MHA #13 - Monday after classes

[itsananomaly]

After class had finished for the day Cutter had returned to his and Connor’s flat and decided to have a shower. He was planning on heading back to his old flat to do some work on setting up the anomaly prediction model Fandom version and he was still getting used to the idea of showering with sharing a flat with someone, since it had been a very long time since Helen and even Stephen, he hadn’t thought to completely cover up and had only wrapped a towel around him, which meant a lot of those still very red H’s that had been imprinted in his skin were completely visible.

He went back to the bedroom to change, still oblivious to the idea that Connor could walk in and see those scars.

[for Connor, up early for timezones and sp and that Cutter and Connor talked is fine for broadcast but what they discussed is NFB please! CW for discussion of torture and death in the comments]

Comments

[itsananomaly]

"Oh Connor," Cutter said softly as he kept holding onto Connor, rubbing his back gently as he cried, "I'm so sorry," he didn't know what else to say, he didn't know how to even process the idea that another version of him had died, that it could happen to him, "maybe enough things are different in my timeline that it won't happen?" he tried after a few moments, "Maybe we can prevent this from happening?"

He tried to sound hopeful but he couldn't help but feel doubtful at that if Helen wanted him dead, she would make sure it happened no matter what.

[anomaly_research_nerd]

Connor clung to Cutter for a moment as he started to calm down and finally let go but still leaned against him a little.

"I think we can... I mean, some things have happened like before. Stephen died but other things are somewhat different. Enough things might have already changed for it to not be exactly like it was before?" he asked hopefully. "And we can try and prevent it. Watch for Helen, be ready if she shows up again here, we can take advantage of this and try and prepare maybe?"

[itsananomaly]

"We'll work through this," Cutter nodded as held tightly onto Cutter, "I'm not going to give up that easily, if we work together and be ready for Helen when or if the time comes, maybe there'll be better odds of surviving?" he said as he tried to think of ways that they could get beat Helen, "you're not going to lose me again Connor," he said softly, hoping that that was true.

[anomaly_research_nerd]

Connor nodded and took a shaky breath as he wrapped his arms around Cutter. "I... I'm sorry I kept this... from you for so long. But I know we can figure this out. We... we will find a way to beat Helen again this time. For good."

[itsananomaly]

"I understand Connor," Cutter said gently as he wrapped him in a tight hug, "this must have been so difficult for you, thank you for telling me and we can be prepared for whatever Helen tries to throw at us, we're stronger together, we won't let Helen tear us apart again,"

[anomaly_research_nerd]

"I'm not going to leave you Nick" Connor said as he looked at Cutter. "I promise, I won't leave. I'm right here, always will be. I am going to keep you safe this time."

[itsananomaly]

Cutter felt a lump form in his throat at that and he found himself blinking back tears, "thank you Connor," he managed to whisper, "I'm not going to leave either, I'm not going to let Helen control my life anymore, I'm going to stop her," he said softly, wishing he felt a lot more confident than he felt.

[anomaly_research_nerd]

Connor sighed as he nodded, the exhaustion hitting as he still hiccupped a little. "Thank... thank you Nick. I... I won't let her take you from me."

For a while Connor sat there on the couch beside Cutter, head leaning against his shoulder. He didn't know what was going to happen but he knew that now that everything was out in the open, it was going to be ok.

"I love you Nick" he said softly as he held him tightly, eyes closed as he tried to calm down.

[itsananomaly]

"I love you too Connor," Cutter said softly as he leaned against Connor, trying to process everything that Connor had told him and how he was going to prepare himself with this information to fight back against Helen, "I love you so very much,"

[anomaly_research_nerd]

Connor closed his eyes as he relaxed slowly, just taking a moment to enjoy being with Cutter, having him there. "We've already changed a lot of things" he said softly. "Maybe Helen won't ever even show up again now. Enough might have changed between you being here in Fandom and us being together to change our timeline here..."

[itsananomaly]

Cutter nodded at that, "that might be enough," he said, hoping that was the case, he reached over to take Connor's hand in his, "maybe my version of Helen will cut her losses and go back to the past?" he considered.

Even though as he said it he realised the idea of Helen being let loose in the past was really not that good of an idea.

[anomaly_research_nerd]

"Maybe we'll be lucky. At least... at least now we have a heads up in this case" Connor reasoned though the thought of Helen being around in any time- past, present, or future- was still a terrifying thought indeed. "If we let Lester and the team know, maybe we can come up with a plan together?" Because att his point and screwing with the time line was already done and whatever changes they brought about would have to be dealt with. Connor was determined to not let Helen take Nick away from him twice.

[itsananomaly]

Cutter took a deep breath, he had to focus on what he could change and not all the 'what if' scenarios that were running around in his head right then, "that might work, James might have an idea on how we can handle this situation moving forward, it might not be a bad idea to talk to him about it, or at the least give him the heads up that something could happen at the least,"

[anomaly_research_nerd]

"We can talk to Lester when we call for our next check in" Connor said as he gave Cutter's hand a squeeze. "Maybe we can get with him and Danny and Becker and figure out something. At least to have some sort of plan in place, in case... in case she shows up at the ARC or something?"

[itsananomaly]

Cutter took a deep breath and nodded, "that doesn't sound too bad, at least ... at least we could have a chance of stopping Helen if we put measures in place, get the jump on her before she gets the jump on us?" he said softly.

[anomaly_research_nerd]

"Aye" Connor said softly. He shifted on the couch and pulled Cutte closer as he wrapped his arms around him tightly. The last thing he wanted to do just then was let him go.

[itsananomaly]

Which was definitely fine with Cutter, he didn't want to be anywhere other than with Connor right then, "I love you so much Connor," he said as he leaned into Connor's arms.

[anomaly_research_nerd]

"I love you Nick. More than anyone or anything" Connor said as he started to relax a little in his arms. "We'll figure this out..." he knew they didn't really have much choice, they had to figure out what to do if Helem ever did come back.