Phainon drifted back into awareness to the murmur of voices, their cadance familiar long before he could make out the words. He flexed his arms, eyes fluttering open to observe the dyed patterns of the bathhouse's tiles. Which…wasn't exactly the sight he expected to wake up to. He wondered if he should consider this scenario novel or embarrassing in the wake of his orgasm, considering he'd never woken quite so familiar with the floor before. Then again, he could see the edge of a familiar red sleeve where Mydei's cloak lay draped over him and that alone brought a smile to his lips. Mydei didn't care about decency so Phainon could only consider the gesture possessive even as the surrounding conversation started to condense into words.

"...Should I even bother guessing what possessed the two of you today? Honestly, Mydeimos. There is a limit to a single person's foolishness. One you passed a long time ago, I'll have you know," the stern voice rang out, piercing through the fuzz in Phainon's mind.

Aglaea.

Ugh, that certainly did not bode well. If someone like Aglaea showed her face, then Phainon didn't even have to guess where they went wrong. Apparently, someone had been watching despite his confidence to the contrary. Phainon twisted his head, catching sight of three sets of feet that he knew unfortunately all too well. Further craning his neck allowed him to see Aglaea's face as she berated them both, Tribbie nodding emphatically while Hyacine's gaze pierced straight down. Phainon met the look without meaning to, their gazes locking for a few, painful seconds before Hyacine arched a single, delicate eyebrow.

Well? Did you tell him?

Phainon tore his gaze away, unable to answer the question burning in those aqua eyes. Should he say that he forgot? That he got caught up in the moment? Or that he just couldn't bear the abnormal unease sloughing off of Mydei at the time, leaving him flinging himself headfirst into some inane competition just to bring their normal flow back? He doubted that Hyacine would understand such desperation so he shifted himself back onto his feet instead, plastering on a smile as he swung Mydei's cloak into place.

"Now, now, please don't criticize Mydei so harshly. I suggested that we send the bath attendant away so the fault lies with me this time. I didn't realize that people would faint from our little game." Himself included, apparently. Though, if the bath temperature was the only problem they created then he considered their foray a stunning success. It would be another thing entirely if the bathers fainted from seeing him and Mydei get their rocks off together like a pair of horny fools. Then again, it had gotten rather hot, hadn't it?

Holding back a wince, Phainon shifted to catch Mydei's eye, hoping to express just how much he'd enjoyed that heat. However, the man turned, pointedly lifting his gaze to the arched doorway like he didn't know Phainon wanted to catch his eye. Which was…seriously? Even Mydei never acted this daft which meant he missed something, something Mydei didn't want him to reveal.

Phainon pursed his lips, eyes raking over Mydei's form as Aglaea chastised them one last time before ordering them into public service for their sins. A fine punishment and well deserved, unlike Mydei's reticence in this moment. The man himself looked as refined as ever, even in nothing but his dark pants, still dripping on the now much less heated tiles. He'd done them up as if nothing happened earlier. However, a strange outline stopped Phainon's heart completely.

That bulge. Mydei stood with one knee tilted forward to hide the line of it but Phainon knew the man's cock as well as he knew his own. However, he never expected to see the familiar, hardened shape now. It taunted and teased, screaming that the other man never reached his own peak. Seriously? Heat flushed over Phainon's cheeks, burning as much from embarrassment as shame. He thought for sure that Mydei already trembled on his own precipice, ready to fall long ago. By every right, he should have finished at Phainon's skilled hand. And yet, Mydei stood there, unsatisfied and as closed off as the city's outer gates. When he realized it, the shame and guilt nearly took Phainon to his knees again.

"Oh."

Tearing his gaze away, he froze when he found himself caught in one of Hyacine's looks yet again, her eyes narrowed with suspicion. She stared for a second longer before glancing back at Mydei who raised an eyebrow back, clearly not feeling any of the same panic that coursed through Phainon. However, Aglaea shook her head at them, dissipating the moment with a single tut of her tongue.

"Nevermind that. As long as you two understand your mistakes, it doesn't matter who carries the blame. Just, please try to refrain from furthering this nonsense in the future. Your faux foolishness isn't hiding anything. Truly…" she sighed, as if any wish such as that could ever come true. Still, she waved them off before turning to the now vacant pool. "Though, I do suppose there are some benefits to this mess. Come on, girls. One rarely gets to enjoy such an empty bath. Leave the boys to their tasks while we wash away this filthy horror." She tutted one last time before turning away, Tribbie leaping after her with a shout of 'Victory!'

Hyacine alone hesitated, her gaze still holding Phainon frozen solid even as the other two women disappeared past the arches. "Indeed, folly can never hide the truth. No one thing can remain hidden forever, be it fish, or bird, or man. Aquila brings all revelations into the open." She paused, her eyes shredding into Phainon's soul. "Wouldn't you agree, boys?"

The words finally broke through Mydei's reticence, leaving him twisting back to face the young healer, an incredulous look on his face. "For someone spouting nonsense, you expect quite a lot if you want us to agree. Revelations?" Mydei huffed out, Phainon too stunned to explain what Hyacine's missive meant. And yet, the man still waved a hand, as prideful as ever despite the state that Phainon had left him in. "The only revelation that I've gained is that my constitution once again outclasses all other men. Even Amphoreus' great hero lost to my indubitable prowess. Pitiful." He sniffed, nose turning up as heat flushed over Phainon's cheeks.

