#trish works on improving their writing rut

[smalltown-babygirl]

i saw a post about how the watches aren't actually matching in canon so instead of being heartbroken by the realization I'm making a ficlet about if they actually got matching watches (this ended up being a part one lets see if i can do multiple parts!)

Enjoy! and happy belated mike day!

origins of the matching watches

Mike was having his ideal birthday. A day at the arcade with his best friend Will. Hopping from machine to machine, endless choices in front of them to spend their Saturday.

Will stops before the claw machine, rotating rainbow lights bouncing off his cheeks.

Mike followed Wills' eyes. In a plastic pod, framed by mini stuffed animals, was a bright yellow plastic watch. Will started immediately digging around for quarters, pulling one out and slipping it into the machine.

Will's hands fall over the controls, fingers beginning to dance across the buttons. Mike barely hide his staring at his best friends hands, the ones that created drawings of spaceships and other creations of their collective imaginations. He barely noticed when the machine buzzed GAME OVER.

Will's eyebrows creased together as he slipped in one quarter after another, and concentration returns to his face. Mike looks down at Will's tongue unconsciously poking through his bunny teeth and hears the claw descend around the watch's pod right before the buzzer goes off. The plastic pod slips through the claw's hold and Will's shoulders sink, face falling.

How dare the game not deliver the prize Will wanted?? it was Mike's Birthday

"Dang it, that was my last quarter."

Mike caught Will's gaze, looking up at him with kicked puppy eyes.

Sometimes Mike's eyes do this weird thing. The edges of his vision blur and wherever Will is, typically in the center, is sharpest. Mike's eyes broke the spell by moving down to the floor before falling back on Will.

Mike feels his hands immediately start fishing around in his pocket for more, pulling a few out. It made Mike sad to see Will upset(and it was illegal for Will to be upset on his birthday).

"Can I try?" Mike approaches the machine and slips a quarter in, it was his mission to win Will that watch. Mike zoned in on his target and gripped the joystick. The last few hours of intense gaming had warmed up his fingers to move the claw with ease.

Mike felt a surge of determination went he caught his best friend's hazel gaze. Will's eyes fall on the claw, never breaking contact as it steadily lurches towards the watch.

The claw widens and drops down, closing its grasp around the pod. The friends stare as the watch rises above the remaining stuffed animals, closer and closer to the exit chute. Mike feels the artist's hands squeeze around his arm in anticipation.

*plud*

"Mike!! you did it!" Will's bright smile sprouts from the corners of his mouth as his new watch rolls out from behind a clear plastic flap. Mike couldn't help but smile back, bending down to pick up the pod and pop it open.

Mike takes Will's wrist in his hand and wraps the matching yellow strap around and secures it down.

"Do you like it? Does it fit correctly?" Mike searches Will's glowing face for answers.

"Mike are you crazy?? this is the coolest prize in the whole machine!"

Mike feels his cheeks burn with how wide his smile grows. Seeing Will happy made it all worth it.