Oliver turned his head so quickly it almost hurt as he looked toward Blaize. His eyes were filled with confusion and uncertainty. Blaize saved him again, and while it normally felt good, this situation only resulted in Oliver feeling like dirt.

Looking away from Blaize he let his eyes fall to the floor as the men around him continued to talk. He was deaf to most of it.

Even as Blaize recited the University's code of conduct. Oliver didn't pay much attention, he too was banking on the notion that they were two men. Not that they were above the rules, but exempt from them because the kind of relationship they had were written off.

Oliver's attention was drawn back to the conversation at the mention of splitting up their partnership. Oliver opened his mouth to reply, matching Blaize's phrase.

Oliver wanted to find something to say but he felt defeated. Instead he rose up from his chair, clearly on the verge of some sort of emotional outburst.

"Fine, may I leave now?" Oliver asked, his fingers tight to the strap of his bookbag as he waited.

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"Leave. And stay out of Dexter's way, I'll tell Bart to make sure he stays out of yours" The Head rubbed his face in exasperation and stress.

Blaize remained seated for a few minutes more, before getting up himself. He didn't bother waiting for the Head to confirm or deny Oliver's request to leave, he simply left, declaring the meeting all but over.

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Oliver left without another word, but nearly ran into Blaize outside the Head's office. . They walked for a moment away from the doorway until Oliver stopped. He took a step back, eyes down and for a moment he was unwilling to look at Blaize, until he forced himself to. His heart was hammering in his chest and if he could he'd much rather be outside with cool air instead of inside some building.

"I think I should leave, once the paperwork for the school is done I'll put in my own resignation. I'll find some other kind of work elsewhere. I uh..I don't want to cause a scandal and I think it would be easier for me to go. I mean you're an Elliot and your family legacy is here..." Oliver stopped talking simply because he was struggling to find the words. He didn't want to stop being around Blaize, but in his self-sacrificing way, Oliver was willing to walk into a den with lions in order to keep Blaize where he belonged. He knew finding work would be a bit of a struggle, but there were plenty of other schools. He wouldn't mind commuting to work plenty of people did it. Already planning various routes to other schools, Oliver adjusted his bookbag once again before he started to walk again. Leaving what he said for Blaize to process.

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He was stopped in his tracks by a firm hand on the strap of his messenger bag, pulling the strap back against him with the weight of the rest of his bag, and released as soon as the momentum forced Oliver to stop and turn around.

"You're not going anywhere" Blaize said firmly, his voice sober and measured, taking on the maturity he didn't otherwise display at any other time, "And neither am I. Only he knows" Meaning the University Head, "And he isn't exactly going to go around gossiping about it. If Dick wants to insinuate we're sleeping together, let him. No-one will ever take him seriously"

Blaize always got what he wanted. He literally couldn't conceive the notion of ever being refused, rejected or fired. Certainly not in a place that so lovingly put his father's office in the same category as a holy site, and to whom he was an exceptionally valuable asset. For as much talk as there was about him using his father's name like a blunt instrument or a skeleton key, he did have his own assets. He was a talented explorer in his own right, that was something that not even those who accused him of having the brainpower of a broken lamp could deny. Talented explorers who would willingly dive into danger were very rare, and he and Oliver always brought back something new for the University to chew over.

They were an asset. A genuine pair.

"If they want to make a fuss, I leave, and I take you with me. I can be accepted anywhere, we can even be solo workers and make our own names. I don't care about his empty threats, and neither should you"

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Perhaps it was old muscle memory from schoolyard bullies, but Oliver's reaction to the strap of his bag being pulled was to struggle. Yet as he did he was reminded that he wasn't in grade school and it was Blaize pulling on it. Stopping he turned slightly to look back at Blaize.

He wanted to be comforted by his words, but there a dark gnawing sensation that made him think of the worst. He was afraid that his own work would be received differently if word got out. He wasn't ashamed of himself, or his relationship with Blaize, but he didn't want it to look like he slept his way to where he was.

Frustrated for a moment that Blaize didn't see it like that, Oliver refused to say anything, even if no one believed Mr. Dexter, Oliver had a feeling someone might and start asking questions. Ones Oliver didn't want to answer.

However, his reserved look softened as Blaize said they could make it on their own. For a moment there it seemed like Blaize saw their relationship lasting longer than a few months, but Oliver wouldn't permit himself to enjoy that possible future.

"They might be empty threats to you but not to me. I don't have anything to fall back on. I've worked really hard to be where I am and having someone think less of me because what I do behind closed doors isn't how I want to spend my professional career. If word does get out or if someone does believe Mr. Dexter. Everything I've done will look fake. I will be known as the assistant to did whatever he could to make a name for himself. I don't want that," Oliver told him doing his best to explain his frustrations but realizing that Blaize might not understand, at least not understanding his train of thought.

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Blaize didn't really understand. He couldn't, his own path through life was given a boost, sure, but his ego would occasionally remind him that he was fantastic enough to make his own career even if he didn't have wealth and status.

"Do you want us to stop this, then" His voice was oddly detached, almost sounding as though it didn't belong to him.

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"I don't know," Oliver said softly, his voice losing all muster from before and feeling flat and defeated. He didn't want to lose Blaize, he didn't want to give up on something he wanted for so long, but the cold logical part of his brain was reminding him for the harsh realities of life. You can't always get what you want,

Looking down again Oliver counted the the little scuff marks on the smooth hardwood floor that was the school's main office. His heart also ached, for the way Blaize sounded, he blamed himself.

