I would be lying if I said that I had gotten a restful night's sleep. In fact, it might have been the worst night's sleep I'd had since the days immediately following my return home after the accident. I'd spent the entire night tossing and turning as I thought over the tale Medein had told me on the island, replaying the words over and over as I pictured the expression he'd had at my refusal, no matter how polite I tried to be about it, to believe his story to be the truth.

Even now, with the sun peeking through the windows of my hotel room, I could clearly see the way his eyes seemed to almost shatter from the sorrow that flooded them. How could he be so broken just from me refusing to change my mind about an old legend from well before even our great grandparents' grandparents were born? Why did he put so much importance on something so ancient?

But the problem I had was that he did. He did put that much importance in it and it troubled me that he also put so much importance in whether or not I believed him about it. Because for some reason, what I thought of as mere myth and legend, to him it was the same as if I had told him that he himself was a lie. This myth was obviously something that he'd been raised on, at least up until he'd been left alone on that island, whatever age that had been.

Once again, I could only wonder at how long he had been alone there, lost and forgotten, perhaps even afraid of being found. But then, why had he not continued to hide from me as well, the way he must have when other people snuck onto the island? I'm sure I wasn't the first to go there in recent years, even though it was definitely not part of the usual island tours.

The amount of trust he must have been placing in me nearly floored me just thinking about it right now. I'd never really considered it before, how much he had trusted a total stranger not to hurt him, not to use him or leave him behind. Sure, he was stronger than me, but he was so sweet and gentle that I was sure he could be completely taken advantage of by the wrong kind of person.

And what had I done with his trust? Sure I hadn't abused his trust, taking whatever I could of value that he considered his and leaving him behind or otherwise trying to take advantage of him... But had I really been kind when I had refused to even try and understand just why he believed as he did? Had I treated him kindly by basically ignoring that which was not as I had been taught? I could have at least asked him to allow me to think upon his tale over the course of the next day or two before deciding what I would believe, rather than denying it outright.

Especially since, the longer I thought about it, the more curious I was about just where his version of the legend even came from. Whether or not it was correct, my curiosity had been kindled during the night, leaving me wondering if whoever taught it to him had made it up or if it had been passed through multiple generations. And if so, just how many generations had it been around for? Was it word of mouth only or had it been written down at some point? Why had they made Medusa male instead of female like all the other Gorgons had been? And why had Perseus been changed to Percia? Or vice versa as Medein had believed it to be...

And if it really had been changed so long ago, how had they covered up such a huge rewrite to history, even if it was just in the form of a legend?

~~~~~~~~

Confusion filled his eyes as Medein tilted his head at (y/n), not sure why she had started the day off by asking him to tell her his version of the myth once more, stopping him from time to time as she asked questions to get more information about certain parts. It was almost like she actually believed him, even if he could see how unsure she was about everything he said.

Still, she was at least listening to him this time, truly listening, and that gave him hope that somehow he could get her to believe. From there, perhaps he could tell her the full truth, that he was, in fact, the Medein from the legend. And maybe, somehow, he could convince her not to leave him behind, forgotten and alone once more.

~~~~~~~~

I mentally cursed the remaining language barrier between us once more, knowing that there was more he was trying to tell me but the lack of words was getting in the way again. Still, I was getting a better understanding of the story than I had before. I'm sure that with more time, I would be able to understand the rest of it.

All I needed was time...

But my time here was about to run out, my mother's voice as I answered the ringing of my room's phone echoing in my head, the phone itself dropping from my limp hand.

"You need to come home, the sooner the better. (Y/n), your father... It's his heart..."

--------

"Medein, are you sure you want to come with me? I mean, its so far away from everything you know! People don't speak Greek there! At least, not enough that you are likely to run into anyone speaking it... And even if you can speak English well enough to get by, you are by no means fluent! There is still so much left for you to learn!" At this point I sounded more resigned than anything else, seeing the look in his eyes as he refused to back down.

But no matter how much I wanted him to come home with me, I couldn't with good conscience allow him to make that choice without knowing at least some of the drawbacks. That and the fact there was one issue that we had yet to deal with.

"Besides, you don't even have a passport! Do you even have a birth certificate?!"

--------

It turns out he hadn't had a birth certificate. In fact, he had nothing to prove who he was or where he came from. But somehow, regardless of those facts, he still managed to get ahold of a passport while my back was turned.

I still wondered why he chose Kyrkos as his surname, remembering him once commenting on not understanding what a surname was after telling him my own last name.

It was an experience, leading Medein through the airport, especially when he refused to remove his bracelet at the security checkpoint. Luckily, they had finally allowed him through after several minutes of waving a handheld device over him and having him walk through another area where a larger scanner was placed to ensure he didn't have anything else on him that might cause issues.

I'd been mortified when I heard the guards complaining about how Medein refused to give up his "fancy jewelry" for even a few minutes and wasting their time, as well as how in the future if he came back through, how they should just strip search him instead of letting him get away with being difficult.

Although, I did have to wonder what had caused them to allow him to retain his bracelet rather than make him either remove it for the scan or refuse to let him board the plane. It was like once they touched the thing, all interest in making him take it off vanished. That was beyond strange, especially in this day and age of terrorists and crazy people. Who knows what someone could hide in or under such a wide metal band if they had the inclination?

~~~~~~~~

He was starting to feel worried, seeing how surprised (y/n) was at the ease with which he was achieving his goal of gaining what he needed to travel with her to her parents' home. Either it was simpler than she had thought, something he felt was unlikely, or the gods were playing with his life yet again. Although, he was unsure why they would help him instead of hinder.

Medein spent much of the flight sitting quietly, too worried to truly relax and take in what should have been an amazing journey filled with things that he would have been excited about had he not been wondering what was in store for him and his beloved. After all, the gods were as well known for holding a grudge as he knew he himself to be capable of holding one.

He could only hope that they would target him and not his sweet, innocent (y/n). Although, if they so much as tried to go after her, he would be more than ready to bring Olympus to its knees in retaliation.

~~~~~~~~

I was growing worried at how silent Medein was acting, although he still managed to sooth my worry somewhat with a smile when he noticed the frequent looks I was giving him. It was only when the movie began playing that his attention was finally caught by something other than his thoughts.

It wasn't until he noticed my fingers curling around his own in a gentle hold that his eyes left the screen long enough for him to look into my eyes and smile, a quick kiss warming my lips before his attention was once more engaged by the explosions flashing brightly across the screen.

Knowing that he'd never seen anything like this before, I was glad that I had taken the time to explain the in-flight movie before we had gotten onto the plane, describing it as similar to the videos on my camera but bigger and made up rather than real things. It had confused him at first, the idea of images of fake things until I brought up actors and plays, understanding quickly brightening his eyes at that point as he grinned excitedly.

I was glad that he seemed to be enjoying the movie, wondering how much he actually understood of what was happening between the language barrier and the fast pace of Hollywood's latest blockbuster movie.

