He laced his arm around my torso and placed a kiss on the back of my neck. It was 2 AM and we were just about ready for sleep, but we exchanged words... Some words I never thought I'd get to say with someone. Especially in such the early hours of the day.
"Did we really just have sex..." I had to murmur in slight disbelief as I gazed out at the stars of the night. The window was the only barrier between how close I felt with the world.
"No..." he softly whispered, playing with my hair and continuing to leave kisses on my nape. "It wasn't sex. We made love... There's a difference."
I smiled, feeling like with the budding peace Mika had found within himself was somehow bound to me. I shared every tingling aspect of it.
"I want to keep making love," I stated. "With you. Every time I want to feel perfectly close to you... I fell even more in love with your body tonight,"
"Yuu," he chuckled, shielding his face in my shoulder.
"Really, Mika... Man, I can really say every inch of your body is beautiful, now." He caught onto my joke, his body trembling in held-in laughter. I turned to face him, swiping at loose hairs. He grinned faintly at me, a sleepy, childish smile.
"I want to make so much more love," he admitted in a feeble voice as if to hide the strong depth behind it, pressing his forehead against mine. "I did not hurt you, right?"
I shook my head, riveted with his features. "Not at all."
Relief relaxed him. If Mika ever honestly had hurt me, it was never intentional. Half of the time, it was earnest clumsiness, like bumping into me or pulling my hair in between changes of clothes. The pulling of my hair intentionally was never painful. Even the intentions of those were rare. Only in bed had he ever done it. He was far too careful with me.
As if to make sure I was real, he whispered my name, like he was testing familiarity. I whispered his back, keeping my last name with his how he liked it. He kissed me in gratitude for the memory, us not in sync as we were tired. His lips still tasted like champagne.
"I love you," I gushed tiredly, his usual face of slight innocence in his surprise making me feel warm inside. "Yes, Mika. Someone loves you. For real. With all his heart."
After hearing my words, he paused to gaze at me with such a serene look that said a million words. In a way, I could almost see what he really wanted to say. But he still worshipped his unspoken phrase.
Instead, he placed my hand over his heart.
~
Day Three in Paris.
He laughed through a foamy mouth of toothpaste and a toothbrush, holding out the letter in front of him. I wasn't sure what the hell I was contributing to as I hauled in the letter-filled packages bombarding our door. I couldn't read any of these fan letters. Only a few in English I could interpret.
"Hmm," he hummed, furrowing his eyebrows.
"Translate," I hissed, wanting to know what was getting him so worked up.
"I hab a mouf full of toofpase."
"Well, quit teasing. I wanna know," I pouted as I set the last of the letters on the coffee table. With a loud exhale, I plopped back onto the bed, only to be unsettled with a door knock. I nearly screamed. Can I sit down for five seconds?
Mika found the opportunity to flee into the bathroom and close the door to finish his brushing. Little bastard.
"Hate you," I said within hearing distance. He poked his head out the door, hurt plastered on his face along with foam.
"You do?"
"No, Mika."
He blushed, closing the door behind him again. That boy was too innocent.
I opened the door, and for once, Skittles were not bombarding me with excitement. I furrowed my eyebrows, waving a hand in front of their eyes.
"Morning, guys. You alright?" I hesitantly mumbled, feeling oddly out of place. "Hey..."
"Ah, yes, love, we're doing just divine. We just... wanted to give you this. We snuck it for you two before the trip." A white laptop was held out for me. Once again, I was on the verge of screaming. But this time, in happiness and not irritance. I took it, grinning at them. "Just remembered to give it to you."
"Thanks you guys! Hey, wanna come in? We're reading fan letters. Well, Mika is. They're all in French." I offered, making way. They gazed in like it were some corridor straight to hell.
Pink scratched her hair, pulling her lips into her mouth. "We're great, actually. Just..."
Suddenly, they looked as if they were going to explode.
"What was going on in here last night?" Green exploded, promptly gripping onto the doorframe as if it had all the answers.
"What...?" I thought hard, my heart suddenly stopping.
"Did you two pursue in a fight?" Yellow whispered in a gasp, slightly covering her mouth.
Shit.
"Um..."
"Oh, my babies, what has ever happened between you two? Was it about the fashion show?"
"No, it was--"
"I'm going to faint," Green remarked, covering his forehead.
"Guys, relax! It was just..." Mika had suddenly opened the bathroom door, giving us all looks. I felt like I was going to topple over in embarrassment. I grew impulsive, blurting out the first thing in mind. "Things got really intense during our board game last night."
Mika looked utterly confused, deadpanning me with squinted eyes.
"Ah! Which?" Pink squeaked, holding my shoulders.
"Oh, you know... Monop-- no, what was it again?"
It's like Mika caught on, clearing his throat. He gently held onto Pink's face, them all gasping simultaneously. I suddenly grew jealous, but I knew far well enough that Mika adored these guys only as if they were his children.
Plus I think like two of them had spouses and kids, anyway.
