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Bisco jogged back to their camp, casting an uneasy glance at the clouds that obscured the usually bright starlight of the plains.
"Hey, you think it's safe to camp outside tonight? Looks like it's gonna..." Arriving at the campsite, he stopped dead in his tracks. Milo lay curled up next to the fire, sleeping soundly. A stray lock of his sky blue hair fluttered with every exhale. The firelight gave his features a soft glow, and his long lashes almost seemed to sparkle where they rested against his cheeks, as if they were just waiting for someone to reach out and run their fingertips over them...
"Huh!" Bisco shook his head. Where did these weird thoughts suddenly come from? Whatever, looked like they were going to sleep outside after all. Of course he could just wake Milo, but... he didn't want to. He looked so peaceful, it would be a shame to disturb his slumber. It's been a daunting few days, and he needed rest, Bisco decided resolutely. With one last look at the overcast sky and a heavy sigh, he heaved their blankets off Actagawa's back. He'd discovered some narrow caves when he went to relieve himself. Should it start to rain, they could always relocate.
Bisco spread one blanket on the floor to serve as a mattress. Milo had fallen asleep right on the grass, with nothing to cushion or warm his back, but there was nothing to it now.
"Really now," Bisco muttered and went to spread the blanket over Milo's sprawled body, careful as not to wake him. But too late.
"Hmmm," Milo said and opened one eye. "Oh, hey!" he added when he saw Bisco hovering over him. "Sorry, I didn't mean to fall asleep. I guess I didn't do my best job at guarding the camp." He blinked a few times, supposedly to rouse himself. "Thanks for the blanket."
Bisco, who still held the blanket in his hands after covering Milo up to his chest, let the piece of cloth fall as if it had scorched his fingers. "Can't have ya catch a cold," he mumbled, feeling inexplicable heat rise to his cheeks.
Milo set up and rubbed his nose.
Suddenly, and not for the first time, Bisco's heart twitched. Shit, that wasn't some weird side-effect of his condition, was it? He knew he wasn't going to keel over dead, but this... this thumping in his chest wasn't exactly pleasant, either!
He went back to his own pile of blankets and tossed Milo another one. Milo gave him a quizzical look. "Are you angry with me?"
"Nah. It's not like there's much traffic out here. Besides, Actagawa knows how to defend a camp."
Milo's face brightened in response. He spread one blanket on the grass and snuggled under the other one. Lying on his back, he contemplated the sky.
"The clouds look so different at night. So much... bigger, and closer somehow. Almost like you can grasp them."
As if he really wanted to try, he stretched his arm out and wiggled his fingers.
Bisco followed his gaze. "You think they're as soft as they look?"
"They're accumulations of water droplets and ice crystals," Milo replied in that patient, scholarly voice of his that set Bisco's teeth on edge.
"I know that!" he spat. He hadn't known, not really, although it made a lot of sense, now that he thought about it.
"It would be nice if they were, though. Soft, I mean." Milo remained unruffled by Bisco's brisk remark. "They're gathering really fast. You think it's gonna rain?"
As if on cue, a drop of water hit Bisco smack on the forehead. Before he even had the time to say "Oh!", more raindrops joined the first and a roar of thunder drowned out all other sound.
"Shit!"
Cursing, Bisco and Milo gathered their blankets and the rest of their belongings.
"There's some caves back over there!" Bisco shouted as lightening tinted the plains in a ghastly blue. "Let's run! Actagawa!"
The crab, spooked by the thunderstorm, had already sought shelter at the small rubble of rocks that marked the southern side of the grass plains. He was a bit too big to fit into any of the narrow caves and crouched under an overhang, waving his claw in agitation.
"Shhh, it's okay, big boy. It's just some old lightening and thunder." Milo spoke softly to him while Bisco lit another fire. Narrow as it was, the cave would do to keep them dry.
"I think I've calmed him down," Milo said as he came in, shaking rain water out of his hair. Thankfully, they had managed not to get too wet and the blankets were reasonable dry as well.
