Honesty hour: I write a lot of concerning smut for someone as asexual as I am, like, boy howdy! Is it bad! Borderline questionable even, I feel like I might have a serious issue.
Evan and Connor are high-key constantly checking with the other, working as a team, through all of this; and that has little to do with their romantic feelings towards each other. This has been a PSA.
30. Νοικοκυριό
Evan knew, realistically, that the imposing building in front of him, was just that, a building; nothing to be scared of. Or maybe it wasn't the building that he was scared of, but the people inside it; that was trickier to deal with.
His mom had finally managed to get a free night at the hospital, and had definitely been home to look after Tera when Connor came to pick him up. So at least that part was taken care of; now all that was left was meeting Connor's parents.
Evan didn't think there was a possibility of him not being nervous about this, about meeting Larry and Cynthia Murphy for the very first time; he felt a little better at the fact that Connor looked just as nervous as him.
They stood in the sidewalk after Connor parked the car; side by side as they both stared at the two-story 'American dream' house in front of them, picket fence included. Evan watches Connor breathe heavily and reach for him without looking, so he joins their hands together, takes a deep breath of his own, and lets the alpha guide him inside.
Sometimes, when you're nervous, it's really easy to notice things, like the fact that as soon as they're through the door the floor has stone bricks and there are shoes on one side, a small shelf holds slippers for the guests. Connor, surprisingly, takes the time to take off his boots and put on a pair of grey well-used slippers, and hands Evan a pair of black ones in similar condition when he follows the alpha's lead; they have to let go of each other as they do this, but Connor is quick to re-take Evan's hand.
There's a small step dividing the entrance from the rest of the house, as marble tiles take over the floor, Connor only lets them linger long enough for Evan to glance left at the living room with it's expensive looking carpet and magazine-worth furniture; there's even a fireplace under a wide-screen TV, which Evan thinks is a bit of a fire hazard but what does he know?
Evan thinks his room could fit in Connor's stairs, he can see the marble poking out beneath the pristine carpet, and he feels bad for whoever has to clean this place, because there's no way the Murphys are doing it themselves.
The second floor is probably mostly filled with rooms, Evan will never know because Connor pulls him to the only one he can actually see into due to the clear lack of a door, he can tell even from the distance that the room belongs to the alpha. Getting inside only proves this further, as Evan takes in what probably is the cheapest furniture in the entire house; Connor does have a queen sized bed, but it's clearly old and almost similar to the one Evan's mom has in their house, there's posters hung from the grey-painted walls, a bookshelf that's way too full, and two adjacent doors.
"One is a walk in closet, because of course it is"
Evan startles at the sound of his voice, looking up at Connor who0s giving him a unamused look; the omega feels his cheeks warm, so he looks away.
"I keep all the colorful shit my mom bought me in the very back together with my heterosexuality"
Evan snorts at that, looking back at Connor, who smiles at him and lets him go to go flop into the bed; Evan opts for the chair that faces a cluttered desk, and is amazed at how soothing it is to be here, in a place that is so unmistakably Connor's.
Connor turns in bed to face him, and Evan tries to pry his eyes away from him so to not be caught staring, before he manages to gather the courage to acknowledge the elephant in the room.
"What are we telling them?"
- ... . / -.-. -.- -. - ... .. .- / - ..- .-. .-. ... -.- / ... - ..- .-.
When Cynthia got back from the supermarket, after buying what she would need for dinner that night; she was quick to notice the scent of an omega. She smiled to herself as she went to the kitchen to put her purchases away.
Getting the suppressors had been a bit of a risky play, and Cynthia had been very relieved when it didn't end up on a screaming match, but she needed to get a better grasp on the boy who had Connor so enamored; plus, she figured the omega would most likely appreciate them.
As she's putting things into place the door opens and closes, and after a few minutes Zoe appears in the kitchen.
"Oh"
Cynthia looks up to see her confused expression.
"What's wrong sweetie?"
Zoe crinkles her nose.
"It smells sweet; I thought you were cooking already"
Cynthia chuckles and shakes her head.
"I think you should ask your brother about the smell"
"Ew! Mom!"
Cynthia chuckled again once she saw her daughter's face; Zoe rolled her eyes and shifted her guitar case and bag into a better position before striding away from the kitchen.
Eventually she ventured upstairs to greet the omega had her son so besotted, finding Connor sitting crisscross on his bed besides a smaller boy, their hands joined together; it takes her a second to remember his name.
Evan has short blond hair, enough color to his skin for it to be clear he likes the outside but not for sun tanning; he's wearing a polo shirt and kakis, and for some reason, seems to have a distinct contrast with Connor.
The omega boy must sense her because he's looking up at her before she's had the chance to knock on the door frame; she still does this, as Connor seems unaffected as per usual.
Connor looks up at her, rolls his eyes, and makes a disagreeing sound.
"Hello mom, this is Evan"
Then he turns to the omega and it's almost jarring to see how much his expression changes, even his voice takes on a softer tone.
"Evan, this is my mom"
Evan shifts in place and Cynthia notes the cast embossed with Connor's name, like an unofficial claim.
"Uh, hi- hi Mrs. Murphy"
It's only then, as she tries to test the waters by seeing how he's reacting, that she actually pays attention to the scent; like stepping foot into a forest untouched by man, like wilderness and like danger. That's what drives it home, that sense of threat he irradiates unconsciously, the one so deeply ingrained into his nature, he's unaware of its existence, only Cynthia is new to it.
Now, Cynthia Murphy might only have had two meetings with dragon shifters other than her son - first being Leland, of course -, but there was something eerily particular about their scent, and as an omega Cynthia could easily discern it. So she had known, that day two years ago, that the scent of ash that now clung to Connor wasn't from any drug, but from a person; and she knows now that the omega Connor had brought to their home, doesn't actually shift into a fox.
She says none of this things, and hadn't said them, because she knows what it's like hiding a dragon, and she doesn't want to make it complicated, not when the omega shared the ash scent with Connor, and in him it's much easier for Cynthia to pick up 'small child'. They are hiding a pup, and Cynthia doesn't know how to help without having to deal with a second Leland; without it ending in Connor disappearing without a trace.
Instead she says what is expected of her.
"You can call me Cynthia sweetheart"
Then with a well-practiced smile, she adds.
"Do you have any allergies I should know about before I go start dinner?"
The omega gives her an unsure look, Connor instinctively glares at her as he moves himself just slightly closer.
"I uh… don't have- have any"
"Perfect! I'll leave you two alone now"
Cynthia leaves for her own room, there's still time before she needs to go down and cook, she makes a decision, digging into the depths of her walk in closet, and pulling out what might become her trump card. She might not get completely involved immediately, but she wants to get in somehow; and if she can't approach Connor, then that leaves Evan, so she has to be careful about things.
She didn't have any help back then, no adults she could go for help or advice, or simply someone to talk to without fear of repercussions. She will do everything in her power to keep Connor from that.
