Title: Ask Connor
Author: LaLa247
Posted: 03-03-2003
Email: LatinaGrrl2000@yahoo.com
Rating: G
Category:
Content: After a long hiatus- Fluff. I'm rusty.
Summary: Connor becomes the advice giver of A.I. Reluctantly.
Spoilers: After the mess of Season Four. Future spoilers and stuff.
Disclaimer: The characters in the Angelverse were created by Joss Whedon & David Greenwalt. No infringement is intended, no profit is made.
Distribution: Nothing Fancy and whoever wants it.
Notes: Now with this fic comes fifteen angst ones- Ha HA!
Feedback: Please!

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The sixteen-year-old sat with his feet propped up on his father’s desk, staring at the large brown paper bag on the case files. He straightened up, his feet sending a bang on the wooden floor. He opened the bag eagerly, pulling out a large ham sandwich, a bag of potato chips, and a large soda. He grinned to himself, unwrapping the sandwich. After nearly two days of hunting and not eating, this was turning out to be the highlight of his day. And after getting interrupted several hundred times, he managed to sneak away for a few minutes.

“Son.”

The boy looked up, mid-act. “Yeah.”

Angel walked into the office, glancing over his shoulder. His head dipped out, searching the lobby before closing the door behind him. “Whatcha eating there?”

“Sandwich. It’s mine.” Connor replied possessively, getting ready to shield his property.

“Okay, okay.” The vampire held his hands up, showing he was of no threat.

The boy nodded, returning to the unwrapping of his sandwich. He crumbled the wrap into a ball and tossed it at his father, who caught it. The boy exhaled, gripping the edges of his sandwich and bringing it to his mouth.

“Hey, Connor.”

Connor stopped, looking up at Angel. “Dad.”

The man cleared his throat, sitting on the edge of the desk in an awkward attempt to seem casual and cool. “Um...we’ve been through a lot this year...you and I and Cordy and everyone else...” The boy nodded. “A-And...I want you to know...everything’s forgiven- the soul thing and the hell spawn and you and Cordy- but it wasn’t really Cordelia-”

Connor forced a smile. “I know. We went through this.”

“Right.”

Connor stared at Angel, who was in the middle of nodding like a crazy man. “Are we done?” He held up his sandwich.

“Oh.” Angel leaned forward. “I gotta ask you a question- it might be inappropriate because of the whole evil baby and you being stupid and-” He cut himself off, seeing the glare on his son’s face. “Right. Anyway- should I talk to Cordelia?”

Annoyance wasn’t something Connor was good at hiding. And he made no attempt to. “What do I care? Go talk to her. Ask her if I’m getting my t-shirt back.” He grinned at the slightly murderous look in Angel’s eyes, and nearly doubled over laughing as the vampire was clearly counting to ten.

“Funny. You get that from your mother.” Angel muttered. He inhaled slowly. “I- see, Cordy and I have been through a lot, and as you know, we’ve been really busy lately, and with all the stuff that has been going on- I haven’t had time to have a good talk with Cordelia or spend time with you and all is forgiven, by the way.”

“What are you getting at, dad?”

Angel shrugged, trying to be nonchalant. He glanced at his son. “Should I talk to her...about us. Us- her and I. See where we stand.”

The boy nodded. “Yes. That tension thing you guys are doing, it’s not cool and everyone is noticing- Gunn and Lorne have a bet- so go.”

“A bet- on what?” He asked, confused.

The boy’s eyes widened slightly, and he shook his head, attempting to seem clueless. “Nothing. I don’t know- nothing.”

“Oh.”

Silence filled the office, with Connor staring at Angel expectantly, and the man awkwardly looking around, then at his son, then at the floor. He started to tap the desk.

Connor sighed loudly, dropping his sandwich. “Go talk to her. Right now.”

“Yeah, but she’s always hanging out with Gunn and you-”

“Now!”

Angel jumped slightly, and then nodded. “Okay, then.” He smiled at the boy and opened the door, exiting the office.

Connor rolled his eyes, picking up his sandwich again. “Dork.” He licked his lips, bringing the sandwich to his mouth. Suddenly, the side door slid open, and he heard the clack of heels. “Yeah, okay.”

“Connor.” Cordelia Chase started, closing the door behind her. “We need to talk.”

“We went through this.” He replied louder than he intended, closing his eyes. “I know- we can’t be together, it’s wrong and icky and you’re sorry for what happened.”

“Oh, ew- not that.” She brushed it off with her hand, moving in front of him. A goddess in a denim bodysuit. She shook back her short, brown hair. “Angel.”

