Drudgery

Date/Timing: 10 March 2007
Setting: library; Berlin, Germany
.
Hermann stares absently through the library window at the trees and their new leaves bending in the wind outside.
«Excuse me?»
He jumps, blinks at Anaïs cringing beside his chair.
An equally concerned Bastien stands at her shoulder.
«Uh, yes?»
«Are you alright? You don't look very well.»
Hermann rubs the back of his neck. «I'm sorry. I'm fine. I'm only ... tired. My final exams are taxing me more than I expected, I guess.»
«If you want to take a nap, we'll be extra quiet and behave,» offers Bastien.
«You should do that anyway. This /is a library, after all.»
«You know what I mean,» Bastien pouts.
«I do and that's very kind of you. I may ask for a wake-up call later, but I want to finish a few things first.»
«So ...?»
«Go 'study' where you can see me and I'll wave if I need you.»
Bastien and Anaïs beam, shift their rucksacks, and skip off to the worktable farthest from Hermann's perch on the middle of one of the sofas.
Hermann yawns, digs in his bag for his glasses, his paper and pen, and Edan's latest letter. Glasses on, he unfolds the note, and settles back into the cushions to read.
- Hermann, dear,
Happy Slingshot-Towards-Pluto-Which-Is-Totally-A-Planet-Don't-Argue Day!
I mean, NASA wouldn't bother with New Horizons if Pluto wasn't a planet, would they, hmm? So I'm right and you're wrong. -
He rolls his eyes, sighs fondly.
- It sounds like your finals are going well, not that that's any surprise. -
Hermann stifles a yawn, sighs.
- My big surprise is ... wait for it ... JUSTIN'S QUIT TUTORING ME BECAUSE I'VE CAUGHT UP TO HIM!
I'M OFFICIALLY MATHS-LITERATE AT THE APPROPRIATE LEVEL!!!!!
My exams will quiver before my mental might! And the /good schools will accept my brilliant butt!
Everyone (well, except Rhys, but he's an ass) is so proud of me. -
"Me, too, /leannan," he murmurs.
- And my odds of getting into your class of grad school's also gone up, thank God! I don't know what I'd do if I had to spend /more time apart from you.
I hate to admit it, but I'm still jealous of your American friend. Email, Hermann. I wonder about how I can compete with a fellow genius who can /converse with you. I feel like I'm tossing messages in bottles overboard in comparison. 
Messages about how I need remedial maths. Oh my God, I'm a loser. -
Hermann drops the letter in his lap, pushes his glasses up onto his forehead, rubs his eyes. He lets them fall into place, bends and fishes his notepaper (mermaids) and pen from his rucksack, and writes.
- Mar 2007
Berlin, Germany
Edan, my love,
Please put your mind at ease about my relationship about Newton. His notes are little more than a distraction from the drudgery of life without you. 
Let me be perfectly clear: THERE IS NO COMPETITION.
/You are my darling one. 
/You, Edan William Reid of Glasgow and Manchester, and only /you.
I want /no /one else.
I will wait /any length of time necessary in order to kiss you again. 
/Never doubt my love and commitment to you. - 
Hermann hides a yawn with his papers, glances across the room.
Anaïs and Bastien, heads close together, giggle at something on the table, probably one of Bastien's drawings.
Another yawn bubbles up.
Hermann sighs, raises his arm, beckons.
Bastien hops up, pads over. „What's up?“
„I'm going to lie down. Would you wake me in an hour if I'm not up on my own?“
„No problem.“
„Thank you.“
„Welcome~!“ Bastien patters back to Anaïs.
Hermann tucks his papers in his rucksack, zips it closed, folds his jacket into a something pillow-like, and lowers himself down, curls up on the cushions, wings pressed tight to the back of the sofa. He closes his eyes, idly wishing to wake up ninety-one days later in Edan's arms.
Category:Celestial Mechanics
2007 03 10
Category:Ficlet
Category:Berlin (setting)
Category:Hermann
Category:Hermann's POV
Category:Hermann has wings
Category:Hermann (ficlet)
Category:Bastien
Category:Bastien (ficlet)
Category:Anais
Category:Anais (ficlet)
Category:Edan
Category:Edan (ficlet)
Category:Conversations via snail mail
Category:Newt (mention)
Category:Justin (mention)
Category:Ficlets with images