Interspecies Commitment

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#37 of Commissions

Xaro and Jacob deal with the issues that come with their new occupation.


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This story contains scenes of shameless debauchery and blatant depravity. Readers that find it arousing are strongly advised to relieve themselves.

A Halo Fanfiction:

Interspecies Commitment by RVasilCommissioned By: B3atFr3ak

Mornings were difficult.

Trying to fight the urge to get up from bed after a good sleep was probably one of the most challenging things there ever was. Even more so if you were in bed with the love of your life. Xaro and Jacob were there as the sun's rays beamed into their room from the open window. Jacob stirred, moving ever so closer to Xaro in an effort to stay closer to him and savor the moment they had with one another. Xaro for his part let out a light groan as Jacob happened to rub against him. They had slept with him spooning the smaller male and being the virile male that he was, Xaro was left with the throbbing problem of having morning wood.

Jacob knew this. It was one of the things he loved about Xaro. A playful hand drifted downwards underneath the bed sheets to give the swollen piece of flesh a tender rub. Both men slept in the nude, finding it more comfortable. Jacob rested his head on Xaro's chest, finding peace in hearing the Sangheili's beating hearts, and his calm breathing as he continued to slumber. It was only after continued gentle rubbing on the male's engorged flesh did Xaro's breathing pattern change as he awoke from his sleep.

"Morning, sleepy head."

Xaro groaned, his mandibles lightly moving in response.

"Did you have a good dream?" Jacob asked.

It took a moment for Xaro to respond as he was still trying to gather his bearings. "I did," he answered.

"Can you tell me what it was?"

"I forgot already. Besides," he wrapped his arms around Jacob pulling him closer. "This is so much better than my dreams." He planted a loving kiss on Jacob's neck, loving how Jacob tried to squirm away but being unable to. Xaro continued to playfully lick at his lover's neck, with Jacob pretty much unable to keep him away.

"You know we have to get off the bed, right?"

"I do. But you kept rubbing me and now I'm demanding that you finish what you started."

The two tossed and turned in the bed, both of them playfully wrestling with each other for control. Jacob did his best to try and squirm his way out but even he knew it was impossible to overpower a Sangheili. Xaro was just larger than him. It ended up with Xaro laying atop Jacob, mischievously rubbing his now throbbing cock on Jacob's equally excited penis. The size difference between them was immaculate, which was to be expected, but it was one of the many things Jacob loved about Xaro. They were about to get into it more when the phone placed on the bedside table began to ring.

Immediately, the sexual tension in the air died. Despite wanting to continue with their roughhousing for the morning that perhaps would lead to more sexier things, they both knew that they had bigger roles to play. Xaro let out a frustrated sigh and closed his eyes. "You should answer that." It was Jacob's phone after all. Xaro got off Jacob, removing the blanket covering both of them and exposing their naked forms underneath. Xaro stretched his morning body whilst Jacob reached for the phone at his side of the bed and answered it. It wasn't difficult to figure out who it was.

"Yes, I'm awake, what is it?" Jacob asked. "The meeting? What about it? It's been moved? When? To 0900?" Jacob looked at the clock on the wall. He cursed under his breath. "Fine, fine. I'll be there. What about the documents?"

Xaro glanced at his side of the dresser. It held his own communicator, and a badge provided to him by the UNSC. On it was his name and his recognized position: ambassador. He turned around to see Jacob rushing to put some clothes on. "Are you going to be alright?"

"I'm going to be fine." The clock told Xaro that it was 0830. "I'm just annoyed that I can't spend my mornings with you."

"We can always spend time later this afternoon."

"Hopefully!" Jacob went over and gave a peck on Xaro's cheeks. "I'll see you later, alright?"

Xaro smiled, watching Jacob take off while doing his best to button down his dress shirt. Knowing full well the time, Xaro decided to prepare as well for his morning. This was the routine for the both of them now.

A lot has changed over the years. It seemed like it was only yesterday when both of them had easier roles compared to what they were doing now. Xaro was just a shipmaster. Jacob was a combat medic. Both happened to work with one another due to a joint effort created by the UNSC named Task Force 117. The task force was designed in mind to have humans and Sangheilis working with one another, in an effort to help ease the tension that the two species had by showing that it was possible for them to coexist with each other. Against all odds, it succeeded, as the task force helped in subduing Jul Mdama's Covenant and effectively bringing his reign of terror to an end. It also succeeded in proving that Sangheili and humans could work well with each other, with Xaro and Jacob being the prime examples of it.

They were two strangers and two very different species and yet despite their differences, love bloomed. They were a couple now and have been for quite some time. But the thing about relationships was that they were hard to keep secret. Even more so when you were in active duty, like they both were when they started becoming a thing.

Once it got out, the UNSC did its best to capitalize on Xaro and Jacob's relationship. They promoted Jacob to be on a rank on par with Xaro, and marked Xaro as an ambassador for the Sangheili race after ironing things out with the Arbiter. What better way to show how the two species were getting along by showing that despite their differences and history, even something as heartwarming as companionship can take hold. It proved useful, given that although the war was dying down, that didn't mean conflict didn't stop. There were still detractors from both sides. Jul was just one of the many Sangheili who were not keen on having humanity around and the same sentiment could be shared on the other side. Jacob and Xaro had their work cut out for them as ambassadors.

It was an odd transition to say the least. Being an ambassador meant going away from the frontlines and going to the backlines. He traded in his fighting prowess and capability in combat for charisma and diplomacy. If there was one thing that perplexed Xaro, it was wondering how the Arbiter, Thel, was able to do it. Everyone knew his story by now. Thel went from Supreme Commander, to a glorified suicidal one-man army, to a master tactician fighting battles not with swords and guns but with words and diplomacy. It was interesting to see how Thel handled humans. He was always respectful, but never subservient. He knew when to push for his side and want to tactically back down. He was someone Xaro admired, respected, and hoped to emulate, given that his line of work was similar to Thel's now.

Being ambassador had its fair share of challenges. For one thing, while every other alien species didn't seem to care, humanity was the one that seemed to have trouble accepting Xaro and Jacob's relationship. Whenever he and Jacob were taking part of a conference, most questions seemed to veer off into tabloid nonsense, with a select few of the journalists seeming keen on wanting to know about their personal lives. At first it was amusing. But then as it became more common, it felt weird. The idea that a select group of people were interested in knowing about the happenings between two private individuals baffled Xaro. It got to a point that Xaro remembered having to ask Jacob about the matter.

"Is that normal?"

They had just retreated to a private back room, away from the media and press. Xaro could still remember the various flashing lights from the photographers and journalists outside.

"What is?" Jacob asked.

"Being asked questions like that," Xaro clarified. "Why do they seem so interested in wanting to know more about us?"

"It's a novelty thing," Jacob replied. "That and they're the paparazzi." He shrugged. "You have to cut them some slack. Between the war with the Covenant, and then the war with Jul's Covenant, this is perhaps the brightest thing they could actually report on in quite a while that isn't related to the war and isn't about the latest thing some celebrity back on Earth or whatever said."

The word was lost on Xaro. "Fafarazzi?" Xaro struggled to speak the word given his unique mouth structure.

Jacob tried to think of the best way to explain this alien concept to Xaro. "Paparazzi. It's like being a journalist except their whole job is to know everything about you."

"And humans find this entertaining? Isn't that an invasion of privacy?"

"You'd be surprised at how much people would pay to know everything there is about you."

"The more I learn about humans, the more I'm surprised how you continue to thrive as a species."

Then again, Xaro's exposure to humans were mainly from the UNSC, which were trained and military individuals and were not exactly the best representation of humanity as they were just a facet of it. These 'paparazzi' and the civilians that were now slowly becoming a part of his circle of demographics were the true face of humanity. They were a mixed crowd. Some were eager to talk with him, expressing vested interest in learning about his culture. These people were primarily from the academic side. Once the UNSC and the Swords of Sanghelios were able to iron out a treaty, the scholars were the first people they deployed to the keep states who were interested in having foreign visitors.

The other side however kept to themselves. These were the wary politicians, influential tradesmen, and from what Xaro could understand, leaders unsure of this setup they had going on. It was all politics for Xaro and he could not be bothered to keep track of it all. He was not made for this. He longed for the simplicity of it all. He was a warrior. Fighting was all he knew and he was damn good at it. That and being with Jacob. Being an ambassador proved not only to be a challenge for him in roleplaying as a diplomat, but also being a lover for Jacob. Because he needed to appear in many conferences, was asked his opinion on matters he frankly felt under-experienced to speak on, and other important duties, he was unable to find the time to be with Jacob. It placed a strain on their relationship. Or at least, to him it felt so. They probably spent more time apart than they spent time together combined when they first started becoming a thing.

