closed

[sundere.livejournal.com]

Characters: Apollo, Ganymede, Hades, and Zeus
Location: The prince(ss)'s apartment
Rating: G-PG?
Time: November 18th 12:39 a.m. and onwards
Description: They're all exhausted from the attack so they decide to crash at the nearest, familiar place. Sucks to have the lowest room, princess!




[He didn't check to see if Hades was still on the bed as he had left him. In fact, he didn't want to see Hades at all for the next few days. It was frustrating that avoiding him was much more difficult with these limits.

Apollo drags his inconveniently heavy body out of the clinic and into the cold night after a couple more hours of rest on a bed he had found. His clothes had hardly been appropriate for the weather as they were but with the rips and such, they expose more of him to the chill. Gritting his teeth, he persistently takes the steps down the path that would lead him to (a snort) his place. There is more rubble that litter the streets than he thought, and he stumble once, twice (and then he stops counting) as he makes his way back. It's dark.

Eventually, he arrives at the broken down complex, and the prospect of climbing stairs to reach his floor annoys him. And then he remembers. Ganymede.

So he finds himself at the prince's door, smiling when it opens. How careless.

He slips in quietly, not even bothering to shut it behind him and he heads straight for the lump on the bed against the far wall. The god takes a moment to observe: blond hair messily spilled across the sheets, the slow rise and fall of the chest, and quiet, even breathing. The prince looked peaceful and relaxed, without the usual frown or wariness on his face.

He jumps onto the bed.]

Comments

[belovedonce.livejournal.com]

[ He deserved this. As far as Ganymede was concerned, he really, really deserved to have a decent night's rest- especially given the horrific hours at which his neighbor went out of his way to vocalize. Especially after Zeus' unexpected stay. Especially after the attack. And especially after Ganymede had wound up trapped in that other form for the better part of a day and a half.

Because crawling into bed at the end of the day meant he could remember what it felt like to truly let go of consciousness. To curl on his side and let the entirety of the world blink out under the weight of exhaustion. All of which had been astoundingly good to the prince up until this point- safely dreaming, body soft and at ease-

right up until a sudden displacement of pressure beside him sends Ganymede a scant few inches into the air. And simultaneously, headfirst into wakefulness, and panic. Eyes snap open, hands scrambling for the sheets as he jolts, shout tearing out of his mouth. ]

[sundere.livejournal.com]

[casually watches this reaction take place and then laughs; laughs for a good long while--today isn't completely bad, after all]

Hahaha... good morning, princess.

[belovedonce.livejournal.com]

[ you are such a jerk. ganymede actually, once he's caught his breath and his heart resumes a normal rate instead of oh dear god what is happening i'm going to die, just watches the deity. having a good laugh at his expense. though it's hardly the first time his discomfort has been used as a source for amusement, ganymede is embarrassed all the same- though it's irritation he shows most readily. ]

Are you finished?

[sundere.livejournal.com]

[Apollo collapses onto the bed, wheezing, and tries not to wince as he does so. He still looks like a mess but he wasn't bleeding anymore, thankfully; his injuries had mostly been shallow even if numerous. After steadying his breathing, he glances up at Ganymede and chuckles lightly again.]

This is rather weird to say to you, but you made my day. Good to see that you're still alive for me to play with.

[belovedonce.livejournal.com]

[ ugh. in the end, it's just easier not to look at him, and ganymede's chin lifts- face turned adamantly, well. anywhere but the god is just fine with him. ]

You look terrible.

[sundere.livejournal.com]

[rolls his eyes and onto his back, expression darkening slightly] That's obvious.

... You should have locked your door. I'm not leaving until I feel like it.

[belovedonce.livejournal.com]

You should go to the clinic and-

[ wait a minute. no. no he did not just hear what he think he just heard. ]

What?

[sundere.livejournal.com]

I just came from there.

[smile smile]

[belovedonce.livejournal.com]

What do you mean you're staying here?

[ the words are snapped, unabashed irritation, and ganymede begins to rustle beneath the sheets. an attempt to give the deity his full attention, as though that might be some sort of discouragement. ]

[sundere.livejournal.com]

It means what it means; don't be stupid, Ganymede.

[no guilt or shame whatsoever, shifting to get comfortable]

It could be worse.

