concordia

twenty

word count: 1.3k

date written: 16.6.19

verse: alt-canon; scene rewrite(s)

-

elle looked up at the sound of heels, watching in silence as connie approached her from the other end of the corridor. they hadn't seen each other since earlier, when connie had taken kieran upstairs and elle had been left handcuffed to a pipe in the basement while security tried to locate a pair of bolt-cutters. her wrists were still aching even now and she could only hope they wouldn't bruise -- as if she needed rumors circulating about why she had handcuff marks on them. connie took a seat beside her on the steps and their eyes met for a split second before she looked away again, struggling for words.

"what on earth did you think you were doing?" she asked after a moment, finally turning to look at her. elle frowned, tilting her head slightly as she searched connie's face in confusion.

"what?" 

"you should've waited," connie told her, and elle snorted in amusement as she realized what connie was referring to. she didn't know what else she'd expected, really, or if this was any better to receiving no reaction at all. 

"i think that might just be the worst thank you i've ever heard," she chuckled, shaking her head in disbelief. "you know, most people would-" she immediately cut herself off when connie reached out to lightly brush her bottom lip with the edge of her thumb. 

"shut up," she whispered, moving her hand to gently cup elle's face before she leaned forward and caught her lips in a soft kiss. it lasted only for a second, maybe less, but it still sent a shiver racing down elle's spine and she unwittingly leaned forward when connie pulled away, clearly wanting more. connie smiled at her with pure adoration, unable to hide it as she stroked a finger across elle's cheek. "so what are you doing later?"

elle frowned, almost wondering if she'd misheard her. "you mean...?" connie's smile only grew brighter and she nodded slightly as she ran the back of her hand along the curve of elle's jaw. "oh." without pause, elle wound an arm around connie's waist and pulled her closer, kissing her with the same fierceness that she'd used to. when they'd shared breathless moments in supply closets and secret kisses around corners when they thought nobody was nearby. 

connie hummed approvingly when elle's lips moved down to her neck, but abruptly tensed just seconds later when her eyes fluttered open and she noticed claire watching them from the other end of the corridor with wide eyes. without warning, connie sharply rose to her feet, accidentally making elle jump in the process, but claire was quick to run off when she realized she'd been caught. elle barely turned in time to see her bright hair disappear around the corner. connie sighed, falling back onto the steps beside elle, and ran a hand tiredly across her forehead. 

"i'm sorry," elle said quietly, leaning forward to rest her elbows on her knees. "we don't have to take this any further." connie turned to look at her, face only half-visible behind her hair. 

"i shouldn't have to choose between the two of you," she mumbled sadly, smiling faintly and leaning into elle's touch when she reached out to brush her hair back. 

"i know," she said, standing up and stretching her arms above her head. "but claire should always come first." she turned back to connie, holding a hand out and helping her up when she took it. connie sighed, intertwining their fingers as elle led them down the corridor. "she's just a little girl who's scared she's going to be replaced." they stopped a few feet short of the staffroom, turning to face each other. "give her a bit of time, alright?" connie nodded slightly and leaned forward to press a parting kiss to elle's cheek before she reluctantly let their hands fall apart.

-

connie sighed, standing idly at the entrance before she folded her arms tightly and hesitantly approached her car. she didn't know what to expect but she didn't know what she wanted to happen either and she opened the car door without a word, bracing herself for the worst but receiving no reaction at all. claire stayed quiet, resting her head against the passenger window as she stared outside at nothing in particular. connie closed the door with a faint grimace, turning to watch her for a moment before sadly lowering her gaze. this was somehow worse than being shouted out and while she knew she deserved it, that didn't make it hurt any less. she searched for something to say as the silence grew so thick she thought it might suffocate her. 

"i was about to tell you..." she explained quietly, forcing herself to look over at claire again. she knew there was no excuse for her cowardice. she'd been planning to tell her for weeks now but repeatedly bottled it at the last minute, afraid of claire's judgement. selfish as it was, she hadn't wanted to give elle up if claire turned out to disapprove. 

"you said it would always be just me and you," claire mumbled after a moment, turning to meet her mother's gaze. connie immediately wished she hadn't and struggled to hold it even more than usual, heartbroken by her despondent expression and teary eyes. "how long have you been seeing her?" connie held her breath, floundering for an answer, and could only scoff in nervous disbelief as words failed her. claire turned away again, sliding further down her seat. "you're unbelievable..." 

"i don't understand," connie said, shaking her head in mild exasperation. "you get along great with elle!" the two had become fast friends since meeting. elle was great with kids -- no doubt because she had three of her own -- and claire had taken to her in a heartbeat. on some days, they were impossible to even separate. 

claire pulled her legs up onto the edge of her seat, wrapping her arms around them and hugging them against her chest. "what if... what if you don't have enough time for both of us?" she asked quietly, eyes stinging as she struggled not to cry again. she knew connie's job was important -- that it paid for their house, their food, her school, and everything in between. she didn't blame her for the long hours, knowing they were beyond her control, and never had, but she couldn't see how connie was going to find time for everything when she already had so little of it. claire couldn't help worrying that one thing would have to be sacrificed in favor of the other two and she was terrified it would be her. "i can't be the one you forget about. i can't be..." she sniffled slightly before hiding her face in her arms, crying against her knees. she didn't have anyone else if that happened. it had always been just her and connie. 

"oh, claire," connie whispered, unable to stop tears forming in her own eyes as she leaned over to pull claire into a tight hug. claire shuffled closer, hastily drying her eyes with her sleeve before resting her head against connie's chest. "that's not going to happen, sweetheart. i could never forget about you.

"you promise?" claire sobbed, wrapping her arms tightly around connie's waist. connie sighed, rubbing circles across her back in an effort to soothe her. this wasn't remotely close to even the worst reactions she'd been picturing and it made her heart ache inexplicably to know claire had spent all this time fearing she would be abandoned. if connie had to give something up, she would, but it was never going to be claire. no matter what happened.

"i promise."