Work Text:
“Is this really necessary?”
“Tim…”
“Like, Last time I saw her, it did not go well”
“Tim”
“And I would genuinely prefer to keep this body alive for as long as I’m able”
“Tim!”
Tim whirls to face the blonde at his side, fists clenched at his side in an attempt to hide the shakes in is fingers, but Cassie’s already staring at him, eyes fixed on his.
Tm can feel the determination from here.
He sighs.
They haven’t moved a step in the last few minutes but Tim can still feel his skin crawling.
He does not want to be here.
“She’s not going to kill you” Cassie says with such force that Tim almost wants to believe her. But he knows better. Determination only goes so far before it can be seen as hubris.
Tim hums, though he doesn’t take another step.
He really does not want to see his old friend again. And if his old tormentor is there too? Well, at least Tim can be assured that they won’t work together to make his life miserable.
Or rather, more miserable, that is.
“We’re not gonna let her hurt you, you know?” Duke asks, and it sounds like a threat in Tim’s ears.
That’s part of the reason Tim doesn’t want to be here.
He knows what the gods can do to those that offend them. Let alone those who actually threaten him.
Another part of him snarls in anger, resentment. Begs to let words of fire from his lips.
And that’s at least partially also the reason Tim doesn’t want to be here.
His temper’s already fraying at the edges as it is.
Constantine speaks before Tim can decide if he wants to storm into the room or jump off the mountain and see if Cassie’ll follow “Now, I’m sure you all know at least some of the myths, which means common sense rules apply: Do not eat anything. Do not drink anything. Do not offend anyone. Do not feed anyone your child’s flesh. And do not be attractive”
Tim can hear the reeling from the others at the words. But Tim has to admit that he’s pretty right. But Tim’s not concerned about any of that.
“Do not challenge anyone” Tim starts, staring at the doors in front of him and not looking back at the family behind him “And do not get involved”
Those are his rules.
He steps through heavy metal doors before anyone can argue. And Tim knows they will. They’re all too alike, after all.
Odysseus was never invited to Olympus. No mortal ever was. But he’d heard the tales. Nothing he’s ever been told does the place justice.
Shame the scenery is broken by the 2 people bot Tim and Odysseus hate more than anyone.
Tim watches as Hermes’ eyes widen, his smile becoming scarily large as the whole room comes to a stop.
Not that Tim’s looking away from her eyes, however.
Grey.
Like the olive tree leaves. Like the shades of an owl’s feathers. Like a greying corpse never allowed to rest.
Tim doesn’t move, but he’s at the base of Athena’s throne one way or another. Still staring in silence.
His family is still at the entrance and he recognizes Hermes at their side, smile still too wide with too many teeth.
Now Tim doesn’t trust gods. And Odysseus trusts them even less.
But both of them can agree that Hermes will do his best to keep their family safe.
Tim can finally let loose.
-
“What is going on?” Diana snaps at Duke’s side, her hand on her sword even as she tries to remain calm in the face of her own gods, her own family.
The person at Duke’s other side doesn’t seem perturbed by this change in events. In fact, something tells Duke that everyone but them knows exactly how this is going to go.
There’s anticipation in the air, and no-one is shining brighter than the man who’s suddenly appeared in Tim’s place when Tim appeared in front of a literal deity. Alone.
“Just enjoy the show. It’s always entertaining” the man says, voice melodic and almost physically buzzing across Duke’s skin.
“And who are you?” someone snaps from behind Duke, voice antagonistic.
Something changes in the air, just for a split second before the man laughs.
It’s like a thousand snakes making their way against Duke’s very being. Like being hurt and healed in equal measure. Like the shock after a bad night.
Duke takes a breath to steady himself and sees his family shiver along with him.
“I’m Hermes. And I’d recommend you be more respectful, but you’ve brought us the best entertainment we’re gonna see in centuries”
“Entertainment?” Constantine asks, apprehension in his voice that Duke can see hidden beneath the surface.
