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[physicus]

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[physicus]

[ He swallows hard again, feeling like there's a massive lump in his throat making it difficult. He keeps his finger on her chin for a moment, feeling the heat of her. ]

I - [ He stops himself before he starts leaning in. He wants to, wants to, but it's - fuck. He pulls back, hand dropping back to his side. ]

Fuck, [ he says out loud, heartfelt. ] I - this would be a mistake.

[mooned]

[ Blinking rapidly at his mini-breakdown, she takes a step back, folding the sketch pad closed as she avoids his gaze.]

I'm not... [ She squares her jaw a bit, lifting her chin to look at him.] I'm not interested making you 'stumble' or playing some kind of Lolita. [ She doesn't want to be with someone who's going to feel guilty about it.]

[physicus]

[ He blinks, disconcerted. Whatever happens, there's no way he won't feel guilt about it. But that's not on Charlie. ]

Then what - are you interested in? [ Might as well get it out in the open. ]

[mooned]

I'm interested in... you. [ Her brow furrows. She was, honestly, tired of being the side-piece or the dirty-little-secret. She's interested in being someone's someone. But she doesn't say that either.]

I think you're hot and captivating. And I wouldn't mind hanging out more but not if you're going to feel bad about it, about yourself. It doesn't have to be a thing.

[physicus]

[ He licks his lips as he takes in what Charlie tells him, letting the words roll around in his head for a moment. He might be a fucking genius, but that's only when physics are involved. When it comes to people, he's fucking terrible. ]

I'm not sure I'd be able to resist wanting you, resist wanting a thing. [ He's only just a man, after all. A man with superpowers, but still just a man.

And he doesn't want to feel bad about himself, either, but that's a mental hurdle that's for him to figure out. ]

You're fascinating, and beautiful. Believe me, staying a foot away from you is taking all my willpower. I just - don't want to take advantage.

[mooned]

[ So that's a bit of a stroke to her ego, to be honest. Being told that she's hard to resist, that she's... want-worthy. It wasn't as though her other lovers didn't make her feel that way, Knox and Arel and Jay all made it pretty damn clear that she was desirable, that she turned them on. But there's something different about him saying it.


His words make her lips curve upward a bit, hugging the sketch pad to her chest a bit more.]

You're not taking advantage but if you want be just friends, I'm okay with that too. [ It's a speech she's quite good at by now. However, that truth might change in the future.] Or we can just ignore each other in the hall and super awkward.

[physicus]

It would be. For the best. To be friends, that is.

[ He doesn't like the solution of ignoring each other, and he doesn't want to play that game. ]

How can you say I'm not taking advantage? I'm your teacher. I have a say on your future. I've got more life experience. [ Ah! Such a bullshitter. ] I could - manipulate you into doing what I want.

[ It'd be so, so easy for him to get in contact with her father. She doesn't have a clue. He feels horrible just thinking it. ]

[mooned]

You don't know how much life experience I have. [ It might rival his. She gives him a solid look--] And no one manipulates me, no one.

[ Pause.] Friends don't let friends manipulate them.

[physicus]

How do you know you can trust me? That I'm your friend?

[ It hurts, to say the words, but he needs her to be 100% certain of what she's doing. ]

I'm playing devil's advocate, here. It's not like - I want to do any of these things. And I'm amazed at how self-confident and self-possessed you are, honestly? It's fucking sexy as hell. But I just want to be sure you know what you're getting into.

[ He pauses, licks his lips. ] Because as much as I say it'd be best if we were staying friends, I don't know when I'll change my mind. Because I like you.

[mooned]

I don't know that. I just have to trust my instincts. [ She shrugs a little.] It's not like I haven't been hurt before. [ It was before coming here but...] I'm not naive and I've been taking care of myself in one way or another for a while. [ She's not a little orphan Annie or something, she has family but she's been independent for a while.]

