#verse: third semester

[justicepuppet]

@moonsmultimusings asked: ❛ i thought you’d like some company. ❜ - from akira! | an assortment of dialogue prompts

"That's an idiotic thing to assume."

The answer was a knee-jerk response, and as such it was far harsher than it should have been. Akira hadn't done anything specific that would have been deserving of his ire, but it simply felt-- safer to be on edge and to respond with a barbed tongue and sharp words at first.

Red eyes shifted, turning to look over at where Akira was standing. Akechi himself was where it felt like he always was, standing near the entrance of Penguin Sniper as if he were just waiting for someone to come up to him and invite him out for-- something. If he thought too much about it, Akechi might have even started to wonder if perhaps this was a sign that he wasn't here, wasn't real. Just another puppet put into play by Maruki to appease someone's deepest desire.

-- no. That wasn't true. He... had a home. He went home. Didn't he?

A beat, and Akechi sighed as he let his gaze shift back to the business behind him. "You have your friends back, don't you? I would have thought you'd be eager to spend time with them."

[justicepuppet]

@dzanni

He gave a slight nod to show that Yusuke's assessment was right, but saw no reason to give a verbal response to that question. There was more to it than just that, but trying to narrow down the specifics felt like a good way to get lost in the weeds of the conversation. What mattered was that ultimately, yes, Akechi did believe what the Phantoms had been doing was wrong. A net negative for society in the long run.

"True change is hard to accomplish. No one wants to change. No one wants to put the effort in. Those at the top will fight it with every fiber of their being. Those at the bottom will say they need it, but rarely will they do anything out of a belief that their efforts would do nothing. Those in the middle are too afraid to force change, because the change might mean they are knocked to the bottom."

The explanation was an oversimplification of how people responded to changes in power dynamics, and it also wasn't likely needed for this conversation - but if they were going to have it then Akechi was going to make it clear why no long-term change could come from the methodology of the Phantoms.

"Your group wanted to 'change Hearts' and you made the decision to make yourselves a public spectacle in the process. Perhaps if you had kept the fact that there was a group acting in the shadows a secret your efforts would have turned sour near immediate... but you didn't do that. It started with Kamoshida's change. People idolizing you, but then also saying that they wished you would help them. That you would change the heart of someone in their life to help them out of a terrible situation that they were in. And some of these people even got their wishes answered."

Akechi paused for a moment, eyes closing as he thought through his next words. In a vacuum, such a thing wasn't truly terrible, but... people hated change. Or rather, they hated the effort that was needed.

"... for every person you were able to help, there's two or more than you couldn't. How are they to feel seeing these miraculous changes that have made the lives of others better but still didn't happen to them? And what of the people who decided that trying to champion for change themselves was too much and that they'd rather sit back and let the Phantoms do all the work? Do you think your efforts actually made anyone terrible pause to reconsider their actions? Or do you think they've learned they have to be better at hiding them?"

A shake of his head. "You also reveled in it. Sometimes even I couldn't tell if you were acting out of a desire for justice, or a desire for fame.

"My methods were far more basic than yours. My methods also lacked any easy way to connect my targets. The mental shutdowns were reported as something fearful, not something to be desired. My methods removed the rotten people from society without also causing a reliance on my actions from others. So... yes. In my eyes, what the Phantom Thieves did was a perversion of justice. What I was doing was true justice."

Yusuke half expected that, now that it was all over, Akechi would recant his statements. After all, the Phantom Thieves had continued to prove their worth and their capacity for justice. But Yusuke had asked because he was curious and so he would try to take in the answer properly. Their number was made up of people who's lives would be infinitely worse without the changes of hearts inflicted upon those who would see them harm, did this make them too biased?

"So your claims publicly were not simple fabrication." He mused, and then added. "I suppose that made the facade easier - if it was pulled from truth?"

"Hm..."

Yusuke brought his finger to his chin and tried for a moment to think beyond their own ideals. Seeing outside perspectives was something he struggled with the most; at least this gave him a chance to practice.

"I could agree that our methods aren't perfect, I think. But they are something, while everyone else who had the capacity to do something stood by and did nothing. I think I prefer imperfect justice to complete inaction."

[corruptedbunny-multimuse]

((yeah can i get a fuckin uhhhhh au meme redraw. i am not sorry. you know what meme this is based off of.))

[personaiiisms]

@gravity-wall from [x]

"Of course. I didn't mean to imply you didn't want to tell them."

Ren's response didn't bother Maruki. It anything, he was glad to hear him forming a solid decision for himself instead of falling into the mindset that anything was okay just as long as his friends were happy. It was a clear want from him.

For his friends to know and be accepting of who he really was.

"But feeling like you need to can also make you feel more stress and anxious, and that may make it harder to be open and honest with them. The more pressure you place on yourself, the harder it becomes."

Maruki shifted, letting his elbows rest against his knees as his hands folded together, chin coming to rest against it. "I suppose then, do you think they would resent you? For being gay, or for hiding it? Do you feel there just hasn't been the right moment to tell them?"

[musaeon]

It's not quite cold enough for snow, but enough that she sees the puffs from her breaths as she walks around.