It’s weird, Duke thinks, His powers have been acting up since they arrived at Mount Olympus. Like everything here is made of light and shadows. He can feel the presence of Hermes in front of him like a ray of sunlight, but it’s diffused, shifting. Not wholly there. There’s another patch of the same sunlight shifting in one of the thrones across the room.
There’s rays of sunlight and shadows all across this room. Like nothing here exists.
And yet here they are.
“This has happened a few times before. His current body showing up here to confront my sister. It never ends well” the glee in Hermes’ voice pulls Duke’s attention from his own introspection a moment before Athena speaks.
“You were reckless. Sentimental. That’s not how I taught you”
The voice is calm, confident. Unyielding, and yet Tim doesn’t cower, though Tim does see the shred of brightness in Tim’s chest recoil like a caged animal.
“Softness isn’t meant for heroes. I feel like your formerly deceased friends over there can attest” she continues, gesturing over at their group. Duke can see Tim’s fists clench at that one, eyes finally lifting to meet hers.
“That’s not-“ Tim tries, but Athena just speaks over him.
“If you had just out your emotions aside like you were supposed to” she says and suddenly Kon’s holding back an enraged Cassie.
She doesn’t verbally snarl, but Duke has a feeling that has more to do with Hermes’ presence suddenly turning shadow-like around them “If he had any less compassion, he’d be a statue” Cassie whispers, though Duke knows it’s supposed to be a yell.
Hermes sees him watching and lifts a single finger to his lips, still smiling.
“I don’t know where I went wrong” Athena says, suddenly stony “But you failed the test”
Suddenly, the spark in Tim’s ribcage expands to fill almost the entire chest, his lungs a shining beacon of inhumanity before he speaks, voice grave and knowing “That’s just like you. Why should I be surprised?”
His smile is wicked and sharp “Selfish and prideful and vain” he continues, voice like honey but words like bee stingers as Duke feels the entire room chill, the family at his side going completely still in seconds.
Tim doesn’t seem to notice.
“After all, I’m the one who has to confront families for each death, aren’t I? And it’s not like any title can help when you tell a wife her husband is never coming back, does it?”
Tim’s smirk, for the first time that Duke’s seen since they got here, softens “I saw you as a friend, once” his voice hardens a moment later “But we’ve been done for a while now”
The two figures stare one another down. Duke’s not even sure he can recognize the one as Tim anymore. Tim, Duke winces, would hopefully never speak to an all-powerful being in her own home like this.
“I mistook you for a general, once” Athena’s voice is like ice “What a waste”
Tim reels back for a split second. Not in shock or fear.
Less like a person recoiling when sand is thrown into their face.
More like a snake rearing back to strike.
And Duke has a bad feeling.
Tim’s voice comes out frigid, cold. Quiet as everyone on Duke’s side of the room takes a step back in mortal recognition of danger.
Hermes, noticeably, doesn’t. Only leans against the wall, watching.
“At least I know what I’m fighting for while you’re still hidden in obscurity” he smirks, and there’s something to the twist of his lips that isn’t…quite human anymore.
After all, wasn’t Odysseus a demigod?
“Since you claim you’re so much wiser, why are you STILL alone?”
Silence rings for a moment as Duke feels his own jaw drop at the words. He can see even Constantine’s fingers are lax around the cigarette he’d been twiddling since they got here.
Even Diana is wide-eyed staring at Tim like she can’t believe the words that just left his lips.
But nobody around them looks concerned. Duke refuses to look at some of the shadow-smudges or the sunlight rays but Hermes seems to be outright snickering at the look on Athena’s face.
Like she’d received a face full of sand via a toddler.
“One day” Athena says quietly into the silence “You’ll understand”
And there’s something in her voice that sounds like grief.
And then her expression hardens “But not today, cause after all, you’re just a man”
And just like that their discussion is over. No words about the curse uttered. No pleas made. Nothing had gone to plan.
But everyone can tell that this is a dismissal. And after that display, all of them are happy to leave through the metal doors with feeing feet.
Everyone, except for Tim, who drags his feet and walks with his head held high, back turned to the all-powerful beings behind him.
“What are they gonna do?” Tim asks when Cassie urges him to walk faster and watch his back
“Kill me?”