#will prisoner

You had just made it home from work, a shift at the post office which in itself was hard enough, shuffling through letters from young men, many of whom you wondered if they were even still alive, if the letters were just memories of them at this point.  Ruby was doing better. She ventured out, she was working again. Small steps but you would take it. The nights were hard. She never got closure. Never got that part of Henry she desperately needed.

You walked in the door, hanging your coat on the hook. You could hear her pittering around in the kitchen. “Ruby?” you called softly and she hummed your name in response. You were about to walk in there when there was a light but firm knock at the door. You weren’t exactly expecting anyone. “Ruby? Was someone coming over?” you asked as she walked around the corner, drying her hands on a kitchen towel. “No”

You cautiously opened the door and there stood the single most handsome man you’d ever laid your eyes on. He was around your age, short dark blonde hair, the bluest eyes. The posture he held, mixed with the dogtags around his neck told you he was a soldier. “Excuse me ma’am, are you Ms. Ruby Bennet?” you shook your head, looking back at your sister. “That would be my sister”

He dropped his gaze, reaching into the pocket of the bag that was thrown over his shoulder, he pulled out a stack of letters, carefully going through them until he got to the right one. He finally raised his eyes, focusing on Ruby. “I don’t want to open old wounds but, Henry Ferguson gave me this before he died”

You bit back your gasp when Ruby stepped forward, gingerly taking the letter from the soldier. She held it close to her chest. “Were you.. Were you with him?” he nodded, “His wounds were too bad, he didn’t last till the medics got there. I’m sorry”

Ruby started crying and the soldier looked so damn sad, full of guilt for being alive no doubt, you’d seen it too much since men started coming home. That mixed with him favoring his shoulder told you he’d been injured. “What’s your name, soldier?” you asked and he looked at you, “William, Will…Will Hart ma’am”

You nodded, waving a hand inside “Come inside Will, please” he looked to Ruby who nodded, “Please” he hesitantly stepped inside. Ruby was already opening the letter from Henry. Her hand covered her mouth. You watched her carefully, your heart pounding in your ears but you saw something happen in her eyes. She wasn’t going back to that broken woman, it was like Henry was at her side, whispering those words into her ear. 

You blinked back tears, looking at Will. “Thank you” he nodded, “It’s the least I could, I made it home” you rolled your bottom lip between your teeth, looking between him and Ruby. “I um.. I work at the post office. I could help you get letters out, if you’d like”

“You don’t have to do that” you looked at Ruby again and shook your head “Yeah, I do” you turned and told Will your name, extending your hand. He smiled slightly, “Yes ma’am. I appreciate the help then”

Over the next few weeks you helped Will to track down girlfriends, parents, numerous loved ones. He didn’t want acknowledgement, he wanted these men to be able to say their final goodbyes. 

You sat next to him in your small office. A stack of letters was between you. You’d offered to help him write the small notes to include which simply read “His final words deserved to be read”

You looked at him, the way he concentrated on the task, the way so many men wouldn’t have worried about something like this considering he made it home. “Did you have one of these written?” he nodded, hand stopping mid motion, “Had two. One for my ma. One for my sweetheart”

Your heart dropped because whether you wanted to admit it or not you’d started developing some sort of feelings for him. He was kind and protective and so damn handsome. He actually listened when you spoke, made you look forward to going to work. “How’s she feel about you doing this?”

He shrugged “My ma found it to be a good idea”  “And your sweetheart?” you asked softly. He raised his eyes to look at you and your heart dropped further because you saw the hurt in his eyes, “Considering she was pregnant when I got back and I had been gone for a few years, I don’t think she has much say on what I do. Turned out she was planning on marrying him, I just happened to get hurt and sent home a week before it”

“Oh Will” you wanted to hug him but didn’t know if that was too much. He shrugged, “Better men had worse fates” you shook your head, reaching a hand out to lay it on his arm, “Worst fates, yeah. Better men? I seriously doubt that”

Will found himself being almost disappointed that the letters were all mailed out. He’d enjoyed spending the time with you, you’d given up your breaks, your lunches. You were amazing really. 

Ruby told him later, how you’d been there not only for her but for Henry’s family as well. Shouldering things that weren’t your responsibility just to help those around you. How you’d held her at Henry’s services, the nights you’d gone without sleep. The way you helped other families. You were strong in a way that had so little to do with physical strength. You were sweet, a smile from you would have his heart realizing that it was still in fact beating. You were caring, you brought him ointments for his shoulder even when he never would’ve asked. You were so damn pretty too.

