He's breakable

Constance Billiard Academy looked so much bigger than he last remembered it. It was daunting before him, spreading out over the campus like a giant brickwork beast. Even the hallways were longer and much more frightening than when he had first walked the halls back when he was an intern. Beside him walked Madeline who chatted away happily about various events that had happened since he left. Turning a corridor Ethan's blue eyes spotted a man with brown hair and blond highlights, styled in a spiky mess atop his head. He looked around Ethan's own age, yet was walking with the use of a cane.

"I see the cast has come off," Madeline chirruped happily, walking up to the man and giving him an one-armed hug around his waist. "Oh, I should introduce you two." She moved to stand between Ethan and the stranger, smiling away in her typical way. "Ethan used to intern here when I first started teaching, and now he's back to take over Henry's old position as movie production and design professor." She turned to Ethan. "And this is Alastar. He teaches mathematics."

With a small smile Ethan held out his hand towards the other professor. "Its a pleasure, Alastar."

Giving Ethan a curt nod he took the offered hand and gave it a firm shake. "You'll be in the arts department then I take it."

Madeline let out a small gasp, lifting her hands to her mouth. "Oh, I forgot about David!"

"I'm sure he'll meet him eventually. He's like a bad rash - just never goes away," Star replied. "I'd love to stay and chat, but I have things to do." he gave a bow of his head and then set about on his way.

Silently, Ethan turned and watched him go. While he was standing in the hallway, Madeline looped her arm with his. "Does he not like David?" Ethan asked, looking down at her.

With a soft sigh, Madeline shook her head. "I don't want to be the bearer of bad news, Ethan. I think perhaps the best person to talk to about it is David."

They soon reached the area of the school where the art department was situated. It was after school hours which meant there were few students around, but still early enough for there to be staff members wandering about. In an all too familiar classroom Ethan could hear voices filtering through the open doorway. With Madeline at his side Ethan came to the doorway and looked in.

There at his desk sat David Malone. As beautiful and handsome as Ethan remembered. He was talking with a young man with rather crazy looking hair. It was him that noticed the pair at the door. He tapped on David's desk, then pointed at them.

Ethan knew that look that spread across David's face. Surprise, shock, relief and so much more.

"Ethan?"

Madeline tugged on his arm, encouraging him to enter the room. "Dart, would you mind coming with me?" she asked the younger man. Slipping her arm away from the link she had made with the Welshman, she instead looped it into the arm of the one called Dart and lead him away.

Standing there in that room there was only one thing that Ethan wanted to do. Before anything could be said between them he gave into that need and closed the gap between them. Bending down to reach David's seated level, hand moved to a cheek and lips pressed against lips. So many unspoken emotions leaked out.

But while it was so amazing, David pushed him away. "Ethan...I..." he sighed, looking ahead and away from Ethan. A slight blush rose in his cheeks. "I'm so sorry..."

Heartbreak set in faster than Ethan remembered it ever doing before. Perching on the edge of the older man's desk, blue eyes looked at the wall behind where the photography professor sat. "I left without saying goodbye. I knew you wouldn't stay single and wait for me."

David smoothed his hands over his face. "You left, Ethan. I knew in my heart though that whatever the reason was held an importance much greater than even myself."

"Madeline said I should talk to you about the man I met on my way here. The mathematics professor; Alastar."

Looking up at Ethan who was not looking back at him, David's tongue swept over his lower lip. "We've only been seeing each other for a few months now, but..."

"But you've already fallen in love with him," Ethan finished for him.