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The new fried chicken stall in Aurum Alley was supposedly “life-changing.” Phainon had read three separate reviews claiming their patrons could never eat at another place again.
Naturally, he dragged Mydei there at once.
They were now outside with three boxes of food — two Phainon insisted on and one Mydei received because the man at the register was either scared of him or flirting with him. Perhaps both.
Regardless, Phainon proudly opened the first container like he was presenting one of his precious antiques. Next to him, Mydei was warily scanning the scenery around them, an old habit that was hard to kick despite them now being free of cycles and black tides.
His only indication that something was amiss was when he felt Mydei go absolutely still, gaze locked with something in the bustling road in front of them.
“What?” Phainon hissed, but Mydei didn’t answer. Feeling his nerves rise, he followed the trace of the stare… and that’s when he saw the object of Mydei’s sudden attention.
A tall man.
White hair.
Blue eyes.
Phainon’s soul shriveled in real time.
“…Oh.”
He held his chicken closer to his chest. “Well. That’s rude. He’s… copying me.”
Mydei raised a brow, then scowled. “Haikas. There are lots of other men out there that bear your resemblance.”
“That’s not what you were moaning into my ear last night, was it, hm?”
But before Mydei could deliver a sarcastic rebuttal, the man spoke out amidst the crowd, shoulders tight and voice sharp.
“Suguru, explain yourself.”
Phainon paused mid-bite as he eyed the other darker-haired man standing across from him, then shot Mydei a sly look. “Ooh. Do you think he was unfaithful?”
“You already heard it from Shoko. That’s all there is to it, Satoru.”
Mydei snorted softly. “Mind your own business, Deliverer. I thought that man agitated you, why are you now trying to pry?”
Phainon elbowed him. “That’s exactly why I’m trying to pry. I have to know what I’m going up against. And shh, it sounds like there is definitely some manner of infidelity involved.”
“So you’re just going to kill every non-sorcerer… even your parents?”
Mydei elbowed him back. “That does not sound like cheating.” Phainon’s head whipped toward him, concern flaring as the man apparently called Suguru continued.
“I can’t allow my parents to be a special exception. Besides, those people aren’t my family anymore.”
Phainon slowed, attention shifting from the strangers to the way Mydei flinched beside him. He let his hand drift subtly until it rested on Mydei’s knee, squeezing softly for comfort until his pinched expression loosened.
“That’s not what I was asking you. I thought we weren’t allowed to kill when there’s no point to it!”
Assuming their eavesdropping was over, Phainon attempted to focus on their food again, until Mydei’s voice rumbled lowly. “Tch. He sounds Kremnoan.”
Phainon fought to hide the relieved smile that twitched the corners of his mouth.
“There is a point, and a cause, and a significance to it.”
“No there’s not! You’re really going to kill all non-sorcerers now? You know that’s impossible! There’s no point in chipping away at something you can’t possibly achieve!”
Shoving the outright alarming threat aside, Phainon tsked disapprovingly. “He’s right. He has no plan at all.”
Mydei shot him a blank look. “You’re analyzing his strategy for total world annihilation?”
“What? I would know!” Phainon whispered harshly. Mydei only rolled his eyes in response. They were both far too sober to go over this again.
“You’re so arrogant.”
“Huh?!”
Mydei leaned closer to murmur tauntingly. “Another arrogant white-haired man? Sounds like he really is copying you.”
Phainon glared. “Perhaps you have a type, then.”
“You could do it yourself, Satoru, couldn’t you? Yet you would try to convince someone else that it’s impossible to do something which is possible for you. Do you think you’re the strongest because you’re Satoru Gojo, or are you Satoru Gojo because you’re the strongest?”
Phainon blinked. “…I think I learned some manner of circular logic like that at the Grove.”
Mydei shook his head. “No, you haven’t. You would have used such an argument on me already if you had.”
“If I were able to become you for a moment, this foolish idea would become a lot more grounded and real, don’t you think? Tch… I’ve made my decision. Now it’s just a matter of doing the best I can to achieve it.”
A sharp sense of fear overtook Phainon as Satoru stepped forward like he was going to attack, hands shakily rising…
But when Suguru turned away, Satoru’s arms just fell, helpless.
“If you want to kill me then kill me. There would be a point to that.”
Suguru walked off, and Satoru stood there, tears running down his cheeks.
Phainon snaked his arm around Mydei’s. “…Should we go help him? He looks so… sad.”
Mydei hummed, but didn’t make any move to stand. “Most people do when the person they love leaves them.”
That was not comforting to hear in the slightest, and Phainon’s chest felt weirdly heavy and tight. He swallowed hard.
“…Mydeimos?”
“Mm?”
“Please never leave me.”
Mydei snorted. “Don’t tell me what to do.”
“Please? Look— look at him! You have to promise me, please don’t ever leave me dramatically in front of a chicken restaurant like that.”
There was murder in Mydei’s eyes. “If I leave you, it will be wherever I feel like it.”
“Okay, but preferably not somewhere like here?”
“Deliverer.”
Phainon leaned in, desperate.
“Mydeimos. I’m serious. I want… I want to be with you forever, okay? So don’t… don’t do that to me.”
Mydei froze utterly still, then turned to him slowly.
“…Forever, you say?”
Phainon gulped.
“…Yes?”
“You just… proposed our eternal bonding… with a box of chicken in your hands.”
“Sorry! It was an emotional moment!”
“We are in public.”
“Their passion really inspired me!”
“That’s it, we are finished.”
“Mydei, no—”
“Immediately.”
“Take it back, that’s not what I meant and you know it!”
Mydei sighed loudly, grabbed Phainon by the collar, and hoisted him upwards.
“…Idiot,” he muttered. “We’re going home.”
“…So you’re not leaving me?”
“Not today.”
“So I still have a chance with you?”
“Phainon.”
“Yes?”
“Shut your damned mouth and carry the food.”
Phainon brightened instantly, nearly tripping trying to gather all three boxes, trailing eagerly after Mydei like an overjoyed chimera.
“You’re such a romantic.”
Mydei shoved him without malice.