In the middle of the night, Devin woke up to the comfortable warmth beside him. He hadn't ever experienced this before, and when he got a look at Michael's face felt like he was falling even further for this boy.

Devin felt the slight uncomfortable feeling of having to go to the bathroom, but didn't want to wake Michael up.

But he didn't have a choice whether he got up or not. He slowly moved out of Michael's touch, getting up off of the bed.

He moved towards the bathroom, but a light went off on his desk. Confused, he went to see what it was, yet the light shut off again. He furrowed his eyebrows to see that it was Michael's phone.

He picked it up, trying not to be loud, and Devin heard Michael flip himself over and to a more comfortable position in the bed.

Devin turned his attention back down to the phone to see a chain of messages from a number.

Confused, Devin spiked up on Michael's phone to see what they were.

He felt tears slip slowly down his face as he saw a string of messages—pictures, rather—from a girl.
She was naked in every single one, in suggestive positions. Michael swiped up to see if there had been any more of this, and he was shocked to find more stings of photos, and messages. Michael didn't tell her to send them, didn't say anything, actually, but what really bothered Devin was that he didn't tell her to stop.

Not once in their weeks of texting had he said anything to this girl.

Devin wanted to scream, but he set the phone down.
Another message came through. Devin felt like he was intruding, but he couldn't look away.

'You know you want it. And you can hit it for free. No one will know,' the text read, making Devin sick to his stomach.

He felt as if he were going to fold over in himself and vomit.

He slowly turned back to face Michael. He was going to put the phone down, but that was his original plan. But he wanted to see where this would go. What would happen if he...

Devin shook his head, tears still coming down his face at a steady pace.

He would have to admit, this hurt really badly. But he didn't want to jump to conclusions. His heart couldn't. He wouldn't believe that Michael had cheated on him.

Devin turned to his bathroom, opening the door to go inside. Once inside he shut the door then turned the light on, not wanting to wake up Michael.

He walked over to the bathtub, sitting down with his back pressed to its wall.

He stared down at the phone, fingers hovering tauntingly above the keyboard.

He stared through blurry eyes, trying to come up with a response.

He wanted to go with 'I'm sorry, but fuck off. This is Michael's boyfriend, and I would like to know who you are.' but she would probably stop talking all together. And, plus, what if Michael had met up with her before. What if they had done things because Devin wasn't ready to yet?

What if he wasn't giving Michael what he wanted.
Devin wanted to scream again, out of complete confusion. He hated making decisions, and was so bad at it.

He typed something and sent it before he could hesitate.

'What time?'

'Wait, seriously! I thought I would never get a reaction out of you, Jesus fucking Christ. I was starting to doubt that this was actually Michael!'
Devin stared down at the phone for a second, trying to understand what the girl had said.

But... he still received the nudes... why didn't he tell her to stop!

'Yeah, where do you wanna meet up?' Devin typed, a slight smile on his face. Knowing that Michael and this girl never touched gave him that slight spite. He was going to lead her on, then piss her the fuck off. Then block her.

Why didn't Michael block her?

'You can come over now, I live here,'
She sent her location attachment, and then sent a weird ass emoji. Devin inwardly cringed.

He then jumped out of his skin completely when he heard a panicked knock on the door.

"Devin? Devin, are you in there?" Michael's hands moved down towards the handle, opening the door in a panic.

When he saw Devin sitting on the shower rug, he sighed deeply.

"God, Devin..."

"Sorry," Devin said meekly, looking down at the phone in his hands.

Michael took a hesitant step forward before taking it, and falling to his knees in front of Devin. "You scared me when I woke up alone. I swear, my heart stopped when the bathroom door was closed, and the light was on. I trust you... I do... but I don't want to leave your side right now. Sorry if that's selfish, you can tell me to leave when you want me too, but..."

Michael's voice trailed off, leaving him looking into Devin's eyes.

Devin gave him a small smile.

"Now, are you alright? You are crying again. Devin, you can wake me up whenever you need me, and I promise I won't get mad at you." Michael spoke, taking Devin's face in his hand. He caressed the skin lightly with his thumb.

He bent forwards to place a kiss on a loose tear that sat almost frozen on Devin's face. Devin closed his eyes, focusing on the feeling of Michael's soft hand against his skin. He couldn't ask for anything else.
The two just stared at each other for a long time, Devin remained silent even after all of Michael's questions.