The day the last letter went out, he finally worked up the nerve to ask if you wanted to get a meal with him. “As a thank you for everything you’ve done for me” you stared at him for a moment, the sweetest of smiles on your face “Ok”

As it turned out, Will’s hometown was only about twenty minutes away from you. One meal turned into multiples a week, a couple nights of him stopping in with you and Ruby, you going over to his place every now and then, as it turned out he was a pretty decent cook,  and even the rare occurrence of him just stopping by to ask if you’d like to go for a walk.

“You’re falling for him” Ruby whispered, you and her were in the kitchen finishing up food while Will set the small table. You ducked your head, hoping she didn’t read the expression in your eyes. You knew you couldn’t fall for Will. He'd gone through too much, especially with that horrid ex of his but it was hard. He was such a sweetheart, he was a hard working man. He’d gotten a job as soon as he could,, fixed up the place he left him that apparently “hadn’t been good enough” for his ex but you found lovely. You’d fallen asleep at his place before and had woken up covered with a blanket and a pillow under your head.

“There’s no shame in it” she added about the time Will walked into the room, looking between the two of you. “Shame in what?” you smiled, “Nothing” he raised an eyebrow but nodded. “Ok then”

______________________

Dinner was done and cleaned up, Will caught your hand, leaned in to whisper “Wanna take a walk?” you cut your eyes up and Ruby was watching, she nodded with a wink.

You smiled “Of course Will, let me grab my coat” he watched you, holding the door open for you. You looked back at Ruby once before you stepped out. 

____________________

Will was being quiet, walking close like he wanted to slip his arm around you. You cut your eyes over at him and smiled “What’s wrong?” he hummed in response “What do you mean?”

You stopped walking and turned to face him, "Something is wrong” he sighed softly, nodding. “Promise not to stop being friends with me if this goes bad?” you laughed nervously, “I’d never stop being friends with you Will. You helped my sister heal, you’re the best man I have ever known”

He nodded, scrubbing a hand down his face. "I swore i'd never fall again, but this don't even feel like falling" your heart flipped in your chest, “What?” he stepped closer, reaching a hand out to gently cup your chin. You leaned into the touch and he smiled. “You, sweetheart. I show up to just deliver a letter and meet the most amazing woman, you healed something so deep inside me and now I can’t imagine life without you and honestly, I’ve fallen for you”

The longer your silence went, the more worried Will became, until you grinned, “Thank god”

He allowed himself a smile. “Why’s that” “Because I feel the same” 

His thumb traced a soft circle onto your jaw, “Can I kiss you?” you laughed softly, “You better!” the moment his lips touched yours, you stepped closer, your arms slipping up around his neck, head tilting to deepen the kiss. He groaned low in his throat, his free arm slipping around your waist to drag your body flush against his.

When the need for air pushed the two of you apart, he pressed another softer kiss to your lips before just wrapping you up in a hug, tucking his face into the bend of your neck. “You’re really mine?” he asked soft enough you almost missed it. You nodded, kissing the side of his neck, “All yours”

He made a sound between a sigh and a groan before kissing your neck then leaned up again, eyes locking onto yours. “I’m all yours too” you grinned, “Good to know handsome” and pulled him into another kiss. 

you're the bartender at the pub he frequents, close enough to his home so he can make the walk even when drunk, and far enough that he can sober up a little in the late night's air. and because your bar is cheap, dim, stale and sticky in the way only truly reliable bars can be, it's perfect for him.

you don't ask why he always fiddles with his chest pocket, don't ask when he sometimes gets the letter from his ex-girlfriend out and crumbles it just to straighten it again - it's her last letter, saying she'll always be faithful, only for will to return home and be greeted by a visible baby bump when he returned after over three years at war, for her to have the audacity to say it was a miracle. he used to be a man of faith, yes, but the horrors of war quickly washed that out of him; so of course he didn't believe her bullshit, packed his things, and left. she got herself into this mess, she'll have to handle it herself. he's got enough trauma on his plate either way.

you stay quiet, only giving him small smiles that he barely reciprocates, sometimes joining him out for a smoke when the rush of the night dies down. usually lighting his cigarette, you stay by his side in comfortable silence. you've long since been aware that soldiers come to your pub a lot, so you learned not to pry, only listen when someone pours their heart out over a few pints of beer.

he's always polite, even if gruff, tips well, offers a low "thank you, sweetheart" when you set another drink down in front of him. naturally, you enjoy his presence, not one to talk much either, rather just being the quiet comfort space people often need. and over time, you became just that perfect comfort for will as well.

