"I'm going to town to pick up my meds," Patrick says, looking at Pete, Mikey, and Gabe, who are watching Howard the Duck and resting uncomfortably in very close quarters on the small couch. "Does anyone want anything?"

"Popcorn, please," Mikey says, which is coincidentally the exact same time Pete says the exact same thing.

Mikey looks at Pete with stony eyes and Pete gazes right back. 

And then Mikey says it.

"Jinx!"

Pete tilts his head as if to ask a question. He mimes drinking a soda with his hand, then mimes talking.

"I'm not gonna be a weak shit and make you get me a damn soda from the fridge. You can't say anything until one of us says your name," Mikey says.

Gabe starts to cackle. "Maybe now he won't fucking talk during the movie."

"But this movie sucks ass, and he can't go thirty seconds without making a snarky anecdote," Mikey says. Pete crosses his arms. "Sorry, babe, it's true."

Patrick grins. "Two popcorns. Got it. I'm out," he says, grabs his keys, and leaves the small apartment, locking the door behind him.

What follows Patrick's departure is a peaceful silence enjoyed only by Gabe. Mikey, however, is being distracted by Pete, who is trying to get Mikey to say his name.

Mikey pulls out his phone and texts Patrick-- "I think I'm going to tell Pete that I love him today."

Patrick responds with a series of various heart emojis, causing Mikey to grin.

"I want to take a nap," Gabe declares suddenly, standing abruptly and stretching. "Partly because Pete not talking feels weird, but mainly because this movie sucks dick."

And with that, he leaves the room. 

Pete, now seeing an opportunity to get Mikey to say his name, crawls over Mikey and sits on his lap, wraps his arms around Mikey's neck, and begins to cuddle his boyfriend.

Mikey thinks this is harmless and continues to watch the shitty movie. That is, until Pete starts to give him a hickey.

"Jesus, get off," Mikey says, giggling a bit and pushing Pete off him. "I'm not saying your damn name."

Pete sighs in defeat and goes to his last resort: sign language. Since Mikey's brother is half deaf and Pete's own mother is hard of hearing, he's learned sign language, and so has Mikey. Pete holds his hands in front of Mikey's face and signs out various sentences, to which Mikey responds with laughter.

"Who was the lead singer of Genesis again?" Pete signs.

Mikey laughs. "His last name is Gabriel. You share a first name."

After spouting rapid ASL gibberish for about five minutes, Pete stops. He leans towards Mikey, kisses his cheek, and raises his hand.

"I love  you."

Mikey sees this and takes a few seconds to register it. When he finally realizes what Pete is saying, a grin spreads across his face, and he launches forward and kisses Pete with a passion he doesn't think he's ever felt before.

"You fucking dork," Mikey says when he pulls away, then leans in for another. He can feel Pete's smile against his mouth. "I love you, too."

Mikey leans back onto the old couch, his hand laced with Pete's. "But I'm still not saying your name."