#Thenameshweek2022

[softquietsteadylove]

08 - Reunion

"Gilgamesh?"

Who was this clown? Gil blinked his eyes a few times, hard, as he took in the room around him. He had never seen it before, but it was also deeply familiar to him. "Uh, who're you?"

"A friend," the man smiled at him, although it was a little too smooth around the edges for Gil's comfort. He must've detected Gil's mistrust, as he floated back down to the floor and took on a more real looking smile. "My name is Eros. And I am here to bring you back to someone you'll be far happier to see."

Eros--what a name. Gil sighed as he stepped out of the pod or chamber or whatever it was. He looked down at himself, clad in green and brown armour as if he were here for a fight. He could have sworn he last remembered wearing something else. But there was a distinct gap in his memory, as well as a pounding in his skull.

"I know you have questions," Eros frowned, "but I'm afraid we just don't have time. Thena needs you."

The name hit Gil like he was being pulled through space at the speed of light. He felt elated and nauseated and terrified and excited all at once. "Who?"

"Come with me," Eros nodded his head and started hovering along again. His head looked in all directions rapidly. So, this was not just a friendly excursion.

Gil looked around as well as he walked. The place was massive, terrifyingly so. Its inner machinations were amazing, but also filled him with a feeling of dread. The gears and wheels and pathways large enough to hold an army looked small in relation to the space as a whole. The World Forge, his mind supplied.

"This way."

He didn't know who this 'Eros' guy was, but he didn't like him. And Gil didn't think of himself as a particularly antisocial person. But something about this guy just made him want to take two steps back. And they'd just met.

Thena.

It sounded strange of that guy's lips. But the name by itself in Gil's head was like a clear ringing bell, beautiful and bright. His mind had half conjured images, like a dream he was forgetting more and more by the second. But he knew that she was real, this ghostly vision of white in his mind's eye.

Thena needs you, Eros had said. Gil's fists took on a glow. He let his Cosmic Energy flow through him as naturally as he breathed. That much he still understood clearly. But he felt a kind of urgency as the words rang in his head. "Can you go a little faster, or what?"

Eros just chuckled, not turning back to him as he led them. "They were right."

Who the hell was he talking about? Gil rolled his eyes. His attitude on this guy was not exactly improving. They rounded a corner and Gil heard the scraping of metal against something semi-solid. His ears popped and he felt the air pressure around him shift. It was other Eternals--it was the concentration of Cosmic Energy shifting.

Thena.

Gil pushed past Eros and broke into a run. He couldn't say what was making him do it. He didn't even know what was motivating him with each step he took. But he knew that wherever he was going, he had to get there. And it had to be faster than Eros was going.

She was amazing. She was a streak of white amidst the chaos, jumping and flipping, swinging and slashing. Her hair flew around her in a mane of blonde, as pale and shining as the rest of her. Breezy white fabric billowed around her as she landed, her hands holding twin blades of golden energy, sharpened to a deadly point.

Warrior Eternal, Gil's mind answered his unspoken questions. Thena, he thought more consciously. He knew that was her. And he was already running forward as the security she'd been fighting fell to pieces from her strikes. He met her eyes.

She watched him carefully. Her face was placid, but he could read a whole plethora of things in her eyes. They were stunning jewels of green, expressing everything the rest of her held secret.

Gil took another step forward, although Eros pushed past him, knocking shoulders on his way. "Hey."

Eros ignored him, walking right over to Thena and leaning his head close to her to speak.

Gil's gut twisted at the sight. Why, he didn't know; not important.

"No," she answered his sharply, all but sending him on his way. His eyes drifted back to Gilgamesh for a second before continuing on. Thena's eyes travelled over Gil, making his hair stand on end.

Gil inhaled and held it. But he let his energy drain out of his fists. She accepted the gesture of good will and followed suit. They each took a few steps forward in the smouldering remains of the corridor. She only got more beautiful the closer he got. "Uh...hi."

"Hey."

Something was so, so familiar about that little greeting. He remembered last he'd heard it, looking up at her bent over him. She'd had tears in her eyes. He didn't want her to cry.

I'll remember, she'd promised him. And clearly she had. She was here. She was here for him.

Thena blinked as Gil shot forward, pulling her against him. It was only a second of wondering what she would do in response to his impulse. She melted against him, her head under his chin, buried against his neck. Her hands gripped him tight. "Gil."

"I'm here," he promised her. He pulled away to look at her, tucking some of her hair back. She looked just like she did in his memories, more of which were coming back to him by the second. She had been by his side for hundreds--thousands of years. They had stayed together through everything. He'd shared a life with this woman. They'd shared more lifetimes than most got to have.

Maybe she didn't look the same. Maybe she was even more beautiful than he remembered.

Thena sighed as their foreheads collided softly. She moved the metal insignia at her forehead, savouring the sensation of her skin against his. She raised her hands to his cheeks, holding him in her hands as if to reaffirm that he was real and there with her. And that she would never let him go again.

He was there, Gil felt. He was real, and there with her. And he didn't care if they were fancy robots, or figments of Arishem's making, or anything else. They were Gilgamesh and Thena, and that was all he needed to know. Because he didn't exist for Arishem, or some mission, or even Earth, if he was being entirely honest. He existed because he was real, with thoughts and feelings of his own.

And he had always chosen to give them all to Thena.

"Soon," she pulled away, blinking away her tears as she smiled at him. She sniffled, cupping his jaw as her hands slid away with the utmost reluctance. "I promise, I will tell you everything you want to know. But we have to go."

Gil just nodded, knowing that he would follow her into the depths of an endless, pitch black darkness if she so much as asked. He captured her hand in his before she drifted away completely. "Lead the way."

Thena smiled, not pulling her hand from him as she started making their way back to the rest. She pulled him alongside her. "I wanted to come get you myself. But I was the most equipped to deal with those things. And Eros was best equipped for deactivating the security around you."

They had come well prepared. Gil snorted, "Eros."

Thena smiled, and Gil felt his heart lurch in his chest. He had never seen it before, in a way. And yet he had ached to see it again. "Yes, I agree. But he's brought you back to me. So he must be good for something."

"Let's not give him too much credit," Gil scoffed again, and Thena laughed, as if they weren't in the middle of a daring escape. Stars above and beyond, he wanted to hear that again. "I would have found a way to you."

It was said just as lightly, but the air stilled around them. Their footsteps filled the silence between them. Thena squeezed his hand. "And I, you."

[manikas-whims]

05/07/2022: Thena's attempt at making breakfast for Gilgamesh

For Thenamesh Week 2022 (@thenamesh )

Day 4: Canon AU

Thena stares blankly at Gilgamesh's palm concealing the evident smile on his face and then at the tray in her hands. The omelettes aren't even close to the perfect circular ones that he makes while the bread slices look too burnt to pass as edible. But at least she managed to chop the strawberries and avocado without accidentally cutting herself. And she barely spilled a drop of the orange juice when pouring a glass for him.

This morning she had woken up with the determination to whip him a delicious breakfast as he does for her every day. She had wanted to repay a little of the love and care he puts into everything he does for her but the result clearly isn't very flattering.

“This didn't work out as I had intended,” she states the obvious.

His concealed smile stretches into an amused grin and he finally lowers his palm to take the tray from her hands and gently puts it on his bed. “Well nobody's perfect. Not even the fierce and brave goddess of war Thena.”

“You don’t have to be kind.” She huffs.

“No, I don’t.” He chuckles, his eyes crinkling in happy crescent moons, “but I do appreciate the gesture.”

She can't help herself from smiling back. “Thank you for appreciating this goddess despite her poor culinary skills.”

» 8/? of Manika's Mini Fics «

Divider by @celcero

[eternalowl]

THENAMESH SHIPPERS RISE UP

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[dalhia28]

07 SPICY

"FIRST TIME"

They were both looking on the room they provided for them there's not enough room to separate them all. So they decided to partner up ajak and sprite, sersi and ikaris (of course) makkari and druig, phastos and kingo and then thena and Gilgamesh they were the closest and everyone think they were a thing all ready so that's that but they can't deny either that they weren't.

"you take the bed I'll take the couch" Gil offer to be a gentle man

"why?"thena frown at him

"do you want to share the bed?"Gil ask raising his both eyebrows

"I don't see the harm in that or if you insist taking the couch or that rug by the fireplace your welcome too"thena shrug walking to the bed Gil look at the bed it is much comfortable then the couch but other than that he would get to sleep next to thena he quickly walk to bed.

"I'll go shower first"thena declare before coming to the shower Gil just get there things arrange and he get thena's clothes ready for her to get after her shower he his usually do this for her all the time cause she always forget it and walk naked not that anyone seen her of course she make sure no one is around the domo bathroom to her room before getting out she mentioned this one's to Gilgamesh and he turn so red thena thought his sick. Since then when it's time for her bath he always arrange her clothes for her to the bathroom he doesn't want anyone accidentally seeing thena's body not a chance in hell he would let that so he always does this. At first his would leave his own clothes for her to use seems to work as thena always give it back to him and couple of days doing that she question him and told her he just forget and she can keep using it if she forgets her clothing but of course she noticed his love language and tell him that his welcome to her room to get her own clothes and gil said he doesn't know what she's talking about but next time thena take a bath after her shift she see her own clothes in the bathroom folded nicely waiting for her, she smile as she remember Gil's warmness.

Thena came out of the bath wearing towel and gil handed her, Her clothes for night she can get comfortable she smile at him and move away as it's Gil's turn to take a bath.

Thena dried her hair the best as she could she doesn't want to mess up their pillow sleeping in the same bed with gil is not new for her because of the nights she had trouble sleeping and gil always their to hold her to sleep his presence is so warm it make her feel safe. But still don't know why she wanted to look pretty tonight has she brush her platinum blonde hair she wore her night dress and come up in bed try to read a book while not trying to wait for gil.

"sleeping?"Gil chuckle as he came out of the bathroom wearing his pajama it's all in baby pink color but he looks handsome as always thena smile at him.

"nice pajama"thena tease still smiling at him

"jealous?"gil tease back coming up in bed thena just laughed at him

"you should be supervised when it comes to pick of clothing's" thena said still smiling

"why doesn't look good on me?"Gil frown at her and pout

"you look adorable"thena said grinning

"knew you where just jealous"Gil answer proudly thena drop her books and reach his cheek they didn't even notice they were closer to each other now

"maybe i'am just jealous"thena said softly much more closer to gil now only one of them have to move so their lips would met they look at each other eyes their were heat building that they can't explain Gil's drowning in thena's beautiful eyes he gently touch the back of her head running his fingers to her blonde hair. He slowly lean and kiss her gently which she gladly return, soft and gentle their lips are like make for each other until it turns to more of needs like hunger no words needed they know what they need to do as they body feel the same heat, thena push him to lay on the bed pining him and he let her have control he got nothing to complain either they kiss with more urgency now Gil's hands where on her thigh he can't stop running his hands up in down to it. Thena's skin is so soft.

