Work Text:
1989.
It was a normal day with two dudes on a bike.
They were best friends. No. They were definitely more than that. They were boyfriends and it was freaking cute.
Exer Campbell and David Miller were riding their bikes together down the street. Like two boyfriends do. They were on their way home from school and we're gonna go hang out at Exer's house since it was Friday. Instead of taking the car to school that day, both boys thought it would be fun to try something new.
It was a beautiful day out too. A bit cloudy with chance of rain but not until later. And the boys plan on taking full advantage of it. The sun shining brightly beaming down on them. The cool crisp wind that's flying through them as they bike home.
Faint sounds of children screaming and laughing as they bike past playgrounds.
"I bet I can beat you to your house!" Exer taunted him. David's eyes lit up fiercely.
"Ha! In your dreams." David laughed. They both started peddling faster and faster. They would both glance at each other because laughing a bit and trying to focus.
They both went zooming down the streets. With no cars in sight on the roads they were able to speed through no problem.
It was down to the final stretch. Both boys were neck in neck going a very high speed for bicycles.
Exer overtook David and couldn't help but laugh as he saw his house get closer and closer.
He was gonna win!
He was gonna-
"Exer watch out!"
Exer snapped out of his thoughts and saw a decently sized rock in the middle of the road that his bike was heading straight towards.
He grabbed the handles suddenly and tried to shear himself away but it was too soon. His bike hit the rock which sent him and his bike flying.
He got flipped off his bike and landed on the ground. Exer and his bike crashed.
He looked around dazed and slightly confused.
"Exer! Oh my gosh! Are you ok?" David came rushing towards him, got off his bike and immediately went to see what was wrong.
Reflexively, Exer's eyes started to tear up. He shuffled a bit.
"Ow.. what happened?" He asks holding his arm gently.
"Well there was a rock that you didn't see and you ended up hitting it then you flipped and you and your bike crashed and- are you crying? Holy sugar! What hurts?" David exclaimed gently grabbing his arm.
Exer sniffled. David bent down beside him and gently wiped away his tears before covering his cheeks where the tears had fallen with kisses.
"It's ok Day, I promise. It just surprised me, I'm ok." Exer explained calmly standing up.
"I didn't expect that to happen. I should be more careful next time." He rubbed his arm where it had hit against the pavement. They both got up from the ground, David helping Exer.
"There we go. Are you sure you're ok? That was a pretty hard fall." David grabbed his bike and they started walking to Exer's house which was thankfully just a couple meters away.
As soon as they entered the house they were immediately met with Lucy who greeted them both happily. She walked up to Exer before rubbing her head on his leg.
"Stay here, I'll be back." David said to him before turning towards the bathroom.
"You know I can heal myself, right?" Exer called out to him.
"You're not allowed. Now you have to let your boyfriend take care of it." David yelled from the bathroom causing Exer to roll his eyes but sigh fondly.
While he was gone, Exer sat down on the ground and started playing with Lucy. His arm hurt still but it wasn't as bad. He got on his tummy and she started jumping on him and kneading his shirt. It tickled and Exer couldn't help but giggle. She was such a cute kitty. Exer felt his mind start to wander. He's been feeling pretty stressed lately with school and working. Not that he doesn't love working at the cafe but sometimes it's a lot for him. He's just one boy after all.
He could feel his thoughts escaping him. His worries started to disappear and he was feeling strange. Something he has never felt before. But in a good way. He wasn't sure how to describe this feeling, but it was there. He had felt like that a lot this week but kept pushing it down. He still wasn’t sure what exactly this feelings was. Almost like a fuzzy blanket being wrapped around his mind.
"I found what I could, oh what are you doing on the ground?" David asked gently sitting down beside him.
Exer quickly shot up nervously sending Lucy scrambling off of him.
"Nothing! Just playing with Lucy haha." He said trying to be casual, but it was not casual at all. He was sweating a bit but thankfully David didn't push.
