(i wrote this as kind of a comfort thing, so i don't really care if it's bad, so that sucks if you don't like it)
"FUCK!!"
Michael threw his controller on the floor in defeat, lying back and groaning. Jeremy, who was sitting on the floor next to him, giggled smugly.
"Jeremy, since when did you get good at video games?!" Michael exclaimed, grabbing Jeremy's shoulders and shaking him. Jeremy laughed, taking Michael's hands off of him. "The real question is: when did you get so bad?" he teased, sticking out his tongue to try and piss off Michael.
"Shut up!" Michael tried to act angry, but couldn't hold back his laughter
"Maybe when you get good at video games, I will."
"You act as if you didn't suck ass the last time we played!!"
"Oh come on Michael-"
"I got you in a rut huh-"
"Maybe. Not telling you."
"Hmph." Michael crossed his arms, pouting playfully. "Fine. You win this round."
"Yisssss." Jeremy pumped his fist, grinning. He glanced at the clock by chance, his eyes widening when he saw the time. "Jesus-"
"What?" Michael turned to him.
"It's, like, midnight already-"
"Oh wow dude- we've been playing for that long?"
"Apparently." Jeremy lied down on the floor. "..Hey man? Can I just stay here for the night? It's already pretty late, and it's the weekend anyway..."
"Sure dude!" Michael smiled. "Gives us more time to get stoned."
"We got stoned yesterday-"
"Stoning has no limit."
"Michaaaeeeeeelllllll." Jeremy scooted over to him, letting himself go limp and jokingly slumping on Michael.
Michael sighed dramatically, patting Jeremy sort on the back. "Alriiight. But what are we gonna do then?"
"I guess just... talk. I'm too tired to play more video games." Jeremy went to sit up, but he noticed Michael's arm was wrapped around him. Michael noticed him trying to get up, and immediately took back his arm. Jeremy sat up, still kind of close to Michael.
"So about Dustin-" Michael suddenly smirked. "Did you know he's actually a huge-"
...
The boys had been talking excitedly for hours, but now both of them were knocking out. Jeremy was dozing off slightly, and Michael looked really drowsy.
Michael noticed Jeremy was asleep and poked him until he woke up. "Hey. Ya fell asleep."
"Oh." Jeremy hesitated. "..Should we sleep now?"
"Yeah, I'm 'bout ready to knock out too." Michael got up to turn off the light. "You wanna sleep in the bed with me?"
(BEFORE YOU ASK! THEY ARE VERY GOOD "FRIENDS" THIS IS TOTALLY CASUAL THEY'RE JUST BROS THERE'S TOTALLYYYYYY NOT MUTUAL PINING HEERE)
"Sure, your bed's cozy." Jeremy climbed into Michael's bed, waiting for him.
Michael threw his hoodie across the room, flicked off the light, and climbed into bed. He nuzzled into the covers, closing his eyes. "'Night, Jer."
"'Night Michael."
Michael was about to sleep when he suddenly felt Jeremy shift. Michael thought nothing of it until he felt Jeremy shift again, this time accompanied by a small whimper. "Jer, you okay?" Michael asked softly. Jeremy didn't respond, he only curled up a little into the blankets and whimpered again.
Michael sat up. "Jer. What's wrong..?"
"..nothing Micha... I'm fine."
"Jeremy." Michael lifted the covers up slightly, looking down at the boy. "You sound like you're about to cry. I know when you're lying. Fess."
Jeremy sighed. "...fine. I might be.. scared."
"Scared?" Michael's heart jumped at the fact that Jeremy was upset. "Of what?"
Jeremy went silent, pulling the covers back over his head. Michael immediately pulled them back off of him.
"You'd make fun of me," Jeremy mumbled.
"Jer, that's ridiculous. I've known you ever since we were super fuckin young, and I didn't make fun of you for being a total furry-"
"You kinda just did." Jeremy smiled a little, distracted from his fear. He then glanced around a little, and slid back into the blankets.
"Hey, hey- Jer-"
"..better in here."
"Come on, just tell me what's wrong."
"..Fine." Jeremy inhaled slowly. "I kind of have.. nyctophobia."
"Nycto-what-now?"
"Nyctophobia... fear of the dark...?"
"Oh, you're scared of the dark??"
"...yeah."
"Oh jeez-"
Jeremy retreated further into the covers, anticipating this reaction.
"Waitwait- Jer- it's fine dude-" Michael hesitated, not sure what to say next. "It's fine if you're scared of the dark.. want me to turn the light back on?"
"No, cause then I can't sleep-"
"What a cruel dilemma," Michael joked, making Jeremy laugh a little more. "Want me to go beat up the universe for you?"
"Nah, it's all good. Besides, we're both falling asleep."
"Right. Forgot that the human body needs rest." Michael lied back down, getting under the covers.
For a moment, there was silence. Then, Jeremy slowly scooted over, wrapping his arms around Michael's body and pulling it closer to his. He sighed, resting himself near the crook of Michael's neck.
You couldn't see it in the darkness of the covers, but Michael's face went red. "Hey,, bud?" he mumbled, trying not to give away the fact that he was enjoying the cuddling way more than a best friend should.
"yeah?,,"
"You're,, what are you,,"
"Oh,,-" Jeremy scooted back, retracting his arms. "I'm sorry, I just-"
"No, no, it's fine Jer, you can,, do that-"
"Really?"
"Yea,,"
"Okay.. just tell me if you get uncomfortable?" And with those words, he snuggled into Michael again, resting himself in the same spot as before.
This time, Michael cuddled back, wrapping one of his arms around Jeremy. He smiled, enjoying the warmth of Jeremy's body on his.
Jeremy was enjoying the cuddling too. When he first held onto Michael, all his fears just evaporated in thin air. He knew he was safe. He knew nothing could get him when Michael was there to protect him. And he enjoyed that safety, that security that Michael made him feel.
And so, he closed his eyes. "Goodnight Micha," he mumbled, contented.
"Goodnight."