She smile like him seductively my god this women really going to be the dead of him he thinks while he kiss her again there tongue fight each other his hands can't pick where to settle they where on her legs waist and then thena couldn't take it anymore she take Gil's t-shirt off and toss it to the ground without breaking their kiss she could feel Gil's muscle his abs which she will think later she really doesn't see him work out but yet his super sexy gil turns to flip them to change position thena let him and now his on top of her. thena feels gil going to her neck kissing it as the way he kiss her lips with hunger and yet gentle she lift her self a little when she felt gil taking off her dress she be happy to help and now she's completely naked from up gil cover her boobs with his gentle hands giving it a gentle squeeze as he continues to kiss thena's neck all the way down to her breast thena let out a moan as gil suck her nipple and squeezing the other side making sure they have the both attention they have needed he switch side by side as he suck into her nipples and then he slowly kiss his way down to her belly button still covering her boobs with his hands thena still wearing her underwear gil till his head to thena again to ask her permission and thena nod at him he slowly takes her panty off he let it smooth it way to her legs and kissing it he started in her knees in between as he position him self kissing there gently till it came to her thighs it's like his worshipping her body thena body slightly lift as gil mouth found its way to her sensitive part his tongue swirls around her Clint thena let out a loud moan Gil's loving what ever this new sounds thena making and now gil gently let his finger join his tongue he enter her with one finger first being gentle with her thena can't think of anything else as gil move his finger in and out of thena and carefully adding another finger to ready her what's about to happen later. thena's tightness might be hurt if they continue this because his not completely small his thick so he wants to thena's body to adjust he continues to lick her pearl has his fingers move in and out thena can't take it anymore she pull gil with such Force and push him to bed and lay on top of him.

"Stop being a tease" thena said and pull Gil's pants and underwear down she welcome his thickness by giving it a kiss and she swirl her tongue on the tip of it's head gil turn to let out a moan and when thena position her self on top of him ready to welcome him gil grab her arms

"Wait you might get hurt" gil said with concern look still taking care of thena's feeling even in the moment like this

"Gil it's okay please" thena assure him and letting him position him self like sitting so she could position her self better thena grab the back of his neck and kiss him and her other hand guiding Gil inside of her she gasp and groan between their kiss and Gil groan too as she lower her self fuck she feels amazing gil thought. Gil's right it hurts her fuck she doesn't realize she bites Gil until it tasted metal but gil don't even care as he only care about thena wondering if he hurt her by his thickness but thena look at his concern look and kiss him to let him know it's alright thena let her body adjust first for a few seconds until she become to move she the pain slowly becoming a sweet sensation that she can't get enough with

His entire body tingled as her smile softened from sassy to sweet, her features melting into a look of love and adoration when their eyes met. She moved slowly and deliberately when she finally did, her gaze never leaving his as she gasped and groaned again with delight as she rode him. As the tension between them grew, his own hums and murmurs blended in the air. He mirrored her thrusts, keeping the steady deep beat and cursing her name as his hands coasted down the flexing muscle of her back and came to rest on her hips. He was getting close to the edge, and he could see she was as well.

In response, she groaned his name and drew him closer, her gaze never leaving his. She exclaimed, "We should have." "Oh my god, Gil, we should've done this years ago."

"i should wore my lucky pajama much more earlier" Gil grumble When a moan tore through him, he looked at her intently as if he may say more, but decided against it. He kissed her again and gently lifted her, never leaving her as he stood. He slid them down couch by the fireplace with ease. As he raised his eyebrows at her, quietly ridiculing her earlier rants, Thena let out a throaty laugh.

When he started moving above her, her giggle quickly transformed into a moan.

Thena's gaze never left his, even as the intensity caused her back to arch up off the soft couch beneath her. He might become disoriented in their depths.

He carefully wrapped one arm around her curving spine to hold her and quickened his tempo, repeatedly ripping his name from her lips. He allowed his head sink to catch a pert nipple in his lips when her head thrown back and her walls tighten around him.

Her orgasm ripped through her, dragging him along with it. As he surged up into her, his hand pulled her hips to his and held her hard.

As he thrust up into her deeply with his final release,

"fuck!"thena only could say the continuous pulsing of her aftershocks milked him, his hand drew her hips to his and held her securely, their eyes closed and their foreheads came to rest together. After a few minutes gil get off top of her and he slowly carries her back to bed until he noticed the spot of blood in the bed his face fell into panic thinking he hurt her. Thena confused at first what changed Gil's face and she see his full concern look she spot what his looking at it's a little blood evidence that they have make love and by Gil's thickness.

"Gil? Gil look at me"thena said calmly

Gil look at her but his eyes where hurt thinking he hurt her

"I'm sorry thena"Gil started to apologize

Thena pull him back to bed and she wrap her arms around him again she look at gil

"it's okay gil you didn't hurt me you never hurt me and never will i love what we did i do not regret it"thena reassuring him seems like it convince him he run his thumbs through her cheek

"just don't want to hurt you, i love you thena"Gil said kissing her again

"i love you too Gilgamesh"thena answer back Gil wrap his arms around her protectively and pulling the blanket over them as they fall asleep didn't bother getting dress.

[softquietsteadylove]

01 - Modern AU

"Druig, you'll be fine-"

But Druig uses both hands to catch Gil by the - massive - arm before he can try to walk off yet again. "Oh, no'y'don't. You said you'd help and you're damn well gonna."

Gilgamesh rolls his eyes as Druig continues to drag him towards the bookshop. It's a cute little place, just a shop in a building that's clearly just an old house. It's so picturesque it's cliche. "Do you really need my help just talking to this girl? And what am I supposed to do?--just stand off to the side and give you the thumbs up?"

"No, what you're going to do is linger so you can get me outta there if I get carried away."

"I'm sure you're not that bad."

"I was in on tuesday and I almost told her she's brighter than the sun itself."

Maybe he does need the help.

Gil pushes the door open gently and heads right into the depths of the shelves. They've really crammed as much as they can into the minimal little space. It adds to the feel of it, though, he thinks. He wanders around a corner, just enough to catch sight of Druig slinking up the front counter and talking to a petite but bouncy woman who must be his 'beautiful, beautiful Makkari'.

"Can I help you?"

Gil startles so completely he nearly trips into the shelf. They're not a chain store, and they're just regular wooden shelves, not exactly bolted into the floor. It starts to tip and he rushes to plant it to the floor again. "S-Sorry, sorry!"

He knows that everyone must be looking at him. But he can only see the woman staring at him. She looks thoroughly unamused, but he has a sneaking suspicion that she had that look on before he almost destroyed half the store.

"Do you need help finding something?" she asks again for the sake of it, in case her first question got lost in him making an idiot of himself.

"Uh, no, I'm okay," he makes an attempt to smile at her. She continues to stare at him with eyes that look like some kind of gem or jewel he doesn't know the name of. They're mesmerising.

"If you insist." She speaks like she's from the 19th century. But that also kinds of adds to the feel of it, Gil thinks. And, like a man possessed, he drifts out of the section with her as she leaves him to his fumbling.

"I'm Gil," he says quietly, feeling as if he's chasing a ghost around as he tries to get just one more look at her. "I'm, uh, here with a friend."

She comes to a halt and turns to him sharply. Her hair sways around her, and the words 'brighter than the sun' echo in Gil's head. Maybe Druig was right: it is dangerous to come in here. "You're here with Druig."

"Uh," Gil glances over his shoulder again. Druig is chatting with his favourite shop clerk, both of them smiling and hands flying quickly. "You know him?"

The ghostly woman finally cracks a smile, and Gil realises that her lips have a unique bend to them, and also that he is staring far too intently. She looks at him and he tries to seem less taken with her. "I have been trying to watch their interactions subtly."

"You're spying on them too?" Gil beams, and her smile only grows. That's it, he thinks; he's done for. He steps in closer, lowering his voice to a complete whisper, "Druig asked me to come with him for the confidence. He really likes her, and he has a habit of letting his mouth get ahead of his thoughts."

She laughs faintly at the description of him. "Yes, I was here when he first met her and told her she was the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen."

Gil can't even blame him, now. He's looking at the very same problem, himself.

"It's charming, though," she tilts her head to glimpse at them again. Her fondness soaks through her, helping the rigid edges she carries around. When she turns back to him she lets out a breath. "I'm Thena."

"Thena," he repeats to himself, feeling himself smile as he says it. This is exactly the kind of thing he would like to avoid, but she doesn't seem put off by it.

"I'm sorry I startled you," she offers a smaller smile and a faint purse of her lips. "I can't neglect a customer just because I'm trying to keep my eye on them."

"Ah, that's okay. Druig didn't mention anyone else works here."

"I believe he only has eyes for Kari," Thena smiles, leading them around another corner and looking over at them with those eyes of hers. "She has been looking forward to him coming in again."

"Yeah?" Gil can't help but smile as he follows Thena into the back of the room.

Thena nods, positioning herself just so to keep an eye on the target. Gil tucks himself beside her, trying not to look conspicuous. "Told me all about this very nice guy who came in three days in a row for poetry editions. I asked if it was the dour one who looked like he was in a band."

Gil lets out a laugh that is definitely too loud for the confined space, let alone a sleepy little bookstore. He slaps a hand over his mouth to contain himself. He looks at Thena, ready to apologise, but she's trying to contain her own laughter. He lifts his hand just a little. "Sorry."

Thena shakes her head, lips pinched together as she tries to keep quiet. "It's a nice laugh."

Gil turns as red as the hoodie Makkari has tied around her waist.

"It's far too quiet in here anyway," Thena continues, maybe rushes out. She brushes something off her soft white cardigan.

"Oi, Gil!"

He's never been more mad at Druig in his life, he thinks. He sighs, not hiding his frustration at all. Thena smiles at him and follows as he drags himself up to the front counter. He looks between the two lovebirds, smiling and practically giggling at each other. "You manage?"

"Yep, got what I need," Druig smiles with his teeth, holding up a tiny little edition, although Gil can clearly see the receipt sticking out of it with part of a name, a phone number and an address on it. "Although, if you wanna stay-"

"Great," Gil rushes, feeling heat creep up the back of his neck again. He offers a smile at Makkari, who waves. He looks back at Thena, who's stepped behind the counter next to her. "It was nice talking with you."

