Malik Ishtar could have told you the entire history of the pyramids of Giza from underground, but to see their structure in broad daylight was somewhat of a myth to him. It had been two years since he'd been given the gift of light, and things he had known like the back of his hand, seemed new and almost fragile in his eyes. Despite born and raised in the heart of Egypt, the city of Cairo and it's modern atmosphere made it seem almost foreign to him. The outskirts of the roads between pyramids, Malik enjoyed the sand that rustled up along the wheels of his motorcycle, when he'd indulge in the dry heat. Arms would hold on tight, he could feel the fingers grip around his shirt, pale and just as new to the city.
Ryou's eyes were on something else, something across the horizon of pyramids as they drifted down the road, and Malik briefly wondered what he was thinking of. Perhaps the same things he was thinking of? To live with their hearts not waiting in darkness any longer, to be able to explore the world and breathe? Ryou had came to Egypt almost half a year ago, with a thirst that Malik desired to fill. They crossed roads, and had forgotten to seperate - because Malik wanted to tell him everything about his homeland, out of a sense of guilt he shared in knowing he'd been half responsible for endangering Ryou's life, several times.
Tormented grief was easily translatable to anger and hatred - Malik often wondered if his darker self had only trusted these emotions in Malik's body, because with him in his body, Malik's veins had always been numb. Ryou's life hadn't been an important factor to him back then, but in front of the pyramids, it was.
Ryou had come to trust him, forgive him, and Malik still woke up wondering why.
"Hold on tight."
* * *
"Are you still afraid of the sun setting?"
Malik's head rose up from its position against his folded hands. He was sitting in the living room of their shared flat in New Cairo, having been fixated on the dipping sun behind a nearby building. Ryou was standing in the doorway, and when Malik turned around, he could see the outline of his figure, his face placid with his dark eyes offering a sincerity that Malik had come to adore.
Rising to his feet, Malik chuckled, low in his throat before arms reached out to press palms flat against Ryou's shoulders.
"Not now I'm not."
Malik caught the glint in Ryou's eyes, and the upturned curve of his lips.
"I'll stay with you as long as you need."
It was childish in a way, but Malik still had a problem of being in the dark. The concept of night wasn't something he preferred. He felt a hand slip against his, and Malik breathed out, entwining fingers together.
For them, love had no rhyme or reason - nor did it color a gender.
