"Probably one of the best things to eat cold, that isn't necessarily supposed to be cold." Dustin easily and readily leans into the affection, relaxed and happy just as they are. He's not an artist like Will, but he has it just as bad and it shows. Knowing that he can do things like this for the other and make him happy makes Dustin just that much happier.
"Yeah well, maybe one day when we're older. Who knows. But for now I kinda like getting to have our own private things like this. I'm glad you like it, was almost worried it'd be too much when Max was insisting on the balloons and stuff." Who is he kidding, he got the balloons and lights on his own. The streamers might have been Max though.
"You did kinda cram a lot up here. How long did this even take?" He looks around them again for the first time since he'd gotten here and gotten changed, pulling an amused sort of face at everything. He'd just count himself lucky that they decided against putting a bunch of holographic paper everywhere.
"I mean...I had to work on it before El and Max got ready and finish it alone after they left because apparently it takes girls forever to get ready." Shrugging Dustin just grinned. "But it was nothing I won't do again. I like being able to do something that makes you smile."
Even if it meant spending way too much time getting balloons and stuff set up, getting a new suit, styling his hair, getting food and dance lessons and then biking all the way back to the fort in said suit.
Will's hands move against Dustin's back as he gestures with his reply. "I probably would have been out here a lot sooner but I had to help El pick out a dress and even then she had to pull out every one she has just to make sure we were really sure about it! Then she wanted help with her makeup but didn't think that I could do it but mom still wanted a second opinion when she finished and it was this whole process... She started becoming a normal girl so fast when she started being friends with Max." Not that he necessarily feels that it's a bad thing, it's just weird to him how quickly she changed.
He slouches against Dustin again, though he reaches for the little snack table that his boyfriend set up just to make it feel as much like the prom as possible.
"I like this better anyway. We can just hang out and talk. Nobody else can butt in without us letting them."
"It's kinda weird, sometimes it feels like just yesterday she was some weird bald girl that we were so sure was like...escaped from Pennhurst or something. And now she's practically your sister and on her way to a completely normal person. Well...as normal as any of us can be I guess." Laughing as he moved with Will, shifting to guide him closer to the table.
"You know, you can just let go and get something to eat or drink if you want. Not like we're in any rush."
"Or I can stay right here like this and still have pizza because I have two hands," he argues, though he knows he'll have to be careful about sauce and grease and avoid wiping his hand on Dustin's suit jacket.
"Everything is happening so fast basically all the time, though. And, it probably doesn't help that there's some blank spots in my memory. Owens said that that's part of the brain blocking out everything that happened so I don't go nuts or something." He rolls his eyes, though they both know that that was a very real fear of his. Maybe he hadn't said it to Dustin, but it wasn't exactly a secret either. "Maybe it'll all calm down now though."
There's a laugh and a quiet 'you're impossible' muttered against Will as he reached for the food, still Dustin doesn't stop him and it's obvious it doesn't actually bother him. He just happily sways a bit, moving to counter Will's motions and stay out of the way.
"Yeah? I mean that makes sense. I know I've blocked some stuff out. Like I remember some things because people have talked about it but it's almost like...like I wasn't really there?" The most pivotal one for Dustin is when they thought Eddie was dead, he didn't remember Steve coming up and finding them, didn't remember holding Eddie's child body in his arms. But Steve can recount in detail how distraught Dustin had been and how adamant he was not too leave the other only to have Eddie dragged out of his arms when Steve realized he still had a pulse.
They didn't talk about it much but Steve and him had moments during sleep overs at the Harrington house while everyone else was asleep, curled up on the couch in the dark hiding from nightmares or in the kitchen with a soda and just talking. Mostly because Dustin didn't like forgetting and Steve was willing to talk to him about it, even if Dustin was sure he didn't tell the younger guy everything.
Still, his brain wouldn't let him remember what it was like so he had to settle for the second hand recollection.
