#eredick.

“Top notch deduction. You’ve still got it.” 

Unfortunately Dionysus wasn’t above quips. Even in the middle of the night, stood at the lip of shadows surrounding the older man. Especially in the same space as the primordial deity. Discounting the fact it had been several months since they’d last seen one another, several months since paint drained beneath bared feet, several months since Nyx’s death. He’d almost convinced himself it was a nightmare and nothing more, but sometimes he’d still wake up in a cold sweat, or see her in the corner of his eye. 

Clearly Erebus had similar concerns, if not much worse. In truth, he’d found it difficult to speak to the man after the fallout, unable to wrap his tongue around condolences for what could one say to both a brother and lover culminated in one arresting soul. Most would be rightfully frightened at the current moment, but not Dio it seemed. He’d let curiousity and something akin to a tight fist in his belly follow the sensation of another immortal so close. Only stalled at the entrance of the alleyway had he realized who it was. Seen the shadows spike through the air, smelled the blood; iron and bright on the back of his tongue.

His eyes slowly adjusted to the manufactured dark, finally taking in the massacre before him. Erebus was no pretty sight, and he couldn’t be entirely sure his victim had it worse. Bottling a sigh, he closed the gap without a word and pressed fingers to the stranger’s throat. He breathed, pulse erratic at best. Straightening up, he drew a cascade of vines from his feet in a pseudo obstruction, blocking the prone form from anymore damage. Catching Erebus’ gaze wasn’t what made it difficult, it was heeling back his own bloodlust, a feat that had taken centuries. “I’ll assume my fight club invitation got lost in the mail. Y’look like shit. Let’s do somethin’ about that.”

Was Dio avoiding the obvious? Absolutely. There wasn’t an ounce of shame in it. Still, he had it in him to reach and press brown fingers to a particularly dark bruise that stained the older’s cheek. Clicking his tongue, there was only so much that could be done here, and he unfurled another set of vines; these ones meant for travel. “You’re coming with and I ain’t taking no for an answer.” There was no room for leeway in his words.

“There you go makin’ assumptions, old man. Time’s never done me any favours, so it’s hard to say m’all that surprised. Way I see it, that’s the sorta’ thing we’d have to discuss over a copious amount of drink.”

Dio had asked himself the very same question a few times before. It wasn’t as if these sort of things were ever planned. Perhaps if they were, he could prepare better for it, avoid it entirely and keep the onslaught of awkward boners away entirely. But life was never that easy, especially not for them. So he made for a ridiculously wide grin, like it would make up for some of the things he’d already said. 

“Good question, man. Yanno’.. I had no intention of liking your ass. If we sit down and think about it, it’d probably make more sense if it was your sis, but ‘pparently the fates don’t work like that. Let’s be frank here, god to god– you’re sporting a mighty fine meat suit. I’d suck your dong right now if I thought you’d let me.” Okay, so this wasn’t exactly how he’d pictured answering, but Dio was rambling and trying to catch himself before he caused any more harm. Clearing his throat, his grin almost went sheepish, fingers raking uselessly through russet hair. “I don’t know, Erebus. Maybe it’s ‘cause you humoured me more than most, you call me out like you see it, uh- for all our talk of hating each other, we sure knew how to keep a convo going, huh? Or maybe it’s because your runts never had a bad thing to say about you, not once. And maybe I got curious, started noticing what they were talkin’ about.. or maybe I just want to fuck you like I’ve dreamt a dozen times over. Y’got me. I know as much as you.” For all of his crass, it was the truth. Dio had yet to know if it was simple sexual attraction or something more. Maybe he didn’t want to know.

@erbxs / origin

He almost questioned the swift change in topic, however Erebus had always found the younger god’s thought process to be hard to follow and so, he chose not to comment on it. Possibly for now. “Yea.” The mumble of a reply was needless, not just because he doubted the other god could have heard him but also because he would soon see that his bedroom walls remained untouched.

This was dangerous territory. Both of them were in no condition to be up and about, and he knew any attempt at keeping wine away from the wine god himself would be futile unless he was more awake. Slapping his cheeks and hissing at the sting, that seemed to do some work and he followed after with steps less sloppy than before, the younger god already letting himself in and Erebus leaning against the door frame.

