13. Road to Asgard: Eryx

CHAPTER 13

ROAD TO ASGARD

ERYX

" I 'll take Cerberus out for a walk. He looks like he could use one." Zac said and called Cerberus. The dog's collar already in hand.

The door clicked shut behind Zac, Cerberus' excited barks fading as they headed down the street. Eryx leaned against the wall, a smile playing at his lips. That kid was too perceptive for his own good.

"He's definitely up to something." Eryx murmured to himself, a mixture of pride and wistfulness coloring his tone.

He pushed off the wall, padding barefoot through the apartment. The hardwood was cool beneath his feet, a stark contrast to the warmth blooming in his chest. Alex was in the kitchen, the clinking of glasses and the rich aroma of coffee announcing his presence before Eryx rounded the corner.

"Subtle, aren't we?" Alex grumbled, not looking up from the steaming mug in his hands. "Sending the kid out with the menace."

Eryx shrugged, unrepentant. "Zac offered. Who am I to argue?"

He crossed the kitchen, crowding into Alex's space. For a moment, Alex remained stubbornly still, a statue of irritation and caffeine addiction. Then, with a sigh that sounded more like surrender than annoyance, he melted into Eryx's embrace.

"Missed you," Eryx murmured into Alex's hair, inhaling the scent of pomegranates and something uniquely Alex .

Alex snorted, but his arms tightened around Eryx's waist. "We've been together all day, you sap."

"You know what I mean."

And he did. They both did. Between the chaos with Odin, the looming threat of cosmic instability, and their ever-growing family of misfits and demigods, moments like these had become rare treasures.

Eryx savored the quiet, the steady rhythm of Alex's heartbeat against his chest. These were the moments that grounded him, that reminded him what they were fighting for.

"You know," Eryx said, his tone conversational even as his hands slipped under Alex's shirt, "we've got at least an hour before Zac gets back."

Alex raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Oh? And what exactly did you have in mind?"

Eryx didn't answer. Not with words, anyway. Instead, he pulled Alex into a kiss that tasted of coffee and promises and the electric thrill of diving headfirst into danger.

As they stumbled towards the bedroom, Eryx grinned against Alex's lips, a sudden thought striking him. "You think Heimdall can see this?"

Alex pulled back, his expression a mix of exasperation and amusement. "If you're thinking about Heimdall right now, I'm clearly not doing my job properly."

"Just checking," Eryx laughed, pulling Alex closer. "Wouldn't want to give the poor guy a show before we even reach Asgard."

"Shut up and kiss me, you idiot," Alex growled, and Eryx was more than happy to oblige.

Alex knew how to push every one of his buttons. The door to the bedroom had barely closed behind them before Alex had him pinned against it, his breath hot against Eryx's neck. There was a sharpness to Alex's movements tonight, a raw edge that set Eryx's skin on fire. He wasn't complaining—he liked it when Alex got rough.

"You're a real piece of work, you know that?" Alex murmured, his voice low and full of heat. His hands gripped Eryx's wrists, holding them above his head, pressing them into the cool wood of the door.

"And you fucking love it," Eryx shot back, a grin tugging at his lips. He could feel his heart pounding in his chest, the anticipation coiling tight in his gut.

Alex's eyes darkened with something feral as he pressed his body against Eryx's, his cock already hard and insistent. "You talk too much."

Eryx opened his mouth to retort, but Alex silenced him with a bruising kiss, all teeth and tongue, leaving Eryx breathless. He groaned into it, his hips bucking involuntarily against Alex's, craving more of that delicious friction.

Their bodies were a tangle of heat and muscle, and Eryx couldn't get enough of it. His mind was a haze of desire and something else—something primal that came from the bond he shared with Apollo. The god was silent now, lurking in the back of his mind, but Eryx could feel him, could sense the way his presence amplified everything, made every touch feel like a fucking lightning strike.

"Get on the bed," Alex ordered, pulling back just enough to let Eryx catch his breath. There was no room for argument in his tone.

Eryx's grin widened. "Make me."

It was a challenge, one that Alex didn't hesitate to accept. With a growl, he spun Eryx around, shoving him face-first against the mattress. The rough treatment sent a shiver of excitement down Eryx's spine, and he bit back a moan as he felt Alex's hands on his ass, spreading him wide.

"You're a fucking tease," Alex muttered, his voice thick with desire. He didn't wait, didn't give Eryx a chance to prepare before he was inside him, the sudden intrusion drawing a sharp gasp from Eryx's lips. The stretch was painful, but it was the kind of pain that Eryx craved, that made his nerves sing and his mind go blank.

