Yeosang slept like the dead after his party night. He was still in the land of dreams while his kitchen came to life with the clatter of plates and knives. As he gradually pulled from his sleep, it was already past noon and the sun wandered around his room.

After rolling around and stretching for long minutes, Yeosang checked his phone. Almost 2PM. His grumbling stomach sped up his departure from his bed and he stumbled into the bathroom in nothing but his boxers. Did he undress at night? Where was his shirt?

Contrary to its mysterious disappearance, his make-up still clung to his face. It was smeared around his eyes, making him look like a panda. He hopped into the shower, since there was no hope for him otherwise. The smell of alcohol and smoke probably clung to his sheets now, but he might as well get out a warmer blanket for Jongho while he put on fresh sheets.

When he emerged from the bathroom swaddled in his bathrobe and cosy warmth, he found Jongho seated at the table. He was snacking on some sandwiches - a good middle ground of snack for him that he could make himself - and watching TV. Upon Yeosang opening the fridge, he shut it off, ever so proud to be able to tame magic all by himself.

"All rested up?" He asked and Yeosang nodded, his throat scratchy from all the yelling and laughing over the music last night.

"Thanks for putting me to bed. I hope I wasn't being disrespectful." Yeosang always hoped he wasn't that bad, but who knew, considering all the distress he suffered recently because of Jongho... Hopefully, Yeosang didn't rant at his face about how exhausting he found him.

But Jongho's eyes twinkled with mirth. He lowered his sandwich onto Yeosang's trusty old Minions plate he had since he was a kid and shook his head.

"No, you are actually really pretty when drunk."

Yeosang twirled away to hide the warmth of his cheeks. He had to remember that an insane god inhabited that handsome body. Otherwise, he might fall for Jongho's gentle hands and strong shoulders and suffer every time he opened his mouth.

"I'm always baffled about waking up at home. Wooyoung says I get pretty clingy and kiss everyone nearby. Yunho told me how often I tried to crawl into bed with them," he shared, in a good mood after the long night and even longer sleep.

"So, let's properly talk about that. You kiss people, so you aren't repulsed by them. Aren't you well into marrying age? Why is there no wife in your home to bring you to bed and celebrate with you? No spawn to continue your bloodline? You could die tomorrow, unloved and without an heir," Jongho pointed out while Yeosang made himself some cereal because he was too lazy to cook already. His stomach cramped, trying to eat itself.

"Ouch. Thank you." He took it lightly, but Jongho frowned. Before he had to apologise, Yeosang continued.

"Humans don't fall sick as easily now, so I'm fine to wait for someone I truly like. There is no rush to start. Many options in the modern world. Perhaps even someone for you madman."

Directing the topic smoothly worked. Fearing to get invited into a harem or shunned, Yeosang couldn't outright tell Jongho he was gay and liked a man, but he didn't have to because the god bristled in his seat.

"Oh, do women still like kings? Gods? I can give them whatever they desire. Gather me a harem of the most beautiful of them and I shall tend to their every need. You may have the one you like best if you are too shy to find someone yourself!"

"I won't gather you a harem," Yeosang said, embarrassed by the idea. Not that harems were ever so common in the western world, but if he imagined the outrage that concept would be met in their modern day and age... No, those times passed. Anubis would have to do without that.

But the god just went on, Minions plate with half-eaten sandwich forgotten.

"Then call for me anytime, for I know how women think, even if this world is peculiar. I can find you your own harem as a wise scholar in my divine quest to prepare for the end. If you return from a feast without a woman to embrace, I'm afraid you are only versed in books and don't speak their language." His voice carried all the pity in the world. As if Yeosang had to be close to a premature death for not having anyone's arms to crawl into. Sure, sometimes he got lonely, but it wasn't that bad.

Did this mean it would soon become unbearable for Anubis to be alone? Did Yeosang have to take him along to the club and hope some girl was mad enough to deal with his Demotic babbling? He was handsome if he shut up.

"Currently, you look like my wife feeding me at home. You have a talent for cooking, but your purpose in this world is scholarly studies. Such dishonour on both of us," Anubis grumbled, and Yeosang had to snicker at him.

"Try saying that to modern women. I want to see what happens." Surely, Anubis' head would regrow if someone chopped it off? Or was he the god meant to take care of that?

But Anubis looked startled by that joke.

"Don't tell me... Are women into warfare now?" He caressed his chin, bothered by this monumental change Yeosang was all too happy about. Besides, didn't enough goddesses in Egypt also take major roles outside of fertility and childbirth and the hearth?

"Especially against men like you. But you mean well, so take my advice and leave them be. No harem."

Jongho grumbled, about to argue back, but he jumped off his chair at the shrill ring of the doorbell. Hastily, Yeosang shoved his plate aside to jump into some jogging pants and a hoodie, not caring too much for his wild hair if it was just the mailman.

But when he ripped the door open before his visitor could leave, he didn't face their friendly old mail guy.

Seonghwa stood there, gnawing on his plush lip. His hands cradled a pitiful-looking cactus and the soft pink of his hair fell into his eyes, not styled much either.

Yeosang's breath got stuck in his throat. When their eyes met, his heart also stuttered in his chest.

