Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

In the antiquity of time, there existed a group of gods. Gods who fought battles, gave blessings, to whom humans rendered rites and sacrifices. Gods known in ancient Greece.

"My dear children and friends!" exclaimed Toshinori from the step-lined placeta of his palace. "Today will be the day you meet a new member of our group."

Toshinori radiated pure happiness, the smile on his face was of incandescent light and that sense of optimism was rubbing off on all the gods crowding the lowest steps of the placeta. At his hand was his wife Kayama, known as Midnight, whom most of the gods respected for being Toshinori's wife and secretly disowned for being a cruel, sadistic and jealous woman.

"Who do you think she is?" asked Kirishima, curious.

"I don't know" answered Denki "but there are rumors from the graces that it is a beautiful god, like no one has ever seen".

"Surely they exaggerate" disagreed Momo calmly "remember that the graces are kind of silly. Since they are not in your care, Kirishima, they think all gods are beautiful."

"An honest and brutal answer, coming from the goddess of wisdom and strategic warfare."

"And too dismissive a tone coming from you, Kirishima, god of dawn, medicine and good manners" replied the red-haired woman austerely.

"Touché."

"You will meet our new member when dusk spreads its wings across our firmament, but for now I want you to enjoy a great feast and good music!"

Toshinori clapped his hands twice before the imposing golden doors of his palace opened wide, giving free rein to all the gods of Olympus to enter excited, smiling and with many intentions of having a good time in that unexpected verbena that the king of the gods had imposed.

The Muses began to interpret great stories, to sing excellent songs and to recite heroic eclogues of all the gods, while Aoyama, the god of wine and pleasure, made them bring an infinity of barrels of sweet wine and the most beautiful beings of all lands to dance under the delight of all the gods, single or married.

The large and magnificent throne room where Toshinori held great audiences and received all the gods, had been arranged in such a way that it had become a beautiful ballroom, where each god had a table set for each of them, where they were served wine and delicious dishes non-stop.

Toshinori was grinning from ear to ear with his wife Kayama, hurriedly drinking the sweet wines that Aoyama had arranged for him and enjoying the sweet dishes.

"I am still shocked by that unexpected news of yours, dear husband" Midnight replied calmly as she looked around at the amusement of the other gods "We have long ago agreed that we would have no secrets."

"And I have kept my promise, dear wife" replied the blond man calmly, turning away a beautiful water nymph who approached him flirtatiously "I did not disrespect our house and I have kept no secrets from you since time immemorial."

"That doesn't seem to be so" she countered in a calm voice, taking a drink from her golden wine goblet "since you have brought another bastard under my nose, a bastard born of your damned lies."

"You're misunderstanding the situation, dear wife" he replied in a somber tone "It's been a long time since I've fallen into temptation because of our promise. And just as you keep your viper tongue to speak of this situation, I ask respect for this new member who does not deserve your rudeness nor your comments, since you have never met him, much less are you to speak behind his back."

Both husband and wife's eyes, furious and tense, glared at each other. Only for Midnight to then let out a snort and the subject was settled, to enjoy a play recreating the heroic adventure of the sun god, Kirishima, and the goddess of the hunt, Mina, in search of the golden stag.

"Father is at it again with Midnight," whispered Denki, the messenger god, who was measuredly caressing the hips of a beautiful forest nymph, "it must be quite a distressing situation for father."

"What has me most intrigued is this new member Father speaks of" replied Kirishima, reclining on a nest of fluffy cushions sipping from his cup "I don't think he would have been so reckless as to break the promise to Midnight and be an illegitimate child of his promise."

"From what I understand, he is not a child of his father."

"How do you know that, Momo?"

"I've already told you, the graces are very foolish."

"So, if he's not a father's son? Why have you cuddled him with the gods?" questioned Denki.
"In the same way, I wonder how Mineta cowered here" replied Momo, as she watched the aforementioned on the other side of the room, with a harem of nymphs, humans and other creatures, caressing them and revealing their deepest desires in the ears of others "He is despicable".

"We cannot judge father's decisions" replied a calm voice. "He sees things we don't see in others. His decisions are almost always right."

"That is true, Todoroki" agreed Kirishima, raising his glass "By father's good decisions."

"To good decisions" toasted Denki and then took a long drink of wine, which was again filled to the brim.

Momo just silently raised her glass, watching as Todoroki did the same and drank briefly from the glass. She felt a pang deep in the pit of her stomach for simply disagreeing with that two-eyed god who had been taking her thoughts away from her since her unexpected arrival on Olympus.

The evening, on the other hand, continued as twilight fell over the heads of all the gods, who were having fun dancing, eating, flirting and even kissing the willing company rather hastily.

Some gods bordered on perversity and escaped from the eyes of others to serve themselves of the most perverse acts in the many rooms that were in that imposing palace, while others enjoyed the interpretations that the muses, protected by Kirishima, gave to all the gods. And there were gods like Momo, Todoroki, Shinsou and Tokoyami who drank in silence and hardly tasted a bite.

"This evening is already boring me," replied Shinsou, yawning.

"You're the god of sleep, you obviously have nothing better to do than sleep," replied Sero, the god of culture and agriculture.

"We don't all have the same fun, Sero" replied Tokoyami taciturnly.

"Thank you for that answer, god of the night" Sero sneered.

"For a god of the night, you're not as dangerous as I expected" rebuked Aoyama, in a voice that denoted his degrading alcoholic state.

"Aoyama, please back off" whispered Tokoyami calmly.

"You have such a disgusting grimace, come on you sure haven't deflowered a sweet stamen in a long time" replied the blond as his large retinue of escorts gave away a woman of great beauty, who danced flirtatiously and ethereally until perching on Tokoyami's shoulder. "Or, perhaps, a young, innocent pistil."

This time, Aoyama approached a beautiful young man with bronze hair, milky skin and violet eyes, who likewise danced with rapturous, flirtatious and ethereal gestures until he landed next to the god of the night.

"I appreciate your attention, Aoyama," she whispered between her teeth, frowning, "but I'm not in the mood for your bullshit today."

He brushed off the touches of the escorts and dismissed the beautiful young men in the most forceful manner.

"My, aren't you boring, maybe that's why the nymph Tsuyu never wanted to marry you."

A stifled exclamation was heard from someone nearby and then a tremendous silence that silenced the poetry that one of the muses was reciting in that part of the hall.

"Take back what you said, Aoyama."

"Why would I have to lie about that?" he rebuked with a sly smile.

"Now this is really getting good" Shinsou whispered with a new smile and sipped from his glass as the fight began to flame before his eyes.

And before Tokoyami could face the drunken god with clenched fists, the palace doors swung wide open and silenced the pleasant evening that was bathed in the twilight of the day.

Approaching from the back was a tall figure, covered in heavy armor, carrying a heavy sword in his right hand and a winged helmet on his face. The sound of his footsteps and the silence was such that it seemed as if tenebrous bells were chanting a death chant.

All the gods were watching the approaching figure with disdainful eyes. The god whom all despised, branded as immoral, cruel and selfish, who only bathed the earth in blood for duty and pleasure. The god of war.

His steps never faltered and, before the condescending, malicious and contemptuous looks, he approached directly to the throne where Toshinori and Midnight rested. When he arrived in front of them, he took off his helmet and revealed his ashen hair, his ruby eyes and his beautiful head bathed in a few drops of blood.

"My boy, Katsuki" whispered Toshinori affectionately, as he hugged the ashen blond in a fatherly way.

"I hope I'm not too late, old man" replied the ruby-eyed youth dryly and taciturnly.

"Not at all, son" he said with utmost fondness "I've left you a table, the servant will take you to it."

"All right, thank you, old man."

Toshinori smiled as he kindly ordered one of his servants to escort Katsuki to his table.
"I hope your respects aren't just for your father," Midnight replied haughtily.

"I don't owe no respect to no fucking snake."

"Katsuki" whispered the older blond in warning.

"But since that is not the case, I express my great joy at returning home, my queen" the god spat through his teeth.

"It is never a pleasure to see you, Katsuki, but as your father has sheltered you among us, I must do nothing more than give away the bounty our hearts have imposed since our union. I only hope that you will not displease others by your presence."

"I will try not to," he replied with all the patience he could muster.

"Very well, you may withdraw from my sight" sighed Midnight with the serene and haughty pose "and please, muses, continue with the displays of entertainment and let the evening continue."

Katsuki gave her father an annoyed look before being escorted away by a fearful servant. The heavy aura of anger and imposing that Katsuki carried about him caused the escorts of the other gods to turn away, intimidated by the reddish eyes of the god of war.

As soon as he was led to his table, a large platter of food and a cup full of wine awaited him near a cask of the same. He grunted in annoyance at having to dispose of his meals by himself again.

He sat down among the fluffy cushions with pent-up anger, shedding his armor and exposing his imposing, massive warrior's figure, bathed in foreign blood and scarred by war.

He took large mouthfuls with ravenous hunger and took large sips of the wine laid out before him, refilling it repeatedly, not fully enjoying the drink.

The looks he was given were contemptuous, the murmurs kept stopping around him, as well as the young men who passed in front of his table escaping without fully looking at him and the servants fearfully serving him their copious dishes before fleeing from his sight.

Katsuki sometimes hated it when people looked at him that way, he knew that his duty as a god was not the most pleasing or much less the most pious or praiseworthy. He knew that war was, in the eyes of many gods, the most vile acts existing in creation, but it was his duty as a god. Since his birth, he was always ready for war, for blood, for cruelty; but no one ever saw beyond that pejorative image of the god of war and that only made him angrier and angrier, and his blood boiled in anger.

"My lord, would you like some more wine?" questioned a sweet, velvety voice.

Katsuki looked at him out of sheer inertia. A beautiful woman with red hair, fiery eyes and a slender figure covered by a toga full of transparency, was holding an amphora of wine in her hands and gave a flirtatious smile to the god of war. And, although he did not deny that the woman was beautiful, he could not feel even a tingle deep inside him. He just moved his golden cup closer to the nymph and she refilled it with utmost tranquility, without leaving the flirtatious smile aside.

Katsuki took a long drink and felt the cushions beside him sink. Her eyes peered over her shoulder at the young woman who didn't let her smile fall aside. The ashen blond took no notice of her and continued to eat leisurely.

"If my lord wishes, I can feed you so you can rest," the young woman proposed.

"No."

His thick voice made the girl tremble in her seat, but that didn't take away that flirtatious air that shone in his eyes.

"Then, I will give my lord a massage so he can rest."

"No," Katsuki replied again.

"I insist, my lord."

"I said no."

And although Katsuki continued to eat, the young red-haired girl brought one of her slender, slender hands up to touch Katsuki's skin with the intention of massaging him, as she planned.

In the blink of an eye, everything went from pleasant to fatal. A scream of exclamation came out and the wine amphora fell, shattering into thousands of pieces just like the table, before revealing a stern looking Katsuki, squeezing the slender neck of the now frightened young woman with one of his giant hands.

"I don't know if you're a fucking incompetent woman, if you're completely retarded in your knowledge or just plain fucking deaf" he whispered sternly, cold and irate, squeezing the young girl's neck "but I've insisted you do nothing."

The young woman's eyes were full of panic as she felt that powerful hand slowly taking away her air and life, making her suffer.

"And I will repeat it to you so that it is clear in your fucking, useless, fucking little peanut mind, and it will be the last time I do it" he replied squeezing the young woman's neck, who let out a choked scream. "I don't want any of your touching or flirting, you filthy slut."

He threw her away from him. The young woman quickly got up and with her eyes filled with tears of fear, escaped before the stunned sight of all the gods and servants.

"Fix this fucking thing, you unnecessary extras!".

Quickly and with dread, the servants arranged the table of the god of war, left freshly made dishes on them and refilled his wine glass.

Frustrated and angry about it all, he settled on the cushions of his table and continued to drink and eat under the watchful eyes of his brothers, who despised him and excluded him from everything.

"Damn Katsuki, he's a totally despicable being" whispered Jirou, the goddess of summer.

"You don't say so. He's cruel, bloodthirsty, merciless" followed closely by Nejire, the goddess of winter "I don't understand why father has given him a place among us, he doesn't deserve to be among the Olympians."

"Sometimes our father has bad decisions, but we must respect them anyway" said Jirou calmly, again rejecting a groom "even if he earns the scorn and hatred of us all".

On the other hand, Ochako, the goddess of spring, commented nothing as she watched in the distance as the taciturn, impulsive and surely god ate and drank to his heart's content, with a scowl on his face and his massive muscles in the air.

"How I wish people could see you as I see you, Katsuki," thought the young goddess of spring before somberly sipping her cup.

Night finally rose over the Olympic firmament as a platinum moon announced the most awaited arrival. Toshinori smiled excitedly as the Olympian firmament was filled with stars and the ethereal light of the moon, filling the entire throne room with enigmatic radiance.

All was enveloped in silence when trumpets announced the arrival of the odes, faithful servants of the queen, who arrived imposing, wearing their beautiful and vaporous pastel robes.

The silence was such that the footsteps of the bare feet of the odes could be heard even in the innermost recesses of the hall. Arriving before Toshinori and Midnight, they bowed respectfully.

"My gods and kings, I hope your patience has not run out at our tardiness."

"Not at all, my dear oda" Toshinori quickly replied, before Midnight said something "we have been waiting anxiously to welcome our new Olympian."

"Well, the wait will have to be well worth it, my king."

And then there was the sound of trumpets, like the sound of a triumphal chant announcing the arrival of a victor. When, suddenly, the air was permeated with the most delicious of perfumes, just as the parsimonious tread of a figure was heard.

All the gods stood expectant, anxious and excited to meet the new Olympian member, but just smelling the sweet perfume wafting through the air made the gods even more tense.

At the lintel of the hall a figure could be seen, a figure that dazzled all the gods present in that hall. He had long greenish frizzy hair, fine and beautiful facial features, his emerald eyes shone in the moonlight and the long pistachio robe girded the harmony of his body.

Katsuki, at first could not raise her eyes, but that graceful and delicious smell made her raise her eyes with a grimace of annoyance, which, just at the same moment he saw it, dissipated.

"Dear Olympian kings and gods, before you stand our new member" presented one of the odes.

The green-haired young man began to walk in the middle of the hall with gracefulness, looking hallucinating at the palace and its dwellers. Some gods were stupefied, others remained mute, some studied the god closely and a few let out exclamations and murmurs drowned by the beauty that emanated from this new god.

But nothing left the gods more petrified than when the fine, vaporous, tight-fitting clothes of the young man began to fall slowly down the softness of his skin, like the graceful foam that glides on the shores of the sea.

The milky skin gradually became exposed to the air, revealing the magnanimous and perfect harmony in which his face and body met. The alabaster skin shone before the moon, covered with fine freckles and moles that framed the gracefulness of his figure, the non-existent hair on his body, as well as the slenderness of his arms, chest and abdomen. Until the cloth fell halfway down and left the god's body totally naked.

The young man smiled with a pure innocence and light that could radiate more radiance than the sun itself, along with the slenderness with which his naked body strutted in his walk and in the fine manners with which the emerald-eyed young man greeted each god that looked directly at him.

Katsuki, Momo, Todoroki, Kirishima and all the gods present in the room could not stop watching that young man with greenish hair, angelic smile and slender body, walk until he was present in front of Toshinori and Midnight, naked and with an innocent smile.

"Before you, my kings, and before all of you, my brothers, I present myself..."

The sound of his voice was like the ringing of a beautiful bell, as if chiming the sweetest song in the heavens of Olympus.

"My name is Izuku and my father has appointed me my duties as the god of beauty and love, to protect the immeasurable value of love along with the eternity and appreciation of beauty."

No one could fit or assimilate the beauty and sweetness with which that young man had presented himself before all the gods. Except Midnight, who boiled with jealousy within herself at the sight of that young man's undeniable beauty.

"Quite... unexpected entrance, dear Izuku" Midnight began sweetly "but I must ask you to dress promptly, for on our roof we hold nudity as a sign of unseemliness."

"My queen, I am sorry that I disagree with you in this way" began the young man with such sweetness and innocence that nothing could be denied him, "but when father found me and gave me a home, he told me to present myself as I have presented myself to him, and I hope my brothers will accept me in the same way that father accepted me and opened his arms and home to me."

Midnight was silent, for Toshinori had risen from his seat and approached the boy with that gesture of fatherliness that always characterized the god and embraced the naked young man with much affection.

"Welcome home, my boy" he whispered to him before announcing himself. "Take care of Izuku, everyone."

And at that moment when the exclamations were heard throughout the hall, Katsuki couldn't help but look at the beauty with which that young man had entered the room. She felt her heart beating wildly inside her chest, she felt short of breath and an inevitable resentment settled in her stomach.

His ruby eyes could not stop admiring that beauty, that innocence and that sweetness that Izuku exuded from every pore of his skin, he not only wanted to have her body, he wanted her mind, her heart, he wanted to be the only one. For the first time in a long time, he cared about being important to someone. And he wanted to be important to that beautiful boy.

Chapter Text

That same night, the revelry caused by the arrival of the new Olympian had changed the mood of all the gods present. All were expectant, anxious and staring at the beauty of the god. His single spirit and jovial and candid smile, diminished in that imposing room that made him look very small in their presence.

Just as he arrived, a table, a nest of cushions and copious plates of food and drink were laid out for him. His smile and gratitude alone made even the servants blush. Everyone was stupefied by the image of that young man and the graceful aroma his body gave off.

Katsuki could not take his eyes off him. He felt obfuscated by his magnanimous beauty and by that faint, graceful and overwhelming scent that made his stomach sting with something strange.

"Beautiful, don't you think so Katsubro?" questioned a voice near him.

Katsuki turned his eyes to the image of Kirishima, who was giving him a smile. He hated it when Kirishima smiled at him like that.

"What do you want, shitty hair?"

"Nothing, nothing, Katsubro" weighed the sun god. "I was just a little weirded out by how you were looking at the new guy."

Bakugou took another long sip from his wine glass until he finished it again. He found it annoying to deal with these confidences Kirishima had with him. He couldn't deny that he was one of the few he was fond of and he didn't see him as a threat either, but he hated the way he referred to his behaviors a lot.

"What, did you just happen to be watching me today, shitty hair?" he urged slyly "I know you're very willing when it comes to wooing, but I'm warning you, you're going to earn a spanking that even you won't be able to handle."

Kirishima burst out laughing. He sat down next to his friend and patted him hard on the back under the sharp gaze of the ashen-haired man.

"Truly your imagination is unheard of, brother" the redhead replied as more wine was poured for him "but I'd rather have someone who is willing to make me happy rather than someone yelling at me and full of blood. No offense."

"I really don't give a shit about your comments," replied the god of war dryly.

"It's okay, brother, it doesn't matter. I know you're in a bad mood as usual, but if I were you I'd hurry up and talk to the new guy" the redhead pointed out.

Katsuki poured from the cask and drank the entire glass in one gulp as Kirishima silently withdrew with a sly smile. Him brow furrowed and he kept watching the handsome figure of the young man in the distance of the hall.

His green hair and curls swayed at the denials of companionship given to him by Aoyama's long harem. His beauty alone dazzled the eyes of anyone who saw him. His aura of innocence and playfulness made even the fiercest heart melt.

But what had hypnotized Katsuki most of all, were his eyes. Those shimmering emeralds that just looking at them caused an irremediable tingling, as if just looking at you could find your deepest secrets.

As they were doing now, looking at him from afar. Fixedly. The ruby and the emerald were staring at each other, dumbfounded, intrigued and extremely nervous. Katsuki felt his stomach contract and an unusual tingling warmed his skin just looking at those glowing eyes.

But nothing had prepared him for that angelic smile. A smile that he had dedicated only to him. A smile that had exploded deep inside him and made him feel confused. And that bothered him.

So he turned with his best frown to the other side and poured himself a sip of wine again, which he drank in one gulp. But that latent tingling wouldn't leave his body. Which made him get more annoyed and gritted his teeth to help himself again of the food they had prepared at that banquet.

On the other hand, Izuku watched from his post that figure with crimson eyes. His intimidating figure, his coarse mannerisms, his scowl and his heavy aura, caught his attention. He was a particular god. He spoke to no one, drank in large sips and seemed to be in the place only out of sheer commitment.

"Excuse me," he whispered to one of the servants.

"Yes, my lord, what can I do for you?" the young man next to him replied hurriedly.

"I wanted to know... Who is that god?" he pointed out discreetly.

"Who, my lord?" insisted the young man.

"The one who is far away, near the barrel" Izuku pointed out again with total tranquility.

When the eyes of the young servant looked at the figure Izuku saw, his face contracted into a grimace of fear and discomfort. A grimace that did not go unnoticed by the young god.

"Is something wrong?" questioned Izuku, intrigued by that expression.

"My lord, the one you point to is the vilest of all gods" began the young man "Katsuki Bakugou is the god of war, the god who lives to kill and torture as duty and pleasure. It is preferable that you do not associate with him."

"But..."

"Don't worry about Katsuki," a tempered voice urged him.

Izuku turned his gaze and looked at a god taller than him, with two-colored eyes and hair, milky skin and a scar on his eye. He was a particular god. Strange, but not uncomfortable.

"Shoto Todoroki " he introduced himself by stretching out his hand.

"A pleasure, Shoto," said the god of love extending his hand.

Todoroki took it with extreme delicacy, not to squeeze it, but to leave a kiss on the back of his hand with chivalry. Izuku had not expected such a sweet and elegant gesture. Which made his cheeks blush a bright vermilion.

Katsuki felt a scorching fire go from the bottom of his stomach to his throat as he watched Izuku's reaction from across the room. How that half-half bastard dared to do that? And, although he didn't lack the urge to go and smack the forge god with his hands, a strange feeling stopped him.

"Katsuki, are you all right?" asked Uraraka, arriving at his side.

The goddess of spring approached to check on the ashen-haired man. He had the same sullen grimace as always.

"Of course I'm great, round face" he replied with all the calm he could muster in those few moments "it's just that these fucking banquets bored me. What are you doing here?"

"I just wanted to know if you were okay," confessed the young woman calmly, sitting down in the free seat next to the god "there are too many wars in the human world lately."

"They are hopeless. They desire power only for themselves and they have the fucking balls to piss me off by saying they want to become like us" he replied slyly "Ha! They can't compare to us."

"Bakugou..."

"What? You're too self-conscious to be you" he pointed out as he took another gulp from his wine glass.

And, although the goddess of spring was sure of her words, she was tongue-tied with that god of athletic bearing, sullen manners and piercing gaze. That god who had been taking away her thoughts for a long time.

"I want you to stay with me, tonight..."

Katsuki choked on his drink, coughing frantically and trying to breathe again. Fuck, he didn't expect that at all.

"Damn, round face!" He exclaimed pulling himself together "Don't fuck with me with those tasteless jokes."

Silence fell between them. Which made Katsuki to dedicate his crimson gaze to the hazel of his companion. Partner who was blushing up to her ears and who was looking at him determinedly. She was serious.

"Fuck," the war god whispered regretfully, "fuck, Uraraka..."

"Katsuki, I... I just..." stammered the young woman, who though determined felt the sting of fear gnawing at her stomach.

"Uraraka..." he said her name calmly "I am honored..."

Though for a moment the young goddess of spring felt happiness, the grimace her companion gave her warned her of what was coming. It is absolutely not good.

"But I cannot agree" he finally replied "you are a beautiful goddess, but I cannot accept such an offer. I live for and for war, blood, sex, not for love..."

"I don't mind being whatever you want me to be," she insisted, taking her partner's thick hands and looking him straight in the eyes "I just want..."

Katsuki took her in his arms and hugged her. Uraraka felt small inside that god's chest, his solid arms wrapped around her and his strong scent only made it difficult to feel that stale in her stomach. But it was comforting to feel that embrace.

"I can't do that to you" Katsuki murmured lovingly, "because even though you're one of the people I hold dearest, I wouldn't have the courage to even hurt you..."

"Katsuki, I know you won't hurt me," she replied, confident.

"No, Ochako. To live with me is to be despised, to be rejected, to have everything taken away from you. I can't do that to you."

Katsuki made Ochako look at him again.

"I can't see you as a lover, but as a sister."

And with that simple answer, Bakugou kissed her forehead, took his helmet, his armor and his weapon to retreat from the banquet to his palace. He could not be there the moment she burst into tears. For though he loved her, he could not love her as she wished. His fate was sealed by and for cruelty, for blood, for savagery, for the scorn of Olympus.

Izuku watched from afar as that imposing man walked away from the table and left behind a grief-stricken goddess. His heart clenched as he watched that goddess dwarfed by the sadness and sobs coming from her chest. He wanted to reach out and comfort her as best he could.

"That's all Bakugou leaves behind, Izuku" whispered Todoroki beside him.

The god of love looked at him with a dubious grimace.

"He is a god who thinks of nothing but himself. He kills for pleasure, for vanity, and for cruelty, leaving sadness and fear wherever he goes; it is best that you do not know him up close."

"That sounds... terrifying..."

"Therefore, I warn you not to approach him or meet him" proposed the god of forging, "you don't know what harm he can do... just like poor Ochako."

Izuku watched as in the distance the young goddess was guarded and escorted by other goddesses to a more private place, while her silhouette contracted in the silent sobs of unrequited love.

"All right, Todoroki," replied the young god.

But he could not help but watch for a moment as the broad back of the god of war disappeared through the great lintel, imposing, taciturn, heavy and lonely. Like a soul in pain condemned to the most horrendous of punishments. Silently.

«Katsuki Bakugou, someday I will know what you hide under that hard and blasé look» thought and challenged the young god of love as he sipped his glass of wine and the silhouette of the god of war dissipated in the shadows of the night.

*************************************

After such an enchanting evening, Izuku was guarded and escorted by Toshinori through the wide alleys of the gigantic Council of the Gods. A place where the largest and most apotheosis palaces were glimpsed under the ghostly light of the moon.

Izuku watched in awe as those gigantic masses of marble, limestone, orichalcum and ivory guarded both sides of the gigantic alley. Filled with lights that illuminate its interior, of sympathetic and generous servants, of beautiful foliage and gardens, of imposing sculptures.

It was like being in a dream. A utopia that not even that young god of love could imagine materializing. His robe covered his nakedness again, while he felt the night breeze under a delicious shiver.

"We are already very close to your home, my boy," Toshinori warned.

"I'm very excited to see my home, All Might," Izuku replied eagerly.

"Please, Izuku, my boy, tell me father," replied the blond calmly.

"Oh I'm sorry, father" corrected the young man, "it's just something I have to get used to."

"I know, my boy" replied the older man pulling the young man close to his side in a fatherly embrace. "I know it will be hard for you to call me father, but I promised to protect you and take care of you like a god."

"And I appreciate that very much, father," he said as he felt his heart grow smaller, "only...it's hard without her."

"I know you miss her a lot" the older man whispered as he stood in front of the green-haired youth, "but she was the one who implored me to bring you with me and I promised to take care of you."

Izuku felt a tear slip from his eye, which was wiped away by Toshinori's hand with utmost affection.

"Don't be sad, my boy. When the time is right, you will be reunited."

He nodded reassuringly. They both walked back down the wide alleyway of the Council as the sound of night birds drifted in their ears. It was incredible, magnanimous, but that didn't take away Izuku's regret, the one that was settled in his chest.

They only stopped when Toshinori faced a wide forged gate, bathed in gold and sheltered under the faint branches and flowers of creepers that bathed the entire wall bordering the palace.

"We have arrived, Midoriya," said the major solemnly.

From his palm shone a golden light which caused the forged gate to open wide before the eyes of both gods. Toshinori stepped through the wide wall bathed in creepers, followed by Izuku.

But nothing had prepared him for that enormous mass with an immeasurable façade, infinite windows, bathed by the climbers, the scent of the forest and perfumed flowers, with a garden full of fruit trees, flowers, hedges and precious fountains, open terraces, pearly gates and beautiful sculptures. Just looking at it, Izuku felt overwhelmed and stupefied.

As he entered the palace the perfumed scent of flowers and forest oozed through the corridors of wide ceilings and marble floors, the door lintels and portals were pure gold, the windows were tall with copper-plated wrought iron sills and more flowers around them. The hall was gigantic, almost compared to his father's palace, with statues, columns and gleaming tables.

Next, Izuku was escorted by his father to his chambers. A gigantic wing that marveled at the sight of the young Olympian. It had a gigantic canopied bed of pearly wood and fine drapery, with soft, quilted blankets next to off-white cushions. In front was a beautiful full-length mirror, with wood and silver borders. Fine carved wooden tables on which rested pots of flowers and bottles of perfumed waters. And to the right of the bed are three portals leading to an open terrace with gold balusters and long pots with more plants.

They passed through a doorway at the back of the room that led them to the bathroom, another large room where rested amphorae with perfumed water, flowers, plants and fresh wood for the gigantic pool that was in the middle of the room. That gigantic tub had solid gold faucets. At the back of the place there was a whitish and pearly wooden cabinet where the fine clothes with which they dried the gods rested, where next to it there was a narrow corridor that connected with the terrace of their chambers.

"What do you think my boy?" questioned Toshinori as he observed how the boy was dumbfounded at such profligacy.

"It's... I don't know how to feel, I'm... this is wao!" rushed Izuku excitedly.

The whole palace was lush, divine, magnanimous and almost dreamlike. Izuku couldn't believe that this place would be his home from now on. There were too many places to visit yet, he didn't know if there was a library, a study, a loft or anything he could imagine. It was too big for just one person.

And with that thought in mind his face of excitement eased a little.

"And all this is for me?"

"Yes my boy, just for you."

"Just for me?" questioned the boy pitifully.

"Something wrong with the palace, Midoriya?" the elder god asked quizzically "Don't you like it? If so, we'll tear it down and build it up again."

"No, father, it's not that" hurried the boy again, "it's just that it's too big a place for one person and..."

"Oh, my boy" Toshinori went over and hugged the emerald eyed boy again, "you must not be lonely, I will come whenever I can. Besides, you'll have your company of servants..."

And with just a snap, Toshinori made a company of three appear in the room. The entire company bowed in the presence of the two gods. It was made up of women of great beauty, mostly of the nymph race.

"Izuku, I want to introduce you to the graces," introduced the older blond calmly, "from now on they are to watch over your home, your health and your comfort, and I expect you to be most kind to them."

"All right, father."

"Graces, meet your new master...."

"We are grateful to serve you, my lord" they all said in chorus as they bowed to him.

Izuku could only manage a tempered nod. So much formality was getting on his nerves.

"You are dismissed, graces. Izuku will call them when necessary."

The three graces bowed and disappeared through the door of the room. Izuku felt strange at this new way of calling him.

"You'll get used to it, Midoriya" consoled the blond fatherly, "just give yourself a little time and you'll see it will come naturally."

"All right, father."

"I must go," he announced. "Kayama must be furious for leaving her at the banquet, but I couldn't let you not have a good reception."

"Thank you so much for everything, father."

"You're welcome, my boy," said the elder approaching the bedroom door.

"I'll see you out."

"No, son," he said calmly, "rest, you need it. Tomorrow you start your work as a god and I don't want to disturb your sleep."

"All right, father" replied the boy crestfallen.

Toshinori, seeing the crestfallen boy with a million paternal energy, hugged him so tightly that he lifted him in his arms.And, although Izuku felt surprised by that spontaneous moment, he only laughed at the affectionate gesture of his father hugging him back.

"I'll be back as soon as I can, my boy," the older blond murmured, setting Izuku down and breaking the embrace.

"Yes, father, please rest and have a good night."

The blond smiled back and a fatherly smile before stepping through the door and closing it gently.

Izuku, seeing himself alone in the room, felt the excitement of the place rejuvenate his expression. He approached the spacious terrace. His views ranged from a backyard filled with a fountain overlooking a wide pool of crystal clear waters, the craggy slopes of Mount Olympus and a secluded terrace of a palace a few meters away from him.

The young god of love was curious to know who inhabited that palace. And his answer was like a bucket of cold water. For at that moment the moonbeams illuminated the entire terrace, revealing two exposed, naked and fiery silhouettes in the night.

A gigantic and wide silhouette, with masculine features and ashen hair. It was Katsuki. The god of war. Naked, frantic and lustful on that terrace. The sallow skin was pearly with sweat and his savage grimace denoted the perniciousness of his enterprise, entering the interior of a young woman with rawness, strength and lust.

Izuku did not know what to think in those moments before such a hot and unscrupulous scene. He could not hear her moans, but he could glimpse her expressions of joy and pleasure from where he stood. A prickling tingling began to gnaw at his body. A growing heat prickled his skin.

But what struck him most was not the pervertedness of the scene or the young girl's joy, but that pleasurable and almost liberating expression that on the face of the god of war hovered. Katsuki's face lifted and the moonlight made his ruby eyes sparkle. Only for Izuku to be enveloped in that fire of her gaze, in that perverse aura and in that uncompromising desire that made him feel nervous and fascinated.

"My lord," he called from behind his back.

Izuku let out a startled cry.

"By glorious Zeus!" pulled himself together with Izuku.

"I'm sorry, my lord, but I wanted to know if you needed anything?" questioned the young red-haired girl.

"Yes, uh, well... excuse me for asking, but what is your name?"

"Itsuka Kendo, my lord."

"Kendo, you don't have to call me my lord, just calling me Izuku is fine."

"I can understand that, Izuku, but I can't disrespect your position on Olympus in front of other gods," clarified the young woman formally, "it wouldn't look very nice."

"That's fine, thank you. "**

"Yes?" appeared the other two graces in the bedroom.

"No, girls, Izuku is just thanking," explained Kendo to the other two.

"Oh..." they said in chorus.

Izuku just smiled at the unexpected and weirdness of the situation.

"Well, thank you, you may retire today. Tomorrow will be another day."

"Okay, Izuku," Kendo stepped forward, bowing and being followed by her sisters, "at ease."

"Grateful, girls, you rest as well."

And when the three graces disappeared through the lintel of the door, Izuku snorted in relief. They were almost discovering that he was watching a rampant sex scene. He didn't want to be labeled a pervert, but something inside him wouldn't stop that curiosity and fascination of seeing the god of war with that expression.

Izuku shook his head, embarrassed and blushing, trying to push that thought away from his mind. Therefore, he threw himself towards his gigantic bed, closed the thin, transparent curtains and rolled himself into the quilted sheets of his bed, trying not to think about that scene, let alone Katsuki's expression.

"What are you doing to me, god of war? Why do I feel such a fascination for you? Why even though Olympus despises you I feel you are not what the other gods think?" And with those questions in his thoughts, Izuku fell limp under the shelter of the god of sleep.

Chapter Text

Without expecting it, the time inside Olympus passed very quickly for all the gods. Time in which great changes and shouts were heard throughout the length and breadth of the pinnacle where the gods dwelt.

No one could turn a deaf ear to all the rumors, stories, favors, songs and offerings that mortals dedicated to the god of love, Izuku Midoriya. His name alone caused adoration. Hearing even in the ends of the earth the stories of his exploits to seek the happiness of lovers, the materialization of love and fertility of those who had not been able to have offspring. Thus creating a reputation as an impeccable god.

So much was the adoration and the rapture of the mortals with the god of love, that those adepts to his miracles created beautiful marble temples with precious gardens. Where they prayed and implored the young women, the marriageable women, the infertile women, the heterows, the courtesans in love, the young lovers with beautiful offerings of calf and perfumes, asking for the blessings and favors of the beautiful god.

His fame within the mortal world was so adored and received, that even rumors were created that reached Olympus. Rumors that claimed the god as the most fertile entity among all the goddesses, a creator of strong and beautiful children as his favors, a god who carried the luminary of his home duty and his love above his duties. Rumors that swayed the ears of many gods on Olympus.

Such a force had these gossips, that within Olympus an immeasurable and quarrelsome tension was felt. For all those male gods, single or married, sought one way or another to woo the young god of love, whether it was to gaze into the candid gleam of his emerald eyes or to share a simple conversation with the beautiful and desirable god.

Toshinori was resting his weary body on his giant throne, grieving over the recent events that had occurred around his beloved young son Izuku. He was proud because Izuku had done his job as a god in an extraordinary and amicable way to create a name and a history under his belt, but he was also concerned about how much his son affected all of his siblings within Olympus.

The older blond could not deny the beauty, kindness and beautifying light his son had in his being and personality. But since his son had become self-absorbed in his favors to mortals and rumors of his fertility had spread like wildfire, his sons' insistence for their father's blessing to ask Izuku in marriage had dwindled into a constant assembly of disputes, quarrels and personal battles that Toshinori feared. For if the situation continued to escalate to such levels of violence, war between his sons might be inevitable and, perhaps, he would not be able to stop it.

His foot twitched insistently from the anxiety that the mere thought of war caused his body, for he had to think hard about a plan that would prevent war between his sons without affecting Izuku's happiness and freedom. He already blamed himself for the failure of his lack of parenting with other of his children, imposing his ideas on his children's freedom, despising their happiness. He did not wish for Izuku to silently despise him, just as his son Katsuki did.

He snorted in dismay as he ran his hand over his face in pure anguish and frustration. He remembered all the untold damage Katsuki had done to him since he was just as young as Izuku. She recalled the cold contempt he had for her, the thunderous silence, his indifference to her scars and feelings. All that had damaged and chilled his son's heart quite a few millennia ago. And although he was recently able to hold an affectionate conversation with his son, he knew that his son despised him in silence. He felt regretful and needy.

"That expression of anguish is horrendous, dear" Kayama introduced himself, leaning back against the back of his husband's throne "your wrinkles are showing too much"

"I'm not for your jokes, Kayama" grumbled the blond sternly.

" Don't bother, honey" whispered the woman as she rounded the throne and sat on her husband's lap, stroking the golden tresses resting on his forehead "I was just teasing you a little".

"Well, I'm not in the mood, woman."

"How sensitive."

Toshinori grunted at his wife's sly comment. Midnight, on the other hand, smiled in amusement.

" What's with the bad mood?" questioned the queen goddess "Shoto hasn't done his job well at the forge? Mineta has caused another war? Denki is lost again making a message?"

"No, it's nothing like that" he replied thoughtfully.

"Then why the long face?" said Nemuri fondly, trying to hide the distrustful, acidic tone in his throat.

"I'm worried about Izuku..."

Kayama rolled her eyes, squinted and crossed her arms as they started talking about her husband's new favorite.

"What has the unseemly one done?"

"Nemuri" the older blond warned gruffly.

"What?" she replied dryly.

"Don't talk about Izuku like that, we've already talked about it."

"Oh, please, Toshi!" the goddess replied pressed "You want me to treat him nicely? After arriving naked to an event at Olympus and disrespecting their kings? It was disrespectful, unscrupulous and in bad taste."

"He's a boy, Nemuri" justified the blond to his susceptible wife "barely and he's been settled on Olympus for a few centuries and as he said in his welcome, he wanted to show himself for who he was to others."

Kayama snorted silently.

"I don't intend to change Izuku's customs or freedoms" the elder continued "we have always let our children exercise their freedom.

"Yes, my dear, but we have also taught our children the respect, service and decorum they owe to us as to our title."

"Not everyone must answer to that, Nemuri" asserted the king "our children have respected me not for being their king or their father, but for being their guide, their teacher, their confidant, their counselor; I do not therefore claim to dominate them as I try to do our father".

"Don't you dare compare your children to that situation Toshinori" replied the goddess in an aggressive manner "All that pain our father caused us has nothing to do with what that brat must learn.

"I must not teach him anything, Kayama. He will see whether or not you are worthy of his respects, just as I do with all my children."

"Don't give me that stupidity," the woman replied acidly.

"Their freedom is not stupidity, Nemuri. My children owe me nothing, they are the masters of their own destiny."

Kayama stared into her husband's blue eyes, she was annoyed, surly and very hurt. She ground her teeth to avoid hurling insults at her husband, who was staring at her with narrowed eyes.

"All right," she finally said to rise from his lap, "do as you please."

Haughty, proud and angry, the queen of the gods strutted with grace and panache, stamping her feet thunderously on the polished floor of the palace, walking away from the throne room. Toshinori let out a weary sound.

"By the way, dear, you'd better go find somewhere to sleep" his wife accosted at the lintel with a serious expression "because until the next moon you won't be entering our quarters."

Toshinori listened to his wife's footsteps until they were lost in the echo of the corridors of his gigantic palace. Until he felt completely alone, he sighed wearily and annoyed. Sometimes his wife could be tiresome and capricious with certain situations that brought out that proud and classist side of her.

He was aware that even a simple tantrum like that could turn into a magnanimous chaos inside his palace and he had no intention of fighting with his wife in the face of a situation bigger than his snobbish and cruel ego.

Toshinori was not happy in that marriage. It had become a toxic relationship many years ago, full of meaningless quarrels. It was a marriage kept by pure compromise. Even though the older blond hated it with all his might, he had promised his wife on the day of their marriage that he would never leave her and he, as a god and a king, had to keep his word.
However, despite the sentence, the king of the gods remained thoughtful, trying to find a viable way for his children not to be destroyed by the hand of the young god of love. He had to find a way to smooth out those rough edges. But he knew deep inside him that it was not going to be an easy job, for love could lead you to do crazy, stupid and unthinkable acts.

He would not find the solution sitting on his throne. So the god king decided to look for a quiet place, far from his palace and far from Olympus where he could think with a cool head and without discomfort a solution to that gigantic problem.

He left his palace very calmly, until he approached one of the cliffs that were in his gardens, letting himself fall through the emptiness of clouds.

Only the sound of the fall was heard and then the song of an eagle soaring through the clouds and then lost in the distance of the mountains.

***********************************************************************************************************************************************************

Katsuki exhaled the air that he had unconsciously held, relieved to cross the door of Olympus and to be absorbed by the wide alley of the Council of the gods.

He felt his body tired, his muscles stiff from the force and his legs almost flagging. He had returned after a long constant of strife among mortals, who clamored and implored his presence with offerings, prayers and invocations of blood to grant them victories, courage and strength in wars.

It had been a few centuries where his duty as god of war had been urged to fight and subjugate the foreign troops that tried to invade one of his precious temples. So he spent a long time among the mortals.

Tired, jaded, angry and extremely anxious, Katsuki walked through the council as fast as his tired body could carry him. He intended to reach his home, take a bath, eat a delicious feast and kidnap a young nymph so he could have sex with her and stop that execrable desire that had been gnawing at him for several nights.

Those two long centuries away from his home calmed the craving for blood and fighting that the god had been accumulating for certain confusing thoughts that overwhelmed him, until he felt disgusted by the smell of blood and death of the men lying under his right hand.

Such thoughts had to do with the image of a certain young god he had seen before he left for the fray. The mere memory of his smile, his emerald eyes and his alabaster skin made the god of war tremble, not knowing what was really that pressing sensation that existed in his body.

He closed his eyes and shook his head, dispelling that line of thought. He hated to think about what he felt. He resented those sensations that that idiot grinning boy caused and it only made him disgusted.

He could only pull himself away from such a thought when he saw Alectrion, his young squire and apprentice, with the gates of his palace open waiting for him as always. A petite, milky-skinned, copper-haired, syrupy-eyed immortal that his father had arranged for him to accompany him on his campaigns. But more than a squire, Katsuki treated Alectrion as just another servant.

"Welcome home, my lord!" the immortal greeted him with a smile.

"Yes, yes, sheep's eyes," replied the ashen blond, stepping into the gardens of his palace.

As they advanced, Katsuki stripped off his armor which he threw carelessly, while it was caught by the small arms of his squire who could barely keep up with the fast pace of the god.

"My horses?"

"Grazing in the barn, my lord, just as you always ask."

"My weapons?"

"Sharp and ready in the hall of arms, sir" replied the young squire stumbling over one of his feet without actually falling over.

"The errand I asked the cursed half-half-elf for?"

"Waiting in his chambers, my lord".

"Anything happen in my absence?" the god questioned, stepping fully into his throne room.His spacious throne room was an area crowned by terracotta-colored marble columns, ebony-colored polished ceramic walls and floors with a wrought iron throne of swords, where the god of war sat at ease, tossing the chain mail to his squire and remaining in the simple leather toga that covered his waist to his knees.

"A lot has happened my lord" said the young squire fully interested at the foot of the short planking going up to the throne "I must tell you that your brothers..."

"I'm not interested in what that bunch of whippersnappers do with their lives" interrupted the god as he looked down from the throne at his squire with narrowed eyes #whether or not they were unfaithful to some of his concubines is none of my business".

"On the contrary my lord! It is something that has made Olympus shudder..."

"Whatever it is, sheep's eyes, it is of little value to me. I'm not interested in the problems of Olympus, that's for my father to solve..."

"But..."

Katsuki raised his hand with an annoyed expression and the young squire bit his tongue to avoid speaking again. Another young servant approached the throne, where he offered an amphora of wine and a golden cup to the god. The god took them from him carelessly.

"Disappear," Katsuki ordered.

The young servant did not object, and just as he appeared he retreated to the side of the place. Katsuki poured the cup until it was filled to the brim and then drank it in one gulp and let out a sigh of satisfaction at the fermented taste of the liquor.

"I just want to know if something has happened that concerns me, sheep's eyes, something that has happened inside my palace, my lands, something that has to do with my things" claimed the god quite calmly, but with a stern air that always made the young squire tremble.

Alectrion took a deep breath to prevent his lord from noticing his nerves. For all those who served the impatient, rude and cruel god of war, felt panic at his very presence. For the god being so impatient, if one of his orders was not carried out as he wished or attended to as quickly as possible, it could turn into a sure punishment or a beating without being able to squeak.

"No my lord, nothing has gone out of the regular" the boy finally said from his place.

"Must see you're still a weakling, sheep's eyes" muttered the god venomously and directly as he poured himself another drink of wine "so you better go clean my armor or I swear the spanking I'm going to give you, even your ancestors in Hades will feel it."

"All right, as you command my lord" Alectrion assured as he quickly disappeared down the corridors of the palace.

"And make it look like a fucking mirror!"

"As my lord commands!"

After that, everything in the throne room fell into a thunderous, inclement and mournful silence. A sepulchral silence that Katsuki was used to. A silence that had accompanied him since his birth and that no one had any intention of breaking.

And although Katsuki didn't care about the silence that surrounded him every time he arrived home or anywhere in particular, he couldn't deny that sometimes it was heavy and very painful.

The ashen-haired blond, despite his harsh face and feelings, had always wished quite strongly for the mere presence of someone who wasn't afraid of him or despised him for his task of the god of war. For, although his job was to kill, torture and win wars, he had always felt pushed aside by his brothers and even his father. While they now had a fairly calm relationship, he still felt the coldness and distrust his father had for him.

He felt unfair, like shit. But he had long since accepted that nothing for him would ever be fair, so the best he could do was to let others live, seek to have no one doubt his might and do as he pleased.

When he had a long bowl of food with fruit, cheese and meat in front of him, he snatched the patent leather back from the servant and gave him a look that could make even the bravest and fiercest man cry, causing the servant to leave almost pissing his robes.

Katsuki fed with a voracious appetite, reaching into the food and filling the hunger that was beginning to eat away at his body.

That silence accompanied him again as he looked around at the entire throne room of his palace, the polished ebony floors unblemished and the tall marble columns in gleaming terracotta. Solitary, with nothing but the consistent noise of birds settling in the willows and birches of his garden and backyard. A silence that tightened his chest and made him keep eating.

Only until a few seconds later, when the sound of an orchestra interrupted the peaceful meal of the god of war. Which although it didn't bother him, was unexpected and annoying.

Katsuki just downplayed it and continued to devour his copious plate of food. The music was interrupted and silence rose again. Katsuki remained confused again, but again downplayed it until he took a sip of wine.

An explosion reverberated the walls of the place and splashed some wine on the face of the god of war. Katsuki felt his blood boil as his moment of peace was interrupted by a hubbub outside.Annoyed and angry, he rose from his throne with the intention of going to his quarters on the upper floor. His heavy footsteps were heard throughout the palace. Katsuki climbed the steps leading to his quarters and then approached the terrace to observe with a frown and a furious rictus what was going on outside.

From his place he observed how on the entrance gate of the palace that adjoined his own a dispute was emulated between four silhouettes that Katsuki could identify: Kirishima, Denki, Aoyama and Sero.

The hubbub was such that Katsuki could tell that the four were arguing viciously and furiously, talking over each other and pointing at each other. However, the argument lasted only a short time before one of the gods punched the other and it turned into a bare-knuckle brawl.

For Katsuki it would have been a rather out of place and bizarre situation, as his brothers were always at peace. But watching them punching, shoving and fighting each other for a reason he didn't know only made him smile at how pathetic they all looked.

"Sheep's eyes!" called the blond.

"Yes, my lord, here I am!" barely managed to answer the young squire after running from the stables to the chambers.

"Do you see that happening?"

"Yes, my lord" replied the young squire, pulling himself together "Kirishima-san, Aoyama-san, Sero-san and Denki-san have gone all the way to the gates of that palace during a lunar cycle."

"What?" questioned the blond in surprise and looking straight at his squire.

The brown-eyed young man felt his nerves fray as he felt his master's reddish gaze pierce him like an awl.

"What do you mean you have been in front of that palace for a lunar cycle? If that palace is newly built and uninhabited."

"On the contrary, my lord," the young god explained, "according to many it is said that the god All Might housed a creature of beautiful beauty and bearing in that castle. Apparently it has been dwelling in the palace for a few centuries, almost the same since you left for the fray."

Then it dawned on Katsuki. There, right in the palace that adjoined his, stood none other than that young god who had taken his breath away. The person for whom his thoughts raved and for whom the scent of flowers no longer seemed as sweet to him as that perfume that only his silhouette fizzed.

"Why do these idiots fight in front of your home then?"

"They tell rumors, my lord, that that creature is endowed with fertility, so much so that he can give birth to beautiful and strong offspring" said Alectrion recalling all that banter he kept with the maidservants "and that he has a promise to honor his spouse with his home and his love, but so far they are only rumors."

Katsuki felt a tongue of flame run through his body like burning gunpowder, as if he had a desire to strike something or cause a war of biblical proportions. A compelling feeling that confused and angered him even more.

He watched as from between the places overlooking the garden, a female figure carried one smaller than herself between her hands and tossed her over the fence. The smaller figure crashed into the fighters, making them fall along with them and Katsuki could glimpse that it was Mineta's figure. He felt rage consume him.

"I'm going to the reservoir" he muttered between his teeth.

"It's alright my lord.

"I want you to take food and wine over there" ordered the god of war heading his steps towards the backyard.

"As you command, my lord.

"But I want you to bring the sweetest duck meat you have."

Alectrion remained static, until Katsuki narrowed her ruby eyes at him again with a dangerous, menacing gleam.

"Is there a problem, sheep's eyes?"

"N-No, my lord, he'll be right with you" The young squire bolted from the spot.

Katsuki, seeing himself alone again, went down the staircase and crossed his entire palace to find his backyard, a large place with a large space of land that he rarely used for training, a small fountain with crystal clear water and small patches of vegetation and climbing plants that climbed up his wall.

His footsteps crossed the whole spacious place until they reached the wall where the creepers dwelt. He pushed aside a dense curtain of leaves, vines and flowers that revealed a dark and cavernous path.

Katsuki, without hesitation, went through that lintel and became engrossed in that path barely illuminated by the few torches that were there and some slits of light that let the rays of the afternoon sun pass through.

Listening to the funereal sound of his footsteps and following the winding path of damp earth, Katsuki kept his mind blank to avoid thinking about that inhospitable and overwhelming feeling that was eating him alive. That lacerating, recalcitrant fire rising from his stomach to his chest.

He didn't know what it was or how to overcome it. It made him feel useless and angry with himself. Only until he reached the end of that dark tunnel and was enveloped again by the afternoon light.

His gaze looked around him at that quiet place full of greenery. His field Eliseo, his place of tranquility and freedom, a place that not even his father knew existed.

It was a large piece of land with walls crumbling with humidity and moss, earth soft and tender to the touch, small trees and flowers of different colors, creepers climbing up to a wide canopy with a wrought iron dome and covered with branches and flowers, only to end in front of a large reservoir with a waterfall, where the stones were smoothed and the birds were cleaned.

Katsuki felt his peace return like a breath of summer breeze. He inhaled deeply that pure air and then exhaled slowly, until dissipating everything that afflicted him.

It was the secret place of the god of war, that only he knew and that had given him all the peace that he had not been able to get in his youth, when everyone in Olympus despised him. A place that saw his tears, his rage, his frustrations, but also his smiles and his frolics.

Katsuki let himself be enraptured by the sound of falling water and birdsong. Letting it all fill her soul. Until she heard the sound of footsteps. Light, anxious footsteps approaching rapidly.

Katsuki, by battle inertia, hid behind a thick rock with moss, waiting for those who were approaching to give their face so he could shout to the four winds to get out of there or else face the consequences of invading that space of his.

His eyes, peering over the rock, caught a glimpse of three figures darting into the reservoir and splashing along the banks, leaving a field of spray in their wake.

