Penultimate Chapter
Mike and Micky were literally unable to keep their hands off of each other in the days that followed. Both men had a new lust for life - and for each other - and they found themselves having sex whenever the mood took them - which was pretty much all the time.
Micky was blissfully happy. He'd spent the previous day with his daughter and he and Samantha were even discussing Ami staying over at his house now that he had completely recovered from his surgery. Micky couldn't believe the turn-around he'd made in his life over the past couple of months, and he was so entirely grateful for everything that was finally going right for him.
Micky was hanging out at home while Mike was out at a car convention. Micky found himself so cheerful that even doing household chores was enjoyable, and he stood at the kitchen sink washing some dishes with a huge great smile on his face.
Micky had a record playing loudly in the next room and he found himself singing along happily as he did the washing up. Suddenly, catching him completely off guard, he felt a pair of hands snake around his waist from behind.
"Hello." Mike purred.
Micky jumped in surprise, his hands splashing in the water. "Jesus!" He yelled, looking behind him to see Mike laughing guiltily. "You almost gave me a heart attack!"
"I'm sorry." Mike said, kissing the side of Micky's neck. "I didn't mean to scare ya, but you looked so cute singin' along while doin' the dishes."
Micky turned around, scooping some bubbles from the sink and blowing them at Mike playfully. "You scared me. You're such a meany."
"I'm sorry." Mike said again - although he looked as if he was trying hard not to laugh.
Mike was soon forgiven. "I didn't think I'd see you until this evening." Micky said, slinging his arms around the taller man's neck. "Did the convention stink or something?"
Mike took hold of Micky's hips. "No, the convention was good. I was just really distracted."
"Distracted? By what?" Micky wondered innocently.
Mike smiled. "By you."
Micky frowned. "But I wasn't even there?"
"I was still thinking about ya." Mike pulled Micky a little closer to him.
"Oh yeah?" Micky asked as a smile spread across his lips.
"Yeah," Mike nodded. "All those beautiful cars and all I could think about was how I wanted to fuck you in the backseat."
Micky's mouth fell open in amused-surprise, and he hit Mike on the arm playfully. "You're so naughty!" He laughed. "I thought I was supposed to be the naughty one."
"Well you are." Mike hit back, a playful glint in his eye. "It's your fault I'm like this. You're a bad influence on me."
Micky giggled. "I am not!"
"You are too." Mike teased. "You're trouble. And you were almost trouble for my bank balance too."
"How?!" Micky laughed.
"Because I almost bought this seriously expensive car just because I thought about how good you'd look sprawled out over the bonnet." Mike replied. He was keeping a straight face, but his eyes were giving him away.
"Oh my god." Micky laughed. "You're terrible."
"You love it though." Mike smirked as Micky flung his arms around his neck again. "It's the effect you have on me, baby."
"Is that right?" Micky giggled. "So you think you can just turn up and try your chances with me, do you?"
"Is that a problem..?" Mike asked, pressing his pelvis against Micky's.
"No," Micky shook his head vigorously. "Just as long as you get me upstairs now."
"I think I can settle for that." Mike smirked.
Mike grabbed hold of Micky's hand and started dragging him through the kitchen. Before they'd even reached the kitchen door, Mike paused.
"You know what?" Mike asked, turning to Micky and grabbing the front of his shirt. "I don't have time for goin' all the way upstairs."
Before Micky could respond, Mike slammed their lips together, pushing Micky backwards until he hit the kitchen table. Micky felt a rush throughout his body from the tips of his toes right up into his skull.
Micky pushed Mike away from him playfully. "You wanna fuck me on the kitchen table, huh?" He asked, placing his hands on the table top behind him and pulling himself up onto it.
"Is that alright?" Mike flirted as Micky grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled the Texan between his legs.
"What do you think?" Micky asked. He fisted Mike's hair and pulled him into a furious, passion-filled kiss.
Mike's hands slid down the back of Micky's loose-fitting linen trousers while Micky's fingers went straight for the fly of Mike's jeans. Just as Micky was about to begin ridding his partner of his pants, he paused again.
"You did lock the front door when you came in, didn't you?" Micky questioned breathlessly.
"Yes." Mike replied before quickly attaching his lips to Micky's again.
Micky scrambled to get Mike's pants undone, and the Texan quickly shoved them and his underwear down far enough to free his throbbing erection. Micky then raised himself off the table enough for Mike to pull down his linen pants, and the Texan was pleasantly surprised to find Micky wasn't wearing underwear.
"I love that you've quit wearing underwear again." Mike purred, burying his face in the crook of Micky's neck.
