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“I don’t get it. Does he not want me around his family?”
“I mean…” Yoichi hummed. “I wouldn’t.”
“Shut up.”
Michael had picked Yoichi as an impromptu running partner on the days Alexis wasn’t available. Yoichi fought the idea half-heartedly at first, but their relationship had become tentatively amiable over the years. Michael would listen to Yoichi regale in his frequent travels from Germany to Japan and back, occasionally slipping in a snide remark about how he seemed to follow Itoshi Rin around like a puppy dog. Yoichi would fire back an off color comment about his relationship with Alexis. Rinse repeat. Their banter had slowly become something akin to conversation, though neither of them would ever admit it.
It wasn’t the ideal scenario, but Alexis was in Paris with his family.
A few times a year, he took the train from Munich to Hamburg to visit his parents and siblings, usually for birthdays or accomplishments. He never seemed particularly happy to make the trip, but some unseen sense of familial obligation kept him going, Michael guessed. In the seven or so years he’d known Alexis, he never had the opportunity to meet his family. To his knowledge they never came to his games, and despite offering, Alexis turned down any offers to come with him to Hamburg when he traveled.
Michael had picked more than a few arguments over the topic when they were younger, but that was several years and three therapists ago.
Still, the looming visit and perceived tension leading up to it were bringing some old habits out.
Alexis condensed his bi-annual visits into a two week long outing to Paris, supposedly at his parents’ request. It was also their idea for Michael to meet them in Paris a few days into the trip. He had to assume that nearing their fifth anniversary had made them realize that he wasn’t going anywhere. In a perfect world, he would have simply left with Alexis, were it not for some stupid magazine interview his publicist scheduled. Alexis didn’t seem particularly excited for the trip regardless - when Michael dropped him off at the airport, he seemed to resign himself to… something . The idea of leaving Alexis for three days with the strange, unspoken anxiety hovering over both their shoulders grated Michael’s nerves to dust.
“It’s just odd that, after all this time, suddenly his parents want to meet me.” Michael grumbled. “Which would be one thing if he wasn’t so fucking anxious about the whole thing.”
They came to the end of their route, both a bit breathless, but nothing that could have distracted Michael from his mounting irritation.
“Ness gets anxious about everything.” Yoichi wiped his brow. “Have you asked him about any of this?”
“Don’t ask stupid questions.” Michael scoffed. “Of course I’ve asked him.”
Yoichi rolled his eyes. “And what did he say?”
“Every time he goes to Hamburg, he gives me the same bullshit about not wanting to inconvenience me with the travel time.”
“Well…” Yoichi hummed. “That does sound like him.”
A hesitant silence fell over them. Typically, Michael would prefer having teeth pulled to the idea of sharing his insecurities, let alone with Yoichi. Fortunately (or unfortunately), the man was observant and prone to offering mildly helpful insights.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you this bothered.”
“How perceptive.” Michael deadpanned. “Wouldn’t it bother you if Itoshi Rin never took you to meet whatever rabid jackals probably raised him?”
“Don’t be a dick.” Yoichi huffed. “Maybe if you actually talked about stuff, instead of just stewing and asking vaguely passive aggressive questions, you’d have your answers.”
Mildly helpful.
Michael readjusted his hair tie. “Hasn’t anyone ever told you that it’s unbecoming to offer unsolicited advice, Yoichi.”
“ You asked me! ”
Arriving home from his jog to an empty condo was a stark reminder of the void that Alexis left behind when he was away.
When he wasn’t careful, Michael could delude himself into thinking he was easily contented. His fussy attitude was mostly for show - he’d rather give off the air of high standards and admit his lack of want for, well, anything, let alone the reason for it. Growing up poor had a way of tempering one’s expectation of comfort. The stark truth, however, was that Alexis had mastered the art of placating him. He was the homemaker, he cooked and cleaned, did the laundry, all of his own volition. Alexis brought warmth to their home, and Michael was loath to admit he was accustomed to it.
He shocked himself, sometimes, with how comfortable he’d gotten in the four years he lived with Alexis. His therapist assured him many times that feeling comfortable was a good thing, but Michael was inclined to disagree.
Michael resigned himself to his night routine - he ate a light dinner, showered, and used his overpriced products. There were certain things Alexis always did for him that he simply couldn’t replicate. He always offered to blow-dry his hair for him so that he wouldn’t go to sleep with it wet, make him a cup of tea with the expensive loose leaves he special ordered just for him .