"And you," she smiles back at him. "Come back any time."

"Yeah?" he asks, and feels like a dumbass for it. But he can't help but look forward to the next time he gets to see her.

Geez, Thena, Makkari grins up at her, inviting him to come again? Just ask him to marry you, why don't'cha?

Thena glares at the shorter woman, her cheeks colouring ever so faintly.

Gil doesn't know what she said, or why Druig is also grinning like a maniac. But he just knows that he's willing to buy every book in here one by one if it means he can see her again.

He's even worse than Druig.

[softquietsteadylove]

Spicy 07 - First Time

Gil stared up at the ceiling, the wind absolutely howling outside. Windstorms were common in Australia, but this was the worst one in quite a while. They'd been settled out here for maybe a decade, by this point.

Thena was curled up beside him, actually sleeping through the storm for once. It was light, and she was still fragile after the episode from yesterday. But she was sleeping, and it was all Gilgamesh could ask, some days.

He had been sleeping too, and much more soundly than she did. They slept together semi-regularly. Sometimes Thena needed to feel that he was there, and he was happy to let her. Even before Australia, they had been no stranger to some cuddling here or there.

Not that she had ever called it cuddling. Or had been willing to bring it up in the light of day.

Tonight had been fine, despite the storm. She'd slithered into his bed silently, burrowing against his side like she tended to do as of late. They'd gone to sleep like normal. It was fine until he'd had some form of dream. He couldn't remember every detail, but he'd woken up...in a predicament.

Gil sighed, the tension between his legs still not easing. He dreaded to think that he would have to take care of it the old fashioned way.

This really hadn't been much of an issue. Mahd Wy'ry kept them plenty busy--plenty exhausted, for the most part. When he had left Tenochtitlan with her, they had left pieces of their old lives behind. Including whatever forms their relationship had taken in the safety of the Domo, or the city of Tenochtitlan or even the temple of Babylon. Their lives were taking on a new shape, and they had to worry about that before they could address whatever new conditions applied to their relationship.

Gil had more important things to worry about, like Thena. And nothing would ever be more important to him than Thena.

Thena sighed against him, her hand clenched a fistful of the front of his shirt, her head completely dead weight on his chest. She shimmied closer, and he was hyperaware of her breasts against his ribs.

Gil groaned as her hand released its grip on his shirt, only to slide down between his chest and over his belly. He had to get out of the bed.

Thena's strength collected in her arm, pushing him back down to the mattress as soon as he started to rise.

"Thena," he sighed, reaching slowly to untangle himself from her. He thought it was cute, how clingy she was in her sleep. Not that he could tell her that.

"Stay."

She was awake? For how long? Gil dreaded to think about it, the sheets tented around his lower half. He tried to escape again but she pushed down on him again, her hand travelling even lower. He gritted his teeth, reaching to stop her. "Thena, really, I have to-"

"Let me."

She was much more awake than he thought. Her hand continued, slipping into the loose trousers he'd worn to bed and easily grasping the still-hardening length of him.

Gil's eyes slipped closed, his hips already begging him to rock against her warm, soft touch and never stop. He groaned again as the wind outside provided some background noise. "Thena, please."

"That's it," she whispered, but everything sounded beautiful off her lips. She rose off his chest and leaned, kissing him as she stroked steadily. "Gil."

He winced, back arching and hips twitching as she coaxed it out of him, not that it had been difficult. He didn't know - didn't care - how long it had been. He ran a hand through his hair and then down over his face, which was burning hot. He was still at the mercy of her slightest touch, even after almost a hundred years since they'd so much as kissed.

When he opened his eyes again she was leaning over him, looking as beautiful as ever. He tended to let a single candle burn itself out for her, just to keep the dark at bay. She was softly lit, practically glowing from it. Her hair tumbled around her shoulders and her nightdress sat loose around her neck. He wondered if she had somehow become even more beautiful in the barren Australian wasteland.

Thena leaned over and kissed him again. Her lips were soft on his, and the kisses were slow and sweet.

He reached up, pulling her closer with a large hand at the back of her head. She let him pull her down to him, their chests moving together as their need for air increased. Her hand slid over his chest, all but caressing him as their tongues collided.

Gil shifted down on the bed and moved Thena's hands up to the headboard. She growled her complaints about his lips leaving hers. She watched as he slithered down until he disappeared under the skirt of her dress. He chuckled as her thighs squeezed his head. "Sit down, Thena."

She remained hovering over him, the headboard creaking from her grip on it. He let his breath hit her naked skin and she jerked just from the sensation of it.

"Sit," he grinned, reaching his arm up around her waist to force her hips down onto him. She let out a loud, long moan, and he could imagine her head rolling back as she did. She always used to.

Thena panted for breath, rolling her hips as Gilgamesh ran his tongue along every line and crease and fold of her. Her mind went blank, everything slipping away that wasn't Gilgamesh and that mouth of his. His tongue pushed into her and she ground her hips against him. His hands held her thighs, the only being in this galaxy strong enough to hold this position with her.

Gilgamesh held her tight, listening as closely as he could to her. But he could feel her breath, in the pulse of her veins, in the heat of her skin. He could feel every beat of her heart, inside of her. He pressed his tongue to her pearl of nerves, drinking her up like desert rain.

"Gil!" Thena cried out, cracking the headboard in her hands as she bore down on him. He held her steady as her hips quivered with her release. She panted, gasped for air as her body let go of months, maybe years of built up tension. It had been far too long since she'd felt this--let herself feel this.

Gil pulled her into his lap as he sat up, licking his lips loudly. She pushed two fingers against his mouth, intending to silence him. He took the fingers between his teeth, licking the pads of her fingers. Now the flush in her cheeks matched his from earlier.

Thena met his eyes as his hands slid up her back, under her dress. he wasn't done, but he was asking if she was. She shook her head, unwinding her hands from the back of his head so he could pull her dress off and toss it aside. He pushed her hair over her shoulder as he kissed her again.

Gil moaned into her mouth as she sank onto him slowly. Her legs wrapped around the back of him, her thighs held in his hands. She leaned on him heavily, her breasts against him, her arms looped around the back of his neck. He peppered kissing along her neck, her ear, her cheek.

It had been a long time since she'd taken him inside her. Thena held still, catching her breath as she adjusted to him. He was just as she remembered, in her mind and in her dreams. She inhaled, turning her head just enough to kiss below his ear. "Gil."

He knew what she was asking; he rocked his hips gently at first, pushing up into her lightly and keeping her close as he did. She kissed and suckled and nipped at his neck as they slowly sank back into the ecstasy of togetherness.

Gil picked up his pace as she sat up straighter, arching her back and moving so she could kiss his lips. The headboard would offer no further support but Thena stretched up, kissing him hard, running her hands over his shoulders and up into his hair. He pulled away for a breath. "Thena!"

"Gil," she responded, her voice tightened into a whimper as he moved faster and harder. She gripped his shoulders, dragged her nails through his hair (careful not to draw any blood). She moved her hands to his arms, bracing herself on their sturdy thickness.

He loved it when she held herself up by his arms. Her head rolled back with another moan and he took advantage of the opportunity to kiss under her jaw and down her neck. He felt her winding tighter around him the more he did.

Thena gripped his biceps as much as she could with only one hand. She gasped for air, swallowing it up. She buried her face in his neck again. He wasn't close enough.

"It's okay," he whispered as she whined against his shoulder, "let go, Sweetheart."

Thena's toes curled and she locked her ankles together as she came, squeezing around him in every sense as much as she could. Her head was tossed back and her hair floated around her freely. Gil kissed her neck, her clavicle, along her shoulders and as much of her breasts as he could reach. She dug her heels into the small of his back.

Gil grunted, squeezing his eyes shut as he followed, coming only seconds behind her and loosening instantly. He fell back against the pillows, broken headboard be damned. Thena went with him, slumped against his chest heavily and pressing her ear to his hammering heart. He spread his hands out over the bare skin of her back. "Thena."

She knew what he was asking, using all of her strength to pull herself up just enough to kiss him. They both sighed into it, melting together so completely that they didn't know where one ended and the other began.

Gil ran his fingers through her hair. "You okay?"

"Mm," she hummed at first, neither confirming nor denying. She took a few more minutes before she could pick herself up again. She managed, propping herself up on his chest just enough to look at him. He continued to run his fingers through her waves of ashen blond. "Quite good, I think."

He beamed at her, making the room seem brighter despite the storm outside. Their lips met again and Thena sighed against him.

"I missed you," she whispered against his lips.

"I'm right here," he promised.

"Still," she added, and it was both an apology and a request. But Gil kissed her again. He never accepted her apologies for being the way she was, because he had nothing to forgive.

"I missed this," he smiled back, toying with their interlocked fingers between them.

Thena's eyes sparked and she ran the other finger down his chest to where their skin met. "Have I been depriving you?"

He just laughed.

Thena leaned forward, and he very happily met her in the middle. Perhaps they had both been denied this closeness, purely by the circumstance in which they were living. But she was ready for more. "I could understand feeling...deprived."

"Oh?" Gil pulled away to look at her. But she had meant what she said, meeting his eyes with a mischievous twinkle in her own. His hands slid down her bare back to rest on her hips. "Well, I guess I could go again. If you would be so kind."

"I suppose," she laughed as they melted into another kiss.

They wouldn't even notice when the sun was finally out again, entangled for hours and hours. The only thing they would notice was that the headboard was well and truly broken by the end of it. But they had all the time in the world to carve a new one.

[softquietsteadylove]

05 - Soulmates

Your skin will have a peculiar colour to it, which will only clear up when your soulmate touches there for the first time.

What utter horseshit.

Thena didn't - and had never - believed in the whole 'soulmates' thing. And she was in the minority for it, considering the actual physical evidence of them filling the world around her.

She had seen people find love without the need for their soulmate. Some results were good, like when Sersi and Dane found each other, despite their lack of soul pairing. Sometimes it didn't work out, like when Sersi and Ikaris had been together for years before that.

Makkari had successfully found her soulmate in a dour little gremlin, as Thena liked to call him. Druig was a little sour upon first meeting, but he was as soft as a marshmallow at his centre, especially for Makkari.

She had described 'the moment' as if her entire world had shifted in that one instant. Things were brighter, clearer, her head felt light and quiet for the first time.

Thena had joked that maybe her real soulmate was an antihistamine.

She never let anyone see her mark. She claimed it was on an area of skin that didn't need showing off anyway, which always raised some eyebrows. She was happy to let people imagine what they wanted of her and her supposed 'other half'.

