A Reunion of Lips

XXII

It really was bound to happen at some point—well, not this specifically, but something like this for sure. It didn't happen on the first night, or even the second, or the third. It was on the fourth night after Mitch got home that he was awoken by a smack straight to his face.

"Arghff—" Mitch groaned and rolled away from the hand.

He was mostly awake at that point, but he shook his head a little bit to clear that last bit of sleep and figure out whyyy. A glance over at the bedside clock and the darkness behind the balcony doors to his right showed that it was still the middle of the night.

The glance to his right also showed him the furrowed face of the sleeping Scott and the hand still outstretched to where Mitch would usually be curled up into him.

Mitch rubbed at his sore face for a minute, watching as Scott's fingers twitched like they were looking for something, then switched to patting around with the whole hand.

Before Mitch started shifting himself down to lay next to Scott again, Scott jolted awake like he was the one who had just gotten slapped.

Mitch froze, one hand still on his stinging cheek, at the frantic way that Scott pushed himself up while his eyes darted around the room for the three seconds it took for him to focus on Mitch.

They stared at each other for a few long heartbeats as Scott took a deep breath and Mitch scanned his face for any signs of pain or other problems that would have prompted such a harsh awakening.

"What's wrong with your face?"

"What's wrong with you?"

They squinted at each other. With anyone else, that exchange would have been a joke or rude, but with the two of them, Mitch knew it was genuine concern.

Mitch decided to break the silence as they waited for each other to explain. "Um, I'm fine. Just got a—a bit of a wake up bop." He dropped his hand from his face and scooted down so he was laying down next to Scott, and pulled on Scott so he was lying down again too, noses almost brushing from how close they were.

Mitch knew exactly when Scott figured out what he was trying not to say, because his eyes widened slightly and then crunched down into an apologetic grimace.

"I'm so sorry—"

Mitch shook his head lightly to try to wave off Scott's concern. "It's fine. Besides, now we're even for that time I kneed you in the balls."

That incident, probably about a year and a half ago, was funny only when reflecting on it. Mitch had been jittery all day from an upcoming showcase at Lambert Studios and, in trying to sleep, had flailed and kicked out after one of those half-asleep falling dreams. Poor Scott had woken up very quickly from Mitch's knee making a surprise appearance in his nether regions.

Scott made a noise like he tried to laugh, but didn't put quite enough effort into it. "If you say so."

Mitch sighed, looking between the tired eyes a few inches from his own. He reached out and pulled Scott's arm over him. "Was it a bad dream?" Mitch didn't really know what else it would be that had woken Scott up, but he could still be hopeful about Scott being able to rest peacefully—

"Yeah."

Nevermind, then.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"Not really."

Mitch nodded, his nose brushing past Scott's. "Do you think you can fall asleep again, or do you need something else, or..." He trailed off to let Scott think. Of course, Scott decided to talk anyway, though.

"Do you... ever get nightmares? About like, either time you got kidnapped?"

Mitch raised his hand to Scott's face so he could gently brush his thumb over his cheekbone. Hopefully it would seem comforting and encouraging to keep Scott talking. "Not often."

"...How?"

Mitch smiled sadly at the slightly desperate look in Scott's eyes. "Whenever something is bothering me, I talk to you or Kirstie, or someone about it. It always helps me calm down and ground myself in where I am now rather than when I had no control." Mitch pressed a light peck on the tip of Scott's nose. "I have you and our friends to help me feel comfortable with being vulnerable."

"Okay, so I'll talk more and take time off."

Mitch moved his thumb in slow circles. "We aren't the same person, honey. What works to help me calm down isn't necessarily going to help you, too. You're welcome to try, though."

Scott frowned, but tilted his head slightly into Mitch's touch. "Why can't there be an easy answer? I just want one night when I don't have to see you being dragged away because I wasn't good enough or fast enough—"

"Hey, it's okay," Mitch pulled Scott's head down so he could press a lingering kiss to his forehead while Scott took a deep breath.

"I can't decide if it's worse watching you slump over on the palace steps after my father pulled the trigger, or watching you walk out the front door for the last time because you've had enough."

"As long as I have a say in it, I'm never leaving you again. And you know it wasn't your fault. Nothing that they've done to me is your fault, and I hold absolutely nothing against you. I know you love me, and I know you trust me—so let me help you, okay? What can I do?"

Scott mumbled into Mitch's collarbone. "Can you..."

"Whatever you want. Snack? Drink? Blowjob?"

"Can I be the little spoon?"

Mitch loosened his arms. "Of course."

Scott rolled over and snuggled back into his arms. Mitch rested his lips against the soft skin of Scott's neck. He let Scott drift off as he hummed softly and traced his fingers over the lines of the ink flowers on Scott's left shoulder that they both loved so much.

When Scott woke up, he could offer more advice or try to point him towards someone better suited. For now, he would just be the steady support that Scott needed. God knows Scott was surely trying to deal with this all on his own to try to keep himself from bothering people, or something. Not anymore.

Mitch wasn't exactly sad at learning about Scott's nightmares and guilt—upset, sure. Absolutely devastated that Scott was trying to force himself to deal with it alone, of course. But more than anything else, he was determined.

Determined to not let Scott try to deal with it alone anymore. Scott was always there for him when he needed him, and even every single time he didn't. Sooner or later, Mitch would get it through Scott's head that he would always be there for him, too.