Chapter Text
The son of Headmaster Hades finds Asterius after his class ended. He is waiting for him outside, leaning on the wall next to the door, tapping his foot and humming an unfamiliar tune to himself. Seemingly unaware or without care of the glances and whispers being thrown his way by the students passing by. He half expects Zagreus to miss him, but the sophomore perks up the second Asterius walks out. He is hard to miss he supposes, what with his enormous height, and how he had to duck outside as to avoid hitting his horns on the door frame.
"Hey big guy," Zagreus beams at him. All toothy-grin and washed-out letterman jacket.
“Short one,” Asterius nods at him in acknowledgement.
Though the term ‘friendship’ may not be necessarily applicable, since relationships in such nature are foreign to Asterius - He and Zagreus are on good terms. Their interactions so far have been pleasant, albeit short, and Zagreus happens to enjoy their banter. The Headmaster's son isn't interested in their back-and-forth this time however, and had come to him with a different intention in mind.
"Can we talk? I need to ask you something. It won't take long, I promise," Zagreus asks almost sheepishly.
Asterius doesn't have anything else going on after school. Never had. So he decides to humor the short one, "What is it?"
He scratches the back of his head as he asks, "You wouldn't happen to be interested in football, would you?"
Asterius is taken in by surprise; he blinks, "No, but I could be persuaded."
"Oh wow! Well then, prepared to be swayed by my debatably generous offer," Zagreus says. His expression brightens, having regained his confidence somewhat. "Coach Achilles is looking for new additions to our team. I told him about you, and I could tell that he was intrigued. We are short on players right now, and the match against Athenian Champions is coming up soon. You wouldn't even have to tryout if you just give me the word. So?"
Asterius frowns. This feels like a trap. "And why would you offer me a position? How would an inexperienced, untested sportsman be beneficial to your team?"
"Because we are desperate, and this is a highly unusual circumstance. We'd prefer to lose by our incompetence rather than disqualification." Zagreus holds two fingers up. "Second, have you looked at yourself, Asterius?"
"Once or twice."
Zagreus chuckles. "As much as you hurt me with this 'short one' business, I have to give credit where credit is due. I'm convinced that you could win us a trophy just by standing still in the fields."
Asterius snorts, "Hardly sounds productive."
"I'm serious!" Zagreus insists. "Will you please at least consider? If we don't make it this year, Father is never going to let me hear the end of it."
Zagreus has this quality about him that makes him difficult to resist. People naturally gravitate towards him, and they jump at the opportunity to lend him aids whenever the need arises. Asterius, too, feels the inexplicable pull dragging him along, deep into Zagreus' gemstones-colored eyes, gleaming.
"Fine," Asterius rumbles. "I accept."
"Yes! Thank you, Asterius. You are not going to regret this."
Oh, but he is.
Coach Achilles looks up to him, eyes wide in bewilderment, but his lips curl into a smile. He seems pleased. "How tall are you, lad?"
Asterius snorts, "Seven feet without the horns."
It was not intended as a joke, though it achieves a humorous effect nonetheless. Coach Achilles bellows out his laughter, and soon enough the team joins in kind. He looks younger when he laughs, the rough lines on his face soften and fade. Asterius couldn't find it in his heart to take offense.
"How about that," Coach Achilles grins. "I'm afraid we don't have anything in your size, but that won't be a problem. Today, we are simply going over the fundamentals.."
When Zagreus said they were short on players, it was not an exaggeration. Most of the team are now filled with students who have little to no experience in the fields. Some of them don't even look fit to be an athlete. Next to Asterius is a highly uncomfortable Thanatos, who clearly has been roped into this by Zagreus. He looks like an entirely different person without his black ensemble, specifically his trademark hood. Now, in loose shirt, gym shorts, and sneakers, Thanatos is completely out of his element. It's strange - Asterius never thought Thanatos would put up with this. Certainly not for others. Though if anyone is able to convince Thanatos to care about high school sports competition, then it is Zagreus.
"He got you too huh," Thanatos says, glancing at him from the corner of his eye.
They exchange a knowing nod, both having accepted their fates.
The first practice is more of a trial run. Coach Achilles gives them various exercises to test their strength, endurance, and speed. Then he covers the rules of the game, the terminology, team composition, and basic plays. Asterius is still wrapping his mind around the complex details, but it shouldn't be too long until he becomes accustomed to the sport. He feels that he has an advantage already from.. being a bull. 'Naturally gifted' as Coach Achilles generously put. Asterius is already faster and stronger than most, despite having no former experience or training. Thanatos also does exceptionally well for himself, but that was not much of a surprise. He is not incapable - never was. He, like Asterius, simply had no interest in football up until this point.
