A week or so later, Will's classes are over for the semester, so he drives over to Liam's. He'd somehow roped him into helping him with something computer related, and on the promise of a six pack, he'd offered to help.
He looks for the key under the doormat, finding it covered in dust. Swearing, he steps on the bugs that come crawling out, as he uses the key on the front door. The heater's on, and it feels really good, so he goes over to the fridge to grab one of the beers he's owed before he tackles the computer problem.
His phone goes off as he takes the first sip, so he pulls it out of his pocket.
I say you should play hooky with me
Will frowns in confusion. It can't be jealousy, because that should be his job, at the thought of helping out Sonny's ex for about an hour or so. Sonny's been underfoot since he made partner. Will's both enjoyed and exasperated by it, Sonny driving him crazy in a way only he can.
Why?
As Will waits for the response, he hears the door open again. It startles Will, because he's pretty sure nobody's supposed to be here but him. He doesn't have the gun-- hasn't needed to, but the one Sonny keeps handy is in the glove compartment of the BMW. He grabs his almost empty beer bottle by the neck, hoping he doesn't have to actually use it. Letting his guard down has been a really nice change of pace.
Eli turns around the corner, a plastic drugstore bag in his hands. He looks up, surprised, and Will can't help but think, Okay, this is officially awkward.
"Hi." he starts hesitantly, finishing his beer. "Your dad asked me for help with his computer."
"The computer's in the other room." Eli tells him, cocking his head.
"Right, but the beer he offered me in payment is in the fridge." He holds up his bottle. "I'll just leave you to do your thing."
He grabs two more bottles in his hands before walking past where Eli's standing, not moving, biting his bottom lip. Will's praying to whoever might be listening that this is as far as the conversation with Sonny's ex whatever's son, and the recipient of a broken heart by yours truly.
"Uh, Will?" Eli asks, voice soft and shaking. Will can hear him shaking the bag, and Will curses himself before hiding it with a sincere smile.
"Yeah?" Will replies, one hand on the office doorknob. He's not trying to be rude, he's really not, but he knows he's being a little short. Other than polite conversation, they don't really know each other at all. And even then, those conversations were completely formal on his side. Not to mention, he broke his heart, and Sonny banged his dad. That has to be weird on so many levels for both of them.
"Uh." Eli tries, and he sounds so doubtful, that WIll finally sighs, turning back to face him. "Have you…" Eli gives him a shaky smile.
"Hey, what's wrong? You okay?" He moves back to him slowly, patting his shoulder. He has a lifetime of experience of having to deal with emotionally charged people to know when someone's on the verge of having a meltdown, and now he's only hoping he'll be able to stop it in its tracks or make a quick getaway.
"I don't know." Eli tells him, staring at his hand that has Will pulling it away. "Can I ask you something?"
Will shrugs, because as uncomfortable as he is, he's not one to be rude. "Sure."
Eli makes a face, but just keeps going, "You and Sonny have slept around, haven't you? It just seems-- the way you two hold yourself, I dunno."
Oh lord. "We've both had our share." Sony more than him, and he only knows about the ones since he first met Sonny. "Uh, Eli. Your dad and Sonny...they used protection, okay? He didn't give your dad anything. Not that Sonny has one."
Eli's face scrunches in confusion, "What? No! God, no. I mean, that's good, but that's not what I...have you ever…?" he cuts himself off, shoving a hand into the bag he's holding, pulling out a small box, handing it to Will, clearly embarrassed.
OraQuick In-Home HIV Test
Will's eyes immediately go huge. "Uh, Eli, don't, don't you think your dad should be here for this? He could probably help you more than me."
Eli shakes his head, "He's working. But have you, you know, ever had to use one?"
No he has not. In fact, from what little experience he actually has in that department (all with condoms, but everyone knows they're not 100% effective), he's positive he's never had to swab his cheeks for one of these things, worried while he waits for the results. He has no idea how it would feel to know he's positive, because if he did, nobody would know how to track him down.
The thought makes him frown.
"Looks pretty simple to me." Will tells Eli, handing it back. "You just put the swab all around inside your cheek, put it in the test tube, and wait for the results, right?"
"Uh huh." Eli exhales, biting his lip. His normally neat hair is all messy, compete with dark circles under his eyes that look pretty close to bruises on his pale face.
He nods as Eli turns back around, and after ten seconds, he hears the door to the bathroom slam shut. He pops open his second beer, taking one long gulp. His phone vibrates against his hip, so he pulls it out to distract himself from the guilt of leaving Eli by himself to his mini freak out.
Because, Sonny's texted back, this.
There's a picture below, and it makes Will's heart pound so loudly it actually goes all the way up to his head, pounding in a way that actually physically hurts. It's taken in front of Sonny's bedroom mirror, showing Sonny all dressed up in his wedding tuxedo. One hand is both holding up his phone to take the picture, as well as showing off the ring in plain view, while the other hand holds up a handmade sign, sporting the question, Marry me?
It's all Will can do to not gasp or wince from the pounding headache.
Oh my God, Is all Will can think to reply back.
Is that any way to speak to the man that's gonna marry us? Sonny texts not even 30 seconds later. What's the point in waiting? I don't want to waste another second not being married to you.
Will really has been waiting, this is true. They've definitely been active in the bedroom, but they've been holding off on actual sex for...personal reasons. The timing just isn't right, which Will has to know has to be a little nerve wracking for Sonny. He practically had to lure Will to his apartment for what would've been the first time, for Christ sake. Sonny's way more experienced than him, but with Will he's definitely done his best to change that. Or maybe that's who Sonny's always been, and now that he's with the love of his life, doesn't even miss it.