Sumire's head has been a mess since she got out of the palace. Akira and Akechi had managed to get her out of there, after everything was shown on display; the truth that she had forgotten. Or rather, had been made to forget, if what Maruki had said was true. She didn't know how much she could believe him, but it felt less like she was in a fog since then.

(Cendrillon has been silent since then as well. Gone are the headaches and mocking words. The spell has been broken and all that's left around her are ashes and broken glass.)

(How does she pick herself up from here?)

(How does she go back to living as Sumire, when she threw herself away to hide behind the ghost of her sister?)

"Just what am I supposed to do now..." she mumbles to herself, looking down at the ribbon in her hands.

[justicepuppet]

"Hmm." A low hum was the only response Ryuji received at first as Akechi pondered over his words while watching the blond try - and fail - to match his shot at darts. He could feel his fingers twitch with each missed shot, and there was a desire to stand up and rip the darts away from Ryuji so that Akechi could show him how it was really done.

"Maybe that is what they're thinking." Or maybe Maruki was meddling. Again. Maybe this was just a glimpse of the reality he could have if only Akechi made the right decision and sided with the madman. The thought was rather quickly pushed aside as not being likely; even Maruki would have to realize how little that would matter to Akechi.

"A point? You say that as if I still don't believe you're all criminals who deserve to be behind bars." It was the truth. Part of him did still want to see them locked up like the criminals they were. But... things weren't that simple anymore. His own version of justice, twisted as it was, was far too black and white and needed to adapt.

Or would, if he wasn't-

"I'm not one of you." It was a kneejerk reflexive response as red eyes snapped toward Ryuji. "Once this done, you will never see me again."

@justicepuppet sent - "Most of the Phantom Thieves are doing a good job of hiding their obvious disgust toward me." Haru was shockingly kind and while Futaba wasn't holding back on her biting tongue, she seemed to begrudgingly acknowledge the use that Akechi had for them. Ryuji though just seemed so openly antagonistic toward him, willing to take any chance he could to point out how much he hated that they were relying on him.

It was strange, but also just a bit… refreshing. It felt like he was the only one not trying to walk on eggshells around him.

"You, though." Akechi smirked as he leaned back against the counter as the Penguin Sniper, eyeing the blond as he threw darts. "You clearly think the only place I deserve to be right now is behind bars. It's fascinating, really."

"Guess they realize it'd be easier to just grit their teeth and work with you," He couldn't say he didn't understand the mindset - plus knowing them, it was probably partially genuine. Haru was a girl who didn't have a mean bone in her body - she was vicious and ruthless in battle, but outside of that? About one of the nicest and kindest people he'd ever known - good at gritting her teeth and pushing her own feelings to the side. Likewise, Futaba was much smarter and more pragmatic - always focused on the end goal, on the mission - plus, knowing just her personality - if Futaba had something to focus on and keep her occupied, that would likewise keep her busy from dwelling on petty things like emotions or arguments.

He knew it was pretty and emotional and probably detrimental. He knew that, he just couldn't bring himself to care about it.

"I mean, wasn't there a point where you wanted the same for us?" He counters, throwing a darts into the dartboard one after another - a few landing close to the mark, but just missing. "Besides, wherever I think you should be - for now, you're with us - however long that is."

[cxdemusings]

[heavenslapse]

@heartsaligned -- akechi finds akira in the snow ❄️

SLEEP was an interesting concept for Goro. It'd always been difficult to turn his thoughts off to allow sleep to consume him for a few empty hours. But he needed rest in order to keep his mind sharp for the day that awaited him when he cracked open his eyes. Being dead made him wonder how much sleep provided a necessity in that regard. How much being dead meant he needed to do anything required to function.

During the numerous scandals pertaining to his decline in fame, he'd slept less than usual and ever more fitful. After thinking he'd shot Kurusu in the interrogation room, when he found a moment's respite he'd been plagued with dreams about the hollowed look fading from his suddenly lifeless eyes. The dark blood from the gunshot wound spilling out onto the metal table with brain matter and chunks of broken skull. He'd dreamed frequently over Kurusu coming back to life and asking him why he'd had to do it, if it was WORTH it, and if this was the victory that Goro had sought. A victory that had been handed to him on a silver platter through cheating and lies.

They'd always felt so real, wracking him with guilt. Kurusu had never done anything to deserve what had happened in that room. Even killing the men who'd tortured him for hours left Goro feeling numb and empty. There was no satisfaction reaped, only in the message that they couldn't live to hurt anyone else. Everyone else Goro had targeted had a corrupted heart. None of them had been saintly. Not even Wakaba was wholly innocent.

Goro could never atone for the horrible things he'd done, all the deaths caused by his hand. But offering those condemned souls Shido's head felt like a justified reward for the numerous deaths that had gotten him so far. Knowing that each of their forfeited lives would serve a purpose.

RITES OF JUDGEMENT, after all.

Each death served a purpose toward his eventual goal--a childish dream that never truly came to fruition. He'd have to live with being satisfied having Shido in jail and could only hope that he would stay there until he eventually died. Politics were a messy business and Shido had done a tremendous amount of damage that there would always a chance he could be released in some way.

Goro had done it all for his mother. But death wasn't going to place him wherever she was. He'd fall back to darkness when Maruki's reality lifted. Almost like a never ending sleep, but without anything around him except for an endless sea of black.