He identified the invaders only when their faces surfaced and they began splashing and laughing on the surface. They were the graces, with their beautiful alabaster skins and their nakedness in the air, having fun and laughing with each other. Splashing in Katsuki's most precious place.

The god of war felt an immeasurable, poisonous rage run through his blood like a torrid lava path, gritting his teeth and clenching his fists until his wrists were white How dare those stupid immortals invade his most precious place? Dared they laugh and linger in that place? Her hands felt the tingling of hitting them and kicking them out of their place. With those intentions she wanted to get out of her hiding place.

"Izuku, please come closer" called a grace "the water is phenomenal".

Until he heard the name and the faint sound of footsteps approaching the place. The birds became excited singing with greater fervor and he felt that graceful and sweet perfume that only he knew who it belonged to.

Izuku emerged from her hiding place, wearing a beautiful off-white robe that came down to her knees, leaving the skin of her shoulders bare and making his freckles shine like copper.

"Don't rush him, sister."

"Don't worry about me, girls" the young man kindly refused "please enjoy yourselves."

Izuku with his beautiful emerald eyes began to observe the place with the utmost thoroughness: the flowers of a thousand colors, those birds that sang loudly and the sound of the waterfall hitting against the reservoir. He smiled as he felt at peace and leaned back on the soft moss near the reservoir.

Katsuki, petrified and dismayed, did not know how to feel about it. That tingling he felt when he saw the young god many nights ago returned with the same force as then, he felt his heart hammering in his chest and his nerves rising up to his throat. Thousands of sensations troubled and confused him.

He could not stop observing the divine anatomy that between the toga of the god of love was glimpsed, running his eyes over the slender arms, the bare shoulders, the wide eyelashes, the fine features of the young god, until ending in the candid glow of his eyes and his smile. Fuck, it was just overwhelming and perfect.

"I hope they've left the outskirts of the palace" objected one of the graces annoyed.

And with that comment, Izuku's smile fell and at that he left a distressed expression in his eyes. Then Katsuki felt like a cold prick was freezing his blood and he felt like he wanted to murder all his brothers.

"We're sorry that happened, Izuku" Kendo said sympathetically, coming to the edge to take his master's hand "it's been very difficult for you with all those proposals, and I understand how you feel.

"I appreciate your understanding, Kendo" replied the young man calmly, peeking out a faint smile "sometimes I feel that... I shouldn't have been so dedicated to my duties or to have done those favors."

"Everyone loves you, Izuku" Kendo hastened.

"Only because of what I do, Kendo" the young man bitterly remarked "only because of what I do..."

Kendo remained silent and nodded. Izuku let go of his hand and lifted his face towards the sunset lights.

" Sometimes I wonder what would have happened if I hadn't devoted so much of it to my chores?" the young god thought aloud.

"Well, that answer is very simple and that..." one of the graces began to say as Kendo silenced her mouth with the back of his hand.

"And that it shouldn't be answered, Aglaye" muttered Kendo between his teeth, before his sister said something stupid.

"It's alright, Kendo. You don't have to scold Aglaye, she was just giving her opinion."

"But, my lord-"

"I have already told you, when we are alone always call me by my name, never by my title."

Kendo nodded and let his sister go free. Her face filled with embarrassment as she felt scolded by her lord.

"Kendo, come closer," the young god called to her.

The young red-haired grace approached until she was in front of the god, avoiding looking at the green-haired man's face. What she didn't expect, was that Izuku raised his face, gently taking her jaw and giving her a tender and understanding expression. Katsuki, from her hiding place, felt another tongue of fire hugging his stomach and felt an irrepressible urge to hit that grace and break all her bones.

"Don't be afraid to have your say, my dear" answered the emerald-eyed one kindly and simply, releasing the young woman "I may be a god, I will have competences and duties, as well as powers that confer me invincibility, but that doesn't mean I should harass your freedom as immortals of Olympus and as my closest confidants. And I hope that is clear to all three of you."

The three graces looked with a grateful smile at the god of love.

"Yes, Izuku."

And with that answer, Izuku smiled happily as the colors of twilight loomed in the sky.

"It's already getting dark" Izuku commented, watching the pastel colors above the clouds.

"We'll go to the kitchens to make you dinner, Izuku" Kendo sentenced as she climbed out of the water, followed by her other sisters.

With the nakedness of their bodies the graces paraded until they reached a cave on the other side of the reservoir.

"Okay, thank you".

"Yes?" said Aglaye, turning back.

"No, Aglaye" Kendo turned back to take her sister "Izuku is just thanking."

"Ahhhh."

And with that in mind, the three graces disappeared under the winding, cavernous path of that place.

Izuku feeling lonely, let out a sigh of weariness and annoyance. His calm expression had turned into one of anguish and worry. Katsuki watched from his hiding place those changes of expression that chilled his blood and made his chest feel heavy.

Emerald eyes once again raised her gaze up to the sky and then she breathed deeply the air of that place, imbibing the pure and vividness of the air that was there. Only to faint that calm expression for a calmer one.

Katsuki could not help but watch the expressions of the young god of love, as if under a spell. However, that little pang that invaded him over his most precious place made him emboldened again to reclaim that intrusion into the reservoir.

Only until the young god rose from the ground and undid the knot that held that toga in place, to watch as the fabric fell to the ground and exposed the intriguing and desirable nakedness of the god.

The god of war could not help but to minutely scan with his eyes the whole silhouette of that beautiful god. The slenderness of his shoulders, the slenderness of his chest, the flatness of his abdomen, the slenderness of his fingers, the harmony of his thighs, the firm buttocks, the sleeping and hairless member. It was an apotheosic scene, incredible, magnanimous. Katsuki felt a warmth settle in his chest, as well as a tingling in his stomach and an insistent throbbing in his crotch.

Izuku approached the floor and with a circular motion of his hands, formed a small bowl with the moss, which then withered into a whitish porcelain vessel.

The god of love took that container and introduced it into the reservoir. Only to take some water and pour it over the thin alabaster skin.

Katsuki could not feel more hypnotized. That image so desirable, so lustful, so intimate, so.... beautiful. His body alone felt like red-hot steel, fiery and dangerous. A slight desire to lie with him was growing inside him, that pernicious desire to make him his husband, his lover and his confidant. An overwhelming desire that was gnawing at his senses. But it was also increasing his anger and frustration. So much so that Katsuki came out of hiding and slowly approached.

Izuku heard the sound of footsteps approaching and stopped his work until he saw those reddish eyes. The ruby eyes of Katsuki Bakugou, the god of war. Just as he had remembered him the first time he came to Olympus: massive chest in the air, a toga barely covering him, with a serious face and sallow skin glowing in the dim evening light. He was so imposing and intimidating that the god of love swallowed hard, not out of fear, but out of a feeling he could not identify.

"What are you doing here?" questioned Katsuki with a serious and dangerous tone.

"Excuse me?"

"I hate people who are slow" he commented to the air annoyed "but since I know you're the new guy and you don't really know me, I'll let it slide, so I'll say it again: what the fuck are you doing here?"

"Even if I find your way of speaking unorthodox, I know very well who you are Katsuki Bakugou" said the young god, standing up and covering his nakedness with the fabric of his robe "and even if I have intentions, it's none of your business to know what I'm doing in this place".

Katsuki shrieked and felt his blood burn with anger. That fucking sucker had offended him.

"Who the hell do you think you are to talk to me like that? You piece of shit!"

"In case you don't realize, I'm a god, just like you" countered the god "a god who should turn you into a donkey for going around spying on his privacy."

Katsuki felt uncovered and embarrassed, but that didn't take away the scowl he was wearing.

"What swill are you talking about?" the ruby-eyed one blurted out.

"Please, Bakugou" chided the smaller one "I know you were behind that rock watching what I was doing!

"That's not true!" He exclaimed irate "Besides, don't change the subject on me, we're talking about you invading a place that's mine."

"Yours?"

"Yes, mine. I discovered it first and it's been mine ever since."

"Oh, you're talking about this" remarked the young god all over the reservoir.

"Yes" replied Katsuki annoyed "and if you don't disappear right now, little princess, you'll have to suffer the consequences."

"Ooh how scary!" scoffed the god of love.

That only made Katsuki more grumpy and she quickly approached the young god's face, challenging and intimidating.

"Don't try to mock me, you new little shit" muttered the ruby-eyed young man dangerously " or you'll see..."

"I'll see who?" asked the god of love, challenging the blond with his gaze and with a sufficient smile.

"You'll see you with me" he replied menacingly.

An atrocious silence rose between them. Their gazes collided, they felt the heat of each other's bodies and their breaths permeated their lips.

"Should I be afraid?" questioned Izuku again in a velvety voice.

"Yes."

"Very much?" she leaned closer to him.

"If...you cherish your life" the young ruby-eyed god managed to say.

"Really?" flirtatiously insisted Izuku as he smelled the spicy, salty scent of the god of War.

They both stared at each other. Challenging, immovable, proud. Katsuki could barely manage to connect his thoughts thanks to the scent and the view that flirtatious god was giving him. It was a fucking martyrdom.

"You know, Katsuki, I'm not afraid of you" whispered close to her lips the green-haired god "because I know you're not who you pretend to be."

And that's when Katsuki reacted. In a few seconds she had the young god of love cornered against a wall and he dropped his clothes; with his arms on either side of the god, restricting any chance of escape. His breathing was pasty and his mood was going down the drain.

"You think you know everything about me, you filthy extra?" his voice had deepened.

"No, Katsuki" the god blurted out, cornered and desperate, but without losing his courage "I don't know you at all, but your eyes don't hide who you really are."

Katsuki's eyes glowed and Izuku didn't know why, but he felt an exquisite tugging that went from his loins to his pelvis like an electric current. He felt the fine warmth given off by the sinewy body of the god of war and he couldn't stop that feverish desire for those big, rough hands to touch him. He didn't know what that feeling was, but unconsciously it made him move closer to the god's face.

Their breaths collided, doughy and desirous. Katsuki saw how that god was approaching and although he had intentions to stop him, his body did not respond. Until she fell into a whirlwind.

His lips collided, feeling that amalgam of sensations that exploded in her stomach like a hurricane. That kiss felt like glory, like life, like something that even they couldn't decipher. Katsuki closed his eyes and let himself fall into that inhospitable and amazing place that was gnawing at him.

His lips began to move, tasting and licking. Katsuki felt the sweetness and softness of the god of love's lips, while Izuku choked from the spicy and salty taste the god of war had. A hungry kiss, a scorching kiss, an intense kiss.

Izuku wrapped his arms around the war god's neck and the war god grabbed his waist, to pull him even closer to his body and feel his skin. Both bodies fit together perfectly, soaking in the other's taste and feeling the other's skin like an unexpected balm.

Katsuki's hands moved down to Izuku's firm, soft buttocks, causing Izuku to let out a moan of satisfaction. The unfading heat grew hotter and the taste of others felt like a drug.

And then, at a moment when they were catching their breath, it happened:

"Kaachan" moaned the emerald-eyed young man.

Katsuki heard it. So close, so dangerous, so intimate. Making him come back to his reason and realize what he was doing. Looking closely into the glowing, longing eyes of the god of love.He pushed the young god, causing him to stagger and fall to the mossy ground, letting out a faint whimper.

Katsuki heard that whimper as the most pitiful cry. She felt an emptiness inside her and with that sight: Izuku on the ground, with a startled look and gasping for breath. Katsuki for the first time felt fear and in his eyes shone that inescapable truth.

Izuku saw the gleam in his eyes and understood. But he didn't have time, for Katsuki had escaped down that winding, dark path.

"Katsuki, wait!" he called to her, but it was too late.

Then the night rose over the firmament, with the stars shining and illuminating that reservoir, where a naked, exposed and confused god had marveled at the one who was the true Katsuki Bakugou.

Chapter Text

He tried not to think about that encounter. To forget for a moment those overwhelming and throbbing sensations that his skin remembered so strongly. To distract himself from that scene that his mind kept repeating since that time, where his senses had overflowed and his reason had dissipated like hot mist in winter.

He closed his eyes and could still glimpse the glint in his eyes, he touched himself and felt the back of his big, calloused hands, he breathed and could smell that spicy, salty taste. He could only recall that burning touch on his skin.

It was impossible. Those sensations he had never experienced before choked him, kept him awake and made him think more than usual. The heat, the pleasure, the danger, the forbidden. An amalgam of senses that tingled on his skin. A whirlwind of senses from which Izuku felt he could not escape.

Since that unexpected situation, the god of love had locked himself in his palace of marble walls and floors. Feeling confused rather than embarrassed or humiliated. With his mind a mess of unanswered questions and a feeling that daunted him with each passing day.

Sometimes he would return to the reservoir, anxious. Waiting for that ruby-eyed, rough-mannered god to appear in that calm place. He would spend hours there, then the hours turned into days, until the days turned into weeks.

The very absence of the god of war inflamed the greenette god's frustration. For, without admitting it, he longed to see the god of war again. To meet him again. To be able to gaze into his ruby eyes and giant silhouette.

Izuku sighed wretchedly at the thought of it. Plunging his face halfway into the water in the giant tub of his bath, smelling the scent of the rose water and sandalwoods, feeling the comforting warmth of the water to dispel the gaps in his thoughts.

«Why can't I stop thinking about him?» he mused, racking his brains «He is the god of war, the god who murders with blood and cruelty, the rudest of all, the god who has sapped the souls of many mortals Why can't I hate him, why can't I despise him, why can't I stop feeling his touches and smelling his perfume?»

While Izuku wished with all his might to hate the god for that sinful situation, he could not. Unable to let go of that which his eyes let glimpse into his soul. The god hid behind his rudeness, behind his intimidating and grim face, behind the scars on his body a strong feeling of loneliness, vulnerability and incomprehension.

Izuku submerged himself and let the water give him back that feeling of satisfaction and relaxation that he had been looking for some time ago, without obtaining greater results.

He sighed in annoyance when he was off the bottom and climbed out of the gigantic tub with his nakedness exposed and leaving a perfumed puddle in his path, only to exit through the narrow corridor that would lead him to the terrace of his quarters.

Greeted by the coolness of the breeze and the warmth of the sun beating down on his body like an ephemeral panacea, he leaned against the balusters of his terrace, taking in the full view of the soft clouds, the mountain peaks and the beautiful wildlife he so carefully and lovingly cared for in his backyard.

"Why can't I forget you, why do you make it so hard?" questioned the young god to the air, resting his chin on the baluster "I don't know how to feel because I don't know what you cause me."

The sensation of his hands she couldn't get it out of her head, of the warmth of his body, of his deep voice, of the reddish glow in his eyes, of that compatibility she felt between her skin and Katsuki's. He closed his eyes and tried to let his mind go blank without much success.

He bit his lower lip as he was once again filled with distress and frustration for not being able to stop reminiscing that kiss they had given each other, to the spicy taste he felt on the thin lips of the god of war, to the flippant and certain touch to his skin, to the doughy breathing and the slight grunts the god was unconsciously releasing.

Izuku snorted in annoyance.

"Izuku" they called to him.

His emerald eyes looked directly at the young Aglaye, who stood at the lintel of his quarters.

"Is something wrong Aglaye?"

"Not at all, Izuku. I am here attentive to any command" the young woman said trying to sound calm at the sight of her master in his full nudity.

Izuku nodded slightly, frowning again and maintaining that dismissive air that had lingered for days around the young god. The graces had noticed that their lord was unusually pensive and bitter, even if he never treated them or behaved mean or rude to them and it brought them a bit of concern.

"Izuku".

"Yes?"

"I don't mean to intrude, but you've been very quiet for a while now" the young grace dared to say "and my sisters and I have been worried about you."

Izuku looked at her for a moment with a somewhat confused expression and Aglaye regretted for a moment to be so rash. However, Izuku gave her one of his understanding smiles and approached her.

"I'm fine" replied the young man solemnly, taking the young woman's shoulder with utmost fraternity "I've just been a little worried about what happened in the mortal world".

"Don't worry about it, the god All Might together with his brothers already went to solve the problem."

Izuku nodded again sympathetically. And that familiar feeling of warmth squeezed his heart, he missed his island, he missed being in his trees, he missed many things.

Only then an idea occurred to him that put a smile from ear to ear and an incalculable emotion seized him.

"Aglaye, please find something I can wear."

"Going somewhere in particular, Izuku?"

"To the mortal world..."

**********************************************************

"Bring me more wine" ordered Nemuri between hiccups.

The queen of Olympus was drunk again. The absence of her husband was what hurt her the most, that's why she was cursing him wherever he was.

She knew he would be disrespecting their marriage by lying with other people, instead of her. His wife, his queen. Who had sacrificed her whole life, her desires and her happiness for him.

He felt the sting of sadness caress his chest. It was his curse to have Toshinori as a husband.

Her cup was refilled to the brim again, only for her to drink it in one sip. She was trying to forget that pain that weighed her down every day, that pain of being left out, that pain of having to overcome all the infidelities, affairs and bastard children her husband left everywhere. Forgetting that simply her heart was heavy.

"My queen!" called one of her loyal odes hastily.

"What do you want?" questioned Nemuri in annoyance, glancing sideways at the ode standing at the foot of the planking.

"I'm sorry to disturb you, my lady," said the ode nervously, "but one of your sons has requested an audience with you".

"I am for no one at this moment!" the queen rebuked, running a finger down her glass and sucking the last of the wine.

"I know, my lady, I have insisted to your son that you were indisposed today, but he says he is urgent to speak with you."

"You are scum" grumbled Nemuri hiccupping "truly of you Odes are useless, you can't even follow a damn stupid order."

"My lady..."

"Shut up! I don't want to listen to your whining!" the goddess scolded, throwing the cup at her.

The ode could barely avoid the imminent blow of that cup.

"Get out of my sight, you filthy immortal scum!"

The ode walked away quickly, trying to silence the whimpers that tried to come out of her throat after such harsh words.

Nemuri snorted and then rose from the throne, staggering down the few steps of the throne room to grab her golden goblet. She was drunk from the pain she felt in her chest and from the great anger she felt at being left behind by her husband, by her friend, by her brother. By the love of her life.

"You really do look disgusting."

Nemuri's eyes, sharp as swords, focused directly on her most despised son. Despised because he had ended up falling into a pit of boiling water and ended up with an ugly scar on his face. A spawn, a weak god, the most hideous being his loins could have engendered.

"What the hell do you want, Shoto? I'm not in the mood for assemblies, visits or anything..."

"You're never in the humor for anything, mother."

"Well today even less so" she replied making a curt gesture with her hand "your father has left me again, surely to sleep with another one of those filthy foreigners and slaves he has on earth".

"I wouldn't be surprised either, with your character even I would have left."

Kayama quickly picked up the cup again and threw it to his son, only with the difference that he was able to take the cup in his hands, leaving it on the floor.

"Now that I have your attention" the young god began "I need you to do me a favor..."

"Fuck you".

"Mother, I mean it".

"What the hell do you want?" she grumbled, staggering closer to the throne "it's bad enough having you here among us gods without you coming to ask me for another favor."

Todoroki, despite being calm and patient by nature, had to bite the inside of his cheek to keep from blurting out an insult that he knew would cost him dearly. If he wanted his plan to work, he had to have his mother on his side. So he remained temperate and serious. In the end it suited both of them.

"I have come to ask you and father to grant me the blessing to marry Izuku."

Nemuri stood static on the throne, watching her son's expression closely. His frown, his serious rictus and the gleam of decision that shone in his two-colored eyes. However, that didn't stop the queen goddess from holding back the mockery she felt in her rotten chest, letting out a laugh.

A hysterical, mocking, venomous laugh, such as the queen goddess could give. A laugh that reverberated off the walls and kept her busy for a few minutes.

As the young Shoto stood erect in his place, listening as his mother scoffed at his proposal. While it annoyed him, he had to put up with it. Only a moment later the goddess of Olympus pulled herself together, wiping away the tears that had naughtily trickled down her cheekbones.

"By blessed Zeus, I haven't laughed like that in eons."

"Are you done laughing now, mother?"

" Yes, dear, yes. But you must be quite gullible to believe that this young god of imposing beauty and desired by the gods would even notice you" she replied with a viper tongue, "we have left you to seek your mate and all those whom you have courted have imminently rejected you, so my intervention and that of your father may be of very little help."

A silence raised between them.

"Well, but that's alright dear, there are things that are not fair in this life" commented the woman, settling into her husband's throne and shaking her long dark hair "so you may retire."

"Then, I must say that the gift I had prepared for you is of no use then."

"A gift? " she questioned interested.

"Yes."

Todoroki, seeing the queen's eyes sparkle with interest, whistled loudly. Suddenly, a retinue of immortals entered, carrying over their shoulders the most exquisite and pompous throne ever created.

A high throne, made of carved and mother-of-pearl wood with gold and platinum finishes, the headboard had thousands of stones inlaid with rubies, topaz and even beautiful opals. A large peacock made of gold guarded the headboard, with all its plumage fanned out.

Nemuri was enraptured by the sight of that throne. Its brilliance, its pomposity and its power. A throne made for royalty. A throne that shouted her name to the ends of the earth.

"My son, but what a fabulous gift."

The queen watched in rapt attention as the brilliance of that magnificent gift shone throughout the room, like a small sun before her eyes.

"Yes, mother," he said, feigning a tone of sadness, "too bad I have to destroy it."

That's when the queen, with a horrified expression, woke up.

"Destroy it?!" her scream was outrageous "How dare you do that to such a masterpiece?"

"This was your gift if you helped me get Izuku's hand" the god ruled as a fireball the size of an apple formed from his hands, "but since you refused, I shall have to destroy it. It is no use having a queen's throne, if it will not be used by a queen."

Thus, Todoroki made a gesture to throw the fireball, but before he could do so, Nemuri quickly approached, stopping his son's intentions.

"No, sweetheart! I'll help you in any way I can, but please don't destroy it."

And with that move, Todoroki gave a sinister smile before making that fireball disappear and recompose himself for his mother.

"Please, boys, install the throne of the goddess Midnight next to that of All Might" ordered the young heterochromatic with a gesture.

Thus, the young immortals who accompanied the god of forge and fire, left that imposing gift on the floor of the throne room. Shining under the light of the torches, while the queen goddess anxiously awaited the moment to sit on it.

Only when the gift was arranged and the immortals removed from the room, Nemuri threw herself fully on the throne. Feeling and appreciating from her perch the awe that throne gave to herself. That was the position she deserved, that of queen and mother of all gods, matriarch of the heavens and humans. Her eyes sparkled in the complete ecstasy of feeling that she was the owner and mother of all.

Her smile was appreciated, just like that satisfying smile you gave when your plans went better than expected.

"You really do have exquisite taste, my son" commented the goddess, more chatty and jovial.

"Well, I hope with this you will secure a way to obtain Izuku's hand".

"I'll try honey, but I can't promise anything" she replied, sitting imposingly on the throne "your father still believes in the freedom of love and that bunch of hopeful scum."

"I need a sure thing mother, not a try."

"That's all I promise you, dear and you know your mother's promises are law."

Todoroki sighed wearily, seeing how his mother had tricked him again. Mocking him again to his face. That only made his blood boil.

"I see you leave me no choice mother," he said quietly.

Nemuri just watched him from her new throne, with a raised eyebrow and a sufficient smile. Even if Todoroki felt anger, the queen knew he would never hurt her for being his mother or so she thought.

"αλυσίδα*" whispered the young god.

Without expecting it, the peacock's wings turned into thin chains that began to tangle with a life of their own about the body of the goddess queen, who screamed and kicked at the incredible grip of the chains to the throne. A metallic snap was heard and then the chains ceased to have life. Nemuri could barely move and felt anger gnaw through her body like a poison.

"What the fuck have you done!" the goddess shouted in anger, stirring to try to free herself "Release me right now, you wretch!".

"You've seen my foolish face for the last time, mother" asserted Todoroki, slowly approaching his mother and challenging her with his eyes "and I don't intend to let you do it again."

"Release me this instant, you bastard! I am your queen and you owe me respect!" shouted the queen furiously, trying to break free from the chains that clung even tighter to the throne.

"I will only release you when you accept my proposal" her seriousness changed to an insurmountable determination "assure me of Izuku's hand and I will give you your freedom".

"I will promise you nothing, scum, release me this instant" the queen vociferated between her teeth, looking proudly and haughtily into the eyes of her offspring.

Todoroki sighed again, tired and annoyed by the situation. His mother was a hard nut to crack, but she was a woman who was not used to physical suffering. So with the same way he entered, he walked towards the exit of the palace.

"I thought you would come to your senses being like this, mother," he said the last with contempt, "but I see that your pride is stronger than you."

"When your father returns and I am freed from this throne I will make you pay."

"That's what you think, mother," he replied staring at his mother, with the same smirk she had given him, "but remember that I am the god of forging and I can create artifacts.... Artifacts that can be more powerful than the gods."

And with that last comment Todoroki made his way to the exit of the palace, listening to the frustrated screams and curses that his mother was dedicating to him for having chained her to a chair.

His mother's screams were so loud that they echoed through the palace, a chilling, quarrelsome and thunderous echo. Screams that were silenced only when Todoroki closed the door behind her back, along with the incredible feeling that this time she had won the battle.

***********************************************************

The sound of the waves could be heard as a rumor, hitting the shores of that small island and letting the sea breeze fill with emotion the little exposed skin. The scent of the sea permeated his nose like a soft and longing perfume, observing how the moon reflected in the crystal clear water with its ghostly light.

He wore a wide cloak smeared with bull's blood on his body, which gave off an acid smell and helped to disguise his natural perfume to enter the pastures and fruit trees that surrounded the sparse grove of the island of Kythera. That place where he was born.

He crossed the ample vegetation feeling like a stranger in his own home. He no longer felt that sense of warmth that had left him long ago, when he was but a young man born of foam who had been harassed by many nymphs with questions about whether he was the first male nymph in all existence. There was just settled in his breast that pressing feeling of nostalgia.

A few owls were hooting in the night, watching with their keen eyes the ugly figure slinking through the shadows of the gloom and taking steps so light that they could hardly be heard in the sweet, meek earth of the island. He felt a stinging that traveled from his hands to his feet. Only until he saw the gleam of a light contorting in front of his shadowed pupils.

In the middle of the grove, hidden among the trees, the most beautiful beings of nature that inhabited the land of mortals were gathered in front of a bonfire. The nymphs. Gathered under the warm light of a bonfire, dancing around it while the sound of a harp imbued the moment with beauty and spontaneity.

All the nymphs were feminine creatures, smooth-haired and caked with diadems of orichalcum and coral or surrounded by a crown of roses and brooches of olive leaves, with their naked bodies in the air and with an almost overwhelming freedom. They were the ones who, together with his mother, had raised him, had seen him grow and had seen him born.

He wanted to approach cautiously, he wanted to surprise them. However, the sound of an animal alerted all the creatures.

"There's someone there" urged one of them.

"If it's another satyr I swear I'll hide in my tree until next spring."

"Well, it's too bad it isn't."

And that young figure appeared, still wearing his cloak. The nymphs drew back, frightened and prepared in case the stranger wanted to throw himself at her and take over their bodies.

But that was not the case, as that pestilential smelling cloak fell to the ground like a dead weight and revealed the hair and greenish eyes of Izuku, who was grinning from ear to ear as he stood with those who had seen him mature.

"Izuku!"

All the nymphs rushed in search of an affectionate touch, an embrace, a kiss on the cheek of that young man whom they all loved like a brother. Excited and overjoyed, they asked Izuku about his life in Olympus, about his tasks, if he had a palace, if he had servants, a lot of doubts that overwhelmed our young god of love and that he did not know how to answer attentively.

"Girls, don't overwhelm him" said a calm voice full of mettle.

Then the whole group of nymphs calmed down and stepped aside, letting that beautiful and mature figure pass. Her step was parsimonious, her features angular, her eyes were like the color of grass and her hair like the leaves in summer. She was the oldest nymph in Cythera, the chief of the tribe and the one Izuku longed to see the most.

"Mother..." whispered the young man.

Without much thought, his body moved like that child who long ago ran through the sand and saw in the distance the figure he could call mother. He hugged her with unparalleled strength, feeling his heart beating wildly in his chest and how his eyes began to water with the emotion of seeing his mother again.

Inko received that embrace as the best balm of her life, feeling an indomitable happiness overwhelm her body. Finally, after a long time, she saw that beautiful creature that she had raised with so much love, patience and affection, with her eyes still glimpsing that candor and joviality that she had since she was a little creature playing between her legs.

"I missed you so much" whispered the young god softly.

"And I you, my beautiful boy. More than you can imagine."

That beautiful moment was seen by the group of nymphs, feeling that love that only they could have. Touching and happy.

"I thought you were forbidden to come here..."

"I had to escape behind father's back" whispered the young god.

"You know very well that you must keep your promises, my dear" Inko reproached him solemnly and sweetly "your father is not a fan of lies or broken promises."

"I know, mother" replied the young man with guilt filled eyes.

"But I know you are not here for a simple greeting." Inko brought her hand close to the god's beautiful face, "Something ails you..."

"I need your advice mother..."

Inko looked at him again and smiled in a motherly way.

"ήρθε η ώρα να κοιμηθούν οι νύμφες**" the nymph said calmly observing all the young women.

They nodded and bowed to the greenish-haired woman, some getting lost in the grove of trees on their way to the sea and others disappearing their bodies among the timbers of the trees, becoming one with the tree.

Inko motioned for Izuku to follow close behind, stepping into the shadows of the grove with that same sensation he felt as a small child, still covered in the foam of his birth and with an unfamiliar feeling in his chest.

They walked substantially, through hedges, laurels and oaks, listening to the sound of crickets and owls hooting like an inhospitable, but incredible song. He could not remember when he had last heard the song of the night birds, yet it felt so mystical and so new. Like remembering a first time.

He only stopped when he saw that thick, ancient ash tree rise up like a mastodon of leaves and branches, with the murmur of the breeze and the song of the night birds. It was still as majestic as he remembered it, with branches full of leaves and large nests full of birds sleeping in rhythm.

Inko held out her hand to him and he took it lovingly. She began to attach herself to the tree, contorting her body into a timber and then sucking Izuku's body until he disappeared into the ash tree.

After that only an overwhelming silence, an undamaged darkness and a pressing heaviness was felt. Only until his eyes glimpsed a light at the end of that darkness. Falling to his knees on the leafy floor and feeling his heart clench in his chest.

Izuku felt his mother's hand trying to soothe him, recomposing him with cuddles and that feeling of relief when his mother used her healing powers on him. He looked at her and looked around the whole place where he was. And he was amazed.

It was a large place covered entirely by walls, floors, stairs and balusters of ash wood, over his heads rose a splendorous roof that made the moonlight pass through, illuminating the whole place. There were amphorae made of clay, chests of drawers made of wood, animal skins, columns of creepers towering over their heads and the brief glimpse of fireflies illuminating those dark places. It felt like being in a palace like no other.

Inko was pleased by the rapture her son showed inside his abode, with just a few chairs, a few chests of drawers and a bed made with the skins and down of those animals that died peacefully in the grove. It was her home, but in the eyes of her offspring it was wonderful.

"Come, darling" whispered motherly the nymph as she approached a chair "wait for me here and I'll offer you something to drink."

Izuku said nothing, as he was still fascinated with that roof made of leaves that let the platinum moonlight through. Inko for her part took an earthenware cup and approached a folded leaf, which when unfolded over the jar filled it to the brim with water.

"Here."

Izuku accepted the drink with pleasure and drank the sweet spring water with tranquility. The one that tasted like milk and honey. It tasted like home, like memories. He smiled.

"Thank you, mom."

Inko smiled again with affection. She let her son enjoy the silence of her abode before going into what her son had gone for.

"What is it that ails you my son?" the woman questioned directly "I imagine life on Olympus has been very different from what you imagined, my dear."

"Yes, mom. It's totally different."

Inko raised an eyebrow, incredulous and perceptive. She knew that her son had been treated in the best possible way, for the god king All Might had promised her on his honor and worthiness that he would see to it that Izuku would never be treated as less on Olympus. However, the grimaces of her offspring and the anxious movement of his hand over the jar had her careless.

"But..." she urged on.

"I've been thinking about something that's had my head scrambled for some time now."

"God troubles? Honey, you know you've got to meddle at some point."

"It's not that, ma" said the young god wearily and gloomily "I've had temples erected for me, favors asked of me, made me one of the most beloved gods in mortal land..."

"But there is something else."

"It's... someone mom..."

"Oh honey, I'm happy for you..."

"No mom, you shouldn't" inquired the young god in a whisper.

Then he saw that expression and that dull gleam in his son's eyes, sensing his frustration, his confusion, his astonishment and that hodgepodge of emotions. Izuku avoided the sight of his mother because, even though he was seeking advice, he didn't want to worry her about his problems. He had to learn to solve his problems on his own.

"I think it was...."

"Don't say it was a mistake to come" his mother scolded him gently taking his jaw and making them both look at each other "if you came all the way here it was to ask for help, and help is never refused, sweetheart."

Izuku and Inko looked at each other, the younger one feeling like that child about to cry and she watching closely the expressions of her son.

"I'm scared, mom" he whispered "he's... different, but dangerous."

Inko came closer and took his hands in hers.

"Something happened and... I can't stop thinking about him, feeling that he needs me" the young man continued "he is covered by his feelings, by who he really is and I... I just feel that I must be with him, take away his sorrows, erase his fears, heal his scars..."

Izuku licked his lip anxiously and continued:

"But he's too dangerous, he's rude, he's coarse; the gods detest him... but I can't detest him, I can't stop thinking about him. And I have no idea what to do..."

Izuku covered his face with both hands in pure confusion. She couldn't help but feel that it was wrong to think about him all the time, about that compelling feeling that washed over her chest all the time, about those incredible sensations she felt with just one of his kisses. But her heart told her otherwise. She felt like a ship adrift, not knowing if the courses she would choose would be the right ones.

"Have you told anyone about this?" questioned Inko gently.

"No, Mom. So far you're the only one who knows."

-"It's all right," she reached over and stroked the god's unruly hair, "Do you feel confused?Izuku nodded.

-Do you feel that, even though he is dangerous, you can't leave him behind?

Izuku raised his eyes in surprise and nodded again to his mother.

"When you see him or think of him, your heart skips a beat and you can't help but feel what you felt when you saw him?"

"Yes..." he whispered in surprise.

Inko laughed as she joined her forehead with the god's in a gesture of affection and understanding, cradling his face in her hands.

"Darling, this that you feel is what mortals pray for" the woman specified with a smile "it is what young girls dream of before they sleep, what courtesans ask for in moderation, what lovers wish to cherish until the end of time, what you fulfill..."

Izuku raised her emerald eyes and felt that she could not bear that feeling that oppressed her chest. He burst into tears at his mother's feet like a child and she only managed to stroke his hair to comfort him before that confession, letting him release everything he had been choking.

"You are in love, Izuku" whispered the nymph affectionately.

Izuku let out all that recalcitrant confusion, with tears covering his face and sobbing in the darkness of the night. Inko, still stroking his hair, comforted him as a mother would, whispering cuddles of affection and comforting her child with words of love.

What neither knew was that in the treetop a treacherous animal was hiding in the shadows of the leaves, listening to the confession of the young god of love and glowing that dark iris with macabre intentions. It took flight in the darkness of the night, squawking in the wind and heading for the top of Olympus.

Chapter Text

Had they never asked themselves if they really felt good? Was their life really giving them what they expected? Did they feel completely happy and content? Could they really call that happiness? That was what Uraraka Ochako was pondering at the large table of that feast in her honor.

On that occasion she was in her father's palace. All the gods and immortals were celebrating the new ascension of Ochako, for at that moment her seat as goddess of spring would be left behind and she would become the new goddess of the bonfire and of the hearth by divine proclamation of All Might and Midnight.

Although inwardly she felt proud and happy to become an Olympian, the recalcitrant pain of unhappiness and melancholy followed her closely for some centuries like a cold and heavy chain. Like a piercing pang that oppressed and weighed down her chest. She still wasn't over Katsuki's unprecedented rejection.

Even with all the gods there, gathered and congratulating her on her ascension, she felt desolate and lonely. With a bitter taste in her throat and an expression that disguised the urge to cry that she had been holding back all evening, she tried not to make light of the god's absence on this day that meant so much to her.

"Please, Ochako, change that expression" her lifelong friend Mina, the goddess of the hunt urged her fondly "it's your celebration, you should have a smile."

However, Ochako could not even smile. Even though the ruby-eyed god had rejected her, she hoped that at least on that occasion he would come, see her eyes and congratulate her.

"You should give up" replied Jiriou sipping his glass of wine "she's not going to change that face, we've been trying to convince her for half a century that there's..."

"Jirou, shut up" grumbled Ochako annoyed.

The brown-stranded goddess had had to put up with her sisters, friends and now her retinue of ladies-in-waiting saying that she was an idiot for still loving the despicable and ungrateful Katsuki; that there were better gods and immortals who could have wooed her, that it was despicable that her heart still beat for that bloodthirsty god. Although there was much truth in his crude words, she was sick of hearing the same sermon every damn day.

"Why should I shut up?" she scolded her annoyed "Ochako, you're still crying for that thing called god and he doesn't even care about you, he doesn't look for you, he doesn't ask for forgiveness, he's just a damn..."

"Jirou..." warned Mina.

The short haired young woman snorted and walked out of there. Ochako sighed and drank again, this time leaving the cup empty and forming a very poorly contained expression of fury. She was annoyed and fed up that Jirou and Nejire were tactless when it came to talking about that topic, it was as if the poison of Nemuri's viperous tongue had been injected through their veins like an intolerable toxin. She no longer felt at ease with them.
"I'm sorry you have to go through this" whispered Mina trying to comfort her friend."You don't have to feel bad for me, Mina. It's just..."

"We both know it's hard" she replied sympathetically "but take your time to heal, no one can mess with that unless you want them to."

Ochako nodded and looked at her friend gratefully. Mina was the only one who understood her and didn't judge her for the feelings in her heart, even though she was disgusted by the fact that she was towards Katsuki. She always gave him good advice and a smile that he always appreciated. The chestnut gave him the first genuine smile that night.

"Okay."

"Well, now celebrate that you're already an Olympian and change that face for me!" she urged him encouragingly as she poured her glass of wine again.

They both raised their glasses and Mina made a toast. Ochako laughed lightly as she saw how the goddess filled both glasses with despair.

"To the new goddess!"

"To the new goddess!" the whole room shouted in chorus.

Everyone present drank. Some shouting in the process and others hitting each other with camaraderie as they continued the evening; some were quietly chatting amongst themselves, others were flirting with the harem that Aoyama always brought to official functions such as these and several were laughing at the large amounts of alcohol they had drunk.

Ochako looked around the place, spotting her brothers and sisters celebrating, some servants attending to the gods, the muses playing and exhibiting their artistic talents, and others disappearing furtively through the corridors of the palace. Until his eyes stopped on one particular god, one that had been causing him skepticism and distrust since his arrival.Izuku was drinking quietly at his table, being served with haste and restraint by the servants while surrounded by a few gods who sought to make conversation with him. His face denoted a sympathetic smile that seemed fake to Ochako.

"What are you looking at so much?" questioned Mina.

"Do you know the new god our father brought?"

"Izuku? He's a sweetheart" replied Mina jovially "I had the chance to meet him and he's super nice and cute."

"I don't like him."

Mina put on an incredulous expression that she quickly dispelled.

"Why? He's a beauty of a person."

"I don't know, Mina" she replied watching the young man unwind among the group of gods gawking at him "there's something about him that... I couldn't tell you if it's distrust or skepticism, but there's something strange about him that doesn't convince me."

"Oh, Ochako, don't think about it too much" the pink-haired goddess downplayed it "he's barely been here for a century..."

"Haven't you heard the rumors about him?"

"The gossip that he can conceive? That he's a husband without equal?" the young goddess spat mockingly "it's all just mortal bullshit, Ochako."

"Don't you think he''ll have had them by now?"

Mina choked on her wine and coughed a little, wiping away the remains of the wine as that sniffle disappeared. Her rose quartz eyes looked directly at Uraraka.

"What do you mean by that, Ochako?"

"I don't know, don't you find it strange that those rumors came out after he will start his duties as a god?" questioned Ochako quizzically.

"I don't know where you're going with that, Ochako, but as far as I know those are pure bisbisees."

"But if they weren't? Why would mortals blaspheme against a god and the god not punish them? Why just that?"

"Well..."

"Don't you think he's hiding something?"

Mina and Ochako looked at each other, then looked at the young green-haired god who had blushed and was laughing very freely, enrapturing the gods who were watching him closely. Mina for a moment felt a strange sense of distrust. She had never liked gossip, much less believed in the chatter of mortals, but was there a chance that Ochako was even the slightest bit right? Would Izuku have that mask?

"I don't know" Mina finally answered "but if you are right in what you say, then..."

"Let's not comment on that" Ochako said quickly "talking about that kind of thing for goddesses and ladies like us is very embarrassing."

Mina nodded. Ochako looked at Izuku again and sipped another sip from her wine glass. She didn't know what it was about this compelling feeling that made her wary of the god, but one thing she was sure of was that the god was hiding something.

On the other hand, Izuku felt suffocated by so much attention. He was trying to eat and drink quietly at his table, but Kirishima, Aoyama, Denki and Shinsou were surrounding him, throwing jokes at him, telling him stories of their exploits and urging him to chat without giving him time to congratulate the new goddess.

He was insecure, overwhelmed and uncomfortable at his table. He did not want to be rude to them, for they were treating him with much service and care, so he had to respond with the utmost obeisance and courtesy. However, he could not stay any longer in that place without being able to breathe without them being attentive to him. He was suffocated by so many requests from his companions.

"So, Midoriya..." continued Kirishima "How have you found living here among us?"

"A marvel. It's impossible not to feel good here, although it has been difficult to adjust."

"Really?" stepped forward Denki before Kirishima continued "Why has it been so hard for you?"

"Well, I've missed my mother and sisters on the island. Everything is so different and formal here."

"Where were you born, Midoriya?" asked Aoyama "father doesn't tell us much about you, when..."

"Aoyama, don't be reckless" Shinsou smacked his head.

"Do you want to settle this by blows dreamy?" ground his teeth the wine god, asserting himself with an expression of provocation.

"Nothing would make me happier than to break your teeth" boasted Hitoshi, rattling the bones in his hands.

Izuku, faced with this situation, made a gesture of exasperation that made both gods look at him.

"Guys, don't worry" he played it down "I have no problem telling you. But please don't argue."

As if it was divine word, Shinsou and Aoyama stopped challenging each other, sitting back in their previous positions. Izuku breathed in and let one of the servants pour him some wine.

"Thank you" thanked the young god.

"Always at your command, my lord."

Izuku smiled and everyone around him was hypnotized by the candor and joviality that radiated from the god with just a smile.

"I was born on an island south of Greece, it's called Cythera" the young god began his story "according to what my mother tells..."

"You have a mother?" suddenly questioned Aoyama.

"Shut up, idiot, let him tell the story," Denki said in annoyance.

"You don't shut up to me, you cheap messenger."

"Who are you calling a cheap messenger?" Denki asked angrily.

Both gods stood up, looking at each other with sparkling and threatening eyes, waiting for the other to say just one comment to launch into a melee.

"Yes, Aoyama, I have a mother" the god finally said, making them both look at him "she is a nymph who found me when I was a child, she said I was born from the foam of the sea."

Denki and Aoyama looked at Izuku in wonder and they sat back in their places.

"She, along with other nymphs raised me in Cythera. They made me love plants, flowers and animals" continued the boy with great nostalgia "they taught me to speak, to write, to pray to the gods, to enjoy the rituals and to love each passing day. They were the ones who saw me grow up, made me who I am and whom I thank for turning me into the god I am now."
"Do you miss them?" questioned Kirishima.

"All the time" replied the god tenderly "being alone in a very large palace for me has been a hard blow. I've always been one to be in large groups, to have singing around or someone to keep me company."

"And why don't you visit them?" this time Hitoshi asked.

Izuku put down his glass and sighed. Hitoshi regretted to ask, but the young god gave him a splendorous smile that charmed everyone around him again.

"Why, father told me that if I became a god I could not return to my roots" he blurted out softly, as if he didn't want to remember "that to be a god is to leave behind the earthly life and go on with the divine life. If I was to become a god, I had to forget and move away from who I was in Cythera. That was the price for being a god."

Then everything fell silent, an uncomfortable and melancholic silence that was only interrupted by the hubbub around.

"Since then I am forbidden to return to Cythera."

"I'm so sorry that-" Denki began to say.

"Don't worry" rushed Izuku dedicating them a sweet expression that hid his disconsolation "I am aware of the decision I made and its consequences. It's just a matter of time, but I appreciate your understanding guys."

All the gods around Izuku felt strange. A bittersweet feeling struck them as they saw the expression of the god of beauty, who contained his sadness and nostalgia with an understanding and calm rictus. Such an acervative sensation was gnawing at the bodies of the gods present.

They all thought that they would never try to put that kind of expression on the face of the god. That, if they would, they would shower him with gifts, attentions, understanding and would be devoted to him, just to be able to appreciate that splendorous smile that the young man had when he laughed genuinely. The gods, each respectively, wanted and desired Izuku for themselves alone.

Suddenly, there was the dry sound of the palace doors being flung wide open, then a mournful silence blanketed the hall like an icy blizzard. The gods present looked to where the noise came from and watched as two gods stood in the way.

One was Momo, the goddess of wisdom, dressed in her platinum armor and an antlered helmet along with her inseparable spear, with the usual grim and serious expression she always maintained, approaching the table where Mina and Ochako were. Then the appearance of the broad figure of Katsuki, with the helmet in one of his hands and the sword in his right hand, his eyes shone with rage, his war wounds gleamed and a furious expression deformed his head.

" Oh no" whispered Kirishima, standing up quickly.

Katsuki's breathing was heavy and his nostrils were flaring like blowholes from anger. He felt like killing someone at that moment. His anger was such that the aura around him was dense and dangerous as he walked towards the center of the hall. One of the servants bumped into him unintentionally, trying to escape from that inclement and overwhelming feeling that had drowned out the lively energy in the room.

"Get off me you piece of shit!" he spat in annoyance as he threw the servant through the air and landed him on one of the tables.

Izuku was dumbfounded, speechless. Even though it was the first time he had seen Katsuki from the reservoir and he felt like he couldn't take his eyes off him next to his imposing armor; his body felt convulsed, as his heart was beating fast and his stomach felt that tingle unscathed by nerves. He had never seen Katsuki with that level of anger. Just by looking at him, a knot formed in his stomach and dissipated all those joyous sensations his body emitted.

"Katsuki," Toshinori quickly approached.

"Not now."

Katsuki avoided his father, surrounding him, and approached the table where Ochako was. He bowed and left his respects. Ochako felt her cheeks blush and Izuku noticed it, confused by the goddess' reaction.

"Congratulations," he congratulated dryly.

"You should give her the respect she deserves, Katsuki" snorted Momo with poise.

"I'm not talking to you, scum."

"Don't you think it's disrespectful and humiliating for you to do this kind of behavior at Ochako's celebration? How obscene."

"Don't stick your nose where it doesn't suit you, you bitch."

"Momo..." the chestnut tried to dissuade the goddess, but the goddess didn't listen.

"Or what? You're going to challenge me? Like you did now in the war?" she blurted out with a sufficient smile.

Katsuki gritted his teeth. His blood was thickening with pure anger and his fists were clenched. He wanted to smash Momo's face in so badly, for he had taken victory away from her again in one of their feuds and it filled his chest with unstoppable anger.

"You want a fight, you damn smartass?" roared Katsuki in annoyance.

"Katsuki" Ochako approached, grabbing him by the arm "please come."

Ochako tried to lead the god away so that he would avoid listening to her sister's provocations, but he wouldn't even move. His ruby eyes flashed thanks to the gigantic anger bubbling inside him, staring into the dark eyes of Momo who looked at him smugly and amused by this threatening game she liked to play to sting her despised brother's pride.

The goddess of wisdom liked to crush the self-esteem and pride of the god of war, although she was aware that it was not right. But, however prudent and tolerant she was, she felt an unpleasant feeling of sharing the same position as Katsuki on Olympus. She hated the fact that the unbeatable, impulsive, sly and grotesque one had the same position as she did.

"I wouldn't want to hurt your precarious pride any further, Katsuki. For you and I are certain that you will lose this contest" whispered the immaculate goddess viperously.

Katsuki couldn't help it, he was on the verge of delirious rage. He raised his sword and lunged at the table with intentions of finishing what they had started, throwing amphorae full of wine and the plates of food into the air. However, the blade of the sword was stopped by the tip of Momo's spear, who was looking seriously at Katsuki.

Everyone present exclaimed in pure surprise, including Izuku. Watching as both weapons were held between their blades and the gazes of the contenders were fixed, electric and belligerent, on each other. The god of love was dumbfounded by the fury that gleamed in Katsuki's eyes.

"It can't be" they whispered beside him.

"Why must Katsuki be such an idiot?"

"He's a monster."

"Really ruining Ochako's party..."

"What despicable behavior."

Izuku listened silently to those comments, feeling inexplicably angry. A ball of fire settled in his stomach and a sense of frustration abnegated his body like a burning tingle. He couldn't believe they were talking about him like that, when they knew nothing about him, when they didn't know what his eyes were hiding, when they disdained him without really knowing him.

Katsuki and Momo engaged in a battle, counter attacking and defending respectively. The ashen-haired da would not give his arm to twist, moving fiercely and attacking wildly; on the other hand, Momo remained serene, defending herself and waiting for the right moment to weaken her opponent. Letting the blades of her weapons glow and sparkle as they impacted each other.

"Katsuki, please!" urged Ochako shouting at him.

But Katsuki was not listening. He was so full of anger and frustration that he just kept lashing out at Momo, letting his impulsiveness and all the fury control his body. He was so upset with himself for not being the best, for not feeling equal to his brothers, for being looked down upon, for not being given a chance to know him. Fuck, it hurt like Hades.

Izuku, from his place, felt like he would run out of air. Absorbed in how Katsuki let out all that anger, how he moved and how he lunged against his sister. It was like watching him in his element, but, at the same time, watching him as he sank into that compelling feeling that in his eyes shone when they met at the reservoir. The god of love wanted to scream from deep inside him, to stop the feud and scorn all his brothers who spoke of Katsuki as if he were a monster.

"Please stop" he whispered unconsciously, quietly, feeling like he was choking "please don't do this to yourself."

Katsuki paused. Listening with her warrior's ear to that sweet voice, choked and with sadness gurgling like a plaintive bellow. His body felt tearing inside. His breathing was heavy.

He could not look at him, he knew that if he looked at him it would be his undoing. But their eyes, as if by an unstoppable and irrepressible magnetism, met. The emerald and the ruby gazed at each other again, Izuku's eyes watering and Katsuki breathing heavily. A few mere seconds that felt eternal, delicious and embalming.

"Please..."

Katsuki squeaked in annoyance and, with all the reluctance and difficulty in the world, put the sword away in the sheath. His pride could not stand against that image. That little boy who was taking away his sleep, was giving him a grimace of calmness and melancholy, listening as his sweet voice tried not to sound tearful, making his heart clench and his anger slightly dissipate from his body.

"Don't you want to fight?" the goddess continued to urge "Do you lack the courage to face me Katsuki? didn't you want this? come on!"

"Momo" Toshinori warned annoyed.

The goddess of wisdom looked at her father and then lowered her spear. She removed her helmet and fixed her long black hair, recomposing that serious and competent expression the goddess possessed. Knowing what was in store for her, she walked jauntily where her father pointed, then disappeared down one of the many corridors of the palace followed closely by her father.

Instead, Katsuki walked away from the hall and into the palace corridors that were on the other side of where her father and Momo had gone. He was frustrated and swollen with gloom. He wanted to be alone.

Ochako, who was frightened and petrified in her place, followed the god of war closely, getting lost in the same corridors where the god of war had vanished, being accompanied by Kirishima. The place fell into a sepulchral silence.

Everyone was still in disbelief at the absurdity of the situation and the abhorrent behavior that both Olympians presented during the evening. Kayama, however, maintained her composure, even though she felt a tongue of flame that made her blood boil. She rose with panache as she held up her burnished gold goblet.

"My dear boys, excuse such an unexpected situation" she said with an embarrassed and subtle tone "we are all aware that this circumstance has gotten out of hand, but please let us not let it go unnoticed that we are celebrating the happiness and pride of our dear Ochako as the new Olympian goddess, so raise your glasses, let us toast and continue celebrating this feast in her name."

The other gods, although still in disbelief, raised their glasses and shouted the toast to the new Olympian. The toast caused some to shout and others to laugh, which prompted Nemuri to signal the muses to resume playing music and performing their gifts in front of the guests. The room returned to its previous verbena and jubilant energy.

