of all the needs a lonely child has, the one that must be satisfied, if there is going to be hope and a hope of wholeness, is the unshaking need for an unshakable god.

 ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ 𓆃⠀ ⠀ ⠀‎ ‍ ‍ ‎ ͙͘͡ 🪽 ‍ ‎ 𝔊OLD ‍ 𝓛U͟C͟K ‍⁎⠀⠀ ⠀… 

⠀ 〝just peachy,〞he drawls, slow to release the hurried demigod; grip tightening as curiosity is piqued.〝where are you running off to?〞 ⠀

⠀ back and forth, celestial bronze blade travels from one hand to the other ˒ passed betwixt hilt—calloused palms in boredom. ⠀

⠀ goosebumps are raised—— as is his head, lifted from where gaze had been trained ‘pon ground to glare metaphorical daggers at the onlooker.〝what are you looking at?〞he asks, still passing the weapon from left to right. ⠀

 ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ 𓆃⠀ ⠀ ⠀𝓁𝑦𝑐𑁍𝑟𝑖𝓈 ‎ ‏‏‎ ‏‏‎ ‏‏‎ ‏‏‎ 𝕽ᴬᴰᴵᴬᵀᴬ.⠀⠀ ⠀… 

 ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ 𓆃⠀ ⠀ ⠀𝖑𝐮𝐤𝐞.⠀⠀ ⠀… 

 ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ 𓆃⠀ ⠀ ⠀‍‍ ‍‍ ‍‍𝐁𝐄𝐀𝐔𝐓𝐘 ‍‍ᵀᴴᴬᵀ ‍‍ 𝐁͟𝐔͟𝐑͟𝐍͟𝐒.⠀⠀ ⠀… 

⠀ approaching with speed, fingers rubbing together greedily. ⠀

⠀ swift sidestep places him beyond the blade’s reach, swooping into the daughter of aphrodite’s space to recover his stolen sword with a victorious chirp,〝ha!〞he laughs, turning the weapon on her.〝am 𝒊 the one forgetting?〞 ⠀

⠀ duh. hand ‘em over. ⠀

⠀ why? ( admiring, thumb grazing the flesh of her ankle. despite his words, he hesitates to rise—— lingering on his knees for a long beat before standing. ) i like to keep you on your toes. ⠀

so I stare at the lake. biding my time. waiting to die.

… * 𓆪 𝖒𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧.