by Lisa Oliver
YouTube videos made things look so much easier than they truly were, when you weren’t a hundred percent certain on what you were doing. Remove one bit of wood, measure, cut and fit another piece – it all sounded easy to Baby at the time. That process might work for newer homes with thinner frames, but Baby was getting a work out, just trying to get the thick piece of wood that had framed his door for more than three centuries to move.
His fingers itched to use his magic, but Baby already had a comfortable living area, sparkling kitchen, and sumptuous bedroom and bathroom all thanks to his wavy fingers. Not to mention an internet connection, an off-the grid power supply and instant unlimited hot water. The renovations for the rest of the rooms in his house, and the exterior work, Baby was determined to complete with tools, sweat, and copious video watching.
Swinging his hammer towards the top of the frame, Baby winced as another long crack appeared, but the framing itself didn’t budge from its spot. The guy in the video got his piece out as a single plank with a couple of knocks of his hammer at the top and bottom of the frame. That idea in itself presented problems for Baby. For one thing, the frame was at least ten-foot-high, and Baby was only five foot five. But he figured, if he put enough oomph into his hits, then the hammer would eventually do its job.
Maybe I should just levitate – come at this from a different angle. Baby was tempted – it wasn’t using his powers as such – just giving himself a leg up because he didn’t have a ladder. In the background, he could hear the motorbike getting closer. It was moving very slowly, and Baby chuckled as he swung his hammer again, in a rapid one-two-three tap. His driveway was barely more than a goat track, and he had no intentions of fixing it. His new jeep was covered in mud, parked out the front of his house and Baby loved it.
“Come on. Come on,” he muttered, swinging his hammer again. Maybe a crowbar might be easier, he thought as more splits appeared along the long frame piece. At this rate, I’m going to be left with a pile of kindling and nothing else.
The bike was louder now, drowning out the music Baby had playing from inside the house. He tensed as he heard it swing around the long curve leading up to the house. Could be a neighbor. I can be friendly, but not too friendly. Wiping the sweat from his brow with the back of his hand, Baby turned and straightened to meet the stranger, his heavy hammer hanging loosely in his hand.
The bike was big and old – it’s faded black paintwork now splattered in fresh mud. The frost the realtor promised had arrived, but instead of snow afterward, Baby had been treated to four days’ worth of sleet and drizzle. He didn’t mind it. The mist and fog that was left afterward covering the heather was beautiful, giving Baby the impression, he was on his own realm, cut off from everyone. When he’d woken up to a watery sunshine that morning, he’d been determined to do something physical, which was why he was outside. The rider, there was only one which was a blessing, steered his bike next to the jeep and turned off the engine.
The rider was a big man – the sight of solid shoulders encased in leather warming the pit of Baby’s belly. There was something almost familiar about him. Baby gasped as the man reached up and tugged off his helmet and ran his fingers through his snow-white hair.
“You know, you’d do a lot better shifting that piece of wood, if you took the iron nails out first.” Owen rested his helmet on the handle bars and adjusted the dark glasses he had on.
“How in goodness name do you ride a damn motorbike when you can’t use your eyes? Do you have a death wish?” The words were out before Baby could censor himself, but Owen chuckled, a deep low sound, causing the warmth in Baby’s belly to spread.
“Sight is just one of your senses, my pretty mate,” he said cheerily. “Through them I can get around well enough, although I must confess that driveway was a bit of a challenge. My animal spirit had to help me negotiate that.”
Baby was moving towards the bike before he could stop himself. He stopped, just off the grand concrete steps. “What are you doing here? How did you even know where I was? Have you been spying on me again?”
“Only long enough to find your location.” Owen swung his leg over his bike, and Baby pressed his lips tightly together to prevent his whimper escaping. Owen’s leathers were molded to him like a second skin and the god had thigh muscles bigger than Baby’s waist line. “I thought, I could visit, hang out, maybe give you a hand with some of your renovations, although I confess, I can’t remember the last time I held a hammer.”
