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Chapter 11

(In which van Zieks takes Kazuma to lunch and gives him a choice.)


For the first time in living memory, Kazuma paused outside van Zieks's door before barging his way inside. He was not used to being so nervous around the man anymore, but yesterday's encounter had shaken him. He might have waited a day or two to let some more comfortable space spool out between them again, but… He thought he probably owed it to van Zieks to stop by at least briefly. Of course, it was first thing in the morning, not their usual lunch hour, so there was no guarantee that van Zieks would be here. Perhaps that was Kazuma's cowardly inclination to give himself a potential way out.

He drew in a deep breath and knocked.

"Come in," van Zieks said.

Kazuma was committed now. He let himself into the office and closed the door again behind him.

"Good morning," he said, crossing the room slowly and with reluctance to hover in front of the desk.

Van Zieks looked up at him, brows drawing together ever so slightly in a pale reflection of surprise. "You never knock."

"I was just being polite."

"You're never polite. Is something the matter?"

Kazuma looked down at his feet and fidgeted awkwardly. "Oh… No, nothing like that. I only wanted to…check in or…apologize, maybe. For yesterday, I mean."

"…Why?" van Zieks asked in a very slow, cautious voice. "If I have given you the impression that you were not welcome to come and talk about–"

"No, not that. But I think I upset you."

Van Zieks's expressions generally varied within a narrow range. Kazuma had learned to read the subtle distinctions over time—to have a better idea if a slightly furrowed brow meant confusion or surprise or anger, to tell when the lines of his face were tighter than usual and guess whether it was because of pain or frustration or melancholy—but they were still small variances from van Zieks's normal impassivity. Kazuma doubted many other people had been given the time or opportunity to study the man's expressions enough to achieve such a nuanced understanding, and even with Kazuma's inside knowledge, deciphering his moods was often a matter of guesswork.

The utterly stricken expression van Zieks had worn yesterday when Kazuma compared him to his father stood in stark contrast to this norm. Kazuma didn't think he'd ever seen such unguarded emotion on van Zieks's face before, aside from perhaps a hazy memory of his mentor leaning over him with wide, panic-stricken eyes as he tried to stop Kazuma from bleeding out in the streets.

"I am not angry with you," van Zieks said, his words somehow even slower and more cautious than before.

"I don't think you're angry."

"…I am not upset with you."

"That's not really what I said either." Kazuma sighed and scrubbed a hand across his face. "It was inconsiderate to blurt out something like that in such a fraught moment when you were already upset about him. I didn't really think about it, just–"

"You don't have to justify yourself. You were distraught and in a poor state of mind. When someone occupies your thoughts so completely, it's only natural to start seeing similarities wherever you look. I was an easy canvas due to proximity."

"No, I meant it," Kazuma muttered, staring very hard at his boots. "But I shouldn't have… You know…"

Van Zieks didn't say anything for a long moment. "It's normal to make those comparisons sometimes, Mr. Asogi," he said finally, in a very gentle voice that reminded Kazuma of yesterday. "I still see my brother everywhere, when I'm thinking of him. Sometimes we go looking for the people we miss, even if we don't realize it. We find pieces where we can. Sometimes we share a gesture or trait with someone else, and that dredges up memories. I did not intend to worsen your melancholy by unconsciously imitating some mannerism of his."

"No, that's… That's not it either." Kazuma felt that this apology, or whatever it was meant to be, was spiraling out of his control. Somehow, he'd managed to give van Zieks the impression that he'd done something wrong. "Look, just… I know it's hard for you too, and I didn't mean to make it harder by rattling you with some ill-timed revelation. I wasn't lying. You do remind me of him sometimes, and I do feel safest with you. But I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable by saying so."

When no response was immediately forthcoming, he dared a glance up. Van Zieks was watching him with a very strange expression, something he had no hope of deciphering.

"Speaking plainly is often uncomfortable," van Zieks said finally. "That does not mean it is always wrong. But… You do understand that I am the least safe person to be around here? I have done what I can to mitigate the risks to you, but–"

"Not like that, exactly. I just…trust you to watch out for me and know you'll help me however you can, and I feel better when I know you're there if I need you. That, um… That reminds me…"

Kazuma trailed off and swallowed hard, tears pricking at the corners of his eyes. His heart still felt rubbed raw and tender, heavy with grief, and the thought of his father still had such sharp edges.

"I…will help you when I can, but… Don't rely on me too heavily. If you look for too much in me, you will be disappointed."

"The only time you've properly disappointed me is when you went behind my back and transferred me," Kazuma muttered. Van Zieks dropped his gaze, the corners of his mouth tightening, and Kazuma winced. He'd let his mouth run away with him again, and that wasn't the goal of this meeting. "Sorry, that's… I mean, anyway… I should go before Lord Norrington starts wondering where I am. That's all I wanted to say."

He shuffled backwards a few paces but then stopped again. "Have you forgiven me?"

