Chapter Text
Michael has always loved kids, and everyone around him knows it. Despite being “The Rage Quit Guy”, everyone knows that Michael had a soft spot for kids. Because of this, people are always asking him when he and Geoff are going to adopt. He never has an answer.
The few times Michael has brought up the topic, Geoff always starts acting weird and completely shuts down. Michael always backs down when this happens. The last thing he wants to do is make Geoff feel obligated to do this with him. Michael just wishes Geoff would at least talk with him about it and let him know why.
Michael laid in bed wide awake with Geoff cuddled up behind him. Michael was kept awake by his mind once again. He began to wonder if it was something he did that made Geoff feel this way about adopting. This was one of the many scenarios that ran through his head as he tried to make sense of this.
As Michael’s eyes started to become heavy, he realized that Gavin might know why. Geoff was very close with Gavin and has been for many years. He texted Gavin, knowing he most likely would be up playing Halo with Dan.
Michael: You up?
Gavin: STILL trying to get all of the achievements in Halo 5. I’m going mental.
Michael: You guys are both mental for doing that. Can you head into work a bit early tomorrow so we can talk?
Gavin: I won’t be sleeping tonight, so no problem. What’s up?
Michael: I’ll tell you in the morning. Get some sleep!
Gavin: Nope.
Michael laughed as he read the short response. He then reached over and set his phone on the side table as he fought to keep his eyes open. As he settled back in against Geoff and started falling asleep, he found some relief in the thought that he might finally get an answer to the question that had started eating him up inside.
The next day Michael showed up half an hour early to work. As he walked in he saw Gavin sitting there, cup of coffee in hand looking completely haggard.
“I’m guessing you guys got all of the achievements?” Michael joked with a sleepy smile on his face.
Gavin shook his head and yawned before taking a big gulp of the coffee. “Everything OK boi?” Gavin asked as he looked up at Michael.
Michael knew beating around the bush with Gavin never worked, and he could hardly hold it in anymore. “I want to adopt a baby with Geoff,” Michael said with a shaky voice, not knowing how Gavin would react.
Gavin’s face instantly lit up with excitement. “I’m so happy for you guys!” he said as he ran over to hug Michael. As Gavin pulled back from the hug, he could tell Michael wasn’t as happy as himself. “What’s wrong?” Gavin asked.
“I…. I haven’t asked Geoff.” Michael said sounding defeated. “I have no idea how to ask him. You know how weird he gets when I bring up the topic. What if he says no? What if he gets mad and leaves?”
Gavin came back immediately saying, "He loves you Michael. He would never leave you.”
He then let the silence hang in the air, knowing exactly what Michael was talking about. He never could figure out why Geoff would go silent when anyone brought up the topic of children. “I’m sure he'll be fine with it. You know he will be.” Gavin said, sounding almost unsure himself.
Michael looked at Gavin as he steadied his voice. “No, I don’t. I was hoping you would know.” He said as he looked down at his feet.
Gavin didn’t know how to answer that. Gavin had broached the topic only twice with Geoff as the couple's relationship grew. He figured that since they have been together for 5 years, married 1 year, it would come up eventually. But after bringing up the topic a second time and getting shut down, Gavin decided to not touch the subject again. “I wish I did, but he won’t talk with me about it either."
Michael gave a long sigh, still keeping his eyes down on his feet. This is supposed to be a happy moment in his life, but not knowing how his husband would feel about it was killing him inside.
Right as Michael was about to speak, Geoff walked in. His husband gave that crooked smile that always made Michael melt as he walked to his desk. "Why’d you come in so early?” Geoff asked in a sleepy tone, leaning over to kiss Michael's hair.
Michael panicked. His computer wasn’t on. His Xbox wasn’t on. He couldn’t think of any reason Gavin would be there this early with him.
“We were going over some topics for the podcast.” Gavin said, knowing Michael was panicking, trying to think of something.
“Oh, nice.” Geoff said as he fell into his chair, and began hitting the power buttons on all of his monitors.
Michael finally brought his eyes up to meet Gavin’s, with both relief and sadness in his eyes.
He walked straight to his desk and refused to even look in Geoff’s direction. He knew that Geoff could read him like a book.
Michael finally turned on his computer and Xbox before sinking further into his chair, feeling no more sure about the situation than he did when he came in this morning.
He knew that if he was going to get any answers, he would need to find some way to get Geoff to talk.