Melone winced as Ghiaccio gently cleaned the wound on his chest. He sat on the counter, shirtless, with Ghiaccio working quietly in front of him. They were in the upstairs bathroom away from the rest of the team downstairs. Ghiaccio needed to chill his head for a bit after that. Melone thought having him do first aid would help clear his mind.

"You owe me a new crop top." Melone teased. Ghiaccio scowled as he taped a large bandage over the spot.

"Why did you do that?" Ghiaccio mumbled in annoyance. "You know you can't fight close quarters."

"They couldn't either, Ghiaccio," Melone said softly. Ghiaccio stopped what he was doing and put both hands on the counter. He closed his eyes and huffed. Melone put a hand on his shoulder. "Hey, no one else got hurt."

"I don't care about anyone else," Ghiaccio snapped. Melone's heart sped up.

"It's not a big deal," Melone cajoled as he squeezed Ghiaccio's shoulder.

"Of course you wouldn't think it is," He muttered. "You can just go around acting like a whore and no one gives a shit." Melone withdrew his hand, perplexed by the sudden topic shift.

"You really think they care? Is that what you're mad about?"

"I'm mad about the whole damn day! Breakfast, the camera, at the table, during the game. One moment you seem like you're fine and want what I want, and then you just leave me high and dry!" Ghiaccio seethed.

"And why is it high and dry?" Ghiaccio suddenly snapped. Melone loved his word rants, he felt they were endearing. "I never feel high, I feel incredibly low afterward, and you usually leave me wet, not dry. It makes no fucking sense!" Melone chuckled at that.

"It's a reference to boats being left high and dry when the tide goes out. It's a metaphor, Ghia, it's not meant to be taken literally, but I'm glad I make you so wet," Melone purred with a smile.

"See? You're doing it right now. You're flirting with me again but if I try something, I know you'll pull away!" Ghiaccio said, exasperated. "You're dicking me around left and right and I don't know what you want from me!" Ghiaccio looked over to Melone, but his face wasn't angry, it was stern and searching. Melone looked away. He felt bad that Ghiaccio viewed it that way, like Melone was using him. Melone had always felt it had been the other way around.

"And what do you want?" Melone asked tentatively. "You said, you thought I wanted the same thing, so what do you want?"

"I should think that's obvious," Ghiaccio sighed.

"Ghiaccio," Melone said sternly and looked at him. Ghiaccio looked through the corner of his eyes but didn't respond. "Would we be here now if I knew?"

Ghiaccio had no response.

"So you're really jealous then of Gelato and Sorbet?"

"Yes, okay? I hate them because they have what I can't have," Ghiaccio sighed and looked back at the sink. He does want this.

"Why can't you have what they have?" Melone's heart was pounding.

"You keep pulling away from me," Ghiaccio stated quietly. He closed his eyes again and rubbed his temples. You keep pulling away. You.

It's me, he wants me!

"But you wouldn't talk to me yesterday," Melone muttered.

"Cause I was fucking embarrassed! What was I supposed to say after just rage fucking my friend?" Ghiaccio continued to rub his head. He didn't call him "partner" that time. He'd called Melone a friend. He'd never called Melone that before.

"You think of me as your friend?" Melone asked hopefully.

"Of course you are. Or at least you were. Fuck, I don't know anymore," huffed Ghiaccio. He tossed the rag he'd been using to clean up the mess into the sink. He sat down in a huff on the edge of the tub with his elbows on his knees, rubbing his temples. Melone slid off the counter and knelt down between Ghiaccio's legs. He pulled Ghiaccio's hands away from his head and held them.

"Are you okay?" Melone looked up at him.

"I have a headache." Ghiaccio winced.

"Your iron levels are probably low after Risotto tried to stop you." Melone stroked Ghiaccio's hands with his thumbs. Ghiaccio closed his eyes and his face relaxed. "You were also pretty drunk earlier, too." Ghiaccio chuckled. Melone watched him as Ghiaccio's head tilted to the side, eyes still closed.

"What do you want, Ghiaccio?" Melone watched as he opened his eyes and looked at Melone. He glanced away as he thought about his response.

"You," he whispered and looked back into Melone's gaze.

"See? Was that so hard?" Melone asked and sat up to kiss Ghiaccio. Ghiaccio put a hand on Melone's right cheek and deepened the kiss. He felt Ghiaccio's fingers slip under his mask and lift it up. Melone broke the kiss and started to pull away when Ghiaccio grabbed his forearm with his other hand.

"I don't care about your eye. Okay?" Ghiaccio said with some annoyance, but then his voice softened. He pulled the rest of the mask off. "There's nothing wrong with it."

Melone looked away and blinked rapidly to try to stop the tears that rolled down his face. No one had ever said that. His sister had always said it made him ugly, and his mother only held disdain in her eyes whenever she looked at him. He used to wear a white medical eye patch over it in school but that only brought more unwanted attention to it. Ghiaccio may have given him cold looks in the past, but he'd always been wearing the mask and they were in regards to Melone's behavior. Each time Ghiaccio saw Melone's blind eye in the last two days, there had been a soft look on his face. One that Melone had previously confused with pity but now, as he looked up at Ghiaccio, he saw it was love. You're so beautiful without your mask on.

