Seven Levels Below

XVI

They're at Mitch's apartment the next night. The coronation is only a week away, and Scott had moped quite a bit about not being able to be more available for the next few days. Tonight—Friday night—and tomorrow evening would be the last days he could hang out with Mitch or Kirstie until Wednesday, when they had made rare plans to all get lunch together.

Scott thankfully has no paperwork left now though, and can just relax on the couch for once and pet Wyatt. Mitch is sitting at his kitchen table, trying to finish the sketch for Kirstie's dress. He finished his own suit for the fancy coronation ceremony, but Kirstie's dress is the real deal here. His suit was fine, just a couple hours of him pulling some old fabric together for a new piece, but this. Kirstie's dress has to be perfect. He's been stalling for weeks trying to make the design satisfactory, and Mitch refuses to start cutting fabric until he has convinced himself that it is a masterpiece in the making. He's glad he has Kirstie's measurements from recent little designs he's thrown together, because it will save so much time over the next week. If he's lucky, he might be able to have it finished before she even sees it! He can barely hold his excitement in, and Scott has noticed.

"Pleeeease Mitchy. I am your number one fan, I swear. I want to SEE it!" Scott was whining at him.

"No! Not till it's done!"

Scott groaned and dropped his head back against the armrest on the couch. "But that'll be years."

"You can survive one goddamn week, Scotty."

"If you're not gonna show me, then can you come entertain me?"

"Scott, I am working."

"But you're my Official Confidential-Document-Induced Boredom Supervisor! It's your job to come heeeere."

"You aren't looking at documents."

"Mitchyyyyyyy—"

"Oh my god! Fine!" Mitch threw his pencil down and stood up. He hadn't really gotten anything done since Scott had gotten there, anyway. "But then it's my turn!" He pointed to Wyatt, curled up on Scott's lap.

So what if he's still jealous that a stupid cat gets all of Scott's affection?

Mitch flopped himself down on top of Scott's legs with his head resting in the middle of Scott's chest, claiming the spot where a startled cat had quickly vacated in fear of getting squished.

Oh, this is Mitch's new favorite thing in the world.

"Nooo," Scott whined as Wyatt stalked over to the open window for a dramatic exit. "My precious little kitty!"

"You wanted me over here so bad, I can be your replacement kitty." Mitch rolled his eyes.

"Fine. But I'm petting you then."

"Fine."

Scott's hand buried itself in Mitch's hair. Nope, this is his favorite thing in the world. He knew growing his hair back was the right idea. He and Scott have gotten touchier since the long hug after the shopping trip months ago, but this is new. Mitch wants it forever. Scott's touch is soft, but not overly so. It's the perfect combination between nails scratching lightly over the shaved sides of his scalp and his hair being gently tugged. It's amazing. Mitch lets out a deep sigh as he closes his eyes, and Scott chuckles. Mitch can feel the rumble in Scott's chest and he can't even make himself care that this is probably ridiculous and he's definitely going to panic that he overstepped his boundaries later. But it's just so nice. He could fall asleep like this. He's not going to let himself though. No matter how long of a week it's been trying to work enough to get time off for the coronation and trying to finish his suit and start Kirstie's dress. No matter how much he wants to never get up and just float in this calm forever. No matter...

"Mitchy?"

"Hmm?"

"Wake up, Mitchy."

Damn it.

Mitch cracked his eyes open, and was immediately irritated by how dark the room had gotten. The glow from the streetlights outside his open window had dimmed to the night time setting, and neither Scott nor Mitch had turned on more lamps, considering they were both still laying on the couch.

Mitch pushed himself upright and yawned. "Sorry, I didn't mean to fall asleep."

"No, it's fine. I would have woken you up if it bothered me."

Mitch tilted his head at him. He had just woken him up.

Scott corrected himself. "I mean, I would have woken you up sooner. I just, kinda have to go soon."

Mitch twisted himself around to see the time displayed on his dark TV. No! He had wasted his last night alone with Scott for probably at least two weeks just sleeping.

"I'm so sorry! I wanted to hang out with you, not pin you to the couch all night, uh—" Mitch was glad Scott cut him off and clearly missed the odd wording that Mitch could definitely see an innuendo in.

"No, no, it was fine. I liked it." Scott blushed lightly. "I mean, your hair is soft, uh. It, uh."

Mitch snorted. "Don't hurt yourself." He pushed himself all the way off Scott's lap (nooooo) and dragged himself over to the window to pull it shut and start switching the lamps on.

When he turned back around, Scott had pulled his shoes on and was hesitating at the door. Mitch walked over to join him.

"Did you forget how it works?" Mitch pointed his thumb at the door as he leaned against the wall next to him.

Scott looked shy suddenly. "No, I just don't..."

"I don't want you to go, either."

Scott smiled sadly. "I wish I could just stay down here and not deal with all of that right now. I just want to relax here and hang out with you and get lunch with Kirstie and pet Wyatt... I love my job and I'm excited to be crowned and all, but still. It's just so stressful right now. What if I screw it up? And what if people don't..." He trailed off again and frowned down at the ground.

"Everyone will love you, Scotty. You've already done more for us down here as prince than your father or your grandfather or whoever else ever did as king. We all have your back, and we trust you. Kirstie and I trust you. You just don't trust yourself. You've basically been running the entirety of Asdria for months now, and so far it's all gone fine. You just have to go get a crown stuck on your head on Friday. Then it's back to normal again, after a bunch of crazy press and stuff."

Scott looked him in the eye. "I'm gonna miss you all week."

"You're coming to Kirstie's tomorrow. I'll be there, too," Mitch teased.

Scott held his gaze.

"I'll miss you too, Scott."

Mitch stepped forward and wrapped his arms around Scott, squeezing tightly when Scott matched his hold. They stood there in Mitch's doorway clinging to each other for way too long. Eventually, Scott pulled back enough to see Mitch's face.

"I really do have to go."

Mitch nodded, but neither of them pulled back farther. They were still standing so close to each other, just staring, and Mitch's breath caught in his throat.

He should do it.

Right now.

Just lean in a little bit more...

Scott's eyes jumped down to his lips and Mitch started to rock forwards on his toes.

But then Scott dropped his arms. Mitch tried not to let the disappointment in his chest affect him, but it almost made his eyes well up. He was so close.

"See you tomorrow, Mitchy."

"Bye, Scooter."

And then the door opened and Scott moved, and it closed.

Mitch buried his face in his shaky hands in the dark hall and tried not to cry.