tags: oneshot, platonic phaidei, implied romance, set in amphoreus, takes place before current story, mydei and phainon talk sparring while walking through the mamoreal palace
word count: 1.2k
Phainon walked casually alongside his greatest rival, Mydeimos of Castrum Kremnos, as the two of them patrolled around the city of Okhema, as per usual. Phainon felt the practically permanent smile etched into his cheeks, as he glanced over at Mydei, that look of light impatience on his face as he scolded Phainon for what felt like the millionth time. Some things never seemed to change.
Mydei let out a sharp sigh. “Deliverer, if you were to best me in combat, your stance and guard need drastic improvement. It is exceedingly easy for me to sweep you off of your feet and catch you unaware. This is not a favourable trait of a strong warrior.” He chastised the other Chrysos Heir.
Phainon nodded, totally listening. “I hear you, Mydeimos. I assume that your eye for details such as this come from-”
“They come from my training as a warrior of Castrum Kremnos.” Mydei cut him off, which despite himself, Phainon found somewhat endearing. The idea that he could predict Mydei’s words made his heart soar with pride.
“When sparring with an opponent, it is crucial that you are to imagine yourself on the battlefield with them," Mydei continued, "regardless of who they are and what significance they have in your own life.” The warrior's biting tone of his words not lost on Phainon, who sagged. So that’s what this was about.
“This is about our duel earlier today, isn’t it?” He pouted slightly.
Mydei glanced over at him with a look of indignant concern on his face. “Did you not come to that conclusion when I began talking?”
Phainon shook his head. “I thought you were just speaking generally.”
Mydei paused for a moment. “A fair assumption. You seem to display these traits I’m describing whenever you spar with me.”
Phainon let out a rueful scoff. “Low blow, Mydei.”
As they turned into a joint street of the Mamoreal Market, Phainon couldn’t help but get caught up in how Mydei presented himself. Incredibly different to how Phainon did, but as the Kremnoan prince rattled off more issues with Phainon’s sparring ability, Phainon lost himself in Mydei’s voice. Despite his grating tone, there was a degree of care in his voice. The slightest hint that he was insulting Phainon to better help him further down the road… No, that wasn’t quite right.
Shaking himself out of it, Phainon interrupted. “Hey Mydei- Why don’t we… talk about something else for some time?” He suggested. “Let’s leave the sparring recommendations for later?”
Mydei glanced at him, hesitating briefly before giving in with a sigh. “Fine. I’ll critique your skill later.”
A slight silence passed between the two Chrysos Heirs. Then Phainon caught sight of a familiar white staircase. “Oh! I hear the view of the markets is gorgeous from up here.” He turned to Mydei with a cheeky grin, who met his smile with an unimpressed frown.
“We’re patrolling, not sightseeing, Deliverer.”
Phainon could practically hear his own eyes rolling. “Come on, Mydeimos. We are allowed to have an appreciation for Okhema’s beauty, are we not?” And as soon as he said it, he knew exactly what was coming next.
“Although Okhema is quite beautiful, it can barely compare with the-“
“-grandeur of Castrum Kremnos, yes, yes, I know.” Phainon finished for Mydei. “You’ve said so, many times.”
Mydei was about to open his mouth again, likely to tell him off, before Phainon cut him off again. “Can you admit at least that the rooftops of the Mamoreal Markets are a lovely place to appreciate the view, at least?”
Mydei let out a gruff sigh at this, before pushing past Phainon, almost gently, and heading up the stairs. “Yes. The rooftops make good vantage points.”
Once again, despite himself, this made Phainon chuckle. Of course Mydei would respond like this. “To each their own. Although I have to ask, does your mind ever stop thinking of warfare and bloodshed?”
Mydei froze at this, looking at Phainon incredulously. “You think I only have the capacity to think of violence?”
Phainon’s brain crashed. That was a terrible thing to say, why did he say that??
“Uh- no, no no no, not at all.” He quickly backtracked, walking faster up the stairs. “I was just- curious, given how often you talk about it as a subject and- my apologies, did I offend you?” He winced.
Mydei was quiet for a moment. He kept walking up the stairs, Phainon trailing behind. The silence felt agonising. Titans, why did he say that?
“No, you did not.” Mydei’s voice cut through Phainon’s thoughts like a hot blade in water, sizzling as it cooled. Phainon perked up. Mydei noticed him do so and immediately glanced away with a scoff. “I am capable of thinking of other topics distant to warfare, Deliverer.”
“R-Right, right of course. Stupid of me to think otherwise.”
Mydei glared at him for a moment, but it didn’t seem to have the anger it usually had, before he moved onto the balcony of a building, leading to two rugs that were pitched from the balcony to the roof of the building opposite. The silence between them felt deafening. So Phainon broke it.
“Have you ever been here before, Mydeimos?” He asked, carefully but curious. Mydei surprised the other Chrysos Heir by shaking his head. Phainon glanced from the rugs to the other building. “Would you like to cross over?”
“If we must.” Mydei responded, making his way across with ease, despite it being his first time in such a place. Phainon on the other hand hesitated. He knew the rugs weren’t the most secure and despite being here multiple times, it never seemed to get easier. They shook and wobbled with every step, almost like walking a tightrope. Halfway across one, Mydei let out a groan. “Deliverer, you’ve dealt with so much worse than this.”
Phainon let out an equally exasperated sigh. “Yes, I know, but it never stops me from wondering if-”
“Stop.” Mydei cut him off, before extending his arm as he groaned in exasperation, irritation etched all over that handsome face of his. “Titans, just take my hand already, haikas. You’re so annoying.” He grumbled, taking Phainon’s hand, albeit likely a bit rougher than he should’ve. To Phainon, however, it meant the world. An act of sincerity and genuine care from the Kremnoan warrior, in spite of his well-known aggression.
The two of them crossed the rugs, coming to the other building, and Phainon’s heart practically soared when he heard Mydei gasp softly. The colossal guardian statue stood high and mighty, shouldering the weight of the golden sphere above it with a pair of its hands, the other two outstretched. Down below, the citizens of Okhema milled around idly, each one doing something different. Some were mothers with children, some were merchants, and some were the guards often stationed around the Mamoreal Palace. The greenery of Okhema brightened the cobbled stone of the pathways and golden braziers. Truly a sight to behold. It was only when Mydei turned to look at Phainon, did the Deliverer realise that they were still holding hands.
"What do you think, Mydeimos?"
"..."
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