HEPHAESTUS

‘’How did you find us?’’ Hephaestus asked drily to Mordred who was sitting far away from them.

Hephaestus could hear the engines of military cars passing on the other side of the forest filled with fire.

‘’Leviathan listened to your scheming’’ Mordred glared at them and went back to Mara.

‘’Snitch’’ She hissed.

‘’I will throw them at the river,’’ Hephaestus announced.

‘’Be happy that they snitched’’Mordred whispered and faced the fire.

You caused this. That is what Mordred probably thought.

Lucifer took a deep breath and took the turn to ask questions.

‘’Why did you hide it from us?'' She asked in a panic. ‘’That you are a Phoenix...''

As the days passed, as the events went by, Hephaestus kept being more distant from the man as they found someone else to trust, to feel like they understood them. Even if he was a prisoner, they could feel how comfortable they were around him. How could they talk without any worry in the world?

Prometheus' wounds became rougher, harder to heal by himself. The eagle never got hungry as Hephaestus noticed how plump his stomach became and when he got bored of his flesh, he started eating Prometheus’s liver. One time, Hephaestus found him with one eye. Keeping his smile so he wouldn’t show how painful it was.

The day they heard about Sedna's story, everyone inside the house was gone. No parents, no servants, and no maid who was fed bread and cheese. Hephaestus was alone inside the cold walls.

The keys to the basement were nowhere to be found as if they had vanished into thin air.

But that did not stop them. They placed their hands together, their fingers clenching, letting out a wave of energy. Then they spread their palms away, with a gray liquid floating around the tips of their fingers. They twisted their left thumb making circles around the edge of the liquid with their right hand moving their fingers and lifting their palm higher than their left, only to turn out to be a copy of the key from the basement.

Even if their nails were bleeding and their eyelids were heavy, ready to close the curtains and pass out to the stairs, Hephaestus kept walking.

They found Prometheus coughing with the eagle having a feist around his stomach.

‘’Why are you here ?’’ There was a rough tight burn to his voice.

‘’None else is’’ Hephaestus replied and sat next to him worried.

Prometheus laughed. That was the last time they heard about Sedna’s story.

Someone was approaching upstairs. The bird started screaming and eating more flesh from the old man.

‘’I can help you’’ They said and showed him the key. They placed it inside the lock and with a blink of an eye, the enchanted key turned to dust just from the simple touch of the iron cage.

Prometheus shook his head. Hephaeus' eyes drew a giant nod.

‘’I am going to try again’’ They smiled and clenched their hands with one another.

‘’My time has come’’He murmured lifelessly. ‘’Hide’’

Hephaestus did not listen to him. No matter how much blood their hands were getting out or how tired they were. Hephaestus did not stop.

The soldiers knocked on the door and made it break to pieces. Hephaestus tried to hide behind old boxes within seconds. Their breath was hard and light, difficult to get out of their body. But their heartbeat was loud as a thunderbolt.

‘’You were just a pawn for him’’ Their friend finally admitted.

Hephaestus’s heart was racing as there was a small knot around their throat, someone trying to drown them. Of course, there would be questions like this. They could just imagine the ways that Lucifer would think they had gained this power.

‘’If you had a power like this’’Mara interrupted her. ‘’Would you announce it to everyone you meet?’’

Lucifer ignored her and kept waiting anxiously for an answer.

Hephaestus tried to smile as they were stretching their wrists, feeling a small burn mark around their fingers.

‘’You took someone’s life to gain this power’’Lucifer spoke roughly.

‘’Why would you do that?’’

‘’It’s complicated’’They muttered with their light head and tired eyes.

Lucifer did not find the answer pleasing and kept asking more questions. Why did they keep it secret who it was or even the way they killed the previous holder? And for every question, Hephaestus did not give the right answer. It made Lucifer look at them with more mistrust.

‘’We are here’’ Ukko said and stopped the horse by pulling the leash back.

Mordred wrapped his hands around their waist and tried to help them get out. They could hear his heavy breathing and pain. But they were more curious about why they hadn’t reacted to what had happened. It was confusing for them to drop their ‘ideals’ within an instant.

‘’I hid inside the wagon of the car,’’ Mordred admitted, looking at them with a calm face.

‘’You never listen to me’’He said.

‘’You are not worthy for me to listen’’ They said with a grin that instantly faded, thinking of what he would say after that.

They took a small glimpse around and noticed that there was no sign of any soldiers or military cars.

Orion and Talus rushed outside the shop and pushed Mordred away from Hephaestus to hug them tight.