"It was simply one hell of a game, my love. Did you eat yet? You look drained. Sweetie, let me order you something." His sweet talk was even weakening me like the rest of them.
"Merciful goodness, Jeunesse, I am alright!" she suddenly pulled him into what seemed like an everlasting hug. "Ah, you are such a majesty."
The rest of them were so jealous. Mika gave me a wink over his shoulder. I blushed, watching the rest of the scenario lay out.
"Bebe! We'll catch up with you later, okay? Let us know how the board game turned out!" They finally fled the room, arguing about which board game it was. Mika closed the door, covering his face.
Then he gave me a mischievous look. Well, until he looked down at what was in my hands.
"How did you get a hold of my laptop?" he softly questioned. As if this were me on the other hand, I would've went nuts. My laptop held the most precious yet disturbing things.
"They gave it to me. Snuck it for you," I held it out for him, which he cautiously took. "I mean, not that you're really a tech-y kinda guy."
"Nope."
"Okay, give it. I wanna check my email."
He gave me a smirk, placing it back in my hands before finishing his letters.
"Sooo," I hummed, sitting on the bed as the laptop started up. "What do they saaay?"
"A couple had phone numbers, house and apartment locations where we could hook up--"
"No," I snapped, heated jealousy flaming to my face. Why the hell didn't Mika have a password on his laptop? A thought to distract me from my violent anger...
He smiled, opening another letter. "Hm... This one is asking for a sample of... My hair?"
"What is with your fans, man," I laughed, him bursting into laughter as well.
My phone buzzed on the table beside him, a preset ringtone I could only classify as from my mom. I rolled my eyes, already dreading the conversation this might've wound up in. He handed me it and I swore I contemplated long enough of even answering.
"Hi mo--"
"HOW IS PARIS?" she yelled, the speaker loudly staticky in my ear. Mika was fighting goofy grins.
"Great."
"Pfft. All I get is a great? Ugh, you're such a teenager. So... Is Mikaela actually there?" she whispered quickly as if it were unreal.
I took a deep sigh. "Get Dad to set up your computer."
~
"What are we doing?" Mika asked as I sat him next to me by the coffee table. He stared at himself awkwardly in the webcam.
"A 'Meet My Disappointment of Parents' event." I sighed, waiting for her green icon to light up on the contact list. "Mika, I apologize in advance."
He giggled, shrugging lightly. "Can't be too bad."
I felt like I was going to hurl in the faintest as we waited. Mika wasn't even phased of the possible future horror, swaying lightly next to me.
"I am excited to meet your parents." he told me innocently, resting his head on my shoulder. "You haven't told me much about them."
"There was a reason." I dramatically sighed, nervously hovering my mouse over the answer button on the call. "Prepare yourself."
Her camera wasn't even on. "Honey, is this on? All I see is black."
I slapped my forehead. "Mom, turn on your front camera. You have the back one open."
"What was that? Sweetie, why can't I see you-- Oh!" Then she suddenly screamed, making Mika jolt from his position on the floor.
"Turn your camera around!" I hissed, feeling embarrassment nip away at me already. Not that I really wanted to be humiliated with the reaction on her face, anyways. Mika was smiling, clearly intrigued.
The camera flipped with a noise of her realization.
She'd just woken up, her hair a mess and tired eyes. I swore she could've planned all night for this. "Oh, my, excuse me, I haven't even gotten myself all ready for the day. I wanted to see if it was real. AND AH!" She covered her mouth, her face beyond hysterical. "I can't believe it. That is my baby next to a SUPERMODEL. That is Mikaela! Holy-- Hold on, I'm getting your father."
She shouted his name in the background.
Mika gave me a funny look, and I mouthed a 'told you' to him.
"Mom, can you just--"
"Honey, LOOK. Look at that. Look, we made that child. Right?! Look who he's next to. I can't-- are you looking?!"
"Yes! Gosh. Hi, Yuu."
He wasn't even in the frame. God, take me now.
"Hey, dad."
"Say hi to Mikaela, too!" my mother hissed, slapping him on the arm repeatedly.
My dad apathetically replied. "Hi, Michael."
My mother shot him a look like he just offended her mother. Which happened much often before. "It's Mikaela!" They were at it like no tomorrow. Mika was holding in laughter, doing a small wave. "Mikaela, I adore you, okay? Can I take you in as my second son? Ask Yuu, we have your magazines in our house."
"It's true," I sadly whispered. "I hardly pay attention to it though,"
Hence why I never recognized him on the first day. Otherwise, I would've gotten an autograph and returned it to my mother in hopes for a longer stay as a jobless sloth.
But I'm glad I met Mika as a person rather than from media.
"Thank you," he shyly replied, fiddling with his fingers. ...Cute, shy little bastard--
"Ah! That voice-- I can't. Get me a glass of water, honey, it's the Sahara in my body right now." she rambled, her hands flailing. She looked as if she were trying to take flight.
"Not everyone needs to know that," my dad mumbled, footsteps leading in the distance.
Mika leaned into my ear. "You get that from her."
I gave him a look at his sudden smug smile. "What?"
"Overreacting."
