The Abduction of Alfred Jones [Part 2/3]
Alfred awoke the next morning with a sore throat and aching hands. For a second he was confused and lost, not knowing where he was. But as the fog of sleep cleared, everything came rushing back. The abduction, the hours of screaming, and the scene with Ivan right before he fell asleep. Where did that guy get off, talking to him like that!? Begging for it? He wished! He wasn't going to be begging for anything but to get the hell out of here.
He got up out of the bed, dragging himself to the door. He tried the handle, unsurprised to find that it was still locked. He hadn't really expected it to be unlocked, but there wasn't any harm in hoping. But that just meant that he was stuck here until someone came to let him out. Or didn't, whatever Ivan wanted he supposed. Ivan wasn't the one locked up and Alfred wasn't the one with the keys.
He slumped down against the door and brought his knees up to his chest. What had he ever done to deserve this? Had he pissed anyone off lately? Was Monica still mad at him for being Arthur's son? She would be the one to do something like this. And as the Goddess of Marriage, she could probably swing it. Fucking bitch, she just couldn't take it that Arthur didn't want her. Or maybe it was Francis. He'd always been jealous, petty slut.
Before he could go off on a tangent about his crazy ass family in his own head, the door opened and he tumbled to the floor. He looked up, blinking in bewilderment at Ivan. The God of the Underworld was standing over him, smirking in amusement. Alfred scowled up at him and gathered himself from off of the floor. He crossed his arms over his chest and glared up at the taller God. There was no way he was backing down, not even to the Lord of the Underworld.
Ivan chuckled and caught Alfred's chin in between his fingers, pulling him up for a kiss even as the younger God struggled against him. "You are truly adorable when you are angry, my love. Get up, we are going out." He told him as he pulled away from the kiss. He'd wanted it to last longer, but he had a feeling that Alfred wouldn't have responded well.
"What gives you the right to come in here, kiss me out of the goddamned blue, and then demand I go somewhere with you? Who the hell do you think you are!?" Alfred screamed, pushing the other man back. He was frustrated when the more powerful God didn't even budge, but it made him feel better to push him. He geared up to do it again, but Ivan caught his wrists, pulling his arms so that he ended up flush against him with Ivan's lips at his ear.
"I am your husband, Alfred. I have every right to kiss you when and where I want. I have every right to make you go wherever I want to. And most of all, I have the right to throw you up against this wall and take your innocence without protest from you. So it would be in your best interest to come with me, or I may lose my patience waiting for you to warm up to me." He warned him, kissing up the side of his neck.
Alfred froze, pale and wide-eyed with fear. He couldn't really mean that, right? Ivan wouldn't rape him would he? But then he remembered just who he was and what kind of family they lived in and suddenly the possibility seemed much more real. He turned his face away from Ivan's and squeezed his eyes shut, trying not to panic and do anything that would give Ivan cause to go through with his threat.
"Fine, whatever you want. I'll go. Just don't hurt me." He whimpered, trying to back out of the hold Ivan had him in. The older man chuckled and placed one more kiss at his pulse point before backing up. He studied Alfred for a moment, taking him in as he looked right now: scared, helpless, submissive. It should be what he wanted in a partner, someone he could control and keep track of. But something was missing, something was wrong.
"I would never dream of hurting you, my little sunflower. How can I keep you as my own forever if you are damaged?" He asked, kissing him on the lips tenderly. Alfred didn't respond to the kiss, but he was so shaken by the threat that he didn't fight him off. Ivan took it as a good sign and let the kiss linger on for a second longer than he would have otherwise. It was like tasting a little bit of paradise. This was what he wanted, why he'd brought Alfred here.
Despite every logical part of him screaming that it was wrong and disgusting and shameful of him, his heart sped up just a little as his husband kissed him. He should be fighting, trying to get free. It didn't matter if he was bound to him in marriage or in chains, he needed to get out of here! But Ivan wasn't bad looking. And what if he really was stuck here? Shouldn't he try to at least get along with the man he could be spending the rest of eternity with?
Ivan pulled back from the kiss, looking straight into Alfred's eyes. The young Flower God was caught under that gaze, unable to look away. There was something in his eyes that confused Alfred. The way he was looking at him was something he hadn't ever seen in another person's eyes before. But before he could look more closely, Ivan turned away.
"You have been good and, like I promised, you may accompany me on a walk so that we may get to know one another better." He said, holding an arm out for Alfred.
Alfred paused for a moment, wary of going anywhere with this man. Even more so of touching him. But the alternative was being cooped up in this room all day, something he wasn't sure he'd be able to handle. Being outside, even in the Underworld and talking to Ivan, was better than being locked in a tiny room with no one to talk to. But in the end, he hooked his arm gingerly around Ivan's. He kept any other contact to a minimum, staying as far away as possible. But Ivan just drew him closer, not giving him any other choice.
Ivan led him out of the room, his grip firm but gentle on Alfred's arm. He didn't want him to get away, but he also didn't want to hurt him. He didn't think he would be able to stand seeing his shining sun hurt in any way. Alfred may not want to believe it, but he really was in love with him. He had been since the moment he'd laid eyes on the beautiful teenager.
The continued on in silence, Alfred not in the mood to talk and Ivan just enjoying the quiet. He was not a very talkative person, something that often brought him to misunderstandings with the rest of the Olympians. If Alfred wanted to be silent, he would let him. In the land of the dead, it wasn't often that you found chatterboxes. But he had a feeling that Alfred would become more talkative as time wore on. Maybe one day they could walk through his realm arm in arm, Alfred talking happily and endlessly as Ivan listened. He would like that.
Eventually, though, the silence had to be broken. And, unsurprisingly, it was Alfred that broke it first. "Why are you doing this? You didn't have to let me out." He said, both confused that Ivan was being relatively nice, angry that he was in this situation in the first place, and fearful that Ivan would turn on him at any second.
"It is simple, sunflower. I want you to fall in love with me." He answered matter-of-factly, squeezing Alfred's arm affectionately. Alfred frowned in confusion, pulling away from Ivan just a little bit. "Do not try to get away now, dearest. We're almost there." He said, pulling the teenager back.