"Alright, if you say so. Now here, extend your arm." Exer extended his arm and David gently started to clean it with disinfectant. It didn't dawn on Exer how big the scrap was until now. He winced a bit as David disinfected it.
"I know, I know. I'm sorry but I'm almost done." David stated patiently, finishing up before putting a bandaid on the scrap.
"David."
"Yes?"
"You put a Batman bandaid on me."
"I know, what about it?"
"I'm 18."
"I know and you look adorable." David kissed the bandaid on Exer's arm causing him to blush and smile like a gay dork before stretching and getting himself up. He helped get Exer up.
"So, what movies did you want to do now?" David asked as they made their way to the living room.
"Well I know we have some homework to do so maybe we could get that out of the way so we can relax this weekend, dad's gone on a trip to take care of his aunt so I'll be alone all weekend." Exer explained pulling out his books from the school bag.
David looked a little disappointed since they had just finished school and now they were going to do homework.
"I see that look on your face, I can make us something to eat while we work if you want?" Exer suggested already getting up to go get something. David's eyes perked up.
"Yes please!" David exclaimed happily. Biking and working all day can really take it out of someone. David started setting the table in the living room. He placed all their textbooks down and opened up his book to get started. And of course the first thing he needs to get done is math.
Great. Math. His worst and most hated subject.
Exer came back not long after with some cut up fruits and lemonade. The boys spent a good portion of the night working on their homework together. It wasn't until around 7pm that they finally finished.
"Ugh, I hate that they always assign so much homework during the weekend, we have lives too y'know." David complained writing down the last little bit.
"Yeah I know, if we do all our work in class why do we need to do extra? At least we're all done now." Exer sighed relieved to finally be finished with the pile of homework they had to do. At least now it was done with and they didn't have to worry about it for the rest of the weekend. He closed the book before wrapping his arms around David.
The blonde blushed but wrapped his arms around Exer, holding the boys head close to his chest. Exer felt calm. Calm and safe. And a little fuzzy like before. Although he was still unsure what it was or even what it meant, it felt right. He felt warm and safe and protected.
"Hey Ex, are you hungry? I know we ate but that was a while ago and I'm starting to get hungry again." David broke the hug and looked at his boyfriend who pulled himself out of his thoughts.
"Yeah I'm getting pretty hungry now. We can order something. I can order us some pizza if you'd want?" Exer suggested stretching and walking towards the phone.
"Can you get one with extra cheese please?" The blonde asked. Exer nodded before dialling some local pizza place.
It didn't take long before the pizza arrived and both both devoured it to say the least.
The clouds from earlier had rolled in and turned into rain clouds over time. It was a heavy downpour outside.
They talked as they ate. Talked about school mostly, but life as well. Jackson and Brenda and Ron. The blue haired boy would've definitely joined them if he didn't have to stay home and watch the store for the night.
Once they were done eating, Exer cleaned up the plates and David started looking through the collection of movies Exer had.
"I found a movie to watch!" David exclaimed happily showing Exer the VHS tape he had found.
"Beetlejuice? Are you sure?" Exer looked at the tape sceptically.
"Please Ex? It looks really good and you know I've been wanting to watch it for a while." David pleaded with him. Exer sighed. He knew his weak spot. David. That was his whole weak spot. Just him.
"Fine.. but if you have nightmares, actually no, if you have nightmares tell me and I'll keep you protected." Exer teased grabbing David's waist. David giggled and tried to escape but it was no use. Exer held on slightly more tighter. He was stuck in his boyfriends loving embrace.
They were halfway through the movie when two of the characters started to morph their face in a very interesting way to say the least.
One had her mouth opened wide in an abnormal way and a pair of eyes poking out. While the other had eyeballs in his fingers and what looked like his skin being peeled back.
This scene looked pretty creepy and Exer could feel himself start to tense up at the scene as his heart began to race. Unfortunately for him, David also noticed.
"Hey, are you ok? Is it too scary? It is pretty scary I don't blame you." David asked trying to reassure him. Exer nodded slowly not really being able to take his eyes off of the screen since he thought that if he did the characters would come out of the screen.
