Wyn groaned and buried his face into Seon's throat as the God moved, arms circling around their waist and holding him close. He didn't want to get up, not quite yet. He could still feel sleep's fingers tugging at his lids, begging him to keep them closed while she ushered him into her comforting and dark arms. He might've woken up early enough to bask in the beauty and cuteness of a sleeping Seon, but that calm wakefulness disappeared.
"Echa, my baby sister." Wyn smothered his yawn using Seon's skin, not wanting to move much. "Mum and dad wanted a normal kid after me. Something about loving me very much for the path I'm on and blah blah blah, but still wanting to have the experience of raising a child that isn't intertwined with the Gods." He shrugged, grunting sleepily. "Don't really remember exactly. 's when I was younger, and they were mainly talking to their other parent friends." He chose to ignore the all-too pleasing timbre of Seon's voice, huskier and drawn-out more than usual. He couldn't ignore the pleased chill skittering up and down his spine, though, in reaction to it.
Seon being rudely woken up by his sister mixed with his lingering dreams, and Wyn realized that he wanted to leave. Stalling had felt like a good idea in the beginning, when everything was raw and confusing. That's not to say it wasn't currently raw and confusing, but it was less so. It sat with him, rooting and spreading, influencing the makeup of his thoughts and wants. He had waited long enough, delayed the inevitable long enough. It was time to leave. But first… he had to say goodbye.
Seon shifted with the movement into his neck, pushing wonderfully into his windpipe with a relaxed pressure that just forced Seon to do the same. He wouldn't be all that bad off waiting a couple more hours without worrying about… Whatever happened with the child and what it could mean.
Wait a moment.
"Your baby sister?" Seon repeated, properly rousing himself out of sleep and raising his head, knocking Wyn off of him, their heads bumping together but shoulders, waists, and legs still, tangled up. "Does that mean your parents are here? If they are still raising her that is?" A rapid succession of blinks from the God proceeded this, and he pressed one of his hands into Wyn's cheeks, feeling more alarmed by the second. "Are they downstairs? I imagine they would not enter without your express permission?" As much as he found the story sweet, like a nice cube of sugar to suck on while perusing the forest riverside, observing simply how much Wyn's life with him had changed him, there was somehow some strange edge of panic. Like he needed his parents to like him. A fluttering excitement to make an outstanding appearance in their lives and make an impression. What was this sense of adrenaline pumping through his veins? Simulating a chase that was not being had.
Wyn whined indignantly at being disturbed, not at all bothered by the implications of Echa being in his house. The only concern at the forefront of his mind was that Seon was moving him from his cozy position. When Seon stopped moving long enough for Wyn to settle back against them, face leaning into the hand on his cheek and eyes closed. "Mm. I doubt they're downstairs. They're probably home."
Finally, he heard the note of panic in Seon's voice, and the semi-tensed position of his body. Wyn kissed Seon's palm and loosely wrapped his fingers around the God's wrist. "You don't have to be so worried, they're probably not here. Echa likes visiting me out of the blue. They live just further back in the woods, about a five minute walk." Another kiss to their palm. "I was planning on visiting them before we left, just so they don't worry about me up and disappearing, but you don't have to if you'd rather not meet them." He wouldn't blame Seon for wanting to avoid that situation.
Seon almost allowed Wyn to completely pull him back down, flop back and enjoy the simple reality of just him and Wyn together. Still cuddling and a dream where perhaps life wasn't real and the problem disappeared like a disappointing dream that never fulfilled its satisfying destiny and eventual end.
Yet a noise from downstairs, bumping and a set of bickering voices, quickly hushed but still, enough to startle Seon more, sitting up a little bit more and holding Wyn closer between his soft arms and neck. As if holding in Wyn as a protective measure. Something precious to him, absolutely and unequivocally… amazing. He wouldn't be able to explain why until much deeper of his Godship, if not deeper still into his philosophical journey.
"We must go look. I just heard voices."
Wyn heard the noises too, unfortunately, and recognized his mother attempting to be quiet and chastising his father for failing at that. Perfect timing, perhaps, to his thoughts. But he also found it rather unfortunate timing, because now Seon was itching to get up while Wyn wanted to stay in bed for a little while longer.
