The Lonely God (Rosekook)

15

He lay on the softest bed of feathers, so deliciously light he felt as if he were floating.

But then his other senses were returning as though he was waking up after one of Dionysus's parties, hungover and more dead than alive, feeling like a wretched rag.

Faint burning and prickling in his limbs and the back of his head, his muscles sore and his skin raw and rubbery, stinging like seawater on a wound. The strong scent of something herbaceous invaded his nose, irritating him and he immediately cracked his eyes open when he inhaled too deeply and it rudely interrupted his vegetative state.

His vision was bleary, as though he were underwater.

 He blinked and everything swam into focus: he recognised the spacious, airy room as his own room, in Hecate's temple. There was his study: a desk and table with shelves upon shelves of books lining the wall above it. Rows of small glass vials and an assortment of preserved and pickled shrubs and innards of animals completed the otherwise spartan room—he didn't have a wardrobe or mirrors.

Jeongguk looked down at his body covered with a sheet and shifted his arms—he could move them he was still alive—to discover the extensive bandages covering most of his torso and limbs. The herb smell seemed to emanate from his own self, beneath the bandages, and Jeongguk deduced it was probably some poultice slapped on his wounds.

And then he caught sight of the amber-haired beauty resting on her arms on the bed, leaning forward from the chair she was sitting on. She was sleeping, her face relaxed and her lips slightly parted. Sunlight slanted across her back from the high arched window. Jeongguk noticed she was now wearing typical greco-korean robes that trailed to the floor.

Rosé mumbled in her sleep and he switched his attention back to her face, his heart swelling fondly as she scrunched her nose in her sleep.

Unable to resist, Jeongguk reached out and pushed a few stray strands out of her face, tucking them behind her ear as he stroked her fiery locks. If this was some dream, he definitely didn't want to wake up. 

He was alive, she was alive, they were alive and well.

But he had to admit, he was feeling rather peckish now, come to think of it.

Rosé's eyelids fluttered as his hands ran lightly over her back and she straightened, rubbing her eyes and stretching.

Her mouth dropped open when she finally noticed him sitting and grinning at her.

"Rise and shine, my lady," he teased.

"Jeongguk, you're up!"she exclaimed happily and jumped to her feet causing the chair to clatter backwards. "Oh, I have to get someone—"

"No wait. Please. Stay." Jeongguk said softly as he took her wrist before she got away. She looked at him, furrowing her brow.

"But everyone's been waiting for you, we were so worried you won't make it—"

"Rosé just...a few moments. Sit down," he pleaded again, motioning to the bed. She obeyed and sat facing him, eyes lowered shyly as she took in his state of undress.

Jeongguk was unfazed: he reached out and tipped her chin up with his fingertips. Their gazes collided, with Jeongguk feeling his heart twanging uncontrollably once her eyes met his.

"You're alive," he muttered, "you're alright."

Rosé smiled gently as she covered his hand with her own. "Thanks to you," she replied quietly, rubbing circles over his thumb, "you saved everyone. You're a hero."

"That's new," he laughed, scratching the nape of his neck, "usually I'm the cause of the mess, just like this time—"

"No. You were tricked. It could have been anyone," Rosé said gently. She turned away. "I...thought you weren't going to make it, your body..."