bsumone | ❝ You give me an education ❞

Exchange students were always an interesting group. James often ended up taking on the classes to help them with their English and offered tutoring times outside of his regular office hours. The perks of some of his undergraduate interests. Back in the day, James had dual majored in both literature and linguistics, attained a TESL/TEFOL certification, and even taught for a year abroad.

It's not unusual for some of the exchange students to become very familiar with his schedule and spend time in his office for one-on-one tutoring. Sky wasn't any different in that respect. He was an exceptionally hard-working student who James found often ended up in his office without scheduling ahead of time. That's fine. Not many of his undergraduates come by and his grad students tend to make appointments. So he doesn't mind filling his free time like this.

He offers Sky a polite smile and gestures for him to have a seat in one of the chairs. There's one off to the side, a comfortable armchair for reading, and a more professional-looking seat across from the man's desk.

"How can I help you today?" It wasn't uncommon for him to go over rubrics and syllabi to clarify things for the foreign students.

Being away from home wasn't easy. He worried about his dad and his friends. But they had to live their own lives and he had to live his. This exchange program had been an extremely good opportunity for him so Sky had made sure to jump on it. Of course now it meant he was in a country having to speak a language that he wasn't strong in. How he was passing all his classes with flying colors was anyone's guess.

But today he'd been given a form for signing up for a dorm or an apartment for the coming semester and there was a lot in there he was struggling to read. So he went to the teacher he'd been going to for help all this time to get some, well, more help. Sitting down in the chair across from the desk, he set his things down then took the form out.

"I know this is signing up for..." He paused a moment to remember the word. "...housing. But I do not understand...this."

It would be so much easier if this was in Thai. Or if he could just speak Thai to people. But he was the only one here who could so he had to find a way to make this work. At least Khun...no, not Khun. At least Mr. Cooper had made it clear he was there for his students.

Ah, yes. Forms and mailings of all manner were things James often helped his students with. While he hadn't committed this particular form to memory, he knew the gist of it. That, however, wasn't good enough. Taking the form, James' eyes moved across the lines, easily picking out the words and phrases that might be causing difficulty.

"This form explains the choices you have for housing. It's divided into a few categories: the first is housing on the campus or off of it. If you live on campus, you have the choice of dormitories. And then the last option is whether or not you want to live with roommates, and if so, how many. We can go over each section in detail if you have a few minutes."

Sky thought about his workload. He really didn't actually have a few minutes. He had four essays to write, a book to read, two plans to make, and a model to build. Most of that was already started actually. Some of it even finished. It just was a lot and he really had no time to spare. But, he could pull an all nighter if it meant clearing this up so he'd have a place to live next semester.

"I have time." A bold faced lie but he was great at those. It was how he kept people from worrying about him. "I need to sign up for next semester."

So any help would be great.

That made sense. The university usually assigns housing to freshmen and exchange students who don't already have living arrangements (such as with parents or a host family) for their first term. Housing options open up to them for their second term.

"I think, perhaps, the most important decision is whether or not you want to live with others. You're able to choose roommates or get assigned to strangers if there's no one specific."

There was a flash of something in his eyes for a moment at the thought of having to share space with someone. What that something was vanished quickly though, almost like it had never been there before.

"Alone. Please. I'm better alone."

Did he imagine that look? For a split second, James was sure he saw something like... alarm? But it was gone so quickly, he could've imagined it.

"Arlight." James gets up from his chair and moves around the desk, form in hand. He lays it in front of Sky so he can read it and positions himself stooped slightly over the young man's shoulder. Reaching for a pen, he indicates a certain check box on the form. "Mark here for a private room."

To make things a little easier, James took out his phone and pulled up the university's housing website. There it listed which buildings had singles available and gave some details about their specific cultures, club and academic affiliations, and locations on campus. He lays that on the desk, too, so Sky can scroll through some of the options.

"This has some photos of the rooms available in the different dorms. This one is only singles, but the other dorms have mixed rooms: singles and those for multiple students. They tend to be louder, in my experience."

Sky tensed for a moment at having the man hover over him like that before reminding himself that this was just his teacher getting a better vantage point to help him. Taking a deep breath, he forced himself to relax and checked the box that the man had told him to mark. Then he looked at the phone and saw what the man had pulled up. Flipping through it, he considered his options and even considered the noise levels. Very different from dorm life where he was from.

