Ancient Egypt!AU
Warning for nudity and maybe some historical inaccuracy.
Thanks to Liza for helping me come up with this idea :)
Translations:
Hemet-netjer: Female priest
"Welcome, friend." The hemet-netjer dips her head courteously, but her eyes betray her curiosity. "Have you come here to worship the god of the Sun?"
Remus's eyes catch on her sun necklace, the symbol of Ra. The pendant on his neck suddenly seems to grow cold and warm at once, an odd sensation, but it means that this is not the real necklace. Masking his discomfort, he smiles winningly at her. "Indeed, hemet-netjer."
"Then come with me, and I shall lead you to his shrine."
Thanks, I already know where it is. But Remus dutifully keeps his mouth shut and follows the hemet-netjer. He is wary; the temple is open, and anyone could be watching. Of course, no one would come in but it didn't mean that he could drop his guard.
At last, the hemet-netjer enters a room; it is decorated with various drapes and carpets, and it is the only room in the temple that is closed off. At the other end of the room, a statue has been erected, almost life-size and human-like. Remus's eyes trail down its body, his stomach rolling with anticipation. It has been many years since he has been here, and many years since he's seen him. The statue.
"I will leave you now," the hemet-netjer informs him, breaking into his thoughts. "May he answer your prayers." She leaves, and Remus waits for her footsteps to fade before he approaches the statue.
Taking a closer look at the statue, Remus notices that there is something different about the statue than from the last time he had visited. The Sun God had been wearing typical Egyptian attire, and his expression had been stern. Now, he is nude, utterly and shamelessly nude, a playful smirk on his face. The only item he wears is a sun necklace.
Yes, that is what is different, and Remus's cheeks burn hotter than the midday sun. He has to drag his eyes away from the Sun God's groin and his criminally beautiful face, and has to remember what he has come for. Vain, shallow, self-obsessed idiot, he thinks ridiculously, allowing himself to indulge himself in the statue's brazenness before he focuses again.
Stepping up to the altar, he first places his offering — a satchel of food and other items, and he knows it's quite odd — at its base, and then returns to the statue. Standing on his tiptoes, he pulls off his pendant, which is icy cold in his hand. He reaches up, pressing the moon symbol dangling from his pendant against the sun symbol on the Sun God's chest.
Something sparks to life in his fingers, in his palm, and it burns into his skin, like submerging his hand in the sun, but Remus grits his teeth and bears the pain — he's endured worse, after all — because he knows it will be worth it. He can feel the Sun God's magic responding to him, can feel him thawing, feel the adrenaline coursing through his veins, but he is invincible —
A bright flash of light, and it's all over, just like that. Remus stumbles back, clutching his hand and his pendant, but a dizzying rush of triumph overcomes him.
For the Sun God stands before him, glowing with a celestial, ethereal golden light around his — still nude — body, and grinning euphorically at Remus.
"Hello," says the Sun God, his eyes feverishly brilliant. "It's been a long time."
Remus deliberately avoids looking at the lower half of his body, because he doesn't know if it's the heat radiating from the god or the embarrassment of standing in front of a naked god.
"Is this how you choose to greet me?" Remus retorts. "So shamelessly? At least clothe yourself."
The Sun God looks at his naked body, seeming to realize for the first time his state of undress. What's worse is that he looks entirely unconcerned. A slow, lazy smile steals across his lips. "So? I thought you preferred me this way."
Remus can't believe his nerve and words suddenly lose their use. The Sun God had not lost his charm over the years, and Remus's whole face feels like it's taken a dip into the sun. "Just — just do it," he manages to say as more and more heat surges down his body.
The Sun God looks reluctant, but with a careless wave of his hand clothes appear on his body anyway. Remus sighs with relief.
"Hello," he says formally. "It is...nice to be reunited with you at last."
The Sun God's voice is incredulous. Running his hands frustratedly through his ink-dyed hair, he bellows, "Nice? Is that all you have to say to me?"
"What else is there to say?"
"I don't know, something about how much you missed me or desired my body next to yours," is his scathing reply. Striding forward with purpose, he grasps Remus's face between his hands. They are warm and strong. "Tell me that you came here for a reason."
"I did." Remus can't breathe; the Sun God's eyes are captivating.
"What was that reason?"
"I came...to free you," Remus whispers. "I think you knew that, that I would come for you no matter what. The others tried to stop me, but they couldn't, especially after they discovered that I was willing to wage war in order to come to you."
The Sun God's eyes glow with renewed fervor. "And?"
"War," he breathes, "and anything else I could threaten them with."
Remus knows the Sun God is going to embrace him before he does, and he's right — arms slide around his waist, and soft, tender lips press lightly against his own. Lightly, not daring to venture farther after so much time spent apart. Lightly, to convey every unspoken word.
It's a kiss of relief.
Remus pulls away first, his eyes closed. His heart is beating at an inhuman pace.
"Tell me, Moon God," the Sun God murmurs, "did you feel anything?"
"Everything." It's true. Everything had been contained in that one kiss. Everything. "You don't have to call me Moon God now; I have been traveling undercover as a human and have adopted a human name to blend in."
"What is it?"
"Remus."
The Sun God sucks in a breath, but he looks pleased. "That's...Roman, isn't it?"
"You look awfully happy about that."
"How can I not be?" The Sun God gently brushes a thumb under his eyelids. "I will be able to accept a Roman name if it is worn by you. But to me, you shall always be my Moon God."
Remus's chest is tight, and he thinks he might faint. "But we must travel back, and for that, you cannot risk your identity. You need a human name as well."
A thoughtful expression crosses the Sun God's face. His face erupts as he arrives at a conclusion. "Sirius. I shall be known as Sirius."
"Sirius? You mean the constellation?"
"Yes, just like that."
"But why?"
Sirius's eyes melt until they are liquid gold, and then, transform into simple gray. "That way, I will always be where the moon is."
Escaping the temple is almost too easy, given that they are both gods — they can ride the wind, or fly through the sky, or harness the sun's energy to transport them home, but they elect to leave the way they came, through the entrance, where the hetmet-netjer is waiting for them. Her eyes widen as Remus exits, brushing shoulders with another man that certainly hadn't been allowed into the temple.
"Wait!" she splutters. "How did you — when did you —"
They don't wait for her to form a coherent question. As Sirius finally makes use of his godly powers and creates a method of transport, Remus just gazes at him fondly. Affection bubbles in his chest, warm and pleasant.
Perhaps this era, perhaps this life, they could spend in peace.
Together.
1324 words
Assignment 2, Cryptology Task 6 - Write an Ancient Egypt!AU
