Chapter Text
"Um Sajang-nim, Daepyo-nim requires your presence at the Non-HM Reincarnation office." Hoseok closes his eyes with a sigh. He leans back against his pitch black, opal embedded throne before the sleek dark desk.
The soft cushion of the throne is the only comfort and reprieve in the chilly room of Underworld's headquarters and he's never going to stop astral projecting pecks on his husband's lips in gratefulness each time he's reminded of the remodeled feature.
Yoongi must be doing that coy giggling of his with his shoulders raised and head tucked. He closes his eyes, brings the exact image of the beautiful scene from his many memories of his love, and can't help his own soft smile.
A little boost of glee before he's sucked back into the matters at hand.
"Right, did Myulmang elaborate on the issue that requires my intervention?" Thanatos was the most efficient God that there was, probably in the same level as the Fates, Hermes and his mother-in-law.
The only time he would ask for Hoseok is when his husband is creating disturbances in his job and the Fates' woven decrees.
The whole Orpheus business took a toll on his subordinate's mental health, then the bad mouthing caused another round of bad rumours about his rule and Yoongi got pissed which led to Orpheus ending up with Poison Ivy stuffed in his throat. Caliope was a bitch to console, but Yoongi got Jungkook to shut Lisa up and well, Kore's seed always come to fruition.
He wonders about the IQ of Olympians, to see the grape his husband planted in the poisoned singer's mouth and conclude that Dionysus's cults were all homicidal drunkards.
Then again, they never really had a forensic centre and Athena was occupied with Paris' jury.
The rookie reaper looks visibly terrified, and Hoseok's too exhausted from signing verification of death causes of the past hour to ease the newest intern under Myulmang.
He is handsome though, attractive enough that it won't be long before the guided souls will be drooling over him. He's sure all the offices are already stirred from the uproar of a New Face. Times like this he's reminded of the pros of Olympians not having access down under here. Zeus has behaved well for the past few centuries, and he doesn't want her to have another affair only for Hera to find more reasons to blame him for. Marrying Jessi's step-daughter got him enough negative points.
"Um...he said that your–um Kore–Yoong...I-I mean—"
Fuck this is why he's told Yoongi to fix a title and keep to it. It's already confusing as fuck to involuntarily morph into different ethnicities with every third century as some sort of Cosmic Rule.It's hard to adapt when your spouse is changing sex and appearance. It took thirteen decades for him to accept the low, deeper lispy voice of Yoongi's in the beginning of 1800s, seeming to fit the title of Underworld God even better than Hoseok.
It is irritating, to be known as just a faction of some mythology just because they had made plenty of mistakes in their Greek Era by mingling with the humans too much. Then they started bitching about the Gods and got killed by random floods, cannibals, animals and lightning in return. The population went down by a lot and so he and Hestia had them stop their interactions. They've come a long way from petty fights and destruction since then(though there are a few gems who never learn). But again, there's always been changes.
"I allagí eínai statherí."
Namjoon said it's to teach them humility and relate to humanity better perhaps so that no biasness remains. That it holds true for us all, never being the entity you were a second ago.
During one of the earliest centuries, the Cosmos' birthday party was Spanish themed and Hoseok thinks the name Diablo was the worst the humans could come up with.
"Listen up, Junwoong. We run a tight schedule here, so time's essential. Blabbering is prohibited and Jack hates talkers. Except my husband, whom you're to call Kore when you're bitching about him to coworkers and Samonim when in front of us. Clear?"
Cerebrus' name clearly startles the rookie, who is now stuttering to find a response. Maybe he's surprised that Hoseok knows his name, must be a freshly converted soul. It's common knowledge that Hades is omniscient in his realm.
"I won't! I could neve—" The temperature drops sharply, the shadows getting longer and the lonely golden chandelier light flickers with the sharpening gaze of Hades'. He can see the patience running thin in his irises, which turn opaque and onyx. They glisten shinier than the opals on the chair, pointier than any knife. The dusty scent of the room begins to smell like obsidian and furnace, clogging his nose with the intensity.
