Chapter Text
Michael drove silently to Mike's house, he knew how to get there from memory, obviously. His hands trembled slightly at the wheel but he ignored it, focusing on the road ahead of him. He tried to stop his thoughts from racing as he drove. Sure, maybe he'll get over it if Mike rejects him, but what if he calls the cops. He can't go to jail, he won't. He stops himself in those thoughts. No, even if he calls the cops he'll get away, he'll disappear. He's done it before. He decided to just park in front of Mike's house this time. No use in being sneaky if he just plans to knock on the front door. He puts the car in park and takes a deep breath, he can feel his body trembling and does his best to stop it. He gets out of the car, taking note of Mike's car parked in the drive way. He slowly approaches the front door and knocks, softly.
When he hears movement behind the door he steps back quickly, shoving his shaking hands into his pockets and staring at the ground. The door opens slowly, Mike peeking his head out cautiously before slamming the door shut.
"No, no, no, no!" Mike yells through the door, "I don't want anything to do with you, or your sister, or your crazy fucking pizzeria."
He sounds exhausted, frustrated, and a little scared. The fear in his voice sends a strange feeling through Michael. It's not that he likes it, but it gives him a little more confidence.
"Mike, wait." He begins slowly, "I just want to talk."
"No, I don't wanna talk to you." Mike yells back.
"Mike, just, hear me out." He hesitates, "Please."
The man behind the door is silent for a moment, then slowly, he opens the door. He looks at the taller man in front of him. This is the first time he's seen him during the day. He's pale, and is he.. It dawns on Mike that the man before him is shaking. Something inside him twists, pity.
"Fuck." Mike mumbles to himself, before stepping out of the house to face the man. Not quite ready to let him inside given the events a few nights prior. He remained cautious, this could all be an act, he told himself.
"So, Michael, what do you want to talk about." Mike asks, slowly, suspicion lacing his voice.
"I-" Michael stops, he hadn't exactly planned what he was going to say. In fact, he had no idea what to say, or how to say it.
"So you come to my house, less than a week after destroying it and nearly killing me, saying you want to talk. And now you won't talk. This is just-"
"I'm sorry." Michael cuts him off.
"Oh." Mike is somewhat stunned. "Is this, are you planning something?"
Michael can't help but grin slightly at the assumption, but he shakes his head no.
"Sorry, but I'm gonna need some actual words with that. You're not like trying to manipulate me so you can try to kill me again?" He raised his eyebrow slightly, unsure of what the taller mans true intentions were.
"No, I'm not planning to kill you. I don't really have any plans anymore.'' Michael says softly, uncertainty in his voice.
And here it is. Mike's uncontrollable need to fix. He looks at the man in front of him, he looks exhausted, and fragile. Like if Mike pushed too hard he might shatter. That thought gave him a little comfort though, maybe Michael wasn't as angry and aggressive as he had thought. The man he had seen the other night was, cold and calculated, a little pathetic sure, but he had confidence. The man before him now was, smaller, weaker. As his eyes scan over the man before him, he can't help but notice the lavender shirt. It makes him look less, sharp. Mike can't help but think he almost looks, cute. What is happening?
"Do you want to come inside?" Mike asks, choosing not to think too hard about it.
Michaels eyes sparkle a little as he nods softly. So, Mike turns to open the door, walking in before stepping aside for Michael to enter as well. He leads the taller man into a small living area, it's mostly plain like the rest of the house, but it has a few national parks posters hung above a very worn looking couch. Mike goes to sit down on one side, allowing Michael to sit near the other end. It wasn't a large couch, but there was a comfortable distance between the two men. Mike turned to face Michael again.
"So, you're here to apologize?"
"Yes." Michael replies simply.
"Okay, why should I accept it? I mean, you tried to kill me, and Abby!" He said, firmly, but no aggression.
"I, don't know. You shouldn't probably. But I mean it. I'm tired, I don't want to do this anymore." Michael said, nothing but honesty in his voice.
Mike took a moment to think about that. So what, just like that Michael din't want anything to do with his father's legacy? That seemed unlikely, what had changed his mind?
"Don't want to what? Kill people?" Mike said, an edge to his voice.
"Yes.'
"Why?"
Michael blinked owlishly at him. For some reason, he really hadn't expected Mike to ask. But it made sense, he was a killer, he wouldn't just trust his word with no explanation.
"I'm not my father. I know that now." Michael swallowed the lump in his throat. "I wanted to make him proud, I did everything for him, but it wasn't enough. Now, he's dead. What use is it, trying to appease a ghost?'
Mike nodded, listening intently. He could see Michaels walls cracking, maybe, if he could get through them he could help him.
"I don't know who I am without him." He's trembling.
"You don't want to be like him?" Mike asks softly, like he's talking to a child.