It felt wrong. The same way he felt with his current position. While he knew what he was doing was important, he didn't find joy in it. He felt empty, knowing there wasn't a fight to be had anymore. He wasn't an inherently violent being but he himself knew his species knew nothing but war their entire lives. This was made more prominent in the problems he had to deal with. Most of the meetings he was involved in revolved around the issues the keeps were having. During the time of the Covenant, the SanShyuum, or the Prophets, were the ones in charge in making things flow like a well oiled machine. They dictated what foods to grow, how to transport them efficiently, and what role each Keep had to play. The resulting fallout that happened when the Covenant dispersed destroyed all of this and they were now forced to pick up the pieces and start over again, without the 'guidance' of the Prophets. The Keeps admittedly lack the manpower to attend to their basic livestock and because there were more mouths to feed, resources were scarce. They never really had this problem before because most Sangheili were deployed to fight in a war. Now that there was no war, everyone was at home. There were a lot of fighters milling about, and there were not enough Sangheili who knew the basics of agriculture.

Xaro's job was to make sure that the bored warriors didn't cause too much trouble and didn't get it into their heads that the best way to get more resources was to take it from the ones who have it: the humans. Again, this was all politics. He didn't want any of this. But today was a day like any other. Another meeting lined up, another press conference to attend. Xaro was hoping that today was going to be a quick one, a fact that he was beginning to wish more and more these days.

The press conference involved him and Jacob, thankfully enough. They were there to inaugurate the creation of a Sangheili embassy. It was a show of good faith that the Sangheili were willing to follow through with their alliance with humanity. The typical people were there: politicians, soldiers, press; anyone who was important enough for this sort of thing popped up. A group of civilians were even invited to the event. Xaro had seen enough press conferences that the novelty of it had worn off on him. Even the joy of it. Jacob was there, looking amazing as usual in his dress clothes. Jacob gave a speech, standing in front of the crowd, raised a few feet off the ground so that everyone around the room could see him. Xaro was hanging back. He was just a presence there. He didn't need to say anything. His eyes scanned the crowd, a habit he developed to help cure his boredom.

Unfortunately, he missed the group that made themselves known.

"Hey!"

Everyone's eyes darted towards the direction of the sudden interruption. A group of masked men armed with pistols pointed their weapon at Jacob who was caught off guard.

"You may happily bend over to get fucked in the ass by these hingeheads! But you can't expect all of us to go down with you! Die fucker!"

Xaro moved before it could even register in his mind. Perhaps it was the years of training inside of him. One moment he was lethargically leaning on the wall, minding his own business. The next thing he knew, he was sprinting full tilt towards the stage. He jumped, just as the sound of the gun firing echoed across the area. His body collided with Jacob, hoping to cover him from the oncoming pistol shot. Their two bodies dropped onto the floor, accompanied by the entire place erupting into chaos. Soldiers wrestled with the terrorists and a scuffle soon happened. Xaro didn't care however. All that mattered was that Jacob was alright.

Was he though?

"Jacob!" Xaro cried out, looking down at the frail human he shielded with his body. Jacob was caught off guard, his eyes were wide opened, but he otherwise looked unharmed. Xaro never felt more relieved in his entire life. Before he could do anything else however, the guards in the room approached the both of them, and informed them to vacate the area.

It was when they were placed in a side room did the gravity of the situation fully settle on for Xaro. The resulting pressure he had been holding back burst at full energy, and he was enraged. His body felt hot and his blood boiled. Jacob was seated at the nearby chair, being examined by a doctor to make sure he was fine.

"I'm fine," Jacob cried out. "Just a bit of a bruise when Xaro tackled me to the floor, but other than that, I'm alright. I'm a doctor, for Christ's sake. I know my own body."

His attention turned to Xaro who was fuming at the side of the room. He looked like he was ready to pounce on someone. "Xaro, are you alright?" By this point, the examining doctor had left the room, leaving them both by their lonesome.

"Am I alright?" he asked. "No! I am not alright!" he shouted, his voice sounding louder. He reached into his back pocket and took out an energy sword. It caught Jacob off guard. "Now that I at least know you are fine, I must leave and take care of these bastards. They will pay for what they have done!"

"You will do no such thing!" Jacob said, grabbing hold of Xaro's arm, preventing him from triggering the dangerous blade.

"Why not?!"

"We cannot risk making an incident."

"An incident?! This is already an incident! They tried to kill you!"

"They did."

"And you're calm about this?!"

"I'm a combat medic. I'm not a stranger to the idea of someone shooting at me."

"How do you have the wit..." Xaro stopped, taking a moment to breathe. He looked at Jacob seriously. "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't go out there and gut them to pieces."

"Because it would look bad for us." Jacob sighed. He then clarified his position, knowing that Xaro was still not convinced. "We know the reason why they attacked. They clearly made that notion clear."

"They do not like our union, Jacob. I cannot stand this insult."

"I can see that." Jacob smiled. "And I'm glad that you care so much. But we have to be better," Jacob reasoned. "There will always be detractors. The reason we're here is to make sure these people will be laughed out of the room. If we try to fight them at their level, it'll just be a messy ordeal for everyone involved."

Xaro's grip on his energy sword handle loosened. He eventually pocketed it, making Jacob visibly relax. "I do not understand how you are able to keep a calm head amidst all of this."

"I'm a doctor, Xaro. Dealing with snooty professors asking you to revise your paper because of one small grammatical error and that they happened to feel a change in the wind in the day is hell compared to this." Jacob held Xaro tight. "I know that you want to fight them. I do. But that will just be against what we're trying to accomplish here."

"Sometimes I wonder what we're even trying to accomplish anymore," Xaro said. "I do not feel like myself. I am not made for this, Jacob. Diplomacy is not something I am good at. I don't think Sangheili ever were."

"And yet you're still here, right?"

"Because you're here."

Jacob smiled. "Perhaps we just need a break from it all."

"I would like for it to stop entirely if I'm being honest."

"That's a harder request to fulfill given our circumstances. But we could most likely use the break."

Taking a break was easy considering everything that had happened thus far. The attempt at Jacob's life was news all over and served only to stoke the fire that was slowly burning. Some took it as a call to action. Others used it to emphasize the importance of cooperation. Jacob was attacked at an event signifying peace. He and what he represented wasn't the problem here. And that was the hard hitting aspect that the media focused on. It was a circus more or less, and Jacob was frankly thankful the UNSC opted to cancel all future media gatherings in the meantime until it all blew over. This freed up his schedule, letting both him and Xaro time to breathe.

Xaro in his part made sure to punish the ones who took an attempt at Jacob's life to the fullest extent of the law. If it was up to him, he would rather face them in a one on one duel, as it was Sangheili tradition. But the human council stepped in and convinced him it was unnecessary. Seeing the detractors get sentenced to prison was unfortunately the only satisfaction he was going to get. And here he was looking forward to slicing them into microscopic pieces. An attack on the life of your lover was not something Sangheili took in stride.

With their diplomatic duties temporarily suspended given what happened, Jacob used this chance to make due on the break he and Xaro so desperately needed. It took a while but once preparations were set, the UNSC was happy to grant him leave of duties in light of recent events. He knew just the perfect place to bring both himself and Xaro to get away from it all.

Viperion was a small colony situated at the Asul Draconis System. It was mostly kept off the records and only known by a select handful of people. Many who come across its redacted file wondered what its primary purpose was. Some speculate that it's a planet where an ONI laboratory was located. Others think it's just one of the many planets the UNSC has had on file that it happened to scan at one point in time; the redacted entries were just a result of the file being corrupted. In truth, however, the planet wasn't as exciting and farfetched as the wild theories around it. After the war, and once peace treaties were signed and observed, the UNSC and the Swords of Sanghelios designated the planet as a mutual recreational ground of sorts. It was a place where both species could go and relax, away from the eyes of the public, and most importantly, away from bad actors.

Most of the people that visited Viperion were individuals of higher ranks; people at the top brass. Politicians and wealthy tradesmen had access to it as it was the place where they could converse with their Sangheili counterparts to possibly foster a deal for the benefit of both. This was also the place where marines who were grouped up in a mixed species squadron would choose to spend their shoreleave. Ideally it was the best place to do team building with your Sangheili companions as it accommodated both equally.

This was where Jacob opted to take his vacation.

And invited Xaro to go along with him.

"So this is your idea of a vacation?" Xaro asked as both of them stepped off the cruiser and were carrying their respective luggage. Both traveled light, carrying only their dress attire and a few personal effects. It felt weird for Xaro to be dressed so lightly. The only times he was ever dressed this way was when he was at the comfort of his own home back at Sanghelios. Any other place and he was dressed either in full gear and armed to the teeth, or was in formal attire ready to mingle and socialize.

"Yes," Jacob answered, looking outwards onto the beach. The waves were calm and were crashing gently onto the shore. A few people were already enjoying themselves. An intense session of volleyball was happening at a far distance. "Do Sangheili even know what vacations are?"

