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If you only knew
I'm hangin' by a thread, the web I spin for you
If you only knew
I'd sacrifice my beating heart before I'd lose you
I still hold on to the letters you returned
I swear I've lived and learned
Despite all the beautiful crystals around him, Scott was by far the prettiest precious thing within this cave.
Nikos admired the charismatic actor where he practically dances from ore deposit to ore deposit, moving with all the grace of someone who knew how to use their body to get exactly what they wished whether it be gathering materials or charming someone to look his way. Thunder’s champion couldn’t help his gaze being constantly drawn to the vision he was treated with, even though they had spent the past several nights together the muscular brunette still found new things to admire surrounding the cloud made human before him.
“Be careful, Nikos!” Scott breaks his focus as he gestures behind the taller man who whirls around to one of the deadly shrubs that already weakened him once, Nikos letting out a loud grunt as he swings his sword with deadly force and cuts his enemy down before it can explode.
“Thank you, Pretty Nimbus.” Nikos smiles wide at Scott who looks pleasantly shocked at the new nickname bestowed upon him, giving a quick nod as he turns to continue chipping away at the iron ore he stood in front of.
“Did you fetch the purple crystals Cleo wanted?” He asks staring directly at a large amethyst shard and when Scott says he hasn’t Nikos takes special care to harvest a few pieces for their haul back to the surface before they continue their task.
The pair work together like they have known each other their whole lives, gathering the materials they set out for quickly while guarding each other from the various monsters that called these caverns home. When Nikos awoke from death into this land he had been ecstatic to have a second chance, as temporary as it was, but a pleasant surprise beyond his reviving was the company he found himself among and how enjoyable a few of them could be.
“Nikos! I found diamonds!” Scott’s enchanting voice echoes wonderfully against the music that built these crystal walls, drawing the tattooed man away from where he had been mining coal to follow the summons of Aeolus’s champion further down into the darkness.
“Ah, but the finest diamond I have ever laid eyes upon is you.” Nikos can’t help but flirt with the stunning soul who he beheld, if even for the simplest thing like the rosy blush that covers his pearlescent cheeks. “These are just a bonus.”
“You flatterer.” Scott preens before returning to his work, the wind champion and thunder champion working side by side as a wild storm brewed between them.
Small talk happens between swings of their pickaxe until the conversation shifts, touching upon deeper topics than Nikos had ever breached with anyone upon this land that housed the tournament of death they faced. Going from what to bring back to what they planned to do with their day ahead once they reunited with their alliance Thunder’s champion moves closer and closer to the one who quieted his rage, his hazel eyes yet again catching sight of something that he had wanted to ask about ever since their first night together.
Peering at the faint line beneath Scott’s chin cutting deep across the pale column of his throat he wonders what exactly happened, recognizing the scar of a mortal wound with unfortunate ease. “I did mean to ask…because I noticed. You were what, an actor, yes?”
Scott nods, humming a song from his past as he tosses more ore into their furnaces to get smelted. “Mhm.”
“Actor don’t normally fight, no?” He questions, catching Scott’s pale jade eyes before he casts them down to their feet.
“No, I am not normally wielding a weapon, besides the occasional stage prop.”
Taking a step closer, he gently reaches forth to rest a finger beneath Scott’s elegant chin to tip his face back up, his other hand placed against the actor’s thin yet firm shoulder. Swallowing heavily, Nikos’s normally cheerful tone falls into a serious one, observing the cloud themed man who had become his silver lining in all this. “The scar on your neck…I was wondering?”
Leaning more into thunder’s touch, wind sighs before he answers. “I kinda forget its there. That was…how I died.”
“Oh.” Truly saddened by this wonder of a man meeting such a vicious end, Nikos feels his face fall with sorrow while gazing down upon the shorter man.
“Someone had swapped out the fake knife with a real one and everyone just thought it was a really good performance.” Scott’s jade eyes swam with tears as he explained in a vulnerable tone, a crack in his perfect mask, and Nikos wondered just how many times people had truly known Scott for the man and not the actor on a stage. “My life ended in a pool of my own blood on the stage I loved to perform on, most mistaking it for the wine I held until they noticed I wasn’t moving and by then it was far too late.”
