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Will finds himself in Vancouver a week earlier than planned. Their whole summer had been planned long before it started. To ensure they had time together.
Will was set to arrive in Vancouver for Mack's birthday, but then the IIHF tournament started to derail. Will panicked the moment Canada lost the Semis. He called Robyn the minute it was over and changed his flight with her permission.
He could tell by the look in Mack's eye through the TV that this was not going to end well, even if they did win the bronze. Will knows Mack very well. No one has higher expectations for themself. So no one is more disappointed when things don't go as planned.
It was hard for Will not to think back to the post-Olympic times. Where Mack barely spoke to him, or anyone. When he roamed the rink like a zombie. They weren’t together back then, so it was different, but it still broke Will's heart.
Will arrived long before Mack. Rick was with Mack and managed to get him on a flight home a few hours after the game. But still, Switzerland is a lot further away than Boston.
Mack's flight wasn't landing till late, so the Celebrini's slowly disappeared into their rooms until it was just Will and Robyn.
“Are you going to wait up for him, honey?” She asks.
“Um. I think so,” Will says.
“Okay. I got you set up in the guest room if you get tired. They won’t be home for a couple of hours,” she says as she stands up from her chair. “I'll see you in the morning,”
Will returns the pleasantries. Mack hasn't told his parents yet about the two of them. They haven't been together that long, but if you ask Will, it’s been a long time coming. They have talked about it, and Will doesn't mind. Truthfully, he hasn't told his parents either. Although that's another story, as Mack didn't grow up in a religious household.
He sits alone in the living room watching the flight tracker. Once he sees the plane land, he heads upstairs. He drops his bag in the spare room and changes into his sleeping clothes. before heading to Mack's room. He's only been there once before, but he walks into the room like he's been there a thousand times.
It screams of Mack. His posters on the wall, his trophies on the shelf, his clothes in the closet, and his smell in the sheets. Will lies on the bed after he closes the door behind him and basks in the smell of Mack after being away from it for weeks.
He hasn't really slept in the last few days; he was too worried about everything. So he's not surprised when he falls asleep on Mack's bed.
Thankfully, he’s awakened by the sound of the boys coming into the house. He sits up quickly, his heart pounding in his chest. Mostly because he gets to see Mack again, but also because he's a little terrified he's going to get caught in Mack's room by Rick.
He hears a bag being dropped in front of the closed door, but no one opens it. Instead, he hears the shower run from the bathroom next door. Will smiles at Mack's predictability. The younger man always showers the moment he gets home from the airport, not wanting the germs to touch his bed.
Will looks through the drawers and pulls out the softest t-shirt and sweatpants he can find, and sets them on the mattress beside him.
He hears the shower shut off after a long five minutes. He holds his breath as the steps grow closer to the door. He's suddenly quite shy. A little scared of how Mack is going to react. Now that he thinks about it, Mack really hates surprises. He should have just told him, but it's too late.
Will watches closely as Mack opens the door and steps into the room. Mack notices the light is on first, looking up to the ceiling. Then he looks around the room, eyes quickly finding Will.
“Hey, cap,” Will says.
Mack's face doesn't change at all; sadness is still written all over it. Will stands, unsure of what to do. It's not like he can leave; Mack is blocking the door.
He looks down at Mack's half-naked body, as the man is dressed only in a towel wrapped around his waist. He looks at Mack's hands, which are drawn up in fists; he stares as those fists slowly uncurl. Mack's finger tips stretch out, just slightly to Will, and that's all he needs. Will closes the distance between them and wraps Mack in a hug.
He lets out a breath as his hand comes into contact with Mack's bare skin. He revels in the heat radiating through his palms. He can't quite relax as he feels dampness gather on his shoulder. He lifts his head off Mack's shoulder and gathers Mack's face in his hand, which Mack fights.
But Will uses his strength to force Mack to look at him. He wipes the tears from his face once Mack does. He tries his best to offer the most sympathy he can through his facial expression, because he doesn't quite trust his voice at this moment.
Will kisses the tops of both of Mack's cheeks, where the tears are flowing from. He never once tells him to stop, or even implies it. He knows Mack needs to let it all out. He's likely been holding onto these tears for days, putting on a strong front for his team, for his dad.
Will continues to hold him until the tears stop. Then he steers him until Mack is sitting on the bed. Will carefully dresses his boyfriend, who just sits there and lets him. Will can see Mack fighting to keep his eyes open, which confirms his theory that the man didn't sleep at all on the flight. Once he's dressed, Will lets Mack get settled under the cover as he turns off the light. He crawls in beside him, and Mack instantly turns to him when he gets close.
Will pulls Mack practically fully on top of him. He strokes his hand through Mack's hair, hoping to lull him to sleep. It's then, in the dark, that Will gets the courage to speak, to say the things that have been running through his mind.
“I'm so proud of you, Mack,” he says. Not even sure if Mack is awake to hear it. “No matter what happened, you played so well. You led that team.”
Wills feels Mack's head start to shake. He slides his hand out of Mack's hair and to his neck, squeezing hard once his hand is cupped there. “You did,” he says, twice. To ensure Mack truly hears it. “I’m sorry it didn’t work out the way you wanted, but I know you tried your best,” Will whispers into Mack's hair as he kisses his forehead. “And for that, I’m proud of you. I’m always proud of you.”
His hand goes back to stroking Mack's hair after the younger man goes pliant on top of him. He waits until he's sure Mack is asleep before he whispers “I love you” into the night. Then he closes his own eyes and sleeps peacefully for the first time in weeks.
