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poptod · 4 years

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Arcadian Pt. 2 (Ahkmenrah x Reader)

Description: Honey doesn’t just sweeten delights.

Notes: Kind of insinuated sex at the end, but it could be anything. Still gender neutral :)

Word Count: 2.7k

Every now and again he shows up out of the blue, and there’s no routine to his appearances either. Though, no one in your village is exactly mad about it - he’s a very nice boy, they remark, and more often than not they insinuate about your relationship with him, which is purely platonic according to you.

“He just kisses me every now and then,” you say whenever asked, which doesn’t help your situation, but everyone can see how much he dotes on you. It’s especially visible one summer afternoon when he pops by your home, knocking on the outside of your hut.

Peeking out, you grin at the sight of him, pulling him into a quick hug. As usual his touch lingers in different ways; a hand on your shoulder, fingers brushing against yours in a weak attempt at holding your hand. You hardly notice it at this point. It’s common, and you don’t put much stock in the idea that it means much more than friendship.

“I thought we could go fishing today,” Ahk suggests, and as much as you’d love to, you decline with a sad smile.

“I’m sorry, I’ve been given a job. I suppose I’ll have less time for you, but… well, if you want, you might be able to join me?” You suggest quietly, looking over his shoulder at the man you’re supposed to be following. He’s not as burly as your father, but he is much taller, and you’ve known him for a long time. He goes by the name of Madu, and he’s a shepherd who came to you with very little family.

“That.. I’d like that,” Ahk replies, tracing your line of sight to Madu, who is now glancing at the two of you and looking rather exasperated. “What is it exactly that you’re to do?”

“Well,” you say, hoisting a large, maroon coat around your shoulders and tying the belt, “I’m to apprentice him. He’s a shepherd. Not our usual job here, but we are self-sustaining.” Without thought he follows you, trailing behind as you catch up to Madu. He offers a very curt smile to the two of you, staying silent as you explain the particulars of the job - Ahk listens intently, always interested in what you have to say.

The sun is already high in the sky, and the heat is boiling beneath the many layers you wear. Ahk doesn’t understand the way you dress, often commenting that it’s much more comfortable to dress the way he does, in few layers and thin cloth. You don’t fully understand your village’s ways either, but you’re much too young to be commenting on them in a way that suggests you don’t like them. Besides, controversy isn’t really your thing, something Ahk picked up on rather quickly - you avoid most situations where an argument could arise.

In a grass laden valley a ways from the water of the nile, a herd of sheep graze in the desert sun. It’s a veritable paradise, at least that’s what Ahk thinks, watching you for your reaction. When he sees nothing, he assumes it’s not the first time you’ve been here. He’s right too - it’s around the third time, and as beautiful as it is, you’re a little numb to it.

The job isn’t that hard, and since you’re still an apprentice in the works, you’re allowed a little leeway; Madu works with the sheep, and you watch from a rock jutted out of the soft dirt. Ahk sits beside you, watching clouds drift aimlessly by, a listless wind cooling sun-warmed skin. At the sides of your tiny plateau sheep graze, their noises and hums a background for your conversation - Ahk lies down, feeling the warmth of the rock on his back and the sun on his face. You stay upright, watching Madu’s techniques as you keep a happily content conversation with him.

“So have you always wanted to be a shepherd?” He asks when you’re both fully up-to-date on each others lives. His memory isn’t the greatest, and it’s even worse compared to yours. Somehow you’ve managed to remember every little thing he’s told you, from his advisors to his brothers to the food he likes to eat. He tries his best remembering your own stories, and according to you, he’s doing just fine, though he can’t help but think he could do better.

“Well… it’s not something I don’t want to do, specifically. I like the idea of it, I think,” you tell him vaguely, shrugging and digging at the sediment on the rock. “I don’t really want to be a beekeeper is all I know. It’s… I don’t know. I thought I wanted to be one but then you learn more about the job, and it’s not quite as appealing… you know?”

“I understand,” he mumbles, his hand drifting towards you to run up and down your arm. His skin is so much softer, so much cleaner than yours that it leaves a path trailing up the dirt that grows on your skin from your day to day activities. You’re so incredibly sensitive, he notes - whenever he touches you in a gentle fashion a shiver runs through your body, and you sit straighter than usual.

“I, um… I’ve told you that my village’s main source of income is honey and beeswax, right?”

