Liam Flynn (![[info]](https://www.insanejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} me_lucky_charms) wrote in ![[info]](https://www.insanejournal.com/img/community.gif){kind=small} nevermore_logs,@ 2010-08-19 03:58:00 |
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me_lucky_charms and Will [NPC]What: Bonding time!
When: Wednesday evening, August 19th
Where: Liam's apartment
Liam was distressed. Alastair had missed work that day, which meant that without his assistant, Liam had had to deal with humans all by himself. He had done it for decades before Alastair came along, but now he was spoiled and used to letting Alastair handle things and he didn't like this new turn of events. Liam assumed, however, that Alastair's recent change in personality was because of his issues with his teenage son Willard moving in, and so Liam did not think it was right to raise the matter with his best friend. Surely a leprechaun could run his shoe shop alone. It was what they did, right?
It did mean he got to count all the money all day long. Liam liked that. And Alastair wasn't there to give him Looks when Liam admired pieces of jewellery people had on. He had come away that day with twice as many little treasures than he usually did, most of which were safely in his box under his bed. And now, to let off steam, Liam was playing Silent Hill 2 while wearing gold bangles on his wrists. They made him feel fancy. And when they clanged together, Liam giggled.
Liam's front door opened and closed somewhere behind him, but Liam didn't turn around. Chances were good it wasn't a zombie or a monster thing and there was currently one on screen he had to try to kill will a crow bar. That was much more important and his attention would not be diverted.
"Liam?"
Liam recognised that voice. It was Will. Liam grunted at the boy and only when he had knocked the pixelated creature to the ground and then beaten it to death, did he pause the game and turn around. Will was looking a little lost and he was leaning against the wall between the kitchen and the living room; a hunched and gloomy s-shape in a hoody, despite the warmth of the day. "Hi." He had been coming over daily now, searching for someone to spend time with while Alastair did whatever it was Alastair was doing. Usually they watched the TV and did not speak.
"Hello, Will." Liam didn't know how to be comforting, but he tried his level best. He had been learning over the past few days, and he put his skills to work again. "How are you today then?"
"Murgh," Will muttered and then he lifted one arm up to clasp his opposite elbow. "Can I come in?"
"You are in. Might as well come in the rest of the way." Liam patted the floor beside him and Will plopped himself down on the greenish carpet. His eyes travelled to the screen and he raised his eyebrows.
"What game is this? I couldn't see for shit while you were playing."
"It's Silent Hill. It's supposed to be foggy." Liam reached out for the box, which he dropped into Will's lap. "This guy James is looking for his dead wife because she's all sending him letters and he sees this lady of the night who looks like her and then there's this triangle guy with a big knife and it drags and makes sounds like 'kkkttcchhhh kkkttcchhhh' and-"
"Just...show me?" Will suggested, since it was hard to follow Liam's train of thought, even when you knew what he was thinking. And Will did not.
"Oh, okay!" Liam liked that idea. And so for a good two hours, he played his game and Will watched. Liam explained what he was doing and he found he liked that Will was getting more and more into it as they went along. The boy asked questions and he cheered Liam on during fights. He even squealed once when a monster surprised them. It was more enjoyable than simply playing the game himself.
When it was time to stop for dinner, Liam threw down his controller and he turned to Will. "Do you want to have dinner with me? I was going to order pizza."
"Sure. Dad's still asleep." Will frowned again, so Liam quickly changed the subject.
"I like having someone to play this game with!" Alastair had always said his video games were silly. He had never sat at Liam's side to cheer him on. When Liam played, Alastair was at his own home, or reading something boring like books. They weren't even on the computer. "What kind of pizza do you want?"
"Just pepperoni will do me." Will smiled and when Liam went into the kitchen to order, he stood and followed. He fixed Liam a salad as well, even though Liam didn't necessarily want one. Salads were boring. He still let it happen. And when the pizzas arrived, they sat together at the table, intending to have a civilised meal. Will was the one who started the conversation.
"I start school soon," Will said with a sigh. "Everyone is going to hate me there."
"That's stupid," Liam informed him. "Why would they do that?"
"Because I'm new. It's fate. If I was new and interesting it would be fine, but I'm new and my dad works in a shoe shop. ...no offense..."
"None taken!" Liam said, spearing a tomato and popping it in his mouth. "Anyway," he said around the tomato, "your mother is in London being acty."
"Yeah, on stage. No one in high school will care about the West End. If she was in a movie I'd be made, but she's not." Will sighed and he poked at his pizza. "It's just crappy. I liked my old school. It was awesome."
Liam, searching for something...anything to cheer Will up said, "you could tell them you have a girlfriend in Seattle you gave your heart to, but not literally." When Will made a face at that, Liam looked concerned. "Oh no, did she give you your heart back!?"
Slowly, Will shook his head. "Not...exactly. Liam? We're bonding, right?"
"Uh...yes?"
"And you like me, right?"
Liam looked worried. Where was this going? "I think you are a wonderful best friend's son." And then he added, "I'm not adopting you!"
Will blinked and then he shook his head. "Liam, I don't want to be adopted! No, I just...there's another reason I'm worried about starting a new school. Because I'll have to get all new friends and the people here won't...my friends in Seattle knew and it's-" Will groaned and he dropped his fork onto his plate with a clatter. "You know how I told you my girlfriend's name was Tracy?"
Liam nodded. "I now remember that you did say that, yes."
"It's not Tracy," Will said, looking grim. "I lied. It's Timothy."
Liam didn't bat an eyelash. "That's a weird name for a girl. You probably shouldn't tell the people at your new school that." He didn't catch the look of anguish on Will's face then either.
"No- Liam! Timothy is a guy. I'm dating a guy! And Mom didn't know and Dad doesn't know but my friends knew and now I don't have any one who does! Except you. And I figure you can keep a secret, leprechaun."
Liam's jaw had dropped and a piece of pepperoni had fallen out of his mouth. When Will stopped talking, gradually he remembered to chew, swallow, and say something to the young man in front of him who was trusting him with such an important piece of information. Why he was trusting him was beyond Liam, but there was no going back now. Alastair's son was gay and he knew and Alastair didn't know. That was big. "...oh. Oh. Uhm...okay. That's...really great, Will." Liam patted Will's hand so he would know Liam didn't think this was a bad thing, and Will sighed.
"No, it's not great! I already did the coming out thing, at least at school, and now I have to do it again! This is bullshit!"
"I...don't...know what to say," Liam said, smiling a fake smile. "Are you sure your dad isn't-"
"My dad doesn't care about me," Will growled. "He's been out all week practically. And if I tell him this, he'll hate me."
"He won't!" Liam protested. "He doesn't hate me! And I'm...weird!" Liam showed Will his bangles, just in case being a leprechaun didn't prove that already. "He'll be glad you told him."
"I'm not telling him," Will said firmly. "I told you. I don't even know why, but you're the only one who likes me around here. Can I keep coming over to play Silent Hill with you?"
"Sure," Liam said easily. "I like the company." Which was a complete surprise, but it was true. He took a bite of his pizza and he chewed slowly. Finally, using more of the skills he had developed over the past few days he said, "Will? Uhm...tell me about Timothy?"
He had guessed it would be a good topic of conversation and even though Will's smile was bittersweet, Liam was right. Will told him all about Timothy, even admitting that their relationship was probably doomed now that they were thousands of miles apart. It still meant he was telling Liam about himself. Will was glad to do it and, Liam was surprised to find, he was glad to hear it.