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Well, maybe their fans would completely lose their minds.
It’s been 4 months since Twitchcon. 4 months since Mike and Will were hiding their relationship from the cameras.
It’s not like they had been trying very hard to hide it. Well, the agreement was that they had to do it. And honestly, Will was doing really well in that regard.
He would always get nervous when asked about it and quickly deflect the subject, or give vague answers.
It reached the point where some fans completely lost hope that they were a real couple, and accusations of queerbaiting came back in full force, with believers being dismissed as delusional.
Don't get him wrong. He knew that eventually everyone would find out, and he wanted everyone to know that Mike was his boyfriend. But it was nice having the relationship just to themselves, knowing that at some point the news would break, and then that little space they had created would be invaded by thousands of curious fans. That was one reason, among… many others.
And Will was managing to remain calm about this.
It was a shame the same couldn't be said for Mike.
Mike couldn't get through a livestream without mentioning him.
Granted, that was mostly the fans' fault, they didn't make things easy for them. Knowing Mike would answer, the only questions in the comments were about their relationship. Poor Mike tried his best to avoid answering them.
He couldn't really judge him, though. After all, the only reason Will knew that was because he hadn't missed a single stream since they met, watching his quirky, funny boyfriend with a goofy smile (even if no one could prove a thing.)
He couldn't help it. The long-distance relationship was hard enough as it was, perhaps he could ease the longing by discovering little pieces of Mike.
But he didn't want to spend hours late at night talking to Mike through a screen until he fell asleep.
Of course, he (did!) wanted to do that, but he couldn't help thinking how much better it would be with his boyfriend actually by his side. He wanted to feel Mike's arms around him, he wanted Mike to place his hands on his back and trace small circles. Like he always did when they were together. He wanted them to talk for hours, listening to Mike’s breathing and soft laughter while his head was tucked against Mike's neck. He wanted to run his fingers through Mike's hair...
Wanted to be close.
Just like they were whenever they visited each other.
And even though he knew moments like that were difficult, Will knew that kind of intimacy was reserved for the privacy of a closed room. It was a bit frustrating that they couldn't act like a couple in public.
Even though he wanted to hold his boyfriend’s hand while on a date, rest his head on his shoulder when he was tired, or casually drape his arm around him without a second thought. Even though he wanted to be with him without having to calculate every single gesture.
Whenever they were asked about their relationship while out in public, Mike would flash the goofiest grin imaginable. He couldn't help but roll his eyes affectionately—he actually found it charming, and was dying to shower his partner with kisses right there on the street, surrounded by a crowd of fans—before rambling about what a good friend the other was, describing him in terms platonic friends would never use. But none of the fans had concrete proof, and that was what mattered.
Well, until now.
At the moment, Mike was staying at Will’s place again. Like-, for the third time.
One of the perks of streaming was the ability to work from different locations, especially when your partner was in the same line of work. By now, they practically took turns deciding which city to stay in, making the most of the days they spent together.
Right then, they were planning their next scheduled stream. The last one had taken place when Will was visiting Mike, they’d thought they were being discreet, until a fan wondered why—whenever they paused the game to interact with the audience—they would gesture with only one hand while the other disappeared beneath the desk, out of sight, their fingers interlaced.
They couldn't risk another slip-up like that.
They were getting everything set up and would soon start recording. Colored lights illuminated the backdrop behind them. Will struggled to get one of the yellow lights working but got distracted watching Mike, who was configuring the computers, his expressive eyebrows furrowed in concentration.
He muttered something inaudible and gave the side of the computer tower a smack—which apparently worked, as he relaxed, satisfied.
He was wearing one of Will’s sweaters; while it hung loosely on Mike’s slender frame, it sat higher on his torso due to the height difference between them.
The best part was that he seemed completely oblivious to this, as if he had claimed the sweater as his own. Yet, Will knew their fans wouldn't overlook such a significant little detail, given that he had worn that very same garment countless times.
He found it absolutely adorable—seeing Mike in his clothes. He didn't want to ask him to change. If it meant seeing him wear something of Will's for a little longer, he could handle the fans' curiosity.
Will turned his attention back to the lights, finally managing to get them working—even if they flickered now and then—and let out a soft sigh as he finished connecting the rest.
To be honest, he was tired of it. Tired of keeping the secret.
And he knew Mike was, too.
But that was a simple problem to solve, right?
Their friends had already asked them about it more than once. Why not put an end to the fans' chatter and just tell the truth?
Will would quickly change the subject, and even though he tried to ignore it, he also noticed the questioning look Mike gave him whenever the topic came up.