A few beats of silence pass before Nikos leans down to press a soft kiss to the left side of Scott’s neck where the scar extends to, letting his lips linger for a breath of time before he leans back. “I am sorry that's how you met your end, pretty one. You didn’t deserve such pain.”
Scott seems stunned by this, unable to do anything but stare at this giant man before him who was the embodiment of rage and thunder showing the sweet side he only revealed in the presence of those he cared for. Scott seems to stop breathing as Nikos traces the healed wound with his calloused fingertip, scowling deeper as he realizes the force with which the line was slashed. His pretty cloud shudders, Nikos searching his face for any signs of discomfort and finding none he lets his hand fall to the back of Scott’s neck and presses their foreheads together.
“I cannot erase the pain you have been caused but I swear I will do everything I can to prevent you from facing such agony again.”
“That’s a heavy promise, Nikos.” Scott’s voice is soft, in a tone reserved only for his thunder.
“You give me comfort when I need it, its only fair I do the same for you.”
It's 4:03 and I can't sleep
Without you next to me I toss and turn like the sea
If I drown tonight, bring me back to life
Breathe your breath in me
The only thing that I still believe in is you
If you only knew
If you only knew
How many times I counted all the words that went wrong
If you only knew
How I refuse to let you go even when you're gone
He was unused to feeling so unbalanced in the presence of another, Scott spent his entire life donning masks upon a stage to play the perfect character, revelling in being the center of someone’s attention up until he found himself here. This feeling of being perceived shouldn’t affect him so much…yet it did and especially in the presence of Thunder’s champion.
Each and every time Nikos’s stormy gaze brushed across his flesh he had to hold back from shivering, this handsome man before him made the white-haired beauty’s heart stutter in a way it never had. They had only known each other a mere few days and he had grown close to this thunderous man terrifyingly fast, Scott logically knew this would only end in death but he craved the comfort of another while they faced this gruesome show they were to perform before the Gods and Goddess’ who demanded it.
And each time he gazed upon Nikos his eyes would be drawn to the beautiful tattoos that covered his upper torso, a bright sun on his right shoulder opposite of the dark moon which was inked into the left, between them lines which drew eyes to the swirl covering his heart.
Their mining expedition pauses to hold its breath as Scott lets his pickaxe fall to the ground while the mood shifts, closing the distance between the pair as he holds his hand out as Thunder’s champion watches with a cautious yet intrigued expression. Waiting for a sharp nod from Nikos he then lets his fingers trace the ink he had already spent hours mapping out across strong muscles and scarred skin, following it as it spans from sturdy collarbone to collarbone.
“I’ve spent many nights in the company of handsome Greek men, but none that I can remember have tattoos, especially not any as unique as yours.” He speaks while his hands wander before they linger once more at the swirl in the center of his broad chest, Nikos’s heartbeat thundering against his ribs beneath Scott’s tentative touch.
“You people are so pure of heart and our bodies are temples, do not change the God’s design. You people are far too weak, you just can’t handle the pain.” The long-haired brunette jokes with a bright smile before it morphs to one of deep reverence. “The sun for the dawning of each day, a gift from the Mother. The moon for the end of each night, the rest and respite with those we love. And the sky between them, and what we can call home, this is my home. It is the last thing I have of it.”
“That’s…beautiful.”
Grasping Scott’s delicate wrist he presses his hand closer until his palm is flat against the swirl, his loud voice igniting with rage as his eyes dance. “That’s why I was so mad with the bird, when she made me look like you. I had my home taken from me once, I will not have it taken from me in death.”
"I understand. I am not particularly someone who is attached to their identity or their home…after a while I don’t quite know where Scott the person and Scott the actor separate. You wear enough masks, you get lost behind a few of them." Admitting that aloud nearly made him run away, hating how much the truth rang through that response. “But if you are that attached…its a deep connection that can be impossible to break.”
“My home was beautiful. But now, it’s one of yours. We fought for so long to not to lose themselves…and now they welcome death. My home disappeared under the hands of your people, it’s a ghost of a memory and pages in a history book long forgotten. They don’t sing our songs anymore…they sing yours, they worship these gods instead of ours—they lose themselves in yours.”
