"Uh, Jude? Don't look now, but there's a shady looking guy who's been tailing you since we left physics…"

Jude sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. Dennis wasn't wrong; Alvin did look shady, and he was tailing him, but he was also being paid to do so. No matter how much he protested, Alvin had insisted on coming to school with him, even if it was horridly embarrassing to have a grown man following him around all day.

"Yeah, that's just Alvin. My boss hired him to be my bodyguard." Even just saying it was taking some getting used to. It had only been a few days since Alvin had come to stay with him, and so far it had been just as awkward as the first. Jude had lived alone for years, staying in dorms and student housing since he left home at the tender age of ten. Having someone suddenly in his private space at all hours only served to make him feel anxious in his own home. He knew Alvin was only there to keep him safe, but Jude was beginning to wonder if that was worth his mental discomfort.

"Oh, right…" Dennis, ever the observant one, finally realized just what happened to merit his classmate having a bodyguard. He shuffled awkwardly closer, extending a cautious hand to Jude's shoulder, "Hey, are you doing okay? It's only been a few days… I'd take a vacation"

"I'm fine," Jude insisted. "I'm just focusing on my research for now."

Four days in and he was already sick of people asking if he was okay. He wasn't, and that was to be expected, yet he was doing his best not to focus on it. Jude didn't want everyone to pity him for the loss of his mentor, or for witnessing such a heinous crime. He just wanted to move on, to continue his studies and not think about how he saw one of the most influential men in his life murdered in cold blood.

But everyone around him continued to bring it up.

Dennis was less than convinced, but let it drop either way. "Well, all right… But if you need someone to talk to, you have my number."

"Right… Thanks, Dennis."

The older student made a show of checking his watch before waving at his classmate. "I have to head to Anatomy. I'll see you later, Jude. Nice meeting you, Alvin!"

Alvin gave a sort of half wave with a smile, "Take it easy, Dennis."

Dennis disappeared down the hall and once again Jude sighed in defeat. He turned to face his bodyguard, brow furrowed, "Look, don't take this the wrong way, but can't you make yourself less conspicuous?"

Alvin shook his head, crossing his arms across his chest, "No can do, kid. The purpose of a bodyguard is to, you know, stand guard. It's supposed to make people think twice before messing with you."

Jude quirked a brow, "I'm at school. No one is going to mess with me." Well, at least not in the sense that Alvin was likely thinking. Being one of a handful of Rieze Maxian students on campus didn't award him the luxury of popularity. In fact, he had already been a forced participant in his fair share of fist-fights. It wasn't like he wanted to get into a brawl, but when it was three-on-one and the teachers had decided to look the other way, he wasn't going to go down without throwing a few punches.

Thankfully, much of his childhood had been spent sparring with Leia and learning martial arts from her mother. Although, knowing Sonia, she would have beaten his rear with a broom handle if she knew he instigated a fight. That was just her way.

"How can you be so sure?" Alvin slung an arm around his shoulder, a playful grin upon his face, "For all you know, an assassin could be masquerading as one of your classmates!"

Jude's eyes grew wide; he hadn't considered that a possibility. Was Exodus really the type to recruit teenagers into their ranks? If the only requirement was want for coin and a disdain for any race other than their own, then there were plenty of potential candidates. The thought alone was enough to send a shiver down his spine. "You don't think they'd actually do that, do you?"

Alvin gave his shoulders a squeeze. "Who knows?" He was teasing, Jude knew, but that didn't settle the sudden sinking feeling he felt in his stomach. "But don't worry, you won't die on my watch. I'm a professional."

"Oh?" That's right, Bakur said he trusted this guy... "So you've been a bodyguard for a while?"

"Yeah, I've had a few steady clients."

"How did it go? Any references you could share?"

Alvin went quiet, taking a sudden interest in the school's choice of billboard décor.

Not exactly the reaction Jude was looking for, "No references?"

Alvin shook his head, throwing up his hands in defeat, "Hey, I'm not responsible for what happens after my assignment is done."

The answer only served to make Jude even more nervous than before. He knew Alvin was a guard for hire, but he hadn't considered what would happen to him if Bakur suddenly stopped paying him, or decided Jude wasn't worth protecting. It was disconcerting to know that his life was only worth as much as his weight in gald to Alvin, and probably only worth his research abilities to Bakur. It was all about what he could do for them, and not much else.

Self-worth sufficiently in the toilet, Jude shook off whatever nervousness he felt and faced Alvin properly. "Anyway, I have chem lab next. It's dangerous for outsiders, so I'll need you to wait outside."

"After all that, you still want me to stay away?" Alvin seemed honestly shocked. Jude could understand why; most people wouldn't dream of telling their bodyguards to wait outside if they knew they were being targeted. To anyone else, he must have looked like he was incredibly brave, or had a deathwish.

Jude shook his head, offering a nervous smile to his bodyguard, "It's fine. Honestly, I know everyone in that class. They're all nice enough. I'll be out by three."

