Pomegranate Kora, Ch. 15
Nick brought his camera to his eye, carefully adjusting the lens to focus on the flower before him. There was a bumble bee crawling over it, his legs creeping slowly under his fuzzy body, all too aware of Nick's presence. Nick of course didn't want to hurt him. He just wanted to capture his perfect yellow color against the perfect white backdrop of the flower.
The camera clicked, just loud enough to startle the wary insect into flight, and he buzzed off into the sky. Nick sat back on his heels, looked at the screen, grinned at the perfectly clear shot he'd gotten.
The screen door knocked shut. The latch didn't always catch, and now it bounced open again. He lifted his head, smiling, and pushed himself to his feet. "Look at this picture." He held the camera up for Kevin. "Think Zora will like it for my close-up assignment?"
Kevin nodded, kissed his cheek. "She'd better. It's great." He handed him a glass of iced tea. "I take it you didn't weed the garden like you were supposed to..."
Nick stuck his tongue out at him. "I was struck by inspiration. If I'm going to be a world-famous photographer, I must be allowed to follow the Muses, so no scolding."
"Fair enough. I'll let my lack of help from you slide this time."
"Good." Nick set the glass on the steps by the door and pulled Kevin over to the big oak tree that stood in the middle of their backyard. The tree had been their deciding factor in buying the house; Nick had immediately taken to sitting beneath it to do his homework while Kevin worked in their vegetable garden. It was their Saturday ritual.
Today was Tuesday though; Kevin had taken the week off to enjoy the late-June weather, so they had been having picnics, playing baseball, taking bike rides. Kevin appreciated that now Nick was pulling him down into the grass in the shade. He sat with his back against the trunk, and Nick rested his cheek in his lap. "I'm glad we chose this house." Kevin commented, running his fingers through Nick's hair. "If we ever decide to have kids, we've got the best backyard for them."
Nick sighed contently, letting his eyes close. "Definitely." He murmured, nuzzling his cheek against Kevin's stomach. "That's a while away though. When I'm out of college, we should adopt. But, let's get a puppy first, okay?" He smiled up at him, raised his camera. "Don't move. Stay right there. Yeah, looking out toward the house." His camera clicked, and he held it above his face so he could see the photo. "Perfect. I'm lucky to have the most beautiful model in the world."
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There was a scar over Kevin's heart.
Nick had assumed that when Joe sent him back, it would be like he never died at all, but that wasn't the case. The wound was smooth, shaped almost like a star,and when they'd been to the doctor, he had explained that the blade had been twisted in his chest, to ensure that the wound wouldn't close. He'd been baffled that he wasn't dead, but he understood well enough when they told him a god had intervened.
Kevin's heart was weak because of the wound it had suffered, and he was on a list for a transplant. In the mean time, he was told to lead a relaxing life, no activities too strenuous or stressful.
Neither of them minded though. It meant they could enjoy their lives together at ease, that they could take their time with love-making, could just appreciate being together, after the time they had had to be apart.
Right now, Nick was draped over his lover, pressing soft kisses to the scar on his chest, his favorite way of expressing his gratitude and adoration for him. They were both naked, the blanket pooling at the dip of Nick's back, and Kevin was running his fingers through his hair, his other hand smoothing down his spine.
It was late morning, but their curtains were drawn so the room was submerged in cool darkness. They liked the closeness and intimacy this afforded them, finding and knowing each other with their hands and mouths. They hadn't spoken since they'd woken up, each feeling equally grateful for the other, for the life they had built together.
Kevin finally retrieved the lube and slowly prepped Nick, and Nick wrapped his arms around his neck, slid down onto his cock with a content sigh. They shared slow kisses, their tongues sliding into each other's mouths as their hips rocked. It didn't take long for the quiet sounds to start up in the back of Nick's throat - whimpers and moans and sobs. It wasn't unusual for him to cry, and Kevin's thumbs were gentle against his face as he brushed the tears away.
