MHA #16 - Late Monday Evening

[itsananomaly]

It had been a week now since Connor had left for his trip and ever since Rex had found Connor's hoodie, he had ended up refusing to be anywhere without it so Cutter found that the only way he could get Rex to sleep or eat was to have the hoodie with him so he could curl up in it.

Tomorrow was the first day of their class for the second session and while Cutter was confident it was going to go a lot better than last session, he still couldn't help but feel a little nervous about.

[for Connor!]

Comments

[anomaly_research_nerd]

It was late, there had been a few last-minute things Connor and Lester had to take care of before he caught his portal home. So when Connor stood outside the door to Cutter's flat, he figured he would still be awake but knocked a little softer than normal. If he was already asleep he could easily pop by early in the morning before heading to their class. So, Connor stood with his bag and waited to see if Cutter was up or not.

[itsananomaly]

Cutter was still awake, even with class starting early tomorrow, Rex was curled up on the couch dozing in Connor's hoodie and he let out a chirp at that knock.

He went over to the door and opened it, "Connor, come in," he smiled, pleased to see him and he stepped back to let him in the flat, "how was your trip?"

[anomaly_research_nerd]

"Hey Nick!" Connor said with a grin as the door opened. "Trip was really nice thanks. Sorry for the late check in... had to fit in a few things last minute."

Connor walked in and set his bag down and was about to say something when a happy chirp filled the air. The next moment Rex was scurrying over, Connor's hoodie draped over him like he was trying to wear it.

"Hey there Rex, did ya miss me?" Connor asked as he knelt down to give Rex some much deserved scritches.

[itsananomaly]

"Oh that's okay, I was awake anyway," Cutter admitted as he followed Connor into his flat, "Rex definitely missed you, he found one of your hoodies that you left behind, even though I think it's safe to say that the hoodie now belongs to Rex,"

Rex let out a happy chirp at that as he enjoyed those very well deserved scritches.

[anomaly_research_nerd]

"Ah so that's where that one got off to" Connor said with a smile. "Well, I guess it's only right it's yours now Rex. You took such good care of it while I was gone."

Connor gave a few more scritches to Rex and then stood up and looked at Cutter again. "He wasn't any trouble for you while I was gone was he?"

[itsananomaly]

"He was no trouble at all," Cutter smiled fondly at Rex as he bent down to give him a few scritches as well, "we had a good time didn't we Rex? He helped me work on my lesson plans, also turns our Rex is a really good listener as well," he admitted as he looked back up at Connor with a sheepish grin.

[anomaly_research_nerd]

"Yeah that sounds like our Rexy!" Connor said with a fond smile as he made his way over to the couch and sat down. He had to laugh as Rexy dragged the hoodie over and chirped to be picked up, which Connor of course obliged. "You weren't kidding about the hoodie thing were you?!"

[itsananomaly]

Cutter smiled at that, "he refused to go to sleep or eat without it," he said fondly, "I think it's his new favourite thing now, you might have trouble getting him to leave it alone now," he added.

[anomaly_research_nerd]

Connor helped Rex get situated on the couch beside him and smiled as he watched Rex burrow under the hoodie and curl up in it.

"Yeah I think ti might be Rexy's jacket now" he said with a fond smile. "And speaking of items of clothing.... I got something for you Nick."

[itsananomaly]

Cutter smiled as he watched Rex get comfortable under the hoodie, "yeah it's definitely Rex's," he said and then looked over at Connor, "oh?" he said, blinking a bit in surprise, "I mean thank you," he said remembering that manners were a thing, "I um ... don't have anything for you though," he admitted.

[anomaly_research_nerd]

"Thats ok Nick" Connor said with a smile. "It's just something I wanted to get you before I came back. Something I thought... might... might help you."

Connor was carefully trying to choose the right words. He wanted to try and help Cutter but also didn't want to push or hurt him by bringing attention to his hands more than what was already happening.

[itsananomaly]

Cutter smiled warmly at that, "thank you," he said softly, "what ... what did you have in mind?" he asked curiously with a tilt of his head at the way Connor was wording everything.

[anomaly_research_nerd]

Connor grinned and then reached down into his duffle bag at his feet. He fished around in it for a minute and then pulled out a small package and handed it to Cutter.

"These should help you... at last... I hope you like them" Connor said suddenly filled with self-doubt about if he had chosen right.

[itsananomaly]

Cutter looked at the package in surprise and then opened it curiously, his mouth fell open in surprise when he saw the navy blue fingerless gloves.

He stared at them, trembling for a moment, "I ... these ... thank you," he managed to get out, tears beginning to spring to his eyes, "thank you," he found himself lost for words as he began to trace a finger over the gloves, feeling their material.

[anomaly_research_nerd]

Connor smiled as he saw Cutter's reaction. Slowly he reached over and put a hand lightly over Cutter's.

"I... thought they might help you some. They might also help with the pain a little too."

Connor looked over to the duffel and then gave Cutter a smile. "And if you like how those feel, I got some others you can try out too."

[itsananomaly]

Cutter nodded, too overwhelmed for a moment as Connor put a hand on his, "I would like that," he said softly, "these ... this is perfect Connor, thank you ... I ... I won't have to look at my hands all the time, be reminded of what she did," he said softly.

[anomaly_research_nerd]

"Aye, and if they help with the pain we can look at getting some compression gloves for you- kill two birds with one stone." Connor hesitated a moment and then smiled. "Do... so you want any help with them?"

[itsananomaly]

Cutter nodded, "I ... I would like thank you," he said, his hands trembling slightly, "thank you Connor, for this ... this ... " his voice trailed off, unsure of what to say as tears rolled down his cheeks, "thank you," he said softly again.

[anomaly_research_nerd]

"Hey, hey, no tears now" Connor said gently as he gave Cutter a hug and then picked up the gloves. "Let's get these on and see how they feel ok?" Connor got one of the gloves and started helping Cutter get them on, showing him a few tricks and giving him a couple of tips on how to make it easier with his hands.

[itsananomaly]

Cutter gratefully returned the hug and then leaned back to give Connor room to help him put his gloves on, listening to Connor as he explained how he would be able to put them on easily.

He flexed out his hand as Connor put one of the gloves on, "this feels really good," he said softly, "I ... I ...I don't notice the pain as much," he added.

[anomaly_research_nerd]

"Good..." Connor said with a small sigh of relief."And they don't feel too tight? You like the color and all?"

Connor knew what gloves meant to him and how much he liked them. He just hadn't been sure how Cutter would like them but he hoped they would help and give him a way to deal with it all a little more easily.

[itsananomaly]

Cutter smiled warmly, "they don't feel too tight at all, they ... they feel just right and the colour's perfect, thank you," he said softly as he stared down at his hand, not feeling the urge to flinch at his hands, "I love these, thank you Connor," he said again with a smile, blinking away a few tears.

[anomaly_research_nerd]

"I'm glad you like them," Connor said softly, smiling at seeing Cutter looking at his hands without that painful flinch for once. "I got some others with me here. Pick out a few others so you have a few on hand. Not like I don't have enough to go around right?" he added with a small laugh.

[itsananomaly]

Cutter returned that smile, as he glanced up from the gloves, "I ... I would like that, if you're sure, you don't me having them," he added softly.

[anomaly_research_nerd]

"Don't mind at all Nick" Connor said with a smile as he pulled out the gloves and set them on the couch between them so Cutter could look through them. He really did have a lot of gloves....