textualhealing | IC CONTACT

[Not on Will's watch. He understands that Jeff is, most likely, just tossing out a scenario, horsing around, isn't really thinking much about what he says with that, but Will frowns and momentarily tenses just the same. People being drugged and locked away aren't a newspaper story or movie plot to Will, he's known them. And as long as he has any say in the matter, that is a thing of the past. Or, at least, a thing for Baltimore. Not here.]

April and I could could go out for dinner nearby and you can text if you feel we need to step in. Or meet up outside after—bump into each other. She can't drug you and take you home right in front of us.

[Normal enough conversation over lunch, really, but Will means every word. He'd do whatever it took to make Jeff feel comfortable, as long as he could actually do it. Will adopts some people more than he does others, always observant and watchful of what uses they may have for later on. Uses that might be positive, uses that might be very negative, but still something useful. Jeff and he already seem to have a rather tightly knit bond, as far as Will can tell, though that doesn't mean there's any harm in strengthening it, adding on. No skin off Will's back, plenty of gain to collect. Who doesn't win?]

[Jeff would have absolutely no gauge on how to react to an actual kidnapping. It's just not something that really ever happens back home. And if it were to happen? There'd be some distant part of him waiting for the punchline to a joke he didn't get.]

Great idea. I know of an amazing place near to where I'll be eating. I'll book you both in, my treat.

[Perfectly eager to spend his money on friends, because Will is a friend. A very good friend. One that he's not always sure how he managed to get or whether he's ever really worthy of. Will picks up strays, he welcomes people, he understands and discusses. Jeff bitches and grouches and avoids all sense of responsibility.]

[Will stares at him for a moment, stops chewing to do so, with a face clearly debating this. Like there is some thin sliver of pride dwelling inside him ready to insist otherwise, April and he can cover their own dinner. But when it comes down to these two, Jeff has so much more machismo than Will, and it's not difficult to see. If Jeff is prepared to drop some cash on April and Will outside of rent and household necessities, who is he to shoot that down? Jeff can be the alpha if that means both April and Will profit from it, he'd be an idiot to flatten his ears and challenge this.]

Deal. If the night goes to hell, we can go out somewhere else and make up for it.

[Like Balls Deep. Or a crummy movie. Or pretty much anything because, yes, they're friends, and friends will be able to turn a bad night around with ease And Will can pretend it's another anniversary thing for April and he, everyone wins.]

[Will makes a wise choice in allowing the dinner reservation. Jeff doesn't ask for much and doesn't expect much in return when it comes to friends, but if he makes an offer he expects it to be accepted, or be prepared to face his passive aggressive replies at being turned down. Yes, it's much easier for all involved if Will takes the freebie dinner and thinks nothing of it, or of Jeff trying to show affection through material objects.]

I'm sure we'll think of something.

[A pause to fork a whole bunch of salad into his mouth and, muffled around a boiled egg, he settles on a small:]

Thanks.

You're welcome.

[Feels odd to say, considering Jeff is going to foot the bill for a meal between April and Will that may end up just being a lovely evening together, but. It's polite, and that's all Will really feels he can go with, however odd.

And so they had a companionable lunch without more talk of cannibalism. Many verbal smooches were given. April, of course, got an actual smooch on Will's way out. Whatever happens on double date night, Jeff will wake up to find that Will had already prepared his favorite breakfast as silent thanks. He'll even pack it up in a special container if Jeff's running late.

Lawyer at Large? More like Lover at Large. What a happy family.]

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