FSE

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Disclaimer: The following will contain homosexual individuals and relationships and will involve interpretations of deities from various religions. No offense is intended. This is copyrighted to me (mewjen(at)ymail.com), so no using it without my permission and no stealing it (any profits must be shared). This is a work of fiction.

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Sometime after the fall of Tem...

My face was burning. Set was leaning into me, his arm around my shoulders, his body pressed a little too close to mine, his head almost resting on my neck. I knew we were closer than friends, and I knew Set was broadcasting to the room that we were closer than friends should be. Neither of us were drunk or had some other excusable condition. There was no reason for two guys to be this close. There was no reason for me to have my arm secretly tucked around his waist, and there was no reason for my best friend to kiss my cheek.

I jumped away from the chaos-beast, gaining a few inches of visible just-two-guys-hanging-out-space, while Set leaned back, frowning.

"Horus," my boyfriend hissed his displeasure.

I cut him off before he could vent. "Set, I told you we cannot do that in public," I said in a hushed whisper.

"We're not in public," he answered. "No one here knows who you are. Ra's not going to find out."

I cringed at that. I did not even want to think of my colleagues' reactions, let alone Ra's.

"Horus, you promised me a night out," Set pleaded. "I'm not hiding for you."

For the past three years, he has been pushing me outside my comfort zone. I get why he wants me to stop caring about what other people think. But my duty is to protect our nation, and appearance is all that matters to the outside world. I can never bring him to a gala. I can never bring him on a diplomatic trip. I can never have my picture taken with him.

I love him. When I am alone with him, there is no place I would rather be. But in public, he is just so overt.

He stood up and walked around the booth we were sitting at. He leaned over behind me and wrapped both arms around me. "Dance with me?" he asked.

I wanted to refuse, but he had that sweet tone in his voice that made it impossible for me to say no. I let him pull me to a dark corner, towards the back of the dance floor. No one batted an eye when I took his hand and waist and held him close for the waltz.

We spent several dances there in our corner. I let myself forget everything but him, and I enjoyed every moment, even when our legs grew tired, and we were forced back to our booth. Set was smiling and so, I realized, was I. Set excused himself to the restroom, while I retrieved a fresh set of refreshments for us.

I scanned the crowd while waiting, not really looking for anyone in particular. I did not see any familiar faces, which was reassuring, but I noticed a few that seemed more interested in me than I cared for.

Set returned shortly.

"While that was a relief," he stated.

I glanced at him, questioning his crude comment.

He smiled knowingly. "The dance," he said, before adding, "Though the other was too."

I rolled my eyes, and he chuckled.

"So," he started, before taking a sip from his drink. "Do you want to go again, or should we continue things elsewhere? Maybe more privately?"

I made a show of stretching my arms, while at the same time, slipping my right foot out of its loafer and placing it in front of Set's lap, so that my toes could stroke his harden flesh through his garments.

"I do not know," I said teasingly. "It seems like you are a bit too eager to be going quite so soon."

He whined, but pushed my foot away.

I was about to comment, but I spotted Nergal walking over to us, and I quickly sat up and nodded my head towards the lion, alerting Set to his presence.

"Well hello boys," the lion's voice boomed a few feet away, before he clamped his hands to ours shoulders. He smiled as always, looking like he knew everyone's secrets. "Fancy finding you guys here."

"Hello, Nergal," I said calmly, trying not to give him anything that he could use against me later, even as I removed his hand from my shoulder.

"Hi," Set replied quickly, not looking at the lion, but not removing the hand either.

"Ya know, Set," Nergal started. My eyes narrowed as the lion's hand began rubbing Set's arm. "I don't understand why you spend so much time with Horus here, when he'll never fuck you."

Set turned an eye to the lion. "And I suppose you think you would be better company?"

I felt the anger rising within me.

"I don't care how loose your hole is," Nergal replied smoothly.

Set's response was equally as smooth. "It's no wonder why the girls all said no."

The lion did not hesitate. "Just say yes, and I don't have to search. I'm always willing to dominate an Egyptian." He winked at me, before standing up and finally removing his hand from Set's back. "I'll see you at the negotiations tomorrow, Horus." And he was off.

I was half-tempted to throw one of my rapiers at him.

"Your vengeance streak is rather unattractive," Set said pointedly.

I turned away and forced my hand to unclench. I hated my inability to control my rage. It always made me feel weak. I scanned the room again, trying to distract myself.

I felt Set move closer and place his hand on my thigh, hiding the touch under the table. I guess Nergal reminded him of the dangers of blatant displays. "It's not a sign of weakness to be in love with me," he whispered, almost in defiance of his actions.

