The Hidden God of Open Doors

9

Rune doesn’t miss the catacombs. According to Val, all the items inside the chamber disappeared or crumbled into disrepair an hour after Rune left. They were either called into being or kept whole by Rune’s subconscious magic.

Val was annoyed because she wanted to check for valuables, but Rune doesn’t mind. His clothes and phone stayed intact since they were with him. He doesn’t care about the jeans or socks, and Raider has bought him a ridiculous number of colorful T-shirts in case the tie-dye one vanishes. Rune just makes sure to keep his phone nearby so it doesn’t disappear.

It was his first true door to the rest of the world, summoned by the sheer power of Rune’s yearning—with a little extra magic from Cupid.

Rune has spent the past few months living with Raider above Artifacts, Alchemy, Etc. Freedom is easier some days than others. Rune wants to explore the world, but it’s so vast. Some days, the open sky above is too scary.

Yesterday, Rune left during the middle of Raider’s workday to visit a dog park with Val. That was fun. Rune likes talking with Val—she watches more television than Raider does. It turns out some of the shows Rune used to watch on his magic television were real, so they have things to talk about. Rune also likes Val’s vampire girlfriends, part of his slowly growing circle of real people to talk to.

Today, Rune is paying for yesterday’s dog park adventure with a case of nerves. He doesn’t intend to leave the shop until he can walk out the door without shaking again.

That’s fine. As Raider says, there’s no rush. They have all the time in the world. Rune is a lot more excited about living forever now that he’s actually living, instead of just existing. He hasn’t lost a single moment since Raider first called him “cutie.”

Besides, Rune likes being in the shop with Raider. Workdays are fun because Raider so clearly thrives on this. Removing curses. Finding new homes for old objects. Identifying family heirlooms, restoring family stories for the current generation.

But Rune especially loves this moment at the end of the day, when Raider’s locking up. Rune leans on the counter as Raider seals an alarm talisman over the door. The beaded curtain rattles—a new addition, because Val suggested it and Rune thought it looked super interesting. And Raider grumbled but ordered it anyway.

Raider makes his usual circuit of the shop. Locking up the register. Taking a few specific artifacts to the basement. That takes him out of Rune’s sight for a few minutes, but Rune isn’t anxious about that anymore. Raider will return, and once everything else is in its place, Raider’s attention is just for Rune.

“All right, one more relic to put away,” Raider teases.

Rune wrinkles his nose. “Fuck you.”

Raider laughs, because he always laughs when Rune swears—which is why Rune does it. Then Raider scoops Rune up onto the counter, and kisses Rune until they’re both dazed with it.

Because Raider doesn’t just worship with words. Every kiss, every slide of strong hands from waist to thighs, every breath whispering against Rune’s throat, is an act of devotion.

Raider slides a hand under Rune’s rainbow cat shirt. “What were you reading earlier?”

Rune winds his arms around Raider’s shoulders, savoring the warm reality of his body. “A theology book. It made me wonder... What do you think I’m the god of?”

He doesn’t expect Raider to have an answer—but Raider grins and crowds closer between Rune’s thighs. “That’s easy, cutie. You’re the god of whatever you want to be.”

“Whatever I want,” Rune repeats. The phrase turns in his head, the freedom its own kind of magic.

Raider traces ticklish lines along Rune’s ribs. “You could be the god of small businesses. The god of reality TV. The god of tie-dye. The god of looking so fucking cute bent over this counter as I—”

“Doors,” Rune interrupts. “I like doors.”

Raider’s eyes soften. “That’s perfect. As long as I still get to bend you over this counter.”

Grinning, Rune pulls Raider in for another kiss. “I expect nothing less from my favorite disciple.”

Sometimes freedom is the open sky. Sometimes it’s this—a moment of love with his perfect match.

***

Thank you for reading!