The void Alexis left when he wasn’t home left Michael with nothing to do - at least, nothing he wanted to do.
He tried to read, tried to go over play theories, tried to watch a movie - without Alexis there to babble or fuss or just exist in his orbit, there was no background noise to help distract Michael from his buzzing brain. His therapist had commended him for his “progress”, made it sound like Michael wasn’t the same angry, lonely, terrified teenager he was when he first signed to Bastard München. But familiar, agonizing anxieties crept into his head on the nights when Alexis was gone and all he was left with was an empty bed.
Just like always, those anxieties stirred and roiled, slowly but surely building into anger.
Michael groaned.
At 9:15PM on the nose, Alexis called. Despite it being their agreed upon time, Michael let the phone ring twice before answering - he didn’t want to seem desperate, after all.
“Micha~ How was your day? You went running with Yoichi, right?”
“Yes, it was fine. Yoichi was irritating.”
Alexis laughed quietly. Just a few years prior, a comment like that would have driven his partner to madness. Unlike him, Alexis had actually made progress, and had managed to foster a real relationship with Yoichi as they got older. Michael always found his capacity to socialize daunting.
“How is your family?”
“Oh, ah…” Alexis made it look like he was trying to think about his words, but Michael knew what it was: hesitation. “They’re fine. We had a busy day, you know how it is.”
He didn’t.
Michael listened to Alexis talk for more than an hour. His voice had a way of easing his overthinking mind, and laying in their bed with the receiver to his ear felt almost like his partner was there with him. Alexis prattled on about whatever book he started on the plane, about the writing he was doing in his spare time, about how there weren’t any decent running paths near the hotel so he had to use the fitness center. In fact, he talked about everything but his family.
“Did you remember to water the plants?”
“Shit. No.” Michael sighed. “I’ll get to it before bed.”
“Okay. I asked Yoichi to stop in and check on them after you leave. I’m sorry this trip overlapped with that interview.”
“It’s fine. It’s only a few days. I’ll be there by Friday.”
“Right…”
They fell into a silence that was anything but comfortable, the weight of Michael’s worries threatening to crush him. It would be so simple to just tell Alexis that he was nervous - if he knew what he was nervous about.
On the other end of the phone, he could hear Alexis yawn. “I’m gonna head to bed, traveling today took it out of me.”
“Yeah, me too.” Michael muttered. It wasn’t like he had anything better to do.
“I love you.”
“I love you too, good night.”
“Oh, you must be lonely, Micha! You never call me, heheee…”
Lorenzo’s slurred English was enough to make Michael see red.
“There’s a fucking reason for that.” he snapped. “I need you to get some more of that cologne that Alexis likes, I forget the name.”
“Okaaaay~ I can send some in the mail tomorrow, but there’s a finders fee~”
“Of course there is.”
“How’s Lex enjoyin’ his family time?”
Michael bristled. “He probably isn’t. He never does.”
“HA! So you ARE lonely!~” Lorenzo practically screamed into his phone.
“Wha-”
“You never told me he was visiting his family, I just took a guess. Why else would you call your good friend Lorenzo?”
Michael clenched his jaw. He had forgotten the ease with which Lorenzo saw through his normal, bullshit confidence.
Or maybe he hadn’t forgotten at all.
“Just stop bein’ annoying and send me the cologne.” he snapped. “And stop calling him ‘Lex’, I told you he hates that."
Their phone call was quieter that night.
“You called Lorenzo?”
“Yeah.” Michael huffed. “I told him to send some of that cologne you liked. I saw you were running low.”
He could practically hear the way Alexis lit up. “You’re so thoughtful, thank you.”
Another silence fell over them - he could tell Alexis was distracted. It wasn’t the same, tired melancholy that seemed to wash over him when he visited Hamburg. Alexis sounded exhausted when he spoke, and he wasn’t filling Michael’s ears with his pleasant chatter.
“I miss you, Micha.”
“I miss you too.” Of course he did, but the distinct sense of dread that had woven itself between them began to strangle him. The sentiment struck a chord that filled him with, surely misplaced, frustration.
“Do you think he’s embarrassed to bring me to his family?”
“Oh, we’re doing this again.” Yoichi sighed.
