Chapter Text
"Wakey, wakey," comes Michael's raspy morning voice against the ticklish spot at the back of Luke's neck. Luke makes an unintelligible sound in response. Outside, the rain is coming down hard against the roof and windows, the rush of the water lulling Luke back into unconsciousness. Michael nudges him gently, and Luke makes a noise of displeasure, high in his throat, still not fully awake.
"Shut up," Luke says into his pillow, sleepily rolling the two words into one.
"You shut up," Michael says reflexively. Then, "Hey, you didn’t drool on my pillow last night, that's a first. Nice one, Luke."
"Shut up," Luke says a little clearer now he's conscious, shoving at him.
"God, that was weak," Michael says after a moment. Luke's eyes open just so he can roll them. He turns onto his back away from Michael in a show of annoyance that's so obviously fake, he wonders why he even bothered.
He's quitting his job today. Probably the most impulsive thing he's ever decided to do. Yes, it's a terrible place with terrible people (save for Ashton), but it's all he's ever known and taking this chance has his anxiety levels at an all time high.
More than half of his anxiety can be attributed to knowing that he's going to have to hand in his letter of resignation to his incredibly terrifying boss at some point today. It's enough to make him want to slide his eyes closed again and go back to sleep. If he just stopped coming in, they'd get the message, wouldn't they?
"Luke," Michael says again. Luke groans.
"Who even are you. Aren't I usually the one that has to force you out of bed?"
"First time for everything," Michael hums. Luke notices for the first time the cautious tone of voice he's been using and figures Michael's wondering where his head is at.
Luke isn't too sure himself.
"He doesn't even yell," Luke tells the ceiling, rubbing his eyes to wake himself up. "He just talks at you, picks you apart, makes you feel shitty. Then he thanks you for coming and tells you to close the door on your way out." Luke's only ever had one experience with his boss, way back when he first started at he'd made some dire mistake that would take the rest of the day to fix. He calls it an 'experience', when really it was more of an extended panic attack.
Ashton had let him cry into his shoulder when he came back from his office.
"Mr Plaza?" Michael asks, tucking a lock of Luke's hair behind his ear.
"Yeah," Luke mumbles. He'd forgotten his demon of a boss even had a name.
Michael's quiet for a minute.
"Luke – you don't have to do this if you don't want to, you know that, right?"
Luke stretches, chest arching out, and looks up at Michael.
"What, you don't want me working with you anymore?" He asks, resting back on the bed.
Michael nods. "Thought about it, and it actually sounds like hell, so. Dealing with you at home and at work? Hard pass. And you'd be working for me, not with me, get it right."
"Oh I see, this is all one big power trip to you. You into being the boss, Michael?" Luke leers at him.
"Oh yeah. All ties in with this whole underlying BDSM fetish I have."
"I'm into that," Luke tells him, voice low.
"Yeah?"
"Yeah."
"Most people are, until they hear it also includes a pretty major piss kink."
Luke's lips twitch. "I love piss," he says, face straight. Michael cracks up, body shaking with it, and shoves Luke away. "Go get ready for work, weirdo."
"Not until you kiss me again," Luke says, batting Michael's hands away, grinning when he sees him attempt to hide the smile spreading across his face.
"Keep your lips to yourself," Michael says, intertwining his fingers with Luke's and pulling him closer, "slut."
"Just need a confirmation I didn't dream it," Luke tells him.
"You could never dream up how great of a kisser I am. You one-hundred percent sure about quitting?"
"One hundred and one percent," Luke tells him.
"Now, as an accountant, I'd expect you to know that's not possible."
"Shut up," Luke mumbles, and promptly sticks his tongue in Michael's mouth.
There's a moment before Michael reacts, and then he pulls Luke closer, a strong hand at the small of his back. Luke whimpers a little and Michael growls a little and then it's just grabbing hands and sliding lips and tongue and Luke pulling himself into Michael's lap, straddling his legs, the feeling of the skin of their bare thighs against each other making Luke's stomach clench. There's only two layers between them – Luke's dick twitches in acknowledgment of that.
Michael's hands squeeze Luke's ass through the fabric of his underwear, and Luke moans into Michael's mouth. Michael's lips stretch into a smile, and Luke's just about to try to get him to slip his hands into his boxers and touch him properly when he pulls away slowly.
"You're gonna be late," Michael says softly, running his nose along Luke's jaw while Luke pants and thinks about how unfair life can be.
"When I get home–"
"Definitely," Michael agrees.
X
Luke arrives at work with his kiss-swollen lips stretched into a dopey grin. Ashton's there before him. Of course. His all-knowing eyes narrow as Luke walks in.
"You gotta give up those lip-enhancers, buddy," Ashton says as Luke sinks into his desk chair. "They're not good for you."
"Hilarious," Luke monotones.