"Hey! That's not-!" Not something he should argue about in front of a lady. Phainon clamped his mouth shut, refusing to catch the glimmer of amusement in Hyacine's eye. "Look, can we not do this right now?"

"Why not?" Hyacine questioned back. "Is it because you haven't said-"

"Hyacine!"

The pink-haired girl raised her hands in defense, stepping back before either of them ended up laughing or crying. "Yes, yes. I get it. I will retreat and leave things in your capable hands, Phai, since you apparently don't need my help. Even a therapist knows when to take her leave. Do enjoy the rest of your day!" With a last parting wave, she ducked after Aglaea and Tribbie, leaving Phainon stammering in his place, words and emotions jumbled into an indecipherable mess, especially when Mydei twisted to face him.

"Phainon….what did you say to Hyacine?"

The blush racing over Phainon's cheeks answered well enough but he still stammered out a defense. "It's nothing! Nothing at all worth worrying about!" He gasped the words out, almost clasping a hand over his mouth in an obvious tell. At the last second, he stopped himself by grabbing the edge of the Mydei's robe, the material as lush as it was soggy. Phainon winced, his eyes darting back down to his rather pitiable figure. "You know, I'm grateful that you thought to throw this over me but was that before or after the women showed up?" Before, he hoped. Though, Mydei's raised nose didn't exactly inspire confidence. "Ugh, nevermind. I don't want to know anymore."

Releasing another sigh, Phainon began redressing himself, returning Mydei's garment so he could sweep it over his shoulders in a gesture that looked far too elegant for the circumstances. They were wet, overheated and flushed from the scalding waters, thoroughly chastised, and apparently, still ignoring the hardness in Mydei's pants. It had softened some—as Phainon would expect after any conversation with Aglaea—but the potential still remained for a single touch to reawaken his passion.

And yet, as much as he wanted to continue things, Mydei seemed to share none of the same intentions because, as soon as Phainon finished buttoning his coat into place, the other man turned to stalk away. "Come on. Hyacine gave the bathers first aid but we should still finish our part or things might regress. I assume you didn't lose any brain cells from the heat so you should understand what she asked of us well enough."

Mydei never once looked over his shoulder, leaving Phainon stumbling to regain his place at the man's side. "Yes, I understand. But, Mydei, you…"

What? What could Phainon even say? That he wanted to apologize for not getting Mydei off? That he was worried? Anxious, even? That they needed to talk? Phainon didn't know what words would solve a problem he only half understood. He just felt that something needed to be said. Even when he reached Mydei's side and they walked with perfectly matched steps like every other day, the entire atmosphere felt wrong. It took him the entire trek to the far side of the bathhouse to realize what rattled him so strongly.

Mydei had fallen silent. Or, rather, he left Phainon's open question unfinished and if that man was anything, he was reliably easy to goad. Whenever Phainon said anything, Mydei couldn't resist responding back. It was how they got themselves into all the messes they did. It certainly played a part in getting them into the bath, their natural inclination to escalate everything taking over time and time again.

And yet, Mydei crouched down to help a young man to his feet as if Phainon were nothing more than a nameless city guard. It wasn't like Phainon expected them to talk right here in the bathhouse but he did expect Mydei to offer him something. A single, tiny scrap would satisfy his pallet for hours. And yet, he found himself bent next to a stranger, talking softly to the man as if they existed in separate bubbles. No twin stars streaked through the sky together. Instead, Mydei and Phainon existed as two lonely planets revolving around the same star. He hated how easily the distance grew when they clawed at each other's skin minutes ago—and all because Mydei refused to talk.

All throughout their repentance, the awkwardness hung as thick as Thanatos' veil over the two men. By the time they finished escorting the last victim—an unruly grandma who seemed entirely too shrewd about her male escorts—the chatter in the city had dimmed with the onset of evening. Phainon rested his hands on his knees, breathing steady even as his sides ached from the effort. Hyacine performed a near-perfect job with his wounds but that didn't mean the temporary loss of his soul didn't put a strain on him. And, of course, Mydei didn't show a hint of wear, his back as straight as ever and the breeze tousling his wild mane until he turned, regarding Phainon head-on for the first time since they started escorting the bathers.

"We should start heading back."

Phainon lifted his gaze as something hot and sharp lanced through him, too sudden to stop. "No. No we should not," he snapped, the heat coloring his voice, giving it power. An eyebrow crawled up Mydei's forehead but Phainon didn't give him a chance to interrupt. "Don't treat me like a fool who can't read the room. I won't buy the chilly act you've been putting on because nothing about your actions today feels normal. So, are we going to talk or not?"

"I beg your pardon? I wasn't aware we needed a conversation." Mydei crossed his arms but Phainon saw the way his chest tensed, a clear tell that only Phainon would notice. Most people would believe the words coming out of Mydei's mouth but Phainon learned long ago to read between the lines. So, after a moment of hesitation, he threw a dagger into the dark.

"Are you mad at me? Not for the bath thing," he hurried to clarify. "I do intend to make up for that. I mean…before that. Because of the trial…" Phainon trailed off, unable to stop himself from tangling a hand in his hair. "I know that wasn't exactly ideal for either of us but it's obvious that a lot of things weigh your mind. I regret that I came to your aid so late, though I suppose you were there to come to my aid. I do know that and I am very grateful. But, Kremnos was your home. I can't imagine how you're dealing with all of this. Actually, I-"

"Phainon. Just, stop!"

