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fateinthestars · 1 day ago

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Star Crossed Myth Advent Calendar 2024 Fanfic: Day Twenty Five - Christmas at the Mansion (Choose your God/MC)

(Fanfic Advent Calendar for 2024 using this prompt list from creativepromptsforwriting)

Title: Day Twenty Five - Christmas at the Mansion

Pairing: Choose your God/MC (MC's name left blank so you can fill it in with whatever you wish in your head)

Characters: MC, Leon, Zyglavis, Karno, Scorpio, Huedhaut, Ichthys, Teorus, Dui, Tauxolouve, Partheno, Aigonorus, Krioff

Word Count: 6,822

Rating: T

Prompts: Family, Cookies, Reunions, Wishes, Silence, Fireworks

Summary: Now husband and wife, MC and her god spend Christmas Eve at the mansion with the other gods for a special celebration

A/N: SURPRISE!!!! MERRY CHRISTMAS! HAPPY HANNAKUH! HAPPY HOLIDAYS! HAPY DECEMBER! Whatever it is you do or do not celebrate, hope you enjoy one more foray into the Star Crossed Myth Universe. Maybe you had worked out there would be something from the length of the prompt list, or maybe you noticed I had this set to twenty-five chapters on AO3 but I hope this still comes as a pleasant surprise to those of you who noticed: After all, I never mentioned that I was going to do a final fic with versions for every god! These are set after Promise of Infinity so beware potential spoilers. (If you want to skip down to a particular god use the following as your search command: Story 1: Leon, Story 2: Zyglavis, Story 3: Karno, Story 4: Scorpio, Story 5: Huedhaut, Story 6: Ichthys, Story 7: Teorus, Story 8: Dui, Story 9: Tauxolouve, Story 10: Partheno, Story 11: Aigonorus, Story 12: Krioff ). I really hope these came out okay, I was hoping to do this but I started writing these rather late Christmas Eve. 😅 (It's gone midnight here now so it's Christmas Day!)

Day Twenty-Five: Christmas at the Mansion (Choose your God or read all 12!)

It was the first Christmas after ____ had got married in the heavens, and as such the gods decided they should do something different that year. They still had the mansion so they decided that they would throw a party on Christmas Eve. Arriving at the mansion, ____ stepped into the hallway and was greeted by her husband…

Story 1: Leon

The new King of the Heavens smiled softly as she entered the mansion. “Glad to know you still know not to keep me waiting.”

“Are you sure it’s alright for you to be away from the heavens, even for a few hours?”

Leon frowned at her. “If the heavens cannot cope without my presence then it deserves to fall.”

“Leon…”

The other rolled his eyes. “I asked Minister Ponytail to stay up there for now. As long as one of the departments is there to report to me if necessary I can be up there in an instant.”

____ sighed softly. She knew full well why he had got Zyglavis to be the one who stayed up there - and it wasn’t because he trusted the other the most. She would have to make sure that someone else took over later so that the Minister of Punishments could take a break.

“How are you feeling?”

Hearing Leon’s tone unusually concerned, ____ smiled lovingly at him. “You don’t need to worry about the baby,” she reassured him. “If you start fretting you’ll worry Hue about that…”

Leon nodded and tried to relax. He looked back toward the living room door with slight irritation crossing his features. “Are you sure you want to bother with this nonsense?”

“Leon, our friends have gone to great lengths for this party tonight, we should at least attend! I’ve made cookies for everyone.”

“O ho? Making food for others again and saying so whilst standing in my presence, that’s rather bold of you.”

____ rolled her eyes. “I meant you as well, but…” she pulled a tub of meatballs out of the bag she’d been carrying. “I imagine you’d rather have these.”

Leon grinned at her and took them from her, before linking arms with her. “Come on then, let’s get this over with.”

“It seems rather quiet in here right now,” ____ murmured with surprise as they moved over to the doorway.

“I wanted that fish out of the way for the moment, so I summoned some snow. I think he and Teorus were making a snowman.”

Stifling a laugh at that, ____ headed into the living room with Leon. She smiled brightly at the others gathered, overjoyed to be reunited with almost everyone at once. As she sat down on the sofa and placed the plate of cookies she’d bought with her on the coffee table, Huedhaut went to pour a glass of wine for Leon.

The Head of Wishes, however, shook his head and draped an arm around ____’s shoulders. “I take it you haven’t been drinking?” He asked his wife.

“Of course not,” ____ murmured. “But that doesn’t mean you have to abstain from it as well.”

Leon smirked at her. “I’m sure you’ll think of a way to make it up to me.”

“Then if Leo’s not drinking, I won’t either,” Karno spoke up softly. “Besides that way, I’ll be with it enough to switch places with Zyglavis later.”

“You don’t have to bother with that,” Leon muttered.

“Tch,” Scorpio glared at him. “Perhaps I’ll go back right now and you can have him for the entire time.”

Leon sighed. “Fine. Karno if you are sure you’ll be alright doing that…”

“As your right hand man I see ____ more than a lot of us as it is,” Karno pointed out. “I really don’t mind.”

Huedhaut sighed softly. “Does anyone actually want a drink or are we actually for once going to have a calmer celebration?”

“Please don’t hesitate on my account,” ____ hastily added.

“Meh, it’s whatever,” Aigonorus murmured. “If Leo’s not drinking there’s not much point in me bothering.”

“I think it’s sweet of Leon to do this for the little lady. It’s only one day after all. ‘Sides, It’d kinda be nice to just catch up dontcha think?”

____ smiled softly at Tauxolouve, then sighed at the glance Huedhaut and Dui were sharing. “Look, I really don’t mind,” she murmured to them both.

Huedhaut, however, shook his head and made his bottle disappear. He looked over to her and Leon with a glint in his eyes. “I never thought I’d see the day that His Highness refused a drink.”

Leon glowered at him. “Perhaps I should send you back up to the heavens instead of Karno.”

Before Huedhaut could respond to that or ____ could think of something to interject, the door to the living room swung open and Teorus came running in with an annoyed look on his face. He was covered in snow.

“Pretending to be a real snowman, Teo?” Huedhaut teased him.

“That's not funny, Hue,” Teorus grumbled with a pout. “Ikky made my snowman explode.”

“Teo you didn't have to tell the others that!” Ichthys exclaimed, running in after the other.

As the atmosphere in the living room appeared to get more fraught and ____ could feel Leon reaching the end of his patience at her side, she forced a soft smile. “I've missed this,” she murmured. “Feels like forever I saw all of you away from the heavens like this.”

The others settled down at that comment, and Leon turned back to his wife with a soft smile. “That's as may be, but I will have some time alone with you too. Come with me a moment.”

Smiling somewhat uneasily at the others, ____ followed Leon as the other stormed off, knowing that she best not keep him waiting.

She eventually caught him up out on the balcony upstairs. “Leon, you know the others were just -”

“Of course,” Leon interrupted her, “but I wanted to do this. Don't tell me you've forgotten what I've done several times before?” He asked, raising his hand and snapping his fingers.

The sky behind him lit up with fireworks, though this time it was made up of festive imagery such as Christmas trees and baubles. “Merry Christmas ____ .”

“Merry Christmas, Leon!”

Story 2: Zyglavis

The Minister of Punishments smiled tenderly at ____ as she arrived. He stepped nearer his wife and cupped her face with a gloved hand. “You are looking more beautiful than ever.”

“Zyglavis…” ____ murmured back, her voice cracking a little. “I am glad you are already here,” she somewhat hesitantly added.

The other stiffened a little at that and glanced awkwardly to the side. “Ah. Yes, this week has been rather tiresome, my apologies if I have been less available than last month.”

“You know I understand,” ____ responded softly, wrapping her arms around him.

About to pull him into a kiss, they were interrupted by a crashing noise in the living room. She sighed softly as her husband’s eyes hardened somewhat in irritation. “Ichthys by any chance?”

