In these types of situations, Jeremy would normally frantically try to figure out what is wrong and try his best to fix whatever it is, but instead he lazily rolled over to face Mike and held out his hand. The distraught man gladly took hold of it and squeezed firmly. Pulling himself together, he began to speak.
"You had me goin' there for a second, Jerry. Are you okay?" He asked this in all seriousness and stared long and hard into Jeremy's eyes.
"Y-yeah I'm fine. Just sleepy."
Mike let out a long, shaky sigh and began threading his fingers through the younger man's shorter hair. Jeremy wasn't sure how to respond to the touch, having never received any form of intimate touch before. He continued his inner debate on whether or not to lean into his hand until Mike's shaky voice interrupted his thoughts.
"J-Jeremy… I… I'm so sorry. I should have been there… f-for ya… I don't know what I would have d-done i-if you… you…" Mike couldn't hold the tears back any longer. The thought if losing Jeremy was too much for him and let the sobs rack his body. Jeremy was at a loss; all he could do was stare. The grip on his hand was still tight. Having no other choice, Jeremy soaked in every detail of Mike's appearance. By the looks of his heavy bags he wasn't getting any sleep, but he still looked perfect. His dark red beanie sat crooked on his head, and he was wearing sweats and a plain white tee. He must have been off today. He was still eating, though, guessing from the leftover pizza he brought. After Mike had calmed himself down, Jeremy decided to speak.
"Is that leftover pizza?"
It wasn't the best question to get a conversation going, but it was enough.
Mike chuckled and said, "Yeah. I figured we could eat lunch together. You like pepperoni?" Jeremy inwardly sighed; it was his favorite. "Yeah, I could go for some."
They ate in silence, enjoying the company of one another. Mike took small bites, eyes never straying from Jeremy's general direction. This caused Jeremy's mind to race; he was not used to this much attention. He stared back at Mike for a while, and all he could make out from his expression was relief and adoration. Relief, maybe because he hasn't died yet, and adoration… he couldn't possibly fathom any reason Mike could have for adoring him. Yet, Jeremy stared unblinking into Mike's clear cobalt eyes and something sounded from within him. It was time; he can't keep his secret any longer.
"I love you."
Mike visibly jumped, blinked, and froze like a deer in headlights. Jeremy flinched, fearing the worst, when Mike opened his mouth to speak. The young one expected to hear vulgarities, but instead heard this:
"I… I love you too, Jerry, but…"-a single tear rolled down his cheek-"Why me?" In response, Jeremy had to think. He could feel the butterflies everywhere; he was happy and excited that Mike loved him, but Mike seemed confused and frustrated. He didn't have the slightest clue as to what his question meant. Before Jeremy had the chance to respond, Mike began speaking again, taking both of Jeremy's hands.
"Jere, I don't… I mean, why did it take you almost dying for me to realize I can't live without you? You are my best friend, dammit, and I love you to death. How long have we been working together? Almost three months?" Mike took a shaky breath in to steady himself, and continued his rant, "In those three months, I came to really know you and how you complete me. But why me? Why do you love me, of all people?" Tears began streaming down his face, but kept an even tone, "Jeremy, I yelled and swore at you for being a wimp more times than I can count. I'm a horrible person, horrible and rude. But you love me? I don't deserve you, and—"
"Mike." It was Jeremy's turn to speak. He began in a soft, yet firm voice. "Do not let me hear you say that 'you don't deserve me'. Mike, we complete each other, you know that. Let me tell you why I love you." Jeremy squeezed Mike's hands in a tight grip and said, "You are so much better and so much more of a person than you think you are. You can be rude at times, but you are the kindest person I know." Mike stopped crying and stared at Jeremy, letting everything sink in like a sponge. "You never wanted me to be sad, you always made sure that I was safe and happy. You looked out for me, and I looked out for you. I made sure you were safe in return, because I have loved you since the beginning. Shouldn't that be eno—"
Mike cut him off with a gentle, but passionate kiss. Jeremy instantly responded, melting into the kiss. After what was a couple minutes of pure bliss, Mike answered his unfinished question fighting back happy tears.
"Yes, Jere, that's enough. That doesn't mean I won't treat you like I never deserved you in the first place though."
"So you're saying I'll be pampered?"
"Like fucking royalty, baby."
Jeremy in turned laughed and simply said,
"I love you Mike."
"I love you too, Jere."
Mike stood from the wooden chair and moved so that he was sitting face to face with Jeremy. He asked in barely a whisper, "Why did you wait until now to tell me that you love me?"
Utterly flustered and ashamed, Jeremy mumbled "I was scared you would hate me. I didn't know you liked me too and I was scared you wouldn't like that I liked guys instead of girls and—"
Mike silenced him with a tight hug and whispered to the frantic young man, "Jere, you should have just asked me… I'm straight as a circle, dude… been that way for years." Mike pulled away so he could look Jeremy in his no longer hidden eyes. "I could never find the right guy. Then you became my co-worker."
Embarrassed and at a loss for words, Jeremy kissed Mike.
And he kissed back.