"No, actually," Xaro truthfully answered. "Prior to all of this, our entire lives revolved around the notion of finding the Holy Rings and activating them to attain godhood. We only rested when we either achieved our goal or when we were dead."

"So you never stopped doing...Covenant stuff?"

"Never did. The only respite I ever had were the downtimes between missions; when the prophets took to studying and understanding the ancient relics we uncovered and tried to find meaning in all of it.

"What about during slipspace jumps?"

"Our slipspace jumps were far more accurate compared to how you humans did it. The travel time was significantly shorter. What little respite we had was used to prepare and train for the upcoming fights we would have."

"I thought I was a dull boy. Well, in any case, this is the break you and I could definitely use. And stop looking around. We're safe here. Majority of the people here are UNSC crewmen and a few select Sangheili who opted to help maintain the place. We're not going to be in danger here."

Xaro sighed. "I'm sorry. I'm still a bit on edge after everything."

"It's fine. That's why we're here. To get your mind off things."

The two continued onwards, eventually arriving at the reception to get themselves checked in. After a few biometrics, they were handed their keys and directed to their lodging, a small cabin at the east side of the island they were on. The cabins themselves were neatly spaced apart and often unoccupied. In this particular situation, it was just Jacob and Xaro by themselves at their particular side of the island. It was quiet, spacious, and private. They practically had the place all to themselves. The cabin itself wasn't anything special, but the fact that it was on solid ground and in a proper natural atmosphere helped get the two in the proper mood for things. Having to travel around so often for their occupation meant that the majority of their time was spent inside ships. The constant humming of the lights accompanied by the buzzing of the engines made for white noise that would bore into your skull unless you got used to it pretty quick. Here, those mechanical noises of distraction were long gone, replaced by the calm sound of the waves and the natural breeze of the air.

It was odd to think that Xaro could actually hear himself think without having to actively try.

"Want to go for a swim?" Jacob asked. The man was taking clothes out from his bag and one of the pieces of clothing he had on him was his swimming trunks.

"Uh..."

"Come on, it'll be fun."

It was hard to resist when Jacob pouted. "Alright, fine."

A few moments later, both Jacob and Xaro were out by the beach, taking the path down the sandy steps and eventually into the sandy white shores. The sky was decorated with streaks of orange as the sun was slowly setting over into the horizon. Out in the distance, a boat traveled through the water, dragging along a group of overly excited vacationers that were strapped onto a banana boat. Xaro glanced at his side when Jacob passed by. Seeing him in his swimsuit reminded him of that time they got to spend together with the Arbiter. By now, Jacob jumped into the water and was happily splashing around.

"What are you staring at? Come on!"

Xaro followed after him, a mix between a jog and a sprint in his steps. The sand underneath his legs crunch under his huge weight. He eventually hit the water, rushing by Jacob and playfully splashing at him. Jacob took this as a challenge and splashed back. A competition then started between the two as they haphazardly threw water at each other. For the first time in what seemed like forever, Xaro forgot his troubles. He didn't have to worry about what he was going to do. He didn't have to worry about what he was going to say. He didn't have to worry about the next delegation he needed to attend. He didn't even have to worry about the next group of people he would need to make a speech in front of. At that moment in time spent with Jacob, nothing mattered except the time they shared.

The horseplay eventually relented and the two opted to swim around and enjoy the cool waters of the sea. Xaro floated over to Jacob who was lightly swimming in one particular area.

"There are fish here!" he cried out, looking around himself. A few alien but familiar looking fishes were swimming around the human, curious but ultimately uninterested in the body invading their personal space.

"Huh, would you look at that," Xaro said, eyeing the fishes in the water. One looked like it had rainbow colors on it for its scales.

"Do you guys have fish on Sanghelios?"

"We do," Xaro answered. "But most of them are bigger and meaner."

"You make it sound like swimming in your oceans is deadly."

Xaro waved a dismissive hand. "ah, no, it's nothing we can't handle."

The two eventually moved back to the shore, grabbing one of the towels they had prepared ahead of time to dry themselves off. They opted to sit by the sand, watching the gentle crashing of the waves along with the setting of the sun over the horizon.

"It's beautiful." Jacob said, looking towards the sea.

"It is," Xaro said, looking at Jacob.

"And to think, if we hadn't stopped you guys, we'd all be dead by now."

"I mean, you're not wrong." He pulled Jacob close to him and placed his head atop the human's. "I wish we could stay like this forever."

"You and me both," Jacob answered. "But you and I both know that what we're doing is just as important. Which is why we need to make the most of the time we have."

As if to emphasize his point, his stomach let out a low growl audible to the both of them. "And I think that means it's time for dinner."

0=0=0=0=0=0

It was a short while later that the two found themselves at the dinner pavilion, mingling with other guests as they enjoyed a quiet meal. Gentle music was playing, and the food offerings were a mix of both human delicacy as well as Sangheili ones. Both of which were made sure to be safe to consume for either species. Xaro helped himself to a modest meal while Jacob took this chance to fill up his plate with food that he so dearly missed. Both sat themselves at their table and enjoyed the calm atmosphere.

"Slow down," Xaro said, watching as Jacob helped himself to his meal.

"Sorry."

The two continued to eat, with Xaro eventually finishing his meal. He grabbed a napkin to wipe off the excess from his mouth when he realized that a piece of meat had stuck itself to one of his teeth. He was about to try and get it off of him when Jacob intervened for him.

"Here, let me do it for you." Jacob said, grabbing a napkin and reaching over. The human easily grabbed hold of the dangling food piece and cleaned it off of him.

Xaro smiled. "Thank you." Whether Jacob knew what he did or what it meant didn't matter. The fact that he did it did. And that made Xaro feel like falling in love again with the human.

Once the meal was over, the gentle music switched to that of a happy tune, enticing a few of the guests to dance their problems away. Xaro wasn't one for dancing. He may very well be a well versed combatant, but his rhythm came up short whenever he needed to be in sync to music. It was an oddity to be sure, but one that he never really had to worry about until now.

"Come on, it'll be fun!" Jacob said, lightly tugging at his dance partner.

Xaro wanted nothing more than to go back to his seat at the dinner table. But Jacob was like an excitable animal: full of energy and hard to resist. Jacob gave him the confidence he needed to find their spot in the dance floor and have fun with each other. Everyone had a blast, dancing to the rhythm. Most danced terribly. Dancing wasn't exactly part of military training but at this point, no one was judging. It was nice to see Jacob smile and be happy, a sight that Xaro never wished would end. The music transitioned to that of a slow tune. A few of the dancers exited, leaving the people who were in relationships to stay in the center. Jacob and Xaro were one of the couples who remained, with Jacob taking hold of Xaro's hands to get them into position.

"I am not familiar with this style of dancing," Xaro said, admittedly feeling nervous at making a fool of himself.

Jacob let out a light laugh. "Neither am I. But I'm sure we can improvise."

Xaro let Jacob take the lead, their movement first at odds with one another before eventually finding a solid rhythm that they both can be in sync with. Left foot, right foot, it was a slow pace but neither was in any rush. They enjoyed each other's company and the music allowed both of them to feel they were in their own world. Jacob rested his head on Xaro's chest as they slowly turned around on the dance floor. "Thanks for being here with me."

"You're welcome," Xaro responded. "I'm more than happy to be always here for you."

Jacob remained quiet, letting the moment pass for both of them. The pair eventually moved away from the center dance floor and into a private affair as they both headed back to their cabin to rest for the evening. Jacob was unusually quiet while they headed back, and it made Xaro wonder if he had done something wrong. It was when they were in the privacy of their room did Xaro voice his question out loud.

"Is something the matter, Jacob?"

Jacob took a seat on the sofa and Xaro joined him. "I'm alright. I was just thinking."

"About what?"

"About us," Jacob answered. "I'm happy and I love you, Xaro. But at times, I just worry if I'm ever good enough for you."

The whiplash caught Xaro off guard. He and Jacob were having the time of their life earlier and now Jacob was telling him that he was feeling inferior. "What are you saying?"

Jacob looked like he was at a loss for words. "I don't know. I guess I'm just...I don't feel as young anymore. I feel slow, sluggish even. The only reason I didn't get shot at the conference was because you dove in to save me. Normally my instincts and reflexes would have carried me there but it was practically nonexistent."

"You haven't been in battle for a while. It's expected."

"It shouldn't be. My partner is a top class warrior and I can barely flinch fast enough to save my life."

Xaro pulled Jacob close in his arms. "You are a top class warrior. And anyone who says otherwise will be met with a stiff talking to and possibly an energy sword forcibly sheathed in their body."

"That's comforting to hear. I was worried you were beginning to get tired of having me around."

Xaro looked appalled. "Perish the thought! Never speak of that again, Jacob. You are the most important thing in my life now. I can't even imagine not having you around."

