Work Text:
The bright sun of Aedes Elysiae bathed his skin in a warm radiance, the sound of waves crashing against the shore and the smell of wheat fields surrounding him—Khaslana finally relaxes in the embrace of his home. His breath evens out, fatigue leaving him as he slowly starts to drift off in the field of gold. Though they aren't fully real just yet, he takes comfort in knowing that the cycles have ended and he has earned his rest.
"Deliverer."
Especially happy since he gets to spend it with his other half.
His eyes open, a smile slowly starts to stretch across his cheeks, "Mydeimos," The prince towers above him, his bulky frame standing as a barrier between him and the blinding sunlight.
He sparkles like gold, blessed by Mnestia and loved by nymphs, Phainon thinks.
"You're thinking foolish thoughts," The Kremnoan says, arms falling to his sides as he takes a seat next to Phainon, gauntlet covered hand reaching over to brush away a stray hair from his eyes.
"Are they foolish if they're about you, beloved?" A giggle shakes his frame when he hears Mydei huff in embarrassment, his warm figure growing warmer at his affections. But it's all fun and games, Mydei surely knows so as he leans down to kiss him.
His lips taste of pomegranate and milk, odd yet hauntingly familiar. Phainon pulls away, hands sliding up to cup the prince's cheek; watching as he leans into his touch like a cat asking for cuddles. Phainon pulls him down for a kiss and another, and another and one more until Mydei decides to take charge and cage him between his arms while he hovers over him.
Phainon smiles, looping his arms around Mydei's shoulder and pulls him down, rubbing their noses together with a kind of quiet domesticity that you'd see in a married couple.
After all the cycles together, maybe Phainon does want to marry this man. This wonderful, kind and strong man—who would kiss him senseless, pushing away all the bad thoughts in his head.
"Why are you thinking so loudly?"
His Mydeimos, his equal and his heart.
"I'm not, you just don't think sometimes," Teasing Mydei while he has his limbs caging Phainon probably isn't a good thing. But he can't help it, his lion is just too cute.
In retaliation, however, Mydei bites his cheek with his canines leaving a small indent on the skin, "Little brat."
"Ow—Mydei!"
"I happen to think constantly. About my people," He kisses the bite in a quiet apology, "about my parents," and then he kisses his temple, "about you," the last words came out as a whisper, spoken between them like secrets but accompanied by another kiss to his lips. This time, he chases after Mydei's lips when he pulls away from him.A gesture Mydei does nothing to help, laughing instead as he collapses on the patch of grass next to Phainon.
His arms are wide open, inviting his beautiful husband to lay in his arms but his eyes, golden and radiant, stay focused on the sky above them. Phainon wastes no time snuggling up to him; draping himself across the prince's chest.
Blue meets gold and all feels right in this small world of theirs.
"Hi."
"Hello, Deliverer."
Phainon feels slumber's touch caressing his cheek, eyes fluttering shut as he listens to his beloved's steady heartbeat. A proof of life that runs through his veins. As he does, the tattoo inside his wrists throbs softly; a solid yet gentle reminder of who his heart belongs to.
It shimmers with the same red colour as Mydei's tattoos, shaped in the symbol of Strife. He remembers foolishly thinking that it signified his fate to carry Strife's coreflame but now he knows better.
"You're still thinking whilst I'm here, HKS?"
The Kremnoan carefully maneuvers him to lay beside him, keeping him close by an arm around his waist—nuzzling into his soft white locks.
"I have many thoughts, forgive me, my Prince," Phainon turns to kiss him, soft and sweet, "You're always the one occupying my thoughts, I promise."
Mydei rolls his eyes affectionately, "Sweet talk will get you nowhere, scroundel. What's on your mind?"
Like he said, always the sweet one.
"I'm fine, I'm just… thinking. About us and what brought us here, Mydei, to this very moment."
"I'm assuming you're not talking about our planned visit to your parents?"
"Haha you're very funny, Mydeimos but no," Phainon presses himself closer (if possible) and stays grounded at the sound of Mydei's steady heartbeat, "Even after winning the war, after all those cycles… you and I are finally able to rest. Together. Without any more farewells."
"Even if we said our goodbyes, I told you that my library would always be open for you, HKS."
The visage of smoke and fire still flashes through his mind, the smell nearly reaching him before dissipating in memory, "I know… it's just—good. To live without the weight of the world on our shoulders, Mydeimos."
Titans, it truly was.
"If I didn't want the weight of the world, I wouldn't have your tattoo on my wrist, Phainon." True enough, Mydei has a matching soulmate tattoo with Phainon; the symbol of Kephale branded onto his wrist. Heavy like the weight he carries but warm from the light he shares with his creations.
The tattoos remind Phainon of something that makes him laugh, fingers twirling around Mydei's braid.
"Why are you laughing, Khaslana?"