He immediately regretted the words, the way he had yesterday. What was the point of apologizing for blurting out uncomfortable things if he was just going to do it again immediately?

But forgiveness was a matter he had struggled with for a long time, and he hoped that van Zieks might be able to give him some insight. When Kazuma had a problem, van Zieks's perspective often came in handy.

"I do not understand." Van Zieks's expression was utterly blank, not in a carefully controlled way, but in a way that hinted at genuine incomprehension. "Whatever for?"

"For…the entire Reaper trial debacle? Or, I don't know… For how awful I was to you in the beginning?"

"What is there to forgive?" van Zieks asked, tilting his head to study Kazuma like he was a puzzle needing to be solved.

Kazuma opened and closed his mouth a few times before finding his voice. "What is there…? I mean, maybe that I was wrong? That I was honestly very cruel to you and hurt you whenever I could? That I almost got you executed? None of this is ringing a bell?"

Van Zieks shrugged. "You did all of those things, yes. I don't hold it against you, if that's what you're asking. You were trying to do what was right and lost your way, and I was the one who pushed you there through my own mistakes. Grief and pain and vengeance are very easy to lose control of, and sometimes they lead us astray. The important thing is if we can find our way back again and undo what damage we can. I would not hold against you what I myself have done worse. For the things you have done wrong, I believe you should make amends, and you have. However, for any slights against me in particular, I have never taken them personally."

"Oh, they were very personal!" Kazuma said, flabbergasted. "I think you should care about this a little more."

"You were very unpleasant to be around," van Zieks conceded. "And made my life very difficult. But then, I imagine you felt the same way about me, and I've never felt the need to beg your forgiveness for it. If you are to take anything from those early escapades, let it be the experience to know yourself and your baser inclinations so that you do not make the same mistakes again. You have come very far since then, and I expect you will go much further still. I do not believe you need forgiveness from me, given that you only did those things because I hurt you first, but I have made my peace with any wrongs you may have done me. I don't think they should trouble you."

"…I will never understand you at all." Kazuma probably did not deserve this carte blanche understanding from van Zieks, particularly after so vehemently insisting that he would never forgive his one-time mentor for his mistakes. "It's not as easy for me as it is for you."

Van Zieks's face seemed to soften just a little. "I never said it was easy. It was just worth the effort. I don't expect anything from you, and if there is anything you expect from me, rest assured that it was given freely. Pray forgive my negligence in not addressing this with you myself, but I had thought that perhaps you knew already."

Kazuma closed his eyes and took a steadying breath. "I meant it yesterday, that I don't blame you anymore and I don't think he would either. I'm only sorry it took so long for me to get there. I know that you regret it and that it's caused you a lot of pain too and that you've tried to undo what damage you could. I don't know what else I could possibly ask of you. I hope that you can make your peace with that too. Whatever I say, whatever I think, doesn't really change anything, but… I hope that you will learn how to forgive yourself. And with all due respect… Don't shrug it off when people hurt you because you think you deserve it, because you don't."

He turned on his heel, leaving van Zieks to contemplate the sentiment without the pressure of needing to come up with a response. He twisted the knob and pulled open the door, but paused for just a moment in the doorway.

"It was your office too once, Mr. Asogi," van Zieks said in a thin, rasping voice. "You don't need to knock."


Kazuma walked into Norrington's office one morning just in time to see van Zieks on his way out. They had seen little of each other these past few weeks, aside from a few shared lunches and the trials Kazuma attended as a spectator. The last of the major trials related to the Golden Hand had been concluded last week, and while they hadn't been quite as exciting as the Hamel trial, they were satisfying nonetheless. Van Zieks had then disappeared from the office for a solid three days—he had admitted to Kazuma that he would be taking a much-needed break, so 'don't go looking for me in a panic. I'm fine and won't thank you for disturbing me.' Van Zieks did not often take time off, which seemed as good an indication as any of how worn down he was. This was the first time Kazuma had seen him back in the office.

"You're back!"

"Yes," van Zieks said. "And seeing as the Lord Chief Justice has seen fit to give me a new assignment in my absence, I find that I am very behind already. I will be busy this week."

This might have been a warning that he wouldn't be making himself available for lunches and didn't want to be bothered, but it was indirect enough that Kazuma chose to ignore it.

"You look better," he observed, studying van Zieks critically. "Less like you've got one foot in the grave."

The shadows ringing van Zieks's eyes weren't quite as dark as they'd been at the height of his mad rush to dismantle the ring, and the gaunt cast to his face had softened. He didn't look like he was about to waste away to nothing anymore, at least. It seemed the break had done him some good. Kazuma glanced at his shoulder, but it was impossible to tell what state it was in under the coat. Van Zieks had not allowed Kazuma to see the injury again, so he just had to assume it was healing alright. If van Zieks's arm hadn't fallen off over these past few weeks, then perhaps it was fine.