Jacob then let out a light laugh.

"What's so funny?"

"We're acting as if we're dating for the first time."

Xaro shrugged. "We might as well be. Given how hectic our schedule has been for a while now, the only time we ever spend together is when we're in the same conference. Beyond that, we're just too busy to do anything else."

"Even fuck to be honest."

"That is...very true. The constant interruptions have been a major annoyance for me, I can attest to that."

"What do you mean?"

"It's hard to think of work when you're left wanting."

Jacob looked at Xaro. "I get that we haven't been fucking but you haven't been taking care of yourself?"

Xaro shook his head. "It's not the same, Jacob. Your body is...it has ruined me.."

"I'm beginning to think that it was my ass that made you fall in love with me and not necessarily my charming personality."

"I'm not sure. Would you mind it if I can check just to make sure?"

Jacob and Xaro smiled mischievously at each other. It seemed the evening was about to get more interesting. "I'd be more than delighted, Xaro."

The two leaned in close to one another, before their lips met and they began to kiss. Well, kiss as best they could. It was difficult for their very different anatomies but they've made it work over the amount of time they've spent with one another. Jacob would basically press his lip to one of Xaro's mandibles and after a short moment, Xaro would return the favor, lightly nibbling on Jacob's lips with the tip of his hinged jaws. It wasn't a direct contact as most lovers would share, but it was the thought that counts and for them, that was enough.

Perhaps it was the heat of the moment or the alcohol coursing their veins. Whichever it was, both felt more spurned on than ever before. Their hands roamed all over, eagerly feeling each other up. The two only took a moment's pause to help undress one another. Jacob's fingers meticulously undid the buttons on Xaro's dress clothes, revealing his bare form underneath. His fingers lightly tapped on the Sangheili's leathery skin, loving the rough texture on his bare body. Xaro for his part admired Jacob's smooth chest. He playfully squeezed one of the human's pectorals, earning him a light laugh. Xaro decided to take the initiative, pushing Jacob onto the sofa. He leaned down, planting sweet kisses on the man's bare form.

"I've missed this so much," he said, between heated breaths.

"You can take your time," Jacob responded. "We're in no rush."

"I know. That's why I want to make the most of it."

Xaro continued going lower and lower, switching from kisses to playful bites. He bit down, not hard enough to pierce, but more than enough to leave a mark. It was something Jacob was caught off guard at first but eventually came to take a liking to. There was something carnal at the idea of his partner leaving a mark on him. Xaro lowered himself even further, stopping at his partner's crotch, still constrained by the man's dress pants. Xaro thankfully had enough patience and self control at the moment not to rip the article of clothing to tattered shreds. A minute or so later, Jacob's pants were thrown to the wayside, leaving him in his underwear that did little to hide his impending excitement.

Jacob was surprised at the direction things were going. In their sex escapades, it was normally him doing this sort of thing; he would be the one servicing Xaro. But it seemed Xaro had other ideas for the evening. Jacob was just happy to be part of it. The feeling of the Sangheili's mouth on his cock was a sensation that was hard to replicate. It was one of those things you had to experience to fully comprehend. You would think that shoving your cock down a mouth filled with jagged teeth would be dangerous and leaving you with a serious problem but it was the opposite of that. It was a medical mystery how Sangheili did it. They were amazing in oral sex and had the ability to not hurt their partner when taking them orally. How was something Jacob still never knew to this day.

That and thinking while someone was sucking your very soul through your erect penis was a difficult matter. All the blood in his head was going through his lower region. "T-take it easy," Jacob said, the spikes of pleasure making his breathing pick up pace. "Had I known you were going to do this, I would have cleaned up more."

Xaro stopped his actions just enough to respond to his partner. "Jacob, I will ravish you no matter what. Your body is a temple and I find it very, very alluring. Your fur feels soft against my thick hide."

Hearing someone refer to body hair as fur felt odd but Jacob wasn't even in the mood to correct Xaro on that one. Especially when Xaro decided to increase his sucking tenfold. With their physiology being so radically different from humans, Xaro was blessed with not having a gag reflex. He took the entirety of Jacob down like it was nothing. Watching his partner go down on him was both hot and envious as Jacob wished he could reciprocate the same way. He could, but it needed to be slow and methodical. Taking cues from what Jacob did to him, Xaro reached outwards to fondle Jacob's ballsack. He squeezed, rubbed, and tugged at them, accentuating his partner's pleasure. Jacob's pleasure built and built and it wasn't long until he was a panting mess. He was sweating all over and he had to steady himself on the sofa. His lower half was lightly pushing forward into Xaro's open mouth.

"I don't think I can..."

That was when Xaro did something that Jacob had never seen him do before. It was hard to put into words. The best he could describe was that the Sangheili purred. Or was it roared? Xaro made his throat vibrate, or something very close to it. Jacob would have been more curious to know more about it if it weren't for the fact that his dick felt like it was in the most expensive feeling fleshlight in the world. The vibrations reverberated across his crotch and overwhelmed his senses. His sentence devolved to that of a mumbling incoherent mess that was a cross between a plea for more to that of someone begging the other to not stop. The focused stimulation was more than enough to push him over the edge.

Jacob cried out, his balls tightening up alongside his cock as it spurted loads of cum down Xaro's gullet. The first of many if Xaro had anything to say about it. Xaro swallowed it all down like a champ, noting the sweet yet bitter aftertaste. Human cum tasted different from that of a Sangheili but it was still worthwhile all the same. Xaro held his partner down whilst their entire body convulsed. The waves of sensation crashed throughout Jacob's body. It probably lasted for a solid minute or so before he came down from his high. He was breathing heavily, his chest moving up and down, and his vision blurred before focusing once more. He could see Xaro looking at him, wiping the sides of his mouth.

"That was..."

"Conserve your energy," Xaro said. "This is only the beginning."

Jacob gulped, looking down to realize the unmistakable bulge in the Sangheili's dress pants. There was a certain fire in Xaro's eyes. One that Jacob knew would leave him feeling sore and aching all over the next day. He was already looking forward to it. Xaro got off the sofa, scooping Jacob up in his arms and carrying the human to the bedroom. He didn't even wait for his partner to get his bearings. The moment they were on the bed, they went back to it like rabid animals. Xaro and Jacob's face was pressing to one another like two magnets. They only stopped kissing so they could catch their breath.

"You really...you really weren't kidding, huh?" Jacob said, surprised at the vigor Xaro was showing.

"No, I am not," Xaro said commandingly. He got on top of Jacob and placed his hands on the human's shoulders, squarely pushing him down. "I made sure to give you the pleasure you need to prepare you for what is to come, Jacob."

"And that is?"

"I am going to fuck you."

"I thought that was the plan?"

"No, Jacob. What I mean is, I am going to fuck you," Xaro repeated. He leaned in close, their faces barely an inch away from one another. "I have yearned for you and the constant interruptions have left me nearly going feral. I am going to breed you, Jacob. You are going to be sore tomorrow morning. I am sorry but I am not asking this. I hope you understand." Xaro then paused, thinking for a moment then added, "I might not even be done with you by the time the sun begins to peek over the horizon."

Jacob was left speechless at the admission. He was well aware of how little action both of them were getting. But this was something else entirely. He was always up for a challenge however. "Let's not waste time then."

Xaro went on the offensive, rolling Jacob onto his stomach and having him spread both of his legs. Jacob wondered what was going on up until he felt the slick wetness of a tongue slobber itself against his inner thighs. Xaro was gentle, careful to not hurt him but having clear intent. He traced the sides of the man's thighs, making his way closer and closer to the pink star that he knew for sure would be given a thorough workout throughout this entire escapade. Xaro used his tongue to playfully lap at the corner of Jacob's ass, slowly teasing him and giving him a taste of what was to come. The foreplay was driving Jacob mad. He had ejaculated earlier but already he could feel his second wind coming. His body was heating up once more and he was left having to grab hold of the bedsheets as Xaro decided to fuck him with his tongue.

This went on for a solid bit, with Xaro eating out his lover without a care in the world. It was only when Jacob was becoming annoyed at Xaro taking so long to get to the main event did Xaro relent. His plan was working. His goal was to make Jacob desperate for it. It made it all the more better. He made Jacob hike his ass up and then began to align himself. He plopped his now fully engorged cock onto the human's delectable buns. The heat that radiated from it made Jacob sweat from anticipation. He wondered if he could take it.

"W-wait!" Jacob said. Xaro was caught off guard by the statement. "I need to go grab something."

Xaro wondered where Jacob was going when he went to the bathroom. He got out a moment or so later and handed a bottle to Xaro. The Sangheili recognized it as lubrication. Jacob got into position once more, hiking his ass and presenting it fully to his partner. "I figured we'd need it just to be sure."