"fuck," will curses lowly when he pats down his jacket, not finding the pack of cigarettes that he could've sworn he put into his coat pocket somewhere before leaving his apartment. not even the lighter can be found, as if his day wasn't already shitty enough.

he doesn't notice you come up from behind him until you carefully touch his side, a cigarette already between the fingers of your other hand. will flinches, but relaxes once he whips around and realises it's just you. with a small smile, you lift your hand to his face, and he keeps the eye contact when he leans in and takes the smoke between his dry lips. it bobs slightly when he thanks you with a murmur, and you lift your own cigarette to your mouth before rummaging through your jeans pocket for your lighter. once you have it, you light first your own, then his cig with practiced ease.

at the first puff of smoke, you sigh, shoulder brushing against his when you allow yourself to stretch out your back, arch it until you can hear your spine crack and the beautiful pain makes you sigh out in relief. but even then the ache in your body doesn't fully subside, having stood upright and walked for too long already today.

another puff, and will notices the way you shiver at the night air, fresh and a little too cold for your uniform shirt.

one more puff, and he wordlessly opens the front of his coat, wide enough to count as an invitation to snuggle into his warmth. you follow it gladly. wrapping your free arm around his waist to keep your hand from freezing, you hum when his body heat seeps into your limbs as he covers whatever part of your back he can reach with the jacket. almost hesitantly, as if giving him enough time to change his mind, you rest your cheek against his collar, face angled to the side so no ash gets onto the fabric when you take another drag of your cigarette.

not a single word is spoken when you melt into his gentle but tight hold, not even when both of you finish your smoke break and he silently takes both your and his stubs and flicks them towards the manhole cover in the street. both hit their mark. you only turn your head to nuzzle your nose into the bend of his throat, making him give a light shudder at the feeling of the cold tip of it nudging against his bare skin.

a minute passes, maybe two, and you know you have to go back to work - but will is too warm, too comfortable for you to let go just yet. it seems as if he feels the exact same, his second arm coming up and around your shoulders to tug you even closer into his chest. you snake yours around his waist to join the other and bask in the moment. no judgement, no questions, no answers either.

with a small huff, a sigh, you finally manage to pull yourself away from him, fix him with a tired but genuine smile and nod your head towards the entry of the pub. he follows you in, the corners of his lips turned up just the tiniest bit.

maybe today isn't so shitty after all.

will is still there when you finish your shift, when you usher him out with droopy eyes and gentle hands. he watches on as you lock up the front door, bid the waitress on shift a good night and safe travel home, then fish around your jacket for the pack of cigarettes. once you have it, your exhausted fingers drop it, but will is quick to catch it even if the movement painfully pulls at his shoulder. the doctor had said it might never properly heal.

"thank you, handsome," you mutter, grin weakly up at him, and he sneaks a cigarette out before handing the box back to you. you take it without complaint, offer him your lighter as you put a smoke between your lips and put the pack into your bag.

before you can even ask for your lighter, he chips it into your still open bag, then pulls you close - you're glad you had licked your lips just seconds before, because the gasp that escapes you would've had it fall as well. a large, calloused hand comes up to your jaw, cups it so will can tilt your head up, until the end of your cigarette bumps against the already burning end of his.

within a few seconds of tense silence, the flame transfers, and you take a deep drag before blowing it out of your nose so it doesn't hit his face. he wouldn't have minded it, but you're too polite. only then does he allow you to take a step back, and when you don't, he grins, lips stretching around the filter.

it stays quiet while you take little puffs of air, exhale smoke, and his hand rests heavily on your waist. this time, you take his cigarette alongside yours when you're done, stubbing both out in the ashtray by the pub door - and before you can even properly turn around, will is already tugging on your jacket to drag you close.

you can taste the smoke still on his lips when he kisses you, softly, carefully, but sure. certain. it mixes with the bitterness of the lager he had drank before you ushered him out when his tongue laps at the seam of your mouth, meets your own in languid strokes when you part your lips for him. the combined tastes have a small sound of contentment break in the back of your throat.

even with that sting of smoke and beer, you taste much sweeter than anything will has ever tasted before. there's a softness, a warmth, a fondness that envelops him as soon as you properly kiss him back, meet his lazy enthusiasm with your own and drag your hands up his chest so you can tangle your fingers in the hair in the back of his neck.

he was planning on going to the barber soon, but maybe he doesn't need to trim it in the near future if it always feels this good for you to tug on as you get lost in the kiss.

both of you are breathless when you finally pull back, your lungs screaming at you to get air back into them, the only reason you had to stop against your wishes. your swollen lips slowly contort into a smile, unhurried and easy and all too dangerous for will to not fall into the temptation for him to kiss you again. but you separate all too quickly, hand on his chest to stop him from following you even if he tries.