Only singles then. He looked at the rooms for those. Smaller than he was used to but it was just him so he didn't mind. His own housing right now was also small. They apparently just made dorms tinier here in America.

"The location with the single rooms is quieter usually?" His teacher had just said that but sometimes having it repeated helped.

"Yes," he affirmed with a nod. "Sometimes the rooms with multiple occupants can get loud or rowdy: music, TV, parties, that sort of thing." Not that those things couldn't happen in singles, but it was less likely that someone was going to invite every member of their floor over for a party when they all basically chose to live alone for a reason. That was merely his observation.

Sky turned his head so he could look up at his teacher. And found him quite close. Quickly he darted his gaze away to make absolutely sure he wasn't seen as flirting with him. Just his teacher. He couldn't possibly be that kind of an asshole...

Okay. Focus.

"Can I say I want that building?" And if so...where?

"That's on the backside. There's a list with the building names. You can find it..." James paused to glance at his phone, scrolling up a little to the name of the building Sky chose. "Right here."

The backside? Sky frowned a moment as he tried to translate that back into Thai in his head real quick. Then he nodded as he remembered and flipped the form over before looking over at the phone. Matching the names up, he made sure he picked that building. After that he could figure out where to put his name and student number because he'd seen that often enough to recognize is quickly.

"I think this is everything..."

"Meal plan," James corrected. "Also on the backside of the form. There's an option for if you want a meal plan. That is an option to have a certain number of meals per day included in the tuition. You don't have to choose one if you plan to provide your own food. There's a box here," he leaned in to point to the portion of the form in question, "to opt out."

Sky's eyes actually widened for a moment and he twisted to look up at his teacher. There was such amazement in his eyes. Like he'd never seen something like this before. And, well, he hadn't! "There are meal plan options? For this school?"

Don't laugh, James. Don't laugh!

Okay, a little chuckle escaped him at Sky's surprise. "Yes, they offer meal plans here. There's a cafeteria and also on-site dining."

"The dorm I was living in over in Thailand didn't offer this. I don't think any dorm did..." But a meal plan would be amazing. It would make figuring out food so much easier. And if this cost money then he already knew he could afford it with the money he had. His father was very supportive of this.

"I will sign up for it."

James nodded and pointed to a series of checkboxes. "This is to choose. It shows options for one, two, and three provided meals. It's more like the amount that will go toward food than an actual allotment. It will be a credit on your ID that you can swipe to get food whenever you wish."

He nodded as he listened, looking over the options. Then he glanced up at his teacher. "Is this in a day? Or a week?"

Either would still be amazing honestly.

"It's per day," he explained gently. "If I'm honest with you, it's actually a little less expensive than eating out frequently."

"Per day..." He was amazed and he went to check that option. While he planned to provide for himself this would be wonderful for the times when he wasn't able to get groceries due to studying. Pleased, he looked back at his teacher again.

"Is that everything?" He had a lot of classes to get to but he was willing to linger here longer to get this right. He could afford to be a little tired running to them and so on.

James can tell Sky has somewhere else to be. He isn't outwardly hurried, but in a way he is? Maybe it's because he's such a diligent student, it seems as if he's always eager to be working on something or studying something.

"You'll just need to sign and date here," he indicates the signature, "and put your student ID number here." This time he points to a line at the top of the form. "Then turn it in."

"Thank you." He did as instructed then got up so he could bow his head in thanks. He murmured it in Thai as well before offering the man a warm smile. "I will see you when we have class again."

With that he took off. And of course he was there for every class with the man. And all his other classes. The point where he overworked himself and lost track of remembering to rest. Sky did notice a couple weeks later that he wasn't feeling well but he just took some medicine and headed to class.

Sitting up front, he found himself struggling to concentrate, losing track of time. He almost didn't realize class had ended until he was alone with the man in the room. Gathering his things, he went to get up...

And his world started spinning as he began to fall.

Everything between then and now was unremarkable. Sky was bright in class and continued to get high marks. An ideal student, truly. It seemed odd to James to see Sky looking distant during his lecture. Well, everyone has their bad days. Maybe he stayed up too late studying for another course. Or maybe he simply wasn’t feeling well.

James brushed his worries aside until he realized Sky was still in the room after all the other students shuffled toward the doors. Did Sky have a question on the lesson? He was about to ask when the young man began gathering his things to leave. They tumbled out of his hands as he crumpled to the ground. James was too far away to make it in time to stop that from happening, but he was at Sky’s side just as soon as he could be.