"Fuck, Alex," Eryx groaned, his hands clutching at the sheets as Alex began to move, hard and fast, not giving him an inch of mercy. "Just like that."

Alex's hand came down hard on Eryx's ass, the sharp sting of it making him gasp. "You like it rough, don't you?"

"You fucking know I do," Eryx panted, pushing back against Alex, meeting each thrust with a desperation that he couldn't quite keep in check. His body was on fire, every nerve ending alight with pleasure and pain, the lines between the two blurring until he couldn't tell where one ended and the other began.

The room was filled with the sounds of their bodies colliding, the bed creaking under the force of it, and Eryx's breathless moans as Alex drove into him over and over again, relentless in his pace. Eryx could feel himself teetering on the edge, the pleasure coiling tight in his belly, threatening to spill over.

But he didn't want it to end, not yet. "Harder," he demanded, his voice raw and ragged. "Fuck me harder."

Alex let out a low, guttural growl, his grip on Eryx's hips tightening as he obliged, slamming into him with a force that made Eryx see stars. It was brutal, almost punishing, but Eryx loved every second of it, loved the way it made him feel completely and utterly alive.

"Is this what you wanted, you fucking slut?" Alex snarled, his hand sliding down to wrap around Eryx's cock, stroking him in time with his thrusts.

Eryx's only response was a strangled moan, his mind too far gone to form coherent words. He was close, so fucking close, and when Alex's teeth sank into the back of his neck, the sharp pain of it sent him over the edge. He came with a shout, his body convulsing around Alex's cock, the pleasure so intense it was almost unbearable .

But Alex didn't stop, not even as Eryx's orgasm tore through him. He kept fucking him, driving him through the aftershocks, prolonging his pleasure until Eryx was trembling, his muscles burning with exhaustion.

Finally, Alex slowed, his movements becoming less frantic, more controlled, until he was moving with a lazy, almost torturous pace. Eryx could feel every inch of him, could feel the way his cock dragged against his sensitive walls, drawing out every last bit of pleasure until Eryx was sure he couldn't take any more.

"Please," Eryx whispered, his voice hoarse, his body aching for release.

Alex's lips brushed against the shell of Eryx's ear, his voice a low, dark whisper. "Say it."

Eryx swallowed hard, his pride warring with his desire. But in the end, desire won out. "Please, Alex. I need you to come."

Alex's laugh was dark and wicked, and it sent a shiver down Eryx's spine. "Good boy."

He pulled out, flipping Eryx onto his back with a roughness that had Eryx's cock twitching in interest again. Alex didn't waste any time, lining himself up and thrusting back into Eryx's now slick and overstimulated hole. Eryx cried out, his back arching off the bed as Alex fucked him with a renewed intensity, chasing his own release now.

It didn't take long. With a final, deep thrust, Alex buried himself inside Eryx, his hips stuttering as he came, filling Eryx with a warmth that left him gasping for breath.

For a long moment, neither of them moved, the only sound in the room their ragged breathing. Eryx's mind was a haze, his body humming with the afterglow of their rough lovemaking. He felt completely spent, utterly satisfied, and more than a little sore, but he wouldn't have had it any other way.

Alex finally pulled out, collapsing beside Eryx on the bed. "You're a fucking handful, you know that? "

Eryx snorted, rolling onto his side to face Alex. "Takes one to know one."

Alex grinned, reaching out to brush a strand of hair out of Eryx's face. "What are we going to do with you?"

Eryx shrugged, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Keep me around, obviously. Who else is gonna put up with your shit?"

Alex laughed, the sound rich and warm, and it sent a pang of affection through Eryx's chest. He leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to Alex's lips, savoring the quiet intimacy of the moment.

"Get some sleep," Alex murmured against Eryx's lips. "We've got a big day ahead."

Eryx nodded, exhaustion finally catching up with him. But as he closed his eyes, he couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment, a deep, unshakeable satisfaction that came from knowing that, no matter what happened, no matter what cosmic bullshit they had to face, they had each other. And really, that was all they needed.

As sleep claimed him, he thought he heard Apollo's voice in the back of his mind, a soft, approving murmur that wrapped around him like a blanket of warmth. But the words were lost to the haze of sleep, leaving only a lingering sense of peace in their wake.

Eryx drifted off with a smile on his lips, ready to face whatever the gods had in store for them.

Someone started pounding on the door like they were trying to wake the dead. Which, considering who they were dealing with, might not have been too far off the mark.

