Gus paused before he sighed, his fingers once again finding their way through his hair; it was a wonder there weren't distinct lines on his head from how often he did it. Basil was demanding, and maybe this was it. He could defy the impossible right? If not, he could handle rejection twice. He steeled his heart before he tilted his head toward the man, a slight frown against his lips.“You haven’t called me Gus in ten years. Or Lissing.” He started quietly, pausing only to lean back on his hands. “Just… Lissington.” As if that would give him any indication of just how much they’d drifted apart.
It was unfair to have to rehash the fight now - he hadn’t even had a chance to revisit with a Basil who did remember! Now he had to explain it to someone who thought the world of him and there was nothing in Gus that wanted to watch disgust flicker across his face like it had ten years ago. Blue hues closed as sat him, his fingers twisting together in his lap. He could just petrify Basil and drag him down the infirmary, but perhaps Headmaster Black would frown upon that kind of deliberate action against another professor.
After what seemed like a lifetime he finally blinked up to meet Basil’s graze. “I said I love you.” He said it so quietly he wasn’t even sure the words had left his lips. “And you told me it’s not biologically possible for me to love you the way a man and wife love each other.” His finger suddenly seemed much more interesting and he dropped his gaze back to his lap. Gus sighed. “I also forced a choice on you. I, well, I left to be a curse breaker. You didn’t want to come with me and I wanted to ask you to ask me to stay. But you didn’t, and well… ten years pass before we see each other again.” When he did look at him, he searched his face for the emotions he expected - anger, disgust, hatred even. All the emotions he swore passed across his face at the cliff.
Of course a lot more harsh words had passed. Letters had been written, read and unreturned. “I would have. Stayed, you know. If you’d asked.” Gus added on meekly.
It was unfair to have to rehash the fight now - he hadn’t even had a chance to revisit with a Basil who did remember! Now he had to explain it to someone who thought the world of him and there was nothing in Gus that wanted to watch disgust flicker across his face like it had ten years ago. Blue hues closed as sat him, his fingers twisting together in his lap. He could just petrify Basil and drag him down the infirmary, but perhaps Headmaster Black would frown upon that kind of deliberate action against another professor.
After what seemed like a lifetime he finally blinked up to meet Basil’s graze. “I said I love you.” He said it so quietly he wasn’t even sure the words had left his lips. “And you told me it’s not biologically possible for me to love you the way a man and wife love each other.” His finger suddenly seemed much more interesting and he dropped his gaze back to his lap. Gus sighed. “I also forced a choice on you. I, well, I left to be a curse breaker. You didn’t want to come with me and I wanted to ask you to ask me to stay. But you didn’t, and well… ten years pass before we see each other again.” When he did look at him, he searched his face for the emotions he expected - anger, disgust, hatred even. All the emotions he swore passed across his face at the cliff.
Of course a lot more harsh words had passed. Letters had been written, read and unreturned. “I would have. Stayed, you know. If you’d asked.” Gus added on meekly.
![[Image: UkiVTG8.png]](https://i.imgur.com/UkiVTG8.png)