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[duckandash]

However long it took for Calvin to respond? It wasn't nearly as long as it felt for Axel. A funny little turn of the tables from the whole saying 'I love you' moment not too long ago. But he'd put a lot of time, thought, and work into these little trinkets- something he would've never done before. Because who would he give it to before coming here? Who would notice, let alone appreciate them? Now he had people who cared and appreciated him. It was new and he wanted to make sure they knew how he felt.

"Once I get better at the whole woodworking thing, I can try and make you a better one." Because, even with Calvin's reaction, he could still see all the knicks and mistakes that he wished he could undo.

Of all the things that Calvin had seen Axel produce from that bag of seemingly never ending items, a wooden carving had been pretty much nowhere on the list of expected outcomes. But... Almost as soon as the wooden carving was offered to him? Calvin was beaming.

Because if anybody understood the sentiment of time going in to something, it was the son of Chronus. All he'd ever known to offer was things with sentiment and time attached to them. The best gifts he'd ever been able to think of were things like this. Sure, somebody that was trying to assess it for workmanship might have grievances, but Calvin?

He was holding it between his hands, taking in every little detail, and looking like a damn enamoured kid when he spotted exactly what the hands were, or what the pin was.

"This is beautiful, Ax."

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"Alright, alright." Axel begrudingly let go of Calvin so that he could go into that extradimensional pocket (he really hated calling it a portable hole- that didn't make sense to him) that had served him so well on both trials. "Probably for the best so that I don't raise expectations higher than the execution of it."

He pulled out a small wooden object. It wasn't the most impressive thing to look at but the son of Hermes had clearly made it himself. It was a flat circle carved into the shape of the clock with roman numerals for the numbers. The clock hands? It was a best attempt at making them look like Calvin's swords. And the pin in the middle that usually kept the clock hands anchored to a clock? Axel's best attempt at making a teeny tiny anatomical heart.

He held it out for Calvin to take, wincing a little because he was clearly not the best at woodworking art. "Been working on this for a while. Was gonna give it to you before the trial but..."

Was there the distinct possibility Calvin had taken it upon himself to find enough resolve to not let the weight of what trial they'd been on really settle in his head? Absolutely. He'd come to terms with death as a thing a long time ago but that hadn't made it any less daunting it face one of it's Warden's trials. But, he'd needed to stand strong, and he liked to think he had. Those hands immediately anchoring to his waist, well, yeah okay now he could really let the tension seep out of his system.

"I'd say now, because I'm the worst person when I know I'm getting a present but have to wait." The warm smile was returned, combined with the slow drop of his head to rest their foreheads together for just a moment. Thumb idly circling the Contingency Band. "...Another present. You're spoiling me. I'm gonna end up turning in to Milo."

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With the pup released and the two of them alone for a moment, Axel walked in ahead of Calvin and waited for the door to be closed. Now in the privacy of the Chronus cabin, he pivoted in spot and put his hands on its resident's hips. Just something to anchor them both: the heat and weight of their proximity a reminder that they've both made it out of a trial revolving around death.

"Not sure if you remember, but I need to give you something." He smiled warmly as he kept his voice quiet, despite them being alone. "You want it now or after a nap?"

"Same. I know there isn't a huge amount I can do to keep you safe out there, but I know there's plenty of people who will." Thankfully he was pretty good at one of the few things he could do out in the middle of the fray to keep the people he cared about safe: beat the ever living hell out of enemies before they could get to them. Make himself a prime target. Or. Tempting target, he was clearly not a good idea for a prime target given that altercation but still.

Door open, Milo was quickly released in to the confines of the Chronus cabin once he got the door open, and a nod of his own. "Right? Solid nights sleep fixing all of that is... Really handy. Could've done with that way sooner."

