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kitkatpadywaks · 2 years ago

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Revenge As Sweet As Her

Part 8 of La Mechancete De La Vie.

Warnings: Revenge. She Talks With Calliope. It Bothers Life. Dream Asks About It And She Gives Him A Choice. Angst.

Word Count: 2.4k

A/N: I started this chapter with no intention of making it angsty, but I've been extra depressed these last few days (I'm writing this Tuesday), so here we are. The next chapter shouldn't be as much of a downer.

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Life is very aware she's been procrastinating.

Her power has long since restored itself, and she has a plan, yet, she hesitates to leave The Dreaming to fulfil it. She knew she was tired. More tired than she had ever been, but she was free. And that, she feels, made it worth it.

Life sighs, catching the attention of Dream, who sits beside her on their room's balcony.

"What ails you, my love?"

"Revenge."

Her deadpan answer makes Dream shakes his head in amusement, "Then, perhaps, you should forget about your revenge."

"No," Life turns her head to frown at Dream, "To stop now would allow Janus and any of the others who seek to sabotage me to get away with their back-stabbing ways."

"I understand you can't allow that." Dream grabs her hand, "I only wish you would stay here with me, so I wouldn't have to miss you."

"I don't want to miss you either. Which is why I've been putting off leaving." Life sighs again and leans over to quickly kiss Dream, then pulls back, "But I can't keep putting it off- otherwise, certain beings might start getting ideas."

Dream nods, becoming sad as he watches her stand, "How long will you be gone?"

"Not long, hopefully. I don't intend to linger."

Life leaves the Dreaming, finding herself, once again, on the beaches of Greece, following the string of the God that made himself her enemy. She glares at the hunched-over figure of Janus, the glare intensifying when she notices more Gods materializing, attempting to stay hidden behind the rocks. She walks closer to Janus, stopping out of arms reach of the Roman God. "Janus."

"Life." He croaks, continuing to stare at the sea.

"Are your friends here to ambush me or witness your punishment?"

Janus gulps, the air crackling with her power, "Witness. They've been eagerly waiting for this day."

Life raises an eyebrow, humming in response. She turns to face where the Gods are hiding, "Either show yourselves or leave!"

There's some startled muttering before they start to disappear from the beach, the remaining Gods walking out from behind the rocks, their faces emotionless but their strings screaming with fear.

She eyes the Gods as they all stand a significant distance away from her and each other, understanding Izanagi, Osiris, Freyr, Wakan Tanka, and Daga's reasons for sticking around- as it seems Life is not the only one who wants revenge. Her eyes linger as there's more movement behind the rest of the Gods, seeing the appearance of Aphrodite and Calliope.

Interesting.

Aphrodite waves happily at her, Life watching in amusement as the rest of the Gods eye the Goddess strangely, previously unaware of Aphrodite's fondness for Life, being the only one who sees her authentic form, whereas everyone else sees the one they desire the most.

Life tilts her head as the Goddess's physical appearance ripples, briefly changing into a man with messy black hair and eyes that quickly switch between blue and silver. Aphrodite looks at Life with confusion, noticing the change, before the Goddess perks excitedly, understanding someone has captured Life's heart for the first time in the entirety of the existence of the universe.

She turns her head away from Aphrodite before she can say anything and looks closer at Planes, Ra, and Zeus's strings, finding the Greek God and Titan's pleasure at Janus's imminent demise, the Greek and Roman Gods still feuding to this day, and Ra's curiosity at what she's to do, the Eygptian God making a point to stand between Planes and Zeus, the animosity between the Greek powerhouses evident even if Life wasn't to have her powers. "Can't say I expected an audience."

Janus whimpers as she steps closer, her powers swelling and pulling at the Void where her prison lies. She feels it click, a door opening. The world reacts, red lightning crackling across the sky, and torrential winds knock against the immortal beings. Janus's head finally turns towards her before he vanishes from the beach, and the Void closes behind him. Life reaches inside herself, viewing the Void and smirking when she senses Janus inside the prison, panicking, much like she did when she was first trapped.

She ignores the Gods as they look between her and each other, disappointed at the lack of flair and confusion about where Janus went. Calliope stares at her, unbothered, clearly not on the beach for Janus.

