Lightning Between Us

"Mike...I've been so scared to say this," Will whispered, voice breaking like fragile glass, "I didn't know if you felt the same. Or if I was just...holding onto something that wasn't real."

He swallowed hard, fighting the lump in his throat. "But I can't hide it anymore. I—" Will's breath hitched, and tears spilled freely now, "I love you, Mike...I have for a long time. More than just a friend. More than I ever thought I could feel for anyone..."

The words hung in the air between them, heavy and trembling with truth.

"I want you to know. Because even if you don't feel the same..." His voice cracked again, but he forced out the last words, "I needed you to hear it. I needed you to know."

Why isn't he saying anything?

Then Mike suddenly reached out, gently squeezing Will's hand, their bodies still against mere inches apart.

"Thank you for telling me," Mike said quietly, "That means more than you know."

Will was at a loss for words, he didn't expect this. He expected Mike to be angry or disgusted, or...

Mike's hand stayed wrapped around Will's, grounding them both. He didn't pull away, didn't let go. His brows were furrowed, not in anger, but in thought, like his brain was trying to catch up with his heart.

"I didn't know," Mike said quietly, his voice rough, "I mean... maybe part of me did. Maybe I just didn't let myself think about it."

Mike shook his head and let out a breath that sounded more like a laugh, except it was laced with something sad, "God, Will...you've always been the one person who actually sees me. Who really gets me."

Will stayed silent, barely breathing, afraid that if he moved, the moment would shatter, and Mike would hate him.

Mike's voice lowered again, more tender now, "When things got complicated with El, and everything started falling apart...I kept thinking about you. About how simple things used to be. How you'd look at me and it felt like I wasn't such a mess, like everything would be okay..."

Was this a...confession?

 Mike paused, his thumb brushing against Will's knuckles absentmindedly.

"You said you were stuck in the past, but...maybe I was, too. Or maybe I just didn't want to admit that what I had with you felt...different." Mike speaks softly, staring so deeply into Will's eyes, it almost hurts.

This is his truth, unfiltered, messy, and real.

"I don't know exactly what this is. I'm still figuring it out...but when I saw you crying...when I thought I hurt you-" Mike's voice cracks slightly, he's shaking his head, "It wrecked me. Because the last thing I ever want to do is make you feel small...or invisible. Or like your feelings don't matter."

"Because they do," Mike added firmly, "You matter. More than you know."

He hesitated, the next words shaky, but sincere, "I don't have all the answers yet. But I know I care about you, so much. And maybe...maybe it's more than I thought it was. Maybe it's always been more..."

More...?