Realistic or Modern | healing flames

[captain_bumblebee]

Connor O'Neil — 23

“

Mood: content
Location: park --> café
Outfit: sports tank top + shorts

”

​

​

old - deleted

 

[Anaxileah]

scroll

nurse

Kara

mood

Conflicted

outfit

Connor's T-shirt & shorts

location

Cute Cafe > Connor's Apartment

interactions

Connor & Frank > Connor

notes

ily Connor

The golden beams of sunlight that shone through the flurries of clouds in the air emphasized the redness of Connor's hair as he led her to the quaint, vintage café, his tanned skin glistening from the droplets of sweat that slowly crept down the sides of his face and his neck. The curvature of his lips brought a flutter to her heart every time they curled upwards, making her ache that much more as his beautiful, cerulean eyes glittered. The electrifying connection between them was almost enough to shock her as he returned to her side and gestured towards the café, but she ignored it, brushing it off as playful flirting and nothing that could be construed as serious - after all, she was engaged, and that barrier meant nothing could happen between the two of them... Right? The building itself was rather slender and small, but the delightful scents of freshly-brewed coffee and decadent pastries wafted through the air, giving the dirty blonde chills despite the trail of sweat traveling down her back.

"Here we are." Connor's husky voice was laced with gentility as he held the door for her, his gentlemanly behavior making her giggle softly as she entered, taking in the environment with a pleased sigh, relieved to be back in a building with air conditioning. The chill of the air on her moistened skin made her shiver as she nodded and joked with Connor about him ordering for her, teasing him playfully though she did, truly, trust him more than he knew. This near stranger of a man, in all his sculpted beauty, was the most kindhearted and gentle man she'd met, despite the short amount of time she'd known him. He invited her out for fun with friends, took care of her when she was unable to care for herself, and gave her clothing when her options were quite limited, remaining chivalrous despite the temptations of an alluring, intoxicated woman. His generosity made her heart swell, though her brow furrowed in thought as she reminded herself, again, that they would just be friends, no matter how affectionate he seemed.

Finding her gaze wandering the café, Kara propped her elbow on the table and leaned her chin against her palm, her pale blue eyes eventually resting on Connor as he waited in the line at the front of the building, surrounded by other customers who were either also waiting in line or were sitting nearby, already sipping on their delicious beverages or eating a donut or muffin. Everything else paled in comparison to the redhead ordering their drinks, her stare wandering over his figure while he wasn't looking, his toned muscles standing out in the attire he had chosen, making him that much more enticing. The way the muscles of his back rippled when he lifted his arms to stretch or run his fingers through his short hair, the way his backside tensed before moving forward, it was all so much to drink in, and she was parched. She wasn't the only one, however, as she heard a couple other girls nearby giggling to themselves and commenting on his rear, of all things, making the dirty blonde scoff and roll her eyes, her cheeks turning a light pink as she glanced back at Connor.

They do[/I] have a point, though...[/I]

As soon as Connor turned around with their beverages in hand, her eyes snapped up to the drinks, a smile brilliantly lit across her tired features as he found her and offered her an "Iced Strawberry."

"Feel free to taste both. THen, simply choose the one that captures your fancy." She excitedly thanked him, sipping the beverage carefully so as to avoid making a mess, its flavor forcing a delighted shiver. Strawberries were her favorite, and the balance between the coffee, milk, and strawberry was perfectly done, making her smile reflexively.

"Mmm... Are you sure I can try yours as well? I'm curious."

She asked hesitantly, wondering what his tastes were as well. "Of course. Try mine, it's really good. If you prefer mine, feel free to switch." The smile he exuded was warm and inviting, which made him all the more attractive. The girls nearby grumbled in disappointment, eliciting a small smirk at the corner of Kara's lips as she took a slow sip from Connor's drink, relishing in the flavor of the raspberry as well. The fruity flavor was quite strong, but that wasn't what Kara ended up focusing on as she realized they would be kissing indirectly from her drinking his beverage.

Pulling away from his drink and gently pushing it back towards him, her cheeks turned a light shade of pink as she commented on the drinks, clearing her throat to force her mind off of the indirect kiss.

"Mhm. It's good, but... I really like the one you chose for me the most. How did you know?"

Her lips curled into a grin as she chuckled, reaching back for her drink again as the gorgeous man simply shrugged, a toying grin on his soft lips, and told her it was simply a gut feeling. She sipped at her drink again with a delighted sparkle in her eye, her cheeks deepening in color as he sipped at his beverage, completing the indirect kiss she had contemplated before. Surely he didn't care to notice - his gaze wandered across the delightful setting, its warmth and familiarity making it more inviting than the blasted heat outside. "It's a cute spot, isn't it? I stumbled upon it by accident one day." The blonde nodded, her drink to her lips as she sipped the beverage, debating on what else to say before Connor started speaking again, only to be interrupted by a small shout of his name from nearby.