"Almost where?" He huffed, wondering when Ivan would just hurry up and tell him where they were going and why. He hated being kept in suspense, especially by kidnapping freak stalkers. It was almost as bad as being kept in that tiny room. Why had he even agreed to this!? Oh yeah, because the creepy stalker freak practically owned him.
"You will see, my love. Now close your eyes." He said, placing his hands over Alfred's eyes. Alfred growled and tried to pull the hands off. The nerve of this asshole to cover his eyes and think he wasn't going to go down without a fight! How stupid was he?
"Get the fuck off of me you freak! Rape! Rape!" He screeched, trying to get the man off of him. Had he brought him out here simply so that no one would hear him scream while he did horrible things to him? Would this pervert freak even let him live through this!? Fuck, man. Why him? It just wasn't fair! What had he ever done?
Ivan couldn't help but laugh as his consort struggled and screamed. It was just so funny that Alfred still thought he was going to rape him. He would never do that as long as Alfred was cooperating. Which he supposed he wasn't right now, but he would calm down in a little while. "Alfred, my heart, I'm not going to rape you. I simply have a surprise that I do not wish for you to see until the right moment. So just close your eyes and do as I say."
Alfred stopped thrashing and glared at the palms of Ivan's hands. "If you try to fucking touch me I swear I'm aiming for your balls and running. You got that, big guy? Lord of the Dead or not, you aren't so tough that I can't kick your ass." He growled. Ivan laughed again and pulled him close, kissing the top of his ear.
"Do not be so jumpy, my darling. I am not so bad as you think." He told him, leading him forward with his hands still covering his eyes. He knew Alfred was going to love this. It was why he had planned this, to make Alfred happy. He wanted to see him light up like he had when he first saw him so many months before.
"I'll believe that when you prove it to me." Alfred scoffed, only going along with this stupid idea because he had no other choice. He didn't want to be here, he didn't want this freak touching him, and he definitely didn't want to be married to him.
"Have I been anything but kind to you?" Ivan asked.
"You mean besides kidnapping me and threatening to rape me?" He asked sarcastically.
"You need to get past that if we are to fall in love, my pet." Ivan scolded lightly.
"Yeah well you know what you need to do? You need to go fu-" He cut off mid-sentence as Ivan dropped his hands and he saw what Ivan had brought him here to show him.
A crystal wall that seemed to stretch on forever in all directions stood between them and what to him seemed a paradise. Through the sheer face of the wall, he could see fields that stretched on to the horizon blanketed in all sorts of vegetation. Flowers he'd never even seen before spouted up from the ground and fruit-bearing trees were plentiful. He could see the shapes of people wandering through the garden contently. It was the most beautiful sight he'd ever beheld.
"What is this place?" He asked wondrously, pressing his face up against the wall. He wanted to be in there with those people, basking in the warm glow of the sun and frolicking through the flowers. But he was trapped here in the dull and colorless Plains of Asphodel. And with what he wanted so close and yet unattainable, Alfred was wrenched with a sense of despair worse than any he'd felt before.
"This, my dear, is the wall separating Asphodel from Elysium. On the other side of that wall is paradise. I thought you would want to see it, since you love flowers so." He said, coughing nervously. He really hoped Alfred liked his gesture of affection. His hopes were crushed as Alfred turned, a sadness in his eyes that wrenched at the King of the Dead's heart.
"Why did you bring me here?" He asked, voice small and sad. Ivan regretted immediately his decision to bring his young bride here. It hadn't brought them any closer. It might have just driven them farther apart.
"I only wanted to speak with you, get to know you better." He told him, pleading with him to understand that he'd never meant to hurt him so.
"What's the point of getting to know me? I thought the purpose of a consort was to be there when you want my services and give you a couple of squealing brats." He said bitterly. He knew the roles that lesser Gods played when they were taken as wives or consorts to the Olympians. If he was lucky he would have to bear a few spawn and be left alone while his husband pursued other people. If he was unlucky, he would be expected to share this creep's bed for the rest of his endless days.
"Sunflower, I did not bring you here because I wanted you to warm my bed. If it was that simple I could have just taken you in the field and let you go back to your mother. Nor do I require children from you. As I told you, I love you and just want you to stay here with me and bring the sunshine to my dreary realm." He told the blonde. Despite what Alfred might think, he cared for him a good deal more than that. "You are to be not only my lover, but my companion and co-ruler as well. You should be thankful. I have raised you from a lowly Flower God to Prince of the Underworld."
Alfred shook with rage, the words running through his head. He pushed Ivan back, standing in front of him and looking at him with rage, anger, and hate in those beautiful blue eyes.
"Thankful? I should be thankful? Do you have any idea what you've done? You selfish, arrogant, stuck up, idiotic, cruel, manipulative, horrible bastard. You kidnapped me, threatened me, forced me to be your consort, and now this? And you want me to be thankful!? Fuck you!" He yelled, letting all his anger and frustration out. As soon as he'd uttered the words, he turned and ran. He didn't look back, he didn't have to. He knew that Ivan would catch him sooner or later. He was trapped here with no way out.
Ivan watched him go with a slack jaw and hurt in his eyes. This wasn't what he wanted! He didn't want Alfred angry and sad, he wanted him happy and loving! Why couldn't Alfred just see that this was meant to be and that Ivan's love was real? "Alfred, wait!" He cried. He raced after his precious wildflower, wanting desperately to make him see. To make him give him just one more chance before he closed off his heart forever.
He found him flung over a rock, sobbing and pounding at the poor innocent object. He didn't know whether it was safe to approach him just yet. He was probably the last person in the world that Alfred wanted to see right now. But he had to make amends. He loved Alfred so much and every sob struck his heart like one of Arthur's bolts.
"Alfred...darling...please do not cry." He begged, kneeling down and placing a comforting hand on Alfred's back. Alfred growled angrily and slapped the hand away. He didn't say anything, he didn't need to. Ivan could see he wasn't welcome right now. But he didn't care, he had to be there for his darling sunflower in his time of need to help him get through the transition from being a young virgin living with his mother, to being married.