Though, it felt nice to be held closer, almost protectively. It made his heart flutter unnaturally.
"Fine, fine," he relented, though he remained curled up in Seon's arms, like a child throwing a silent tantrum. "We can go meet them. Just give me a moment to freshen up." And wake up. His mother would never let him live it down if he showed up with Seon, both sporting bedhead and clearly ruffled, even if they didn't do anything particularly scandalous. She'd take one look at them and make that damn face, the one she'd always give him when his old friend was around and would sleep in his room.
Seon pulled Wyn up closer, sitting them both up slowly. He gave a short cuddle, a close hug between his chest and Wyn's back, before wriggling away and plapping down onto the floor, going so far as to scoot through the plant hall and peek down the flight of steps to see a semblance of life.
He hardly looked like much. His hair was ruffled and visibly knotted because of his sleep, the right side of his head unrulier than the other because of how they fell asleep tucked up against Wyn. His neat clothes were creased along the shoulders and stomach, quite brutalized after a couple days of stress and sleep. Yet his antlers still stretched out of that hair, and as he turned around, jewelry clinking from his hooded, low ears and excited, wide eyes. He approached Wyn at the bed, tugging on him to rouse him from bed.
"Please, let us go. I think it'd be better to go sooner than later, Arenwyn." He seldom used Wyn's full name, but his worry and apprehension stopped any second thoughts.
He allowed the pulling and tugging, though not without noises of complaint and weak protest. And he didn't get out of bed until Seon was back from looking downstairs, standing before him and tugging at him to get up. Wyn sighed dramatically, head thrown back, and finally roused himself enough to stand, pressed close to Seon. The use of his full name caught enough of his attention to soften his expression; Wyn sweetly kissed the worried God's cheek, then the angle of his jaw. "Just a minute, love," he murmured, "They can wait a minute."
Gently, he nudged the God back far enough to give him room to move. Then he began straightening the God's clothes, fingers swift and focused on their task to make Seon presentable enough. Wrinkles were flattened, creases were fixed, askew fabric was pulled back into place, and slowly the impeccable Godly image was put back in place. Wyn smiled to himself, happy with his work, then darted over to his deck to grab a soft-bristled brush. As he set about tidying Seon's hair, he teased, "I hope you're aware that you're going to have to return this favor." A quick kiss to their cheek from behind. "You're better with hair than I am." Then a butterfly peck to Seon's shoulder. "And please calm down. You being frazzled is making me on edge, and we can't have that."
Seon let Wyn pull him around once he got up, curling his fingers into the fabric of the Fae's pants, shuffling close like a lost toddler intimidated by the reality of the world. Yet as the hands passed over his clothes and straightened out the knots in his hair, the soft strokes of the brush re-styling his silken hair. Shiny and white again, Seon also redid the black parts of his hair, retying them so they stayed relaxed across his shoulders.
"Okay, fine." Seon accepted the brush and took to the mesmerizing task of styling and detangling. As the curly hair frizzed out more upon being forced apart, he styled and braided it upon their will and what Seon thought Wyn would like. Mostly the same as last time, with long parts of the hair braided down, and some left out intentionally to make it look thicker and more voluminous.
"I'm sorry," Seon said as he worked, "I don't know what has gotten in to me. "It's intimidating to meet someone else so close to you. Especially your parents. What if they don't like me? I do not want to come across as though I don't respect them."
"They'll love you," he insisted immediately, tipping his head back when Seon was done to look up at the God behind him. His hand came up and lightly brushed his knuckles against their cheek. "They'll be just as taken with you as I was when we first met." And still am. Wyn turned and wrapped Seon into a tight hug, arms circling the God's waist and face pressed into their chest. "You'll be okay, Astra. I promise. They're slightly odd, but full of love to give to anyone that's family. And to them, you are family. I care about you, and that is all that matters to them. Respect is not of concern."