Izuku for his part did not want to drink. He could not get that quarrelsome and lonely image of Katsuki out of his mind. His eyes kept looking at the corridor where the god of war and his unexpected companions were lost. His heart was clenching, his stomach was churning and a peremptory sense of worry was gnawing at him instead.

"Are you all right, Midoriya?" asked Hitoshi.

Izuku snapped out of his thoughts and looked around. The gods still left at his table were watching him closely, curious and uneasy. He could only manage to give them a friendly smile.

"Yes, yes, I just... need some air."

"I'll accompany you," Denki quickly replied.

"No, I'll accompanying him" Aoyama continued, standing up and facing Denki.

"You are not accompanying anyone, I will" asserted Hitoshi with a determined tone, standing up and glaring defiantly at his brothers.

The gods began to argue among themselves, intimidating each other with their eyes like lions ready to attack and fighting among themselves to decide who should accompany the green-haired god. Izuku, on the other hand, sighed slightly and, without telling any of them, slipped out of sight of the gods, entering his father's palace.

He walked through those wide corridors until he came to a wide terrace with plaster balusters and vines full of sunflowers and hyacinths, bathed by the light of the moon and the stars together with a cold breeze that penetrated Izuku's body. He felt peace for a minute and walked into it with the intention of remaining enraptured and at peace for a few brief moments. He leaned back against the baluster.

He was grateful to be alone in those moments, for the insistent attention of the gods was suffocating him to a laughable degree. He could now think and quietly enjoy what remained of the vigil. Still, it was hard for him not to think of the war god's face imbued with anger and calm.

The emerald-eyed god, in that solitary moment, was still hesitating and recalling the words his mother had spoken to him that furtive night in Cythera. In love. It was a word that defined a sensation that many mortals had described to him in their prayers: an unusual evocation of happiness, of hope, of balm against the adversities of life. But that he, by no means, did not feel.

Izuku did not perceive happiness, hope or peace. He felt confused, incredulous; nothing like what his followers told him and begged him in their prayers. And that alone made him feel a hodgepodge that for several nights had lashed him like an ice floe. He didn't know how to deal with it, let alone how to overcome it, because he wasn't sure if the feeling that ran through him was benevolent. It was all so complicated.

"Oh, there you are..."

Izuku turned his gaze and looked at Nemuri, looking stunning in her purple cloth clad robes and gold embroidery next to her tiara trimmed in sapphires and silver. She gave him a conciliatory smile, as she leaned against the lintel of the terrace doorway carrying a glass of wine in her hand.

"Kayama-san" he bowed quickly.

"You mustn't dear" urged the queen approaching and maternally patting his shoulder "we are at a celebration and formalities are the least of it at these moments..."

Izuku nodded watching as the elder goddess approached the baluster and leaned against it, patting her side for the young god to come to her right hand. The innocent god settled down beside her and let that situation fill with the calm of the night and the coolness of the breeze, feeling strangely comfortable in the company of the queen goddess.

"I'm sorry you witnessed such an abhorrent situation, Izuku" apologized the queen in a solemn tone "I know you are not someone who holds violence in high esteem as a means of solution, but..."

"Don't worry, Nemuri-san" comforted the young god "you must not."

"Of course I must, Izuku" she said maternally "your expression alone upon seeing the scene broke my heart and I am sorry that you had to witness such a circumstance."

Izuku only managed to shake his head, trying not to let the mortification he felt in his body show. Nemuri placed her soft hand on Izuku's and gave him a grateful smile.

"Your father told me you gave him some gardenias and lilies for our garden" the woman commented sweetly "I appreciate the gesture very much."

"It's nothing" downplayed the young man "I know you would make that kind of selfless gesture for me."

"Well... I would like to discuss an important matter with you" she said sensibly, looking directly into the boy's green eyes "since I must return this selfless favor..."

A silence settled between them and the smile that Nemuri wore disappeared, giving way to a worried rictus that mortified the young god of love and gave him a very bad feeling.

"A little bird, one of those who gossip in our castle, told me that you went out into the mortal world" the woman began calmly "which I found uninteresting, because all of us gods at some point descended into it, but there was something that caught my attention..."

Izuku swallowed hard and felt his stomach shrink. He was sure that no one had followed him, that no one had seen him and that his fragrance was not perceived by anyone. It had to be a bad joke.

"He told me you had run away to your island and... I know it's none of my business, but you know that when beings who were not born on Olympus promise to be gods they can't go back to what they were before they were gods" Midnight said, letting out an air of anguish "so be it by any intention; promises to your father should never be broken."

"I... I didn't... I needed to" stammered Izuku unable to say anything and turning livid.

"Izuku" Nemuri took him by the shoulders confidently trying to comfort him "I don't need you to tell me what you did there, because in your eyes I see that you needed it; but I had to resort to extreme measures so that this would not reach anyone's ears, not even your father's."

"I regret that..."

"Don't be sorry, Izuku" she replied kindly "I know you are young and needed a little help from your roots, but you are not prepared for your father's wrath. He is very uncompromising with those who break their promises."

"Please, Nemuri-san, I don't want him to know" Izuku said with pressing anguish and suffocation "I don't know what..."

"Calm down" she stroked his head "I won't say anything, though my silence only has a price to pay, dear..."

Izuku looked at her pleadingly and silently. Then Nemuri felt she had won the battle, feeling incredibly powerful at how vulnerable and mortified the young god was. What a foolish, naive little boy.

"Your father has been worried that a war between gods will start over your hand."

"War? My hand?"

Nemuri nodded, biting her tongue to keep her lips from letting out a dismissive comment.

"Many of them have come to us, presenting dowries and asking our blessing to give you your hand" the elder goddess recounted "but your father does not know how to ask such a thing of you without you feeling that we infringe on your freedom. He holds you in high esteem dear, mostly because of your incredible performance as a god."

Izuku stood static with a bitter taste burning in his throat and down his stomach like a live iron.

"Still, we are afraid. Many of the gods have fallen into fights, quarrels, and feuds that may escalate if we don't do something..."

"But what can I do?" questioned the young man uncertainly.

"The only way to avoid it at all costs, is for you to marry an Olympian" dictated the queen.

"Marry ?"

"Yes " she said calmly "I know I'm asking a lot of you and... Izuku I know it's hard to make that decision, but I don't want this kingdom to fall into disgrace because of a feud that perhaps neither your father or I can stop."

Izuku had to hold on to the balusters tightly, for he felt that at any moment his legs would falter and knock him to the ground at such a confession the queen mother was giving him.

"Why me, I'm nothing special" stammered the young god worriedly.

"Apparently there are rumors..."

"I have not been defiled by anyone!" exclaimed the god mortified, kneeling down and feeling humiliated "all that stuff they believe in, it's all lies."

Nemuri knelt down next to him and hugged him, trying to hide the malevolent and victorious smile that tried to surface on her mouth. Izuku on the other hand covered his face in pure anguish and shame.

"I know it's hard and more so with these rumors, Izuku. Still, my job as the goddess of righteousness cannot be set aside... Your punishment from me for disobeying your promise is that; however, if Yagi ever finds out about this, rest assured that he will not be as pious as I am."

At that Nemuri stood up and picked up her cup with the intentions of leaving. However, she stopped and took one last look at the young god who had a disconsolate expression and his arms lax at each side. Heartbroken and defeated.

"If it were up to me, Izuku, I would ask Shoto to marry me" she advised sympathetically "he is my calmest and most respectful son among all, he will never disrespect you and will know how to give you the place you deserve."

"But..."

"Izuku, I wouldn't want to put you through this. But it's for the benefit of Olympus and for your protection. You have until the next lunar cycle to give me an answer, otherwise I will find it my task as goddess of righteousness to tell your father your fault."

With that, Nemuri left Izuku alone with his heart clenching in his chest and feeling an incalculable urge to weep coursing through his body. He felt a leaden weight creep up on his shoulders and melancholy take his breath away. He couldn't help but glue his forehead to the cold floor and cover his mouth to keep the cries of frustration and sadness from being heard.

He didn't know what to do. He didn't know where to turn. He was afraid that what Nemuri professed was true. For great gods like Enji, god of death, were suffering the consequences of breaking promises to the god king and he did not want that wrath to fall on him or, consequently, on his beloved and remembered island.

Izuku cried, trying to silence those cries that swirled in his heart and letting the crystalline tears run down his cheeks, unaware that between the walls and columns hid two-colored eyes that were filled with guilt and anguish when they heard the sobs of the god of love. All that sadness was the fault of his selfishness and his conscience would bring him down with such a mistake during the whole lunar cycle.

Chapter Text

Katsuki was at a crossroads where he could not see a point of return, a loophole from which to escape or a way out. He felt cornered, frustrated and without any quick solution that could remove the weight that still gulped his chest. A mess that was simply screwing up his thoughts and existence.

He was training in the backyard of his palace with Alectrion. They had been training with the sword since dawn until this time in the afternoon. Alectrion had taken a few good blows and stamps from his master; however, the immortal was excited and happy that his master was finally training him. They had been training for at least almost a lunar cycle and the immortal had learned the best defense and attack techniques that no mentor could teach better than that god born for contention and battle.

Katsuki, on the other hand, tried to remain steady, with a serene mind and low impulses. For, though he trained with his subordinate, he could not get out of his damned head a certain memory of that green-haired god who had almost cried on the day of the feast, begging him to stop. An image that haunted him in his dreams and in his thoughts.

Katsuki lashed out at Alectrion again, and Alectrion was barely able to hold off his master's attack. Still, in an agile and dizzying movement, the god of war made a sweep with one of his legs and brought his subordinate down.

"You are still weak in your legs, sheep's eyes" he commented, pointing the tip of his sword at the young man's face "you must keep your balance and always look straight ahead."

"Yes, my lord."

"We will work on your balance at dawn" he said calmly, laying his sword on the ground and helping to lift his subordinate "return to your duties."

"Would you like anything brought to you, my lord?" the young man hastened to say before he wanted to withdraw.

"No" he commanded in a tempered voice, walking calmly away from the dirt field "I need to be alone."

With that the god of war withdrew and disappeared under the curtain of creepers that hid that dark portal that led to his precious reservoir.

Alectrion nodded quizzically and walked away from the training yard. Lately the god had calmed his unexpected outbursts, no longer constantly shouted at the servants, was quieter than usual and had even agreed to train Alectrion after at least half a millennium under his tutelage. He was a different Katsuki, one who apparently gave most of those in the palace a bad feeling. As if it were a calm before the storm.

Clearly, none were aware that Katsuki was overwhelmed by certain feelings stirring within him. The god had spent at least some time, trying to calm those feelings that dwelled inside him, to repel them, to eliminate them, but he knew it was impossible.

After that unpleasant conversation he had had with Kirishima, he was fully aware that it was that tornado of sensations coming back to him that made him shudder inside.
Flash Back

He couldn't find a way to calm the frenzied rage that was burning in his body. He was on fire. His hands were tingling with the intention of wanting to hit anything, his heavy breathing could barely give him a chance to return to his tranquility and his nostrils were flaring like fanlights thanks to that cavernous feeling. His pride was cracked, destroyed, trampled.

Remembering all the words Momo had spoken in a sinister way in front of her father made the knuckles of her hands tingle. He had so much hatred and contempt for that damned woman. Thinking herself better than him, running over his pride every chance she got, looking down on him like he was anything, scorning him for the simple fact that she was her father's favorite daughter. His anger and contempt for her grew with each passing day.

"That damned woman" he grumbled over some furs.

"It's all right, Katsubro" Kirishima looked at him, stirring his wine glass from time to time and looking at her closely "let it go."

"You think it's easy for me, shitty hair?" the war god spat with annoyance, piercing his gaze into the same ruby eyes of his brother "She's a harpy. A disgusting, despicable harpy who always gets her way. You'll see that when Father punishes her he'll get in her face the chores she's done for him and give her a few crocodile tears along with a cheap speech of repentance, he'll make the old man feel of disgust, taking away her punishment..."

"Bro..."

"Fuck, Kirishima, it's the fucking truth" shouted the god in annoyance, standing up and throwing a decorative table in the air in sheer frustration "that fucking manipulator does what she wants and always gets off..."

"Calm down" warned Kirishima, getting up and grabbing his brother's shoulders "breathe."

Katsuki hadn't realized that he was breathing in a hurry. She looked into her brother's eyes and he gave her a conciliatory look. She took a deep breath and let her choleric thoughts go to install an iniquitous calm.

"I know it's not easy to deal with the burden you've been dealt, brother" his voice sounded understanding and calm "it's not your fault, I'd be like you too if everyone went around judging me for what I look like and not what I am."

Kirishima urged Katsuki to sit on the chest of drawers where he was before, hoping to calm the torrid abscess of anger that his brother was suffering.

"But you know this is going to bring consequences, most of all from Midnight."

Katsuki shrieked annoyed and annoyed.

"That geezer always makes dramas out of nothing."

"Maybe" he agreed "but she's the queen and she can rip your life to shreds if she wants to..."

"I still can't understand how that despicable and rotten being could be my mother...."

Kirishima remained silent, resting his hand on his brother's shoulder to give him some support and comfort. No one knew, except for him, Ochako and All Might, that Katsuki was indeed Midnight's legitimate son, one of the few conceived in Yagi and Kayama's marriage.
"How about we better forget why you're upset and go drink in the living room?" pretended the flame-haired young man.

"I'm not in the mood, shitty hairs" replied Katsuki, letting himself get caught by the dresser and sticking the back of his neck to the backrest "I don't have any appetite..."

Kirishima left him and took another drink from his cup, sitting down and keeping his brother company as usual. A comfortable silence hung over them, listening to the murmur of the music the muses were playing in the hall and the voices of the guests. The place was dimly lit by torches, bathing the fine room in dancing shadows cast on the features of the gods.

"Hey, Katsubro..." whispered Kirishima, somewhat hesitantly.

Katsuki had closed his eyes in order to dispel the nagging thoughts nesting in his mind, but he grunted when he was interrupted by Kirishima. He took it as an answer.

"Why did you stop?"

Katsuki suddenly opened his eyes and looked at his brother, with the same ruby eyes as him shining in curiosity, waiting for an answer that he himself didn't know how to explain it How to tell him that a teary voice and teary eyes stopped him? That an emerald-eyed little boy with just a plea stopped him?

"I..." he tried to tear himself away, but the words just wouldn't come out.

He had no idea how to explain that to Kirishima. It was strange what he felt when he saw the little god. As if an acid was falling from his throat, burning his stomach and squeezing his heart as if at any moment he was going to be crushed. A devastating and confusing sensation that he was still trying to digest.

"I don't know," he answered at last.

He thought that would save him from explaining something he wasn't even sure what it was. Although Kirishima's accusing eyes knew, from experience, that his brother was hiding something from him. He didn't like to meddle in other people's affairs, but one thing he was sure of - and he would bet his divine bow if necessary - was that Katsuki never backed down from a battle, even if his existence was in danger of disintegrating. Never.

"Is that really going to be your answer?"

"And what did you want?, a speech with roses and buffoonery? No. I don't know why I did it myself..."

Kirishima snorted in annoyance and rose from his seat, looking intently at his brother.

"I may not be the god of truth, Katsuki, but I know that what you are telling me is a fallacy" claimed the god pointing accusingly at him "and don't deny it to me, because we both know that anything you contradict will not make me doubt. You may lie to yourself, but never to me."

Katsuki looked surprised at his brother's fierce and overwhelming eyes. He felt offended about it; still, his brother was completely right. He sighed deeply to release that maelstrom of sensations, not knowing where to really start. They remained silent for a moment.

"I don't even know what's wrong with me myself, shitty hairs" he confessed, running both hands through his tousled ashen tresses and letting out a growl in the process "it's something that's been with me for centuries and.... I don't know what it is, but it's disgusting.... And it's all because of that fucking brat..."

Kirishima raised an eyebrow.

"Kiddo?" questioned the sun god, feeling out of place "Who are you talking about?"

"The... green-eyed idiot, the one our father brought" the god pointed out.

"Are you talking about Izuku? The god of love?"

"Yes, that Deku... With that goofy grin and that perfume that disgusts me."

Then Kirishima, in those few moments of suspicion he possessed, realized something. Katsuki never spoke of a god, unless it caused something within him, be it dislike, hatred, respect or any exacerbating emotion. His eyes widened for a moment and he tried to keep his patience in order to confirm what in his mind he began to conjecture. A hunch that soured the taste in his mouth.

"Why do you say you dislike him?" he asked again "He's the most innocent and courteous god that ever touched Olympus..."

"He's an idiot" grumbled the ashen-haired one "with his goofy grin and sad sheep's eyes. He disgusts me."

"But what do you feel when you see him?" questioned Kirishima unable to measure his desperate interest.

Katsuki opened her mouth and then closed it, not quite knowing how to tell Kirishima what she felt. She straightened up at her post and began to explain:

"Like I feel like throwing up" she replied straightforwardly "an unpleasant tingling in my stomach that can last for hours; that I can't move every time he sees me, as if he's manipulating me; and it makes my heart pound so much like I'm in a war..."

Kirishima could barely assimilate every word his brother had said and felt a faint hint of discomfort creep up his skin, like an abhorrent itch. His face didn't express the irritation boiling inside.

"It's fucking annoying."

"Katsubro," Kirishima called out to her, making his brother's eyes look straight at her "Do you feel like you can't get it out of your mind?"

Katsuki looked into his brother's eyes, surprised, and nodded.

"That you can't concentrate?"

Katsuki, incredulous, nodded again.

"That your mind just wanders every time you look at him?"

"I don't know where you're going with this, shitty hairs," the god of war replied confused and suspicious.

"Answer me" urged the russet-haired one annoyed.

The ruby eyes looked at each other for a few moments, as if something strange was thickening the air.

"Yes" he replied seriously "I can't get him out of my fucking mind, like he's a filthy leech. It comes back every time I try to forget it or when I try to blank my mind. It's like it's haunting and tormenting me."

Kirishima remained silent and processed the words his brother had said. He was dismayed, not only by the impending confession his brother had given, but also by what those words held and meant. Katsuki looked at him confused and apprehensive, not quite understanding the grimace of displeasure that was forming on his brother's face.

The red-haired god sat back down on the dresser and drank his full glass of wine, then stared straight ahead, as if hypnotized or petrified. The sun god felt constipated because now, that he was aware of what Katsuki felt, he did not know how to tell him the inescapable truth. A truth that weighed on both of them like Atlas' punishment.

"Katsubro" he started, licking his lower lip anxiously "this thing that is happening to you is the most amazing and unheard of thing I have witnessed in my thousands of years."

Katsuki raised an eyebrow and looked at his brother who was staring straight ahead, without elucidating what his brother was referring to. The expression on his face denoted his anxiety, which did not bode well and only increased her suspicion.

"I didn't expect you to feel what you're saying..."

"What the hell do you mean?" he was stunned by everything Kirishima was saying to him, not really having an answer "What do you mean it's unheard of?"

"Please, Katsuki, it's the most stupid and obvious thing..."

Katsuki kept her confused countenance. He wasn't understanding what Kirishima wanted to tell him, but what his eyes were expressing. The mixture of pain, disappointment and anger was shining in her brother's eyes and she felt the catastrophe rising between them.

"You fell in love."

Two words. A feeling he had never been able to identify and thought he could never experience. A simple, convulsive sentence that landed on him like a bucket of ice water, and squeezed him into the dresser he was sitting on.

"You fell in love, you piece of shit" the russet-haired one replied wryly and hurt "you fucking fell in love with who I want most in the world."

Kirishima's ruby eyes crystallized. Katsuki felt worse than any scum. He wanted to do something about it, but the mere feint of getting up made the red-haired god react and smack him squarely on the cheek. Something the ashen-haired god did not expect and it hurt in his chest like a stake.

"Of all the damned beings! You fell in love with the only thing I want in my life!" the god chorused cholericly "You fell in love with Izuku!"

"No, brother, wait..."

"Don't you dare call me brother, Katsuki! You're so damn selfish!"

"Don't give me that shit now, you idiot!" replied Katsuki in pain "I didn't want to feel this, I can't stand this; this is something I'm not supposed to feel..."

"But you feel it, Katsuki" spat the young sun god "you feel it and that only makes it real, because now I must see you as a rival."

"A rival? Don't fuck with me, Kirishima. This isn't a fucking war, nor is Izuku a prize to be won."

"Maybe it isn't" his eyes flashed sparks "but just answer me one question and if you don't answer, we won't be brothers anymore. I'll know if you're lying to me, Katsuki."

Katsuki stared at him, frowning and frustrated at how dramatic and sudden the situation had become. He felt fear, real fear of losing his brother, so he encouraged himself to answer with the utmost sincerity.

"If Izuku gave you the chance to love him, you and you alone would you refuse?"

His ruby eyes widened like saucers. A question that caught him off guard. A question he simply could not answer without feeling that the answer his brother expected was the one his heart cried out for. A question that doomed him.

A hissing, heavy, torturing silence rose. And then Kirishima felt surrendered.

"I already gave me your answer" he mumbled with a thread of voice "because you can't lie to me, Katsuki..."

Katsuki didn't know what to answer or what to do. This was worse than a battle, worse than a betrayal, worse than a deception. She was losing her brother, her best friend, her confidant and her best advisor. He was losing the one he cherished more than his father.

He wanted to approach again, but Kirishima raised his hand, turned away and shook his head. He walked quickly to the exit and slammed the door shut. He felt like fucking hades. Recalcitrant, unholy, painful.

He had lost his brother and could only weep in the wake of the torches and the sinuous dance of shadows across his face.

End Flashback

Though the pain of his brother's loss still raked within his chest, he felt aware, calm and lighter than he could when he had accepted that his heart went out to that emerald-eyed, candid-smiling god. That his eyes were searching for him. That his perfume was the most delicious and obsessive he had ever smelled.

Still, the pang of pain that spread through his chest at the memory of his brother made him feel angry at his feelings, at the maelstrom of emotions and at the reactions that that little boy caused his body. Because the fact that it caused him that, was the reason why his brother hated him now.

He felt drowned in a diatribe of emotions. In a maze he didn't know how to deal with and couldn't escape. An issue he did not know how to win. Making him feel more frustrated than he was, sadder and more taciturn.

When the birdsong brought him back to reality, he knew he had reached the reservoir. But he sensed something strange that made him feel out of place. The birds were squawking instead of singing, as if they were angry; the air felt heavy, almost suffocating; the flowers had suddenly turned livid and almost without any color What the hell was going on there?

He heard a rustling. An unintelligible whisper that set off alarms and curiosity in the ashen-haired god. It sounded like a plaintive whisper. Until, after a few seconds, he actually heard a choked sob and a hiccup.

Katsuki approached a crumbling wall, where that mysterious and disturbing cry came from. He didn't know why, but the war god's intuition alone premeditated him that this sound was absolutely not good. For there was no one besides him and Izuku who knew of the existence of the reservoir.

His doubts were answered by the sight of it. His bristly grass hair, his teary emerald eyes, his mouth being covered by his thin hands to prevent his sobs from being heard and that anguished and melancholic expression. For the first time, Katsuki felt the pain searing him like a poison to the flesh.

There, on the moldy, wet floor of the reservoir, lay Izuku. Crying his eyes out, gasping for breath and drowning in the diatribe in which his mind and heart had drowned with the passing of the lunar cycle. He was confused, indecisive and with fear surfacing on his skin like ammonia.

But nothing prepared them to see each other again. Their eyes met, staring at each other. The ruby felt his chest tighten at the sight of that countenance bathed in tears and anguish; the emerald felt his heart leap at the sight of him again, so close, so imposing and as beautiful as he remembered him, but unable to stop that bloody pain that tingled in his chest.

"What are you doing here?" he asked in a broken voice.

Katsuki opened her mouth to say something, but no phoneme could come out of her mouth. Because, even if she hated that tingling that settled in her stomach and the unrestrained throbbing of her heart, seeing the god of love fall in sadness broke her implacable fortitude.

"Go away" he demanded, broken and laconic.

"No..." replied Katsuki monosyllabically, not knowing what else to say.

"Then what are you doing here Katsuki?" the god of love stood up and faced him, feeling anger shake his body.

How was it possible that in those moments Katsuki was there? There in the moments where his chest weighed like a stone and he felt that each step of the sun's rays increased the uncertainty of his destiny, the doubt of his conscience and the crying of his pains. Izuku felt a corrosive flame burning his stomach with pure anger. For some strange reason he felt like punching something.

Instead, the god of war remained inexplicably silent. Perhaps because he was absorbed in the tears streaming down his peach cheekbones or because he was trying to find a response that would justify his presence without stuttering in the process. But, it must be said, his brain was not one hundred percent processing what he was looking to do.

"It's none of your business" he managed to say in his usual indifferent, grumbling tone.

"Sure, that's all you can say..." Izuku blurted out obnoxiously.

"Am I supposed to justify my actions to you, you piece of Deku?" the god shot back, feeling a pang at the tone the grass-haired young man used with him.

"Maybe yes, maybe no" snorted the god of love, not knowing if his answers really made sense "the only fact I don't care about is your appearance here, after so many months..."

"And what did you want me to do?" shouted the ashen-haired god "I... I really don't know.... Hell!"

"That's what I mean, Katsuki" pointed out the young god "you don't know and the fact that you don't know frustrates you, angers you and fills you with burning doubts..."

"What the fuck do you know about me, huh?" the god of war grabbed the little god's arms tightly and tried to intimidate him with his reddish gaze full of anger "How can a little shit like you know who I am? What do I feel?"

"Because I feel the same way..."

Katsuki let him go and just laughed. He was fed up, desperate and hysterical because of that amalgam of emotions that ran through his veins, that made him feel strange and filled him with anger. Because much to his regret, it was something he couldn't stop perceiving and couldn't stop. So he just refused to understand it.

"How are you going to feel the same fucking way, huh? Deku!"

"Don't you dare mock my feelings, Katsuki..."

"Feelings? For a piece of shit like me?" he blurted out laughing bitterly between each question "Tell me what the fuck do you want from someone who is despised by all his brothers? From a god who is despised even by his own first born? From a god who kills for mere pleasure?"

An inclement silence arose between them. Izuku looked pained and angry at the sly look of the ruby-eyed god. He was doubting his feelings and it only made him feel incredibly sorry, annoyed and angry.

"Answer the damn question!"

"What do you want me to answer, that every damn day I couldn't stop thinking about you!" the god of love shouted and hiccupped, feeling the outburst of sadness and rage making him tremble "That every damn night I wished I could see you again?! That since that kiss in this place I can't stop feeling that tingling?! That I waited for you every damn night of every damn day for centuries because you came back to look at you?! That every time I saw you I felt an unstoppable desire to heal your wounds and your sorrows?! Is that what you wished for?!"

Katsuki was speechless before the frantic outburst of the god of love, questioning what the young god had said in those moments and that had left him petrified. Had he, after his escape, waited for him at the reservoir? Had he worried about him? Had he been there for days, in his special place, waiting for his presence? That same feeling that irritated him began to warm and comfort him in his chest.

" Did you waiting me?" he repeated in a hushed whisper, almost as if he didn't believe it.

"Are you deaf? Of course I was!" despair, frustration and anger spoke for Izuku "Days, nights, weeks, months, months, years, even centuries, I waited for you here, hoping to see you... to know if I really... if I really could see you again..."

"Why see me again...why wait for a scum like me?" questioned Katsuki again, coming closer "Why go through so many martyrdoms for someone who would perhaps despise and embitter your life?"

"Because... I feel like I can't get you out of my damn head" Izuku answered, hiccuping and wiping away the unstoppable tears that were coming out of his face "because I can't stop thinking about your pain, that I want to take away all the weights you carry, to calm all the demons you imprison in your chest; to feel your gaze on me, to feel that I'm the only one for you..."

Izuku took a deep breath, realizing that he had spoken so hastily that he had run out of air. He covered his face, fell to his knees and let everything he had been silently cloistering come out there, sobbing and feeling the weight on his shoulders and in his chest come out at last.

Katsuki, on the other hand, was still petrified. His body was trembling, dumfounded and bursting thanks to the words that that god with glowing eyes and heartbreaking sobs had confessed to him. He could not believe it. He could not believe that this amalgam of sensations was also felt by him.

He cautiously arranged himself in front of the whimpering god and fell to his knees, trying not to frighten him or cause him to react negatively. He didn't want him to reject him. Not now that he was completely willing and sure of what in his chest resided. He took the little god in his arms and pressed him to his chest.

And though Izuku felt the surprise, his face, unconsciously, pressed to the god's large, warm chest and wrapped his arms around his broad back. Feeling, both of them, an immeasurable peace, a relaxing sensation, an almost inconceivable ecstasy that made the tears of the smallest god come even more from the sadness he had carried inside his chest for a long time.

At that precise moment, a calm and peaceful silence engulfed them. Katsuki cherished the weak and trembling body of the god in his arms, thinking that there was no greater joy than to feel that angel's face snuggled in his chest; while the god of love pressed his fine hands on the broad back of the older one, caressing with haste and subtlety his muscles and comforting himself with the warmth of his skin and arms.

Without saying anything to each other, they sensed that inescapable, infallible and unfading connection. The same one they noticed that day when they looked at each other for the first time, that incandescent electricity that gnawed at their skin and burned their blood. The same one that at that moment made them feel so comfortable, so full, so incredibly complete.

"Please don't say..."

"Don't ask me to shut up, Deku" she interrupted him without letting go of his embrace and looking him in the eyes "because now I have many things to tell you now, sucker..."

Katsuki gathered all the courage she could muster in that crucial moment and took a deep breath, to release all that tension that her body had accumulated.

"I also feel the same fucking fucking fucking way" he began, feeling his chest deflate "sometimes remembering the softness of your skin, sometimes your slenderness, sometimes the brightness of your eyes, in few situations your smile, but something I haven't been able to escape from is that fucking burning feeling that consumes me every time I see you..."

Izuku felt those words as an incalculable panacea. Words that he had never heard from the mouth of another, like an unstoppable spring of sweet waters that drank and rejoiced his chest. A moment that made him tremble with comfort, joy and peace.

"I hated it, because this fucking shitty feeling was driving me out of my mind" continued the ruby-eyed one "because I didn't know what to do with it, how to deal with it, how to get that scum out of me..... but seeing you, it all seemed like a fucking cloud, like nothing I am or what I do matters... like you really see who I am and that, Deku, is something even my father couldn't do."

Izuku felt those heartfelt words thread into him, sincere, sweet and soothing, like the gentle massage of waves underfoot.

"You're one of the reasons why I can't stop to think, why I can't stop, because.... every time I stop I only think of you."

Izuku felt a catastrophic whirlwind imbibe in his esophagus and that at any moment he would fly over the vaulted ceilings of the Pantheon, thanks to the gigantic happiness that swarmed the god and did something no god could ever say to the god of war:

"I love you, Katsuki."

Katsuki didn't know how to take that. His mind and body collapsed at the mention of those words to which he could never give a meaning, a sense or an emotion. In those moments, that word took on an almost apotheosic, transcendental, syrupy meaning. The god of war could not help but smile genuinely.

Both brought their faces closer and sealed that effusive and intimate moment with a sweet kiss, tender, soft and full of mixed feelings. Because at last, after so long, they both felt complete.

Chapter Text

To really define how he felt in those moments would have been a big problem, because his mind was still wandering in that sweet and graceful touch that he still felt on his lips, in the words injected with sincerity and passion that they both said, in that tingling sensation that his skin still maintained before the warm and sullen touch of the god of war.

Izuku kept feeling good, at peace, with a viscerally blinding smile. Watching around him as the flowers in the back garden of his palace fizzed into a musk the most delicious perfumes among the Pantheon. The happiness that ruminated in the blood of the god was noticeable in his aura, in the wrinkles that formed at the corners of his lips when he smiled, in the incandescent light that shone in his eyes like a polished and transparent emerald.

It was a new meaning. A new meaning to all that he was feeling. He had finally understood that sensation that every man and woman in the mortal world sought under his shelter, that sensation of flight that tingled on your skin, that joyous tingling that crinkled in your stomach, that inescapable feeling of being able to smile. That was it.

Izuku smiled as a nightingale, flapping its oak-colored wings, landed on one of his shoulders and sang gloriously for him, followed by a chirping of birds nesting around the garden. The god of love felt that the birds were singing that inexplicable sensation he felt at that moment. And he did not hesitate to follow in their footsteps.

Izuku for the first time sang in his garden. A high-pitched voice with such a sweet tone and an almost touching tessitura that he silenced the birdsong to listen to it. The cypress trees, the ash trees, the roses, the lilies, the birds, the creepers and the breeze stopped just to listen to that precious song.

Izuku almost never sang, and if he did it was almost in a whisper when he was all alone. Singing made him remember those happy times when his sisters the nymphs and his mother Inko sang and danced around a bonfire on the solstices or in the religious rites to the gods, those were times that nostalgia weighed heavily among those empty and shiny marble walls and floors.

Even so, the young god felt that tug of happiness as an excuse to let his sheltered song go out into the inhospitable air of his garden and engross himself in the pearly walls of his palace. He let that exacerbating joy pierce his veins and fill his soul with bliss.

He intoned with the same precision that once had that song lost in time, taught by his mother as the sweetest hymn of love for something that, until now, seemed unknown to him.

The veined lights of love blinded him completely while he let his voice modulate everything that resided in his chest, without ceasing to think of the bright reddish eyes, of his genuine smile, of the rough and rough hands that took him with such delicacy, of the silhouette that made his reasoning drunk with fantasies and chimeras.

The silence of the garden only let us see how the bliss in his chest rose like an effervescent essence and panacea. Such was that immeasurable feeling, that his feet moved of their own accord and let the harmonic body of the god sway with grace and panache in a secret dance. A dance that nymphs used to court, to feel happy, to feel sensual.

His emerald eyes closed as he felt each movement of his body vanish all that his heart enclosed and all that his soul shouted to the wind. It was apotheosis, after so many years, to feel the joy that that song and the swaying of his feet gave him.

The closed flowers began to open their buds, the ones that were open were exhaling a delightful fragrance, the birds began to sing to the sound of the god and the god began to feel an effluvium of plenitude that drowned him in an endless feeling of joy that stopped when the last stanza of his song fell silent in a primordial silence.

All was silence. Exquisite and exultant silence. Until he heard a startled jolt behind him.
There, petrified and stupefied, stood Todoroki. Without air, with his mouth open and with the lipstick bathing his cheeks. His heart felt even more rapturous, his stomach tingled and his body burned like a red-hot coal. Izuku, to whom he had been attracted for centuries, had now sung in vox populi and he, hidden and silent, listened. His song seemed to him like the most delicious garlands ever intoned, like a bell of exquisite cant. A song that surpassed Calliope.

He was sure of what he felt at that moment. He was madly in love with that god of beautiful alabaster cheeks, of naive smile, of divine song and unheard harmony.

"Izuku, by blessed Zeus" the god managed to say, still stunned, "you sing beautifully."

"Todoroki..." greeted the grass-haired god, feeling uneasy and uncomfortable "How did you get in here?"

"I was the one who created this palace for you by order of our father" replied the god honestly, slowly approaching the god of love and staying the right thing close to him "and also because your service denied me entry, so I entered on my own."

Todoroki tried to remove an unruly lock of hair from Izuku's thin face, but Izuku turned his face to prevent his hand from touching him.

"What are you doing here Todoroki?" questioned the god approaching the stems of some lilies and checking their whitish petals, trying to avoid his proximity.

"I have come on a matter that concerns us both" Todoroki, despite the refusal, followed him closely.

"A matter? Both of us?" questioned the confused young man.

"You ask many questions, Izuku."

"And you don't give many answers, Todoroki."

"Don't call me Todoroki, just call me Shoto" corrected the heterochromatic eyed god "between trust you never have to say the last name."

"Okay, Shoto."

Todoroki hid a genuine smile as he heard his name leave the god's pink lips and glimpsed a playful smile on the god of love. The tension that had previously set in disappeared like a mist.

"I'm sorry for invading your privacy and that intimate moment."

"You don't have to worry about it" the emerald-eyed one downplayed it and gave him an understanding smile ", but I'd rather we go to my living room to talk about that very urgent matter that concerns us both."

Todoroki nodded chivalrously and followed the god's steps closely. They left the garden crossing paths of limestone and chiseled stone, to then enter the marble walls and the unscathed silence that resided in it, only hearing the sound of their footsteps walking through that labyrinth of marble and mother-of-pearl wood.
It was only until they reached the main hall of the palace that Izuku was relieved, for at that moment Kendo was parading through the hall with a solemn air.

"Kendo," the young man called to him.

"Izu... My lord" Grace quickly corrected herself noting with a disguised grimace that her lord had company "did you have a good time in the garden?"

"Wonderfully."

"What can I do for you?"

"Could you bring some wine and some cheese? If that's very kind of you," the young man requested calmly.

"Gladly, I'll bring them right away."

Kendo paraded down the corridor again and disappeared at a certain point.

"You don't have to be so obliging to me, Izuku."

"Nonsense, you are a guest" justified the grass-haired god "whoever has my trust and resides in my household is to be treated with benevolence and service."

Todoroki smiled. Hardly anyone treated him as obligingly as he did. He was always the blacksmith and goldsmith of the gods, receiving orders and errands from each one for a better weapon, for a better crown, for a better ornament; no one wondered if he was really well or if he was tired, no one gave him such services in his abodes that ironically were created by him. He felt strangely comforted.

"Please come closer" Izuku urged him.

Izuku made to follow him again until he found himself in the middle of that great hall, walking up a short marble planking and finding himself in a wide nest of fluffy cushions, furs and silks, instead of the narrow, burnished throne Todoroki had created for the new god his father had commissioned him to create.

The emerald-eyed god sat down on the wide nest and patted his side cordially for the two-colored-haired god to sit beside him.

Todoroki felt intimidated and couldn't help but feel himself blushing. That wide nest reminded them of the beds of the nymphs, where more than once the god felt that irrepressible desire that in his blood and in his being he had felt for many millennia. A desire to lie frantically and concupiscently in the arms of someone who would not only give him his silhouette, but his being in equal measure. And Todoroki felt that naive offer as an unseemly proposal.

"What is the reason for such shyness?" the young god questioned him, curious at the god's withdrawal.

"I-it's nothing, Izuku. I'm fine."

"Come on, Shoto, don't be self-conscious."

And with that last comment, Izuku took his friend's hand and sat him down next to him. Todoroki was amazed at the camaraderie and confidence with which Izuku invited him to that nest. He was so close to him that her sweet vanilla scent dulled his mind, that he realized that the beautiful freckles in the sunlight looked like beautiful dots of burnished copper and that her eyes were as beautiful as he remembered them the last time they had seen each other.

Izuku smiled when he saw how his friend was petrified, as if he was surprised by the proposal and that, in his own candor, gave him the most incipient blush he had ever seen, like the shallow color that the cheeks take when you face for the first time to that feeling called love.

"I hope you won't keep quiet, for I truly wish to hear what you have to say" the god objected to him with comradeship.

Todoroki woke up and came back to reality, subtly shaking his head to push away all the thoughts that were accumulating in his head. Izuku let out a short chuckle and Todoroki felt mesmerized.

"I..."

"Oh look, here comes Kendo" the god pointed out.

Kendo was carrying a clay amphora and a tray full of cheese, grapes and calf along with two golden cups, which she left in the hands of the god of love. The young grace made the pretense of pouring the cups, however, his lord stopped him.

"Don't worry about this, Kendo," the god commented to her, taking the amphora in his slender hands, "we are fine."

The young woman, seeing her master's initiative, nodded and left in the god's hands everything he had asked for.

"I will be in the adjoining rooms should you need anything else, my lord."

"I appreciate your service, my dear."

Kendo bowed obligingly to both gods and withdrew from the hall down one of the corridors of the spacious palace.

Seeing themselves alone, Izuku began to refill the goblets with the amphora and then offered one of them to his guest. Todoroki took it and thanked the young god, while he likewise took his cup and set the tray of cheese, grapes and calf in between them.

"It looks exquisite."

"Try some" offered the god candidly.

However, what the god of the forge did not expect was that the shorter one would take some of the meat in his hands.

"Open your mouth" the god requested kindly.

Fuck. Todoroki couldn't help but feel an irrepressible flame burning his brains out, thickening his blood like a bomb. It wasn't possible that the god would offer to do that to him.

"Shoto, please open your mouth," he repeated.

But Todoroki could barely synapse what was happening.

"I..."

"Shoto" snorted the god childishly and pouted.

Todoroki felt his chest melt at the sight of Izuku's dazzlingly candid expression. So, he opened his mouth reverently and let the soft and slender hands of the god feed him.

He felt the touch of those fine fingers on his lips like a hypnotizing, enriching and obsessive drink. A sensation that even surpassed by far all those emotions that in his long eons he had experienced. It was a portentous shock.

Todoroki could not help but gasp at how delicate and pleasurable the warm touch of his lips against the other's hands felt. That warm, fine sensation that exacerbated his nerve endings and made the throbbing in his chest run rampant like a herd of rearing horses.

"I see you liked it" smiled the god of love.

"It was delicious" replied the heterochromatic god quickly, barely tasting the meat "it's very tender..."

"Yes, it's very good meat" replied the god of love as he licked the remains of the meat juice that had been left between his fingers.

Todoroki had to avoid watching the god make such a scene, for his weak flesh was decaying to the most ungodly desires that had been gathering for more than an eternity. He took his cup hastily and drank from it completely in one sip.

He knew that these purely flirtatious and picaresque acts were not with sensual or indecent intentions, for in time he had learned that these gestures were the very ones that nymphs, in their nature, made with such triviality. And, from what he had learned, Izuku had been raised among nymphs.

"Izuku," he called to him.

Izuku stopped and looked at the young man with the mark, his gaze was lost in his empty cup. The green-haired one appreciated how angular and chiseled his features were, in the sharpness of his cheekbones, in the thinness of his lips. He couldn't help thinking that, if he didn't have that reddish mark, he would have been handsome. However, his heart was still beating for that god with the rude manners and the taciturn face.

"I came here for an urgent reason" Todoroki began, staring into the eyes of the smaller god "and I know that what I will confess to you will not please you at all..."

Izuku upon hearing that statement, straightened up and put on his most sober expression. He didn't know what to expect, but just feeling his body tense up and a cold air stinging the exposed skin of his arms only foretold that nothing good would come out of what the god of the forge had to say.

" I heard you" he replied cautiously.

Todoroki, at the change of temperament of the smaller god, swallowed hard and moistened his lips at that growing sense of anxiety that gnawed at him. He was not sure how that beautiful god would react, but if his decision was to reject him and to despise him for making such a decision behind his back, he would accept such a fate as a consequence of his selfishness.

"I... the other night, when Uraraka's ascension as a household goddess was being celebrated, I overheard the conversation you had with my mother..."

Izuku, though he trembled at the mere thought of hearing that someone else knew his secret, did not change his sober gesture.

"And, although I'm not sure what are the reasons why my mother has challenged you that, I must say that that decision was not only by her initiative, but I'm also somewhat to blame for that" revealed the two-colored eyed god feeling like every word he uttered took the taste out of his mouth.

Izuku, incredulous and confused, looked at him suspiciously.

"What do you mean you're at fault here, Shoto?" the young god questioned him, raising one of his eyebrows inquisitively.

Todoroki sighed, gathered all the courage he could and made up his mind. He quickly knelt down between the god's legs, with his hands rough and hard, thanks to his work in the forge, he took the younger man's fine and soft hands, and his two-colored eyes looked with clemency at the emeralds of the grass-haired one.

"I... I asked for your hand" confessed the two-colored god as he avoided the love god's gaze and clasped his fine hands "I presented before my mother a dowry she could not refuse and made her promise me to do what was necessary so that I could marry you."

Izuku listened silently to such a revelation and did not let his gesture of prudence dislocate, though inside he felt an incisive abscess of anger grow in him like a bubbling poison.

"But... I... I just assumed that my mother would only convince you to accept a courtship or to, perhaps, make me compete for your hand" he hastened to tell him, feeling his voice crack in the process "I did not wish to cause you pain or suffering, I did not wish for you to feel that which weighed on your chest that night."

His two-colored eyes began to shed tears and Izuku felt a pang and a tightness in his chest from seeing that god crying for him.

"That night, when I saw you crying and my mother was gone, I was aware of how truly selfish I was with you" the god continued, looking mercifully into Izuku's green eyes ", I shouldn't have seen you as a prize or as a thing, Izuku, I shouldn't have asked for you as if you were a bartering object..."

The heterochromatic eyes shone with regret.

"That is why, in front of you, I came to confess my guilt and to accept whatever fate you will deal me, whether to despise me for the rest of our existence or to never speak to me again" the god resigned himself "but the only thing I implore you, as god of the forge, is to grant me your forgiveness."

Izuku remained unperturbed by the confession, although inside the maelstrom of emotions that was whipping him overwhelmed him with an unfathomable vertiginousness ¿Was that for Todoroki? He had been the first god who had spoken kindly to him, who had not pestered him with unwanted flirtations, the one who remained almost taciturn and gentlemanly at official verbenas Why had he done that behind his back? Why had he so decimated his freedom? Why had he done that to him?

Izuku slid his thin hands in agitation and his expression became mortified, like a canvas dominated by fear. Todoroki felt an awl stab into his chest like an icy stake.

"How dare you?"

Todoroki felt the bitter taste in his mouth burn his lips and from swallowing hard his stomach felt like a lead weight. The god's mortified eyes were burning him like the most scorching flames he had ever felt on his skin.

"I... I only did it because..." the god stammered not knowing if he could really confess "there were a lot of rumors about you and I didn't... I didn't want you to..."

"And that's what I am to you Todoroki?" he spat virulently "A piece of meat to lie in your bed with? A baby factory? You think that's what I am?"

"No! Absolutely not!" rebuked the god, rising and looking indignant "I could never consider you in such a way How dare you think I would consider you in such a way?"

"You believe in the rumors that have come within the walls of the pantheon" refuted the god rising with panache and sporting a scathing light in his aura and in his gaze "in the lies made by mortals, in the whispers of viperous tongues, rather than in my own word How do you wish me to take you? How do you expect me to respect and believe you when you doubt my own word and believe in the poisonous gossip that the palaces hide?"

Todoroki opened his mouth and then closed it. He looked down and felt sorry for himself. He knew he should not believe in the poisonous words of the servants of his brothers, in the whispers heard among the immortals, in the secrets that the gods themselves attributed to the god. But he could not help but feel that Izuku should be solely and exclusively his. That he should be his friend, his lover, his consort. He wanted all of him.

"You're right" his voice sounded bitter "again I'm stupid again and I've hurt your honesty and our relationship."

Izuku remained impassive in his place, but in the two-colored eyes of the god he could glimpse a certain regret that his weak heart could not disdain.

"But, I want to tell you that I do all this because I feel that I cannot get you out of my mind" began the god "that every day I spend without you becomes an ordeal, that my only motivation is to be able to see you again, that the permanent memory of your company imbues me, that I have this insatiable need to protect you, to offer you shelter and to offer you something that no one has been able to receive from me..."

Todoroki approached and gently took the god's hand again, seeing that the green-haired man did not reject him. He stuck that soft hand of fine fingers to his strong chest and Izuku felt that erratic hammering that beat in the other's chest, his alabaster cheeks were colored in vermilion.

"Do you feel it?" he asked and their eyes met "Do you think it's just blood pumping? What is it just me feeling nervous? It's more than that Izuku, it's the living evidence of what I feel for you, of this recalcitrant pain that day by day passes because I can't give you what I desire, which is my love for you. I love you, more than you can imagine."

His eyes remained fixed, until Izuku broke that connection and avoided the two-colored gaze of his guest. He felt overwhelmed and dumbfounded at his companion's confession. For Izuku was aware that Todoroki's words were not pure fallacies, they were love, it was pure and recalcitrant love that had come from the deepest part of his chest.

Then he remembered the bargain he had struck with Nemuri that night. Firm, stoic words that came back to him like a sour poison. It was a difficult decision and dusk was closing in on them, with the last glimmers of golden twilight giving way to the new lunar cycle, the last day to give Nemuri an answer.

He had to get down from the decking because he felt completely dizzy and felt that at any moment he would faint. His heart felt oppressed, his hand rested on his mouth to stop the desire to scream in frustration, his eyes felt like they were stinging from the urge to cry. All this was unheard of, impossible, unfair.

Why now that he could feel fulfilled? Why now that he felt he was really alive? Why should it be him and not another god? Why should his happiness be taken away? It was so iniquitous, so vile and so cruel.

«You are not prepared for your father's wrath.»

Nemuri's words echoed like a calcining peal.

«Your father hates it when you break his promises.»

«The only way to avoid a war at all costs is for you to marry.»

«If Yagi ever finds out about this, rest assured he will not be merciful.»

Just imagining his father raging against him only made him tremulous and livid. He could not leave his god-like life behind, not now that he had found the love of his life, not now that he could feel that he really lived, not when he wished to spend his entire eternal existence together with that ruby-eyed god who had opened his heart for him.

But if he accepted the bargain, he had to leave that love behind. He had to marry a god whom he not only considered a friend and cherished, but someone who did not cause him even the slightest tingle or the slightest desire to lie with him. A god who, though she loved him dearly, was indifferent to him.

A hand rested on his shoulder and his reaction was to turn quickly to look at him. His bicolor eyes were expectant and his rictus anxious.

"I know there is no answer to all this" commented the god rising up "but I have to tell you that I will not wait for you to leave me with silence as an answer, for silence is only the answer of men when they do not know what they wish, but since I know you will give me an answer, I will wait until tonight's banquet."

Todoroki again took his hands, with the same gentleness of touching something truly fragile and soft.

"Keep in mind, Izuku, that, if my love is received by you, I will not only shower you with gifts and my love" his eyes glimpsed an overwhelming passion "you will be the master of my home, of my life and of my destiny, for for you I think and for you I remain lucid."

The two-eyed god let go of the god's hands and disappeared in the same way he had arrived at the palace of the god of love, solitary and silent.

When Izuku felt completely alone, he couldn't help but let out that hiccup that was choking his chest. A hilarious hiccuping that stung his eyes and ended up leading him to a silent and painful bawl.

His body leaned against one of the columns of the place and then slid down to touch the floor, feeling his chest tighten and his mind cloud with melancholy. It was hard, unfair, vile. For his heart was pounding from the love that imbued his soul, while his mind only filled him with panic at his father's impending wrath and penance.

Just thinking that he had to leave Katsuki made him want to vomit and cry inconsolably; but he also thought about how cruel his father could be with punishments and more when it was a promise, he could lock him in Tartarus and pay his dishonor for all eternity or condemn his island and his family to a curse as abhorrent as painful.

Izuku could not help but weep at the top of his voice again and let his graces, in the silence of his walls, comfort him without them questioning his master's pain. Izuku silently thanked the gesture.

Chapter Text

There was a moment of commotion. For unexpectedly the gods of the Pantheon had been invited to the palace of the god All Might to celebrate a delicious banquet with much music, drink and an intriguing announcement that promised joy for all the dwellers of Olympus.

The gloom hung over the iridescent domes of the palaces while the ghostly moonlight bathed the cobblestone alleys and the iron gates that protected the palaces. But what was most disturbing about that vigil was the monosyllabic and sly announcement on the invitation. Not even Denki, who was the messenger of all the gods, knew what was the announcement that All Might and Midnight wanted to make that night.

But, if there was one thing that was known, it was that the gods were never curious. And that night was not going to be the exception, although to many it seemed something disturbing and their intuition activated all their alerts.

Katsuki for a strange reason felt unexpectedly uneasy that night. Sitting on his throne and in his deserted living room, he was really thinking whether or not he should go to that banquet that the idiot with roadrunner complexes had warned him about at that instant. For, although he could never refuse an invitation, something inside him prickled like a silent warning.

However, just thinking again of that bright-eyed boy with the candid smile who had been next to him in his secret place, only made his chest heave in a sordid throbbing that comforted him. He had to cover half of his face so as not to let out that charming smile that the god of war rarely glimpsed when he was happy or pleased.

It was one of those few moments where he really felt at peace, where he really felt he could smile, where he really felt he was doing something right. And it was all thanks to that god with the beautiful eyes who had confessed to him in the most abrupt and truthful way all that honeycomb of feelings that he and Izuku felt.

He had never felt so deluded or so happy to truly have someone say those words to him.

«I love you.»

Just remembering it made his skin crawl and his smile spread across his cheeks. It was such an abysmal feeling, so good and so comforting, that he thought he would never tire of it.

For some strange reason that comforting aura that Katsuki had brought that afternoon had changed the heavy, silent aura that stale on the palace walls. The tranquility was breathed very loosely, the birds had chirped with strange jubilation, Katsuki had not made orders abruptly or impatiently as they had always been made since his palace had been built.

Alectrion was immeasurably puzzled at his master's lack of apathy and menace in his orders. But what dumbfounded him most was the silhouette of the smile that the god of war tried to hide under his right hand. The young squire had never seen his master so smiling and so full of joy.