The air champion’s throat closed up listening to the ancient sorrow spoken aloud from this handsome man before him, showing a depth to his soul that resonated deeply with the actor. Carefully and oh so slowly he raises his eyes to meet Nikos’ own, hoping his understanding shines through seeing the pain this man was exposing like a fresh savage wound. “But it is a long time ago…”
“Doesn’t mean its okay.” Scott lets his fingers trace the swirling tattoo once more.
“No it does not. But dat is my wish. A freedom for my home.”
“I now understand what you said earlier about the person you wanted to bring back. And why that would be your wish instead.” He stumbles a bit with his words seeing grief tug down Nikos’s handsome features, a knowing settling into his heart how lucky someone would be to receive this man’s fierce protection and feel his intense love that came with it.
“Katisa.” Scott lets it roll over his tongue as he repeats it back, watching the man before him disappear to a place miles and many years away. “My fire. We fought, we loved. She died.”
“I’m sorry. I have never had that…”
“I pity you.”
Scott is knocked off balance with that response, letting it settle in before he responds. They speak a bit more about everything while staying close to each other before the conversation ends with, “You can have my wish.”
“I will be gone.” A crushing statement to follow Scott’s offer, before a pained smile takes the place of his intense sadness.
“I could wish for your wish. I could wish for your people to be back.”
“That would be wonderful.”
Within those crystal caves two people bared their souls to each other, an act that felt much more terrifying than the physical intimacy they had already shared. Scott was used to entertaining nights, in life he often immersed himself in an effort to silence the deep identity issues he struggled with but here he had been stripped bare before the man who kept breaking through the walls he hid behind. His masks were so much easier to wear, a joke here or a flirt there kept people far away from the insecurities he had however Thunder’s champion had within a matter of days decimated a lifetime’s worth of defenses and Scott could only pray it wasn’t a mistake letting someone view him in such a manner. Honesty was terrifying, he shouldn’t be giving people the ammunition to hurt him when he least expected, however…Nikos felt different. He had matched him beat for beat with that raw conversation they had earlier, both emerging from beneath the ground enshrouded in silence yet it was a comfortable one alongside a new understanding of why the other acted the way they did.
Stopping them just outside Nikos reaches across to clasp their hands together once more, looking towards the shorter man at his side. “Let’s keep dat cave talk just between us.”
“A secret just for us, I like it.” Squeezing his hand, they take a few more heartbeats to center themselves before they began the walk to Abolish’s forge to prepare for the rest of the day ahead of them.
I don't regret any days I spent
Nights we shared, or letters that I sent
It's 4:03 and I can't sleep
Without you next to me I toss and turn like the sea
If I drown tonight, bring me back to life
Breathe your breath in me
The only thing that I still believe in is you
If you only knew
If you only knew
Gasping, life floods back through the white haired actor’s limbs as he appears upon the bed they shared last night, Nikos waiting directly beside it for this exact reason. Ignoring his own numerous wounds from his scrap earlier with the child he waits patiently as Scott gathers his wits, only reaching for him when Aeolus’s champion initiates it, reaching out his arms he lets Scott toss himself into them with a loud sob.
“Shhhhhhhh pretty cloud, I got you.” Holding him tight as he falls apart, Nikos saves his questions about what exactly happened while mumbling soothing words into the cloud’s wild tresses. “You are safe now, I promise. No one else will harm you tonight.”
The Thunder’s champion is shocked how shaken he feels after today’s arena fight, before this most of those combat sessions were enjoyable entertainment but there was something different about Scott being chosen. He knew they had planned this as Scott had plenty of lives and feared he may be a target regardless, but there was still something so heartbreaking about how it finished.
Replaying the scene over and over again in his mind he relives Owen slashing Scott’s throat through a gaze trembling with rage, he was barely in control and only held onto it as he had a task before him in comforting his cloud. Nikos can’t help but think Owen knew how familiar this would feel to Scott given his time based abilities, thunder’s hands sticky with the blood that stained down the front of Scott’s normally spotless clothing as a result of the arena defeat. They could deal with that plot for revenge later, for now he struggled to pull himself together enough to be strong enough for both of them.
The moon rises a quarter of the way into the endless night sky before Scott finally slows his frantic crying, cheek resting directly against the swirl inked about Nikos’s heart he reaches one of his hands up to gently caress his cloud’s jaw, refusing to flinch away from the crimson that still stuck to his skin.