“I don’t get why you can’t just talk to me and tell me what’s wrong,” Mike had said later that night, as they lay on the couch in Will’s living room after the rest of their friends had gone home.
And therein lay the problem: Will didn’t know what was wrong.
He wasn’t out, but that wasn’t strictly necessary. His fans had no doubts about his sexuality, and neither did he.
It was 2025. An openly gay couple wouldn’t be an issue.
But that was the thing: the problem wasn't the fans' reaction to Will's sexuality, but rather to Mike's.
Even though he hadn't explicitly come out, Mike made no secret of the fact that he was bisexual.
He glanced over at Mike in the distance. The way his dark curls fell over his eyes; the way he, even when standing still, kept moving, bouncing his knees or fidgeting with his hands; the way their sexualities came up casually within their friend group. Like something obvious, something ordinary.
But it wasn't like that for everyone.
The biggest problem was that, in recent months, their various fan groups had gone to war with one another. There were those who firmly believed the two were a couple (and could be quite intrusive about it) but there was also a group of fans, primarily Mike’s, who absolutely loathed the idea.
This latter group would vehemently insist that Mike was 100% straight and that the other fans were completely deluded. Some of them even acted in an openly, blatantly homophobic manner.
Then there were those who refused to accept the end of Mike and Jane’s relationship, swearing they were soulmates who would soon get back together.
And that was fine. He didn't care about a few idiots who couldn't accept someone else's sexuality.
But what if it started to affect their relationship?
Well, let's change the subject again...
Jane used to say that the fans's persistence was unbearable for her relationship with Mike, a relationship that had actually ended a while back. Of course, he knew that was just one of the thousands of issues they’d had. Jane said he didn't like her that way, and over time, she realized she didn't like him either. They had simply persisted with something that was over before it even began, so they agreed to remain friends.
He talked a lot with his sister to see if she approved of his relationship with his ex-boyfriend. The thing was, she didn't mind at all. Even though she said Will could do better than Mike, she still gave him plenty of relationship advice. And he did the same for Jane once she and Dustin started dating.
He had never seen Jane so radiant, and that made him happy.
Jane said she had never seen him so radiant, and that made her happy.
That was how their relationship worked.
He knew that deep down, very deep down, there was a greater fear. Nothing to do with Mike or the fans, but rather something about his own sexuality that had long been buried. Forgotten beneath a bed in a cold house filled with shouting.
He didn't allow himself to dwell on those thoughts. He simply ignored them and focused on the other reasons they had for not coming out. He had dealt with plenty of homophobic people in his life. What was one more group, really?
He had to make an effort for both of them,
Since Mike apparently didn't give a damn what others thought.
After all, what reason did he have to care?
Suddenly, he felt arms grab him from behind—wrapping around his waist and clasping firmly over his stomach.
“You’re spaced out,” Mike murmured, leaning down to rest his head on his shoulder. “I think you’ve been staring at that LED for about half an hour,” he said with a muffled laugh, starting to fiddle with the fabric of Will’s sweater.
He sighed and leaned back against the boy’s chest, savoring the comfort. “Yeah, sorry. It’s just... I’ve been thinking, and I don’t think we can afford to act like this in front of the cameras,” he grumbled, a hint of hurt still in his voice. He turned his head to look at Mike, who was furrowing his brows slightly in confusion. “Act like what?”
Will gave a wry smile. Mike really didn’t realize how clingy he was. “Like this,” he said, gesturing between the two of them. “Which means: no wearing my sweaters in public.”
Mike stared at him, then his expression turned amused. “Well... that’s pretty hypocritical of you. Seeing as you’re wearing one of my sweaters right now,” he said with a soft laugh.
Will blinked several times. He opened his mouth to argue but quickly closed it again.
He wasn’t—oh
Yeah, he was wearing one of Mike’s yellow sweaters, too.
But to be fair, he was only borrowing it for a while. Mike, on the other hand, had stolen his during their first visit and claimed it as his own. He’d said he wanted something of Will’s for when he missed him.
“If we’re going to spend so much time apart again, I want something that smells like you,” Mike had argued, giving him a pout Will couldn't say no to.
Will huffed, pulling away from his boyfriend’s arms and returning to his spot to sit in the chair. “Fine.”
He muttered this while putting on his headphones and adjusting the microphone, which was slightly crooked.
He started adjusting the sound levels.
Mike joined him, rolling his eyes playfully as he put on his own headphones.
