First kiss

Mikal quietly shuffled out of his tent. It was his turn to keep watch and Iridum had called him out to the fire side. Iridum was bundled in a baby blue quilt so only his face and tail were visible. As he left the tent Mikal couldn’t help but chuckle. 'Cute' he thought to himself as the Nerition boy turned his entire body to face him.

"You're still cold?" Mikal asked.

"On my planet the waters are cold and our bodies are insulated underwater. Above ground its very hot so we can survive. Your planet is very cold at night." Iri said, his accent thick in his throat. His antennae and eyes were rosy pink and Mikal wondered what that meant.

Mikal sighed and sat on the ground next to Iri, "You should rest."

"I'm not tired."

"You will be tomorrow."

"I'll be fine. Besides, the company is not bad out here." Iri said with a cheeky grin, fangs visible as he smiled.

Mikal smiled and wrapped an arm around his squad member. He couldve sworn that Iri's body heated up once the space between them became smaller. It hadn't been long, but somehow, after the things they'd experienced and the hardships they'd faced, the thought of parting ways with his newfound friend was nearly unbearable.

"Iri..?" Mikal whispered as he turned his head and body away from the Nerition. Iridum frowned as his source of heat was removed,

"Yes Mikal?"

"What will you do, or where will you go after the war. Surely you won't live alone." Mikal mumbled, color tinging his cheeks.

"I was thinking I would return home, to my real home, on Nerito-"

"No! You cant go! That's so far! We'd never see each other again!" Mikal interrupted, cheeks red and breathing heavy. The comment left Iri speechless and open- mouthed, leaving him unable to do anything but blink.

"Look, you can live with me in Castor. We'll get an apartment and I'll get a job and-"

"Move in together…you mean that?" Iri whispered and turned Mikals face to his.

"Y-yeah..friends move in together righ-" Mikal was suddenly cut off by Iridum pressing a loving kiss to his lips. Iri let his quilt fall to his bare shoulders as he rose up with the kiss.

It seemed like an eternity before either boy pulled away. They both sat there in the other's embrace, unable to do anything to breathe, and even that was hard.

"I'll take that as a yes?" Mikal asked with a laugh.

Iri giggle and nodded against Mikal's shoulder, "Yes you fluffy-haired idiot," He pressed another kiss to Mikal's cheek, " Yes."