#analysing phaidei

[blade-dyd]

do i even dare to dip my toes into the phaidei tags here and on ao3. why do i feel like it’s an angst pool atm.

[floralblur]

𝔏𝔦𝔨𝔢 𝔞 𝔉𝔢𝔳𝔢𝔯

HSR 3.0 # PHAIDEI

You’d think after seeing a friend go through an arduous trial, risking his life for ascension to godhood, that a natural course of events would follow. Saying you’re “there if they need anything”, down to go for a drink, things of that nature.

But Mydei and Phainon decided to raise the heat in the baths when it comes to stress relief.

“There’s no such word as “fear” in the Kremnoan language.”

“Let’s put that to the test.”

sfw with a little . . . tension 🩶 wc 2.1k

(art @ KlayrG twt)

One would assume that warriors who have fought countless battles, ripped apart mortal flesh, beings imbued with strength beyond the human imagination would conduct themselves with the responsibility, grace, and dignity the power requires. And yet, Phainon and Mydeimos couldn’t resist regressing to childlike tendencies when near each other, partaking in ten-day sword fights and bickering like children—or an old married couple.

Their recent feud had commenced from Mydei’s approach to the other from behind him at the baths, finding himself… hesitant. For as many eons as his existence had stretched, the times where Mydei wasn’t immediately defensive or drawing his sword were few and far between. Endlessly scrolling through the possibilities in his head while standing right behind Phainon was becoming unentertaining, but he knew he needed to say something. “How could I greet him after coming back from the Core Flame trial?” Such a test of will, his hatred almost getting him ripped apart in the process. No one said it was easy ascending to become a demigod. But of course, Mydei knew he would be okay. “I know that man can pull through,” he had remarked to Tribbie. He was confident back then, but where had it gone now?

“How’s your recovery coming along, my friend?” Too nice. “Why don’t you take a bath to recharge?” What voice in his head was coming up with these? That didn’t even sound like Mydei. Instead, he settled for something more fitting of his…personality. “Am I seeing things? Or is the magnificent Deliverer finally deigning to step outside?” Mydei crossed his arms over his chest as Phainon barely turned to face him, “hmph”ing like a child. “What kind of a response is that?”

Phainon relaxes and turns around, his nose scrunching up like a bunny, “Nothing. I was just imitating your usual response.” He smirks slightly, adjusting one hand to his hip. Anyone could see the gleam of his bright blue eyes, taking this as a small victory, and Mydei could only roll his eyes at the implication. Phainon inquired about his future ascension, but right now, Mydei didn’t want to think about it, or even explain it. Phainon couldn’t sense divine presence on Mydei, his hesitance reeking off for all to see.

Until Phainon started reciting lines of poetry, gazing off into the distance, maintaining eye contact once he was done. Mydei narrowed his eyes in confusion, ”What are you playing at this time?” Phainon continued, “Surely the dear crown prince of Kremnos knows how to appreciate some poetry?” Mydei’s heart thumped a little harder in his chest the way he emphasised the word dear. Had he imagined that? Why was he always playing games? The last few days have been a chaotic blur, he must just be making things up. But he was worried this immortal vessel would betray him. “Control yourself, Mydei,” he urged himself. He cleared his throat in an attempt to regain dominance over the conversation, asserting “Kremnoans steer clear from such weak literature, but my library has collections of such a kind—“ Wait. Was Phainon smiling? His smirk wasn’t this big at the start of their conversation.

Whatever. Phainon began excitedly ranting on, analysing the poet’s yearning for home, et cetera. Mydei couldn’t help staring at his eyes though. The way they shine and reflect the gold from the baths in those marbled eyes. That nonchalant facade he puts up, even though he feels everything so deeply. Maybe if Mydei was closer to human, he would long for that kind of enthusiasm. Maybe it’s something he’s been missing. “I know how to interpret poetry, HKS.” If Mydei’s mean and dismissive enough to him, his feelings won’t be exposed, right? Such fickle emotions have no room for Kremnoans, their fate subjecting them to bloodshed. Perhaps, he can push off the pain of their inevitable farewell. Phainon always fights to be a hero, at his own expense.

