Welcome to Gaia! ::

He was wearing a grey charcoal suit, similar to one that he’d worn once upon a dream. He’d remembered it fondly, even if it had been only a dream, and one free weekend he’d splurged and bought it, saving it for a rainy day.

It wasn’t raining the morning Ian texted him, or when he pulled his suit from the closet that evening. In fact, the weather was lovely, as Shiloh stepped out of the dorms, buttoning up his coat. The sun hung low in the sky and the last of its warmth clung to the autumn air, trying to keep the inevitable chill of nightfall at bay. Shiloh’s normally wild hair was pulled neatly into a low ponytail, just hanging over the back of his neck and he’d even tried to comb his bangs out of his face, though mostly they had stubbornly refused to stay.

There was a skip in his step as he made his way to the portal; a surprise night off and getting to spend it with Ian had his spirits soaring. Those happy feelings only intensified when he arrived to the sight of Ian, absolutely breathtaking in his suit. Shiloh was at a loss for words, the hello he had poised falling flat against his lips and he stammered for a minute before sweeping Ian up into a hug from behind, lacing his arms around his waist and tucking his chin over his shoulder.

“Hey gorgeous,” he crooned, grinning as he pressed a gentle kiss to Ian’s neck, just over the half-hidden bandages. “What’s the occasion?”

Shiloh smiled as Ian slid away, catching his hands at the last moment before he let go. He couldn't help but smile, with the way Ian’s eyes swept over him, appreciative, adoring – they had this wonderful habit of making him feel like there was a spotlight shining on him and all he could do was bask in its warm glow. It was heady and amazing and made him feel like blushing from the top of his head to the tips of his toes. His cheeks were certainly rosier as Ian leaned in for a kiss, his hand trailing deliberately across his cheek.

“No, you,” he whispered, his laughter soft against Ian’s lips.

“As if I’d believe you,” he said, teasing accusation in his voice. Truth was Shiloh didn’t know what to think. Ian looked absolutely stunning, drop dead gorgeous but then that wasn’t out of the ordinary nor was spoiling each other for any and absolutely no reason. The night could go either way and no matter how suspiciously he pretended to eye Ian, the truth was that either way he didn’t care, so long as he got to spend it in the company of the man he loved. “But thank you, a night out with you sounds absolutely perfect.”

Ian laced his fingers through his and Shiloh revelled at the feel of the soft leather against his hand, returning the squeeze.

“I’m ready, thought I won’t lie, I’m almost tempted to ask you to skip the out part and go straight to the night, you look so good. We better get going before someone, and I’m not saying that it’s me, but someone, might decide that suit looks better off.”

His grin returned, cheeky and full of cheese considering what he’d just said and he returned Ian’s affection, pressing a quick kiss to his cheek.

“Lead the way, handsome,” he said, giving Ian’s hand another squeeze.

Shiloh was happy to receive any and all kisses, and he noted that pause, Ian, and he smiled for it, as the word he’d spent so long trying to erase from Ian’s was dropped in favor of sweet.

He could be sweet, he thought, as he followed the tug of his hand and stepped after Ian towards the portal, settling into stride beside him. He couldn’t help but drift into him as they walked, and when Ian’s arm found his waist, it didn’t have to look far, Shiloh already as closely pressed against him as he could be without making it so they couldn’t walk. Ian, on the other hand, was doing a stellar job of making it difficult to walk as he whispered against Shiloh’s ear, and Shiloh was sure that if he hadn’t been before, he was certainly blushing now, feeling the heat rise up his neck.

“Ian Rahal-Nazari,” Shiloh said, placing a hand over his chest. “I never.”

His mock surprise dissolved into more laughter as Ian dragged him forward and in an instant they were drifting through the portal and through the other side, to their destination, wherever that was.

And wherever that was, as Shiloh’s feet connected with solid ground, was warm for the time of year, a soft breeze blowing past in the pleasantest of ways. Shiloh thought perhaps they were overdressed but then, he wasn’t expecting his surprise night off to include any sort of strenuous exercise, for the time being anyhow, so he didn’t give it a second though, straightening out his jacket before Ian was pulling him down the street, threading through the throngs of people.

“I’m trusting you, Ian,” he called above the conversations of evening strollers, glancing at him with a grin.

They reached their destination before Shiloh could even ask where they were going, and as they stopped in front of the building, lights shining in the fading sun, he turned to Ian, his eyes wide.

“We’re going here?” he asked, his voice raised an octave and very much filled with excitement. “It looks so cool! Is that live music? Oh, Ian…”

One part daring, and another part just too tired to care what other people thought at this point, he threw his arms around Ian, giving him the quickest, most adoring kiss he could manage before it was his turn to tug at Ian’s hand, pulling him inside.

“If I’m your prince, you’re definitely my king. This is so amazing, Ian!”

Granted, Shiloh wasn’t sure exactly what city they were in, the tall buildings and busy streets all melded together for him no matter how many times they’d visited them on leave, on missions. He would have figured it out eventually, had they spent more than a minute outside but as it was, he was far too excited to care about the specifics, too busy admiring the warm lighting of the restaurant’s interior as they found their way inside, Ian right beside him and his hand in his.

He was a prince, to Shiloh, he was a king, he was everything, a kingdom in and of itself. Shiloh followed him across the restaurant to their table, past the hostess and the through the atmosphere of bustling waiters and happy people laughing and chattering over their food. The place smelled delicious and Shiloh drew in a big breath, exhaling with a happy sigh.

