storypaint (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
storypaint) wrote2009-01-07 12:57 pm
storypaint) wrote2009-01-07 12:57 pm
Dark Before Dawn (Layton gen)
Title: Dark Before Dawn
Length: 504 words
Prompt: "The professor knew it was going to be a long day," for the chain of fics on the Professor Layton (Anon) Fan Meme
Pairing: Layton gen
Other: n/a
Excerpt: How the small boy had become to attached to him in only a year's time, the professor didn't know. He himself knew he was a perpetual bachelor.
The professor knew it was going to be a long day. He'd woken with the dawn, unable to get back to sleep, and spent the next hour lying in bed, solving puzzles in his head, and very carefully not moving. He wouldn't wake the boy lying next to him before he had to.
Luke's sleep was deep and somewhat uneasy. He was a restless sleeper, the professor had discovered, tossing and turning late into the night. Or perhaps that was because he wasn't used to sharing a bed-- or better yet, maybe it was because what would happen with the dawn.
Luke was going home today.
It was a short jaunt by steamship, but soon followed by a greater one. Luke's father was following his business to America, an open land with strange people and poor tea.
"I don't like coffee, Professor," Luke had said in a panicky voice when Layton read him the letter from his parents. "I don't like it at all!"
"I'm sure they have tea in America," Layton said sensibly, but his eyes were dull. He knew what Luke meant.
There wouldn't be Layton's tea in America.
How the small boy had become to attached to him in only a year's time, the professor didn't know. He himself knew he was a perpetual bachelor. He'd never expected to take a child into his home. When Luke's father called, his voice loud and uncertain on the telephone, and asked if he'd watch Luke while Luke's mother recovered from Luke's sister's premature birth, Layton had, of course, agreed. They had been college roommates, and good friends, after all.
And at first the boy had been antsy, untrainable, scared. He'd balked at the professor's every idea and refused every puzzle. It was hard to reconcile the old Luke with the Luke who slept beside him that morning-- polite, educated, willing to learn.
The thought didn't cross the professor's mind that he had changed too-- become more patient, more friendly, more personable. But Luke had been a greater catalyst in his life than he would probably ever realize.
It had been a little boy's indulgence-- "Let me sleep with you, tonight, Professor, just this once--" and Layton had granted the wish. Luke was balled up on the edge of the pillow, scowling in his sleep. Layton smiled at the image, feeling a certain sort of thick pride in his throat. Was this how it was for people who apprenticed their children away? Did they feel this loss and joy for their child?
The professor sighed quietly. Probably it was, but he'd never been very good with emotions. Now that Luke was leaving, he would return to the routine of classes, archaeology, puzzles, afternoon tea. And he would follow this routine to the letter until the day he died, alone in his narrow bed. That was how the world worked.
But he'd had his time. He'd had his student. He'd had his friend.
Layton leaned over towards Luke and hesitated before he spoke, shutting his eyes and wishing... wishing he didn't have to...
"Luke, it's time to get up."
Length: 504 words
Prompt: "The professor knew it was going to be a long day," for the chain of fics on the Professor Layton (Anon) Fan Meme
Pairing: Layton gen
Other: n/a
Excerpt: How the small boy had become to attached to him in only a year's time, the professor didn't know. He himself knew he was a perpetual bachelor.
The professor knew it was going to be a long day. He'd woken with the dawn, unable to get back to sleep, and spent the next hour lying in bed, solving puzzles in his head, and very carefully not moving. He wouldn't wake the boy lying next to him before he had to.
Luke's sleep was deep and somewhat uneasy. He was a restless sleeper, the professor had discovered, tossing and turning late into the night. Or perhaps that was because he wasn't used to sharing a bed-- or better yet, maybe it was because what would happen with the dawn.
Luke was going home today.
It was a short jaunt by steamship, but soon followed by a greater one. Luke's father was following his business to America, an open land with strange people and poor tea.
"I don't like coffee, Professor," Luke had said in a panicky voice when Layton read him the letter from his parents. "I don't like it at all!"
"I'm sure they have tea in America," Layton said sensibly, but his eyes were dull. He knew what Luke meant.
There wouldn't be Layton's tea in America.
How the small boy had become to attached to him in only a year's time, the professor didn't know. He himself knew he was a perpetual bachelor. He'd never expected to take a child into his home. When Luke's father called, his voice loud and uncertain on the telephone, and asked if he'd watch Luke while Luke's mother recovered from Luke's sister's premature birth, Layton had, of course, agreed. They had been college roommates, and good friends, after all.
And at first the boy had been antsy, untrainable, scared. He'd balked at the professor's every idea and refused every puzzle. It was hard to reconcile the old Luke with the Luke who slept beside him that morning-- polite, educated, willing to learn.
The thought didn't cross the professor's mind that he had changed too-- become more patient, more friendly, more personable. But Luke had been a greater catalyst in his life than he would probably ever realize.
It had been a little boy's indulgence-- "Let me sleep with you, tonight, Professor, just this once--" and Layton had granted the wish. Luke was balled up on the edge of the pillow, scowling in his sleep. Layton smiled at the image, feeling a certain sort of thick pride in his throat. Was this how it was for people who apprenticed their children away? Did they feel this loss and joy for their child?
The professor sighed quietly. Probably it was, but he'd never been very good with emotions. Now that Luke was leaving, he would return to the routine of classes, archaeology, puzzles, afternoon tea. And he would follow this routine to the letter until the day he died, alone in his narrow bed. That was how the world worked.
But he'd had his time. He'd had his student. He'd had his friend.
Layton leaned over towards Luke and hesitated before he spoke, shutting his eyes and wishing... wishing he didn't have to...
"Luke, it's time to get up."