Archive of Our Own ^beta

They called in the Divinity Phenomena; a mysterious event that created Gods from mere human children who knew nothing until they knew everything in less than a second and suddenly, they were more than what they all seemed to be. Despite their bodies appearing to be a human, a mere human as someone says who knows nothing of what had transpired, their souls have never been and only needed a spark to awaken.

However, you might ask what spark is that? There are a couple of answers which had been thrown around in the air by bystanders; philosophers, doctors, government researchers and even trolls on the internet who love creating theories after theories without the pieces of the whole puzzle.

A memory- maybe. Something from their soul and past life of where they were gods suddenly resurfacing and with it- their divinity to which they shouldn’t have in the first place as a human. Some things are better buried and untouched, left in the dark in boxes covered in dust and forgotten for the sake of those who had left it in the height of their despair.

But what happens if something stumbles upon it, and like all curious beings, opens it without warning. Like Pandora and her great box of chaos and misery however it is not a memory. For there is no hope in being Divine.

Once you are touched, your soul will always remember the power and most importantly the loss they have experienced once upon a time.

There are those who say it must be an event.

Something strong and shocking that had forced their Divinity to come out to help them cope with it, for a cold indifferent God is not like that of a human who carries far too much emotions on their sleeves. An event that had shattered their humanity and had them ascended into something that will protect them from their circumstances and allow them to change their cruel fates.

But the rebirth of a God is either heralded as a miracle or a misfortune which would only bring disasters after disasters. And though their bodies are human, red blood and ivory bones- their souls will never ever be human. Not when they are Gods and the Will of the World understands that the most and thus-

Their presence alone brings misfortune and blessings and what can humanity do but react to the very thing their instincts just can’t seem to understand? They either shun those who are reborn, chests filled with fear and disgust or they worship them, putting them on a pedestal where they are no longer allowed to fail at the end.

But if it is not an event or a memory then what is it?

The answer is quite simple. Rather, it had been repeated quite a lot throughout this short passage of words and symbols. But to those who have yet to figure out the answer then, the answer is-

Feelings.

But first, let this poor narrator to the narrative of Gods and the Divine ask you a question first; What is the difference between a God and a Human?

Though there are Gods who may appear like a Human, the most important thing is that a God lacks the humanity, the love and the care and the kindness a human has, and in turn, they would always lack what makes a human be able to do all the things they are capable of doing. And one cannot simply compare the miracle of a God to that of a human, not when a miracle to a God is simply a gift- a mere whim that they have decided to bestow instead of really meaning it.

To a God, a miracle is nothing more than duty but to a human, miracles are rare and would change one’s life as small as it may be.

From this alone, a God is not something that has the emotional capacity as well as the capability to feel. They are not given such a thing for they must remain neutral. Loyal to the duty of which domain they carry on their shoulders and to which they are named after.

For the long life of a god is cruel and lonely and they must always remain as such.

Watching Savino carve something out of wood is an art by itself, something that Ludwig likes to do when he has time and for someone who is loved by the God of Time, literally, he has all the time in the world to do whatever he wants. And what he wants to do right now is push aside all the anxiety and work for school, as well as the recent news they have received concerning those who refused to join in the organization.

“What are you making today?” Ludwig asks, not once pausing from playing with Matthew’s curls and flattening them down when they bounce right up. “I thought Francis warned you not to overexert yourself.”

Before Savino can even reply, Matthew ends up laughing. “Woah! Can’t believe you’re actually saying that-” Ludwig can’t help himself from turning red, looking away and sighing. “Like you weren’t the someone who asked me to stop time just so you can finish a project that was due next month.”

“Better safe than sorry.” He mutters underneath his breath but still, he flicks the tip of Matthew’s nose gently. “You don’t know how much exertion can cause your body to worsen over time and though you might think you are getting the proper rest afterwards, the damage is already done.”

He pokes Matthew’s forehead, trying to make their partner stop making small silly faces at him when he’s planning to get Savino not to tire himself out- especially when he knows that he’s the type of person who would busy himself the more he stresses and has his mind on things that he would repeat over and over and over again.

“Savino?” Ludwig asks again, watching as he makes the third wooden bird of the day and without any breaks of acknowledgement of his partners by his side. Ever since they were called to the meeting room to discuss… what to do with the remainder of their families (death, war and power) and Savino never really takes it well when he has to be reminded of his little brother.

