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Tweak says, "why are you eating prunes?"

Quentin Reyes (Quetzalcoatl) (featheredscales) wrote in forgotten_gods,
@ 2009-10-05 22:42:00

Entry tags:

quetzalcoatl, tezcatlipoca, xolotl

Let the Healing Begin
Who: Quetzalcoatl, Tezcatlipoca, Xolotl
What: Healing Xolotl
When: 9:00, Tuesday morning
Where: Quetzalcoatl's apartment.

Xolotl was still too pale. His lips and fingertips were blue, and his skin was cold to the touch. Xolotl had passed through Mictlan hundreds of times back in the old days; it had been his job. But things were too different now. Quetzalcoatl had hoped that the effects would wear off. After all, he had been right there besides Xolotl the whole time, and was more or less fine. But Quetzalcoatl hadn't died.

He sighed and scooped the eggs he was cooking out of the frying pan and onto a plate. He had actually been fairly pleased to master the art of scrambled eggs, but culinary success wasn't really something to celebrate these days. A knock at the door startled him out of his musings, and he turned the stove off and headed for the door. The apartment was a little more organized lately, for Xol's benefit if nothing else. The stacks of books were lining the walls instead of scattered across the floor, and there was space to sit on most of the furniture.

Seeing Tezcatlipoca at the door was still something of a shock, after not seeing him for more than a century.

"Right on time."

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featheredscales
2009-10-14 12:24 am UTC (link)

A little unsure that it wouldn't result in him missing an arm, Quetzalcoatl reached out and laid a hand on Tezcatlipoca's shoulder. Things between them had never been simple, never been completely uncomplicated. But he never liked seeing Tezcatlipoca in pain.

"Well, if it helps any, I always present you truthfully in class," he said. "As a complete asshole, but not an evil one."

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smokeandmirror
2009-10-14 12:30 am UTC (link)

Tezcatlipoca didn't normally tolerate contact that he hadn't initiated, but this time he let Quetzalcoatl's hand rest on his shoulder, not even snarling at the touch.

"I'm very tired," he said softly. "I miss the old days, when we knew what we were doing. I feel so much like I'm floundering, right now. ...I'm sorry, about what I said. I might not like him much, but he is your brother; the family relation has to have some good effect.."

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featheredscales
2009-10-14 12:49 am UTC (link)

"You need sleep, and food," Quetzalcoatl said. "You'll feel better after both. Trust me." He gave Tezcatlipoca a pat on the shoulder and then withdrew his hand, glancing up at the clock on the wall.

"I changed the sheets on my bed this morning, if you want to sleep here?" he said, trying not to think too hard about the fact that he'd just offered to let Tezcatlipoca sleep in his bed. "Or I could call someone to come pick up, if you'd prefer."

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	smokeandmirror 2009-10-14 12:54 am UTC (link)
	"I don't let my followers see me like this," Tezcatlipoca said, giving Quetzalcoatl another ghost of a smile. "I wouldn't have them for very long if I did. Gods are supposed to be all-powerful, not falling down after merely leaching Mictlan's cold from someone. But... if it wouldn't put you out too much, I appreciate the offer. Sleep will do me good." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

featheredscales
2009-10-14 01:07 am UTC (link)

"Come on," Quetzalcoatl said, getting to his feet and holding out a hand to help Tezcatlipoca up. Once Tezcatlipoca was on his feet, Quetzalcoatl took a step back to see if the other god could stand without falling over. Tezcatlipoca swayed a little, and with a sigh, Quetzalcoatl stepped forward and wrapped an arm around his shoulders to steady him.

"You're not going to make it up the stairs at this rate," he said by way of explanation. "Come on, the bedroom's this way."

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	smokeandmirror 2009-10-14 01:12 am UTC (link)
	"I feel... weird," Tezcatlipoca said slowly, leaning on Quetzalcoatl more than he liked to admit. His limbs felt disconnected, like they were all made of the same material as his prosthetic foot, and there was still that odd tugging sensation below his heart. He lifted a hand to rub at the spot, frowning a little as he followed Quetzalcoatl. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

featheredscales
2009-10-14 01:24 am UTC (link)

"Has this ever happened before when you've healed someone?" Quetzalcoatl asked, looking at Tezcatlipoca. The other god didn't look much better than he had when he first regained consciousness. His eyes were a little glassy and he was too pale.

"Watch your step," Quetzalcoatl murmured as they reached the stairs. Most of the time, the fact that Tezcatlipoca was missing a foot barely registered in his mind, since it had never slowed him down. But Tezcatlipoca seemed very unsteady now.

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	smokeandmirror 2009-10-14 01:28 am UTC (link)
	"I don't think so," Tezcatlipoca said, keeping his eyes fixed on the ground so that he could place his feet properly. He inadvertently kicked the stairs a few times on their way up, but it was usually with the prosthetic, rather than his actual foot, and at any rate, he was too tired to really be bothered about a stubbed toe. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

featheredscales
2009-10-14 01:38 am UTC (link)

"You'd better not die," Quetzalcoatl said, and he had a feeling his genuine worry was more evident than he'd intended. "I am not looking forward to a return trip to Mictlan."

