Connor watched the door close behind Ollie. He had actually been waiting for them to leave so he could start interrogating Victor. He spun to face him on the couch, a coy smile curling his lips. “So,” he said. 

Victor opened a bag of chips, his attention creeping back to the TV which was silently playing some murder documentary. “So?” He popped one in his mouth. 

Connor wrinkled his nose, did this guy live off salt and vinegar chips? He shook his head, regaining focus. “So, James.”

“No.” Victor said, maintaining eye contact. He tapped his fingers against his chest. “I’m Victor.” He pointed at the door. “That was James.” 

Connor rolled his eyes and shook his head. “No, idiot. James! He’s super hot.” 

Victor quirked an eyebrow and smiled with the corner of his mouth. It made Connor suspicious, what did Victor know that he wasn’t sharing? 

“I guess he is.” Victor shrugged, licking the salt off his fingers. 

Connor flopped onto his back and stretched his arms above his head, thrashing in faux anguish. Victor was gonna be difficult, Connor had known him for like seven hours and could already tell he was the kinda guy that liked keeping non-secret things secret. 

“He’s so hot! Is he single? Tell me everything you know. Every detail.” Connor said, pressing the back of his hand against his forehead dramatically. “I have to know! Don’t fuck with me, this is life or death.” 

Victor smiled. He took his time, eating a few more chips, chewing them slowly. “He’s actually dating someone right now.” He suppressed a grin. “I’d even dare say that he’s in love.”

“Fuuuuck that!” Connor wailed. “Dammit, nothing ever goes my way.” He sat up, eyes bright. He was vibrating with energy. “Are they hotter than me? Like probably not, right?” 

Victor hummed, considering the question. Again, he took his time before answering. Connor watched him eat more chips. He had to be doing this on purpose. Jackass. “Depends on who you ask.” 

Connor frowned and rolled his eyes. “What’s up with all your weird, mysterious answers? Do you think they’re hot or not?” 

The amusement on Victor’s face was clear and impossible to ignore. His smile was wide, showing his straight, white teeth, his eyes sparkled with a private joke he wouldn’t share. “I do.” He nodded. “I think they’re very attractive.” 

“Ok, whatever, I don’t even know your tastes.” Connor shot back. “Are they hotter than me?” He shoved his hand in Victor’s face. “Don’t answer. They aren’t. Stupid question. Also. Girl or guy?” 

Victor wrapped his cold fingers around Connor’s wrist and moved it away “I’d say you’re more cute than hot. But since you don't want my answer, I’ll drop it,” Victor said. “And James is gay.”  

Warring emotions filled Connor. Outrage at being denied the title of hot. Something tingly about being called cute by Victor. And interest at James’ preferences. In the end, his outrage won. It was a close call– a true battle of feelings, but Connor was not a very dedicated warrior. “I don’t know why an ugo like you’s opinion would count anyway.” He raised a rudely disparaging eyebrow and raked his eyes up and down Victor’s body before folding his arms and staring at the TV once more.

“Oh, yeah.” Victor shook his head, pressing his lips together in a thin line. “Yeah, you’re definitely not his type. He likes sweet guys, you see. You wouldn’t stand a chance.” 

Connor wrinkled his nose at the insult. He was plenty sweet. “I am plenty sweet.” He gestured towards his face. “Here, anyway, where it counts.” 

Victor tilted his head and squinted his eyes. He leaned in a bit. “I don’t see it.” 

Connor frowned, ready to throw hands. “Okay, watch this. I’m a work of art. I’ve broken a thousand hearts with this look.” He glanced down, then turned a casually helpless expression on Victor, peering out from below his long, dark lashes. Waited a moment, then bit his rosebud-pink lip lightly. It was his best look, and it had 100% boner-inducing efficacy.

Victor wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and leaned dangerously close to Connor’s face. He wasn’t blinking. His gray eyes searched Connor’s, sending a shiver through his body. “I still don’t see it.” Victor tilted his head to a side. 

Connor could feel Victor’s breath against his skin. His mouth went dry. “Fuck off,” he snapped hoarsely, then swallowed before continuing, “You’re going to fall in love with me and I’m going to feel fucking bad for you, cause I’m not here for it.” 

“Yeah.” Victor was calm. “If I fall in love with you, I’ll feel bad for me too.” 

Connor hissed and grabbed a cushion from behind his back. He put it over Victor’s face and pressed it down. Unfortunately, he was so much smaller than Vic, it didn’t accomplish much. 

Victor pushed the pillow to the side. “Is this a murder attempt?” He looked unimpressed. “You’re not very good at this, please try harder.” 

Connor wasn’t going to lose this easily. “Don’t worry,” he climbed on top of Victor’s chest, for better leverage.” I’ll improve.” 

Victor sighed, closing his eyes slowly for a few seconds. He then grabbed Connor and tossed him on his back, holding him down. “Lesson one, you can’t smother people that are significantly larger than you. Try poison.” 

Connor fell uncharacteristically silent, the weight of Victor’s body on top of his was kinda turning him on. He stared up at him transfixed a moment, then coughed to cover the heat rising in his cheeks, “Anyway,” he said, shoving Victor off, “I’m hungry, buy me food.”

“What kind of food?” Victor asked.  “And why? I’m not your sugar daddy, we just met.” 

“You could be though,” Connor rolled towards him and raised his eyebrows in an exaggerated suggestion, “Are you wealthy? Do you want me to call you Daddy?”

Victor dragged his tongue over his teeth, but didn’t answer immediately. “I’m–,” he thought for a second, “comfortable. And no Daddy play, please, it’s weird. You won’t make me fall in love with you with weird things.” 

“Don’t worry, it’ll just occur naturally. Won’t it Freckle?” Freckle had joined them on the couch and tapped Connor’s belly with a paw exactly three times before climbing aboard and settling into a happy loaf.

Victor squinted at the cat. “Traitor. And here I am, buying you fancy food only for you to backstab me for Blue Steel over here.” 

Connor laughed, and scooped Freckle up, bringing him with as he curled up next to Victor, “I’m cold and hungry. Buy me pizza, Daddy.”

Victor sighed, but pulled out his phone. “I’ll get anchovies on yours, only because you called me that. And olives, probably onions too.” 

Connor made a fart sound and laid his head on Victor’s thigh to watch TV.