“I would be very surprised if we headed to the living room and it was anyone else, though I would not put it past that wretched lion to cause a disturbance. It is not too late for us to slip away on our own somewhere.”

“The others went to all this effort for us,” ____ responded softly. “Besides, I’d like to see everyone.”

“I am aware of that,” Zyglavis murmured, his tone now more gentle once more. His gaze then moved to the bag she was carrying. “I thought I said it was not necessary for you to bring anything with you today?”

“I wanted to add something to the party,” ____ protested. “It’s just a few cookies.”

“You spoil them,” Zyglavis muttered. “They are being loud enough already as it is without them clamouring over your homemade bakes…”

“Zyglavis, relax, it’s Christmas,” ____ murmured softly, taking his hand in her own.

“That is as may be, but would a little quiet be too much to ask?”

____ stifled a laugh. “With everyone here? Even without Ichthys I fear that would be an impossible mission.”

Zyglavis relaxed into a wry smile. “True. And I can hardly be entirely mad at them when without them, this…”

As he trailed off, ____ squeezed his hand tightly. “Don’t dwell on the past. You’re here. Not only that but we’re married.”

“Yes, we are,” Zyglavis murmured back softly. “Well then, I suppose we best face the chaos.”

____ nodded and headed into the living room with the other.

Once they were the other side of the doorway, ____’s eyes widened with surprise. The floor was covered with snow, and there were snow versions of the gods around the large Christmas tree in the corner of the room.

“What is the meaning of this?” Zyglavis asked with a harsh tone.

“I thought I’d make the place look more festive!” Ichthys responded with a laugh.

As Zyglavis turned his attention to the prankster, ____ squeezed his arm gently. “Let him be happy like this. Just for tonight. It really does look pretty.”

Zyglavis sighed heavily. “You know if you give him an inch he’ll take a mile…” He muttered quietly to her.

“But it is Christmas,” ____ protested. “And you’re usually too harsh on him. Let it stay like this. For me. Please.”

“... Very well,” Zyglavis muttered resignedly.

Joining the others on the sofas in the middle of the living room, ____ started passing her cookies around whilst Huedhaut poured everyone a glass of wine.

“Have ya thought about startin’ a family yet, Zig?” Tauxolouve asked him softly whilst ____ was busy talking to the others.

Zyglavis hesitated, then shook his head. “I think I have enough family to keep an eye on already as it is. Besides…” He trailed off, looking awkwardly to the side to avert his gaze from Tauxolouve.

The God of Sagittarius, however, laughed lightly. “It’s okay. I’m sure worries over demigods would never leave you of all people.”

The Minister of Punishments looked back to him with a soft sigh. “That is no excuse for me even thinking about that, especially in your presence. You have my apologies.”

“There’s really no need,” Tauxolouve responded softly. “Though you will talk to her about this, right?”

“... When the time is right,” Zyglavis agreed. “Is everything set up for the fireworks display later?” He added quietly.

“Yup,” Tauxolouve reassured him. “Partheno and I made sure none of the others interfered with that.”

Zyglavis nodded in understanding and turned back away from the other.

Soon after that, ____ rejoined his side, handing him a glass of wine as well as a cookie.

About to refuse the cookie, Zyglavis blushed a little as he realised this one was different from all the others. It was heart shaped with ‘I love you’ written on it in chocolate ganache. “What am I to do with you?” he mumbled under his breath as he took it from her with a smile of thanks. He glanced at it, mulling something over.

“Zyglavis? Are you alright? Do you not like it?”

“... It is not that,” Zyglavis muttered, heat rising to his cheeks. “It is just…”

____ rested a hand on his arm. “Talk to me.”

“It seems a shame to eat this after all the care and attention you put into it.”

“Oh Zyglavis,” ____ murmured, her voice full of love. “I can always make another one if you want more.”

Zyglavis however, shook his head. Snapping his fingers the cookie suddenly got coated in a weird plastic like material and a ribbon was added to it through a hole at the top. Taking his tie off, he put it on, before replacing his tie over the top. “This way you’ll always be with me,” he muttered, his voice barely audible.

____ smiled softly, unshed happy tears glinting in her eyes. She glanced around to make sure no one was looking at them right now, then placed a brief kiss to his lips. “Merry Christmas, Zyglavis.”

“Merry Christmas, ____.”

Story 3: Karno

Karno pulled ____ into a hug the second she stepped through the door, placing a quick kiss to her lips before stepping back.

____ flushed red, taken by surprise at him greeting her so suddenly. “What was that in aid of?”

“Can’t I show my wife how much I missed her?” Karno retorted with a familiar smile.

Trying to calm down how flustered she felt, ____ forced a smile of her own back at him. It didn’t matter how often he referred to her as his wife, it still gave her butterflies in her stomach. “You… You can…” she stammered out, taking a few deep breaths, “But I’ve only been gone since this morning.”

“That is still too long,” Karno teased her, but his smile faded a little. “Sorry, perhaps I should be more restrained. How was work today?”

“Work was fine,” ____ reassured quickly, feeling bad for making him worried. “So is everyone here?”

“Indeed they are, as promised,” Karno responded brightly. “So if you were expecting any peace and quiet this evening, I’m afraid that’s totally off the cards!”

____ laughed lightly. “If I wanted peace and quiet I would have asked you to meet me at my apartment. Did you set the fireworks I got up alright?”

“I believe so,” Karno muttered. “Hue helped.”

“Good,” ____ mumbled back. “Shall we join the others then?”

Karno nodded. “Yes, let’s do that,” he agreed.

Heading into the living room, ____ and Karno sat down on one of the sofas. As they did so, ____’s eyes were drawn to a large plate of cookies on the table. “... Who summoned those?”

“No one,” Karno murmured softly. “I baked them.”

____ smiled and reached for one, but then hesitated, looking somewhat suspiciously at her husband. “Karno, what -”

“Those ones are for you,” he reassured. “I made a different batch for myself.”

“A spicy batch?” ____ guessed with a slight laugh.

“Of course,” Karno responded with a laugh of his own.

As the party started to get underway, Karno shifted nearer to her on the sofa and relaxed, feeling the most content he ever had done with his life.

“Karno? You seem rather quiet…” ____ spoke up after a while with concern.

“Sorry,” Karno murmured, “I was just thinking…”

“Yes?” She prompted softly.

“I was thinking how nice it was to have a family Christmas for once.”

____ wrapped an arm around him and lent her head on his shoulder as she watched the others drinking, eating, and talking. “Yes, it is, isn’t it?” she murmured softly. “Merry Christmas, Karno.”

“Merry Christmas, ____.”

Story 4: Scorpio

Her husband greeted her in the hallway with a slight scowl. “I still don’t understand why you wanted to enter here from the front door. You don’t live on Earth anymore.”

“I just wanted to be reminded of how you used to greet me here…” ____ admitted awkwardly.

“Moron,” Scorpio grumbled, though he relaxed into a smile. “I’m kinda surprised you agreed to this shit the others came up with.”

“It’s nice to get away from the heavens for once…”

Scorpio grimaced. “But you are happy up there?”

“You know I am,” ____ answered without hesitation, grabbing his hand. “You’d soon know if I wasn’t.”

Feeling her inner thoughts seep easily through into his mind now she was holding his hand, Scorpio smiled lovingly at her. “Yeah. I would. Dammit woman what have you done to me?”

“Made you happy as well I hope!”

Scorpio looked away from her, heat rising to his face. “... ‘Course you have,” he muttered in a barely audible whisper.

After that, they headed into the living room. ____ smiled at the decorations, including some peeled apples which seemed to have been stuck on top of each other to try and resemble snowmen. She was pretty sure she knew who was responsible for those. On the table was lots of food, including cookies. “So you all summoned all this despite no one here needing to eat?”

