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Phainon stared at the batch of cookies on the kitchen countertop.
And he sighed. It seemed like the seventh time already in the span of a single afternoon; these batch wasn’t terrible, but they weren’t nearly as perfect as he wanted them to be.
It mattered a lot because he wasn’t doing them for himself to gobble, of course not. If he wanted to eat some Halloween cookies, there was around five shops near his house and at least eight bakeries in the city that sold them.
These cookies were special and must be handled with all the care in the galaxy! They were meant to be given to Mydei! As part of his detailed ten steps love confession plan!
Someone would probably think, isn’t it weird to ask someone out during Halloween? and to be honest, Phainon didn’t know if it was weird or not, but what he knew was that it was a celebration his beloved best friend anticipated, believe it or not. Like any other type of holiday, the blond Kremnoan enjoyed baking for his friends and the kids in their neighborhood — besides, they always held different competitions throughout the days, sometimes it would be about the best costume, the best decorated house, who got more treats and who did the funniest trick, who could go through a haunted house without screaming…
Overall, it was a very cherished day —or well, week— for both of them. Mydei looked the happiest when he was enjoying these small pleasures of life.
And Phainon? He found it impossibly endearing.
Every time he could he would drag Mydei to try new things. These past years they had been doing some urban exploration, making use of those huge desolated ruins of previous generations abandoned at the far end of their city, the old side. It mattered little if they ended up dirty and sweaty from walking through the overgrown forest searching for something interesting to do or see. What Phainon cared about was those private, alone times he could spend besides his beloved…
… Without people trying to talk Mydei’s or his ears off, trying to waste Mydei’s time, trying to steal the attention that belonged to Phainon and solely to Phainon.
Phainon stared at the cookies again, frowning at seeing the burnt edges and the weird hue the edible paint had acquired after baking them. He couldn’t just confess with empty hands, that would be so lame. Phainon wanted his confession to be forever engraved in the blond’s memory!
Because after all if they were in the bizarre, unfathomable timeline where Mydei ended up rejecting his feelings… Well, let’s just say Mydei would start associating this date with Phainon, one way or another. Phainon knew the Kremnoan would, as he was someone who didn’t take someone else’s feelings lightly.
Anyway!
The Elysian had planned to make something simple, something easy. Nothing too elaborated despite how his notebook detailed every single step of his plan — that was more of a brainstorm than an actual guide, and it had been going on since… Huh. Probably middle school.
The cookies were the best choice out of all the options he had. jewelry? Mydei could buy it himself, and nobody ever trusted Phainon’s own sense of fashion, so whatever accessory he ever bought was chosen by either Aglaea or Mydei. Books? Out of question, Mydei owned a whole damn library; he had seen it, and Phainon had never seen so many books together, not even at their college’s library.
So… Baking cookies was it, the safest route even if it was slowly eating his patience and time away. And it was something Mydei wouldn’t say not to, even if he were to —Titans forbid— reject his love. At least the Kremnoan would eat them with a heavy heart, hopefully.
And Phainon had put a lot of effort on them! He bought those cookie cutters with whimsical shapes: skulls, weird eerie trees, ghosts, witch hats and pumpkins. Oh, and he hit jackpot with one cutter in particular that as soon as he found it he immediately bought it.
He took the now cold and hard brick cookie between his fingers.
It had the shape of a big heart that covered almost all his palm with melted drops at the bottom edge, giving the illusion of bleeding.
It was perfect.
The other baked treats were smaller were only there to make it more in theme, because why would he confess during Halloween if his gift didn’t have any resemblance to the celebration? Outrageous, a hole in his carefully crafted ploy.
But… It wasn’t going like Phainon had envisioned it.
The heart ones were cracked and broken, the trees looked everything but trees, and the skulls were almost burnt to the crisp inside the oven. Phainon let out a defeated sigh as he dumped that batch on a plate full of previous failed attempts. There were some salvageable ones, so those were going towards Mydei… The others, huh. Those were going to Little Ica.
Luckily he still had enough groceries to make one batch more, but that would have to be his last try… Halloween was only two days away and all this baking had took him more time than what he wanted to. Maybe bakery wasn’t really his call, he would have to stick to meal cooking.
Phainon cleaned his hands and took his phone, the thing hadn’t stop making noise from some minutes now, noise that Phainon had been ignoring in favor of lamenting his poor cookies. As he unblocked the screen he grimaced at seeing the date and hour, he seriously spent practically the whole day inside the now sweet smelling, hot as hell kitchen.
Huh… Phainon already felt his head throbbing.
Fifteen– no, sixteen messages from Stelle; he skimmed though the long notification. She seemed to be ranting about some new arrivals at the supply store, something about a fifty feet skeleton, yadda yadda. He would read it later.
Seven messages from Caelus; the man had invited him to play some online games some hours ago. Phainon contemplated ignoring that chat, there was no use to answer now… After a second he just decided to shoot a quick sorry, I was busy! reply then closed it.
One missed call and a text from a classmate; Phainon had to stop himself from rolling his eyes. This guy had been trying to get all over him since first semester. It wasn’t intruding, but annoying as hell… He grimaced as he opened the chat to write some excuse —‘Sorry, I can’t send you the notes right now, I’m not at home–’— before muting the chat.
Phainon kept scrolling through all the ping notifications he had been ignoring. throughout the day. College emails, various group chats he was added to but he barely paid attention to… Until he reached one that almost made him fall on his knees in despair.
Mydei had texted him a couple of times about half and hour ago, inviting him to hang out near the city outskirts to go explore the southwest ruins, probably some crumbling temple abandoned a millennia ago that could be a gold mine for an history fanatic like Mydei was. Fuck, how did Phainon miss the specific chimera meow sound that he had set as Mydei’s ping alarm? Unbelievable…
“Be at the forest entrance at six sharp. Not a minute late or I’m calling someone else to go with me– Mydei… You can’t do that…” Phainon whined as he turned to look at the wall clock. Nikador’s balls, it was five to six! He was going to be late!
Alright. Yes. Whatever, he could keep trying to achieve the perfect cookie tomorrow, now he had to bounce. And quick! Phainon shoved his phone on his jeans pocket then ran upstairs climbing three steps at once and making such a ruckus he was glad his sister wasn’t at home or else he would get scolded. Throwing the closet doors open he searched for a new, clean shirt free of flour and cookie dough, then hastily made his way downstairs again, grabbing an already prepared backpack with himself.
Ugh, he smelled sickeningly sweet, but a shower was out of question. He nearly forgot to lock his front door before sprinting towards the city outskirts, dodging people and crossing the streets without even glancing at the three cars that almost hit him.
Nothing else mattered! Absolutely nothing else! Arriving to his date with his beloved Mydei was top priority!
It wasn’t a date.
Phainon realized this as he arrived at the forest edge, dark blue eyes immediately zeroing in Mydei… And then noticing Cipher and Castorice next to him. Of course.
The white haired man tried to not make a face as he approached the trio; by the way Cipher was staring directly at him with a glint on her kaleidoscopic eyes and that sharp mischievous grin, and Castorice’s little amused smile, he already knew he wasn’t being exactly subtle about it.
“Finally, you’re here.”
Mydei looked at him with a raised eyebrow and confused expression, also picking up on his extremely obvious mood but perhaps not knowing exactly why he was like that. Mydei approached Phainon, shortening what small steps were between them.
“… Hi, Mydei! Castorice, Cipher, you are here too!”
He greeted his best friend and the two girls with a light smile; even if he was a bit, let’s say, saddened, he knew he had only deluded himself. Of course Mydei didn’t know about his feelings, the Kremnoan had never given him any sort of sign or hint that his love was reciprocated. Every hang out with the blond was intertwined with hopeful wishing. Truth was that Phainon hadn’t been very straightforward either, half-scared and half-hesitant to show what truly laid inside his heart.
Just a little more, though. This was the final stretch, he would confess pretty soon, and both of them would live happily ever after like it had always meant to be.
(Phainon chose to, once again, ignore the palpitant possibility of Mydei rejecting him — an almost inexistent chance, but that was the keyword: almost. If he had angered someone in his past life and it costed him his future with Mydei, Phainon swore up and down he would appear in the news for every single wrong reason.)
He saw Mydei frowning a bit and shuffling closer towards him. Those golden eyes were staring at him for a second before slightly tilting his head. It made Phainon’s chest hurt. Oh, his Mydeimos was adorable.
“Mhm,” Mydei nodded as he gestured at the girls. “They tagged along with me, but only until we got here.”