--------

Sometime between holding Medein's hand and the movie ending, I must have fallen asleep. The next thing I knew, Medein was gently nudging me awake as the plane began getting ready to land. Rubbing my eyes as I fought back a yawn, sleep still clinging to me and trying to pull me back into its grasp, I glanced out the window to see the city sprawling below us like a thousand stars amidst the darkened landscape.

As much as I hated the idea of landing at night, I had to admit it made for a beautiful welcome home. If only the reason for my return wasn't such a worrisome thing.

"Medein, when the plane lands, go ahead and stay here with me. We will wait until most of the passengers, I mean people, are off the plane so we can avoid the crowding, okay?" I was still unsure just how much English he understood, knowing that Medein was taking the language in like a sponge.

I was always so astonished at how quickly he learned things, from words to ideas, but at the same time, I was so grateful because it meant that I could talk to him about things I wasn't comfortable telling others and he would listen as best that he could. Even if he might not get all of what I said yet, he understood enough that he knew when I needed a hug, when I needed him to respond with words, and when I just needed him to be there.

Although, I still dread the idea of telling him about Tomas and how close I had come to getting married to the man. How do you tell the person you currently love that you came so close to never even meeting them? That you had almost missed the chance at the happiness you currently have, the love you hold so dear to your heart that you feel its warmth with every beat?

How do I explain that even though I had felt so very broken after Tomas had left me, that right now, sitting beside Medein and looking into his golden-green eyes, I didn't simply feel like he had fixed what had been broken in me? Instead, I felt like I'd never been broken to begin with.

--------

"Mom, this is Medein, the man I told you about on the phone. Medein, this is my mom, the woman who helped raise me to be the person I am today," saying this softly, I stepped back and watched as Medein's eyes passed over my mom's figure just as intently as her own peered at him, wondering why this felt so much more surreal than when I had introduced Tomas to my parents so many years ago.

When their expressions finally relaxed and a smile appeared on my mom's face, I felt my knees grow a little weak in relief and my lungs finally allowed me to take a deep breath, feeling like a vice grip had finally released itself from squeezing my lungs so tightly.

~~~~~~~~

He could finally see where (y/n) got some of her strength from. The woman standing before him was like an older version of Medein's precious love, giving him an idea of what she might look like decades into the future. At least, what she would look like if he didn't stop her from aging somehow.

He still felt his best option would be to steal the nectar of the gods, the ambrosia that granted immortality to any who tasted of its divine essence, especially since he highly doubted that they would just give him the means to grant his love the gift of eternity beside him. Not after all the bitterness that had formed between them over the centuries.

No, he would have to steal it and if caught, he would do what he could to make sure only he himself was punished. He would not allow her to be punished for his own sins, for she had already been punished beyond whatever sin the gods thought she might have committed in her lifetime. She had been so broken when he found her. He was only thankful that she seemed to be healing from whatever had happened in the past.

If anything, the gods owed her, far more than they could ever hope to repay.

~~~~~~~~

The next several days passed so quickly, I wasn't sure what to think. It seemed like one day I was visiting my dad in the hospital and the next he was being released and coming back home. It should have been exciting, I should have felt happy, but all I could feel was anxious, like something either wonderful or terrible was about to happen.

It wasn't long after my parents were both comfortable again in their own home that I made the decision to take Medein with me and see the results of all the work my parents had supervised upon my own home while I was off in Greece rediscovering myself and finding love all over again.

It was amazing.

--------

Looking around at the beauty of the newly uncovered hardwood flooring, the rich chestnut tone shining under the sunlight that was pouring in from the windows facing the garden nestled behind the house. The trees were large, but far enough away that they didn't block the sunlight from pouring into the house, instead simply granting a feeling of privacy.

This house and its land was a sanctuary from the rest of the world, someplace I could rest and feel safe within my home without having eyes upon me whenever I stepped foot outside. The bonus now was that it gave me someplace to bring Medein where I didn't have to worry about him feeling overwhelmed by the huge populations of the nearby cities and towns.

It was the perfect setting to finally confirm with him just what our relationship was. And where he wanted it to go from here.

~~~~~~~~

He didn't know why he was so shocked when it finally happened, feeling the bracelet finally grow cold against his skin as he looked down at it. It had been so warm for so long that he hadn't really thought about what it would feel like when the magic ran out, the runes faded from centuries of existence, having already been used by others before he'd been gifted with it so very long ago. You could barely even tell there had even been runes on it once, if not for the faintest of lines hidden upon the otherwise smooth surface.

But now, now you couldn't even tell it had once held magic, the gentle warmth gone, just as the burning heat had vanished.

A gentle knock on the door to the room he had been given so generously upon arriving at the dwelling had him panicking. What if she saw him and ran? Or worse, turned to stone? How could he be sure that she would be safe from his gaze? After all, all the other humans had turned to stone when he took off the bracelet and now with its magic finally gone, it might as well be back on the island collecting dust.

It had been so foolish of him to take this risk and travel with her rather than await her on the island and take the chance to recharge the bracelet once more. Even better, to try and find a way to charge the bracelet off of the island as well. And now that foolishness could cost him the one thing he treasured above all else.

"Medein, is everything okay?" (Y/n)'s voice came from the other side of the door, worry at his lack of response easy to hear as she knocked once more. "Medein?"

"Yess, I'm here. Pleasse, don't enter. I'm not... I'm not okay for you," Medein winced as he heard the way the words sounded now that he was in his true form, the s sounds extended into a near hiss as the snakes on his head twisted about in response to his agitation.

"What happened? You sound... strange... Did you bite your tongue or something? Are you bleeding?! I'm coming in!" No sooner were the words out of her mouth than the door was being swung open, (y/n) rushing into the room quickly before coming to a halt as soon as she finally saw what was in front of her.

"M-Medein? I... Oh," she whispered softly before falling to the floor in a faint at the sight of the shimmering scales as his tail caught the last light of the fading day.

Shooting forward, he carefully lifted her body into his arms, thanking whatever god was listening for her still being made of flesh rather than stone. It was enough to keep the sadness at bay from the fear he had seen in her eyes for a moment before she had lost consciousness. As he lay her gently upon the bed, he placed his forehead against her own and let out a quiet whisper of his own.

"Please, don't fear me, my love. Don't hate me for what I am, for what I cannot help being. Please don't take away the one thing that makes my life truly livable again."

~~~~~~~~

I woke up to the feeling of gentle fingers combing through my hair and trailing down the side of my jaw, my eyes opening to see Medein's brilliant eyes right in front of me before he suddenly pulled back as if he was hit. It made it much easier to see the slowly weaving snakes where once his hair flowed.

I couldn't help the flinch I gave at the sight of all those snakes, the scales glimmering under the lamplight. It was the responding flinch from Medein that had me freezing in place, my brain halting in the thoughts of how this couldn't be true and had to be some kind of dream to focus on what I had just seen.

The man I had spent so much time with, the one who had never shown a hint of fear or sign of anything but utmost care towards me in all this time, had flinched. He had flinched because of me.

