Black And White

Hundred Eighty Two

After Scott fell asleep, Alex was the first to jump up and walk out of the room.

Avi got up to follow him slowly, glancing at Mitch to make sure he'd be okay.

Mitch had a hand on Scott's chest, as he stared at where his heart would be.

Avi spoke softly. "Mitch..? You okay?"

Mitch glanced over at him, eyes full of tears. "Yes..."

"You don't look okay, Kid... Why don't you come into the hallway and talk to me?"

"Don't wanna leave him..."

"But you look like you're about to cry."

Mitch shook his head. "I'm fine..."

Avi knelt down beside the bed, and put a hand on Mitch's shoulder. "Look at me a second, would you?"

Mitch rolled onto his back briefly, meeting the green eyes waiting for him.

Avi's face immediately shifted to one of sympathy. "Oh man... Talk to me for a second?"

"About what? He was in the hospital, Avi. Why else would I be upset? I'm not being unreasonable."

"I understand, Mitch. He's my best friend too, y'know. But he's okay. It'll heal in a few weeks."

"No it's not... It's not just that." Mitch wiped his eyes quickly. "I wanna cry. May I cry?"

Alex peeked his head into the room. "Avi, are you--?"

"Shh. Come here a second."

Alex walked over quietly, careful not to wake Scott up.

Avi gestured down to Mitch. "Pick him up for me, would you?"

Mitch held his arms up so Alex could do so, tears already falling.

Alex hurried to carry him out of the room. "Babe, what's wrong? Are you okay?"

Mitch clung to him tightly until Avi closed the door behind all of them.

Alex tried again, carrying Mitch into the spare room only to sit on the bed with Mitch in his lap. "Shit... Mitch, are you okay? I know it's been really hard on you recently, but--"

"My heart just hurts, that's all... It hurts." Mitch responded and then sniffled again.

Alex spoke quickly. "I know, honey, and I'm so sorry. But he's going to be okay, I promise."

"It's not that, it's... It's just that... Someone came at him with a knife, y'know?"

Alex nodded slowly. "Ohh... I understand."

Avi looked back and forth between them. "What? I don't get it. I hate that you two are so telepathic with each other."

Alex looked up at him. "Mitch is an over-thinker. Meaning... He doesn't like what could have happened, and he can't stop thinking about it."

"Ohh. You mean what if Scott had been killed or something?" Avi responded, almost proud of hinself for getting it.

Alex smacked his arm once, for lacking tact.

Mitch's face fell and he started to cry again. "Oh my God, what if he'd been killed? I wouldn't get to marry him or see his beautiful face every day or--"

Avi's eyes widened. "Oh, shit I didn't mean to freak you out."

Alex just shook his head slowly, leaning down to kiss Mitch's forehead. "Honey, it's gonna be okay. You still get to see him all the time, he's still ridiculously in love with you--"

"But what if he--?"

"He didn't though, babe. You can't live your life being afraid of the inevitable."

"I know but the inevitable was so close! He literally could've been severely injured, and neither of you even care!"

Avi frowned at him. "Of course I care. I just... I don't like to think about it."

Scott walked into the room then, eyes very obviously tired. "Guys..?"

Mitch jumped up, wiping at his eyes as he ran over to hug Scott. "How are you feeling, baby?"

Scott shrugged, reaching past Mitch to rub his own eye. "Fine... Tired..."

"Then let's go back to bed, okay?"

Scott shook his head slowly, pouting at him. "Hungry..."

"I'm sure you are, baby. Then... Let's go lay down, and maybe Alex can make something to eat?" He turned and looked at Alex hopefully.

Alex nodded quickly. "Of course. You guys go ahead."

Mitch tried to push Scott's shoulders, but Scott wouldn't move.

Scott looked at Avi. "You're gonna stay here, right? With me? Like... For a while."

Avi briefly wondered why he sounded so nervous, but nodded. "As long as you need."

*

Avi drove one of Scott's nicest cars out to a grocery store, following a list that Alex was reading off of his phone.

They rushed around the store together, Avi carrying the basket of food.

Alex walked slowly through one aisle, scanning all the labels to decide which to grab.

When he stood up on his tip toes to grab what he wanted, Avi was suddenly behind him.

Avi grabbed him in a hug, kissing the back of his neck once. "God damn... That makes me so happy."

"What? I didn't even do anything, Handsome."

Avi shook his head, and kissed his neck again. "I just had like, a flashback thing... Literally, the last time I saw your shirt come up like that, there were bruises all over you. And... They're healed now."

"Oh..." Alex turned around to hug him back for a moment, and then he took a step away. "I.. I'm not sure how to respond to that, honestly."

"Then don't respond. Just... Just let me see your back again?"

Alex nodded, turning around and lifting the back of his shirt.

Avi put his hands on the skin he saw, smiling widely. "God... You're so fucking gorgeous."

Alex blushed a little. "Oh.. Thank you. That's sweet of you."

"You're welcome."

Alex turned to grab what he needed, and then turned back to put it in the basket Avi was carrying.

*

Scott fell asleep again, Mitch occasionally running his fingers through Scott's hair.

Scott suddenly blinked awake, a frown on his face immediately.

"What's wrong, honey? Do you feel any better?"

"Kinda... My belly hurts."

"I'm sure it does, baby... But it's gonna heal, I promise."

Scott pouted at him. "But it hurts..."

"Can you sit up for me, baby? I'm gonna change your bandage thing really quick. I hoped Avi would be here to do it, but... I got this I think."

Scott tried to sit up, but slammed his eyes shut and fell back down. "Ow... No. I... I don't--"

"Shh honey, let me help you." Mitch put a hand on Scott's back, helping him sit.

He went as far as to pull Scott's shirt over his head to take it off, Scott not saying a word.

Mitch began to unwrap the gauze around Scott's midsection, being as gentle as possible.

Scott looked over at him. "You don't have to do this... It's probably gross."

"It's fine. Totally fine. I got it." Mitch glanced down at the wound, cringed, and then stood from the bed. "I'll go grab the new bandage stuff."

"Mitchie, you don't have to do--"

"Shut up, dummy. I got this."

**