They made love slowly, with gentle touches and soft kisses, and Nick came with a ragged gasp against Kevin's neck, clutching his shoulders. Kevin followed a few moments later, murmuring sweet words of devotion into his ear, and it didn't take much to have him crying again. They didn't move for a long time, instead speaking in soft tones and sharing softer kisses.
When they finally left their bed, it was so that Kevin could carry his lover into the bathroom, where they showered, holding each other under the warm water, and now it was Kevin's turn to be overwhelmed with Nick's presence, whispering to him with a strained voice how lucky he was to have him, and how much he loved him for coming home.
It was routine during love-making for them to have these moments, ever since Nick woke up that first morning with Kevin clutching him tightly, sobbing softly against his neck like he couldn't believe he was here in his arms and was terrified to question why. Nick hadn't believed he was awake or that it was real; Joe had tried to trick him before.
But, the nuances of the room - Kevin's watch laid neatly on the nightstand where he put it so he wouldn't forget to put it on, the water stain in the corner of the ceiling where the roof had leaked during a particularly bad rainstorm - had convinced him, and as elated as he was, he couldn't help but feel stunned that Joe had swallowed his pride and let him come home.
It took him a long time to accept that he was really alright, really home, and then he was attached to Kevin for days, unable to imagine leaving his side for more than a few minutes at a time. It was two weeks after he got home that he bought an idol of Pluto. It amused him to realize that the statue had next to no resemblance to the god, but even so, he placed it on an altar in the corner of their living room and stopped to murmur a soft prayer of thanks whenever he passed.
Kevin was looking at it now from where he was lying on the couch. Nick was curled up against his side, his breaths soft and slow against his neck. He'd dozed off halfway through whatever HBO movie they'd been watching, and Kevin was too comforted by his warm body against him to try to move.
He smelled Joe's presence before he saw him; the room seemed to have developed an odor that was musky and old, that made the air feel dark and cool. Then he lifted his eyes, and Joe was leaning on the back of the couch, looking down on them. "Hello."
Kevin nodded toward him, curling Nick closer to him, hitching the blanket up around him. "Hello. It's Saturday, isn't it?"
Joe tipped his head to the side, reached down to brush a curl off Nick's face. He ignored the way Kevin's hand twitched, like he wanted to push Joe's away. "We could wait until tomorrow." The god suggested, drawing his arm back to rest on the back of the couch. "He looks happy."
"He is. At least I hope he is. It's okay to wait till tomorrow? I don't want to wake him up."
Joe's smile was faint. He knew his presence bothered Kevin, made him nervous, because if he decided to take Nick again, there was nothing Kevin could do to stop him. But Joe also knew that having Nick in the underworld and angry simply wasn't worth it. Their arrangement now was as good as it was going to get. "Has he been feeling ill?"
"Not yet." Kevin kissed Nick's curls, his eyes sliding closed. "He's been quiet today though. Tired, I think. He'll probably have to go back tomorrow."
Joe straightened. "Then I will return tomorrow. Please remind him that I will be coming."
"I will." Kevin smiled at him. "Thank you." He said it every time Joe came. He wasn't sure what he was thanking him for exactly. He figured it was some combination of gratitude for letting Nick come home and the fact that, when Nick was crying and in pain because his body was linked to the underworld, Joe came to retrieve him in order for him to recover there. It only took about two days usually, three times a month, until Nick was feeling alright and had spent sufficient amounts of time socializing with the gods to be able to come back to Kevin.
Joe had a moment of discomfort, hesitating. "I do not know if you understand how much he loves you." His voice was soft. "He was willing to forsake his eternity for you. I understand that I am not the best example of a person who appreciated him but do not take him for granted."
Kevin's jaw clenched, and he swallowed his instinct to tell him to fuck off. Instead, he said, "I would never take him for granted. I'd die before I'd let him think I don't love him with all of me."
The words were cutting, and their implications weren't lost on Joe, so the god simply smiled. "I will return tomorrow." And he vanished.
Nick woke half an hour later, a smile on his face. He never tired of opening his eyes to find Kevin beside him. Kevin squeezed him close, dropped a kiss on his hair. "Have a nice nap?"