"I know it turns you on." Micky replied, kicking his pants off completely before wrapping his legs around Mike's waist.
Mike grabbed hold of the backs of Micky's legs and pulled him to the very edge of the table top. Micky lifted his legs high to give Mike access, and Mike spat into the palm of his hand to lube up his erection.
"Hurry up." Micky ordered, suddenly absolutely desperate to get things started.
Micky saw a flash of satisfaction in the Texan's eyes. "I love it when you're demanding." He said as he positioned himself between Micky's legs.
Micky smirked, fisting the back of Mike's shirt as the Texan entered him with ease. The couple had been having so much sex lately that Micky needed very little preparation anymore, and as soon as Mike was inside of him Micky was filled with mind-blowing pleasure.
"Ughh yeah." Micky groaned as Mike started thrusting fast and gentle.
Mike held onto one of Micky's legs with one hand while the other wrapped around Micky's back. "I've been waiting for this all afternoon." Mike growled.
Micky's head fell back. "Go harder." He ordered, to which Mike happily obliged. "Oh fuck yeah, just like that."
"I can't get enough of you." Mike gasped, pulling Micky into a heated kiss as he started moving harder and deeper.
The two men broke the kiss so they could breathe, and Micky tugged at the back of Mike's shirt desperately. "Go deep." Micky gasped, his head flopping back again. "Oh yeahh."
"Mmfhh Mick." Mike grunted as the entire table started to rock. "You feel so good."
Mike started to nudge that spot inside of Micky hard, causing Micky to cry out in pleasure. "Oh yeah!" He shouted over the music that was still blaring from the other room. "Right there!"
"Fuck, Mick." Mike groaned as Micky's muscles contracted around him. "Mmm..."
Micky managed to move his head forward again and he opened his eyes to look at the pleasure on his partner's face. But when Micky looked over Mike's shoulder, he was absolutely mortified to see Davy standing in the kitchen doorway with his mouth hanging open in horror.
"Oh god!" Micky shouted, his eyes widening in shock.
"I know." Mike purred into Micky's neck as he continued thrusting into the curly-haired man hard and fast, oblivious to what was going on.
Micky slapped Mike's arm several times in an attempt to snap the Texan out of his pleasure-induced daze. Mike pulled back, and when he noticed the look of horror of Micky's face he quickly looked behind to see just what the problem was.
At this point, Davy seemed to gather control of his senses and he swiftly turned and scurried back out of the room as Mike quickly pulled himself out of Micky - he looked absolutely mortified.
"I thought you said you locked the door?!" Micky asked in a rather high-pitched voice as he tried to process this turn of events.
"I did." Mike replied as he quickly pulled up his pants and underwear. "I did lock it!"
Micky wiped his brow with the back of his hand as he watched Mike fasten his jeans. "Well he's gone now... we could finish." He suggested carefully.
"Finish?!" Mike shouted. He had a face like thunder. "You've gotta be kidding me!"
"Alright, alright." Micky said as he slid himself off the table top.
Mike bent down and grabbed hold of Micky's pants before thrusting them at the curly-haired man aggressively. "Get dressed." He ordered.
"Er, don't take this out on me." Micky hit back. He stepped into his pants. "It's not my fault he caught us. You were the one who didn't lock the door."
"I did lock the door!" Mike protested. "I swear I did!"
"How did he get in then?!" Micky questioned.
"I don't know, but you need to turn that damn music off and make sure he's gone." Mike snapped.
Micky sighed and tried to wrap his arms around the Texan's neck. "It's kinda funny really, when you think about it." He said with a little laugh.
Mike stepped away from Micky. "Funny?" He questioned in dismay. "He saw everything."
"Yeah but his face was a picture." Micky said, biting his bottom lip in an attempt to stop himself from laughing nervously. When he saw that Mike really wasn't in the mood for jokes, he sighed. "Let me see if he's gone."
Micky left the kitchen and headed straight for the lounge where the music was playing. Micky stopped in the doorway when he noticed Davy hadn't left the house. Instead, the Englishman was pacing the room wide-eyed, and he hadn't even noticed Micky standing there.
Micky felt heat fill his face and he took a deep breath to compose himself before clearing his throat and walking into the room confidently.
"Hey Davy, what's up man?" Micky asked casually as he strolled over to the record player and turned the music off.
Davy looked up and stopped in his tracks. "What's up?" Davy questioned before pointing out in direction of the kitchen. "I've eaten off that table!"
