Eifion is going over his rooster when one of the Nen teachers approaches him for a strange addition to the current roster.

A\N: I know it's a little on the short side… but starting from now, begins the Education Arc, with hints of the School Drama Arc being littered into the mix. Although, I've already dropped a hint recently :P

Fumbling around would describe Eifion's current issue. He was flipping through his papers, trying to find the teacher rooster he'd been working on for the majority of his day. He couldn't have misplaced it. He's usually on top of these things, leaving in the exact-same spot he always last left it… on his desk.

He was thankful there wasn't anything incriminating on the document, but that doesn't change the fact that he still needs to tweak it a little, before sending it off as a notification to the other teacher's roles and positions.

The administration needed it so they can complete the main time slots the teachers will be working.

He should've listened to the teachers more often, to pass off his workload to others that were willing to help. But in this case, he much rather prefers to do the job himself, as the new additions are the things his only aware of.

Opening a random draw for the fourth time, a knock brought him out of current stress. He closed the drawer, heading over to the door to open it up, "Oh Luca, ah yes… sorry… is this about the roster? I seem to have miss-"

Luca held out the form with a childish smile, "Say no more! You left it in the staff room… next to your untouched sandwich…" the man revealed the sandwich next, his smile widening once he saw Eifion's relief "which I've also brought. You need a long-overdue vacation…"

Eifion sighed in relief as he grabbed both items, "Thank you… and sorry for stressing out the other staff members."

"It's no problem for me… in fact, we're all mainly worried about you. You should delegate your tasks more often, give yourself a bit of breathing room."

"If only…" Eifion snickered as he brought the document and sandwich back to his desk. Sitting down with a sigh, he rubbed his forehead… hoping to rid himself of his current stresses.

"You're in desperate need of a cuddle buddy."

Eifion sat upright, "That is hardly the comment you should be making with your Deacon."

"Well, all your staff members are thinking it…" Luca placed his hands on the Deacon's table, leaning forward with a smile, "but they don't want to say it… But unlike them, I know you better than you do. You need to take a break, relax and cuddle with someone."

Eifion tilted his head slightly, peeking through the top of his glasses, "Why, are you offering?"

"Depends… are you accepting?"

Eifion tilted his head back, "I'll think about it."

Luca made a small fist pump. He had won his Deacon over, even if it was a little "Oh, there was one more thing." He placed his finger on the page, pointing out the two new names on the roster, "I can't help but notice you put Vastorie's kid and Kyle on the teacher's roster. I'm deeply concerned for you… There's no way this was a mistake. However, if you did intend them to be Nen teachers here… I want to know why you did that." he placed his hand on the Deacon's shoulder, comforting the man who looked visibly stressed, but not saying anything at all on the matter "Is it related to your current stress…?"

Eifion sighed once more, just why on earth did he have to hire his childhood friend, Luca Rathenau as a fellow teacher. He was great at his job, but damn good at reading him too…

Sure, most people would consider Luca attractive, including himself, but to Eifion, relationships have never been a major goal of his. He wasn't looking for a "no strings attached" kind of relationship, he just never felt that belonging… that need to be with someone like he has seen in others…

He hasn't found anyone he wanted to be with physically; not that running this school gave him any time to date. Rather than letting his mind linger to his best friend, the man's hand resting on his shoulder, he brought his gaze back to the document "No."

"You're lying…"

Eifion wiggled his finger at his best friend, "Uh-uh, I'm stressed because I haven't slept that well for the last few days."

Luca raised an eyebrow, "What you mean haven't slept that well? I trust you with your decision-making skills… you haven't screwed over the school."

"Yet…"

"You're allowed to make mistakes. I want you to trust me with this information… Please, tell me… what's causing your stress?"

"So, as you've probably guessed… Kyle and Audrey are under an alias."

"Considering Daniel was too, it'll make sense."

"Well… Kyle is actually, Killua… Audrey is Alluka and… they're both Zoldycks."

Luca slapped the man on the back, hollering in laughter. He never expected his friend to make a dark joke. He was the type to make bad dad puns "That's a pretty funny… having public profile assassins in this school." When Eifion didn't laugh, Luca's tune changed. His eyes narrowed, "ARE YOU SERIOUS…?" When Eifion hushed him, begging him to keep his voice down, the man let out an audible sigh in response.