His words made me remember another who claimed something similar...and why the black jackal I was staring at was so familiar.

"Anubis," I whispered under my breath.

It was the first time I had laid eyes on the jackal. I had heard everything about him, when the High Council of Tem decided to lecture me about why my apprentice refused to acquiesce to their demands. I had always wondered why Jaller refused. Life as an ambassador may have been stressful and complicated, but it was infinitely better than the squalor he chose. He gave up comfort and acceptance. He gave up family and friends. He gave up his life.

All for the jackal in front of me. Why? What was he like?

"Let's go say hi," Set whispered into my ear.

I jumped back, not realizing that Set was leaning over me, also staring at the jackal. I pushed Set back into his seat. "No."

Set looked aghast. "What? Why not?"

I turned back to Set, trying to hide my curiosity of the jackal. "It would be inappropriate."

"So what?" was Set's rebuttal. "You've wanted to meet him since your junior ambassador refused the job."

I shifted uncomfortably, trying not to say the truth. But Set guessed it.

"You don't want him to meet me. Or rather us." I saw the hurt on Set's face.

"I..." I started, but I failed to find the justification I wanted.

"He's gay," Set argued. "He more than anyone would understand and accept us."

I could not look Set in the eyes. "Look, I do not think he is gay..." I heard Set scoff and added, "anymore. Have you heard the rumors that he asked Ra to intervene? Why else would he do that?" I glanced up at Set.

"I know better than to listen to His-High-King," Set replied. "Are you going to stop loving me because Ra wants it?"

"Look, Set," I began.

"Just admit it," Set interrupted. "You're ashamed of me."

"Of course not," I said without pause.

"Then let's go over together," Set stated resolutely.

"Set..." I said exasperated.

Again Set interrupted, but this time showing his anger. "You know what? Screw you. You hide me from everyone, and I can't keep this up. It hurts that you can't let anyone in. I love you, and you can't trust me. Even when we're safe, you keep me shut out."

He paused, letting me voice my opposition. When I failed to answer, Set stood up, letting his anger out. "Go fuck him for all I care," he hissed, before walking to the door and out of the lounge.

I wanted to go after him, but I was afraid of the scene it would make. Why could I not be a lesser god, the kind no one knows or cares about?

I waited almost an hour before I stood up, trying not to feel the weight of Set's departure on my heart. The jackal had not moved since I first saw him sitting at the bar. He was on his second glass, but barely touching it. It was weird seeing him there. He seemed so out of place, just sitting all by himself, not talking with anyone, not trying to be social, just stuck in his own corner.

I walked over and took the stool next to him. He moved over slightly, increasing the gap between us, but otherwise had no reaction.

"You are Anubis, are you not?" I asked.

He glanced at me, before returning his gaze back to his drink.

"Um?" I stuttered, not certain how to respond.

"Look," he turned back to me. "I am not going to have sex with you." He said it like someone who had seen too much harassment over his past.

"I am not looking for that," I reassured him. "My name is Horus. I came over here to talk about Jaller." That caught his attention.

"Jaller?" He looked at me curiously. "How do you know Jaller?" he asked.

I was not sure how to react. I had grown accustomed to everyone knowing me, before I even met them. I found it hard to believe the jackal was not a part of that group. It also seemed unlikely that my connection to Jaller was not already known to him. "You do not already know?" I asked uncertain.

I saw him clench his hand into a fist to hide his shaking fingers. "I know enough."

He was lying.

"Jaller never told you his task?" I questioned.

"Why does it matter to you," he replied, trying to hide the nervous twitching of his foot.

"I am just trying to figure out why my apprentice chose you." I saw the surprise on his face before he could cover it up, and knew he honestly did not know. "Yeah. He was an ambassador."

I waited for him to respond, but he said nothing, and his face gave no clues to his mindset.

"You know you can trust me," I said.

"No, I can't," he replied, before turning away.

It was the first time anyone had refused me since The Fall. I did not know how to react. The part of me that I kept buried wanted to scream out at him. Part of me was fine with leaving and going after Set. But part of me was still curious and still wanted to try.

"Why not?" I asked.

He turned back. Something was different about him, as if he was testing me. "Because I fell in love with the last person who forced his way into my life, and now he's gone."

I wanted to ask about his sexuality, but I was afraid of the consequences, in reference to both his reaction and my own sexuality. It was safer not to push and just to assume.

"Well." I paused. "I'm not gonna fall for ya." I let my usual diction fall for the moment.

