Chapter Text
Shortly after Phainon had stirred awake due to the cool sensation of something being adjusted over his forehead, everything had been fuzzy as the events that had occurred prior slowly came back to him. One moment he’d been playing with SkeMma, and the next, he’d collapsed to the ground as the world faded to black. The last thing he could remember was SkeMma’s voice, slightly muffled, calling out for him not as NeiKos, but as Phainon.
When he’d finally managed to open his eyes, he’d been met by the sight of a figure that, although blurry, looked so heavenly the idol was nearly convinced he’d died and was preparing to embark on his final departure under their guidance. It wasn’t until his vision cleared up that he realized it was Anaxa, who’d been asking him something he couldn’t even remember processing anymore. All he knew was that whatever answer he’d given him had caused him to walk out of his bedroom, leaving Phainon alone in silence once more.
But that hadn’t lasted long.
Upon hearing the familiar buzzing of what he’d assumed had been his own phone, Phainon had instinctively reached out in its direction, hand stretching over to the edge of the desk beside his bed before coming into contact with it. Then, he’d placed the towel down as he sat himself up to take a look at the message he’d received.
However, rather than it being a picture he’d personally taken of a crowd from one of his concerts, the lockscreen he’d been greeted by as the phone lit up had instead been of a Phainon nui dressed in what appeared to be a samoyed dog onesie posed in front of a computer screen that displayed a baby Dromas he knew all too well. Below the time and date, there’d been a set of recent notifications.
[REMINDER]
SkeMma, the Blacksmith has completed your commission.
[MESSAGE]
Aglaea: Anaxa?
Aglaea: I sent someone to check up on Phainon in case you didn’t make it in time.
Hyacine: Boss was wondering if you could come in for a double shift tomorrow (I lied and said you’re sick)
[FORUMS]
Your thread has received a new reply.
…….
SkeMma… Anaxa…?
Phainon had blinked a couple of times, grabbing the glass of water that had been left for him and downing it in one go as he processed this before setting the empty cup back down.
Truth be told, it hadn’t been all that unexpected. Not only had Anaxa’s current presence in his home and the name drop from earlier that morning officially given it away, but prior to this, the idol had also noticed certain patterns — such as the similarities between Anaxa and SkeMma’s availability, and the convenient timing of Anaxa’s phone notifications and SkeMma’s late replies every time they were together in person. However, he hadn’t wanted to overthink in case his suspicions turned out to be wrong. That was a disappointment he’d been hesitant about signing up for.
But those worries wouldn’t matter anymore… How could they, when Phainon finally had proper confirmation that the two people he’d come to cherish in different ways were actually the same person all along? Others may have felt hurt, maybe even betrayed, but not him.
After years of wishing for a safe space to retreat to not as an idol, but as himself, he’d begun to accept that its likelihood would never be in his favor due to his growing popularity. Yet for the past month and a half, he and SkeMma — no, he and Anaxa — had spent nearly every day together, in one way or another, not as an idol and his fan, but as their true selves, albeit in a more unconventional manner.
During this time, not once had their interactions felt like he was being taken advantage of, and the more he’d thought about it, the more he’d come to understand why Anaxa had appeared so tense at times. He’d been making an active effort to provide the idol with a sense of normalcy… Phainon couldn’t help but smile at this. How cute. He’d have to commend him for his excellent acting skills.
Still, wanting to confirm it one last time, Phainon had set the towel down and searched around for his actual phone before spotting it somewhere in the sheets beside him. After turning it on, he’d seen the multiple texts and missed calls from Aglaea, and above her notifications, there’d been texts from Mydei that the idol had struggled to make sense of.
He’d quickly responded to his manager, reassuring her that he was okay, and then moved on to the rockstar’s messages.
> Nice job 👍
> You were right about him being pretty
> But we’ve gotta hit the gym together to work on your stamina
Phainon had frowned at this, confusion written all over his face. What could have possibly prompted him to say such a thing? He’d shaken his head, only sending a singular question mark in response before opening up his DMs with SkeMma.
lettersunknown: Sorry if I worried you ^^
In the seconds it took for his message to be sent, Anaxa had returned with a bowl in his hands just as his phone had buzzed from beside the empty cup, and Phainon hadn’t missed his immediate attempt at diverting his attention away.
However, rather than confessing that he already knew the truth, he’d decided to play along and mask his awareness of it instead. As much as he may have wanted to bring it up and throw himself at the other man, he’d figured that there was probably a reason Anaxa hadn’t brought it up. After all, Phainon had been in a similar predicament when he’d been worried about whether or not coming clean to “SkeMma” would affect the way he viewed him.
But that didn’t mean he couldn’t have a little fun… right? How could he not, when seeing Anaxa pretend he had no correlation to SkeMma had been both amusing and adorable?
At first, Phainon had gone on and on about how much Anaxa would get along with this online friend of his, even going as far as to talk about his plans to invite the two of them so that they could all hang out in person. He’d hoped that this would at least make it clear that he suspected something, but it had been to no avail.