"Lovely," van Zieks said tetchily. "I knew what my morning was missing was your delightful commentary."

"I'm relieved to see your temper is as foul as ever."

"Please, by all means, carry on. Don't let me stand in the way of your morning critique."

Kazuma cracked a smile, but then his gaze flitted between van Zieks and Norrington, who looked as faintly baffled as ever by the interaction.

"What were you talking about?" he asked suspiciously.

He had noticed the two of them talking with surprising frequency over the past weeks. Ever since… Since van Zieks had dragged Kazuma in after a failed attempt to follow him and demanded Norrington get control of his apprentice, maybe. They had talked then after sending Kazuma off on an errand, and Norrington had been planning to talk to van Zieks on the anniversary before Kazuma advised him to wait until another day. Kazuma had caught them in each other's offices or with their heads bent together in the hallway another few times as well.

It would sound self-absorbed to ask if they were talking about him, but he honestly didn't know what else they might be discussing. They had never seemed to interact much before, outside of when they were thrown together due to Kazuma's involvement. He wasn't sure he liked the thought of them talking about him behind his back, and he had no idea what they might be saying.

"That's really none of your business," van Zieks said with finality. "Yet."

He swept out of the office without a backwards look, leaving Kazuma shivering with apprehension, unable to put his finger on why exactly that sounded so foreboding.


Kazuma's apprehension only grew when he caught glimpses of van Zieks and Norrington holding private discussions twice more over the next week. Finally, he broke down and asked.

"Are you talking about me with Lord van Zieks?" he asked Norrington after the latest incident.

Norrington smiled indulgently. "Don't worry so much, Mr. Asogi. There's nothing untoward going on."

"…That's not really what I asked."

"If anything we discuss becomes immediately relevant to you, we will certainly inform you. Until then, why don't you focus on our case?"

This was a major blow. Norrington should have been the weak link here, so if even he wasn't going to crack and admit what was going on…

Well, Kazuma was on edge, and his temper flared when van Zieks came striding into Norrington's office shortly before lunch hour one day, some three weeks after the last of the Golden Hand trials ended. But today van Zieks focused on Kazuma rather than Norrington.

"Mr. Asogi, are you about to take your break?"

Kazuma frowned at him suspiciously. "…I suppose so."

"Take it now, then. If that's alright with you, Lord Norrington?"

Norrington looked faintly baffled but nodded. "Of course. It's nearly lunchtime anyway."

"Come, Mr. Asogi."

Kazuma had half a mind to refuse out of spite, irritated at being ordered around without explanation, but his curiosity won out in the end. He set his work aside and followed van Zieks out the door.

"What do you want?" he asked.

"I am taking you to lunch."

"What? Why?"

Van Zieks threw him a mildly disbelieving, supercilious look. "Have you not been demanding I eat lunch with you every few days for weeks?"

"Well, yes, but…" This didn't clear up Kazuma's confusion any—van Zieks had tolerated being bothered in his office, but he had never issued an invitation himself—but he didn't quite know what to say about it. He settled for muttering, "I'm not sure I'd call it demanding."

"I would."

And that was that.

They went to an establishment that seemed far too ritzy for a casual workday lunch. Kazuma's eyebrows nearly jumped up off his forehead when he saw the prices on the menu.

"Are you just trying to show off how rich you are?"

"Don't be vulgar," van Zieks said absently as he skimmed the menu. "I frankly don't care what you think on the matter, and I have no need to 'show off'. Since you have been providing the food for these lunches, it seems fair that I should do so as well on occasion. Even though I had very little say in the matter, I suppose."

"I'm going to order the most expensive thing on here to spite you."

"As you will. Perhaps you might order a meal to go as well to make up for how much of your stipend I have—against my will—been literally eating away."

"Now you are showing off."

"I don't know what you mean," van Zieks said tonelessly, but although he had lifted the menu to conceal his face, Kazuma caught the barest hint of a smile curling one corner of his mouth upwards.

The exchange caught Kazuma off guard. He had been poking fun at van Zieks, really. He hadn't expected van Zieks to tease him back, even in such a dry manner.

He waited until the server had taken their order to pry into the nature of this outing.

"So, what do you really want? I assume you want to talk to me about something?"

"It's just lunch, Mr. Asogi. I've been quite rude making you arrange everything yourself and working through several of our meetings. Now that we have wrapped up the Golden Hand cases and I am not quite as busy as I was, it seemed only fair to return the favor."

Kazuma frowned. "You don't have to. I know you didn't really want me bothering you to start with."

"That's…not entirely true." Van Zieks shrugged lightly and glanced away. "I enjoy our lunches well enough."

Kazuma stared at him for a moment and then broke into a grin. "I knew it! All that negotiating with terrorists nonsense."

"…That part was true."

He blithely ignored that, undeterred. "You could have kicked me out if you really wanted to," he said cheerfully.

Van Zieks cast him a sidelong look. "The thought crossed my mind on multiple occasions."

