Chapter Text
Once in a blue moon, the store would be slow enough that the employees, including himself, would have to resort to busywork. He’s organizing and reorganizing end caps on random aisle and there hadn’t been a customer for at least two hours, and everyone was beginning to a little stir-crazy. Michael is about to call it quits and send everybody home, when the chime over the entrance interrupts his train of thought. Repressing a groan, he turns to greet the customer, before stopping dead in his tracks. The last person he was expecting to see is there, bright aura in place and Michael doesn’t know what to do.
“Hi Mike,” Luke says shy but friendly, like he's happy to see Michael but unsure if he can be.
Even though he hasn’t seen Luke, up close, in almost 9 months but wished to so often, Michael is suddenly very unsure about him showing up at the shop. He knows it's not very rational to be upset with him, he hasn’t done anything wrong obviously, but he kind of is anyway. He can’t just show up and be timid and awkward and not at all what Michael is used to.
He's darker and rosy cheeked like he's been spending time in the sunshine and he's wearing a huge white t-shirt and black shorts and trainers and he looks amazing actually. It's so different from what Michael's used to seeing him in but he seems comfortable and happy. He looks just as good in these clothes as he does in his skinny jeans and clunky, sparkly boots. Michael pushes those thoughts away quickly when he remembers what the situation is. He forces his face into a flat expression and crosses his arms tightly, ready to guard himself from whatever Luke has to say.
“Hi,” he deadpans looking at Luke as emotionlessly as he can muster. Luke’s shy smile falters just for a moment before he forces it back into place.
“So um how’ve you been?” Luke asks stepping to follow after Michael as he turns in the middle of Luke’s question to begin messing with the end cap on the next aisle down. He's already rearranged and organized this one but he's trying his damndest to put some distance between them.
“Fine,” Michael gruffs.
“Okay,” Luke mutters after a pause in which Michael refuses to further elaborate or acknowledge Luke standing a couple feet away.
“Ummm, are you okay?” Luke asks cautiously, at that Michael whips his head around to make eye contact with Luke, the completely irrational anger bubbling over to a full blown rage. Michael opens his mouth to possibly yell at Luke. Possibly just scream directly in his face. Luke suddenly looks like a deer in the headlights and it deflated the balloon in Michael’s throat a bit. He presses his lips together tightly instead before exhaling a sharp breath from his nose.
It takes all of Michael’s willpower to not yell in Luke’s face and they both know it. They stare at each other just for a second tensely before Michael turns away again to move to the next end cap. Luke follows still and Michael can feel his shoulders tensing the longer he stares at Michael.
“I’m doing okay, Luke, do you need something?” Michael sighs and he can’t really keep the exhaustion from it.
“Um, my friend’s band is playing a gig tonight, down at the bar on 8th street? It's just gonna be a small acoustic thing but I was wondering if you wanted to come?” Luke asks fiddling with the things on the shelf beside him self-consciously.
Michael stops fiddling with mini tuners to put focus on not screaming.
“I just thought you would like them, it's your kinda music, yknow.” He finishes with a blush creeping across his cheeks. He stares down at the toes of his nikes, in wait of Michael's response. Michael looks at him. Luke’s arms are clasped behind his back now and he's rubbing at a spot on the floor with the end of one shoe, his shoulders hunched forward timidly. He always tried so hard to make himself smaller than he was if he thought he’d upset someone and Michael spent so much time forcing him to straighten his back out, nagging about him looking like a prawn when he turned 70.
“Yeah,” Michael says. Luke's head snaps up.
“Yeah?” Luke repeats, failing to keep the hopeful edge from his voice.
“Yeah, I’ll be there,” Michael says trying to hide his own shock at himself. Luke throws his arms up like he's going to hug Michael but stops short at the last second and instead pushes his arm forward for a fist bump which Michael returns biting back a snort. Same awkward Luke.
“Okay,” Luke says nearly bouncing in place he pauses to bite his lip like he has to contain a smile before he can keep talking, “Okay, I have to go but tonight? The band goes on at nine it's the only bar on 8th!” Luke hollers as he's nearing the door nearly jogging in excitement. He reminds Michael of a golden retriever sometimes.
“Okay,” Michael yells back as Luke goes out the door. He pumps his fist in the air before he's made it past the storefront and Michael can’t help the laughter he smothers in his hands. Once Luke is out of sight Michael feels himself sagging like a puppet with cut strings. He hadn't expected to see Luke and he didn't expect for Luke to invite him somewhere on their first encounter after.
“So where are we going?” Fiona appears around the corner of the opposite shelf and Michael nearly falls and takes down an end cap out of fright.
Hours later and Michael and Fiona are walking into the bar on 8th street, 20 minutes after seven.
“Why are we here so early, Fiona?” Michael grouses.
“Because, grumpy-butt, we’re gonna have some fun and drinks and maybe some quality time with an anonymous hot piece of ass,” Fiona wiggles her eyebrows suggestively in michael’s direction and he rolls his eyes.
“Luke invited me to watch a band and that’s the only reason we’re here.” Michael emphasises his point with a gentle squeeze of Fiona’s hand as she leads the way toward the bar, weaving around a few tables and other excited patrons.
