Bruises | Solangelo | Mortal AU

Chapter 4

"Okay. Talk." Nico leaned against the wall with his arms crossed. 

"We've been living together for like... Over a year. I don't know what's happening to you but I can tell it's something. I am going to give you your space. If you say a kid got rough, I'll believe you. But if you ever decide that it's not... A kid getting rough... I'm here for you then too," I started. 

"Was that all?" Nico asked. He sounded breathless. 

"No." I didn't know how to continue. I started counting before I spoke again. Nico was just staring at me, waiting for me to talk again. 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82... 83. "Last week you said you were in love with me. Ever since then, we've been dodging each other. You've only been home to cook and make sure I'm alive. Now... It's 2:00 am and I'm rambling on trying to figure out what I'm gonna say." What was I gonna say? I knew he felt the same... But why was I so nervous?

Nico took a step towards me. "And what are you trying to say, la mia luce?" 

He called me 'la mia luce' and I'm not sure why but that gave me some more confidence. "What I'm trying to say is..." I took a step towards him and we were so close I could feel his ice-cold breath against my skin. My lips were hovering right about his, almost touching. My heart was pounding out of my chest and I was almost positive Nico could hear it. "What I'm saying is," I said softly. "Fuck... Maybe I should just show you," I whispered over his lips. 

I moved that extra inch and my warm lips felt a shock as I touched them to his cold ones. He wrapped his arms around my neck. The kiss started tender, but Nico kept pressing against me for more. The kiss quickly deepened and I was on cloud-fucking-nine. That ended when I wrapped my hands around Nico's waist and he pulled back inhaling in extreme pain. We separated and he faced away from me. "I'm sorry. I'm just... I'm still a little hurt." I could hear the tears in his eyes. 

"I didn't mean..." I started. 

"No, I know. I... It's not you." I could practically hear him say 'it's me' and I knew it wasn't him. He turned and faced me. He wiped tears from his eyes and sighed. "It took you long enough to make a move." He forced a smile and turned down the hall. 

I could tell he was trying to cover up his sadness with sass. That smirk never reached his eyes. I sat back down on the couch and after a while, I laid down and fell asleep. 

;;;

I woke the next day, still on the couch. The only thing that was different was that Nico's red and black plaid blanket covered me. 

"Morning, you want some coffee?" Nico brought me the white cup that said No need to tell me, I know I'm amazing. Nico got it for me when we first moved in together. 

I rubbed the drowsy from my eyes. "Thanks, Neeks... I mean, Nico." I grabbed the warm cup from his hands.

I could see him suppress a smile and blush a little bit. I sat up and pulled my legs under me so I was sitting criss-cross. Nico sat next to me and stared into his coffee. "I'm sorry... about last night." 

I cleared my throat. "You have nothing to apologise for." I looked at him and quickly leaned over and pressed my lips to his cheek. 

He smiled, really smiled. This one wasn't a smirk or a fake. It was real. "Loser," he said under his breath but loud enough he'd be sure I would hear it. 

I nudged his shoulder and he looked up at me. "We are going to dinner tonight." 

He raised his eyebrows. "Oh? What kind?" 

"Hm. I'm not sure. Maybe somewhere dark... With candlelight..." I put my tongue in between my teeth and let the corners of my mouth tilt up. 

Nico burst out laughing. "Yeah... right. Because that's gonna happen." 

I started laughing too, and we sat together and just watched TV all morning, he even rested his head on my shoulder. I never even got dressed for the day.