Some students were still in the back of the lecture hall, waiting their turn to shuffle out the door. “Hey,” he called out to get someone’s attention. “I need one of you to get someone from the medical clinic here.” Two of them nodded and pushed their way out to hurry off for a nurse. James didn’t see any blood, but that didn’t mean Sky hadn’t hit his head in the fall.

In a much quieter, concerned tone, he spoke to Sky. “Hey, can you hear me?”

He bumped his head a little on the desk on the way down but it wasn't anything serious luckily. Everything hurt and he was already so dizzy before the hurt. Opening his eyes, he couldn't seem to focus on anything and he felt so cold. The fever he'd taken meds for that should have gone away? It was hitting him hard. His body was overworked and had just shut down completely.

"Mr. Cooper? Where...?" He didn't even realize he wasn't speaking in English anymore and was just speaking in Thai. He was confused right now and ended up closing his eyes as he thought maybe sleep would be okay now.

He was so tired...

“Shh, don’t try to move. Someone’s coming to help.” James was genuinely worried. Not just because of Sky fainting, but he could feel how feverish the young man was even through his clothes. How could he have come to lecture in a state like this?

Thankfully one of the nurses from the campus medical facility came quickly to determine that Sky hadn’t hurt himself egregiously in the fall. Though she highly recommended he go to the hospital for the fever.

James didn’t expect Sky to refuse!

“Do you have a roommate or someone to look in on you?”

Sky was barely coherent but he managed to make a small muttering of no hospital. If he went there he'd get in trouble. He didn't want to get punished. No, he couldn't go. His feverish mind couldn't understand what era this was for him anymore, going in and out and barely recognizing those around him.

But no hospital. He didn't want a hospital.

"...no...one..." He lived alone, barely knew anyone here. "Go home...sleep..."

And then he'd be fine. He just needed a little sleep. He even tried to sit up again but just slumped back against his teacher, eyes closing and moaning softly.

James frowned. No hospital and he lived alone? Not good. This poor kid could get worse and have no one around to know it until it was too late. Looking between Sky and the nurse trying to help him, James breathed out a long sigh.

“I’ll see to him,” he assured. Being faculty meant he got to park closer to the building than the students did, so getting Sky to his car wouldn’t be hard. He’d carry the young man if he had to. And no, he wouldn’t be taking him to the dorm where he could get worse alone. He’d put him up in his office on the sofa bed and crash in his daughter’s room since she wouldn’t be there until the weekend.

Sky lost track of everything else that was going on in that moment. All he knew was that things were moving. Was he moving? He couldn't really say anymore. After a time, the world just went dark as he finally fully passed out, his body giving up for the time being.

He needed rest. And a lot of it. Not to mention fluids and medicine and definitely to not be left alone. That last part he would have easily ignored if it weren't for a certain teacher that day.

Since Sky passed out before James could wring directions from him about where he lived (there was more than one dorm building on campus), he opted to take his student to his house instead. James didn’t live far from the college so it wouldn’t be troublesome to take Sky back to his dorm when he was feeling up to it. Until then, he tucked Sky into the hideaway sofa bed James used, covered only in a sheet so the fever wouldn’t get higher. He put a glass of water on the table beside the bed and settled in at this desk on the other side of the room so he’d be right there when Sky woke up. Then he’d see if the young man had any appetite and also make sure he took some medicine for the fever.

It was hours later that Sky finally woke up. Barely. He didn't know where he was and he moaned softly as he opened his eyes. Then he closed them again, the world too hard to focus on.

Where was he? This didn't look like his dorm room. And he still felt so tired and hot and cold at the same time.

"Mmmm..."

The way the room was set up, James had his back to Sky. He was sitting at the desk grading papers when he heard the young man stir. He was in full father mode and, unbeknownst to Sky, he’d been up to check on him several times. Maybe he turned too much on the bed or made some worrying sound at some point or other. James was definitely on high-alert.

This time when the professor looked back, he saw Sky’s eyes were open – he wouldn’t dare say he looked awake. But seeing him looking around, James immediately made his way over to the bedside.

“You’re in my house,” James explained. He’s the Sky had to be wondering where he was when he saw the unfamiliar surroundings. “You passed out before I could get directions from you to take you to your own room,” he explained.

