Chapter Text
“dude! how are you so good at this?”Jeremy’s voice was light, but it had a flicker of genuine surprise
they were in Jeremy's room, it was the first time they’d hung out like this in weeks, months, maybe. Jeremy couldn’t tell anymore. He could still feel the weight of guilt pressing down on him. He wanted to say something, to make up for all the time he ignored Michael, but he couldn't find the right words
“I had time to practice,” Michael admitted, a half-hearted chuckle escaping him.
They both knew the unspoken weight behind his words, but neither dared to bring it up.
they faded into silence, the sounds of button presses and zombie attacks filling the room.
“I missed you” Jeremy suddenly spoke up, his eyes lifting from the screen to rest on Michael, sending his character to certain doom.
Michael laughed as ‘game over’ flashed across the screen. “Man, no need to commit suicide over that.”
Jeremy just smiled, his gaze lingering on Michael for a moment longer before he mumbled, “God, I missed your laugh.”
Michael flushed, shoving Jeremy with a grin. “Dude, that’s so gay.”
Jeremy’s face reddened. “Uh! N-No, it’s NOT!”
Michael burst out laughing at the panicked look on Jeremy’s face.
“Shut up!” Jeremy groaned, flopping on the bed, and pulling a blanket over his head
Michael lay beside him, rolling onto his side, reaching for the blanket and gently pulling it away from Jeremy’s face.
“Hey, for the record,” Michael said softly, his voice quieter now, “I missed you too.”
their eyes met for a long moment. uncomfortable, but not unpleasant. Jeremy wanted to pull Michael closer, hold him, and let him stay there, but that felt way too much.
instead, he spoke, his voice unsteady.
“I'm so sorry Michael. for everything. I shouldn't have been so awful to you”
Michael paused, considering the words for a moment. Then he took a deep breath, his lips curling into a soft smile.
“Thanks,” he said quietly.
Then added, “I forgive you.”
“You sure?” Jeremy asked, feeling like his apology wasn’t nearly enough considering what he’d done.
“Yeah,” Michael replied, then laid his head on Jeremy’s shoulder, wrapping his arm around his waist.
Jeremy’s brain buzzed. Too much. Too close. But he couldn’t bring himself to push Michael away. His heart raced, and that alone was confusing enough.
“Um, Michael?”
Michael lifted his head to look at Jeremy. “yeah?”
“That’s super gay.”
Michael laughed and placed his head back down on Jeremy.
“Yeah, I know.”
Jeremy felt his chest tighten. He was used to teasing Michael, used to their banter, but this was different.
He tried to focus on something else, but his mind kept circling back to the warmth of Michael’s body pressed against his, the steady rhythm of his breathing. This is fine. This is fine. It’s just Michael, Jeremy repeated to himself, but as Michael's fingers started tracing his arm, he couldn't ignore it.
"Hey uhm, Michael?"
Michael stopped immediately "I'm sorry" he rolled on his back "I– I thought. um... never mind, sorry about that"
Jeremy’s heart was pounding in his chest, the awkwardness hanging thick in the air. He didn’t know what to say. He shifted uncomfortably.
“No, it’s... it’s fine”
Michael sat up, running a hand through his hair, clearly frustrated. "I just– It’s just–" He stopped, shaking his head, trying to find the right words. "I guess I thought... maybe it was more than just teasing. But I get it. I was wrong."
Jeremy hesitated, his pulse racing. he forced a laugh, trying to mask the panic bubbling inside him. "Michael, I’m not– I mean, I’m straight. Sorry if I gave you the wrong idea."
Michael’s smile faltered for just a moment, but he quickly covered it with a shrug.
"Yeah, no worries, dude. Forget I said anything."
They didn’t talk about it again after that.