Prologue
The first thing that immediately caught Cole off guard about the man called Frau, was the nature of his gaze.
Every time Cole met with Frau, he was literally stunned for a moment, before being able to move on. Frau's eyes, given the right light, were the color of red mud, like the stone of Petra. Combined with clear, bright intelligence that was reflected in his hard set stare, all of it gave Frau a look that was unusual so much it may even be called creepy. Cole, to tell the truth, began to truly be impressed, only after he grew to know Frau more closely, and speak to him.
When they had first met, those unusual features didn't even receive a second glance. Now, he had to force himself to look away, or let the depth of Frau's silence swallow him whole.
Frau didn't fit the image the rest of the organization of the Union was carefully and tidily putting around itself. The Union was trying too hard to blend with the background and be as plain as possible. While Frau…. was simply Frau. No masks, no pretense smiles, no polite language, nothing social and likeable.
Cole's gaze traveled the face before him, stopping on the dark chocolate brown hair. It looked like it was messed up for days with no one bothering to either brush it or make it look proper again. It gave Frau a boyish look of a rebellious teenager. Cole felt a slight sting in his chest. This particular style, while fitting to Frau, was purposely misleading and was supposed to make Cole become sympathetic, Frau probably did it on purpose. But even though Cole's instincts were telling him to shower this boy with warmth and safety, there were warning bells continuously going off in his head.
All those thoughts brought up a memory of his students. Regret washed over him. The unhelpful, useless feeling that if he had chosen differently in the past, things would have been different. He had no choice but to live his past decisions in the present, even if he resented and regretted them.
Cole had to work extra hard in order to wash his face blank of emotions, while being sure that the effort was in vain.
The two of them were standing a few feet apart in a small room, bare of furniture. The walls were painted in off white. There were four cameras, one in every corner, monitoring the room from all angles. The claustrophobic effect of intimacy and privacy was nothing but a half-assed illusion. People were watching their every movement, at any given second, it was both disturbing and reassuring.
The man who was presented to him so many months ago as Frau, was studying him with unblinking eyes. Standing tall and straight. Frau had maybe an inch in height over Cole, but he seemed taller than that right at this moment, when everything about his aura was screaming impotent rage. He was practically glowing with pent up aggression that he was just waiting to let out on something.
The description of Cole's impression of Frau might sound like the boy was full out snarling at Cole, or flexing his fists, or standing in a way that was purposely intimidating, but that, in fact, was not at all the case.
This kid, Frau, was simply standing there and looking at him. His expression betrayed nothing, there wasn't any visible tension in his body. The wild hungry glint in his eyes was barely noticeable, and Cole could catch a glimpse of it only once every few moments, by paying very close attention.
Finally, after minutes in which the both of them were simply standing there and looking at each other, there was a change.
Frau opened his mouth and spoke.
"You seem guarded." His voice was neither manly deep nor child-like high. He sounded like an eleventh year student in high school to Cole's ears. It was just adding to the uncomfortable feeling in his gut. Faru's pale, flawless skin, casual expression and those big, amazingly intelligent eyes were only intensifying Frau's outer appearance of a harmless young adult.
"You know the reason for that." Cole said carefully, his body unconsciously leaning back on the heels of his feet. Leaning away from the calm beast in front of him.
Because that is what this boy was, a beast, unleashed, and inside a room with him, alone. He was under no protection, his only defence- the belief of Morgan Phillips that Frau had no reason to kill him. Yet.
Cole was startled when there was a flash of something dangerous, proving him of the monster lying just under the surface. It showed in Frau's eyes as they narrowed predatorily, and the boy's lips that stretched up with a smirk while showing no teeth. Every small motion lasted only a second before disappearing completely and being replaced with a wall of self-control and unclear intent.
"Do I?" The boy asked rhetorically. "Is that all you have to say?" His smirk was now more teasing and mocking than anything. Even while the frown of his eyebrows cast a shadow over his eyes.
Cole could feel the shift in the air between them. "Well, what do you want me to say? We've already discussed this, I'm not going to change my feelings." he said. Again, the energy coming off of Frau was rising and shifting around in the air. When it settled down, it wasn't back to how it was before the question.
"You will."
Cole swallowed, then regretted it. He made too many minor mistakes like that. If he were standing in one of his classes, and the boy in front of him was just another regular human being, it wouldn't result in such a dramatic failure. But, the boy standing with him wasn't just another student, and the small body-gestures Cole made and wasn't even aware of, were heavily setting his fate. Frau saw everything, and was taking notes even as they spoke. Detecting weaknesses and pushing. God knew that there were way too many weaknesses in Cole's mind when Frau was involved.
Cole cared too much, he got too invested, just like he always did. He never learnt his lessons.
He couldn't shake the feeling the Frau still needed him, even though he was proven wrong time and time again. It was his selfishness that drove him to believe that Frau couldn't help being who he was, that Frau still wanted his help, still wanted to grow closer to him. Cole was too soft to deny him that, and Frau knew it and used it to his benefit. Alluring Cole into his spider webs and holding him there without giving up and without letting go.
Cole's fate was settled the moment Frau decided he wanted Cole to be his.
Morgan had warned him against giving in. And Cole tried his hardest.
"Frau," Frau closed his eyes when he heard his name come out so weakly and wavery, his head tilting back and a little smile catching his lips. He looked… blissful. Cole coughed, almost taking a step back before catching himself and stilling. He couldn't think, his thoughts failed under the gravity of the situation, literally, and turning into white noise. "Please stop."
With his eyes still closed, the smile only widened and the lips parted a little, presenting a row of white teeth. "Should I?" He breathed.
The short hair on the back of Cole's nape stood up. His body was recognizing a danger and begging to flee.
"Frau," He called again, already preparing to bolt to the nearest door.
Frau opened his eye, truly amber and deep in color. Without saying anything more, he took a step closer, forcing Cole to back off. It went on, with Frau proceeding and Cole retreating, until Cole's back hit the wall behind him and Frau took the last step into his personal space, where he so liked invading without warning nor permission. Some habits never die.
"It'll go on until one of us turn away, and you already know that without this I have nothing else to lose." Frau leaned in, almost touching, his breath warm and tickling. Cole could smell him, from how close he was. "Stop this foolishness, and return."
Cole flinched, a fire lightening up in his gut. He hated it when Frau took his independent mind for granted. He wasn't an obedient fanboy of his that would do all his bidding.
"No."
He didn't see it coming, more felt it than heard it. The wall to the side of his face rattled with the force of the hit. He didn't even have time to blink before Frau hissed and withdrew his fist, blood already coming to the surface of his knuckles.
Frau smiled, more pained than anything. He was no superman, after all, it still hurt. Cole held back to urge to smile smugly at the arrogance he showed. That ignorant brat.
"That is not an answer I will accept." Was all Frau said.
He didn't back off, instead, lifting his arms to hold Cole's head from his temples, and leaning in.
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