“Yeah, we’ll be out of your hair in a minute,” Cipher said as she took a step towards him, watching him with a shit-eating grin that prickled Phainon’s nerves a bit. “Flower girl and I just gotta grab some… Mmh, what was it again?”
“Just some seeds for a small project with Hyacine and professor Anaxa,” Castorice replied with a soft voice, smiling kindly at Phainon then at Mydei. Her purple eyes gained a twinkle Phainon wasn’t fond of, because why was she studying Mydeimos so closely for? “Don’t worry about us.”
“Mhmm, you won’t even see us! We’ll be gone faster than you blink,” Cipher purred with a small giggle, tail swaying from side to side apparently having fun with whatever expression Phainon was wearing. Phainon resisted the urge to scowl, as he didn’t appreciate feeling under the spotlight of something he didn’t know of.
Ah, but he couldn’t be rude towards Mydei’s precious friends. Castorice was okay, Phainon had shared some classes with her and Hyacine under Anaxa, and she knew of Phainon’s feelings — not because he told her, but because she found out. It was funny how the girl he had realized before Mydei.
Cipher, though…
Phainon smiled at the cat girl as he reached to wrap an arm around Mydei’s shoulders. “Hah, no problem! You both should still be careful though, it’s pretty easy to get lost in the forest, especially this late when the light is going away,” Phainon crocked his head to the side, rubbing his cheek against Mydei’s hair, who just let it happen. “And it could take a lot of time to found you.”
Castorice smile tightened a bit, a confused look on her face. Cipher’s tail stilled for a brief second, then it dropped and tucked between her legs as she narrowed her eyes at Phainon, almost as if she was contemplating if she should bare her teeth and claws or not.
“Ah,” Castorice coughed lowly. “You’re right, we shouldn’t waste more time if we want to be back, else the night will descend on us.”
Mydei, who had been silent during their conversation, spoke with a noncommittal tone. “If you need any help, though, just text or call me. We know our way through the forest.”
Before Castorice could reply, Phainon tugged Mydei’s arm. “That’s true! We wouldn’t have trouble finding you both. But we shouldn’t waste more time either, Mydei!” he said, using that whiny tone that always put that exasperated fondness in those honey colored eyes. “I’m sure they’ll be fine on their own! I’ve seen Cipher kick the ass of someone twice as big as her.”
Which is why he couldn’t understand why Mydei seemed so worried about those girls. They were stronger than they looked, so shouldn’t Mydei be minding his own business, also known as spending time with him? Should he start begging, whining, howling like a dog?
Mydei hummed. “Alright,” he let Phainon pull him towards the forest as he waved at the girls. “Take care, Cipher, Cas.”
The white haired man gave a lazy wave without looking back. “Bye-bye! Be careful!”
As soon as the boys were away out of hearing range, Cipher hissed and crossed her arms above her chest, tail puffed out. “I’m telling you, that man’s either extremely two-faced or a damn weirdo.”
Castorice softly shook her head. “He’s a good guy, Cipher. Phainon is just…”
“Overbearing? Annoying? Passive aggressive?”
“… Lovesick. That’s all. He just wants to spend time with Mydei.”
Cipher groaned under her breath. “Yeah right, he looked at me like I was a bug beneath his foot.”
“You’re exaggerating,” Castorice giggled as she started walking along the dirt path, in the opposite direction the guys took. “Come on, let’s go before the night catches with us.”
Cipher followed Castorice with a contemplative hum. She didn’t know Phainon that well, only some college hearsay and kind words from her older sister, who was his teacher during freshman year, so she decided to trust Castorice’s judgment since she was closer to that man.
They walked in comfortable silence, then Castorice spoke up. “But he looked a bit scary, though.”
“Hah, you can say that again.”
It felt like an every day routine.
Phainon and Mydei would enter the forest, walk straight for around ten minutes until the dirt path disappeared, jump across a small creek, and then climb the old security fence to reach a natural cave — the place where they would hang out constantly since middle school.
The hollow wasn’t deep nor big, especially now that they were all grown up, their heads almost touching the rocky ceiling. Despite the limited space, they did a makeshift camp with whatever they could bring from home or find around: fallen tree trunks as seats surrounding a bonfire, old and torn rugs that neither of their parents needed or wanted anymore now were used as a curtain door, and a hidden stash were they used to store their failed tests and assignments.
The hide out didn’t have a lot of things, but it was a comfortable place anyway. No one bothered them, not even the forest rangers who seldom appeared in that area. Phainon could count with the fingers of one hand the times were those men approached them, only telling them to not leave litter and to not cause any fire.
Well, maybe because of who Mydei’s parents were, but they had never been actually bothered anywhere they went.
Phainon let his backpack fall to the ground, watching how Mydei started to take some things out of his. A thick notepad with yellowed pages, a lantern and a camera. Phainon had been tasked to bring a machete to clear the bushes and debris out their path and a shovel borrowed from his father.
“By the way, Mydei,” Phainon said as they started walking towards the ruins Mydei wanted to explore.
“Mmh.”
“Are you going to Cyrene’s Halloween party?”
“I don’t know,” Mydei replied as he brushed a branch out his way. “Everyone is going to be there, right?”
Phainon inwardly smiled. Oh, how adorable of his beloved Mydei, he always got so easily drained; and a drained Mydei meant a sleepy Mydei, one who stuck to Phainon’s side because Phainon was his safe place! But not going to the party meant they could spend more time together!
“Well, I wasn’t planning to stay at home.”
“Why not?” he heard the barley veiled surprise on the Kremnoan’s voice.
The white haired man shrugged. “Not in the mood to party. Maybe I’ll marathon some horror movies instead, how about doing it at your place?”
“Hah, of course, invite yourself to my home,” Mydei mumbled before shaking his head. “Sure.”
Phainon beamed, approaching the blond to wrap an arm around his waist — without letting the Kremnoan say something, Phainon hoisted him up with the same arm while the other grabbed both the machete and the shovel; Mydei’s arms wrapped around the other’s neck in a hurry.
“Phainon–!”
“But I’m always welcome at your house, right?” Phainon asked with a giggling tone. “Do you remember when we fought during high school, second year? Your father kept asking mine what happened because we didn’t hang out anymore–”
“Please, shut your mouth,” Mydei groaned, cheeks hot as he glared at Phainon. “It was your fault anyway. You kept ignoring me, and you still never told me why.”
Ah. Well, Phainon couldn’t say it was because he had his first wet dream, starring his best friend front and center, could he?
The Elysian smirked and leaned closer to Mydei, their noses almost touching. Being so close, Phainon saw how those shiny those golden eyes were, Mydei’s pupils dilated and contracted at the ghost touch — he resembled a cat every time he did that. Phainon’s heart ached.
“Aw, you missed me so bad!” he beamed, nuzzling his nose against Mydei’s jawline. “Then it’s a date. A Halloween date!”
Mydei huffed, but didn’t deny either nor commented about the date part. “Put me down, you dog. You were talking about wasting time before, but now you’re playing around,” he said turning his head to the other said.
Phainon pouted. Couldn’t Mydei see it was because someone else was taking up his time? Time he could be spending with Phainon? That was okay, it didn’t matter anymore since they were alone where no one else could bother them.
“Okay, Okay~” Phainon put Mydei down with flowery gentleness, earning him a slap on the shoulder. “Ow!”
“Stop that,” Mydei grumbled, already walking towards the ruins that were now on their vision range. Phainon could still see the blush coloring the blond’s ears, and he smiled, his kitty cat was embarrassed! Phainon wondered how red he would get if he had stolen a kiss like he wanted to, his detailed plan the only thing holding him back, since he wouldn’t be very pleased to throw all that work to the trash.
“Let’s go, Phainon.”
“I’m coming, princess,” Phainon looked at the sky, it was slowly turning dark, the stars appearing one by one. Right, night descended faster during this time of the year, the leaves turned yellow and orange. Hues that resembled his home village temporarily painting Okhema in warmer colors.
Phainon looked at Mydei’s back, the blond dipped in red hair swayed softly with the cold breeze. He had thought about it, but Mydei really resembled Aedes Elysiae, both in appearance and how he made Phainon feel.
He silently sighed.
Only him was worthy of such a gentle soul. Mydei was going to be his, and his alone, Phainon was going to make sure of that.
“Phainon,” he looked ahead at being called, seeing how Mydei had turned to look at him with a passive expression, his eyebrow slightly arched.
Phainon softly laughed. “I know, I’m going!”
