Missed Connections (62 page)

"If it's much too cold for me, Morgs, it's beyond too cold for you. Come on, I'll walk you back." He took his hand then, feeling the tick increase as he gave an encouraging tug to get Morgan to move.

"No, really I'm fine, Will," Morgan protested, staying rooted to the spot, his mask fading slightly as a flash of panic ran across his face suddenly. He was close, Will could see it. Just another push and he might break through.

With another insistent tug from Will, Morgan's facade crumbled completely. "Alright—alright! Stop, please," he begged, the last bit coming out almost brokenly. Will immediately ceased, worry creeping into his bones as he stood there patiently for Morgan to speak.

Morgan took his hand back, folding his arms protectively around himself to stave off the cold. Not that it was doing him any good. Will just wanted to wrap his arms around Morgan, wanted to mix their body heat together until there was no distinction between the two. He wanted to wrap them both up in a big downy comforter until the cold was nothing but a distant memory. But he held himself back, knowing he needed to be patient and let Morgan open up to him before he acted on anything.

"I, uh, I lost my spot," he admitted quietly, not meeting Will's gaze. A group of skimpily clad women passed them then, laughing boisterously and stumbling as Will sidestepped awkwardly in order to not get trampled by their lethal high heels.

"But... how? I thought you said you were guaranteed a spot?"

"I was. It's just that—

"Then I don't understand how he can just—"

"I gave it up, alright!" Morgan blurted out suddenly, shocking Will out of his building confusion and anger. His eyes softened as Morgan shuffled uncomfortably as if he hadn't meant to say any of it. "I gave it up to another. A father and son. They were... they were being turned down, sent back on the streets because the shelter had no more space, no more beds. So I, uh, I gave them mine." He finished quietly, eyes finally meeting Will's, a spark of defiance dancing within their depths. He didn't regret it, Will could see that, and that he would gladly take Will's disappointment with the knowledge that he had done the right thing and wouldn't take it back for anything.

But Will was not disappointed in him at all. He felt his heart swell with pride and adoration for this skinny man in front of him. How anyone could be so selfless, so caring when they themselves were not much better off, he didn't know. But Morgan did it effortlessly.

He made Will want to be a better person.

Before he even knew what he was doing, Will stepped forward and captured Morgan's lips with his own, his hands framing his face. Morgan immediately tensed beneath him at the sudden show of affection but quickly melted into it, opening up easily after a few probes of Will's eager tongue and deepening the kiss. It was messy and passionate, nothing like the gentle, sweet kisses and pecks they had shared before. They were sucking, biting, and licking as each tried to claim the other, desperation and emotion flooding their every pore until thoughts and sounds faded into the background, leaving only the two of them drowning amidst the overflowing emotions from the other.

Will pulled away first, breath coming out in short white puffs as he panted, trying to fill his lungs with sufficient air. He was lightheaded and could hear the blood pumping through his veins as he came off the high of the kiss, but he couldn't stop himself from smiling. He looked over at Morgan then, knowing that he was probably in a similar state.

Morgan's cheeks were flushed, lips red and swollen from the force of the kiss, but he too was grinning stupidly. Even his beanie was slightly askew—from what, Will couldn't remember but assumed it was his ever-present unconscious desire to run his hands through the dark hair beneath—completing the picture perfectly. Morgan looked absolutely wrecked and it took all of Will's self-restraint to keep from diving right back in to claim that mouth once more. No, he needed to focus on Morgan and getting him off the streets and someplace safe and warm.

He grabbed Morgan's hand, before leaning out over the curb and hailing a bright yellow cab.  In a second, there was one screeching to a halt before them and he pulled open the door, bundling Morgan inside with nothing but a, "Come on, let's go."

"Where—where are we going?" Morgan asked, still having not caught his breath as Will clamored onto the seat beside him and cut off the bitter cold with a firm tug of the cab door.

"You are coming with me," Will stated like it was the most obvious answer in the world before barking out his address to the cabbie. As the cab pulled away, Will glanced over at Morgan, who despite the prominent flush high up on his cheeks, was still shivering slightly. He tugged Morgan's body flush against his own, wrapping his arms around him once more in order to keep him warm. "There is no way I'm letting you sleep out in this cold."

