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When it first happens, they're out to lunch. They've had a few drinks so Michael doesn't immediately notice it until he goes to take another bite of his burger and realizes he can't move his hand.
He looks down at it and notices Gavin is holding it.
"Uh," Michael starts to laugh, "Gavin?"
"Yes, Michael?" Gavin tries to keep a straight face but his lips inch upward.
"Wanna explain this?" Michael asks as he lifts their joined hands off the table.
"Not really, no," Gavin is still trying not to smile and looks down at his food.
"Okay, well, I kind of need my hand to eat," Michael says and wiggles his fingers in between Gavin's.
"Right," Gavin lets go.
Michael shrugs and they don't talk about it.
The second time it happens, Ray is sitting across from them.
Gavin is searching for something on his phone while Ray and Michael talk about a movie they had all recently gone to see. Gavin gets a call, which he answers as he slips his hand into Michael's.
Ray's eyebrows shoot up and Michael's confused for a second until he follows Ray's gaze down to their hands.
"Goddamn it, Gavin," Michael almost yells and Gavin laughs into the phone but doesn't let go.
"Is there something you guys want to tell me?" Ray's eyebrows are still not in their normal place on his face.
"Ask Gavin. This is the second time he's done it," Michael pulls at his hand but Gavin only grips his hand tighter. Michael sighs and stops trying. He could get his hand back if he really wanted to but he didn't need both his hands to finish his food.
Michael continues where they had left off before they were interrupted, while Ray watches him with an amused face as Michael eats his pasta and then takes a drink of his coke one handed.
Gavin is still on the phone when he has to let go of Michael's hand to get up from the table and head back to the office.
He's still on the phone when they get back to the office.
"Sorry, it was my brother," Gavin says when he hangs up and sits in his chair.
Before Michael can say anything, it's time to start recording an episode of Go!
The third time it happens, they're out to lunch with Ray and Geoff.
Geoff and Gavin are talking about a Let's Play they have an idea for so Michael and Ray are trying not to pay too much attention. Michael's asking Ray about The Wolf Among Us but Ray keeps glancing at Gavin's hand.
Gavin hasn't tried holding his hand but it might have something to do with the fact that Michael hasn't taken his hand off his drink the entire time.
Michael notices Ray laughing at him.
"Shut the fuck up, Ray!" Michael says and shoves at Gavin's arm.
"Hey, Michael, we need more napkins," Geoff says as he uses the last one to wipe off his mouth.
Michael lifts his right hand off of his drink and into the air to get the waiter's attention.
When the waiter brings over some napkins, Michael hands them to Geoff and forgets to put his hand back on his drink.
Gavin doesn't even look at Michael when he threads his fingers through Michael's.
"Goddamnit, Gavin!" Michael definitely yells this time.
"Again?" Ray says at the same time.
Geoff looks over and notices Michael trying to wiggle his hand out of Gavin's.
"What do you mean 'again'?" Geoff asks Ray.
Ray is too busy laughing to answer.
"Guys?" Geoff tries again.
Michael punches Gavin with his left hand. "That would've hurt more if you weren't holding my punchin' hand."
Gavin lets go of Michael's hand and takes a bite of his sandwich. "We should have a cook out this weekend," he says around a mouthful.
"The weather is getting better," Ray adds.
Gavin gives Ray a grateful look.
"X-Ray and Vav!" Ray says as he waves the waiter over to order another drink.
Michael tries to avoid sitting next to Gavin. Which is actually pretty difficult because he's gotten so used to always sitting next to Gavin (the old office, the new office, when they went out to eat, during "swimming and bevs" time) that sometimes he didn't notice until Gavin has already grabbed his hand.
Other times, Michael is pretty successful in sitting next to someone who isn't Gavin. But then Gavin starts coming up with excuses ("It's too cold." "It's too warm." "The woman across from me is giving me a look.") until they agree to switch seats just to get him to shut up.
Ray never sits next to Michael. ("I'm not going to cockblock Vav, Michael." "It's not even cockblocking! All he ever does is hold my hand." "At least he keeps his hands above the table, am I right?" "Fuck you.")
And then eventually everyone stops trying to sit next to Michael.
One day, Gavin is stuck editing during lunch and he tells them he'd catch up in a bit.
Ray, Michael, Burnie, and Jack go out to lunch without him.
Michael thinks he'll finally be able to have a meal without any random hand holding. He slides into the booth first and watches as Ray and Burnie slide into the booth across from him. He turns to see Jack pulling up a chair at the end of the table.
