byler SMUT i found on ao3 | 2

[ viii ] every other freckle

CREATOR : Smalltown_boy

WARNINGS : no archive warnings apply

RATING : explicit

WORD COUNT : 2585

It was a cool summer night, soft blue moonlight bloomed through the bedroom window of a Chicago apartment, the cityscape lit up with bustling lights and a bright full moon. For once, the clouds so frequently born from the great lakes allowed it to watch over the sky with a full face. A breezy, mostly clear night.

Lying in bed with Nirvana playing low in the near dark, Will sat to look up at the view across from him as Mike came in from his post-shift shower. The moonbeams and city light casted itself across milky planes of skin, making Will catch his breath as he took it in with a soft expression of admiration.

A heavy, disheveled, damp mop of hair over his shirtless shoulders, dark eyes with black hair to match, clouds and clusters of freckles on pale skin partially flushed from the warm water, lashes that demand one's gaze. Always so lovely, even when he's exhausted in sleepwear.

Mike crawled into bed then, sidling up next to Will with a book in hand. He gave a smile, tapping the bedside lamp and brightening the space with a dim, pale yellow glow.

They sat for a moment, taking in the peace without either needing words yet. Will drew his gaze to the ceiling, only to return his eyes to take in Mike's soft and crooked smile while he read.

His dimples, how Will adores the dimples. The strong distinguished shape of his profile, his gorgeous permanently pursed lips.

Mike himself however had never been the most secure in his looks. Or his value in general, if we're honest. He'd always felt awkward, mediocre at best– not very kind to himself to say the least.

Yet after so many years with Will as a partner, he was really doing better. Not in a "love fixed me" way, but in a "he makes sure I know I'm wanted and worth something" way. Will served as security, assurance, a reminder in human form.

Will is so lovely, so wise, so caring. So if he loves Mike, then there simply must be a good reason. This had been a salve on the wounds of Mike's many insecurities.

His scrawny looks, his lack of social skills, his "abnormality"? Will finds these things beautiful, endearing, charming.

So why should Mike doubt him? This dynamic they'd formed had helped pull Mike out of a long cycle of self-deprecation.

Much in Will's typical fashion, he'd started to catch on quick enough to this development. With it, he only leaned more and more against it. Always dropping small sincere compliments, praise, appreciation.

Sometimes it blew Mike away, how touching Will's mannerisms with him are. Will hardly even seemed to know it, too. How sweet and sentimental he can be.

It wasn't an unusual occurrence for Mike to sometimes spring to tears at a compliment or the like, if it hit too close to an insecurity or old wound. Everything Mike was made fun of for or likes about himself the least is something Will loves. Unconditionally.

His often awkward personality? Will adores it and naturally bounces off of it.

His distinct nose? Will often would draw Mike in profile just for the excuse to depict it at "the best" angle. The angle Mike had always been taught to hate by other people's passive aggressive commentary.

His body type? Will finds him handsome, attractive, pretty. Even if he has so little mass on his thin frame.

His own silly, whimsical, impulsive nature that can get him into trouble or occasionally result in embarrassing antics? Will is the same way.