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[abrightboy]

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[abrightboy]

When the kiss breaks, Malcolm just looks at him for a moment, like he's studying the lines of his face with a sort of wonder, then his expression falters.

"I'm supposed to be happy for him. All his friends are happy for him."

[empathicfault]

Will puts his hands on Malcolm's upper shoulders, bracing him. "It's not a matter of 'supposed to,' Malcolm. I'm sure others are hurting too, but...it's easier for many people to focus on the happy parts. Not so much for you, I think."

[abrightboy]

"He was always kind. And he was always fair to me. There aren't many left," Malcolm says.

[empathicfault]

"You can't hold onto anyone forever. No one can," Will says, grimly. He looks up and kisses Malcolm's forehead. Afterwards, he'll pull him into a tight hug and speak into his ear. "Although I'm getting tempted to try and see if I can, with you."

Too much, probably too desperate. Will loosens his grip but doesn't let go entirely. "But it's...the way of life. Even with good people, you have to deal with the pain of losing them, or they will have to deal with the pain of losing you. You will find others that know you. We will find them together. That doesn't soothe this sting, but know it won't last forever."

[abrightboy]

Not too desperate. Never too much. Just the right amount to not be alone.

“I love you,” he whispers. “After…” he glances around to encompass the time they’ll spend here. “Can you stay with me tonight?”

[empathicfault]

"I will," he reassures, kissing Malcolm's hands, then his lips. "I love you, Malcolm. And I'll be there whenever you need me, if I even have to crawl my way over." He thinks about how that sounds and chuckles at himself. "Not that I'm expecting it to be that tough most of the time."

[abrightboy]

Malcolm leans into him, breathes in the scent of the skin at the crook of his neck.

“You know… the only people who really bother me are the ones that want to get you away from me,” he murmurs, letting his eyes flutter closed, just feeling and listening and smelling. He smiles faintly but warmly. “But they can’t, can they? They just can’t.”

[empathicfault]

"No one could. Not even gods," Will replies, his voice quiet but deep as he speaks directly into Malcolm's ear. It's practically a growl, a challenge. He won't allow anyone or anything to separate them. "Not even Hannibal. Not even your father." Which probably should've come before the gods, but of course they didn't.

Will and Malcolm are the Defiant. Beyond everything. And Will is committed to protecting Malcolm, until the man becomes whatever he desires.

[abrightboy]

He lifts his head to look at Will. He’s happy, he realizes. Out there, stuff is confusing and difficult but here… it all runs off like rain water. Only one thing is important. He holds Will’s gaze for a moment, then his eyes shift to his chest, where he starts unbuttoning Will’s shirt with a calm, satisfied smile.

“I’m ready to run now,” he says. He glances up and then leans up to steal a kiss as his fingers continue their work.

[empathicfault]

And perhaps that's all Malcolm needed, someone to be there for him, no matter what. It's something Will had known he'd needed for ages and something he'd come to accept and embrace and now will provide.

It's so gratifying and relieving to see that small, calm smile. There doesn't have to be any struggle here, nothing they don't want. It's just them and the woods. He radiates warmth as he kisses Malcolm back. "Let's go, then."

He helps Malcolm out of his clothes, too- briefly considers another distraction, but it's so not the time for it. Once he's pulled his socks off (he's destroyed more socks than anything else with this new state, oddly), he changes. The bone crunching noises remind him of the ortolans, and it's not an unpleasant reminder of transformations past.

[abrightboy]

Malcolm wouldn't object to other distractions.... maybe after they run. As they get outside the cabin, he nips playfully at Will's cheek, then he takes off at full speed across the field.