"Oh, come on!" Michael glares at each of them. "He's not even here! He's probably going to be stuck editing through lunch."
Burnie just shrugs and picks up his menu. Ray grins at him and Michael kicks him under the table.
"If he doesn't show up you should probably get him something," Burnie suggests looking up from his menu.
"Why do I have to fucking do it?" Michael asks and very pointedly ignores Ray's grin grow wider. He knows he's going to do it no matter how angry he is. He looks through the menu for something he wants but also something for Gavin. "Maybe I'll start packing lunch like I'm in the third fucking grade again."
Ten minutes later, Gavin comes in, panting a little.
"Thanks for saving me a seat," Gavin says and cheerfully slides in next to Michael, who doesn't look at any of them.
Michael slides over his untouched glass of water, forcefully enough that some of the water spills on the table.
"Thanks, Michael," Gavin grabs the cup and takes a drink.
"Whatever," Michael doesn't even flinch when Gavin slips his left hand into Michael's right. He just grabs another chip from the basket in the middle of the table.
Michael stops trying to avoid it.
It keeps happening.
A lot.
Always when they're out to eat.
Gavin takes his lunch when Michael does. Times it just right. Even when he's finished with whatever he's working on, he'll find something else until Michael's finished too.
Sometimes Michael skips lunch to finish editing. Those days Gavin goes out to get lunch and brings Michael something to eat. Those days Michael ends up taking the food home, heating it up, and watching TV.
Alone.
And then Gavin is gone to England for a week.
On Monday, they go out to eat and Geoff almost doesn't sit in the empty chair next to Michael.
"Oh, that's right. Gavin's not here," Geoff says as he sits next to Michael. "Better enjoy it while it lasts."
Michael laughs and agrees.
Ray just looks at Michael.
On Tuesday, Jack notices Michael eating using only one hand.
"You can use both hands to eat, you know."
Michael looks at his right hand on the table. "Oh, right. I've just gotten used to eating with my left one."
Jack nods.
Ray stares.
Michael picks up his burger with both hands and takes a bite.
On Wednesday, it's only Ray and Micheal out to lunch.
Halfway through the meal Ray coughs and nods at something on the table.
Michael looks down to see his hand is turned palm up on the table. Michael's eyes go wide. He stares at his hand for a couple of seconds until Ray starts to make a noise like he's about to say something.
Like he's going to try talking about it.
Michael wiggles his fingers and shakes his head. "No."
Ray nods. "Okay."
Michael uses his right hand to wave down a waitress to order another drink.
On Thursday, Michael is in a sour mood and doesn't go out for lunch when Burnie invites him. He makes up an editing excuse and spends his lunch angrily eating a pop tart he got out of the vending machine, at his desk.
On Friday, Michael skips lunch because of a real editing problem. By the time he's done with everything he needs to do, it's time to go home.
He ends up making a sandwich and eating it in silence.
On Monday, he's in a much better mood when he comes into the office.
"Hi Michael!"
"Welcome back, Gavin!" Michael says as he pushes Gavin's mouse and keyboard to the floor.
He's in an even better mood when they go out to lunch.
Gavin sits next to Michael in the booth as Ray and Geoff sit across from them.
Michael orders a burger and asks if they can cut it in half.
Ray raises his eyebrows but smiles at Michael while Geoff orders.
Michael shrugs.
But then their food gets to their table and Gavin hasn't tried holding his hand yet.
And then they're halfway through their meal and Gavin still hasn't tried to hold his hand.
Michael looks over at Ray to find him frowning and staring at Michael's empty hand.
Ray catches Michael looking at him and his eyebrows furrow together.
Michael looks at Gavin and Gavin turns to grin at him, knocks their knees together, but he doesn't hold his hand.
Michael is in a bad mood for the rest of the day.
And the next day.
On Wednesday, Ray asks him if he wants anything from Taco Bell.
Michael glances at Gavin quickly but Ray catches it. Michael nods.
When Ray comes back everyone else but Michael is out to lunch.
Ray hands over a bag and sits at his computer.
"Thanks," Michael says as he gets up to go to the kitchen.
"You could, uh," Ray scratches at the back of his neck, "you could try talking to him about it."
Michael doesn't turn, one hand holding the bag, the other holding the doorknob.
"I've tried, you know," Ray admits.
And then Michael turns around. Quickly.
"He wouldn't say anything. Kept changing the subject," Ray picks at some of the dried salsa that fell on his pant leg earlier. "But maybe he'll talk to you?"
Michael doesn't move for a few seconds, then nods slightly, and lifts the bag up. "Thanks again."
