Title: Prince & Prejudice

Summary: There's plenty of pride and prejudice when "princely" Tezuka could be viewed as Mr. Darcy; so is Carlinda his Eliza Bennet? A non-yaoi Tezuka-exclusive story.

Disclaimers/notes/pleas: See Chapter 1

Chapter 4: Reevaluations & Revelations

Dr. Tezuka did not do anything obviously "Darcy-esque"—like write a letter explaining his actions—but following her conversation with Miss B, Carlinda began to see strange similarities to the Austen hero in his personality. Most particularly, what she had taken for haughty pride in his status she now perceived as merely a habit of reserve (exacerbated by grief, in his circumstances).

This came about mostly because Dr. Tezuka, who looked much less tired upon his return from his TA-enforced sick leave (somehow Miss B had persuaded him to take a whole week off, Carlinda noted), finally revealed his motive for continually challenging her during previous Program Development meetings. He announced that he had decided to decrease his commitments and so was stepping down from the Committee at the end of the semester…and proceeded to recommend her as someone to look to for leadership.

Therefore, Carlinda had to revise what she had perceived as jealousy of her increasing popularity and anxiety over her potential as a rival. He had truly meant what he said when complimenting her on her management of discussions and so he had been actively preparing her to take over in his stead. And he did not decide against it after the hash she had made of the dinner date.

Elizabeth Bennett could not have felt more chagrined at learning of her own prejudice.

She did manage to apologize—very prettily, she thought, consoling herself. Dr. Tezuka kindly accepted it without a fuss and told her that they should both put it behind them as an "understandable misunderstanding." However, he did not reiterate his suggestion of joint-teaching a class with her.

Dr. Tezuka's actions and her reassessment of him led her to reconsider what she thought about Kurt's story, too, and she came to the conclusion that there was too little information to verify it one way or another. That Kurt had dropped the class had been confirmed by Dr. Tezuka himself, but she could now allow that Kurt's stated reason for doing so might not be the whole truth. As a result, Carlinda distanced herself from Kurt—nothing overt, just fewer smiles and more moderate praise. Kurt got the hint because he stopped staying after class to chat.

It was just as well she did so, because not long afterward, Kurt was found in flagrante delicto with his art teacher. Perhaps if anyone other than one of Kurt's fans had come upon the illicit scene taking place in the pottery room, they might have overlooked it for Kurt's sake. But the girl had been so shocked—and devastated—she screamed piercingly enough that a number of people came running. With so many witnesses, there was no hope of hushing it up: the gossip spread like wildfire among the students and faculty alike.

In a matter of hours it became known that the art professor had been giving Kurt excellent grades, yet no artwork of Kurt's could immediately be produced. Some vocally sided with Kurt on this matter (as they huddled in the main faculty lounge during lunch), saying that the art professor was notoriously possessive as well as flighty, therefore she may have squirreled away his pieces as keepsakes and then forgotten where she put them. The general feeling among Kurt's peers (gleaned from overheard bits before and after class) was that he had probably been seduced by the teacher, who was admittedly "hot," and so he should not be punished too severely.

Then the student radio show broadcasted a "breaking news story pertaining to the scandal," alleging that Kurt's devoted fans had been supplying him with notes for every class, and some of them had been doing his assignments for him, even. The anonymous source also claimed to have overheard a conversation last semester between Kurt and a TA in which Kurt had been informed that he had been caught cheating on the midterm; and rather than denying it, Kurt had offered "services" in return for her not failing him on the exam.

No proof of the former accusation had been obtained yet—but circumstantial evidence confirmed that something of the latter was true because Kurt had dropped that particular class a few weeks later.

Carlinda could not help but wonder at how far Kurt had actually gotten with Miss B, given the comment she had made comparing herself to Georgiana Darcy. Thus, when given the opportunity, curiosity got the best of her: that day she happened to be early for her last class, which was located in the main lecture hall; she stopped just outside the open door upon hearing Dr. Tezuka speaking. The acoustics carried his voice very clearly.

"…so why did you not tell me that Mr. Davis had attempted to bribe you as well?" Dr. Tezuka sounded the same as he always did to Carlinda's ears; she could not tell if he was concerned or annoyed.

Miss B's voice seemed equally uninflected. "Because you already had enough to deal with, Professor, and I can take care of myself. Besides, that aspect would have been his word against mine, and while I know you would have believed me without question, it still would have muddied the waters for the others when trying to decide what actions to take regarding the midterm."

She paused, then added in a slightly higher voice, "You think I was wrong? That if I had told you, something could have been done to deter Kurt from trying again, and apparently succeeding this time?"

"No, I do not think so, on either count. I merely wanted to ensure that you understood that you could have come to me, and that I would have pursued the matter at your request—whether or not it would have complicated the issue," Dr. Tezuka said, his tone different in a way that Carlinda could not identify.

There was a longer silence this time. Carlinda shook herself a little and decided enough was enough; she walked in briskly as if she had just arrived. Both of them looked up from their tasks, rather than away from each other as Carlinda had imagined they would. She took a small breath and halted just inside the doorway to say, "I'm sorry—I didn't realize anyone would still be here. I thought I'd set up early today, so there would be more time during class for review…"

Dr. Tezuka acknowledged her with a congenial nod and went back to sliding papers neatly into the pockets of his briefcase. But Miss B gave her an unexpectedly happy smile—which made the TA look more like her probable age of late twenties—and said, "It's all right. We're just about finished, so feel free."

