1.1 | louder than bombs

- 5 -

Cairo sat up on his bed, a pout adorning his cute face. He drew his arms back which were wrapped around Troy's torso, running his fingers through his hair. He glanced at his best friend, sleeping soundly with his mouth wide open as the dorky male drooled from the side of his mouth and limbs thrown haphazardly over the bed.

How is he sleeping so peacefully? pondered the brunette with envy, his rosy lips sticking out even more at the thought.

You see, Cairo can't sleep very easily when he was somewhere unfamiliar. His body just refused to drift off into a dreamless slumber. It's a thing, don't ask him why. And he blames his best friend for it. Though poor Troy has nothing to do with it. Why does he blame the grey-head, you ask?

For no reason whatsoever. Again, it's a thing.

He threw the covers off himself and stepped down, his small figure trudged out of the tent.

The field was fairly large, now neatly lined with tents on two sides opposite to each other because of his team's arrival and the main building standing on the third side. A few craters were cluttered about in certain places, filled with fresh vegetables and other resources needed by the Unit.

He slowly made his way across the green land to the building, relishing the feel of the wet grass under his bare feet, wiggling his toes in delight.

It must have rained after dinner, he thought, seeing a few puddles here and there.

Cairo smiled widely, showing off his endearing box-smile to nothing in particular, taking in the earthy smell.

Cairo loved the rain. Why? It could be because rain is such a beautiful phenomenon. Maybe because it gives life to those little seeds planted in the soil with its water or because it could take lives with floods caused by the very same drops of water.

Maybe because it dances along with the children bathing and squealing with joy under the heaven's shower or because it consoles those grieving in pain, veiling their tears with its own.

Cairo would never know. All that he knew was that he loved the rain. Always has and always will.

The sky was now clear, the grey clouds long gone after dutifully completing the task they were made to do. Shards of diamonds were shining brightly against the black, night canvas. It was a beautiful night.

Cairo sighed in content as he stopped for a moment, just taking in the smell that he absolutely adored while wiggling his toes once again, the dewy grass tickling his soles.

He looked just like a puppy who was given his favourite treat as he stood there, his fluffy hair getting ruffled by the soft breeze as his small figure bounced in glee.

Cairo continued walking after a couple of minutes, reaching the main building and making his way to the kitchen.

The evening was a fun-filled one. The soldiers accepted the medics with wide arms and warm smiles, seamlessly blending in with newcomers as if they were reunited with their long-lost best friends.

I felt...comfortable.

Yes, he has a very joyful personality, oozing happiness wherever he goes. But it takes time.

Cairo, in a sense, can be compared to sugar.

Sugar is obviously naturally sweet. No smell, nothing complex, just plain sweetness. But as it absorbs heat when held over a flame in a pan for some time, it melts. It melts down to turn into this wonderfully dark, warm and gooey liquid with increasingly intricate flavour and aroma, the sweet smell creating a delightful mood. But very delicate as it could burn with the slightest increase in temperature.

Cairo was like that granulated sweetness. The more he absorbs his surroundings, the more he melts, he lets himself loose, lifting the spirits of those around him in the process but also very sensitive. Even the smallest of things can have the greatest impact on him.

He was going through the fridge as he hummed a random tune, blissfully ignorant of the tall man standing by the stairs.

"What are you doing up so late?" a deep voice interrupted the medic's search.

Cairo might have jumped two feet in the air and lost ten years of his life.

Yes, I easily get startled. Blame Troy.

He turned around with a hand on his chest, as if the action could stop his heart's attempt at escaping its bony prison.

"Woah, kid. It's okay," chuckled the tall man, dimples showing because of his amused smile, "I'm Park Dohyun, Lieutenant of this Unit."

"Oh, I'm Cairo," the younger replied with his own boxy-smile, his body relaxing after seeing the dimples that the Asian man possessed, the dents in Dohyun's cheek muscles showing under the dim light of the kitchen.

Yes, dimples. Dimples make even the most intimidating person look soft. Fight me.

"Cairo Elroid," he continued, "Station Aid Medic."

Dohyun nodded at the introduction, pursing his lips. "So, why are you awake? It's almost three in the morning."

"Uh- well, I can't sleep in new places easily. Takes a while," Cairo replied sheepishly, scratching his neck lightly, as he edged closer to the counter behind him.

"Ah, okay. Have a glass of milk then, works like magic," Dohyun advised with a smile on his face, the male in front him reminding the elder of a certain ravenette back from when everything was okay.

"Thanks, Hyun!" Cairo replied, nodding before widening his eyes after a moment, covering his mouth with his palms, "Oh-uh, I'm sorry I shoul-"

"It's okay, nothing to worry about," the Lieutenant interrupted, the corners of his eyes crinkling because of the soft smile spreading across his face, "You can call me Hyun. I'll get going now, have that glass of milk and try sleeping, okay?"

"Okay, Hyun," Cairo nodded again as his curls flopped from the movement, his boxy-smile making an appearance yet again.

Dohyun grinned once again before turning around to climb up a flight of stairs, eager to get under his covers after staying out for hours in the rain outside Jaemooon's office, his closed black umbrella leaving a trail of water behind him.

Still smiling, Cairo turned around to pick a tall glass from a shelf, standing on his tippy-toes to reach the glassware. Huffing as he grasped it, he walked towards the medium-sized red fridge, pulling out a carton of milk. He filled the tumbler with milk and leaned on the counter, sipping on it while looking out of the window, once again admiring the night sky.

Washing the glass after having drunk the lactose-rich fluid, he made his way towards the door, ready to catch some sleep. Limping ever-so-slightly from the long journey to the border, he looked down at his leg with a sigh. What he didn't see was a tall man walking in at the same time.

Cairo bumped his head into a hard wall of muscle. He stuck his lips out, touching his forehead lightly before stepping back only to trip over the threshold. He gasped when he felt arms wounding their way around his back, holding him in place.

And he gasped yet again when he looked up at the person holding him. The man was ethereal.

🏔

and...they met!

QOTD: if you could trade lives with someone, who would it be and why?

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love,
athenelar