everyonelives | there are prizes all around you if you're wise enough to see

I - I mean he likes me. I really like him. He stayed, he's a hunter, isn't it only a matter of time?

( Yeah, just a little more convincing. Because even though he sees all that, he sees he's a catch, Mia. It's just abrupt. )

If it was only a matter of time, I don't think he would have put you through the whole meet the friends schtick.

[She pauses as she moves closer.]

Or driven all the way with you from New Orleans to meet Dad. Or stuck you with his dad for most of it.

Yeah, Michael Sullivan... was intense.

( He takes her hand. )

It's the first time, maybe ever, that, it's been like this. Not maybe. He's the first real -- I feel like we found each other. Literally. In the rubble of a collapsed building in London. And, I know he's not going away. He's just - going. ( He nods. ) Thanks. For the perspective.

Of course.

[She gives his shoulder a squeeze.]

I hope things work out with his brother.

Me too. Me - too.

( Because, like his boyfriend, he doesn't know what Cooper has in store for him. What's awaiting him. What 'trap' even means. )

[Coop makes his way out of the bedroom, bag slung over his shoulder, and flashes them both a small smile before making his way over.]

I'll call you when I get to Salt Lake.

[A beat.]

Or maybe if I just get bored on the road.

Whenever you want.

( he meets him at the door for a kiss. )

Let me know if I can do anything, okay?

I will. Honestly, if this all works out we're probably going to need ID's and stuff but I will let you know.

[He will lean in and give him a quick kiss, before dipping out the door.]

Bye, Mia.

["See you, Coop."]

( he waves behind him, sinks into the door frame, drops his head back and talks to himself. )

It's going to be okay.

( and then he gets to work helping clear, cover, and store the appetizers.

and then they are getting drunk tonight. possibly a half hour from now. you're on brother duty, today. cooper might catch him more buzzed than he's ever seen him. )

[That will be fun. And sure enough, after checking into a motel outside Salt Lake he will call, almost expecting it to go to voicemail because it's getting late.]

( He may have called back Zoe for this, too. It's better to drink in packs than just with your sister. He tries to drink to hope and not to losing his boyfriend and not to his boyfriend losing his brother all over again. )

What do you think he meant. He's back and it's a trap. Like, if it's a trap, he's going, so it's not like a trap-trap, right?

( his phone rings and his eyes go wide. )

It's Cooper. It's a trap. He sprung the trap didn't he. But he wouldn't be calling. I should answer it right?

( well, he said he would. so, he does, tapping the connect button and bringing the phone to his ear. he almost falls backwards off the side of his sectional, but he catches himself with a yelp.

cooper can here the whoosh of almost falling and a small yelp. )

Hey, hi, sorry. Balance can be ... so challenging. Did you make it to Salt Lake?

( he gestures for them to bring it down, waving his palm down. does he care? does cooper? it feels polite? )

[Cooper does not, in fact, care, and a bit of a smile stretches across his face as he listens to William ramble.]

I did, and you sound like you're having a good time.

[Aka a little tipsy.]

Well, I miss you already and Zoey had the perfect solution. And my sister has never met a shot she didn't take, and here we are. ( he swings his body upward, swaying his way back to the kitchen as he leans against the counter. ) All checked in?

Yep.

[He's flopped back on the motel bed, and he stares up at the ceiling with a sigh.]

And I already miss you too. Hopefully it won't be too long before I'll have an idea of when I'll be back.

I just want you okay. And I want you to get answers. And, you need to be there. I'm just there in spirit.

( Literally. As he can track the GPS. )

I know. But things have been going pretty well, and I'm not looking to fuck them up, even if I do have a resurrected brother to deal with.

[A small pause.]

Maybe I can convince him to come back with me.

You're not fucking anything up. Family's important, it's everything. You don't have to convince me or worry that I think you're being selfish or blowing me off. If anything, this is a good sign. Green flags all the way down the track, Sullivan.

( He feels settled. He isn't an insecure person. He needed to be talked around it. Talked into it. But, deep down. He knows. And Cooper is reinforcing what he knows.

And he loves him so fucking much. )

Good.

[He wants to make sure that's clear. He's not used to having to maintain something, so he wants to make sure that he's showing that he's making the effort.]

I think he'll like you, if you get to meet him. Not that he's a hard sell. He trusts me a lot of the time, but ... I think he'd like you all the same.

Well, when you're ready and everything's sorted out. I would love to meet him. I can't wait, okay. And, if you do need me. Remember. Big jet.

( He can be there in hours. )

I do remember.

[And he definitely has been thinking about places they could possibly go with said jet. Places he's wanted to see but never thought he would because of the life he lead. But rich boyfriend does have it's perks.]

I'm thinking that maybe when everything's settled there's some places we could go, if you're not too busy.

I don't know how many ways I can translate big jet into, I have the time to use said big jet and not make it sound obnoxious or entitled, so, I will just say I've thought about the same things. And I'd love to show you the world, but on an equal playing field and with trust, not Aladdin-style. ( he pauses as his thoughts reorder themselves, or try. ) I've been drinking, was that romantic or too me, me me?

I'm leaning towards romantic.

[If he's entirely honest, he sees himself as more of an Aladdin than a Jasmine in this relationship, but William's the one with the means. Their relationship is a little better for not having the pretense of him being a prince anyway.]

There's a lot of stuff I do want to see, one day.

Then we'll get you to one day.

( That's a promise. )

How early are you going to head out tomorrow?

Pretty early. I want to try to get to the bunker as soon as I can.

[He has a feeling this isn't over yet, as nice as it is to have his brother back, and he wants to make sure there's no catches before he lets himself feel it too much.]

Then we'll see what happens.

Okay. Do you... want to talk about any of it? Or, we can talk about one day. I'm here for anything.

( Even just being here also feels like enough. )

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