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Mike was not the one to blame for their lateness. Sure, Will would argue that Mike pressing him against the wall and kissing him senseless instead of letting them leave on time made him the culprit, but Will was a willing participant and really, what was Mike to do?
Getting the tickets for The Cure concert wasn’t exactly easy.
They were playing in New York on Will’s birthday weekend, and Mike would kill someone to get his boyfriend those tickets if he had to, so he planned.
He had to rope Dustin and Lucas into it, creating a careful schedule so there was always someone in line. Because, for some reason, the tickets went on sale on a Monday, as if people didn’t have university classes and jobs to get to.
The truly hardest part of it all was keeping it a secret from Will. Poor Will, who almost cried when he heard the date tickets would start selling the day he had back-to-back classes in the morning, and studio time and a tutoring session scheduled for the afternoon. With all their friends in on the plan, no one was available to help him, all mentioning different appointments that just couldn’t be rescheduled, and Jonathan wouldn’t even be in town for it, away in New Jersey for a photoshoot for the magazine he worked at.
Mike had to hold on to all his willpower not to tell him he was planning to get him the tickets for his birthday. All the times he would see Will sighing around their apartment, or moping on their couch while his Disintegration vinyl played in the background, Mike almost caved. It was only the fact that something could go wrong, that he might not get the tickets and have to disappoint Will on his birthday, that made him keep his mouth shut.
But ALAS he prevailed. Will’s whole face lit up when Mike showed him the tickets later that day, and all the trouble he went to was worth it just to see his boyfriends so happy.
Happiness looked the best on Will; Mike always thought so. Will had already had to give up so much, sacrifice so much, and was hurt so much… many times by Mike himself, he was painfully aware. So every smile was so beloved by Mike that it almost felt like he was the one receiving a gift. In a way, he was, because soon enough Will was tackling him into the bed and Mike was being kissed. Just like Will's smiles, every kiss was also greatly appreciated.
The important thing was that Mike worked hard to get the tickets, and he got to spend a whole two months with Will excitedly telling all of his friends that he was going to see his favorite band because Mike got the tickets for him. That he would have the best birthday ever, because of Mike. And see, David from art class, he was an amazing boyfriend who made Will happy and excited, so back the fuck off.
All in all, it genuinely was not his fault that, when it was finally time to go to the concert, he couldn’t help himself. Not when Will came out of their bedroom wearing the jeans that hugged his ass just so, and Mike’s leather jacket, with a shirt underneath that had enough buttons undone to show Will’s clavicle. He even twirled for Mike, excitedly asking, “Does it look ok?” Mike was just a man, and a weak one at that.
More importantly, Mike was a good boyfriend.
If you asked Jane, or that one girl he dated for one week during freshman year, before he found out Will went on a date and completely lost his shit, they might disagree… but he was a good boyfriend to Will, and he didn’t even have to try hard to be.
It was easy to be good to Will.
It wasn’t a chore to spend time with him, quite the opposite. He had to constantly remind himself that he couldn’t be around Will all the time, that other people existed, and that he cared about them, even if they were not Will, and would take away time that he could be spending with Will. It was easy to speak softly to Will, to think over his words so he wouldn’t hurt him again, to take care of him and let himself be taken care of in return, because that always made Will feel happy. He never had to pretend to listen when Will talked, because everything he had to say was made infinitely more interesting simply because Will was the one saying it. It always felt like a privilege when Will, who was so quiet, would ramble about one of his passions with Mike.
He was a good boyfriend to Will; it's what he is trying to say. So, if his beautiful, amazing, breathtaking boyfriend had to even question if Mike thought he looked good… He just had to do something about it. It was really Will’s fault, if you thought about it.
So even if they had to leave like 5 minutes ago, he answered Will’s question by getting up from the couch, walking up to Will, and pressing him against the bedroom door he had just closed. A hand automatically finding its place on Will’s waist, while the other went to Will’s head, so he wouldn’t get hurt even with Mike’s sudden urgency. Then, before Will could even process what was fully happening, Mike was kissing him.