None of them really do but he takes it the worst. Going as far as sitting in one place, be it outside or inside a building, whether it's rain or shine, and just craving mindlessly until his hands are filled with splinters and small wounds. And there is nothing his partners (life with love and time) can do but watch him grieve in a way they cannot relate. Not even their voices and soft touches can pull him from his own thoughts and memories.

It's a game of patience—

No.

Not a game but rather a test of patience that would end with cuddles and warm bodies pressed together underneath a thick blanket as murmurs of a past life passes in the wind and goes to join forth the stars they might not see due to the smoke and pollution of the city.

Ludwig ends up looking down, meeting Matthew's eyes and between the two of them, they share the same worried look in their eyes and the tight lipped smiles that they passed around.

'Should we?' Matthew silently mouths at him, hands already twitching at the side to prepare himself to move.

'Yes.' Ludwig answers by nodding. His worry outweighs anything else at the moment and he knows it's not only him who feels it.

With the blink of an eye, he finds himself alone on the opposite bed. Matthew is nowhere to be found nearby or on his lap but when he looks up, he finds Savino trapped in a tight hug from his front. His tools tossed to the side while Matthew shushes him, trying to get their fussy partner to lay on him and so they can cuddle.

Seeing Savino huff, glaring at their partner with no heat in his eyes, Ludwig sighs a bit tiredly and carefully, he stands up and drags his body forward before collapsing onto the free space in the bed. One arm outwards to bring the other two down with him.

"Rest." He grumbles, peering down only to see Savino sandwiched against his side. "You won't be able to do anything if you stress yourself far too much." Maybe there might be a few people who would insist that he’s being quite a hypocrite.

Especially since whenever someone would try to get him to rest, he would be the one getting angry and insisting he can still do it. But he can be any other thing that the world would label him if it meant that his partners are safe.

(Gods- anything to keep them safe because he already lost what was left of his family once. He rather not have it happen again.)

It was an unlikely unionship.

Time, known to keep to himself and always overshadowed by his brother who was Power, joined forces with the likes of the stoic Love and the grumpy Life. A trio who make sense in theory but their personalities were far from each other to the point everyone can only squint and shake their heads in an attempt to piece their relationships together.

In a human’s life, they are first born (life) and through the years (time) as they flourish, grow and learn from the world around them- there might come a time where they will learn to cherish (love) someone, something or anything.

Their domains are connected and all things are interconnected. Without love, there is no life, without time, there is no love and without life, there is no way to track time.

But even Life is not susceptible to Death and Love to War and Time to End. All things come to an end and to the Gods, it was only inevitable when it would come. Not how or why but rather when and surely, it is always when.

In the silence of the common kitchen, Matthew stares at the kettle. The flames still despite the stove being on and he looks away from it, only to settle by looking at the corner of the table. The whole world right at this moment still like someone had hit pause and in return, everything seemed like statues. Even the people in front of him, hurrying making today’s dinner and preparing all the food for the people at the dorm. To the outside world, it might just seem like Matthew is staring at nothing but in reality, he had stopped time literally.

A way for him to pause and think, contemplate without actually wasting resources and daylight. His arms crossed in front of his chest and he simply wanted to break something- just something to get off the edge, to get the weight off his back and the anger away from his throat. But he can’t.

Not when violence will only attract those who are filled with them and it’s already bad that he is connected to that bastard.

“You’re angry.” A voice, so familiar to his own but it was rather emotionless as opposed to what he would originally sound like, notes from behind him and it doesn’t take Matthew a moment to recognize it.

There are only two people in his world and one of them was him, or at least him from another time and another world.

“I’m not.” He lies through his teeth, not bothering to turn around and face the person he’s talking to.

“You are. I can feel it Time.”

“I’m Matthew. You’re Time.”

He can imagine the confused look in the God’s eyes at the notion of them being two different people. It’s a conversation they had so many times already and it’s something that neither party never seems to end.

“But we’re the same person?” It would have sounded cute if Matthew had better feelings for the being he used to be.

“We’re not.”

They never were the same person. Time is the being that did not learn how to care for the world and only stood by aimlessly at the side when there was a War between their own kind. A heartless being and Matthew is not heartless.

“Ah. Is that so?” He hears footsteps coming nearer until there was a shadow over him, a cold hand tilting his head upwards until he is faced to faced with a version of him with bright violet eyes and long blonde hair that was decorated with jewels and gems. “But you and I share the same face.”

…

Matthew, gentle Matthew, sneered. “So does you and Power and me and Alfred-”

Everytime, at the mention of their brother, the other half of their soul, Time’s eyes flashed and he finds himself falling to the floor, hitting his head while everything resumes and people gasp. “Matt!” He laughs awkwardly, rolling to the side to sit up.