The Deacon was right, he should keep his voice down, including this kind of information "You brought assassins into the school. What were you thinking? You seriously need to take some time off, rest and sleep."

"Did you not watch them dance…?"

"I did, but it doesn't change their heritage suddenly. Zoldycks… in this school. Listen, I know you think you made the right choice. But think about every teacher here… hiding that information from them. They'll panic if it comes out that you're harbouring a few members of a notorious family of assassins."

"Which is why I've only told you… because I trust you."

"But…" Luca groaned in frustration. Sure, it took Eifion a while to tell him this. Actually… had he not probed Eifion for this information, the man probably would've never said anything. He loves to carry every burden on himself.

But all of this doesn't change the fact Eifion made this decision. He has made it for a reason… so he should humour his friend, at least in this instance. The man took a deep breath before speaking, "Alright… let's say you made the right choice… Is Killua the one causing you stress?"

Eifion shook his head.

"Alluka…? Daniel…?" The Deacon shook his head at each of his questions, which could mean something else… someone outside of those three, was involved in his friend's stress, "Outside interfere?"

"Yes…"

"After Alluka? Killua…?" Eifion shook his head at both names, which left Luca only one more name to guess "then Daniel…?"

"Yes…"

The man was scratching his hair furiously. Eifion shouldn't have kept this for so long. He should've said something long before it reached this level of dangerousness. He knows the Deacon wouldn't bet the student's lives on a hunch. He, after all, is the sole protector of this school… no harm can come to the students while they're on these grounds.

"Alright, you and I need to talk about this. Staffroom, at night. Eight O'clock on the dot." Eifion was about to interject, but Luca stopped him with a simple wave, "No complaints. We'll talk about it over some dinner… my treat."

"You don't have to…"

"Vent to me, please… don't hold it all in, only to combust at a more dangerous time. You aren't like Vastorie… stone-faced, cold, calculating and micromanaging everything… you need to relax, take a deep breath… and not hold everything in."

"Alright…" Eifion pouted, he didn't like that being pointed out, told that he can never be as good as the best "eight on the dot?"

"Don't forget!" Luca added with a smile and a wink.

The teacher left in a hurry, leaving Eifion to raise an eyebrow as the man left. He shook his head at the thought, eyes being directed at the document. Then he saw something peeking from below the page.

Flipping the form, he noticed the sticky note with the words "Eight on the dot, staff room," slapped onto the back of the form. He broke out in laughter, smiling at the note before slapping it onto the edge of his computer screen "Thinking ahead like always…"

Pulling up the document on the screen, he made the final adjustments before signing off on it. Sending it off to the other teachers. They needed to know the changes; a new year of school will be starting soon.

Not only did he need to make sure to include the two new Nen teachers being added to the rooster, which hopefully, but the other Nen teachers had to be receptive to the idea…

But all of that wouldn't have been the biggest issue… it was what he was about to change, that will ultimately affect the students for the next few years.

Provided, he could pull this off without a hitch…

Then again, he's going to be giving the administrators a bigger task to fulfil.

Considering the number of students coming back or starting fresh next year, he could house them all. He could also remove the room costs, without going into debt.

With the returning students, he'll have to sweeten the deal. For as long as they've studied here, he'll remove their last few payments. Those who've finished their studies, he can't do anything about it. But the returning students and the new ones… he could not only remove their payments but put it towards one or multiple of their courses…

The only people that wouldn't be affected by the changes, would be Kiel, Clarisa, Madelyn, Daniel, Killua and Alluka.

They had no room cost, to begin with… that was the rule Vastorie and himself, put in place. It was something he was willing to accept so readily.

"~"

Eifion visibly relaxed in his seat after the dinner, smiling and laughing as Luca and himself made small talk. It's been so long since he had just a normal interaction with another, at least, other than a conversation about work and what needs to be done.

But as the conversation started to die down, he saw the seriousness in the man's expression. He wasn't about to let the old topic go, "So tell me about your decision for doing so."

