Chapter Text
Lando stared at his phone once more, following the instructions his boyfriend had texted him about his location. He had never been to this area of campus, this must be where Oscar usually liked to spend his time.
It didn't take long for him to recognize the Australian sitting on a bench in the shade of a tree. He seemed distracted, staring at the grass with a thoughtful expression. Lando put his cell phone in his pocket and approached, a slight smile on his face.
“Hi, Oscuh” he said, sitting down next to his boyfriend and giving him a light kiss on the cheek.
Oscar didn't respond immediately, so the Brit continued talking, trying to ignore the awkward atmosphere that seemed to hang over them.
“I was thinking maybe we could go to the movies tonight, or maybe just watch something at my apartment. What do you think?” he suggested, wanting the evening to be relaxed, without remembering the tense dinner they had had the day before.
Oscar finally turned to look at him, his eyes sad and serious. He took a deep breath, as if gathering the courage to say something.
"Lan, I... I asked you to come here today because we need to talk" the Australian said, his voice low, almost trembling.
Lando frowned, noticing the serious tone for the first time. "Talk? About what?" he asked, a little more cautious now.
Staring at his hands for a moment before finally looking up, Oscar said, “I think we should break up.”
The words fell like a bomb on the British man's chest.
“What? Why? What are you talking about, Oscar?”. Of all the thoughts he could have had, trying to guess what his boyfriend wanted to talk to him about, the possibility that he wanted to end their relationship never crossed his mind.
The Australian bit his lip, visibly struggling with his emotions. “I know you’ll do this eventually, Lando. You’ll realize my dad is too much of a barrier and then you’ll want to give up on me. I just think we better end this now, before it gets any harder.”
After Lando leaves dinner, Mark asks Oscar not to mention the Brit again unless it's to say they're done. Oscar doesn't want to do it, but he knows that eventually it will be Lando asking to have this talk with him, because his dad is a problem. That's what his previous boyfriends said, that's what Fred said, that's what Arthur said... it's better that it's Oscar ending things this time, even if he leaves with a broken heart anyway.
The British man returned to his apartment with a mixture of anger and shame pulsing through his body that night. Finding out that his professor and his boyfriend's father were the same person was certainly not in his plans. But he thought that if he didn't mention the subject and tried to continue acting naturally, things would work out as before.
But now Oscar wants to break up with him, so his plan wasn't so good after all.
Lando grabbed one of the Australian's hands and placed it on his chest. “Can you feel that?”
"Lando-"
“Can you feel my heart beating, Oscar?"
The Australian's eyes didn't leave his, even as he twitched his fingers against the fabric of the older man's shirt. "Yes, I can feel it."
“This doesn’t happen because my heart is pumping blood and oxygen to all the organs in my body, and it doesn’t speed up because I have a heart problem or something like that.”
"What-"
“This is because I love you, Oscar.” He squeezes the other boy’s hand tighter, his voice sounding pathetically desperate. “I love you. And no, I don’t want to break up, I never will. If my heart keeps beating tomorrow, it’s because I know I have you to love.” Lando pauses, organizing the next words he wants to say carefully. “I.. I’m going to talk to your dad, okay? I’m going to apologize for the way I acted at dinner.”
“You don’t have to take the blame, he wasn’t nice to you either” the Australian manages to say.
“Then I’m going to explain to him that I’m completely and hopelessly in love with his son, I’m going to show him that I’m more than just a troublemaker and that I can make his son happy and that I won’t give up, because I love you. Please, Osc, give me this chance” he brings his boyfriend’s hand to his lips and kisses his knuckles “Don’t end our story just because we wrote a bad chapter”
Oscar stared at him in silence, definitely moved by the sincerity of his words. He let out a slightly wet laugh. “Since when did you become a poet?”
“I’m a passionate man, I think with my heart” Lando joked, but he also told the truth, and used his best puppy dog eyes to convince “Please, Oscar, give me a chance to talk to your dad”
Instead of answering, the Australian leaned forward, his lips meeting Lando's in a soft, tender kiss. When they parted, he rested his forehead against the Brit's, closing his eyes and allowing himself to feel the peace that enveloped him.
“My heart beats for you too, Lan” and that is the confirmation Lando needed.
Now comes the difficult part.
