Chapter Text
After a long string of relived cusses, and maybe a couple half-assed insults, Luke began to calm down. He stares at Michael’s sympathetic face through the phone screen, and lets out a shaky sigh. “Mike…you’re supposed to be dead.”
”I know, but I’m not.”
”Why aren’t you?”
”…”
”Shit, sorry, no— I didn’t mean it like that. I just— Mikey, they told me you didn’t make it. They told me you lost too much blood.” Luke feels his heart twist in inexplicable ways. How could he be alive, when the doctors told him that there was no way to save him?
Silence stretches between them, before Michael speaks, “I’m sorry I never called to tell you I’m alive. I went to a facility just outside California, and I was there for a year.”
”What, like…a mental hospital?” Luke asks, voice shaky as he thinks about his love being stuck in there. Michael nods, shifting where he lays on his bed on his side of the call.
”Yeah…” he murmurs, running a hand through his hair, “After I got out, I needed to get away for a while. That’s why I didn’t call. Then Ashton played matchmaker 2.0 and gave me your number again.” His hand never stops touching his hair. Dark roots are poking out through his bleached hair, and Luke can’t help but stare. He wonders if Michael has dyed it again since their separation.
”Where are you now..? All these years, I thought you were dead,” Luke whispers, voice choked up as his emotions heighten again. He looks at Michael through the phone, and he wishes that he were there with him, kissing him and begging him not to leave again.
Michael’s silent for a short while, refusing to even look at his phone, “I’m a bit further south than I used to live. I can give you my address? We could…hang out for a bit, catch up?” he offers, his adams apple bopping in his throat as he gulps. Nervousness is radiating off of him, even through the screen.
”Of course. Send it to me, I’ll be there ASAP,” Luke replies, sniffling and wiping his eyes quickly before they say goodbye and hang up. Barely a minute later, he gets a text with an address. It’s about 45 minutes away, so Luke starts the drive as soon as he’s ready.
The house is beautiful. It’s not too rich, but it’s enough to let others know that there’s a lot of money to spend. Luke pulls into the driveway and turns the engine off. He sits there, staring at the house through the windshield. He’s wearing a rather plain outfit, but his boots are nice, his hair is styled, and he has makeup on. Though, if Michael were to ask, Luke would claim that it’s something he always does when he goes out. That’s a lie…he only did it for Michael. He always has.
Gathering all the courage he needs, Luke steps out of his car, walking up to the front door. He wipes his sweaty palms on his pants before he knocks. The door opens and Michael is on the other side. Luke gasps softly, before he steps forward and almost crushes the older man in a hug.
”I’ve missed you,” he whispers against Michael’s collarbone. The older man rubs his back, “Hi, Lukey,” he whispers back. They stand like this for a little while before Michael pulls away. He leads Luke into the house, holding his hand just like old times, dragging him around like a puppy on a leash.
They arrive in the living room, and Michael sits on the couch. He pats the seat beside him, silently offering Luke to sit beside him. Once they both sat, Luke glances around, taking in the interior of the house, “It’s beautiful,” he compliments.
”Thanks…I spoiled myself, I guess.”
”Good…you need to spoil yourself sometimes,” Luke agrees, shrugging.
”How’s…life been?” Michael asks, angling his body to face Luke, who does the same thing.
”It’s been…fine. The band broke up, we thought you were—“ he cuts himself off, before shrugging again, “I tried to get with other people, but none were like you. None of them were you.”
”I know…I’m sorry.”
”Don’t be. How did Ashton find out you were alive? I mean— we all thought you were dead.”
Michael goes silent, staring into Luke’s gorgeous bright eyes, before smiling awkwardly, “His number was easiest to remember offhand. I called him when I got out.”
”’Got out’…you’re making it sound like jail.”
”Well, it’s similar.”
”Wait— Ashton knew for a two years and didn’t tell me?” Luke asks, suddenly remembering that little detail. He watches as that beautiful smile fades from the other man’s lips, “He said you were really depressed…like- suicidal depressed. I didn’t know if I’d be helping, so I stayed away.”
”Well, then, you’re an idiot,” Luke claims, cocking his head to the side, “because I needed you. But I understand why you did it.”
They sit like this for a little while, the tv playing in the background some random movie. Their hands are still links together, Michael’s thumb brushing the back of Luke’s hand, adding to the already intimate moment.
Talking turned to kissing pretty soon after that.
There was just this magnetic pull Michael had. Anything desperate and needy was pulled towards him. Luke started it, gently pulling the older male close and pressing a soft kiss to his lips. However, as they made out, hands gently wandering, Michael seemed to be…somewhere else. Somewhere far in the back of his mind.
It wasn’t until the front door opened that Michael pulled away, wiping his lips and standing to greet the intruder. A man — around mid-30s, blonde, green eyes, and a thicker build — walked in, smiling wider when he sees Michael.
”Hi, sweetheart,” he murmurs, pulling Michael close and kissing him. Luke watches from the couch, jaw slack from shock. It’s as if his heart was shattered into a trillion pieces by his ex-lovers own boot.
”Hi, baby, how was work?” Michael replies into the kiss. He pulls away as he remembers a certain someone watching from from the couch, “Jonathan, this is Luke, an old friend.”
Those words already make Luke feel sick, but it’s the next ones that make him genuinely consider scouting out a toilet to puke in. They had only been making out a minute ago, and now this? Oh fuck no. Michael had fucked up for the second time, and now, Luke isn’t going to let it slide again.
”Luke, this is Jonathan…my boyfriend.”