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.

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Chapter 6: Miko's Confession

His head ached, oh how it ached and throbbed. Zeno moaned softly and opened his eyes, his vision blurry for a moment, but that quickly cleared after a few blinks. He was greeted with a high ceiling with bright lights and something soft under and over him. Then he remembered where he was going before he blacked out. The infirmary…I hate the infirmary¸ he thought with another moan, shutting his eyes again.

Voices, he heard voices. One he recognized as Miko's, the other sounded like Anko. What they were saying he couldn't quite make out, partly due to the low tone of their voices and the other due to his aching head. He opened his eyes again and looked, spotting them off to the side of his bed: they hadn't noticed he was awake yet. Zeno shifted, trying to sit up, only to suddenly become aware of every ache and pain in his body as a whole. The moan of pain he emitted this time got their attention.

"Zeno!" Miko cried, rushing to his side immediately. "You are awake!"

"Do not yell…Please…," Zeno moaned, putting a hand on his head.

"You gave us a bit of a scare, Zeno," Anko said, approaching. "Fortunately, all your injuries are minor and you just need to take it easy for a few days."

"Great, more sitting on my butt doing nothing…," Zeno sighed. "Did that for two weeks straight as is…."

"But this time you will not be alone," Miko pointed out with a faint smile.

"So long as you do not try to have your way with me again when I am not ready."

Miko visibly winced. "Do not worry, I learned my lesson."

"Miko told me what he knew of the fight you and Juwi had," Anko said, slightly changing the subject. "Rtas is currently interviewing Juwi and Henun for their side."

"Juwi will likely try to lie through his mandibles, like he started to when the supreme commander was there," Zeno grumbled.

"That is why he is asking Henun as well: he is more honest. I just need your side now, Zeno."

"Why commander? The supreme commander himself already determined that Juwi was at fault."

"I like having all the facts," Anko said, folding his arms. "And it will help me determine how to properly punish Juwi."

Zeno couldn't argue with that, so he told him everything. Well, minus the more intimate parts at the start for decency reasons, besides, it was likely that Miko gave him the general idea anyway. When he was finished, Anko simply nodded his head. "I will meet up with Rtas then and decide the proper course of action. In the meantime, you two work out your differences, for the sake of future missions."

"Yes, commander." They said in unison.

After Anko had left, Zeno asked. "So, how long was I out?"

"Not long really, barely an hour," Miko replied.

He nodded in acceptance. "You know, I think we should lay off on the pranks, on Juwi anyway."

"Why? He tried to kill you in that fight, Zeno. That is even more reason to make his life miserable."

"No, Miko, it was our pranks that drove him to try to kill me," Zeno pointed out. "He is one that cannot seem to tell the difference between a harmless prank and a harmful one. We keep pushing him; he will likely try something more extreme to be rid of us."

"I do not agree, but very well. Juwi is on our 'do not prank' list, for now."

"Good, now next question: how long am I stuck in here?"

"Overnight I am afraid, hun. They want to be sure you do not have any more fainting spells."

Zeno cut loose a few Sangheilian curses at that.

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Zeno was released from the infirm the next day, after being reminded to not do anything strenuous for the next couple of days. Unable to even practice his sword fighting, Zeno simply stayed in his room and worked on cleaning his armor, for the first day anyway. The following day he read technical manuals and security documents, figuring the knowledge may be of some use some day. In the back of his mind though on both days, he worried about Miko.

His partner was unusually quiet and subdued. At first, he thought he was just giving him some space, but a part of him worried it was something deeper. Last night, he didn't snuggle up to him as he usually did and tonight, as they prepared for bed, it appeared he wouldn't do so again. "Miko, are you alright?" he finally asked.

Miko looked over his shoulder at him as he lay on his side of the bed, a look of uncertainty in his eyes. "I am fine, Zeno," he replied.

"No you are not: there is something on your mind." Zeno lay down beside him and hugged him with one arm: to his surprise he felt Miko tense.

"Zeno, please…." Zeno was more then a little shocked when Miko, brushed his arm off.

"Why do you not like me touching you?" There was no answer. "Miko, I already forgave you, why are you shutting me out now?"

"I do not want to risk hurting you…." Miko finally answered, his voice soft and small.

"Hurt me? You are hurting me now by shutting me out…."

Miko visibly flinched: after a moment of silence he let out a long, sad sigh before sitting up and facing him, yet he did not look into his eyes. "Zeno…I never thought I would be in another relationship," he began softly. "And…I am starting to feel hunger."

"Hunger?" Zeno had a feeling this 'hunger' was not for food.

