"Mr. McClellan. Mr. McClellan. Mr-ugh Vaughan wake up already."

With a snort Vaughan found himself doing just that, pushing glasses that where askew off his face, trying to tame some wild curls while simultaneously trying to wipe the very obvious drool from his cheeks.

Blinking up he saw Myles, now in the full lights and realized that daylight was streaming through the far window, showing the morning was well on.

"Oh my goodness," he tried to right himself, cheeks heating up when realizing he was still in his pajamas, and that seemed to embaress him despite the fact he had spent the night apparently next to Myles in such attire. There was something about it, especially in the light of day, that was far more shameful and embarrassing.

Vaughan pulled at his shirt sleeve, his heart beat picking up eyes wide up to Myles searching his face for anything.

The others stoic look broke for that of confusion.

"I'm sorry I startled you," he began slowly.

"No!" Vaughan wished he could stop blushing," don't be no I just. I hadn't meant to fall asleep on the couch! I had meant to-well. I should be the one to apologize. "

Myles seemed to be thinking before straightening up, looking at Vaughan for another moment.

"I wanted to speak to you about something," He said eventually, gently. His voice smooth and comforting as if he was concerned that he was going to frighten the blond.

Vaughan hesitated, unsure of how to respond to that before smoothing his curls down and straightening his pajamas.

"What can I do for you then Mr. Arya-"

"Myles"

Vaughan gave him a measured look, not a hard or rude one but calculated just the same.

"It's Vaughan, then," he said not breaking eye contact.

Myles lip quirked, a smile threatened as a new flame burned in his dark eye," OH? And I thought it was now V?"

Vaughan felt any tension leave him as he relaxed rolling his eyes as he gave a huff," No! But I learned early NOT to argue with Bradly. If I said something against it, he would just make something worse."

"You're not wrong," Myles stepped back as Vaughan stood, and motioned to the stairs beginning their way up.

"Soo-ooo," Vaughan said as they made the landing, nodding to Kiber tense as he tried to ignore the heat rolling down his neck. This was going to be his most shameful walk through the house, oh he hoped the children didn't catch him!

Kiber had an odd look to his face before meeting eyes with Myles and then nodded a good morning, grinning like a fool confusing the shorter man," What was it you wished to speak about?

Myles paused in the hall, gaze going from some of the mulling staff going about their duties to where Graham was coming up the stairs behind them a jolly wave and cheeks red.

"I think the matter could use a more private location," he trailed thinking.

Vaughan paused and motioned to the classroom before realizing that, the door cracked there was already a lesson being had. Then redirected his hand to land to his door, and without thinking said," My room is just right there. Come on."

So, to his room they went.

After they passed the threshold and Myles was closing the door, Vaugahn felt almost frantic.

 Why did he make such a suggestion? Clearly, he had not thought this through! 

At his own home, there were plenty of places to seek solitude and private conversation-even with staff- but here at the Arya estates he had no such place to suggest and with their large staff and even larger comings and goings of family members it seemed Myles was at a loss for a truly secluded area.

But oh. Oh why his room! Stupid he thought, stupid!

 Oh his bedding was a disaster from when he had woken from the nightmare, and his bin next to the desk was toppled over with all the crumpled pieces of discarded writing attempts, several pages askew on the table with some ink ran down one, pen discarded carelessly with a still dirty nib.

Vaughan fussed to open the windows, an excuse of needing some fresh air in the room in hopes of pulling Myles attention from the messy work desk- it clearly didn't work as the other looked pointedly to the pile of papers then watched Vaughan as he fussed around the room, apologies seeming to fall over one another not fully complete and unsure of direction as he opened the shades, and his discarded clothes from he day before in the hamper which he truly should address, made the bed, and was just picking up the crumpled papers when a large hand covered over his own.

Face burning, had it stopped since he had woken?, he allowed his gaze to flit to Myles eyes, which held something Vaughan couldn't quite place.

"Vaughan," had the other ever said his name that way? Vaughan wasn't sure what way he was thinking Myles said his name, but he knew that what ever it was it made his stomach flip oddly. He wasn't sure why he was so tormented by it," I didn't come here to judge your room, no matter the clutter. I came here to speak with you about the boys."

He found himself calm at that, and his strange blush and racing heart dispersed, though he wasn't certain why he had panicked to begin with. 

Myles needed to talk about something, that was it! It wasn't like the night before, where they had stayed up watching movies with horrible plots that actually where a bit entertaining if Vaughan were honest, but no. He was being silly. 

Why was he being so silly?

And, really, who stressed so much over the intentions of another in such a casual setting? 

That's right, Vaughan thought sardonically as he cleared his voice, he did. He most assuredly overthought even the most basic of conversations and panicked if given the opportunity to ponder them.

"Oh?" his voice pitched too high, why was his voice so high?