He reached to put the back of his hand against Sky’s forehead. Still feverish. His lips pursed and his hand reached for the glass of water and the medicine he’d put on the little table beside the sofa bed. “Here, this will help bring your fever down.”

For a moment there was utter fear past all of the haziness of the fever. He even flinched when the man touched him. However, when he realized this was his teacher, he settled a little and tried to understand what he was being told. Medi...cine? Oh. Right.

Shakily, he reached his hand up for it. To try to take some so he could bring the fever down. Likely he'd need help to take it and to drink the water though. Energy was not something that he had a lot of at this exact moment.

Why was he here though? Oh right. Mr. Cooper just explained that. It was so hard to think... Especially in English.

James understood that this had to be confusing for Sky. His experience as both a teacher and a father helped him be patient.

“Let me help you up.” He waited for Sky to nod or otherwise indicate that it was okay before slipping an arm around the young man’s shoulders to help him sit up. It would only make a mess if he tried to chase down the pills while reclined on the bed. If Sky wanted to go back to sleep after, that was fine. If he wanted to stay up, James would help prop up the pillows for him to rest against.

“Go ahead, I’ve got some water right here for you. If you feel hungry, I can get some broth and bread for you.”

With the help, he was able to sit up and take whatever he was given. He didn't even fight it. Medication, water... The man could have easily poisoned him and he would have swallowed it right then. He was just too weak to fight back. So he took it and swallowed, eyes opening and closing.

So tired.

But the moment that the man tried to lower him to let him down, he weakly held his arm. Scared of being left alone. "...be good. I'll...be..."

It was all in Thai. English was too hard for him to remember yet.

He didn’t have to understand what Sky was saying to understand the fear in his eyes and his tone. James nodded, reaching over to pat the hand gripping him with his free hand.

“You’re alright,” he soothed. “I’m not going anywhere. I’ll stay right here.” If that put Sky at ease, James could stay there on the edge of the bed. The papers he was grading weren’t going anywhere. Nor were they pressing. Even if they were on a tight deadline, someone’s health and well-being was far more important in James’ eyes.

He patted Sky’s arm once more, then reached out slowly to brush Sky’s damp hair back from his face. “I’m right here,” he said gently.

He was going to stay. There was a little whimper but finally Sky relaxed. Soon he was asleep again, still holding that hand. Breathing slowly, he entered what started out as a dreamless sleep. Until eventually the nightmares caught up with him. The horrible memories of that time.

Hands all over him. Him begging them to stop as they kept touching him, kept getting inside him. All while he called out to a face that was just watching it all happen. Someone who should have protected him because they were dating but instead just smiled and told him to keep his friends entertained.

Tears fell down his face in the waking world as he thrashed and talked in his sleep. Begging for it all to stop. Begging for help.

James didn't move when Sky drifted back to sleep, clutching his hand. No, instead, he shifted a little to make himself more comfortable where he sat. If Sky needed the comfort of his hand, James would give him that.

When the nightmares started to seep out of Sky's mind, causing the young man to move and cry out, James didn't have to understand the language he spoke to know whatever was happening in his mind was horrible. Pleading sounded the same in his language and James'. So he squeezed Sky's hand tighter, reaching out with his free harm to jostle the boy until he woke.

"Hey, hey," he uttered, trying to get Sky awake and focused on him. "You're okay," he promised. "You're safe."

When he started awake, he gasped and stared up at the man. His teacher. There was fear in his feverish eyes, pure terror. The images in his mind slowly faded away and he realized that it was Mr. Cooper above him, telling him that he was okay. He struggled to remember why he was here but soon desperation overwhelmed that and he reached out to cling to the man instead.

Body trembling, he just held on as tight as he could. Sky was fighting between fear and fever and something in him had concluded that this person was safe. That he'd protect him somehow.

And he needed that so badly right now.

It was a little startling when Sky flung himself into James. But the man instinctively put an arm around him, gently rubbing his back. He’s been a father long enough that he recognized the aftermath of a nightmare when he saw one. Sky still felt feverish and definitely needed more rest. That will come after James had a chance to calm him down.

“You’re alright,” he promised again in a quiet, sympathetic voice. “You’re safe here. There’s no one else here. You’re okay.”

