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“M-miggy I t-think I need to sit down,” he murmurs around a lump in his throat. His date looks at him in suprise as he stumbles and grabs the poor boys arm, his whole body trembling with embarrassment and overwhelm.
“Yeah you’re really flushed Robby, here we’re almost through the maze and then we can sit at the little cafe and get some food,” Miguel offers agreeably- though he does seem concerned (or he’s misreading the situation and just seeing what he wants to see.)
He barely manages another step before his head is spinning and his grip on Miguel tightens “I’m sorry I need to- right now,” he mumbles sinking to his knees as Miguel crouches down next to him.
“Hey baby are you okay?” Miguel asks hesitantly as he squeezes his eyes shut against tears.
He’d been so excited about today, it was his second date with Miguel Diaz the star of the soccer team and while he might not be a complete social pariah (due solely to Sam’s influence and his place on the cheer squad) Shawn and Tory are his only actual friends.
But with Miguel it feels like the rom coms he and Daniel force his dad to watch. Or it did until they walked into what he’d assumed would be a nice chill corn maze and turned up to have fucking psychodelic neon type posters tacked to everything.
Now his eyes burn and he’s dizzy and his hands are clenched in fists at his sides, the pretty red nail polish Tory had done for him yesterday is going to chip if he keeps at it but he’s just really dizzy.
“Fuck,” he murmurs desperately and Miguel must sense the urgency because he grabs Robby’s hips and under any under circumstances it’d be really hot but now he just tightens his grip on Miguel’s hard biceps and digs his finger in as the strong soccer player watches him concernedly.
“Hey Robby are you alright?” Miguel aks quietly, hands rubbing up and down his arms as he kneels awkwardly in front of him.
Normally it’s the kind touch he’d hate but right now the fact that Miguel’s not pissed is enough for him, unless he’s pretending to avoid hurting his feelings- shit.
“I’m sorry, it’s fine we can keep going I was just a little dizzy.” He says quickly, making no attempt to stand up. “I’ll believe that when you open your eyes,” Miguel sasses and he groans and bats the boys hands away.
“I’m fine- I mean I can manage,” he adds quickly and Miguel just sits next to him and wraps him up in his arms. He flinches slightly because of course he fucking does- but to his suprise Miguel isn’t acting offended.
“Sorry I should’ve asked first,” Miguel says and he’s pretty sure he just stares blankly in response “huh?” Miguel huffs out a small laugh “About touching you- I’ll ask next time.”
He’s still pretty shocked and a bit confused “Do you um- so you want me to ask you first too?” his eyes are barely cracked open and still the color hurts, making his stomach churn.
“Oh no you don’t have to I just meant because you’re autistic-“ he actually chokes in suprise at the acknowledgement, everyone else he’s met that he told had either dropped him immediately like it was contagious or pretended it wasn’t real and dropped him later when they realized it was.
But he really likes Miguel and he’d tried so hard to mask around him, with the exception of some pretty minimal hand flapping on their first date that Miguel had thought was cute he’d been doing good.
He’d figured he’d have a little bit before anything too dramatic happened or his quirks stopped being cute and got annoying but now he’s just confused again- no idea what’s going on.
“Sorry I didn’t know if you were okay talking about it,” Miguel apologizes “I mean I’ve been reading a bit online but a lot of the information is for young kids and it’s kind of hard I just- I didn’t know if you’d be okay with me asking.”
He’s still too shocked to speak as he tries to pull his thoughts together but then he remembers his dad telling him that it’s stressful if someone’s vulnerable and he takes too long to respond.
“You did research?” He finally blurts out and Miguel flinches against him “Sorry if that’s not okay-“ he shakes his head rapidly. “N-no its amazing no one’s ever done that for me before, except my dad.”
Worried this is too intense for a second date he opens his mouth to apologize but Miguel is already speaking “Oh thank god, I wanted to make sure you were comfortable but after I started reading I was worried it was invasive I mean I don’t know that I’d love if there was literal information guides on how I think just being passed around so I didn’t know if I should bring it up and- I just really like you. I’ve had a crush on you for so long and I’m really nervous to mess things up.”
He says it in one breath and again he’s in shock trying to think of a response “You like me,” he finally settles on and Miguel murmurs a breathless “Yeah” before they’re kissing.
It’s not great- messy and stiff as he’s shocked by the action and he doesn’t know if he should close his eyes but then Miguel is leaning back. “Sorry I just said I’d ask but it’s kind of hard to remember and-“ this time he surges forward and captures the soccer players lips.
