consider me alive [c]

[TATSUYA MATSUMARA]

Lunch time was Tatsuya Matsumara’s favorite time of the day. He could leave his office without having to worry about an idiot of a student or a hopeless teacher seeking his attention. Since it took place during fifth period, teachers either had lunch duty or were teaching their students. The teacher’s lounge was empty for the most part and quiet. There were no random and annoying bouts of gossip filling the empty air. There really wasn’t any sound at all. The real noise was on the first floor and that just wouldn’t due for Tatsuya. Especially since the commons were right outside his office. Which was why when the fifth period bell rang, he could be found quietly slipping out of his office and making his way up to the third floor.

Of course, he was greeted by dead silence as he opened the door and stepped into the room. It was a comfy, little area. Designed to suit his tastes with black, leather couches and chairs encircled around the center of the room. Along the back wall was a counter with a sink, a dishwasher, a microwave, and a refrigerator. There was even a vending machine to the side and a copy machine in the corner. Everything anyone could possibly want could be found in this room. Though, the only thing Tatsuya really needed was in the fridge.

He made his way across the room and to the fridge, humming absently as he did. His mind wasn’t really focused around anything. It just seemed to jump from one thought to another without his notice. He was relieved to be up here and away from the pests known as people. Cyan was really the only person he enjoyed being around. Besides his sister but she hated him so there was no use dwelling on that thought… Retrieving his bento from the fridge, he went to sit down on the center couch in front of the coffee table. With unnecessary care, Tatsu opened the little box and pulled the chopsticks hidden within it out. His dark gaze was transfixed on his meal as he slowly ate in silence, the black sticks plucking out the delicious treats.

It was the first time he had realized this but… It was kind of lonely. His lifestyle was, anyway. Though, he didn’t view it as his fault. Yes, he pushed people away and refused to be social but simply because everyone save a few people were rather… stupid. And, frankly, Tatsuya was allergic to stupidity. Tsk. What was he going to d--.

The sound of the door opening started him out of his thoughts and his gaze jumped up to scrutinize the invader. Well… Shit.

[/blockquote][/blockquote][/justify]

[Oliver Ken Toulson]

Oliver sighed and put a hand on his forehead as the bell rang, watching his fourth period students file out of the classroom, some towards lunch and some towards more classes. Oddly enough, there hadn’t been much giggling today as he allowed his classes their “fun day” of the month; they had gotten to spend the whole period playing with condoms. The only rules were that they couldn’t hurt anyone and they couldn’t take any clothing off. The anatomy professor smirked, remembering how it had went. Messy was one word that could describe his today’s classes. There were little plastic tube-ish things all over the floor now, but he didn’t feel like picking them up. He could get the broom from the supply closet once he was done with lunch.

Right. Lunch was the first thing on the mongoose’s mind as he rummaged in his desk for the brown paper bag he had left there earlier this morning. He had considered sticking it in the refrigerator that had been installed in the teacher’s lounge, but he hadn’t had time to stop by before class. Teachers were technically supposed to get to school at around five in the morning, but Oliver was a lazy bum, and had arrived with only minutes to spare before his first class started. It was a thing that happened a lot, and he was surprised that he hadn’t been fired yet. In a normal school something like that wouldn’t even get him a warning, but this place was a… special case, to put it lightly. Or you could just say that Oliver was paranoid. He had been in a relationship with the darling headmaster a few years ago, and it had ended badly. It would be an understatement to say that Oliver feared for his job. Rather, he feared for his life.

He spotted the bag in the back of his desk and reached out for it, long fingers wrapping around the top and pulling it towards him, sitting up once he had it safely in his grasp. It always ended up in the oddest places when he stored it in his desk. He wasn’t sure if it was the kids messing with him or the fact that he sat on his desk often enough to jostle it and send the bag flying. He would have to find out one day. Opening the door, he headed up the multiple flights of stairs and through a few hallways, heading for the teacher’s lounge. He normally ate in his classroom, but with the floor currently covered in flamboyantly colored plastic, he wasn’t really in the mood for spending any more time than necessary in there. It took him a few moments to locate the lounge, seeing as he almost never came through these hallways, let alone the room meant for teachers only. He wasn’t even sure who frequented the room, so it came as a complete surprise when he opened the door.

He froze and stared at the shorter man for a moment, then pulled a smile onto his face. ”Tatsuya,” he cooed, trying to sound happy about seeing the principal again. Really, he was quite good-looking, even after a few years. Not like he had expected anything to change, but it was the first time he had seen the principal in the same room since he was hired. That had been an awkward meeting… Still, after working with the man for a few months, Oliver had begun to fear that he was still upset about something. It almost seemed as if Tatsuya was avoiding him. Well, there was no hope for it. It would look silly if he entered, said the man’s name, then quickly left again. Mr. Toulson hated looking silly. Anyway, the anatomy professor didn’t have any problem with the younger man. He still liked him after all these years, though he had managed to preoccupy himself with other people and activities. Though there were rumors flying around the school about the now violent man… maybe his personality wasn’t as adorable as it used to be.

