Jimmy relaxed into the touch, looking down to see what Artie was drawing on his chest and he smiled when he saw it was a heart. Twice. Resting his cheek against Artie's head, he flexed his fingers together with those of the other boy, his thumb smoothing over Artie's skin softly, like a caress.
It was okay. It was Artie. Jimmy had a million thoughts swirling around his head but one thing he knew for sure was that Artie was his best friend, the person he cared about more than anyone and he always wanted to be with him. Sure, Jimmy had other friends, but when something happened, even if it was something as silly as putting his shoes on the wrong feet when he got dressed in the dark, Artie was the one he wanted to tell so they could laugh together.
The cartoon was playing, Adventure Time running an episode, but Jimmy had a question on his lips for Artie that was making it impossible to focus on anything else. He debated with himself, reassuring himself and fighting off the insecurities over and over because he was sure, almost positive, that Artie like-liked him back.
"Hey, Artie, um," once he started speaking, Jimmy realized how dry his mouth was, and he swallowed, closing his eyes tightly for a moment before plunging in. What would Wolverine do, after all? He'd go in fearlessly and say exactly what was on his mind so there was no question. "I, uh. Well," lifting his head off of Artie's, Jimmy turned to face Artie more fully, setting the remote aside on the blanket so he could reach up and touch the other mutant's face.
"You're my best friend, you know? And... I never want to lose you or do something stupid or..." holy crap, he could hear himself and just shook his head, "What I'm trying to say is-- What I wanted to ask you was--" floundering to just put himself out there, extend the words that he wanted to extend so Artie would know exactly how he felt their friendship was going, it was hard. Especially after being rejected the last time he misinterpreted a friendship.
"Well, I want to be with you. Like, all the time. And like... If you want to just be friends that's fine! Totally fine! But..." Jimmy swallowed again and looked into Artie's eyes, his own minty greens searching the other boy's expression for an early reaction, "Well, like, I want you to be my boyfriend." He bit his lip when the words were finally out, his fingers that were twined with Artie's tightening as he braced himself. "Will you-- I mean, do you want to?"