And you decided whether you saw beauty or destruction

Be brave

(Soulmates)

This one's for "ToxiKitty" on ao3

It wasn't the first time Connor was sent to the principal, and it wouldn't be the last one. Connor had become well acquaintance with the crime and punishment system set up in educational institutions; had been participating in it for quite a while now.

It isn't the first time he's had company on the waiting area outside of the director's office, nor the first time said company was crying; there was nothing that stood out from the boy, and yet...

"Hey, are you ok? Does something hurt?"
The boy shakes his head no, Connor bites his lip, he isn't the best at comforting people, he moves from his seat to take one closer to the boy but not immediately beside him.

"Want to talk about it"
The boy mumbles something, Connor can't hear him.

"What was that?"

"You'd make fun of me"

Connor frowns, sure he has a reputation, and he isn't the best person out there, but he likes to think he's at least decent enough not to make fun of someone else's pain. Before he can bite back, however, the boy speaks out again.

"Oh god, I'm so sorry, that sounded so bad, I didn't mean... I just, it's stupid"

"If you're gonna cry about it then it can't be that stupid"

The boy looks up at that, moves his head quickly like he wants to retort to Connor, and then he freezes. Recognition, that's what paints the boy's face, and for a moment Connor deals with the fact that the other hadn't known who he was until this point; that puts things into perspective.

His mind reels trying to put a name to a face, attempting to know anything about the boy sitting at his side. He's seen him, seen his figure more times than he realized, he knows him and doesn't all at once.

"Connor?"

Connor swallows, tries to push away the voice in his head telling him exactly why he's so easy to name.

"Yeah... Evan, right?"

The boy, Evan, becomes flustered and starts nodding.

"Y-yes"

Connor nods, unsure what else to do.

"Well, we have time"

"I... it's really just nothing"

Connor gives him a pointed glare; Evan shifts in his seat and sighs. As the other talks about why he had ended up here, a case of bad timing and the inability to speak up, Connor decides he has a nice voice, when it isn't trembling of rushing out of him.

Evan goes on, and the further he does the more confidence his words acquire, and his hands start moving, and his face morphs into one of frustration and resignation in spades; Connor is transfixed, watching as the boy changes before his eyes. It's awe-inspiring, how Evan lets his walls crumble down with such ease, like he trusts him; and Connor makes a silent bow not to tell a soul what he's witnessing.

There's something to be said about the myriad of emotions Connor feels when he notices the glow, and how his own chest matches it. Evan trails off, as if aware of Connor's lapse of attention, and turns to him questioning only to freeze again.

"Oh"

Connor looks up at him, and this close he can see that his eyes are greener than blue unlike he had first thought. There's a hint of relief wrapped around the stream of thoughts that cross those eyes, and Connor doesn't know what to do with himself when he feels his heart stutter at it.

The secretary speaks up, telling them that the principal will see them now, Connor tells her they'll be there in a second; then, with a rush of necessity, he takes out his phone.

"Can I- can I have your number"

"Yes, I mean, yeah, sure"

Connor doesn't smile, not really, but his expression softens noticeably, and Evan does give him a small smile as he takes his own phone out. Connor decides he has a nice smile too.