Xaro nodded, opening the bottle up and spreading a healthy dollop of it both on his erect cock and on Jacob's backside. The cool liquid made things slippery, making it easy for what they both knew was coming next. With preparations out of the way, the main event was in order. Xaro teased his cock in, letting the tip kiss the entrance of Jacob's hole. Jacob hissed, angry at making him wait. He was about to scold Xaro once more when the Sangheili pushed inward and spread him wide open. Whatever he was going to say was drowned out and Jacob momentarily lost vision for a few seconds or so. By the time he regained his five senses, his body felt limp and he was face first into the bed. His ass was only kept in position by Xaro holding it firmly there while his cock was inside of him. And he wasn't even fully in yet.

"Jacob, are you alright?"

Jacob found it difficult to speak so he figured to respond with the universal thumbs up. He was more than alright. He felt like he was in heaven. Perhaps this was what happened when someone was unable to have sex in quite a while. Their body forgets the feeling of pleasure so when they experience it once more, they are overwhelmed. Their senses flooded with new found sensation and their bodies racked completely by electrifying pleasure. Either that or Jacob just really, really, liked taking it up the ass and once you go Sangheili cock, you can never go back. Not even the most expensive sex toy in the galaxy could ever dare to compare.

Xaro for his part was loving it just as much as Jacob was. He fit inside him perfectly. Or maybe that was the case after repeated fucking. Whichever the case was, he slid in, filling every space imaginable for the human and then some. He loved the way Jacob's body would cling onto him, squeezing him in a tight vice like grip. The pressure was immense and the pleasure was immaculate. The two stayed in position for a solid minute, letting both adjust to their current situation. It was a solid minute or so afterwards when Xaro began his thrusts. Slow and methodical, he wanted to savor this moment. Back and forth, his hips grinded against Jacob's backside as started a rhythm of moving in and out. He made sure to leave a portion of himself inside Jacob before going back in. There was never a moment where Jacob wasn't filled with his cock. Xaro wanted to emphasize that this was what Jacob was missing all this time.

The two lovers connected after having been separated for so long. It was a moment both savored and hoped would last. The rhythm picked up and both got into the swing of things. Jacob was matching Xaro's pace, moving in sync with him. At times the pleasure would be too intense however, resulting with him shaking somewhat erratically. He would end up pushing back, crashing his backside into Xaro's hips. Xaro grabbed hold of Jacob, both to steady his partner and himself as his speed picked up. He wanted nothing more than to keep breeding. It was even getting to that point where he was forgetting who Jacob was. His mind was overcome with a feral instinct. His vision blurred. His senses dulled. Nothing but the pang of pleasure coursed through his body. Time seemed to blur for both of them. Jacob shifted from cries of pleasure, to someone demanding more for Xaro to give. One moment, Xaro was fucking Jacob from behind with the latter on all fours, ass hiked up and being ravaged by his respective lover. The next thing they knew, both were laying on the bed, and Xaro was spooning Jacob from behind. The Sangheili supported Jacob's legs with his firm hands and was still hitting him perfectly without skipping a beat.

"Your body is perfect for me, Jacob," Xaro said in between thrusts. He momentarily stopped to plant tender loving kisses on the back of Jacob's neck. It was something Jacob admittedly found odd, but secretly enjoyed. Xaro's kisses on the back of his neck were akin to that of a love bite. Whenever they got too heated, Xaro would end up biting a bit too hard, leaving him scars that weren't outright visible, but there upon closer inspection. Jacob thought of them as marks of possession, and carried them with pride.

Jacob shivered, feeling the light nibble of Xaro's teeth. That was when Xaro felt Jacob's body shiver. A healthy dollop of pre squirted out from his rigid cock. Jacob tried to say something but words failed him. He just ended up muttering incoherent nonsense. Xaro took this as a sign that he was doing something right. He derived a carnal sense of pleasure in seeing his lover be reduced to a bubbling mess whenever he fucked them. It meant that he was doing a great job and his partner was having the time of their life.

Xaro alternated between fast and hard, to slow and loving. It kept Jacob guessing and wondering what he was going to do next. Xaro even went so far to stop completely, opting to kiss the back of Jacob's neck to allow both of them a brief respite. It wasn't long however. Just enough to catch their breath. And then it was back to fucking once more. Jacob was understandably annoyed at this. Xaro was ramming him perfectly in the backside to the point where he felt he could blow at any moment. But whenever that feeling was just right there, Xaro would stop and switch it up. The human swore his lover was doing this on purpose. Thankfully though, Jacob didn't have to wait much longer. Both them were nearing the end of their rope and the finale was right up the alley.

As much of an amazing lover Xaro was however, his stamina wasn't infinite. The tell tale signs of his balls tightening and that familiar twinge in his crotch told him that he was nearing his end. He didn't even bother to warn Jacob. The man was far too busy being wracked by his own orgasm. Jacob was in the midst of his own climax, having reached it without ever having to touch himself. The human practically vibrated almost violently. The sheer power of his climax made him cry out. Jacob's cock sprayed spurts of white hot cum all over his chest and onto the bed sheets. Xaro could feel Jacob's ass grip his cock like a tight vice in response. It was an explosive orgasm, and it was enough to bring Xaro to his end as well. In tune to the beat of his two hearts, his first ejaculation was a copious jet of fresh seed deep into Jacob's bowels. It was then followed by another, then another. Spurt after spurt, the Sangheili emptied himself into his lover, filling every possible nook and cranny there ever was. Amidst all of this, his thrusts were firm and true, making the process even easier as the excessive cum proved to be a very good source of lubrication. Xaro's eyes briefly blurred. There was a moment where he couldn't see anything due to the sheer power of his orgasm. His body shook, going from his head down to the tips of his toes. His high lasted for what felt like a solid minute or so. Eventually, his senses came back to him, finally able to comprehend his surroundings after the overwhelming amount of information it needed to understand. By the end of it, both were panting heavily, hearts beating rapidly as they tried to regain their composure.

It was ultimately Jacob that broke the silence.

"Fuck."

Xaro let out a light chuckle. He pulled Jacob close. Sensing he was about to pull out, Jacob stopped him. "No, wait," he said. "I...I like it when you have it in me."

Xaro smiled and spooned Jacob from behind. He held him close, making sure to inch himself forward to make sure their point of union was more secure than ever. "You can say that again. I love being inside you."

"Fuck," Jacob repeated. He then let out a sigh. "I don't think I can feel my legs."

"I did warn you."

"I'm not complaining." Jacob closed his eyes. The warmth of Xaro's seed radiated from inside of him. Excess bits of it were leaking out from his ass. "I think...I think I need a glass of water."

Xaro wrapped his hands around Jacob, pulling him into a tight embrace. "Can we just stay like this for a bit?"

Jacob nodded. "Of course."

"Thank you."

The two felt content to lay in bed. They were messy, they were sweaty, and they frankly should have gotten up to help clean themselves up but they opted not to. They were just happy to be in each other's company. Evidently, Jacob opted to switch positions. He wanted to face his lover. Xaro had to remove himself to allow Jacob to roll over and face him. Jacob playfully traced circles on the Sangheili's bare chest, taking note of the scars that were on his body. Xaro watched Jacob's expression, seeing it go from pleased to full of thought.

"Is something the matter?" Xaro asked.

"I was just thinking."

"About what?"

Jacob paused for a bit before saying what was ultimately on his mind. "Have you ever thought about marriage?" That was when he paused again, only now wondering if the concept was even a thing with the Sangheili. Most, if not all, of the Sangheili he met personally were all single. Or at least he assumed they were. None of them ever talked about their personal lives enough to mention a significant other.

"Wait, before that, do Sangheili even get married?"

Xaro let out an amused laugh. "I believe you are asking me the practice of being committed to one partner?"

"Yes."

"Then yes, we do get married. That is one of the things we share despite being very different species. And to answer your original question, yes, the thought has entered my mind once in a while. Why do you ask, Jacob?"

Maybe it was the heat of the moment. Maybe it was the fact that he was still inebriated from all the alcohol they had drunk earlier that evening. Or maybe it was the fact that he was still coming down from his high of getting his brains scrambled by the fucking he had received earlier. Whichever the case was, Jacob popped the question without much thought put into it.

"Do you want to get married?"

If you had asked Jacob if this was how he pictured himself proposing to someone: hot and sweaty from steamy sex, cum dripping from his ass, his legs barely registering in his brain, and his backside aching to the point he'd need to down some ibuprofen to even sit down, he would have called the police on you. But life had a way of surprising you. What made it even more amusing was Xaro's nonchalance answer that followed.

"I mean, we already act like a married couple."

"Well yeah. But I guess I've always wanted it to be official of sorts. Most people wouldn't even bother nowadays but I suppose I'm an old soul like that."

Xaro embraced Jacob. "I'd be more than happy to be married to you, Jacob." The two shared a brief tender kiss. Somehow Jacob pictured this moment to be more magical. Then again, having mind blowing sex with the love of your life was admittedly difficult to top.