But the words didn't have any bite to them, even though they were probably true.

"You're sure you didn't just drag me out here because you wanted to give me some bad news or something?"

Van Zieks sighed. "Not everything has a hidden agenda. It's just lunch. There is nothing in particular I need to discuss with you at this time. We can talk about whatever you want."

"In that case… What have you been discussing with Lord Norrington lately?"

"He has been assisting me with a project I'm working on."

Kazuma scowled. "You're not going to tell me, are you?"

"No."

Kazuma sulked while the waiter brought their food. While he waited for the man to finish setting out the plates and leave, he studied van Zieks surreptitiously, his pique fading to consideration.

It still felt strange knowing that van Zieks knew so much more than Kazuma had realized. Someone he'd met only months ago shouldn't know so many personal details about his childhood and family. Van Zieks had never given any indication of it before and hadn't acknowledged it since, but Kazuma had to wonder what else he might know.

"Can I ask you something else, then?" he asked when they were alone again.

"If you must. I suppose that's how conversation is supposed to go."

"What else did my father tell you?"

Van Zieks went still, his fingers tightening around the handle of his teacup. "You'll have to be more specific," he said neutrally. "He told me a great many things."

"What else did he tell you about me?"

"Again… A great many things. You'd have to be more specific."

Kazuma huffed out an irritated breath. "Then what–?"

"How about this? The next time you are feeling his loss particularly keenly, come ask me again and I will dredge up some memory for you. It would be unwieldy for me to try recalling every single thing he said right now, but that should be doable. And then you can learn a little at a time, whenever you need it."

Van Zieks stared very intently down into his tea, his lips pressed into a tight, bloodless line.

It was an invitation, and a thoughtful one at that. The underlying message—if you're upset, you can come to me—was so genuinely compassionate that Kazuma's throat closed up and he had to cough a little to clear it.

"Tell me something about yourself, then," he said, deciding to let it go for now to unknot the tension holding van Zieks stiff.

"Pardon?"

"You know about my pet mouse and other childhood escapades. It's only fair if you give me a story too."

Truthfully, Kazuma did not expect this appeal to work, but at least it might lighten the mood. Van Zieks was a very private man. He didn't like to talk about himself, and even when he did, it was often only because he had little choice or was using it to teach a lesson. Kazuma honestly knew very little about his personal life outside of bits and pieces picked up here and there, and he expected van Zieks to deflect the question and transition to a new topic of conversation.

"Oh, very well," van Zieks sighed instead, swirling his tea around the cup and frowning down at it. He had yet to touch his food, and it might be Kazuma's fault for his choice of topics. "I suppose I have an unfair advantage." He hesitated, brow furrowed in thought, while Kazuma looked on in surprise. "Ah. You'll find this amusing, I'm sure. I cannot vouch for the veracity of the story since I heard it secondhand, but I have it on good authority that when I was still just an infant, I took advantage of a moment of inattention to drink an unattended glass of wine."

Kazuma stared. "You…?"

"As the story goes, I found it so distasteful that I spit it all back out, staining a perfectly good tablecloth in the process, and knocked the glass over so that it shattered on the floor."

Kazuma's mouth opened and closed soundlessly, and then he burst out laughing. Somehow, van Zieks's dry retelling and neutral expression only made the story more hilarious. Other diners were looking over, their faces registering surprise, either because of Kazuma's rudeness in being so raucous or because it seemed ludicrous that the infamous Reaper of the Bailey might inspire such mirth.

"You started early, did you?" Kazuma chortled. "Barely in the world a few months and already a wine bottle in hand."

"I see you have struck upon the joke already. It was considered especially amusing because, as it turned out, I did not like wine at all even once I was old enough to appreciate it."

Kazuma frowned. "Wine is the only thing I was sure you liked."

Van Zieks shrugged. "I couldn't stand it. Klint was the aficionado. He made a game of searching for one I'd like. Sometimes he'd find the sweetest ones to see if that would help, and sometimes he would pick the most bitter ones just to see my face. I was too well-bred to express my distaste and always so eager to please him… I'd always say I liked it, and it amused him because I obviously hated it and he found it entertaining to watch me try not to show it on my face. He would always ply me with treats after to make up for it, though.

"When I began my hands-on training in the courtroom, he would sit with me afterward and always bring wine—either to celebrate a win or soften a loss, as he said. We would go over the trial, and he would offer his advice and whatnot. After he died, I inherited his collection and took more of an interest in it. It made me feel closer to him, perhaps. Even now, I only really drink alone. I don't like sharing a bottle because that feels like something only shared between me and my brother, and that's the way I like to keep it."

Van Zieks's eyes looked empty and clouded, like his mind was far away, and Kazuma chewed on the inside of his cheek. He had not expected van Zieks to reveal so much or something so personal. It was sobering after the levity of only a minute ago.

Then another thought struck him, and he straightened up. "You drank with me after the Privet trial, though."