It was strange, it was new, it was simply unthinkable. However, the young squire took a moment to appreciate the posture, the tranquility and the sympathy that the god was exuding in his aura and to think for a moment that his master, after so many eons, was happy. He smiled slightly.

"Alectrion" called the god of war.

The young squire was startled and as quickly as he could, he approached the pallet where his master was sitting.

"Do you need anything my lord?"

"Yes."

The god rose from his throne and slowly approached his protégé, with the same fierce and circumspect look he was known for.

By simple reflex, Alectrion had become nervous and felt himself breaking out in a cold sweat at the seriousness and imposingness his lord still maintained despite being with him almost all the time for at least a few millennia. Katsuki still maintained that intimidating, imposing and somber aura around him.

Katsuki reached the end of the planking and watched closely as his protégé averted his gaze and shivered slightly. He smiled half-sideways, though it almost always annoyed him that his protégé was such a chicken and sucker. He brought his face close to the young man's face. Alectrion felt his breath catch in panic as he saw the scarlet eyes gleam and his legs gave out slightly, he swallowed hard.

"I need you to help me pick out a dress suit for tonight," the god finally replied.

Alectrion had to process the request for a few moments and then stared at his master with a confused and almost surprised expression. His master never asked for help when it came to dressing, he never even asked for help with anything. It was simply an outlandish request and even more so if he asked for help from him, his protégé and servant.

"To what do I owe such an honor? My lord" he asked still quizzical.

"Today... is a particularly special night" he played it down "my father really does ask unheard of things of me, but today he has really gone overboard and I want to be presentable for dinner..."

"A dinner at All Might's palace?" Alectrion still remained quizzical about the god's attitude "Why aren't you wearing your usual armor, my lord? It has always suited you well at galas like that."

"As I keep telling you, tonight is a very special night and..." Katsuki thought about what he would say before continuing "today I want to please my father, so come and help me choose what I will wear, sheep's eyes."

Katsuki turned his back on him and started walking towards his quarters. Alectrion, still puzzled by his master's attitude, followed him closely. The young squire and protégé was dumbfounded by the change in the god's attitude. His master had never been obedient to All Might's requests, much less dressed correctly, and that night it seemed as if everything had changed.

And beyond that, he had overlooked the fact that his master had called him by name when he called him, yet he ignored it as he tried to help his master choose the outfit for that strange night.

**********************************************

Kendo as well as her sisters felt melancholy, decayed, almost withered. The aura of the marble and mother-of-pearl palace no longer brimmed with the lushness or joy that had awakened that morning, it was now filled with a heavy air of sadness and unease that ate away at the now dark walls.

The perfume of the gardens had dissipated like a blasé mist and the silence of the night seemed like a heavy veil hanging over the palace. Kendo felt faint and her sisters leaned on her, comforting each other in the face of that pervasive sense of sadness.

"How will he be?" wondered Carites worriedly.

"The same way we found him this afternoon."

"Don't be obnoxious, Aglaye" Kendo chided her gently "we're all worried about Izuku."

"What could have happened? I mean... he's never been so melancholy or..." Carites paused "I just hope we can comfort him."

"It's something that when the time is right, he'll tell us" Kendo replied as she gave her sister a sympathetic look "we can't pressure him to tell us what's going on, let's just be patient and let Izuku tell what he's feeling..."

"But if he doesn't?" questioned Aglaye.

"We have to respect his decision, Izuku trusts us, but even gods have the right to keep their secrets to themselves" Kendo answered him.

Aglaye nodded and inwardly prayed that her young master and dear friend would feel better about whatever ailed him.

However, that was far from the truth. For Izuku was alone in that gigantic bathtub, bathed with the most comforting water and the scents of valerian and lavender to soothe that pungent feeling that resided in his chest. His tears were still running down his cheeks, but they were hidden behind the water running down his face.

He felt finished, surrendered. His emerald eyes were bloodshot from crying so much, his body felt heavy, his heart hammered like a punch inside his chest damaging everything in its path and his smile had now turned into a disconsolate rictus.

Izuku felt terrible, unbalanced and almost inert in that huge bath that made him feel so small and so fragile. His mind recalled with too much vividness those words that Todoroki had confessed to him that same afternoon in his palace, as well as that sweet, passionate and marked kiss that Katsuki had left just that day.

His chest jumped with pain as he felt he couldn't decide in the face of those events. It was simply unfair.

«But life has never been fair, neither for humans, nor for gods» the green-haired god tried to console himself. He washed his face again with the water so that the tears on his face would disappear under that perfumed sea and he felt a bitter shudder stagger his nerves.

He still felt that he could not decide his destiny under that yoke of unusual coincidences. He did not wish to leave Katsuki behind, for he had never felt such fascination and adoration for that compelling feeling that was gnawing at his heart every time the god of war looked at him with his scarlet eyes. But there was the latent presence of Todoroki and Nemuri's words like a wave on a promontory, hitting him with panic and fear of the consequences if he did not fulfill the unexpected deal he had made with the goddess, if he did not accept the feelings and the nuptials with that god.

Izuku shrank back into his body and felt that he could not decide that night what his destiny was. He was afraid that his punishment would fall not only on him, but on his island and those he had left behind and loved dearly; but there was also that plethoric feeling that flooded him with something unknown, something that felt right, that was right, that was so special that he could not let go of Katsuki.

He did not know how long he spent in the bathtub, but when he wished to get out of it, his graces were waiting for him in his room with his clothes and some wine, smiling forcibly to hide the concern they felt for the god.

"Don't worry about me" commented the god trying to sound firm "I'll be fine."

None of the graces gave an answer.

"Leave me alone, please, my dear graces" the god kindly ordered.

The girls nodded deferentially and disappeared through the large door of the god's chambers. Seeing himself alone again, Izuku approached his robes with some misgivings.

A beautiful robe of almost translucent cloth as white and shimmering as the stars lay on his bed. It was beautiful, pristine and almost chimerical to look at. Its fabric was soft and at the same time shimmered like a starry night. The emerald-eyed one felt that that beautiful robe was being wasted in those moments and felt the urge to cry again rising up to his eyes.

He had to make a decision. He did not wish to hurt anyone, but whatever his answer was, it would force him to hurt someone.

******************************************

All Might's palace was once again full of joy and fun in those high walls of the throne room, for the unexpected banquet that his wife had organized that night was mind-blowing and so full of life that All Might felt like he was somewhere other than his palace.

The columns, plaster beams and some lintels were bathed in beautiful greenish vines accompanied by beautiful lilies, lilies and honeysuckle that wafted a virginal and intoxicating perfume around the gigantic room; the long tables were covered with fruity wines and sweets along with copious dishes of venison, veal and goose, as well as trays full of figs, peaches and grapes for the occasion; the Muses performed beautiful songs and plays of the most painful tragedies that occurred in Greece such as Oedipus Rex, Medea, the story of Pyramus and Thisbe, among others.

Yagi was merely surprised and at the same time displeased by how sumptuous and pompous the palace looked just to be such a rushed dinner. He didn't know what the intentions were or much less that intriguing announcement that Nemuri had been muttering and grumbling about all day, but if there was one thing he was sure of it was that good news was pressing, for the queen goddess was dressed in a beautiful purple silk robe with beautiful gold trim, her tiara of gold and peacock feathers, and she wore a smile from ear to ear.

«At least I am reassured that nothing is going to get out of hand tonight» mused the god king as he watched how much fun his sons were having.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the room, a group of gods were debating and betting on what would be the mysterious news that caused so much apprehension and haste in the queen mother.

"Someone must be pregnant," Mineta grumbled, "I'm one hundred percent sure."

"Don't be an idiot, Mineta" scolded Kaminari "if that were the case we would have found out by now and so far none of them has a bulging belly."

"Yes Mineta is an idiot, you follow his lead as an imbecile" Jirou retorted to her while drinking some wine "you don't necessarily have to have a bulging belly to conceive Or are you forgetting how Momo was born?"

Kaminari snorted in annoyance and fell silent at Jirou's words, which held no lies.

"There are only two choices" mused the ebony-haired young woman, wagging her glass.

Mineta and Kaminari kept their attention on the former goddess, who took a long drink from her glass and let out a gasp of relief at the sweet taste of the wine.

"And which is it?"

Jirou gave them a doubtful look and then her brow furrowed.

"Are they fucking kidding? So many years stuck in the Pantheon and you don't even know how the mother goddess gets with every piece of news."

"Fuck, we're not women to be hanging about unimportant things," the dark-haired blonde replied nonchalantly.

Jirou gave him a slap and squeezed him in a headlock to keep him at bay. The two kept in a tug-of-war where the messenger god could not escape before the superhuman strength of the lady-in-waiting, letting his head get the best of it while the dark-haired former goddess let out smoke from her ears.

"Stop it, Jirou! Stop, please!" the god pleaded with her, unable to wiggle out of the young woman's grip.

"Repent of what you said bird legs" Jirou regurgitated choleric Jirou unwavering in his grip.

Both gods kept fighting and arguing childishly until Hitoshi's firm grip pulled a furious Jirou away from a crying Kaminari, who hid behind Mineta to safeguard himself from the lady's fury.

"You shouldn't behave like a child, Jirou" commented Hitoshi as the young woman wriggled out of his grip "you are a lady and you should behave like one."

"Really, I don't care about your opinions, Sir I cause wet dreams for you to love me" replied venomously the young woman, as she groomed herself a bit.

"Uhg, that hurt me" whispered Mineta to Kaminari.

"Well, you should at least give your mistress an explanation."

"I don't owe explanations to..."

"Jirou."

Jirou turned to look at his mistress with annoyance. Uraraka was dressed splendidly in a silk robe and pastel pink embroidery, along with a tiara covered in silver and quartz, further emphasizing her hair and her brown eyes, which at that moment glittered with annoyance.

"What, now I can't be alone?"

"It is not proper for the lady-in-waiting to go wherever she pleases at official functions" Ochako replied sternly and subtly "neither is it proper for her to go around beating up her companions."

Jirou rolled her eyes.

"Neither do that kind of expressions" she accused her as she forced her to join next to Nejire "you should behave yourself and not embarrass me tonight."

Thus, Uraraka took Jirou who turned a single moment to make Kaminari see a fist hitting his other hand and then pointing at him.

"Charming" replied Hitoshi sarcastically.

"Aww, you don't say" replied in an almost laughing sigh Kaminari.

"I see you like getting beaten up, brother" Mineta commented slyly ", we see who loves to "take orders"."

Mineta laughed at his comment, only to get hit in the head with a gold cup and then fall fainting on top of the cushions that were laid out for him. Hitoshi looked at Kaminari who was holding his dented cup in his hands.

"I appreciate you shutting him up" commented Hitoshi sitting down at the table "with that he could have annoyed you all evening."

Kaminari nodded with empathy and then asked for wine to be poured again in his dented cup. The two gods began to converse and remained pleasant throughout the evening.

On the other hand, Uraraka met with Mina and Momo who had a table away from all the noise and scandal of that unexpected meeting, and, like all the gods and immortals present, they were talking about what would be that mysterious news that Nemuri awaited with so much suspicion.

"I suspect two options: some immortal she guards is getting married or she is going to show off a new gift father has given her" commented Momo.

"But as far as I know, father always gives gifts when he is sorry or when he is very happy" commented Mina "and from what I could asseverate with some palace mistresses, they have not argued, but they are not in roses either."

"Most likely it's a wedding" replied Uraraka confidently as she somberly sipped from her cup "Nemuri-san likes very much to gloat over her task as goddess of marriage."

"That's true."

Momo took a sip of wine and turned her gaze for a moment to the palace entrance, only to feel ecstatic and surprised with the new appearance of the palace. For Todoroki had entered as an apotheosis, dressed in royal blue formal robes that accentuated his hair and two-tone eyes, but nothing prepared her for that dazzling smile that framed his face.

"Wow Todoroki is looking very handsome and smiling today" commented Mina.

"Although it's very strange about him" continued Uraraka "he hardly ever dresses so formally."

"Yes, that's true. What do you think Momo?" questioned Mina.

The question made Momo realize that she was staring at the god in rapt attention.

"I'm sorry Mina, can you repeat the question?"

"When will you tell Todoroki that you drool over him?" the pink-haired goddess questioned him slyly.

"Mina!" scolded Uraraka while Momo turned red with embarrassment.

"Oh, please! Don't come at me with groping" grumbled the goddess of the hunt "she's been in love with him for almost a millennium and you don't plan to tell him how you feel?"

"It's not in our jurisdiction, they're the ones who are supposed to give rise to that" replied Uraraka looking with reproachful eyes at Mina "we're just supposed to wait for that..."

"Uraraka, you are a bit old fashioned do you really think Todoroki will have enough head to realize that Momo dies for him?" she questioned and continued before Uraraka could answer "they have been at least eight centuries without knowing, it is time now for Momo to face her feelings and present them to Todoroki."

"Don't talk about my feelings as if I'm not there" chided the goddess of intelligence "I'm right next to you."

"Well, then what are you listening to us, have courage" urged Mina

.

Mina pushed Momo, trying to encourage her to confess to the distant god and she could finally get that chance she so longed for. However, Momo felt petrified.

"How do you think I'll do that?" chided Momo to Mina as she paused.

"I don't know, you're the goddess of wisdom, you'll know how to figure it out."

Uraraka watched intently and held back her laughter at the childishness of the situation in which Mina and Momo were involved. The pink-haired one pushed the black-haired one while she stopped her with her warrior strength from going to where the god of the forge was.

But when she stopped laughing, she could see another silhouette looming at the entrance of the palace. Imposing, sweeping, intimidating. Though Uraraka felt his chest sting and his legs faltered at the sight.

Katsuki had crossed the great threshold of the palace, dressed in a toga that reached above his knees and a long blood-colored cloak that accentuated the golden skin of the god of war, leaving in sight all that warrior musculature with which he was endowed and an inexplicable gleam in his eyes that made him look mischievous and seductive.

Some companions looked sidelong and with good desire at the newcomer god, who emulated a seductive and confident smile as he approached the main table to pay obeisance to the kings.

Uraraka felt faint, her chest felt choked, her legs trembled, a delicious electric current ran through her body and she felt her face flush with desire. Katsuki looked so different, seductive, virile and so imposing that she felt like taking him away and lying with him on the nearest bed.

"That's Bakugou?"

"Yes" whispered Uraraka quietly.

"I've never seen that cloak on him before" commented Momo watching her brother and rival closely.

"He doesn't like to wear anything other than that dented, black armor" replied Mina "though the cape doesn't look bad on him."

"Yeah, look at the effects it causes" Momo pointed her head at Uraraka.

Mina watched as the young chestnut girl was mesmerized and blushed by the presence of the god of war. And although in a way she felt sorry because still Ochako didn't surpass Katsuki, she let the situation pass.

"My, but what a change my son!" exclaimed Yagi, reaching down and hugging his boy.

Katsuki unexpectedly felt awkward at first, but then took courage and hugged his father back. Yagi was momentarily surprised at how well his affection was received, but he played it down and squeezed his son tighter. They separated a little and Yagi's blue eyes looked into Katsuki's scarlet eyes. The god king could notice the distinct and vivid glow his son wore. A glow he knew perfectly.

Yagi patted his son with camaraderie and had him bring him a glass of wine. He didn't want to meddle in Katsuki's life, but he was glad that he could finally see that unfamiliar veil on his son and felt happy.

Todoroki watched cautiously from his post, for his mother had been incisive that he should keep to his father's right hand while waiting for Izuku's presence. He was impatient. He wished to see him. But he had to be patient, for that decision had never been easy for anyone.

"Stop fidgeting" his mother subtly scolded him as he was about to eat from a custard "you look like a hare in heat."

"I'm nervous, don't blame me for not knowing what's going to happen" replied the two-eyed one.

"Bullshit," replied the queen, "eat something, see if it will take away that anxiety you have.""I don't want to eat anything, thank you."

Nemuri had never liked that rude and ungraceful way of speaking. She was about to complain to her son, until he made a surprised gesture that made her turn around too.

There, on the threshold of the palace, stood Izuku, dressed in that robe that shone every time the glow of the torches touched him, like an opaque veil that covered his nakedness with stars, along with a crown of coral-colored roses that highlighted his emerald eyes and greenish hair. He looked like an almost titanic presence out of his own world.

Everyone was stunned by the cadence, the sensuality, the serenity and the delicious perfume that Izuku exuded in that slow and sinuous walk. Some began to gossip and others wished to accompany the young god. However, a garrison of gods approached to try to ask for his hand.

"Izuku, good evening" deigned Hitoshi "I hope you can join me at my table this evening, I can tell you of the latest dreams I have made."

"Thank you, Hitoshi, but I..."

"Oh sure, your dreams are boring, Izuku" commented Kaminari closely "you'd better join me, so I'll tell you about some places we could meet."

"Albeit with decadent company" commented Hitoshi pungency.

"Yes, thank you very much, but I don't..."

"Oh, Izuku, how lovely it looks tonight" Aoyama approached gallantly, taking his hand and kissing it tenderly "it looks like the beautiful Aliakmon River, bathed by the stars and endowed with long beauty."

Izuku, embarrassed, looked away and blushed. Katsuki and Todoroki felt from their stomachs how the dragon of jealousy woke up from its ephemeral lethargy.

"Get off him, you nymph predator," Kaminari scolded him.

"Oh, don't you come on, chicken feet" the blond rebuked him "you know you don't stand a chance with how goofy you are."

"And who dictates that? you? a god who chases nymphs just to get you between their legs?" scolded Denki venomously.

"Don't tempt me to hit you."

"Let's see who wins in this idiot fight" continued Shinsou.

"Do you want to join the fight?" questioned Aoyama menacingly.

Izuku found himself in the middle of a rather compromising situation, he didn't know what to do. He wanted to flee from the palace, but if he did so he would be condemned to Nemuri and would lose his title of god and his punishment could affect his whole island, and he did not want that. More and more the gods were getting closer and he found himself in the middle of the possible fight.

Katsuki and Todoroki were alarmed. They both gave a hint of moving quickly to save Izuku when they saw the fists of the gods rising and Izuku kneeling on the ground covering his head.

"Enough!" shouted a choleric, commanding voice.

As if stopped by an unknown force, the three fists of the gods stopped in mid-air, while in the middle of it all stood a trembling Izuku. Nemuri watched from his post all the ridiculousness that those gods were sponsoring, her right hand made her fingertips glow with a cerulean energy and her eyes shone with anger.

Neither Katsuki nor Todoroki moved and looked at their mother as she approached the heart of the matter. The silence was hissing and Kaminari wished to be swallowed up by the earth at the queen's steps towards the scene.

When Nemuri found herself next to Izuku, she gave a sharp gesture that released the fists of the gods and pushed them back.

"What did you intend by doing such stupidity?" the goddess questioned sternly as she grabbed Izuku's shoulders and hastily stroked the greenish strands of Izuku's hair.

"My queen..." tried to speak Kaminari.

"Shut up or I'll hex your tongue."

Kaminari became livid and kept silent. Hitoshi and Aoyama kept themselves at bay while avoiding looking into Nemuri's fire-filled eyes.

"You think it's fun to settle your arguments here? At a soiree instead of a bloody battlefield?" she scolded with venom "You have no honor, you have no respect for your father's palace, you have no respect for the home we've given you, you have no respect even for Izuku who found himself in the middle of all this."

"My lady..." tried to speak Shinsou.

"Shut up."

Nemuri was fuming with anger as she lifted Izuku up and examined him closely.

"Are you all right, Izuku?"

"Yes, your majesty, thank you."

"Please, I ask you not to lie to me," she told him in a motherly voice.

"I do not, your majesty."

Nemuri made Izuku look into her dark eyes and wished for a moment that the emerald-eyed brat had drowned in the sea he was born from.

"Alright, but you will stay by my side all night" she dictated.

Izuku accepted without any problem, nodding slightly.

"You on the other hand, deserve punishment" she looked fiercely at the three gods involved.

"But my queen..." spoke Aoyama.

With a gesture the queen filled her fingers with energy and bewitched Aoyama's tongue by sticking it to the roof of his mouth. Aoyama babbled without being able to stop himself, so he kept quiet while his accomplices tried not to burst out laughing.

"And the same will happen to you two if you don't go to your table now" dictated the queen as she escorted Izuku to the table.

Thus the gods withdrew without another word and, with a baleful look from the goddess, the muses returned to fill the guests with music and theatrics as the servants served more food and wine.

Katsuki, distressed, approached Izuku with a parsimonious step without noticing the suspicious two-colored look Todoroki was giving him from his place.

"Are you all right? Izuku" Katsuki questioned him worriedly.

Izuku nodded with his head down, he didn't want to look Katsuki in the eyes at that moment without feeling that he was betraying him. His heart was heavy and his stomach was churning.

"Izuku, please" urged the god subtly.

"Izuku already gave you an answer, dear," Nemuri cut him off.

"But I need to listen to him" asserted the god of war unwilling to argue with his mother.

However, they both stared at each other, Katsuki not wanting to back down and Nemuri feeling that her son was meddling too much in her things.

"I'm fine, Katsuki" Izuku replied faintly without looking at him "you don't have to worry."

In disbelief, Katsuki tried to speak again, but his mother stepped forward and led Izuku away from him. He tried to follow. However, he was stopped by his father.

"What are you doing old man?"

"I can't let you go to the table, Katsuki" Yagi answered regretfully.

"Why not?"

"Nemuri is sulking and I'm sure she must be pissed off right now, even if you can't tell" replied the god king staring into his son's eyes "I know you're worried, I can see that, but the last thing I want right now is for the night to go sour for everyone because of a whim of Nemuri."

Katsuki said nothing, he looked over his father's shoulders and watched as Todoroki approached Izuku, touching his bare shoulders and staring into his emerald eyes. He felt his blood burn just watching that half-half-fuck touch Izuku, his fists tightened and he let out a guttural growl unconsciously.

Yagi watched as Katsuki's eyes flashed in anger, but before he could question him he turned away from him until he was lost among the tables of guests.

Izuku for his part watched as Katsuki walked away and felt a gigantic regret in his heart with every step the god of war took. Not to mention that he also felt that he couldn't walk away from him.

All evening Izuku was well attended by Midnight's servants, as well as by the attentions of Todoroki who did not stop telling him stories, asking him about certain things and bringing up certain jokes that made him forget for a moment the great sorrow that Izuku carried deep inside him. Being watched from afar by the attentive and jealous gaze of the god of war who was becoming more and more irascible and taciturn than usual.

Why did he let the cursed half-half stand by his side? Why did he let him brush his hand? Why did he laugh at his jokes? Had everything they both felt in the reservoir meant nothing? Was it all a cruel lie? The god of war wondered fiercely as he felt the fire of anger consuming him, but he was going to keep his unspoken word not to disturb his father's night.

He felt the cushions sink beside him and was about to shout at whoever dared to disturb him. But Uraraka's brown eyes looked at him pleadingly, without giving him time to reply.

"Katsuki," Ochako greeted.

"O-Ochako" stuttered the war god uncomfortably.

"Anything in particular to wear the cloak?" questioned the chestnut as if it was anything.

"Yes, a particular situation..." replied Katsuki sipping some wine and watching as Todoroki moved closer to Izuku "one that you shouldn't care about."

"Well it should, because, as far as I remember, I was the one who gave you that beautiful cloak you're wearing" said Uraraka looking at Katsuki's chiseled profile "and from the looks of it, I wasn't wrong in thinking it would fit you like a glove."

"What do you want Ochako?" asked Katsuki without hesitation.

"Me want something? You really offend me Katsuki" she said amused as she subtly approached the god of war "so many years of companionship and yet you are ignorant of many things about me."

"You know what I'm talking about, Ochako" he replied less sullenly, looking directly into his friend's brown eyes "I have given you an answer and I truly do not wish to hurt you any more than I know I am hurting you."

Ochako was enveloped by those scarlet eyes and felt her stomach shrink. She knew she couldn't make the god of war fall in love, despite being aware of his cadence and divine loveliness. She opened her mouth trying to say something, but stopped and then closed it.

"Katsuki..." she whispered pleadingly.

"Ochako, I... I wouldn't want to..."

"Look at me, Katsuki" she said taking Katsuki's chiseled face between her delicate hands and forcing him to look at her "I know I'm not what you expected, I know I'm not what you expect, that your eyes look at me in other lights..."

"Ochako..." the god of war tried to interrupt gloomily.

"Perhaps, I am not what you expect, but look me in the eyes" she continued forcing Katsuki to fix his scarlet eyes on her and moving closer, feeling the warm breath of the god "I know who you are, I know who you wish to be, I know of your efforts, I know of your hardships, I know of your intangible pains. And here, at this very moment, I promise, if you take me, I will warm your bed so that you will not find it cold, I will fill your palace with warmth so that you will not find it lonely and cold, I will acclimatize your anguish with my understanding and my affection."
They both remained silent, Katsuki avoiding Ochako's brown gaze and Ochako feeling her heart pounding incessantly in her chest."I only wish for that chance, Katsuki " Ochako caressed her cheeks with cadence and love "you may not love me, nor want me, but I wish to please you in everything I know you long for."

Katsuki felt his chest ache and his stomach shrink in his abdomen. He couldn't deal with it. He didn't want to carry the pain he was going to cause to his friend, he didn't want to disappoint that love so devoted and so cadent. However, his heart was asking him so strongly to tell the truth, that his heart was already taken.

"Ochako, please don't..." he tried again to say.

However, Uraraka did not plan to receive a refusal as an answer. So she did something she never thought she would do. An impulse as desperate as it was passionate. She threw her face towards Katsuki's, bringing their lips together in a chaste kiss, feeling her feet tingle and her mouth taste like glory.

On the other hand, Katsuki was surprised and opened his eyes like saucers at the unexpected kiss. With some abruptness he broke that contact and looked at Ochako's blushing face. However, her face turned to one place. And there they were.

Droopy and dull, Izuku's eyes looked straight, disconsolate and grief-stricken, at the whole situation Katsuki had been involved in. He had seen it all, the cadence-filled caresses, the devotion of the goddess of the hearth in her eyes, the desperation of her desire as she kissed him. All that came crashing down on him like a bucket of ice water.

His heart pounded in his chest so hard and hard it hurt, he felt a shudder run through him all the way to his feet and he was thankful he was sitting up, his throat was choking and he felt the tears might come at any moment.

«How could I have stooped so low?» the god blamed himself «How could I have trusted his word? Trusted that he would really love me? Did I really believe him at all?».

He turned his gaze to Todoroki, who was eating a piece of beef and changed his countenance as he saw the eyes glistening with tears of the god of love.

"Izuku, what's wrong?" he asked worriedly.

"It's nothing" replied the god with a forced smile.

Todoroki was about to object to his behavior. He stopped though when he felt Izuku's slender, thin and soft hand take his, rough and scarred.

"Shoto" Izuku stepped closer and looked into the god's bi-colored eyes "I have an answer for your proposal."

Todoroki felt his soul fall to his feet and the saliva thickened between his lips. He could not help but sense that something bad was going to happen, a refusal, a belittlement. Though he should be used to it, he didn't want Izuku to reject him.

"Be totally honest with..."

"Yes."

Todoroki for a moment looked into the emerald eyes and in them he saw a decision so overwhelming and so recalcitrant, that just hearing the answer made him have an electric tingle that made him smile.

"You're telling me..." the god tried to say, excitement bubbling up from his stomach.

"Yes, Shoto. I agree to marry you."

Todoroki was overcome with emotion and felt his stomach shrink. He gave a jump and then a shout of joy that made everyone stop and look at him. Just at the moment Nemuri looked at his housekeeper and the housekeeper began to give orders to refill the cups of all the gods and raise his own.

Nemuri had heard everything and her witch's intuition had premeditated Izuku's answer. She knew that the little boy would be more afraid of punishment than of losing the sordid love he felt for his son.

The goddess watched from the corner of her eye as Katsuki approached her table, determined and with eyes full of regret.

"Oh no, you're not going to spoil my plan."

Nemuri stood up from his chair and cleared his throat a little so that all the guests looked at him, thus stopping Katsuki from the unexpected wave of guests.

"Dear sons and immortals, muses and all who dwell in the Pantheon" began Midnight with a cheerful smile "thank you all for coming before this unexpected soiree, which was indeed organized at the last minute. But I couldn't be overjoyed at the news that I was notified very recently and of which I had to make this soiree."

Out of the corner of her eye, Nemuri noticed that Katsuki did not stop and was approaching her table even faster.

"I can't burst with happiness at the news and, although it is very recent, it is one of the few that causes me much joy" continued the queen "and that it is of my great honor to announce to you that I will be preparing a wedding."

Yagi looked attentively at his wife while a grimace of confusion permeated his face.

"The wedding between my son Shoto and Izuku" she finally said and watched as many gods were speechless.

Katsuki stopped in his tracks, listening to that announcement. Izuku was going to get married? The god he loved and to whom he felt devotion was going to contract nuptials? With the damned half-half? His chest felt to fall to his feet and his mouth went dry immediately, observing the beautiful and harmonious silhouette of Izuku next to Todoroki.

«Please let it be a lie» he pleaded inwardly, feeling a leaden weight fall on him and his chest ache like a thousand demons «By glorious Zeus, let it be a vile prank by my mother.»

"Recently, Izuku accepted his proposal" Nemuri continued "and I truly could not be overwhelmed with happiness, and so today I announce his engagement so that like me, we all enjoy the happiness of future spouses."

The queen raised her glass and those present, in disbelief, raised their glasses in the same way.

"To Shoto and Izuku" the queen toasted.

The gods replied in a rather blasé chorus and drank.

Katsuki felt that it was all a lie, for Izuku was not beaming with happiness, he was forcing a smile and his emerald eyes did not have that beautiful glow that only he had when he was happy. That glowing look of happiness he had when he looked into his eyes and told her everything that resided in his chest.

"Look at me" whispered the god of war into the air "please look at me and I'll know it's not true."

And though Izuku heard that pleading and desolate call, he did not turn his eyes to that heavy, piercing scarlet gaze. His heart still ached, his eyes still subtly glimpsed his desire to cry, his chest still hammered with sorrow. He never thought that this, so beautiful, so true, so life-giving, would make his body and soul ache so much.

"Anything to say, dear Izuku?" questioned the queen mother.

Izuku woke up and felt the pressure of all eyes in the palace. However, he smiled so radiantly that the subtle hint of pain was only seen by those who really knew him, like Yagi and Katsuki.

"I'm..." he paused not knowing what to say "I wouldn't know how to tell you all this torrent of feelings I have, but, if there's one thing I'm sure of, it's that Shoto, well, Todoroki wants to make me happy."

His emerald eyes sparkled and he stared at an excited, anxious and happy Shoto, who was overwhelmed with happiness.

"And I hope I can make him happy too."

Katsuki felt as if a dagger was being thrust into his chest, bile was rising in his throat and his body weighed a ton. His chest was hammering like a red-hot hammer and he felt his soul falling at his feet. Izuku was going to marry the half-half.

He felt a terrible urge to scream at the sky, clenched his fists and felt a feeling, dense and overwhelming, roll over him like a rock. He felt his eyes sting and the air grow heavier, almost forcing him to gasp.

He could not. He could not look at it.

His body by inertia forced him to leave the place, at a fast pace. Pushing those who were in his way. Until he reached the confines of the garden of the great palace, feeling the cold breeze of the night and watching the bright moon above the gloomy mantle.

He felt that he could not breathe, that his heart was shrinking, that the urge to scream was growing. This was the deadliest pain he had ever felt. Not even scars or war wounds compared to that pain, recalcitrant, latent and alive inside him.

He closed his eyes and swallowed hard, letting the tears fall down his cheeks and air all the sadness and betrayal that was eating away at them. Until he heard far beyond a pitiful, disconsolate cry.

His scarlet eyes opened and gazed into the distance as Momo, bawling and hiccuping, drowned in a sea of tears and sobs that stopped when her dark eyes looked up at him.

In silence the rival brothers looked at each other, united by the disconsolation of love and the sadness of that war they lost. Katsuki looking at Momo's fine face bathed in tears and Momo seeing his brother's visceral grief.

"I'm sorry, Momo" he said before turning his course to leave the pantheon.

Momo was surprised at her brother's sincere words and before he could leave, she followed him closely and made him stop.

"And I..." she started unsure what to say, seeing her brother's broad back "I'm sorry about Izuku."

Katsuki smiled half-heartedly, thankful that she couldn't see the tears streaming down his face.

"It was doomed to be impossible" the god commented, managing to keep his voice from cracking "I am a god who creates chaos, sadness and heartbreak, and he sought happiness. That is something I can't give him and I know the half-half cursed one will."

A silence surrounded them both, before Katsuki continued:

"I just wish he could be happy."

And with that last, Katsuki left the palace. Leaving behind his sister and leaving a trace of pain with every step he took.

That night, while in the palace people thanked, cheered and enjoyed the engagement between the god of forging and the god of love, no one heard the pitiful sobs, the cries of rage and the chaos that reigned in the palace of the god of war that almost destroyed all its grounds.

Chapter Text

From his place he could look at the beautiful sky glimpsed in the high windows, feel the summer breeze that came in and made the fine curtains sway, listen to the sound of the birds singing around the garden, and appreciate the unscathed peace that always remained in the palace. But in those moments what the god of love felt least of all was peace.

He was still reclining on the fine linens of his bed. His emerald eyes were bathed in dark circles under his eyes, his greenish hair had paled like leaves in autumn and his complexion was increasingly livid. Izuku looked like the spitting image of disaster. He still could not shake off the pain and burning sadness that had accompanied him during the last lunar cycle.

He knew he had made a decision. He knew the consequences it would bring. But why did it hurt so much? Why did it make him feel so miserable? Why couldn't he stop dreaming of scarlet eyes and ashen hair? Why was it so hard to forget Katsuki?

Since that night when he accepted Todoroki's nuptial proposal, All Might and Midnight, in charity of god kings and divine tutors of Izuku, decided to follow the traditions of marriage that had been conceived since time immemorial. Todoroki was to go home and feast with his near and dear ones on the farewell of his bachelorhood; while Izuku, in charity of a bridegroom, was to reside in the palace of All Might and Midnight until the celebration of the fallow deer in the spring.

Nemuri had been so happy and beaming about the wedding to be held that she almost begged Izuku to let her arrange his wedding. To which Izuku agreed, as he was not sure how to organize a wedding, let alone had the courage to face the situation. Thanks to this, the god of love spent most of the day locked up in the room that his father had arranged for him in the palace, barely going out to eat and to take the occasional walk in the garden to try to clear his busy mind.

Izuku was still in shock from all that was going on around him. The joy of the odes, of Nemuri, of his father and the joy of the immortals at their wedding was almost as unusual as it was disturbing to him. The simple fact that the odes would not let his graces accompany him in his nuptial process had him uneasy, plus he had the slight feeling that he was constantly being watched by that same servitude, thanks to that he did not talk almost much to the servitude there.

But what afflicted him most was that immovable feeling of guilt that always lingered in his heart. It felt like a hard throbbing that gnawed through every muscle in his body and overwhelmed him with an intrinsic pain that he could neither access nor confront. It was like a dark being living inside him that he could neither beat nor dwarf.

He got out of bed without much strength and rubbed both hands over his face. He wanted to take a hot bath in order to dissipate the feeling that was eating away at him.The god of love tried not to think or ask questions about Katsuki. He had listened attentively to the rumors of what had happened the night he accepted Shoto's proposal, the chaos that reigned in the god's palace and how he had disappeared without a trace.

From the little he could hear of those rumors that the Odas loved to whisper in the corridors, was that no one knew the whereabouts of the god and that the outburst of anger so unusual was due to matters of love that no one understood. And that had only made Izuku feel even more guilty about his actions.

"Oda."

Oda appeared quickly, bowing briefly to the god.

"Can you fill my therma with hot water please?"

"Gladly my lord," Oda replied before disappearing out the door.

Izuku, for his part, got out of bed and walked over to the small private terrace he had and could see the view overlooking the back garden of the palace, where beautiful wild peacocks and albino peacocks roamed freely, pecking and squawking next to the large rose, poplar and olive trees that lined the stone paths. He would have thought it beautiful, had it not been for all the thoughts that plagued him in those moments.

«you must learn to accept decisions Izuku, you knew the consequences you were going to bring» whatever path you chose the emerald-eyed one chided himself internally, feeling the summer breeze fill the wind with the wild perfumes of the garden and suddenly feeling disgusted by the sweet smell of roses. He rushed into the room again and lay down on his bed next to the boar skins.

"Where will you be now, Katsuki?" he whispered into the air.

Then he remembered the spicy scent that fizzled, the strength and sullenness of her hands that ran over him so gently, her voice deep as a bell in his dreams, the ruby eyes that sparkled. And before he could continue to list all that about Katsuki, his eyes closed and he let the darkness of his dreams fill with sweet te amos and glowing crimson eyes.

*******************************************************************

Todoroki felt euphoric and at the same time joyful for all the good things that were happening to him. Not only was he getting married, which already seemed like a totally impossible dream, but he was marrying one of the most beautiful creatures that ever existed in all of Olympus. And to say he was happy was a simple understatement for the great explosion and excitement he felt inside.

As part of the festivities before the nuptials, the future husband to leave behind his bachelorhood offered a party that lasted three or four days, where they drank, ate and celebrated with great joy the upcoming marriage.

Shoto had received many congratulations from many immortals, as well as from some gods who wished him well for his marriage and many kisses from the garrison that Aoyama had brought to the party, being well attended by young people with beautiful heads and delirious movements who kept filling his glass of wine and cynically flirting with his darkest passions.

Shoto, in spite of feeling good for those attentions, was self-conscious because he had no idea how to let himself be carried away by so many touches and so many words full of dark desires. His face was blushing and he let out a nervous laugh as he drank.

"Don't be so shy, Todoroki" Aoyama replied slyly "the last thing my young people do is bite, unless you ask them to."

"Yeah man, let yourself go" Shinsou inquired him as an alabaster skinned young man left a trail of kisses from neck to collarbone.

"Fuck guys, I don't want that" replied the young man stopping a young woman who tried to touch him "I'm still single, but I don't want to disrespect Izuku."

"Oh please Todoroki!" exclaimed Aoyama "you're at your end of bachelorhood party, you should drink, eat and fuck like you'll never do it again in your life."

"Don't say never, Aoyama" rushed Shinsou "he'll have someone warming his bed and waiting for him every night under the covers so he can scream his name."

"That's right."

"Hell boys, shut the fuck up, you're talking about my future husband."

"But if it's the truth, Todoroki, you're going to have him all to yourself and fuck him like the stud you are" Aoyama piped up with a malevolent glint in his eyes.

Shoto blushed and drank some wine, trying to hide the embarrassment he felt for not having any experience in what pleasures of the flesh were concerned. Aoyama smiled briefly.

"Or haven't you had those experiences?"

Todoroki spat out the wine before he could stop himself. Aoyama grinned in a catlike manner, while Shinsou looked at the god of wine and pleasures dismissively. Todoroki wiped his mouth and eyed the blond god warily.

"What's with that kind of question?"

"I don't know, almost every time we talk about these subjects with each other there's always a story" Aoyama replied innocently "but, as far as I remember, I've never heard you tell such a story."

Todoroki gave Aoyama a withering look and Aoyama just took a sip of his wine. He felt the weight of those stares around him and could only feel embarrassed. He kept silent.

"So am I right?" continued Aoyama questioning.

"Aoyama, stop it" Shinsou warned him.

"What? It's just a simple question."

Shinsou gave him a warning look and Aoyama just ignored him. A cold tension began to grow among the gods present, and even the companions began to feel uncomfortable. Todoroki was staring at Aoyama, while he was hastily caressing the thighs of a young woman and kissing a young man on the lips. Shinsou, despite never getting into such situations, felt the need to speak up.

"Don't think I'm an expert" he said to Todoroki and the bi-colored eyes focused on him "I have my experiences, but that doesn't mean I wasn't a naive idiot who believed babies came from trees."

Shinsou laughed and Todoroki paid even more attention to him.

"When I had my first time it was horrible, quite uncomfortable really" Shinsou began to relate calmly "it was a few millennia ago and I had just begun to descend into the mortal world. I was traveling through one of those dense forests where nymphs hide and in a stream I saw him, a beautiful young man. He was bathing in the waters of a clearing and he had a perfect harmony of body, he had such big eyes and a face that made me fall for him at once."

Shinsou laughed and Todoroki smiled for feeling that same sensation that the god described with Izuku.

"I stalked him for a few days, in the same clearing and with a good helping hand" he joked unscrupulously and everyone laughed "Until he found out I was stalking him. However, he didn't turn me down and I couldn't resist wanting to fuck him. He was a delight, but my inexperience and my urges only caused me to not prepare him, to go too fast and hurt us both."

"You never told me that before, Shinsou," Aoyama replied.

"We all have rights to keep some stories to ourselves" replied Todoroki calmly.

"That's right."

Aoyama didn't want to comment any more and continued drinking.

"Still there is no shame in not having experience, no one is born knowing everything" replied Shinsou calmly.

Todoroki didn't feel judged, but he still felt that his lack of experience embarrassed him in many ways.

"What do you think...?" he wanted to ask, but stopped himself.

"What thing, Todoroki?"

"No, nothing."

"If you need advice," Shinsou inquired benevolently, "don't be afraid to ask."

Todoroki nodded.

"You guys are boring indeed" complained Aoyama.

The god of wine stood up and fixed his pine crown, then took his companions and disappeared from the sight of the gods. Todoroki insisted to his companions that they cheer their master with the best they knew how to do, so without any regard the young men who attended him went after their master. Only Shinsou, the boy who kissed him and Todoroki remained.

"Aoyama is sometimes a jerk, don't worry about him" started Shinsou calmly "he thinks that because he is the life of the party he has the right to judge you."

"Never mind, I've lived long enough to let his recklessness slide."

"Although I don't know if you can answer that question he asked you, I'm curious" Shinsou said cautiously "but you have the right not to answer me."

Todoroki remained silent and then took a big gulp from his cup. His two-colored eyes fixed on the violet ones of the god of dreams and he confessed:

"I have had no experiences of any kind."

Shinsou looked at him sympathetically and nodded. Todoroki did not feel that Shinsou was judging him, but sought to help him. So the purple-haired god put aside his glass of wine and whispered some sweet words in the young man's ear. This young man, with a harmonious body, brown hair and green eyes looked around at the two-colored-eyed god and then at Shinsou. He smiled playfully and nodded meekly.

"Well I'll give you some practical advice that might help you" replied the god calmly.

Todoroki at first had not understood anything. However, Shinsou gave him no time to make up his mind and forced him to follow him closely, taking him by the arm and dragging him along while the oak-haired young man smiled in a marooned manner at both gods. They crossed the great sea of people who were already beginning to get drunk, the immortals playfully chasing escorts and the off-key singing to engulf each other in the plaintive silence of the palace corridors.
Todoroki, unresisting and confused by what Shinsou was doing, let himself be guided to his room. A large space that had an austere and calm air. Shinsou closed the door with magic so that no one could disturb them.

"What do you plan to do?" the two-eyed one questioned with a raised eyebrow.

"Just veil it as a favor from one brother to another" Shinsou replied calmly hugging him by one of his shoulders and sitting him on a seat near his bed "you'll thank me at some point."

Todoroki, despite feeling confused and a little wary of what the god was going to do, remained calm in his seat under Shinsou's watchful purple gaze. Only when the god of sleep was sure that Todoroki would not run away, he approached the young man flirtatiously.

Todoroki watched the movements of both of them attentively. Shinsou walked until the emerald-eyed youth had his back to him, watching Todoroki intently, only to begin hungrily and slowly kissing the young man's neck, running his hands down the thin fabric that barely covered the young man's nakedness. The boy's gasps were not long in coming, as Shinsou's hands moved down to his member, which was beginning to be aroused by the god's demanding touches and by the wet kisses he left on his neck.

Todoroki for a moment opened his eyes in surprise, embarrassed and at the same time shocked by what he was witnessing. But in the same instant that Shinsou looked at him without stopping touching the young man, he knew why he had taken him to his room.

Shinsou undid the small knot that covered the young man's nakedness and left the young man's body in full view, his slender torso, the shapely legs and the semi-erect member covered by a fine brown hair. Todoroki could not help but run his eyes over the young man's slender body, both of which glowed with repressed desire and he felt excitement run through his blood like a lit fuse.

Shinsou continued to touch the young man expertly, squeezing a pink nipple with one of his hands and beginning to masturbate him with the other with chaotic slowness. The emerald-eyed boy was boiling with pleasure in the god's arms, as he felt the thick currents of pleasure blinding his eyes and hardening little by little.

Todoroki's two-colored gaze could not tear away from the scene. Although inside he felt a shuddering embarrassment, his arousal and a morbid desire to keep watching kept him captive to the situation happening in front of his eyes. He felt his body heating up and his member hardening incredibly fast.

Shinsou smiled cattily as he watched Todoroki not take his eyes off what he was doing. He ran his hand perniciously slowly over the young man's slender abdomen and freckled chest until he closed it around his neck with a bearable force that made the young man moan deliciously.

"You see how you have to treat Izuku, brother?" whispered Shinsou slowly and heavily "at the most erogenous points of his body, so that he may be pleased."

Todoroki said nothing. He swallowed hard, unable to avoid the weight of the glances that Shinsou and the excited young man were dedicating to him.

"Come closer," Shinsou offered Todoroki.

Shoto felt his nerves explode in his stomach and his blushes rise to his cheekbones. Shinsou laughed at the naivety in the forge god's expression.

"You don't have to be shy with us" expressed the god slyly "come closer."

Unsure, Todoroki got up from his seat and slowly approached the lovers. Shinsou didn't stop masturbating the young man, who was still bouncing in the arms of the god of dreams. When he was face to face with the emerald-eyed young man, he saw up close his face bathed in a slight blush that made him look more desirable, his lips reddened to silence his moans, his member hardened and his glans moistened by the excitement.

"My lord, please" he whispered desirously to the young man as he looked closely at Shoto's face "touch me."

The god of the forge felt that entreaty like a forbidden sweet. His mind wandered for a moment in Izuku's smile, in his face, in his emerald eyes.

"Please" urged the young man, touching her face with one of his hands and moving closer to feel the warmth of his breath.

Todoroki felt his member throbbing with desire and his hands tingling with the irrepressible, burning desire to touch the young man's body. But his love for Izuku stopped him in those moments, that innocent love and flashing love that convulsed his soul.

"My lord" gasped the young man as Shinsou ran a naughty finger along the opening of his buttocks.

"Will you leave the young man lusting?" playfully questioned Shinsou.

Todoroki opened his mouth to try to say something, but no sound came from his throat. However, he let out an animalistic growl as a mischievous hand ran all over his hardness and squeezed with sweet strength on his glans. He felt for a moment the desire go to his head.

That was when he threw his hungry mouth over the young man's, lusting after the winey taste of his lips and the softness of his thin lips. The young man's hand continued to squeeze Todoroki's member with sweet pleasure and began to pump him patiently and morbidly. Shinsou for his part began to leave kisses down the young man's fine back until he knelt in front of the pale buttocks of his companion.

The young man realizing Shinsou's intentions, forced himself to bend down to Todoroki's body, breaking the kiss and lowering himself until he had in sight that piece of cloth lifted by the god's member. He raised his eyes for a moment and observed the god's repressed craving, which made him smile and undo the knot that covered the god's nakedness. His eyes glistened at the sight of that massive hunk of flesh, with a long path of veins running down his long, thick phallus until it ended in a moistened strawberry head.

That young man could not have been more eager to taste that member, his eyes shining with excitement and his mouth watering.

He felt the dream god's tongue run over his entrance like a rush that gave him an impulse to engulf the forge god's member. Todoroki couldn't help but moan gutturally as he felt the warmth of the mouth running over his member, an almost abysmal electricity tingled his body and his darkest urges came to the surface.

Shinsou as he watched as his brother fucked the young man's mouth, only to inwardly rejoice that his plan was taking effect on his brother and that by the end of this most morbid session, their entire marriage would be in ruins.

******************************************************************************

Izuku jerked up in his bed, panting between the sheets and feeling his heart hammering hard in his chest. He had dreamed of Katsuki again. But this time it was an angry Katsuki, a cruel Katsuki, A Katsuki who was chasing him to murder him.

By the time he had realized it, the sunset was already beginning its descent across the sky, leaving a bath of oranges and pinks on the celestial edges. He had slept too much and was surely too late for the Proaulia he was to make before his marriage.

With an anxious quickness, the young god got out of bed and approached the bathtub he had ordered to be filled that very morning. Although the water was almost cold, he was able to plunge in and soak his skin in the scents of sandalwood and lavender, while he looked for something to dry himself with.

"What's the hurry?" questioned a voice.

Izuku was startled and immediately covered herself with the long blankets of her bed, only to see the sparkling eyes and graceful demeanor of Nemuri at the door, which she closed behind her.

"My queen" Izuku managed to say in embarrassment, trying to cover himself in front of Nemuri who made him stumble and fall flat on his face.

Nemuri laughed briefly and subtly as she watched the young god jump to his feet, blushing and avoiding her gaze. She approached the boy with a motherly air and fixed his wild hair in a gesture of gentleness.

"At this point that you are ashamed of your nakedness is how ironic" commented the queen with an amused air as she sat on the bed "the first time you came here you were in all your nakedness and now you cover it with the greatest modesty in the world."

" I... I no.... It's just that..." stammered Izuku not knowing what to say.

Nemuri laughed again.

"Easy dear, I understand very well why you do it" she replied empathetically "after all you are already a boyfriend who must wait for the right moment."

Nemuri patted the free side of where she was, urging Izuku to come closer and sit down. The latter did so in an embarrassed manner and continued to avoid her gaze. However, Nemuri grabbed his face with both hands and made him stare at her. She was studying him meticulously.

"You haven't been able to sleep lately from what I see" she said with total motherhood "those dark circles under your eyes destroy the loveliness of your face and you are paler than the petal of a peony, have you eaten well?"

Izuku nodded childishly. Nemuri kept smiling in a motherly way.

"I know you're nervous" Nemuri held Izuku's hands affectionately "and no wonder..."

Izuku said nothing and continued to keep his face down. But Nemuri took his chin gently and made him stare at her again.

"I understand what you're going through, dear" Nemuri said calmly "just like you I was nervous too, but it was because I didn't love Yagi..."

Izuku opened his eyes in surprise and felt his nerves stinging his stomach. Was it possible that Nemuri knew about his relationship with Katsuki? It had to be a possibility, she had found out the day he had escaped from Olympus to Cythera and had kept quiet by holding up her end of the bargain. There was a possibility that he knew.

"R... Really?" the young man questioned.

Nemuri nodded gently and stood up to the mirror, staring at her adult face and shining eyes. Drowning in the memories of her past.

"Those were different times and I was very guarded about my freedom" her hand threaded the lines of his face subtly "but, Yagi had made me promise to marry him and I had to keep my word as a goddess."

Izuku looked at the queen goddess in an unusual and incredulous way. She had been forced to marry his father without feeling love? Why?

"But... you could have refused him or disappeared before the wedding couldn't you?"

"Yes, actually yes" replied the queen "it was a possibility..."

Nemuri stopped looking at herself and turned her eyes to Izuku.

"But I had to keep my promises, dear" sighed the queen "I could have escaped or refused the liaison between Yagi and I, but was my freedom worth breaking the heart of the reigning god? Was there a chance I could escape the guilt of having broken someone's heart? Could I live without feeling I had let myself down?"

Izuku felt for a moment identified. He was afraid of the liaison with Todoroki, because even though he was a caring, sweet and sincere god, there were demons he did not yet know and was afraid to face. In addition to the intrinsic weight he carried in his chest for breaking Katsuki's heart.

"And then I fell in love..." she said wistfully.

Izuku looked at the queen again and her flashing cyan eyes glowed and that solemn air had turned into that aura of nostalgia that some people had when there were good memories. He paid more attention than ever.

"He... he was so sweet, so caring and so..." she paused and smiled genuinely "he was the kind of man who made me feel free, made me feel special and made me feel that whatever was bad about him was also good."

Izuku listened attentively to the queen and felt some emotion about the story Nemuri was telling him.

"He had always been lonely and despised by his brothers" she continued "they said he was evil, cold, cautious and calculating, but he had always been a lonely man, afraid to say what he felt, always judged..."

It was just like what was going on between him and Katsuki. Maybe he wasn't someone you would fall in love with at first glance, but the way he confessed his feelings, the lack of fear in his eyes as he admitted his love, the way he had kissed him and touched him. They meant something inside his being.

"I loved him too much" Nemuri commented, sketching a sad smile "but by loving him too much, I caused agony and misfortune in Olympus and in the Earthly world..."

Nemuri was silent for a moment. Izuku remained expectant of what the queen would mention. Though the queen shook her head shakily and then looked at the god of love while fixing a few strands of her hair.

