Author note: Hello! We're nearing the end of the Reunion arc, which to me, was a point in which I could show Henry and Will taking those first steps towards being a couple to the world in general, rather than just to their close friends at the Sanctuary. How you are accepted among close friends is often wildly different to how you are accepted by people who have known you for years. I've found that it's often more jarring to integrate an old acquaintance with a new lifestyle - people do not adjust as easily as you might often hope. Also, I totally drink at the bar I've described here; I was on my third pint as started scribbling, and the next day it took two people to decipher my blurred chicken scratch after a friend used it as a drink coaster. Ayway, sorry I'm once again late - I was on holiday with no internet access. :D
Warning: Sex, pseudo-science, Henry being emotional.
Pair: William Zimmerman and Henry Foss.
Disclaimer: I do not own Sanctuary, because if I did the ending would be more of an ending, rather than just stopping like it did. Stupid cancellations...
The bar was dimly lit, muted colours spread from dusty shades wrapped around dirty bulbs. Background music served no other purpose than to cover the oppressive silences that often fell. It wasn't a place for students or families, unlike many bars and most pubs in the city.
It was a place for tears in whiskey, a place for quiet reflection on a shitty day, for escape into a world of cheap alcohol and stale peanuts, for dodgy dealings and quick fucks in the stained bathrooms.
But despite this, come evening there would be people ready for a good time queuing at the bar, enticed by affordable drinks, good food, decent music, and friendly staff.
A woman alone never felt threatened or nervous, despite being aware of the shady goings-on in the dark corners behind her. Wheelers and dealers and addicts and businessmen and groups and loners, and in years of attendance, one would only witness the occasional problem customer.
It was a place to unwind and be yourself without fear of judgement or abuse. It was what every bar should be, and that very few had the guts to be.
Henry, the only person of their group who hadn't frequented it before, was on edge. His senses were on high alert, picking up every unusual smell, every shady looking individual. Laura was loitering near the bar, ignoring every chat-up line that got thrown her way, with enough faith in the Security Staff to know she was safe. Lucy and Richard sat opposite him and Will, all three radiating enough confidence to make Henry even more nervous. Will noticed, naturally.
"H, chill out. It's as safe in here as it is in your lab." His hand was resting comfortably on Henry's thigh, the familiar warm weight reassuring. "Trust me."
"Can't help it." Henry leant against him. Will squeezed his leg gently. "Reflex." Will chuckled, and pressed quick kiss to Henry lips before sliding out of the booth to get to the bathrooms.
"You guys always like this?" Lucy asked as soon as he was out of earshot.
"Uh..." Henry looked embarrassed. Upon reflection, they had been very touchy-feely on this trip, but it had mostly been Will reassuring him in one way or another. "Kind of, yeah. I must be coming across as sort of neurotic, huh?"
"No way." Richard set down his beer bottle. "S'gotta be stressful for you, getting dragged across country to meet a bunch of strangers." Henry shrugged.
"I don't mind. It's important to Will, so I came with him." He toyed with the neck of his own bottle. "He's stood by me through some really fucked up shit. I'd do..." Henry blushed. "Sorry."
"No," Lucy smiled. "Go ahead." Henry returned the expression.
"It sounds really sappy, but I'd do anything for him. Will's helped me so much, I don't think I can ever repay him."
"That's really sweet." Lucy patted his arm. Richard rolled his eyes. "Don't be such an ass, Rick. Your son would be lucky to have a guy like this. Any of us would." She looked back at Henry. "You do love Will, don't you?"
"Absolutely." Henry nodded with iron conviction.
"Good, because if you said no, we'd have to kick your ass." Henry chuckled. "No. Really." the serious tone made Henry's smile falter just a little. "Does he love you?" Richard asked. Henry shrugged.
"I think he does, but the circumstances around us getting together were strange. Still are, I guess."
"Will said something like that." Laura commented, sliding into the booth. "How did you guys hook up then?" Henry floundered. What could he say? 'I'm a werewolf and practically raped him in my mating season'?
"We work together." He admitted, eventually. Letting them know that much couldn't hurt, surely. "I'm a technician, kind of. We work for the same business."
"Not very original." Laura sighed. "I was hoping for something more dramatic and romantic." Henry chuckled.
"Sorry. Truth is often dull. I could make something up, if you'd prefer?" Lucy laughed. "Seriously, we met at work – same boss and everything."
"You guys are an office romance?" Richard sounded incredulous. "I didn't think stuff like that really happened." Henry shrugged.
"Like I say, I'm a technician. Unofficially, he's something like second-in-command at work, but we're a really small, informal team. Because we live and work at such close quarters, you get to know people really well really fast." Will slid back into the booth.
"Talking about work?"
"Talking about how we got together." Henry laughed as Will winced briefly.
TBC