[He had to suppress a shudder at hearing that single word, but Tieria maintained his composure until he was safely away from the school building.]

Lockon... Stratos?

[Turning slowly, looking at the ground until the last second, Tieria fought several urges. The urge to run away, to be sick, to collapse, to hide his face in his hands and drop to his knees and rock until the shaking would stop - all of them threatened to overwhelm him.

But he managed. He managed to force himself to do none of these things, and to look Lockon in the eye.]

Lockon?