Seth tries to do his job the best he can. Yes, he’s the head of the company; yes, his meetings include playing poker; and yes, it works out fine. This time is no different, even though the news is more worrying than usual. But he’s going to take it one step at the time and be just fine. It’s more of the same in the end -- talk to these people, arrange that meeting, and don’t panic anybody. The stakes are higher, but it’s nothing he hasn’t done before. And he gets to spend time at the fire station with Connor. Seth should be good.<br><br>And there’s nothing out of the ordinary on Connor’s end. It’s a normal day, spent doing normal things, with the normal people. He happens to love his life and, though some things could be better, they could also be way worse. Connor is satisfied, and nothing is going to change that.<br><br>Everything is going according to plan. There’s no reason to believe that anything has to change. Right?

Out of Nowhere

Connor smiles and stoops down to plant a kiss on his forehead. “Please, please, don’t do that to me again.”


It’s a little unexpected. They’re not touchy-feely but they’re not cold either, so they hug a lot. Touching each other’s arms and hands is rarer, but normal. But they don’t usually kiss. Jokingly, maybe, but Seth can count on his fingers how often that happened. He doesn’t know what the best way to answer Connor is.


“I—I didn’t do it on purpose,” Seth says quietly. He knows his eyes are wide, he can feel them. Seth’s poker face always fails around Connor, and Seth’s uncertain. “But I’ll try not to.”


Connor sighs and kisses Seth on the tip of his nose. His lips drag to plant one on Seth’s cheek, where they linger. Seth can feel Connor breathing.


Chapter 14