gurabad | 037 » on and on we carry through the fear

[ For the first time, perhaps, Francel feels emboldened to say his piece with finality, despite his palpable fear, and Zephirin does nothing to interrupt the boy, simply remaining close beside him. They stop mere steps away from the doors, stay long enough to watch Aucheforne's features twist in rage. "You deserved it, you fucking slut! You're the one who used me all along!"

Emerging from another corridor, Emmanellain stumbles into view, doubled over as he catches his breath. "What—" He coughs, wincing. "What in the world is even going on here? Francel?"

Campus security indeed arrives on the scene just as Aucheforne snarls out his brand of farewell. "Whatever, I'm through with you, you're not worth all this!"

Quietly, for no one but Francel to hear, Zephirin repeats his earlier praise: ]

You did well today. Let's go home.

[aucheforne's last comment hits him like one final slap. it's not as though francel thinks they might go back to the way they once were; it's not as though he thinks that aucheforne was justified in hitting him, or cheating on him, or throwing him away only to try and pick him back up again. it's not that he thinks any of these things.

it's just that for a second, francel thinks that aucheforne is right — that he is a slut, that he's used and broken, that he was the one who used aucheforne all along — and maybe, just maybe, if he hadn't dated aucheforne on the premise that he wanted someone just like haurchefant, they could have been happy together.

maybe it really is all his fault that things turned out like this.

maybe he was the one who hurt aucheforne first.

campus security has arrived, and they have stopped to ask aucheforne for his identification now — but even though francel knows they have an audience, that emmanellain is here, that zephirin is watching, francel can't help but break down and cry into his hands, his pretty features twisting in despair.]

I'm sorry — I'm really, really sorry...

Edited 2018-08-17 02:27 (UTC)

[ One of the security officers approaches Zephirin, who excuses himself to show the man his staff ID card and explain the situation without drawing unwanted attention to Francel. Shuffling closer as Aucheforne is marched off the campus grounds, Emmanellain rummages around in his pockets until his search ends with a triumphant exclamation, forced cheer — he pulls out a crumpled handkerchief and presses it into Francel's hands.

"Whatever are you apologizing for, old boy? If you ask me, it's really Aucheforne who should be sorry. I mean, if anything, he was the stalker here, don't you think?" Emmanellain glances at the doors. "Once you get to know him, he's nothing like Haurchefant, is he..." ]

[try as emmanellain might, francel continually refuses the handkerchief; he simply ignores it as he buries his face in his hands, shaking his head over and over as he sobs. now and again, his shoulders twitch.

he is making something of a scene — but then, the one to start the scene was aucheforne, and though some students milling about are expressing a sort of cautious concern for francel, the less sympathetic individuals have already gone to film aucheforne as he is forced off campus.]

It's not — it's — it's all my fault. He wasn't — w-wasn't always — like that, I — it's m-my fault —

[ In the end, Emmanellain gives up, stuffing his handkerchief back into the depths of his pocket, visibly relieved when Zephirin returns to Francel's side. The professor's palm comes to rest on the boy's back, touching him only lightly so as not to startle him. ]

You've done nothing wrong, Francel.

[ Emmanellain makes one final attempt to help, patting Francel's shoulder before he steps back, hovering nearby to wave on concerned and nosy passersby alike. ]

[francel does have enough wherewithal to appreciate emmanellain's fussing and fretting for his privacy, but he has eyes only for zephirin as he looks up, tear-stricken and upset.]

...H-He wasn't like that until he found out that I'd liked Haurchefant first. And then after that... Every day was...

You were drawn to certain qualities in Haurchefant, and presumably, you saw them in Aucheforne, for a time.

[ Emmanellain's handkerchief went unused, but Zephirin uses his fingertips to wipe at Francel's damp cheeks, if only as a gesture of comfort. Once more, he squeezes Francel's shoulders. ]

You're not to blame for Aucheforne's jealousy.