His felt oddly glad that he'd cleaned his bedroom recently as he guided Tezcatlipoca in. His books were all stacked neatly along the wall or in the bookcases, and the floor was reasonably clear of notebooks and paper. The windows were open wide, and sunlight streamed in, making the room feel bright and airy.

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	smokeandmirror 2009-10-14 01:39 am UTC (link)
	"I'm not going to die," Tezcatlipoca groused. "I haven't made it this long to die over some stupid healing. If I'm going to die, it better damn well be fighting." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	featheredscales 2009-10-14 01:44 am UTC (link)
	"Good," Quetzalcoatl said, smiling. "That makes things much easier." He eased Tezcatlipoca down onto the bed and stepped back, torn between the urge to fuss over him and the knowledge that Tezcatlipoca would be inclinced to decapitate him for it. "Is there anything I can get you?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	smokeandmirror 2009-10-14 01:46 am UTC (link)
	"...help me get my foot off, please," Tezcatlipoca said, after a few minutes of debating with himself about whether he was actually going to ask for help. But damn it, he was tired and he wanted to sleep, and sleeping with the prosthetic on was uncomfortable. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	featheredscales 2009-10-14 01:51 am UTC (link)
	Quetzalcoatl raised an eyebrow, but stepped forward to help. A tiny part of him suspected a trap, if for no other reason than Tezcatlipoca was being less sarcastic than usual. But a trap involving his foot would be pretty damned bizarre, even for Tezcatlipoca. "All right," he said. "How do I do this?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	smokeandmirror 2009-10-14 01:53 am UTC (link)
	"Mostly just help me sit up properly so I can get at the straps," Tezcatlipoca said, pushing himself upright and swaying a little. It really did feel like all the blood was rushing to his head, making him dizzy. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	featheredscales 2009-10-14 02:01 am UTC (link)
	"I'm assuming this foot isn't made of anything bizarre, like obsidian or knives?" Quetzalcoatl asked, looping an arm around Tezcatlipoca. He pulled him up completely and supported most of his weight. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	smokeandmirror 2009-10-14 02:04 am UTC (link)
	"Nothing so gauche," Tezcatlipoca grumbled, leaning over to pull up the leg of his trousers and start fumbling with the straps holding the prosthetic on. "Carbon fibers, mostly." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	featheredscales 2009-10-14 02:16 am UTC (link)
	"Shame," Quetzalcoatl said, watching the process with more than a little interest. "So, is that hollow? Could you hide things in it, if you were so inclined?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	smokeandmirror 2009-10-14 02:18 am UTC (link)
	"I could, if I wanted to," Tezcatlipoca agreed, undoing the last strap and tugging the prosthetic off. He'd gone for the vanity option and had one made that was actually shaped like a foot; it made him feel a little less awkward about wearing it, sometimes. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	featheredscales 2009-10-14 02:28 am UTC (link)
	"That would be handy for getting forbidden things on to airplanes." He blinked. "Not that you should do that. I'm not advocating that." He eased Tezcatlipoca down and stood up. "I need to head in to work. Are you going to be okay here?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	smokeandmirror 2009-10-14 02:29 am UTC (link)
	Tezcatlipoca nodded, almost unconsciously burrowing into the warmth of the blankets. "I'll be fine. Going to sleep." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	featheredscales 2009-10-14 02:31 am UTC (link)
	Quetzalcoatl nodded, and grabbed a pen and a pad of paper from the bedside table. "Here's my cell phone number. Call me if something seems wrong with Xol, or if you start feeling worse. The campus isn't that far away." The sight of Tezcatlipoca snuggling into his bed was simultaneously strange and deeply amusing for Quetzalcoatl, and he couldn't help but smile. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	smokeandmirror 2009-10-14 02:33 am UTC (link)
	"Call if something goes wrong. Will do," Tezcatlipoca mumbled, the words muffled slightly from the way he was flopped over in the bed. But damn it, it was warm and comfortable, and he didn't feel like moving. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

featheredscales
2009-10-14 02:40 am UTC (link)

Quetzalcoatl stifled a laugh and slipped out of the bedroom, closing the door softly behind him. He leaned against the wall for a moment, closing his eyes. Today had been a very strange day, and it wasn't even noon yet.

He crept down the stairs to check on Xol, who was still sleeping soundly, curled up in the blankets. The sight of him looking healthy and alive again was like a weight being lifted of Quetzalcoatl's shoulders. He was half-tempted to wake Xol up, but decided against it. He scooped up the eggs and orange juice Tezcatlipoca had left behind and dumped both in the sink to deal with later.

He wondered if his students would mind if he just told them to doodle all through class.

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