The hissed words finally pulled him from his rambling. Phainon blinked, watching the molten color of Mydei's eyes waver and soften in that infuriating, gut-wrenching way that always shut him up. The shift matched the prideful tip of Mydei's chin and the faint purse of his lips, like he had to force words to stay down, buried deep.

What words do you need to hide? The starved part of Phainon wanted to demand Mydei tell him everything that he felt the need to swallow down, but that would make him a hypocrite. Even if he did plan to remedy that soon. Probably. He almost wished he needed to swallow back his intentions. Instead, he seemed to have no idea how to cough them up. The whole wad felt crammed up in his throat, making it impossible to say anything at all.

Mydei rolled his eyes, responding to the no-doubt absurd look on Phainon's face. When he sucked in a breath, Mydei let his out in a gentle puff, all of that tension falling away like morning dew off a leaf.

"Look. You should worry about yourself first, Deliverer. Yes, Castrum Kremnos was once my home and most people would have some things to say about that, but you also never mention your hometown apart from when you introduce yourself. Don't think I never noticed."

"Ah. Well." The awkwardness sat heavily where they'd stopped to rest, a palpable force that kept every citizen from approaching them. If Phainon also had the choice to stay away, he would take it in an instant. However, that wasn't the kind of person he was. People like Phainon met other people's gaze and spoke the honest truth even when it revealed a little too much.

"I never expected that you wouldn't notice. Still, mentioning that place in a casual conversation is something even a fool like me could never do. Aedes Elysiae no longer exists in this realm. What more do you even want me to say, Mydei? That I'm weaker than you? That even in a fabricated trial, I couldn't protect my home?"

The man in question scoffed, taking a step closer so that only a hand's breadth existed between them. "I want you to say that you made a mistake. Do you not see how your hatred blinded you in that trial, how it made you rage? That is the reason you lost, not because you lack the strength. You think I would call you weak?" Mydei growled. "Don't put words in my mouth! No person besides you could take my place against Strife. They don't hold the right. Only you, Deliverer!"

"T-that's…shit!" Phainon breathed out, his breath staggering before something righted inside of him. The feeling settled in like a blanket, a warm weight that left his core feeling settled. He stared for a second, breathing out when he realized just what Mydei told him. "So that's what you meant. I think I may have said something foolish earlier. Damn..."

Phainon laughed, the sound soft and somewhat wild, like a bubbling stream that refused to stop flowing. Because everything suddenly made sense. All of those tense looks that Mydei gave him back in his chambers, the way he'd avoided Phainon's eye after they grew close. Even the way he swallowed back words because Kremnoan pride dictated that he must. Phainon could finally see the true meaning of those actions in the illuminating light of Kephale. Mydei had never been mad at him. He had been afraid.

The revelation nearly left Phainon rushing forward to envelope the other man's shoulders but he simply stood there, gazing with an openness that pleaded for Mydei to understand. He knew the man's fear stemmed from more than the danger he'd put himself in—he didn't consider himself self-absorbed enough to claim all the fault—but he did hope he caused Mydei a little distress despite the harshness of such a wish. Because, if he did frighten him, that would mean Mydei cared at least that tiny bit—just enough to give him hope.

And what a heady thing that was, this foolish illusion that wanted to overtake him completely. Phainon shook his head, his smile turning melancholic as he met Mydei's glare. "You know, you've always had a way of seeing things right to the heart of the matter. I know that I make light of your intelligence from time to time, but I do cherish these moments of astuteness. You are right about my failure, of course. That's why I truly thank you, Mydeimos."

Finally, Phainon took the step forward he'd been craving, closing the distance between them. Mydei stared back, neither leaning in nor making a retreat. He merely watched as Phainon lifted a hand, brushing back strands of blonde that had dried into a frizzy tangle. "But you know, I do wish you would rely on my wisdom as much as I rely on yours. For every secret that I've kept locked away, have you not kept just as many? One day, I want you to tell me your full story too, every single detail, until I know everything within your soul. Don't hold yourself so high in the darkness alone," Phainon breathed out, his words turning wry with bitterness. "…Or will you not take your own advice about being consumed from within?"

A current too much like electricity seized Mydei, nearly jerking Phainon's fingers from where they'd settled against the man's nape. He tensed, ready to fight against Mydei's inevitable retreat. However, the movement never came, Mydei's heels digging in, eyes locking onto Phainon's unblinking gaze. Honestly. Did the guy even know the meaning of retreat? Because, rather than surrender, Mydei pressed himself closer, his own hand sliding up to curl over Phainon's.

"Hey, don't go monologuing all by yourself like some loose-lipped bastard. You've confused me for someone who likes to dither in silence. I'm not…ugh, even Tribbie thought I seemed diffident as of late. It's embarrassing…" Mydei muttered, his eyes glancing away before jerking back as if dragged by a string. "Besides, I do listen to you when you actually speak. And these words are…" Mydei sighed again, his gaze unreadable but as unwavering as ever. "Very well. If I tell you the gritty parts, the parts no one sings songs about, will you listen all the way through? Will something so simple really cleanse the anxiety in your heart?"

Cleanse huh? Phainon smiled, shifting until he could press their twined hands against the steady beat of Mydei's heart. "Not entirely, but it will help some, yes. Especially if it helps to ease your anxiety as well. I would settle very much for that."