You make it so tempting. So, so tempting.See you at City Hall.
But, goddamnit. Will really doesn't want to leave Eli like this, and he did promise Liam he's help with the computer today, because he needs it for work. But this is important. The most amazing, wonderful man wants to be his husband, and even Will knows it's kinda important that he be there.
Will turns to leave, but the fates must have it out for him, because he can hear the faint sounds of someone crying. And right then, he knows there's no way he can leave Eli alone like this. He sighs, as he stares at the picture Sonny sent him for another moment, rubbing his head to try to make the headache go away, before putting the phone away.
"Eli." He calls out silently, knocking on the bathroom door. "You okay in there?"
"I'm freaking out, Will." he replies in a shaky voice, surprised. "I thought you'd left."
"You're one of our god friends' pride and joy." He reminds him. "That would be such a dick move. Did you do it?"
"Yeah." Eli replies. "Gotta wait 20 minutes for the results."
"Are you serious?"
Eli laughs, but he's still a bit choked up. "Right?"
Will leans against the door, forcing himself to not think about Sonny in his wedding tuxedo, or his headache that's determined to get worse by the second. "What happened?"
"I had sex." Eli answers, and Will coughs.
"I know that! I meant, did the condom break. You're so responsible, Eli. Your dad's always talking about you're the real man of the house. Just doesn't sound like you."
Eli sighs deeply, "It was late at night, and I stupidly didn't check to make sure Logan used one. He swore he did, but he didn't."
'You can't be serious!" He yelps. "Look, Eli, I know I'm the last person who should be telling you anything about your love life, but honestly? Fuck him! No, wait. Stop fucking him!"
Eli laughs again, sniffling. "Oh believe me, I did. It's over and done. Final straw after a long line of final straws."
"Good." Will says. "Want a beer?"
"I'm not of age." Eli says cautiously.
"I won't tell if you won't."
Eli snorts. "Yeah. That actually sounds good."
He goes to the kitchen to grab another one, almost dropping it when he hears a scream.
The bathroom door flies open, and he throws himself in Will's arms, crying. He's getting so much snot and tears all over Will's shirt, but it's fine, because Eli's whispering, "Thank god. Thank god."
He gives Eli an awkward pat on the back until he manages to calm down, wiping his nose. Will hands Eli the beer with a smile, who takes it gratefully.
"Drink your beer and be happy it's negative." Will's phone vibrates again, which makes Will groan.
Don't forget to swing by home to change!!!
Will sighs, "Eli, tell your dad I'll come by later to help with his computer, okay? A uh, colleague, needs some help with something so I need to...go help them."
Eli eyes him, "Yeah, sure. Uh, if you see my dad, please don't--"
Will pats him on the cheek. Eli's really not so bad, you know, when he's not trying to kiss him. "Your secret's safe with me. I'm not gonna say a word."
Eli replies, "Weirdly, I actually believe you."
Sonny wakes up all at once, gasping as he sits up from his spot on the couch. His heart pounds, listening for what could've woke him up, but there's nothing but the deafening silence, his ears practically ringing. He's so disoriented-- it's dark, blinds still wide open like they were this afternoon, when he apparently fell asleep, waiting for Will.
He blushes when he realizes he's in his wedding tuxedo, and moves to smooth out the wrinkles. A quick glance at the clock tells him it's almost eight PM, and he frowns, wondering why Will didn't wake him up.
He gets up from the couch, going towards Will's bedroom, ready to let Will have it for letting him nap so long, and for not waking him up to take him down to the City Hall to get married, for the wedding he'd been wanting since Will's memory back.
The house is dark. Sonny's stomach does a little flip, because it's so strange to see the house like this, without the TV Will leaves on day and night, without something cooking in the kitchen, without Sonny talking to Will through whatever he's doing. It feels cold and unfamiliar, and for the first time in the entire time they've been here, completely unlike their home.
Sonny turns on a lamp, which helps to turn the place back into familiar territory. This home, the one they've made for themselves here is what Sonny is most proud of himself for, more than anything else in his life. The friends they've made, the jobs they hold, and the love they've nurtured between themselves, something Sonny stopped wishing for years ago, but never stopped wanting.
He turns back to the end table, flipping on the other light to search for his phone. Maybe Will got held up at Liam's, or at work, and he had to go back to finish up work on Liam's computer. His phone's just lying on the table, and as soon as he picks it up, it rings.
"Will, where are you?" Sonny mumbles into the phone, scratching at his bleary eyes.
"Sonny." It's not Will, and his sleep deprived head can't place the voice for a minute. He pulls the phone away to look at the caller ID, and it's Liam, of all people.
"Liam? What's going on?"
"Sonny, where have you been? I've been trying to call you for hours. Everyone has."
Sonny's heart starts to pound, and he twisting at the ring on his finger, a nervous gesture he's picked up since Will put it there a couple weeks ago. "I fell asleep waiting on Will, and my, uh. My phone's on silent. Why? Where is he?"
"Sonny. He, he was apparently heading back to your house to meet up with you. He was talking with Eli at our house, and he told me he got a text and raced out of there."
"Sonny, someone ran a stop sign on him. He's--"
"No," Sonny tells her, voice cracking in despair. "No he's not..."
"He's not," Liam concedes. "Sonny, he's really hurt. Bad. You. You need to come down here."
"Is he asking for me?" Sonny hopes, grabbing the keys in his free hand.
Liam is quiet, then repeats, "You need to get down here."