Bisco had long stopped feeling jealous about Milo's connection to his crab brother. Instead, he was proud of how well the two of them got along. By now, Milo could even ride Actagawa just as well as Bisco. A true Mushroom Keeper, and he had taught him.
"Why do you look so pleased with yourself?"
"Huh? Ah, nothing. Go to bed, we should try to get some sleep!"
They huddled under the blankets, close to each other like they always did. Despite rain and thunder, Milo fell asleep again in no time. Bisco couldn't help but smile at the soft snorkeling coming from his mouth. After a while, Milo turned around and cuddled even closer to Bisco, head resting against his shoulder. With Milo's warmth seeping into his body and his even breaths in his ear, Bisco soon drifted off, too.
...
When he woke up the next morning, thunder and lightening had ceased, but the rain had turned into a veritable downpour. The sheer sight of it made Bisco shiver. He sat up and scratched his head. The bed next to his was empty and Milo was nowhere to be seen.
"Where did he run off to in that weather?"
As soon as he uttered these words, Milo stepped back into the cave, wet as a rag, but smiling like a hundred days of sunshine.
"Bisco, look what I've caught!" He held out his hand, clutching two big, red salamanders in his fist. "Breakfast!"
Dripping rainwater left and right, he put the salamanders next to the fire and shook out his hair.
"Hey, careful there!" Bisco raised his arms to shield his face. "You're getting everything wet!"
"Sorry!" Milo laughed a pearly laugh. "Bisco, you should see it. Theses salamanders are everywhere, you can practically pluck them off the rocks. Although you should really cook them first! If we have to stay here a bit longer, we definitely won't starve. And some big, pink flowers have bloomed on the fields, and Actagawa is enjoying himself..."
True enough, from the mouth of the cave they could see their companion frolicking in the rain.
"Well, he's a crab, of course he likes water." Bisco was unimpressed, much more concerned by the way Milo's wet clothes clung to his skin. That idiot hadn't even thought to wear his cloak!
"Damn, dry yourself if you don't wanna catch a cold. Why'd you go out there like this?"
"It's refreshing!" Milo shrugged out of his wet shirt and pants, stripping down to his underwear, and started to rub himself dry with a spare blanket.
You're a doctor, shouldn't you know better? Bisco wanted to say, but the words died on his lips.
Droplets of water glistened on Milo's bare skin, his wet hair shimmered in the light of their small fire, and his eyes sparkled in their brightest sapphire blue. The air around him seemed to positively glow with his radiance. They'd traveled together for weeks, so of course they'd changed in front of each other before, but Bisco had never really looked. Now he found himself unable to look away.
Until Milo's eyes, big and round and blue, met his. "Something wrong?"
"No!" Bisco quickly turned his head and hoped it was fast enough the hide the heat rising to his face. There was this thumping in his chest again. It couldn't be because of Milo, could it?
He focused on stoking the fire, attempting not to think about Milo's exposed skin anymore. Which was kind of hard to do when the owner of said skin was right next to him and wouldn't stop talking.
"You don't like the rain?"
Stop acting weird! Bisco reprimanded himself and tried his best to answer in a normal voice: "Nah. It's all wet and cloying and nasty." He scratched his head. "And in this humidity the mushrooms in my hair grow even faster."
Milo giggled. "You're right. There's another one."
"What? Where?"
"Not there, on the other side. Come here, let me..."
Milo's face was suddenly very close to Bisco's. He knelt next to him, almost sitting in Bisco's lap, not the least bit more dressed than a moment ago. He reached out a hand and plucked the offending shroom from Bisco's hair. "There you go."
His breath tickled Bisco's cheek and his eyes were so bright and so close, full of summer sky and sunshine. Thump!, made Bisco's heart, and yeah, maybe it was because of Milo.
"Tha...," he started, because he didn't know what else to say, but before he could finish the word, Milo's lips brushed against his. They felt soft and light and tickling, so very different from Pawoo, who'd gone right for the kill.
Aaaagh, don't compare him to his sister, you creep! a voice inside of Bisco's head shrieked, but how could he not, when both Nekoyanagi siblings had taken a taste of his mouth? And what the heck was this? Didn't Milo go on and on about how much he wanted Bisco to marry Pawoo? How come he...