"My last partner…We were rather…Active sexually. I developed a rather healthy sex drive from it and when I lost him, it…It was like trying to stop a flood with a low wall. Between my grief and the hunger, I was going insane. The pranks helped my grief, but they did not help my hunger." With a shuddering sigh he continued.

"I…I tried self-pleasure, but it was not enough, yet I could not bear the thought of taking someone else. So, I just suffered, with little means of release in that regard. Eventually, it disappeared on its own…."

"And now it is coming back?" Zeno asked, starting to understand, though he never thought of Miko as a sex addict.

Miko nodded. "I felt a hint of it not long after we first started working together, but I was able to control it. But…After your stint in jail, I lost control, it took over: you know the rest." Zeno nodded grimly. "I feel it strongly even now and…And I fear losing control again. I fear anything we do intimately would set me off. I want to honor that you are not ready for more…I do not want to hurt you again…."

Zeno was at a loss. He wanted to help Miko get some 'relief', but at the same time he didn't want to commit to an act he knew he would regret. Then he remembered what he did allow Miko to do and got an idea.

He sat up and coaxed the smaller Sangheili to sit in front of him, wrapping his arms around him. Miko didn't brush off or resist this time, but he could feel the tension in his body. "Relax, Miko." He said, gently, nuzzling his neck. The poor man was trembling.

"Zen…Zeno, I do not know…About this…," Miko protested.

"Miko…I may not be ready for actual intercourse, but I can at least do this." Zeno lightly ran his fingers down his partner's chest, all the way down to his groin. "Just tell me what you like…."

"More of that…P-please…," Miko begged.

So he did. Zeno stroked him up and down, Miko leaning back against him, his eyes closed and panting. It didn't take long for his shaft to emerge and when it did, Zeno teased him by stroking him just around it. When the teasing became too much for Miko to bear, the shorter Sangheili begging him insistently, Zeno started to work on his shaft.

Zeno listened to Miko's whims, going faster, or slower, as he demanded. With his free arm, he held Miko tight, for his partner was starting to wreath and thrust his hips into his fist. Not long after, Miko released, crying out shamelessly and loudly, then sucking in great drafts of air as he came back down again. Miko started to sob then and Zeno held him tightly in a comforting embrace. These were not tears of sorrow, he realized, but of relief: the thought brought a smile to his face.

They both laid down then, Miko now curled up against Zeno's chest, as Zeno rubbed his arms reassuringly. Eventually, Miko rolled over and pressed his chest against his. When he did that Zeno felt a brief jolt of fear: was the hunger taking over Miko as he feared? No, Miko just wanted to be close, his hands not wandering to his more intimate places. "Thank you…," Miko said tiredly, his head resting against Zeno's neck.

"We are partners…," Zeno said, feeling sleep calling himself. "I am supposed to do things like this for you."

He heard Miko chuckle softly, to be replaced by the gentle breathing of him sleeping. Zeno joined him in dreamland moments later.

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Things largely returned to normal between them from then on: the exception being their newfound fondness of 'playing' each other. Zeno realized early on that the more sexual part of a relationship was rather addicting, but he knew in his hearts that it shouldn't be the only thing. So he did his best to keep his urges under control and he hoped in retrospect he was helping Miko do the same.

What helped in the matter was the sudden increase in missions over the next few weeks. The Covenant had discovered a glut of new human controlled worlds and so the recon teams were kept busy scouting out the locations of their bases and other population centers. Miko and Zeno did their share of killing when they could during these missions, bringing glory to the Covenant and themselves with each human slain. Miko still held reservations about the humans, questions on why they were not offering the humans' admittance to the Covenant. Fortunately, he only voiced these questions when he was out of earshot of their superiors.

Finally, the missions slowed down, the human worlds having been cleansed or were in the process of being so. The increased down time gave Zeno and Miko time to relax and enjoy each other again, Zeno slowly realizing that hand jobs were becoming less satisfying: he wanted more. Yet a part of him was still uncertain if he was ready for more.

Then one day, the fleet stopped by one of their colony worlds to resupply and repair. Many of the crew were given leave to go to the surface for some R&R, including Miko and Zeno. "After doing missions and fighting for so long, I do not know if I remember how to act…Causal." Zeno commented as he changed into civilian attire for the first time since he left his keep.

"It will come back to you, I promise." Miko said with a smile, already dressed similarly. He gave a purr of approval when Zeno finished dressing. "You look fabulous."

Zeno blushed at the comment. "I am just glad they fit me."

"Yes, you guessed right on the size when you chose them back on High Charity." Miko then slipped a hand into his. "Come, the transports are waiting for us and they will not wait long."