While he’d done that, he’d also decided to use it as an opportunity to show off his knowledge of An Heir’s Journey by treating Anaxa as someone who knew nothing about it in the hopes that he’d be impressed by how good of a job he was doing… but unfortunately for Phainon, that hadn’t gone according to plan either. He’d had to teleport to their baby Dromas as a distraction to make Anaxa forget any of his failures and deaths had ever happened.
Then, he’d decided to grow bolder. He’d stopped mentioning SkeMma, and began focusing only on Anaxa, making his fondness for him clear as day in hopes of creating an open atmosphere for the two of them to be honest with each other. And although this hadn’t worked either, by the time they’d parted ways at the end of the day, Phainon had still felt that they’d grown closer — at least on his end — and he couldn’t wait for the day they’d finally be face to face without any more masks keeping them from seeing each another properly.
Perhaps the lack of letters from his anonymous messenger had been a sign that as one door closed, another would open. One that would bring just as much joy into his life as their letters did when he needed their words the most.
Phainon would wait for Anaxa, no matter how long it took. He had the patience for it.
. . .
He did not, in fact, have the patience for it.
Not only had the idol attempted to be cheeky by pretending to text the wrong person shortly after Anaxa had left, but he’d also found himself being a little too jittery the following day while they played together.
How was he supposed to sit there and pretend to not know that the person on the other end of the call was Anaxa? How could he ever possibly be normal about the fact that the man he’d taken an interest in and had been in the process of getting to know owns a nui of him and even goes as far as to dress it up?
Phainon was more than aware of the fact that he’d already been moving rather quickly when it came to showing his affection for Anaxa — a result of growing up with very loving parents — but now more than ever, he wanted to amp it up even further. The more he thought about how everything he’d learned about SkeMma was, naturally, also true for Anaxa, the cuter the idol found him.
The doll… his username being one of his songs… his in-game avatar being customized after him… his reason for becoming a fan and enjoying his music… even the list of names he’d given him when they were first naming their precious Nony… Phainon couldn’t believe someone so endearing existed. Especially not with how Anaxa presented himself.
“Oof!”
The sound of receiving a hit in-game snapped his attention back to the present moment.
“NeiKos,” Anaxa called for him.
“Ah, sorry,” he apologized. “I spaced out.”
“Keep this up and you’ll be putting Nony at risk by the time he’s an adult and follows you around.”
But although he was being scolded and put through another dungeon yet again, Phainon was thrilled. Anaxa seemed to always lean more towards indulging and giving in to his sulks during their real life encounters, yet in-game, he was more than willing to reprimand him. If that was the price Phainon had to pay for being treated so well when they were together in person, he was more than happy to accept it. Besides, the increase in difficulty of his “training” was probably Anaxa’s way of subtly getting back at the idol for all his recent teasing.
“Oof!”
Another whack. This time, he saw his screen blink red — a warning that he was close to dying.
“NeiKos,” Anaxa called again… but now Phainon wished he could say his real name instead. Sigh.
“Sorry, sorry. I’m here,” he responded anyway, watching as Anaxa’s avatar dropped a healing potion before motioning for him to pick it up and drink it. Such a feat posed no issues now. He wasn’t the same, clueless little weakling as before! He gave his thanks and drank it, jumping up and down as he watched his health bar turn green.
“You’re one more hit away from dying, and knowing your luck, something is likely to jump out and target you at any moment. But are you certain you’re well enough to be playing? You seem distracted.”
“I’m alright,” Phainon said. “I told you, didn’t I? I had the best person looking after me yesterday~ I think his cuteness alone could have been enough to fully cure me.”
“Right…” Anaxa replied, and Phainon had to stifle a giggle over how embarrassed he sounded. “Then follow me out of this dungeon. I need to pick something up from the village.”
“Coming.”
But as the idol teleported and followed after him, he decided now was the best time to set his plan in motion.
First, he had to ask, “On a scale of 1 to 10, how much would you say you like Phainon?”
Hearing this, Anaxa paused his avatar’s movements and turned in Phainon’s direction before replying.
“Why?”
“Simple curiosity.”
“You’re curious about a lot today.”
“I like learning more about you,” Phainon said honestly. “So what is it?”
After a momentary silence, Anaxa finally replied, “5.”
The safest, most neutral option, of course.
“Don’t you own a doll of him? I could’ve sworn he had on a little set of pajamas and everything~”
“If you’re looking for a specific answer, quit beating around the bush and just say so.”
And with those words, Phainon moved on to the next step. He brought himself closer, cursor hovering over Anaxa as he scrolled through the action menu that appeared.
“Alright,” he responded, a light laugh escaping him. “If you insist.”
After finding what he was looking for, Phainon gave it a left click and watched as his line of sight lowered down as his avatar repositioned himself onto one knee in front of Anaxa’s.
In the middle of his screen, bold, white text flashed as he awaited his response.
You are proposing to SkeMma. . .
“What are you doing?” Anaxa asked, his confusion obvious. “I haven’t given you an answer yet.”
SkeMma has rejected your proposal. Propose again?
[Yes] | [No]
But rather than answering his question, Phainon proposed again, this time deciding to follow it up with a couple of messages.
[Global] NeiKos: @SkeMma
[Global] NeiKos: please allow me the honor of being your husband >_<
[Global] LuckyInferno: not you again
[Global] OreXis: ohhhh???
