CHAPTER 5

Luke leaned his head against the closed door with a disgruntled and deliberate "ugh".

The Professor put a comforting hand on the young man's back. "Luke, be kind. You can't expect everyone to feel the same way about you that you feel about them."

Luke stepped back, as Layton had hit him. "What?! Professor, I don't feel that way about Flora-"

"I know you don't, Luke."

"I feel that way about you!" Silence. "What the hell do you mean, you know?!"

Layton chuckled. "You did kick, or rather footsy me the first time, my boy." Luke was so red by this point that Layton was afraid smoke would start emanating from his ears. He rubbed the young man's back in an effort to soothe him. "I was hoping you'd say as much earlier. A few well chosen words always surpass a kick in the leg, my dear."

Luke grew slightly less tense. He found it hard to look the Professor in the eye, but he was tired of all the dodging and hinting. "Well then here goes…I love you, Professor…Hershel…" He reached for Layton's hand, and was thankful when the Professor did not pull it away. "I think I have from the moment you came to my house in Misthallery."

Layton sighed and closed his eyes. No matter how happy his heart was to hear those words, he knew that a romantic relationship with Luke wouldn't work out. It just couldn't. Could it?

He guided Luke to the couch and sat down with him. Never letting go of his hand, Layton turned and looked deep into Luke's shining, hazel eyes. There he saw pain, but also hope. Most of all, he saw love.

"Luke…I've loved you for quite some time as well. I don't know that I've ever been able to put a name to the kind of love I've felt for you…especially recently…but I want you to know that I care very deeply for you." Luke looked somewhat relieved. "But, my dear boy, I don't think the kind of relationship you want is possible. At least, not right now."

Obvious disappointment spread over Luke's face, and he withdrew his hand from the Professor's grasp. He seemed to be struggling to keep anger from welling up inside him. "But why?" he nearly shouted. The Professor grimaced, and Luke realized he must sound childish. The last thing he wanted right now was for Layton to see him as such. He took a deep breath and began again.

"Why not now? And if not now, when?" He tried to keep his lip from quivering.

"I don't know, Luke. Perhaps when you're no longer my student-"

"Then I'll wait. I'll wait as long as I have to, I promise!" Luke said with some amount of desperation.

For a split second, Layton's face softened. He never wanted to do anything to hurt his young friend, but he worried that giving him what he wanted would eventually hurt more than refusing him. Patting Luke on the knee, he spoke with only kindness in his voice.

"Luke, I don't even know what I was thinking when I said that. The whole idea is completely inappropriate. Despite what either of us may think or feel, you are still but a boy. You have your entire life ahead of you, and it would be wrong of me to ask you to wait until I thought we might be accepted." At this point, Layton's voice turned sad. "And…it's no secret that I am no longer a spring chicken, Luke. You would grow bored with me in no time… I'm sorry, my dear Luke…this just can't be. "

"Professor, not once since I became your apprentice have you treated me like a child. You've always thought we were equals. Don't change your mind now."

"That has nothing-"

"Please, Professor, let me finish." Luke looked so determined that Layton had to let him say his peace. "I know I'm young, but I am capable of making up my own mind. You are the one I want, Hershel. You. I honestly don't care what other people think, but I realize that having a relationship with a student could cost you your job. Professor, no one at the University would have to know." Layton inhaled as if to speak, but Luke thought he knew what the Professor was thinking, so he continued. "And if you think I could ever get bored when you're around, you're wrong."

By now, tears were flowing freely down Luke's cheeks. He took Layton's hand from his knee and pressed it to his lips. Surprised, the older man wanted to pull away, but something in his heart wouldn't let him. "I could never be get bored with you, Professor. Everyday we're together, you give me something to think about, and not just puzzles. Everyday…you give me something to dream about. You've given me the life I've always wanted, and now the only thing left that I want is you. I love you so much, Hershel."

Seeing that the Professor had also started to tear up, Luke gently took Layton's face in his hands and wiped the man's cheeks with his thumbs. Their eyes locked, and Luke pulled the Professor closer to him. Finally, their lips met. Luke released Layton's face and wrapped his arms around his neck. He happily took advantage of the fact that the Professor had not put his hat back on after dinnertime, and wound his hands in Layton's short brown hair.

The Professor responded. Seemingly forgetting his chivalrous ways, he willingly placed his hands around Luke's hips. The kiss grew more intense, and Luke licked Layton's lips in an effort to gain access to his mouth. Layton obliged, and their tongues began a fiery tussle.

Suddenly, Luke's hands were pulling on the hem of the Professor's orange sweater, and his mouth had found its way to Layton's neck, where he was sucking with enough force to leave a definite mark. As much as he was shamefully enjoying his student's ministrations, Layton knew he had to put an end to them before things got out of hand.

"Luke, Luke…" the Professor said breathlessly as he tenderly eased the boy against the back of the couch. "Luke, love, we have to stop."

"But I don't want to," Luke whispered as he reached for Layton again. The Professor caught his hands, so he settled for snuggling as close to Layton as he could. Absent mindedly, Layton wrapped his arm around Luke, as he had so many times before, and began caressing his shoulder.

"I'm still not sure about this," the Professor sighed. But the way Layton held him so tightly, the way he had called him 'love' told Luke that Layton was more sure now than ever. He tossed his arm across the Professor's stomach and nuzzled into his side. He wasn't met with any resistance.

"Whatever you say, Professor."