Michael shakes his head no, avoiding Mike's eyes.
"You can be your own person Michael." Mike says, trying to gently encourage the other man.
"How?" He asks, voice cracking slightly, like he might cry.
"It won't be easy, but you don't have to be afraid of him now. You can do what you want to do."
"But I don't know what I want." Michael chokes out, looking at his knees. He's crying now, tears slowly slipping from his eyes.
"That's okay.' Mike pauses, before letting the words spill out anyway. "I can help you."
Michael looks at him then, his eyes watery and red, and full of something, hopeful. The tear tracks glisten on his cheeks and Mike can't help but think how beautiful he looks like this.
"What?" Michael asks, eyes wide.
'What, did I say something?" Mike asks, ears burning red, but hoping he didn't say something out loud that was meant to be for his mind only.
"You think.." Michael couldn't finish his sentence.
"Oh, did I say that out loud?" Mike tried to laugh, "Well, uh, yeah. I mean of course."
Michaels ears were ringing a little, obviously had dreamed of this, but he didn't expect it today. He figured the best he'd get today would be maybe a conversation. So Mike liked him. Or at least found him attractive.
"So you." But Michael cuts himself off, nodding more to himself. He's always been sheltered, because of his father and work. No one had ever called him anything like that. Beautiful. He felt warm inside, it was a new feeling.
"Yeah.' Mike says softly, watching Michael process everything. "You're very pretty Michael."
Mike says this just to see the reaction he gets, and it's worth it. Michaels whole face flushes before he quickly turns his face away from Mike. This is a vulnerability he's never shared with anyone.
"Thank you." He says, unsure of how else to respond.
"You don't need to thank me baby. I'm just saying what's on my mind." Mike moves to get a little closer to Michael. Not wanting to overwhelm him, but needing to be a little closer.
Michael looks at him with the sweetest look he's ever seen, and Mike tries to burn the image into his memory.
"Could we, um, hug?' Michael asks quietly, shame burning his face. He wants to touch Mike, to be held by Mike.
"Yeah." Mike says gently, before moving to press beside Michael on the couch. He turns and wraps his arms around the taller man, holding him and rubbing his back softly. Michael melts into the touch immediately. No one has ever held him like this, he can could count the number of hugs he's gotten in his whole life on one hand. Mike's embrace was firm and comforting. Michael felt like he was safe, like Mike would protect him. Before he knew what he was doing he buried his face against Mike's neck. It was unexpected, but not unwelcome. Mike exhaled sharply, feeling Michaels lips brush his neck. He pulled Michael back to look at him in the eyes.
"You're really sorry?" Mike asked gentle, but firm.
"Yes." Michael quickly, and with certainty.
"Okay, I accept your apology." Mike's soft smile made Michael feel like he was gong to explode. He didn't deserve this, but for some reason, Mike trusted him. And he didn't want to do anything to break that trust. Michael looked into Mike's eyes for a moment, looking for an answer, for anything he would give him, and he got Mike pressing his lips to his.
Michael made a slight noise of surprise but leaned into Mike, letting him take the lead in the kiss. He felt like he was in heaven, like he had died and now had everything he had ever wanted. Mike broke the kiss, breathing a bit faster now.
"Do you wanna stay here for a while?" He asked finally.
"Yes, is that okay?" Michael asks, mind still reeling from the kiss.
"Of course, that's why I asked." Mike chuckled before pulling back from Michael, watching the man shiver at the loss of warmth. He moved back to the other end of the couch and laid back, stretching out then softly patting his chest.
"Come here." He said softly.
Michael hesitated, before shifting to slot himself between the back of the couch and Mike's body. He adjusted himself to be curled around the smaller man, with one arm and leg tucked beneath him, and the others splayed over him. He slowly relaxed, laying his head on Mikes chest, listening to his heartbeat. He tensed slightly, feeling an arm wrap around him, and a hand coming up to play with his hair.
"Is this okay, do you want to move?" Mike asked, noticing the man pressed against him still.
"No, don't move." Michael rushed, before slowing to collect his thoughts," It's nice, I'm just not used to people touching me."
Mike doesn't say anything, just plants a soft kiss to the top of Michaels head before continuing his previous movements. Michael nuzzles closer feeling the kiss, he reminds Mike of a cat. The way his body is pressing against him, so comfortable he's nearly purring. He feels Michaels body continue to relax against him, he's falling asleep Mike realizes. Oh well, he'll ask Jeremiah to take Abby for the night, she loved hanging out with him anyways. With that decided, Mike looks down at the pale man on top of him, nearly asleep now. His chest rising and falling in even breaths beneath his soft lavender shirt. It's a nice color on him, Mike decides, closing his eyes and drifting off as well.