July 16, 2009 (Midnight)

Shiro's hand was shaking slightly as he pushed the key into the lock, though it wasn't because of any sort of nervousness. He and Shura had drank until late into the night, talking, laughing, and catching up. He found a small comfort in deflecting her flirts as usual. The familiarity grew his fondness for her.

But now that she was in her new room, sleeping for the night, Shiro was left in a wistful mood that was underlined by a feeling of dread. It was a familiar feeling that always took him to the same place.

"Mephisto?" He called into the room as he let the door swing shut behind him.

The room was dark. The demon in question was exactly where one might expect to find him: comfortably resting against a mountain of pillows scattered across the floor, a variety of snacks floating in the air above him, with only the light of the television lighting up that deeply entranced look on his face.

"Back so soon?" Mephisto took a second before he glanced at Shiro and when he did, his nose twitched the way it always did upon finding something even just mildly displeasing. "And in that state too… What are you doing here, Shiro?"

"In that state…" Shiro repeated the words with a roll of his eyes as he swayed over to Mephisto. "I'm not even close to drunk. It was just a couple beers. Relaaaax." He carefully lowered himself into the pillows beside the demon.

"You heard about what happened at Sendai, didn't you?" Shiro's voice was only slightly slurred with the alcohol in his system, but his gaze was alert.

"Hmm…" Mephisto let out a soft hum. "Yes, of course. I've already read your reports."

By this, Mephisto referred to both the official report, which had been carefully edited to keep any mention of Rin's involvement, as well as the note Shiro had kicked under Mephisto's office door earlier in the day.

The note had simply said:

Amaimon? What the hell?

He had underlined that last bit three times, as if the emphasis the first time was not nearly enough to convey his exasperation.

Mephisto shook his head, just as a bag of gummies drifted down and nudged the side of Shiro's face, jostling his glasses. "How do you manage to have the worst luck, Shiro?"

"Luck?" Shiro reached up to snatch the bag out of the air. He ripped it open and pulled out a few. He stuffed them into his mouth with a slight scowl. "This isn't luck, Mephisto. Your pesky little brother found Rin. He knew what he wanted. So what the hell? I thought he listened to you." Shiro gave Mephisto a suspicious look.

Mephisto looked very put upon by Shiro's line of questioning. The curl on his head seemed to twinge with irritation. He snatched the bag of gummies out of Shiro's hand, an act of sheer pettiness. "I do hope you are not implying that I had something to do with the matter? Amaimon will do as he will. It's been years since I last saw him."

"Ugh." Shiro grumbled, glaring up at the ceiling. "Yeah, well, do what you can or tell me where I can find him so I can kick his ass myself." He reached out and grabbed at the bag of gummies, but Mephisto held it close to his chest.

"So many demands… and not a single souvenir for me! I feel used." Mephisto sniffed.

Shiro looked at Mephisto with a straight, no nonsense expression. "I didn't have time to go souvenir shopping given the circumstances, Mephisto."

Mephisto did not relent in the slightest. If anything, the sulking expression on his face only got worse. "You certainly had some time," he accused, his nose wrinkling once more as he gave Shiro another quick look through. The disapproving look in his eyes said it all, but he used his words regardless. "Enough to drink a few beers, but not to buy me my favorite chocolates on the way back?"

"I was busyyyy!" Shiro groaned loudly, rubbing his forehead. "Jeez, if I wanted someone to nag me this bad, I would've gotten married." Though the jab had been meant for Mephisto, Shiro found himself feeling a little off. Perhaps he was still raw from the conversation with Shura. He did his best to bury it before it got worse.

Mephisto, of course, slipped in right through that crevice, digging up old memories as if savoring a fine wine.

"Ha! You? Married?" The demon snickered. "While you were quite the ladykiller in your youth, that awful temper of yours was always your bane. Can't say you've made any improvements on that aspect." The reproach was back, even as Mephisto's eyes were alight with amusement.

Shiro scowled at him. "You're a real asshole, you know that?" He reached out and pinched Mephisto's cheek. "I'll show you an awful temper if you keep going."

Not to be outdone, Mephisto did the same and stuck out his tongue. "Spare me. Haven't I suffered enough?"

They reached an impasse that lasted several seconds, both of them tightening their grips on the other's skin. Then, Mephisto threw the bag of gummies straight to Shiro's face. When Shiro's grip loosened, he pulled back and cradled his own cheek protectively, rubbing the abused skin. "You really are such a brat."

The accusation made him glare. He let the bag fall back into his lap as he retreated his hand and lightly rubbed his cheek. They did this sort of teasing often, the playful banter, the bickering, the childish games…

"You're the one who's a brat." Shiro leaned back in the pillows and stuffed his hand in the bag of gummies again instead. "Stop pouting already."

He stared forward at the TV for a long few moments. Maybe it was the alcohol making him extra sentimental. Maybe it really was the conversation with Shura. He'd come for a distraction, but no matter what he did, he couldn't stop thinking of her.