Will turned his chair to face Mike, positioning himself so his knees brushed against the side of the other boy's chair and their faces were inches apart as he leaned forward. "I'm serious, Mike," he said, shaking his head. "We can't give them any more reason to get suspicious." He tried to look stern, pointing a finger at Mike’s chest, though he had to admit he was failing miserably.
Mike flashed his most charming smile, leaning in closer, grabbing Will’s hand, and interlacing their fingers.
"No holding hands?" he asked, giving him the classic puppy-dog eyes.
Will tried to appear indifferent. If his boyfriend realized just how much that look affected him, he’d likely never let up, and Will would end up caving in a shamefully short amount of time. "No. No holding hands. And keep a normal distance like friends do."
Mike huffed, pulling back slightly to lean against his chair. "Oh my God! How am I going to survive without my oxygen?" He theatrically pressed a hand to his chest. He squeezed his eyes shut, but it only lasted two seconds before he peeked through his lashes to see if his performance had worked.
"I’m going to waste away. Slowly fade into nothing." The taller boy closed his eyes again, feigning a look of agony.
God, he really was dating the most dramatic person in the world.
Will chuckled, resting his palm against Mike’s cheek and tracing the freckles there with his thumb. "I think you should give up on the streamer career. Acting suits you way better." Will snorted, muttering, "Always the drama queen."
Mike opened his eyes, letting out a mock-offended sigh. “You don’t understand! Of course not—you never loved me.”
“I thought you were dead,” Will remarked, reminding Mike of his character.
He gave Will a wry smile. “I am, and actually, only a true love’s kiss can save me,” he said. He leaned in toward Will, closing his eyes in anticipation.
Will let out an exaggerated sigh. “I’m not giving you a kiss,” he exclaimed, lightly swatting his boyfriend’s arm. “You’re never satisfied with just one. And we need to start recording.”
Mike moved closer, placing his hands on Will’s neck. “You say that because you know you won’t be able to resist me if you start,” he murmured, closing the distance between them significantly.
Will pushed him away with a light, playful shove. “You- look who’s talking: the person who almost blew our cover because he couldn't wait a few hours to hold my hand,” he grumbled. As he said this, he swept some things aside on the cluttered table to clear a space, turning to face him.
“You can’t blame me for that! They’re really observant,” Mike muttered, crossing his arms.
Will rolled his eyes. “Just don’t pull an Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo on me, and we’ll be fine.” He turned toward him, resting a hand in his hair and absently running his fingers through it.
Mike let out an annoyed grumble, even though the corners of his mouth were curling up slightly revealing the truth beneath his feigned irritation. “Don’t compare us to them. Especially since you’d obviously be Glinda.”
Will’s eyes widened. “You’ve got to be kidding! You are the most Glinda person I’ve ever seen on the face of the earth,” he exclaimed. Despite the slight note of mock indignation in his voice, he ran his fingers gently through his boyfriend’s dark hair.
Mike pouted in annoyance but leaned back slightly into Will’s touch, sighing with contentment at the affection.
He just watched with amusement as his partner’s eyes narrowed skeptically.
“Besides…” Will continued, slowing the movement of his thumb as he gently caressed the soft curls. “I’ll reward you later,” he said, a mischievous smile playing on his lips.
Mike’s cheeks flushed red so quickly it was comical to watch; his gaze darted from Will’s mouth to his eyes, only to drift back to his mouth again. “Really?” he asked in a whisper.
“Yeah, after the stream ends, I promise I’ll give you all the kisses you want,” he replied, planting a kiss on his temple, light as a feather, just to make his point.
“I think you’re underestimating just how many kisses I want,” Mike said, raising his eyebrows repeatedly in a really unsexy way.
Will simply planted his hand against Mike’s face, ignoring his boyfriend’s laughter, and pushed him back. But he soon leaned in again to plant a gentle, affectionate kiss on Mike’s cheek.
Mike leaned forward, trying to kiss Will on the lips, but Will was already settling back into his chair, out of reach. He tried again, not giving up. “Will? Just one kiss before we start? Please?”
Will looked at him. “No,” he said simply, smiling. “We can’t; the stream is starting soon, and we still have a lot to get ready.”
Mike stared at him, his eyebrows rising so high they disappeared beneath his curls. “But we haven’t really started yet! We’ve got time.”
Of course, Will wanted that too, but it was more fun watching Mike beg. He bit his lip to hold back a smile, not letting on just how much he was enjoying it.
“Well, there’s a huge pile of clothes over there that we need to sort out,” Will said, nudging Mike’s shoulder to get him to stand up.
