Anger Management [Meloghia]

Chapter 36: Reflection

As soon as they pulled up to the house, Sorbet beelined for Risotto's office. He practically dragged Formaggio with him as he entered. Risotto nodded to them as they passed. Illuso stood up from the desk with the bottle in hand. Sorbet took it from him and held it up to his face. Gelato sat at the bottom of the bottle with his knees pulled up to his chest. He looked up at Sorbet miserably.

"He didn't cause much fuss," Illuso said. Sorbet carefully tilted the bottle and Gelato readjusted to slide out onto his palm. He set Gelato's small body carefully on the couch then turned to Formaggio who nodded. Formaggio activated his stand and Gelato returned to full size within seconds. He hopped up and threw his arms around Sorbet.

"Are you okay?" Sorbet asked. Gelato just buried his face into his lover's neck and nodded.

"Whelp, I'm beat. Gonna go crash for a while. You up for a marathon, Luce?" Formaggio said, turning to Illuso.

"Sure, anything so I don't have to think for a while," and he followed Formaggio out.

Sorbet heard sniffles from his arms. He leaned his head against Gelato and squeezed him tighter. "My heart, it's okay. I told you I would return to you."

"You got shot," was all Gelato said.

"I was, but I'm fine now, dove." Sorbet stroked Gelato's hair and kissed him on the head.

"Don't ever do that again," Gelato said in a shaky voice.

"I had to make sure you wouldn't hurt yourself, my love." He regretted taking those drastic actions but he knew it had been necessary. Gelato would move heaven and hell to find that damn switchblade. He may not even wait for that.

"No, I mean don't leave me like that again. No more frontline missions," Gelato said.

"Fine." Sorbet didn't want to argue with him, but he knew it was a promise he would be unable to keep. He just wanted to placate his lover for the time being. "What would you like to do this day, my love?"

Gelato shrugged.

"Would it please you to prowl the streets together in search of...entertainment?" Sorbet asked as he stroked Gelato's face. It had been some time since the pair had gone out in search of someone for their own sadistic pleasures. They usually tried to reign it in for missions only but every now and then, Gelato would get antsy and they would pick a night to go out hunting together. Sorbet figured that would be something that might stir Gelato.

"I don't care," Gelato said, apathetically. Not even the thought of taking a life could uplift Gelato's spirits. That look of ennui in his lover's eyes just left Sorbet feeling hollow. Dr. Florence hadn't returned yet, but he really needed Risotto to talk to her about sessions for Gelato. Maybe she could help him.

"Gelato, we found Melone's doctor at the warehouse. The faction kidnapped and tortured her for information. Once she's had some time to adjust, I think you should speak with her." Sorbet rubbed his back.

"I don't really have a choice, do I?" Gelato looked at him blankly. "Risotto's gonna force me to."

"Don't think of it that way," Sorbet held his chin as he gazed into his eyes. "It's to help you. Do it for us."

He gazed at Gelato for several minutes as his blank one stared back.

"Gelato..." Sorbet whispered. "I'm scared."

"I know." Gelato stared back. "And I'm sorry."

Sorbet had never been truly scared of much in his life, he barely felt much of anything. He had always been rather emotionally numb for much of his early life. He found himself mimicking the proper emotional responses to social cues in order to fit in. He'd gotten very good at acting. It was why he'd been so good at theater in school. He'd participated in every drama he could audition for and quickly became popular in his class for his incredible stage skills. Little did they know that he never stopped performing once off the stage. If they knew who he really was inside, they wouldn't have showered him with praise the way they did.