Six Crimson Seeds (A VegasPete Persephone AU)

Chapter 4: Keeping Secrets

Vegas awoke with the dawn, despite having finally fallen asleep mere hours before, his pulse thrumming in his veins. He had been thinking about Pete all night, about what he had seen. Pete was the same boy, he was certain. Unless there were two boys named Pete with that haircut who could summon foliage. No, it had to be him. Vegas touched his lips gently. He had dreamt of that kiss again, in that darkened shed. The moment felt frozen in time for him, a simple act that he wanted to keep forever. If only he could trap that kiss in amber and wear it around his neck.

Shaking his head, Vegas slid out of bed to shower and get ready for his day. His day with Pete. He wasn't sure what the plans were that Pete had at Olympus, but he was determined to be a part of them, regardless.

When he got downstairs, Macau was eating and watching something on his phone.

"What are you doing up so early?" Vegas asked, grabbing an apple before he sat next to his brother.

    "I could ask you the same thing," Macau said, not taking his eyes off the screen. Vegas moved to see what had captured his brother's attention, but he quickly locked the phone before facing Vegas, suspicion shaping his features. "Wait, are you excited to go see Pete?"

    Vegas muttered something to indicate that was a ridiculous idea before biting into his apple and fixing his gaze across the room.

    Macau's eyes widened as they sparkled. He had never seen his brother even remotely interested in someone like he was in this boy they had barely met.

    "Are you and Kim doing something today?" Vegas asked, trying to change the subject.

    Macau quickly replied, "He's got practice. Are you and Pete doing something today?"

    Vegas sighed, chewing the tart fruit slowly as he summoned all the patience he had. He knew his brother was teasing him, but it was making him more and more anxious about seeing Pete again. The last thing he wanted was to awkwardly embarrass himself so Pete would never want to talk to him again.

    "Oh my gods," Macau said, clapping a hand over his mouth. "You really like him, don't you?"

    Vegas closed his eyes, giving Macau his answer.

    "What about Pa? What about your...thing?" Macau said in a serious voice.

    "Let me handle Pa," Vegas said, hoping he sounded infinitely more confident than he felt. Their Pa, like their uncle, didn't have powers, but that never stopped him or his brother from injecting pure terror into the boys. It never stopped any of the cousins, either, from obeying their fathers without question, for fear of retribution. "As for my...issue, let me worry about that too. It's not like Pete is going to change anything."

    "If you say so," Macau said with a heavy sigh. "Go have fun flirting, then. You don't have much time left. I'll just hang out here today and game or something."

    Vegas reached out a hand to ruffle Macau's short hair. Most people didn't want Vegas to touch them, but Macau tolerated it. It was one of the many things Vegas liked about his obnoxious little brother. "Don't get too angry. Pa said he won't buy you any more consoles if you break another."

    "Don't get too angry," Macau repeated in a mocking tone. He was tired of people reminding him. It wasn't like he could totally control it, and it wasn't his fault. Macau stopped for a moment, looking at his brother again. He didn't suppose Vegas could control his mark any more than he could, and yet Vegas didn't seem to let the comments get to him. Macau got irritated with the others, but Vegas didn't seem to be bothered when he was often treated as if he were contagious. Only Kim really made an effort to be around Vegas, but even he kept his distance, in a way. A part of Macau assumed Kim liked to be around Vegas because of the distance, not in spite of it. Kim had walls up his brothers liked to try and break down, while Vegas just let them be. Vegas almost seemed admirable to his brother, in that way.