Connor nodded quickly. The smell of the toasted bread was slowly making its way into his nose. “Yes, you just missed him. He wants to talk to you. Go.”

Cordelia sighed dramatically, flopping in the seat across from him. She bit her lip slowly. “I know! He has that look! That- that- big talky look. And...” She trailed off.

“And?” Connor prompted, leaning forward.

She leaned forward as well, her mouth scrunching up. “I don’t know if I want to talk to him.” She whispered, shaking her head.

The boy frowned, setting down his sandwich. Concern passed by his face slightly. “Why don’t you want to talk to him?” He paused. “Are you scared?”

“What- no!” She smiled anxiously. “I...I just don’t know what he wants to talk about. I mean- after the insanity that was you and me and him going evil- it could be bad. Really, really bad.”

“Trust me. It is not bad.” He held up his sandwich, his eyes pleading with her. “Please?” He scowled at her more than nervous expression. He stood up. “Cordy- trust me. I wouldn’t lie...at least not to you. Just go talk to him. You’ll feel better. And he’s looking for you.” He swallowed slowly, looking her in the eyes. “You can’t be hiding forever.” He thought for a moment, gathering up emotional strength. “I-I believe in you, Cordelia. You’re not scared of anything.”

She nodded, jumping to her feet. “You’re absolutely right, Connor! Why the hell am I scared? I need to talk to him- it’s just Angel, right? Big sissy man.” She lunged forward, grabbing Connor’s hand. She walked to the side of the desk, pulling Connor with her around the desk and to the door. “Come on, Peter Pan.”

“What? No!” Connor pulled back, trying to grab his food. He managed to get the paper bag. “Cordy- no!”

“Don’t be a wuss.” She snapped, flinging the door open and walking out to the lobby. “You’re here for moral support.” Her head turned, and she gave him a spectacular smile. “You believe in me, remember?”

Connor’s eyes widened. “No- I lied. I lied!” He tried to think fast. Anything to get out of her strong grip. “You suck, Cordelia.”

“So does your old man.” She said dryly.

“I do not.”

Cordelia squeaked as Angel sat up from his reclined position on the couch. Connor stared at him blankly. “I thought you were going to talk to her.”

Angel gave his son a sheepish grin, jumping to his feet. “I got sidetracked?”

The boy shook his head in aggravation. Cordelia lowered her head, letting go of Connor’s hand. “Hi.”

Angel’s face softened slightly, and his eyes hit the floor. “Hi.”

Silence filled the lobby as Cordelia and Angel stared at the floor, and Connor looked back and forth at the two. “Can I go?” He snapped.

“No.” Both replied quickly.

Cordelia cleared her throat. “I- um, Connor said you wanted to talk to me?”

Angel’s head jolted up, and he looked like a deer in the headlights. “No- I mean, yes.” He cleared his throat. “S-See, I think that we needed to talk about us...”

“Yes!” The Seer exclaimed, nodding wildly. “I’ve been wanting to talk to you too...about stuff.” She cringed at her lame response.

Silence claimed the lobby again.

And was interrupted by Connor.

“Oh my GOD!”

The two froze and stared at him. Angel frowned. “What is it, Connor?” The boy opened and closed his mouth, nearly struggling to keep his composure. “Connor?”

“GOD!” He yelled, glaring at them “HE likes you, YOU like him, and I am hungry- what are YOU going to do about it?!”

Cordelia frowned in confusion. “About your hunger?” She glanced at Angel, who shrugged.

“N-NO!” Connor exclaimed, crumbling the paper bag into a ball in frustration. “About you and him!” He pointed at Angel. “Talk! Just...leave me alone! Please!”

Angel’s brow furrowed slightly, looking into the office. “We- we will leave you alone from now on, Connor. But...” He trailed off once he had a view of the office, cringing.

Connor turned his head, following his father’s gaze. In the office stood Gunn and Fred, standing next to the desk. In their hands was Connor’s chips and sandwich, and they seemed to be sharing his soda. He scowled. “HEY!”

The two looked up, and Fred immediately blushed, lowering her head in guilt. Gunn stopped, mid-chew. “What? We were hungry.”

The boy groaned, throwing the paper bag hard enough to hit Gunn on the head. He spun around and stomped up the stairs of the Hyperion in an angry huff.

Angel and Cordelia watched the sixteen-year-old leave, and then turned to each other. They stared at each other for several seconds. Finally, both opened their mouths-

“We need to talk.”

Gunn walked out of the office, wiping his mouth. “We all need to talk with that boy’s anger issues...” He grumbled, walking to the counter. “Hittin’ me with a paper bag...”

End.