"She used to piss me off. Worse than you." Shiro's voice lowered to a mumble.

In the cover of the dim room, Mephisto's gaze slid sideways. The green of his eyes was vibrant as he observed Shiro with a half-lidded stare.

His voice was as calm as ever. His movements, as he casually picked out his favorite colored candies from the bag he had picked out of the air, were as routine as ever. "She always did bring out the worst in you," Mephisto agreed, as if the words exchanged between them just now were ordinary. As if this wasn't the first time Shiro had talked about her in more than a decade.

"Fucking… Always pushed my damn buttons." Shiro leaned stubbornly further into the pillows. "Always annoying, pushing herself in my space, getting in my business." The irritation in his voice grew, his scowl deepening. "And she just…" Shiro pushed his glasses up and pinched the bridge of his nose. He growled as he tried to find the words for the torment in his chest as memories and faces passed through his head.

As he spoke again, there was a softness to his voice. His tone seemed almost vulnerable. "She always… pissed me off. So damn fucking much."

"It's not like it took all that much to set you off back then," Mephisto pointed out with a small chuckle. He leaned closer, just a little bit, the pretense of getting comfortable just that. Their shoulders brushed against each other and Mephisto's voice lowered, not so much a whisper as it was an intimate exchange of words. "You're the type that likes that sort of thing anyway."

Shiro let his glasses fall on his chest and leaned his head back into the pillows. The shoulder contact made him feel warmer than he'd like to admit. He stared up at the ceiling for a few long moments before rubbing at his eyes. His fingers came away wet.

"Like what? Getting pissed off?" Shiro let his hand thump down and reached towards Mephisto, not exactly sure what he was reaching for.

"Am I wrong?"

Mephisto's hand caught Shiro's own. He let the weight of his palm press against Shiro's skin, and when Shiro did not respond, the demon let out a sigh that was a mere breath. "Oh, Shiro…" The sound wrapped around the exorcist with the same tenderness Mephisto used to tug him into his lap. Shiro's brow furrowed but he was moved easily. He wrapped his arms around Mephisto's neck and buried his face into his shoulder.

"It's been a while since I've seen you like this." Mephisto's long fingers ran through Shiro's hair softly. "See? This is why I always tell you not to drink," he said, though this time there was no reproach in his voice.

"Shut up." The gentle touch was undoing him. His tone raised a bit in pitch, the words trembling with no bite. "I don't usually get like this when I drink."

"Liar." The soft murmur tickled the edge of Shiro's ear.

Shiro let out a grunt, not lifting his head. "Jerk." He lightly bit Mephisto's shoulder as a form of revenge before burying his face in his neck. "You're enjoying this."

What he expected was another teasing comment, perhaps a quiet lull that would follow and lead him to much needed sleep. Yet suddenly, Shiro found his back pressed against the floor, the candy they'd been snacking on scattering around them. It had hardly been a violent push or a shove, but the movement had been just as abrupt. His head was still cradled by Mephisto's fingers. The demon's body hovered over him, straddling his thighs. Mephisto's eyes glowed under the cover of the darkness. They pierced straight through Shiro, as they always did, digging deeply into his mind, into his heart.

It was not the first time they found themselves in this position. And yet...

How long had it been since they last touched like this? Since they last kissed?

Mephisto's face drew closer and he pressed a feather-touch kiss against Shiro's cheek, down his jaw, before hovering over his mouth.

"Your breath stinks."

"Ugh." Shiro turned his head away, looking annoyed as his cheeks flushed. "You're the worst at keeping a mood. Give me a fucking mint."

"Hmm, should I?"

And there was the teasing remark after all. The smirk that often filled him with a jolt of fury, as well as a jolt of desire, taunted him once more.

"I think you rather earned your due punishment. You've made me nurse quite a grudge." Mephisto's huff brushed over Shiro's skin, but he deliberately avoided his mouth and instead the demon pressed a light kiss to the corner of it before moving on. He kissed every inch of skin he could find as he made a slow, slow trek down to his neck. He dragged Shiro's head along with his fingers as he wished, leaving the length of his neck exposed. The razor edges of his teeth dragged softly.

Shiro let his eyelids flutter close, letting Mephisto touch him and kiss him. He willed himself to remember when he was younger, how he felt then. More vigorous, less tired.

Less back pain. Shiro lifted a hand and placed it gently on the back of Mephisto's head, running his fingers through his hair. The teeth on his neck inspired the same feelings it always did, excitement, thrill, and a deep attraction for the demon on top of him, but there was something else accompanying it these days.

"Mephisto," he murmured, shifting a little underneath him. The demon's looks hadn't changed at all over the years. "Do you still think I'm hot?"

The question startled a sharp breath through Mephisto's nostrils. He paused above Shiro's pulse, giving it a slight bite followed by the languid drag of his tongue. "This melancholic mood does not suit you, you know."

