“I always thought I might be bad, now I’m sure that it’s true ‘cause, I think you’re so good and I’m nothing like you. Look at you go I just adore you I wish that I knew what makes you think I’m so special?” - Love Like you; Rebecca Sugar
Leon’s POV
We were supposed to be working but how can I when you’re standing so close to me? Yeah, even if I were to have said that out loud you’d probably think I was only teasing you as usual. You never take me seriously unless it’s work related. When and how did we get to this point? It’s absolutely ridiculous and annoys me that you can be so thickheaded Karno.
Ugh don't you look at me with those doe eyes of yours. No, no, stop that. Damn it!
“Pfft!” I scoffed at his question of whether or not if I was all right. Why can’t I just be honest with him? Oh yeah, it never works and somehow the situation derails and is swept under the rug forgotten as usual.
“I’ve had enough, you deal with it,” my frustration was starting to get to the better of me when I turned and walked away from him. Shit. This is going to be bad, I know Karno will not rest until he drags me back here to finish those wishes on the list.
I had to get away, like I said, I can’t concentrate with him around. I finally made it to my secret spot, enjoying the breeze and the scent of the flowers that grew on the field. Laying down I closed my eyes as my mind began to wander thinking about when did I first start to see Karno as more than my Vice Minister. When did he become someone I could trust, someone that understood me?
Karno wasn’t like that in the beginning, in fact I had the feeling he hated me. I was always making things difficult for him because I was under the impression that Karno was this perfect apple polisher, always ready to be agreeable to whatever anyone asked of him. Someone that pleases others, prepared to say “yes” to whatever they said. Perhaps that’s what made me push his limits to see how far “yes” went for him.
His hair was a bit longer then, he looked so young and bright eyed, not at all what a Vice Minister was expected to look like. That prim and proper god everyone expected of me with his uniform properly buttoned and laced; protocol my ass. And he wore that idiotic smile on his face… Heh. He was really cute now that I think back on it. My cute idiot Vice Minister.
“Leo?” Speak of the devil…
“What?” I gruffly asked without opening my eyes yet, “You’re blocking the sun. Move it.”
“What are you doing here? We’ve got work to do and it’s something I can’t possibly do by myself!” I could actually hear his hands going over his hips while he stared down at me.
“Pfft, shut up and get down here,” I crack open an eye making out his silhouette when I grab him by the wrist and tug him down next to me. However I miscalculated when he ended up half on me, “Oof! Watch it,” I growled though I felt a spark ripple across my skin at contact.
“Leo…” Karno sounded like he wanted to say something but then must have decided it was pointless and refrained from speaking, this didn’t bode well for my curiosity so despite my better judgement I decided to ask.
“Out with it Karno, what is it now?”
“Why are you here?”
To get away from you. Though if I would have answered him like that I knew he’d get the wrong impression but it was the truth. Until I could figure out what these feelings meant I needed to get away from him. Though right now, this very moment so long as he didn’t speak I was okay.
“Leo?” So much for that, “Did you fall asleep?” he had rolled over to his side to look at me, whispering his question and as much as I tried, I needed to answer him.
“Almost… You’re making this very unpleasant Karno.” I said, though I didn’t mean for it to sound rude, it just came out that way.
I heard a tired side from him as well as the rustle of clothing when he laid back down on his side of the grass next to me. We were silent for a while until I heard an amused little huff next to me.
“I think I understand the charm in this place, it’s calm and peaceful. Do you come here all the time?”
“When I need to clear my head,” I admitted and I felt his gaze turning to me, watching me as though my word wasn’t good enough for him, “And when I need to get away from--” I stopped myself in time.
“From?” Karno needed to ask…
“The noise. You know I hate it when things get noisy.”
“Ah. Right,” he said though didn’t sound convinced, “noise. Of course.”
“Pfft! Well don’t act surprised.”
“I’m not, it’s very like you to say that.”
Now it was my turn to look at him and just as I did I could see that he was staring at me almost curiously, one of his arms was tucked under the side of his face to serve as a pillow when he reached out toward me and I leaned back slightly.