Jungwoong gulps, realising the weight of the former part of Hoseok's speech.
"S-samonim has tried to tweak the documents from the thread translations again." He blurts, eyes wide in anticipation of another lethal gaze which physically are like tiny ice shards pricking inside each vein. But his Lord is rubbing his temple, lips pressed in annoyance.
"Oh for fuck's sake."
That's all the acknowledgement he gets before the throne is empty, with only a misty cloud of black left as a sign of its occupant. He scurries away to the long pavillion out, down the staircase and out of the headquarter without a single glance back. All the while cursing himself to have applied for the corporate job instead of simply being put to eternal sleep.
It's a funny sight whenever Persephone and Thanatos butt heads, because Yoongi looks like a ginger-white munchkin kitten exhibiting his tiny claws at his 5"7 while Myulmang stands tall and authoritative at 5"11.
There's no doubt who comes out victorious in these show downs.
"How about a corn seed up your ass? I can make it grow within a minute, then you'll know what it's like for me every night. Though Hoseok's a little on the thinner side but maybe it's just my corn which is healthier. I am good at my job."
Yoongi's already deflected off topic, one hand hovering over his chest and the other crossed across as he ponders over a gushing reminder.
Hades stands against one of the giant pillars of the pavillion of the Reincarnation Office, away from the two entities sniding each other. It's good to know the situation beforehand instead of jumping in the middle of their conversation. Of course that's an excuse, it's just peak entertainment. Though Hoseok will never need a reason to watch his Persephone.
There's a natural allure to Yoongi's glow, his body and his smile, his aura and patronage. There's never been another who Hoseok would take his eyes off his husband to look at. Especially not when Yoongi's wearing what seems to be a gown of glass. A goddess, truly.
In essence the dress looked just as much like a butterfly wing as it did a work of stained-glass art. It is a one-shoulder gown, and features a long dark and starry silver detailed blue train. The navy sleeves cling to Yoongi's delicate arms and he misses the pale expanse of his skin, always softer than it seems.
The thigh-high slit makes up for it– the urge to hold his husband closer by the slim waist taking over, to hold and run his course fingertips over the supple flesh.
The ginger hair makes him look unreal. A fantasy even among gods. It's what astonished Hoseok the most when he first caught sight of him. It frames his face in waves, looking fiery lava one moment, then like sunlight on sunflowers the very next.
Looking at him is always an enlightenment. Even Atropos is tired of him, for coming over to their mountain cottage and questioning his own blessed fortune.
Hoseok might have just forgotten the mess up of the Records and dragged his husband home if Yoongi wasn't still sprouting expletives to Myulmang.
"A pumpkin is a little far fetched with someone as inexperienced as you though. Oh I've done something similar with cucumbers with Jimin and Jin but hey, we were teenagers and it was during Spin the Trident."
Yoongi shrugs, uncaring of the vines which keep twirling and tightening around the God of Death who looks unfazed and a little weary at the moment.
"Pardon me for the interruption in your pleasant memory exploration, but has Hoseok still not brought to your notice that you speak a tad bit too much nonsense?" Yoongi lets out an indignant gasp, narrowing his eyes as he walks closer to Thanatos. His eyes level with the latter's chin, and Hoseok chuckles at the sight of his husband's fiery gaze meeting Myulmang's calm ones.
"A very sophisticated way to insult me." He grits out. The twines having slithered from the garden near Acheron, form a strong network of a circular platform which slowly raises above the ground until it hovers near Yoongi's feet. He steps on it, and now he's defiantly raising his head to stare down at Myulmang.
"You. Are not a warden, running off to the principal to complain about me. By the cosmos, we didn't even go to school! Now you either behave well and we can brush this under the rug. I'll be good and balance out all casualties, you don't have to bring Hoseok into it. Creepy Snitch."
Yoongi blows his cheeks out in irritation. Thanatos simply relaxes into the vines' hold, cocking his head to the side and a half smirk on his face.
"I see a crink in the armour. Amour has always been the Achilles Heel in history." He nods to himself, all the while Hoseok's eyebrows raise at the bold statement and Yoongi's temper flares.