***
Lando managed to summarize the event of meeting Oscar's father for Max when the blond cornered him in the hallways, emphasizing the most tense parts and putting a bit of comedy into his own suffering. Just out of habit.
“Oh mate… I tried to warn you not to go” Max said, regretful, as if it was his fault that the Brit had left his cell phone at home.
“Yeah, well, I don’t think I would have missed it anyway, but if I had read your messages I would have known what to prepare for” Lando replied, adjusting the strap of his backpack on his shoulder.
The two walk past a group of students selling cupcakes to raise money. The British man recognizes the guy taking his money as one of Oscar's friends, Robert, so he makes Max buy a cupcake too.
“Hmm, but look on the bright side” the blond says before taking a bite of his cupcake, continuing the subject “You won’t have to have Professor Webber as a father-in-law, that would be terrible. Good luck to the next guy who tries to date Oscar” he says with a humorous tone of voice, believing that his friend has already ended his relationship with the Australian.
When he realized he didn't receive any response from Lando, Max turned his head and looked at him with a curious look, seeing his friend seem far from laughing at his joke.
"Lando?"
“I didn’t break up with him, and I’m not going to do that.”
Max's eyes widened, he found himself increasingly surprised by the British man's words and actions in recent weeks.
“Are you serious?” he asks, wanting to make sure he’s not dreaming about an improved version of his friend.
“Max, you know I’m not the type to give up easily.”
“Actually, you are”
“Okay, that’s true, but Oscar isn’t just anyone, he’s…” Lando sighs “My Oscar”
The blond doesn't believe he has enough time to process that information. He's never seen his friend act like that, it's new for him to see the British guy say so easily that he loves someone. Before, Lando had never said he loved a boyfriend without making a face or hesitating. But when he talks about the Australian boy, the words seem to come out of his mouth without any problem.
Something akin to shock and pride washes over Max's body as he responds, "You really love him."
It's not a question, he's sure of this information. After everything Lando did, it wasn't for nothing, it was because he's truly in love.
A smile easily appears on the British man's lips. “Of course.”
“But his father hates you”
Lando's shoulders slump at the memory. "Eh... that's true. But that's okay, there's always that one family member that we don't like as much" he said optimistically.
“Wait, wait, wait. Family?” Max stops walking and rests a hand on his friend’s shoulder. “What are you talking about?”
Lando rolls his eyes as if he's tired of explaining something the blond has trouble understanding. "Yes, because when Oscar and I get married, his father will be part of my family too. I just need to make him hate me less until that happens."
For a moment Max worries that Lando will actually propose to his boyfriend prematurely, now that he knows how intense the Brit's feelings are, but he decides to ask something else instead of warning about it "And how exactly are you going to make Professor Webber hate you less?"
“Oh, my dear friend, Max” Lando now rests a hand on the blond’s shoulder. “Didn’t you read any fairy tale books when you were a child? To reach the princess in the castle, I must first fight the dragon.”
The blond raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “So your plan is to kill Professor Webber?”
“What?! No! My plan is to convince him that I’m not a complete disaster… or at least that I’m a manageable disaster.”
“And how do you know that Professor Webber’s plan isn’t to burn the knight who invades his castle and tries to steal his princess?” Max asked, slightly worried.
Lando taps his finger lightly on the blond's forehead “Intuition and hope”
***
The classroom was silent, the late afternoon sunlight streaming through the windows and creating soft patterns on the floor. Lando stood in the doorway, hesitant as he watched the man in front of him.
Professor Webber was packing some papers on his desk, ready to leave, when he noticed the British man's presence and looked up, his expression hardening.
“If you came here for another excuse, Norris, you can turn around and leave through the same door you came in” the man said, his voice firm and professional, clearly not in the mood to deal with the student outside of class time.
The student took a deep breath, knowing this conversation wouldn’t be easy. “Mark, I didn’t-, can I call you Mark?”
"No"
“Okay, uh… I didn’t come here for that. I want to fix things between us.”
Mark raised an eyebrow, as if he didn’t believe those words. “Fix things? Believe me, Norris, there’s nothing to fix. The relationship between a student and a professor is simple: you study, get good grades, and I evaluate your performance. And frankly, so far, you haven’t given me much reason to see any potential in you.”