“Will you stop moving Leo? You have something in your hair,” I rolled my eyes at him and allowed him to grab whatever it was that caught his attention, “Cute, though I don’t think you’d appreciate this little blossom stuck to you all day.”
I looked down to see the tiny white flower between Karno’s fingers which carefully twirled it by it’s tiny stem, “Why Leo, are you blushing?”
“Pfft, you’re seeing things Vice Minister,” I sat up then snapped my fingers to make my uniform clean again, “come on, I suppose it’s time to get back to work.” I ran my fingers through my hair to make sure there weren’t any more flowers in it before walking off, “You coming or not?” I called over my shoulders, my hands now in the pockets of my slacks.
“Of course, it isn’t like you can finish your work without me,” Karno smiled teasingly as he walked at my side.
“Hmph, where did that cheek come from Vice Minister?” I couldn’t help but smile at that.
“I had to learn to adapt when it comes to your temperament, Leo.”
This was good for now, moments like these with Karno where it was comfortable enough though not awkward with unnecessary questions. I’m nothing like you Karno, I can’t easily smile or tell you what it is I want to tell you. I don’t even know what I’d say to you.
I’m in a writing group with around 40 people and one of the common reasons people don’t post their work is because “no one ever comments on it, so no one is reading it” which blows because their work is amazing and instead it’s sitting in storage.
Every writer has a story to tell! Comments/reviews always mean a lot, but notes and hits on stories will always prove that there are people out there who read your work! When I first started posting my work on here, I didn’t get many notes, but gradually, you get more reblogs and more people find and follow you, so those notes build. I’m still amazed when I get a notification about something I wrote months ago and it always makes me smile. Don’t give up!
A/N: Finished as promised, I’m very happy with how this came out and I hope you all enjoy it too. Rating is PG-13 for a few scenes though nothing too heavy. I also listened to “The Real World” by Owl City while writing this.
Star Crossed Myth and characters mentioned belong to Voltage Inc.
~*~
Leon had never expected Karno to run away, so then why did he? And down to Earth of all places! Did Leon really upset him that much to make the other god want to disappear for a while? With a heavy sigh, Leon knew that there was only one thing to do: the god of Leo had to travel to the mortal plane and search for his Vice Minister.
Work in the wishes department had been piling up to the point that it was now starting to affect the balance of energy between both the heavens and the earth; well this has gone on far enough. Thoughts began to race through his mind as to how Karno was saving his energy. Was he sneaking back to the heavens undetected? It was possible, though there was also the possibility that he had not and was probably huddled up somewhere sick and most likely delirious with fever.
It is what happens when a god stays on the earth plane for too long these days. The humans have contaminated the planet with so much of their pollution, that living on this plane would prove unsustainable within the next few hundred years; but that wasn’t his priority now. The moment Leon landed on earth he transformed into a creature that didn’t burn up much energy for him.
‘This form will be sufficient for now,’ he thought as he began to make his way down the busy street; his tail sashaying behind him casually, ‘If I don’t find him today I will return tomorrow,’ Leon continued thinking to himself and continued his way, even crossing the roads the way the humans did as to avoid being trampled by the traffic, ‘I wish this was easier, the earth is about half the size of the heavens. Then again, Karno never made anything easy.’
“Hey look at that cat over there,” Leon heard the voice of a young boy say behind him, his ears twitched, “Yeah I see him, you got the cans?” Said another boy, Leon’s ears twitched again then turned to look behind him, there were about five boys probably no older than ten years of age leering at him with cruel looking smiles.
“I got the twine,” the third boy spoke, Leon narrowed his eyes at them, silently daring them to try anything, “You guys corner him, he doesn’t look feral, he’s gotta be someone’s cat.”
Deciding to make his leave, Leon began to trot away and ducks into an alley where he was then accosted by the boys who grabbed at him and tied the noisy empty cans on his tail. Leon let out a yowl of discomfort and wiggles in their grabby little hands, causing the twine used on him to tangle and bind him further
‘These insolent brats! When I get back to the heavens I’ll be expecting to see all your names on the Punishment lists!’ Leon vowed silently, his small cat claws swiped at the air missing the boys who now laughed at Leon.
