Work Text:
“Marius.”
His name rolls off differently from the other’s lips. Lips that Marius hasn’t taken his eyes off for a while now. It sounds romantic, saccharine, and fond, but perhaps that is because of Marius’ twisted perception of how the other feels for him. It’s not like he could ask Vyn for a psychological evaluation, not when the problem is about the man himself.
“Vyn,” Marius says back, continuing to stare unabashedly.
“Professor Vyn,” the sigh that followed was clearly exasperated. “I am teaching you right now, so I’d appreciate it if you refer to me by my title.” Then, when he caught sight of the smirk on Marius’ face, he added: “Kindly do so with respect.”
“Alright, Professor.”
It’s a routine they’ve both gotten used to over the past few months of spending time together, albeit for purely academic purposes, where Marius pushes all the buttons, and Vyn takes his behavior in stride. It should deter him — Vyn’s unresponsiveness, that is — but Marius, ever the anomaly, was provoked to tease him even more.
I want to see you break. Marius tilts his head back, unwilling to expose the slight changes in his facial expressions lest he gets discovered. I want to know what you look like at your most vulnerable. How different is your personality— your smile? How far will you allow me to express my affections? What will you think if I voiced these desires out loud? Will you embrace me back? Will you stay in my arms and never let me go? Or will you—
The various possibilities that stemmed from his last thought struck Marius still. He didn’t want to think about it as much as he didn’t want the worse to come true; being rejected by someone he genuinely cares for is never a pleasant experience, after all, and ruining the peace of the relationship he had with Vyn was a fate worse than death.
I’m a mess. Marius sighed heavily, which is a clumsy mistake under the watchful eyes of a trained psychiatrist.
“I believe we should end our class early today,” Vyn snaps the book in his hands shut, jolting Marius from his daze. Shit, he nearly swore. I’ve been out of it for too long.
The professor was already organizing his stuff and packing it into a leather briefcase. “We’re quite advanced with the material, so it won't compromise our schedule.”
“Tired of me already?” Marius tried to play off to no avail. He was panicking internally, trying to come up with a way to delay Vyn's departure. “Or could you be... on your way to a date?”
The other merely smiled in response. It was a practiced one shrouded in mystery that annoyed Marius to the core, for it looked like it held secrets. Secrets like a date, he vehemently thought. Vyn stubbornly kept his home and work life separate, so he does not know as much about the other as he should like, and as tempting as it was, he refuses to perform a background check. Who knows if the psychiatrist already has a fiancee behind closed doors? It isn't unlikely, a man of Vyn's caliber is hard to come by, so his number of suitors is no less than the job offers he receives from high society.
A pang of jealousy stirred in his chest.
Marius, of all people, is aware of the gossip of high society. He despises how often the doctor’s name is tossed around social circles, some more unashamed of their degenerateness than others. Luckily for Pax Group, their list of potential collaborators is cut down by a significant amount.
"What a terrifying expression you have on your face." Marius freezes at the calm voice that interrupted his train of thought. He unknowingly let his guard down, leaving behind an open book for Vyn to take advantage of. Does he know? Marius was horrified. If Vyn confronted him right here and right now, then all his time spent planning will go to waste.
Fortunately, or unfortunately, depending on the situation, Vyn is perceptive of all things except when it comes to his own love life.
"If you ever need someone to talk to, you know who to call."
A hand reaches out for his head and lightly ruffles his already messy hair. Then—
“You did well.”
Just like that, the knots in his heart untangles.
The compliments and the head pats, this, too, was a routine that he looked forward to the most. Thousands of people waxed poetic about his achievements and sang praises of his name, from publication headlines to outspoken declarations, but Vyn's words were the only ones that made it feel like his efforts were worthwhile.
Stay. Marius wants to say. Take me with you, he yearns similarly. Don't go home to someone else.
However, just like every other day, he swallows down the words threatening to escape from his throat.
"Of course." Marius inserted his hands into the pocket of his pants, resisting the urge to rub the heat on his cheeks away. Today is a day of holding back, it appears. "I always do great."
His knees nearly collapsed at the way Vyn's eyes seemed to soften around the edges. "Of course you do."
Even if Vyn still sees him as a child that he teaches from time to time, Marius is sure that the feelings he harbors for the other are not so weak enough to fade away no matter how many years have passed. All he needs is time, patience, and a little more confidence. In the meantime, with the billions of stellin he has to spare, he plans on wooing the doctor to his heart's content, starting from number one on his list of date ideas.
When the only presence left in the room was Marius, he whispered into the deafening silence.
"I will win your heart."
A declaration fit for a king.