Another Earth

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Niall looked up at Kei when the man reassured him that everything was going to be okay and that he and Eos would be by his side the whole time. It was comforting but it didn't assuage all of his fears. He took a deep breath to calm himself down. This was just his mother. She seemed really happy to see him and he... he was happy to see her to. He had missed her kind eyes and her smile. His lips quirked in a small smile and let Keisuke lead him away after his mother. Things really would be different this time around. He was a young man now and he had friends on his side to.

Once home, his mother opened the door and ushered them in. Niall let go of Keisuke's hand as he observed his home. It was a middle sized home with 6 rooms; a kitchen that also served as the dinning room, a bathroom, the study that opened up to his room where he had given his fortune telling and two other bedrooms. One of those bedrooms was his parents personal chamber and the second room had been his sister's room. He had shared his room with his brothers which made the space rather cramped. So much had changed. When he had lived here, his parents had made quite the profit from his abilities so they had a lot of rich things to add comfort to their lives but now all of that was gone. The house was in desperate need of repairs. He didn't like seeing the house this way. Why were their holes in the roof to allow the chill to enter? It had patch but the patch still let in the cold air and he could see bowls set beneath them to catch any dripping water.

"Your room has been taken over by Ivan and he sometimes uses the study though I haven't changed anything in that room. Georgey and Abel have taken over your sister's room. You and your friend will have to squeeze into your room with Ivan."

Niall's eyes widened and turned to his mother. "They took Ava's room? What happened to Ava?"

"She got married dear. She lives with her husband at capital. He's a silk merchant and a rather wealthy one. He's a good man. They've been married for 5 years now. You just missed her visit. She would have been so happy to see you. We'll send her a letter and maybe she'll come when the weather lets up."

"Oh, I see," he gave a sigh of relief. He was happy she was alive and doing well for herself. He let his hands trace the counter.

"Are you boys hungry?"

"I am not hungry. Where is everyone?"

"I'll make you both some food anyway," she mused as she started to heat up the little stove. "Your father is down at Johnson's family dear. He is helping their move things into their house. Ivan is a wood cutter now so he is doing his job. The twins are working at the bar. They'll all be home tonight so you can greet everyone at supper. Oh they are going to be so happy to see you!" Go set down your things and settle in!"

Niall gave a nod before he led Keisuke to his old room. He stopped in the doorway to the bedroom and swallowed hard. He took a deep breath and opened the door. The room looked like any other room. There were two bed like there always had been. It was obvious one of them was more used than the other. He could only assume Ivan was using the bed closer to the only window in the room. There wasn't much else in the room beside a dresser so the room didn't take much of Niall's attention. What did call him was the sliding door that led The Room. The room of his nightmares, fears, and tragedies. He turned away for a moment and hugged Keisuke. They were doing a lot of hugging today, weren't they? Niall squeezed his eyes shut an just focused on their breathing. Eos cooed to him and nuzzled his cheek and he took their comfort.

"I am sorry I am being so clingy today..." he murmured. "I... I ran away from here. I was kidnapped," he explained quietly so his mother wouldn't hear. He pulled Keisuke into the bedroom and shut the door. He put down his bag and turned back to the ominous door that beckoned him. "That's the room.... I lived in that room most of the time... constantly in the Void. I was in the mist more than I was in the present." he walked to the door then and slid it open to reveal the small room. There was a little basin that used to be filled with water and where Niall had been forced to sit in when his parents realized the water helped calm him and bring about the visions. Candles also lined the shelves and the tables. Outwardly the room didn't look all that frightening but he remembered the history and the screams. If one looked closely enough, they could see the marks on the wall where he had clawed them in his fits of Mist induced madness.

"I don't hate them, Keisuke. I don't. They just don't understand the hell they put me through. And without me... they've grown poor. Their existence looks so meager. I am not much good at anything else... I.... I think I am going to have to use the Sight. Even if we hadn't met them, fortunetelling would give us a pretty penny. While we are here I'll have to do that to help them and save up coin. I am going to need your support Kei."

Kei observed the house quietly as they entered. It wasn’t shabby, but it was definitely in need of some help. He looked over to Niall to see if he could pick up any information from the boy’s expression, but the boy’s expression gave nothing away to help him. The man merely stood by the silver haired boy’s side as he interacted with his mom, Kei only offering a polite smile when she looked over at him from time to time. He wasn’t exactly sure how to act in this situation. How to be a suitable house guest that didn’t burden Niall anymore more than the boy already felt was still unknown to him. For now he had decided that he would do his best not to cause trouble.

He let Niall lead him though, with no resistance, the man was more concerned over all of Niall’s actions to be caught up with the décor and blueprints of the house. He simply followed where ever the boy guided him waiting to be the support that he guessed the boy would eventually need. He watched Niall’s expressions carefully, being extra attentive to any shifts in expression he normally wouldn’t notice. The boy’s gaze held on a panel though, and Kei’s eyes flickered up to see a door that looked like it could possibly lead to a closet. He didn’t understand what could be so significant about a closet, but as he was pondering the thought Niall had moved again to bury himself in Keisuke. Although a little caught off guard the man allowed it, he had realized that Niall was also aware of his skin because whenever the boy hugged him his body never came anywhere close to the edges of his clothing. Kei appreciated the boy’s efforts and encompassed him with his arms, returning the gesture for as long as Niall decided he needed it. Plus, he did enjoy the feeling of Niall’s warmth, it was a constant, comforting presence.

"I am sorry I am being so clingy today..." When the boy pulled away Kei’s immediate reaction was to assure him that there was no problem. The problem may have been Kei was enjoying the contact with Niall a little too much. The more he let the boy get close to him the more Kei knew that he would want to push their relationship farther, something that he knew was absolutely off limits. And then, before Kei could respond, Niall continued speaking. He closed the door and hushed his voice slightly. He listened carefully, not liking what he heard Niall say as the boy walked over to the door his eyes had lingered on. He walked up behind the boy as he stared in the room looking past him the small room. It didn’t look too significant, but a glance at the silver haired boy showed that the room held many unpleasant things.

He felt Niall speak, the boy not looking away from the room and Kei leaned into him. Feeling the boy’s warmth as he did so was pleasant, almost calming. He didn’t like the idea that the woman that had been so kind had forced a young Niall into using his powers to the point where he lost himself. In fact, he felt an uncharacteristic hatred bubble from deep inside of him and quickly worked to suppress the negative emotion. He boy felt obligated when really, if his family had forced him to use his abilities, he didn’t owe them anything. He couldn’t say it though, not after he had urged the boy to reconnect with them. He let out a soft sigh, his hand snaking around the boy’s waste. He didn’t know what had happened, but after Niall had hugged him a barrier had been broken between the two, touching no longer seemed a taboo. He could feel his heart race with his own actions though, and he was surprised to find he was perfectly content with a racing heart.

“I will never leave you Niall.” He spoke the words softly, and in the distance he heard Niall’s mother calling them for food. He turned away from the room first, his hand planted firmly on Niall’s waist as if to hug him away from the memories. He would not leave this boy, he would protect him with all the power he possessed.

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Niall closed his eyes when Keisuke came up behind him and wrapped his arms around his waist. He didn't know what it was, but increasingly, he liked it when Keisuke was near and his hugs were so comforting. The thought was so odd considering the fact that one wrong move could end his life should he actually touch Keisuke's skin. Why did he feel so comfortable with a man with Death's touch? Whatever it was, Keisuke had that lulling affect on him and all he wanted to do was stay in his arms forever. If that was death, maybe it wasn't that bad after all. Even his mother's call didn't pull him away from the sense of calm he felt until Keisuke started to pull away from him and squeezed his waist. It made him shiver and blush. That alone made him rather abashed. He shouldn't have these reactions! But he did... oh he did. He shook his head and patted his cheek to get his mind off things and headed for the door.

His mother was already setting the table with buttered bread and hot soup. His mouth watered at the sight. If anything, his mother was an excellent cook and that soup was going to be amazing. He sat own quickly and almost immediately started to devour it all. His mother chuckled at his appetite. She sat down beside Niall and she couldn't bring herself to stop looking at the boy and reaching over to to push his hair away from his face. He did freeze then, momentarily started since she was sitting in his blind spot and he hadn't realized she reached towards him.

"It is okay sweetie," she cooed. "You are home now. You are safe." Safe from the world but not safe from his gift.

When he was done eating, he got up and went to the sink and washed his bowl before returning to the table and fiddled with his fingers. He didn't want to offer this but he felt obligated to mention it now. "Ma, I haven't come back to stay here. When the winter passes, Keisuke and I are going to be heading out again."

His mother's eyes widened and she gaped at the two of them. "But you are finally home! Why do you want to leave? What could you possibly want out there that isn't here?"

"Mom, while we are here, I will pay my dues. I... I know that the only true skill I have is my Sight. I have gained a lot of control over it and I can use it to help bring in some money so you can fix this house and you and Pa don't have to stress so much. That is the only way I can think of to bring in enough gold. Once the winter is up however, we will be packing up. I suggest you save the gold I earn for you once the house is fixed."

She stared at him a bit unbelieving. She couldn't understand why her Niall wanted to up and leave again. He had a good life here and a family that loved him.

"Niall... I want you to stay."

"I am sorry, but I will not. I have a live beyond this village, Mom. I will offer you my Sight while I am here and that is all." he got up with his final words and took Kei's bowl when he was done eating and washed it. It felt so odd talking to his mother this way but he didn't have a choice. This is what he had to do. He set the plates away and headed for the room, motioning for Keisue to follow with Eos. They had traveled a long way and they both needed sleep. "We should rest while we can. You can take my old bed. I'll sleep on my brother's bed."

Kei watched as he defied his mother over the dinner she had prepared them. As Niall had spoken about leaving he hadn’t missed the flicker of eyes when he had mentioned it. She blamed him for her son’s desire to leave the village, he could sense it off the woman, but chose to stay silent. This was Niall’s mother and he would not make things harder on the boy than they already were. As Niall spoke Kei had ducked his head and focused his attention on eating, though he heard every word of the exchange clearly. The mother’s hard gaze did not leave him as the boy picked up his bowl and took it to the sink to be cleaned. He allowed everything to happen, believing that Niall had to oppose his family with his own strength in order to move on.