“Hey now, what are you kids doing to that cat, leave him alone,” said a voice behind the boys, Leon knew that voice.
The boys parted allowing Karno to pass through then he knelt down, smiling warmly at Leon before reaching out to pick him up gently.
“You know, it’s not nice to pick on creatures smaller than you boys,” Karno spoke kindly but firmly then snaps his fingers allowing the twine and cans to fall instantly from Leon’s fur. The boys did nothing but sulk and glare at Karno who was now the culprit of their fun being ruined, they all left without another word.
“You poor thing, those boys really got you didn’t they? Such a pretty--” Karno then looked at Leon’s underbelly then snickers, “Sorry I should say pretty ‘handsome’ cat.” If Leon could at the moment, he would have turned an impressive shade of red at that comment.
Now safely tucked under Karno’s arm, Karno began to walk down the street until he came to a corner store and walked in, heading toward the back where they were both greeted to the pet aisle. “Hmm, what would you like to eat?” Karno asked Leon the cat, as if he could answer him. Leon was slightly taken aback by the question until he realized that Karno was speaking rhetorically.
“Meeerrrwl!” Leon said as he looked up at Karno, who smile and nodded slightly.
“Heh, alright, one of each then.” He takes one of each flavor as well as a small bag of dried cat food then takes the items to the counter to be paid for.
‘Not exactly what I meant…’ Leon thought and watched impressively from under Karno’s arm the way his companion paid for the items and interacted with the humans.
Karno held the bag with the items in one hand, while with the other he continued holding Leon the cat which Leon didn’t mind nor did he protest. Soon they both reached a nice looking apartment when Karno snapped his fingers then opened the door allowing them both to walk through. Setting Leon the cat down on the floor, Karno began fixing the plate of cat food expertly then presents it to Leon with a kind smile.
Looking down at the cat food Leon glares at it before lifting his nose up at it, displeased, “Oh? Not satisfied with this? How about a different flavor then?” Karno asked with a patient smile then snaps his fingers making the food tuna flavored.
“Murraaooow!” Leon said though what he really meant was, ‘Are you mad? I’m not touching that slop!’
“Hm, maybe you’re not hungry then? I’ll leave it here just in case you change your mind,” Leon then trotted away with his bushy tail proudly lifted into the air and he began to explore the apartment Karno had been hiding in.
‘It’s small, clean, very much like him,’ Leon thought and jumped onto the bed, kneading the comforter under his paws and was about to lay down when Karno picked him up again.
Looking up at him with alarm he was greeted to Karno’s kind face while he takes Leon the cat to the bathroom, “You’ve been through a lot today my friend and your fur isn’t up to par especially after that run in with those boys,”
Was he suggesting--? Sure enough Leon looks at the large sink bowl filled with warm water as well as a bottle of shampoo on the counter. Normally Leon enjoyed a good soak as a god, but now that he was in this current form something inside him made him slightly panic.
“Oh, don’t be scared now, it’s alright,” Karno was trying his best to sooth the cat as he painstakingly finally got Leon into the warm water and washed him properly getting rid of the dirt and grime from the fluffy ginger fur.
Once the bath was over, Leon was getting dried under a fluffy warm towel as well as groomed with a cat brush Karno had procured with a snap of his fingers, “There now, all clean.” Leon could get used to this attention, it was rather nice being pampered.
Climbing into Karno’s lap, Leon licks at the perfect shaped chin in gratitude then settled himself comfortably on the other’s lap, “Heh, you’re very welcome my friend,” Karno pets Leon’s head who had then begun to purr and was soon lulled to sleep.
He woke up later to find himself on the made up bed; the apartment was dark and empty. Karno had gone, perhaps he went out to grant wishes, who knew when he would get back but taking the opportunity Leon transformed back into himself.
“Much better,” he mumbled to himself then procured himself some food. If he was going to be staying here for however long Karno was going to stay he may as well eat to keep his energy up.
Leon had been about to chow down on a plate of meatballs he made appear when he heard the locks on the front door unlock, “Damn it!” He hissed and quickly placed the plate over the small table then transformed back just in time for Karno to open the door.