"You fool…" Mydei shook his head before smiling, his head tipped back to the clear blue of the sky overhead. "But it seems that I have no choice in the matter. Since you deigned to listen, I will share a story. It is one that happened after I clawed my way out of the sea of souls, in the years before I confronted the king, my father. Back when I traveled among my friends…"

xXx

The walk to Phainon's chambers passed in silence, their steps echoing within the cavernous abyss of his thoughts. Each breath carried a weight that left Phainon wishing for a night sky overhead, glittering with stars instead of the eternal brightness of Okhema's sun. Even though the city had fallen quiet, the usual radiance contrasted with the solemnity of his thoughts. Why did Mydei's story continue to consume him to this degree? The information felt precious, but at the same time, it illuminated the narrow path in front of him into a forked labyrinth.

Even Mydei looked lost after stripping himself so bare that words felt inconsequential. Their shared destination served as conversation instead, the silence remaining even after the door finally clicked closed behind them. Or perhaps, it was that Phainon couldn't speak. He'd long since started to operate without thought and continued as he went through the motions of removing his boots and coat, that abyss still echoing around him. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Mydei stripping back down to his pants as well, leaving his other garments spread across the chaise to dry.

Then, without a single word, they sat. Side by side on the bed, they perched close enough to feel each other's body heat but not to so much as brush fingers. Should he take that as a sign to close the distance once more? Or should he take their silence as a sign to finally let this man go?

Fuck.

Phainon sucked in a breath but he knew the answer regardless of how foul it tasted in his mouth. "Thank you, again, Mydei. For everything you've given me until now. Really..." Phainon murmured the words low, his voice cracking after so much time spent in silence. Even his heart felt cracked, but he relished the feeling. A crack like this reminded him of breaking a bone so that someone could properly fix it into place later. A crack led to mending. That thought alone brought a smile to his face. "Because of our talk earlier, I think I understand what's been troubling you a little better now. You know, I always thought of you as someone who stood alone atop a great mountain but that only demeaned your might. No one wishes to stand so high up alone. Not me and not you either. And yet, here we are, as alone as a pair of mountains separated by the sea. It's rather impressive, really."

"Hah?" Mydei grunted, one hand finally sliding up to close the distance between them as he pulled Phainon's temple against his. "Why are you going on interpreting things however you please like some fool? Honestly, no one but you would liken us to a pair of damn mountains. Am I not with you now? Am I not lowering myself for you?"

Phainon sucked in a breath, his body so tense against Mydei's that his entire body trembled. Did this man intend to tear him down to the smallest fiber? After all they struggled through together? Phainon knew that Mydei could tug his heart around like the greatest lyre master but even he thought this felt excessive. Purposeful. Like Mydei strung these words with the full intention of bringing him to his knees. And Phainon, fool that he was, fell right for it.

"You sly devil…don't pretend you picked those words without knowing they'd undo me," he groaned. "Lowering yourself like the visage I know you are on your knees. Ugh, and to think we ended up here." Phainon huffed, leaning fully against Mydei as his hands slipped up to cradle the man's face. "We walked to my room without a single thought, landing on the bed like nowhere else in the world could serve us better. While I admit that I never intended to let you walk away, even I forgot my goal after, well, everything. And yet, you…"

Phainon's hands trailed down, smoothing along muscle and crimson-stained strands of hair before moving to trace the swirled edge of a tattoo. He breathed in, the scent of bath salts still lingering on Mydei's skin. The aroma intoxicated him, left him so entranced by the sight in front of him that he couldn't help but lean in, finally pressing a kiss to Mydei's lips.

"Forgive this weakness of mine." Phainon breathed the words out, his fingers still tracing, still following the scarlet patterns along Mydei's shoulders. "Truly, in how many ways must I wrong you today before I learn? No, that time frame understates my error greatly. I feel I must apologize for wronging you for far longer than that. Mydeimos, let me make it up to you. Please, for one last time…?"

"Last?" Mydei croaked, breaking away from the kiss just to pull Phainon against his chest in a brutal grip. "What nonsense are you spouting now? If you want something, just take it already! Stop begging like a dog!"

A sound too much like a growl tore itself from Phainon's throat. "Mydei! Why would you give me so much freedom?! Even I won't be able to hold myself back if you tease me so!" He shoved, sending Mydei down onto his sheets in a beautiful sprawl. The man went willingly, a smile sliding over his lips.

"Stupid. No one asked you to hold back. Come here…" A single hand lifted to tangle in Phainon's hair, pulling him over Mydei with a softness that was…damn. Did Mydei always look this open? His eyes gazed warmly into Phainon's like the entire world's secrets lay in their bright-blue depths, something he doubted very much. Phainon knew nothing, least of all what Mydei should do as successor to Kremnos' throne. And yet, he so badly wanted to be the one Mydei relied on, to offer strength and shower comfort down until the other man could feel his presence long after they parted ways.

Phainon settled himself over Mydei, finally sealing their lips in another kiss. "My bad. I've left you wanting for hours, haven't I? I promise I'll make it up to you, okay?" He pressed a kiss to the corner of Mydei's lips, reveling in the gasp of breath that escaped. "Oh, since this is an apology from me, is it okay if I do something special? I promise I'll make you feel good. What do you say?"

