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Dylin sat quietly on the windowsill, keeping a close watch on Iceburg. The anxious boy was in his uniform for the gala, as requested, but nearly late. He fiddled fruitlessly with his tie; after one too many sips from the bottle over their dinner he was feeling fuzzy again and he fumbled over simple movements. When he caught sight of the elder student's gaze he tried to flash him a convincing smile.

He didn't buy it.

"You should try to relax a little more. You look so nervous." Dylin took a drink from what was left of their liquor but it didn't seem to quench the look of thirst in his eyes.

"I am nervous, just a little bit."

He offered him the rest of the bottle but he waved it away.

"I think I've had more than enough for now."

"Still doesn't take you much, eh?" Dylin chuckled before he finished it off.

"Not at all." Thinking back to how drunk he was the first time was almost enough to make him sick.

"Such a lightweight." He smirked "Are you even gonna be okay to go?"

"Of course!" Iceburg crossed him arms haughtily.

"Well! Are you just about ready then?"

"I don't know. Maybe." Truthfully, the answer was no – he'd rather ignore everything he'd agreed to and just stay in. "I know it's silly, but I just can't seem to ever get the tie quite right."

Dylin slid down from the sill and set the bottle down with a light clink.

"Here," he was by him in an instant "let me…" he took his hands and eased them away from his collar where he struggled with the sleek fabric.

After a brief but disarming smile he spun Iceburg on the spot; his heart leapt as the room danced around them. When he stopped him mid-twirl he wrapped his arms around to take up the tie from behind; it looked so small in his hands.

"Thank you." Dizzy and just a bit too warm Iceburg leaned back into him with a sigh.

"It's nothing at all! Keep practicing...a clever boy like you will get it in no time." Dylin's murmur sounded nonchalant but his hands shook.

He smoothed the tie until it was perfectly set. Once satisfied with the job he faced him towards one of the mirrors. He grinned at the reflection of the two of them; tousled his hair then chuckled when Iceburg huffed about it.

"What's got you so grumpy, eh? Not good enough for you yet?" he caught his gaze; his eyes more sombre than his tone. "What's the matter, marmocchio?"

Iceburg tried to laugh it off but it was in times like those that he especially noticed the staggering differences between them; he felt like a mouse in comparison.

"You're so tall." He did his best not to sound sulky about it.

"Well," Dylin shifted back in front of him and brushed the violet hair from his eyes; laughed when a stubborn lock curled right back down. "you should've seen my papa. I get it from him. I'll probably end up a bit taller than this, eventually."

Iceburg was too shaken by his light touch to notice the catch in his voice.

"I can't imagine that" a giggle brightened his face "aren't you big enough already?"

"Don't say it like it's a choice!" He grinned as he brushed his hair back once more. "There. Now you look ready."

"I don't feel ready." When he grumbled, Dylin knelt so they were eye to eye.

"Well…" he set a hand on his shoulder "you know, you don't have to go. Right?"

"I do have to. I already gave my word that I would."

"Yeah, but just to that piece of - to that shitty guy!" He quickly reddened "You don't owe someone like that anything!'

"Why'd you even stop yourself from saying 'piece of shit' just to say 'shitty guy'!?" but Iceburg couldn't even pretend to be serious – he laughed freely. "I know I don't owe him anything, but if I'm supposed to take over for you as Head of Dorm someday, I should at least get some experience putting myself out there." He pouted "Shouldn't I?"

"I suppose." After a quick grimace at the windows, he tightened his grip "You just be careful though, while you are putting yourself out there. It's not just students who'll be attending and they're all bad enough as it is. It's a citywide celebration – one of the only things the townsfolk look forward to every year - so there's going to be all sorts of people out and about. You stay safe. Okay?"

"Won't you come along with me then? If you're so worried..." Iceburg blinked up at him.

"I'm not worried! You don't want me interfering with you though, right? I'm not supposed to act like a bodyguard..." Dylin tried to avoid his hopeful stare.

"Well, I wouldn't really mind." his reply was as sheepish as his smile.

Dylin looked skeptical.

"How about I just request my hour with you now then?" he raised a brow "Would that keep you from pushing yourself?"

