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It didn't bother him. It really didn't. It doesn't matter that who he thought was the girl of his dreams turned out to be more best friend material and she wasn't interested in dating and their one date was a nightmare. It didn't bother him. It doesn't matter.
Jeremy huffed and turned over, burying himself further into the cocoon of blankets surrounding him. Beside him, Michael was peacefully asleep, soft features relaxed - visible even in the dim bedroom, the lack of glasses showing off usually obscured details. The small scar on his nose from when he scratched himself on a chain link fence in Middle school, discoloured tissue a stark contrast to tan skin. Eyelashes so long and pretty Jeremy was almost jealous, easier to notice without grimy lenses covering them.
Michael had come over almost as soon as Jeremy had called, bursting through the front door (but stopping it before it hit the wall because Mr. Heere was still asleep) and fussing over Jeremy with a crushing hug and a bottle of Mountain Dew red, warm brown eyes filled with concern.
He had been so patient with Jeremy, keeping his arms wrapped around him as he recounted his terrible date; reacting at all the right times and keeping one hand grasped in his in a grounding gesture. Gingerly wiping away his tears when he was done and whispering reassurances in his ear. Gently guiding him upstairs to his room and into bed, kindly reminding him to remove his binder before falling asleep.
Jeremy didn't deserve this. This care, this attention, this… love.
Michael was too good to him. Michael, who put up with him for twelve whole years. Michael, who stuck by him even after Jeremy abandoned him. Michael, who came over at eleven in the night to comfort him after a breakup. Michael, who stayed over because he was worried. Michael, who was now awake and looking right at him.
Oh.
Michael raised a hand to place it on Jeremy’s face, palm soothing and warm against his cold, freckled cheek. “Can’t sleep?” he whispered, voice hoarse with sleep which for some reason sent a shiver down Jeremy’s spine. “Is it the Squip?” he asked, brown eyes attentive and concerned.
“No” Jeremy answered truthfully, the supercomputer had gone quiet after a sip of Red, but Jeremy’s own conscience seemed to be a fitting replacement for toxic comments and self depreciation. “Just can’t sleep”.
Michael shuffled closer on the mattress, his leg brushing Jeremy’s own which inexplicably made the paler boy’s face heat up with a blush.
“Anything I can do to help?”
“Not really, my brain is just.. Being really loud”.
Michael hummed noncommitedly and reached out to grab Jeremy’s hand with his own, fiddling with his fingers. Jeremy made no move to stop him. “Whatcha thinkin’ about?” Michael asked after a few moments of silence.
“I don't know, Christine, me, Squip stuff, you.”
Michael smiled at the last admission “Only good things I hope?”.
“Michael you are made purely out of good things there’s literally nothing else to think about”.
“Not true but thank you” he laughed.
“Very true” Jeremy argued “You’re literally the greatest person ever”.
“I think that title belongs to you actually” Michael teased, eyes twinkling with mirth.
“As if” Jeremy responded bitterly “Everything about me is…”
Terrible Terrible Terrible Terrible TerribleTerribleTerrible
“Is what?” Michael asks, his brows furrowed in concern. Oh no. Jeremy’s ruined the banter and the fun by being terrible. Everything about him is so-
“Terrible” he mutters before he can stop himself.
Michael’s eyes widened in response.“What!?” He whispers, he sounds furious, the anger in his tone causes Jeremy to flinch.
Michael seems to notice because his voice is impossibly soft as he says “Hey, hey, sorry about that, can you look at me?”. A hand gently holds Jeremy’s chin, turning his face forward. Scared blue eyes lock onto worried brown ones.
“None of that, okay? You’re my best friend, you’re amazing. You’re funny and talented and so, so sweet. You’ve made my life better for the past decade and you mean so much to me, okay? You are the furthest thing from terrible, you’re Jeremy freaking Heere and I love you so much”.
Jeremy’s not sure what it is. Maybe it’s the heartfelt speech, maybe it’s the fond look in his best friend’s eyes, maybe it’s the affection laced in his voice, maybe it’s the emotional backlash from the day he’s had, maybe it’s sleep deprivation. Whatever the reason for it, Jeremy Heere leans forward and presses his lips to Michael’s in a desperate kiss.
For a moment, it’s electric, until he notices that Michael had gone stiff against him, Jeremy is about to pull away and apologise when there’s a sudden pressure against his mouth, making him gasp, and Michael starts kissing him back.
It’s messy and sloppy and tear-filled. Neither of them have much experience kissing people, it’s the early hours of the morning and they’re both tired and emotional but it’s them, It’s Jeremy and Michael, and the thought of that alone has Jeremy gasping for air as he pulls away.
They stare at each other for a second as they catch their breath, sky blue and chocolate brown studying the other for a trace of hesitancy, of regret. There isn't any. Jeremy barely has a second to react before Michael leans in to seal their lips together again.
The second kiss was more gentle than the first, warm lips sliding against each other in tandem. Something warm and content settled in Jeremy’s gut as Michael tilted his head to deepen the kiss, pulling Jeremy impossibly closer, a hand still caressing his face while the other found its way to brown curls, carding through them in a mesmerising rhythm.
They’re not sure how long they lay there kissing, but it’s enough to make Jeremy feel light and fuzzy and breathless, staring into Michael’s eyes. His lips are red and Jeremy feels a thrill at the sight because he did that .
They’d have to talk about this, later in the morning. When they’re properly awake. But for now, with Michael’s arms wrapped around him, his comforting smell filling his nostrils, Jermey is perfectly content to just lay in bed with his favourite person after a long day.