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English
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Published:
2025-07-15
Completed:
2025-11-13
Words:
979
Chapters:
2/2
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14
Kudos:
97
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A Tender Moment

Summary:

You're not hungry, You're just bored

A moment on the lips, a lifetime on the hips

Sugar is more addictive than meth

Water fills your stomach

Have some willpower

Mama's voice corroded his mind until there was one instinct left.

Get thin.

He was lucky to be alive. Lucky not to have gone blind. But it was still humiliating, not being able to do anything for himself.
Nico helps, though.
God, does he wish he could do more than that.

Notes:

Hey, so I just felt like doing a quick little one shot. Probably not gonna have any follow-ups, sorry.

Chapter 1

Chapter Text

Nico came home from work and immediately sat on the couch next to Will. "Hey, love. How was today?"

Will shrugged. It seemed the energy to speak eluded him this time, but Nico could guess what he wanted to say.

"Same as yesterday, huh?" Nico kissed Will's cheek, which made him smile. Nico smiled too, comforted by the notion that his Will, his sunshine, was still in there. "I'm gonna go make you a snack, okay?"

Will shook his head, eyes glimmering with fear.

Nico swallowed the lump in his throat. "Will, baby. You know I love you. If you really can't stand eating today, that's fine. But you know what has to happen, right?"

Will whined. "No, I hate that thing. Just one night won't hurt." He begged.

"It will, love. Trust me, it will." He brushed his hand through Will's hair. He made that mistake once, and he'd never make it again. "You have two options here. You can either let me put the feeding tube in, or let me make you something to eat yourself."

Will looked like he was about to cry. "You're being so unfair. My mama was right about you."

Nico tried to keep his composure, no matter how that stung. He knew he didn't mean it. "Will, please. Just tell me, which do you want me to do?"

"It doesn't matter. Whatever you do, you'll feed me a bunch of crap."

"I won't, I promise."

Will took a deep breath. "... Okay. Then... Do we still have any blueberries left?"

"Yeah... Yeah, we do. I'll go get them." Nico tried to hide his surprise, his excitement, until his back was turned.

Just two months ago, he said carrots had too much sugar. Two months ago, that feeding tube was running 24/7 just to keep Will's body afloat. Two months ago, he had semi permanent bruises on his joints from the strain his skin endured every time he flexed them. And now...
Not yet. He was afraid of making a big deal about it. Of scaring him off.

So he acted as if this was the most natural thing in the world. Because, in all truth, it was.

He put them in two plastic dishes and set one on Will's lap as he kissed his forehead. Nico had found that Will was more likely to eat if he ate the same thing him. "Now, what would you like to watch?"

Will yawned, taking a single blueberry into his mouth. "... Um... Anything."

Nico grabbed the remote. "Okay. I'm putting on Buffy."

The two sat in silence, Nico leaning his head on Will's shoulder, until the blonde began to snore.
That was Nico's cue to turn the TV off, and take the half-empty bowl of blueberries from Will's lap. "Aww, baby... Sorry I had to work today. You must be exhausted pushing that thing around..." Nico grabbed the handles of Will's wheelchair, rolling him into the bedroom, and scooped him up before laying him gently on their bed.

He then turned on the electric blanket, and got under it himself. Partially because it was a typical new york December, yes, but mostly to cuddle with the love of his life.

He wrapped his arms and legs around Will's body, gently massaging the knobs of his spine with his thumb, his other arm serving as his love's pillow. He didn't need a TV right now. He had Will.

It must've been an hour before either of them moved again.
Will stirred, his brow furrowing like his dreams had gone sour. Nico cupped Will's cheek in his free hand. "I'm here, love. I'm here."

Will's bad dreams didn't seem scary. They didn't make him scream or hyperventilate the way Nico's did.

When Will had a bad dream, he just... Cried. Softly, almost silent.
Just like right now.
Nico stroked Will's back and whispered reassurance. "I love you, baby. I'm so proud of you. You're gonna be okay."

That was all he could do.
Hold him tight and tell him how perfect he is.

And when it was done, his breath evened out, and his tears dried, but he didn't wake up.

So Nico didn't leave.

He wouldn't leave until Will woke up, and it was time for dinner. He treasured times like this, where everything was warm and soft and perfect.

Where nobody could harm his precious Will again.

He held on a bit tighter.

Chapter 2

Chapter Text

Nico woke up next to Will that evening, running his fingers through Will's hair, a few golden threads catching on his fingers and tangling around his knuckles as he pulled away. No tug, no resistance. They just... Fell out.

He looked down at his hand, and felt a lump in his throat. His Will, his everything... A few silent tears slipped down his cheeks. How could he not have noticed before it came to this?

Oh wait.

He did.

When Will was in nursing school, he would go days without sleep, without food, sustaining himself on black coffee and black coffee alone, between cramming for exams, his internship, his residency...
Nico noticed. His gut was telling him something was wrong, screaming at him that his love was in danger. And he didn't say anything.
Because he was afraid of making things awkward. Of coming off as pushy or paranoid.
Because nursing and med students abused their bodies like this all the time. It was nothing abnormal, it was accepted, expected even.
So, Nico just convinced himself that's all it was. That Will was just a workaholic.

If he'd listened to that nagging voice in the back of his head... If he'd taken Will to the hospital when he was still able to pretend he was totally fine...

He could've prevented this level of deterioration.
And he didn't.
He stayed silent.

What kind of boyfriend does that?
A shitty one.

More tears fell.