"Ugh. What are you going on about? Deliverer, just do what…" Mydei's words stuttered to a stop, eyes sliding closed when Phainon's lips slid over the bite mark he left earlier. On tough skin like Mydei's, the indentions barely showed but the way he tensed said the flesh still felt tender to the touch. Good. That meant he didn't need to make another mark just yet. Phainon didn't want to sink his teeth in like some rabid dog intent on bringing pain. Not right now anyway. Instead, he wanted to worship the skin laid out in front of him.

"Shit, you really are beautiful," Phainon breathed out, his lips shifting to press over Mydei's jugular where he felt the blood pulse and grow warm beneath the surface. He breathed in, his fingers skimming down the other man's sides, rubbing up and down in soft circles. Only when he reached the hem of Mydei's pants did he pull his hands away and sit back.

Mydei himself was a sight to behold, eyes already blown wide and lips parted, still glistening after their last kiss. A warm blush colored his skin, sweat making his tattoos glisten and gleam So many people likened those crimson streamers to rivers of blood, but as Phainon slid his finger down the path of one, he could only think of mineral veins hiding precious gems within their solemn rock. Mydei resembled such a cave, his exterior like the most impenetrable wall. But, past those tough outer layers lay something that few people ever got to see. Few people besides Phainon.

What the heck?

He really did love this man, didn't he? The thought left Phainon sucking in a breath as the words jumped into his throat before he could think to stop them. Mydei didn't have to do anything more than look at him before he found himself fighting back the truth. However, the idea of blurting those words out after shredding themselves so raw felt dangerous, almost cruel in design. But, by the gods, he wanted to tell Mydei everything right now. Even if the man never felt the same way back, Phainon needed to scream every secret he'd long hidden in his heart. In this moment, he needed Mydei to know just how deeply his foolish love ran.

"Phainon?" Mydei tilted his head, catching his gaze with the twin golden suns within his eyes. "Why the silence? If you're still thinking about earlier, then I…"

"No." Phainon shook his head. "It's not that, truly." Because, how could he think to linger over their grim pasts when hope washed over him in an inescapable tide? Even Mnestia's own guidance couldn't stop this flood from pouring out of him and he wouldn't want it to. Not anymore. "Shit, I really am a fool, aren't I?"

"What?" Mydei's eyes narrowed before he closed them again with a shake of his head, as if forcing away thought, leaving only the current moment in his mind. "Ugh…Phainon...let's put your intelligence aside for a while. Instead, how about you quit talking and get on with it already? You're acting strange." Mydei's warning rumbled low and sweet as he pursed his lips, legs rising to bracket Phainon's hips and press against him in frustration…something that left Phainon sucking in a breath yet again.

"My bad, Mydei. You can give a hopeless fool like me some slack, can't you? After all, you initiated things this time. Just you…" Phainon shook his head, still smiling soft and so impossibly fond that he knew Mydei could see it on his face. "Damn, I really am acting sentimental today. I wanted you to understand after all this time, though. You must get it. Everything I've been trying to say until now. You understand me, right?"

Mydei's brows furrowed, one hand tensing against the meat of Phainon's forearm. "What's with the vague metaphors today, Deliverer? If you have something to say, then just say it already. Quit dallying around!" he huffed, that hand tensing even further, nearly breaking through the skin. And yet, Phainon only smiled at the feeling, reveling in what it implied.

"But I am saying it, Mydeimos. For how many years have I screamed these words, even if they came out silent? You know them so don't start playing the fool now. Not after all this time." Phainon breathed out, slow and steady as he held Mydei's gaze, refusing to let it go. Mydei stared back, his eyes blown wide, breath still, and so, so beautiful. No one else in Amphoreus could ever rival the perfection of this creature laid out beneath him, more divine than the titans above. No one else could make Phainon's heart swell. No one else could earn its love.

"Do you understand now?"

Mydei slid his eyes closed, a soft grunt slipping from his lips. "I do. But, Phainon, I…"

Phainon pressed a finger to his lips before Mydei could finish the words. "Shush. You don't have to say anything right now. Today, let me do all of the talking."

Mydei's eyes slid open with a look of exasperation, suggesting that Phainon always did all of the talking. But, could the world blame him? He excelled at spinning his words and he excelled at speaking between the lines in the same way he learned to read between them when dealing with Mydei. Perhaps, in that way, they also shared the same mind, two people who could understand each other better than anyone else alive. Phainon just hoped that his message really did speak to Mydei as clearly as it did to him. Even now he felt it echoing within his heart like an anthem or perhaps more like a desperate prayer.

Do you feel this, Mydei? Am I loving you loud enough? Good enough?

Phainon bent down, pressing another kiss where his fingers had been a second before. The question bore its way through the action, sliding from Phainon's mouth to Mydei's where the man gasped, fingers tightening against Phainon's arm once again. Ah. Did that mean he heard? Phainon pressed another kiss against Mydei's lips, this one so soft that it fell like a half-second flutter of butterfly wings. The flutter sent tingles down his spine but he never got the chance to steal another kiss before Mydei let out a growl and crashed their lips together again, all wild teeth and hunger.

"Y-you minx. Quit playing around with me!" Mydei ground out, the words straining past his rapid breaths and…ah…that dormant passion now pressed against his stomach, as impatient as the man beneath him. Mydei shifted, pressing his hips against Phainon's as if the friction might finally spur him into action. The feeling left Phainon gasping, his hands jumping down to hold Mydei's hips steady.