As they returned to the bedroom Niall had indicated that he would share a bed with his brother while Kei was able to take the spare bed. The man had immediately refused, throwing a tantrum until Niall reclaimed his own bed and Kei claimed to sleep on the floor. He knew Niall was unhappy wit his decisions, but seeing at Kei didn’t actually sleep in the night it was a much better option to spend a half hour on the floor pretending to sleep, rather than an entire night in a bed when Niall could be more comfortable. Despite Niall’s pouting the man had not given in and instead spent the nights in a chair watching the boy sleep. Only one night had his brother Ivan woken to see Keisuke side awake despite how late it was. The brother had only mumbled something about homosexual weirdness before turning over in his own bed and sleeping the rest of the night.

Niall started is fortune telling up again, and despite Kei’s warning, pushing himself past what he was capable of handling. The dark haired man watched as the boy literally destroyed his dainty. Each reading deviled deeper into the void that Niall explored for answers, scratching at the boy’s reason, and dragging him farther into the misty pit, an abyss of no return. Kei was powerless to help him, and he continued to receive hostile looks from the other family members except Ivan who seemed obviously to it. He accepted it though. Whenever Niall came out of a reading a wreck Kei had been there to catch the boy. He had even purchased a tight turtle neck that allowed the boy to get as reckless as possible without actually reaching Kei’s exposed face. Kei was, though, upset that he wasn’t able to do anymore for the boy he had vowed to protect. He knew that using his sight so much was destroying him, but ehre was nothing he could do.
~~
Two weeks since joining Niall’s family in the village Keisuke had become a familiar face to many. The man that almost always accompanied the boy that could see the future, that was what had become his title. He was on errand for the mother, Ela, who still gave him nasty looks when she thought he wasn’t paying attention , had sent him on an errand for fresh vegetable when the encounter happened. A boy looking the same age as Niall had approached, a nervous look in his face and he shoved a piece of paper into his hand without any other acknowledge meant. Confused, Kei had looked at it of course, a note addressed to Niall letting the boy know of a party happening that night.

Kei didn’t generally encourage such actions, but the boy was losing himself, surely having a bit of fun would aid him in some way to regain the boy that Kei had once known.

Back at the house Kei looked around. All the dmages that had been present whe n he had first arrived with Niall had since been repaired, luxury items such as artwork and ceramics decorated the spaces and Kei couldn’t help but curl his lip in disgust. Niall had done all the work for these people, yet all they did was take from the boy.

Kei sat by the door where Niall did his fortunes, a client currently inquiring about who-knows-what, the piece of paper given to him crumpled in his grip. He ddin’t know what else to do for the boy, every time he had tried speaking up the boy’s parents had shut him up with the threat of kicking Keisuke out, or saying he was just n outsider. He leaned his head against the way and looked up, vaguely he could hear voices on the other side of the wall. Niall no doubt giving someone an accurate fortune.

It was only once the client had stormed out did Kei straighten in attention. Whoever it had been seemed mad, but he ignored it to check on the silver haired boy who was constantly in his thoughts. Keisuke had thought he had only had a strong desire to protect the boy, but over the last two weeks he had come to realize it as more. He wanted to possess Niall, hide him from everyone else, and keep him safe from these retched people. He wanted his boy more than anything in his millenniums of existence, he wanted this boy to be his and only his. The body he possessed was the only thing restraining him from advancing though, and has the boy stumbled out of the room Keisuke caught him.

He had gone back to wearing two gloves, though mismatching, in order to have the least amount of worry that he might kill Niall while taking care of him in this state. The boy shoved at him, his mood horrendous, and instead Kei wrapped him on a hug, feeling the boy fight against him with all his might. “Niall… shhh. It’s ok, I’m going to protect you. I will save you, please, be calm.” He whispered into the boy’s ear until he stopped fighting. Whether it was his words or exhaustion Keisuke was unsure, but as the boy slumped into him he was only glad that the boy had not completely lost himself yet.
~
Later in the night Kei shook Niall awake, the piece of paper the boy had given him still fresh in his mind. He hadn’t lived in the village for long, but the address written on it was familiar to him, one he had passed many times whilst doing errands for Ela. He dragged the boy out of the bed, doing his best to keep them quiet as they slipped out the door. Eos was hovering over his ehad as they left, but he waved her away, shoving the paper to Niall. [color]#91b26a]“I want you to act your age tonight.”[/color] He whispered quietly into the boy’s ear as they walked. “Enjoy your youth before its all used up.”

He mumbled it quietly supporting the boy until the finally ended up in front of what resembled a huge party in a small hosue.

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Niall had a miserable 2 weeks back home. Every day he was using his Sight and on most occasions, he did multiple readings one after another. It was all just the way it was when he had left this place. Nothing had really changed at all. Niall was exhausted and he didn't go out much, using what time he had left over to try and rest and recuperate his strength. Once again his parents had no real idea what this was doing to their son. They had a taste of money and luxury again and they were unwilling to give it up and force Niall to stop destroying his own mind. Maybe it wasn't that they didn't notice but that they didn't want to notice.

Using the sight as much as he was, of course there were side affects. When he was in the 'present', he wasn't truly aware of what was happening. He got dazed quickly and he'd stare off into space, his mind blank of all thoughts so that he looked more like a doll than anything. Other times, he spoke to no one and his words weren't clear but that had only started recently. The worst was the mood swings. One minute he was fine, the next he was in hysterics over a small frustration or he'd break down for no reason. Once he had even broke down at the dinner table and couldn't stop crying and saying words that didn't make sense but seemed so important to him. His mother had the sense to put him to bed at that point. He was always exhausted. Keisuke was the only one that seemed to calm him but he even snapped on him on many occasions. He was loosing control and he hated it. He just... he didn't know what else to do. Now matter where they went in town, people wanted their fortune read and they didn't want anything else from him. Once again his only value was his visions.

Niall lay in his bed getting some much needed sleep when Keisuke shook him. He gasped and he gripped the man's arms as he was pulled away from the warmth and comfort of his bed. He reached back for it and tried to stop Keisuke but he only managed to grab his blanket and dragged it across the floor as Keisuke pulled him away from his room and then out into the night air. Why was Keisuke doing this to him? He just wanted sleep, the blessed darkness where his mind could recover from its abuse. At this point he had dropped the blanket and he grumbled like a child as the man ushered him away.

At last, Keisuke got the disgruntled Niall to stand before the door that would lead them into the party. He pouted and glared at the door and then Keisuke. "You're mean. I want sleep. Don't care 'bout stupid party," he grumbled and rubbed at his eyes. He started wobble back home but Keisuke pulled him back to the door. He growled at Keisuke and fought in the man's grip, throwing a tantrum and even beating at the man's chest to get him to let him go. It didn't work. Keisuke's arms were lie a strong vice and they didn't loosen. Eventually Niall tired and panted against Keisuke. He didn't have the strength to fight anymore.

"Bastard. I want rest...Fine... I go in. You come to," he decided then and gripped Keisuke's gloved hand in his. He looked down at himself and the mismatched outfit he wore. It was what he had put on when his mother had woke him earlier to do a sudden reading. He had never taken it off. Ah well. The clothes didn't matter much and neither did his wild hair. He looked like he had stumbled out of bed which was exactly what happened. He turned to the door and gave a knock.

The door was quick to open to reveal a young man. He blinked a bit surprised to see that Niall had actually showed up before he ushered them in. "Come in! I am so glad you could make it! We just set out the food."

"Food..." he mused, instantly interested.

"Yeah. It is on the table beside the couch," the boy directed and brought the two to the main room where everyone was gathered talking among themselves and eat at the snacked that were set out.

Niall went straight for the food and plopped himself down to start eating. At the moment, being social was not his priority. Food would give him strength and maybe make him less irritable from his lack of sleep. He was going to get Keisuke back for this.

One of the other guests chuckled as everyone gathered. "Since everyone is here now, I think our first game is in order. Niall, Keisuke, join us."

Niall planned on ignoring him but Keisuke of course didn't let him. He dragged him into the group and Niall equally pulled Keisuke down beside him. If he was subject to this, Keisuke wasn't going to escape it.

If it wasn’t for how badly Niall’s mind was being fucked by the constant use of his sight Keisuke was sure he would have found the way the boy was acting cute. It brought out something primal and godly in him, the urge to shelter the boy strong, the urge hide him away from others even stronger. The possessiveness lasted even as they reached the house. He still had the boy in his grasp as they stared up at the house, and suddenly, Keisuke had the strong urge to drag the boy away from this village and never come back. He forced his dulling senses to reach out towards the nearest door to the underworld, it wasn’t nearly close enough to be a reasonable trip for the boy to survive and the dark haired man abandoned the plan immediately. He sent a glance over at the boy, he was pouting while looking up at the party, and while entwining their fingers Kei got dragged into the house by Niall at the urging of the boy who had invited him. As if he would actually leave the boy’s side.

The inside of the house was filled with humans that were all around Niall’s age. The boy led him around the party, seemingly led by the desire to eat, and on the way someone handed him a cup of liquid, with only the words ‘Get wild’ to accompany it. With one sniff he knew it was alcohol, but he kept it in his grasp as Niall dragged him to a destination. Kei couldn’t keep the smile of his lips when the boy started eating. Even while stuffing his face Kei found Niall unbearably charming, and he knew that nothing the boy could would ever lessen the affection that had growing since they had met. He pushed the cup of alcohol in the boy’s direction though, a hope that it would loosen him up, all Niall to actually have fun for a change.

Even as he was pulled down by Niall into a group of kids sitting in a circle, Niall pressed up against his right side, a girl he had never met on his left, and the boy that had invited them on Niall’s right, Kei didn’t feel any anxiety bubble up in him. His eyes were fixed on Niall, making sure the boy wasn’t truly suffering at this party, wishing that more than anything the boy would come back and return to the personality he had been before arriving at the village. The guest that had initiated the circle of kids stood up so everyone would look at him.

“Alright kids,” the boy started, holding up what appeared to be a regular, if anything extremely small, piece of tissue paper in his fingers. “It’s time for a nice friendly game of suck and blow. For anyone not familiar with the instructions… when the paper gets to you, suck in, when it’s time to pass it on, blow out.” He plopped down next to the girl that Kei found himself next to and Kei watched curiously as the boy pressed the paper to his lips. He heard in whoosh of air being inhaled as he leaned in to the girl sitting next to him. He felt his eyebrows raise in surprise as he lips seemed to connect with his, but when she pulled away she had the paper against her lips.