Morgan blanched as the statement finally caught up to his sluggish brain, all of Will's hard work escaping from his cheeks in an instant. "Wh—what?!" he stammered out. "But Will, your father—"

"Left suddenly on a business trip and shouldn't be back until the day after tomorrow," Will finished confidently, smiling down at Morgan still safely ensconced in his arms.

Morgan moved to pull away, no doubt thinking of ways to escape back out onto the streets the second he was able. "I can't. I'll be fine, really." But as the words were spoken, Will could see the desire to stay in Morgan's eyes as he fought against his own stubborn pride.

"Morgan, look. This is nothing more than me offering you a warm safe place to sleep. Just think of it as a shelter."

Morgan frowned, opening his mouth to argue, but Will beat him to it. "Alright, maybe that wasn't the best example. Actually it wasn't very good at all," he mused to himself. Will looked over at Morgan just as the cab pulled up in front of the big expansive mansion he called home. "Just... come in and let me at least make you some hot cocoa. Or tea. And then you can decide from there. Sound fair?"

A beat, then two, passed before Morgan nodded hesitantly and slowly exited the cab. Will shoved a couple of bills at the driver before hastily opening his door and leading Morgan up the drive to the front door.

He knew Morgan didn't like being aided, didn't like feeling he was just some charity case. Hell, he could hardly even stomach going to the soup kitchen for much needed food. And Will understood his desire to make his own way, to be strong and not have to rely on the kindness of others just to survive. Morgan held on so tightly to the small sliver of pride he still had left, not wanting to give it up even at the risk of his own life. But sometimes, he held on
too
tightly.

Will wouldn't give up trying to convince him that what Will was doing wasn't out of pity or some semblance of charity. He truly cared for Morgan, wanted him to not only survive but to
live
, to not just scrape by but to succeed. He just had to make Morgan see that, to show him that although it may seem as if the world had turned its back on him, he didn't need to turn his back on the world. There were ways to create a whole new world and Will could show him the way.

Will fished out his keys and unlocked the front door, sweeping it open and closing it quickly once they were both inside.

"It hasn't changed one bit, has it?" Morgan said with a sigh as he gazed around the grand foyer, a twinkle in his eye and a small smile on his face. He carefully shed his outer coat, hanging it gently on the hooks by the door. A part of Will's mind noted how out of place the ratty worn piece looked in this grand room, but he viciously stomped down on the thought.

Will just shook his head in response to the comment, too busy following Morgan's gaze as they traveled around the polish marble floors, to the grand sweeping staircase on the far side of the foyer and finally to the crystal chandelier that hung majestically in the center overlooking it all. He took off his coat, glancing back at Morgan and enjoying the look of fondness that had taken residence upon his face.

"Brings back memories, doesn't it?"

Morgan laughed, the sound traveling straight to Will's heart and setting it aflame. "Yeah." He paused. "Remember when we used to play knights, battling the vicious dragons that lived at the top of the stairs?"

"You always wanted to make peace and befriend them."

"Hey, a dragon ally would have been more beneficial to the kingdom."

"We were six! The kingdom was the estate!"

"Yes and would have been safer with the protection of a dragon."

A brief moment of silence fell over them before it was broken by fits of laughter. The noise echoed around the large space, attracting the attention of the Royce's housekeeper who came walking out of the kitchen, light brown hair in a neat bun and a worried look upon her kind face.

"William, dear, where have you been? It's almost one. I thought you said you'd be home by twelve at the latest," she remarked, her tone kind and loving despite the scolding words. Her eyes roved over to Morgan then, seeming to realize suddenly that there was someone else in the room. "Oh, and who might this lovely young man be?"

Will put his hand on Morgan's back, presenting him to her like a prize he had won. "Carol, you remember Morgan."

Her face scrunched up in confusion before her eyes widened in remembrance. "Morgan! Oh Morgan, it's so good to see you! How have you been? No, you don't have to answer that. I'm just so glad you're back, honey. I bet you two have a lot to catch up on so I'll just go and whip up some tea. Or would you prefer hot cocoa?"

"Tea, please," Will replied.