Turning on the light, Karno took notice of the meatballs next to the cat, he stood there frozen before looking around the room then began his search throughout the whole apartment. Meanwhile Leon took one of the meatballs between his small teeth and started eating his fill on the table. The moment Karno returned and saw the new mess he began to scold the cat.
“Nope, these aren’t for you my friend. You didn’t happen to see the man that left these here did you?”
“Muurraaoow!” Leon responded, though what he really meant was, ‘This man HAS a name you know?’
With a small tired sigh Karno threw away the meatballs and looks over at the cat still on the table, “No, I suppose you didn’t, I doubt he’d find me here but that still doesn't explain how the meatballs got here. Leon’s the only one I know that would eat them,” lifting the cat, Karno walks over to the bed and lays down on it while lifting Leon above him, “You know, the color of your fur reminds me of Leon, heh would you mind if I called you Leo?”
Leon looked down at Karno and began to purr loudly at him, Karno smiled and nodded, “Leo it is then.”
Later that night, Karno had curled up under the covers of the bed taking a quick nap before he went out again, Leon had even pawed at Karno’s nose gently trying to wake the other god up so that he wouldn’t be late. This cycle continued to about almost a week and on the first day of the second week did Karno return to the apartment looking troubled. Leon trotted over to him and began to rub the side of his body around Karno’s legs in greeting.
“Hi Leo,” he then picks up the cat and gave him a proper pet between the ears and under his chin which Leon had started to enjoy, “I went back home earlier today, it seems that Leon is missing,” this caught the cat’s attention when his ears perked up at attention, “Yeah, the others say he went out to look for me and never came back,” there was worry in Karno’s tone as Leon continued to watch him carefully, “I should go out and look for him again... I even went to the mansion we used to live in but he wasn’t there.”
Was Karno really worried about him? Leon tilted his head to the side questioningly, ‘Then why did you run away from me?’ Leon asked silently still looking at Karno, ‘Why wouldn’t you hear me out? Why wouldn’t you let me tell you what I wanted to say to you?’
Leon suddenly felt sick to his stomach and had to jump out of Karno’s arms. Was it his guilt catching up to him? Or was this something else? Leon was after all on Earth for much longer than he should have been. Even Karno had returned to the heavens for a few hours and he didn’t look as tired as he did yesterday.
He was howling now, the sensation of something trying to claw its way out of him was just too much that he writhed in pain. Hot bright lights danced behind his shut tight eyes until finally the gut wrenching pain subsided. It was then followed by a wave nausea as well as a lightheaded sensation overtaking him. Leon was now soaked in a cold sweat that left his skin burning and he opened his eyes to find Karno staring down at him wide eyed; his mouth slightly parted in shock. They stared at each other for a moment when Karno said something to which Leon replied with what he hoped was a smile right before he doubled over and blacked out.
~*~
Leon woke to find that he was now staring up at a familiar ceiling. He was in the heavens again but how? What had happ--
“So Leo, you’re finally awake now?” Leon winced slightly at the tone in Karno’s voice then he turned to face him.
The brunet god sat close by the bedside simply watching him, that familiar smile plastered on his face, “Good, now that I know you’re alright, I should take my leave then.” Leon watched as Karno stood up then headed for the front door when Leon reached out as if to grab for him.
“Wait,” Leon spoke clearly but softly, “don’t go just yet,”
“Hm?” Karno hummed questioningly and turned to look at the other reaching out for him, “What is it Leo?”
“I said that I didn’t want you to go,” Leon lowered his gaze as well as his hand, his face heated up as a sense of embarrassment started welling up in his chest. ‘Look at me, “the Wild Lion” acting like such a child, wanting him to stay.’ Leon berated himself and didn’t notice how close Karno was until he felt a hand on his head as well as the gentle caress of those fingers run through his hair then slide over his cheek.
Looking up at the other god, Leon could see that Karno was giving him a real smile now, “Very well Leo, I will stay a bit longer for you. How can I possibly resist when you blush like that; you’re so cute.”