"Is everything alright?" he cleared his throat.

Myles paused, before reaching behind him to pull a crumpled paper from his pocket, and it took Vaughan a moment but then he recognized the messy scrawl, the disproportionate character.

"Ah."

"Ah?" Myles quirked a brow, clearly not expecting the response," I was under the impression you hadn't been aware of this, but now it seems I was wrong?"

Vaughan pulled his shirt sleeve, unable to meet the others eyes," Oh you know children. They don't understand cruelty, and they mean nothing of it."

"Body shaming is not 'nothing' no matter the age," Myle stated firmly crossing his arms," I do not tolerate such behavior under my roof."

Vaughan wasn't sure what to say such a declaration and found his mouth opening and closing before he decided to snap it shut, shrugging uncomfortably.

"I- its not okay no. But Its not like it isn't true to some degree," for some reason saying it aloud made his stomach twist in knots and his cheeks feel cold.

"Wha-why would you even think someone, child or not, saying something about you is alright?!?"

Vaughan blinked at the passion in the mans voice, and the fire equal in his eyes," I never said it was alright. Just. . .I don't disagree I should probably give some attention to my weight and that I just am used to such things."

For some reason this did not seem to placate the darker mans ire, and Vaughan fumbled," I mean, if you read any bored news article that is done going over my delayed career. . .well I mean it just seems to be a constant topic of interest in many. .  ." he trailed off a bit hurt at his own words. 

"I would think I should not wish to read such things and would dismiss them from their position on the spot," the dark eyes, normally a deep coal where even darker and burning.

Vaughan was speechless and couldn't find it in him to do anything more than gape at the other.

Dismiss them? What?

"I have had a talk with the boys," he said finally," and told them it was not acceptable behavior."

"And how did you admonish them?" 

If anything, Myles looked as if he where judging him.

Another shrug," Well. I told them I rather not be around them if they where to behave in such a way. So I told them to leave the classroom and I would find for them a way to make up for it today."

"And have you?"

"Have I what?"

An aggravated sigh," thought of a punishment?"

Vaughan pulled at his shirt sleeve, shuffling his weight," Well I rather thought a night sleep on my voicing my dissatisfaction in their behavior would do well."

"That most certainly is not going to," Myles looked-well Vaughan wasn't certain what the look what, but he was positive it was similar to one he had seen on Morrowes face before. Exasperation was closest he could think to naming it.

"I don't see why not," Vaughan wasn't certain why he was so adamant to stand by his punishment, " They where rather upset when I dismissed them and told them I was disappointed."

"Disappointment doesn't teach manners," Myles said firmly.

Vaughan tried to think of a smart reply- as a famous writer it was generally expected of him to be able to articulate properly- but all he could find to say was," Yes it does!"

Myles crossed his arms, raised a brow and leaned back.

"Oh?" he said," really now? I fail to see how that is proper discipline. "

"Well you feel bad!" Vaughan said, not wanting to argue but also, for some reason, not wanting to let Myles think he was unable to properly conduct the children," You- you think on your actions and how you made someone feel. That time for reflection stays with you!"

Myles hummed, seeming to try and digest this before slowly saying," Or you realize if you upset your instructor you manage to avoid schoolwork and lecture so that you can go off to play with your pals. "

Vaughan deflated," I- I honestly didn't think of it that way."

As a child he had had no one to go to when he was punished. He had loathed whenever he was sent to his room to think on his actions, or not allowed to attend family time due to misbehavior. It had done well to keep him in line, but also it had been done to him alone.

Pushing away thoughts of all those times without another child to run to he reasoned that Myles was right.

He decided against explaining this to Myles.

"So," he refused to think he was pouting," what would you consider correct action?"

"Well," Myles mused," sometimes a more physical approach can do it for rowdy behavior,"

"You don't mean to spank them do you!??!" Vaughan thought of his sweet nephew, never at the end of any sort of physical contact that wasn't loving and was horrified to think of what it would do," I could never-"

"No!" Myles was frowning, brows furrowed," I was not insinuating such. Sometimes, when the boys become too rumbunctious, running, wall sits, push ups- that sort of thing can help. But this wasn't them being too wild physically. This was them being too unkind to you."

Vaughan relaxed, thankful that Myles seemed as if he would never suggest a thing such as that, and waited patiently.

As the man brooded Vaughan murmured," I do feel for the lads, their mother ill and all and their father is obviously not around . . ."

Myles relaxed demanor that had been present since that night seemed to harden and dissapear completely, shoulders tensing, jaw clenching - Vaughan bit his tongue.

 He always said the wrong thing, he cursed inwardly.

" You get dressed," Myles said eventually backing to the door," and I'll get back to you."

Vaughan pulled at his sleeve as he watched the other leave, feeling as if he had said something wrong but wasn't sure how to correct it.