── ⋆⋅𖤓⋅⋆ ──
“Alright, trust me, Mike. this game is really good,” Will exclaimed with a sigh. “I already played the first few levels without you in a video I posted, but don’t worry, you won’t be too lost...”
Will kept talking about the game they were going to play today, one of his favorites, “Sally Face”.
Mike loved hearing Will talk about the things he loved. Usually, they loved the same things, so they would talk about them together with excitement. But even when that wasn’t the case, Mike would still listen intently, loving the way Will lit up whenever he spoke.
Today, however, he was a bit distracted.
Look, Mike has been a little frustrated with this situation.
And when he says “situation,” he’s talking about Will avoiding, at all costs, talking to him about what’s bothering him.
Will wasn’t usually like that, actually. It was usually Mike who shut down regarding his problems, though he was trying his hardest to change that, because he knew Will liked it when they talked about those things.
But how could he expect that from Mike when he wasn’t talking to him himself? Not completely, anyway. Will had already listed all the reasons why they should keep it a secret, but Mike couldn’t shake the feeling that he wasn’t being entirely honest about the real reason.
With a sigh, Mike blurted out, “Will, we need to talk.”
Will froze for a moment, pausing mid-motion as he folded the last shirt in his pile of laundry. “About what?” he asked casually,perhaps a bit too casually.
Mike looked at him and, with a sigh, admitted, “I hate it when you treat me like that,” crossing his arms as he saw questions playing across Will’s face.
Will furrowed his brows, a small crease forming between them. Mike felt the urge to run his thumb over it to smooth away the tension. “Is this about the kiss? You know I’m just teasing you, right? It’s just... it’s cute seeing you blush and—”
Mike quickly reassured him, “No, don’t worry. That’s not what this is about,” he said with a soft laugh. He actually liked it when Will gave him a hard time; he thought that defiant look made him even hotter, damn it. “It’s about our cover story. I… hate it when you treat me like that…” he continued, “Like we’re just friends.”
Will froze mid-motion, locking up as if that might help him avoid the topic or make him invisible—okay, they had actually seen that happen when they watched “Infinity War” and Drax thought moving slowly would make him invisible. And maybe it actually worked, seeing as Gamora and Peter didn’t spot him until a long time later.
But anyway, speaking of the truly important matter…
Mike wanted me to know, even if it was scary.
Even with all the homophobia from a large part of his fandom, even with people refusing to believe in his sexuality. Despite him opening up about it a few times (okay, some instances were less explicit, like when he kept pulling up his pant leg to show off socks featuring the colors of the bisexual flag, but that’s beside the point).
Will opened his mouth to argue, likely with the same rushed, disjointed spiel, but Mike cut him off. “I know, I know we do this so they don’t find out.”
The thing is, he knew it would be hard. Like Will, he had faced prejudice in his own life—even at home.
He would never forget the look of disappointment on his father’s face when he found out—having overheard a conversation Mike was having with a friend where his sexuality was casually mentioned. He’d kicked him out in disgust, but not before making a violent point of showing him exactly how the world treated people like him.
But that was in the past. He had people who loved and supported him now. That was what he always focused on. Even so, he wanted to be able to act like a sappy couple with Will. He just wanted to hold his hand across the table and wear his sweater without worrying about who might see them. Will sighed. "Mike, we’ve talked about this a thousand times. If you already know the reason, why do you keep insisting?" With that, he went back to sorting the rest of the clothes they were folding, as if the conversation were over. Mike frowned. "Well, we have to tell them eventually. We know some people won't react well, but there are always going to be people like that." He moved closer to Will, trying to place a hand on his shoulder to calm him down.
Will quickly stepped away, turning his back. "Forget it, Mike," he said, pretending to adjust lights that were already perfectly positioned.
Mike tried to reach him, softening his voice. "Will, talk to me. What are you so afraid of—?"
Will spun around—so quickly he nearly bumped into Mike, who was standing close by. "I said forget it, Mike!" he exclaimed.
And now, looking at his face, Mike noticed tears welling up in the corners of his eyes. But Will moved past Mike, crossing the bed to sit on the other side, turning his back so Mike couldn't see his face.
He watched Will’s shoulders tremble slightly. He crossed the bed too, stepping around the wires scattered on the floor and sitting down carefully beside Will, who quickly crossed his arms and turned his face away to keep Mike from seeing it.
“Will, I’m sorry to keep pushing. But whatever is bothering you... can you tell me?” He placed his hand on Will’s shoulder, rubbing it gently in an attempt to encourage him.
