I think this will be the last to what has turned out to be a three part story. Another plot has been on my mind, festering. What's interesting is it's connected to this story. If you enjoyed this, please look out for it in the near future!
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The resemblance between Riku and Sephiroth is not merely physical. While the professor did look like an older version of Sora's old lover, the connection was more than skin deep. The confident, assertive presence was the same. The smooth charm was also the same.
Sora was attracted to Sephiroth for all these reasons. Most importantly, he was a perfect fit for the place where Riku was torn from Sora's heart.
Naturally, Sora couldn't hide his crush on his professor for long. The way he unceasingly talked about the man let everyone around him know. When teased, he blushed like a schoolgirl. He didn't hook up with other man anymore. The rush of nameless men after Riku had slowed to a trickle and then stopped altogether. Sora had it in his head that he didn't need anyone else. He was fine just looking at Sephiroth. It was all he needed. That was his safety. It was why Sephiroth was different from Riku, and how Sora justified his obsession.
In many respects Sephiroth was peculiar as a professor. He wouldn't allow anyone else to teach his class or take part in any way. He said they all slowed him down, were disorganized, and left things in a state of chaos. Sephiroth's need for perfection was a chaos all in its own.
So, when Sora saw his beloved professor standing uncomfortably in the bakery, he nearly passed out. Roxas was working the same shift and witnessed Sora swoon. The next moment Sora was greeting his professor who immediately recognized him as the boy who was in love with him. Other professors often laughed about it behind his back despite the fear of a stern reprimand by Sephiroth himself. Still, it was nice to see a familiar face in such a bright, sweet smelling place.
As it turned out, Sephiroth needed some pastries for his mother. The reason contrasted so greatly with demeanor that Sora almost laughed out loud. Without missing a beat, Sephiroth raised one eyebrow and proceeded to order a box of sweets.
Although the interaction was brief, Sora couldn't help but think about it all the time. He now knew that out of all the other students, Sephiroth would recognize him. Sora was determined to continue to get closer to his professor. It was as if a new door had been opened; one that Sora wouldn't let close.
The next day Sora had class, he made it a point to smile at Sephiroth as he walked into class. To his disappointment, there was no reaction. This was frustrating for the boy, but only made him more determined. He couldn't focus on any of the information he was supposed to be taking notes on. All he could do was stare intently at the beautiful form and listen to the beautiful voice, even if he wasn't hearing the words.
As Sora walked out of class, that same silky voice called him back in. His heart dropped to his stomach and began to race. Yes? came the unsteady reply. your last test score only confirmed my fears about you class habits. Your notes are always insufficient. While you seem like you're paying attention, the information never sticks. If you don't bring your grade up quickly, you may fail my class. This, of course, was not what Sora wanted to hear. He was wishing for something along the lines of, would you like to join me for lunch? And then an ingenious plan came to Sora. A smile slowly crept onto his face as the words came out. I'm trying very hard, but I don't think I get the material. If I could get some help, I'm sure I could raise my grade… Sora trailed off. Would it work? Now that it was out, it didn't seem like such a good idea.
Sephiroth sat in his desk chair, contemplating. He looked up at Sora, a ghost of a smile on his lips. Do you think tutoring would help?
Once again, Sora almost fainted. A blush rose on his cheeks. He agreed happily. His beloved professor proceeded to take his calendar from a desk and set up a date with Sora. Only it was a study session, not a date.
That evening at work, Sora could not stop babbling about his date with Sephiroth. Roxas, always the reasonable one, pointed out things that Sora was hoping to avoid. That he resembles Riku was on the top of that list. But Sora tried to convince Roxas that Sephiroth was different. Even if that was the original reason for attraction, he realized they were different people. And Sora felt good about that.
Even so, the study session didn't come soon enough. Sora was by nature impatient, and that only drew out his agony. When the day came, he called Roxas over to his apartment for moral support. In other words, to pick out something to wear. Roxas thought Sora was completely over thinking the whole thing. He told Sora that Sephiroth wouldn't think of one of his students in that way. These words did nothing to dampen Sora's spirits.
