Of Animated Film References And A Broken Dam
It feels like every time I post something, I start it out with 'it's been ages since I last posted something' and the likes. So, this time, I'm just going to roll with it. Yeah.
This is a shortfic with no plot at all and basically just fluff stuff between Connor and Vala, lol. Inspired when writing a bIRTHDAY ARABELLA FIC FOR GERARDIEN BUT IT'S NEW YEAR ALREADY AND I'M STILL NOT FINISHED. I'm so sorry I'm sucked at deadlines T-T.
Finished this fic while listening to several Yuri on Ice tracks ((NO ONE DEFEATS KING JJ omg i love him)) and THE SONG OF THE LIGHTNING THIEF MUSICAL, GOOD KID SUNG BY CHRIS MCCARRELL LINK IS HERE WORRY NOT GO WATCH IT!!
Anyway, let's get on with the fic! Hope you like it!
Word count: 1617
Pairing(s): Connor Stoll x OFC, Will Solace x Nico di Angelo (pre, mentioned)
Set around The Last Olympian, post the Battle of Manhattan
“Hug.”
“Huh?”
Vala blinked repeatedly, her eyes watered. Her lips
are tightly shut into a thin line while her nails restlessly clicking one
another. “Hug me!”
“Uh- o-okay.” Connor awkwardly circled his arms
loosely around the petite brunette. She mirrored him and clung tightly to his
shirt. Her face buried on his shirt.
She barely made any noise but he can feel the wetness from
where her face mushed into his shirt.
Then it occurred to him: This is the way she copes with everything. With deflective smiles
and false cheers, with controlled breath and choked out sobs, away from any
living souls. Shutting herself inside.
Because she is so young and already alone. Because people
expect her to be strong and people depend on her. Because she’s been hurt and
she was the only one protecting herself. Because she has built the walls so
firm and so high she forgets how to let people in.
He remembered how she stumbles with wording her
feelings contrasted by how she freely passes her affectionate impulses. So he
tightened his embrace and buried his face on her hair.
Because he
understood then, that instead of letting her hear it, the best way to show her his feelings is by letting her feel it.
So he shut his mouth, and swore to himself that
whatever happens, he will make sure that she won’t be left all alone inside her
walls ever again.
They stayed like that for a few moments until Connor
can feel her breaths steadied. He let himself enjoy the moment a little more until
he knew he had to break it.
“Well you are
adorable like this.”
Vala choked out a laughter while still burying her
face on his chest, “Shut up.”
“I thought you like me for my sparkling wits and
remarks.”
This time when she laughed, she pulled her face enough
to look at his face while still resting her head on his chest.
But when her laughter died down, she looked away to
the dark waters of the canoe lake, and her hands started to loosen her grip
from him.
Connor tightened his arms around her and called out,
“Hey.”
“Hm.” She responded. Her arms awkwardly half-clinging
on his shirt, trapped by his arms.
“You’re stuck with me forever, Sunshine.”
She made a choking sound, a few drops of tears escaped
from her eyes, the tremble in her voice betrayed her mocking tone, “Really?”
“Yup. No matter how far you’d run, I’ll catch up to
you.”
She laughed again and gently squeezed his torso. She
didn't say a word, and he didn't need her to. He understood now. Because most
of the time words could not express our deepest feeling, and right then, she
whole-heartedly said yes.
He let her let go first then patted her head lightly,
“C’mon, let me take you back to your cabin like a proper princess. I’ll be
worse than dead if I don’t.”
Vala laughed, “Percy is not at the camp, dork.”
“Well, yeah, but di Angelo is. And Solace will
definitely blab to him if you go back alone without a proper escort.” He
grinned when she laughed harder. “And by Hermes, clean up your face. I’d
definitely be dead if they think I make you cry.”
Vala scrunched up her nose with a haughty expression,
“I’m not crying.”
“No, you just have snot all over your face, oh gods,
and on my favorite shirt! I could never wear this on public again.” Connor made
agonized sounds over his standard orange camp half-blood shirt.
“Well since your shirt is already dirty…” Vala grinned
maniacally and made a move to try and blew her nose on his shirt.
“Wha- stop it! You’re disgusting!” he cried.
Vala only laughed louder.
Connor squinted his eyes, trying to look at Vala’s
face better in the dark, “Why are you still crying? Are you crying while you
laugh or laughing until you’re crying?”
“Ugh, shut up. This is why I loathe crying, I just. Can’t. Stop it.” Vala furiously rubbed her
eyes.
“Hey, Vala, stop it. By Hermes, Velreya, are you
trying to jab your eyeballs inside your brain??” Connor squeezed both of her
wrists tightly in his hands, “Hey, look at me.”
Vala pouted and stubbornly kept her eyes on the
ground, trying to stifle her sobs.
