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Finding out that Connor likes boys— one in particular— wasn’t a big surprise. Travis had always kind of assumed his brother didn’t take to ladies the way that Travis did. Was it obvious? No, Travis wouldn’t say that either. Connor is a private person for all his outward eagerness and mischievousness. To anyone other than Travis, it wasn’t very obvious. Connor did his best to interact with any and everyone who needed it.
He talked to girls and boys equally.
Travis noticed the little things that others didn’t, however.
The way his brother would linger around his male friends…
How Connor would stare at the boys practicing their weaponry (more than a few times Travis had caught his younger brother absentmindedly wiping the corner of his mouth).
His excuses when Travis would catch him off guard.
His reluctance to be utterly alone with Mitchell from the Aphrodite cabin.
“Can’t you do it, Travis?” Connor whined, tugging at the hem of Travis’ t-shirt.
Travis sighed, “I already told you I can’t. I’m leading the younger campers on a hike through the forest. And Chiron said he wanted you and Mitchell to clean and organize the weapons shed. And no offense, little bro, but I am definitely not going anywhere near that shed after what Clarisse and Ciel did to the poor place.”
Connor pouted, dropping onto the floor and crossing his arms over his chest, “You are a terrible brother.”
“Aw, you don’t mean that.” Travis laughed, swinging his backpack over his shoulder and ruffling his brother’s hair, “I’ll see you at dinner, ‘kay?”
Connor grumbled in reply as Travis left the cabin. Any other day, Travis might have taken pity on his brother and traded places with him. But the weapons shed was a disaster. Clarisse and Ciel had really done a number on the poor place. He hadn’t been exaggerating. All Connor had to do was pick up the weapons that hadn’t been completely destroyed, move them to the Big House and then clear enough debris to allow the Hephaestus kids to rebuild the shed.
Besides, maybe something would come of Connor’s crush on Mitchell.
The younger campers had definitely enjoyed the hike more than Travis did.
By the time they came back to camp, the shed was a little more than halfway rebuilt.
And that goes to show the miracle that is the children of Hephaestus.
“How did it go?” Travis asked, taking a seat next to Connor.
Connor hummed, pushing his spaghetti around his plate. He wasn’t paying attention. Travis rolled his eyes and snapped his fingers under his brother’s nose, “Huh? What?”
“I said, how did it go? ” Travis repeated, “What’s up with you?”
“Oh, it, erm, went well. I finished fast.” Connor said quickly.
Travis nodded, “Aren’t you going to ask about my day?”
Connor blinked, caught off guard, “Oh, um, right. How was your nature walk?”
“It was fine. Lots of bugs.” Travis said as he put his hand against Connor’s forehead.
“What are you doing?”
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Travis asked, “You never ask about my day.”
“You told me to ask about your day!” Connor hissed, sounding much more like himself.
“And when do you ever listen to me?” Travis shot back, “What’s wrong? Did something happen while you were moving the weapons?”
Connor’s face flushed, “No!”
Travis lowered his voice, “Does it have something to do with Mitchell? ”
Connor smacked his palm over Travis’ mouth. His cheeks were painfully red, “What? You’re crazy, man, haha.”
“Ow,” Travis moaned, pulling Connor’s hand away from his bruised mouth.
Chris sat down, his hoodie was tattered and burnt. He had either been dragged into helping Jake Mason or Clarisse had exploded again. Poor guy. “What’s up brothers from another mother?”
“Travis was just telling me about his nature hike with the kids,” Connor said before Travis could answer, slamming his hand against Travis’ back.
Travis coughed, “Right. It was okay-ish. No one was even remotely close to being eaten by anything.”
“Sounds like a bore.” Chris yawned, “Oh, Connor, dude, is Mitchell alright?”
Connor’s face flushed again.
“Did something happen to Mitchell?” Travis asked, slightly concerned. He and Mitchell may not be close, but he had known him for years.
“It wasn’t—”
Chris barked out a heavy laugh, cutting Connor off, “Dude, Connor broke Mitchell’s leg and stabbed him in the shoulder.”
“You did what!?” Travis gasped, turning to face his brother.
“It was an accident!” Connor squeaked, his shoulders going up to his ears, “We were moving the weapons up to the attic in a chest and we tripped and the chest opened when we fell and a dagger happened to get caught in Mitchell’s shoulder.”
“Are you okay?” Travis asked.
Connor’s face was completely red at this point, “I’m fine. Mitchell’s the one that got hurt.”
That’s why Connor is acting so weird. An accident?
“Hey, Connor,” Will tapped him on the shoulder.
“Will,” Connor coughed, “h-how’s, um, how’s Mitchell?”
Will held out a sheet of paper, “He’ll live. Other than making Kayla’s life hell, he’s fine. He wanted me to give you this.”
Connor took the slip, “I’m really sorry,”
“You didn’t break my leg,” Will shrugged, “visiting hours end at ten. If you’re going to see him do it before then.”
Will walked away. Connor stared at the slip of paper, almost debating whether or not to read it. Chris beat Travis to it, “What’s it say, buddy?”
Connor turned away from Travis and covered the slip with his hands as he read it. He sat up straight, staring tensely toward the infirmary. “Are you okay?” Travis asked for what felt like the millionth time.
His brother ignored him, stumbling over himself as he got up.
In his rush, Connor had left the slip on the table. Travis grabbed it before Chris or any of their other half-siblings could get it. He opened it briefly before slipping it into his pocket.
Come see me if you want to hear an answer ❤.