Blue eyes flutter shut when Mydei leans in to kiss his mess of a hair, "Just… remembered how I thought the tattoo meant that I was supposed to inherit Strife." He could feel the amusement in the Kremnoan's smile.
"Are you saying that I was meant to inherit Worldbearing from when you saw my tattoo?"
The Elysian sits up, lips falling to a pout at the jest, "I was a boy from the countryside with little to no knowledge of soulmates, forgive me for thinking so."
Mydei would've teased him further but he's much more preoccupied by the sight of his husband; wind blowing through his hair, the sun shining behind him like a halo (like Khaslana) and the golden wheat field surrounding them. He looked ethereal, drenched in beauty and strength that coats his very being.
Titans, is this how Nikador felt with Kephale?
"Are you listening to me, Mydeimos?" Phainon straddles him, flicking his nose at the lack of response, "Have I become too boring that my husband refuses to listen to me?"
A fond roll of the Kremnoan's eyes tells him otherwise but he can't help to jest; sitting on the other's lap with his arms crossed. Mydei feels like he's indulged Phainon enough, sitting up to pull him closer as his leans in to lay kiss after kiss on his cheeks and neck. He lingers on the sun at his neck, breathing in the natural scent of his hero while the subject of his affections giggle at the ticklish feeling.
"You'll never bore me. I'm just… thinking."
"Hm… Share them with me?"
Something in him hesitates, uncertainty pooling at the bottom of his stomach as he mulls over Phainon's request. Though it's short lived; he's been dubbed guilty of spoiling the swordsman too much and too often (bite him, he's making up for the lost cycles), so he melts under the soft and warm hands that cradle his cheeks and confesses.
"Did Nikador loved Kephale as I do you? When they learned of the Titan's fate, did they also grieve with their believers?"
For a moment, Phainon didn't respond and Mydei worried if he had brought down the mood but a low, curious hum quickly chase away the thoughts that plague him. The Kremnoan leans back, sliding his hands onto Phainon's and kissing the palms as the Elysian thinks over his question. They've talked about it—the past Titans, before. Despite not having the opportunity to meet the previous Strife demigod, Mydei could sympathise with the sacrifice he had chosen to make.
To fight is easy but to do so with the trust that future generations will do what is must for the survival of their planet, that requires a great amount of bravery. Still, something continues to eat at his thoughts.
Was the then-Kephale also Gnaeus' soulmate? Did all Strife belonged to their Worldbearing?
Was Mydei meant to follow the same fate; watching his beloved sacrifice his life for the future of Amphoreus?
Did Strife doom themselves to watch their soulmates perish?
Just then, Phainon's voice breaks his train of thought, "I think… when Gnaeus learned of what Khaos did, he chose to do what he needed to protect him," Phainon tilts his head, lips tilting upwards at the corners.
Right.
Phainon is the bearer of Worldbearing. Of all of those who'd question the Titans' choices for humanity; he'd be the first to understand the sacrifice behind it. Phainon, their selfless hero, the executioner, the soldier—the sun destined to rise.
His dawn.
Suddenly a wave of immense grief and fear swallows him whole, the sight of his soulmate becoming blurry. Mydei surges forward to hug Phainon tightly like he might slip through his hands and go off somewhere he can't reach.
"I wouldn't survive losing you. If I did, I would've gone mad long before the Trailblazer came to Amphoreus. I can't lose you, Phainon."
There is no word for fear in the Kremnoan language but this feeling has gripped him in such vice, refusing to release its choke on Mydei and took pleasure in his suffering. He would've made a word for fear. He would've described the feeling as if he had lost his sun and all the brightness in his life.
There is little he won't do for the other half of his soul.
"…I'm sure Gnaeus did, beloved," Mydei lifts his head just in time to see the sorrowful smile on Phainon's face before he shakes it away and peppers Mydei's face with kisses.
They'd sit in silence for a few more minutes, cherishing the quiet moment they have with each other; kisses were exchanged here and there until Phainon eventually leaves Mydei's lap (much to his disappointment) to stand. He outstretches a hand out to the Prince who never hesitates to take it. Mydei kisses his cheek one more time and lingers a few second slonger than usual.
"I'm very lucky to have you as my soulmate, Khaslana. You are so loved. So easy to love and so deserving of it. Never forget that."
Tears prickle Phainon's eyes as he laughs in disbelief, "If you've got the energy to flirt with me, then you have the energy to cook dinner tonight."
Never one to back down from a challenge, Mydei smirks, "What my heart wants, he will get."
They walk home hand-in-hand, tattoos glowing dimly, a testament of their will and love. Mydei may never know what Gnaeus would've felt after losing Khaos but at least; in this happy ending that Cyrene and the Trailblazer had made for them, he will get the chance to live a long and happy life with his Worldbearing.
In this lifetime, let Strife and Worldbearing rest easy in the arms of love and devotion.