And now, he stared blankly at the clock on the table beside the bed. The red lights glowed through the dark. The number changed again and Goro pulled back the covers to get up. After the first night, he'd made a point of not going to sleep until he was sure Kurusu was out. But his company liked to wander at night and he'd leave. Goro couldn't blame him, and he didn't worry. His neighborhood was quiet, the residents in his complex kept to themselves, and Kurusu was never gone for long.

Goro took his time getting dressed, watching as the snow falling outside his windows went from gentle white flakes to heavy and dense puffs that began to collect on the sill. Kurusu still wasn't back as he did up his scarf. Goro let out a disgruntled sigh. Really, he was going to make him go out and find him? It occurred to him to just let Kurusu die of hypothermia, but Goro had fought too hard to keep him alive up until this point. Mother nature wasn't going to claim what was rightfully his.

He'd walked the streets longer than he'd planned to until finding a dark mop of hair buried beneath the fallen snow. It was a sorry sight. The snow crunched beneath the soles of his shoes. ❝How long do you intend to stay out here for?❞

[justicepuppet]

Dull red eyes kept their gaze on Akira, watching closely, carefully, for his response to what should have been just a simple question. A license wasn't the most important thing to have in a place like Tokyo; there was plenty of public transportation and ways to get from one place to another in the, sprawling city. Even travel to places outside weren't really locked away with the number of trains and buses that would take you there. Money would be needed, and planning, but freedom was still there for anyone who put in the effort.

It wasn't the same though, which was the point. It wasn't full freedom, something that Akechi knew he would never be able to live without anymore.

Even if it meant the end of his-

A snort escaped him as he watched Akira miss, the ball he was aiming for just missing the middle pocket. I know you're better than this. Words he kept to himself in favor of nothing more than a dramatic sigh that escaped him.

"Please don't tell me you've fallen for the over-romanticization of gondolas." The boats of Venice. It was a city built on water - a terrible idea, frankly.

Wasn't it sinking now anyways?

"I have my license." But no vehicle. If that was the only obstacle in their way, though, Akechi was certain they - that he - could come up with a way around it. Renting would be simple enough; no one seemed to remember the fall from grace he had experienced and still viewed him as the famed Ace Detective.

"--but you seem so happy here. It'd be pointless to think about going anywhere else, huh?"

It was hard to tell if he was making a jab or being sincere. Akechi's tone was genuine enough, but his gaze had narrowed for a moment, corners of his lips pulled into something close to a sneer. In vanished quickly though as he moved, taking his stance as he eyed a striped ball before striking it. It was still rolling as he straightened, his gaze shifting over to Akira.

There was no point to watch when he knew it would sink into a corner pocket.

@justicepuppet sent: "That's right. I suppose you wouldn't have your license yet." Akechi frowned softly as he watched Akira move around the pool table, lining up his shot carefully. How the conversation had turned to driving, he couldn't quite remember - but sometimes he forgot that the majority of his peer group lacked the level of freedom. Lucky him, he supposed, for already being eighteen. "You have to rely on the trains then, or-- Niijima-san can drive, can't she?" He could have sworn, at least. Akechi gave a shake of his head. "That still has to be frustrating if you want to leave the city and no one's available to take you." // can be either during the game or 3rd semester

Their conversation...

Something about a license, something involving the subway system, something about having no access to leave...

Why couldn't he leave now? Why couldn't he call it quits and go back home? Not home home, but back to his dinghy, musk-scented lodging nestled above Yogen-Jaya's local café. He pushed himself to be here tonight, joining Akechi for some social interaction instead of rotting on his makeshift bedding. A repetitive, nightly routine ever since they realized the world around them had been altered for the appeasement of everyone's most desirable futures. So if this quote-unquote 'utopia' truly existed as advertised, why can't he leave?

Because leaving wasn't an option. Because leaving meant breaking everyone's happiness.

'Oh...that kind of departure, not quitting our game...'

It took Akira several moments to break out of his current mental fog and string together a completed thought concerning Akechi's inquiry. A license, the subway, driving, frustration; it gave him something to work with and form a proper, coherent response. "...it is what it is..." Not much could be done when it took more effort and driving classes to obtain a car license. Scooter licenses, on the otherhand, were easier since a simple test decided the outcome. A boat license...stood on a whole other level, far apart from any two to four-wheeled land vehicle.

What was his color again? Or was he stripes? His target appeared in a shade of dark blue, a black number two printed on one side facing downward. Colors. He struck the cue ball, it followed its projected line of sight, yet it missed the middle pocket only by mere centimeters. Not his best game. "...if only Shibuya had more river or ocean access. I think I could get around more with a small vessel. You know Venice uses mostly boats for their transportation around town?"

What'd he give to hijack a jet cruiser and make a break for open ocean. He wouldn't be caught. He wouldn't go to jail. Maruki wouldn't allow it.

