It occurs to me now that I have almost no chapters with Mr. Keating in them. This is probably the only time you'll see him in this whole thing, so appreciate him while you have the chance! Also- is it super distracting that I obviously don't have a beta? I've been thinking about finding one. It's a little late in the game for finding one since by the time s/he actually starts helping it'll be about halfway done, but if it's unbearable without one I'd like to look into that.

~Kachow~

"So I have this friend-"

"Come now, Neil, you're a man. You can admit your problems without the use of a 'friend'."

Keating and Neil were sitting in the professor's quarters, surrounded by books stacked in disorderly piles. The dim lighting gave it a cozy, inviting feel. Neil needed a second opinion on his current situation, and who better than a man that went through similar problems himself? As awkward as it was to talk like this to a teacher, something had to be done. With a feeling of reckless abandon, he asked, "When did you know you were gay?"

Keating, who had been leaning forward and resting his elbows on his knees leaned back and pinched the bridge of his nose with his thumb and forefinger. "Oh, so it's one of those problems." A curt nod met this. Keating matched him in solemnity, but added a touch of comfort. "I'd have to say the moment I knew I was gay was when I heard a member of the DPS- Matthew Sental- read an original poem. I never would have been able to fathom this boy capable of such deep thought had I not heard it with my own ears; he was built similar to Mr. Pitts, you see."

"What happened?" Neil asked, eyes bright with expectant hope.

"Nothing. I had not grown to full potential until my late thirties, and I had no one to turn to. I jeered at homosexual jokes along with the others while secretly daring to yearn for love from another man."

Expecting an affirmative, Neil asked, "Do you regret it?"

"Hard to say. Life is much harder this way, and tenfold more difficult as a teenager still new to life. Are you sure the way you feel is more than a passing fancy?"

Neil let the thought steep for a moment. "I'm pretty sure. I can't shake the feeling, and girls have never really attracted me the way they should."

"Never say 'should' in that way, Mr. Perry. The way you feel isn't wrong- at least I my books. Love is love. When did you know?"

"When Todd told me that hatred was unbecoming on me," he answered honestly.

Keating raised his eyebrows, whistling low and soft. "Mr. Anderson? That's rather unfortunate for you as he is your roommate."

"Yeah," he said in reflex, then looked down at his clasped hands as he admitted, "He found out since he's so perceptive. He let me down lightly… I don't think he takes me seriously at- at all." His eyes recaptured Keating's as he hiccoughed slightly in his words, smiling as though he could trick his teacher into thinking everything was fine.

Creased eyebrows in mild disbelief were seen. "That doesn't sound like the shy, serious boy I know. Perhaps he can't bring himself to believe that anyone can feel things for him. Still, you would think he would at least try to balm your feelings. Anyways, there's not much you can do besides hope that one day he'll learn to see you in a different light. You never know, people are often all too willing to reciprocate affection."

Neil nodded glumly. He cleared his throat and said, "I don't want to be queer. My father would never accept this, just as he hates my acting."

An uncharacteristic blast of anger passed over the teacher's face. "For now, mind what you think. If you can stave off the feelings, more power to you. It'll save you a lot of pain. If you can't, you are always welcome to talk to me."

Yet another nod from Neil. "Thank you, sir, this means a lot to me."

"Anytime, Mr. Perry, any time."

~Kachow~

Neil's journey away from Keating's office was much different than his walk to it. There was a calmness in his step replacing his previous desperate stride. It gave him a certain degree of happiness to know that he was not alone. When a small noise made him jump, he realized he literally wasn't alone. He stood stock-still to hear if it was a teacher or student. There was the sound of… Sniffles. Probably a student. He figured he ought to check on whatever poor soul was out there. Following his ear, he was led to the outside of an empty classroom. Upon listening closer at the door, he stiffened in shock. Todd Anderson comforting a very distraught Charlie Dalton? He dared to peek in.

Todd was cradling Charlie in his arms on a pair of desks, the latter looking as if he had thrown himself forward, the former rocking back and forth slowly. Jealousy leapt sharpy hot in Neil's veins, and he made his presence known without thinking clearly. "What the hell are you two doing?"

Guiltily, the two boys broke apart. Charlie merely straightened up faster than he might have otherwise, but poor Todd had overjudged the distance needed to free himself from Charlie and fell backwards off the desk. "Ow!" he muttered dazedly from the floor.

Charlie angrily wiped the tears from his face and yelled archly, "What does it look like we're doing?"

Neil's eyes widened at first, but then narrowed accusatorily to settle on his roommate still scrambling up from the floor. The hurt in the gaze cut Todd deeply. Todd supposed he'd feel hurt too if his roommate lied to him about something as important as being a homosexual, which was what the situation appeared to indicate. "Neil, it's not what it looks like. I'm comforting him as a friend, nothing more."

Suspicious looks to the two boys were given. Finally Charlie sourly admitted, "Alright, Todd's speaking the truth. He found me crying like a baby and I told him my fucking life story. Kapeche?"

Neil wasn't convinced. "Why would he find you if you were in an abandoned classroom after curfew?"

Sheepishly Todd answered, "I like to write poetry alone."

Neil gave in, walking over to Charlie. "What's wrong?"

"Long story short, my little sis's got leukemia."

Compassion filled Neil's heart to the brim, and he forgave both boys fully. He had met Allyson a few times before. He was always amazed by how different Charlie was around her – sweet, caring, almost mature. The loss would hit him hard. "Damn it, Charlie, why didn't you tell us?"

He growled, "It's Nuwanda." Continuing, "I thought I could keep it to myself. I don't want any assfuck's pity. Abruptly, he jumped off the desk and exited the room. "Thanks, Todd."

Todd and Neil stared at each other for a moment. Todd ventured, "His family's pretty torn up about it, and from what I've gathered his little sister might've been the glue keeping them all together."

Neil affirmed this with a nod. "I don't get why he's so willing to pour it out on you."

"Right place, right time."

"I suppose. If Cameron'd walked into that, though, he'd've gotten a death sentence rather than a boy crumpled up in his arms crying."

Todd smiled, which turned into a sort of grimace as he recalled their initial meeting this evening. "You looked so betrayed when you found us like that. Don't ever look at me like that again, it's haunting."

"I can't make promises, Todd. The best thing to do is stop giving me reasons to give you that look."

"I'll do my best."

Neil could hardly stand the affection radiating out of his heart at the moment. "Lets go to bed before Nolan catches us." The boys scurried back to their room.

~Kachow~

I've decided that I very much do like this chapter. Keating is fun to write, I spent a long time trying to figure out how to make him sound wise in a non-patronizing way. Did it work? And this is the question I want to know the answer to most in my questions quest thus far: Who's your OTP? Rattle off as many as you want as long as you put them in a numbered list.