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Belobog - the Underworld
Sampo Koski sat in his favorite Underworld Bar, Geomarrow. Sure it was the only Underworld Bar but who cared. Not Sampo Koski. He sat there staring at the same drink he’d been staring at for almost an hour. Just watching the ice melt as he thought.
He had a crush. A crush on the one person he, Sampo Koski, had no business crushing on. On the man who hated him most in the world, Captain of the Silvermane Guards, Gepard Landau.
It was stupid really. Gepard would never like him back. As far as the blonde captain was concerned all he, Sampo Koski, would ever be was a criminal. And everyone knew the one thing Gepard couldn’t stand was a criminal.
So when the new Supreme Guardian Bronya cleared his record he tried to go straight. To live a respectable life. But no one would hire him. All everyone saw was a criminal. Which meant he had to resort to shadier work just to survive.
He made some shields smuggling artifacts to nobles but the Trailblazer Caelus caught him. He was worried that’d be the final nail in the coffin for him. Thought for sure he’d be turned in to Gepard killing any remaining hope he had at improving their relationship. But Caelus took mercy on him as a pal.
Unfortunately he was running out of shields. In a week or so he wouldn’t be able to afford his room at the Goethe Hotel. Which led him to staring at his drink at the bar on a Tuesday night. With an empty stomach and a near empty wallet.
“Hey are you guys hiring” he asked the bartender jokingly. He had tried literally everywhere else he could think of. But Underworld establishments weren’t really hiring as most were struggling.
The bartender thought for a moment “can ya cook?” he asked not looking up from the glass he was cleaning “cause my cook just moved to the Overworld to work elsewhere”
Sampo perked up on his stool. Was this his chance? Would he finally get a break?
“I can cook some basic dishes” he admitted honestly “nothing special though”
The bartender nodded as he thought the statement over. As if he was seriously considering it. Like he was actually giving Sampo a fair shot.
“The pay won’t be very good” he finally admitted “it’ll be shit really, only 10 shields a week, but you can stay in the apartment upstairs for free”
Sampo’s eyes widened. 10 shields a week was absolute shit pay sure but free lodging in a safe zone made a huge difference. Especially when a night in the Goethe Hotel cost over 100 shields.
“Plus a free meal after closing” he paused before winking at him in a teasing manner “as long as you make some food for me too”
Sampo nodded in agreement while silently fighting the urge to cry. It wasn’t anything glamorous but it was an honest to god respectable job. And his boss didn’t care about his past. He could live a normal life with this.
“Thank you for the opportunity” he beamed hoping to his feet “shall I make us something real quick so you know I’m legit?”
The bartender nodded before showing him the kitchen. 20 min later they were enjoying a simple rice dish with some meat. It wasn’t glamorous and it could use more seasoning but it was enough to truly secure him the job.
He was given until Friday to move into the upstairs apartment. It was a tiny studio but it had a working bathroom, clean running water, and working heat so Sampo didn’t mind. Caelus and his friends even donated a bunch of pillows and blankets which allowed him to make a makeshift bed.
Sampo stood in his new home smiling genuinely for the first time in what felt like a lifetime. He no longer needed to do questionable things to make ends meet. He didn’t even have to give up his hobby of information collection because a bar was the best place to hear news.
2 Months Later
Sampo stood in the kitchen of Geomarrow cleaning up after closing. He enjoyed his job. Sure it was less exciting than his old line of work but it had its own perks. His boss, a fighter and member of Wildfire named Luka, was a chill dude. He got to keep any tips made while working the bar. He didn’t have to pay rent. And he had learned that he really enjoyed cooking.
It was nice to be able to work without worry of being double crossed or accused of being a scam artist. Was nice to be able to just have fun making food that people seemed to enjoy.
And enjoy they did. Geomarrow had quickly gained a reputation as the best place to get food in the Underworld. A fact that surprised Sampo but not Luka. The cheerful redhead liked to tease that Sampo just didn’t realize how good of a cook he was because he had only ever done it to survive.
One would imagine with all these wonderful things Sampo was happy. And he was, for the most part. But things had only continued to get worse with Gepard.
Dissatisfied old clients of Sampo’s and jealous competitors of Geomarrow put in numerous complaints with the Silvermane Guards. Complaints that they were being cheated out of money. Complaints that they were using expired ingredients. Even the odd complaint that they were using unauthorized ingredients like fragmentum meat.
All completely false of course. Sampo had, for possibly the first time, been doing everything completely by the book. He didn’t want the one person who gave him a chance, Luka, to think they had been wrong. But that didn’t stop the rumors or the accusations. And with his track record it didn’t stop Gepard from taking every accusation seriously.
Sampo understood, really he did, but it still hurt. Hurt that no matter how hard he tried Gepard never saw him as anything but a criminal. But he had faith that with time things would get better eventually.
Just not today.
“Koski” Gepard shouted as he entered the closed bar.
Great, Sampo thought, Luka was going to scold him for not remembering to lock the door before closing again. But that could wait, Gepard was here.
Sampo knew better to get his hopes up. Knew better than to expect a positive interaction with Gepard. But it had been a long day. And Gepard looked so unbelievable attractive when in work mode.
Not that Sampo had ever seen him out of work mode. Hell he’d never even seen the man smile outside of a photo. Which likely made him the only person in all of Belobog to not have the pleasure of seeing Gepard’s renowned smile in person.