Scorpio smirked at her. “Oh I dunno, considering how much you ate when you were human I wouldn’t put it past you to be the first goddess to need food, just like how that frickin’ goat needs sleep.”

____ nudged him slightly, then tensed as she saw Huedhaut preparing some drinks. She quickly let go of Scorpio and moved away from him slightly.

“____ ?” Scorpio asked with a frown. “Look I was only joking. Don’t get in a huff.”

“It’s… it’s not that…” ____ murmured weakly. She glanced over to Huedhaut. “Don’t pour me one of those, Hue, thank you.”

As Huedhaut obeyed that without question, Scorpio closed the gap between them, a worried expression now on his face. “That sparkly bastard hasn’t done anything to you has he? You aren’t unwell or something are you?”

“No, it’s not like that. I’m fine. It’s…” ____ ran a hand nervously through her hair. “Scorpio, what do you think about starting a family?”

“What kind of damn question is that in the middle of a party? Are you trying to piss me off for some reason?”

____ hesitated, then grabbed his hand once more, this time letting this one specific thought flow into his mind.

Scorpio’s eyes widened. “You’re pregnant?”

She nodded, glancing down at her feet. “Uh huh. At least… I think so… Scorpio, I -”

“So that’s why you’ve been more reluctant to hold my hand the past few days. Dammit you should have said something sooner.”

“I wasn’t sure how to approach the subject,” ____ admitted softly. “After all, your own experiences…”

“That’s why we gotta make sure our child is happy, right?” Scorpio retorted, now smiling softly.

Zyglavis moved over to them at this point, a worried frown on his face. “Forgive me but I could not help but overhear. ____ if you are pregnant we should probably not spend too much time away from the heavens. The mansion may have a divine ward on it but it is still partially subject to the impurities in the Earth’s atmosphere.”

“Zig’s got a point,” Scorpio admitted, “but I’m guessing you don’t want to leave just yet.”

____ shook her head. “As long as it’s okay, I’d like to stay a little longer. This isn’t quite the same as visiting Earth would have been, but…”

“Yeah. I get it,” Scorpio muttered. “But if you start to feel unwell I damn well want you tell whoever in the department is closest to you at the time. Hell for this I’d actually rather you even mention how you’re feeling to Mr Smart Guy.”

“I’m fine, Scorpio,” ____ reassured with a soft smile.

At that point there was the sound of more footsteps as another of the Zodiac Gods approached them. “I guess your wish was one granted at the revelry fest after all,” Leon commented with an amused look on his face, addressing not ____ but Scorpio.

“Shut up lion!” Scorpio growled, trying not to get flustered.

Zyglavis looked round at Leon with annoyance. “Was that really necessary?” he hissed, pulling the other away from the couple.

What was said between the two Ministers after that went unheard by both Scorpio and ____ as they looked silently at each other. Scorpio not sure whether to confirm what Leon had just been saying, and ____ not sure whether she should even ask.

In the end, ____ broke first. “Scorpio… was what Leon just implied true? Did you wish that we would start a family?”

Scorpio glanced away from her, clenching his hands tightly at his side. “... Maybe,” he muttered.

____ smiled brightly and leapt over to him, hugging him tightly.

“Careful!” Scorpio admonished her. “Just because you’re a goddess you shouldn’t take risks like that.”

“S-sorry,” ____ murmured, heat rising to her cheeks. I’m just so happy. We were both wishing for a family.

Hearing her thoughts, Scorpio couldn’t help but smile. “Then I guess we both got what we wanted for Christmas.”

“Yes, we did, didn't we?” ____ agreed softly, smiling as the other pulled her into a brief kiss.

Story 5: Huedhaut

Huedhaut greeted his wife with a slight inclination of his head, his expression unreadable.

____ regarded him with concern. “Hue, are you alright?”

“I am afraid our home has been infiltrated by eleven troublemakers.”

“...” Frowning briefly, ____ then nudged him gently as she realised he was messing with her. “Hue! Is that any way to talk about our friends?”

“I did not say anything untrue, did I?” Huedhaut retorted, his eyes glinting in the light as he pulled her tightly to him.

She wrapped her arms around him in return. “You’re being very affectionate tonight.”

“There must be something in the air,” Huedhaut murmured with a soft smile. “Perhaps it was all the snow Ichthys summoned earlier. However, if you object to me holding you like this, then -”

“No of course not! Don’t let go!” ____ exclaimed, holding him even tighter.

Huedhaut broke into a wide smile, closing his eyes, his expression full of laughter.

____ groaned to herself, realising he was toying with her again. “I can never win with you,” she grumbled.

Reopening his eyes, Huedhaut moved one of his arms from around her and instead tilted her head gently upwards so that they were gazing into each other’s eyes. “I think I could do with some strength before we spend the entire evening with everyone else.”

____ smiled lovingly at him. “Alright, but can I ask something of you in return?”

“That rather depends on what it is,” Huedhaut responded, looking at her curiously.

“... Do not use your power tonight.”

Huedhaut forced an uneasy chuckle. “I suppose that is fair enough, though do not blame me if by doing that we do not foresee what everyone else is up to.”

“I want us both to be surprised. No matter what the future holds right now,” ____ retorted, before letting the other pull her into a loving kiss.

They then headed into the living room together, the other’s already talking and enjoying the food and wine that had been summoned.

Huedhaut sighed heavily. “I suppose I should not be surprised that they decided not to have the courtesy to wait for us.”

“Well if you two had been more punctual, perhaps I would have felt able to say something.”

____ tensed as Zyglavis approached them, unconsciously clinging tightly to Huedhaut.

Huedhaut pulled her closer to him, regarding the Minister of Punishments with rather icy eyes. “I hope you are not implying that we have done something you disagree with again, Zyglavis,” he commented, his tone a little wary.

“... The fountain of love blessed your marriage, for better or for worse,” Zyglavis muttered. “It is not my place to argue with the wishes of the heavens. Excuse me, I shall leave you to enjoy the party. I need to find out where that problem child snuck off to.”

As he headed off, ____ let out a shaky breath that she didn’t realise she had been holding. Things seemed better with Zyglavis these days but she still didn’t feel that easy around him.

“Are you alright?” Huedhaut asked softly. “If he ever threatens you or even upsets you I will be by your side in an instant.”

“I… I know,” ____ murmured, forcing a smile. “I’m alright. Though did he seem a little terser today than usual?”

Huedhaut sighed. “I’m sorry. I knew how much you wanted everyone to be here because that’s just the kind person you are, but Zyglavis was not exactly enamoured with the idea of coming back down to Earth, even if it was just to the mansion. I think he would rather leave that chapter behind him.”

____ grimaced. “It would be easier if I was a goddess, wouldn’t it?”

“... ____, it is you I love, not -”

“I’m not talking about Clotho, I’m talking about myself,” ____ clarified quickly.

The God of Aquarius looked at his wife with wide and uncertain eyes. “____. Are you saying that if… if I can find a way to raise you to godhood without your old memories interfering you would consider it?”

“I would,” ____ responded softly. “As long as that was what you wanted as well…” she added with slight uncertainty.

Huedhaut took a deep breath and looked at her with a loving smile and an adoring gaze. “Just being reunited with you again was more than I could ever have wished for…”

“But if we could be together forever?”

“... That would be wonderful. However, you were the one who insisted we should focus on the present tonight. Let us discuss this after New Year.”

“... New Year? You sound like you have plans.”

Huedhaut smirked at her. “I was rather hoping a certain lady would accompany me to view some fireworks. If we’re spending today with everyone else, the least I can do is spend New Year’s eve on my own with the most wonderful person in the world.”

“This person… Do I know her?” ____ asked, playing along.

“Better than anyone,” Huedhaut responded softly, before pulling her into another loving kiss.

