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Shouto knew what happened when the gods picked favorites. Envy, death, bastard children, even war.
Shouto had no interest in pursuing Bakugo Katsuki, the fisherman who always prayed to Shouto and gave good sacrifices. The only one consistent and dedicated to thanking the god of passage and travel. The other fishermen, even Katsuki's crew, were half-assed about their trips. Mortals thought they knew the seas and the storms.
No, Shouto just happened to bless each day that Katsuki opened his sails and cast his nets. To make sure the fiery man made is safely back to shore.
One day, Shouto bowed to his own curiosity. Shouto wasn't a popular god like Zeus, Hades, Athena, or Poseidon. But yet, Katsuki prayed to Shouto, who was definitely not a major god.
So when Katsuki made it safely back to town, Shouto watched as Katsuki took his biggest catch and offered it to Shouto. Well, the idea of Shouto because the real Shouto was now in mortal skin walking towards Katsuki.
"Which god is that for?" Shouto tampened his nervousness. This was the first time in many millennium that he spoke directly to a mortal. And this was a mortal he'd been observing for a while now.
"Fuck off. Don't interrupt." Katsuki barked. Shouto grinned and waited. This was an offering to him after all. Once Katsuki was done, he glared at Shouto for a split second before his face went blank. Then, Katsuki looked away back to his ship, but Shouto didn't miss the red flush in Katsuki's cheeks. Shouto was sure his face was blushing too.
"What did you want, half and half?" Katsuki checked the lines again to make sure his ship was properly docked.
"I noticed you sacrificing a massive fish. Wondered which god you were praying to." Shouto followed Katsuki around. The fisherman threw disdainful looks over his shoulder every time Shouto got too close.
Shouto enjoyed the proximity. It allowed him to learn that Katsuki's muscles were packed on top of more muscles. His skin was darkened beautifully and made his hair look even brighter. Katsuki's nose was rounder in person but his lips were drawn thin.
"Didn't see you watching..." Katsuki mumbled. Shouto grinned internally. The mortal was observant!
"It was for the god Shouto. Anything else? No? Good. Now be going. My crew and I have work to do."
Shouto backed up a bit to watch Katsuki throw fish into baskets for the market and for salting.
"I haven't heard of this god Shouto. Why him and not the god of the seas? Or the god of fishing?" Shouto kept his tone light but Katsuki's eyes still narrow.
"Where the fuck did you come from to never have heard of the god Shouto?" Katsuki dropped what he was doing and stalked towards Shouto. Shouto didn't move as Katsuki grabbed his collar.
Katsuki smelled very distinctly of sea brine and salt and sweat. Shouto wanted a closer smell.
"I would give an offering before you travel anywhere, half and half bastard. Shouto is the god of transitions, of duality, of change. The god of travel as well. You'd do best to learn about him before stepping a foot in any direction." Katsuki growled. Shouto's skin buzzed in hearing the acknowledgement from this puny mortal whose hands were calloused all over.
Shouto didn't have temples or priests, but if he did, Katsuki would be his only pick. Katsuki was well versed in his domain. As he's shown for many, many years, Katsuki was also very devoted.
"Thank you for your kind wisdom. I'll make sure to give him my gratitude."
Katsuki gave Shouto a strange look and continued with his work. And the moment Katsuki looked away, Shouto disappeared. The rest of Shouto's time was spent enjoying Katsuki's routine and his offerings. They felt particularly sweet and warm compared to the others.
It was nearing the festival to celebrate the changing seasons. Shouto was busy with preparation throughout the entire world. This was the one time that Shouto's name was induced so many time. This was when Izuku visited Shouto. With bad news.
"Poseidon took interest in Bakugo Katsuki and visited him earlier today. We all took notice when you visited him, Shouto." Izuku started out. Shouto was shaking but he couldn't name the emotion he was feeling. Anger? Fear?
"It been months since then." Shouto voice faltered. What he meant to be a panicked shout came out as a gasp. Izuku shook his head in similar confusion.