"What I'm getting at is that it's normal to be afraid" the queen replied, approaching Izuku and taking his hand "I know you feel that you are a stranger to Shoto and that you don't know what to do, but if there is one thing I have learned from time and from this I'm telling you is that at some point fear will go away and make way for love."

Izuku stared at her, observing how Nemuri gave him a sincere smile. The young god nodded and gave her a genuine smile.

"I know you're in love with Katsuki, dear."

Izuku looked at her surprised, blushing and nervous. Nemuri still continued to give him her most genuine smile.

"Ho... How..."

"I am the queen and I know many things about love, dear" she replied calmly "it took me a while to know, but seeing that you were attentive to my story, that's what confirmed it for me."

Izuku avoided her gaze again.

"You shouldn't feel ashamed, dear" she said maternally "sometimes love comes in many forms, in many ways and is very different for everyone, but it is also a force we can't fight."

Nemuri saw that Izuku still did not meet her gaze.

"I am aware that your love for him has not desisted" she inquired "but when the spring equinox comes you will become master and guardian of Shoto's household, and as a husband you must be mindful of your important role in his household. I know you will not love Shoto overnight, but you must keep in mind that love is built, with affection, with understanding, with trust, with communication..."

Izuku listened attentively to Nemuri's words, but continued without facing her cyan eyes.

"Katsuki must let you go."

Izuku looked up and Nemuri's face became circumspect.

"And you should let him go too, dear" she said with a regretful tone "it's a difficult process and I know what that means..."

Izuku did not comment anything, but those words made his body tingle with a regretful feeling and his mouth tasted bitter.

"But in a few cycles you will be a husband and, perhaps, you can have children..."

Izuku was startled and looked in horror at Nemuri's face who was smiling.

"Children?"

"Yes!" exclaimed the queen excitedly "I know that the rumors humans say are pure speculation, but one thing I am sure of is that you could conceive."

Izuku felt an anvil fall on his stomach, his throat closed up and the nerves surfaced in his body like a tingling that calcined his.

"Are you sure, my queen?" he hastened to say "I am a male and I do not believe it is in my nature to have the power to conceive."

"Don't doubt that Izuku" Nemuri replied excitedly "call it female intuition, but I am sure that, if given the chance, you will do me the honor of being a grandmother."

Nemuri smiled and Izuku felt he should smile back.

"Now, we must prepare you. The Proaulia maybe a short rite, but it is the most significant rite of marriage" Nemuri said excitedly, reaching for the ceremonial robe.

However, Izuku felt overwhelmed by all those confessions that at that moment Nemuri was making to him. She knew about his love with Katsuki, she had advised him to let him go and she had the slight suspicion that he could conceive. All that information had barely begun to sink in, but could he really leave Katsuki behind?

His decision to marry Shoto had been hasty, of that he was sure. But the constant dreams, the insomnia, the heaviness in his chest and the longing to be able to feel him close had him confused as to whether his decision had really been the right one. But hadn't Katsuki kissed Uraraka that very night? Just remembering it made his heart shrink and his blood flare.

He shook his head slightly and in those moments Nemuri was finishing arranging her hair in a natural tiara of white daisies, with bouquets of olive trees, eucalyptus and pine branches, along with a beautiful white vaporous gown that covered most of her body. Nemuri looked at him with bright eyes and a proud smile.

"Shall we go?" questioned the queen with restraint and motherliness.

Izuku nodded his head, although deep inside him a fierce battle was raging between the reason that demanded to leave Katsuki behind and the heart that demanded him to return to Katsuki's arms and confess all the love that resided in his chest.

However his mind was not sure of anything, until he was in front of a large clearing, a clearing of dark waters that at that moment seemed like the largest mirror he had ever seen, for it projected the platinum lights of the moon as well as its imposing image. All the female goddesses, including the immortals, were there.

Now it was time for the Proaulia to begin. Nemuri began to sing with a solemn voice a refrain, which was then followed by the unison chorus of the immortals and goddesses present. Izuku took a deep breath. A summer breeze lifted his vaporous robe and the reflection of his moon-drenched image seemed unreal.

The goddesses and immortals continued to sing the refrain with such solemnity that the god of love felt calm for a few moments, remembering his ancient land. He closed his eyes and let the song soak him. It made him remember. It made him feel happy.

So much was the relief he felt that when Nemuri sang alone again, Izuku followed him. It was a moment where both voices converged in such a grandiloquent way, that many of those present felt their souls filled with joy.

Uraraka was overwhelmed by the synchronous and beautiful singing that Izuku gurgled from her mouth. And she felt the furious, scorching tongue of envy gnawing at her insides. For she suspected that he was that obstacle that prevented her from reaching Katsuki's heart. While Momo, remained silent, wished with all her might that Izuku would make Shoto happy. And finally Mina watched excitedly how beautiful Izuku looked.

Only when Nemuri and Izuku stopped, the queen goddess approached the young man and looked at the three goddesses who would bless the waters of the clearing.

"Step forward, goddesses and bless these blameless waters from time immemorial!" exclaimed Nemuri in the silence of the night.

Uraraka, Momo and Mina stepped forward. Mina was the first to approach Izuku. She took in her hands a bowl full of deer blood and marked with that vital liquid the bare arms and shoulders of the god of love.

"I mark you today with the blessing of strength and evolution, so that in your future home may reside control, order and empathy" Mina said solemnly and then stepped back.

Izuku bowed his head in thanks and Mina gave him a smile.

Momo was the next to approach with a bowl filled with a dark liquid and a vinegary smell, it was ink. And with it she drew a long, thick line on Izuku's white forehead. They both stared at each other and Izuku could see the sadness on Momo's face.

"I mark you today with the blessing of wisdom and patience, so that..." Momo paused for a moment and swallowed hard "so that in your future home there will be constant knowledge and intellectual evolution, in you and your offspring."

Izuku bowed again and let Momo withdraw. Then he knew in those moments to whom his heart belonged. He wanted to approach, but Nemuri subtly stopped him. He looked at him and shook his head slightly.

Then came the turn of the last goddess, the newly imposed goddess of hearth and fires. Uraraka approached him with a dismissive and self-centered air, holding her head high. Izuku felt a current of fury in those moments and his face, always expressive, denoted the seriousness he dedicated to the goddess.

Uraraka, in spite of feeling an intense repulsion for Izuku, approached her fingers to the bowl she carried in her hands with ashes from the eternal bonfire, a great flame that since the beginning of time had never been extinguished, and marked the exposed collarbones of the god and part of his chest.

"I mark you today with the blessing of fire, the warmth and energy of the eternal flame, so that in your home you will never lack the warmth of the family, the fire of love and the energy of your future home" the goddess answered coldly.

Izuku for his part felt an untamed disgust when the goddess' fingers lightly touched his body. Nevertheless, he continued as he had been with the previous goddesses, bowed slightly and watched as Uraraka withdrew to her place with the other two goddesses.

Then Nemuri approached him and led him to the banks of the clearing. She undid the knots that held Izuku's robe in place and revealed the naked body of the young god. Some immortals let out startled gasps of outrage, others gave unseemly sighs, and some remained silent, like the graces who watched from the revelry of their lord.

"And as a final blessing, I, queen mother of the gods and goddess of marriage, Nemuri Kayama, give you the blessing of honor and fidelity" her right hand was filled with a violet light that emerged from her fingers, which she carried to the clearing and let it burn in the water "so that in your future liaison there may be trust, sincerity and fertility to ennoble your household."

Then Nemuri took Izuku by the shoulders and urged them into the clearing. Izuku put his feet in and felt the cold of the water on his ankles like sharp needles.

"To finish the rite you must put your whole body in the water and thus receive the blessing, not as a child, but as a future consort" Nemuri whispered to him.

Izuku for his part wanted to stop and run away from the rite. Deep inside him the confusion of whether or not to go through with the marriage was eating him fiercely. But it was too late to regret his decision. So he made the decision to close his eyes and take a deep breath, before he went all the way to the bottom of the clearing and let himself be engulfed by the cold waters.

Nemuri and all the goddesses and immortals present looked on in surprise at the god, for the Proaulia always lasted longer in that part, as the waters were so icy that even the goddesses could not even fully immerse themselves in the rite and could take hours to complete it.

Izuku reached the deepest part of the clearing. Feeling the coldness of the water gnawing at his skin. But he did not give up on the rite and plunged into the cold. Only when he was conscious did he feel the energy of the water fill him with a comforting and loving warmth. The emerald-eyed god allowed himself to be engulfed by that unexpected and familiar warmth, almost as if the one he desired at that moment was embracing him.

He felt his sullen arms around his waist, the warmth of his body and the sparkle in his eyes. Without really knowing that his thoughts would lead to the fact that his destiny would be marked by misfortune.

Chapter Text

Silence. Ethereal and calcining silence that was enveloping him in the deepest abyss. An abyss that every day became deeper, more tempting, more implacable. An abyss so dark that he did not remember the beginning and did not know for sure if it had a bottom. But so dark and so latent, that every day of his divine life he felt it cut short by the absence of what he lost and almost had.

The days passed by him. With his gaze lost, with his gaze clouded, with his gaze torn by disappointment, by sadness, by loneliness. A look that could only give you war, that could give you cruelty, that could give you madness, but that deep down was alone, was absent, was without any guide. It was only a body that was only doing its duty.

Much blood had been spilled by his hands, many screams had been heard and not heard by his ears, the prayers were only murmurs of earthly selfishness. He only felt that time was passing by in small steps, in slow steps, in steps that did not dissolve that cancerous torrent that made him scream, that made him cry in the shadows, that made him feel like that child that no one in Olympus wanted to accompany.

Sometimes his body demanded what he longed for. He heard moans, gasps, sometimes he felt touches, pleasure, satisfaction, but he never felt joy, he never felt warmth, he never felt anything, just a simple emptiness that with time grew larger. And each day continued to grow with the passing of the lunar cycles, longing for every sound he heard, every warmth he felt and every taste his tongue enjoyed to be his. His and no one else's.

His beauty could not be compared to anything else. The harmony of his body, the brilliance of his smile, the grandeur of his simple, austere soul. All of him was an inexplicable apotheosis. All of him was an enchanting enigma. All of him made him feel that every moment of his company was a delight that not even time could savor. It was something he had fought to have and, sadly, had lost.

Katsuki was spinning over his thoughts. Not saying a word, not mumbling at the smallest hindrance that existed. His crimson gaze was lost, his body only walked instinctively, muscles stiff from a thousand battles without much care for physical pain, body full of fresh wounds and blood that was not his own.

A Katsuki who lost hope after the announcement of the beautiful god of love's marriage to the damned half-half. A Katsuki who completely destroyed his palace inside because he couldn't bear that unstoppable and relentless pain that nestled in his chest. A Katsuki who, under the fear of his servants, cried until he could no longer stand it. A Katsuki who no longer uttered words or insults. A Katsuki taciturn, silent, absent.

His body was taking slow steps through the Council of the Gods, meditative, absent, without energy. He walked alone to reach the place where he least wanted to go. His palace. That nondescript place to which he did not wish to return, because he no longer felt it was a place to live. There was no warmth, there was no home, there was nothing to call him to be there. Just a gigantic cave, cold and dark, with a long cot where he could rest his tired body.

He saw in the distance its tall, dark wrought iron railings, the twinkling lights around it, how peaceful the place was. However, he saw that on the trellis Alectrion was waiting for him, with his excited smile and sheepish eyes.

"My lord is back!" exclaimed the excited young man.

Katsuki said nothing, just watched as the young man approached him while expertly removing the implements from his armor.

"Your tub is ready for you to bathe and relax for a moment, my lord" he said as he removed his gauntlets "so you rest for a while after these two cycles. I also sent for a good beef to be slaughtered so I can serve you a good meal and I asked the maidservants to..."

But even though Alectrion was excited and had prepared any number of things for his lord, Katsuki did not listen to him. The war god's mind was scattered, looking over the wide front gardens at that great wall that separated his palace and the palace of the one he was pining for at that moment.

What would he be doing? How would he be? Would he be so nervous about seeing himself already married to the scarred bastard? Or would he be regretting his decision? Would he think about it? Would he still love him as he had? Would he still feel that plethoric rush that he also felt?

The thick wall separated what he wanted most in his life. A thick wall that screamed at him that he couldn't have it. That thick wall abhorred him so much that it separated him from the very thought that Izuku could be on the other side waiting for him eagerly, willingly, lovingly.

However, his body was carried inside the palace and the fleeting thought of breaking through the wall vanished like mist. Inside, the silence of the corridors was sepulchral and the darkness of the walls was so dense that Katsuki saw around him how the shadows of his demons followed him closely, mocking, despot, laughing at his misfortune and his loneliness.

Alectrion kept talking and talking without stopping, his mouth kept moving, but the god of war barely heard the murmur of his voice as a rather annoying beep. Only until Alectrion said the next one:

"And apparently the wedding was put on hold until..."

And then all the neurons in his body were reactivated in a dizzying way. He looked up and, after a long time, asked a question:

"Did they call off the wedding?"

Alectrion turned his gaze to his lord and nodded:

"Yes, my lord" the boy told him again "the god of the forge has been incapacitated from continuing the marriage ritual for encumbering the process with lewd practice."

Katsuki tried not to show the happiness that in his body was shivering. He approached his protégé and grabbed him by the shoulders.

"What will happen now?" questioned the god of war rather insistently.

"Well, according to what they have said, a judgment will be held at the next full moon" answered Alectrion trying to remember everything he had been told "if the Judgment declares of perversion the nuptials, there will be no wedding."

"And the god of love?" he tried not to make his question sound suspicious or too eager.

"The god Izuku is in custody at the Palace of All Might. According to the palace gossips, The king and queen still won't give him the news that the god of forging perjured his wedding vows."

Katsuki nodded.

"You should go prepare something to eat, sheep's eyes," said the god of war, walking briskly to his room, "because at dawn you'll be fucked with me, because your training is going to turn you from a fucking extra into a fucking warrior."

"Really, my lord?!"

"Do you look like a liar to me, sheep eyes?" replied Katsuki before retreating.

Meanwhile Alectrion was grinning from ear to ear, not only because he would have training with his lord, but because at last, after so long, the god of war was back to being the same ruffian they had grown accustomed to serving for several Eons.

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"You're a first-class asshole! Yes, a first-class asshole!"

"Mother..."

"I planned this damn wedding, so carefully, so lovingly and so forcefully" Nemuri's accusing finger jabbed into her face like a blow "you don't know how much time I put into this circus to have them come and tell me that you had a damn dalliance with an escort of Aoyama."

"Mother..."

"Don't interrupt me, Shoto, I'll blow your face off with one blow!"

Todoroki fell silent at Nemuri's new angry and hysterical shout.

"And you just couldn't wait, you couldn't wait until the damn night after the Gamos so you could do all those horrifying things to your damn future husband."

Todoroki felt every single thing his mother said to him hurt in his chest. But she had a right to do so, now that the same young man whom he had fucked together with Shinsou was appealing that he had insidiously copulated against him. And to make matters worse, Shinsou had said yes. He was a wretched and treacherous man.

Todoroki had been locked in one of the palace dungeons, dungeons that were never used and had rats, dampness and little light from the outside. Chained and desperate, he wished to see his mother to see how he could proceed in the face of the affront of not being able to continue the nuptial ritual with the one he considered the love of his life. However, what Nemuri had done was to rant against his actions and chide him that it was all his fault.

"And I just still don't understand how the hell I got myself into this. This is all because of your damn ego, your damn selfishness to be somebody on Olympus."

"Stop it mom" he replied irate.

"Wanting to be just like us, wanting to be an Omnipresent when what you are is nothing."

"Enough mom" Shoto insisted trying not to decay in the tongue of flame that was building up.

"But you can't" she replied, self-absorbed in her anger, not seeing her son's malicious glare "that's why I threw you into the damn void when you were born, you were so ugly and so hideous, just seeing that you had been sired from me made me disgusted and..."

A hand fervently squeezed her throat and she felt the air disappear. Her son. Her flesh. The one who owed her the most respect was hanging her.

Shoto's gaze was gone, channelled by the most horrifying sensation of pain and hatred he had ever experienced. He had never asked to be born this way, never asked to be the way he was, never asked to be despised. But even his own mother did.

"You're the worst scum I could ever get in my life, Mom."

Nemuri could barely breathe, his hands tried to exert magic but the energy was insufficient as he felt short of breath.

"As far as I remember you, you sired me out of pure envy of my father. You sired me out of envy. And that doesn't make you who you are to come and tell me who the hell I should be."

Nemuri's face contracted even more as the grip on his son's arm grew tighter and tighter. His face was beginning to color.

"You come here to tell me, that I am scum, a vile son, that I do everything wrong, to give you conceit. But I remind you, mother, that you murder, poison, manipulate and twist the lives of those around you in order to get what you want. And that makes you even worse than you damn well are and that's why my father hates you inside."

Nemuri almost felt his sight fading.

"But at the end of the day you are my mother."

He released her and Nemuri's body fell limp on the floor. She began to take desperate, rapid breaths of air, which caused her to cough and her eyes to water at the recovery of air. Her blue eyes glared at Shoto.

"You....will...not...be...saved...from.... this one" replied the goddess in a whisper.

And with that warning, she staggered and leaned against the walls on her way out of that foul place.

Only when Shoto saw himself alone, he hit the wall of his cell in frustration and let all the anger accumulated over the years disappear with each blow to the wall. He screamed in order to express all that frustration and inadequacy accumulated over time, that great calcining and magnanimous feeling that had plagued him for as long as he could remember.

Only until he felt short of breath, his knuckles stinging from the open wounds and the regretful feeling vanished from his chest, did he lie down on the cot and let the tears of rage flow from his face. Silently, hiccuping from time to time. But at last, feeling free from that spiteful and poisonous feeling, his body was not heavy and his soul felt at peace with itself.

"Shoto," said a voice.

The heterochromatic gaze of the god of forging was fixed on the dark eyes, filled with a feeling of pity and shyness, of the goddess of wisdom.

"Momo" he quickly and sullenly wiped away the tears that had fallen on his face "What are you doing here?"

Momo walked up to the railings that separated the god from her and watched as the god avoided looking her in the face. She felt a pang of pain to see him so vulnerable and distant.

"I came because..." she tried to say she was worried, but felt ashamed to tell him her true intentions "because I need to listen to you."

Shoto then gave her a hesitant look.

"I will be the one presiding over the trial at father's insistence" she replied as if it was obvious.

Shoto nodded slightly as he devoted his gaze to the floor. He didn't want to see anyone. He still felt that his pride was too bruised and his soul was vulnerable.

"What do you need to hear?"

"Everything that really happened."

Shoto looked her straight in the eye and could see in her expression that she was being sincere, genuine in her dealings. So she didn't think much of it and, in that lonely cell, told Momo the whole truth.

Not just the story he was on trial for. But his real story.

********************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

Kendo, Aglaye and Carites looked doubtfully at their lord. Who was very relaxed in those moments on the terrace of his palace, feeling the summer breeze of the eternal Olympus. Without any expression, without any grimace, without any pitiful or disappointed sound.

The three graces were nervous. While everyone assumed that Izuku was unaware of the situation her fiancé was in, what they didn't know was that the infamous and gossipy Aoyama had confessed to her about her fiancé's affront.

He remembered how in an instant he had to leave his room in his father's palace, at the insistence of the Odas. And then, later that same day, as twilight disappeared behind the primeval horizon of the sky, Aoyama appeared in his throne room.

While Izuku did not see the point of that infamous man showing up at his palace, our dear and generous god did not have the guts to throw him out of his palace.

"What are you coming for, Aoyama?" he said back then.

"Oh, Izuku, I am sorry that I have to come in this way" replied the boy theatrically "but I felt nefariously imprisoned under the chains of guilt, but I came here to mend and remove this weight that in my heart resides."

"You shouldn't be so dramatic."

"I'm sorry if it incenses you, but it's a very urgent matter I'll tell you."

"Urgent?"

The golden-haired, grape-crowned god nodded desolately.

"Because it involves your future husband."

Izuku felt a sting walk across his skin. He shifted uncomfortably on his throne and gave the wine god a serious look, not letting on that such a topic had affected him.

"If it is gossip and rumors from the palaces, you should know that I am not particularly fond of them. Thanks to that, you gods have believed me to be a baby factory and a perverse and tainted lover."

Aoyama contracted his expression slightly, feeling the heavy gaze of the emerald-eyed god like a heavy iceberg that would freeze his body if he gave it a chance.

"Not at all, and for that, I have brought who might be the victim of this whole outcome."

Izuku raised an eyebrow and Aoyama patted his hands a couple of times. From the adjacent hallway, emerged the presence of a young man with an ugly build, brown hair, porcelain skin and olive green eyes that felt intimidated to be in the presence of the god of love, beauty and fertility.

Izuku watched the young man carefully. He still had a childishness in his features, the eyes were tearing with naivety and the trembling in his body denoted how nervous and intimidated he was. He avoided looking directly into his eyes.

"Don't you have something to say, fawn?" inquired Aoyama.

The boy nodded and swallowed to continue.

"My lord... You took me as part of your troupe for your husband's Proaulia festivities, my lord" the boy began to say "and, though it grieves me to say it, my lord, your future husband forced me to lie with him."

Izuku felt a dead weight fall on his stomach, but his blasé, serious and cold expression had not diminished one bit. A silence fell between the young man and the god, where the god was looking for some facet that said the boy was lying, but before he could, Aoyama stepped in.

"I didn't want to be the messenger of bad news, Izuku" he said, taking the young man by the shoulders and letting him avoid his gaze "but Nemuri and All Might wanted to hide the truth from you, with the only excuse of pretending they would protect you."

Izuku bit his lips lightly, a gesture that Aoyama didn't overlook and which made him wish even more.

"But... this feeling of guilt, for hiding the truth from you, wouldn't let me sleep. And I didn't wish for you to suffer more when you found out later."

Izuku stood up with a solemn air and the same circumspect face, then went down the planking and positioned himself in front of the smiling and vigorous face of Aoyama, who couldn't help but feel the temptation to kiss the young man and possess him somehow.

"Tell me something Aoyama" calmly inquired the god of love "Does anyone else, besides those you have named me, know anything about it?"

Aoyama waited for that answer.

"Of course not, little pearl. Just..."

"Please, Aoyama, don't lie to me."

Aoyama's blue eyes stared into Izuku's green eyes and he felt a maelstrom of feeling as he saw the god of love frowning and with an almost feral gleam in his eyes. Izuku knew there was someone else involved. His instinct told him so. And he was almost always right...

"I'm serious, Izuku why would I have to..."

Izuku clicked his tongue in disgust and in the blink of an eye, he lunged at Aoyama, knocking him to the ground, and plunged the edge of a knife into his throat. Aoyama barely had time to react and realize what a situation he had gotten himself into. The boy accompanying him let out a shriek.

"Izuku... please, I don't..."

"I'm fed up, Aoyama, fed up" Izuku answered between his teeth "they always want to see my face as stupid, as an idiot, as if I'm not aware of what's going on around me. As if I'm just a doll that just keeps quiet."

Aoyama swallowed hard as he felt the edge of the weapon closer to his throat. The cold steel girded close to his jugular. The wine god became livid as the clouds and could not break free from the tight grip Izuku's knees had on his arms. He was in a tight spot.

"I want you to tell me the fucking truth, Aoyama" he repeated stern and cold "Who else knows about it?"

And thanks to that, Aoyama confessed the whole plan drawn by Shinsou and him in order to dislocate their engagement. Making Todoroki fall into the temptation of lying with the young man and, in this way, forcing the engagement to be sent to Judgment and, with that, Izuku would despise Todoroki. Which would make Izuku single again.

Although in the end the god of love let him go. The mere thought that all those who expressed their interest in him saw him as a prize made him feel belittled, alienated, with a feeling of helplessness and frustration that was simply eating away at him.

Since he had arrived everyone who tried to seduce him sought to impress him, to flatter him, luring him with stories of their own victories, but they never told him who they really were, their secrets. None of them looked at him as a person, but as a mere prize. A mere rumor. An ornament. And that was what made him feel bad about himself.

And even if he had intentions to say what Aoyama had confessed to Momo, according to the traditions of the trial, which his graces took the time to inform him, only the parties involved, i.e. complainant and accused, could demand testimony and evidence.

The lull of feeling constrained and trapped was assaulting him like an abysmal poison. However, he had no time to think about what he could do.

"Izuku," they called to him.

His eyes turned to his graces and he looked at how self-conscious they were, mentioning nothing, saying nothing.

An immortal awaits to lead him to Judgment," Kendo replied.

Izuku nodded solemnly and thanked his graces. He approached his belongings, took the crown of peonies and white roses that he was to wear to the Gamos as a symbol of his betrothal, and set out to meet the immortal, who escorted him to his father's palace.

*****************************************************************************************************************************************************************

The great throne room was empty of the usual ornaments. No tables, no chairs, nothing but the throne of his father and Nemuri, who were seated, with circumspect faces and an aura so heavy that no one mentioned even a murmur.

Izuku had been escorted with stately stride, being watched by all the gods, to the box where All Might and Midnight were seated. He remained serene with every step he took. His father motioned for him to sit at his right hand and Izuku obeyed slavishly.

"I'm sorry you have to come under these circumstances, my boy" his father whispered to him.

"Don't worry about that father" Izuku replied calmly "all I ask is one thing."

"What is it my boy?"

"Please believe Shoto."

Izuku and All Might looked at each other for a long second. Only then did All Might nod and let out a sigh of frustration and exhaustion.

"I'm sorry you had to find out, my boy."

Izuku shook his head, quietly.

"It is not your fault, father. A god's decisions can only be made by themselves, not by someone else."

All Might smiled happily that his son didn't feel so bad about the situation, however, that feeling that he hadn't protected him from the pain of being cheated stuck in his chest like a burning stake.

Izuku turned his head and bowed slightly to Nemuri. She accepted the gesture in kind. Izuku noticed the reddish marks that graced the queen's whitish neck. But he did not give him time, for the palace gates let those involved enter.

Leading that retinue was Momo, who had exchanged her silver armor for a beautiful gold-edged robe and her hair flowing; behind her were Shinsou, Aoyama and the green-eyed young man; and lastly, Shoto walked with his eyes do

wncast. It was only until they came in front of the thrones that those involved stopped.

Shoto raised his gaze and his heterochromatic eyes directly hit Izuku's emeralds. He felt regret gnawing at his body and the urge to cry for having done such an affront to her. He wished to say something.

"Here are all the Olympians, who, as our traditions dictate, will be witnesses of justice" Momo began to describe "justice that we have created, that we must protect, that we must protect out of respect for our divinity and out of respect for our father, who saved us from a possible world of slavery and misfortune."

The silence was magnanimous. No one mentioned anything, barely and barely breathed.

"In this trial, an affront has arisen that placed in unacceptable conditions the compromise of the god of forging and the god of love" recited Momo with cold condescension "as a judge imposed by the kings of Olympus, to clarify and fulfill the traditions and laws that allow us to live in harmony in the Pantheon, I must allow the parties to testify their version of the facts."

From the great revelry of gods and immortals, Katsuki watched with interest the testimony of his brothers. But if there was one thing he couldn't take his eyes off, it was how beautiful Izuku looked. Covered by the traditional crown of peonies and white roses, which made his skin and the thousands of freckles he had stand out more, his eyes lost and still full of hope. Katsuki hadn't seen him for a long time and wished, like many, that Judgment would break the half-half engagement with him so she could fight for his love again.

Katsuki did not listen attentively to what his brothers said, neither when they called that the young man who was forced to lie with the god framed him for insidious activity, nor when Shoto had given his version of events.
"While, I had told them that I had never had a previous relationship with anyone, Aoyama wanted to get information out of me about it" insisted the god of forging "I was uncomfortable, however, Shinsou came to my rescue and supported me."

» "What I wasn't aware of was when he offered me to have an intimate moment with him and... intimate moment with him and the boy. I didn't know what to do, or how to react, but if there's one thing I won't lie about, it's that I was tempted. And while I was tempted, I tried to keep my temper for the honor of my word and for the honor of the love I have for my fiancé. However, I failed to keep my promise..."

And although Izuku felt that last sentence like a knife in his chest, he remained circumspect. Shoto's heterochromatic eyes gave him such a visceral look of regret, that he did not have the courage to face him.

"Well" replied Momo "since both parties have mentioned their testimonies, the kings and I must deliberate. The god of love, who is an affected party to this situation, must wait for our response and decide the future of the nuptials."

They all withdrew from the hall, being guarded by guards, to one of the long corridors of the palace. They all went in silence, tense. Izuku didn't want to say anything, but he glanced glancingly at the frown of his father and Nemuri, as well as the circumspect and immovable air of Momo.

They stopped at a door and Momo opened it.

"You must wait for us here Izuku, while we deliberate."

Izuku received a firm squeeze on the shoulder from his father. His blue eyes denoted how regretful he was. However, Izuku took his hand warmly and gave him a conciliatory smile. He bowed his head to everyone and entered the room, closing the door behind him.

He listened as the heavy footsteps of the guards were lost in the distance and then prepared to sit down to wait for the verdict to tell them the decision he had already made. While he could not demand anything at the trial, he was not about to break the commitment to Shoto.

Yes, it hurt that Shoto had deceived him despite being engaged to him, that he had accepted the affront and had made him look, again, like a fool in front of the entire council. But that did not take away the fact that all that pain was caused by the trickery of two gods who sought to break his betrothal to the god of forging. He only hoped that he would be made to serve a punishment as great as his actions.

He heard the sound of the door close with a click and stood up.

"I already have one..." he said before staring at the person who had arrived.

Katsuki stood in front of him. Dark circles under his eyes, haggard, a little paler than he remembered, but with the same scowl and determination shining in his crimson eyes. His stomach flipped, his chest rumbled and his body trembled at the sight of him standing there, so imposing, so virile, so determined.

"Deku" blurted the ashen blond without credit.

At last they were face to face again. Alone. No one could disturb them and with the opportunity to iron out their differences.

However, Izuku looked away. Just looking at Katsuki, he remembered that desperate kiss that he had given to Ochako, devoted and voracious. A memory that made his chest ache and brought back that painful feeling of being betrayed by the one he loved the most.

"What are you doing here, Katsuki?"

The seriousness with which his voice came out, warned Katsuki to be careful and cautious with what he would say. This was not like war, where he had to kill and prevent the opposing side from winning. This time he had to stay composed, think over his every move and word, not rush into impulsiveness.

"I... I needed to see you" he threw out faintly, approaching slowly.

Izuku didn't answer anything, he kept looking at an imaginary point in front. Katsuki, when he came even closer to him, kept discreetly away from him. He didn't want him to feel that he was being invaded, but the urge to hug and kiss him was so strong and unstoppable that he had to use all his fortitude to avoid throwing himself at him.

"Deku, I wanted to explain to you that..."

"You don't have to explain anything to me, Katsuki" his cold voice made him look almost unreal "actions speak for themselves, I don't need explanations of who you're with or who you're sleeping with."

"It's just that that's what I came to explain to you, dammit" he replied unable to help himself from swearing "that fucking Uraraka kissed me without me being able to resist her."

"Yeah, you could tell" Izuku threw wryly, frowning more.

"That's not what I fucking meant!" frustrated Katsuki, giving a shit whether Izuku felt harassed or not "That day the fucking round face told me again that she loved me, that she wanted me to be hers alone and..."

"Oh, right and with that..."

"That you fucking listen to me!" he yelled at him, grabbing his face and making his green eyes look into the watery crimson eyes "I love only you and I will never love anyone else but you! For all the fucking eons I've lived! You are and will be my fucking beacon, Deku!"

And with that little speech, genuine, vulnerable and impulsive, Izuku looked again at the truth in Katsuki's eyes. He loved him. His body trembled with excitement to feel that overwhelming feeling of love gnawing at his every nerve ending.

"Kaachan" he blurted out in a sigh.

"I'm sorry you saw me in that hairy moment with her" he whispered, hurriedly touching the soft skin of his cheekbones "I've told her so many times that I don't love her, that I don't want her, that I don't know what to say to her anymore. I only want you, Deku. Only you."

The sweet words that Katsuki was outlining, had him exalted and at the same time engrossed in that strong-jawed face, in the deep tessitura of his voice, in the truth that shone in his eyes. Izuku was sure that he would never stop loving Katsuki.

"I'm sorry if I hurt you."

"Don't apologize, Kaachan" replied the god of love, taking Katsuki's giant hand between his slender hands "not now that I feel I can live eternity with you."

"I hurt you, Izuku" replied Katsuki, stepping closer to the god "and that is something I cannot forgive myself so easily."

"Kaachan, I'm fine."

Katsuki looked at those sparkling emeralds, that rapturous smile, those cheekbones bathed in crimson. Inevitable desire bubbled up from the pit of his stomach and forced him to pounce on Izuku. They both fell. Katsuki on top of Izuku, where they felt again that electric wave that had forced them to look at each other, to love each other, to desire each other.

Katsuki couldn't help but feel frantic at the softness of Izuku's skin colliding in his hand, at how red and desirable his full lips were, at how shiny his emerald eyes were. He couldn't resist. It was a sight his mettle could not resist. He brought his face close to Izuku's, making himself support it with his forearms and feeling Izuku's body collide with his.

"I've never felt this way about anyone before, Deku."

Emerald eyes looked at him just as desirously, taking his neck and hair between his hands.

"That's why I don't want to leave you for anyone."

And with that they closed the closeness and reveled in the taste of each other's mouth. That kiss, so voracious, frantic and pernicious, showed the desire they both had for each other. That desire that they carried stifled inside them, to come out with the frenzy of tasting, licking and touching each other.

Katsuki's hands went down to Izuku's hips, unable to oppress that incalculable desire to touch every part of his skin, to kiss him in every place that hid that annoying piece of cloth, to possess him, because only he had knocked down his walls, his pride and his fierceness.

Izuku moaned as he felt that strong and sullen touch cause him a pleasurable electricity, which was taken advantage of by Bakugou who stuck his tongue into Izuku's mouth and began to taste his lover even more.

Izuku felt faint before those delicious touches of Katsuki, the domination of that expert tongue on his, the maddening heat of that extraordinary body sticking to his. The god of love could not resist to such touches, to so much satisfaction, to all that tingling so maddening, rapturous and so exciting. His body reacted and could not help but stiffen.

"You're really enjoying yourself huh, Deku?" slyly blurted Katsuki as he felt his lover's hardness.

"Kaachan, don't tease" gasped the greenish-haired young man.

Katsuki smiled and felt proud for causing those sensations to his lover, who couldn't help but start kissing the swan neck of the god of love and sneaking a naughty hand under the robe.

"Kaachan, no, wait..." the young man resisted.

But Katsuki's thick hand had wrapped around his hardened member and the god couldn't help but moan as he felt the warmth of his lover's hand. Katsuki felt the glory as he heard Izuku moan with just a touch.

"You tell me to wait" he whispered to him in a pasty, velvety voice "but your body tells me otherwise."

"Kaachan" gasped Izuku again trying to stop him.

But then Katsuki's hand started to move slowly and parsimoniously. Then Izuku felt that tingling of pleasure blurring his consciousness and let himself be carried away by those delicious and frantic shocks that Katsuki was giving him. He couldn't resist the moans coming from his voice, the trembling he felt in his legs, the heat rising in his body. Katsuki was driving him crazy.

"God Kaachan" he moaned.

At that alone Katsuki smiled perniciously, feeling his lover's small body contracting from the spasms of pleasure and not stopping his high-pitched voice from letting out moans that to him were victory songs. And the very fact that he was moaning his name was making him horny.

"Kaachan, wait, no... something's up."

Only then Katsuki realized that Deku was about to climax, so he pumped his hand even faster on his lover's hardened member, without squealing and without stopping.

Izuku was freaking out, feeling like he was seeing stars between his eyelids, almost running out of air and feeling a bubbly tingle rise from his feet to his head. He didn't know what it was, but it was driving him crazy, making him feel strange and he couldn't handle those waves of pleasure.

Until Izuku's body contorted and he let out a high-pitched, satisfying moan, while Katsuki felt the seminal fluid of that beautiful god fall on his hand. Izuku's chest rose and fell frantically, feeling that he couldn't handle what Katsuki had given him. He had enjoyed it.

Katsuki removed his hand from his lover's robe and ran his tongue over it, tasting Izuku's delicious nectar. Feeling the desire for that ugly, beautiful god growing with each passing day.

"What are you doing to me Kaachan?" asked Izuku between gasps, looking at how dark the war god's gaze had become.

"Making you see stars, my beautiful god."

Izuku laughed and smiled at the comment. Watching closely how beautiful Katsuki looked. However, a knock on the door startled them both.

"Izuku, we're ready now Can we come in?" said Momo's voice on the other side of the door.

Izuku felt fear startle him. If they saw Katsuki there, then the deal with Nemuri would be broken and his punishment would be much worse. Katsuki grabbed his face and with a gesture, told him to keep quiet. He smiled at her and put on the hood of his cloak, to see it disappear from his eyes.

Without waiting long, Momo, All Might and Nemuri entered the room, seeing how Izuku had been transfixed, looking at a spot on the wall.

"Is something wrong?" questioned Momo.

Only then the god of love reacted and with an embarrassed grimace said:

"Sorry, I thought I saw a shadow, but I think it's just my head."

Momo nodded and sat down next to him. Noticing closely that the god of love was sweating and his cheeks were flushed.

"Are you okay Izuku, I notice you are very flushed."

"Y-yes, a little" the god replied hastily.

"Let me open the window for you my boy" said All Might opening the large window.

The summer breeze made Izuku cool down and with that he resumed his calm air. He looked into Momo's dark eyes and waited for her to speak.

"From what we have been able to hear Izuku, you are in a hairy situation" Momo began to say "and this situation and lack of evidence has kept that our deliberation will leave us with the two most drastic options there are for this situation."

"Before you go any further, Momo, may I say something?" inquired Izuku.

Momo looked at him seriously, however, nodded and let him speak.

"I know that by court tradition, the victim cannot mention or say anything regarding the case unless she could testify. But for what it's worth, I want to confess the truth of the situation, which Aoyama himself told me."

Only then Izuku told in front of all of them the ruse of Shinsou and Aoyama to destroy their engagement, so that they could leave Izuku single and fight for him. The mere fact that this trick had deceived both kings and Momo, made their faces even harder and colder.

"Those bastards" grumbled All Might between his teeth.

"But what is your decision Izuku?" questioned Momo "Will you go through with the engagement or will you despise Shoto so as to end the ritual?"

Izuku thought about it for a moment, but the heavy gaze Nemuri was giving him was making his hair stand on end. He was once again in a diatribe between what he wished and what he should. He wished he could be with Katsuki, but the latent fear of not keeping Nemuri's bargain and suffering the consequences of his actions was still there like a stake.

He took a deep breath and then determined his answer. He didn't want to hurt Katsuki, but he had to go through with that ordeal.

"I will follow through with the commitment. I will not leave Shoto."

Chapter Text

To say he was nervous in those moments might have seemed like an understatement. Not really encompassing the great feeling and tingling his body felt along his skin, the jubilation that exploded in his soul, in the perennial smile he had that day because it had finally arrived.At last. After at least a few eons. Their marriage had arrived.

Shoto felt strangely excited. But it was unavoidable for him not to feel excited, seized by the future thought that at last someone would love him, that at last someone would be waiting for him at home, that at last someone would look at him with the same gleaming eyes of love that he professed.

And what greater bliss than to marry the most beautiful god in all of Olympus. The god who had caused all his brothers to fight for him, the god who never judged them and opened the doors of his house, the flirtatious and brilliant god who would now be his and only his. Izuku. The treasure of all his treasures.

The dawn sun was beginning to peek through the wide windows of the palace and the sound of the servants preparing everything for the arrival of the new lord of the palace could be heard in the corridors. The immortals were preparing rooms, food and looking for the most fermented wine on their shelves. The immortals on the other hand were going to the slaughterhouses to slit the throats of the deer and the biggest cattle for the future banquet, as well as repairing what was broken and preparing their armor for the arrival of the new lord.

All the revelry that could be heard in the palace was orchestrated and watched over by the heterochromatic gaze, who could not help but feel the great weight of emotion walk across his stomach and rise up to his face in a smile. He hadn't been able to sleep a wink all night thanks to the gigantic emotion that overwhelmed him and the mere sensation of feeling Izuku's body so close to his had generated a great anxiety in him.

"My lord!" someone exclaimed.

Todoroki saw how Tetsu Tetsu, an immortal who was under his orders, approached him with a cup of burnished matte metal in his hands and with a hurried pace. He was wearing his shiny iron armor that assimilated the whitish color of his hair and was breathing heavily.

"Is something wrong Tetsu?" questioned the god of forging.

"Yes, my lord, the potion you asked for could not ferment properly" explained the god embarrassed and with his face to the ground "the kitchens have been keeping warm and that prevented the fermentation from going well."

"That means..." mentioned Shoto to allow Tetsu to continue.

"Maybe the potion won't be ready for tonight."

Todoroki frowned and began to dig into his mind. He took the cup held out by the immortal and drank of its contents in one sip. Everything had to go perfectly that day, the plans should go well, however, there were these unforeseen events. So he began to ponder for a few moments, which kept Tetsu in absolute stiffness for having disappointed his lord in a simple task.

The god's silence kept his immortal nervous and anxious, until his voice questioned:

"Do we have carnation liquor yet?"

Tetsu Tetsu was caught off guard by the question, but answered immediately.

"Yes, my lord. There is still some of the bottle Midnight-sama gave us."

The god of forging held out the cup again and Tetsu took it, waiting for his lord's orders.

"Use a few drops of carnation liquor for every liter of potion you have" asserted the god as he turned his back to him "and transfer that to the shelves next to the wines."

"Yes, my lord" asserted the immortal before disappearing in a huff.

Todoroki kept busy in his thoughts, giving orders and arranging some things in the palace for the arrival of his almost husband. Everything had to go well today. The ceremony, the handover, the bath, even the wedding night. Everything had to be perfect.

Shoto was obsessed with making sure everything went perfectly, because deep inside he had a little twinge of fear. Of fear that at the last moment Izuku would regret and despise him, that Izuku would move away from him, that he would never see him again or loathe his closeness.

His fear, palpable, made him meticulous and wasteful in his ceremony, in the arrival of his husband, on the wedding night, because that fear, calcining and overwhelming, pulsed in his thoughts like a cumbersome and poisonous poison from which he could not escape.

That's why everything had to be perfect. Because he did not wish that now his future husband, would regret having chosen him.

*******************************************************************************

The silence that could be heard throughout the palace was tense, malicious and charged. A silence that not even the servants wanted to break or destroy, because they knew that if anyone breathed or broke the slightest noise of that prevailing silence, they would suffer the consequences of the wrath of the god of war.Katsuki was lonely, sitting on his throne, feeling like the stupidest and most wretched person ever to have been on Olympus. His crimson gaze was grim and his jaw was tense. Her thoughts churned as doubts regarding Izuku grew.

Had he still, having done what the half-half had done, forgiven him? Did he intend to marry him? Had that intimate moment in the room meant nothing? His confession? His soul? Everything about him meant nothing to the god?

An access of anger shot through his body like a tongue of fire and he lifted the gigantic throne from between his hands, blinded by the pain that nested in his chest and gnawed at his soul like a burning wound. A war cry reverberated through the room as the god threw the throne into a nearby wall. The metallic sound of the throne along with the sound of the rubble of the destroyed wall dampened the echo that the shout had left, raising a cloud of dust and debris in the place.

The war god's chest rose and fell, and his gaze betrayed the latent and implacable anger that the ashen-haired god felt in the face of pain. Though he tried to search for reasons that would justify why his lover's actions, the pain of thinking that he would be with another, loving him, caressing him, moaning at him, smiling at him, burned him with an almost unintelligible intensity.

He let out another cry of pure frustration. With one leap he approached a wall and went about delivering swift, accurate punches that made the walls of the entire castle vibrate. Such was the force of his fists that vases, statues and furniture in the palace fell and broke easily.

It was only until he felt his body relax from such a weight that he stopped striking the wall, which showed a long oblique crack and blood stains that at that moment came from the raw knuckles of the god.

His breathing was still erratic, he was staring at the wall with narrowed eyes and his muscles were tense at the impending outburst in which he had released everything inside him.

«Why the hell did he pick that fucker? Did that Deku really use me? Did he not care about what I said to him that day? Our closeness? Our intimacy? Did all that I really said, from my heart, not serve to bind the one I long for the most? Am I not worthy and enough to have him?» thought Katsuki indetentively.

He did not know how to justify such a thing. But if there was one thing he was sure of, it was that those emerald eyes, on that day of trial, had shone with the genuine glint of truth, the inescapable truth that Izuku felt something burning, palpable and recalcitrant for him. And he felt the same overwhelming feeling for that god of beautiful freckles and greenish hair.

But his actions were at odds with what he really believed. How could he really convince himself that Izuku still loved him? How could he get a straight answer from him? How?

"My lord" they called out to him in a whisper.

Katsuki grunted in response.

"I don't know if I made myself understood the first time, sheep's eyes" he said without turning his face to Alectrion "but right now I wish I was fucking alone and not getting fucked..."

"Yes, my lord, that much is clear to me" replied the god's protégé nervously and insecurely "but I have a message for you and..."

"I don't want to take shit, no people, no letters, no messages, no nothing" Katsuki's low, dangerous voice denoted how irate he was "so don't bother me, sheep's eyes."

Alectrion swallowed hard. However, he was a man of his word and would do anything not to tarnish his honor.

"Yes, my lord," he said and took a deep breath for courage "but this I have to tell you is..."

"I told you I'm not interested!" exclaimed Katsuki losing his temper and throwing a vase at where his protégé was standing.

Alectrion rolled on the floor unintimidated and looked straight into his master's fire-filled eyes, the phalanges of his nose flapping in anger, his jaw tense. He was out of control.

"I'm not leaving until you hear the message!"

"Fuck you!" he shouted.

And, possessed by his palpable frustration and anger, he leapt towards Alectrion. The young protégé, rolled back on the ground to see his master's silhouette fall a few feet away. The eyes of both flashed and Katsuki shrieked with fury.

Never, in all the eons that had passed, had Alectrion ever disobeyed him, let alone confronted him like that. And that only made the tongue of fury that Katsuki had inside, intensify even more.

"How dare you defy me, you little shit?"

"I would never do it, my lord, if this wasn't so important..."

"And what the fuck is so important that...!"

"Izuku Midoriya asked me to find you!"

And then, Katsuki fell silent. Izuku's name made him boil all that sensitive torrent that welled up deep inside him: helplessness, pain, joy, love, longing. His jaw tensed even more, yet he paused and looked directly into the brownish eyes of his protégé.

"Why the hell has he-why you?" the god questioned impulsively, with nothing else he could say to Alectrion.

"Because I know he has something to do with your mood swings, my lord" Alectrion didn't know where he had gotten so many balls to confront his lord like that, but he had to keep his word "besides he begged me, almost in tears, that he wished to see you, that if not today, maybe it could be more never."

Katsuki stiffened and felt the thought of never speaking to the emerald-eyed god again gnawing at him like a poisonous current, which only made him feel more and more frustrated and helpless. Why did he wish to see him? Why only a few hours before the procession? What did he have to talk to him about?

Alectrion noticed that his lord was distracted in his thoughts and that the grimace of confusion and indecision furrowed the face of the god of war, as if he was debating whether or not to go.

"I don't like to pry into what doesn't concern me, my lord, let alone god matters" the boy rebuked looking directly into Katsuki's crimson eyes "but if this can soothe all of my lord's inner preclear hardships, it is preferable that I speak to the god Izuku before it is too late."

Katsuki looked straight at his protégé, with the determined look and the confident aura of having made the right decision. Inwardly he felt proud that his protégé had the gigantic balls to face him, knowing that he could turn him to mincemeat in a few seconds, but more he hated the sniveling protégés his brothers had. He made a feint of a smile, only to then pull himself together and keep his usual unperturbed face.

"All right," he said finally, "Where exactly should I find him?"

"At the reservoir, my lord."

Katsuki nodded and thus crossed the entire throne room, but only stopped for a moment at the threshold of the corridor.

"You can faint now, sheep's eyes."

"Yes, my lord."

Katsuki continued on his way to the reservoir, while Alectrion fell to the floor feeling like he couldn't handle the weight of fear of being sliced up by his lord and fainting in the process.

«He's still a little short of balls» thought Katsuki before walking out of his palace, his eyes fixed on the blanket of vines on the other side of his garden.

***************************************************************************

Izuku felt so nervous and anxious that the only thing he did in those moments to alleviate such an undesirable sensation was to walk from side to side by the pergola, which already had beautiful purple flowers on its crown and a sweet smell that at that moment was disgusting the god of love.

His stomach felt churning, his chest tightened with such force that sometimes he felt he could not breathe, the aberrant sensation of fear pierced him like an insistent needle. He was nervous that the Odes of Nemuri would realize that he was no longer in the tub, taking the mint and rosemary bath they so insisted he take and drinking that disgusting carnation tonic.

He knew that the Odes were inducing his fertility and sexual desire to be able to lie with Shoto through his potions, those that he had taught his priestesses so that those seeking love, desire and fertility would find her. If he remembered correctly, they were called aphrodisiacs. And those foolish Odas had taken the audacity to use their magic against him.

However, all he wished was that the one who stole his thoughts would appear in the reservoir. He was barely covered by a long, vaporous and transparent cloth that he had draped over his shoulders and that barely covered the nudity that was glimpsed in the diffused luminosity that crossed the cloth, marking his curves, the line of his hips, his shoulders and the slenderness of his silhouette.

He had no idea how he was going to face him, let alone how he could look him in the eye without feeling regretful of his decision. But he knew that his father's anger was something he couldn't play with, let alone now that he knew firsthand what his father's anger was like, after Shinsou and Aoyama's ruse was discovered through his mouth.

He still remembered how Nemuri had cornered him with no excuse or denial he could find to take him to the punishment Shinsou and Aoyama would face from his father. He was escorted to the gates of the Underworld, where his father awaited him with his face furrowed in a scowl and a grimace of throbbing restrained anger. Izuku lost his breath as he felt the heaviness of his father's aura and saw that Shinsou and Aoyama were handcuffed and gagged with special handcuffs and gags so that they could not escape.

They crossed the vast river of Acheron through the rickety little boat of Charon, listening to the cries of despair of those dead and souls in sorrow who had been left behind in limbo for their sins and evil deeds, as they tried to bring the boat down. Izuku could barely remember that he was on the verge of crying on several occasions, only to reach the other shore and be greeted by the god of the Underworld, Enji, with his undaunted face, cold and pale, on the back of the gigantic dog of ebony strands and drooling and abysmal snout whom they called Cerberus, waiting for them to escort the guilty to the gates of Tartarus.

He could not face the great fear and panic that went through his body, when the canine tried to eat his brothers on several occasions, as well as the vivid memory of Shinsou and Aoyama's pleas when the gates of Tartarus opened, dislocating their tendons so they could not escape their punishment, and hung them on a thick and gigantic oak tree while hungry crows sought to peck them still alive.

The very memory made his stomach churn and he felt the urge to cry girdle in his throat. He could not face his father if his punishment would be the same fate that Shinsou and Aoyama suffered, he could not break that promise he had made to Nemuri. He couldn't. He was afraid that if his lies were discovered, his father would condemn him to be tortured in Tartarus, to be eaten by the Can, to suffer until his eternity slipped through his fingers like sand. He could not break the engagement.

"I can't break it..."

"What can't you break, Deku?"

That vibrant, deep voice made him realize that crimson eyes were looking at him with much scrutiny, but without the latent glow of their previous encounters. Katsuki wore a taciturn and circumspect grimace, something that did not bode well with the god of love.

"Kaachan..."

"What do you want to talk about?" the ashen-haired one questioned him coolly "I don't wish to delay you too much when you have a procession and a future husband waiting for you in your future home."

"Kaachan, no, don't think about..."

"Don't think about what Izuku? That you're engaged? That you're here with me, instead of getting ready for your fucking wedding? Don't think that you picked the half-half fucker? Don't think that another man is going to have you for all eternity?"

All those precisions were digging into Izuku's chest, burning, stinging and painful. He knew he deserved them, because he had made Katsuki's pain unbearable and he did not forgive himself that his actions hurt the one he loved. However, the weight of the promise and the fear of his father's wrath was even stronger and heavier than he could imagine.

"Kaachan, I don't want you to think of me like that."

"Is this why you sent for me? So that I won't think of you as an infidel? Or as a god who just likes to play with other people's feelings?" the scathing tone of his words denoted how furious he was.

"Don't you dare insinuate that" such insults made him feel annoyed "you know very well that what happened in the palace was real."

"Anyone would say stupid things when they're too horny to think."

"How dare you?" Izuku approached helplessly, facing the war god's face closely "How dare you say that everything I said were pure ravings?"

"Would you tell them to me now? Now that you will shortly belong to someone else? That you will shortly give your caresses to someone else? That you will warm someone else's home and chambers?" the pain came out in fury as the crimson eyes denoted the inner suffering of his soul.