Michael ignored him. “Isn’t it normal to want your partner to meet your family? Was I that awful that he’d avoid it?”
“However bad you thought you were, you were worse.”
If looks could kill, Yoichi would be six feet under.
He woke up with a particularly noticeable ache in his chest, and Michael had mistakenly thought that it would make him feel better to take the route with Yoichi in his stead. He was wrong.
Yoichi eased off, likely noting his lack of verbal reaction. “Sorry… Look, I doubt Ness is embarrassed of you, even if he should be. He worships the ground you walk on.”
Maybe that’s what I’m afraid of.
His silence was met with a cocked head. “I’ve never seen you so concerned about someone liking you. It’s weird.” Michael didn’t respond. He was big enough to admit (to himself and no one else) that Yoichi was right. It was weird, and he didn’t like it.
“Are you at least excited to go on vacation? Paris sounds nice.”
“Does it?” Michael spit back, instinctively dismissive.
The truth was: he hadn’t ever been on a vacation. Sure, he’d spent a spare few hours in a city they were playing in, but he never traveled unless it was for work. As a child, he, briefly, allowed himself to daydream about family trips to the beach or a lakehouse, but he had long since stamped down wistful thoughts like those. And he certainly wasn’t about to say any of that to Yoichi of all people.
Michael remembered the first Christmas he spent with Alexis. The midfielder had stayed in the dorms over winter break, claiming he didn’t like the idea of anyone spending their holidays alone, but Michael knew it was because he didn’t want to go home. Finding out that his birthday fell on Christmas day further solidified Alexis’ commitment to spending those times together -
“I like spending the important holidays with you, Micha.”
Alexis had figured out early on that Michael didn’t like receiving gifts, so he always opted to make dinner instead. After dinner, they’d retire to their room to watch a movie or read. Once they moved out of the Bastard München dorms, they made it a nightly ritual. After they started dating, they’d curl into bed together each night, Michael relishing the warmth that melted his frozen heart.
Without Alexis, his dinner didn’t taste as good, and his bed certainly didn’t feel as warm.
Michael felt guilty reminiscing about their days together in the dorms. Beside each pleasant, nostalgic memory was an equally poisonous one. He couldn't count the number of times he’d thought they’d reach their breaking point. Michael found kindling in the form of tiny transgressions and social pitfalls, and stoked raging fires with them. Countless times his rage burned Alexis - made him cry, broke him down, whittled away at his already suffering self esteem.
If it weren’t for all the times Alexis came crawling back to him, Michael was certain he would spend the rest of his life alone and miserable.
That was probably what he deserved, anyway.
Alexis didn’t call him that night. He said he wasn’t feeling well and going to bed early, that he’d see him at the airport in the morning. The idea of not hearing his partner’s voice filled Michael with dread.
Thinking about the history of their relationship was like becoming aware of his own skin. Michael wasn’t stupid, he knew that he had treated Alexis, at best, unfairly. Perhaps he was better (now, at least), but did that really undo all the damage he had done in the past? He wasn't inclined to think so. The idea that Alexis had simply put up with the mistreatment itched beneath his skin, and Michael couldn't help but scratch and scratch until he was a bleeding mess.
The flight to Paris was short, but it was certainly long enough to worry. No matter how many times Michael told himself it would be fine, that it didn’t matter what Alexis’ parents thought of him, he couldn’t seem to quell the anxiety gnawing at his insides.
In part because he knew that it did matter. Michael hadn’t seen his father since he was arrested, and he didn’t particularly care to see him again - though, the idea of seeing him on his deathbed, hopefully poor and bitter, was an attractive thought. But, Alexis wasn’t like him. He still had a place in his heart carved out for his family. He thought about them, cared about them, no matter how unhappy they seemed to make him. They had been together for a long time, Michael had no expectation of going anywhere, but he knew better than to think it wouldn’t cause problems to have his partner’s family dislike him. Alexis had isolated himself for less in the past - he’d isolated himself for MIchael . He didn’t want to see that happen again.
Michael also knew that anyone that cared about Alexis had good enough reason to dislike him. Yoichi and Grimm had told him as much.
Alexis practically ran to embrace him when they met at the airport, on the verge of tears as he showered him with affection. Michael lived for the way his arms brought him back to senses, even if it was just for a moment.
