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Peter opened his eyes to dim red lighting, groaning. God, did his head hurt. He was being slowly moved on something flat and hard. He seemed to be in some sort of stone hallway with some faint music and chanting that was growing louder. They were now in what Peter guessed was a large circular room. The chanting and music stopped as a booming voice started speaking.
“Ereshkigal, we offer you this sacrifice for all you have done for us.”
With that, Peter started being hauled up stairs very slowly. He was put down on some sort of pedestal. He tried to strain against the ropes holding him there when pain bloomed through his arm. Oh right, he has gotten injured before he was kidnapped. Now he could see that the room he was in had many spider adornments and banners. He could see eight people taking long spider leg type knives (fitting for who hes being sacrificed to) and line up next to him, four on each side. Theyre getting ready to do something, presumably stab him eight times at once.
Just as Peter thought they really were going to send him to Ereshkigal, a booming sound comes from his left. Looking over, he saw Pavitr and Hobie crash through the wall. Hobie. They get the people who were about to stab him first, then Pav gets the rest of the followers and the leader while Hobie starts to undo the ropes binding Peter to the slate.
“Hey treacle, sorry it took so long to get you. These fuckers hide well.”
Once Hobie finished, he grabbed Peters hand and they swung out of there. Pav joined them on their way out, webbing the last people to the wall. They got to the next building over before they stopped to open a portal to Hobies. Peter and Hobie went through, Pav going to the society’s HQ.
“Im gonna grab the first aid kit to patch up that arm wound, are you hurt anywhere else?”
“No, just the arm.”
Hobie went to the bathroom to get the kit while Peter waited on the couch. Once he got back he started cleaning and bandaging his arm.
“You’re an idiot, but you’re not that stupid. Did O’Hara put you up to this?”
Damnit, of course Hobie knows. Hobie always knows when O’Hara takes advantage of the fact that Peter cant die. He does it too many times, even for Peter. And he’s a self sacrificing type.
“Yeah, he did.”
“You’ve gotta stop agreeing to those.”
“It’s not like I’m gonna die. I can’t really die until she lets me.”
“Well yeah, but I’d rather you not die and get resurrected on every other mission you go on treacle. I want you to start taking care of yourself.”
“Im fine doll, I’m alive, and I didn’t even die this time.”
By now, Hobie was done patching Peter up and they had left the couch to go to the bedroom for some rest. They were laying next to each other, Peter was the little spoon. He was four inches shorter after all.
“So what mission was it this time? What did he want you to die for now?”
“I was investigating a cult, who just so happened to believe in Ereshkigal, the spider goddess that revives me. I was supposed to get sacrificed, which would’ve been an interesting conversation with her. Then O’Hara would know where they were, and send someone to take care of them.”
“He used you as bait, is what im hearing.”
“Well yes, but it was for a good reason, and I can be resurrected.”
“Thats not a good reason, using you as bait and taking advantage of the fact that you can be resurrected is still using you as bait and taking advantage of the fact that you can be resurrected.”
They both went silent for a second, because who can refute that? That’s what happened.
“You need to stop letting him take advantage of you like that.”
“Alright, I’ll try not to go on any more missions like that, but half of the time he doesn’t even tell me I’m supposed to die. So I’m not sure how I can’t go on those ones.”
“Learn to not be the self sacrificing type and run when you think you’re gonna die.”
“Says you.”
“You got me there.”
For the next couple of minutes it was silent, just the two of them laying together and listening to the sounds of outside. Peter could tell that something was wrong with Hobie, but he didn’t want to push. They would both be fine in the morning, after a bit of rest and relaxation. It was at this moment that Hobie started to cry, the sound of the sobs filling the room instead of the sounds of outside.
“Whats wrong doll, why are you crying?”
“You almost got sacrificed treacle. I don’t want you to be hurt like that. Ever. And you keep going on these missions where you’re going to die and I really want you to take better care of yourself because I love you so much and seeing you die every. Other. Week is killing me. Im so worried about you and how one of these days the goddess is just gonna not resurrect you and you’re gonna be gone.”
Peter lay there, completely shocked at what Hobie had just said. After all if anyone was going to die, it was going to be Hobie. Everyone who gets close to Peter dies eventually.
“Please don’t cry doll, I promise to be more careful from now on. I’ll try not to go on as many missions that end in death. I’ll take better care of myself, I promise.”
“Please do.”
“If it’s for you.”
The tension in the room had resolved, Hobie had pretty much stopped crying, taking Peter’s word that he would stop dying as much as before. They returned to their original positions, the silence broken by the occasional sniffle. They both fell asleep within minutes after that.