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     Mr. Grimerson hooked a finger through the loop of his tie and loosened it as he took the last step of the row, reaching his floor.

     His shoulders went from rigid to slumped down, spine from straight to hunched, hands from his back to his pockets, hair from behind ears falling into his line of vision.

     He walked like that- not in a tired fashion, not in a miserable one, he just walked like there was nothing in him.

     At one point, the headmaster passed by Oliver's room and didn't even stop to consider the moans he recognized as the man's and William's, he just kept going, dreading to enter an empty room and spend a lonely night.

     So, he decided not to.

     Instead, he went to Quin's. Once there, he knocked on the door three times and waited a couple seconds before entering.

     Truth be told, he's had quite enough for the evening, or so he thought. Therefore, he was surprised by the sudden fury that flooded his body, despite the previous dull nothing he'd felt.

     And yet, he just closed his eyes and exhaled through his nose, which he was pinching in attempt to calm down. Leaning on the door frame, he waited.

     "He just doesn't have a place to sleep at, Oliver is busy." Quin justified, pointing at the man sitting next to him on the double bed.

     Adam scratched at his hair awkwardly.

     "Go sleep in my and William's room. It should be unlocked." Grim ordered with a strained voice, opening his dark eyes to glare at him.

     Quin tugged Adam back just as he was about to stand. "Oh, think you can order him around because you're a principal ? Well, despite the fact you don't consider me principal enough to tell me why we're suing a worker, I am a principal as well, very much so, and my order counts as much." he calmly argued, turning his head towards Adam. "You may stay."

     The adult kept his hand in his dark hair as he considered the situation. Between Grim's authority and Quin's greed to prove authority, he had no idea what to do.

     "Adam. I will waste no time in expel-" Grim stopped abruptly, closing his eyes in frustration. "Just... just leave."

     The man's eyes widened at the plead, and he could only tug the blanket away and stand up. He didn't wish to let go of the comforter, considering the little clothes he was wearing, but he did, before awkwardly dressing up while Quin glared at Grimerson and Grimerson at the floor.

     Once the adult had left, Quin slumped down on the mattress and scooted to the middle, making his point very clear by taking up as much space as possible.

     Grim slid his tie off and carefully placed it on the dresser, then unbuttoned his vest, cuffs and the top of his shirt. With that, he sat down on an armchair and made himself comfortable, then watched the man on the bed, the man watching back.

     The moon outlined Grimerson's sharp shadow and lightened Quin's soft features as they stood in silence for an indefinable amount of time, just listening to each other's breath, both of them basically waiting for Quin to drop his act.

     Despite shifting and rolling around, Quin couldn't get himself to sleep. He thought it to be because of the gaze set on him, but he knew it was because he merely couldn't let Grimerson spend the night like that, on the armchair.

     With a defeated sigh, he scooted to the edge of the bed, not muttering a word.

     He listened as the blanket rustled and felt the mattress dip, sensation followed by that unique warmth one could only feel from a specific other. Despite wanting to be wrapped in that warmth, as he would be every night in their cousinly-love cuddle, he respected the invisible barrier at the middle of the bed.

     Quin only realized he'd drifted off the moment he was woken up a few minutes later, by a monotonous statement coming from Grim. He didn't manage to process it, and in case he did, he forgot, so he hummed questioningly, not bothering to open his eyes.

     "I said," Grimerson sighed, "I lost my job."

 

     Veronique proudly held Matthews's hand as they entered the dining room.

     The orphans had returned from the hotel to the airship two days after landing, a new conductor having been hired, and were to take off sometime that day. Currently, they were enjoying breakfast and chatting loudly, though some of it seemed to die when the couple entered. Then again, it might've been Veronique's insecurity playing tricks on him.

     Matt leaded him towards the table Will was at, and they sat down across from him, hands still connected and shoulders touching.

     William eyed their public display of affection with an understanding smile and placed his elbows on the table, tilting his head questioningly. "I take it you didn't waste the opportunity of having the entire airship to yourself?"