"you got a girl?" you murmur, still close enough to feel his hot breath mingle with yours, and he shakes his head.

"cheated on me while i was gone. you got a man at home?" you chuckle.

"only if you want to come back there with me." a grin pulls at will's lips at your reply.

"good."

author's note: yes i watched the short and yes i'm a little obsessed with him. i mean, what else do you expect me to do with yet another tragic, compassionate soldier?

stay safe and healthy <3

He leaned his head back against the window of the bus, trying to get comfortable despite his shoulder throbbing. He just needed to get home. He’d figure it out from there. There wasn't much else he could do anyways. The war was winding down and it was over for him.

You were cleaning your apartment, not like it really got that dirty but you liked the routine. You liked having something to keep you steady. Too long had passed since any mail had made it to your hands from Will.  With every day that passed and your mailbox was empty, your heart shattered just a little more. Was he dead? Had every nightmare that haunted you over the last couple years finally come true? You couldn’t imagine life without him, true you’d been living it but you’d told yourself daily the war would be over, he would be home. You read his letters before bed, slept in his shirts, sprayed his cologne on the pillows, left his coffee mug on the counter, anything to still feel close to him.

If he was gone, the rest of your life would be spent simply clinging to remainders of the love you once had, waiting for your next life, your chance to find him again and to do it right, to not lose him.

You had just got through putting laundry away when you heard a knock at the door. You had no idea who it could be. You saw Will’s mother on Sundays. “Just a minute!” you called, hurrying across the floor. You felt your stomach tie into knots. What if it was a soldier telling you the news? 

You opened the door and nearly fainted. There he stood, a sling on his arm but alive and whole. “Will?” you took a step forward, with every intention to hug him, kiss him but he flinched and you froze. “What’s wrong?” your voice was barely a whisper. He couldn’t meet your eyes, “I just..” he shook his head and your heart fell but you understood. He’d been gone for years, had seen horrors and was now injured it had to be a lot.

“It’s ok, you’re home. It’s all going to be ok” 

You stepped back to let him inside, a part of him felt like a wild animal being approached with caution but he understood. He didn’t know how to handle what was going on inside his own head. His eyes flickered around the apartment, photos of you and him still in the same places, his belongings where he’d left them, his chipped coffee mug you’d gotten him when the two of you first moved in together sitting on the counter next to your own. 

“You never forgot me” he didn’t mean to say it outloud, didn’t honestly want you thinking he doubted you but the astonishment he felt was a little too hard to hide. Too many stories, too many betrayals. You nodded, eyes wet with tears you tried to hide from him, “You’re the love of my life Will. If something happened to you, I’d have spent the rest of this life clinging to reminders of you, waiting for the next one and the chance to do it right, to not lose you”

That made him ache, made him wish he could bring himself to touch you, to hold you but he couldn’t quite yet. He did meet your eyes finally, “I’ve never stopped loving you and never will” you smiled softly “Are you hungry? I’ll get some dinner ready handsome” he nodded, watching you move around the apartment. You walked into the bedroom and came back out after a moment before waving your hand back towards it “I laid out some different clothes, fresh towels if you’d like to shower. I could help if you need it with your shoulder I assume” 

He shook his head “Docs taught me how to handle it” your shoulders fell but you kept that gentle smile “Of course love. I’ll get food ready”

You laid there staring up at the ceiling, begging sleep to take you before the tears did. You felt so selfish. He was here, he was home and alive. So what if he didn’t want to sleep in the bed with you? You could walk to the door of the bedroom and see him on the couch.

You didn’t want him hearing you cry yourself to sleep again, he was so close yet still so far away your heart was cracking right down the middle. You would be fine, you could do this for Will. So what if he barely touched you? He was in the house. 

So what if you had to bite back a sigh when the two of you did brush against each other in passing because you missed his touch so much. You would do this. You would go through anything for that man.

____________

Will lay on the couch, listening to the light sobs coming from the bedroom and hating that he didn’t know how to comfort you anymore. He was trying so hard to get back to you still. You had been amazing, gentle words, not touching unless he did. He wanted nothing more than to just bury himself in the love he knew was still very much alive between the two of you but had no idea how.

It started small. You would find a note from Will that he’d left before work, something small like “I love you” or “See you tonight” . You cherished each one because it was him reaching out to you.

Then he would slip his arm around you in the kitchen, just a small gesture while you were doing something, dip his head down to rest his chin on your shoulder and stand there for a moment. Something that seemed so small but meant so much. 