The thought shattered when Milo licked over Bisco's bottom lip.
"Hmph," Bisco said and Milo leaned back.
"Sorry," he whispered in a tiny voice, eyes cast down and cheeks flushed a bright pink.
Seeing him like this caused some kind of short-circuit in Bisco's brain. He looked so... so... so utterly adorable, Bisco wanted to sweep him up in his arms and devour him. So he did just that, at least the sweeping part, and brought their lips back together again.
Milo made a small sound of surprise, but didn't struggle or try to withdraw. Instead he stuck his tongue out again to press it against Bisco's lips. Bisco opened his mouth and their tongues met, and oh! this felt good, why had they never done this before?
Milo seemed to know what he was doing, which Bisco really, really didn't, so he gladly let him take the lead. Milo's tongue explored his mouth, licking deep inside, tangling with Bisco's own. He tasted sweet and fresh and the little panting moans he made threatened to drive Bisco mad. A hunger stronger than for any food surged through him and he felt himself grow hard.
Milo settled more comfortably into Bisco's lap and Bisco let his hands roam over his back, feeling lithe muscles move under smooth skin. Milo withdrew his tongue and nipped at Bisco's lower lip. Bisco growled at the slight pain, which seemed to amuse Milo, whose chuckle ghosted over his skin with a warm puff of breath. Bisco grabbed the back of his head and dove his tongue back into Milo's mouth, wanting to get more of his taste. Milo kissed him back with enthusiasm. Bisco could have stayed like this forever, or at least until the rain stopped, but...
"What... Whatcha doin' there?"
Milo tugged at Bisco's shirt. "I'm trying to get you out of your clothes." His face blushed even more violently.
Oh! Right. Bisco was still fully dressed. Maybe he should change that. When he pulled his shirt over his head, Milo scooted back to give him room and sprawled on one of the blankets. His chest was flushed, his breath coming in quick little huffs, and Bisco could see that he was hard too, his erection pressing against the fabric of his underwear. Bisco's mind nearly went blank at the sight.
Shedding the rest of his clothes, Bisco settled next to Milo, stretched out his hand - and stopped short.
"I've no damn idea what to do," he admitted.
Milo brushed a lock of hair out of Bisco's face. "What do you want to do?" he asked.
When Bisco just stared at him, for a second unable to form any kind of coherent thought, he averted his eyes. "Maybe you can start with kissing me again," he said coyly.
Bisco closed the distance between them and did as suggested. It was less hungry this time, a bit shy, searching and tender. When Milo came up for breath, Bisco kissed his jaw and down his neck. Milo arched his head back and sighed. Bisco could feel his pulse pounding against his lips. Giving in to impulse, he bit into the crook of Milo's neck - just a nip with no real force behind it. In response, Milo moaned, a sweet and low exhale. Emboldened by his success, Bisco nibbled his way along Milo's collarbone and sucked a mark into his pale flesh.
"Ah!" Milo's hand tangled in Bisco's hair and he wriggled under the touch of his lips. Wanting to hear him make more of these wonderful sounds, Bisco caressed his chest. When his thumb brushed against Milo's nipple, his body twitched. Shoving the last bit of his shame to the side, Bisco took the perky bud into his mouth and sucked. Milo's back arched and his moans grew louder.
Without really thinking about it, Bisco straddled him. When their cocks touched, a jolt went through his body and for a moment he could do nothing but pant against Milo's shoulder. Fuck! Bliss! Heaven! He had no words for this.
Milo rolled his hips, and before he could stop himself, a breathy cry left Bisco's lips. Shocked, he slapped his hand over his mouth. That was a sound he's never, ever made before!
Milo's chest shook with laughter. "Don't be ashamed. That was cute!"
Cute? The hell? "I'm not..." Bisco started to protest, but Milo rolled his hips again and the rest of the sentence was swallowed by another, louder moan. Exasperated, Bisco gave up and let the sounds flow out of his mouth as the fabric of Milo's briefs dragged over his erection.
