I will always protect you. Always. // ENG

I will always protect you. Always.

Connor was more relaxed than he had been for a long time now when he laid back on the wing of his discarded jet and looked up in the starry sky. It had been ages since he had taken time for himself, but at the moment it was going well in the cemetery, so he could afford it.

It was a rather quiet night, so he could hear the other's footsteps and did not startle when he spoke to him.

"Is there any free space next to you?" Hayden asked, settling next to him the next moment. Connor had to smile:"Why do you even ask if you're going to sit down anyways?"

"You know me. Always stay polite", the blonde smirked and pulled his legs up to his chest as he looked up at the sky:"Isn't that completely dull? Watching stars, I mean. "

"No. It's relaxing. And I'm glad that I can do it" Connor said unperturbed. His eyes moved to Hayden to contemplate his dimly lit outline in the darkness. The sitter snorted with a smile:"Yes ... I can imagine. You look really tense, lately."

"Life just does't get any easier" Connor muttered, looking back to the stars:"What's driving you?"

Hayden was silent for a while. Finally he laid down and looked at the sky: "I can't sleep. Had a pretty bad nightmare. With you I had the hope that you are still awake and ..."

He stopped talking and grinned, but it sank in the darkness: "Right. The stars really are relaxing."

But Conner had turned his attention away from it, over to his friend - now one of his closest and perhaps best. It worried him that he was here now. Among them Hayden was the cheerful nature. Hayden, who always managed to smile. Hayden, who took everything easy. Hayden.

None of them said anything.

It was quiet between them until after a while that Connor heard Hayden's voice again: "You know ... that dream ... I'm scared that it will happen. That it will come true ... Even if it's totally ... stupid. It has happened before. So why not again? "

Another long break between them. Connor slowly looked up at the sky again:"Will you tell me about your dream?"

"You would laugh at me."

"I would not" Connor said, feeling Hayden's eyes on him. He repeated his answer with a true serious voice:"I won't."

And again a silence followed. Obviously, Hayden had a hard time getting the language out. Connor just wanted to sit up and tell him that he did not have to talk about it if he did not want to or could not, but then Hayden started to speak: "I ... see you. You and Risa ... and the others. How you all turn away from me. Leaving me to the Juvies ... "

Immediately Connor sat upright and looked at his friend:" What?! Hayden! You know that we would never- "

"I know" said the blonde. He had his arm over his eyes. His braces flashed in the moonlight which told Connor that Hayden was grinning. But he could imagine that it was not a happy grin. Connor was silent for a moment. He pulled a leg to his chest and placed his chin on it:"You said that had happened before ... Do you mean your parents?"

"Yes" Hayden said slowly. His arm was still over his eyes. Was he crying?Connor bit his lip. How should he handle it?

"We are not your parents. We are your friends and we like you" he finally said uncertainly. Hayden snorted in amusement and then sat up:"That's what my parents did. Until ... I told them that I like boys, too. "

Connor blinked and stared at him unabashedly at first. He had expected less than such a confession. He quickly lowered his eyes and thought about it. Had Hayden's parents really betrayed him to the state for his sexuality?

"I've only ever told you about the argument between them. But never, how it really came about" murmured Hayden softly. At the moment he wished he had not told Connor anything. That he did not have come to him but stayed in his own plane. That he would have just smiled everything away. Just as always ...

"Just because you like boys?", Connor asked uncomprehendingly: "They gave you away only because of that?!"

Hayden looked up and to him. He saw the anger in Connors eyes: "Connor ..."

"And you're really afraid that we would do it the same way? I can't believe it ... " said the older one. He did not know if he should be disappointed, but finally he knelt next to Hayden, pulling him into his arms:"Stop thinking such bullshit."

Hayden was a little surprised by the hug, but he quickly put his arms around Connor's body and the heartfelt hug which followed came from both of the young men.

Finally, Connor broke from the blonde and could not help but stroke his cheek. He smiled softly:"You won't get rid of us that fast, spam."

"Don't call me that" Hayden laughed softly, punching him. Connor grabbed his hand and helped Hayden to get up:"I call you what I want, got it? After all, I'm still something like the boss here!"

"Alright, alright" Hayden grinned. Connor could only hear it because of the darkness, but in that moment he would have given anything to really see the grin.

They left the wing area and said goodbye to each other. Both with a good feeling. Hayden thought he would get rid of the dreams, but it only got worse.

Only after a week he came back to Connor at night. This time he was already in bed and sat up wearily, when he realized that someone had come in his jet:"What's going on?"
"Connor ... it's me" the blonde muttered softly and stood in the door to the bedroom. Undecided if he should come in or better stay out.

"Hayden?" the older boy asked in confusion, switching on the light beside his bed:"What ... are you doing here?"

"I can't sleep."

Silence. Connor just looked at Hayden as he became more and more nervous and stepped from one foot to the other: "I-I'm sorry. I didn't want to disturb you."

He started to turn around to leave, but then he heard a soft laugh and looked up in confusion. Connor smiled at him and raised his blanket slightly:"Then shut the door and come here! It's getting cold."

For a moment Hayden was a bit overwhelmed before he hurriedly closed the door and cuddled to Connor under the blanket. He had not expected the invitation:"Is that ... really okay with you?"

"Don't worry" Connor said calmly and turned off the light again:"Night."

It took forever for Hayden to fall asleep. Connor had less problems with that ... Hayden had to get used to the warm body next to him. He had not slept with someone in a bed in a long time. Especially not with someone he liked as much as Connor.

Finally, he was able to sleep, but it did not last long.

Breathing restlessly, he turned back and forth. He stammered to himself. Begged for them not to leave him. Should not give him away. They, his parents. They, his friends ... Connor ...

The boy woke up due to his friend's activities and looked over to him through the darkness. He tried to wake up Hayden but nothing helped. Finally he sat up and bend over the blonde young man. He grabbed his chin and laid his lips softly on the other one's.

Shortly after that the blonde woke up and stared with surprise up to Connor who slowly released and stroked a few strands of hair from Hayden's face:"Hey ... Don't worry, okay? You'll stay with us. Nobody will betray you. And if someone does, then he's going to get taught a lesson he'll never forget. I'm here, Hayden. I will always be there and protect you. Always."