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.

Comments

[giftsofglory.livejournal.com]

"No. It was better this way."

[gunsandchocolate]

"Stop making choices for me."

[giftsofglory.livejournal.com]

"I never will you know." He ran a fingertip down his cheek. "I haven't taken any drastic measures with you, but this incident shows I need to before your stubbornness harms you irreparably."

[gunsandchocolate]

"You haven't? Right." Mello scoffed in disbelief. "Fuck off." He was healed for the day. He could say that now.

So, according to Sephiroth, taking away his personal freedoms, even the simplest choices of when to eat and such, none of that was 'drastic'? The thought made Mello's stomach turn. He didn't want to find out what he really meant-- but, unfortunately, was aware that he probably would.

[giftsofglory.livejournal.com]

"No. I haven't touched anything outside of you. I have left an open -choice- for you. Perhaps that was my mistake. It would have been wiser of me to destroy all your connections to the outside world."

[gunsandchocolate]

Mello froze.

He hadn't been expecting that. So far, everything Sephiroth had done was personal, intensely so. He'd never imagined the man would bother going beyond that.

Sitting up suddenly, Mello ignored the pain that the abrupt motion caused, lifting his chin so he could get as close to eye-level as possible, jaw tense.

"You can't," he growled coldly. He'd been very careful of that, at least. He'd refused to say where he lived or with whom-- unless Sephiroth had found out. Did he dare to bluff?

He had to. He had to bank on the fact his close connections were generally kept a secret, on the fact they often moved houses and there should be nothing tying him with outward evidence to any one place or person intimately.

[giftsofglory.livejournal.com]

"I know the name of your lover, and it's an unusual name. I watched you, so I know what area you live in, and I know what department you worked for. It would be very simple to tear all those things to pieces. I've done it before."

[gunsandchocolate]

"You're bluffing. You don't know what department I work for," Mello corrected, even if the rest startled and unnerved him slightly.

"And you don't know the name of my lover." Both were impossible. He never spoke of his personal affairs, and had been extra-careful not to here. And he didn't work for any one department, either, not for any extended period of time. He worked privately, and was hired by others as extra help on tough cases; he could feasibly work all over the world, and had. Sephiroth had to be bluffing.

[giftsofglory.livejournal.com]

"I -found- you through the department you work for my detective. At the time. Checking their records didn't yield me you so I had to be more thorough, which is why I had to take such curious measures to capture you. It was the simplest way. As for your former lover. Nakago, wasn't it?"

[gunsandchocolate]

He tried not to react. He tried to have the perfect poker face and say Sephiroth had no idea what he was talking about. But Mello was no good at hiding his emotions, not if someone was paying attention.

"No," he replied flatly. And in the meantime was shocked in a most unpleasant way that Sephiroth knew impossible things.

[giftsofglory.livejournal.com]

"Yes. And I haven't gone out of my way to destroy any of those people or things, but I think it's time I should, that way you'll stop thinking you have something to get back to."

[gunsandchocolate]

"No," Mello repeated, viciously, and moved to stand, completely disregarding his injuries. "You can't. Don't you fucking dare!"

[giftsofglory.livejournal.com]

"Why can't I?" He met his eyes. "If you make me take drastic measures to get your attention, I will take them."

[gunsandchocolate]

His fists clenched at his sides, trembling with rage and he glared cold murder up at Sephiroth.

"You can't," he repeated. "You won't be able to. So don't you dare."

[giftsofglory.livejournal.com]

"I've done it before." He cocked his head. "Far more extensively and devastatingly than I will in this case."

[gunsandchocolate]

He refused to believe it. Nakago was strong. Much stronger than Sephiroth, nevermind those stupid powers. Nakago wouldn't let himself be hurt by someone below him.

Mello snarled. "I don't care. You won't be able to."

[giftsofglory.livejournal.com]

He kissed his cheek softly. "You want me to prove it to you?"

[gunsandchocolate]

"No!" Mello shoved him away, nails in his throat.

[giftsofglory.livejournal.com]

He grabbed his hands at once. "Why not? You doubt me so strongly."

[gunsandchocolate]

"That's not it," he choked out, trying to yank his hands free, hissing in pain and anger.

"Just- Just-- Fuck you! Stay away from him!"

[giftsofglory.livejournal.com]

"Why should I?" His tone was careful, almost gentle. "If the result I have to force is breaking you, then that is what I will do. And if that -doesn't- then all the better."

[gunsandchocolate]

"Thought you said that wasn't the point!" he pointed out indignantly, still trying to pull away. The pain was getting worse, his frantic struggling pulling at the barely-healed skin on the worst of the burns, maybe even tearing but he didn't stop to pay attention.

[giftsofglory.livejournal.com]

"It isn't, but even I have to admit defeat sometimes. I can encourage you back to yourself after if I need to."

[gunsandchocolate]

"That's not how it fucking works! You can't fucking mold me like that!"

He was panting heavily by now, his struggles weakening as he tried to pull away still to no avail, Sephiroth's grip like iron around his wrists. He yanked hard, hissing at a sharp stab of pain in his injured shoulder, a wave of nausea at the sudden intensity of it.

[giftsofglory.livejournal.com]

He moved forward, pulling Mello to his chest in a sharp motion and wrapping his arms around him, over his arms. "That's quite enough."