So Imperfectly Perfect, 15
Title:So Imperfectly Perfect
Author: heartsdesire456
Rating:Up to NC-17, but not for a while
POV: 3rd
Pairing: Treckett
Summary: Time has little meaning for William Beckett. His once full and vibrant life has been reduced to the inside of his apartment and his three friends. For a person so young, his life holds little hope for anything more than hiding. Hiding from fear, hiding from pain... even hiding from his family. When a stranger moves in down the hall, William's routine is shattered by this unexpected intruder. Whether or not he wants the intrusion is a whole other question.
Disclaimer: ...i'm almost certain William Beckett isn't a shut in with emotional scars, but if that changes, I'll be sure to update this disclaimer.
WARNING: This fic contains possible triggers for certain people. I won't warn and give it away (though it's pretty obvious from the start) but it does get pretty triggery and intense at moments. Not terribly, it's mostly just emotional responses, but still... be warned!
Author's Note: MUAHAHAH I haz REBIRTHED my plans and this fic is back on track.
William wasn’t magically better. The rest of the afternoon they walked around the park and William would flinch at loud noises, he would startle when someone ran past too close to him, and he had to burrow into Travis’s side and hide his face in Travis’s neck as they sped up to get past a game of football some college kids had started, clearly terrified out of his wits by the big, muddy, loud, boisterous jocks.
But the very fact that there were moments where he looked almost peaceful blew Travis’s mind. William was happy. For the first time in years, William Beckett was truly happy and, maybe not carefree, but as close to calm and content as he could hope to be.
They both knew he had a long recovery still to go, but the fact that he had made the biggest leap, the biggest progression he could’ve possibly imagined was astounding to them both. They were both ecstatic that the man who had, weeks earlier, had a panic attack meeting someone new and having them touch him, relegating himself to his room for a few days, was now walking through the park, fingers laced with Travis’s as his only shield against all the things around him.
Though, it was possibly the best shield he could hope for. Travis watched every flinch with tense muscles, ready to do anything necessary to protect William and his fragile state of mind.
After a nice afternoon, they finally got ready to go home. William was able to look around as they walked down the street on the return trip. He still never made eye-contact with anybody else and stuck unimaginably close to Travis, careful to not shatter the peace he’d been granted that afternoon on the return trip home.
When they got back to the apartment building, Travis could visibly see the tension beginning to ease from William’s shoulders. Once they were in their hallway, he could tell that, despite all his success, William was practically desperate to get back to his apartment. Travis wanted to suggest going back to his, but William was digging his key from his pocket and heading straight for his apartment. When he got to the door, Travis smiled in amusement as William finally relaxed, slumping against the door.
“Okay?” Travis asked and William laughed softly, nodding with a bright smile.
“Thank you so much,” he said, tugging Travis into a hug. Travis smiled, rubbing his back as he turned to press his face against William’s hair.
“Don’t worry, Kid. You’re the one who did all the hard work-“
“AHHH!” William yelped as the door behind him opened and he stumbled back, clinging to Travis. He turned around, visibly shaken, fingertips digging into Travis’s shoulders.
“William!” Mike said sternly. “You didn’t tell me where you were! I came home and you weren’t here so I figured you were at Travis’s, so I went to knock and see what you want for dinner and nobody was there!”
“Mike, come on, don’t shout at him,” Travis said softly, rubbing a hand down William’s back. “You know-“
“Don’t start that shit. I know him better than you ever will, okay?”
William looked upset as Mike’s words made Travis’s expression harden. “Travie-“
“I may not know him as well as you do, but I know for damn sure that you shouting at him isn’t something he needs or deserves,” he said sternly, then rubbed his warm hand across William’s shoulders comfortingly. “William has had an amazing day and I won’t let you scare him and turn it sour,” he said with finality and William gave him a sweet smile.
“Thanks,” he said softly and Travis nodded, giving him a supportive smile.