[Global] SkeMma: ?
SkeMma has rejected your proposal. Propose again?
[Yes] | [No]
Yes.
[Global] NeiKos: i’ll treat you well
[Global] NeiKos: we already have a baby, don’t we ^^
[Global] NeiKos: my heart is yours
“Quit messing around,” Anaxa tried to demand, but Phainon only continued proposing without so much as a single verbal word.
SkeMma has rejected your proposal. Propose again?
[Yes] | [No]
Yes.
SkeMma has rejected your proposal. Propose again?
[Yes] | [No]
Yes.
SkeMma has rejected your proposal. Propose again?
[Yes] | [No]
Yes.
SkeMma has rejected your proposal. Propose again?
[Yes] | [No]
Yes.
Unable to take it anymore, Anaxa’s tone grew firmer, clearly fed up. “Why are you suddenly so adamant about proposing?”
“Because I like you,” he confessed after finally being given the proper opening to do so.
Silence.
“What?”
“I like you, Anaxa.”
Your proposal to SkeMma has timed out. Propose again?
[Yes] | [No]
He’d said it. There was no going back now. He liked Anaxa, and he didn’t want for this act between them to continue on any longer.
After pressing ‘No,’ Phainon stared at the other man’s unmoving avatar, neither of them speaking at first.
“How did you figure it out?” Anaxa finally asked, his tone no longer laced with its previous annoyance.
With an embarrassed laugh, Phainon responded, “To be honest, it took me way too long to catch on, but yesterday was all I needed to confirm my suspicions.”
“...”
“And um… I may have accidentally mistaken your phone for mine,” he admitted. “I saw notifications with both your name and in-game alias, and...”
“So much for finding the right time to come clean about it myself, I suppose.”
So he had been wanting to tell him.
With a soft voice, Phainon spoke again.
“Anaxa, let’s meet up, okay? We can talk about this more in person.”
“Mm, alright. Where?”
“Should I come to you? You forgot your clothes, after all~”
“Don’t say it in that tone of voice.”
Sulking, Phainon continued speaking.
“And here I thought we just had a similar taste in fashion when I saw what you were wearing yesterday…”
“Absolutely not,” Anaxa responded back in quick denial. “How is it even possible that your wardrobe is like that when you’ve never been seen in such clothes while out in public?”
“I’m required to wear pre-made outfits, haha. Normally they’ll consist of the brands I work with so that it’s another way of promoting them, but… my own clothes aren’t that bad, are they?”
“They most definitely are.”
Really? Phainon glanced over at his dresser, then looked down at what he was currently wearing. He couldn’t see anything wrong with them.
“But I’ll send my address in a moment,” Anaxa said.
“Okay, then it’s a date.”
“What do you mea-”
Phainon left the call and logged off before he could finish, then ran out towards his car.
. . .
As soon as the front door to Anaxa’s home was opened, the mint-haired man took one look at the idol’s empty hands before glancing up at him.
“My clothes?”
“Oh, what a shame,” Phainon replied. “Looks like I forgot to bring them… I’ll have to come visit you again in the future.”
“...Just get in here.”
He cheerfully did as told, taking a look at the simple decor before turning back to face Anaxa once the door had been closed behind him.
“You seem as lively as ever for someone who just found out they were being deceived,” Anaxa observed.
Deceived? Phainon didn’t think of it like that at all.
“Why would I be upset with you when I wasn’t completely transparent either?” he asked. “Besides, you meant everything you told me, didn’t you?”
Anaxa hummed. “Though you did make it difficult at times.”
Hearing this, Phainon thought about what he meant before laughing — it was true. Not only had he continued visiting the technology store, but he’d also been oversharing to SkeMma about Anaxa… AKA telling him about himself and indirectly confessing every thought that ran through his head while under the belief that they were two different people. But this brought up another question.
“How long have you known about me, then?”
“I only confirmed it for myself about two weeks ago,” Anaxa responded. “I began considering the possibility after you came in to ask about a chair… which you really should replace, by the way.”
“I’ll count on you to help me with that~ But if you’re ever interested in putting those acting skills of yours to greater use, I know someone I could refer you to.”
Anaxa snorted at his words, unable to help himself. “I’m perfectly fine with my simple lifestyle.”
“Does that mean I’ll have to stay out of the picture?”
“Why would that be?”
Phainon stepped closer, taking both of Anaxa’s hands in his again, just as he had the night before. “Because I like you, remember? And I’d love to get to know you even more and be with you.”
He’d never confessed to anyone before, so the idol wasn’t sure if he was doing this properly, but this was something he knew he wanted to see through further. His time with Anaxa, although short, had made him the happiest he’s felt in a long time, and he wanted nothing more than to experience even more moments together. This time, with no more barriers and secrets.
“Shouldn’t you be considering your image?” Anaxa, with slightly knitted brows, questioned.
“I’ve thought about that,” Phainon said. “But I’ve also been thinking about someone else’s words. You remember those letters I showed you last night, right?”
Anaxa nodded, though his eyes seemed to momentarily glance at a door behind him.