"I believe I'm allowed to refuse the requests until I see fit."

"So you're refusing then?" Dylin frowned.

"This time, yes. Why don't you just come?"

"Because shit like that pisses me off! You know the rich are gonna show up in herds and I don't wanna be around them while they carry on the way they do." He crossed his arms. "I hear it's just gonna be a shitty auction and dinner. Don't go."

"Well, there's going to be dancing too! That could be fun." Iceburg blushed as soon as he blurted it out.

After staring hard at him like he was reading fine print, Dylin sighed.

"I'm sure it would be. I couldn't dance though so I have to respectfully decline." Dylin turned and trudged towards the washroom.

"Oh? You can't dance? I only can because I was forced to start lessons when I was young, but I'm not very good; right to the end I was always in trouble for 'trying to lead'…but all I did was follow the directions they gave me! I could never figure out how to stop leading because I didn't know I was doing it in the first place... so I was always getting punished." He frowned. "I really liked dancing though, at first."

"You too, eh?" He shook his head, his hand hovering over the doorknob "I got the same bullshit too. Always wanted me to tone myself else and act meek. Ridiculous, isn't it? There's nothing wrong with you leading. If people wanna lead they should be allowed to regardless of how they were born. I'm sure you dance wonderfully…"

"So, you candance?" Iceburg perked up, his eyes sparkled.

"The problem isn't that I can't dance…it's that I couldn't." he dropped his gaze down. "Not when the only person in the world I care to dance with is someone the goddamn government says I have no right to touch at all. I-I'm gonna get ready for bed now. Goodnight, tesoro." He slipped into the washroom and quickly locked up behind him.

"The only person in the world?" Iceburg whispered though he knew he couldn't be heard through the thick door without raising his voice. Hope was only momentary. He stood for a while and held himself in the heavy silence of the room. "You don't mean me, do you?"

On the other side Dylin leaned against the wood, eyes squeezed shut. He felt a gentle push as Iceburg slumped against it too. After what felt like an eternity he spoke up again.

"You're sure you won't come?" His melancholic tones reached through and jabbed him.

"I'm sure." He lied.

"Okay. I understand, because it's the same for me too, you know?" he tried not to stutter but the words felt even clumsier than he did.

Dylin froze. "W-what do you mean?"

"Well, I wouldn't be able to dance either. Not with who I want to. Never with who I want to…that's what I've been told anyways." Iceburg hesitated before he turned from the door.

After a moment Dylin spoke again.

"So don't go then" His voice was brittle against the sturdy grain. "Please, don't go…"

There was no answer.

"Iceburg?" He bit his lip and listened a little while longer.

Just when he lost hope another push on the door startled him.

"Bambino… I was so afraid you were already gone…" He couldn't hold back the goofy smile on his face as he hastily unlocked the door "let's stay here then, eh? We can just forget about everyone else and be together tonight! O-or, you know… we could run away -you and I! If you wanted to, we could just leave and never look back!"

He tore the door open but when he saw who awaited him, he stumbled back, mortified.

"Well, that's not very nice at all, is it Candy-boy? You? Forget about me? Are you out of your mind? Isn't that completely different than what you were just saying to me?" Iva laughed and grabbed him by the waist "Anyways, I'm sorry to tell you but he is already gone - and he looked verylet down. Torn to pieces, really."

"What!?" He pushed them aside and looked around for Iceburg.

"Like I said - he's gone. So, let's go too, shall we?" they had him back in their grasp in no time.

"No!" He tried to pull away.

"I told you, I need you this evening." They dragged him out of the doorway and into the bedroom.

"Iva…please, not tonight." He winced at the impatient eyes that leered down on him.

"Yes, tonight."

"That's not fair..." he couldn't hide how defeated he was.

"Fair!? You're trying to go back on your word, how is that fair?"

"You nasty bitch..." He glanced nervously at the nails pressing back into his flesh. "Shouldn't I get at least some sort of say in my life!? You can be so goddamn cruel…"

"Oh really?" They scoffed "Nasty? Let me recall the first thing I did when I touched land …why, I came right to you when you wanted me to, didn't I? Much earlier than I planned if memory serves me right! I helped you."