[impartialsky.livejournal.com]

[you really should never say those words. because seconds after they leave Apollo's mouth, someone else wanders like a cloud into Ganymede's apartment. maybe from next door, but god only knows, really.

Zeus looks a little rumpled, a few scrapes on his arms and a number of feathers askew in the vast white plumage he possesses. his mouth opens when he sees Ganymede, before closing as he spots Apollo- and he tilts his head.

well then.]

[belovedonce.livejournal.com]

[ obviously getting out of the bed is the only solution, and it's as he slides out of the sheets, an irritable sleepy rumple- that he sees zeus. his eyes widen immediately, just in time to freeze in place.

oh for the love. another one? ]

[sundere.livejournal.com]

[Would they believe him if he said that he did it on purpose with every intention of surprising the prince even more? Not that he knew what would happen, but if something actually had happened, it would've been funny.

He sits up. Admittedly, the presence of Zeus hadn't been expected, but looking back and forth between the two, it was still fine.

And then he notices something peculiar. Returning the other god's gaze, he straightens.]

Were you going to say something?

[impartialsky.livejournal.com]

[unsurprisingly, Zeus says nothing to answer Apollo's question. not with words, not with a smile. but predictably his gaze wanders once more, and after a moment of silent stalemate he drifts further into the room.

Zeus has not seen any of them since the attack.

without much warning, he closes the space between himself and Ganymede, one hand lifting to dust near his jaw. but once he is close, he doesn't stop moving, and with a sweep of feathers Zeus leans down- whispers a ghost of what is obviously a kiss against the smooth of the prince's cheek.

he retracts after a moment, blue eyes hooded to look at and through the boy before giving him his space again.]

[belovedonce.livejournal.com]

[ what


what.

in truth, while ganymede hasn't necessary improved at expecting the unexpected, he's certainly come to anticipate that the gods will always do whatever they feel like doing. this part of the equation however, never quite factored in. yes, despite his fuss, apollo was generally expected to barge right into his life at any given moment to attempt to make his day as unpleasant, or at the very least, as uncomfortable as possible. and yes zeus was expected to filter in and out without reason, much less consent. but it's only after the deity pulls away from him that the prince registers what's happened at all- and remains, fixedly, standing in place. staring in bewilderment after him. ]

[sundere.livejournal.com]

[It was like watching the breaking of a dam, seeing Zeus and his actions this often. Starting with the trickle of water that he had glimpsed every few hundred years to a flood of heavy silence and inexplicable movements within a few weeks. Days, even.

The Sun sits there in silence as the exchange takes place, but after the initial surprise wears off, it's boring again.]

You're a lot more expressive about your preferences than I thought.

[a laugh]

Now you can boast about being blessed by God, princess.

[impartialsky.livejournal.com]

[Zeus, himself, seems to have lost interest in whatever was going on between Apollo and Ganymede beforehand. whether he's ignoring them or hasn't heard the exchange isn't clear, but Zeus wanders toward the window to peer outside.]

[belovedonce.livejournal.com]

[ he'd thought something like that once, hadn't he? the words apollo says put him back into motion regardless, bristling away from the bed and using the excuse of the kitchen to put distance between them. to keep his back turned to the pair.

he'd thought something like that, and look where it had gotten him. the words are dry, over his shoulder without a glance back. ]

That's not something to brag about.

[sundere.livejournal.com]

[And as soon as both turn away, Apollo's amused smirk drops. He was still too tired to stay awake and the comfort of the bed was trying to lure him back, telling him to lie down once more. There was now a choice to make: to leave himself open by resting here (not that either of the two would do anything to him once he did go to sleep, but the thought of them being witnesses to his moments of weakness displeased him greatly) or chance climbing the stairs up to his floor.

A moment later, he slowly places his head back on the pillow, not quite conceding to the first choice, but wanting to be comfortable while debating which decision he should go with. He glance once at Ganymede, once at Zeus (their backs, rather), and frowns.]

[belovedonce.livejournal.com]

[ from the safety of the kitchen, and the excuse of a glass of water he nurses with deliberate slowness, only then does it feel safe enough to venture a question. it's laced with too much genuine interest to sound as cold as he'd like it to be, but the words meet the air quietly regardless- and he slowly returns to the cupboard. fingers light on the counter. a debate as to whether or not he'll offer the pair a drink as well, or whether he has too much pride for that. ]

What happened out there?