"Well to be fair we were always gonna wipe it down afterwards." Micky joked. Davy's face was scrunched up in disgusted horror. "Oh relax!" Micky said, throwing his hands in the air. "You saw us having sex. Big deal."
"Big deal?!" Davy asked in dismay. "I saw everything. I saw- I saw it all."
Micky felt his cheeks go a little red again. "Yeah well, so what? It's not like I haven't embarrassed myself in front of you before. You know tons of embarrassing stuff about me." He said.
"Yeah but I didn't need a visual!" Davy said before literally shuddering. "Bloody hell."
"How did you get in anyway?" Micky wondered.
"I have a key." Davy replied.
"Er, since when did you have a key?" Micky asked. "I don't remember giving you a key?"
"You didn't." Davy replied. "I took the spare one months ago, you know, when you were all messed up. I thought it was a good idea to have one in case you'd gotten yourself into any bother and I needed to get in."
"So you thought you'd just let yourself in, did you?" Micky questioned.
"Well I spoke to you on the phone yesterday and said I was going to stop by, remember?" Davy protested. "And I was knocking at the door but you didn't answer. I could hear the music blaring in here so I knew you were at home but I really wish I hadn't come now. I'm never going to look at kitchen tables the same again."
Micky smiled awkwardly.
Davy rubbed his head. He had an expression that looked as if he was reliving the moment and he physically shuddered again. "Eurgh." He said before taking a deep breath and closing his eyes in an attempt to shake the image from his head. "So I guess this means you and Mike are back on then."
Micky nodded. "Yep." He replied with a shy smile.
"When did this happen?" Davy probed.
"A few weeks ago..." Micky said sheepishly.
Davy raised his eyebrows. "A few weeks? I've seen you several times in the past few weeks, how am I only hearing about this now?"
"We were always gonna tell you." Micky said in his defence. "We just wanted it to be about us for a while."
"I can see that..." Davy muttered.
"You're happy for us though, right?" Micky asked hopefully.
"I'm not sure if happy is the right word for it." Davy replied. "I could tell something was different though. You've seemed so much happier lately but I just thought it was 'cause you were finally feeling better after your surgery."
"It was that too, but it's mainly down to Mike." Micky smiled. "Everything is so great now."
Davy didn't look convinced. "So he finally asked for you back then, did he?"
"Yeah. We're totally on the same page this time." Micky said. "And Mike told me about you encouraging him to give things another shot with me."
"I wouldn't say encouraged," Davy hit back. "I just told him that if he was gonna ask for you back at some point then he should just bloody well go ahead and do it. Either that or stay away from you altogether."
Micky smiled. "Well thanks anyway. I'm glad he had someone to talk to."
"Well this is Mike we're talking about; I'd hardly say we were having deep and meaningfuls." Davy said flatly. "We were hardly even having conversations. He'd just ask how you were and that was about it."
"But still… you told him how I was doing, and I really appreciate that." Micky said, narrowing his eyes to get his point across.
"Yeah, well…" Davy muttered, looking down at his feet.
"I know you're not his biggest fan but I'd really like it if you could be happy for us." Micky said tentatively.
"It's just that when I've seen you recently you've been so chipper and seemed like the old Micky again." Davy replied. "I thought maybe you were finally getting over him. Obviously I got that wrong..."
"I did want to tell you, we just didn't want to have to deal with anyone else yet." Micky told him. "Apart from Samantha, that is. I told her what was going on right away."
"Right." Davy nodded. He looked thoughtful. "And you're really sure things are going to work out this time?"
"I told you; me and Mike are on the same page now." Micky assured him. "Things have changed… we've both changed. He's even said that he'd support me if I decided to tell my family about us."
Davy raised his eyebrows in surprise.
"And he knows about all my shit too." Micky continued. "I told him about Tony and the other guys and everything… He knows it all, and he's cool with it." He paused. "Okay, well, maybe not cool with it, but he still loves me all the same. It hasn't changed anything between us."
"I just don't want this all going tits-up and have you fall to pieces again." Davy said - he sounded concerned.
"That's not going to happen." Micky tried to reassure him. "Mike and I have dealt with our issues - we're strong now. I know it's only early days but we're a lot more solid than before. I get why you're worried but seriously, we're great. For the first time in a long time, my life is going right. You have nothing to worry about."
"Yeah, well." Davy looked down at his feet again.
"Everything is groovy." Micky smiled, causing Davy to look up. "And I'm glad you know now too. I'd rather you didn't find out like that, but still..."
Davy's face scrunched up again. "I'd rather you'd have just told me, to be honest."