Story 6: Ichthys

The second ____ opened the door to the mansion, Ichthys leapt at her and pulled her into a tight embrace with a happy grin. “____! It’s been too long!”

“Ichthys, it’s been five minutes,” ____ retorted with a laugh.

“I thought you wanted this to remind you of the old days?” Ichthys responded, sticking out his tongue. “It was not that long ago where seeing each other as much as we wanted was not possible.”

____ smiled lovingly at him. “And every moment we had back then was precious,” she murmured, her voice a little sad. “I could have lost you…”

“But you didn’t! I’m better than ever!” Ichthys responded brightly. However, his grin faded into a frown for once as his wife started trembling in his arms. Worriedly he squeezed her tightly. “____ ? What’s the matter? Did I say something wrong?”

“N-no... sorry… it’s not that. I guess… being back here has brought everything flooding back.”

Ichthys swallowed and just held her in silence for once, trying to let her know that he was willing to listen if she needed to say anything further.

“... I’m glad you’re still here,” was what she eventually broke the silence with ten minutes later.

“I’m glad too,” Ichthys reassured. “And you are happy in the heavens, right?”

“Yes of course. I’m happy as long as I’m with you. That’s all that matters.”

As she took a deep breath and looked back up at him with a somewhat watery smile, Ichthys leant his forehead against hers and put a hand to his wife’s face with a soft smile adorning his features. “I love you, ____.”

“I love you too, Ichthys,” ____ responded.

About to suggest that they go into the living room, ____’s eyes widened as she heard Scorpio shout Ichthys name with anger, and the familiar footsteps of Zyglavis could also be heard approaching them from out in the grounds. She looked suspiciously at her husband. “What have you been up to?”

“Nothing much,” Ichthys responded with a grin and a glint in his eyes.

“Ichthys!”

“Weeelll…. I might have made a maze out of snowmen near the gazebo, and I guess as Scorpio just yelled he’s discovered my stash of not allowed on Earth fireworks for later.”

____ sighed heavily and grabbed Ichthys’ hand. “Then before we go into the living room, let’s let your bosses calm down. We can share the cookies I baked in your room.”

Ichthys grinned.

Story 7: Teorus

Teorus greeted her at the doorway with a smile and held out his hand. “I’m glad you’re on time, goldie. If your planetarium shift had over-run today, I might have had to have gone there, stopped time, and made you disappear.”

“Teo, that would have raised all sorts of questions!”

“But they shouldn’t eat into my time with you,” Teorus whined with a grumble. “You know, I’m a god, I can summon you anything you want. There isn’t any need to keep working.”

“I like my work, Teo,” ____ responded firmly.

The other relaxed into a somewhat forced smile. “I know,” he muttered. “And I want you to be happy. I just miss you when we aren’t together.”

“So do I,” ____ admitted softly. “Now then, should we join the others?”

Teorus nodded, though his eyes showed reluctance.

“Teo?”

“We are still spending tomorrow together as just us two right?”

“Yes of course!”

He finally relaxed into a genuine smile. “Then I guess it’s alright for it to be everyone tonight. But whilst we have a moment alone, do you have any wishes right now, ____?”

“Just that we both have a Merry Christmas.”

Teorus smirked at that. “Well, I’m sure that can be arranged,” he responded, before pulling her into a passionate kiss.

____ returned it, wrapping her arms happily around him.

In the distance, there was the sound of the living room door softly closing right more, the others knowing better than to interrupt. They knew Teorus and ____ would join them at the party in their own time.

Story 8: Dui

Dui smiled softly to greet ____ as she entered the mansion. He handed her a cookie. “Here! Have a cookie!”

Taking it with murmured thanks, ____ smiled softly as she noticed that the cookies in question had cherries in them. “You really do like cherries don’t you,” she murmured softly to her husband.

“I thought these would be nice…”

“I’m sure they are,” ____ quickly reassured him. “I meant that that’s something I love about you, Dui,” she added gently, wrapping her arms around him.

Dui returned the embrace with a happy smile adorning his features. “You know… before I met you I was literally torn in two… and now… now I know the whole truth about what happened, have accepted Shadow as a part of me, and have a wonderful caring wife on top of all that. Even the department of Wishes couldn’t have granted a more wonderful wish than this for me.”

“... Dui…” ____ choked, her eyes filling up with happy tears.

“Dummy, that’s nothing to cry about,” Dui snapped, his tone changing. He grinned at her as he wiped a tear away from her left eye. “Now come on, I want to see what the others have planned for this party.”

____ smiled. “Yes, let's. Um… which one are…”

“This one,” Dui answered, now smiling more gently once more. “He’ll see and hear everything after all. It’s a little calmer as us two when around the others.”

“But they do all understand, right?”

“Of course they do,” Dui reassured. “We best go join them before they start to worry though.”

As they headed towards the living room door, ____ glanced at her husband. “You know, when I first arrived here, it was snowing…”

Dui blushed a little, averting his gaze. “I was rather hoping we might at least find time to go ice skating but as I doubted we’d be able to leave the mansion today I changed the weather in the grounds.”

“Of course we can go ice skating! I wouldn’t miss our Christmas tradition for the world.”

Relaxing at that, Dui smiled and led her into the living room where everyone else was waiting.

Story 9: Tauxolouve

Tauxolouve tilted his head and winked at ____ as she entered the mansion. “And what is a gorgeous little lady like you doing all alone on Christmas Eve? Why not spend the evening with me?”

____ smiled lovingly at him as she took his offered hand. “Tauxolouve… we arranged to meet here…”

“Yup I know, but you deserve the best greeting I could think of.”

Moving nearer to him, ____ caught sight of the arrow brooch on his lapel and swallowed hard. She let go of his hand and instead hugged him tightly, pulling him into a sudden kiss.

Momentarily startled, Tauxolouve quickly regained his composure and wrapped his own arms around her, deepening the kiss into one so intense that when they eventually pulled away for air they were both rather breathless.

“Well I must say that was rather a treat, ____,” Tauxolouve commented, heat rising to his cheeks for once.

____ smiled uneasily.

Noticing this, Tauxolouve’s shocked expression faded into a frown. He stepped near to her once more, putting a hand to her face. “Has something happened?”

“No… it’s just… we’ve not all been at the mansion at once since the rift changed my future… I…”

Tauxolouve bent down and kissed her once more, though this time it was brief and tender. “I know ya feel like we’re still bein’ chased by these brooches. I wish there was somethin’ I could do…”

____, however, shook her head. “It was my own choice to take the other half. We’ve managed so far haven’t we?”

“Yup,” Tauxolouve responded, smiling softly, though he couldn’t entirely hide the worry from his eyes. “And they’re our ticket to avoiding that changed future…”

“So we can start a family,” ____ completed. “That is, if you still want to.”

Tauxolouve smiled more genuinely at her. “I would love nothing more. For now, I think we best join the party.” He eyed the bag she had bought with her and chuckled lightly. “And I see despite our reassurances you didn’t need to bring anythin’ you couldn’t resist but do so anyway.”

“It’s just a few cookies,” ____ protested.

“I’d expect nothing less from you, my little lady, my darling ____, my wonderful wife.”

Now that she was the one struggling to cool her face down instead of him, Tauxolouve guided his wife into the living room with a bright smile.

Story 10: Partheno

Partheno regarded ____ with concern as she headed into the mansion from the front door. “You will tell me if this becomes too much for you won’t you? I may have stopped the king from destroying our child, but…”

“Partheno, I’m fine,” ____ reassured softly, smiling brightly. “If anything it’s nice to get away from the heavens for a bit.”

The other averted his gaze at that comment, frowning to himself. “... Yes, it is rather,” he agreed.

____ stepped nearer him and hesitantly wrapped her arms around him. “Pay no attention if others are still talking about your past. You have me and the other Zodiac Gods.”