Carlinda wandered over to the projector, where Miss B was efficiently disconnecting a laptop computer. The TA must have caught the wistfulness in her expression, for she asked Carlinda in a sympathetic undertone that Dr. Tezuka was unlikely to hear from the podium, "Did you want to use the projector? I can show you, if you don't know how."

Carlinda blinked in surprise; after learning that the TA knew of it, she had thought she would be resented, and rightly so, for coming up with the nickname of "Miss Bingley." Yet the offer had been made without a trace of condescension. So Carlinda replied hopefully, "Would you, please? It's—something I hadn't been able ask about yet…"

Miss B tilted her head a little, inquiringly, as if unused to having people be so open with her. Then she exchanged a look of silent communication with Dr. Tezuka as he passed by them on his way out, before turning back to Carlinda and saying, "We can do this now, if you wish…it shouldn't take long. Or some other time, since you said you wanted to start setting up."

They did a quick run-through and worked it out that Carlinda would come before one of Dr. Tezuka's classes the next day to practice, since Carlinda hoped to learn it in time for reviewing finals material As the TA packed away the last cord, Carlinda accidentally slipped and said, "Miss B, I—"

After regarding her a moment as she blushed furiously, the aide said with a faint smile and lift of an eyebrow, "'Mizbee?' How quaint. I kind of like it."

"You do?"

The TA's smile became a little more full-fledged as her reply.

Carlinda drew in a quiet breath and took the plunge to say, "I do want to apologize for referring to you as 'Miss Bingley' at the holiday party…"

Miss B shrugged it off casually. "It's all right. No harm done."

"You aren't mad?"

"Hmm. Truth be told, I'm finding it hard to be mad at anyone just now. Despite my disappointment for Dr. Tezuka's sake that Kurt couldn't live up to the second chance he gave him, the truth coming out clears any appearance of unfairness last semester." This was said with complete satisfaction.

Carlinda felt this did not entirely explain why Miss B was being so accommodating, and had been in other ways prior to today, too. The TA had taken a chance to caution her about Kurt, even knowing of Carlinda's prejudice against her beloved Professor, plus she had been the one to nominate her to the Program Development Committee without ever really interacting with her—all prior to the scandal. So she prompted, "And?"

"And, what?"

"Why have you been helping me? Not just now with the projector, but with the nomination to the Committee? And tried to help me regarding Kurt?"

"It's a complicated answer. Partly because you helped me, and partly because of Dr. Tezuka."

"Helped you?"

"Your naming me 'Miss Bingley' was rather apt, and I found I couldn't blame you for it. After the initial sting passed, the introspection did me good. I hadn't realized how… unprofessionally I'd been coming across. So that was a help to me, specifically."

When Miss B did not continue, again Carlinda pursued more explanation with an encouraging, "You also mentioned Dr. Tezuka."

Miss B pursed her lips together for what seemed a long time. Finally, she said, "Well, I was glad to see someone else capable of viewing The Professor as human, finally, even if it was out of a misunderstanding of his character." Miss B sighed. "Everyone treats him like some kind of hero on a pedestal—perfect and untouchable. As a result, he accepts that leadership role and keeps what he believes is a necessary and authoritative distance. From everyone. You didn't fall at his feet protesting your undying love at the mere sight of him, which is more than I can say for most, students as well as colleagues. Therefore, I thought that having you, someone who would not be another 'yes-man,' on the Committee would be good for him."

Carlinda kept herself completely still and silent, hoping not to break the flow of Miss B's words, now that she was talking.

"It turned out that you were good for him, and more so than I'd hoped for. You provided him with an opportunity to do what he does best, and when he needed it most. That is, he was able to tangibly help someone on their path to reaching their full potential. I…think I may have let him down in this regard, when I told him I had no intention of moving on and becoming a teacher myself that day I argued him into going home for more rest.… So I very much appreciated the fact that he could do something for you, and this seems to have brought him back to himself a little." Miss B stopped there, and the distant look in her eyes re-focused on Carlinda.

Gathering herself together, Carlinda said, "Wow. I had no idea…" For once she did not know what else to say.

Carlinda had originally thought "Miss Bingley" jealously possessive of her employer because she desired him for herself. However, Miss B did not act or talk like a woman in love, for all that she seemed to focus so much on him and had formed such an understanding perspective of him. She stood up to him (Carlinda had no doubt that she must have, in order to convince him to stop overworking himself), and she had made a decision she knew would disappoint him…she went her own way. There was no extra softness or sweetness in her manner toward him; although there was a bond, not a single signal indicated it was anything more than a fact-of-life created by working together.

Basically, she did treat him like she was his sister: both older (in the way she was protective and looked after him) and younger (in the way she looked up to him in admiration), but like a sister, nonetheless.

Miss B had busied herself with scooping up her things. But then she paused, deliberately met Carlinda's eyes again, and said, "If you have the time, stay and observe Dr. Tezuka's class tomorrow. Teaching is where he truly shines—to learn about him, you must start there."

Carlinda did not immediately begin her preparations once Miss B left. She was a little in awe of the view presented to her of Dr. Tezuka, especially from someone she guessed did not often speak so unguardedly, even on Dr. Tezuka's behalf. Inexplicably, Carlinda felt torn at tomorrow's prospects, too—as if one new horizon might open up before her, but at the cost of something equally desirable.

Coming up next: Find out what Dr. Tezuka is like as a teacher from Carlinda's perspective when I post the next chapter.…