More Than

Nightmares

Jeremy woke up in a cold sweat. Even though he had defeated the squip forever ago (and simultaneously saved the entire construct of society) he had never been truly ridden of the diseased supercomputer that whispered in his ear on occasion. He would have reoccurring nightmares of it, the only time the squip was allowed to work back into his mind and be all controlling, the way it once was. He was terrified to go back to the way he had been, without any hope, without any feeling, without any Michael. And with that thought. Jermey did the only thing reasonable in that moment - call Michael.
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Michael awoke with a sudden start, in the pitch black. Or, what should have been the pitch black if it wasn't for his phone that was vibrating impatiently and blaring the name (at full brightness, mind you) "Player 1". Michael didn't hesitate for a second, immediately swiping right to help out his friend.
"Hey you okay? It's three in the morning and I know you wouldn't call without a rea-"
In a raspy tone, Jeremy interrupted
"Yeah, sorry about that bro." He let out a nervous chuckle. "It's just that I, well, I-"
Michael returned the interruption with
"Jer-Bear, is it that dream again?"
With a shaky voice on the verge of tears, Jeremy replied "Uh huh."
Michael hung up.
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Jeremy began to go into a sudden panic.
"Now I've REALLY done it. I acted too clingy and drove my best friend away. I bet he didn't even want me calling so early in the morning. I would understand if he never wanted to talk to me again."
He began to calm down a bit, partially because he was tired, and partially because he didn't want to think about what his friend would think of him now. He decided it would be best to go back to bed and try to apologize to Michael in the morning. Jermey began to drift off to sleep until all of a sudden-
He heard the doorbell ring.
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Michael waited nervously at his best friend's door. He knew how upsetting these nightmares were to his bro, and wanted to get to him as soon as possible. He couldn't understand why or how, but he felt something inside him that told him he had to rush over and help Jeremy as soon as possible.
Jeremy opened the door, slowly and cautiously.
"You came?"
"Well of course I did. I couldn't leave you there hanging!"
Jeremy broke out into a relieved yet joyful laugh, which caused Michael to go red in the face. He was just thankful it was too dark to tell.
"Hey, do you wanna talk about-"
"No, no, I'm fine. Really. You really do make it better though" Jeremy smiled nervously. "I know I don't have as many game consoles as you, but-"
"Of course, Jer-Bear~" Micheal chirped.
Jeremy's face turned scarlet within seconds. "T-That was your nickname for me in the second grade, Mich."
"Yeah, but I still like to use it" Michael replied.
The two went down to the basement, where an original Wii was set up. In it was the original Super Mario Bros, and they immediately began to play. It had been forever since the either had played on the console, or the game for that matter, and remembered how both had given up at World Seven, final castle.
"Do you think we could-" Jeremy started
"Finish this in one night? Hell yeah!" The other replied with vigor.
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It had been hours, but the two were never so enveloped in a game. They were at world 8, final castle, and they were ready to conquer it with ease. Both looked at each other before starting the level.
"You ready?" Michael said, with a passionate glint in his eyes the color of cinnamon.
"As I'll ever be!" Jeremy replied with the same excitement.
They were at the final battle with Bowser, both with two lives left.
They had decided on one fighting until they died and then the other stepping in once they had died to wait for the later to revive.
They only had to knock out Bowser once more, and the game would be won. It was Jeremy's turn, and he was beginning to get nervous. What if he let down his player one? He cleared all doubts out of his mind soon after that one negative thought, and began to play. He dodged fireballs and weaseled around spells, until he heard the one final buzz of the remote. He had won the game. He looked back at Michael, with an expression of joy from ear to ear.
"You did it!" He screamed excitedly.
"Don't you mean we did it, Mich?
"Yeah, I guess we did!"
All of a sudden, Jeremy felt sentimental and dropped his controller to hug Michael with a long embrace. Michael hugged back, both of them not saying anything for awhile. Then Micheal broke the silence with
"What's up Jer-Bear? You're usually not like this."
"I-I, well-" he began to feel tears welling up in his eyes. "It's just, you didn't have to come, you didn't have to make me feel better, and I don't deserve you."
Michael looked back at Jeremy with a gentle and loving smile.
"Well of course you deserve me, ya dork."
Without thinking, Michael went in for a brief but passionate kiss.
What was surprising to him, however, is that Jeremy kissed back.
"Hey player two?"
"Yeah?" Michael said, with a sweet and tender tone.
"I love you."
This caused both of them to smile.
Michael replied "I love you too bro, but I'm kinda tired, so can we crash?"
"Of course" Jeremy replied.
And so, as you would expect, both fell asleep enter-tangled in a loving mess with the other, and either had never felt so happy in their life.