Ship: Horus x Seth

Genres: Slice of Life / One-shot

Rating: +16

Summary: Invited to a large family gathering, Horus thought he would solve the great mystery that weighed heavily on his mother.

Instead, it was he who weighed heavily under a different kind of mystery.

Enjoy!

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Horus was trying to make his way through the guests to the buffet.

He had met Anubis by chance, and yet, in a way, not at all.

Curious about his family and his roots, he had signed up to numerous genealogy websites, and over the years this had yielded the unexpected and unhoped-for result of connecting him with what appeared to be his cousin, Anubis.

They had mainly communicated online before finally plucking up the courage to take the plunge and meet in person.

However, being naturally taciturn, said cousin had preferred to invite him to a large family gathering, as this seemed to be the norm on his side of things.

Horus had almost trembled with excitement, hiding his nervousness as best he could from his mother, to whom he had said nothing.

She was his whole world, the only family he knew, the greatest support he had.

But he wanted more. And he didn’t want to hurt her with his greed.

And so it was that he found himself in a crowd, surrounded by unfamiliar faces, though some bore a resemblance to his own reflection.

He and Anubis were linked through their mothers, Isis and Nephthys being sisters. From what they’d been able to find out and remember, the two women had been very close, and they’d even spent their early years together.

Then, for some unknown reason, nothing.

And it was also to find clues about this change that he was there.

But, for the moment, he had lost the only person he knew and ultimately felt too intimidated to speak to anyone.

Ashamed of his own cowardice, he’d therefore decided that helping himself to the buffet should break the deadlock.

And, at worst, he’d fill his stomach.

Alas, he hadn’t been the only one to have had the idea, which limited his choices.

Plate in hand, he helped himself sparingly, a pout on his lips, before his target was snatched up by someone else.

They recoiled the moment their skin touched, heads lifting to allow their eyes to meet.

Well, as much as Horus’s hood allowed.

« Go on, » he invited with a wave of his arm.

The cake had been devoured, leaving only a single slice and a few crumbs. It looked delicious, but his mother had raised a polite boy, perfectly capable of swallowing his own greed for the sake of a stranger’s.

Failing to swallow his pride and reign in his greed…

His throat seemed to tighten with guilt, but he shook it off with a clear of the throat that he muffled in his fist.

« What are you on about? We can easily cut it in half, » declared the stranger.

The man had not waited for a reply and had seized the knife in his hand, swiftly slicing the last slice before serving them.

Horus, for his part, had frozen, barely daring to breathe as the cover was removed, the warm touch on his skin sending a shiver through him, watching the gestures, elegant in their simplicity.

He accepted the half-portion, acknowledging it with a nod, along with the spoon that was handed to him.

He had never been so glad of his wide hood as he felt his cheeks slowly growing warm, whilst they silently began their desserts. As well as hiding his blush, it also allowed him to look at him from beneath.

To gaze at the artfully tousled bun resting against the otherwise bare nape of his neck, the fair skin, the slender limbs with their lean musculature, the tall stature and the eyes of a startling red colour.

Whoever this man was, he must be a model.

« I don’t think I’ve ever seen you before. »

His voice was silky, mesmerising him before the meaning struck him.

A velvet sheath concealing a sharpened blade.

« It’s my first time here, » he replied. « Anubis invited me. »

It seemed to be both the right thing to say and, at the same time, not, given the sigh and the smile he received.

« Thank you for being here for him. Anubis doesn’t… have many friends. »

Not knowing how to respond to that, Horus simply shrugged, leaving him to interpret it as he saw fit.

« I think I’ve lost him, » he added.

« His mother asked for him inside; I think it’s taken longer than expected. »

Surprised by the news, he lifted his head slightly, the peak of his hood sliding down the bridge of his nose, watching the profile of his neighbour as he shovelled in a final spoonful.

« Oh, thank you, I didn’t know that. »

Having finished his own portion, he set his plate and cutlery down on the table, then turned his back on him, watching all those people enjoying themselves on the large lawn, calling out to one another loudly, laughing heartily, the children running everywhere, the music drowned out by all that life.