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"I'm happy you're in one piece, yeah." He hummed, relishing their closeness. They'd been like this for a while, but it felt different now, with feelings now expressed. "Me being the one to help keep you that way is a bonus but someone else doing it wouldn't upset me. What matters most is you being okay." Thankfully, Calvin seemed to be liked well enough by everyone that he didn't have to worry too much about someone having his back if Axel wasn't around.

That last sentence got a small laugh out of the son of Hermes. "Gotta love how divine blood makes it so we can sleep off the worst of things with a couple hours of rest."

He was glad that it had stuck. It hadn't even fully been an intentional thing, to start calling Axel that more than anything else, it just came naturally with the lessons. He didn't miss the way the other's was beaming at the name given, his own lips contently curled upward as they eventually made it to his door.

"If it makes you feel any better, pretty sure you stopped me getting straight up ko'd by myself. And during my trial. You've got my back when I need it most and I know that." He wasn't sure how much he could say the same, but he tried when he could. The mention of the book earned a nod. "Not that I'm ever going to stop you doing things like that, because we both know if you hadn't I'd have been getting up in there myself. We're not great at the whole 'not doing reckless things' thing, are we? Thankfully we can just... Sleep that off."

[duckandash]

God, he was never gonna get tired of hearing that nickname in that language. It was only made better by knowing he was the one who'd taught it to him. He hoped the day that the one word in Celestial didn't make him smile wouldn't come any time soon. It definitely wasn't today because Axel was damn near beaming as he turned to return the kiss, though it only got Calvin on the corner of his mouth.

"It never gets easy seeing you hurt but there's only so much I can do about that." He could only get his protective illusions out so fast. "But after jumping on top of some corrupted avatar of death to steal one of it's books, I'm sure I didn't help much to the anxiety of everything."

"Maybe? Guess it depends how much you like hearing me say it. If anything it'd be Angel, could you pass me that." It's easy and playful, relaxed now that they were back at camp without twenty thousand looming threats over their head, and it seemed tragedy averted for the time being. The scratches to Milo's head did indeed get the bundle of energy barely being contained by the son of Chronus to start wiggling even more, and almost had him dropped. Nearly. "Besides. I've seen you use your portals. An accident feels like a stretch."

Faith in the man he loved, or an awareness of just how that mind worked. Either way, that would be no accident. A brief kiss pressed to the other's temple at the mention of banged up about all the comfort he could offer.

"I'm okay. Head's finally back to where it should be and not dealing with an... Adrenaline boost being slowed by my own control over time... Honestly it's hard to tell if the bouncing back thing hurt or not with all that going on."

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"Is that how you're gonna open every conversation now?" Axel had wrapped one of his own arms around Calvin's back. He gave him a playful squeeze while scratching at Milo's head, probably making him squirm even more. "It'll be all 'I love you, can you grab that for me?' and 'I love you, please tell me you didn't accidentally put someone on a roof again.'" Which, it wasn't an accident the first time.

"But I'm fine. Banged up, sure, but I'm used to it at this point. You? Did the bring back thing... hurt?"

LOCATION: ENROUTE TO CHRONUS CABIN WITH: AXEL @duckandash

"I love you." He has to say it again, once he's managed to drag the other back... And picked up Milo. Who wasn't exactly happy about having been left behind but it was a weight off Calvin's shoulders. One arm full of writhing wiener dog, the other comfortably curled around Axel's waist for a point of contact. Holding on to the other with an awareness of just how close they'd come to not walking away from that things attacks... and him from his own.

"We made it. Didn't know I had something that'd... Bring me back from the edge like that. Are you okay? That was... Rough feels like one hell of an understatement."

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while he could claim to know a good amount about a wide variety of topics, axel couldn't claim to know much about wines outside of what his taste buds had told him through the years. when out with others, he just followed their lead. so if ender was giving his stamp of approval? he trusted the godling on the topic more than practically anyone else here that it was good.