"Where is he?" Zeus asks.

"Where he belongs." Life chuckles under her breath when she sees the Gods shiver. Her face shifts into a glare. "Spread the word: should anyone go against me, they will suffer the same fate. You can all leave now."

They do as she says, leaving Aphrodite and Calliope.

Aphrodite is the first to approach her, an excited bounce in her step, "Hello, darling! It's so good to see you!"

"Hello, Aphrodite." Life says, the corner of her lips twitching up in amusement. She keeps an eye on Calliope- the Muse patiently waiting for their interaction to cease.

"You know, it doesn't bother me that you don't see me anymore," Aphrodite smiles up at Life, "I just want you to tell me who you see! Who captured your heart!?"

Life's hands grab Aphrodite's wrists as the Goddess attempts to cup her face in her excitement, Life's eyes taking on a white glow in warning, "It's none of your concern who captured my heart. And I do still see you."

Aphrodite smiles sheepishly, fear flowing through her veins- but a twinkle of happiness in her eyes from Life still seeing her. "My apologies, Life."

Life lets go of Aphrodite's wrists, the Goddes clasping her hands behind her back as she steps away from Life, briefly bowing before leaving the beach, leaving only Life and Calliope.

The Muse steps forward.

Well, aren't I popular today? Life suppresses a sigh and smiles politely at her lover's ex-wife, "Calliope. We haven't met, but I see you already know who I am."

"My ex-husband's new lover."

Life hums, not bothering to reply.

Calliope shifts on the spot, Life's silence getting to her, "Oneiros couldn't hide his newfound affection even if he tried."

"But he didn't?" Life raises an eyebrow at her.

"He was honest when I asked."

Life's eyes flicker to Calliope's string, moving back to look the Muse in the eye, "You didn't come here to talk about Dream."

"No, I..."

"I can't do what you want."

Life's interruption makes Calliope frown, "You are the most powerful being in existence- and you expect me to believe you can't do it? My son may live a half-life, but he still lives. That is your power- everything in Life, is it not?"

"I cannot change Orpheus's predicament, Calliope. If you had come to me before the events transpired as they did, I could have influenced the event as it came to pass, but I cannot change the way or the condition of beings and people that live in their existence."

I'm not being entirely untruthful. Life thinks as she stares blankly at Calliope as the Muse starts shouting at her.

I don't think I'm supposed to like this.

Life tilts her head at Calliope, suddenly becoming aware of her attraction for the Muse, similar but different to the attraction she feels for Dream.

"... I think you can. I think you just won't." Calliope states, her chest heaving from all the shouting.

Life snaps out of her thoughts, sifting through Calliope's string to see what she was shouting about. Life narrows her eyes when she sees a lot of talk about jealousy and her harsh thoughts on Life's 'inability'. Her temper flares- and Life chooses to reply carefully. "He's your son, so I understand you're upset, but that's not how I work."

Calliope feels Life's power flare but swallows her fear, "Then change how you work."

She stares at Calliope as she walks away. Life's already changing purpose is being questioned by someone who knows nothing about her or her powers. Life scoffs, annoyed and confused at the guilt of lying to Calliope and, by extension, Dream, knowing full well she could help Orpheus- but choosing not to so her plans can go as she needs them to.

I'll make it up to them after.

Life leaves the beach, appearing in her and Dream's shared chambers and flopping down on the bed, staring at the room's ceiling. The Dream Lord enters soon after, having sensed her come back.

Dream pauses by the bed, "I would be right to assume Janus is taken care of?" He sits next to where she's lying.

Life nods, forcing herself out of her thoughts, "He's rotting away within the prison he helped put me in."

Dream's somehow not surprised that's what she had planned for the Roman God, "I can't say why, but I would have thought my siblings and the Kindly Ones destroyed it after they learnt of your escape." He analyses his lover, wondering what else is so clearly bothering her.

"Oh, they did. But I got the inner workings and the process of making it from Destiny's string when I visited him. And then I remade it after gaining enough power." She smiles up at Dream as he looks at her in mild surprise.

"From what I understand, that's a rather difficult process."

Life smirks smugly, "For anyone else, yes, it is. But for me. Well, I'm infinite, my love. There's nothing I can't do, given the time." The sudden weight of what she just said weighs on her, making her feel guilty about Calliope again.

