Athy pokes at his sandwich, but mimics me making a groan of satisfaction as he chews. "I will always need an avatar, rabbit, someone must secure my temple and relay the messages of the mundane to me."
This is all too much. However, just like the heroine of a cheesy fantasy novel, I will be the one to change his mind. I have to be. "My family?"
"Safe." I made him two sandwiches and he's working on the second. "They matter to you, I will keep them safe."
Now this part is concerning. "From what? You can't just kill a portion of the population, Thanos, you can't do that."
I have quickly learned that Athanasius does not like being told what he can and cannot do. "Who says? You?" He lifts his bowl and downs the French onion soup quickly. "Rabbit, you have no control over me."
"Is that what you want to do?" Panic is beginning to set in. My stomach is hurting. As he remains silent, the panic grows. "Athanasius!"
He shrugs. "I haven't figured it out yet." Athanasius reaches for an apple on the countertop, biting into it. "Revenge for the bloodline of those mages, and maybe…releasing a few night creatures in vengeance. I don't know."
What would make him stop? "You said if I abandoned you, the shackle would be broken, what makes you think I won't?"
Athanasius turns on the barstool to stare at me. His lower arms are seated nicely in his lap, the right upper arm is holding the apple, and the left is scratching underhis chin. "Because you would have done so by now, you're curious to see where this goes, can't say I blame you."
It's not curiosity, I truly don't know how I'm supposed to abandon him. "You can kill the mage, sure, but we have to talk about the rest."
Closing his upper eyes, he draws in a deep breath. "I'm pretty concrete in my thoughts, rabbit, good luck."
The day passes uneventfully, I get a few calls about work coming on Monday. Everyone misses me and I really need to think about what I'm going to do with him here alone. One call sparks a conversation between my favorite coworker, Chloe. She wants to go out tonight, a Wednesday of all days. The lounge is a place we've been before with food and live music. They're hosting several 70s cover bands and artists and she's dying to go.
I can't leave him here. So, after getting off the phone, I catch Athanasius watching a historical documentary on the couch.
"You'll have to go out with me tonight." I say, poking his shoulder from behind. "It'll be fun."
His eyes are glued to the screen. "Why did the Belgians allow Germany to enter their country twice? Who was leading at this time? This seems stupid to me."
"What?" I glance up at the screen comparing the invasion of Belgium during WWI and WWII.
"The Germans came during the first world war, you'd think the second time around they'd prepare heartily for that."
"I don't know."I shrug. "Maybe they didn't have the manpower to stop them?"
"To be unprepared for the inevitable is to be ignorant." He scoffs. "It was plain to see." He stands, turning the television off. "Now, tell me about this fun to be had."
Maybe he's dressed a little too well. I'm torturing myself, I really am. Giving myself some nightly fuel and some fantasies to hold in my head while trying to get a moment to myself in the bathroom. Athy is like a cat, he'll constantly knock at the door sticking his fingers under it until I come out or let him in.
For now, he's wearing a V-neck olive green sweater and a silver necklace. His black belt has a silver buckle as well, and his black slacks are fitted to his body. I can't help but notice in nearly everything he wears, there's a print. You know what I'm talking about? A very nice print in the front, and he's fiddling with himself now.
"These pants are constricting here." He mumbles.
"Constricting or your package needs to be secured better?"
Athanasius looks down at me with a sinfully wicked grin. "Woman, this package will make you—" He stops himself. "It's fine."
You sure are. Taking a deep breath, I watch as he walks down the stairs and I should take a picture. I really should, his ass is tight in those pants. Just a round print, peach-like, full and sitting well. And his back. Lord, it's wide and his shoulders are so…I'm imagining my legs on them.
"I can hear you thinking." He coos. "Devious thoughts or you're trying to figure out how to hit me with something." Turning around at the bottom of the stairs, he cocks his head to one side. "Which is it? I'm getting bored."
Moment ruined. "Let's get in the car please."
"Oh!" Chloe exclaims. "You look cute!"
My skirt is red with white polka dots and I've paired it with a deep v, gold shimmer 3/4 sleeve top. My chunky old necklace and earrings set the look.
"Thank you! So do you." Chloe is a fiend for a bodycon dress and she looks amazing in this yellow number. "This is Greg." She indicates the man next to her. "Who is this?" Her eyes go wide upon seeing Athanasius.