He knew he was being ridiculous and silly and that nothing bad would actually happen to him. And even if it did, he's been through worse. But that still didn't stop the feeling of fear that was creeping up on him. Or the feeling of his heart pounding in his chest. But he also felt something else. That familiar feeling he's been experiencing all day but still unsure what it was.
"Come here. Let me protect you." David moved his boyfriend onto his lap and wrapped his arms around him.
"There. Now you're all safe." He said smiling. Both boys were blushing but at least now Exer wasn't scared. He enjoyed this feeling and let it envelop him more. Like David's arms wrapped around him. His heartbeat slowed down, thankfully and David secretly smirked to himself on a job well done.
Exer snuggled into David's chest and they watched the rest of the movie without any interruptions.
Outside, the storm got worse. It was raining a lot and there was no doubt that thunder and lightning would follow.
"That was a good movie." Exer said turning towards his boyfriend.
"I think so too. Maybe a bit too scary for you though." David teased lightly. Exer blushed.
"H-hey! It's not my fault the movie is creepy." Exer defended himself horribly. David laughed.
"It's only rated PG too. I didn't think you'd be that scared. But don't worry, we can sleep together tonight incase you get too scared." David teased again, poking his cheek playfully. Exer rolled his eyes before getting up.
"Yeah, yeah say what you want but you're gonna be the one crying into my chest because the movie was too scary. Oh Exer, you're so big and strong, you'll protect me from the creepy dude with a bad hair cut." Exer mocked and teased David who's only response was a playful scoff.
"You were the one who hid in my chest." David smirked at him.
"Nope! I have no idea what you're talking about. That never happened." Exer blushed red and started to protest.
"Suuuuure. Say what you will. I know it happened." David commented before yawning.
"Awwww. Someone's sleepy. Is it time for bed?" Exer teased before yawning himself.
"You're tired too.. but yeah we should go to bed." David told him already making his way to Exer's room.
Thunder crashes.
It was really storming out now. The big three; rain, thunder, and lightning.
Exer jumped a bit.
Thankfully, David didn't notice.
Both boys started to get ready to bed. They brushed their teeth and got in their pyjamas. David "forgot" his pyjamas so he has to borrow Exer's.
"Of course you conveniently forgot your pyjamas." Exer said changing into some himself.
"I did! I have no idea what you're implying but it's wrong." David pulled one of Exer's shirts over his head.
It was an old Metallica shirt that Exer didn't use anymore. Even though it was slightly too small for Exer, it fit pretty well on David. Except that it showed some of his stomach since it was meant for Exer's height. Not his boyfriends.
Neither complained though since Exer just found it hot and couldn't help staring at it.
"I can feel your eyes on me." David stated turning around, being slightly flustered. Exer took this as an opportunity to further fluster his boyfriend. He got closer to him.
"Oh yeah? What's wrong with that? I have a hot guy in my room wearing one of my shirts, how can I not stare?" Exer put his hand under David's chin and looked at him in the eyes. David's heartbeat went faster and faster, but in a good way. He gently leaned forward and planted a kiss on his lips. It didn't last long and both boys ended up all giddy and happy after.
"W-we should get to bed now." David stammered.
"Good idea." Exer laughed a bit before getting in bed, David following after him.
Both boys started off as cuddling each other slightly, before David rolled over and let go. But Exer didn't notice because he was fast asleep.
Thunder crash. But a lot louder.
"Ahhh!" Exer screamed jolting himself awake. He had a nightmare about the movie. Even if his regular self wasn’t too scared by it, what ever part of himself now seemed to be terrified.
The room was pitch dark which only amplified his fear. His heart feeling like it's gonna pound out of his chest by how fast it was going. The thunder scared him awake. And the fact that it kept coming made him stay awake.
He felt weird.
Still like before but now more than ever. He felt vulnerable and scared and he didn't know what to do. Tears started to pool in his eyes, threatening to fall.