Van Zieks said nothing, only hummed quietly in the back of his throat and stared down at his tea like it might hold the answers.

It had felt like a momentous occasion back then and even more so now, although Kazuma really had no idea what it might mean. But van Zieks didn't seem inclined to elaborate, and Kazuma was starting to feel a little remorseful about putting him on the spot and unintentionally pitching him into melancholy.

"Seems like a lot of work to put into something you didn't even like," he said in a lighter tone, trying to steer the conversation back towards safer waters.

"I also discovered that if you drink enough of it, it drowns out your thoughts and knocks you into oblivion, so that was a contributing factor," van Zieks said in a very dry voice. Kazuma had no idea what to say to that and shifted uncomfortably, wondering how he had managed to steer them straight back into the rapids instead. But now van Zieks stirred, taking a sip of his tea and then picking up his fork and knife to begin working at his food without looking at Kazuma. "In any case, it's a bit of an acquired taste, but I trained my palate and enjoy it a great deal more these days. You should really eat your food before it gets cold, or else you won't be able to enjoy the most expensive dish on the menu, and wouldn't that be a shame?"

"…Yes. That would be a travesty."

Kazuma turned his attention to his food, although he still felt subdued and uncomfortable. He had wanted to know more about van Zieks, of course, but he hadn't really meant for the man to give up so much of himself when he obviously didn't want to.

"How are things going in Lord Norrington's office?" van Zieks asked. "Not terrorizing him as much as you do me, I hope?"

"No… I save most of my troublemaking for you. Things have been going fine."

"Have you…reached more of an understanding with him?" van Zieks asked carefully. "Made yourself at home in his office and started bringing your troubles to him?"

Kazuma snorted. "I'm surprised you should ask when I always show up on your doorstep with my problems." Van Zieks pursed his lips, and Kazuma relented. He had resolved to give Norrington and this arrangement more of a chance, and he supposed he owed it to van Zieks too. "We've been getting on alright. I even managed to have a proper conversation with him a few weeks ago, after the Hamel trial. I guess we've reached more of an understanding."

This did not seem to reassure van Zieks at all. "You've only talked to him once in months?"

"Oh, we talk every day, obviously. But that was the first time we talked about something real, I guess. I think we've been doing better since then, so…" Kazuma shrugged uncomfortably. "It's been going well. He's nice enough and a good teacher, just…" Not you. But Kazuma was going to be mature about it and put a positive spin on things this time instead of whining about what he couldn't change. "We have very different methods and I'm sure he thinks I'm far too obsessive about my work, but our approaches complement each other well when we work together."

Van Zieks's frown deepened further. Either this had not sounded convincing enough or he had realized Kazuma hadn't quite answered the original question. Kazuma realized too late that van Zieks hadn't been asking about their professional rapport at all.

"I see," van Zieks said before Kazuma could think of anything else to add. "Well. Perhaps you should go ahead and order your other dish now so the staff can have it packed and ready to go when we leave."

Kazuma had assumed that was more a joke than anything. "That's really not necessary."

Van Zieks shrugged, focused on cutting his food into small, neat bites. "I wouldn't have offered if I didn't mean it. I shudder to think how much of your stipend you've been wasting on these things. It would be rude of me to let you starve, all things considered."

"I manage just fine," Kazuma said a little sullenly.

His student's stipend was small and he'd been stretching it, but he had a head for money and budgeting. He didn't need anyone's charity.

"Don't sulk. You can consider it a thank-you gift for making sure I didn't waste away while chasing after Mr. Hamel and his ilk."

This sounded vaguely placating, a pretty twist on things, but it was logical enough to satisfy Kazuma's pride. He had been chasing after van Zieks with food in hand for weeks now, and he supposed it was only fair to let the man repay that debt, even if there was no need for it.

"Maybe I'll order dessert too while I'm at it," Kazuma muttered, snatching up the menu again.

"A wise choice," van Zieks said blandly. "Get two. The selection is so big that it's impossible to narrow it down to just one."

Kazuma snorted loudly despite himself. "Show-off."

Van Zieks didn't quite laugh, but he did huff out a quiet breath and smother a half-smile behind another bite of food.


One week later, Kazuma was working through case files alone in the office when he was interrupted by an attendant scurrying in to hand him a page bearing the Lord Chief Justice's seal and a summons.

"The Lord Chief Justice asked that you come to his office right away," the man said unnecessarily.

Kazuma's heart leaped into his throat. What could the Lord Chief Justice possibly want with him? Liaising with their superiors was usually Norrington's job. But Norrington was not here right now, having left earlier for some meeting, and the summons was addressed to Kazuma directly.

"Thank you," he said with a stiff smile and hurried out of the room.

His anxiety increased with every step, a dozen increasingly awful explanations coming to mind. Maybe Norrington had finally grown tired of his attitude and lodged a formal complaint? Perhaps his work had been deemed unsatisfactory? Unsatisfactory enough to lose the privilege of remaining in London, even?

