1.1 | louder than bombs

- 14 -

Cairo felt warm covered with his blankets, all wrapped up like a burrito.

"Nix, I got shot in the stomach, not in my leg," the brunette whined for the umpteenth time before shooting an angry look at the said woman, though he looked more like a triggered puppy.

"I'm the one who is treating you and what I say is final," Phoenix said as she fluffed a pillow, placing it beside the angry fluffball.

"I majored in medicine too, Phoenix. Even I do this for a living."

"Hush."

"Troy, help me here," Cairo turned towards his best friend who was doing push-ups by the far corner of the tent, his muscles flexing because of the action. Troy exercising was a sight that is worth being paid to watch.

"No can do, Cai. You need the rest," the grey-head huffed as he pushed himself up, his biceps flexing as sweat dribbled down his naked torso.

"You just wait. When I'm done with you, you will be having a dislocated jaw and sporting a black eye on that ugly face of yours."

Troy simply ignored his glowering best friend, used to constant threats which were never acted upon.

The attack on the City was two weeks back, Cairo slowly healing from his injury under the care of his friends. For some reason, Jaemoon hasn't visited Cairo, not once.

Did something happen? He thought.

According to Troy, Jaemoon was rarely making an appearance. He only came out of his tent to do some paperwork in the office or to have dinner at night, that being the only meal he bothered to show up for under his Lieutenant's force. Needless to say, Cairo was worried.

Jaemoon seemed to ignite something in the brunette.

Cairo was fairly popular in high school, girls and boys alike confessing their feelings to the human ball of happiness. But Cairo never accepted them because he never felt the same way. Sure he was attracted to his own gender, but never enough to take the next step. He was content with his best friend, hanging out together almost every day except the few times Troy had other commitments with his ever-changing person of interest.

This was the first time Cairo wanted something more. He wanted to know Jaemoon more, needed to know him inside-out. His personality, his likes and dislikes, just everything.

"Daydreaming about the Captain again, I see," Troy smirked at his friend, pulling out a towel from his locker to wipe off his sweat. Cairo blushed.

What? I blush easily. It certainly has nothing to do with a certain Captain. It's true!

"Shut it."

"Why are you closing up on yourself, Cai? You know that I would never judge you, right? I'm always here for you, forever," Troy walked towards the bed, sitting beside a wrapped-up Cairo.

"I know, Blue. It's just...I don't know. I've never felt like this before, you know? Like I've met the guy just last month- hell, not even a month has passed and I feel like- like I knew him my whole life. Like there are no words required between, just his presence is enough for me."

Troy looked at his friend with a wide smile, his blue eyes twinkling like sapphires, lying down next to Cairo and wrapping his arms carefully around the human burrito, giving him the most wholesome and heart-warming hug.

"Cai! That's amazing. Fuck, I'm so happy for you," Troy exclaimed, placing his small, calloused palms on his Cai's cheeks, kissing him on the forehead.

Cairo wrinkled his nose. "God, you stink. Get away from me, you pig," though he didn't really mind the smell. His best friend gave the best hugs.

"What got you two goofballs all happy?" asked Phoenix as she walked into the tent, her long, dark hair swishing behind her, with some more pillows from her own tent.