“I’m fine I’m fine-” he’s not fine. His head hurts and he probably won’t be able to stop time anytime soon because of that damn temperamental thing that refuses to accept that they’re two different beings with two different ideals and beliefs but still, he smiles if it means easing the worry he can see in Savino’s eyes from the counter and Ludwig’s stare from the other room where he was talking to someone else.

“You sure?” Savino asks before he looks away and he is granted a rather beautiful view of Savino’s side profile when he does so. “That’s a fall. I rather not have you suddenly collapsing on me and Luddy all of a sudden in the middle of the night.”

I rather not have you harmed if we have the power to avoid it.

Matthew laughs, cheeks red and burning, when he tries to gather himself to stand up and fix the mess he created. “I promise I won’t.” He keeps his tone light, trying to avoid the heaviness of the topic he knows is just lurking around the corner about safety and getting sick or injured between the three of them.

There was a life where they were all together, once. A long long time ago but sometimes, there are just simple things that would prevent it from happening and they were separated. Not when Life needed to accompany Death to remain neutral at the very end and Love was struck down by War and Time- Time remained indifferent until he was the last one alive.

Never once would they want to experience a life where they’re going to be separated again. Not again.

Not when they can prevent it from happening now.

“There is a war brewing.” Life breaks the silence, his hands, warm just like the rest of him, settles on their arms. The smallest God stands in the middle, watching as the sun settles down into the sea; The God of the Skies returning to his Beloveds Voyage and the Ocean in the same way Time returns to Life and Love’s side every evening when the moon is up and his brother remains unknowing.

There is something solemn about his voice, the usual energy and vigor gone as if it was inevitable of what would soon to come. Maybe he already knew it, with the large amount of humans and lives returning to his brother’s side and each time, he mourns for them by planting a flower in the garden Love created for him.

“Why?” Time tilts his head, not minding the affectionate hold Love decides to wrap his arm around his waist. “War is for the humans and not for the gods to partake in. Who dares to cause trouble in the middle of the Great Court?”

“My brother.” Love answers, looking ashamed for being related to the Spirit who knows better than to fickle with humanity in general. “War and so many others who wish to have all things change and with it, the structure of the world.”

A worrying answer, something they shouldn’t really have done but it is what it is and another silence, this time in prayer and sadness to those who will perish as if the war is not their own and not between lovers, partners and families.

“I’ll be here.” Time instead answers. You can find me here.

In this garden of where their love and bond grew, each covered with the flowers that Life planted and the stars that Time hung on the trees high above. A gift from Love who had acquired the land from a game he had once partaken in with a couple of the others. Time made it his sanctuary. A place where they all can return, far away from War and the whole world that might end up in chaos and darkness once more.

Their safe haven away from everything else and hopefully, war wouldn’t be able to touch it.

But the thing about war is that it touches everything.

Savino wakes up with a gasp, his heart thumping loudly in his chest and the darkness of the room makes him move away from the warm bodies of his beloveds, both fast asleep, and then he turns to his side to fall on the floor on his knees. He moves a hand to slick his hair back, and takes sharp inhales of breaths and slowly exhales them. Trying to calm himself down without wanting to wake up his partners and have them worrying over his shoulders.

He had already worried them enough today.

Pushing himself off the floor, he leans against the bed frame. A prayer said in the most hushed of tones from the nightmare he just woke up and he drops his head between his arms, trying to stop himself from shaking and crying out. The memories (Life’s and Savino’s) continue to haunt him for this long and he presses down on his palm with the opposite thumb.

“Vino…?” He hears Ludwig mutters, still a bit asleep. “Where are you? Are you okay?” He sounds more alert than ever and Savino lets out a laugh.

He says nothing, only crawling back up to bed to lay down on Matthew who had already hoarded his side without any hesitation. His ear over his boyfriend’s heart while his hand reaches to settle on top of Ludwig’s chest. “I’m here.” He croaks, voice as soft as the whistle of wind outside the window where the moon shines brighter than the stars.

“I’m here.”

He’s not going anywhere. Not when he can help it already.

All is fair in love and war.

In Death, there is Life.

Those with Power runs away from Time.

Time, Love and Life. Puzzle pieces in a game Fate had decreed to be and like the sands of What Should Be and What Will Be, they will have to play once more if they wish to achieve the future where they will be together.

Pity not the humans who pray to the Gods up above but pity the Gods who are trapped in the net of their creations.