Rosco jolts awake, a long line of drool still connecting his mouth to where his head had been. He reaches up to rub it off only to smear it over his chin. He rolls onto his stomach, groaning loudly as he curls himself into a ball cradling his pounding head.

Actual thought processes flicker on slowly, bit by bit loading in information. First, he notices the heat. Which is a lot seeing how he’s fully clothed, tucked under a blanket with the warm sun beating down on his back. An easy enough fix once he’s ready to commit to moving. The warmth and intensity of the sun give him pause. The angle suggests it’s quite late into the morning, which is odd, he likes to sleep in, but someone always wakes him up before noon? But also, because he can feel it on his back. The roof has a few holes in it sure, but Rosco remembers it blocking a lot more light than this.

Oh, right.

He’d slept outside.

On the road.

Traveling with Hayden.

Hayden!

Rosco sits straight up, eyes immediately locking with Hayden’s and becoming acutely aware of the drool still smeared over his chin, not to mention the gravity defying feats of absurdity his hair was doing or the layer of sweat covering his skin. Horror quickly becomes his most prominent emotion as Hayden’s eyes disconnect from his own, wandering over him. The amused light in the god’s eyes deepening as he takes in each and every sleep mussed detail.

“Morning,” Hayden greets, scarcely containing his laughter.

“Hi,” Rosco replies intelligently, still frozen in place.

Hayden reaches out to press down and errant curl, “Did you sleep well?”

The strange, overwhelming warmth that comes with Hayden’s touch shocks Rosco out of whatever trance he had been locked in, spurring him into action. “Yes, thank you.” He mutters while ducking away from Hayden’s hand. He tries to covertly wipe the drool off with his sleeve and smooth down his hair, but the damage to his already fragile ego is beyond done. “You um, don’t need to let me sleep so long in the future,” haphazardly packing up his bedding while avoid his companion’s eyes, “I’ll sleep all day if you let me,” chuckling nervously, “Lolly says I’m a night owl; up all night, asleep all day!” his tongue feeling dry and fuzzy in his mouth, but he can’t seem to shut himself up. “I’ll probably whine a bit, I’m not a fan of mornings, but just kick me a few times and I’ll be good to go! Sam, one of my foster brothers, used to wake me up that way every morning.” checking his shoes for snakes and bugs before pulling them on his feet. “That kid took some kind of sick pleasure in tormenting me awake but he’s a good kid, diligent. Always awake on time that one!” smothering the long burned-out embers of their fire. “Anyway, just give me a few more minutes and I’ll be ready to go.” The apparent case of word vomit finally coming to an end. Rosco still shoves his canteen in his mouth just in case, taking a few gulps of the cool water.

“You looked so peaceful.”

Entirely unprepared for that absurdity, Rosco chokes, coughing into his hands a few times, working hard to keep the water in his mouth and out of his lungs “I looked what?” seeking clarification the moment he somewhat clears his airways.

“Peaceful,” Hayden repeats, unabashed, “While you were sleeping.” He continues like what he’s saying makes perfect sense. “I didn’t have the heart to wake you. Nor do I think I would find any pleasure in kicking you.”

Rosco groans internally further horrified that the god had actually listened to his meaningless ramblings. “Still,” he stresses, “you could find some other way to wake me. I hate to think of you sitting around, waiting around for me. I don’t want to be a hinderance.”

“It’s fine,” Hayden says, waving off the concern, “hinder away. It’s not like I brought you along because I thought you would be useful.”

Rosco stills in his hunt for his rations, deeply stung by the words. Hurt curls around his belly, strangling his hunger until it dies. Slowly the boy closes up his pack, slinging it over his shoulder managing to compose himself before meeting his companion’s eyes, “Than why did you bring me?”

The god is quiet for a moment, eyes down cast in consideration, “Because of something my mother said.” He finally admits.

Strong emotions press against Rosco’s insides, ballooning up into tears or anger that would turn into tears and Rosco desperately doesn’t want to cry in front of this man so bites his lip to keep them at bay, “I’ll try not to cause too much trouble,” he whispers. “Come on,” he tries again, managing to reach a more reasonable volume, “the road is this way.” inclining his head back the way they’d come. Rosco essentially marches ahead, leaving Hayden to trail behind this time.

After the initial threat of tears burns away, irritation is all Rosco is left with, and boy is he irritated!

Irritated with Hayden for calling him useless, irritated with himself that being called useless unraveled him so easily, irritated it irritated him so much he’d been bothered by it. Irritated he genuinely was useless. Gods he felt so stupid! What was he thinking?! That he would be able to do anything for Hayden? He couldn’t even hold a regular job! What had given him the stupid idea he could help a god?! A literal god, not a spirit pretending to be a god, but the real deal, the genuine article. What help could he, a defective human, offer anyone?

His cycle of irritation quickly deteriorates into a cycle of self-loathing.

After a while, his emotion driven steam runs out and his pace slows. He can only walk so far on an empty stomach and damaged feelings. And so, Hayden is able to fall instep beside him.

“I’ve upset you.” Hayden’s deep voice says, all soft and cautious.

Rosco lets out a sigh, “Don’t worry about it,” his self-deprecation had reached a pinnacle he was not ready to come down from, “it’s not like you meant to.”

“True enough.” Hayden nods, “I am glad you see that, but I would like to know where the misstep occurred so I may take care not to hurt you in the same manner again.”

Rosco’s not sure what he expected, but seeing Hayden’s genuine concern fills him with warmth.  A warmth that eats away at just enough of his self-deprecation and mistrust for the boy to seek out a little comfort. “Useless,” he mumbles, already regretting talking about it, “I, uh, hear that a lot.” biting at his nails, “it hurts to hear, even when it’s true.”

Hayden takes a deep breath, “I apologize, Rosco.” mulling over his next words a while before saying them, “I believe whole heartedly that I will need you, I just do not yet understand what you, a human, can do for me that I cannot do for myself.” He sighs, “I am accustomed to having all the answers and I am quite frustrated that I do not, which is obviously no fault of yours. I am pleased you agreed to join me. I will not make such a thoughtless statement again.”

Feeling rather chuffed that the god humbled himself, Rosco allows his budding grin to fully bloom, “You know,” he starts, “it doesn’t actually help to hear that you can’t think of any possible ways I could be helpful to you.”

Hayden’s eyes widen in a moment of panic.

“I’m kidding.” Rosco chuckles, skipping a few steps ahead.