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The Garden of Life was a place peacefully secluded away from the hustle and bustle that was Mamoreal Market.
Even now after everything it was a place where anyone can visit and wind down after a long day's work. The fresh green grass, the pond that was filled with crystal clear water, and not to mention the nice view. Even though Kephale no longer stood where They once did, the garden was a wonderful place to come and stargaze or to simply watch the sunset.
But all that paled in comparison to the main attraction. The little critters that frolicked around and played with all sorts of toys were perhaps the only reason people came to the area. Most of the Chimera’s were friendly with everyone, demanding attention and lots of belly rubs. If you ignore them for even a second one would be subjected to their most powerful attack, one no one has yet to ever come out unscathed.
Their deadly puppy eyes. One look and one would find their heart practically melting in their chests.
So yes, that was why the Garden of Life had so many residents booking spots to relax, second only to the baths. The view, the grass and waters, and of course you can't forget about the Chimera’s.
And it was a place a certain World Bearer Heir visited as often as he could.
While Aglaea would say he was shirking his duties every time her threads sensed Phainon wasn't carrying out his missions, Hyacine would argue the opposite. Before doing anything one must have a healthy mind she would chirp proudly, and really who could argue with her? The head of the Twilight Courtyard was always right. Not even Professor Anaxa can argue with her.
But this time he had actually managed to finish some work with Imperator Cerydra regarding establishing trading routes with the help of the Nameless and the IPC. Their delegates were thankfully people Caelus and Miss Himeko knew personally, and after the second round of negotiations (with Phainon himself doing most of the talking) they were close to closing in on a deal perfect for their home. His dear partner had patted his hand in reassurance and told him he'd relay the news to Cyrene and that he should go back to Okhema and rest. It still was a shame Aglaea and the Professor couldn't make it, but an emergency at the Grove was something they both couldn't ignore. He sent them both a message about how the meeting went and planned to go in person and tell them first thing tomorrow.
Right now, he needed some much needed rest.
Phainon flapped his wings and let his feet hit the ground with a soft thud as he took in the atmosphere. The garden was almost empty, save for a few priests huddled in a corner poring over several manuscripts and talking in hushed voices. They gave him a small nod in greeting which he returned and immediately felt nails scratching against his boots.
Chuckling under his breath he plopped down and at once the swarm of Chimeras jumped at him, some clambering onto.his lower wings and jumping from branch to branch while others rolled onto his lap, licking his fingers and demanding head pats. There were some who were content with snuggling up beside his folded legs and taking a nap. Phainon gently scratched the spot behind their ears while gently flapping his wings. Their little cries of delight warmed his heart.
Not a day goes by where Phainon doesn't visit the garden purely for these little ones. Their little awoo’s, the way they were comfortable with him despite his outward appearance and harsh heat he radiated made whatever anger he harbored at something fade away. Hyacine was right when she suggested Chimera therapy would definitely help him.
“If you look at them, all thoughts of Destruction will leave that overthinking brain of yours! Give a try, Phaiphai!”
The fact that Cyrene also agreed was enough to cement the deal. And now look at him, an Emanator of Destruction playing with creatures smaller and much more fragile than him.
Honestly, it felt like he was throwing Nanook the middle finger. And oh did it feel good.
He felt two tiny paws clamber on his back, using the gold crystals on his back as stepping stones and Phainon couldn't help but laugh in delight as he bent forward to help them up. “There you are!” he exclaimed happily. “I was wondering where you two scampered off too.”
Beagle Glowfire let out an affronted awoo and narrowed his eyes, as if he was saying he was a good boy and wouldn't scurry off anywhere. His little mismatched wings fluttered as he settled properly and licked his face a few times. Beagle Night on the other hand sat quietly and nuzzled his cheek, letting out meek cries. Phainon smiled gently and carefully extracted the tiny Chimera so he could look at him properly. “Hey there little buddy,” he cooed, petting his head and avoiding the large gaping hole. “How're you feeling now? No more pain?”
Night responded with another small awoo and shook his head. Phainon let out a sigh of relief at that. Honestly, no one knew when he and Glowfire appeared, but when he first laid eyes on the two he felt this weird urge to shield them from the world. To protect them with all of his being. The same way he felt when he first met Beagle Coconut. And in return the two Chimeras had waddled up to him and plopped their little butts on the ground, tilting their bubbly heads to the side and examining him. Night had been sitting behind Glowfire, hiding himself in mild fear. He asked Hyacine how they were here and she merely shrugged and pointed out how each Heir had their own Chimera and that it'd made sense that the Flame Reaver got one of his own in memory of his heroic deeds, and she eyed him up and down with a small smirk and pointed at Glowfire and all he could do was smile sheepishly because yeah…costume change.