Kei felt his heart rate sky rocket. One thin piece of paper was playing at determining if this girl lived or died. It felt as if she turned to him in slow motion, a suggestive glint in her eyes, and in a panic he leaned in slowly as to not cause suspicion, but his heart was jack hammering in his chest. By some stroke of luck, however; she seemed to be more clothed than many of the other girls, and even when she reached up and pulled their faces together there was no skin on skin contact. The paper prevented their faces from touching, and her gloved hands stopped a fatality from happening as she held their faces together. Whistles and shouts erupted from the rowdy youth as they stayed together until she finally released him. He relieved, the man turned to face Niall, but the boy was not looking in his direction.

With the paper held against his lips, all Kei could think about was being able to kiss Niall without killing him, something he had found that he wanted to do, badly. He took the boy’s chin by a gloved hand and forced him to face him. Kei felt his eyes darken, hooded with his desire, but he couldn’t stop himself. While holding the boy’s chin he connected their lips, relishing in the way Niall felt, but all the same trying not to push it too far. Trying not to scare the boy away.

When he finally released him Kei couldn’t look away from the boy. Even when he turned away to continue moving the game long Kei didn’t stop staring. His eyes flickering to the boy, Arnie, that had invited them in the first place, and he felt something akin to greed and anger flicker inside himself as Nial and the boy connected lips. His grip on the boy’s hand tightened, that possessiveness being brought to the forefront of his mind. There was no doubt he wanted this boy, in many different ways, and there was no doubt he’d have to suppress all those urges.

His grip loosened on the boy’s had and he leaned to the boy’s ear. “Was this the right choice? Are you enjoying yourself Ni?”

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Niall heard the instructions of the game about to be played, but for some reason he didn't think it applied to him. As usually lately, he was present but not truly part of the present world around him. He felt distant from his body and all these other people, many of whom he didn't even know. He only knew Arnie beside him and that was because they had been friends once upon a time when they were children. He sat patiently where he was an drank whatever it was the Keisuke gave him. He downed the whole thing before he realized it was alcohol and he didn't like the way it stuck the back of his throat. He coughed a bit and set the glass down in front of him and just stared at how the droplets of whatever it was clung to the rim as if it were the most fascinating thing in the world. His mind had gone blank again as it tried to heal itself from the many wounds he had delivered to it.

That's when he felt Keisuke grip his chin and pull his face upward. He blinked a bit confused as he slowly regained his mental understanding. His eyes widened in surprise when Keisuke leaned forward and pressed his lips against his. Sure there was a paper separating them from actual contact but even this sent a shiver through him and he found that in that moment, he was more present than he had been in a while. He could feel the man's warmth and the contour of his lips pressed against his and it seemed like their lips matched perfectly. His heart was hammering against his rib cage and there was a blush on his cheeks he couldn't hide. His eyes threatened to close but then Keisuke blew out, making him gasp and remember the purpose of what he was suppose to be doing. He sucked in to keep the paper against his lips, aware that he had felt the man's breath, tasted it. All he wanted to do in that moment was kiss Keisuke again and forget everything else. He desperately wanted to feel centered and grounded in reality and Keisuke ha given him that even though it was just a brief moment.

He turned to Arnie then and leaned forward to pass on the paper. Arnie's warmth and touch was just as soft but there was none of that feeling behind it. Was it really just Keisuke? Was Keisuke really so talented that he could elicit death and this much desire and hope with a single touch? Finally, he was rid of the paper and was able to pull away from his old friend. He glanced at Keisuke and hugged his own arms to try and get a grip of himself. The man had asked him a question. It was a double-edged sword. He wasn't having fun but that paper kiss... he wanted that. If he said he wasn't having fun, would Keisuke think he hadn't liked the kiss? Well, his brain wasn't allowing him to be eloquent in his speech so he answered, "The party isn't fun... but I enjoyed it..." In his head it made perfect sense. He had enjoyed it, it being the kiss. If it was clear to Keisuke... that was another story. He reached up and touched his lips absentmindedly as he slowly started to go blank again, his eyes growing half lidded. The scene around him had grown less engaging so his mind didn't need to be present anymore. He really was like a doll sitting in his place. Not even this lasted for much longer however.

The game went on, Niall oblivious to it all as his already primed Sight enraptured his mind and his grey eye swirled with Void only he could see. Niall swayed a moment his head fell back and he dropped. He landed on his back, a bit unusual considering he usually was able to go into the Mist while sitting perfectly still. Both of Niall's eyes seemed foggy and daze as his lips began to move in his mumbling. A couple of the girls screamed and hurried to move away from the boy that was suddenly on the floor. None of the sounds and movements waked Niall, another thing quite unusual for the young seer.

"wind... wind... roofs... ablaze... horse.... open... open the gate..." Niall's sightless eye darkened then and for a moment, he stopped talking.

"What is happening?" one of the other boys that had attended asked and moved forward but even he was afraid of touching Niall in his odd state. None of them had seen Niall in the Void before.

"Woe to ye, guileless and pale, she hunts... she hunts upon the ire of deeds unsown... Her eyes... eyes see all... she's there...she's there...

[b]"How do we stop him?"[/color] a girl asked then, eyes alight with fear. His words were beginning to scare them. Arnie grabbed a bucket of water and quickly hurried over before splashing Niall, remembering that was on way to startle him awake. The boy didn't even twitch.

"Run... ye can't hide from the gods....." Niall's eye lightened back to normal but the swirling didn't stop. His words returned to being less decipherable. "...dogs...wild n.... grovel.. kicked..."

"The party isn't fun... but I enjoyed it..." Kei stared at the boy curious for a moment. He wasn’t sure if that meant he was having a good time or not. Kei tried to piece together exactly what the boy had meant, was he too crowded? Were the strange games these kids were playing enjoyable? Kei felt somewhat guilty, even if he hadn’t known what the paper game had entailed at first he could have gotten both the girl and Niall killed. He could have backed out immediately, these kids would have whined at him, but that wasn’t something he couldn’t handle. He hadn’t though, because he had wanted to kiss Niall, and had taken advantage of the moment even if that meant endangering the lives of others. He was so selfish.

He watched Niall reach up and touch his lips absentmindedly, and he watched as the light had briefly come back to eyes recessed what seemed to be even further than before. Keisuke felt his heart plummet, he had made Niall’s condition even worse. He completely zoned out, and Kei could tell that Niall was not taking in any of the details of their surroundings. He vowed right there, watching as Niall fell deeper into nothingness, he would cut off his desires for the boy. He would stay with him, as Niall had requested, and protect him of course, but that would be the extent of it.

A tap on his shoulder had him reluctantly turning away from the silver haired boy. The girl who had passed him the paper early was looking at him, a flirty smile on her lips and alcohol on her breath. She leaned in to him, probably in an attempt to get him interested in her, and mumbled words to him that he couldn’t hear over the dull roar of the party. He didn’t respond to her advances, and was going to wait for her to lose interest on her own when he heard a thud behind him. Kei spun away from the girl to see Niall had fallen backwards.

Kei saw it in the boy’s eyes immediately, he had gone into the void at some point. The man’s heart hammered in his chest, Niall generally needed concentration and a quiet environment to get in and stay in the Void. A party was definitely not the place to fit those requirements. Even worse, even as a commotion started the boy did not wake. He placed his hands on the boy’s shoulders, he was mumbling words too, this was bad.

“Hey Ni, c’mon wake up. This isn’t a good time for party tricks..” He was attempting to keep his ton light, calm, in order to ease the tension in the other guests of the party, but when Niall didn’t respond to him he felt his anxieties begin to rise. He couldn’t lose the boy like this, in a party. He brushed his hand over the boy’s forehead to get the strands of silver hair out of his face and leaned down to try and hear what he was mumbling.

"Woe to ye, guileless and pale, she hunts... she hunts upon the ire of deeds unsown... Her eyes... eyes see all... she's there...she's there...” The man leaned back in frustration, riddles, always riddles when he was in the void. Kei could never make sense of them. All he could do was take their literal meaning of the words. A woman was hunting, maybe someone like them who was slightly more gifted than the average human. Someone with eyes that could see anything.

He was startled back when Arnie attempted to wake the boy with water, he had to admit it had been a smart idea, but not even that affected Niall. He was deep in the Void, somewhere Kei wasn’t sure he was reachable anymore. The idea that the boy was beyond hope made him emotional, he could feel a stringing behind his eyes and his placed his gloved palm on Niall’s cheek leaning in to try and reach him again. He froze when he heard the boy’s next words though.

"Run... ye can't hide from the gods....." The gods, the gods were coming for him? But why, he hadn’t done anything wrong. He had completed his last task without problem. Was he not allowed even this small sliver of happiness? He took a steadying breath to try and calm himself, the gods were in his future, and Niall needed help now. When the dark haired man leaned forward again the words Niall muttered seemed nothing more than nonsense.

“Niall… Ni it’s Keisuke. Focus on my voice, I’m right here, I’m getting you out of there. Follow my voice, I’m here, I’m going to keep you grounded, just focus on me, I’m begging you. You can’t leave me Niall, that’s not fair.” He tried to keep his voice steady, but he could hear it shaking as he spoke, but still he continued muttering things to the boy in hopes of bringing Niall back from the Void.

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Everyone in the room began to panic then. What was happening to Niall? This vision thing was frightening. Nothing seemed to make Niall return. He was mumbling incoherently and none of them wanted to watch as Niall quickly sounded more and more insane. The others looked around each other uneasily. Was Niall going to be okay? What hat set him off? Should they go get Niall's parents? None of them had come face to face with this before. Keisuke was their and Niall's only hope to ease the situation.

Niall himself was lost in the inky mist of the Void. Images were flying around him and he couldn't center himself. One minute he was in Rome and the next he was watching a battle in England. It was all going by so fast that not even he could make sense of it. He was spiraling downward and there was nothing here that he could grab onto; they were just wispy images after all. The threads that were so familiar to hims seemed to fall away like a perturbed spiderweb at this touch. He could tell he was falling deeper and deeper into the mist. Was this it? Was this the insanity that he had feared would take hold of him? Was he going to be lost here forever, never knowing what was happening around him? Tears filled his eyes in both his Sight and upon his body thought his eyes did not blink.

