The Taste of Seduction

He had thought that it'd take longer for them to figure out how to have him back with them. But the smart ass dude had gone ahead and figured it out on his own – well, not entirely on his own. Marcus turned in the direction of Lucious and Gwen, who were also in tears and lost in their embrace.

"Oh Gwen, you're as beautiful as the day I lost you." Lucious said as he cupped Gwen's face, his hands drifted slowly, as if he was handling a precious egg. "Oh Lucious, you never cease to flatter me," Gwen said as color rose to her face, it was clear that Lucious made her feel like a girl still in her young days. It was an adorable sight to behold.

"Hey," Atlas called as he cupped Meredith's face, "You will never guess who I found in there." He added as he pointed in the direction of Lucious who had his arms open for a hug.

Meredith had a gaze of surprise and speculation as Atlas led her towards where he stood, waiting for her.

"Meredith, this is your father, Lucious. He was locked in the void at the time that you were a baby. That is why you cannot remember much about him." Gwen said as she took her daughter's hand and pulled her closer.

"My darling baby girl," Lucious said as he wrapped his arms around her, maintaining a light pressure in his grasp. Meredith wrapped her arms around his back, taking in the furry scent of him.

"Daddy," She whispered against his shoulder. "Yes, munchkin," Lucious whimpered, he forced himself to push down the bouts of emotions that were about to break out but it was too much to maintain.

"Oh my darling child, you're so grown up." He said within sobs, within moments, his face was riddled with tears. Meredith tightened her hold on him as if she'd now realized that the man was her father for sure. Gwen closed her arms over them,

"Finally, we are a complete and happy family." She whispered as a fresh torrent of tears poured from her eyes.

Oh to be surrounded with so much love. Marcus thought to himself as he walked out of the gathering, looking up at the sky that had begun to clear. Atlas joined him.

The day was beginning to radiate a promising beginning, with the sun lighting its gentle rays on the peaks of the hills and boulders that surrounded them.

"Hey," Atlas called out. Marcus, knowing he was referring to him, turned to acknowledge him.

"What's up?" He asked Marcus who was now stepping back in the shade of the rocks above them.

"Mmm, not bad I guess." He mumbled as he kicked a rock out in the sun. From his side view, he could see Atlas closing the distance between them. He thought he was coming to take position in a spot close to him.

But when he reached where he stood, he held out his fist. Marcus turned to look at it, and then he locked his gaze with his. Tilting his entire body, he bumped his fist with his and turned back to the view outside.

"What was that for?" He asked as he kicked another gravel to the wake of the sun.

"We've come a long way, don't you think?" Atlas said, still facing him.

Marcus chuckled as he replied, "You can say that again,"

"Thank you man,"

"For what?" This time, Marcus was looking at him when he asked.

"For watching my back. You've been there the whole time, making sure things don't go out of hand. After everything we've been through, I can proudly call you a friend." Atlas said with a hint of emotion in his voice, and then he turned away.

"Don't get too emotional, I might change at any moment," Marcus added as he turned to face Atlas, who was now facing him again.

"Tell me it was you who killed Austin," he asked, his gaze calculating as he beheld him.

"I grinded the motherfucker's face against the skin of his own beast," Marcus replied with a hint of pride in his tone. Atlas began to laugh as he closed the distance between them. He threw his arms around a stunned Marcus.

"What the hell are you doing?" His voice held a bit of unrest when he asked.

"I'm appreciating you, man. If you don't feel comfortable, just tap my back twice."

"Okay," he replied in a robotic monotone as he raised his hand and did as he was instructed. And then Atlas broke the hug.

"You see, don't worry, you'll get used to it," he added with a chuckle as he turned back to face the open space.

"No, I won't," Marcus replied with conviction in his voice. For a moment, he seemed to be pondering, and then he turned to face Atlas.

"You know, I gotta give it to you, you've got guts doing what you did to protect Meredith," he said with a tone filled with admiration.

"What do you mean? You would've done the same," Atlas replied nonchalantly.

"True, but at one point, I didn't think you had it in you," Marcus added with a shrug.

"What the hell, man?" Atlas exclaimed with a laugh.

"But—I truly mean what I said. And then you went ahead to figure out your own way out of that damned place and even brought back her dad.

Bro, you broke the record," Marcus was genuinely impressed as he acknowledged everything that Atlas had done for Meredith. It was something that he could do, but seeing that Atlas had the capacity to do so gave him much more confidence in him, coupled with respect.

"Thank you, man. I truly appreciate your compliment. Coming from you, they must be true," Atlas replied with a smile.

"I mean every word, Atlas. You did a great job," Marcus added.

"Alright, boys, we have to get going now," Gwen's voice rang out from within the cave. Marcus and Atlas turned at once to see her gesturing for them to follow her inside. They walked inside, treading carefully as they followed the trio before them deeper into the cave.

"Um, where are we going?" Atlas asked, confusion evident in his voice.

Meredith giggled as she replied, "Home."