Favorite Crime || Mikey/OC/Mitsuya

19 - Manjiro

for the first time in years, I slept deeply. my long, undisturbed rest was clear as I wake up with significantly less head throbbing and tired aches. the room was somber as the early, cloudy dawn turned my pitch-black surroundings gray.

"you're awake."

sleep clearly held much power over me since I realize too late that I wasn't lying on top of a pillow but rather, my cheek was pressed against his chest with my arm draped over his torso. I don't move from my position as I enjoy the softness of his fingers running through my hair.

"I'm home."

"welcome home, Mikey," I sigh, hugging him tighter.

he had been gone for four days without sending me so much as a text. he never really tells me anything anyway, but I was only used to him being gone for two days and one night max. this time was quite a stretch and I remember being so sleep-deprived from worry that I practically passed out into a long sleep on the third night which was yesterday.

"where've you been?"

not that I expect you to tell me.

"out."

"of course."

I couldn't help but show the mild disappointment in my voice as I shortly replied. Mikey's not the same sweet boy from back then. in the two years that had gone by since we left, I got used to his change, but sometimes I still hurt over it, as if deep down I still really believed I could get the old Mikey back.

he could be quite annoying and inconsiderate—cold and way out of line...but I chose to stand beside him; I chose him. once in a while, there are cracks in his present cold persona wherein his love for me seeps through, just like our moment now as he holds me. I was a sucker for these moments of love, that's why no matter how bad things get, I remained here.

"didn't you sleep?" I ask softly, pulling away to look at him.

his empty eyes find mine before he sighs, looking away from me.

"I just got home."

"do you want to eat anything?"

"you're nagging," he dismissively says.

I purse my lips to keep myself from snapping back, knowing fully well that if I let my emotions take over, it would only result to another pointless fight that'd drag on for a week of cold treatment.

I disguise my hurt with a fake smile as I push away from him and leave our bed.

"where are you going?" he asks, a mild annoyance in his voice.

"out." I roll my eyes.

"it's still too early, come back to bed."

I ignore his words as I shuffle my feet in to my slippers, sparing him a short, irked glance before I head over to the door.

"Izumi, I just got home!" he yells.

I hate it when he raises his voice at me. it wasn't like our playful arguments and fights in the past, it was him caring less and less for how he spoke to me.

"don't yell."

I hear him make his way to where I stood in light footsteps. he stops right behind me before his arms find its way around my frame, hugging me to himself as he presses a kiss on the curve of my neck.

"I'm sorry...please stay in bed with me for a while, I really missed you, Izumi."

like I said, I was a sucker for these fleeting, inconsistent moments.