"Hn. I'm not playing. I'm just…" Mydei narrowed his eyes in a glare. "Shit, don't look at me like that! I just want to be the one who makes you feel good today. Can't I do that? Let me take you. Please, Mydei," Phainon whispered, his fingers shifting, moving reverently over the place where Mydei's muscles strained. "Ever since the baths I've been thinking about having you. You looked so beautiful then, and-" He forced back a chuckle. "I think you would like it that way too. Am I not right?"

Mydei's breath stuttered, heat flushing deep beneath his skin. However, the strain in his body melted away before he slipped a hand into Phainon's hair again, sinking fingers deep into the white depths. "Fool. Did I not tell you before?" he whispered, those fingers stroking all the way down to Phainon's scalp even as Mydei gazed up, something impossibly soft spilling from his eyes. "Whatever you wish to do, no matter the words you let spill, I'll accept them all. Taking or giving, do you think I care about things like this? Do whatever you like, Phainon."

"Oh…" Phainon breathed out, strangely steady despite the furious tempo of his heart. But, by the gods, he loved this man so much he could never express it with words. Now that he had accepted that, how could he ever pretend these words never existed within him? The lock he made so long ago shattered into too many pieces to ever be put back together. And, Phainon thanked the titans for it because the torrent he released did not feel like a flood. It felt like rain, pattering softly against his skin as it filled the overturned chalice within him right to the very brim without spilling a drop. Was this what it felt like to become complete?

Damn. Maybe Hyacine did know a thing or two about telling the truth.

With careful fingers, Phainon unthreaded Mydei's belt, peeling it away with a practiced ease that felt like the very first time. Everything about this moment felt new in a way he could barely comprehend. The way Mydei bit back a gasp as he lifted his hips to let Phainon slide his pants away. The way Mydei yanked away his shirt, fingers clawing at skin with a fervor that bordered on desperation. Even the texture of his sheets felt reborn, the silken fibers alighting his skin with a thousand sensations.

"Phainon. Hurry!"

Mydei arched against him as soon as their last item of clothing fell to the floor, leaving a fire sparking from each place their skin joined together. Phainon trailed a blaze of kisses down the length of his body, fingers following the path his lips had taken moments before until, finally, he reached the space between Mydei's legs. Only then did Phainon pause, his eyes lifting to catch the man's golden gaze.

"Hold on to me, okay?"

Mydei blinked, the comprehension sluggish against the cloud of his arousal. However, he clenched both hands over Phainon's shoulders who smiled in final warning before he dived down, swallowing Mydei's cock down straight to the root. Immediately, he set a frantic rhythm, his tongue dancing as he bobbed his throat like a starved man, ignoring the way Mydei shouted and pushed back.

"W-wait! If you go on like that-!" Mydei hissed, nails breaking through the skin until blood blossomed in their place. He clenched his thighs, one hand digging into Phainon's hair to yank him back, though he only succeeded in making the man grin around his length. Phainon settled, using his weight to pin Mydei's hips that couldn't help but thrust up into the heat of his mouth despite his contrary words. After another second of struggling, Mydei dropped his head back, both hands digging into his hair with a desperate cling. "Phainon! I won't last if you keep going!"

"I know." Phainon slid up to murmur the words, offering Mydei the smallest of reprieves. However, he didn't remain still for long. After swirling his tongue around the crown, he pressed a kiss to Mydei's tip before beginning to stroke him, his grip as firm and unrelenting as his mouth had been. "Just go ahead and cum whenever you'd like. Don't worry about me since I already enjoyed myself in the baths. Think of this as my return for that gift," Phainon added with a chuckle. "Besides, I'll be taking my pleasure from you yet. I promise…"

Mydei gasped as Phainon returned to devouring his cock with renewed passion, every part of him devoted to pushing Mydei over the edge. Phainon could feel it nearing. With every shudder coursing through the other man, he could feel Mydei scream in answer to all the sweet words he poured into his touch. They rushed out, as demanding as if they'd been spoken, until, with a last shouted protest, warmth exploded in Phainon's mouth. He relished the feeling, eyes sliding closed as heat rushed to his own cock, straining against the silken slide of his sheets. For a moment, he lay there like that, simply wallowing in the pleasure radiating off of Mydei's body.

When he did slide away, Phainon found Mydei's eyes closed as well, the furrow between his brows smoothed as if in sleep. Cute. "Did it feel good?" he murmured, shifting onto his elbows so he could press a kiss to those lax lips. Mydei's eyes cracked open, a barely-there attempt at disdain glimmering through the fondness.

"Don't fish for compliments when my cock was just in your mouth. It's uncouth, especially when you know the answer," he managed in between kisses, Phainon stealing them every time Mydei opened his mouth to speak. Finally, he gave up, letting Phainon indulge until he couldn't take the building heat any longer. Pulling Mydei's hips against his, Phainon ground down harshly. "Ugh! Shit, you-?!" Mydei threw his head back, arms tensing against the other man's back. "You can't mean to continue now!"

"My bad. I know I've been saying that all day, but I don't think I can wait until your body recovers," Phainon admitted, though he did soften his thrusts to a grind that only seemed to spur his appetite on. He knew he should stop moving, and not just for Mydei's sake. He set out to make love, not to hopelessly rut against the other man. However, it seemed that confessing with his actions required more focus than he anticipated. He knew his words reached Mydei, but he also knew they weren't enough. Could saying it to this degree ever hope to express the full wealth of affection within him?