[TATSUYA MATSUMARA]

If it seemed as if Tatsuya was trying to avoid the unfortunate teacher, it was because he was. Honestly, Tatsuya had only hired him because, well… He needed staff. With all of the students looping around like wild animals, he needed a sufficient amount of staff members in order to keep them under control or else the principal would have to resort to some rather… inhumane was of taking care of the unruly classes. He figured the school was big enough that they wouldn’t ever run into each other so this certainly was a surprise. It looked like that, for once, the headmaster was wrong.

He just stared at Oliver for a moment, black eyes peeking past dark locks of gentle waves. His legs were neatly crossed; chopsticks raised and ready to pop the morsel of food into his open, waiting mouth. It was obvious that he was surprised. And it took him a little longer than he would have liked to recover. “Oliver,” his voice was flat, void of any emotion at all. Yet, still there was that faint hint of his Japanese accent. The ‘o’ in his name turned into a long sound and the ‘v’ was replaced with a ‘b’ sound. Just as it always had been. As soon as he had said his name, Tatsu had focused his attention back on his lunch. He popped the food into his mouth and turned his gaze away from the other.

Well… This was certainly awkward. And definitely not what Tatsuya wanted to deal with while he was on his lunch break. Though, it would be an interesting story to tell Cyan. Would it make him jealous, he wondered? He might as well have something to tell his… What was Cyan to him? A friend? That term seemed to suit. For now.

“It’s been a while,” he spoke up after a moment, lips pressed into a thin line, “How have you been?” Once again his gaze returned to the other. He seemed genuinely curious though Tatsuya could always seem like a lot of things he really wasn’t. What a lovely trick Tatsuya had learned after leaving Oliver. There were a lot of tricks Tatsuya had learned after Oliver.

The man leaned forward and set his bento box on the coffee table in front of him. He wasn’t finished eating his lunch, just for the moment. Tatsuya settled back in his seat, stretching his short, narrow body out and digging a hand into his pocket to pull out his infamous, silver lighter. Not the exact one Oliver had seen before but one that looked exactly like it. He then pulled the loose cigarette he kept poised in his breast pocket out and lit it, inhaling a deep breath of smoke and puffing it out through his nose. A common habit of his he had always had. Thank god he had disabled the smoke detectors in the teacher’s lounge long ago or else he would not be able to do this.

His gaze remained transfixed on Oliver as he sat calmly in the center of the couch with one leg crossed over the other. One arm was crossed over his chest, the other holding the cigarette inches from his pale lips.

[/blockquote][/blockquote][/justify]

[Oliver Ken Toulson]

Okay, so the headmaster apparently wasn't happy to see him. At least Oliver assumed so, seeing as his voice was... dead. There wasn't a better word for it, really. The way Tatsuya pronounced his name was still endearing, but the tone of voice wasn't. ”You should sound happier when you're talking to one of your... co-workers,” he said, keeping his voice light and friendly. Oh, there were a lot of other words that Oliver could have described himself as, co-worker was one of the lighter ones. Lover was another one of those, and yes, Oliver still thought of himself that way. Ex was such a harsh word, and he would have nothing to do with it. Ex-lover... that wasn't him. He smirked at the headmaster as he walked over to the couch, hopping up to sit on the back of it. He knew that he was at least six inches taller than the younger man, but he still liked being in a higher spot. He wasn't exactly aware that the headmaster thought himself as the king yet. In Oliver's mind, they were sort of back to a few years ago, when Oliver was king, and Tatsuya was just an adorable pawn that he had twisted around his finger. Maybe if the headmaster had been clearer about the reason for the breakup he would notice more of the present situation.

Oliver didn't sense any awkwardness when he answered Tatsu's polite and stiff little question. ”It hasn't been that long, has it, Tatsy?” He crooned the question like he was talking to a child, and with their difference in height and sitting position, it did feel a bit like that. Still not awkward for the anatomy professor, though. He tended to be oblivious of things like that until they hit him in the face. But maybe pulling out the headmaster's old nickname hadn't been such a good idea... Oh well. He was still cute when he was angry. ”I've been good. Occupying myself with teaching the numbskulls that attend this school,” he said, shrugging. He had a milder version of Tatsuya's view of the students. No, he wouldn't hurt them, like dear Mr. Headmaster would, but they annoyed the fuck out of him. Of course, he returned the favor by annoying the fuck out of them and giving them extra homework to boot. He raised an eyebrow at the genuinely curious expression. Had his dear past lover actually listened to him for once? Comparing the Tatsuya that he had once had wrapped around his finger to that headmaster that had hired him, he guessed otherwise. The stubborn mule that he had become probably wouldn't give in so fast.

He wrinkled his nose slightly as the snake brought out his cigarette. It wasn't that Oliver disliked smoking; no, he himself smoked often and drank even more often. It was the fact that it brought back memories. He couldn't exactly categorize them as bad memories, though. Just... odd memories. Memories of Tatsuya giving him an apathetic look and putting his cigarette on Oliver's arm whenever he went too far with the teasing, which happened often. It may have sounded bad, but it was just another thing that Oliver found adorable. Though it had made his arm look quite odd for a while after, and it had hurt like hell. Oliver had a low pain tolerance, though he could deal with it if it was his little Tatsy that was hurting him. Dark eyes watched the headmaster as he stretched, and a little grin played at the corners of Oliver's lips. He was so happy to see Tatsuya again, even if he was less cute. But the adorable guy that he had known was attractive in another way now. Oliver wondered in the back of his mind if he was seeing anyone. He knew that he himself had had quite a few flings over the past few years, but Tatsuya was still his favorite, in an odd and twisted way.