"S-Seonghwa!" He gasped out, pulling the door mostly shut behind him so Seonghwa wouldn't see Jongho in his flat, eating like he belonged there. Yeosang didn't want any misunderstandings.

"Hi," Seonghwa greeted him with a soft smile. He looked adorable in his grey fluffy poncho and Yeosang would usually bring him inside, offer him some tea and soak up the view of him in his home, but not today.

"I brought a patient for you. I wasn't sure if she would make it until Monday, so I figured it was okay to drop by." Head drooping, Seonghwa held out the cactus as his offering. Happy to be the one Seonghwa asked for help, Yeosang nodded enthusiastically, always glad to see him. Their fingers brushed when he accepted the small pot, and the cold touch of Seonghwa's fingers tingled under Yeosang's skin with heat.

He studied the plant in the glaring light of the staircase, pretending his heart wasn't going crazy to have Seonghwa here, looking so cuddly and warm. It wasn't the first time he visited, but Yeosang always nearly went crazy.

Once he finally managed to focus on the plant, he studied the dark spots that wilted along its arms, leaving the flesh squishy and wrinkled. The cactus lost its needles there and while Yeosang never specifically studied plant illnesses, he just knew this one needed special care and lots of light.

"My, she looks pitiful. Poor princess. We will have her right back and shining," he promised, but he didn't rush inside to get her settled, thus creating an opportunity for Seonghwa to follow for a chat.

But Seonghwa took it with grace.

"Thank you. Take good care of her. Though I know she's in excellent hands." His smile was blinding and Yeosang fumbled with the pot, feeling shy.

"I'll bring her back once she's feeling better," he got out and Seonghwa nodded, always patient until his plants were feeling better. It was a common trade between them. Yeosang took care of the plants that never seemed to flourish under Seonghwa's touch despite his best efforts, and Seonghwa bought him sweets in return. Though this ritual in itself was already the sweetest reward for Yeosang.

It was their thing. Something that always kept his heart beating with the hope that he and Seonghwa might have a chance in the future.

Seonghwa's soft voice seemed to prove that exact point.

"Also... I wanted to check in with you. Are you doing okay? You look so stressed these days. I was worried." He nervously rubbed his fingers against each other and Yeosang kicked himself for ever putting stress on Seonghwa.

Quick to reassure him, Yeosang nodded his chin to the door next to them.

"All good. I spent some time with Wooyoung and I'm doing much better already. Must have been the blues of the cold season setting in." Damned Anubis. If not for him, Yeosang could be out and about on a trip with Seonghwa, preparing dates, their first kiss, every sunset spent together.

But he was right in one thing. Yeosang definitely only knew how to deal with books.

He fumbled awkwardly as his crush exhaled, glad not to worry about him too much.

"That's a relief. Always come to me if you need someone to talk to. Maybe we can bring some flowers to the museum so it doesn't feel as wintry for you." His grin was sympathetic since he also preferred a warm summer. Not that Yeosang did necessarily, but he was quick to nod.

"Totally, yeah. So, see you at work on Monday?"

Seonghwa tugged his gloves out of his pocket to put them on. Soft woollen ones, pink to match his hair. He was just too adorable to handle.

"Sure. Get some rest until then," he beamed back and Yeosang saw him off with the cactus in his hand until the door fell shut behind Seonghwa. Then, he hastily huddled back into his flat to calm his racing heart.

Not that he could jump around and scream into a pillow as he would deserve, with Jongho sitting at the ready for him.

Yeosang schooled his expression as he got out his emergency plant kit. Some fertiliser, special water for the extra petty specimens, fresh earth. He spread everything out on his kitchen counter along with the cactus.

"Thanks for being quiet," he told Jongho as he moved over curiously to watch him work.

"I'm a natural at that. Who was it?"

"My coworker. He brought me a plant to heal." Yeosang slipped on his gardening gloves. His building had no separate garden he could have fun in, but his apartment was so overgrown with his leafy friends that he was never bored.

Jongho looked like he had been meaning to ask about that.

"Are you a modern herbalist?" He sat down to watch Yeosang work, his movements quick and decisive. The giddiness inside his chest kept raving, but that was his little secret.

"Sometimes I feel like it. I have the patience many others don't have, so I like to deal with plants and animals more than stressful humans. My patience is also the only reason you are here." Otherwise, Mingi would have locked Jongho away for eternity.

Pondering, Anubis stared at the pitiful cactus coming back to life under Yeosang's touch.

"The person who created me... He is the god of all plant-life and agriculture. His domain would have suited you," he pondered. Yeosang watered their little friend before adding some anti-fungus spray for protection. The cactus couldn't stand with his other plants so its sickness wouldn't spread, but he had a lovely spot for it on the table.

"Would you like to tell me more about your world? I have some time and I'm curious how things happened from an insider's perspective," Yeosang offered while he cleaned up. The buzzing of his phone alerted him that Wooyoung was probably also up by now and checking in with him.

"Looking to stop the end of the world?" Jongho snickered as he sat back down, and this time, Yeosang followed to finish his meal.

"Perhaps. There might be something everyone missed." He gave him a hopeful grin because he didn't want to spend his time fretting and fearing an end that might never come.

A knit remained between Anubis' brows, but he nodded, ready for some proper conversation.