The class felt like it would drone on forever. The children sat attentively and listened to Klaus’s lesson. Jean only managed to catch a few of the things Klaus happened to be saying. Before he knew it, the bell had rung and the kids were packing up for their next class. Jean raised his head to see Klaus sitting in the seat that Alyssa had been sitting in.

“Did you always sleep in class?” Klaus asked as he lit a cigarette.

“Nope. Guess it’s a new thing for me,” Jean said while letting out a yawn.

Jean watched Klaus take a draw from the orange filter of his cigarette.

“Should you be doing that here?”

“Probably not, but it feels nostalgic to be back here. Couldn’t help it,”

Smoke trickled out from between his lips, eventually pursing his lips to push the rest of it out.

“It’s been a while since we’ve been able to talk like this,”

“Yeah, it does feel like it’s been a while,”

Klaus sat up in his seat and flicked the burnt ash out of the window.

“How’re things so far?”

“Can’t say for sure. Didn’t expect my classmates to be kids,” Jean said with a groan.

“Haha. I should have told you before. I’ve just been caught up with some administrative stuff,”

A breeze of wind brushed into the room. The two of them took a moment to look out the window and appreciate the scenery of the countryside.

“Did you catch any of what I said today?” Klaus asked.

“Bits and pieces,” Jean replied. He propped his chin on his palm as he continued to gaze out the window.

“I’m not in any position to scold you about this, but I just want you to know that if I could have had it any other way, I would have. I honestly thought that I would be able to protect you for a bit longer,”

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“What would have happened if you died before I found out?”

“Can’t really say. Guess I was too caught up in the promise I made to your mother,”

Jean held his words for a moment. Despite his hesitation, Jean decided to ask.

“What was my mother to you?”

Klaus ashed the cigarette and tossed the butt out the window.

“Honestly. I guess you could say she was like an older sister to me. I met her for the first time in this room. Good old 107. She was extremely bright. In both meanings of the word. She would light up the room wherever she went. Always top of the class. All the kids looked up to her. Wouldn’t make sense not to have fallen for her at one point or another,”

“But, you didn’t end up with her?”

A somber smile appeared on Klaus’s face. One that seemed to hold weight behind it. Klaus closed his eyes for a moment as if he was watching the past come rushing back to him.

“Despite her age, your mother had a lot of responsibilities placed on her. I don’t think she could have had a proper love with everything that was going on. But, I guess that’s what being a promising hunter entailed,”

“Did you ever meet my father?”

“Unfortunately, I never got the chance to,”

“How did she pass?”

Klaus paused to scratch his neck. He leaned back in the seat and rested one arm on the desk.

“Peacefully…”

“Jean, I know that this might be too much to ask, but- I want you to do the best that you can while you’re here. Now that you know the truth, things are only going to get harder. And I might not always be there to protect you,”

“Yeah, I know,” Jean said quietly.

“Good. Well, you better get to your next class,” Klaus gave Jean a smile as he handed him a late slip. Jean knew that the smile was full of guilt. He got up from his seat without saying another word and walked towards the door. Before leaving, Jean poked his head back in.

“Klaus, thanks.”

The door closed behind Jean leaving Klaus alone in the room. He sat still in the chair looking out the window for a little while longer before getting up to pack his things. As he was putting his materials in a small bag, Eve walked into the room. Klaus looked up to greet her.

“Hey Eve. Finished your training early as usual huh?”

“Yes,”

“Thanks for showing Jean around,”

“It wasn’t any trouble,”

Klaus lit another cigarette as he slung his bag over his shoulders.

“Klaus, how much longer do you have?”

Klaus pulled the cigarette away from his mouth and blew out a plume of smoke.

“Two years... Give or take,”

“Make it count,”

Eve spoke these word with a tenderness that cut through her usual cold demeanor. It was the first time Eve had spoken to Klaus in that way. Her pigtails swung over her shoulders as she turned around to leave the room. Klaus looked down at his watch before taking another pull from his cigarette and left the room in silence.