"I had to beg!"

"You didn't beg, you demanded!" They turned their back to him, shook their head "And I dropped everything I was doing to make it to you because you insisted you needed me. So why is it so awful when I ask the same of you?"

"Iva…" Dylin gulped, taken off guard by the wounded voice.

"Nasty… In all my years! Nasty? Even though I waited until you were all done with little Iceburg to come collect you!? Maybe it was more out of courtesy for his feelings than yours, but still!"

"So, you were just waiting around spying on us this whole time!?" Dylin's face burned "What's wrong with you, eh? It's not like we did anything worth noting b-but goddamn, Iva, you're going too far! Is my life mine at all?"

"You're only embarrassed because you know you're the cruel one here, Dylinae. Feeling guilty yet? Who would've pegged you as being such a playboy, hmm? You've made it clear you don't care about hurting me, but I do wonder…" they batted their eyelashes "are you really prepared to break that sweet baby's heart too?"

Dylin yanked away and stepped as far back as he could. He winced at the jagged slashes left behind on his forearm. "No! I-I…" his eyes brimmed "I wouldn't!"

"You've already been keeping us -and so many other things – secret from him though, right? What would he say, I wonder?" They leered down at him "If he knew the truth about you? About…everything? Wouldn't his heart be broken then?"

Dylin drew farther back and scowled.

"I'm not keeping secrets! He hasn't asked me anything; about you or my life. How could I be keeping something from him that he hasn't even asked about yet?"

"Baka…" Iva shook their head "I would've thought you were too clever to say something stupid like that."

Dylin stared blankly at them, so they rolled their eyes.

"Though you do surprise me from time to time. So, you're saying he actually believes you're just like every other average, run-of-the-mill student like he is?"

"He is notaverage or run-of-the-mill!"

"Oh, how sweet. Of course not. Now then, you're telling me…if he were to hypotheticallycome across certain tidbits of information you really wouldn't mind him knowing? You wouldn't mind me chatting with him about it all; telling him about the realyou?"

"He does know the real me! More than anyone!" He snarled up at them.

Iva recoiled as if bitten. "Oh!? More than anyone!?" They tossed their head back and shot a look of revulsion at him. "How could you say such a thing!? After everything…"

"I…" Dylin hated the guilt he felt pulsing through him. "I just mean that I-"

"Has he been there for you through your struggles like I have?"

"Maybe not as much as you, but he-"

"Does he even know anything about where you come from; where you plan to go from here?"

"Not exactly!"

"But he knows what you do for a living, right? He knows where you go at night? The things you've done, how much blood you have on your hands? Everything?"

"N-no... only a little."

"Oh, wonderful. So, I'll just go ahead and tell him everything then. He knows you so well, after all."

Dylin stared, agape.

"You don't mind, right? Maybe I'll even pass along a few tips on how to reallyplease you; let him know all the things I do that drive you wild…" they grinned and gave him a small tap on the cheek. Their claws scraped just enough to sting. "Unless you're going to decide to be a good boy and do as your told?"

He staggered back and found himself against the wall, knees weak and shaking.

"I-Iva? You're really gonna blackmail me into it like this?" He shakily pulled out a cigarette. "You're gonna use him against me?"

"Blackmail is such a strong word." They pushed up against him and knocked the smoke from his hand; smirked down at his disgruntled expression. "I'm just using that little weakness of yours to coax you along."

"You're actually serious?"

"Well, yes – dead serious. I'm going to have to get what I need one way or another, aren't I? You know until I do, I can't just lay back and accept you breaking things off that easily, especially when you just reassured me you didn't want to." Iva pushed at his chest, forced him tight against the wall. "You can't have your cake and eat it too, Dylin. Absolutely shameful. Pitiful.Lying to me about you and Ice-boy was bad enough…"

"Goddammit, Iva! I haven't lied!"

"…but now this!? You really want it all from me without giving anything back?"

"What!?" Dylin slammed a fist back against the wall. "I've given you everything! Just how many times have you left me hanging!? Eh!? How many times have you broken promises; changed plans last minute to suit your needs!? This is it: this is the one time I put my foot down, Iva." His voice fell to a broken plea "I'm sorry. I'm just so tired. I just need time to think, to sleep. Just, please… not tonight…"

"That is not an option this time, Candy-boy."

