Beads of sweat rolled down the Thunder God's forehead, and yours. His discarded hat and robes lie in a neat pile across the courtyard, and your own clothes are drenched. The smell of adrenaline lingers in the air, acrid and sharp to the nose, yet invigorating to the spirit. Pain shoots up your face as he managed to land a lightning-charged blow on your temple, effectively disorienting and knocking you down. For a moment, you writhed in pain, but with quick thinking, you managed to throw him off-balance with a quick sweep of your leg. He managed to recover, but you were lunging forward with a fist aimed to his gut, and moved with speed. The punch connected, but had little effect on the god. Raiden touches your arm and halts.
"This is enough for today," he began. "Your skills are vastly improving, but you still have much to learn, young one."
You give him an amused smile. "Which is why we're sparring, yes?"
"There is no need to rush. You will learn with experience and time. Have patience," the Thunder God responded as he gently placed his hand on your head. Raiden dwarfs almost everyone with his enormous height. You look up to his serene yet intimidating face, and hoped he wouldn't notice the rush of blood to your cheeks.
"I do appreciate your discipline and drive," he continued. You smiled in response, and opened your mouth to speak. "Thank you my lord. At this rate, I will best you one day."
An amused smile blooms on his lips. "Do not provoke a god," he half-scolded, half-teased. "But you will be proud of me, yes?" The question softens his expressions to a friendlier smile.
"Of course."
The water is clean and sparkling in the temple. Hastily, you scrubbed off the dirt from your body and put on fresh clothes. Water from your hair dripped and seeped on to your clothes, but you paid it no mind as you prepared the tea. Brewing tea for Raiden after spars had become a habit to you. The god of Thunder had come to appreciate the flower tea you've brought from Earthrealm, especially when it blooms in the glass kettle. You hastily grabbed another tin of tea to blend its flavors and in a few moments, it was ready.
Raiden was meditating when he heard a small knock. You set the tray down and decided to go, but you heard your mentor's soothing voice. "Come meditate. You can join me after we have tea."
"I'll sit for tea, but meditation isn't my thing, Lord Raiden," you reply to him, going to the tray to pour the tea in cups. You had a small sense of relief for bringing a spare. "Very well."
After offering him his cup, you settle next to him and began drinking from yours. "I guess, it's not my cup of tea," you tell him, a mischievous grin on your face. Raiden gave you a small shock, not enough to hurt, but enough to tickle you, and make you almost spill your tea. You giggle at his annoyance. "You weary me with your humor, my child."
"My child?" You were slightly disheartened. Though you do feel a familial longing in the Thunder God, your feelings ran deeper than that. You found it confusing, dirty even. "You are like a child to me," he replied, and placed a palm on your head. "Thank you Lord Raiden." Smiling weakly, you consumed more of your tea.
"But what if I do not want to be treated as such?" There was a brief silence. You internally berate yourself for speaking. It felt like you spoke out of turn and when you were preparing an apology, Raiden opens his mouth to speak. "I cannot do anything if you feel no familial feelings towards me, but I will still be here to guide you."
You pause. Setting your teacup down, you lean over to him. You sensed a hint of apprehension in him as your head made contact with his powerful arms. "I do. But, that's not the only thing I feel. I mean, it's complicated," you begin, looking down on your lap. "Raiden," you begin again after a pause, referring to him with only his name. The change in the way he is addressed made him look at you with surprise. You always referred to him as Lord Raiden.
"What I feel for you runs deeper than that. I don't know if you understand, and it's okay, because I couldn't either," you half-whispered, emboldened. You cannot tell for sure if it's because of the adrenaline that was still raging in your veins, or if you accidentally put ginseng in your tea, or if it is plain lunacy, but you feel emboldened to tell him all. "It feels dirty, but yes, I do appreciate and crave your paternal feelings and at the same time, I long for you. I want you."
Silence choked the air. You feel it become more humid as the seconds pass. "I… I love you my lord. In many ways. In different ways. I hope this doesn't affect our relationship as mentor and pupil."
He let you stay on his arm but he didn't utter a single word. You lie in bed that night with the windows closed. Soft rain kissed the roof of the temple. Perhaps your confession influenced this? What does it mean? Did you offend him? The questions that plagued your head deterred you from sleeping. Shutting the door to your quarters quietly, you make your way to brew something to calm you down.
The scent of something brewing hit your nostrils. Raiden sat there, lost in thought. Wordlessly, you brought out teacups and checked the tea. It was ready in a moment or so. You caught a whiff of it and realized it is ginseng, and it was the same thing you blended with the tea earlier. Blaming the tea for the idiocy you committed was downright stupid. Stupid as fuck, as Cassie would say it. Ginseng makes one feel revitalized (and hot in the loins), but it didn't cloud judgement. Perhaps you really are going out of your mind.
The mentor and pupil quietly enjoyed their cups of tea together. You made sideward glances towards Raiden, trying to read him, but his facade is still unreadable, and unbearably calm as always. "Is there a problem, my child?"
A feeling of dread washed your body from head to toe. What were you going to say? What is he going to say? "If this is about your confession earlier, don't fret. I understand." A withheld breath escaped your lips and you thanked him. "This isn't the first time a mortal has confessed to me."
"Do remember that you are my pupil, and I am your mentor. I do not want accused of playing favorites because one feels differently about me." You looked up to him. You felt warmth rising in your chest. "So you're scared you'd be accused of favoritism?" There was slight contempt in your voice. "What kind of feeling do you have for me, lord Raiden?" The end of the question sounded like mockery but all caution has been thrown to the wind.
"I told you, you are like a child to me. And as your mentor, I will reprimand you when you overstep your boundaries." You clasped your cup tightly. "Do not treat me like a stupid child, goddammit," you lashed out, paying no mind to the still scorching contents of the cup, and the one rising in your throat.
"You are acting like one."
"What is your problem?" You stood abruptly, chair falling backward. "You're being irrational," Raiden replied, voice still calm yet intimidating. "You're being a dick."
"Do not provoke a god," Raiden firmly reprimands, standing up himself, his words an ironic echo of the playful banter you had earlier. Your disrespect has gotten through him and static was flying. In a moment of lunacy and desire, you stepped forward, and in a moment your body was flush against his. "What if I want to?"
Raiden's eyes flashed dangerously under the shadow of his hat. Through his thick robes you can still feel his pulse beating fast, and his solid, toned abdomen against your chest. This provocation was… different from what he anticipated. The light rain outside had become a raging storm that poured down in torrents.
Tension hung in the humid air. Despite his intimidating presence, you refuse to back down and kept your body firmly pressed against his. Raiden made no effort to move, and you anticipated his next step. The Thunder God's lips contorted into a furious scowl and you're ready for whatever he throws at you.