I shoved his shoulder, making him laugh.
"What? What, what did I miss?" my mother cried, too frantic for her own good.
"Mom, relax, please. Look, Mika just wants to be treated normal--"
"Mika?! That is too much-- HONEY!"
Mika erupted in laughter, covering his face.
"Mikaela, can I call you Mika, too? Let me mother you,"
"Yes, you can." His face was so red, it was adorable. Unlike the rooster cries from the other line.
"Yes! I got another baby!"
Out of all days, this was the one where I wanted to burn myself alive the most.
She fanned herself, squinting in the screen. I made a disturbed face at the sudden zoom-in. "Hey, what is that in the background?"
Both Mika and I turned to meet the no-doubt basket of colorfully-displayed dirty gifts sprawled in the corner. My bad. It just had to be in crystal HD on this laptop. Mika gave me a nervous look, turning back to the camera.
"Those are... Twisty things," I stalled, suddenly twiddling one of Mika's locks between my fingers. "You think he gets curls and waves this nice just overnight?"
She squealed again, the static bursting in the speaker. "Amazing!"
Right.
At the external noise of surprise from an idea she had just gotten, I prepared for the worst. "You know what? Yuu, get it now. I know you're gonna forget."
"What is it, mom..."
"I want that autograph." Her look was stern, cold, and steady, appearing as if the camera had frozen.
"Absolutely," Mika suddenly smiled, leaning over desperately to retrieve a paper and a pen from the nightstand. At least this would satisfy the woman.
She watched in awe as he scribbled in his autograph neatly. He had such girly handwriting. It made me flustered, in a way. Mika just had these random, admirable qualities to him.
"Mail this to your mommy," he announced, folding it neatly and placing it into my shirt pocket and gave it a pat.
"Apparently that's our mother now," I ironically corrected him, watching as my mother grew excited again at the reminder.
"Yes! So how is Paris? Bring back bread!" My mother was the most stereotypical, generalizing woman I knew. It was a curse and a blessing at times.
"It's amazing," I forced. "I'm glad I got to come."
Which she'd only interpret one way while Mika and I understood both my meanings. What a keeper. Brings you to Paris and gives you the best sex of your life.
And brings you his presence.
"Aah! I'm so proud of you, sweetie. Hey, how do I print screen? If I don't brag about this moment, I'll cry."
I sighed. "Get dad, again."
By the end of the call, we were both in raging headaches. My mother was a screeching mess over audio. The goodbye was the best part, watching the screensaver pop back up. Both of us sighed, only him chuckling lightly. Then he gave me a look, wrestling me in kisses. I squeaked, laughter threatening in my core.
"That was fun." he admitted, although it had to be forced.
I poked at his nose. "Never again."
~
"Your mother is so charming," Mika reminisced as we ate in the dining hall. For once, we decided to interact with humanity. And thankfully, no one harassed us. Only brief waves and smiles of recognition.
"Yeah," I sarcastically muttered. "Nothing says 'woman' like a bedhead and eye bags."
He laughed, which resulted in me, too. I was beyond pleased to see him genuinely happy for once.
"Hey, so... Did the team hear what happened last night?" he cautiously murmured to me as if they were right next to us. In a couple seconds flat, though, they could've been.
"Ah... Yeah," I nervously confirmed, awkwardly shoving another penne noodle in my mouth. "We were quite loud, I'm guessing."
"I feel accomplished yet ashamed," he sighed in disbelief, making me nearly choke.
Who would've guessed he had good bed humor...
My mind suddenly brought the reminder, a foggy state of thought lurking within my consciousness. "I've been meaning to talk to you about that, by the way," I said through a chew, wiping at my mouth. He gave me a curious look. "I mean, obviously not at the dinner table, but... You know, when we get some time later."
He thought for a minute, eyebrows lightly knitted together. "I don't mind. Is it explicit?"
Everything you do in a bedroom is explicit... "I was just referring to your comfortability with it..."
"Oh," he stammered, suddenly chewing slower as if to really break down the amount of embarrassment that had just surged through him. If I was going to be his partner in it, I at least wanted to make sure he was going to be at a high level of certification with it.
As if he hadn't been hurt enough with it.
"Only with you," he continued, fumbling with his hands under the table. I listened intently, heat inevitably rushing within me. "I don't want to be alone with it, or with anyone else... If you're there, then I know there's at least one person handling me that I trust."
His honesty was to never be forgotten. He was straight out and forward, and I owed him everything for that. I could sense by the unsteadiness in his gaze and voice, it was difficult to admit. God, I loved him.
"Do you trust yourself?" I asked, taking his hand in my own.
"Learning to."
"And that's perfect. That's good enough for me, Mika..." He exchanged a tiny smile as he gazed at me. "How do you feel just doing it alone? You know there's nothing wrong with that, right?"
A small nod. "I just prefer you to be with me. You are the only way I think I might find it enjoyable..."
With a soft expression of lust, I softly said to him, "So think of me when you do it..." I told him, watching how the thoughts changed in his head had bled to his face.