“Well, I think I’m finally ready to take their advice and do something not because it’s what others expect of me, but because it’s what I desire. I want to put myself first, and I want to experience it with you… If you’d allow me to.”
For a while, there was only silence as they looked at one another. Vibrant blue eyes stared into magenta-teal ones expectantly, until Anaxa closed them with a soft exhale.
“Don’t be so impulsive about jumping into it just yet,” he said, opening them back up. “We can start slowly. I need time as well.”
Phainon smiled at him. “Alright, we’ll go at your pace.”
“There’s one more thing you should know, however,” Anaxa added, and the idol couldn’t help but grow a little nervous. What could it be? Was he about to reveal to actually having a lover already and now he would have to choose between them or Phainon? Had he just walked himself straight into a future homewrecking scandal?!
“Ah… yes?”
“Come with me,” he said, prying Phainon’s hold away from his hands before walking past him in the direction of a room down the hallway. The idol followed after him obediently, and upon stepping in after him, one of the very first things he spotted was a familiar little face tucked happily beneath the covers of a bed. Immediately, his worries vanished, and a warm, fuzzy feeling returned to his chest as he took in the rest of his surroundings.
Aside from the nui’s lavish sleeping arrangements, he also turned his head in the direction of Anaxa’s gaming setup, marvelling at the way so many components seemed to light up and glow an aqua color. It put his own to shame… even the chair was much cooler. But there was something else that caught his eye…
On the opposite side of the room, he saw a shelf. Phainon approached it, scanning over all of the items, which were neatly arranged with a lot of care and thought put into them. The display consisted of albums, concert tickets, mini slogans, framed pictures, and more. There was even another smaller doll of himself that stood proudly among everything else. Seeing all of this, the feeling of cuteness aggression began bubbling up inside of him…
Teasingly, he glanced at Anaxa, who’d been rummaging through a drawer on his desk, and asked, “Want me to sign anything?”
“Everything is fine as it is,” he responded, not even bothering to look back.
“You’re really cute, you know that?”
Anaxa said nothing this time, but Phainon could see the way his ears — only partially covered by his hair — gradually turned a shade of red. He was about to jump and smother him right then and there, but before he could, the other man had already re-composed himself and turned to face him with a sheet of paper in hand.
“What’s that?”
“Just turn it over and take a look for yourself,” he responded calmly.
Curious, the idol did as told, and although he hadn’t known what to expect, it certainly hadn’t been this. His eyes widened in instant recognition as he stared down at the handwriting that looked as neat and eloquent as the letters back home. This one appeared unfinished, with only a few short sentences, but there was no mistaking what it meant. Especially not when the very top of it had the words, “To: Phainon” written.
He lowered the paper and looked at Anaxa. “You…” he struggled to speak, his throat tightening. It wasn’t until he paused and took a deep breath that he tried again. “You’re the one… who’s been sending me these letters?”
In turn, Anaxa offered him a small, gentle smile. A sight that, although Phainon hadn’t seen from him up until this very moment, was just as beautiful as he’d imagined.
Overcome with a blend of all sorts of emotions — relief, shock, understanding — everything that had been bubbling up inside of him became impossible to withstand, and he threw himself at Anaxa, embracing him in a tight hug as the sheet of paper fell from his hold. He lowered his head into the crook of the smaller man’s neck, murmuring to himself.
“Of course it would be you,” he said, eyes tightly shut. “Who else but you?”
“I didn’t expect you to hold those letters so dearly,” Anaxa spoke, his chin awkwardly resting against the idol’s shoulder. “Apologies for leaving you hanging… I got busy.”
Phainon pulled away to stare at him directly again, loosening his grip to tenderly caress the side of Anaxa’s face as he took the sight of him in while he processed the fact that the person before him was everything he’d been searching for. It was no wonder that he’d felt so drawn to his way of speaking that day they’d first met at the technology store… Phainon had taken an interest in him long before then.
“There’s nothing to apologize for,” he said softly, his smile and the intensity of his gaze never fading away. “Not when I finally uncovered the final piece of the puzzle known as you… right?”
Anaxa, although evidently flustered, gave him a nod of his head. “Mm, that’s right.”
Phainon couldn’t tear his eyes away from him. His gaze flicked over every detail; he wanted to commit everything about Anaxa to memory. How had he gotten so lucky? The idol was overjoyed to the point where he wanted nothing more than to bring his face closer and-
Phainon’s phone rang, snapping him out of his thoughts and potential impulsivities. He pulled his hand away from Anaxa’s cheek, which had turned a subtle shade of pink, and reached for the phone in his pocket. The other remained wrapped around the small of his waist.
“Ah, it’s my manager…”
“Go ahead,” Anaxa said.
Phainon nodded and answered the call, bringing the phone up to his ear.
“Miss Aglaea?”
“You answered this time,” she noted. “Are you doing better today?”
“I am. My fever hasn’t come back.”
“That’s good, then will you be available to attend your Monday schedule as planned?”
“I should be able to, yes.”
“I’ll see you there, then. Take care.”
“You too, goodbye,” he responded, tucking the device away once more after their short conversation had come to an end.
He cleared his throat awkwardly. “I think that might have ruined the moment.”