”You're adorable when you do that, Tatsy,” he cooed, reaching out a hand to ruffle the male's brown hair. Probably a mistake.

[TATSUYA MATSUMARA]

That short pause before the word ‘co-worker’ made Tatsuya arch an eyebrow of his. What exactly had he been thinking of saying? They were obviously nothing more than co-workers. Did he think otherwise? Did Oliver still think that he had the principal wrapped around his finger even after he had broken it off with him? Silly, little thing. Though, it did give Tatsuya a chance to… play with him. If he did want the headmaster, why not make him squirm a little? He did want a story to tell Cyan… It would be interesting to see if the puppet could fool the puppeteer. Oh, Oliver was in for a treat. Tatsuya was hardly a thing like the man he knew. “Perhaps I would sound happier if someone worth my time had barged in,” his tone had taken a light, playful turn. The insult held no bite and it was hard to tell if he was serious or not. His eyes glinted without emotion but the corners of his lips had twitched up into the slightest of smiles. “Are you worth my time, Oliver?” He mused softly after a short pause and the question sounded more like a challenge.

The other promised to be interesting, didn’t he? Tatsuya didn’t say anything when he perched himself on the back of the couch. He knew exactly what Oliver was doing. It was as if they had taken a step back in time; the only difference was that Tatsuya wasn’t buying it. This mongoose had something to learn and he better learn it quick: Tatsuya was the king and no one could knock him from his throne. The new teacher would learn that soon enough.

“It’s been long enough,” he said quietly and his gaze drifted from Oliver as if he were losing interest. Instead, he seemed occupied with the wall to the right. Tatsuya tilted his head to the side, studying the shade. Perhaps he should change the color for once. It was growing rather dull. Though, most of his attention was still centered around Oliver. The comment he made about the students at the school made Tatsuya purse his lips. Yes, he insulted his students millions of times every day but they were his students. He read through application after application and picked them himself. “Now, now, Oliver,” he started, “Those ‘numbskulls,’ as you so affectionately called them, are the best of the best. I picked them out myself. Now I know you’re not insulting my students, are you?” His gaze flickered to the other and he watched him from the corners of his eyes. His voice was still light but it had the air of a mother chastising her son for coloring on the walls with crayons. If Oliver were going to speak to Tatsuya as if he were a child, Tatsuya would speak to him as if he were a toddler.

Yes, the students were the best of the best. Too bad the best wasn’t good enough.

Tatsuya took another gentle drag of his cigarette and leaned forward to tap the ashes off into the crystal ashtray sitting on the coffee table. Again, he relaxed back in his seat beside Oliver. Honestly, what happened next should not have surprised Tatsu as much as it did. It wasn’t so much the nickname that made him turn cold as it was the fact that he had been called ‘adorable’ and that Oliver actually had the nerve to reach out and touch him. He actually had the balls to ruffle Tatsuya’s hair. It all happened very quickly. The nickname and supposed-to-be compliment made the snake’s eyes turn into slits. The ruffling of the hair caused a knee-jerk reaction and forced Tatsuya to stand while simultaneously thrusting the burning end of his cigarette at Oliver. He didn’t care where he hit him – the knee, the arm, the stomach – as long as he felt the burn just like he did so many years before. “Don’t do that.” His voice was still level and calm and as if he had not just burnt his ex-lover, his co-worker, his new employee, he moved around the couch and walked to the back of the room. The cigarette was out and bent at the end but he still held it between his lips as he bent over slightly in the front of the microwave. The tented glass offered a makeshift mirror so he could fix his hair. Yes, he still obsessed over his appearance. “You fucked it up,” the headmaster growled around the bud of his cigarette.

[/blockquote][/blockquote][/justify]

[Oliver Ken Toulson]

The headmaster had obviously changed in the past few years; even someone like Oliver could notice that, though it was mostly because he wasn't predictable anymore. Back in the days that Oliver had loved so much, Tatsuya was like a piano. Simple to play if you knew the notes, but making a tremendous crash when he fell. In the years of Oliver's absence from Tatsuya's life, the piano had learned how to play itself, and Oliver didn't recognize the song anymore. Though it was obvious that the man had changed his tune, he kept the scale of the change well hidden from the professor. Oliver wasn't exactly sure where he stood with his past lover, but it was all fun and games to him as he tested the waters. He was still the controlling man that he had been before; that would never change. Along with that, his tricky side hadn't changed either, and though it had softened when he had first seen Tatsuya, it was still easy to recognize that the man was playing with him. Yes, it was still fun and games as he played right along, careful to avoid walking straight into the headmaster's hands.

”Oh, Tatsuya, I didn't barge in,” he said, the human imitation of a purr building up in his chest. The noise was barely audible, but it was there, like it always was when the mongoose shifter was happy. Well, happy and wanting to show it in the most animal-like way possible. His eyes sharpened slightly as the headmaster asked if he was worth his time, but the smile didn't slide off his face. He was experienced at keeping it on, even when he was surprised. Was he worth the headmaster's time? He had to think on that for a moment, and still couldn't come up with an answer. Couldn't come up with anything tricky to say, either. So he answered honestly, dangerously close to reaching out and stroking Tatsuya's face... but he knew that wouldn't be smart. He couldn't do anything like that at this point of the game. ”Well, Tatsy...” he breathed, sliding down off the back of the couch to sit next to the headmaster, his arm almost touching the man's shoulder. He leaned back, watching the ceiling absently, all the while refusing to look at the shorter man's attractive face. ”I wouldn't know... Seeing as you broke up with me. I might have changed over the years, though,” he said, his friendly and teasing voice only returning on the last part of the sentence. It had been an honest answer, much to the mongoose's surprise.