"He asked the same questions as you did. Bakugo Katsuki must have been tired of being scrutinized. He snapped at the god." Izuku was the god of messages yet he was stumbling over his words. Shouto got up quickly.
"He offended Poseidon! He's been cursed, Shouto!" Izuku called after Shouto who was already flying to Katsuki's town. Izuku could have kept up. He was the swiftest god of them all, but Izuku knew that Shouto would need to see it for himself.
Shouto presumed his mortal skin again and this time, walked (albiet a bit swiftly) from the outskirts of town. Katsuki was sitting on the bare ground in front of his ship which was empty and quiet. The only sounds were the waves splashing against the ship.
"I've had enough of godly encounters for the day." Katsuki said with one look at Shouto. "I just want to say goodbye in peace."
Shouto's fists were tight but he knew a full fight with the god of the seas would be ugly and devastating. And with the changing seasons, Shouto was stronger with the increased offerings but so was the other.
"Allow me to let you say goodbye properly. You deserve one last trip on your ship." Shouto offered. Katsuki only scoffed and shot up from the ground.
"I guess you haven't heard the news? Everyone in town heard the fucking god berating me. I can't set foot into the seas. Not on my ship. Not on anyone else's. I don't even know if I'm allowed to go for a swim! Fuck!" Katsuki takes the empty crates and throws them into the sea. Shouto stands still as he watched Katsuki continue to demonstrate his rage through destruction.
"If only I could find that fucking asshole, I'd like to put my fist through his face." Katsuki clenches his hands.
"What will you do now?" Shouto's voice carried softly in the wind. It caressed Katsuki's cheek, and Katsuki was surprised at the sorrow.
"Sell the ship. One of my crew members said they'd captain the ship if I'd be able to tend the stalls." Katsuki laughed unhappily. "I'd die just sitting around and chatting with the townspeople."
Shouto realized that Katsuki didn't know either.
"I can take you out to sea. One last time. Decide after you get to say goodbye." Shouto tentatively put a hand on Katsuki's shoulder. In all the years Shouto knew this man (from a distance), Katsuki was picky with physical touch. Today must have been an extra draining day given Katsuki didn't brush Shouto off.
"And who're you? I don't think I like it very much when the gods notice me." Katsuki seemed to bite back his curiosity.
Shouto gestured to the ship. "I'm the one to guide you safely on your travels and passage."
Katsuki spun with eyes wide blown. "Oh, fuck me."
Katsuki immediately dropped to the ground, head bowed and shoulders down. Shouto could tell that Katsuki wasn't even looking at Shouto's feet.
"Shit, I must have offended you so much, my--how do I even address you? Uh, godliness? Oh, holy fuck." Katsuki was trembling now. Shouto hadn't even shown his godly form.
"Okay, that's enough Katsuki. On to your vessel now. I can't reverse Poseidon's curse, but I can guarantee your voyage. Let's just pray he doesn't rage against the others." Shouto helped Katsuki up who was now staring intently. But as he laid eyes again on his ship, Katsuki was consumed by grief. He had lost his ship, his profession, his income, his passion.
He was going to say a goddamn proper farewell.
Katsuki took a determined step onto the plank and the waves heaved. Katsuki threw Shouto a hesitant look. Shouto, himself, was surprised by the seas. Poseidon must be very angry.
Katsuki took another step, but then, the ship was knocked against the dock. Katsuki lost his balance and would have gone straight into the sea if not for Shouto.
"Fuck." Katsuki put his feet back onto solid land. Shouto had never felt so helpless as a god. It had to be Poseidon, one of the top Olympians, that Katsuki pissed off.
"I'm so sorry. If it wasn't for my interest--"
"Ha." Katsuki's harsh laugh cut Shouto off. "Don't think so highly of yourself."
Shouto blinked. "But I'm a god."
Katsuki sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. "Yeah, and a fucking amazing god. You ensured safe travels for me and my crew for years. I never lost a man to the seas."
Shouto was stunned at the admiration. When was the last time a mortal left him speechless?