He smiled at me, before leaning into me. He stopped, leaving a quarter of an inch between the end of his muzzle and the tip of my beak. He smelled quite delectable, and the only thing preventing me from firming up was the image of Set leaving. "Are you so sure?" he whispered, before placing his hand on my inner thigh and continuing to lean forward.

I didn't know how to respond. I sat there frozen, as I felt the heat of his lips graze my beak, before he pulled back. I waited for something to happen. But I did not expect his chuckle.

"Sorry," he chortled. "It's just every guy who comes looking for me only wants one thing."

"So you come on to them just to test them?" I asked, bewildered.

"Most guys aren't subtle," he chuckled knowingly, "and there's not a good excuse to take a drink into the toilets. And there is no way I would trust a drink left in their hands."

"So would you trust a drink from me?" I enquired, trying to navigate this game of his.

"No," he said without hesitation, but after a moment, he added, "But maybe someday."

Was I succeeding in winning his trust, or not? He was being so stubbornly obstinate. "And you are not going to trust that I came over here because of Jaller?"

"How can I?" He had turned his whole body towards me and was leaning back against a pale blue field. He sipped from his drink, before continuing, "Jaller has become a taboo subject around me, with my father enforcing it. Yet here you are disobeying. Why? No one wants to be friends with a _reformed_faggot. Whatever game you're playing, I don't want to be a part of it. I don't want to be hurt."

"How did Jaller become your friend?" I asked, dodging his question of my motives.

"He didn't give me a say in the matter," he answered cryptically.

"Can you give me one straight answer?" I asked, starting to get annoyed at his lack of respect.

He thought for a moment, before quipping, "I think I have."

I do not know if it was the way he answered or his expression, but I could not keep my laughter inside. "Besides the fact that we are not leaving together."

"Oh. You should have been more specific," he mused.

"I have been," I said, exasperated.

"Fine." He smiled amused. "One question. Make it worthwhile."

"Answer my first one," I said, forgetting which question that was.

"Yes, I am Anubis, Son of Ra," he answered in total deadpan, but he could not hold it for more than a minute.

"That is not what I meant."

"No, it wasn't."

I gave him an irritated look. "You are an odd person."

"This is what happens when no one talks to you," he retorted with cheek.

I stared at him, trying to figure out how serious he was.

"Don't look at me like that," he said, showing his anger.

"Like what?" I asked, not even realizing my own expression.

"I don't want your pity," he answered. "Go back to your glass house, and stop judging me."

It was hard to believe how serious he had become after such lighthearted banter. But then again, someone had left him alone for all these years. "Do you hate him for dying?"

He looked shock, and then indignant, as I hit the nail squarely. He took a moment and breathed, before leaning back once more. "If you want to continue this, it stops being one-way."

I smiled inwardly at my victory, while he smirked his defiance, assuming his.

I snapped my fingers and dissipated his backrest, causing him to comically fall off his barstool and end up flat on his back.

I stood up and spent the time it took for him to stand up checking my coat for lint.

He stared at me apprehensively, trying to gauge my emotional state. I took great pleasure in being completely impassive.

"I will see you here tomorrow," I stated, before I turned to leave.

"What makes you think I'll be here tomorrow?" he asked defiantly.

I glanced back at him. "You just told me that I am the only friend you have."

"We're not friends," he stated.

"Yes, we are."

"No, we're not."

"Who else will you talk to?" I asked calmly.

He stared at me, wanting to yell, but he held back. "I'll make you regret your arrogance, God of War," he hissed.

I turned back. "Horus," I replied, reaching out my hand.

I saw the smile twitch onto his face, before he took my hand. "I'm not worth it."

We shook and separated.

"It will be nice to have someone I can trust, who hasn't seen me naked." I turned from his confused expression. "Oh, I do expect you to answer me someday."

I left, trying to decide whether I wanted to beg Set for his forgiveness tonight or tomorrow.

"Set, why can you not see that I just do not want to end up alone...like him?" I muttered under my breath, before heading home to my cold bed.

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Author's Note: I thought this would be a fun way to begin to re-introduce the characters, and a nice moment to share with returning readers. Until I realized that, I never meant to write this moment, and connecting the breadcrumbs I wrote was not very flexible.

I do not know if I will be able to maintain a weekly release schedule, since A Failed Duty was mostly done (though by the end, I wrote/rewrote 40% during the release), and this time I have to write from scratch. So I will try for a weekly, but I may need to slow that to every two weeks, because of my writing speed.

Thank you for reading this chapter. While you are here, please rate, favorite, and comment.