Mike was nervous. Scratch that, he was panicked. All it took was the reality of this date-with a stranger he met barely an hour ago-dawning on him as he sat at a table across from said stranger. Bruce took him to a French restaurant, a nice place Mike wasn't used to dine in and he felt like a sore thumb sticking out with his blue jeans and hoodie.

"Are you okay?" Bruce asked, reaching for his fidgeting hand to steady it. Mike allowed the comforting touch, inhaling deeply through his nose to try to calm down.

"Y-yeah," Mike rasped out. What was wrong with him? He wasn't that nervous a few minutes ago. Perhaps he hadn't realized just how big a deal this was. This was his first in a while-he and Tina had broken up a couple of months ago-and his first date with a guy. Yes, he'd definitely taken this date a little too lightly, Mike reasoned with himself.

"You look so nervous," Bruce's lips lifted up in a light smile, his eyes looking at him endearingly. "Is this your first time on a date ever?"

"No," Mike replied, a little more confident. "It's my first date with a guy, though."

"Ah, I see," Bruce said, not letting go of Mike's hand. They'd already ordered and were in that awkward phase where they had to pass the time chatting before their meal was served. "You're having your 'Oh my God, I'm gay' freak out then, only you're not hungover and naked in bed with a stranger."

That last comment stirred a chuckle out of Mike, making him feel much lighter and serene. He saw Bruce grin at him, looking obviously pleased with himself, and returned it with a smile of his own. He could do this, Mike thought to himself. Bruce was nice enough and really easy to talk to, Mike found out.

"I don't think I'm entirely gay though," Mike said and took a sip of water. "I mean, I've never really been interested in guys before and I'm pretty sure I'm still attracted to women."

"What made you go on this date with me, then?" Bruce cocked an eyebrow, sounding genuinely curious.

"What if I said it was your hair?" Mike found himself flirting, the words slipping out so naturally it surprised him. This time he got a chuckle out of Bruce and it made Mike want to be the one who made Bruce laugh all the time. There was something about Bruce that just made him feel...comfortable, safe to be outspoken and a little freer with his choice of words. And he would be lying if he said he didn't find Bruce attractive. Right now, Bruce looked like a model taken right out of a GQ magazine cover. He may never have found himself particularly attracted to any guy before, but he was pretty certain he was attracted to Bruce at the moment.

"I'd say you have great taste," Bruce winked at him.

"In all seriousness, I think I agreed to go on this date with you because of your charm and...well, wit," Mike added.

"I always knew all these years in the debate club would pay off one day," Bruce said, earning another smile from Mike.

From this point on, as he looked into Bruce's blue eyes and intertwined their fingers together, he knew they would be all right.

They worked.