‘’You are an idiot’’ Orion said with a clear voice. Hephaestus felt a simple warmth around their chest, trying to smile again as he was now healed. Mordred had healed him even with force or with his own free will. Yet they did not care except that he was alive.

‘’You stole my car’’ Talus whined

‘’Borrowed’’ Mara corrected them, whispering as she and Ukko were driving the carriage inside the room where they were usually keeping their containers for Elysium. As it was now empty, it had plenty of space to put the horse and the containers inside.

‘’Where is it then?’’ They asked.

‘’Lost it,'' she said.

Hephaestus looked at Orion whose face seemed brighter and warmer. He even managed to shave, even if Hephaestus preferred him unshaved.

Then, inside the darkness, there was Leviathan, still at the table with the revealed eyes staring at all of them shocked.

You are all… Their eyes faced Mara and then Hephaestus and the rest.

‘’Well, not thanks to you’’ Hephaestus showed their tongue.

Well, now when the time comes it means that I will take it all. They whispered.

Hephaestus grinned. We will see.

The sun woke them up with soft warmth and yet chilly light.

There would be no soldiers for a while as there was an explosion close to the station, and they were gathering it to be sure that there would not be attacks there. That’s what they probably heard from the announcements from the megaphone. They were far too exhausted to let their mind listen.

That news did not make them as happy as they were supposed to be. Aztlan was safe for a while but what would happen after? And if the station is guarded how could they go to Elysium?

Their head could not erase the screams they heard from the explosions. Panic was in the soldiers' eyes as they took their masks off to breathe in the heavy smoke. Spirits save me. The fallen screamed.

And of course, there was a dream they saw when they passed. But it was not a dream. Nor a memory. It was just a man. A beautiful man with simple clothing was waiting for them. Calling them by their name or rather title,’’ Little fire bird’’

‘’Let me in when the time comes’’ He said. Caressing their right cheek softly. There was warmth around his fingers. A familiar scent that they forgot that they had felt like this before.

Their gaze dazed off to the nearby shower where there was a sound of water dripping down the floor. They tried to open their eyes better as they noticed someone was inside the shower, hiding behind the dark fogged glass.

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

Roses. They thought as the aroma kept conquering their nose and mind, relaxing every inch of their body.

Shit. Roses. Hephaestus jumped and faced the shower as Mordred kept brushing his dark curly hair with the soap as long as the salts that they found inside the boxes.

They looked left and right, searching for anything to make them understand what had happened. Two mattresses. They were inside the boss’ old office and her second home when she was not back to hers. Two mattresses. And the one was also untouched. They looked down at their clothes. Rugged and burned.

As much as they wanted to look far, they couldn’t escape his back. There were no scars, no marks of pain, and yet there seemed to be something there, aching it, haunting him.

‘’Can you stop staring?’’ Mordred whispered. ‘’Again?’’

‘’Good morning to you too dear’’ They laughed and faced the box front.

The water stopped, the glass opened and Mordred walked outside with a towel wrapped around him as he walked barefoot to Hephaestus’ side.

Don’t look. Don’t look. Don’t. Hephaestus kept feeling their cheeks turning in heat and Mordred studied them as his lips let out a scoff.

‘’Talus and Orion built it. Mara painted it’’ He finally said.

Then, Hephaestus decided to face him. By surprise, he was wearing a cream blue tunic, ending its weight on his hips as the dark heavy pants were wet. It was the first time they had seen him with common clothes and not a half cassock or a dark cloth, making their cheeks turn red.

He raised his wet brow, and showed with his head the box. ‘’Go on,’’

When they opened it their eyes restrained their tears. It was their design. A work in progress at least when it comes to life. Leather around the engines to cover the noise and make it easier to walk without a cane.

At the end of the toes, the copper was painted dark, and as it was going it was becoming a bright dancing red, yellow, and orange like a fire three inches far away from the knee.

‘’Beautiful’’ Hephaestus said with their eyes glancing upon it.

‘’You can go too’’Mordred jerked his head in the shower. ‘’You stink’’

Their boss seemed to have let salt and soap into the shower too. And they were not cheap ones. Hephaestus had a small tub back to theirs. To Venus’ apartment for them to be flexible around with only one leg. But there was a handler for their hand to touch, keeping their balance with it. They chose the salts with the name yellow Iris as they took the same soap Mordred used.