And then, seemingly from the garden, there's a heavy attack of soy beans on Thanatos' face. Followed by chick peas and concluding with a smash of tomatoes. The God of Death's face is positively dripping red by the end of it. He huffs, the remnants of gore turn to black and then disintegrate clean off his face.
"Release me from these bindings, I get deep marks and have a great dislike for them."
"No can do," the Goddess makes a mock-droopy face, eyes glinting mischievously when the other's expression hardens, sclera turning black.
If Thanatos thinks ordering Yoongi with a sharp look is going to make him comply with trembling hands, then maybe he's never met Demeter at all. Kore grew up with strict rules and narrow compromises, silencing looks and finalised speech.
Yoongi grins wide at the clear victory when Myulmang clears his throat, annoyance evident in his gaze when he shifts in his binds. It seems that the same trick didn't work with the vines.
"Didn't work eh? Hoseokie taught me to ward off your shadowy showcase. Who's your daddy now?" Yoongi gives him a smug look, which is returned with an exasperated rolling of eyes.
Hoseok sees Yoongi visibly vibrating with the one upping he did, and knows he's about to start breakdancing now to get on Thanatos' nerves.
"And Hoseokie also taught you not to use it to piss Myulmang off."
The resounding steady voice in the vast plain near Acheron's bank makes even the river still. Yoongi's eyes widen, his startled state reflected in the vines which freeze, then start shifting and swinging lightly. It's like they are almost shying away, giggling from just the voice.
When the God materialises beside Persephone, he immediately puts his hands behind his back in an obedient gesture, front teeth biting his lower lip.
Hoseok does not look amused. Although he does look at him for long.
Enough that Yoongi can smile sheepishly at his raised brow, pout at the slight challenging tilt of his head, and start protesting when the binding vines are broken and scattered away into ash in the rapidly increasing breeze.
"I spent an hour strengthening them," he grumbles, at which Myulmang scoffs.
"I had been stuck for two hours in them. Thank you by the way, for coming to my rescue so speedily. I sent the intern almost an hour ago." He stink-eyes Hades, who returns it with a deadpanned expression.
"I had shit to do."
There, surrounded by the swirl of ashes and his immaculate black silk shirt contrasting with the blonde hair that Yoongi dyed for him, the God of the Dead looks like every sin furnished with regality.
"A hundred Adonis couldn't rival you, sanjang-nim."
The flirty tone is followed by a wink and a small smile manages to escape from the God, who quickly composes himself. His executive is already grimacing at them, swearing by the Styx at the sight of the Truest Couple(1400AD-2000AD) according to Olympus Weekly.
Unfortunately Haphaestus didn't get the idea for the printing press earlier, or they'd have maintained a much longer streak of the title.
Jessi hates the Weekly news with a passion rivalling Narcissus' for himself but Hera could do nothing, for the Muses are in charge of Olympus' press and Rose takes her charge very zealously.
"You're gonna have more shit to do now that my work's pending. Exactly why the clay-people are into me more. They've even built a marvel character in my name." He straightens up his burberry coat, standing high and mighty.
He does not expect the portal kick Hoseok lands on his back, making him stumble forward. The couple in front are already giggling against each other.
"Yeah sure, the purple bald giant who has a huge chin who gave even Cyclops a run for his money." Yoongi's already falling into heaps of laughter.
"Hilarious. Very mature Hades." He speaks monotonously, lips pressed in annoyance.
"It's been years," Hoseok arm's around Yoongi's waist, head resting against the side of his as they grin at Myulmang. The latter crosses his arms, raising an eyebrow.
"Do I have to remind you why I called you for? Oh no don't you give him that face." Before Yoongi can pull the downturned lips and big eyes, there's smoke in front of his face making him cough. Hoseok springs into action, waving it away and patting his husband's back and arm all the while staring daggers at his closest friend.
"I'll have you chained in Tartarus."
"And Lachesis will have him tied to the bottom of Phlegethon if he tries to mess up with the Records again."
Myulmang's voice is stern now, all expression of calm gone the black fog densing around again. Yoongi straightens up at that, eyebrows furrowed as Myulmang turns to stride back to the Warrant Issuance Office.