Mydei glanced at Phainon, seeing the man cut the brushes and branches off the way as they started to get closer to the ruins. Golden eyes stared at the outlined muscles, the faint sweat covering Phainon’s forehead, only half listening to whatever Phainon was yapping about.
He really was skilled wielding that blade, the blond realized. Seeing Phainon swing the machete around shouldn’t still be a surprise, but it didn’t mattered how many times he saw it, the way Phainon made it look so easy never failed to make Mydei’s mind wander a bit.
Perhaps it was because Mydei could vividly recall how much of a troublemaker Phainon was during their childhood, his cute chubby face always scratched and dirty as well as his hands, arms and legs thanks to being reckless and overly enthusiastic, always jumping from branches and diving into streams.
And for what Mydei knew from Phainon’s mother, the man had been the exact same or even worse when they still lived in Aedes Elysiae, moving to Okhema hadn't changed him a tiny bit.
To now see him skillfully make a way for himself, for them, showing off his strength and ability with such effortless ease…
Mydei shook his head. He shouldn’t be thinking that way about his best friend, not with the man right in front of him. Was he going crazy? Had he really deluded himself so badly he was now daydreaming without a hint of shame? Oh, but he was sure it was his friends’ fault that now Mydei felt so troubled.
Sidestepping a fallen branch, Mydei heard Phainon talk about some new antique he was eyeing, considering if he should buy it or not. Mydei rolled his eyes, he knew the white haired man would buy it regardless of its authenticity.
“Hephaestion found a vintage vase while thrifting, said he could give it to you if you wanted to,” Mydei lightly commented. He heard a sharp snap that made him startle, raising his head to look at the other man.
Phainon chuckled. “Is that so?” he twirled the machete on his hand, wrist making small lazy circles motions. “Well, I should see the vase first. Will you go with me?”
He heard another sharp sound. Phainon had cut a branch with a little more force than necessarily, the twig snapping in half as soon as it fell to the ground.
“Sure.”
Mydei only side eyed the broken branch as they passed besides it.
Honestly, how could his friends even think Phainon had romantic feelings for him? The Elysian was always so eager to spend time with him, sure, but it was because they more or less grew up together, their houses were in the same neighborhood and they went to the same schools, bonding over being the two new kids.
Phainon was more like a puppy that had imprinted on him, it didn’t mean he had feelings for Mydei.
How could he? There were no signs. Phainon was a polite and gentle man, even when he was in a blue mood, he remained with a calm smile and eager disposition, he treated everyone fairly despite how he himself was feeling. Sure, there had been moments were Phainon showed his edge, but it had always been towards people who deserved it…
Mydei knew Phainon’s attitude was carefully crafted, he had seen through his bullshit as they grew up alongside each other, but that didn’t mean Phainon was a bad person underneath the surface — he was only an overly self-conscious man with people pleasing tendencies. While disapproving, Mydei couldn’t say that was a big problem.
And because Mydei knew Phainon, he believed he would’ve picked up the hints. But Mydei had seen Phainon date other people before, fleeting romance during high school, some flirting thrown around, someone else making Phainon company as he walked to and from school. Their relationship had always been casual, easy, he made sure to be someone who Phainon could spend time without needing to worry about anything — because there wasn’t anything that could make Mydei dislike Phainon, even less hate him.
There had been a distinction in his behavior. He never treated Mydei that carefully, that hesitantly, like he was trying to make a good impression even with the smallest of things. So Mydei thought it was safe to say, Phainon wasn’t interested in him at all. Their relationship had always been casual, easy, he made sure to be someone who Phainon could spend time without needing to worry about anything — because there wasn’t anything that could make Mydei dislike Phainon, even less hate him.
So. Mydei was ninety-nine percent sure that if Phainon had ever harbored such feelings for him, he would’ve noticed! The one percent left was because… Mydei was a realistic down-to-earth person majority of the time, therefore he was aware of how is vision of himself and his own feelings towards his best friend could be blur his side of the story. He could be oblivious to some things unless people were straightforward, too, as he lacked knowledge and experience regarding social cues.
Life wasn’t a romance book, regardless of what Phainon’s sister insisted. Mydei’s long-time crush on Phainon mattered little when the chances of being reciprocate were nearly zero.
Mydei closed his eyes. No, he couldn’t be misguided, he couldn’t misunderstand his friend’s intentions. Phainon knew him on an intimate level that far surpassed any kind of relationship label, they were so attuned to each other that a single glance was enough to say a million words.
He knew his best friend was a good boyfriend, though. Sometimes he couldn’t help but fantasize about it.
Phainon knew what to say in the appropriate times, knew what he liked and what he would choose even before Mydei did a choice at all, knew how to lift his mood as easy as breathing…
The way Phainon always clung to him, how he searched to have his arms around Mydei’s waist, their hands grazing as they walk side by side. How Phainon’s warm hands would cup his cheeks and look at him so fondly and carefree, how anxious Phainon would get if Mydei wasn’t around, as if he were a puppy with separation anxiety–
“Mydei? We’re here!”
Mydei snapped out of his thought. Fool, what kind of nonsense was his brain conjuring?
The Kremnoan approached the Elysian, smelling the faint sweet scent clinging to that fluffy white hair. Was he trying a new perfume? It smelled like Mydei’s favorite bakery.
“I know, you don’t have to say what it’s obvious,” Mydei mumbled as he brushed past Phainon, making a beeline towards the old, crumbling stone arch. Phainon only laughed and followed him closely.
Mmh. Phainon smelled really good today… Mydei crocked his head to the side to catch that scent one more time, then turning to wander inside the temple, hoping that Phainon hadn’t noticed.
Phainon stared at Mydei’s back, and smiled. Maybe not getting rid of the cookie dough smell proved to be on his side. He blushed a bit, covering his mouth with the back of his hand before following Mydei.
Exploring was a non-serious hobby.
Realistically, the probabilities of finding something valuable were… null. At most they came across trash, forgotten objects from other bored people who liked to take a walk in the forest, or nothing at all.
Sometimes, though, and in the most recent years, they would come across some gross situations. Like right now: Mydei was looked down at the hole he told Phainon to dig, a grimace on his face, his hand coming up to cover his mouth and nose.
“How long do you think he had been buried?” he asked, narrowing his eyes.
Phainon remained silent for a second. With a nervous chuckle, he scratched his cheek. “A while, at least. But even if it was recent, we wouldn’t be able to identify who this is.”
Mydei clicked his tongue, pulling out his phone.
They found another corpse.
It was probably the third time in the span of five years. It would be weird, if it wasn’t because more people had the displeasure of also seeing bodies buried around the city outskirts. Apparently, there was either an organization or a serial killer making hell on earth in Amphoreus — a weird one, because the murder pattern always lined up, but there was no correlation between the victims nor were they frequent.
Someone doing it for pleasure, the police had said. There were a handful of suspects, but nothing definitive.
“How do you think he died?” Phainon wondered out loud, poking the corpse’s arm with the shovel. Mydei kicked Phainon’s leg in return.
“Don’t play with that,” he warned. Who knew if this person had some kind of illness or disease? Mydei shuffled his weight from one leg to the other as he examined the dead body. “His face is so messed up we can’t see any of his features, his leg is twisted, and he doesn’t have fingers, so…” Mydei nodded in lieu of thanks as Phainon passed him a surgical mask, putting it on. “I don’t know, probably was tortured?”
“Do you think so?” Phainon tilted his head. “Oh, I heard there was some weird guys doing the politician’s dirty work. They seem to be from Janusopolis.”
“I see.”
“The body seems old, though…”
Golden eyes examined the bite marks around the arms and visible neck, it seemed like the wild animals had a feast before the poor guy was buried. Mydei thought, did this man pissed someone off so badly he would encounter such an end? Or it was truly the act of some deranged freak who killed out of pleasure?
His fingers quickly tapped on the screen, shooting a text to his mother. Mydei couldn’t leave in good conscious, not after coming across such a cursed sight.
Meanwhile, Phainon had turned the lantern light towards the victim’s face. It really was deformed beyond recognition, the skin torn and maybe burnt, judging by the darker patches littering the head. It was gross, but Phainon kept staring anyway, using a nearby twig to prod.
“He doesn’t have teeth,” Phainon commented. “None of them.”
“How painful.”
“Agreed,” the white haired man scowled, using his other hand to rub his jaw, feeling a phantom pain at imagining such fate. “Can you imagine? Getting your teeth pulled out?”
“I will pull your teeth out if you don’t get away from that decomposing body.”
Phainon chuckled and took a step back, throwing the twig away. “Alright, alright. I’m not touching it anymore!”
