#poly!malum

pairing; calum hood x reader x michael clifford

word count; 1.1k

summary; michael and reader decided to invited their partner, calum, to spend. the snowstorm with them.

warnings; slight angst moment and fluff, a ridiculous amount.

Pairings: teacher!Michael/teacher!Calum/teacher!Reader

Warnings: Angst (that gets resolved), Mentions of food and water, Mentions of alcohol, Discussion of insecurities

Word Count: 1,477

     Being a teacher was not an easy job, but it was the job you loved. You taught American and World History to high school students and, even in your fourth year, you took a sense of joy in seeing the interest beaming in your students eyes as you taught them about the eras of the past. This year, however, graduation would be just more bittersweet. Your first freshman class were seniors, and were just weeks away before beginning their adult lives. You were happy for them, of course, especially when many discussed how excited they were to begin college or job trainings. One of your partners, Calum, who taught middle school gym, tried to empathize you by discussing how he felt watching his first sixth grader class, now grown into eighth graders,prepare to go into high school in the fall.

“Be careful of those new freshmen in the fall,” he smiled as you two preapred dinner one night, “They’re full of angst and their favorite lunch days are pizza. Otherwise they only care about video games and the brands of their clothes.”

“Are you calling me an eighth grader?” Michael joked as he walked into the room, fresh from his shower, hair still dripping wet.

You giggled softly at his remark before following it with, “No, you have actually learned how to wear Axe spray.”

Calum chuckled, “The only correct way is to not wear it.” He shook his head as he added chopped vegetables to the salad, “The boys’ locker room will always smell like it, and I have to remind them not to spray it near my office.” 

Michael grinned as he took a piece of garlic bread from the plate on the island, “Damn, I thought reminding second graders to wash hands before snack was hard.”

You smiled and turned to turn one of the burners off, covering the now completed sauce before focusing on the noodles. 

“How are things in the doghouse anyway?” You smiled. Doghouse referred to his classroom, a joke Michael took great pride in. His first second graders said his last name reminded them of a cartoon red giant dog, and since then, his classroom door was designed like the entrance of a doghouse, and on the morning of the first day, students created a form of dogtag to personalize their desk. 

He swallowed quickly before explaining a moment between a ‘Bobby’ and a ‘Susan’. Silly generic names were common in your household, as real names were legally protected, but it did make the stories enjoyable as well. 

"Little Bobby had told Susan that if she didn't marry him on the playground, no one ever would. Poor girl was in tears," Michael shook his head before getting a beer. He took a few sips, before continuing, "I had to explain that no one was getting married on the playground that day." He grinned mischievously at his lovers, "but one day? Who knows?" 

You laughed at the blonde man's suggestion before handing him his plate, kissing his cheek as he got salad from Calum, who chuckled in response as well.

"Yeah? You got the rings to propose first mister?" Calum smirked as he played the vegetables before giving Michael a kiss on the opposite cheek. 

Michael blushed and shook his head, "Not yet, it's not we're made of money. I would have to get two engagement rings, other teachers barely scrape enough to get one." 

It was true money was occasionally tight, no one went into teaching for money, but you three got by. Michael's tone, however, implied that he was genuinely upset.

You and Calum shared a look behind Michael's back as he went to sit down and Calum followed, placing the salad and garlic table In the center of the table before resting his hands on Michael's shoulder. 

"Bunny, it's ok. We don't need fancy rings to be happy." He smiled softly and kissed his boyfriend's head. 

You nodded, placing your and Calum's plates at the respective places on the table before kneeling on the ground, giving Michael a small smile as he looked at you before taking one of his hands. 

"Cinnamon, we need you happy to be happy," you whisper, rubbing your thumb over his knuckles, "Nothing more." 

Usually your and Calum's nicknames for your lover brought a smile to his face, but he seemed to stare past you, through you. 

This was serious for him, and the best thing to do was to stay where you were, providing comfort until he found the words he needed to get off his chest.

Finally he moved his hands, the right on top of yours on his right knee, the left interlocked with the hand Calum placed on his right shoulder. He took a deep breath, before confessing,

"I love you both, you two are my sunbeam and snowball but I'm terrified for our future. I don't know if you noticed, but I have no idea what I'm doing. I almost never do." 

You and Calum shared a look again but allowed Michael to continue. 

"I want to marry you both, but I feel I'm not good enough for the two of you. You two are both so amazing at your job, while all I do is get paid to play with kids," he took a deep breath, emotion overwhelming his steady tone, "A-and I love my job, my kids are great, but when we go tell people our careers, I feel I don't get the same respect, because I'm in elementary. That's not on you two, of course," he smiled softly, giving each hand a reassuring squeeze, but there was no ignoring the tear that was falling down his cheek, "but when I speak of forever, I want to mean it. I do mean it." He leaned in to your touch as you wiped his tears, his hand gently placed on your wrist. 

