Six Crimson Seeds (A VegasPete Persephone AU)

Chapter 38: Look at the Stars (How They Shine for You)

    Vegas bolted upright in bed, awakened by a nightmare. In his dream, Pete had entered his punishment room with him and the wraiths had turned on him instead, taking him apart piece by piece until there was nothing left of him. Pete made a noise in his sleep, drawing Vegas's attention to the slumbering, intact, Pete in his bed. With a relieved sigh, he lay down again to pull Pete onto his chest. Pete went easily, still asleep, and settled heavily atop him. The weight of him was soothing as Vegas tried to match his breathing to Pete's slow and steady pace, forcing himself to relax fully.

Several minutes later, once Vegas was calm again, Pete began to stir against him. He made a soft, questioning sound as he propped himself up on his elbow. His eyes were barely open, so Vegas just pulled him back down onto his chest.

"Vegas?" Pete muttered sleepily, "Are you okay?"

Vegas nodded, licking his lips. "Are you alright? They didn't hurt you, did they?"

Pete shook his head. He felt fine, and he was sure he would have noticed injuries like the ones he had seen on Vegas's body the previous night. "I'm fine. I'm just glad you're okay."

After a moment, Vegas said, "You shouldn't have done that. They could have hurt you."

"No, they couldn't," Pete said confidently. Fishing the necklace out of his shirt, he showed the blue stone to Vegas. "You gave me this to keep me safe."

Vegas exhaled heavily, his head falling back onto the pillow. Pete watched him nervously, worried that Vegas would try to push him away.

Instead, Vegas mumbled, "Thank you."

The words Pete wanted to say got tangled in his throat, so he just hummed.

"You always make them quiet."

"What?"

Vegas kept his eyes trained on the ceiling as he elaborated. "I can hear them, all the time. Even when I'm not here. But being close to you...it makes them quiet."

"Then, stay close to me. Always."

Vegas propped himself on one elbow as his other hand reached to cup Pete's face. Pete closed his eyes, leaning into Vegas's touch. When he opened his eyes again, they were their warm, brown color again. Pete smiled at him, and Vegas had no choice but to pull him in for a kiss. It was gentle and full of promises neither could say aloud yet.

They stayed in bed like that for as long as Vegas could, just talking and kissing. When Vegas got up to leave, however, Pete got up with him.

"You don't have to go with me," Vegas said, his voice sounding thin as he tried to convince Pete of something neither of them wanted.

"I'm bored of reading," Pete said simply. "I want to stretch my legs."

"Just promise me you'll listen if I tell you to leave a situation."

That made Pete's skin prickle nervously, but he nodded, knowing that Vegas would keep him safe. Besides, he had his necklace.

With a sigh, Vegas led Pete out of Elysium, following the call from inside his chest. He was merely a servant of the Fields, there to do its bidding. At least, now, he wasn't alone.

Pete matched his stride easily, reaching out to take Vegas's hand as they moved to the outskirts of the crowd. Pete had never explored nearly that far. He had mostly stayed close to the buildings and the park ever since Vegas had shown him the Styx. The place Vegas was currently taking him to was more desolate and darker than the rest of the Fields, somehow.