It's Understandable: A Tronnor AU

39. Long Time, No See

A month later, settlement was a term happily and loosely used. Loose, like the muscles of Connor's face as he laughed. Loose, like his relaxed shoulders and his hands that don't flex in worry any longer.

He was like this in the hallways.

He was like this on the car rides home.

He was like this in class and in restaurants and in Troye's kitchen at noon.

He was like this absolutely in essence, and Troye blamed it on the term loosely used. Settlement—with the people in the Yearbook club, with his closer relations, in his new home—was swaddling Connor in the most magical tension relief.

Troye saw it in the way he smiled, an image etched into his mind as he returned home with a couple empty boxes in his trunk. He threw them up the stairs to Tyde—he wanted them for a school project—and retired to the kitchen. He set a kettle to boil for a cup of tea.

Opening the cupboard, he nearly eased down two teacups instead of one, before smiling at his mistake. He had forgotten that Connor didn't live with him anymore. A double buzz of his phone further declared this, as Connor thanked him to an extent further than the kiss goodbye—a kiss having occurred just twenty minutes ago.

Thank you so so much again for helping us move in. It really was such a big help. Hope you got home safe and that lil Tydles makes the most badass 'Midsummer Night's Dream' diorama ever out of those boxes.

Got to go help Mom unpack a little. I'll call you tonight babe <3 Love you

"I love you too." Troye muttered along with his fingers tapping, typing those same words in text. He sent them off, wishing he could send a kiss alongside them. Though it—the symbol of the kiss, and all his love—was always complementary of the sharing of those words. 

And he felt that in his chest; it was warm. Blending with the coziness dispensed into him by his hot tea, it was happy. Connor was in a good place now: his skin was being treated right, his stomach was being treated right and his head was sheltered with both tangible and non-tangible goodness.

Troye was in a good place now; life was finally favouring him. Medication working with cooperation unseen before, he had not cut, been numb or really cried in the past month at least. He was kept so perfectly busy—so greatly optimistic and reflective, with a chock full songwriting book to prove it—that brightness was all that was in sight. His smile was always lovingly kept parallel to Connor's.

Everything was okay now, and there were no signs of that changing any time soon.

It was such a relaxing fact to all, and Troye's socks might have well been made of gossamer cloud because of it. He rocked back and forth on his tiptoes, his eyelids drooping with his lips pleasantly pursed against the teacup. He tipped the ceramic and allowed the milky sweetness to sweep over his lip and teeth and tongue with tenderness. Its gentleness reminded him of Connor, and all the warmth in the room simply twined up and around his body like a loving embrace. 

There was a knock at the door, but the feeling didn't leave Troye. He moved to answer it, but the vines hugging his ankles—ankles, legs, hips, waist, back—stayed faithful and followed. His feet could do nothing but shuffle softly, gliding along the hardwood; a thought of a smile stayed on his lips.

He reached out to take the doorknob with pensive fingers, aware of the air around them. The warmth of the teacup still ravished them, even moments after departure from the floral ceramic, and it caused a pleasant sensation when they grasped the cold metal knob. Vines tightening—Troye so at ease he was nearing sleep—Troye's sense of time was sodden with molasses. He then opened the door.

And the molasses was washed away.

And the warmth was blown away.

And the vines were cut away.

The spell of ease was broken. Troye's face was turned to stone at the sight of Medusa, but his mouth and throat growled with the last bit of red flesh. "Get the fuck away from my house."

"Hi, Troye." Beth smiled in that hellish fuchsia way. "Long time, no see."

*****

Ah, but not long enough.

Here's a little transition filler for you guys. We're getting pretty close to the conclusion of this story (I've been writing this for so long it feels so weird to only have a handful of chapters left,) but clearly I have a few more twists and turns before we get there ;) Stay tuned lovelies.

I always appreciate your likes and comments!

Sydney :)