Baby looked down at the hammer in his hand and then back at the frame that was resisting his efforts to shift it. He wasn’t sure if having Owen around, especially looking all hunky in his biker outfit was the best idea he’d ever had, but he’d take the god at his word for now. Owen had to be almost seven-foot-tall, so at least he could reach the top of the frame.
“I didn’t think to buy a ladder,” he said, waving the hammer at the frame. “Damn thing is twice my height, and I believe you said something about iron nails?”
“Everything around us has an energy. So, while you see with your eyes, I read the energy signature of the things around me. It stops me bumping into things.” Owen came closer, taking the hammer from Baby’s hand. “The wood you’re trying to move is old, and while it’s rotten in some places, it’s solidified around the huge long iron nails it’d been fixed with. Here, I’ll show you.”
The way Owen went up the steps and walked over to the door was incredible. His confidence, something Baby had always found attractive, meant even more to him, because Owen didn’t once comment on his looks. There was no drooling, leering, panting or winking in his direction. That’s because he can’t actually see you, Baby reasoned, but he found himself curiously happy about the idea.
“See these square indents here and here?” Owen reached up, pointing to them. “Originally this frame would have had huge dome or triangular headed studs coming out of them. The heads of the nails have sheared off, probably due to age, but that’s why you didn’t realize they were there. Do you have a crowbar or tire lever I can use?”
“I was just thinking about using it when you turned up.” Ducking inside the front door, Baby found what he was looking for, and took it back outside. “Like this?”
“Perfect.” Owen took it from him with a smile.
That smile, oh crikey. I could be in trouble. Baby watched as Owen forced the flat end of the bar against where the frame met the rest of the house. A couple of sharp jabs with the palm of his other hand, and the bar slid under the frame as if it was butter. “Now, we need to do some heaving,” and while Baby knew Owen wasn’t coming onto him, the way he slid off his bulky leather jacket, and rolled up the sleeves of the thin pale gray jumper underneath, revealing extensive tattoos, was orgasm inducing.
“Step aside, things might go flying.” Grabbing the bar with both hands, Owen’s biceps rippled under his jumper as he pulled, causing a huge chunk of wood to go flying over Baby’s head. “Whoops.” Owen laughed. “Let’s try this again.”
More pounding, more tugging, more wood went flying. Baby was transfixed. He didn’t know of any other god, or person for that matter, that just dove in, offered to help and then actually did something apart from offering a critique of his own efforts. With their own hands no less. Within five minutes, maybe ten at the most, the top half of the frame was gone, and Baby could see what Owen meant about the nails.
“These things were meant to last,” Owen said, caressing one of the long pieces of iron lodged into the frame of the house. “Every one of these nails is handcrafted in an old forge; one man, probably on the outskirts of a village somewhere, melting and hammering the metals needed for a simple nail. They’re incredible.”
“Can they be reused?” Baby bit his bottom lip. He truly didn’t know a thing about hardware. “I didn’t want to touch the frame at all, because it seemed almost alive, and part of the house. But the realtor, the lady who sold me this house said the rot would spread if it wasn’t replaced.”
“She
was right, unfortunately. I would have to use powers to remove them, if you wanted to use them again. Is that all right with you?”
“You’re asking permission?” Baby wasn’t sure if he was going to faint or swoon.
“It is your home.” Owen’s smile widened, and even with the dark glasses on, it made his expression more approachable. “I truly commend you wanting to fix things for yourself. But sometimes, with a spot of magic we can retain some of the past.”
Baby nodded, permission enough apparently, because Owen spread his hands over the heads of the six long iron nails and they glowed, just briefly, before falling to the ground. “When you can see the energies,” Owen explained as he bent to pick them up, offering a gorgeous view of a muscled ass, “it’s easy enough to nudge them a little.” Straightening, he caught Baby staring and smiled some more. “Your turn. Do you want to have a go at the lower half?”
