All the Ways to Love You

Home, in the Middle

Summary:
Will always thought that they were in the middle. Not at the beginning, but no, they were nowhere near the ending either.
Or  alternatively:
The one where Nico finally found a home.

Notes:
Heavily inspired by three songs: Always - Panic! at the Disco; The Middle - Wet; and To and Fro - Thomson.

***

"I can't keep doing this, can I?"

From where he was sitting next to the cot Will glanced at Nico. But Nico had his eyes on the ceiling, like he was asking the question to the ceiling instead of Will.

Will looked down to the paper in his hand. But the words on Nico's records on his hands become things without any meaning.

"What do you mean?'

"I can't keep on coming back here, being broken like this, letting you to fix me...only to leave again."

Will chewed his lower lip.

Don't leave, then.

Will stayed silent as he placed the folder on the small table next to the cot.

"First of all," he said, fiddling with the pen that he was holding to stop himself from taking Nico's hand. "You're not broken."

Nico turned his head and locked his eyes at Will. The dark eyes staring at Will, asking questions.

Will smiled softly. "You're just...tired. Injured, sometimes. But no, you're not broken."

Nico was still staring at him, and again, Will got lost in the dark galaxy hidden behind those eyes.

"You're not broken, Nico. There's nothing about you that needs to be fixed."

Silence passed between the two of them.

Nico's eyes were staring at his, like he was searching for something.

Will wondered whether he would ever be the one that Nico has been searching for.

"What's the next one, then?"

Will arched an eyebrow.

"You said first of all. What's the second one, the next ones?"

This time, Will allowed himself to gently brushed away some of Nico's hair from his forehead.

"Whenever you're tired. Whenever the world is too much for you, you can always come back here."

(I will always be waiting. Holding a candle to light the way for you)

The look in Nico's eyes got softer.

(Will wondered whether Nico has found what he has been looking for)

"I..." Will pulled away his hand from Nico's hair.

"Will?"

Suddenly Will's heart was too big for his chest and it was beating too fast.

"Yes?"

"Should I stay tonight? I mean...for...the healing process and stuff?"

Nico's voice was low with hesitation.

Nico's eyes were staring at him with a fragile hope.

Will stared back at him.

His heart was heavy and Will could not understand whether his heart was aching with longing or it was fluttering with hope.