No! Please! No! he cried internally, falling to his knees and gripped his head. All the strange noises swirled around him and he keened. He didn't want to go mad! His body remained motionless and he continued to babble nonsense in reality. In his mind, Niall hugged himself and screamed in his desperation.

Damn it Niall! Come back to me!

Niall gasped and looked up in the void but Keisuke was nowhere to be seen.

That voice... that voice.... I know it... it took the lost seer a moment before he was able to place the distance voice. Keisuke! Keisuke! he cried. Where are you? Keisuke!

Just focus on me, I’m begging you. You can’t leave me Niall, that’s not fair.

Kei! Please keep talking! he begged though he knew Kei couldn't hear him. Niall got to his 'feet' and started to run wildly through the images and strings of various paths. He needed to focus on Keisuke. The strings grew taut then and suddenly wrapped around Niall's throat, arms, legs, and torso. They tugged, trying to pull Niall back towards the pit of the void. No! No, please! I want to be in the present! I want Kei and Eos! Niall reached towards the light that he could see and tried to drag himself forward, managing to snap some of the threads as tears dripped down his face from both inside and in reality. He was loosing strength.

I'll ground you in the present but you have to come back! I am right here!

Kei! I am here! he cried in frustration. KEI! With his final scream of determination, the tendrils snapped and Niall raced towards the light.

Niall's body suddenly tensed and gave a shuddering breath as he came back to reality. His tears finally were accompanied by emotions as he cried out and curled into a ball, his body shaking. He was so cold. "K-Kei..." he called weakly and squeezed his eyes shut. "Kei..." he was hyperventilating and he didn't start calming until his fingers found Keisuke's sleeve. He tried to grip him but his hands were too shaky from the strain and his chill. I-I-I..m... h-h-here.. w-where... where... y-y-y...you... d-d-don't s-s-... s-stop t-talking..." Everyone in the room seemed relieved that Niall was responding again though his shaking and blubbering still unnerved them.

"K-Kei..." Kei was startled when the boy suddenly came back to reality. But he was more grateful for the fact Niall had come back than he had ever been in his entire life. He didn’t think it had been working, the boy hadn't been responding to anything, but in his desperation he continued to plead with the boy to come back to him. The man stared in shock for a moment, almost unable to comprehend what was happening. He had thought Niall was gone, he had thought he’d lost him to the Void. He was only pulled out of his shock by the weak sound of the boy’s voice, and his hand on Kei’s sleeve.

The boy felt freezing and he was violently shaking. Kei fell backwards and he pulled the boy close to him so that Niall sat between his legs, the boy’s back pressed against his chest. Kei brought his arms around the boy, hugging him close to him in an effort to warm him. He was damp from the water Arnie had dumped on him, but Kei could care less about that. The boy was pleading with him through shaking lips and Kei hugged him tighter in a hope to get rid of Niall’s chill. He was requesting one thing from the man, he seemed disoriented and scared, and Kei complied without any resistance.

“Shhh Ni… I’m not leaving, I’m right here. I won’t go anywhere until you’re ready.” He knew everyone around them were staring, whispering, but all he could muster was a testing glare as he continued to speak in a gentle voice. The people of the party didn’t really have any hostility, most were just concerned, but Kei’s nerves felt frayed, tired, and he was just grateful Niall was aware, though despite saying that he could feel his heart hammering in his chest. “Everything is ok now, I’ve got you, you’re safe. Ahh, boy you gave me a real scare though.” He let out a breathy laugh in an attempt to keep his tone light. “We’ve got to stop getting into these life or death situations, like that one contract we picked up a couple weeks ago. Umm what was it exactly, that old rich man wanted the egg of that giant bird to make an omelet that was supposed to have age reversing properties. I don’t even remember the creature anymore, but I do remember almost walking straight off the cliff.”

He smiled remembering it, the cliff really had come out of nowhere. They had been walking and Kei had said something that had caused Niall to burst out laughing. He remembered watching the boy’s features, ingraining the happy expression into his mind, and found couldn’t look away. “Ah, you had been so mad at me. You scolded me even though I’m the adult, I guess I deserved it. But because of that we found the creature’s nest. You never did thank me for that one.” He laughed for real this time, many of the kids at the party were still watching them, though others had the courtesy to go about their own business.

“We’ve only been travelling companions for about two months now, all my memories of us together feel old and nostalgic though, as if we have known each other for millenniums, our minds sure are curious things.” He paused only to adjust himself slightly, Niall’s head resting a bit too close to the collar of his shirt, and he loosened his hug so that his hands fell loosely in Niall’s lap.

“My strongest memory is the first time I ever saw you though, when I laid my eyes on you I knew…” He stopped abruptly in the middle of his sentence. What was he to tell the boy? That he was his fated partner? That minor gods mated only once and then never took another partner for the rest of their existence. That to Keisuke, Niall was that partner, that he was Thanatos? “I knew that you were different, like how I’m different. Anything to say back Ni?”

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Niall was more than happy when Keisuke pulled him into his arms and started to warm him up right away. Keisuke's strong arms around him helped calm him and center him so his shaking slowly till the shaking was only the result of his chill. Keisuke really did ground him. Why was it that it was only him that he could anchor himself to? With Keisuke, he felt alive and present more than any other time in his life. Keisuke was quickly becoming more and more important to Niall and he realized how much he needed and craved the man's touch. This connection he had to him was amazing and he craved more of it. His hands gripped the man's arms, never wanting the safety to leave him. He was too afraid that if Keisuke let go, he'd fall back into the void and he'd never see him again.

"... don't go..." he said softly. "I heard you... in the Void. That was the only thing I could grasp. I was so.... scared. I was falling but you... I heard you." he swallowed hard before he opened his eyes to look up at his companion. "You were calling me... showing me the way out. I was afraid you'd... stop calling. If you had stopped... I would have lost it all." it was scary how true that was. Without Keisuke's voice he would have been trapped a lot longer and maybe he wouldn't have found his way out again. Keisuke really had save him and guided him when he needed it most.

Niall felt his heart squeeze as he watched the man above him. He was really beginning to fall for the man. Keisuke meant everything to him. That was the only rational explanation why Keisuke could ground him, how his kiss could make him feel like he was drowning and yet make him feel more alive than anything. "You really are my anchor..." he mused. "Yeah... I can't deny..." he said with a small shaky smile. In that moment, he didn't care that there were other people in the room. They didn't matter any more. They didn't exist. Keisuke was the only thing he cared for.

Niall slowly sat up and turned in the man's grasp. He looked over Keisuke's face and his heart tugged again. He was bared from ever truly touching Keisuke, but he had learned a way he could feel him and gain that feeling in his core that he was after. He lifted the collar of his shirt till it was covering his lips and he leaned forward without another care. He pressed his covered lips against Keisuke's and shut his eyes. He groaned against the man, his body shivering for another reason as fire raced through his veins. Everyone in the room gasped. Some awed and some made disgusted face but all of that didn't matter. Niall didn't care about appearances anymore. Ground me... don't let go. I... I am yours.

"... don't go..." The man smiled at the response, such a simple statement yet there felt as if there was such a bigger meaning beyond those two little words. The boy continued on, explaining what had happened, as if to explain what he meant by those words. Kei already had his answer though, he had it two months ago when he killed a phoenix, he had reaffirmed it one month ago when the boy had begged Kei to stay with him, and nothing had changed since then. “I would never go anywhere without you.”

Kei didn’t think he had a choice anymore, he couldn’t comprehend ever finding a reason to abandon Niall. His conviction was strong, stronger than the morals he had kept intact for over a millennium, and stronger than the fears that had made him a dog of the gods for all that time. He had heard of minor gods finding their mortal mates before, it always ended in despair, but Keisuke had spent his entire existence in despair and he was ready for something else no matter the consequences after. He was ready to tell the boy that, tell him everything about himself when Niall started moving.

He regretted the absences of warmth as Niall turned to face him, and he looked up to meet the boy’s eyes. Niall was looking at him with an expression he couldn’t quite place, he was familiar with disgust and rage, but with was something completely foreign to him. He studied the boy’s expression, not moving a muscle as he tried to work out what Niall might be feeling. His eyes followed the boy’s motions as he lifted the collar of his shirt above his chin. Kei felt his eyes widen, he was stripping, why was Niall stripping in front of him?

In his shock at the idea of seeing Niall’s bare chest, Kei had missed the motions Niall took to lean in close to him. He hadn’t noticed how close Niall had gotten to him until it was already happening. Kei felt his entire body tense at the contact. Niall’s lips against his, one single piece of cloth protecting him. Many of the party goers awed, and Kei felt the blood rush into his cheeks. He could feel the boy’s warmth, the ghost of his breath as he groaned. Immediately the man wanted more. He had heard the boy moan, felt him shudder, and Kei’s heart was pounding in his ears.

The boy was practically in his lap, so it was easy to disrupt the fragile balance between them and knock the silver haired boy back towards the ground. He used the crook of his elbow to keep Niall’s head from hitting the floor and cradled it there. He used his other arm to brace his body as he hovered over the top of Niall, eyes hooded. Several people hollered at them, and there was definitely one who whistled. The shirt was still over Niall’s mouth and the man leaned down, his breath ghosting over the boy’s lips but not connecting. He moved past Niall’s lips, hovering by his ear and he whispered. “Any further and I won’t be able to control myself.”

Losing control in this situation could end up lethal, something Kei absolutely could not risk.

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Niall panted when Keisuke pulled away dragged him to the ground. He only had eyes for Keisuke as he looked up at the man, his eyes dark in his need and desire. He felt his body reacting the man above him and all he wanted to do was press against him, feel his heat and touch against him. He shivered as Keisuke leaned down to whisper those agonizing words and didn't remove the cloth from his lips. Niall felt like he was out of control himself but this...he wasn't afraid of losing control like this. Why did the thought of losing himself in Keisuke not scare him? The thought of Keisuke loosing control because of him only made him want Keisuke more. His anchor desired him to. That is what it all meant.

"Okay, guys, enough. We all like a bit of fun and games and even some steaminess but if you guys have the mind to actually bed each other, I suggest you move on out of here," Arnie sighed. "You scared us Niall, but you are out of the Mist thing now and it looks like you are okay."

