October became November. It rained all month, which fit Dooku's mood. He tried to distract himself but he thought about Sören frequently, worrying about him, hurting for him.
Sören avoided him as much as possible - Dooku noticed Sören wasn't even going to the canteen on his break - and Dooku tried a few more times to show up at Sören's classroom and talk to him, but Sören ignored him.
As Dooku was checking the schedule on one of the bulletin boards one afternoon, he saw Sören's birthday was coming up soon - Friday, November twenty-fifth. Though it was Black Friday and most places would be closed, there were some classes being held that day; Dooku was one of the ones still having classes, since he'd spent too many Thanksgivings alone to be arsed with the holiday. Sören was also having classes that day. And even though Seth was still living next door and Sören was giving Dooku the silent treatment, Dooku nonetheless felt the need to try again... a reminder that he still cared. That his offer to help still stood.
So the night before Sören's birthday, on Thanksgiving, Dooku made a small batch of cupcakes. He didn't know what flavor Sören liked, so he went with the classic chocolate. And obnoxious green frosting, like the neon green of Sören's car - Dooku had a feeling Sören would appreciate that. He added M&Ms.
He showed up early to work the next morning, letting himself in Sören's classroom, and left a Tupperware container with the cupcakes on Sören's desk, and a note. He'd wanted to buy a card, but he had a feeling Seth would give Sören trouble if there was physical evidence they'd talked.
After he brought the cupcakes to Sören's desk and walked out of the classroom, he found himself weeping. He let himself in the men's room and let it out, crying, not caring for once who saw him being so undignified.
On Monday, Dooku had his break in the canteen as usual and when he returned to his classroom, he found the empty Tupperware container, clean - with googly eyes affixed. And a note. It was a simple heart, done in blue - Sören was observant enough with what he'd seen of Dooku's home to know he favored blues. Blue flame, a bright white eight-spoked star in the center, a touch of iridescent rainbow in the star.
It felt like such a silly, sentimental thing to do, but Dooku hugged the note, and when he lifted it up to look at it again he swore he could smell Sören's cologne, spicy floral notes. His cock stirred, breathing it in, wanting to smell it on Sören's bare skin.
Stop that.
Dooku put the slip of paper in his wallet, intending to keep it. Sören was still avoiding him, god knew why, but at least there was this. This was a sign, somehow, that Sören was still in there, beneath the silence.
Dooku didn't know how, but he was going to try to fight for him. He had to think of a plan.
_
The first weekend of December, there was freezing rain. Dooku's Saturday afternoon was disturbed by the sound of Seth and Sören arguing, and Dooku came out of his house, intending to go over there. He came out just in time to see Seth and Sören also leaving the house, with Sören in resigned silence. Seth glared at him, before getting in the passenger's seat of Sören's car.
The hours passed. Night came, and Sören's car was still gone. That was odd. Dooku wondered if they'd gone away for the weekend - the thought gave him a sick feeling - but he hadn't seen them carrying anything that looked like luggage or overnight bags, the back of Sören's car was empty.
Sunday, Sören's car was still gone. Even into late Sunday evening. Monday morning, Sören's car was still gone.
Dooku came into work feeling like he was made out of lead. He had a bad feeling - wondering if Seth had dragged Sören off somewhere and killed him.
There was no 24-hour waiting period to report someone missing in the state of Oregon, but Dooku still felt like he needed to wait before getting the police involved. Maybe they really did just go away for the weekend, a "romantic getaway" as a belated birthday gesture, another meaningless "baby I've changed" gesture.
On Tuesday Sören's car was still missing, but Seth's car was gone too. Dooku had his break in the canteen, feeling disgruntled, weighing the decision to call the police. Then he had a rare sighting - Jocasta Newman, the dean, a woman his age. Her silver hair was up in its usual no-nonsense bun with two hairsticks, and she wore a brightly patterned shawl over a neutral pantsuit.
"Dean Newman," Dooku said.
"Professor Dooku. Good afternoon." Jocasta gave him a tight smile. "How are you?"
"Fine." Dooku wasn't fine, really. He hated small talk and decided to get right to the chase with one of the few people who would have some kind of answer for him. "Dean Newman, do you have a moment?"
She sat, fixing her coffee. The canteen coffee was dreadful, and people drank it anyway. "What is it."
"It's a bit of an odd question, but I have reason to be asking it." Dooku took a deep breath. "Professor Sören Sigurdsson is my next-door neighbor and his vehicle has been missing since Saturday. It's now Tuesday. Did he call out...?"
She nodded. "He was in a car accident."