Something like relief briefly swelled under the younger’s skin. For a few moments, he could let his expression fall, features slack from alcohol and a short reprieve from having to pretend. Although the moment wasn’t long, it was just enough for him to wrap his lips around the bottle once more and throw himself backwards across the bed. Gargling what little was left of his wine, he swallowed and released a heavy sigh. Burping when he heard the sleep heavy drags of the other god’s feet.

@erbxs / origin

He let out a low sigh, shoulders weighed down from the heavy tension that came from the messages on his phone. The overbearing dread of coming face to face with the one he’d just flat out disappointed kept him in his seat and there was no escaping both the fact that one of his replies was the reason for the sudden shift in the tone of their conversation and the deity at his door. The other god’s arrival was too quick, too soon for Erebus to gather his composure and decide what kind of an expression to put on his face.

He could only stall the inevitable for so long. Placing down his phone onto the desk and turning off the computer’s screen, he got up and made his way to the foyer. The sound that came from the turning of the lock reverberated in the apartment, the opening of the door even more deafening. Still unsure of how to present himself, he kept both his expression and voice as neutral as he could.

“You owe me a hit.”

Expectations were relatively low at this point. The decision to appear had a been rash impulse, and if he were to regret it, it would be soon. Uselessly spinning his phone between his hands, he reminded himself that maturity was a real thing and it might come in handy at the moment. As he hear the door unlock, his gaze flew with an immediacy to the older’s face. His expression had nothing to give. Dio could feign a grin, but something told him Erebus would be able to see right through it.  So he shrugged instead, stepping in close as if to encourage him.

The last week had been an exhausting one. 

Every night since he’d hightailed it out of Erebus’ apartment, he’d flirted with anyone who’d humour him for anything above three minutes. His more successful encounters would join him in the unforgivingly cramped space of his place. A bigger apartment always seemed like a waste, he was barely back there to begin with, spending most of his time in the company of others. He’d bum a couch, rent a room– any alternative would do. Looking to scratch an itch that tingled beneath his skin, humming right under the surface since he’d left the other man half dressed; Dio knew his half-assed solutions weren’t healthy. But it made for some fun– unsettling, failing to peel back the sheen of desire he’d held on for too long entertainment.

Let it be known, that his visit today was unplanned. Which most anyone wouldn’t pretend to be surprised by. One moment Dio was waking up between two bodies in the wine cellar, the next he was baring two unopened paint cans where he stared at his front door. For all he knew, Erebus wasn’t even home. For all he knew, he’d see the younger god and promptly kick him out. For all he knew, the walls had already been painted black, leaving him useless. There was only one way to find out, and it involved knocking repeatedly. They eventually regressed into baby got back, obnoxious where his fist thought it met rhythmically with wood. Dio was a man made to be easily amused. As he stood in wait, he hummed behind the door, braced for impact.

“Oi, open up!” If it wasn’t obvious already, Dio didn’t give much thought to etiquette. Especially when he had paint cans weighing down one arm, and something like excitement churning in his belly at the thought of being back. “I know you’re in there.” He didn’t.

Seeing was believing, but he’d only heard of the other’s return. Even that was a tenuous thing, strained between the nooks of the immortal network– news was quick to travel. It was impossible for anything to stay in one place for too long among the likes of them. They were quick to bore, and just as eager to fill one another on the recent gossip. Dionysus couldn’t rightfully complain, not when he was an instigator more often than not. 

At this point, all he could bet on was Hermes getting his job right this time, as the messenger had a habit of frequently ‘misplacing’ his messages before they reached their destination. Still, he sat in wait, curled up comfortably in the gaudy booth he’d made private weeks before. The bar wasn’t known for its patrons, but that had been the point. Privacy was easily had in the establishment, and Erebus seemed to appreciate it much more than he ever had. He supposed it was the least he could do with his invitation, so he topped his glass with another fill of wine, fingers pressed against the brim. Amusing himself was a past time he found himself well practiced in, the years had made him a lot more patient in wait, though even that wasn’t necessarily impressive. 

His appearance was as he’d imagined, unannounced and untimely. Dionysus was left with the start of a grin, words low. “Apparently good things come to those who wait. I’m still waiting.”