He was being silly. It was probably something terribly mundane and routine. A question about some case report he'd submitted after their last trial, maybe, or a general evaluation of the progress of his apprenticeship. But he'd never been summoned for anything like that before, and he couldn't help but feel that attracting the Lord Chief Justice's special attention portended something of greater import.

He paused outside the door to take a deep breath and collect himself, then knocked.

"Come in," came a voice from inside.

Kazuma squared his shoulders and put on his best impression of van Zieks readying his armor to project a steady, unruffled bearing. He stepped inside the room and stopped short.

The Lord Chief Justice stood in front of his desk. Norrington and van Zieks stood on either side, discussing something in low voices. They looked over at Kazuma's entrance, and he was so surprised to see them all waiting for him that his mind went blank.

"What…?"

"Come in, Mr. Asogi," the Lord Chief Justice said again, gesturing him over.

Norrington smiled encouragingly as Kazuma slowly crossed the room. Van Zieks's face was blank, and his gaze seemed to be focused just below and slightly to the left of Kazuma's eyes.

"Ah… You wanted to see me?" Kazuma ventured uncertainly.

His gaze darted between the three men, latching first onto van Zieks in the hopes that his former mentor might give some indication of what was happening and then darting along when no answer was forthcoming. What's going on here? he wanted to ask, but he just barely managed to restrain himself.

"Yes," said the Lord Chief Justice. He seemed relaxed, at least, friendly and affable in a way reminiscent of Norrington, so hopefully that meant Kazuma wasn't in too much trouble. "Lord Norrington and Lord van Zieks have been in discussion about renegotiating the terms of your apprenticeship for several weeks now. We've been waiting for the fuss surrounding the Golden Hand trials to die down, and now that it's been a few weeks and there have been no other related incidents, it seemed a good time to consult you on the matter."

"Renegotiate?" Kazuma's gaze snapped back to van Zieks, his heart jumping into his throat. "Are you…? Are you going to resume control of my apprenticeship?"

He hardly dared believe it. He told himself it was silly to get excited when he had been so soundly rebuffed so many times, but he was seized with a wild hope anyway. Why else would van Zieks need to be here for this?

Van Zieks shrugged. "That's up to you, I suppose."

"What…?"

The Lord Chief Justice broke back in. "The consensus seems to be that while you are still performing your work commendably, you are not achieving the full extent of your potential with the current arrangements."

"It's your choice," van Zieks said. "We didn't give you an option last time, so now we are. There are still safety concerns if you return to my office, but you have already been loitering around and inserting yourself into my affairs regardless, and it seems the worst of the aftermath from the Golden Hand trials has blown over. You are already aware of my concerns on the matter. I would be honored to resume our partnership, but you need not feel obligated to–"

He cut off abruptly as Kazuma launched himself forward and knocked the air out of him. Kazuma could hardly believe that after all this time… He buried his face in van Zieks's chest, tears burning at the corners of his eyes, and wrapped his arms around him tightly.

"Wh-what…? What are you doing?" van Zieks asked. His voice sounded strange, flustered and pitched oddly. Every muscle had gone stiff, tense and unyielding in Kazuma's grasp.

Despite himself, Kazuma laughed breathily. "It's just a hug," he said, voice muffled in van Zieks's coat. "You surely can't be that out of touch."

"It's unprofessional, is what it is. Entirely inappropriate and overfamiliar for a professional relationship, and– I say this with all the love and compassion my withered heart possesses, but I must insist that you unhand me at once."

But for just a moment, Kazuma felt the gentle brush of fingertips just barely fluttering against his back before falling away. He laughed again before releasing van Zieks and stepping back, swiping the back of one glove casually across his eyes.

"That's possibly the politest way of saying let go right now before I make you that I've ever heard," he said, amused. "For someone normally so unflappable, you're very easy to fluster."

Van Zieks was tugging at his coat and gloves restlessly, as if Kazuma had somehow put them into disarray just by touching them, but he stopped abruptly and crossed his arms over his chest instead at the teasing. He eyed Kazuma warily, as if keeping a lookout for another such assault on his personal space. Kazuma found his discomfort absurdly pleasing.

"Yes, well– You–" Van Zieks huffed out a breath, and Kazuma chuckled at his discomposure. "Don't do that."

"I'll consider it." Kazuma was practically vibrating with excitement now as reality began to set in. He just knew his eyes were shining like an overenthusiastic child's, but he couldn't bring himself to care. "When can I come back? Right away? Is there paperwork? Obviously, I'm coming back—you know I always wanted to."

Van Zieks grimaced at the torrent of questions. "I see my days of peace and quiet are coming to an end."

Kazuma smirked. "I know you missed me."

"There are conditions," van Zieks said, deadly serious, and Kazuma sobered.

"What conditions?"