     Veronique shifted on his seat, blushing as he felt his bruises hurt. It's been a while since he felt that pain, though they somehow hurt differently. They hurt in a way that made him suck in his stomach and inhale deeply, in attempt to contain lust as the bruises would spark flashbacks of his and Matt's intercourse.

     His gestures seemed to be enough of an answer to Will, who in turn smiled contently.

     It was all that William could do for a while: smile and pretend to have forgotten what the conductor had done to his friend, as Veronique wished him and Matt to do.

     "What of you?" Matthews asked Will, darting a glance towards Oliver, who was looking at them from far away with a dreamy grin. "Oliver doesn't seem as pouty as before. Or is it just my sight letting me down?"

     Will didn't turn around, instead putting on a blank façade while he played with his fork. However, after a couple moments of that, he hid his face behind his hands.

     Matthews straightened up when the brunet's shoulders started shaking- he'd known him long enough to tell what the gesture meant, though he was utterly confused as to why would Will possibly feel like crying.

     But when Will let his hands fall, he was far from crying of sadness.

     He'd been trying to hide one of the most genuinely happy expression Matt and Veronique had seen him wear. His grin was stretched to the fullest and eyes glistening, as if he was about to sob. He let out an uncharacteristic giggle, which he tried to muffle with his scarf but failed.

     Shaking his head, he hid behind fingers again and started laughing in relief.

     "I swear I love him!" he said, revealing only half of his face, hand hiding the grin. "And what's more, he might just love me back! I mean, can you believe? It's never happened before! I've never made actual love before, it was simply fantastic! Sex was nothing compared to that."

     Veronique stared at his friend in wonder, taking in the rare display of emotion with a happy grin, whereas Matthews's was proud.

     "I told you," Matt said, "that those games of yours were good for nothing, and that letting people in would do you good."

     Will's smile loosened.

     "Let people in? Don't get me wrong, I do not regret a thing I've done. I don't regret having messed with the people I've messed with, and I don't regret having bedded the people I've bedded. It was all fun, they were not worth 'letting in'. " he shrugged. "But Oliver..." he trailed off, lips trailing upwards.

     "Is approaching our table." Matt murmured.

     In an instant, Will pulled his blank expression back, just as Oliver sat down next to him.

     The blond pecked his cheek and William twitched a smile before turning his attention to his soup, seemingly indifferent, though he did scoot closer to his lover.

     "How is your day so far?"

     The brunet shrugged. "We've come to the dining room together, it's only been half an hour since you last saw me."

     Oliver chuckled. "Actually, I never lost sight of you."

     Will giggled, at which the blond lightened up like a Christmas tree.

     Matthews watched it all contently, all the while rubbing his lover's hand underneath the table. Turning his head towards Veronique, he caught the turquoise eyes staring at him, just before they moved away. Matt smiled amused and set on watching his profile, which was just as perfect as the rest.

     From that angle, the pout of his lower lip was more obvious, and his eyelashes seemed longer. But then there was the slight bump of his nose, his square jaw and the defined Adam's apple, which despite looking masculine individually, somehow ceased to stand out next to the femininity of his huge eyes and full lip. He truly had an unique beauty, which Matt could not accept to have been enjoyed by any other.

     The dark thoughts threatening to erupt were wiped out of his mind in the blink of an eye- more like the smooch of a mouth.

     Before he got to register the kiss, Veronique pulled back with a slight smile. 

     "Your grip was getting rough..." he explained knowingly.

     Matthews freed Veronique's hand as if it was on fire and looked away. "I'm immensely sorry, I have no idea what keeps getting into me." he murmured lowly.

     Veronique pressed his chest against Matt's arm and pecked his shoulder, since he couldn't quite reach higher. "Whatever it is, I like it." he said with his signature mischievous grin.

     The young adult shook his head in disbelief, smiling tentatively when Veronique held his hand again.

     "Hey, now." Veronique scowled. "I'm not a fragile vase, you know. Just be happy that all is going fine, with us, Willie and Ollie and everything."

     But just as he said that, the doors of the dining room opened with a determined swing. It only took a few heads moving towards it for the word to go around, and soon enough, a silence fell over the place as the man walked towards the other end of the room.