"I made a deal with Daniel and Kyle," the man stated, considering another teacher was hiding out in the other corner, signing off on tests results he was still finalising, he couldn't drop Killua's name "They'll get free access to the Nen training field, but they have to take on students as a requirement."

"How many?"

"I'm thinking of five…"

"That's a lot. How many will we have next year?"

"Twenty-five so far. Twenty-two is re-enrolling students and we have three new ones."

"Who's taking the three new students?"

"I'm passing them off to Alex, Christine and Geoffrey."

"Whose Daniel and Killua going to get?"

"They'll be joint teachers. It'll provide for… an interesting outcome of sorts." He flashed a smirk at his friend. With all things to consider, he's planning on giving the boys two of the most difficult students "I'm thinking of giving them Isaac, Sandra, Matthew, Kevin… and Madelyn Khoury." Isaac, the slowest learner and Madelyn, the fussiest student…

"You can't be serious. Give Madelyn to somebody else."

"There is NOBODY else…" Eifion groaned in frustration. Madelyn has refused every Nen teacher, refused to be taught by anyone, other than Vastorie. She has seen what the man has been capable of, so, she assumed none of the teachers will ever come close to that man "Every teacher I've handed her off too, she complains, acting in a petulant manner until the teacher gives up on her. She refused to learn from all of them…"

"Then, I'll teach her… I know Nen isn't my forte, but I can deal with stubbornness. I can get her on track to learning…"

"Daniel and Kyle have already gotten under her skin…" The man offered a smile to his friend. While the man was willing to take the dramatic student off his hands. It's not that he doesn't have faith in Luca, it's that results have already been produced by Daniel and Killua.

She's been crumbling as the days go by. Madelyn will break. This was provided, that the two boys can prove themselves to her… that they are more capable than Vastorie, to teach her. Eifion smiled at the fact, that this could be possible… that Madelyn will relent to the fact she can't have Vastorie teacher her "She wants only Vastorie… But I believe they can break her…"

"Hopefully, in a good way…" Luca looked his friend up and down, the smile suited his friend. It's the first time he has never seen his friend at peace, at least, with a decision that was no longer in his hands. But Luca needed to know just how at peace his friend was "What if she still refuses to learn from them?"

"Then she won't learn Nen… end of discussion. It's either them… or nobody. I can't just give in to her demand and hire Vastorie. He has a lot on his plate right now… he won't be coming here just to teach a single student. I'm not gonna force him to do that…"

"But you're going to delegate the man's problems onto his son and his partner… just because he got underneath the girl's skin. That's… brutal."

"What would you do in this situation…?"

Luca sighed in defeat. Given the facts, he'd probably do the same. His friend trusts Vastorie, and by extension… the rules would also apply to Vastorie's son… and the son's partner.

Considering the man hadn't objected to the decisions Daniel has made so far, by coming here with not only a tamed Zoldyck as his partner, but the boy's father must also trust his son to make the right decision. Judging by Eifion's sincere smile, he also trusts the boy "The same as you… probably. As I said, you're a good judge of character."

When the third man grading his papers left, he bid the Deacon and Luca goodnight. Once the teacher was gone, Luca switched names, "What about Killua? What possessed you to take him and his sister on?"

"It's a gut feeling… you saw how they danced. They have faith in one another."

Luca needed more information than that. He saw the kids dance, but other than that interaction, he knows next to nothing, other than Daniel being the legitimate child of Vastorie and Killua, as well as Alluka, being the offspring of the infamous Zoldyck family. He needed to know what Eifion knew about them, and why he was so willing to put other students in their hands "Couldn't Killua be hiding his past from Daniel?"

"Oh no… Daniel has known about it for a while. He… deeply cares about Killua. He loves the boy a lot for someone his age…"

The man raised an eyebrow, "Stockholm Syndrome?"

"Nope, they care about each other… Daniel loves Killua… a lot." Eifion flicked his eyes towards his friend, "just as much as someone else we know…"

Luca smiled at his friend, showing off his cheeky nature to his friend "Uh-oh… the jig is up. I've been found out." When Eifion chuckle, Luca continued "Then, this other person involved… Do you think it's Killua's other family members hunting Daniel down? Do you think they want to separate them?"

Eifion shook his head, "It's somebody else. A troublesome person… he uses Nen, specifically to erase memories of you ever meeting him."

