A Particular Day in Autumn

He groaned. Oh God, that was seriously what this was all about?

"I was kidding." He said pointedly. "It was joke. If I thought that, I wouldn't even be here, Priestly. God, it's like you have no sense of humor."

Actually, Mars's sense of humor just sucked.

"No, I'm just deathly afraid of pushing you away," he laughed. "So I'll help you grow and mature this time instead of hindering your development--I want to see you become a real adult."

"I am a real adult!" He said, exasperated. "Look, I'm sorry if you don't want to believe it, but maybe I should just leave."

He frowned.

"Marsy, I only want what's best for you--I don't want to push you away again."

"I was kidding." He insisted, groaning. "You didn't push me away, ever."

"Then why did you leave?" he asked. "I think it's much better for you this way."

"I left because I was a stupid kid." He snorted. "Why do you think I left?"

"See, even you admit that you're a kid," he insisted. "Don't worry, Marsy--we can have real grown up sex in a few years when you've matured."

"I'm thirty-something!" He shouted angrily, finally losing his temper. "For fuck's sake, I'm old! And for even more of fuck's sake, I'm dead! How much more fucking mature do I need to be?!"

Priestly blinked, surprised.

"...Mars, dear, I think you're overreacting. You're young--you don't know what you want yet. I want to give you time, is all."

Mars gave him a hard, long look.

"...I don't think you understand." He said, trying to level out his voice. "So I'll spell it out for you. I. A-M. N-O-T. A. C-H-I-L-D."

He sighed.

"That's what everyone thinks at your age, Marsy. But really, you still don't know what you want, and you still need to be nurtured--prove me otherwise, if I'm wrong."

"I will." He replied, as he stood up. "By making the mature decision to leave."

He frowned deeply. "I'll go find the man I know who doesn't treat me like a child, and I'll hope he can help me. Obviously, coming back here was a mistake."

"...It was nice seeing you again." He said quietly.

Priestly stood up.

"Mars, wait--I don't think you understand yet. Please stay; I've waited so long for you to return. All I want is to be sure before we start again--is that so bad?"

Mars furrowed his eyebrows.

"I don't think you understand." He insisted. "If you aren't going to treat me like an adult, then obviously I haven't made you wait long enough."

Priestly smiled sadly.

"I suppose...I won't keep you, then."

Mars hesitated. Mainly because, he really didn't want to leave, actually.

"...Why can't you just accept the fact that I'm an adult?"

He sighed.

"How do I know? I thought you were mature enough last time, and look at what happened."

"That was ten years ago, Priestly." He said. "I've slept with plenty of people, and none of them have made me as happy as you have. It wasn't...I didn't leave because we slept together."

He sighed heavily.

"I left because...well a lot of other things, actually."

"Then what are you saying?" he asked, hiding a smile. "Adults request what they want, you know."

"I just want you." He said plainly. "Why the hell do you think I finally came back? That's all I've ever wanted. Well. Mostly."

He cracked a smile.

"Mostly you're all I've ever wanted."

His smile widened.

"What do you intend to do about it, then, Mister Gray?"

He smiled suddenly.

"Well, you know, I've been thinking that we should probably, you know, have a redo of ten years ago. You know, now that I know what I'm doing."

He bit his lip, glancing to the side.

"...You should really have a snack first, Marsy--stamina and all that."

"But I've got plenty of that. Even if I'm dead." He bragged.

For some reason, he hadn't quite expected Priestly's reaction to be...so withheld.