Work Text:
“Hey.” Michael announced, walking into the hospital room. Rich had been in there for… a week? Wait, maybe two? Whatever. His only visitor was Michael, along with some “Get well soon!” cards from his other friends. But he couldn’t blame them. Jake was probably in trouble from his parents that were halfway across the U.S. for having a party… and having his house burnt down. Brooke was probably really upset and working on herself after Jeremy dumped her. Chloe turned herself in to the principal for “doing ketamine” at the school play. Jenna probably tagged along with her.
But Michael… Why was he here? He had no reason to. At first, he only came to the hospital to visit Jeremy, but then he started talking to Rich. But why would he? Rich thought that he hated him.
“What’s your favorite ice cream flavor?” Michael asked, setting his backpack on the floor.
“We’re asking questions now?” Shit. Rich had made a strong effort to make his speech include as little S’s as he could to prevent others from hearing his shameful lisp. That’s what the Squip told him to do at first, until he could fix it.
“What do you mean, ‘we’re asking questions now?’” Michael groaned. “I just wanted to know your favorite ice cream flavor.”
Did Michael not notice? Or maybe he was pretending he didn’t.
“Uhh-“ Rich thought of a way to say it.
“Vanilla…”
“Vanilla? That’s it? You’re so basic.”
“Vanilla chocolate swirl.”
“Ohh. That makes more sense.” Michael got up from his chair and headed to the door.
“Where are you going?” Rich asked.
“Stay here. Don’t die.”
Rich couldn’t help but let out a little chuckle. A chuckle quiet enough so Michael couldn’t hear. Why was it so embarrassing to laugh at his corny jokes?
A few minutes later, Michael returned with two cups of ice cream.
“They didn’t have Vanilla chocolate swirl. I already took a bite of the chocolate one.”
Rich stared at Michael blankly.
“…Unless you want me to mix them up?” “I can hand feed you-“
“No, it’s fine. Give me the vanilla.” Rich replied.
“You’re boring.” Michael laughed.
“Vanilla chocolate swirl is the best flavor of ice cream. You know why?” Rich paused. Would Michael care about his lisp?
Michael nodded in anticipation.
“It combines two perfect flavors into one, making ultimate perfect-ness.” “But it’s different than mixing both of them up. In soft serve machines, there is more vanilla ice cream added. Chocolate is an overpowering flavor. But when they’re mixed in the perfect ratios, it’s like- amazing.”
’Why the fuck did I do that?’ Rich thought to himself. ‘Who in their right mind would want to hear me talk about this shit?’
When Rich found himself lost in thought, he embarrassingly shifted his focus to Michael.
Michael smiled sweetly at him.
“Here. Eat.” Michael scooted closer to the hospital bed and lifted his chocolate ice cream spoon up to Rich’s mouth. His hands were just hovering over his face.
“Dude, I said it’s fine-“
Without warning, Michael shoved the spoon in Rich’s face. The spoon bent upon impact, leaving Michael’s hands resting on his face. The ice cream spread onto his cheeks and circled the lining of his lips.
“Aw dude- what the hell?!”
Michael fell back, but with his hands still on Rich’s cheek, his face growing red. He didn’t know if it was from him laughing, or from being in such an awkward situation. He brought this upon himself though.
Thoughtless, Rich lifted up his hand to wipe the smeared chocolate off his face, but his hand was met with Michael’s instead. They stood silently for a second.
Why was this so awkward?? Why did HE have to make it awkward??
Michael smoothly rubbed his finger to Rich’s mouth.
Rich felt his heart stretching, taking a breath in, and felt it crumpling taking a breath out.
He wiped away the chocolate on the corner of Rich’s lip. For a moment, his hands still hovered over Rich’s cheek.
“Do you like the chocolate?” Michael quickly lifted his hand off of his face.
Rich broke his silence. “...Do you want me to smear my ice cream on your face?”
“With you bedridden and your arms all bandaged up?”
“If there’s a will, there’s a way.” His lisp didn’t even matter at this point. Michael didn’t even seem to notice.
“I would look less of an idiot with vanilla smeared on my face.”
“You already act like one.” Rich smiled.