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Reading the stars was a talent that Esidisi wished he had. Santana tried to show him how to do it a few times, but Esidisi couldn't wrap his mind around it. Because of this, he was bad at telling dates and whatnot; good at remembering when things were, like birthdays and anniversaries, but bad at pinning the actual date.
They were sitting outside their current home, which would suffice until the snow melted enough for them to continue their travels. The snow had started falling a week ago, and had thus began piling high. A few feet away from them was a lopsided snowman that Wham and Santana had built together; the sight of it made Esidisi smile every time. They tried to make a horn for it out of an icicle, which ended up falling off shortly afterwards, leaving the poor thing with a hole in its lumpy forehead.
Santana, wrapped in a fur cloak, raised his hand to point at the shimmering night sky. "The stars shift every night... But they follow a pattern, so does the moon... That's how we tell the months..."
Esidisi nodded his head and scratched his chin. He always encouraged Santana to read the scrolls and the tablets that were laying around, as well as to ask any questions he had. Personally, Esidisi saw the importance of having another scholar in their family, though it was obvious to him that Kars preferred the thought of them both being warriors. Oh well.
Santana kept rambling on. Recently, astrology had been a huge passion of his, and the excited edge to his voice was nothing short of adorable. It made Esidisi proud knowing that he had something to be passionate about.
"...Like tonight... See those stars right there...?" Santana said, drawing Esidisi's attention towards a bright cluster to their right. "They're only there... On the longest night of the year, the Winter Solstice."
Esidisi, at that point, was still doing his routine of nodding along and giving the occasional "mhm" and "ah, yes". However, as soon as these words registered in his mind, his eyes shot open.
He snapped his head towards Santana. "Is that really today?"
"Yeah," was Santana's lazy reply. "Didn't you noticed that it got dark earlier than usual...?"
Esidisi hauled himself up to his feet, brushing the snow off his legs and shaking his head.
"I think it... Slipped my mind." Esidisi admitted, trying to cover his shame. It was happening more and more often now that he was being outwitted by the child. "Do you know what the Winter Solstice means for us?"
"It's when we celebrate the night... And be thankful for our long lives.... Right?"
Esidisi smiled and shrugged his own heavy cloak off his shoulders. He shook the snow from it as well.
"Exactly. It's also the night your papa and I swore our undying love and devotion to each other." Esidisi draped the cloak over Santana's small shoulders, making him lurch forward slightly.
"Gross." Santana mumbled, adjusting it.
"Absolutely it is," Esidisi replied. He leaned down to kiss the top of Santana's head and then ruffled his hair. "I'm going back inside, before papa thinks I forgot our anniversary."
Santana paused a moment before twisting around and speaking as Esidisi started for the door.
"But... Didn't you, sort of? You didn't know what day today was..."
Esidisi pursed his lips together and gave a guffaw, waving his hand. "Of course not! It only counts as forgetting if you don't say anything until the day is over."
He grinned again to Santana's furrowed-brow confusion. "See that? That's advice you will not find in any scrolls. You're welcome."
As he then made his way inside, Santana sort of rolled his eyes back up at the night sky and returned to mapping the stars.
—30—
Deep in the caverns of their makeshift home, Kars was curled up under a heavy pelt, sitting on the floor, and puzzling at his desk over his plans. A torch crackled on the wall, producing the only sound aside from his own thoughts. He was so close to grasping exactly what needed tweaking in the mask, but at the same time he had exhausted almost every idea he had. It was nothing short of completely frustrating.
Still, he tried to entirely absorb himself in his work. He rubbed his temples and squeezed his eyes shut, wracking his brain for all it was worth. As he focused, he drowned out all the minimal sounds around him, a skill he developed after raising two babies for a couple centuries. He was thus completely unaware that anyone was approaching from the hall.
Esidisi moseyed his way along and rapped his knuckles on the wall, before pushing aside the animal skin that acted as a door and entering.