He's never felt like this before and he had no idea what to do. Thunder kept crashing down. Sometimes with lightning which would also make a scary sound he wasn't used to.
He didn't even realize the tears that started to fall down his cheek. Exer held up his hand to his face and wiped the tears away, but they kept falling.
He was scared.
He felt strange.
And he needed comfort.
He could feel his mind go fuzzy, almost as if he was being drawn by another force. A force that made his head go fuzzy and slightly carefree, but vulnerable at the same time.
Exer was convinced he was going insane. He had never had this reaction of scary movies before and he had no idea where this side of him came from.
A jolt of lightning lit up the room but only for a second. But that was more than enough time for Exer to see David sleeping peacefully beside him.
Although he felt kinda bad waking him up, that part of him was not listening. He didn't care. There was a smaller part of Exer that was making himself more and more known and heard. That feeling he's been feeling all day. And right now all that feeling wanted was David.
Exer sniffled and wiped his eyes again before gently tugging on David's shirt.
"Day?." He asked quietly. His voice sounded so small in the big room. The only other sound being the harsh rain falling outside.
No response.
"Day? Please?." Exer called out again, this time tugging a little bit harder on his shirt. This caused David to stir and he looked at the brown haired boy.
"Exer? What's wrong? What time is it?" David asked groggily sitting up. Another flash of lightning lit up the room and David could tell then that Exer was crying.
"Oh Exer, what's wrong? Why are you crying?" He gently cupped his boyfriends face before wiping away the tears with his thumb.
"I.. i got scared.." Exer admitted embarrassingly looking down and doing everything to avoid eye contact with David. Unfortunately, that other side of him did not like that and started to make him cry more.
"Hey. Hey. It's ok. I'm here. It's ok. I'm here now." David wiped the tears from his eyes again.
Exer looked up at him, his amber eyes glistening with tears and David had to stop himself from cooing at how adorable his boyfriend was being. He looked like a child. He wanted to squish his face in his hand and reassure him everything would be ok.
Exer didn't let him do any of this and instead just planted himself into David's chest. Exer whimpered a bit as another thing of thunder booked across the room.
"Is it the storm? Are you scared of the storm? Or was it something else?" David asked him patiently. He started playing with Exer's floofy hair. This visibly calmed down the shorter boy.
“I- I had a bad dream bout the movie.. n it was loud n was dark.. got scared..” Exer managed to whisper out. His voice sounded so quiet, like it could break.
David picked up on his weird speech pattern. He wasn’t sure what it meant but if it meant he got to hold and cuddle his boyfriend, he didn’t care.
“Oh my sugar, I knew that movie would be too scary for you.” David chimed gently rocking the boy back and forth. Exer kept sniffling. And he wasn’t sure what came over him but somehow his thumb found it’s way into his mouth. Exer sucked on his thumb gently and this, plus with David holding him, made him calm down a lot. So much so that he ended up falling asleep in his arms.
The storm didn’t seem as bad anymore and just seemed to drift away into the background. The only thing he could hear now is David’s heartbeat and the sound of him breathing.
David looked down at Exer and saw him pressed up against his chest with his thumb in his mouth and a bit of drool hanging off the side. To say Exer was the cutest thing David has ever seen is an understatement.
His boy was acting a bit stranger than usual. He looked out of it earlier, like he was distracted and not fully there. The way he was talking earlier, his words were slurred and he was sucking his thumb. Even though it was adorable, it wasn’t something he did all the time. Maybe he’d bring it up tomorrow with him. Just incase anything was wrong.
David laid back down still with his baby- I mean boyfriend, in his chest. Exer snuggled deeper and grabbed ahold of David’s shirt, keeping a decent grip on it. David chuckled before kissing his head.
“Don’t worry, I’m not going anywhere.”
Light shined through the curtains.
The day outside was even more beautiful than the last. Not a cloud anywhere in sight.
The birds were chirping away happily, relieved to finally be rid of the rain.
The sun somehow managed to find its way onto Exer’s eyes causing the boy to stir.