Mike glared between them. “Where did you take him?” he demanded from Travis, who shot him a dark, warning look once again.
“Wherever he wants me to take him,” he said and William’s smile grew larger.
“Mike… Mike, I went to the park,” he said and Mike’s gaze faltered from Travis, swapping back to William. “We walked there and walked around and then came all the way home and I’m okay!” he said brightly.
Mike just stared in wonder. “You- You did what?!” he cried, then suddenly smiled, grabbing William around the waist. “Bill!” he cried and William laughed, hugging him as Mike squeezed him.
“I’m so proud of you, Bill,” he said, squeezing his hips gently as he pulled back. “You are absolutely amazing, you know that, right, dude?” he asked.
William nodded, smiling sweetly. “Travie tells me all the time,” he said and Travis felt his heart skip at the gentle look in William’s eyes as he turned his small, secretive smile to Travis.
Mike’s smile slipped and he turned to Travis with a begrudging grunt. “Well… thank you,” he said gruffly. “For helping Bill,” he added. “I guess… well… thanks,” he grumbled, turning to shuffle away back into the apartment.
Travis bit his lip, snickering. “That looked painful,” he joked and William giggled softly, turning to hide his face in Travis’s shoulder.
“That probably hurt his pride a lot to say that,” he agreed and Travis just watched the happiness flooding William’s face. “Really though,” he said, giving Travis an earnest look. “Thank you.”
Travis just smiled dismissively, shrugging it off. “Eh, I’ve got nothing better to do with my time than hang out with a sweet kid that needs a little help,” he said and William rolled his eyes at his joking nature.
“I know you care,” he said simply and Travis nodded.
“Of course I do. You’re a very special person, William Beckett. I just want to help you get as much out of life as you deserve,” he said honestly and openly.
William just rolled his eyes and stepped into his space, arms going around Travis’s neck. “You’re an amazing friend. Thank you,” he said and Travis closed his eyes as he carefully wrapped his arms around William’s tiny waist. He felt like such a pervert when his gut clenched as the sweet smell of William’s hair filled his nostrils. William pulled away and thanked him again before disappearing into the apartment.
Travis just walked home, kicking himself the whole way.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
William just bounced happily around the small kitchen as Mike fixed dinner and Sisky sat on the counter. “And I cried a lot, but it was all happy tears and we walked and walked and I even passed by loud things and I was okay!” he said, physically jumping up and down, clapping. “Oh my God, Sisky, it was amazing!” he cried, laughing happily.
Sisky grinned. “Aww, you went on a date,” he teased and Mike glared.
“Hey, don’t say shit like that, Adam, the dude’s fucking old-“
William scoffed. “Travis is not old,” he argued, then shot Sisky a look. “And you know full well I’m not going to DATE someone.”
Sisky shrugged. “Hell, I’d date him and he’s old enough to be my father,” he said and Mike gave him an offended look. “What?! The man is hot,” he said, then grinned. “Besides, he’s the perfect age for a man,” he said, sighing. “Old enough to not want to mess around, wise enough to have worked out how to treat a boy like he deserves, but still young enough to be fun and spontaneous,” he said and William rolled his eyes. “Plus you two have some weird bond-“
“Yeah, that’s called Friendship, Sisk,” William teased, giggling. “And a link in being outcasts,” he added. “I mean, I’m the only friend he has, I think. I mean, he talks to his mom and I know he’s got siblings, but all in all I’m kind of the only person he has, so it makes sense he’s willing to do so much for me,” he said, shrugging.
Sisky shrugged. “I don’t know, I’d go for him if I were you. He knows you, he knows your thoughts, he’d probably love you unconditionally, including the part where physical touch makes you iffy,” he said.
Mike shot William a look. “Only William was wrapped up in that man’s arms when I found them outside the door.”