Lando felt irritation rising inside him, but he forced himself to remain calm. He misses Professor Button so much. “I know I’m not the best student, okay? And… I know I gave you reasons to dislike me. I get that. We may be completely different, but we have one thing in common: we both love and care deeply about Oscar.”
The man paused for a moment, studying the Brit with a sharp gaze. “Ah, so that’s what this is about? You want to work things out to gain my approval of your relationship with my son?”
Lando swallowed. “Yes” he admitted bluntly. “I know you don’t like me, and I have my reasons for not liking you, too. You’re demanding, you’re harsh, and you’ve never given me a chance. But I want Oscar to have your approval. I want him to know that I’m trying to be the best for him.”
Crossing his arms and keeping his expression stern, Mark says “You know why I don’t like you? Because to me, you’re a lazy kid who doesn’t value the opportunities you have. You think you can get through life effortlessly, relying only on your charm and luck. And I don’t want to see my son getting involved with someone who has no ambition or determination.”
The Brit fell silent, the words hitting him hard. He knew that was how most people saw him, that was how he wanted to be seen. “I understand what you’re saying” he replied, calmer. “And I want to prove that I can be different. Not just for Oscar, but for myself too.”
Professor Webber watched Lando for a long moment, as if pondering what the young man was saying. Finally, he let out a heavy sigh. “Very well, Norris. I’ll give you a chance to prove it” he said, his voice taking on a challenging tone. “If you can ace your next test without Oscar’s help in studying, I… will consider granting my blessing to your relationship. But if you fail, if you show me that you’re still the same student you’ve always been, then I’ll make it clear to Oscar that he deserves better.”
“What-” His eyes widened, the proposal taking him by surprise. He knew the chances of pulling this off were slim, especially without his boyfriend’s help, but at the same time, he couldn’t back down. “Are you serious?”
“Completely serious” the man replied, his tone uncompromising. “Prove that you have what it takes to earn my son’s respect. If you fail, then you will know that you are not worthy of what he deserves.”
Lando bit his lip, feeling the weight of responsibility settle on his shoulders. But he wasn’t going to back down now. “I’m going to do this” he said, his voice firm. “I’m going to study and I’m going to get a good grade. Not just to earn your approval, but because I want to be someone Oscar can be proud of.”
Mark stared at the Brit for a few more seconds, before finally giving a slight nod. “We’ll see, Norris. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have other matters to attend to.”
When he finds himself outside the classroom again, the Brit can't help but think he notices a glint of pride in his professor's eyes.
***
In the days that followed, Lando was determined to prove that he could be more than just a slacker student, but the challenge was greater than he had imagined. Every time he opened a book, his mind wandered, not to the content he needed to learn, but to Oscar, who was always nearby, and whose mere presence kept the British student distracted.
That afternoon, the two were in the older man's apartment. The coffee table was covered in books, notebooks, and notes scattered chaotically. Lando was sitting on the sofa, a book open on his lap, but his eyes kept straying to the Australian, who was lying next to him, fiddling with his cell phone.
Oscar seemed so focused on something trivial on his phone screen that he didn’t even notice the constant gaze on him. Every time the older boy tried to focus on the book, his attention inevitably drifted back to his boyfriend. The soft curve of Oscar’s smile when he laughed at something on his phone, the way he casually ran his fingers through his hair… It was all a huge distraction.
After a while, the younger man finally noticed the insistent gaze. He looked up from his phone and smiled softly, but noticed that Lando looked frustrated. "What's wrong? Are you okay?" he asked, sitting up straighter and leaning a little towards the other.
The Brit let out a sigh, closing the book with a defeated gesture. “I’m trying to study, but… you’re being a huge distraction” he admitted, with a crooked smile that showed that, while he was frustrated, he wasn’t actually angry.
Oscar grimaced apologetically, even though there was a mischievous glint in his eyes. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to bother you. Actually, I wish I could help you. And seeing you there, all focused, makes me not know what to do” he confessed, with a heavy sigh.
Lando was thoughtful for a while until an idea came to his mind. His professor did not specify what the rules of this agreement between them were.
“I thought of something” he said, turning to face the Australian fully. “How about we do it like this... For every correct question I answer from the old tests, you give me a prize? It could be a kiss, a hug... whatever you want.” He played with his eyebrows, moving it up and down.
