It's Understandable: A Tronnor AU

15. Affection Meds

Troye thought Connor was joking.

He thought he was being dramatic when he said he would be at Troye's house immediately, that he would never skip school. He expected him to come over after school, so he texted his mom and told her just that. She said it was fine, then said she was turning off her phone.

Not even a half hour after he spoke with her, there was a knocking at his open bedroom door. The house was empty the last time he checked, so he rolled over in confusion, coming to face a pleasantly unexpected sight.

Connor.

As soon as they made eye contact, the green-eyed boy took it as acceptance of his presence. He sauntered over and lifted a corner of Troye's quilt, placing his body right next to Troye's, like it was where he was meant to be. He cuddled in close to him, their legs entangled and the space between their faces small.

"Hi." Troye breathed, the hands on the small of his back so damn calming.

Connor rubbed his nose to Troye's in a sweet Eskimo kiss. "Hi, baby."

"You skipped."

"I prioritized."

Troye blushed. "Thanks." His head melted into the pillow by the touch of Connor's fingers against an exposed bit of hip. He thought about how sweet his boyfriend was, but also... "How did you get in the house anyway?"

Connor laughed quietly. "Somebody left their keys in the door." He explained. "I put them inside and locked up again, but they should really be more careful."

Troye just lay there emotionless, not really having the energy to even roll his eyes. "Mom is in such a rush sometimes. I don't know why, but she gets flustered." Actually, he did know why. It was because she left a son glued to his mattress by mental state, and was distracted by worry. But he didn't want to bring that up. Connor probably knew the feeling.

Connor's eyes were so close, but he managed to search Troye's face. He touched Troye's cheekbone with the freezing fingers of someone who just walked blocks in winter weather, and Troye moved in closer, wrapping his arms under Connor's armpits and placing his hands on the back of his neck. He wanted to provide him with warmth, after all that he'd offered him.

Exhaling deeply, Connor dropped his eyes for half a moment, his eyelashes casting shadows on his cheeks. "So, I've been thinking...I've been thinking a lot." He said.

Troye could only speak softly. "About what?"

"About you, and yesterday, and a few other things."

Troye repositioned himself so that his stomach was against Connor's. Even closer. "What kind of things?" He asked.

"One dance." Connor stated, his eyes glittering.

"One dance?"

"After I'm done taking pictures, at the winter ball, let's dance." Connor smiled, and Troye looked for visible uncertainty. It wasn't there.

His mouth dropped open a little. "Are you sure?" He murmured.

Connor nodded. "One song, it'll be dark, no one will notice. And I love being with you, so what should it matter what people think?"

But Troye knew that Connor cared what people think. He was worried about being seen with Troye, he knew it, but the fact that Connor was taking such a sacrifice was a symbol. It was a symbol of how Connor, the boy who cared about how people see him, cared more about his boyfriend. And Troye appreciated that so much.

The rarest connection ever to branch from Troye began to form in his stomach. It uncoiled into a rope that came up his throat and wove itself around Connor's tongue as they kissed. That connection: it was trust. And the harder he pressed his lips to Connor's, the more he knew that it was time to give that trust to him. He was done pretending.