[francel nods, though there is a blankness to his gaze; the squeeze to his shoulders, at least, helps anchor him. suddenly, he remembers emmanellain, and catches the young man's gaze when he looks up.]

...Thank you, Emmanellain. Sorry, I... I'm not feeling well. Let's talk... some other time.

[his eyes drop to the floor once more. forlornly, francel tugs at the hem of zephirin's shirt, though he does not meet the man's gaze. he seems a child trying to get his father's attention despite being fearful of the repercussions of doing so.]

Could we... go?

[home does not leave francel's lips, but it is implied by his mournful eyes.]

[ Though Emmanellain eyes Francel dubiously, he doesn't insist on concrete plans to talk, perhaps conceding that giving Francel some space and trusting Zephirin to handle the rest is the best thing to do. "Right... Right, some other time, old boy."

Outside, reasoning that Francel might welcome the contact, Zephirin takes the boy's hand again, letting go of him only when they reach the car. There, he opens the passenger's side door for Francel, but lingers before it instead of making for the driver's seat.

Leaning closer after a moment, the professor lays his hand upon the crown of Francel's head, as if to remind him of their visit to the park. ]

[zephirin has remembered the promised petting, it seems — francel's delightfully spoiled demand from what now seems like a lifetime ago — and the boy finds his lips curving into a smile despite himself. contact succeeds where words do not: this gentle touch serves to remind him that even this heartbreak is only temporary — that given time, aucheforne's words will fail to hurt him, and someday, he will be just as innocent, just as playful as before.

for a moment, francel does not feel tainted — inexplicably dirty, used, thrown away. for a moment, he feels wanted. insecurity claws at his insides nevertheless; cruelly, he reminds himself that zephirin is only a professor who is concerned for him, a man who has let him grown too close, and in his heart of hearts he knows that he should not idolize zephirin as another savior, that this is the outcome of the way he idolized haurchefant so many years ago. but still —

still, for a moment, francel does not have to feel unclean. his voice is thick with emotion when he quietly chokes out:]

...Thank you, Zephirin.

[ Zephirin has another promise to keep, and soon he will fulfill it, taking Francel home, but his hand remains placed atop Francel's head a moment longer, passing across the boy's hair. From there, that hand moves downward, palm resting upon Francel's shoulder blade.

This time, the gesture borders on a half-embrace. It assures Francel once more that today, he made the right decision to contact Zephirin, to stand up to Aucheforne. He did well.

And at last, though it will take time for the boy to break free of his thought patterns, it seems that these reassurances have made it through, reaching Francel. ]

Shall we go home?

[francel nods with improbable earnestness — it is as though he absolutely cannot wait to go home. in reality, however, he simply isn't certain he'll be able to stand any more contact without bursting into tears. he bites his lip, blinking too much, too quickly. anxiously, he swallows on the lump in his throat.]

Yes, please. Let's go home...

[the ride home is quiet. not because of any unwillingness on francel's part to speak — no, the boy drifts off to sleep by the time zephirin's care has paused at its third red light, perhaps because the day's events have exhausted him so thoroughly that his mind simply needs to rest.

fortunately, francel's dreams are unplagued by memories of aucheforne. the sudden silencing of the car's engine startles him awake; as he rubs his eyes, waking from his slumber, he has the distinct feeling that he dreamt about being a tender lamb in a rolling field of grass, with a zephi-ram calmly grazing by his side.]

...Zephi? Are we home?

[in his dream, he called zephirin by an affectionate nickname...]

[ Francel stirs just as Zephirin faces two choices: wake the boy, despite Francel's obvious exhaustion, or carry him to the apartment. The latter was no trouble the first time, and Zephirin would have preferred to let Francel rest, but he sits up, drawing back from leaning across the car seats. His hands settle at his sides. ]

We're almost home.

[ The professor's mouth twitches slightly — he recalls another nickname recently given to him. ]

Have you decided against "Zephinyan"?

Mmmm...