Sora had agreed to meet his professor in a secluded book store. It was a dim place, lit only by lamps. Book shelves rose to the ceiling. The place smelled of old books and paper. In a back corner, Sephiroth sat reading. Sora made his way over slowly, suddenly nervous about being alone with the person he admired and idolized. When Sephiroth became aware of his presence, he glanced up. The eye contact made a shiver run up Sora's spine.
The usually bubbly, happy Sora was unusually quiet and focused during the entire hour, if not focused on what he should have been. Sephiroth was unsurprisingly distracting. He was hyper sensitive about the close proximity of his professor. He imagined he could feel Sephiroth's warmth. The thought made him blush, and he quickly refocused his attention on the lesson at hand.
It was all over too quickly. In that rare instance of studying, the feeling of regret that washed over Sora when the lesson was over was even more peculiar but for the presence of his professor. Besides that, Sora had actually learned something, and he was happy for it. Exited that maybe, Sephiroth would be happy that he was working to bring his grade up. Sora decided that he could show his professor he cared by working harder.
Out of the dim book store, Sora blinked in the sunlight. He walked to a café near his apartment, ordered a cappuccino and a scone and mused over the previous hour in glee. He went over everything in his mind—the way Sephiroth's velvety voice purred, the way he smelled, the way he would trail his finger over the book as he read. Admittedly, it had been difficult for Sora to stay focused. He was not going to do anything to mess up this opportunity to be close to his professor.
The next week, same place and time. Sora was already floating in the clouds when he got to the book store. He saw a flash of silver hair, and his step quickened. It seemed he got there at the same time his professor did. Sora rounded the bookshelf, expecting to see Sephiroth. Instead, he saw the silver-haired man from his past. He stopped dead in his tracks, heart in his stomach. Riku was standing there with his arm around the man Sora had seen him with before, all those months ago. A turmoil of emotion rose up within him.
Riku looked up, and his face showed surprise much like Sora's had. It soon calmed, smoothed over, and Riku gave a friendly wave and smile. The man he was with looked at Sora and then at Riku questioningly. Sora felt like he was watching from afar when Riku walked up to him and introduced his boyfriend. Like there had never been anything between them. Riku told the man that Sora was an old friend… what a lie. And so blatant. Immediately Sora felt sorry for this man, who had fallen into Riku's trap. He wondered if they had shared similar experiences. But then, Riku's expression was tender when he looked at his boyfriend, like he never had with Sora.
I handled myself well, thought Sora as he walked to the usual corner where Sephiroth was waiting. I was friendly, and polite. I didn't cry… I won't cry. I'm over him completely.
He thought this, even if it wasn't entirely true. His hands were shaking slightly as he greeted Sephiroth and sat down. After the first five minutes of the lesson, Sephiroth stopped mid sentence. You aren't even listening to me, are you? Teary-eyed, Sora looked up at him and apologized, giving a vague excuse. In a rare moment of feeling, Sephiroth's face softened. He put his hand on Sora's head, almost petting him for a moment. Does it have to do with that man you were talking to earlier? Sephiroth asked quietly. For all the comfort he was attempting to provide for Sora, his feelings were shrouded behind his composed features. Sora nodded. Well? Sephiroth gently prompted. It was all Sora needed to spill his heart out, in fragments, to his professor.
In the end, Sephiroth didn't really understand what Sora had gone through, or what had caused this emotional overflow. But he knew Sora needed him there. He found himself wanting to support the boy through this trauma, even if it would be wise to avoid getting involved. But his usual self-control slipped, and he stayed there for Sora with fond feelings in his heart.
Maybe Sora unconsciously sensed that. Maybe he could feel a real connection with his beloved professor. Just maybe, those feelings would help him on his way to recovery.
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Thank you for reading. I hope you enjoyed it! Please review it keeps me going when the words don't seem to want to be written.