[lightcreators]

@cxdemusings continue from here

"Don't get sentimental on me, now. Show me your leadership qualities that guided the Thieves, Kurusu.">/blockquote>

How could he not be sentimental? How he could be blamed ? Emotions he sensed concerning his potential survival, just before everything growing weird inside sudden distortion of the world in which he seemed alone inside awareness concerning how wrong things were, would obscuring his judgement. Funny, right, how he was somewhere pleased to getting connected again with him afterwards all this time, in which a promise was still hanging? How eventually another third of group different of his friends, though will be impossible to be spoken with, had created around him, inside that mutual awareness? Nevertheless, a damaged trust remained present, in which emotional conflict needed to be handled in the sidelines. What if he showed himself far too much honest around him and lowered down his guards?  What kind of world awaiting him ? Darkest eyes showed a controlled emotion of conflict, of that dilemma who was hanging, before slowly nodding, as he considered what he could spoke. ❝  Must be comic for you, right? You finding yourself supporting me with what currently going on in this world --- ❞

[justicepuppet]

@gloryseized from [x]

"I'm already gone."

If he was, then why was he doing this? Standing here, holding onto Akira - holding him? It would have been kinder to push him away and leave instead of clinging to him? Kissing him?

A step back was taken to finally give Akira space to straighten, though Akechi hardly gave him any space. He was still right there, face staring at Akira's as if committing every inch of it to memory would somehow stave off the inevitability that would come with tomorrow's dawn.

He had been suspicious of it for awhile. That night, being found by Akira, having him been able to take him back to LeBlanc to be saved before blood loss took him - all of it had been just too... perfect. An unbelievable outcome that had left the world not quite feeling right after. There had been that much time spent recovering in the cafe, but those few days (weeks?) had further cemented the strange, alien feeling.

It was like he was split in two. Half of him was there with Akira, and the other half of him was lying dead. Too many flashes of the scent of sterile antiseptic, needles prodding into his arms, machines that hummed and beeped and bright florescent lights that burned into his gaze. He was dead somewhere, and the moments with Akira were just...

Fake.

"You'll make the right decision tomorrow." And three people would die then. Okumura, Wakaba, and himself. Who knew how many others there were who should be dead but had been resurrected? But that was how it should be. It was a bitter, painful reality, but it was real.

Will you remember this? It was just an assumption on Akira's end. Even if he could, Akechi wouldn't. Whatever happened now would only be in Akira's memory.

"-- what moment do you want to remember from tonight?" And finally he released Akira's wrist, though only to move his hand up to his face. Gloved fingers brushed against his cheek, the gesture too soft and gentle for the moment.

"If this is my funeral, how are you sending me off?"

[fantomevoleur]

[ reassure ] sender reassures receiver by rubbing their arm up and down, hoping to ease their stress (Mako)

PROMPTS FOR TOUCH-STARVED MUSES

Apologies only went so far. Akira could spew words from his mouth, manifested straight from his own hurt heart yet it never filled the deep wound inside Makoto. Not just her, but his other friends. Their smiles, joyous laughter, and happiness greatly mattered more than his own. He cared moreso for their well-being instead of the growing heartache building in his chest. They were his home, after all.

Breaking their desired paradise meant returning to familiar pains, reopening those lesions the 'good doctor' graciously sewed shut. Maruki saw their struggles, their trauma, and knew exactly how to make it all appear better. Akira couldn't, no matter how hard he tried. He always listened to their problems, even provided his own advice or used himself as a distraction to ease their agony. These experiences would never go away on their own, but Akira wished to help.

He craved it. He'd be more useful to them that way.

But...Maruki took all his efforts away in an instant.

"...now that you snapped out of it, do you mind if I ask you a question?" He greatly appreciated Makoto's slow movements, and he absentmindedly leaned against her frame more. Soothing motions always managed to ease the nerves, even just a little bit. "...if you had to choose to stay like you are now, know about everything we did and what happened with your sister, or go back to that blissful reality, which would you choose?"

Be honest with him.

[justicepuppet]

@dzanni

It happened in a blur, almost too fast for Akechi to react in. One moment the two of them were walking together through Maruki's palace, and then he had turned on him, gun firing shots in rapid succession. He had said something too, but it was swallowed up by the shock of everything else, making it impossible for Akechi to even try to process what was going on.

Two shots, one dodged and one nicking his side. It was the same side he had been shot through by the cognitive version of himself inside of Shido's Palace; perhaps it was simply a predetermined canon event that he would always be injured there.

"What the fuck are you doing Joker?!"

He had jerked back at the gunshots, and did so again now that Joker was charging toward him. Akechi's own weapon, the jagged red sword, had longer reach (and, perhaps he was being a little too complimentary to himself, but a wound from this would have far more long-term impacts than simply being stabbed by a knife) - but have to be willing to use it to take advantage of that.

Instead he just brought it up to serve as a shield against Joker's blade, catch it against the jagged teeth of the sword.

"This isn't the time to mess around, Joker." Akechi grunted before lifting a foot up to slam his heel against the other's stomach - a heel clad in a sharp, metallic boot.

Joker lingered at the entryway to the Palace that stretched before them. He had gone into so many Palaces before but he had never hesitated like this, not even when he had been offering his life to a gamble, or when they had faced down a being that called itself God.