"So you and Michael huh?" Ashton teases, sitting back in his chair. There's a silent 'told ya so' in his voice and Luke doesn’t like it.
"All we did was kiss," he tells him, just to see him deflate, if only a little. "Some people," he adds pointedly, eyeing the fresh hickeys on Ashton's neck, "like to take things slow," he tells him, as if the fact that Michael hasn't been in him as of yet sits well with him in any way.
Ashton laughs humourlessly, rolling his eyes.
"Of course, Luke, you're right. Taking things slow can be very important when it comes to making big decisions, like for example leaving your job and going to work for your new boyfriend." Luke's mouth drops open. Ashton folds his arms. "Michael called."
"Shit, Ash, I'm sorry," Luke says, wheeling his chair over to him. Ashton is theatrically not looking at him. Luke frowns. "Ash, look at me. I'm sorry, it was all just decided yesterday, I swear. You know I wouldn't not-tell you on purpose. I won't even go if you don't want me to –"
"Don't be ridiculous," Ashton rolls his eyes. "Of course you're going to go, working here is hell. Go try something new, you deserve it." Ashton sounds mad at having to come out of his sulk prematurely. Luke rolls himself in closer and rests his head against Ashton's shoulder.
"You're the best."
"Yeah, yeah."
"Keep saying nice things to me," he mumbles.
"Idiot," Ashton sighs. Luke smacks his arm lightly and sits up. "Have you talked to Mr Plaza?" Ashton asks. Luke shakes his head, anxiety settling in his stomach just at the mention of his boss' name.
"No."
"Are you ready to?" He asks softly.
"No," Luke sighs.
"Just make eye contact, tell him you're leaving, then get out of there as fast as you can. Deep breaths. Michael told me to make sure you don't faint when he called, so try not to do that either."
Luke snorts, rolling his chair back to his desk and picking up the envelope sitting on it. He stands up. "Thanks, Ash. If you hear loud, ugly, crying, it's me."
"His office is three floors up."
"Yeah but that's how loud I'll be crying," Luke sighs, pained. Ashton snorts.
"You'll be fine."
"Let's hope so." Luke mutters. "And Michael's not my 'new boyfriend', we just kissed for the first time yesterday, God,"
"That's what you're taking away from all of this?" Ashton says, before throwing a pen at him and telling him to get out. Luke dodges it, laughing and scurrying to the elevator.
X
"Well, he wasn't happy," Luke says, sitting at the island as Michael pours him some wine after work. "But 's not like he could do anything about it. My mind was made up just had to deal with it." Luke folds his arms.
Michael looks at Luke as he sets his wine glass in front of him. "You cried, didn't you?"
"Yeah but not 'til I was out of his office," Luke grumbles, deflating a little. Michael laughs, pulling him gently against his side. "He's fucking scary, Michael," Luke says, leaning into Michael more than he necessarily needs to, his head resting in the crook of his neck. Michael smells like fabric softener and the cologne that he sprays on every morning after his shower. Luke wants to bury his face in his chest and just inhale.
"I know, baby," Michael soothes. Luke's heart stutters in his chest at the pet name. "You can forget about him now, yeah? From now, 's just you and me, okay?" Michael says. It makes Luke feel warm inside to be taken care of for once, to have someone worrying on his behalf and trying to solve his problems with him. It makes for a change to not even two months ago, when he'd wake up feeling like he had to carry the weight of the world on his shoulders. These days, he feels so much lighter.
"Yeah," Luke breathes after a moment. He can't even find it in him to add an 'are you trying to make me feel worse?' and ruin the moment. He likes Michael. He really likes him. It's been relatively easy to act like he was the most infuriating, admittedly attractive person on earth and fuck with his things and make him spend an extra dollar on milk every week just to piss him off, but he's way too weak to refrain from admitting the truth to himself now. He likes him so much it hurts sometimes, and he doesn't know what he did to deserve Michael actually liking him back.
Michael's hand strokes slowly over Luke's back, shoulder to shoulder. Luke swallows – he looks up at Michael to find Michael already looking down at him. Michael's hand against his back feels like it's slowly burning his skin all of a sudden, as it comes up to curl loosely around the back of Luke's neck. Luke shivers, their eye contact slowly growing almost magnetic with the pull of it, like it's only a matter of time before Michael uses the hand at the back of Luke's neck to pull him in and –
There's a jangling of keys at the door and then Calum strolls in, Ashton on his heels. Luke's initial instinct is to jerk away from Michael like he's been caught doing something he shouldn't but this is his house goddammit.
"How the hell did you get a key?" Luke ask, confused more than anything, but Ashton, completely undeterred by the near-murderous expression in Luke's face, has already gotten his phone out to take a picture of Michael with his arm around Luke. As he does so, Calum coos at them.
"Well isn't that just adorable. Bless their hearts."
