teacher's pet

standoff(ish)

𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘳

≛

"mister jacobs, do you have a moment?"

karl stops halfway out of the classroom. someone in the class makes a noise of frustration, having to step aside to move around karl because he's obstructing the way out.

karl looks around as if sapnap will be there, knowing full well that the ravenette isn't in school today because he threw up last night. karl only knows because dream told him, but he assumes sapnap asked for the message to be passed on.

the brunette doesn't reply but he steps away from the rest of his class, watching as they all leave, filtering out one by one until the room is silent and the door clicks shut, leaving karl with the man he's been trying his best to avoid.

the older man smiles slightly, looking falsely innocent. "i just wanted to check on your progress," he says, "how is the book coming along?"

karl lifts one shoulder. "i haven't added anything," he lies, wanting to get the conversation over with as soon as possible. he has obviously still been working on his book over the past few days, but telling lucas would just offer the older man a segue into a longer conversation that karl doesn't want.

he doesn't want to talk to him at all.

...well, maybe a small part of him wants to go back in time to how they were and talk, because lucas made him feel so special and worthy, but the english teacher standing before him seems like a different man now.

karl can't bring himself to forget what he saw, even though a part of him sort of wishes he could.

he knows it's better now that he knows the truth and he can protect himself better from the inevitable heartbreak, but there was something so sweet about ignorant bliss. he can't help but miss it.

lucas nods in response to karl, making his way past the brunette. karl watches as he nears the door. "can i go now?" he asks, "seeing as we have nothing to talk about."

lucas reaches for the door, and karl's brows arch in mild surprise at the click of the lock.

it's certainly a bold move from lucas, locking them both in a room when he knows full well that karl has seen him with his family. there's no escaping the truth now, and karl is intrigued to know what the older man could possibly say to excuse himself.

"you know this isn't about work," he says, staying standing by the door, as if to make sure karl can't escape.

maybe the brunette should be scared, but he can't bring himself to feel intimidated by the man before him. it's hard to feel uncomfortable with someone who has brought you so much peace before.

with that thought in mind, karl decides not to beat around the bush. he can't imagine that any of lucas' excuses will be enough to make him forget what he saw and what he knows, so they might as well get it over with quicker so karl can go home. "why didn't you tell me?"

it's a straightforward question, and the way that lucas' face falls is a clear indication that he knows exactly what karl is talking about.