"Door's open!" Ariadne called, answering the persistent knocking at the door.
"I could be a villain, you know!" Pythagoras called back, lightly chiding them for their carefree attitudes.
Ariadne scoffed. "I'll believe that when I see it!"
Jason padded into the living area, feeling as though he couldn't go another minute without seeing Pythagoras again. Upon seeing him, he pulled the younger male into his arms, feeling as though they had been parted from each other several years, instead of several days.
"I missed you too." Pythagoras murmured, holding onto Jason.
"We had a hell of a journey." Jason told him, voice muffled as he had his face firmly buried into Pythagoras' shoulder. "So glad to be home!"
"What happened?"
"Maenads." Ariadne explained. "Hercules nearly got caught by them."
"By the Gods..."
Ariadne nodded. "I don't care if we're homeless from poverty, we're never going in those woods again."
"I should hope not." Pythagoras shuddered, pulling Jason closer to him.
"How have these past few days treated you?" Ariadne asked, eager to change the subject.
Pythagoras glanced at Jason, making sure the man still wasn't looking at him and gave Ariadne a meaningful look. She could see something bad had happened, and the fact that he was clearly trying to hide it from Jason told her it was something to do with relationships. Satisfied she'd gotten the message, Pythagoras shrugged and claimed that nothing interesting had occurred.
"So, what happened?"
They had found a quiet, peaceful little area on the beach. They'd told Jason to stay and rest and that Pythagoras had to go home, and that she needed to visit the market. Instead, they'd rushed towards the beach and seated themselves on the warm, soft sands, somewhere where they could pretend to be watching the sun's orange light flickering on the surface of the deep blue ocean.
"It's Heptarian."
"Did he hurt you?" Ariadne asked, sharply.
"No, he wouldn't. It's just..." He looked briefly at her face and then down at the sand.
"Pythagoras?"
He looked as though he wished to tell her, but words were failing him. He opened his mouth to speak, but then stopped.
"What happened?"
Pythagoras sighed and dug into a pocket. Almost scared, he held his half-closed fist out to show Ariadne. She realised then that Heptarian was doing what she'd been worried he would do. He was courting Pythagoras already, trying to win favour. She gently opened Pythagoras' fist and gaped at what was inside.
A ring, simple but for the gleaming gem that was seated on its top. She knew this jewel, it was a diamond, the stone of eternity, called that for its hardness and its strength.
"Eternity."
"It's a long time."
"I don't want gifts, Ariadne. It feels like he's cheating."
"I agree. But what can you do?"
"I wish I could toss it in the ocean and pretend it never happened. But that would hurt him."
"There's something else, isn't there?"
"I'm worried about a lot of things. Heptarian winning. Heptarian losing. I love him, but not as a husband."
"Why do you fear him losing?"
"Because he is capable of anything if he's angry and nothing makes him angrier than losing."
"Hey," Ariadne took hold of his hand, lightly squeezing, trying to soothe him. "He would do anything you ask of him without question. If he loses, tell him you don't wish for any trouble."
"If you believe Heptarian does things I ask without question, then you are a fool."
Ariadne nudged him lightly. "Respect your elders."
"You're younger than I am!" Pythagoras laughed, despite feeling worried.
Ariadne chuckled. "You don't look it."
"You make me laugh."
"You have your moments." Ariadne told him, trying to stop her giggling.
Pythagoras put an arm around her, and then another, wanting to feel close to her. "You're a good friend."
"So are you. Promise me that you'll think good things."
"I'll try." Pythagoras promised her.
"Thank you." Ariadne picked herself up off the ground, dusting off the little grains that stuck to her deep green robes.
"I had better get back, it's almost dark." Pythagoras told her.
"Got your ring?"
"Yes." Pythagoras ran his thumb over the smooth, cold metal in his pocket a uneasy frown returning to his face.
"If it's really bothering you, can you not just ask him to hold onto it until after the Pankration?"
Pythagoras brightened. "That's a good idea, actually."
"You sound surprised." Ariadne teased.
"Considering your last idea involved the Maenads, do you blame me?"
"You're hilarious, do you know that?" Ariadne asked, as she went up the path to Atlantis, the city's prince close behind her.
Pythagoras slid off his tunic, frowning at the sand that fell out it. Great. How was it that sand went everywhere in items of clothing? He walked over to the window and started shaking the tunic over the balcony, hoping that the treatment would get rid of any extra grains that were lurking inside it. He was lucky with this room. It faced the city wall, a few long green plants sneaking over its white surface. No one could see the scars of his childhood if and when he stood bare-chested in front of the window. Finished with his tunic, he placed it on the table and looked over the floor for the little grains that had fallen. Finding them, he went to the large pot standing in the corner and took out a long, stalky plant with a fluffy top and began brushing them towards the balcony. Admittedly, this wasn't the use it was actually meant for, but it served well. Placing it back into its original place, he started taking off his sandals.
Without warning, the door handle started turning. Before he could warn his visitor, the door was opened.
"Your parents wish to know..." Heptarian stopped as he caught sight of his prince. Long, flat scars, deep pink in colour ran along his stomach, his chest. Heptarian would have called them tattoos had he not known of the prince's dislike of them.
"Get out. Please."
"What happened?"
"Now!"
He hadn't meant to be rude, but no one, not a single person was allowed to see him like this. He knew what they looked like, he didn't wish another person to see them. After Heptarian left, he sank down onto his bed, panting heavily.
Heptarian felt sick. He shuddered, remembering those markings, how scared Pythagoras had looked...
"Heptarian?"
He hadn't noticed Joya until the older woman called him. "My Lady?"
"What is it?"
"I saw...My Lady, have you seen him without a shirt on?"
Understanding flooded the queen's face. "Only once. It's not a sight I have forgotten."
"Who did that to him?"
"His father from Samos."
"Why?"
"Some people aren't very pleasant to their children, Heptarian." Joya explained gently.
"I can't believe someone would be capable of doing that to their own child."
"Calm yourself. It does no good to dwell on the past. Heptarian, I ask of you, don't bring it up with him."
"I won't."
"Thank you." Joya left Heptarian and moved up to her heir's chambers. Finding them, she gently knocked the door, calling her son's name.
"Not yet."
She waited patiently, for him to come to his door. When he did, he was wearing a deep blue shirt, the colour of the midnight sky. It was long, coming down to the middle of his thighs. "Mitéra?"
"Are you alright, astéri?"
"I...They were seen."
"You know these are nothing for you to be ashamed of?"
"They are not something I want people to see."
"I understand, but you know people... they won't mock you, mou agapiméni."
"I know." Pythagoras admitted, leaning against the door frame. "I know that. It's just...I was always told to hide them, and if I didn't..."
Joya reached out and cupped his face gently. "I know, agapiménos. But trust that people who truly love you, will not stop because of your scars."
"I know. I am better than I was. I used to hide under my bed every time someone came in while I was shirtless. Remember?"
"Oh, yes. I remember." She kissed him, before staring to turn to her own chambers. "I will see you at dinner, yiós."
Stuff's going to start hitting the fan bigtime here. The Pythson ship will start cruising through the waters of the 'This-ship-will-probably-never-even-be-possibly-canon' Ocean before docking in Pankration Bay pretty soon. Review are welcome, gang!xx