Michael, of course, thought he’d been very clear, and was confused that Jasper still didn’t get what he was trying to say. He sighed, and pressed two fingers to his temple, using his free arm. Thinking it over maybe he had been a bit vague. “I- well I know we’ll be okay, I think. It’s just hard to say, so I’m being a bit vague. I’ve just been so focused on hiding this that I guess I think any subtle hint will make people realize it.” He took a deep breath again, and looked up at Jasper. “What I’m trying to say, beyond just the weird metaphors is-” he stopped, the words getting stuck in his throat. He looked down again, his eyes fixing on his knees. “What I’m trying to say is that I’m gay.” He spoke fast and in a low voice, not too low to hear, but low enough.
Jasper stayed silent as Michael spoke, and he was glad he did. He almost didn’t hear what Michael had admitted, too rushed, too quiet, to decipher easily. Once he really registered that Michael had come out to him, Jasper was floored. Not just because Michael was gay, but because it was almost, mundane. Jasper had been expecting something life shattered to hear, and knowing that his friend was just scared to come out was astonishing. Then again, he didn’t know much of his friend’s past, Michael might not have had the same welcoming environment, but with how his mother had welcomed Jasper himself, he highly doubted that as the case. And now he’s been silent too long, caught up in his own internal fuckery as he usually was, but what could he say? He tried to remember what it was like when he came out to his own mother, but it was so long ago, buried deep down with every other memory of her except the last moments she ever had, he couldn’t quite recall what turmoil this could be. “Thank you,” he started, squeezing Michael’s arm once again, “for trusting me with this. I’d like to think I’m very obvious about being gay myself, so you aren’t alone in this.” Jasper smiled at Mike once again, suddenly very aware of the fact that he wanted to kiss him. A lot. It was a feeling that he had for a very long time but never allowed himself to acknowledge as he never even entertained the idea that Michael was anything other than straight. He couldn’t get his hopes up though. Jasper and Michael were friends, and Jasper couldn’t, wouldn’t, risk that for anything.