Darkness

Friends

Mitch poured Scott as glass of wine, pushed the cork back into the neck of the bottle and set it down on the coffee table in front of them. They both took a sip before Mitch pushed the sheets of paper with lyrics scribbled on them to the side.

"So, tell me about your man. How is he doing? We haven't really had a chance to talk."

Scott nodded slowly. Mitch was right, they hadn't had a good talk in ages. "Avi is doing good. He bounced back surprisingly well from the mistreatment at the hospital, he isn't as clingy anymore. Not in a negative sense but he seems way more independent now that he's home and allowed to go back to normal. He missed his routine. And I think he was happy to be by himself for tonight, he seemed to really look forward to have a quiet night in. When I left he was sitting in the tub."

"That's great, Scott. Really. It's good to hear that he is feeling better. He went through so much in the past couple of months and I feel like he deserves to just...exist and be happy, you know?"

"Yeah. He does."

"And you do too."

Scott shrugged and sipped some of the wine. "Maybe, yeah. I feel like we both just need a big vacation but to be honest, at the same time I just don't feel like going anywhere. He needs to be home and go back to normal first. If that's even possible."

"Who said you have to go away for vacation? Order some nice food, or just pizza, it really doesn't matter, get on the couch or in bed, enjoy just being together. Maybe a massage? A bath together? Vacation a home, huh? And you have a big tub. Maybe he would appreciate some...attention?"

"We haven't seen each other- I haven't seen him naked yet. We haven't...done it yet."

"Oh" Mitch said in surprise and frowned for a moment. "Why not? You guys have been dating for quite some time already. I thought-"

"Cause I don't want him to push him to do something he is uncomfortable with. He might trust me but- no."

The tenor took a sip of wine and leaned back. "Okay. I understand that it requires another level of trust, especially since he can't see and might feel helpless or disadvantaged."

"But-"

"Why? Because you can see. You can see his body and his reaction tp whatever you're doing while he can't watch you and read your body language."

"I never thought of that" Scott admitted and looked at Mitch. "You're right."

"Of course I am, Stupid." Mitch took another sip. "So, more songwriting? Or a movie?"

"I'd probably prefer the movie but we can work for another half an hour?"

Mitch shook his head. "Movie it is, then. Pick something, I'll get the snacks." He put down his wine glass and got up, disappeared after tossing Scott the remote. When he came back with two bowls, one filled with candy and the other one with chips, Scott had selected a movie and sat there with his thighs up against his chest.

"Should I text Avi? Ask how he's doing?"

"No. Give him some space. He'll let you know when he needs you." Mitch passed him one of the bowls, knowing that Scott preferred candy and sat down. "What are we watching?"

"The Office.."

"Fine with me" Mitch said with a soft smile on his lips.

Two episodes later Scott's head was resting on Mitch's thigh and the smaller man ran his fingertips over and through his friend's hair. While the tenor knew that Scott just needed a little bit of attention, affection and peace Scott allowed himself to relax for the first time since the accident.

His shoulders were tense and everything hurt, especially his head, but right now nothing else except the soft touch against his skull mattered. He had always been a fan of cuddles, platonic or not, and since Avi had been unable to be his cuddle buddy for over a week he was just fine with Mitch for the moment. Avi's cuddles felt different but Mitch's cuddles were much needed right now.

"Scotty?" Mitch mumbled, afraid that he'd wake his best friend in case he had fallen asleep already.

"Hm?"

"Try to let go. Just...take a deep breath and unclench your jaw for a moment."

"I'm not-"

"You're tense as fuck, Dear."

A sigh left him and the baritone adjust his position before he tried to relax. It was hard with his head stuffed to the brim with worries about Avi but with Mitch's massage he slowly managed to unclench his jaw and almost melted against his friend.

"Have you been sleeping?"

"Not much, no. Just a couple of hours here and there, most of them on a chair next to Avi's bed in the hospital and since he's back home I wake up every now and then to check for...for his heartbeat and make sure he's breathing" he hesitantly confessed and scooted closer to Mitch. Tears welled in his eyes and he sniffled softly, wiped them away quickly when they spilled and made their way down his cheeks. "Gotta make sure he's okay, you know?"

"Oh Scotty..." Mitch mumbled and went from massaging his scalp to rubbing his upper back. "Does he know?"

The baritone shrugged at first before he shook his head. "I don't think so. He sleeps though the night and when we took a nap earlier today he fell asleep immediately but I couldn't. I just watched him and made sure he was warm and okay." He paused for a moment before he took a deep, shaky breath. "It's my fault. I should've made him sleep on the couch with me, we- I shouldn't have made him climb up that ladder." A sob escaped him and his shoulders started to tremble.