Micky laughed awkwardly before noticing Mike standing in the doorway. Mike's face was flushed and Davy blushed too when he laid eyes on the tall Texan.
"You're still here then." Mike said bluntly as he stepped in the room. His eyes were fixed on the floor and he was unable to look at Davy.
"Looks like it." Davy replied flatly, also completely unable to look at Mike.
Micky stood there and looked back and forth between his partner and his friend, the tension in the room bubbling uncomfortably. After a few seconds of painful silence, Micky felt it become too much.
"Oh come on you two!" Micky said before turning to Mike. "So Davy caught us having sex - big deal."
Mike looked up at Micky with an expression of anger and disbelief.
"Come on," Micky said, laughing nervously as he looked at the two men either side of him again. "In a few days we'll laugh about this."
"I really don't think we will." Davy replied bluntly.
"A few years then." Micky suggested. Davy stared at him blankly while Mike stood there glaring at the floor. "Oh relax! Seriously! There are worse things he could've seen."
"Like what?!" Davy butt in.
"Oh I don't know." Micky sighed. "But you're both totally overreacting."
Micky approached Mike and he reached out to touch his partner's arm in reassurance, but Mike quickly pulled away as if Micky was trying to touch him with a razor-sharp knife. Micky frowned at the Texan's reaction, but Mike still wore the look of thunder on his face.
"He shouldn't have just barged in." Mike said to Micky before turning to the awkward-looking Englishman. "Where do you get off letting yourself into other people's houses?"
"Well I hardly knew you two were gonna be going at it on the kitchen table, did I?" Davy hit back in his defence.
Mike's face went even redder in a mixture of embarrassment and fury. "How the hell did you get in anyway?" He snapped. "I locked the damn door."
"Yeah, and I have a key." Davy replied obnoxiously.
Mike turned to Micky and looked at the curly-haired man accusingly.
"I didn't know he had it!" Micky said, holding his hands up in defence. "He helped himself to it, apparently."
Now it was Mike's turn to shoot Davy an accusing look.
"Yeah, I've had it for months." Davy replied to the silent question. "I thought it'd be wise in case of emergencies."
"Emergencies?" Mike questioned. He was clearly unimpressed.
"Yeah, like if Micky did something stupid. I've let myself in with it loads of times but he was always too drunk to notice." Davy replied as Micky looked to the ceiling. "After finding him face down in his own vomit the morning after you broke up with him I figured it'd be a good idea if someone kept an eye out for him so that's why I took the spare key."
Mike's head snapped in Micky's direction, horrified to learn the state Davy had found him in the morning after they broke up.
"It's not a big deal." Micky laughed nervously.
Mike continued to stare at Micky - he was clearly mortified. Micky looked away nervously while the Texan turned his attention to Davy once more.
"I think you should leave." Mike told Davy.
Davy looked rather put out. "That's charming, that is." He replied.
"Just go." Mike snapped.
"Mike..." Micky stepped closer to the Texan. Once again Micky reached out for his partner, and once again Mike pulled away defensively. "Come on, babe."
Mike didn't look too happy about being called 'babe' either, and the two men shared a tense and uncomfortable look.
"Fine. I'm off." Davy sighed. He walked towards the door.
"I'm sorry, Davy." Micky said, looking towards his friend. "We'll catch up tomorrow or something."
"Yeah, sure." Davy replied. He shot Mike an unimpressed glance. "I'll see myself out." He said before swiftly leaving the room.
Mike and Micky remained silent until they heard Davy close the front door behind him.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Mike questioned.
"Tell you what?" Micky asked nervously.
"You know damn well what." Mike replied. "Why didn't you tell me Davy found you in that state the mornin' after I broke up with ya?"
Micky sighed. "I didn't even think about it. I didn't think it was important."
"Not important?" Mike asked in disbelief. "Is that what you'd think if you found me in that mess?"
"Well, no, but... but it was ages ago." Micky sighed. "It was like 8 months ago. I was fine - I am fine."
Mike shook his head and turned away as he run his fingers through his hair.
Micky sighed. "So I got wasted after you dumped me. Is that really surprising to you?" He asked, slightly irked by Mike's reaction. "What did you think I was going to do? Sit there in the dark listening to sad love songs or something? I'm me. I got drunk. That is what I do- that is what I did when things go wrong. This is hardly new information."
Mike stared at his partner again. "I don't like it. What if you'd have passed out on your back, huh? You could've- it could've killed you."
"Yeah but it didn't." Micky stressed. "I'm fine. It wasn't the first time I passed out drunk and it sure as hell wasn't the last. I've done loads of stupid shit since then - you know I have. I've done tons of things that could've killed me but the thing that almost finished me off was driving too fast."