Finally pulling himself away again, Phainon paused to gaze down at the other man, admiring his flushed skin and the way his stomach flexed like he couldn't quite decide if he wanted to pull away or beg for more. Never, in Phainon's entire life, had he seen such a perfect sight. It entranced him to the point that he forgot why he pulled away until Mydei tapped his hip, trying to nudge him on.

"Hn…I thought you couldn't wait, great Deliverer. Don't tell me you lost your nerve after all that talk." Mydei shifted, offering his body up even as he continued to tremble, not yet down from his peak. And fuck if that didn't nearly pull him right back in.

"Must you act so hell-bent on driving me to the edge?" Phainon hissed, forcibly untangling their limbs before he really did forget everything he set out to say. Mydei flopped onto the sheets, still grinning even as he let out a groan of relief.

"I must," he breathed out, holding Phainon's gaze a second longer before he threw an arm over his eyes, another groan shuddering out of him. "Besides, I'm the one who told you not to hold back. I won't go changing my tune now. Use my body if you want. Make me feel those words you insist you've been screaming. I want to feel them in me, Phainon…" He glanced from behind his arm, that endless world spilling from his eyes again, the one that screamed, 'Yes!' back to every silent question Phainon posed.

"Shit, Mydei! Fine, yes, you'll feel it in just a second! J-just…tell me if it gets to be too much, alright? I want you to feel good tonight. Perhaps the best ever," Phainon breathed out before stumbling to his feet with another curse. Seriously. Why couldn't he have planned for this? He tripped, grabbing hold of a nearby table, his fingers already scrambling through the supplies Hyacine left behind, until…

"Ah! This should do the trick!" Phainon grinned before lifting the small vial up for closer inspection. "I mean, it smells like fertilizer but the texture sure is slick. Should keep the pain down too." Phainon scrunched his nose after the whiff he got but he still turned back to show off his find to Mydei. The other man shifted to watch, that arm still sprawled over his face, though in name only. The barrier didn't stop them from meeting gazes nor from Phainon seeing the resulting spike of need.

"You don't need something like that," Mydei muttered, his arm shifting as he met Phainon's gaze head-on, the flush on his cheeks turning blood-red. "Ugh. Just use your fi-"

Indignation whipped through Phainon, hot and painful. "Excuse me?! Of course we need lubricant, you stubborn boar! How long has it been since you last took me? If you want me to torture you, that will just have to wait for another night!" Phainon huffed as he swung himself back onto the bed, settling into the still-warm spot between Mydei's legs. "Now, lift your hips up a bit. I want to get my legs under you." Once Mydei complied, he situated them both so the other man's hips rested in his lap, Phainon's knees propping him up enough to offer a delightful view of his goal. "Ah, that's perfect. You look so beautiful for me."

"P-Phainon." Mydei hissed when he pressed a finger against his entrance, pulling back after testing the man's sensitivity. "You're too…ugh." He groaned again when Phainon scooped up some of the cream, smearing it against his hole. The sight of his muscles clenching, pale pinkish salve clinging to the rim left Phainon groaning in answer. By the gods, he wanted to lick that cream up, even knowing how it would sour on his tongue. He nearly did but settled for pushing some of the salve inside instead, rubbing against the outer ring of muscle with vacant fascination. When he slipped his finger out to collect more, Mydei finally threw down both of his arms, rising up with a glare.

"What are you even doing!? I'm not a toy to play with! Either take this seriously or give me the bottle so I can finger myself, bastard!"

"Not a chance!" Phainon pinned Mydei's wrist when he tried to snatch the vial, needing to press down with surprising force. When he leaned down, he could see the rapid rise and fall of the other man's chest, belaying his indignation. Still, the fact that Mydei felt the need to try sat heavily in Phainon's gut. "I don't get this. You're not even hard yet so why do you keep egging me on? There's no need to act so impatient, not when you don't mean it. I will take you, Mydeimos. I don't think I can stop at this point," he added with a choked sound. "So, why won't you just sit back and let me please you?"

Mydei twisted, his head falling to the side as he finally broke their gazes. "...It's not the pleasure I'm impatient for, you fool. It's just…damn it. Don't make me feel uneasy now…"

"You-?" Phainon sucked in a breath, his heart lurching as it nearly leapt straight out of his chest. Not for the pleasure? If not for that, then why else would Mydei…he said 'words' earlier though. Did that mean acted this desperate to feel what Phainon had to say? Oh gods. He didn't think he could take much more of this. Pressing his fingers all the way in, he paused to watch Mydei jerk, breath staggering in surprise. Even when those eyes fell closed, he could see the truth scrawled across Mydei's face like a scroll only he could read. No one else would notice the 'tell me you love me!' screaming from between the finely concealed lines. No matter how gentlemanly Phainon considered himself, he couldn't resist the call any longer. Slathering the salve over his fingers, he pressed them in further, working Mydei open with desperate fervor.

"D-don't say it. I know what…you don't need to explain," Phainon breathed out, his lips roving over the man's thighs with kisses pressed between each word. "Do you feel it now? Is this what you wanted?" Do you hear me confessing to you? I love you so much, Mydeimos. More than I could ever say. Didn't you hear me when I told you before? He sucked harder, purpling the skin even as his fingers pulled Mydei's walls wide enough to fit a third one in between.

Mydei shook his head, fingers ripping into the sheets. "Louder!"

