Gavin sat awkwardly in Michael's car, nervously shifting in his seat, looking down at his converse.
He wanted to make conversation, never having been one to be comfortable with silence, but for the life of him he could not think of a topic to bring up.
Michael glanced over at the lad as they paused at a red light, noticing the restless twitch in his friend's leg, and the way he was rapidly drumming his fingers nervously against the passenger door.
He did not know what exactly had occurred during lunch that caused him to want to stay with Michael rather than go home with Geoff, but when Michael had returned to the office, Gavin was curled up on Ryan's sofa, practically snuggled up into his armpit, with the older man's arm slung loosely and protectively over his shoulder. Michael had shot a questioning look at Ryan upon seeing this, but had only received a small glare and a shake of the head that clearly told him not to ask about or draw attention to Gavin's behaviour. Michael had nodded to confirm he had understood, and nipped back outside the room to warn the others not to mention anything when they entered the office. He didn't think they would be douchebags about it, but he didn't want to take the risk and have anyone upset his boy.
Eventually it became clear that Geoff was not coming back to the office. Ray had run into Joel on his way back from the bathroom, and had been informed that their boss had taken up temporary residence in Burnie's office, and apparently not spoken to anyone since lunch. Gavin had fallen asleep with his head on Ryan's lap, so the others decided not to tell him how badly Geoff was taking the situation. Ryan hadn't divulged any of what happened, but had indicated that Gavin's current mood and Geoff's disappearance were indeed linked
After about fifteen minutes of driving in awkward silence, Michael couldn't stand it anymore.
'What you wanna do Gavvers? It's Friday, so we can spend all weekend playing teh viddiya gamz!' Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Gavin jump slightly, having not expected Michael to suddenly begin talking. He looked towards Michael, chewing his lip worriedly, considering how to answer. Eventually he just shrugged.
'Whatever you want to do Michael. I don't wanna be a bother, I just...couldn't...with Geoff.' He whispered, shuddering as he tried to get rid of the images his brain was supplying of Geoff and his roughhousing taking on more sinister tones.
'C'mon Gavin, it'll be fun! We can take down some bustas on Halo, order some pizza, stay up late, braid each other's hair, paint our nails and talk about cute boys!' Michael turned to grin at Gavin, and his heart jumped a little as their eyes met and a small, shy smile spread across the lads face. Michael vowed right then and there, to whatever god, goddess or higher being that was listening, that he would do anything in his power to help Gavin return to his usual carefree, laughing, smiling self.
The rest of the ride home was filled with Michael chattering, telling Gavin amusing stories and anecdotes from his jobs before Rooster Teeth, with Gavin giggling in all the right places and even chiming in with his own comments once or twice. Michael thought his smile was going to split his face in half when Gavin doubled over in his seat, laughing uncontrollably as Michael described his method of clearing a client's blocked toilet. All in all the last leg of the journey was far more comfortable and pleasant than the first half.
Although Gavin had stayed over at Michaels many times before, he stood by the door after being ushered inside; awkwardly shifting from foot to foot, waiting for Michael's permission to fully enter the apartment. Michael rolled his eyes at him whilst firing up his xbox.
'You can come in ya know Gav, I'm not gonna bite yo-shit!' Michael cut himself up, and froze; eyes wide and locked on Gavin. He had forgotten that Geoff had mentioned that there were bite marks on Gavin's stomach and legs.
Gavin winced slightly, but stepped boldly towards Michael, snatching up the player two controller before plonking himself down in the sofa. The way he looked up at Michael was almost daring the red-head to call him out on his attitude, but internally Michael was over the moon at his boi's reaction. Externally though, he just shot a smile at him, and sat down carefully next to Gavin, making sure not to touch him- Ryan had made sure that everyone was fully aware not to touch, or attempt to touch, the Brit unless he gives his consent. So far, Ryan himself had been the only one Gavin felt comfortable enough with to let him make the first move to make physical contact with him, as Ryan had absentmindedly brushed the lad's hair out of his eyes when he eventually woke up, and had pulled the boy into a secure hug before allowing him to leave with Michael.
They grinned at each other for a few seconds, Michael feeling a rush of warmth run through him at seeing the genuine smile on Gavin's face. He had a sudden urge to reach out and take the other man's hand in his own, but suppressed it. Nothing was worth triggering a panic attack in his best friend. Also, as scrappy as he was, he did not fancy his chances against Ryan if the much taller man found out he had dismissed his warning. Instead, Michael blushed and looked away, launching them into an online Halo match. It was just the two of them and a bunch of randomers in a team death-match. Michael soon got lost in the heat of the game, yelling into his headset, cussing out anyone who dared shoot at his character, or barking expletives at members of his own team who he felt weren't pulling their weight. He didn't actually care about the outcome of the game as much as he was making out, but he could hear Gavin cracking up with laughter next to him every time he yelled out a jumbled insult. He would yell 'fuck nugget' and 'shit weasel' til his voice was horse and his face was blue, if it meant that Gavin would keep laughing.
