I step closer still. "I want to see the light in your eyes. Let me see beyond the darkness." His eyes do not blink behind his glasses; his expression remains as stony and cold as ever. I reach over and take off his glasses. His yellow-green eyes betray not a hint of emotion, but his mouth shapes words I have been longing to hear. "Open your eyes, Sutcliff." he says. "Maybe you'll see." He allows me to pull him in close, lock my arms around his neck, and press my mouth to his. He does not protest but shuts his eyes and responds with an enthusiasm I didn't believe was possible. I let the glasses drop to the floor and move back to sit on his desk, my mouth still glued to his. I open my mouth wider and allow his tongue to enter. It glides around, reaching, exploring. I slowly place one hand on his collar and begin to undo the buttons.
Then he stops, standing once again stiff and errect. "My glasses, Sutcliff," he says. I open my mouth to protest, but he finds them by feeling around on the floor. He stands up and pointedly faces the window behind his desk. Outside, three pairs of bespectacled eyes peer in curiously, not quite managing to duck out of sight in time. William charges outside, flinging the door open.
"Knox! Slingby! Humphries! Get to work!" The old Will is back, I think to myself with a giggle. I can still hear him yelling outside. "I expected better from you, Humphries!"
I walk out slowly and deliberately.
Oh well, it was not as if they didn't already know.