All he could think about were his friends' smiling faces, their happy lives, surrounded by family and friends. How could he take that from them? Was that really the right thing to do? If not for Akechi's staunch refusal of Maruki's reality, Joker would likely have already given into it. After everything they'd all been through, didn't his friends deserve to be happy? Was this really any different from pulling a trigger on Wakaba, on Okumura, or pushing Shiho from the ledge?

But none of this was real. None of this was the truth and could Joker really let Maruki erase everything they'd been through that had made them what they are?

"I don't think I'm going to make the right choice." He forced himself to speak it out loud. If not to make Crow convince him one way or another, then at least to make him aware of the situation.

He paused and took his gun, spending a moment just running his gloved fingertips across the metal surface of it. When he spoke next, he had made a choice.

"Crow. I need you to stop me."

He spun then, coat splaying around him with the motion as he fired twice towards Crow's knee. Trying to hobble him, trying to stop him - if Joker could get to Maruki alone then he would fail, and if Crow could beat him here then they would win.

His blade was drawn so fluidly as he closed the distance between them, dagger ready to strike --

@justicepuppet | Something violent

[musaeon]

     It is but an ordinary day in January, with nothing out of place. Or well, it would be if not for the simmer at the edge of anyone's vision, or the sight of one girl that should most definitely be dead walking around like nothing is wrong.

     (And to her, nothing is wrong. She is just going about her day with nothing out of place.)

     In fact, it's because she's going about her day in that matter that she's lost enough in her own thoughts that she bumps into someone without realizing it. It's not like her to do that, but it's not like it's the end of the world. Besides, it happens!

     "Oh! I'm really sorry, I wasn't looking where I was going. You're not hurt or anything are you?"

[cxdemusings]

" Hm, happy birthday Akechi. Make the newest year into an good ones when I'm hoping good things happens to you." Though emotional conflict resonated inside his sentences when he was bit embarrassed when would have wished to having reassurance concerning one gift he could give him but have no idea what." Remember that I care about you. " Akira reminded as wasn't sure it was brilliant thing to say.

[Birthday Boy]

"...Something good," he repeated quietly, bitterly. When did they ever? Even being extremely particular about his life, appearing perfect, being wanted, had been thwarted in the end.

A pause.

"...Care. You care." Akira had him in the first half, then just had to go and say that. Interlacing his fingers together, he stared hard at him. "Is that all you wanted to say?"

[padfootagain]

Love in Verses (XLVI)

Chapter 46 : ‘Both of us, of the love which makes us one.’

Hi! Here is a new chapter! A little academic update for our lovely couple…

I hope you like this chapter! Tell me what you think!

****

Pairing: Hozier x fem!reader (professor!AU)

Warnings: slow burn, angst, hurt, hurt/comfort, tooth-rotting fluff in later chapters, some scenes in later chapters will have heavy sexual themes even if it’s not explicit nsfw description, so no minors here

Summary: Your life seems perfect. You're engaged, your career is thriving as you become an assistant professor at Trinity College, and this Andrew Hozier-Byrne you're sharing an office with seems to be a nice guy you hope to call a friend soon. Life seems to be smiling at you... until everything goes sour. When your fiancé breaks up with you, your perfect world shatters. And when your colleague also gets his heart broken soon after, your shared office seems to be a curse rather than a blessing. But Andrew seems determined to mend your broken hearts... Will things finally go according to plan?

Word Count: 3479

Masterlist for the series – Hozier’s masterlist – Main masterlist

I loved you first: but afterwards your love Outsoaring mine, sang such a loftier song As drowned the friendly cooings of my dove. Which owes the other most? my love was long, And yours one moment seemed to wax more strong; I loved and guessed at you, you construed me And loved me for what might or might not be – Nay, weights and measures do us both a wrong. For verily love knows not ‘mine��� or ‘thine;’ With separate ‘I’ and ‘thou’ free love has done, For one is both and both are one in love: Rich love knows nought of ‘thine that is not mine;’ Both have the strength and both the length thereof, Both of us, of the love which makes us one.

Christina Rossetti

The whatsapp group of the third-year students was busier than ever.

Texts after texts after texts were filling up the app, the screen constantly updated, a message chasing another.

The reason was simple. Professor Hozier-Byrne and Professor Y/L/N had been spotted chatting in a corridor… and they were standing very close to each other…

Were they touching?!?!

Nah… but they were leaning towards each other, it was adorable.

And Prof H-B was blushing. BLUSHING! And they were laughing like… I had never seen any of them so happy.

They’re definitely together. THE LOOK IN THEIR EYES LADS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A string of heart-eyes emojis followed.

I’m betting on them.

So… does that mean that our two fav literature professors are also IN LOVE?! My heart!!

Oh

My

God…

Do you think Pr. H-B’s poetry is about… HER?!

OMG!!!

A string of messages taking God as a witness of the student’s amazement followed.

We need to find out. We need to be certain!

And that was how Operation Love Birds began…

“Do you have any questions about this poem?” Andrew asked his students, readjusting his glasses, closing his copy of District and Circle.

Silence, but his students were clearly listening carefully to him, as several of them shook their heads.

“Alright, then… I reckon that’s all for today. Don’t forget that you have an essay to prepare for next week! Enjoy your weekend!”