Done with the sudden seriousness that had accompanied his answer, Oliver scrambled back up to the back of the couch, watching Tatsuya with interest sparking in his eyes. Long enough... that could mean multiple things. Knowing the headmaster, it was probably just the man correcting Oliver's comment on how it hadn't been that long, but some part of the professor's mind wanted it to mean something else. Wanted it to mean that it had been enough, that they hadn't seen eachother in a long time, and that Tatsuya was glad that the time had ended, glad that he got to see his past lover again. But, seeing as Oliver really was a past lover, he knew that it didn't mean that. It was just his annoying ass correcting Oliver because he liked being right and having the final say. This time, Oliver handed over the final say without a fight, not commenting on what the younger man had said. All part of the game.

Oliver didn't like that Tatsuya was “losing interest” in him. In the factual sense, he was pretty sure that it was part of his fun and games, but the part of him that was an animal and still adored the headmaster after all these years hated that the man didn't find him interesting. He tried to make that part of him shut up, because didn't emotion ruin the whole game? It was tricks and false expressions that made this whole thing fun, and now that both of them were skilled at it the game was just more fun. But it seemed like Oliver's tricks were losing their shine, while Tatsuya was pulling out some new ones. If he wasn't careful, he would be wrapped around the man's finger in no time, though Oliver was quite sure that once Tatsuya believed that he owned him, he would be discarded like trash. So he would keep the man at an arm's distance, lest he be fooled by the new tricks that little Tatsy had up his sleeve. He would get back into the swing of the game soon enough, right? He just needed a bit more practice. After all, he hadn't had someone so fun to manipulate as Tatsuya in... well, since he had broken it off.

”Of course I'm not insulting them, Tatsuya,” he said, his voice coming out in a smooth purr. ”As you said, it's an affectionate nickname, right?” Wrong. It wasn't affectionate in the least bit, but his words were mixed with two desires; to continue playing the game and to please Tatsuya. It was like the sadist and the masochist inside of him were battling for who would be the personality he showed around his past lover. He knew which one would make the younger man happy, but at the same time, his own personal enjoyment lay in the other one. It was a dilemma, it truly was. ”And of course they're the best, dear Tatsuya. You picked them, after all.” A compliment laced with sarcasm, almost unnoticeable to someone who didn't know Oliver very well.

Then the game kind of slipped, and he ruffled Tatsuya's hair. Yeah, it had been a mistake. A big one. He blinked as his lover ripped away from his hand, not noticing the cigarette until it was jabbed right below his knee. He sharp intake of breath and his smile sliding away were the only signs that he noticed it, though, staring absently at the wall straight across from him. He had forgotten how much it had hurt, and now he couldn't even comfort himself with the fact that Tatsuya still loved him. It was obvious by now that he didn't. He was temped to say so many things, like 'tatsy, you know you liked it' or 'this just proves that you're slipping back into old habits. does this mean you still like me?', but he clenched his teeth to stop himself from saying any of them. He knew that as he watched Tatsuya inspect his reflection, saying anything like that would just get him in more trouble. But as he watched the headmaster with pain in his eyes, one of them slipped out, the purr a bit more cracked than it would have been otherwise.

”Ah, at least your ass is still cute.”

[TATSUYA MATSUMARA]

There were differences, Tatsuya noted, in the relationship he held with Oliver and the relationship – if it could be called that – he has with Cyan. The biggest and most major difference being that Cyan wasn’t trying to control him. The Japanese instructor didn’t try to bend Tatsuya one way then mold him into a completely different shape. Nor did he play with his emotions. Was it Tatsuya doing that to him? Oh, if he could make Cyan jealous… How delicious would that be? The pure emotion confessing everything he refuses to say… That he wanted Tatsuya and he wanted him all to himself. That’s all Tatsuya wants to know. He doesn’t wish to hurt his… Cy-chan. He just wishes to figure out where exactly they stood. On the other hand… Oliver had always been the puppeteer. He toyed with Tatsuya’s emotions, played him like a well-tuned instrument… And he managed to keep Tatsuya crawling back for more. At least until Tatsuya realized that he didn’t have to deal with his sweet shit. And the moment Oliver hit the wrong note the relationship blew up and Tatsuya severed the strings connecting him to Oliver. Truth be told, it took him a little while to figure out how to move around on his own. But he did figure it out and now he was stronger than ever.

