"Hmm. Do I go pick up Neko or wait for her to come back?" Time thought aloud.
He reached into his desk and took out a small box of trinkets from which he grabbed a coin. It was like a crystal, transparent with a symbol on one side. It was a relic from his past that he had saved. Humans no longer used such currency. The ore was too rare and precious now. He doubted it was even in existence on Earth since its creation required high concentrations of mana.
He traced the symbol with his fingertips. Fate it read, the language long lost.
Fate I stay, creation I go.
The coin spun in the air.
Click.
He frowned. How annoying.
——
Time paused on his way down the stone steps as a projection appeared in front of him.
It was a call.
From Death.
Time hesitated.
He had been quite harsh to her upon their last meeting. Surely she held a grudge. He hadn't even had time to plan out his apology.
Should he answer or…
No, it's better to not make things worse he reasoned. I don't want her to hate me. Though maybe she already does. Not that he could blame her. He was much too harsh in his punishment. He would hate her too if she locked him up in his office and didn't let him leave.
A projection of Death appeared before him.
She was sitting on her throne, not that she could be anywhere else. Because of you, his treacherous mind whispered.
"So how did your little reunion go?" Death's voice came through.
"That doesn't concern you." He cringed internally. It had gone terribly but better than the last one.
"You were so mean earlier, don't tell me your still in a bad mood."
Time silently grit his teeth at his carelessness. How could he let her misinterpret his words like that?
"Are you still mad about the river thing?"
He clenched his fist. "Mad? Of course not. It's not like you shoved me in there and almost reverted me into a mortal." That he blamed her for. But it was the only thing he could fault. Really!
"That's good then. There's no way the great God of Time would be angry about a gentle nudge."
So she did hold a grudge. He would have to apologize. Later. "You-"
"You forgot a word."
"Huh?" He hadn't even finished his sentence.
"It's 'thank' and then 'you' or simply 'thanks,'" she supplied.
"What? Why would I thank you of all people?" Ugh. Me and my big mouth.
"Because you don't want to be a God and I gently nudged you along the path to become a mortal. Oh, your welcome by the way."
"That's ridiculous! I would never thank you!" (For that at least.) Her logic did not make any sense. And whether he wanted to be a mortal or a God was none of her business. (Even if they were ex-friendsish. It was complicated, okay?)
"But you did just now. You said, 'thank you.''
"I did not," he denied, bewildered.
"It's alright, Time. Even if you don't admit it, I know how thankful you are."
Why couldn't she drop these silly games of hers? It didn't make apologies any easier.
If only he didn't have to pick up Neko, then he could personally visit Hell and make sure she understood that he regretted his actions. But something always came up.
"That's enough. What do you want?"
"Can't I call to see how you're doing? We haven't had a proper conversation since before the war."
Wait, she wants to chat with me? That's great. But what would they talk about. He paled. He was never a good conversationalist and recent events didn't provide any good topics. Better to wait till later. Yes, later. "What. Do. You. Want?"
Death sighed knowing that she shouldn't continue to cross his limits any further. If only things could go back to normal.
She hadn't meant to upset him by mentioning the river incident. It just slipped out. It was part of her personality to joke around. But clearly he hadn't seen it that way with the way his fist was clenched, knuckles turning white.
"There's a missing soul. Send a wraith to check if it time jumped," she said plainly.
"So it was just this. Couldn't you have said so earlier instead of running around in circles?" That monotone voice. She definitely hated him now.
"Hmm. Can you send it or not?"
"I'll send it, but I can only spare one," he replied, slightly disappointed. So she had contacted him for business as usual (if a missing soul could be called usual).
"Are they busy trying to find that low God who stole a time seal?"
Time frowned. That was supposed to be a secret. Most Gods didn't even know what a time seal was.
"For someone stuck in hell, you sure are well informed." He couldn't help but applaud her (though not aloud). It was a great accomplishment for a prisoner to successfully spy on a high God.
"I have my ways," she said, her lips curling into a smile.
"A wraith will come to you for the details soon." Saying that he quickly cut the call; goodbyes were too awkward.
On the other side, Death pursed her lips. If only…