“...” Partheno was silent for a few minutes, then turned to his wife with a rather sultry smile. “Yes I do have you, in fact, I -”

“PARTHENO!” Zyglavis interrupted, glowering at him from the doorway of the living room. “I do not think this is the time or the place for your odd comments. Instead of standing in the hallway do you not think you should invite your wife in properly?”

Partheno relaxed into a more gentle smile. “Forgive me, ____. Would you do me the honour of accompanying me to this party before mother over there blows a gasket?”

“What did you just call me?” Zyglavis asked with a scowl.

____ tried her hardest to not burst out laughing and failed.

But in a way that was what the rest of both departments were to them: family. Her family no longer knew she had ever existed, and Partheno no longer had one. She was relieved that they had support from the others in the heavens, even if there may still be a few trials to overcome before Partheno was 100% accepted by everyone.

He was already accepted by the people that mattered most, though ____ suspected her husband would be content with just her knowing the real him.

Story 11: Aigonorus

Aigonorus looked rather wearily at his wife as she stepped through the door. “Welcome to the party,” he muttered.

____ sighed softly. “You could sound a little more enthusiastic. Aren’t you pleased to see me?”

Her husband’s eyes widened at that. “Of course I am!” He hastily responded. “I just... don’t get why you wanted to pretend we hadn’t seen each other today. I picked you up from the planetarium as usual didn’t I?”

“Yes, but…” ____ trailed off, shaking her head. “It doesn’t matter. I take it everyone is here?”

Aigonorus relaxed into a soft smile at that. “Yeah. No one was going to miss this. I hope they don’t let this party go on too late…”

“Feeling tired?” ____ asked him softly.

“I was until I saw you,” Aigonorus murmured back.

____ laughed. “Now who is saying odd things even though we were barely apart before this.”

“... It felt like an eternity though,” the other muttered. “Those few hours I had to go back to the heavens for after walking you home felt like they’d never end.”

“Then do you want to check that I’m really here?” ____ asked with a loving smile as she wrapped her arms around him.

Aigonorus returned the embrace happily. “You’re as soft as always,” he muttered to her, before placing his lips briefly to her own.

“Aigo?” ____ asked as he pulled away.

“A deeper one will have to wait until later,” Aigonorus muttered. “Otherwise I might decide I don’t want to deal with the others and all the noise tonight and go hide with you in our apartment instead. So I’d rather not risk it. The others have gone to the trouble of doing this so we better at least attend for a while.”

____ smiled softly at him. “Come on then, let us join the party.”

“Uh huh,” Aigonorus responded in agreement. “Did you bring marshmallows?”

“Of course I did,” ____ responded gently. “Cookies too. Those ones with the really soft centres you liked.”

Aigonorus smiled brightly. “I really do love you, ____.”

“I love you too, Aigo. Merry Christmas.”

“Yeah. Merry Christmas.”

Story 12: Krioff

Krioff smiled a little to himself as his wife entered the mansion. “Evening. You made it here alright then.”

____ smiled softly back at him. “Did you think I wouldn't?”

Krioff glanced to the side. “Not really. But isn't showing concern for you wife's wellbeing what you're supposed to do?”

“Thank you, Krioff,” ____ answered, her voice full of love, “but as you can see I'm just fine.”

Krioff looked her up and down and smiled properly. “Yeah. In fact I'd say you're more than fine.”

“Krioff!” ____ snapped, heat rushing to her face.

Her husband looked at her with confusion. “Did I say something wrong?”

“N-no, not at all,” ____ stammered out, taking a deep breath as she tried to calm down. “Your compliment just took me by surprise, that's all.”

“... All I said was the truth…” Krioff muttered, his tone completely sincere.

____ smiled lovingly at him. “I know you meant every word. Thank you.”

They lapsed into silence after that, though Krioff made no move to lead her to the living room.

In the end it was ____ who broke the silence. “Krioff, is something wrong?”

“No. But… are you sure about this?”

“Spending time with the others? Well it has been a while. So as long as you don't mind…”

“Makes no difference to me. As long as we're together,” Krioff responded, offering her his hand.

About to take it, ____ hesitated as she suddenly remembered something. She quickly opened the bag she had bought with her.

“____ ?” Krioff asked, his tone a little concerned.

“I bought some cookies and cream ice cream with me. If I don't give it to you now it'll melt!”

Krioff thought for a moment. “Is it the only thing in that bag?”

“... Yes, why?”

The other stepped nearer her. Resting his gloved hand on her one not holding the bag, his natural heat seeping through it, he used his other hand on the bag and it froze over before her eyes.

“There. It won't melt now right?”

“I guess not. At least not as quickly,” ____ murmured. “But why freeze it in the first place? You could have had at least some of it now.”

“I'd rather enjoy it with you later at our own pace,” Krioff murmured in way of reply.

“Alright,” ____ relented. “Then let’s get going.”

“Wait,” Krioff muttered as she went to lead him towards the living room. “That ice cream. It's a gift, right?”

“In a way, I guess so,” ____ responded softly.

Krioff thought for a moment, then activated his ice powers once more. This time it summoned ice crystals which formed into a glistening model of a snowman - or should that technically be an iceman?

____ accepted the ornament happily, carefully placing it in her bag made of ice so she didn't drop it. “Thank you! Merry Christmas, Krioff.”

“Yeah. Merry Christmas, ____ .”

Taking his glove off, Krioff joined hands properly with his wife this time, before leading her into the living room to join the others.

#star crossed myth fanfic #scm fanfic #scm #star crossed myth #star crossed myth advent calendar fic 2024 #star crossed myth christmas #scm leon #scm zyglavis #scm karno #scm scorpio #scm huedhaut #scm ichthys #scm teorus #scm dui #scm tauxolouve #scm partheno #scm aigonorus #scm krioff

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acefaun · 2 months ago

Text

The Walking Dead

Synopsis: The Dark Gods decided to stir up trouble on Earth by raising the dead and turning living humans into controllable half-dead things. Cutting off the gods’ escape to the Heavens, they’re forced to try and find a way off of Earth. Only… is it too late when MC is turned into a half-dead zombie?

✨Masterlist✨ Gender-neutral goldfish! A/n: So, this is based on a dream that I had and I decided to make it into a spoopy season fic! This is what happens when Zyglavis almost causes an apocalypse. (I’m lying. It’s not Ziggywiggy’s fault. I just wanna blame somebody for my nightmare.)

–Word Count: 5,480–

“See you later, Altair! Tell Vega I said hi!”

“Bye, (Name)! See you tomorrow!”

I smiled as I watched him leave through the door of the mansion. He and Vega were always so cute and eager to hang out with me whenever they weren’t busy with their work in Punishments and Wishes.

“Do you know how much you spoil them?” Huedhaut called out teasingly from behind, wrapping his arms around my shoulders. “If you insist on playing with them too often, I’ll start to get jealous.”

“Really, Hue?” I swatted his arms. “They’re just a couple adorable kiddos,” I cooed, as if trying to stir up his jealousy on purpose.

Currently, it was just Huedhaut, Zyglavis, Dui, Krioff, and Karno on Earth. The other seven gods had to be in the Heavens for ‘something important’, as Dui vaguely described it. Of course, I made it sound like they were mostly always on Earth, but that’s because they were. We were all dating, so it only made sense that they would want to spend the most time with those they love.

The ground rumbled and a loud crash against the mansion followed by a scream made both Huedhaut and I jolt in fright. Huedhaut gestured in a silent direction for me to stay put, but seeing that I was determined to follow behind him, he firmly ordered, “Stay here.” Without another word, or an explanation, he took off running down the hall, disappearing from view.

My eyes were narrowed in frustration as I stared down the empty hall. Huedhaut’s gaze was knowing as he left… So did he know what that scream was or that crash? Why couldn’t he tell me what was happening?