“Val, I know this would sound cheesy but it’s okay to cry. Everyone who knows you
know you’re strong, heck, that’d probably the adjective they’d use in
three-words-to-describe-Vala-Velreya after cheeky and pigheaded-”
Vala huffed a laugh that made Connor smile, “and
crying is not a sign of weakness, you hear me?”
Vala struggled out of Connor’s grip and visibly trying
to adjust her breath, “I know, okay? Gods, I encourage people who come to me to cry… It’s just I… It’s hard-”
she started to sob again, “Gods, I frickin
hate talking about feelings, why in
the Tartarus do I do this??”
Connor took her hands that kept picking on her jacket.
“Okay, okay, time for more hugs. It’s okay. You are emotionally stunted, I got
it. I finally got the dirt on you. About darn time I got you on your toes.
Can’t forever be slaved around by a snotty chick.”
“Just for that I snort on your shirt again.” Retorted
Vala from where her face is once again mushed against Connor’s chest.
Connor snickered, “Well, let it be known that aside
from previously mentioned three sparkling traits, Vala Velreya definitely cannot accept defeat. Or is it part of
your pigheaded trait? It’s hard to decide.”
“And people say I’m
chatty.”
Connor laughed a little, then tightened his hug. “You
can’t avoid talking it out forever, you know.”
“Watch me.”
“See? Pigheaded.”
“I snort on you again.”
“Man, the things I do for you, Crystal Ball.” Connor
sighed dramatically, but then his tone turned more serious, “but really. You
can’t keep it bottled up forever, Val. I’m genuinely concerned here.”
“I-I can write…” muttered Vala after a while.
“Hm?”
“I… It’s always hard for me, to talk things out.
Sometimes, when I really need to vent, I write.”
“Ah, a romantic correspondence, how old-fashioned.”
“Dork.” Vala hit Connor’s chest playfully and raised
her face, “how do I look?”
Connor smirked, “Well, you can always work on, you
know...” He gestured towards Vala’s whole body.
Vala squinted her eyes, “Are you seriously trying to
make a How to Train Your Dragon reference right now?”
Connor crowed and clapped his hands, “I know I put up
with you for a reason.”
“Noodle hair.” Spat Vala.
“Yeah, yeah, wash your face and try not to go all
teary eye when I walk you back to your cabin.” Snickered Connor.
Vala crouched next to the lake to wash her face while
Connor watched her with a small smile still intact. He knew that, if anyone
sees, he’d probably be labeled as even more of a jerk for joking around when
someone’s crying her heart out like that. But seriously people, he grew up, ok?
And he knew that Vala would hate to be seen crying, especially by her
worry-wart siblings. If he kept on pushing her to talk she wouldn’t be able to
stop crying, thus resulting in her siblings found out, and it’ll lead to even
more uncontrollable tears. Seriously, just how long has that girl been shutting
herself like that? Connor didn’t know crap about psychology and he might not be
the most perceptive person out there but he sure as Styx knew that a reaction
like that must be from years of suppression. He wondered if he really knew the
things that she’d been through.
“Am I good?”
Vala’s voice jolted Connor into reality, “Uh, yeah.”
“You barely see my face, dork.” Vala rolled her eyes,
“and seriously, no more joking around. It’s late and you would not be the only
one strangled by Will if we don’t go back pronto.”
“Nah, I know your
face is good. Even if a little catty.” Connor
grinned cheekily.
“Oh, and don’t we all know about your infinite love for cats, don’t we?” Vala retorted with a smirk.
Connor scowled, “They’re egotistical, temperamental,
vicious, ball of furs. I don’t know why there are people who like them. They’re
evil.”
“Always so dramatic.” Teased Vala. “Now escort me
home, gentleman.”
“Milady.” Connor theatrically bowed and offered his
arm.
Vala chuckled as she took his offered arm. They walked
back to the cabin in a moderately comfortable silence. They can already see the
rows of cabin and Will Solace that stood in front of Cabin 7, staring intensely
at the two of them and gesturing Vala to come inside now, before turning his back and went inside the cabin.
Vala huffed a laugh, “He’s such a mother hen.”
“All of you Apollo’s are a nag. Don’t even front.”
Connor retorted with a smirk.
“It’s a personal health care trait, we can’t help it.”
Vala smirked back.
“Oh gods… was that Big Hero 6 reference? Are we really
going to make this a thing? Animated film references for snapbacks?”
“Nah, you’ll lose big time.”
“You practically just admitted that you’re obsessed
with animated films.”
“Hey, what’s there to be ashamed of?”
Connor chuckled, “Nothing, Sunshine, nothing.”
“Well… thanks for your chivalrous effort in getting me
home safely.” Vala looked at Connor with a smile and tiptoed to kiss his cheek.
“Now scram.”
She turned her back and walked quickly into her cabin.
Connor stood there with a lopsided grin on his face then shouted, “Are you
blushing?”
“Scram, Stoll!” Yelled Will Solace from inside the
cabin.
“Yeah, yeah.” Connor turned his back and whistled all the way back to his cabin.
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