Baby wasn’t sure if he was relieved or disappointed, knowing Owen was talking about the stubborn door frame.
/~/~/~/~/
I am finally on the right track. Owen was so relieved. When he’d ridden up the driveway, he wasn’t sure what sort of reception he’d receive. But after his initial shock, Baby seemed to accept his presence and his help, something that made Owen feel good deep inside.
Now, watching as Baby levered his whole-body weight on the crowbar, trying to move the lower part of the frame, Owen’s mind drifted to more animalistic observations. He hadn’t missed the sparks in Baby’s aura when the young god had been watching him and his animal side longed to bury his nose in Baby’s scent.
But Owen held them both back. After the huge mistakes with their first meeting, Owen was determined to be what he perceived Baby needed most – a friend. And friends helped each other. He really wanted to help again. His body mass was far bigger than Baby’s and the young god was struggling with moving the frame. But when the stubborn wood finally creaked and fell with a splat, in one piece, the excitement flowing through Baby’s aura and the happiness in his dancing around the steps was infectious.
“I did it!” Baby’s body shimmer wasn’t helping with Owen’s decision to start as friends.
“You certainly did. Great job.” Owen wasn’t used to smiling so hard. His cheeks were aching.
“Can you…? Would you…?” Putting down the hammer, Baby pointed to the four remaining nails. “Can we reuse them too?”
“Definitely. Did you want me to get them out?”
Baby spread out his hands. “Your hands are bigger than mine and after I got set up in a few rooms in the house, I was determined to use as little of my powers as possible.”
“Then I am happy to lend you mine.” Moving closer, Owen took a chance, and swept up Baby’s hand in his own. An arc of electricity sparked between them and Baby gasped. “It’s okay,” Owen soothed. “Nothing will ever happen without you saying so. This is just our combined magics greeting each other.”
“What do you see,” Baby asked as he allowed his hand to be guided to the nails. “What do you see between us?”
“I see life,” Owen said simply, letting the power flow from their hands to the nails. “I see the brightest of lights and feel the magic of life every time we are close. I’ve never felt anything like it before.”
Baby didn’t say anything, his head turned to watch as the nails slowly fell and plonked on the concrete steps. Still keeping his head averted, he said, “Did you want to stay for lunch?”
Owen smiled. Again.
Chapter Seven
Baby had eaten food with people from all walks of life, in every conceivable situation. He’d nibbled on bite sized delicacies in Aphrodite’s realm, he’d enjoyed the four-course meal he’d shared with Hades and Ali. Poseidon had been known, on occasion, to demand a family feast through the ages, that Baby had been happy to attend. Food carts and burger joints were his favorite venues after a night on the town, but he wasn’t averse to trying new things at upmarket restaurants all over the world.
Lunch with Owen quickly flew to the top of his favorite meals list. There was no airs and graces. Owen planted his elbows on the table just like he did, tearing into breads, and the cheese and meat platter Baby had pulled from his fridge and pantry. They didn’t bother with plates, serving themselves from the large wooden board Baby had conjured when he realized he’d forgotten to get one. With just a knife and food between them, conversation flowed with Owen sharing some of the history of the area around Baby’s home. He was an amazing story teller.
“What is your favorite place in the world to be?” Baby asked when his stomach was pleasantly full. “Where do you call home?”
“For the longest time, I’ve lived deep within the Arctic circle,” Owen confessed. “I have a realm, much like Poseidon and Hades do, so I never worry about anyone coming across my castle. It’s very remote, exceedingly quiet and most people would find it very boring to be there.”
Baby frowned. The edge in Owen’s voice suggested someone had said exactly that only recently. “Why do you enjoy being there? It must be someplace special to you.”
“It’s hard to say.” Owen took another slice of meat and ate it. Baby was happy to wait. He knew a delaying tactic when he saw one. “Before I met you, I believed my life was complete exactly as it was. I take it you’ve met the god Silvanus, your brother’s mate?”