"You get away from me! This is all your fault! I told you I could never live down here, but you didn't listen. You were blinded by your feelings and power and you didn't even stop to think about how I would feel about it! You took me away from my mother, away from everything I love, and you expect me to just turn on a dime and be your precious pet?" He hissed, glaring hatefully at the other man with red-rimmed eyes. He just wished that Ivan would go away and never come back. Even being alone in the middle of nowhere with only a rock for company was better than this.
"Alfred no! I only took you because I love you so! I would do anything to keep you happy. Please, believe me. You are my heart, my soul. I cannot live without you. I don't know how I would go on if you were not here." He pleaded, pulling him to his chest and hugging him there. He expected Alfred to pull away, to struggle, but he just struck him in the chest before clinging to him and sobbing into his chest.
"I hate you! IhateyouIhateyouIhateyou!" He screamed, the words muffled by the fabric of Ivan's robe. He beat at his chest a few more times, the frustration and despair too much for the young God. But he needed this, someone to hold him while he cried. He wanted Ivan to go and never come back, but he wanted him to stay and hold him until the tears stopped. He didn't know what he wanted anymore. This was all so confusing.
Ivan held him close, smoothing his hand over his back soothingly. He whispered comforting words into his ear and rocked him back and forth to quiet the tears. When the sobbing had finally subsided to the odd sniffle, Ivan hooked a finger under Alfred's chin and brought his face up so he could look into his eyes. He cradled Alfred's face in his hands and wiped away the tears with his thumbs.
"There, now is that better? Have you cried all of your tears, my darling?" He asked softly, leaning down to place a soft kiss on the teen's lips. This time Alfred didn't lay there like a limp fish or fight back. In his desperation to have something to hold onto in this mess he'd found himself in, he kissed back. Ivan was pleased with the response, wrapping one arm around Alfred's waist as the other one cupped his cheek.
Alfred was the one to break the kiss, scrambling off Ivan's lap and back against the rock. What had he just done!? Not only had he kissed the man who'd started all of this, he'd probably only made it worse by giving him a reason to think there was any chance of him ever falling in love with him. Which there undeniably was....wasn't! He meant wasn't.
"Why so scared, little rabbit? I'm not going to hurt you. Now, was that really so bad? A simple kiss?" He cooed, trying to coax Alfred back to him. He slowly started to advance on Alfred, trying not to spook him. After that wonderful, magical kiss there was no way he was ever going to let Alfred be anyone else's. The beautiful blonde would be his for all eternity, he had to be.
"I-I...that is...I didn't want...It was a mistake..." He stammered, trying to back up further. But the rock was behind him and Ivan was closing in ever faster. Before Alfred could get around the rock, Ivan was leaning over him with something in his eyes that made Alfred want to just give in and let Ivan kiss him. It made his bones melt and his stomach feel like it was filled with butterflies.
"I told you, Alfred. I will get you to fall in love with me." He said, closing the distance between them and sealing their lips together again. Alfred, his head still spinning and his guard down, kissed back despite himself. In so many ways it felt wrong. But in some ways it felt right, too. But the thought only added to his confusion, so he threw it out.
He was just so confused and lost, he would take any comfort he could get.
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Aiyana arrived at Kiku's home on the eastern horizon, relief flooding her as she spotted it. If anyone knew what had happened to her son, it was him. He saw almost everything on his daily trips across the sky. If something happened under the sun, Kiku knew about it. She knocked frantically at the door, praying that he was home. The Fates smiled on her that day, and Kiku answered the door.
The dark haired man peeked out of the door timidly, not used to having visitors. His home was a long way from Olympus and not many Gods bothered him so far out. But Aiyana had never been anything but kind to him and he owed her a warm welcome at the very least.
"What brings you here, friend?" He asked, ushering her into his home. He led her to a couch as she told him her story, tears gathering in her eyes once more as she recounted the tragic event and her subsequent frantic search. He felt for her, he truly did. She had suffered so much already at the hands of Monica after bearing Arthur a son. She shouldn't have to go through this as well, especially since the only news he had for her was bad.
He debated not telling her, stalling as he poured them each a cup of tea and sat down beside her. He didn't want to be the bearer of bad news, and the woman had suffered so much. But was he really helping her by not telling her where her son was and who had taken him? She had a right to know, even if there was no hope.
"Aiyana, we have long been friends. Without me your crops do not grow and without you, I have no people to light the sky for. And I care dearly for your boy, too. He has always been a friend to me, as well. This is why I wish that I could tell you anything but what I am about to tell you." He said, taking her hand and pleading silently with her not to hate him for this.
"Alfred is not missing, nor has he run away or forgotten to come home. Ivan, the Lord of the Dead, has abducted him and taken him as his consort. He is in the Underworld right now with Ivan. I saw the scoundrel take him from the field bordering the river Styx, near the entrance to the Underworld. I could do nothing, as I have sworn not to interfere in the affairs of the Olympians." He said, bowing his head in shame and sorrow.
"Ivan? Why would he take Alfred? He has never even met my son!" She cried, her heart clenching as the news sank in. Ivan was one of the most powerful Gods in the world, one of the original sons of Romulus and Delphinia. If he was the one keeping her son, there wasn't anything she could do. She had no power against him, especially if he had claimed Alfred as his consort.
"Ivan has been watching him in the field for some time. I believe he may have been struck by love and taken him out of desperation when he confronted Alfred and was turned down. What will you do?" He asked, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. Aiyana put her hand over his and brought the other up to dry off some of the tears still springing forth from her eyes.
"I will go to Alfred's father. Perhaps he can speak to his brother for me. He has the power to command Ivan to bring my son back." She said, face hardening like granite as she spoke the hated name of the fiend who had taken her precious baby boy. He would pay for this, mark her words. She wouldn't rest until he had. She would enlist the help of Natalia, goddess of vengeance, if she had to. Even if she was infatuated with the God of Death, she still wouldn't be able to turn down a chance at enacting someone's revenge.
"You know Arthur will not interfere for fear of enraging Monica or Ivan. Alfred is a minor God and not his problem, as far as he's concerned. Do not expect sympathy from this man just because he is Alfred's father. Arthur has many children, none of which he pays much attention to." Kiku warned, well versed in the petty squabbles of the Olympians.