He yawned, pressed his lips to his neck. "Yep. But, it's best for what I wake up to."
The camera clicked, just loud enough to startle the wary insect into flight, and he buzzed off into the sky. Nick sat back on his heels, looked at the screen, grinned at the perfectly clear shot he'd gotten.
The screen door knocked shut. The latch didn't always catch, and now it bounced open again. He lifted his head, smiling, and pushed himself to his feet. "Look at this picture." He held the camera up for Kevin. "Think Zora will like it for my close-up assignment?"
Kevin nodded, kissed his cheek. "She'd better. It's great." He handed him a glass of iced tea. "I take it you didn't weed the garden like you were supposed to..."
Nick stuck his tongue out at him. "I was struck by inspiration. If I'm going to be a world-famous photographer, I must be allowed to follow the Muses, so no scolding."
"Fair enough. I'll let my lack of help from you slide this time."
"Good." Nick set the glass on the steps by the door and pulled Kevin over to the big oak tree that stood in the middle of their backyard. The tree had been their deciding factor in buying the house; Nick had immediately taken to sitting beneath it to do his homework while Kevin worked in their vegetable garden. It was their Saturday ritual.
Today was Tuesday though; Kevin had taken the week off to enjoy the late-June weather, so they had been having picnics, playing baseball, taking bike rides. Kevin appreciated that now Nick was pulling him down into the grass in the shade. He sat with his back against the trunk, and Nick rested his cheek in his lap. "I'm glad we chose this house." Kevin commented, running his fingers through Nick's hair. "If we ever decide to have kids, we've got the best backyard for them."
Nick sighed contently, letting his eyes close. "Definitely." He murmured, nuzzling his cheek against Kevin's stomach. "That's a while away though. When I'm out of college, we should adopt. But, let's get a puppy first, okay?" He smiled up at him, raised his camera. "Don't move. Stay right there. Yeah, looking out toward the house." His camera clicked, and he held it above his face so he could see the photo. "Perfect. I'm lucky to have the most beautiful model in the world."
-------------------------------------
There was a scar over Kevin's heart.
Nick had assumed that when Joe sent him back, it would be like he never died at all, but that wasn't the case. The wound was smooth, shaped almost like a star,and when they'd been to the doctor, he had explained that the blade had been twisted in his chest, to ensure that the wound wouldn't close. He'd been baffled that he wasn't dead, but he understood well enough when they told him a god had intervened.
Kevin's heart was weak because of the wound it had suffered, and he was on a list for a transplant. In the mean time, he was told to lead a relaxing life, no activities too strenuous or stressful.
Neither of them minded though. It meant they could enjoy their lives together at ease, that they could take their time with love-making, could just appreciate being together, after the time they had had to be apart.
Right now, Nick was draped over his lover, pressing soft kisses to the scar on his chest, his favorite way of expressing his gratitude and adoration for him. They were both naked, the blanket pooling at the dip of Nick's back, and Kevin was running his fingers through his hair, his other hand smoothing down his spine.
It was late morning, but their curtains were drawn so the room was submerged in cool darkness. They liked the closeness and intimacy this afforded them, finding and knowing each other with their hands and mouths. They hadn't spoken since they'd woken up, each feeling equally grateful for the other, for the life they had built together.
Kevin finally retrieved the lube and slowly prepped Nick, and Nick wrapped his arms around his neck, slid down onto his cock with a content sigh. They shared slow kisses, their tongues sliding into each other's mouths as their hips rocked. It didn't take long for the quiet sounds to start up in the back of Nick's throat - whimpers and moans and sobs. It wasn't unusual for him to cry, and Kevin's thumbs were gentle against his face as he brushed the tears away.
They made love slowly, with gentle touches and soft kisses, and Nick came with a ragged gasp against Kevin's neck, clutching his shoulders. Kevin followed a few moments later, murmuring sweet words of devotion into his ear, and it didn't take much to have him crying again. They didn't move for a long time, instead speaking in soft tones and sharing softer kisses.