"You wouldn't understand why I do this..." Izuku wanted to turn his back on him.

However, Katsuki grabbed his arm in a desperate manner, feeling that he would never see him again, but unable to stop that poisonous spiel that gurgled from him lips.

"What do you think I won't understand, you piece of shit?" she questioned, gripping the slender arm of the god of love tightly.

"Let go of me, Kaachan."

"You're not going anywhere fucking anywhere, without telling me what the hell I can't understand" his slow words came dangerously from his lips.

"That you let go of me" forced the god of love, seeking to wriggle free of the warrior god's strong grip.

"For fuck's sake you're getting the fuck out of here, Deku."

"Let go, you're hurting me dammit!" forced the god trying again to break free from the grip and throwing punches in the air that Katsuki dodged effortlessly.

"Tell me what the hell I won't understand! What won't I understand that you were a liar? That you played with my feelings and those of my brothers? That you're a fucking seductive piece of shit that all you did was bring discord?"

A sharp blow to his temple made him flinch, releasing the god's arm from between his hands and feeling a stabbing pain beginning to throb in the affected area. By inertia, he brought his fingers to the affected area, seeing how a drop of blood settled between his fingertips and, then, observing Izuku who carried a stone in his hands.

"Damn you, Deku" muttered the god of war.

"Stay away, Katsuki" threatened the god of love.

"You'll see, you fucking piece of shit."

Katsuki tried to pounce on Izuku's body, but the god of love barely dodged him by the hair, before he could grab him. That only made Katsuki even more frustrated. He tried again to catch the god, but it dodged him again by sheer luck.

"Stop running away, Deku."

"No!" the god shrieked.

Katsuki lunged at the god's body again, and this time he was able to grab his foot. He knocked him to the wet, soft ground of the reservoir, then climbed on top of the god of love, who struggled and tried to wriggle free of his massive arms and strong grip. Izuku tried to hit Katsuki again with that stone he still held in his right hand, which was stopped by one of his hands.

"No, not again, Deku."

The god twisted the arm of the emerald-eyed young man, making him let out a shriek and slipping the stone between his fingers. Katsuki straddled the god and held both of the god's arms above his head with his hands as he struggled hard and frantically again.

"Get off."

"I'm not leaving here and I'm certainly not letting you get away, you piece of shit."

"Katsuki, get away from me."

"For the hell's sake I'll stay the hell away from you, damn it!" his anger was unscathed and bubbling like an erupting volcano "Don't you understand that I fucking love you? How the hell do you think I'll let you go knowing that you're my fucking destiny? How do you expect me to accept you leaving with someone else when I'm here?"

Izuku knew that those words had sunk deep into his chest, but he was also aware that Katsuki's impulsiveness made him say things he didn't think through. That's why he hit his noble parts with his knee and rolled at the slightest chance the war god hesitated, moving a few meters away from him and observing his angular face.

The line of blood streaming down his face further accentuated Katsuki's sallow skin, his chest still staring at the floor and he noticed that they were both breathing erratically.

"How do you intend to tell me that now?" he questioned unable to keep his voice from cracking "How can you put me in this position?"

Katsuki didn't say anything, he just continued to stare at the ground.

"You don't understand what I'm going through" shrieked the god surfacing the tears he had been holding back "this damn wedding, this damn burden, this misfortune I had to go through because of a damn promise You don't understand!"

"And how the hell was I supposed to know that?" cried the warrior god feeling that at any moment he would burst into tears "How the hell was I supposed to guess what was going on?"

"That's why I wanted to see you! I wanted to see you because you had the right to know that I am bound to these damned nuptials by a promise I must keep" Izuku didn't want to hold anything back, now that he had his heart in his hand "I am doing this not because I love Todoroki, not because I want to be anyone's husband, I am bound by a promise that if I break it can send me to Tartarus."

"I will protect you!"

"How will you be able to protect me from our father's wrath?" fervently accused the god of love "How will you be able to protect me from him breaking my bones if he proposes? How will you protect me when you faint between his hands? How Katsuki? How?"

Katsuki tried to organize her thoughts to try to say something. However, she was aware that her father's wrath was a fate that not many came out of alive. The stories of the Titanomachy, his unscrupulous cruelty during the battle against the Giants, the coldness with which he calculated the suffering his enemies must have, his punishments in Tartarus.

"I... will protect you."

"Katsuki, don't be a fool..."

"I want you to listen to me, because this is serious," he replied in a dangerous voice and looking directly into the eyes of the god of love.

Izuku didn't want to comment, watching the determination flashing in the god's eyes. Katsuki took out his sword from his sheath and stuck its tip into the ground, knelt in front of him and took the handle, looking directly into the god's eyes.

"Hear me well, god of love" he began solemnly "from today until the end of time, in darkness and in light, in health and in sickness, in misfortunes and in sweetnesses, my hand, my right hand, my sword, my body and my soul, will be bound to you for your protection, from today until the end of my eternity."

Izuku felt his heart pounding hard in his sternum, his anger was dissipating little by little.

"I don't care if you are tied to a promise, a curse or a destiny that the Morías, on a whim, have cast upon you" the god asserted with certainty "what I feel for you, is something that in my many eons in the council I have never felt. I will protect you with my hand, I will protect you with my body and I will love you with my heart, forever, Deku. Be it with me or without me."

Izuku was stunned, feeling his stomach turn over, his skin crawling with goose bumps. His heart was touched by that promise, his body shuddered and his insides exploded without really knowing what feeling could be bursting at that moment.

"Why?"

"I'll tell you one last time, so you'll understand and because I hate those damn cheesy things you make me say" he rebuked, getting up and approaching the god, taking Izuku's small right hand between his hands and sticking it to his chest "this throbbing you feel, that flutters in my fucking chest; that damn throbbing that pumps inside me, it's because of you. It's your fault, because you made me love you ever since you walked through the fucking door of Olympus and fucked me with that disgusting, but delicious perfume of yours."

Izuku smiled and laughed jovially, appreciating the heat rising up her cheeks and the goofy grin that was beginning to creep onto her lips.

"If you keep smiling like that, I'm going to take you and I won't take the blame for you."

"All right" smiled the god of love, looking straight into crimson eyes and closely feeling the hot breath of the god near his face "but I also want to tell you something Kaachan."

He brought his face so seductively close that the god of war felt a delicious shudder. He wanted to be kissed, but Izuku stopped just a few centimeters from his lips.

"I promise, that if what Nemuri-san says is true, you will be the one who will impose his offspring on me" he whispered "and serve as a vessel for your blood and my blood to be one, from today until the rest of eternity."

With that promise in the air, the kiss that followed was an act of impotent need. Their lips moved in a cadenced rhythm, savoring each other, feeling the closeness of their bodies. The love god's hands went up to the ashen hair and the warrior god placed both hands on the curvaceous hips of the green-haired god. They felt their scents, the pungent, pungent scent of Katsuki next to the minty, cadent scent of Izuku.

Izuku's hand released a faint greenish light, which landed on the still open wound of the god of war. The war god gasped and then gasped in relief as the pain subsided. Izuku had cauterized the wound with his newfound magic and smiled when they broke contact. Katsuki checked his wound and felt the wound no longer oozing blood.

"Who would have said you have magic?"

"Well, Nemuri-san has taught me well..."

"I see."

Izuku didn't want to move away from Katsuki, he wished to spend more time with him, to kiss him, to hug him and spend all eternity by his side. However, the thundering sound of trumpets brought him back to his shuddering reality. He smiled a sad smile.

"I must go, Kaachan."

He wanted to leave, but a hand held his right hand before he could proceed.

"I may not be able to release you from the promise, Deku" the god murmured, watching the young god's emerald eyes "but if at any time you break it, I swear by my right hand, I will protect you and, if necessary, I will go with you."

Izuku smiled, but his eyes denoted a gleam of sadness that he could not hide. Katsuki noticed it and let the god free to go to his palace.

The god of love was able to sneak into the bathtub again, which was still warm, to take off the transparent cloth he was wearing and take a quick bath, without attracting too much attention from the Odas that guarded the main door of the bathtub.

When he felt ready, he went out with a new robe covering his nakedness to his quarters, where his graces and some Odas should be waiting for him. However, his room was lonely with the terrace doors closed. Izuku was confused and puzzled by the loneliness of the room, barely illuminated by the chinks in the doors that let in small slits of light.

"Kendo?" called the god.

However, he got no answer. The god squeaked through his teeth, never had his graces ignored his calls. He walked over to one of the terrace doors to try to open them, he hated that his room was without natural sunlight, it made him look lonelier than he already was.

Suddenly, he felt a strong grip pinning his arms and then another one pinning his legs, making him fall to the floor with a crash. He tried to cry out for help, but a hand stifled the shrill sound.Izuku felt fear and could see in the shadows a perfidious smile, an angular face and ice-colored eyes that chilled his blood.

"Don't be alarmed, loveliness" he replied slyly "for if you dare to fuck with our patience, you will meet a more painful end than we have planned for you."

**************************************************************************************

When Katsuki returned to his palace, he only had the intentions of eating some beef and tomatillos, taking a hot bath in his hot spring and lying on his soft bed for an eternity, after having left his heart, soul and sword in the reservoir.

Katsuki had been surprised by how frontal and violent Izuku had reacted to her impulsive actions. The way she had confronted him, the way she had struck him, the fierceness of her gaze. He felt his blood thicken just remembering how effusive he had been when they had confronted each other.

The smile that emerged on his face he couldn't stop it «Fuck, Deku, you're a box of surprises» thought the god as he traversed the winding, dark corridors of his palace, thinking of the god's eyes, of the kiss they had given each other and of that promise the god of love had made to him.

"So the witch thinks you can conceive" he muttered to himself, smiling ecstatically "and you promised me that only in you would you carry my offspring. You're a fucking moron, Deku."

Even though he was insulting the god, that side-to-side grin wouldn't go down for the world. Just imagining that beautiful god with a protruding belly and a couple of little devils running between his legs and getting into mischief made him feel like it would be paradise.

However, the smile was short-lived when he saw a recognizable figure in the throne room. Her back was turned, but she recognized the alabaster skin, the brown hair, that almost transparent robe bathed in pink and the quartz tiara.

Uraraka turned as she felt the presence of someone and saw on the lintel of the portal Katsuki, with traces of dirt and blood on his face. Her calm face shuddered giving way to a worried grimace, approaching him and touching his face gently.

"What have you done to yourself? Where have you been? Why are you coming like this?"

"Hello Uraraka, yes I am very well, thank you for asking" replied the god sarcastically as he gently removed Uraraka's hands from his face.

"You're wearing a wound on your temple."

"It's nothing, round face" he replied downplaying it with a nod.

"What do you mean it's nothing Katsuki?"

"The wound is already cauterized, round face."

"And you come here without explaining yourself?" the chestnut questioned hurt.

"As far as I remember, this is my palace and I don't owe explanations to anyone" answered the god, sitting down on the planking going up to his throne, which was still still among the rubble of the wall he had thrown it at "the only person who owes me explanations here is you, what are you doing here?"

"I came to see how you were doing."

"Well as far as you can see, round face, I'm in one piece" rebuked the jaded god "so I'm really sorry for wasting your time."

"Katsuki" whispered the young woman.

He looked straight into her eyes and noticed how her lips tightened into a sad grimace. Damn how he hated that grimace. However, he didn't let his feelings get the better of him.

"What did you really come here to do Uraraka?"

Uraraka shifted uncomfortably, resting her arms very close to his solemn bust and avoiding the war god's crimson gaze, knowing that at any moment she would discover his intentions. Katsuki could be very foolish in matters of love, but if there was one thing the bonfire goddess was sure of, it was that he was no pacifier in matters of flirtation and courtship.

"I... wished to see you Katsuki."

"You saw me as I am, Uraraka, I'm in one piece" the god affirmed again, taking in his hands a cup that an immortal of his servitude had offered him in those moments "Shouldn't you be on your way to the procession? You are the goddess of the bonfire, they will need your blessing to forever warm the hearth in which the new spouses will reside."

"That can wait."

"Why should it wait? It's a fucking wedding and I know you love weddings. Plus it's a little rude to make the bride and groom wait."

"I don't give a damn about the wedding."

"Then what are you doing here, round face?" stood up the god facing the goddess.

The closeness only made Uraraka shudder and her skin crawl with the unquenchable desire that surged from her belly to her stomach. The heat radiating from Katsuki's body, his skin, his lips, all of him, desired him.

Impulsively, she rushed to the war god's lips, lusting after the other's taste, the softness of the thin lips, the warmth the skin radiated, that pressing feeling that had been gnawing at her for so many cycles. He wanted it. He could not hold back that ungodly force that compelled him to do such things.

Katsuki for a moment was surprised and let himself be carried away by that intense and voracious kiss that Uraraka was giving him. However, he pushed her away and stopped her long before her most primitive desires clouded her judgment.

"Why don't you take me?" she questioned him in pain.

"No, Uraraka."

"You've taken the worst creatures and you despise me?"

"It's not that..."

"Then what is it!?" shrieked the goddess "Is it that I am not desirable to you?"

"That's not what I said!"

"But you despise me."

"I do not Uraraka."

"Then..." her hand went to a brooch that held her semi-transparent robe and when it came off, it dropped that vaporous fabric, exposing the goddess' nakedness "take me and I will be yours from today, until the end of my eternity."

Katsuki observed with surprise the glow that glowed on the soft and smooth alabaster skin of the goddess, her small turgid breasts with that pink tip, the curves, her flat belly and the pubis slightly covered with brown hair. Desire gushed like a spark across a powdery road. Those brown eyes, however, turned emerald, which made him close his eyes and turn his back on Uraraka.

"Uraraka, not now."

"You know very well how I feel about you, Katsuki."

"And you know very well my answer."

"Please Katsuki."

Uraraka crept closer to him and leaned her chest against the war god's broad back, wrapping both arms around Katsuki.

"Don't refuse me, please" the goddess pleaded "I will be yours and no one else's if you ask me to, I will be your wife, your lover, whatever you want..."

"Uraraka, stop it."

"I will not stop until you love me."

"But I don't love you!" exclaimed the god of war without patience.

He released his grip on the goddess and grabbed her arms tightly, making her see straight through the annoyance in his eyes and the erratic breathing coming from his nose.

"I'm sick of you fucking insisting. I don't love you and I will never love you, because my heart and soul belong to someone else."

"That's a lie."

"I don't care if you believe me or not Uraraka" the god whispered closely to her already pissed off "the only thing I will tell you is that you are no longer welcome here, ever again."

He released the god without delicacy, making her stumble and then fall on her ass. Uraraka felt humiliated and belittled, tears welled up in her eyes like flowers in spring and she couldn't help but sob.

Although Katsuki felt pity and pain for the situation he had left his friend in, he did not wish to have to go through the same insistence once again. he loved and desired someone else. And he did not look for that same insistence to break what little appreciation he had left for Uraraka. He wanted to get out of there, however Uraraka's voice stopped him.

"It's because of him isn't it?" she questioned in a venomous tone.

Katsuki said nothing.

"Is it because of that damn seducer that you reject me for?"

"Don't you dare say anything."

"Of course it's because of him!" she blurted out angrily "Can't you see he's playing you Katsuki? He has deceived all of Olympus and what he has brought has been discord among the gods."

"Uraraka, shut the fuck up."

"You can't shut me up when you know what's true Katsuki. That damned god has caused strife in our brothers, driven them to war, to Tartarus, and who knows if he has already lost his virtue with as many as he wants as a Cunt."

Katsuki felt an abscess of rage so abysmal that he could not stop himself. With heavy steps he approached, his face transfixed in a furious grimace and his jaw tense. He grabbed Uraraka's arm tightly and lifted her off the ground, also taking the transparent fabric of her robe and dragged her between the corridors of his palace.

"Stop Katsuki, you're hurting my arm."

"I don't care."

"Let go of me."

"I don't care what you want, but in my home you won't come here to show off and belittle those I hold dear."

"You appreciate me Katsuki!"

"No more Uraraka."

The god opened the door of his palace and threw the goddess to the ground, laying her down on the garden floor barely covering her body by the fabric of her robe. Katsuki looked at her with narrowed eyes.

"You are not and will not be welcome back in my home, Bonfire Goddess."

"Katsuki."

"You are the most despicable and poisonous being that has ever touched the council."

"No..." she replied brokenly.

"You were a good friend, as long as it held. However, your behavior has been fatal and you have spurned my will as often as your whim pleased."

"No, Katsuki, I can change!"

"I don't care whether you change or not" Katsuki shouted "get out of my damned palace or I swear I won't answer for my actions."

He slammed the door of his palace and went straight to his room, feeling that his blood was still hot from that outburst of rage. He directly ordered his hot springs to be filled with hot water, so that he could take a bath that would soothe all the tensions in his body.

He took off his armor, as well as the clothes he wore underneath, remaining completely naked and plunging into the bath, enjoying the hot water, relaxing his muscles and dispersing the amount of thoughts that crowded in his head. The day was just beginning and it was already giving him an unbearable headache.

He had just had the most chaotic, frank and impulsive meeting he had ever had with anyone, then he had had to come face to face with his former friend and make her understand his feelings again. He did not wish he had caused Uraraka so much harm, yet her almost feline and venomous insistence had been the reason Izuku had agreed to the marriage, despite that intriguing and dangerous confession.

What had Izuku done to think he deserved his father's wrath? Why did he blame himself so much? What was this promise his lying, manipulative mother had made to the poor god?

However, his ruminations were interrupted by a gasping Alectrion who had suddenly entered the therma.

"What the hell are you doing to..."

"He was kidnapped."

Katsuki felt confused.

"Who?"

"To the god of love, my lord."

Katsuki felt that message like a bucket of cold water, like a dead weight falling on top of his body. It couldn't be.

"How the hell?"

"No one knows, my lord" assured the young man "we only found a papyrus that said he was being held hostage."

"And where is that papyrus?"

"All Might has it, my lord, he was the one who found the note."

"I'll be damned."

"And worst of all, his kidnapper has it in Aegean."

"And who the hell is that devil?" he questioned approaching Alectrion.

"Typhon, my lord" answered the young man without knowing that in those moments an inhuman war would be unleashed.

Chapter Text

To say that Olympus was being hit by a wave of chaos and disaster because of the abduction of the god of love was just an understatement. And in those moments it could be proven.

"We must go now!"

"No way! We don't know who Typhon is yet!" rebuked annoyed and stubborn Momo "We can't throw immortals without knowing exactly what we're doing."

"I don't care what happens to them! I want Izuku back!" shouted Shoto angrily.

"By the demons of Tartarus, Shoto. This way we won't solve anything, nor will we be able to save Izuku."

"I asked you exclusively to give me a way, a damn alternative way to save Izuku; it's been several days now and every day that passes only means that..."

"I know what Shoto's at stake!" shouted Momo already out of patience.

"No, you don't! You don't know what's at stake" Shoto's face was turning red with anger and she threw an accusing finger towards the goddess "What if they kidnapped the love of your life? What if you didn't know about if they are torturing him, starving him, raping him or what worse things they would be doing to him? Would you stand here thinking hard about a strategy?"

Momo was silent and saw the pain reflected in the forge god's two-colored eyes. She was unconsciously clenching a fist in her right hand. However, she released her hand and sighed defeatedly. Shoto was right and, although she wanted to tell him, she didn't have time to mention it when the forge god was already passing through the portal to the exit.

The feeling of guilt overwhelmed her and she sat down on her throne so she could think clearly and try to get rid of the bad feeling left by the argument with Todoroki.

The kidnapping of the god of love had been so chaotic that even in the mortal world there was already talk of apocalypse. The staunchest faithful of the god of love had begun to launch prayers of supplication and protection to All Might so that the god would return to Olympus safe and sound.

However, no one, except Midnight and herself, were aware of how affected All Might was by the abduction of the god of love. The god king, was completely preoccupied, serious and, in the short time that had passed, was acting in a cold and calculating manner. Momo clearly did not blame him. The god was worried about the kidnapping. It had happened right under his nose.

They had been trying for at least several days to gather information, clues, footprints or even the slightest hint of the perfume of the god of love, in order to find the lair where he was being held. But they had no luck and the tension grew with each passing day.

Momo felt tired, exhausted and, above all, hurt. Seeing Shoto again after their wedding, pleading, desperate and with tears in his eyes had only shrunk her heart and boiled the feelings she still felt for the two-eyed god.

Sometimes the goddess of wisdom felt that she could not cope with herself, with that wave of tension, despair, coldness and sadness, she only wished that everything would end as quickly as possible. However, finding the whereabouts of the god of love had become a crossroads in which they had not the slightest clue.

No clues, no loopholes, not even a single answer. It seemed almost as if they had planned this abduction well in advance.

The goddess' thoughts were interrupted when the door slammed open and from it emerged the image of Midnight, her face circumspect, her bearing imposing and with one of her right hands holding the hair of a nymph who kept stirring, gasping in pain and crying as she was dragged across the floor.

Midnight had no qualms in throwing her down in front of Momo and then pinning her feet and hands to the floor with an incantation that her hands materialized into purple energy. The nymph kept hiccupping from her position, while whispering mercy.

"What the hell is she doing..."

Nemuri raised a hand for the goddess to be silent, which she did without much thought.

Nemuri raised a hand and slapped the nymph, who gasped in pain again and fell to the floor.

"Where the hell is he?"

"I don't..."

Nemuri slapped her again.

"I didn't tell you to talk, you filthy nymph."

The young nymph sobbed.

"I'll ask you the question again and I want you to answer me as truthfully as you can where the hell are they keeping the god of love?"

Momo who had stood dumbfounded from her position, became interested in the matter and stared as the nymph trembled under the gaze of the Mother Goddess, full of fire.
"I don't know."

"Don't lie to me, you filthy creature."

"I swear to All Might I don't..."

Nemuri struck her with a clenched fist in the face of the nymph, who fell back to the floor, Irate, grabbed her by the neck and lifted her up again, making her look into his eyes.

"Don't you dare swear in the name of my husband."

"Nemuri..."

"Tell me where you hide him" the goddess again inquired of the nymph "and do not lie to me, for I have heard what you have spoken with the damned Eris..."

The clear eyes of the nymph contracted in an expression of pure terror and her trembling increased. Momo watched attentively from her position as the glowing gaze in anger followed fixedly the expressions of terror of the nymph who did not stop shedding tears at the drop of a tear.

" Mercy..."

"Don't ask for mercy" expressed the queen goddess softly and angrily "not when you are involved in the kidnapping of a god, you filthy animal."

"She was threatening my family, I could do nothing" hastily explained the nymph.

Nemuri silenced her again with another blow. That unblemished face began to deform thanks to the reddish marks that were forming on her face.

"You will be cursed" said the queen raising her hand again.

"Nemuri."

Momo stopped her. She knew she would get nowhere if she kept hitting the only source of information she had.

"Why do you stop me, how dare you....?"

"I know you are tired and anxious about this whole situation" Momo replied, knowing that Nemuri was on edge thanks to Izuku's kidnapping "Why don't you better rest and leave all this to me?"

Momo and Nemuri held each other's gaze for a few seconds, in an unspoken fight that seemed to have lasted a long time. Only after that, Nemuri lowered her hand and sighed in exhaustion, then walked in total silence through the corridors of the palace and left the place.

Momo kept a sepulchral silence in the place, only until she could hear the click of the door subtly closing. Which was the signal to approach the nymph and start using her most infallible plan to extract information: psychology.

************************************************************************************

On the other side, at a long stone inn with a large cartographic map of the islands belonging to Greece, All Might was completely irate, serious and quite scattered.

The golden-stranded god was completely frustrated and felt like a joke at the hairy situation Olympus was in. They had kidnapped one of their gods right from under his nose!

He was affected more by pride that his enemies saw him so weak and so fragile in the face of such a move, than by the actual kidnapping of his son. However, he was aware that he could not blame Izuku. He was just discovering his potential, he had barely been there for a few centuries, he was learning.

The god king of frustration slammed the table and made the cup next to him slip and leave all the wine scattered on the floor. How the hell was it possible that someone could sneak into Olympus and kidnap one of his sons? And to make matters worse, who the hell was this Typhon?

"Father..."

The god king turned his gaze to where the voice came from and saw out of the corner of his eye Katsuki. The god of war was haggard, had dark circles under his eyes and looked unbalanced. All Might's expression lightened a little.

"My boy, what are you doing here?"

"Father...I came to tell you something I've been fighting with for a long time and I know it's not fair to you for me to keep this from you."

All Might opened his eyes in surprise. Normally Katsuki was distant, sometimes crossing words with him, only paying him obeisance as his king and never as his father.

"What is it my boy?" questioned the god approaching his son and taking him by both shoulders with paternity "to what do I owe this honor of you coming and opening your heart to me."

"Because I know you will be the only one who will not judge me from hatred, father."

All Might smiled half-sideways and saw in ruby's eyes the authenticity with which Katsuki spoke those words to him.

"Do you wish for wine so you can relax? You have a bad countenance, my boy."

"No, father, thank you."

"All right, but I wish to know what has you so at war with yourself, my boy."

Katsuki stared into his father's blue eyes and saw in them the assurance he needed to admit all the regret he had suffered over the past few days since Izuku's abduction. That gnawing frustration, sadness, anger was building up like a gurgling poison that she could no longer stop or silence.

"I... I'm in love with someone father and..."

"Oh my boy, you know we don't judge here who you wish to be with" admitted the god king "worse misfortune is for you to destroy a heart by not fighting for it."

Katsuki swallowed hard at the genuine words of his father, the brightness of the blue eyes of the king of the gods urged him to continue with that show of vulnerability and sincerity that his son was giving him.

"I don't know if I'm doing right and..."

"Why do you grieve so much my boy? You are the god of war, god of virile beauty, no creature can resist you and you know it well."

"He's getting married father... and he will be..."

"And you think that should stop you?"

Katsuki's eyes widened in surprise at his father's suspicion, was he urging him to break Izuku's engagement?

"My boy, don't look at me like that. I know I haven't been the best father, not to you, not to many of my children; but if there's one thing I'm sure I can make it up to you in, it's being there for the ones I haven't been."

All Might smiled and Katsuki smiled slightly. For the first time, after quite some time, he and his father had a moment of brotherhood and camaraderie. He was inwardly grateful for that pleasant feeling settling in his chest.

"That's why I tell you, if you love that creature so much, who I don't know if he's a man or a woman or whatever, fight for him and let no marriage stop him."

"Are you seriously telling me to break the marriage? You? King of the gods and husband of the goddess of marriage?" questioned Katsuki amused.

"You think I would be so hypocritical to tell you to respect marriage?" replied the god king genuinely "I mean look at me, I don't have the morals to tell you to 'respect marriage.'"

They both looked at each other for a few moments and then burst out laughing genuinely. Katsuki and All Might felt that that very genuine connection they both had for a long time was being rebuilt, and for that they both felt happy. However, Katsuki knew she couldn't lie to her father, not when that forbidden love for the god of love was still latent.
"Father, I..."

"What is it, my boy?"

Katsuki sighed, internally disagreeing whether or not he should tell him that the god of love, whom his father had paired with the cursed half-half-half, was the one who stole his thoughts, heart and soul. He opened his mouth for only a few moments, feeling that the phonemes that tried to come out of his mouth would break that halo of camaraderie between his father and him.

However, the door was slammed open and revealed Momo walking giddily and desperately, with a smirk on her lips and some traces of dried blood glimpsed on her right hand. She felt elated.

"I know where he is."

Katsuki and All Might's eyes widened in sheer surprise and they both rushed towards the goddess of wisdom.

"How do you know?" the god king questioned.

"Nemuri" replied the goddess quickly, making her way between the two gods and approaching the map "she loves to butt in where she's not called."

"How can you be sure that...?" the god of war tried to ask.

"Eris was the one who planned all this."

A sepulchral silence settled in the room.

"Damn woman," the god king whispered between his teeth.

"That's why she knew how to get under our noses" replied Katsuki irate.

"Exactly" replied Momo, taking in her hands a long rod with graphite on the tip "but Eris had the bad luck to entrust the information to the wrong person."

"That explains the blood on your hand, sister."

"Where the hell are they keeping Izuku hidden?"

Momo nodded to her father and started forming lines around all of Greece. Neither Katsuki, nor All Might had any idea what Momo was doing, but her concentration and the seriousness of her expressions denoted that she knew what she was doing.

"What we were able to gather, thanks to the ravens of Nemuri, was that in almost all the kingdoms of Greece, Izuku's perfume was scattered through the air and across the lands of mortals."

"Exactly, but that doesn't make sense and I've already stressed it..."

All Might was silent for a moment and Momo looked into her father's eyes.

"They looked at our faces" All Might whispered circumspectly.

"Izuku has never descended into the mortal world" asserted Katsuki.

"And that's where our clue comes in" said Momo to make a large circle on the map where there were only a few small specks of color "the islands..."

************************************************************************************

Everything was completely dark. Just a solid nothingness. An emptiness. And then a latent pain. He opened his eyes and his sight was smeared with pure motes of light, blurry and blinding.

He felt the floor cold, wet and soft. The pain was coming from his head. He groaned as he felt an even stronger stab of pain. He felt no part of his body. As if every limb was asleep.

He felt fear. His breathing began to quicken and as soon as he opened his eyes, he was able to focus on a shadow, which with each blink of an eye became clearer and clearer and more chilling.

"But look, the beautiful creature is already awake" said that creepy, childlike voice.

His body, out of inertia and fear, made him get up and fall backwards to the floor. But before he could get up again, a heavy body immobilized his arms and body.

Izuku, seeing himself immobilized, began to try to free himself from that body. However, he could not move a single centimeter of that being that immobilized him. He looked directly at his captor and observed the dark perversity in her yellow eyes, those smiling lips with sharp teeth and that ashy blond hair.

"ma ma, you don't have to be scared beautiful creature" the young woman said softly "we will take good care of you, you don't have to be afraid of us."

Izuku felt a churning in his stomach, as if he felt like vomiting. That young woman who was immobilizing him, made him feel the most latent panic he had ever felt in his life.

"You don't have to be so shy, beautiful creature," she said coquettishly, taking him by the face so that he looked directly into her yellow eyes "none of us bite, unless you want us to."

She laughed at the top of her lungs. Izuku felt an unpleasant shiver as he heard her laugh and tried to stir again, this time managing to shake the young woman off and forcing his body to try to run away.

However, something stopped him and made him fall flat on his face. His face hit the wet ground. His head spun for a few moments and then, finding himself conscious again, he looked at what was stopping his escape. A shackle on his right foot, attached to a chain embedded in the stone wall.

He was a captive.

"Ma, you have courage, beautiful creature."

Izuku felt something stinging close to his throat and fear paralyzed him as he saw the proximity of the weapon. The young woman made him stand up and he froze.

"I am..."

"A god? We know" whispered the young woman pressing her body to Izuku's and the weapon to her throat "that's why the dagger I have is orichalcum."

Izuku felt a small prick and a liquid began to run down his throat. A shiver of fear went up all over his body, he felt his throat knot and his tears betrayed him releasing the first tears of terror.

"Just as diamonds can be destroyed by diamonds themselves, what a god does, can kill a god."

Izuku let out a hiccup of despair. The cold weapon was still on his neck.

"Oh, you're having fun without my Toga."

That deep voice made Izuku's eyes widen. A young man, taller than him, with long grayish hair, fair skin, barely covered by a thin half-length robe, markings and a chilling smile, was approaching with a grin even higher than his cheeks.

Izuku felt that his heart would jump out of his chest from sheer terror, he felt like vomiting and that at any moment his legs would give out.

"Ma, did you come to disturb Shigaraki?"

"I just came to see how you were treating our guest."

Izuku turned his gaze away and closed his eyes so as not to look at him. However, a sullen, calloused hand took him by the chin and lifted his face. His eyes, without being able to help it, opened and let see closely that darkness that he glimpsed in those maroon, perverse and evil eyes. The fair skin was gaunt and the smile only made his deep fears materialize.

"Are you afraid of me?" playfully questioned Shigaraki.

Izuku didn't answer, he only felt the stinging weapon approaching his neck bathed in a thin line of his blood and the body of his captor.

"Your eyes do not lie to me" he said wickedly "it is a delight to be able to see you vulnerable, god of love."

Izuku closed his eyes from sheer terror and felt a tongue lick away the traces of tears. He knew it was from that young man who called himself Shigaraki. He felt disgusted, with the taste of bile rising in his throat and his legs wavering.

"Ma, how unfair, I want to enjoy myself too."

Izuku felt a hand slip through the thin fabrics that still covered him, caressing the alabaster skin."No," Izuku whispered.

"Don't be shy, beautiful creature" whispered Shigaraki, moving closer and squeezing Izuku.

Izuku felt how the young man's manhood pressed to his pelvis, and he felt he could not take it anymore. He began to sob in despair. He was trapped and would be the plaything of those wicked mortals.

Izuku felt the other's lips moving down his skin. They were dry, barely moist. They burned him, those wicked hands tried to touch him, to make him theirs, to make him moan, but the only thing that came out of his lips were those uncontrollable hiccups and the tears of accepting that they would rape him in those moments.

"Both of you stop now."

That prominent voice made his captors turn away from him and he fell to his knees. The sobs kept coming and the tears barely gave him a glimpse of the figure who had released that command.

"Mother..."

"Don't you dare say a single word to me, Shigaraki" cut off the femme's thick voice.

Izuku wiped away his tears as best he could and got a better look at the figure in front of him. A towering woman, with a long ashen robe that was lost in smoky hems, as if floating, long hair that hung as if the wind was blowing it and a grayish skin like a cloudy day, her eyes without irises, her long hands and that circumspect rictus.

"You don't know what harm you could have done, you idiot children."

That woman quickly approached and hit the young men in the face with that slender, but horrifying right hand.

"If only they would stop thinking with their hormones."

"But, mother..."

"Shut up!" the woman shouted at the young woman, "Didn't I tell you not to give in to temptation? I trusted you and you let me down like this."

"No, mother!"

Another blow silenced Shigaraki.

"Don't speak without my damn permission" she whispered, spitting out every word "you are not like Dabi or like Hawks. You guys are weak."

Izuku watched out of the corner of his eye as both young men changed their faces to pure despair.

"And you" said that woman, pointing at Izuku "I thought you would be more daring or intelligent. And to think All Might welcomed you with open arms."

Izuku looked at her and in those eyes he saw the chaos created under her soul.

"So... you're Eris" he whispered.

" Well, aren't you so foolish then to know about me."

"Nemuri has told me many stories of you."

"How nice that at least someone remembers me, even if it's in a resentful way."

"Why?"

Eris looked straight into Emerald's eyes and smiled a Dantesque smile.

"Let's just say you're... the unresolved issue I have with All Might."

"Do you resent him that much for him rejecting you?"

The chaos goddess's face was disfigured. Izuku dared to look into the depths of those dark, iris-less eyes to realize the mistake he had made. Eris laughed at the unprecedented change in the young god's expression.

"You have provoked an anger in me that I have not felt in years, you sure are special boy" she said stepping closer and cupping his face with both hands "but I do not wish to soil my hands with you."

The goddess of chaos left Izuku's face. With a gesture, she made Shigaraki and Toga disappear from her sight.

"Dabi!" she called.

From the chinks of that labyrinth made of stone, a tall, lean figure emerged. He wore some parts of his body burned and others were bathed in alabaster skin, his hair was reddish and his eyes were ice.

Izuku felt fear at the memory of him. He was the one who had gagged, beaten and kidnapped him. It was worse than he had barely been able to recall.

"Please take care of him while I'm gone."

That tall young man nodded and from him came a perfidious smile that made Izuku shiver from his place. He was slowly approaching.

"Oh, Izuku" Eris told him "They know that gods cannot die, but if there is one thing I have learned in so many millennia, it is that gods can feel pain... and leave marks on them..."

Izuku felt his skin turn pale, watching Dabi's fingertips sprout strands of bluish fire. Eris smiled as she watched his face contort.

The god of love inertia pulled back as Dabi approached with a side-to-side grin.

"I'll have a lot of fun with you, beauty."

Izuku not knowing what to do, started trying to break the chain that held him captive. However, his efforts were in vain.

"It's made of orichalcum, sweetheart. So I highly doubt you'll be able to destroy it" the ice-eyed boy said sardonically.

Izuku glued himself to the wall, feeling fear, regret and despair gnawing at him like a torrid poison, watching that figure approach without being able to stop it.

Then a scream of pain was heard in the abandoned lands of the Antikythera.

Chapter Text

The place was plunged in a sibilant silence, surrounded by the darkness of that gloomy night without stars and without moon, bathed by the dense silhouettes of the dwellers of that labyrinthine and cavernous hollow of the island of Antikythera.

Shigaraki, Toga and Dabi waited silently for the appearance of their mother who had disappeared to see if the gods were still sending legions of crows or eagles in search of the god held in their hands.

Dabi occasionally illuminated the dimly lit room with an ephemeral flare, Toga hummed some children's songs, while Shigaraki was leaning against one of the smooth walls of the cave, circumspect and uneasy.

It could be said that it would be a short time before their plan would achieve the main objective for which their mother had brought them together: to force the gods to accept them as immortals and live on Olympus for the rest of their eternity.

Shigaraki, just thinking about it, delighted in those compelling fantasies of great fountains of wine, of exotic creatures lying with him, of the recognition of all those mortals who called him a monster and abused him. It was only a short time before those who called him weak, disgusting and putrid trash, would eat their words and suffer the consequences of their wrath.

Just having in mind the thousands of tortures he could perform on his enemies when he was an immortal, a perfidious smile formed on the face of the gray-haired young man.

"Mha, Mha, what are you thinking, Shigaraki-kun?"

"It shouldn't be your problem what I'm thinking, Toga," the cadaverous-eyed youth replied annoyed and curtly.

"But I'm bored..."

"And what business is it of mine whether you are or not? Go chase toads like you've been doing for the last few days."

"Mha you don't have to be so dry with me" she blurted out in a pout.

Shigaraki rolled his eyes.

"You just rolled your eyes at me, you're so mean."

"Stop nagging, you deranged girl."

"Don't call me that!" the cream-haired girl jumped up angrily.

"I don't care if you don't like it! You're fucking unhinged!"

"That I'm not," Toga retorted angrily.

"That yes you are" countered Shigaraki moving annoyed closer to her.

"That I'm not."

"That you are."

"That I'm not!"

"Damn, you are!"

"I told you no, you big fool" replied Toga on the verge of annoyance, taking the handle of the orichalcum knife between his fingers.

But before the two could do anything, a thick curtain of blue fire passed in front of their noses, which made them jump back.

That thick curtain pierced the smooth cave wall until it became nothing more than a gelatinous, molten lump of magma that fell laxly to the floor. When the curtain stopped, the wide portal surrounded by the blackened smell of burning exposed the strength of its bearer.Dabi wore a friendless grimace and a frown.

"You two really are a rock up the ass."

"Dabi, I'm... I'm sor..."

"I don't want you to say shit, Toga" he replied furiously and coldly "you've been tormenting us all with your fucking childishness and I really have been less than a breath away from breaking every bone in your body and cutting out your tongue to stop your childishness."

Toga felt embarrassed and afraid by the icy glares that turquoise gaze dedicated to him.

"And you Shigaraki, you're another fucking pebble in the shoe too. You're a fucking man, cut the bullshit and get serious."

"Don't come fucking with me now with your airs of superiority! I've been an important part of this plan and..."

"Who kidnapped the fucking god without even leaving a trace? Who made them get to what was to become the labyrinth ever created by Daedalus? Who thought of putting him in orichalcum shackles?! Huh?"

"Don't think you're a big deal, Dabi. We're all important in this plan."

"Oh please Shigaraki! All you've done this whole time is guard a prisoner A fucking prisoner!"

Shigaraki had to bite his tongue in order not to let out the string of expletives he wanted to dedicate to Dabi, because he knew that would be a sure beating and already on more than one occasion Dabi had made him shut up in the worst possible ways.

"That's what I wanted to hear" the ice-eyed boy blurted out slyly, smacking him on the head with the back of his hand "you should go check on him..."

Shigaraki clicked his tongue and slapped Dabi's shoulder before retreating from where he stood, being engulfed by the labyrinthine corridors of that cavernous place.

The dull-haired boy felt angry, annoyed. His pride had been beaten relentlessly, and worst of all, Dabi was quite right. His mother and he had been the criminal masterminds who had plotted the plan too meticulously.

It was undeniable to tell Dabi something, the bastard was too right. However, it wasn't at all fair to make him feel that way. Like a useless, worthless piece of shit. No, that wasn't going to stand.He deftly passed through a few corridors, while looking around the smooth walls of that complex place.

"Where the hell did you put those marks Toga?"

Shigaraki could not find in the dense darkness of the cave those marks that Toga had insisted so much on making so as not to get lost in that labyrinthine place. Even though everyone knew some of the paths in the cavernous place, it was still a problem not to get lost.

Shigaraki let out a sigh of annoyance as he continued to search without any success for the marks that his stupid sister had left behind.

In truth it all seemed rather complicated and annoying to him. How had Daedalus' mortal fucker created such a complicated and labyrinthine place in such a way? He really couldn't have made life more difficult for them than to have created such a complicated place. And to make matters worse, Daedi had put them there in order to better hide from the gods.

According to what he could eavesdrop from his mother, that cavernous place was to be the dwelling place of that gigantic monster that many feared and few had been able to get out of it alive. The Minotaur. However, the king of Minos regretted that place and forced him to make an even more complicated labyrinth in the outskirts of Crete, to enclose that disgusting monster born of the insults of the gods.

"I found you" whispered the god as he caught a glimpse of a small light.

It was a fluorescent thread that shone in front of the gloomy room where he was and marked the way to the place that the gray-haired young man was looking for.

Shigaraki closely followed that little fluorescent-colored path that marked the way, without paying much attention to his surroundings.

**********************************************************************************

Consciousness was slowly returning to him. He felt an unrelenting dizziness roll over his head, an unpleasant tingling around his body and a feverish twinge of pain run through every muscle in an icy way.

He wasn't sure what was happening at that moment, but he tried to catch a glimpse of something when he opened his eyes, but everything felt so unfamiliar. His vision was blurry and that thick gloom only puzzled him even more.

He tried to remain composed, but that lacerating, acidic nervousness was rising from the pit of his stomach to his throat like a burning knot that was burning him.

Izuku could barely stand on his body due to the lacerating tingling and burning that resided in his body. Still latent were those impossible-to-hide burns that Dabi had dedicated to him the day before.

The alabaster skin, once immaculate, was now marked by large scars that were just finishing healing. Scars of smooth, white skin that looked like healed grafts and distorted the beauty of her once skin.

The god of love could barely lift half of his body, but it was inevitable not to feel that wretched puncture that stretched from his right shoulder to part of his lower back, and that made him sob silently in that cavernous place where he was confined.

His tears were gone, his voice was gone after that bloody encounter with the icy-eyed monster, his body was barely responsive due to the sheer amount of pain he felt, and his muscles were not responding even to drag him on the cold, soft ground.Eris was right. 

Gods did heal faster, physically. However, Izuku's insides felt faint. He could still feel the throbbing chafing of open wounds, the haunting pain that in his scars resided, in the burning sensation that at any moment he would die and melt in Dabi's hands.

"Kaachan" he managed to grumble in a trickle of voice.His thoughts never ceased to hover between the images of the crimson-eyed god. 

He still remembered that promise he had made to her at the reservoir. «My hand, my right hand, my sword, my body and my soul, will be bound to you for your protection(...)»

"Sometimes I wouldn't want to feel so foolish believing you" he gasped.

"Are you already insane enough to talk to yourself?"

Izuku's body tensed, forcing him to stand up hastily and mumbling moans at the pain of the scars.

The dense shadow emerging from that dense gloom he could not fully glimpse, but that sibilant, shadowy voice emerging from that blurred silhouette forced him to stand on his guard.

He stepped back, rattling the orichalcum shackles that held him captive, until he was able to stick to the smooth wall behind him. While he could not observe his captor, the young god felt his presence overwhelm him to the point of forcing him to hyperventilate.

"Wao, I see you were traumatized" replied Shigaraki slyly "you're hyperventilating worse than a whore."

Izuku did not answer. Panic kept him paralyzed in his place and he gasped as he felt that shadow approaching him.

"Dabi can be a son of a bitch if he puts his mind to it. I know. The vast majority of my scars were because of him."

That comment only unsettled the young god of love even more, listening as his captor's barefoot footsteps approached parsimoniously, like a funeral dirge that was getting on his nerves.

"But if there's one thing I'm sure of, little morsel, it's that he accomplishes what he sets out to do."

The footsteps stopped and that only made the emerald-eyed boy's body tense even more. His heart pounded frantically inside his chest, the burning that prickled in his scars no match for the terror he held for his captors.

His hair was pulled upwards, and if he had had a voice he would have shrieked in horror, only to be guarded by Shigaraki's wicked gaze. His opaque, rage-filled eyes made him tremble with fear.

He was not sure what would happen to him before his captor. On more than one occasion he had harassed him, touched him in a perfidious manner, his hands once almost reached his member, but hopefully someone would stop him long before it escalated. However, in those moments he believed that his greatest nightmare would be consummated. By inertia, he closed his legs and squeezed them together.

"Oh, defensively" whispered Shigaraki.

Still holding the god's hair in his hands, he lashed the limp body against the smooth wall. Izuku could only let out a weak gasp and feel the painful spasms of the blow on his back.

"I like it, snack. It'll be much easier for me this way, so I don't regret all the torture I'll do to you."

Izuku tried to struggle, but his body was faint from pain and exhaustion. He turned his gaze away and closed his eyes so as not to look at the closeness of his captor's face. He could feel his foul breath kiss the skin of his cheek, only to then shudder in sheer disgust as Shigaraki's tongue ran a path of saliva over his cheek.

"Mmmm, sweet..." he whispered in a mushy voice.

Izuku prayed silently, he thought of his father and Katsuki, wishing they would save him from the hell he was in. A tear flowed from his cheeks as well as a silent sob.

"Kaachan" he whispered plaintively.

However, Izuku was suddenly released. He was left with his knees on the ground in a shuddering manner.

Confused by what was happening in that dense darkness, he heard the sound of thumping, gasping and then a guttural sound of a body pierced by a steel, a grotesque dripping and a muffled scream.

The god of love was filled with such a dread that he could only freeze in place. The silence that oppressed him kept him alert and cautious, and it did not help that the intense darkness limited his visibility.

The silence was cut short again as the ground shook and the crash of a dead weight reverberated around the place. Izuku cringed in place.

"You fucking bastard" whispered that guttural, recognizable voice.

Izuku wanted to cry with happiness at that moment.

"Kaachan" he blurted out in that trickle of voice he had left.

Suddenly a beam of light appeared, weak, small, but bright enough to reflect the narrow silhouette, the strong jaw and the crimson glow that told in the eyes of the god of war.

"Sorry it took me so long, Deku" whispered the war god inconsolably.

Izuku, unable to believe it, raised his left hand with the intention of wanting to touch Kaachan. He did not want to feel that he had fallen into insanity, imagining that Kaachan was just a vile game of his mind.

However, the god of war knelt in front of him, with a hurt, hurt grimace, but letting that slender, slender-fingered hand touch the skin of his face.

Izuku felt that sallow skin under his fingers and hiccupped helplessly. Kaachan was real and that only made his body calm down, forgetting the pain that still stung in his scars and that lacerating anguish of being trapped in that place.

"You came..." he replied in that trickle of a voice.

"I promised you I would protect you" he tried to keep his voice from cracking "I'm so sorry."

"You are..." Izuku's body was giving in to exhaustion "you came... for me..."

Without much strength, Izuku felt himself faint. Everything spun around for an instant, only to realize, in his unconsciousness, that everything was dark again.

*********************************************************************************

All Might, together with Momo and Shoto, waited impatiently for the arrival of the god of war on the shores of the island of Cythera, closely guarded by the nymph mother Inko and her retinue of beautiful forest nymphs.

To say that everything was in a tense silence was an understatement in the face of the true anguish that everyone was experiencing in the face of this collective silence.

All Might was quite anxious, with a circumspect face and feet moving with anxiety; Shoto on the other hand was tightening the handle of his hammer, trying to drain the anguish and worry that contracted his body; Momo, on the other hand, was totally serene and calm, aware that if Katsuki took longer than necessary, they would all go into action as agreed.

The small group made up of the god king, the goddess of wisdom, the god of forging and war, had drawn up a fairly simple plan, but one that had to be meticulously executed to the letter.

The plan sought to mislead through decoys and false information the perspicacity of Eris. They knew that the goddess could cause chaotic moments, but it was all thanks to the meticulousness with which she imbued each of her actions. She could cause a thousand catastrophes, but never get her hands dirty. So throwing her off the scent was the first and most important part of the plan.

The next step was for Katsuki, with his invisibility cloak, to enter the island of Antikythera, the only one of the islands that was not dominated by any mythological or mortal creature. All Might and Momo relied on the war god's hard-earned caution and silence.

And in case he was discovered, All Might and Momo were prepared with their weapons to give Katsuki support in the event of an inevitable confrontation.

While Todoroki was not initially assumed to be part of the plan, the god insisted ad nauseam that he should enter into it by the immovable right of being the future husband of the victim, which was not welcomed in a good way by Katsuki. However, the god of war did not object because of the presence of the god of forging, as Momo had insisted that having an extra pair of hands would not be a bad idea if there was a confrontation.

Thus, the gods stood illuminated by the dim light of a few torches, listening to the sound of the waves and waiting across that gloomy sea on the horizon for the arrival of the god of war.

Inko stood unperturbed at All Might's side, with a face imbued with seriousness. Momo was calm, fully confident in Katsuki's abilities to save his lover. However, Shoto was getting impatient, it wasn't fair that Katsuki was the one to look for Izuku, the god of love was his future husband, it was his right, he was supposed to save him.

However, All Might had been quite clear in telling him that Katsuki should do that task, whether he liked it or not. And he couldn't doubt or object to All Might's decisions.

"Fuck..."

"Be patient boy" replied All Might without looking directly at Shoto.

Shoto clenched his hand on the handle of his hammer and gritted his teeth, only to snap back into place. He was worried, distressed, helpless for knowing absolutely nothing about Izuku.

But nothing was worse than that bubbling feeling that settled in his stomach and made him want to break everything. That feeling that only arose from the idea of Izuku being touched by the god of war, that his skin would be sullied by that horrifying being, that the god would take advantage of the vulnerability of her future husband. A jealousy so poisonous that it only made him burn inside.
"Damn it."

"Shoto, calm down..."

"You can't fuck with me right now with that, Momo. This is my husband we're talking about."

"We're all worried," the redhead replied serenely, "but we have to trust Katsuki."

"Trust him?" he questioned ironically "I don't trust him, if it had been my decision I would have gone to save my husband myself."

"You must trust, Shoto. Katsuki knows what he is doing."

"Oh please Momo, don't be hypocritical now..."

"I'm not being, Shoto" and although on the outside the goddess looked serene, that comment had hurt her deep inside "understand that for the sake of this plan you must let Katsuki do his part."

"And if he doesn't, we'll have to save my husband and his nasty, cruel ass."

Momo sighed.

"This plan is absurd" I silently grumbled the forge god.

"If you want to get out of here so badly, boy, you better decide now or never." replied without a drop of patience the king god "We are all just as worried as you are right now, and being a petty and a tantrum the only thing you are doing is annoying us even more. So if you want to stay and play hero with Izuku so badly, you'd better shut the fuck up, otherwise go back to the Pantheon like a coward."

Shoto frowned even more and his whitish skin turned reddish at the great rage he felt at those moments. His pride had been struck by none other than All Might. Nevertheless, Shoto bit his tongue and did not reproach any further comments.

"How much longer before Eijirou covers the sky with dawn?" questioned All Might.

"Only a couple of hours" replied Momo.

They knew that if Katsuki did not succeed in his task before the dawn arrived, they would all take action to confront the sons of Eris.

However, it didn't take long before Inko let out a gasp and noticed through the darkness of the night a winged silhouette approaching them in a dizzying manner.

All Might, Momo and Shoto each stood on guard with their weapons waiting for that shadow of great proportions to make any attack.

That winged body approached so dizzyingly that All Might shouted to the nymphs to move away from the place, only to see how that body hit the sand of the beach and raised a cloud of sand.

Some shrieks of fear were heard in the dark night and the glow of the torches gave a glimpse of that gigantic wing of scarlet plumage.

All Might, like the other gods, stood on guard, cautiously approaching the winged limb and raising one of its thunderbolts in his hands.

However, when the wing opened and revealed the silhouettes of Katsuki and Izuku, All Might approached hastily.

"My boy" the god king blurted out in concern at the sight of the fainted boy.

Likewise, Inko, Shoto and Momo approached to check the health of the god of love who looked quite pale, but what bothered and disconcerted everyone present were those pieces of smooth skin that ran down his right arm.

