Ever since Saint came to the Water God's realm, the place has never been the same. For instance, the water sprites who usually keep out of sight are now almost always trailing after Saint, attending to his every need - as they should - but also just wanting to be in the presence of the fair man. There is just something about his bright and positive attitude that draws everyone to him. Even the notoriously aloof Oracle is not an exemption. His favorite place nowadays is Saint's shoulder. He is often perched there, quietly observing and protecting his new ward.
This change to the realm is fascinating to Perth who is watching a few steps away at the garden by the central pond as Saint pays attention to one of the sprites. The sprite is attempting to communicate with him. The human still cannot understand them but he is obviously trying by the looks of it. That is one of the qualities that Perth admires about Saint - he is always trying his best with whatever fate has given him. He should be terrified and out of his mind with loneliness with not having any humans around to converse with but here he is, making friends with creatures who have nothing in common with him.
Saint at that moment has correctly guessed what the sprite is saying. Elated, he giggles and stretches his legs. In his mirth, he nearly touches the pond's surface with the tip of his foot. One of the sprites notices and shouts a shrill cry in alarm. The Oracle flies and hovers between Saint and the water. The orb is of this realm and so if he envelops Saint with his golden light the pond would recognize that and not harm the human. Saint carefully pulls back his leg and opens his palm for the Oracle. The golden orb lands softly on the human's palm and allows him to return him to his previous perch.
Perth steps forward, ready to intervene in case Saint is upset. It would be understandable. He did almost drown the last time he was here. But as Perth should already know by now, Saint is resillient. He doesn't dwell on the bad things. He just pushes forward. That being said, Saint does not think ill of the incident. In fact, he still enjoys being in the garden despite having to be careful not to touch the pond.
The Water God does not know all of that though and so he continues to approach the human whose back is to him, wanting to know if he perhaps need comfort from him. At the very least, he could be with someone who understands and speaks his language.
Saint, who is unaware of the worried God behind him, turns to a sprite beside him like nothing happened and innocently shows a flower crown. "As I was saying, do you think Perth would like this flower crown?"
Perth stops in his tracks. A smile grazes his lips almost involuntarily. Saint's voice is steady and has no trace of worry or apprehension.
'Perhaps you really are okay here.'
"I think it suits you better," the Water God says to Saint as he takes the final steps to stand beside him. Saint is about to stand up in surprise but Perth is faster and sits down, joining the human on the grass. "Aren't you going to put that on?"
Saint only offers a confused expression. One cannot blame the human for this because he is not expecting the Water God to just show up out of the blue after not being around for days. Saint has just assumed Perth had more important things to do. He does miss him though, that's not something that can be helped. Everyday, Saint would think about him and before he knows it, Perth's name would pass his lips. He just did not think Perth would actually he here to hear it.
'How embarrassing', Saint thinks.
Perth points to the flower crown that Saint is still holding. "I meant that."
"Oh this!" Saint raises the flower crown. "But I..."
'I made this for you.'
Saint is not quite that brave to say that. Perth has chosen him because of the prophesy but surely the Water God thinks of him as no more than a guest he tolerates. There is no way that he has even a fraction of the feelings Saint has for him. It would only burden him to hear that the human is doing silly things like making a flower crown for him or counting the days since he last saw him.
"Maybe later," Saint says instead.
The two are so focused on each other that they did not even notice the water sprites and the Oracle retreating to give them a moment to themselves. Whenever the two are together, the creatures have no worries about Saint's safety. They know the Water God will protect him.
"I didn't expect to see you here," Perth comments.
Saint looks down at his lap. "I thought...I thought I'm allowed here. Am I not?"
"Of course you are. I just thought you wouldn't like it here." Perth motions at the pond. "Bad memories and all that."
"Oh." Saint smiles, relieved that he has not violated any rules like he thought. "The pond didn't mean to hurt me. It's only protecting this place. It's protecting you."
'How can I be mad at the pond for keeping someone important to me safe?'
The human's gaze is steady on the Water God despite of the burning of his cheeks.
Perth stares at Saint. He is surprised at his answer. He has lived many years and he has seen many humans be selfish and greedy, sacrificing other people for their own benefit. Yet here is Saint, not holding a grudge for what happened to him. He drowned and still he's defending the pond. "Thank you, Saint."
"What for?"
Perth shrugs. "For taking all of these in stride. I've pulled you from everyone and everything you know and doomed you to an eternal life with me. And in the short time you are here, I've made you cry, left you alone, and you even drowned due to my carelessness. You really ought to be more angry."
Saint shakes his head. "You have shown me a new world, Perth, beyond what I can imagine, beyond what I dared to think I could have. Till now I still wake up expecting this to be all just a dream."
"You said there was someone else."
Confused once again, Saint asks for clarification. "Someone else?"
"You mentioned it before. That there was someone else before who touched you?"
Misinterpreting Perth's words, Saint clasps his own hands, nervous and guilty of his past once again. "I'm sorry-"
Perth places his hand on top of Saint's. "I'm not saying this because I'm angry at you. I don't care if you've been with other people before, Saint. I just worry that your heart has someone else now and I've taken you away from the person you really want to be with."