Michael looked down to see what was in his hands.

"Is that my... phone?" Michael asked a bit surprised to see it in Devin's hands

"Uhm, yeah..." Devin answered, bowing his head in slight embarrassment. It felt like he was caught red handed, although, technically. That was what had happened.

"Why...?" Michael asked, not really fazed. That made another wave of relief go through Devin.

"Oh... this girl was texting you?" Devin stated, slightly tilting the phone so that Michael could see what she sent.

He looked down at the images, scoffing. "It's disgusting how she sends those, and I'm in now way attracted to that." Michael said, looking down at the pictures.

His lip was pulled downwards in a disgusted frown.
He looked down to make eye contact with Devin, giving him a small smile. "Now... if you were to send them, on the other hand," Michael jokes, laughing a bit.

Devin looked up at him, face completely serious.
"I'm just kidding, it was a joke!" Michael said, laughing even more. He rubbed Devin's thumb with his own. He smiled down at Devin.

"I-if you wanted me too..." Devin trailed off, looking down. He watched as Michael's thumb slid over his own, comforting him, and spreading a very visible blush over his cheeks.

They sat in silence for a minute before Michael took the phone from Devin's hand, typing something out to that bitch, completely flustered over what Devin had said.

'Fuck off, I'm taken.'

"Hey, Devin?" Michael asked, staring down, confused at the conversation he had had with the girl. "What's this about?" Michael continued, turning the phone to show him the conversation.

Devin peeked at what Michael was showing him, and blushed slightly. "I-uh... I wanted to... tell her to fuck off after leading her on..." He spoke, slowly. His words seemed distant. Michael let out a shy laugh, placing his phone on the floor.

He placed his hand on the side of Devin's face. "You don't need to get jelous Devin," Michael said, voice going quieter than he would have thought. "After careful consideration I have decided that I'm not into girls all that much."

Devin's gaze--which was originally fixed on the floor--shot up to look Michael in the eye. "But... but I thought that you-" Devin was so, so, scared that Michael had lacked apathy towards her.

Michael leaned forward, quieting Devin immediately with his own lips. It wasn't a heated kiss, like ones they had shared before, but a slow one. One that caught Devin's attention. One that Michael wouldn't mind giving Devin all day long.

He pulled away, moving his thumb slowly over Devin's cheek again. Devin looked down shyly. Michael hadn't even shown this much affection before. Sure, Michael made sure that Devin knew he was loved, but these delicate touches, the repeating sound of Michael saying 'I love you' was so... surreal. He didn't want this to end.

Devin grabbed hold of Michaelizuimi's hand, playing with his fingers. Michael's face broke out into a furious blush, completely in love with the boy in front of him. A couple of tears fell off of Devin's cheeks, overwhelmed. His own hands shook as he held Michael's fingers. Michael leaned into the touch, letting his body fall forwards until his forehead hit Devin's shoulder. He inhaled deeply and felt Devin relax below him.

"Hey, Devin?" Michael asked, looking up at him. He looked down to see a text message from the girl, but ignored it. It didn't matter at this point.

"Yes?" He responded, finding a bit of courage to look Michael in the eye.

Michael's eyes seemed to water a bit as he looked down at Devin.

He pressed his face into Devin's shoulder, letting out a sigh. "What made you... hurt yourself?" Michael asked, uncertainty laced in his words. He held Devin's hands in his lap, and his words made Devin's body freeze. Michael was a bit scared that he had done something wrong, or pushed it too far, or brought it up too soon after.

Michael pulled his face off of Devin's shoulder to see Devin's face.

He was biting his lip again, staring off to the other side of the bathroom.

"Devin, baby, you don't have to tell me if you don't want to. I just... was wondering, cause I want to help you. I know I've said it a lot tonight... but I really do love you and I'm not planning on leaving you ever, and I don't want you leaving me..."

Michael's voice trailed off, and he ran his thumb over the back of Devin's hand.

Devin took a deep breath before looking back at Michael. He gave him a saddened look before looking down at their hands.

