Benevolence

Chapter 8

R still hadn't told him and refused to even acknowledge his existence which he was fine with- not really- as their last encounter still hurt like a hell. It had been a week and he knew she had recalled what she was supposed to tell him but hadn't yet. He couldn't call her out on it either because honestly he didn't want to go through that again. Call him a coward but yeah he was.

It had been a week. A week of normal school with James as his body guard and his excessively creepy therapy sessions in which she seemed to get even more flirty and playful with him as each session went by.

It was now the end of the week and she had insisted upon sitting beside him (leaving no room between them) like friends so that he wouldn't feel like this was a session. He was sick of her but he had to put up with it yet to get away this time a kiss on the cheek wouldn't suffice because she wanted more.

Her lust and desperation for him was oozing off of her like a bad smell and he sighed as he zoned her out to think of his latest getaway. There was nothing for it he decided gloomily at the end. He would have to properly kiss her and make sure she didn't get too caught up in it.

He was taken out of his scheming when the phone rang on her desk. Amelia's puckered lips turned into a tight lipped grimace as she went to answer the phone.

‘Hello this is St George's Hospital, yes I see St Mary's is it? And you wish to speak to him right now? I am afraid he is busy .........but of course if it is a condition of urgency.....ok I'll get him on the phone, goodbye.’

It pained him to hear her sweet angelic voice but he was also relieved. St Mary's hospital was where Theo was and that could only mean he would finally get the message he'd been waiting for since R had told him. He leapt from the sofa and grabbed the phone off Amelia, giving her a sweet apologetic look before focusing entirely on the voice at the other end.

‘Am I speaking to Mr William?’

‘Yes....yes that's me I'm him.’

‘Good now I am here to inform you that Mr Theo wishes to see you in utmost confidentiality so do not tell anyone except of course your family and we hope you can come as soon as possible, preferably in visiting hours which end in 6 hours to avoid us the inconvenience.’

Will felt anxious yet excited too. Finally he would have proper answers. It couldn't be as R had said because like Olivia said he couldn't hurt butterflies let alone a person like Theo. He didn't do the whole revenge thing no matter how much he would wish it.

‘Of course I'll be there right away.’

He slammed the phone down tingling with emotion and looked at his doctor who had a souring expression on her face.

‘I suppose you have to leave now right. To visit that friend of yours?’

‘Yes I'm afraid so,’ he said looking at her sadly, ‘Now's the only time I can the hospital told me.’

‘I see,’ she pouted biting her lips and standing right in front of him. Why did her outfits have to get sleazier and sleazier? Today she was in a hot pink mini dress that looked like it was made of plastic and he could see half her chest the neckline was so low. Horrifyingly her chest was literally bulging out of her skimpy dress and he saw the endings of her baby pink underwear.

Seriously where did his dad find her?!?

He looked around nervously before realising the kiss was the only way he was getting out of this and he had to be quicker than before now to meet Theo. Weighing the pros and cons of this endeavour he decided it was worth it and kissed her wrapping his arms around her lithe waist.

Maybe normal straight guys liked girls like her but he couldn’t help and compare both the kisses he’d received this year. The one with Theo and this one. Her mouth was too big and wet which was utterly revolting and she kept pushing herself against him. He felt her chest rising and falling and hoped it would be over soon. She tasted of perfume and heavily applied lip gloss. He swore some of her foundation and powder was rubbed onto him from the vigour she was attacking him with.

The torture didn't end there either. Her eye lashes were scratchy on his face unlike Theo's soft feathery lashes that had tickled him. He smiled at the golden memory. His lips had been full and warm on his own with just the right amount of pressure and softness. It had tasted of saliva and Theo completely. His face was smooth and creamy unlike the flaky skin of Amelia he felt against his own.

Was it just him or was something rubbing against his sides and now the skin on his back? His eyes opened with horror to see that she was groping him which was not part of his plan. Summoning all his strength- which he would need a lot of to push this ravenous crazy lady- he pushed her off and ran for the stairs where he called Lou to pick him up.

Before Lou got there he sorted himself out and wiped any traces of her off his face. What happened in there stayed in there and boy was he glad about their confidentiality rule right then. As soon as Lou got there he told him about the call and off they went racing to the hospital.

It didn't matter how not ready he was for this because it had to be done sometime and now was better than never any day in his book. He had waited too long without knowing the truth.

Except he had forgotten how much he hated hospitals until they were in front of the giant building covered with large glass windows over the white painting. The disinfectant hit his nostrils as soon as they went in making him feel queasy. To him it smelt like clearing up the mess of death and sickness. Needless to say he hated hospitals.

Waiting made him twitchy so he was thankful that he was escorted straight to the ICU but as soon as he saw Theo he collapsed to his knees, his face pale as a banshee.

He looked terrible and it was all his fault. In some way. He was all white like an angel covered in body plasters everywhere. A multitude of wires stuck to him in various places but he couldn't stop staring at Theo's once beautiful face. It looked like they had tried everything to make it useable again but it gave him a very garish Frankenstein look which caused Will to almost puke. Stitches strained against his jaw to keep the skin in place and a few teeth were protruding out. Scars and stitches marred his face but his hair remained as light and gracefully golden as ever. His sparkling navy eyes however held a very unsettling look in them that Theo had never given him or anyone else before.