"O'Neil!" A hearty shout from the entrance of the café startled the petite young woman, emanating from a man who appeared older than them both, with a weary expression and a worn face, his smile implying that whatever connection he had with Connor was a positive one. Kara's eyes wandered to the crutches and the prosthetic, her curiosity briefly washing over her before her gaze flickered back up to the man's face, watching his interaction with Connor with piqued interest. "Holy shit. Francis. It's been a while." Pale blue orbs studied the ginger's face intently, watching as he also smiled, and they embraced, laughter coming from the two men. Her eyes narrowed, her mind rushing to find an explanation for their connection, though she had little to base it off of. "Yeah, about a year. You didn't make it to the reunion. I thought maybe you'd..." Francis trailed off, an odd expression on his face, one of understanding while Connor's carried...guilt? Confused, Kara continued to watch the two men interact, her brow raising as Francis' gaze traveled from Connor to her. Offering a small wave and a shy smile, her pale blue gaze flickered to Connor as he realized he hadn't introduced them yet.

"Oh, I forgot... Um, Kara-" Connor's apologetic expression told her just how flustered he had been by the former acquaintance's arrival. "Kara, this is Francis. We... we used to work together." She nodded, her shy smile turning wide and bright as she engaged her inner bedside manner. Before she had a chance to speak, Francis commented on Connor's "thing for medics," causing both eyebrows to shoot up in surprise as she glanced back over at Connor while reaching to shake Francis' outstretched hand. "She's a friend." Wincing almost imperceptively, the dirty blonde gripped the colleague's hand with a firm, gentle squeeze, nodding slightly.

"I'm Kara Haywood. You guys worked together? What did you do?"

Her brow raised once more as she glanced towards Connor, watching as he shot Francis a look and then quickly told her, "Oh just... you know. Boring desk work." The raised brow furrowed.

"You met a medic...doing boring desk work?"

The disbelief in her voice was almost tangible as she narrowed her eyes at him, trying to piece together his behaviors.

"Happens a lot more than you think!" The redhead was clearly perturbed by her curious prodding, visibly gulping nervously and quite obviously trying to change the subject. "Did you know ehm- Francis also has a cat. Or had. I can't remember. And you have a cat. Mhm." Kara paused, now blatantly giving Connor a confused stare, her lips parted as she attempted to understand what was going on behind those glittering blue eyes of his.

"O...kay.... Well it was nice to meet you, Francis, maybe we can chat another time."

She offered him a polite smile before returning to her seat, watching Connor with bewilderment as he offered Francis a small wave of farewell before sitting down himself, avoiding eye contact with the petite female across from him. His soft, pink lips pressed against the lip of his mug as he fidgeted, drinking his beverage in silence while she wondered, sipping on her beverage as well. The idle chatter of the café, a quiet, calming backdrop to the stillness between them, almost engulfed the words Connor murmured as his thumb fumbled with a barely noticeable chip in the mug.

"Sorry about that. I wasn't prepared to run into him." His voice was soft, almost fragile, and barely audible. Her heart went out to him, and almost reflexively, she reached across the table, hesitating slightly before she slid her fingers over the side of his hand, curling them toward his palm in reassurance.

"It's okay. I'm not going to pry, Connor. We don't know each other all that well, so I don't expect you to be 100% open with me."

She offered him an understanding smile, her brows creased with concern. The movement of his thumb on the mug stilled as he kept his gaze on his beverage, unmoving as he spoke the next words in that same, hushed manner. "I know him from the Army. Just been trying to... put some distance between myself and that part of my past." She squeezed his hand gently, hoping to reinforce his trust in her.

"I understand. There's stuff from my past I try to keep hidden, too. Thank you for trusting me enough to tell me that."

His lips curled into a small smile as he finally turned his gaze upward, their eyes meeting and her heart warming at his tenderness.

[B"Well... now that I revealed a little something from my past. I need you to reveal something to me as well."[/B] He paused. "What's your favorite food? For dinner." Long eyelashes fluttered in surprise as Connor requested trivial information from her, her brow momentarily furrowing as she processed the swift conversation change.

"E-erm...m-my favorite is usually either French or Italian...why do you ask? Don't you want me to tell you something more personal?"

