Nerve.

Jericho hummed faintly over the caress of his lover. A shiver of pleasure went up his spine as his fingers ran over his chest, as he could feel each thing he was drawing. He turned his head gently to kiss his temple. Each touch felt like a daydream, and he didn't want to let go.

But ah, the present. They still were playing their game and didn't want to get too
distracted. "Of course." This relationship was serious. Every one he had been in was. He often poured out his heart so much that wiping the spill up would feel almost impossible.

"Well, you've seen me seriously drunk before. I promise you I'm not always bent out of shape when I am. I'm more of an affectionate drunk honestly. Or a really hungry one." But he was glad Cairo was on board with that one. Jericho came up with some really weird concoctions while wasted. He could have written a cookbook at this point.

"Good! I'm glad we can see eye to eye on something. Even if it's just pizza, at least I know we have something in common." He remarked almost a bit too eagerly. It was important to him that his lover did share something in common, otherwise the relationship might not pan out the way he would like it to. Luckily for him, his hints of empathy detection let him know vaguely what was wanted. He could feel that Cairo wanted to be close, but his anomaly was getting in the way. "Wait, let me-" He cut himself off as he gently adjusted himself. His wing moved around Cairo's back, not phased by the potential of him leaning on its delicate structure. He folded it to wrap it like a blanket against him, which allowed Jericho to pull him in closer. "Better?" He asked, leaning his chin on his shoulder to kiss his neck.

The warmth of the mood someone fizzled when Cairo admitted to how he got here. "Really?!" Jericho said, in shock but not negatively directed to him. "What happened? Did someone try to hurt you?" Jericho was close to releasing a hundred questions about the scenario, but had to stop himself. He didn't even know the full story.​

Jericho nuzzled carefully against him, glad that his wings were no longer in the way. He had made a promise to himself to not try to let him emotions get the best of him anymore. Yes, he was sensitive, but that should never get in the way of their relationship. He nodded with Cairo’s statements, and chuckled at the mention of the concoction he had thought of.
"I’d be drunk, not pregnant." He teased, low enough that Cairo could have missed that statement.

But back to the important matters. Cairo had done something to get on the island. Something bad. He refused to believe that Cairo was a genuinely bad person. Sure, he did some things that were regrettable and had hurt Jericho, but he had forgiven him over it. So what had happened when he was younger?

He allowed himself to be pulled in his lap. Instantly, Jericho clung onto him, his grey-green eyes full of curiosity. And fear. He listened intently, to his whole story. And honestly, it didn't surprise him. Still… it was a bit painful.

Had it not been for the incident earlier, Jericho would've been another one in the collection of broken hearts, and Cairo would have been forever known as a sleazy fuckboy in his mind. He hated to hold grudges anyhow, and holding on to Cairo’s would have torn him apart. But at least he was learning. Had he not, Jericho wouldn't know what to do.

So as the story wrapped up, Jericho pulled himself closer and closer to him. He seemed distant now, maybe out of guilt. But Jericho didn't want him to feel like this. Not for a second. "Cairo… " His hand ghosted over his shoulder, gently easing his head from the wall. "Nobody’s perfect. It doesn't make you a bad person if you're not."

He kissed his neck.

"Listen…Starting now, in this moment, I’m only going to judge you for the actions of the present. Not the future or past. This place is supposed to be for new beginnings, right? That's how I saw it when I came here. You and I could make something really good together, regardless of what happened years ago."
He reached down to his hand to squeeze it. "I’m just happy that I'm lucky enough to take that journey with you."

"Oh and um… it's your turn for a question."
​

As long as Jericho was with him, he would be by his side no matter what. For better or worse, the man was intensely loyal. He may have not been a true angel, but he felt responsibility to be Cairo's guardian to some degree. He just didn't want him to get hurt again, not while they were together. And if it didn't work out, Jericho could at least say he had someone to hold onto for the time being. And that he cared the best he could.

The tightness yet tenderness Jericho held onto Cairo showed that he was there and refused to leave. His wings were folded closed the best he could, as he didn't have a single intention of flying away.

"Perfect? Me? Naw. But I can try, can't I?" With that, he began to laugh alongside Cairo. For what, he wasn't sure. But by the sound of it they both could have used a break in tension. So it felt nice to get it off his chest. Soon enough the laughter was broken by the tight seal of their lips pressed together. His eyes closed lightly as his fingers eased through Cairo's thick black hair. It was soft, which fitted him in his mind. His lips pulled away for a moment as he spoke, a small smirk putting itself on it. "Look who's talking. You're adorable too, y'know." Jericho leaned back a bit, moving his hand from Cairo's hair to the hand that was now covering his blush. And Jericho was supposedly the adorable one. "See? You say you're this big bad boy. But I know you've got a sweet side. It suits you, I think. Who doesn't love a rebel with a heart of gold?" He leaned in just for a moment, to quickly kiss his forehead. "I know I do."