“So…” Michael looked past Alexis as he gathered his bags. “Where’s the family?”
“Oh, uh.” he stammered. “They’re actually doing a tour of the Louvre right now.”
Michael furrowed his brows. “Wasn’t that, like, on your bucket list or something?”
Alexis waved him off. “It’s fine. We’ll get dinner with them later tonight anyway.”
When did he get so good at avoiding my questions?
Their hotel was stuffy, business oriented, nestled into some financial district and clearly frequented by bureaucrats and bankers - not exactly the image Michael expected Alexis to pick. Their room was spacious, a suite with a gorgeous view of the city, though the decor felt bland and humorless.
The two hours they had to spare before dinner were spent unpacking in near silence. Alexis was visibly anxious, worrying at his bottom lip like he did as a teenager, but any attempts to get a reason out of him were met with a mousy: “I’m fine.”
Michael also felt like a teenager again. All of the insecurities in his body threatened to explode in the form of a cruel dig. He resorted to the worst case scenarios - Alexis had told his family of all of the horrible things he’d subjected him to throughout the years and was walking Michael to his execution. He took a few moments to prepare himself for the worst of his parents’ inevitable questioning. He expected questions about his childhood, about his deadbeat father and absent mother - the works. Michael reminded himself, incessantly, that there was a reason he and Alexis were still together. There had to be. Things weren’t perfect, but they were better . So much better.
So much better that he was certain he’d die if Alexis ever decided to leave him.
Michael steeled himself - he was going to answer their questions to the best of his ability, maintain his dignity, and assure them that he and Alexis were good for each other. It shouldn’t be that hard, right?
He didn’t bother to learn the name of the restaurant they were going to, merely asking what the dress code might be before getting ready. It was a larger, upscale establishment that reeked of tourism - another selection Michael had a difficult time believing Alexis made.
Their initial greetings were dry and humorless, just like their hotel room. His mother carried an infuriatingly flat expression, and his father hid behind a cartoonish pair of circle frames. They were both older than Michael expected, graying at the roots and dressed rather conservatively. Alexis’ siblings, Anika and Anton, were the image of their parents. Anika’s hair was pulled into tight buns to match their mother, and Anton’s glasses were thick rimmed with a prescription that clearly matched the strength of their father’s.
Alexis took it upon himself to order a bottle of wine for the table - a moderately expensive Sauvignon Blanc, Michael’s preference. He quickly came to the conclusion that it was his family’s preference as well, but he knew Alexis wouldn’t drink something so dry.
He caught the arm of their waiter. “We’ll also take a glass of the Lambrusco. Thank you.”
Alexis smiled and squeezed his knee under the table.
Their conversation was light at first, but left Michael with the distinct feeling that Alexis might be adopted. His mother and father were methodical, both in conversation and in the overly particular way they placed their dinner orders. Anton and Anika, on the other hand, spent most of the evening discussing their academic accomplishments in a tone that gave Michael the feeling that competition was a problem in their family. They were all sharp angles and stern expressions with the noticeable undertone of condescension that he’d only ever seen Alexis direct at Yoichi. Michael knew his partner to be warm, attentive, creative - nothing like the robots that sat across from him.
“So, Michael.” Alexis’ mother spoke up. “Alexis tells us you’re from Berlin. What was it like growing up there?”
It felt like he was being interviewed for the second time that week. In fact, Michael knew he had answered that question in the dozens of interviews he’d had since he got signed.
Good thing he interviewed well.
“Well, my childhood was a little rough.” He took a sip of his wine. “I grew up very poor, but I did well for myself I think.”
Alexis’ father nodded. “Did you go back for University?”
Michael found the phrasing of the question presumptuous, if a little odd. “I actually took classes at a community college in Munich after I got signed.”
In unison, Anton and Anika raised a brow at him. Alexis’ father continued. “Community college? Why not a university?”
“I just wanted to go to school.” Michael met him. “I wasn’t interested in the prestige that comes with attending a fancy university.”
Anton finally spoke up. “Did you get a degree?”
Every question out of their mouths felt like a test, like they were waiting for him to say the wrong thing or open the door for critique. Normally, Michael had no interest in playing along with those kinds of games, but he was dead set on proving that he was enough for Alexis.
“I didn’t set out to, but I ended up with a degree in sociology.”