Will let out a shaky breath and turned his face toward Mike. Seeing his expression like that devastated Mike; it was as if something inside him had finally snapped. His eyes were glassy and his nose slightly red. He looked so vulnerable that Mike wanted to wrap him in a hug and never let anyone touch or hurt him again.
Mike’s expression softened as a realization slowly dawned on him
No matter how much Mike argued that he understood what the other boy was going through, it was completely different.
Yes, Mike had faced prejudice from his father. But his father had never hit him or raised his voice at him before that day. Furthermore, when his mother saw the bruises and found out what his father had done, she filed for divorce, an idea she had long since abandoned because of the stability their loveless marriage provided. Nancy had even said she would threaten him with a gun if he ever got close to Mike again, though that was beside the point.
And that was it; the matter ended there.
From then on, he had the full support of his mother and sisters.
But he knew it was different for Will. Aside from the bullying at school, his father, Lonnie, was a constant threat in his life. He knew about all the abuse Will had suffered during his childhood and how it had affected him.
Even with all the excuses, even with all the reasons, Mike knew it still impacted him.
Looking at Mike, who was so worried, Will was suddenly struck by guilt. “I—I’m sorry, Mike. I don’t know why I’m so scared. We both openly like men; I don’t understand why a relationship would make a difference, but it does.” He looked down, suddenly ashamed of his own cowardice.
Mike cradled Will’s face in his hands, gently caressing his cheeks. When Will looked up again, he noticed Mike’s eyes were slightly glassy with unshed tears.
Will let out a sigh. “I just… you know there’s still a huge part of your fanbase that doesn’t believe you like men.” As a single tear slipped from his eye, Mike quickly wiped it away, his hands still resting on Will’s face.
"And after we got closer, it seems like it only got worse. As if they felt angry at the mere possibility of you not dating a woman."
His voice was so fragile as he admitted it aloud: "I just... I know how much your career, and mine, have grown. I’m afraid that with this revelation, you’ll lose followers."
"Will..." he said softly. "Listen, I don't care if a few homophobic idiots unfollow me."
He gave a slight sniffle. "I know, but what if... what if a few homophobic idiots turn into thousands of homophobic idiots? And what if you see how much this is impacting our careers and decide it’s not worth the effort?"
He had never heard Will speak like that, not with such fragility. Usually, he’d just make a joke and brush the subject aside, but the look of sincerity his boyfriend was showing now was different.
Mike opened his mouth to argue, but Will quickly cut him off. "I know times are different now. But my dad left our family because of me, Mike." His voice cracked at the end, and a wave of tears spilled over. "My fault." He placed his hand over his chest, as if the gesture would make Mike understand just how serious he was.
"I know a part of him always knew. Jonathan and I both acted differently than what he thought was expected of a man. But Jonathan turned out okay, so maybe a part of him still held out hope for me." Will sniffled, wiping his nose with his sweater sleeve. "When he realized I was a lost cause, he left our family as fast as he could. He didn't want the hassle and the shame of having a gay son."
Mike listened intently. He had heard this before; the two had talked about their fathers, late-night conversations that felt more emotional and sincere because of the hour.
Will looked away as he spoke. "I just... I don't want you to hope that this will be easy, only to realize it wasn't worth the time, a relationship that's so socially complicated." He looked at Mike as he spoke, his gaze shifting between Mike's eyes. "That you could just find a girl and live without secrets or the fear of attacks from your fans."
Mike let out a gasp of surprise and placed his hands on either side of Will’s face, forcing their eyes to meet again.
Will tried to pull away, but Mike held him in place. “Hey… no, Will. Of course not, why would you say that? I’m not going to break up with you over this.”
He turned to face Will fully, shifting his weight and resting a knee on the bed. The frame creaked as he moved. Which, yeah, had already been an issue every time Jane banged on the door, threatening to kill them if they didn't keep the noise down.
Will sighed. “I know.” Mike let go of his face to hold his hands instead, trying to show just how sincere he was being. “I’m serious, Will. You aren’t getting rid of me that easily.”
He rolled his eyes. “Lucky me.” Mike chuckled softly, automatically leaning in to plant a light kiss on Will’s lips out of habit, before stopping himself abruptly. “I don’t want to pressure you. I want us to tell people together, when you’re ready.”
He moved closer, wrapping his arms around his boyfriend and resting his chin on his shoulder.
Will laughed, hugging Mike around the waist. “Thanks, babe.” Then, he paused for a moment.
“Is everything okay?” Mike murmured. Will quickly replied with a soft laugh, “Better than okay, I feel like a weight’s been lifted off my shoulders.”
