His back was to a mattress, his arms slung around the other's neck, hands clasped like a prayer against the other's upper back. The smell of alcohol and smoke clung heavy to them, panted breaths filled the quiet air.
"Why are you acting so pissy I flirted with her?" Elijah's voice rang out, a playful lilt in his words as he held back laughter, his cheeks flushed from the drinks. His hands trailed away from the back of the other, gently pressing into chest, though not putting up a fight to get the other's body away from him, his fingers slowly curling into the thin fabric of the man's shirt.
"Can I not be upset you interrupted our time together to talk to some tramp?" His companion shot back, a scowl on his face. He seemed to stiffen up as Elijah's hands found their way to his chest, his breathing becoming shallow.
"Oh c'mon, Cy, don't act like you haven't gone off talking to a girl when we were hanging out before," he pointed out, pulling his upper body up ever so slightly, their faces mere centimeters apart.
"That was different, you were already eyeing some chick, I was just returning the favor."
"Returning the favor?"
"Well you glared at me once I started, didn't you?" A laugh escaped him, a hand slowly snaking to hold up the other, pressed at his lower back.
"You noticed that?"
"I notice everything you do, Lijah..."
There was a heavy pause, the air between them slowly feeling oppressive before a soft "Why?" escaped Elijah.
They both knew the answer, it was unspoken for so many months and yet here they were, knowing the truth had to come out for better or for worse. The hand that was once steady against his back Elijah could feel gently tremble as Cyril broke the gaze they had been sharing. A sharp breath cracked the silence, Cyril gritting his teeth.
"I love you, Elijah."