Finally got to the fluffy studying part, but well, mixed with even more angst because wow I'm on a roll.

"I just remembered something," Tam began, looking up from his notes. "My Universe mentor suddenly swapped yesterday, and my new one won't tell me why there was a swap."

"That's weird," Fitz remarked. "Usually, it's the student who swaps. Who was your mentor, anyway?"

"Lady Belva. To be honest, she's always unsettled me, and my new mentor seems nice, but I'd like to know why there was a swap in the first place."

Keefe winced at the name of the mentor. He felt arms wrap around him in a comforting embrace, unlike the tight grip that she'd had on him.

The gesture didn't go unnoticed by Tam. "Did something happen?"

"Uh..." Keefe laughed nervously, cringing at how terrified he sounded (and probably looked). "about that..."

So, how exactly was he supposed to say what had happened? He didn't really feel like talking about it either.

"Lady Belva harassed Keefe during detention, and we told Magnate Leto," Dex explained. "So I'm assuming that's why she's gone."

I mean, that's a pretty simple way of explaining it...

"She harassed you?" Tam asked in disbelief. "Are you okay?"

"I'm..." he was about to say fine, but he knew that Dex would call him out on it. "Better. It's better knowing that she isn't there anymore."

Sophie pursed her lips, and Keefe could feel guilt radiating from her. "The dancing mentor? I did notice that was weird... but I didn't think it was that bad."

"It was, I was there," Dex said, rubbing circles against Keefe's back. Unfortunately, it meant that he could also feel the sorrow coming from Dex.

"Let's not talk about it," Keefe said.

Fitz nodded. "Okay, we can start studying then."

Surprisingly, their studying session started off pretty well, considering the fact that there were eight of them there, and it was easy to get sidetracked. They were also spread out between three different levels, so they couldn't even all help each other with the same work.

But naturally, they eventually got bored and started to veer off topic. It almost felt like they were talking more than usual, and Keefe suspected that they were doing it to distract him. He didn't necessarily need it, but he appreciated the gesture nonetheless.

"Wait, Marella," Linh called out. "You're good at Elementalism, right?"

"It's one of my better subjects, why?"

"Come over here, I'll show you the question."

Marella went over to sit beside Linh. She rested an arm on Linh's shoulder as she looked over the work. There was a smile on her face as she began to explain some of the work.

Hey Keefe, are you actually okay? Fitz transmitted. You don't have to hide all your pain from me, okay?

Keefe turned towards him, startled. He didn't realize that Fitz had moved to sit next to him.

I am doing better, and I mean it. I've... been occupied by other stuff, anyways. While he for the most part had an answer to what he'd been discussing with Fitz the day before, it was still something he had to adjust to. But even then, I've been working through it.

I know I haven't been the best friend, but I just want to let you know that if there is something bothering you, I am willing to listen to you. I do love you, even if I don't tell you that enough.

Keefe smiled, feeling light. It had been a little while since either of them had said it to each other. I love you too, Fitz. Thank you.

Fitz smiled back. Of course. So, is there anything school related I can help you with?

He picked up one of his Elvin History papers, then scooted closer to Fitz. "Yeah, here."

Fitz shook his head. "I'm not doing your work for you."

"Keefe, doing your best in Foxfire doesn't mean having others do your work for you," Dex chided.

Keefe crossed his arms. "Do you really have that little faith in me? Besides, don't 'mom' me."

"That's Fitz's job," Biana added, not looking up from her paper."

"Fitzy would make a great mom!" Keefe agreed. The atmosphere felt odd for a moment, before becoming extremely positive. As if someone was imagining a situation and it was making them happy. "Woah, Foster, calm down."

All eyes went to Sophie, who looked down sheepishly. "I didn't even do anything." At the others' disbelieving looks, she continued, "Look, I was just imagining Fitz as a parent, and now I feel all fuzzy and I really want to see Fitz interact with children now. This is all of your fault for planting these thoughts!"

"Did you know that he constantly bakes snacks?" Biana asked.

Sophie groaned. "Fitz, why are you so cute?"