It’s infinitely better now that he’s not frozen in shock, warm and soft and a little tentative but still perfect.
“I like you too- so much,” he starts because that seems like the right thing to address first “Also you don’t have to ask to touch me everytime, maybe just when we’re first together and if I’m overwhelmed later on I’ll tell you.” Miguel breathes out and nods “as for um research, you don’t have too but if there’s anything that you want to know you can ask- I honestly don’t mind.”
Miguel nods again and takes his hand as he buries his face in the shoulder of the other boy, trying to ignore the overwhelming scent as he pulls away just as quickly.
He obviously doesn’t do a good job at hiding it because Miguel is self consciously trying to contort himself to smell his sweater like he’s worried it smells.
“Your detergent suprised me- Sorry” he says guiltily but Miguel bounces “No don’t be sorry that’s good! I mean it’s not good but thank you for telling me I can buy a different one- whatever you like!” He’s so shocked at the proposal he leans in to kiss Miguel’s lips again.
And he’s definitely getting the hang of this because if the second time was good this is fantastic, it’s like fireworks and he finally understands what that expression means.
“You don’t need too but-“ he starts when they break apart but Miguel had the biggest smile on his face “No no this is perfect, I’m learning!” he exclaims happily while he tries to get over the apparently unending shock.
“Okay I have another question,” he says softer “why are we sitting here- I don’t mind I’m just worried about you.”
Now he can feel his own already flushed face growing hotter “um the posters are really bright or overwhelming I guess but it’s just making me really dizzy- like can’t walk dizzy.” He explains nervously and if he’d expected Miguel to be put off by this he’s wrong.
“Oh that’s fine, I’ll just carry you-“ Miguel offers casually and he actually squeaks at the offer but the soccer player is already lifting him off the ground.
And he’d known the boy was strong, had watched his games and cheered him on but actually feeling it makes his stomach warm. Miguel lifts him like it’s nothing, encouraging him to wrap his arms and legs around him as he piggyback carries him.
He squeezes his eyes shut and buries his face against Miguel’s neck as the boy chatters happily about his idea and asks several times if its helping.
It is helping, he’s able to keep his eyes closed and avoid wobbling sound like he’s drunk at the unbearable dizziness.
He’s still blushing at Miguel’s sweetness when he sets him down outside the cafe. “I think I’m going to make an excellent boyfriend!” The brunette says eagerly and he freezes- mouth open at the words.
It takes Miguel a minute to catch up and when he does his mouth opens similarly to Robby’s but he has no idea if he’s annoyed or horrified or embarrassed of regretful or-
“Shit that is not how I meant to ask you that,” he finally says “but I mean I guess if you want to I- it would really make me really happy.”
He can’t manage words but he nods and Miguel pulls him into a tight hug- it feels so good he doesn’t even care about the awful laundry soap (or he does care but it’s worth it.)
“Yes I really want to,” he adds when they break apart “Just promise you’ll tell me straight up if there’s any problems, I won’t realize otherwise.” Miguel hesitates but nods “I hope there won’t be but I’ll definitely do that if it’s necessary okay I promise.”
He kisses Miguel again.
Definitely fireworks.
“So do you want to check out the cafe? I know that some autistic people are really picky eaters so if there’s nothing you like we can do something else-“ he takes the soccer players hand and squeezes gently “No I’ll find something, I’m picky but I do eat enough to go out.”
Miguel hums and places their fingers together “so what do you like?” He thinks about it as they walk over to the little building and soup inside and out of the cool fall air “um pasta, grilled cheese, steak, burgers or sandwiches as long as it’s just meat and cheese, chocolate-“
“Oh well that’s all that matters to me, I don’t think I could date someone who doesn’t like chocolate.” He’s confused for a second thinking that that seems like weird criteria before he remembers Daniel making a similar joke a week ago when he said he could never date someone who didn’t like reading and that’s why he’d had to marry Johnny.
His dad hasn’t thought it was very funny but he had once they explained it, Daniel’s taunts about his pouting making him laugh harder.
Miguel takes his hand, orders Mac n’ cheese and a grilled cheese for them to share with apple cider pumpkin donuts after he confirms that he’ll eat them.
When they sit at the little table he expects Miguel to let go of his hand but instead he just squeezes softly and draws him into another sweet kiss as the autumn wind shakes brilliantly colored leaves from their branches to rain down on them.
It’s perfect and he taps his fingers against Miguel’s thigh as the brunette holds him to his chest while they watch the leaves drift down to form a golden ring around them.