OTA

[pecked_by_birds]

The past month- Months?- Had been strange. One night he'd found himself compelled to go out, as though something was calling to him. A silent siren song that had coaxed him into his car  and out into the country.

Where had he gone? What had he done?

Those were the questions he had to ask himself when he woke up in the middle of Hyde park in a rumpled suit and a brand new body. ...Possibly brand new. Certainly new to him in that moment, since he couldn't recall much of anything from the past few weeks. His head was pounding, and he was in agony. 

A large bird sat upon him. A hawk, he thought absently- Or maybe not. He couldn't seem to focus on it. Not when his gaze was so strongly drawn to all the blood. ...His blood.

"No," he said softly, trying to chase it away with a weak wave of his hand. "I'm free, you can't- He can't," he insisted, right before the world went dark. ...Not that it mattered. It would heal, he would heal. He always did. How else could the punishment continue?

Comments

[goodfellow]

"I'm guessing we should go to my place," said Robin, who had no idea if Prometheus even had a home here at this point. "Here, let's just get an Uber, maybe they won't ask questions." He pulled out his phone.

[pecked_by_birds]

Prometheus nodded, pulling his jacket closed and hoping that hid the worst of the blood and his ripped shirt.

"I have to admit, I don't know where I left my car. ...Or when I was last in it."

[goodfellow]

Robin decided they would interrogate that more later. The Uber was one minute away, so he said, "Walk with me," and led them to the corner where it was waiting by the time they got there.

The driver gave Prometheus a wary look.

Robin climbed in and handed the driver a ten pound note. "Not a word," he said, and settled into the backseat.

[pecked_by_birds]

Prometheus said nothing to the driver, looking lost in thought as he settled in for the ride. He was mindful not to get blood on the seats though, he was a mess but he wasn't a barbarian.

[goodfellow]

Robin decided too that it was best to remain silent for the ride, and then climbed out when they arrived and waited for Prometheus without a word. And continued that silence as he led him into the building, past the doorman, into the elevator. He couldn't even remember the last time Prometheus had been here.

[pecked_by_birds]

Leaning back against the lift wall, the titan's gaze turned to the puck, looking him over curiously. How long had it been since he'd seen him last? He honestly wasn't certain.

"You look well, Robin," he said after a moment.

[goodfellow]

"Some things change..." said Robin, taking the opportunity to get a better look at Prometheus now, in the light.

He shrugged. "Some things stay the same."

The doors dinged open and he led him out of the elevator and into his flat.

[pecked_by_birds]

The titan followed, catching hold of the puck's arm once they were inside.

"I understand you're cross," he said. "I wish I had an excuse or an explanation for my absence. I just- Don't recall much. I'm not even certain what day it is."

[goodfellow]

Robin hesitated a note. Then he said softly, "It's early February. It's been about three months since I've seen you. Just the one time, with that face."

[pecked_by_birds]

Nodding, the titan raked his fingers through his hair, then sighed.

"This isn't good. I haven't lost time in a long while," he said quietly. "I've no way of knowing just what the last version of me was doing- All I remember is being angry. Filled with a hate I'd almost forgotten once."

[goodfellow]

"Well you weren't exactly a prince when I saw you," Robin said. "But it wasn't that weird. Do you want to take a shower?"

[pecked_by_birds]

"Please," Prometheus replied, nodding and then looking down at his suit again. "And if you had some clothing I could borrow, I'd be grateful."

[goodfellow]

"Of course," said Robin.

Fuck but he looked pitiful. Robin felt the last vestiges of his pride draining.

"Go shower," he said. "I'll lay out some clothes for you. And open a bottle of wine."

[pecked_by_birds]

Prometheus nodded his thanks, and didn't need directions as he shed his suit jacket and headed towards the bathroom to clean up. A shower would be good. A shower might clear his head.

Methodically, he stripped down, undoing each remaining button with care.

The shower went on for a bit longer than what might be polite, but eventually he emerged from the shower, wrapped in a towel and staring at his reflection in the mirror. Who was this face? Who was he now?

[goodfellow]

Robin opened a bottle of wine - he knew what Prometheus liked - and stood in the living room for a while until he finished one glass. He walked into the bedroom, and upon hearing the shower off, he walked into the bathroom.

He stood behind Prometheus, looking in the mirror at both of them. "Are you okay?"

[pecked_by_birds]

The titan's gaze flickered from his own reflection to the puck's.

"I don't know. ...That's always a frightening feeling, when you think you know everything."

[goodfellow]

Robin hesitated, and then moved closer behind him, put a hand on his waist over the towel. "I always recognize you," he said. "It's still you."

[pecked_by_birds]

"That's part of the problem. There are so many of me. So many versions, so many faces," the titan said softly, before turning away from the mirror and towards the puck. "Lately they've been changing so swiftly that I don't know who I am anymore."

[goodfellow]

So far Robin liked him better this time than last time, at least.

"At least you're kind of hot?" he offered with a weak smile.

[pecked_by_birds]

Prometheus frowned, then sighed. How attractive he might be was of little importance to him. What he was worried about was his mind, and how stable he may or may not be.

"Did you find something I could wear?" he asked after a moment.

[goodfellow]

Ah, so not big on a sense of humor this time.

"On the bed," Robin said, and stepped away from him. He'd left a suit out. It might be a bit short and a bit loose, but it would still fit fairly well.

[pecked_by_birds]

"Thank you, Robin," he replied, nodding politely and removing the towel to finish patting himself dry, before heading to the bed to get dressed.

Clean and freshly clothed, he felt a bit more like himself.

"Gods, I'm famished. Do you think we could order something in, puck?" he asked softly. "A hot meal, a bottle of wine, a quiet night of calm. I need that, I think."

[goodfellow]

Robin came back in and held out a glass of wine for him. A vintage he knew Prometheus liked, assuming that didn't always change too.

"Thai?" he suggested, and pulled out his phone.

[pecked_by_birds]

"Whatever you fancy," he said softly, smiling faintly as he took the offered wine. "I can't remember when I last ate."

[goodfellow]

"Hopefully it hasn't been three months," Robin said. "Give me just a moment."

He stepped into the living room to order the food, as assortment, not sure what Prometheus would want.