When they finally left their bed, it was so that Kevin could carry his lover into the bathroom, where they showered, holding each other under the warm water, and now it was Kevin's turn to be overwhelmed with Nick's presence, whispering to him with a strained voice how lucky he was to have him, and how much he loved him for coming home.
It was routine during love-making for them to have these moments, ever since Nick woke up that first morning with Kevin clutching him tightly, sobbing softly against his neck like he couldn't believe he was here in his arms and was terrified to question why. Nick hadn't believed he was awake or that it was real; Joe had tried to trick him before.
But, the nuances of the room - Kevin's watch laid neatly on the nightstand where he put it so he wouldn't forget to put it on, the water stain in the corner of the ceiling where the roof had leaked during a particularly bad rainstorm - had convinced him, and as elated as he was, he couldn't help but feel stunned that Joe had swallowed his pride and let him come home.
It took him a long time to accept that he was really alright, really home, and then he was attached to Kevin for days, unable to imagine leaving his side for more than a few minutes at a time. It was two weeks after he got home that he bought an idol of Pluto. It amused him to realize that the statue had next to no resemblance to the god, but even so, he placed it on an altar in the corner of their living room and stopped to murmur a soft prayer of thanks whenever he passed.
Kevin was looking at it now from where he was lying on the couch. Nick was curled up against his side, his breaths soft and slow against his neck. He'd dozed off halfway through whatever HBO movie they'd been watching, and Kevin was too comforted by his warm body against him to try to move.
He smelled Joe's presence before he saw him; the room seemed to have developed an odor that was musky and old, that made the air feel dark and cool. Then he lifted his eyes, and Joe was leaning on the back of the couch, looking down on them. "Hello."
Kevin nodded toward him, curling Nick closer to him, hitching the blanket up around him. "Hello. It's Saturday, isn't it?"
Joe tipped his head to the side, reached down to brush a curl off Nick's face. He ignored the way Kevin's hand twitched, like he wanted to push Joe's away. "We could wait until tomorrow." The god suggested, drawing his arm back to rest on the back of the couch. "He looks happy."
"He is. At least I hope he is. It's okay to wait till tomorrow? I don't want to wake him up."
Joe's smile was faint. He knew his presence bothered Kevin, made him nervous, because if he decided to take Nick again, there was nothing Kevin could do to stop him. But Joe also knew that having Nick in the underworld and angry simply wasn't worth it. Their arrangement now was as good as it was going to get. "Has he been feeling ill?"
"Not yet." Kevin kissed Nick's curls, his eyes sliding closed. "He's been quiet today though. Tired, I think. He'll probably have to go back tomorrow."
Joe straightened. "Then I will return tomorrow. Please remind him that I will be coming."
"I will." Kevin smiled at him. "Thank you." He said it every time Joe came. He wasn't sure what he was thanking him for exactly. He figured it was some combination of gratitude for letting Nick come home and the fact that, when Nick was crying and in pain because his body was linked to the underworld, Joe came to retrieve him in order for him to recover there. It only took about two days usually, three times a month, until Nick was feeling alright and had spent sufficient amounts of time socializing with the gods to be able to come back to Kevin.
Joe had a moment of discomfort, hesitating. "I do not know if you understand how much he loves you." His voice was soft. "He was willing to forsake his eternity for you. I understand that I am not the best example of a person who appreciated him but do not take him for granted."
Kevin's jaw clenched, and he swallowed his instinct to tell him to fuck off. Instead, he said, "I would never take him for granted. I'd die before I'd let him think I don't love him with all of me."
The words were cutting, and their implications weren't lost on Joe, so the god simply smiled. "I will return tomorrow." And he vanished.
Nick woke half an hour later, a smile on his face. He never tired of opening his eyes to find Kevin beside him. Kevin squeezed him close, dropped a kiss on his hair. "Have a nice nap?"
He yawned, pressed his lips to his neck. "Yep. But, it's best for what I wake up to."