"I come bearing gifts, for the only love of my life," Esidisi said, sporting a confident little grin. "The most beautiful, and bothersome, creature on this planet."
Kars briefly glanced over at Esidisi as he entered, then returned to rubbing his temples and shaking his head. He tried desperately to keep his train of thought running.
"How charming," He mumbled. He lowered his head down a bit as he tried to focus. "Could this wait an hour or so, Esidisi? I'm on to something."
"Naturally. Anything for you." The slight smug tone to Esidisi's voice didn't go unnoticed, but Kars could only focus on so many things at once.
The main issue with the stone masks right now, Kars worked out, was that they weren't giving the desired results; instead of unlocking hidden potential in a subject's brain, they just kill. In a few odd cases, the subject transcended humanity, so to speak, but so far it seemed to be a fluke more than anything. However, no matter how Kars reworked the masks to match those that produced the fluke, it still seemed to be a toss-up to which ones would work.
While Kars pondered, Esidisi leaned back against the wall by the desk and rolled a small cloth bag in his hands. He occupied himself with the jingling sound that came from it as its contents rattled.
Though the sound was slight, it was just enough to make Kars' brow twitch.
"You know," Esidisi then said, hardly moments later. "Taking a break might be beneficial, you have been working particularly hard this past while. Plus, you know..."
Esidisi pursed his lips and started tossing the bag up and down instead. Kars shot his hard glare to the side, watching the scene.
"...Tonight is a special night, after all."
Esidisi kept throwing the bag, and it kept making that horrible jingling sound. Kars frowned more, eyes narrowing, as he slowly processed it all.
The latter sat up straight, adjusting the pelt around his shoulders. "Are you talking about our anniversary?"
"Maybe," Esidisi replied, lips pouting.
"Wow." That was all Kars could manage out.
Completely derailed from his thoughts and his work, he shifted back to look at Esidisi. Kars looked slightly dishevelled under the pelt; his hair was messy, frizzy and all over the place, and his makeup was smudged, no doubt from rubbing his face so many times subconsciously.
Esidisi was looking back at him now, lips still pouting, though he seemed to be fighting back a smile.
"You've pulled me from my work for something as trivial as this."
"Well, I wouldn't exactly say this is trivial..."
"Esidisi," Kars said, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I'm so close, so close, to figuring out how I might make these masks work and, essentially, turn us into ultimate beings. If I can get this right, we could walk in the sunlight without fear. All I need to do is to figure out what I'm missing, and we will be unstoppable."
Esidisi stopped tossing the bag now and instead held it close. His expression slowly shifted down into a frown.
Kars continued. "This is... Quite literally, my life's work, almost completed, and you've pulled me from it to remind me of... What, our twenty-thousandth, thirty-thousandth anniversary?"
When Kars paused, Esidisi shifted in his spot, frowning further. He crossed his arms and drummed his fingers on his biceps.
"Obviously I think your life's work is important," He said, pouting a little. "But I think our anniversary and celebration of our lives together are just as important. And furthermore, "Lord Kars", I think you were rather rude right there. I'd like an apology."
Kars lowered his brows, voice deadpan. "An apology?"
"Yes."
He sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose more. "I'm frustrated, very busy, and I want to work this problem out sooner rather than later, so I'm sorry if I'm on edge."
Esidisi nodded his head. "You should take a break, then. You’re obviously worn thin, and you won't come up with anything if you keep up this way."
Despite the seriousness that Esidisi's voice had for that second, he soon returned to a more smug and upbeat tone. He motioned his palm outwards and smiled.
"One hour of your precious time, my love. Come lay down and relax, and I'll rub your shoulders while you open your gift."
Kars flicked his eyes up and down Esidisi's body quickly, before he decided that there would be no getting back to his previous mindset anyway. So, with a little grunt, he pulled himself up from his spot and stood up straight in front of Esidisi. The latter took on an even bigger smile as he reached out to put his arms around Kars. Kars allowed it, and even welcomed it as he moved in closer to lay his head against Esidisi's chest.