He doesn't wait for Ray to respond and hightails it to the kitchen.
He spends the rest of the day, and the next, trying to convince himself to do it. To talk to Gavin.
He spends Friday morning chickening out.
But then lunch comes along and Gavin still doesn't hold his hand.
Ray gives him a look.
"I'm going to go to the bathroom before we have to head back," he says and then disappears.
Michael and Gavin sit in silence while they wait for the waiter to come back with their receipts.
"Hey, Gav?" Michael grabs his cup. "Why don't you hold my hand anymore?" He takes a drink and thinks of trying to choke on a piece of ice on purpose.
"Oh," Gavin picks up his fork and sticks it in his own cup of water. "You always seemed so angry when I did. I didn't want to keep making you uncomfortable."
Michael doesn't know what to say so he doesn't say anything. Instead, he watches Gavin swirl the fork around in the water.
The waiter shows up before Ray does and Gavin lets go of the fork so it sinks to the bottom of the glass. He gets up from the table.
Ray comes back just then and looks from Michael to Gavin and then frowns.
Michael shakes his head and they all go back to not talking about it.
Gavin stops taking his lunches at the same time as Michael.
Michael stops going out to eat all together.
Ray glares at both of them and calls them idiots every chance he gets.
Jack keeps quiet.
Ryan's confused about what is going on.
Geoff rolls his eyes and sighs at them a lot more.
Then, because everyone in the office hates him, Geoff tells him the six of them are going out for lunch.
Ray stands behind Geoff and nods.
Michael rolls his eyes but heads out with them.
When they get to the restaurant they all sit down quickly and the only two chairs left are next to each other, forcing Michael and Gavin to sit next to each other.
"Is this some sort of intervention?" Gavin asks and sits down.
Everyone ignores him in favor of looking at their menus.
And they keep looking at their menus for ten minutes. The waiter has already come by twice to ask if they were ready to order, and both times they others have claimed to need more time.
Each time the waiter tells them to take their time but he seems to mean it less the second time.
"Guys, I'm starving, can we just order?" Gavin asks. "Because if not, next time he comes over here, I'm going to order my own food and you can all starve."
Jack and Ryan look over at Geoff. Geoff looks at Ray. Ray looks at Michael's hand and then Gavin's, then sighs.
Michael notices. "Fucking really?"
Geoff shrugs. "It wasn't my idea!" He nods at Ray.
"You guys are idiots," Ray says.
Jack and Ryan nod.
Gavin isn't paying attention at all because he's too busy flagging the waiter down so they can order.
Michael hates him all. But then nods, because yeah, maybe they are idiots.
When they finally get their food ("He probably spit in our food." "I don't care. I'm starving.") Michael watches Gavin cut up his food.
He waits until Gavin sets the knife down only to watch him grab his cup to take a drink. When he sets the cup back down, he doesn't let go of the cup.
Michael sighs, because of course Gavin would make this difficult.
He grabs Gavin's wrist until Gavin lets go of his drink. He's clearly confused and gets even more confused when Michael lets go of his wrist to slip his fingers in between Gavin's.
Ryan chokes on his drink a little bit. "Ooh! I get it now."
Michael smiles and doesn't look at Gavin even though he can feel Gavin staring at him. Even when his face starts heating up because everyone is staring at him now, he doesn't pull his hand away.
"What do we have to record when we get back?" Ray asks Geoff.
Geoff finally looks away from Michael, glances at their joined hands, and then starts to eat. "Well we have that 'Things To Do' we were talking about yesterday."
Michael feels Gavin squeeze his fingers and he chances a look at Gavin to find him smiling widely.
Michael smiles back.
And then they're holding hands everywhere.
At Michael's apartment while they watch TV.
At Ray's when they're over to help Ray with an multiplayer achievement he needs another player to get. ("You can't play this with one hand, Michael!" "Fuck off!")
At Geoff's when they're over for the cook out he invited them to. ("This isn't what I signed up for." "It's what you get.")
At the office when everyone else is at lunch.
Geoff opens the door only to shut it quickly. "I can't get away from it!"
Ray opens the door and peeks in only to turn the other way a second later. "That is not holding hands!"
Ryan looks next. "Okay, no! Not on my couch."
"Technically it's not your couch anymore, Ryan," Jack says as he throws a crumpled up receipt at Michael and Gavin without looking.
Michael keeps kissing Gavin and flips them off.
Barbara pushes the rest of the guys out of the way, opens the door a little more, holds up her phone, and presses record. "On this week's 'Versus', it's Michael's tongue against Gavin's tongue. Who will win?"