His family.

Perhaps.

And he didn’t know anyone. He didn’t recognise anyone.

The memory of his mother, of her sitting in the living room, almost curled up, a pale, sickly shadow, a world away from the radiant woman in the old photos, suddenly came back to him, erasing what was before his eyes. He could hear her voice, weak and low, instead of all that noise.

And the return of guilt.

The guilt and apprehension he had felt ever since his cousin had floated the idea.

He knew full well that some questions were best left unanswered; that was life.

He had made peace with some of them, such as knowing where his father was, but others continued to gnaw at him, to haunt him, and getting to know his mother’s family, his aunt’s family, seemed vital to him.

« Is something wrong? You look anxious. Would you like to sit down? »

Without waiting for a reply, the stranger had grabbed him by the elbow and led him to one of the few empty chairs, forcing him to sit down, and leaning in slightly as he continued to speak to him.

« Do you need anything? A glass of water? Or shall I call someone?

Shaken out of his oppressive thoughts, Horus looked back at him, still hidden behind his shield of fabric.

« N… no, I’m fine. Just… a bit. I’m not used to so many people.

Straightening to his full height, his companion turned his head, seeming to assess the crowd with a critical eye.

« It’s been quite a few years since so many people last accepted the invitations. Perhaps not since Anubis’s first birthday, if my memory serves me right. »

The first and last they had shared, as far as they could tell.

Thanks to Nephthys’s photo albums, the two cousins had been able to discover pictures of themselves in nappies, wobbling between their respective parents, clutching their soft toys to their little chests.

Thinking back to the little falcon who, since then, had been through so much hardship, brought a smile to his face, which his companion seemed to notice.

« Were you there? »

« Yes. Sort of? I could barely walk. »

He received a nod that made the stray auburn locks escaping from his hairstyle bounce.

« It’s true it was more like a nursery than a family gathering. Maybe that’s why there are so many people. The new generation has pushed the old one to come. »

Horus shrugged again.

As far as he knew, he wasn’t a fortune-teller; one shouldn’t ask too much of him.

« But, come to that, if your parents were already invited twenty-three years ago, you’re family. »

For the first time since he’d been eight years old, Horus felt betrayed by a cake. If he hadn’t been drawn in by its icing and had instead carried on his way in search of another dessert, perhaps he’d have avoided the interrogation too?

Then again, he didn’t understand why he wasn’t answering directly and was simply listening to his neighbour’s ramblings.

He was there to find out, wasn’t he? So why isolate himself and keep his mouth shut?

Because the truth had consequences. And, as much as he’d like to understand why his cousin was entitled to such mad annual family gatherings, he didn’t want to suffer public humiliation.

« Can you say that? » he stammered.

In front of him, his current nightmare had grabbed another empty chair and pulled it up beside him, stretching out his long legs; the hem of his cropped trousers had ridden up just enough to reveal a flash of skin and an ankle bracelet.

Horus had to make a great effort to tear his gaze away and nearly jumped when, looking back at his interlocutor’s face, he found him staring at him intently, as if he had understood exactly which turn the young man’s thoughts had taken.

He had to summon every ounce of self-control not to burst out with a string of feeble excuses and explanations in a squeaky voice, but instead he sat up suddenly, hands on his knees and eyes fixed on them.

« I don’t know, » he finally admitted. « It’s never… been very clear. »

He’d expected more questions, more scrutiny from that red eye, as if it could read his mind.

But none of that.

« Very well. »

And just like that, the model stood up, as elegant as ever, and walked away, not without a final nod of the head.

« Make sure you stay hydrated and keep out of the sun. It’s a hot day. »

And he, shaking his head vigorously, like those little animals on the back seats of cars.

When he realised it, he stopped and quickly grabbed his hood to cover his face completely, his cheeks flushing crimson.

Horus had not the faintest idea who this man might be, let alone whether he was in his family tree, and at which branch, but he suddenly regretted coming here far less.

If he couldn’t lift the veil on these mysteries, perhaps he could lift something else?