"If you're done doing the dirty, please can we get this over with? Zac and I have been playing poker for the past hour," came the voice from the other side. Eryx would recognize that mix of exasperation and amusement anywhere—Hermes, right on time and as subtle as a brick to the face .

Eryx and Alex grumbled awake, a mix of curses and laughter bubbling up between them. Eryx fumbled for his phone, squinting at the too-bright screen. Midnight. Shit. They'd really overslept, hadn't they?

"Coming!" Eryx called out, his voice still rough with sleep. He turned to Alex, who was doing his best impression of a grumpy cat. "Come on, sleeping beauty. We've got an Odin to find, remember?"

Alex's response was eloquent as always: a grunt and a pillow to Eryx's face.

They managed to drag themselves out of bed and into the shower, setting a new record for fastest clean-up in the history of divine beings. Eryx couldn't help but laugh at the absurdity of it all. Here they were, about to embark on a quest to find the missing Allfather, and they were rushing around like teenagers late for prom.

As Eryx stood in front of his closet, he realized he had absolutely no idea what to wear. What was the dress code for sneaking into Asgard, anyway? Business casual? Battle armor? He turned to Alex, who was already dressed and looking unfairly put-together for someone who'd been dead to the world ten minutes ago.

"Hey, babe?" Eryx called out, holding up two shirts. "What does one wear to a potential divine showdown?"

Alex turned, took one look at Eryx's dilemma, and burst out laughing. It was a deep, rich sound that never failed to make Eryx's heart skip a beat. "Just wear whatever you like, sunshine. I don't think the Aesir are going to give a shit about your fashion choices when we show up uninvited."

Eryx couldn't help but grin. This was the side of Alex he loved best—playful, relaxed, the walls of grumpiness lowered just for him and lately, for Zac too. It was a far cry from the stern, no-nonsense leader the rest of the world saw.

"You say that now," Eryx teased, finally settling on a comfortable henley and jeans. "But watch, we'll get there and Thor will be all judgey about my lack of cape or something."

Alex snorted, moving to help Eryx with the buttons of his shirt. "If Thor gives you shit about your outfit, I'll personally introduce him to the business end of my bident. How's that?"

"My hero," Eryx said, mock swooning into Alex's arms.

They shared another laugh, stealing a quick kiss before reality came crashing back in the form of another knock at the door.

"I swear to all that is holy," Hermes' voice drifted through, "if you two are canoodling again, I'm coming in there and dragging you out myself. We've got a universe to save, remember?"

Eryx sighed, resting his forehead against Alex's for just a moment. "Ready to face the music?"

Alex's grin was sharp and full of promise. "Always."

Eryx couldn't help but shake his head, a mixture of fondness and exasperation washing over him. Only Alex could make sneaking into the realm of Norse gods sound like a night out on the town. But then again, that was part of why Eryx loved him. That unwavering confidence, that ability to face down cosmic threats with a smirk and a quip. It was infuriating and endearing in equal measure.

As they stepped out of the bedroom, Eryx's eyes immediately landed on Zac. The kid was slumped on the couch, arms crossed, with a scowl that could give Alex's best glower a run for its money. Beside him, Hermes lounged with infuriating grace, a smug grin plastered across his face.

"Uh oh," Eryx muttered under his breath. "Looks like someone's poker face needs work."

Alex snorted, his shoulder brushing against Eryx's as they moved into the living room. "Ten bucks says the kid tried to bluff a god of trickery."

"No bet," Eryx whispered back. "I'm not that much of a sucker."

Hermes looked up as they approached, his grin widening. " Ah, the lovebirds emerge! I was beginning to think we'd have to send a search party."

"So," Eryx said, clapping his hands together. "I'm guessing the poker lesson didn't go quite as planned?"

Hermes' laugh was bright and sharp, like the tinkling of wind chimes in a storm. "Oh, it went exactly as planned. For me, at least. Young Zac here just couldn't quite grasp the finer points of misdirection."

"You cheated," Zac muttered, but there was a hint of grudging respect in his tone.

"I'm the god of thieves, kiddo," Hermes said, ruffling Zac's hair and dodging the halfhearted swat that followed. "Cheating is practically in my job description."

Eryx watched the exchange with a mixture of amusement and concern. He knew Zac could hold his own—the kid had faced down vampires and ancient evils, after all—but there was something about seeing him interact with the gods that always made Eryx's protective instincts flare up.

A warm hand on the small of his back pulled Eryx from his thoughts. He glanced over to see Alex watching him, one eyebrow raised in silent question. Eryx shook his head slightly. Later. They'd talk about it later.