He was already packing his things, thinking about you and the coffee break you had promised after this class. He knew you were wearing this shirt he loved on you, that green one that made his heart stumble and lose all kind of rhythm. He had seen you leaving your shared home wearing it, but you had a class early in the morning, while he could take his time. He remembered the way it revealed just enough of your cleavage to drive him nuts, though…

He was almost startled by the four students standing in front of him. Marie, Sheily, Saoirse and Sean. He knew them quite well by now, and so did you. They had steadily attended his and your classes every semester since their first year.

He quickly recovered and offered them a kind and expectant smile.

“We wanted to ask you about the essay for next week. We haven’t found many sources about the poem we’re studying, and we’re not quite sure about our interpretation… could you tell us if we’re going in the wrong direction?”

His smile only grew a little wider, and he wondered why one of the girls was repeatedly blinking when he pushed his hair behind his ear.

“Yes, of course. I know that some authors we’re working on in this class, being contemporary to us, don’t have that many academic resources about their work. I’ll give you a push, if you need.”

He tapped on the screen of his phone to check the time.

“I have to run now, but come by tomorrow afternoon to my office if you’d like. We’ll take a look at what you’ve been doing, and I’ll give you directions to finish your essay.”

“Thank you! Have a nice day, professor!”

“Thanks, have a good one too.”

Andrew let out a relieved exhale as the students left, and hurried to pack once more. His phone vibrated with your name colouring his screen.

Got your coffee, waiting in our office.

Hurry up. I want a kiiiiiiissssss!

Love you! xx

Andrew grinned without even noticing, throwing his pencil case in his bag and running to the door. The few students who were still in the room looked at him with raised eyebrows, and exchanged questioning glances at the sight of his sudden hurry. He who was always so calm, so composed, almost shy…

Andrew ignored them, though. He didn’t even notice that they were there at all. Instead, he rushed through the corridors of the old university, until he had reached your shared office.

He opened the door more violently than he meant to, making you jump. You were standing there, by the window behind his desk, a coffee in your hand. You were wearing that top, alright…

He hurried to close the door, rushed across the room, bending to avoid the lamp hanging from the ceiling, and dropped his bag next to his desk.

“Your coffee’s…” you started, pointing at the warm mug on his desk, but you stopped when he took your warm beverage from your hands to put it down on a nearby shelf. “Huh… that was mine!”

Instead of answering, Andrew merely stared at you, letting his gaze rake the length of your body, and he didn’t try to hide the hunger in his eyes.

“You’re wearing that top.”

You raised an eyebrow, the ghost of a smug smile tugging at your lips.

“Yes…”

“You know I love that shirt on you.”

“Hmmm… yes, I kind of do. That’s why I chose it this morning.”

“Oh, I see… you woke up and thought ‘hey, how can I torture my boyfriend today?’…”

“Torture?”

“You clearly chose violence with that cleavage, honey…”

You bit on your lower lip, unable to refrain your grin any longer.

“Did I now? And I thought I would make you happy…”

“Oh, I’m delighted, don’t get me wrong.”

You wanted to add some banter, but his hands came up to rest on your cheeks, cradling your face to pull you closer while he bent down to kiss you, and you were left too breathless to speak.

“You’re so beautiful, my love. Absolutely gorgeous…” he whispered, his lips a breath away from yours, and despite the obvious desire in his words, his tone was infinitely tender. Adoring, even. “How did I get lucky enough for you to want me, huh?”

You giggled at that, the most adorable sound in the world, and he didn’t even notice that he was smiling.

“You planned a devilish plan to get back with your ex with me.”

“Our exes,” he corrected you.

“Hmm… yeah, that’s how.”

He shook his head, brushing his nose against yours in the process.

“I don’t think that’s how I did it…”

“No… You just had to be your kind, funny, handsome self…”

He rolled his eyes, and when you opened your mouth to protest, he merely closed the gap between your mouths, finally kissing you.

He was breathless by the time you pulled away, dizzy and happier than ever…

… how could you still make him feel this way after two full years?

You wrapped your arms around his neck to keep him close, and he held your waist firmly against him, partly to keep you close but also to help you keep your balance as you had risen to your tiptoes so he wouldn’t have to bend so much.

“Well, professor… if you’re nice enough with me today… I might let you take this shirt you like so much off me tonight…” you whispered in the most tempting voice, making him groan.

“You’ll be the death of me…”

While Andrew and you were finally breaking your embrace, sipping on your coffees while imagining very graphic scenarios of how you would spend your evening together, the whatsapp group of your students, now rebranded as OP Love Birds was on fire again.

I couldn’t make out the face of the woman on the picture, but she had the same hair colour as Pr Y/L/N. And there was a dog in the picture too. Black and white dog. (it was adorable btw).

Okay, so H-B is definitely NOT single. And it could be Y/L/N.

And can we mention how he weirdly just… BOLTED out of the room?

Like?

Sir?

Calm down! Those legs are long enough to carry you at lightspeed already…

Unless he wanted to go back to Y/N!

OMG… I want them to be together so bad, they would be so cute together!!!

God, you had to talk to Andrew.

You finally had received a response for the publication of your article. The email dropped during your class, but you managed to sneak a peek at it, and… the article was accepted!

