#ficlet 9

Mikaela sighs as he runs a comb through his hair, eyes on the reflection of the man standing behind him. Kureto’s hard eyes follow his every move. It is bordering on an obsession, Mikaela thinks. No matter the circumstance, Kureto’s eyes always find him whenever they’re together.

“You’re not very intimidating.” Mikaela lies, refusing to let his eyes drop to the floor. He knows how ruthless and cruel Kureto can be. He’s seen first-hand how easily Kureto can take a life without even blinking. And yet, despite the man’s cold, dangerous exterior, he’s never once hurt Mikaela.

Kureto moves closer and Mikaela’s breath catches in his lungs when the man comes to stand right behind him. A large hand wraps itself around his neck, causing a shiver to race down his spine. The grip is steady, not tight enough to restrict his air flow but with enough pressure that Mikaela’s heart flutters.

He drops the comb, resting both of his hands neatly on his lap. His eyes narrow, glare intensifying when Kureto leans in closer.

“You can’t keep me locked in here forever.” Mikaela says, voice soft despite the anger in his gaze.

“I can.” Kureto replies as his thumb begins to brush against Mikaela’s skin. Mikaela knows the man is not bluffing, and he hates himself for the way his body responds to those words. He holds his breath as Kureto moves closer, lips dangerously close to the exposed flesh on the side of his neck.

“If you cared about me, you wouldn’t do this.” Mikaela whispers before Kureto’s lips touch him. The man freezes behind him. Mikaela bites his tongue, regretting the words instantly.

He’s taken things too far.

The hand around his throat disappears.

He barely suppresses the yelp of surprise when Kureto picks him up from his seat, maneuvering him until he’s sitting on top of the vanity table.

“Don’t confuse me with Guren.” Kureto says, eyes locking with Mikaela’s. “Those words won’t work on me.”

Hands grip his waist, strong, possessive.

The delicate balance they’d formed between the three of them was breaking. Mikaela can feel it.

Mikaela curls his hands around Kureto’s neck, bringing the man closer to him.

“Then...show me why you won’t let me go.” Mikaela breathes out against Kureto’s lips.

Guren could feel eyes on him, heavy with suspicion.

“Will you ever trust me?” Guren knew the answer, of course. It didn’t matter how many times he did the right thing. To Mikaela, Guren would always be the man that used Yuu, the man who sacrificed the world for his own selfish reasons. He couldn’t blame the blond for his continued scrutiny.

Sharp red eyes scanned his face as he turned to face Mikaela.

“No.”

Guren hid the sting those words caused with a lazy smirk. He didn’t care what the other thought of him. He didn’t. Why would he?

“How cruel.” Guren said with a mocking tone. It was late, he was exhausted, and he had assumed everyone would have been tucked away in bed by now. Mikaela was the exception. He always was the exception.

“Where were you?” Mikaela is never shy to get to the point.

Guren sighed, dragging a hand over his face.

“What are you, my wife?” Guren chuckled. Mikaela’s lips twisted into a frown.

“If you’re up to something that will endanger--”

“Calm down, blondie.” Mikaela’s frown turns into a sneer. Guren took some delight in that. He always seemed to be able to rile the other up.

“I’m not stupid enough to try that again.”

“You aren’t stupid. That’s my concern.” Mikaela’s eyes looked haunting under the dim light of the moon.

“Oh, was that a compliment?” Guren said. Mikaela only grumbled something under his breath. Something rushed through Guren’s chest as he watched Mikaela take his turn to leave. Unsaid words clung in the cool air of the night. It was rare for either of them to be alone, let alone together.

“Hey.” Guren called out before Mikaela could leave. He expected the blond to ignore him, but Mikaela turned back toward him.

“Do you think we could ever get to a place where you’re not trying to kill me?” Guren kept a light tone, an easy smile on his lips.

Mikaela rolled his eyes, crossing his arms over his chest.

“I don’t want to kill you...anymore.” Mikaela replied with a slight upturn to his lips. It was gone in an instant. A barely-there grin.

“And, any more than that?” Guren doesn’t know why he felt so bold tonight. He watched as Mikaela’s expression wavered, haunting eyes abandoned him.

The silence stretched on, a long fog that washed over Guren.

“I…” Mikaela’s hair swayed in the breeze, golden strands covering half of his face.

“...maybe in another world?” Guren said as he looked up at the waning moon above them. He didn’t want to think about the possibilities. The what-might-have-been, or what-could-be. None of it mattered. For them, there was only one possible outcome.

Mikaela’s voice was uncharacteristically soft when he replied.

They’d had close calls before, but nothing as serious as this. 

Guren couldn’t quite look at the body that lay still in the medical bed. Tubes ran through the boy’s arms and face. The rhythmic beeping of machines only added to the eerie feel of the cold, dimmed room. 

Anger and concern warred inside of Guren’s mind. 

Mikaela had saved him, despite Guren’s protests and shouts. 

The image of Mikaela crumbling to the ground replayed itself over and over whenever Guren shut his eyes. 

…

Guren hardly slept. 

He visited Mikaela’s room every morning, ignoring the curious eyes of the nurse that alway found him there before she arrived. He didn’t stay long. He had things to plan, missions to complete, and recruits to whip into proper soldiers. 

He appreciated the distractions. 

“He’s a tough one.” Shinya said, patting Guren on the shoulder. 

Guren hummed in response.

…

Guren froze outside of Mikaela’s door when he heard voices through the wooden surface. 

He opened the door to find Mikaela sitting up, propped up against a few pillows. His entire squad was squeezed into the small room. All eyes fell on him. 

Guren cleared his throat, nodding in greeting at the other members of the squad. 

“Well...we’ll come back a little later, Mika. Wouldn’t want to wear you out too much.” Shinoa spoke first, grinning at the blond before pulling Mitsuba up from her own chair. 