So technically Phainon was now the owner of three beautiful Chimeras. Well, technically one, he and Mydei were still going through the legal process of adopting them. And speaking of his beloved…
“Have you two seen your other father anywhere? I combed through the house and couldn't find the idiot anywhere.”
That was another reason he came to the garden. He stopped by at their home to announce his arrival only to be met by absolute silence. The lights were turned off and the curtains were drawn. Phainon had torn through the house trying to find his boyfriend to no avail. He went to the detachment to ask Krateros if he had seen him anywhere. To his horror, the elder shook his head and said he hadn't seen him the whole day.
So he flew over the market as he made his way to the garden looking for his king, worry gnawing at his chest. He couldn't ask Aglaea if her threads picked up on him leaving the city. Could he have left the city? No, he would have left a note. Did something bad happen? The man was a fine warrior, besting him on many occasions. Phainon trusted his combat prowess. But he hadn't picked up his calls or reposted to his texts.
Hence why he was here and praying his two babies saw him somewhere near the place. They adored all the Heirs, but it was him and Mydei they pounced all over. At one point they even made Fig Stew jealous, and Mydei’s Chimera was perhaps the stoic one among the bunch, second only to Imperator Cerydra and Professor Anaxa.
Fortunately for him both Glowfire and Night nodded vigorously and jumped down, tugging at his coattail with their mouths. They barked at the other Chimera’s, telling them he had to get up and they complied without question, backing up and giving him enough room to stand. Phainon gave them all quick pats, muttering that he'd be back soon before standing up and walking towards Glowfire, who started trotting towards the large tree. Night had hopped into his arms and settled comfortably, closing his one eye.
‘Cute,’ Phainon thought, cooing when the little thing was purring in content. Look, he loved being a Chimera dad, you can't judge him. One would have to be heartless to abuse them, and he vowed he'd smite anyone who so much as lay a finger on any one of them with his meteors.
Glowfire was practically bouncing, his wings fluttering rapidly as he howled, trying to catch his attention. Careful as not to disturb Night Phainon crouched and soothed the Chimera. “What's wrong?” he asked, frowning when he refused to calm down. Glowfire never got this agitated over anything. Was Mydei in danger or something?
But as they approached the tree, Phainon noticed a small orange bundle near its base, and upon closer inspection he realized it was an orange Chimera, one he didn't see earlier. Its tail was curled around its body and small bat wings were pressed flat against its back.
Now, if Phainon didn't know better, he would've wondered why in the world was Fig Stew here sleeping under a tree, despite having a wonderful cozy bed at home. However, Fig Stew and Beagle Coconut were at home sleeping together peacefully, and if he looked more closely the fur around this Chimera’s neck was a deeper red than Fig Stew's.
The only question he had now was what the hell happened for Mydei to be snoozing here all by himself as a Chimera. As far as he was concerned he hadn't been sent anywhere to fight anything…right?
“There you are,” Phainon whispered in relief, settling down next to Mydei. Glowfire looked at the sleeping figure and let out a sad awoo before bumping his knee with his nose, telling him to do something. But what more could he do right now? Mydei was still sleeping–probably in pain but still knocked out. Picking him up was out of the question. The only thing he could do was wait and watch for any signs that he was in discomfort and assess. Not to mention Night was also out cold in his arms.
“Patience, Fire,” he said gently, tapping the Chimera's nose. “Mydei’s resting right now. You know we can't disturb him. We'll only cause him more pain.”
Glowfire’s eyes widened in disbelief for a moment before letting out a tiny huff and settling down next to him. Phainon ran his fingers through his fur. “It'll be alright,” he whispered. “You know how strong Mydei is. He'll be fine.”
But in the back of his mind the fear was real. He knew fully well that his fellow Heirs are still adjusting to their new setting. They weren't accustomed to all this like he was, partially because he had already existed in the real world, though for a very brief moment. Not to mention the blessing of Destruction running through him like poison, but that's a topic for another day.
On some days Aglaea had to stay in bed because of severe migraines since her eyes were still getting used to ‘seeing’ everything once again. And while Professor Anaxa had both his eyes, he still preferred to use his eyepatch.
And Tribios was still trying to find her sense of self after recently merging with what remained of her fragments. Cipher often struggled to not wince at the sight of danger for fear someone might stab her, and Castorice needed reminding that she could touch people. There were a bunch of problems everyone had, and Phainon himself obviously wasn't perfect despite being the World Bearer. His body was a perfect example of that.