‘You have an hour to speak with him alone as was his request. Please do not stress out the patient as his recovery is attuned to his mental stability.’

Will nodded sitting beside Theo. How he longed to stroke his hair and comfort him. He refrained from his indulgences of course and waited for Theo to speak. He would start but he didn't know how Theo would react.

Ten minutes passed in awkward uneasy silence as they just stared at each other and Will realised Theo had no intention to speak first.

Looking over at Theo tenderly- god he looked so fragile and breakable, like glass- and began softly, ‘Hey..... Theo how are you feeling? I got your message and I've wanted to speak to you ever since it happened. It's honestly so hard to talk to you and I don't even know why. Everyone thinks I'm crazy because I can't remember what happened to you. I blacked out Theo and since I was out there's no way I could have hurt.....hurt you like everyone thinks I did.’

He had to get a grip on himself before he became a blubbering mess. This was awfully like a confessional but he needed Theo to know he didn't do it. It was so hard to tell him though, he kept stuttering and had to stop the tears from leaking out.

Theo was the most important person to him and held his heart completely. It didn't matter if anyone else hated him but Theo couldn't. He didn't know what he'd do if Theo hated him too. He realised Theo hadn't said anything and looked up at him imploringly.

Theo had a look that held a twinge of amusement as if Christmas had come early- which was weird. Theo cleared his throat before giving Will a sweet look and said, ‘Before I say anything else I want to tell you that Will, you are a great kisser but have a horrid persona. I mean when you came up to me I was ready to apologise for being such a f*****g douche bag but now I don't really feel like saying it.’

He paused and Will felt himself breaking. All his life he'd wanted Theo to like him and never to go against him. He, well, wanted Theo to more than just like him as a friend or brother but didn't care as long as Theo was near him and wanted to be. He was content with that but with the way Theo was talking was strange and horrible. Like he thought Will had hurt him and was breaking up with him...?

Oh god please no.....

Theo laughed lightly, though Will noticed worriedly that it took him effort to do so and continued, 'R told me the bullshit you've been feeding everyone ok. You lied at court and still act so clueless. IN front of me. Will be real with me because I know what happened and so do you. You never blacked out. In fact as I' m sure you're already aware you were very conscious. It's funny to think you are trying to fool me Will. I loved you like a brother and even talked to R about what I did, getting her advice for an apology and boy was I gonna get down on my knees to beg but what you did has ended me. I got no future anymore William ‘cause of you. I can barely talk, it hurts to move even the slightest and even though the docs say they are gonna fix me up back to my ‘former glory’ it's just talk.'

Will let the steaming tears gush down his face and grabbed into Theo' s hands right as he choked out, 'I swear....I swear Theo I don't remember and you...I' d have hurt you. I.....love you but I.....I guess you already knew that but? Theo I can't hurt a fly and certainly not you. I know it sounds crazy and it sounds like a Harry potter fanfiction where an innocent guy gets imperious which isn't possible as this is real life but it feels like that and I-god I'll shut up I'm blabbing.'

He took a deep breath and felt startled by a warm hand shakily covering his own. Looking up he was met with the warm and smiling grey eyes that he had fallen in love with. This was the man he adored. He felt his heart being love sewn together. Wow was he mushy!

Theo licked his lips slowly before blinking at Will never once breaking his gaze.

‘I want to tell you exactly what happened that night,’ Theo whispered lightly his lips softly brushing against Will's ear causing his heart to somersault joyously in his chest. Theo........Theo liked him. Not that he was an expert on love or anything but from all the books he'd read he was sure Theo was flirting with him, about a serious topic at hand but flirting nonetheless.

It made his cheeks flame up a little and he saw the beginnings of a smirk work its way on his face. He blinked stupidly up at him as Theo tilted his chin up and gave him one of his famous dazzling smiles. Maybe he would need to get a room at the hospital because it felt like his heart had just stopped.

‘Will now I want you to listen carefully, okay? Because I don't like repeating myself. I wanted to tell you as soon as R told me you couldn't remember.’

Will sat up a bit straighter and tried not to drool over the blue blanket draped over Theo so that he could actually pay attention.

Theo cleared his throat and motioned lightly to the glass of water by his side. As Will tilted the glass to his mouth he watched with intense desire as Theo's lips parted and the water trickled in. God he just wanted to kiss him so bad. Okay he might be having very creepy thoughts right now but he was allowed to because hello, 2 years crush here! The bizarre thing he noticed as he withdrew was the vulnerable? And relieved look in Theo's eyes as if he had been expecting something horrible.

Now more than ever he needed to know what happened. With bated breath he looked at Theo waiting.

