The Ancient Prophecy

64 : Return from Battle - Petros / Sot

Petros

Petros had not waited until the battle died out properly before he made his way through the crowd for the sidelines of the battle with hurried steps . He knew that the invisibility spell's effect might have dissipated by then .
He gazed quickly around , searching for any sign of the son of Hermes . When he saw him he sprinted into a run with his last bit of stamina .
"Sot !" Petros announced , slightly panting "We won !"
Sot turned to look at Petros and the son of Hecate noticed a wide grin on his face , a spark of happiness in his light brown eyes "Well I for sure saw !" he beamed .
Petros could not help but smile at the happiness on his face "Let us get back with the army . I suppose by now Charis has taken the lead of the fighters in my stead ."
Sot looked taken aback by his words "In your stead ? You have led the army ?"
"Yes , I did . Phedora was busy summoning lightning and Charis had to fight along the other archers since she is one of our most skilled ones ." Petros rose an eyebrow at him "Is it unbelievable in your eyes that I did so ?"
"N-no , of course not !" Sot hurried to explain himself .
The son of Hecate chuckled , amused by the apologetic look on Sot's face "No , it is alright . I can understand why you were surprised by my statement . I am not quite the social person , am I ?" he crouched down next to Sot , pulling his arm to take a look at his bandages "But I am not frightened to speak to people . I just decide not to , for I do not think it is such a great of a deal to socialize ."
Sot remained silent , taking in his words with a slow nod of his head .
Petros took a look at his bandages , carefully searching for any sign of reopened wounds . Fortunately there were none to be seen .
"The wounds look better ." Petros looked back up at Sot "Do they hurt as badly as when you first got them ?"
"No , not really ." Sot shook his head .
"Have you the strength to get up by yourself ?"
"...No , not really ."
Petros swallowed a laugh . He stood up and grabbed Sot by under his arms , helping him stand up from the ground . The son of Hecate placed his left arm around the boy's shoulders , letting him place his weight into him as they strolled together back to the departing army .

***

"There you are !" Charis spoke with a smile when the two had finally found the daughter of Apollo into the massive crowd of fighters "I thought the two of you vanished from existence !"
"Have you plenty of fun leading an army by yourself ?" Petros questioned her , fighting a smirk .
"Yes , I did actually have plenty of fun doing so ." Charis smiled "Though it was not enjoyable to yell orders loud enough to be heard by most , and , in the process , ragging my throat ."
Her eyes then slowly slid to Sot "What happened to you ?" she scanned him up and down , seemingly noting the multitude of bandages that were wrapped around his arms , legs and torso .
"A stab to the stomach ." Sot simply explained , his voice slightly breathless from the effort of walking , even with the help of Petros .
Charis scowled , a hint of surprise on her face "Then we are glad you are still between us by now ." she turned her gaze to Petros , her expression becoming serious "I suppose you have executed all the steps for mending such a wound , did you not ?"
Petros nodded "Yes , though I am no healer so I was not as skilled or as efficent as one ." he stated "Sot might still need healing at the base's infirmary ."
The daughter of Apollo slowly nodded "Did you manage to stop his bleeding ?"
"Yes ."
"Then Sot can carry on until the base without dying-" her eyes shot back to Sot quickly , her gaze threatnening "-considering he does not do anything to accidentally open the wound from his stomach again ."
"I will not , do not worry ." Sot quickly reassured .
"I sure hope so ."
"Me too ." Petros agreed .
"Oh dear gods of Olympus , I will not ." Sot stared between the two demigods , a hint of annoyance in his look .
Charis smiled "Alright alright ." she turned her back on the two , resuming to pace in front of the two boys again .
Not even a second passed before Petros heard Sot's voice whisper to him ,"Am I really so iresponsible ?"
Petros turned his head to look at him , noticing a faint pout curve the demigod's lip . Between their faces was just a small gap . And once the son of Hecate realised that , he swallowed his nerves with effort , praying that he had not gone red in the face . A small smirk touched his lips as he whispered back , trying to maintain a calm demeanour "Do you want me to lie or be honest ?"
Sot huffed "Oh , you think you are so clever with that .."
The son of Hecate chuckled "Should I remind you that the first time we had ever spoken to eachother was when you asked me to help you sneak someplace ?"
"Well... I hate that you are right ."
Petros bursted into laughter . And once his laughter died , a silence settled between the two , only broken by the sound of the marching army with its fighters' surprisingly synced steps .
The boy wanted to say something . Anything . But nothing came to his mind .
He usually enjoyed silence . The silence that let his mind refresh with new ideas , new solutions to problems . An evening in his room reading spell books in the calm warmth of the familiar place that had been serving as his home ever since he could remember . A stroll outside the base in the middle of the night with the moon and the stars being his only witness .
He hated this type of silence . The one of words unspoken , of words bit back . The silence that rose his nerves on the edge , making his mind circle around the same questions on and on . And the fact that Petros never dared to break it made him hate it even more .
"Petros...?" Sot suddenly spoke in a small voice .
"Yes...?" Petros turned his head to the side to look at Sot . But before he could register what was bound to happen Sot leaned forwards , craning his neck slighty, and closing the small gap between them .
It was just a small peck , their lips just lightly touching . But the action sent Petros' face ablaze and his heart beating uncontrolably inside his chest .

Sot

When Sot pulled back he could not mistake the shade of red that took hold of Petros' face . This was the first time he could read the boy's feelings properly . The surprised look on his face and ... something else . Something else that made a spark appear in his usually serious brown eyes . Happiness . And Sot knew that must be what it was because he had a feeling that the same spark was mirrored in his own eyes . He also knew that by then his face was probably tinted a deep red too .
His attempt at a kiss was a decision he has made in the heat of the moment , not bearing to push back his thoughts any longer . This was his clumsy way of reciprocating Petros' confession . Because he thought it could be better than starting to incoherently babble all the words inside his head .
Sot momentarily forgot about the pain of his injuries . And he also would not care less if anyone saw them , though he knew that no one could pay them much mind , given that they were all just returning from the battle of their lives .
The two took some seconds of silence , gazing at eachother . Petros was the one who broke the silence first "What .. what was that for ?" his voice was just above a mutter .
Sot smiled at him "You are smart , what do you think it was for ?"
Petros took a moment to think and Sot could swear he could see the gears working inside his head "...It was not accidental , was it ?"
"No ."
"For sure ?"
"Yes , it was not ."
"So that means .."
"Yes , Petros . It means exactly what you think it means ."
"..Oh gods .." Petros mouthed , his eyes slidding away from Sot , looking at the ground . The son of Hermes watched as the corner of his mouth twisted slightly , indicating an attempt at a smile .
Then he watched as the boy's expression got serious again , any sign of the once visible spark in his eyes being gone . Sot stared at him with confusion . Is there something wrong ?
"...But I am male ." Petros spoke , not looking him in the eye .
Sot's expression eased , realising what the boy was concerned of . He almost laughed "Your point ?"
"What ?" Petros properly turned his head to peer at him , his brow furrowed .
"I do not care that you are male . Male or female , I could have still ended up here , falling for you ."
And that bit was true . Sot never cared of gender whenever he fell for someone . He loved who he loved and he never understood why for some it was such a big deal if they were female or male .
Petros' gaze softened "...Alright then ." he seemed to stop for a second to think before a smile cracked on his face "So...that means we are lovers now ?"
Sot found his face heating up at his words "..Yes , I think so ."
The smile on the boy's face widened .
The two stood in silence again . But this time it was a comforting sort of silence . They glanced in the distance at the Resistence's base that started to get in their line of sight .