When he was given his question, Jericho almost immediately responded. "No no, of course I don't mind! You can come over whenever you want, even when it's just to hang out. My door is always open." He looked back to the grey outside, with the window still open. "Or window. Whichever is easiest to get in." He returned back to Cairo with an easy smile.

"Cairo, if you're gone for a bit with your other partners, that's fine. Even if it's for awhile. Just having someone there just for a tiny bit means a lot to me. I don't often admit this, but I kinda get lonely a lot." Jericho admitted almost hesitantly, his hands moved from Cairo to run through his own rusty colored hair. He sighed.

"Sorry. Not to put pressure on you or anything. Guess ever since I came to this island I've been craving attention from others like me since I didn't get any of that back at home. Not like I was allowed to date or anything.." He stopped himself suddenly. His gaze moved down, a different sort of flush appearing on his face. Not for flattery, but for embarrassment. "Sorry. Not trying to harsh the mellow or whatever. Let's just say I'm really happy to have you."​

He hadn’t meant to bring himself down like that. He had seemed to push away where he came from once he had gotten here, to the point that whenever he did try to recall his past he couldn't help but to grow slightly somber. If only he had come here sooner… Things would be a lot different.

But enough of the past. It was the future that mattered most to him, and now he had a partner to potentially share it with. So long as he didn’t mess it up. He almost hummed in returning happiness as their embrace grew stronger. The dream-like state of their situation brought him into ease and content. "Well, I’m happy that you’re happy.." he muttered before kissing the side of his neck. The only thing that disrupted this easy dream was the feeling of Cairo’s hand under his shirt. The way his cool palm touched the warm small of his back excited him. Perhaps… A little bit too much.

He moved to cross his legs.

"Y-you really think I am?" Jericho stuttered in a whisper partially in genuine shock as well as a low maintenance in self-control. "Cairo… You really are too kind. I..." How could he respond? What could he say? "I think…. I think I feel the same way too. I’m happy I met you, all circumstances aside. We haven’t been together long… Like at all. But I just feel like this all means something important. Because you’re important." He leaned in as he felt Cairo’s hand still under his shirt. Just having him this intimate again truly meant things are better now, right? "I’ll keep that in mind. The same to you. I’m just a text or short flight away. I’d drop anything if I had to, if it was really important."

Jericho bit his lip. His thumb traced Cairo’s cheek, admiring his features. Committing them to memory. "My turn." He stated in a voice barely above a whisper. "What is your ideal date like? It could be anything..."
​

Well, that settled it. Cairo already held Jericho in high regards even if they had only been with each other for a brief amount of time. He still felt he had a lot to prove to him however, and was worried that he still wasn’t good enough. But the longer he was with Cairo, the better he felt. And when he began to answer his question, Jericho opened his mind to fully liste. He wanted to be better- no, the best boyfriend possible to him. Maybe then he would fully feel that he belonged as a pair with him.

As he elaborated, Jericho could almost see this perfect date before his eyes. Every detail was laid out before him. The list in his head was compiling as he committed it to memory. The movies, the beach, the intimacy. All of that was something he could actually appreciate. So when he was finished, Jericho turned to him with a soft smile.

"You really thought hard about that one." He remarked, out of astonishment instead of accusation. "You know, you deserve to have those sorts of things. I really appreciate the simplicity of it. And here I was taking you for a man of luxury." He chuckled a bit, before reaching down to grasp his hand. The look in his eyes became semi-serious. "But… you deserve that to. Everyone deserves a partner… Or partners… That treats them like a prince or princess. Or maybe that’s just how I see it. I’m a sucker for romance. Both giving and receiving." Jericho looked down at their intertwined hands. It almost felt surreal to be holding his. He almost didn’t want to let go. "Cairo? As your newest partner, I just want to let you know that I’m here to make you happy and listen to what you want. I guess that’s why I also asked all of these questions. Now I know you more than just what I met at that nightclub. Which is… Wonderful."

Of course, the more they grew closer to each other, the more he had wanted him. He craved him. They hadn’t gone at it since the night they met. Would it feel different now that they were committed to each other as more than a one night stand? "W-well uh.." He felt his hand under his shirt. Jericho unlocked their fingers in order to run his around a belt loop belonging to his partner. "I really have been enjoying just talking to you but… I really do want to know if this is all official. That it feels official. What would you like? Your choice" He pulled himself closer, allowing him to explore if he wished to. "Sorry if that’s two questions in a row."
​