𝔱𝔴𝔬-𝔣𝔞𝔠𝔢𝔡

   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.

@heatherxmp

tw; brief mentions of death/dying

truly speaking gemini hadn’t felt this nervous since he’d first confessed to heather what felt like ages ago. of course, it didn’t help with the fact that he had barely managed to send a few letters few and far between either, failing miserably in updating the younger of his status more times than not. when he’d left the island in a rather impromptu manner, gemini had promised heather that he wouldn’t be gone for long in any sense of the word.

oh how wrong he was.

a singular planned week morphed into a month, which quickly morphed into three ― though in gemini’s defense, he wasn’t exactly expecting to arrive to witness his mother on her deathbed either. his first instinct was to turn right around and leave, but seeing her so frail... it was best to say that he was grateful he didn’t.

the adventure in itself was something he knew he’d needed to discuss thoroughly with heather when the time to sit down and talk came, but right now? all gemini cared about was being able to hold the younger in his arms again. days and nights spent without the demigod by his side had rendered him incredibly lonely ― and the only person who ever managed to fill such a spot now dwelled in the apartment before him.

fixing the tie of his two-piece suit, gemini tries desperately not to crush the bouquet of frosted flowers he holds in a near-death grip ― a partial accomplice to his apology in being absent. fiddling with his keys, the soft melody of christmas music hums through the door as he turns the lock and slowly pushes the door open, oh so grateful to have fixed the squeaky hinges months ago.

months ago...

  When Gemini finally settles draped on him Heather begins in earnest to set to work massaging his head, neck and shoulders, hands pressing healing down into too tight muscles. At the answer he’s given Heather releases a laugh of his own to chase Gemini’s, “Okay, fair choice. I haven’t watched that in a hot minute so that’s fun.”

  Does that mean he’s going to be giving it a lick of his attention when they’re curled up together? Nope! But just the same, the familiar sounds of a classic film will be nice anyway. Unseen Heather smiles down at Gemini as the heels of his hand press into his shoulders better. For all his bravado and careful way of holding things in, Gemini’s body cannot hide the strain of the day at all. Giant knots lay under the surface and with a little inward sigh the teacher knows he will have to aid the other a lot to get most of them loose. He’s working too hard again, Heather thinks before he runs his fingers lightly from the center of Gemini’s shoulder blades up along the back of his neck and right into his hair again.

   “Hey so, I know I’m not like- well, uh- I don’t really have a say in what your schedule is like and I don’t know how staffed the hospital is but I think you need a little time off babe.” Those hands move now to tilt his lover’s head up to look at him. “You’re doing well. You’re working hard, but you’re still deserving of your own health and well being too.”

   The oven timer sounds off right then and Heather huffs just a little before turning his head to say indignantly, “I’m TRYING to have a moment you absolute overgrown toaster!” He gives Gemini a gentle tap to let him know he needs to move and then eases off the table to make his way to the kitchen. Without looking back he says firmly, “You better not leave that seat Gemini. I can feel you about to try and help me and the answer is a fat no.”

a groan slips past the confinements of gemini’s lips as the younger’s touch digs into his skin, soreness rippling through his muscles along with a sense of relief as the day’s wear and tear is pressed out of his body. if he had any other sense about him, the surgeon would be sure that heather must be the son of some sort of healing god ― his touch had always been magical, but this was on a complete other level.

two-toned eyes peer open when the younger begins to air his worries, brows furrowing together gently in thought as he sighs. “ i know, i know.. “ and deep down he does know he should follow his lover’s advice ― gemini already had a habit of going over his shift, but as of recent it had been tested to the limit. “ people just depend on me a lot... not many can do what i do. “ a weary smile tugs on the corners of his lips, concerning his abilities if anything ― there were plenty of others who were more than capable, yet gemini was often pulled every which way for the usage of his heritage.

🌊

  That’s far too much power to give Heather to tell him that. His calm smile curves into a playfully wicked little grin and he walks his fingers up Gemini’s chest just to tap him under the chin. That spirit of the sea lives in his eyes as he teases, “Oooo can’t sleep right without me babe?” He leans closer and kisses Gem before delivering a light nip at his lips then wriggling free.

  “Well, then tonight, I’ll remedy that for you!”