Oh no, dirty thoughts—this was a family gathering; he mustn’t go down that path…

But the number of friends, neighbours and in-laws who’d been dragged here kindled, despite himself, a glimmer of hope within him.

After all, he wasn’t necessarily related by blood to everyone, was he?

He shouldn’t dwell on that thought; it wasn’t the right kind of fire to stoke…

« Are you alright? »

Fortunately, Anubis seemed to have returned and spotted him, snatching him from the worrying spiral into which he was beginning to be drawn.

Jumping to his feet, he nodded just as vigorously as before, trying to look unconcerned.

« I’ve noticed you never take your hood off, » he continued. « Are you sure you’re alright? »

« Yeah, yeah, I just thought… people might recognise me if I took it off? My mum always told me I looked like my dad, so… »

Anubis frowned, confused.

« But isn’t that why you’re here? »

Realising the logic of it, Horus had no reply and stood there speechless. Then he took off his hood, his cheeks flushing slightly.

« Sorry. »

His cousin smiled at him and he smiled back.

« I think you look most like Aunt Isis, » he remarked.

« Thanks. »

Embarrassed, he rubbed the back of his neck, avoiding his gaze.

It had been easier to play the confident bloke with only the lower half of his face visible, but now that he no longer had his shield, he felt exposed. Vulnerable.

Either Anubis could read minds, or he had suddenly become very easy to understand; in any case, he held out his hand to guide him through the crowd:

« Come on, I’ll introduce you to my mother! »

Meeting Nephthys had been like meeting his mother. Or rather, like she must have been, before he was born.

She had claimed to have recognised him immediately, but Horus had his doubts. To tell the truth, she didn’t seem to have recognised him.

But that was in the past; once her son had explained the situation, she seemed to become even more excited and bombarded him with questions about his life, wanting to know everything about this nephew she’d lost touch with.

He played along, amused and somewhat touched by her enthusiasm, and ended up spending over an hour with them, catching up on nearly twenty years of their lives.

They had to stop because an emergency had required the hostess’s attention, but she had made him promise not to leave without letting her know, which he had no trouble swearing to.

Anubis had accompanied her, leaving him alone, but it wasn’t as burdensome as it had been earlier in the day. He watched them leave, a smile on his lips, and decided to return to the buffet, just to check the restocking.

It was nearly dinner time, so the dishes were more substantial, quickly making his mouth water. And as most of the guests had either gone back to their rooms early or weren’t hungry yet, he fully intended to make up for the empty plates from earlier!

Grabbing another plate, he began to help himself, humming cheerfully.

He hadn’t put his hood back on and hadn’t been bothered about it, until someone came up to him; some of the older members had been able to recognise his lineage and were questioning him about it.

Before long, he found himself surrounded by a small group asking after his mother and complimenting him on how much he’d grown (it had to be said that, from their perspective, he’d gone from a tiny one-year-old baby to a six-foot-five adult), enquiring about his life…

Then, he spotted a flash of red.

Barely turning his head, he followed the colour with his eyes and recognised the model from earlier. He, too, seemed to have come to investigate the menu, though he was wrinkling his nose at the cuts of meat.

Horus managed to keep up the pretence, whilst he continued to watch the stranger fill his plate, all the while clenching his fingers around his own, unsure what hunger was driving him to do so.

When he was finally able to leave the stranger’s company without appearing too rude, he plucked up all his courage to approach him.

He felt that if he left the party without having tried his luck, he would regret it forever. And besides, it didn’t commit him to anything, did it? He wasn’t going to ask him to marry him, but a first name would be a start.

« Good evening, » he called out to him.

He must have been noticed, for he received nothing but an elegant raise of an eyebrow.

« I think this time you’re spoilt for choice, » he declared.

« Er, yes, but that wasn’t why! »

Seriously, did he look like a glutton? Admittedly, it was only the second time they’d met, and it was at the buffet again. But he wasn’t hanging around there on purpose; it was just a coincidence!

« Are you having a good evening? »

« Yes, I suppose so. I was quite apprehensive, but people are kind. »

Having finished helping himself, the stranger sat up straight and nodded at his comment.