Mydei huffed, putting his notepad inside his bag and hanging it on his shoulder. “… Father is sending someone to investigate. We should go, I have no desire to be tangled with this any further.”
“Right!” Phainon immediately perked up, a big excited smile forming on his lips. If he had a tail, it would be wagging so hard he might as well start flying. The Elysian grabbed Mydei’s wrist and started pulling him away. “Let’s go, Mydei!”
“Slow down,” Mydei mumbled, not loud enough though, as he let Phainon drag him outside the ruins. His lips twitched a little, amused.
Mydei really loved his puppy-like friend, his antics never failing to make him smile, even after the sordid sight they had just witnessed. Mydei’s hands slid down, taking Phainon’s hand and intertwining their fingers.
The Elysian briefly glanced back towards the corpse they had left behind.
How many years had passed already? Four, or perhaps a little more, since the last time he had seen that guy.
What he remembered vividly, though, was how he had buried that man during a cold winter night — after pulling his teeth and nails out after every wrong answered question, after caressing the trembling skin with a lighter and admiring how it turned red, then darker and darker until only black patches remained.
The name? Mmh… Phainon’s memory got fuzzy there. An Okheman name, maybe Ixion? Or Iason? It didn’t matter, he wouldn’t waste time remembering how a dead man was called in life.
But Phainon remembered the man’s offenses as brightly as the daylight.
That annoying vermin had pestered Mydei during college freshman year, always orbiting the blond and making him uncomfortable with bold words and faked friendliness, touchy hands playing with Mydei’s cute braid.
How dared he?
And the senseless bastard had the guts to confess his love to the Kremnoan, believing himself worthy of holding Mydei’s hand, of walking besides him, of letting his gross lips touch Mydei’s. Just thinking about it made Phainon’s blood boil again!
So he did what his brain told him was the best. That Ixion —Iason, whatever— guy disappeared the next week after the confession, his parents going crazy and searching everywhere. Luckily that bastard was quite the problematic kid, so most had assumed he just got into a fight with some of the people he had pissed off —which was, well, correct— or ran away from home.
Good riddance, that man had touched what he couldn’t even dream of having, so he paid the price for his greediness.
Ah, why was he getting all worked up by this? The man was gone, Phainon made sure of it, and had seen how that pathetic larvae was now being eaten away by the worms! Not a single hint that could trace the murder back to Phainon!
He wasn’t an expert, but that hadn’t been the first nor the last time he took the trash out… So, yeah, he forgot that he had buried the body there! Sue him, but he was too excited to spend time with Mydei to care about that type of trivialities; his works were always squeaky clean, so he wasn’t worried.
“– so mom wants to decorate the front yard, but father keeps insisting on putting those ugly animatronics he bought last year,” Mydei’s voice brought him back from his thoughts. Fuck, he didn’t mean to ignore his princess. “I know your lack of good taste will make you agree with him, but mom still wanted me to invite you over, something about a third option and whatnot, I guess.”
“Of course! But… hah, are you sure you aren’t using your parents as an excuse?” Phainon grinned. “You can just invite me to your house, and I’ll be there. In a heartbeat.”
Mydei groaned. “As I said, my mom wants you there.”
“Sure, sure.”
Phainon looked down. Their fingers were still intertwined, and such a beautiful sight made his lungs lose all the air for a second. Mydei’s hands were so, so soft, not a single callous or scar despite the blond playing sports and being around knives and pipping hot pots in the kitchen.
He wondered, how would those hands feel on his body? Around his–?
“Phainon,” Mydei said. When Phainon blinked and looked at the blond, he saw him frowning. “Are you okay? You’ve been zoning out.”
His Mydei looked so adorable when he voiced his worries! But if he did then that meant Phainon really looked distracted. Maybe he was still a bit angry at being remembered of the scumbag he got rid of.
“Don’t worry about it, princess,” Phainon smiled. “It’s nothing, just had some things in my mind.”
Mydei narrowed his eyes at him, not buying the white lie, but still nodded. “Alright,” the blond knew that pressuring the white haired man into answering would be fruitless, so he just tightened his hold on Phainon’s hand in silent comfort.
Aw, did Mydei thought he was shook up by the corpse? So cute! As if he hadn’t left other victims worse than that Ixion guy.
… Ugh. His mood got worse by the second. They needed to get out of the forest, what if Mydei somehow recognized the dead man? What if he mourned that imbecile? Just thinking about it gave Phainon a headache.
“Oh, Phainon!” Gorgo smiled kindly at seeing her son and his friend approaching. She was standing on the front yard, hands on her hips. The woman eyed their dirty faces and clothes. “Came back from the forest again?”
“Yep!” Phainon beamed, stepping closer to Mydei’s mother. Gorgo patted his head, brushing off some stray leaves. Mydei rolled his eyes behind him.
“Mom, what are you doing outside?” Mydei asked, a slightly worried expression on his face, eyebrows furrowed. “You’re still sick.”
Gorgo scoffed. “Mydeimos, it’s just a cold. I haven’t been here for long either.”
“Still…”
“Mydeimos!” they heard a loud, male voice from inside the house. In the blink of an eye, Mydei was hoisted up in a tight hug by his father, who swayed his son like a doll in a kid’s hands. “You’re finally here, my son! You got both of us worried to death–”
“Father,” Mydei’s muffled, exasperated voice interrupted. “I’m okay. It was a dead body, not the killer themselves.”
“Eurypon, you’re smothering Mydeimos,” Gorgo sighed.
“Gorgo!” Eurypon whined. “Don’t act like you weren’t waiting for Mydeimos to come back home, you even stayed here for half an hour–”
“Stop talking.”
Phainon chuckled loudly, then covered his mouth when Mydei glared at him. Mydei’s parents were comfortable to be around, and even with Gorgo’s calculating eyes and protectiveness and Eurypon’s paranoia, they both accepted Phainon as an important person in their son’s life.
Phainon worked really hard to achieve that. It would make Mydei sad if he were to be separated from his parents, after all.
“Oh, come inside. You both should have something warm to drink,” Gorgo said, placing her hands on Phainon’s and Mydei’s shoulders to herd them inside the house, Eurypon behind them.
“Then you can convince your mother to put those robots at the front door. They’re going to give everyone a good scare.”
“Not happening, Eurypon.”
“Dear…”
Mydei looked at Phainon over the rim of his cup. Warm milk foam formed a funny looking mustache that Phainon didn’t seem to know about.
His mother was sitting next to Phainon, while Eurypon was talking on the phone near the window, probably about the corpse they had found. Mydei faintly thought it he should’ve been more shocked, or scared… But if he was honest with himself, he didn’t feel anything else than disgust over how massacred the bodies were.
Perhaps there was something wrong with him.
He didn’t lack empathy, and he didn’t thought those people deserved such brutal deaths — as far as he knew, the recognized victims were innocent, almost boring people with normal lives.
He only wondered what was the killer’s goal with this. It didn’t look like an organization’s work, for what his father had said…
“Mydei, look,” Phainon said. Between his fingers he had a blue macaroon, and he hold it near his eyes. “It’s the same color as my eyes! I found one that’s the exact shade as yours too!”
“Your eyes are a bit darker than that, though.”
“Are they?” Phainon tilted his head, then finally licked the milk foam off his upper lip. “I thought they were a pretty blue.”
“They are a pretty blue. Just darker.”
Mydei saw as Phainon’s eyes widened, then blushed. Gorgo covered her mouth with the palm of her hand to hide a grin Mydei could still perfectly see, then excused herself to go towards her husband, leaving them alone in the tea table.
“You–” Phainon choked on his words, coughing a bit. “You can’t just compliment me out of nowhere.”
Mydei frowned. “I’m only telling the truth, though?”
“…”
Phainon and Mydei stared at each other for half a minute, then Phainon pointed at Mydei. “Your eyes are far prettier than mine. They look like simmering amber, like molten gold. They look like honey.”
The Kremnoan blinked, then scowled. “Are you trying to one up me with fake compliments?”
“They aren’t fake!” Phainon whined. “You have beautiful eyes. And they’re shaped like a cat’s. Do you know thats why everyone thinks you are adorable? Not only your body is built like a warrior’s statue, but your hair resembles the sunset and–”
“Enough.”
Mydei turned his head to the side, now using both hands to cover his burning face. Phainon singing him praises wasn’t something new, but the reaction was always the same. Mydei didn’t know if what he felt was embarrassment or hopeless happiness at knowing Phainon thought of him and his appearance; either way, it made him blush like crazy.