Will pulled back from the hug but stayed close, leaning slightly forward. Mike closed his eyes, leaning in like a total dork, only for Will to plant a loud, wet smack of a kiss on his cheek, teasing him.
Mike’s face fell into a pout. “You’re really wicked,” he muttered, his cheeks turning red.
Will put on a mock-serious expression. "Actually, that’s what the citizens of Oz want you to think. The Wicked Witch of the West is actually really good," he bit his bottom lip to keep from smiling. "Besides, I always keep my word. After the livestream."
Mike laughed, giving his boyfriend’s shoulder a playful shove. "Right, Elphaba." Will laughed as he shoved him back.
"But seriously, though," Mike began, shaking his head. "You know I’m not forcing you into anything, right? I just wanted you to talk to me. We can take our time telling them until you feel better," he assured him.
He didn't want Will to think he was rushing anything. He would wait as long as necessary.
And honestly? It was actually kind of fun keeping the secret and seeing how far it would go.
Will placed his hand over his chest, right over his heart. "Actually, I don't think I mind telling them; after all, that was the main thing bothering me." He pulled back to look into his partner's eyes. "It doesn't matter what we go through, as long as you're with me."
Mike’s eyes glistened slightly; he took Will’s hand from his chest and kissed the palm. "Always."
── ⋆⋅𖤓⋅⋆ ──
They were nearly done with the phase they needed to finish for the day. Mike wasn't really focused on it, anyway.
Something about finding out about the school bologna, a homophobe who was nothing more than a closeted gay guy, or something like that.
Mike felt like making a joke about his haters, but he held back.
His eyes kept drifting to Will.
The way he stuck his tongue out in concentration, the way his hair fell over his forehead, the way his green eyes shone in the yellow light. There was something perfect about it all.
Mike had never allowed himself to look at him openly during filming, fearing the fan chatter. But now things were different; soon, they would tell everyone about their relationship. He found himself noticing how his sweater—Mike’s sweater—fit a little more snugly, hugging his biceps whenever he flexed.
Mike didn't even notice when Will started saying his goodbyes. "Right, Mike?" He blinked, snapping out of his thoughts, realizing he hadn't heard a word Will had said for the last twenty minutes, twenty minutes during which he’d offered nothing but quick answers and nods. "Yeah, exactly."
Will looked right through him, as if he could read his mind. Then, he flashed that mischievous smile that always made Mike’s knees go weak. "That’s it for today’s stream. Thanks so much for tuning in, guys. See you next time!"
How could Will act so normal when Mike was dying for him to touch him?
Mike quickly leaned forward and pressed the large red button to his left to end the stream.
But after cutting the feed, he leaned back in his chair. Will had been watching him the whole time; he crossed his arms over his chest, still wearing that goofy smile. Mike snorted and shook his head. "Are you satisfied now, Will?" he asked.
Will’s eyes gleamed with something, but his expression quickly closed off as he slipped into character. “Well, someone has to set boundaries here, Michael.”
He ignored the annoying smile forming on Will’s face. “Besides, it’ll be worth the wait. Trust me.”
Mike clicked his tongue. “Promises, and more promises, William…” He stepped closer, staring unabashedly at his boyfriend’s mouth. “You’re awfully confident, those kisses had better be damn good to live up to the hype.”
Will tilted his head skeptically. “Judging by how you react every time I kiss you, I think even a peck on the lips would meet your expectations,” he teased, raising his eyebrows defiantly as he spoke.
Mike let out an indignant sound, his eyes widening. “That’s not true!” He then pursed his lips into that adorable pout that made Will want to bite them.
“Jane would disagree. She was the one who had to yell at us yesterday, especially you, to keep it down.”
Mike furrowed his brows. “She… was overreacting, okay? She was just being annoying.”
Mike gazed into Will’s eyes; there was a glint in them, something that made him want to close the distance and put an end to all the stalling.
He let out a soft laugh as he looked Mike up and down. Will moved closer, gripping Mike’s bicep as he leaned in to whisper in his ear. He paused for a moment before speaking, sensing Mike’s breath hitch slightly in surprise. "It’s not my fault if you can’t moan quietly," he said finally.
Mike pulled away as if he’d been shocked, his cheeks turning bright red and his mouth dropping open in an "O" shape. "Oh my God- yo- shut up! Yes, I can," he exclaimed. With that, he playfully shoved Will back into his chair and settled back into his own.
Will was still smiling, satisfied. "Well, the whole house disagrees," he murmured, leaning back and rolling his eyes. Mike’s expression grew even more flustered.
