How to Care For Tigers
Professor James Moriarty had pegged Sebastian Moran for an Assassin the moment the man had walked into his classroom. He’d said nothing to the young Assassin then. He’d had no reason to, not until he’d learned more about him. As time passed, he saw in Sebastian things that he knew neither the Order or the Brotherhood would understand. He’d remembered when the man graduated and left for the military and he had made a note to keep marks on the man.
Given time to grow, he would be a very useful ally.
James was very patient and when he received word that his old student was back in the city and terribly ill, he’d taken it upon himself to pay him a visit. For the first few weeks, he had been turned away because Sebastian was too dangerous, too violent in his current condition. He came back every few days to check, but the story was rather similar.
One of the nurses made the passing comment that he was Sebastian’s only visitor. He waited until she was out of sight before he smiled.
Finally, he had been admitted to see Sebastian. When he entered the room, he removed his hat and gave his former student a smile that didn’t touch his eyes. “Sebastian Moran. I am relieved to see that you are feeling better. May I sit?”
Sebastian stared at the man for a minute trying to place his face. His head was still foggy from sleep and recovering from his injuries. He tried to speak, but his mouth and throat felt dry. Reaching out for a glass of water, he gestured for the man to sit with his other hand.
After taking a long drink of water he laid back. "Your pardon that I'm not getting up," he said.
He focused on the man's face again. There was something very familiar about him. The way the man's eyes looked sparked a memory, but in his current condition it was too difficult for him to make the connection.
"Your pardon again, I am not at my best. You seem familiar, but your name escapes me," he said tiredly.