"I know that, Kiku. But I have to try." She said, determination filling her. She would get her son back no matter what the cost.
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Ivan awoke the next morning refreshed and well awake. He turned over and wrapped an arm around his bed partner, nuzzling his face into the back of his neck. The teenager whined and tried to scoot away, enjoying his sleep. But Ivan would not let up, he just snuggled back up to him and kissed the top of his head. The boy kept trying to get away, but every time Ivan would pull him back. Finally, he'd had enough and just turned over to face him.
"What do you want? Stop bugging me." Alfred pouted. He backed up, trying to disentangle himself from the sheets and Ivan. But he got so wrapped up in the blankets that the second he tried to stand up, he fell flat on his ass. Ivan chuckled and leaned over the side of the bed to help him up, snatching him back onto the bed in the process.
"A man cannot lavish attention on his lover without being suspect?" He teased, kissing up his consort's neck. Alfred tried to wiggle away, still not comfortable with all the touching. Just because some things happened the night before didn't mean he was in love with the guy, or that he wanted to stay. He'd been scared and confused and Ivan had been the only one there he could cling to. It hadn't been anything else.
"Listen, Ivan. What happened last night-" But he was cut off as Ivan pulled him up for a kiss.
"What happened last night was nothing compared to what will happen when you just give in and fall in love with me." He said, still petting and touching the younger God. But Alfred pushed him off again, becoming agitated.
"We kissed and we slept in the same bed, it didn't mean anything! We didn't even have sex! I'm not going to fall in love with you so stop trying! I was scared and you were there, that's all. Don't count on it happening again." He snapped as he untangled the blankets from around him and got out of the bed, turning his back to Ivan. But he didn't leave the room quick enough and Ivan was right behind him, hands on his shoulders and lips close to his ear.
"It meant everything, sunshine. Everything to me. Even if you never speak to me again I will treasure this time more than any other for the rest of my life." He told him sincerely, placing a kiss on the teen's shoulder. Alfred blushed and looked away, not wanting to admit the sweet words were getting to him. What could he say, he was a sap at heart.
"Yeah, well you better. Because that's all you're getting." He huffed, slipping once more out of his husband's grip. He didn't want to go through this again. The only thing that would come of talking to Ivan was the man getting his defenses down again to have an excuse to kiss him in a way that made his knees go weak. And the last thing Alfred needed if he was going to escape was weak knees.
"Do not leave so soon, my pet. I have another surprise for you. This one I think you will like much more than the last." He said, smiling brightly at his partner. If this went the way it was supposed to, Alfred would fall in love with him much sooner and maybe they could get around to the more carnal aspects of marriage. That may not be why he had brought Alfred here, but he would very much like that particular perk.
"I swear on my life if this is anything like the Elysian Fields fiasco, I'm finding the fastest way out of here if I have to dig my way out." Alfred growled. After all, if Ivan didn't want him to go yet he didn't have much choice. So he stayed, allowing Ivan to once again cover his eyes and lead him through the hallways of the Obsidian Palace.
"It is nothing like that, my pet. This is much better." He said, smiling secretively as he led Alfred down long corridors and winding staircases. By the time they reached the exit, Alfred was so lost it wouldn't have mattered if he had his eyes covered or not. He would never have been able to find his way back from here.
"It better...be..." As Ivan took his hands off of his eyes, Alfred was floored for the second time. It was a courtyard, surrounded by the crystalline walls of the castle, and filled with what appeared to be actual flowers. "Wha-but how..." He trailed off, looking around in bewilderment and wonder. It was so beautiful! Except for the absence of the sun and the presence of the walls, Alfred could almost believe he was in a field of real flowers.
"I had the finest craftsman gather to work all night and day on this garden for you. They are not real flowers, I'm afraid. Real flowers wouldn't live long without the sun. They're sculpted from the finest crystal, so thinly and finely cut that they almost resemble real flowers. Go ahead, pick one." He said, urging Alfred forward.
Alfred took a step towards the closest flower, looking back at Ivan once more for reassurance. When Ivan nodded, he bent down and broke off the step with a melodious tinkle. The crystal was smooth and without any edges. How these skilled artisans had done it was beyond him, but somehow they had truly cut the petals so thin that they almost looked real. And yet they were strong as well, not shattering at a mere touch as was to be expected. Every flower glittered invitingly, begging him to sit amongst them and lose himself.
His heart skipped a beat as he realized that all of this was for him. Ivan had done this for him and no one else. So much care, thought, and effort had gone into this. How long had he been planning to woo him? How long had it taken him to have this beautiful garden constructed? How much had it cost? And above all else, why hadn't he approached him like a normal person? Ivan had been so sweet to him, even when he'd been trying so hard to get away from him. If he had just shown him this romantic, caring side of himself and let the love bloom naturally instead of taking him, Alfred would have fell in love with him sooner.
Sooner? No. Nononono. That would imply that he was in love with the man, which he wasn't. Not at all. Nope, not even a little. He would go down denying that he'd ever even thought of loving that man.
His train of thought was interrupted by a hand on his shoulder. He turned around to see Ivan gazing into his eyes, a kind of nervous hope on his face. It was endearing, it really was. Something in his heart warmed and he couldn't help but smile. This man, this God, may not be as bad as he'd once assumed. He'd been so kind to him since he'd come here, even when he'd been locked up. Maybe he was just trying to show him that, but didn't know how.
"Do you like it, my love?" Ivan asked, that hope shining so bright in his eyes. Alfred smiled at him, soft and slow, and leaned in to kiss him on the cheek.
"No, I love it. Thank you." He told him, wrapping his arms around him neck and hugging him tight.
"I love you, Alfred." Ivan whispered as he linked his arms around his waist and hugged him back. Alfred buried his face in his husband's chest and inhaled his earthy scent, content to just stand here in his embrace.
Alfred didn't answer back, burying his face in the pink scarf the Lord of the Dead wore around his neck at all times. He didn't know what to say to that, or what to do. But he did know one thing, he wasn't so afraid of the taller man anymore. Everything was still so confusing. He barely knew up from down anymore and Ivan's kind actions juxtaposed with his cruel reputation and the fact that he was a prisoner here didn't help.
