Double Plus Good

Four: I Did It Just the Same

Kanon had been rolling in the warmth that came from pure bliss, and a second bout of undeniably great sex, when he felt his brother’s Cosmos return to the room. Cracking open one eye, pushing down the blonde hair that obstructed his view, he could see Saga enter carrying a tray with three mugs. He smiled, though he was unsure if Saga could see him through Rhadamanthys’ head that was currently resting against his chest. So he lifted a hand in greeting, then flopped it back down against his love.

“Coffee’s here,” said Saga. He placed the tray down on the bed then took a seat on the opposite side slowly, as if any harsh movement would disturb the coffee cups.

Kanon whispered, “Great.” He pat the Wyvern on the shoulder. “Get up, darling. Our maid brought us coffee.”

“Mmm. Smells good.”

“No, that’s me you’re smelling.” He could not help but think his darling was so cute.

“Mmm. Then you smell good.”

Faking irritation, Kanon said, “Come on, get up.” And with a groan, Rhadamanthys lifted from above him. Kanon smiled, satisfied.

“Which is which?” he asked his brother.

“The lightest one belongs to him, the black one is mine.” Saga took his own mug from the tray and blew on it.

Reaching deliberately for the mug with his left hand, Kanon made a point to go slow enough for Saga to notice the ring. He took Rhadamanthys’ cup first, handed it over, then took his own. It took that long for Saga’s eyes to widen.

“What’s that on your finger, Kanon.” Saga lifted the cup to his mouth.

Kanon smiled as he purposefully held the mug so that the ring showed. “Oh, this? It’s nothing. We just got married is all.”

Saga sputtered into his coffee cup. “M-married?!”

“Mm hmm.” Kanon felt his now husband put an arm around his waist and hold him. Lips went to his shoulder and kissed; Kanon shuddered happily.

“I hope that meets with your approval,” said Rhadamanthys to Saga.

“Whatever makes Kanon happy,” was Saga’s answer. He then narrowed his eyes and stared. “You will make Kanon happy.” More a demand than a request.

“The cesasion of time itself would not make me do any less.”

Saga seemed satisfied with that answer, although the confused expression made Kanon stifle laughter.

“Good enough,” said the elder Gemini into his coffee cup.

“That reminds me, Kanon,” began Rhadamanthys. Kanon turned his head so their eyes could meet. “Why did you never write me back?”

“I did so write you back,” responded Kanon matter-of-fact. “Or did you not get my letters.”

The Wyvern grimaced. “Every letter I received was the same. You could have written more than simply, ‘I miss you. I love you.’”

“You know I’m not that good at writing in English,” Kanon pouted. He felt the arm squeeze him gently.

“You could have written in Greek. I am certain that there is somebody in Hades who can read Greek.”

“Yes, but I did not want anyone but you to read my words.” Kanon took a big gulp of his coffee. “You know, you should have done the same thing.”

“What? Written ‘I miss you. I love you.’ in every correspondence?”

“Yes.”

“May I ask why?”

“Because Deathmask is fluent in English.”

Saga sputtered once again into his coffee. “That was you? You mean that flowery poetry Deathmask has been spouting as of late was from you?”

Kanon looked just in time to see Rhadamanthys blush.

“I’m shocked.”

“Saga,” chided Kanon.

“No, really. He could be the next Shakespeare.”

“I’m not that good,” said the Wyvern modestly.

“Well, I love your flowery poetry, better than Shakespeare,” said Kanon as he reached up a hand to pull their mouths together in a sweet kiss. “It’s sappy and disgusting and makes me want to puke every time I read it.”

Saga’s eyes widened. “Kanon!”

With a smile, Kanon continued, “Which is why I read them over and over, every single day.”

“Hmm. You like feeling sick then?” asked Rhadamanthys, the love pouring from his voice.

“I do.”

Saga put his head down. “I think I’m going to be sick.”

The newlyweds laughed together.

They spent the next hour together, finishing their coffee and talking about whatever came up. Kanon laid back down on the pillow and pulled Rhadamanthys to lie on top of him, so he could pet him and hold him like they were never apart. He wanted to enjoy this, being with the two people he cared about most in the world, especially on this day, the happiest day of his life.