Hoseok lets out a heavy exhale, arm dropping away from Yoongi as he turns to face him. His jaw is set, lips pursued yet eyes are soft as always when facing Yoongi.
The goddess of spring takes one look at his expression, then lowers his eyes at his feet, hair curtaining his face as one of the navy silk slippers scruffs against the ground.
"If Alladin had seen you instead of Athena, he wouldn't have needed the lamp Hermes had set him up with. He'd have murdered the Sultan with bare hands, to have your hand."
"Alladin was a daydreamer, I hate daydreamers." He murmurs, the yearning gaze peeking up at Hades. There's always the light, the most primal flecks of admiration and fondness which tugs at his heart in a magnitude that Hoseok can never overcome. He folds, melts in every gesture of surrender. Tensed shoulders relaxing, expression slightly smoothening into one free of wrinkle lines.
Snow fingers fiddle with the midnight blue sleeves, making his own fingers twitch to reach out.
"Because they aren't doers." He takes Yoongi's hand in his, stroking his knuckles. "What's the occasion? The portrait ahead of me makes me believe I've gone to Elysium without even having stepped a foot out to Earth."
The Goddess smiles, takes another peek at his husband, then shrugs. He knows what Hoseok's asking, but the breathy voice tells him it was genuinely a compliment.
Eh, It's not like it's his first heist anyway.
"I was gonna move up the due date of an actor." Jesus fuck.
"Why would you–" Hoseok stops, takes a deep breath and exhales out the bubbling hysteria. He takes a look at the beloved face in front of him, calms down the rant and sweetens his approach.
Happened, happens, will continue to happen. You married the walking detonator, even if it comes with migranes. Kind of funny how he used to berate Hwasa's affairs with youngsters. Now he's got the youngest spouse amongst all his siblings, even ironic that it was with Zeus and Saebyeok's daughter.
"Tell me you're kidding me." He feels like he will be cut in alabaster in the permanent state of sighing by now.
"You ask the most stupid of things, of course he isn't kidding jeez he's got guilty all over his face."
Great, because the day is never complete without some unannounced appearance of one of the fam members. Usually Taehyung tags along with the reapers to collect the difficult ones, then drops them at the Styx boundary and leaves because of the heavy schedule. Today the God seems to have had enough time off to drop by for a visit.
Although it seems that his husband had a prior inkling of the Messenger's arrival. Yoongi curses under his breath, face palming himself and sending murderous glares with colorful words aimed at Taehyung flowing out of his lips.
Sometimes he wonders where Yoongi picked up phrases like "sucker of decrepit cocks" and "minotaur fucker" from, but then he remembers the amount of time the Goddess of Death spends with long dead and lost souls near Cocytus, along with regular trips to the upper containment levels of Tartarus. The old enemies down there have very specific hate speeches for them all.
"Lovely timing Hermes, fancy some biscuits?" He grits out with a saccharine smile, while Taehyung takes a safety precautionary step back from both of them. He's dressed up in a beige suit, black hair ruffled by the wind and his black sandals with the thrusters on.
With raised eyebrows and an amused smirk, he waves off the snack(definitely poisoned) offer.
"Nah, things are a little too dry here for my taste." He glances towards Hades and chuckles, making the latter's scowl deepen. He also had to side step a whole coconut being chucked his way, efficiently ducking out of the way after a few too many incidents of a bleeding forehead because of his big mouth.
"Getting predictable Kore. Maybe we should have spring a little earlier this year, you ought to brush up on the training with Saebyeok. Miss the Hitler camp?" He sends finger guns at Yoongi who just rolls his eyes in return.
The goddess sidles up even closer to Hoseok, holding on to his arm with both of his and sagging against his side; an arm snaking across his waist and a warm palm coming to rest on his hip instinctively. He blows his locks off his face, but they settle right back over his eyes. Ignoring the nuisance in front of him, Hoseok lets out a breathy laugh at the sight and brings his other hand up to tuck the tresses behind his blushing husband's ear. God he needs to get them back home fast.