If possible the heat on Leon’s cheeks bloomed an even deeper shade of pink when he takes one of Karno’s wrist in his hand and then pulls the brunet god into his body under the sheets, “Get over here,” he mumbled shyly before cuddling him close. Karno smelled like those rich savory spices he favored quite highly, it was a scent Leon never knew he could miss so much.
“I should be angry at you,” Karno spoke after a long silence had fallen between them, “after all, you did trick me.”
“It wasn’t intentional, I chose that form out of convenience,” Leon argued and rested his chin on top of Karno’s head still holding him close, “everything else just fell into place.”
“You did make a cute cat, I should have suspected that from the start.”
“Pfft! Well I am one of the best looking gods in all the heavens, of course I would make a handsome cat.” Leon answered smugly and he could tell that Karno rolled his eyes at him alongside that annoyed sounding huff he just gave.
“Well then tell me Leo, who’s the best looking god in all the heavens?”
Leon grinned confidently and said, “He’s in my bed and trapped in my arms.”
Karno punched him playfully in the chest, “Leo!”
Leon chuckled at Karno’s reaction then continued holding him when again a calm silence filled the room. Karno once again broke the silence, “When I saw you lying on the floor like that, I really thought--” Karno stopped speaking and nuzzled Leon’s chest, “I’m just glad I was wrong.”
“You and me both, I just blacked out the moment you said my name. I don’t believe I would have woken up had you not brought me back here.” Leon hugs Karno tightly, “Thank you.”
Karno then made a noise that sounded like a snort through his nose, “Tch! Is that all I get, a ‘thank you’?” Leon could hear it in his tone that Karno was either on the verge of tears or that he was in tears, either way he realized just how worried Leon had made him.
“Very well,” the ginger god spoke said and rolled himself on top of the other looking down to see that indeed, Karno had tears in his eyes, “then how about I say: ‘You complete me Karno. I am an absolute and utter mess without you. The sun cannot rise without the wondrous setting moon and I am grateful to have you in my life. I cannot be truly content without you by my side.’”
“Leo!” Karno stared up at him with a look of both astonishment and bewilderment, Leon couldn’t help but tease him just a little.
“Now who’s blushing?” Leon smirked and watched as Karno narrowed those rich dark brown eyes at him his soft pink lips curled up into an adorable pout.
“Is this another tri--” Leon had cut him off with a firm though also gentle kiss, Karno stopped and couldn’t help the tiny hum that escaped his lips.
“Shhh, we’re making up now, don’t go spoiling it with some nonsensical argument.” Leon smiled slyly again and could see the rising annoyance on Karno’s face and had opened his mouth to counter argue.
“N-Nonsensical Argum--!” Leon nuzzled the tip of his nose with the other’s then gave a gentle sigh as he closed his eyes a moment before opening them again to look deeply into the other’s eyes.
“I meant what I said. I’m a failure as a god without you and I always mean what I say so remember that the next time you think I don’t care or that I’m ‘toying’ with you.”
“...fine.”
“I’m still exhausted,” Leon announced while he closed his eyes and rolled back onto his side. He then reached to bury one of his hands in the back of Karno’s hair, his fingers curled around the soft strands and his nearest leg rose to wrap over Karno’s hip.
“Le-Leo?”
“Shh, sleeping.”
“F-fine, just this once.”
They stayed in Leon’s room curled against each other for the rest of the day.
Hello everyone, Incu here just wanted to start this new blog right by making a short Frequently Asked Question(s) post before I got started on the good stuff. So here we go:
1) Can I make a request?
A) As of this moment I am not taking requests. I will make an announcement letting my followers know when I will be open for them.
2) Why did you start this blog?
A) I started this blog because I wanted to house my Safe For Work (SFW) writing projects and keep them separated from my Not Safe For Work (NSFW) writing blog.
3) What’s your NSFW blog? May I have it?
A) I won’t mention the name here, only that it’s where I post my 18+ work. If you are over the age of 18 and would like to read/get access to my NSFW blog, leave me an ask and I will send you the link.
4) Can I send you a private message?
A) I would prefer that you didn’t. If you need to reach me, just send me an ask.
*That’s all I can think of for now. I may add more FAQ’s over the next few days*
Incu's SFW Writing @incusfwriting - Tumblr Blog | Tumgag
