Under Darkness [AU]

[Tethras Clan]

Zevran smacks Carver again, this time harder. The sound of this confuses Andy enough to get him to finally glance at Carver. "...why is... whatever," he mutters, voice thick and hurt.

[Carver Amell]

Carver winces, turning to snap at Zevran. "The man clearly hates me now, there's no point having this talk." 

[Tethras Clan]

"Then you owe it to him to at least apologize," Zevran snaps right back.

Andy tenses. "... what talk?" he asks, voice tight but not as biting.

[Carver Amell]

"Oh! Shit. I'm sorry," he says to Andy. "I didn't mean to be gone that long, I-- it took me a while to-- well I'm still not, sorted out, exactly, but-- I just couldn't." He takes a deep breath. "If you want the sword back that's fine, I just-- I don't know what to do with... this. Any of this." He gestures broadly. 

[Tethras Clan]

Andy had started to relax, but stiffened again when Carver mentions giving back the sword. Before he can say anything, Zevran cuts in with, "expand on that first! About giving back his gift. And all narrow down 'any of this' for him, as he wasn't there when you were seeking advice and doesn't know what we talked about."

Strangely, Andy seems to perk up at Zevran's mention of advice.

[Carver Amell]

"This," he groans. "This, whatever this is. I don't-- I date women, exclusively women. So the fact that I'm not just, I don't know, immediately disgusted and repelled by-- the idea that I would maybe want-- I'm going about this all wrong, help," he says, turning to Zevran. 

[Tethras Clan]

"Okay, let me translate. What Carver is trying to say in this incredibly adorably awkward fumble is that, despite how he was raised to think that romantic love between those of the same gender is sinful, he has feelings for you that he's not sure how to identify, much less process." Zevran takes a breath and continues, "As such, he's asking if you would be willing to be patient- and remain his friend- while he tries to work this out."

Andy slowly turns to look at them, studying Carver's expression intently to see how he reacts to what Zevran is saying.

[Carver Amell]

Carver knows what's in his best interest: he shuts his mouth and nods vigorously. Then, as if that wasn't clear enough, he gives a double thumbs up, still nodding; he points to Zevran, then to himself, then back to Zevran, then gives another double thumbs up, still nodding. 

[Tethras Clan]

Andy can't stop himself from snickering at Carver's antics. "But... you're... you're considering it? Considering... me?" he asks tentatively, clearly bracing himself for rejection.

[Carver Amell]

Clearly words are needed here. "I-- yes. You're..." He falters again. "You're my best friend right now, sad as that might sound. If I could... be part of your family..."

[Tethras Clan]

Andy's eyes soften and his smiles warmly. "You already are. Even if... if nothing else... developed, you're family," he assures Carver in a whisper. Hunter trots back with the stick, drops it in front of Andy, then heads over to greet his Boss and let him know how safe he kept Andy.

[Carver Amell]

Carver flashes him a smile, then kneels to pat Hunter. "Good boy," he says. "Thank you for looking after Andy while I had a sulk."

[Tethras Clan]

"Looking after?" Andy says, very carefully controlling his voice. "Is that what 'guard' means?"

[Carver Amell]

"What? Yeah, 'course. Keep you safe. Guard you. Why?"

[Tethras Clan]

Andy glances away. After a few seconds, Zevran offers softly, "guard can mean protect but it can also mean... secure. As in a prisoner."