"The question now is what kind of wedding would it be. A human centric one or a Sangheili centric one. What's a Sangheili wedding like anyway?"

Xaro pulled away from Jacob to grab a nearby pillow and prop himself up to be more comfortable. "It's...complicated."

Jacob crawled over to him and did the same. "Do tell." Admittedly Jacob knew little of Sangheili culture. Which was surprising given that he was practically living with one. The only exposure he did have was when he spent time with Xaro and the Arbiter, but that was just one of the many facets of it. He wasn't exactly privy to having the time to study their culture as they were far too busy dealing with other matters.

"Marriage to us is someone joining a clan," Xaro began to explain. "The individual joining would have to be able to show the clan that they are worthy of being part of it. It doesn't matter if you're marrying the child of the leader of the keep, or some other low ranking warrior. Everyone is expected to obey the rules. There are no exceptions."

"And how do you show that you are worthy?"

"By undertaking a trial."

And this was becoming a bit more complicated. "What sort of trial is it usually? And how many are there?"

"The trial is given by the clan leader, and that would be the head of the keep. Typically, it is a trial many Sangheili are familiar with and have trained all their life for: a trial of combat."

"Is it like a fight to the death or something?" Knowing their culture, Jacob wouldn't put it past them to do something as dangerous as that. But he was only half joking when he thought of it. It couldn't have been that serious.

Xaro's answer was plain and serious. "It might as well be. A group will be sent after you and it would be your job to fend them off."

"What?" Jacob was beginning to wonder how on earth were Sangheili even able to keep their population stable if this was their culture. "By yourself?"

"You would be fighting with your partner, of course. It's meant as a test for you as it is for both of you as a couple. If you can survive dangerous odds, then your union is firm and true as witnessed by the Forerunners themselves."

"Does it have to end in bloodshed?"

"Not necessarily," Xaro answered. "The wording is what's important. I never said you have to kill them. You just have to fend them off. Ultimately, you would need to satisfy the group that were tasked in testing you for them to back off. How you go about doing this is between you and them. A trial of combat can take many forms. Combat isn't just physical. It can be a challenge for wits if they decide it be."

"Have you ever been part of a marriage trial?"

"I have, yes. I was one of the chosen to test a good friend of mine."

"What did you guys do?"

Xaro glanced at Jacob. "This." Jacob was first confused at what he was referring to and it took Xaro to motion to the both of them naked on the bed for him to realize what he was talking about.

At first Jacob was understandably skeptical. "Alright, now you're just fucking with me. You can't be serious."

"But I am."

"You guys are allowed to do that?"

"I did say that the marriage trial is between the chosen testers and the hopeful couple. What happens during the trial is between those two groups of individuals and them only. You could bribe the testers if you wanted. It doesn't matter. What matters is that they are satisfied with your union."

"So the test you took part in involved fucking the bride and groom?"

"You have such a way with words, Jacob." Xaro chuckled. "But yes. You put it very succinctly, albeit quite crass."

"How did you guys come to this trial? Were the bride and groom even happy about this test?"

"See, that's the amusing part: they were the ones that suggested it." Xaro shrugged. "Who were we to deny such a lovely lady and a handsome lad for some good old fun? How about for humanity? Is it as extravagant as ours?"

Jacob rolled his eyes. Humanity wasn't as open as the Sangheili it seemed. If anything, their culture appeared to be more inclusive than humanity could ever dream of, despite the strides they had as a species in being accepting of different ways of life. "In some ways, yes. You'd spend most of your time planning the whole thing. You'd have to deal with the catering, sending out the invitations, booking reservations, the whole shebang. It's expensive, time consuming, and exhausting. By the end of it, you'd just want to get the whole thing over." Jacob glanced at Xaro. "I'd rather do a marriage trial compared to that, if I'm being honest."

"What kind of trial would you undertake however?"

Jacob turned to face Xaro with an impish smirk. "I like to pride myself in being able to take on a Sangheili. I have experience taking two at the same time."

"In a fight, right?"

Jacob just looked at Xaro.

"In a fight, right?" Then Xaro remembered that Jacob did indeed take two Sangheili at the same time. It was him and Thel together at the hot springs back at Vadam Keep. "You can't be serious."

Now it was Jacob's turn to be surprised. "You can't be serious. I'm a capable soldier, Xaro. But I can't take on a group of Sangheili who are tasked with making sure I'm worthy enough to be part of the clan. I have to take whatever advantage I can get in that scenario. Besides, you'd be there with me. It'd be fun."

"Yeah. Maybe."

Jacob sensed something was bothering Xaro. He wondered what it was. "I'm guessing something about the hypothetical situation isn't sitting well with you." Xaro remained quiet, seemingly lost in thought. Jacob took this opportunity to try and deduce what could be bothering the Sangheili. He ventured to throw out a guess on a hunch. "When you took part in the marriage trial you mentioned earlier, you really did end up fucking the bride and groom, right?"

"Yeah."

"Was this ever reciprocated or was the goal to have you and your group be left satisfied at the end?"

Xaro's eyes narrowed. "What exactly are you asking, Jacob?"

"Have you ever taken it up the ass?"

It took a moment for Xaro to reply. Jacob swore he could see the gears turning inside the Sangheili's mind. "Yes," he inevitably replied. "But not enough to the point where I can confidently be familiar with it, so to speak. But with good reason. It's just complicated."

"Can you explain it to me?"

Xaro let out a sigh. "It's not that I don't want to. It's just not something I'm normally taking part in mainly because of who I am. Or rather, my current position. You see, we Sangheili are quite open to sex, in case you haven't noticed."

"I never imagined," Jacob replied sarcastically.

"And it's because of this openness," Xaro continued, ignoring Jacob's remark. "That we view sex as also like a tool. We turn to sex to correct the behavior of a possible rowdy subordinate, release stress amongst comrades, or even build camaraderie. Do you remember Fezo?"

The name was ringing a very old bell for Jacob. "Is that the guy you were fucking when I walked in on you all those years ago, before we became a couple?"

"Yes."

"Huh. Alright. You were fucking him to help release stress." Jacob nodded. "I get it."

"Precisely. Sex is a way for us to build connections and maintain these connections with each other. The one fucking is usually the one in control of the situation. I was Fezo's superior, so I was the one topping him. I was the one establishing my dominance, so to speak."

"I wasn't aware that there was power play involved with our escapades," Jacob replied.

"There shouldn't be," Xaro remarked, looking at Jacob seriously. "Ever since I fell in love with you, I know what we have is special. It's different. It's unique. And I shouldn't be looking at it the same way I normally would in other situations. I see you the same as me and I hope you see me the same as you see yourself. Neither of us should be better than the other. Which is why I'm perfectly fine taking you." Xaro then looked hesitant, which was probably the first time Jacob ever saw the expression on his face, at least in recent memory. "I just hope you'd be careful as it is something I've rarely partaken in."

"You're fine," Jacob answered, pulling Xaro in for a light kiss on his right lower mandible. "I'm just more surprised you've rarely fooled around with other Sangheili ever since we got together."

"Because, as I've said, you've ruined it for me."

"What do you mean?"

"Your ass, Jacob. There's nothing like it in the galaxy." He reached over to pinch Jacob's buttcheeks in a possessive manner, earning him a light giggle. "I could bed anyone I want given who I am and my position amongst the ranks. But I already have who I want."

While that statement may have come off as callous or crude if that were addressed to or coming from another human, Jacob understood the sincere and sweet truth behind his Sangheili's words. "You sweet talker." Jacob then smiled at Xaro. "Well alright then. If you want to be equal with me, then you best turn around and show me that ass." That was when the idea popped into Jacob's head. "Consider this your trial."

"My trial?"

"It would be your unofficial wedding trial. And if I am not satisfied, then our relationship is over." Jacob wasn't being serious, but he tried to sound serious to give the trial some needed stakes.

This seemed to have lit a fire inside Xaro. Jacob could see it in his eyes. "I would do everything in my power to succeed! Mark my words!"

It wasn't long then that the two got into position. Xaro was on all fours, presenting his backside to Jacob. The Sangheili was significantly larger than the human and thus had more body to show. Jacob was admiring what he was seeing like it was a delicate piece of meat. His hand caressed Xaro's ass, noting its definitive shape. Years of physical exercise molded it into the beauty that it was now. Jacob grabbed the bottle of lube he had on him and used a healthy amount of it on his finger. It was enough to make it slick. "Alright, take a deep breath and relax." Xaro did so, doing his best to relax and not tense up. But the alien sensation of Jacob's fingers made him stiff up, even more so when he felt it nearing his hole.

"Just relax."

"I'm trying!"