But he might just be falling in love with this man.
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And the plot thickens :OO
He got up out of the bed, dragging himself to the door. He tried the handle, unsurprised to find that it was still locked. He hadn't really expected it to be unlocked, but there wasn't any harm in hoping. But that just meant that he was stuck here until someone came to let him out. Or didn't, whatever Ivan wanted he supposed. Ivan wasn't the one locked up and Alfred wasn't the one with the keys.
He slumped down against the door and brought his knees up to his chest. What had he ever done to deserve this? Had he pissed anyone off lately? Was Monica still mad at him for being Arthur's son? She would be the one to do something like this. And as the Goddess of Marriage, she could probably swing it. Fucking bitch, she just couldn't take it that Arthur didn't want her. Or maybe it was Francis. He'd always been jealous, petty slut.
Before he could go off on a tangent about his crazy ass family in his own head, the door opened and he tumbled to the floor. He looked up, blinking in bewilderment at Ivan. The God of the Underworld was standing over him, smirking in amusement. Alfred scowled up at him and gathered himself from off of the floor. He crossed his arms over his chest and glared up at the taller God. There was no way he was backing down, not even to the Lord of the Underworld.
Ivan chuckled and caught Alfred's chin in between his fingers, pulling him up for a kiss even as the younger God struggled against him. "You are truly adorable when you are angry, my love. Get up, we are going out." He told him as he pulled away from the kiss. He'd wanted it to last longer, but he had a feeling that Alfred wouldn't have responded well.
"What gives you the right to come in here, kiss me out of the goddamned blue, and then demand I go somewhere with you? Who the hell do you think you are!?" Alfred screamed, pushing the other man back. He was frustrated when the more powerful God didn't even budge, but it made him feel better to push him. He geared up to do it again, but Ivan caught his wrists, pulling his arms so that he ended up flush against him with Ivan's lips at his ear.
"I am your husband, Alfred. I have every right to kiss you when and where I want. I have every right to make you go wherever I want to. And most of all, I have the right to throw you up against this wall and take your innocence without protest from you. So it would be in your best interest to come with me, or I may lose my patience waiting for you to warm up to me." He warned him, kissing up the side of his neck.
Alfred froze, pale and wide-eyed with fear. He couldn't really mean that, right? Ivan wouldn't rape him would he? But then he remembered just who he was and what kind of family they lived in and suddenly the possibility seemed much more real. He turned his face away from Ivan's and squeezed his eyes shut, trying not to panic and do anything that would give Ivan cause to go through with his threat.
"Fine, whatever you want. I'll go. Just don't hurt me." He whimpered, trying to back out of the hold Ivan had him in. The older man chuckled and placed one more kiss at his pulse point before backing up. He studied Alfred for a moment, taking him in as he looked right now: scared, helpless, submissive. It should be what he wanted in a partner, someone he could control and keep track of. But something was missing, something was wrong.
"I would never dream of hurting you, my little sunflower. How can I keep you as my own forever if you are damaged?" He asked, kissing him on the lips tenderly. Alfred didn't respond to the kiss, but he was so shaken by the threat that he didn't fight him off. Ivan took it as a good sign and let the kiss linger on for a second longer than he would have otherwise. It was like tasting a little bit of paradise. This was what he wanted, why he'd brought Alfred here.
Despite every logical part of him screaming that it was wrong and disgusting and shameful of him, his heart sped up just a little as his husband kissed him. He should be fighting, trying to get free. It didn't matter if he was bound to him in marriage or in chains, he needed to get out of here! But Ivan wasn't bad looking. And what if he really was stuck here? Shouldn't he try to at least get along with the man he could be spending the rest of eternity with?
Ivan pulled back from the kiss, looking straight into Alfred's eyes. The young Flower God was caught under that gaze, unable to look away. There was something in his eyes that confused Alfred. The way he was looking at him was something he hadn't ever seen in another person's eyes before. But before he could look more closely, Ivan turned away.
"You have been good and, like I promised, you may accompany me on a walk so that we may get to know one another better." He said, holding an arm out for Alfred.
Alfred paused for a moment, wary of going anywhere with this man. Even more so of touching him. But the alternative was being cooped up in this room all day, something he wasn't sure he'd be able to handle. Being outside, even in the Underworld and talking to Ivan, was better than being locked in a tiny room with no one to talk to. But in the end, he hooked his arm gingerly around Ivan's. He kept any other contact to a minimum, staying as far away as possible. But Ivan just drew him closer, not giving him any other choice.
Ivan led him out of the room, his grip firm but gentle on Alfred's arm. He didn't want him to get away, but he also didn't want to hurt him. He didn't think he would be able to stand seeing his shining sun hurt in any way. Alfred may not want to believe it, but he really was in love with him. He had been since the moment he'd laid eyes on the beautiful teenager.
The continued on in silence, Alfred not in the mood to talk and Ivan just enjoying the quiet. He was not a very talkative person, something that often brought him to misunderstandings with the rest of the Olympians. If Alfred wanted to be silent, he would let him. In the land of the dead, it wasn't often that you found chatterboxes. But he had a feeling that Alfred would become more talkative as time wore on. Maybe one day they could walk through his realm arm in arm, Alfred talking happily and endlessly as Ivan listened. He would like that.
Eventually, though, the silence had to be broken. And, unsurprisingly, it was Alfred that broke it first. "Why are you doing this? You didn't have to let me out." He said, both confused that Ivan was being relatively nice, angry that he was in this situation in the first place, and fearful that Ivan would turn on him at any second.
"It is simple, sunflower. I want you to fall in love with me." He answered matter-of-factly, squeezing Alfred's arm affectionately. Alfred frowned in confusion, pulling away from Ivan just a little bit. "Do not try to get away now, dearest. We're almost there." He said, pulling the teenager back.
"Almost where?" He huffed, wondering when Ivan would just hurry up and tell him where they were going and why. He hated being kept in suspense, especially by kidnapping freak stalkers. It was almost as bad as being kept in that tiny room. Why had he even agreed to this!? Oh yeah, because the creepy stalker freak practically owned him.