William just raised an eyebrow. “Yeah, then I was wrapped up in your arms, and then in Sisky’s… they’re called ‘hugs’,” he said, voice dripping with sarcasm. “Fuck, I’m a grown man, Mike. I’m your best friend, you’re not my dad,” he said pointedly. “And I was hugging him! Hell, if I gave the ‘hands off my daughter!’ routine to you for all the shit I know you two get up to when I’m not around-“ Sisky just snickered, shaking his head while Mike glared at him. “I’d never have breath to keep alive for all the bitching.”
Mike just sighed. “I’m sorry I’m such a jerk, William, I just have trouble trusting this man with you when he’s a lonely old guy and you’re young, vulnerable, and most of all, pretty damn beautiful,” he said. “I mean, hell, Sisky knows I love him, but he knows for a fact I’d argue with anybody that you’re the most beautiful person I’ve ever met and he’d probably agree,” he said.
Sisky snickered. “Trust me, dude, I’m not with you for your looks, Carden,” he teased, earning a laugh.
“Travis isn’t some dirty old man preying on me, Mike. He’s a sweet guy who was just as lonely as I was and has a little closer to something in common than anybody else.” William sighed. “And I know he thinks I’m beautiful, he tells me all the time,” he said, earning a pointed glare. “What?! He does it to make me feel good. I like hearing I’m attractive- hell EVERYBODY likes hearing they’re attractive.”
Mike just sighed and nodded. “Just… be careful, Bill. That’s all I’m saying.”
William smiled sadly. “I always am.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It took weeks before William was willing to go somewhere other than just to the park and back, but it was still progress, for which Travis was very happy. Travis took him by the hand as they started to walk towards the park and tugged him the opposite direction. William had been that way with him before, so he wasn’t frightened, just confused. “Where’re we going?” he asked curiously, falling into step beside Travis, who always held his hand.
Travis had to hold his hand. If Travis wasn’t right there beside him he felt afraid. William knew eventually he would have to learn to not be afraid on his own but having someone bigger and stronger holding his hand always made him feel safer. If anything was to happen, Travis was always within touching distance so he could keep William safe. There was one time a guy had tripped and fallen, wrenching Travis’s hand from William’s as he fell against Travis and William had nearly fallen into a panic attack.
“Well,” Travis said, distracting William from his thoughts, though he took a precaution and wiggled his fingers in Travis’s, readjusting his grip. Travis just smiled, squeezing his hand. “I figured I’d take you and buy you pretty things,” he said and William shot him a look. “Okay, pretty and things may be an exaggeration,” Travis joked. “But I do want to buy you some new clothes,” he said and William frowned, looking down.
“What’s wrong with the ones I’ve got?” he asked and Travis grinned.
“Nothing… except they were made for somebody about three inches shorter,” he said and William blushed, tugging absently at the strip of tummy that showed when he moved his arms. “Hey, just a few new shirts or something,” he offered.
“Travie,” William whined dramatically. “I can’t let you buy me things! I’m some random kid living down the hall and you are a flower delivery dude,” he said. “You can’t make enough to spend on random shit for your friend.”
Travis tugged him into his side, smiling. “You’re kind of my only friend, William,” he said and William smiled sweetly. “And I don’t exactly have a lot to spend money on. My apartment rent is cheap, I can survive without buying random shit I don’t need anyways for a week, and I really don’t have many bills,” he said, shrugging. “Only one Bill,” he said and William groaned, slapping himself in the face.
“That was horrible. Oh God that was bad, Travis,” he said, looking up at him. “What am I gonna do with you?” he demanded, shaking his head. “One Bill- GOD that’s lame.”
“Oh shut up, you like it,” Travis said, curling his fingers around William’s happily.
William sighed, “Alright, yeah, it was cute,” he admitted, then snorted. “Lame but cute.”
Travis just grinned. “My life’s dream… accomplish myself at ‘lame but cute’-“
“SHUT UP, you lame ass!” William cried, laughing into the sleeve of his jacket, unaware of the gentle, warm smile Travis was giving him.