Lifting his head, Wyn offered a kind smile and looped his arms around Seon's neck. "I understand that it's intimidating, I'm not telling you how to feel. If I were given the chance to meet your parents, I'd be scared out of my mind. You'd probably have to drag me to go anywhere near the building they're in. But while it's intimidating, it'll be okay. I'll be right here with you. And if they say or do anything that bothers you, I'll be on your side in an instant. I'm right here."
Seon let out a defeated sigh, but happily accepted the soothing hug that pressed their bodies together again. He tucked his arms up around Wyn's shoulders and squeezed him close, bumping their heads.
"I hope so. I really would like them to… like me. For some reason I just have that desire unlike any other. I have met many other pairs of parents before, including those of God status, yet somehow your parents are different in my mind's eye. I wish not to keep it taught in its nervousness." Seon pulled away slowly, leaving behind a kiss on the top of his forehead, and taking his hand. "Please, introduce me to your parents in a way you see fit. I trust you to have my back, even if this situation to you seems less than treacherous. I appreciate your kindness."
Wyn grinned at the kiss on his forehead, unreasonably happy by the small gesture, but bit his lips to suppress it. He knew Seon was stressed, and his reassurances could only do so much to ease the apprehension. Instead, he grabbed both of Seon's hands and directed them towards the hall and down the stairs. "Remember," he murmured just as they neared the living room, "they created me, so they're going to be just as amazing as I am. Flaws and all."
And then they were facing the two adult Fae.
Venera stood tall and proud, perhaps even taller than Seon by a fraction of a mark. Glittering white hair, cut to just above her shoulders and folded over mostly to one side, hung in tight coils even denser than her son's. Sharp angles and clean-cut features, with light sea-green skin speckled with white freckles, and piercing lime green eyes; she looked like a force to be reckoned with. Painted lips, the pillowed lips she passed on to her kids, parted into a wide and beaming smile the moment she laid eyes on the two of them, revealing quite long canines.
By her side, with an even smaller stature than Wyn's, was Simone. Fluffy blue hair riddled with dusty brown streaks, warm yellow eyes, and laugh lines throughout his face. He definitely had softer and more open features than his wife, and an overall more approachable presence. He didn't smile as wide as Venera, but he did nod in greeting to Wyn, who returned the gesture, and that was about as much as he would do.
Venera squealed, bouncing in place, and Wyn groaned. "Mum–" he tried warning, but she completely ignored him as her eyes locked onto their joined hands.
"Oh, hello again!" she greeted, eyes darting up to Seon's. "It's been so long. Gods, but it feels like only yesterday. It's so cute seeing you two so close still."
Seon hummed nervously in response as they passed through the plant room and down the steps, in what felt like two heartbeats. He allowed Wyn to go first nevertheless, and as the Fae idled at the base of the steps, Seon seemed to reluctantly stand next to him to keep their fingers entwined.
Somehow, Seon seemed quite surprised at the man and woman standing in front of him. The lanky woman smirking knowingly into his white-blue eyes, yet with a sense of familiarity that settled the wrong way on his tongue. A strange surge of second nature almost brought him forward to greet the woman like a trusted friend, to envelope her into a hug and catch up from the good old days.
This was confirmed by what she dared to say. Seon cocked his head questioningly, glancing at Wyn then back to Venera.
"Again? I don't remember seeing Wyn before this moment in our lives. Of course not to be rude, but I don't think we have met either." Seon shuffled his feet, his extravagant way of speech not held back from the woman who was very close to making Seon high tail it back upstairs.
Wyn sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. He knew who she was referring to, and it really pained him that she brought him up, albeit indirectly. "Mum, he's not—This is Seonastra, a friend." He stressed the words like she was being painfully ignorant, but he didn't want to verbalize it. She sent him a scalding look in return, an expression he had mastered over the years, so he sent one right back. Simone simply released a long-suffering sigh and sunk into a chair to watch the battle of wills from the sidelines. Years of dealing with the two hot-headed Fae taught him that little trick.
