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Nikos's skin still crawls even as the sun dips bellow the horizon. It's been hours since Apo had changed him back to himself, and yet, the feeling didn't quite settle. The body he took so much pride in, worked so long on, was ripped from him. He wasn't him and he hated it. It brought him back to before, when he wasn't strong, when not being strong was a death sentence. That stupid bird would pay for what she did.
Nikos's hands traced over his arms and upper body almost subconsciously, as if he would change at any moment. He felt like himself but he also felt himself when he changed, it had to be pointed out to him, then it was all he could think about, how humiliating and weak he was.
Not as an insult to The pretty one of course, he was very nice to look at. Everything about him from his hair to his clothes was flowy and soft, almost like all the hard edges had been filled away. He definitely had some muscle on him, a bit of meat on his bones but still rather thin compared to the rest of the men here. Slightly shorter than Nikos as well, just enough for the brunette's brain to go fuzzy thinking about.
So yes, Scott was very pretty, but the opposite of Nikos.
Nikos is sat on his makeshift bed, staring up at the stars while he thinks. He maybe should have attempted to put up some walls instead of making wine today, though he's not much of a builder. Besides, being outside, nature surrounding him, the feel a chilly breeze, all of it are signs he's alive, that the world around him is alive.
Footsteps behind him break up Nikos's train of thought. Looking back he can't help but grin. The pretty one, Scott, was making his was down to Nikos with a small wave. Each step he took seemed to be aided by the air around him, letting him look even more graceful than normal as he walks down hill.
"Ah Pretty one! Come to join me?"
"You did invite me over, it's not to late is it? I got distracted putting together a makeshift roof and hadn't realized how late it was"
Now beside him and looking down at Nikos, Scott gently brushes a stray piece of curly hair out of Nikos's face.
"Not at all my friend, would you like some wine? I stood by The blind one for a good while to ferment it but I am unsure how well that worked"
"If you don't mind sharing"
"Of course! Wine is meant for sharing," Nikos said as he stood up, making his way over to his makeshift vineyard, "Have a seat! Make yourself at home"
Grabbing two bottle of wine Nikos moved back to Scott who is now sitting on Nikos bed. Passing one of the bottles to Scott, Nikos lets out a heavy sigh as he sinks down to join him on the bed.
"Everything alright?" Scott questions as he pops the cork on his wine bottle, going to take a sip.
"Ehhh, No? Yes? I am unsure" Nikos copies Scott but instead of a sip he takes a deep swig. Scott hums in understanding.
"Feel like sharing?"
"Hm, where to start," Nikos begins as he takes another sip, "The bird, she changed me into you and I can still feel that uncomfortable-ness in my bones, not that you are bad, but you are not me"
Scott nods along, his eyes scanning Nikos's face before he looks away, "What bothered you so much, if I can ask"
"I do not know how to explain it without offending"
The actor rolled his eyes, "I'm not going to take offense, I already know you think I'm pretty" Scott teased, Nikos can't help but smile, feeling his face warm slightly at the taunt. Though the worry that Scott may be lying, or wouldn't let him know if his feelings are hurt is still there, Nikos decided to speak,
"You are.. small and weak. Compared to me at least," Scott huffed a laugh as Nikos continues, "It's hard to explain, I worked my entire life to be me, partly out of need but mostly because I wanted to be strong. I am proud of me and my body, to have it ripped from me, and when you are so different from me. And then to be teased, it.. infuriated me"
Nikos takes a long drink to avoid looking at Scott. With that, there's a few moments of silence, neither of the pair looking at each other or speaking until Scott breaks it,
"I get that, in a way. My form was never changed but.. in life, my.. career path.. started young, quite young. And as I grew my fans and mentors wanted me to seems as young as possible for as long as possible. From what I ate, to how I dressed and acted, it was like I was trapped in shell of someone who wasn't myself. Eventually I pushed through it until I was well known enough that change didn't mean abandonment. I could work towards a body and self both me and my audience loved. Despite that, I loved my life, and the body I made for that life. I would hate to lose control like that again"
When Scott spoke his voice held a kind of wistfulness Nikos had not come to expect from the actor. If it were anyone else Nikos probably wouldn't have appreciated the topic being shifted when he was asked to speak on his own issues, but with Scott he couldn't find it in himself to care. The way Scott spoke on his life resonated with Nikos in a way he hadn't expected. Their lives were both so different, and yet, Nikos finds so much truth in Scotts words, even if the situations are completely dissimilar. In all honesty, the more Nikos hears about Scotts life the more he wanted to pry, though this doesn't seem like a topic prying felt appropriate. And still,
"When you say career path, do you mean.."
Scott takes another sip, the silence before he speaks again gives Nikos his answer. Still, Scott speaks eventually, low and soft, "Everything in my life lends itself to something I love about my life, even the parts I would never wish another person live through. I hold no regrets in who I am today"
The pair continue to drink, as they both continue to get more and more inebriated they opened up more and more of their lives to each other. Scott spoke of his proudest shows, jealous understudies, a bit on how he died and even more on how he lived and who he shared that life with. Nikos in return shared stories of the battlefield, fights he returned uninjured from and the ones he was lucky to survive. By the time both bottles were empty Scott was leaning fully into Nikos, giggly in an airy sort of way. Nikos in return was loud in his laughter, over animated when he spoke, one arm around Scotts waist to keep him steady whenever Nikos decided to gesture wildly.
"You know Pretty one, you are,, very good company"
Scott giggles, "So I've been told, by you, at least three times tonight"
Nikos grinned dopey and flushed, "That doesn't make it less true"
Scott laughs again, leaning up slightly to kiss Nikos on the cheek and going to stand on wobbly feet. "Mmm, yes I suppose but I'm afraid your 'very good company' should be heading home"
Nikos changes his hold to using both hands to hold Scott firm by the waist, looking up at him in a way he'd never admit is pleading, "Why? We are having such a nice time Pretty one!"
Scott coos at him, using both of his hands to cup Nikos face, "Yes we are, Handsome one, but I'm sure we both have things to do tomorrow and if I stay something tells me we'll be talking until the sun rises"
The reasoning doesn't sit well in Nikos's alcohol riddled mind, pulling Scott closer so he is more hugging Scott by his waist that holding him. "Mm, no more talking then, we can just go to bed now"
"I built my house so I didn't have to sleep outside again"
"But you will have me"
Scott leans down so that their noses are almost touching causing Nikos to flush, eyes tracking Scotts lips as if that's the most important thing right now, "You make an excellent point"
Scott leans forward the slightness bit, Nikos leans up, closing his eyes, expecting a kiss that never comes. Instead Scott kisses his cheek with a laugh, "Try again when we're not drunk Nikos, I want to remember every second of kissing you"
Nikos groans, burying his head in Scotts waist and stomach as the other pats him on the head while still giggling. Nikos uses this vantage point to take Scott by surprise, using his foot to knock Scott off balance, catching him and pulling him into bed with him, tight against his chest as Scott yelps from the sudden manhandling.
"You could have just asked you know"
"Th's easier, and I don't think the Pretty one minds being thrown around"
"You know me so well"
Scott wraps his arms around Nikos and melts into the embrace. It wasn't long until they both fell asleep feeling more secure in their relationships and their respective bodies, at least for the moment