Author: heartsdesire456
Rating:Up to NC-17, but not for a while
POV: 3rd
Pairing: Treckett
Summary: Time has little meaning for William Beckett. His once full and vibrant life has been reduced to the inside of his apartment and his three friends. For a person so young, his life holds little hope for anything more than hiding. Hiding from fear, hiding from pain... even hiding from his family. When a stranger moves in down the hall, William's routine is shattered by this unexpected intruder. Whether or not he wants the intrusion is a whole other question.
Disclaimer: ...i'm almost certain William Beckett isn't a shut in with emotional scars, but if that changes, I'll be sure to update this disclaimer.
WARNING: This fic contains possible triggers for certain people. I won't warn and give it away (though it's pretty obvious from the start) but it does get pretty triggery and intense at moments. Not terribly, it's mostly just emotional responses, but still... be warned!
Author's Note: MUAHAHAH I haz REBIRTHED my plans and this fic is back on track.
William wasn’t magically better. The rest of the afternoon they walked around the park and William would flinch at loud noises, he would startle when someone ran past too close to him, and he had to burrow into Travis’s side and hide his face in Travis’s neck as they sped up to get past a game of football some college kids had started, clearly terrified out of his wits by the big, muddy, loud, boisterous jocks.
But the very fact that there were moments where he looked almost peaceful blew Travis’s mind. William was happy. For the first time in years, William Beckett was truly happy and, maybe not carefree, but as close to calm and content as he could hope to be.
They both knew he had a long recovery still to go, but the fact that he had made the biggest leap, the biggest progression he could’ve possibly imagined was astounding to them both. They were both ecstatic that the man who had, weeks earlier, had a panic attack meeting someone new and having them touch him, relegating himself to his room for a few days, was now walking through the park, fingers laced with Travis’s as his only shield against all the things around him.
Though, it was possibly the best shield he could hope for. Travis watched every flinch with tense muscles, ready to do anything necessary to protect William and his fragile state of mind.
After a nice afternoon, they finally got ready to go home. William was able to look around as they walked down the street on the return trip. He still never made eye-contact with anybody else and stuck unimaginably close to Travis, careful to not shatter the peace he’d been granted that afternoon on the return trip home.
When they got back to the apartment building, Travis could visibly see the tension beginning to ease from William’s shoulders. Once they were in their hallway, he could tell that, despite all his success, William was practically desperate to get back to his apartment. Travis wanted to suggest going back to his, but William was digging his key from his pocket and heading straight for his apartment. When he got to the door, Travis smiled in amusement as William finally relaxed, slumping against the door.
“Okay?” Travis asked and William laughed softly, nodding with a bright smile.
“Thank you so much,” he said, tugging Travis into a hug. Travis smiled, rubbing his back as he turned to press his face against William’s hair.
“Don’t worry, Kid. You’re the one who did all the hard work-“
“AHHH!” William yelped as the door behind him opened and he stumbled back, clinging to Travis. He turned around, visibly shaken, fingertips digging into Travis’s shoulders.
“William!” Mike said sternly. “You didn’t tell me where you were! I came home and you weren’t here so I figured you were at Travis’s, so I went to knock and see what you want for dinner and nobody was there!”
“Mike, come on, don’t shout at him,” Travis said softly, rubbing a hand down William’s back. “You know-“
“Don’t start that shit. I know him better than you ever will, okay?”
William looked upset as Mike’s words made Travis’s expression harden. “Travie-“
“I may not know him as well as you do, but I know for damn sure that you shouting at him isn’t something he needs or deserves,” he said sternly, then rubbed his warm hand across William’s shoulders comfortingly. “William has had an amazing day and I won’t let you scare him and turn it sour,” he said with finality and William gave him a sweet smile.
“Thanks,” he said softly and Travis nodded, giving him a supportive smile.