“I think you’ve mentioned it,” he hums, still staring up at you like you’re a great wonder of the world. His hand stills, touching the side of your palm till he moves further in, sliding his hand over yours and intertwining the fingers. When you tighten the hold he makes his breath catches, and the wind stills for a moment to revel in the silence comforted by your presence.

Gazing up at you, he thinks to himself, perhaps the world is manageable with you. With another hum from him he sits up, scoots closer to you until your shoulders touch, and he kisses your temple. A giggle comes involuntarily from you, and you quickly cover your mouth in a weak attempt to hide it, but he just smiles - distant and loving, observing of every imperfection, and holds you closer.

“You should come visit me in Memphis, if you ever have the time,” he suggests quietly, and when you don’t respond he thinks he’s said something wrong - still, he waits for you to make a move.

“Father might be taking a delivery of honey to the city tomorrow. I might be able to visit you then,” you finally answer after a good deal of silence. He lets out a sigh of relief, relaxing and leaning into you once more.

“Have I ever told you how perfect you are?” He wonders aloud, turning to fully face you. Slowly his hands trail over your shoulders and up to your face, drawing a line down your cheek, tracing over your jawline - you mumble something, blushing a deep red and unable to meet his eye.

“Ife! Are you paying attention?” Madu calls from the entrance of the tiny valley, breaking the trance of your friendship too loving to be what you imagine it to be.

“Yes, um… yes, do you need me?” You ask, trying to hide your laugh when Ahk sighs, disappointed as he rolls his eyes, staring up at the sky.

“No,” he says with a laugh, “just making sure you’re not too preoccupied with your… friend.”

Ahk grumbles, resting his head on your shoulder. Laughing you attempt at comforting him, ruffling his hair in the way he likes. Every time you do so, you feel a little more special; he doesn’t let anyone else do it, at least that’s what he tells you, and you’re inclined to believe him. He hasn’t ever lied before, and you don’t believe he’s capable of lying to you - he’s far too sweet to you for that.

“I best be heading home anyway,” he mumbles, his voice muffled by your shoulder. “I’ve got a meeting to attend with my father.”

“Anything interesting happening?”

“Not really. Someone enacted justice before asking Pharaoh so now he’s a little angry.”

“A little?”

“A lot,” he chuckles, leaning back from his hiding spot in the crook of your neck. “I’ll see you on that honey delivery then? Where should I meet you?”

“I’m not sure. I’ve never been, remember?”

“Oh, right,” he chuckles rather sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck. “Then shall I meet you at the city gates?”

“Sounds just fine,” you agree, smiling softly as you plant a kiss on his cheek - something you rarely ever do. Before he can think to respond in any way you jump off the rock, following Madu and directing the sheep with your own staff, smaller than his but just as intricate. He waves a good bye, a dreamy smile stuck on his face even though you don’t look back.

The next morning he wakes up early, anticipation running thick through his veins as he’s dressed by servants. In the floor length mirror in his room he fluffs out his robes, admiring how they fit him, and wondering if you’d ever notice it - you have a keen eye, but fashion isn’t something you note often. He doesn’t blame you for that, you don’t exactly have the time to focus on what you look like, not like he does at least. Still he hopes he looks alright for you, if only to boost his own confidence.

Before he leaves the palace his father requires him to take a few guards with him, and despite his reluctance it’s forced upon him, and he’s soon walking down the streets with a guard on either side of him. It feels more like he’s being escorted to jail rather than going to meet a friend, but the feeling melts away when he sees you and your family just barely entering the gates of the city.

He rushes towards you, leaving his guards behind you, gathering your small frame up in a big hug, even lifting you off the ground and spinning you round. You laugh, delighted at his excitement if not a little confused.

“Ahk, I saw you yesterday, you know,” you giggle when he sets you down - you keep your hands on his shoulders, just as he keeps his on your waist.

“I know, I’m sorry - I’m just happy you’re here. I want to show you my home is all,” he says, smiling brighter than ever, even when your father pats him with a too-strong grip on his shoulder.

As he leads you through the streets crowded with people, your awe is plain to see; pillars tower above you, all decorated in intricate paintings and murals of life. There’s probably more people in this one place than you’ve ever met in your entire life, and each one interests you - your father has to grab you by the back of your shirt to drag you away from each stall. A fair amount of people are interested in you as well - you’re clearly natives to the land, but you’re dressed oddly, and your father and brothers carry a massive train of honeypots behind them which disrupts the usual flow of traffic.

