my feet don't dance like they did with you

"Is everyone else asleep?" Michael asks, creeping into the kitchen where Ashton is illuminated by the fridge light, a silhouette bent over rifling through the cheese drawer.

"I think so," Ashton says, straightening and flashing Michael a smile. He lets the fridge door swing closed empty-handed, popping a handful of trail mix from the bowl on the counter into his mouth instead. Michael joins him in leaning against it, briefly rubbing at his eyes before checking the time on the microwave clock.

1:23 am. Not bad for a big gathering with most of their friends.

"Today went well," Ashton says, offering Michael the trail mix bowl. He takes his own handful, even though he isn't particularly hungry. They've been eating on and off all day after the huge lunch they prepared, but Michael has a hard time resisting food when it's in front of him, and the trail mix has chocolate chips in it.

"We should do this again next year," Ashton hums, tossing a peanut in the air and failing to catch it in his mouth. Michael snorts.

"I'm exhausted. Don't talk to me about hosting a friendsgiving again for at least eight months."

Ashton tosses another peanut up, this time managing to get it. Michael gives an appropriate noise of approval, more subdued in the dark kitchen than he was when Calum and Ashton were tossing food to each other earlier in the afternoon.

Thankfully, Ashton doesn't try to catch any other peanuts. Michael is too tired to clean up after him right now. His social battery is completely depleted, and after deep cleaning the apartment yesterday and helping Ashton cook an elaborate meal today, he's ready to hibernate for weeks.

It was a good day. Luke and Calum arrived early and are staying over in Ashton's room. Scores of other friends appeared in time for lunch, loaded with enough side dishes that their tiny little dining table and all of the kitchen counters were covered. Their modest apartment doesn't have enough seating, but guests were happy to take up residence on the floor, carefully balancing their plates on the carpet or their crossed legs while everyone pretended to watch the football game. In reality, conversation was flowing from too many directions to hear much of what the announcers were saying, a contrast to the quieter morning when Michael actually did get to see some of the Macy's parade. The sound of multiple people's voices at once got too overwhelming for him, but Ashton sent him to the kitchen to escape halfway through under the guise of checking on the pies, a reprieve that Michael is thankful for. Even just half a room of distance between him and the bulk of the noise helped, and Ashton kept sending him smiles between words.

After lunch, they split off to play board games and card games. Michael absolutely dominated at Fluxx, then dessert was served. When everyone was full and content from various pies and cookies, the day wound down as a few people took their leave and the rest lounged in various places around the apartment. Michael joined the group in the living room, squished on the couch between Luke and the corner with a Hallmark holiday movie on tv. He ended up dozing until Luke accidentally elbowed him awake, then challenged him to MarioKart. Ashton prepared the pizzas that they picked up yesterday for dinner, and more and more guests tapered off after with hugs and well-wishes.

Eventually, only Calum and Luke remained. The four of them stayed up well into the night, catching up, enjoying being physically present instead of multiple cities away, and eating more pie. They all cleaned up as much as they could, then Calum and Luke finally retired to Ashton's room for the night.

It was exhausting, but good. Michael probably will let Ashton host again next year, as long as they're still roommates and they stay in this apartment or find a bigger one.

They make a good team. Michael already knew this, but it was clear at every moment today, from Ashton automatically grabbing Michael's favorite beverage for him when he got his own to Michael running out early this morning to buy more decks of cards so Ashton could play his favorite card game with as many people as wanted to. They easily moved around each other in the kitchen, Michael seamlessly following Ashton's directions and Ashton passing him whatever ingredient he needed before Michael had to ask.

"What was your favorite part?" Ashton asks. Michael hums, giving himself time to think.

"I liked when Calum made you laugh so much you almost shot soda out of your nose," he says.

"Oh, fuck off," Ashton laughs. Michael loves his laugh. He heard it dancing through their apartment a lot today, drifting to Michael's ears no matter where in the apartment it came from.

"What about you?" Michael asks.

"My favorite part?" Ashton clarifies. Michael nods. "I don't think it's happened, yet."

Michael barely has time to let out a confused "Huh?" before Ashton swoops forward and presses their lips together firmly. It only lasts for a second, not enough time for Michael to so much as close his eyes before it's over and Ashton steps out of his space again. Michael blinks at him, cursing the low light for not giving him a clear view of Ashton's face while he tries to figure out what's going on.

"Huh?" he asks again. Ashton huffs, a lacking echo of his earlier laugh.

"There," he says, gesturing vaguely towards Michael. "That was my favorite part. And if you never want it to happen again that's fine, I probably shouldn't have sprung it on you and I wasn't really thinking--"

"It can happen again," Michael says, words leaping out of him without thought. Ashton's mouth closes with a definitive click. Michael waits for one tense breath, then another, then Ashton grins.

"Oh," he says. "Cool."

Ashton swoops forward again, but this time Michael is ready to meet him.