"Yes, I'm well aware, my beautiful boy," she chimed, and Wyn braced himself for the inevitable backhand. "It's a wonder you haven't bothered to put the pieces together. Maybe that head of yours is only good for attracting doomed boys, hm? Except this one, of course." She smiled prettily, as if she hadn't called her son dumb, and clasped her hands together. "Come now. Think, boy. Who might I be talking about?"
Wyn bristled, taking an unconscious step towards Seon until his side was pressed into their arm. "Mum, I know who you're talking about. You know that's a sore sub—"
"Azzy, flower." She nodded her head towards Seon, eyes now on him. "Azzy. Do you not remember? You and Wyn would play outside together, while your parents would chat with me and Simone. It was so cute, and Wyn was absolutely devastated when you stopped showing up."
He remembered. He remembered how he had crumbled from the inside out, having lost his best friend. And he remembered. Wyn cut a look up to the God standing next to him, realization slowly creeping into his wide-eyed expression.
The nickname struck Seon immediately, straightening up as if a shock of electricity just ran through his spine. It wasn't one he had heard in quite some time, and definitely had not been called for years. It unearthed a part of him he had buried beneath eons of loneliness, simply in attempts to not remember such bittersweet memories of lost friends. No wonder he felt so drawn to Wyn…
Seon glanced at Wyn, their eyes matching– both confused and bewildered. Seon arguably less so. He wasn't surprised Wyn didn't remember. Seon went through many moments of his life with his physical appearance wavering like the smooth ebb and flow of a riverbed, breaking away or adding on.
Azzy had been a younger version of him. Accompanied with the white antlers and hooded ears, but those were always his most distinguishable traits. Back then his skin was dyed a deeper blue, almost grey in tint, with white eyes and golden pupils that jumped out. His mother used to say his eyes were most like his father's during that time. Shifting between the colors of riches and of the sky. His hair was not two-toned at that time either, but instead took on a yellowish green like his mother's, as though the pair painted on a canvas they planned on calling their son, until it developed into an actual other being. It was arguable that he could have been completely mistaken for another person. A Fae, no less.
"I think I do remember. Mother used to speak of you. But that was shortly before the last time I had seen her." Seon looked back at Venera for guidance, his free hand toying with the jewelry on his neck. It was a symbol of a half-grown tree, with three branches sticking out in several directions, with a small entourage of roots curling together beneath it. It was not a symbol any of the Fae had seen before, yet Seon gripped it like it was more than personal. Like it related to this situation, his reasoning as to why he suddenly forgot this ever happened to him.
Wyn heaved a breath and completely leaned against Seon, hugging his arm to his chest and turning his face into their shoulder while muttering, "You shapeshifting bastard." It was affectionate, and relieved. How had he not seen it? He blamed it on the drastic difference in appearance. Azzy and Seon had never even entered his mind at the same time. Hell, they were never in the same field.
Azzy had been his best friend, the one person he could lean on and trust, and the one he had looked forward to seeing every day. Losing that had broken him. He lost a part of him that had wormed its way into his soul without his knowledge, until it was too late. Seon was his God, the subject of his devotion. He was a dream turned reality. He was new.
The two of them being one in the same baffled him, but made perfect sense.
Wyn stayed pressed against Seon, wrapping his head around the revelation and now reworking his image of the God at his side. His mother, however, wasn't even fazed by her son's show of affection. "It was a long time ago, I know. You two were but just children." She tipped her head to the side, surveying them. "I'm glad to know that you two are close still, though. It seems like you bonded as strangers once more, and that's good. It's good that you're so compatible."
"You knew." She blinked at Wyn, his muffled words getting her attention. His heated stare bore into her. "You knew about all this."
She hummed and nodded, smiling. "Your destiny? Yes."
Seon glanced down at Wyn again, grinning warmly as he rubbed his face into his soft sleeves. "I feel as though your mother is more insightful than you think, Wyn," Seon cooed softly to his friend, dropping his other arm to pull Wyn into a hug, patting his shoulders soothingly as they drew their shoulders together. "Sometimes I feel as though everyone is much more aware of your destiny than you think. After all, you and I will bring back the Gods for a more comfortable reign. And you and I are related as the God and Their Fae. It's a story whispered through the ears of the younger generations."