Staring at the Captain Sampo took him in. Well kept blonde hair and brilliant eyes as blue as the frozen sea on a stunningly handsome face. Sampo could stare at that face all day. And he probably would have if Gepard didn’t cough to get his attention.
“To what do I owe the pleasure Lil Geppie” he asked giving the shorter man his best smile.
“I’ve been informed that you’re scamming vendors again” Gepard snapped back his voice colder than any blizzard from the days of the Eternal Freeze.
Sampo blinked his eyes dropping. Of course it wasn’t a happy visit. Why would Gepard ever visit him of his own volition.
“If you are found guilty the fine shall be 200 shields”
Sampo blinked again. 200 shields wasn’t necessarily a lot but for a small Underworld business it was huge. And Luka had just dropped 100 shields to fix the appliances in the kitchen. He couldn’t afford that.
Normally Sampo would fight. Argue that it was an attack on his character. Say that it was rude to be accused of a crime without evidence. Try to convince the Gepard of his legitimate innocence. But he was tired.
Tired of trying to win the Captain over. Tired of trying to prove to everyone that he had turned over a new leaf. And fucking tired of pretending he was fine.
Walking over to Gepard, Sampo was aware that his expression changed. Aware because he was always in complete control of his face and voice. But also because Gepard made the face everyone made when Sampo was fed up.
Droopy eyes and a dopey grin turned flat, expressionless as he approached the man. Reaching into his small side pouch to find 200 shields.
“Do me a favor” he started in a sharp measured voice instead of his usual playful one. He put the 200 shields in Gepards hand “take your fine and your accusations and fuck yourself with them”
Gerpard blinked his compassionate nature immediately recognizing the hurt hidden behind Sampo’s emerald eyes. Had he touched a nerve? But wasn’t this how they always talked to eachother? He made an accusation and Sampo deflected talking to him like a person and not the Captain everyone needed him to be.
“Koski” he started reaching out for the taller man. Was he fighting back tears? “Sampo I”
Sampo cut him off. He couldn’t handle being looked at like a criminal right now. Not by Gepard.
“We are closed Captain” he snapped “so if there isn’t anything else I’m going to need you to leave”
Gepard stared at him in shock. Sampo Koski never called him Captain. Ever. For as long as they had known eachother Sampo had never called him Captain. Not once.
“Sampo” he spoke his voice soft, scared. Was Sampo ok? Had he done something? “Sampo what happened?”
Emerald eyes locked with ice blue. Gepard had never seen them so cold, so angry. So hurt. And he didn’t like seeing them like that.
“What happened?” Sampo laughed. It was joyless, bitter even “you happened Captain”
Gepard opened his mouth to speak. To ask what he meant when the first tear slipped down Sampo’s face.
“I’ve tried so hard” he explained the tears slowly falling “I got a respectable job and have been living a proper life but all you see is a criminal. All you’ll ever see is a criminal”
Gepard didn’t understand. He had heard talk among the Silvermane Guards that Sampo had been living the straight and narrow but he had just assumed that was just the pretense for a bigger scam. When Bronya and Seele had told him he’d been working as a cook he assumed that there was an angle.
And then the reports came. Multiple accusations that Geomarrow, the bar that hired Sampo, was scamming vendors. Scamming customers. Naturally he assumed that was Sampo. Sure it was a tad low brow for his normal MO but you never knew with Sampo.
But there, in that moment, Gepard felt his certainty falter. Sampo was many things but he never lied outright. And he never, ever, cried. Which could only mean. . .he was telling the truth?
What happened next surprised them both. Gepard wrapped Sampo into a hug and allowed the taller man to cry against him.
“I’m sorry Sampo” he whispered. He wasn’t sure why or how exactly this situation was his fault but he knew he hated seeing Sampo cry.
He was far cuter when he smiled.
“Sampo what have I said about locking the door at cloo-oh” a new voice came catching Gepards attention. Luka, the owner of Geomarrow stood in the doorway his arms full of groceries.
“I don’t know what happened” Gepard started “I just came to tell him he had been accused of scamming people and then he started yelling and now he’s crying”
Luka laughed. He understood what Gepard didn’t. He knew the missing information.
“I think most people would be upset if they were accused of something they didn’t do” he explained quickly “apparently he decided to live a respectable life because he developed a crush on the Captain of the Silvermane Guards”
Gepard made a confused expression. But he was the Captain of the Silvermane Guards. Didn’t that mean that Sampo had a crush on him?
“But why?” he asked not sure if he was asking about the crush or the life changes.
Luka laughed again “something about how there was no chance this Captain would ever like someone who lived above the law”
That’s when it clicked.
Months ago, at the opening of the Belobog Museum Caelus had assigned Gepard to watch Sampo. Sampo being his flirtatious self had asked Gepard what his type was. A clear attempt to get under his skin. A setup so he could jokingly ask Gepard out again. So to end the awkward conversation he said “I’d never fall for someone who believed themselves above the law”
Had Sampo taken his response seriously? Had he not realized that he, Gepard Landau, was heads over heels in love with him? Not realized that he was the only Silvermane Guard to ever attempt to arrest him? That he always let him escape at the last minute?
Gepard buried his blushing face into the now stone still chest of Sampo Koski as the realization hit him.
“Geppie?” Sampo asked suddenly back to himself. Luka’s arrival had snapped him out of his head allowing him to only humiliate himself in front of one person.
“Do you” Gepard whispered the back of his mind screaming that it was just a trick or a prank of sorts. “do you truly like me back?”