Author's Note: I won't update again until Saturday, probably. Sorry about that, the marking period is ending at my school and I've got a ton of work to do. But anyway, enjoy!

"I am very disappointed in you," Magnate Leto said.

Biana was sitting in his office, Tam beside her. Lucin was down in the Healing Center. There was still blood on her lip, and her knuckles were bleeding, but it felt good. Magnate Leto had given them each a glass of Youth. She wasn't sure why.

He sighed. "I'm not sure what happened, but assaulting another student is not permitted on school grounds."

"It was self-defense," Biana shrugged.

Tam choked on his drink.

Magnate Leto raised an eyebrow. "I'd say your fellow prodigy is a lot worse off than you, with the time he'll have to spend in the Healing Center. And two versus one is hardly a fair fight."

Biana grinned. "That was all me. I'm glad to know he'll be spending time in the Healing Center, though."

Tam smirked. "Yeah. I almost feel bad for Elwin."

Magnate Leto couldn't resist a smile. "You kids, always landing yourself in trouble. I'll decide on a punishment later. For now, go let Elwin fix you up."

They left, walking down the now-empty hallways. Everyone was in a session.

Tam's hand brushed hers, but he pulled away quickly. Biana looked at him out of the corner of her eye.

He liked her. She knew that much. She'd known for a while now, really. And she liked him, too. She hadn't realized it until yesterday. But. . . she wasn't sure what to say. He was normally so standoffish with the others, and yet with her, he was kind and caring. And very prone to embarrassment.

Biana wasn't sure she was ready for an official relationship. She hadn't had any real feelings for Lucin, and she had always known that was never going to last. She hadn't imagined it would end the way it did, but it was still temporary.

She wanted to be with Tam, but she didn't want anything official yet. She wanted them to just be friends, but a little more. No need to broadcast it for the whole world.

Biana hated that you couldn't choose who you liked. Having feelings for someone gives them a certain amount of control over your thoughts, your emotions. Your actions. That's scary enough on its own. But admitting that you like them? That's basically telling them that they have the power to manipulate you.

She was sure that some people would use that to their advantage, but Tam seemed. . . different. Just like her, he was a bit broken. A bit damaged. And, despite her general mistrust of people, she trusted him.

Tam opened the Healing Canter door for her, startling her out of her thoughts. Elwin waved, and motioned for Biana to sit down on one of the cots. Tam didn't have any injuries, he was just there as her escort.

Elwin was busy treating Lucin, on the other side of the room, who was still sniffling.

"Come here," Biana told Tam, patting the cot.

He sat next to her, and their knees accidentally touched. He blinked, the only sign of his surprise, and pulled away slightly.

"Sorry."

"Tam," Biana whispered, keeping her voice low so Elwin and Lucin wouldn't hear them.

"Yeah?"

Biana scooted closer and grabbed his hand. "I want you to know that I am damaged. I am damaged and healing, and I don't think I'm ready for an official relationship right now."

He looked startled, and slightly confused.

"But. When this whole mess is over, if you still care about me. . . then we can maybe try it out. Because I've discovered that I really, really like you."

He smiled at her, half wincing. "How long have you known?"

"A while. You weren't exactly subtle," she replied with a smirk.

Tam nodded. "I guess not. I just want you to know that I am willing to wait for as long as you need."

Biana blushed. And it was those very words that made her lean in close to him, glancing from his eyes to his lips and back again. Giving him the option, to accept her offer or deny it.

"Nothing official," Tam clarified.

She nodded. "Not yet."

And when he leaned in and pressed his lips against hers, she could barely restrain her smile enough to kiss him back.

So she wrapped her arms around his neck, tugging him closer. And she didn't object when he pulled the curtain to section off their cot from the rest of the Healing Center, and didn't object when he trailed his fingers through her hair and kept kissing her.

Because she was broken, and so was he. They were damaged, but they were healing. And that was all that mattered.