Peacekeepers

Chapter 73: Planning a Party

August 10th, 1893

(4 days until the wedding)

"Agh!" Connor yelled in pain, shaking his hand as it had accidentally touched the burning hot cake tin. "Merlin, that hurt- fuck-"

"That's the third time you've burned yourself this morning." William grumbled from nearby, on break at the bakery in his guard uniform. Pushing off the counter he'd been leaning on and walked over to Connor and grabbed the burned hand. He brought his black wand up to heal it with a softly worded spell.

"I'm used to burns." Connor muttered gently, and when William looked back up to him he was looking away from him uneasily.

"Something is bothering you." William squinted his eyes warily.

Connor only let out a little scoff and did that little stubborn pout William had come to love so much.

"Don't try and hide it, I know you too well by now." William gave a wicked grin with the words.

Connor glanced over to him and saw the expression, a soft blush coming to his cheeks before he looked down at the cake he was getting from its tin. "I'm nervous." He muttered.

"About what?" William blinked in bewilderment.

"About the wedding." Connor said, and let out a long sigh, before setting the cake tin down and leaned against the counter wearily. "I've been thinking about it all week."

"What, are you nervous about making the cake? I'm sure Diane will love whatever you make."

"No- no, it's not the cake, that I know she'll like. I'm nervous about-" he seemed to have a hard time saying it, pressing his lips together tightly.

"Come on, you can tell me. Why hide it?" William hadn't really seen him this speechless before. Usually he was relatively open with things like this.

"Because- because it's embarrassing." Connor frowned. "I..." he glanced back to William sheepishly. "I'm not good at dancing. At Anne and Garreth's wedding that wasn't a big deal because I just drank beer but... I wanted to dance with you. I'm just rubbish at it."

William blinked a few times, because he definitely hadn't expected that answer. "Why would you think that's embarrassing? Plenty of people don't know how to dance."

Connor tried to get the cake out too hard in frustration and it tore, making him drop the tin with an angry groan. "Because you grew up with all that fancy social training, and I don't want to look like a monkey having a fit. I don't want to make you look bad at your sister's wedding." He said in an anxious tone, leaning against the counter.

"You aren't going to make me look bad." William said gruffly. "Why would you ever get that idea?"

Connor gave a little vulnerable look around his shoulder and sighed a bit, looking away again. "I guess... the wedding is making me feel... I dunno..." he shrugged, as if he couldn't voice how he felt.

William tilted his head at that, a soft thoughtful sound coming from him. He walked the few steps over to Connor and wrapped his arms around him from behind, pulling him back so he was pressed up against him.

"Is it making you feel left out, Connor?" William said softly against his shoulder. With Connor's few inches of height above him, it was easier to reach.

Connor bit his lip and blushed from the sudden hold, a soft sound of pleasure escaping him as one of William's hands wandered along his chest. "A bit." He whispered.

Connor jumped in surprise when William suddenly bit against his shoulder, a shout escaping him at the pinch of teeth before he looked back with a flustered look. "What the hell, Will? What was that for?"