"Aren't they the cutest things?" Ashton agrees. Michael, sighing loudly, squeezes Luke's shoulder softly in apology before letting him go.
"Gave Calum a key back when I moved in, in case I lost mine, not so he could just wander in whenever he wants," Michael tells him, flicking the back of Calum's head as he walks by them.
"We had to come over to celebrate Luke freeing himself from Satan Incorporated," Calum defends himself, wandering over to pick up Luke's wine glass and sipping out of it. Luke rolls his eyes, but figures from experience that there's no way they're gonna get Ashton and Calum to leave their house until they're absolutely ready to go.
"Have you two only got beer?" Ashton says, disgusted, as he looks through in their fridge. "Some bartender you are, Michael."
"All my stuffs at the new bar. Moved them in there while Luke was at work," Michael says slowly, a grin slowly spreading over his face as all three of them turn to stare at him in response.
There's a silence. Calum even stops stealing sips out of Luke's wine to blink at Michael in shock. Michael has this mischievous smile on his face.
"You fucking didn't," Luke breathes.
"Surprise," Michael grins.
"Oh my God, you didn't even tell me you got the loan, not to talk of leasing the bar, that's amazing!" Calum yells.
"You already got it?" Luke asks, incredulous.
"This afternoon. Wanted it to be a surprise," Michael smiles. Luke's never wanted to kiss a man so much in his whole life.
He's changing the locks as soon as possible - fuck being interrupted.
"None of that, Lucas, put your dick away," Ashton calls, catching the look on Luke's face. Luke flips him off, and Ashton grins at him. Right," Ashton says, clapping Michael on the back. "Lead the way, Michael, let's go get drunk at your new bar then."
'S not even furnished yet," Michael laughs.
"But there's alcohol there?"
"But it doesn't even have any –"
"Michael," Calum says, exasperated. "If there's alcohol there, then we're going there."
It's really that simple.
X
They end up playing a rather sexual game of Never Have I Ever and Calum nearly fucking dies of alcohol poisoning.
"Guys this isn't fair," he wheedles after having to tip back yet another shot. Michael wasn't kidding about the lack of furniture so they all end up sitting on the ground, leaning against the bar while Ashton's spotify playlist plays on in the background. "I've had to drink for every round so far, can we play a different game?"
"Not our fault you're a slut," Ashton hums. The word visibly does something to Calum, who inhales sharply, making Luke wails in disgust.
"You two are so gross," he groans, having been subjected to a lot more information about their sex lives than he honest thinks he deserves. "I regret everything."
"Not our fault the kinkiest thing you've ever done is masturbate twice in one night," Calum says, immediately high-fiving Ashton afterwards.
"Hey," Michael says, pulling Luke against him by way of comfort. "We don't all have the sex drive of an actual rabbit. Luke's just a little inexperienced, there's nothing wrong with that."
"I am not," Luke protests, shoving at Michael. He doesn't understand how every single person here has drank so much more than he has. At the point where Ashton had come out with Never have I ever used an object not meant for sex during sex and everyone had drank but him, he had come to the conclusion that everyone had to be fucking lying.
Demanding an explanation (and getting 'electric toothbrush', 'a hair brush handle' and 'a spatula', respectively, in reply) had arguably made things worse.
Eventually Calum crawls into Ashton's lap and falls asleep chest to chest with his legs wrapped around Ashton's middle and his head rested on his shoulder. Even though they disgust Luke more than words can explain, he has to admit they're cute. They figure they've all drank more than enough and decide to lock up the bar as best as they can in their respective states and call it a night.
They get Ubers home. Luke climbs in first, followed by Michael and Ashton gets into a different one with Calum. As soon as the driver confirms where they're going, Michael's breath comes hot against Luke's neck. Before Luke can even think of something to say, he's sucking a bruise into the sensitive skin below his ear. Luke hisses, too drunk to catch the way the Uber driver pointedly turns the volume of the radio up.
Michael drags his teeth against the mark, flicks his tongue against it. Luke's breath comes in fast pants – apparently, his penis is not familiar with the term 'whiskey dick' because he's leaking in his boxers. Michael leans up to run his tongue against the shell of Luke's ear before whispering "this okay?" Luke nods quickly and Michael laughs quietly, this low chuckle that rings in Luke's ears and goes straight to his cock.
Michael marks him up so good, so so good. Luke head is tipped back, exposing his neck to him, his hand tight on his shoulder, holding him close until the car stops and Michael's opening the door and getting them both out. Luke is reminded just how wasted he is when he nearly falls over the second he's upright. He giggles, leaning against Michael, who supports most of his bodyweight easily.
The second they're in the apartment, Michael leads Luke into the bedroom. Luke turns his head to kiss him but Michael pulls back a little, eyeing him closely.
"Maybe we shouldn't 'til we're sober," Michael says carefully.
