Weekend Ponderings
Between Harry in California to see Kara and Evan in New York with his mother, Connor had a lot of unexpected free time at his hand during the weekend. Talking with Cordelia about the Lex issue helped a bit, but he still found himself somewhere between anger, disappointment and renewed attacks of self loathing
( Read more... )
Harry's penchant for buying houses and apartments is on a scale with the one for buying wardrobe, but unlike the later, which Connor only finds amusing when the wardrobe in question isn't inflicted on him, the former is a trait he doesn't find just endearing but also relates to. Because it's simultanously about wanting to see the world and wanting homes.
"You know, I've actually never been in San Franciso. Either way."
Meaning in real and fake memories.
"They're sort of the enemy if you're from Los Angeles."
Not that Harry Osborn, sworn foe to all things Chicago, would know about such feuds. Truth to tell, Connor is very curious about San Francisco. He's also relieved to hear the weekend went so well, which presumably means Kara is on the mend, and Harry didn't run into either of his parents or Cordelia. (Earlier this weekend while brooding Connor had visions of both possibilities. At least Harry, while he probably at least is bound to suspect a connection to Connor's parents, does have no idea Cordy sort of knew about the Lex thing.)
"I went to the office to catch up on some stuff and found my boss drunk, so he stayed over. Quiz me about the Gotham police department. I think I've heard all the stories now."
Reply
"We should go for Memorial Day weekend if you can get it off. You'd love San Francisco. It's so beautiful and just laid back. Great shops, restaurants, and the museums are fantastic."
He has finished off three slices and is reaching for a fourth. If his metabolism ever slows down he's going to be a sad Harry Osborn. For now he can get away with eating this way.
"Kara handled the news about Evan a lot better than I expected. I think she's still sorting it out, but then I think that is to be expected. It took me awhile to get used to it. Speaking of, I wanted to take Evan to one of the Disney shows on Broadway, but Natalie is trying to convince he is too young to sit still for it. He watches his movies on tv with no problem so I don't see how a Broadway show wouldn't keep his attention."
Reply
"I just got told to get a life. I think he'll give me off for Memorial Day," he replies to Harry's question.
Kara taking the Evan news reasonably well is good, of course, unless it isn't. He's terrible at making guesses about Kara's emotional state and the results therefrom. And in this instant, he doesn't have the chance to brood about it, either, because the truly terrifying dilemma, putting the previous ones into perspective, raises its ugly head.
Harry and Natalie have their first argument about Evan, and Harry expects him to pick sides.
"Um. Well. Ahem."
Yes, that's right, Connor, that's a how a responsible adult handles these kind of things.
"He's not sitting still when watching tv, you know. He's crawling all over the floor or playing with Armani or tugging at someone's arm. I'm just saying. This sort of wouldn't work in the theatre. I think."
Reply
"Then we'll take him to the central park zoo and for Italian ices. I want to bring him by to see Aunt May, Peter and Mary Jane too."
He still thinks it's possible the toddler would be okay with watching a show, but he isn't going to risk it right now. Especially when there are plenty of other things they can do with him while has the week off from school.
Content from the pizza, he kicks off his shoes and lays back on the couch, reaching down to pick Armani up so he can lay on his stomach. Bailey of course lays down at Connor's feet.
"So, we going to leave the Lex thing as a don't ask and don't tell thing? I'm cool with that, but if so you gotta stop brooding, pretty boy."
Reply
"I'll make an effort to stop, but I'm genetically disposed that way," he says, which could be referring to brooding, or to other things. Straithening up, and looking at Harry again, he adds:
"You're sure you're cool with that?"
Continuing to live with me, and all the baggage I bring, now that you know exactly what it is, being the obvious subtext here. Because what it basically comes to is that another thing he is aware of he shares with both his natural parents and Daniel Holtz is an inclination to make unilateral decisions for people he loves, but this is something he can actually do something about and fight. He made a promise to Harry when he gave him that ring. Walking away might be better for Harry and Evan in the long term, but it would also mean breaking that promise. Maybe it's a weakness, and maybe it's him being not either of his fathers, but as long as Harry still wants him around, he won't be able to go.
Reply
He decides to try and lighten the mood so with a straight face he says in a serious tone, "There is something I need to talk to you about though."
To emphasis the seriousness of the situation, he sets Armani on the floor so he can run over to Bailey and settle down. Turning his head to look at Connor it takes a lot of self-control not to give up and not go through with it.
"I've decided to buy the houses on either side of us and I'm putting in a small scale amusement park. Nothing too fancy of course. A few rides and maybe a petting zoo. I hate that so many places have schedules that they refuse to budge on. What if Evan wants to ride the carousel when the parks are closed?"
And he explains this so sincerely that you would have to wonder if Harry Osborn, with his compulsive and extravagant habits...is really about to build a small scale amusement park for his son. Poor Connor. What exactly is that expression on his face?
Reply
"Um, Harry..."
Then he catches sight of a certain familiar glint in Harry's eyes, and it dawns on him that he's being had.
"Osborn, you're so going to pay for this," he exclaims, puts Armani from Harry's chest to the floor in one superfast move and then uses one hand to hold Harry down on the couch while starting a merciless tickling attack with the other.
And of course he knows all the right spots.
Reply
"The look on your face," Harry gasps out as Connor's fingers manage to hit the sensitive spot on his ribs. He reaches out and grabs Connor's hands, tugging him forward so he can kiss him. When he breaks the kiss he is still chuckling. "Was priceless. I really need to invest in a hidden camera for things like this."
He lets Connor's hands go, but only after he is half off the couch and grabbing the pizza box so he can toss it out. He should be more tired than he is, but he's a little wired. It's cold out though so he's not sure he really wants to go out and brave the elements either.
"I want to take a shower and get my bag unpacked, but afterward we should chill in the room and order a movie on pay per view. Unless you want me to kick your ass on guitar hero 2 again." Heh for all of Connor's coordination skills, he has yet to be able to beat the original air guitar rock star Harry Osborn. But mostly he ist suggesting they just table all the shit from California and Metropolis and enjoy the night they have free before Evan and Natalie show up and it's a coin toss to see who tries to get the toddler to sleep at a decent hour for the rest of the week. He pauses in the hallway before he takes off toward their bedroom to take a shower and says, "Hey, I love you so you can't stay mad at me for making you freak out with how I spend my money. That said, I hope you like the news clothes that are being shipped back you." And the devious look on Harry's face that he casts at Connor before he strides down the hall toward the bathroom could mean it's just another joke or Harry managed to do some shopping in-between seeing Kara. Heh. Guess Connor will have to wait for a few days before he knows if it's a joke or not. Yeah, Harry knows all about the emotional mind games and slow torture so how could Connor think he'd walk out on the Aurelian ties when he is practically just like them.
Reply
"That's a challenge, Guitar Boy," Connor calls after Harry. "Today is the night your winning streak will end!"
Actually, he's none too sure about that, because Harry really rules at this particular video game. But that isn't the point. Playing a game, unwiring, just hanging out: it's that sometimes most elusive and sometimes best of all things - a shared life.
Worries about clothes, toddlers, and other relations are for tomorrow. And maybe another entry in the "pranks of Harry's I won't fall again for" list. Complete with revenge plan. This is today, and this is why he's sure, right here, right now, to have made the right decision.
Who can walk away from the soon to be without his hair gel original air guitar rock star?
Reply
Leave a comment