Work Text:
It was almost two weeks. Two weeks since defeating iron tomb and saving amphoreus. Trailblazer told them about a chrysos heir named Cyrene, who held the core flame of time and ereased herself to give them a happy end. To give Phainon a happy end.
No one remembered Cyrene, but everyone knew about what Phainon did and went through as Deliverer. He can still see the state of Phainon when Trailblaizer and Dan heng get him out of iron tomb's corpes, in his restless sleeps.
It was like every bit of his skin was burned and cut. He was almost confident that Phainon was dead. He had held his breath until he saw the slow rise and fall of his chest. At first, he thought it was an illusion made by his mind because of grief and the crushing feeling of losing his lover after going through so much suffering.
He didn't dare to move at that moment. The trailblazer was frantic.
"We need to take all core flames out of his body! He's burning alive!"
Is he even alive?
A lady with purple hair looked at Phainon like he's a puppet with his strings cut.
"I'll take those with me. Maybe I can merge some of my creations with these core flames to make them stronger."
Do you even care about Phainon?
He took a step forward and kneeled in front of Phainon's deformed body. His heart was beating so hard. Phainon's beatifull white hair was now golden, but it suits him too. He extended his hand to touch his pale face, but the moment his hand made contact with his skin, it was like he touched the sun. He was no longer immortal, so he felt the burn, and that burn continued.
It was a strange feeling to not have your body easily heal you right away.
"How long will it take to take out the core flames?"
Trailblazer looked miserable as if he didn't even want to think about how long it would take. Dan heng put a shield right above his skin, and Trailblazer summoned the crecent shaped weapon that mydei now know belonged to Phainon himself.
"I don't know... but it's a painful process. You and Dan heng need to hold him while I take the Core flames. Herta, be ready to absorb them."
He was scared of what he was about to witness. He sat behind him and took his arms in an iron grip. Phainon was unconscious, but the moment Trailblizer pressed that weapon into his chest, Phainon's eyes shot open. Mydei would never forget the horrifying voice of those screams. Would never unsee how Phainon thrashed in his arms violently.
It took around 30 torturous minutes. His Phainon was now back to normal. At least in terms of hair color and skin normality. He was still full of cuts from head to toe and too pale to be well and out of danger.
Mydei still holds him even after the process is finished. His temperature was back to normal, but he was shivering and twiching uncontrolably.
"Why... did you.. save... me?"
Everyone fell silent at that. Mydei held him a little tighter but made sure not to hurt him more.
"You deserve to feel happiness..."
Dan heng sat with his back to some ruined piller.
"I... had to.. burn.."
Mydei took his hand and lifted to leave a kiss at his bloodied fingers.
"Not anymore.. you're safe now. You saved us, and now it's our turn to save you."
Phainon fell silent at that. It was evident that he was not convinced. He just chose to not reply.
But that silence wasn't for one hour or one day. He just didn't talk anymore. He didn't hold eye contact with anyone. Not even Mydei. He just lay in his shared bed with him and stared at nothing. He looked like a goust.
Mydei felt fed up. They took those cursed core flames. Then why Phainon was still in so much pain? Why is he like he's getting tortured every second he breathes?
He laid behind Phainon and pressed him to his chest. Phainon's body stiffened every time others touch him. As if he expect them to burn alive and turn to ashes. Mydei hid his face in his nape and kissed him there.
He won't lose hope, even if it takes all his now mortal life for Phainon to speak again. On hand around his waist and the other held Phainon's left hand that leid limply on the mattress. Their heartbeat was syncronized and slow.
"I miss your voice.."
He tilted he head and kissed where a sun tattoo was, but now was just plain skin.
"I know you're exhausted. There is no more war... no more flame chase. Now we can live freely. Aglaea's shop will open tomorrow. She wants you to be there when she opens her shop for the first time. You haven't left this room for two weeks.."
Phainon's finger twiched at the mention of Aglaea. His breathing picked up, and a slite shiver ran down in his body. Mydei held him tighter and kissed the back of his head.
"It's ok. We can stay here all you want. No one will make you do something you don't want to."
"I..."
Mydei's breath hitched at that. The rest of his sentence turns into mumbles, but Mydei will not lose this chance. He sat and grip Phainon's left hand with both hands.
"What?"
"I'll... come.."
His voice is so hoarse due to lack of use. But Phainon's voice was still so beautiful. He couldn't contain himself, so he jumped on him and kissed all parts of his face. Phainon's eyes grow big and round. His sun ring was nowhere to be seen. Just the ocean blue was left behind.
"We'll leave tomorrow at 10 am. I'm absolutely sure Aglaea will be over the moon when she sees you. Others will be there too. Although Anaxa will come a little late."
Phainon's eyes drifted off again, but mydei didn't let him be. He suddenly yanked him and Phainon yelped. They went straight to the bathroom, but he tried to get away.
"We have a lot to do tomorrow. We have to clean you and your gorgous face up."
Phainon was a little frantic, and his hands were trembling.
"Am I... not enough?"
Mydei's eyes softened at that. He leaned in and kissed his temple.
"You would be covered in mud and grim, and I would still love you. It's the first time they all see you after so long. Don't you want them to see you in your best condition?"
At that, Phainon didn't protest anymore.
That night, Phainon faced him while sleeping, but he didn't try to get close to him. They just held hand. Mydei didn't say anything to that. He felt so giddy about how much progress they made in a single night.
---------------
Phainon was in front of Aglaea's shop... If having at least 30 feet distance could count as being in front of somewhere. His legs wouldn't work anymore. As if there was a barrier between him and that shop. He wasn't allowed there. He killed every person in there 33 million times. Even if Mydei acts like he doesn't care about what he did, it doesn't mean others think the same.
What if Castorice looks at me with disgust? What if Professor Anaxa looked disappointed? What if Hyacine hates me? What if... what if Aglaea regrets inviting me when she finally sees me?
Mydei stayed beside him. For the first time, he wore something less revealing beacuse of a slightly cold wind. Guess it's side effects of losing immortality. He took Phainon's hand and cupped his cheeck.
"If you want, we can just take a stroll outside of city or go back-"
"No..."
His eyes were filled with unshed tears. His whole body was shaking. Mydei circled his arms around him and guided his head onto his neck. He felt his neck getting wet with tears, but he didn't mind.
"What if... they... hate me..?"
Mydei held him tighter. He was told by Dan heng that Phainon's mind is filled with guilt, but how could he think about them hating him?
"You save us. You could have killed us 33 million times more, and we would still love and cherish you. We can all live our lives without the constant fear of inevitablity of fate. All amphorios is safe now. Castrum Kremnos... Aedes Elysiae... we can go to weath fields when the time comes. Would you like to see it there?"
Phainon looked at him in the eyes. There was no empty promiss. No unfullfilable dates. There was nothing held them oof.
"When... the time comes.. I want to.. go with you.."
He tried to smile, but it was like his face was so stiff and unused to it, but to Mydei, it didn't matter. He will make sure to do anything in his power to bring back his bright smile.
He'll make sure Phainon knows that he's his sun. With or without that sun tattoo.