we don't care [muke af]

thirty four

thirty four

"Mikey, please, I'm so tired." Luke pushed his face further into the bed sheets, refusing to react to the older man pulling at his arm.

"It's four in the afternoon. I left for work and came back and you have not moved. Did you even eat?"

"Of course I ate. Who the hell do you think I am? Skipping a meal?" Luke turned onto his back as Michael let go of his arm. He pulled the layers of sheets closer to his bare chest, his bump stopping him from seeing his toes, or knees, or any of his lower half. "I don't want to move."

"Let's go out to dinner. We can pack something in eat by the lake or something."

The lake was the closest thing anyone in Missouri was getting to a beach. It was a man-made lake half an hour out from the suburbs. It had fake sand, nice benches, and a tall breeze.

"It's cold."

"Then put on clothes."

"Too much effort," he whined.

Michael sat down near Luke's side. He placed his hand on the growing belly, waiting for a kick. He could feel slight movement underneath his hand and it made him smile. Such an active baby. Their active baby.

"I want to go out, let's do stuff. I've been stuck in an over-heated building every day this week. I don't want to spend another night home."

Luke let out a groan, "Fine." He pushed the sheets off of his body, his swollen feet aching. "You better be ready to fucking carry me." He got up, wandering over to the laundry basket with clean clothes.

Both Luke and Michael wore the same thing every day, it was a waste of energy to put their clothes away only to take it back out a few hours later.

Michael began stripping off his work clothes, quickly changing to jeans and a tee shirt. He headed downstairs, packing up every leftover in their fridge. They'd have a potluck to themselves.

He placed everything in an insulated bag before sliding his shoes on and waiting by the door, twirling his keys around his finger.

Luke wobbled down the stairs, looking slightly more alive than before. "I'm tired."

"Yes, Baby, you made that clear." Michael grabbed Luke's hand, sliding their fingers in between each other. He started to lead them out the front door and towards the elevator. Even though he was only two floors up, Mike was too afraid to make Luke do more walking than needed. His belly was bigger than ever, and it was growing every day more.

They made their way into Michael's truck, Luke making himself comfortable in the passenger seat.

"So, where are you taking me? Are you going to go murder me in the woods or something?"

Michael rolled his eyes. "Don't even joke about that."

"Just asking!"

"No, you shit. I just wanted to get out of the house. You haven't left that bed since Wednesday." Michael pulled out of the parking garage, the fall sunset blinding them.

"Just the way I like it," Luke responded. He put his hands on his belly, resting his sore limbs on the bump. He found so many good uses for the bump—he could rest his bowl of ramen noodles on it, he could push Michael off the bed with it, he could use it as an excuse to not do laundry. Luke loved being pregnant, he knew he was going to change his mind once they had to cut him open, though.

"Was your day good, though?"

"It was perfect. I slept and watching Netflix. Life is great." He smiled, leaning over and taking MIchael's hand, entwining their fingers back over Luke's thigh. "How was yours?"

"Stupid. Everyone is stupid, everything is stupid. We had a pep rally and it was stupid."

"Damn, your days are such a struggle. Does the school miss me?"

Michael was taking in the scenery around him, the leaves changing and falling to the ground, the sky falling to hues of pink in front of their eyes. "Oh, yes, they cry every day since you graduated," he sarcastically answered.

"I really don't need your sass right now. I'm carrying your child, for Gods sake."

Michael squeezed his hand. "I love you," slipped from his lips.
Mike remembers the first time those three words fell out of his mouth. Michael thinks he has always been in love with Luke, though. It wasn't hard to fall in love with Luke.

They admired the outside world as they made the last few miles to the lake. Even though both Luke and Michael hated leaving the house, they felt their mind clear when they breathed the fresh air.

Mike placed a hand on the small of Luke's back and began guiding him towards a chipped away wooden bench a few meters out. There weren't a lot of people walking around, most families have gone home.

He helped Luke sit down, even though the blonde swore he could do it himself. Luke could not do it himself.

Michael sat across from him, making himself comfortable. He crossed his feet below his own, starting to take out their layers of leftovers. "Are you in for Monday night Chinese food or Thursday burritos?"

"It did not like Chinese, so I'll take the burritos," Luke reached out, grabbing the container.

In that moment, they felt so domestic. It all felt so right.

That's how Michael knew he wanted to marry Luke, right then, right there. He looked up at the blonde, unable to stop himself from smiling. Luke was pretty in every possible way.

"Let's get married," he spit out.

Luke furrowed his eyebrows. He took another bite of his dinner before answering. "Okay."

"Okay?"

"Yeah, sure. Why not?"

Michael laughed. He stabbed his plastic fork into the heavy Chinese food. "I'm serious. Let's go ring shopping. Let's get engaged. Let's plan a wedding for after It."

"Sounds like a plan."

"Why are you so chill about this?" Michael asked. He took a bite of his dinner, the leftovers leaving a perfect taste in his mouth. He loved leftovers—from cold pizza to a few-day-old Chinese food. "I thought you were going to freak out or something."

"Dude, I've been mentally married to you since before we first talked." Luke passed it off like a joke, but it wasn't really a joke. He saw Michael for the first time and his little teenage self couldn't contain it. He wanted that man, he needed Michael.

Mike leant over, pecking at his boyfriend's high cheekbones. "We're going to get married."

Luke smiled. "Yeah, we're going to get married."