Chapter Text
Idia was the son of Hades and Persephone, a couple known for the unfortunate start of their love story. You know, Hades kidnapping Persephone, taking her to the underworld, and causing fall and winter respectfully until Hades allowed her to go back, only to eat six pomegranate seeds so she could stay for six months of the year. That's why fall and winter exist, and that's when the marriage conversation falls into Idia's ears.
Idia, the son of Hades and Persephone, was born during the winter season, which explains his pale complexion and similarities to Hades. He was a surprise but very welcoming, which is why his grandmother, Demeter, who is also the mother of Persephone, welcomes him during the spring and summer seasons.
It was that spring day when Demeter was curious about Idia's love life, which was none, nothing, nada, zilch.
He saw how, if unlucky, love destroys the love of humans and gods. Idia did not want to do that to a human, whether he fell in love with them or not. It was understandable that many were curious about his love life; as the prince of the literal underworld, it would be a miracle if he fell in love, yet Idia had moments where he vowed never to fall in love.
Oh, but he had to answer to his grandmother.
"No, Γιαγιά, I have not courted anyone yet," Idia answered, "It's not something I have in mind at the moment."
"Oh, my Εγγονός," Demeter sighed, "you must have someone you might have a connection with?"
Idia shakes his head. "I don't, and I doubt I ever will, γιαγιά."
Persephone sighed, "Μητέρα, Idia only turned 18 last winter. Let him take his time. Romance is not for everyone, Μητέρα, you have to understand that. Idia is still merely a boy and I surely do not want to rush him all because he is of marrying age."
'Thank Γαία,' Idia thought to himself. 'As if I would want to actually want to kidnap someone to be my bride like Πατέρας did. I could not forgive myself if I did and what if that person doesn't even fall for me? That would be acceptable. Why do I have to fall in love? If I would, it would be on my own terms...though I do believe that love in first sight seems stupid.'
"Oh, enough about his love life," Demeter laughed, "How are things back in the underworld? I do hope Hades adored my new gift."
"Oh, he did," Persephone grinned, "I'm glad you remembered that he adores your flowers."
Idia rolled his eyes and started to look around the spring around him. He was drifting off, just staring at the many flowers that surrounded them at the moment. Roses, Peonies, Marigolds, whatever you called it, and he can remember them by memory and name. He looked at the spring water that helped the flowers grow with the help of the nymphs that Demeter had. His eyes drifted onto a particular one, his blue eyes that matched the spring itself and hair that was a mixture of purple and silver mixed well together, leaving Idia speechless.
Idia was truly impressed, watching the Nymph diligently tending to his work.
"Amazing..." Idia muttered to himself.
The Nymph looked back at Idia, which made Idia turn back with a slight blush, embarrassed. But he saw the Nymph laugh a little and continued to water the plants but with a new smile on his face.
"Idia," Persephone whispered, "I'm sorry, dear. You just looked so distracted. Did we bore you with our conversation?"
"Uh, no." Idia coughed, "I just watched the flowers, you know, the usual."
"Yes, I do know," Persephone laughed, "You are allowed to walk around, Idia. Go,"
Idia got up and began to look around. He only wandered so far into his grandmother's garden to disturb the nymphs helping the plants grow.
But the same Nymph he was staring at walked over with a smile. Idia blushed and looked away, still embarrassed from earlier.
"Hello," He greeted.
"H-Hello," Idia gulped, still looking down.
"Oh, you don't have to be shy with me. I know you were staring but I have no complaints." The Nymph spoke with a laugh, "You look adorable while looking."
"I didn't want to make you uncomfortable," Idia stuttered. "I hope I didn't."
"You have not made me uncomfortable, dear prince of the Underworld," Azul reassured with a comforting tone.
"Uh...what's your name?"
"Oh, It's Azul." The Nymph smiled. "Αζούλ Εκ μελιάς σπήλαιο."
"That's an oddly beautiful name for such a beautiful nymph," Idia complimented, but his face turned red after realizing his words. "Uh, I'm sorry...I mean, you do a beautiful name b-but...uh.."
