Chapter Text
Ballister did not understand why The Queen was inspecting him so intensely now. Sure, he didn’t make a habit of coming to Olympus. Normally when they met it was in the human world as it was neutral territory and that way none of them had to feel uncomfortable stepping into the other’s kingdom, not to mention the objections other Gods might have about him stepping foot into their precious palace. But today Ballister decided it was time he visited The Gilded Kingdom, to see the sights and how things had changed over there.
“Your Majesty,” he did a small courtesy. "Why so surprised to see me?" He tried not to show his unease. No matter how old he was, no matter that he was the ruler of his own domain - The Queen would always remain in his eyes as an authority figure (and, even if he denied it, a mother figure).
The Queen straightened even more in her seat, giving him an exasperated but fond look. “I think you do have an idea why, Ballister.”
They were in one of her private gardens, she sat beside a fountain enjoying the sun while reading. After a moment she sighed, closed her book, and fixed Ballister with an unimpressed stare. “You had your dose of social interaction a couple of days ago at your party. That and the fact that you never come to Olympus means that if you are here, it’s because you want something. Am I wrong?” she asked, her tone of voice letting him know she already knew the answer.
She could read him like an open book, ever since she'd taken him in as a youngling. All the Death and Evilness Incarnate situation had not changed that.
Ballister smiled, sweet as molasses “Fine, you got me, your Highness. I came because I wanted to know what you thought of the party. I must admit at first I was not convinced it was a good idea, but I quite enjoyed myself so I’m thinking I might make it into a regular occurrence.”
She squinted at him, her brow furrowing delicately - evidently seeing straight through him, not believing his words. Then she shrugged and went back to her book.
“Yes well, it was a good party but I’m not sure you really want to keep hosting them. Yesterday was a formal and controlled affair because of the festival but those things can get pretty wild and rowdy, and I don’t think you want that in your kingdom.”
“Maybe you’re right, see that was why I wanted to talk to you before deciding anything,” Ballister took a sip of his wine letting it swirl around his tongue and enjoying the taste. Then he clacked his fingers as if just remembering something. “Oh yes, and I wanted to ask you something. I met someone at the party, a God I had never seen before and I was hoping you could tell me more about him.”
There was a sharp thud as she closed her book again and her posture became rigid. Suddenly she had a resigned look in her eyes, and she seemed fearful about something. Her knuckles were getting white because of her grip on the book and her lips were tightly pursed. She looked disappointed but not surprised. “I knew you wanted something. I’m sorry Ballister, but he is The Director’s protégé so he’s very off limits.”
Ballister sighed. “Well, I wouldn’t know that. Now, would I? I’m telling you I had never spoken to him before, and our encounter was rather short. That’s why I’m asking.”
The Queen closed her eyes briefly and her brow became even more furrowed, but she didn’t say anything for a minute. She seemed uncomfortable.
“He is The Director’s charge, God of Spring and Sunshine, and he…” Ballister snorted at that.
“Sunshine?”
This time The Queen’s sigh was long-suffering. “Yes Sunshine , most of the time he isn’t exactly the definition of Sunny, but you have to have noticed he kind of glows. I think it has something to do with the fact he was born out of a sunbeam from the Golden Sun," she said resignedly. “Anyway, he is The Director’s and you know how she gets, so please stay far away from him.”
Ballister clicked his tongue and clutched his chest with an affronted expression. “But your Majesty, if he is The Director’s charge then that means he is family, and it is very rude to not know your family, how can you possibly expect me to stay away.”
For the first time The Queen's perfect composure cracked. Ballister could count on one hand the number of times that had happened, seeing it now made him uneasy and a sense of foreboding came over him. She gripped the edges of the table with both hands bringing herself closer to him and looking straight into his eyes with determination.
“Look Ballister, I know you like to play around and amuse yourself, it's who you were made to be, I understand, but Ambrosius is different. He is important and we need him to do his job and do it right. He is the God of Spring but there is something…” She stopped, not sure of her words. It was the first time since he had known her that Ballister saw her hesitate like that. “There is something wrong with him, something dark and burning, a fire inside him that shouldn't be there. So please for his sake and the sake of all of us. Stay. Away. From. Him.” She held his stare for a couple more seconds and then very deliberately went back to her original position and her book.
For a moment Ballister was left speechless. The Queen’s demeanor was troubling, and something told him there was more to the God of Spring than what they were telling him. It intrigued him and made his insides itch with curiosity and the need to push for more. But the strange feeling of unease forming in the pit of his stomach and seeing the dark look in The Queen’s eyes made him smother his curious nature and comply for once.
“Okay, I promise I’ll behave.” He took a gulp from his winecup to try and wash down everything that had just happened. After an uncomfortable silence - and a strange and pitying look from her - they changed the subject and for the rest of his visit didn’t talk about anything even remotely related to the party or the God of Spring.
-
It was a cold morning towards the end of the year and Ballister had forgotten everything about that little incident. He went back to normal and ignored it whenever the thought of Spring entered his mind. He went about his business like usual. Right now, he was topside. It wasn’t really necessary for him to go collect souls from the mortal world, for that he had his subjects and servants, but he liked to go and have a change of scenery every once in a while. It interested him to see how humanity changed throughout the centuries and it was good to keep up with the current affairs of Men to be able to appropriately accommodate them in his Kingdom.
Ballister walked with his hands inside his coat's pockets, head bowed and eyes obscured by his hood. He knew he stood out with his dark clothes and weirdly shadowed countenance, but apart from that to the mortals he looked like any other passerby. Not exactly one more amongst the crowd, but normal if a little strange, and ultimately unremarkable and invisible.
