Chapter Text
“Hi!” Hypnos chirped, waving with a customer service smile, “Welcome to the Temple of Styx! Please turn back now.”
The Olympians paused in their approach, the group rippling with confusion and interest at the little slip of a god blocking the doors to the temple. At the back of the group, knuckles white with how tightly he clutched his bag, Hermes felt his heart drop to his stomach as he realized how deeply fucked they were. If Hades had seen fit to send Hypnos in person, the chances of Zeus’ ridiculous plan succeeding had dropped from six percent to absolute zero.
“We’ve come to assist my brother with his little Tartarus problem.” Zeus announced jovially, his charming smile on full blast as he lied through his teeth, “I simply cannot bear the idea of my poor brother dealing with-“
“No thank you.” Hypnos cut in with that same bright smile, and Zeus seemed taken aback, unused to being interrupted.
“…What do you mean ‘no thank you’?” he asked, brow furrowing as the faintest scent of ozone began to drift on the air, warning of his displeasure. Hermes gulped, glancing to Ares, who was looking at Hypnos with raw hunger and anticipation. His unwavering reverence for Sleep, the one opponent no one had ever won a battle against, hadn’t so much as diminished in centuries. The rest of his family, save for perhaps wise and suddenly-tense Athena, looked at the reclusive sleep god with varying expressions of curiosity and intrigue, none of them aware of just how much the situation had escalated with Hypnos’ mere presence.
“We don’t need your help.” Hypnos waved, “Sorry you made the trek all the way here for nothing, but I’ll make sure to let Lord Hades know you were all so worried about him. I’m sure he’ll appreciate it. Between you and me, I think a part of him misses the good old days of you three being best friends.”
“Oh believe me, we miss it too, little one.” Zeus continued, his smile a touch strained now, different from Poseidon’s slightly wistful expression beside him, “And we are always ready should he ever decide to fix his reclusive ways and come spend time with us. Now, as for his problem, he may not need our help, but we wish to offer it anyway! If you could just step aside…?”
“Hm… nah.” Hypnos said easily, “Sorry, but that won’t be possible.”
“And why not, little thing?” Poseidon asked, his booming voice just on the edge of a laugh, amused by the whole situation.
“Because we both know you’re not here to help.” Hypnos said bluntly, and despite his friendly smile, the air suddenly seemed colder, “And the last thing the boss needs is his nosy family meddling in his affairs and trying to steal his realm out from under him.”
“Why, little Sleep!” Zeus feigned offense, a hand on his chest as if hurt, “I assure you, we would never -“
“Come on now, save it for someone who believes you.” Hypnos chirped, half-lidded eyes unnervingly sharp, “You should leave, really. Go on now, get.” He made a shooing motion with his hands, dismissing them, and some of the more prideful Olympians bristled at the insult.
“Uh, hey guys, maybe we should listen to the little man.” Dionysus piped up, exchanging nervous glances with Hermes. Dionysus had never really met Hypnos, as the sleep brought on by alcohol was not truly sleep so much as unconsciousness, but even he knew enough about the Chthonics to respect them. To be wary of them.
“Nonsense.” Zeus chuckled, but his eyes had gone flinty as they looked down at Hypnos, “Little godling, I really do advise you get out of our way. There’s no need for this to turn unpleasant.”
“Agreed! After all, it is you alone, against nearly all of Olympus.” Poseidon told him, jovial and warm, as if giving a young man advice. Hypnos blinked at that, then seemed to think on it, placing a finger to his chin thoughtfully.
“You make a fair point.” he eventually conceded, but then he continued, “So you’ll probably wanna go grab a couple dozen more gods if you want an even fight.” Hermes winced, Ares perked up, and Zeus’ face went cold.
“Now son,” he started, but Hypnos cut him off yet again. It had to be on purpose, there was a subtle glee in his eyes that grew every time Zeus’ patience faltered.
“Not your son.” he said, grinning when Zeus’ scowl grew, “I’m actually old enough to be your grandpa a thousand times over, you know.”
“Oh for Gaia’s sake, enough of this mindless chatter.” Apollo of all people snapped, “If we’re here to fight, let us fight.” and before Hermes could so much as open his mouth to warn him, he was charging at Hypnos, blades drawn and singing through the air with murderous intent.
His head hit the ground not two seconds later.
The rest of him followed soon after.
And all Hell broke loose.