want to sit for a bit, this is one of my favorite places you know.” Olivia spoke softly as Inco rubbed his forehead slightly. “I remember when me and my dad moved here, we would come here a lot and I usually find myself here whenever I need to clear my head. Just being able to listen to the water tends to help clear my head.”
“I agree it have a calming quality to it Olivia but why did you have flick me?” Inco muttered.
“You were annoying me a bit and I figured it would shut you up for a moment.” Olivia smirked as she flicked some water at him.
Inco shook his head slightly as he wiped the water off of his face as he looked towards Olivia.
“So, you are going to St. Hammonds?” Inco questioned her. “I had actually been looking at that school since it is usually pretty good for certain art fields.”
“I am sure you would’ve enjoyed it…there is one teacher Mr. Iadakan I think you would really like him.” Olivia mused as she leaned back slightly. “He is always one to push his students to get better. Even helped me recovered a bit after an issue with Mia’s boyfriend, Ben.”
“What happened?” Inco asked.
“I…its nothing important right now.” Olivia replied as she got up. “We should get moving again, now be careful there is a long set of stairs down back to the street.”
Inco got to his feet again before grabbing Olivia arm again, curious that even though she said it was nothing then why would she be so quick to change the subject. Though at the moment he didn’t have too much time to think much of it as when they got to the bottom of the steps Inco felt someone slap him on his back and he would’ve stumbled forward if Olivia didn’t use her tail to brace against his chest.
“Damien, what the hell?!” Olivia growled at him before Inco put a hand on hers.
“I’m fine Olivia, it’s not a problem.” Inco told her as he coughed slightly.
Damien put his hands up as he grinned slightly. “Man, you two left before us and we didn’t see you at the ice cream parlor so I thought Olivia had dragged you off somewhere to do something unspeakable to our poor human friend here.”
Luckily for Olivia’s sake Inco couldn’t see her face heating up but he winced slightly as she tightened her arm around his. “Sh-shut up Damien, we were just talking by the fountain a bit…Inco used to do photography you know.”
“Oh wow, really?” Damien smiled as he put an arm over Inco shoulders, dragging him the rest of the way to the ice cream parlor.
Olivia sighed as she followed them the rest of the way with Liz giving her apologetic look, though she couldn’t help but feel like Inco’s mood seemed to sour a bit when his photography was brought up. Unfortunately, Olivia wasn’t able to try to change the situation as Liz got interested in Inco’s past hobby and by the end of it all Inco apologized and excused himself to head back home after he got each of their numbers.