The Flaw

Suggested Listening: Loud Music by Michelle Branch

Interlude: Thirteenth

Mello had noticed that Matt had been acting a little strange as of late. Going out to smoke but being gone for longer than he should have, settling down to play games before bed only to be gone when Mello woke in the middle of the night. He couldn't figure out what was up with Matt, and to be honest, it had him a little worried.

Mello hadn't wanted to confront him on it, thinking it would make him seem distrustful, but after almost a week of it, he had had enough. Mello had hesitantly decided to ask Matt what the hell was going on; he just wanted to wait for the right time...

He finally caught the gamer as he got back in from going to his car after saying he'd left something in there, only to stop and look oddly at the boxes in Matt's hands. "Matt, what's that for?"

Matt blinked at him before snorting out a laugh. "You honestly forgot didn't you? This makes what, three times since I have known you?" Matt's features were stretched out into a large grin as he leaned down to kiss him. "Happy eighteenth birthday, Mello."

Mello froze. His birthday? It was December already? How had he missed that?

And suddenly all Matt's odd and sneaky behavior made sense. He couldn't outright go shopping with Mello nor tell him he was getting him things, so going behind his back would have been the only solution.

"Thanks, Matt." He smiled, watching Matt's expression soften a little.

Though by the time he had finished unwrapping his gifts, Mello was less inclined to say thanks. Mello knew he needed more comfortable and fitting clothing, as all the baggy ones had already become tight, but he hadn't wanted to get anything new, being unwilling to admit that he was fat, baby or not.

"I know that's not what you want, but you need them," Matt shrugged. Mello sighed with a nod. He did appreciate it despite hating the larger garments. At least they felt soft...

"I also got you this and a few other small things. Though perhaps you won't want it..." Matt held out a large bar of dark chocolate, which after seeing, Mello didn't even hesitate to grab. He wasn't getting any smaller with the baby still inside him, so a little more chocolate wasn't going to matter. Besides... it was chocolate!

"I'll always eat chocolate... even when the smell makes me sick." Lately, after he had entered the end of the second trimester, the smell of chocolate had begun to bother him to the point where he threw up if he wasn't careful. He could still eat it, just not smell it, so it wasn't completely horrible.

"What are these 'other small things' you mentioned?"

Matt grinned at him and disappeared into the kitchen to return with a small carton of eggnog and sweet pickles. Mello perked up instantly and made sure to kiss Matt before mixing the two together.

Matt winced and looked away as he devoured eggnog covered pickles, and Mello didn't blame him. When those damn cravings went away, he would probably be sick with himself for eating it.

Until then... he dipped another pickle into the heavy liquid and popped it into his mouth.

-End Interlude-