Tatsuya stayed as he was even after the comment he made about his ass. The cigarette dangled precariously from the corner of his mouth and his dark gaze became fixated on the tiny, translucent and darkened figure in the glass of the microwave. Oliver could be seen at the very edge, almost cut off by the handle of the door. Slowly, he tilted his head to glance at the other over his shoulder. How many times had Tatsu been forced to look at him this way? With his hands braced against the nearest object – this time it being a counter top? He didn’t particularly like it anymore. Not with Oliver. Not like he had. But, still, he remained relaxed. He remained motionless. An almost amused smile curled at the corners of his lips. He was no longer infatuated by the charm, the adoration, the… the eyes that used to capture Tatsuya, or the smile that used to make him want to melt. He didn’t need it anymore… But Oliver still felt the same way he had the years before. Had he always been harboring these feelings or were they rekindled after meeting Tatsuya again? How Oliver been busy while they were separated; had he kept his attention fixated… elsewhere? If he had, it obviously didn’t keep his attention for long.

“Mmm,” a soft hum rose in his throat as he played the part he used to. He was just a robot going through the motions of its duty. It was just a game to see how well Tatsuya had him hooked if at all. What if Oliver was just playing with him as well? He would be sure not to get caught up in the workings of it because he was already caught up with someone else. With Cyan. He wondered… How would Oliver react to that? Mmm… Tatsuya could always toy with that idea later. For now… His hips swayed slightly – like only a snake’s could – as he stood up straight so he could turn around to face Oliver again. Tatsuya leaned back against the counter and pulled the lighter from his pocket to lit what was left of his cigarette. “If you’re trying to win back my good side with flattery, you’ll have to do better than that, dear.” His eyes glinted with amusement and he crossed an arm over his stomach. The cigarette was held loosely between his index and middle finger as he brought it to his lips for a deep drag. He lowered the cancer stick again and tilted his head to the ceiling, exhaling a perfect ring of smoke above his head. “Tell me, did I manage to fix my hair after you so rudely messed it up? Really, you should apologize, Oliver. Where have your manners gone?” Tatsuya wasn’t even sure if he ever had any. “And get down from there. What are you? A child? Sit on my couch properly or I’ll push you off.” Again, his voice had taken on that parental tone though a smile still brushed gently across his features, “Don’t make me regret hiring you so soon, Oliver.”

A flash of pink tongue played along his bottom lip before Tatsuya took another breath of smoke.

[/blockquote][/blockquote][/justify]

[Oliver Ken Toulson]

Oliver hadn't had many relationships since Tatsuya left him. Sure, there were some one-night stands and a lot of things that he had done drunk, but nothing serious. He hadn't understood anyone like he had understood his Tatsuya, and they weren't as fun to play with. So over the years, his skills at his little teasing game had dropped noticeably, and he was finding it really hard not to stand up and... er... have his way with the headmaster, especially when he started moving like that... but no, that wouldn't be good to do in a public space. Not that anyone ever came in here, but there was always the chance that someone could surprise them like he had surprised Tatsuya. That wouldn't do... not at all. He took a deep breath and thought about sitting on his hands, then decided otherwise when his stomach growled loudly. Right, he had forgotten about lunch. He was amazed that the snake could distract him from his food. He tilted his head as he looked at the headmaster, only a small part of his mind focused on the brown paper bag that he had grabbed and placed in his lap, though he was still able to focus enough to open it. ”Ah, darling, am I currently on your bad side? I would try to win you back, of course... but I seem to have this hole in my pants as proof that you don't want me,” he purred quietly. Oh dear... how was he going to hide said hole from his students? He didn't like sitting behind his desk; it confined him. Well, he supposed he could let the students think what they wanted to about the little circle beneath his knee, it wasn't like he gave a shit.

The professor raised an eyebrow as Tatsuya blew a smoke ring. It looked like sort of twisted halo. He moved his eyes down to watch the snake's face, dark eyes glimmering with a mix of amusement and want, though he did his best to hide the second one. It had been two years, and yet he still felt this way for his past lover; even more strongly now that he had actually had a conversation with him. ”Headmaster Matsumara..” he started, a small smile finding its way onto his lips. ”You of all people should know that my manners ran away a very long time ago... weren't you the cause of that?” he crooned the last question, stifling the repeated urge to go over there and stroke Tatsuya's face. His leg still hurt, after all, and it wouldn't be good to earn himself two burns in one lunch period. ”Your hair was never messed up in the first place. You're just too obsessed with your appearance,” he said, yawning and looking at his sandwich. Oddly enough, he wasn't in the mood to eat. He was in the mood to touch Tatsuya, and if he couldn't do that, then he at least wanted to annoy him. Maybe go outside and hunt as a mongoose for a while... ”And I still need to clean up the condoms,” he said, not bothering to lower his voice for the headmaster's benefit. He wanted Tatsuya to hear that.

He made a little beckoning motion with his fingers as Tatsuya said that he was willing to push him off the couch. ”Oh, but I'd like that,” he purred, watching the headmaster. The snake hadn't touched him in a long time... he missed it. No, jabbing him with a cigarette did not count as touching, it really didn't. ”And you and I both know that you won't regret it...” Not now, anyway. Maybe if his Tatsu-Matsu really proved to dislike him... Oliver would be a bit meaner.

