Inspiration is into some weird shit.

I'm an Argentinean writing in English and titling in Greek; this is my life.


5. Πτώση

Evan was, honestly, not expecting to arrive this early to the orchard; as in, it was hours before the time he had done this yesterday, and yesterday he had come here with a more time sensitive goal in mind. Not that he thought he could be late for this, but well, there was more freedom, due to the whole Connor never giving him any details thing; only, of course the uncertainty and want to not fuck up made him earlier.

So, it's earlier, which means Evan doesn't actually know if Connor's around yet, and he can't venture deeper in on his own, or he could but not to the nest, least he do something stupid like adding his scent to the mix. The urge had been there the previous day, somewhat manageable with the physical presence of Connor to remind him the nest wasn't up for grabs, without the alpha actually there it would be a lot harder to ignore.

So Evan forces himself to remain close to the main entrance, he still roams around as being in spaces such as this one - open, and thrumming with greenery and life - tends to fill him with unbridled energy; it makes sense considering he's a forest dragon, and thankfully he can blame it on foxes if Connor sees him like this. By the time Evan tires himself and lies down beneath a nice apple tree there are footsteps coming from deeper in the orchard, rushed and hasty, and a familiar scent wafting through the air.

Connor breaks out from the tree line practically panting, head whirling around in every direction, when his eyes fall on Evan; the alpha all but deflates as he makes his way towards him.

"How long have you been here?"

Evan doesn't actually know, but he was pacing for a while, so he gives an estimate.

"Maybe an hour?"

Connor's face flashes through a few emotions before he sighs and nods, offering Evan a hand.

"Come on Hansen"

Evan wipes his hand over the grass, which bends to his movement as if trying to keep him there, before he takes Connor's hand. The alpha pulls him to his feet like it's the easiest thing in the world, and starts pulling him in the direction of the nest, while Evan tries really hard to keep his inner omega down; Connor probably hadn't even realized, considering how antsy he'd been before noticing Evan on the floor.

Still, just telling himself that it wasn't on purpose didn't stop the fluttering in his chest at the contact, or the way the plants he steps on come back up more grown than they were. Hopefully Connor would eventually calm down enough to notice how much Evan was sweating and would let go of his hand; giving an end to the dilemma.

Connor doesn't let go or stop until they've reached the nest, and he lets Evan go in a swift movement, like them holding hands were a normal occurrence that could be brushed off as force of habit; never actually acknowledging that it had happened, and so neither would Evan.

Once they cross the doorway there's a happy chirp and Evan stumbles back as he somehow catches an exited baby dragon.

Hansen!

Evan flushes as he reminds himself that this is a child who he met just yesterday, and has no real ill intent; Tera most likely believes that to be his name thanks to Connor using it. He's half-tempted to answer her in draconic, mostly because she had been absolutely delighted when he had made a comment in the language yesterday, but refrains himself.

"My name's Evan"

Dad calls you Hansen though.

"Uhm"

Evan quickly looks at Connor, who seems to be completely lost as to what's happening.

"I don't um… don't really know how to explain that"

Can I call you Vanhan? It's both

Evan lets out a chuckle at that, because of course her mind would do that, it wasn't the worst thing to be called though, and she was too adorable.

"Yeah, ok, both is good"

With another happy trill she transforms into human, causing Evan to shift his hold on her with a start, and looks at Connor expectantly. Evan shifts her again so he can more easily pass her over.

"Here, she wants you to hold her"

Connor nods firmly before reaching for her, movements careful and gentle, like he was afraid to break her; Evan bit back the fond smile that wanted to come out at such a display.

"You know I'm gonna want to know what she told you, right?"

Evan is glad the he remembered not to slip into Draconic.

"She thought my name was Hansen, since that's what you've been calling me"

Connor, for all the tenseness still present in him, has dimmed down enough that he grows flustered at Evan's words.

"No, I get that"

Evan runs a hand through the back of his neck, he doesn't mind Tera calling him weird names, because they feel mostly like nicknames, and Evan's never had one of those; he didn't want Connor to know anything about it.

"She's really smart, and decided to call me a combination of both, you know, child logic"

Connor shifted Tera in his hold, probably changing how he weight fell on him.

"I really don't"

"Oh"

Evan guesses it made sense, considering how desperate Connor had seemed to have an omega around.

"Well, you see, children think about things in a different way from anyone else, and uh- well, you called me Hansen and I responded so obviously that'd be my name, right?"

Connor blinked at him before nodding slowly.

"But I told her it was Evan, and to a child there's no reason to lie about your name"

Evan is aware that he's moving his hands, it happens whenever he gets deep enough in a topic to avoid stuttering.

"So to her both serve as my name, so obviously the only logic solution is to combine them"

Evan finishes feeling a little out of breath and glances at Connor half-expecting him to say he didn't get anything, because Evan tends to speed talk. Instead Connor is giving him this thinking look before he shifts Tera's weight again.

"Huh"

He looks like he can actually follow the logic, and seeing Connor Murphy with an expression like that while holding a two years old girl feels a bit like a revelation; of what, Evan dares not name.