" Those damned ones" said Shoto with restrained anger.

"They hurt him too much" said Inko observing the marks and gently bringing one of her fingers closer.

Izuku gasped at the touch on his wound, which made Todoroki react to fiercely grab Inko's hand.

"Don't touch him," warned the god, squeezing the nymph mother's hand with his enormous strength.

Inko in the face of the god's wrath broke free from his grip. All Might looked with ill-contained anger at Shoto's action, but before he could do anything Katsuki came out of nowhere, revealing the pool of blood on his face and facing the face of the heterochromatic god.

"Don't you dare raise your hand to him you bastard" he replied in anger.

"Who the hell called you? You filthy monster."

"Well this monster just brought your husband back safe and sound, you should be thanking me right now you ungrateful piece of shit."

"I don't care, I didn't want you in this shit in the first place."

"You weren't in on this plan from the start, but since you were a pebble in the ass, my father had no choice but to bring you in."

They both faced each other with glares bright with anger, defiance and pride. Two gods who in those moments could make the earth tremble.

"Mom..." whispered Izuku's weak voice.

Inko, not caring whether she should or not, reached out to her son and touched his burning face.

"Here I am my child" she whispered with motherhood and concern.

Izuku grumbled and moaned in the sand, stirring from time to time. The image of Izuku suffering had squeezed the hearts of those present.

"He must be taken to the source" dictated the nymph without much care for what the gods decided.

With a gesture, Inko had the nymphs, hidden among the vegetation, gently lift the god. Which made Shoto react, who was stopped by All Might before he could ruin anything else.

"Where are you taking him?!" cried the god in desperation, trying to wriggle out of the god king's strong grip "Let go, I want to see Izuku!"

"I don't care what you want, Shoto" replied the king god scathingly "you've already done too much for today."

"You're not going to take me away from Izuku!"

Katsuki watched with annoyance as the half-elf's desperation was taking away the little patience of those present. He wanted to give him a beating that would leave him speechless for at least a fucking millennium.

"By the fucking vacuum of the universe!"

And that was when All Might for the first time struck one of what he considered to be his many children.

He slammed his gigantic fist on the forge god's cheek, causing him to be thrown to the ground due to the magnitude of the blow. Momo and Katsuki's eyes widened in shock. They never thought they would see their father so angry.

"Stop being a damn spoiled brat and be a man, act like one. Your husband, my son, is dying and you're keeping him from being saved, just because of your damn selfishness to have him all to yourself."

That intense scolding made Momo's skin tremble. Katsuki tried not to express how stunned he was and Shoto was embarrassed, but still frowning at being restricted from his husband's presence; however, he did nothing but nod in submission.

All Might not caring much whether Shoto was well or not, approached the one individual who had not spoken, let alone failed to observe. That man with the large scarlet wings, who observed with a circumspect face the whole spectacle that the gods were giving him on the shores of the island.

"I thank you for bringing my children..."

The young man with blond strands and golden eyes nodded without leaving aside his immaculate expression, but he could not help but tremble before the imposing All Might, which the god noticed.

"However, that doesn't take away the fact that I distrust you boy" replied the god king without much regard "so I hope you will accompany us to Olympus by hook or by crook..."

"I have no problem with going with you" replied the young man calmly.

All Might nodded.

"Your name boy..."

"Keigo Takami, but many know me as Hawks."

And from that moment on, All Might knew he would have the perfect position for him. That was another story, though.

Chapter Text

Nemuri was reluctant and completely jaded by all the things that were piling up inside her traps. She was in a lousy mood at the moment and the only thing that was helping to bring her mood down was the wine she was drinking, even though it wasn't really making her throat or her insides tingle.

Too much had happened since the mother goddess had tried to bring the god of love and her deformed son together in nuptials, and there was nothing in his gut at the moment but a relentless worry that all his plans to bring Shoto and Izuku together would be undermined by Katsuki's interference.

Oh yes, she knew there was something strange between the two of them. She was no fool, but both gods had done their part to confuse her in a way. However, that information that one of her Odas had given her the day the god was kidnapped had put her feet on the ground of how important it was to stop her ashen-haired son long before her plans were overturned.

The goddess, while not liking to be made a fool of, let alone have the truth hidden from her in such a way, desisted from making a magnanimous drama. All Might was so bad that on one occasion when they were arguing, she had raised her voice and warned her that she would lock her up in Tartarus for an eternity.

While the goddess was not afraid of many things, she was afraid of her husband. All Might was calm, permissive and collected most of the time, even in most of their arguments; however, the king god's wrath was a soulless legend, one that Nemuri had rarely had occasion to see. The first time when they confronted her father Cronus, and the last time when she conspired against him to become the sole ruler of Olympus.

She knew that when Yagi was consumed by moodiness and anger, she had to be calm, quiet and loving towards him. Yagi's anger was quite fickle, making him cold, stern, calculating and even cruel if he set his mind to it. So he stopped himself from making the problem at hand even bigger.

Her musings kept her distant for a moment, but a throat clearing brought her back to her senses, raising her august gaze to the one who interrupted her thoughts. But she was surprised to find in front of her throne the one goddess she might never see in her palace even if she had to: Ochako.

The goddess of hearth and hearth stood grimly in front of the queen mother, with a determined countenance and standing tall on her feet, accompanied by one of the many Odes that Nemuri had scattered around the palace.

The goddess straightened her position on the throne and set her burnished goblet filled with wine on a small table beside the throne.

"Oh, Ochako, I didn't expect to see you here... until..."

"I know, Nemuri-san" replied the brown-stranded goddess serenely "I know my presence here is very.... unexpected."

"Always taking the words out of my mouth, my dear," agreed the jet-stranded woman, "but what intrigues me most about all this is to know what are the reasons that have you here in front of me."

Ochako was silent for a moment and then let out a sigh, watched closely by the implacable eyes of the queen mother of Olympus.

"Nemuri, as a woman I come before you to ask a favour."

"A favour?" questioned the queen in surprise "it is very strange even for you, my dear."

"I would never dare ask this of you if I were not so desperate."

"Desperate?"

Nemuri watched the young goddess' syrupy eyes closely and this time the queen mother felt that tingle she may have thought long forgotten: curiosity. Nevertheless, she gave the brown-haired girl a motherly smile.

"You have my undivided attention my dear" said the mother goddess taking the wine cup in her hands and ready to listen to the young goddess "so tell me what is this favour?"

*************************************************

He felt in a strange emptiness. A calm, comforting, ethereal void. He could feel absolutely nothing but that longed-for sense of calm that he had lost long ago, though he couldn't really remember why he had lost it.

Peace was close at hand, though it was combined with a familiar scent of forest, flowers and....

Izuku tried to regain his sight. Yet everything looked so blurred and the pain of his numb body made him wince and stop his sudden movement.

"Izuku," they called his name.

The call of his name made him blink his eyes to better focus on the silhouette that had mentioned his name. When he could better appreciate the specks of colour in front of his eyes, he watched as the image of Inko materialised, her long greenish hair and wet eyes.

"Mother," whispered Izuku audibly.

"Here I am, my child," replied the nymph's voice, touching the god's freckled face with her motherly hands.

The young god felt the sweet touch of his mother like a balm and then he became aware of everything around him. The sunlight coming through the slits in the treetops, the sound of the birds, the rushing of the water. He was home.

Izuku felt comforted for a moment, until he tried to get up and a twinge in his right arm stopped him. The emerald-eyed god stifled a groan and clung to one of the smooth walls of the waterfall they were on.

"Don't move too much sweetheart" said Inko reaching over and wiping a damp cloth across the god's forehead "you're still healing..."

"What..."

"Your father came for you" replied the nymph calmly "he was desperately trying to find you when you disappeared from Olympus. He along with other gods saved you."

"Where are they?"

"On Olympus" she said calmly "I begged your father to let me take care of you enough so you could get back up there safely. But the only one who disagreed was that strange-haired god."

"Shoto" whispered the god.

"Is that his name? Well you should be careful with him if he's going to become your husband, my boy..."

Izuku not knowing what to say at the word husband, fell silent and looked away. Inko noticed.

"Honey... Is he really...?"

"Not yet mum" whispered the god in reply "but he wants very much for me to be his husband, but..."

"You don't love him" the nymph finished.

Izuku stared into his mother's bright green eyes, shaking his head at her.

"But do you intend to marry him? Izuku, that's... unheard of."

"I wouldn't want to marry him mother, if I wasn't bound by a promise."

"Promise?" Inko narrowed her eyes and set her implements aside "Izuku, what the hell did you do?"

Izuku watched the menacing, worried glow that flared behind his mother's emeralds. Izuku settled in place, keeping the bandages on his right arm from spoiling.

"Please, listen to me. I don't want you to judge what I've done."

"Far beyond you being a god, I am your mother, Izuku. It is my duty to judge your decisions and more so when they do not lead to happiness."

His mother's hands took his left hand with affection.

"Tell me everything."

*************************************************

Katsuki was completely nervous, anxious, in a lousy mood - though normally that was his bread and butter - and was pacing back and forth in his palace.

The god of war had occupied himself long enough to take his mind off the beautiful god of love, who had been passed out for at least some time and was being cared for by his mother and sisters in Cythera.

It had been difficult for him to leave the care of the god of love in their hands. However, the fact that it was his mother who was taking close care of the beautiful milky-skinned god had calmed his nerves a little. Nevertheless, that pressing feeling of worry had not left him in peace since his father had returned them to Olympus.

To say that his father was without care was an understatement. And in truth it was all the fault of the half-fucking-half's annoying, tireless insistence that he could go and stay with his Deku, tormenting the old man. His father was tired, jaded and, like him and the two-coloured bastard, worried about the health of the enigma-scented god.

They had not heard a single word from the god since, by All Might's compulsion, they had all retreated to Olympus. However, the god king had assured them that he was keeping a close eye on the freckled one's progress and that, in the event of any mishap, he would summon them so as not to make the problem even bigger than it already was.

Katsuki stood pensively on his arranged throne and waved his leg frantically in anxiety. He wished with all his might that he could escape to the island and closely accompany the recovery of the god of love, wanting to know if he had woken up, if he was recovering.

His need to feel, to be and to witness the closeness of the god of love next to him, his warmth, his face, was driving him crazy. The simple sensation of being away from that beautiful boy with the infinite freckles was making him delirious, his stomach was shrinking and the urge to know about the god was gnawing at his thoughts in a relentless way.

"My lord" whispered barely audible to him.

The ashen-haired god looked at his protégé, rousing himself from the torrent of musings that were drowning him at the moment.

"Is something wrong, sheep's eyes?" the god asked.

"I'm sorry to disturb you, my lord, but the god of forging has come."

Katsuki didn't bother to react. However, he found it very strange that the half-half bastard showed up at his castle as if it was nothing, he had never come near his home since he had earnestly asked him for an arrangement many eons ago.

"What's that bastard doing here?" he questioned his protégé.

"I haven't the faintest idea, my lord. I'm as confused as you are."

"Didn't you even ask what the hell he was doing here?"

"Yes I did, my lord. He had no intention of telling me even though I insisted, he just told me it was matters between you and him."

Katsuki tensed the muscles on his armour and frowned more pronouncedly. That message that two-coloured bastard had sent with his protégé had alerted his warrior instinct, that instinct he only used when he was in the middle of a war, where his intelligence and innate talent for battle came into play.

Alectrion saw up close how his master's grimace had relaxed into a countenance the young man had rarely seen on his master. A countenance permeated with focus, resolve and fierceness. It was the countenance of a true warrior about to launch himself into battle and that alone made the young man feel two contradictory feelings: pride and concern.

"My lord?"

"I'll go see him out there" said the god of war with such seriousness that the young man gave an imperceptible gasp "just one thing, sheep's eyes..."

"What my lord?"

"Bring my spear and only react when I tell you is that alright?"

The crimson eyes looked straight into the syrupy ones of his protégé, who nodded rather insistently and disappeared down the corridors of his palace. Then the god of war briefly stretched his body as he rattled a few bones and began to psych himself up for what would happen next.
If his instincts told him right, the half-half bastard surely already had a sneaking suspicion of how he felt about Deku and, even if he cared one hell of a lot about the scumbag, he had to come face to face with the idiot to make him leave him alone for once.

Who did that jerk think he was, going to the outskirts of his palace and leaving bellicose messages like that, knowing his agility in war. While Katsuki didn't care what anyone said about him, his pride as a god of war had prompted him to take that message as a call to fight. And he was absolutely certain that he would kick that bastard's ass.

As he stepped through the entrance gates, imposing, haughty and calm, he looked closely at the grimace that oozed the ill-contained anger of the god of the forge. His knuckles were clenched, teeth biting his lips and fire blazing in his heterochromatic eyes.

"What the hell do you want now you bastard?"

"I've come to have you tell me to my face what you know, Katsuki," the forge god replied dismissively, gritting his teeth.

"Know what? I'm not the fucking know-it-all witch to be answering you bullshit."

"Don't tease me Katsuki" replied the god angrily, walking up to him and angrily facing him "we both know what I'm talking about."

"Not really" the ashen-haired one replied coldly, pretending to be oblivious "I'm not a fucking fortune teller to be guessing what the fuck you're thinking."

"Just to make it clearer, Katsuki. I want you to stay away from Izuku."

Katsuki's eyes lingered intently on the heterochromatic, narrowing and observing the steely annoyance that nestled in the forge god's eyes. He watched as the gleam of his hammer glinted from the wrathful god's girdle, but didn't think much of it.

"Drive me away for what?" the god questioned mockingly.

"Because he is..."

"Your husband? Oh, come on, you bastard. He hasn't even had his fucking procession yet and you're already claiming him like he's a fucking prize."

"Katsuki, I'm warning you..."

"Don't warn me about anything, you bastard. He's the one who has the right to demand that I stay away from him here, not you."

"How dare you challenge me, you bastard?"

"Challenge you? Stop talking rubbish. You are no challenge to me and Deku is not yours," said the god of war slowly and savagely.

"Deku?" questioned the two-coloured one, feeling his heart disfigure and his anger scorch him, "You are fucked"

"No, you're the fuked one here. Wanting to see fucking Deku as a prize, well, I'll tell you this once and for all, you bastard: he belongs to no one. If he wants to come to me, it will be by his own choice."

"I've had enough of you," the forge god shrieked in anger.

With a nimble movement, Shoto grabbed the handle of his hammer at his belt and lunged at the god of war. Before the weapon could graze him, Katsuki rolled on the ground and, with a distinctive hiss, caused Alectrion, hidden between one of the columns, to hurl one of his spears at him.

Shoto's two-coloured eyes glared wildly at him, not really caring if the ashen-haired god clutched that spear of iron and bronze in his hands. He lunged again, watching as the god of war also lunged at him.

Weapons rammed into each other, maintaining the strength of the two gods, one gnashing his teeth in fury and the other glaring earnestly at his opponent. The metallic, crackling sound of the weapons had set Alectrion on edge, and he was watching the clash off the radar of the two gods.

«Oh god, a fight between my lord and a god, come on my lord.»

"Stay away from him Katsuki, he's mine" whispered the god angrily.

"You really are annoying and stubborn, you bastard."

"I just want you to stay away from him."

Shoto pushed Katsuki backwards, trying to take advantage of the stumble. However, Katsuki avoided the blows the god threw with his hammer and, some, countered with the haft or tip of his spear. Shoto clicked his tongue.

In one of those, he almost hit the god's face, but Katsuki jumped back by the hair. Watching from the imposed distance as Shoto breathed erratically in anger.

Both gazes met, sparkling, proud and angry, waiting for his opponent's next move.

"Listen to me, you bastard. I will only walk away from Deku, when he asks me outright, not when you wish it."

"That's my husband you're talking about, Bakugo! My husband," Shoto shouted again in annoyance.

"Well, I don't care what you think. Deku has the power to decide what to do with his life, not you."

"You're a fucking bastard," he gnashed his teeth.

"Tell me something I don't know, asshole, besides the fact that you played tricks to get his hand."

That comment blew all the forge god's sanity caps off. The two-eyed god let out a war cry and rushed at the god of war, who reacted and was able to counter his opponent's relentless blow.

"How dare you, you're not one to judge me, if you're a bloody monster."

Katsuki clicked his tongue and slammed his elbow into the god's face, causing the god to stagger and took advantage, dizzily sweeping his body over the forge god's legs and sending him tumbling. Before the god could react, the blade of the spear was thrust into the forge god's jugular vein, leaving him with no way out.

The god of the forge wanted to scream in frustration and the god of war wanted to find a way to destroy the god. The heterochromatic-eyed jerk made him lose what little patience he had left and he really wanted to find a way to dislocate his muscles for pretending that the god of love would stop seeing him.

"Who the hell do you think you are, you bastard?" the god of war shouted at him, "coming here demanding me as if you were our father."

"Don't be reckless and vain, Katsuki. It's my right as his future husband, I don't want you anywhere near him, he belongs to me, he's mine."

"Stop seeing him as a damn thing, you bastard. He's a god and his decisions are his, not yours."

The weapon pressed even tighter against the flesh of the forge god's neck, but the flame of anger was undaunted in the face of Katsuki's crimson eyes. Shoto, despite being reduced to a body on the ground, was completely confident and willing to keep fighting for the animal god to leave his god alone, after one of the Odas confessed the war god's visit to his future consort.

"Fuck off, you and everything you think."

"You think that's going to stop me from scarring your fucking throat, you half-half bastard?"

"All right! Enough!" was heard all around.

The ground vibrated in erratic movements, while the sky was tinged with dark clouds. Katsuki staggered backwards thanks to the ground and pushed the weapon away from the forge god. Thunder rumbled like celestial trumpets, lightning bathed the entire Pantheon in lightning, and suddenly, the appearance of All Might's silhouette froze both gods in their tracks.

All Might's eyes glowed, his scowl was so pronounced that his very grimace caused the hairs to stand on end, both hands were clenched, and the halo of lightning around him made him look more intimidating.

"Father," whispered the god of the forge, looking for a way to excuse himself.

"Do not speak!" the god commanded.

Shoto had to bite his tongue in sheer frustration. He rose from the ground and both young gods faced the cyan gaze of the king god, waiting for him to speak or say something about it.

All at once the black clouds dissipated like mist and the lightning subsided. Yagi looked from one to the other of his sons, noting how Shoto did not meet his gaze and Katsuki looked at him circumspectly. The god king did not want to get involved in such trouble, for his sons were cool and rational enough not to stoop so low, but they had fallen into the dispute and he would not conceive of it within the pantheon.

"What the hell did you think you were doing that for?"

Neither of them answered anything.

"Huh? Now won't you say anything?"

"I want you to stay away from Izuku" Shoto replied between teeth and annoyance "it has come to my ears that he has forced himself on you."

While Katsuki wanted to yell at the deformed fucker that everything he had heard was all lies and gossip, he didn't force himself to speak, knowing that if his father didn't urge him to talk, he would earn his wrath.

Chapter Text

He stepped into the silence of the night and let the sounds of the nocturnal animals wash over his ears. Letting his sight wander, appreciating how silvery, ghostly and gigantic the moon was, surrounded by the luminescent specks of the stars and alienated by the sounds of the gloom.

The god of love, at that moment, was not in his best form. It had taken him a long time to recover. However he had not been ready to ascend to Olympus in a few cycles.

All Might on many occasions had urged him to return to his palace, that his graces missed him and that Shoto was desperate to see him. Nevertheless, those impressions left no warm feeling within the god. He felt desolate, melancholic, incredibly regretful and all because of the reflection that the waterfall was giving him in those moments.

The alabaster skin of his arm, once immaculate and perfect, was marred by that enormous scar of smooth skin that went from his shoulder to a large part of his forearm. That Dantesque image only made him feel wretched about himself.

He felt horrified, terrible. Almost with a morbid, sour feeling burning in the depths of his spirit. He could no longer call himself beautiful. He was scarred.

The acid tears fell again on his cheekbones, crystalline and salty. That feeling of not feeling worthy of the title of the most beautiful god on Olympus made his chest tighten until it hurt. He pressed himself on the banks of the reservoir where the waterfall fell, his gaze lost in the immaculate reflection of his scar.

Only when the ripples of the water from the passing of a wildflower blurred the reflection of the waterfall did the god of love look up to meet his mother's emeralds and then turn his gaze to the still blurred reflection of the waters.

Inko had seen from afar Izuku's behavior, his lack of appetite, enthusiasm and turning away from the waterfall. She was aware of how overwhelmed and reduced her son was by his physical image, by that smooth, pearly skin that was marking the skin of his arm, the silent tears he wiped away in his long muteness, in how parsimonious and light his footsteps were, in the long periods he stayed in bed.

'Honey...' the nymph whispered maternally 'it's time for you to come to sleep.'

Izuku looked back at his mother, whose eyes showed concern, and then nodded. He got up calmly and, without a word, walked over to his mother to be escorted to the cave where he was sleeping.

The cave itself was not cavernous, it was strangely quiet. It was located in the lands adjacent to the forest where the nymphs of the island slept, Izuku's sisters had conditioned it with a curtain of wild flowers so that it would always smell good and he could have privacy, they had provided him with a cot at the back of the cave with furs and a fire that they lit just for the tranquility of the young god.

Izuku lay on the cot with nothing to say and, a few moments later, his eyes closed with troubling ease. Inko watched silently from the curtain of flowers as the young god breathed compassionately and the shadows cast by the fire betrayed the depressive aura of the god around.

The queen nymph emerged from the cave and walked silently among the green paths of the nymph forest, being bathed in the silvery moonlight and the shadows cast by the treetops.She was not alerted when the sound of a branch penetrated the sepulchral silence and a shadow slipped into the gloom, stalking the figure of the queen nymph. With a few discreet gestures, she raised some branches that made the figure stop and let out a muffled shriek.

When the queen nymph approached to take a closer look at the figure that the vines and roots had trapped, she was surprised to find the blond messenger of the gods. Denki was immobilized by his arms and feet thanks to some thick oak roots and adjacent vines, trying to free himself from them.

'Did you think I wouldn't see you messenger?' the nymph questioned slyly.

'In truth I was confident that my caution would keep me out of your reach, your highness' said the messenger god sincerely, letting his yellowish sight go to the nymph's emeralds 'but I find myself in the painful situation of accepting that I lost.'

The queen moved closer to get a better look at the messenger god.

'I think I'll rephrase my question, ¿What are you doing here messenger god?' questioned the nymph 'As far as I remember, All Might never warned me that he would give up his guardianship with his son.'

'Not necessarily All Might has to tell you everything, with the utmost respect your highness.'

'Well then, I'll ask him at dawn, when he comes here to the island.'

With that said the nymph tried to move away from the figure of the bright blond-haired god. Denki, seeing himself in a predicament, clicked his tongue silently and let out a frustrated sigh.

'My lady, stop. You're right, I came for my own wishes. My father doesn't know I'm here.'

Inko stopped halfway and then turned her gaze to the god's yellow eyes. They reminded him of the eyes of the tame foxes found on the long plains of Greece.

'So, dear messenger, I ask you again ¿What are you doing here? ¿What are your intentions in coming here?'

'My lady, with all due respect, I prefer not to say the reasons why I came here' the god began to say, trying to wriggle out again 'the only thing I will tell you is that I come to see how Izuku is.'

'Izuku doesn't need anyone to visit him. His father is enough and he has made that very clear. So I won't be the one to disregard his wishes...'
'My lady, please, I need to see him' pleaded the messenger god.

'I will not heed anything from you, messenger. You may be a god, but I am his mother' replied the nymph fiercely 'so I expect you to withdraw from...'

'Mother.'

Inko stopped and stared into the gloom at the figure of the god of love, emerging from the silvery moonlight and the shadows cast by the trees of the forest like a ghostly, ethereal figure that was in contrast to the hideous feeling of darkness in the forest.

'Honey, ¿what are you doing awake?' the nymph asked worriedly, approaching her son 'please come back to...'

'Mother, I'm fine' replied the young god, lovingly taking his mother's hands.

Both emerald eyes looked at each other for a moment and the god of love glimpsed all that worry his mother nested. He knew her concern was not for nothing, her attitude and moods had been in the deepest abyss and maelstrom he could have ever known.

Izuku sighed understanding his mother's concern and gave her one of his smiles.

'I know I have not been well, I am aware of that' he said to his mother 'and I am sorry for worrying you with all this being a burden to you...'

'You are my son, you will never be a burden to me.'

'Anyway it's not fair mother. I've been pulling away, isolating myself, locking myself away and... I have to learn to face this demon inside me.'

'Honey, I know what you're feeling isn't easy for you to take in. I know you've lost your way because of it, that you don't feel you deserve what you have' Inko began helplessly 'I know how it feels, but you can't forget who you are: a god. A god loved by his parishioners, a god who delivers happiness, a god who gives and delivers love. A god who helps make earthlings happy...'

'Izuku... without you Olympus is not the same' Denki dared to intrude.

Both pairs of emerald eyes looked at the messenger god with the same latent curiosity. Inko undid the vines around the messenger god and let the messenger god speak:

'How so?'

'Father is constantly decaying, Todoroki insufferable, everything around has turned cold and, although it doesn't concern all of us gods, no one knows about Katsuki.'

Izuku looked directly into the god's yellowish eyes and saw in them the sincerity that was often absent in the gods.

'I know it is selfish to ask you to return and more so coming from me, that I would trouble you in...'

'Denki, you must not apologize for that. It's over.'

'But I never had the chance to apologize for that, I disrespected your commitment, your person and your integrity' urged the god with a repentant air 'it is not for me to compromise anyone's integrity, least of all that of a god.'

Chapter Text

Long before dawn broke over the primordial horizon of the clouds and filled the whole Pantheon with its golden rays and the clouds with pink and orange, two silhouettes were born from the bottom of the sea of clouds that covered the great golden gate that gave the entrance to the gigantic Olympus.

Both were with erratic breathing, bathed by the sweat of their bodies and with muscles stiffened by all the effort that both divine beings kept inside their bodies. They had spent a season away from Olympus with a clear intention: to clear their minds.

For Katsuki it was hopelessly impossible to clear his thoughts, to disperse the anguish, the worry and the terrible acid feeling of despair without resorting to his most natural talent: war. 

Although he fiercely hated to be involved in earthly matters, the great contests of the Greeks to dominate a large part of that spherical and ephemeral world served to tire his muscles, narrow his eyes and forget for a moment that his most precious emotional treasure did not appear in cycles.

And although the god of war had the restless, helpful and talkative Alectrion on his side as his squire and right-hand man to calm all that transgressive torrent that his thoughts were pounding in his soul, that desperation to smell the delicate perfume, hear the cadent laughter and see again the alabaster skin bathed in freckles of the god of love was eating him up dawn after dawn.

Katsuki had stayed away from the vices his god's unsatisfied body demanded, from wine, parties and, above all, sex. Stopped simply by the unchanging appearance of the god of love in every moment when his body rested, in every instant in which a pleasant tingling ran through his nerves, in every moment in which the twilight bathed him and reminded him of the brightness of his emerald eyes.

Although that feeling of despair and anguish returned, his thoughts felt less heavy and accelerated, and for the first time he saw a great change that filled him with pride: Alectrión.

The young squire, who continued to serve him quite obediently, his body changed from the white-skinned ugly mass Katsuki knew to a silhouette of solid muscles, sly quickness and a more mature glow than the god had once known him. A sense of pride so visceral was born in the god that he sometimes gave him half-smiles without the copper-haired young man noticing.

'At last we have reached this nest of cobras, sheep's eyes'  said the god finally, looking at the long gate that separated the clouds from Olympus.

Alectrion sighed and let out a smile which Katsuki noticed.

'Happy to be a servant again?'

'Indeed, I have never complained about being one, my lord.'

'Of course you haven't. You do and it's a sure thing I'd take your balls off and make your entire offspring eat them.'

'If I had, my lord.'

'I am a god, don't tempt me' he said wryly.

Alectrion laughed and felt peace for the first time since he had become the protégé of the god of war.

'I can only say thank you.'

Katsuki looked doubtfully at the young man and stood in front of him raising an eyebrow.

'What are you thanking me for, sheep's eyes?'

'For trusting me' finally said the brown haired boy smiling 'I know you don't give your trust to just anyone my lord, and I really appreciate very much that you have made me your squire and right hand man.'

'Well, it's good of you to thank me. You are rather clumsy, having a clumsy and naive squire was of little use to me in war' said the god of war sarcastically, hiding the warmth that Alectrion's words had caused him 'at least you grabbed some experience, next time try not to let them seek to kill you.'

'But they will always try.'

'That's the point' said the god before raising his right hand and causing the gates of Olympus to glow with a faint light until they opened with a silent shuffle of metal.

'Anyway, thank you, my lord.'

'Yeah, yeah, stop your cheesy, sheep's eyes. You're going to make me puke.'
Katsuki began to cross that cobblestone path of the Pantheon, followed by the suspicious gaze of Alectrion who followed his steps. The squire knew that the god of war was not very shrewd with compliments, but somehow, the chestnut knew that the god of war appreciated him, not with his words, but with the actions he had demonstrated: making him his squire in campaigns and his right hand in war.

Alectrion had changed many minds about his lord. For in long campaigns and war they were able to make him view the god of war with much more respect and idealization. For the great innate power in war, in hand-to-hand fighting, in weapons, in Katsuki's serenity in battle, only made Alectrion learn and worship his lord even more as his master.

Although he still maintained his camaraderie, his smile and his bad habit of constant talking, the war had given him back the experience of patience, of balance, of fierceness and of muscles stiffened and stunned by blows and the dead. Changing him and hardening his soul a little.

However, nothing had them prepared for the unexpected visit of three indiscreet characters in the throne room.

'What the hell are you doing here witch?' questioned a surprised and mumbling Katsuki.

'More respect, brat' grumbled Nemuri from his son's rickety throne 'war even though it calms you down, it doesn't clean that filthy tongue of yours.'

Katsuki wanted to say something else, but his sight elucidated to the pink figure of Uraraka and he bit his tongue. Scarlet eyes watched the haughty, yet nervous gaze of the bonfire goddess look at him inquisitively, trying to hide the trembling that the reunion had aroused in her body.

'What the hell are you doing here?' he questioned again 'How did you get in?'

'I see you can't welcome anyone into your home in a decent manner...'

'You're in my fucking abode, without permission, If it had been in your fucking golden cage...'

'We came for an important matter, Katsuki' interrupted Uraraka planting herself on his body with what little courage she had been able to muster in that anxious wait.

'What damn important matter?'

'News, dear, news...'

'News that comes to tell of any extra from this Pantheon, I'm not interested' said the god downplaying it and with a decision to remove himself from the place 'whatever it is.'

'But it's just that it's about you.'

Katsuki stopped and looked at Nemuri's blue eyes with some doubt. The smile her mother was giving her was so blasé and vain, his warrior sense kicked in in an instant and he held it warily.

'I have not been here in cycles What did I do now to displease anyone?'

'Your lovely talk with Shoto, dear. That's the point...'

Katsuki feld his place and stared at the mother goddess, his face denoted circumspect, though Nemuri's observant and calculating eye noted how rigid his posture was.

'No wonder in that nest of vipers you have for servants they told you what happened.'

Nemuri played it down and rose from the throne, keeping the distance between her blood and her.

'Your father and I have spoken of this matter, and the cause of all that muddle has been Shoto's nuptials.'

'I have been least interested in destroying your one moment of awesomeness, witch. I can't disrespect your duties, any more than I can take your retinue's snakes off your back.'

'The point is, Katsuki' she said trying to sound calm despite the provocations 'that your father and I have made a decision regarding you at the Pantheon.'

'It will be you, witch. You always say the decision is father's, but it's always a ruse of yours.'

'Don't you dare doubt my words, you filthy monster' she roared angrily.

Katsuki stopped and clenched his fists, making his knuckles turn white. Alectrion who had remained discreet and silent, watched the discussion between the gods with a very bad feeling, like an advent of misfortune.

'You will not doubt the decision of your king and queen.'

'And what the hell did I do, I have stayed away from Izuku as he has wanted, I have not spoken to him, I have not seen him, and besides, he has not returned since we left him with my father.'

Uraraka felt a slap in the face as he heard how soft and tenacious, how personal and passionate the name of the love god had been mentioned on Katsuki's lips. She felt her dignity was again called into question and her pride spoke for her.

'No Katsuki! This is because you've kept sticking your nose into something you shouldn't have been sticking your nose into' the bonfire goddess replied confidently and angrily.
'Where I stick my nose is none of your business, either of you two.'

'Of course it is! It concerns all of us because you've brought misfortune since that fucker has come to Olympus.'

'Don't you dare...' he approached imposingly and with boiling anger rising from his stomach.

'You have made more wars in the earthly world than ever before since that god arrived' she said accusingly 'Since that god has set his feet in the Council he has only made our brothers fight, he has made a fool of Nemuri and Yagi, he has put Todoroki's dignity on the floor, he has made Olympus unsafe and you are always implicated in some of it...'

'You're a...' tried to say the ashen blond, but was interrupted.

'And the ones who end up paying the piper are Nemuri and Yagi Have you ever fucking thought about all the burden you've put on them?' the goddess grumbled.

'I've never been any damn burden, Uraraka and you know it' said Katsuki, pointing accusingly at the bonfire goddess 'all my problems and chores have been solved by me, I've saved the asses of many gods and immortals, I've gotten out of their way to please them and yet they still call me a monster, disgusting, insolent...'

'Why don't you think of your parents!'

'They never thought about me since I was born! They never gave me anything, they only demanded me to comply and I have complied!'

'You're a selfish fucker' replied Uraraka.

'Says the bitch who wants to have me and never can.'

Uraraka finally approached Katsuki and gave him a slap that reverberated off the walls like the fall of a china cup. Alectrion, from surprise, covered his mouth not knowing how to take the goddess' action, he knew he could do something, but it was not his task to meddle in gods' affairs.

Katsuki returned the gaze to the goddess of the bonfire and how she was breathing erratically due to the anger she felt inside, his scarlet eyes looked at her with the same imposing and despotism that he himself dedicated to all the warriors when he was going to assassinate them. Only in this case, he couldn't do it.

'You're a bastard' the bonfire goddess whispered between her teeth, trembling with fury and feeling tears welling up in her eyes.

Katsuki said nothing, staring into the goddess' amber eyes, still feeling the sting on his cheek.'The point is Katsuki, is that we have decided that you are a threat not only to Shoto's nuptials, but to Izuku himself' Nemuri commented openly, watching as the tension gripped her son again.

'What do you mean by that, witch?'

'That your father and I have decided to forbid you to see Izuku...'

'You cannot...'

' And you will be sent to Hades until Cami returns to spend the winter with Enji.'

Katsuki, in the face of growing helplessness, let out a war cry so intimidating that Uraraka, seeing the scarlet eyes flaming with rage, stepped aside and felt, for the first time, the fear he had never had of the god of war.

The god of war, with an almost invisible giddiness, rushed at Nemuri's figure with every intention of beating him up. However, his blows reached only an invisible force field that the magic of the goddess had imposed, knowing the impulsive and violent nature that Katsuki possessed.

Nevertheless, each blow that Katsuki impacted that force field that resided upon the queen goddess made the walls of her palace reverberate and tremble. The blows sounded so hard, rough and loud, that Alectrion from his place felt that the palace would fall into a thousand pieces if his lord continued to strike the force field.

The crackling of falling vases, the creaking of wood, falling glass and the explosions caused by the fists of the god of war on Nemuri's force field could be heard. They both looked so rabid, so proud and imposing that to have stopped that moment would have meant only broken pride and stripped honor.Suddenly, however, the arm of the god of war was stopped and held captive by an arm much larger than his own. Eyes still filled with the overwhelming anger his mother had caused, he looked into the sky blue eyes of his father, circumspect, with a rictus and a frown.

The tremors ceased, a sepulchral and heavy silence reigned, and a tension as icy and cold as ice had taken hold around the entire palace.

Katsuki was breathing erratically and broke free from his father's grip. He clenched his jaw and bit the inside of his cheek in order to maintain what little composure he had left in his body.Nemuri lowered the force field with the same haughty and vain grimace with which he had imposed himself on the palace of the ashen-haired god.

'I hope you have an explanation for this...' he whispered with anger denoting his voice.

'Father' Katsuki tried to say.

'Shut up. I wasn't asking for explanations from you.'

The pairs of blue eyes looked at each other and that pressing and suffocating feeling of calm before the chaos, put Alectrion, who was hiding behind one of the columns, in overcoat. He knew that the presence of the god-king was either good news or bad news, and in this case there was no sign on his face that it was good news.

'Do I now owe explanations to you?' questioned Nemuri ironically.

'Yes. You owe me an explanation as to why you are notifying Katsuki of this without my authorization.'

'I need authorization from you to...?'

'Damn it Nemuri, shut up for a moment and listen to your king!'

Nemuri was self-conscious upon hearing that intense, rabid and sulphurous shout of tension. However, his proud and vain nature got the better of him.

'Don't tell me to shut up! You are not the one to tell me when to shut up or say things!'

'It is my decision to rule the destinies of all my children, including Katsuki, because I am their king!'

'Ha! Now you're their king? Now are you their king?' urged the queen goddess sarcastically 'Didn't you want to be the perfect father to all these bastards? Didn't you wish to be seen more as a father than a king?'

'Don't you dare refute me, Nemuri' Yagi mumbled, unable to control what little patience he had left.

'Yes I can refute you, because I am your queen and your wife! I do as I please!' shrieked the queen sultrily, accusing in front of the god's face with her finger 'You have wanted to please all your bastards to lower your guilt and your absence! Well I tell you one thing, Yagi, you have failed as usual!'

And that simple truth made the god king's patience disappear. Out of all that venomous anger coursing through his nerves came that blow. His hand, thick and coarse like no other, became an icy fist that ended up striking his wife in the face.

There was a crack, then a groan, then a sob. Yagi's blue eyes were black, as he saw the petrified body of Nemuri on the floor, who was covering her nose to prevent the unstoppable pain from reaching who knows where. Nevertheless, Yagi grabbed her by the hair from her birth and lifted her on his arm like a rag doll.

The god king did not care that his wife was bathed in tears, with blood coming out of her nose and begging in murmurings for forgiveness.

'This will be the last time you raise your voice to me and doubt my decisions Nemuri' he whispered close to the face of the goddess 'and the next time you doubt me again, I will dislocate every muscle in your body with my fingers and hang you from heaven to earth with the same chains I chained our father with Do you understand me?'

Nemuri's nose was dripping blood and his eyes were blurred with tears, he was barely breathing.

'Did you understand me!' the god shouted at her without any subtlety.

Terrified, the goddess nodded fervently. Yagi, still irate, released her from his fingers and let her fall to the ground like a rag. Then he approached his son, with the same wrathful and circumspect air as he arrived, and took him by the shoulder to follow him.

'Father...' tried to dissuade the god of war.

'Don't speak Katsuki and just come' replied the god dryly.

Katsuki felt the anger dissipate after seeing the nth part of his father's brutality on his mother. Without turning around at any time, he heard his mother's sobs and then heard the click of his palace door.

Izuku felt anxious. And although he tried to observe with great attention all the details of the columns, vases, cups and everything that would pass in front of him, the anxiety of meeting his father did not bother him.

However, Denki's company had calmed him down a little. The messenger god tried by all means to reassure him, he had told him about the time when he took care that Aoyama did not fall too much into the vices of wine at the request of his father, also when he had stolen the oxen of Kirishima, locking them in a cave and dedicating a ritual with their meat to his father, thus teaching humans the rituals and sacrifices to the gods.

The blond god also used to tell him funny stories, stories where he had to take care of Aoyama so that he would not vomit all the wine he had consumed in a single grape harvest, of the time when a faun almost stole his precious slippers while drunk and another time when he was almost bitten by a pack of his precious sheep inside his palace for forgetting to feed them.

Izuku somehow felt that Denki's company took away all the formality, anxiety and worry of what his return meant, it had made him forget about the scar on his arm and he laughed charmingly again as he hadn't done for a while.

Denki stood silently, appreciating the god's lilting laughter and his topaz eyes sparkled at the sight the god of love was giving him. The whiteness of his skin, the bath of freckles he had, the curly greenish hair, the coquetry so natural in his gestures.

Izuku realized that she was seeing too much of him and was embarrassed.

'What's wrong?' questioned the god of love, feeling his cheeks grow hot.

'Nothing' said the messenger god, gone and looking at the god of love 'just... it's good to hear you laugh.'

Izuku said nothing and turned his gaze towards the palace door, trying to shake off that warm feeling rising from the bottom of his stomach.

'It's very strange that being so small you were already a ruffian' commented the god of love with amusement, trying to change the subject.

'That's why they also call me the god of mischief and thieves, Izuku.'

Izuku turned her gaze in surprise and her eyes met Denki's yellow eyes, mischievous and jocular. He wore a half-sideways smile.

'Did you steal just for your benefit?'

'I don't usually do it for my benefit, but for the benefit of the entire Pantheon.'

'What things have you stolen for the benefit of the Pantheon?'

'Well, I stole the lyre I gave Kirishima as a gift when he was small and used it to steal from the jaws of a giant a white cow that our father treasured' said the god rather calmly, trying not to denote vanity in his voice.

'You speak of the white cow that was in the custody of the giant Argus, he of the 100 eyes?'

'Exactly. It is strange that you should have heard it.'

'If you saw that I listen to every story the muses tell' replied the god of love ironically 'though I never understood why father wanted a white cow.'

'I will tell you, if and only if you keep it a secret' whispered Denki approaching the god of love.

'I am not like the service of this palace, Denki. I know how to be discreet' he replied with utter amusement.

Denki could closely smell the god's perfume and felt that that delicious fragrance made him lose his reasoning, however, he knew that the god was still reluctant to approach because of his scar and if he dared to seduce him with his caresses, he could lose that opportunity that had cost him so much.

The messenger god moved a little closer, making a gesture of silence that amused the god of love.

'I don't know if you know that father has had many affairs.'

'That I know, most of them had revenge on Nemuri.'

'Well, the white cow was one of those...' whispered the god with amusement.

'Wow I didn't know our father was of those tastes' said Izuku a bit embarrassed and disgusted.Denki tried not to laugh at the god's naivety.

'No, Izuku, our father doesn't own cows. That's not normal' he replied still trying not to laugh 'the cow as such was a mortal, a priestess of Nemuri. She was one of our father's favorite mistresses and when Nemuri tried to find out, he turned her into a white cow. Her name was Ios, if I remember correctly.'

'And how did she come to be with Argos?'

'Argos was a faithful follower of Nemuri, a giant for whom she had mercy and since then owes her loyalty to him' Denki continued 'and she already suspected that this white cow was no cow at all, but since she had no proof of that, she locked her up under Argos' watch to murder her at the next sacrifice to my father.'

Izuku remained interested in Denki's story, so Denki continued:

'Our father had given me that task and explained everything I had to do to save Ios, the problem was that Argus was a 100-eyed giant.'

'And what was wrong with that, couldn't you attack while sleeping?'

'It was impossible to surprise him. For he always had some sleeping eyes, but some were alert and attentive. He was never completely asleep.'

'And what did you do then to steal the white cow of Argos?'

'Well, I had to disguise myself as a shepherd while walking through the meadows and I played with my pan flute a melody that Shinsou used to put the big battalions to sleep...'

'And did it work?' questioned the god of love very curiously.

'Do you doubt my abilities, god of love?' questioned the messenger god sarcastically, but playfully.

'I don't know, you haven't told me the whole story' replied Izuku in the same playful manner and smiled flirtatiously without realizing it.

Denki had to subtract from his inner self a non-existent amount of temper and reasoning not to fall before the flirtatious game in which the god of love was wrapping him. Between the sweet perfume, the singsong laughter still ringing in his head and the god's natural coquetry, he was being driven mad with desire.

'Well...' discreetly the god brought his face close to Izuku's and velvety whispered what was left of his story 'I touched and his hundred eyes closed...'

'Yes?'

'and I was able to save Íos from the hands of Nemuri' finished the god's tale, feeling his heart would leap out of his chest and bringing it a little closer to his lips.

However, the sound of the palace door opened with such a thunderous slam, that it surprised both gods and forced the messenger god to stand upright. And it was fortunate that the new visitor to the palace had not seen the situation in which both gods had become involved.

Todoroki stood on the threshold of the door, his breathing was agitated and from his crown you could see the beads of sweat falling parsimoniously on the skin of his face. He was still wearing his gloves from the forge and could see from afar the figure he longed to see.

'Izuku' whispered the forge god, before dashing off to run so that he could touch the god.

Izuku shrank back in place as he watched Shoto quickly approach him. He knew he wanted to touch him, that he longed to touch his skin. However, and before he had the chance to touch him, the god of love sprouted a greenish energy from his fingers and formed a force field that stopped the god of forging from touching him.

Shoto, unexpectedly incredulous, began to strike the force field.

'What the hell? Izuku, take this stupid thing away.'

'No' he replied, feeling his body tense up.

'Why?' the irate god shouted at him 'I've waited enough cycles for you, I've respected the time I've been told so much to give you and now you want to refuse my caresses?'

'Shoto is not that' replied the god of love uneasily.'Then what the hell is it! What the fuck is...' and then he stopped.Shoto saw through the force field the long, smooth-skinned scar that framed one of the god's arms. It was then that Shoto understood and remembered the reason for the god of love's long absence, that embarrassed, ashamed and tense look he gave him, that decisive rejection. His eyes stopped flaming and his blows stopped.

Izuku, however, did not lower the force field that protected him, but placed his hand on top of the scar, knowing that Shoto was looking at it and giving him that kind of look he hated most in the world: pity.

The silence that reigned was so tense it could be cut with a knife. It was icy, sepulchral, suffocating. But it was interrupted by the appearance of Yagi, his face totally circumspect and his gaze on the floor.

Izuku was the first one to feel nervous, so he removed his force field and with a whisper of voice called out to him:

'Father...'

Toshinori looked up, full of frustration and anger. But when he saw that it was Izuku, his face changed and was filled with surprise, disbelief and a warm feeling that he needed to have after that busy day and so many dark feelings.

'My boy' the god quickly walked over and knelt down to the god's height so he could see if he was whole 'Are you okay, nothing happened to you, how are you feeling, what did you feel? Please don't lie to me if you feel anything, physical, internal, it doesn't matter.'

Yagi was talking so absurdly fast and worried, he didn't notice his son's singsong laughter, until he took one of his hands and made him look him in the eyes.

'Dad, I'm fine.'

'Are you sure?' the god questioned again.

Izuku gave him a sincere smile:

'Sure.'

Yagi smiled and let out a relieved sigh, which then turned into a fatherly hug. The first contact he felt with his son after his kidnapping and which was received by the god of love, first hesitantly and then accepting that this was his father and that his touch was warm.

After separating from the embrace, Yagi noticed the presence of Shoto and Denki. Who were silently watching the scene he and Izuku were starring in.

'What are you guys doing here?'

' I...' Shoto tried to say that he came to see Izuku, but he knew that if he said so, then they will find out that he had an Oda at his disposal who was spying to know what was going on regarding her future husband.

'I was the one who brought Izuku here to Olympus' said the messenger god.

Shoto turned his heterochromatic gaze to the messenger god, jealous and tense.

'And how did you know where he was?' questioned the king god with a raised eyebrow.

'Well... I asked Momo where he was and.... I passed by there and I was curious to know how he was and...'

'Denki helped me think things over, father' Izuku said matter-of-factly.

Yagi looked doubtfully at the god, as did her fiancé and the messenger god.

'Did he?'

Izuku nodded:

'It made me think of the task that as a god I have to protect love, to protect beauty and to protect this that each of us has' the god began 'and that, far beyond this scar, I will still be the god that Olympus needs. That my scar does not define who I am, but what I do and, I think I should be grateful for that advice, otherwise I would not be here.'

Izuku's emerald eyes looked at Denki's yellowish ones and with that look he thanked the presence of the messenger god.

'Well I am very glad that you have thought better of it, my boy.'

Izuku smiled.

'Well now that you are here then we can proceed' the god ruled 'Shoto you can't be here, you are disrespecting the traditions of nuptials by coming here to see your future husband...'Izuku then realized that by coming back, he had made a serious mistake.

Chapter Text

The darkness was suffocating in that dreary, cavernous place. Harpies came and went around the eternal dark clouds with which the sun was always hidden on the horizon; crows sounded their terrifying songs and the Lake of the Forgotten oozed in the eternal wailing of the dead.

Katsuki was carrying in his arms the burdens that Charon needed to carry to Enji's great and gloomy palace for Camie's upcoming Autumn reception. For in Hades, Katsuki did not have much power.

His tremendous strength and fierceness was of no use in that place of eternal suffering of mortal souls. Nor could exits, shortcuts or simple traps be found to escape from it.

The only ones who knew the ways to escape from that forgotten, darkened and cavernous world were Enji and Charon, but both had a latent demonic suspicion towards the foreign god.

Katsuki knew that he was not the favorite of any god, not even the god of the Underworld himself. On more than one occasion they had had quite a few misunderstandings, including the even attention the daughter of Sero, god of agriculture, Camie, felt about the god of war.

And although she almost never showed up at events at the palace - more because of her father's obsessive fear of losing his only daughter's attention - she would find a way to let the god of war know that she still had her eyes on him.

Now that he was in the vast underworld of Hades, he could shake off her unexpected attentions.

Nevertheless, he knew that on Olympus the long-awaited nuptials between the god of love and the god of forging were finally being celebrated. He had listened cautiously as one of the harpies between the screams and low voices of her animalistic nature, told Enji that the preparations were ready and that soon the gods would celebrate the new couple in grand style.

Katsuki tried not to think too much about it. But his treacherous mind compelled him to flit through the memories of emerald eyes, grassy hair, bronze freckles and singing laughter that kept the god impassive during the cycles that passed over him.

There were still many cycles to go before he could return to Olympus, but the constant pain that meant that link between his beloved Deku and the cursed half-half plagued him. Only until Camie was taken to the jaws of Hades, which was when the Autumn equinox began.

However, all those thoughts were dissipating when he watched as a somewhat recognizable silhouette pierced like a long red shadow in front of his eyes. Until he saw him drop some loads on top of Charon's gigantic boat. He was sweating profusely and his long reddish feathered wings flapped to cool him in that cavernous place.

Katsuki obviously remembered him. He was one of the sons of Eris, who when she found him escaping with Izuku helped him out of that labyrinthine place in Antikythera. He never knew his motivations for helping him escape from Eris and her siblings, let alone knew the reasons why he was there in the Underworld.

Although the idea of asking him at the end seemed a bit imprudent, since it should not matter to him what such an unknown creature was doing in that nefarious place. Everyone was where they belonged, whether dead or alive.

However, the god of war had not realized that this same character was looking at him. Not with the same ferocity of one who is afraid or desirous; it was a suspicious look, a curious look, one of those that stop you from asking questions or starting a conversation. Though there was no response between them until much later.

"Move along boy, Lord Enji is not very patient" urged Charon's cadaverous voice to the boy.

"My name is Hawk, not boy."

"In this place no one cares about names, boy."

And with a gesture of urgency Charon sent Hawks flying, who rolled his eyes and then flew out of the boat.

"Don't loiter too much, god of war," said Charon "remember you're paying a punishment, this is no paradise."

"You don't have to tell me twice, you sack of bones" replied the god sarcastically, taking some provisions and going to stow them in the wide boat.

***********************

To say that Izuku was nervous, was to say too little about the agglutinating and perennial trembling sensation he felt in his body at those moments. For his stomach had become knotted and that desolate feeling of not being able to know absolutely much about the nuptials had him a bit unnerved.

His graces were arranging his nuptial trousseau. Walking around the room where the god of love was kept locked up, singing, smiling and tirelessly congratulating his lord who was getting married.

"Aren't you excited my lord?" asked Aglaye as she filled his tub.

"How could he not be?" replied Cárites with a smile "he is getting married. And to the god of forging."

"Can you imagine living on that?"

"Living full of gifts, because Mr. Todoroki makes so many diadems, necklaces and so many things with his dexterous hands" squealed Carites with a certain naivety.

"In that we know he is dexterous, but we don't know if he is in other virtues" commented Aglaye jocularly.

Carites laughed, embarrassed and mischievous, giving a conspiratorial jab at her sister. Both were so delirious and distracted with their conversation that they could not see the desolate aura that nestled around the god of love. He looked at himself in front of the large piece of burnished mirror in the room, observing his face that did not show how happy he should be about his wedding.

Izuku had no real concept of what a wedding was. He knew they existed, but Inko had explained to him that they were things of mortals and gods to which the nymphs did not give enough importance, since their only relationship was in serving nature and worshipping the gods. Although, behind all that peroration, Inko forgot to mention to all the nymphs that they were abused by the gods and mortals, and that only a few of them had known love.

Meditative and lost in thought, Izuku let his graces bathe him with lavender and rose scented waters, add cinnamon to the bathtub, dry his wet skin, dress him in the austere trousseau with which he was getting married, comb his unruly curls, fill some of them with chamomile flowers, and continue to congratulate him. Until he saw himself in the mirror: a god condemned to a marriage for which he felt nothing but pity for himself.

