Julian x Apprentice

Chapter 1

"Damn it!" Julian yelled as he slammed his book  closed, creasing some of his notes between the yellowed pages. You  looked over from your own book of healing magic history, startled at the  sudden noise.

"Jules? You okay?" You tenderly asked, getting up  from your creaky chair to walk over to him. Standing behind him, you put  you hands on his hunched shoulders, trying to massage away some of the  tension settled there. Sometimes it felt like you two wouldn't move for  days, researching nonstop to try to find a cure for the plague wreaking  though Vesuvia. Needless to say, neither of your desk chairs were very  comfortable in the makeshift office. Head in his hands, eyes rimmed red  from fatigue, he slumped into you, your hands a welcome comfort.

It  hadn't always been like this, the doctor had kept up his own kind of  professionalism for a while in the beginning. But, as time went on, you  two grew more comfortable and became friends, rather than coworkers in  his lab. Since the plague had begun to take over the city, you two had  spent an increasing amount of time together. When Count Lucio called for  help, Doctor Devorak had asked you to accompany him to the palace.  Since then, neither of you had hardly left his small office, both  frantically searching for a cure. Your relationship hadn't always been  strictly professional, and Julian did like to drink a lot. He got  sappy sometimes, and you weren't going to deny him. Since you first started working at the lab, you had always found him charming. The more you got to know him, the more you saw yourself with him. You weren't sure if  he remembered what he said, but it's a comfort to know your feelings  aren't totally unrequited. Unfortunately enough, the plague crisis got  in the way of anything that could've happened.

"I don't  understand. I've been thinking in circles for days, none of this makes  sense." He groaned, clearly at his limit for the time being. You had  seen Julian get like this, and knew nothing productive would come from  either of you for the time being. Even with Count Lucio seemingly  breathing down your necks, you both were only human. You hated to see  Julian so frustrated, knowing he'd blame himself later for not being  able to push himself further.

"Let's take a break, then. We both  need one. And frankly, this office is getting stuffy. Let's go out  tonight, refresh our minds a bit." It had been entirely too long since  either of you had left the office, you decided. You knew there was a bar  Julian particularly liked in his corner of town, the Rowdy Raven. Nadia  had taken favor  to you, so you were sure you could arrange some  transportation to the place fairly easily. The doctor leaned his head  back in the chair, looking at you upside down. His gangly arms dangled  at his sides as his back pressed into you. You could tell he wanted to,  but there was just so much left to do. However, you knew Julian, and you  knew he'd never turn down a drink either. Before the plague started, Julian had been quite the regular at his favorite taverns.

"C'mon  Doc, we haven't gotten any new leads in weeks. I've been staring at the  same pages all day, I've practically got them memorized by now." You  made a pouty face, knowing while he wouldn't indulge himself, he'd  certainly acquiesce your own wishes. A small smile crept over his face,  blooming into his signature grin as he thought more about it.

"I suppose one night away wouldn't hurt."