"I never really do have an option though, do I? This is how it's always gonna be…swindling me into this and that without a care in the world." He shook his head. "I can't let you keep having your way with me like this anymore though… blackmail me all you want, you bloodsucking bitch. I don't care what happens."

"Oh, boo. Too bad…It seems I have no choice then!" They raised a hand up high; their nails glistened in the light.

"Wait, Iva! Please!" The remaining strength in his voice waned; he knew he didn't have a chance of escape from where he was cornered. "You wouldn't actually-"

He screamed when their nails gored into his ribs. His blood was set aflame by the rush of hormones that coursed in. It was a sharp, sickly feeling that spread through him like a slow blaze. Their second strike hooked into him hard enough to knock him sideways, but he couldn't care about the pain by that point – the mental anguish was already too much.

"No! Please tell me you didn't!" but he already knew. He could feel it pumping into him, changing him, mocking him. He buckled and crumpled to the floor when they finally pulled out, dripping with his blood and their fluids.

"I really didn't wantto. I would have preferred the easier route." They shrugged and wiped their nails off as he wept. "I warned you not to take me so lightly, Dylinae…someday you will learn that."

He stared down at the floor and tried not to think about the gun in the drawer as it cried out for him; begged him to aim for Iva's smug face.

"That's notmy name anymore. I'd prefer someone like you to call me nothing." Slowly he stood.

"Stop being such a baby." They sighed.

"Ivankov." His tone was as dead as his eyes.

"Hm?"

"If I knew killing you could reverse this, I'd do it without another thought. You know that right?" His body shook but his face remained blank as the rapid changes wreaked havoc on his system and left him hollow.

The shocked expression on Iva's face suggested that they hadn't known it.

"Now, now, you don't mean that." They put their hands on their hips.

"Let's just get it over with." he wiped his eyes and straightened himself up. "What do I have to do?"

"Just look pretty for me, would you darling?" Iva's saccharine smile made him sicker than ever. "We'll be done and I'll have you back in your little nest of lies before you know it."

Iceburg found himself checking the time over and over although it'd only been just over an hour of greeting guests and taking their tickets. It had been somewhat exciting at first, being amid so much activity without anyone focusing too much on him, but it wasn't long before he was worn out by the constant commotion around him.

Artwork, jewelry, and countless other curiosities were on display around the perimeter of the room waiting to be auctioned off, tagged with wildly expensive starting prices. Elegantly dressed attendees hidden behind masquerade ogled over them, put in bids and chatted idly with the student representatives who were showcasing the items. He was glad he wasn't in that position and only had to interact briefly with each person as they entered and exited.

It baffled him how such a destitute city could still hold enough wealth among select citizens that they could even consider paying the starting prices, let alone bidding higher to win. It all seemed like losing no matter what way he looked at it.

He jumped when a hand touched his shoulder.

"Kokoro!" He burst out when he saw her smile; he could easily recognize her even with a mask covering most her face.

During his time at the school, she'd made a point of stopping by to visit on weekends, but the visits had become brief since she'd taken on extra work in-town – the last few weekends they'd only spoken over the phone.

"Oh! Your precious face! It looks so much better! I can hardly tell what happened…" she fussed over him.

"It feels much better too." Iceburg beamed.

She'd shown up at the school the morning after his first day in a panic to warn him about the yearly Aqua Laguna, just in case it came early, but had forgotten entirely when she was met by his abused appearance. Iceburg thought she was going to bring the whole building down with her for how furious she was.

"Now, the school did deal with who was responsible, didn't they!?"

"There won't be any more issues with them, don't worry."

He chose his words carefully and hated every moment of it. It wasn't really the same as lying to her - he was quite certain that there wouldn't be any more issues with who was actually responsible – but it felt worse than lying. What would she say if she knew his only friend was really the one who did it?

"You know, it's been about a month since you first came to us. There hasn't been any sign of trouble back at Tom's. You could always come on home instead, if it's going to be so troublesome for you here anyways..." She wrung her hands together.

"No!"

