ｃｈａｐｔｅｒ ｔｈｉｒｔｙ－ｔｗｏ

Mikey spent his asked off days with his extended family for Christmas—it was December 20th, and he would be spending a weekend at his aunt's house, having an early Christmas there. Him, his brothers, and his grandmother would celebrate Christmas on the actual date, but since their relatives were only free for the weekend they took it.

The night before, him and Jasper were chilling on the living room couch, Jasper holding onto Mikey's ankles that were in his lap. They were looking at the tv that was playing some action movie, guns shooting and fights happened. Absentmindedly Jasper lightly rubbed his thumb on his boyfriend's ankle, playing with the pair of pajama pants from when he changed after his job.

Jasper had come over to be around people who didn't stress him out, and he could talk to about his problems, and they would listen. His day at his job was busy and he really wanted to lay down, but he also wanted to be near someone—he didn't even care if it was his sister, Tessa. She wasn't available, so Jasper went to the other family he had.

Mikey came to the rescue when he called Jasper ten minutes after he was finished work and asked him to come over. Now, they were seated on the couch in silence. Occasionally there was a comment on the movie, but the two were quiet.

Eventually other brothers walked into the living room when they saw the tv was on. Noah pushes Mikey out of his seat—Noah claimed the end spot closer to the kitchen—and Mikey narrowed his eyes at him. He was comfortable and now he wasn't. But, the oldest Balm boy repositioned himself and sat beside Jasper with their shoulders brushing.

Jasper had on a soft hoodie he'd recently just bought, one that was from an artist he listened to. The outside was soft, but the inside was better—Mikey had slipped a couple fingers down the collar with a smirk.

Just as the climax of the movie began Max walked in and dropped in the spot next stop Jasper, he asked what movie they were all watching and Mikey groaned at their volume level.

"Mission Impossible: Fallout," Jasper relayed and moved around so he was leaning on Mikey subtly and his shoulder was in front of his boyfriend's. Mikey was cozy and the older of them couldn't help himself from using that warmth for himself.

So, for the next hour the Balms plus Jasper watched the action movie. Mikey fell asleep when there was twenty minutes left, his head dropping to the back of the couch, his hands folding themselves in his lap, and breathing slowing. Some of the other brothers zonked our in the second movie played—Shrek 2.

Jasper was left awake with Marlene walking in, smiling at all of her boys on the couch and one on the chair. Jasper held up a peace sign when she took the picture and chuckled with the older woman. Then, they turned the tv off and Jasper walked Mikey to his room, Aiden trudging behind.

Once in the bedroom Mikey whined, "well now I'm not tired!"

He pouted and Jasper airily placed his mouth on his, smiling a little into the kiss. Mikey sighed happily and moved away, pulling the cover over them and curling in a ball, relaxing beside Jasper. Aiden shut off the light and flopped on his bed face first, not even bothering putting the cover on himself. He seemed even more pissy since Jasper and Mikey talked to him about Cadence, so Mikey could only assume the boys didn't make up yet.

.

..

...

"Get up! All of you!" Marlene shouted from outside their rooms and Mikey groaned, switching to lay on his side away from Jasper. He was rudely awakened again with Aiden smacking him with a wet towel. Mikey hissed and scooted towards his boyfriend, backs pressing together.

Jasper whined at the body against his and Mikey was forced to get out of the bed when he was pushed away. Aiden laughed at Mikey's situation and urged him to get up since they'd be leaving soon. All the young adult wanted to do was sleep more, but Marlene was making sure everyone got up with her rushing.

After getting dressed and making sure he's packed everything, Mikey pushed on Jasper's shoulders to wake him up. He also said to him in a low tone, "get up, I'm leaving. I don't care if you stay here until you need to leave, just lock the front door when you do."

The sleepy guy nodded and buried his face in the cover, sighing heavily. Before leaving the room Mikey took a look around and said into the room, "I'll text you, Jasp. See ya."

A lazy hand reached around the covers and waved. Mikey closed the door softly and followed his family to the car. He called shotgun and leaned the seat back, intent on going back to sleep for the couple hours the drive was. Sleep took over once his grandmother hit the longest amount of miles to drive—53–and he was passed out in the front seat.

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:D. Bro, this week flew by. I wake up one Sunday and blink and now it's the next Sunday, jeez. Also, I've come up with a god chapter idea for an Aiden chapter if anyone is interested.

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