Mike's car, bots and luggage in tow, glided through Wisconsin towards Osseo. "Um, Mike? Are we there yet?" asked Crow. Tom was asleep in his car seat – snoring quietly. "Nearly honey, just another half hour," said Mike, concentrating on the road. "It looks like a scene from "Manos": The Hands of Fate," said Crow, half-bitterly and half-jokingly in regards to the less than exciting scenery from the car window. He got nearly no reaction. He repeated himself, breaking the silence. "Yes, Crow we heard you," said Mike distractedly. "Hey Tom!" said Crow, and he stretched his arm to tap his brother. "Tom! Tom!" he nagged. "Huh?" said Tom, as he was waking slowly. "What is it Crow?" Crow started giggling. "It looks like a scene from "Manos": The Hands of Fate!" Tom sighed and went back to sleep.
"Hey guys! We're here!" exclaimed Mike with a smile. "Servo! Wake up!"
"Hey everybody!" said Joel as emerged from the door of his apartment building. "Joel! Good to see ya!" said Crow as he lowered himself from the backseat of the car. Mike unstrapped Tom from his car seat. Joel strode over to his friends. "Good to see you too Crow, hey there buddy." He walked round to the back of the car where Mike was unloading the trunk. Joel stood there awkwardly in front of Mike, not sure whether to go in for a hug. Mike went for one anyway, causing Joel to blush. "Missed ya man," whispered Mike.
"Right, Tom and Crow, your sharing this room in here," said Joel, showing the bots and Mike around his apartment. "Uh, great Joel," said Crow sarcastically. Mike rolled his eyes. "Does Mike have to share with us?" asked Crow, "it doesn't look big enough."
"Mike's sleeping on the floor in my room," said Joel calmly. "Who wants Chinese takeout tonight?"
"Me! Me! Me!" said the bots in unison, and they started bouncing on the mattresses in their room.
With the food eaten, Joel, Mike and the bots sat down to watch some TV. Joel and Mike sat on either end, while Crow sat in the middle, Tom sat on Mike's lap. Crow had put himself in charge of the remote, and was almost frantically flipping channels. Tom let out a small burp. "Guess you ate your food too fast buddy?" said Joel. Suddenly, Crow said, loudly: "Joe Don Baker is Mittens, he's a cop!" Joel turned from Tom to the TV. "Oh no…" uttered Joel. Mitchell was being shown. "Crow, honey, do you not want to watch something else?" asked Joel. "Nah, there's nothing else on," said Crow. "Crow. No," said Tom. "C'mon guys! I haven't seen this movie before," said Mike. Everyone else groaned. "But Mike, it's Joe Don Baker, you're not missing much," said Tom. "Well… I guess it could be fun to recollect?" said Joel, trying to brighten the situation. The bots and Joel suddenly started chanting "waka-jo-waka" and they continued on with the movie.
"My-my-my-my-Mitchell," sang Joel and the bots as the credits started to roll. "Well there it is Mike, we can't say we didn't warn you," said Tom. "And to think that that was the last bad movie I had to sit through," said Joel, "makes you think don't it?"
"Tom, Crow, you should probably go to bed," said Mike, breaking the silence. "Mike's right guys," Joel agreed, "off to bed." Crow and Tom silently went to their room and Crow closed the door, leaving Mike and Joel alone. "You still alright to sleep with me?" asked Joel, Mike laughed nervously in reply. "Damn it, not like that, you know what I mean," Joel said quickly, his cheeks going slightly pink. "Shame," said Mike with a wink, also blushing. "Well, I'm going to check on the bots, see that they're settled and all," said Joel excusing himself.
Mike was putting a brush through his hair as Joel walked into the bedroom. "How're they doing?" asked Mike. "Uh, yeah they're fine, Tom asked me if he could assess my dreams when I wake up?" said Joel with a yawn. "Oh yeah, that's his thing at the moment," explained Mike. "Well, better get into bed I suppose," he said, getting up off of the floor, and shuffling over to the air-bed in the corner. Pulling back the cover, he discovered a problem. "Um, Joel?" he said, "I think this bed has got a puncture, maybe I should sleep on the couch?"
"Nah man it's cool, you could double up with me if you want," suggested Joel in a friendly tone. "Only if you want to though," he added quickly. "It looks like it's going to be that way," said Mike with a chuckle. He lay down on the right hand side of the bed, and absentmindedly watched Joel strip down to his t-shirt and briefs. He climbed into bed next to Mike. They lay silent for a few minutes. "It's weird y'know?" said Joel. "What?" asked Mike. "Mitchell I mean, like, that was my last day on the Satellite of Love, and I didn't even know it," explained Joel, "and you helped me escape, only for you to get blasted up there and have to deal with everything."
"At least you left the bots there for me," said Mike reassuringly, "without them I would have gone mad."
"I know man," said Joel, "I just feel kinda bad that I escaped and you had to replace me." Mike propped himself up. "Look Joel, you had no choice in the matter, I likely would have had to go even I didn't help you." Joel turned to look at Mike, "I suppose you're right." Before either knew what was happening, Mike kissed Joel on the forehead. "Oh God, I am so sorry," said Mike quickly, flushed bright red in the darkness. "Hey it's okay," said Joel with a slight laugh. He then leant over and gave Mike a kiss between the brows. Mike sighed heavily, slowly, "What just happened?" he asked after some time. "I'm not sure either," said Joel, echoing that with nervous laughter. "Oh boy. I am confused."
"You're not the only one," said Mike quietly. "I say we get to sleep and see this if this makes sense in the morning," said Joel, as he made himself comfortable for the night.
At 5 am the next morning, Mike woke up. He opened his eyes slowly, and saw Joel's sleeping face next to his. Last night's conversation and kiss were running through his mind. "I've always had kind of a crush on him, or was it just a strong feeling of friendship? Is he just humouring me? Is he even gay? Am I gay? What do I do now? Should I wake him and ask him? No, no, no, he'll have to wake up sometime." Ten minutes later, Joel was still sleeping and Mike was still restless. Mike started coughing loudly to "accidently" wake Joel up. His eyes opened slowly. "Hi Mike," he said "do you need a drink of water?"
"What went on last night?" Mike said quickly. Joel looked taken a back. "We were talking, and then you kissed me, and I kissed you. That's all," said Joel putting his head back on his pillow. "What did it mean?" Mike asked nervously. "Whatever you want it to Mike, dig it," said Joel with a slight laugh. Mike giggled, "I guess I always have admired you." Joel looked at him sleepily and smiled. "Sorry," added Mike. "There's nothing to be sorry about buddy, don't worry," said Joel softly, "Now I'm going back to sleep."