Niall forced his gaze away from Keisuke to look over at Arnie and there rest of the people watching them. Some of them... they looked like they wanted to watch. "Oh... sorry..." he answered, his response only earning giggles from some of the girls. He looked up at Keisuke and all he wanted was to kiss him again. He swallowed hard trying to calm himself and his grip loosened. He let Keisuke go and hated watching the man pull away from him. He sighed and sat up as well and rubbed his face. he was still shaking lightly from his exhaustion but he was all right mostly. He got to his feet and wobbled a bit till he steadied himself on Keisuke's shoulder.

"I think.. I think home... best...tired..." he answered a bit broken. He earned more giggles and a few suggestive stares. He took Keisuke's gloved hand into his own as they left the part. He shook his head trying to clear it. He felt a little awkward now but he still liked that kiss. He touched his lips again before he glanced at Keisuke and blushed. "Keisuke... I... well... I know our skin can't touch... but... we have... we have... ways around it," he mentioned, growing a bit more abashed. It made him feel even more awkward just suggesting it! All he knew however was that he really wanted Keisuke and the thought of never being able to share that intimacy was heart breaking. Maybe baby steps would help and one day they would find a way around the whole problem. "Would... would you... be.... um...willing?"

Kei was actually a little grateful when Arnie broke them apart with his words. He hadn’t been sure if he would have been able to stop without the intrusion. It was Niall looking away at Arnie that finally broke Keisuke out of his own trance. He was very aware of the people around them, a lot of them seemed to be rooting for a steamy hook-up between the two, anyone that hadn’t had already vacated the area. As Kei had many times in the past, he cursed the very nature of his being.

He pulled away from Niall as the boy offered a soft apologize to his friend and Kei in turn offered a polite nod. He pulled himself to his feet, and straightened, he could feel the eyes of everyone on him. The man that had won over the mystic seer, surly he would go down as a legend. He offered his support to Niall as the boy stood up, he seemed shaky on his feet and probably hadn’t fully recovered from getting lost in the void. The man looked Niall over, only reaching up to brush of few loose strands of hair out of his eyes. It elicited a chorus of oohs and aahs from their witnesses and Kei felt his cheeks heat. He ducked his head away from the onlookers to hide the blush.

"I think.. I think home... best...tired..." The way Niall stumbled over his words only made the possessiveness Kei had over the boy flare. As Niall pushed their hands to interlock Keisuke gave him a firm squeeze, to let the boy know he was there to support him. Even if many of the party goers thought they would no doubt be going to bed together Kei realized that to only be a far off dream or, hopefully, something to dream of that night. He let the boy lead him out of the party and into the street. The air was brisk and there was just a hint of snow falling. He let go of the boy’s hand and shrugged off the big black coat, throwing it over the boy’s shoulders before reclaiming the hand.

“ we have... ways around it," Kei tilted his head back, looking up at the dark sky and watching as his breath puffed in lazy clouds each time he exhaled. He considered what the boy was saying and hummed in response. He wanted to claim Niall, in every sense possible of the word. Just a kiss had tested his control to the maximum, he didn’t feel confident in his own control to go much farther than that. “I would be willing. But only if you were sure whatever we do is very safe, I mean really safe. Niall, if I lost control, if there was an accident and I… If I lost you I’d have nothing. I can’t go back to nothing.”

He tightened his hold on the boy’s hand, still looking up at the overcast night sky. The moon barely shown through the clouds, it was impossible to see any of the stars. He grimaced at the thought of losing Niall, to be in the middle of something intimate and have the boy go limp, it terrified him.

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Niall stopped walking and looked up at Keisuke. Was he really thinking about doing this? Were they really going to do this? Niall had never had actual sex but he knew about it. He'd didn't know the mechanics of what needed to be done between too men but he was sure it wasn't too different from what men did with women. Niall knew that that level of intimacy would never be his and Keisuke's. They wouldn't touch and so that was far out of the question it was on a different plain and had no value here though he couldn't deny his desire for it. He pushed the thought away as his cheeks brighten in his abashed awkwardness with this conversation he was having with Kei.

Niall's hand tightened on Keisuke's arm as he tried to think of what to do. They couldn't go home right now if this was something they were really going to do. There were too many people and they were to sure to be interrupted again. Niall didn't want to be interrupted. Where could they go so that they could at least share a little bit of bliss and intimacy? He didn't want to freeze out here either. Then he remembered the little storage shed his family had on their property. His father kept supplies there. They could go there. They would be sheltered from the weather and there would be blankets there. His body shivered at the prospect. Perhaps he had solved their problems momentarily. He tugged Keisuke with him then, not bothering to tell him where they were going. He knew Keisuke would follow him.

Once they reached his family's house, he snuck with Keisuke over the ground until he reached the storage and pulled the man inside with him. He shut the door and shivered as he shook off the chill. He turned to look at Keisuke and swallowed hard. He couldn't believe they were actually going to go through with this. He had never thought he'd actually want to be intimate with someone and now he had Keisuke who was willing to try with him though it would be odd and awkward since they couldn't go about this normally. He held a hand open to indicate that he wanted the man to wait as he started to rummage through the items that were held here. He pulled on the gloves he found and dragged warm blankets to the center of the room and lay them out. All the while, he blushed, hyper aware that Keisuke was watching. He was shaking for a whole new reason now.

Niall lay down and patted the blankets beside him. "Your turtle neck collar can extend over your lips and nose so that we... we can kiss. No skin. We can... hold each other. Both men.. so.. pressure and just.. just the motion should be 'nough," he explained. "I want you..."

Kei’s chest was heaving as he stared down at the boy who had just finished. Niall looked thoroughly fucked, as crass as the statement was, and Keisuke loved it. He let his body drop to the side once he was done taking in the boy’s expression and enjoyed the bliss that came after a good orgasm. He opened himself up and let Niall snuggle into his chest, dropping and arm lazily around the seer’s waist. He let the boy pick at his clothing, and turned his head to give Niall easier access to kiss him. He never wanted to stop kissing him.

It surprised him when the boy called him beautiful, it wasn’t a word humans generally directed towards him, most people were too scared of his eyes to even bother to get close in the first place. He was even more surprised when the boy said he loved him. It sent a soft warmth through his body and he tightened his slack arm on the boy’s waist, pushing their bodies together. “Niall, I love you too.”

When he said the words for himself everything felt undeniably real. He moved and pressed a kiss to the boy’s forehead, enjoying the sensation of the circles being drawn on his chest by Niall’s delicate fingers. He let out a soft sigh and closed his eyes, letting his own hand trace meaningless patterns gently over the boy’s back. The mood was content and he shifted his weight, pulling them apart so he could look Niall in the eyes and he pulled the turtle neck away from his mouth so Niall could look at his expression. He brought his hand up to trace a dark mark at the base of the boy’s neck where Kei had bitten him. It was a bruise and he guessed it would be slightly tender, but he enjoyed the fact that the boy had been marked his, a smile gracing his lips.

“Niall,” He started in a semi-serious tone, though he was sure the blissful expression he was wearing didn't make him seem serious at all. “If you ever called my name in that tone you used early I would do anything you asked of me.” He didn’t add to the end that Niall didn’t have to use the tone, or even say his name, and Kei was already willing to do anything he asked him to. He thought if he used a bit of humor it might ease any awkwardness the boy might feel once the dream-like state of post-orgasm faded away.

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Niall grinned up at his lover, enjoying just watching him. If only he could just touch Keisuke without the shelter of clothing. He wanted to see Keisuke but knew that was too risky. One misstep and he would be dead. It was sad but he'd take what he could get. He even smiled when Keisuke traced the bruise he left on his neck. It was tender for Niall but he liked the fact that Keisuke had wanted to mark him and claim him. It was primal and instinctual. He pressed a hand against Keisuke's and sighed happily. His eyes grew half-lidded in his exhausted and content state but Keisuke pulled him away from the grasp of sleep for a little while longer.
“If you ever called my name in that tone you used early I would do anything you asked of me.”

Niall gave Keisuke the happiest smile he could. "I know, Kei. I know. I should have realized you loved me before but it took me a little longer to realize. You riddled me blind," he chuckled. "I am the happiest man alive. I will do whatever I can to protect you to, Kei..." Niall yawned then and stretched against the man, his eyes closing again. Today had been very exhausting. "We... we... need to leave. Its not.... safe. I don't... I don't want to get lost 'n you... you need to keep... keep moving.." he managed to get out before he yawned again and pulled a blanket up to cover the both of them. He needed rest and was sure he was going to be out for hours. As long as he had Kei beside him, he didn't have to worry about anyone coming in and disrupting his rest. After tonight's scare, he was going to have to get away from his parents least he continue to use his power and truly loose himself beyond even the aid of Keisuke. He had Keisue and Eos to look after. He couldn't do that if he was insane.

"Ask it... and I... do anything...forever."