You were over the moon, and got distracted during the end of your class, you would willingly admit that. You stammered, stumbled over your words a few times, but it was okay. You didn’t mind. You couldn’t mind losing your cool when you had spent so long working on this bloody article. But it was finally accepted, it would be published, with your name on it, printed in full and you wanted to cry from the sheer expectation of finally seeing it for real, on a computer screen, with the name of one of the most renowned journals at the top of your paper.

You hurried through the corridor, knowing Andrew was coming back from a class too, and would soon have a meeting with some of his students about an essay. There was no time to lose. You wanted to celebrate with him, and get lots of hugs and kisses and see his proud grin on his face…

He heard you running down the corridor when he was just a few steps away from the door of your shared office, and he raised a perplexed eyebrow as you rushed closer.

“You’re alright?” he asked, turning fully to you.

“IT’S ACCEPTED! IT’S ACCEPTED!”

His surprise turned into bliss.

“Your article, you mean?” he asked, and you nodded excitedly, rushing in his open arms.

You buried your face in his chest, and jumped up and down in excitement. Andrew laughed.

“Congratulations, darling! You worked so hard on it!”

“Yes, I did!” you quipped, looking up at him.

“I’m so proud of you, that’s amazing!”

“YES!”

He checked the corridor, but there was no one in sight, so he bent down to kiss you, loving and passionate and taking your breath away.

“I’m so proud of you, baby!” he cooed, holding you tight again. “That’s amazing, congratulations!”

“I mean, it’s not my first paper… but it’s my first on this subject, and in such a big journal too…”

“Babe, I’m incredibly proud of you! And you should be too! Now, we can drink that bottle of champagne I had stashed for this.”

“You bought champagne for this?”

“Of course! You were so nervous about it… I know how important it was for you.”

“Thank you,” you looked up at him with tears in your eyes, and Andrew fondly shook his head at you.

“It’s the bare minimum, honey.”

“It isn’t. You’re the best boyfriend since Mr. Darcy.”

Andrew let out a loud laugh.

“Wow… that is very high praise!”

“The highest.”

You finally pulled away, but kept on holding his hands in yours.

You jumped at the sound of giggles coming from the staircase that led to the corridor, and you both let go, reluctance making your movements too slow for Andrew’s students not to notice…

“Ha! Come in, let’s take a look at what you’ve found so far,” Andrew called his students, and you greeted them as well.

It took them thirty seconds after they were out of your office to text the group.

THEY HAVE TO BE TOGETHER!!!

THEY WERE HOLDING HANDS IN THE HALLWAY WHEN WE ARRIVED TO THEIR OFFICE!

WHAT?!

OMG!!!

We need more proof! It is pretty compelling, but were they really holding hands?

They were letting go when we arrived.

God, I’m certain they’re together. ADORABLE!

We need more proof, just to be sure…

There was something off with your students, of that you were certain.

Nothing bad, by any means. They were all pretty fun to be around, focused on their studies too. You couldn’t complain about that class, really.

Except that they had started being a little weird for the past few weeks. They were whispering when they saw you, especially if Andrew was with you. You noticed that they tried to drag the informal conversations you had with them towards your personal life. But your doubts turned into certainty as you overheard a conversation between three of your students.

“They have to be together. Saoirse said they saw them holding hands.”

“They weren’t holding hands, they looked like they had been holding hands.”

“I’m sure Y/L/N and H-B are together.”

H-B?

Your brain finally clicked… Hozier-Byrne. Right…

“We need more proof.”

“More proof than the way H-B looks at her? Gosh… he’s head-over-heels… I wish someone could look at me like that.”

“He already looked at her like that when we were in first year, Sheily. And they weren’t together for sure at the time.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“The longing?! Now it’s more, ‘happily with the love of my life’ vibes. He looked sad every time she turned away back then.”

You decided that you had eavesdropped long enough and made sure to make a bit of noise before finally walking out of the classroom and into the corridor where your students were chatting. They fell silent as they saw you, but greeted you with a warm smile and polite hello.

You were to meet with Andrew at the library on the campus, both of you needing to pick up some books there. There was a sort of cafeteria nearby, where you wanted to pick up a snack and some coffee.

And Andrew was waiting for you, indeed, leaning against the stone wall of the library, with a hand in the pocket of his blue jeans, too busy looking at his phone to notice the way the students that passed by him were staring. It made you smile, the way he was truly clueless of how good he looked like this, with his hair let loose to reach his shoulders, white shirt, blue jeans and denim jacket, looking effortlessly handsome. Your heart skipped several beats at the sight. He must have felt you staring, because he finally looked up from his phone, readjusting his glasses, and immediately grinned as his gaze met yours.

“Hey! How was your class this morning?” he asked, and you saw the way he closed and opened his fist, longing to touch you but refraining as you were in public, and working.

“Nothing worth mentioning except… something I’ve overhead. Got tea to spill.”

He laughed, bright and loud as he opened the door of the library for you.

“Oh, I can’t wait to hear all about it over coffee.”

“See! I knew you loved gossips as much as I do.”

“Hardly.”

“Yes, you do.”

“Absolutely not.”

You playfully stick out your tongue, making him giggle.

“Well, you’ll be definitely interested in that one, because it concerns us.”

“Us?”

“Yep…”

“Why would it be about us?”