"it's all about the changing of the seasons, harvest, and friendship, right?" he took another sip from his glass (a gulp that was probably bigger than would be appropriate damn near elsewhere). it went down fast and smooth, making it very clear how far along he was. "don't think they'd say no."

ender didn't even have to tap into his domain for the party to be lively and fully of life. it was nice to know that his friends were all enjoying themselves because they wanted to and didn't need his help in doing so. it made him relax a bit more, allowing himself to enjoy it just as well not feeling like he had to be life of the party for once... though he was a son of dionysus so it just came naturally to him.  "i do not think it is fair that they used wine that is only located here," ender said complaining as he sipped his own glass of wine. "i mean each wine tastes different depending on where it is grown. for example a chardonnay from napa valley tastes much different than one from côte de beaune in burgundy. using a wine that is not grown in the mortal worlds--" he let out a small whistle that indicated he was impressed. because honestly he was. "do you think they will give oliver or me one of the grape seeds so we can grow it back home? never have i tasted a wine that tastes like sunshine before."

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He laughed quietly at the response he got. It probably wasn't as hard of a laugh as he could, with a whole son of Chronus lying on top of him but the last thing he wanted was for Calvin to move. Hell, he'd keep him exactly where he is for the rest of the day if he could manage it. He'd had this level of closeness and intimacy so rarely in his life that he'd savor this for as long as possible.

Leave it to the demigod at time to be good at making moments.

"Fine." He groaned, shifting a little in his spot to get a little more comfortable. "Just so long as you're here with me when I wake up."

"Yeah, I was thinking about swimming with them next time." It's easy to return the joke when the other pulled back, just allowing himself to indulge in the proximity. Lose himself for a little in the easy contact. Affection. Letting himself feel wanted and needed and worth protecting and all that came with those hushed words moments prior. And while yes, chasing those charged kisses was incredibly tempting, he knew why they were like this in the first place an-

"C'mon, you need to sleep off that brain ache Angel." A name in Celestial, a language taught by the man he was... Yeah.

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seeing atticus in this state was unusual and incredibly endearing. axel's smile grew as he leaned towards friend and fellow godling. he might've been buzzed but there was no doubt that the son of athena was further in his cups than him. not that it was hard since the researcher had been hiding out for most of the festival while the others had fun.

"atticus," he playfully mirrored the greeting back. "looks like you're having a good time. and half the guys are out here trying to take you for a turn on the dancefloor. look at you being the life of the party."

drinking was never something atticus particularly participated in, at least until he came to camp. an anxious fear of losing control over his body always kept him from accepting a glass of wine. that was until he was blinded by medusa and had the bacchus party right after, needing to relax a little. he still didn't drink much, usually only doing it when he was at one of the parties or sitting at the scry with ender. but this entire festival had never ending wine being poured for them and after the wine tasting atticus could feel himself getting a little flushed.

holding a half empty goblet, he found axel alone at one of the many tables and sat down besides his friend. "axel," he said with a drunken smile. "i'm so glad to see you here." he put the glass down, resting his head in his hand and he studied the son of hermes. "i always love hanging out with you." axel had become one of his closest friends in such a short period of time and when he was drunk, atticus tended to be more open with his thoughts. 

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Axel kissed back. This time, it was a little more charged with the emotions of what had happened. It was filled with a promise neither one of them could uphold but they would do their damnedest to follow through on. Surviving was something both of them had gone through in different ways before coming here. It had shaped so much of who they were now. It also meant they were so averse to the idea to the idea of being more loss for someone else.

And thank the gods for it.

He pulled back from the kiss just to give Calvin a cheeky grin. "But...? But what? No more running with sharks?"

He was at least aware enough of being tugged in that he didn't end up kneeing anywhere sensitive as he settle atop the other. Which... Well it would probably make for an amusing visual for somebody looking in considering the amount of shifting Calvin had to accomplish to try and get some form of eye contact. Proximity. Watching the other's face as best he could with legs tangling a little.

