The Captive Titan [ManxMan]

Chapter Twenty-eight: Finding Help

~Chapter Twenty-eight: Finding Help~

There is something entirely too amusing about seeing Veles ruffled and tired, looking not all the different from a young godling fighting off sleep. It reminds me greatly of the years I spent as his teacher, frequently having to drag him out of bed on the mornings he chose to sleep in on despite our previously-planned lessons, and as trying as these times are, it is hard not to look at him and see a much younger, more innocent version of him.

But then my vision twitches, twisting slightly in a warning that tells me that I need to stop allowing myself to be drawn into the past, so I look away, eyeing Perun instead.

Perun is no better, though; they both clearly just climbed out of bed to be here, and while Perun is at least more dignified about it, neither of them seem very awake or aware. They blink more and longer than they should, neither of them have brushed their hair, and I am fairly certain that they did not even change out of their sleepwear. And though I would not say it to Veles' face - at least, not right now - the way they are all but leaning on each other where they sit on two chairs pulled closer than the office was originally set up is almost sickeningly adorable.

Veles would tease me relentlessly if I did that with Atlas.

Additionally, there is the fact that they arrived together rather than separate that only adds to their disgustingly sweet display. For reasons I never fully bothered to learn, Perun has a separate realm within which he resides, so when I arrived in the castle shortly after midnight - it may have been only shortly before dusk at Nate's house in the mortal realm, but each realm runs on a different time - the only occupants were the gods and beings who normally live in the realm, though most of them were already sleep. Fortunately, however, I did not have to wait long for Perun, who was all but dragging a squinting, grumpy Veles behind him, to appear, as he likely sensed me entering his realm even in sleep.

Still, while I know they have been living together, it is one thing to hear that they - and Hors - have fallen into bed together and another thing to see near-proof of it. Until now, there was still a small part of me that was not certain Veles and Perun could be in a positive, sharing relationship with each other, as they have been rather reserved with affection every time I have seen them outside the first few moments after they managed to destroy the statue I was trapped in. And though Loki told me Veles and Hors seem close, even I still feel some resentment towards Perun, and I was not the one he killed.

Repeatedly.

Yet, I would have to be blind not to see how they gravitate towards each other now, both unguarded and all too ready to return to sleep. The most I received from either of them upon sight were brief, cordial greetings - on Perun's end, at least; Veles was mumbling too much for me to make out his words, but I am fairly certain there was profanity involved - before I was ushered into Perun's office and directed to sit on the couch while they moved the chairs around to turn them away from the desk and instead to face me. And I am fairly certain that, if I remain silent for just a little while longer, they will lose their battle with sleep.

In the end, though, as tempting as it is to just allow them their peace, it is my duty as a guest as well as as a friend that makes me interrupt them before they can fall asleep on each other. "I apologize for waking you up," I start off by saying, and I look skyward for a moment when they both startle at my voice, "but it's important."

Perun takes a deep breath before sitting up straighter and rubbing his face, likely trying to dispel the sleepiness. It is Veles, though, who actually looks at me, and I can tell almost immediately that he does not like what he sees, as his mild frown from being awakened turns into a vicious scowl. "The fuck happened to you, Teacher?"