She didn't need anyone's soul linked with hers. Some people didn't have soulmates at all! Some had platonic soulmates, some had multiples. Good for them, but she wanted no part in any of it.

"Oi, T!" Druig shouted despite the crowd in the restaurant staring at him for it.

"Sit down," she glared at him as she joined them in the booth, next to Sersi and across from Makkari. "Your boyfriend has terrible manners."

That's actually why we wanted you two here, Makkari beamed with all her usual exuberance. She looked at Druig for a second before slapping her left hand down on the table (just as loud and unmindful of the atmosphere as Druig). That's fiance to you!

Thena and Sersi's jaws dropped. They looked between themselves and then back at their friend, now a bride-to-be. When did this happen?!

Last night! Makkari laughed silently, looking as if she'd won a drinking game as opposed to gotten engaged. I was going to text you two, but Druig wanted to tell you in person.

So sentimental, Thena smirked at him.

He blushed and ruffled his mop of dark hair. "Well, you're the most important people in Kari's life, I thought it'd be important."

"That's very sweet, Druig," Sersi smiled, willing to be the one with any social grace if no one else was.

"Well, let's get started then," he chuckled, his arm settling around his beautiful Makkari's shoulders.

"No shots," Thena pointed specifically at Makkari, who shrugged as if she were the picture of innocence. Thena rolled her eyes; Makkari could out drink an elephant, and they all knew it. "Maybe just a bottle of sparkling, like normal people trying to celebrate."

Druig called over his shoulder, "since when are we normal?"

Thena continued up to the counter, digging her wallet out of her purse. "Can I leave you my card? My friends got engaged and I'd like to pay for us at the end of the night."

"Oh, wow, congratulations!"

Thena looked up. Sound vanished, the light from outside became brighter, casting a golden glow over everything. All that existed was the man behind the counter, smiling at her like she was the source of the light and not the sun itself.

Shit.

He seemed stunned as well, and Thena almost hoped that he didn't. Because then maybe it was a mistake, and she could go on disbelieving in all this. But no, he was staring at her, slack jawed and grinning like a maniac. A cute maniac.

Dammit.

Thena inhaled, pulling her frayed nerves together. This was not 'the moment'. There was no 'moment'. Because she didn't believe in soulmates, or 'the moment', or the idea that a single person could alter the course of your whole life. She was no half a person, thank you.

"I'm Gilgamesh--Gil, actually."

"Gilgamesh," she repeated mindlessly, but it tumbled off her tongue, as if she were holding a diamond in her mouth and it slid from between her lips. It was a hell of a name--it was long and unwieldy and cumbersome. But it sounded so beautiful.

Fuck.

He continued to smile at her. Hearing his name off her lips made him seem to glow from within. His hands, previously preparing an appetiser of some sort, went still. He wiped them on the towel over his shoulder before offering it to her.

She looked at his hand - no discolouration - before shaking it. But her hand in his felt like the most natural thing in the world. She had to get away from this man. "Thena."

No, she had to get away from him, not tell him her name and stay rooted on the spot staring at him.

He blinked a few times, as if she had told him something amazing. "That's a beautiful name."

It was a line she'd heard plenty of times before. But distressingly, she knew that he really and truly meant it, from the depths of his sizeable heart. And how would she knew how big a heart he had? She just met him!

"Are those your friends?"

Thena inhaled again, dragging her eyes away from Gilgamesh to where he was pointing. Sersi and Makkari were leaning all the way out of their seats to watch them. Druig was kneeling on the seat, peeking at her from over the back of the bankette. Dread filled her chest (she would take it over the bizarre fluttering feeling that had started). "Yes."

"Uh, listen," Gilgamesh started quieter, and more sheepish. When she looked at him again, he was drying his hands in the towel needlessly. Was he shy? That was adorable. No, it wasn't. "Don't worry about it. I'm happy to pick up your bill for you--my gift to the couple."

"You don't have to do that," Thena frowned, determined to stand her ground on this. She didn't need him doing her any favours. "Just because we're-"

Gil's brows raised; he waited for her to finish the thought. She refused. His smile returned slowly, "because we're...what?"

Thena's shoulders raised and she set her jaw stubbornly. Her cheeks were not burning hot (at all). She turned away from him, toying with the ends of her hair idly, and not just to distract herself. "Nothing--because we are nothing."

But Gilgamesh was back to staring at her as if she were brighter than the sun, the moon, all the godforsaken stars in the damned sky. "Well, we're at least acquaintances, right?"

Thena sighed as she saw him wave past her. "They're waving you over?"

"Sure are," he grinned at her, setting his towel. down and untying the apron around his waist. Why were his arms so big? He walked out from around the counter with a much more confident stride. "Shall we? I should meet the couple who I have a feeling are about to drink me out of house and home."

"You could just not let them if you took my card," she glared as he walked beside her.

He shrugged though, as if it were nothing for him. "It's my restaurant. I can pick up the tab for the friends of my new...acquaintance."

A shiver ran up her spine as he said it, low and deep, close to her ear.

She hadn't even realised his hand had come up to the small of her back as he said it. But the tingling there gave her a terrible feeling.

[softquietsteadylove]

Spicy 01 - Wedding Night

They barely made it in the door. Thena's back hit it first, but Gil held the back of her head protected in his palm. She moaned, between the contact of the door on one side of her and his much more comfortable, much more solid form on the other.

She had brought it up so suddenly.

"Should we?" she had asked, turning to him from her position at the kitchen table. He had been preparing pie crust. "Get married, that is."

Gil had hardly believed his ears. He put his hands on his hips, "I asked you so many times if you wanted to get married."

And he had. Ever since Ikaris and Sersi had gotten married, he had brought it up, asking if it was something in which she might be interested. But she had always dodged the subject with her natural grace.

But this time was different. She had just rested her chin on her folded knee, looking at him with all the love in her. "No time like the present."

Because it was just them in Australia. There was no family to mind, no mission at their backs. Every day was precious, even as people who never had to worry about their days running out.

So they had gotten married.

"Come here."

Gil's hair stood on end. They weren't strangers to each other--to being close. They weren't strangers to the occasional kiss. They weren't even strangers to sharing a bed, although it had yet to become anything but sleeping.

"Come here," Thena repeated, pulling him to the bedroom that hadn't taken long at all to become 'their' bedroom.

Gil followed her, slowly and tentatively. He let her dictate the pace at which he walked, let her pull him to sit on the bed with her. For all their desperation mere moments ago, they slowed to a gentle pace. He took her hand in his, threading their fingers together. He held her eyes, searching for any distance, any veil of any kind looming over her.

Thena nodded, her fingers meshed together with his utterly perfectly. "I'm here."

He smiled. "I'm glad you're here."

She leaned forward, kissing him again. It was sweet.

Gil moaned as she asked more of him, tugging his hand closer to her. His hand raised to her hair, his fingers dipping into the river of sunlight blonde.

"Gil," she gasped as their mouths opened more, asking more. Their tongues met and her hand tightened around his shoulder. He tasted like pie and wine.

He listened intently to each and every little sound she made. Thena was usually so stoic. It was less a serenity and more an almost eerie placid quality. But the way her breathing became short, the way her voice leaked into even taking each breath and then moaning it out; he wanted more of her.

Thena sighed as they leaned back, Gil pushing them to the centre of the bed. They hadn't bothered to make it this morning. They forgot to make it a lot of mornings, actually.

"Gil," she said again, this time more whimpered. His lips moved over her cheek, to below her ear, nipping at the pearls there along the way.

He savoured the way her back arched, pushing her closer to him. Her hands all but ripped the suspenders off him and tossed them away. Then they were on his arms again. She was running hotter than usual.

Thena let out her loudest moan yet as he moved to kiss down her neck, nipping along the skin there until she was clawing at him. It was a given that he was the more patient of the two of them but this was getting ridiculous.

Gil's brows raised, although his eyes were still closed, lips still sealed to hers. She ripped his shirt from the collar down, not wanting to wait for him to simply pull it over his head. "I only have so many-"

"No need," she cut him off between kisses, not wanting to surrender him for a second.

He buried his grin in her shoulder as he pulled her dress off her with much more delicacy. "I don't need it now or I don't need shirts?"

Thena's reply didn't form. Her mouth opened but all that came out was a whine as he kissed along her clavicle and down between her breasts.

He had never experienced his mighty Goddess of War rendered speechless against her will. But he liked being the reason for it.

"Gil," Thena repeated her chosen chant, their fingers linking together beside her head as he kissed further and further down. His other hand held the curve of her waist and then her hip. He latched onto her, his tongue moving over her pearl of nerves and along her lips before pushing into her. "Fuck!"

He didn't get to hear her swear often, either, but he liked that too. He groaned as her fingers tangled into his hair. If he were any mere mortal, her thighs would have crushed him the second she reared off the bed. But he was no mortal. What he was, was a man on a mission.

"Fuck, Gil, please," Thena panted, her chest heaving and a flush rising in her pale skin. Her mind had no other words to offer. Her hips rolled against him and he held them easily with one hand. "Yes!"

Gilgamesh held her steady as she came, her hips bucking against him until all her muscles let go at once. He had never felt her go so limp, not even while carrying her in her sleep. He lowered her back to the bed gently, returning his lips to hers. "Thena?"

"Hm," she offered as an answer, with only her bliss as an expression. She readjusted herself on the pillows as he kissed her. "Were you always so good at that?"

He blushed; she pried her eyes open just to smile at him. She liked making him blush. "I wouldn't know."

Thena inhaled deeply, dragging in air as they kissed again. "Come here."

Gil groaned as she wrapped her legs around him, dragging her lean calf up his thigh. He was ready to go, no preparation needed. And she could tell.

Thena's voice mixed with his and rose up around them as he pushed into her. It wasn't anything they had ever done before; she had no memories of anything like this before. But it was Gil, and for that reason alone, it felt familiar. "I love you."

"Love you," Gil moaned like it was pulled out of him. He could feel her flutter around him, and he certainly felt like it was taking everything in him not to lose himself completely in her. "Thena."

She wrapped an arm around his shoulders as he moved, the bed rocking from the weight of them, from the force of their combined strength. But he was anything but rough. No, everything about Gil was soft and steady. She dug her heel into his tailbone. "More."

Oh, that was how she wanted to play? Gil smiled against the skin of her breast, leaving a wide open kiss there before returning to her lips. Her hips met his with every thrust, just as strong, just as loving, just as in need for their conclusion.