Even if he knew Phainon only was hyping him up.
“You’re so shameless. How can you say all that with a straight face?”
“Because it’s the truth!”
“Now you’re just copying what I said.”
Phainon rested his elbows on the table. “But it’s true.”
“… Fine,” Mydei sighed. “You’re annoying. Take a compliment for what it is instead of trying to double down.”
“As if I would miss an opportunity to tell you how adorable you are!”
Mydei remained silent. Only someone like you could say someone like me is adorable, Mydei shoved a pastry into Phainon’s mouth, watching the white haired man splutter.
“Fine, now be silent.”
Phainon liked to cook. He wasn’t bad at it, not at all! He was pretty confident on his abilities.
He also hated cooking, because he was a perfectionist, and the world seemed to hate perfection, therefore hated him and his guts.
He spent almost two whole days baking, decorating and making sure the cookies ended up exactly how he had envisioned them — or the closest thing, because again, the world seemed to be actively conspiring against him.
Cyrene had helped him once she saw him kneeling on the kitchen’s floor, squeezing a piping bag so hard his knuckles were white. Once she got closer, she saw that he had accidentally mixed two wrong colors resulting in an ugly brownish color and the cookie looked more like a dookie.
But it was okay! Everything was for Mydei, so Phainon would power through this!
Oh, but thinking about Mydei made him sad to the point those two funny strands of hair on top of his head wilted down. Since he spent almost two whole days holed up inside his kitchen, he didn’t see the Kremnoan at all.
“So, how about you confess while watching a romance movie? I have the ideal recommendation!”
Phainon scoffed. “Romance? During Halloween?”
Cyrene shrugged. “Mydei would watch whatever you want to watch if you ask him.”
“Of course he would, but that’s not the point here,” Phainon gestured at the cookies on the countertop, the glaze drying too slow in the Elysian’s opinion. “Can’t you see it’s themed?”
“Mmh… What if you fake a scare and hug him?”
“He knows I’m not easily scared. Besides, I can hug him whenever I want to, no excuses needed.”
Cyrene closed her eyes and sighed.
“It’s hard to give you advice to confess when you both act like a couple already!”
Phainon pouted. He was in severe need of emotional help, and Cyrene wasn’t helping!
“Why don’t you just ask him? Really, you both would only make it official.”
“That wouldn’t be special,” Phainon mumbled. “I want him to remember my confession for the rest of his life.”
Cyrene opened her eyes and stared at her brother. “While I agree that romantic confessions are beautiful, you only need to be sincere about it, and Mydei will save the memory in his heart, gifts or not.”
“Mmh…”
The pink haired girl sighed. “I’m going to buy some things for the party tonight, so I’ll be busy. Ah, don’t forget to lock your bedroom before going to Mydei’s house, alright?”
Phainon wordlessly nodded. Cyrene looked at him before shaking her head. “And don’t worry, I know Mydei will accept your feelings.”
The man heard his sister’s footstep going away, then the front door opening and closing. Without her, the house fell into quietness before Phainon mumbled with a low voice to himself.
“He better accept me.”
Mydei looked at his phone for what it seemed to be the fifth time in three minutes.
His parents went to some sort of business gala they needed to attend. Knowing Mydei disliked such events, they bid him goodbye with the promise to bring him candies and pastries, which he appreciated — his mother had asked if Phainon would stop by too, and Mydei nodded. He didn’t appreciate how his mother patted his back and told him to use protection, though.
But now…
It was around six in the evening and he had just finished sending some assignments that were worth seventy percent of his final grade that he had due before midnight. Really, his professors couldn’t give them some free time even on Halloween? So much for being the Month of Strife, such important tasks shouldn’t be issued this time of the year. Obviously, it wasn’t because Mydei would rather do anything else than homework.
After finally getting that task off his shoulders he turned his phone on, decided to take a shower, dressed up in a stupid black pajama set that had little black cats all over it that Phainon had given him some years ago, and set up his bedroom for the movie night.
That was three hours ago already.
Sure, they hadn’t decide a time for the hang out, which meant that Phainon would crash there in any moment, but…
Mydei looked at his phone again. He frowned and pouted.
He only had twenty unseen messages from the white haired man, which was an extremely low number considering the man could send five texts per second, specially when Mydei hadn’t replied immediately. So, how come his phone wasn’t almost exploding from messages?
Was Phainon busy? Probably. He must be helping his sister set up the party… Mmh. But reading the messages, Phainon had only been talking about the movies they could watch, what snacks should he buy, if Mydei was going to use that black cat pajama set…
Was Phainon sulking? Mydei scrolled back several messages, only to confirm that he had warned the Elysian about his due assignments and that he would be turning his phone off to avoid distractions.
Somehow, Mydei felt like a neglected wife.
Dialing Phainon’s number, Mydei hold the phone against his ear, pressing his lips and cleaning his throat to avoid sounding whiny — Phainon would only tease him to hell and back if Mydei sounded as wronged as he felt.
After five ringtones, Phainon didn’t pick up the call.
Mydei was about to call again when a message appeared on his pop-up notifications.
[09:17] Phainon 🐾☀️: Sorry, sorry! o(TヘTo)
[09:17] Phainon 🐾☀️: Had my phone turned off! Are you okay? Did you finish your assignments? (つ≧▽≦)つ
Mydei narrowed his eyes. Did Phainon think Mydei was stupid? The Elysian never turned his phone off. He re-read the message a couple of times before clicking his tongue; was Phainon lying to him? Before he could come up with a reply, the screen showed an incoming call.
Just because he felt petty enough Mydei let two ringtones sound before picking up.
“Phainon.”
“Mydei! Are you done? Did you send everything?”
“Yes.”
He heard some bags rustling at the back and an intelligible murmur before Phainon replied. “Perfect! Give me some minutes and I’ll be there.”
The sound of a laugh mixed with Phainon’s voice, which made Mydei scowl further. That was a masculine voice. Who was there with Phainon right now?
“If you’re busy you can come up later.”
“No, no! Busy? Of course not!” Phainon quickly replied. “I’m just helping Cyrene with the final touches for her party, that’s all.”
Well, the Kremnoan bitterly thought, you’re not with your sister right now, are you?
“However you like.”
It seemed like Phainon covered the speaker because the sounds turned muffled for a second, he couldn’t hear what Phainon was saying to whoever he was with.
“I’ll be there in five minutes, alright?”
“Mhmm.”
Mydei tightened his hand around the phone once the call finished, his eyes fixated on Phainon’s number on the screen.
Why was he even upset? It was none of his business who Phainon was hanging with, it probably was one of Cyrene’s friends or something, and Phainon could be helping them like the good boy he was. Phainon wasn’t his — and even if he was, Mydei couldn’t just prohibit him from speaking to other people. He knew he couldn’t.
But…
The urge to run towards Phainon’s house and see for himself that there was no threat there, see that Phainon wasn’t tumbling around with someone before meeting with him, or caught him red handed in something his stupid paranoid mind was making up.
Mydei hadn’t realized he was biting is lower lip until he felt a drop of coppery blood on his tongue and his fingernails digging on his palm.
He inhaled and exhaled, mentally counting to ten, then to twenty. It didn’t work, his thought were all messed up now — Mydei hadn’t felt this way since Phainon’s last relationship during mid high school.
“HKS…” Mydei pulled at his braid, roaming around his bedroom like a jailed lion ready to pounce at the minimal movement.
He wouldn’t be feeling this way if Phainon could stay still and just be at his side.
Phainon hastily shoved his phone on his jeans pocket and grabbed the plastic bag full of snacks, candies, and the pretty pink silk bag that had the cookies inside, which was hidden underneath everything else.
He looked at the mirror near the entrance, threading his hair with his free hand for the umpteenth time, earning him a chuckle from the guy resting his back on the wall.
“Phainon, my brother in Aeon, you look like you just tripped out the bed. Stop messing with your hair already– Ow, Dan Heng, stop pulling my hair!”
“Shut it Caelus,” Phainon groaned, barely glancing at the gray haired man behind him as he kept trying to will his hair down. Those two damned antennas…
“You’re overthinking again!” Stelle said from down the corridor, mouth full of chips. “Come on bro, your lil boyfriend sounded upset. Aren’t you running late to your date?”
Phainon clicked his tongue and murmured under his breath. “And whose fault is that…”
The twins and their little group had arrived far earlier than the accorded hour, bringing up boxes full of beer cans and some other liquors that they made Dan Heng carry, who apologized for arriving ahead of time, followed with March 7th carrying several bags of edible glitter for the drinks.