"That's different." Mike said. "You didn't crash because of me - that was an accident. But how do you think it makes me feel to know you got yourself into that state because I left you? Because I hurt you?"
Micky tilted his head to the side. "Come on, Mike." He said gently, stepping towards his partner again. "That doesn't matter now. I was fine."
Micky could see the Texan was wracked with guilt and in turn Micky felt terrible, too. He reached up and wrapped his arms around Mike's neck. "Please don't beat yourself up over something that happened months ago." He pleaded.
"I can't help it." Mike said. "I should've come back to check on ya... I was worried you'd turn to drink but I just tried to convince myself you'd be okay. I let you down."
Micky sighed. "Please don't do this." He said. "You were trying to look out for me by leaving me. We don't- we don't have to go through this again. You know I understand everything."
"That ain't the point." Mike pulled away from Micky. "I don't like it. I don't like the thought of you like that. It- it makes me feel sick. I hate the thought of you being unhappy."
"But I'm not unhappy." Micky stressed. "Come on, babe. I'm fine. I was fine, I am fine, and most importantly of all, we're fine. We're happy. You don't need to worry about anything at all."
"But I do worry." Mike hit back, and Micky could see that Mike was visibly flustered. "I do worry."
"Hey," Micky put both his hands on either side of Mike's face. "It's okay, baby. Don't get yourself upset over this. We were having a great time until Davy showed up. Let's just forget about it, yeah?"
Mike pulled away again. "I can't forget about it." He said, running both his hands through his hair - he looked totally rattled. "How could you- how could you do that to yourself? What kind of person gets themselves so drunk they pass out and then don't even wake up when they start puking? Who the hell does that?"
Micky was offended by Mike's words and also concerned by the Texan's reaction. "Someone who's fucked up, clearly." He replied with attitude. "And it's not like you're so perfect. My way of dealing with shit might be stupid but what about you? You always pushing people away and shutting everyone out, that's hardly a healthy way of coping with things either, is it?" He swiped. "And while we're at it, what the hell was that when Davy was here? You pushing me away when I tried to touch you, glaring at me when I called you babe. He knows we're together, Mike. He got a pretty good indication of that when he saw you screwing me into the kitchen table."
Mike shook his head dismissively. "I need some air." He said before turning in direction of the door.
"Oh that's just great, you just run off like you always used to." Micky snapped. "It's good to know at least some things haven't changed."
Mike glared at the curly-haired man before making a swift exit. A few moments later, Micky heard the front door slam shut.
Micky stood there hurt and frustrated by the way things had turned out. He also felt unsettled; this was the first argument he and Mike had had since they'd been back together - not that it was exactly an argument - and Micky realised how safe and stable he'd felt the past few weeks - or particularly since he'd opened up to Mike about everything he had been through. Now though, Micky felt rather troubled and insecure, and an irrational part of his brain was scared that Mike wouldn't come back.
Micky knew he was being stupid - or at least he hoped he was being stupid. But he couldn't understand why Mike had reacted so badly to learning that he'd passed out drunk, especially after everything else Mike had learnt about him recently.
So Micky sat himself down and waited for Mike to come back as a nervous energy started flowing through his body. After an hour or so, Micky found himself jittering anxiously, biting his nails and bouncing his knees nervously. Micky found it ironic that even though his and Mike's little spat had been about Micky's past drinking habits, he really needed a drink now. For the first time in ages, Micky felt an overwhelming urge to drink. He knew he couldn't though; he literally couldn't, because there was no alcohol in the house. Mike had tipped the last of the bottle of vodka down the sink that Micky had been drinking the night Mike discovered the truth about Tony. Micky was fairly certain if that bottle was still in the house, he'd probably pour himself a glass to steady his nerves like he always used to.
As it was though, Micky continued to sit there fidgeting nervously for two whole hours. He was chewing his lip and playing with his hands when he felt a presence in the room.
"Hey." Mike called gently.
Micky looked up slightly startled - he'd been so distracted by his thoughts he hadn't heard the Texan come in.
"Are you okay?" Mike asked, a concerned frown covering his face as he looked at Micky's nervous state.
"Mm." Micky sort-of replied, nodding his head quickly.
Mike sighed before walking into the room and sitting down in the arm chair opposite Micky. "I'm sorry." He said, leaning forward.
Micky was suddenly panicked as he wondered exactly what Mike was apologising for, and he couldn't help but fear that Mike was saying he was sorry because he was about to dump him all over again.