He yawned and stretched as he got up. He looked around and saw David sleeping peacefully beside him. Exer thought back of last night and started to get embarrassed and flustered.
How could he have let himself act that way around David? Now David was gonna think is was weird and wanna break up with him and his whole life was over.
“Ex? Are you awake?” A groggy voice pulled Exer out of his thoughts. Exer looked down to see David staring at him. His sky blue eyes still clouded with sleep.
“Hey Day. I’m sorry if I woke you up.” Exer apologized. David just yawned.
“It’s ok dude, you didn’t wake me up.” David reassured him. Then he continued.
“But I did have a question about last night tho.”
Exer’s heart froze. But just for a second. Because then it started beating really fast in his chest.
“Y-yeah? What did you wanna ask?” Exer stuttered nervously.
“You were just acting not like yourself. Kinda like a child. I just wanted to make sure everything was ok and if there was anything you wanted to tell me or talk to me about.” David calmly explained still trying to wake himself up.
Oh.
It dawned on him now.
How he’s been feeling…
The fuzziness in his brain like a blanket. Sucking his thumb. Thinking of feeling carefree and not worrying as much. How he was talking.
All of these things..
It made sense.
Exer’s eyes widened.
He felt like a child.
“Exer? Are you ok?” David gently grabbed his arm causing Exer to look straight at him.
“Yes. Yes, I’m more than ok. I’m sorry for how I was acting.” Exer apologized trying to thick of a way he can explain his behaviour without sounding insane.
“Hey it’s ok. I just didn’t know why you were acting like that. But it’s not a bad thing. You actually look pretty adorable when you were doing it.” David complemented him gently squeezing his arm.
“What. Really? Ok.. David. I need to be honest with you about something.” Exer was extremely nervous. He was gonna share how he had been feeling all week with his boyfriend.
David nodded his head motioning him to continue.
“For the past week I’ve been feeling weird. I’ve not felt like myself and I didn’t understand it. I thought I was going crazy or something was wrong with him. But then you said I was acting like a child and then it hit me. I felt like that. I felt like a child. Mentally. Younger than how I am and it felt nice. I felt carefree and like in a different mindset. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. I’ve been trying to push it down all week and I guess yesterday was my breaking point. I’m really sorry I didn’t tell you sooner Day.” Exer breathed in deeply as he finished. He knew how it would pan out. David would think he’s weird and leave him.
“I know that wasn’t easy but it means a lot that you told me. Thank you. And Exer, I’m the last person that’s ever gonna judge you for this. I find it adorable. And, I’d love to learn more about this with you if you’d want to?” David suggested. Exer’s eyes perked up.
“Do you mean it? Are you sure? You don’t think I’m weird?”
“No! Not at all! You were always unique and special, and now you’re just increasing it.”
Exer was relieved that this turned out so well.
He wrapped his arms around David and they both fell back into the bed.
“Thank you..” Exer said to him, gripping on tightly to the blonde.
David held him tightly.
“So.. you feel like a child? Mentally? So you wouldn’t be yourself, you’d be a little version of you, awww that’s so cute. My own little Exer. But that means you’d need someone to take care of you and watch you when you feel like that, right? You wouldn’t leave a physical child by themselves. What if I watched you and took care of you?” David suggested.
That was the last thing Exer was expecting to come out of his mouth.
“David.. you don’t need to do that. I wasn’t even expecting you to be ok with how I was feeling and-“
David cut him off.
“Of course I want to do this for you! You’re my boyfriend and it sounds like fun being able to take care of you.” David said excitedly.
“Well.. if you’re really sure.. I’d love that. Thank you. Now.. are you hungry?” Exer asked getting off of him and out of the bed.
“Yes! Let’s go eat! I’ve been craving some of your pancakes lately. No one makes them as good as you do.” David exclaimed getting out of bed as well.
Both boys made their way down.
Exer couldn’t stop thinking of what had just happened. The last 10 minutes still ran fresh in his mind. He still couldn’t believe it.
But part of him always knew David would accept him.
He was so grateful he found someone like him.