<3 <3 <3 <3 <3
It is early morning when the door creaks open. It pulls Will out of sleep, but he has no time to react. Rather than making a scene and throwing Mack off of him, he just stays frozen. He opens his eyes, hoping to see RJ or Charlie. Someone he can intimidate or beg into silence. But, just his luck, it's Robyn.
He makes eye contact with his boyfriend's mother. He would try to explain this away, but it's really not worth it. The position the two of them are in is too intimate to convince her that they are just friends.
Robyn doesn't say anything, presumably not to wake Mack. Will feels too awful not to say anything, so he mutters, “I'm sorry.” Not exactly sure what he's apologizing for. Maybe for sneaking into her son's room or for hiding their relationship.
Robyn shakes her head. “It's okay,” she whispers. “I'm glad he's sleeping.” She exits the room, and Will lets out a big breath.
He is just grateful, because that could have been worse. A lot worse. Will doesn't fall back asleep. He can't. His head is running a mile a minute. He's here in Vancouver for another three weeks, and he is not sure how Robyn is going to react. Is she going to tell Rick? Is Mack going to lose it? Will knew he wanted to be the one to tell them.
He stresses until he feels Mack move above him, then his worry switches to his boyfriend. He waits till Mack lifts his head off his chest to say anything.
“Good morning,” Will says.
He can't help but smile at the look on Mack's face. His hair is standing up in a few directions, and his t-shirt is crooked on his shoulders. He looks genuinely confused, in a sweet sort of way.
“You're here,” Mack says. His voice is low and gravely. The way it is when he goes long periods of time without speaking.
“Yeah. I'm here,” Will replies, brushing his hand through Mack's hair to tame the mane. A weight lifts off his shoulders because Mack is talking again.
Mack sits up fully, his face slipping out of Will's reach. He adjusts his shoulder, stretching his back. His face slips into a grimace.
“Sore?” Will ask, knowing the answer.
He gets a nod in response. Thankfully. Will is grateful Mack isn't lying. He tends to underestimate his pain.
Will sits up as well. To be at eye level with Mack, whose eyes cast down.
“Are you feeling okay?” Will asks, meaning more than just how he feels physically.
Mack shrugs his shoulders.
Will grabs Mack's hand, which was resting on his lap, and brings it to his lips before setting their joint hand on his own lap. “It's okay,” Will says, echoing the words Robyn said to him.
Will stays quiet for a few moments, wanting to give Mack time to speak. Space to speak.
“I let them all down again,” Mack mumbles after a moment.
“No, you didn't.”
“Yes, I did, Will,” Mack says, this time a lot louder. “Have you seen what they are saying online?”
“No, I haven't. Why are you reading that crap, Mack? Those people don't know shit,” Will argues back.
Mack shakes his head. Will's so frustrated he wants to grab him and shake him.
“You can't be doing that to yourself,” Will says firmly. Its not the first time they have had this conversation.
Mack's face is still tilted down to the covers, and Will lifts his chin so that the younger man is looking at him. “Baby, if you look for hate, you're going to find it. Okay? So leave it,” Will tells him.
Mack nods. Then he smiles, which confuses Will.
“What?” Will asks.
Mack swipes his thumb between Will's eyebrows, flattening the tension he holds there. “Your serious face is cute.”
“Seriously,” Will says, swatting away Mack's hand. “You’re rude,”
“I'm rude?” Mack declares.
“Yes, I'm trying to be helpful, and you are making fun of me,” Will says, shoving at Mack playfully.
Mack shoves him back. “You are the rude one,” he accuses.
“How?” Will says as he shoves Mack back enough for the man to fall on his back. Will crawls on top of him, holding Mack's wrists to the bed so he can't fight back.
“You’re the one who told me you love me for the first time when you thought I was sleeping.” Mack huffs, with a smile still on his face.
The words make Will's heart drop into his stomach. He quickly sits back and releases Mack from his hold.
“Mack,” Will says, guilt running through his tone.
“Wait, was that not the first time?” Mack asks as he sits up, misreading the shame in Will's voice.
Will stare blankly at Mack. Ensure of what to say. He feels so sick to his stomach. He doesn’t like the tone of Mack's voice. It's almost as if he's making fun of him. He feels so embarrassed that Mack found out this way.
“Oh my god, Will,” Mack rushes out. He quickly closes the distance between them.
Will sucks in a breath of shock as he feels Mack's lips against his. Will all but melt into the kiss. He has been missing this for the last few weeks. His shame evaporates as Mack's lips move against his.
“I'm not upset about it,” Mack says when he finally pulls away. “I love you too,” he says in a shaky breath.
“Yeah?” Will asks.
“Yeah,” Mack replies. Mack brushes his own hands through Will's hair.
Will would love nothing more than to kiss Mack again and pin him back down again on the bed, but he knows Mack's family is downstairs. So instead, he offers Mack another soft kiss.
“When was the last time you ate?”
“I don't know,” Mack says through a laugh. Not expecting the switch in topic.
With that, Will stands, pulling Mack up with him, and they head downstairs. It's not until he comes down to the kitchen and meets Robyn that Will remembers what happened in the early hours of the morning. He didn't have time to warn Mack at all, but Robyn does something that surprises him. She acts as if nothing happened at all. She just serves them breakfast and chats with them.
She's smart enough not to bring up the tournament itself. She just asks Mack about what Switzerland was like, the scenery, and the food. Then Mack's siblings return to the house, and they follow their mom's lead as they devour the remainder of the food on the counter.
Will settles into his chair as he watches the chaos of the Celebrini’s. His attention, like always, lands on Mack. Who seems equally amused by the chaos. Will revels in the smile on Mack's face. He doesn’t want this moment to be ruined, and he shares a look with Robyn that implies she feels the same. So he settles back into his chair and allows himself to be entertained as the day goes on.