Fitz looked down sheepishly, his face flushing red. Keefe grinned. "Ooh, Foster, you got him to blush!"

He proceeded to poke his cheek, and Fitz half-heartedly swatted his hand away. "Stop." It was probably meant to come out as something a little more serious, but it was more like a squeak, and it looked like he was trying not to laugh.

Keefe's imparter rang, and without checking who it was, he answered it.

"Yeah?"

"Keefe, where are you?" The stern voice of Cassius Sencen asked.

Oh... sh*t. He waved his arms frantically, signaling silence.

"I'm at Everglen."

"And why do I see the Dizznee boy?"

"All of us are here to study for our midterms."

He hoped that Foxfire would be enough for him to back down.

"I have no issues with your other... friends. Why is the Dizznee with you? You are not to hang around him."

"Bu-"

"I want you to come home, right now. Is that clear? You are to study at home."

Then he hung up.

Keefe sighed. "Well, crap. Just had to ruin the good vibes, didn't he?"

"He wants to keep you trapped," Dex murmured. "I don't think that this is just about studying. I mean, we decided that we weren't going to hide our relationship. I'm sure he's realized this."

"What are you trying to say?"

"What I believe he's trying to say," Ro said. "Is that your treatment going to be too good, it's gonna get worse."

"I don't want you to go through it alone," Dex whispered. "He's angry at you because of me, I won't let you suffer through it alone."

"I think you should go," Marella agreed. "Go knock some sense into him."

"Something tells me that neither of them want to resort to violence," Ro said. "If I were in the position, I would though. I just want to let you know, if he gets violent, I'm not staying passive."

Keefe considered that. Cassius Sencen wasn't the type of person who would try and hurt someone physically, but he also remembered what had happened the first time they had argued. His father had nearly snapped, nearly hit him. That time, he'd managed to control his temper. What about this time? What would stop him from losing control?

"Okay," Keefe agreed. "Dex, this means that you're coming with me, right?"

He nodded. "It's time that we make a statement."

"Good luck," Tam said.

It wasn't until after they lightleaped and were staring at the Shores of Solace where it truly occurred to him what he was about to do. He squeezed Dex's hand, noting that even Dex felt anxious, but there was also a determined calm to him. Keefe closed his eyes and focused on that emotion, hoping that it could spread to himself.

"You okay?" Dex asked. "I'm no empath, but I know that you must be nervous."

"I am," he admitted. "But this is something that I need to do."

Realistically, he knew he should have planned out the interactions. It would be good knowing what to expect, so he wouldn't lose control over his emotions as easily. But he didn't, because those very emotions were what fueled, they were going to help him say what needed to be said. He needed to let those words out, or else they would continuously plague his mind.

He opened the door.

"It should not have taken you that long to come back here."

"I know."

"Then why..." There was silence, and Keefe could tell that his father wasn't looking at him, but at the elf who was standing beside him. "Why is he here? I thought I told you that-"

"Dex Dizznee is here because he is my boyfriend."

"Well, he is not supposed to be here. You are to break up with him."

"I don't want to break up with him."

"You will. You are a Sencen, and I will not have you taint our bloodline!"

"I think your wife has already done that," Dex said, his blue eyes alight. "She's a member of the Neverseen, the same group that has been hurting our world. Isn't that enough tainting?"

Okay, wow. He's not holding back. Further reason to not ever anger Dex.

"I didn't ask for you to speak."

"You're a Sencen, his father. However, you're not the only one who is a part of his family, I am too. So, I think that I have the right to speak."

Keefe could feel the smile on his face, and wondered how it looked to other people. He is... he is my family. All the Dizznees are.

"My son is a Sencen, I will not have him involved with a low-class family such as yours."

"Don't insult the Dizznees," Keefe told him.

Cassius raised an eyebrow. "His father is Talentless. He's a male. How do the two of you expect to have children? The line would end with you, and I will not have that happen."

"Neither of us are adults, we don't need to make that decision now."

"Oh, I believe I understand what's going on here. You're young. You're confused. Sophie Foster isn't dating you, so you're heartbroken. You'll make a scene about you loving males, but you're going to grow up, and you're going to realize that you're wrong. Maybe the Dizznee comforted you, and you're just so desperate for affection that you're willing to date anyone who is remotely kind to you."