Will nods. Maybe it wasn't as literal for Dustin as it had been for him in the past, but trauma definitely does that to you even without the additional problem of something else trying to pilot your body. It's a heavy topic, one that they only talk about a little at a time, but Will feels better being able to talk about it at all. It was why he tried not to stop himself when his friends asked after him. Even if he didn't tell his mother everything, he at least told them.
Draping himself over Dustin, Will stops trying just now to reach for the food, instead standing still and just letting the two of them rest together easily.
"I love you. And, if you ever feel like you need to talk about this stuff, I'm right here."
Dustin hadn't meant for things to get heavy but they do, and then he has his arms full off tall lanky boyfriend and he can't help smiling against Will's shoulder.
"I love you too." He sighs, happy to just exist in the others arms for a moment where they are both secure and know that they can talk to one another. "Promise if I need to I'll come to you, but the same goes for you. Even if it's just for an ear to listen and someone to curl up with, you know I'll always be there for you."
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2023-01-31 10:03 am (UTC)"Yeah well, maybe one day when we're older. Who knows. But for now I kinda like getting to have our own private things like this. I'm glad you like it, was almost worried it'd be too much when Max was insisting on the balloons and stuff." Who is he kidding, he got the balloons and lights on his own. The streamers might have been Max though.
no subject
Date: 2023-01-31 10:26 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2023-01-31 10:40 am (UTC)Even if it meant spending way too much time getting balloons and stuff set up, getting a new suit, styling his hair, getting food and dance lessons and then biking all the way back to the fort in said suit.
Still, it was totally worth it.
no subject
Date: 2023-01-31 11:05 am (UTC)He slouches against Dustin again, though he reaches for the little snack table that his boyfriend set up just to make it feel as much like the prom as possible.
"I like this better anyway. We can just hang out and talk. Nobody else can butt in without us letting them."
no subject
Date: 2023-01-31 11:11 am (UTC)"You know, you can just let go and get something to eat or drink if you want. Not like we're in any rush."
no subject
Date: 2023-01-31 11:21 am (UTC)"Everything is happening so fast basically all the time, though. And, it probably doesn't help that there's some blank spots in my memory. Owens said that that's part of the brain blocking out everything that happened so I don't go nuts or something." He rolls his eyes, though they both know that that was a very real fear of his. Maybe he hadn't said it to Dustin, but it wasn't exactly a secret either. "Maybe it'll all calm down now though."
no subject
Date: 2023-01-31 11:37 am (UTC)"Yeah? I mean that makes sense. I know I've blocked some stuff out. Like I remember some things because people have talked about it but it's almost like...like I wasn't really there?" The most pivotal one for Dustin is when they thought Eddie was dead, he didn't remember Steve coming up and finding them, didn't remember holding Eddie's child body in his arms. But Steve can recount in detail how distraught Dustin had been and how adamant he was not too leave the other only to have Eddie dragged out of his arms when Steve realized he still had a pulse.
They didn't talk about it much but Steve and him had moments during sleep overs at the Harrington house while everyone else was asleep, curled up on the couch in the dark hiding from nightmares or in the kitchen with a soda and just talking. Mostly because Dustin didn't like forgetting and Steve was willing to talk to him about it, even if Dustin was sure he didn't tell the younger guy everything.
Still, his brain wouldn't let him remember what it was like so he had to settle for the second hand recollection.
no subject
Date: 2023-01-31 12:40 pm (UTC)Draping himself over Dustin, Will stops trying just now to reach for the food, instead standing still and just letting the two of them rest together easily.
"I love you. And, if you ever feel like you need to talk about this stuff, I'm right here."
no subject
Date: 2023-02-01 11:35 am (UTC)"I love you too." He sighs, happy to just exist in the others arms for a moment where they are both secure and know that they can talk to one another. "Promise if I need to I'll come to you, but the same goes for you. Even if it's just for an ear to listen and someone to curl up with, you know I'll always be there for you."