The God lapsed into silence as he stood and hugged Wyn close. It didn't feel as if he had been born and raised. Currently he just felt like he had always existed. Existed in the form Wyn knew him as, rather than Azzy. His self-image fluctuated with his real one it felt like.
Upon this thought, he leaned down to bump their heads together, antlers scratching up against long ears. "I am sorry I didn't remember. I hardly remember such minute details like that from my childhood. I change with my age, and my body reflects it." Their voice was dropped in a whisper, intending just Wyn to hear and understand based on what he knew about his God. "Every God goes through it, but the process was always strange with me. The fact that I could wake up somehow feeling different every day, changed through the night. Mostly small things. It is a strange living indeed, especially when I don't bother to notice."
Venera watched the interaction with curiosity and nostalgia, remembering when the two males in front of her were smaller, but still just as close and affectionate with one another. Recognizing that they likely needed privacy, she ushered for her husband to follow her outside onto the porch, where Echa was happily playing and entertaining herself.
Wyn leaned his weight into Seon, accepting the hug and happily burdening the God with his relief and comfort. He basked in the silence, mulling over the possibility that he was just too dense to realize his own destiny, despite working forever towards it. His own mother knew—but then again, perhaps that was due to talking to the actual Gods involved in it. If the parents they talked to were Seon's parents… his family was a lot cooler than he originally thought.
Eventually, he looped his arms around Seon's neck and closed his eyes as Seon brought their heads together. "It's okay, Seon. It's okay. I can't expect you to remember every single detail of your life. Not as a mortal, and certainly not as a God." He bumped their noses, eyes fluttering open to peer up at Seon. "I'm sorry your life changes so drastically. That sounds… unpleasant. But you're still my little Azzy, deep down, as well as my very grown up Astra. I can see it in you. I wished I could've seen it earlier, but as my mother oh so graciously pointed out, I'm clearly not the brightest or observant."
"I do not think it is unpleasant, necessarily. Just a strange sense of living. I do not have an opinion on it since I don't really think about it all that often. Sometimes I forget it happens completely." Seon pulled away with a grin on his face, yellowish and spiky teeth clashing against that warm gesture of affection. In this moment, with Azzy in mind, Wyn could begin to see his old friend deep down. Seon always smiled the same way, those sharp, uneven teeth ever prevalent in his warm smiles and sweet words.
The smile melted into a kiss that was pressed upon Wyn's forehead, brushing stray hairs out from his face. "If it makes you feel better, I was unaware of it as well. If we are as good of friends that your mother implied, I should have known you on a more personal basis. I hope to remember more about you as we spend more time together as adults." His hands kept petting Wyn's hair down, straightening it out and fixing the style of loose casualty. He ducked his head to steal one more bump of their noses, shielding Wyn physically with his larger body in a close hug. "I have said it so much already, and you will keep hearing it– I greatly appreciate and love you as my companion. You deserve much more than I could ever give you." He giggled softly, realizing he was quite the record, scratching and replaying itself. All well.
That grin. That damn grin. Now that he was comparing, he could see everything that matched. And that damn toothy, brilliant grin definitely matched. Wyn couldn't keep himself from ginning alongside him, though he did bite his lip to suppress it some when he got that kiss to his forehead. He was starting to realize just how much he liked that small form of affection. It made him all warm and fluttery inside, much to Wyn's internal embarrassment.
He hummed, arms tightening slightly to keep Seon close, and idly kissed him on the cheek in return. "We're both adults now, and different from how we were as children. We might have that history that we can try to pull from, or we can simply make more memories together from now on." Ignore the feeling, ignore the feeling, ignore the feeling. Seon playing with his hair threatened to pull his attention away from trying to sooth Seon's feelings on the missing memories. "I can confidently say that I care about you more than I ever thought possible when we re-met on that riverbank. I know I deserve as much as you can give me. Nothing more. It's you that deserves far more than I could possibly hope to offer." Wyn's grip tightened for a second. "I can only hope that I can aid you in getting most of what you deserve." He smiled, biting back his next words to keep Seon from worrying about them. And that I won't be forgotten once you get it all.