Hoseok's getting too impatient with Taehyung beating around the bush. Well he's had a way too eventful day, so it's time to send strays home.
He strokes the corner of Yoongi's eyes one more time, then sighs and turns to Taehyung who has begun picking his nose in boredom.
"Stop being a little bitch and state your purpose." He raises his voice, the exasperated expression making Taehyung snort.
"Such refined words...pay up twenty thousand dollars and I just might answer." He stretches a palm out towards Hoseok. "Check, sanjang-nim."
"Wow, you're gonna make my husband pay for your rubbish trip to Paris just to hear that you're here to make tiktoks with me?" Yoongi gives him a disgusted face, getting a "good one babe" from Hoseok, who only after the comment realises the implication. Taehyung simply shrugs in response.
"He's God of Wealth, millions must be spilling out of pockets every minute. What you thought I don't recognise that gown from Gigi's Met Gala look?"
"I had Haphaestus remake it for me," Yoongi defends.
"You make tiktoks?! Where? Cronus, please tell me you don't make those ridiculous dance videos for it." Hoseok's voice borders horrified at this point. He did NOT expect a new revelation like this.
Meanwhile Taehyung is completely ignoring the God of the Dead freaking out beside his step-brother.
"Oh please Changwook charges even higher than Versace, no wonder Jimin's still kept up the whole "I'm into aesthetically crude rugged creative men" facade. Wait do you guys organise money rain days here?"
Taehyung perks up at the thought, while Hoseok is still discovering Yoongi's tiktok account on his phone....and now his jaw is slacking because he just finished watching the Up dance Yoongi posted with Jimin.
"...Yeaaah he'll be a while. Anyway, a little drizzle over me might help my poor weary poor soul too, Hera's planning another anniversary party where Hwasa might find another milf to run off for the night with and then Jessi'll have a breakdown while all the Goddesses try to console her. I'm supposed to pass out the invites, so please, I need that vacation after it."
He puts on his most business-like expression, arms crossed over his chest showing the genuity of his proposition.
Yoongi firmly shakes his head.
"Get out, I'll do the Good Boy Gone Bad choreo with Jin. We've got better hip movement than your stiff ass."
Taehyung posture immediately sags as he begins whining at the refusal, stumbling and yelping when the gravel beneath shifts and takes him away, out of the Office area and towards the Underworld Gate.
"At least CashApp me thousand!" He yells from the distance.
"Not a penny more than five hundred!"
"You shrew, it's no surprise Demeter taught you bargaining too. Fine, Deal! Oh and love you!"
"You too!" Yoongi pops a Daffodil in Taehyung's hands just before he steps out of the gate. Just as he lets out a sigh of relief, he remembers another loose end.
"Why did you choose Apollo as the God you'd have dated if you hadn't met me? Nyx, why would someone even ask that in a Q&A session?" Hoseok has finally got his head out of the phone, eyes wild in offence.
"By the cosmos love, the questions are chosen at random from a compilation of them asked by the mundane. You know how wacky they are. And Jungkook...well," he scratches the back of his hair, then drags it to rest his palm at the base of his throat, trying to come up with a better design of words for what he wants to say. But by the look in Hades' eyes, it seems he already knows.
Deep within, Hoseok has always yearned for the heavenly light to reflect within him too. But instead of the brightness, his aura spread dark. Shadows and silhouettes. Yoongi couldn't give two fucks about that glint, it seems almost ostentatious and blinding. Too vivid for his sight, or maybe the darkness had settled in him so deep that it's home.
Hades' expression looks visibly affected, a solemnity taking over which he tries best to hide. Yoongi hates it when he hides his sorrow, but in all the years, he's never opened up with his sorrow completely, leaving it to Yoongi to unravel, delicate shard by shard.
"As teens, the Muses, Jimin, Jin, and I used to really like Apollo...he was the resident star kid you know? Dad's pride, with the gorgeous lyre and his melodious voice, shining white teeth and that golden halo and glistening abs—the point is," he reiterates hastily with wide blinking eyes and a politician's smile, "I was just a groupie for the God equivalent of dreamy frat boy. And I was ignorant enough that I would've probably pursued him had I not seen the man of my eternal desires step out of the maize field, lost with puffs of smoke dispersing around. You felt like love, real love while the rest faded like the fog you went back through."
