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Michael’s eyes were fixated on the array of food before him.
The six, golden-brown chicken nuggets stared up, tempting the man to suddenly dig in. Beside them were fries. Real, authentic shoestring fries that Michael hadn’t tasted before in all his years of life.
In his hand was a small cup of cola; something familiar amidst this sea of once-forbidden food.
For being the son of a man who owned such a successful entertainment franchise, one would have assumed that Michael had grown up around such food. That he was a natural connoisseur of french fries, pizza, and all meals that were greasy in nature.
It was quite the contrary, in all actuality. Michael Afton hadn’t had a mere bite of fast food. Ever.
It was ‘terribly unhealthy’, according to his father. Something that he shouldn’t be consuming in the first place.
Yet, before him, Jeremiah had gotten both himself and Michael dinner within that same forbidden restaurant.
Like Eve, Michael was tempted by the platter of deep-fried food before him. And like Eve herself, he couldn’t resist a bite.
His attention quickly shifted to Jeremiah as the other man spoke. Just from his quick glance, Michael could see the calm - almost tranquil - smile on his darling’s features. “You look shocked.” He commented, a lighthearted little laugh bubbling from his lips, just like the soda Michael held.
Smiling back, the sight far from tight-lipped, Michael spoke. “You can’t expect me to know where to start.” He countered, his eyes rolling soon after. His right hand made a gesture over the table, sweeping over the array of McDonalds. “Guide me, then. Where should I start?”
He watched as another laugh breathed from Jeremiah’s lips, the sound so comfortably natural flowing from the other. How his eyes danced across the table, as if carefully choosing the ‘right’ option.
“Fries. They’re a fast food staple.” Jeremiah responded, then shrugged. “I can’t name one place that doesn’t have these.”
Whether it was out of amusement, or consideration, Michael’s eyes raised. It wasn’t like Jeremiah was wrong. Yet, he didn’t expect him to choose something so simple as a gateway.
Then again, it was Jeremiah. The same guy who had been so patient with him during their relationship. He truly was like a saint that Michael had been blessed to meet.
With ceremonious caution, Michael reached his free hand forward. There, his fingers plucked a single fry from its cardboard prison.
For a brief moment, he merely studied it. How golden and salted it was. How it was slightly glistening in oil. And how something so simple had been kept from him this fucking long.
Then, he moved to take a bite out of the fry. His face, now returning to its usual composed air, had to have looked oddly serious. From across from him, he could hear Jeremiah snickering.
It didn’t stop him, however. As he took a bite, Michael’s brows raised once more, his blue hues widening in near awe.
For once, Michael Afton looked genuinely surprised. And with one, single word, he let it be known. "... Oh."
Finally, Jeremiah barked out a laugh, the sound rich and warm. “Oh?” He repeated, leaning back in his seat. "That good, huh?"
Michael shot him a lighthearted, yet sharp glance. Though, the corners of his lips betrayed him with mild amusement. "I wasn’t expecting… that." He merely remarked, as he lifted another fry to his lips, and ate it.
It was there when he saw Jeremiah’s smile soften into something fond. Like watching Michael experience something so ordinary, yet with baffled fascination, was adorable.
"Careful there." Jeremiah teased, reaching for his burger. "Next thing I know, you’ll be ordering Big Macs daily."
Michael scoffed, though his natural smile surfaced again. For someone so carefully composed, it was ethereally youthful on his face. “Don’t be absurd.” He murmured.
A pause fell between them for a brief moment. Then, Michael spoke once more. “…What’s a Big Mac?”
Jeremiah nearly choked on his drink, as laughter burst from him fully now. The sound was loud enough that a few patrons glanced over. For all his polished dignity, Michael looked deeply unimpressed by this reaction. Yet, a faint pink colour dusting upon his fair cheeks suggested otherwise.
Jeremiah leaned forward, nudging a larger box closer. “What do you think this is?”
Briefly, he gave the cardboard box a quick once over. The same cardboard box that had "Big Mac” printed on top of it.
Michael gave his boyfriend an unimpressed stare. He hadn’t noticed it there before. Still, he obeyed without question.
Opening the box, his eyes widened upon the sight of the burger before him. It was larger than the ones he’d seen before. Two patties, and three buns? Michael couldn’t believe such a thing existed.
Yet, he didn’t hesitate to lift the sandwich from its container. And he didn’t think twice into taking one large bite out of it either.
The sudden, overwhelming taste danced upon his tongue. It melted Michael into a frenzy of flavour, and a strong hankering for more.
Between a mouthful of burger, Michael spoke. “…Jeremiah.”
"Yeah?" His boyfriend mused. Michael swore that he could feel some waves of excitement flowing from the other man. As if he was awaiting his reaction eagerly.
"This," Michael began, with the grave seriousness of a man delivering life-altering news. "Has to be the best thing I’ve ever tasted."
Jeremiah grinned so hard that his face hurt.
William Afton had denied Michael many things. But tonight? Jeremiah was more than happy to corrupt him.