heatherxmp:
Maybe it was kind of foolish to get his little apartment all set up for Christmas and the new year knowing full well that he might be alone for it, but Heather stands there anyway, arranging bits of tinsel on the mantel just under the tv. He had been alone for a few months now with Gemini away to handle family business. Family business. Heather had heard that one before. Not in his own life but he had watched several people on the island see off other’s they know to handle family business and they simply didn’t come back. Or at least they didn’t for a very long time.
“Maybe it’s this place’s equivalent of going out for a pack of cigarette, huh?” the teacher asks turning his head to speak to the small cat he had gotten for himself. In answer the cat simply stretches it’s legs and meows softly. “Thanks bud.”
Yawning for a second Heather stretches himself and then brings his hands forward to clap them and shake out of the funk he’s in. The holidays are for fun, not sad hours! He taps some stuff on his phone and the speakers kick up to pump out the sounds of the season for him to get back into the swing of decorating. It’s mostly for himself but in the back of his head Heather on the low still hopes that he’ll get surprised with a visit from Gemini. “Okay soooooooooo… ornaments!”
Dipping down he picks up the box he has of those extra ones he likes from the mini mart in different food shapes and goes to hang them randomly among the other standard ones on his tree. As his fingers place a dangling pear ornament up Heather catches sight of one of the ornaments he’s made that has a little polaroid of him and Gemini. Their faces are scrunched up in laughter and dotted with large bits of confetti from one of their random dates at the club. It makes Heather freeze for a second as he stares at it. It…feels so long ago. Is time really that different outside of Mount Phoenix like they say it is? What if that’s the reason people don’t come back or it takes so long? Inside his chest his heart beats a little quicker in worry. Would Gem come back?
Behind him the speakers start to play Mariah Carey’s classic holiday tune and Heather is just about to turn around and groan when something takes possession of his waist. Oh shit this is it. I’m going to fucking die on Christma– That cologne! His heart hammers faster in his chest as he sees flowers come around and into view. They’re gorgeous and dusted with the breath of winter on their petals making them look like small diamonds sparkle on their delicate faces. That voice! He hears it and swears he’s melting from the inside as it soothes weeks on weeks of anxiety, trepidation and loneliness from his soul.
‘Gods I’ve missed you…’
He’s real! Heather’s whole body seems to vibrate with the intensity of the onset of his joy before it slams into him and his drops the little box of ornaments in favor of holding onto the arm around him. Please, please be real. I don’t want to wake up if you’re not there again. “GEMINI!” he bursts with sound then rips himself free only to spin and grip onto the one wish he asked for this year. There he is! Heather sees that face and wastes not a single second before he’s smothering it with kisses as his hands squeeze his love tight; half to verify that he’s there and half just to feel him under his touch again.
He doesn’t care how long he’s been gone anymore. He doesn’t care that there’s so many questions left unanswered right now. He doesn’t care that maybe he should be a little mad about it being so long. Nah, none of that matters as he presses kisses everywhere that he can.
“You’re home!” he repeats it like a mantra loudly, unfiltered emotions rushing from him. “I missed you so much!”
gemini’s heart races to the beat of two split thoughts ― for one, even if heather hated him for the rest of time, even if he refused to acknowledge his existence, the fact he was able to see him again was more than another. for another, if he welcomed the elder with open arms... well, suffice to say gemini would never be leaving like that again.
the quivering of heather’s body against his own is familiar and yet foreign at the same time, months spent gripping pillows instead of his lover and plenty of sleepless nights to follow it. and as he turns in gemini’s embrace, for a split second he expects the demigod to smack him, or worse, walk away. his throat feels tight, eyes filled with swirling adoration and yet also overwhelming regret ― for leaving, for losing contact, for all of the mistakes both miniscule and mighty that might have transpired between them. yet just as quickly as such emotions fill him, the sudden onslaught of kisses earn a shuddered sigh of relief from the elder, hold tightening on heather’s waist as gemini leans into the affections.
it’s okay.... they’re okay.
“ i am, my love, and this time for good. “ the son of dagda’s eyes crinkle in the corners as he beams, leaning forwards to capture heather’s lips in his own warmly. it’s a kiss of longing, lonely tiers finally feeling the satiation of his lover after oh so long ― and something he would no longer be so stupid as to take for granted. “ i missed you too sweetheart, more than you know. “ heather’s voice falls over gemini like a warm blanket, the soft bell chime of his tone familiar and comforting in a time of need. peppering small kisses to the corner of his lips, the elder rests their foreheads together in a moment of simple admiration ― truly, he’d rather jump off the nearest cliff than leave heather’s side once more.
“ i haven’t had a chance to get you your gifts but... i promise i’ll make it up to you. all of this.... “ an apologetic look fills his eyes, motioning with his hand gripping the flowers. “ i’ll make it up to you. and i’ll keep making it up to you until the end of our days. “
