"Medein?" I reached out a hand slowly towards him, trying to ignore the snakes that hissed ever so softly from higher up, even as my brain was screaming that this couldn't be real.

Slowly, my hand feeling as if it was barely moving, I curled my palm against his cheek and met his eyes once more. My heart broke at the deep sadness that filled them, knowing that it had been me to place it there. How could I have broken the one person who had been able to heal my own fractured heart?

"Oh, Medein... I'm so sorry," I whispered, taking my other hand and grasping his own before bringing it up against my scarred cheek. "Can you ever forgive me?"

~~~~~~~~

Feeling her press his hand against her skin willingly, even though she had seen what Medein was, astonished him beyond words. He could hardly believe what he was seeing, the sorrow in her own eyes clear to see for any who would look. And look he did, taking in the way her eyes met his even as she remained flesh and blood.

It was like Percia all over again, blessed so by the gods that she would never turn to stone no matter how many times she met his gaze. What had always been missing from Percia's eyes, however, was the glimmer of love that shone even amongst the sadness dwelling in (y/n)'s eyes.

The love that had been a consistent presence for some time now, even before he'd recognized what it was. But seeing it shine so strongly as she'd said the words aloud that first time had made it so clear to him what he'd been seeing. He'd honestly never thought he would see that in her eyes again after the magic had vanished from the bracelet, but there it was, steady amongst the other emotions churning in her eyes.

It was almost enough to make him ignore the fear that still flashed within the depths.

~~~~~~~~

"Medein," I began softly, my eyes glancing up into his 'hair' quickly before looking down again as a shiver ran up my spine. "I... I have to confess something to you. Please, don't take this the wrong way but..."

I was unsure how to continue, how I could say this without him taking it personally. I mean, how were we going to get past this issue? It wasn't like it could just stop being an issue. Whatever had been keeping him human before this, and wasn't that a thing to think about without having my brain shudder to a halt, whatever it was seemed to have stopped for whatever reason. Which brought another question to mind.

"Actually, before I get into that, how were you able to look human all this time? And why isn't it working now?" I peered into his eyes, my own wide with curiosity as I ignored the soft hissing of the snakes upon his head, avoiding looking down at the sound of scales shifting against the floor.

It was all I could do to keep my focus on him and not the more blatantly serpentine features which had my instincts screaming to move away before I was bit by something. It was getting harder with each time the snakes that had replaced his hair hissed or shifted about as if agitated. But I also didn't want to make him feel like it was him that was causing my... discomfort, even if in part it was.

Because it wasn't like he could help what he was.

It was with that thought that suddenly my mind shifted back into gear and I found myself finally able to ignore the fear that had been crawling down my spine at the thought of snakes being so close to me. Being around just one or two was usually only a little creepy, but with so many of them right next to me, hissing and weaving about with each movement I made and every word I spoke...

It was hard not to be afraid, especially not knowing if these snakes were poisonous or not. Because some of them looked an awful lot like the Asps that my father tended to fancy, even if others looked like the common garden variety snakes that I used to rescue from the stray cats as a child, back before I learned how much even a small bite could hurt.

But right now none of that seemed to matter as my brain finally connected all the clues that had been right in front of me, all the hints that Medein himself had been giving me for the past few weeks. He was Medein... He was Medein, had always been Medein.

With those thoughts, I interrupted Medein before he could even do more than stumble over the first few words of whatever he had been about to say.

"You really are Medusa, aren't you?" I said with wonder in my voice, a feeling of awe entering me at the idea that the creature, no, the man before me had been alive for so many centuries, trapped on that island. "You must have been so lonely."

~~~~~~~~

Medein could only stare as the fear finally left her eyes, understanding and sadness taking its place as she spoke to him. Even if she used the wrong name, calling him by the one she was more familiar with, it meant she finally understood who and what he was. So why had the fear left her? Didn't all her tales paint to him as the villain? Did it mean she finally believed him, that he had told her the truth when he shared his past?

It was her last words that made him freeze in place, his eyes beginning to burn a little as he felt the weight of those centuries hit him, the endless loneliness at having been left behind for so long. When he felt her hand reach up and brush against his cheek, taking a single tear with it, he couldn't hold it back any longer and began to let slip the painful feelings he'd tried to ignore, shutting them away as best he could after he'd come so close to destroying the precious statues he'd made when the island was first given him as a home.

He wept when he admitted how hurt he'd been by Percia's abandonment, shouted at how the gods themselves must have cursed him to remain trapped on the island, and wept again when he told her of how grateful he'd felt when she had not only kept returning to his island after he had shamefully tried to scare her off, but also that she had taken so much time to spend with him, even after he'd refused to return her book for so long.

By the time he had finished, he felt not only drained but ashamed that she had seen him being so weak in front of her. What woman would want a man who was so weak as to cry in front of her?

"But Medein, crying does not mean you are weak. It just means you have been strong for so long and that you needed a break so you could come back ever stronger afterward!" Her words came so gently, he almost didn't hear them.

But he did hear them and it made him realize just how amazing this woman was, that she could see him at his weakest and see it as something positive instead of the way so many in his past would have used such a moment against him.

"So, why do you think they took your story and twisted it so much? And was Perseus really a girl?! But I thought he married the princess?! Was that also a lie?" Her words got faster with each question as he finally broke down into laughter, enthralled with how easily she could change the atmosphere that had been choking the very air around them.

"Likely, they did not want to feel like they owed anything to something they saw as a monster. And yes, Percia was definitely female, as was the princess she loved. They were never allowed to wed, in fact, the princess was engaged to a prince from another kingdom, but I believe they ended up together anyhow. Or at least, I believe they tried their hardest to remain together regardless of what the King and his people wanted from them," he spoke slowly, the smile feeling only slightly bitter on his lips as he gazed upon the woman he treasured and spoke of the one he had once thought to have loved.

Thinking quietly for a moment, he finally continued speaking. "I'm not sure how long they were able to remain together since she ultimately stopped visiting me. I'm not sure if they ran off together or if something else happened, but I know that they did love each other, even if it was frowned upon by those who thought she should marry to keep the king's line strong. But I would rather not speak more of her right now. I would rather hear what thoughts ran through your head before you spoke of this."

He prayed silently to any god that was listening for her not to say that she wished him to leave, instead hoping that he could stay, even if he had to hide from all others. He didn't want to lose this happiness he'd found, even if it might have grown smaller than it once was. Because anything was better than that aching loneliness from before she found him. Anything was an improvement over the sadness and rage and despair that filled him upon that island.

"Oh! I almost forgot! It feels so silly right now though," she pulled her head back, eyes looking at him fully for once as she took in the snakes gently coiling about each other on his head, the long serpentine tail that stretched across the floor as he leaned against the side of the bed, finally coming back to his eyes with a strange smile quirked upon her lips.

~~~~~~~~

"I'm kinda, sorta afraid of snakes when they get to close. At least, normally I am, but right now I don't really feel that way? I wonder if I'm going into shock and it won't hit me again until later..." The words slipped out of my mouth before I really even thought about them, still taking in Medein's form in full for the first time since I walked into the room earlier.