Though, my widened eyes landed on Dui as he suddenly cut around the corner, charging straight for me. “Run, run, run, run, run!” I didn’t have time to react to his sudden yelling at me before he yanked me off of my feet, throwing me over his shoulder as he continued down the hall like his life depended on it—or maybe like my life depended on it. This scenario reminded me of the times Ichthys would grab me and run after playing a prank on Zyglavis or Scorpio. The only difference was that Dui seemed to have a lot more urgency in his movements. He then offered me a brief description of what was going on, “We have to get to the second floor! The door to the Heavens is disabled!”

“What…?” He didn’t answer this time as he ran up a flight of stairs, immediately slamming the doors behind him, locking it with his powers before he finally set me down on the floor beside him. Still, he wasn’t paying attention to me; he was checking the locks on the door, and that didn’t make me feel any more comforted. “D- Dui, what’s going on? We heard a loud scream and then Hue just disappeared down the hall and never came back.”

“You’re both here, good. Come with me.” We both turned, finding Zyglavis, who was eager to lead us to another room. Following him, I was instantly relieved to see that all the other five gods were there and safe. Still, I didn’t understand what everyone was freaking out about, and no one was taking the time to explain anything. Dui mentioned that the door to the Heavens wasn’t working, but what was really going on?

I was lost, and that much was obvious, as Karno was kind enough to finally enlighten me. “We should be honest with you… We felt that coming to Earth and protecting you from potential danger was more important than staying in the Heavens. There was a reason we got Altair to bring you to the mansion. A day ago, we found out that the Dark King was planning something for Earth. We didn’t know what, and we thought we had more time, but… it’s already begun.”

Following my lost gaze, Zyglavis added bluntly, “He’s risen the dead.” This… made me do a double take. “He’s also sent his minions to begin chipping the humans to do his bidding. He is turning the living into half-dead beings of his own design. Their diets are… purely flesh and blood.”

I couldn’t help but shiver at the pure horror of the news. In all my time of being alive, I never thought a zombie apocalypse would be something I lived through. “What are we going to do?” I frantically questioned them. “How do we fight them?!”

“I checked the reflection pool,” Dui added, a solemn look on his face. “The humans were trying everything they could. Guns, blades, vehicles… Nothing kills them—I mean, they’re already dead. How do you really kill something that’s already dead? They don’t have souls, the dark gods stole them. So… I’m with (Name). How do we stop them?”

Huedhaut tilted his head up, a look of disgust on his face as he connected what could have resulted in this. “The only way for something like that to be moving is if the Dark King managed to reactivate their nervous system. Meaning, that beheading them could potentially cause them to cease functioning and return to their state of mortis.”

Krioff suggested with a scowl, “Then let’s get rid of these disgusting things in the mansion and see if that’s right.”

Finally, all gods were in agreement. They were going to leave me alone upstairs before I reached out in a panic, “W- Wait! What… What am I supposed to do?”

“Stay here,” they answer all at once, evidently on the same page. Once again, they were leaving me to my own devices in the general safety of the second floor. They were determined to fix this as fast as possible. I watched them helplessly as they exited the room. Well, I wasn’t entirely helpless. I’d just have to use my experience from watching living-dead movies and figure out theories on how to kill these guys for myself!

Okay, so, if I understood them right, they were going behead those dead creatures in the mansion. How would I have been able to help them, even if I did follow? I didn’t have any weapons and- Wait…

I did have a weapon!

Pondering my helpless position, I recalled that Ichthys gave me a specific weapon the other day as a present: a lightsaber. It was quite the unconventional gift, being that it could cut through anything. Well, almost anything. To keep me safe, Ichthys made the blade into a type of ‘holy light’ that wouldn’t kill me or slice off a limb if I happened to turn it in the wrong direction. But… if it was made with a divine light, as he said, then it should be the perfect weapon to cut straight through those evil things created by the dark gods.

Pulling out the lightsaber from my bag, I decided to help my boyfriends! Following the path that the other gods took, I winced in digust. There were numerous bodies across the floor, most of them rotting with decay. It was a wonder the Dark Gods got these things up and running in their deboned states… Thankfully, all of these were headless because of the gods. That reassured me that their idea of beheading the dead actually worked.

Eventually, I came across the kitchen and peered carefully inside. The gods weren’t there, but there were many of the walking dead. For a moment, I froze in fear, staring at the walking corpses. I’d seen the fallen ones that the gods took care of, but this was my first honest time seeing the dead actually up and walking. It was real.

A sudden moan from behind me made me spin around, jumping away in fright. Instinctively, I activated the lightsaber, slicing clean through its neck. My eyebrows lifted in pleasant surprise as it actually worked. The decapitated head smashed rottenly on the floor as the body collapsed. “Ew, ew, ew!”

That zombie… I killed it… I killed a zombie! But, I froze, hesitantly turning around. I was, most assuredly, spotted. They were moving slowly, and very dead-like, but I was still caught off guard by their movement, and very frightened. I had no idea where the gods were, but there were more creatures behind me, blocking my only possible path of retreat. My only option was to kill them—well… to send them back to where they belonged, anyway.

I had to protect my gods, I assured myself. They were in danger thanks to these evil things. They were trying to protect me, but I had to wonder how they were trying to protect me. It wasn’t like they had any weapons like I did. They were putting themselves at risk for me. All I had to do was convince myself that this was all for them, and it was easy, decapitating one dead body after the other. I was doing this to save them, to protect them, to keep my family together. I didn’t care if that meant killing creatures that were, in all technicality, already dead. My adrenaline was what kept me going, I was sure.

But even as the numbers of the dead zombies started thinning out, I had to pause in distress. For some reason, it was getting even harder and harder to slice through their necks. Metaphorically speaking, it was as if my blade were starting to dull to the point where I was having to hack at their necks instead of cut.

But I knew better than to think it was me at fault. There was dark magic at work here, and I knew the Dark Gods were behind my sudden disability to kill their walking corpses. With how hard it was becoming, I got an additional challenge. Chipped, half-dead humans were pouring into the mansion, and I wasn’t sure how to handle it. Was I supposed to kill these sort of living people??

I was practically weaponless now that my blade wasn’t working, and I didn’t have room to flee. It didn’t help that the only dead creatures that were left were huge in mass. Backed into a counter, I was terrified, and I was certain that I was going to die.

But, the oddest thing was that they weren’t trying to eat me or take a bite out of me like before. They were grabbing at me now, tugging at my limbs as if I were a toy. They wouldn’t have been so hard to fight against, but the half-dead were built like normal humans. These weren’t decaying and falling apart at a simple touch, these were much more formidable.

Unfortunately, those half-deads were the least of my concerns. Making his way through the crowd of zombies was Servillah, and he was holding something red in his hands.

Without needing an explanation, I knew exactly what that was… Servillah was going to chip me and turn me into a half-dead, mindless servant of darkness. “Wait… Stop!” But, no matter how much I struggled, I was simply too overwhelmed by the dead and half-dead creatures that had captured me. Without room for escape nor squirming, I shut my eyes tightly. “NO!”

***

“AAAAH-”

Huedhaut, Krioff, and Dui flinched in surprise, glancing frantically at each other. Karno and Zyglaivs rushed through the same room that they were gathered in. Karno didn’t even pause as he said what was on everyone’s mind, “That was (Name)!” They didn’t hesitate to move. The dead ones were thinned out, but they still had a few that were in their way.

They were merciless in their efforts to clear a path to the kitchen, where they were surprised to only have to take a few down. Still, nothing surprised them more than the scene in front of them. There were dead corpses all over the room, and they could have only been taken down by me, since none of them had made it as far as the kitchen. The only thing… was that I was nowhere to be seen.

