Better Left Unsaid

10

"I doubt anything will get better."

"Be more optimistic, will you?" Victor frowned.

"You want to see optimism?" Heine grabbed the bottle. "Fine." He brought it to his lips, taking a long swig. He brought the bottle down letting the liquid settle in him.

"You're reckless."

"Still," Heine changed the subject, ignoring Victor's comment, and looking out to the view of the city. "I would love to see a world where being optimistic isn't drinking some suspiciously expensive wine."

"I'm willing to bet it will get much better." Victor grabbed the bottle out of Heine's hand. "I'm willing to even bet that you will become something great." He took a sip from the bottle.

Heine chuckled, "Be realistic."

"I'm being serious."

"I can't even read, what makes you think I'm going to become something great?"

"First of all, you are much smarter than you think, if you will yourself enough, you could maybe become s scholar." Victor took another sip from the bottle. "Second of all, you really are one to teach anyone many things. I've learned so much from you in the short time I've known you. And the children you take care of, I can tell how much they learn from you." He looked to Heine. "Last of all, achieving a better life for you will be better for everyone around you." A smug look grew on his face when Heine went wide-eyed. "So, what was that about me being realistic?"

"You're ridiculous." Heine shook his head in denial.

"And yet, you're still talking to me."

"I have my reasons for that."

"Do tell." Victor mused.

"We make a good pair, don't you think?" Heine smiled at him. Earning a much brighter one.

"We really do."

Heine sat out in garden watching the sun rise into the sky. It was light enough to see but still dark enough that the world had a bit of a blue hue to it.

He had long forgotten why he was here. His mind had wandered. It wasn't a bad thing though. He wished it for the sole reason of distraction. He just wanted to distract himself long enough to clear him mind. The sun rise seemed to be that wish granted.

The downside was that his mind had wandered backwards in time. As if to ask another wish since this one seemed be granted. Unfortunately, it was asking the impossible. He was asking the impossible. It's when he's asking for such things, that his heart was taking control and his emotions were rampant. Not wise for a man in his position. He was only human though. He could only keep his emotions at bay for so long. Especially when deprived and stressed.

Stressed with keeping secrets and telling lies. Deprived of Victor. He only wished for the past because back then things weren't complicated. The lie held above them trivial in comparison. Left him asking where everything grew so complicated. Despite knowing the clear answer.

This was something that years of education and years of living on the streets didn't prepare him for. This was something he didn't know how to handle due to lacking it all his life. This was love, he was dealing with. Years and years building through frustration and angst. Building a tolerance against it. The flood gates opening at seeing him again. All that work he put into managing himself gone in seconds. He didn't mind at first. Then he launched himself head first into this mess.

He clearly wasn't alone on this. Victor was feeling all the same frustration as he was. Obvious by how emotional he had gotten nights ago over the past. Suddenly, it felt like the fault rested on Heine. He was the cause for Victor being so upset. The cause for it all being so complicated and irritating.

He frowned and shook his head in effort to shake the thought out. It wasn't his fault. If it was his, it wasn't his entirely. The real problem was how quick he was to throw logic out the window over this. They both were now that he thought about.

That tipped the scale into the benefit of the princes. It was like a game of chess. The pieces on their side working well while Victor and Heine were left to figure a strategy with their pieces so badly scattered.

This really brings the only option Heine wanted to avoid most. The problem wouldn't be resolved if he didn't propose it though.

He sighed. He was going to have to ask Victor for his help after all. Shit.

~

Shit, shit, shit, shit. Ran through his head as he ran through the palace halls. He was running late. A teacher being late was never a good thing. He could only wonder how the princes would react at his irresponsibility. Irresponsible really was the word for him falling asleep at his desk earlier in the morning. He made sure to make a mental note to fix his sleep schedule. Perhaps watching the sun rise wasn't a very good idea.

That didn't at the moment. What mattered was that he was running at full speed to the lesson he was late to. Panic deep in his gut as he grew closer. Though, something about it made him feel younger. It reminded him of how he ran through the streets after stealing an apple or loaf of bread. Whether that's good or bad is up for debate.

He couldn't dwell on it for very long as he pushed open the doors and ran into the room. All eyes were on him. Five piercing blue eyes to be exact.

"Heine!" Victor's cheerful voice rung. "I was wondering if you were ever going to show up."

"My apologies, your majesty, your highnesses." Heine bowed reluctantly. "Time, unfortunately, slipped me by."

"That's okay!" Leo smiled sweetly.

"We know that you have a lot if work." Kai added. Heine averted his eyes in shame and embarrassment.

"You were working, right?" Bruno questioned, a studious look tearing into the tutor.

"More or less."

"What does that mean?" Licht asked.

"I was doing work but..." Heine trailed off in embarrassment.

"But what?" Victor's eyes bore into him.

"I fell asleep."

"Oh my-" A loud gasp coming from Bruno brought everyone's attention.

"Why haven't you told us that we have been working you half to death?"

"Now I feel guilty about everything." Licht frowned.

"I'm so sorry professor!" Leo whined. The other Prince's joining him in rambles. Seemingly in seconds the boys were devising a plan to help give him more rest time.

"They really care for you, hm?" Heine near jumped when he heard Victor who had apparently snuck over to him. He looked over at him. A sentimental look on the King's face. "I have never seen them like this with anyone."

"You said it yourself, I really am like father to them."

"I'm glad you can admit that." Victor's soft smile switched into something mischievous. "Because I told them that they can address you as father." Victor quickly walked away to the door.

"What?" Heine's eyes went wide. He turned around, opening his mouth to say something. He quickly shut it as the door closed. The princes' muttering over taking the room. His heart swelled.

You're going to kill me Victor.