As Niall fell asleep his last statement worried Kei. What did it mean that he had to keep moving? What dangers could there be that it required that Keisuke be the one to run rather than Niall? He kept his body still for the sleeping boy as he pondered the words, it took him awhile to come to a conclusion, his mind seemingly a bit hazy. Niall had told him while in the Void that the gods were after him. He looked down at the sleeping boy, he had to keep him safe from the gods.
~~~
It was finally Spring, it had taken nearly three and a half months, and a lot of travelling south, but somehow the strange group of three had finally escaped the clutches of winter to make it to a more survivable climate. Kei had been pushing Niall to travel quickly, he had taken the lead since leaving the boy’s home village. They hardly ever stayed in a village or town for more than three days, and when they travelled Kei moved them in sporadic directions, never travelling one way for too long. He was lucky Niall had allowed him to, he knew that as time went on he was getting more and more paranoid.

He paused his steps and turned around to gauge Niall’s condition. If he had been by himself, moving would be a lot easier, but if he were by himself he wouldn’t have been running in the first place. The silver haired boy was everything to Keisuke, his condition always came first. He moved closer to his lover, offering a hand as he looked towards the sky. They hadn’t covered as much ground as he had wanted to, but he wasn’t going to push the boy any harder than he was already was. Eos was perched on the Niall’s shoulder, she seemed anxious. Her eyes didn’t focus on one area to long, and she kept swiveling her head as if looking for something.

“I was thinking of setting up camp here tonight.” He said kindly, a smile on his lips. He reached for the hem of a new turtle neck he had bought about a month ago. The fabric was sheer and thin and almost felt none existent when he kissed Niall. Kei pressed a soft kiss to the boy’s lips before examining the area more thoroughly. The ground was dry here, but he could hear water in the distance, the grass was thick, and it didn’t seem like a spot frequented by any wildlife. He leaned against a tree and looked up at the sky, the sun was just lowering to the horizon and had not yet started staining the sky the signature crimson colors of a sunset.

He looked towards Niall, taking in the boy’s soft features from the little ways he was away. Since that night in the dead of winter the relationship between him and Niall had become very physical. The poor boy’s body was constantly littered with bruises from where Keisuke had marked him, and he did feel a little bad, but the boy never complained about them. His attraction to the seer had not faltered in the slightest during their journey. There had been times when they had gotten short with each other, times when Niall wasn’t in the mood because Kei had a sex drive that wouldn’t slow down, but true to what he had said that night Kei always did what Niall requested of him no matter what it was. No matter if it was as small as, ‘help me open this’, or commanding him to do or act a certain way Keisuke always obliged without ever a question.

He walked towards the boy again, the hem of his shirt still well above his nose and he encompassed the boy in a hug from behind inhaling Niall’s scent. He hummed contently and then released him moving away a few steps, sometimes when he found himself craving Niall all he had to do was initiate contact for a moment to satiate his desires.

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Niall himself was happy. He was truly happy for the first time in his life. Sure he and Keisuke didn't have a real house to live but that didn't seem to matter. They had each other and Eos by their side and that was all they needed. Even the constant traveling had come to be rather enjoyable. He was tired but he would travel wherever Keisuke led him. He wasn't exactly sure where they were going now and he knew that Keisuke was on edge. He couldn't understand why though. He didn't remember the vision that had so frightened his lover, nor the warning that had passed his lips after their first night in each others arms. Perhaps Keisuke wanted to show him something or remembered he had to be somewhere.

Niall smiled at Eos when she clucked at him and started to nip at him affectionately. She was trying to push his hair away from his face but it wasn't going over well. He chuckled at her and pushed his hair away and grinned at the bird. He kissed her beak and she cooed, her wings fluttering behind them both. She leaned over and pressed her beak against his cheek; her version of the return kiss. She really was just the sweetest thing in the world. He was so happy he found her and Keisuke. "You angle..." he murmured and almost tripped over himself when he didn't look where he was going and got his foot caught in an upturned root. She squawked, her wings rising and fluttering to try and keep her perch. She clucked disapprovingly and tugged at his hair to scold him for not looking where he was going.

Then Keisuke was behind him and he smiled brightly, he own gloved hands pressing against Keisuke's and pleated their fingers together before the man pulled away fro him. He loved this new ease they had in their relationship. He didn't need to be scared around Keisuke and Keisuke was his steady guiding rock. He still had a lot of problems left over from his exhaustion of the Sight and his words were often jumbled or he forgot words but Keisuke accepted him. He didn't have to pretend or hide anything from him. That simple acceptance meant the world to him. No one beside Keisuke and maybe his sister had ever truly accepted him and what he was, the consequences of his abilities. "I love you," he cooed, the only words he never screwed up.

Niall just watched Keisuke for a moment before he let himself drop down with a groan. His legs were tired from all their trekking. They had never covered so much ground before and the physical strain was getting to him. He let his head fall back and closed his eyes. He loved spring the most and it was getting hot but he knew that they could never shed their layers of clothing. It was too dangerous for that so getting hot was a small sacrifice. Eos cooed, loving her two humans. She hoped down Niall's shoulder to curl up in his lab instead, her tail wrapping around herself and his lower waist in a hug. Niall pet her idly and looked up at the clear sky. Everything was so peaceful and right.

"Keisuke... where you... we... go?" he asked. "With purpose we travel..."

Kei watched the boy and the bird settle into the grass from a few paces away. He could tell Niall was fatigued and mentally scolded himself for not stopping earlier. Everything about Niall seemed right to him. His silver hair that had grown longer since they first met, his mismatched eyes, the way he smiled and blushed whenever he caught Keisuke staring at him. He supposed that was what a soul mate was though, someone that was right in every way imaginable. He almost wished the boy had an immortal body because it would mean Kei could hold Niall in his arms for centuries without having to let him go.

"Keisuke... where you... we... go?" It pained Kei that Niall had become so badly damaged from overusing his sight, even now Niall still had trouble with coherency and keeping in check with reality. He approached the boy and sat beside him, pressing their shoulders together and reaching over to run his fingers over the bird’s feathers. He let out a sigh before resting his head on Niall’s shoulder, thinking of a good answer for him. “For now, where ever the wind will take us.”

An exasperated sigh came from across the clearing that caused Keisuke to tense up and jerk his head away from Niall. “Now, now boys. I hate to break up such a… touching scene, but Mr. Thanatos, you are quite the hard man to find.”

Kei hadn’t recognized it from the sigh, but as a female voice emerged from the figure in the distance the man felt dread pool in his stomach. He repositioned himself so that his body stood as a barrier between the voice and Niall and glared at the figure across from them. Her voice was soft and melodious, but the undertone of her words held nothing but distaste and venom. How had she found him already?
“What do you want Hera, I’ve finished the job you asked of me.”

He heard the woman click her tongue with impatience and sauntered towards them with a predatory look in her eyes. The mortal body crafted for her to roam the earth was ungodly beautiful, the goddess could have any mortal man or woman she wanted with just a glance looking like that, and perhaps maybe she had. Hera had at one point been a kind goddess, but the unfaithfulness of her husband Zeus had driven her mad and she had since become a ruthless foe to any who opposed her. He noted that almost all her skin was covered though, a precaution taken for facing him.

Kei couldn’t actually kill Hera, she was immortal for a reason and he’d have to hold her true form for centuries before he would be able to make her fall, but her mortal body was a different story. Just like a human, one touch of his skin would wither the crafted vessel and Hera would be forced back to the realm of the gods. Her approached him and bent over, her forearms resting on Kei’s shoulders as she became eye level with him. “Oh Thanatos, is that even a question? I want you of course. You’re not done until I say you are.” With her being so close with the right movement he could make contact with her skin, but the weight of her arms on his shoulders was keeping Kei pinned to the ground. In irritation the man spit in her face.

“I’m done.” He watched Hera’s eyes flash in rage and in a swift movement she grabbed Keisuke’s chin between two fingers and, with a strength that shouldn’t have belonged in the body she wore, Hera yanked him to his feet. He winced under the pressure, the force applied would definitely leave nasty bruises, but did not submit to her. They held steady eye contact for over a minute before Hera’s eyes flickered down to Niall and Eos behind him, and in a panic he jerked against her hold. She immediately wore a grin that told him he had lost and Kei felt his stomach drop.

“Hmm, Thanatos, I didn’t realize you were still playing house.” He watched as Hera’s eyes roamed the pair behind him, and was pretty sure he heard a hiss from Eos. It only made the goddess’s grin grow more manic. Kei struggled against her again in a desperate act to distract her, “You’re a fucking cunt Hera.”

“Don’t you fucking tell me what I am.” The goddess hissed with venom. She jerked her arm to the right and sent his body flying until his left shoulder collided with a tree, probably dislocating it and he watched as the woman approached Niall and Eos. She ran her fingers over Niall’s cheek, hovering his purple eye for a moment before tracing her thumb under the boy’s blind eyes. “Why Thanatos, you’ve picked up quite the cute… pets.”

Kei felt his eyes widen and his heart drop and pushed himself to his feet, he knew what was about to happened and had to stop it. He charged forward, but Hera was already in action. In one swift movement her fingers dug into the socket of Niall’s blind eye and ripped it out of the socket. She examined it carefully, blood dripping down her delicate looking hand and wrist.

“All portal into the Void is quite the powerful weapon to add to my arsenal.” She popped the eyeball in her mouth and swallowed it whole as Keisuke tackled her to the ground, straddling her abdomen to keep her pinned. She grinned up at him, “I wouldn’t kill me Thanatos. My body is covered in poison, the moment my fingers touched that boy’s blood he got infected.”

“I’LL FUCKING KILL YOU” Blinded with rage he slammed his fist into her face, smashing her nose in, but he was wearing his gloves so the goddess wasn’t returned to the heavens with his touch. He could hear Eos screeching in the background, flying frantic circles around them all, but Keisuke couldn’t stop himself. He slammed his fist into the woman’s face again, and again, and again. Over and over, screaming the word die at her every time his fist made contact with her flesh.

He beat her face until the vessel was unrecognizable and she was breathing through shallow, hiccupped breaths. Still though, he could tell she wore a triumphant smile and she choked out one last sentence as he peeled his glove off. “You can’t save him, and you’ll come crawling back to us when you’re done deluding yourself with your silly game of domesticity.”

He hit her one last time with his bare hand, feeling the body go slack beneath him before he raced to Niall’s side. Eos had healed the boy’s eye, though it seemed that the Void eye did not regenerate, and only the bleeding and damage was fixed, a gaping hole remained where the eye once was.