Phainon chuckled, his eyes closing into crescent moons, teeth exposed. “So quaint… so human,” Mydei drifted into his own mind. “I guess there’s no need to be profound. Thanks for getting me out of a tight spot, but you’re clearly not ready for the trial either.” If Mydei paid attention, he could even hear the worry in his voice behind that smile. Imagine that. The Nameless Hero, Chrysos Heir, pleading with wide eyes for Mydei to be safe. Mydei almost cracked a smile at the thought. “This little scoundrel… always pointing out the obvious.”

However, their situations for ascension weren’t the same, and Mydei made sure it was duly noted. “I can’t ascend until I resolve the issues of my people first.” What came next didn’t need to be said aloud, but Phainon still stated it anyway. “So do you, the mighty Mydeimos…” his voice drops a little lower as he steps closer to Mydei, “…wish to defy the tradition that has endured among your people for millennia?”

Mydei sighed in frustration at the contemplation of such a decision, still thinking about what to do. As his hand rubbed his head, he could see Phainon’s cheek turning a tinge of red, as he took two paces back to where he once stood. What was he embarrassed about? “Never mind… I suppose it’s not my place to offer you counsel.” Except Mydei could find himself talking to him through the day. Despite their banter and bickering, they were like reigniting sparks whether in the heat of a battle or the mundane, walking Amphoreus’ paths. Couldn’t all things in life happen this easily?

“An idea does strike me though…” There’s that mischievous look. “Go ahead. Let’s see what terrible idea you’ve come up with this time.” Yet he’d partake in all his ”terrible ideas”. Why? Perhaps he doesn’t have the words for it. Phainon, arms crossed over his armour, strides forward two paces, cocking his head to the side at Mydei, his voice dropping slightly lower. “Maybe we both need to relieve some stress. Let’s recommence our previous competition…”

And all the Gods should have struck Mydeimos down for the thoughts that ran laps around his head when he heard that sentence. Mydei shouldn’t even give him all this credit, or fuel his ego for making his body act in unpredictable ways. He couldn’t even look into his eyes, or what would Phainon see? He knew he was smart. He had to surrender.

“We’ll see who can stay in the super hot bath for longer!” Phainon smiled cheekily, eyebrows furrowed with a fire in his belly, ready to face off his opponent, but he hadn’t anticipated how challenging this would be on the body… and mind. Mydei was still rendered speechless, and Phainon always got a kick out of making him stutter. “You chickening out already?” bumping his shoulder with his own. He barely hit him with strength, yet he seemed slightly off guard by it. “Is he okay today… he seems so flustered.” Mydei’s weird mood aside, Phainon was determined to win the competition.

“The phrase “chickening out” does not exi—“

“…exist in Kremnoan language. I understand, you can save me the spiel. We’re here to relieve stress… is that okay with you my dear prince?”

Mydei wasn’t sure whether to be more offended by the vomit-inducing pet name or interrupting his sentence, and predicting it correctly! Mydei was losing his grips on this conversation, but luckily their competition wasn’t wirh words. He grunts dismissively. “Whatever. Let’s do this. I’ll have to teach you some royal etiquette.” But nothing Mydei wanted to teach him was royal… or anything of etiquette at all. Well, he should save that for another day.

With that, the sauna battle had commenced, both men face to face mere inches apart, stripping down from their full armour to robes. Mydei’s armour was already minimal, so he merely removed the metal and wore shorts. The water splashed as they got in making areas of Phainon’s robe transparent, clinging to his chest, and Mydei made no show of hiding it. Looking at his porcelain skin, sculpted by the gods, tracing down to his abdomen so clearly defined, converging at the V, how he wished he could just get a taste—“Eyes up here~” Phainon remarked sweetly, with Mydei rolling his eyes as Phainon winked. It was a relief Phainon was no mind-reader, or Mydei would’ve made sure he was no longer immortal. The two men’s unrelenting resolve heated up the water around them, the steam rising up to the heavens themselves, their faces growing redder and blood rushing all around their bodies.