Azul grinned. "Aw, such a sweet prince you are."
Idia looked down, now embarrassed.
"And I do know who you are, Ίδια σάβανο," Azul teased, tending the waters. "And my, I never knew that your hair looked so beautiful when it's around the flowers."
"I-I'm simply lucky that it never burned the lovely flowers here," Idia gulped.
"Ah, I can see that," Azul smiles. "You know, you look beautiful. Maybe almost..."
"Don't!" Idia gasped. "I don't ever want to be compared to Αφροδίτη!"
Azul smirks and laughs. "My, oh my, seems like the sweet prince of the underworld is such a shy person. It's actually a refreshing to hear a greek prince that is actually nice to be around."
"O-oh," Idia blushed again.
Azul managed to chuckle and invited Idia to sit down by him. Idia watched as Azul tended the water, perfect enough for the flowers to grow almost immediately. Idia continued to watch, absolutely mesmerized by Azul's magic.
"So..how does one become a nymph?" Idia asked, genuinely curious about Azul's existence.
"Hmm, just to be born a nymph," Azul answered, still unsure.
"Yeah, but I mean in a sense of.." Idia paused for a moment. "Were you reborn as nymph?"
Azul doesn't answer as he continues his job, making Idia feel awkward and guilty for asking such an invasive question.
"Do not worry about offending me," Azul spoke up. "The truth is that I was born deep in the sea, and one of the few nymphs of water that tends to be outside an ocean,lake,sea, you name it. But...I also had friends to, but it's a long story about that too."
"What do you mean?"
"It still pains me to speak about it years later," Azul admitted. "But those two were my closest friends, despite our moments of arguments and anger."
"...You mean they..." Idia slowly spoke.
"You are the prince, you should know." Azul vaguely answered, picking up a vase of water. "I'm sorry, but I have to go. But please, do visit again. I like talking with you."
Idia watched Azul leave, walking away towards the other nymphs, still caring for the flowers.
"A water nymph outside the water," Idia muttered. "Amazing. But what does he mean about his friends? Are they dead?"
Idia guessed so, with Azul's hesitancy to talk more about his friends and reminding him that he was the prince of the literal underworld, so he must've seen them before. With his lack of interest in the dead, Idia should have paid more attention to who died and who was punished by his father once they died. His younger brother, Ortho, did, however. But how could he ask him when he was still in the underworld, staying with his father?
One of the many conditions for Idia's visit was that he might never make contact with the underworld during the spring and summer and wait until fall arrives to make the contact. But he also needs to keep in contact with Azul in case he finds his friends, but he needs to learn how to do that.
That night, still underneath Demeter's hunt and lovely home, he was silent the entire time. That doesn't surprise Persephone and Demeter, but as a mother, Persephone noticed that this wasn't his typical silence.
"ο γιος μου," Persephone hummed softly. "What happened?"
"Oh, I met with one of γιαγιά's nymphs," Idia explained. "But he seems upset about losing his friends years ago. And I want to know how to..."
"Bring his friends back?"
"Ugh, I know that's bad, but Azul was actually nice to me despite my title and I want him to be happy and at least be with his friends once again, but I know that doesn't go well."
"Oh, you seemed so worried," Demeter said. "But you know your father, Idia, he might not want to help."
"μητέρα," Persephone hissed. "Idia, who may have the ability to, but you have to be in the underwold for that to happen. Are you sure you want that?"
Idia blushed and nodded. "If that were to make Azul happy, but I don't even know if it does."
"Why haven't you asked him?" Persephone pondered. "You two seem to talk for hours earlier."
"Cause I don't want to seem odd to him." Idia explained. "I want to seem...less like πατέρας."
Persephone sighed but nodded in understanding. "Alright, once fall comes in, I'll ask your father about this. He might help, but I worry about his response."
Idia smiles. "Thank you, μητέρα."
Idia only had to wait until fall in a few weeks, but he found someone to love. He wants to make the Nymph happy and knows how wrong it is, but can he help someone in need? Can he?
Once fall arrived.
Idia, oddly, cannot wait for it.