RPF: Padded Edges - James McAvoy/Michael Fassbender
Padded Edges
Warning: contains pudge love. Don't like, don't read!
James swears that when he steps off the train with his bag, Michael’s face falls. This is, unsurprisingly, not the reaction that James had expected.
”Thanks, I’m delighted to see you too! What’s that face for?” James demands.
”You look thin,” Michael tells him. James raises a single eyebrow.
”Do I? And..?”
”Well, I saw photos of you on the Filth set, and you looked… Not thin.”
James scoffs.
”Padding and make up tricks, stupid. Did you honestly think I’d put on that much weight since you last saw me?”
”I don’t know.” Michael says. He sounds… grumpy. James kisses him hard.
”What is up, hey?” James says when he breaks back, ”Are you sulking?” Michael shrugs, with half a smile. ”Why are you sulking?” There’s a pause. ”I’m fine, y’know. I’m not unhealthily thin. And for you to be getting in a huff with me about that would be some serious pot calling the kettle black after you and Hunger.”
”No, it isn’t that. It doesn’t matter. C’mon, let’s go home.”
James shrugs and lets it pass, and they get a cab back to their house. But when they’re in the bedroom, and James is unpacking, he sees Michael watching him moodily and turns on him in annoyance.
”What?! Stop staring at me! Are you trying to work up the guts to tell me something? Are you sleeping with Keira Knightley?”
”Not anymore,” Michael replies flippantly. James rolls his eyes.
”I mean it, Michael. If something’s up, I would rather you told me.” Michael pauses,
”It’s stupid.”
”As far as conversations and arguments shennanigans in our relationship go, we are pretty stupid. So just tell me.”
”Alright, alright, fine. I… I’m just a bit disappointed.”
”What about?”
”About… About your weight.” James looks annoyed.
”Michael, what’s your problem? I’m fine, Jesus. I’m not on my last legs, I’m not stick thin. I don’t get what you’re fretting about.”
”I’m not fretting,” Michael snaps, ”You don’t get it.”
”What don’t I get?”
”I wanted you to have put on weight,” Michael blurts. There is a pause whilst James takes this in.
”… What?” he asks, confused.
”You look fucking sexy in those photos, okay? I just wanted you to come home so I could bite your chubby cheeks and kiss your belly, grab at your hips and squeeze your arse. I’ve always liked the idea of you with a bit of extra weight on you, but how could I tell you that? So now I’m just a bit frustrated and feel like a prat. Happy now?”
James is silent, completely stunned. After a short pause, during which Michael has fidgeted nervously then resorted to folding his arms, James speaks.
”You think I looked good like that? Fat?”
”You didn’t look fat. Just a bit… Chunkier. And with your beard, it was almost… rugged, manly. You looked hot.”
”I… right,” James says slowly. His expression is unfathomable. ”I’m sorry if that freaks you out,” Michael says nervously, after a few moments.
”No, no, it’s not that,” James says weakly. He sinks down onto the bed, laughing almost in disbelief. ”What’s wrong?” Michael asks, frowning.
”I just… Did you know that all the time we’ve been together, I’ve- semi-consciously, but- been on a diet?” Michael’s eyes widen.
”What, James?”
”Constantly watching what I eat and making sure I work out enough. You didn’t notice?”
”But… But we have pizza nights, and takeout nights, and when we go to restaurants-”
”Any indulgences are followed by three or four days of cutting back,” James admits with a small smile.
”But why?!” Michael asks, gobsmacked.
”I needed to feel like… Like I was good enough for you. I know I’ll never be as slim or ripped as you, but I was just scared that you wouldn’t be interested if I put on weight. I… I gain weight really easily. I have to work hard to stay in shape. And I didn’t wanna talk to you about eating, about working out, ‘cause that’d draw attention to how easily I put weight on. So I just quietly got on with it. But,” he smiles, ”You’ve always been worth it.” ”James,” Michael murmurs, horrified, ”Did I make you feel like that?”
”No- no, it was never anything you said. You know, I was meant to gain weight for Filth? But I didn’t want to. In case I couldn’t lose it quick enough after. I pretended I was trying but just couldn’t fast enough so they used padding instead.”
Michael has heard enough, distraught at what he’s hearing. He leans over swiftly and kisses James, long and hard. James kisses back eagerly, putting his arms around Michael’s neck. When they break apart, Michael rests his head on James’ shoulder and murmurs,
”I am so sorry you’ve ever felt like that, James. You are so beautiful, and you would be whatever size, you know that, don’t you?” His hands encircle James’ waist, ”This, a little wider?’ he moves them around to his tummy, ”This, a little softer?” he grins playfully as he squeezes James’ backside, ”This, a bit bigger? I’d love it, James. I love you.”
”I love you too. I’m… stunned,” James says, beaming. Michael smiles back, and then tugs up James’ shirt. He tilts his head down and kisses James’ stomach. James squirms at the sensation, and stammers,
”M-Michael,” but doesn’t try to stop him.
”I’m taking you out to dinner tonight,” Michael says softly, leaning back up,”And you’re going to eat whatever you want, okay?”
”Okay,” James smiles, leaning in for another kiss.
* * *