[summary]
↳ buford is always going to be there to protect his best friend.

[warning/s]
↳ bullying, ew! fluffy protectiveness.

[notes]
↳ enjoy! tbh i wish i have a buford in my miserable life ;(

//////

SMACK!

You hissed in pain as your back hits another locker. The students laughed at you as you tried to get your fallen books sprawled on the floor.

It's always been like this. It's almost as if this is your everyday routine. At first you were verbally abused, until it came to the point where you're bullied physically. You didn't know why the teacher wouldn't notice, but this is a public school; you can't be their only priority.

"Hah! What a loser," one of the popular kids mocked. The other students laughed. You sniffled as you tried not to cry. No. You needed to show them that you're not weak. "Don't you have any friends?"

You stayed quiet and began to stand up, until one of the 'cool' kids pushed you again. The tears started to shed, but suddenly, a huge, and tough voice interrupted the laughing.

"Hey! Leave her alone!"

You turned around. Buford...

"What's your problem, kid?" The older student intervened.

He groaned. "You're my problem! Why don't you just pick your nasty attitude and go away!"

"Okay, mom!" The students laughed again and went off outside since classes have already ended.

Buford quickly helped you up and picked the remaining books sprawled on the floor. "Y/N, you gotta stand up for yourself," he told you.

"I'm fine, Buf," you said to him with his nickname you picked a few years ago. You and Buford have been friends since... diapers. He has always been there to protect you from your enemies because you're always the target they've been picking on. "You're weak," they say. But now that you've been transferred into a different school, Buford had been fetching you to get you home safely. "I need to go." You speedily walked away from him.

"Y/N, w-wait!"

"Buford, I'm fine. Just... leave me alone for a sec." You kept walking, holding your backpack straps quickly. Finally, you slowed down and he got the chance to catch up on you.

"Y/N..." you didn't respond. "Y/N... you're my friend. It's my job to keep you safe."

"You don't have to do that earlier, you know."

"I know," Buford said. "I want to."

"Why?" You asked him. He had nothing to say. He wanted to say it, but he can't.

He cleared his throat. "U-um... I--"

"Y/N!" Your mom's voice cut Buford off. The both of you haven't noticed that you're already home.

You sighed. "Well, I better get going 'cause I need to hide these bruises from Mom, I guess. Thanks, Buf." You waved to him, as he waved at you.

As soon as you closed the front door, Buford sighed. He walked again, his house just across yours.

He didn't want to see you bullied and bruised, that's a first. Knowing that you're hurt, sent Buford's blood to boil. His own act of bullying is in the past now, he gave it up all for the girl he fell in love with.

Buford ran his hand through his face, groaning. How could he stop all this madness? His feelings?

Yes, you're his best friend, but what if he wants to be more?

◆△◆△

You sighed by the exit gate of the school, as the drizzle of the rain started to pick up. Unfortunately, you forgot to retrieve the umbrella from your mom so you were left with your handkerchief. You placed it above your head and didn't wait for Buford. It's rather embarrassing for you that you still have someone to fetch you and walk you home.

Unfortunately, as you jogged through the rain, the kids from your History class laughed at you, holding their umbrellas pridefully. "Look at the poor kid! All drenched up and saaad~"

Ignore them. They're nothing.

One of the girls gasped in mock sadness. "What's this? Little princess Y/N doesn't have her knight in shining armor to save her," she narrated with a high voice. "He left her already?"

Their laughs echoed through your ears.

Meanwhile, Buford have been searching everywhere for you in school. He saw everyone except you and the group of bullies. His eyes widened at the thought. He quickly brought out his umbrella and ran to the sidewalk you walked on.

They cornered you, as you hugged yourself. The rain picked up pace as you shivered in the cold. Regrets and curses floated in your mind. You couldn't help but admit that you're crying now and you wanted Buford to be here more than anything.

As if on cue, he came into the scene. You weren't really that far from school, so it wasn't really difficult to find you and the laughing. "Hey! I told you to stay away from her!" He's angrier than ever, and you stood there, shivering and shuddering both by the cold and Buford's intense voice.

When the kids all fled away, he quickly approached you and hugged you for warmth. "Y/N! Why won't you just wait for me?"

"I-I... I-" you stuttered. He couldn't help but look at you sympathetically.

"C'mon, let's go to my house," he said. You tried to protest, but he just shushed you so you couldn't talk.

△◆△◆

"Here's a towel." Buford handed you one as you shakily reached for it.

You wrapped it around your shoulders. "Th-thanks..."

"You're welcome," he replied and started up a cup of hot chocolate. You're craving for one of those since Christmas.

You failed to notice how Buford was rather quiet today. To say that he's angry is an understatement. He's furious; for you not waiting on him, and for the bullies.

After a few minutes of silence, he spoke, "You could've waited for me, you know."

"I... I know, I-"

"You should've just stayed!"

You shuddered in your blanket. Buford is pretty intimidating at this point, and it made you slightly scared. He turned to lecture you more but when he sees your shaking stance, Buford softened.

He slowly approached you, two cups in both his hands. "Hey," he said.

You curled into the blanket more as you shook.

"I... I'm sorry," he told you. "I'm sorry if I'm too... protective. It's just- I'm so worried about you being bullied and all, so I feel like I have to be there for you."

"...why?" You asked again.

Buford gulped as he sat down, placing the cups on the table.

"Because― I... I..."

You looked down again and sighed.

"Because I like you."

You glanced up at him sharply. "Huh?"

"I like you," he repeated. "I-It's fine if you don't like me back. Just remember when you need me, I'll be there. I'll protect ya whatever it takes."

You couldn't keep your eyes from prickling tears coming out. Suddenly, you embraced Buford like it had no tomorrow. He eventually hugged back, providing warmth to your shivering body.

The both of you then pulled back. "I have been waiting for you to say that because I like you too," you said. "And, I want to thank you for everything. Just don't leave me."

"I won't, Y/N. I won't," he replied. Moments later, Buford said, "Let's just drink cocoas, alright?"

You snickered. "Alright."

With Buford drinking a hot cup of cocoa beside you, it felt as if everything is right with the world.