"Firstly, you will submit to my guidance on our cases. If I am working on a case that I deem potentially dangerous, you will be a silent partner and follow my direction."

"What does that mean? Silent partner?"

"It means that you may assist with the investigations and case-building behind the scenes to whatever degree I say you can, but you will not be officially involved. You may be excluded from the crime scenes and from standing in court with me. If I say that you will not be accompanying me in the streets, you will not be seen with me outside of the office. These precautions will not eliminate the danger, but they will hopefully mitigate the risk to you."

Kazuma scowled. He didn't want to be excluded from anything—he'd already dealt with enough restrictions when first put on probation. And he wanted to be there if anything happened, to know that someone was watching van Zieks's back.

"But–"

"This is not negotiable. You may accept the condition or remain in Lord Norrington's office. I need your cooperation in this matter, or I cannot consent to this transfer. It…is important to me that I know we have taken every possible precaution and that you will follow my instructions even if you do not agree with them."

Kazuma wrestled with that, wanting to protest but also not wanting to blow this chance. In the end, it was the way van Zieks had nearly faltered and how his stiff formality had softened to something so earnest that made Kazuma nod.

"Alright," he said. "As long as I can still help when I can. What's the other condition?"

Van Zieks let out a breath Kazuma hadn't realized he was holding. "We will resume your sparring lessons."

Kazuma blinked at him in faint bewilderment for a moment before the tension drained out of him. He had been worried van Zieks's other conditions might be as frustrating as the first.

"Of course."

"And you will take them seriously."

"I always–"

"None of this tiptoeing around on eggshells," van Zieks said severely. "You will fight me like you mean it. I told you, I never yield. If you want me to stay down, you'll have to make me."

Kazuma huffed out a breath. "You really want me to stab you that badly, do you?"

"I want you to fight to win, without worrying about every little scratch. I assure you, there is nothing you can do to me that someone has not already done worse."

Kazuma stared at van Zieks, a queasy feeling curdling his insides. "Is that supposed to make me feel better about it?"

Van Zieks paused, looking faintly confused. "Why? Does it?"

"No."

He waved a hand dismissively. "It's just a statement of fact. I don't expect you'll be doing very much damage to start with, and a few minor injuries aren't going to do more than inconvenience me. Stop worrying about silly things and take it seriously. If you do not, I assure you that I will pack you back off to Lord Norrington immediately."

"I did break your nose that one time."

"Yes, although I'd be more impressed if you hadn't been so surprised you did it."

Kazuma sighed. "Very well. If that's what it takes, I'll stab you every so often."

"I feel like you are missing the point, but it will do for now."

Kazuma perked up again. Whatever his feelings on this particular matter, it seemed a small ask in the grand scheme of things.

After all these weeks, these months, van Zieks had finally come around. Kazuma had long since given up any real hope, and then this. The capitulation had come out of the blue, but he wasn't going to question it.

"I knew I'd win you over eventually," he said brightly.

"Goodness knows I couldn't keep you out of my office, and I certainly tried," van Zieks said tiredly. "You are possibly the most stubborn man I've ever met."

"I learned from the best."

"I think you have long since surpassed me."

"I meant Ryunosuke."

And van Zieks laughed. He turned sharply away, a hand rising to shield his mouth, but the damage was already done.

Kazuma stared at him, open-mouthed. He had never heard van Zieks laugh before. The man had come close on occasion, but he only usually achieved an amused exhale or smothered snort at best. This was a proper laugh, even if it only colored the air for a moment before being abruptly cut off.

If Kazuma had had to take a guess, he would have expected van Zieks's laughter to be gravelly or rusty with disuse, or maybe full of sharp edges like the man himself. But this was none of those things. The sound was rich and warm and low, and it sounded so properly normal, as if van Zieks had known how to laugh all along even though he pretended not to. Just a man, after all.

"Are you laughing?" Kazuma asked stupidly.

"Of course not," van Zieks said in a breathy sort of voice as he reined himself back in—a blatant lie if Kazuma had ever heard one. "Although I think your assessment of Mr. Naruhodo is actually quite insightful."

"You don't have to hide it, you know. It's not a crime to act like you're human every once in a while."

"You're terrible," van Zieks said in a way that seemed like it was supposed to sound irritated but came off more amused than anything. "I hope you don't take that attitude with Lord Norrington."

"Of course not. No one's questioning whether he's human. You're much more fun to bother."

"In fact," Norrington cut in, "he had very little interest in me at all. He mostly just talks about you."

Kazuma had half forgotten Norrington and the Lord Chief Justice looking on with some mix of surprise and disbelief and amusement.

"I do not," he said. He paused, frowning. "Do I?"

Norrington smiled, eyes glittering with uncommon mischief. "Yes, although it was worse in the beginning. Lord van Zieks always supervises investigations from start to finish. Lord van Zieks is much more thorough than that. When Lord van Zieks gives me a case, he lets me handle it my own way. Don't you have any feedback? Lord van Zieks always provides corrections on everything I hand in. He would never accept 'acceptable' work."