Phainon was started to feel weaker in the fight, but of course didn’t let it show. His hair was clinging to his face, and as he blinked, he relied on Mydei’s orange hair to maintain focus. Mydei’s eyes were squeezed tightly shut, biting his bottom lip as he let out a visceral grunt in anguish, and Phainon fought to resist this temptation. But this he failed, as he indulged in the sound, and not only the possible sound of victory… the sound of Mydei in pain, like a particular elixir unable to find elsewhere. He wished to have it on repeat in his memories, his own guilty pleasure, witnessing someone so noble and respected make sounds so depraved. He couldn’t help but get cocky, relishing in it. “Hah… chickening out a-already Mydei? All hot and bothered?” Practically panting to get the words out of his mouth. Gods. The way his eyes flicked open in anger. It had Phainon’s blood rushing to piss him off, in all the right places.

“…Get lost.” He shook his head a little in annoyance. You wish.

The poor bath attendant nearby had been asking anxiously whether to turn down the bath temperature, but nothing could dial down the tension running between them. It was Phainon’s turn to make noises in distress, and Mydei to “hmph” in response. So weak…he doesn’t even know what he’s dealing with.

For another unknown stretch of time, their match persisted, both of them in grunting matches, unaware of the multitude of innocents falling faint around them. Until the water sploshed around suddenly in the pool. Phainon’s body had fallen faint outside of the pool, lying on the ground face up, one arm to his forehead, one leg barely propped up as the other lay dead on the ground. He breathed heavily out into the sky, cursing and whining under his breath. “Fuck… why did I have to lose!!” He could hear that evil laugh already. Mydei reopened his eyes at his victory, both hands on his hips stepping out of the pool, kneeling down next to Phainon’s body on his knees. He used one hand to reach around Phainon’s neck, lifting his face up to his own, so close they could hear the other’s heartbeat. His gravelly, deep voice was heat unlike the one from the baths. It ravaged Phainon’s whole body making him shake in anticipation. “Know your place.” Gods.

Not only had Phainon lost, but he was never living this down. This was a highly unfortunate position to be found in by Aglaea, Hyacine and Tribbie. He was surrounded by beings who have lived thousands of years, there was no way they'd forget! And worst of all, the little demons in his mind wanted Mydei to show him his place. Not with rampant sexual tension in close proximity, not in battle with their swords and evasion tactics to speak for them. He wanted to be shown directly. With those hands.

“What a spectacle of folly.” If not for Aglaea’s flowery language, she would be listing profanities. Phainon was still so dazed from the encounter none of Aglaea’s words were sticking in his mind, but he heard Mydei mention “escort home…awestruck by…formidable… presence?” The challenge was his idea. How could he lose? This is a loss that would sting for the rest of his days. “This… i-isn’t fair..” is all he could manage to speak from his exhaustion on the ground. “You are wearing…way less… than I am.” Mydei was always so imposing with his being. The heat from those baths didn’t aid in fighting off all the thoughts of abandoning control to Phainon, letting him touch him roughly, show him his place. Wearing less clothes only allowed Phainon to fixate on his muscles, forged from countless battles, those bright red markings contorting around his body with every motion. This was a setup from the start in Phainon’s eyes! Who could win against such an attractive foe?

Mydei went on about how “there is no word for “flee” in the Kremnoan language,” and Phainon from his fatigue was tired of hearing it, occasionally interrupting conversation to mimic the prince, while he received jabs to the stomach with his foot as punishment.

Their push and pull was always electrifying, sometimes as the risk of others’ health. The innocent people at the baths were in fact escorted home safely, Mydei taking any opportunity to rub in the victory, bumping into and winking at Phainon any chance he got. The feud between the hero and the prince was always ongoing, the heat always rising.

(^з^)-☆

ashamed to say i’ve been high off the yaoipill… but dont worry ladies you have not been forgotten! women r still on 🔝 for me. i’ve been so incredibly ill all week so i’ve had more time to write! this is my first time writing men EVER but the tension in this scene was so strong i had to do it!!! ao3 saw this one first but this was fun. also some people have followed me!!! HI!!! this is all very new for me so i’m just excited and having fun with everything. you can tell i’ve grown lazier with the formatting as you scroll down… sorry about that <3

[blade-dyd]

phainon’s just so pretty and beautiful and lovable and strong and he’s really growing on me. like yes i was hyper focused on mydei and i still am, but damn am i appreciating phainon a lot more these days