Chapter Text
“…You didn’t think very hard about this did you?” Seth was standing on Horus’ desk, a deeply unimpressed look on his face under his headdress as he watched Horus holding Simba, Seth, Nephthys, and Anubis’ large golden cat. Currently she had a kind of harness around her legs and back, with a modification over her shoulders that made a sort of chair. A very tiny one.
“It would allow you to travel around faster, Uncle,” Horus said, putting Simba down on the counter next to Seth. Simba had been surprisingly okay with the treatment, though she’d initially been a bit wary of Horus. But Horus coaxed her around, and after the harness was in place, which had clearly been something of a challenge, even for a god, she eventually managed to settle enough for Horus to fix it up a bit.
Seth stood in place, half-glaring, as Simba approached him curiously. She sniffed him a little, and after a moment Seth, who acknowledged he had a soft spot for her, put his hand out, which she also sniffed. Then she lightly bumped his fingers, and he rubbed her forehead before moving around to scratch under her cheek.
“Ah, she remembers you!” Horus said, smiling.
“Of course she remembers me! She’s smarter than you.”
Horus frowned.
Seth scratched Simba some more, looking askance at Horus, who was still watching. “And what happens when you strap me to that chair and she decides to randomly lay down, making me fall over and whack my head into the floor? What if she rolls over and crushes me?!”
“…I thought you said she was smarter than me.”
“She’s also a cat, you oaf!” He scoffed. “Cats get bored and sit down wherever they please, or roll around in sunshine for no particular reason other than it’s warmer than where they were a moment prior…”
Horus sighed. “I could train her, perhaps…”
“You can train a cat in many things. That isn’t one them.” Unless Bastet did something, maybe, but I’m not going to give him stupid ideas! “Unless you want me to die, you’re not putting me astride her back like some kind of strange horse. It wouldn’t work!”
Horus studied Simba and Seth for a while, frowning.
Seth thought he could literally see the wheels in Horus’ head turning. It was an extremely uncomfortable sensation.
“I’ll talk to Bastet,” Horus said, standing up and walking away.
“Wait, no!” Seth called, but Horus was already out the door.
Seth was glaring so hard he didn’t even realize he was shaking until he felt something bump his back and nearly knock him over. He turned to see Simba watching him still.
Seth sighed and reached out to give her more scratches. “At least whatever gets decided you’ll be with someone who knows what they’re doing. Who knows what that oaf would get up to with an attempt at cat training…”
Simba lay down so Seth had more access to her chin, and she began to purr. At this size, it was nearly deafening, but he adjusted to it.
“I’m surprised Horus got you away from Anubis and Nephthys,” Seth said, quietly, recalling how close they both were with Simba. “You always loved them.” He smiled. “And me, for some reason. Even when I didn’t spend time with you, and ignored everyone and everything I didn’t try to destroy.” His petting slowed a bit, and he looked down at his hands. They were so small and weak now. Powerless to do anything.
At least they were powerless to hurt people by and large. Save Horus, if Seth was able to poke him in the eye again, or poison his food.
Simba, of course, being a cat, said nothing.
Seth had sat against Simba’s side and started dozing when he was startled awake by the door opening. He looked up and saw Horus leading Bastet into the room.
The goddess walked around to get a better look at them, and snorted. “Aww… Isn’t that adorable?”
Seth glared at her, and knew it wouldn’t matter.
“Can you do it?” Horus asked her.
Bastet made a thoughtful noise and said, “It is an odd request, but I admit it would be kind of funny to see Seth sitting on the back of a house cat like she’s a mount…”
“Oh fuck off…” Seth snarled.
“Watch your language, Uncle,” Horus said. “Bastet is being very gracious.”
“Yes,” Bastet said, clearly suppressing laughter, “I’m being very gracious.”
Seth growled. “I’m going to murder you…”
It was early evening by the time she was done, but eventually Seth had to work at moderating his breathing as he glared at Horus and Bastet, both keeled over for different reasons after seeing Seth sitting on the seat on Simba’s back while she lay on her stomach peacefully.
Horus had cried out “too cute!” and now had his hands over his eyes to cover his tears.
Bastet was laughing too hard to get up from where she’d fallen over.
“I’m going to murder you both!” Seth snarled. When that had no effect on them, he looked down at Simba, who seemed quite relaxed through it all. He flexed the makeshift reins Horus had made for him, and Simba stood up easily enough. She stretched a bit, and it was difficult to hang on, even with the straps keeping him in the chair, and he had to grip her shoulders with his legs, but he figured he’d get used to it.
He led her around the desk, testing using the reins some more. Simba walked slowly enough, and the bouncing as she walked along wasn’t too bad.
“Well it seems to work fine, anyway,” Bastet said, observing with a smile.
Seth ignored her. He directed Simba toward the edge of the desk, wondering what it’d be like to jump down.
Simba braced herself, and then leapt.
As the wind came up in a rush, and the approaching ground below it, Seth immediately regretted all his life choices.
“Uncle!”
A gust of wind caught Simba mid-fall, and Horus was there, plucking her from the air.
Seth had to take a moment before realizing how hard he was breathing and shaking. Then he grew red in the face.
If he’d still been a god, such a leap would have been child’s play. But as the floor approached, it was like he could see how exactly he would die once Simba landed. Even if he’d stayed in the seat there was the chance his neck could have broken, or… or…
Horus had him out of the chair all at once, and set Seth back on the desk.