Her cheeks warmed as a lightly dusted pink spread across her cheekbones, struggling to maintain eye contact as thoughts of more time with Connor flooded her mind. There it was - his brilliant smile again. "No, I'm not going to pry." He chuckled softly, a sound that made her heart skip a beat. "But good to know. Italian's my favorite, too." A soft exhale of laughter escaped her as his friendly warmth returned, making her smile widen as she shifted her thumb, absentmindedly stroking the back of his hand. Realizing her hand was still atop his, she pulled it back, clearing her throat awkwardly.

"I-I see...that is good. And um...it's only fair I tell you something of importance in return."

Her expression faltered from the smile, her mind turning to more serious topics as she let out a small sigh.

"Let's see...my parents and I really don't get along. It's to the point where they talk through Dylan, who..."

She frowns bitterly, gritting her teeth,

"Heeds their every beck and call."

Her pale blue gaze flickered to her drink as she spoke, her lips pursing as she contemplated her own words. The stunning redhead frowned, arching a brow. "I'm sorry to hear that. I don't talk much to mine, either." A soft smile curved her lips at the attempt at empathy before the endearing man frowned deeper. "Why does... Dylan talk to your parents? If you don't get along with them, shouldn't he accept that?" A dry laugh escaped her throat as she shook her head, finishing her drink with her knuckles white from gripping the mug too tightly.

"They... they're the ones that introduced me to him. They pushed for the marriage."

Her thumb traced along the ceramic curve of the mug's handle, her gaze flicking up at Connor briefly to see if his expression reflected his thoughts.

His brow remained furrowed in confusion, deepening with her latest tidbit of information. "So... is that what you wanted, too? To... marry Mister Arrogant?" He paused, letting out a dry, embarrassed chuckle. "Eh- sorry. Dylan." Despite his apology, Kara snorted in laughter and immediately clapped a hand over her nose and mouth, her eyes wide as she realized what had happened. A soft groan left her as she covered her face completely with embarrassment, taking a moment to let it blow over before she responded, her voice a soft murmur as she cleared her throat.

"Urm..uhm...I do like him a lot. He provided me with a safe space when I was...struggling at my parents' for a long while, and we grew closer during that time."

She faltered, her voice cracking softly.

"I still love him. At least, I think I do. I just... he's changed a lot, lately. I know I shouldn't talk about it, though."

Tears threatened to surface as she swallowed back her feelings, her gaze returning to Connor as she searched his face for his feelings on the matter. She didn't want to ruin relations with yet another person. He nodded as she spoke to him, acknowledging her words respectfully, and struggling to come up with the right response. "What ehm... do you mean by he's changed a lot? Have you... talked to him about that?"

Her delicate face twisted in discomfort, the dirty blonde suddenly feeling quite self-conscious in the presence of strangers, with a flood of emotions barely being restrained.

"Can we um...can we talk about this back at your apartment?"

Confused by the sudden request, Connor nodded, his brow maintaining the crease between them. "Of course. Come on, we can walk home- to my place. To my apartment, of course." He stammered to correct himself, standing from his seat and finishing his drink quickly so they could make their way back without any hindrances. She stood to follow, suddenly appearing much smaller than she was, as a lost child in need of a guide home. Connor led her back to his apartment, obliging to the silence that sat still between them as they walked, the morning sun's warmth painting their skin in golden rays. Kara's arm occasionally brushed against Connor's, idly reminding her that he was there and not some figment of her imagination with glorious muscles and a mysterious past. As each foot thudded against the cement of the sidewalk, she thought of her relationship with Dylan, how it's been becoming more and more quiet, and how she wished it weren't, wanting the closeness she had felt before, as she was with Connor.

In what felt like mere seconds, the two of them had made it back to his apartment building, surprising her as they ascended the steps to his particular flat, the jingling of his keys in the door handle startling her even more out of her contemplative reverie. Upon entering the familiar location, she removed her brand new sneakers, quietly stepping over to the soft, welcoming couch, where she shifted the pillow Connor must have slept on to the side and sat curled up on the large cushions, hugging her knees like before and letting out a small sigh. "... do you want a... herbal tea or something? to calm your nerves?" Connor's kindness pierced the silent air with sympathy, to which Kara nodded. "You know you don't have to talk to me, right? If it makes you uncomfortable in any way, I wouldn't want to intrude-" The petite woman interrupted, shaking her head at him.

"It's alright, Connor. As for Dylan... He's just been really busy lately. We haven't had much time to talk, and he's been dealing with a huge caseload at work — he's trying to rank up, you know? And I've been trying to support him."

"Ah yeah. The reason why he's been blowing you off all the time, right?" Kara's eyes snapped up to him, a grimace on her thin lips.