Esidisi was toasty warm, a lovely contrast to the chilly air of the room.
"I can spare an hour, I suppose, but nothing more," Kars muttered. He silently savoured Esidisi's arms around him and sighed. " I didn't know you were going to care as much about our anniversary as you did, otherwise I would have gotten you something as well."
"It's fine," Esidisi replied, squeezing Kars gently. "That will be a worry for another time."
Esidisi then pulled back enough that he could produce the bag and present it to Kars. It was a deep red velvet, and easily fit within the palm of his hand. When Kars took it into his own, Esidisi reached up to take hold of his shoulders, and then guided him towards the mess of pelts and furs that they called a bed.
Kars tried not to seem too terribly reluctant as he went over and sat down on the bed. As Esidisi joined him and made himself comfortable, Kars undid the string of the bag and peered inside.
Silvers and golds glittered back in the low light. Impressed, Kars shook the contents onto the blanket to examine them properly. He shifted as Esidisi's weight sunk the bed down behind him.
"Jewelry, hm?" Kars hummed, the corner of his mouth quirking up into a smirk. "Interesting. Was it obvious that I was getting tired of what I already have?"
"Oh, just a little bit."
Esidisi removed the cloak from Kars' shoulders and set it aside, before replacing it with his own hands. Kars shivered at first, then quickly relaxed as Esidisi began kneading his muscles. With a sigh, Kars leaned back into his husband's firm touch, once again letting the warmth envelop him.
The whole scenario made him feel particularly regal now. Kars picked up and examined a piece that was an intricately put-together web of shimmering gold; he laid it over his hand to look at it properly, thoroughly impressed by the small gems that dotted it.
"You wear it on your head," Esidisi said, resting his chin on Kars' shoulder. "It's sort of like a net that the high-class humans wear. I thought it would look nice with your hair."
"It is quite beautiful," Kars mused. He then set it down, in favour of trying on a couple gold and silver rings.
He could practically feel Esidisi grin against his ear at this point. Esidisi slid his hands down Kars' shoulders to his arms, thus giving him room to press a kiss just below his ear.
"Not quite as beautiful as you are."
Kars sighed softly, then rolled his eyes. "Now you're just sucking up to me. Flattery will get you nowhere."
That wasn't to say Kars didn't enjoy Esidisi's words, nor his slight actions. Esidisi kissed his neck again and then worked his way downwards, peppering kisses slow and sweet. Drawing in a shaky breath, Kars closed his eyes and reached his hand back, knocking Esidisi's hat from his head and putting his fingers into his hair.
Esidisi paused at the junction of Kars' shoulder, sucking and exploring the spot with his tongue, while letting his own hands wander. They moved from Kars' arms to his ribs, causing the latter to shiver anew. Esidisi smiled into Kars' neck and gave a short laugh as he brushed his hands along Kars' chest, before letting them come down and rest on the curve of his hips.
Esidisi pursed his lips briefly, before he leaned against Kars' back and took up the gold netting. He then gave it a smile, and laid it on top of Kars' head delicately; he adjusted it, making sure that the chain and deep red gem on the front laid neatly against Kars' forehead.
Afterwards, Esidisi craned his neck around to get a glimpse of Kars' face, then smiled and cupped his cheeks. He kissed Kars' temple, thumbs rubbing his jaw all the while.
Despite himself, and the trouble Esidisi had given him before this, Kars gave a smile as well.
"Well? Do I look alright?" He asked, dropping his hands to run along Esidisi's thighs beside him. He pursed his lips as he remembered that he hadn't touched up his makeup that evening. "On second thought, don't answer that."