He reaches both his hands out to hold Hoseok's, warm and embracing against his.
From the day they met, till the very second now, Hades has never denied him a single want. Gave him everything, his all and beyond. Gave him understanding when he relentlessly pursued him, a ear and a shoulder when the responsibility of it all got too much, comfort when his consuming feelings flooded him with confusion and dread, his love back ten folds when he confessed, his affection and protection when he felt the love grip his heart a little too hard and finally, when his mom was about to hide him forever because of some ominous prophecy, Hoseok gave him his home.
The one he had fought to keep people away, he brought Kore in himself, ready to take more judgement, criticism and curses of everyone. Just for Persephone, because she couldn't break her mother's heart with her wish to leave.
He swore to himself then, to never break his.
For Hoseok, Kore mattered the world to him. His own Elysium in the Underworld. Hades looks at Yoongi for a long time, hand squeezing his, gaze heavy.
And then he pulls him closer into his arms, other arm coming to cup the back of his head.
"I love you so much. God I can't even imagine not having met you. I'd cease to exist. Everything will." He murmurs into Yoongi's hair, who pats his arm soothingly.
"I love you too, and I would have dug a way here from Olympus to be with you. Now let's go home, you smooth talker." He pinches Hoseok's arm, who simply chuckles back.
"I'm the smooth talker? You just gave a romantic speech, even though it was a little infuriating with all the mentions of Jungkook but eh I'll let it pass." He puts an arm around a grinning Yoongi's waist, then steers them towards their quarters to begin their evening walk home.
The same night they lay in bed, after love-making which might make even Aphrodite's affairs seem hollow. It's serene to see their feet rub against each other playfully, small cherry blossoms over the bed and one brushing against Hoseok's lids.
"Tickles."
"It should." Yoongi smiles, making another rose petal brush against the numerous red-purple spots over Hoseok's chest.
"Open," Hoseok obediently lets his mouth part, eyes crinkling in a smile when a finger traces his lower lip. Then he lets the strawberry be popped in his mouth, chewing slowly to appreciate the fruit made by his husband.
"Sweetest," he opens his eyes and whispers, getting a peck on his lips in return. His arm hangs over Yoongi's waist, fingertips lightly brushing his back. They stay like that for a moment, when Hoseok remembers the last loose end.
"So who did you want to bring down from earth? You never told me," Technically Hoseok can pull a few strings..
Yoongi perks up from his drooping eyes at that. Confused at the sudden question but answers nonetheless. He never keeps secrets from his husband, never needed to.
"Oh I don't know if you know him. He was declared the second most handsome man in the world for 2021. He's got eleven fingers and hazel eyes, and he's a great dancer! The Muses will love him. I want to have him on my team for the Decennial Performative Competition we host. Solar and Jimin keep tie-ing each time and Hera makes a face every time. I want to win this year! Did you know Hwasa promised a week free of duties on Earth to the winner?"
He really wants a short vacation with his poor overworked husband, the only God that truly deserves a break. He hasn't been up ever since he was called to hold Jury for Ares and Haphaestus' last brawl almost a millennium ago, yet again over Jimin. If there was one Goddess who was fit to be the poster spawn of Hwasa, it was definitely Jimin.
Yoongi is reminded of his foiled plans and pouts against Hoseok's wandering fingers, biting onto one and quickly letting go when he gets a pinch on his ass in return.
Hoseok looks at Yoongi for a moment, then smiles and kisses his forehead.
"I'll dance with you for the Competition."
Yoongi's eyes widen, surprised at Hoseok putting himself out for a performing event in front of the Olympians.
"Hades participating in an entertaining event? That too dancing?! Is Hell gonna fall over? Are we out of commission?" Yoongi exaggeratedly exclaims, but promptly falls into peals of laughter when Hoseok tickles his stomach.