“Don’t think just because you almost died, you’ll get out of cleaning duties when you come back.” Kimizuki said with a smirk which Mikaela returned with a weak glare of his own. 

“He’s just joking.” Yoichi added hastily, giving a nervous glance toward Guren. 

Before he could blink, the four scurried out of the room, leaving him and Mikaela alone. 

Guren sighed at their antics and moved to take a seat at the now vacant chair next to Mikaela’s bed. 

“How’re you feeling?” Guren asked as soon Mikaela’s eyes met his. 

“Better than I thought I would.” Mikaela replied with a confused scrunch of his eyebrows. 

“That would be the drugs.” Guren said, lip quirking into a half-smile. 

The image of Mikaela falling in front of him flashed through his mind, and his smile disappeared. 

“You shouldn’t have been so reckless, Mikaela.” 

A sigh left Mikaela. 

“Oh? So should I have just let you die?” Sarcasm laced each word. 

“Yes.” Without question.

Mikaela’s shock is palpable. Guren watched as Mikaela’s eyes looked him over, mouth twisted into a frown. 

He nearly flinched when a hand fell on his. He hadn’t even noticed when he’d rested his hands on top of Mikaela’s bed. 

“You don’t mean that.” Mikaela said, eyes turning fierce. 

Guren couldn’t respond. 

He was just a pawn, disposable and unimportant. Mikaela was much more than that, even if the blond didn’t know it yet. 

“Your life holds more worth than mine. You would do well to remember that.” Guren finally said after a moment, grasping Mikaela’s hand. It was soft and warm. 

“Bullshit.” Mikaela sneered. “Nobody likes a martyr, Guren.” 

Guren’s body moved on its own. He leaned forward, arms moving around Mikaela’s torso. He held the blond close, careful not to accidentally hurt him further. 

Mikaela rested his head against his chest, his own arms curling around Guren. 

Guren closed his eyes, the images of Mikaela falling slowly dissolving into nothing. 

“Thank you for saving me.” Guren whispered into the cool air.

He never wanted to let Mikaela go. The blond was too righteous, too loyal, too good. 

Guren was the selfish one. The one that wanted more than he could have. Greedy. 

He loses himself in Mikaela’s presence, his warmth, the life that still flows through his veins. 

It wasn’t until Mikaela mumbled something that Guren snapped out of it. He lets Mikaela go, leaning backwards until he just stands up. 

A soft blush colored Mikaela’s face. 

Shiho releases a shuddering breath as Mikaela climbs on top of his lap. Eager blue eyes meet his before lips descend on his mouth. 

This was their most kept secret. Intimate meetings away from the prying eyes of the rest of their team. 

Shiho moans when Mikaela’s teeth find the side of his neck. 

“Don’t bite.” Shiho mumbles as his hands trail down Mikaela’s bare back. 

Mikaela snorts into his shoulder and Shiho knows the blond rolled his eyes. 

“I already ate.” Mikaela says as he leans back some, eyes once again meeting Shiho’s. The smouldering look inside clear blue eyes has Shiho’s stomach rolling in pleasure. His hips buck involuntarily. Desire guiding his movements. 

Mikaela squeaks in surprise. A sound Shiho had never heard before. 

With a gasp and a sigh, Mika arches his back and bites down on his bottom lip as Yuu’s mouth works its way down his stomach. He moans and threads his fingers through black hair.

His skin prickles, tremors running down his spine as pleasure builds up in his stomach.

“Yuu…” Mika gasps as strong hands grip his thighs. 

He can’t take much more. 

With a sharp tug to the hair in his hands, he pulls Yuu up, wanting to taste the other’s lips. However, the urgency of his movements causes him to move faster than he’d anticipated. 

Two heads collide into each other. Two groans ring out simultaneously.

“Ow shit sorry.” Yuu says as he rubs his forehead. Mika blinks for a second before a giggle passes his lips, one hand coming to his head. 

“S-sorry, got too excited.” Mika says with a smile. 

“That’s not a bad thing.” Yuu replies, wiggling his eyebrows in a way that has Mika giggling even more. 

“Don’t get lost inside your head, little Mikaela.” Guren said as Mika ungraciously tumbled to the ground. 

Mika cursed under his breath, glaring up at the smirking man. Ignoring the hand that was offered to him.

“Don’t call me that.” Mika all but hissed as he stood up on his own. He hated when the man got the upperhand. 

Guren’s only response was an exasperated shake of his head and an order for Mika to lunge at him again. Which Mika gladly followed. 

Mika ended up on the ground twice more before he finally managed to disarm Guren. Once. 

Mika flipped Guren off when the man asked him if he wanted help cleaning up his injuries. As he left, he swore he heard Guren chuckle.

…

Mika groaned as he watched Guren approach their group. He wondered if he could slip away before the man reached his side. 

“Good morning, sunshine.” Guren said directly to him without a care in the world, an annoying grin plastered over his face. Mika glared up at the man.

“What do you want?” Mika said, arms crossing firmly over his chest. He could hear Shinoa and Mitsuba stifle a giggle behind him.  

“Sir.” Guren supplied, grin widening and eyes dancing in delight. 

Mika rolled his eyes.

“What do you want, sir.” He emphasized the word a bit too much. It didn’t diminish Guren's grin at all. The man actually looked like he was enjoying Mika’s insubordination. 

Strange.

…

“Hold on tight, princess.” Guren breathed into his ear before picking him up as if he weighed nothing. Mika wanted to argue and struggle and thrash, but his injured foot had him clenching his fingers into Guren’s jacket. 

“Don’t...don’t call me that.” Mika grumbled half-heartedly, leaning into Guren. Warmth filled his cheeks, unwanted and annoying.