“The social sciences, hmm?” Anika chimed in. “Well, they are certainly trending. Lex, what’d you take classes for again?”
Alexis tensed, floundering as though he didn’t expect the conversation to turn to him. “Ah. Creative writ-”
“I wish Alexis would have followed through on his degree.” His mom lamented. “He’ll regret it when he retires from football.”
Michael was almost taken aback. He had come to dinner prepared to defend himself, but the comments tossed across the table seemed to be aimed directly for Alexis’ heart.
“Well, he’s a way off from retirement.” Michael measured the venom in his tone.
“Yeah, mom.” Anton laughed. “And it’s not like Lex needs a degree for his little writing projects.”
Anika giggled. His mother and father said nothing.
Any concern Michael had over earning the approval of Alexis’ parents left his body, replaced with his newfound hatred for them. He knew going in that, historically, Alexis fell on a path his family didn’t agree with, but the attitudes directed at him were nothing short of mean spirited. When they were nineteen, Alexis had a nervous breakdown under the weight of his college courses, despite his impressive grades. Noa had been the one to suggest, perhaps, school could wait, given that they were already receiving a professional salary.
And yet, his parents sat across from them, using Michael’s half-hearted accomplishments to prove some sort of twisted point. Michael wanted to prove a point back, to absolutely tear them to shreds in front of the entire restaurant. He wanted to make a scene, to pull them apart bit by bit until they understood the damage they’d done. And when he was done, he’d punch both his siblings in their stupid, smug fucking faces.
Alexis radiated nervous energy beside him. He looked like he was waiting for something - another insult, maybe? Or, perhaps, he was waiting for Michael’s inevitable outburst.
Damn, maybe my therapist was onto something.
Michael put on his best smile, gritting his teeth and swallowing the thorns on his tongue. “Alexis certainly didn’t need a degree to pay for this vacation. Or this bottle of wine. And the next bottle’s on me.”
The room was suffocatingly quiet, and nearly as uncomfortable as dinner had been. Alexis was anxious, toiling over the way his suitcase was organized rather than address whatever it was that was on his mind. Michael had long since committed to memory his partner’s tells - he would find something to distract himself, shut out the world around him and pour his attention into whatever menial task he could to keep the threads of his insanity from fraying further.
It made Michael sick to see.
He locked himself in the bathroom, taking his sweet time washing his face and pulling his hair back into a bun. At some point, he knew he’d have to leave the bathroom and face the karmic punishment hidden behind those soft, doe eyes. No matter how hard Michael struggled against the throes of his teenage coping mechanisms, the temptation loomed in the back of his head - he wanted to pick a fight. To say something, anything, to get a reaction, to get anything out of Alexis. A small part of him even wanted to see his partner cry. It was disgusting. He was disgusting. How many times had he picked fights over his own useless anxieties? How many times had he left Alexis sitting at the dining room table with a painfully confused expression and tears in his eyes because the only way he knew how to exist was in conflict?
Countless times he wondered what made Alexis so desperate for his approval, so willing to disregard his behavior, so loving despite his lack of any good qualities. He understood now.
Alexis deserved better.
Michael took a few moments to compose himself in the bathroom mirror, reminding himself why he came to Paris in the first place - he wanted to fix whatever the fuck was going on between them.
Alexis had a habit of waiting on Michael, even when he didn’t ask for it. Every night he’d lay out a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt for him to change into before bed. It was another in a long list of tiny displays of affection that Michael was certain were going to kill him someday. It felt like defeat to accept the kindness that Alexis offered him so readily, even when things were so tense, but they were his favorite sweats (the soft ones without elastic at the ankle), so who was he to turn it down.
Michael changed, taking a moment to hang his dress shirt in the closet before slipping into his spot beside Alexis. Neither of them said anything immediately, instead simmering in the silence between them, waiting for the pot to boil over -
Alexis broke first.
“I’m sorry, Micha. I knew this was a bad idea, I shouldn’t have even agreed to this trip. Dinner was so awkward-”
His apologies and attempts at appeasement rapidly faded to a piercing, white noise that drilled into Michael’s skull.
How many times are you going to apologize to me for my problems?
“Ugh, shut up.”
The words shot from his mouth like bullets. Suddenly, they were eighteen again, and Michael watched as Alexis’ eyes, wide and beautiful, welled with tears.