I was on the floor, behind the counter, where those cruel creatures of darkness had dropped me. There was a sharp pain behind my neck, and I was feeling extremely lethargic, as if I could just sleep and never wake up again. My vision was blurry and I could feel the control they wanted to place on me. However, I couldn’t let them control me. I couldn’t let them take over my mind and use my body as they pleased. The gods… My zodiac gods… I had to protect them. I couldn’t give up and let the dark gods win.

Pushing myself up, I was only able to sit with the support of the cabinet behind me. Trying to get to my feet was futile, I only ended up collapsing against the cabinet again with a quiet thud. I didn’t have the strength to push myself to my feet. I felt so tired…

“(Name)!”

My bleary eyes scanned the small portion of the room that I could see. It was my gods. They were in the kitchen. As much as I wanted to protect them, I was sure I was the biggest danger to them at the moment. “Don’t… I…” I forced the troublesome words to come out, pausing as I laid eyes on Huedhaut. My tired speech and tear-filled eyes made him pause, and I continued to try and convince him to stay away. “I… I got chipped.” I wanted to tell him that I was trying to protect them, only to fail and get myself chipped, but I couldn’t force the words out. My vision was blurring fast, as I tiredly collapsed back on the floor, faintly saying one last apology, “’m… sorry…”

“(Name)?!” Huedhaut rushed beside me, getting the full attention of the other gods as he picked me up off of the ground, lifting me onto the counter. “Damn it. Their body is already undergoing changes. How did…” He paused, turning me over to inspect the back of my neck. “Of course…”

“What happened,” Zyglavis demanded, the other few gods also leaning closer for an answer.

Huedhaut traced the red line that extended from my spine up to my neck. “They were clever. The ‘chip’ they’re placing in humans is along their spine. The same sort of control they’re using on the dead ones. Taking it out would be deadly to their nervous system. It could kill or paralyze them.”

Krioff’s hands clenched into fists. “They got… chipped?”

They were losing their cool. The dark gods managed to exploit their weakness so effortlessly. They should have never left me behind. But it was too late for that kind of sentiment. They had to move forward, lest things get worse.

Karno decided, “Let’s move. We’re taking (Name) with us, and we’ll do what we can. As long as their soul doesn’t leave their body, then they can’t become like one of those mindless humans… a vessel for those dark gods to use. Once we make sure they’re stable, then we can focus on getting back to the Heavens.”

They took me into the living room, where they placed me on the sofa. After a tense moment of contemplative silence, Dui asked with furrowed eyebrows, “What if they wake up and attack us?”

Huedhuat nodded his head in understanding. He had already considered that fact, but he explained, “We have to take into consideration that they have stars in their eyes. That will also play a role in their soul remaining with them. But they need our help. This chip will definitely bring about changes.”

“Then let’s begin,” Zyglavis suggested, snapping his fingers over me. “Giving them strength from our powers should help in securing their soul.”

They were confident that they would at least be able to keep me in my own state of mind, and so, they helped me with every ounce of faith that they would succeed. Even though they had done all that they could, however, they couldn’t say for sure if I was going to have the will to fight against any kind of control. But they wouldn’t give up. They just had to trust me and wait patiently while they tried to find a way back to the Heavens.

I, on the other hand, felt like shit. Rolling over, I winced at the effort it took me to move. I vaguely remembered what happened, but my eyes snapped open as I realized I was on a soft piece of furniture. I fell down in the kitchen after getting chipped… I shouldn’t have been anywhere near the living room.

As tired as my body was, I pushed myself up, sitting on my knees as I glanced around. Krioff was standing in the doorway, his back toward me. Even though I couldn’t see his face, his body language appeared very tense.

I didn’t understand… Why did they bring me with them? Didn’t they understand what happened to me? But… I paused. Despite everything that happened, and despite how drowsy I felt, I was in my right mind. My body was mine to control. Did the chip fail? Or… did they take the chip out after rescuing me?

After staring at the sofa for a good minute, I looked back at Krioff and I asked quietly, “Why am I here?”

His head snapped in my direction before he fully turned to face me in surprise. The sight of me sitting up rendered him speechless; he could only watch me with wide eyes before he attempted to find words. “You’re…” He faltered before deciding to turn back into the hall. “Dui,” he called out, “get the others. (Name)’s awake.” Turning back to me, he approached slowly, judging my reaction. “Are you okay?”

My eyebrows furrowed. Something was off and Krioff’s unusually worried expression was pointing it out straight away. “Am I okay?” I asked for him to answer before I pursed my lips in uncertainty. I had to know the truth here, but I decided to answer him first. “I’m not sure. I- I got chipped.” I paused. “Did you take it out?”

Krioff shook his head before attempting to explain it to me as best as he could, “Hue said it was connected to your nervous system. Taking out could… Well… It wouldn’t be good for you. But we did what we could. It looks like it worked. You’re still here.”

My nose scrunched up. The chip turned humans into half-dead things; meaning that living humans were stronger than the dead-dead things, constitutionally. Over all, it was made to give humans a lack of will, to strip them of their soul and everything that they are. It would give them an animalistic instinct to feast on the living. While I didn’t have that urge, the chip terrified me. All this time, I wanted to protect my gods; I never wanted to become the danger to them.

“(Name)!”

I didn’t respond as the other gods arrived in the room. For this, Krioff apologized quietly, “Sorry; I just told them what happened. They must be freaked out.”

I heard shuffling before Karno sat beside me. “You’re upset… It’s understandable. This wouldn’t have happened if he hadn’t left you alone. We should have known better. It’s our fault you’re in this situation now.”

“It’s not your fault,” I instantly refuted, averting my gaze. It was my fault… Servillah probably knew I would be desperate to protect my gods. I should have known better than to run out there like an idiot when dark gods were involved. The gods told me to stay put, and I didn’t listen to them. “I’m sorry I let this happen.” Taking in a deep breath, I gained the courage to warily ask, “What… am I?” I wasn’t ‘alive’ but I also couldn’t have been dead if I were talking cohesively with them.

They shot glances at each other before Huedhaut admitted, “We’re not entirely sure. You’re far paler than before… But we can’t say for certain what exactly happened to you. Would you let us try a few things?”

My head lowered as I wryly shot back, “Test on me like a lab experiment?”

Zyglavis immediately stiffened at that, his eyebrows furrowing. “We want to help you, (Name). We can’t do that without your cooperation. We need to understand what we’re dealing with.”

I sighed slowly, looking away from them. “I know… I’m sorry. I don’t mean to sound spiteful when you’re just trying to help. This… is scary for me.”

“If you’re willing to let us help you,” Karno started carefully before snapping his fingers, making a sandwich appear in his hands. Holding it out to me, he offered, “Then let's start with something simple. Why don’t you try and eat something?”

My stomach churned at the sight of the food, and I quickly looked away from it. “You think I’m hungry after everything I just went through?”

Huedhaut shook his head and explained the reasoning behind the sudden offer of food, “We’re checking your diet. If you can’t eat this, then… we’ll have to try something else. Though, your reaction isn’t exactly what we were hoping for.”

I huffed before taking the sandwich from Karno. Discomforted, I stared at it long and hard in my hands, my body rejecting it long before my mind. “God, this sucks… I’ll give it a shot.” Hesitantly, I took a quick bite of it. Immediately, I winced. It tasted like cardboard, but I forced myself to at least try and finish the bite. “This… This tastes like garbage…” I could barely even swallow that small bite of the sandwich; but it wasn’t worth it. Almost immediately, I coughed it up, choking on it. Whatever was left in my stomach from my time alive also ended up spilling onto the floor in reaction to the sandwich.

Tears welled in my eyes as I felt Dui pass a damp towel across my lips, doing his best to tend to me. Was this how I’d react to normal food from now on? Was this because of what I was? It was just a coincidence, wasn’t it? I was sick to my stomach because of the disgusting creatures we fought, right? It had to have been that I was just emotionally ill… I couldn’t- I didn’t want to be a monster.