  Elated at being helpful Heather hooks a finger on Gemini’s shirt to tug him toward the table. “We’ve got about ten minutes before I pull the food from the oven and like ten more for it to cool enough to not burn our tongues off,” he says and sits on the edge of the table. He ushers Gemini to sit in the chair before him so they are able to look at each other then reaches out and cards his fingers into his lover’s hair. It’s not to play rough this time but to massage at Gem’s scalp. “While I get you relaxed, why don’t you tell me what kind of movie you’d like to pretend to watch while we low key make out?”

the twinkle within heather’s eye doesn’t cease to go unmatched by the elder, eyebrow raising in curiosity as he hums. “ i have to admit, no i don’t. “ a smirk trails on his lips and gemini eagerly leans forwards to capture the demigod’s with his own, the slight nip earning a small huff of laughter from the elder. at his lover’s urging, the surgeon’s interest can’t help but heighten ― allowing himself to be pulled along, gemini is humored by heather’s movements and yet melts into them just the same; all-too eager to finally take a seat after what felt like ages, and yet as well to be close to the younger demigod.

🌊

   Inside the cage of his chest Heather’s heart speeds up in anticipation as Gemini forsakes his things and walks quickly over to him. It’s not in fear- far from it- but more a thrill at the idea of contact that makes him nearly jump like he’s been static-cling shocked before he nuzzles into that hold. 

  ‘I missed you.’

  Mmm, he likes that! The teacher smiles as his own arms move to wrap around Gemini as well and he says against the material of his work clothes. “Yeah well, maybe I missed ya too.”

  That’s literally no secret and it radiates in waves off his body now as he uses all his demigod strength to squeeze his man. Lifting his head up again to better look at him Heather adds, “You look tired handsome. You wanna maybe let me take care of you for the night? I made you something to eat and was going to be gone before you got back so you could just eat and rest unbothered, but if you’re feeling it, maybe I could stay the night and pamper you up?”

   He gives a little motion of his head toward the smells coming from the kitchen and starts to sway them as the song on the tv changes to something with the same feel but slower. “Or maybe we can have a little at home old movie night date? You, me, the living room floor and too maybe kinds of cheap candy and soda later after supper?”

heather’s reply earns the crack of a grin upon the elder’s expression, chest rumbling with a deep laugh only slightly tainted by the weariness of the day. “ thank god for that. “ smiling softly, gemini turns to press his lips to the demigod’s temple, humming gently against his skin as he simply enjoys having him in his arms for a moment.

[[ Because why not let your life turn itself into an awkward musical sequence? Hahaha!]]

   Song Referenced Here

🌊

   Work had been hella stressful lately for Gemini and so occasionally on the harder days- you know the kind when you can’t even catch a lunch to check in- Heather lets himself inside with the spare key. He throws on some tunes and sets to work tidying up the place from his last visit and then whipping up a little something-something to eat when the other comes home. Today, it’s too damn hot still for wearing a whole lot so by the time Gemini has come home for the day he’s greeted by several very cute but very …well, Heather things.

   Firstly, the whole place smells like he’s been cooking up a storm. In the oven bakes a thickly layered lasagna stuffed well with all the cheese and things he knows Gemini likes, on the counter sits a pitcher of moon tea made the night before under the full of a Pisces moon, and in a large plastic jar are jelly star cups for them to snack on. The second thing that one would immediately notice is Heather himself, clad in just a pair of boxers and socks straight up vibing in front of the tv set to YouTube as it blares a karaoke version of Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers ‘Why Do Fools Fall In Love?’. His hips sway as the song sets itself into full swing- Gem is just in time to watch!

  “‘…Why do birds sing so gay? And lovers await the break of day? Why do they–” Heather spins in his dancing and shocks to see Gemini watching him for a few seconds. His cheeks burn red but he loves the song too much to stop so he just suffers through it and sings clearer than a bell through it with his fake microphone that’s really just a half-drunk bottle of Sunny D.