Seth sat down, trying to calm himself, hoping his legs would stop shaking. His heart was still beating fast.
“Uncle?”
Seth blinked and looked up to see Horus kneeling slightly to look at him.
“Are you all right?”
“I… Of course I’m all right!” Seth glared at him, annoyed that Horus was worried, of all things! “I’m your slave, anyway, why do you—?!”
Horus’ hand wrapped around him and picked him up, making Seth yelp. “Unhand me!!!”
And then he was being squished against Horus’ cheek – it was always warmer than anything else, and smelled faintly of ozone – making him yelp and push back, for all the good it did.
“I was worried about you, Uncle!” Horus said. “You need to be more careful.”
“You were the one who stuck me on her back!” Seth snarled.
Horus hummed and pulled him away again, moving his hand around so Seth could more easily sit in a way that was comfortable, even as he said, “Thank you Bastet, that will be all.”
She murmured a goodbye and had one last chuckle before heading out the door and letting it shut behind her.
Seth was grateful for the smaller audience, frustrated he’d been afraid in front of her. Not that Horus had kept Seth’s various humiliations from the other gods, but it still rankled every time.
Seth also had a moment to be annoyed at himself for having an expected “sitting” position on Horus’ hand to feel comfortable. One he was used to because he’d used it so much.
After a while, Seth finally looked up at Horus, and saw he looked just a little contrite.
Seth felt his cheeks warm. He knew Horus seemed to spend far too much of his time on things to screw with Seth, whether it was making those silly doll outfits, working on the mini “house” Seth lived in, various patronizing games… But still. This seemed…
“…What did you think would happen?” Seth demanded, quietly.
Horus was quiet for a bit before responding, “I thought it would give you some more freedom. You like being able to explore more.”
“…And what if I’d tried to escape?”
“I’d have caught Simba before she got that far.” Horus looked down and as Seth turned to see what he was watching, he saw Simba wandering around the floor, away from Horus’ ankle.
“Of course you would,” Seth growled.
“Consider, Uncle,” Horus said as he walked over to where Seth’s “house” was, and then let Seth down there so that Seth could sit on one of his tiny chairs, “that given your tiny size, if you’d escaped, things would not have gone well for you.”
Seth scoffed. “I know that!”
“So what’s really bothering you?”
Seth shook his head, and then lay down on his side on his couch so his back was to Horus. After a time, when Horus didn’t move away, Seth said, grudgingly, “Thanks for catching me.”
After a while of silence, Horus’ fingers wrapped around him and quickly lifted him into the air.
Seth yelled, “What the fuck?!” His arms and legs were trapped.
“Uncle are you well?” Horus turned him so that Seth was practically right up against his face so that Horus could study him critically.
“Put me down!”
“You’ve never thanked me for anything before. I think maybe something about this made you sick.”
“I shouldn’t be thanking you now!” Seth struggled, trying to claw his fingers into Horus’ damnably strong skin. “I’m your toy, not a person! It’s your fault I nearly fell to my death!”
Horus blinked at him, then nodded, and set him back down again.
Seth walked – he didn’t flee – into his room. Not that it would stop Horus if Horus wanted to get to him, but he lay down on the bed, at least a little away from Horus’ prying eyes, willing his heart to stop racing. Damned oaf! Always jumping to grab! Surprised he hasn’t yanked one of my limbs off yet, just by accident!
One of the walls on the house was removed, and Seth refused to get up, glaring ahead. Horus would have to grab him again if he wanted anything. As usual.
Then he heard a soft “meow” and the sound of something large being set on the counter.
Seth turned to see Simba walking over through the new opening. She sniffed around a bit, then settled by Seth’s bed, within reaching distance.
Seth grimaced, then moved over to be closer to her, and reached out to scratch her side.
She lay her head down and began to purr.
“I’m sorry for endangering you today, Uncle,” Horus said, quietly. “I’ll leave you be.”
Seth snorted and continued to pet Simba, listening to her loud purr. He hadn’t spent much time with her over the years. Bastet had managed to massively increase her lifespan, and Anubis took good care of her, and sometimes she’d come to visit Seth, in quiet moments, but this was the longest he’d been around her in months, particularly since the trial.
He was honest enough with himself that the events of the day did rankle at him – it would have been nice to be able to move around faster, but it was too risky, even with whatever Bastet did for the training – but he also had to acknowledge that here he was with something else he thought he’d lost forever. Something he hadn’t entirely ruined. Something that maybe wouldn’t be out of his reach, only available at Horus’ whims. Though of course, Horus could easily keep Simba out of the room.
At least for now he could pet Simba, almost like he used to.
As Seth’s thoughts drifted, he wondered why Horus had decided after Seth’s yell to set him back down, and not move on to some other weird game. Putting Simba here seemed like even more of an apology. Unless it was another hidden punishment: reminding Seth of what could be given and easily taken away again at any time.
But that look of contrition earlier… Horus knew what had nearly happened. And he’d been afraid, and embarrassed of his mistake in not planning for it. And… seemingly rather worried for Seth’s health.
Seth grimaced. “…Thanks,” he finally said, quietly. “Even if you’re still an oaf.”
After a time, a soft and contented, “You’re welcome, Uncle,” came back to him.
Seth scoffed and settled down some more, then finally shut his eyes as he let Simba’s purring drown out everything else.