"Y..yeah. But it's his job — he's a police officer, and his job is important, just like yours or mine. Though.."

She'll bite her lip, holding something back and instead letting out a sigh.

"I just want to be supportive. He'll talk to me when he's ready."

"I mean... yes- but... you work 24-hour-shifts, too. I do as well. Sometimes even 48-hour-shifts. And you'd make time for him, no? I was deployed for months at a time, sometimes. Other side of the world, and I still made time for my then-girlfriend. Even with lousy Wi-Fi and bad cell reception. Work is no excuse to... ignore and neglect your partner." Connor's adamance about making time shut her up, forcing her to shrink back into her seat in defeat.

"I...I don't know, then, Connor. He was there for me when I first started my residency, but when I switched to nursing, he was just...I don't know, not around as much. He and my parents both think it's not as worthwhile as being a doctor, so I don't know what to do or expect."

She muttered bitterly, her expression turning sour.

"Even if I wanted to call off the engagement, I couldn't. I wouldn't have anywhere to go long-term, and I..."

She trailed off, suddenly looking pale, her voice breaking as she stayed quiet.

"He said that?" Connor paused, the mere shock of the statement processing in his mind. "That being a nurse is not as worthwhile as being a doctor?" His nose wrinkled in disgust, but he paused, hesitating. "Well, Kara, I-" The redhead stopped himself as he realized it's technically not his place to say anything before sighing. "You deserve to be happy. And feel supported, and loved, and... you get the gist. And if he's not making you feel like that anymore, then- then maybe you should.... Talk to him?" Glancing up at Connor, she noticed the conflict across his features, a soft smile gracing her lips as tears had begun to fall.

"I told you...getting him to talk is rare. And I... I am happy."

The words that left her lips lacked all possible confidence, seemingly meant to convince herself more than anyone else. She absentmindedly traced the place her engagement ring had been on her finger, her brow furrowed as the tears spilled down her pale cheeks. Connor will smiled awkwardly, nodding, "Okay, okay. I... I hope... so. You deserve to be... But if there is ever like... anything- you can come to me. My door's always open." She hadn't realized when it had happened, but the well-built male had made his way over to her, crouching in front of her as she remained seated on the couch. Her pale blue met his cerulean as her lip quivered.

"Are you sure? You hardly know me."

Her trembling voice was a mere whisper as she studied his eyes, noting the dark flecks spaced throughout, his gentle smile filling her with warmth. "I'm sure. It's just another excuse to get to know you better." More tears streamed down her face as she lowered her legs slowly, nodding before she leaned forward, wrapping her arms around him to embrace him, her body shuddering from the silent sobs that wracked her. Why hadn't she met this man sooner?

♡coded by uxie♡

 

[captain_bumblebee]

Connor O'Neil — 23

“

Mood: concerned < goofy
Location: café --> his apartment --> his car
Outfit: sports tank top + shorts --> firefighter uniform

”

​

​

old - deleted

 

[Anaxileah]

scroll

nurse

Kara

mood

Improving > Playful

outfit

Connor's T-shirt & shorts can't wait until the firehouse sees

location

Connor's Apartment > Connor's Car

interactions

Connor

notes

Overdue by a year; Bumble is the best writing companion ever

Connor O'Neil. This man is something else.

From the intrepid moment in which he and I first met, he'd been a playful flirt, brushed off any concerns anyone held for him, and fearlessly put himself in harm's way, whether it was at the hand of a burning building or an intoxicated woman. Above all else, he'd been a gentleman, entertaining her spontaneous shifts in personality and appealing to her sensitive needs when the time called for it. If it were anyone else, she would have been cast aside, her concerns and emotions left unchecked as per usual, and that blatant fact left her stomach aflutter as her piercing gaze watched him intently after they pulled apart, tinged with redness and inflammation. The salty residue that dusted her cheeks and the mucus that threatened to dribble from her stuffed nostrils made her reach up to her face reflexively, pausing when Connor's hand reached up to take care of that for her, his coarse touch gentle on her aggravated skin.

"Want a tissue?" His soft, pink lips curled into a kind smile, resonating with warmth as he stood from where he'd been seated, the couch springing back slowly from its deflated state. Rather than retrieving an actual box of tissues, the lean redhead returned with a wad of paper towels, eliciting an exhale almost akin to a chuckle from the blonde's dry lips. His kindness truly knew no bounds - she knew she couldn't deny the chemistry between them, and by the expression on his face each time their eyes met, neither could he. Still, she could not be so easily swayed - she had met others before Connor that made her light up, there would be more after, and she would end up telling them all the same, that she was loyal to her fiancé, and that she couldn't betray him. It didn't matter that his laugh made her body tingle all the way to her toes, or that his voice alone made her feel like electricity danced along her skin; she was betrothed, already promised to another.