“Well, I do love you, you know,” he answered Ian, distracted by the sights and smells by the sound of the music again and he glanced at the stage, nearly vibrating in excitement. Live music, it seemed like something ordinary but Deus lacked restaurants, it lacked live music and friendly atmospheres and Shiloh had almost forgotten the sensation, the music seeping into his bones and right to his very core.

He was beyond excited, as Ian led them to a quieter corner, not that it was quiet but they’d at least be able to hear each other talk, and it was perfect. As was the gentlemanly way Ian pulled out his chair, and Shiloh sat down to a kiss on his head, and his hand lingered around Ian’s as Ian moved to his own seat, letting go only when he had to. He’d hold onto it forever, he thought, but it might make dinner impractical.

“Whatever I want, huh?” Shiloh teased, picking up his own menu and leafing through it. “What if I want everything… Can I get a side of you to go with it?”

He was grinning again, this time challenging Ian with his cheesiness, unable to stop the silly jokes, the immature innuendo.

It was wonderful, he loved it. He loved Ian.

“What’s the Creole Swing?” he asked, looking for it on the menu.

Shiloh hadn’t noticed a thing, Ian’s excitement was so catching that he’d fallen right into the ebb and flow of the atmosphere, swaying in his seat to the music, his eyes torn between scanning the menu, the crowd or across the table to Ian, where his gaze settled warmly, the most genuine sort of smile on his face.

Oh, you’re very, very sweet,” he laughed, beaming at the hint of colour rising in Ian’s cheeks. “Sweet, and silky smooth.”

Shiloh felt very on point himself, though he wasn’t sure why. Maybe it was the suit, maybe it was Ian’s suit, because it was impossible to be anything less than bursting with confidence when in the company of someone who looked that damn good. Not only did he look good, he just was good, in all respects. He treated Shiloh like gold, he made him feel like he was just as rare and special and desired. He lit up his world, and there wasn’t a moment that Shiloh wouldn’t be thankful for him, for every single inch of him, all the way to his heart and soul. His foot found Ian’s beneath the table, gently nudging his foot with his dress shoe, playful and unable to keep to himself.

“Oh, that sounds good, I think I’ll just get that then,” Shiloh said setting the menu down, with a nod a thanks to the waitress as she set their drinks down. Ian slid his over, a Stella of course, and he smiled widely, his face giving away nothing of his fancy footwork beneath the table.

“We can just order now, if you’re ready.”

“To us!” Shiloh agreed gleefully, clinking his beer against Ian’s. “To now, from when to then, to infinity and beyond!”

He’d been grinning like an idiot, and now he was laughing like one too, all before he’d even had a sip of his beer. He took a long swig after their cheers, because there was nothing that he would rather celebrate.

“It’s been a pretty long time now, hasn’t it?” he asked, swirling his beer around in its bottle and watching the millions of tiny bubbles rush to the top. It was weird to think about, to think of the time he first met Ian. It was weird because he felt like he there hadn’t been a time when he didn’t know him, like he’d been there all along. He remembered that very first moment, stumbling upon each other on the beach, newly awoken, fresh-faced and with little idea about what was to come. He’d been more hopeful then, more optimistic but no matter what had passed in the time since then, he could without a doubt say that he definitely hadn’t been happier.

He’d never expected that the man he met on that beach would be the one he was currently romantically play footsies with under a restaurant table but he’d instinctively been drawn to him, time and time again.

“Remember when you braided my hair? Is that why you don’t let me do yours for you anymore? I didn’t think it was that bad… I heard broccoli ponytails are very in these days, and your hair is almost long enough…”

He blew his bangs out of his face, took another swig of his drink and smiled over at Ian.

“I love you, you know.”

Shiloh reached across the table, fingers tracing faintly over Ian’s sleeve. The table was just small enough to be intimate without making eating impossible and Shiloh was grateful for this small detail. He smiled as Ian reminisced, shaking his head when he mentioned the shirt.

“It was hot, okay! Hot! Any guy would have whipped their shirt off,” he laughed, though it tapered as Ian continued, Shiloh remembering their first kiss well. It was amazing how much a year could change. He’d been a very different person then, and that hadn’t been his first kiss but it had been the first one that meant anything, that could have meant anything and he’d been surprised, he’d been hesitant because he’d never done anything like it before.

But above all, he’d liked it. And he had liked Ian, even if the whole experience had left them both a little unsure and confused.

“I didn’t know what to think,” he admitted. “I’d never kissed a guy before and you know, it wasn’t from lack of wanting to, the opportunity just never came about. Well, that and the fact that I was a bit of a baby about the whole thing. I was worried people would find out if I ever did. I worried what they would think. But geeze, when you kissed me, I mean, who wouldn’t want to be kissed by you?”

He smiled again, taking another sip of beer.

“I’m glad you did it, I’m glad we worked out. I kind of want to kiss you again right now, you know, for old time’s sake.”

And he had totally planned to, halfway across the table when the waitress came with impeccable timing with their food and he sat back in his seat, looking amused as she slid the plates across the table.

“Smells delicious,” he said, getting a whiff of the delicious smells wafting from his food. He followed Ian and unrolled his own silverware, placing his napkin in his lap and shooting Ian a grin as he lifted his fork, and dug into the first bite.

“It is delicious,” he sighed happily. “And you could always just have a baby broccoli, I think it’d be pretty cute.”