"W-What for?" Micky questioned.
Mike frowned again, confused that Micky didn't seem to understand. "For taking off," He replied. "For reacting the way I did."
Micky looked away as he breathed a sigh of relief. He felt stupid for even thinking that Mike was going to end their relationship again, especially over something so silly.
"It's hard for me," Mike continued carefully. "It's hard to hear that you were like that... to think of you in that way. I don't like to think of you unhappy about anything, but least of all think about you unhappy 'cause of me."
Micky was silent. He continued looking ahead as Mike spoke, and although he'd relaxed a little he was still feeling rather jittery.
"We've been doin' so good and you've been so happy, but when Davy said that it- it just reminded me that you weren't happy, and it- it really freaked me out." Mike admitted. "I didn't mean to react like that."
Micky looked at the Texan. ""What kind of person does that?" you said. "Who the hell does that?", you said." He replied bitterly. "Someone like me, that's who."
Mike hung his head and sighed before looking up. "I'm sorry, Mick." He said gently. "It's just hard for me to understand sometimes, but I didn't mean it. I didn't mean to upset ya I just- it ain't nice to think of you like that, getting yourself so drunk because you were so upset. Come on, I know you'd feel the same if you were in my shoes."
"Someone with a screwed-up boyfriend, you mean?" Micky questioned.
"Hey." Mike said firmly. "Don't say that. You know damn-well that ain't true."
"What about when Davy was here, huh?" Micky pressed. "You didn't want me anywhere near you because you're ashamed of me."
"Right, that's enough." Mike snapped. "That is the opposite of the truth and you know it."
Micky looked away and started biting his nails nervously again.
"Look at ya," Mike said, his voice laced with concern. "You look really anxious."
"I'm fine." Micky said bluntly.
"No you ain't." Mike said before moving to sit beside Micky on the couch. "You're all jittery. Look at ya."
Micky stopping biting his nail and clasped his hands in his lap as he started chewing his lip instead. He wasn't sure why he was feeling so anxious.
"Hey," Mike said, gently placing a hand on Micky's back. "It's okay. I'm so sorry I upset you."
Micky turned to Mike again. He stared at the Texan for several moments before slumping his shoulders. "I'm sorry you're so hung-up on all the stupid things I used to do." He said.
Mike tilted his head to the side. "It ain't like that." He said. "I just- I worry about you, that's all. I worry because I love you."
Micky continued to stare at his partner. "I didn't tell you because I didn't even think about it." He said. "I forgot about it. Waking up in my own puke was one of the least-stupid things I've done. If you can't handle that, how can you handle any of the other crap I've told you?"
"Is that what's gotten you so worked up?" Mike wondered. "Because you think I can't deal with everything you told me?"
Micky looked away again.
Mike sighed. "I'm so sorry, baby. It ain't like that at all." He assured him. "Of course I hate to think of you in a bad place. I hate to think of you unhappy or scared or lonely. I hate to think of you feeling like you had to turn to drink and drugs to deal with your problems, but what got me most about that was that you got yourself into that mess because I left you. That's what fucks with my head, because all I've ever wanted is for you to be happy and hearing what Davy said was just a reminder that you were so unhappy because of me."
"But none of that matters now because we're okay." Micky stressed. "That's what I was trying to tell you. You can't go getting all angry and upset whenever you hear about something stupid I did after we broke up."
"I know." Mike sighed, placing his hand on Micky's thigh. "It's just from the moment I first met ya I- I don't know, I sorta felt protective of you like I've never felt for anyone else. Even long before we first got together I had this need to keep an eye on ya."
"I did notice." Micky responded gently.
"Those times on tour when we'd all go out and party," Mike continued. "I know I'd be having fun with ya, drinkin' and gettin' high. But then I'd stop, and a little later everyone else would stop, but you'd keep goin'. And everyone would be encouraging you - they admired you 'cause you could drink pretty much everyone else under the table. And then I'd be there tellin' you to stop, or to slow down or take it easy. And people thought I was bein' a bore, but I just- you'd take it too far, and I'd worry about you. I've always worried about you."
Micky watched Mike carefully.
"Even back then I had to know you were okay and look out for you." Mike went on. "Not just with your drinkin' and stuff, but with everything. And what Davy said got to me because I was reminded that you weren't okay and I wasn't there to look out for ya. And what makes it worse is that you weren't okay because of me."
Micky looked down a little guiltily as Mike smiled at him sadly. "Mick, you're my boy." Mike said. "It breaks my heart to think of you with anything but a smile on your face."