Seon let out another easy laugh, grinning at those charmingly red cheeks from his gestures.
"I will never be able to deny the enjoyment I reap from seeing you. Especially with those red cheeks." A small hint at what happened a couple days prior, where Seon had complimented Wyn's bright red face. "I am glad you are the Fae that was selected for me. You are as infinitely kind and understanding as I could ever hope for. Is there anything right now that I can do to… Perhaps solidify that I am here for you? That I am real and sincerely yours?" Seon pulled his head away but kept their bodies pressed together, noses still crossed and breath being perhaps too intimately shared.
From here the world itself seemed to have slowed down, ducked underwater as the pair looked deep into each other's eyes. Seon's, a peculiar bright gray today, smile reflecting and making the life in them sparkle. All the God could do was focus in on those bright yellow eyes, picking up every flavor of relief and happiness, eating it up hungrily to fill a window of loneliness. Now it felt as if they had truly found each other again, connected on a different level than God-and-Worshipper. They were friends– no, something more than that. Something devoted and proud and with a deep promise to each other in mind. The true idea of lovers.
Him and my freaking cheeks. Seon bringing attention to his obviously flushed cheeks only made Wyn redden even more, the color spreading delicately to his ears and over his nose. The closeness and intimacy sparking between them began creeping into his awareness, heating his skin and sending his mind into overdrive. There were so many things he wanted to do, but didn't think he was ready for. Who was he, an inexperienced loner, to think he could wrap a God into his arms and shackle into a relationship with him? A fool, that's who. But that didn't stop him from dreaming, from wanting more beneath his fears.
"I really… really hate you right now," Wyn murmured, flustered and squirming—but so damn comfortable in Seon's arms. Those bright gray eyes stared down at him. So kind and beautiful and enthralling. "Of course your presence is solidified to me. It's… Having you here, in my arms, is surreal, but I know you're real. I know I have you." He swallowed, throat bobbing with nerves, and glanced off to the side. Did he have the courage to take that final step, though? And would it be too soon, logically? Only a few days, and here he was, debating the consequences of admitting he wanted something more from the God than what was already given, what he already said he wasn't ready for. But then again, Seon had watched over Wyn for longer than these past few days. They knew him, at least on a base level, beyond their physical time together. And Wyn… he had the lingering memories and feelings from a friend long ago. Seon might've grown up into a different person, sure, but so had Wyn, and they somehow grew compatibly throughout that time apart. And we're going to become even closer from here on out, out of necessity, so really…
"I know I have you," Wyn repeated, quiet and timid, "and I'm afraid I'm not good enough to have you in the way that I want, or else I'd be taking advantage of this moment right about now." His eyes flitted back to Seon's, sincere and open about his desires. "I…" Wyn bit his lip, debating. "I'm leaving that judgement to you." Did Seon think he was good enough, or was he right to listen to his doubts?
Seon listened, not interjecting, just sincerely listening to how Wyn felt. He rested a hand around his hips, cupping the small of his back in a half-hug, and a half protective stance, the other hand securing itself on Wyn's cheek. The tips of his fingers traced the slight dip Wyn's jaw took to get to his warm ears, grinning a little.
"I think you are good enough." His voice was barely a whisper. If not for their intense attention on each other, drinking in every word the other said, one may not have been able to pick it up. Seon gave them a couple more moments of hesitation, spent keeping that intense eye-contact, as though the God was mulling over an unconscious choice.
Leaning forward to close that final gap, crossing their lips onto a pillow of comfort and gentle understanding. Returning that same energy Wyn offered Seon but more physically, in a gesture that was not able to be explained by simple words.
Their kiss was similar to their embrace. Radiated a sense of familiarity and comfort, allowing one to shut their eyes and just get lost in the feeling of it. Seon certainly did do so, tilting his head a little and shutting his eyes, his brain going blank from the buzzing thoughts ever-prevalent in his soul. It felt good. Nice. Correct in its own way, to show Wyn such an intimate side of himself.
Total shutdown.