"And you know this because…?" Luca let the words linger, watching his friend's eyes flicker at his question. Did he need to think about it, or was he thinking about hiding the truth? He highly doubts the man was about to lie… but that didn't stop Eifion from thinking about it.

"Daniel and Killua had to remind me. He has already been to this school." Digging his nails into his palm, Eifion clenched his fist. He might as well tell his friend what he believed about the situation "I wouldn't be surprised if he threatened me already."

"You should've said something sooner… to all of us."

"Only you would understand me though…" The Deacon's eyes met his friend's "Even though, you've questioned my actions me so many times just now."

"All I want is the facts… As I said, I trust you. I trust you more than anyone else… I've respected you ever since we were kids. I'll continue to respect you, even now."

"Thank you…"

Luca didn't let go of the man's hand, eyes lingering on his soft smile, the way he was looking at him. It was killing him to know, that he'd never have the Deacon's gaze. The gaze that he wants most of all, "I appreciate you telling me the truth. However, I know there's another thing troubling you. It's about the student reports we had throughout the year… Isn't it…?"

"It's an issue, but I can't do anything without any information. They don't know who helped them back to their room… and they remained untouched, at least from our school nurse's point of view. If they have been harmed, we have no way of actually tracing it back to whoever is doing it… because there's nothing to trace."

"Do you think they're being harmed?"

"I hope not. I hope they've come to no harm…"

"And if they have…?" Luca frowned from Eifion's reaction to the question. The Deacon looked angry, more so with himself than with Luca for asking the question. He hopes his friend isn't thinking of saying, what he thinks he's about to say.

"Then I would step down… I don't deserve this role."

"Who would take over, hmm?" Eifion looked up, surprised with the words, but his friend was far from done. He was about to rip into him, and there was nothing he could say to stop the man "Listen here! It might be a mistake-"

Luca could see Eifion was about to object, but he was far from done, "a huge one at that. But even so, there's no one on this planet, that can do what you do day in and day out. You've clocked way more hours than all of us combined. You were there for all of us, while we were barely there for you… You've struggled so much in the background, that…"

Luca touched the Deacon's hand. With all things to be considered, he deeply cares about the man… about his childhood friend who put himself in this position. No one should be forced to carry this burden alone… no one "We… No…" the man shook his head "I want you to be more open with us… at least, with me, if you can. We can't tell when you're struggling to maintain everything…"

Getting up from his seat, he let go of the man's hand, instead of walking around the table.

He stood in front of the Deacon, leaning forward as he spoke, "You need someone by your side… to help you relax when you need it…"

"I… don't understand…"

Luca kissed Eifion on the lips, "Do you understand now?"

"No…" Eifion looked down at the floor, "I understand you're attractive, but I can't give you what you want… you know that… yet, you still pursued me, all these years. Why…?"

"Why…? Cause I like you… I always have… and always will."

Eifion sighed in defeat, "Try to keep our relationship professional… We may be close friends, but… I understand you like me, just not why…"

"Do I have to list your traits again?"

"Please, don't…"

Luca rolled his eyes, "Remember, I'm just a call away from a hug when you need it."

"Sure…"

The man pulled back, offering a smile as made a calling gesture, "Call me…"

Eifion could only shake his head. He has known for a while Luca has liked him, just not why… He can see why others love each other, just not why anyone would love him in that way when he specifically cannot return those feelings.

He doesn't feel that passionate desire.

Tapping the table three times with his knuckles, he stood up, getting ready to head back to his office.

That was until he got a ping on his phone. He pulled out the phone, only to see a message from the man he just talked to.

If you're thinking of going back to your office to work, please don't. Come back to my place. Before you think I have ulterior ideas, it'll be only hugs and sleeping…

Not the wham, bam, thank you, sir kind of sleeping…

I promise, that I'll help you sleep tonight. Again, my treat…

- Luca Rathenau 21:54

Eifion shook his head as he broke out into a smile. He couldn't believe how predictable he was to Luca, but he'd gladly take him up on that deal. Provided that it's never more… he'd be able to meet the man's requests.

He doesn't believe for a second… He'll ever be able to make Luca as happy, as he can make him.