Summary: Andrew may suck as a teacher but Varian had always been a very good student.

"Get lost! And stay outta here creep!" The bartender's stern voice echoed over filthy streets.

With a curse on his lips, Andrew rubbed his sore behind which had to absorb most of the rough landing. For all the brains the kid possessed he was unbelievably dumb, he thought pissed. It'd been some time since he was tossed out of a tavern quite like that. The criminal's ears still rung from the humiliating treatment, completely missing the hushed words Varian and the old geezer exchanged. What he caught was the scowl pointed in his direction and a couple of coins pressed into the boy's confused hands. It was the worst kind of generosity and ultimately drove the final nail in tonight's coffin. His patience was gone. When he was mad before now he was furious.

"What is wrong with you?" He yelled as soon as the door of the establishment shut close. For the first time, Andrew's act slipped.

The alchemist, though, seemed unfazed. "I could ask the same," he growled right back, voice dripping with venom in every syllable.

"I did not get us kicked out," Andrew was fighting hard not to lose the battle against his temper, but he was totally fed up with this bullshit and the brat made it 10 times harder than usual. Harshly he stood up and cleaned his stained clothes with more force than necessary.

"And I am not in the habit of lying."

"Get your freaking priorities straight!" He hissed, pressing his fingers into Varian's chest. "You looking like a 10-year-old gets us thrown out of every bar in the entire 7 kingdoms."

"Excuse me?" Varian snarled. How dare!

"I may not be up to your pretentious 'moral standards'," and yes, he did the air quotes, "But at least I -"

"Oh, stop stroking your own ego!" Varian snapped.

The air between them was loaded with electricity. He could feel it prickle and gnawing on his skin. Andrew swallowed his nasty reply. The adult inside him realized that this was getting out of hand way too quick. He reminded himself over and over that the child's alchemy was indeed very useful - a seldom opportunity. And while he could work with anger it was always better if it wasn't directly aimed at him. He knew what to do and took a deep breath.

"Just so you know, I have feelings too. I am a very delicate flower." Professionally he flipped the mood.

"What?" Varian asked confused and frowned. "No, you're not," he scoffed.

"Exactly. That's the point," Andrew softened his tone. There were already too many heads turned at them, so he started to move as well.

"Who taught you how to lie anyway?" He questioned, deliberately deflecting the kid's attention.

"Nobody." Varian crossed his arms defensive but trailed behind him.

"Well it shows - it's written all over your face," the older man sneered. As funny as it may be that the boy was like an open book, it could mean trouble in the long run.

An offended huff accompanied him into the next side road. "It's not a very nice skill to have," he muttered quietly. Andrew ignored it.

"I am going to teach you. You should be honored to learn from a true master of the art," he bragged. "You're pathetic to watch. However for now," the Separatist's eyes darted briefly to the owner of a shabby street stall before swiping an innocent bandana from it. "Here."

He handed Varian the ugly thing after they got out of sight.

"Cover your face till you're able to lie like a big boy so it's not totally obvious!" He taunted lightly.

The teen snorted unimpressed. For a split second, Varian hesitated, mulling their conversation over. Finally, he shoved Andrew's hand away but not before reluctantly taking the weird scrap of fabric.

"Try it!" The older man encouraged somewhat condescendingly. "Come on, humor me."

Varian rolled his eyes and covered his mouth and nose skeptically. The alchemist may not be as good at lying yet, however, he was very good at listening. And most interesting to him was what people didn't say.

"I am a very delicate flower," the kid parroted Andrew's earlier line.

Andrew laughed at the amount of sheer spite that was thrown at him as his own words glided off Varian's tongue. If he concentrated he could hear the small smile in the other's voice as well. "Yes. Yes, you are."

Huh? Who would have thought, Varian contemplated, it worked.

"Follow me. We should be close," Andrew interrupted his thoughts.

.

.

.

The gaze of the bartender had been glued to the odd duo. Through the window, he'd watched them warily before they vanished into the city's alleys. He was still unsure of what to make of them. The look the boy gave his companion as he introduced himself as his father flashed up behind his eyes and he knew that there would be no sleep for him tonight.