Time of Transition

[giftsofglory]

He made no move to return Mello to his room when morning came. In fact, a good week later there was still no move being made to that extent, and on that morning, when Mello woke it was to the now usual configuration of Sephiroth being wound around him, pinning his hands. This time, however, the act was accompanied by the silver haired man actually being asleep still.

Not to say they hadn't been spending all their time together, but Mello hadn't had the chance to see him asleep until then, him holding out for the blond to sleep and then rising before he could.

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[gunsandchocolate]

Mello woke slowly, staying still because he realized with some surprise that Sephiroth was still breathing deeply, unmoving. Apparently, he was still asleep.

Mello practically held his breath when he realized that, staying absolutely still for several long minutes and trying to think of ways to take advantage of this situation. All of them, unfortunately, included first getting out of Sephiroth's arms without waking him.

So, finally, Mello tried that, moving as gently and silently as he possibly good in an attempt to steal out of bed.

[giftsofglory.livejournal.com]

Reflex had him tightening his hold, a soft sleepy growl escaping him as he burrowed his face further into his hair, tucking his leg securely over his hips.

[gunsandchocolate]

Goddammit. Mello bit his lip to keep back the annoyed curse, carefully trying to pull Sephiroth's arms off of himself. And then he stopped, deciding he could try something more violent instead as long as Sephiroth was asleep and not defending himself.

His back was to the larger man, so he looked over his shoulder quietly, gauging where Sephiroth's throat was, shifted slightly-- And then moved suddenly to ram his elbow into the man's exposed throat as hard as he could.

[giftsofglory.livejournal.com]

He made a soft noise of startled pain, eyes fluttering open before he shifted to press closer to the smaller form, trying to comprehend the mess of wrong things to his senses and he tightened his arms as he reached to do a reflexive sleepy mental stroke across the senses of his bed mate. The very different feel than he was expecting made him jerk the rest of the way back to alertness though, hold reflexively loosening.

[gunsandchocolate]

Cursing softly when Sephiroth's grip tightened, Mello was about to snap at him, but then those arms loosened suddenly and Mello snatched his opportunity.

He tore away violently, stumbling out of bed and sprinting for the door, his first desire being to get as far away as he could so Sephiroth couldn't trap him with mind games, as he'd been doing.

[giftsofglory.livejournal.com]

He didn't even try to get up, knowing the radius leash worked even without his attention, and instead buried his face in the pillow, letting the blond move away for a moment before growling darkly at him. "Never wake me that way without cause -ever- again."

[gunsandchocolate]

Mello had been under the impression there was no way the man's hold was as strong when he was sleeping, or even half asleep. But he was wrong. He barely made it out of the room, opening the door and crumpling to his knees just two steps outside it. He was still close enough to hear Sephiroth's words.

Panting, knees smarting from the sharp contact with the ground, Mello was forced to drag himself back, sitting just in the doorframe and leaning against the wood as he gave Sephiroth a dirty, loathing look.

"I saw an opportunity. Cause enough."

[giftsofglory.livejournal.com]

"I don't care about the attack." He rolled out of bed, his low slung sleep pants barely hanging on his frame. Then he stalked toward him, barely contained fury written all over him. "But never do that -again-."

[gunsandchocolate]

"Do what?" If he didn't care about the attack, Mello had no idea what he was talking about.

He didn't even bother getting up off the floor. He was trapped either way, so he glared up at Sephiroth from where he sat.

[giftsofglory.livejournal.com]

He knelt and his touch was very very delicate as he turned a lock of blond hair in his fingers. "Every other morning I have woken knowing you are you, my detective. Today I did not and I refuse to let you cause me that kind of pain, understand me?"

[gunsandchocolate]

Suddenly, Mello understood, and the smirk he turned up at Sephiroth was unmistakeably cruel.

"You thought I was your dead lover. How sentimental."

[giftsofglory.livejournal.com]

His eyes narrowed then, and he was on him a moment later, both hands cupping Mello's face and tipping it up as he straddled his lap. "I don't think you understand. Allow me to show you."

Then he called up that soul crushing sensation of pain that half beat of instinctive comfort and hope being dashed caused and shoved it into Mello's perception, not caring how he'd take it. No, he just wasn't going to feel it by himself.

[gunsandchocolate]

In reality, that sort of pain was nothing new to Mello. He'd lost his best friend not all that long ago, after all-- and then his own lover, in a much different way, and the pain he suffered being torn away from his life was very similar.

However, he wasn't ready for all of that suddenly and inexplicably shoving itself into his mind, emotions surging and pain suffocating in his chest. Mello gasped sharply, eyes wide and suddenly brimming with tears, and stared at Sephiroth with uncomprehending horror.

[giftsofglory.livejournal.com]

In the days since Mello had been burned, he'd been very careful to work on healing him, often leaving himself very tired for the remainder of the evening afterwards, and he didn't doubt that today would be quite the same in that respect. Thankfully, in another day or two this wouldn't be required.

[gunsandchocolate]

Mello looked up when Sephiroth came closer; he'd been laying on his good side, propped up on some pillows and resting.

He was perpetually resting. He was getting so sick of it-- and it had only really been a day since he'd even been fully aware. Before that was an incoherent mess, and he preferred feeling the ache in his body to barely being able to remember his days. He'd slept a lot, in a pleasant daze, but an unnatural one, and Mello didn't like that. Pain was better if it came with awareness.

Of course, the pain was less. But still.

[giftsofglory.livejournal.com]

He brushed his fingers over Mello's side once, then started to undo the bandaging. "Still tired?"

[gunsandchocolate]

He didn't even flinch away from the touch anymore. At least, for this part, he knew what was coming and he wasn't about to fight getting healed as soon as possible.

He lay still, wincing slightly as the bandages were unwrapped and when they brushed against whatever parts were still tender on his damaged skin.

"Not so much today." But still a little tired. Recovering was apparently hard work, judging by how quickly he got worn out. Then again, part of that was probably boredom.

[giftsofglory.livejournal.com]

"Good. It's bad enough I've been exhausted, no need to have you maintain the state as well." He rested his palm lightly over one of the worse spots and focused.

[gunsandchocolate]

Mello watched him work silently, shivering a little at the tingle of warmth that meant it was working.

Sephiroth was spending so much energy fixing his broken toy. Mello scoffed softly.

[giftsofglory.livejournal.com]

"I wish I was better at this." It was a quiet murmur. "I doubt you'll find the end scars as pretty as I do."

[gunsandchocolate]

"Pretty?" His voice was dry and bitter. "You melted off half my fucking face. And that's on top of everything else you've done to me. You're a fucking bastard and I still fucking hate you."

[giftsofglory.livejournal.com]

"Yes, pretty." There was total resolve in his voice. "But I would still remove them if I had that much skill."

[gunsandchocolate]

"Well, try harder," Mello hissed, tensing beneath his gentle hands.

[giftsofglory.livejournal.com]

"If I was capable, you would be -healed- already. I am not a healer. All the healers -died-."

[gunsandchocolate]

"There were more of you? And here I thought you were the lone mutant." He hadn't really. He just hadn't asked because he hadn't cared at the moment and it hadn't come up.