"You feeling a little better?" The sound of his melodious voice startled her from her reverie, leading her to respond with a hard swallow and a small nod. The fact that they couldn't go farther than friends wasn't a bad thing - she was in need of more friends, after all she had to go through with Dylan in their first year of dating. Currently, all she had was Jessie and maybe a couple other nurses at the hospital, if Kara did her paperwork on time.

Yeah. We can be good friends.

The thought made her smile weakly, her mind settling with her newfound resolve, just as Connor asked her if she gamed. Her lips widened into a smile, and she spent the next hour trying her hardest not to get her ass kicked in Mario Kart, their excited voices and laughter mingling in the air in ways that made her envious.

After multiple attempts and a whine of complaint when he got up to leave, her still without victory, she had finally done it, unleashing the most devious of weapons in her arsenal just before the finish line of their final lap - the dreaded blue shell. Shrieking with laughter as she crossed the finish line, she leapt from the couch with a cheer, red Nintendo controller in hand. "Ohh, you are evil." His mock anger at her for her hard-won triumph made her giggle, his threat against her causing her to stick out her tongue at him.

"Yeah, I bet you will."

She teased him back, the widespread grin on her face lighting up her features once more, the only remnant of her grief being the pale trails of salty tears that had dried to her rosy cheeks.

"I'll be back in a moment." No sooner had the words left his lips was the redheaded man on his feet and bounding towards the bathroom door, the sound of running water bursting forth from the piping mere seconds later. Realizing it was already time for his shift and that she should be heading to Jessie's so she could get a proper change of clothes, Kara quickly fumbled for her cell phone, ignoring the glaring number 3 next to Dylan's name as she lightly tapped Jessie's name. Jessie had texted her back, cheering her on for spending the night at Connor's. Rolling her eyes, Kara sent a quick reply before stashing her phone away, letting Jess know she'd be there soon. Smiling down at the cheap sneakers Connor had bought her, she thought idly about their day, contemplating the information she had learned over the course of the day.

The Army, issues with family...just what more hides beneath his charismatic exterior?

She thought to herself in wonder, her feet carrying her to his bedroom to retrieve the expensive, navy blue dress that lay in a crumpled heap on his plush, carpeted flooring. Scooping it up with a resolved sigh, she left the doorway to his bedroom right as Connor emerged from the bathroom, looking refreshed and crisp in his work uniform - she couldn't help but admire him. He was really a sight to behold.

Following his gesture for them to leave, she nodded, making sure she had all of her belongings before she passed him on her way out of his one-bedroom apartment, hoping she'd return someday. As soon as the thought crossed her mind, her cheeks and the tips of her ears turned bright red, and she cleared her throat when Connor asked how she was feeling, refusing to make eye contact with the taller man.

"Uhm...yeah. I am. Thank you."

She murmured softly in return, chuckling softly when he commented on how pretty she was when smiling. Upon their arrival at the shaded awning for resident vehicles, a slender, blonde brow raised in piqued interest at his choice of car model, trying to hold back a bigger smile as he opened the passenger door for her and she slipped into the plush seat of his expensive-looking mustang. Upon him mentioning Jessie's address, she reached for her cell phone, leaning towards him to pull it out of her shorts' pocket, though her eyes remained on him when he mentioned telling Jess about being on their way or, if Jess was busy, going to hang out at the station. She opened her mouth to tell him that even if Jess was busy, she had a spare key, but a twinge of selfishness manipulated the words she had thought as they left her lips.

"You've seen me in my place of work, it's only fair if I see you at yours. And a burning building doesn't count."

Her tone was playful as she grinned up at him, her eyes full of mirth as she watched him drive. The early afternoon sun shone over the two of them, highlighting her blonde hair and his toned arms, his short hairs glistening in the rays of golden light. He glanced sideways at her, catching her staring as his lips parted in a lop-sided grin. "Let's be honest - you just want to see a bunch of guys run around in their pretty uniforms. But sure, we'll go." His voice always made her lips curl into a delighted smile, no matter what words escaped him, as they began heading to his firehouse, her excitement bubbling up in her stomach along with the butterflies that truthfully hadn't left since the night previous.

"Truthfully, you're not wrong."

Her eyes were fixated on him, a delightful rosy shade dusting across her freckled cheeks.

♡coded by uxie♡