Micky thawed, and he felt the nervousness of before seem to lift from him. He looked up. "I know." He said quietly. He placed his hand on top of the Texan's. "I'm sorry I make you worry. I don't blame you, I just- I don't want a black cloud hanging over us. I don't want you pitying me. We broke up and I dealt with it badly. I don't want to have to keep going over it. I don't want you to keep beating yourself up over things that happened months ago."
"I know you don't." Mike sighed, lacing his fingers with Micky's and squeezing his hand. "It just rattled me, that's all. I was feelin' hyper-sensitive at Davy catching us like that and I- I don't know. I'm sorry I got all worked up like that."
"It's okay." Micky said. He reached up and sweapt Mike's hair out of his face.
Mike smiled sympathetically. "And I'm sorry if I acted weird when you came near me when Davy was here." He said. "I know he'd just caught us- you know - but I just don't know if I'm ready to be couple-y with you around him. It ain't 'cause I'm ashamed of you because I'm not. And I get that he knows and everything, but... it's a shock to the system. We're so used to having to contain what we have that suddenly sharing it with someone is gonna take a bit of getting used to."
Micky nodded slowly in understanding. "I guess I can get that." He said. "I suppose it is a bit weird. I know you're more private than I am - which is probably a good thing - so this is a bigger step for you."
"As long as you don't think I'm ashamed or embarrassed to be with ya." Mike stressed. "Because that couldn't be further from the truth. I'm proud of the fact that you're mine and I wake up every morning and thank my lucky stars that I have you."
Micky couldn't help but smile, and he gave Mike's hand a little squeeze in response. "I feel the same about you." He said.
Mike scooted closer to the curly-haired man and rubbed his leg lovingly. "So does this qualify as our first argument, or..?"
"I think so." Micky smiled.
"So that means I gotta make it up to ya." Mike said as he run his fingers through Micky's hair.
Micky smiled shyly.
Mike paused as he gazed at his boy. "You seemed really anxious before," He said as he started to stroke Micky's hair again. "I ain't seen you like that since-"
Mike cut himself off, but Micky knew exactly what he was going to say. "Since I told you about Tony and everything, you mean." Micky said.
Mike looked guilty and nodded his head. "You looked kinda shaken."
"I was just being stupid and worrying too much." Micky admitted. "I get a bit anxious now and then. I think- I think it's 'cause I used to do coke. I was reading a book and apparently it can have that affect on people even long after they stop using it."
Mike sighed deeply and scratched his head.
"It's just before when I felt anxious I'd drink, but now... well, now I don't." Micky continued. "But I'm fine now I know you're here."
Mike frowned. "Didn't you think I'd come back for ya?" He asked.
Micky shrugged. He felt his cheeks burn red and he felt utterly stupid. "I didn't really think that... not really." He replied. "But the thought crossed my mind. I thought you might've had second thoughts and wondered what the hell you were doing with a weirdo like me."
Micky laughed awkwardly, but Mike was visibly un-amused. The Texan simply sat there looking at Micky.
"Don't look at me like that." Micky said, tilting his head to the side. "You asked and I'm being honest. I get really irrational sometimes and think dumb things but I soon get over it. It's not a big deal. I'm just strange, that's all. It's nothing for you to worry about and certainly not something for you to feel bad about."
Mike drew a deep breath in as he slowly nodded his head. "But you promise me you're okay?" He asked.
Micky nodded, giving his partner a small smile. "I'm fine now I know we're cool." He replied. "And I'll keep being fine as long as you realise that I love you and I don't blame you for anything. Okay?"
"Okay." Mike smiled, squeezing Micky's hand again. "Now what can I do to make it up to ya?"
"Well, you could start by cooking us dinner." Micky said, that happy twinkle returning to his eyes. "And if you're extra good I might help you clean the dishes. And if you're extra, extra good then..."
"Then what?" Mike wondered as he beamed at the curly-haired man.
"Then maybe we can pick up from where we left off earlier." Micky said, sliding his arms around the Texan's neck.
Mike's smile grew. "You'd like that, huh?"
Micky nodded slowly. "I'd like that a lot." He said. "Although this time we'll have to make sure we're not so rudely interrupted."
"Mmm." Mike nodded. "You did get that key back from Davy, didn't you?"
Micky's face fell. "Oops." He said. "I totally forgot. I'll get it back from him next time I see him."
Mike looked a little uneasy.
"Don't worry," Micky assured him. "I seriously doubt Davy is gonna go letting himself in here again after what happened this afternoon. I think we've seriously scarred him for life."