“Please, you know that’s not the only reason I came here!” She winks and flags down one of the bartenders to get them both a beer. After they get their drinks and Fiona gets shot down by the pretty blonde bartender they start examining the other patrons of the bar more closely. It seems like the usual mix of middle aged office workers grabbing a drink after work and some college kids who probably don’t have anything better to do.
Fiona stops suddenly and slaps a hand into Michael’s chest. He yelps and almost spills his beer out of fright.
“Look,” she squeaks. Michael’s eye’s follow over the hand she extends pointing across the room.
Calum is there pulling at cables and plucking on a bass. Michael watches as another dude with a mop of curly blond hair on top of his head comes over and starts poking at him with a drumstick. Michael watches as the poking turns into a playful fight that results in the other guy climbing over Calum’s back trying to get his stick back while Calum multitasks keeping it out of reach and keeping his bass from getting banged up. Michael is smiling before he even realizes it. Michael is jerked from his thought as Fiona suddenly is dragging them across the bar before he can protest and he has to swing around a few chairs to avoid falling flat on his face as she pulls them over to where Calum and the blond guy are standing. They stop abruptly and Michael almost runs right into Fiona’s back he fumbles his beer to keep from dropping it and stares daggers at the back of his best friend’s head.
“Calum?” Fiona half-shouts over the din of the bar. Calum and his friend both look up at the same time and Calum grins when he sees Fiona and glances back to wave at Michael in greeting.
“Hey! Fiona, Michael, how's it going?” Calum exclaims standing up and setting his bass aside to move toward them. He looks warmly over them both and his eyes settle back on Michael and Michael can’t stop the smile pulling his own lips at how pleased and surprised Calum seems to see them.
“We’re great!” Fiona says elbowing Michael in the stomach when he doesn’t say anything. “A friend invited us out to see a band tonight I didn’t realize it’d be your band! Small world!”
“I know,” Calum laughs but he seems shy at the prospect of discussing himself on stage and is quick to change the subject grabbing his friend from before and pulling him over. “This is Ashton! He plays drums and sings really well but he only wants to play the drums.”
“Hello! Nice to meet you guys!” Ashton smiles a deeply dimpled smile at them and extends a hand toward them both. He’s got a thick accent that reminds Michael of his hometown and he decides immediately that he likes Ashton. There’s something familiar about him Michael can’t put his finger on but he decides he doesn’t mind it.
They start making small talk and rather quickly Fiona decides they need more drinks and Ashton offers to escort her to the bar. They saunter away hand in hand like a 17th century lord and lady and Michael can’t stop the laughter bubbling past his lips at their ridiculous banter.
“Ashton could probably make friends with a brick wall.” Calum murmurs from beside Michael.
“Fiona’s the same way!” Michael exclaims with a giggle.
“I’m honestly really glad you’re here, by the way,” Calum says. Michael looks at him past the bottle in his hand and sees Calum looking off to the side his cheeks blushing just slightly as he speaks and Michael can’t help but find it cute.
“It could sound dumb but we started practicing seriously again for the gig tonight and I kinda missed not going to the shop to bother you everyday.” Calum is full on flushed up to his ears as he says it and Michael feels heat creeping on his own face at the confession as well.
Michael just about to respond when Fiona barrels into his side and almost knocks them both over. She looks frantic as she rights them both and pulls Michael in to tell him something next to his ear.
“Luke is here!” She whisper-screeches.
Michael’s head whips up immediately scanning the crowded bar area for the blond curls he thinks he could recognize in his sleep. When his eyes find Luke he’s laughing and clinging onto someone and they’re making their way toward them.
Fiona grips Michael’s hand tightly as his heart rate speeds up at the sight of Luke and Ashton coming toward them with their arms slung over each other’s shoulders. Michael is stock still as they reach where Fiona, Michael and Calum are standing and Ashton smiles huge and tucks Luke closer to his side.
“Michael! Fiona! This is Luke! He refuses to call me his boyfriend but I’m working it!” Ashton grins.
Luke makes eye contact with Michael and the smile leaves his face immediately. He looks like a deer in headlights for the second time that day and Michael feels the same way. He’s unsure what to do but he can tell the others are picking up on the weird line of tension between them. Fiona’s grip on his hand becomes bruising and he suddenly snaps himself out of it.
“We know each other.” Michael says and cringes internally at the awkward tone of his voice.
“Yeah…” Luke says and Michael is looking at anything but the people he’s currently standing with. He can tell the awkwardness is obvious to all of them and doesn’t want to risk looking at anyone in case he says something horrific and makes it worse. Unhelpfully, the only thing his brain seems able to supply is you’ve seen at least three of the five of you naked.
Fiona clears her throat loudly first and that snaps the tension for Michael in the form of him chugging down the rest of his beer and then immediately looking at Luke. He’s folded himself underneath Ashton’s arm and Michael resists the urge to tell him to straighten his back. The heavy blanket of awkward starts creeping over them and Michael makes eye contact with Calum on accident and immediately looks the other direction.
