1. Chapter 1 (1/1)

so i feel bad about posting this as it is, but there we go. it might have more added to it later just to salvage it... still, i hope you enjoy it.

disclaimer: not mine.

"bertrand." the tutor looked up from the book he was skimming through."yeah?" he looked so eager to help that vlad considered, for a

ief moment, just not having this conversation now. but it had to be done; there were things that couldn't be left unspoken any longer."can we talk in private?" ingrid made a noise that her

other suspected was supposed to indicate scandal, followed by what was definitely an impression of someone puckering up for a kiss. she really wasn't helping. the chosen one sighed as he followed bertrand down to the training room, the only place they could be sure of privacy, and closed the door.

"what do you want to talk about?" bertrand had no idea, did he? vlad scrutinised him for a moment, but his tutor's expression was as carefully blank as he'd expected to find it."you. me. i mean, you and me. us. our relationship." he was just digging himself a hole here; he might as well just spit it out. "betrand, don't be offended if i'm wrong, but... do you... fancy me?"

bertrand blinked. "i wouldn't put it like that, exactly..." vlad raised an eye

ow."yes or no, bertrand?""yes." bertrand looked a little surprised at his own answer, but vlad could see a tiny glimmer of hope staring defiantly out through his tutor's eyes. he crushed it.

"i thought so. look... it's... nice that you care. but i'm not interested, and i'd rather you stopped looking at me like that. like i'm the only person in the world that matters. because i'm not. and i'm sure there's someone out there who'll look at you like that, but it's not me. sorry."

his tutor's face creased into a frown for a moment, then smoothed back out, mouth downturned at the edges but otherwise blank and unreadable."of course, as you wish. was that all?"vlad stared at him for a moment. "...yeah.""i'll see you later, then."