Chapter Text
Avery was desperate. Desperate enough to hire a person who found Dereks location based off...whatever there was, Avery isnt the smartest when it comes to those terms. And it turned out Derek didnt live that far, just two hours by car.
Why was Avery looking for Derek, anyways? Well, he never lost hope. Avery didnt care that Derek might be already rotting in the apartment complex hes in, the boy wanted to see his friend. Even if it ment calling 911 to report a dead person...
And currently, Avery was driving to the adress he was sent by the skip tracer, which was somewhere in Iowa - thankfully Avery lived in Iowa too. The drive there was tortorous, Averys heart was beating, head filled with awful thoughts - that maybe Derek isnt alive anymore, what if it took him too long to find the adress? What if Derek wasnt there? ... Avery turned up the radio to drown out the thoughts with some white girl music that was playing. He drove for the next two hours, not stopping anywhere, not for a pee or food or drinks, just driving forward and forward.
When he finally arrived, he was met with a gate. Right. He didnt know the code to it nor had a key...so the boy jumped over it. Or tried to... Since Avery isnt the fittest, he struggled a bit before he finally jumped over the gate. Avery ran to the front doors, and again - he doesnt know the code nor does he have the key! Fuck! Avery tried everything - pulling the door, kicking it, typing random numbers into the keypad, but nothing worked. So he stood there. Defeated, looking at his reflection in the glass of the door - he looked pathetic, his big expressive eyes showed nothing but grief and defeat.
Untill...
Someone opened the gate, and walked over to the door!
Avery stopped them.
"Excuse me..! Do you know where Derek Hutchins lives? I- I'm looking for him..."
Avery called out when the person stopped in their tracks, the person was an older lady that looked like she just came back from the store.
"Oh...yes, Derek. That sweet boy, he lives in apartment 17B, what do you need from him?"
The lady replied, putting down her bags on the pavement.
"Oh thank you, miss! You are an angel!"
Avery said before adding;
"Um...can you... open the door to the building...?"
She chuckled softly, the sound warm and motherly.
"I dunno, young man. What buissnes do you have with Derek?"
She repeated the question. Avery sighed, looking down at his sneakers.
"I wanna make sure hes okay...hes my best friend."
He mummbled, fiddling with his fingers. The ladys face softened.
"Oh, that's so sweet. Of course, honey, ill open the door for you."
The lady said, picking up her grocery bags and walking over to the front door. She typed in the code while Avery watched, his hands behind his back as he waited. The door buzzed, signaling it opened.
"Thank you so much, miss! You really are an angel!"
Avery thanked her, before rushing inside the building and running throught the stairs, looking for apartment 17B... And he found it. On the second floor. Avery was wheezing, out of breath, as he twisted the door handle...
The apartment was open. Nothing smelled rotten or disgusting. Well, it kinda smelled like urine but besides that it was just a faint smell of food mold and there was a shit ton of dust everywhere in the living room. It was dark inside, all the windows closed and blinds drawn shut. Avery closed the door behind him as he entered.
"Derlord...?"
He called out, sweating from the stress and his hope slightly fading as he didnt hear a response.
"...Derek?"
Avery called out again, now using the other guys real name. He walked around the small apartment, noticing a faint glow of a computer screen from one of the rooms. He barged inside, looking around. The boy noticed a figure in the gaming chair - skinny, tall, malnourished, hair and hygiene clearly neglected.
"De-derek...?"
He called out, quieter now. The figure turned his head, tired eyes that had a slight yellow outline on the irises looking at Avery.
"...Avery..."
The other man said quietly, his voice tired and rough. Avery teared up, running up to the man and hugging him tightly - bascially crawling onto the neglected mans lap.
"Yes, its me, and youre... Derek... Its really you..."
Avery sobbed out, clinging onto the man, that was now confrimed to be Derek. Derek didnt hug back, not yet at least. He exhaled, letting Avery cry his little heart out.
"I cant belive it..."
Averys voice was even quieter, barely a whisper. He sniffled, wiping his tears on his hoodie sleeve.
"Shh..."
Derek hushed Avery, patting the other boys back gently. This didnt feel romantic, but not purely platonic either. Just two men in eachothers embrace, one traumatized and another desperate.
Avery finally pulled away, calming down now that he knew Derek was actually alive.