"It's just... been building up for a while I guess," Devin whispered, not wanting to admit his problems. "My parents... it's just, I know they care, but they're never there for me... never home. Then the team,"

Devin let his head fall backwards, hitting the wall of the bathroom behind him.

"I-I don't think they want me as their caption. I don't know what I did... or if it's my fault... or if it's just me, or I did something to them, but I saw the Instagram post earlier. I guess that was partially caused by that first panic attack... and then... my body," Devin squeezed his eyes shut tight, clenching Michael's hand. Michael didn't speak. He wasn't going to until Devin was done.

Devin wanted to speak, and Michael was going to let him.

Devin opened his eyes slowly to make sure that Michael was still listening. Michael gave him a slight nod, and a look of reassurance, letting Devin know that he could go on.

"I guess I'm just... it's not what you want...?" Devin started, taking his hands away from Michael, a bit hesitant now.

"What?!" Michael started, eyes shooting wide open.
Devin flinched from the sudden raise in tone, and wouldn't open his eyes to look at Michael.

"I... I'm so... I guess I'm not... what I want." Devin said, rephrasing his last sentience.

Michael took his hands and brought them to Devin's cheeks, forcing Devin's gaze on his own.

"Michael..."

"No, no, no, don't 'Michael' me." Michael said, mad at Devin's words, but not Devin.

Devin looked down again, pulling away from Michael's hands. His breath started to pick up speed, and he couldn't control it.

Michael bent forwards, wrapping his arms around him, squeezing him again.

"Breathe with me." He spoke. His words felt so foreign to his mouth. He hadn't even done something like this for anyone before, but yet here he was.
"In, and out. In, and out." Michael spoke softly as Devin tried to get his breathing under control. Devin gripped Michael's shirt tightly, making his hands shake under the pressure.

"It's okay," Michael spoke, trying to reassure him.

"But,"

Devin's tense at Michael 'but'.

His breathing started growing unsteady again.
"Breathe. I'm here, I'm right here. Everything is alright. I was just gonna say, but it is what I want. You are everything that I want, alright. I couldn't ask for more."

Devin shook again, and buried his face into Michael's chest. He squeezed Michael's shirt into tighter fistfuls, and cried harder.

Michael felt his shirt grow damp, and didn't give a shit.

"And about the team... Well, they do love you. They do want you as their captain. You bring out the best in all of them. You are what makes us a team. Sure, they may be fucking assholes, but I got you, okay? If you're not feeling up to practicing with them, or you need me to tell them to stop, and I sure as hell will step in there and get them to shut the fuck up."

Devin's silent tears soon turned back to loud cries. The two of them are sitting on the cold bathroom floor, Devin's legs wrapped around Michael , and Michael's arms wrapped around Devin's. Michael kept his breathing steady, whispering in Devin's ear, 'breathe'.

A little over forty minutes later Devin had fallen asleep again. Michael knew bits of what had happened, and wanted to know more, but it wasn't the right time.

He grabbed underneath Devin's thighs, lifting him without much struggle, and slowly made his way out of the bathroom.

He looked over at the digital clock that sat on Devin's desk.

2:07 a.m.

He sighed, bringing Devin to the bed. He laid him down softly, pushing his bangs back, kissing his forehead.

"I love you, Michael," Devin whispered, mind cloudy with sleep. He tugged at Michael's hand, wanting him closer.

Michael didn't hesitate before slipping into the bed next to Devin. Devin was still facing the wall, and now his back was flush against Michael's chest and stomach.

He hummed at the feeling of Michael's arm slipping around his side, reaching his stomach and pushing its way underneath Devin's body weight. Devin felt his body being pulled closer to Michael. Michael's other arm slid underneath the pillow that Devin's head was resting on, meeting Devin's other hand and holding it softly.

He felt as Michael's face nuzzled up into the back of Devin's neck, inhaling deeply. They stayed in silence for a little while, embracing each other. Devin's body shook a bit, and Michael pulled the covers up around them, letting go of Devin. But Devin, after the covers were pulled further up, grabbed Michael's hand, and held onto it tightly against his chest.

Michael, a bit confused at first, laid back down with his forehead placed against the nape of Devin's neck.
Devin took a deep breath, and let it out, shaky.

Devin felt safe, and protected in Michael's arms.

"I've got you, okay?"

"Okay,"

thanks for reading loves
always
-aa