“Kanon. I am going to have to leave soon.”

“What?” Kanon hugged his lover tight. “No, you can’t leave. I won’t allow it.”

“Hmph.” The curt laugh reverberated against Kanon’s chest. “It cannot be helped. I only have until the sun is highest in the sky.”

“But you are going to miss the party. Deathmask makes a mean cake, you know.”

Rhadamanthys groaned. “Kano-on. Please don’t tempt me with cake.”

“But it will be sooo good. So sweet your teeth will fall out. Layers of chocolate and vanilla covered in creamy icing, so delicious it will melt in your mouth. Mmm. My mouth is watering just thinking about how sweet it will be.”

Another groan. “Kano---on.”

Kanon laughed. If there was one weakness of the Wyvern, it was dessert. “But I want you to stay with me.”

A sigh. “You know I cannot go against my orders. I was lucky enough to leave Hades for this long. Any longer and I will certainly be punished.”

“How about we tell them that I will punish you instead?”

“As tempting as that is, I do not think the Empress would agree.”

“Why don’t I go back with you then?”

Rhadamanthys laughed. “That’s impossible.”

“No, it’s not. I could become the Gemini Spectre. I’ll take Saga’s old Surplice. Sanctuary doesn’t need two Gemini Saints, and then we can be together every day.”

“Kanon. You know your place is here.”

“Rhadamanthys,” Kanon whined.

“Do not worry so, my love. Once Hades is rebuilt I am certain I will be able to visit you often. Not even the destruction of the universe and all the universes in between will keep me from your awaiting embrace.”

“You promise?”

“I swear it on the very breath in my lungs, the beat of my heart, the marrow in my bones. . .”

“The lust in your loins?”

“Yes, that too.”

Kanon squeezed him again, then ran fingers through the blonde hair and used the other hand to rake across the expanse of a smooth back. As much as he did not want to let him go, he knew Rhadamanthys had to return to Hades. After all, one of the three Judges of Hades could no more abandon their post than one of the Saints of Athena could abandon theirs. Still, becoming a Spectre would be well worth it if he could spend each day and night in the arms of this man he loved more than anything.

Kanon kissed his love on the top of the head. “Well,” he began, squirming to indicate his friskiness. “If you must go, then I want one more round.”

Rhadamanthys lifed his head to show eyes shimmering with need and want. “As you wish, my love.” The distance between them was a memory as lips attached and tongues thrust. Hands roamed over bodies as the Wyvern climbed atop Kanon and straddled his waist. They parted, stared at each other with smiles, and when Kanon rubbed their hardness together, he relished the moan that followed.

Turning his head, he looked to Saga. “Are you joining us, brother?”

Saga’s face was a friendly smile. “No. I’ll let you spend your final moments together.”

“That sounds so ominous,” said Kanon.

“It was not meant to be.” In one fluid motion, Saga fell atop them, his upper body propped upon his elbows. Both under him ‘oophed’ as the breath was knocked from them. “You going to be good to my little brother, Rhadamanthys?”

“Always,” was the Wyvern’s response.

“And you will love him?”

“More and more each passing moment.”

“And you will never hurt him?”

“I would rather bear the ten levels of Hades than cause Kanon even one second of pain.”

“There are no ten levels of Hades anymore,” corrected Kanon, even though he knew his lover knew that. “What say you to that?”

Looking intensely at Kanon, Rhadamanthys answered gently, “Then I would beg for the ten levels to be returned just for me, to grant me penance for hurting the one I love above all else.”

Kanon noticed Saga make a disgusted face.

“Good enough for me,” said Saga as he slid from the bed.

“Does this mean I can call you brother?” asked Rhadamanthys.

“Don’t press your luck, Spectre,” answered Saga.

Both younger Gemini and Wyvern chuckled, then kissed, then began to move. Kanon propped one eye open to see his brother quietly slip from the room before focusing all his attention on what would be the final time, for who-knew-how-long, he would be one with his husband.