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Carter fell flat on his face on the mattress, releasing a deep sigh that only meant he's done with life.
"I'm so done with life."
Zia chuckled next to him on the bed, sitting cross legged and reading a book.
"Brooklyn House having problems?"
Her laugh..... gods of Egypt...
Carter felt his head momentarily clear of any stress just from hearing it.
He rolled onto his back.
"Everything has problems," He drawled.
"Jaz called me with a million questions of
gods knows what. I told her we're busy trying not to die, but..." He ran his hands through his hair.
Zia hummed softly, not even looking up from her book.
"A Pharaoh's job is never easy."
Carter reluctantly dragged himself back up on his two feet and began to pace around.
"I've already asked Uncle Amos about it. He said he understood and that this mission is important," He gestured to their surroundings.
"But gods of Egypt, it's exhausting."
Zia finally put her book down and watched him walk back and forth six times in less than two minutes.
Zia stayed quiet as Carter had an internal argument with himself. Maybe at himself or Horus.
Whatever or whoever, Carter lost.
He three his hands in the air in exasperation.
Zia just tilted her head like she's listening, calm as ever.
"I don't even know in what part of the map are we!" He flopped back on the mattress.
"Annabeth said it might be the Mist short circuiting the navigation, but it's not helpful!"
Zia only hummed once more and tapped Carter's head.
He opened his eyes to find Zia's beautiful, luminous gold eyes sparkling with amusement.
Sadie can have the god of funerals.
Carter's more than happy with her.
"A pharaoh rules his Egypt," Zia flicked Carter's forehead.
"But he does not work alone. He has his advisors, his subjects--"
"His Queen." Carter supplied, a smile forming on his face.
Zia blinked at that, then her eyes darted away. Carter can see the tips of her ears turning pink.
"Well, now, I've never heard you flirt that way--"
"Who said I was flirting?" He wrapped his arms around Zia and pulled her down.
He then rolled over and had Zia on the mattress and him over her, his hands pinning her wrists.
"Were you?"
Carter shook his head, smile not fading.
"I was stating facts."
Zia shook her head, and started to speak.
"You-"
She was cut short when a crash came from the hallway.
Followed by a thump, and the unmistakable voice of Sadie yelling at something.
Carter began to get up, but Zia pulled him back down.
"Z, I gotta check that out." His voice muffled by the pillow.
"Next thing I see they're at each other's throats. Is either that or one is being made a sacrifice."
Zia ran her hands through his curls, and saw his shoulders began to relax.
"You know, I read somewhere saying that--"
"D'you know that Queen Nefertari's name means the most beautiful of them all?"
Carter lifted his head from the pillow.
"Yes. So?"
"We should change yours."
Zia blinked, then she looked away, face flushed red.
Carter smirked.
Zia's almost always serious and collected, He loved seeing her flustered. And he's seen her blush twice today.
She looked so adorable.
"You know, I really should level up with these facts. You look cute when flustered."
Zia huffed and got to her feet.
"I'm out."
"No you're not." He swiftly stood up and wrapped his arms around her and pulled her back to him.
She yelped in surprise as the both of them fell to the floor, and Carter had his hand at the back of her head to protect it from the impact.
They stared at each other, then bursted out laughing.
"Oh, you're something," Zia chuckled and sat up, Carter followed suit.
He hooked his finger to her chin and lead it to his face.
"One More fact: When a Pharaoh says he wants a nap, he gets a nap."
"But fun fact, A pharaoh only gets rest when his sister isn't actively burning something down." Zia gestured to the doorway, where smoke had begun to sneak in.
Carter visibly deflated.
"Sadie."
He dusted himself and stood.
He outstretched his hand and Zia took it.
They both made their way to the door.
"By the way, thanks. I needed a stress reliever."
Zia merely smiled, one of those smiles she reserved for a select of people, and Carter counts himself lucky he's seen it.
"As I said. A Pharaoh doesn't work alone."
"No," He slipped his hand in hers and intertwined their fingers.
"He looks for that one person who can let him unwind."
He lifted her hand and kissed it.
"That person is you, most Royal Highness."
Zia's eyes sparkled.
"Anytime, Pharaoh."