#forgive any typos please i wrote this directly into tumblr on my phone

[elisela]

@missanniewhimsy reblogged something about one of my most favorite tropes and this popped into my head so. more nurseydex because apparently i’m weak.

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“Did I ever tell you,” Will says, even though he knows he didn’t and that he’s also failed to give any context to the conversation, “that I woke up that morning and thought you snuck out?”

The adorable, confused look that overtakes his boyfriend’s face shows that he has absolutely no clue what Will is talking about. “Can’t say you ever did,” is all he says though. “What about this relationship makes you think I’m suddenly going to start sneaking out?”

“Not now,” Will says. He sets down the glass of wine Derek had poured—too bitter, a gift from Chowder because they’re grown-ups now and apparently beer isn’t an acceptable gift. Will disagrees. “After our first date. I thought you left.”

Derek blinks. His wine glass—also still full—makes a soft clink against their table when he sets it down. “Why would I have snuck out?” he says. His tone is odd, like he can’t figure out if he should be amused or offended and is hovering somewhere in-between.

Will shrugs. A year removed it’s difficult to get himself back in the panicked mindset that he’d worked himself up to after waking up alone, and it seems almost ridiculous now. “You weren’t in bed. I thought you’d regretted it, panicked, and left. I was halfway to deciding to move to Chicago when you walked back in with breakfast.”

The laugh that comes from Derek is a short bark before he shakes his head and reaches across the table; Will pushes the empty plate of lobster ravioli he’d spent the afternoon making aside and takes his hand. “You hate Chicago.”

“Which is why you’d never find me there.”

Derek chuckles. “You’re unbelievable.” There’s only a moment’s pause before he says, “I’d already done my panicking.”

Will raises an eyebrow. “Before I woke up?”

“Before I asked you out. And then again before I asked you out and had to clarify it was a date. I’m pretty sure we went out three or four times on what I’d intended to be a date but hadn’t actually gotten that across. Chowder was ready to throttle me.”

“The axe throwing?” he asks, grinning slowly.

“And the bar, the boardwalk, and the baseball game,” Derek says, nodding. “It was a lot of panicking. Wasn’t pretty.”

Will shakes his head. “You know I only went to the baseball game because I felt bad that no one else wanted to go with you.”

“You made that clear, yes,” Derek says, but his eyes crinkle at the corners in place of a smile. “I can’t believe you thought I left.”

“Yeah well,” Will says, pulling his hand back and reaching for his fork again. The wine may be shit, but the food is good and he’s not letting it go to waste. “Maybe I’d be less annoyed on a daily basis if you had.”

“Psshaw,” Derek says, reaching out to spear one of the remaining stalks of asparagus with apparently little regard for it Will was going to eat it, “less annoyed, but fewer orgasms. Your choice.”

“I’ll get back to you next year,” Will says. “Or maybe I’ll just sneak out tomorrow morning.”

“Yeah, sure,” Derek laughs. “Just make sure you bring back a good breakfast.”