Heat crept up Kazuma's neck and splashed across his face, and he thought this must be some kind of cosmic karma for taking such pleasure in flustering van Zieks. It wasn't that Norrington was wrong, exactly, but did he have to say all that right in front of van Zieks?

Van Zieks rounded on Kazuma with indignant amazement. "You did nothing but complain about how much I corrected your work."

"Well, it's annoying," Kazuma muttered, crossing his arms tightly and scowling at the floor.

Norrington chuckled. "Truly, Lord van Zieks, he was always complaining that I didn't do things your way."

Van Zieks did not seem as amused. "That's not very tactful of you, Mr. Asogi."

Kazuma's scowl deepened. "It's not my fault you're so much better than him."

"Mr. Asogi!" van Zieks barked, looking genuinely horrified. "Out of all the– Do you remember when I said you'd eventually need to learn tact and social graces? It's time to start those lessons, I see. I've been remiss on that count. You will apologize to Lord Norrington immediately."

"But–"

"And graciously thank him for everything he has done for you. He did you an incredible favor looking out for you these past few months, which you should appreciate."

"I don't–"

"You may also thank the Lord Chief Justice for his help in facilitating the renegotiation of your apprenticeship. You should always thank people who are doing you favors."

Kazuma groaned and gave up. Van Zieks's eyes were hard and deadly serious, and it seemed like a bad idea to antagonize him too much right before everything was finalized.

Kazuma turned to Norrington and summoned up all the tact he possessed. "Sorry about that. You're a very good teacher. I was just annoyed."

Norrington, as even-tempered as ever, looked more amused than offended. "It's alright. I've been well aware of your stance on the matter from the start. And I suppose I provoked you this time."

"Still." Kazuma took a deep breath and steadied himself. "Thank you for mentoring me. You were always very patient with me, and I learned a lot. And… I appreciate how understanding you were about…things."

"Of course," Norrington said. "You were an outstanding student and I enjoyed watching you grow, but I am happy for you that you are finally going back where you belong."

Kazuma nodded, gaze sliding away, and turned to the Lord Chief Justice. "And thank you for your help getting this sorted out as well."

"No trouble at all. Ah, and you'll be glad to hear that during the negotiation process, your stipend was raised as well on account of your admirable progress and good behavior. I will provide the details to you during your transition."

Kazuma shot a sharp look at van Zieks, thinking this felt very much like something he might have had a hand in, but his face gave nothing away.

"I suppose that will do for now," van Zieks said. "Although it seems you will need more practice. Now–"

"Thank you too," Kazuma interrupted. "For finally taking me back, and for taking me on in the first place when you didn't want to. You were always looking out for me and helped whenever I needed you. I couldn't have made it this far without you."

"Th-that's not–" Van Zieks suddenly looked flustered again, caught off guard by his apprentice's sudden earnestness. "I didn't mean me."

Kazuma smiled, amused. "But I owe you more than anyone else, don't I?"

"You don't owe me anything," van Zieks said severely, recovering himself. "I did my duty, and that's all. Stop heckling me."

"You're a terrible liar. Anyway, I thought I was supposed to be practicing my manners?"

"Practice them on someone else. It's unnatural when you turn them on me, and I don't like it."

Kazuma had to laugh.

"Truly, the strangest pair I've ever met," Norrington said, his eyes sparkling with mirth. "Mr. Asogi, I will have your things delivered to Lord van Zieks's office. You are excused from your work and may spend the remainder of your afternoon where you'd like. You can stay in my office until your things are moved or–" He smiled when Kazuma took an automatic half-step towards van Zieks. "That's what I thought. It was a pleasure working with you, and I will make myself available should you need me. Good luck."

Kazuma murmured his thanks.

Van Zieks made a sweeping bow to his colleagues. "Thank you for your consideration and assistance," he said gravely. "Lord Norrington, you have my deepest gratitude for looking after Mr. Asogi on my behalf. I am, as ever, in your debt."

Norrington only smiled. "No need for all that. I am honored that you entrusted his care to me. Good luck… It sounds as if you'll need it."

Between van Zieks's solemn formality and Norrington's lighthearted jab, Kazuma just barely resisted the urge to roll his eyes.

Van Zieks turned on his heel and strode from the room, clipped strides ringing off the tile floors. Kazuma rushed after him and fell into step, his excitement growing as they turned away from the direction of Norrington's office.

When they stepped back into van Zieks's office, Kazuma let out his breath in a contented sigh and looked around with new fondness. Even the bats in the far corner seemed somehow warm and welcoming.

"It's good to be back."

"You might change your mind soon enough," van Zieks said dryly.

"You're going to have to try harder than that to scare me off. You won't be able to get rid of me this time."

And although van Zieks heaved a long-suffering sigh, Kazuma couldn't help but notice that he looked somehow secretly pleased.