Coach Achilles let them take a short, much-needed break afterwards. During the brief period, he told the team about practice schedule, training regimes, potential composition and the likes. There were some mentions about how he'd make a great Lineman, but Asterius is still figuring out what a Lineman is. Or does. He will just go along with it when the time comes. Once they are dismissed, Zagreus rushes over to where Thanatos and him were standing.
"See? It wasn't so bad, was it?" Zagreus asks, shifting his weight between his feet. Too excited after the practice he couldn't stand still.
Asterius snorts, and Thanatos gives him a noncommittal grunt. Whatever rebuttals Zagreus had for their non-verbal replies die in his throat, as Thanatos lifts his shirt up to wipe the sweat off his brows, exposing his bare stomach. Thanatos is strong, there is no hiding his large shoulders and muscular biceps even with all the layers he usually wears - but this is the first time Asterius sees how well-defined his abdomen is. His impressive muscle definition flexes and glistens with sweat. It must be Zagreus' first time as well, because he is openly ogling him at this point. Eyes tracing over Thanatos' smooth, dark skin, his mouth opened wide enough to catch flies. Asterius pretends to not notice.
Thanatos let his shirt fall and the moment ends as quick as it comes. Zagreus mouthed 'Thank you' at Asterius before he averts his gaze. He is blushing hard, the tip of his ears are now burning pink, but thankfully football could be blamed for that.
Once informed of his position on the team Hades Hellhounds, Asterius' stepfather grimaces and says, "What do I care about local high school sport? Don't waste my time. Go to the basement."
Asterius didn't expect him to care anyway, he was telling him for his own sake. If he finds out later that Asterius does something without his knowledge, he's going to act all humiliated. But now that he knows, Asterius gladly steps down to his basement. There is not much down there.. if at all. Only the bare minimum furnishing. He thought of decorating it once, but it feels futile to decorate a room when he didn't even have a bed frame. (He used to have one, but it couldn't withstand his weight for long.) Coach Achilles mentioned long hours of training, perhaps that could be good for Asterius. It's not like he has much to do here.
He must've drifted off while lost in thought, and it isn't until late in the evening that he wakes up. Asterius sits up from his mattress groggily, rubbing at his eyes and yawning. Noises woke him up, creaking old door swings open and now soft footfall stepping down the stairs. It's his sister, and she brought dinner.
"I come bearing sacrifices, O great Minotaur," Ariadne sing-songs in a teasing tone. "Hope you like the souls of children!"
Asterius rolls his eyes, and she bursts out giggling. "I'm kidding! It's meatloaf. You like meatloaf, right?"
Asterius snorts, "It's fine."
"You know, you're going to give me a real laugh one of these days," Ariadne says. She places the dinner tray on his desk and turns to pout at him.
"Unlikely," Asterius says. "Start workshopping on better jokes."
"You're so mean to me, you big old bull! Are you like this with your teammates too?"
"So you've heard."
"Uh-huh," Ariadne hums. She hesitates for a second. "Gosh, this is embarrassing to say but.."
"What-"
"Athenian Champions' Quarterback is sooo hot."
Well.
That is.. unexpected.
"I don't know who that is," Asterius mumbles, feeling a little bit shy. He's more familiar with Ariadne compared to others in his father's family, but they never had this kind of talk before. Boys talk.
"Whatishisname.. gah! It's at the tip of my tongue!" Ariadne snaps her fingers. "He's their prom king! Does that ring any bell? No?"
Asterius shakes his head.
"Damn," Ariadne sighs. "You're just going to have to take my words for it then. He's blonde.. and bronze . So dreamy. Do you like blondes?"
Asterius stutters, "I…"
"Never mind, sorry," Ariadne waves. "It's silly. We don't have to talk about my crushes."
"It's not silly," Asterius reassures her. He's not uncomfortable, just.. uncertain of how to proceed. This is new to him. "You have a crush on this.. king?"
"Oh! Uh.." Ariadne tucks her hair behind her ear and giggles. She seems surprised - in a good way. "Yeah? Yeah. Yes, I do."
Asterius frowns. "You don't even know his name."
"I do! I just can't recall it right now," She protests. Seeing Asterius' disapproving glance just eggs her on. "Oh, come on. I couldn't help it! If you see him you'd understand."
"I doubt it."
"So you don't like blondes."
Asterius startles, "No, I didn't say that - "
Ariadne laughs at his reaction. She's always been a happy person, but she's the happiest when she gets to tease her half-brother. "Can you promise not to bull rush him off the surface of the earth into space - "
"An overstatement of my strength is not going to flatter me."
"And into - noo! stop it you are making me laugh! - And into the moon? Please avoid destroying his face, at least. He's a national treasure."
Asterius snorts, "No promises."