[Are they at the weird blood ritual stage of their relationship? Probably.
Will's anxious grin fades into a bright, genuine one, the nervous tension leaving his shoulders. He lets Mike admire the stone for a moment, then reaches to help fasten it onto the other boy's wrist.] It's supposed to like...help with stuff? I dunno.
[He keeps his head bowed, gloved hands carefully tying the leather cord.] It makes me feel better, like...it'll make you safer, even if I'm not with you. Or something.
Will rolls his eyes, then reaches out, sliding his hand into Mike's sauce-splattered one and squeezing gently.] Hey, um. Even with...everything, I'm...still happy we're here. Together.
[For a moment, Mike's expression is one of gentle, quiet surprise. It isn't that he doubts Will's feelings, not after so many years of laced hands and earnest, late-night whispers. But even now, with their lives and hearts so entwined, the words catch him off guard. And deep down in his stomach, he's not entirely sure it's in a good way.
Will shouldn't want to be here, not because of him. But then, they made this choice together. They sat in the blanket fort and mulled over the antlers and decided that their own world was no longer right for them. They were puzzle pieces dropped into the wrong box, and no amount of trips to the counselor's office or encouraging words from Will's mom was going to change that.
They're where they belong, now, for better or for worse.]
Me too. [He presses their palms together, and smiles wider at the gross, squishing sound the tomato sauce makes. Boys will be boys.] There's no one else I'd rather be here with.
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Will's anxious grin fades into a bright, genuine one, the nervous tension leaving his shoulders. He lets Mike admire the stone for a moment, then reaches to help fasten it onto the other boy's wrist.] It's supposed to like...help with stuff? I dunno.
[He keeps his head bowed, gloved hands carefully tying the leather cord.] It makes me feel better, like...it'll make you safer, even if I'm not with you. Or something.
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Like I'd ever do anything unsafe. [A pause, as he admires his little Boyfriend Bracelet Setâ„¢.] ... On purpose.
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Will rolls his eyes, then reaches out, sliding his hand into Mike's sauce-splattered one and squeezing gently.] Hey, um. Even with...everything, I'm...still happy we're here. Together.
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Will shouldn't want to be here, not because of him. But then, they made this choice together. They sat in the blanket fort and mulled over the antlers and decided that their own world was no longer right for them. They were puzzle pieces dropped into the wrong box, and no amount of trips to the counselor's office or encouraging words from Will's mom was going to change that.
They're where they belong, now, for better or for worse.]
Me too. [He presses their palms together, and smiles wider at the gross, squishing sound the tomato sauce makes. Boys will be boys.] There's no one else I'd rather be here with.
[. . .]
Not even Orlando Bloom.