Work Text:
Erichthonios rubbed the back of his head as he waited at the aetheryte. It had been a gruelling time getting Pandaemonium back on its feet: finding people to be the new Warders who had to be carefully vetted for the position in case of lingering malodiance, steadying and quelling the beasts within so they didn't get out of hand again, cleaning up the messes made by the battles...
It had been hard to handle, but at least he wasn't alone in it. Lahabrea had come by every spare moment he had. He was the one who picked the new Warders, with Erichthonios's approval of them. They'd gotten Erich's apartment redecorated, too, removing as much of his mother as Erich could bear.
They had talked. They had bonded. There were new things in the apartment, things that Lahabrea had that Erichthonios had liked enough to adopt.
And... there was Themis. Themis came by every once in awhile to check in and make sure that Erichthonios took breaks and looked after himself. They spent those days trying new foods, wandering the halls as Erich gave a borderline report, talking about everything and nothing. He would readily admit to enjoying those days, less so to wanting them more frequently.
They were the only time he really took a break, but he made himself comfortable in other ways and destressed well enough.
Today was... a little different. Themis had invited Erichthonios out to see Elpis, a place he hadn't been in a long time—not since he had been a child and Hesperos had thought it best to take him along for a tour. The place was newly rebuilt, it seemed, at least in the centuries since he'd last been there, the building surrounding them and protecting new travelers from the bright environment now a nice sandy color.
He leaned against a wall with his arms crossed, watching the aetheryte with anticipation, supposing he might come off as strange to those who came along and passed him. That was no matter.
White! White cloak, red mask, shorter than himself. It was Themis and could be no other. The young man took his hood off and hung his mask at his collar, then shook out his hair and let out a content sigh.
"Over here," Erichthonios said, waving. His anticipation left and took with it a nervousness that had thrummed quietly within him. Maybe it was his agitated state that had freaked some people out...
"Erichthonios! My dear friend, you made it!" Themis strode over with a big smile on his face and leaned up to kiss Erich, his smile unwavering as Erich turned his face away.
"Not here," he said. Instead, he went to open the door, leaving the blue glow of the aetheryte behind for the beautiful light of the sun, something he'd rarely seen in recent years.
"Of course. You're more reserved in your affection." Themis walked along merrily, dismissing his red mask for a white one and continuing with that. Erich eyed it curiously, but said nothing.
"I don't want to attract attention here," Themis said simply. His hair shone in the light, fair glittering with his excitement. Erichthonios steadied his breathing. Maybe it'd be better if he stopped it for now, until he had control of himself.
Themis led Erichthonios down the paths of Elpis, holding his hand as they went, though his interest in the gardens and regions seemed lacking. Not that Erichthonios minded. He liked how the place looked and quietly memorized this or that to ask about later. Maybe if he could spruce up Pandaemonium a little with some plantlife...
"Oh, look!" Themis pointed to a large, whiskered cat with antlers. "Isn't this one beautiful?"
"It is," Erichthonios said. He smiled at the sight of it. Truth be told, had he not become a Warder, he might have become one of Elpis's keepers, like the recently appointed Fandaniel had been. "Pandaemonium is akin to Elpis," he mused.
"What was that?" Themis asked. His bright eyes pierced the soul itself, seeing through veils and disguises.
"I was just thinking that being a Warder is just a more dangerous type of groundskeeper," Erichthonios explained. It sounded stupid out loud "Do you suppose I can get some of these plants?"
Themis looked at him, a smile slowly blooming on his face as he interpreted the depth of Erich's words. "I think so, yes. Any in particular you have an eye on?"
"That one, those over there, and a few trees," Erichthonios said, pointing them out. Themis nodded.
"We can ask the director later about getting the concepts."
"Yeah." Maybe it would introduce newcomers to Pandaemonium. Maybe that would be a problem. With everything else going on, Erichthonios wasn't sure he could handle that, but he felt he had a better chance than he would have before. His gaze turned from the plants to Themis, a small smile gracing his features.
With encouragement, he'd already expanded his limitations.
Already, Themis had done so much for him, from helping him with Pandaemonium's crisis to now with helping him relax and make his home his home. He felt at ease around the other, and wondered if Themis ever felt the same.
Thoughts of his mother shot through his head. Now that he was on his own, he could begin to unravel where he lacked independence still. He could stand on his own, but he had always been weak and coddled, ever since her... That wasn't true anymore. It wasn't, because of Themis.
And that made him nervous as they wandered farther and farther. What if he became too dependent on Themis? What if he already was? Hardly a day went by when he didn't think about the calming aura that exuded from Themis with every step and smile. Was this how his father had felt? Was this how his mother had seemed when the two were in their younger years?
"Something the matter?" Themis asked, looking at Erichthonios. He snapped to attention and focused on Themis. To the Emissary's credit, he didn't falter or waver under the intense gaze of his friend.
"I..." Erichthonios's words left him. He didn't know how to sort through what he felt, but he felt the need to act. Doing so recklessly would be a problem. "This way."
He pushed Themis gently off the path and to a semi-secluded corner by a wall where the ground was raised over the rest of the island. To say it was hidden would be a misnomer, but no one was here right now, and that was good enough. Here, Erichthonios pressed Themis against the wall, one hand on his side, the other caressing his cheek.
He wanted to kiss him. He wanted to express his gratitude. He wanted to express so much.
Themis smiled at him still, the shifts of his lips coaxing Erich further. As Erichthonios leaned in and brushed their lips together, Themis's hands came up round his waist and held onto him.
Themis responded to his kiss.
Oh, glory, he responded!
Erichthonios's hand slid into Themis's hair as he kissed him more deeply. Then he pulled away and sighed.
Themis moved his hands to Erichthonios's chest, resting them there. Erich moved to hug Themis round the waist, instead.
"I believe that one should express their feelings freely," Themis said.
"I love you," Erichthonios blurted. His cheeks flushed and darkened.
"I love you, too," Themis replied. He leaned in for another kiss and wrapped his arms around Erich's neck, met halfway as Erichthonios did the same.