"Gil, ye-es," she moaned and whimpered, her breath hitching as they wound tighter and tighter together. Her nails scraped over his skin. He kissed her, but she couldn't even kiss back, the need for air and moans tearing from her throat overpowering her brain. "Yes, right there!"

They both let out a sound that could only be described as primal. Their voices were hardly recognisable to each other, but they couldn't feel anything but each other. Gil's nose was buried in her neck. Thena's mouth was pressed against his collar bone. He bent his head, hungry for her lips again.

Thena could taste herself on his tongue as he pulled out of her. Her muscles readjusted themselves in a way they had maybe never had to before. But she had never felt so relaxed, not in her thousands upon thousands of years.

Gil let her pull his cheeks into her palms. She guided his head up again. He opened his eyes to the heavenly sight of her there, smiling at him with her hair haloing her on the pillow.

"I love you."

He turned his head to kiss the palm holding him. "I love you more."

"I am not going to argue with you on our wedding night."

A laugh bubbled out of him. He kissed her again. "Wouldn't dream of it, Dearest."

She laughed as well, their lips hovering together. "Then be a dear, and make love to me again."

And who would he be to say no to his wife on their wedding night?

[softquietsteadylove]

Spicy 04 - Outside

"Really, I'm good," Gilgamesh declined, rooting himself to the spot as they pulled at him with all their mortal might.

"Come on, Champion," one of the women squealed in their glee. She pulled at one of his arms fruitlessly. "You are always in the forges."

"Surely the Goddess prefers you refreshed."

Gil blushed at the way they implied that Thena would just come and collect him for...that. "I don't know if you want to put words in the Goddess' mouth, girls."

"Indeed."

The women sprang off Gilgamesh at her appearance. She looked every bit the part of the Goddess of War, the patron saviour of Athens. She strode over with long strides, white toga, shimmering silks and gold adorning her. The ladies feigned some remorse as they bowed to her. "Goddess Athena."

She ignored their greeting, long used to the manipulation of her name. She looked right at Gilgamesh. "Well, are you finally going to join them today, Champion?"

He smiled; he thought it was funny to imagine she was jealous in situations like these. Which she had told him herself he was incorrect about, of course. "Do I ever, Goddess?"

Thena looked back at the human women, who shrank more under her unwavering gaze. She raised her hand, a trident appearing at her will. She sent it straight into the wall of the bath, the water swiftly escaping through the cracks in the stone. "It seems this bath is out of commission. Find someone to repair it."

Gil chuckled as the women scurried off, eager to escape the ire of their deity. He squeezed her shoulder, "come on, you know they're harmless."

Thena grabbed his shoulder in return, all but dragging him to the temple called hers.

Gil grunted as his back hit cool, shaded side of the column. Thena was on him already, kissing him hard, grasping the front of his robes. His hands moved over her arms, bare, save for the golden bands around her biceps. "Thena."

She didn't reply, just demanded more from him as her tongue pushed into his mouth. She wasn't usually in the mood to talk after incidences like these. The only thing she wanted to do was feel him.

Gil let her have her way, giving over all she wanted and thensome. He moaned as she arched her back and her shoulders rose, pressing herself closer to him. She pressed closer still, raising a knee between his legs. He grunted as she made contact.

Thena flipped their positions, pressing her hands to the limestone and looking at him over her shoulder. He knew what she was asking, although she knew that he preferred closer, softer, sweeter. But he understood what she wanted, winding her hair over her shoulder so he could at least see her a little--could at least kiss her neck.

Gil groaned as she pushed her ass into him, knowing damn well how ready he was. He parted her toga in the front, reaching around to run his fingers against her before pushing it out of his way. She was ready too.

Thena let out a long, loud moan as he pushed into her. Second only to when she was literally on top of him, feeling him push into her from behind always managed to make her knees go numb. She gripped the stone as he held her hips with one hand, already moving steadily. The other hand came up, unclasping the cascading layers of silk around her until he could pull the folds of her toga open as far down as he could manage. Despite their shaded spot she could feel the warmth of the sun on the bare skin of her back.

Gil let out another moan as he felt her tighten around him, the air on her skin washing over her senses for a moment. He leaned forward, desperate kiss her spine, her shoulders, her neck--any part of her he could reach. He pressed his hand over hers, both of them bracing their impact. Her hips met his with every move. Jealousy really brought out her possessive side.

As if she could read his mind - and wanted to argue with him - she extended her arms, pushing against him even harder. It was a challenge, and he took it evenly. His hand lifted her hips easily, parting her legs further. His palm pressed against the skin below her stomach until she could feel nothing else but him.

"Gil, fuck," she whined. She always became more vocal like this. "Yes, just like that."

His vision blurred. He liked it when she was vocal. "Fuck, Thena."

"Fuck, yes, yes, harder." So demanding, his Goddess.

Thena's hands flexed, digging her nails into the stone until it cracked against her strength. Her forehead, or rather the tiara of her armour, made contact with the stone as Gil leaned everything he had into her. Her spine curved at a steep angle, hips held still as he drove them closer to the edge together. "Gil!"

Gilgamesh buckled as she came, everything about her surrounding him and taking over his every sense as he fell with her. Their hips ground together as they both rode out the ecstasy of it, evidence of their entanglement dripping down between them.

Thena purred as her spine relaxed, still leaning against the cool limestone. She let it touch her hot flushed cheek until Gil spun her around again, kissing her. She let him; he had fulfilled her demands. It was her turn.

Gil sighed as her arms came to rest over his shoulders, slowly folding around his neck and then sliding over his opposite shoulders again. He pulled away, taking in the glow of her skin, the quickness of her breath, the way her hair flew around her freely. This was what he missed whenever they fucked with her facing away from him.

Thena let him brush her hair back and then trail his finger down over her cheek. It came to rest at her chin, his thumb swiping over her plumped lips. It was a movement far more intimate than some open air fucking. Far more intimate than anything any human could imagine doing with him in their debaucherous little imaginations.

Gil kissed her again, softer and sweeter. And she returned the kiss just as lovingly. He sighed, "I miss this, y'know. I want to look at you in all your glory."

Thena let him shower his flowery words over her. He liked doing it, and she would never admit in this millennia or the next that she never wanted him to stop. "You're looking at me now."

"And how glorious it is," he grinned, kissing her again. He looked at the column behind them as they pulled away. "Well, it's in better shape than last time."

Last time Phastos had needed to replace a massive section of the stone, crushed by either him or Thena or both of them (in the heat of the moment). He had asked, and then regretted asking immediately.

But Thena didn't mind the damage at all, not even to the temple they'd erected for her own comfort and leisure. Let them see, she figured. It was yet another way of letting them know that Gilgamesh - Athena's mighty Champion - was not for their entertainment.

[softquietsteadylove]

04 - Canon AU

Gilgamesh sighed, opening his eyes as he felt footsteps returning to the cave. He couldn't hear them at all, assuring him that it was Thena and not any kind of threatening pursuers. Thena was very skilled indeed at thwarting off any potential soldiers on their tail.

They were only a few days out of Tenochtitlan. And their progress was not exactly constant; Gil had slowed them down three times already with episodes of Mahd Wy'ry.

Since the first night, Thena hadn't left his side unless absolutely necessary. It had been her who brought him back to himself in the first place. She had used her power, chained his uncontrollable fists together and stood without fear in front of him. Her voice had reached him, whispering sweet nothings and pulling him back to her and her alone.

They said that he was a danger--that erasing his memories was the only way. But he didn't want to forget them. He didn't want to forget Thena. And so she had turned her back on them, taking him away with her, just them and his memories and an incurable illness.

Every fight took its toll. They were still close to the carnage. The slightest gunshot or fire would have him trembling to maintain control of himself. And she would face him, shield up, calling to him as he slammed his fists against her weapons and picked her up and threw her like a doll. But she would come back, every time, fighting him until the ground was caved in around them and she could stroke his head in her lap.

Thena knelt down next to him silently. She hadn't said much since they'd left, but he wouldn't have expected her to. He hadn't spoken a word between episodes either.

Gil pretended to remain asleep as her hand drifted over his cheek. She'd become a lot more affectionate, but only while she thought he wasn't awake for it. It was something to get used to, but there were plenty of new things about their relationship in this new context.

Thena settled next to the fire, close enough that she could sense his breathing and be ready to protect him if she heard anything outside. He didn't know if she had slept at all in the past two days.

Last she slept, they were still in the depths of the jungle. It was daylight, and she was sleeping off the fatigue of fighting him endlessly. Just because he didn't have her deadly weapons didn't mean that fighting him with only a shield was easy for her. He had resolved to leave her--to not drag her into his misery. He never wanted to chain her to him.

But she had woken and followed him, being the master tracker she was. He had argued against it - against her - until he was breathless. But Thena let him yell and scream his frustrations. And then, when he was done, she reached for his hand and pulled him back in the direction of the river--the direction of escape, of progress.

He hadn't tried to leave since. She would only find him. And he could remember the hurt in her eyes. She prided herself so much on being so unreadable but her eyes always told him all that he needed to know. And he had hurt her by trying to leave, no matter how well intentioned. So he kept quiet.

"Gil."

He opened his eyes, staring up at the cave ceiling, dark and damp and bleak. He knew the feeling.

"You should be resting," she said softly, turning from the low fire to look at him. "Are you hungry? I can-"

"No." She stilled, going back to sitting with her legs curled up to her chest. Her chainmail made the smallest tinkling noise with her movements. But despite the disappearance of the deviants, it wasn't safe for her to remove it. Not yet, at least. He sighed, "no."

Thena went back to staring at the fire. He could tell she wanted to say something; he could always tell when she had something on the tip of her tongue. But he knew that she didn't consider herself to have a way with words. She did better with actions.

He couldn't imagine a more devoted act of love than travelling to the ends of the earth with him and his demons.

Gil opened his eyes again, finding Thena leaning over him, staring in a way that reminded him of...him. He used to stare at her every chance he got. She would ask what he as doing and he would tell her-

"It's good for the soul," Thena whispered, running a finger along his hairline, "to admire beautiful things."

He let out a weak laugh, and even the attempt at it made her look like she was aching from the inside out. A few days and she already missed his laugh. "Stealing my lines?"

She managed a smile. His hand came up slowly and she captured it in hers. She tucked some hair behind her ear and leaned over, kissing his cheek. "You're okay."

He didn't know if she was saying it for him or for herself. But he wasn't going to stop her if she wanted to do it again. He gave her hand a squeeze in his. "You should try to rest too."

Thena's eyes immediately travelled to the cave entrance, and he knew why; he could have no fiercer protector--no one stronger, or more vigilant and resolved. And it wasn't because she was the Goddess of War. It was because she was Thena, and he was Gilgamesh.