Fabric? Wait a sec! Why was Milo still wearing his underwear when he was stark naked? That wasn't fair!
"Milo!" he breathed, with some difficulty.
"Hm?"
"Naked!"
"Huh?"
"You... You... Ah!... Get naked!"
"Oh!"
Milo stopped rolling his hips. For a moment, nothing happened.
"You have to get up if you want to get me out of my briefs."
"I know!"
It's your fault I can't think straight! Bisco complained in his mind. Taking a deep breath to ground himself, he sat up.
Milo blinked at him, a small smile playing around his lips.
"Get them off," he said, a challenge in his voice.
"Getting cheeky, eh?" With one smooth move, Bisco pulled the briefs off Milo's legs and threw them to the side, inexplicably causing Milo to giggle again. The sound was contagious, and soon Bisco couldn't hold himself back from laughing too.
He straddled Milo again, legs to either side of his groin, and looked down on him - his bright, smiling face, his sapphire eyes accentuated by his birthmark, his pale skin... Bisco found an unnamed emotion welling up in him. Sweet, strong Milo. His lifeline, the voice that called him back from the white void. His Milo, his partner, the person who would die for him. The person he would die for.
Milo noticed his sudden silence. "Everything okay?"
Bisco nodded, too afraid his voice would break if he tried to speak. He cradled Milo's face in his hand and brushed his thumb over his cheek. Milo looked at him in wonder.
"Everything's fine," he said finally.
He bent down and gave Milo a peck on the lips. Instead of embracing him again, he sat back up. Now he had somewhat of a plan. He spat on his hand and closed his fingers around Milo's erection. The skin felt smooth over his hard dick. Bisco began to stroke experimentally, trying out moves that he used on himself.
"Ah! Bisco! This feels so good!" Milo started to writhe under him and bit into the palm of his hand, smothering his soft cries of pleasure.
Bisco sped up his strokes, and Milo bucked his hips into the touch, one hand grabbing the blanket. A bit overwhelmed by his reaction, Bisco stroked him even harder.
Milo caught his wrist. "Not... Not quite so fast," he panted. "Come back here!"
Unable to resist, Bisco leaned back down, catching Milo's lips in another kiss. Milo settled his hand over Bisco's and set the pace, more languid and teasing. Needing friction himself, Bisco rubbed his own dick against Milo's thigh.
"Stroke them together," Milo panted.
"Huh?"
"Here, let me show you." Milo brought his hand up to his mouth, licked his palm - a sight so erotic it took Bisco's breath away - and reached back down between their legs.
"Press your dick against mine," he whispered into Bisco's ear.
"Ngh," was all the eloquence Bisco was capable of as he followed Milo's instruction. Milo guided his hand, closing both his and Bisco's fingers around their erections, and together they began to stroke.
Bisco's head fell against Milo's shoulder and he let out a string of curses. He felt like he was going crazy. Nothing, nothing should be allowed to feel this good!
Caught up in his own pleasure, Milo ignored his cursing, moaning and twitching with every touch. In tune, their movements sped up, stroking faster and harder, skin gliding against skin, bliss washing over them. Bisco came first, crying Milo's name against his shoulder. Milo stroked him through it, and soon he came too, his body tensing, and spurts of warm semen hit Bisco's belly.
They lay together panting. Spent and drowsy, Bisco was drifting into sleep when Milo poked him in the rips.
"Bisco?"
"Hm?"
"You're heavy."
"Hm."
Bisco rolled to the side.
"Agh! What a mess!" Suddenly flustered, he dabbed at himself with a blanket.
Milo tapped him on the shoulder. When Bisco turned around, his looked a bit worried. "Still everything okay?"
"Yes! Yes, of course. It's just..." Bisco shrugged. "It's just new, you know?"
Milo gave him another one of his sunny smiles. "It was good."
Bisco had to laugh. Good was an understatement. "Yeah. It was."
A loud growl interrupted them.
"Oh!" Milo slapped his hands over his complaining stomach. "We forgot about breakfast!"
As they got dressed and set about to prepare their food, the rain kept pouring on, the flowers drank their share, and Actagawa had his own feast of salamanders.