Chapter Text
Seth
Seth tried to remain calm as he sat in the chair of the private room of the restaurant where Horus and Anubis had set up their meeting. It was his first time out of the apartment in a few days. He’d slept nearly a full day after Nut left, and then he’d had to try on some of his new clothes, and learn how to use his computer and phone properly. Not to mention having to deal with a shoemaker showing up to get his proper shoe size to make shoes for him. It was somewhat less stressful after dealing with the tailor, but frustrating all the same.
He was tired of being poked and prodded.
Horus sat nearby, calm as ever, as if nothing in the world affected him. He’d been polite to the waitstaff and easily ushered Seth to the table, where at least they didn’t hear most of the restaurant noise and had a view of a garden outside. He’d been quiet and respectful since Seth woke up. He’d offered to talk about Nut, but not pushed when Seth refused to. He’d handled the shoemaker, getting the woman out as quickly as possible, and stayed in his office while Seth learned, but answered any questions Seth had. He also sent Seth some helpful tips for future questions in an email, which Seth was learning how to use.
Seth’s first text message was actually from Thoth, asking if everything was going okay.
Seth had replied, “Yes. Don’t message me again.”
And Thoth thankfully had followed through on that request.
Seth did a lot of reading up through archives of books and articles. There was a lot of human history he’d missed out on, which Thoth’s info dump didn’t necessarily help him with, at least on some of the finer details. A lot of it he was a bit glad to miss. He felt humans were still as ridiculous as they ever were, if not worse. Some of the newer weapons they’d invented sounded bizarre, and he felt supremely useless against a lot of it, though he felt he could learn to use and survive most of them. The amount of suffering humans had become able to inflict on each other was particularly daunting, and he realized he needed to know better how at least some of them worked.
“Taking you to a gun range would probably not make my mother or Maat happy,” Horus had noted on Seth’s request. He was sitting in his office chair and gazing up at his uncle calmly. “Though I appreciate you haven’t just started making sand guns in the apartment.”
“Your apartment is too small for most blades,” Seth had replied, unimpressed with the levity, “let alone ranged weapons. I’m not that unintelligent.” He actually had formed some of the smaller guns he’d found schematics of online out of sand, just to see what they were like, but he hadn’t fired any of them. They made him miss his more typical weapons, which was frustrating, because the last time he’d used those, he’d been on the sun boat.
Horus had sighed and said, “I don’t think you’re unintelligent. You were Egypt’s best soldier for a reason.” He looked at Seth for a while before saying, “I’ll figure something out. It’s good you know what you’re facing.”
Now Seth sat at this restaurant he didn’t know, and which smelled like humans and food that was threatening to make him ill, waiting to see his son and ex-wife in person for the first time in a very, very long time. Being out in public was still daunting, at least with so many humans around.
And he still hadn't come up with anything to say to Nephthys. He'd practiced, based on what he'd told Nut, but... He'd drawn a blank.
He felt it should be funny: he spent thousands of years fighting monsters, but when he finally got free of it, there were still monsters lurking here, too. They were just humans or other gods he hadn’t spoken with in an age.
He idly scratched his pants leg.
“Are you uncomfortable?” Horus asked, the first thing he’d said since they sat down at their empty table. Sunshine came in through a nearby window, making his eyes glitter and casting a gentle glow over his cheeks. If Seth weren’t so tense, he might even say Horus looked handsome. “We can always send the clothing back to the tailor for more fixes—”
“I’m fine,” Seth said, annoyed, disliking being scrutinized so much. “It all fits fine.” And really, it all did. The tailors had worked rather fast to bring him a variety of options, and although he hadn’t accepted everything, he’d taken in most of it, and stuffed it all in the closet and shelves in his slowly filling bedroom. Though he wasn’t sure how to use it all. He’d browsed a list they’d sent him if he had more things to try, and offered to make other things he had an eye on, or fit something else at his pleasure, but he hadn’t picked anything new out. He wasn’t like his sisters: he didn’t need new outfits all the time.
Horus, on the other hand, seemed comfortable wearing something new every day. He looked neat enough in the dark suit he was wearing, but it was just so… human. He looked like he could easily blend in with the crowds they walked through, even with his height.
Perhaps what disturbed Seth was that he now also looked like he blended in. Today he wore a light, cream-colored suit made out of some strangely soft fabric. His red hair was down, and he wasn’t wearing his usekh, which left his neck uncomfortably bare. Horus had offered him a variety of necklaces to choose from in exchange, and Seth had rejected them. He kept his golden earrings and cuffs on, though, particularly since he had to wear the sandals Horus had brought him. It just felt a little too restrictive in comparison to his usual clothing.
