(AN: I think the chapters are going to be longer from here on out...)
"You want me to be what?" Lon'qu wasn't quite sure what he had just heard.
"I want you to become my assistant. I should be the one hard of hearing, not you!" Basilio roared in laughter.
"Is this a punishment?" Basilio cocked his head to this question.
"On the contrary boy, this is because I want to keep you around. Your perceptive eye should make you a great statesman."
"I am not one for diplomacy." Lon'qu put bluntly.
"Well neither am I, and yet here we both are." Basilio spread his arms wide. "I'll get some paperwork for you to become my assistant officially." Basilio began to hurry of before Lon'qu called after him.
"Basilio."
"What's wrong boy?"
"I am unable to perform this duty for you, as I can't read."
"You can't… read." Basilio sounded back in disbelief.
"It never came up on the street." Lon'qu replied. Basilio considered this issue.
"I don't have time to go over the basics with you… Olivia is home."
"Olivia will not be necessa—"
"GIRL!" He roars in his playful manner.
Olivia had only grown more beautiful with time, and was working proof of Lon'qu's theory that he was more uncomfortable with attractive women than others. Her luxurious pink hair, her… body that he couldn't bring himself to look at. Her favorite outfit did not make matters better either.
Lon'qu looked in every other direction but at her.
"Can you teach Lon'qu how to read?" Basilio asked.
Olivia squeaked.
Lon'qu grunted.
Neither said anything for a moment.
"That's a bad idea." They said in unison.
"Maybe both of you will come out of your shell a little as a result."
Lon'qu and Olivia both could not move their eyes from the ground.
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Their first session neither even looked at each other.
The second they managed occasional glances, but still no words.
The third session, Olivia looked at him determinedly.
"You are going to learn how to read." Olivia said determinedly.
"I am here because I have to be."
"Are you too uncomfortable to better yourself?" Olivia nervously moved her hands next to one another.
"Reading is unnecessary for a weapon."
"What if Basilio writes you orders?" Olivia asks.
"Someone else will read them to me." Lon'qu points out.
"How will you know if they are lying to you or not?" Olivia shoots back quietly.
Lon'qu says nothing, only hrmphing in response.
"You need to be able to read." Olivia maintains. "Remember when I helped you learn how to cut a jar in half?"
"That ended up being an uncomfortable experience for both of us."
"But it was something you had to learn. And I helped you learn it." Olivia pointed out. "This is the same."
"An uncomfortable experience for both of us? I agree."
"Why do you still have this stubborn pride? You won't accept help from a woman?" Olivia was working herself up now, her voice growing louder and louder. Lon'qu felt… at peace for some reason. It was easier to face an angry woman than a caring woman. Less to lose. "Your sexist point of view is only dragging you down! You think that it's going to make me respect you?"
"Sexism? Dragging myself down? Respect? You're one to talk about those things when you dance on the streets for pocket change in that outfit, when you could be performing on any stage in the country."
Lon'qu felt a sting across his face. Olivia looked just as shocked as he did. The demure and timid Olivia had just slapped Lon'qu across the face.
"I— I'm sorry, um…." She dropped the book and ran out of the room.
Lon'qu picked up the book, and for the next hour tried to puzzle his way through what the symbols on the page meant. He had no success— no matter how much he puzzled, the letters kept swimming across his vision, dancing around like the woman who had just slapped him. He growled, slammed the book shut, and left.
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The fourth session, Olivia could barely look at him.
"Um… erm… please forgive me!" She extends her arms outward. Lon'qu places his hand in between her and himself— a barrier.
"If you were trying to touch me, I do not appreciate it. As it is you are far too close woman!"
Olivia took three steps backwards. She sighed.
"Basilio told me… about Ke'ri."
Of all the things Lon'qu was expecting, this was not one of them. He told Basilio of Ke'ri in confidence! He would not stop pestering him about women, and why he would not take one. So he finally caved and told this man whom he owed so much to about the worst day in his life. He received assurances that it would stay between them. The teasing did not stop, but it dulled in intensity.
This development was unacceptable.
If a woman knew his secret, it would lead them to their deaths. Pity leads to familiarity, familiarity to care. Everyone Lon'qu cares about dies in horrible ways. He could not let this woman pity him. She would end up like Ke'ri. Like Sheila.
He was a curse, and Olivia was falling into the trap just the same as everyone else.
"Lon'qu… it wasn't your fault."
"Don't speak as if you know the situation. I promised I would protect her, and I failed because I am too weak. That's all that matters."
"Am? What do you mean am? You're the strongest person I know!" Olivia looked frustrated.
"And yet not strong enough. Now leave me be woman. For your own safety."
"No! I won't let you do this to yourself out of a perverted sense of guilt! You said you weren't prideful. Yet you have pride enough to blame yourself for the horrible actions of others that you have no way to change!" Olivia looked startled again. "Oh… um… I'm sorry…"
"It was my responsibility." Lon'qu stood, and walked out of the door. "Do not speak of things you could not begin to understand, woman."
They didn't begin the process of reading until the fifth session— at an ample distance.