Gil blinked as - instead of lying down close to the fire - he felt her lay her head on his chest. He looked down, but all he could see was the crown of her head, her mane of sunlight blond spilling everywhere. Her knees were bent against his side. She wasn't exactly lying down. "Thena, I mean rest--real rest."

"Sh, I'm trying to sleep."

He laughed for real this time, and she bounced as his chest did. She looked up at him, smiling genuinely at the real laugh that escaped him. Her eyes sparkled, between the light of the moon and the glow of the fire. He always preferred them to any stars or constellations.

Thena let out a soft breath as he looked at her, resting her chin on her hand, and her hand on his heart. She looked softer than normal.

"Thena," he softened as well, but he had a sadder undertone to him, even as he lifted a hand to brush the back of his fingers over her cheek. "Don't sleep so close. I could hurt you."

"No," she said with such certainty he could cry, "you can't."

He could. If he fell into the Mahdness while she was asleep he could crush her in his arms. And even she was not strong enough to keep him from snapping her lithe frame like a twig. And what if he woke like that? She was a light sleeper, but she was also exhausted. And he was in no condition to fight off sleep. He already had to sleep half the day just to keep going-

"Gilgamesh." She came even closer, resting both hands under her head on top of him. "Listen: you cannot hurt me."

"I could-"

"Never."

He really wished he had the confidence she had. But the way she said it--the way she looked at him when she said it. He wanted to believe it as much as she did.

"Now," she inhaled, only to sigh and soften against him again. She nuzzled her face into his chest, and he could feel her chest against his ribs as she breathed. "I am going to sleep. And I suggest you do the same."

He smiled up at the cave ceiling, allowing himself the luxury of putting a hand on her shoulder as he tried to let go. Maybe she did have a way with words.

When he woke to the sun rising, panic overtook him. He had slipped into such a heavy sleep he could barely remember where they were. His first instinct was to spring up and survey the situation. But he couldn't.

Thena was still sleeping soundly against him. So soundly that him startling awake hadn't roused her, which meant she was well and truly exhausted. But she was so comfortable with her head to his chest and her side sealed to his. He had pulled her closer in the night.

He should have woken her. He should have escaped her hold on him and stood up. He should have gone for food for them so he could still be of at least some use along their endless new journey together.

But instead, he laid back down, holding her close, smiling as she did.

[softquietsteadylove]

07 - Chaotic Family

"Hey you, how are you feeling?"

Thena opened her eyes slowly, lashes fluttering up at the ceiling. She sighed as Gil appeared above her, returned with water and a cloth.

The trip to South America had been long without the Domo's comfort and speed. And she had suffered seasickness the entire way. The family had tried to help, but for as much as they could stay on deck and try to get her some fresh air, every night she spent in the women's quarters without him worsened her nausea.

Gil dampened the cloth, squeezing out the excess. It was already hot and humid around them, but at least being on solid land seemed to be helping her. He dabbed her forehead, brushing away her hair gently.

Thena smiled, inhaling as the relieving cool hit her skin. "Thank you."

She didn't have to thank him for anything. He would have held her the entire trip if he'd been able--if it would have helped her feel better. "Up?"

Thena nodded, and remained limp as he pulled her shoulders up with one of his solid arms. He was always so gentle with her. She remained in his embrace as he tipped the cup to her lips. "Better."

The single word made his entire face brighten with relief.

"Where are the others?" she asked after a few more minutes of Gil tipping water to her lips like a dying woman. She sat up further, although as soon as Gil was sitting beside her on the bench she leaned on him again.

"The usual," Gil smiled, speaking softly for the sake of her head. "Kingo and Makkari are trying to negotiate a place for us to stay. But there's a lot of us."

Thena nodded, eyes closed as she listened to the softness of his voice. "Ikaris and Sersi are married. They don't have to stay with us."

Gil chuckled. "I'm sure he's already found them a room. Sprite's pissed off 'cause she'll have to bunk with Ajak, as always."

"That's not why," Thena sighed, but Gil continued running through the list of their family.

"Kingo and Phastos don't wanna room together either, but," Gil left off at the end, shrugging the shoulder that didn't have precious cargo on it.

Thena smiled. They would be stuck together because Makkari and Druig were going to say that they were married. And she and Gil were inevitably going to do the same. As soon as she could stand without wanting to plummet to the ground again.

Gil rubbed her back, listening to the sounds of the lush jungle not far from the port. "Think you can eat?"

"Later," she grumbled, burying her face in his sleeve at just the thought. They were going to need new clothes to help them blend in. And they didn't even know what shapes the Deviants on this continent had evolved to take.

"Okay," Gil whispered, moving his hand to stroke her hair. She unwrapped her arms from herself and wrapped them around his arm instead. "I missed you."

"I missed you too," she smiled at him with her chin on his shoulder. He was always the more sentimental of the two of them, but she really had missed him any time he was not by her side on that accursed ship.

"Some," she sighed. Anyone else would have gotten a terse 'yes' at best, if they were to receive an answer at all. "It was hard in such a crowded space."

"Did you sleep?" he asked, brushing some hair away from her face just for something to do--just to keep her close and in the moment with him.

"Tell me about it," Gil smiled, and Thena smiled with him. "Kingo talked in his sleep every night. And Phastos snores."

"I'm sure he would argue against that."

"Can all he likes, it's true," Gil snorted and it drew a faint laugh out of her. He watched it like he would watch a sunrise: enraptured with its beauty. "Last trip for a while, huh?"

"Indeed," Thena mused. They all had a looming sense of uncertainty clinging to them. After this continent was cleared, their mission would be done. They would be left to be recalled to Olympia. And no one quite knew in what capacity they wanted to return. Or rather, they hadn't yet voiced it. "What do you think they're like here?"

"I hope less of them have wings," Gil sighed, although Thena didn't laugh this time. He looked at her again. "Hey."

She inhaled and held it for a moment. She knew what he was asking. "What will we do--when they're gone?"

"I don't know," Gil answered honestly, "but I guess we can figure that out then."

Thena held still for another moment, and Gil waited for what she wanted to say. "Do you think we'll stay together?"

He sighed this time. It was a question plenty of them had wondered. They didn't necessarily have to, once their mission was done. Any camaraderie a team had built over the course of their mission was their own to deal with as they chose. But nothing technically bound them beyond the obligations to their Prime, and to Arishem.

Thena's hand tightened around his arm. "Gil-"

"Whatever happens," he started the same instant, but Thena let him take the lead. He was better at speaking matters of the heart. "I'm with you."

Thena smiled, lighter than she had in weeks. Perhaps she hadn't realised just how relieved she would be to really hear him say it. But maybe she had wondered what would happen--what would become of them. Of course, thousands of years was a long time to spend together, even - maybe especially - as a family. But the thought of parting ways with Gilgamesh...she couldn't imagine it. It was completely unfathomable to her.

"You didn't really think I could leave this behind," he whispered, tangling their fingers together and squeezing her hand, "did you?"

"No," she whispered back with a soft smile. Maybe it was a lie, or maybe not. But it didn't matter, because they were here together right now, and that was all that she needed.

"Hey Lovebirds, we found an inn that'll take all of us!"

Gil groaned as Kingo barged into their quiet haven. "Come on, man!"

"Well, up and at 'em," Kingo chuckled at the sour looks the both of them gave him. "Go establish yourselves! Unless you'd rather they not believe you're married and be separated yet again."

A groan tore from Thena at the thought.

"Yeah, that's what I thought!" Kingo pointed over his shoulder. "Now I already talked up how long you've been together and how gross it is, so go prove my point!"

Thena glared at Kingo, who had no fear of her frostiness (usually). "Shall I throw you into the sea again?"

Kingo paled. She had thrown him overboard halfway through the voyage after he'd had a little too much fun laughing about the way she collapsed into Gil's arms any time she could. Ikaris had had to fish him out, away from prying eyes. "I'll tell Ajak on you."

"Yes, cry to mother," Thena rolled her eyes, still leaning on Gil heavily.

There you two are! Makkari smiled as she trotted in behind him. She tilted her head at Thena, how are you feeling?

Better, Thena signed back with a gentle smile of her own. How is Druig?

He hadn't done much better than she had, but at least he had been able to walk around on his own after disembarking. Makkari nodded her head towards the door. He's already looking around at what food there is here. Seems to be a lot of fruit.

Gil looked at Thena with a smile. She loved fruit, and he loved preparing it for her. "Think some mangoes might be light enough for your stomach?"

Thena could not have looked at him more adoringly.

"Ugh, put those lovesick eyes away," Druig snarked the second he entered the room. He laughed at his own joke, although he also fished a mango out of his rucksack and tossed it right to Thena. "Ready to get back on your feet?"

"If it's to drag myself to a bed," she responded rather candidly, calling up a knife just to peel the fruit in her hand.

"I second that," Sersi announced her arrival with Ikaris at her side. "The innkeeper is very nice, at least. Didn't ask too many questions, considering."

"Considering we look like a travelling circus?" Kingo raised a brow and plopped down on another bench.

"I would have said we look like travellers," Phastos argued, walking over to him swiftly. "And if you talk in your sleep at all tonight, I am waking you up without mercy."

"I do not talk in my sleep."

"You sing songs about yourself," Phastos shot back, crossing his arms at his bunkmate. "And they're not even good."

"Would you expect them to be?" Sprite laughed loudly at her squabbling family, particularly at Kingo's crossed arms and pouted lip. "Or are they just 'I am Kingo, I am great' over and over?"

"I'm no 'you' but even I'm a better lyricist than that," Kingo huffed in his own defense as he crossed his arms around himself tightly.

"Are you?" Ikaris smirked at him.

"All of you," Ajak sighed. She was also plenty drained from the voyage. Although she hadn't minded the sailing. It was mostly the struggle of wrangling the Eternals under her watch. Between desperately trying not to draw attention to themselves or keeping them from squabbling and starting a fight that could rip a hole in the ship, she'd had her hands full.

Ikaris cleared his throat and straightened up, as expected of the Golden Boy. "Right--grab what food you can from the open market. We'll figure out who's on the first watch rotation after we've eaten something."

Everyone groaned and rolled their eyes loudly. Kingo voiced his complaints the loudest, despite being close with his brother in arms. Phastos was next in line to complain, mostly not one to take orders from any of his knuckleheaded comrades. Sprite jumped to Ikaris' defense, even though she was always the first to literally disappear whenever time for watch duty actually arrived.