He sniffed then looked into your eyes, "I guess what I need to know is that our forevers last the same amount of time. It wouldn't be the same without either of you." 

You nodded, your own tears forming as you whispered, "Of course Cinnamon, there's nowhere else I rather be than here with you and Peppermint," you looked at Calum, who nodded, kissing Michael's head again as his own tears fell into the older man's hair. 

"We're sorry we never noticed, bunny. We're always here if you get scared or nervous. About your career, about us. Anything. Forever." Calum smiled and moved so he and Michael were face to face. 

Michael nodded,giving you both gentle kisses before rubbing his face, wiping away the remnants of the tears.

"God," he smiled softly, "I really am lucky. The best lovers in the world chose not only each other but me as well." 

"Nah, we're the lucky one babe." You slowly stood up, rubbing his back, "Are you ok if we start eating or would you like to come back to dinner and have cuddles?" 

He shook his head, "I'm starving," he smiled, "and I've been looking forward to this spaghetti since you and Sunbeam mentioned in our group chat."

You nodded and went to heat up the food as Calum prepared drinks.

"I don't know," Calum smirked as he sat Michael's glass of water down, "I'm kinda craving themattababy now." 

Michael frowned in confusion as he took small sips, before asking, "What's themattababy?"

"Nothing," Calum's grin grew as Michael had fallen into his trap, "What's the matter with you?" 

You bit your lip to hold your giggle as Michael let out a loud, disappointed groan. 

You set the plates back down and Michael gently grabbed your hand, doing his best to hold a serious expression but his failed attempts to not smile finally brought your giggle out. 

"Snowball, I'd like to return one boyfriend please. He worked fine until I realized he made terrible jokes. Very defective, cannot be put back on the market."

You smiled and played along, "Oh? And how much did you pay for this defective boyfriend?" 

"A whole makeout session," he smirked, winking at the boyfriend in question.

You laughed and glanced at Calum, who was trying to cover his grin with a playful pout as he set the last two cups down, "Well I am unable to provide a full refund at this moment, I can give you a coupon of equal value." You smirked.

"Deal." Michael grinned.

"Please," Calum playfully rolled his eyes, "You two wouldn't get rid of me that easily." he sat down at his usual spot of the circular table, on Michael's left and your right. 

You smiled and nodded, kissing Michael before sitting down, kissing Calum's cheek. 

"We're here for forever." Michael promised, smiling as his lovers nodded in confirmation.

Setting 7: In the stairwell of an apartment building

Dialogue 23: “Have you ever felt anything like this before?”

finishing up

It was the end of your first date with this established couple you’d met at your apartment complex’s dog park the other week, having been taking your neighbor’s dog out while he was at work. It had honestly been one of the best dates you’d been on in a while and you could tell that Michael and Calum felt the same. At no point tonight had the two men’s existing relationship make you feel left out and you’d been so comfortable with them both. 

You weren’t ready for the night to end and were grateful for one time this week that the elevator closest to your unit was out, needing repairs. The three of you entered the stairwell, Michael and Calum’s apartment two floors directly above yours so they were also affected by the repairs. You were all still chattering, continuing the conversation from the drive home. You paused at the landing for your floor, standing a few steps away from the door to the hall. Michael shared a glance with Calum before saying, “We had a great time tonight.”

All three of you wanted to linger, but none of you wanted to be too forward or presumptuous by suggesting you continue the date in either apartment. You smiled, “Yeah, me too.” You took a moment, licking your lips as you leaned against the wall, hesitating before asking, “Have you ever felt anything like this before?”

Calum smiled, shaking his head, “Not since my first date with Mike. And even then, this was better.”

You expected to see an offended look on Michael’s face, but he was nodding, agreeing with his boyfriend. “We’ve felt for a few months now that there was something...someone missing. Went out with some people who seemed interested in the idea, but turned out what they wanted wasn’t exactly what we were looking for, a third partner, not just a random threesome, y’know?”

You nodded, and Calum smiled, brown eyes warm as he looked from Michael to you. “Who knew all we had to do was go two floors down and we would’ve found our missing piece...that is, if you are okay with it.”

You grinned, stepping forward and giving Calum a gentle kiss, turning and leaning up to give Michael one too. A sudden surge of confidence went through you as you pulled back from the kiss you gave Michael, reaching behind you to open the door. “Shall we continue the date a little longer? Talk a little more about how we want this to work and get a head start on planning a second date?”

