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What keeps one going forward when they're not binded by the chains of mortality?
Is it the sense of duty to the ones who depend on you? Or is it the genuine love for life as you watch it begin, grow and die along everything to your surroundings? These are a couple of questions that once in a while might plague the minds of immortals. An easier answer would be they were here, because they were. No reason or duty. Existing for the sake of it, as everything else in the cosmos. It's such a human thing to try to find logic where it isn't needed.
As an example, how could one find logic in two gods being enemies for the mere sake of it? Shouldn't these superior beings have a better grasp of emotions as to not let petty feelings rot them from inside with the passing eons? Maybe it should be like this. But sometimes all you need to make your endless life a little less boring is these petty feelings towards a neighbor, who also harbors the same petty feelings for similar reasons.
Loid and Yor were like that, on some degree. Their domains were too close, almost interdependant, being separated by a flimsy stream colored with stars.
On one side, the God of Life ruled over a realm of fresh green pastures, bright clear skies and meadows brimming with new life at every dawn. It reflected perfectly his mildly tanned skin, piercing blue eyes and the blonde hair that reminded others of a sunny day filled with hope.
On the other, the almost complete opposite complemented Loid, while also posing as a rival. The Goddess of Death, Yor, led a gray life, saved by the dry wine-colored roses that followed her path of destruction or the thorns adorning her head like a crown so tightly, that at moments one could see drops of bright red liquor rolling down her porcelain face, making a stark contrast with her red eyes. Yor was a recluse in her dark forest with thick, magical mist that invited you to come in and stay for awhile, maybe forever. She only bothered with her dead flowers and the innumerous ways humans found everyday of killing each other.
Loid was one of those few gods that managed to get a word out of her and she liked to think it was reciprocal. For such a bright deity, he didn't receive as many visitors as one would expect. It was probably him being more concerned with work than with entertaining guests. She secretly admired that in him.
One day, their eternal mundanity was disturbed by a sound of wailing.
It's one thing to hear heavenly beasts or even monsters around the Pantheon, but deep down they both knew that this was something drastically out of the norm. Following their instincts and the sound, they both left their palaces in search of that curious occurence.
They found themselves at each side of the starlit stream that served as their natural border, in which the stones guarded protectively a small, silk covered, crying babe.
Both gods stared in awe at the marvelous creature. It wasn't hard for one to guess what it was all about. The child had a powerful aura, one only attributed to a young deity. A goddess. A new goddess was just born.
They both went down to pick her, only to realize their predicament. Yor glared at him and his intentions.
What is it that you're thinking, she demands, as she's manifested in your domains just as much as she did in mine.
The child was exactly between them, not too far to one side, not too close to the other. Had she been born just slightly to the left or to the right, they wouldn't have much to argue with.
The elders watch with contempt at each other as there are few clues to who she truly belongs to. The little deity had pink hair and bright green eyes that reminded one of spring, which was a strong indicative she was closer to Loid. Yet, hiding among her silky locks there was a pair of small, cone shaped horns easily associated with the demons Yor was a patron of. It made a lot of sense if she was hers.
Time passed with them not agreeing on who got to keep the child. Yet, she was still crying, waiting impatient for a mature decision from two creatures that had thousands and thousands of history behind them, yet couldn't be reasonable when needed.
Loid was the one to pick her up first, even with curses from the neighbouring goddess. He conjured peach colored drapes to envelop her against the cold and she slowly calmed down. Loid smiled down at the little one as she tightly held onto his index finger.
Yor was glaring at the two jealously and deeply hurt. Why did he get to hold her and she didn't? Was he inviting her to a war? She was very in favor of that, but she wouldn't dare to do anything that could harm the youngest of them. Yor clenched fists and felt the thorns on her crown piercing deeper, as she wasn't one to cry, but actually bleed.
Loid seemed to finally acknowledge her distress and, even if he didn't trust such a cruel entity, he couldn't deny it was unfair to keep her away from the child. With cautiousness and an attentive eye to any misdeeds, he handed over a now fussy infant to Yor. Her eyes gleamed as she realized his attention and she was quick, but careful, to receive her.
Yor shushed the child with ease, as she seemed to gratefully be quiet just by being held properly. When looking at the older one, the child actually smiled with glee. Yor melted. This was all she needed to know to be sure she wasn't unwanted. She placed a soft kiss on her forehead, as a blessing and gift of protection.
A light came from above them. When looking up, the duo found a new stellar object that wasn't there before. A perfect circle, with shades of white and silver, brightening up the universe just like the new goddess was doing with their lives.
This must surely be her doing.
Yor was the one allowed to pick her name in exchange of Loid being the one to spend the first day with her.
Anya, young goddess of the Moon and many other things they had yet to find about as she grew up.
Not his or hers. Their daughter.
-*-
The gods had a simple agreement. One day each with their child, because they couldn't bear to be apart of her from long. Fortunately, gods aged differently and they had an eternity to cherish every little step of her growth as a celestial entity.
She was a bright and cheerful child who loved them both equally. There would be days they would spend a day with her together, each in their respective side of the starlit stream. Hadn't them secure her in place, Anya would crawl those waters repeatedly and wet her robes, only to reach the other side with the neglected parent.
The other gods at the pantheon weren't oblivious to the new satellite in the sky. They would gossip among themselves, questioning who was responsible for it. Yor and Loid would feign ignorance. They both used their magic to hide her as best as they could, but it couldn't be done with the moon. They just didn't like the idea of others finding out about her existance so early. Anya was so young and gods could be vicious. They weren't skeptical of their own habilities to protect her, but it wouldn't hurt to be extra careful.
-*-
It was prone to happen that as they spent more time together because of Anya, Loid and Yor would warm up to each other.
At first, there was a clear rivalry and competition for the younger one's attention and arguments about the best way to raise her. With the passing times, though, the conflicts died down and the meetins over the stream were more and more frequent. One day, Loid allowed Yor to cross the border. The next, she did the same.
Yor would cover Anya's hair with flowers from Loid's side. It just fit her better than the somber ones from her realm. When she was distracted, Loid would place a fresh red rose on her own hair. This one wouldn't die, he promised. She would raise an eyebrow and smirk, allowing herself to be smitten by the charming god.
Roughly after Anya took her first steps, Yor gifted her with a companion. Bond was a spirit in canine form, which in another scenario would be a dark creature. But he was still young and wasn't yet corrupted. He'd make a good friend to Anya.
The girl adored her new puppy. She would walk around wobbly with him in toll, collecting stars from the stream to gift her Mama and Papa. Once she was old enough, she would collect stars and keep them near her moon to make the sky look prettier.
As they watched their daughter contently side by side, Loid held her waist gently and placed a kiss on her exposed shoulder. Caught off-guard, but not enough to be startled, Yor turned to face him questioningly. His only answer came from his eyes, in a silent plea that could mean nothing or everything.
May I, his eyes said.
Yor smiles at him and kisses the side of his mouth in return.
When the Moon isn't looking, she whispers in his ear. Only then could they have some privacy.
Luckily they had eternity and could wait patiently.