It really was strange to think that the snakes on his head weren't really so much scary as they were kind of... cute? Could snakes even be cute? I'd never thought that way before, but for some reason... And why wasn't his tail bothering me like it was before? I felt like someone had come in and tweaked my brain, just enough to change how I thought about snakes.

But that was silly and most likely it was what I thought before, that I was just finally feeling the shock of the situation settling in. Given enough time, I'm sure I would be freaking out again about all the snakes. Or at least feel a bit creepy about them.

Then again, maybe by that time, I would be used to them enough not to react. I could only hope so because just looking at this man beside me, I knew I didn't want to lose the happiness I had only just found so recently with him. I didn't want to lose someone I loved again and I definitely didn't want to abandon Medein for something he couldn't control, not like Tomas had abandoned me.

--------

Over the next several hours, I spent time going between calling family and friends and asking them to give me a few days before they visit to get used to being home again and spending time trying to figure out what me and Medein were going to do now that things had changed and the apparent magic his bracelet had held was gone.

He'd tried to explain it all earlier but I had interrupted his explanation with my sudden epiphany and hadn't brought it up again until much later. I still felt bad about it, even if it had helped me to come to grips with things a little more than I had been.

The moment he finally mentioned how he had always had to charge it on the island, I had turned to him with my jaw dropped and asked him why he hadn't mentioned that sooner.

"You do know that we can always go back to your island and try recharging the bracelet still, right? Huh, I wonder if that altar thing would work if we moved it here... Or would we need to move to Greece?"

--------

Okay, so maybe it wasn't so very easy to get a snake-man out of the country as I had initially been thinking, forgetting for a moment in my excitement that he couldn't just waltz onto a plane anymore. Especially when he told me that I was the first human since Percia to remain flesh upon meeting his gaze.

That thought had made me freeze in place for a bit as the realization of how close I had come to becoming a statue hit me like a brick. What would have happened if I'd turned to stone? Would I have been aware of the world around me, stuck as a statue while the world kept moving along? Or would I have actually been dead?

And what would have happened to Medein? Who would have taken care of him, made sure that he got back to Greece? Or at least was kept away from anyone who might try to hurt him... The thoughts were enough to make me sick, just thinking of the slight chance that someone might have captured him and locked him away for the rest of his life.

A life that, the more I thought about it, the more I realized would last far longer than my own mere human life. Once things were taken care of, I would have to make sure that after I was gone, however far into the future that might be, Medein wouldn't be left trapped and alone. Somehow, I would have to make sure he was taken care of.

But in the meantime, we needed to find out how that altar worked and if it could be safely moved! And the best way to do that would be through research. That or find some way to contact the gods, even if Medein seemed extremely reluctant to do so.

Contact the gods. What a mind-blowing thought that was, that they were real. That so many of them were because according to Medein, there was more than just one pantheon in existence. He'd very briefly met one or two gods from other groups long ago, in the years shortly before he came with Percia, but couldn't recollect which pantheon they came from. They just hadn't been important enough to him for him to bother keeping the memory from fading.

It had me wondering if we had to contact a Greek god or if we could try for one that might not hold a grudge against him. It was definitely worth keeping in mind, just in case it came to that.

--------

After making arrangements for Medein to be taken to Greece aboard a boat I had rented, one with private rooms that he could stay in for the duration of the trip after I have given proof of both our passports. When questioned about his reluctance to come out of the cabin, I gently explained that he was suffering from an illness but was desperate to return home before his ailing mother passed on without him beside her.

Thankfully, the captain of the boat simply gave an understanding not and asked that I pass on his condolences. I would have felt more guilty about the lie if there had been any other believable reason I could give. Or just another option for getting Medein back home in general, but it seemed that this was it.

--------

The time spent on the boat was spent making plans for what we would try first once we got the bracelet charged, as well as deciding that he would wear the bracelet only when he needed to so as to save the limited amount of time it granted him to be human. We would be spending most of our time on the island for this reason. Once the plans were fleshed out, we began conversing about the things we hadn't really gotten into before this point.

Mostly, this consisted of Medein going into greater depth about many of the things he had seen and done before becoming imprisoned on his island, but eventually, it was my turn to talk about things. He made this even more apparent when he grew quiet and reached out, tracing one of the many scars that covered my skin before looking up into my eyes.

"What happen to you?" Hesitancy filled his voice, but I could tell he must have been wanting to ask this question for some time, likely hoping that I would tell him on my own if he waited long enough.

I doubt that I ever would have spoken of it if he had remained quiet, sighing wistfully as I leaned back against the pillows that tried to make the couch feel more comfortable than it really was. I could have gone my whole life without having to talk about that day again, but if we were going to stick together through all of this, it would do far more harm to the trust between us not to tell him than it would hurt to be honest.

So for the next few hours, I spent time telling him about that night, the call I had foolishly taken as I drove home from work and how I had taken my eyes from the road. Only for a moment but that is all it had taken. I told him about how I had been unconscious for a time and when I woke up, everything had changed.

I sobbed, feeling the ache all over again, as I finally told him about Tomas, how we had been engaged and so close to marrying each other once everything was perfect but that he had vanished before I ever woke up. He held me, gently rubbing soothing circles on my back, as I brokenly explained what Tomas had told my father, for the first time saying aloud how hurt I had been.

~~~~~~~~

He didn't understand every word she spoke, some of them new to him and others simply confusing how many meanings they could have, but he understood enough. Enough to know that she blamed herself, perhaps rightly so, perhaps not, he did not care. He couldn't hold something against her, especially since it was obvious she had more than paid the price for her part in it.

He also understood enough to know that should he ever meet this Tomas, the man would not meet a quick end through his gaze. No, Medein was not so kind as to give the man an easy death at his hands. He would spend time carefully planning out how to ensure the man suffered for the pain he'd caused (y/n).

Kind, sweet, and somehow able to love even such a being as Medein, (y/n) did not deserve to feel such heartache. He would know, having suffered such a feeling himself once, although somewhat different from her own. It was enough to understand the ache she herself still felt, to know that he would ensure she never felt it again while he still drew breath.

And he would do whatever it took to make sure he would live for as long as he had her beside him. He wouldn't be the one to break her heart, not now that it was truly his to protect.

~~~~~~~~

It was almost shocking how comfortable I felt after letting everything out with Medein. Suddenly, I no longer felt like I had to hide my scars from the world. Instead, I found myself wandering about the ship in clothing suited to the warm weather. It did not matter to me that people could see my scars clearly without sleeves to cover my arms or a hat to hide my face.

I felt free from my worries and fears for the first time since the accident and it was all thanks to Medein and his soft words of love, his understanding of how it felt to be the outsider in a room full of people, his devotion that I only now understood how complete it was. After all, why else would he have taken such a chance with me, not just leaving behind his homeland, but also leaving the only way he had to blend in with human society?