Did you.... enter my brain and pluck this from my thoughts... because SAME

I thought long and hard about this, as proposals can range from extremely elaborate to simple and sweet. I would assume Michael and Calum would be so comfortable co-habituating that they would really want their partner to feel special.

At home in their home, completely caught off guard when Calum decided to buy your favorite cake from your favorite bakery. It would be on a Tuesday night--which would be out of character. You would think he was trying to break it off when he opened a bottle of champagne. Worried about whatever thing you had done to upset him. 

Michael would hand you a glass as he winked, distracting you from your concerns. 

The dining room table would be stocked with a home cooked meal, the cake (that would look even better in low light), and both of your partners looking nauseous. You would be so concerned that you would just break the tension--trying to figure out what was going on. 

“If you're going to dump me, just tell me.”

Michael would choke on his drink while Calum came over to you, smiling before he directed your attention to his hand in yours. You would follow his gaze to a metal glimmer surrounded by champagne bubbles, a beautiful ring that you assumed was for you. Michael joined the two of you as tears welled in your eyes, mostly because of how silly they both looked on the floor in front of you. 

“We love you enough to want to see you everyday for eternity. Or at least that's what sources say.”

You would try to fish the ring out of your glass until you gave up and drank everything in it, trying to balance the ring on your top lip. 

“Babe, I know you love to swallow, but you might want to save that for later.”

Calum would elbow Michael in the ribs as you took the ring between your fingers. His comment was one he would pay for later in the bedroom, but you were taken with your engagement ring. Admiring the small details that you mentioned months before right before your eyes. You wouldn't want to put it on until it felt right--especially since the moment was one you wanted to remember forever. 

All of the following works were written by me (maluminspace) and are not to be posted on this or any other site without my permission.

All explicit content is marked with *

Summary: No one ever knows when they’ll meet their soulmate, there’s no magical clock counting down to that life altering moment. There’s no mysterious tattoos or markings to help you find them either. You just have to wait until you hear that stranger’s voice in your own head and there’s no way on earth of knowing when it’ll happen. 

Author’s Note: All titles in this series taken from ‘It’s All About You’ by Mcfly

Rating: 18+

Dedicated To: @h0tsos and @5-secondsofcolor

Part 1 - One Of Your Kisses *

Part 2 - You Make My Life Worthwhile *

Part 3 - Say Three Words *

Main Masterlist

talk of a gender reveal would cause calum to go on a rant about how your child would be able to conform in any way they’d like, and it wouldn’t matter based on what color balloon was popped at a party for an excuse for everyone but you to drink alcohol in front of you. michael and you would agree? but parties are cute and it’s an excuse to get gifts from everyone that you wouldn't have to buy.

michael would be more than obsessed with touching your belly whenever he could, as he felt two kicks the last time and he was convinced to feel two more before calum could. at four months calum would want to shop for the appropriate stroller, which would have to be light enough to carry everywhere but not too heavy for force michael to carry if you were in public.

getting out of your first trimester and feeling more than ready to have sex, only to get shot down by calum to make sure you wouldn't overextend yourself. you would get caught with michael’s pants down in the bedroom hours later, blaming it on 'hormones'. 

calum and michael feeling bad about not jumping to include you in sex, mostly because you would fall asleep if you were sitting in one place for too long. you would wake up for any stimulation you could get, but calum wouldn't tell you if you fell asleep 5 minutes into foreplay. 

arguments such as “stop telling me I’m too pregnant to do things”, “google double penetration at 6 months” , and “the air bubble thing isn’t that big of a risk, you can fuck me anyway”. michael trying really hard not to drink at all because he wanted to have the full experience of abstaining with you, as calum wouldn’t dare have a vice when all three of you were about to come parents.

calum and michael would try to curate the perfect playlist for baby. it would have to have enough classic rock, ambient sounds, and upsetting early 2000s pop punk to guarantee “emo genes” as michael would state plainly. 

it would be too much to try to do anything by yourself, as you had two grown men willing to flip a page if it meant that you didn’t have to lift a finger.

each of them would have interpretations of your favorite meals: calum bringing a smoothie with a boost while michael would bring fast food from at least 2 different restaurants.

michael would worry about getting every single food you craved while calum would be focused on the nearest local produce and grass fed products you could get at home? michael sneaking you a cupcake only for calum to sigh as he looked the other way. 

“we need to cut down on how much we take separate cars" calum would say as michael complained about not wanting to get the same 'healthy shit’ for the person that he’s in love with, as he would feel it's his duty to drive anywhere at 4 am to get what you needed.