"So what are we going to do?" Zeno asked as they exited their room and started for the hanger bay.

"Do not worry; I have made reservations at a very nice place for us," Miko replied with a smile.

"Why is a part of me worried?"

"Because you have been with me too long," his partner chuckled. "You know when I am up to something."

"Indeed. So what are you up to, hmm? I pray it is nothing bad…."

"Oh no, you will like it. I promise."

No matter how much Zeno asked, Miko would not tell him what he was plotting. He gave up by the time they reached the transport and sat quietly next to each other, still holding hands. A couple other passengers, warriors heading for the surface themselves, looked at them with disgust, but Zeno and Miko's stern looks convinced them not to comment.

As the ship left the hanger bay of the Seeker of Truth, Zeno pondered on what Miko was planning. He mentioned they were staying at a nice place, but he knew there had to be more to it. Probably something romantic, though Zeno had no idea what that would involve beyond what they already did now.

"You are quiet, love," Miko said to him softly when the transport landed. "What is on your mind?"

"What you may be plotting," Zeno replied with a faint smile.

Miko simply smiled and said: "You will see soon, very soon."

Zeno sighed and shook his head, realizing that Miko wasn't going to give so much as a hint of his plot before hand. All he could do was hope Miko was right that he would like it.

The pair by now had reached the taxi terminal: the drivers being a mix of Unggoy or Sangheili serfs that could not serve the Covenant in a more 'honorable' fashion. The vehicle they chose was piloted by one such serf, to whom Miko whispered to their destination, much to Zeno's annoyance. Even more annoying was the look on the serf's face: the man got this certain kind of smirk on his face that told Zeno he knew more about what Miko was plotting then he did. He had a feeling he wouldn't be able to weasel anything out the serf either, so he just sat back and sighed.

The colony itself was primarily Sangheili, filled with resorts that mostly catered to such, though there were sections that aimed toward the other member species, mostly out of courtesy. Where they were going was decidedly Sangheili-themed, going by the Sangheilian architecture and shops he saw. Unfortunately, he did not get to sight-see much.

"Zeno, I am sorry, but I need to put this on you." Miko said, holding up a blindfold.

"What? Why?" Zeno asked, giving the driver a look when he snickered.

"Well I cannot allow you to be spoiled by the surprise before we get there," Miko said smugly.

Zeno groaned in annoyance. "Alright, fine, but this better be worth it."

"Do not worry, it will be." Miko said as he put the blindfold on him.

It was rather disorientating, not being able to see. Zeno felt rather anxious, yet also a bit excited at the same time. After a couple of moments, he felt the vehicle stop and by reflex he reached up to snatch off the blindfold, only to feel someone grab his hand. "No, no, not yet. I will tell you when you can take it off." He heard Miko say to him sweetly.

"You do not honestly expect me to get around like this…," Zeno protested.

There was a soft chuckle. "Do not worry, love, I will guide you."

Miko was true to his word, he helped him out of the vehicle and guided him, warning him when there was a step in front of him. He could tell they had entered a building by the change of atmosphere: it became slightly cooler and there was distinct scent in the air that he could not place. There was also music playing very faintly around him, very soft and melodious.

This must be the hotel, Zeno mused, as the pulling finally stopped. Feeling in front of him, he felt something wooden, likely the check-in counter.

"Good day, sir," a female voice said cheerfully. "How may I help you?"

"I have a reservation for two, under Kemotee," Miko replied.

There was a short period of silence before the clerk responded. "Miko 'Kemotee?"

"That is correct."

"Verification please." Zeno surmised they used DNA verification, going by how Miko grunted faintly a moment later. "Thank you, sir, here are your access cards. Your room is down the right hall, on the left. Will you be requiring the services of the ladies?"

"No thank you, we will be fine as is. Thank you, madam."

"You are welcome, sir. Have a pleasant stay."

Ladies? Zeno thought as he felt Miko start guiding him again, the floor underneath him changing from a hard floor to a carpeted one. The term 'ladies' could mean a number of things, so that clue wasn't much help, though going by Miko's response to the offer, he had an idea of what they must likely were.

The trip down the hallway only took a moment, Zeno straining his other sense trying to get more information, more clues as to what is going on. All he got was that same scent he smelled in the lobby and silence besides his and Miko's footfalls and heartbeats. He heard Miko fiddling with something, likely the access cards to their room and heard the click of a door opening. Zeno was pulled in seconds later.

"Ah…Perfect." He heard Miko mutter.

"Perfect? What is perfect?" Zeno inquired, hearing the door shut behind them.

Then the blind fold came off….

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