Han Solo Is Not An Appropriate Role Model

[jooles34]

Title: Han Solo Is Not An Appropriate Role Model
Fandom: Primeval
Characters: Nick, Connor
Words: 395
Rating, Warnings: PG
Disclaimer: Nope, don't own Primeval, no copyright infringement intended
Spoilers: None.
AN: Written from fredbassett's prompt to me 'Nick gives Connor relationship advice' after I moaned I didn't have any good Nick fic ideas.
AN2: Thanks to fredbassett for another fab beta.  
AN3: Sadly, the title is the best thing about this. I may keep it and use it again.

Nick knows he is short-tempered and has really been trying to work on it, but right now his last nerve is being tested. Sorely tested.

“Connor, are you hanging around in here for a reason other than just to annoy me?” Nick felt a pang of guilt when those puppy-dog eyes turned on him in surprise. He pushed a hand through his hair. “Sorry.  What were you saying? And maybe you could stick to one subject at a time?”

Connor shifted uncomfortably and looked embarrassed.

“What is, lad?”

“I need some advice… about Abby.”

“Oh, I see.” Nick grinned and then faltered. “Wait, this isn’t about…. I mean you know about…. don’t you?”

“Yes! Oh god, yes, of course. Yeah.” Connor looked even more uncomfortable then Nick had felt, if that was possible. Then tried to rally with false bravado. “I mean, done that loads of times. No problems there.”

Nick hid his grin and wheeled his chair closer to Connor.

“Then how can I help?”

“I want to ask her out, but… I… don’t really… What do you think I should do?”

“As much as I hate to say it, just be yourself. Although maybe a little less so than normal.”

“What do you mean? I can either be myself or not be myself. There’s not a lot of scope for anything in between. Though I saw this movie once, where this guy…”

“There! That. That is exactly what I mean,” Nick interrupted.

Connor gave him a confused look.

“When you ask her out, just invite her for a drink, or dinner, just the two of you. But when you do it, instead of using ten sentences as you normally do, try just one or two. And don’t relate everything back to a film you saw. And under no circumstances refer to anything that Han Solo said.”

“Not even…”

“No. Especially not that.”

Nick watched as Connor’s face fell and put a hand on his shoulder, leaning forwards. “Look, Connor, I don’t know if she will say yes or not, but I do know that your best chance stands in you being you, not pretending to be something you’re not. Just turn it down a wee notch.”

“What should I do if she says yes?”

Nick smiled and squeezed the young man’s shoulder.

“One step at a time, lad. One step at a time.”