the whole okhema thinks this though.

you and i both, trailblazer.

I need Lygus to shut the fuck up.

"hm? seems like you enjoy my idea. though" mydei let out a soft laugh at that, eyes shining with mischief and affection for the pretty cheetah in his arms. "say, wouldn't you like to put on a little show?" his voice dropped a little lower, though he made up for that by leaning in some more, +

"that's what we're meant to do after all." with that, mydeimos pressed one more kiss to his lips, then leaned back and carefully guided him to rest against his chest. he knew he had no reason to worry about those tears, knew phainon would eventually talk to him if he needed to. +

"every single version of me believed in you and wanted to support you till the very end," he found himself whispering against phainon's lips. "and i was right, every single time. it's thanks to you that we're safe." his eyes were beaming with pride as he pulled away. +

"at this rate, why don't you just kiss me in the middle of the marmoreal market? that would give people plenty to talk about." mydei knew it was a bad idea. it was probably a terrible idea - not because they were supposed to hide or anything, but still. +

"yes. that's all that matters," mydei retorted with a little hum. in truth, it was. of all the things he cared about in this world, phainon's thoughts were the ones he treasured the most. for a few moments, he remained silent, gaze fixated upwards, studying phainon's pretty features. +

/ health in the gutter rn. will get back to replies as soon as possible :((

mydei didn't find it bad at all though. "it was an honourable death, every single time," he murmured, hand now shifting to cup phainon's cheek. "if anything, the sweetest way to die would always be at your hand." of course, he was fully aware of phainon's difference in opinion. +

mydeimos could only stare at him incredulously. "and what are you telling people, HKS?" though he made sure to sound unimpressed and keep his expression neutral, one arm slowly found its way around phainon's waist. oh, he was so, so interested in what the other had to say.

"especially when you're trying to make me mad." a mischievous glint flashed across mydei's face as he spoke. indeed, he'd grown to enjoy phainon's attempts to get a rinse out of him, perhaps a little too much. leaning into that warm touch felt only natural. in turn, one of his own hands +

his hold around phainon subconsciously tightened. "there was not a single recurrence in which i didn't fall for you," mydei contributed a confession of his own. "and every single time i thought, even if i could have you, having to eventually stand your lover would only make things harder." +

oh. oh... "deliverer... are her poems about us?" a crimson shade was now dusting his cheeks at the thought. goodness, what was phainon even doing? and why was mydeimos strangely pleased by the thought of writings of this nature about the two of them existing somewhere out there? +

"if it's you, i enjoy everything." eyes like two suns were staring up at amphoreus' hero, so full of the purest, most sincere affection. after a little pause, he tentatively added: "you're so beautiful when you smile like this." +

a beat of silence. then- "so you too have been thinking about this?" one hand shifted up yet again, fingers carding through phainon's silver locks in what he hoped was a soothing manner. mydeimos wasn't inexperienced in physical matters. and yet, he'd never held someone so dear to him, +

"i mean, you just mentioned compromising positions. usually her and i were joking about that." the confusion on his face seems to keep growing. "so... what are the poems actually about?"

the gentle scratching prompted mydeimos to fake a little purr - something akin to a cat, or as close to it as he could get. "aren't you the one always chasing me?" it was a lie. they were both seeking each other out in equal measure. they were indeed attached at the hip. +

at that, he can only blink slowly. a joke, huh? as the words settle in, they prompt him to let out a soft, genuine laugh. "i'll make up for that." both arms once again wrapped around phainon's frame. this time, however, mydeimos pulled him straight onto his lap. +

"oh. i take it you're helping castorice with her poems?" a little pause. "she never really let me actually read them though, just joked with me about the topics..."

"are you getting all sappy on me, deliverer?" despite the teasing nature of his words, mydeimos did think they worked together perfectly, like day and night, like the moons and the tides. when he glanced up again, his lips were curled into a playful little smirk, yet there was also +

deep down, he too knew this wasn't what he'd imagined kissing phainon would be like. in his dreams, he'd let greed consume him - just take and take to make up for the lost time. and goodness, had he dreamt about it more than he'd be willing to admit. in every. damn. recurrence. +

oh, this better be good. he knew phainon was the kind to get embarrassed easily. really, whatever it was he was so shy about could have ranged from incredibly boring to so juicy it would infuriate the gold weaver. "so, tell me," he spoke, an amused smile playing on his lips.

yes, it scared mydei too. it scared him how easy it was to be so open, so vulnerable, to almost wear his heart on his sleeve - all because the man he was opening up to was phainon, always phainon. "and i'm the only one you truly rely on," he chose to answer instead. +

suddenly, it was like the whole world went quiet. there was nothing but their breaths, their heartbeat and the gentle ripples of water. "and... what if you are my answer?" the thrill of their little dance was intoxicating. having everything he'd ever wanted at his fingertips... +