     On his way, he collected each and everyone's attention, and by the time he stopped, every orphan was staring at him curiously.

     He looked around the room, though his eyes didn't make contact once. After clearing his throat and running a hand down his tie, knotted in Eldredge style, he moved both arms at his back.

     "I am no longer your headmaster."

     Without a second hesitation, he continued. "Tonight, the airship will take off without me. Until then, you are free to visit my office if considered a must. That wraps up the announcement for today, you may continue to enjoy your breakfast."

     And with that, Grimerson walked back towards the double doors, gazes no longer following him, as the orphans were staring into space incredulously. Only when the doors shut before him, their echo woke everyone up, and loud chatter erupted.

     Not so much at the four friends' table.

     Veronique's throat was swelling up steadily, tears building up in his scowling eyes. His teeth were clenched to their hardest, and it was his turn to redden Matt's hand.

     "We may continue-" he choked out. "-to enjoy our..." Veronique trailed off disbelievingly, and shook his head. "Is this for real? Is this another fucked up exercise?" he looked around the table at his friends and the other orphans sitting.

     "Veronique..." a gentle, female voice said from behind him, and he didn't bother to turn before Viola sat next to him, wrapping him in a hug. "I can only imagine how you feel..."

     "Boo-fucking-hoo." came a harsh voice from a nearby table, and Matthews looked up to see one of Dimitri's friends, Parker, glare at Veronique. "Your closest to parental figure is leaving, well guess fucking what, ours are dead, and there was no one to replace them! So suck it up you little shit!" he yelled, tears flowing down his face as he stormed out of the room.

     Veronique didn't seem to even hear it, though, as he stared into distance, head resting on Viola's chest. Straightening up, he scooted closer to Matt and let the man hug him, at which Viola set on rubbing his shoulder.

     "It's my fault." Veronique murmured. "I should have told him... if he had known earlier, he wouldn't have been fired..."

     Matthews shushed him absent-mindedly, caught up in the grim image of a Grimless future.

     William shook his head, eyes as distant as everyone else's. "No. It's no one's fault, really..."

     Then, he remembered Grimerson's last words before he had left their hotel room that evening.

    

     "It's just, the governors were having a bad day..."

 

     The six years old boy walked down the hallway with his characteristic scowl.

     Bored, bored, bored.

     Veronique was bored.

     Upon reaching the principal's door he stopped and looked up. Then, not bothering to knock, he opened it and entered, closing the door behind him and walking towards the desk.

     His feet left inaudible thuds on the soft carpet, therefore Grimerson only noticed the boy when he climbed on the chair across from him. The principal looked up from his blanket of paperwork to quirk an eyebrow, hand continuing its movement.

     "How many times must I remind you to knock?"

     Veronique shrugged carelessly, looking around for a sheet of paper that didn't look important. Not that he could tell the difference between a contract and a sheet for testing the fountain pain.

     Slapping his palm down a piece of paper, he slid it closer to him and picked up a pencil, but before he got to bring it down on the paper, it disappeared.

     "I suggest you don't express your creativity on this, unless you want me getting fired."

     Veronique eyed the document inquisitively.

     Grim sketched a chuckle and gave him another sheet, on which Veronique wasted no time in scribbling. Not even a minute later, he pushed the paper towards the headmaster.

     Grimerson took it and rubbed his jaw line as he inspected his portrait. There was a circle head with broom-like black hair, thick frowning eyebrows and a witch nose. The body was a big fat circle, with a striped tie and stick limbs.

     With a straight smile, he placed the paper on the desktop and added a few things, then slid the sheet towards Veronique.

     The boy looked at it and huffed..

     Grim's stick hand was holding another, and next to the frowning man there was now a scowling boy, wearing a dress and having a bow in his hair. 

     "I'm not a girl!" he stated, throwing the drawing away and crossing his arms.

     "Well, I wasn't Santa the last time I checked." Grimerson replied easily, eyeing the round shape of his drawn body.

     "Well, Santa checks everything twice." Veronique snapped.

     The headmaster scoffed.

 

 

     The girl exited the office, leaving the door open behind her for the next person to follow, that being Veronique.

