DemoGrassi

fifteen

Scott is so surprised, he doesn't register what happened until after Mitch breaks away and fades from consciousness. However, he doesn't think about it just then, hurrying on the the hospital wing.

The doctor there doesn't even question it, taking Mitch from Scott's arms and bringing him into the back. Scott tries to follow, but is told to go back to his work. "No," he says, protesting, "he's my master." Sighing, the person gives in and lets him go into the back with the doctor and the unconscious Mitch.

Scott holds Mitch's limp hand and keeps his eyes trained on the floor as the doctor carefully removes the knife and starts to clean the wound. Scott bites his lip hard, blinking back his tears and hoping that Mitch will be alright. He feels guilty that the feeling of Mitch's lips against his is really what's prominent in his mind other than the obvious, but you can't really blame him. I mean, you'd be freaking out if your master kissed you when they were literally dying.

Eventually, the doctor tells Scott there's nothing else she can do. Scott carefully picks Mitch up, who now has more bandages wrapped around his torso, and carries him back to his room. He hesitates before placing him on his bed, remembering bloodstained sheets, but the sheets are fresh and white. Scott gently rests Mitch down on his bed and moves to the foot, perching himself there and preparing to wait.

Mitch wakes up a couple hours later and immediately tries to get up, but falls back on his bed with a loud hiss from the pain. Scott looks up at the sound and relief breaks across his face. "You're alive," he breathes, and Mitch's head snaps to look at him. As he registers who Scott is, he starts to panic. "No! Why am I alive? I was supposed to die and then —" he cuts himself off, the outburst ending as suddenly as it started. Mitch slowly looks at Scott again, a look of fear on his face. "I'm sorry for kissing you," he says quietly, and Scott jumps, having forgotten.

Oh, who am I kidding? That's all he thought about.

Scott smiles slightly. "It's okay, sir. I liked it."

Mitch stares at him with disbelief before a small smile creeps on his lips. "Really?"

"Yes, sir."

Mitch hesitates. "Can . . . can I kiss you again?"

Scott's breath hitches in his throat and he slowly nods. "Go ahead," he whispers. Mitch slowly, carefully, makes his way over to Scott, pausing occasionally to curse quietly when pain shoots through his body. When he's close enough, he hesitates before slowly leaning in, his heart thumping loudly in his chest and his eyes fluttering closed. Scott lets his eyes close as well, leaning in to meet Mitch halfway.

Their lips touch. This time, since they're both reciprocating and Mitch isn't half-conscious, it truly feels like the first time they kissed. The metaphorical fireworks explode, and Mitch tries his hardest not to smile with glee and accidentally break the kiss.

They slowly break apart, their eyes fluttering open to meet blue or brown. They stare at each other for a while, slave and master, Scott and Mitch, before Mitch can't take it anymore and leans in again. Scott, of course, eagerly kisses him back, pulling Mitch closer.

When they break apart, they smile breathless smiles at the other. "Wow," Mitch breathes, and Scott laughs. "Definitely." They stare at each other again before a loud knocking causes them to jump apart and hurriedly fix their appearance before Mr. Grassi waltzes in.

"There. I knocked. Happy?"

Mitch laughs weakly. "Thank you."

"Yeah, yeah. Are you okay?"

Mitch lets out a shaky breath, glancing at Scott. "I think so," he says slowly, and Mr. Grassi nods.

"Good. I wanted you to know I called of the arrangement. If he said he came to apologize and ended up shooting you, we definitely can't have you marrying him."

"Thank you, Father." The relief is evident in Mitch's voice.

"Of course. Who knocked Travis out?"

Mitch smiles, glancing at Scott again as he speaks. "Th-that would be me, sir."

Mr. Grassi looks at him, an impressed yet still slightly apprehensive expression on his face. "Really? Wow. Good job. And why is your shirt off?"

Mitch is the one that answers this question, his voice cold. "Travis hurt him too."

Mr. Grassi nods. "I see. Are you alright?"

Scott glances at Mitch as he speaks. "Yes, sir. Thank you."

Mr. Grassi smiles, a rarity around Scott, and nods. "Alright. You two get some rest. I'll see you tomorrow." Worth that, he turns and leaves the room.

Scott and Mitch are on each other again as soon as the lock clicks, their lips touching once more.

For Scott, Mitch is like a forbidden drug. He knows he shouldn't, but he can't help it. Mitch is too entrancing.

For Mitch, Scott is like an uncharted piece of land, uncontaminated and begging to be explored.

When they pull apart for the third time, Mitch smiles the widest Scott has ever seen. "You should probably put a shirt on," he says, and Scott obviously obeys, but hurriedly rushes back to Mitch's side to kiss him again.

They break apart only for a second — Mitch leans in to peck Scott's lips one last time — before Mitch eventually decides they should get to sleep. "Can I sleep next to you?" Scott asks somewhat timidly, and Mitch nods. "Sure." Scott grins and resists the urge to kiss him, laying down and making grabby-hands towards Mitch. Mitch chuckles, but crawls up and lets Scott hold him. His smile widens even more when he hears a small "yay" as Scott wraps his arms around him. He presses his lips to Scott's arm.

They both lay in the dark silence for a while, enjoying the other's presence. However, Scott breaks it. "Master?"

"Hmm?"

"I . . . I really like you and we kissed multiple times so I'm assuming you like me too so what are we?"

Mitch chuckles softly Scott's run-on sentence, but it soon fades away. "Slaves aren't allowed to date their masters," he says quietly, and Scott feels his heart crack. "But you know what they say. Rules were made to be broken." Scott's breath hitches, and he dares to let himself hope. Mitch smiles, looking up at Scott and pressing another soft kiss to his lips. "They'll never have to know."

That night, both of them sleep peacefully. Mitch is as close to Scott as he can possibly get, and Scott's arms are wrapped tightly around him.

Maybe, just maybe, they have a chance.