The more Cassius spoke, the more it hurt. It went from nonsense- he would not use Dex as a rebound- before it became even more confusing. Yes, he had loved Sophie, and was upset at the fact that he didn't get to be the one dating her, he wouldn't deny that. It was also true that he wasn't completely sure of his feelings when he agreed to date Dex. But as time passed, his feelings were made clear, there was no confusion, no doubt that he liked Dex.

It could have been easy to laugh off, because it didn't hurt at first, and it was ridiculous. It was that last part that hurt. It was as if a blade had pierced through him.

"Really? You're going to be the one to say that?" Dex fumed. "If Keefe is so 'desperate for affection', who's the one who made him feel that way in the first place? You, who's scared your own child so much, placed so many expectations on him that he feels like he isn't loved?

"And so what if his feelings for me change? You can't tell me that Lady Gisela was your first love, or that you love her as much now as you did before. So what of Keefe wants to break up with me in the future? It doesn't matter, because this is what he feels now.

"Our friends have shown him more affection in the few years that we've known him than you have for his entire life. Am I wrong? You want the Sencen family to be perfect, right? Does being as heartless as you make him perfect?"

"You can call me heartless if you wish, Dizznee. His emotions are a weakness."

"They're my strength too," Keefe murmured. "And I know what you're thinking, the 'Dizznee boy' has made me too soft-hearted. That he's somehow in me as if he's some kind of disease. But I'm tired. I'm tired of letting you pretend that you know what is best for me."

"What are you going to do, leave?" His father's tone was haughty, as if everything about what he was saying was ridiculous. "We've agreed that you are not to leave here."

What do I do now? I can't leave, but surely that's not my only option. No, it isn't...

Ro huffed. "I've kept quiet-"

Keefe raised a finger in the air. "It's okay Ro." He made eye contact with Cassius. "I won't leave. What I can do is purposely fail the Foxfire midterms. It's not like I had any plans on continuing with the Elite Levels anyway."

Cassius had been angry before, but Keefe's words made it worse. He relished in the way those ice blue eyes widened, before they could narrow into a glare.

"If you do that, you won't be a noble. You won't be blessed to work for the Council."

It was a challenge, telling him that he was going to go to the Elite Levels, whether he liked it or not.

Keefe only smirked. "Yeah, but is the Council going to want someone who fails all of those classes?"

There was a slight waver to that stern expression. I'm going to win this argument.

"I planned to complete Level Six, but I can always choose not to. And my boyfriend plans to continue Foxfire, making him more of a noble than I will."

The word 'boyfriend' made his father flinch. "You won't."

"I will. So what do you have to say to that?"

Cassius closed his eyes and let out a slow breath. "Fine, I'll concede for now. I will not require for the two of you to break up, as long as you ensure that your marks end up higher than before."

Keefe wasn't sure if he should be suspicious of the 'for now' or to be relieved. "I agree to that."

"Also, I still do not wish for the Dizznee to be here. Have him leave this place."

Keefe turned to Dex, then nodded. I'll be fine for now. I can deal with it from here.

When Dex left, the atmosphere changed, becoming both more and less tense. But an agreement- although reluctant, had been made, so nothing major was going to happen.

It's not going to last forever, I know that. But this is going to be the best that I can get.

1) That argument probably ended up making no sense. I've known i needed one for ages, but I never really had it planned out? Idk, never was good with arguments

2) I've been trying to figure out more background details for a bit, but I've never really come to a conclusion. Like, it's kinda unrealistic that all 3 of these ships what got together in what's basically high school atm, stay together. At the same time though, don't want to break anyone up

3) my ship i was planning to break up was Tiana, but honestly, I'm probably not going to. I thought about the concept of Linhiana, or like one-sided linhiana, but I'm not gonna go that route

4) But I do think I finally have a conclusion. I'm gonna keep Tiana together, and have linh and Marella be in a queerplatonic relationship. If I'd realized before, I probably would have done more setup for it. But yknow, better late than never