It was only Medein's eyes that I felt on me anymore with any care, and only because I loved how he made me feel so beautiful, so wanted for who I am now. He made me feel like I had no scars upon my skin, but rather it was simply an intricate pattern put there by design, accenting what was beautiful about me rather than detracting from it. And when he touched them, caressing his fingertips over those that my clothing did not cover, it only made those thoughts more firm within my mind.

I am beautiful, to him and finally to myself again!

--------

It had taken some quick thinking and a handful of cash to convince the boat's captain to let us stay aboard the boat for the night once we had reached the fondly remembered docks of our destination. While it was true that we had grown to like his ship and did desire to stay upon the boat just a bit longer, the reasons were not those he assumed upon hearing my eager words.

No, I doubt he would be so agreeable if he knew that it was more the freedom I felt to be myself again, without the desire to hide away, that made me fond of the boat. After so many days with my arms and face bared for the world to see, the captain and his crew had grown accustomed to seeing me, just as Stelios had grown used to me. Even if the crew did not view me as fondly, as long as they didn't stare or comment, I could care less for their opinions of me. The only opinion that mattered to me these days beyond my own was that of Medein.

And so it was that we found ourselves quietly slinking our way down the docks to one of the small rental boats like I had used not that long ago to bring Medein here from the island he had been imprisoned upon. After loading our supplies into the boat and taking a quick trip to the rental office to leave a note and some cash, we untied the rope and made our way out into the waters once more.

--------

"Is this really it?" I asked, peering curiously at the small altar that I had mostly ignored the last time I was here, thinking it was meant for placing pottery on or some other such artistic thing. Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought it was meant for something as amazing as bringing power back to the bracelet that Medein wore.

I almost felt silly calling it such a simple name as a bracelet. It felt like it deserved a much more important name, like the difference between necklace and Amulet. I felt like I should be pulling out some kind of ancient grimoire and chanting out spells of protection just to see if they would work.

One glance at Medein banished such silly thoughts from my mind, as his features were so filled with pain and longing that I couldn't help but place a hand upon his arm, smiling at him when I finally had his attention pulled away from the altar.

"It's okay, my love. I'm here with you and I don't plan on ever leaving your side. Whether this works or not, I'll be right here," I spoke softly, wanting him to understand that he didn't need to fear having to go through this alone. That he would never be alone again, so long as I lived.

And if I could help it, he wouldn't have to truly be alone again, even after I was gone.

~~~~~~~~

He had been so focused on getting to the altar, trying to ignore the stagnant feeling of oppression that saturated the island, that he had almost forgotten his beloved (y/n) was with him.

Her gentle touch had startled him, to be honest, taking him a few moments before he could focus on what she was saying once he'd turned to her. Hearing her words, it was as if he could suddenly breath again, the weight of the island lifting from him as he slowly reached out to trace his fingers along her jaw.

She was such a bewildering contradiction of things, so fragile and yet so much stronger than even himself, filled with gentleness and yet able to stand firm against what she sees as wrong. So completely human and yet she could fill his entire world with her soothing presence, chasing away even the darkest of shadows.

"I have everything I need, so long as I have you (y/n). I love you, more than you can ever know," his words hardly more than a whisper, barely heard before fading away. But the mark they left on (y/n) heart would never fade, a warmth that shone brightly from her eyes and the smile that lit up her face.

A smile Medein couldn't and wouldn't forget no matter how many centuries passed. One that he hoped he would be able to see again and again, every day of his existence.

--------

Taking another glance at the metal band resting upon the altar, Medein released a soft sigh and turned to the exit of what was once his home. Being careful not to wake his beloved (y/n) as he slithered past, he left their temporary dwelling behind and made his way down a path he hadn't taken in centuries.

Gazing about the overgrown area, he finally made his choice, moving closer as he ran his hand over the surface.

"Yes, this one is perfect," he whispered to himself, a smile settling on his face.

~~~~~~~~

Letting out a small groan, I stretched in hopes of easing the ache from sleeping on such a hard surface. Even with the camping foam, it couldn't completely negate the discomfort of sleeping on stone.

Looking around, I finally noticed I was alone in the room, my eyes growing wide as I searched for some sign of Medein or where he could have gone. The bracelet was still resting upon the altar when I looked, so he wouldn't have gone too far. Still, that did nothing to tell me where he would have gone.

"Medein? Where are you?" I called out, hoping for a response. Only silence answered me.

Changing quickly, I turned and made my way down the tunnel, heading out into the sunlight. Blinking to regain my vision, I looked once more for a sign of where Medein could have gone. Finally noticing a broken branch down one of the paths nearby, hanging from where it would have once stretched across the way, I began making my way down the selected pathway.

Feeling my stomach grumble, I pulled an energy bar from my pack and unwrapped it, the smell of it making my stomach growl even louder in hunger. The snack was barely enough to curb my hunger, but a true meal could wait until after I had found Medein.

I needed to make sure he was okay, before I worried about smaller issues like breakfast.

--------

The soft gasp I gave was enough to grab Medein's attention from his task, the snakes that formed his hair darting and snapping at each other before calming down once the male saw me standing just inside the small clearing he had been in. Glancing toward the sky, a frown appeared and he glanced back at me.

"I am sorry, I did not mean you to wait so for me. I was... distractioned," he spoke slowly, exhaustion weaving through his voice as I watched his shoulders begin to slump now that he was no longer working on his task.

"How long have you been here, doing this?" I questioned him, my hands gesturing at the statue that was taking form from the stone block he 'stood' before. There was a small pile of chips and chunks of stone surrounding his tail and the block, as well as the rock dust that seemed to coat everything within several feet of him.

Himself included, I noticed as I moved forward and reached up a hand to wipe at a smudge on his cheek.

"I am not sure. The moon was high?" He questioned more than stated, pointing toward where the sun would be at noon as his eyes slowly blinked shut before opening again.

Reaching forward again, I wrapped my hand around one of his, using my free hand to pull the tools from his grasp and set them upon a nearby rock that I assumed he had been using as a table. It was one of the only surfaces nearby that was being kept clear of rock debris and held what appeared to be a small collection of tools made of metal and stone.

"Come, you need rest. I will make food while you clean up, then we can eat and you will sleep afterward. No arguing," I cut him off, having noticed him getting ready to argue, likely to say he was not in need of rest or how he needed to check the bracelet. "The statue and the bracelet can wait until you are fed and rested."

Leading him out of the clearing and back to 'camp', I glanced back only once at the results of his nighttime activity. It was amazing how in one night, he could already have the vague form of a person carved from the stone block he had started with, the general form of a head and upper body already freed from the rock. Only the legs were still fully trapped within, waiting for him to return.

Turning back toward our destination, I began wondering if I should bring out the camp stove and heat up water or if Medein would be okay washing off with cold water while I used the stove to make breakfast instead.

--------

I relaxed against the wall of the room as I smiled down at Medein's sleeping form, having slowly inched closer to him as the minutes passed since he had fallen into slumber.