Dream chuckles, "And you think I'm arrogant."

"It's not arrogance if it's true."

"I suppose not." Dream smiles warmly at Life, who sees his string overflowing with affection- for her. The guilt deepens. "How long will you keep Janus imprisoned?"

"Honestly? I don't know. Time works differently in the Void than it does in this reality." She purses her lips, "At least, it did for me. We'll have to see how it is between my time and Janus's."

"Different, how?"

"I was trapped there for over five centuries, but it didn't feel like it. My time imprisoned with you felt longer, I felt the years pass by slowly, but in the Void, maybe because I was alone, I put myself on standby while my powers worked to free me." Life frowns as she remembers, her voice becoming airy, "It went by so fast. One minute I was in the mortal world; the next, I was in the Void, and then I was in some human's basement. It felt like mere moments had passed. And yet, it was centuries. It was the most disorientating thing- I didn't know how much time had passed, but my diminished powers quickly let me know. Can you imagine? Five hundred years straight of actively using your powers. Exhausting."

Dream leans over and presses his lips against her forehead, silently offering her comfort, which she accepts, pulling him down next to her, her body relaxing against him as her arms wrap tight around his waist.

"You want to know what I hated most?" She whispers into his neck.

"What?"

"I forgot what the sun felt like. I forgot warmth and what it was like to feel comforted by the night and its endless stars." She looks into Dream's eyes, "You helped me remember."

He smiles softly, flattered, "I can't say I have ever had anyone describe me as warm."

Life chuckles, "First time for everything."

"I suppose there is." Dream adjusts the both of them so she's looking at him, "What else is on your mind?"

Life sighs, sitting up, knowing he caught onto her less than-pleased mood, "A lot of Gods came to witness Janus's punishment... including Calliope."

"What happened?" Dream slowly sits up with her, not knowing what to think.

"She was quite mad at me." Life mutters, sensing Dream's unsaid questions. She turns to face him, "Do you want me to be completely honest with you, or do you want to have a clear mind and continue developing our relationship?"

Dream frowns, not liking the sound of what she just said, "I want you to be honest with me."

"Okay. Calliope wants me to help Orpheus and return him to his former self."

Dream looks at her, shocked, his head spinning with questions and emotions he can't decipher. "Can you?"

Life stares at him, not wanting to confirm. She does so anyway. "Yes... But I won't."

"Why?" Dream frowns at her, pushing down his flaring temper.

"You heard what I said to Matthew, how I see everything." She pauses, waiting for him to confirm before continuing, "There is a certain way I need things to go and to extend my help now would disrupt everything,"

It clicks in Dream's mind, and thunder rumbles across the Dreaming in response. "You won't help my son because of this event you can't tell me about!"

Life doesn't stop him from standing from the bed, "I know, and I'm sorry. But there will come a time, one day, when you will see what I'm doing. I promise you- it will all make sense."

Dream looks at her in disbelief, "Do you think your revenge is more important than my son?"

"That isn't what this is. I'm protecting all of you! You, Orpheus and Calliope!" Life feels even that is too much information.

Dream stares at her, seeing her panic, desperation, and honesty. He shakes his head, conflicted. "I believe you, but..."

Life's eyes tear up, "I understand. He's your son."

He sighs, their relationship's quick downfall disappointing and heartbreaking for him, "I'll stay in another room."

"No." Life shakes her head, hating this will force her to get on with her plans, having previously been using her powers to push the events back, "I won't stay in the Dreaming."

"Where will you go?" Dream can't help but ask, knowing he can't change her mind about staying, though the Dream Lord is still concerned for her, despite his inability to get past her dismissal of his son's suffering in favour of her plans.

"Where I need to be."

Life hesitates but goes with what she wants to do, kissing Dream on the cheek before backing away and fading from The Dreaming, leaving a heartbroken Dream Lord.

She takes a deep breath, looking around at the darkness surrounding her, her heart heavy and burdened. Another deep breath filters through her unneeded lungs, her power swelling for the second time that day. Her powers explode from her body, making the corners of her lips turn up slightly as she watches the darkness conform to her wishes.

The Void is mine now.

Thanks for reading.

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