The match ended with their team victorious. Gavin hadn't contributed to the win much, but he was having fun and to Michael; that was all that mattered. He got up, chucking his controller down onto the sofa, and stretching.
'Ima get a beer- you want in?'
Gavin let out a squeaky moan that Michal took to mean 'yes please' so stumbled out of the living room to the kitchen.
He yanked open the fridge, and tutted at the lack of options. He really needed to stock up on bevs at some point. Maybe he can convince Gavin to come shopping with him tomorrow.
Grabbing two bottles of Stella and a bottle opener from the cabinet, he returned to the living room. Gavin had started a new round, and was talking to the other players over Michael's second headset. Michael stood behind the sofa, intending to walk round and deposit the unopened beer in Gavin's lap, but he paused, noticing how Gavin's hands were shaking holding the controller.
'I...I'm sorry...I'll be...be better' Gavin was whispering.
Michael frowned, and instead dropped into his seat and pulled his own headset on to try and catch what was being said.
'-ttle faggot, youre fucking useless Gavinofree! Where'd your buddy go? He was a fucking nut job, but at least he helped us win the round, not like you, you useless fucking cunt! Are you even trying, or just sitting around waiting to get your ass raped? Worthless fucking fag-'
Michael ripped the headsets off of both his and Gavin's heads, furious. He launched them across the room; not caring in the slightest when one hit the wall and cracked.
'FUCKING ASSHOLE JERK-OFF! WHO THE FUCK DOES HE THINK HE IS? WHERE DOES HE FUCKING GET OFF BEING SUCH A FUCKING FUCKER, HUH!? ASSHOLES PROBABLY A FUCKING 28 YEAR OLD VIRGIN LIVING IN HIS MOMMAS BASEMENT, JERKING OFF TO PORN EVERY NIGHT CUZ HE CANT GET A REAL LIFE PERSON TO TOUCH HIS FUCK UGLY, TINY ASS MICRO DICK!' Michael raged, storming around the room, slamming both controllers aggressively in their places on his entertainment system and yanking the cables out of his Xbox, not giving a fuck if it damaged the console or not.
'I...I'm sorry...Michael.' Gavin whimpered, curling into a ball on the couch, close to tears.
Michael whipped round
'SORRY? What the FUCK have YOU got to be sorry about?' He lent down, grabbing Gavin roughly by the shoulders and shaking him slightly, desperate to get him to understand.
'It is NOT your fault Gavin. NONE of this is your fault! There are just some fucking disgusting, sick people in the world who get off on causing pain to others. Some people just need to be fucking shot in the head. I swear to fucking GOD, if I ever get my hands on the fucker, he will wish his mother never gave birth to him!'
They looked at each other, both aware that Michael was no longer talking about the Halo guy.
Michael was shaking with the effort of trying to suppress his rage, as he could now see that his outburst had terrified the other lad, and that Gavin was also trembling under his fingers. He relaxed his grip and stood up to sit back on the sofa, ashamed of his lack of control.
'I'm sorry Gav...I just...yeah' He rubbed the back of his neck uncomfortably.
Gavin nodded, looking intently at the carpet.
Both lads sat without talking. The silence in the room was only broken by Gavin sniffing, desperately trying to stop the tears that still threatened to fall.
Again, it was Michael who couldn't take the tension.
'Do you wanna order a pizza?'
Gavin looked up confused, and the two made eye contact. Michael couldn't help put let out a soft chuckle at the absurdity of the situation. Gavin cracked a wonky smile, and suddenly the two were doubled over, barks and shrieks of laughter erasing the negative atmosphere completely. When they regained their composure, Gavin wiping his eyes as tears of mirth rolled down his face, Michael grabbed the pizza menu, and ordered their usual meat feasts.
When their pizzas arrived ('My treat for being such a mong earlier, Gavvers!') they put on some crappy Netflix animated family film, both of them taking the piss out of the voice acting and twee characters, neither really paying attention to the plot, just soaking in the comfortable warmth of each other's company.
When Gavin started to yawn, Michael found him an over-sized T-shirt to sleep in, and insisted that he take the double bed, and he-Michael- would take the camp bed and set it up in the living room.
After an exchange of 'goodnight' and 'sweet dreams' and 'seriously get the fuck to bed before I change my mind and make YOU crash on the sofa', the men snuggled down under their respective bed covers. Michael quietly listened, straining his ears, until Gavin stopped turning and shifting in his bed, and his breathing evened out as he drifted into sleep. Only when he was sure that his boi was safely asleep, did Michael allow himself to be lulled into unconsciousness.
M'kay so this was gonna be one HUGE chapter, but due to the length being so wildly different to the other chapters, I've split it into 2 parts. Part 2 will be up when I've finished tweaking it