Even while he slept so peacefully, some of the snakes upon his head still moved about, like a watchdog constantly alert for potential threat. Had they always done this or was it something that happened in response to some danger he had been in? Instinctual or something learned?

Slowly reaching a trembling hand out, unsure of their response now that Medein was not awake to curb any aggression they might feel, hoping that if one bit it wouldn't be a poisonous one. I tensed as I heard them begin hissing and froze in place, my hand just inches from being able to caress Medein's face as he often did me as I slowly sunk into slumber each night.

Not sure if I should stay still and hope they calmed down enough to move away from me or pull my hand back and chance an aggressive response to the movement, I closed my eyes tightly as some of the snakes shifted closer to my hand. Waiting for the bite to come, I barely stopped myself from jerking away when I felt scales winding about my hand, opening my eyes to see one of the thinner snakes curling between my fingers.

~~~~~~~~

Medein awoke to the feeling of something coiled gently among his snakes, holding still as he tried to puzzle out what had happened while he slept. It was a strange sensation, although it seemed to keep the snakes soothed even as his alertness should have had them coiling about in agitation.

Unable to comprehend what was going on, he slowly opened his eyes and began shifting his head, freezing quickly when he noticed what his head lay upon. Peering from the corner of his eyes, he saw (y/n)'s form leaned against the wall, her head turned against the stone as she slept.

Focusing on the sensations coming from his snakes, he realized it was her hand that was captured within their coils, the fingers gently twitching from time to time as if to pet them. Only then did it occur to him that she must have shifted close enough to reach for him, for them, and at some point shifted to place his head upon her lap.

The woman who usually held caution around snakes had willingly fallen asleep with snakes clinging to her hand.

"You never fail to do things that take my breath away," he whispered to himself, Greek spilling from his lips where his still limited grasp of (y/n)'s English failed to capture his meaning.

Feeling her fingers twitch again, he grew quiet once more, holding still so as not to wake her. Instead, he settled himself to wait, smiling at the feeling of being so close to the one he loved so dearly.

Yes, he could wait. For once, he felt that he could wait forever on this island and it wouldn't be a curse, so long as his beloved was with him.

~~~~~~~~

I woke up to feeling my legs tingling as I wiggled my toes, trying to stop the pins and needles sensation that filled them. Why did I feel like I had just spent the past few hours with one of my mom's old dogs sleeping across my lap? I was about to move my hands to help push myself up from the ground when I felt the weight in my lap move at the same time I felt something coiling gently around my fingers shifting.

"You are awake, my love?" I heard Medein's voice come from right in front of me as the weight lifted itself from my legs, my eyes snapping open to see his face just inches from my own as the snakes hissed their displeasure at having been pulled from their spot. It seems they had been enjoying themselves winding about my hand.

Shaking my head at the thought, I blinked a few times before giving Medein a smile.

"Yes, Medein, I am awake. But you should have woken me up when you woke. I'm sure you had things you wanted to do while I was sleeping. And I had already gotten sleep earlier! I-" my words were cut off when I saw the smile he gave me, my brain nearly shutting down and filling with just the thought of how handsome he looked when he smiled like that.

"But if you woke, I would miss your warmth sooner," his simple words took my breath away, making the tingling in my legs nothing compared to the jolt my heart gave as it began to race.

How had I been so blessed to find someone who made me feel so completely loved? Like I was the only thing that mattered in all the world.

"You make me so happy, Medein. So very happy," I said, bringing him closer to press my lips against his. I could almost taste the warmth of his love for me, all sunshine and tenderness.

--------

I watched, completely engrossed, as Medein carefully carved away at the stone in front of him.

The same stone he had been working on for the past three days, every time we took a break from either testing the altar or contacting one of the gods, something Medein was very unhappy to be even attempting. But he put up with the attempts for me, because I asked him to try if it meant we could be together somewhere other than on this island and the nearby port town.

Otherwise, he was in front of this stone, carving at it as if it held the secrets of the world hidden within. Every movement he made seemed like one more part of a predestined dance he had stepped into seamlessly. Each motion of his arms, the way the muscles in his back tensed and relaxed, it all seemed to be planned well in advance and not one movement was wasted.

I was watching a master artist at work, although he had denied my words when I told him so earlier. I could only stare as I watched the statue take form before my eyes, the once rough form slowly growing into delicate looking sweeping arms, graceful legs forever caught midstep, and a welcoming smile taking form on the familiar face.

But what truly captured me was the way the scars covered the statue's skin. They did not detract from its beauty, instead looking like their own separate work of art, enhancing the overall etherealness of the statue. And instead of arguing or feeling shamed by my scars as I once would have, I understood.

This is how he saw me, not as a scarred victim of my actions but rather as a being who became even stronger and more beautiful in his eyes because although I had fallen, I had gotten back up again, pushing forward regardless of how long it took me to do so.

And he had been there, helping me find my way through it all, keeping me from thinking "This is good enough. I'm healed enough, I can stop pushing myself now." It might have taken time, but he kept me pushing forward until I was once again ready to live life to the fullest. He was the light that kept leading me forward.

Even as I'd helped him find his own way forward after waiting so long in the darkness.

~~~~~~~~

It was almost complete, the hours of work each day paying off as the statue came closer to a proper representation of his beloved (y/n), even if it could never fully capture her beauty. Medein wasn't fully sure why he felt so compelled to create the statue, what with the real person so close by, waiting patiently for him to finish as she watched him so intently. He just felt like it should be done, like it needed to be done.

Glancing behind him once more, he felt his cheeks warm at the awed look on her face, her eyes filled with wonder as she gazed upon the statue that represented everything he saw when he looked at her. Quickly turning back around, he slid the tool down the surface, working carefully to smooth the rough areas of the stone until it felt almost like glass under his fingertips.

He felt thankful that this particular stone had still been mostly untouched after so long a time unprotected from the elements, the soft rose tint to the stone perfect for capturing the essence of how he felt every time he remembered the feeling of her fingers trailing against his skin, the softness of her lips as they kissed, the warmth as he held her within his arms.

His hands stilled as his mind wandered back to last night, how he had lain quietly with her beside him, having spent several minutes just watching her sleep until finally he joined her in slumber. His time with her was a far greater paradise than anything the gods could offer him.

Nothing they could give him could ever come close to what he had felt with (y/n) as she'd pressed her lips to his. Not even Aphrodite in all her glory could tempt him half as much as (y/n) did when, with eyes half closed and her cheeks flushed, she looked up at him from where she lay on the blankets.

No, the gods had nothing he would give her up for. But they did have something he wanted, something he desperately desired to give to (y/n). Their precious divine nectar, capable of granting immortality to any mortal who drank of its sweetness. No mortal could possibly deserve its gift as much as his beloved did, for who else could be as loving, kind, and wondrous as she?

And if he was forever denied the ability to make her as enduringly timeless as he, then he would beg them to make him as mortal as she, instead. He would either live forever with her or someday die beside her. Because living even one day without her alive at his side, or if not at his side then at least alive, would be a far worse punishment than an eternity spent alone on this island.

No, he would either share eternity with her or he would share her death when the time came. He would demand outright that Thanatos take him as well when he came for (y/n), even if he had to argue with the entity until the end of times.