“Ballister!” came a shout from behind him. He ignored it, knowing it couldn't possibly be directed at him. He kept strolling leisurely until he felt someone behind him, and a hand grabbed his shoulder. He froze, taking the person by the wrist and twisting until he heard a whimper of pain. When he finally looked up and recognized the man standing before him, he immediately dropped his arm and straightened himself.
Before him stood none other than Ambrosius Goldenloin, clutching his wrist to his chest with an expression of pain maring his brow. He was dressed in ratty jeans and a white t-shirt along with a hoodie and sneakers. His blond hair was ruffled from the wind and his cheeks and ears were red from the cold. And in spite of the dreadful weather and the weak sunlight from a cloudy day he was glowing as if he was bathing right in the sunlight of Springtime. His eyes were still as bright and as fiery too, Ballister was dismayed to note.
Ballister could only stare while the other God massaged his wrist and righted himself. Then he turned to Ballister and looked at him expectantly.
“Well, Sunshine,” he said, emphasizing the word. “What do you want?”
Ambrosius looked taken aback, a scowl overcoming his features before his expression smoothed out into guarded neutrality. Ballister couldn’t really bring himself to care. The guy had rudely interrupted his walk and he had strict instructions to stay far away from him, after all, the more uninviting he was towards him the better.
When the other God only glared at him Ballister lifted an eyebrow and waited. Finally, the other spoke. His tone a little clipped.
“I just wanted to come say hello and to properly introduce myself seeing as I didn’t get the chance to when we met. The Director gets awfully protective, and I don’t know a lot of people apart from the 'Good Gods'," it did not escape Ballister's notice the weird emphasis he put in Good.
Interesting.
Ambrosius looked away suddenly, seeming uncertain with the wind knocked out of his sails. “So that’s about it then. I guess I’ll just…” He made a move to walk away but then just stopped and stared for a couple of seconds before turning around and hurrying away.
Ballister debated with himself mentally about what he was about to do. It was stupid, he knew it, and it was very probable he was going to regret it later but for now it seemed like a good idea. Almost without thought he grabbed Ambrosius's hand and turned him back around.
Ambrosius looked at him with an odd expression and he realized he was just standing there holding his hand and staring at him like a starstruck Nymph. Ballister immediately let go of him and tried to get the situation back under control.
His lips moved into an impish smile, one corner rising faster than the other. He looked into those bright, shining eyes and without breaking contact lifted the hand he had just dropped to brush a wild strand of almost golden hair away from Ambrosius’s forehead. “A little far from your keeper’s side, aren’t you, darling?” he said as he cupped his cheek.
Ambrosius shivered and closed his eyes but didn’t pull away. On the contrary he leaned a little into the touch. Now, that just wouldn’t do. Ballister was putting a lot of effort into trying to make him uncomfortable and scaring him back into the Director’s arms. The least the guy could do was to become a little scared, but it apparently wasn’t working.
Huh, normally by now people were squirming to try and get away.
“Does this little act of yours actually work?” Ambrosius asked without opening his eyes.
Ballister was incredulous. “I beg your pardon, but what?” His hand was frozen on the other's cheek and he really couldn´t believe what he was hearing.
“I mean this, the whole…” he opened his eyes and looked at Ballister with an amused stare. “This whole intimidation tactic.”
“Generally,” Ballister didn´t know what to do. The Queen was right, something was seriously wrong with this guy. He finally pulled his hand away and ignored Ambrosius’s disappointed look at the loss of contact. “The whole God-of-Death-and-ruler-of-the-Underworld thing usually tends to have an effect.”
“Oh” Ambrosius blinked, a strange look crossing his eyes. “If you're trying to be scary you have to do something about the big doe eyes," he said bashfully. "But, if it helps, it is sort of difficult to get scared when you've been adopted by The Director.”
He hunched his shoulders while he scratched the back of his head and licked his lips. He seemed to be looking for something to talk about. “So, I noticed very few people were eating the food at your party, it seemed strange to me because it looked delicious but The Director wouldn't let me have any.”
Good Gods. Had no one taught him anything about anything? Seeing how protective The Director was of him he would have thought she would have warned him about everything she perceived as dangerous for him at that party. Ballister was very amused as well as horrified about the sheer innocence and ignorance of the man and The Director's baffling parental decisions.
Ballister laughed. “Yes well, maybe it was because if they did, they’d have to stay in the Underworld for the rest of eternity. I honestly don’t think that is a bad thing, but the others don’t agree with me.” His smile was sharp and full of teeth, a perfect impression of Nimona.
“Ah.” A stilted silence settled between them. Ambrosius didn’t seem to know what to say, and Ballister refused to break it. He was content to watch him squirm. “Okay, then. It was nice finally meeting you properly. I’ll be on my way. The Director gets angsty when I disappear for too long.” With that Ambrosius sent him a smoldering look and vanished into the crowd as if he was never there.
Ballister watched him go and stood there for a good thirty minutes with a blank expression on his face. What an odd encounter. He kept replaying their conversation and wondering what in Hades’ name he was doing. He didn’t know why but he felt a strange pull towards the other God and there was a curious warmth that creeped into his chest whenever he was around him. Someone bumped into his shoulder and finally took Ballister out of his musings. He realized he was just standing there thinking about a Godling like a besotted fool.
He shook himself and went about his day, trying to forget everything about smoldering amber-brown eyes and lips that shone like the purest gold.