Thursday Early Morning- Nihi Resort Momole Treehouse- C Bedroom Pool Deck

[anomaly_research_nerd]

The party had been really good. Really nice, even. How could it not? Good jello shots. Good people to talk to. Good setting. And a very, very good date to enjoy it all with.

But at some point, like all good things, the party wound down, and somehow- don’t ask because he had no idea how- Connor and Cutter had made it almost all the way to their room. Somehow. But now as the morning sun began to shine bright off the water and sand, Connor became aware of two things at about the same time.

One was his head, which was pounding with a hangover headache. And two, was the feeling of something heavy laying against him. Opening his eyes slowly with a slight wince as his head protested loudly, he looked around, trying to figure out where he was. That’s right… the island… the party last night…

That’s right, they were heading back to their room and… seemed they had made it as far as the lounge chairs by their private pool. Connor finally looked down and then froze, blinking for a moment as he tried to process what he saw.

Cutter. Passed out. Practically laying on top of him where he had apparently ended up sprawled out on one of the chairs. This was a bit… unexpected…. Not terrible at all. Not by any stretch of the imagination.

(for the one currently sleeping off a hangover as well)

Comments

[anomaly_research_nerd]

"Same here," Connor replied. "Definitely new, and different, and nice" he said with a grin. "But we can take it slow, figure it out.... we have the time, right?"

Connor blinked a second or two after those words left his mouth as his mind flashed back for a moment to a very different yet all too familiar scene. Back to a moment when he and Cutter, his Cutter, had been sitting in a similar position. Only instead of the tropical air there was choking smoke, and in place of the warm sun there was the heat of a raging fire.

Connor shook his head, trying to push the memory back as he took a slow, deep breath. "We have the time," he said again, more to himself this time than to Cutter really.

[itsananomaly]

Cutter tilted his head a little at that, blinking up at Connor, “why wouldn’t we have the time?”

There was another pause as he tried to make sense of that, “I mean, this is all new, this … this will take time, I’m not going anywhere,” he said, trying to be reassuring, “I … I want this to work, to be with you,” he said softly.

[anomaly_research_nerd]

Connor gave a small sigh as he mentally cursed himself. The last thing he wanted was for Cutter to think he was assuming he as going to just up and leave. He hadn't meant to make him feel bad.... Connor closed is eyes for a moment, thinking of how to reply.

"I mean.... we have time to figure this out, no need to rush things," Connor said as he looked down at Cutter and gave a smile. "I... want this to work, to be with you... I, don't think I have ever been happier than I have this past week," he said, trying to sound reassuring because it was true.

[itsananomaly]

“Same here, I …the last time I felt anything like this was when I was with …” Cutter swallowed, finding it hard to say Claudia’s name, “these past couple of weeks have been amazing,” he smiled and then another thought crossed his mind, “i …I know we’re starting to tell people that we’re together …how…do you think we should tell the team? how do you think my Connor will take the news?”

He had been wondering if his Connor had felt the same and like him, just hadn’t acted on it.

[anomaly_research_nerd]

Connor fell silent a moment, because yeah, that was a topic that could be interested to bring up. But it was something they had to deal with all the same.

Giving Cutter's hand a gentle squeeze, he looked over with a small smile. "Might be time for me to make a non-school related visit with ya. We can tell them together, and.... as far as Connor specifically goes, I'm not sure. There's so many small changes that have already happened between our timelines as it was. I know for me... the feelings were always there, just... convinced myself it wasn't possible."

Connor paused a minute before continuing. "Could be the same for him or something totally different. We can find out and deal with whatever happens together, right? I'm not planning on going anywhere." he added with another reassuring squeeze.

[itsananomaly]

Cutter nodded, returning Connor's hand squeeze as he mulled things over, "right, we can do this together ... I ... I don't want to make things awkward for you two, I know you ... he was with Caroline ... or I suppose they've broken up?" he seemed to remember something about a text message and ending the relationship, he wasn't entirely sure what had happened while they had been in the Silurian Era.

Then another thought hit him, "Helen will try and come after you," he said softly, clinging just a bit tightly to Connor's hand now, "she ... she'll try to get to get to you, to get to me,"

He knew once Helen found about him and Connor, there was no telling what she would try to do.

[anomaly_research_nerd]

"Connor and I can deal with any awkwardness. Might not even be an issue, since we don't know what all might have been different to start with right?" he said, trying to be encouraging. "And as far as Helen goes, I had my own run-ins with her before. If she comes after you, she'll have me to deal with." And hopefully, this time he wouldn't utterly fail at it.

Connor looked over at Cutter and gave a soft, maybe slightly sad smile. "I've only finally just let myself get to this point. I am not going to let Helen ruin it... Not again," he said, that last bit almost whispered to himself.

[itsananomaly]

Cutter took a deep breath, nodding at that, “that’s … that can be good, if there are enough changes, I suppose we’ll find out when we do tell everyone,”

Then he paused and considered the rest of what Connor said.

“I just … Helen won’t like this one bit, she … that’s why she told everyone about her affair with Stephen, because I’d kissed Claudia right before the timeline changed and she wanted to get back at me for that,” he said softly, “I … I don’t want you to get hurt because of me,”

[anomaly_research_nerd]

"How many times have I been chased, stalked, attacked, and nearly eaten by some creature? I think I can handle Helen." That was what Connor WANTED to say and what he ALMOST said. But this was probably one of those conversations where wisecracks were not needed.

Instead, he held Cutter's hand as firmly as he was and looked at him, the normal playful spark in his eyes replaced, at least for now, with a seriousness even Connor wasn't all that familiar with.

"Even if you told me it was a guarantee the Helen would come after me and that something would happen like that... even then, I am still choosing to be right here. THIS is where I want to be, Nick... no matter what might happen."