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Bill had his head rested on Stan’s chest. They were in bed together after a long day of college. They both attended the same liberal arts college. They were both in their second year, but both majoring in different things. Bill in English, while Stanley was majoring in visual arts. Today had been particularly stressful, because it was finals for almost all of their classes. Both of them were fairly sure they had passed with flying colors. They laid now in the small, shitty apartment they were able to afford. They both attended college on full scholarship, and Bill had already published his first book, the second one was in the process, so money wasn’t a huge issue.
Bill’s head rose up and down slightly as Stan breathed. Bill's arm was wrapped around his middle. Bill smiled tiredly.
“Stan?” he said softly, not sure if his boyfriend was still awake.
Stan hummed softly in response.
“Stan, I'm in luh-love with you.”
Stan chuckled softly. “Duh,” he said.
“No, buh-but like, I’m so in love with yuh-you,” Bill turned his head upward slightly so he could look at his boyfriend. His thumb spun the promise ring that resided on his ring finger.
Stan looked down at him and cocked his head slightly, a soft smile on his face. “I love you too, Bill. What’s this about?”
“I juh-just didn’t know it was puh-puh-possible to love someone this much.” Bill looked back down, hiding in embarrassment.
Stan’s smile brightened. “Yeah?” He sat up, so Bill followed suit.
“Yeah,” Bill said. “I just- it’s just- I duh-don’t know. I juh-just love you so muh-muh-much that I don’t know what to do suh-sometimes.”
The streetlight that sat outside their window shone in, making it only slightly possible to see. Bill looked into Stan’s eyes. He loved those eyes.
“I’ve never s-seen anyone be in love like thu-this, I don’t think,” Bill said. “Like, my puh-parents didn’t love each other, yours muh-might have, but not like this.”
Stan nodded slightly in agreement, a perplexed smile lingered on his face.
“I didn’t know I could love luh-like this.”
Stan reached out a hand and put it on Bill’s face, and Bill pushed into it, almost like a cat would.
“When I’m with you, I fuh-feel complete.”
Stan smiled. “You make me feel so special, Bill,” Stan said in a whisper.
Bill put his hand to Stan’s face now and was surprised to find a tear there. But before he could question him about it, Stan had leaned in and kissed him. Bill felt like his chest was expanding.
When they pulled away, they both started to laugh. Bill wiped away a tear of his own.
“Bill, thank you. For everything,” Stan said. “Thank you for always making me feel so loved. I’m totally obsessed with you, Bill.”
Bill wrapped Stan in a hug. Bill loved the way he smelled. He didn’t know how to describe it. He just smelled like Stan.
“I love you, Stan,” he said, and pulled away from the hug to face him again. “I love the way you always huh-help people who need it. I love how your eyes crinkle when you laugh. I love when you're cooking, how yuh-you always follow the ruh-ruh-recipe to a t. I love how you nuh-never cut me off when I’m talking. I love how much you luh-love birds, and I love how much you love me.”
“I love how when you’re concentrated,” Stan started. “Or when you’re writing, you get eyebrow creases. And I love that you’re willing to try anything at least once, something I can’t even fathom.” Bill chuckled softly. “I love your ability to see everything from everyone's point of view, but I love even more how you give yours the most respect. I love how sensitive you are, and I love how kind you are. I love when you're stressed that you push your hair back so it flips back and looks cute. I love how you stutter when you're excited over something, and I love that you always make the bed in the morning just because you know I need it to be made.”
“I love that yuh-you write me love letters, then guh-get embarrassed about your ruh-writing like I would even consider that it is anything luh-luh-less than beautiful. I love that when you nuh-know i’ve had a bad day you, wuh-without fail, make me a cup of tea. I love yuh-your hair, and I love how you always scoff at yuh-yuh-your bedhead in the morning, but I love it. I love your drive to get thu-things done, and I love how you always, always, make tuh-time for me everyday. I love you, Stanley.”
They embraced in a hug again. Stan gave Bill a kiss on the cheek, then they both laid back down again. Bill held his hand up to the ceiling and Stan traced it with his pointer finger, always lingering on the ring for a moment.
“I’m gonna luh-love you ‘till the duh-duh-day I die, you nuh-know that?” Bill asked.
“Oh, I know, Bill.”
Bill flipped around so he was on his stomach, so he could look at Stan. “I wuh-will never stop loving you. I puh-promise.”
Stan rolled his eyes, then smiled at Bill. “Well, I’m gonna stop loving you in threeeee, twooo-”
Bill pushed him. “Duh-don’t tease!” He pouted.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry!” Stan laughed. “I will never stop loving you, okay? You’re my favorite person in the whole entire world, and I don’t know what I would do without you.”
Bill laid back down on his back. “Good enough, Stanley Uris.”
“I’m glad I was good enough for you, William Denbrough, famous author you are,” Stan teased.
“Mhm. You should be guh-grateful. It's hard to guh-guh-get on my good side. You buh-better play your cards right.” Bill curled up onto Stan again.
“I’m tired. Loving someone must tire you out, huh?” Stan said.
“Mm. Cheers to thuh-that.”
Bill laid on Stan’s chest for the remainder of the night. He knew Stan was asleep when his breaths got deeper and less often. He liked how he could feel his slow, sleeping, heartbeat. He smiled to himself and closed his eyes. He tried to sync his breathing with Stan’s. He would be asleep shortly after. He loved Stan. He loved him so much.