Title: Sympathy
Author: tacit_galaxy
Pairing: Minami Ritsu x Agatsuma Soubi
Fandom: Loveless
Theme: 30Kisses #01: look over here
Rating: Teens (for some language and some mature themes)
Disclaimer: I do not own "Loveless" or any of its characters. All belongs to Yun Kouga, and I am making absolutely no money off of this.
Sympathy
"The main thing I want you to remember about your upcoming practice match with Trustless is to incorporate those new vocabulary words that I've given you. Keep the core of the spell simple, use strong key words, and be creative with the imagery. Do not show emotion. Utilize what I've taught you and grit your teeth…don't…Soubi-kun, is this briefing boring you?"
Hearing his name mentioned sternly, Soubi jerked. He quickly took his eyes off the floor and onto Ritsu, in an effort to appear as if he'd been paying attention all along, but the attempt only managed to give him a "deer-in-the-headlights" look.
"I-I'm sorry sensei…" Soubi lowered his head again, all of his thoughts suddenly leaving him. He didn't want to meet his teacher's cold eyes and austere frown. Ritsu let out an annoyed sigh as he addressed his pupil,
"Soubi-kun, this sparring match is extremely important. It's your first chance to show the school administration what I've been teaching you and the extent of your skills. But instead of my pre-battle advice, you've obviously found something much more worthy of your thoughts and time. Would you care to share with me what you were daydreaming about?"
Soubi tried to swallow the nervousness that was forming a hard lump in his throat. He most certainly did not want to tell Ritsu what was occupying his thoughts. Ever since Ritsu had taken his virginity three days ago, his life had been complete hell during class hours at Septimal Moon. The only relief he found from critical stares and derogatory remarks about the nature of his relationship with Ritsu-sensei, was either holed up in his dorm room or in his teacher's office (which, unsurprisingly, only fueled more completely true and untrue rumors). He was ashamed.
"Soubi-kun, look at me!" Ritsu said firmly, his voice cracking through his students' thoughts like a whip once again. Soubi looked at Ritsu apprehensively. He was all too familiar with what that tone in his teacher's voice meant.
"I'm so sorry Ritsu-sensei, I really am, it's just that my mind has been elsewhere lately. I'm really sorry…" Soubi's voice cracked ever so slightly towards the end of his apology. He tried his hardest, but couldn't help but let a few tears come into his eyes. Painful memories of the last few days flooded into his head. Bad comments, tasteless jokes, being called names…it was all so much to handle. And now, to have one of the most important matches of his career as a student coming up tomorrow? He thought he was going to have a panic attack. The thought of having to go through a spell battle in front of all the school administrators and the student body without his ears was…horrifying, to say the very least.
"You'll do fine if you just concentrate."
Soubi looked at his teacher in shock. Not necessarily because of the words Ritsu said but the way he said them. Soubi had never heard his teacher come close to being gentle in his conversations. But just then, there was a small, trace amount of empathetic compassion.
"Sensei…"
"What I mean to say is," Ritsu turned his head away from his student, looking out the window of the office in an almost flustered manner, but resuming his stony, monotone voice. "You need to pull yourself together but, it's understandable that you are nervous with this being such a crucial match."
"Yes, sensei. I understand. I'll try my best to focus." Soubi answered knowingly. He knew that this was his teacher's way of showing that he took at least some notice of what Soubi was going through. It was proof that Ritsu occasionally looked Soubi's way and observed what was happening to the boy outside of sparring matches, lessons, and recently, the pair's sexual encounters.
"Come here, Soubi-kun." Ritsu gave Soubi a somewhat cold look as he issued the curt order.
Soubi quickly scuffled over to his teacher's desk and stood, expectantly, in front of Ritsu. The older man cast a thoughtful glance at Soubi's head, now in obvious lack of the virginal, cat-like, appendages that had become the source of so much teasing directed towards the boy. Ritsu raised his had and began to stroke Soubi's head, ruffling his light blonde hair in an almost patronizing way.
"So these are gone now, huh?" The man said thoughtfully, mostly to himself. Soubi bristled a bit at the remark. He wanted to shout, 'Of course they're gone, you bastard! What the hell did you think would happen?' but was stopped from his near outburst by the gentle touch of his teacher's lips to his cheek. It was nothing fervent, no heated lust, just a single, kindhearted, kiss.
Soubi sighed, his sudden anger placated, and leaned into his teacher's arms.
