Work Text:
It was 11:53 on day 18 of ‘Running 1 meter every day, but every day it doubles’. Will still had a kilometer left to run before he could finally sit down and have a coffee with James sat across from him. It was dark and cold out, the light rain making him shiver every now and then. The crew wasn’t too far behind him. Mikey, Aby, Ieuan..he hasn’t said a word to them in hours.
“Will, there’s no time,” Ieuan stupidly tried to get Will’s attention again, “With your limp, it’ll take you 15 minutes.”
His legs were aching, pain shooting up his bone with each step, it was agonizing. His knee was fucked, his lungs burned with each breath. He could almost feel his feet starting to bleed in his shoe. Will was entirely right when he said that this would be the worst week of his life.
But that didn’t matter.
Will’s body may be injured and exhausted, but his mind could not have been more excited. Excited to see James. To show him that he could do this, that he was able to run from London to Brighton all on his own…Mostly-
He wanted James to know that he’d do anything for him, that their relationship was everything to him. That nothing, not distance nor injury, could stop him from getting to James.
“Will- C’mon, slow down!” Mikey called out when Will stumbled.
Will was trying to pick up his pace, though not to beat the time. It was probably 11:55 or 11:56 by now. He probably still had around 8 minutes until he’d get to the coffee shop, he didn’t know, but he didn’t care. Getting there, getting to James was the only thing on his mind at that moment.
Heels landed heavily, painfully on the concrete sidewalk, body weak and breath unsteady, yet he kept going. He passed the bright and irritating lights, weaved around other people on the path as best as he could, ignored the concerned calls that followed him. Eyes focused forward, trained on his destination, not looking back no matter how many times his name was called.
One might’ve thought he was desperately running from a recurring nightmare, chains and claws trying to drag him back to the dark pit from which he came. The dirty pits of London that no one seemed to pay attention to. The mistakes he's made and the things he's lost. Maybe that's what he was running from.
He didn’t see it that way anymore. In Will’s mind, he was chasing the dream he’s had for the longest time. He was reaching out to grab the light that keeps him feeling warm and safe, the person that makes any darkness he comes across not feel as scary or suffocating. The one person who calms his anxiety, who erases any feelings of loneliness.
He needed to get to James. He needed the warmth of the light.
“It's done, Will,” He could distantly hear, “You’re out of time.”
Aby tried to tell him to stop, to say that the challenge couldn't be completed. It was 12:00am, and Will couldn’t even see James from where he was.
Will’s excitement and determination tried to remain at the forefront of his mind, but his pace started to slow. He couldn’t ignore the ache in his heart when he heard those words, realizing that he had failed to reach his goal. The disappointment he felt wasn’t something he could ignore as easily anymore, feeling as though he failed to keep his promise to his best friend. The challenge was over. He couldn't complete it.
He stumbled again, unable to maintain his lazy excuse of a jog as he simply kept walking. His gaze slowly lowered to the ground he walked on, barely even noticing the tears that began mixing with the rain.
Will felt cold, his light out of reach, and the dark still just as intimidating as always. His clothes were uncomfortable on his body but he didn’t have the energy to scratch the feeling away. He could hardly keep his balance when no matter how he stood, his entire lower half was in pain. Will stopped in his tracks, panting heavily and moving to crouch down before he could let himself fall.
Until he felt a hand on his back, another on his shoulder that kept him from sitting down.
“What’re you doing?” Ieuan asked with a knowing smile, Will looking to his right to give him a confused glance
Mikey gently squeezed his shoulder before patting it twice, Will immediately looking to his left to see the ginger’s concerned expression. “You don’t have time for a break. Go on, don’t stop now!”
“But..the time.” Will rasped out, his throat knackered and dry from how rough his breathing was. He couldn’t help the confused look he gave the two men, knowing that continuing the run was against the rules of the challenge. He had already failed and was about to accept defeat.
Will looked up at Aby in front of them, seeing her signal to follow her as she slowly walked towards the destination. “James is still waiting for you,” She reminded him, an encouraging shine in her eyes and a sweet smile on her face.
He really had the best friends he could ask for.