« Yes, for the most part. They’ve been a source of incomparable comfort and support when my world came crashing down. But then, every basket of fruit has its rotten apples. »

Horus watched the gentle expression harden, the red eyes taking on a harsh glint. He didn’t instinctively step back, as he usually did.

But it was only a momentary pause, and the gentleness returned in the blink of an eye.

« Is there something on my face? »

His question interrupted his dreamy contemplation. Being caught red-handed made him blush with embarrassment and regret not wearing his hood.

It’s so much easier to play the good boy, to hide behind a distant politeness, to mask just how raw his emotions were and how easy it was to provoke a reaction.

But there he was, having decided to speak to him with his face uncovered. It was up to him to deal with the consequences, and so be it if it meant revealing himself for what he really was: the sort to feel things quickly and intensely.

To fall in love with a stranger over half a slice of cake.

« You have absolutely magnificent eyes, » declared Horus.

He clearly hadn’t expected it, having tensed up in anticipation of a dig, no doubt, and he widened those very eyes at the compliment, stunned.

« And not just them. You are, in your entirety. »

He felt filled with a confidence he hadn’t known he possessed, capable of opening his heart and offering it to him on a plate.

Perhaps it was this very behaviour that his mother had so feared he would adopt. But perhaps it was the intoxication of his youth that allowed him to stand tall rather than crumble under the awkwardness that his declaration would normally have caused.

« … who let you near the drinks bar? »

« I haven’t had a drink. »

He remained unflinching, displaying more confidence than he thought he possessed.

« Well, thanks for the compliments. »

The model set down his salad tongs, lowering his head, seemingly pondering what he was going to say next.

« Let’s leave it at that. »

Then he left the buffet, plate in hand.

But Horus didn’t agree. So he followed him, leaving his plate on the table, his eyes fixed on the muscular back, the broad shoulders, the swaying red locks, the movement of his hips with every step.

They stopped in a spot slightly set back from the crowd. It was still possible to hear the loudest shouts, but they were out of sight.

« Did you follow me? » the stranger choked out.

In response, the young man spread his arms wide, palms facing outwards, to make his position clear.

Under normal circumstances, he would have obeyed, filling his plate and getting on with his evening, but he felt unable to do so.

It wasn’t that he was no longer in control of his body or incapable of making decisions. It was just… He felt uninhibited, capable of moving mountains with the strength of his arms alone.

And if that mountain could have such flamboyant hair…

« I like you. »

« I thought as much, yes. And I, for my part, would like to eat in peace. One of us is going to have to be disappointed. »

With his arms crossed over his chest, he glared at him with fury in his eyes, which only served to heighten Horus’s interest in him.

No, not out of sadism or any other deviant emotion.

Simply because his anger seemed to cloak him in an aura worthy of a king, of a deity. The sort where his mere presence was enough to bring you to your knees.

Not that Horus needed that to comply in the blink of an eye.

And more, if the mood took him.

Yet he did nothing of the sort, and instead stepped forward, more confident than he had ever been in his life, his eyes fixed on Horus’s and his expression focused.

There were opportunities to be seized, before they vanished forever.

The glowing strands were as soft as they looked as they slipped through his fingers.

The moment Seth – no longer the stranger, no longer the model, Seth! – had loosened them and allowed him to touch them, he wouldn’t let go, kissing them reverently, twirling them around his fingers, bringing them to his nose to savour the faint scent of shampoo…

Their owner had tried to stop him, but it was more out of shyness than refusal. Once he had glimpsed the seriousness in those royal blue eyes, he gave him permission, hiding his confusion behind his caresses.

The skin beneath his fingers, beneath his tongue, beneath his teeth, was as pale as he’d seen, but not as soft and immaculate as he’d thought, reminding him that this was a grown man and not one of his partners of his own age. It had made him love him even more, and only a tug at his short black curls managed to quell his ardour, ready as he was to devour him whole.

Not to be outdone, Seth had taken control of their embrace, which he had relinquished to him without much protest, more than delighted to be able to obey every request of his new idol to the letter.

