Arrow Inferno
Chapter 60: Stanley ‘STAN’ Norris vs. Ian ‘WILL’ Williams ~ Queen B!

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Will stared down at the grey chinos in his hand. It was Stan's. He missed the annoying idiot so much. Stan had respected his wishes and stayed away but as agreed, he'd made his presence felt through his messages. Will had gotten used to reading from him so much he virtually lived for Stan's messages. Stan was usually careful not to talk about the supernatural. He would ask Will about his night, what he'd eaten, his plans for the day, and then tell him what he'd also been up to. Sometimes Will got so mortified and angry at the level of deceit he'd unknowingly endured in Ghana he wished he could wrap his fingers around Stan's neck and squeeze the life out of him. Anytime he got that upset, he would either ignore Stan's messages or give monosyllabic answers. But other times he would chat politely. He honestly didn't have a lot of questions for Stan. Maybe that was because Gaia had already answered most of his questions. In hindsight, she had given him all that information on purpose, Will realized. And for that, he was grateful. He knew he had to talk to Stan soon but he wasn't looking forward to that talk at all. Maybe he would be better off talking to others about it. But who? The soldier folded the chinos and placed it in the side of his closet which he'd subconsciously assigned to Stan. He found himself refolding and rearranging the few clothes that belonged to Stan whenever he missed him. The werewolf hadn't taken anything with him when he'd left his mother's home a week earlier. Will hadn't bothered sending them to him either because he hadn't wanted to. A day after he'd asked Stan to give him some time to think, Will had left his mother's house for his condo. It felt good to be back home. He'd initially resumed work but then had decided to extend his leave when he realized he couldn't stop thinking about Stan and the wolf. It was a major distraction and since in his line of work there was no room for distractions, he thought an extension would be ideal.

Will heard his phone ringing in the living room as he was folding Stan's black polo shirt. He flung the shirt on his shoulder as he left the bedroom for the living room. It was Jackson.

"Hey, had enough rest?" Will asked as he flopped onto the couch. Jackson had arrived in the States the day before.

"Think Jean will allow me to get any?" Jackson yawned, drawing a chuckle from Will. "Wanted to come over." They needed to work on a joint report.

"I'll be passing through so don't bother. Get some sleep," Will said. "Unless of course, you've missed the place and so want to visit." Jackson used to live in the same complex as Will until he'd gotten married and moved in with Jean. "Sleep sounds better right about now." He yawned again.

"Fucking rabbits." Will snorted. "I plan to go to the party from there." The admiral was throwing a party for his partner, Anton's birthday. "So expect me in the next four hours."

"Great. See ya."

Will hung up and relaxed into the seat. The admiral had been planning that party for months so it wouldn't be prudent not to show up. He'd planned on going to see Jackson before the party because they had work to do. Will also felt he needed to answer Jackson's queries about him and Stan as he'd been too angry and preoccupied with his mother's death to give him answers back in Ghana. He sure as hell didn't plan on telling his friend about anything supernatural. Hopefully, Jackson would be able to help him put some things into perspective.

Will groaned when he heard his stomach growl. He hadn't taken in anything since morning. He got off the couch and started for the kitchen to get something to eat. He was almost to the kitchen when the doorbell rang.

The soldier opened the door wondering who it was. His brows raised in surprise when he saw who it was. Will casually leaned against the doorframe and stared at the lady who looked like she belonged in a Playboy centerfold. She looked absolutely stunning as usual. Will couldn't help the soft laughter that burst out of him when she struck a pose as if she was on a runway.

"Hi, handsome." She purred.

"How are you able to walk in broad daylight again?" Will drawled.

"That's a myth." Gaia rolled her eyes.

"Hmmm, noted." Will straightened away from the door and turned to go back in, assuming Gaia would follow him.

"Hey, soldier?" Will turned to look at Gaia and realized she was still outside the door watching him with a raised brow. "Not everything is a fucking myth, dude. You've gotta invite me in."

"Is that so?" Will folded his arms across his chest and stifled the urge to laugh. He watched Gaia, a hint of a smile playing around his lips. "Hmmm..." He tilted his head to the side as if he was thinking about something very important. "When was the last time you fed?"

"Oooh, someone's been doing his homework." Gaia grinned. "I'm not hungry if that's what you're asking. And even if I was, you'd be the last person I'd touch. Stan and that pack of his would obliterate my clan if I touch even a hair on your head. Besides..." she moved to the side and came back with some paper bags, "I brought food."

Will chuckled. "Stan?"

"Who else can bully me into going to buy food?" Her scowl made Will laugh.

He hadn't heard much from Stan that day. He'd messaged him at dawn to say he was going to be very busy that day. He'd definitely missed reading from the man. "Come in." "Thank you." Gaia breezed into the living room and thrust the paper bags at Will.

Will took the bags and placed them on the dining table. Then he turned around and drew Gaia into his arms. "Damn, I missed you," he murmured against her hair. "You sure?"

"Positive." He kissed her on her forehead. "I thought you were stuck in Ghana because of dick."

"I only stayed because of Jackson...but that dick definitely motivated me." She giggled, flopping into the couch with Will. "But it was mainly for Jackson's sake."

Will just couldn't bring himself to be angry at Gaia even though seeing her reminded him of the most mortifying time of his existence. He literally cringed anytime he remembered how stupid he must have looked to Stan, Gaia, and Stan's friends during his stay in Ghana. But Will also knew he couldn't blame Gaia because he recalled how she'd taken the pains to school him on werewolves and vampires even when he hadn't been ready to believe her. "What are you up to?" Gaia smiled fondly at Will.

"Nothing much. I was about to go and get something to eat."

"This is for Stan." She held up Stan's polo shirt which Will had left on the couch.

"Yep." The expression on Will's face told the lady vampire all that she needed to know. Her friend was very much missed.

"Know what?" Gaia kicked off her heels, tucked her feet beneath her, and turned to face Will. "I know how you feel but you've got to speak to that man soon."

"We chat all the time," Will mumbled.

"It's not the same and you know it," Gaia said gently. "Go and fix yourself a plate."

"Want one?" Will asked and then laughed when Gaia rolled her eyes. "Sorry I asked." He went for the paper bags and then started for the kitchen but stopped and looked at Gaia. "That day we went to see the wolf in the jungle, was that the first time you were meeting the wolf?"

Gaia sighed. "No. Woofy and I have gone for runs a number of times."

"So all that was an act." There was a hurt note in his breathy voice that made Gaia wince. "Do you have any idea how stupid I feel anytime I recall such..."

"We couldn't tell you, Will," She said quietly. "That wasn't the right place to come clean."

Will nodded and then went to the kitchen.