“I begged to not come back.” Scott admits ever so softly, Nikos tightening his hold at that.
“I understand.”
“He brought me anyway.” Taking a deep breath, Scott peers up towards his thunder that he realized he was going mourn dearly when all of this was over. “The show must go on…I guess.”
“Not tonight.” Nikos is firm with his reply, scooping his cloud up easily as Scott lets out a surprised yelp watching with wide leaf-green eyes as they trek towards the nearest river. “Tonight we both forget about tomorrow and worry about only ourselves. If others come along, fine, they can join us, but for now…”
He can’t help himself as he leans down to press a kiss to the space just beneath Scott’s ear, a breathy gasp answering his careful attention on the damaged man he cradled. Hands stained with the blood of many lives were impossibly careful as they helped his cloud disrobe, treating the beautiful embodiment of the skies freedom like he was delicate pottery before they settle into the rushing river still holding one another.
No other words were spoken as they lose themselves in each others touch, Nikos paying special attention to both the new and old scars that cut through the actor’s pale flesh by kissing each and every single one he came across. Forgetting all about the stresses of the day behind them they find their peace in each other’s arms and harmony within their partner’s eyes, a memory only for them transpired beneath the moon’s secretive watch.
Sometime later Nikos dries them both off and carries his sanctuary back to where their beds are still pushed together under the stars, placing the white haired man down Scott stops him from walking away by capturing his wrist and tugging him back towards him as his jade eyes linger on each torn bloody wound where arrows had been earlier.
“Sit down, its my turn to care for you.” Within a confused blink of his eyes they trade places as Scott digs through the Thunder champion’s secret chest before returning with bandages, wine, a needle and some thread. “I refuse to sleep in the same bed as you while you are still bleeding out.”
Opening his mouth to argue he then hesitates, smirking as he gestures for his cloud to continue. “Fair enough, hand over the wine, pretty one.”
Drinking deeply Nikos prepares himself for what’s ahead while Scott sanitizes the needle in the roaring fire before them, letting it cool before he threads it. He loses track of time trying to ignore the pain of having his skin stitched back together, Scott eventually breaking the silence with a tentative question.
“Can you teach me one of your songs?”
Nikos stares in surprise at the actor kneeling before him where he worked at a laceration just above his hip, trying desperately to not immediately feel something deeper than casual affection at how caring his cloud was.
“If its too painful, I understand…I just wanted to give you something else to focus on instead—”
“I’d love to.” His steady voice shatters in the middle, blinking desperately as his eyes threaten to water. Pausing to drink a large amount from the bottle beside him he decides which ballad to teach Scott, finally deciding on one that told the story of forbidden and doomed love, refusing to examine that thought to closely he starts to teach Scott a dead language long forgotten.
The crackling of flames is their accompanying instrument as Nikos lets his deep voice fall along lines not sung in centuries, Scott following along best he can while he works. Several stitches later he is finished and Nikos is pleasantly buzzed from the wine, picking the actor up yet again he lets out a screech of protest as Thunder’s champion rises from where they had been sat by the fire.
“Hey, careful! You could tear one of those stitches I worked very hard to complete!” He complains, shutting up when Nikos leans down to press their lips together.
“You talk to much.” Separating just enough to whisper against those tempting lips Scott’s smile curves into one of wicked intent before he connects their mouths together once more as they fall back onto the bed.
“Shut me up then.”
“Oh no pretty Nimbus, you will sing a different song instead. One of my choosing.”
“It’s a good thing I am a quick study then.”
“This will be anything but quick.” Nikos mumbles while kissing down his neck, yet again paying special attention to the scar that sliced through his pale skin while his cloud hums in satisfaction.
“Prove it.” Arching up into him Scott loops his arms around Nikos, yanking him down so they are completely pressed together torso to heaving torso.
“Gladly.”
I still hold on to the letters you returned
You helped me live and learn
It's 4:03 and I can't sleep
Without you next to me I toss and turn like the sea
If I drown tonight, bring me back to life
Breathe your breath in me
The only thing that I still
Believe in is you (If I drown tonight, bring me back to life)
Believe in is you (If I drown tonight, bring me back to life)
I still believe in you
If you only knew