"what things?" he was growing more curious by the moment. "don't make me go look for the thieving cat. i'm sure she'd be more than happy to tell me for the right price."

mydei blinked once. twice. "come see me anytime if you need to convince yourself of my safety again." one hand tentatively shifted up, only for his fingertips to graze against phainon's cheek. +

the added closeness was more than welcome. in turn, mydei shifted a little too, arms properly wrapping around phainon's lithe waist. "i'm glad i met you too," he confessed in turn. there was so much more he wanted to add, so many words right on the tip of his tongue. +

"what things?" instinctively, he tilted his head a little - something he did whenever he was confused. "stop being so cryptic, HKS."

a little sigh escaped him once those gentle fingers began to thread through his hair. few had ever the honour of getting this close to the kremnoan prince. of all of them, phainon was the only one he felt so at peace with. +

pretty. "so pretty..." his voice was somehow barely above a whisper now. the moment they shared felt all too fragile. the fierce mydeimos, who shone with the might of the sun on the battlefield, now felt so out of his depth, +

at that, mydei could only shrug. "he seems to have time for a lot of bickering." phainon's next words, however, seemed to draw his attention more. "huh? play along to what, deliverer?"

mydei remained silent, golden eyes now taking in the shapes of the constellations. he wasn't the talkative kind usually - even more so not since he hadn't had a chance for a nap all day long. still, he didn't want to move, not if it meant having to eventually bid phainon good night.

"i want you to stay near too..." a quiet admission. despite the crimson shade now dusting mydei's cheeks, he didn't avert his gaze one bit. and oh, his golden eyes were filled to the brim with determination, even more than the usual. +

now that was... strange. why was phainon telling him all about relationships and such? "oh? like those younglings who keep speculating about the gold weaver and the mad scholar's love life based on their occasional bickering?"

after a couple beats of silence. he averted his gaze towards the night sky. a peaceful night they could observe from their favourite rooftop was... something new. but oh, how the mighty prince of castrum kremnos wished he could have pried out whatever was bothering phainon. +

mydei chose to temporarily ignore that last remark. after all, the deliverer was right. he was acting clingy. he was a warrior though, one who braved every thought and emotion without a hint of hesitation. this situation should be no different. "do you mind?" he eventually dared ask.

oh. "i'm not worried. i know you can hold your own just fine." mydei let out a little sigh. how embarrassing for his emotions to cloud his judgement so quickly. phainon was, after all, a grown man. one he felt a desire to protect that was only growing by the day, but... still. +

a little sigh. "who do you think you're lying to? whatever. i won't pry any further." he hid his displeasure behind his typical, neutral expression. it was never pleasant to see phainon like this. mydei wished they'd skip over this whole song and dance and just... talk about it.

"is it only now that you will become annoying? what have you been up to ever since i met you?" teasing was safe. teasing was familiar for both of them. even though part of mydeimos' heart wanted to prolong that moment of vulnerability, he just... wasn't sure how.

at that, his expression briefly morphs into a little frown. "what are people saying about you?"

mydei shot him a puzzled look in turn. "is there anything wrong, phainon?"

"life's unfair." with a little shrug, mydei tries to hide whatever other thoughts might be crossing his mind. "are you worried about what the people will say when they realise okhema's flawless saviour can get bruised like everybody else?"

"then... have i given you any reason to worry?" another day, another one of phainon's peculiarities. deep down, mydei found him endearing though.

"what's the use in hiding anything from me anyway, hm?" as if on cue, mydei opened an eye, just enough to seal a little glance in his direction. it would have been a lie to say his heart didn't ache a little bit. it'd been aching for millions of eternal recurrences, really. +

"would you like your marks to last longer? is that what okhema's deliverer is into?" this... this is new. they're clearly baiting each other into... something. mydei flashes an amused smirk though, and continues to play along.

a raised eyebrow. what had come over him? "i don't need anybody to worry about me, deliverer. why?"

"sounds like a plan." with that, mydeimos let go of his chin. he wasn't the one to initiate much contact anyway, not outside combat. perhaps it was best to not push any limits this time around either.

golden eyes fluttered shut as mydeimos sunk a little deeper into the water. it was working wonders for the soreness he felt deep within his bones. "you're an open book, deliverer," he eventually retorted. it was pretty clear he was pleased with phainon's answer. +

"would you like to test your hypothesis?" there was something devilish about his grin, especially coupled with the playful glint in his eyes. he wasn't often the one to offer a challenge - on the contrary. usually, it was mydeimos indulging phainon's every silly whim instead. +