Haven: Less is More (Nathan, Audrey) PG
Title: Less is More
Author: Shealynn88
Characters: Nathan, Audrey
Rating: PG
Word Count: ~400 words
Spoilers: Fur
Summary: A conversation over pancakes and some insight into Nathan.
“You really like her, huh?”
Nathan nods and takes a bite of his pancakes.
“Is it because of what she said? About you not being less?”
He shrugs. “I just like her.”
“Because a lot of other people think you're fine the way you are.”
He looks up at her, and he's quiet for a long moment. “A lot? Really?” He looks down and takes another bite, his voice deceptively free of emotion. “Everyone in this town knows I'm a freak.”
“You're not a freak, Nathan, come on. We all have something, you know, that sets us apart.”
“You're an orphan.”
It's Audrey's turn to shrug uncomfortably. “It makes me different.”
Nathan's smile is bitter. “This...thing. Magic, disorder, whatever you want to call it, no one understands what it means. Not really. Not you, not Jess. When I was eight, my mom left. She hated how different I was...that I couldn't feel it when she hugged me or kissed me or tucked me in at night.” He shoves his plate away angrily. “You know how babies bond, Audrey? By touch. By feeling warmth and love in physical contact. I didn't get that. I never belonged to my family, Audrey, I never belonged to anyone. When the troubles started, my mom left. Because of me. And my father? He can't forgive me for it.”
Audrey reaches out automatically and stops just short of his hand. “Nathan, I'm sorry. I didn't realize...”
He slides his chair back and it scrapes loudly against the floor. “It's fine, Parker. I know what I am.” He heads out the door without looking back, and Audrey has to scramble to catch up.
“Do you? Do you really know what you are? I know, Nathan. I know what it feels like to be alone, surrounded by strangers who say they want what's best for you. Maybe I don't know exactly what you went through, what you go through, but I know about growing up different. I know about not being understood. I know that being alone can feel like the only place you're safe.”
He slows, letting her catch up. “Then you know why this is important to me.”
She smiles slowly, and if there's some sadness in it, she tries not to show it. “Yeah. Yeah, I do.”
Author: Shealynn88
Characters: Nathan, Audrey
Rating: PG
Word Count: ~400 words
Spoilers: Fur
Summary: A conversation over pancakes and some insight into Nathan.
“You really like her, huh?”
Nathan nods and takes a bite of his pancakes.
“Is it because of what she said? About you not being less?”
He shrugs. “I just like her.”
“Because a lot of other people think you're fine the way you are.”
He looks up at her, and he's quiet for a long moment. “A lot? Really?” He looks down and takes another bite, his voice deceptively free of emotion. “Everyone in this town knows I'm a freak.”
“You're not a freak, Nathan, come on. We all have something, you know, that sets us apart.”
“You're an orphan.”
It's Audrey's turn to shrug uncomfortably. “It makes me different.”
Nathan's smile is bitter. “This...thing. Magic, disorder, whatever you want to call it, no one understands what it means. Not really. Not you, not Jess. When I was eight, my mom left. She hated how different I was...that I couldn't feel it when she hugged me or kissed me or tucked me in at night.” He shoves his plate away angrily. “You know how babies bond, Audrey? By touch. By feeling warmth and love in physical contact. I didn't get that. I never belonged to my family, Audrey, I never belonged to anyone. When the troubles started, my mom left. Because of me. And my father? He can't forgive me for it.”
Audrey reaches out automatically and stops just short of his hand. “Nathan, I'm sorry. I didn't realize...”
He slides his chair back and it scrapes loudly against the floor. “It's fine, Parker. I know what I am.” He heads out the door without looking back, and Audrey has to scramble to catch up.
“Do you? Do you really know what you are? I know, Nathan. I know what it feels like to be alone, surrounded by strangers who say they want what's best for you. Maybe I don't know exactly what you went through, what you go through, but I know about growing up different. I know about not being understood. I know that being alone can feel like the only place you're safe.”
He slows, letting her catch up. “Then you know why this is important to me.”
She smiles slowly, and if there's some sadness in it, she tries not to show it. “Yeah. Yeah, I do.”