In the end, it wasn't courage or a death wish; it was just Jude being far too trusting of the people he thought he knew. A rookie mistake, but he wasn't going to let Alvin convince him otherwise either.

Alvin shook his head with a heavy sigh. "Fair enough, but disclaimer, not responsible and all that."

From Alvin's pocket came a jaunty tune, one Jude recognized as the default ringer for the latest GHS model. The device was pulled from his pocket and Alvin frowned as soon as he looked at the display.

"I have to take this. Wait at your classroom when you're done and don't wander off." And with that, he was gone, leaving Jude alone in the rapidly clearing hallway.

He lectures me, then he up and leaves anyway. For all the questions Alvin had asked of Jude since coming to stay with him, he still hadn't talked much about himself. So far all Jude had gathered was that he was your typical mercenary, that he was a born and raised Elympion, and that he had an inordinate amount of scarves that took up one full drawer of the already overstuffed dresser that Alvin insisted on cramming into the corner of Jude's bedroom. In fact, his fashion sense was about the most detailed thing Jude knew of Alvin. The rest was a mystery… And something told him Alvin wasn't the type to openly talk about himself, either.

Nothing for it, Jude decided, and headed to his next class.

The chemistry teacher wasn't particularly fond of Jude. It wasn't because he was a poor student; on the contrary, of all his pupils Jude put in the most effort in learning the course material. It was more that Jude had a knack for asking questions; too many, in fact. Chemistry courses in Rieze Maxia were primarily about compounding herbs and minerals to make various medicines and healing salves. When he started courses in Elympios, he was bombarded with complex elements and reactions that were completely foreign to him. Jude often compared the lab setups to the traditional alchemist rigs he had fiddled with back in Fennmont, except these were far more complex and had many more parts that could be damaged if not handled carefully.

Thankfully, his lab partners were more concerned about their own grade than his participation, so they usually took to setting up the experiments on their own while Jude documented the process.

He listened as the lecture covered various solvents and their reactions, scribbling fervently into his notebook and copying diagrams onto the edges. They were to perform a simple experiment as an example of the course material they had studied earlier in the day.

Before he began handing out materials, the teacher took the time to go over safety and emergency procedures. "There's always at least one." He said, pointing to the lab safety poster on the white board.

But as Jude's team donned their smocks and began setting up the experiment, he was having a hard time keeping focused.

For all you know, an assassin could be masquerading as one of your classmates!

Alvin's words echoed in the back of his mind. It seemed farfetched for Exodus to go so far for a student, but the more he thought about it, the more nervous he became. Jude started to look over his classmates, trying to discern any differences in their stance, their attire, anything that felt off. Shanna was wearing her hair differently, Mikael didn't have his usual wristband, Toby kept sloshing the florescent liquid in the tube with an amount of fascination no man should have for a chemical…

No, this is stupid. Jude shook his head, choosing to scrutinize his notes instead of his classmates. I'm being paranoid… There's no reason for me to act like this. Nothing is happening.

"Jude, you in there?" Mikael was looking at him, brow quirked, test tubes held aloft in both hands.

"Oh, sorry, what did you say?"

"I asked how much of each…"

Jude hastily went through his notes, finding the quantities specified and reciting them out loud. The group continued their work, side-eyeing Jude from time to time. "You know Jude, chem lab isn't the best place to space off. Maybe you should sit this one out?"

Mikael had a point, and as much as it pained him to admit, he wasn't in the best state of mind to be messing with dangerous chemicals.

"Right, sorry…" He set his notebook next to the rig and gave an awkward bow before heading to the back of the class. He pulled his textbook from his bag and propped himself next to the window, figuring going over the lab outline was about as close as he was getting to conducting the experiment himself.

Maybe it is too soon to go back to class… Jude sighed, flipping through the book in hopes of a distraction.

"What the hell are you doing?"

"Put that thing down!"

There was a loud pop, like a firecracker being set off, sparks flying from one of the front lab tables. Several curses were hurled as one of the lab beakers started billowing a thick, black smoke into the air, more sparks and material shooting out of it.

The fire alarm sounded and the class erupted into a panic. "Everyone out!" the teacher shouted before he bailed with little regard for the safety of his pupils. It was like a stampede after, hundreds of students fleeing into the halls to escape the smoke and presumable fire that had occurred in the lab. More popping, more screams, everyone panicking and running into the halls.

Except for Jude.

Students and teachers pushed against the exit doors, trying to escape all at once, stepping over each other in sheer terror as the room filled with smoke. Shouting, pleas for escape, the telltale pop-pop-pop of explosions from Maxwell knew what. And all the while Jude stood still, frozen in place while chaos whirled around him.

The acrid smoke that burned his eyes and nose, the sounds of explosions and screaming… the broken glass, the polished wood floors, the curtains behind him, and the blood on his hands. Suddenly Jude wasn't in chem lab anymore, he was back at the event hall with a broken body in front of him and there was blood, so much blood and they were shooting at him.