“No, no! Wait, Alexis, don’t cry -” Michael was loath to say he stuttered, but that’s what he did. “I didn’t mean it like that, I’m- Ugh, I’m sorry.”
Aexis was quick to wipe his tears, doing his best to bite down his panic and look brave - Michael hated it. He shifted to face him more, repeating his therapist’s advice over and over in his head. Make eye contact, be gentle with his words, be genuine…
“I should be apologizing. I’ve been on edge… I thought you didn’t want me to meet your parents. I treated you like shit when we were younger, it’s understandable that you didn’t want that around your family.” Michael could feel his hands shaking and the cold sweat forming at the back of his neck. He was nervous - more nervous than he’d ever been. He hated being honest about his feelings, let alone bare them to the world like he bared his throat to Alexis. A sign of trust.
Michael didn’t trust easily. In fact, he knew it was a wonder that he’d come to trust someone at all. Alexis wasn’t the only person he trusted, but he was the first.
Michael swallowed his anxiety. “I don't know why you stuck around - no one else would have, but I’m so-” he hesitated, a word so foreign to his vocabulary that it tasted of bitter poison reaching the tip of his tongue. “Happy. I’m happy you did. Fuck, I hate it when you’re not around, and I hate that it took me so long to actually apologize for it-”
Alexis shattered, the tears in his eyes overflowing, his shoulders shuddering with shallow sobs. Michael shifted across the bed with as much grace as he could muster under the circumstances, his hands immediately finding one of his partner’s in an attempt to sooth him. Alexis took a moment to compose himself, reigning in his sobs and wiping his eyes with his free hand.
Damnit, I’m always making him cry like this.
“Micha… it’s not that I didn’t want them to meet you.” Alexis met his gaze with the same tearful, soft-eyed look he always did, and it melted away any contention he might have felt. “It’s that… It’s that I didn’t want you to see how they treat me.”
Michael furrowed his brows, quickly thinking back to dinner. It really was dreadful. Alexis’ parents were, at best, noticeably disinterested in anything their son had to say, while his siblings bordered on antagonistic. He didn’t exactly have a litmus for what a good, loving family looked like, but he was relatively certain it didn’t look like that.
“They still don’t support my career… Or even take it seriously. I don’t think they take me seriously.” Alexis began to tear up again, a wry, tired laugh slipping past his lips. “They only asked to meet you when they realized we’ve been together for five years, like it was some sort of obligation.”
As he continued, Alexis shifted closer to Michael, squeezing his hand a little tighter every time tears threatened to fall. “I’ve worked so hard on… on asserting myself and maintaining my boundaries but it’s just so hard with them. I just want them to respect me, but I’ve never been able to get it right.” He sighed, diverting his eyes to the bedding beneath them. “You were the person that made me realize I’m worth something, I didn’t want to disappoint you.”
A new, quiet annoyance settled over him. Michael had been so concerned about Alexis’ family liking him - he wasn’t even sure they liked Alexis. It felt like a sick joke.
It also made him angry.
Alexis was one of the most talented soccer players he’d ever met, sure, but he was so much more than that. He was creative, intelligent, caring, and absolutely gorgeous. Amazing. It took an idiot to scoff at someone like Alexis.
(And he had been an idiot more times than he could count.)
“Your family fucking sucks.” Michael huffed. It was harsh, but it felt good to say out loud. “And they’re fuckin’ stupid for not seeing how great you are.”
A rosy blush dusted Alexis’ cheeks. “Micha, you don’t have to-”
“No, I do.” He sighed. “I gotta say it out loud more often.”
Alexis smiled, the tension lifting from his shoulders. He sniffled, wiping his eyes a final time before tugging Michael in for a quick kiss. “Thank you, Micha. I’m really happy you’re here, I know this wasn’t the vacation you would’ve wanted.”
“We’ll just have to plan a real vacation for our anniversary.” Michael shrugged, more than happy to step back into his comfortably smug persona. “Though, you could’ve warned me that your family was fucking boring .”
Michael fell into the pillows, tugging his partner along with him. Alexis giggled, easily filling the space between his arms. “Yeah. We’ll plan something nice, I’m sure.”