The crown of peonies and white roses he wore on his head was copious with those white chrysalises of nature, further highlighting the alabaster skin and that bronze bath he had for freckles; he wore a long toga that looked like an endless dress, bathed in tiny star lights that shone before the glare of the sun; he wore sandals that he himself apprenticed to Todoroki had fashioned from the hide of an albino fawn and with long gold-plated braids.

For the graces, Izuku looked beautiful. Beautiful as he had ever been. But in the lights glimmering behind the god's emerald iris, one could only note the nerves, disconsolation and apathy that in his chest he felt at the liaison.

"My lord, it looks so beautiful." appreciated Aglaye with naive eyes.

"Very beautiful. Almost untouchable" commented Cárites at once.

"Girls, please don't disturb him" said Kendo entering the room "so much excitement is going to explode our lord's nerves."

That's when Izuku noticed Kendo's sharp eyes. They both looked at each other for seconds and that was enough for Izuku to come to life. He smiled half-sideways, as if in sorrow.

"Don't be so hard on your sisters, Kendo" commented the god with a sweet air "they are excited. So am I. I can't take that away from them."

"We know you are too kind to tell the truth, my lord" replied Kendo "so we will leave you alone to wait for the time when the procession will be given."

"But Kendo..." whined Aglaye.

"No buts" the red haired grace took both of her sisters arms and led them to the doorway "we must take care of the chambers, besides we must give our lord alone time."

Kendo forced her sisters out of the chamber and before she exited behind them, Izuku spelled out a 'thank you' without a sound from her voice. Kendo nodded and gave him a conciliatory smile before closing the door behind her, leaving the god in utter solitude and silence.

Izuku sighed in relief and returned to devoting a scrutinizing glance at the large piece of mirror. He looked at the still unopened flowers of his engagement wreath, his beautiful gown that shimmered every time the sun's rays hit it, the chamomile flowers that seemed almost like blooms in his hair, his face and finally the hidden light in his eyes.

'I'm not ready' he kept saying to himself.

Izuku was not in favor of this engagement. In truth, he was disgusted by the idea of belonging to someone. He always knew himself to be free of ties, free of obstacles and he was always as rebellious as he wanted to be. Although, he knew that his actions had consequences: he was of his word, he was generous, kind, and gloomy, he had to be consistent. But the idea of belonging to someone was never part of his plans.

He had always been surrounded by nymphs, those beautiful creatures that were born from nature like flowers in the spring, in every sea foam, in every summer breath of the breeze. He had always seen them free, happy and full of vitality, not even belonging to the elements that gave them life.

'Nature gives us life, but it is we who thank her by living it' his mother had once told him.

And that apprenticeship had given him the fierceness, freedom and enjoyment he had had until his youth, when he had become a god. He remembered that day when his mother, being old enough to be at the rites, the parties and the dances with the nymphs, told him the truth.

"I'm what?!" he had questioned her in bewilderment.

"Honey you don't have to get upset."

Izuku had gotten up from the stone where he was and had started to walk around like crazy, throwing nonsense speeches and mumbling about this new discovery of what he was.

"Honey, calm down," his mother insisted from her place.

"...So, not only am I this, I must also have powers. I don't understand, so I would have to... Would I have to train? Would I have to hunt? I hate killing animals, they are so precious and tame. No, I can't do it, but sure..."

"Izuku!" his mother called to him in a firm voice.

Izuku looked at her with his emerald eyes and they both stared at each other, Izuku still in shock and Inko worried. Izuku let out a long sigh not knowing how to process all that.

"Mom... please don't ask me to..."

"I know calming you down won't help you take this on any better, my son" she said reaching over and gently cupping her son's alabaster cheeks "but it wasn't fair for me to keep this secret from you any longer."

"So... I'm a god then?"

Inko nodded gently.

"And how..."

"You were born from Zeus' seed when it fell into the sea Remember I told you that you were born from the foam?"

"Yes mom. That's why you thought I was a water nymph."

"But you were male," she added with a smile, "and there were almost never any male nymphs in our species, and if there were, they were given to mortal kings as a blessing."

Izuku remained silent.

"Why did you never give me away?" he asked.

Inko lost her gaze for a moment and stopped touching her son.

"Because I didn't want to give you away" she replied with embarrassment "offering you to mortals seemed to me an almost abominable idea. To give you up to you, my little bubble of foam."

"But I am a god... How did you know?"

Inko looked at her son and sat down on the smooth stone where he was sitting a moment ago.

"I knew it one day when the messenger god urged me to deliver you to the gods."

However, the memory was dispelled when he heard the sound of the portal touching. Izuku reacted by turning to the door and meeting the fatherly gaze of Yagi, who was looking at him with an air of glee, pride and warmth. Izuku smiled feeling calm for the first time that day.

"Look at you" whispered the god king "dressed as if you were a twilight rising from a starry night. You look beautiful."

"Thank you, father" replied the god of love happily.

They were silent for a moment. A comfortable, peaceful silence that gave them the peace and tranquility they had not felt for a few days.

"Son..."

"You don't have to say anything father" Izuku mentioned lovingly and looking into his eyes "you don't have to blame yourself for things you couldn't control."

"Izuku. You were kidnapped from under our noses, how can you want me not to feel guilty about this?"

"Because you simply aren't father. You can't blame yourself for me being kidnapped."

"They hurt you," he said seriously.

"They did it because Eris knew about my inhuman recovery."

"They treated you like a prisoner."

"Dad, please stop it! Don't blame yourself. I'm safe and sound here with you."

Izuku approached his father and held both of his hands lovingly.

"I'm home. I'm here. I am healthy. What happened doesn't matter anymore."

"It does to me."

"Dad..."

"Izuku don't ask me not to feel that" he said getting up "You're my son, you may be a god, but this..."

The god caressed the scar with his fingertips.

"... This... makes me feel so weak, because I couldn't protect you."

" Dad."

"Izuku, you are one of my sons. If it was Denki, Eijiro, Shoto or any of the council I would react the same way. You are my children, I care about you. I'm not perfect, but I do want to always try to be the best for you."

Yagi felt his eyes water at the sight of that young man glowing in his fallow deer suit, with that off-white crown and his emerald eyes shining. His heart squeezed tenderly.

"I still can't believe you got married."

Izuku disguised his smile and tried to hide that impetuous emptiness swirling in his stomach."Yeah, I don't believe it either..."

Yagi watched the subtle tension in his son's body. All he could think of, though, were the nerves before the buckshot. The same ones that many of his demigod sons felt on their wedding day and which he tried to dispense with his best advice and support. And this would be no exception.

"My boy," Yagi said warmly and putting himself at Izuku's level, "I know this road has been difficult for you..."

The emerald eyes looked into the cyan eyes of the God King, who took with paternal affection the young face of the god of love.

"Marriage has never been easy, not for humans, not for demigods, not even for us gods" Yagi lectured in the most paternal and soft voice he had "and everything that has happened in this time you have carried it with your head held high, with pride, with so much integrity that it is even enviable Izuku."

"Father..."

"Let me finish" replied the god King with a smile "I don't think I have met any of my sons who have not decayed into vengeance, whimsy or outright hatred with all this that has happened, and I am proud that you are still so sweet, so gracious and so kind to everyone. You are a gem my boy."

Such was the repercussion of the king god's words inside the chest in the heart of the god of love, that he could not stop those words of pride from watering his eyes. His lip trembled and the conciliatory feeling left by his father's words had made him forget that endless emptiness.Izuku threw himself into his father's arms and gave him a hug. A hug he didn't know he needed, one that filled him with the warmth and courage he had so desperately needed to now face his sealed fate.

A throat clearing alerted them to another presence and Yagi along with Izuku broke the embrace to see in the doorway Momo. The goddess of wisdom was dressed in a beautiful royal blue robe that had only one sleeve, with silver embroidery and a platinum tiara that made her look stunning, sober and imposing.

"Sorry to interrupt, father," she said with her cool politeness, "but the carriage is already waiting and Todoroki's retinue is impatient."

"Ahh, that Shoto sure is impatient" replied the god king with some annoyance "but hey, who can blame the future husband?"

Izuku heard the amused laughter of his father, but he also noticed for a few moments that Momo's unblemished face had constricted into a grimace. A grimace that only Izuku noticed and from which he remained silent.

"I must retire then" announced the god King, touching his giant hand to Izuku's green-haired head "I will see you in your new home, my boy."

Izuku, not knowing how to respond without feeling that unscathed emptiness again, managed to nod and let out a tight-lipped smile.

Yagi withdrew from the room. Only to leave behind Momo, who was trying to silently deal with the pain of Todoroki's marriage, and Izuku, who did not know how to react, in a tense, suffocating silence.

"I see that the suit fit you perfectly" she tried to reconcile, seeing that this silence was making things very tense.

"Ah yes... it's beautiful" replied Izuku.

"Midnight was so set on having the best seamstresses on Olympus create you something beautiful" Momo replied calmly "she threatened to take their hands off if they didn't get what she wanted."

Izuku did not want to comment because he had no idea what to do, let alone what to say about it. Once again, silence engulfed them and this time it was even more uncomfortable than it already was.

Momo did not know how to face the fact that now the god of love would bear the title of consort that she had so longed for. But she was aware that her very cowardice and her own silence had condemned her to the purity of her virginity by the Moiras. And now she could not against it, for if she faced Todoroki's happiness, Todoroki would despise her until the end of time and she would not bear it.

"I know your heart is grieved and you wish to take my place" Izuku did not have enough fortitude to stop his words.

Momo turned livid at hearing such words. Dark eyes looked fearfully into the emerald eyes of the god of love.

"How..."

"Momo... I don't want to intrude on your privacy" Izuku accented approaching her cautiously "but I know you love Todoroki.... Much more than I can assume."

"You always knew" she whispered, feeling something boiling inside her stomach.

"I had no way of checking, I had my doubts. But your grimaces and your actitu..."

However, he could not finish his sentence. In a matter of seconds, Momo, seized by a boiling, burning anger, launched herself against the god of love, grabbing him by the neck and sending him crashing into a wall of the room.

"Momo, wait," replied the god, trying to break free from the grip on his neck.

"You're a bastard" whispered the goddess with her eyes bloodshot from pure anger "you always knew I was in love with Todoroki..."

"No, Momo... Wait" he tried to say.

"I won't expect anything from you, you damn trickster. I wanted to turn a deaf ear to everything in this damned Council that was said about you."

Momo tightened her grip on his neck and Izuku felt short of breath. His feet kicked, trying to strike the goddess and break free of her grip, but the desperation to breathe blurred his vision.

"Ochako was right. You're fucking mayhem in the Pantheon. A tart" the venom oozing from those words, only made the goddess of wisdom's blood boil "Making our brothers fight each other to have you, who knows if you have some virtue or not, you creep."

Izuku was trying to break free, his tears watered and he felt that everything was dissipating. He couldn't die, but that suffering of feeling airless was eating away at every part of his body until it was tingling.

"I imagine it amused you to know I was in love with him, to play with him. To have him all to yourself, while you rejoiced in my suffering, in my tears. You are a filthy vermin."

Izuku almost felt all the darkness lulling him. Until he heard a start and then something falling. He felt his legs hit the cold floor and then he breathed in big gulps of air that made him cough.

"What the hell are you doing!"

"This isn't your damn problem."

"Sure it is! You were choking Izuku."

"Stay out of it!"

"I'm the goddamn queen of Olympus, Momo. You won't be the one to stop me from sending you to the Underworld with Enji to suffer the same fate as Shinsou and Aoyama. So get the hell out of my sight."

Izuku, barely glimpsing a couple of shadows in his blurred vision, tried to stand up. However, he felt a weakness in his body that made every muscle in his body tingle What had he done wrong? Why did all the goddesses hate him? Why did they despise him?

"Izuku!"

Nemuri threw himself to the floor and lifted the boy up with his arms. Izuku, barely able to breathe erratically, had not noticed the subtle yellowish marks still resting on the Queen mother's face.

"Honey are you okay?" she said lifting his face and seeing the reddish marks on the swan's neck "My god, she left marks on you."

Nemuri was able to lift the god of love from the ground and rest him near a wall to see the mark closely so he could heal it. While Momo, full of anger, walked away from the room and disappeared from the palace and the Pantheon.

***********************

Chapter Text

Everything happened too fast. Too quickly. Or at least that was Izuku's excuse for being distracted during the entire Gamos dinner, which was now taking place in his new "home" and was barely interrupted by Nemuri's speech about long, faithful and loving marriages.

The gods and immortals of the Pantheon had swarmed throughout the garden and main hall of the new couple's palace, for Shoto had arranged for the hall to be connected directly through the garden with pointed arches and a marble staircase leading to that splendorous garden, where pergolas filled with vines and flowers were arranged; long wooden tables with copious food and abundant wine; music and performances given by the muses. It was a dream wedding.

In the throne room, the new spouses were seated at the central table with the company of the kings of Olympus. They ate and received the congratulations and gifts that the Pantheon had prepared for them.

Shoto was excited, showering his new husband with attention, affection, haste and sweetness, smiling so brightly and happily that the two-coloured god could not believe it was happening to him. Izuku, on the other hand, tried to hold on to this halo of happiness. Everyone believed in it, or at least most of them did.

Fromhis table, Nemuri watched the picture of the new couple out of the corner of his eye, grateful for the congratulations most of the mortals and a few gods were offering the new couple. Most of the gods were sitting in the garden, solemnly drinking their wine glasses and barely tasting a bite, many of the male gods were wearing a cautious grimace, others were barely distracted by the attention of Aoyama's company that Mineta had gone to so much trouble to bring, and some felt their envy boiling like a pot on the fire.

Lying on a bed of skins, cloaks and feather pillows, Denki barely drank from his cup and glanced sideways at Calliope, who was singing the legend of the Minotaur, who had perished at the hands of a mortal prince, and his tragedy. And for a moment, the messenger god felt that his love life was just that: a tragedy.

"That face is worthy of tragedy," said a voice behind him.

"Get lost, Camie," the messenger god replied humourlessly, taking another drink from his cup.

"You'll have to wait until autumn," the blonde smiled as she entered Denki's sight.

The messenger god snorted and then couldn't stop his niece, the daughter of the agricultural god Sero, from sitting next to him. The blond god did not want company at that moment. The only thing he wished for in those moments was to have enough courage to beat the God of Forging, kidnap Izuku and disappear from Olympus to make it his and his exclusive domain.

That staggering, brooding jealousy bubbled up from his stomach like boiling lava and made him adopt an attitude unbecoming of him. Cautious, serious and evasive. He hated not winning what he held so dear. He absolutely hated to lose. For his pride was as great as the reputation that presided over his speed.

"It's strange to see you upset, Uncle," the young woman said suspiciously, "it must be some big problem with Grandfather, or you've been bothered by some chore..."

"Whatever it is that's bothering me, it's just my business, Camie."

"We're rabid, it must have been something bad," the blonde replied slyly, grinning cattily, wanting to see how far she would try her uncle's patience.

Denki snorted again and turned his back on Camie. He was really in no mood to put up with anything, not even Camie, who, although normally an insufferable, insulting and capricious being, was his niece whom he had spoiled the most. But this unquenchable jealousy consumed his soul like fire on a funeral pyre.

"What would happen if I made you angry?" his niece inquired curiously.

"You don't want to know, Camie. The wrath of the gods is not to be trifled with, not even by you of the second rank."

Camie felt the comment as a knife in her pride. But she didn't let out a phoneme. The young girl knew that she should not tempt her luck by annoying the gods - she already had too much with her insecure and obsessive father - but somehow the thorn of curiosity was killing her. She wanted to know what the reason was that had upset her revered uncle so much.

An Oda approached the Immortals with a solemn air.

"My lord, your presence is required in the central hall."

"I will not be going anywhere until the wine of this feast has been consumed," said the god, who was reluctant to even approach the main hall.

"The Queen Mother awaits your congratulations."

"Then tell the Queen Mother..."

"That we're on our way," Camie silenced him before Denki could say anything else.

The Oda bowed respectfully and disappeared in the midst of the festivities. Frowning, Denki met his niece's honey-coloured gaze and whispered to her with bile in his mouth:

"What are you playing at, little girl?" the depth of his voice told her how angry the god was.

Still, Camie had the courage to face the gods' wrath without complaining. Or well, another reason was that she had made Enji angry a thousand times in Hades. Living together had made her a woman who was not affected by intimidation and anger at all.

The blonde smiled innocently and took her uncle by the hand, forcing him to walk behind her.

"Come on, Uncle! We must congratulate the happy couple," she had said loudly, forcing him to look directly at them.

If Camie had learned anything from Enji, it was that Enji had no problem being part of Olympus, much less being guided by the looks of others, the whispers, the silent comments that the immortals had in his presence. Compared to the other gods, they cared.

Denki, feeling the weight of the eyes around him, watching and tearing, made him bite his tongue and change his frown into a grimace that looked like a smile. And he allowed himself to be led down the path that would lead him to what he had avoided during the entire celebration, what burned his soul and chest even though he could not see it.

His steps felt heavy, and the frugality with which Camie approached the central hall was so great that he found the path as slow, regrettable and unbearable as the long speeches of fidelity and marriage that Nemuri made during the official dinners. Nothing prepared him for such a bitter image.

He had barely entered the main hall, filled with tables of food and drink, in the company of all the immortals in Todoroki's retinue. But the only thing the topaz eyes of the messenger god noticed was the sincerity, the purity, the beauty and the smile that Izuku wore in the distance.

Dressed as if bathed in stars, with his crown of peonies and roses blooming on his head, with the glow of freckles bathing the alabaster of his skin. Simply a breathtaking image. The god of love looked strangely more jubilant, more radiant, more... he couldn't say, but Denki felt that he might be breathless in those moments.

Their eyes met.

It's him," he said to himself.

"Your Highness..." they said in front of him.

Denki noticed and pulled himself out of the rapture he was in to realise that he was standing in front of All Might, Nemuri, Shoto and Izuku who were looking at him. Denki hadn't felt such an overwhelming feeling of intimidation since his first hunt, since he was a baby. But the tingle in his stomach made him feel uncomfortable.

"Father", Denki bowed respectfully before his father and looked into the blue eyes that gave him an affirmative "Your Highness".

"It is good to see you, Denki." Nemuri replied graciously.

But what was more difficult for the messenger god to see were the new spouses, close together. A confirmation that Izuku could not be his, even if he tried. Their closeness and at the same time their distance, their sweet beauty and bitter oppression.

"Congratulations on your union," the messenger god finally said, feeling the taste of bile burning on his tongue as he said such words.

"You look so beautiful together," Camie whispered illusively, "congratulations."

"Thank you..." Izuku tried to say kindly, but he didn't know the girl's name.

"Camie, my lord."

"She is Sero's daughter," Todoroki clarified in Izuku's ear, almost like a caress.

For a moment, Denki saw something. Something in the eyes of the god of love that told him that he was not completely devoted. Because at Todoroki's closeness, Izuku pulled away a little and noticed in his eyes that there was none of the excitement of one who was entwined, not even a slight glimmer of illusion like Todoroki had.

"Not so close that you tickle me," the god of love tried to smile.

But this smile was no longer eaten by Denki. In silence, he watched as Izuku's glow lingered around him like an insurmountable light that made you look directly at everything about him, his beauty, his smile, his personality, but never at his eyes. Those emerald eyes that looked dull, that looked distant, that looked reluctant.

"Did you enjoy the party?" the god of love asked.

Before Camie could speak, Denki stepped forward.

"Divine. The wine was excellent and the food..."

"It was very entertaining," Camie continued, trying not to be surprised by her uncle's new attitude, "in Hades, I see nothing but a garden that always blooms and grenadines."

"That sounds terrible," Izuku said scandalously, watching the young girl, "you must be fascinated and happy to have seen something different."

"Yes! But I haven't seen the gardens completely."

"Neither have I," Izuku replied.

Camie laughed and was followed by the singing laughter of the god of love. Denki felt the nagging prickle fade and be replaced by a more satisfying one.

"Well, if you're so curious, my dear, you should go," Nemuri commented, joining the conversation, "after all, this is your new home."

Izuku's eyes lit up for a moment. His feet wanted to move, but his mind reasoned and he looked into the eyes of his new husband. The two-coloured eyes looked at him uncertainly. Even though his face showed no grimace or expression, Izuku knew that every time he looked at him, the uncertain, steely, justifiable glow rested in his eyes, as if it were a dream, a lie, something that would end at any moment.

"Shoto," the god of love whispered, taking his husband's rough hand under the table.

Todoroki reacted and looked at this small, fragile, slender, soft, whitish hand over his own, rough, coarse, full of bumps from his work and much bigger. He squeezed it with the same strength that partners do when they are unsure of something. And then his eyes looked into the emeralds of the God of Love, the same ones that shone in silent supplication as he gave him a comforting smile.

"You do not need my permission to know your home, my treasure," the God of Forging replied sweetly.

Izuku smiled and kissed his husband on the cheek before getting up. Denki, who watched the scene in silence, felt nauseous and a pressing sensation prickled his knuckles.

"I hope you don't mind that my uncle Denki is my escort," Camie assured.

"Not at all," Izuku replied with a sweet smile that captivated the messenger god.

"But I do" Todoroki interjected without a trace of discretion.

Izuku stopped and looked at his husband in surprise.

"Oh, come on, Shoto," the queen mother urged, "Izuku is already your husband, he can go about his home without a chaperone."

"No, mother, it's not that I don't trust Izuku," the god made him reconsider, "he's my treasure, I trust him completely; but I don't want him to be stolen by envious or duplicitous people."

His two-coloured eyes looked directly into the topaz eyes of the messenger god. They both knew it, but Denki said absolutely nothing and remained aloof.

"You must be suspicious, boy," All Might remarked.

"Shoto, I'm going to..." Izuku tried to stop him.

"Treasure," All Might stopped him, "you can't expect me to trust others when they've already tried to destroy us once."

An eerie silence fell between the participants. An uncomfortable, stifling silence. But one that the Queen Mother broke with a rather cunning idea:

"Then let his Graces accompany him," Nemuri advised, snapping her fingers and having her Odes search for the three Graces.

"But..." the God of the Forge tried to grumble again.

"No buts, dear," Nemuri replied to Shoto's excuse, "his graces have been with him since he arrived here on Olympus.

Shoto approached his mother and whispered to her:

"Didn't you say that these three immortals were more useless than an elm tree in winter?"

"Yes, they are," the queen asserted with equal discretion, "but you are making a fuss over a walk in your own house."

"We have been summoned, our lords?" introduced Kendo, followed by her sisters Cárites and Aglaye, who bowed to all.

"Yes, my dears! We were expecting only you," Nemuri exclaimed sweetly, "I wanted you to escort Izuku and Camie through the gardens.

"Mother," the Forge God tried to mumble.

"Oh, with pleasure, my queen," the red-haired grace replied solemnly, "we will always be happy to accompany our lord anywhere."

"Then say no more," the queen urged.

They all bowed to the queen and then began to be led out. The sour taste on Shoto's palate only made him uncomfortable and before he could pull himself away from his husband, he stood up.

"Izuku," he called to him.

Izuku turned to Shoto and grabbed his neck, pulling him close until their lips met. The touch surprised the god of love, he hadn't expected this action, but he couldn't help but feel the sweetness, the softness and the delicacy with which Shoto gave him this kiss, as if it was the most precious thing on Olympus.

But his body didn't tingle, his stomach didn't turn, let alone his heart pounding like it did with Katsuki.

Shoto broke the kiss with a rapturous smile that made the god of love blush, but his body was reacting from the shock of the kiss and not from the embarrassment of being in love, as Shoto thought.

"Don't be too long, okay?"

Izuku, not knowing what to answer, nodded and then turned back to his thanks.

Camie, who had watched the whole cheesy romantic scene with eyes full of adolescent illusion, had not noticed how the face of the messenger god had been distorted for a moment. For it was impossible not to feel anger, frustration and envy on the part of that damned God of the Forge, who had taken possession of the only thing the God felt could be his and his alone.

Seeing this, Denki had to bite the inside of his cheek to channel the whirlpool of emotions that was eating away at him. His knuckles tingled again, anger gushed from his stomach like a geyser, and the searing pain in his chest ate away at him like poison.

"Shall we go?" a voice asked next to him.

Then the god noticed that Kendo, the grace, was standing next to him looking directly at Izuku who was now looking at both of them and forced Denki to change his face into a rictus that tried to be cordial.

"Is something wrong Denki?", Izuku asked.

"Not at all," the god apologised and tried to dissuade the emotions that were building up in his chest.

"Come on," Camie said, wrapping her hand around Izuku's arm, "I really want to visit your gardens, my lord."

"Don't worry about calling me that, Camie," the god clarified as he walked towards the exit, "Izuku will be fine."

Camie and Izuku led the procession, followed by the presence of the messenger god and the three graces. Denki tried to remain calm and managed to do so the whole way, as Camie had gained the trust and appreciation of the God of Love, making him laugh whenever he could, telling anecdotes about his life in Hades, sniffing the flowers that reacted to the presence of the God of Love and seeing his beaming smile.

«I'm in love» the god finally thought, smiling unconsciously as he watched the god of love laugh.What the God did not know was that someone else already knew of his love for the God of Love, by his looks, his smile, his attitude. And just like with the god Katsuki, she remained silent. Deep down, Kendo only wished that none of the gods would take away the happiness and peace that his master deserved.

As dusk began to creep over the horizon of Olympus and night fell over the entire Council, Izuku realised how nervous he was.

The God of Love stood in the bath of his new home and felt that not even the warmth of the mint-scented bath helped him to stay calm and collected. It had been more than a while since all the immortals and gods, some drunk and some not so drunk, had left the palace with the greatest of joy.

And even though Izuku had been distracted by Camie and Denki's company, the night had hit him like a bucket of ice water in his thoughts. He knew that what came next was what all brides and grooms were supposed to do, lie down with his husband.

Izuku had been aware of this ever since he'd taken on the responsibility of being someone's spouse. To give herself to her husband, to let him dominate her, to let him lie next to her and give him the pleasure he was looking for. But somehow, he was nervous.

Izuku was no stranger to all the flirtations, the caresses, the pleasures, not to mention the desires. He was the god of fertility, of lust, of sexuality. He was the god who could make love bloom and desire stifle, the same god who could give fertility to the barren, the same god whose magic and blessings could drive thousands of mortals mad with pure pleasure and desire.

Yet he faced something he did not know. A God. A God who loved him madly, wildly, possessively. A God for whom he felt nothing but pity. A god who barely gave him the slightest hint of desire for her strange beauty.

"My lord," Kendo called to him as he entered the hot spring.

"I'm here, Kendo," Izuku replied and splashed a little in the water, feeling it getting warmer.

"He's been in the hot spring for a long time," Grace assured and entered carefully.

"I know," the god sighed.

Kendo didn't want to ask too much and kept his distance until the god broke the silence.

"Kendo."

"Yes," Kendo stood at attention and looked at his lord.

"Have you ever felt confused about how you should feel?"

The question surprised him. Kendo usually had an answer for everything. It was cautious, bold and always tried to satisfy the needs of its master. But this time, the question had hit her out of the blue.

"Well... what exactly do you mean?" Kendo replied without really knowing what Izuku needed from her.

"Just..." Izuku was silent for a moment "Have you ever had a desire?"

Kendo thought about the question for a moment and answered:

"Yes."

Izuku nodded.

"Have you ever fulfilled it?"

Kendo thought for a moment and then smiled sincerely. Izuku knew from this spontaneous and lively gesture that her Grace had someone to look forward to and felt a faint sense of happiness compared to her situation.

"No, not yet," she replied.

"And how do you feel?"

The question kept Kendo guessing for a few moments.

"Blissful, my lord, as if the passing days weren't enough to enjoy it," her answer had been so sincere that Izuku felt envious, "as if... every day was a chance to be happy."

Izuku didn't say anything more. He felt the stinging, throbbing sensation of envy burn like poison and close his chest in pure pain. He felt like crying, but he knew that his circumstances could not be compared to Kendo's. He knew that he could expect no more from Kendo than he expected from Kendo.

Nothing was expected of Kendo but to be his servant, and Kendo fulfilled that expectation perfectly. From him, on the other hand, she expected everything. That he would be sweet and fierce; innocent and cunning; responsible and charming. Everyone expected everything from him, except disappointment.

He left the bathroom, unable to shake off the cancerous weight, unable to shake off the heaviness that awaited them in their new room, unable to feel the longing that Kendo spoke of. He dressed in the vaporous and translucent fabric that Kendo had brought him to make him feel comfortable, and watched in one of the mirrors how the fabric, though vaporous and loose, accentuated his figure, leaving the shadows of his curves visible.

He was not prepared to face him. But he had put off his meeting with Shoto too long, and he was to spend his first night as a consort. Kendo escorted him through the palace to his new quarters, the quarters he would share with Shoto for all eternity.

He walked as if he were an apparition, a beautiful, ethereal apparition. He took the breath away from all the servants who lived in the palace every time he appeared in the corridors. Dressed in that translucent cloth, perfumed with mint and crowned with blooming peonies and roses, he was a ravishing sight.

Kendo knew that his master's beauty was beyond comprehension, too divine. Therefore, it was a source of humour to her that all those who served in the house of the God of Forging were stunned by their master's beauty when they saw him for the first time. Until it was his turn to confront them with their greatest desire.

Tetsu Tetsu stood petrified in the hallway, almost as if he had stopped breathing, looking up at the enchanting image of the God of Love looking down on him and smiling kindly. The boy's pale complexion flushed to the colour of a tomato and he stood back, muttering something unintelligible.

Kendo felt his stomach churn and sensed something strange. A boiling hot sensation that tingled through her body and made her feel angry with her master, even though he had done nothing more than smile at her. But she didn't realise that it was jealousy until Izuku told her during an argument.

Izuku felt intimidated when he reached the thickly carved door. It was the only difference between facing his engagement or avoiding it, at least for the night. His stomach churned and a deep nervousness had hit him like an anvil. He was not prepared to face his new husband, to face what he would do to her across the room, to lie with him.

His face tightened into a grimace of indecision and fear that kept him petrified in front of the door. Kendo, noticing this expression on her master's face, wanted to react. However, the door opened in front of them, revealing a Todoroki who was determined to leave his room and who stopped when he saw his husband at the door.

"Izuku," his name said in surprise.

The freckled god exchanged the grimace for a smile, while still feeling the searing emptiness in his stomach.

"Shoto," he replied.

"I was just going to look for you, I thought..."

"Are you worried about me?" the god asked sweetly.

The two-coloured eyes looked up at him and he saw the glare with which Todoroki looked at him. He felt lousy.

"I will always be, even if we are in our home," the two-coloured god replied and brought his right hand close to his husband's face, caressing his cheek, "you are my treasure and my new life, I don't want to lose you."

Those words, sweet and passionate, calmed the bronze god's nerves a little. He allowed the god of the forge to come closer and wrap his broad arms around his frail form, leaving a trail of soft, loving kisses around his cheek that made him laugh.

"I will retire for the day, my lords," Kendo replied, seeing that her master no longer needed her and feeling uncomfortable about the bad third she was making.

"Thank you for everything, Kendo," the god of love thanked her.

"I hope you will be comfortable in your new quarters," the god of the forge added attentively.

"We appreciate your attention, my lord," Kendo bowed to both of them, "you have accommodated us very well.

"I hope you feel that this palace is not a strange place, but a home," the god of the forge commented.

Kendo smiled and bowed again, then retreated and disappeared down a corridor. Then Shoto planted another chaste kiss on the cheek of the god of love and escorted him to his new quarters.

Izuku didn't want to think too much about what would happen next, so he let Shoto lead the way and took a good look at his new quarters.

The room was huge, with a ceiling supported by wooden beams. There was a large mahogany wardrobe in one corner, next to a side table with a vase of flowers on top; the bed was huge, topped by a translucent mosquito net; in another corner was a side table with four chairs and a basket of ripe fruit; a terrace was connected by a wide pointed archway overlooking the gardens; but the most exotic piece of furniture was topped by a polished mirror and filled with jewellery.

Shoto approached it with an amused smile and stopped it in front of him by candlelight.

"I didn't want to tell you," the god said and took a beautiful silver tiara inlaid with rose quartz out of the cabinet, "but I couldn't wait to give you my wedding present, my love."

Izuku admired the piece of gold work. It was a thing of beauty.

"May I...", the freckled god tried to say.

He received a singsong laugh from his new husband.

"It's your wedding present, my dear. Of course you can use it," the god replied, looking through the mirror at the excitement in his partner's eyes.

Izuku let Shoto remove her crown of peonies and white roses and watched as Shoto attended to her with haste, gentleness and affection. He combed her unruly greenish hair and then crowned her head with the tiara. They both saw the image and were astonished.

Shoto looked at his new husband with a look full of illusion, love and devotion. While Izuku was enraptured by his reflection in the silver and quartz tiara.

"It's beautiful," Izuku thanked, looking into the two-coloured eyes through the mirror.

"So are you, my dear," Shoto replied and planted a sweet kiss on his neck.

Izuku felt the touch like a bomb, an electric tingle that for some reason ignited something in him. Something he couldn't explain that made his stomach tingle like a spark that foretold a fire.

"Another one," the god whispered.

Shoto stopped in his tracks. He tried to believe that what he had heard was a hallucination of his lusting mind. But Izuku's emeralds looked at him longingly, embarrassed and flushed.

"Please," the god of love begged in a whisper.

Shoto felt a tug at his crotch.

"Whatever my treasure desires," he whispered.

And that's when his thin lips patiently and gently kissed the neck of the god of love, who was melting with every touch Shoto's lips gave him and this new electrifying sensation.

The lips kissed every inch of skin on his neck and then moved down to his shoulder, letting the stifling, delicious sensation wash over them both. Shoto's restless hands slipped mischievously through one of the slits in Izuku's flowing robe until they gripped the emerging hardness of the freckled god.

Izuku gasped as he felt Shoto's hand cupping his entire member with just his right hand. His hands darted out to grab the thin hair of Shoto, who could no longer hold back the frenzy his urges demanded of him and kissed the god's exposed skin voraciously.

The god of the forge hastily turned the green-haired god to face him and then kissed him. A kiss that showed how hungry he was, how impatient and how rebellious his longing was to hold the God of Love in his arms. His lips savoured and ate voraciously from the mouth of the God of Love, who had lost his reason in the rapture of those unbridled kisses and the hardness of another's hands.

Shoto, impatient, slid his hands all over the god's velvety skin, feeling every curve and worshipping every part of his flesh. He kneaded and touched every part of him as best he could, driven by the irrational desire he felt for the god.

His need to worship, kiss and lick him was killing him. So much so, that the god of the forge tore the thin, translucent cloth covering Izuku's nakedness with his hands. Then he looked at him in all his splendour.

His alabaster skin and bronze freckles, his hardened and small member, his prominent hips, his flushed face and the irregularity of his breathing. They cried out to possess him completely. Him. His treasure. His greatest desire.

"You are what I've always wanted in my life," he had whispered.

Izuku had barely had time to absorb the magnitude of those words before Shoto had grabbed him by the hips and lifted him into his arms, forcing the freckled man to wrap his legs around his hips. He felt the hardness of the god on one of his thighs and was surprised as he tried to guess the extent of it, but Shoto kissed him again with such urgency and need that he forgot about it for a moment.

Shoto fumbled, trying not to break the slow, delicious kiss he was giving Izuku. He felt like he couldn't sit still because the tingling sensation of being inside his husband was killing him, but he knew that he had to relax Izuku before he could be inside him.

Gently, he laid Izuku down on the bunk and straddled him without breaking the needy kiss they were giving each other, making their mouths and bodies tingle with pure pleasure. Shoto broke the kiss but moved down his skin, leaving delicious kisses on his neck, collarbone, chest and stomach while Izuku writhed and gasped from the spasms Shoto's kisses left him with.

His hands roamed over Izuku's body as they moved down, squeezing his chest and nipples and making Izuku moan. A rough, high-pitched, contented moan that further ignited the Forge God's anger.

Shoto reached the god's crotch and paused, watching the blushing, moaning tangle that was Izuku under his touch. His and his alone.

"Please..." Izuku tried to say between gasps and pleasure.

"You are begging, my treasure," Shoto replied in a weak voice and looked up from his seat into the god's longing gaze.

"Please," the god begged again.

Shoto knew what he was saying and what his husband needed. So he didn't hesitate and brought the throbbing member of Izuku to his lips, who almost fainted when he felt the electricity that the first pumping had left him. Shoto pulled his arms away from the god's chest and let Izuku's slender legs rest on his shoulders to pump again.

The soft skin, the sweet scent and the bittersweet taste of the love god's member became Todoroki's new drug in that instant as he enjoyed how his husband's skin melted in his mouth and how he melted, clenching the sheets and letting out his voice in pleasurable moans that only motivated him more, heated him up even more and drove him even crazier.

"Oh Shoto," Izuku moaned, feeling like he was going to pass out from the spasms.

Todoroki continued to pump Izuku's member and watched with satisfaction as the god writhed and his moans flooded the room with sounds.

Rough, naughty hands squeezed the buttocks of the love god, who felt the warmth of the god's hands on his hips, only to be overwhelmed by the burning sensation of being possessed.

"Shoto, please make me yours," the god of love pleaded with pleasure.
Todoroki stopped and rose from his post. From his height, he looked down at the erotic picture Izuku was giving him, red up to his elbows, panting, wild with lust and a mess of nudity and saliva. He soaked his lips and felt his hardness throbbing under the fabric of his robe.

"Shoto," the green-haired god urged again.

The god of the forge, savouring every sound of his husband's voice, stepped away for a moment to pick up a small crystal amphora and return to the bunk where they both lay, watched by Izuku's intent, staring eyes.

"This will help me to have you today, my love," the two-coloured god said, pouring the liquid from the amphora between his fingers.

Izuku watched as the harmlessly viscous and transparent liquid slipped through Shoto's fingers and he knelt in front of his husband, who was still on his back, forcing him to spread his legs to reveal the smooth, hairless skin where the pink entrance was. A fierce desire to possess him gripped him and made him salivate at the sight of such an appetising entrance.

Embarrassed, Izuku covered his face at the sight of Shoto's fierce, devouring eyes. He felt so vulnerable and ashamed. No one had ever seen him like that, as if he were a saucer, something to be devoured.

Shoto realised this and began to kiss his husband's pelvis again, making him mumble again with satisfaction.

"I want you to relax, my darling," he had told him, holding back the urge to eat his ass with hunger.

From his seat, Izuku brought his hand up to his husband's face and stroked his cheek as gently as he had.

"I trust you, Shoto..."

Those words weighed so heavily on his mind, chest and soul that the god of the forge felt himself falling into an abyss of doom. Like an intruder, he watched, hidden and heartbroken, the scene of desire and rapture.

Chapter Text

'But it happens Mina, it happens' snorted the god again.

She didn't want to meddle in the affairs and even less knowing how impulsive and explosive he could be with his feelings, so she made the best decision she could make.

'That doesn't make any sense' he whispered in annoyance, turning away from the goddess and mulling over what he had just been told.

While there were days when his mind was filled with doubts, Katsuki coped with them by thinking of a thousand ways to concentrate on other things. But somehow, these doubts came back, burning, sweeping, and above all latent.

Chapter Text

To say that the time that had passed with the passing of the cycles was sweet, glorious and almost unimaginable, were mere euphemisms that Shoto could not even refute in the face of all the warmth, kindness, affection and desire that Izuku gave him in their marriage, both in their home and in their bed.

Izuku had begun to fill every dark and lonely nook and cranny of his palace with his floral and delicious perfume, with the enchanting warmth that characterized him and to fill the place with the cadence of his laughter and voice until he almost filled the palace with pure charm, warmth and calm. And Shoto felt for the first time his palace as a home and the servants began to notice the great changes. The smiles, the kindness, the ease that the lord of the forge radiated in his home.

For those who dwelt in the palace of the forge god the change was drastic and almost overwhelming. Yet the charm, guidance and patience of the god of love made everything flow until the interior of the palace was completely changed.

The rooms no longer frolicked with damp and dust, but with cleanliness and air; the heavy velvet curtains were removed to let in the natural light that brightened the interior; the vases went from being empty to being constantly filled with lilies, camomile flowers, peonies, roses and other exotic flowers; there were always baskets full of fruits picked from the large garden in the palace, which Izuku tended with care and affection; the kitchens began to have great banquets shared by all in the large palace inn and at last the loneliness had left its dark and heavy presence in the palace.

The arrival of the god of love was a sweet and necessary breath of summer air that was not known to be lacking. The immortals had begun to get to know the god closely and he treated them all by name and with the same candour with which many gods were attracted to him, leaving the immortals almost breathless and with exalted pulses.

Shoto works painstakingly every day in his forge to always bring something precious to his husband. A necklace, a bracelet, tiaras, belts of precious stones, whatever it took, as long as he could frolic in his bed between moans and caresses, to finish whispering to him the loves that came from his heart and led him to sleep.

He became more and more homesick for his home rather than his work, leaving errands half-done and even delaying armour, weapons and gifts that many gods had imparted to him long before his wedding.

He would arrive inside the volcano where he forged after dawn and leave long before twilight peeked over the horizon, feeling overwhelmed by the impatience and anxiety of Izuku's attentions when he arrived at the palace.

On many occasions All Might had to justify Shoto's irresponsibility and tardiness. He mentioned that it was the honeymoon he had to spend with his new husband, that they had to be patient, for marriages were all about pure devotion, gentleness and hard work in the first few months. But when the summer began to cool down little by little and the rains began to appear in small showers, the god-king could not justify Shoto's insolence.

Autumn was coming, that was irrevocable, and Camie was preparing to return to the arms of Hades. All Might had to keep calm in the Pantheon, for Sero had begun to have his breakdowns of abandonment and to curse the god of Hell eternally for kidnapping his daughter, threatening that he would starve mortals and rot the Council gardens with vermin if his daughter was taken from him.

Contrite, troubled and overwhelmed by both situations where the gods were crying out for an immediate solution, All Might was brooding and thoughtful, completely oblivious to the incandescent shadow that rose like a wave of putrid, sulphurous smoke in the middle of his throne room.

His immediate reaction was one of war. He drew from his belt hidden in his robes a burnished, retractable spear that crackled at the thundering, luminous sound of lightning. His eyes turned white and gleaming, only to realise, before launching the first attack, that Enji and Katsuki appeared after the rising ball of foul smoke that eventually vanished, making the god of war cough with sheer disgust.

'By a fiend, I nearly struck them all down,' grumbled the god-king.

'Hello, old man' greeted Katsuki.

'My boy' greeted the king god back 'I'm sorry I didn't...'

'Don't worry' said the god of war without much encouragement.

The king god noticed the coldness and anxiety with which the war god's voice greeted him, his face denoted large dark bags and his always fierce expression looked devoid of anger. He was only serious, his rictus so stiff that it disturbed even the god King.

He wondered inwardly what was wrong with Katsuki, only to recall, belatedly, what he had discovered months ago after the great argument with the Shoto.

Yagi felt sorry for his son, but he had no jurisdiction where relationships were concerned. He didn't like to meddle in things that were none of his business, much less in passionate situations that could compromise Olympus.

'Enji' greeted All Might coldly.

'Yagi.'

The gazes of both were serious, but they denoted that coldness and severity with which both brothers treated each other. The same one they had many eons ago, the same one that made them face each other on a few occasions, and the same one they kept silent and cold for the peace of the cosmos.

'I need Camie' Enji's voice replied to the heavy silence.

'She'll be here in no time.'

'You look older.'

'And you smell dead.'

'You always say that' he smiled slyly.

'But you smell dead' asserted the god-king gravely.

'Well, you can't expect me being the lord of the Underworld to smell like roses.'

Katsuki watched in silence as the two gods threw harsh comments and stern looks at each other, revealing the hatred and suspicion that the two brothers still held for each other, despite the peace that existed between Olympus and the Underworld. However, this sense of heavy unease was dispelled by Camie's arrival at the palace. Another awkward situation, as the blonde's bright eyes looked at Katsuki flirtatiously.

'Here I am,' Camie said with that flirtatious aura she was known for.

'Just in time,' Katsuki whispered before walking away from Enji and sitting down next to his father.

Camie came up beside Enji and Enji could touch the blonde's pale skin with those huge hands. Her eyes and face were serious, but the god of war could see that animal glow he saw in mortals when they were driven by their instincts. That glow that simply reminded him of the sensations that overwhelmed him every time he saw the God of Love.

His heart gave a painful twist. To remember that Izuku belonged to someone else now. That his lips, his eyes and his skin were more than just a promise to the cursed half-elf.

Chapter Text

Katsuki had woken up when dawn peeked through the shutters of the windows for some strange reason.

Trying to shake the dullness out of his ruby eyes, he slowly carved them back to full awareness of his thoughts and, likewise, realised the place where he was.

He was crumpled in the corner of the gigantic room with furs over him and a feeling of plethoric queasiness latching onto his stomach, this from drinking heavily with his drunken brothers. His eyes were able to focus properly, then he looked around at the mess.

Sero lay on top of a gigantic cot, naked and crumpled against the bodies of two young men; Denki, in another guise, lay in the corner of the room snoring noisily, his belly upside down and the golden cup scattering what was left of its fermented contents; finally, the god caught a glimpse of Kirishima in the other corner of the wall where he lay, peacefully asleep in an upright position with his arms folded, almost as if he were meditating.

The god remembered that he and Eijirou had agreed to take care of the drunks. Sero and Denki could barely stand up after at least a full week of uncontrollably drinking the wine they had cautiously stolen from Aoyama's stores. And, to make matters worse, the only people who could deal directly with these drunks were Kirishima and himself.

Although the ashen-haired god had intended to keep the god of agriculture busy for a while and stave off his inevitable crisis of abandonment, the god wished to return to his palace and throw himself into his chambers to sleep peacefully for as long as he wished. However, his plan had lasted too long to pretend to give up the moment the galloping thought crossed his semi-conscious mind.

And there he was, watching the drunks and his brother sleeping peacefully in a different corner in a mess and knowing in those moments that this was his chance to get the hell out of there.

He cautiously exited the palace, almost as if he had infiltrated an enemy camp. Tiptoeing and tuning his ear in case any servants saw him. He didn't want his brothers to know he had disappeared from there when the plan to lose his head in alcohol had been his idea in the first place.

He strode through the long corridors filled with nature and honeysuckle, escaping quickly from the place and avoiding with dizzying skill the ears and eyes of the servants who dwelled there. It was not until he was on the outskirts of the palace that he could breathe a sigh of relief.

The sun was beginning to peek intrepidly over the horizons, pushed by the strength of its guardian, Kirishima's squire and apprentice: Helios. Katsuki felt a strange sense of placidity at the sight of dawn and took a deep breath before making his way through the gardens to the cobblestone path that would lead him to his palace.

His scarlet gaze remained fixed on the one goal he wanted to reach: the cobblestone path that would escort him to his palace grounds and then straight to his cot to sleep. Thinking of the comfort of his furs, of his pillows, and of the incessant tiredness that overwhelmed his semi-consciousness and numb muscles.

He walked a few more steps until he reached the boundary where his dark palace and the walls that kept him away from that lonely marble palace adjoined. His eyes, unconsciously, looked at that palace still full of life and greenery which gave off its aromatic perfume of honeysuckle and solitude in those pearly walls that made the god of war remember something he never had.

His thoughts galloped rapidly in unstoppable questions about the one who filled his thoughts and sorrows. How would he be? Had he adapted to marriage? How would he feel being head of a palace that was not his own? All these questions caused him a dense curiosity, as well as a restlessness that pricked his chest in a thousand unimaginable ways.

The heavily armoured god had not realised that his footsteps had paused to appreciate the gigantic but lonely palace. He remembered the blinding perfume with which he imbibed the young freckled god, the lilting laughter that made the depths of his belly and chest vibrate, the delicious tingle the boy caused just by looking into his emerald eyes.

His scarlet eyes narrowed and a bitter rictus washed over the grimly calm expression with which Katsuki had left his brother's palace. His knuckles clenched and that familiar emptiness lodged itself in his chest like an icy chisel hammering relentlessly. He knew it couldn't be his, even if deep within him he felt the wildest, fiercest love he had ever felt for anyone. It was a destiny that, at the whim of the Moiras, was forged in his blood and in his existence.

However, the Moiras, capricious weavers of immortal and mortal destinies, had other intentions in store for him.

"My lord" greeted Alectrion, arriving with a certain happiness on his face.

"It is good to see you again, sheep's eyes," admitted the God of War with a sly grin, "I've needed someone to annoy me.

"It was also much needed here sir," said the boy confidently.

"Everything went well?"

Alectrion was petrified for a moment, though he quickly pulled himself together and smiled nervously at his lord. However, Katsuki had noticed such a genuine, ephemeral grimace on his squire's face that he didn't have the slightest hint of discretion to ask him directly:

"What happened?" the god asked in a serious voice.

Alectrion tried to formulate a warning phrase or at least a phoneme, though it would have been of no use.

"How lovely to see you again, my dear," they said behind the squire's back.

Alectrion whispered a quiet 'Forgive me, my lord' before the queen goddess made her presence known in a beautiful and voluptuous cyan robe, with her hands clasped and a smile that Katsuki hated so much on her. It was one of those smiles and courtesies that Nemuri used to ask for a favour, which Katsuki rarely fulfilled.

"I'd say the same, you witch, if I didn't have a hell of a hangover," snorted the god with a dismissive air.

"I heard from your father that they've lasted a week," the blue-eyed goddess mentioned with some relief, "hopefully that will at least tie Sero up until mid-October."

"I doubt my father told you that witch," he replied mockingly, "but yes, Sero's asshole hangover should last at least a few days, that's if the depression doesn't get him to react first."

"Fascinating" the goddess clapped faintly "you really do have a knack for getting people drunk off their brains, dear."

Katsuki, irritated by his mother's false happiness and politeness, pounced unabashedly:

"What is it you wish for, witch?" he questioned her directly "You don't like to leave your fucking wanker palace, let alone come to what I remember you called: hotbed of blood and rats."

Nemuri sighed loudly and gave a withering glare to the squire at his side. Alectrion, who remained silent, took the hint and quickly left, but not before bowing to the queen.

When mother and son were alone, a dense silence enveloped them with its deathly coldness. Katsuki stared at his mother and watched her face untainted by any expression, waiting for her to issue her wish and leave once and for all. He had no intention of fulfilling any of his mother's whims at this moment.

He crossed his arms over his chest and rephrased the question:

"I hope you'll say it now when I ask you again, witch. What is it you wish for?"

"Does there have to be a secret intention or desire to come to see you dear?" the queen questioned a little irritated.

"If it comes from you, it will always be so," asserted the god confidently, "so spit it out at once."

Nemuri with an offended expression tensed at her post and clasped her hands together in front of her hips, glaring fiercely at her son and changing her rictus to a bitter expression.

Katsuki smiled triumphantly. His mother could be kind, loquacious and friendly enough only if she could extract favours from others, but a few, including his father and himself, knew that when the goddess approached with smiles, laughter and pleasantries it was simply to ask for help or some whimsical favour.

"Witch, I really want to sleep, so hurry up," urged the god of war with some amusement, for he loved to see his mother lose her temper easily.

"Please let me speak first, you rude brat."

"Well, at least I know you won't lie to me after that insult," the god grinned slyly.

Nemuri snorted.

"While we're at it, Katsuki, I'll tell you my intentions," the queen mother mentioned, "I came to you because I don't know who to ask anymore..."

"Wisdom? Me?" he questioned entertained "wow, so that'll be the question that even fucking Momo couldn't help you."

"Shut up and listen" scolded the annoyed woman "for a week nobody knows about the whereabouts of the god of love."

Katsuki felt that news like a heavy hammer falling on his stomach. His once amused expression quickly changed to a serious one and the hangover dizziness faded from his consciousness. However, he tried not to make a big deal out of it. Only his father was aware of how much he was in love with the beautiful god and he would prefer it to stay that way.

"Is that so? I see he didn't put up with much of a marriage," he mentioned sardonically, not letting that sense of satisfaction that came over him from saying that "we can see that the half-half bastard has been no good."

"Don't gloat at other people's pain, Katsuki," the queen hastened to say annoyed, "this has weighed on Shoto, he hasn't been out of that fucking palace for days and he's..."

"Why the hell doesn't he look for him?" the god asked again as if it were obvious "if he's his husband, he should know where to look for him..."

"He... is indisposed" mentioned the mother goddess.

"Then I'll tell you something witch, since I want to make it clear to you" said Katsuki approaching the queen intimidatingly and sticking her face with a disinterested look "whatever marital problems the perfumed brat and the half-half fucker have are none of my business, if you want some tracker to beat the snot out of that bastard who doesn't look for his consort, then go to Mina."