He couldn't see straight, he couldn't catch his breath. There were alarm bells all around him and within his head but he couldn't will his body to respond. Jude felt like he was going to die and he couldn't even find the strength to cry out. They were coming for him, they were going to kill him.

Arms wrapped around his waist and he lashed out, finally finding his voice as he started yelling. Jude tried to twist around and strike his adversary, but his eyes wouldn't focus, he couldn't concentrate. He couldn't even hear his own voice properly as he struggled, everything sounded so distant, as if he wasn't really there at all and this was all a nightmare conjured by too little sleep and too much stress.

Hands gripped his wrists almost painfully, forcing them to his sides and Jude wished he could think clear enough to remember any of the self-defense moves that Sonia had taught him when he was younger. His throat burned from the smoke, the effort of screaming. Even breathing hurt and he was quickly losing the battle between himself and his unknown assailant.

"Jude, get ahold of yourself!"

It was the first clear sentence he could comprehend and his struggling ceased. Jude registered rather belatedly that he was being lifted off the floor and into someone's arms. Alvin's arms. Alvin, who looked just as frightened as Jude. He ran to the nearest window and tore it open, pausing long enough for Jude to get a look at the crowd gathering in the courtyard below, the long drop below.

Jude could only hold on as Alvin jumped from the second floor down to the ground below, landing gracefully with Jude firmly in his arms.

It was then that Jude realized he was definitely not okay, and that Alvin knew it too.

When Jude came to, he was in a makeshift medical tent being looked over by emergency personnel for any signs of poisoning. They asked him questions, poked and prodded his eyes and tongue, checked for any signs of inflammation or burns. He had been in the lab quite a bit longer than his classmates, inhaling what he was informed was toxic smoke created by an improper mixture of leftover chemicals. By the end of it, he had been cleared to leave and told to go to the hospital if he started to feel ill.

He only realized once they were off campus that he hadn't spoken a word; that Alvin had been the one answering the paramedics and asking all the follow up questions.

Back at the apartment, he sat upon his bed with his knees to his chest, a blanket draped around his shoulders. From the kitchen he could hear the sound of clattering pans and running water, Alvin having said something about making them some grub while he rested.

Alvin… After all the grief I gave him, he still ran in to save me…

It should have come as no surprise, Jude realized. Alvin was hired to protect him, and had run in to rescue him from a dangerous situation, just as a bodyguard should.

It wasn't an assassin or an Exodus agent, it was just some dumb kid messing with the wrong chemicals. Yet Jude had been overtaken by a fear he couldn't describe, completely unable to move.

He had read this in a book before; when people experienced something traumatizing, similar noises or smells could cause mental distress. It felt so much more complex than that, but giving it a name somehow made him feel better about his actions, as if a title could justify being so terrified that he couldn't escape a fire.

That didn't do much for his current state, however.

There was a soft knock, the door to his room sliding open to reveal Alvin with a tray of food. "I made soup." He announced, "Or at least tried. Half your pantry is expired."

Jude said nothing as Alvin set the tray on the nightstand, taking a seat next to him on the bed. "Well the good news is, classes are canceled for the rest of the week. Guess you're getting that vacation after all."

Jude could only nod, staring at the book-covered floor in front of him.

"…You okay, kid?"

He wasn't, they both knew this, but something told him that Alvin wanted to hear it voiced.

"I… I thought they came for me…" He muttered, voice still hoarse from the smoke, "When it happened… I thought I was done for… And I was so scared that I couldn't move…" He was shaking again, his eyes burning not from smoke but from tears he was so desperately trying not to shed. Not in front of Alvin, anyone but Alvin…

He regretted it. Jude regretted telling Alvin to leave him be, for giving him such a hard time. He was there to keep him safe, right? Maybe not from Exodus, but from the terrors conjured in his own head.

"I just… I felt like I was there again… I could hear the gunshots, I could feel Dr. Haus's blood on my skin and I just…"

Alvin wrapped an arm around his shoulder and for a split second Jude was frozen up again, terrified. But Alvin's embrace was warm, gentle, and the panic slowly eased from his mind. Finally he lifted his head to meet his bodyguard's gaze, noting the bruise on his cheek from where he had been struck during Jude's episode.

"Look, Jude… You don't need to put on a strong face. Literally no one expects that of you except you, and… bottling this kind of thing up isn't healthy." Alvin shook his head, his free hand coming up to run through his slickened locks. With a sigh he tugged Jude just a bit closer, holding him a little tighter. "I guess what I'm trying to say is… If you need to cry, go ahead and cry. I won't tell anyone. Promise."

"Alvin…" Those words, the warm embrace, they alone let the floodgates open. Jude buried his face in his knees and let out a shaking sob, wishing he could go back in time so that none of this had ever happened.

It was impossible, but at least Alvin was there to assure him he was safe.