“If there’s a fight,” Seth commented, “this will likely get destroyed.” He gestured to his pitiful clothing. It wasn’t made of sand, after all. He’d just destroy it.
Horus nodded. “Hopefully there won’t be a fight, then. Anubis and Nephthys are pretty calm. Things should be fine.”
"Even after everything?" Seth asked. He supposed they might as well talk. He was still a bit deflated after speaking so long to Nut about far too much in his life. Reading about humans had only distracted him for so long. He didn’t know what Nut was up to, though she’d sent him good morning text messages every day, to which he replied with brief good morning messages in return. It didn’t make up for all the years of absence, or what he’d gone through. But it was… more. "You're close with them, then?"
“We’re cordial,” Horus said. “I can’t say we’re exactly close.”
“Why not?” Seth said. “He’s your half-brother. She’s your aunt.” And you are lying to her.
“We’re just different people,” Horus replied, keeping his expression neutral. “And we’re all very busy. Nephthys works with a lot of charitable organizations and travels a lot. Anubis is constantly moving for his own duties dealing with the dead.” He sighed, perhaps a little unhappily. “And I’m often out and about, managing a dozen different issues at any one time.”
“You’ve stayed in place while I’m here,” Seth noted. “Did you just stop being busy?” Or are you lying to me? Ra liked to disappear at odd times. He’d wondered if she was going to start new wars while he was trapped on the sun boat, or just make someone else’s life a nightmare.
“I’ve delegated some of my work during the start of your return,” Horus explained. “I have assistants and followers who can handle some of it. Mother is handling more than she usually does. And some of it can just wait.” He smiled kindly at Seth. “But I want to be more available to help you if I can. I don’t want you to feel you’re alone in all this.”
Seth felt his cheeks warm a little at that. It almost sounded like a lot of people were making sacrifices for his sake. It was bizarre. All the favors that Horus had called in, the help… Why? Because of someone Horus thought he used to be? Because of an illusion Horus fell in love with?
Osiris fell in love with an illusion, too, Seth thought with some annoyance. “You’re getting a lot of nothing for your efforts,” he commented.
“I don’t need anything,” Horus replied, surprising Seth. “I just want you to be happy. Or at least okay and able to find your own happiness. Even if that means we never see each other again at some point in the future.” There was an unreadable emotion in his eyes, but determination, too.
Seth turned away and clenched his fist under the table. Once upon a time, he’d have done anything for Nephthys, just to make her happy. And the same for Anubis. He wasn’t used to someone doing the same for him. It was further weird in that Horus seemed so protective of him. Seth was used to protecting people, not the other way around.
“They’re here,” Horus said, making Seth look up.
At the room entrance, Nephthys walked forward. She wore a short green dress covered in flowers and had her blonde hair tied back. She wore golden earrings that glittered in the morning light, and she smiled at Seth as she stepped closer. “Seth!” There was no anger or recrimination in her face. Only joy.
Seth stood up and smiled a little at her. “Nephthys.” It had been so many years since he’d last seen her at all, and before that he’d avoided her for so long, hating how blind he’d been. How foolish. She said she didn’t love him: she loved Osiris, and he’d come to accept that. Even knowing it had all been a spell Osiris had set up, he still didn’t know what they were to each other anymore. He only imagined she’d moved on in the years since, and even restoring her memories hadn't changed that.
And who was he, anyway?
I failed you, he thought as he looked at her. He felt like he didn't have the right to even look at her.
So he glanced at Anubis, who walked behind her, trying to find something else to do with himself.
Anubis was taller than his mother, and had his long, dark, wavy hair down. He wore a black suit that seemed to almost barely contain him, and Seth noted how people stopped to stare at him as he passed. His expression was cool, though, and he had his left hand wrapped in the hand of a man walking beside him.
Khnum looked odd without his headdress: he was slightly shorter than Anubis, and had long, pale blue hair that fell behind him. He wore a long white shirt and slightly baggy black pants. He smiled in Seth’s direction and paused along with Anubis at the entrance.
Seth wasn’t sure what to do with them, either, though he smiled awkwardly at Anubis, who met his gaze evenly.
“It’s good to see you, aunt,” Horus said, thankfully intervening. “Anubis. Khnum.”
The other gods bowed their heads and sat at the empty chairs at Horus’ gesture.
Seth sat back down with Horus, still feeling deeply uncomfortable.