“I’ll tell you later,” you teased, walking further into the library to pick up the books you needed, throwing a teasing smile over your shoulder, and if he replied by a roll of his eyes, he was blushing too.

You met up again to borrow the books, and Andrew read the summary of the two books you were taking with you as you exchanged niceties with the librarian. He kept carrying your books as you walked out of the building and towards the cafeteria.

It was almost an accident as you spotted the three students you had overheard earlier that morning. You were walking and chatting with Andrew, who was asking questions about the books you had just borrowed, when you felt someone staring. And indeed, the trio was looking at you and Andrew, whispering before deciding to follow you towards the cafeteria.

“So, that’s the analysis you were talking about yesterday, that pushed forward the historical and social dimension in the plays?” he asked, a small frown creasing his brow, showing that he was thinking and that he was fully focused on your conversation. Your heart beat a little faster at the thought.

“Hmm. Yeah, that’s it.”

“Sounds interesting. A little… narrowing, but interesting.”

“The second one is linked to Bakhtine’s theories though.”

“Hmm… yeah, I see. So, you’re…”

“Andy.”

“Hmm?”

“Sorry, I know I’m interrupting, but… see the three students behind us?”

“The ones we’re both teaching you mean?” he asked, trying to discreetly look over his shoulder.

“Yeah… they’re the ones I overheard this morning.”

“Oh… and? What did they say?”

You opened the door of the cafeteria, and joined the queue.

“They were discussing whether or not we are a couple,” you said in a whisper so he would be the only one to hear, and Andrew had to bend closer during the rest of the conversation.

“What?”

“They were arguing on whether or not we are a couple.”

He blinked, taking a couple of seconds to process your words.

“Oh… I see… I guess we weren’t as discreet as we thought we were.”

“I guess not. They mentioned how you look at me a lot.”

His cheeks turned a bright shade of pink, but his gaze didn’t waver, remained fixed on you.

“Oh… I see.”

“Lovingly, apparently. You are ‘head-over-heels’ as they put it,” you teased, making him chuckle and blush even more.

“I can’t deny that,” he answered in a smooth tone that made butterflies erupt in your stomach. “It is hard to hide my thoughts when I look at you.”

“Hmm… I knew you adored me.”

He laughed.

“More than you could ever imagine,” he answered with a tender smile, while you took a step closer to the counter. “Although, not just that. I often imagine you in… interesting positions as well.”

You choked on your own breath at that, and Andrew sported a content smirk in return.

“Right… anyway. Apparently, we’ve blown our cover. Our students are catching up on us.”

“And what do you suggest we do then? I mean… we’re not breaking any rules, or doing anything wrong.”

“What are you saying?”

“That… maybe that’s okay if they know about us. I for one… wouldn’t mind that much.”

You couldn’t refrain your smile.

“At the beginning, you were adamant that we had to remain professional at Trinity.”

“Hmm… I mean, it was the beginning. I couldn’t be sure if it would work out between us. It was safer this way. Two teachers dating is gossip enough, without adding a break-up into the mix.”

“Hmm… but now?”

He looked away, turning to the list of pastries to choose a snack.

“What cake do you want?”

“A chocolate muffin.”

“I think I’ll take a blueberry one. And yes, you can have a bite,” he answered before you could ask the question.

“You didn’t answer.”

“Answer?”

“Why aren’t you worried about people finding out about us anymore?”

You saw the way he clenched his jaw, the way he tightened his hold on the books under his arm. His gaze was fleeing yours, still focused on the sweet treats in display, but he did answer, his voice so low and deep you barely heard him.

“Now, I know you’re the love of my life.”

You blinked tears away, staring at him, taking in a sharp breath at his words.

“So… I don’t mind if all our colleagues know, even students. I’m not afraid of you suddenly realising that you could have better and dumping my arse anymore. I’m not afraid of us not being able to make our lives align, or whatever obstacles might be thrown at us. I just… I really just want to stay with you forever, so… who cares if they know? I’m not afraid of a break-up anymore. So, I don’t mind.”

Finally, he looked down at you, frowned a little at the sight of shining tears caught on your eyelashes, but when you grinned up at him, he smiled too.

“I love you so much, you know?” was your only answer, and Andrew nodded.

“Yeah… I’m starting to believe in that concept,” he chuckled.

He didn’t move away when you touched his arm, hand moving down towards his. Instead, he took his fist out of his pocket, intertwined his fingers with yours.

“I really want to give these girls a heart-attack,” you confessed.

“You sure?”

“Hmm… are you okay with that?”

“Murdering students is illegal. Even if it’s not fully intentional.”

You chuckled, mumbling something about how silly he was. But then his stare caught yours, and you didn’t think as you rose to your tiptoes to meet him halfway, so you could kiss him.

When you pulled away, Andrew dropped a peck on the top of your head, before letting go of your hand to wrap his arm around your shoulders, pulling you close. You wrapped your arm around his waist too, while discreetly looking over your shoulder.

The three girls were going crazy.

“So?” Andrew asked, moving forward as someone was leaving the queue.

“We might have to call an ambulance.”

You both laughed, and you rested your head on his shoulder, feeling his warmth sip into your frame, filling you with quiet and love.