After clearing his throat Theo began still holding his chin with a gentle caress, ‘I'll begin with when I got to the locker room. I was prepping up for the big game that night and wanted to make a good impression on the team by being punctual. Also I felt like an absolute d**k about what I did to you and the shower helped me think. The team didn't matter to me as much as your friendship because you were my bro and I had just become captain so I was going to set things straight with Mark. I was going to go straight to your place after the match to rectify my mistake but to my surprise I saw you behind me. I gathered you wanted an explanation and expected the feral anger I saw in your eyes. But what I got super freaked out about was how you went completely psycho on me telling me how you wanted me to feel the hurt and pain you felt. How I deserved what I was getting as you unhinged my jaw and how if I couldn't love you like I was supposed to then you would take away what I loved which was when you butchered my legs and battered my face. If.....if I didn't call my dad and Mark I would have died Will. I would have f*****g died with my blood splashed over the ground gasping for air and screaming from the pain of my muscles being gutted out by you as you explained why you had to punish me. Your sickness appals me Will but not as much as your good boy act. What you did to me isn't something you can easily forget, so I know you’re lying you asshole but what can I expect from a creep who demands love from me and then punishes me for not giving it. Will it took a ton of anaesthetics and stitching to get me to where I am now but I can't go on like this. It's humiliating. I don't know where the f**k you were hiding your psychotic serial killer skills but I'd rather people don't ask me about it.’

Will felt light headed and wracked his confounded brain to recall ANYTHING from that day but nothing. Nada. Zilch. He growled in frustration and looked back at Theo, searching for anything that could spark his memories but again nothing.

‘I seriously don't remember..........I mean I haven't got the..........can't even defend myself let alone......and............. what do you want from me because I already said sorry.’

He would never in a million years do whatever Theo had said. He wasn't a sick person but Theo believed he did and he needed to fix this and salvage their relationship before everything exploded. He couldn’t lose Theo. He refused to. He jerked his head up at the sound of maniacal laughter cackling through the room as low as a whisper before Theo was overcome by a coughing fit yet still had a look of sheer hilarity on his face.

It made Will slightly anxious to see that look and wondered whether he ought to call the nurse. Just as he was about to he felt a finger on his wrist at his pulse point and heard Theo mutter something. In order to hear him properly Will stooped down till his ear was at Theo's mouth. What he heard both shocked him and made him feel blank. Literally because he was so confused.

‘You see Will. I want to hurt you like you hurt me. I want you to atone for your crimes and I want to get justice. You'll get whatever's coming for you I'll make sure of that but sadly I won't be there to see it. I hate you so much William for ruining my life and any chance at getting it back. All because you wanted me for yourself. I wish I could see you worm your way out of this one but unfortunately for you my plan is too tight for you to walk away scotch free from.'

Before Will could process all of what he'd said properly Theo gripped tight to his hand and burst into peals of laughter almost choking on his breath like a madman who had nothing to lose but everything to gain, which was as much as he had gathered by the speech yet he couldn't figure out the plan part. Then he quietened down till he was silent.

Suddenly the alarms in the room went off shrieking in his ears and to his horror he saw the red line of the ECG monitoring his heart signals become an unmoving line. Closing his eyes he screamed a cry of anguish, collapsing with sobs by Theo's bed. His hand felt cold holding Theo's dead hand and the tears ran down his face in a furious downpour. He gulped rapidly trying hard to inhale as much bittersweet oxygen as he could.

The oxygen he continued to breathe and Theo couldn't. The doctor had told him not to stress Theo out but he had. He had and thus he was dead. Gone and never coming back.

He could hear the screams of men and women echoing around him and a weird sense of déjà vu overcame him. This had happened the last time he was alone with Theo though then it had seemed like he had done the deed. He watched dully as a flock of white cloaked nurses and doctors frantically checked Theo over but Will knew it was to no avail.

Gone and never coming back. The words stung. He was sharply brought out of his muses when he was pulled up from his hunched position. The nurse jumped back with a shriek pointing to his hand and wailing. He frowned at her unprofessional manner, for god's sake his best friend had died not hers but stilled at the sight of the life support clip that had been attached to Theo's wrist in his hand.

This was what Theo had meant and now he was going to pay. There was no way out and this time he really didn't do it. He would......remember. Oh god.

‘My son......he...he killed my son. GET HIM. SOMEONE GET HIM. I WANT HIM LOCKED AWAY. My only son.....my precious baby, ‘Theo's mum wailed pulling at her hair and wildly pointing to him.

He was totally done for and strangely he wanted to laugh. At the situation he was in. This had to be a nightmare because it didn't feel real at all. Theo wasn't dead. He hadn't killed his best friend. HE JUST HADNT!

He couldn't help it. He probably sounded madder than the joker and way more insane than Sirius Black because what began as helpless splutters of laughter turned into full fledged guffaws. He continued to snigger as they took him away and hand cuffed him. His sides hurt as they got to the station standing firm with integrity but stopped at the sight of his parents standing with the most famous police officer in England.

No one had escaped on his watch and he knew everything about you with one look. Creepy as s**t he was and what the best thing about him was that he was Mark's dad.

This was going to be fun. He didn't care what happened to him but his parents had to deal with this again and this time they had ran out of ways to protect him. He was a helpless bleating lamb going into the coven of wolves.

He was dragged from the car and dropped his gaze to the ground burning with shame and guilt as he got to his parents.

‘Hey Mom, Dad how are you?’