#23 Carrying The Other One In Their Arms W Byler Because Im Very Normal And Not Insane?

#23 carrying the other one in their arms w byler because im very normal and not insane?

The credits roll on the TV screen, and Will stirs in Mike's lap.

"S' it over?" he asks blearily, as Mike smirks down at him, hands in Will's hair. They've been curled up like this on the couch for the better part of an hour, half-watching some movie Mike had rented from the video store. It's Saturday night, which means movie night, which means Mike and Will cuddling in their shared apartment, which means that Mike is basically as happy as it gets.

"Yeah," he answers, poking a finger in Will's cheek, and Will makes a face at him, scrunching up his nose. "Were you even watching?"

Will blinks, shifting around in Mike's lap and half-sitting up before seeming to decide it's not worth it and flopping back down beside Mike. "Of course I was," he says evenly, yawning. "There was, like, people talking and shit."

"Lucky guess," Mike teases, placing his hands back in Will's hair, and Will smiles a little as he leans into Mike's touch. "You okay?"

"M' sleepy," Will says, voice muffled as he shoves his face into the couch cushions, and Mike laughs quietly.

"Okay," he murmurs, dragging a gentle hand over Will's back. "Let's go to bed."

Will peers out at him, opening one eye suspiciously and wriggling around to face him properly. "I'm sleepy," he reiterates, tugging his blanket further up onto his chest.

Mike widens his eyes, leaning over to press a kiss to Will's temple. "I know," he says, "That's why we should go to bed."

Will just huffs out a breath, tucking his face away against Mike's hip. Mike smiles down at him, leaning over to kiss the top of his head again, and Will makes a pleased little noise into Mike's shirt.

"You want me to carry you?" Mike offers, and Will nods instantly, no doubt getting exactly what he'd been angling for. Mike laughs softly, gently lifting Will's head off of his lap and shifting to get a better angle. "If my arms give out, though, it's not my fault."

"I'll take my chances," Will mumbles, as Mike hooks his arms around him and lifts him off the couch with a decent level of difficulty. He's not- he's not weak, okay, he's a perfectly respectable level of strength, but his arms are sort of- stringy, he supposes, and Will's broad now, so it's a bit of a struggle as he hitches Will bridal-style into his arms.

All the exertion is worth it, however, when Will tucks his face into Mike's neck, humming happily and pressing a kiss to his collarbone. "My paladin," Will mumbles, as Mike kicks their bedroom door open with his foot. Mike smiles at the old nickname, pausing just in front of their bed and peering down at Will.

"My favorite cleric," he murmurs, as Will lifts his face and blinks up at him, a sleepy smile on his face. He presses a kiss to the tip of Will's nose, then his lips. Will smiles against his mouth, hooking his arms around Mike's neck and hitching himself higher, swiping his tongue over Mike's lip.

This is, unfortunately, the exact moment where Mike's arms give out, and he topples onto the bed, pinning Will down beneath him and squeaking in alarm. "Sorry!" he yelps, but Will's laughing, face tucked into Mike's chest. "Sorry, sorry."

"It's okay," Will says softly, wriggling up onto the pillows, and Mike shifts around to the side and tugging the covers out from under Will. "C'mere."

Mike flops down onto the mattress beside him, climbing under the covers and pulling them up over both him and Will. "This better not become a regular thing," he says to Will, slinging an arm over his waist and kissing him quickly. "My arms can't take it."

"Maybe you'll just have to adapt," Will huffs, eyes fluttering shut as Mike cups the back of Will's head, pulling him close to his chest.

"Right, because historically I've been great with change," Mike mutters, as Will runs a hand over his bicep, squeezing the muscle - or lack thereof.

"I believe in you," Will teases quietly, squeezing his arm again.

Mike laughs, kissing the top of Will's head and slipping a hand under his sweater, brushing his thumb over Will's ribcage. "Thanks, babe."

Will's eyes fall shut, and Mike can feel his breathing evening out from where his hand rests against Will's side. He smiles, watching his boyfriend sleep peacefully. This, above all else, is why Saturday nights are his favorite - Will is warm and cuddly and sweet, and they have the whole evening together, and in the mornings they can sleep in, all wrapped up in each other, and Mike- he's happy. It's moments like this when he feels it the most.

"I love you," he whispers to his sleeping boyfriend, kissing his forehead one more time before settling into the pillows.

Will's mouth twitches into a small smile, and Mike presses down one of his own - maybe he's not asleep after all.

Will doesn't respond, but his fingers find Mike's arm again, and Mike smiles as Will taps out a well-known pattern:

.-.. --- ...- . / -.-- --- ..- / - --- ---