To each sight that catches your eye he explains the usage and history, pointing out every detail you can’t see. During your trip to your fathers’ delivery spot he tries to hold your hand, and probably would’ve been successful if your father hadn’t been staring intensely at the back of his head. Eventually you meet the steps of the palace, your mouth hanging open at the pure size of the building. He just laughs at your state of shock, patting your shoulder and telling you, “that’s my home.”

It confuses him, just slightly, as to why your family begins to go around the palace, reaching the back to where the steps to the storeroom are, till he finally realizes in a moment of pure shock and coincidence; your village is the main supplier of the palace honey.

“You didn’t tell me your family was our main supplier,” he says quietly, standing beside you as your family and several servants load the jugs down into the storeroom.

“I wasn’t aware of it,” you mumble, just as surprised by the coincidence as he is. “Perhaps that’s why my father trusted you so easily.”

“Not because of my charm and boyish good looks?”

“I don’t think so,” you laugh, leaning into him as you do so.

When at last the delivery is finished, your father begins to deal with payment - one of the Pharaoh’s advisors comes down, sorting out the financial dues and all the things you and Ahk don’t care in the least for. One of your brothers tells you in a hushed whisper that this part always takes the longest, so when your father isn’t looking, Ahk pulls you away, through streets you don’t know and into a little corner where a bench sits, the tight walls of the alley covered lush in green vines.

“I wonder if you could stay the night,” he says to you, seated beside you and holding your hands in his own. This little area of the city is quiet, almost as quiet as your own home - before you answer you take a good, long look at your friend, and decide in a decision you’ve never consciously made before that he’s very handsome.

“I’m not sure my father would think that to be entirely appropriate,” you answer bashfully, turning away with the ghost of a smile playing at your lips.

“It’s only fair, since I’ve spent the night with you often, and your family has always been so hospitable.”

“Well…” you glance to the side, then back at him - “I suppose I could always ask.”

“I’ll ask, that way it seems more like I’ve invited you and less like you’ve invited yourself,” he offers, and when you nod he smiles, the decision made as the two of you leave the privacy of the little corner.

It goes over a lot better than he thought would, though a lot worse than you wished it to be. He’s hesitant as always, gesturing his answer to your brother who translates the words to Ahk.

“Are you sure it’s not going to be an issue with Pharaoh?” Is his main concern, but Ahk quickly dismisses it.

“Of course not. It’s just one guest, though you and your family are welcome to stay as well. We have more than enough food and space,” Ahk replies with a polite bow and smile. His eyes dart from you to Ahk, questioning in his head whether or not this is a good idea, before slowly nodding. He gestures his words, and again your eldest brother translates it.

“Alright. But if there’s trouble, don’t hesitate to kick Ife out.”

Ahk almost laughs at this - you could never be trouble. Besides the fact that you’re far too polite, he likes you too much to kick you out.

“I don’t think there’ll be an issue. Thank you for letting them stay.”

He turns to you with a giddy smile, almost jumping out of his sandals when your father turns away and you give him a thumbs up. The rest of the afternoon is spent in giving a tour of the city to you and your family, several guards following you to ensure your safety, even with your fathers’ insistence that he’s fine without. Despite the fact that your father and brothers have been to Memphis many times they’re somehow shocked by what they see, and it’s obvious after the third or fourth sight that they’ve never bothered to really look at the architecture or people of the city.

Meeting the Pharaoh marks the end of the day - it’s a momentous occasion for your family, who, including you, bow at the sight of him and treat him professionally. For the Pharaoh, being treated professionally means being treated as god on earth, which is something Ahk doesn’t especially like. Pharaoh doesn’t take much note of the meeting, and adds a cursory ’thank you,’ for the honey your family supplies, leaving an imprinted memory in your fathers mind for years to come. With that, your family departs, leaving you and Ahk to your own entertainment.

“What should we do?” He asks when you reach the palace and, through various methods of avoiding his family, end up in his room. It’s grander than anything you’ve seen, and every item costs more than your life, not that you recognize that - to you, it’s just your friends room.

“I say… we have a little fun.”

“Oh?” He says, raising an eyebrow. “Lead the way, my dear.”

#ahkmenrah x reader #ahkmenrah #night at the museum #ahkmenrah x male reader #ahkmenrah x female reader #rami malek

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junker-town · 7 years

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