"Stay."

Loveless - Ritsuka/Soubi - bound - 30 May 2010

Ritsuka panted, holding on to Soubi fur jacket with the little strength left in his, desperately trying to stay standing, to stay conscious as the black shadows at the edge of his sight threatened to advance, to swallow his mind in numb darkness. There was something that needed to be done first, that needed to be said.

"Sou… bi…" The darkness wavered, and yet Ritsuka held on, wanting just those few more seconds to get his thoughts straight, to finally say what had been niggling at his mind all this time. "Sou… bi…"

"I'm here Ritsuka." And indeed he was; encircling arms tightened around the boy's small frame, breath tickling the fur on sensitive ears as a head was lowered to rest gently on the younger's delicate crown.

Through the pounding against his skull, Ritsuka hesitantly smiled as he registered these things, so in contrast to the roughness of the battle they had just fought and won, but only just. For a few terrifying minutes Ritsuka had feared he would lose everything that he fought for – freedom, Soubi and Seimei. But above all, he had feared losing that which had become most precious to him. That one thing that had gradually warmed his long-frosted-over heart, had put that gentle smile back to his face. That one thing that had crept up on him, unknown, unwanted, and yet completely needed.

That one thing - Love.

Now, with a taste of having almost lost it, Ritsuka finally understood. And with that understanding came a deep rooted fear, one that he so desperately hoped would never come true. Now, with Soubi so close and the darkness washing in, slowly, steadily, he knew that there was only one thing that he wanted, more than anything in this world. More than anything, please…

"Soubi… please... always… stay here… with… me…"

And a gentle smile, not unlike Ritsuka's own, spread across Soubi's blood-flecked visage, his body curving around the boy's so he could softly claim those lips, expressing more in that one brief kiss than in any number of words. Yet, as reassurance, knowing Ritsuka wanted to hear it, to hear his answer, he let his lips drift to press against sensitive ears as he spoke that one reply that had become so familiar to both of them.

"You only have to order me so, Ritsuka."

AN: Another one from LadyNero's prompt list. I think I've found my new short story muse...