Six simple words managed to break down every defense, every doubt, every hesitation. Six words upturned everything Wyn thought certain and sent hope crashing down on it all. Leaning into that embrace took hardly any thought, his body melting into the sweet and protective touch of his God. Really, he couldn't think at all, not after the confirmation that he was enough. Seon thought he was enough, and had given him every positive sign he could conjure.
So it came as no surprise that he happily and eagerly returned the kiss.
Yellow eyes flashed with contentment before they hid behind fluttering lids. His hands moved, both sliding down to gently cup Seon's face and solidify that yes, this was happening. Wyn was as close as possible to this amazing God, feeling the softness of their lips against his own, and losing sense of everything else around them. Perfection. He couldn't imagine wanting anything else in this moment. Pure, unrestrained happiness coursed through him, a catastrophic symphony drowning out pointless worries and idle thoughts. He lived for the feeling, and wanted to keep it for himself to have whenever he wanted. Being with Seon… he knew it would always have some note of that feeling, even long after the novelty wears off.
Seon enjoyed this kiss for a good while, not even thinking about the time that passed. Not worrying about the ever present future on their horizons, not the family outside waiting for them, just the sweet nectar-like smell of Wyn and the addicting warmth from his lips. Seon wanted to indulge himself for as long as possible, not allowing his weak body give away under his brain's desire.
He pulled away when he couldn't handle it anymore, the fine strings of saliva and their skin separating. Seon afterwards pushed his head gently into the side of Wyn's head, hugging him close and swaying with his slightly smaller body tucked close in their arms.
"You definitely are enough. At the end of the day, we only really have each other." Seon tilted his head, lids still closed against Wyn's hair and skin, inhaling slowly. "I am okay with that though. There's nothing more comforting to me than that thought." His voice hummed against Wyn's cheek, Seon mulling over his remaining thoughts delicately and as though they did not just share a passionate kiss.
Wyn never hated the need to breathe until now. It felt unfair that he should experience this first in his life, only to be interrupted by both of their bodies declaring war on their actions. But the time to separate arrived. Wyn caught his breath, tongue darting over his lips as if to preserve the taste and warmth of Seon, and it took everything in him to not burst into a bubbly smile—though he did indulge himself once his face was out of view.
"I'm glad you think so." Wyn struggled to find more words, more comforting and appropriate words fit for the occasion. But his mind still refused to think proper thoughts, so he settled for leaning into Seon and holding them close in return. The thought that he was getting philosophical, albeit slightly, amused him, and it kept his goofy smile going strong. "You'll always be stuck with me, now," he teased. "No going back." Of course he simply meant it as a joke, even if he did wish for whatever sort of relationship they had to continue for as long as possible. Seon was his own person, and if he wanted to leave, if he felt that it wasn't meant to continue, then Wyn couldn't stop him. But he refused to let himself go down that spiral, so Wyn tilted his head just enough to kiss Seon's neck. "Thank you. For being so amazing."
Seon after catching his breath littered Wyn's cheek, simply enjoying the interaction of their skin. His mind perused the ideas of ways to further connect their skin, to have those bouncy reactions, to feel the sparkles of electricity between simple gestures.
"I don't mind that," Seon assured, allowing a couple kisses to his thin neck, where his pulse was racing. Interesting to the God to observe his bodily reactions, telling him he was much more excited than he was letting on. A pounding heart, to which he could feel in his racing brain, a short of breath from each of Wyn's movements and kisses to spots Seon didn't know he liked.
"I don't think you should thank me for that. Like you said, we truly do have ourselves. You're stuck with me too." He chuckled and pulled Wyn's face closer for another brief peck to the lips. "We will have many moons together yet. Would you like to set off our adventure? It is a symbolic start stepping out together to tell your family that you are going to pursue this with me. To say your good-bye. Is there anything I can do right now? To make this journey in your mind's eye less treacherous?" Seon pulled away completely again, meeting their eyes, but instead of happiness, there was concern and worry present. His grip on Wyn's back tightened a little. Seon after thinking about their journey… might have grown to be a little more protective over his Fae follower.
