Chapter Seventy Six
D O M E S T I C A T E D : REST AND REFORM
The smell of pancakes and bacon woke him up in an instant. His stomach carved itself against his organs in agony. His eyes popped open. Food.
He tried to sit up but cringed and shoved his face back into the pillow.
".."
Pillow?
Under his head laid a simple white pillow. It was now stained with dirt and blood, but it looked new.
Seth appeared behind the couch and startled him.
So it wasn't a dream.
"I made food."
He had that guilty smile on his face and guarded eyes. He was dressed in a robe again, but nothing as fancy as his coming of age suit. This one was white and blue.
He looked good..
Osiris looked at Seth's hands as he slowly sat up.
The food was still steaming. Osiris looked back at his eyes and slowly reached his hands out for the plate.
He gave it to him.
".."
Osiris looked down.
He could smell the mana wafting off of the meat and bread. It really did look like pancakes and bacon.
"Here."
Osiris looked and he was handing him syrup.
Osiris looked back down at the plate to hide his face as he took the syrup from him.
..why..
Why was he doing this to him? For him? Why..
"Can I redress your wounds after you are done?"
Osiris glared at his plate.
Why..is this okay? Will this..can I..
"Yes."
Osiris started to eat as Seth went back to the kitchen.
He doesn't know what's going on, or why, but..
He's going to leave you Osiris.
That's right.
He has a wife, two kids, he's only feeling guilty. He must have regretted killing him after he spared his life.
That was the only reason he would be doing this.
".."
But just this once, will it be okay to just.. be?
He finished his plate.
"Would you like more?"
Osiris turned his head to the side and looked up. The food wasn't poisoned. He felt fine, better than before. His reserves were still pitifully low.
Seth was already a quarter full. Must be his snake blood.
"Yes."
He grabbed the plate and went back to the kitchen.
".."
Osiris ate three plates before he felt okay enough to just exist. He's been pushing it with those food pills, and his body is not happy about it.
Even his mana cried when he ate real food.
"Sorry." He rubbed his ankle. "I haven't been taking good care of you, have I?"
It weakly responded by simply warming him.
At least they're forgiving of me.
Seth came out of the room he disappeared into with medical supplies.
"I would offer you a healing potion, but unfortunately we are out."
"It's fine. I'm used to it."
Seth's lips tightened, but he-
"Wait, I can-"
"It's fine, stay still."
".."
The bastard was kneeling in front of him.
He was a big bastard, so Osiris would have had to stand for him to..
Seth felt elated after he ate his food.
He was worried he wouldn't like the taste since their Kingdom's pallet was a bit different, but he ate three servings.
Seth was happily redressing his wounds when he felt a hand grip onto his shoulder, he glanced up.
"Apologies, looks like I was being too rough."
"It's fine."
It wasn't.
"May I cast a spell?"
"Do what you want."
He was gripping his shirt with his eyes closed, face twisted in pain. Yet he made not a sound.
Seth simply added a bit of ice to his hands, and instantly he relaxed. Seth had to bite his cheek as the Prince leaned into his hands when he began to massage the fresh salve into his wounds.
"You're like a walking ice pack." Osiris put his head on his shoulder. "M' ganna.."
Seth could feel his fever boiling him alive.
"Your fever is back."
"Hn."
Osiris felt like his mind was filled with cotton.
His tongue felt heavy, thick, and dry.
"H'n you plan to go home?"
Seth stilled under him.
"Home?"
Osiris nodded into his shoulder.
The man felt like a block of ice, this was the best thing ever. He was always running hot. He missed ac..
"Don' you got a wife and kids to return to?"
Seth relaxed.
"My wife died a long time ago, and my kids are okay."
Seth thought about contacting his children, but he didn't want to lose whatever this was. The Prince was staying with him.
He wasn't about to fuck this up just to-
My priorities have already changed.
He was aware of how strong an obsession can get, but it was still terrifying to work with. He's never been one to lose himself to his emotions.
He even takes pride in it.
But now I'm going to have to relearn myself.
Seth started to wrap the wound.
Osiris was glad his face was hidden because he smiled at the news of his dead wife. Then it dropped after he realized Seth was straight.
Osiris didn't notice he fell asleep for a second until the man was laying him down. He pushed him away.
"M' fine."
Seth left him sitting and stood.
".."
He was at crotch level when the man stood.
Osiris let him collect the dirty wrapping and disappear down the hall. He rubbed his eyes and decided that maybe he was tired.
When Seth came out he saw Osiris sleeping on the couch.
"….."
So he's stubborn.
Seth replaced the covers and went to the kitchen to make more salve. Now that his mana was returning he could make something a bit more potent.
"….."
Should I just downgrade and keep him-
Seth got to work making a better salve for him.
This was going to be quite the plight.
Seth was a lot more touchy than Osiris imagined him to be. Any chance he had, he had a hand on him.
Osiris laughed as he watched rage fill his face.
So he's still touchy about his death.
Their noses were so close together they almost touched.
"How's that eye of your prophet's doing?"
Now he was baring his teeth.
Seth had him pinned against a wall.
There was no real threat to it. Osiris has been trying to make the man snap, but he always backs down.
That damn snake head of his.
Like now, he dropped him and stormed out of the house.
".."
Osiris rubbed his chest, fingers ghosting over his scars.
He's still here..
It's been a week and they're both completely healed.
Yet..
Osiris refused to sleep in a room no matter how hard he tries to get him to. He says it's because he's claustrophobic, but they both know that's a lie.
Osiris sighed and went to the bathroom.
If he was honest, he was scared he would miss Seth leaving if he stayed in those soundproof rooms.
Instead I'm trying to push him to leave.
Nothing made sense.
Him staying, even after Osiris purposefully mentions taboo topics. Feeding him, dressing him, bathing him.