She jumped at the outburst; obviously shocked by his curt refusal. He gave her a guilty smile.

"No, thank you, I mean. I'm looking forward to going back to Tom's, but I want to see things through here too. I think I'm doing well! I can still visit though, right!?"

"Of course! I wish you would!" She laughed. "You remember the way to my place?"

"Mhm!" He was pretty sure he did; he figured he could just ask later if not.

"Good. Now is there anything you need at all?"

"Your ticket, Kokoro!" He laughed and indicated to the lineup that was forming behind her.

"Goodness!" She passed it to him with a chuckle "I don't know where my mind is lately. I'll catch up with you later, dear, I've got an old friend waiting for me around here somewhere. " With another laugh she drifted off into the crowd.

He smiled and motioned for the person next in line to step forward.

When the time finally came for another student to relieve him, he was eager to search for Kokoro; he desperately needed the familiarity. The sea of masked attendees made him uneasy, and he hated that only he and the other students working didn't have face coverings.

He nearly turned and left when he did find her as she was talking with a man in a dark suit, and he didn't feel up for any more socializing with strangers – but she caught him from the corner of her eye.

"Oh, there you are! This is the one I was talking about!" Kokoro indicated to him; he froze as her acquaintance turned and raised a brow.

Tall, broad, and suave, he wouldn't have recognized the stranger with slicked back hair if he hadn't locked gazes with them; the cunning brown eyes were unmistakable.

"I-Iva?" Iceburg gaped up at them.

He felt dizzy – he knew it was them, could feel it was them, but his mind couldn't quite figure it out. They looked so different from before, there was just no way they were simply binding their breasts down and wearing their hair differently. Their loosely buttoned shirt revealed a flat, muscular chest. The curves of their body were mostly gone and their jaw was strong as their posture. It was like they were a whole different person.

"My, my. If it isn't little Ice-boy again!" for a moment they held an amused smirk before turning back to Kokoro. "Wait! This!? This is the one? The child you've taken in your care!?"

"Yes! Have you two already met? How on earth!?" Kokoro was baffled.

Iva's face paled and they lowered their voice.

"So then, does that mean…is this the same child that-that-"

"No. No…" she cut him off brusquely and grabbed a tiny cocktail from a passing server's tray.

Iva looked skeptical. "But I'm sure you've noticed how-"

"Anyways, I'd certainly love to hear how you two met!" Kokoro cut them off with a frightening tone in her voice.

Iceburg stammered – her glare was unbearable. He looked helplessly at Iva.

Iva looked just as horrified back at him and shrugged.

"Don't just silently prompt each other! I want answers!"

"Just through a mutual friend, I suppose!" Iceburg's nervous voice finally leapt out.

"Is that so?" Her voice was as suspicious as the side eye she was giving them.

"Let's just say I've got a special interest in a boy enrolled here." They winked at Kokoro. "I met your lovely lad through him. Seems they've hit it off quite well."

"A boy you say? Goodness, Iva… I just can't imagine you mean you've taken up an interest in parenting!" she gave him a look along with a chuckle; her anger seemed to be quelled.

"You do know me too well, don't you?" Iva chortled quietly.

"Perhaps. You worry me with your taste for the younger boys sometimes, I can't lie." She shook her head.

"Oh, I could say the same to you though, couldn't I?" Their expression was suddenly wickedly mischievous.

"You're as big of a jackass as Tom is, you know?" She laughed again. "Always trying to get a rise out of everyone."

"Well, I can't deny that. But I can say one thing…he's not actually that much younger than me, when you put things into perspective." They threw Iceburg a side-eye that he couldn't figure out. "So don't think too poorly of me."

"As long as you don't touch my precious boy here, then I'll let you live."

They nodded gravely at the stern statement.

"Trust me, I've no interest of that sort in him. I would like to see him do well though..." They leaned over and looked him in the eyes "…so I suggest he worry more about his studies and less about his troublesome romantic interests."

"Oh?" Kokoro looked excitedly to Iceburg who burned with embarrassment. "My word! You didn't mention to me that you'd met someone special! Who is she!?"