"You will see, my love. Now close your eyes." He said, placing his hands over Alfred's eyes. Alfred growled and tried to pull the hands off. The nerve of this asshole to cover his eyes and think he wasn't going to go down without a fight! How stupid was he?
"Get the fuck off of me you freak! Rape! Rape!" He screeched, trying to get the man off of him. Had he brought him out here simply so that no one would hear him scream while he did horrible things to him? Would this pervert freak even let him live through this!? Fuck, man. Why him? It just wasn't fair! What had he ever done?
Ivan couldn't help but laugh as his consort struggled and screamed. It was just so funny that Alfred still thought he was going to rape him. He would never do that as long as Alfred was cooperating. Which he supposed he wasn't right now, but he would calm down in a little while. "Alfred, my heart, I'm not going to rape you. I simply have a surprise that I do not wish for you to see until the right moment. So just close your eyes and do as I say."
Alfred stopped thrashing and glared at the palms of Ivan's hands. "If you try to fucking touch me I swear I'm aiming for your balls and running. You got that, big guy? Lord of the Dead or not, you aren't so tough that I can't kick your ass." He growled. Ivan laughed again and pulled him close, kissing the top of his ear.
"Do not be so jumpy, my darling. I am not so bad as you think." He told him, leading him forward with his hands still covering his eyes. He knew Alfred was going to love this. It was why he had planned this, to make Alfred happy. He wanted to see him light up like he had when he first saw him so many months before.
"I'll believe that when you prove it to me." Alfred scoffed, only going along with this stupid idea because he had no other choice. He didn't want to be here, he didn't want this freak touching him, and he definitely didn't want to be married to him.
"Have I been anything but kind to you?" Ivan asked.
"You mean besides kidnapping me and threatening to rape me?" He asked sarcastically.
"You need to get past that if we are to fall in love, my pet." Ivan scolded lightly.
"Yeah well you know what you need to do? You need to go fu-" He cut off mid-sentence as Ivan dropped his hands and he saw what Ivan had brought him here to show him.
A crystal wall that seemed to stretch on forever in all directions stood between them and what to him seemed a paradise. Through the sheer face of the wall, he could see fields that stretched on to the horizon blanketed in all sorts of vegetation. Flowers he'd never even seen before spouted up from the ground and fruit-bearing trees were plentiful. He could see the shapes of people wandering through the garden contently. It was the most beautiful sight he'd ever beheld.
"What is this place?" He asked wondrously, pressing his face up against the wall. He wanted to be in there with those people, basking in the warm glow of the sun and frolicking through the flowers. But he was trapped here in the dull and colorless Plains of Asphodel. And with what he wanted so close and yet unattainable, Alfred was wrenched with a sense of despair worse than any he'd felt before.
"This, my dear, is the wall separating Asphodel from Elysium. On the other side of that wall is paradise. I thought you would want to see it, since you love flowers so." He said, coughing nervously. He really hoped Alfred liked his gesture of affection. His hopes were crushed as Alfred turned, a sadness in his eyes that wrenched at the King of the Dead's heart.
"Why did you bring me here?" He asked, voice small and sad. Ivan regretted immediately his decision to bring his young bride here. It hadn't brought them any closer. It might have just driven them farther apart.
"I only wanted to speak with you, get to know you better." He told him, pleading with him to understand that he'd never meant to hurt him so.
"What's the point of getting to know me? I thought the purpose of a consort was to be there when you want my services and give you a couple of squealing brats." He said bitterly. He knew the roles that lesser Gods played when they were taken as wives or consorts to the Olympians. If he was lucky he would have to bear a few spawn and be left alone while his husband pursued other people. If he was unlucky, he would be expected to share this creep's bed for the rest of his endless days.
"Sunflower, I did not bring you here because I wanted you to warm my bed. If it was that simple I could have just taken you in the field and let you go back to your mother. Nor do I require children from you. As I told you, I love you and just want you to stay here with me and bring the sunshine to my dreary realm." He told the blonde. Despite what Alfred might think, he cared for him a good deal more than that. "You are to be not only my lover, but my companion and co-ruler as well. You should be thankful. I have raised you from a lowly Flower God to Prince of the Underworld."
Alfred shook with rage, the words running through his head. He pushed Ivan back, standing in front of him and looking at him with rage, anger, and hate in those beautiful blue eyes.
"Thankful? I should be thankful? Do you have any idea what you've done? You selfish, arrogant, stuck up, idiotic, cruel, manipulative, horrible bastard. You kidnapped me, threatened me, forced me to be your consort, and now this? And you want me to be thankful!? Fuck you!" He yelled, letting all his anger and frustration out. As soon as he'd uttered the words, he turned and ran. He didn't look back, he didn't have to. He knew that Ivan would catch him sooner or later. He was trapped here with no way out.
Ivan watched him go with a slack jaw and hurt in his eyes. This wasn't what he wanted! He didn't want Alfred angry and sad, he wanted him happy and loving! Why couldn't Alfred just see that this was meant to be and that Ivan's love was real? "Alfred, wait!" He cried. He raced after his precious wildflower, wanting desperately to make him see. To make him give him just one more chance before he closed off his heart forever.
He found him flung over a rock, sobbing and pounding at the poor innocent object. He didn't know whether it was safe to approach him just yet. He was probably the last person in the world that Alfred wanted to see right now. But he had to make amends. He loved Alfred so much and every sob struck his heart like one of Arthur's bolts.
"Alfred...darling...please do not cry." He begged, kneeling down and placing a comforting hand on Alfred's back. Alfred growled angrily and slapped the hand away. He didn't say anything, he didn't need to. Ivan could see he wasn't welcome right now. But he didn't care, he had to be there for his darling sunflower in his time of need to help him get through the transition from being a young virgin living with his mother, to being married.
"You get away from me! This is all your fault! I told you I could never live down here, but you didn't listen. You were blinded by your feelings and power and you didn't even stop to think about how I would feel about it! You took me away from my mother, away from everything I love, and you expect me to just turn on a dime and be your precious pet?" He hissed, glaring hatefully at the other man with red-rimmed eyes. He just wished that Ivan would go away and never come back. Even being alone in the middle of nowhere with only a rock for company was better than this.
