"I don't want to," Mello argued breathlessly, and it was almost a sob. "I don't want to be treasured by you. I'm not a pet. Let go of me..."

Even past his stubbornness, it was getting rather difficult to keep reminding himself why he had to keep struggling, why he shouldn't just give in and let Sephiroth do as he pleased. It earned him chocolate and pastries and baths, after all... But he couldn't. Giving up would mean essentially letting go of his humanity. Mello was convinced of that-- and yet it was still so hard to remember when Sephiroth never raised his voice and simply kept repeating such things to him soothingly.