Shit.

Phainon pulled his fingers out, not hesitating even when he saw Mydei's cock, resting against his stomach in a semi-flaccid state. The pitch of Mydei's moans—painful and unsatiated—sang a different melody, matched by the demands of his words. Even when Phainon pressed his cock against the man's waiting hole, the tune never changed, growing instead in its intensity.

"I'm going to take you now. Breathe for me, Mydei…" Phainon whispered the words before he sank in with forced slowness, clenching his jaw against the strain. Still, like this, Mydei would feel every inch of his slide. In all that space, he could scream an epic, an entire ode written in the friction of their flesh. If he did things their usual way, his efforts would fall flat. A rushed couple of minutes of thrusting, a kiss for nothing more than the sake of kissing, seeking an end for his own pleasure alone. None of that would do. So, Phainon pressed himself in, slow and easy, until he couldn't press in any further. Only then did he curl over to seal their lips in a kiss.

I love you. Mnestia, Kephale, and even Thanatos had to hear the way his heart cried to the far corners of the universe. Every being should know it like one of the undeniable truths they founded Amphoreus on. Like the truth of their destiny and the existence of titans and the fact that Mydei loved him back. I love you too much to contain any longer!

Mydei's hands clenched over Phainon's back, his hips rocking, encouraging him to pick up the pace while demanding even more points of contact. When Phainon planted his hands on the bed for leverage, Mydei twisted so he could scrape his teeth along the sensitive skin of his wrist. Phainon jolted but when he tried to move, Mydei pinned his arm still, cheek pressed to the trembling limb.

"Me too," he hissed, as if he really did know what thoughts ran through Phainon's mind. And he must have because how many times now had he responded to words Phainon never said? His eyes going a fraction wider, Phainon stared down at the other man before hauling him up, right into his lap.

"Oh, Mydei! Shit, you feel so good!" Like love. Like perfection. Phainon felt the other man's arms wrap around his shoulders, strong thighs pressing against his own as they rocked together, the pace quickening without losing any of its meaning. Sliding his hand down, he found Mydei's cock, hard and leaking against his abs. However, before Phainon could wrap his fingers around it, Mydei wrenched it away, a punched out sound escaping his lips.

"Don't! T-that's too…just from behind is fine…" Mydei sucked in a breath before slowly pulling Phainon's hand away and pressing it against his lower back. When Phainon sunk his fingers against the bumps of his spine, Mydei shivered, body going taut with tension. "Dig your nails in! Now!"

Phainon pressed down, reveling in the way Mydei tossed his head back, a long groan stuttering from his lips. It matched Phainon's own panting breaths, the breathless praise and moans slurring together into a mantra that sounded like the cries of someone far removed from himself. He shifted, feet planted on the bed so he could drive up faster, a tidal wave quickly approaching him.

"J-just a little more! Mydei, I'm going to come inside you! I…you…" He sucked in a breath, Mydei suddenly millimeters from his face, palms pressed against his cheeks, lips hovering close enough to taste the breath panting from between them. And, in that moment, the entire world froze. "You." The word whispered between them, transcendent in the silence before Mydei closed the last distance between them.

The second their lips touched, the tidal wave swept back in, drowning Phainon deep within its depths. He came with a gasp against Mydei's lips, uncaring even when the other man sank his teeth in harsh enough to draw blood.

"Phainon! Yes!"

Mydei's body tensed over his before slumping down, forehead against Phainon's shoulder. Without the strength to hold them both up, Phainon slid sideways, pulling Mydei down onto the bed with him, too spent and weirdly full to think of doing anything else. Even his lips could do nothing more than press numbly against Mydei's flesh, tiny notes of appreciation in an ocean of euphoria. Finally, though, Mydei pushed himself up enough to let Phainon slide out of him, immediately rolling onto his stomach with a grunt.

Phainon twisted, following the man's heat with a sharp intake of breath because he looked perfect. Even with his hair tangled and wild, the braid fraying out of its metal bind, Mydei looked every bit the prince he was. So much so that Phainon couldn't help but bend to press a kiss right where he'd dug his nails earlier. Another shiver coursed its way through Mydei but, after a last shuddering breath, he pushed himself into a seated position. Unable to help himself, Phainon slung both arms around Mydei's waist, holding him still.

"Are you planning on leaving?"

Mydei hesitated, one hand jumping up to clench over Phainon's in consolation. Their eyes met, uncertainty shimmering between them for the first time since Mydei pressed their temples together so many eons ago. They stayed, frozen still, before Mydei slid his eyes closed, shaking the tension away.

"You've never ask me to-"

"Stay," Phainon cut him off, arms tightening around Mydei's middle. "I'm asking you to stay now. Please, Mydei?"

Another breath answered him before Mydei slumped into Phainon's hold, answering him without need of words. "Of course, Phainon. All you needed to do was ask. I will stay."

Hiding a smile against Mydei's nape, Phainon pulled them both back under the blankets, settling himself warmly against his lover's back, their hands still tangled together, breaths falling into perfect sync. He never imagined it would be so simple. And yet, here he was, sleeping together with Mydei for the first time in years. After unlocking his secrets, everything simply fell into place and all he could think was what a fool he had been. What a titan-damned fool to deny himself this. Because, sometimes, in the course of some destinies, love really did conquer all. Sometimes it won the fight, won the man, and…everything else. Sometimes, love really was enough.