Arrow Inferno
Chapter 64: Stanley ‘STAN’ Norris vs. Ian ‘WILL’ Williams ~ Listening to the heart!

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"To me," Mathias went on, "you're the most precious of all precious! I know I said it wasn't important and we don't need it but..." He took Anton's glass from his hand and placed it on a table together with his. Then he reached into his pocket. "Let us begin another chapter of our lives by taking the plunge." He took a ring from the small box he'd taken out of his pocket.

"Oh god, you're supposed to be giving a birthday toast," Anton said shakily.

"This is even better." Mathias hugged Anton just to give him a moment to compose himself. When he thought his man was composed enough, he stepped back and said softly, "Marry me. Please!" Mathias reached out to wipe the tears off Anton's cheeks.

"You should be on your fucking knees, Admiral." Jean's shout elicited laughter from the guests.

"Oh sorry, I got distracted." Mathias laughed as he went down on one knee before Anton who could only nod.

Even as Mathias slipped the ring on the finger of a shell-shocked Anton who was busily wiping at his cheeks with his other hand, the guests gave thunderous applause. And when he got to his feet and kissed Anton, fireworks lit the skies to the pleasant surprise of the guests.

More people got on the dancefloor just to watch the newly-engaged couple dance to their special song, 'Save the Last Dance for Me'. For obvious reasons, Will was too distracted to focus on the couple so he left the dancefloor. He decided to pick a stroll, admiring the lush grass as he walked. He almost lost his footing when he looked up at some point to find Stan standing right ahead, gazing at him. Will felt his pulse race. He steadied himself and continued walking towards Stan. When he got to Stan, they just stared at each other, each drinking in the other. And the whole time, Will's heart pounded so hard he thought it might burst through his ribs. When Stan held out his hand, Will put his into it without hesitation. As their fingers curled together, Will heard Stan exhale...obviously with relief.

"Why is your heart beating so fast?" Stan asked quietly.

"How do you..."

"I can hear it beating, Will," Stan murmured. "Come on." The two men walked quietly into the house.

A few of the guests relaxed inside the house, conversing and admiring the pristine décor. Stan and Will walked until they came to an empty corridor. Then Stan pushed Will against the wall and pressed his forehead against his. The two remained that way, sharing the air between them, listening to each other breathe, and simply being close to each other.

"Can I kiss you?" Stan asked gruffly after a moment. Will could feel him shaking. "I need to kiss you so bad right..."

Will silenced him with his mouth. And when their lips connected, both let out muffled moans as they became utterly trapped in a world where nothing existed except the feel of the other. Their kiss was deep and shamelessly desperate. Will knew that if anyone walked by they'd be seen but he was too far gone to care. When Stan ended the kiss, he groaned in protest.

"Do you even realize how much you turn me on?" Stan whispered against Will's cheek.

"How about you stop talking and put that mouth to good use." Will rasped as he turned his head, seeking that mouth he loved so much. But he had to stop his desperate search when they heard someone clearing his throat. Both men turned their heads to find Admiral Mathias gazing at them with eyes filled with surprise and amused approval.

"Follow me," Mathias said and then moved past them.

Stan and Will quietly followed Mathias down a long corridor and up a staircase. Mathias opened a door to a plush bedroom with a wide bed and gestured for them to enter.

"Thank you, Mathias," Stan muttered as he moved past their host into the room.

"Anytime, my friend," Mathias answered smoothly. "Oh, and you can stay till morning...or the day after. No one uses this room and Will is on leave." At Stan's amused chuckle he added, "See you at breakfast tomorrow." Then he shut the door and left.

Stan turned to face Will when the door closed. "I missed you."

The soldier dragged his fingers through his hair in a sign of agitation. "You didn't tell me you were going to be here."

"I told you I was going to be busy. I had to travel out of town. I thought I wouldn't be back in time." Stan turned Will around and took off his blazer. "But I was able to finish what I went to do early so decided to pass through to give Anton my good wishes."

"Thank you," Will murmured when the blazer came off. He went to sit on the bed.

"I understand that you don't want to talk to me." Stan draped the blazer on the back of the swivel chair behind the desk. "I really do." He drew the chair close to Will and then sat on it. He was so close their knees touched. "But I've been going insane not seeing your face and not hearing your voice." Stan fixed intent blue eyes on Will and just stared. And those eyes spoke volumes.

"Stop staring." Will squirmed.

'Who said he's staring?' The wolf quipped in Stan's mind before he could say anything. 'He's fucking you with his eyes, soldier.'

'Shut the fuck up.' Stan snapped at the wolf. "Do you blame me?" He asked Will, his voice husky with pent-up desire. "I thought I got the ultimate test in restraint back in Ghana." He said quietly. "But that was nothing compared to what I've gone through this past week. Know how many times I said fuck it and drove to your condo? I've been going crazy, Will. But I understood that you needed the time so I never tried to come up to see you." He went quiet for a moment, then continued in a shaky voice, "I can't do it anymore."

"You don't have to." Will breathed, shaken by the intensity of Stan's words.

"Thank you." He heaved a sigh of relief.

"And I do know how it feels to crave for something so bad you say fuck it and just go for it." Will rasped, causing Stan to raise an eyebrow. "There was a day I wanted to hear your voice so bad whilst you were in Ghana, I said fuck it and dialed your number. Twice. But your phone was off both times."

"I never turn off my phone and you know it. Unless..."

"You were on a plane," Will said quietly. "Coming to me."

"Well, I'll be damned." Stan drawled with an amused glint in his eyes. "There I was on your mother's porch, thinking soldier boy wasn't happy to see me. And the entire time, you were creaming your pants." A wide grin split his lips. "Now I regret telling you, you cocky bastard," Will groaned.

"I'm sorry, Will," he said quietly. "For everything."

"It's not your fault, I know." Will sighed.

"I tried. I tried to stay...'normal' for you." He gave air-quotes to the word normal.

"I know. But all those times I thought I was talking to the wolf..." Will growled which made Stan laugh. "Don't laugh. It's not funny."

"Sorry." Stan assumed an expression of seriousness, which didn't last. They both dissolved into laughter but Will's laughter dissolved into a shaky intake of breath when Stan leaned in and kissed him tenderly on both cheeks. "I missed these dimples." He murmured.

Will flushed just as Stan knew it would. "You're an idiot." He gazed into blue eyes that he'd come to adore so much. "I missed you too." He finally admitted softly. "More than I thought was possible," he groaned. "There were times I just wanted to kill you, I kid you not."

"Not surprised." Stan reached for Will's hands. "Good to know you missed me though. I hope Gaia didn't give you any stress today."

"Gaia and I are cool."

"Lucky her."

"Thanks for the food."

"Pleasure." Stan reached up to run his knuckles against Will's cheek. "Ready to talk?"

"Yes."