"Melone." Ghiaccio leaned in close to his eye as Melone closed them. He felt Ghiaccio's lips press against his eyelid.

You're so beautiful without your mask.

You're beautiful.

Without the mask.

Ghiaccio pushed his errant hair behind his right ear, putting his eye on full display, and he smiled.

Ghiaccio smiled.

At Melone. At his eye.

Melone grabbed Ghiaccio's face and kissed him passionately. Their lips wrestled and tongues collided as Melone moved his arms to wrap around Ghiaccio's neck. Ghiaccio's hand pulled at the back of Melone's neck to bring him closer. The other trailed down his bare back and wrapped around his waist.

"Ghia..." Melone ran his fingers through the curly hairs at the base of Ghiaccio's neck as he continued to kiss him.

"Mel..." Ghiaccio kissed him gently.

"Can I sleep in your room tonight?" Melone asked.

"Yeah," he answered as he kissed Melone again.

"Well, then come on. I know we're both tired. Let's just turn in, yeah?" Melone nuzzled his nose against Ghiaccio's and winked.

"Alright. Are you okay then?" Ghiaccio looked at Melone's bandages.

"I'm fine. They'll be good for the night." Melone stood and reached out to Ghiaccio, smiling. "Come on, let's get ready for bed."

*****************************

Ghiaccio laid down on the pillow and felt heavy. He felt a hand in the darkness wrap around his stomach and pull him close. The contours of his body were wrapped in the embrace of another, fitting together like puzzle pieces. He felt soft lips and warm breath on the back of his neck. Ghiaccio had never been this physically close to another person before; his heart beat wildly in his chest.

"Melone," Ghiaccio whispered.

"Yes?"

"Thanks," Ghiaccio said.

"For what?" Melone asked softly.

"For being here," Ghiaccio breathed. He was very tired now and the close contact felt nice.

"I can be here whenever you want." He felt a kiss on the back of his neck.

"Good." Ghiaccio laced his fingers with Melone's hand on his stomach. He soon drifted to sleep in that comforting embrace.

Ghiaccio felt something poking into him before he even opened his eyes. He reached his hand around to find Melone's body there. He ran his hand along the angle of his hip and down in between their bodies to the hard thing pushing into Ghiaccio. Melone had morning wood. Ghiaccio's own cock stirred at the revelation. He rubbed his hand over Melone's erection for a few minutes until a soft moan came from behind him. He felt Melone's face shift next to his ear and each word made him shiver.

"Mmh, good morning, Ghia," sang Melone sleepily. Melone grinded into his hand.

"Morning," he breathed his reply. Melone reached around and slipped his hand inside Ghiaccio's sweatpants. Ghiaccio turned over enough to capture his lips as Melone's hand wrapped around Ghiaccio's cock and stroked. Ghiaccio slipped his hand inside Melone's shorts and did the same.

"Mmm, what a way to wake up," Melone purred against Ghiaccio's lips. His face was blurry but he could tell Melone wasn't wearing his mask. So he does take it off at night.

"You're the one that woke me up. With this." Ghiaccio squeezed.

"Oh, yeah, that happens a lot." Melone smiled. "I have a high sex drive. I have to jerk it most mornings."

"No shit." Ghiaccio kissed him again."It's Saturday. We don't have to be anywhere," Ghiaccio murmured.

"You're really cute without your glasses on, you know that?" Melone hummed.

"And you're cute without your mask," replied Ghiaccio. "I mean I assume so, I can't really see that well." Melone kissed him slowly and passionately.

Melone's hand left Ghiaccio's throbbing member and went up to his hip and back around to his ass. He pulled down the waistband and pressed his body into Ghiaccio's now bare one. Ghiaccio grinded back. He pulled Melone free of his shorts and rubbed it against him. Melone took hold of himself and pushed, rubbing his wet head between Ghiaccio's cheeks teasingly. Ghiaccio groaned in response.

"I don't have lube but I'm pretty wet," Melone breathed as he leaned over Ghiaccio.

"Put it in," Ghiaccio huffed. Melone began to push in and Ghiaccio hissed and grabbed Melone's hip. It hurt but it felt pleasurable being penetrated. He knew the pain would pass if they went slow. Melone grabbed Ghiaccio's cock again to distract him.

"I wanted to sit on your cock last night when I was giving you that lapdance." Melone breathed. Ghiaccio remembered his discomfort from yesterday and how badly he wished no one else had been in the room.

"I wanted to take you right there. You're such a tease. Ah!" Ghiaccio moaned as Melone pushed into him so he was flush against his body. He was so deep and Ghiaccio never wanted to stop being filled like this.

"Could you imagine, with everyone watching us?" Melone teased.

"You're such an exhibitionist," he wheezed as Melone began to move.