[TATSUYA MATSUMARA]

“Oh, Oliver, dear,” he cooed softly before taking one last puff of his cigarette and slowly making his way back over to the other. He was stepping up his game now, trying to lure Oliver in only to smack him back into place just like the blonde used to do to him. Tatsuya bent over once he reached the coffee table and rubbed the burning tip of his cigarette out in the ashtray. The petit headmaster turned to face Oliver with the softest of expressions claiming his features. He stepped as close to the couch as he could and reached forward to rest a hand gently on his knee. “Why would you think that was proof I don’t want you?” the question was innocent, his tone honestly curious, “I never heard you complain so much when we were together…” The fact that Tatsu burnt him was not proof that he did not want him. The proof that Tatsu no longer wanted nor needed him was when he broke everything off with him. Another soft hum rose in his throat as he leaned his knees forward against the couch and he listened to Oliver. “I suppose I was the cause of your lack of manners… Oops,” he started with a grin, “And you know why I’m so obsessed, don’t you? I have to look my best to be professional…” he let his voice trail off, gaze falling to the hand still rested on his knee.

He just wanted to flip Oliver over onto the ground. This couch wasn’t cheap and the last thing he needed was his stupid feet scuffing up the perfect, black leather and ruining the beauty of it. Of course this didn’t show on his face. The perfect, soft mask clung to his features without flaw. God, he wondered if his constant switching from hot to cold might ruin the whole trap. One minute Tatsuya lets a rude comment slide and then he’s the same man Oliver knew. The same man… that used to crawl on his knees… Tatsuya shifted one leg so he was partially kneeling on the couch now, right in front of Oliver. Slowly, his gaze lifted back to the other’s face and any trace of the previous smile and grin was gone. He was still focused on his thoughts, hoping that his portrayed emotions didn’t ruin the ploy he was working on.

That was until the word ‘condoms’ broke through the fog. Though, all he did was blink. Tatsuya had no idea what he could possibly be doing with condoms and… he probably didn’t want to know. Oliver wasn’t a complete idiot. He knew fooling around with a student would cost him his job, didn’t he? But all he did was smile. “Condoms?” Tatsuya shifted his other leg, now completely kneeling on the couch in front of Oliver. Slowly, a smile began to return to his lips as his other hand reached forward and rested on his free knee. Tatsuya leaned forward and grasped onto his legs…

And then pushed him as hard as he could, hoping to knock the damned instructor off the couch.

[/blockquote][/blockquote][/justify]

[Oliver Ken Toulson]

Oliver didn't regret anything, ever. In some part of his mind he acknowledged that he may have been too controlling, or maybe too much of a sadist as he bent Tatsuya to his will oh so many years ago. May have been a bit harsh with the way he told him all those sweet lies, reeling him in just to hurt him again, most of the time emotionally, rarely psychical pain... though it did happen sometimes. It had been an art, breaking the headmaster in such a way that he would never leave for long; would always come back wanting more. Oliver didn't even know if Tatsuya had known that he was going to get hurt again, or if he was completely oblivious, thinking that Oliver forgave him every time. He personally hoped it had been the first one, so Oliver hadn't been stringing along just any old idiot, because that wasn't as gratifying as knowing that you had an intelligent man completely under your control, now was it? He vaguely recognized what Tatsuya was trying to do; it was his old trick with a bit of a twist. The only thing wrong was that Oliver couldn't find it in him to care. The headmaster was so close to him, touching his knee and talking to him, and Oliver didn't care that the small man was planning on breaking him, as long as he got to keep this moment in his memory. Was this how Tatsuya had felt back then? Oliver wasn't sure, but oh well. He just wanted to live in the moment, and when the moment was over, he would live in the past. Some part of his mind knew that the snake and the mongoose were slowly beginning to switch places, and that he should try to stop it... but he could try later. All that mattered right now was that he was so close to Tatsuya again, after all this time. All this time spent wanting and missing him, and now Tatsuya was touching him. Maybe not where Oliver wanted to be touched, but close enough.

Eventually he became aware that the snake probably wanted answers to his questions. He was still so tempted to stroke his face, but he could refrain... for now. For now, this casual touch was nice, sending him into an oddly mindless state. No, he wasn't about to crawl on his knees and beg like he had made Tatsuya do so long ago; he wasn't so broken that he would do what the man told him. He would give up this touch if it meant avoiding embarrassment, but the headmaster hadn't asked for anything yet, so he was happy to revel in the casual touch. He didn't answer the comment about him not complaining back then, because he didn't want to prove that there were any differences between then and now. Didn't want to hear himself say that he hadn't complained back then because he had been on top, and he was happy to let Tatsuya burn him if it meant that he would stay a while longer. He didn't want this damn snake to hear that his current complaints were just ruses, that he was really complaining about the mindless state that the man was pushing him into. He took a deep breath, trying to focus his eyes on the man's face instead of... where he had been previously looking. He could answer the other questions. They would keep him occupied.

”Your method of doing whatever headmasters do doesn't seem to be very professional...” he whispered, leaning forward slightly. ”And as for my non-existent manners... they don't really matter, right? It's not like there's anyone here that I'm obligated to be polite around,” he said, smirking. Oliver put a hand on Tatsuya's shoulder, hoping the man didn't mind. No, wait. That was a lie. He hoped that the smaller man did mind, hoped that it would get some reaction out of him. Because he loved playing a game when a sadist and a masochist were equally involved, but now it seemed that two sadists were playing, and that just wasn't fun. Well, one and three quarters. There was the small part of him that didn't mind if he had to be on the bottom, as long as he got to be with his Tatsu-Matsu, but he didn't count that part. It was that part that his mind was fighting against, because it was Oliver that was meant to be on top, not Tatsuya. That part of his theory hadn't changed one bit. ”Mhm, condoms,” he said, a loud purr building up in his chest like a car's motor. ”The kids had their free day today. I let them play with condoms because I wanted a free day too...” It was only because he was watching Tatsuya so intently that he saw his arms move, feeling himself begin to fall backwards a millisecond later. And it was only because he already had placed his hand on the man's shoulder that he was able to latch himself to Tatsuya's shirt, planning on bringing him down with him as he hit the floor behind the couch.

