Chapter Text
Seungmin’s eyes scan the room with zero interest, he would rather be anywhere but here if he was honest. But bearing the title of the prince of the underworld, Hades’s son that rules the underworld alongside him, he has to make an appearance in the Olympus party every now and then. The hall stretched impossibly high above the room, supported by towering marble pillars veined with gold. Heavy curtains of embroidered silk framed the open windows, shifting softly whenever the night air drifted through. Rows of ornate chairs surrounded the banquet tables, their curved backs sculpted with symbols of the gods who had ruled Olympus long before Seungmin was born. The room feels grand as if showcasing the power the Gods and Goddesses hold.
A loud obnoxious laugh from his right startles him, there stands Lee Minho, the god of temptation and obsession, giggling softly at his admirers' laugh. He leans lazily against one of the marble pillars as if the entire hall exists purely for his entertainment, his dark hair falls loosely across his forehead. They’ve been like that the whole night, the son of Aphrodite-Hermes, seems to be quite popular around here. Wherever he drifts, people follow, drawn by his beauty. The atmosphere around him always shifts to something sharper, more charged. But somehow the crowd gathered there only seems to grow more animated, mistaking the tension for amusement as they reveal far more of themselves than they intend. Dangerous creature, Seungmin thinks. He shifts his attention back to his father's conversation with Zeus, something about an upcoming threat. Maybe he should pay more attention to their conversation.
“Ah, how nice it is that the prince of the underworld decided to grace us with his presence tonight.” Seungmin barely spares the unfamiliar god a glance, he gives him a polite nod. He didn’t recognize him, must be one of the newer god.
The god apparently took it as an invitation to engage Seungmin in a longer conversation, he spent the next 10 minutes talking about his adventure to the prince even when Seungmin ignored him. It’s when Seungmin finally sends him a glare that he stops talking and scurry away from the underworld prince to join Minho’s crowd.
Seungmin finally decided to step out for a moment after trying to stay through 2 more hours in the dining hall, his ears ringing not used to listening to people talk over each other for more than 4 hours. Turns out he’d rather hear the painful cries of the dead in the underworld than the sound of gods and goddesses flexing their power. Olympus was exhausting in a way the underworld never was.
Seungmin stared at the Olympus garden, the gardens of Olympus stretched beyond the hall in quiet elegance. Pale marble paths wound through flowering trees that never seemed to wilt. A fountain murmured softly nearby, its water reflecting the endless night sky above. He enjoys the quiet for only a moment before the dining hall doors slam open behind him with a heavy thud. Messy footsteps follow soon after, loud and careless against the marble path.
Seungmin doesn’t bother turning, refusing to let anyone bother him. The decision is taken out of his hands a second later when someone crashes directly into his back. Seungmin turns quickly, catching the stranger by the arms before he collapse into the floor. It’s Lee Minho, his pretty face looks red with hazy eyes, the man is drunk. Minho pats his arms before walking away, not a word out of his mouth.
“So, now you’re quiet.” Seungmin noted, his eyes follow the pretty man's wobbly steps. “You’re not even going to try.” An observation.
Minho stops in his tracks, chuckling as he turns around to inspect the underworld prince. “I don’t need to. I know people like you, I create people like you. You’re already there, you didn’t need shaping.” Minho sent him a smile before walking away.
Seungmin just stares at Minho’s retreating figure for a minute before shifting his attention back to the garden, already pushing the strange encounter out of his mind.
Seungmin takes a deep breath as he listens to Zeus’s concern about the mortal rebellions in the kingdoms of the Gods and Goddesses loyal worshipper that’s happening at the same time like it was an organized movement to turn the mortals against the Gods and Goddesses. The rebels have been attacking temples, declaring verbal war to the divine being openly and threatening to take over kingdoms of the rulers that are loyal worshippers.
He was dragged to attend the meeting by his father since the underworld has been overflowing with souls that are the victims of the rebellions, and if war started then the underworld should be bracing themselves to handle more souls than it’s supposed to. So the Gods and Goddesses schedule a meeting to discuss what step they should take on this matter.
It’s been 3 hours. Athena has been refusing to meddle in the mortals' wars because she thought that if the rebellions start by the hatred that they have over the divine power then pushing back with powers would encourage them even more. Hera also has been refusing to help since most kingdoms worship her less than they worship other Gods and it’s offending her. Dionysus also voted to give the mortals more freedom, sounding like he’s supporting the rebellions in a way. While the rest were against the rebellions because for centuries the authority of kings and queens had rested on their devotion to Olympus. If that devotion disappeared, so did the divine order that held the mortal world together.
The door of the meeting room slams open in the middle of Hermes's snarky remark, all heads turn to see Minho stepping inside with the confidence of someone who belongs. “You’re here.” Seungmin noted, eyes following the god’s movement.
Minho plops down across from him casually, gaze meeting his eyes. “Of course I’m here. I live here. You’re here.”
“Yes, but why are you here exactly?” Seungmin furrows his eyebrows. Minho didn’t seem like someone who would enjoy intense meetings without anyone to worship his ground.
“Didn’t know this part of Olympus is restricted for me.” Minho sent him a wide smile, too cheerful for an occasion like this.
Zeus redirects the focus to the rebellions, Seungmin’s attention shifts back to the king of Olympus. The next 2 hours are filled with arguments after arguments along with suggestions about how to deal with the rebellions, and Minho would either scoff or throw snarky remarks at the suggestion that he deems foolish. While Seungmin tries his best to not engage in unnecessary quarrels.
“Why can’t we just curse the rebels so they know not to mess around with the Gods?” Jisung, Ares’s son, threw a suggestion.
Seungmin is ready to explain the cost of such a short sighted action might do when Minho beats him. “Why don’t we just do anything we want?” A cheshire smile forming on his pretty face.
“Exactly!” Jisung nods with excitement. Annoyance flashes on Minho’s face, but the god quickly masks it with a sweet smile. “Of course Jisung, let the rest of the mortals hate us more, why don’t we?”
Minho got a point, but this person hasn’t been giving any suggestions as he keeps insulting everyone else’s logic. “What exactly are your roles in this meeting?” Minho’s gaze shifted towards Seungmin. He leans forward studying Seungmin’s face, chin resting on top of his hands. “Why don’t you tell me?”
The others ignore them, the arguments starting again as Minho raises his eyebrows challenging Seungmin to continue his words. But Seungmin refuses to take the bait, he brings his attention back to the arguments unfolding in the room. Minho sent him one last victorious smile before turning his attention back to the other Gods.
Another hour of discussion regarding the rebellions when Minho walks out of the room without a word. Seungmin watches Minho leave in silence, his gaze lingering for a brief moment. Eventually, he returns his attention to the meeting.