Authors Note: Thanks to Luke-1539 for proofing this.
Disclaimer: Halo, Sangheili, Rtas and Thel belong to Bungie Studios. However, Original Characters, like Zeno, belong to me.
Chapter 4: Disagreement
Zeno walked down the corridor, Anko's request fresh in his mind. It was an unusual request, one that would likely get him into some kind of trouble when the time came to fulfill it, but Zeno said he would do it. It was the least he could do, considering the commander was taking a great risk at concealing the truth of what happened to Yuteri. If the council found out, they would likely be both be executed: Zeno for the act and Anko for the cover up.
There was nothing that could be done about it now though and the favor itself would likely not need to be fulfilled for some time, at least Zeno hoped so anyway. What he could do though, was bathe: two weeks with only a literal hole in the floor for a bathroom left him sticky, dirty and just plain smelly. He knew Miko would want some cuddle time the moment he walked into their room, so the least Zeno could do was make sure he was clean.
The officers' shower hall was empty, save for a couple of Unggoy that were busy cleaning some of the stalls. He gladly stripped himself of his armor and bodysuit, the fresh air on his skin causing it to feel tingly after having been covered for so long. "Unggoy," he commanded, turning to look at them.
Both Unggoy looked up at him, fear in their eyes. Without waiting for a verbal response, Zeno tossed his filth bodysuit at one of them. "I want that cleaned and serviceable by the time I am done washing," he said as he stepped into one of the stalls.
"Y-yes your excellence!" the Unggoy squeaked and Zeno heard the creature run out of the room as fast as its legs could carry him.
Zeno sighed and turned on the water, adjusting it to a comfortable temperature. Ahhh…, he thought, relishing in the spray of warm water on his hide. For a few moments, he just stood there, enjoying the feel of the water running down his skin, before finally picking up the soap and start giving himself a good scrub down. Scrubbing away two weeks worth of dirt, sweat and waste residue: already his body felt much better then before.
When he stepped out the Unggoy was there waiting for him. "Towel, your excellence?" it asked, holding up a fresh one for him.
"Thank you," Zeno said, taking the towel and starting to dry himself. "My bodysuit?"
"Take hours to clean, got new one." It pointed to the new bodysuit on the bench. The Unggoy then looked up at him nervously.
"That is fine," Zeno said with a nod, not being one of those to get technical about such things: another Sangheili likely would have punished the Unggoy for not following his order to the letter. "You may go on your way."
"Th-thank you, your excellence!" The Unggoy immediately returned to cleaning the stalls.
Zeno chuckled: Unggoy were such curious creatures. He finished drying off and struggled into his new bodysuit: new bodysuits were always a pain to get into. Afterward, he started snapping on his armor, only to realize that needed cleaning as well. I will worry about that later, he thought as he finished dressing himself. I think Miko has waited long enough.
It would turn out he was correct in that assessment. The moment he stepped into their room, Miko was right there, his arms around him. "At least give me a chance to walk in the door, Miko," he said teasingly. Miko was in nothing but his bodysuit, he noted.
"Could not wait that long," Miko said softly, pulling off Zeno's helmet and mandible guards and setting them aside. "You bathed…."
Zeno nodded. "I figured you would not want a smelly Sangheili to cuddle with."
"Right now, I would not have cared if you smelled like you wallowed in Brute dung." He blinked and then said. "OK, that is admittedly going too far."
"Indeed," Zeno said with a chuckle, wrapping his arms around his partner and nuzzling his neck, Miko returning the gesture. "I missed you."
"I missed you too, Zeno, very much so."
"Why did you not visit?"
"I was ordered not to," Miko said with a sigh. "It was hell."
Zeno nodded, figuring that was the case. "Well, the hell is over, for both of us."
"Yes, indeed." Suddenly, Miko shoved him toward the bed. Taken by surprise, Zeno stumbled and fell onto it. Before he could rise though, Miko was there, straddling over him and preventing him from doing so.
"Whoa…Miko…," Zeno said, shocked, surprised at Miko's actions. "This is…Sudden."
"Two weeks…," Miko said, hovering over him. "Two weeks of sleeping alone, of worrying and anxiety. Two weeks of not knowing if I would ever hold you again, to hold you close, to love you. All because you had to go vigilante. Because you just had to have your revenge. Did you even think about how it would affect me before you did that?
"Miko I…." He was knocked numb by Miko's sudden tirade, with an undertow of guilt. Miko was right: he didn't even think of how this would affect him before he acted.
"Shut up! I do not want to hear any of your excuses! None! You hear me?"
Zeno wordlessly nodded.
"Good!" Miko then proceeded to start pulling his bodysuit off.
"Miko…What…." Zeno never had Miko speak to him like this before. It was a little frightening and…Arousing at the same time. The duel feelings left him rather confused and uncertain on whether he should try to stop Miko or not.
"Hush! I have been denied you for two weeks; it is time to make up for it."
He felt the heat of a blush in his face, a blush that deepened when Miko finished stripping himself naked and started on Zeno's armor, Zeno finding no will to resist even if he wanted to. Zeno's head was starting to spin from the suddenness of it all.
In no time at all Miko had stripped Zeno naked as well and then the older Sangheili forced him to sit up, his back to him. Zeno felt him sit behind him and then his hands, oh by the Gods his hands, started dancing their way up and down his torso.
"Me…Miko…," Zeno breathed, as those hands seemed to set his skin on fire.
