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Malcolm can’t focus. His head hurts, his brain is foggy, and his vision is blurring. It’s 2am in the morning and he hasn’t slept in 3 days. His research paper is due in three days, and he’s not done. It’s the last thing he needs to do before he graduates. And he really wants to graduate.
Barely any demigods live to 18, let alone 20. He would be the second known demigod to graduate college, behind Annabeth. Malcolm’s always right behind Annabeth. Brave, smart, lovable Annabeth. He loves her of course, but he wishes he could be first at something, anything. But to get first, you have to actually submit the research paper you’ve worked on for way too long.
Malcolm closes his notebook and lets his head fall gently onto the cover. He has to write everything out by hand and then transcribe it to actually submit it online which means excessive hand cramps and pencil shavings. Malcolm pushes back his chair and winces at the sound that it makes, he doesn’t want to wake anyone. His notebook and pencils seem glued to his hands as he makes his way out of the cabin.
Usually, he’d go to the forest, but the monsters become more confident at night, and he doesn’t want to deal with them. Malcolm makes his way to the only place that he can think of that would give him the peace he desperately needs. The dock.
The dock is quiet at night, the naiads ignoring whoever is there, as long as they don’t disrupt the silence. Malcolm lies down on the dock and looks up at the sky. The stars aren’t as clear here as they are out in Norway. He wishes he were back there. It’s nicer.
Malcolm turns over and flips open his notebook. The English letters blur together and spin around until he can’t make out the words. He wishes he could write his paper in Ancient Greek, or Norwegian or any other language. He groans aloud, he’s not submitting it on time, is he?
Malcolm turns back over to face the night sky. The sound of water lapping against the dock is calming and relaxing. Despite everything, this moment feels almost meditative. The slight breeze is nice; he could stay here forever. It’s not to last, though, as Malcolm hears the subtle crunch of dirt. A monster. His head jerks up and he’s met with instant relief, it’s not a monster, only Connor. Connor grins when he sees Malcolm.
“How’s my favourite person going?”
Malcolm blinks at the casual greeting.
“I’m good?”
“No, you’re not.” Connor says curtly. “I can tell.”
Malcolm looks up, Connor’s suddenly much closer than before. Damn Hermes’ kids, silent thieves.
Thieves of hearts. He shakes the spontaneous yet not unwelcome thought out of his head.
“You’re stressed about your paper.” Connor continues.
“How’d you find that out?” asked Malcolm, sceptical.
“I pay attention.”
Warmth just exploded in his chest, he knew it was dumb, idiotic even, but the fact that Connor Stoll was paying attention to him was more fuel to Malcolm’s infatuation with him.
“Uh, okay… um, do you want to sit down?” Connor dropped down next to Malcolm and shuffled over until he was pressed against Malcolm’s leg. Malcolm’s face heated and his eyes snapped to the treeline on the other side of the lake. Connor’s closeness was unexpected, and he didn’t know how to deal with it.
“Soooo, you gonna go back to work on your paper or do you want me to distract you?”
Malcolm’s face flared up as the implications of what Connor said flooded his mind. He glanced over to the other boy only to see a mischievous grin plastered across his face. Damn it, Connor wasn’t going to give up, he wanted Malcolm’s full attention.
Deciding that working any further on his paper would only send him into a brain meltdown, he chose to see how far he could push it.
“The second option doesn’t sound too bad, now does it?” The second the words left Malcolm’s mouth, the grin dropped from Connor’s face. Panic rushed through Malcolm’s body, had he gone too far? Was Connor uncomfortable? But to his relief, Connor just smirked and leaned in.
His mouth brushed Malcolm’s ear as he whispered, “I think I’d like that.”
Shivers ran down Malcolm’s spine as he processed Connor’s words. He must have taken too long to answer because Connor pulled away and distanced himself from Malcolm.
In a voice that sounded just a little too over-the-top and loud, he announced, “Then let me tell you a funny joke. There seems to be something … lost … here.”
Malcolm groaned, Connor’s attempts to switch away from what had happened only moments ago was terrible.
“I know, I know. I’m just so funny!” Connor then erupted in overly loud laughter. Malcolm winced in preparation for the naiads’ reaction to Connor’s disruption of the silence. And sure enough, a wave of water smashed into Connor, drenching him. He gets thrown to the side by the water, and, somehow, on top of Malcolm.
Malcolm is 100% sure that Connor can see the bright red flush decorating his face. Malcolm knows he should move, push Connor off him, but he can’t. He’s frozen by the other boy’s position. Connor’s hands are on either side of his head, and his wet hair is dripping onto Malcolm's face. Connor too, seems frozen, eyes wide.
Malcolm finally seems to be able to move, “Hey,” he says, tapping Connor’s nose, “your pupils are dilated.”
Connor pushes away, smiling. “Only you would talk science after that.”
“I’m not even talking about anything fancy, pupils dilate when in dim environments, or when wanting to see something clearer.”
Connor turns his face away and Malcolm can see the blush creeping up his neck. “Yeah, well…”
Malcolm leans in towards the other boy, so close his nose brushes Connor’s hair, “Am I something you want to see clearer?”
Connor stammers an unintelligible response, to which Malcolm slides his hand in Connor’s hair and turns his head to face himself. Connor looks like a hot mess, in which way that he’s a mess and Malcolm still thinks he’s the most attractive person he’s ever met. Blushing and lost for words, Connor tries to turn away. Malcolm pulls his hand from the other boy’s hair but turns his shoulders to face his.
With courage Malcolm didn’t think he could muster outside of the battlefield, he asks, “Connor, do you want to kiss me?”
“...yes…” the response is quiet, and Malcolm almost misses it.
The reply is the last thing Malcolm needs, and he leans into kiss Connor Stoll. And while it’s not everything he imagined, it’s perfect. It’s messy and unpolished but it’s unapologetically theirs.
When they break apart, it’s Malcolm still chasing after Connor’s lips.
“Woah, woah.” Malcolm leans back to give Connor some space. “Did you actually mean to do that or is this some sleep-deprived, stress-driven brain malfunction?”
“I definitely meant to do that. If you want, I can prove it to you when I’m not sleep-deprived and stress driven.”
“I think I’d like that.”