“I wouldn’t have allowed you to kiss me anyway."
“…Right, of course. Your pace, “ he obediently replied, eliciting an amused exhale from the other man.
“But your fever really hasn’t returned?” Anaxa asked, choosing not to embarrass the idol further, and Phainon hummed in response.
“I’ve been okay since I awoke to you in my home yesterday. Wanna check for yourself?”
“So that text about you feeling delirious was an attempt at messing with me,” Anaxa murmured, pulling his hand away as Phainon tried lifting it up to his forehead. “We’ll have to double our dungeon runs now. I won’t lend you my aid for the first 3 rounds.”
“What!” the idol practically yelped, both arms now around Anaxa’s waist again as he sulked. “But they always target me…”
“Think of it as a punishment that is also for your own good.”
“Will you at least accept my marriage proposal so that we can earn more out of it when the event begins?”
“I suppose it would make the most sense,” Anaxa finally agreed. “But how did you manage to afford a ring in the first place?”
“Heh… OreXis lent me some money.”
“For free?”
“...Not exactly.”
But he wasn't about to reveal what the deal was... that would have to stay between him and OreXis.
. . .
Later that night, after gleefully returning home with a fluttering heart, Phainon immediately sat himself down at his computer and wasted no time in logging on and loading in the world of An Heir’s Journey, hoping to beat Anaxa to it since it was a little earlier than their usual hours.
To his surprise, however, the circle beside Anaxa’s username was already a lime green, indicating his active status.
[Global] NeiKos: wife T.T
[Global] NeiKos: you didn’t send me a message this time?
[Global] SkeMma: ?
[Global] OreXis: uhhh
[Global] OreXis: @NeiKos i think you’re forgetting something, bud
Correct. Phainon had yet to successfully marry Anaxa, but did it really matter? OreXis hadn’t exactly specified that their statuses had to display it officially in order for him to refer to Anaxa as such, right?
[Global] NeiKos: hm? what?
[Global] NeiKos: @SkeMma wifeeee~
[Global] NeiKos: hubby is here >_<
[Global] LuckyInferno: ew
[Global] OreXis: okay dude
[Global] OreXis: i would have asked for something else if i’d known you’d enjoy this
[Global] OreXis: skemmy, go get your man
Phainon remained unable to wipe the happy grin from his face the longer he waited for Anaxa to say something aside from that question mark. This game was about to become a hundred times more fun now that he knew they were both aware of who they were playing with.
[Whisper] SkeMma: What are you doing this time?
[Whisper] SkeMma: Surely you haven’t forgotten how to whisper?
[Whisper] NeiKos: i didn’t know you’d be online :(
[Whisper] SkeMma: I needed to take care of something first.
So that’s how it was. He didn’t doubt his words, of course, but he continued his moping, curious to see how much further he could take this.
[Whisper] NeiKos: oh
[Whisper] NeiKos: but is it really so wrong for me to show my wifey off? ^^
[Whisper] SkeMma: What wife?
[Whisper] SkeMma: I’ve yet to even marry you.
[Whisper] NeiKos: but you said you would :D
After having said this, Phainon opened up his friends list — where only SkeMma and EpieiKeia appeared — and selected the option to teleport to Anaxa, who was currently in front of a castle and talking to another player. Curiously, he approached them both and stood behind Anaxa’s avatar, spamming the spacebar button to jump repeatedly.
[Global] HubRis: So this overeager puppy actually knows you, I see
Overeager puppy?!
[Global] SkeMma: Was it necessary to type it in the Global chat?
[Global] HubRis: I didn’t want to leave them out
[Global] NeiKos: T.T
[Global] HubRis: Don’t worry, I won’t keep your “wifey” for much longer
[Global] SkeMma: …
Not long after, this HubRis player, whose avatar appeared to be a much fancily customized knight class, teleported away, leaving the two of them to finally chat.
[Whisper] NeiKos: what was going on here?
[Whisper] SkeMma: We were trading materials.
[Whisper] SkeMma: Our guilds help each other out.
[Whisper] NeiKos: ohh :o
[Whisper] SkeMma: I’ll call you in a moment.
[Whisper] NeiKos: okay ^^
Moments later, Phainon heard the familiar ringing as a call was started, and he zoomed to open up the application and select the option to join him.
“Anaxa,” he said, a wide smile still on his face even though he couldn’t see him.
“Anaxagoras. Don’t start getting too comfortable with that form of address.”
“Yes, of course,” he responded absentmindedly, but all Phainon could think about was how he’d failed to recognize Anaxa’s voice sooner. His only defense was that, unlike with SkeMma, Phainon had no reference for how Anaxa would sound through his speakers due to never having spoken over the phone without using the WeCord app.
“You’ve become much clingier.”
“I’m just excited, can you blame me?”
“Does it thrill you that much?”
“More than you can imagine,” Phainon replied, seeing no reason to feel ashamed over his desire to spend time with him. But he grew a little shy as he asked, “Can I… can I do it now?”
“Let’s go somewhere less crowded.”
“I’ll follow you.”
They teleported away from the bustling area and relocated themselves at the guild’s base where Nony was currently asleep.