"Hush…," Miko said, though much more softly then before, Zeno feeling him press his chest against his back. "Let me enjoy you, let me savor you." He could feel Miko's breath on his back. Then he felt the light pinpricks of his teeth on his hide as he nipped him repeatedly.
"Ooooh…." Zeno moaned, unsure what was happening to him. They had done cuddling and petting before, but nothing like this. It was all new territory for Zeno and it felt good, but it was also a bit frightening, with the way his body was reacting without any sense of conscious control.
Miko had never been aggressive toward him in any way before. Now, now though, the way he was exerting control over him, driving him wild and bending him to his will: it was sending his head spinning. He couldn't focus, couldn't think, not while Miko's skilled hands were stroking him the way they were. Nor while he was breathing in his hot, musky scent laced with arousal pheromones. Or the gentle nips up and down his spine, effectively paralyzing him through sheer ecstasy.
When he thought it couldn't get any better, when he felt he was feeling all that there was to feel, Miko went further. His hands went to his groin, where his shaft that he did not realize was erect resided, waiting for him and he gasped in shock. The arousal, the ecstasy went to a completely new level, sending Zeno's mind into dizzying spin.
"Never been touched here before have you?" Miko breathed seductively into his earhole.
"N-no…," Zeno replied, barely able to respond. By the Gods that felt so good.
"Not even with your own hands?" Zeno shook his head breathlessly. "What a shame. I will show you what you have been missing out on."
And he did, oh how he did. Miko's skilled hands worked him, teased him, and drove him up so high that Zeno felt almost dizzy from the height. It was an incredible feeling and Zeno started calling out Miko's name. Then he hit the top and the following crash was as wonderful as it was terrifying. Miko stayed with him as he spilled, crying out shamelessly as tears rolled down his face from the intense sensation, his body shuddering as he released.
Then his strength was gone, his limbs like rubber. He felt Miko gently lay him down on the bed and lay beside him, gently stroking him all the while, his fingers still starting tiny flames on his skin. "Oh Zeno…," Miko cooed softly as Zeno struggled to regain his senses. "My love…My life…."
"Me…Ko…." Zeno muttered weakly, his mind still a bit confused as to what just happened.
"Zeno…." There was a tingly sensation on his neck as Miko licked him. "It is my turn now…."
His turn? What does he… Zeno thought as Miko started stroking him anew. He felt him move, his bare chest sliding against his back, making him groan. There was something hard and hot against the small of his back and it took a moment for Zeno to recognize it as Miko's own erect shaft. Zeno got an inkling of understanding of what Miko meant.
Yet Miko was not turning him over, let alone guiding his hands to his shaft so he could do what Miko did to him. No, something wasn't right. Not with the way Miko was now griping his hips firmly. "Me-Miko?"
"Just relax." There was a hungry, eager tone in his voice. Then he felt something poking his rear, near his vent. Something hot and hard. Poking…Searching, until Zeno felt a slight stretching feeling around his vent. No, not around…In. His eyes widened in shock.
He knew what Miko was attempting to do now. Fear and panic set in: he was not ready for this. Not ready to be mounted. "N-no!" Zeno cried out, pulling away with a sudden burst of strength. With a bit of effort, he turned himself over to face him and felt a stab of regret the moment he looked at Miko's face.
Miko looked shocked, betrayed…And angry. "No?" He said softly; then repeated much more forcefully. "No!?"
Zeno scooted away from him, fearful, having never seen Miko angry before. Worse, he was angry at him. "Miko…Please…I am not…."
Pain suddenly erupted on the side of his face. Zeno cried out and covered the spot with one hand, feeling heat replace the pain. Refocusing on Miko, he saw his partner's hand way off to one side and he caught to what it meant immediately: Miko had slapped him. After all this time of being so supportive and caring, Miko had used physical violence against him. Now it was Zeno's turn to feel betrayed. Whatever fear he felt, quickly was replaced by anger.
"Blood! What was that for!?" Zeno hissed.
"For being selfish!" Miko snapped back.
"Selfish!?"
"Yes, selfish. I helped you climax and it is only fair if you helped me do the same."
"I was expecting you to allow me to do what you did to me!" Zeno growled. "Not mount me without my consent!"
"I thought I had consent!"
"Well you didn't!"
"And why is that, Zeno?"
"I am not ready for that yet!"
"Not ready for intercourse," Miko snarled. "Or not ready to fully commit to a male on male relationship?"
Zeno felt like he was slapped again, only this time in the hearts. That hurt far worse then a physical blow. How dare he accuse him of not wanting to be a fully committed partner! He sat up and stared at Miko right in the eyes, hot tears in his own eyes. His fist clenched and the muscles of his arms tensed, wanting to deck him for such a hurtful commit. To hurt him as he just hurt him.
He resisted that urge, his hearts unable to bear the thought of hurting Miko like that and instead climbed out of bed and gathered up his armor. Zeno did not face Miko as he dressed himself, though he could feel him glaring at him. "Zen-Zeno…," Miko's voice was still angry, but now had an uncertain and shaky edge to it. "Wha...Where are you going?"
Zeno did not respond, instead focusing on finishing dressing himself. He went to the door, paused, and looked back once at Miko. By now, Miko had a look of disbelief, even fear on his face, but that did not cool the simmering anger in his own hearts. With a snort, he walked through that door, the cry of his own name blocked out when it closed behind him….