~~~~~~~~

It had been nearly two weeks since we came back to the island, the bracelet charged and tested over and over. Rather than move the altar immediately, Medein had attempted to reconstruct it from a similar stone, carefully carving the same runes into the new altars surface, and when the bracelet had become drained enough, he had attempted to charge it on the completed altar.

The attempt had failed, either something missing or the gods refusing to allow such an easy answer to our quest. I felt that it was the first, while Medein insisted it was the second since "the gods are belligerent children" and thus would do whatever they could to hold a grudge against him.

Sighing, I could only think that they were not the only ones to hold grudges. I would have to help him work on that issue, since it was not good for the mind or spirit to hold on to such bitter feelings for so long. As one of my neighbors used to say, 'to forgive is divine'.

Forgiving allows one to move past the anger, the bitterness, and to begin to heal yourself. In no way am I saying to forget the wrongs done, for that would be asking for it to happen again, but forgiving can be as much good for yourself as for the other person, if not more so.

I have a feeling that Medein would be the one to benefit most if he could forgive what happened in the past. Although, I have to admit that I am curious as to exactly what did happen, since all he had to go on were assumptions, the gods having stopped talking to him before the imprisonment actually occurred. At least, that is what I managed to understand from what he told me, with how quickly he rushed through that part of the story.

I have a feeling that I would only understand if I could somehow hear both sides of the tale. And gods didn't seem to care for taking the time to explain themselves to mere mortals, especially in this day and age.

--------

I felt a bit silly doing this, as I sat before the now ignored altar Medein had built, jars of honey sat next to a basket almost overflowing with grapes while more jars filled with various types of olives sat on the other side from the honey.

From what I could figure, these would be the best offerings I could come up with that were not targeted at just one specific god or goddess, hoping that I could attract the attention of whichever one could and would help Medein the most. Be it to help keep the bracelet charged without needing an altar, to figure out how to make an altar that would work elsewhere, or whatever other help they could give that would solve the issue.

I didn't care who it was that did it, as long as they helped. And so I found myself here, having carefully placed the various items I had bought around the base of the altar, a few handfuls of barley spread around them as an added offering for good measure. I figured it couldn't hurt, after all, and the few things I had managed to find about offerings to the gods had mentioned barley.

I would be the first to admit that my knowledge of ancient offerings had never been very thorough, having spent more focus on food, modern culture, clothing, and such. Most of the historical interest was in myths and legends, or what I had thought to be such, without the sacrificial angle to it. And after what I had read, I refused to offer the sacrifice of a living animal just for the satisfaction of some distant deity.

"Not all of us are so very distant, you know." I jumped upon hearing the voice behind me, one that was definitely not Medein.

Turning quickly, my hand bracing against the ground as I nearly tipped over in shock, I looked up at the youthful looking male who towered over me. Shadows played across his pale skin, his hair unnaturally still in the gentle breeze that carried with it the scent of the nearby saltwater. His eyes were dark and sent a chill through me before I forced myself to turn away.

"Are you here to accept the offerings?" I asked, hoping both that he would say yes and offer his help, but also that he would say no and leave swiftly, allowing me to regain the comfort I'd had before his arrival.

"I am here for an offering, but not the ones in baskets and jars. Such things do not interest me like they do the others," he spoke as I could feel his gaze send chills down my spine, like an ice cube slowly slid across flesh.

"W-what offering do you seek then? There is nothing else offered before the altar," I shivered, my voice trembling as I saw him take a step closer, his hand lowering until it rested just inches from my head.

"Why, the only other thing presented before the altar. You," he spoke, his voice echoing within my ears. Everything froze in place as I saw shadows form around him as what seemed to be his wings stretched until the very sky above was covered in darkness.

~~~~~~~~

He had searched the island thrice over, about to start a fourth, when he felt it. The soul-chilling feeling that had only ever announced the presence of one singular entity. Thanatos, the god of death.

It was a presence he would rather go without, especially since he had a feeling the deity's sudden appearance had something to do with his inability to find his beloved on the island. And that thought terrified him beyond belief.

"Where is she,Thanatos?" He barely managed to keep his voice steady as he turned to face the being that even the gods themselves would cower before should he be angered by them. "What have you done with (y/n)?"

"She is waiting in my domain right now. I am curious as to why you care. I thought you were done with god and mortal alike after spending your time here, trapped and alone for so long. What makes her different, that you would bother with all of this," he spoke, one arm sweeping out towards the altar and a single ripened grape resting against its base, eyes dark as they stared into Medein's own golden-green depths. "I had thought you like me, Medein."

"How could I be cold to her when she warms me like the very sun with her presence? How could I remain distant when she pulls at me like the moon does the tides? How could I fail to love her when she has become my very reason for living?" the heartache he felt at hearing where she was filled his voice, not bothering to hide it as he felt his shoulders slump from the weight of his misery. "Do not ask me to live without her, Thanatos. Take me to her, my life is nothing without her beside me."

"She said the same foolish thing, begging me on bent knee to return her to you, that she would give up anything and everything if it meant she could be with you again," the bored sounding voice echoed in his ears as he felt another ache build within him at hearing those words. "I even questioned whether she truly meant it, if she would really give up everything just for one man. Or should I say, for one monster, since you never have been and never will be human like she. She was rather insistent that you were not, in fact, a monster. Foolish female, as if a gorgon could be anything but a monster."

The deity paused, his eyes turning aside to stare emptily down at the lone grape before turning up to the sky, the darkness in his eyes suddenly reflecting distant stars that were unseen to any mortals eyes.

"Still, she repeated her offer rather insistently. Almost demanding, in fact, that for you and only for you, she would give up everything and anything, even the very essence of what she was. And who am I to refuse such a tempting offer?" With those words, the being turned once more to meet Medein's gaze. "You should return home before she wakes up."

A maelstrom of screaming shadows formed behind the god of Death, slowly absorbing him as it began to shrink back down, leaving nothing behind to show anything was ever there to begin with. Nothing but Medein, until he too turned and raced away from the abandoned altar, hoping beyond hope that she was there, still alive and waiting for him.

--------

The room was empty, nothing within but the supplies they had brought with them, bags still open and various gear scattered about next to an empty pile of blankets. His heart aching even more than before after having his hopes lifted and dashed upon the floor of his one-time prison, Medein lifted his head to scream to the very gods for the betrayal he felt.

Until his thoughts caught up with him. This was his prison. Thanatos had said home and Medein had not considered this his home for some time now. Only one place could be called his home right now if he considered a place rather than a person.

Grabbing the bracelet from the altar, he hurriedly left behind everything he did not deem necessary for the journey. The first he would be making by himself since before even Percia had entered his life.