Saint holds Perth's hand urgently. "No. There's no one else, Perth. He is not in my heart. He touched me but I didn't want it. Believe me, I tried to run away as soon as I can but he had already disrobed and touched me-"
Perth frowns. "It sounds to me he forced you."
Thunder rumbles at the sky. The Water God's anger is affecting his realm. Every fiber of his being is screaming at him to protect his betrothed. At the very least, he should find the human who made Saint this distressed and teach him a lesson he will never forget.
"I should have been more careful. I admired him, you know. Maybe I did something that led him to do that." It is the same words said to him after the incident happened and repeated over and over again.
'You should have been more careful.'
'Why were you there in the first place?'
'He should have thought you're a girl with all that fair skin!'
He was able to escape before something grave happened but from then on, he had began to think that maybe the people of the village were right. Maybe he was at fault.
"Saint, you listen to me. No one, NO ONE, is allowed to touch you intimately without your consent." There is a deadly calm to Perth's demeanor as he asks, "Now who is that scum of the earth that did that to you?"
"I don't want to talk about him anymore..." Despite Perth's reassurance, Saint is still terrified that once he meets the man from his past and hears all about that day, the Water God would find him disgusting and would no longer want to be with him.
Perth sighs. "Alright, I won't ask anymore." He doesn't want to upset Saint anymore. He's a God. He can find that man by his own means. "Before I forget, I was looking for you because I have news about you being immortal."
"Oh? What news?"
"The peaches of immortality are ripe and Aisha, the goddess of life, is inviting us to the banquet tomorrow."
Saint's eyes widen. "You mean...?"
Perth nods. "We're going to be married by the end of the banquet." He snaps his fingers for the water sprites' attention and they rush towards them carrying precious load - silk robes with intricate designs embroidered. Each one is different but not any less luxurious than the others. "I prepared clothes for you to wear on our trip. I hope you like it. If there is something you're not satisfied with, you can tell the sprites. They work fast, they can fix it in no time."
The sprites nod enthusiastically, wanting to please the human.
Saint reaches for a red robe. It has gold embroidery on one side of what looks like a sea dragon riding the waves. He touches the dragon reverently.
"Saint? Is it not to your liking? That's the robe I had made for our wedding. I added the sea dragon as a symbol to which realm you belong to. Should I remove it?" Perth asks.
"No, no. This is beautiful." Saint touches the robe reverently. "I was just wondering what I did to deserve all of these."
"The clothes? They're mere trinkets. It's the least I could give you."
Saint shakes his head. "Everything, not just the clothes. My whole life...I expected nothing. I didn't dare to dream of having a partner who would treat me like an equal. I thought I would be lucky if Tasanee gets married later on and takes me as a servant to her children. Then here you are, showering me with all these presents and talking to me as if I'm more than what I am."
"And what do you think you are?" Perth says seriously.
The human shrugs. "A cursed child?"
"Then you are definitely more than that. Maybe it's time I tell you the story of a young lonely God, foolish enough to believe the manipulation of one human and then in anger, believed humans are all the same." Perth's eyes are sincere and full of the wonder as he turns to Saint. "And the human who changed his mind."
"Oh Perth, what happened?"
Perth stands up and looks at his reflection on the surface of the pond. "I went down to Earth once. Long ago. I met someone who I thought would love me for me, no conditions, no games. You see, immortals have lived too long to bother with things that does not amuse them. Here, love is treated as a mere pasttime. I thought it would be different on Earth. Turns out I was wrong. That human I met had somehow discovered I could do things no human can do, used me for it, and left me for another."
"How cruel!" Saint grips his clothes in anger. To repay Perth's kindness like that-
'That person does not deserve you!'
Perth calmly kneels in front of Saint, removes his grip on his clothes and gently envelops the human's hand with his own. "When I met you, I didn't know what to expect. I was hopeful because the Oracle has never steered me wrong before but I was also doubtful. But you destroyed each one of those doubts, Saint. Everyday, when you smile at me for nothing more than glancing your way, I feel like that young God again. My heart beats for you, Saint."
"D-do you mean that?" Saint cannot believe what he's hearing.
Perth nods. "Without a doubt."
Saint shyly ducks his head. "My heart beats for you too, Perth."
The Water God smiles and tilts Saint's face up. "You make me so happy, Saint. And you make me happier still for saying these words."
With a surge of confidence, Saint reaches for Perth's lips in a quick kiss and then immediately retreats and covers his face with his sleeves, his cheeks burning in embarassment.
Perth blinks twice and then smiles once again at how adorable Saint is. Upon hearing nothing, Saint peeks and discovers Perth just staring at him with a smile.
"You're so precious. Let me kiss you properly, my betrothed."
Saint slowly puts down his arms and gets rewarded by Perth's lips meeting him, kissing him softly at first and then getting deeper as their confidence grows. Saint holds on to Perth's neck and parts his lips to grant access to Perth's probing tongue. They are both panting when it's all over.