Mike glared between them. “Where did you take him?” he demanded from Travis, who shot him a dark, warning look once again.
“Wherever he wants me to take him,” he said and William’s smile grew larger.
“Mike… Mike, I went to the park,” he said and Mike’s gaze faltered from Travis, swapping back to William. “We walked there and walked around and then came all the way home and I’m okay!” he said brightly.
Mike just stared in wonder. “You- You did what?!” he cried, then suddenly smiled, grabbing William around the waist. “Bill!” he cried and William laughed, hugging him as Mike squeezed him.
“I’m so proud of you, Bill,” he said, squeezing his hips gently as he pulled back. “You are absolutely amazing, you know that, right, dude?” he asked.
William nodded, smiling sweetly. “Travie tells me all the time,” he said and Travis felt his heart skip at the gentle look in William’s eyes as he turned his small, secretive smile to Travis.
Mike’s smile slipped and he turned to Travis with a begrudging grunt. “Well… thank you,” he said gruffly. “For helping Bill,” he added. “I guess… well… thanks,” he grumbled, turning to shuffle away back into the apartment.
Travis bit his lip, snickering. “That looked painful,” he joked and William giggled softly, turning to hide his face in Travis’s shoulder.
“That probably hurt his pride a lot to say that,” he agreed and Travis just watched the happiness flooding William’s face. “Really though,” he said, giving Travis an earnest look. “Thank you.”
Travis just smiled dismissively, shrugging it off. “Eh, I’ve got nothing better to do with my time than hang out with a sweet kid that needs a little help,” he said and William rolled his eyes at his joking nature.
“I know you care,” he said simply and Travis nodded.
“Of course I do. You’re a very special person, William Beckett. I just want to help you get as much out of life as you deserve,” he said honestly and openly.
William just rolled his eyes and stepped into his space, arms going around Travis’s neck. “You’re an amazing friend. Thank you,” he said and Travis closed his eyes as he carefully wrapped his arms around William’s tiny waist. He felt like such a pervert when his gut clenched as the sweet smell of William’s hair filled his nostrils. William pulled away and thanked him again before disappearing into the apartment.
Travis just walked home, kicking himself the whole way.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
William just bounced happily around the small kitchen as Mike fixed dinner and Sisky sat on the counter. “And I cried a lot, but it was all happy tears and we walked and walked and I even passed by loud things and I was okay!” he said, physically jumping up and down, clapping. “Oh my God, Sisky, it was amazing!” he cried, laughing happily.
Sisky grinned. “Aww, you went on a date,” he teased and Mike glared.
“Hey, don’t say shit like that, Adam, the dude’s fucking old-“
William scoffed. “Travis is not old,” he argued, then shot Sisky a look. “And you know full well I’m not going to DATE someone.”
Sisky shrugged. “Hell, I’d date him and he’s old enough to be my father,” he said and Mike gave him an offended look. “What?! The man is hot,” he said, then grinned. “Besides, he’s the perfect age for a man,” he said, sighing. “Old enough to not want to mess around, wise enough to have worked out how to treat a boy like he deserves, but still young enough to be fun and spontaneous,” he said and William rolled his eyes. “Plus you two have some weird bond-“
“Yeah, that’s called Friendship, Sisk,” William teased, giggling. “And a link in being outcasts,” he added. “I mean, I’m the only friend he has, I think. I mean, he talks to his mom and I know he’s got siblings, but all in all I’m kind of the only person he has, so it makes sense he’s willing to do so much for me,” he said, shrugging.
Sisky shrugged. “I don’t know, I’d go for him if I were you. He knows you, he knows your thoughts, he’d probably love you unconditionally, including the part where physical touch makes you iffy,” he said.
Mike shot William a look. “Only William was wrapped up in that man’s arms when I found them outside the door.”