They let down their hair, free from the ribbon, and moved the water towards the cold temperature, letting it shower down their hair and body. The filth started getting out fast, walking every bit of weight it was around. They always thought that cold water could stop the sudden heat, the pain in their marks, everything. But it did not. It only eased their mind and just for a little till the heat came back again.

Everything was falling apart. Lucifer wouldn’t trust them. Not after all. They needed people to trust them for what was coming and they lied straight to her face.

I hid the truth. She didn’t ask me. Hephaestus reminded themselves. Just like you didn’t ask him.

‘’Shut up’’ They looked down, hitting their head with their free hand.

Hephaestus let out a heavy breath as they also laughed sweetly to make their mind go away from the smoke.

‘’Why?’’ Hephaestus asked from inside the shower, feeling Mordred’s presence still existing inside.

‘’I do not understand’’ Mordred lied clearly. His steps were calm, and soft like the first raindrop of the storm approaching their place.

‘’You had said clearly that you would not help me, take the wagons.'' Hephaestus placed the soap on their sticky hair, tasting the cold water from above.

‘’And yet you still followed us and saved my life'' Their eyes fell to their burned fingers. As they were tapping each other, Hephaestus could fill the warmth and the wrinkles underneath the skin.

‘’Why?’’

‘’I kept my promise’’ Mordred replied fast.

‘’I did not help you steal the wagon''

Hephaestus looked at him as he said the stupidest thing they had ever heard.

‘’I followed you because I was worried,’’ Mordred admitted with a sudden rasp.

‘’ I saved your life because you were in danger and went inside the carriage because I needed another ride’’

Hephaestus’s face became warmer from the anger as their left hand was ready to smack Mordred’s face.

‘’Of course’’ They rolled their eyes.‘’You are a horrible person you know that?’’

‘’Are you satisfied?’’ His voice almost sounded as if he was furious.

‘’What?’’ Hephaestus stopped the water halfway through.

‘’Are you happy that you helped you find your friend are you happy that you managed to help them are you satisfied with what you have done?’’ He did not even take a breath from all his questions.

‘’What is the matter with you?’’ Hephaestus did not look back and snatched the two close to their body and kept playing with their now own hair. ‘’Maybe if you had someone to care about except your superior you would know that…’’

‘’Three minutes’’ His voice let out a broken tone as he yelled those words.

‘’You said three minutes. I trusted you.’’His fingers stuck to the dark glass. Hephaestus looked left and right once more and they looked down.''I...let you believe what was the right thing.''He corrected himself.

‘’I thought that they took you away, that they sent you to Naraka, to Elysium, to …’’ He made a long pause before he kept talking again. ‘’You would have.'' His sentiments stopped as he kept talking now clearer and more formally.

‘’Tell me mechanic’’ He murmured to them.

‘’You give food and medicine to those people in need.’’His voice became tense.

‘’What will happen if you see one of them put a gun against your head?’’

Hephaestus hated to admit that he was right. They felt naive as blood rushed to their face, embarrassed by their naivety.

Hephaestus found the opportunity to turn on his side and open the glass, showing themselves upon his now-clothed figure. His hair still wet stuck to his brow.

‘’I am not going to get killed by a bullet if that is what worries you’’ They grinned, moving closer to his presence, conquering every bit of his existence.

‘’How do you wish to die then?’’ One breath closer.

His sick eyes did not let them escape as a rage of emotions was drawn all over them. Was it that he actually cared? Was it that he actually wanted them alive?

In the arms of a handsome man while their inventions were being used around Akhet. Ma’at would be dead by their hands, ages before their death. The warm wind blew their grayish-red hair to their wrinkled face and then returned to dust so none could become a phoenix holder.

But this could not happen.

TWO YEARS AND SIX MONTHS

There was no way to think of a proper plan now. There was no way to enter inside, no way to find what Boudica and they were planning nothing. They would go blind without a plan. The only thing that the gunsmith could do was to comfort the healer.

‘’I am here'' They said, slipping their fingers back to his wrist, whispering to him. They could feel the cold brushing against their heated hands but they did not care. Because they could finally feel something. They could feel cold.

‘’I am alive, I am alright. Whatever is going to happen, you will not get rid of me.'' They looked up with nasty grins. ‘’I have sworn to make your life a nightmare.’’ They admitted.

Hephaestus tried to let words out of their mouth as the door opened wide and loud. His eyes kept analyzing every simple detail of theirs just like they were doing to him. Then, back their arms, legs, and their exposed neck. He kept looking at the center of their collarbone until he faced away ashamed of the thoughts that slipped his mind.

''Your hair;''He managed to say.''It is down...''

