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There was a red haired man washed ashore at the coast of Pylos.
Nikodemos, also known simply as Nico, had seen him as he herded his sheeps and sole donkey along with his trusty dog towards the pasture before daylight breaks. He always intended to feed his animals before dawn, as people often are uncomfortable in his presence and in turn he avoids them to prevent trouble. Rarely have the young man seen people while doing his morning chores, so finding a person left him a little surprised.
Though that surprise turned into dread as he examined the unknown man's state.
Wounds, abrasions, bruises and scratches of various degrees littered all over his pale skin. but it was worse around the man's wrist and ankles. The face wasn't faring better as well, with the lips bust open and his head bleeding. It was obvious he was that the man had been through so much abuse that Nico couldn't ignore.
He knew what it felt like after all.
So after checking the stranger's breathing, he hoisted him up on his small back and trekked back the way home.
It took a week before Nico's unconscious guest finally woke up. By that time, the black haired man had gotten another person in his small adobe and started having short conversations with the sleeping man. He also tended the man's wounds and injuries in between attending his animals, going to town to sell his wares and buying necessities, and house chores.
In the back of Nico's mind he knows it was dangerous to have a stranger in his home, he could be a war criminal or mass murderer for all the younger man knew.
And yet another part of Nico's mind begs otherwise. It pleads to his consciousness to have mercy and maybe the wars and his own experiences may have softened him.
So when he finds his cottage a mess upon returning home, he wasn't surprised he didn't feel the familiar rage or fear, rather it was replaced by a deep sense of worry. Nico saw how bad the unknown man's injuries were when he had dressed his wounds.
With a sense of urgency, he hurried out of his home and started searching around his farm. Luckily he didn't need to look too long as Nico found the red haired man at his farm trying to haul his heavy iron tipped hoe with his back facing him.
"You know in Greece, it's rude to steal from your host" Nico spoke evenly, not wanting to scare his guest but not wanting to sound like a pushover either.
The man freezes, then suddenly swings the hoe at devastating speed. If it wasn't for the young farmer's quick reflexes he was sure the hoe would have cracked his skull open. He did, however, fall on his arse on the hard ground which made him wince in pain.
Nico heard a gasp from his place in the ground before seeing the farming tool - turned - weapon was dropped. Confused, he raised his head only to be more befuddled at what he saw.
Tears flowed continuously from the man's ruby eyes to his pale cheeks and his expression seemed like he had seen a ghost. As Nico was about to ask the man, he heard a name left on his lips.
"Anubis?……."
At the blink of an eye, Nico found himself in a crushing embrace as the man sobs into his shoulders and continues calling him a foreign name.
"Anubis! I knew you would come back, I…I'm still working on fulfilling my promise to you but don't worry, I'll save you this time"
The man's cry grew louder in relief, as if he had finally reunited with a longed lost loved one. It made Nico feel bad, because he knows he'll be shattering whatever illusion he was having.
The young farmer put his hand on the stranger's shoulder before pushing him firmly but gently away. The look of hurt and devastation on the man's face was enough to make Nico hesitate but he pushed on.
"I'm not Anubis. My name is Nikodemos, a farmer from Pylos. I found you ashore a week ago and brought you to my home."
The stanger's expression came and went rapidly, from denial to realization to rage. With the strength Nico didn't know he had, the man violently wretched the farmer's grip from him and began to snarl at his face.
"You dared to deceive me?"
It was Nico's turn to be infuriated. "Deceive? I did no such thing. If anything, how dare you? I rescued and tended your wounds but all the thanks I got is finding my house a mess and almost getting my skull caved in."
A flash of remorse flickered on the man's red eyes before huffing indignantly "I didn't ask to be rescued"
"You're right you didn't" the black haired man looked away to avoid the stranger seeing the disappointment and hurt in his eyes "I did that I'm not that of a terrible human being and left someone who clearly needs help. It's just my luck that the first person I let into my home happens to be an asshole"
Nico stood up and started his way back to his house, he didn't even look back to the prideful man he spent a week tending to. If this man didn't want his help then he wouldn't have forced himself, he had plenty of things that needed more of his attention anyway.
He was about to close the wooden door of his home a loud shout stopped him.
"Wait!"
It was the man again. Great. What else does this man need from him? Nico stared at the stranger as he marched up to him.
"What do you want?"
Nico stared again, this time confused. "What?"
The man seem to be annoyed with him "Surely you want something from me in return. So what is it?"
"You don't have anything of value on you thou" the farmer deadpanned.
A hint of red colored the stranger's ears before crossing his arms
"No, I do not" he confirmed
"Then....." Nico's mind began to turn and his face pale at a realization "Are you... a pleasure slave by any chance? Oh gods, you're not offering your body to me are you?"
Gods it make sense. The man he brought to his home was, no doubt, beautiful. From the silky red hair that resembles like flames, soft smooth skin, red eyes like rubies, plump lips, delicate face and a lithe yet powerful physique. Not mention his haughty attitude. He must have been a favored slave at one point before something unfortunate had happened. And then there were those markings on his wrists and ankles........
"P-Pleasure slave? I am not a slave you foolish brat!"
Oh that's good. Not just for Nico's sanity but also for the man. He heard and seen what kind abuse those slaves go through and not many of them survive with their lives or sanity intact.
"Then if you don't anything to give why you asking?"
This time, the man grew quiet. He opened and closed his mouth, trying and failing to find words. It was a long time before the stranger finally spoke.
"I'm not leaving until I repay you." there was a finality in his voice that Nico could perceive.
The farmer sighed before opening his door wide.
"Fine. You could start fixing the things you've broken and tidy up the rooms you mess up." he relented.
The man's eyes were wide in shock, obviously surprise by Nico's offer. He tried glancing the farmer's face for any sign of deception. When he find none, he walked into the threshold and Nico remembered something.
"Your name, what is it? I can't keep calling you 'stranger' or 'ungrateful shit' in my mind"
Instead of being offended like Nico thought he would, the 'ungrateful shit' just snorted in, he dare say it, amusement.
"Really? That's the best you can come with?"
"There were other names I thought of but I don't want to test your temper today, maybe tomorrow"
"Did anyone told you before you have a sharp tongue? It could lead you into trouble with the gods you know?"
"Eh, I'll take my chances. So will you give me your or....."
"Call me Phineus"
Nico blinks, knowing a fake name when he hear one but decided that it was not his business. He kept a number of secrets as well, who was he to judge the red haired man.
But really 'Phineus?'
Mouth of brass.
"Ass" the black haired farmer muttered under breath before closing his door.