He's already paid his dues, why stay?
Osiris closed the bathroom door and slid to the floor.
Why am I staying?
He was healed, mana back and ready to go, but.. Osiris looked at his feet. It was silent.
".."
He ran his fingers through his hair before letting his head hit the door.
I don't understand.
He closed his eyes.
But if he's not making him leave..
This is okay, right?
This was okay? I'm not forcing myself on him, right?
Osiris curled into a ball.
He'd tell me to leave if I was a bother, right?
".."
He didn't know. He didn't know Seth well enough to know if, outside of war, he's a pushover.
".."
Is he stupid?
That man is as stubborn as I am.
Osiris got up and washed his face.
He looked healthy, something he hasn't seen in a long time. He was sleeping, eating, and he was even letting himself rest.
"I just hope this is okay."
Three months have passed.
Seth no longer takes his bait and Osiris stopped putting heat behind it. They just, were there, for some reason.
"Is it my turn to catch something?"
"Yes, try to get something S Class, if possible."
"I'll check, but it's mating season so I'll have to avoid the females."
"If not, it's fine."
"Be back!"
He shot off towards the woods.
The tiny piece of land was right next to the Nox Kingdom. It was on a cliff facing the ocean. Sometimes he could hear the sirens below call to him.
Thanks to Seth, he learned that there are three layers to the ocean.
First was the Mers. Merpeople, sirens, the whole 'friendly' fantasy monsters. They were usually the sea from the beaches to a few hundred miles out. Then there are the Orcas. They have a human form and can come to land, but their natural bodies are the size of whales. They're born as high ranking S Classes. Then lastly, Eldritch waters.
Down the cliff was mainly Mer water, and he even went and bothered the locals once.
He can, in fact, light a fire underwater, but the cost is triple his usual, so fighting is kind of pointless down there for him. But it was fun.
Osiris was returning with a few kills the size of a quail when he was shoved straight into a tree with a sword through his shoulder.
"Fuck! I knew you were mad Seth, but not-"
That was not Seth.
"You!" The knife dug deeper and he couldn't stop the yell. "You killed my dad!"
Another sword was aimed for his neck.
Just as he was about to parry it the boy was thrown across the small yard and straight into a tree.
It sounded like it hurt.
The trees on Nox territory were robust with cast-iron hardness. They even bend like metal until you crack it.
"Horus."
Horus readied to attack again when-
"Dad?! You're alive?!"
Osiris saw the boy sob with his whole body as he scrambled to stand. Osiris stepped away from Seth who was staring at his wound with an icy glare.
..that's different.
Horus tackled Seth and, like a good father, started to rub his back as the boy lost himself to exultation from his father's sudden reappearance.
"I-I'll start cooking while you two-"
Osiris ran.
He could feel his eyes start to water. He left the bodies on the table and booked it to the bathroom before locking himself in.
The wound was already starting to heal, not much done since his attack had nothing behind it. But-
Osiris bit the palm of his hand until it bled.
It had to end sometime.
But he was so happy here.
"Fuck."
He thanked Seth for making everything soundproof because he started to sob.
A knock.
"Osiris?"
He knocked again but left after he didn't respond.
What am I going to do now?
Horus followed his dad into the cottage with a face now wiped in turmoil.
He had been right.
"What happened?!"
His dad ignored him and he started to butcher the animals on the counter.
"Do you have any-" He pinched his nose. "Did the two of you even fight?"
His dad's hands twitched before he sighed and leaned onto the counter.
"We did."
Horus looked at him skeptically, but when he arrived at their battle it was a complete disaster. He thought Osiris blew his body away into dust.
"Then why is he still alive?!"
His dad gave him a cold stare.
Horus flinched.
Was he really-
Horus slumped and just covered his face.
"Can we just go home?"
"Why are you here Horus."
He glared at his father.
"Why?! You died and I had to take over everything! Then, while I was organizing your desk, mom's cottage bead you keep for security was flashing red so I ran here thinking someone was trashing it- ONLY TO FIND OSIRIS WALKING AROUND LIKE HE OWNS-"
".."
Well this is awkward. He feels like the other woman. Osiris wiped himself down and made sure he looked decent before coming out.
The two were having a moment.
"-ONLY TO FIND OSIRIS WALKING AROUND LIKE HE OWNS-"
Ah, I forgot, this is their family home..
Horus snapped his mouth shut and glared at him.
"Why are you still here."
He had no idea himself. He shrugged. He didn't like that.
"Horus."
He flinched and looked at his dad with desperate eyes.
"Can we please just go home?"
He was begging.
Osiris leaned on the doorframe.
"You should." His smile was fake. "I'm thankful you didn't leave me for dead, but you've done-"
"He's coming too."
Osiris and Horus did a double take.
"Me?!"
"Him?!"
They both pointed at himself.
"I have things to give him."
What things?!
Osiris tried to think.
He did mention wanting to give him a different brand of potions.. should he.. should he take advantage of this?
Osiris looked into Seth's eyes.
He meant it.. H-he could go with him.
"What things?!"
"Potions."
"You can just-"
"Enough."
Horus, like a good son, backed down.
"I'll wait outside."
He stormed out and Seth walked up to him before manhandling him to lift his shirt.
"I'm fine, worry wart." He was. "I think he attacked without thinking, so it's just-"
"But it still hurt, right?"
Damn this man. Osiris clenched his jaw.
"Are you sure you want me to go? I literally wiped out, like, seventy five percent of your army single han-"
"I don't care what my people think."
".."
"Aren't you, like, the King?"
"Currently Horus is the King."
Osiris doubted that by the way the boy caved so easily.
He might be a King in title only.
".."
"You do know I'm not apologizing to anyone, right."
"Why would you have to apologize."
".."
"I'll go pack a bag."