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| a.connor a.doyle a.lindsey a.oz a.spike a.wesley a.xander a.other three.somes het.fic character.study |
| Title: Hide, Seek Author: EntreNous Pairing: Connor+Angel (Can be read as gen) Rating: PG Setting: Post 'Origin' The first few times Angel followed Connor around the campus, after Connor defeated Sahjahn, he thought he hadn’t been noticed. But then late one night, when he was peering into the floor lounge in Connor’s dorm, Connor slipped in behind him, with a shake of his head and a half smile as he closed the door. “Look, when I said my parents would feel better with you looking out for me, I didn’t mean literal and regular looking, you know?” Angel started, and then sat heavily on one of the foam and plywood couches lining the concrete walls. “I go a little overboard sometimes,” he allowed. They both paused as Angel tried to push away images of Connor watching as he saw his cargo, as he saw Angel, plummet downward. Then Connor joined him on the couch, close enough for Angel to feel the heat from his skin, through Connor’s threadbare rock band t-shirt and baggy boxers. “I get that you just want to protect me,” he said in a careful voice. Angel opened his mouth, ready to promise not to do it again, pledge to keep himself, if not entirely away, then at least better hidden. But what came out instead was, “It’s hard not to look in on you once in a while.” Connor ducked his head and then raised his eyes to meet Angel’s gaze. “I don’t totally mind, you know.” Angel cleared his throat. “No?” Connor smiled, and somehow he looked both tired and comfortable sitting on the lumpy cushion in that standard-issue common area, a sleepy boy ready to go to bed without fearing any monsters in his dreams. “No. I remember . . . I used to check whether my father was watching me, when I was a little boy. I’d run, off towards the open, and then throw a look back to see if he saw me.” “Was he watching?” Angel asked. He couldn’t help it; he reached a hand out and touched the side of Connor’s face gently. Connor leaned into the brush of Angel’s fingers. “Not always.” His voice was low. “But I think he wanted to be.” It was just that Connor was that kind of kid, Angel told himself, affectionate and open, secure in how very much family and friends loved him, that he didn’t shy away from Angel. “I’ll bet he did.” “I know.” Connor yawned, and rested his head on Angel’s shoulder. Angel held himself as still as he possibly could, not wanting to shift or make a sound to disturb any of this. After a beat or two, Connor looked up, his lips parted in a smile. “Just don’t keep trying to duck behind trees. That’s so totally obvious, the tree-lurking.” “I’ll try not to fit the stereotype too much,” Angel agreed. Connor squinted at him, then reached up, tips of his fingers threaded through Angel’s hair, and pressed a kiss to his lips. How long it went on, Angel could not have said. A moment, an eternity -- it didn’t matter, just that he felt that soft, warm touch, that gesture that spoke of thanks and safety and love. “Goodnight,” Connor said simply when he pulled away. “Goodnight,” Angel replied. He stayed seated as Connor headed towards the door. “See you around,” Connor added with a grin before heading back to his room. -End Feedback |