Chapter Text
°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･
Momma’s boy, and that’s all those things he couldn’t say
Bon Jovi or Linkin Park, reader’s choice
“Creation and destruction.”
He could hear his mother’s voice gushing merrily.
Cue laughter.
He sighed. Every party played out the same way, and there were so many parties.
Then the unsubtle insinuations about how he’s perfect for Katsuki all the way home until the gate clangs shut behind him and he can escape to his gardens and his room.
Escape.
Safe on the terrace for a moment, he allowed himself a bitter huff of laughter.
From the larger cage that felt like a gladiator arena to the pretty, much smaller prison his mother designed for him.
Where he couldn’t get hurt.
Except by the people she allowed.
Couldn’t talk to people beneath him.
People who didn’t agree with her.
Where people couldn’t fill his head with foolish notions.
That didn’t align with her desires.
He’d retreat to the library if he could. But his mother has made certain to keep her little crowd by the doors so he can’t. He listens to the cackles of her best friend. The small explosions as Katsuki rages when he’s the butt end of the joke.
Soft steps warn him of approach.
He relaxes when it’s Shoto.
As controlling as his mother is, Helios is so much worse.
They sit on the railing, looking at the gardens and down at the clouds that separate them from the mortal world. Shoto’s good company. They rarely risk speaking, too aware that someone could come upon them. But they can sit in silent empathy and wish for something better, for themselves and each other.
Triumphant crowing and explosions make both flinch, turning to look into the banquet hall. His mother’s soft, sappy expression is worrisome, but it’s Katsuki’s leer as he looks around that makes him shrink.
If he could, he’d pray to Hades that the earth would simply swallow him whole. But that man rarely submits to their company, and he has little hope his prayer would be answered.
Katsuki is looking for him. That becomes apparent, and nothing good will come of it.
Mother Gaia protect him.
He gets to his feet; every impulse says run. But he can’t get through the room unseen. Artemis stands at the nearest archway. Her pink and purple hair distinctive in the glow of the lanterns. He thinks she would allow him to pass without comment. Without stopping him. But he’d be in plain view.
“Where will you go?”
Even at a whisper, the words startle him.
“What?” He tears his eyes away from his hunter for only a moment.
Heterochromatic eyes regard him solemnly.
“Where will you go?”
“As far as I can.” He doesn’t know. He’s not even sure if they’re talking about the same thing, but his heart pounds. Crashing against his ribs. Runrunrun.
Shoto nods and walks away. He can only watch as his friend enters the hall, tracking Katsuki. He watches, horrified. THRILLED. As Shoto grabs a plate of food, waits until Katsuki glances away, and then walks straight into the other young god.
The results are instant. Shouting. Curses, Insults.
Demeter and Ares rush forward to soothe Katsuki’s ire, and with them, the whole of the extended family turns toward the drama.
He could kiss him.
Instead, he runs.
Artemis has not moved. Dark purple eyes regard him calmly, then she makes a point of looking through him. As if she cared what was happening on the other side of the room.
“Thank you, Kaina.” He whispers as he slips by and races down the hall. He has minutes, at best. Seconds at worst.
He can see the gate. The golden arches stand open.
He could go home. Back to his gilded cage to be smothered with his mother’s fear until she drags him to parade around, using him as bait for others' favors.
Or...
... He could slip out to the mortal world.
Yelling gets loud behind him.
People are looking for him. He can hear his mother's anxious cries. Ares’ voice mingled with his mother’s. Joined by deeper voices. Zeus. Katsuki.
He runs, feet sure on the earth. Prays to Mother Gaia that the earth will not betray him. That neither root nor stone will hinder his stride.
But he's not as fast as Hermes. He can't escape Helios once the man takes to the skies.
Here–
A whisper through the grass at his feet as grandmother stirs.
If he wants to succeed, he has few choices. He follows.
The whispers and subtle swishing of the plants guide him to a crevice between the rocks. A cave in the shoulder of Mt Olympus.
He slips into the shadows and, for the first time that day, feels safe.
Rather than wait near the entrance where he still might be found, he takes cautious steps in the gloom to venture deeper. The slope is steep enough to demand caution.
The cries hunting him fade
Lichen glows, and the dark never becomes absolute. Whisps of pale fog dance in willowy shapes, and one coalesces into a humanoid form with a faint moan.
He knows where he is now.
Not a cave, but a gate to the underworld. He almost laughs. Maybe Hades heard him after all. He's never met Hades. He hopes the man forgives his trespass.
But the worry isn't enough to make him turn back, and he arrives at the shore of a river
Styx. The dark waters lap quietly at the rocks with no sign of a ferryman.
Does he only come when there is a soul to ferry? Or only when the soul has the coin to pay the fare? What happens if souls arrive at multiple gates? Do all the gates lead to the same dock? Or are there multiple ferrymen?
He doesn't dare touch the water, but a giant rock with a smooth top is an easy jump away. He settles. He rests his head on his arms, lying comfortably as he stares into the water below.
Souls slide by. Their mournful sounds echo faintly in the vast cavern. He'd expected them to sound pained. Everyone speaks of ‘tortured souls’ but here, they only sound sad.
Regret. That's what it sounds like.
He knows how that feels. Frustration. Betrayal. Regret. Grief. Those have been his constant companions for more years than he wants to count.
He weeps for them and for himself until he falls asleep.
***
In the perpetual twilight of his realm, there is a splash of light and warmth and life.
He was already exhausted. He doesn’t need a surprise.
Today had been long. He had shrugged off the celebration only to be summoned because one of the little darlings had gone missing. It was not the first time Zeus catered to Demeter’s hysterics. Given their history, it wouldn't be the last.
He walked along the shore, stepping into the water to stand beside the rock the boy slept on.
Well. He'd found Demeter’s missing son.
That was easy.
He lifted a hand, intending to shake the boy awake, then paused. Tear tracks marred freckled cheeks. There were no injuries. Not so much as a bruise. Implying that the boy had not been stolen. He had fled.
Why he'd seek refuge here was a mystery.
Except–
He turned, gaze raking the path behind him. Only his tracks led in.
As odd as the choice felt, it was successful.
With a sigh, he glanced at the boy once more. Demeter spoke as if he were just a child. A fragile toddler, not a young man. All the little godlings were old enough to be out and about, and this one was clearly more shrewd than they gave him credit for.
He decided it wasn’t his problem.
Shrewd, and braver than most if he dared to come here.
No matter what meaning they read into his words, he’d never promised to help them. If this bit of sunshine had cause to seek sanctuary in the dark, he saw no need to betray him.
Hades resumed his journey home.
He left the little runaway to make his own choices.