And everyone knew the twins had a perk for disaster, somehow roping Phainon into chasing their chimera down the street — the little thing dressed up as a witch had made a mess with the paint the twins bought to play some pranks around the block. The chimera ended up dirtying Phainon’s whole living room, including the sofa his father adored.
At least the paint was scrubbable. Phainon’s knees hurt thanks to the time he spent kneeling, cleaning the green paint off the black furniture.
“Do you want me to drive you?” Dan Heng offered, the black haired man’s calm voice out of tune with how hard he was pulling Caelus’ hair in reprimand.
“No need,” Phainon could trust that something else was going to happen if he agreed. That little group of friends always had something going on. “I’m off, please don’t break anything, and if you do blame Cyrene not me.”
“Sure!” Caelus replied. “We’ll say it was you anyway!” Stelle said, then had her mouth covered by March’s hand.
Phainon sighed. At least if his house burned down he could whine to Mydei to let him live at the Kremnoan’s house.
He checked for the last time he had everything before sprinting towards Mydei’s house. They only lived a few streets apart, but it felt like an eternity with how many people were outside, kids running everywhere and asking for candies at every house.
Phainon wondered if the kids he will have with Mydei would like Halloween’s trick or treat.
In less than five minutes he was knocking at the door, looking around as he waited for Mydei to open it. Eurypon won at the end, the animatronics were dancing still on the front yard, making “scary” noises and playing music.
There was a cardboard cutout of a black chimera on top of a dromas dressed up as a vampire besides the door. How adorable, he was sure that was Mydei’s idea.
The door opened as he finished taking on the porch decoration, his beloved Kremnoan was, indeed, using the set Phainon had bought years ago.
“Mydei!” Phainon happily said, eyes curving into pleased crescent moons.
Mydei didn’t answered right away. Instead it seemed like his eyes were roaming around Phainon’s body, searching for something. Phainon, despite enjoying the attention, suddenly felt even more self-conscious that he had been felling.
He was using a gray sweatpants and a loose black shirt with the faded print of a horror movie poster. Was the shirt dirty? Did it smelled wrong? That couldn’t be, Phainon had it washed his clothes thrice just the day before to ensure it was clean.
“… Mydei?”
“Ah,” Mydei side stepped. “Get inside. You’re late.”
“Sorry, sorry~” Phainon chuckled nervously. “Had a setback, but I wasn’t that late, right? It’s ten in the night!”
“Mhmm. What snacks did you brought?”
Phainon internally sighed in relief, his princess wasn’t too upset at him! Although seeing Mydei try to hide his pout was endearing.
Both men climbed the stairs as Phainon went through the food he bought for the movie night. Most of them were Mydei’s favorite snacks, since Phainon didn’t really have a preference for anything.
As soon as they reached Mydei’s bedroom, Phainon laid on it like it was his own. “What movie do you wanna see first, princess?”
“Should we start with a classic?” Mydei took his place besides Phainon, half-sitting with his back against the headboard. “The Scream saga?”
Phainon rolled to his side, throwing an arm on top of Mydei’s stomach in a lazy hug. “A classic, sure. Totally not because you find ghostface hot.”
Mydei didn’t reply, he only pinched Phainon’s arm and put the movie on.
The Kremnoan opened one of the snack bags, placing it between them as they both watched the slayer chase their victims one by one. For every minute that passed between laughs and remarks about the acting or the visuals, Phainon felt the phantom weight of the cookies bag burn in his mind.
By the end of the third movie, Phainon was already antsy, unable to hide his nervousness — obviously, Mydei picked up on it fast.
“Is something wrong?”
The Elysian shook his head. “No, no. It’s just…” he pressed his lips together, drumming his fingers against his legs as he mentally prepared himself. “Actually, I have a gift for you, Mydei.”
“A gift?” Mydei echoed back, tilting his head.
Phainon rummaged through the plastic bag, and immediately hid the pink silk bag against his chest. “Yeah, uh…”
Come on, he had rehearsed his lines over a million times already, surely he could gather all his shamelessness for this? He had a thick face, how come he felt embarrassed now?
“You know…” Phainon coughed a bit, feeling his throat suddenly dry. “We’ve known each other since we were little kids, and you’ve been by my side year after year…”
Oh Kephale, saying it out loud was even more cringey than he thought it would be. Phainon wasn’t good with exteriorizing his feelings at all, everything he knew was based on his sister’s romance movies…
He could feel Mydei’s eyes on him — Phainon couldn’t look at the blond, though. He felt like was just going to beg Mydei to choose him instead of making this right.
“And along the way, somehow…” Phainon’s fingers tightened a fraction around the bag. “I couldn’t help but fall for you. The way you see through me, the way you don’t tell me what I want to hear, but what I need to know. The– the way I feel at ease with you, something I can’t seem to feel with anyone or anywhere else.”
Phainon took a deep breath. Here goes nothing!
“What I’m trying to say is that I love you, Mydei. I love you not only as my best friend and other half, but as a life partner. I… I want to ask you, if you could have me as your boyfriend?”
He extended his hands, the bag had the fabric rumpled thanks to his anxious fidgeting. He hoped the damned cookies were alright or else he was going to lose it.
The bedroom fell into silence, save for the faint sound of the TV and the noises coming from the street. Kids laughing and muffled music coming from the other houses. Mydei hadn’t said anything or moved at all, and while Phainon was curious of what expression the blond had, he was also scared to the core, so he kept his eyes down.
He contemplated backtracking, laughing as steadily as he could as he told Mydei to forget about it, maybe even jump through the window, even if they were in the third floor —surely it wouldn’t kill him, although death was tempting— until he felt Mydei lean towards him, then the weight of the bag disappeared from his hands.
Phainon closed his eyes. This was it, Mydei was going to crush the cookies —he knew the Kremnoan wouldn’t do that— or laugh in his face —again, Mydei wouldn’t— or something, but instead the silence remained.
Seriously, Phainon was about to burst out crying then kill himself in front of Mydei.
Mydei felt his shoulders tense, rigid as a plank as he stared at the pink silk bag on his hands. The fabric had a nice, soft texture that felt good against his skin. Phainon knew how important was that fabrics felt good against his body, so for him to choose this silk…
He opened the bag, pulling at the string that keep it closed. Inside, he saw handmade cookies with Halloween theme. Those cute ghosts, wilted black trees with green eyes at the trunk, witch purple hats…
But what caught his eyes first was the cookie atop of the others. A heart-shaped, blood red cookie. The design made it look like it was bleeding, while the black lines across it gave the impression of a stitched heart.
Taking it from the bag, Mydei admired it. He knew Phainon couldn’t bake as good as he cooked, so for him to create such a perfectly shaped cookie, not a single crumble misplaced… He knew it took more than two tries.
Mydei took a small bite, and widened his eyes. He was expecting it to be strawberry flavored thanks to its color, but instead the familiar taste of pomegranate filled his mouth.
It was delicious, the rich flavor and tart sweet smell… So that’s why Phainon smelled like a bakery some days ago, huh?
Mydei smiled, his lips wobbling as he felt himself about to cry.
“Phainon,” he choked out, his eyes already getting teary. The Elysian refused to look up, so Mydei spoke again. “Did you try them?”
“… No?” Phainon nervously replied. “Are they– I mean, you don’t have to eat them if they don’t taste good–”
Mydei sighed and closed the small bag, carefully placing it on his nightstand. He shoved the plastic bag aside, not minded how it landed flatly on the ground, some chips falling out.
“You know, a chef should try his own food before giving it to somebody else,” Mydei commented as he took another bite from the heart cookie. He tilted his head as Phainon still evaded his eyes. “Look at me, Phainon.”
It took him a second, but this time Phainon looked up. Mydei smiled.
“Let me show you,” the blond murmured, before clashing his lips against Phainon’s.
He felt Phainon tensing and growing impossibly still. Mydei would’ve laughed about it, if it wasn’t because Phainon quickly pulled himself together and reciprocated the kiss, arms wrapping around Mydei’s waist, pulling the Kremnoan closer until they were chest-to-chest.
Phainon licked Mydei’s lower lip asking for permission, which Mydei granted as he opened his mouth. The Elysian’s tongue licked his, sucking it and savoring the sweet cookie flavor from his mouth.
Mydei didn’t expect for the kiss to turn so wet. Phainon was almost fucking his mouth with his tongue, drool sliding down the corner of their mouths, and Mydei was starting to feel lightheaded at being reprieved from air, his cheeks burning red. He had never kissed someone before!