Mike's expression remained serious, but Micky couldn't help but start laughing as he recalled the moment Davy walked in on them. Mike tried to keep a straight expression, but after a few seconds Micky could see the Texan was trying to fight laughter as well.
"It ain't funny." Mike protested, although his eyes suggested otherwise. "I don't know why you're laughing 'cause it ain't funny at all."
"You're laughing too!" Micky giggled, pointing at Mike's face as he continued to try to contain his amusement.
"I'm only laughing 'cause you're laughing!" Mike hit back. "I don't find it funny at all. I've never been so embarrassed."
"Yeah but Davy's face." Micky covered his own face with his hand as he giggled in amused embarrassment. "Oh my god, it was so embarrassing but his face was so funny."
Mike visibly cringed. "I don't know how I'm ever gonna look him in the eye ever again!" He chuckled. "You say we've scarred him for life, but I think I'm scarred for life too."
Micky poked his bottom lip out. "Does that mean you're never going to screw me on the kitchen table again?" He pouted.
Mike watched his partner for a moment. "Well... I think I can be persuaded." He said, wrapping his arms behind Micky's back. "But we're gonna have to bolt the door shut first. We sure as hell can't have that happening again."
Micky managed to hold his serious expression for a moment longer before flopping forward and burying his face in Mike's shoulder as he resumed his laughing fit. "I wish I could've taken a photo of Davy's face because oh my god..." He giggled before lifting his head. "And your face too for that matter. I know you were embarrassed but you looked mortified."
"It's not funny!" Mike laughed, hitting Micky playfully on the arm. "I can't believe how cool you were. Davy is your best friend, ain't you embarrassed that he saw you like that?"
"Well of course I am, I'm not totally devoid of shame." Micky joked. "But I think the funniness outweighs the embarrassment. And anyway, at the end of the day it's only sex and everyone does it. I mean, it was great sex and it was guy-on-guy sex and it was our sex but it's still just sex. Davy knows where it's at, and like I said earlier he knows so much embarrassing stuff about me that I can't go getting too upset about him catching us like that."
Mike nodded slowly as he processed what Micky had said. "That's a good way to look at it." He said. "I wish I was more like you in that respect."
Micky smiled. "Shameless?" He joked.
Mike tilted his head to the side. "No, you know what I mean." He said. "You've always been relaxed about that sorta stuff and I wish I was more like that. Instead I just come across as a grumpy old prude."
"You were fucking me on the kitchen table, and two days ago you were sucking me off on the stairs. I'd hardly say you're a prude." Micky giggled.
Mike blushed. "Shut up." He said, hitting Micky on the arm playfully again. "It's you who brings out this crazy, sex-mad side to me. You drive me insane."
"In every sense of the word?" Micky wondered playfully.
Mike smiled. "I think I drive you pretty mad sometimes, too." He said. "We're quite a pair."
A small smile crossed Micky's lips, and he leaned in to kiss his partner gently. When Micky pulled back, he smiled sweetly at Mike, his hands resting on the Texan's shoulders. "I love you, you know. And I also want you to know that I am truly, blissfully happy, and a seriously large part of that is because of you."
Mike run his hand up Micky's neck - causing the curly-haired man to shiver - before finally resting on Micky's face. "And I want you to know that if I ever get sensitive about your troubles it ain't because I look down on ya or see you as damaged or anything like that. It's because you're my world and I want to make you happy."
"I know, baby." Micky smiled sympathetically. "I guess I should be more understanding. I know I'd be feeling just the same if the tables were turned."
"You're a good boy." Mike said, lightly grazing Micky's cheek with the side of his finger. "I absolutely adore you."
Micky's smile grew. "Right back at ya." He said, planting a small kiss on the end of the Texan's nose.
Mike beamed at Micky thoughtfully. "I was thinkin', I'd really love it if we could go to the lake again soon."
"I'd really like that." Micky replied, touched by the suggestion. "That's a nice idea."
"We had such a good time when we went there before and I wanna whisk you off there again." Mike smiled. "I think it'd be good to get away from everythin' for a night or two."
"I think so too." Micky agreed. "When do you wanna go?"
"Soon." Mike replied confidently. "I want it to be special... just me and you."
"It's always just me and you." Micky giggled, giving his partner a knowing look.
"Yeah but me and you with no distractions." Mike said with an amused glint in his eye. "No Englishmen bargin' in on us gettin' jiggy."
Micky laughed. "You're right. I think I can do without Davy catching us like that again."
"So we'll go soon then?" Mike asked hopefully.
Micky nodded enthusiastically. "Definitely. Just me and you."