Time After Time

Flawlessly Prepared

Scott ran his wet fingers through his hair, dampening it before he styled it with product. He was standing, shirtless, in the bathroom, watching his reflection with a certain degree of caution. once he was reasonably happy with the position of his newly-styled blonde hair, he grabbed his black and white patterned shirt and pulled it on. He checked his reflection again before swiftly buttoning his shirt. He flashed his reflection a strained smile before heading back to his old room to select a snapback, as he had not moved them. He tried a few on, crushing his freshly styled hair, and each time checked his reflection in the nearest reflective surface. After finally settling on a black and white one with blue lettering, he fixed the small amount of his hair that was visible. Deciding that he looked at least semi-presentable, he made his way out of his old bedroom and headed to the living room, where Mitch was sitting, clearly lost in thought.

"Hey," Scott said quietly trying not to startle his boyfriend too much. Mitch was snatched from his trance by the baritone's voice, which caused him to jump slightly.

"Shit, Scott! You scared me!" Mitch chuckled awkwardly. Scott forced himself to laugh along with the brunette.

"Good. I wanted to," Scott found himself lying and instantly regretting it as his brain spiralled off into the darkness. The older man found himself imagining how his boyfriend would interpret his words - would Mitch take offense to this? Would Mitch be hurt by his words? So many questions that could not be answered flew around his head, and he was then pulled back to reality by the countertenor.

"You okay, Scott?"

"Yeah... Yeah, just thinking, is all," the taller man mumbled. Mitch shook his head and stood up before walking over to his boyfriend.

"I know when you're lying, honey," he whispered, reaching up and cupping the taller man's cheek, "I just want to know what's wrong."

"It's nothing, really. It's stupid," Scott's voice was quiet as he kept his eyes fixed to the floor. He didn't want to lie to the brunette, but he knew that neither of them could handle any confrontation at that moment. 

"If it's getting you down, then it isn't 'nothing', okay?" Mitch whispered, stroking the blonde's cheek lightly with his thumb before tipping Scott's head up to face him and pressing their lips together. "I can't help you if I don't know what's wrong."

"I'm sorry," Scott managed to force out before a sob shot through his body and he collapsed against the smaller man, who somehow managed to stay upright to support the pair. 

"It's okay, it's okay. Don't cry, Scottie. I've got you," Mitch whispered as his boyfriend's body shook violently. "Breathe, baby, breathe." Scott continued to fight to breathe normally, his mind racing as his body quivered. He knew that if Mitch were to let go, he would fall to the floor. His eyes poured salty water onto Mitch's red and blue plaid shirt as the brunette held him tightly.

“I’m sorry,” the older man managed to choke out, looking a sorry sight as he clung onto his boyfriend with all of his strength. Still fighting to breathe properly, he focused on Mitch’s words as the shorter man continued to whisper consoling words in soothing, hushed tones. Scott felt so pathetic. He was supposed to be supporting Mitch. He was supposed to be making sure that Mitch was okay, but instead, he was crying all over the brunette like a useless idiot. Why did Mitch even love him anyway? He was a mess. As his frantic, panicked breaths began to fade into shuddery ones, he allowed himself to pull away from the countertenor. Still shaking slightly, Scott was unsteady on his feet, and Mitch reached an arm out to try to prevent his boyfriend from falling. Scott’s facial features were a portrait of pure guilt. He was going to end up hurting Mitch if he didn’t pull himself together, man up and stop worrying so much. He’d turned into a coward, and that was an undesirable, unattractive trait. Mitch would surely leave him if the brunette ever realized how weak and pathetic Scott really was.

“Scott, are you listening?”

“Sorry?” Scott murmured, glancing up at the brunette, who still had a grip on the baritone’s arm.

“I was asking what was going through your head. I’m worried, Scott, and I need to know you’re okay,” Mitch murmured, releasing his boyfriends arm, but stepping closer to hold him close. He reached up and gently wiped away the remnants of Scott’s tears before placing a kiss on his lips.

“I just keep thinking... I really need to stop doing that,” Scott tried to joke, but it only ended up with the pair sighed quietly and awkwardly shifting.

“I want you to talk to me,” Mitch whispered, holding Scott close to his body.

“I’ll try, but I won’t promise.”

“I’ll take that, then,” the countertenor sighed. Scott felt even guiltier within an instant. He wanted to be the one to take away Mitch’s pain, but instead he was somehow managing to add to it. The pair stood there, in the middle of their living room, holding one another for a while, until Scott spoke up, breaking the almost silence.

“Weren’t we going out?”

“Oh, shit, yeah. We’ve got... half an hour until we need to leave. Girl, I’ve got to go get ready – I can’t go out like this,” Mitch said, smiling slightly, “You, however... You look gorgeous.”

“I woke up like this,” Scott smiled. And it was a smile – a genuine one. He loved these moments where he and his boyfriend were just Scott and Mitch, the idiots, instead of Scott and Mitch – the fuck ups.

“Too right you did, honey,” Mitch smirked, pressing a quick kiss to Scott’s nose before turning around and pulling away from Scott. He then began to head towards his bedroom.

“By the way, Mitch, you’re flawless too,” the baritone called after his boyfriend. Scott smiled as Mitch blushed, his cheeks turning a deep shade of red, but the blonde’s brain told him that Mitch doubted his own appearance. All the more reason to treat him like the flawless queen he is, Scott thought.