Perhaps the best thing about their height difference, with Wyn just barely grazing the threshold of eye-level to Seon, was that he had the perfect angle for neck kisses. So he took advantage of that in no time, especially when he took notice of the upped heartbeat he felt against his lips. "Mm, still. It's hard to find people that are as kind and overall amazing as you." The kiss, however brief, caught him off guard; Wyn blinked, took a moment to process it, then rubbed at his rosy face to hide his smile. But…
"Shit, I need to tell Mír." His eyes darted up towards the stairs, torn between wanting to tell his parents himself but knowing he needed to tell her, the one person in this house that didn't have a clue of what was going on. Unconsciously, he leaned forward into Seon's body, responding to the tightened grip on his back. "However much I would love talking to my parents with you…" His gaze darted back to Seon's, soft and apologetic. "I need to tell her. Do you think you'll be okay with them without me? If not, they can hold off until I talk to her." Wyn didn't want to abandon Seon to his parents, who he had been apprehensive about meeting not long before.
Seon glanced over his shoulder at the door where Venera and Simone disappeared. "I will go talk with them. Just so they know it's safe for them to come back inside." Seon released Wyn completely, removing all but the hand resting on his face, and stealing one more peck. Definitely not the last one on Seon's standards, but it was enough to last the few minutes they would be apart. Gentle fingers made streaks of warmth across Wyn's cheek as he finally drew it away, moving towards the front door instead, inviting himself outside onto the porch with the other Fae. The pair of adults lounging and observing their young daughter playing with sticks and other blooms that had the misfortune of dropping away from their parent thickets, into the hands of a bored, bouncy child.
The God ducked under the threshold of the door, leaving open the door to allow the night to slink in and air out the sleepy energy. Seon smiled a little as he settled onto the ground with Echa, grey eyes observing the way she treated the plant life.
Wyn, regrettably, made a strangled noise within his throat as Seon kissed him one last time before pulling away. He hoped it was muted enough that Seon didn't notice, then hurried upstairs after one last linger look in his God's direction.
Venera reclined in her rocker, watching her daughter play in the dirt and among the plants that Wyn tirelessly cared for. Though she was clearly bored as she played with the fallen sticks and flowers, she refused to pluck up anything attached to their stems and home sprouts. Instead, he got to work building a makeshift house with sticks and twine, decorating it with randomly placed flower petals.
"He taught her well," Venera chimed, smiling at Seon. "Arenwyn. He made sure she knew to respect the land, to only take what was given, and not to waste the gifts." She leaned forward to rest her elbows on her knees, beckoning for the God to join her in the empty chair next to her. Simone was on her other side swirling a glass of mead in a clear glass, sipping it at a leisurely pace. "I know my son is preparing to leave," she continued, "It's about time, really. The poor boy has spent far too much time either cooped up in this place or off chasing myths."
Wyn crept through his house to the guest bedroom, which housed the second member of the household. Míría popped her head up as he slipped into her room, hair tousled but otherwise tame for the lazy day she set herself up for. Though she peered at him curiously, she nodded at the foot of her bed in invitation for him to sit. Wyn eased himself onto the mattress, hesitation clear in the rigidness of his body. She didn't need to hear his feelings to know to scoot forward and wrap him into a hug.
It was then that he launched into the full story.
Seon nodded as he watched the child carefully stack sticks and stroke the petals of the flowers, amazed by her gentleness. It was a stark contrast to the child who had woken him up a few minutes prior. As Wyn's name was spoken, Seon rose his eyes to meet Venera's steady, hypnotizing gaze, managing a smile at the beautiful, recognizable woman. He rose to take the open seat next to her, tucking his legs into his body, cuddling into himself to get comfy.
"Yeah, I imagine you would be sad to see the back of him. I assure you I will return your son intact and safe. I would sacrifice anything for the safety of my Fae." It was safe to say that Seon agreed wholeheartedly that Wyn was his partner for a good portion of their lives. A partner that would help him climb to the top and find those who couldn't be found. "I am glad to have his help. Your son is truly better than anything I could ask for." Seon glanced at Venera with a small, nervous grin.