"We're very much in prosperous business so no. I'd rather you had asked me earlier instead of upsetting the domino balance of work. Plus I think it's a no brainer that I don't want my husband to dance with some random way too appealing man. No way am i letting my goddess be touched with mortal tainted hands." Hoseok entwines their fingers together, bringing them up to his lips for a kiss while maintaing a fierce gaze connection with his husband. He smiles when Yoongi's breath hitches, then chuckles when Yoongi gives up and squeals in his pillow, only to turn and playfully glare at him.
"So you'll dance for me in a sheer black tight top with eleven fingers? We aren't gonna do a waltz just so you know."
Kore raises an eyebrow an him, small excited and pleased smile still on his lips.
"I'll have you know, I used to groove quite well beside Hestia and Posie before settling down here." He rests their entwined hands against his chest, continuing to stroke the other's fingers like always. "And I'd dance for you with eleven fingers, eleven eyes and eleven mouths if you'd continue looking at me for the entirety of it with those beautiful eyes."
Yoongi presses his lips together in a suppressed squeal, eyes alight with glee and love as he jumps to circle his arms around Hoseok's neck and cling to him with all his being. He holds him tighter, smiling at the elation he can physically feel in him. The way he lives for it. They stay like that for a moment, basking in each other's connection until Yoongi's tender voice breaks the serene silence.
"Sometimes the way you love me baffles me. I can feel it around me you know? Like a soft cushion of comfort and safety consuming me. It's always around, never dulling or relenting." Kore buries his face in the crook of his neck, lips pressed tight and eyes glassy. Hoseok immediately brings a hand up to stroke his hair, waiting for him to let it all out. Always there as a steady pillar. They're bare in this moment, reassured in each other's presence.
"A-and I'm afraid that mine is fickle, that it fizzles and appears so much weaker than yours." He bites his lower lip, eyes anxious and guilt-ridden.
"I'm sorry that I ask too much, I'm sorry that I cause so much trouble Hoseok. You're always catering to my wishes, and I've been feeling...like a burden. I love you so much. Please don't hold any resentment in your heart, let me hear you."
Hoseok doesn't speak for a moment, still not having understood how his husband could even imagine that he'd think of him as anything other than the light of his life. Yoongi brought him happiness in the most unimaginable place.
Before him, he had never even envisioned of love, desire, care or mirth. The God of the Dead is a title too consuming, it left him no space for anything else, anywhere else. He chose this solitude, chose it in stride, with pride because a younger him didn't know what he could lose.
"Hades, it's garbage disposal down there. You're taking on the grunt work and it's gonna take a toll." Namjoon had said.
"Hey if it gets me out of this craziness they call family then I'm on board. If I have to watch Zeus leer at Hera one more time I swear I'll throw up all over your shield."
In turn he lost belonging, family, friends and a part of himself which held the same glorious light as his siblings, nephews and nieces because Death is a delicate business as much as it is destructive. Having seen so much, read so much…experienced so much.
But meeting Persephone was...at that exact moment? It felt like a game played by the cosmos. Another test, another taunt. Another Trojan Horse just like his job.
Hoseok was a God long drowned, living under the high water pressure of the ocean, used to the burning of his lungs and the slugged movement of his limbs, darkness and blur, the eeriness of it. Atlas had it rather easy.
And there was light, there was breath and vividity. The pressure eased, his chest could move. He could feel electricity, power in his veins, the urge to move faster, closer.
With great power comes great responsibility. Spiderman was so right.
When Yoongi had looked into his eyes, sending warmth and love, care and kindness, it felt like he was sharing his own heavenly light with him. When he went back that day, in the world of the dead he felt alive. Thrumming with the light which Yoongi's gaze had left with him.
He pulls back tenderly, wiping the corner of the Goddess's eyes as if removing dew from the petals of a periwinkle.
"My morning star, even just your gaze on me lights my soul on fire. To have your love, even a grain, is the biggest blessing I've received from the Cosmos. So to have you, your quirks and your wants, it's all I ever want in my life, to be able to give. If you were a burden, then burdens are more precious than realms and lives."