The Warrior just smiled at her, allowing the affection passively. "Improving."

Ajak drifted from the petty arguing to Thena's side. She ran a hand over the blonde's hair, although she didn't pull Thena away from the support of Gilgamesh's shoulder. "How are you, my beautiful Thena?"

Ajak smiled at Gilgamesh. His comfort was far more effective a remedy for Thena than her own healing hands (not that she could dispel nausea for her). "Well, whenever you're ready, go settle into your room for the night. You can take watch duty tomorrow."

Thena nodded her thanks. Gil nodded to Ajak as well, and it didn't need to be said that he would be excused with her. "Are you gonna break it to them?"

Ajak smiled at the room full of her squabbling children. She was sure a full on fistfight was about to erupt, between Ikaris' temper, Kingo's ego, Phastos' obstinance and Druig's love of the chaos. But she nodded to them, "you go. I'll take care of things here."

"Thanks," Gil smiled as he picked Thena up in his arms without a second thought.

Ajak smiled at them, listening to Thena argue that she could walk fine now, that he had no need to carry her. But he insisted, saying that it wouldn't hurt to be carrying his ailing 'wife' straight to their room. That seemed to quell any protests the Warrior Eternal might have had.

[softquietsteadylove]

03 - Remember

Gilgamesh was still acclimating to the world around him. It was a lot to absorb. He had awakened to absolutely nothing familiar. He felt like he had been wiped clean. But it wasn't amnesia; he had been told that he was an Eternal, that he had been living on Earth for thousands of years. They had told him that he had died, and that they had recovered him from the world forge, re-downloaded memories and all.

They would just...take a little to come back to him.

He wished he could talk to them--his fellow Eternals. But they were scattered about the ship. He supposed he couldn't blame them; they had a lot to talk about. Sersi, Kingo and Phastos had actual homes and people to return to. The ones who had come to rescue him apparently didn't. Makkari and Druig clearly had and only needed each other.

Then there was Thena.

He didn't know what their relationship was from before, but she had hardly looked at him since he woke. And the others were absolutely no help with it, telling him vague placations, like 'let her come to you' and 'don't rush her'. He could appreciate her family being protective of her, but he just wanted to introduce himself.

Well, maybe he did want to do more than that. But he couldn't shake the feeling that he knew her. And, well, he technically knew everyone there. But he felt like he really knew Thena. And he wanted to know her again.

But Thena remained at the command, for the most part. She had a crew of Druig and Makkari, having guided them all the way to the World Forge, to say nothing of the thousands of years they'd spent with each other as family before. Since gaining back Phastos, he had taken up the helm more often. Mostly, the family bickered a lot about who was truly in charge.

Gilgamesh lingered around the edges of whatever room he was allowed to be in, not wanting to be in anyone's way. The others had all come and talked to him individually.

He knew who they were, in a way. Their names were familiar on his tongue, and when he spoke with them, he had a way of knowing that Sersi was sweet and quiet, that Kingo was vain but caring, that Druig was a little shit who meant well, Makkari was both sweet and a little shit, and Phastos was everyone's tired dad.

Thena: when he thought of her - said her name to himself - his mind would come alive. It was like staring into the sun, though. It was too bright, too blinding, and too much all at once for him to really be able to see anything. He knew that she meant a lot to him. He knew that he wanted to talk with her--be closer to her. And he knew that her ignoring him was really getting to him.

"Thena," he leaned off the greentank edge.

"Make sure our course is direct," Thena said to Sersi at her side. Sersi, who had turned to Gilgamesh when he spoke. Thena touched Sersi's arm lightly, "for Phastos' sake."

Sersi nodded, looking between them curiously as she wandered out of his lab and back to the observation deck. Gil smiled at her as she left before focusing on Thena again. "Thena?"

"You should rest."

Warrior Eternal indeed, there was no penetrating that frosty wall.

"What if I'm tired of resting?" She remained turned away from him. "It sounds like I've been resting for a while now."

Her shoulders hitched, and he frowned. He hadn't meant to hurt her. "You have a long road ahead of you, Gilgamesh. You should save your strength."

"I thought I had strength to spare," he suggested lightly, hoping that his amiable tone might encourage her to relax a little. He continued his approach, pleased when she let him come side to side with her. He leaned, trying to get a better look at her, but her plume of thick, platinum blond was in the way.

"Everyone has their limits."

Yes, he was certainly learning that the hard way. He inched closer to her, closer and closer until she went still. That was far enough, evidently. He tried again. "Thena, would you...would you tell me more about yourself?"

She shuddered. He really had hurt her.

"I-I'm sorry," he shook his head, searching for the words. He hadn't meant to--the last thing he wanted to do was cause her any pain.

Her grip on herself remained tight. Her shoulders hunched, as if she had wings she could fold around herself protectively. "You have nothing to be sorry for."

He did not think that was true.

"I am sorry, Gilgamesh." She sniffed away any trace of tears and turned to him, letting her hair fan out from her with the sharpness of her movement. Her eyes were still glittering, but she refused to let her tears fall. "I am the one who has caused you this pain. You have-"

Thena's words died in the air as he pulled her to him. They fit together like it was the most natural thing in the world. At least something could feel right to him, right now, with everything going on. He held her, quiet and steadfast as she slowly let herself go.

Gil's hand raised up to run over her hair. She cried quietly, but he could feel it--the grief wracking her smaller frame against his. She buried her face in his chest, her tears falling to the floor between them. "It's okay. We're okay."

That seemed to only make things worse. But he kept holding her, kept trying to whisper comforting nothings. He had a feeling they were more nothings than comfort, but he was really trying.

"I missed you."

The words themselves seemed painful for her utter. He got the impression that he might never be able to understand how much she had missed him. And he - apparently - was going to live forever.

Thena pulled away from him slowly, letting herself keep her walls down and her defenses low. She closed her eyes as he raised a hand to wipe away her tears. Her lips pulled into a faint whisper of a smile.

"There," he nearly whispered as they separated, but their hands remained connected. He never wanted to let it go. "Better?"

She sighed. She would probably always be looking at him like that--like she knew everything he was going to say before he even said it. "Yes."

Gilgamesh tilted his head at her, and she mirrored the action, waiting for his words. He blinked, shook his head. "Wow."

"What?" she frowned.

The thought came so fast he couldn't stop it: "you're even more beautiful than I remember."

Thena's expression was indescribable. She had so many feelings bubbling under that smooth surface of hers.

"Sorry," he apologised again, smiling down between them sheepishly. "I shouldn't say stuff like that so lightly."

Thena shook her head, making herself distant and unreadable again. "Your memories will come to you in time. There is no need to rush anything."

It seemed like a dismissal, like she thought he was just saying something she wanted to hear. But he got the distinct impression that the Goddess of War did not take flattery lightly. "I mean it, though."

"Save your strength, Gilgamesh," she chided, beginning the walk back to the main deck.

He jogged a little to catch up, "it's obvious, y'know--how pretty you are."

"That's enough, Gil," she rolled her eyes at him, but he could see the faint pink in her cheeks as he offered his praises.

He remembered that reaction to his flattery very clearly.

[eternalowl]

Day 2 - First Kiss

Posted on ao3 with the title “I’d rather be dry (but at least I’m alive)”

““It’ll be fine,” he said. “It’s not going to rain at all,” he said. “WE WON’T GET SOAKED AT ALL,” HE SAID,” Thena ranted, gesturing wildly with her hands.

“I’m sorry! I must’ve looked at the wrong day!” Kingo said, trying to defend himself.

“No shit,” Ikaris deadpanned.

“Excuse me, but my CHILD is here.” Phastos glared at Ikaris.

I just wanted to eat my sandwich in peace but then the world just went “Nope. Abso-fucking-lutely d e n i e d”, Makkari complained with a dramatic flair of her wrists.

“Hey Ikaris, how about you fly up there and fight a cloud,” Druig suggested, desperately trying to fight back his laughter.

“Can’t fly, dumba- idiot.”

“That’s it. I’m just going to call an Uber,” Kingo said as he surrendered, throwing his arms up in the air and later pulling his phone out of his pocket.

“Can I go with you?” Ajak asked, her damp hair clinging to her face.

“Sure. Anyone else?”

“I’m not walking out here anymore,” Sprite said, holding her soaked hood above her head.

“Can we join too?” Sersi asked.

“You can, but not Ikaris.”

“I might actually throw YOU into the sky instead of Druig.”

“Fine. You can go too.”

“Good idea on calling an Uber,” Ben said as he took his phone out of his pocket.

“You’re not coming with us?” Kingo asked.

“We’re a family of three and you guys are already trying to shove five people in a car,” Phastos deadpanned.

Can we go with you? Makkari asked for both herself and Druig.

“I guess we’re cramming five people into another car,” Phastos mumbled.

“Thena? Gil? Who are you going with?” Kingo asked.

“I’ll walk in the rain. I’m not a pussy,” Thena said, earning a loud laugh from Gilgamesh.

“Jack, earmuffs,” Phastos said to his son. Jack covered his ears with his hands, imitating earmuffs. “Thena, what the hell? Even Ikaris was able to restrain himself!”

“Oh, so you can swear?” Druig said, sounding slightly agitated.

“Say something like that one more time and you’ll lose the ability to say anything,” Thena said while glaring at Phastos, which earned a laugh from Druig.

“This is why she’s my favorite. Well, my favorite after my beautiful, beautiful Makkari,” Druig said, giving his girlfriend a warm smile and a light peck to the forehead.

“Okay, seriously, how long has that been going on for?” Phastos asked, wildly gesturing to the couple.

“About five days,” Kingo replied.

“Shut your mouth,” Druig said as he glared at the man.

“So mean…”

The Ubers arrived a few minutes later and the others were gone. Thena and Gilgamesh were left to walk alone in the rain.

“You wanted to take the Uber, didn’t you?”

“No.”

“Why?”

“I just want to be with you.” Hearing that made Gil’s blood rush to his cheeks. “Also, my house isn’t too far from here anyway.”

Gil looked at the street sign. “Hm, I guess I wasn’t paying any attention,” he said with a chuckle.

The two walked slowly in silence for a bit. Thena let her head rest against one of Gil’s broad shoulders.

“Thank you,” Thena said out of nowhere. “For walking me home,” she added a few seconds later.

“No need to thank me; I’m always happy to spend time with you, even if it’s short like this,” Gil said, earning a warm smile from Thena.

About a minute later, Gil looked to the side and at Thena, who was still smiling. Her face was wet and her hair was drenched.

Why does she have to be so beautiful? Gil asked himself before blushing deeply and shaking his head as if to banish the thought.