Oscar raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued by the proposal. “A prize?” he repeated, his smile now more suggestive. “That sounds… interesting. But what do I get if you miss?” he teased, leaning against the arm of the sofa with a challenging look.
The older boy chuckled, enjoying the game they were about to start. "If I get it wrong, you can make me repeat the question until I get it right, or even make me read it again, but without distractions. What do you think?" he suggested, waiting for his boyfriend's reaction.
Oscar leaned forward, his face now very close to Lando’s. “I think that sounds fair” he said in a low, tantalizing tone. “And it sounds like a great way to keep you motivated.”
The idea of having Oscar so involved in his study, even if in a different way, was exactly what he needed. The Brit smiled, feeling more excited than before. “So, let’s start.” He turned around, picking up the first old test that was next to him.
The Australian settled down next to him, now much more attentive and interested. "Very well, I'm ready to judge you... or reward you" he teased, patting Lando's thigh before leaning back and observing intently.
Lando read the first question aloud, thinking for a moment before answering confidently. When Oscar nodded, indicating that he had gotten it right, the Brit smiled in satisfaction.
"So... where's my prize?" he asked, leaning slightly towards the other boy.
The Australian chuckled softly, leaning in and giving his boyfriend a soft kiss on the lips. “Here you go” he said, keeping his lips close to Lando’s for a moment before pulling away, a mischievous look in his eyes.
A new determination grew within the older boy. If studying was always like this, he would certainly be the best student in the class.
***
The classroom was silent, except for the soft sound of pages turning and pens scratching on paper. All the students were focused on answering yet another of Professor Webber's difficult tests, and Lando was one of them.
The words on the test paper seemed to blur before his eyes, making it difficult for him to concentrate. As he progressed through the test, the British man began to feel insecurity creeping in. His hands were a little sweaty, and he could feel the anxiety growing in the back of his mind.
And Mark reading a book calmly at his desk, with a small smile on his lips, as if he knew he had won, only irritated him more.
Lando picked one of the questions that seemed more complicated and read it again, but the words didn't make sense. He needed to remember what Oscar had taught him, all the hours they had spent together, studying and preparing for this moment.
Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes for a brief moment and let his mind wander. Lando needed to remember Oscar's words.
“L-Lando, damn it…”
No no no no no, not those!
“Lando, you know that. You just have to trust yourself. When you’re in doubt, take a deep breath and remember how you got to the answer. I believe in you.”
With this memory fresh in his mind, the Brit opened his eyes and looked at the question again. This time, the words began to make sense. He picked up his pen and began to answer the question, his hands now steadier and more sure. As he continued, he was surprised to find that the answers came more easily. It was as if Oscar was right there with him, encouraging him and reminding him that he had the ability to do this.
When he finally handed in his paper, he knew deep down that he had done his best. Professor Webber simply stared at his hand as he placed the paper on his desk.
As he left the room, Lando allowed himself a small smile.
***
When the day arrived to receive the grade, Oscar and Max sent encouraging messages to Lando, telling him that everything would be fine regardless of the result. The Brit felt good about receiving so much support, but he wants a high grade, he has worked hard for it.
The silence in the classroom was almost palpable as Professor Webber called out the students’ names and handed out their tests. Lando felt his heart beat faster, a mix of nervousness and anticipation taking over. He knew this was the decisive moment, the one that would prove whether all his hard work had been worth it. However, as the man said the names, going in alphabetical order but skipping his name, a chill ran down his spine.
The Brit looked up, meeting Mark's expressionless gaze, who continued to distribute the tests as if nothing had happened. A weight of uncertainty settled in his chest. What did this mean? Had he failed? Had all his effort been in vain? He shifted uncomfortably in his chair, but remained silent, trying not to let his anxiety show.
When the end of class finally came, the other students began to file out of the room, laughing and chatting about their grades. Lando was preparing to gather his things, feeling a mixture of despair and resignation, when he heard the professor's firm voice.
“Mr. Norris, please stay a moment. I need to talk to you.”
He stopped in mid-motion, his heart pounding even faster. Something inside him wanted to run away from this confrontation, but at the same time, there was a desire to resolve whatever it was as soon as possible. He nodded silently and remained in his place, as the last students left the room, closing the door behind them.
When the room was finally empty, Mark gestured with his hand for the only remaining student to come closer, looking at him with an expression that was difficult to decipher. The silence stretched on for a few uncomfortable seconds, until he took a deep breath and began to speak.