"I don't want you to lose me either. I know that's not usually in either of our control, but." He knew he could be reckless, just a bit, and while he definitely wasn't as emotionally driven as some of the Godlings it could still end up winning out sometimes. But he took calculated risks more than just diving in head first. The son of Chronus let himself indulge in the eye contact for a moment longer, before leaning in for a kiss.

He really didn't know if he could come back from losing somebody that was steadily becoming so much a part of him again.

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location: the harvest festival for: open to anyone who attended

was he tipsy?

the more important question was: could you blame him for being tipsy? when handsome satyrs and godlings kept refilling his cup, he wasn't gonna say no. and it tasted so damn good that his cup was ready to be refilled before axel knew what happened.

so he sat at a table, watching those far more social than him have a good time. while there was still much to understand about what happened this evening, there was no doubt that today was a good day.

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axel met the look simon gave him with a smile- and the briefest hint of a pained expression. he was so, so grateful for these guys that had been brought into his life. he wasn't sure that he'd still be here if it wasn't for simon, calvin, lars, and some of the others. still, the three of them were so aware of what he's gone through, how it informs his behaviors, and how he thinks that he wondered that perhaps they knew too much. not for him but for them.

"I appreciate that." he sighed, smiling again and tilting his head even if simon wasn't gonna do it too. "but I don't wanna be a burden on you, either." he wasn't trying to rehash the whole 'plate' thing again but the worry that he was an added weight needed to be shared. was it hypocritical with how much effort he put in keeping others safe? maybe. but that wasn't the point.

"better."

the word, a whisper. a grunt. simon's hands didn't pull back, but instead down, running the length of axel's spine from either side, pressing in every inch or two.

"you got it." eye contact was brief, but intent enough. "I know I can't push back on that stuff in your head, how you react to shit. how it makes you feel." simon's brows lifted, just slightly. "but I'll be here to help you deal with it. when you don't wanna explain. or when you need to, but gotta get the words poked and prodded out."

and then, he gave a signature simon smile. not the practiced and charming look, but the one that's more natural; sleepy-eyed, lips forming a more nervous shape, not angling his head to hide the shape of his brow.

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He didn't mean to laugh at that but it came out so suddenly. It was a reaction to hearing a string of words put together that he'd only ever read and never expected to have aimed at him. If Calvin was listening to his heartbeat, then he would notice the pick up when he said what he said.

"Cal..." Axel pulled even harder on him. If the guy ended up completely on top of him then so be it. "I can't... I can't say that nothing is ever gonna happen to me. But know that I'll never just let something happen to me, alright? I've spent most of my life looking out for myself 'cause I was all that I had. I wouldn't just stop that now."

A small sigh as he craned his neck to make sure he was looking directly at Calvin. "And I don't want you to lose me."

Whatever effort that could be made to reduce the space between them was made, shifting and settling in until most of his focus was just on listening to Axel. The steady thump of his heart he could practically feel beneath his fingers where they were connected.

"It'd be really appreciated if we could avoid you going unconscious like that. Don't think it's good for either of our health's." He tried to play it off a little, a lighter joke, but it still kept playing his head. The immediate spike of fear. How abruptly his head had reminded him of other times he'd seen somebody so injured an- "I don't wanna lose you."

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The kiss got a smile. It was easy and warm and made the battered son of Hermes look like he was in much better shape than he currently was. The hand not currently being held pulled Calvin closer- or at least as much as he could from their current positions.

"Same thing here." A sigh as he let himself be wrapped up in the idea that someone thought of him first for something. "Whenever anything happens, you're the first one I text- unless you're already there. Hell, even if you're there I still wanna talk to you about whatever happened. I just need to work on actually staying conscious for all of it."

The slight flex of Axel's fingers was enough to encourage a shift of Calvin's own again, settling in to holding the hand he'd been using as an example instead of just... Using it for the demonstration. Offering a reassuring squeeze, and glad to hear that the distraction had actually helped some, even as he turned his head enough to brush a kiss to Axel's jaw.