   Oh my freaking god!

if he was in any other type of mood, the sight of heather in minimal clothing would be.... interesting, if anything. however, gemini can’t help but feel so light  ― as if the weight had floated from his shoulders, and he could finally breathe again. the son of dagda supposed that was the effect the younger had on him; and he never wanted to change it.

humming along softly to the music, playful admiration twinkles in his iris as gemini peers toward heather singing along. such a simple sight fills his veins with an echo of content, only able to remind himself of one thought ― this is what home feels like, and quite surely the surgeon wouldn’t have it any other way. his feet are moving before he can even stop himself, fingers gentle as they raise to place upon heather’s waist and pull him flush against gemini’s chest. his eyes are weary from a long day of work, yet still hold a shimmer of love and adoration for the younger, stare gentle as he rests their foreheads against one another. for a few moments they stay right there, as if in their own little world of peace in the chaos of the world around them ― and heather surely was his clarity, that much was certain. swaying to the music, gemini allows his lids to flutter closed and his arms to hold near the warmth of the one he loved most before his lips part to quietly murmur; he was sure he was in heaven, and nothing could ever make him think otherwise.

@heatherxmp

it was a long day, though not necessarily a rough one, and gemini was grateful ― running from one end of the hospital to the other for hours at a time took an eventual toll on the demigod’s figure. did he mind? normally, no. gemini always reminded himself that people’s lives depended on him, such a though normally invigorating the son of dagda with new energy. more often then not, when he was caught up in his own thoughts was when gemini found himself wearing down ― and tonight? well, he had much to think about.

his coat is already slipping off his shoulders as the apartment door shuts behind him, sighing gently to himself at the promise of finally being home; and even more so, to be able to see heather. he was so used to his lover’s presence visiting that it didn’t come as a surprise when the echo of music trails from the living room, unable to help a small smile from creeping onto his face. humming along softly, the surgeon slips his shoes off and sets his bag down before making his way over to the entryway, the sight of heather grooving per say earning a bemused and affectionate expression. gemini can’t help but quite enjoy the scene before him ― leaning against the doorframe with arms crossed, it’s a domestic sight he’d never thought to see.... and yet, it was perfect all the same.

` 𝐒𝐔𝐌𝐌𝐄𝐑 𝐆𝐀𝐋𝐀 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟎 `

gemini will be matching with @heatherxmp​

🌊  

   Gemini’s arms wrap around him and bring him closer to the anchor of his warmth. Under the cage of his chest, Heather can feel a steady pulse that lets him know just what sets his choice apart from its alternative. A song familiar to his ear and to his touch beats there calling him back to the serenity he knew before. 

  Until…..he hears Gemini stammer. That tone. He knows enough of his lover’s sounds to know that it’s one of surprise and Heather can feel that something has changed in him but his eyes are dipping down right as Gem’s are then widening in what seems like abject horror. “Oh…shit..”

   There, wet and gleaming is a tail! A real, weighty, slick tail! Stories he had heard when he was younger come rushing back- things he had dismissed as possible fables brim over the wall of his defense. He had always known his origins but never, not once, did he think the changes that could happen to him with age could go this far. Nervous bubbles? Sure. The way water seemed to give to his will just enough? He could handle that. But now–

   A thought zings from his brain and snaps back down his spine and then that tail flicks, the end curving up after before Heather gasps. Since when? More like, what now? It’s horrifying. It’s beautiful. It’s not normal. 

   It feels right.

  His hands curl into the water-soaked fabric of Gemini’s shirt in apprehension. This is both him and not him all at once. “I’m….” 

  Ugly.

  Not the same.

 Scared.

  His voice seems lost as his eyes look to his lover’s and he says, “..sorry.” Sorry for not knowing what to do. Sorry for not telling him. Sorry for not knowing in the first place. Sorry for being decidedly different in a way that falls outside the norm. The gift and the curse of his birthright exposes him as something ….less than. Or at least he thinks so and the knowledge that he’s no longer like he was before is between them like an unsaid barrier.

