Wasuranai Kara

Chapters: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17

"Gren!" Rumo stood up when he saw the door open. He seemed happy to see Gren still alive.

"Mmmm." Gren was looking at the ground. His hand was still in the cast, but he seemed okay otherwise.

There was silence until the guard walked away. "Fucking hell, Gren…I didn't know if I'd ever see you again…" Rumo's voice was soft and serious.

"I know."

Rumo walked over to him. Gren looked at the ground. "Please look at me."

"I can't. I…I'm sorry."

"You shouldn't be sorry, Gren…"

"I could have killed you, Rumo," he whispered, looking up.

Rumo just shrugged. "You could have killed yourself, too."

"I would rather have killed myself…than hurt you. I never meant to hurt you."

"Gren…" Rumo tilted Gren's face, forcing him to look into his eyes, "I forgive you. The only thing I care about is that you're alive. And you remember who you are. Your mind isn't completely gone."

"Rumo…" Gren stared at him, not knowing what to say. There was so much, and it hurt to think about any of it. Rumo pulled Gren close to him. After a minute, Gren found the strength to wrap his arms around Rumo, as well. They stood like that until the lights went out.

"Gren? You asleep?"

"No."

"Can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why did you take it? You knew what it was, didn't you?"

"I knew."

"So…why?"

"I wanted to forget."

"Forget what? If it has anything to do with what I said…"

"No. It wasn't you. I wanted to forget Vicious. I wanted to forget everything that happened to me on Titan. I think I would have been happy not knowing anything about anything."

"You can't mean that, Gren!" Rumo sat up and looked at him. Gren was lying on his side, facing away from Rumo. Rumo could see his shoulders (he was still wearing his white t-shirt) and his hair, but that was it.

"I don't know. I meant it at the time………"

"The world would have lost something beautiful, if it had lost you."

"Don't say things like that."

"Even if they're true?"

Gren turned over and looked at Rumo. "After everything I've done, you still talk to me like that?"

"And I still mean every word."

"Rumo…I wish that this had never happened. I really do."

"Yeah, well…shit happens. What doesn't kill you only makes you stronger, right?"

"Something like that."

"Although in your case…" he trailed off. There was a smile on his face.

"In my case, what?" Gren asked. He found that he could smile, too…just a little.

"Ah, nothing." Rumo was trying not to start laughing.

"Oh, now I have to know."

"Well…in your case, it might just make you more desirable." He glanced at Gren.

Gren had turned a little red. "I doubt that."

"Ha. Shows what you know." It was quiet for a minute.

"There's something you should know…about my body, I mean."

"I think I know a good deal about your body, Gren."

"Not anymore, you don't."

"And what exactly does that mean?"

Gren sighed and sat up. The sheet was pulled up pretty far, but he let it drop. "I guess you'd find out sooner or later anyway. Everyone will. So I'll just show you now." He pulled off the t-shirt.

Rumo stared. "What the fuck? Breasts?"

Gren nodded and pulled his shirt back on again. "That's right. Guess I'm not as desirable as you thought, huh?"

Rumo sat up now, too. "I never said that."

"Oh, come on! Look at me!"

"I can't. You put your shirt back on."

"Don't tease me, damnit!"

Rumo came and sat on the edge of Gren's bed. "I wasn't teasing you." Gren stared at him. Rumo was smiling, but there was no hint of mockery in either his voice.

"You mean…you still want me? Even now?" There were tears in his eyes.

"Sure. You're still you, Gren. Nothing in the world can change that. Not even Oblivion."

"Why do you like me?" Gren whispered.

Rumo shrugged. "Because you're wonderful." He reached out and put his hand on Gren's cheek. "And because you don't belong here. You're not a criminal. I know it."

"Yeah, sure."

"I mean it. You're like an angel to me, Gren…something I thought I could never touch."

"I'm not an angel."

"So little do you know, my beautiful one." Rumo leaned over and kissed Gren's mouth softly. "So very little."

Gren found the courage to wrap his arms around Rumo. He lay down, pulling the taller man down on top of him. "So then teach me."

"Are you sure?"

"I've never been more sure of anything in my life. If you still want me after all of this shit, then go for it. I'm yours."

"That's good to hear…………my violet angel…" Rumo smiled. Gren smiled back.