His voice visibly rose in tone the moment Jacob penetrated him with his finger. Admittedly, Xaro wasn't sure what to expect. Given that this was his first time feeling something going up his ass, he was expecting it to be unlike anything he had experienced before. He was right in that sentiment. But he was also caught off guard by the sensation that followed afterwards. It was odd to say the least. It felt wrong to have something like that inside of him. And yet, he couldn't deny the fact that he found it enjoyable. Once the weirdness of it passed, he found his body relaxing. Even more so when Jacob pushed further and began to move his finger around inside of him. Jolts of sensations coursed through Xaro's body, making him shiver. His toes curled and his mandibles swayed. He was so lost in the moment, he forgot where he was.

"Looks like someone's enjoying themselves."

Xaro let out a light chuckle in embarrassment. That was when Jacob decided to up the ante.

"

"How about this? Do you prefer this, Xaro?"

Xaro wanted to reply but all that came out of his mouth was an incoherent babble. His mandibles were left wide open and he was breathing heavily. And that was what? Just two fingers? It was admittedly surreal to see Xaro behave this way. Jacob had never seen his partner be so...so submissive. He was at a loss for words. He viewed Xaro as one of the most commanding individuals there was. Brave and strong, he could charge headlong into a fight and take charge if needed. Even more so when he was in the bedroom. Xaro was brimming with sex appeal, and was a very masculine stud in his own right. But now, just having two fingers in, and he was acting like a virgin on his first night taking anal and realizing how amazing it was. It was admittedly adorable.

"I'm going to go out on a limb and definitely think you're enjoying this."

"M-maybe." Xaro was finally able to find his voice. "I'm still not sure if I'm enjoying this or if I'm just caught up in the moment."

Jacob found the hesitancy amusing. "You know, there's nothing wrong in admitting you like taking it up your rear. Your body's response is enough of an answer already." True enough, Xaro's entire body was more honest than he was. Xaro had been shivering from head to toe throughout the entire ordeal. And his cock had been painfully erect and stiff. He was even dripping copious amounts of pre onto the bed.

"Just...Just keep doing what you're doing."

"I'll do it even better." Jacob decided it was time to kick it up a notch. If having fingers up his partner's ass was enough to make him squirm, he could only imagine what it was like to see him with a tongue wiggling inside of it. Jacob grabbed hold of Xaro's asscheeks and spread them wide open, giving him access to the purplish star hidden underneath. Xaro was about to say something when his statement was cut off completely by the human going in and practically making out with his ass. Jacob wasn't the best ass eater. It was something he was fine with doing but not something he did often. He lacked practice. But you'd be hard pressed to believe that with the way Xaro was squirming. Jacob had to hold Xaro's ass firmly in place to keep him from moving too much.

Jacob assaulted Xaro's unprepared ass and he was rewarded for it. Despite his terrible technique, he was making Xaro sing like a songbird. The Sangheili was like putty in his hands, shaking and shivering with every flick of his tongue. Xaro was so turned on that he preemptively squirted a hefty dollop of pre onto the bed. A fact that Jacob happily noted as a sign that he was doing a good job. This went on for a solid minute or so, with Jacob making loving kisses to his partner's ass. He swirled his tongue left and right, making sure to get every nook and cranny available to him. He even popped out and kissed the sides of Xaro's sizable thighs. There was something arousing about the fact Xaro's thighs were larger than Jacob's head. Jacob continued to assault Xaro's ass, penetrating his partner once more and giving him a tongue fucking to remember.

However, the show had to go on and Jacob wanted to move onto the main event. He playfully slapped Xaro's backside, loving the feel of his leathery skin on his fingers. He grabbed the bottle of lube that was on the side and began to spread a healthy amount of it on his penis. He wasn't as big as Xaro, but he had a feeling that if that was how Xaro reacted to his fingers, then his human cock would probably feel like the biggest thing in the galaxy. Once his grip on his cock was nice and slick, he positioned himself behind the Sangheili. By now Xaro had grabbed the nearby pillow and was resting his head on it both for support and comfort.

"Ready for this?"

"Ready as I'll ever be. Do you know what you're doing though?"

"I'm a doctor, Xaro."

"A human doctor."

Jacob frowned. He pushed himself inward, slow and gentle. Even with the help of the lubrication, Jacob was met with resistance. Xaro was tight. He was tight as a virgin. Perhaps even tighter, despite that being impossible. Xaro meanwhile gripped the pillows as tightly as he could. The feeling of Jacob's fingers felt significantly smaller compared to what he was feeling now. Was this how Jacob felt every single time he fucked him? Even more so, how on Sanghelios was Jacob able to take him? Xaro's penis was larger than Jacob and yet he slid into his human like he was meant to be there!

"Fuck," Xaro said, letting out a low moan.

Xaro's body tensed up and Jacob patiently waited for him to adjust to his size. A few moments later, Jacob pushed inward even further, burying the remaining half of his length inside of his partner. It was a weird sensation for Jacob. It was hard to put into words but being inside a Sangheili was different yet familiar at the same time. Sure, it felt the same softness as that of the human body but there was that certain roughness to it as well. Xaro's ass constricted around his cock ever so briefly before adjusting to his size and letting him briefly move back and forth. Being buried to the full hilt allowed Jacob to rub up against his partner's sizable ass. He gave it a playful smack before pulling back. Seeing that Xaro was now a bit more comfortable with having him inside of him, Jacob decided to pick up the pace. He opted to start a rhythm that was comfortable for the both of them. Gentle and slow, to ease both of them in. But Xaro wasn't having any of it.

"Can you go faster?"

Jacob was more than happy to accommodate his partner. Jacob picked up the pace, eventually getting to a point where his balls were slapping against the underside of Xaro's ass. The Sangheili was having the time of his life however, moaning lustfully with each thrust Jacob did. Jacob continued, hammering away at Xaro. They switched positions at some point, with Xaro laying on his back, legs spread open to give Jacob some much needed space. It was an amusing position given that while Jacob fucked Xaro, the Sangheili's cock was bouncing back and forth like a pendulum hitting Jacob squarely on the chest. It was like a mild annoyance that was angry for being left unattended. To try and deal with this, Jacob grabbed hold of the throbbing piece of meat and jerked it in tune with his thrusts. It was a bit hard to do at first, given he wasn't getting the timing right. But he was able to get the coordination going and before long he was doubling Xaro's pleasure.

Xaro felt a pang of pleasure course through his body when Jacob angled himself perfectly to hit him at his spot where it mattered the most. He wondered how Jacob knew how to hit his perfect spot but then quickly realized it was probably because he read up on his anatomy. Either way, it made the sensations coursing through his body all the more stronger. It made his mouth numb and his legs tremble. He was practically having the time of his life. If he had known that anal sex was this pleasurable, maybe he would have opted to do it more often. Regardless, it put a smile on his face to see Jacob happily humping away at his lower half. It was nice to see that he was getting as much pleasure in this as he was. Jacob felt the sweat drip down the sides of his face. Doing all of this felt like a workout. Xaro himself was helping the process. Xaro was rocking his hips back and forth in an effort to time it with Jacob's thrusts. The two collided with each other, human skin slapping against the leathery skin of the Sangheili. The bed springs whined underneath their horseplay. Jacob paced himself. He didn't want this to end. It felt good to hump away at Xaro. It was better than any of the toys he ever owned or had ever played with. But wishing for it to last forever was different to reality. Eventually he was beginning to reach his limit. Jacob could feel his balls tightening his cock stiffening. The telltale sign of climax was reaching and it pained him that this was all going to end. What made it worse was that Xaro looked like he wasn't even halfway there yet. The Sangheili had his mandibles swayed open, breathing heavily. Jacob cursed himself. He needed more practice topping. He was lacking the physical stamina to do it for long periods. Even more so the sexual stamina. He felt his end reaching and despite wanting to last much longer, he could only hold it off for so long. He climaxed unceremoniously, emptying the contents of his balls inside Xaro's ass. It lasted for a solid minute or so, and he held onto Xaro to try and steady himself.

"Fucking hell," Jacob remarked. He removed himself and laid next to Xaro who looked as equally exhausted as he was. "That was fun. I'm sorry though."

Xaro was caught off guard by the sudden apology. "For what?"

"I tried," Jacob began, "but I'm just not a good top. I don't do it often. I couldn't make you cum with me."

He reached over and pulled Jacob into a hug before planting a tender kiss on his partner's lips. "You have nothing to say sorry for. If anything, I'm happy to share this moment with you. I had fun. I'd be happy to let you fuck me again. It would be wrong of me to expect you to have the same stamina as I do when it comes to sex. I'm just built differently."

Jacob rolled his eyes. "Brag about it, why don't you?"

"Maybe I will." Xaro then pressed himself closer to Jacob, purposefully rubbing his stiff cock against the human. "Would you mind helping me with this?"

Jacob smiled. "You don't have to ask."

Xaro slid into Jacob like two puzzle pieces perfectly fitting. Jacob closed his eyes and let out a low throaty groan. Being filled to the brim was both arousing and fulfilling at the same time. "That never gets old."