Let the records show that Will was a very enthusiastic participant. He didn’t even hesitate before kissing Mike’s back, opening his mouth so Mike could slip his tongue inside, one hand on Mike’s arm and the other finding its usual place, tugging Mike’s hair just how he liked it.
Even when Mike releases Will’s lips, treading the familiar path from Will’s jaw to his neck, Will's only response was a breathy:
“I’m guessing the answer is yes”.
So Mike decided, very wisely if you ask him, to spend the next 10 minutes kissing his boyfriend against their bedroom door, and making sure Will had a couple of new hickeys in his neck and collarbone for good measure. He did look especially good today, and Mike had promised himself that he would behave and would not, in any circumstance, kiss Will during the concert. Even if it was a promise he had not kept during the last two concerts they went to, he was determined to not risk ruining Will’s birthday. Sure, they were in New York, but you never know when an asshole would have a problem with two boys kissing.
The hickeys were a good compromise, Mike thought. If he couldn’t kiss Will or hold him during the concert, people would at least know that Will, who Mike knew would be the prettiest person there, was taken. That was also important to avoid issues – the issue being Mike himself. Really, you could say the hickeys were so Will could enjoy his birthday gift in peace. Mike truly was doing great in this whole “being a good boyfriend” business.
That is why, when they finally get to the venue way behind schedule and see that people had already started to get in, Mike thinks Will's accusing "Michael" is a little uncalled for.
Still, when they finally get inside, they are way further from the front than Mike expected. Will, sweet and gentle as he is, tries to mask his disappointment immediately, since he knows Mike will feel bad about it - even if he doesn’t regret the actions that left them in this situation.
“It’s not that bad, actually,” Will says, with a smile Mike can tell is just a bit forced. “We are both tall enough, so we still should be able to see fine.”
But looking at the people in front and around him, Mike knows that Will would have to be on his tiptoes to really see the stage, and would end up watching the show mostly from the big screens. A good boyfriend wouldn’t let that happen.
“Or…” Mike starts, with a face Will learned to fear as it would usually preface the worst of his plans, “we could push our way to the front.”
Will’s look of surprise was not unexpected. Mike had complained many times about people who did such things. But what Will probably hadn’t figured out yet, with their limited concert experience, is that Mike's dissatisfaction was not necessarily about the rudeness of it all. Will liked to be in the front, and they usually planned to arrive early enough so they could stay at the barricade. If people pushed, they could hurt Will or make him uncomfortable, so Mike despised the practice. Now, when it meant that it would get Will where he wanted to be… he would push a child out of his way if he had to.
“Mike. That’s a terrible idea… we will get into a fight.”
It was definitely a possibility, but he was sure that if they were quick enough and Will made doe eyes at people and looked apologetic… They should be fine, and he told Will so.
“Just tell people we’re trying to get to your younger sister who was in the front and follow my lead, ok?”
Before Will could protest, Mike holds his hand and starts to pull him. Will, for all his reluctance, immediately gets into character. While Mike is busy elbowing and pushing their way to the front, he can hear Will’s apologies. They even sound sincere, and, thinking about it, probably are. Will would feel bad for cutting in front of people who got there earlier, but Mike, thankfully, doesn’t give a shit.
He still uses the story Mike fed to him, though.
They unfortunately do not get to the barricade immediately, but they are close enough that when a girl has to leave her place during the 4th song, Mike manages to push Will to where she was standing before anyone else can occupy the space. He immediately puts himself behind Will, elbowing anyone who tries to push against him.
During Lovesong, Will keeps turning back to steal glances at Mike. So much tenderness in his eyes while he mouths the lyrics that Mike can’t stop himself from breaking his promise, bending down to kiss Will without caring about anything else.
Robert Smith’s voice becomes background noise.
“However long I stay, I will always love you. Whatever words I say, I will always love you.”