it's a hell of a journey to sootopolis. admittedly, cian doesn't come here often, but that's mostly because the city and rocket's hold over it doesn't sit well with him.

but he's here for a different reason today.

"thank you."

he steps in, taking in his surroundings before letting his gaze fall back on eli.

"you look nervous."

Elliott Jenkins

☉

Elliott looked back at him, swallowing hard. Was it that obvious? Shit. He needed to calm down.

"I don't... really do this a lot..."

It wasn't often he'd admit something like that to Cian. But he felt like he should be transparent and open with him if this was actually about to happen.

"You can come to my room."

CIAN MAHER

☉

"yeah, me neither."

that's probably among the worst lies he's ever told but he had meant it as a joke to break the tension. he chuckles as well, nodding as he starts heading towards eli's room.

"this is a really nice place. expensive, i imagine."

but that's where the model money comes in, right?

Elliott Jenkins

☉

From the way Cian had talked about previous endeavors before, Elliott was wondering if he was lying or not. But, he didn't question him, for the sake of his own nerves.

Really, he wished he had an eggant berry or something, to get rid of these feelings. Or did he?

"Yeah, it's not really what I wanted. But the company wanted me to have something pretty nice, for home shoots," he said, leading the way to his room.

CIAN MAHER

☉

despite having done this more than a handful of times — flings, one-night stands, etc — he realizes that this isn't quite the same. he's known elliott for most of his life. maybe that's what makes it so daunting.

so, naturally, his own nerves start to build.

"do you have anything to drink?"

he looks back at his friend.

"not water, i mean. alcohol."

Elliott Jenkins

☉

They're both prolonging it at that point. Did they truly want to do this? Elliott's body screamed yes, as he could feel that tightness in his pants that always annoyed him.

His mind kept reminding him that this was Cian. What if Cian made fun of him later? What if Cian didn't want to be friends after this?

"Yeah. Over here."

The trek to the room was abandoned as he walked over to the bar, a small display of liquor and other alcohol open for his choosing.

CIAN MAHER

☉

what are you doing?

this should be no different than all the other times. this isn't different, he tells himself. so fuck the alcohol. fuck the awkwardness.

as elliott turns towards the bar, cian reaches out for his arm and pulls him into a kiss.

Elliott Jenkins

☉

Elliott was intercepted, causing him to grunt with surprise. He opened his mouth to say something, like "what's wrong" or "what are you doing," but he couldn't speak.

Cian's lips were pressed against his again, like they had been in the woods half an hour earlier.

His hand was grabbing onto bare skin, Eli's shirt having been long forgotten on the sticky bark when they left. He grunted, having to catch his footing before he grabbed a hold of Cian's shirt. Pulling him closer, because now that the first move was made, it was easier to continue.

Elliott pressed forward, a deep noise rumbling in his throat as he lost himself in his best friend's kiss.

CIAN MAHER

☉

it's the first step that's always seems the most difficult. but after, when the supposed leap of faith is taken (in this case, a grab of the arm, a kiss), everything just falls into place.

helping elliott, cian shrugs off his shirt, discarding it onto the floor.

he returns the kiss, reaching to undo elliott's belt.

Elliott Jenkins

☉

Elliott had seen Cian shirtless before. But, in this context, it drove him wild. It stroked an animalistic fire that he didn't realize he had as their bare skin touched.

There's a clinking sound, causing him to break from the kiss as his eyes hazily dropped down to watch Cian fumble with the belt buckle. It eventually was release, along with some tension, as he sought his mouth again. His hands did the same, though he struggled as they shook with eagerness.

"Bed... room?"

CIAN MAHER

☉

bedroom? he can't help but grin, shaking his head.

"not yet."

his voice, soft, sultry, brushes against bare skin as he trails kisses down, and down, and down.

they might or might not make it to the bedroom.

Elliott Jenkins

☉

Not yet?

Was Cian inane? A sadist? Eli felt like if he didn't at least sit down somewhere soon, he was going to collapse like sunken jelly and never stand up again. Maybe the whine he let out conveyed such a concern.

Especially the further down he went. He found himself clinging onto Cian by his head, grabbing his hair by the fistful, to find some sort of stability.

CIAN MAHER

☉

cian is neither of those things. he's simply a tease.

eventually, when cian pulls away, he stands back up and starts walking over into the bedroom. he does look back once, over his shoulder, to gesture at eli to follow with his jelly legs.

into the bedroom, then.

Elliott Jenkins

☉