The scenes that followed inside Jacob and Xaro's cabin were filled with the two lovers in various positions that were imaginable. Jacob found himself pressed against the wall as Xaro railed his ass ravenously, seemingly trying to get back at the fucking he had earlier. He supported his partner by putting his hand underneath his ass. Then they went to the table, with Jacob splayed out on it, knocking over the chairs and tossing the decor on it onto the floor. At some point they ended up near the sofa, with Xaro laying on the cushions and Jacob riding his lover. Bits and pieces of it flashed in Jacob's mind. It was hard to remember what they did throughout that entire evening. All he knew was that he was with Xaro throughout all of it. Either Xaro was fucking him. Or he was fucking Xaro. Or that they were both pleasuring each other by doing the typical 69. It was like their unofficial honeymoon.

Time flowed as the two fucked from night till dawn without a care in the world. By the end of the ravenous escapades, they were back on the bed, with Xaro spooning Jacob from behind. They lost count of how many times they've ejaculated at this point. Jacob could no longer feel both his ass and his mouth. He was so exhausted from what they've been doing that he was barely clinging onto consciousness. Xaro placed his head onto Jacob's shoulder and the two drifted off to sleep, wondering what tomorrow would bring them.

0=0=0=0=0=0

It was around past noon when signs of life showed for either person in the room. Jacob was the first to stir. The first thing he noted was that he was in pain. Not serious pain, but the dull throbbing kind of pain that you'd wake up after doing some strenuous work the previous day. He blinked, trying to gain his bearings. He was about to move from his position when he realized that Xaro's hand was wrapped around him. The Sangheili was still snoring away peacefully. Jacob debated whether to stay in bed or not. There was a perfectly good spot right next to Xaro that was right there for him. But it was already well into the afternoon. It was time to get up. Jacob opted not to wake Xaro. Being careful to move his hand, Jacob removed himself from the bed, standing up at the side and stretching. The sound of his bones cracking reminded him of how old he was. Rubbing the sleep from his eyes, he looked and noted how much of a mess they made themselves the night prior. The blankets that were meant to cover them were thrown haphazardly to the wayside. Their clothing from the evening prior were tossed into a pile. Jacob noted that his body felt sticky. His ass was clammy, and he reeked of dry sweat. He was dirty, which was obvious given the dirty things they were doing the night prior. He figured to take a shower. As Jacob stepped out of the bedroom, he noted that the mess wasn't constricted to the bedroom. The tables were tossed aside, and the plastic flowers that were contained inside the plastic vase were now on the floor. If Jacob hadn't known any better, he would have assumed a domestic disturbance had happened here.

Thankfully it wasn't that.

Jacob entered the bathroom and hopped into the shower. One short turn of the valve and he was soon basking in the cool refreshing water. Sweat, cum, and what other fluids that were on him washed away. For a brief moment, Jacob stood there, enjoying the cool water. It woke him up. He wondered what the plan for the day was. He and Xaro still had a few days left to spend while they were here on shore leave. He grabbed the nearby soap and began to lather himself, making his mind wander. He was so lost in his thoughts that he didn't realize someone had entered the shower as well.

"Good morning," came Xaro's voice. It sounded gravely.

"Good morning to you too."

There was no curtain to give them privacy, but none was needed. Jacob turned around to face Xaro. The two opted to stay like that for a brief moment, letting the water drip and wash their bodies. Jacob was the first move, using the soap to lather both himself and Xaro up. Xaro was appreciative of the gesture, letting the human go through his body but eventually taking the soap to wash the places Jacob struggled to reach. There was nothing sexual that happened while they were in there. And it wasn't necessary to begin with. Just having each other company while the shower washed away the traces of the previous night was more than enough for the both of them. Eventually they were done and the quick but sensual shower soon ended. Jacob stepped out and grabbed a towel, with Xaro following suit. The two then went on to do their daily rituals with Jacob getting himself a comfortable set of clothes. Xaro did the same. They both met back at the dining room, with Jacob placing a freshly brewed drink for himself and for Xaro. It was something that was offered by the facility, part synthetic, part natural, meant to be digestible for Sangheili and humans. Xaro took it thankfully. They didn't start talking to each other until after they managed to get their respective sips in.

"So," Xaro began, breaking the silence between the two of them. "Did I pass?"

Jacob's brow rose. "Pass what?"

"Did I pass your trial?"

"My trial?" Jacob racked his brain to know what Xaro was talking about. Although it happened literally yesterday, it all felt like a blur to him now. It was hard to remember the finer details of things when you were constantly getting your mind blown by the sex that was happening. Xaro opted to help Jacob in remembering by then clarifying, saying, "the marriage trial."

"OH! You mean that!" Jacob felt like an idiot now. He waved a dismissive hand at Xaro. "Of course, Xaro! Was there ever any doubt?"

"Was there?"

"No! There never was. Alright? You're my one and only and if anyone says otherwise, they'll have to pry my dead cold hands away from you."

"Good."

Xaro reached over and held Jacob's hand. "So how does this work? This whole marriage thing?"

"We do what we've already been doing."

"Having amazing sex with each other whenever we can?"

"Pretty much." The two shared a laugh with each other. "Seriously, though, I don't know. If we do get married, we'll probably be the first interspecies couple on record that should be noted as such. It'll be unprecedented ground so who knows how it would work. The UNSC would probably have to talk to the Swords of Sanghelios to see how that would get sorted out. You can only imagine the insane amount of paperwork we would have to sign and stuff."

"So what you're saying is, it's more trouble than it's worth."

Jacob let out a wry smile. "More or less. Then again, given who we are, it'll probably be good PR and whatnot. The process might even get expedited."

"Oh, I love it when you talk of bureaucracy, Jacob. You have such a way with words."

"You should have seen me when I was in medical school writing my dissertation. I wrote all the words in all the ways you could possibly imagine."

Xaro then looked thoughtful. "Do you think it's a good idea though?"

"What? The marriage thing?" Jacob asked. "In the eyes of the public, we might as well be given that's how we were presented. But I think for formality's sake, it's also a good thing. Besides, it might as well give the public something to think about. They could probably do with some good news. It would be an interesting comeback though."

"What do you mean?"

"The last time the public heard from us is that a group of extremists tried to kill us. The next thing they'll hear is that we would want to get married. Talk about whiplash."

"I'd rather they hear that than something grim."

"I do hope it'd be news they'd want to hear. The last thing we want is to get more detractors wanting to ruin a good thing."

"Will just give them a piece of our mind then!"

Jacob took a sip of his drink. It was still hot. "Though, the thing about marriage is that when that happens, you have to invite family. Do you have family, Xaro?"

"Maybe. I don't know." He then clarified after seeing Jacob's somewhat puzzled reaction. "When we are born, Sangheili children are typically raised in a group setting. We are not allowed to know who our parents are. Let alone our siblings. It's meant to help foster a sense of independence. From the views of the adults, it's to help remove favoritism. Sangheili are meant to rise from the ranks by merit, not because of who you happened to be born from."

"That's very cold, yet very efficient." Jacob wondered if Xaro's childhood was either forgettable, sad, or a combination of both. He thought about asking about it one of these days.

"It is." Xaro turned to look at Jacob. "You're my family now, Jacob. You're the only thing amidst the infinite stars that matters to me now. Do you still have living relatives?"

Jacob felt touched at the sentiment. It was nice hearing that you mattered. "I do."

"Do they know you're with me?" Xaro asked sincerely.

"They do. They were surprised at first. They thought I was joking. But when news eventually came around that I got promoted into the position I was with now and you were my partner, that was when things clicked."

"Are they angry at you? At me?"

Jacob shrugged. "It's complicated. Their experience of the Covenant was what they saw from the news. They're in the inner colonies so they were thankfully spared the wrath of the Covenant when they came rolling around." He shook his head. "I'll probably have to explain to them that they're going to have an alien relative one way or another."

"Do you think I should go visit?"

Jacob looked at Xaro. "I'm not sure if that's a good idea or not. Most humans aren't used to seeing you guys walking around just yet. No offense, Xaro."

"I understand. None taken."

The two continued their morning brew, enjoying a quiet time with each other. Once they were done, Jacob headed out for a short walk by the beach. It was quiet. The sun was out but it thankfully wasn't hot. He found himself a quiet shade underneath a tree and felt content to just look out onto the horizon, watching the waves crash into the beach. Jacob took this as his chance to recollect on where he was in his life. When he had volunteered to be part of the UNSC, he didn't expect to end up where he was now. Life had a weird way of surprising you, it seemed.

He was soon joined by Xaro who had a bottle of sunscreen with him.

"I think you forgot this," Xaro said, handing him the bottle. "You don't want to get sunburnt."

And Jacob was glad to have a thoughtful partner with him.

Life was good.