Trying to push Phainon off by his shoulders proved to have the contrary effect. Phainon’s arms tightened around his waist, pulling his lower body closer until Mydei was almost completely sitting on Phainon’s lap, the white haired man having his back against the headboard.
“Mydei,” Phainon mumbled as he pulled just a bit back from the kiss, enough to let Mydei breathe. His pupils were blown wide, golden swallowing blue until only a thin line seemed to remain. “Mydei, my Mydei, mine.”
Mydei was too breathless to say something, but that only made Phainon whine and start peppering kisses along Mydei’s jawline. “You’re mine now, aren’t you, Mydei? Do you accept me as your boyfriend? Am I really yours now?”
“Stop… Blabbering,” Mydei groaned, unfocused eyes trying to fixate on Phainon’s hooded ones. “Yes. I’m yours. You’re my boyfriend now.”
Phainon let out a small whining noise as he tried to dive for another kiss, only being stopped by Mydei’s hand on his mouth. “But… Give me some space, will you? You almost shoved your tongue down my throat just now.”
At that, the Elysian could only chuckle. “Can’t blame me when you kissed me first,” he said with a happy smile, but that innocent happiness quickly turned into smugness. “I can’t believe the hottest kremnoan around is now my boyfriend.”
“You…” Mydei groaned, feeling his cheeks turn hot again. “You’re embarrassing…”
Phainon grinned. “But you love me.”
Mydei turned to the side. That small act of defiance mattered little when he was sitting on Phainon’s lap. “I never said I loved you.”
That proved to be the wrong thing to say as his world suddenly tilted, his back hitting the mattress in the blink of an eye, Phainon hoovering above him.
“Say it, then.”
“Only some minutes after being boyfriends, and you are getting so demanding already. I can take it back, you know?”
Phainon narrowed his eyes. “You can’t,” he said, hands sliding underneath Mydei’s pajama top. “You can’t take it back now, you’re mine.”
Would they have sex the very same night they went official? Mydei found out that he didn’t mind, not at all. He had been daydreaming about his best friend for so long, some shameful nights even using Phainon’s audio messaged to take the edge off, fingers trying to stretch his hole as wide as he thought Phainon would stretch him.
With a cocky grin, Mydei tilted his head to the side. “I take it b–”
He was interrupted by Phainon’s mouth on his again. The Elysian bit his lips, licking them to sooth them only to bite again. Mydei moaned between the kiss, feeling how Phainon’s crotch frotted against his through the clothes, Phainon was already so hard. Mydei could feel it throbbing.
“You can’t,” Phainon repeated, speaking against Mydei’s mouth. “You aren’t allowed to take it back. Mydei, you’re finally mine, and I won’t let you or anyone else say otherwise.”
That shouldn’t been as hot as it was, but Mydei felt his own cock twitch at the clear possessive tone on Phainon’s breathless voice.
“I guess I will have to claim you,” Phainon continued. His hands took the edge of the shirt and pulled it up above Mydei’s chest. The white haired man licked his lips. “Surely you won’t mind? Since you need to see my marks on you to believe you’re mine now.”
Even as he said it, Phainon’s eyes went up to look at Mydei, silently asking for permission to go on. Mydei felt his heart ache, his boyfriend was so kind… Mydei wished he were less tender right now, though.
Wordlessly, Mydei spread his legs enough to let Phainon slot himself between them. The Elysian groaned and narrowed his eyes at the action. “Slut.”
Phainon’s mouth latched on one nipple, licking it and then sucking it until the little nub popped out, the skin easily gaining a dark red hue the more Phainon toyed with it. Meanwhile, his hands were pulling Mydei’s pajama bottoms off with impatient tugs. Mydei let out a breathy chuckle as he raised his hips just enough for Phainon to shove pants and underwear together in a single haste pull.
“Spreading your legs so easily,” Phainon mumbled around the nipple, nipping at the tender skin and making Mydei’s whole body twitch at the sharp but short pain. “Would you have open yourself up for anyone else?”
Both knew that would never happen, Mydei had never been interested in anyone else besides Phainon, rejecting the advances of any person who approached him with those intentions. Even so, Mydei’s now crocked smile didn’t falter.
“Perhaps,” he replied with faked ease. “If someone had caught my eye, I would’ve bent over for them– A-Ah! Wait, Phainon…!”
Mydei’s hands went to Phainon’s shoulders, digging his nails on the other’s shirt. That dog had just bit his nipple so hard Mydei’s nervous system seemed to go on shock for a scary second.
“Liar,” Phainon huffed, a pout on his lips that seemed so out of tune with the hungry, dark look he wore. “Do you think I would’ve let you?”
Phainon moved to the previously neglected nipple, now more aggressive than before. He sucked and bit the reddening bud, forcing it out instead of coaxing it like he had done with the other. Phainon pressed his tongue flat against the nipple, shamelessly slobbering all over Mydei’s chest.
“I would’ve dragged you away, by force if necessary. I would beat the shit out of whoever dared to think they could have you,” Phainon mumbled, seeming almost angry at the thought. Mydei had half the mind to say he was only teasing him, seeing how he was so upset. Before he could, Phainon pulled back just enough to pull his sweatpants and underwear down enough to free his throbbing, hard and drooling cock.
“I can’t wait anymore, Mydei…” the way he whined almost gave the blond whiplash, so contradictory with the way he had just threatened an imaginary person.
Mydei blinked, eyes fixated on the cock in front of him. He never saw Phainon’s bare body before, at most he had seen the man shirtless when they were in the locker room at the gym.
He felt fear for a completely new reason now. Would that even fit?
Phainon’s cock was huge, Mydei was sure his hand couldn’t completely wrap around it — the veins were perfectly visible, throbbing under Mydei’s rapt attention, the cockhead was flushed an angry red it looked painful, the slit drooling precum that fell on Mydei’s pelvis.
The Kremnoan knew he should be prepared first. The only dicks he ever had up his ass had been dildos of sizes nowhere near his boyfriend’s cock, the intimidating shaft could hurt– no, would hurt.
Mydei found that he didn’t care if it did. His mouth was salivating and his brain shut down, he needed his boyfriend’s huge dick rearranging his guts in the next five seconds or else he would go crazy.
“Then don’t wait,” Mydei said, hands going down to spread his ass cheeks to present himself to his boyfriend. “Take what’s yours, Phainon.”
Something snapped on Phainon’s brain, he swore he felt a clicking sound on his ears for a second before his hands shoot up towards Mydei’s waist. He marveled for a second how his fingers almost touched each other even as he grabbed the man’s middle, before rising them to push one of the many pillows under Mydei’s lower back.
Phainon knew that this position could be uncomfortable for someone’s first time —or so he read—, but right now he didn’t want to stop looking at Mydei’s face, he didn’t want to miss not even one of the blond’s reactions once he speared him open with his cock.
“You’re so needy,” Phainon mumbled with a click of his tongue. He leaned closer, his cock rubbing against Mydei’s. “You won’t even ask to be prepared first. Or are you loose already? I think you are.”
Mydei gasped beneath him, those pretty golden eyes staring at their cocks. Phainon smiled, seeing the hunger in his boyfriend’s cat-shaped eyes.
He knew he was big, but he didn’t expect to see such a difference.
His hand wrapped around both their cocks, thumb pressing under Mydei’s cockhead, blunt nail digging a shy from painful on the sensitive skin. “Your cock is so cute, Mydei,” Phainon said with a dreamy tone. “Cute just like the rest of you.”
Phainon heard Mydei suck a breath, which made him masturbate their cocks faster. While Phainon’s was bigger and thicker than average, Mydei’s cock was small, only a bit smaller than average he would say — not that it mattered, as it was dwarfed by Phainon’s size anyway.
“You look like you’re about to come,” Phainon mumbled in Mydei’s ear, tongue peeking out to caress his earlobe. “Can you come for me, princess? Should I use your semen to slick my cock before wrecking your insides? Maybe that’s the only use it would have.”
Mydei visibly shuddered, eyelashes fluttering close as he came with a small groan and a faint cry. His cock throbbed in Phainon’s hand, and he could feel it against his own cock, how Mydei’s semen mixed with his precum, coating his dick wet.
“Thank you, princess,” Phainon kissed Mydei’s cheek.
With a last caress on Mydei’s spent dick, Phainon pulled his hips back just enough to guide his achingly hard cock towards Mydei’s entrance. Rationally he knew he should at least stretch him a bit, only to make it easier for both of them — but neither wanted to waste more time, he knew by the way Mydei canted his hips backwards as soon as he felt Phainon’s cock caressing his puckered hole.