"And quite possibly the only god that still favors me." Katsuki whispered, and the truth of his statement goes through Shouto's body with a shiver. Many wouldn't dare to outwardly oppose Poseidon. Similar numbers wouldn't try his patience either by associating with a mortal Poseidon cursed.
Shouto leaned forward and lightly rest his hand on Katsuki's waist. Shouto pressed his lips on Katsuki's forehead. The mortal was stunned into a rare silence.
"It's a blessing for you. That whatever your next adventure is successful and a smooth journey. May your roads find you fulfillment." Shouto pulled away before Katsuki gathered his thoughts and his vulgar words.
Shouto returned to his own realm. He had to prepare to make sure the seasons changed accordingly. And Katsuki was only one human. A human that probably hated him but would continue offerings as to not offend a god. Shouto had looked forward to Katsuki's offerings but now they were bitter and lukewarm.
Until he heard a prayer after seasons of silence.
"You owe me one. You owe me so you have to make sure I find safe travels back home." Katsuki's voice sounded desperate and scared.
Shouto found Katsuki in a war camp, buckling his armor that he must have bought by selling his ship. His muscles strained under the metal. It was different strength than pulling fish out of the seas.
Shouto never left Katsuki's side as battle broke out. Shouto wasn't the god of war or of victory. He wasn't the god of strength and courage. And every time Katsuki parried and dodged, Shouto wished he were some other god to protect this man whom he cared too dearly about.
But Katsuki had prayed to him. For guidance back home. Shouto was able to do that much.
As the fight ended, Katsuki's fellow foot soldiers regaled his tale of how he was able to find openings in the enemy lines. How he ducked quickly into ditches before a volley of arrows were launched. How he was able to side step a falling horse, long boney legs flailing. Katsuki gave a quick prayer of gratitude to Shouto before sleeping that night.
And so the battles continued. Shouto knew he was neglecting his other responsibilities, but Katsuki was special. Shouto wouldn't let some other god play with Katsuki's fate, even if it was Nike, Athena, or Ares.
Or if it were the other mortals.
The captains and commanders were getting suspicious. The soldiers were already wary. Katsuki never left the field looking as if he had been killing all day. Rather, he looked as if he went to the butcher to cut up meat already strung up for him.
And the mortals' talk and fear festered from awe to something nastier.
Shouto saw the nasty coming. Katsuki was asked to meet the commander, and he obeyed like a good solider.
They grabbed him as soon as he entered the tent. They tied him down and demanded to know if Katsuki was half-god. They hadn't heard of Shouto, and they didn't care for prayers. Only results. So when the commander ordered for Katsuki's blood to be drained so they could gain his luck and skill on the battlefield, Shouto descended.
This time he came in his own true form.
"W-who are you?" One of the soldiers holding Katsuki asked. The smell of urine was thick in the tent.
"A fucking god." Shouto growled before emptying the tent of life. The screams quieted one throat at a time. Shouto hadn't protected Katsuki against Poseidon, but that wouldn't be a problem again.
"That was amazing." Katsuki gaped, watching Shouto walk across the tent to loosen the rope around Katsuki.
"You needed me." Shouto shrugged.
"I imagine many people need you." Katsuki rolled his eyes.
"Yes, but it was you who needed me." Shouto presses his palm against Katsuki's warming cheeks.
"So what now?"
"I fucking hate that question." Katsuki massaged his sore rope burned wrists. "You asked me that last time. My turn. What should I do now?"
Shouto's fingers twitched to stroke Katsuki's hair when the man faced Shouto directly. This time Katsuki's red eyes weren't down cast. They were fiercely focused on him. Just the way Shouto liked.
Shouto raised his hand slowly and caressed Katsuki's face, the way he's wanted from the beginning.
"Come with me. Leave them and stay by my side. You can be the god of the winds and the sea." Shouto loved the grin that broke out on Katsuko's face.
"Leave mortal life, live with my favorite god, and be able to go back to sea and spite Poseidon?" Katsuki laughed loudly. "Yes, I like your plan."
"And so be it."