Hephaestus nodded confused. Was he surprised that they let their hair down?'' That's how they get clean.''They forced their laugh out.''Why so shocked.''

He blinked and cleared his throat harshly, taking a step away.

‘’Put some clothes on.'' He insisted, flushing red.

‘’I thought you had seen me naked’’ Hephaestus teased again. ‘’Shy?’’ They asked and turned to the slean bed once again. Where was he, where did he sleep? Did he even sleep?

Mordred gave them a pile of clothes and walked fast far from them. ‘’I will leave you to change.’’

There was a spark hitting their head, making the gears work. Every engine let out a cloud of thick smoke. Everything was placed in the right positions, every piece, every line, and every thread was back in the game. Their muscles around their face inched, making Hephaestus curve another grin.

Mordred blinks two times and scoffs. ‘’An idea?’’ He asked.

‘’I know what his plan is’’

Sock, prosthetic, rubber, cane.

They jumped outside as Everyone was playing a card game with Mara having the most coins and Lucifer frowning confused about how the game was working.

Hephaestus found Leviathan close to the window, staring at the dark curtains. The eyes turned to them.

What is it now?

They slammed their hands near them.

‘’It’s explosives, aren’t they?’’

Leviathan did not speak.

They eye faced the card table and studied everyone before talking again.

How do you know?

Everyone now stood up, watching Hephaestus panting and holding every thought in their mind before announcing to them the truth.

Their hair was almost dried with no ribbon to get touched as their clothes were now, clean and new and yet simple. Just a red shirt tight dark leggings and their new prosthetic. They looked at everyone around the table with calm eyes, unlike the gunsmith who was anticipated for everything.

I am not him. But I can crack it.

‘’It’s flying machines’’ They announced. ‘’Thoth and your aunt’’ Hephaestus turned to Lucifer. ‘’Had shown it two weeks earlier.’’They crossed their arms around their waist and took one more deep breath.

‘’The thing you saw in the sky was probably it.’’

‘’But what about the chemicals?’’ She asked with a panic.

‘’Flammable.’’They tapped their fingers at their elbows.’’It’s perfect for explosives.’’

‘’He wants to break the curse’’ Mordred realized. ‘’And with the machines and the bombs…’’ There were no words for him to let out. Everyone did and the atmosphere darkened.

People will die. They could remember how beautiful the machine was from above. Like a miracle jumped from the sky to make a better future. They wouldn’t let it cause blood and prayers of help to spread out to the world.

Facing Leviathan, it only made one thing clear just by the look of the coward's eye that they knew it from the beginning. Hephaestus was aware that they wanted to please him. They knew how thirsty for violence they were but this?

Hephaestus had morals. Morals like to help people. They had done it a thousand times and they would do it again. Whatever it took for them to help and end it. End him. A voice whispered inside their mind, letting out a bitter taste around their teeth.

‘’I have a plan’’ They finally said and everyone’s gaze was back at them.

‘’To take the dagger, end their plan, stop the entire thing.’’They kept calculating the way their breath was getting out. They had to push everyone into this and make everyone believe that it would work.

‘’Go on.’’ Mordred slipped his arm to them just for a second.

I am no pawn. No more.

They held their smile and faced everyone once more, letting out every detail, every last part of the plan they could say to them.

I am not him. I will be better than him. They said after they finished their thinking.

Everyone was stunned to speak. Mordred covered his lips with his hand and started shaking like a leaf as he backed away. Is he in pain? Ten seconds later he finally spoke.

‘’Alright’’He gasped.

‘’Yes,’’ Ukko let out a laugh.

‘’If you have,’’Hephaestus blinked.’’Any other idea’’

‘’We do not have time,’’ Orion answered. ‘’We will help’’He said after.

‘’But Talus rested his arm at the top of Orion’s shoulder. ‘’We will come to’’

‘’No,’’ Hephaestus panted. ‘’You will stay here, safe.’’

‘’And you will come back after thinking you died again?’’

Hephaestus did not reply as they took a slip back to take their cane from the table.

‘’Alright,’’ They finally said, knowing well that they could not make them quit.

Their gaze faced Mara whose expression was almost skeptical.

But she changed fast as she let out her agreement.

‘’Well we will probably die so make sure I will make sure I won’t die first’’ She stretched her nape and laughed.

Hephaestus lifted their chin and grinned.

‘’It will be a waste.’’They replied. ‘’You are the main event.’’

Her eyes snapped as she heard those words coming out of their lips. Poison.