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Zoe : Connor, respectfully, what the FUCK
Is the message Connor received from his sister just three minutes after he left the house on a snack run. So of course, Connor responded.
Connor : Zoe, respectfully, what the FUCK
Zoe : why is your boyfriend on the floor of our house sobbing and hyperventilating
Connor : what
Connor : I'm coming back rn
Zoe : …
Zoe : so this wasn't all your fault?
Connor : do you have such little faith in me?
Zoe : yes
Connor had made a huge U-turn long ago by now and was now speeding at a velocity which humans should not be able to achieve. Cars honked at him left and right but he didn't care. Evan needed him. Connor was inside his house and at Evan's side within a minute, his truck parked haphazardly in the garage. He knew Larry was gonna be in a pissy fit about that later but right now he didn't care.
Zoe's brows were creased as she loomed over Evan, trying to comfort him.
Evan was a mess. He was sweating and shaking, curled into a ball on the floor. He was muttering things that made no sense to anyone in the room. The ramblings of a madman. Evan's voice cracked as he spoke, "The tr-truck… he's g-gone… doesn't w-want me… burden… disappear… I-I'm sorry… dad… dad!... truck… gone… C-Connor…"
Connor was rubbing up and down the boy's spine comfortingly. When they first started to get to know each other, Connor had once asked how best it was to comfort Evan when having a panic attack. Connor wanted to be there for Evan, just like Evan was for him. Evan had responded timidly, "W-well, my mum sometimes rubs my back or, um, just stays by my side in general. Usually she tells me it will be alright and she's there for me. Then sh-she will ask me about why I'm feeling badly and… you know… stuff. You don't have to do anything though, if, like, that's weird for you. Jared usually just stands guard." Connor had responded, "Well, Jared's an asshole." Then, of course, Evan had given him a disapproving look.
Back to the present though. Connor soothed Evan, "I'm right here, Ev. I'm not leaving. Right here." Connor continued his gentle war path with his fingers along Evan's back, creating little designs. Connor scooped Evan into his arms, carrying him bridal style. Connor brought him to the couch and sat down. Evan was snuggled into his lap now.
Evan's breathing was less erratic now and was reduced to depressing little sniffles into the crook of the brunette's neck. Zoe had long since left Connor to sort out this mess. Connor messed with Evan's hair. They both sat in a comfortable silence, basking in each other's presence. Eventually, Evan's breathing was completely normal again.
Evan shifted so he could look at Connor with his big, glossy, blue eyes. Connor looked down at him with nothing but love.
Beginning a conversation, Connor said softly, "Are you alright?"
Evan whispered, avoiding eye contact, "Yeah…"
Connor frowned, "Don't lie, Hansen."
Evan was looking down now, "I'm sorry, it's just…"
Connor gave him a few moments to continue on his own before giving some prompting, "Spit it out, Hansen."
Evan gave a shaky, tiny laugh that didn't sound the least bit joyous, "Connor, are you…" Evan made eye contact with Connor again. "Are you… gonna leave me once you realize I'm such a burden?"
Connor's eyes widened, "No! Evan! I would never! I love you and your stupid trees too much!" Evan tried again, this time, the laugh came out more real.
Connor continued, "Evan, if I ever gave you the impression that I was about to bounce when things got too hard, I'm… I'm so sorry. Obviously, I'm not doing my part as your boyfriend to make you feel like the most special person ever."
Evan helped Connor with all his bullshit so Connor wanted to return the favor. Evan had dragged Connor to the light at the end of the tunnel. Helped mend his crappy relationship with his family. Connor loved Evan and wanted Evan to have the best life ever. Connor and Evan completed each other. They had both mellowed the other out. Connor with his extreme anger issues and Evan's panic attack ratio had been steadily declining with a pack of friends by his side.
Evan's eyes widened with panic, not surprise like Connor's had, "No, no, no, it's not you! It's me… I… it's stupid…"
"Evan." Connor stared Evan in the eye, not backing down, "Nothing that made you cry can be stupid."
Evan blushed and looked away, "No, it definitely is."
"Tell me," Connor demanded.
"Um… okay," Evan adjusted his position in Connor's grasp. His legs were now over Connor's in a triangle-ish shape, lacking the base and he was leaning against Connor's shoulder. Connor planted a sweet kiss on Evan's forehead in encouragement. "When I was young, my dad he, um, left us, as you know -obviously. He came to pick up his stuff in a… truck. He just… drove away. I never saw him again. Ever since, I've had this sort of… stigma, I guess, against trucks. So when I saw you driving away in your truck, I, um, panicked. That's so embarrassing, I'm sorry." Evan covered his face with the sleeves of his sweater.
Evan was wearing a black oversized sweatshirt and no pants. It was Connor's sweatshirt. He thought Evan looked adorable in it. Evan was always embarrassed to death about it so that was a bonus. Connor gets to see that cute little blush on Evan's cheeks.
Evan felt the look Connor was giving him. One so sad it made Evan feel like his feelings were validated. Evan peaked through the hands covering his face, like a kitten poking it's head over the couch to spy on its humans. "You're not… laughing?" Evan asked, stunned.
"No?" Connor responded, "That's the saddest fucking thing I've heard all week."
Evan giggled a bit at the response. Connor smiled at the little sounds.
"C'mere," Connor scooped his boyfriend into his arms and carried him to Connor's room. He laid the freckled boy on the bed and began giving Evan sprinkled kisses all over his body, in between kisses he gave a message, "I," a kiss on the cheek. "Would," a kiss on the neck. "Never," a kiss on the stomach. "Leave," a kiss directly on top of his head. "You," a kiss on his foot. "Like," a kiss on his nose. "Your," a kiss on his kneecap. "Asshole," a kiss on his hand. "Father," for the last word Connor gave a quick but deep kiss on Evan's mouth. Then, in a more serious tone, Connor asked, "You understand that, right?"
Evan made eye contact with Connor and said, "I understand. You won't leave me?"
Connor narrowed his eyes, "Say it like it's not a question. I will never leave you, Ev."
Evan clenched his eyes shut, "Connor will never leave me because… because he loves me."
"Damn straight," Connor responded.
There was a moment of comfortable silence then they realized their position. Evan was lying beneath Connor. Connor had an arm above Evan's head, sort of trapping him in place. Evan was still able to roll away if he was uncomfortable though. Evan blushed profusely while looking anywhere except at Connor and Connor grinned hungrily.
Suddenly, Evan seemed to spot something and he grabbed Connor's shirt like those people do in anime to bring them closer to each other.
Except, their lips didn't crash together. Connor frowned but took this chance to pick on Evan, "Someone's needy, huh? I was willing to take this nice and slow but if you me to fuck you right now, I can."
There was a small blush on Evan's cheeks at that, definitely not the stuttering and blushing mess of a reaction Connor had been expecting. Connor's frown deepened.
Connor opened his mouth to ask if he was okay before Evan beat him to it, "Connor, your shirts all wet from my stupid tears."
Connor glanced down at his shirt to see what Evan was fussing about. And yep, there was a big wet spot from all of Evan's tears. Connor hadn't even noticed until Evan pointed it out. Connor doesn't mind at all. Any sacrifice is worth helping his Evan.
Connor rolled his eyes, "Shut up and let me kiss you, Ev. It's fine ."
Evan looked up at Connor with bleary eyes, "Y-you sure? 'Cause I can give you this sweatshirt."
"Yes, I'm sure. And the only reason that sweatshirt will be coming off you is if I'm stripping it off you."
"Connie, you're such a pervert."
"But you love it."