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it starts over nothing. it always does.
mack’s already tense when will walks through the door. he’s been pacing, arms crossed, a mess of thoughts in his head that won’t stop spinning. will’s late, and didn’t answer his texts, and mack hates when things feel off without a reason.
“where were you?” mack asks as soon as will sets his keys down. his voice is too sharp, too quick. will blinks. “practice ran late. i told you that this morning.”
“yeah, but you didn’t answer my texts.” will sighs. “i was on the ice, mack. i’m not glued to my phone.”
“i didn’t say you had to be,” mack snaps, but his voice cracks on the last word. “i just… i don’t know. i was worried.”
“you always assume the worst,” will mutters, rubbing the back of his neck. “i’m tired. can we not do this right now?”
that makes mack flinch. he folds his arms tighter. “so now i’m just being dramatic?”
“that’s not what i said.”
“feels like it.”
the silence that follows is thick and heavy.
will exhales slowly. “i didn’t mean to upset you, but you can’t jump down my throat the second i walk through the door.”
mack’s face crumples slightly. “i’m not- I’m not trying to fight. i just... i don’t like feeling like i’m the only one who-” he stops, swallowing hard. “whatever. it doesn’t matter.”
will’s voice rises just a little. “it does matter, but you won’t talk to me without getting defensive.”
“because you always act like i’m too much!”
that hits the air like a slap.
will stares at him, stunned. “i don’t-”
mack takes a shaky breath, but it’s too late. he’s already retreating, stepping back, blinking fast.
“forget it,” he says, voice breaking. “you never get it.”
“baby-” will’s voice softens, but mack shakes his head, turning away.
he doesn’t want to cry. not now. not in the middle of another stupid argument where he feels small and stupid and scared that maybe this love isn’t as solid as he thought.
he makes it to the bedroom and sinks down on the edge of the bed, burying his face in his hands. the tears come fast and hot. his chest aches.
he hears footsteps. the door creaks open slowly.
then, will’s voice came, gentle and quiet.
“mack…”
mack doesn’t look up.
the bed shifts as will sits down beside him. there’s a pause, then a hand resting lightly on his back.
“i’m sorry,” will says, and the words feel like they crack something open in mack’s chest.
“you didn’t do anything wrong,” mack mumbles into his hands.
“i did,” will says. “i wasn’t fair. i came home frustrated and brushed you off when you were just trying to talk to me.”
mack wipes at his face, sniffling. “i hate fighting with you.”
“me too,” will whispers. “i never want to be the reason you cry.”
mack turns slightly, eyes red and lashes wet. “i get overwhelmed. i don’t always know how to say what i’m feeling, and then it comes out messy.”
“i know,” will says, tucking a strand of hair behind mack’s ear. “i should’ve listened better. should’ve just hugged you the second i saw your face.”
mack leans into him without thinking, and will wraps both arms around him, holding him close.
“you’re not too much,” will murmurs into his hair. mack buries his face in will’s chest, clutching the front of his hoodie. “i just want to be enough for you.”
will’s heart breaks a little at that. he tilts mack’s chin up gently and kisses his forehead. “you are enough. you’re everything. i’m sorry for ever making you feel otherwise.”
they sit there like that for a while, quiet and tangled up together, heartbeats slowly syncing again.
will presses little kisses to mack’s temple, his cheeks, his nose. “i love you,” he says softly.
mack’s lip wobbles again. “i love you too.”
will leans back just enough to look him in the eyes. “we’ll argue sometimes. that’s normal. but we’ll always figure it out. i promise.”
mack nods. “just… don’t shut me out, okay?”
“never,” will says, sealing it with a kiss, slow and warm, nothing rushed.