“Here?”
“Are you complaining about being in the presence of your child?”
“No, no. Not at all!”
“Then proceed.”
Phainon breathed in and out slowly, then began speaking from the heart.
“Anaxagoras of the tech store, will you make me the happiest man alive an-”
“Phainon.”
“Yes?” he questioned, hiding the excitement he felt over hearing his name and not ‘NeiKos.’
“What are you saying?”
“I’m making it special for us.”
“Was the tech store mention necessary?”
“It feels more intimate, does it not?”
“...Do as you wish.”
Phainon cleared his throat and started over, this time managing to get through his entire speech before finally watching his avatar get down on one knee once more. This time, the message he received came not as a pop-up to try again, but as a confirmation.
SkeMma has accepted your proposal.
“No tears of happiness?” he asked, his voice giddy.
“You’re far too silly.”
[Global] NeiKos and SkeMma are now married. Congratulations to the couple!
“Woah. It sends a global message.”
Anaxa hummed. “Let’s just hope it goes unseen by someone.”
Phainon was about to ask what he meant by that, but whatever questions he had were answered when one player amidst the flood of congratulatory messages appeared oddly ruffled over the news.
[Global] OreXis: ayyy i funded that
[Global] BertyOwl: Congratulations to the noob who fell in the ditch. I never forgot.
[Global] EpieiKeia: congrats ^^
[Global] Xx_Lygu_us_xX: ???
[Global] Xx_Lygu_us_xX: How?
[Whisper] Xx_Lygu_us_xX: Who are you?
And as if a whisper hadn’t been enough, a new unfamiliar pop-up soon appeared on the idol’s screen.
Xx_Lygu_us_xX would like to challenge you to a duel.
[Accept] | [Deny]
Deny, of course!
Xx_Lygu_us_xX would like to challenge you to a duel.
[Accept] | [Deny]
…
Xx_Lygu_us_xX would like to challenge you to a duel.
[Accept] | [Deny]
...
Xx_Lygu_us_xX would like to challenge you to a duel.
[Accept] | [Deny]
...
Xx_Lygu_us_xX would like to challenge you to a duel.
[Accept] | [Deny]
…So this was how Anaxa had felt.
“Ummm… what’s this person’s deal? They keep challenging me to a duel.”
“Just block him,” Anaxa responded, knowing exactly who Phainon was talking about.
[Whisper] Xx_Lygu_us_xX: I only wish to understand and see for myself.
[Whisper] Xx_Lygu_us_xX: There’s nothing wrong in having a friendly spar, is there?
[Whisper] NeiKos: skem chose me, not you
[Whisper] NeiKos: bye
With that, Phainon followed Anaxa’s advice and blocked him, but he wouldn’t be letting this go so easily. If this person was so curious, then he’d make sure to duel him and come out victorious so that there’s no more need to question Anaxa’s decision.
“Anaxa,” he said, brimming with determination.
“Yes?”
“Let’s triple the dungeon runs. I must improve and get stronger so that I can defend having your hand in marriage and prove myself worthy. I will win for you.”
“..........”
Although Phainon quickly began to regret his request, there was one thing he was sure of.
This wasn’t over, “Lygus."
. . .
Following that day, the months leading up to the livestream showcase passed by in a blur, but not a moment went to waste. The marriage event bonuses had proven to be useful — seeing as Phainon was now decked out in proper equipment — but he and Anaxa had remained together in-game, neither of them bothering to divorce even after it’d ended.
Nony had also finally reached adulthood and would follow after Phainon wherever he went as their bond continued to strengthen with every successful dungeon clear. Ability-wise, the Dromas, whose build was sturdy and armored, was capable of blocking and launching long-ranged attacks back at enemies, which greatly lessened the idol’s chances of dying from whackings.
[Companion] Nony: Grumph… grumph grumph (Papa needs to dodge…)
And although the daily maintenance he and Anaxa had once provided him with while raising him into adulthood was no longer necessary, the parent and son pair continued spending time together within the guild’s base when Anaxa found himself missing him. When that wasn’t enough, he’d simply visit the idol in person and play from his account, which Phainon never opposed because why would he when it was both an endearing sight and helped him level up?
As for his own progress, however… he still had a long way to go, according to Anaxa. After all, he’d only been playing for a couple of months, while this Lygus was probably a much more seasoned player. How bothersome.
But one way or another, he was determined to come out of that duel a winner.
. . .
Outside of An Heir’s Journey, their relationship continued progressing, with both of them making an effort to spend time together when their schedules allowed for it. The closer the day for the showcase’s pre-recording, the busier Phainon became. As a result, his only method of discreet contact with Anaxa would often come in the form of making calls to his tech store… but that was shortlived because he was caught in the act not long after.
“Who are you?” the quivering voice had demanded. “Who has the audacity to call this store just to take my best employee away from me? What do you mean you’ll get him to quit one day?!”
Phainon was startled. Just seconds ago he’d been listening to Anaxa whispering at him to stop talking, but the idol hadn’t expected him to be completely serious when he told him his boss would fight tooth and nail to keep him.
“Ahaha… I was only kidding, I swear.”
