Disclaimer: I don't own anything!

Author's Note: Heading down to Miami for a few days to pick up some relatives. Can you say, beach?

-/-/-/-

The object of teaching a child is to enable him to get along without his teacher.

~Elbert Hubbard

-/-/-/-

Aurion was a good teacher, Abernac had decided. He explained things thoroughly and didn't mind repeating himself when Abernac had a problem understanding. He didn't get impatient or frustrated the way that the teachers here did when something in Abernac's head didn't seem to want to understand what was in front of him.

"What do I do here?" Abernac had begun the problem and it had been going alright until now.

Aurion studied his handwriting, which was a little less than legible, so Abernac decided to give Aurion a few extra points in the patience department. "Now, you have to distribute the six."

Abernac frowned and started to tentatively work out the problem. When he was finished, or rather, when it looked finished to him, he looked up at Aurion for confirmation. Aurion smiled. "You got it."

"Really?"

"Really."

Abernac grinned. "You're a lifesaver, Aurion."

-/-/-/-

It had been about a month and a half since the tutoring began. Abernac found that he was actually sort of able to keep up with the class. When Abernac went to Aurion's room that Thursday, he was surprised to see a huddle of blankets on the ground.

"Wha-" The blankets shifted and Abernac caught sight of blue hair and pointed ears. "That your slave, Aurion?"

He didn't see the way that Aurion's hands clenched and the flash of temper in his eyes. "…Uh, yeah. He's sick today, so…"

"And you're lettin' him stay in here with you?"

Abernac didn't see the falseness in Aurion's smile. "To be honest, I hardly ever notice he's there."

(After Abernac leaves, Kratos goes to sit beside Yuan, who he knows isn't asleep. "Hey, come on. You need a real bed."

Yuan looks like hell, his eyes bloodshot and tired, his skin sickly pale. "I hafta move?"

"You'll feel better for it, trust me. C'mon." He helps Yuan up and lets him have most of the blankets, even if winter's bite was beginning to make itself known. He runs a hand through Yuan's hair and tells him he's going to go down and see if he could get some soup from the kitchens. Alina might be able to help him in that department.

Kratos does manage to get some soup, but when he comes back, Yuan is asleep for the first time since he got sick, so he sets the soup on the desk before getting under his own blanket, able to feel Yuan's fever-hot skin pressed against his back. He'd get Yuan to eat the soup in the morning, even if it would be cold and slightly congealed at the edges of the bowl.)

-/-/-/-

It was the last day of the weekend before Celsius Week. It was the one week that they had off that they had to stay at the school. Abernac dug through his pockets and counted out the weekly gald that he owed Aurion.

"Fifteen gald." Abernac said, dropping the money into Kratos' hand.

"Thanks, Abernac."

"Hey, Aurion, have a good Celsius Week, in case I don't see you."

Aurion blinked at him like he was surprised. "Um, sure. You too."

Abernac didn't see the half-elf that slid up beside Aurion as soon as he turned his back to walk away, didn't see the familiar whisperings and quicksilver smiles and the concerned hand on the half-elf's forehead that he batted away with gentle irritability.

("So how much you got saved up now?" Yuan asked.

Kratos did the math quickly in his head. "'Bout a hundred and sixty-five."

Yuan whistled low. "What're you gonna do with all that money?"

"You mean we. And I figure that we can go down to the village. There's a bakery there and I think they have cinnamon buns."

Yuan grinned wide. "Sounds good."

"I thought so." Kratos' hand came up to feel Yuan's forehead. He still wasn't convinced that the half-elf was feeling as good as he said he was. "You sure you're feeling okay?"

Yuan batted his hand away. "I'm fine, Kratos, seriously. C'mon, let's go outside. Didn't you hear? It's snowing!")