The dying sunlight started to shine onto their faces, making Phainon grimace and used his wings to shield him and the three Chimera's. It worked well, except some rays managed to penetrate through the tiny gaps between the branches, but the light was no longer irritating their eyes. Mydei was still as a stone, the only sign of movement being the slow rise and fall of his tiny frame. He only hoped he had nice and peaceful dreams.
Though…Glowfire’s earlier concern echoed in his mind. He didn't want to touch Mydei, let alone hold him, but some of Hyacine’s previous studies rang clear in his mind. About how Chimeras purred to heal themselves and others, and how if someone pets them in the right area the purring increased. Maybe he could help Mydei heal?
But here's a well known secret–Mydei wasn't actually a proper Chimera! He only turns into one! So the usual rules of Chimera maintenance don't exactly apply to him.
‘Well fuck it, it isn't like I have anything left to lose,’ Phainon thought, sighing through his nose. Mydei could have his revenge later, and his wings were starting to cramp. So, throwing off his gold gauntlet and making sure his claws were retracted safely, he very carefully extracted Meowdeimos (as Phainon fondly calls him) from the ground and onto his lap. He beckoned Glowfire to do the same and he obeyed without hesitation, jumping into the free space and settling comfortably between Mydei and Night.
And speaking of Mydei, he started to shuffle a bit in his hold, and a second later half lidded eyes looked up at him, yawning loudly. He looked tired, but Phainon could see the clarity slowly creeping him as he realized what was going on. But before Mydei could do anything he pressed a finger to his mouth. “Don’t say anything,” he murmured, smiling gently. “I’ve got you, and before you ask, no one knows. I came here looking for you by my own volition. Just rest. Night and Glowfire were worried about you also.”
In response to his words, Night opened his eyes and awooed softly and Glowfire gently nudged him with his nose. Mydei looked at them both briefly before glancing at him and nuzzling his hand, a clear demand for small pets.
Phainon laughed, patting his head and saying, “as you command, my king,” while adjusting the other two Chimera’s so that they were still comfy. He leaned against the tree and he lifted his wings so that they were now wrapped around the four of them. The sun had almost set at this point, and the wind was picking up a bit. He didn’t want them to feel cold.
Just then, the other Chimera’s that were free hopped over, tilting their heads–a silent question asking him if they could join. And who was Phainon to deny them? He opened his wings a tad bit and let them all in, and they didn’t bother Glowfire, Night and Mydei too! They were content to settle around him as they laid down and started to fall asleep.
Shit.
His poor heart was going to turn into a puddle of goo.
And he was starting to feel tired as well. Well, he had been flying all over the place today. A small nap wouldn’t hurt him.
Phainon sighed in content, resting his head against the trunk and closed his eyes. He heard various awoo’s telling him to rest well, and he wished them all a good night before letting sleep claim him. He’d have to talk to Mydei later, probably tomorrow once they’re both well rested.
The first thing he saw when he woke up was darkness. And the feeling of a very comfy mattress underneath him. The second thing was that he was in his favorite pajamas–the one where the fabric didn't irritate his flaky skin and the cracks.
Phainon blinked, hearing footsteps as he moved to sit up. The door opened with a soft click and came in the person he longed to see, holding two crystal chalices and wearing a soft smile once he realized he was awake. He was in his sleep wear and shut the door with his foot and said, “welcome back to the land of the living sleepy head.”
“It's good to be back,” Phainon joked, humming his thanks as Mydei slid him his drink. Lime juice. Extra sweet and salty with a hint of honey, just like how he liked it. “How do you feel now?” he asked, tilting his head. “In any pain?”
“Not anymore,” the king answered, sipping his pomegranate milk and licking his lips. He stared at the chalice, at the tiny ripples of his drink as he swirled it over and over. A guilty look settled over his eyes, and Phainon had to hold himself together lest he pounced and knocked both their drinks over. “I'm…sorry I couldn't see you in person. I forgot you were coming back today from the North, and after clearing Okhema's borders all by myself, the pain flared up again. I didn't know what else to do, and I couldn't tell anyone either, hence why I was at the Garden of Life as a Chimera.”
“All by yourself?” Phainon frowned, brows furrowed. His wings curled around his frame almost at once after he mentioned the pain, like they were trying to shield him from danger. He snorted–as if anyone or anything could harm them in their bedroom. But still…“Castorice couldn't accompany you?”
Mydei shook his head. “Aidonia still has some…political issues going on there, and an Elder that Castorice trusts asked if she could help out. Cipher and Hysilens are with her. Otherwise I would've at least asked Hysilens to fight alongside me.”
