Work Text:
Every morning, at the time when the Curtain-Fall Hour gives way to the Entry Hour, Mydei wakes.
No matter when he went to bed, no matter how exhausted he might be, Mydei always rises at the same time. Upon waking, he takes a light drink, then begins his training—that is his daily routine.
It would likely be the same today.
Phainon senses Mydei shifting and sitting up. The faint chill of the air before dawn brushes against his skin, and that coolness slowly pulls Phainon’s consciousness toward wakefulness. The blanket covering him slips slightly, and his body temperature drops a little. With a mind that has not yet fully awakened, Phainon vaguely realizes that Mydei has gotten up. Phainon, with his eyes closed, tightens his arm that’s wrapped around Mydei’s body.
Mydei likely did not expect to be pulled back, but he does not resist, allowing Phainon to roll him back onto the bed while tangling their legs together.
“Hey.”
“…You could stay a little longer, couldn’t you?”
Just last night, the two of them had made love for the first time in a while, clinging to each other until the boundaries between them blurred. Phainon knows that Mydei values his daily routine, but he still thinks that there could be exceptions.
If Phainon voiced that thought, Mydei would probably give him an exasperated look. But Phainon is still sleepy—his eyes closed, feeling Mydei only through touch—so he cannot see Mydei’s expression clearly. He shifts slightly and presses closer to Mydei, a comfortable warmth spreading from the places where their bodies touch. As the blanket over them slips down their bodies, he nuzzles closer to Mydei in a bid for affection. Seeing this, Mydei lets out a quiet sigh.
“…Only one more quint.”
“Two.”
“I wouldn’t mind leaving right now.”
“Sorry… that was my fault. I’ll treasure whatever time you’re willing to give me.”
Phainon rubs the tip of his nose against Mydei’s neck and slowly opens his eyes. When he looks up, he finds golden eyes above him. They are as beautiful as ever. As if drawn in, he captures Mydei’s lips with his own, before moving to kiss Mydei’s cheek. Gradually shifting where he kisses, Phainon presses a kiss to Mydei’s eyelid as well.
Mydei’s lips had been twisted in irritation, but they loosen just a little. Phainon thinks that he only needs one more push. Though Mydei almost never breaks his routine, he is still weak to Phainon’s requests. If he asks for just a little longer, Mydei might stay with him for three quints.
That’s what he thinks, at least.
A long time has passed since day and night began to cycle through Amphoreus. Even so, Phainon still is not used to the dawn that slips in during the Entry Hour. The existence of day and night is a symbol of peaceful days, but once, dawn had illuminated the world all day long. Compared to those times, the difference between day and night now brings changes in temperature.
In the past, Phainon did not mind if Mydei went to train alone during the Entry Hour, and when Mydei slipped out of bed, Phainon did not feel particularly dissatisfied. Of course, it would be a lie to say he never felt anything at all, but he never felt the sharp loneliness he feels now.
In other words, Phainon feels lonely.
The Eternal Recurrence has ended, and Amphoreus has become peaceful. At first, Mydei stayed in Okhema and worked on various matters, but gradually he began spending more time in Kremnos with his parents. Phainon considered returning to Aedes Elysiae to work on the farms, but he kept assisting Aglaea, and before he realized it, he had completely missed the timing to go back. His parents said they had enough help, so it would not be a problem if he did not return. Besides, if Phainon stayed in Okhema, there were still chances to see Mydei.
Castrum Kremnos is a mobile fortress, and no one knows when it might come near Aedes Elysiae. If Phainon returned to his hometown, he might lose his points of contact with Mydei. He knows that this is probably not true, but the thought still lingers.
It doesn’t help his dissatisfaction that they had finally reunited after so long and spent a passionate night together, yet Mydei still tries to leave the bed like usual. Isn’t it a bit cold of him to leave me alone just to sneak out and train..?
But Phainon knows, no matter where he is or what the circumstances are, Mydei never breaks his routine—that’s just the kind of person he is.
In truth, he could simply follow Mydei and train with him. During their Flame-Chase journey, they often trained together in the mornings, and afterward they would share breakfast. They spent many days together from morning until night. Of course, there were times when they did not see each other because of expeditions, but back then they were never in a situation where they did not know when they would meet again. Their meetings were never brief encounters stolen from uncertain futures. Except when he fought at the edge of the world as a demigod, Mydei always returned to Okhema.
Perhaps that is exactly why Phainon dislikes it now.
The time they spend like this in bed is limited, and yet Mydei tries to give it up so quickly. At the very least, Phainon wishes Mydei would stay until the Entry Hour, until the time when people begin to wake.
Mydei’s golden eyes stare directly at him, then narrow slightly in exasperation. He then shifts his position and reaches out to Phainon’s hair.
“…You should speak your wishes more clearly.”
The warrior’s unarmored fingers comb through Phainon’s wavy white hair. His fingertips lightly scratch the scalp as they slide through, gentle as if smoothing it into place.
“I think I do.”
“…Is your wish really just for me to stay here two more quints?”
His voice carries both exasperation and a faint teasing tone. Mydei lets out a small laugh, and Phainon bites his lip. You were the one who said one quint first, Phainon almost says. But for some reason, Mydei—who seems to be in a good mood—cuts him off.
“You’ve been given the right to do as you please with me. What could you possibly still be dissatisfied about?”
“…We just spent the night together for the first time in a while, and you’re already trying to leave.”
“That’s because you still have no intention of changing. If you refuse to make up your mind, then I’ll keep doing things as I always have.”
Mydei says all of this calmly. At those words, Phainon’s foggy mind snaps fully awake, and he instinctively looks at Mydei’s face. Mydei averts his gaze slightly, looking a little embarrassed.
If you’re going to say something like that, Phainon thinks, at least don’t get shy afterward.
“Then…”
Phainon speaks,
“If I asked you to stay by my side forever… would you say yes?”
“…That habit of yours—always needing confirmation—is your flaw,Deliverer.”
Mydei smiles.
“That’s quite a late proposal.”
“You really are hard to understand.”
Phainon says it without thinking.
“Hey.”
Mydei’s voice sounds irritated, and Phainon breaks into a grin. Today’s morning training can wait a few more quints, Phainon decides. If he makes Mydei’s favorite breakfast, he might be forgiven. Thinking that, Phainon hugs Mydei once more.
Phainon whispers,
“I love you.”