For the moment, Horus trembled in his arms, biting his tongue to avoid drawing attention, as he clung to the fiery hair, an equally scorching tongue torturing him with dedication.

It was undoubtedly a cliché, but it was certainly the first time he’d experienced the sensation that his lover was everywhere at once, playing with his nerves like a musician with his instrument, coaxing sounds from him he hadn’t known he was capable of producing.

The hardest part was not giving in to the drowsiness, fighting to keep his eyes open, so as not to miss a single moment, staying lucid to feel it all.

He seized the first opportunity to return the favour, pushing back the bare chest, savouring the defined muscles beneath his hands as he slid them down to his hips, then his thighs, as he parted from him with sadness. But it was necessary if he wanted to demonstrate the full extent of the veneration he felt for that perfect body, if he wished to prove his deference to Seth…

The skin was soft beneath his fingers, salty beneath his tongue, fragrant to his nose, whilst Horus paid homage as best he could, sparing no effort as he drew on his previous experiences and research, wanting to live up to his bedmate.

Of course, he knew that performance anxiety was the surest way to achieve the opposite of what he was seeking, but… he was but a mere mortal in the presence of a god. He had only this night to prove himself.

He had only this chance to love him.

It was a gentle awakening, as the sun filtered into the room, Horus planting light kisses on the skin exposed by the bedclothes, whilst Seth watched him with an amused expression. Despite the intensity of the previous night, it seemed his lover regarded him as if he were made of glass.

It was rather sweet to see.

When Horus came to beg for his lips, he responded with pleasure, his arms sliding over the muscles he’d savoured during their previous embraces and leaving their mark just as much, his fingers pressing on a few stray hickies and bite marks.

They wouldn’t necessarily have gone for round two, sore as they were, but they fully intended to linger in bed a little longer, simply sharing some human warmth, when the door burst open, preceded only by a brief thud against it.

« Ah, cousin, I see you’ve met my father… Eggs for breakfast? »

Anubis left the room without giving them time to reply, looking barely disturbed despite the scene he’d just stumbled upon, unlike the two protagonists of said scene, who blushed in unison before the important information registered in their minds.

« You’re his father?! »

« What do you mean, cousin?! »

They wore the same look of horror, all affection between them vanished.

But Seth never let surprise freeze him for long, and he quickly furrowed his brow, his mind already at work.

« I’ve never seen you before. Which branch? »

Horus, for his part, felt himself shrinking under the piercing gaze, whilst he wore a slightly stupid, embarrassed smile.

« Nephthys is my aunt, » he almost squeaked. « Isis, my mother… »

The realisation hit him hard, as his face paled slightly, his wide eyes staring at nothing in particular.

« You are the son of Osiris. »

« Er, yes? Not that I know him particularly well, but… »

« You are the son of Osiris. »

A little worried, Horus frowned, unsure of what he should do. Unsure, he slowly slipped out from under the covers, preparing to get dressed.

But a hand seized his wrist, making him turn round.

« Did… Did Osiris ask you to do that? »

In spite of himself, the young man couldn’t help but admire the tormented expression turned towards him. Not out of sadism or cruelty. It just seemed to magnify his features.

« I’ve never met him, never spoken to him, » he replied. « And I came of my own accord. Like everything else, for that matter. »

Seth loosened his grip and slumped, like a puppet whose strings had been cut, almost lifeless, as relief washed over him, as fear receded at the declaration, though mistrust remained.

Hesitantly, Horus watched him. But when he made no move to sit up, he climbed back onto the mattress, worried.

« Seth? » he called.

He grabbed his wrist in turn, squeezing gently, which seemed to catch his attention.

He lifted his head, his tousled hair sweeping away from his face as he met his gaze.

Leaning over him, he brushed the crimson strands aside with his free hand, tucking them behind his ear, and from there, his hand slid down his jaw, resting against his cheek.

Admittedly, the previous revelations had dampened their spirits, but at the same time… Given what they’d already done…

Their lips were about to brush against each other when the door opened again to reveal Anubis, who urged them to hurry if they wanted their food while it was still hot.