"I don't want us to stop anything, but I also don't want to that guy that people whisper about," Oliver was barely able to scrap together the courage to look up at Blaize, his eyes displaying how conflicted he was about it.

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"If people don't have the courage to come up to your face and say it, then it's not worth listening to" Blaize told him bluntly, sneering at the very idea that simple words would get to him. Oliver, of course, had seen the vulnerable side of Blaize, the man who had cried for hours because he had lost his father and was realising he was never going to have him back, and have years of suspended grief pour out.

But this was the side of him that was callous, blunt and simply dismissed people or things that didn't concern his normally thick skin.

"All they are doing is splitting us as a working partnership. They can't split a private one. Everything is fine"

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Oliver didn't relax, even if Blaize had point, his own brain wasn't going to accept it. Not more irritated as his own anxieties about the situation, Oliver exhaled loudly and ran his fingers in his hair before adjusting his glasses. He wished he had Blaize's confidence, he hoped with time it would brush off on him.

He wanted to believe Blaize that everything was going to be fine, but the dark part of his brain held tight to the 'what if', which only frustrated him more.

Finally in bit of anger toward his stupid brain, Oliver decided he would worry about it in the evening. No more talk or concern about it during daylight hours.

"Okay, you win," He paused for a second unsure of what they would go next. Part of him wanted to suggest they call it a day and have Blaize drive him home. He had some work to do for the class he was building but it wasn't like he couldn't do it at home.

"I need something to eat or drink maybe both," Oliver told him before turning and heading out of the building. He was using this as an excuse to leave what ever was lingering alone.

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For once, Blaize didn't follow him. No matter what, Oliver was going to keep coming back around to this very same predicament, and Blaize was in no mood to keep repeating himself.
Still bored, he decided to go have a Goddamn word with Dr. Bart to keep Dick out of his face, and find out who he was going to be paired with. The Head would at least send the word to pair him with someone else ...

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Oliver managed to find a cafe near the school that didn't ask too many questions when he requested a seat near the back. He ordered a sandwich which he barely ate and drank two cups of coffee with far too much cream and sugar to be healthy.

After an hour of just sitting there and getting lost in people watching, Oliver gathered up his things got his sandwich to go before he paused at the pastries in the cafe's display case. He saw something that looked to be in dark chocolate. He caught the attention of the girl behind the counter and asked to buy a slice of whatever it was.

Tucked away in a take out bag was a slice of a pomegranate and dark chocolate fruit tart. It was Oliver's attempt at 'I'm sorry'.

His trip back to the university was uneventful until his arrival at his office. On his door was a note with his name on it, upon reading it he realized that it meant.

Considering for a moment pretending he was sick and just going home, Oliver bit the bullet and found his way over to Dr. Bart's office, his barely eaten lunch and Blaize's treat still in his grasp.

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Inside Dr. Bart's office was someone unexpected; it was the young woman who had been sitting beside Richard Dexter in the Head's office. Normally a rather ill omen, it was noted that Richard wasn't actually here, just her, and she looked a lot lighter and brighter than she had been in that room.

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Oliver paused wondering for a brief moment if he misread what time to show up, but the way Dr. Bart looked at him Oliver knew he was where he was supposed to be.

"Um Hello?" Oliver said in greeting, Dr. Bart nodded before coaxing him in.

"Mr. Marks, I'd like to introduce you to Miss Peters,"

Oliver managed to juggle the items he was carrying in order to offering his hand for the woman to take a shake, clearly unsure of why he was meeting her so formally.

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She remained seated, not expecting Oliver to shake her hand and looking quite bemused as he rearranged all the things he was carrying in order to proffer his hand. None the less, she returned the handshake, looking up at him with gentle curiosity.

"Hello, I, ah, I'm ... was ... Mr. Dexter's assistant" The more words she spoke, the quieter they got until it became hard to hear her. She turned to face Dr. Bart again, uncomfortable with the reality of the change in partnership, and rather hoped he'd be the one to tell Oliver rather than herself.

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Oliver was confused by the way Miss Peters introduced herself and Oliver turned to look at Dr. Barts for a clue as to what she was meaning, but the old man instead gave Oliver perhaps the worst news to date.

"The university has decided to do a little switching of assistants. Because you two are the only ones present and not out on a mission, we have decided you will be our first swap. Mr. Marks you will work with Mr. Dexter and Miss Peters will work with Mr. Elliot. I'm sure you both will adjust quickly and without too many problems. From my understand Mr. Dexter and Mr. Elliot have some similar quirks about them," Dr. Barts explained himself which only made Oliver annoyed and half tempted to voice his protest with carefully chosen words.

"I don't think that is fair sir, Mr. Elliot and I work well together no sense changing it now,"

"That's exactly the point, why not challenge yourself? Work alongside someone new for a change, see if you two can learn from each other," Dr. Barts added which had Oliver rolling his eyes and considering throwing his sandwich at the old man's head.

"Does Blaize know about this?"

"Yes, a letter was sent to him and Mr. Dexter, they should be arriving at any moment to discuss the details,"

Just then the door to Dr. Barts' office burst open and Richard strode in, clearly in bit of rage.

"I demand this be revoked! I will not work with some scrawny bookworm!" Richard said, looking at Oliver with a glare, but Oliver fitted him with one nearly a hundred times stronger.

"What's done is done, it can't be changed now. The paperwork has been filed," Dr. Barts replied flashing a grin that only old men seemed to have.

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