He wondered if he was the monster lurking in the shadows all this time, judging by the semi-wary looks the other gods gave him.
“You look very handsome,” Nephthys said with a warm smile, as if nothing had ever happened between them. As if Osiris had never happened. And he supposed, to her, that was how things were. “Modern clothing suits you. But I think you’d look good in anything, too.”
“…Thank you,” Seth finally said, unsure what else to say. “You look good, too.”
Nephthys smiled brightly at him before she turned to Horus and said, “Thank you for setting this up. I imagine it was difficult convincing Isis to allow it.”
“I have discretion in a lot of these matters,” Horus said.
Seth tried not to feel like a pet someone was passing around.
“Father,” Anubis said, calling Seth’s attention. Anubis smiled. “It is good to see you.”
Seth felt his throat go tight. “And you, Anubis.”
Anubis’ smile widened before he glanced at Khnum, who nodded encouragingly at him.
After a bit of silence, Nephthys asked, “How have you been settling in?”
Seth considered all that he’d gone through and said, “I’m here, I suppose.” When that seemed inadequate, he added, “Mother came to see me.”
Nephthys’ eyes widened. “Really?”
Seth nodded. “We talked. It’s… been a long time.” He could feel Horus’ eyes on him. “Do you talk to her much?” He wondered if Nut had asked Nephthys about what Seth had mentioned. Nut hadn't said anything to him if she had.
“She’s still so busy all the time,” Nephthys said, with a bit of sadness. “But we do chat every now and then. It’s good she spoke to you! Have you contacted Father?”
Seth was glad Nephthys didn’t ask what he’d spoken about with Nut, because he wasn’t sure how he’d answer. “No. I hadn’t really thought about it…” Geb and Seth were never really the closest, despite the similarities in their powers. Seth sometimes wondered if it was because Geb didn’t want to be shown up or something by his own son. But Seth also knew that Geb was just distant, generally, and slept even more than Seth did.
“You should!” Nephthys said. Then she blushed, “I mean, if you’re comfortable! He’s a bit more talkative these days. We had dinner a few weeks ago. And I imagine he’s as curious as anyone about your being back.”
Curious if I’m still murderous? Seth thought bitterly. Geb had turned on him, too. He wondered, distantly, if Nut would talk to Geb about what she’d learned. She said she wasn’t a gossip, but this was her husband. The man she’d stood up to Ra for.
“Grandfather is trying to be more connected to the world these days,” Anubis noted, calling Seth’s attention. “The humans make it harder for him to sleep with all the pollution they put in the ground.”
“Is he able to do anything?” Seth asked, recalling what he’d seen while researching. The world was truly a mess.
Anubis shrugged and glanced at Khnum. “He and the river gods talk a lot. They work with environmentalists. But there’s only so much he can do, really. The humans who can do the most dislike caring for their environment. Wealth disparity is such an issue that wealthy humans can destroy the environment while living in their own paradises as the rest of the world burns.” He grimaced. “It keeps me busy.”
Seth felt like he still had so much more to learn about this world. Between what Anubis explained and what Horus had told him, everything seemed so bleak. He didn’t feel like he could protect anyone from this.
“It is a struggle,” Khnum said, quietly. “But we are trying our best. There are many good people trying to better things. It’s just… slow going in many ways.” He sounded tired, though.
Anubis reached out and squeezed his hand.
Khnum smiled at him.
Seth watched them thoughtfully. He was suspicious of someone who’d served Isis for so long, but Anubis was clearly happy, and Nephthys wasn’t saying anything. She even smiled at them. Besides, he thought, what would my saying anything do, anyway?
He wanted Anubis to be happy. Seth wouldn’t try to take what happiness he’d found away because of his own typically misguided doubts.
Seth turned to Nephthys instead and said, “Horus told me that your memories were trapped in Hathor’s mirror.” Thoth’s information had given him some details of the war, and a little about what happened with Nephthys, but it was fragmentary, and he wanted the full story from her.
Nephthys’ smile faded, and then she nodded. “Yes.”
"I... I should have protected you," Seth said, unsure what else to say in front of Anubis. "I'm sorry."
Nephthys sighed. “Even Isis didn’t really know, and she’d seen the mirror. It’s not your fault, Seth.”
“I was meant to guard you,” Seth insisted, angry with himself. “I failed.”
“You cannot protect everyone at all times,” Nephthys said, her expression sad. “None of us foresaw this, or I’d have been able to avoid it.” She smiled at Horus. "In fact, if Horus hadn't come inside the mirror, a part of me might still be trapped there."
"...What?" Seth asked.