BH Fic: Early Morning Ritual (George/Mitchell)

[ozmissage]

Title: Early Morning Ritual
Pairing: George/Mitchell
Rating: PG
Words: 1,048
Disclaimer: I only wish the boys were mine.
Summary: Mitchell goes to let George out of his room.
A/N: Written for toestastegood who gave me the prompt George/Mitchell, rainbows.

Mitchell gets to the hospital well before the sun comes up. He yawns as he gets in line at the cafeteria but he’s not too tired to flirt with Doris who’s working the counter. He grins as she passes him two coffees and two donuts to go and laughs to himself when she blushes and ducks her head. As he’s walking away Mitchell checks his watch and grimaces when he sees the time. George won’t be George again for another twenty minutes.

He decides to head to George’s room anyway. He likes to check up on him on these nights, part of him worries that someone is going to stumble across the wolf one night, deserted wing or not, and figure out what--who-- it is. The thought makes him shudder. He doesn’t like to think about what his life would be like without George in it.

After reassuring himself that George is safe, Mitchell sinks to the floor outside the door and waits for his friend to change. He yawns again; he never sleeps well on these nights. He can hear the wolf sniffing the door and the snuffling sound makes him laugh. It recognizes him. Mitchell wonders what George would think if he told him the wolf knew his scent. Actually, he knows what George would say, “You’re mad Mitchell. That thing’s a monster, it doesn’t recognize anyone…it’s all bloodlust and stupidity.”

But Mitchell knows better. The monster inside George knows Mitchell, just like the monster inside Mitchell knows George.

Mitchell drifts off for a few minutes only to be awoken by the gentle sound of knocking on the door. He gets to his feet quickly and unlatches the door to find a naked and exhausted looking George on the other side. Mitchell’s gaze drifts to the angry red marks on George’s side and he can’t stop himself from reaching out to trace the claw marks. George pulls a face and moves away from Mitchell’s touch.

“It’s nothing, Mitchell. Tell me you brought clothes,” George pleads.

Mitchell rolls his eyes as he shoves his backpack into George’s arms.

“When have I ever forgotten to bring you clothes?”

George shrugs sheepishly as he carefully shimmies into his jeans. His movement is stiff and deliberate and it breaks Mitchell’s heart a little to know how much pain George is in, but he knows George won’t mention it, so he pretends he doesn’t notice. Instead he passes George his necklace and holds the bag containing their breakfast up to taunt him.

“Since you think I’m daft enough to let you run around naked, I’m going to keep your donut for myself.”

“Mitchell, don’t even joke about that! Do you have any idea how hungry I am right now?”

The whine in George’s voice makes Mitchell smirk. George reaches for the bag and Mitchell snatches it out of his reach. George is very nearly pouting now.

“You would have liked this donut too. I went through a lot of trouble to pick it out for you.”

“Is it chocolate?”

“For breakfast? Are you mad man, you can’t eat chocolate for breakfast, you’ll rot your teeth out.”

“Says the man who eats Count Chocula every morning.”

Mitchell shakes his head as if George is being irrational.

“One: I only eat Count Chocula for the irony. Two: I’m a vampire; I don’t have to worry about tooth decay.”

George is quiet for a moment before he makes another grab for his breakfast. Mitchell laughs as he catches George’s arm and pulls him closer to him. George wiggles nervously which only makes Mitchell laugh harder.

“You’re so jumpy this morning, George. You’re making me reevaluate giving you sugar.”

“Mitchell, if you don’t give me my donut right now…”

Mitchell tries to look serious. “You’ll what?”

George’s bravado falters and he sighs. “Can we just eat breakfast now?”

Being this close to George, Mitchell can see the dark circles under his eyes and the exhaustion in his face. He feels guilty suddenly for teasing him and releases George’s arm so he can reach inside the bag to produce George’s breakfast with a flourish.

George takes one look at his donut and arches an eyebrow at Mitchell who tries to feign innocence.

“You bought me a donut with rainbow sprinkles? Why don’t you just buy me a Barbie dream house and be done with it? You are aware that I’m not a twelve year old girl, aren’t you?”

Mitchell smirks.

“Don’t pretend you don’t like sprinkles, George. The last time we had ice cream you poured half a container on top of your sundae.”

George continues to scowl until he takes a bite of his donut. Mitchell looks satisfied when George lets out a moan.

“So I like rainbow sprinkles. It’s not my fault they look so girly…they should come in manlier colors that’s all,” George says defensively.

Mitchell claps a hand on George’s shoulder as they head for the corridor and reaches into the bag to pull out his own donut.

“Sure George, whatever you say.”

George takes a long sip of his coffee before turning to stare curiously at the donut in Mitchell’s hand.

“I suppose you bought yourself the manliest of all the donuts then.”

Mitchell takes a big bite of his donut before answering.

“Jelly filled.”

George shakes his head in disgust as he watches Mitchell lick a bit of jelly off of his finger. Mitchell winks at him and George ducks his head much as Doris had earlier. The gesture makes Mitchell feel happy deep down in his chest and he nudges George with his hip. Between the donut and the joyous thought that he wouldn’t have to spend another George-less night for a month Mitchell was feeling down right giddy.

“Come on George; let’s go get ourselves a second donut. You can get chocolate this time, if you like.”

George refuses to look at Mitchell when he mumbles, “I think I’ll stick with the sprinkles.”

Mitchell laughs and takes off down the hallway. He turns and yells at George over his shoulder.

“Last one there has to pay!”

“Mitchell, that’s not fair! You didn’t put any money in my pocket! Mitchell!”

Mitchell continues laughing as he ducks around the corner; it’s strange he’s not feeling tired at all anymore.

Comments

[ozmissage.livejournal.com]

Aww, thanks!

And I agree, everyone should be able to enjoy the wonders of rainbow sprinkles. ;)