"Right," Eryx said, forcing himself to focus on the task at hand. "So, how exactly are we getting to this Bifrost?"

Hermes' grin turned mischievous as he sauntered over to their fridge, pulling out a bottle of wine with the casual air of someone who owned the place. "Ah, now that's the million-dollar question, isn't it?"

Alex's eyes narrowed. "Hermes, I swear to all that's holy, if you start with your cryptic bullshit?—"

"Relax, Uncle Grumpy," Hermes cut him off, uncorking the wine with a flick of his wrist. "I've got it all under control. We just need to make a little pitstop first."

Eryx felt a headache building behind his eyes. This was already off to a great start. "A pitstop," he repeated flatly. " Hermes, in case you've forgotten, we're not exactly on a leisurely road trip here."

Hermes waved a hand dismissively, taking a long swig directly from the bottle. Eryx winced. That was a hundred-year-old Bordeaux that Alex had been saving for a special occasion. Then again, he supposed averting cosmic catastrophe qualified as special.

"Details, details," Hermes said, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. "Trust me, this pitstop is essential. Can't get to the Bifrost without it."

Zac perked up at that, his earlier sullenness forgotten in the face of potential adventure. "What kind of pitstop? Are we talking magical gas station or secret divine speakeasy?"

Eryx couldn't help but laugh at the kid's enthusiasm. It was moments like these that reminded him why they did what they did. Not just to save the world, but to protect this—the wide-eyed wonder, the ability to find joy even in the face of danger.

"Knowing Hermes," Alex grumbled, "it's probably some sketchy back-alley deal with a minor deity."

Hermes clutched his chest in mock offense. "My deals are never sketchy. Morally ambiguous, perhaps, but never sketchy."

Eryx rolled his eyes, but he couldn't quite keep the smile off his face. "Alright, alright. Mysterious pitstop it is. But Hermes, I swear, if this ends up with us owing favors to some eldritch horror?—"

"Relax," Hermes said, his tone softening just a fraction. "I've got this handled. You guys just need to trust me and hold on tight."

There was something in Hermes' eyes, a flicker of seriousness beneath the usual mischief, that made Eryx pause. He exchanged a look with Alex, seeing his own mix of wariness and resignation mirrored there.

"Fine," Alex said after a moment. "But if this goes sideways, I'm kicking your divine ass back to Olympus myself."

Hermes' grin returned full force. "Wouldn't have it any other way, Uncle dearest. Now, everyone gather 'round. And maybe hold onto your stomachs. This ride can get a bit bumpy."

As they huddled close, Eryx felt a familiar warmth in his chest. Not the comforting presence of Apollo—the god had been uncharacteristically quiet lately—but something equally powerful. The warmth of family, of belonging. Of facing the impossible with people you trusted with your life.

Zac wedged himself between Eryx and Alex, his earlier grumpiness forgotten in the face of impending adventure. "So, uh, how exactly does this work? Do we click our heels three times or?—"

Hermes winked, a spark of divine energy crackling around him. "Oh, it's much simpler than that, kiddo. You just hold on tight and try not to scream."

And with that, the world dissolved into a kaleidoscope of light and sound. Eryx felt the ground disappear beneath his feet, his stomach lurching as reality seemed to bend and twist around them. He tightened his grip on Alex and Zac, anchoring himself in their presence as the universe blurred into a smear of cosmic watercolors.

Through the chaos, Eryx caught snippets of... something. Flashes of other worlds, glimpses of realities that shouldn't exist. For a heart-stopping moment, he thought he saw a familiar golden glow—Apollo?—but before he could focus on it, it was gone.

Then, as suddenly as it had begun, it was over. Eryx's feet hit solid ground with enough force to make his knees buckle. He stumbled, only Alex's steady hand on his arm keeping him upright.

"Holy shit," Zac gasped, his voice a mixture of awe and nausea. "Is that what it feels like to be a god?"

Hermes laughed, looking infuriatingly unruffled. "Nah, you should see what happens when I really cut loose."

Eryx blinked, trying to clear the spots from his vision. As the world came back into focus, he felt his breath catch in his throat. They were standing on what looked like a bridge made of rainbow light, stretching out into an endless sea of stars.

"Welcome, my friends," Hermes said, his voice taking on a theatrical flair, "to the Bifrost. Last stop before Asgard, land of the Norse gods and home to one very grumpy gatekeeper."

As if on cue, a deep voice rumbled across the cosmic expanse. "Who dares approach the realm eternal?"