“We dated for like a long time.” Luke blurts out suddenly.
Michael chokes on his own spit.
“Oh my god,” Fiona sighs and shakes her head extending a hand out to smack Luke on the shoulder. He lets out a tiny ow and Fiona rolls her eyes. “You’re both fucking hopeless.” She grumps.
Michael recovers from his coughing fit and wheezes indignation at Luke. He has the decency to at least be blushing a full red in embarrassment. Michael chances a glance at Calum and is shocked to find that it looks like he’s trying hard to keep from laughing. Ashton on the other hand seems to be lost somewhere between glaring at Luke and outright gaping at Michael. This is a disaster. Michael should have known something absolutely stupid like this would have happened when he agreed to come out here tonight. Michael is about to set down his empty beer on the closest table and bolt for the door like the coward he feels like being when Calum snorts and then he’s doubling over laughing. Michael wants the floor to open so he can fall straight into hell and never face anyone ever again. Calum huffs and giggles like he’s trying to stop himself from laughing harder. Michael chances a glance around and Ashton looks to be trying to hold back his own laughter, staring over at Calum with his lips pulled into his mouth and this glimmering around his eyes like it’s a struggle.
“Um, well that’s clearly a thing,” Calum throws up finger quotes around thing. “I’m not gonna lie though, I’m totally fine with that because that's one less hot guy to potentially date you other than me.”
Calum shrugs and Michael chokes, again, and Luke blushes, again, but this time Ashton does burst out laughing in these giddy high pitched peels of giggles and Michael is honestly amazed he’s able to make such a sound. Fiona has seemingly given up and downs the rest of her drink before laughing too. Michael looks to Calum and sees that despite the light pink dusting his cheeks he’s still readily making eye contact with Michael. He quirks an eyebrow and Michael feels his face heating up because of Calum’s complete nonchalance and hates the fact that it affects him at all. Michael feels it’s the perfect time to announce his beer is empty and he’s getting another one.
“I’ll go with you!” Calum grabs Michael’s arm and begins pulling them toward the bar without giving Michael room to protest. They get the bar and have to wait for one of the bartenders to get to them so Calum turns to Michael leaning against the bar comfortably.
“So you and Luke, huh?” Calum asks casually. Michael immediately feels something sour turn over in his stomach.
“Yeah.” Michael doesn’t want to tell Calum anything about it and he hopes Calum won’t pry. But of course Michael can’t have his way just once because the universe likes to laugh at his misery.
“I only have one question if you’ll humor me because I can see you don’t really wanna talk about it.” Calum holds up one finger and gives his best pleading look. Michael immediately wants to punch something, but calum looks cute when he makes big leading eyes at Michael.
Michael sighs, “Fine.”
“Is there any chance of that being a thing again?” Calum asks and he looks genuine and a little worried and it makes the sour thing in Michael’s stomach flip over again.
Michael has to stop and think about it. Luke is clearly alright with someone else and he’s not holding back waiting around for...something... like Michael has been. It’s the first time Michael has really looked at the situation since Luke left that night. It’s not as scary as he thought it’d be to realize that he’s really okay. Luke seems happy where he is now and Michael as much as it pains him, that’s all he could really hope for Luke. It makes Michael think that he might have been trying to cling to something he’d already let go this whole time.
“No, there’s nothing left of that.” Michael says just loud enough to be heard.
Calum doesn’t react the way Michael thought he might just pats a firm hand on Michael shoulder and squeezes there when the bartender finally comes over. He orders two beers and let's Michael partially alone to think, though Michael’s brain isn’t moving too far past the warm hand on his shoulder gripping loosely and comfortable like it’s meant to be there. Michael could probably shaking it off but he finds it hard to actually make himself do it. When the bartender sets the drinks on the wood top Calum grabs them both in one big hand and pulls Michael under his arm to walk them back to where the others are. Michael fits against Calum’s side easily and he can’t help the small smile that pulls up lips when he notices Calum’s ears are turning pink again. Michael slides easily away from Calum when they get back grabbing his beer and retreating to Fiona’s side. He notices that Ashton has an arm around Luke’s waist gripping his hip comfortably Luke is smiling and they’re all talking casually and Michael can’t feel all that annoyed when Luke looks that happy.
“Ash we gotta finish setting up.” Calum says suddenly. He chugs down the remains of his beer and sets the bottle on the table behind him. Ashton goes to follow suit and Luke immediately begins pouting. Michael and Fiona gag loudly when Ashton plants a few loud kisses on Luke’s cheeks. Luke glares at them both when Ashton turns away and they can’t contain their giggles.
Calum comes over to Michael and places a firm hand on his hip that has Michael’s mouth drying up. Calum leans in close to brush his lips over Michael's ear.
“Stick around and watch the show and I’ll find you when we’re done.” Calum commands, squeezing where his fingers are on Michael’s hip bone. Michael nods as Calum pulls away and when he turns to walk off toward the stage again Fiona begins slapping at Michael’s arm as he blushes and they both giggle quietly and this time Luke is the one gagging loudly and miming sticking his finger in his throat. Michael can feel the heat radiating off his ears.