[sitting up ever so slightly in his seat, francel finishes rubbing the sleep from his eyes, blinking blearily as his vision clears to focus on the car dashboard. he doesn't seem entirely awake.]

Today you were a Zephiram. [he giggles.] With big horns... soooo fluffy. But a Zephinyan would be cute too — you'd be an enormous cat...

[aucheforne has left the forefront of francel's mind, it seems — at the moment, his empty head is filled only with thoughts of what zephirin would be like as an animal.]

[ Francel seems happier for resting — and dreaming of his tutor as a sheep. Allowing the boy to wake fully from the vestiges of his dream at his own pace, Zephirin plays along, angling his hands atop his head like another pair of ears. ]

Meow.

[ Perhaps a future dream might indeed feature a solemn Zephinyan. ]

I'm flattered, then. Were you a rabbit after all?

[for a moment, francel blatantly ignores this question — so charmed is he by the sight of professor zephirin de valhourdin imitating a cat that he just has to stop and stare with wondrous joy. zephinyan... zephinyan is so cute...

once he has imprinted this vision into the deepest recesses of his heart, francel seizes upon a sudden impulse — he rests his hand upon the crown of zephirin's head, right between his "ears." slowly and gently, he rubs zephirin's scalp with his fingers.]

Here, kitty, kitty...

[he should really get out of the car...]

[ Francel's returning rare playfulness is a leap forward, away from his fears of inconveniencing Zephirin, and even from Aucheforne's influence. No one has given Zephirin a pat on the head in years, of course, and the professor has nothing in common with a cute kitten, but he continues his best impression of a cat receptive to Francel's touch, encouraging the boy to forget the world outside this car, at least for a time.

He finds himself curious to see how far Francel will take playing with "Zephinyan."

Closing his eyes in apparent bliss, Zephirin leans into Francel's palm. He rests one hand over the boy's knuckles, and tips his head back to nuzzle Francel's wrist. ]

[in truth, francel is well on his way to wakefulness now — indeed, he can no longer even pretend that he is still captivated by the remnants of his dream — but the prospect of having a zephinyan to play with is rich with possibilities, and francel continues to push the scenario. with a soft teakettle whistle from deep within his throat, he continues rubbing zephirin as if the man is a cat, looking entirely too pleased with himself.]

Mmm, so cute! Who's a good kitty? You are! You are! Will you be happy if I feed you tuna?

[he giggles, though his mind wanders towards the happy hours they spent in the kitchen together.]

...Or maybe we can make clam chowder for dinner? That'd make you more happy than tuna, wouldn't it, Zephinyan?

[ If Zephirin were a real cat, he would undoubtedly be purring by now, sniffing Francel's fingertips in anticipation for his treat, but he keeps his rendition of feline mannerisms to brushing his nose against Francel's pulse, humming a thoughtful sound in lieu of a true meow. Lips quirking subtly, he sits back in his seat to catch Francel's cheerier expression.

The boy's Zephinyan certainly looks approving, in turn. ]

I believe we have most of the ingredients at the apartment... I'll take care of the rest once we've started, if need be.

I'm prepared to do my part...

[breaking into a fresh smile, francel strokes zephirin's hair one last time before he lets his hands drop. then, after a pause, he half-lifts one hand — as if for zephirin to take it and lead him into the house, or else perhaps so that zephirin can kiss the back of his palm, the way a knight from a fairy tale might greet a wayward prince.]

...But today, I want to make Zephinyan happy. So let's cook together. And eat together. And go to bed together, too. As long as you're happy...