The demon leaned forward on his elbows again, and this time, there were no complaints from him when he leaned down to capture Shiro's lips with his own. It was like a warm buzz, this enveloping kiss. The way their mouths melted into each other always made the world seem to fade away. It was a hot caress that filled them from within, every inch of them. The mutual indulgence that they've shared for years made this a familiar dance, one that still managed to be just as exciting as the first time.

When Mephisto pulled back, the desire burning in his eyes left no doubt what his answer to Shiro's question was. Still, he played along, aiming that damnable smirk of his at Shiro.

"Are you so eager to hear how much I long for you?"

Shiro felt young again. A smile spread across his lips, sharp and somewhat coy. "I wouldn't mind it," he said with a low chuckle. "You haven't spoiled me in an age, you know. I feel neglected too."

"And who's fault is that exactly?"

It was a question that sought no real answer. The list of reasons was much too long to go through; much too heavy to consider in a moment like this. Mephisto slid right along the subject before it threatened to derail them, seeking another indulgent kiss that was hard to pull back from. Shiro was able to fully sink into it this time, letting out a low groan of appreciation.

"My plants are dying, you know." There was a whine in the demon's voice.

"Water your own damn plants," Shiro muttered against Mephisto's lips, but he was smiling. He put a hand on Mephisto's cheek while the other stayed in his hair and pulled his head back a bit, looking at him. "How many flowers did you plant?"

"Hmph. You'll have to come and see for yourself."

"I'll start my town tomorrow."

The talk of games died down as more and more kisses were exchanged, each long and lingering. There was no hurry in Mephisto's fingers as they traced sweet caresses into Shiro's body. Reverent touches explored Shiro's skin. Insistent fingers demanded that the man's sole participation was to rest and allow himself to be spoiled, just as he had requested. Shiro wasn't sure when they moved to the bed or how they had gotten there but when the demon's body captured his own, when Mephisto filled him in a way that tore him open, left his heart raw, aching and fulfilled at the same time, there was nothing else to do but to live in the moment and savor each sensation.

It was just like old times.

Later, when they were curled up against each other again, Shiro's head rested on Mephisto once more as the demon's fingers threaded through his hair. Tiredness pulled his eyelids down and satisfaction lifted his lips.

"Did that answer your question?" Mephisto asked, picking up right where they'd started, but Shiro didn't answer, just buried closer to him, warmth curling in his chest. A peaceful silence enveloped them as they rested together, their bodies loose and sated.

"My rooms have felt rather empty without you, you know." It was hard to see Mephisto's face, so Shiro did not glance up. The TV had been turned off at some point, leaving them completely in the darkness. "It would be nice if you came around a little more often."

It was not the first time Mephisto had voiced this request, especially in recent times. The answer that fell from Shiro's lips was almost automatic.

"I'm busy. You know that." It was almost a grumble. Shiro hardly wanted to think of anything remotely stressful when he was feeling so good right now.

"Too busy for me?" Mephisto's arms tightened around Shiro, brushing against some of the passionate scratches that had been carved just a little too deeply into his skin.

They used to heal much faster than this, but there was something about lingering marks that caused a shiver to run down Shiro's spine, something that was not at all unpleasant.

"You need to rest a little more Shiro," Mephisto was still saying. "Regardless of how I feel about that handsome mug of yours, you shouldn't be pushing yourself around like you used to."

"Don't whine," Shiro sighed. He was too tired to argue.

"Come on." With that, Mephisto had him pinned back on the bed once more. Shiro swallowed, suddenly wide awake again. He wasn't sure if he had the energy to continue where this conversation was going, but the way Mephisto was looking at him made his heart pound.

Those green eyes seemed to soften as they traced the lines of Shiro's face. There was concern there. Desire as well. Mephisto blinked them close, hiding them away as he pressed his forehead against Shiro's. His breath ghosted over Shiro's lips.

"A few nights away from the kids won't hurt. You can have your eldest watch over the boys now."

Shiro let out a slow, heavy breath. It was tempting. He knew when he got back to the dorm, his boys would have endless questions for him and Rin would probably rope Ryuuji into the interrogation himself. That kid's outraged look was starting to get to him, but more than that, he didn't know if he could face the twins tonight. Mephisto had distracted him well, but if he went back, saw their expressions which were so much like hers, would he break?

"... A few nights. I still need to leave for work. You can't keep me from classes."

"I would never~ " Mephisto's hands tightened over Shiro's wrists as he began to lavish him with attentiveness all over again. "Do stay as long as you need, hmm?" This was said with a slide of sharp teeth to his ear.

Shiro felt a small smile spread across his lips as his hands stayed limp above his head. "While you're at it, get me my 3DS so I can play it in the morning," he said, his voice low and relaxed. "Do that and I'll buy you chocolates tomorrow on my way back from classes."

"Ooo~" There was genuine delight in Mephisto's voice. "That sounds like a fair bargain," the demon agreed. "It's a deal."

And just like many others before, they sealed this one with a kiss.

We'll be back with Sincerely next week! :)