“Niall,” He started, his voice strained with despair. “I couldn’t protect you, I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry.” He pulled the boy into a hug, his body shaking as he tried to suppress his tears. He could only hope that Eos’s magic could reverse the poison that Hera’s vessel wore.

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Niall heard a strange woman's voice and frowned. He didn't recognize that voice. Was he hallucinating again? Had he gone he gone into the Void again? He sat up a little and looked over at his lover but saw that he to was staring ahead at something. Oh. Maybe he wasn't hallucinating after all. He turned his gaze to where Keisuke was staring and his eyes widened. The woman before them was rather attractive. Where had she come from? There was something off about her but he couldn't quite place it. She didn't carry anything either so she couldn't be a normal traveler. Or maybe she was. Keisuke didn't have any baggage or anything when he met him after all. Was she like him? But then... why did she call Keisuke Thanatos? Keisuke called her Hera. Was this really Hera, the mother goddess?

Keisuke and this Hera person talked but Niall found himself confused. What was really happening here? She draped herself around Keisuke and it instantly made him angry and jealous but he found he was stuck to the spot. Why couldn't he move? Why did his heart beat so fast? She and Keisuke began a staring contest and he frowned, unsure of what he should do. it was obvious that Keisuke wasn't comfortable with this situation. He needed to do something about his lover's plight. Then Hera looked at him and Niall stiffened. He didn't like that gaze centered on him. It was hard to breathe. In just a moment, the woman had shoved Keisuke to the side like he was a rag doll and approached him. He gasped and tried to lean back but then she covered his eye to leave his blind eye exposed. What was she doing? He heard Eos hissing and fluttering in his arms but he didn't see Hera's fingers coming towards his eye until it was too late.

Niall screamed in surprised pain as the woman ripped out his eye. As soon as she let him go, Niall curled forward, his hands flying to his eye as it oozed with blood. Tears spilled from his good eye as he tried to apply pressure to his injury but he couldn't think clearly it hurt so much. He heard Eos screeching and she was clawing at his arm and tugging at his clothes with her beak, trying to get him too expose his injury to her but for the moment, he couldn't. He tried to throw her off while he tried to gain some composure but eventually she got what she wanted and managed to drop two cool tears into his empty eye socket. Niall panted and heaved as his eye healed and the ache receded. He took off his gloves and very gingerly touched his eye. His eye had not grown back and his problems were only beginning.

Keisuke pulled him into his arms then and Niall clung to the man's shirt. He wasn't feeling good. He groaned and curled up tighter. His body was beginning to burn and he was dizzy. A fever was quickly rising in his body and his shaking was the result of the poison that now coursed through his veins. He opened his eye and looked up at his crying lover. He didn't want him to cry. Tears had no place on his lover's face. "Don't... don't... cry..." he answered. Eos was cooing for him as she scrambled up to his face again and dropped another tear on his eye socket and then one in his open mouth hoping to stop poison and heal her boy. Unfortunately, this was not something she could heal.

He was a hypocrite. He told Keisuke not to cry and yet.. he had a tear rolling down his own face. Surprisingly, he wasn't afraid of death. That weight was pulling him down but he didn't fear it. He just looked up at the man he loved. His lips pulled into a smile before he started to cough, the poison circulating through him and making that much harder to breathe. He wheezed but he didn't wipe the smile off his face. "Your...name... not... your... Thanatos then..." he called softly. "Ego booster... I made... I made God of Death fall.... fall in l-love" he tried to chuckle but started to cough instead, blood leaking from the corner of his mouth.

Niall felt the dark sleep pull him just like the tendrils of his Sight had back when Keisuke had saved him only this time, he couldn't be saved. his eye was growing half-lidded as he fought to keep his consciousness. He wanted to keep looking up at his beautiful Thanatos for a little longer. "I... l-love you, T-Thanatos... he whispered. "'tis not... not.. g-good bye.. I...mmnn..." No, not yet! He had a little more to say. He had to stay awake just a little longer. "see you.... other side..." he was dying after all. Thanatos would be there with him, wouldn't he? If his soul was going to the underworld than he could still be with Thanatos in his home world. At least that is what he hoped. "K-k... kiss m-me...." he begged. He was dying as it was. He wanted to at least feel his lips once. He wasn't sure if he'd make it though, his vision was blurry and he could hardly make the man out. His body began going limp, breath labored.

"Don't... don't... cry..." despite Niall’s urging the man couldn’t hold back. The tears didn’t stop, running from his eyes and down the bridge of his nose as they dropped onto Niall’s bloodied face. This wasn’t fair, this wasn’t supposed to happen, this wasn’t Niall’s end. He pulled the boy closer to him as he sobbed, hoarse and whispered ‘no s’ being whimpered as he cried, unable to control himself. His whole body shook, his gasping breaths turning wet and mucus filled when he couldn’t calm down. This wasn’t fair, it wasn’t right. Hera had killed outside of the destined end; she had gone against the natural flow when it wasn’t her business too. Surely she would pay.

"Ego booster... I made... I made God of Death fall.... fall in l-love" He tried to laugh, tried to bring up his mood to respond to the boy, but it fell flat. All Kei managed was a halfhearted shaky smile that crumpled into more tears mere moments later. With his head bowed all Keisuke could think was it wasn’t fair. “Niall you can’t leave me alone. I can’t be alone again, I need you. Re-remember when we thought I was dying? A-and you told me to stay w-with you? Now it’s my turn.”

“You have to stay with me, I’m begging you. This can’t be your end, you and I were supposed to have a long and happy life. I’ll protect you better next time, I’ll save you, I’ll be the hero, so don’t abandon me Niall. I can’t be without you.” He knew what he was asking was unfair. He knew that nothing was going to change, He knew that saying these things might only make Niall feel worse, but he couldn’t stop. He was so desperate to keep the boy with him. It was the only thing he wanted, it was the only thing he would ever ask for in the rest of his eternal life.

“I love you too.” He whispered in his hiccupped breathes, “I love you, I love you, I love you , I love you.” Why did this happen? He watched as the boy struggled to hold on to reality. He watched him suffer with each breath he took. He watched him strain against the pain yet still smile. Kei’s entire face stung with tears, and he leaned down to the boy’s lips, his own quivering uncontrollably, and pressed a kiss to them.

Kei watched him die.

He felt Niall go limp in his arms, felt his pulse fade, felt him go cold. He broke. He cradled Niall’s body in his arms and screamed, screamed until his voice was gone and all he could do was continue the motion as he tore apart his vocal chords. Eos curled up on the boy’s chest and didn’t move and Kei had to stand up and walk away. He paced the ground, punched the ground until his hands broke, cried until there was nothing left to come out. The nothing that was left was replaced with anger.

He felt it well up in his chest, and briefly noted that Eos had flown away. His chest heaved as he breathed heavily until the point where he was hyperventilating, and with a voiceless wail he hit the ground with his fist. The ground boomed beneath him, as if an explosion had gone off, and everything around him died, wilted, and withered. And he had felt it, everything within a mile radius of the man had ceased living.

He heard the flap of wings as Eos returned to him, landing beside the man in silence. He was getting Niall back. In the shock wave he had felt a door and Kei took off running without another thought, get to the door, get to Niall. Get to the door, get to Niall. Get to the door, get to Niall. Get to the door, get to Niall. Get to the door, get to Niall. Get to the door, get to Niall. Get to the door, get to Niall. Get to the door, get to Niall. Get to the door, get to Niall. Get to the door, get to Niall. Get to the door, get to Niall. Get to the door, get to Niall. Get to the door, get to Niall.

Eos was beside him as he ran, he ran for two hours as fast as he could without stopping, he didn’t slow as he reached the door either, he crashed through it, his mortal vessel ripping away and leaving his true form standing at the edge of the River Styx. Eos was right behind him, she was technically an immortal being, and that alone would grant her free passage on the ferry to the underworld.

He looked down at himself, flexing his fingers and observing his pale arms. It had been so long since he had assumed his true form he had forgotten what it had looked like, what being a god truly felt like. His hair was dark, long and wavy, reaching just above his waist. It was messy and wild, yet beautiful all the same. A crown of thrones sat atop his head, keeping his hair in place. He was wearing a black robe, though it exposed his entire chest, that was adorned with teal accents running along the edges, and when he looked into the water his bone structure was even different from Keisuke’s.

It features were sharper, thinner, his nose straighter, but his eyes remained black and lifeless like those of a dead fish. Eos chirped at him and he looked up to see a ferry waiting. Being Thantos, he was allowed to travel the river without paying fare, something not even the great and mighty Hera could do, and boarded with ease. Phlegyas stood at the end of the ferry, oar in hand, and bowed to Kei. “Welcome back, Master Thanatos.”

Thantos’s silence had the ferryman raising an eyebrow, but one look at the god’s features had any questions caught in his throat. Phlegyas had known Thanatos to be the kindest of the permanent underworld gods, he was never brutal and despite his sad fate to kill when he did not wish it Thanatos was never cruel to anyone. But looking at him now, Phlegyas thought that for the first time Thanatos’s eyes matched his expression, dead.

Kei stood the moment the boat reached the shore of the underworld. He didn’t so much as spare Phlegyas a glance as he walked up to Hades’s castle. He didn’t acknowledge anyone, his eyes set on his goal, his expression tight and unwavering. He stormed into the castle, not caring for those that saw him. Time in the underworld moved differently for sentenced souls. While he was on the surface for five hours after Niall’s death, for the boy’s soul that may have felt like fifty or more years.

”Where is Hades?” He yelled, his voice thundered off the empty stone walls.

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Niall felt his lover's lips on his own and the soft warmth filled him and eased all of his fears. The moment was brief; his lover's touch stealing away the light faster than the poison and it was not something he could fight. He gave one last shuddered breath as his soul left his body. His body immediately went limp and his head fell back without any support left in him. His heart had finally given out and his newly freed soul hovered just a moment before a door materialized beside him. It was a portal that could only be accessed by the souls of the dead and Niall's little orb of light was drawn to it, a moth to its new cage. If his soul stayed in the living realm, it could very will disintegrate into nothing or get stuck, forcing him to forever wander lost, never truly 'here' or 'there' just like the Void. It would not be a pleasant experience he was sure. At the door, the ball of light formed Niall's image again though devoid of all color, and he glanced back at the scene he was departing. His heart ached, watching his lover keen over his body. "Good bye, my love. I'll see you in the Underworld..."

The dark tendrils of the land of the dead beckoned him however and he could not refuse the call anymore. He slid through the portal and it immediately vanished behind him, locking him away from the land of the living. Cold. Everything was cold. Niall hugged himself as he looked around. There was a desolate wasteland behind him with nowhere to go and he had a feeling that no matter what direction he began walking, he'd reach this exact spot over and over again. He would just go in circles for eternity. In front of him, the river Styx awaited. The water was murky, oily almost and a chilled fog rose from its depths.Then there was a candle light that beckoned him and he walked through the fog towards it until he reached a boat and the ferryman. So all of this really was true. He would go to the Underworld by boat led by a ferryman. He wondered what else was true or false about the stories he had heard.

