Work Text:
Somewhere in New York, April 7th, 2026
Mike leaned back in his desk chair, springs popping as his joints cracked. He’d been sitting in the same spot for hours, trying to come up with the ending of his book.
It was his birthday today, but of course he had to work.
It wasn’t all that bad, he had his own office, aloof from the rest of the insanity of the building. Numerous people running around, frantic revisions and thesis’s being checked. But in his own office, it was his own island of solitude.
Mike was humming along to his playlist playing low in the background, something by The Cure filling the room.
He propped his feet on the desk, pressing his lips to the now room temperature coffee Will had made him this morning.
Oh, how he missed Will.
It definitely wasn’t like he’d seen him just this morning.
Stolen glances and elbow brushes of their childhood bloomed into long nights and deep talks together.
Usually right after Will read their son – Jayne – about five different books, he would only fall asleep to Mike’s crazy stories.
Only did Jayne not know his stories were not fantasy; They were very real for him years ago.
For Jayne, all the talk about interdimensional monsters, his own father being a sorcerer, the brave Mike, the numerous people lost along the way, all of it was nothing more to him than another cool story told by his dad.
There was a knock on Mike’s office door — breaking his train of thought.
“Come in!” He called out, removing his feet from the table and placing his mug back down. He straightened his posture slightly as the door creaked open.
A small brunette-headed boy ran in, launching himself onto Mike.
“Daddy! Daddy! It’s your birthday!!” Jayne exclaimed, looking into his father’s obsidian eyes with his large, emerald ones.
“Yes, it is my birthday.” Mike replied as he returned the hug.
Will walked in a few seconds later. He was holding a blue heart-shaped cake, with yellow letters on the top.
“Happy birthday my love.” Will placed the cake on the cluttered desk, brushing random pens to make room. He then leaned in to hug his husband.
“Thanks guys, it was sooo boring this morning.” Mike said with a groan, the two boys retreating. Jayne threw himself on the beanbags in the corner of his office, playing with the DND dice he always carried around. Will stared down at Mike with a large grin on his face.
“I don’t like that look, what are you up to…” Mike drew out his words, standing up to pull Will into yet another hug.
Will placed his hands on Mike’s shoulders, pushing him away to look at his face. “We have plans tonight.”
“Oh really? Are they similar to what we did on your birthday?” Mike replied with a wink that came out as more of a blink.
“Maybe after. But no, we’re going to an art gallery.” Will moved away. He pulled a candle out of his pocket, lighting it atop of the cake. “Jayne, come here buddy.” He whisper-screamed.
Jayne’s tiny feet pattered over, standing next to Will.
“You ready? Just like we practiced.” They started singing ‘happy birthday’, Jayne’s rendition was a bit slurred, obviously not learning all of the words yet.
When they finished, Mike blew out the candle.
“What’d you wish for?” Jayne questioned, looking at Will as he sliced the cake — a sliver for Jayne.
“If I tell you what I wished for, it might not come true.” Mike explained, taking the plate Will was handing him, planting a small kiss on his husband’s cheek.
“Oh.” Jayne was quickly uninterested, he was distracted by the slice of cake being handed to him.
Truthfully, Mike’s wish wasn’t anything special: “For this life in every universe.”
Because for once, Mike was exactly where he wanted to be.
“Wait, why are we going to an art gallery? Our house is an art gallery.” Mike asked, looking over at Will as he took a bite of his cake.
“You’ll see.” Will replied with an ominous tone.
_______________
A few hours later, they were leaving the restaurant after Mike’s birthday dinner. They had dropped Jayne off at Nancy and Robin’s house for free babysitting.
“You really didn't have to pay. You know that’s my job.” Mike chided, opening the door for Will and taking his hand in his own.
“Yes, I did. It’s your birthday. Now come on,” Will led the way, dragging Mike behind him.
They walked for a few minutes, pointing at pretty flowers starting to bloom and cool signs as they passed.
They made it to the gallery, Mike still opened the door for Will.
“I should be the one doing that.” Will complained.
“Nice try, but don’t push it.” Mike joked.
Will guided them through the crown. “Wait, you have to close your eyes.”
“What? Why?”
“Just trust me.”
Mike obeyed — like always — and Will continued to lead him through the rooms.
“Okay, open them.”
Mike opened his eyes, and they met a large painting of him and Jayne.
“Oh my god. Will, is this-”
“Yeah,” Will’s smile grew over his entire face. “It’s you and Jayne. I made it for the gallery, they invited me and I couldn’t resist. I was having trouble thinking about what to paint but then I say you and Jayne together and I just thought-”
Mike cut off Will’s ranting with a kiss. The ambient lighting serving as a great moment; definitely one to remember.
At that moment Mike knew, his wish had come true.