He could hear the owner huff in annoyance before hanging up, and when he’d tried calling again, it had been instantly denied. So much for that.
But their efforts to see each other hadn’t gone unnoticed by others. Despite the fact that the two of them would often mask up whenever they decided to spend time together outside of their homes or Phainon’s shoots, rumors had begun to circulate online anyway. Phainon was just too easy to recognize.
Fortunately, Anaxa didn’t seem to mind the attention too much. Unlike the idol, his identity was much more private and difficult to uncover. However, even then, people loved to gossip and speculate on the forums about him and their relationship.
Currently, Phainon was reading through one of the hundreds of existing threads.
[CELEBS] Phainon Dating???
001 Anonymous [OP]
Has anyone else been seeing all those pics floating around???? What are your thoughts? They have to be dating, no? Why else would they be holding hands and walking so close together
002 Anonymous
happy for him
003 Anonymous
forget phainon, i want whoever that is
004 Anonymous >> 003
Fr I saw someone do the math and their waist is probably like 51.4 cm, give or take… i feel faint
005 Anonymous >> 003
bro’s just saying this to mask their jealousy
006 Anonymous
I’m just surprised it took over 5 years for phainon to get into his first dating scandal LOL
007 Anonymous >> 006
Yeah I always thought his management was strict about that sort of thing, but ig not
008 Anonymous
i think we should all collectively dye our hair green and hope for a y/n moment
009 Anonymous
This comment has been deleted by moderators.
010 Anonymous >> 009
RELAX??
011 Anonymous
is this gonna affect the world tour
012 Anonymous >> 011
What tour?
013 Anonymous > 012
it’s a reference
014 Anonymous
*sniffles* my son can actually pull
015 Anonymous
They look like a magical girl ngl
016 Anonymous >> 004
#NEEDTHAT
……
Phainon felt conflicted as he scrolled through the comments. On one hand, he was glad most of his fans didn’t seem to actually care if he was seeing someone, but on the other… weren’t they showing a little too much interest in Anaxa?
He walked over to the mint-haired man, who’d been in the middle of playing a game on his phone, and clutched him tightly.
“I can’t breathe,” he complained, trying to free himself from Phainon’s grip.
“Let’s… let’s keep your identity a secret for a while longer…”
“...Was that not the plan already?”
. . .
And just like that, the day of the showcase — or its pre-recording — arrived. Anaxa had, of course, come as Phainon’s first guest, and the other two passes had gone to his co-worker, and, to the idol’s delight, the person he’d come to know as EpieiKeia. Now he understood why this Hyacine had seemed amused every time she saw him enter the store… she was familiar with Anaxa’s interest in him all along.
Seeing both her and Castorice together, he couldn’t help but realize how indebted he was to them. After all, they were likely the pair Anaxa had been referring to all those months ago, and had it not been for their extra ticket, perhaps Anaxa never would have spared him a second glance, though it was likely that their paths would have crossed eventually anyway at the technology store.
Still, he was thankful for the way the events had played out, and he made sure to make his gratitude for them clear. Surprisingly, they were just as easy to talk to as Anaxa, and he definitely wouldn’t mind spending more time with them in the future. Just the thought of the four of them hanging out and becoming more acquainted brought a smile to his face.
But once the introductions had taken place, it was time for him to go up on stage and perform the OST song he’d been provided with the month before. He did as he was told by the game developers and gave his performance his own unique flair, choosing to put his guitar playing skills to use.
As he performed, he took in the sight of the crowd before him. Although much smaller than what he was used to — with roughly only about 50 attendees — he took it in happily, wanting to bask in the experience of what would likely be his last time up on a stage for a while. When his eyes met Anaxa’s, he smiled as he always did when he saw him. In the future, Phainon would make sure that he always had VIP so that his lovely face would always be within the idol’s view.
A few re-takes later, cheers erupted as he bowed and exited the stage, having wrapped everything up successfully. When he re-appeared back on the ground floor, he made his way towards Anaxa, Hyacine, and Castorice, who were all waiting for him.
“That took a little longer than I expected it to,” he began. “I hope your feet aren’t sore.”
Hyacine waved her hand dismissively. “Cassie and I are more than accustomed to this,” she said. “We’re each other’s concert duo for a reason!”
“I think Mister Anaxagoras is the one we should be worrying about,” Castorice said, and they all looked at him.
Anaxa huffed out a breath and crossed his arms. “I can handle a little standing around.”
“Just a minute ago you said you were looking forward to finding the nearest chair to rest your old man legs.”
“...”
Phainon chuckled as he watched them interact, and for a while, the four of them continued chatting together until the idol felt a tap on his shoulder. When he looked back, he saw Aglaea, who signaled for him to follow her backstage.
“Ah, I’ll be back in a moment,” he said, and the others gave him a hum of acknowledgement.
When he caught up to her, she was the first to speak.
“You said you had something you wished to discuss with me, but I have a feeling I already know what it is.”
Sheepishly, Phainon asked, “Is it obvious?”
“It’s only natural,” she responded. “Especially with how you’ve yet to request for something to be done about the rumors going around. I can tell you’re serious about this.”
“And… you’ll agree to it?”
“You remember my words from before, yes?”