Ahh, so that's where the sea siren princess was. “What or who exactly were you fighting?”
“Abominations,” he growled. “I ended up using the Lance to wipe them out fully, but in return a rush of memories overwhelmed my senses. After everything was over I came back here to get some rest, but as you know….”
Mydei leaned against the headboard, setting his now empty chalice on the table and closing his eyes. Letting out a soft sigh he muttered, “I'm glad it was you who found Mr in the end. And I'm glad it was Night and Glowfire that led you to where I was. I don't think I could've explained this to anyone else except for maybe Hyacine.”
“You nearly gave me a heart attack,” Phainon huffed, copying his movement. The king crawled towards him and settled his head on his lap, humming in content as his fingers found themselves in his scalp, playing with messy strawberry blonde strands. “The worst part was that I couldn't ask anyone if they've seen you. Aglaea’s not here, and I had to get back here before the Council did something stupid and force me to do something I'd regret.”
Mydei let out an indignant snort. “At this point we should kill them. Remove them permanently. If it weren't for Aglaea the Imperator would've had their heads. So what if they were coded to be evil? They have a choice now and look at what they’re doing.”
“Believe me, if I could I would, with or without the Imperator's order. But you also know how much Aglaea matters to me,” Phainon replied, tugging at his braid gently. “She's practically my second mother after I came to Okhema. There's no one I respect more than her.”
“Really?” Mydei smirked. “Not even your friends and the professor?”
Phainon rolled his eyes. “That's different and you know it.”
“Oh? Care to enlighten me oh wise one?” Mydei grabbed the cup out of his hand, threw it onto the table and dragged him down, burying them both under the sheets. Phainon totally did not screech loudly and definitely did not kick Mydei's shin and slap his arm with his wing. Nope, he sooooo did not put up a tantrum. Because, like his partner pointed out, he was the wiser one. The more mature one.
Getting more comfortable and slipping his head near his neck, nosing his jaw he uttered, “why do I need to respect the people I call my dear friends the same way I respect the person who raised me when I was a lost teenager? Don't get me wrong, I still hold a lot of respect for what all of you guys have done, but remmeber–different. Context wise.”
“I see.” He felt nails trace the large crack running down his torso and farther down the lines of his stomach. “So what I'm hearing is that you only respect our actions but not us? And to think we've done so much for you…”
The way Mydei said those words, Phainon knew he was merely teasing him. Which he was thankful for because that meant he was almost back to his usual self.
He still bit his shoulder, right on the crimson mark hard, causing the man to squirm and mutter a curse under his breath.
Phainon rolled his eyes. “You were asking for it.”
“S-sure I was,” Mydei winced, readjusting his grip around Phainon’s waist. “Enough of this nonsense, I want to go to sleep now. It's getting late for the two of us.”
He raised a brow. “Sleep?” he asked incredulously. “Didn't you take a huge power nap three hours ago? How could you possibly still be sleepy?”
“I wouldn't call it a proper nap. Getting comfortable was a pain for me. Being a Chimera only lessened the pain, not erase it completely. Now though with you acting as a furnace and hitting just the right spots–”
“I knew it! You only wanted to cuddle because I'm now the human torch!” Phainon kissed the spot he bit earlier. “You're lucky I'm such a nice person and agree to anything. I truly spoil all of you.”
“Especially Castorice,” Mydei snorted.
“Well, yeah! Cause she deserves it after maintaining distance from everyone for so long. Plus, our crocheting sessions have helped me gain mobility in my fingers. Without them they'd be stiff as a fish finger.”
“...Fish finger?”
“It's a food Dan Heng made once when I was on the Express. They taste really good too. I'll ask him for the recipe tomorrow.”
Mydei nodded, and pulled back to drop a slow kiss to his lips, nibbling on his bottom lip and he gasped, tightening his hold on his shoulders. It felt good, oh so good and he wished he could do this forever. Alas, he was no ordinary person, as much as he wished he could be, and while the two of them were demigods their lungs still needed air.
But as they pulled apart they dove in for more, and more until they both were reduced to a giggling mess all tangled up under the sheets. Their laughter eventually died down and no one said anything for a while, content to just lie down and bask in the moment.
And then…
“Uhm, shouldn’t we go and eat something before we go to sleep?”
“‘Don’t feel like getting up and cooking. You?”
“...Honestly I’m in the same boat. Flying the whole day does that to a man.”
“Mmmm. Besides, we had juice. That’s filling enough.”
“You call a drink filling?”
“You got any problems with my food?”
“No sir.”
“Then shut up and sleep.”
“Got it.”
All was well. For now.