Of the two of them, Alexis was typically the early riser. When they had practice, he’d get out of bed first to make sure they both had breakfast. On their off days, he’d be up no later than 9AM for the same reason. Michael was loath to roll out of bed before eleven on any given day, but that morning he’d risen with an idea in his head. The clock read 8:37AM when he slipped out of bed, careful not to rouse Alexis. They were going on some sort of eco-tour around 10:30 - it sounded dreadful , but Michael resigned himself for Alexis’ sake.
His first stop was to a coffee shop across from the hotel. Typically, morning beverages were Alexis’ responsibility, but Michael was feeling adventurous. In truth, it was a bit of a struggle to order something he knew his partner would enjoy - another reminder that many of Michael’s high-end tastes were either performative or not his own. Alexis liked sweet things, and he could tell the difference between different coffee roasts. He had a preference for chocolatey drinks and fruity pastries, but he was also the one who taught Michael what “floral notes” were and turned him onto expensive teas.
While he waited for their order, he glanced over the itinerary for their week, reconfirming what he thought he saw the first time he checked. After their tour, Alexis’ mother had some sort of work meeting, so they had a few hours free.
In a perfect world, he would have gone to the ticketing counter at the Louvre and gotten physical tickets, something he could have wrapped and presented to Alexis with the same thought and care he seemed to pour into everything he’d ever done for Michael. He hoped the email confirmation would suffice.
When he made it back to the room, he expected Alexis to be up and buzzing, likely already showered and dressed. When Michael found him in bed, the duvet gathered around him, fawny hair sleep-tousled and wild, he was a little surprised.
“Good morning? I thought you’d be getting ready by now.”
Alexis was toiling away at something on his laptop, only sparing Michael a glance when he approached the bed with his breakfast treats. His eyes lit up, immediately taking a small bite of the pastry. “Ah! Thank you, Micha~ I would have gone if you asked me.”
“Didn’t wanna wake you.” Michael kicked off his shoes, crawling back into bed beside his partner. He peered over Alexis’ shoulder at the computer screen. “What are you doing?”
A sudden shyness overtook him, Alexis bashfully regarding the website he was browsing. “I was thinking about our conversation last night, about planning a vacation that we actually wanted. I woke up this morning wondering what we were waiting for.”
“So…” Michael hummed, sinking further into the blankets beside him. “We’re just gonna leave your family here in Paris? And go somewhere else?”
“Well… Yeah. Neither of us actually wanted to do any of the stuff they have planned, and I really don’t want to have another dinner like the one we had last night.” A nervous tone edged its way into Alexis’ voice. “Is that okay?”
A gentle silence settled between them, Michael truly shocked by the sudden development. It was refreshing to see Alexis so forward in his disregard for his family. A smile crept onto his lips at the thought of leaving those stuffy snobs in their stuffy hotel to do their stuffy activities.
“So where are we going?”
Michael glanced back at the screen. Alexis had a dozen tabs up - flights to four different cities in France and a half dozen other countries. He always got a little scattered when he was planning things, but his indecision was obvious.
“I don’t know.” Alexis hesitated. “I’ve never gone on a trip that was just for me, I don’t really know what I’d want to do.”
“Me neither.” Michael lulled his head back. “I think I’d like to go to the beach.”
Alexis looked back to the screen, pensive. “The beach sounds nice. But I wanna go somewhere kind of… Romantic.”
Michael chuckled. “Italy is romantic. We could pay Lorenzo a visit.”
His joke - and he couldn't stress how much of a joke it was - was met with a momentary silence, followed by feverish typing. Michael sat up, panic running through him. “I wasn’t being serious, Alexis. I do not want to go to Turin.”
“No, I know.” Alexis chuckled, turning his computer to face him. “But what about Rome? There are a lot of really nice hotels, and the food is good, and we wouldn’t be far from the beach.”
Michael thought for a moment. “And no Lorenzo?”
A smile. “No Lorenzo.”
“Okay… When do we leave?” Michael grinned. “And do we have time for this-”
It wasn’t the display he wanted, but passing his phone to Alexis to reveal the museum tickets earned a look of affection that Michael could never tire of.
“Y-Yes! Yes!! Micha! This is so nice~” For the second time that week, Alexis teared up, but Michael knew it was for a good reason. “We can leave tonight, or right after the museum if you want! I’ll get ready and packed right now.”
Without another word, Alexis was on his feet, buzzing around the hotel room to gather his belongings. Michael followed suit, but not before catching his partner for a kiss. “Happy anniversary, Alexis.”