William just raised an eyebrow. “Yeah, then I was wrapped up in your arms, and then in Sisky’s… they’re called ‘hugs’,” he said, voice dripping with sarcasm. “Fuck, I’m a grown man, Mike. I’m your best friend, you’re not my dad,” he said pointedly. “And I was hugging him! Hell, if I gave the ‘hands off my daughter!’ routine to you for all the shit I know you two get up to when I’m not around-“ Sisky just snickered, shaking his head while Mike glared at him. “I’d never have breath to keep alive for all the bitching.”
Mike just sighed. “I’m sorry I’m such a jerk, William, I just have trouble trusting this man with you when he’s a lonely old guy and you’re young, vulnerable, and most of all, pretty damn beautiful,” he said. “I mean, hell, Sisky knows I love him, but he knows for a fact I’d argue with anybody that you’re the most beautiful person I’ve ever met and he’d probably agree,” he said.
Sisky snickered. “Trust me, dude, I’m not with you for your looks, Carden,” he teased, earning a laugh.
“Travis isn’t some dirty old man preying on me, Mike. He’s a sweet guy who was just as lonely as I was and has a little closer to something in common than anybody else.” William sighed. “And I know he thinks I’m beautiful, he tells me all the time,” he said, earning a pointed glare. “What?! He does it to make me feel good. I like hearing I’m attractive- hell EVERYBODY likes hearing they’re attractive.”
Mike just sighed and nodded. “Just… be careful, Bill. That’s all I’m saying.”
William smiled sadly. “I always am.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It took weeks before William was willing to go somewhere other than just to the park and back, but it was still progress, for which Travis was very happy. Travis took him by the hand as they started to walk towards the park and tugged him the opposite direction. William had been that way with him before, so he wasn’t frightened, just confused. “Where’re we going?” he asked curiously, falling into step beside Travis, who always held his hand.
Travis had to hold his hand. If Travis wasn’t right there beside him he felt afraid. William knew eventually he would have to learn to not be afraid on his own but having someone bigger and stronger holding his hand always made him feel safer. If anything was to happen, Travis was always within touching distance so he could keep William safe. There was one time a guy had tripped and fallen, wrenching Travis’s hand from William’s as he fell against Travis and William had nearly fallen into a panic attack.
“Well,” Travis said, distracting William from his thoughts, though he took a precaution and wiggled his fingers in Travis’s, readjusting his grip. Travis just smiled, squeezing his hand. “I figured I’d take you and buy you pretty things,” he said and William shot him a look. “Okay, pretty and things may be an exaggeration,” Travis joked. “But I do want to buy you some new clothes,” he said and William frowned, looking down.
“What’s wrong with the ones I’ve got?” he asked and Travis grinned.
“Nothing… except they were made for somebody about three inches shorter,” he said and William blushed, tugging absently at the strip of tummy that showed when he moved his arms. “Hey, just a few new shirts or something,” he offered.
“Travie,” William whined dramatically. “I can’t let you buy me things! I’m some random kid living down the hall and you are a flower delivery dude,” he said. “You can’t make enough to spend on random shit for your friend.”
Travis tugged him into his side, smiling. “You’re kind of my only friend, William,” he said and William smiled sweetly. “And I don’t exactly have a lot to spend money on. My apartment rent is cheap, I can survive without buying random shit I don’t need anyways for a week, and I really don’t have many bills,” he said, shrugging. “Only one Bill,” he said and William groaned, slapping himself in the face.
“That was horrible. Oh God that was bad, Travis,” he said, looking up at him. “What am I gonna do with you?” he demanded, shaking his head. “One Bill- GOD that’s lame.”
“Oh shut up, you like it,” Travis said, curling his fingers around William’s happily.
William sighed, “Alright, yeah, it was cute,” he admitted, then snorted. “Lame but cute.”
Travis just grinned. “My life’s dream… accomplish myself at ‘lame but cute’-“
“SHUT UP, you lame ass!” William cried, laughing into the sleeve of his jacket, unaware of the gentle, warm smile Travis was giving him.