He looks at Yoongi with the eyes of a man long gone in devotion, at the point of no return, and Kore believes each word he speaks.
"But it pains me, to not be able to give you everything you need. I can see how it kills your light to stay in this darkness. I took you from your life, uprooted you to bring you here. How did I expect a flower to stay bloomed in a soil which is long barren?"
He looks conflicted, revisiting the memories, the choices he made to have Yoongi here. Equally isolated from everything he's held dear. He's burdened him with this wilting, in pure selfishness, to fill up his wish. His desire and broken dreams. The one time Hades reached out to do something for himself, to live, he brought death to the most vivacious being he's ever met.
But he knows Yoongi doesn't think that. His eyes promise he would never think that.
"I was never a flower, I'm your morning star. I look best in the dark sky hmm?" Yoongi strokes Hoseok's cheekbone with his thumb, gaze so bare, so completely lovinging.
He visualises their love as intricate vines of gold plating over endless glistening onyx, the beauty of which never diminishes. Always so hypnotic.
"It's part of my existence. Turning barren into bloom. And do you know when the bloomer blooms?" There's the smile, the sweetest honey to ever exist. The low hoarse timbre of his tone. The most intoxicating ambrosia Hoseok has tasted.
"When?" He whispers.
"Right now," he reaches up and presses his lips to Hoseok's in the deepest of kisses.
All his inhibitions fade away, in this moment his husband loves him with all his heart. It's all he knows, it's all he wants.
Gold confetti, polished to shine brighter than stars, rains down all around the large bed. Actual gold, befitting for each declaration of love that they show. Hoseok unknowingly conjured it up for the first time during their wedding on Olympus, when he saw Yoongi walk down the aisle. Till this date it appears whenever the God is overwhelmed with feelings, but that's a secret that will stay between the two lovers indefinitely. (Else Taehyung will be the first to drop by each time to sweep up their quarter's floor clean.)
They separate with red lips and heavy breaths, convey a silent exchange of contentment with their gazes and then smile at each other. To have stripped off the mask, unburdened their hearts and poured their worries out only to heal each other. It's beautiful.
The Goddess then shuffles lower to comfortably rest his head against Hades' chest, arms coming up to wrap around him in a safety cocoon away from it all. The distant eerie singing of the lost souls of Cocytus can be heard in the room.
"It really does rain money here," Yoongi teases, to which Hoseok retorts with a snort, a light raise of his shoulder in a shrug.
"Taehyung always knows it all, that sneaky chimp. Huh, remind me..did you pay him to teach them that Lana Del Ray song?"
"It's soothing," Yoongi buries his face closer, then fidgets again to look up and catches Hoseok calm, closed lids. Perfect time.
"Can we ask my dad to bring Michael Jackson out of Elysium? I wanna watch Billy Jean live." Hoseok sighs, it was too soon to relax.
"Yoongi no."
Yoongi pushes his bottom lip out, eyes lowering as he snuggles back into Hoseok's chest.
He needs to ask Eros about this. If it's healthy to be this in love for so long.
But would it matter?
Not even if he's diagnosed with it terminally.
"...fine. I'll ask my sister but if her wife says n—"
Yoongi squeals and kisses him hard. Smile all wide and cheeks flushed. More pink petals join the influx of gold, and now every dark piece of furniture in their bedroom is layered with pastel and shimmer.
Hoseok prompts a gust of wind to pass through the room, blowing the mix of the two to weave around Yoongi's countenance in gentle swirls making him flop back on the bed chuckling. He doesn't look away, suddenly conscious of every piece of love for the Goddess in front of him, summation of all that he's made of.
There's no light and darkness between them, there is luminescence sparked by their souls. The swirls die down with a wave from Yoongi, who tilts his head in understanding, beckoning him to his embrace with an outstretched hand. Hoseok has never kept Yoongi waiting for long, and so he rests with his head on Yoongi's steadily moving chest, eyes closed.
He might have to beg on his knees a little, Jessi isn't very fond of him anyway and she might just kill Hwasa if she lets the world's biggest pop star out without her permission.
God of the Gods his ass.