Before either of them knew it, they were walking up to Thena’s front door. She fished into her pocket and retrieved her keys. She put the key in the door and opened it.

“If you want, you can stay until the rain passes,” Thena offered.

“It’s fine, I have some work to get done so I need to head back to my hotel room anyway.”

“Stop by tomorrow?”

“Of course!”

Thena walked back out and gave Gil a goodbye hug. After a few seconds, they pulled apart. When they pulled apart, Thena didn’t go back into her house. They both stared deeply into each other’s eyes. Eventually, Thena’s eyes drifted down to Gil’s lips. She placed a hand on Gil’s cheek and stood on the tips of her toes. She tilted her head and leaned in, placing and long and soft kiss on his lips and making his eyes widen. Gil then returned her kiss, still surprised at Thena’s sudden action. She wrapped her arms around his neck. One of her hands later made it into his hair as his hands drifted to her back. The rain continued to beat down on them as their need for each other increased. They pulled apart, breathing heavily and lips still centimeters away from each other’s.

After catching their breaths, they went back in. This time, their kisses were filled with hunger. Before anything could escalate to a point beyond return, they pulled away. They stayed close to each other for a little while, breaths mingling in the air between them.

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” Thena said as she walked back into her house. She shut her door, leaving a dumbfounded Gilgamesh out in the rain on her doorstep.

Who could have known Thena felt the same way? he thought before he walked away from her front door.

[softquietsteadylove]

Spicy 02 - Shower

Each of the Eternals slogged onto the Domo after the fight they'd endured. It was long, it was brutal. And it had not gone as well as some of them might have liked.

Thena clawed off the Deviant flesh clinging to her, tossing it to the floor and kicking what she needed to out of her way.

"Thena," Sersi attempted but was just as ignored as everyone else as the Warrior Eternal continued into the bowels of the ship.

"It's okay, Sersi," Gilgamesh offered, also on his way back to his own room. "I'll talk to her."

Thena stormed back to her room, already letting her armour dispel from around her. She was in just the micromesh suit of it by the time her door opened and she felt the heavy footsteps behind her. "I'm fine, Gilgamesh."

"Thena," he called to her, following her in after she left the door open for him. "Everyone has their days."

She didn't respond to him, letting her armour disappear completely.

Gil sighed. He was also a mess, but no one was as covered in the entrails as Thena, which he knew was contributing to her ire. Thena didn't make mistakes, she didn't slip, she didn't break. And she didn't let her perfect form cause her to get covered in blood in and entrails. "I'm sorry, but you know that-"

"Gil," she called from her shower.

"I don't care that I'm covered in blood, I don't care that I was in that thing's jaws," she listed off, although her voice was still plenty agitated. He came into the bathroom and she faced him with her hands on her hips.

Gil inhaled as she pulled him to her, kissing him hard. His arms wound around her instinctively. He moaned against her lips.

"I care that I was almost too late to save you," she growled, dragging him in by the shoulders and throwing him against the shower wall.

Gil grunted as she turned the water on, letting it spill over them. "D-Do you always shower cold?"

"Sorry," she muttered, reaching out to adjust the temperature from her standard to hot water. Her muscles did thank her as they began the slow process of unwinding.

He chuckled, still holding her as she pinned him. He pushed some hair back out of her face. "The cold water isn't going to do me any favours."

Thena's eyes dashed down. "You needn't worry about that. Your size is always perfectly pleasing."

Gil blushed. She had no apprehension at all about bringing up things like that.

She kissed him again, more softly. The urgency of having him in her hands - alive and well - was mellowing. "I don't like imagining what can happen to you."

"Hey," he whispered between kisses. He reached up to hold her cheeks in his hands. "You are not out there alone. I'm right beside you. You take care of me, I take care of you."

She sighed, blinking at him as the water streamed over them. He pushed off the wall and she let him switch them, the water streaming over his shoulders as his hands trailed down her back. "I know."

"Yeah, we had a close call today," he said gently, whispering as quietly as he could while being heard over the water. He kissed her again. "That happens sometimes. But we're here."

Thena sighed as he pressed her hand to his chest, letting her feel his heart under her palm. She let the sound soak into her, nodding at him, as he did. "We're here."

"We're here," he promised her again. He kissed her again, too, and some of the earlier urgency returned. She pulled him tighter, leaning her lithe form against him more. He grunted as her hips knocked into his.

She allowed herself a smile. He was here, alive and well in her arms. And she was no longer covered in disgusting muck. But despite Ajak's healing, she was still feeling a little tense. "See?"

"Hm?" Gil blinked, just barely able to register what she'd asked.

"You have nothing to worry about," she smiled against his lips, rolling her hips against his again and encouraging him to harden against her.

Gil groaned into the kiss, uncaring if it was his embarrassment or his growing need for her. He slid his hands down the curve of her back and gripped her thigh.

Thena gasped as he rubbed his length against her clit. He kept her lips close, never letting her get too far away from him. Her hands were all over him, in every way. He was very here, and he would not let her forget that. "Gil."

"Ready?"

"Yes," she whimpered, reaching down and digging her nails into the plump of his hip over the bone.

He slid into her slowly and carefully, but she was indeed ready. He parted with her reluctantly, only to use one hand to brace himself against the wall, and let the other arm wrap around her waist and hold her to him.

"Gil," Thena moaned, her head rolling back to rest against the back wall of the shower. It only got louder as he hoisted up her other leg, pressing her harder against the wall and fucking her literally in his arms. "Gil!"

Gilgamesh groaned as he wound tight. Thena's back pounded against the wall of the shower, but her moans and gasps - and the feeling of her around him - assured him. His fingers flexed against the wall, with her legs hooked around his arms. Thena's nails dragged along his the skin of his broad shoulders. "Thena, love, I-"

"It's okay," she gasped as he pounded into her. She hooked an arm around his neck, pulling his head into the side of her neck. He was going to leave a mark, but she didn't mind that right now.

"Thena!"

Thena gasped for air as she felt him come. He kept moving, kept on her, kept in her. "Yes!"

Gil let out a second groan as he felt her follow him in her release, flexing and fluttering around him. They both panted for air, half kissing, half gasping. He reached blindly for the shower control, tired of swallowing water instead of tasting her.

Thena sighed as the water faded and Gil's lips replaced it, taking over the rest of her senses. He let her legs down slowly and gently. Her knees were not at their strongest when they did hit the floor again, but he was still holding her tight against him. And Gilgamesh would never let her fall to the floor.

"You okay?" he asked, still regaining his breath as he pulled away.

"I'm okay," she nodded, also still out of breath. "You're okay."

Gil smiled, kissing her again. "We're okay."

The both blinked as they heard a faint pounding on the other side of the wall.

"We are all okay, but I swear to all the stars above, if you do not keep it down-!"

[softquietsteadylove]

Spicy 03 - Sweet and Slow

"What a day," Gilgamesh noted aloud as he stretched in front of her window. They were all staying in the palace for Ikaris and Sersi's nuptials. They each technically had their own rooms, but it wasn't as if Druig and Makkari weren't snuggled up in her bed at the moment.

"Yes," Thena commented lightly as she slipped off her golden accessories and unwrapped her saree.

"Hey," Gil smiled, coming over to her and touching a hand to her now bare arm. "Wasn't so bad."

She smiled at him as he started trailing his fingers over her, unpinning and untucking her elaborate and heavy formal attire. She began the same on him. "No."

But Gil knew better than that, because it was her, and because of course he did. She'd had a look on her face all day. Even during the ceremony, she had managed to not actively frown at best. But he'd stayed by her side from the morning and all through the celebration.

Thena sighed as he reached around her to unclip the gold at her neck. It made for an easy excuse to start kissing her neck. "Should I be doing this myself?"

"Don't mind me," he smiled against her skin, persisting in his affections as he continued to tug the heavy white silks away from her. "I just want you to be comfortable."

And she certainly was never more comfortable than when she was with Gilgamesh.

Thena practically purred as he laid her down on the bed, kissing his way over her sweetly and gently. As was Gilgamesh's way.

He let his hands drift over her as he finally freed her from and any and all binds. She smiled as the cool of the night air could hit her skin. The moonlight reflected off her pallor, giving her a glow.

She opened her eyes as he laid their silks aside for them, folded with care. She raised an eyebrow, "are you not joining me?"

He chuckled as he laid down beside her, sliding their fingers together and burying his nose against the nape of her neck. "Impatient?"

"Have you known me to be-" Thena's breath caught as he nipped at the top of her spine. He returned to kissing as if it never happened. She rolled her eyes, as if he could see her; "patient?"

"No," he smiled between kisses. He was still amidst his task of kissing every bit of bare skin in front of him when she arched her back, pushing herself closer to him.

Thena let out another purr as she felt him twitch against the curve of her. She turned over as far as she could, reaching for his cheek. Gil's arm slid under the slope of her waist and easily rolled her over to face him. It was far easier to kiss him at this angle.

Gil pressed their lips together, inhaling through his nose as he slipped into her. Neither of them moved, just lying atop her bed, bare to each other and moon herself. Her leg tightened around his hip. He wove their fingers together again.

Thena sighed as he rocked against her, so slow and light that she wasn't sure if he was moving or of she was, or if they were moving at all. In a rare instance, her mind wasn't on anything. She didn't have to calculate or think or suspect about anyone or any attack. All she had to do was feel the man connected to her.

"Thena," Gilgamesh uttered, the name pulled from his lips by sheer feeling. She kissed him in reply. Their breaths mingled together as her room became hotter. He was still barely moving, just enough for them to feel each other, every breath, every heartbeat.

"Gil." It was such a soft little sigh, and it held his heart entirely captive. He was hers, forever, in every way.

"Would you think about it?" he had asked her as this very day had approached. "Getting married?"

Thena had just shrugged her shoulders, taking in the view atop the Great Wall. "Aren't we--in a sense?"

And she was right. He certainly was hers and only hers. And perhaps it had affirmed that she was equally his, in a way that he had always felt but Thena had never expressed so openly. But they were indeed each other's. And apparently, she was more sure of it than anyone.

"Gil," she whimpered, rolling her hips against his. Their lips met, limbs tangled. She dragged in air and he tilted her head up, hand cupping her jaw as she gasped.

Gil grunted, feeling her clamp down around him, fluttering with every frantic beat of her heart. He followed in an instant, panting for breath and swallowing her air in their proximity.

Thena kissed him as much as she was able between breaths. They could hold their breath longer than any creature, and she was no stranger to adrenaline in the system. But the rush of battle never left her as breathless as a single kiss from this man.