[sundere.livejournal.com]

[doesn't answer for a few minutes because he doesn't feel like it

and then a sigh]

Chaos. Destruction. They were pretty ugly.

[belovedonce.livejournal.com]

[ the irritation is obvious in his voice. ]

I meant to you.
You partnered I take it?

[sundere.livejournal.com]

Yes.

[And that's all he has to say on the matter. He isn't anymore pleased about having fought with someone than his 'partner'. Zeus won't talk, either, so he has no worries about anything being revealed.]

[belovedonce.livejournal.com]

[ he looks over his shoulder then, curiosity piqued. ]

Is that what you're sulking about?

[sundere.livejournal.com]

[The back that is turned to Ganymede seems smaller than usual. His mind is loud and talkative despite not being able to hear thoughts anymore.]

Thinking, you mean? If that was supposed to be an insult, it was a horrible one.

[But even Zeus' presence that had never bothered him all that much before, is pressing down like a weight of mockery. The god who does whatever he wants and still remains detached from everything. Apollo didn't want to rot this quickly.]

[belovedonce.livejournal.com]

[ ganymede's hands shift, palms pressing flat to the countertop just long enough to lift his weight onto them. sit resolutely in a different room. despite the centuries he's had, the prince hardly considers himself an expert on apollo's mercurial moods. his words begin as a sigh regardless. ]

I suppose it's only a matter of time.

The rules here are different.

[impartialsky.livejournal.com]

[their conversation has since drawn Zeus back, though he hasn't moved from his place against the window sill, gazing mutely toward the two of them. to the king, reading them was simple enough- but of all of them, he couldn't tell who's changes were the most intriguing.

the fact that he, himself, may be rotting was neither a question nor concern. the rules were different, but not different at all.]

[sundere.livejournal.com]

[Apollo only chuckles lightly in response, having heard yet not at the same time. What about the rules? When has time ever mattered?

He shifts his gaze to where he would see Zeus standing if not for the wall in his line of sight. The room seems too small to contain the two contradictions that are mortal gods.]

Gods who dwelt among other gods have come to dwell among the mortals. They are no less and no more than what they were before.

[He says this to no one in particular, perhaps doesn't even realise that he's saying it.]

[belovedonce.livejournal.com]

[ as always, it doesn't take much to draw ganymede's attention, and even less to invest him in discussion ]

But we're plenty of things we weren't before.

[sundere.livejournal.com]

What, were you really a girl before?

[But he's interested in what you have to say.]

[belovedonce.livejournal.com]

That wasn't even inventive.

[sundere.livejournal.com]

[shrugs]

I'm not the one who comes up with the stories.

[belovedonce.livejournal.com]

[ urge to kill rising ]

I thought the stories said I was a baby.

[sundere.livejournal.com]

Only one of many. You're also his--[gestures at the Sky] lover according to some, right?

[belovedonce.livejournal.com]

[ very. very. resolutely. not. looking. at. zeus. ]

Stop sounding like you enjoy it so much.

[sundere.livejournal.com]

[turns and looks at Ganymede, smiling that smile that usually makes the prince want to slap him] But I am! I don't want to pretend I'm not when there is no point. Aren't you a bit old now to be embarrassed by this?

[And it's true, his mood has improved a little.]

[impartialsky.livejournal.com]

[it's always entertaining to be spoken of as though he is not present. Zeus has found the most interesting conversations happen that way.

as Apollo gestures to him, the god has moved only marginally, fingers drawn along one long white feather as though it may still have some discrepancies in it.

it is interesting, after all, to see the mirrored reactions of embarrassment between god and mortal. Zeus can recall a time when Apollo looked just as perturbed over the idea of something so simple as a kiss.]

[belovedonce.livejournal.com]

Aren't you tired of pestering me? [ predictably, ganymede bristles, because there are some buttons that will always be sensitive- and apollo- is irritatingly good at finding them. ] It's been long enough.

[sundere.livejournal.com]

[sits up, glances at Zeus who is listening; really, this is too funny]

You ask that every few years; I thought you knew the answer by now. And besides, they're only rumours.

['Or are they?' he says with his face]

[impartialsky.livejournal.com]

[who would know the sun liked gossip so much.

Zeus, for his part, only responds with the faintest of enigmatic smiles and betrays nothing.]