[TATSUYA MATSUMARA]

Every great plan had a flaw or two; after all, nothing was perfect and Tatsuya’s plan was nowhere near perfect. Hell, it wasn’t even great. It was an empty threat he had impulsively decided to follow through with, and it managed to land him in to quite the… predicament. He should have expected this from Oliver. Especially after he felt the hand on his shoulder, which ran a familiar chill through his bones. How many times had his gentle touches turn violent? The headmaster couldn’t even count the amount of times and yet he came crawling back each time. He still couldn’t comprehend why he had continuously set himself up for the shit Oliver threw at him. He knew nothing would change. Wasn’t that what Insanity was? Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result each time. Tatsuya didn’t so much expect a different result; it was more like… hoped. He wasn’t stupid, though. He never let his hopes fly to high because he knew that once their wings were broken clean off, the crash landing to reality would just be that much greater. Oliver was his drug and he had been addicted once upon a time.

Tatsu couldn’t remember… Has he ever done something like this to Oliver? To defy and rebel against the set rules lay down by the game master… Something beyond the confines of burning him with his cigarette? Did he try to push Oliver off a couch or even dare to hit him? If he did, did Oliver retaliate with something worse? Would he retaliate now? He couldn’t remember but Tatsuya knew Oliver never was terribly big on the physical punishment. Almost everything was aimed at the heart for him… But now that Tatsuya was virtually unaffected by his emotional games (or at least he believed it to be that way), would he retaliate another way? Would he resort to physical punishment despite the fact that Tatsuya could fire him at the drop of a hat?

Honestly? Tatsuya wasn’t sure…

The headmaster grunted as he smacked into the back of the couch and then flipped over it. He managed to catch himself on his hands, dangling half way over the couch. He stared down at Oliver with partially widened, almond-shaped eyes. He couldn’t pull himself back up since too much of his body was already over. Clenching his jaw, Tatsuya grasped onto Oliver’s shirt and dragged himself fully over until his body smacked against the others. He hoped it hurt.

Ugh, this was even more awkward. Here he was, clutching onto Oliver’s shirt. Wasn’t this a familiar sight? A vacant feeling but familiar nonetheless. “Bastard…” he mumbled with a gentle growl and pushed himself up. He didn’t want to be so close too long. Once he was at least sitting, Tatsuya attempted to pull himself up to stand over Oliver. “Now my clothes have little wrinkles…” It was all he could think to say.

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[Oliver Ken Toulson]

Oliver never placed the words 'abuse' and 'Tatsuya' in the same sentence. He placed together Tatsuya and minion, Tatsuya and fun, Tatsuya and long nights, and sometimes even Tatsuya and love, but from his point of view, he had never abused his Tatsu-Matsu. Tatsuya, of course, would probably see it differently. Another difference in their points of view was manners. The headmaster had them and the anatomy professor didn't. So he didn't perceive it as rude when he started laughing his head off; it was just a normal reaction. Who wouldn't laugh at seeing the dignified headmaster hanging halfway off the couch and looking like a child that had spilled his icecream? It was adorable; adorable and hilarious, and Oliver couldn't keep himself from laughing, even if the snake got mad at him for it. The thought of retaliation didn't even cross his mind as the headmaster grabbed his shirt, trying to get himself off the couch. Oliver winced slightly as the man's full body weight came crashing down on him, but it wasn't like Tatsuya was that heavy in the first place. The petite headmaster was about twenty pounds lighter than Oliver, though he still managed to knock the breath out of him. Well, that made him stop laughing, sure enough. He wanted to wrap his arms around the man clutching his shirt, to hold him close... then let go and make him beg for more. It made him sad to think that the Tatsuya he had known so well was probably long gone now, and that this one would probably never beg for Oliver to touch him.

He grabbed a strand of the man's hair, letting his hand drop as he sat up. Oliver didn't have the energy to get up, as he was still winded. So he bent his knees a bit and made him comfortable, watching Tatsuya stand. Sure, it disturbed him a little to be laying on the floor while his supposedly submissive counterpart was standing above him, obviously at an advantage if he got angry. But still, Oliver didn't sit up. Because his little masochist was gone by now, and there was this new Tatsuya in his place. He didn't like it, not one bit, but he still didn't move. ”Bastard... is such a harsh word...” he breathed, testing his ability to speak. At least the growl hadn't sounded too angry.... Oliver sighed, pushing himself up on his elbows into a sitting position. He rubbed his eyes, not looking at the snake. The mongoose wasn't in the mood to have his heart go all haywire on him again. Yeah, like he had one in the first place... but something was attracted to Tatsuya. Or, at least, attracted to this man that looked so much like the Tatsuya that Oliver had once known. His body was still nice. Personality? Not so much...

”If your clothes have wrinkles, you can always take them off,” he purred, looking up at the man with innocent eyes. Or, at least, as close to innocent as the mongoose could appear. And there went his heart, going all out of rhythm again. ”You know that I wouldn't mind... it's not like there's any part of you that I haven't seen.”

