Better Left Unsaid

17

Victor stared at Heine for awhile. The red head lay there, eyes closed not really sleeping, Victor noticed. So, he must have been thinking.

"I really should be getting back to my work." Heine suddenly said. "You should really be getting back to yours as well."

"I know."

"You seem to know a lot of things." Heine sat up then, reaching down to the ground for any ounce of his clothes he could find.

"You're a real smart ass, you know."

"And you're a real dumbass, but here we are." Victor's eyes widened a bit at such a passive aggressive comment.

"Heine-"

"I'm not angry, Victor." Heine interrupted as if reading his mind. "Not at you, anyway. I'm more angry at myself for letting my emotions get the best of me. I didn't mean to insult you, I'm just frustrated." 

"I can't remember the last time you've been this frustrated."

"I think it was when you taught to me to count." Even though Victor couldn't see his face, he knew full well that Heine was smiling. 

"What about the time I tried to teach you to read?"

"Ah, you're right, how dare I forget."

"It's easy to forget, I mean, you're a scholar now.

"I still consider myself clueless."

"Only the wisest ever admit that."

"Only the mad point it out."

"Touché."

"Ne me parle pas avec cette langue." Heine stood up, now fully dressed. "Now if you'll excuse me," He walked over to the nearest window and opened it. He gave a quick look out of it to make no one was around. He turned back to Victor. "I really must get going, there is still much to be done." He flashed a smile. He turned back and jumped out. Leaving Victor to grin to himself.

That man is really a piece of work to behold.

~

Lessons had returned to normal, it seemed. Heine much happier than any of the four princes had expected. Made their wager all the easier however. 

Bruno studied the tutor as if he were an animal at a zoo. There was an extra kick in Heine it seemed. His monotone voice was barely there, replaced with something quite cheerful. He had somewhat of a faint smile. It was odd to say the least.

"Your highness, pay attention."

"What?"

"Pay attention to your work, you're too distracted today."

"Sorry, master!" He apologized quickly and went back to his essay writing. His mind trailed off again not much later. He watched the tutor look away in thought. His face growing particularly serious. Similar to the look Bruno was given when he confronted Heine with a few questions nights ago. "Is there something bothering you, master?"

"Yes, actually." Heine looked to the teen.

"What is it?"

"The fact that you're not doing your work."

~

"Licht I feel like I can confide in you, I have a question to ask you."

"You have a question, for me?" Licht smiled brightly. He felt honored to be the first to have Heine ask him anything. He was totally going to brag about this later.

"Yes, since you seem to have some expertise in certain...things."

"What do you mean?" Licht smirked. "Could it be that you're having girl problems?"

Heine sighed, "Nevermind." He shook his head in what Licht could only guess was disappointment. "Get back to work."

"I finished, though."

"You got half of them wrong."

~

"Unlike everyone else, I've actually been studying!" Leo smiled proudly, holding up the page of math problems. Heine took the page and looked it over.

"I'm impressed." He said. "You got most of them correct."

"Really?" Leo's smile only grew brighter."

"I'm quite proud." Leo was practically vibrating with pride. But Heine continued. "Now, we can move on to the next unit."

Leo's heart sank.

~

"I have to say, you have been the most productive out of all four." Heine commented to Kai as the prince did the work given.

"What do you mean?"

"They have all been distracted. At least you're on task." Heine shifted his position in the chair, looking more comfortable. "Do you happen to know what is distracting them?"

"No." Heine only sighed at Kai's answer. "Actually, I think you're more distracted than they are."

"Why do you say that?" He clearly caught the tutor's attention.

"You're more relaxed." He finished the last problem and sat up straighter. "And you keep looking off somewhere."

"Oh."