Dui gently rubbed my back, comforting me. “It’s okay. You don’t have to eat it. It’s probably a side effect of the chip. Your body probably can’t tolerate normal human things.”

I wiped my mouth, surrendering the sandwich as Huedhaut generously took it from me. My eyebrows furrowed, and I growled, “What the hell does that mean? I’m not…” I paused, knowing on the inside that I’d never be the same again. “I’m… not human anymore, am I?”

“You are,” Huedhaut corrected me, snapping his fingers and presenting me with something that looked much more appetizing to my eyes, though I knew logically that I should be revolted by the sight of red, uncooked meat. Huedhaut went on to continue, “However, we believe that you’re half-dead. It may be why you look attracted to this rather than a simple sandwich…” He paused. “Would you be willing to try it?”

I knew that if I wasn’t half dead, I would run the risk of actually dying from eating raw meat. But… they were right. The chip turned humans into half-dead creatures, so their bodies could be used by the dark gods. The only difference with me was that my gods helped me keep my half-dead body, refusing to surrender my soul so easily. This was the only thing that made sense. Not to mention, between them and the red meat, I didn’t want to accidentally try to eat them if I became hungry enough.

As much as I protested the thought, I took the offered plate of meat from Huedhaut’s hands. Trying not to smell it, I started by taking testing nibbles of it.

To my surprise, it was much easier to stomach than the sandwich. The texture of raw meat was absolutely horrible, and I was tempted to spit it out, but the flavor was perfect for my new taste buds. Even though my brain was telling me to stop, my jaw kept chomping through it until it was gone. I hadn’t even realized what happened in the matter of a mere minute before the bloody plate before me was left empty. It was as if, in the moment, I lost all self-control.

My eyes widened, suddenly flustered, as I realized the gods were staring at me with equally wide eyes. I frantically turned away from them as I begrudingly complained, “I… This is- This is disgusting.”

“It’s… almost fascinating,” Huedhaut observed as he used a napkin to wipe my lips clean. “You’re not only deathly pale, but it seems your innate behavior is similar to theirs. Your body has changed so much that the chip is making you just like them, despite having your own soul and a unique ability to think for yourself.”

I pulled away in confusion. “Can you clarify?” I didn’t really like the way he was wording all of this.

He nodded his head, confidently explaining, “You may seem more fragile being half-dead, but apparently it’s only made you stronger. Your jaw certainly has a new strength to it. You ate through that meat as if it were bread, (Name).”

After a moment of silence, Krioff was the first to speak his thoughts. “Are you thinking of using (Name) to fight off the dead around the mansion?”

Karno was quick to deny this suggestion and warded off any misunderstandings, “We’re not using them to fight anyone. Our goal is finding a way back to the Heavens with them. We need to tell the others our situation.”

“Yes,” Zyglavis nodded his head, agreeing with Karno’s decision. “But the door is still not connected. We will have to find another way to the Heavens.” As if already having thought of this, he suggested, “There are other possible locations with enough divine energy to create our own passage to the Heavens. We should investigate and hope they aren’t taken over by the dead.”

I titled my head in worry as they plotted and planned. They didn’t want to use me to fight those dead things, but if worse came to worst, it might be the only way to get to the Heavens and get help. I wondered if they were considering that. Though, I was sure they had their reasons to not want to see me fight. After all, me joining them in a fight was what led to my tragic state. Still, I was determined to help them regardless of the danger, “Taken over by the dead or not, it’s our only option out of here, isn’t it? I’ll fight if I have to.”

“We’ll help you, (Name),” Dui reassured me, without hesitating or rejecting my decision. He just didn’t like how I sounded like I was going to walk into battle on my own. “We’ll fight beside you until we can take you to safety. We’ll face this together.”

“Very well then. Prepare yourselves.” Agreeing to our plan of action, Zyglavis placed his hand on my shoulder, snapping his fingers and transporting the six of us to a place that I had never seen before. The first thing I noticed was how it felt significantly cleansed of dark energy; meaning, that even if the dead were there, the dark gods would have less control over them. Their dark reach was weak there. So… It was likely those creatures would be wild and willing to feast on anything moving.

So, as gross as it may have been, I helped my gods fight off any dead that our group came across, going from dead to dead, chomping through their necks like paper. It was a simple job to protect my gods, and I performed to the best of my ability. I was proving my will to do anything to help them.

However… a bright light caught me off guard, and I was thrown off of my feet. “Wah-” I grunted as I hit the ground with a thud, rolling to a stop across the dirt. I was taken aback at the familiarity of that divine light… Had one of the gods just attacked me?

“(Name)!”

“Stop! We’ll take care of this!” An unfamiliar voice commanded.

My eyes widened in confused fright as I was roughly lifted off of the ground and yanked into the danger of an unfamiliar figure’s arms. I looked up to face another threatening god, from what I could tell, but he didn’t look like he realized I wasn’t a threat to them. Though, that was probably due to the fact that I had blood on me, and I was a half-dead disaster to look at. But… that’s when it occurred to me that I was half dead. Were they going to mistakenly kill me?

“Do not harm (Name)!” Zyglavis stood behind me with the other gods, firm with his orders. “Release our human.”

The silence was thick with apprehension. The gods that appeared in the area outnumbered the five Zodiac gods, but would they really disobey direct orders from Zyglavis?

The god standing before me claimed with a sneer, “One who has been taken by the plague can never be redeemed! This is no goldfish—it’s a corpse! I’ll end this creature’s half life and gift it with the mercy of the gods! May it rest peacefully in death…”

For a moment, I was genuinely terrified that I was going to die; but it was clear that my gods weren’t going to let that happen. They were clearly ready to fight this god and his entire following to make sure I was safe.

A bright light overwhelmed the area, blinding not only me, but also the aggressive gods that were near me. I flinched as a voice suddenly whispered, “Hold on to me. Don’t let go.” Arms wrapped tightly around me, and I found myself holding on for dear life as I was returned safely to the side of my gods thanks to Krioff’s swift rescue. He made sure I was still holding him, even as we landed, and I could see clearly again. He didn’t want me slipping away from them again.

The abrupt way I was rescued startled the enemy gods, and they began a fierce fight. I was certain we wouldn’t have been able to win, but despite being outnumbered, the few Zodiacs were holding their own pretty well. It was no wonder my Zodiac gods were the strongest in the Heavens. Surely this enemy god would have figured out they were at the disadvantage.

“Wait! Stop!” There was a pause in the energy as they stopped battling each other; but the air was still just as tense as before. Krioff stood unmoving in front of me, his hand clasped tightly around mine. The god in charge who called out for them to stop, spoke again in a tired tone, “Fine, fine! It can live… You can keep the half-dead one. But you’re responsible for keeping an eye on it!”

The gods were certainly less tense since they successfully ensured my safety, but it was time for us to retreat from the Earth. If those gods could get to Earth at that location, then we’d be able to easily get back to the Heavens.

Keeping a secure hold on me, the gods snapped their fingers, bringing us straight to where the other seven zodiac gods were anxiously waiting. Well, Scorpio was waiting when we first appeared, but the rest were anxiously waiting in the palace, trying to sort out the grim situation on Earth.

(I can’t quite remember how the dream ended with me in the Heavens. But the general gist was that they ended up locking me in a room, and all I heard was a loud crash into the door before I woke up. I’m pretty sure some sketchy gods were there to kill me, like they intended to do the first time… But I guess I’ll never know! Woo! Spooky dreams that scare the shit out of me!)

#star crossed myth #department of punishments #department of wishes #scm huedhaut #scm dui #scm karno #scm zyglavis #scm krioff #fanfic #zodiac gods #scm fanfic

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