     Along the hall stretched a row of orphans: from children to adults, all waiting to say their goodbyes. Veronique, though, was merely planning on being a burden.

     After entering, he walked up to the desk, behind which Grimerson was standing up, gaze set outside the window. When he looked at Veronique, he nodded.

     A long silence followed, with the boy glaring and the man watching. Murmurs could be heard from the hall, the waves underneath the ship splashed against it gently, whispers of wind joining the chorus of sounds occasionally.

     "I suggest you have this." the headmaster eventually said, opening a drawer and placing a worn out sheet on the table.

     Veronique bit his lower lip and looked away as he took the paper. "You kept it this long?"

     Grimerson shrugged. "I never throw drawings children do for me. Though I must admit, yours was rather unique."

     The boy nodded, darting a look at the piece and folding it carefully. Then, he swallowed the lump in his throat and raised his head.

     "Are you really not affected by this? I mean, 'that would be the announcement for today, you may continue your breakfast, not like I'm leaving forever or anything.' " he said, barely managing to keep his voice from cracking. "Do you really not care!"

     "I've been working here for sixteen years, Veronique, do you truly believe I feel any less distressed? It's just, crying won't solve anything."

     "Sixteen years?" Veronique snapped when making the connection between his age and the man's time of coming to the post.

     Grimerson nodded. "It's only fair you find all that is to know now..." he shrugged, moving to the window to look outside. Knowing he would spend the rest of his life out there sent an unnoticeable shudder through him.

     "The day that my brother died, his wife did too." Grim spoke, his breath casting fog on the cold window. "I was supposed to let you at a land orphanage and take you in later, if you were to pass the IQ test, but..." he shook his head, rubbing his temple. "You have my brother's eyes." he chuckled, finally looking at him.

     "What? Your broth- he was- you're my uncle?" Veronique shrieked, clenching the drawing in his fist. "How can you just do that! You only tell me now, as you leave?! You only tell me now, that I've had family near me all along! You can't just do that!" he sobbed, clenching his fist around the drawing even harder.

     "Don't..." Grimerson murmured, eyes following the boy's tears as they leaked. "Word would have spread, reached the governors, and I would have lost my job a decade earlier for advantaging family- getting you here wasn't exactly legitimate of me." he explained, running a hand through his thin, black hair.

     "You legitimate bastard! I can't stand you!" Veronique cried, pressing the heel of his palm against an eye.

     Despite his words, he made no move to leave. All those years he knew nothing about his family, lived in darkness wondering, and now he was drastically enlightened- he had Grimerson as an uncle, and Quin as a second cousin. He had more than most of the orphans could tell about themselves, and never even knew.

     Eyeing the man before him, knowing they shared blood, it made him want nothing more than to hug him, to know what family felt like. And so, with weak steps, he walked up to him and raised his trembling arms.

     Grimerson only sighed, hugging him back impulsively. He could feel his shirt getting soaked and dress jacket crumple, but quite frankly couldn't care less.

 

     Veronique held the crumpled paper between his hands, staring through the drawing.

     Next to him, on Matt's bed, were his lover and William, Oliver sitting on the floor. Around them were some roommates and their buddies, murmurs entering the four friends' ear and exiting through the other.

     "You know..." Oliver sighed. "He taught me to play cards... and would always swat me whenever I'd bet head first..."

     William fumbled with the book he was holding, having kept it on his shelf of favourites since he could remember. "He gifted me this for my 6th birthday. It was the first time I read a book, and I couldn't stop since... He would pinch me whenever I spoke incorrectly."

     Matthews silently shifted on the mattress. He didn't have much to say, he sort of avoided the man at all cost while growing up- he was The Bogeyman after all. Instead, Veronique cleared his throat as he tried to smooth the paper on his knees.

     "He was there for me... for us all." he said, and the other orphans in the room stopped murmuring to look at him thoughtfully, then nodded.

     And then the door opened, Quin entering swiftly, hand pressed to his forehead as if the light hurt him. Rubbing at his forehead, he spoke quickly and shakily while already moving out of the room.

     "He's leaving now."

The next chapter is the last one :) 

How do you think everything will end up? 

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