"Alfred no! I only took you because I love you so! I would do anything to keep you happy. Please, believe me. You are my heart, my soul. I cannot live without you. I don't know how I would go on if you were not here." He pleaded, pulling him to his chest and hugging him there. He expected Alfred to pull away, to struggle, but he just struck him in the chest before clinging to him and sobbing into his chest.
"I hate you! IhateyouIhateyouIhateyou!" He screamed, the words muffled by the fabric of Ivan's robe. He beat at his chest a few more times, the frustration and despair too much for the young God. But he needed this, someone to hold him while he cried. He wanted Ivan to go and never come back, but he wanted him to stay and hold him until the tears stopped. He didn't know what he wanted anymore. This was all so confusing.
Ivan held him close, smoothing his hand over his back soothingly. He whispered comforting words into his ear and rocked him back and forth to quiet the tears. When the sobbing had finally subsided to the odd sniffle, Ivan hooked a finger under Alfred's chin and brought his face up so he could look into his eyes. He cradled Alfred's face in his hands and wiped away the tears with his thumbs.
"There, now is that better? Have you cried all of your tears, my darling?" He asked softly, leaning down to place a soft kiss on the teen's lips. This time Alfred didn't lay there like a limp fish or fight back. In his desperation to have something to hold onto in this mess he'd found himself in, he kissed back. Ivan was pleased with the response, wrapping one arm around Alfred's waist as the other one cupped his cheek.
Alfred was the one to break the kiss, scrambling off Ivan's lap and back against the rock. What had he just done!? Not only had he kissed the man who'd started all of this, he'd probably only made it worse by giving him a reason to think there was any chance of him ever falling in love with him. Which there undeniably was....wasn't! He meant wasn't.
"Why so scared, little rabbit? I'm not going to hurt you. Now, was that really so bad? A simple kiss?" He cooed, trying to coax Alfred back to him. He slowly started to advance on Alfred, trying not to spook him. After that wonderful, magical kiss there was no way he was ever going to let Alfred be anyone else's. The beautiful blonde would be his for all eternity, he had to be.
"I-I...that is...I didn't want...It was a mistake..." He stammered, trying to back up further. But the rock was behind him and Ivan was closing in ever faster. Before Alfred could get around the rock, Ivan was leaning over him with something in his eyes that made Alfred want to just give in and let Ivan kiss him. It made his bones melt and his stomach feel like it was filled with butterflies.
"I told you, Alfred. I will get you to fall in love with me." He said, closing the distance between them and sealing their lips together again. Alfred, his head still spinning and his guard down, kissed back despite himself. In so many ways it felt wrong. But in some ways it felt right, too. But the thought only added to his confusion, so he threw it out.
He was just so confused and lost, he would take any comfort he could get.
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Aiyana arrived at Kiku's home on the eastern horizon, relief flooding her as she spotted it. If anyone knew what had happened to her son, it was him. He saw almost everything on his daily trips across the sky. If something happened under the sun, Kiku knew about it. She knocked frantically at the door, praying that he was home. The Fates smiled on her that day, and Kiku answered the door.
The dark haired man peeked out of the door timidly, not used to having visitors. His home was a long way from Olympus and not many Gods bothered him so far out. But Aiyana had never been anything but kind to him and he owed her a warm welcome at the very least.
"What brings you here, friend?" He asked, ushering her into his home. He led her to a couch as she told him her story, tears gathering in her eyes once more as she recounted the tragic event and her subsequent frantic search. He felt for her, he truly did. She had suffered so much already at the hands of Monica after bearing Arthur a son. She shouldn't have to go through this as well, especially since the only news he had for her was bad.
He debated not telling her, stalling as he poured them each a cup of tea and sat down beside her. He didn't want to be the bearer of bad news, and the woman had suffered so much. But was he really helping her by not telling her where her son was and who had taken him? She had a right to know, even if there was no hope.
"Aiyana, we have long been friends. Without me your crops do not grow and without you, I have no people to light the sky for. And I care dearly for your boy, too. He has always been a friend to me, as well. This is why I wish that I could tell you anything but what I am about to tell you." He said, taking her hand and pleading silently with her not to hate him for this.
"Alfred is not missing, nor has he run away or forgotten to come home. Ivan, the Lord of the Dead, has abducted him and taken him as his consort. He is in the Underworld right now with Ivan. I saw the scoundrel take him from the field bordering the river Styx, near the entrance to the Underworld. I could do nothing, as I have sworn not to interfere in the affairs of the Olympians." He said, bowing his head in shame and sorrow.
"Ivan? Why would he take Alfred? He has never even met my son!" She cried, her heart clenching as the news sank in. Ivan was one of the most powerful Gods in the world, one of the original sons of Romulus and Delphinia. If he was the one keeping her son, there wasn't anything she could do. She had no power against him, especially if he had claimed Alfred as his consort.
"Ivan has been watching him in the field for some time. I believe he may have been struck by love and taken him out of desperation when he confronted Alfred and was turned down. What will you do?" He asked, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. Aiyana put her hand over his and brought the other up to dry off some of the tears still springing forth from her eyes.
"I will go to Alfred's father. Perhaps he can speak to his brother for me. He has the power to command Ivan to bring my son back." She said, face hardening like granite as she spoke the hated name of the fiend who had taken her precious baby boy. He would pay for this, mark her words. She wouldn't rest until he had. She would enlist the help of Natalia, goddess of vengeance, if she had to. Even if she was infatuated with the God of Death, she still wouldn't be able to turn down a chance at enacting someone's revenge.
"You know Arthur will not interfere for fear of enraging Monica or Ivan. Alfred is a minor God and not his problem, as far as he's concerned. Do not expect sympathy from this man just because he is Alfred's father. Arthur has many children, none of which he pays much attention to." Kiku warned, well versed in the petty squabbles of the Olympians.
"I know that, Kiku. But I have to try." She said, determination filling her. She would get her son back no matter what the cost.
