Work Text:
Summer was upon Camp Half Blood. The summer after Apollos rising back to olympus. Speaking of which, the sun was burning. The wind was blowing, cooling off some of the summer heat.
Malcolm was reading in all Athena fashion, sitting up in a tree at the edge of camp somewhere near the tree line behind the training area. Although he felt like he didn't want to read recently. Which was somewhat weird, he read a lot generally. But he had thoughts about a lot of things. Were one of those things a certain brunette? Perhaps, yes, maybe one of the biggest things invading his mind.
And also one of the things he did not want invading his mind. Really. Connor had been infiltrating his mind, taking up his thoughts, filling his head with his stupid smile, his stupid jokes, his stupid face,,.. Everything! Was stupid about him really. A big stupid idiot that really knew how to lockpick his way through barriers, and lockpick his way though his mind and into his thoughts.
That annoying Stoll had done nothing but annoy him. Whether it was through his thoughts, or through bombarding into his cabin and annoying him.
Connor really needed to learn personal space. Well, Malcolm knew how clingy he was, he knew how easily attached he got, he knows his best friend. But he really does need to learn to back off for a bit. Which was why Malcolm was here, hiding in a tree basically. He has been meaning to read and finish some books but he really couldn't do it if all he was thinking about was how cute and idiotic Connor was.
An annoying as fuck boy. Who also had seemed to steal his heart.
He needed to heighten his standards. If he was falling for a prankster, a Stoll, an idiot, an annoying person, a clingy, annoying, fucking person. He really needed to. But he couldn’t, the boy had been sweeter to him, he had respected some of his boundaries, he cared. Maybe Malcolm did not need to heighten his standards.
Maybe he just really needed to accept he will not fall out of love with him anytime soon. Fuck. He was screwed, to the Gods, he was absolutely, totally, wholeheartedly, screwed. And he could do nothing about it.
Malcolm groaned, closing his book and smacking his own head with it in annoyance. He really wanted to throw something to just try and get his pure annoyance out. Malcolm genuinely felt so guilty though, he didn’t mean to fall in love, he doesn’t want to love or like his best friend, he just hates Connor, and hates loving him, that caring bitch.
Aphrodite and Eros screwed him over so hard. Malcolm gripped his book, his knuckles white. He could throw the book to try and get anger out. But that would risk damaging a perfectly good book, his book, as well.
He threw it anyway.
It would have been smarter if he was on the ground to retrieve it, it probably wouldn't have been as damaged as it probably got. But whatever.
Malcolm had thrown the book in front of him towards another tree, it collided and fell to the ground. He grumbled in frustration, running a hand through his hair. He took deep breaths for a second before his eyes snapped back open to a voice he knew all too well.
“Didn't take you one for damaging your own books, Mal.” The voice spoke loud enough for him to hear from where he was in the tree. Fucking curse the gods, curse the fates, he just wanted to think, and the person he was hiding from found him. Malcolm groaned again. Connor snickered from his place, leaning on the base of the tree with his arms crossed, a grinw mixed with a genuine smile plastered on his face. The brunette's head rested on the tree, tilted back looking up at the blonde.
Malcolm stared at Connor. His eyes were a glimmering blue, they glinted with mischief as they met his gaze. Malcolms anger and annoyed demeanor faded as his own tense posture faded as he looked at the boy below him. His smile made his heart explode slightly, his curly brown hair fell perfectly in front of his face.
“Ya gonna say anything or come down? Or do you want me to come up there?” Malcolm hummed in response to Connors words. He leaned back on the tree for a minute trying to recollect his thoughts when he heard the rustling of the tree and leaves as the brunette climbed up to the branch he sat on. Malcolm cracked a smile slightly at the boy.
He finally felt the weight of the branch change a bit as the other boy climbed up to where he sat. Connors hands were placed carefully, one on the branch he crouched on, one on the branch above him. Malcolm tilted his head, eyes scanning over him once more before they made their way back to Connor's face.
Silence stretched out for a moment longer before the brunette spoke. “Were you hiding from me?” His demeanor had changed, it was slightly serious and less playful as he changed position and scooted his legs to dangle off the branch, his arms resting beside him.
“I…Uhm.”. Malcolm blinked, muttering. Connor’s smile had fallen into a deadpan yet slightly hurt face. “I just wanted to think, I didn’t want to talk to anyone.” The blonde responded. Connor nodded but he looked down “Did I do anything wrong? If I did…” “No!” Malcolm exclaimed quickly. Connor’s face snapped back up. “I just…” Malcolm gritted his teeth, he inhaled. “I just wanted to clear my thoughts from things, I got annoyed at myself, and you- but not in that way I swear I mean I am annoyed at you but I mean as in…” he stumbled over his words.
He sighed exasperated and annoyed at himself more. Connor was tilting his eyes and eyes narrowed slightly but in amusement more than annoyance. “I was annoyed because you were taking up my thoughts with your stupid face and jokes and words and you were annoying me, I mean really you also need to learn personal space I swear but.. You're annoying because I can stop thinking about you, because I like you. I love you and it's annoying and stupid and-‘ Malcolm got cut off by a hand to his mouth and he looked up, Connor had the back of his other hand pressed to his mouth but Malcolm could see his smile reaching his eyes, which glinted.
“You? Like me? My best friend likes me? Malcolm pace, loves.. me?” Connor sounded surprised. His blue eyes were wide slightly but filled with a look, something Malcolm was sure he looked at Connor with once before.
Malcolms hand reached up to remove the hand on his mouth, holding Connors wrist.
He then reached up with his other hand and grabbed Connors other hand from his mouth. Connors smile was so wide he could tell it hurt, a genuine, sickly sweet smile plastered on the brunette's face. Malcolms could tell own face was red literally just from staring at the pretty boy in front of him.
“If you can’t tell from how hard I'm smiling, I like you back, you idiot.” Connor said after a bit of them staring. Malcolm laughed, his own face aching smile plastering his own face. The corner of his eyes crinkled.
“My face hurts.” Malcolm whispered not so quietly. Connor giggled. And Malcolm felt like he could sit here forever. Connor did too.
…
“Wait, does this mean we're together?” The brunette responded after a while.
“Do you want us to be?”
“Yes..” Connor whispered an awkward smile on his lips now.
“Then sure.” Malcolm huffed out before giggling.