Iceburg wasn't sure why, but he was taken aback that she immediately assumed there was a "she". Would she be disappointed to find out the only feelings he'd been catching were for another boy?

Sinners.

He just couldn't think of what to say.

"Well, Iva's just being silly. I…I'm not exactly…I wouldn't say-" he trailed off as a heaviness fell upon him; he turned and furrowed his brow in the direction his heart was tugging in. "Please, excuse me one moment."

"He's a bit of an odd one…but such a good kid." Kokoro laughed and shook her head.

"Very odd. I like him."

The two of them watched curiously as he slipped away into the crowd.

Iceburg searched the room as he made his way through. Everyone seemed to be calmly enjoying themselves, but the band's music was at a crescendo and it left him panicked; in a hurry to find something he wasn't even sure of himself.

He halted when he spotted someone in the main entranceway; a timid figure in a uniform similar to his. The only difference was the skirt and blouse so he decided it must be a uniform for the Girls' School across the water.

She lingered with frightened, red-rimmed eyes that scanned the room. A leather bag was held protectively to her breasts. To his dismay it appeared the boy who'd replaced him taking tickets was giving her a hard time; he kept reaching out to touch her arm, her hair, but before long she rushed on by him with a grimace.

Iceburg cocked his head as he observed the awkward bustle; she moved rigidly through the crowd with her head low so her long black hair obscured her face. She dodged everyone who tried to stop and talk and instead moved faster towards whatever her target was. As he kept an eye he wondered why the unease in him grew the longer he watched.

He ignored it and ambled along the perimeter of the room, intent on ensuring she was going to be okay. Her anxious demeanor left him protective. Hostile flames arose each time male attendees ignored her discomfort at their ogling stares and unwanted approaches but the way she pushed on by them each time without giving them the time of day gave him a guilty sense of satisfaction.

For awhile he held back. The last thing he wanted to be was just another nuisance interrupting her evening, but she reminded him of the way he was when he first arrived on Water 7 – terrified, out of place and alone. It made him want to help. When she paused to look around again, he called out to her from a safe distance away.

"Excuse me?" He tried to sound as friendly as possible but the way she startled and whipped around at the sound of his voice, he was worried he may have upset her anyways - but then their eyes met. A small gasp escaped him.

It was just like before with Iva. No matter how unfamiliar everything else the eyes were still telltale; deep down the bold, fiery irises blazed down at him the same as ever.

Iceburg smiled up and took a step forward. After coiling the forelock of his hair nervously for a moment, eyes locked together, he cleared his throat.

"H-Hey." he wasn't quite sure what else to say in front of so many other people. "Is that you?"

He didn't get a reply. Left alone in the crowd, he watched the hasty departure in quiet disbelief. Despite the curvy, feminine body, the smoke-shadowed eyes and delicately painted lips, he knew. He didn't dare call out his name and give him away, but he knew. So he followed behind, in absolute awe. It had been so easy to believe that the story of Iva's power had been nothing but a joke, but when the evidence kept appearing right before his eyes there was no denying it.

Silently he watched them meet up. Iva sauntered up and took the briefcase, gave a quick pat on the head, turned, and went straight back to Kokoro.

It hurt him to see the distraught look left by Iva's curtness. As he tried to approach again a small group stopped in his path and blocked his view to stare at a painting; when he finally got around them he could only see Kokoro and Iva. He searched every face in the crowd for those piercing eyes, and as he nearly gave up his eyes fell on a door near the back just as it clicked shut.

Before he snuck through, he hesitated. Until then he'd been so caught up in the moment he hadn't stopped to consider that maybe he wasn't wanted at all. The goal had seemingly been to find Iva and that was done with now. If the timid stranger really was Dylin, he was clearly avoiding him; he'd turned down his invitations but still attended, after all.

Maybe it's best I just leave him alone…

But he couldn't get those eyes out of his head; something about them seemed to beg him to stay near - then there was that sad expression after meeting up with Iva. He couldn't just let him be until he knew he was okay.

He found himself twisting the knob and cracking the door open. After one last guilty glance back at Kokoro he slipped on through – something told him she wouldn't be happy if he caught trouble for sneaking around where he wasn't meant to be. With a deep breath he closed it behind him.