Work Text:
Thanatos was never meant to be Apollo’s friend. But here was Thanatos, watching the blond god play his music in a private concert. It was such a sweet moment. Though to outsiders, this scene would've been weird.
There was Death, watching one of the most alive beings live life. You could say that it was the duality of humanity, both death and life being quite similar while opposites. I wouldn’t know, I’m not an emo poet. But Thanatos and Apollo were actually quite similar.
They both liked to live, for two different reasons though. Apollo lived because it felt natural. It was just how he was. Thanatos lived because he was curious what his domain took from people.
Why and how they became friends was a question almost all the gods have uttered at least once. In their eyes, Apollo and Thanatos couldn’t be more different. They were wrong obviously, but give them some slack. Thanatos wasn’t that talkative and was really poetic (and a bit cold and rude) when he did.
Really, it was simple. Apollo was just really stubborn and saw Thanatos as friend material. Thanatos was annoyed by him, but was quickly endeared by him. I am pretty sure this is how Apollo absorbed all those cults.
Now, they were inseparable like strong magnets. Healing, plagues, all of those had Death close behind.
For this scenario, imagine Death, not hovering behind, but right beside Apollo. As equals. Or in this current moment, listening to a lyre.