“I do.”
“Then you have my answer,” she said. “And should the need for me arise, I’ll still be here.”
Phainon smiled at her. “Thank you, Miss Aglaea. I’ll be sure to keep my end of the promise as well.”
At his words, she offered him a gentle smile in return. “I trust you, Phainon. Take it easy.”
“I will.”
. . .
Days later, both Phainon and Anaxa were spending their morning in the comfort of the idol’s home after Anaxa’s first night sleeping over. Phainon had learned two very interesting facts about him during this time.
The first? Anaxa was very particular about what he held onto while sleeping. When Phainon had attempted to wiggle into his embrace in place of the tiny little doll, Anaxa had frowned and pushed him away before rolling to the other side of the bed with the nui back in his arms.
“But isn’t it better to cuddle with the real deal?” he’d tried asking him.
“You’re too big, and your body’s too warm,” Anaxa had responded.
Phainon had been left with no choice but to accept defeat, but it hadn’t been so bad. Although his dreams of being a little spoon may have been crushed, the smaller man posed no complaints about “being too warm” when he’d been pressed up against Phainon’s chest instead. Like that, they’d fallen asleep in no time at all, both holding onto something precious.
The second fact? Anaxa’s love for Dromases even seeped into real life. He not only slept in a Dromas onesie, but had even gone as far as to buy a matching set for Phainon to wear, and wear he did. Currently, he was hugging him from behind, his chin resting atop the crown of Anaxa’s soft, minty hair as they watched a program on the living room television, both standing and gently swaying together. He figured now was the time to reveal his next move.
“I decided to go on hiatus for a while,” he said. “I talked it out with Miss Aglaea already, and she said she’d handle postponing the projects I was supposed to start.”
Anaxa hummed. “That’s good to hear. I’m sure both fans and producers will understand your decision. You deserve to have some time for yourself after working so hard all these years.”
“Heh, aren’t you happy I’m finally taking your advice after all those letters?”
“I am,” Anaxa confirmed with surprising ease. “I told you, did I not? I will support you, no matter the endeavor, so long as you’re doing it for yourself.”
Phainon smiled at this, releasing him from his embrace and gently turning him over so that they were facing each other. “So if there’s something I want to do, you’d agree to it?”
Anaxa looked up at him suspiciously. “That would depend. What is it that you wish to do?”
For the past four months, Phainon had lived up to his words about keeping things steady and following Anaxa’s lead, but right now, he thought it the perfect opportunity to finally mark the beginning of the next step for their relationship.
“I want to kiss you,” he said.
For a moment, Anaxa remained unmoving as he processed his words, and Phainon had nearly begun to regret being so impulsive with his request, but before he could apologize, Anaxa had grabbed onto the zipper of Phainon’s onesie and tugged him down, bringing their lips together.
At first, he’d been too caught off guard to be able to respond, but the moment he realized what was happening, Phainon wrapped his hands around Anaxa and pulled him closer, his head tilting as he deepened the kiss. His thoughts were fully consumed by the man in his arms, and he swore he could hear the loud, combined thumping of both of their hearts as their bodies pressed closer into each other.
When Anaxa attempted to pull away to catch his breath, Phainon pathetically chased after his mouth, reconnecting their lips again and again, until Anaxa finally mustered up all his strength to fully pull back, face completely flushed and his breathing heavy.
Although unwilling to be pried away just yet, Phainon knew he was probably in a similar state as him, so he complied, unable to help the affectionate chuckle that escaped him.
“You’re far too greedy,” Anaxa grumbled.
“What can I say… I feel beyond ecstatic to know you cherish me as much as I cherish you,” he responded, interlacing their fingers before looking into the magenta-teal eyes he’ll never tire of. “Whether it be as your idol, or the one you love… I’m just happy to have you by my side, Anaxa.”
“Already using that word, I see.”
Phainon gently swung their hands around. “Then… am I wrong?” he playfully asked.
Anaxa shook his head with a subtle smile of his own. “No. I do love you, Phainon.”
The idol practically beamed at this. “I love you too… and it’ll always be you, no matter what other versions you have hidden up your sleeve.”
“You’ve already seen them all.”
At this, Phainon gave a soft laugh as he released Anaxa’s hands to maneuver them around his neck. “No more secret identities?”
“No more secrets in general,” Anaxa responded, allowing Phainon to press closer as he went in for another kiss.
. . .
6 months was all it took for the idol’s life to change for the better, but from here on out, there was something he would never forget again.
“Family, love, laughter are what we should seek. These are the precious things that keep life from being bleak.”
To: Phainon
Two hearts, once apart
Taking on a brand new start.
Long I’ve known you from afar,
Shining brightly like a star.
A simple life is what I strived for,
But now with you, whom I adore,
I’m alright with having more.
To the one that I admire,
Don’t be shy, tell me all that you desire.
At the end of every day,
I’ll make sure that you’re okay.
And on the nights you’re feeling blue,
Know that, even then,
I will always love you.
You, whom my heart now belongs to,
Who lived for others, through and through.
Let’s start a new page — one offstage,
And be together, until old age.
,Stay happy, my recipient
Anaxagoras
End