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The spring of 1988 was warm and fresh, because for the first time in a long time, Hawkins didn't feel cursed. The nights were warm, but not uncomfortable and Will was able to sleep through nights now, without waking up. Mostly. There were still nights that Will awoke, covered in sweat and in need of a shower to freshen up.
Will and Chance were in the comfort of Wills home. With Joyce and Hopper out on a small holiday in New Jersey, Jonathan away in college and Jane at a sleepover, it let them by themselves in the house. The princess bride was on the TV, however neither were paying that much attention to it.
Chance had his arm around Will who was cuddled into his side, eyes slowly closing, succumbing to sleep. Chance smiles, "How about we get you to bed, Mahal ko?" Will only hums in response, trying to bury himself further into Chance. Chance laughs, wrapping an arm under Will's legs and the other around his shoulder. He carries Will into his room, and lowers him onto the bed. He quickly exits the room, to turn off the TV and clean up a little.
When he comes back, Will is already curled up, fast asleep. Chance has no idea how he got so lucky. He believes the heavens sent Will down and somehow, he got the privilege of being Wills boyfriend. His heart always felt heavier with love whenever he was with him, as if Will was love itself.
Chance slid into the bed, trying not to wake Will up. He scooted closer to Will and rested his head against his back, draping an arm around Wills waist. And soon, he fell asleep.
Chance awoke at 2:46 sensing Will wasn't there, and of course, he wasn't. He paused for a moment.
'Maybe he's getting water.' he thought. However that was quickly proven incorrect when he hears sobs coming from somewhere in the house. Chance stands quickly and hurries out the door. He can see the light peeking through the cracks of the bathroom door.
Getting closer, the sobs get louder. He knocks. "Will, what's wrong?" He waits for a response. "Nothin' you can go back to sleep" He hears, through broken sobs beyond the bathroom door. Chance sighs, now trying to open the door. "Will, come on.. talk to me" He doesn't hear anything for a moment, he hadn't gotten up to unlock the door. "Will?" He says again, his voice pleading. He hears Will make a sound, "Uh-uh." He clearly doesn't want to talk. "I'm not leaving until you open this door, Will." he pauses for a moment, "I'm real worried, Love."
He can hear Will shuffle and then a click. He pushes open the door to find Will holding his knees up to his chest on the floor, leaning against the bathtub. Chance closes the door behind him and the sits, cross legged, directly opposite Will.
"What's going on, Will" Chance asks, with the softest voice he can possibly speak. Will looks at Chance, his eyes red, and cheeks tear stained. He sniffles, "Why?" He says. That's all he says, and Chance is confused. "Why what?" He responds, eyebrows furrowing. "Why are you with me." Chance doesn't know how to respond. Never in his life did he think he would be asked that. he thought it was obvious, so why was Will asking. With his mouth still ajar in confusion, "Wh-" He tries. "I love you, that's why" He says. Will doesn't respond right away, but when he does, he asks: "How?"
Chance doesn't know where any of this is coming from. Will picks up on Chance's confusion and continues, "How could you, how could anyone love me?" He stretches his legs out, and his hands meet each other, Chance notices he's picking at the skin around his nails, he refuses to look at Chance. "I mean, I'm a complete mess, I- I- Jump at everything that makes a loud noise, I don't like people being behind me, I hate when people touch me unexpectedly, I go completely silent at random points during the day"
He pauses to take a breath, a few actually, he's not breathing in between his rambling. Chance tries to get his attention, to remind him to breath, but Will starts again.
"I get nightmares all the time and wake people up because of of them, I can barely eat sometimes, I can be annoying when I'm like this, I zone out way too much, when I get bad I hide away, sometimes I leave the house completely and worry everyone, I waste time constantly checking my surroundings when I don't need to, and most of the time I know I don't need to, but if I don't I wont feel safe and it annoys all the people around me and I- I-"
He stops to catch his breath. Chance takes this opportunity to take Wills hands into his own. He guides one of Wills hands to his chest and takes a deep breath in. "Copy my breathing, alright mahal?" Chance breaths in, and then out. In and Out. Still holding Wills hand on his chest, rubbing his thumb back and forward on the back of it. "Will?" He tries, wanting to get Will to look at him again. Will does, his eyes filled with tears, falling out of his eyes occasionally. Chance looks at will, he is overcome with worry as he keeps Wills hand on his chest.
"Will" he looks down at him. "Will, I love you, because you are wonderful" Wills breathing is steady, so he takes Wills face into his hands, making Will look at him.
"I love you, and I am constantly falling in love with you, because you are so, so kind. You begged he to help that kitten stuck in the dumpster, and you looked so cute with it in your arms afterwards, you were always kind to me in school, even when I was being a douche, and god knows I didn't deserve your kindness, yet you remained kind. I love that kindness, and I always will. You always worry about everyone around you, even if were completely fine. You look back on the side walk if your friends are behind you, making sure they're okay. You wait right beside them when the tie their laces, even if the rest of the group continue walking. You always make sure people are heard in big groups, and you always listen.
I love you because of your bravery, you continue to push through everyday, trying to make the most out of each one, even though you've been through so much in your life, you were hurt over and over, and you still push through, knowing you could get hurt again. God, Will, you're so brave, I wish I was as brave as you, I don't think id be able to keep smiling after everything if I were in your shoes. You fight for the people you love, and you wont stop.
I love you because you're so cautious. Hah, I swear Will before you I was the most careless person ever, I would constantly end up doing some dumb shit and getting myself or others hurt. You always make sure I okay, you patch up even the smallest of cuts because 'infections can always affect cuts, not matter how big or small', you told me that. You always make sure I put my keys in the right place when I get home, so I don't loose them, you move the shoes to a place out of the way so no one falls and hurts themselves. You look abound because you need to know a place is safe, safe for you and the people around you.
Will you are so easy to love. All I want to do is love you, id be happy for that to be the only thing I ever do, for the rest of my life"
Will was fully sobbing now. He buried his face in Chance's chest while wrapping his arms around him. Chance tilts his head down and kissed the top of Wills head. "I couldn't be happier to be your boyfriend." He whispers, hoping Will hears.
It takes a while for Will to calm down and take his face out of Chance's chest. "Do you-" Will starts , but before he can finish, Chance interrupts, "I mean every word." After another while, Chance and Will get up, off the bathroom floor and back into Wills room. Will doesn't know what to say. He feels nothing he can say will pale in comparison to what Chance said. "Sorry I got tears of your shirt", Chance smiles, kissing Wills forehead. "Don't worry, giliw, sleep" He answers, caressing Wills face as they lie in bed. "Ill protect you".