Will burst out laughing at Mike’s embarrassed look; Mike quickly buried his face in his hands. Okay, maybe he was making a big deal out of it just to see his boyfriend get flustered. He’s only human, after all.
Will leaned as close as the gaming chairs between them allowed, then reached forward to hold Mike’s wrists, trying to get him to stop hiding his face.
He reluctantly lowered his hands, wearing an annoyed expression. Will saw a glint in his eyes and could predict what the other would say next before the look was replaced by a goofy grin. "Well, you weren't complaining yesterday," he whispered, as if he only wanted Will to hear. That made no sense, considering there was no one else in the room. But Will had to lean in closer to hear better. Which was surely part of Mike's plan, as he looked pleased, bringing their faces even closer and lowering his head so his eyes were level with Will's.
And that was when Will’s cheeks turned bright red. "You—oh, shut up." Their faces were so close; it was hard to concentrate with his boyfriend's mouth right there.
Mike laughed at his boyfriend's flustered expression. "See? It’s not so funny when it’s happening to you."
Will must have made some sound of agreement, but he wasn't really paying attention; he was too busy noticing his boyfriend’s eyes fixed on his lips. Mike was never very subtle about staring, but as Mike bit his lower lip, Will’s gaze dropped too. Those lips were a soft, pale pink, full in all the right places, and—my God—Will wanted nothing more than to bite them until they were raw. He wanted to feel them against his own. So, with a heavy sigh, he decided to put an end to the waiting.
Will grabbed Mike by the shirt , planting a long, passionate kiss on him. Mike let out a surprised sound that quickly turned into a satisfied one as he felt his boyfriend’s soft lips against his own.
Their mouths moved in sync while the other boy’s hands gripped Mike’s hair, giving a gentle tug-fully aware of the sound that would escape Mike’s lips if he did.
True to form, a low moan escaped him as he reached out to hold Will’s waist, practically clinging to him.
It was incredible. Will would never get used to the feeling of Mike’s lips against his, the softness of those dark curls beneath his hands, or the way Mike held onto him.
Mike began to deepen the kiss, grazing Will’s lower lip to ask for entry. Will pulled away too soon, breathless, even though the kiss had lasted such a short time, it had still left him completely winded. Mike instinctively followed him, missing those beautiful lips he had just—
He placed his hands on Mike’s shoulders, urging him closer. Then, with a playful smirk, he asked, "Did the kiss live up to your expectations?" while boldly eyeing Mike’s glistening, parted lips.
He scoffed, "No. I think I need to double-check a few more times."
With that, Will pulled him by the waist, pressing their lips together and trying to settle Mike onto his lap. The boy quickly reciprocated, standing up and climbing onto the other chair, which creaked under the extra weight, framing Will’s hips with his knees and settling fully into his lap. Will’s grip on his waist tightened as he tried to pull him even closer, pressing their chests together.
Mike ran his hands over his boyfriend’s shoulders and biceps, smiling into the kiss while continuing to squeeze his arm.
The kiss deepened as their mouths moved in synchrony; Will parted his lips, allowing Mike to slide his tongue against his.
They both let out a breathless sigh as Will moved one hand up to grab Mike’s hair.
They could hear a cell phone ringing in the background, but they simply ignored it, unwilling to focus on anything other than the body pressed against his own.
It was Mike who pulled away this time, leaning down to meet his boyfriend’s gaze.
That was probably a mistake, because now he was looking directly into those beautiful hazel eyes, flecked with green, and damn, Mike almost forgot what he wanted to say, already wanting to lean in again and...
“You seem really into this for a boy who was denying it to me all day.”
Will stared back at him. His eyes were deep and dark, like a black hole; Will just wanted to lose himself in them, in that darkness. Then there were the freckles, like constellations, scattered not just across his face, but all over his body. Will wanted to name every single one of them, to map them out delicately until he knew the exact shape and location of each one.
Will couldn't even remember exactly why they had broken up, but he felt increasingly drawn to Mike—drawn to that universe of constellations and the contrast between his pale skin and his deep-colored eyes and hair.
“You didn’t answer my question, Nilla.”
Will cupped Mike’s face, his fingers tracing lightly over his cheeks, and leaned in to plant the softest of kisses against the delicate, freckled skin of his cheekbones.
He stayed close as he murmured, “God, Mike. I didn’t hear what you said—I’m sorry.”
With that, he lowered his head, kissing his cheek again, then his chin, trailing down from his jawline to the spot behind his ear.
