Ennead || Unseen

One night

Your breath is quick but you're trying to calm it. Your heart drums but you're trying to quiet it. Your skin sweats but you're trying to dry it.

You're failing at all three.

You hate that you're having this much of a reaction to him merely sitting down before you, the Senet board between you two. It isn't lost on you; the reenactment of that scene.

Ra and Thoth.

Osiris and Khonsu.

Though, you're sure your brain is simply trying to pick up on meaningless patterns to cope with the pressure.

He picks up a white piece and places it in the first house.

"...I've had a few days to think."

Each word makes your heart thump twice. Has he decided to kill you now?

"...your breath... you were blessed by grandfather, weren't you?"

You stifle your breath for a moment. Before nodding, deciding to stare at his hands. He picks up the Senet sticks and tosses them. Of the four, only one lands with it's darkside faced up. He moves his piece three times.

Lifting his gaze up, he slowly hands you a black piece, silently telling you to play.

...

You put the piece on the first house.

"...yes. He blessed me so I may survive with constant air in my lungs. So that I'll always have breath where there is not."

You toss the sticks. Two black. You feel a twinge of upset. Really? You move your piece only two places.

He places down his second piece on the first house.

"Then where do you get your water powers?"

He tosses, two black, he moved it two houses up. You begin to calm, but still be on guard around him.

"I... I think I got them from Nu. But Nu would heal with it. I guess I just hurt with it." You pick up each stick gingerly, to stall for your own sake. "Nephthys is trying to teach me though... trying to help me be good."

You toss. Four black. Your heart jumps as you move your piece five times. Then you toss again. Three black. You move one house and then-

Mid-stick pick up, his lukewarm hand catches yours.

"I can teach you."

You stare at his hand. His grip is... soft. Yet firm. You don't know what you feel other than your stomach flipping over. Your hand is bleeding.

"...teach me what?"

"How to heal. Without water."

Your hand begins to shake.

"I... I am not good at medicine-"

"No, not like that. How I do it."

You freeze... before looking up at him. You shouldn't but you do, you look into his eyes.

They're... soft.

Your own widens as his fingers tease between yours, gingerly prying them open to reveal a deep cut. You had accidentally summoned your cold talons, sinking deep into your own hand. They melt away but you still hiss from it, blood mixing in with the water.

He then moves his hand underneath yours. You can feel the muscles in his wrist tense before a familiar feeling in your hand's core is planted, then blooms out.

A white flower blossoms forth, it's stem and roots bending your wound. The smell of it wafts up and you're suddenly sent back to a time where all was right in the world. If you hurt yourself, your big brother was there to make it all better, with small white jasmine buds healing where it hurt.

"...what happened?"

"...what?"

".....don't you hate me Osiris? You wanted to disable me just days ago. You've stopped showing affection to me years ago. Now you want to teach me healing?"

Your breathing quickens again but not in fear...

Rage.

Your other hand comes up and grabs him by the throat. You push him back, until his back arches, until his head points up. He gasps as you sink ice into the flesh of his throat.

"Tell me. What changed these last few days? And why shouldn't I rip your jaw? Why shouldn't I pull out each joint? Why shouldn't I cut off your head?" You growl out.

His eyes are wide until he closes them... his face softens and when he looks down at you, with his head still wrenched high, it's with... pity.

"...if it makes you feel better, go ahead. Cut my head off, Khonsu. Rip my jaw and my joints. Tear out my heart and eat it. Please."

Your grip falters.

"...I confess, I didn't see you as a brother, nor a cousin. But..." Your throat tightens and you bite your lip as he continues to stare.

"I want to."

Your lips quiver, a pressure behind your eyes starting.

"I let your wounds fester and puss all these years..."

You remember, being small and dainty yet reckless. You'd run around, chasing Seth in the temple, only to trip and scuff your knee. You'd cry and cry, only to see him standing there.

You'd sniffle and reach your arms up to him, begging him.

"Big Brother!"

You'd be scooped up, little jasmine buds blooming from your knee. Soon it was good as new and you would laugh and hug him.

"Thank you! I love you big brother!"

...

He'd never respond.

You drop your hand from his neck and cover your face, shameful as you cried once again.

This time however, you're pulled into a familiar hold. You're on his lap, legs hooked over one of his as your head is tucked under his chin. His big arms encircle you and for the first time in ages, you feel safe again.

"...so let me heal you. All of you."

You nod and wrap your arms around his torso, ignoring the Senet game as you're stuck in your emotion. His hand comes up and pets your wild hair as he stares at the board.

If he hadn't stopped you, you would have won the game.