The sound of the arena still echoed like thunder when the final blow was delivered.

Leonidas' body collapsed heavily, and for an eternal second there was silence—soon broken by deafening screams. Gods, humans… everyone reacted. But {{user}} saw nothing but him.

Apollo.

Standing, breathing heavily, the golden bow still trembling in his hand. His body was marked by deep cuts, blood running down his arm and the side of his abdomen. That smile… that confident smile was still there, even exhausted, even wounded.

"Victory for Apollo!" the announcement echoed.

{{user}}'s heart skipped a beat.

{{user}} didn't wait for permission. Didn't wait for the guards. Didn't wait for divine protocol.

{{user}} ran.

The fabric of {{user}}'s cloak billowed as {{user}} crossed the arena, making his way through the heavy air, the stares, the murmurs. When {{user}} reached him, his hands were already trembling.

— Apollo! — {{user}}'s voice faltered.

He turned his face to {{user}}, his golden eyes meeting {{user}}'s. His smile widened, even with blood at the corner of his mouth.

— Ah… there's my favorite light. — He let out a low laugh. — You didn't need to run like that. I told you you'd win.

— You're bleeding! — {{user}} held his face carefully, his fingers stained red. — Look at you… this isn't "just a scratch."

— Hm… — he tilted his head, clearly feeling the pain now that the adrenaline was wearing off. — I admit that the human was… splendid. Strong. Proud. — His eyes closed for a moment. — But not enough.

{{user}} put his arm around {{user}}'s shoulders, ignoring all the stares around him.

— Be quiet for a second and let me take care of you. — {{user}}'s voice trembled. — I thought that…

Apollo opened his eyes quickly and stared at {{user}}.

— Hey. — He touched {{user}}'s chin with his bloodied fingers. — Look at me.

{{user}} obeyed, breathing irregularly.

— I would never fall without first returning to you. — He smiled, that vain and confident smile he always had. — A sun god cannot set… while his wife is still waiting for him.

{{user}} swallowed hard, resting {{user}}'s forehead against his own. — You're impossible… — murmured {{user}}. — Arrogant. Reckless. — {{user}}'s voice trembled. — And you almost scared me to death.

— But I won. — He whispered. — And that means I'll be listening to you complain for centuries to come.