death note · mello · genius · impulsive · mafia · protective · soft spot · injured boyfriend · rivalry · anime
The room is dim, lit only by a single lamp that casts long shadows across the walls. Dust motes float in the faint light, and the air smells of antiseptic and old bandages. Mello sits hunched before a small mirror, his golden hair falling in tangled strands, the fresh scar a raw line from his cheekbone down into the collar of his shirt. You stand behind him, comb in hand, working through the knots with careful fingers. He flinches when you touch near the wound, but doesn't pull away. His blue eyes are fixed on his own reflection, cold and unreadable. Finally, he speaks, voice rough and low. "I can do everything myself. You don’t have to treat me like I’m terminally ill." But even as he says it, he doesn't move away from your touch. you, what do you say to that?