Whatever scared Sky so terribly wasn’t his business. There wasn’t any reason for James to believe he was haunted by memories and not merely some frightening fever dream. He shushed Sky like he would a smaller child and rocked him very slightly while the young man clung. It went on for a few minutes before James tried to pull back just enough to look Sky in the eyes.

Reaching up with his free hand, James brushed Sky’s sweat-damp hair back and offered his most reassuring smile.

“You still feel warm,” he pointed out. “You should have something to drink and a little food before more medicine. Are you hungry?”

After a few minutes of the comforting, he was able to relax again. Feeling that cool hand on his skin, he sighed softly then looked up at the man. It took longer than normal for him to process the words and even then he didn't seem to be all there. Still, Sky nodded to say he was hungry despite the fact that he really wasn't. To be honest he wasn't even sure why he nodded at all.

Breathing a little heavy still from the fever, he lost what little energy he'd had before and slumped in the man's arms. He was still awake but only barely, dazed with his eyes open.

"Water..."

It was a mumbling that started Thai and finished in English making it sound strange to say the least. Like he'd only remembered he wasn't in Thailand right now halfway through.

There'd been times, very long ago, when his daughter had been sick like this: burning up and nearly delirious with fever. It was frightening then, but he learned how to handle it in case it happened again. Now, James was determined to help Sky. He didn't have any family here in the US and, unless the situation required him to be admitted to the hospital, James had no mind to worry the boy's family a world away.

When Sky's weight slumped in his arms, James carefully laid him back against the pillow. "I have to go to the kitchen for more water, okay? I'll just be gone for a moment." Maybe he'll get the boy some crackers or something light to try to eat, too. Once Sky falls asleep again, James can make him some broth for later.

"I'll be right back," he murmured again, speaking slowly and clearly.

And, as promised, he was only gone a moment. Just long enough to get a fresh glass of ice water and bring it back.

Sky drifted off while the man was gone, not really asleep but not really awake either. Eyes partway open as he watched the figure go through the door and then come back through it. Looking up at him he blinked several times as he tried to remember who this figure was.

Oh. It was Mr. Cooper? Why was he in his room? That made no sense...

That water looked so good though...

James was pleased to find Sky looked a smidge more lucid when he returned. Just a smidge. The boy seemed to recognize him, at least, which was a step further than they'd been a few moments before. Sitting down on the edge of the bed, James offered a soft smile and held the water out to Sky.

"Hi. How are you feeling?"

There was no telling how long this would last. Lucidity was here and there for him. Enough so that he didn't notice how much the hand he reached out was shaking. Or how it was a struggle to sit up to drink the water even if he got it.

"Where...?" Had they had this conversation? He couldn't remember...

"You're at my house. You weren't in any shape to tell me which dorm you live in," James explained in a gentle tone. "You passed out, do you remember that?"

As he spoke, James helped Sky to sit up and brought the glass of water to his lips. "You have quite a fever."

He was at Mr. Cooper's house? He passed out... That part he sort of remembered. Very distantly. It was almost so blurry he wasn't sure what it was anymore.

Sky took a few sips of the water before looking to the man who was taking care of him. Why was he doing that? He didn't have to do that. It went beyond his duties as a teacher. Yet here he was going so far out of his way. Did he have an agenda?

It was so hard to think right now.

James realized it was probably hard for Sky to think clearly. He was still burning up. It had to be even harder to try to translate in his head. So, he'd just have to make sure to convey as much meaning through his tone as possible.

"Just try to rest a little longer." If the fever didn't break by night, James would take the young man to the hospital. He knew from his experience as a father that these things sometimes took a little time to sort themselves out. No sense in being overly anxious about it.

Rest. He nodded as he shifted to lay back down, curling on his side this time. Mainly so he could watch the man taking care of him, confused by his actions and not understanding his motivations. Not at all. Licking his lips, he looked away and finally decided to speak. Just one word.

"...why?"

James blinks, canting his head. A confused look flickers over his face briefly. Was Sky asking why he should rest or... why James was looking after him? Well, thankfully, his answer to both questions is the same.

"Because you're sick."

Sick and mostly alone. A kid halfway around the world with no family to be by his side. None of the friends he probably knew for years and years. James didn't even know if Sky has a roommate. So the task fell to him.

Not the he minds one bit. He offers Sky a gentle smile.

"Someone should look out for you."

❝ You give me an education ❞

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cw: implications of abuse

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cw: domestic violence, abuse, rape...all that horrible stuff

:C

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