"No," Luke wails, "Michael, we have to–"
"Luke, your eyes are literally sliding shut. You're gonna pass out while my dick's in you, I don't want to do that to us," Michael says, laughing despite himself. Luke groans, flopping back onto the bed.
"But I want to," he says, fingers fumbling with the buttons on his shirt unsuccessfully while Michael laughs. Michael's a terrible person and Luke hates him.
"When we're sober, I promise."
"We're never gonna do it," Luke whines. "I've been trying to get your dick in me since you moved in, I've suffered long enough."
"Since I moved in?" Michael laughs, staring down at Luke, eyes shining with something Luke can't read.
"I think every time I've jerked off since I met you, I thought about you in some way or another."
"Oh yeah? Michael says, crawling over Luke's body, and not helping the situation in Luke's pants in the slightest. "Well, sometimes, when you'd sleep in my bed – which is every night – I'd get hard just from your body pressed against me and need to go get off in the bathroom."
Luke groans in agony, cursing very single shot he took. "God that's hot. Can't we just –"
"Luke, you can't even sit up properly, babe," Michael tells him.
"Tomorrow?" He asks as Michael lays next to him. Michael nods, patting Luke's stomach re-assuringly.
"Tomorrow," he tells him.
They fall asleep fully dressed, shoes still on.
When Luke wakes up in the morning, Michael's gone. He makes a joke to himself in his head about a one night stand without the sex.
He's also in just his boxers and actually under the blankets, which means Michael stripped him and tucked him in before he left. Luke smiles to himself.
There's a note on the bedside table.
Good morning. Gone to the bar, most of the furniture's being delivered today. Come round when you wake up, I was thinking you could start today x
X
When Luke gets to the bar, its nearly completely unrecognizable to the bar they spent last night in. There are booths being installed, as well as actual bar stools at the bar and refrigerators and pumps behind it for the drinks. Michael's sat on a stool looking brilliantly proud .
Luke walks over to sit next to him. "I'm proud of you," he says softly.
Michael smiles, taking Luke's hand in his own at him. "Let me show you your office," he tells him, getting up and leading Luke into a back room.
The office is spacious, about the size of Luke's old one but better because he has it to himself. There's a large desk at the wall furthest from the door, with a computer set up on it. A shelf hangs on the wall next to it with empty binders and notepads for Luke to use, next to which is a large window.
Michael's talking about some accounts that need to be balanced but Luke's mind is pre-occupied with thoughts of how that desk is just high enough for him to lean over while Michael fucks him. He's had enough, to be honest. He's about to tell Michael as much when his phone rings.`Michael picks it up and Luke sighs loudly, going to sit on the desk.
Michael's formerly relaxed expression twists into a frown and he says, "Calum, calm down – tell me again, slowly." He pauses for a long time and Luke listens in but all he can hear is what seems to be Calum's speed-talking, sounding distressed.
Eventually, Michael tells him, "Okay, okay. I'll be there in a minute," before hanging up.
"Is everything okay?" Luke asks him.
Michael sighs loudly, pocketing his phone. "Calum broke up with Ashton just now. They had a big fight about it and Calum's upset."
Luke stands up. "What do you mean, they broke up? Calum adores Ashton."
"Well, yeah, but he doesn't adore commitment." Michael scrubs a hand over his face. "Said he woke up to Ashton making him pancakes and the domesticity of it all freaked him out, so he broke up with him on the spot."
"God," Luke mutters, heart breaking for his friend. "Poor Ash. I told him about Cal, about him being – the way he is, but he was adamant."
"What do you mean, 'the way he is?'" Michael asks, seeming to bristle slightly. Luke notices the subtle sharpness of his tone, but his friends just been dumped out of nowhere and he can't act like that's perfectly fine.
"Just like you said back when we all first met. Calum's constant stream of one-night-stands? I mean, he obviously wasn't ready for an actual relationship, and that's what I told Ash–"
"Well maybe Ash should've listened, and then we wouldn't have Calum calling me yelling about Ashton literally refusing to take him at his word when he says it's over."
Luke folds his arms, incredulous. "What are you talking about? Both you and I thought Calum and Ashton were actually going to go somewhere with this, you can't blame Ashton for believing in what they had."
"He knew, Luke. He's my friend too, but he knew what he was getting into. I can't blame him for hoping, but it's his fault for thinking he might be different from the others."
Luke blinks at Michael. "That's fucking cold and you know it."
Michael sighs again, then turns on his heel. "I'm gonna go help Calum out. All the stuff you need should be in one of those drawers – I'll be back in an hour." With that, he's gone taking all the warmth Luke's been feeling with him lately with him.
The argument, however small, leaves the room feeling cold, as if things are already getting bad before they've even really gotten good. Luke sits down stiffly and gets to work.