I may not be from 'the streets' or something rough like that but I'm also not some sheltered little girl. [ She walks back to the easel, setting down the sketch pad and pencil.] And I can just tell... look at the way you're acting right now. [ She waves her hand in his direction.] You're trying to do what you think is the 'right thing' by me. So if there's something I need to know about you, I'm hoping you'd tell me now or eventually.

[physicus]

[ He runs his tongue over his teeth, weighing pros and cons. Maybe trust has to start somewhere. ]

Okay. Okay, you want to know? [ He holds his arms out, realizing he's still shirtless. ]

I'm a criminal. The Headmaster scooped me up after I got freed from jail. I was in prison for two years, and that's where I got my teacher's degree. I'm not - a good guy, or anything. I'm shitty and I got too smug and I flew too close to the sun and got myself got.

[ He says it all out in a rush of breath, feeling his cheeks flush. ]

I'm not from the streets either. I'm just not a great person, and I don't want to hurt you.

[mooned]

[ For a moment, she eyes him, also she's actually checking him for prison tats or some glaring scars or something that should make her afraid of him. And she hadn't noticed anything while drawing him.]

You left out what you went to prison for... [ Again, she makes a fairly safe assumption that the headmaster wouldn't have hired someone really dangerous, someone who had done something to harm someone...]

[physicus]

I was betrayed. I was about to steal millions of dollars and live off other people's cash for the rest of my life. But I was snitched on.

[ He ended up in a white collar prison. Not the kind of place you get prison tattoos. ]

[mooned]

[ The thing is, she gets the vibe that this wasn't some kind of Robin Hood situation. And she looks at him for another moment because she wonders--]

Did you learn anything from it?

[physicus]

A couple of things, yeah.

[ To not trust easily. ]

I wasn't happy doing what I did. That's why I got into becoming a teacher. Get a second chance.

[mooned]

[ She lets her hand rest on the easel as she keeps her gaze steady on him.] If you got the chance to do that sort of thing again, would you?

[physicus]

At the moment? Probably not. It might seem like it, but it's not actually worth the hassle. Ask me again in a couple of years, though, when jail's not still so fresh in my mind.

[mooned]

Okay, so are you done trying to talk me out of things? [ her eyebrows lifted in a challenge.]

Because my first boyfriend ever went to jail for beating a man and what you did isn't even close to dangerous. At least not for me.

[physicus]

[ He has to laugh, looking bashful all over again. ]

I just. I just can't promise you anything, you know? And we can't - this, whatever it is, it would have to stay between us. Right?

[mooned]

I never asked you to promise me anything. [ She points out with a rather unimpressed expression.] I'm not looking for some epic love. [ Yes, she is.] I'm just trying to figure out... everything, same as most people here.

[ and when he asks her to keep it between them, she hesitates.] Because...? I'm not saying no, I just want to know why.

[physicus]

Because you're a student, and I'm a teacher. You might not care, but I do. I don't want to be the talk of the school. I'm trying to build a reputation, and I can't have students think they can just flirt with me and get what they want.

[ He bites his bottom lip, giving her a copy of her unimpressed look. ]

You - you're and exception. You're special.

[mooned]

Sorry to break it to you, Mr. Z, but students are going to flirt with you whether or not they know about... whatever this is. [ She waves her hand between them, smirking.]

That's how this place works. [ However when he calls her special, she flushes and laughs a little,]

I'm really not though, you'll figure that out.

[physicus]

Are you saying - is the secrecy a deal breaker?

[ Because it's definitely one for him. He smirks. ]

And let me form my own opinions, thank you. [ And he winks. ]

[mooned]

If you want me to be your dirty little secret, then that's fine with me. [ She laughs a little.] It's hot. [ For a little while at least. And by now, she's used to it.]

Okay, [ she holds up her hands.] But don't say I didn't warn you.

[physicus]

[ His smile falls into a frown, and he shakes his head, finally easing off the pedestal and stepping close to her once more. ]

There's nothing dirty about it. It's not about - it's not shameful, okay? I've just got some hangups, and I'm sorry, you shouldn't have to shoulder them. But I can't - I'm going to need time.