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Ivan awoke the next morning refreshed and well awake. He turned over and wrapped an arm around his bed partner, nuzzling his face into the back of his neck. The teenager whined and tried to scoot away, enjoying his sleep. But Ivan would not let up, he just snuggled back up to him and kissed the top of his head. The boy kept trying to get away, but every time Ivan would pull him back. Finally, he'd had enough and just turned over to face him.
"What do you want? Stop bugging me." Alfred pouted. He backed up, trying to disentangle himself from the sheets and Ivan. But he got so wrapped up in the blankets that the second he tried to stand up, he fell flat on his ass. Ivan chuckled and leaned over the side of the bed to help him up, snatching him back onto the bed in the process.
"A man cannot lavish attention on his lover without being suspect?" He teased, kissing up his consort's neck. Alfred tried to wiggle away, still not comfortable with all the touching. Just because some things happened the night before didn't mean he was in love with the guy, or that he wanted to stay. He'd been scared and confused and Ivan had been the only one there he could cling to. It hadn't been anything else.
"Listen, Ivan. What happened last night-" But he was cut off as Ivan pulled him up for a kiss.
"What happened last night was nothing compared to what will happen when you just give in and fall in love with me." He said, still petting and touching the younger God. But Alfred pushed him off again, becoming agitated.
"We kissed and we slept in the same bed, it didn't mean anything! We didn't even have sex! I'm not going to fall in love with you so stop trying! I was scared and you were there, that's all. Don't count on it happening again." He snapped as he untangled the blankets from around him and got out of the bed, turning his back to Ivan. But he didn't leave the room quick enough and Ivan was right behind him, hands on his shoulders and lips close to his ear.
"It meant everything, sunshine. Everything to me. Even if you never speak to me again I will treasure this time more than any other for the rest of my life." He told him sincerely, placing a kiss on the teen's shoulder. Alfred blushed and looked away, not wanting to admit the sweet words were getting to him. What could he say, he was a sap at heart.
"Yeah, well you better. Because that's all you're getting." He huffed, slipping once more out of his husband's grip. He didn't want to go through this again. The only thing that would come of talking to Ivan was the man getting his defenses down again to have an excuse to kiss him in a way that made his knees go weak. And the last thing Alfred needed if he was going to escape was weak knees.
"Do not leave so soon, my pet. I have another surprise for you. This one I think you will like much more than the last." He said, smiling brightly at his partner. If this went the way it was supposed to, Alfred would fall in love with him much sooner and maybe they could get around to the more carnal aspects of marriage. That may not be why he had brought Alfred here, but he would very much like that particular perk.
"I swear on my life if this is anything like the Elysian Fields fiasco, I'm finding the fastest way out of here if I have to dig my way out." Alfred growled. After all, if Ivan didn't want him to go yet he didn't have much choice. So he stayed, allowing Ivan to once again cover his eyes and lead him through the hallways of the Obsidian Palace.
"It is nothing like that, my pet. This is much better." He said, smiling secretively as he led Alfred down long corridors and winding staircases. By the time they reached the exit, Alfred was so lost it wouldn't have mattered if he had his eyes covered or not. He would never have been able to find his way back from here.
"It better...be..." As Ivan took his hands off of his eyes, Alfred was floored for the second time. It was a courtyard, surrounded by the crystalline walls of the castle, and filled with what appeared to be actual flowers. "Wha-but how..." He trailed off, looking around in bewilderment and wonder. It was so beautiful! Except for the absence of the sun and the presence of the walls, Alfred could almost believe he was in a field of real flowers.
"I had the finest craftsman gather to work all night and day on this garden for you. They are not real flowers, I'm afraid. Real flowers wouldn't live long without the sun. They're sculpted from the finest crystal, so thinly and finely cut that they almost resemble real flowers. Go ahead, pick one." He said, urging Alfred forward.
Alfred took a step towards the closest flower, looking back at Ivan once more for reassurance. When Ivan nodded, he bent down and broke off the step with a melodious tinkle. The crystal was smooth and without any edges. How these skilled artisans had done it was beyond him, but somehow they had truly cut the petals so thin that they almost looked real. And yet they were strong as well, not shattering at a mere touch as was to be expected. Every flower glittered invitingly, begging him to sit amongst them and lose himself.
His heart skipped a beat as he realized that all of this was for him. Ivan had done this for him and no one else. So much care, thought, and effort had gone into this. How long had he been planning to woo him? How long had it taken him to have this beautiful garden constructed? How much had it cost? And above all else, why hadn't he approached him like a normal person? Ivan had been so sweet to him, even when he'd been trying so hard to get away from him. If he had just shown him this romantic, caring side of himself and let the love bloom naturally instead of taking him, Alfred would have fell in love with him sooner.
Sooner? No. Nononono. That would imply that he was in love with the man, which he wasn't. Not at all. Nope, not even a little. He would go down denying that he'd ever even thought of loving that man.
His train of thought was interrupted by a hand on his shoulder. He turned around to see Ivan gazing into his eyes, a kind of nervous hope on his face. It was endearing, it really was. Something in his heart warmed and he couldn't help but smile. This man, this God, may not be as bad as he'd once assumed. He'd been so kind to him since he'd come here, even when he'd been locked up. Maybe he was just trying to show him that, but didn't know how.
"Do you like it, my love?" Ivan asked, that hope shining so bright in his eyes. Alfred smiled at him, soft and slow, and leaned in to kiss him on the cheek.
"No, I love it. Thank you." He told him, wrapping his arms around him neck and hugging him tight.
"I love you, Alfred." Ivan whispered as he linked his arms around his waist and hugged him back. Alfred buried his face in his husband's chest and inhaled his earthy scent, content to just stand here in his embrace.
Alfred didn't answer back, burying his face in the pink scarf the Lord of the Dead wore around his neck at all times. He didn't know what to say to that, or what to do. But he did know one thing, he wasn't so afraid of the taller man anymore. Everything was still so confusing. He barely knew up from down anymore and Ivan's kind actions juxtaposed with his cruel reputation and the fact that he was a prisoner here didn't help.
But he might just be falling in love with this man.
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And the plot thickens :OO