Work Text:
Hinch feels off beat, unbalanced and a little insecure. He misses Will. It's not anyone's fault, it's just no one knows him like Will does. No one makes him tea exactly how he likes it, before he even realises his voice sounds a little rough from talking so much. No one can cheer him up or lift his confidence like Will can. They just click, as commentators and as friends.
As soon as the post race show is over James texts Will, “were you watching?”. Will texts back immediately, “of course I was”.
“Did I do okay?”
“You did great! Proud of you”
“This is weird without you”
“Oh, so you do still need me? Good. You had me worried😉”.
James laughs softly at the text. “Oh, who’s got to smiling at your phone like that?”, Palmer smirks at him and wiggles his eyebrows. James looks up “oh, just Will… Buxton. He was watching”. Palmer smiles, “oh of course” James throws him a puzzled look, “what do you mean? Why of course?”.
Palmer laughs “well he is your partner, right? You’re dating?”
James chuckles a little taken a back. Palmer pats his shoulder, “no worries. Your secret is safe with me”.
James nods at him. He hearts Will’s last message and then types a summary of the weird conversation he’s just had with Palmer. “so, I was texting you and palmer asked who I was texting and I said your name and he said oh of course. So, I ask why of course and apparently everyone thinks we’re dating? Isn’t that silly… would that be silly? I miss you”.
Will stares at James’s message for a split second before he presses the face time button. James answers quickly. “James”, Will sighs, smiling brightly, “I don’t think it’s silly”. James smiles back brightly. They are both blushing. James pouts, “I miss you”. Will sighs, “just come home to me, James”.
Will says his name with such soft gravitas, it surprises James a little. James is so used to his nickname, it shouldn’t feel as warm and familiar as it does or maybe that’s precisely why.
“Pick me up from the airport?”, James asks shyly. Will smiles more “I’ll even buy you flowers and a big balloon”. James laughs loudly, wholeheartedly. Will laughs with him.
When James makes his way out of the arrivals gate he scans the crowd for Will. When he spots him, big bouquet of flowers and welcome home balloon in hand, he doesn’t know whether to laugh or cry. So, he runs to him, “Will!”.
Will opens his arms wide and lets James crash into him “hi”, he wraps his arms around him tight. James takes a deep breath. His eyes are watery. Will strokes his cheek the balloon bouncing along with the movement. It’s tied to Wills wrist, James notices now. James leans into the touch, “I missed you so fucking much”.
Will smiles softly “I missed you too, let’s go home?”. James nods. Will had been house sitting for him and watching his dog. “You’re coming to Vegas with me. I’m sure we can find a dog sitter”. Will laughs softly, “okay, we’ll figure that out tomorrow”.
He hands James the flowers and moves the balloon of his wrist tying it to James’s suitcase instead. James blushes “thank you for these”. Will smirks, “I promised”. James laughs, “but I didn’t thing you’d actually do it”.
Will just kisses his cheek and grabs his hand. He pulls James’s suitcase with the other. “Let’s go home. I have more surprises”. James giggles and follows him to the car.
At home, James showers while Will makes dinner. Will sets the table neatly. The balloon now tied to the back of James’s chair. James wraps his arms around Will from behind as he’s plating their dinner. “Hey, I was just about to call you down here”. James kisses his shoulder, “this is perfect”.
Will grins, “I got your favourite beer this morning”. James smiles, “you are amazing”.
Will smiles at him, “only the best for the best”. James blushes he cups Wills cheek and inches closer. Will closes his eyes. Their noses brush together. James closes his eyes as he feels his heart skip a beat. Then their lips connect and it’s like it was always meant to be. Wills hands rest on James’s hips.
James pulls away just enough to breath. “Will”. Will smiles and pecks his lips, “welcome home, darling”. James laughs softly, “hmm thank you. The food smells amazing and I’m hungry, but I will need more kisses later”.
Will laughs, “Can you grab us some beers from the fridge and I’ll bring the plates to the table”. James grins, “I can do that”.
After dinner James smiles, “I’ll clean up tomorrow, now I want to cuddle you”. Will smiles, “we can watch a movie in bed?”. James smiles back, “it’s like you read my mind”. Will laughs softly. They get ready for bed and cuddle up in James’s bedroom. James sighs happily, “thanks for tonight. I really needed this”. Will strokes his cheek, “this is the bare minimum, darling”.
James’s breath hitches, “I felt so of balance without you”. Will tugs him a little closer. “I’m always just one call away”. James smiles at him, “promise?”. Will nods, “promise”. he kisses James softly. “Sealed with a kiss”. James lets out a chuckle, “you’re amazing”. Will blushes and kisses his cheek, “so what movie are we watching?”.
They settle on a romantic comedy. James dozed off halfway through. Will doesn’t mind. He liked the warmth and weight of James’s body against his side. It just feels right.