You aren’t them, you’re a million times better. 

Since Corym had shown up in Milo’s room, face bleeding from an unfortunate encounter, the pair kept stealing glances, exchanging smiles, giving soft touches. More than once, Corym noticed Milo staring at his lips, then at the cut on his cheek, before looking away, looking almost ashamed. 

“Mi… I’ll be okay, you know? I’m not all that fragile.” 

Milo let a tiny smile slip. “I know you’ll be okay. It still doesn’t make how people treat you fair.” Milo reached across the table they were sharing dinner on to take his hand. “You don’t deserve it. Hells, no non-human deserves it.” 

“It’s ok, honestly, I’m kind of used to it.” 

Milo felt his heart splinter at those words. “You really shouldn’t be…” 

Corym let out a quiet chuckle and squeezed Milo’s hand. “I’d rather be used to stuff like this, than have it be a surprise to me. Besides, now I have a ‘you’ to help me feel better.” He lifted their hands and kissed Milo’s knuckles. 

Milo tilted his head. “You’re smiling but it’s not reaching your eyes.” 

“Sh*t, you already know me a little well.” 

“... Is there anything I can do to help?” 

Corym smiled at him. “Stars above where did you come from?” 

“Ah… here? Holn?” 

Corym rolled his eyes and bit his bottom lip, fighting back a blush. He was… he was different, sure. But he was making his very soul react in a way where he just wanted to reach out to him. 

So, he followed his instinct and stood up, never letting go of Milo’s hand. He pushed the table away a few inches, before sitting in Milo’s lap. 

“Is this okay?” 

Milo didn’t react right away, his eyes locked on Corym’s, fighting a quiet, far-away fear that bubbled up in his chest. He wasn’t used to anything like this, was barely used to most forms of physical touch, and yet… 

“For now it’s okay.” 

Corym smiled. “If you ever want me to get off, please tell me.” 

Milo nodded and let his head drop against Coryms shoulder, whose arms wrapped around him. It didn’t take long for him to fully relax, lulled by the consistent rhythm of Corym’s breathing, matched by his fingers stroking his hair. 

“If you intend to lull me to sleep,” Milo muttered, “may I request moving somewhere more comfortable than a wooden chair?” 

Corym broke into a laugh, wincing at the pull of the cut on his cheek, but stood up, still not letting go of Milo as the pair moved to the couch. Corym settled back in Milo’s lap immediately, catching Milo’s gaze. His boyfriends’ eyes widened in surprise. 

“What is it?” 

“You- ah- your eyes changed to a pale… blue or purple, I can’t tell, but it’s… it’s beautiful.” 

“You like it?” 

“Is it that obvious? But I’d also love to know how it works, it’s like you’re controlling… some kind of light-scattering part of your eye like a muscle. I mean of course there are many things that change color with how they interact with light.” 

“Ah yeah?” 

“Mmhmm, you know, like sun catchers, they depend on the angle of the light that- your eyes changed again… that’s amazing. You’re amazing.” 

Corym decided in that moment to let go of how much he was holding back, and hooked a finger under Milo’s chin, lifting his face for a gentle kiss, drawing back, enchanted by the one he had finally called his ‘boyfriend’. His gold-and-silver eyes were wide and contemplative. 

He never would have expected for Milo to sit up, tentatively drawing him into another kiss, devastatingly carefully, minding the cut on his face. He moved to his cheek, his jaw, and nuzzled his neck, hesitating. 

“Are you alright?” 

“I just never… I mean-” 

Corym was sure he would melt. “I could show you…” 

Milo nodded slightly, tilting his head just enough to expose his neck. 

Corym wanted to - stars, he wanted to - but Milo was so gentle it drove him crazy in such a way that he just wanted to hold him close and pepper his cheek with the smallest kisses. He was simply the sweetest partner he’d ever had. 

And yet, who was he to deny Milo’s bout of confidence? 

Milo gasped when Corym kissed his neck, clutching onto him in surprise. 

“Is this okay, Mi?” 

“Stars, yes.” 