Finally after weeks you were half asleep and the door cracked open a little while before the bed dipped behind you and he pulled you back into his arms, your back flush against his chest and you had to stifle the whimper in your arm. “Why’d you wait?” he asked softly. “I would’ve wanted forever Will” you answered and closed your eyes, just enjoying his touch.

Will laid there, his arms around you and closed his eyes.  War changed him so much, had taken so much but he was taking it back. He wasn’t letting war take him from you any longer. You were being so patient, waiting and being there. He was fighting and would continue fighting for you. 

You were so warm in his embrace, a warmth he had been missing for far too long. He could feel it seep into his body and felt his muscles relax as far as his mind would allow. He heard you let out a shuddered breath before you relaxed in his arms and knowing you were breathing easier made him feel both guilty for not being able to do this sooner and relieved because it just reinforced knowing that he still had the effect on you of being your comfort. 

____________

You woke up and your heart nearly burst out of your chest when you realized Will was still wrapped around you, his breath warm on your neck. You could feel when he started to wake up, his hand that had slipped under the old shirt of his that you were wearing started to trail over your stomach, tracing little shapes. “I slept so good” he murmured low and you smiled. You’d also slept better than you had in years, after so long of showing up to work exhausted from nightmares you’d never tell him about because you didn’t want him feeling more guilty. 

“Can we stay here a little while?” you asked softly and he hummed “Of course, wanna move back closer?” he still knew you so well. You scooted back a little and his arms tightened. His hands wandered a bit, gentle like he was just trying to make sure you were real. You closed your eyes to enjoy every little brush of his fingers.

When the alarm rang you didn’t want to get up, didn’t want to leave the bed and break the moment. “You shower first” he murmured and didn’t kiss your neck but nudged it with his nose before getting up.

____________

You walked into the kitchen and Will was standing at the window drinking coffee and he reached a hand out. You honestly could’ve cried. He pulled you into his arms, tucking you against his chest and the two of you stood there silently. You felt your body relax even further.

Before the two of you left to go your separate ways for work he leaned down to press his forehead to yours, “I love you” you swallowed hard, he was still fighting to get home to you and god you loved him so much for it. “I love you too Will” you whispered, seeing just a ghost of a smile on his face and your knees nearly buckled. 

That started Will back sleeping in the bed with you. He would hold you every night, tell you he loved you before work. You didn’t push for more. You adored every bit of progress he made.

Will felt you move the first time and his eyes flew open, he looked down and you were clinging to him in your sleep, sobbing. “Baby, baby wake up” he shook you gently and you jolted, eyes wide. “Will?” he nodded, “Are you ok?” you nodded but you were still sniffling and shaking “Can I just stay close? Please?” he nodded “Of course” he knew it was a nightmare, guessed it was about him but wasn’t going to ask, you’d share when you wanted to, for now he was here. He would keep you safe from whatever was lurking in the darkness, that much he could do. 

You walked into the kitchen after a shower, looking for coffee. He held out a hand and you smiled, expecting to get pulled against his chest and held until the pot was made but one of his hands gently fell to your hip, the other to your chin. His lips barely brushed against your lips like he was remembering how to do this but the moment you shuddered at the touch he smiled just barely and pulled you back into another kiss, this one similar to the one you shared the day he left. 

You gasped so sweetly, an almost silent moan breaking in your throat. You’d been craving this for years. He sighed when you started to kiss him back, the more sure he became, the more sure you became. He deepened the kiss, nudging you back until you were stopped by the counter “Missed you, missed this so much” he groaned when the two of you separated for air. 

“Missed you too” you barely got it out before he was pulling you into another kiss. You pulled back just enough to speak with your lips against his “Nothing more has to happen Will. you know that right?” his nose brushed against yours “I know honey and I love you so much for that” 

The kisses got hungrier, needier, like every touch was bringing back the way you felt for each other before the war tarnished it. “Need you, please” he muttered, hands already hovering on the buttons of your shirt. You smiled “Bedroom handsome” 

____________ 

You laid there, your fingers caressing the gunshot that had brought Will home to you. Your bare body was across his, your lips trailing across scars on his chest while his fingers traced shapes on your body. He pulled you into a kiss, tongue tangling with you before he pulled away, staring at you with so much love your heart ached “You wanna marry me?”

 You froze, shock slamming into you. “You really mean it? I don’t want you to feel like you need to” he huffed out a quiet laugh and you could feel your cheeks warm, it was the closest to himself he’d sounded like since he got home.”I want” you let out a soft sob, lips finding his “My husband” “My wife”

beer and smoke. ⁓1.5k words. strangers to lovers, light hurt/comfort, fluff, cursing, height gap, mentions of war, cheating, injuries, alcohol and cigarettes