[in the days to come, civerege calls twice to inform francel that aucheforne has stopped attempting to visit the haillenarte residence, but he doesn't ask francel to come home. perhaps it is wasteful, in a way, to leave francel's room empty while he cohabitates with a college professor in a comparatively cramped apartment — but the boy seems happier in the company of a friend, and so much less lonely than when his only household company is a caretaker who can only visit three days out of the week. and civerege has other things to worry about. it's not his place to question where his employer's son stays the night.

besides, francel and zephirin have carved out a rather peaceful life together. as roommates, they pass the days without the sort of passive-aggressivism that occasionally characterizes adelphel's relationship with janlenoux; as tutor and pupil, they have little to clash over. francel remains the bright student he always was, quick to take zephirin's pointers — his primary flaw is a mere lack of confidence. now and then, he asks zephirin for help with his assignments, but he doesn't particularly seem to need it, and he spends most of their sessions staring and smiling at zephirin, nodding along.

whether or not francel sees zephirin as a father figure or an older brother or something more seems unclear. he speaks no more of his adorable zephinyan. but every now and then, he looks at the man with such obvious joy and adoration that it must be plain to all and sundry that zephirin has banished the spectre of aucheforne — perhaps even taken the place of haurchefant in his heart.

he looks at zephirin this way now, as he sits in their single armchair (they have yet to buy additional furniture for francel's sake, and perhaps it isn't necessary to do so), wrapped snugly in a layer of blankets, and though he says nothing, one might easily imagine a halo of flowers blossoming round his head, as he once drunkenly envisioned so many nights ago.]

Edited 2018-10-09 02:33 (UTC)

[ With Aucheforne well and truly banished, Francel might be safe to return home, where he has his own room, his own bed, a closet full of space to himself, but neither he nor Zephirin speak of it. The boy has become a fixture in Zephirin's apartment — in Zephirin's life — and it seems the norm now to share that space. They cook and eat together. Each night, they go to bed together, rising together each morning. Francel rarely needs to take the bus to and from campus anymore.

Though he is free to come and go, to visit his family and friends, apparently he is content to spend even his spare time in Zephirin's company.

They've both finished their work for the evening, studying and seminar preparation alike, and Zephirin approaches Francel with a steaming cup of cocoa, proffering it to the boy bundled up in his blankets. Zephirin's own expression reflects a subtler shade of Francel's contentment; the professor's lips curve. ]

Shall I leave you to sleep here tonight?

[ After all, Francel looks too comfortable to move. ]

Noooo...

[francel voices his disagreement as a villain falls off a cliff in a cartoon — with an exaggerated elongation of his vowels and a childish, high-pitched voice. when he lifts his hands to claim zephirin’s steaming mug of cocoa, the blankets cling to his sleeves, giving him the appearance of some lagoon-creature, draped and dripping in soft cloth. he looks very comfortable indeed.]

It’s warmer next to you! Besides, I can’t stretch out like this.

[though the boy has a tendency to sleep with his knees bent, curled into a ball.]

[ Accustomed to waking to Francel either curled up beneath the covers, or clinging to his waist, Zephirin raises a brow at the boy's remark. He keeps up his teasing, head cocked as he perches on one armrest of Francel's seat. ]

Then what would you suggest that I do, in the event that you fall asleep?

[ Disturb the lagoon-creature's slumber? Peel Francel free from his cocoon and carry him to the bedroom? ]

Mmm....

[after lifting the mug to his lips and taking a careful sip, francel sets it on a nearby side table so that he can safely rest his head on zephirin's thigh without the risk of spilling any hot cocoa. after all, how could francel possibly resist the allure of zephirin's warm lap so close to his head?]

If I fall asleep, you can pick me up and carry me to bed. [he giggles.] Don't worry — if you wake me up, I'll just be happy to be in your arms.

[ Zephirin can't help but think that Civerege might urge Francel to come home, if he knew of the boy's exact living arrangements — if he had cause to suspect that Francel and his professor have grown too close. Lately, these affectionate moments come perhaps too readily, not only to Francel, and whether the boy looks to Zephirin as a father figure or an attentive older brother, or still thinks of his Zephinyan, his behaviour isn't discouraged. On the contrary, Zephirin's hand soon rests atop Francel's head, fingers combing through his hair once, twice, with undeniable fondness.

It wasn't long ago that they first met, but one might think that they were lovers, a couple together for months, even years. ]

I'll hold you to it. I may carry you to the bathroom for your toothbrush, however...

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