~~~~~~~~

The slamming of a door woke me from dreams that already were little more than vague impressions of shifting shadows and a gentle hand upon my forehead as I slept. Hearing footsteps racing closer across wooden floors, I tried to sit up from the softness of the bed I lay in, my arms trembling before I collapsed back into the mattress.

"Me... Med-" I broke off as I began coughing, my throat as dry as if I hadn't had anything to drink in days.

Reaching for the bedside table where I always kept a glass of water, I tried to recall when we had come home from the island. Had we found the answer? Had we given up? Why couldn't I remember? I took a careful sip before putting the glass down again, the water tasting rather crisp for coming from the tap.

"(Y/n)!" The shout filled the room as soon as the door was flung open, the worry that filled Medein's face slowly melting away as relief replaced it. "You're really here."

Walking on trembling legs, Medein barely made it to the side of my bed before his legs gave out, knees hitting the floor loudly as I flinched at the sound. His hand trembled as he reached slowly out to me, his hand finally stopping as he cradled my head, fingers tangled into the hair I had once grown out in hopes of hiding the scars more easily. Seeing the tears that began running down his cheeks, I reached my own hand out, ignoring the trembling in it as I gently wiped his tears away.

"Medein, why are you crying? What's wrong?" I spoke, my voice breaking here and there from the remaining dryness.

I gasped when I felt his arms pull me in for a hug, his face pressing into my hair as he whispered in Greek, so quickly that I could barely make any of them out, not that I had picked up nearly so many words as he had in our traded lessons from the days back on the island.

The island. Weren't we supposed to be on the island? I gripped at my chest as it began to pound, a whimper escaping me as Medein pulled away to look down at me in worry.

"(Y/n)? Do you hurt?" He began pulling the blankets away from me, trying to find a hint of a wound, a bruise, anything that would explain why I was suddenly trying to curl up into a ball, tears of pain running down my face.

"Medein... Medein, what's happening?" I cried out, the pain filling my voice.

"You are shedding your mortality, of course. Did you think it would be painless? I don't deal in the gifts of nectar and ambrosia. I am not that kind of god, filled with foolish promises they can't truly deliver. I am Death," the hauntingly familiar voice echoed through the room as shadows screamed across the doorway, finally pulling away to reveal an incredibly tall young man standing there in black jeans and a leather jacket.

"Who are you?!" I could hear Medein shout, a twisting beginning to form in my chest as he was caught between pulling away to fight the man and staying close to protect me as much as he could.

"Have you so easily forgotten me? We only just spoke a few days ago. Surely I am not that forgettable," the man said, although no interest entered his voice, his eyes flashing to Medein before resting upon me.

"Ashe?" I gasped as a shudder ran through me, the name echoing in my head even before I spoke it.

"Ah, see? Even the human recalls my name. And she didn't even hear it. Unless she spoke it, but your beloved wasn't even awake to meet her. Or was she?" He gazed into my eyes as he spoke, the coldness almost leaving his voice as he mentioned her.

I tried to respond but failed as a new level of pain ripped through me, my heart feeling like it would burst inside my chest.

"You are killing her!" Medein shouted as he saw the pain that seemed to radiate from my body.

"Well, yes. I did say she was shedding her mortality. Do you think it is so simple to steal someone's mortality? That it is just a tap against their forehead and they are immortal? As if it is some kind of foolish fairytale like the gods would have you think? I told you, I am Death. I am the end of all and to take that end from you without you entering my realms is not an easy task. Nor is it one that I do lightly. In fact, if not for her, I would not bother at all. You are lucky i found her, otherwise..." He turned his head away, as if even he did not wish to think upon such things for long.

"The one I spoke with was Thanatos and you are most assuredly not he," Medein growled, his eyes flashing with anger as he curled his arms around me as best he could, fingers combing gently through my hair.

"Oh? And I'm not allowed to forgo the uniform when I am not working? Or would you rather I reap your beloved's soul and leave instead?" Wings flashed behind the man as his visage began to change, Medein's eyes widening at the familiar sight.

"No! No, don't. Please, don't take her from me. Not again," his voice trembled as he turned back to look down at me.

My poor, dear Medein. I tried to reach up to him but I couldn't feel my hands anymore. I needed to do something, anything to let him know I wouldn't leave him, not if I could find some way to stay with him.

I needed to-

Suddenly, I was screaming as I felt something inside me shift, something that wasn't supposed to shift like that. Something was wrong.

~~~~~~~~

"What is happening?" Medein shouted the question at the being standing in the doorway. He didn't dare look away from his beloved, her body spasming within his arms as she tried to do something to help her, anything to make the pain seem less than it was.

"I already told you, she is shedding her mortality. How many times must we go over this?" The bored voice came, echoing into the room once more.

"You say she sheds her mortality, but how is she shedding it? In what manner are you making her immortal?" He snapped at the god of death, upset that he could sound so uncaring of (y/n)'s pain. The pain that he was causing her.

"Ah, and that is the question, isn't it? How does a human shed their mortality? It is not an easy thing, let me tell you. And not something I gift just anyone with, as I have said already. It is painful, as if feeling a thousand deaths over and over again. To watch one you love go through it is a rather similar pain, I would think. Not that I ever had or ever will have to watch such a thing," the beings voice crept through his mind like a cold mist, settling in Medein's brain with a chill.

"But what about this she you mentioned? Are you going to watch her die? Or do you not care as much as you made it sound?" Medein realized his mistake as soon as he felt the coolness of the room change into a freezing chill he had never experienced before, even around Thanatos. Or Ashe as his love had called the god.

"Do not question my feelings for her. You have not the right to speak of her, nor to question her death or lack thereof. And I do not answer to you. You are beneath me, much like a bug is beneath the notice of a god. I am Death! I am the end of everything! I reap the very stars that humans seek each night! Someday I shall reap even the gods you worship! Everything shall meet its end at my hands!" The being shouted in his anger, a cold rage filling his eyes before he gave a small shudder and his eyes emptied again. "Everything but her. Never her."

"Then do not make me watch my own beloved suffer so. Do not make her feel this pain," Medein begged Death.

"The pain is part of the price that must be paid. What would you have me do?" The being questioned softly, a hint of compassion finally entering his voice.

"Give me the pain."

~~~~~~~~

I woke up to silence, the air warm against my skin as I lay upon my bed, arms and legs wrapped around me from the body pressed against my side. Blinking slowly, I turned my head to meet familiar eyes, the green and gold seeming to almost swirl amidst each other.

"Medein? What happened? Everything seems so fuzzy," I whispered, almost feeling like speaking any louder would break the peacefulness that I felt right now.

"Shh, my love. Don't worry about that right now. Just know that everything is going to be okay. I'm here with you again and I alway will be. Forever," he whispered back, his arms warm as he pulled me against his chest.

On the nightstand nearby, a metal bracelet glinted in the sunlight that peeked through the window, a reminder of one final parting gift from a god of death.

'Because she would be sad if I didn't help. Especially after she enjoyed the offerings your woman made.'