  Please…

    “Don’t…leave me,” Heather is just as lost as the other is right now.

there’s an ethereal outlook in the manner gemini peers at heather ― his left eye, glassy blue and shining in the moonlight, holds a twinkle of wonder and childlike innocence that flickers as his gaze travels from the younger’s face and across the shimmering scales present before him. his right eye, however, rich brown like the earth after a fresh rainfall, hovers in deep thought and inquiry as a million ideas fire rapidly in his mind.

how?

the answer is blatant enough ― things on mount phoenix never lay simply at face value, no matter it be a god or their child. such was true enough in every aspect of his life; no one would look at gemini and come to the conclusion he could end their life with a simple touch of a pen or harmless blade of grass ― and heather wasn’t an exception.

but he loses himself in his thoughts, mind wandering away from the reality that his expression holds something that could be mistaken for disdain, when in actuality it is quite the opposite. the flick of heather’s tail earns a snap of gemini’s head, blinking somewhat as he watches the fin flick water droplets into the air before finally settling ― and then the younger’s figure is moving closer, hands tightening their grip as he pulls heather closer to his chest. it doesn’t matter to him that he’s waist-deep in the coastline, or that his skin and clothes are soaked through to the bone; as he looks down through dampened fringe, the only thing that matters to gemini is the one he holds in his arms, the one he lo-

and before he can finish the thought, that night on the cliff flashes within his mind.

the plea from heather earns a sorrowful look from the elder, shaking his head incredulously as his hand raises to cup his lover’s face ― in this moment, regardless of the situation at hand, he swears the younger has never looked more beautiful than in the moment. “ heather... “ gemini’s voice is a whisper, the soft lapping of the midnight waves against the rocks filling the silence for a moment. thumb brushing across his cheek, the son of dagda hitches a breath ― he’s sad, not for what has been revealed, but for the simple fact that the other male even came to believe for a second he would ever do such a thing.

his lips move before his mind can even interject.

“ i... i couldn’t ever leave you, gods... “ gemini’s voice is hoarse, pressing his forehead gently against his lover’s. “ i don’t care if you have legs, a tail, or nothing at all... i’ll love you all the same, i’d be stupid to- “

and then he realizes; he said it.

memories of speaking and admitting to the stars what he was scared to say in person finally, after so long, arrived to this exact moment.

and strangely... it fell so easily into place.

Slip’n’Slide 🌊 ft. Gem & Aura

hahaha…ooops heyahe amirite? This mess for @geminimp & @mpxauralie

🌊     

  They really should have locked the door or something.

  At the very least the front door any way! But while Gemini was urging Heather through the apartment with his lips fastened to the other man’s it’s admittedly, kinda, the furthest thing from either of their minds. From the trail of knocked over vases, discarded bits of clothing that hang haphazardly from once respectable lighting fixtures, and kicked off shoes it’s clear that the pair of them barely had time to remember the decency of even pulling the bedroom door behind them either. It is slightly ajar and given a sliver of sight to what’s happening just beyond it…..

---

“ damn right it is. “

had byulyi approached him with such a statement sometime as recent as a few days ago, the son of dagda would’ve waved it off ― he was happy in life for once and without a harrowed care in the world.

how funny, that it might change in an instant.

what had led gemini here on a wednesday night, beneath the colorful lights and among the shining bottles, was not a happy one ― always one to rather hide his emotions by default, stress from the workplace had built up inside the demigod until he snapped; the unfortunate victim, and the very last person he’d ever want to have see him in such a state? heather. a few choice words had earned him the cold shoulder followed by the regretful silence of his departure, and while gemini immediately felt a sense of overwhelming guilt....if anything, he knew it wasn’t easy to go back on what he had said.

the voice causes gemini to sit up abruptly, attention deficit to his surroundings when the subject of his focus had been on the files in his hands. turning quickly, the demigod’s lips form an ‘o’ at the realization that a god was standing in his office doorway ― and not just any god for that manner. 

thoth. a personal favorite of the son of dagda.

if the look on his face isn’t enough, the way he stands frozen like a deer caught in headlights should. for someone who was incredibly nimble with his fingers, the fact that he now stood with a pile of shattered clay pieces and hunks of dirt and plant matter at his feet was.... insulting to say the least.

of course, above everything, he had broken it.

“ oh shit- “ hitching a breath, an expression of panic flickers across gemini’s expression, voice stammering in his throat. “ i....gods lily, i’m sorry. “ embarrassment but even more so shame was evident at the fact that the demigod had accidentally dropped the pot of flowers requested, moment of clumsiness appearing once in a blue moon ― and it seemed the universe was out to get him, with it happening now.