Better Left Unsaid

5

A content smile played on his lips as he waited for the princes to wake up. Of course, he was early so there was no doubt he was going to wait awhile. Which was something he loved at the moment. Just some time alone to relish in the quiet sounds of the palace and the outside world.

Perhaps it was because the moments were so short that he loved them. The moment was quickly interrupted by Bruno arriving early. No matter how many times Heine had told him that he didn't have to, the prince was always there ten minutes early anyway.

There was never talking in that time though. It was clear that the prince was tired and always for different reasons. Banter was not the best in the mornings.

Time passed faster. The princes piled in one after the other. Though, Leo was noticably late. Nothing new. This time, however, he was fifteen minutes too late. He walked in as the other's waited. Not a word was said before due to it being so early. Heine was the one to start.

"Prince Leonhard, you're incredibly late."

"I know that, Dad." Leo yawned, not paying much attention to what he was really saying. He stared confusing to Heine who stood frozen in shock. He blinked. "What?" Heine didn't answer. He was too busy grasping the idea that such a small word could make him feel both oddly over-joyed and shocked at the very same time. Something in his stomach twisted. "Professor are you-"

"Oh my god, Leo!" Licht laughed.

"What did I do?"

"My god, Leonhard, you need to think about what you say!" Bruno added.

"What did I do!"

"Do you really not realize?" Kai asked his brother.

"No!"

"You just called me dad." Their attention went to Heine. 

"I did?"

"You know, I'm actually tempted to always call him dad." Licht butted in with a laugh. "It just makes sense!"

"Licht that's not proper." Bruno smirked despite those words. "But you have a point, he is practically like our dad." A quick burst of fear washed onto Heine.

"I mean, he is more like family by now." Kai added. Heine's stomach twisted tighter. He swallowed hard. 

"If you may excuse me." He hurriedly said as he sped to leave. "I'll be back." And he was out the door.

~

It was around the twenty minute mark when the princes went looking for their teacher. They split into two groups to cover more ground. Even then their tutor was nowhere to be found.

"We should just drop this and go back." Leo complained.

"Absolutely not." Bruno frowned at his brother. "It is unlike my master to do such a thing. I'm concerned that something might be wrong. It doesn't make any sense anyway, all we did was call him dad. It's so odd."

"Wasn't he an orphan? Maybe that has something to do with it."

"Possibly..." Bruno gasped. "What if we offended him for calling him dad? Our poor professor probably feels absolutely betrayed and depressed. How dare we do such a thing!"

"Bruno, shut up." Leo stopped in his tracks to look a random door.

"But Leo our poor professor must be feeling horrible-"

"Shut up, I hear voices." He walked closer to it. The voices becoming louder as he came closer. His brother followed suit. The two brought their ears to the door finally hearing the voices clear enough to understand. They sounded extremely familiar. 

"You should go back." The first voice sounded quite joyful. 

"I don't want to." The second voice sounded a bit more monotone. 

"Why?"

"Because I'm embarrassed." 

"Really? That embarrassed you?" There was long sigh along side a chuckle. 

"Don't mock me." 

"Oh, come on, you should take it as a compliment."

"You know, I should be going back." 

"You're avoiding what I said." The tone grew more serious. Another sigh came along.

"I know."

"Why?"

"Because it's not possible."

"Oh, I see..." 

"It's tiring to keep dreaming that it was possible because no matter what, fact goes against want. I appreciate every moment but I wish it wasn't so restraining. I can tolerate many things but I'm only human." A brief moment of silence took over. 

"Heine," What? Heine was in there?"I can't tell you how much I wish this was easier. Sometimes I lose sleep looking for something to make this easier. It almost feels like we were born in the wrong time for this to happen." 

"What if we tell them?"

"What?"

"What if we tell the princes? Maybe they would be happy to hear it."

"You're thinking irrationally."

"I'm not. I really think they would be fine with it." 

"How do you know?"

"Well, I'm like a father to them already, and they're already curious-"

"You should get back."

"But-"

"You said it yourself, you should go back."

"I-"

"Go." The two princes stared at each other wide-eyed. In a silent agreement, they got up and ran before anyone left the room and discovered them.