mike hopes that he’s okay someday too. every day the idea becomes foggier. a sober life, with a husband, wife, spouse of any sort, much less kids. there is no way that he could bring himself to a hospital again, so sobriety is nearly impossible without ending in death. he doesn’t bother to acknowledge the statement; he doesn’t want to lie to yancy.
he smiles at the comment about others’ poor taste, moving to make some silly quip back, but as their gazes meet he quickly finds himself tongue-tied. god, how the time has passed, and yet hasn’t at all. they’re grown-ups and yet it feels like it was just yesterday they were laid together in bed.
the frown brings him back to reality, hearing yancy’s questions. he can feel an embarrassed blush creeping over his ears.
" uh - honestly, yance? i didn’t think that far ahead. i just … saw you before and wanted to come and talk to you. i … didn’t really realize how much i missed you until i saw you again, and - and i certainly wouldn’t wanna lose you again, so, um … basically, yeah, i’d like you back in my life. if you want me back in yours. ”
Mike’s pause and blush doesn’t go unnoticed by the prisoner. He’d always been good at observing, but especially with Mike, even after all this time, he’s sure he still has all of his mannerisms memorized. He also notices that he doesn’t say he’s okay. His appearance was enough of a tell to signal to Yancy that he wasn’t sober anyway, so he can at least piece some of it together.
His next words manage to fluster him, diverting his gaze a moment before he chuckles and smiles gently. He’s nostalgic and lonely. He’d give anything to leave right now and be with him again. His own thoughts caught him off guard. It’s the first time in years that he’s even genuinely thought about leaving here. Leaving the safety of the routine of the prisoner, where he didn’t have to deal with the possible chaos of the outside world. The idea of leaving is quickly retracted, though he meets Mike’s gaze again.
❝ O’course, Mikey. ❞
Yancy hums lightly.
❝ I’d be nice to- ah- get visitors now an’ thens. Don’ts really got anyone else comin’ to sees me. ❞