Corym chuckled and kissed his neck again, chasing Milo’s reactions as he chased the butterflies going crazy in his own stomach. Eventually, Milo pulled away to claim another kiss, another, another. Slowly, buttons became undone, inhibitions became loose. 

Never had Corym experienced any kind of intimacy that was so bright; full of giggles and smiles and unfathomable care. 

Corym let his hands explore Milo’s torso - he was thin but not unhealthily, and he was pleasantly surprised to see just a little more of his back tattoo than the little bit that usually poked over his collar - the piece had to be quite something. Feeling Milos hands carefully run over his own chest and sides and back made his heart seem to beat out of his chest, made him need to remind himself to be patient. 

He was amazed by how different things felt with Milo - while he usually simply chased physicality with meaningless dates, Milo wanted him to bask in the warm glow of something more simple, more romantic. So, he took his time with him, keeping himself in check every so often to make sure Milo was comfortable. 

It was only when his hands wandered down to Milo’s belt, that the human pulled back. 

“I- I ah, I mean…” 

“Is this too much?” 

Milo nodded, barely visibly. “I’m sorry...” 

“Hey, don’t be sorry, its ok.” 

Milo nodded again, blushing to the roots of his hair. “I mean I would like to, one day. I just… I don’t know when. Just not yet. And um… well…” 

Corym fixed a strand of Milo’s hair that had fallen out of place. “You don’t need to say everything.” 

“Oh… I appreciate that, but I was going to say that with you sitting on my lap, my legs fell asleep.” 

“Oh!” Corym moved to sit next to him, laughing quietly. “Are you okay?” 

"I might need a moment before I’ll be able to stand again without falling over… but that was… I mean… I enjoyed that. It feels foolish to just say it like that, but-” Milo glanced at Corym with a grin, eyes widening as he saw the cut on his face bleeding through the bandage. “Oh, your face-” 

“It’s ok, it was worth it.” he rose his hand to heal his cut, slowing the bleeding. “I ah… I must admit, I got a little carried away… tomorrow you may wake up with a mark or two on your neck, just so you know.”

Milo’s eyebrows rose again in surprise. “Well… thank goodness it’s Friday?” 

Corym chuckled again and kissed Milo’s cheek, pushing him back to lie on the couch, nestling his head on his chest.  

“You know,” Milo spoke up, “We can also just… sleep like this, I still can’t feel my legs, you really cut my circulation.” 

“Oh stars I'm so sorry!" he giggled. "But nope.” Corym sat up and stood, pulling Milo to his feet along with him. He was certainly wobbling, but at least he could stand. “Gotta get your blood moving again.”

Milo groaned as Corym led him through simple stretches he performed before dancing, laughing together through the awkward effort on Milo’s part until they both settled in bed. Out of habit, Corym reached out to him, but Milo shied away.

“I ah… do you mind just… not? It’s nothing against you, I’m just a little overwhelmed, and well…” 

“Is this about that thing you mentioned once? About not really liking touch?” 

Milo bit his lip. “Like I said it’s nothing against you, what happened was really wonderful, I just… I- it’s hard to explain… I’m not sure I have the right words for it. I- when it's people I don't know, even a handshake feels invasive and uncomfortable. It's like I feel the ghost of the contact for too long afterwards. It's better, I guess, with friends and family, where I don't mind hugs and such on a good day. You're one of the only people I voluntarily reach out to and that I want to be entirely, fully comfortable with and well... I mean guiding winds nobody has ever even kissed me like that and I just- I mean I still kind of feel our contact from earlier, but in a nice way, and I really don't want you to think I disliked anything, I-’"

Cory cut off his rambling that seemed to be making him spiral. “Hey, it’s okay, I had fun, Mi. You are… exceptionally enticing to me, but I’m proud of you for telling me to stop. It'll take the time it needs to take."

Milo broke into a smile, “Thank you," he whispered, hesitantly reaching out for Corym’s hand, barely grazing his fingers with his own, before curling up to fall asleep, soundly.

"Sweet dreams."