“First of all, I want to apologize” the man began, his voice softer than Lando had ever heard it. “I was too harsh on you. I said things I shouldn’t have. I admit that I was disappointed, both in your actions and your performance. I truly believed that you didn’t care about your education, that you were wasting your potential.”
The British man was silent, absorbing the words. It was surreal to hear Professor Webber apologizing; the man he had always considered ruthless and unwavering was there, acknowledging his own mistakes.
“But,” Mark continued, a slight hesitation in his voice, “you’ve surprised me. You really have. I’ve seen the change, the effort you’ve put into this. And I’m not just talking about your academic performance, but about the person you’re becoming.”
He paused, the man’s eyes softening as he looked directly at the Brit, and continued in a tone that bordered on fatherly. “I’m proud of you, Lando. Honestly. It’s not easy to change, especially with everything that was stacked against you. And yet, you did it. Against all odds, you proved me wrong.”
Lando felt a lump form in his throat, a wave of emotions hitting him all at once. He never imagined he would hear those words from Professor Webber, much less that those words would have such an impact. He opened his mouth to respond, but the words wouldn't come out; instead, he just nodded, feeling his eyes begin to sting.
Mark picked up Lando’s test, which was folded on the table next to him, and handed it to the young man. “Here it is. You did an excellent job, Lando. This is not only a test, but also proof of how much you can achieve when you decide to put your mind to it.”
The British student took the test with slightly trembling hands, his eyes fixed on the grade. He swallowed hard, feeling the tears begin to well up, but he didn't want to cry in front of his professor. Even so, the thanks he muttered came out a little choked.
“Thank you, sir. That means a lot to me.”
The man’s expression changed in front of him and he rested his elbows on the table before changing his posture from that of a professor to that of a father. “I also want to apologize for the way I treated you when you came to my house. I let my emotions get the better of me and I was rude. But can you understand my side? I’m not just a professor, I’m a father, and between my two lives, the most important one to me is the one I share with my son.”
Lando remained silent, listening to what the older man had to say. He believed it was only fair that he hear Mark's reasons as well.
“I just want the best for my son, that doesn’t mean I want to forbid him from dating anyone” as always happens when he talks about Oscar, a genuine smile appeared on Mark’s lips and the man looked away, Lando looked in the same direction and noticed that they were both staring at the ugly pencil case on the table “Actually, I was trying to imagine who Oscar was dating, because he couldn’t stop smiling. He never bothered to fix his hair before, you know? But then, suddenly, I found him standing for several minutes in front of a mirror, trying to make himself more handsome before going to meet you” he lets out a long sigh “That’s when I realized that there was someone special for him”
Hearing someone else say that Oscar loves him further fuels Lando's certainty that he is doing the right thing, he has found the right person.
“I’m not a father, but I can imagine how scary it must be to see your son grow up” and he really understands. Lando has other brother and sisters for his parents to worry about, Mark only has Oscar. If he were in the older man’s shoes, he would be protective too.
“It’s not about that, I’m not afraid to see him grow up. In fact, I’m very happy to see it happening” Mark’s gaze changes, becoming more like the rigid man he usually sees in the classroom “My concern is that I can’t control the world and I need to see stupid boys breaking my son’s heart. If his past relationships didn’t work out it wasn’t because I was too demanding, it was because they didn’t see Oscar as someone to fight for.” He lets out a dry laugh “Come on, I was once a young man in love too, an angry and protective father is the least of the problems a son-in-law can have”
And he's right, Lando realizes. Mark isn't (totally) the monster they say he is, he just wants to make sure his son dates the right person for him, someone who will fight for him, who will improve for him…
“Wait” the Brit’s eyes widened, a wide smile slowly appearing on his lips. “Are… are you saying what I think you’re saying?”
Mark rolls his eyes, standing up. “Listen, don’t get too excited, okay? I still don’t like you.”
“We’re going to be a family!” Lando opens his arms.
“Don’t hug me!”
But Lando hugged him anyway. Mark sighed, clearly defeated. He kept his body rigid for a few moments, but slowly, almost imperceptibly, he relaxed his shoulders, and his right hand, which was down, slowly rose to pat Lando's back lightly, a small gesture of acceptance.
Baby steps.