"I pretty much already do. Whenever I learn something interesting, or find out something, you're like... Pretty much the first person I want to tell. Hell, you usually are." It was probably one the thinks that had really cemented that... Maybe this was okay. This was allowed. Letting himself feel like this was allowed. Because whenever something happened, Axel was where he wanted to be.

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Manipulation of time and space. Two different ways of working with speed but Axel had embraced them both. He was more of a scholar than a scientist but that didn't mean he hadn't come up with a general concept on how his powers worked. Along with that, he could see how he and others complimented each other. His personal feelings about Calvin aside, there was no denying the synergy that should be possible between the two of them.

No staff this time for this. Whatever they did, it needed to be solely from the two of them. "On your mark..."

He'd throw his burst of adrenaline into Calvin Prime and his secondary boosts into the secondary version of the son of time, when it was manifested. The goal? To make the fighter a blur of blades on the battlefield.

"Maybe? I don't know. Been thinking about how our powers work together and it's all just... Speed and force. Making people move faster, slowing things down, little adjustments in the moment to make things work out in our favour." There was no mistaking that they were probably two of the fastest in camp, even if that like... Many things was strongly influenced by the gear Calvin chose to wear more than something innate.

"Otherwise it was gonna be seeing what happened if we both tried to banish something at the same time but that just feels like overkill." Removed from time and space seemed like one hell of a punishment. Either way, Calvin was quick to get himself limbered up. Shaking out his limbs, weight bouncing from one foot to the other and getting the other version of himself to work on it too. "Ready when you are."

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he nodded. other axel- or whatever was the best way to talk about his other self. him but from a different path. an axel picked up earlier and grown into someone who smiled more but hated harder. one who sought out attention to his own detriment instead of shying away from it. someone with the same face (though probably with more scars) but a different mindset entirely.

someone axel both pitied and wish he could've been.

"better." an easy answer to the question. he sighed and rolled his shoulders. "thanks. I appreciate it." a quick look out of the corner of his eye, just to help assure simon the words weren't said for the sake of them.

what axel was saying, simon knew the sound of, the shape of. and his little grin came from knowing what it felt like to make those shapes, those sounds. watching someone try to bend into the right form, not knowing how to accept them. but he's learning. they're both learning.

"yeah, well. you're here. I'm here." his head tilted for a second, nose brushing hair again. "kinda forgot what we started on for a second. other axel, right?" brows up. "other simon was more of a shit than me, so gonna call it doing everyone a service."

except for alkaois.

but that's his cross(bow) to bear.

"how you feelin now?"

[duckandash]

being seen like this was already something that was hard for him to comprehend but lars (and calvin and simon) all seem to see him so damn clearly, too. the lack of invisibility meant a type of vulnerability that he'd never had to deal with and still is working to process. the three men being able to see him better than he saw himself was a head spin in itself.

"it's not being selfless." that wasn't true but it wasn't a lie, not really. he didn't realize that was what he was doing. so what did that make it? delusion? whatever it was, axel couldn't figure it out when he was in rough shape and he had the big man doting on him. "but I'll work on it."

the tip of his fingers slowly collected frost, icing the bruised skin underneath. "sure it isn't just you being selfless?" lars asked with a raised brow. he had seen axel's worst fears, felt the other's loneliness around himself like a sodden blanket, and so, getting a beat on what axel may had been thinking wasn't so hard. a child raised to put others above himself becomes a man who takes care of everyone but himself.

but if taken care of was what axel needed, lars would gladly step up. he thumbed the bruise with his icy fingertip before he let his palm completely settle over the other's cheek, soothing whatever ache had been there. healing wasn't lars' forte. however, he tried to at least numb the other's pain, even if only for a while.

"remember that we need you alive," he reminded. "you are the one who keeps us up."