“Phainon…” Mydei whined, slowly coming to himself after his orgasm, as he propped himself up with his elbows. The Kremnoan’s hips twitched down. “Please.”
Phainon leaned closer, his nose brushing against Mydei’s. “Please what?”
Mydei looked at him like he had just kicked his chimera. “Don’t– Stop playing.”
“I’m not playing, though,” Phainon smiled, blue meeting gold. “What do you want, princess?”
The blond looked like he wanted to talk back, to deny them what they needed the most right now, but his eyes flickered down for barley a second — and any hint of fight went away like it was never there to begin with.
“Stop playing and just fuck me already,” Mydei groaned, staring at Phainon. “Won’t you claim me, Phainon?”
Phainon’s hands tightened around Mydei’s waist. “Glad we want the same thing, Mydei…”
Pushing his hips forward, Phainon’s cockhead slowly started to break through Mydei’s tight hole. Both groaned loudly, Mydei’s breathing quickening as he tried to relax his muscles, while Phainon almost came from how tightly Mydei’s ass was squeezing him, almost painful.
“Fuck–” Phainon moaned, stilling his movements for just a second before pushing in again. “You’re so tight. So warm, you feel so good… So hot…”
Mydei threw his head back, a delirious look on his face. Phainon saw his golden eyes grew fogged, the corners of his eyes red rimmed and jaw slack, drool sliding down the corners of his red, swollen lips.
His gorgeous princess looked so bullied and fucked out already. Phainon hadn’t even stick his tip fully inside.
“Don’t… Talk…” Mydei whined, legs trembling like a newborn deer as Phainon slowly entered, centimeter by centimeter, sometimes pulling out just to shove a bit more inside with a quick thrust that made Mydei flinch and moan loudly. “Shove it in…”
Phainon looked at Mydei with furrowed eyebrows. He was getting impatient, but he really didn’t want to do anything that could seriously hurt his beloved. “Mydei, I can’t–”
He felt Mydei’s shaky legs somehow wrapping around his waist, pushing him forward with the ball of his feet. “Phainon, please…” the blond sobbed, and the sound made Phainon’s eyes snap towards his boyfriend’s face. He realized that Mydei was crying, tears sliding down his blushed cheeks, his long eyelashes wet and trembling.
He was so stunned he remained still. That only made Mydei cry out again, trying to push his own hips backwards to try to get more of Phainon’s cock inside of him. “Phainon!”
“Ah…” the Elysian let out a shuddered exhale. “You make it so difficult to be a gentle lover, princess.”
Phainon grabbed Mydei’s legs and untangled them from his waist, uncaring of Mydei’s disgruntled whine. He rubbed the crimson tattoos on the skin with his thumb. “Do you want it to hurt that badly?” he wondered, as he slowly started to move Mydei’s legs towards the Kremnoan’s chest.
Mydei’s surprised hiccup was probably the most lovely thing Phainon had ever heard. He kept pushing Mydei’s legs until he was folded in half, his knees almost touching his head and his got reprieved of any room for movement.
“You sure are a pretty crier,” Phainon mumbled.
He thrust sharply, spearing Mydei’s inside and making space for himself by force, regardless of how tightly Mydei’s walls were squeezing around him. Mydei tried to arch his back, unable to do so by the position he was kept in, and instead his body trembled and spasmed — Phainon felt Mydei’s interior spasm just in time as his small cock spurted semen that mostly landed on Mydei’s chest and collarbone, painting himself on his own come.
“Fuck!” Mydei cried out, sobbing loudly as Phainon bottomed out inside of him. Almost immediately, the white haired man started a punishing pace, thrusting quick and deep with his heavy balls smacking loudly against Mydei’s ass. “Phainon–!”
“Does it hurt like you like it, Mydei?” Phainon asked with a ragged voice, panting like a dog as he fucked Mydei through his orgasm, not leaving a single moment for the blond to rest. “Do you like how my cock is breaking you apart?”
Phainon’s cockhead slammed repeatedly against Mydei’s prostate, bullying the sensitive zone until Mydei was almost shrieking, nails trying to dig into Phainon’s arms, but only managing to scratch him and leave long red lines.
“Yes!” Mydei cried out. Phainon saw his boyfriend tried to look down, trying to see how Phainon was jack-hammering inside of him, but the tears wouldn’t let him focus on the sight and he would only sob more because of it. “Don’t– Don’t stop, Phainon!”
“You’re such a whore for pain,” Phainon bit Mydei’s cheek, leaving the mark of his teeth on the wet skin. “Should’ve known. I would’ve bent you over sooner and just bully my cock inside of you,” he felt Mydei’s insides clench at that, which made Phainon’s thrust stutter. “Ah– You like that? You wanted me to?”
Mydei nodded as much as he could — mostly a jerky movement. “I would–! I would… Have let you have your– your way with me…”
Phainon’s eyebrow ticked. He could’ve had this so much sooner if only he had just took what he wanted, never mind the consequences. Now he knew there wouldn’t have been any.
He started to bite Mydei’s skin, leaving the mark of his teeth on his neck, his collarbone, the valley of his huge plump pectorals, and around his nipples. The skin quickly bloomed in different shades of red and purple.
“I will, from now on,” Phainon mumbled, dark blue eyes fixated on Mydei’s blushed, tear streaked face. “I’ll bend you over every surface whenever I want, fill you up with my semen until you’re bursting and everyone can smell me on you.”
Mydei moaned, pushing his hips downwards to try to match Phainon’s brutal pace. “Yes, yes!”
It was too much. Phainon couldn’t hold back anymore, not with how readily Mydei was accepting whatever he said. It was probably the fog of lust, but now his brain couldn’t stop thinking about fucking Mydei everywhere they went to — he would claim him on the college library, the bathrooms, the labs. In every empty classroom and corridor they passed by.
He would even push Mydei against some alley’s grimy wall, make him show his hole for potentially everyone to see. Not that Phainon would even allow someone else to get minimally close to see Mydei’s perfect, bare body.
Mydei’s muscles tensed up again, and Phainon knew the Kremnoan was close again. “One more time, princess,” he said, hands leaving huge, dark marks on Mydei’s thighs by how tightly he was gripping them. “Let’s come together this time, yes?”
Mydei didn’t answer — couldn’t answer, not by how hard and fast Phainon was thrusting into him. Phainon felt his balls tightening up, his cock throbbing inside Mydei’s hole as he finally came deep inside his boyfriend’s body with a loud moan.
His vision blurred out for a second before he shook his head and tried to focus on Mydei. Phainon smiled at seeing the Kremnoan breath heavily with his mouth open, an arm covering his eyes and wet hiccups coming out his mouth. His chest was worse mess than before, sweat mixing with his own watery semen.
Mydei looked absolutely breathtaking in Phainon’s eyes.
The Elysian carefully pulled out and gently lowered Mydei’s legs to the bed. He looked around, there was no towel near but he didn’t want to be separated from Mydei, not even to go look for something to clean them up… But as he contemplated, Mydei’s hand loosely grabbed his, which made him snap to attention.
“Come here,” Mydei mumbled tiredly, Phainon immediately obeyed. Phainon rolled Mydei to his side as he laid besides him, hugging Mydei’s waist and pulling him into a tight embrace. The mixture of fluids mattered little to Phainon. It mattered nothing, to be exact, not as long as he could have his beloved near.
He saw Mydei yawn and wordlessly cuddle closer to Phainon, hiding his face on his boyfriend’s neck. Phainon smiled happily and started threading his fingers through Mydei’s hair, gently undoing any knot that was formed during sex.
In less than a minute, both of them fell asleep on each other’s arms.
“By the way, Mydei?”
Mydei hummed as he dried his hair with a towel. After they fell asleep like the dead last night, they didn’t wake up until very late the next day. Mydei’s parents were going to be back in minutes, so Mydei forced them out the bed and into the shower.
“Why did you sound so upset yesterday when I called you?”
His movements stilled for a second. One second was enough for Phainon to stare at him.
“… Who were you with yesterday?” he asked instead, evading Phainon’s eyes, because he knew–
Phainon grinned. “Mmh…” he took a bite of the cookie in his hand before looking at Mydei through the vanity mirror the blond was using.
“With Caelus.”
Mydei closed his eyes, defeated. Out of everyone, had he gotten upset because of that raccoon…?
“You sound adorable when you’re jealous–”
“Shut the fuck up.”