Even though he was terribly tired and maybe permanently injured, they understood that he had to keep going. Even though it was past midnight, cold and dark and rainy and way past the ideal time for a coffee, James was still waiting in the coffee shop.
Another tear fell from Will’s face and it blended into the already soaked concrete, a thankful smile tugging at his lips as he took a step forward.
Mikey and Ieuan stayed at his sides as he started walking again, helping him take some weight off of his sore feet. His crew, his friends, kept encouraging him and reminding him of his true goal. He wasn’t doing this for a dumb youtube challenge, and for a moment, he’d forgotten that.
Will was doing all this for James. He needed James to understand just how much he’d put himself through if it meant he’d get to be with his light.
With their pace falling through the floor and their vision being obscured by the rain, it took them all way longer than it should’ve to make their way to the corner shop. Though, the moment Will could make out the sign a few more meters in front of him, he lit up with a newfound enthusiasm and strength. He slipped out of his friends’ hold and managed to jog right past Aby, a soft chuckle escaping his dry throat.
“James!” He called out, seeing the warm light in the window brighten up the streets around it.
Will watched the big smile form on James’ face when he stepped out of the coffee shop, how he ignored the set up cameras and crouched down a bit, his welcoming arms opening wide.
James yelled back, “Will!” completely forgetting how late it was.
Will practically collapsed into James, his arms tight around James’ middle and holding him close. Will was too weak to keep him in a firm hold, but finally being here with him was all he needed, sighing into James’ shoulder. The moment he felt the taller’s arms secure around his waist to hold him up, his chest fluttered with the comforting warmth he’d been searching for all day. The freezing darkness of the midnight practically melted from around him and he felt so much lighter, letting James be the one to keep him from falling back into the pit he’d just escaped from.
It was warm and comforting and calm in his brain now, but it wasn’t everything that it could've been.
“James..” Will muttered, his breath shuddering with guilt, “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be.” James already knew exactly what Will was apologizing for, but he didn’t want to hear it. He wasn’t surprised that even after the distance Will traveled by foot, he’d still feel like he had failed. “You’ve come so far. I’m proud of you, Will.”
James quickly reassured him, always knowing what to say to help Will realize the accomplishment he’s achieved.
Will just smiled and hugged him tighter, those words making his heart feel like it might actually burst out of his chest after somehow staying put the whole time he ran. If James listened very closely, he though he could hear Will mutter a 'thank you'.
Reluctantly, Will pulled from the embrace with a slight wince at the change in pressure on his leg. He still kept his smile and held tightly to James' arms in case his knees decided to randomly give out on him. "C'mon, let's have a coffee, yeah?" Will quickly suggested, though he really just needed to take a seat for a while.
"Yeah, of course!" James accepted as he wrapped an arm around Will's shoulders to help him walk inside the shop. "I'll help you sit down."
Will couldn't even begin to express just how grateful he was for James, and not just because he needed his help to walk properly. He felt like he wouldn't even be close to where he was now without James by his side, both this coffee shop and his YouTube channels. The fact that James, after so many years, has still stuck around to play as Will's crutch was more than he deserved.
As Will was lowered onto a chair, he exhaled a great sigh of relief, feeling any and all pains completely leaving his mind. He looked up to glance around himself, seeing as his crew followed them into the corner shop. His smile widened and he raised his fist to bump Aby, Ieuan, and Mikey's as a small celebration of his success despite it not going exactly as planned. "Thank you. Honestly- Thank you lot, so much." Will muttered to the three of them. They all deserved so much more than a fist bump.
James let out a soft laugh from where he sat across from Will as he raised his cup to his lips, Will immediately turning to look at him.
Since the moment Will saw James waiting for him, he hasn't been able to stop smiling. He felt incredibly warm and giddy just watching James take a sip of coffee. Will reached down to his own cup in front of him, the drink feeling just as warm as he did when he leaned forward to take a sip.
Will doesn't know what he would be doing if he wasn't here with James right now. Frankly, he doesn't want to know. This is all he wants, all he needs. He would happily give up his channels for James, give up his life in London for James. He wouldn't even think twice.
He sets his cup back down and watches as James does the same, looking up to meet his eyes.
"You wouldn't believe the day I've just had." James jested and Will immediately burst out laughing.
He doesn't want to change a thing.