outside Athens, 480 BC

[mycursedface]

The Acropolis is burning.

(burn, burn, burn it down)

It is night now, and the glow is turning the clouds above red. A nice red, really, glowing hot even from here, and fading into a dull red. The screams had stopped hours ago (all gone now) and now there is nothing but silence.

(burn, burn, burn the scene of the crime)

At least, from where Medusa is. She is sitting on a rock on a hill a little distance away, hugging her knees to her chest. She's been watching for hours, but the smile on her face is still as bright and guileless as the flames.

(burn, burn, burn away the memories)

Comments

[father-sky.livejournal.com]

"Ah. This, then," he says, motioning towards the fire, "is all you wanted?"

[mycursedface]

"Didn't know. Curiousity. Easy prey. Nothing more."

[father-sky.livejournal.com]

"You're telling me it was a mere coincidence that you found your way here, of all places?"

He's eyeing her skeptically, now, eyes grey and narrow.

[mycursedface]

Ouranos is eyed back.

"Yes."

[father-sky.livejournal.com]

"I'm not sure I believe you," he says honestly, stepping toward her.

After a moment of silence, he offers her a hand.

"Walk with me?"

[mycursedface]

Another moment's pause, a moment a touch too long of her studying his hand. Then she reaches out and curls her small fingers around his.

[father-sky.livejournal.com]

And slowly, carefully, he begins to lead her away from the rock, away from the burning below.

He doesn't let her stop until the red clouds are far out of sight.

[mycursedface]

Fire, fire, fire.

It's all fire now. Memories of hands and broken bones and being-Nothing but the crackle and heat of fire, fire, fire.

So Medusa's smiling, a little.

[father-sky.livejournal.com]

When they finally come to a stop, they're in the middle of a field, far away from Athens and the Acropolis and the burning building and the soldiers.

"Sit, Medusa."

[mycursedface]

"Will you?"

[father-sky.livejournal.com]

"Of course," he says, and slowly does so, careful to not touch the ground with his hands.

[mycursedface]

That is better and she kneels down as well, ankles crossed underneath her and wings unfurled to avoid dragging in the ground.

Still.

She's watching him.

[father-sky.livejournal.com]

And he's watching her, too, with arms folded across his chest.

[mycursedface]

Her slender fingers twist in her lap, the movements quick and flighty.

(i decided someday when the sky was deluding himself about being blue)

"You don't touch."

[father-sky.livejournal.com]

"We're always touching," he says, eyes drifting toward horizon. At this time of night, there's no line between them -- just dark Earth blurring into dark Sky.

[mycursedface]

"Not hands."

She noticed.

[father-sky.livejournal.com]

He shrugs.

"No need."

[mycursedface]

"You confuse me."

[father-sky.livejournal.com]

"I can say the same of you," he says, smiling crookedly.

[mycursedface]

She smiles back, just as crooked.

"It's good for your humility."

[father-sky.livejournal.com]

He laughs quietly, then, looking a little more somber --

"She won't be happy, you know," he says, indicating the ground below. "They're scorching her soil."

[mycursedface]

Medusa just glances at him.

[father-sky.livejournal.com]

He glances back, over his glasses.

"Hm?"

[mycursedface]

"There are fires in forests and on plains."

[father-sky.livejournal.com]

He stiffens for a moment.

I will singe and blacken all that grows from you --

Something dark passes over his features, but it only lasts for a second.

-- and you will regret the day you bore me.

"Natural, not manmade."

[mycursedface]

"Okay."

[father-sky.livejournal.com]

"C'mere," he says, extending an arm out to her.

[mycursedface]

She's a dirty thing now; covered in dirt and soot and blood, curls to mattered dreadlocks, wings more than a little bedraggled. Still. She crawls over and curls up next to him, head on his shoulder.

[father-sky.livejournal.com]

He rubs her arm with a rough hand and holds her close, muttering "it'll be okay, Meda."

For both of us.

[mycursedface]

It'll be okay
It'll be alright in the end

I promise

Different voices in her head, low and male and she trusts them. Trust them, trusts them, trusts them so the Gorgon nods and doesn't move away until the trees have stopped pulling faces.