A/N: the following is set sometime after Skandia when Halt realises that something isn't quite right.
05 - complicated:
"What's wrong Will?"
"It's..." the young boy scrambled for the right word. "Complicated." he said, diverting his gaze from the piercing stare of his mentor.
"Complicated?" He nodded. "All right then," Halt said, setting two mugs of coffee on the small table in front of the roaring fire. "I've got time." he sat down in his armchair and Will followed suit. They paused a moment, the only break from the silence being the quiet sipping of their too-hot coffee. The snow started to fall outside, it would blanket the forest floor tomorrow, Will thought as he watched the flakes fall down, some sticking to the window when a gentle breeze interrupted their free fall. He turned to where his mentor sat, cold hands clasped around the warm drink, concern written in his dark brown eyes. Will hesitated before speaking, his gaze falling to his untouched coffee. Then once he started everything began to pour out of him, he told Halt about everything, the nightmares, the scars, the fear of freezing up from an unexpected memory and the tiredness that came after a sleepless night.
Once finished, he took a long deep breath and focused on the bitter now lukewarm liquid quenching his dry throat, rather than what Halt might think, what he might say.
"I can see why that might be... complicated." he said after a while. Will nodded and continued to stare at his empty cup. Halt set his cup down and walked forwards until he was in front of his apprentice and crouched in front of him, forcing Will to meet his gaze. He stood back up again and confused, Will stood too. In hindsight the young ranger wasn't sure what he was expecting, maybe a "Glad you got that off your chest?", or a pat on the shoulder, but to be enveloped by the strong yet gentle embrace of his father figure wasn't one of them. Will hugged back, savouring the new found comfort in his mentor. Halt released him and ruffled the curly mop Will called 'hair' and spoke in a soft tone. "I'm proud of you, Will." He smiled a rare smile and shooed his apprentice off to bed when he smiled back. "Now off to bed with you, these late nights will do nothing for your training." He watched as Will set the mug by the sink and shuffled over to his room, "Halt?"
"Yes Will?"
"Thank you."
"Anytime."