"Tea's fine," Morgan agreed with a smile.

"Alright, tea it is," she responded, a big smile plastered to her face as she sauntered back toward the kitchen. "I'll bring it up when it's ready."

"Thank you, Carol!" Will shouted as he made his way up the stairs toward his room, Morgan shouting out a thank you of his own as he followed.

Carol came up not a few minutes later just as Morgan finished exploring and reminiscing in the memories that Will's room held. Will felt a fondness grow in his chest at the sight of the genuine smile that seemed to have been permanently fixed on Morgan's face ever since they had entered the house.

An ornate tray ladened with tea, milk, sugar, and tiny cakes was placed on Will's desk. Carol flashed them a smile before she left as they voiced their appreciation again and said, "Don't stay up too late now, Will. You have school in the morning."

"Yeah, I won't," Will promised.

And with that, they were alone again.

They both drank their tea in silence, Morgan gulping his down in record time, as though he was in a rush. Therefore, it came as no surprise when he abruptly stood up and faced Will. "Thank you, Will, for... everything. I'll let you get some sleep now." He turned to leave.

"Hold on, Morgs," Will pleaded. "I really think you ought to stay. It's much too cold out there."

Morgan shrugged. "It's not much colder than any other night. I have weathered through much worse, believe me."

"Which just goes to show that you shouldn't be out there at all." Will's voice rose an octave, desperation starting to creep up on him. He couldn't let Morgan go back out there, not tonight at least. An idea he had been mulling over at the back of his mind finally sprung forth. "You could stay here permanently you know."

"Wh—what?"

"I can talk to my father, explain the situation to him. I mean, there's plenty of empty rooms, I don't see why it would be a problem to having you live with us here."

"What?" Morgan repeated, a slight bite to the word now. "No, I—I don't think that—I really—"

"Come on Morgan, what's the big deal?" Will asked, trying to make Morgan see sense. "I want to help you, get you out of that alley you call a home. I'm sure once my father knew who you were, he would be more than happy to—"

"So is that it? You only want to help people you
know
?" Morgan asked incredulously.

"No that's not what I meant—I mean it's not entirely—it's just—" Will growled in frustration, unable to find the words he wanted to say, needed to say to get Morgan to stay. "It's you! I want to help you, Morgs! You should be happy about that! I can get you off the streets!"

"What about the others? What about them, Will?" Morgan retorted, eyes glaring at Will as he gestured toward the heart of the city whose outline would be seen through Will's window. "There are women and children out there, sleeping on cold unforgiving concrete, shivering to keep warm, eating out of dumpsters. Why should
I
get special treatment?!"

"Because I love you!"

Silence, thick and oppressive filled the room's every inch, weighing heavily upon the occupants' shoulders.

"Wh... what?" Morgan sputtered out, clearly taken by surprise as much as Will by his announcement.

Will took a deep breath and looked up into Morgan's blazing blue eyes, knowing that his world could either crumble or flourish in the next instant but knowing either way, there was no going back now. He needed to say this. "I... I love you… and I don't… I don't want to lose you again."

The silence seemed to thicken with his second attempt at confession, allowing Will's heartbeat to get so loud, he was sure that Morgan could hear it. But Morgan just stared at him in shock, his mouth agape and body stock-still.

Maybe he had been reading it all wrong; maybe he had said it too early. But no, he knew that despite the accidental slip of the words, they were true. He loved Morgan. And he realized it wasn't a new feeling, either. He had always felt this way toward Morgan, ever since they were little. He just hadn't understood it back then, had never really thought of it more than a brotherly love. But now it was as clear as day. Every little detail, from the cute little smiles to the sassy sharp remarks to even the shabby beanie he always wore, he loved Morgan, truly, inexplicably, and completely.

It was as the weight of the silence became almost too heavy to bear, that Morgan spoke again, voice a little hoarse, "Well, that's, um, that's—that's still no excuse…"

"Would you just... humor me and stay this one night? Please? I promise that come morning, if you want to leave, I won't stop you." It took all his willpower to say it, but Will knew it was the last push Morgan needed to consent. And Will would do anything in order to not have Morgan sleep out in the cold tonight.