“I said—” Mike shivered, letting out a sigh of pleasure as Will began to suck at his pulse point, “—for someone who took so long to... to give me what I wanted, you’re the one who can’t keep your hands off me,” he said, tilting his head closer to his boyfriend’s mouth.
Will mumbled, his lips still grazing the sensitive skin of Mike’s neck, “I can’t disagree. Sorry, love. It’s because it’s really cute to see how you desire me.”
Mike let out a groan of protest when Will pulled his lips away from Mike’s neck, only to trail them lower to the curve where his shoulder met his neck. “Besides, you’re the one who stole my clothes because you miss me every two seconds. Who’s the needy one now?” As he said this, he grazed his teeth against the spot.
Mike bunched a handful of the blue fabric between his fingers, looking down at Will. “These clothes?” he asked.
Will just mumbled in agreement.
“Do you want them back, babe?” he asked, raising a hand to run through his boyfriend’s brown hair, his short nails grazing the scalp.
No, he didn't want to. He wanted to keep wearing Mike’s clothes, and he wanted to keep seeing Mike wearing what belonged to him. But he could sense where Mike was going with this, so he held back.
Will lifted his face, meeting his gaze again. He bit his lower lip, looking Mike up and down as he let out another sound of agreement.
Mike leaned in, his lips grazing Will’s ear, "then take it off me," he practically growled, before planting a lingering kiss right there.
Will let out a soft sigh as Mike pulled him into a kiss full of hunger and urgency.
He slid his fingers under Mike’s sweater, feeling the other boy’s lightly defined abs tense at his touch. He moved his hand higher, spreading it across Mike’s chest and grazing his nipple, which made Mike let out a muffled sound.
He was just about to pull the sweater over Mike’s head when he heard that damn phone ring for what felt like the third time. He was focused on something else, anyway.
Mike took advantage of having a clear view, letting out a low moan as he felt Will start kissing that same spot on his neck that was already sensitive and grabbed his phone as quickly as possible so he could get back to what he was doing. He let Will know, the boy just murmured his approval, likely wanting the annoying noise to stop, while continuing his work on Mike’s neck.
If fans noticed any purple marks on his neck, he wasn't worried about it at that moment.
He saw it was Dustin and put the call on speaker.
Answering with immediate irritation, "What do you want, Dustin?" he asked, his voice thick with emotion. "I'm busy—"
He was interrupted by a shrill voice. Not Dustin’s, but Jane’s.
"YOU GUYS DIDN'T END THE LIVESTREAM, YOU IDIOTS."
Mike jumped out of his chair so fast that his elbow hit Will’s chin in the process; the other boy let out a sound of pain and pulled away from his boyfriend as if burned.
"Oh my God, Will—I'm so sorry. Did that hurt?" Mike asked, his voice softening almost impossibly as he scrambled up from where he’d fallen on the floor to check on Will.
Will quickly waved it off, his eyes wide like a deer caught in headlights.
They both turned toward the screen at the same time, moving slowly, like in a horror movie.
It was still recording.
The red light was blinking.
“MIKE?! You said you’d turned it off!” Will said, panicked.
“I thought I had! Why do you have so many buttons?” he muttered, trying in vain to stop the broadcast.
He tried to turn off the camera, pressing a thousand things on that technological monstrosity of Will’s—things that apparently didn’t do a thing.
Will quickly grabbed his phone, practically shouting, “Jane! Aren’t you home? Why didn’t you interrupt us? Why do you have Dustin’s phone?” He spoke in a panic, the words tumbling out at breakneck speed.
He heard the girl’s voice, sounding slightly mechanical over the call, say, “Well, maybe because I’m not home! I went out with Dustin.” She exclaimed, “Now imagine our surprise when we opened your livestream, just because we were bored, and saw the two of you putting on an online porn show!”
Will let out a sharp gasp. “Oh God, I’m never showing my face on the internet again.”
“I DON’T KNOW HOW TO WORK YOUR CAMERA, WILL!” she shouted while mashing a dozen buttons at once. Dustin’s laughter echoed in the background, but he decided to ignore it.
“SHIT. SHIT. SHIT.” Thousands of comments were flooding the screen, so many that it was nearly impossible to read any of them.
He could read a few, though.
@oceanofwhlr (jess): i remember you guys saying something abt don’t assume their sexualities till they kiss on the ascreen? @n0ramwah, @pepmarcie.
@pepmarcie (dante🍉): fuck you, jess.
@nillapilled (cleo !!): LET’S FUCKING GOOOOOO, I TOLD YALL!!!!!
Suddenly, Will stopped freaking out at Jane and stood up to press the right button, ending the transmission.
Then the screen goes black.