Explosion of Colors

Rainbow

A/N: This is the final chapter.

***

Gulf shuts the door behind him with a gentle thud to prevent Allie from entering the bedroom. Despite her pitiful meows from the other side, he pays no attention. Mew has her new toys and expensive cat food, so she will be fine.

Mew is already asleep, his face buried in a pillow, likely because the room was still bright when he dozed off. Gulf and Keith finally convinced him to try anti-depressants, even though he was adamant about not wanting to rely on pills for his tough days. After a few weeks of taking them, they made him so drowsy that he would already be in bed by the time Gulf returned from work.

Gulf carefully steps around the box of winter clothes they haven't unpacked yet, even though it's been a month since they moved in. He undresses quickly and quietly, noticing that the laundry hamper is no longer overflowing with dirty clothes. A twinge of guilt hits Gulf as he had promised to take care of it the night before, but got too engrossed in perfecting his tattoo sketch for the day.

Since Mew mostly retired from MMA-fighting and started taking online courses in physical therapy, he spends a significant amount of time at home. However, this doesn't mean he should be responsible for all the household chores. Gulf realizes that he needs to improve his memory when it comes to tasks like laundry, which he tends to forget when he gets too caught up with work.

Although he isn't particularly tired, Gulf still climbs into bed and snuggles up against Mew's warm body, leaving his own cold side. He plants a gentle kiss on the back of Mew's neck and wraps his arm around his waist, finding a comfortable position.

Gulf traces his mouth over the tattoo on Mew's left shoulder blade, which is a shield. He has a complicated relationship with this particular creation. It was one of his best works, showcasing his talent after the accident. However, the actual tattoo didn't turn out as flawless as the sketch. It's slightly crooked, with shaky lines and uneven shading. It falls short of the crisp and clean finish it should have had.

He has begged Mew to let him fix the tattoo – he won't be able to make it perfect, but at least Mew's refusal to change the tattoo only made Gulf more intrigued. "It is what it is," Mew insisted, "and that's how it should be. It's a part of our healing journey."

Gulf couldn't help but be drawn to the sentiment. However, he still couldn't shake off the feeling that the tattoo looked like something he made during his early days as an apprentice.

As Gulf pressed his lips against the inked skin once more, Mew stirred from his sleep. His voice was husky as he mumbled, "B-aby?"

Moving his kisses up to Mew's neck, Gulf reassured him, "I'm here."

Gulf shifted back slightly, allowing Mew to roll onto his back. Seeing the exhaustion in Mew's eyes, Gulf leaned down to plant a gentle kiss on his forehead. "Are you okay, love?"

Mew let out a deep breath, his voice filled with weariness. "Yeah. Keith says the side effects will fade away soon. And if they don't, we'll find another solution."

Gulf nodded, intertwining his fingers with Mew's. They had come a long way since Mew's setback a few months ago. Despite the occasional rough days, Gulf was proud of their progress. Together and individually, they made it work.

After receiving a phone call from his mother about the death of a cousin he barely knew, Mew's world turned upside down. The timing couldn't have been worse, as Gulf was away at a tattoo convention. Overwhelmed by grief, Mew became obsessively protective of Gulf, never wanting to let him out of his sight. The nightmares returned, and Mew isolated himself from everyone, sinking into a deep depression. Unfortunately, Keith, who had been Mew's support system, was on vacation and couldn't refer him to anyone else. Gulf felt lost, not knowing how to help Mew in his darkest moments.