He slides over the bag, inside the ridiculously pink heart-themed bag the store lady had insisted on once he came to the counter with his purchases, all sparkled and obnoxious. His cheeks would burn if he had any shame. But instead of things Will had observed the other needing or merely wanting, the ludicrously large amount of homemade candies and specialty-brewed hot chocolate, all picked from a local shop that made them in-house. Nestled at the bottom were clothes that would fit Michael. Rather than the ill-fitting ones of Willās closet or whatever the other kept, tattered from overuse and the shit Michael put it through.
āHere. Happy Valentine's. There is even a card.ā A damn dog on the front. Something about puppy love. Itās stupid. But he does hope he likes it.
Michael's last time celebrating Valentine's Day was when he was five. That year, his mother was his Valentine's, the woman he loved more than anyone else in the world. She gave him a little box of chocolates and a teddy bear. Things she could barely afford but she wanted her son to have a good day. That was the last time, and Michael hasn't thought of Valentine's Day since then. Sure, at the institution, sometimes the new nurses would try to make the day special. They'd put up pink and red decorations, sometimes even brought little chocolates for the patients. Some of them appreciated it. Michael never cared for it, never looked their way. But this is different, because it's Will. Will has shown a kindness and empathy towards him nobody else has even come close to. An empathy Michael didn't realize he ever wanted. It says a lot about Will-- he definitely should have been in Smith's Grove with him. And if he gets caught, hiding away a missing murderer, he likely will end up there, or worse. Not that Michael would ever let anyone take Will away.
Michael looks in disbelief at the items held before him, and he is... touched? Perhaps? It's difficult to know, with how limited his life experiences has been. His emotional range isn't anywhere near as complex as the average person's. Still, this is special. It's kind. Michael is completely caught off guard. He thinks he may feel guilty he did not get Will anything. But the day isn't over. It'll be easy to steal something from a young, dumb couple.
The bag is taken, and Michael only stares for a moment, before he finally decides to use the sign he learned solely for Will. It'll be his first time actually using it.