[TATSUYA MATSUMARA]

As he started to press as many of the wrinkles out of his shirt and pants, he could begin to feel the anger that had caused him to push Oliver over the couch start to slip. Even now, with his temporarily ruined clothes, he couldn’t find the fuel to burn. Tatsuya wasn’t a sadist, to everyone’s surprise. The man had a conscience. He understood the different between what was right, what should be done, and what was wrong, which was another thing that separated him from Oliver. The headmaster wasn’t amused by another’s misfortune. He didn’t get off to watching people squirm beneath him unless they were withering to a pulsating pleasure he was supplying them. Yes, Tatsuya tended to make the wrong decisions when it came to approaching people and interacting them. To be honest, he thrived in those situations whether he knew it or now. Absolute perfection set him on edge – especially in a relationship. That was a considerable variable that played into the equation of Oliver and Tatsuya.

“Gomennasai,” he sighed, glancing down at Oliver. The Japanese apology was quick and quiet as he addressed the idea that… maybe… bastard was a bit of a harsh word, “But that doesn’t change the fact that you deserved it.” Tatsuya may have apologized for calling him such a foul name but that didn’t mean he didn’t think Oliver wasn’t one. There was hardly a time Tatsuya would call someone something and not mean it. He was a compulsive liar until it came to his opinions. Then his were the only ones he thought were right.

Tatsuya was just about to walk around Oliver until he continued on. The comment didn’t upset Tatsuya. Not at all. In fact… it pleased him. One wouldn’t be incorrect in assuming that the headmaster loved to be wanted – to be needed even. Even if he didn’t want Oliver, he wanted Oliver to want him. He wanted to know that Oliver wasn’t over him – and it was quite obvious that he wasn’t. Slowly, a gentle smile crept across his lips. Tatsuya found a little bit of kindness somewhere deep, deep down in his heart and bent over to offer Oliver a hand. “You’d like that, wouldn’t you?” His voice was a tempting purr, a mischievous little glint flashing in his dark eyes. Of course he wouldn’t fall back into the role he used to play for Oliver. Tatsuya wasn’t going to strip down to nothing for him. Not now. Not ever.

Tatsuya didn’t take too long for Oliver to take his hand so he could help him up or not. Whether or not he did, Tatsuya moved around to sit on the couch again as soon as he lost patience. There was a lunch he still needed to finish and he wasn’t going to let some unpleasant situations get in his way. Settling back in the middle seat, he leaned forward to grab his bento box and chopsticks. The younger man crossed one leg over the other and held the box in his lap, slowly starting to eat again, eyes searching for Oliver.

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[Oliver Ken Toulson]

Oliver watched the other man warily, dark blue eyes glinting with humor and desire and even a bit of fear as they wandered over Tatsuya’s face. Yeah, so he hadn’t got over the guy. So what? ”Your personality is bitchy now, but yes, your body is still nice. So I would love it if you took off your clothes.” He took the man’s hand, using it to pull himself up, then promptly get off balance again when the found himself holding the hand of someone so much shorter than himself. His simple response hadn’t contained any demands in it, it was just him stating that yes, he would enjoy it if Tatsuya removed his clothes. He was an attractive man, so who wouldn’t enjoy it?

”You don’t say sorry with the charm that you used to have,” he sighed, looking towards the door as if he, too, was losing interest. And he kind of was; this loss of interest wasn’t a fake like the headmaster’s had been. The snake wouldn’t whimper or beg or crawl on his knees anymore, even Oliver could see that much. Wouldn’t apologize so sweetly for something that was actually Oliver’s fault. Sure, his body was still nice, but he couldn’t do anything with it, which upset him. Oliver needed to go find a playmate, or something. Maybe another minion… He mused on that thought for a moment, wondering if anyone could ever be as good as Tatsuya had been at following his every command, being broken to his every whim. Probably not, but someone could come close, maybe? He would have to go out drinking tonight, as that always brought him so much luck… after all, hadn’t he ended up with the snake after a night of drinking? That had been interesting, seeing the man’s face as he woke up in bed with Oliver… adorable, really. The look of shock and confusion, and the even sweeter look of panic when he had tried to stand up. Oh, dear, that had been funny…

”Did I really deserve to be called a bastard?” he murmured, more to himself than the other inhabitant of the teachers’ lounge. He already knew what the answer would be if he had asked Tatsuya, after all. He watched from behind the couch as the headmaster started eating again, then suddenly leaned forward over the couch and wrapped his arms around him, squeezing lightly. It was a hug, though Oliver may not have been able to put a word to it. What he said next had an odd air of truthfulness to it, no matter how much his purr was meant to sound… er… attractive. ”Tatsu-Matsu, even if you don’t love me, you’ll always be my friend,” he crooned, touching his fingers lightly to the man’s face before letting go and practically dancing towards the doors. He was halfway through the door when he stopped, turning to look over his shoulder at the snake. It was a common quote that came out of his mouth next, but it seemed fitting for the current situation. ”After all, you know too much,” he said playfully, resisting the urge to stick out his tongue. He did a little finger wave with his hand, like a princess, then walked out the doors. He hadn’t had lunch… and he still needed to clean up the condoms, after all.