For the first time in a long while, Killian was happy. He was acing his exams, he had gotten rid of all the toxicity and negativity that was invading every aspect of his life, his siblings were well taken care of, and he was rather enjoying being single.
He still liked West, that was for sure, but he was facing his feelings head on, and had stopped running away from them. He swore to himself that he'd start being mature about the whole situation, and try to understand where West was coming from. Being friends with him was better than not having him in his life at all.
A raspy voice tore him from his thoughts, "Why aren't you eating, baby?"
"I ate earlier..."
"Yeah? Did you go the hospital? How's Paul doing? Is he going to be okay?"
Killian couldn't tell if Linda genuinely cared, or if she was just looking for something new to talk to her friends about.
"I think so."
"So... What happened to him?"
He looked up from his plate of food and found Linda looking at him expectantly. West had told him what happened, but he'd prefer it if his friend's dad wasn't everyone's topic of discussion. "West didn't say."
"Oh." She shrugged, "Y'know, I spoke to Winona earlier, apparently Dennis asked for a divorce." She informed him in a hushed whisper, as if they weren't the only two at the dinner table.
I really don't care about the local town gossip.
"That's sad."
"I know, right? Do you think he knows the baby Winona is carrying isn't his?"
Killian nearly choked on his food. He never understood promiscuity, he felt that if you were unhappy in a relationship, it was best to end things, than to find satisfaction elsewhere, knowing that you were currently still in a relationship. He lost his appetite.
"I'm just gonna head to the hospital. Don't wait up."
-------
Paul had awoken from his coma a few days earlier. The doctors were still conducting their tests, so he was still going to be there for a while. West hadn't left his side ever since. He only left the hospital to take his exams.
"Has Dennis called yet?" Paul asked tiredly.
West checked Paul's phone for the 7th time in a 60 minute space, there were no calls or texts. "No, sorry."
Dennis hadn't called or visited ever since West had told him to get a life. He didn't regret what he said, but he wished he could've been more... polite. He was worried that he had scared him away. That was originally West's aim, but now, Paul desperately wanted to see his brother, and West didn't have the heart to tell him what had really happened. He guessed that Dennis was probably cowering away in a corner like the rat that he really was, though.
"You can leave if you'd like."
West stopped counting the circles imprinted onto the wallpaper, and looked at his dad. "Why would I leave?"
"I just assumed... you were bored."
"Oh, I am." He replied truthfully. "But I want to be here."
Paul released a sorrowful sigh, "I'm sorry. For putting you through all this."
"It's not your fault. You didn't know you were going to--"
"It is." He interjected, "If I hadn't started drinking..."
West shook his head, then gave his dad a warm smile."Just so you know, my eyes don't see the person you used to be. Only the person you're fighting to be."
"Weston..."
"We're going to get through this. And I know I've never said it to you... directly, but, I--" He paused, so he could take a deep breath, "I love you, Dad."
Paul felt his already fragile heart combust. It was the first time West had ever said those words to him. He felt as if he didn't deserve them. After all he'd put West through, the boy still managed to smile, still managed to be kind and caring, and his heart still managed to remain as pure as the day he was born. He felt truly blessed to be his father, West didn't have his blood running through his veins, but that didn't mean anything. He loved his son, and it was great to hear that his son loved him back.
The door to Paul's room suddenly opened, he was half hoping it to be his brother, but a huge grin overtook his face when he saw who it was.
"Paul? Oh my God, are you okay?"
The guest rushed to his side to give him a hug and a kiss on the forehead.
"Regina, I'm okay..." Paul chuckled. "Just a minor injury."
"Minor? West told me you died!" She exclaimed.
"I did not say that." West commented from his seat. He rubbed his throat, then eyed the sink, before shifting his eyes back to the two adults. "I only said your heart stopped."
Paul gave West a blank stare, "Which is... dying..."
"Not completely."
"Anyway," Regina said as she waved her hand dismissively. She wasn't very fond of the topic of death. "I'm glad you're okay, the group sends their love. Oh, and West, your friend's waiting for you outside, I think he said his name was Killian."
"Okay, thanks."
He stood up and headed for the sink to get a glass of water to wet his dry throat. He watched as Regina and his dad spoke in low voices.
"Thanks for coming to see me."
"Of course. I care about you."
"Uh, I've been meaning to ask, but, do you think we could get dinner sometime, get to know each other better?"
West's eyes widened, he did encourage his dad to ask Regina out, but he didn't think he'd do it at the hospital, but then again, none of them knew he was going to end up there.
"Paul, you're literally laying in a hospital bed." She said as she brushed away the strands of brown hair that had stuck to his forehead.
Paul's cheeks tinged at the contact, he cleared his throat in a bid to play it cool. "It's this exact hospital bed that made me come to a decision, and maybe a bit of coaxing from my son over there. Life is too short, you gotta take the risk, or lose the chance forever."
"Paul... I'd love to go out with you. But only when you've recovered, okay?"
"Damn, Weston, could you tell the chef in the kitchen to cancel my steak order? Seems as if this dinner isn't happening tonight."
Dad, that's the wackest line I've ever heard, oh my god.
"Oh, stop," Regina responded with a laugh, West didn't miss Paul's heart eyes at the sweet sound, though. He wanted his dad to be happy, and he believed that having Regina in his life could be good for him. He wanted someone like that.
It was then, that West realized he already had someone like that. Someone he felt good around.
He loved everything about him, from his melodious laugh, to his infectious smile. He especially loved his dry sense of humor. Cause West's sense of humor was non-existent, too.
He loved how beautiful his soul was, how he was literally willing and able to fight for the people he cared about, how this person was able to run all the way to the skate park at 1am, while being chased by ghosts, just to sit in a car with him. This person had also been coming to the hospital for five days straight, with flowers in hand, even though he didn't have to. He had tried to stay away from this person, tried to hate him, but resistance was futile. This person had wormed his way into his heart, and taken up camp in it. It was practically his home now.
"Speaking of risks, there's something I gotta do."
Things are getting a bit cringy in here, anyways.
He walked the short distance to the door, and exhaled slowly, before pushing the door open. Once on the other side, he scanned his surroundings for the golden haired boy, and found him pressing his face against the vending machine glass. Typical.
"Killian."
"Yo." Killian greeted as he unstuck his face from the vending machine.
"Since when do you say 'Yo'?"
He shrugged, "Since... now, apparently."
"Oh. I see."
Here goes nothing.
He stepped closer to Killian, then took his hand and slowly covered it with his own. He hoped Killian wouldn't notice how bad it was shaking, though. He swallowed a lump in his throat, then forced himself to look directly into Killian's sea blue eyes. "Do you want to go... somewhere?"
Real smooth, Weston.
Killian frowned at their clasped hands. He was a bit confused.
"Somewhere?"
West tilted his head to the ceiling then frustratedly ran his other hand over his face, he had never done this before. "A place. Any place you'd like. Maybe to eat. With me."
"Wait, are you like... asking me out on a date... or something?"
Killian wasn't sure he was hearing him right. West Rickert didn't go on dates with boys.
"Or something."
Killian raised a brow.
"God, why do you always have to make everything super hard?"
"Do I, now?" He smirked as his eyes drifted to West's groin. West was definitely asking him out, so now was as good a time as any, to revive his flirty comments, once again.
"Jesus Christ." West groaned. "Okay, Killian, would you like to go on a date with me?"
"I would like that very much."
West unclasped their hands, then awkwardly patted Killian's shoulder, "Okay."
"Okay."
"Cool."
"Very."
______________________________