Baby nodded.
“He and I came into being at roughly the same time. While his domains included all living things, my domain was more spiritual. I have been called by many names through the ages, and there are those that walk the earth that still call on me now, on special occasions or in times of great need. Because my connection to them, to most things if you think about it, is mostly on the spiritual plain, I felt it was necessary to distance myself from the physical world. I wanted any judgements I made to be done with complete impartiality and that meant cutting myself off from the world as you know it.”
“That all sounds very lonely to me,” Baby said cautiously. “But then people have different needs. I don’t want you to think I’m being pushy or anything, but is that why you’ve just watched me all this time and haven’t approached me before, because of your position among the gods?”
Owen looked almost shamefaced. “Time passes, and my domain is so isolated. It wasn’t meant to be a deliberate or hurtful decision on my part. I believe a big part of the delay was because I just wasn’t truly conscious about how much time had passed. Originally, I thought to give you enough time to live your life to the fullest, before spiriting you off to my realm.”
“But now?” Baby prompted. He didn’t care how sexy Owen was with his tattoos and wide smile, he wasn’t being stuck in a realm in the Arctic for all eternity.
Owen pushed his chair back from the table and held out his hand. “Do you mind if we take a walk while we continue this conversation? It’s been a very long time since I’ve just enjoyed the vast expanses of nature.”
What a curious thing to say. But Baby took the hand offered, not quite as shocked by the sparks that flared between them this time and followed Owen to first get jackets and then step outside.
/~/~/~/~/
For the entirety of his existence, back from the beginning of time, Owen had never had to justify any decision he’d ever made. He walked with impunity, respected by most, and had believed himself to be a fair and impartial person on all things. He’d never imagined himself a well-liked person, but he was accepted and respected and that was enough.
But as he walked with Baby out onto the moors, Baby’s hand still clasped in his, Owen struggled to find the words to explain his major change of heart. His current mindset would only make sense to his much younger mate, if he understood how different it was to Owen’s original thinking.
“Gods have never had a very good history,” he started, the smell of heather filling his nose and soothing his senses. “Folk lore, stories, academics write about us, but they have no deep understanding of who we are as people.”
“I’ve never had that problem,” Baby said quietly, keeping pace with him easily. “I’ve never been worshipped, well for longer than a night, and I doubt anyone has ever written about that,” he added with a chuckle. “But I know Poseidon was never treated well by those who wrote about him. Some of the things I’d read – about how he raised up storms to drown sailors, set the kraken on unsuspecting ships, and screwed his way around every realm having children by the dozens – most of the stories were grossly exaggerated.”
“I agree, and I think it’s worse now because we’re not believed in by any segments of the general population anymore. With every new generation that comes forward, the memory of what we achieved, what we did for the people when life first began is getting pushed further and further into history.”
“I thought you said some of your followers do still call on you.”
“Elders do, the young not so much. I guess my point is, being known as the Great Spirit, with my own domain, when people stopped worshipping me, I did cut myself off from everyone. I still dream-walked with elders on occasion; there were times I showed my animal form to my followers in times when it was significant, but I believed what I needed was order, and consistency in my daily life, to the point where I’d cut myself off from living at all.”
“I can understand why you didn’t want to claim me then.” Baby stopped, holding out his arm for Owen to lean on. In their path was a fallen tree. Owen was going to have to help his mate understand what he could “see” at a later time, but his heart warmed at the small, but caring gesture.
Once the obstacle was navigated, Baby continued. “I know, looking in from the outside, my life has been one disorganized mess after another. But I have spent time learning about people – not always in a positive way, I’ll admit – but I read too. I keep myself up to date on world affairs, so I always have something to talk about with strangers I meet. Not that it does me any good. Most people take one look at me and their mind falls in the gutter. But to me, people are fascinating.”