"I want everyone to know how I feel about you, Ghia," He said as he nibbled Ghiaccio's ear. He rubbed his thumb over Ghiaccio's head and rubbed the wetness down the sides. "I want to be as disgusting with you as Gelato and Sorbet. I wanna make you scream so the house knows what I'm doing to you," Melone whispered passionately. His cock throbbed at that last part but Ghiaccio said nothing because he honestly wasn't sure if he wanted the rest of the gang to know yet. He was already outted against his will last night, and he wasn't sure if he was ready to tell them he was involved with Melone. This had only just happened.

Instead, Ghiaccio moaned. Melone reached his other arm underneath Ghiaccio to wrap around his body. He covered his mouth and thrusted again.

"But I don't think you want Pesci to hear us this early in the morning do you, Ghia?" Melone moaned. Ghiaccio rolled his eyes up into his head as Melone continued to pound into him. He slipped one leg out his pants and lifted it over Melone's legs to spread himself out more. Melone continued to stroke him as he thrust into him.

"Uh, Ghiaccio..." Melone moaned in his ear. He kept whimpering into Melone's hand, he was so close. This is all he'd wanted yesterday. He'd wanted to feel Melone's body against his and listen to his moans. "Oh, god, Ghiaccio..." Melone released a girlish sounding moan as he began to feel the hot shooting of Melone inside him.

Yes! Yes! Yes!

Ghiaccio came in Melone's hand, riding it out together. Melone removed his hand from Ghiaccio's mouth and rubbed his chest. Ghiaccio lay panting in Melone's embrace. He felt a kiss on his cheek.

"See how nice it can be when we talk to each other?" Melone whispered. All Ghiaccio could do was nod against the pillow. He was basking in his glow and enjoying the warmth of Melone. "So is it too crazy to ask if you want to shower together?"

"Melone..." Ghiaccio just wanted a minute to bask before they had to talk about what happens outside this room.

"I thought that might be the case," Melone sighed.

"I wasn't ready to come out yesterday," Ghiaccio said with his eyes closed. "But now everyone knows."

"That reminds me, you need to apologize to Pesci and Gelato and Sorbet today."

Ghiaccio grumbled. Melone was right but he didn't like it. He hated apologizing to people when he was in the wrong. It felt so weak. God, especially to Pesci. Fuck that.

"Ghia..." Melone warned.

"I know, I know." He rolled his eyes. Melone put his chin in Ghiaccio's neck.

"How about this? I'm going to go shower and clean these cuts. You can lay here and think about what you're going to say. Okay?"

"Fine. Make sure no one sees you when you go."

"Don't worry, Ghia. No one will even know I was here." Melone kissed his cheek and Ghiaccio felt cold as Melone left the bed. He heard a quick intake of air from Melone as he stood. Ghiaccio grabbed his glasses off the nightstand and turned onto his back to look at Melone as he put them on. The world came into focus and so did Melone's scrunched up face. He held a hand over his chest.

"You okay?" Ghiaccio asked.

"Yeah, it just stings a bit. The ones on my arms don't hurt. Just this one here on my chest." Melone pulled the bandage away from his chest and peeked at it. He raised his eyebrows and puckered his lips. "Could be worse."

"I'm really sorry," Ghiaccio said as he looked at him.

"Ghi, you did that so well that Sorbet and Gelato will definitely believe you." Melone stuck out his tongue as Ghiaccio flipped him off.

"Go on, I need to shower too so get in already."

"Yeah, you do." Melone leaned over the bed again. "With my seed seeping out of you, and that delicious load all over your chest...Mmm, you're such a beautiful mess."

"You're insatiable, get out of here," Ghiaccio smirked. Melone licked his cheek and stood up again and turned towards the door. He opened the door slowly and peeked out then he winked at Ghiaccio as he closed it behind him.

He leaned his head back into the pillow again and stared at the ceiling. His mind was finally coming down from the high and his icy, analytical mind returned. He knew Melone really wanted to be with him but he didn't want the squad to know he was sleeping with Melone. He certainly cared about him but he still felt like he had an image to uphold. He couldn't appear soft. He was so vulnerable with Melone and that was a side of himself that he didn't want anyone else to see. If they pursued this, he would definitely have to come clean at some point, he also wasn't sure how long this would even last. Melone was flighty and this might just end up being a fling. If that was the case then he didn't need the gang to know. However, if it became something more...he would have to wait and see how things progressed before he even considered that.

Ghiaccio grabbed tissues from the nightstand and began to wipe himself off and then pulled his pants back up. He knew he was going to be picked on anyways now that they knew he was gay. Sure Sorbet and Gelato were but that was old news and no one really ever mentioned it anymore. His only hope was that Formaggio would be too concerned with making Prosciutto's life miserable with relentless teasing. That seemed probable, since there was more to comment on being Risotto's boyfriend than Ghiaccio's seemingly single status.

It was some time before Melone came back and knocked on the door. Ghiaccio got out of bed and opened it only to be quickly kissed by Melone.

"Shower's yours, kitten," Melone purred. "I'm going to finish getting ready. See ya downstairs." Melone turned and walked back to his room. Ghiaccio sighed as he watched him go. His body was perfect and Ghiaccio didn't want to stop watching him but the door closed behind Melone, cutting off his line of sight. Ghiaccio grabbed his change of clothes and headed to the shower to get ready for the day.