The hooded figure extended his hand then. "Coin for the ferryman, Boy."[/color]

Niall's eyes widened. He did have to pay to get across? "But I don't have anything-"

[b]"Pay your price, Boy. I'll leave your soul for Cerberus if you don't pay." The man beckoned with his hand again and Niall swallowed hard.

Niall shoved his hands into his pockets then, frantic to find money. Thankfully, he had a bag of money on him when he had died and he did have silver to offer. He gave a sigh of relief as he paid the two silver pieces. The ferryman quickly pocketed the money and moved aside to let Niall into the ferry. Niall stepped into the boat and sat down. He watched a bit awe struck as they glided over the murky river around them. He peered into the water now that he was closer and saw that the river was actually green. Beneath its surface lay souls of the dead, face portraying fear for the rest of their eternity. Niall gasped and pulled away from the water. The ferryman chuckled. "The souls of those that don't pay," he grinned. Niall swallowed hard and avoided looking down even when the pale slimy hands reached for the boat in desperation.

"Boy, if you have anything to say, say it now. Once we pass the Gates, you will loose the ability to speak. Souls have no need for voices in the land of the dead.

Niall didn't know what to say. He raised a hand to his lips. He'd never speak again? That was heartbreaking. "Does Thanatos come here?

The man couldn't help but laugh at the boy in his boat. "Does Thanatos come here, he asks. What a silly question. Death is always around us. This is the realm of Thanatos. But aye, he comes. He hastens even now." he answered.

Niall smiled. So he would see Thanatos again. He glanced back to see movement in the shadows, 6 glowing eyes watching him. There was a rumbling growl as the Cerberus came into view, its large three heads towering over the boat. One head watched him while the other two kept their gazes pinned at the door. Niall shuddered as the large head came down to inhale his scent. He tensed when the dog snorted, releasing the stench of decay from its maw. If he had a stomach, Niall would have thrown up. Or maybe pissed his pants. He was sure the dog would have chomped him in seconds. It wasn't much longer before the ferry stopped at the doc and the ferryman motioned for him to get off the boat. Niall hurried onto the shore and glanced back at the ferryman but he was already moving away. Niall swallowed hard approached the looming black gate in front of him. He took a deep breath then. "Here goes..." he murmured and pushed the gate open.

The gates led to a obsidian marbled pathway. Candles of blue flame wavered on the sides of the hall and he realized he was actually in a castle hallway. A subtle push from behind had Niall striding forward to the door at the end of the hall. Upon entering it, Niall was welcomed to a feast hall where other souls, pale and grotesque from their various deaths, were wandering about, busy with different tasks. None of them looked up at him and it was silent in the room, save for the crackling of the fire. Beyond the dinning table sat a man clad in black. His features were as pale as the rest of the people here but he did not look sickly or even dead. His perfect marble features were stunning as the man wore a grin on his inviting lips. Hades sported long silky strands the color of raven wings and his eyes matched those of Thanatos, empty though his expression was not. The man wore a crown of bones on his head and his presence was suffocating.

In a blink, Hades was before him, circling, observing, a vulture eyeing its prey. "So... you are the mortal that so enraptured Thanatos to make him shun his duties," he purred, smooth as honey and just as intoxicating. "I almost want to hear your voice. At least Hera left you mostly unscathed for me save for the loss of your Sight. No matter." Hades stood before Niall again and gripped his chin to force his gaze upward. "I will have my uses for you. A mortal that reaches too high must pay for the error of his ways," he grinned, eyes flashing with glee. "It will teach my wayward son to defy his betters. You'll be my personal servant. That way he'll have the pleasure of seeing you by my side."

Instantly, shackles appeared on Niall's throat, wrists, and ankles. The chains that dangled seemed to vanish from sight but Niall could feel them tugging his soul forward as Hades moved back to his throne, unable to defy him in any way.


Hades was sitting on his throne, watching as Niall poured the spiced wine into his outstretched goblet. He had to admit that he could see the physical allure the boy had but he didn't think he was worth the trouble Thanatos had placed on himself over him. Mortal life was fleeting anyway. Maybe there was something about the boy when he was thriving and full of life. Ah well. If Thanatos had continued his tasks without question, he would have been able to have this boy when he died. He sipped at his wine and waved the boy away and Niall sat down on the floor beside the throne, staring absently at the floor in front of him. He was used to his life down here now and knew better than to resist. The last time he tried, Hades had chained him above the Pit of Woe, threatening to let his soul drown in the most despairing memory of his life. He shuddered at the thought.

When Hades heard his son, he grinned. He had been expecting his arrival. He had gotten to the door a little faster than he thought. Hades raised a hand and the gates flew open, inviting Thanatos back home. And oh, there was another with him. The fire in the bird's life alerting him immediately to what his son was bringing with him from the outside world. Hades moved a black clawed finger to Niall in a 'come' gesture then. Niall immediately stood. The voice was not one he recognized since it was different than the one he was used to with Keisuke so he just grabbed the goblet from Hade's hand and set it down in its place.

"Thanatos! So nice of you to join us. It has been such a long time since you've graced these halls with your physical presence. How has the mortal realm been treating you?" he asked with a smile.

Niall looked up then and saw Thanatos stride into the hall and his eye widened. This is what Thanatos really looked like? He was intimidating but so beautiful. He wanted to run to him, hug him, kiss him, and simply feel that closeness they once shared. The bounds on his soul burned then and he winced. Hades tsked at him. "Young souls are still so ruled by the body they so recently vacated. You don't have a body anymore, Niall,"[/color] he chided. [b]"Those things are bared for you." He pulled the boy's chin up so Niall was looking at him and not Thanatos. "You belong to me now, Niall.

Kei felt his entire body stiffen as he entered the great hall. Hades, his father, sat at the end of an excessively long dining table made of the same marble as the floor. The god’s eyes bypassed Hade though, something more significant held his attention. Niall’s soul, shackled and bound, serving his father as if he were a dog. His eyes flickered to his father as the god began speaking. He attempted to keep his composure; he knew Hades was all about deal making, he could bargain the boy’s soul free. He ignored his father’s question and chose to instead push his own agenda.

“I’m here to strike a deal with you.” He didn’t miss, however; how Niall reacted when Hades spoke his true name. It pained him that the boy had not immediately recognized him, but he knew it was understandable. His true form resembled nothing of Keisuke save for the eyes, but he had always been told he possessed his father’s eyes so they were not a give away to his identity. He longed horridly for Niall, he had no idea how long Niall had experienced being a slave to Hades down here, but all of Kei’s wounds were still fresh. Niall’s death still at the forefront of his every waking thought. So when Hades grabbed the boy by the chin to advert his gaze, Keisuke couldn’t control himself as he snapped.

It had been so long since he had been in his godly form that the speed he had used to close the distance between himself and Hades had surprised Kei. His father hadn’t even finished his sentence and Keisuke caught the tail end of it. “-long to me now, Niall.” It sent unbridled rage through his veins, and without any hesitation Kei slammed Hades’ head down into the marble table. There was a sickening bomb that echoed throughout the castle, the entire table split down the middle and broke in half, but Kei knew that the violent attack hadn’t even scathed Hades. Still, he didn’t let himself waver as he lifted his hand away from the god’s head.

“You put one more god damn finger on that boy and I will tear you apart and feed you too that hound you fucking wannabe Olympian.” His voice was stiff and cold, merciless, as he stared down at his father. He wondered if the god would be proud of him, Hades had constantly belittled him for being too soft and a push over, maybe he was finally acting as the son the god had always wanted. He raised his eyes slowly to look at Niall, and when he met the boy’s one eye he felt his expression soften. Even though his soul was bound and shackled to Hades, at least he was safe from worse fates of the underworld.

“Niall…” He whispered the boy’s name with the utmost tenderness and affection. The god reached out to the boy, wanting to trace his fingers along Niall’s cheek, and Eos remained perched on his shoulder. She had been taking in their surroundings the entire time since entering the underworld, probably in an attempt to comprehend where they were. It was probably every overwhelming for the young phoenix.

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Hades was honestly surprised when his son had grabbed him and slammed his head through the table. His son had always been a meek half-ling, easily pushed around on a whim. He had no spine towards him or any of the other gods. To see him acting violet and trying to force his will was exciting. Hades couldn't help the dark laugh that bubbled its way out of his mouth. He straightened himself, excitement in his cold eyes. The god of the underworld looked unscathed, save for his now tousled hair and the crooked crown of bones atop his head. He reached up with his long elegant fingers to the crown and adjusted its position as he turned to look at his son and the way he ran to Niall's soul. It was touching. It was pathetic. He did have to had it to the mortal though; if this is the demi-god the boy produced out of his son, he had to applaud him. If anything, he had given the boy a reason to stand up for his own desires. He completely ignored his son's threats, unafraid and unperturbed. Thanatos couldn't kill him or even go through with his threat.

Hades snapped his fingers and Niall's soul vanished from Thanatos's grasp. "Thanatos! How rude you are. First time home in ages and that is the greeting you give me? Come, sit down at the table you so wonderfully shattered and enjoy a feast." Hades waved his hands and a variety of delectable tid-bits appeared on the fixed table. Though the food itself appeared to resemble mortal delicacies, the food on display seemed... off. The color was dimmed here just like everything else. this was the food of the dead, not of the living after all. Hades plucked a faded purple grape off the vine and popped it into his mouth. "Your mother has already gone back to the land of the living, Thanatos. You just missed her. I am sure she would have been happy to greet you as well."

The god couldn't help but grin at his son. "This form suits you much better, Thanatos. Why would you ever dine to live among the mortals? Their life is fleeting and as you see, you can have them for eternity down here. True, the souls don't have a physical form, but they are solid enough to entertain your desires. You could have had the boy here all you wanted. Why you played mortal above is beyond me." Hades sat down in his throne again and tapped his lips with a black claw. He could have sympathy for the boy. After all, he to had fallen in love with a mortal but he had not given up his duties for her sake. He had dragged her down to his realm and he would have had her completely if not for Zeus's intervention that forced Persephone from his side during the spring and summer.

"You mentioned something about a deal?" he questioned then. Hades did love deals. He usually won after all and the outcome was always in his favor. This was the first time Thanatos had tried to make a deal with him, knowing full well that Hades always did his utmost to ensure he won. It truly was intriguing. "I can only assume it is for the sake of the boy. Why do you wish to save him so much, Thanatos? He is just one mortal. His soul has been here 76 years now, you know. The body itself is only a few hours old, but the time is ticking," he hinted.