"I think you're handsome as always, Lord Kars." Esidisi grinned. He kissed Kars' temple again, then let his fingers brush against Kars' neck, and down to his shoulders. No matter how many times he explored Kars’ body, he never grew tired of it. "Though... I think you'd look better in nothing at all, except these."
For emphasis, Esidisi laid his hand over Kars' and toyed with the rings there. Kars tilted his head back to rest against Esidisi's shoulder. He laughed himself at the notion.
" I see. Should that be your anniversary present, then? Me in nothing but gold and red stones, my body for you alone..."
Esidisi grinned and nodded, lacing his fingers with Kars' and squeezing them gently. He allowed himself to indulge in the thought, admittedly enjoying it the more he delved into it. Kars, meanwhile, got himself caught in a very different thought.
Esidisi tilted his head to kiss Kars on the lips now, but Kars moved his head to avoid it.
"Wait. Stop." He shook his hand from Esidisi's and sat forward a bit. Esidisi did as asked, more curious than anything. "Red stones. I read something about that, a beautiful red stone that deflected sunlight-- by the Gods, Esidisi."
Kars clutched his forehead, evidently wracking his brain for something. “A red stone, red stone—what it was called?”
Esidisi replaced his hands around Kars’ waist, his subtle way of keeping his husband in place for even a moment longer. He pursed his lips together and shook his head. “I can’t say I know. Though it does ring a bell...”
Kars went stone-still for a moment as he thought, puzzling hard and muttering to himself all the while. “What was it called? Santviento read it as well, he mentioned it to me in passing, but I can’t remember the name.”
“The Greatest and Best Red Stone?” Esidisi offered helpfully with a smile. His humour was not well-met by the other.
Kars shook his head, going silent for a second. Then, all at once, he snapped his fingers, eyes lighting up. “The Super Aja! That’s what it was called. We’ve got a book on it, I need to go read it right now.”
As Kars went to get up, attempting to push himself away from Esidisi, Esidisi tightened his arms around his waist and gave a huff. Being bigger all around than Kars definitely helped, but given the arm-blades he was definitely pushing his luck.
“Hey now, just wait a minute,” Esidisi said, leaning his cheek forward on Kars’ back. “You’ve got the name; can’t it wait for a little while longer? This is so nice… And it’s our anniversary, after all.”
Kars put his hands on Esidisi’s arms and shoved as hard as he could. “No. I need to get the information right now, before I lose my train of thought.”
“Well, I’ll remember your thoughts for you! Come now, my love, are you really going to pass this beautiful moment up in exchange for reading a book?”
“Yes.”
Esidisi furrowed his brows and pouted to that. It then turned into a power struggle between the two, a case of the unstoppable force versus the immovable object, but eventually Kars managed to wriggle his way out of Esidisi’s reluctant arms. In a moment of pettiness, Esidisi’s fingernails flipped open and a few of his viens whipped out to grab onto Kars’ ankle. He tugged the other in, keeping him from exiting the bed properly.
Kars shot back a dirty look.
“Esidisi, this is childish, I need to find that paper—”
Esidisi tugged him in again, almost making Kars lose his balance and fall flat on his face, grinning all the while. Esidisi then reached out and took Kars by the arm, keeping him steady and holding him close. Kars was about one step away from looking as though he’d gnaw his own foot off to escape.
However instead of locking him in a death-grip cuddle, as Esidisi was sometimes known to do, he instead planted a kiss on Kars’ cheek and then smiled.
“Alright. I’ll wait for you here.” He said, letting go of Kars after and taking the gold netting from his hair. “Don’t forget about me. I’m getting cold and lonely just thinking about you being away from me…!”
Kars blinked with momentary surprise and then shook his head. He took Esidisi by the jaw and kissed him quickly on the lips, then patted his cheek.
“I won’t be long, love.”
Esidisi, despite himself, couldn’t hold back his stupid grin. As he watched Kars get up and hurry for their makeshift library, he laid back and touched his lips.
He said to himself, “Here’s to another millennia.”