Now Lex did laugh, his own hysteria leaking into it.. And it hurt every second because he knew how much it was hurting the sweet man next to him. He was surprised Anatoly couldn't hear his heart beating.

"Then your a fool." Putting on the persona he normally reserved for his father, Lex finally turned to look at Anatoly, hoping his eyes didn't give him away. But then, one reminder of the cold voice speaking of shadows and a veil was easily thrown over his gaze. "The drugs were a wake up call. I'm wasting my time here."

He finished back his clothes and moved to take his books off the books shelf, pointedly leaving anything about chess or in Russian.