"If I wasn't concerned you're not ready yet, I would take you right here, right now. But that would have to wait until our wedding night," Perth whispers at Saint's ear.
Saint blushes once more.
Perth chuckles and plants a kiss on the human's swollen lips. "Now, are you sure the clothes are to your liking?"
Saint then realizes they had an audience all this time because the sprites are still patiently waiting beside them, holding up the clothes. His cheeks fiery red now, he answers. "No, they're perfect."
The next day, Perth echoes the sentiment as he watches Saint walk towards him wearing the robe. He looks absolutely stunning.
"Perfect," Perth whispers.
Saint touches his hair self-consciously upon seeing Perth. The Water God looks so handsome in his clothes. His robe is much simplier than Saint's but it is of the same color and the sleeves has the same embroidery. Saint is happy that in that at least, they match. It eases some of the doubts he had about standing next Perth and being found lacking. The sprites helped him this morning and they went out of their way to fix his hair and even placed some light colors on his lips and cheeks. But he's still a man afterall, not a beautiful bride like every God and Goddess in the banquet will surely be expecting. He cannot hide what he is even if he's dressed like this.
Not knowing the direction Saint's mind is taking, Perth is just staring transfixed at the human. He is not blind. He knows Saint has always been exceptional if looks is to be discussed. But today, he is truly glowing. For a moment, Perth wonders if perhaps there has been a mistake and Saint is a God himself.
The Oracle whirrs from it's pedestal. 'I chose right, didn't I?' Its voice sounds smug.
The Oracle will not be coming with them today because he detests crowds of immortals the most. He barely tolerates Aisha's presence but anyone else that is not his master or his ward will most likely be treated to a display of the golden orb's power.
Perth ignores the Oracle's teasings and smiles at Saint. "Nervous?"
Saint nods shyly. "A little."
"Don't be. I'll be with you. I won't leave you alone." Perth extends a hand. "Do you trust me?"
Saint takes the offered hand and echoes Perth's words from yesterday. "Without a doubt."
Still holding hands, they arrive at the Jade pool, Aisha's abode where they will be staying for the whole week as the banquet for the peaches of immortality lasts that long.
Saint's eyes widen as they approach the orchard where thousands of peach trees are lined up. Fairies are diligently working hard at picking peaches for the festivities that are already in full swing. They glance at the two occasionally but upon recognizing the Water God, head back to work. There is much to do and too little time to be dallying and wondering why guests are staying here instead of at the main hall where their master is.
"Is it okay to be here?" Saint hesitates. He doesn't want to bother anyone while they're at work.
Perth nods. "I wanted to show you how obsessed that old lady is with her orchard."
"Who are you calling an old lady?"
Saint turns and sees a beautiful lady standing with her arms crossed, frowning at Perth. Actually, Saint is not sure 'lady' is the right term because she looks so young. Despite her girlish features though, Saint knows better than to assume she would be weak and so he's nervous because she looks displeased. It's not good to upset an immortal. His first instinct is to protect the Perth. "He only spoke out of jest. He did not mean it. Please forgive him."
"No, I meant it." Perth smirks.
"Perth!" Saint exclaims. 'What are you doing?!'
The lady laughs which perplexes Saint. She catches his expression and her face softens. "Don't be scared, dear. I'm used to that silly child's disrespect. If I minded, you wouldn't have a betrothed to marry because I would have made him disappear long ago."
Perth scoffs. "Saint, meet Aisha, the old lady who governs this whole realm and owns this orchard."
Upon hearing that the lady in front of him is the Goddess of Life herself, Saint bows down in reverence. "I am not worthy to stand in your presence, O giver of life."
"None of that, dear. You will be one of us soon." Aisha links her arm with Saint's and tugs him forward. "Now let's go. Everyone is waiting to meet you and it would be better to get the introductions out of the way in one go."
Once they arrive at the main hall, all the immortals milling about stop to focus on them, in particular to the unknown man beside Aisha.
One Goddess has on a mysterious smile as she looks at the stranger who is obviously a human. She heard Aisha introduce him as Perth's betrothed who at the end of this week-long banquet will be married to Perth and also turned immortal. Of all the Gods in the heavens, Perth is notoriously reclusive and has no interest whatsoever in any immortal - whether it be romantic or sexual. In fact, he is almost always absent at gatherings. It is also well-known that he detests humans.
So it's a puzzle how this mere human could possibly possess the Water God's heart.
Once Aisha is preoccupied with other guests, the Goddess steps forward and introduces herself. "Hello. My name is Suada."
'Goddess of Seduction', she purposely doesn't add. The human would learn, soon enough.
Saint smiles at her. "It is a pleasure to meet you."
'Oh you poor innocent soul. '
Her eyes stray to Perth who is talking to one of the other immortals, his handsome face serious. Suada had thought him unattainable but she had been pacified by the fact that he favors no one anyway. But now that he is here with his betrothed, she simply cannot let this matter rest. She keeps her eyes on Perth as she says, "believe me, the 'pleasure' is all mine."