[J29] MY HEART IS YOURS (2/2)

[kaisooaufest]

Prompt Code: J29
Title: My Heart Is Yours



Indulgence:

It had been weeks now since Jongin had come to stay with his family. And his mother absolutely adored the god - and didn’t even realize that an immortal was living beneath her roof.

It had been hard at first, sleeping on that couch every night and not feeling absolutely enraged that a god slept in his bed when he could have had it to himself. It had been hard to come to terms with all of it - the fact that Jongin felt the need to come into his home just to try to understand how mortals lived. And yet, he was still treated as a guest and given the most care, while Kyungsoo’s mother still gave him so much work to do.

It was getting better though, getting better in the sense that Jongin actually pulled his weight around the house. He cleaned and helped build the wall that Kyungsoo’s mother wanted up - because she could finally afford the supplies to build a wall that she had always wanted, blocking her property from the nosy neighbors’ eyes that lived along the street. Kyungsoo was in charge of building it, and Jongin helped him, lending him a hand and even going so far as to do most of the work when Kyungsoo’s mother wasn’t looking.

Kyungsoo found himself in awe of the god - because really, what other god would do a mortal’s labor and still manage to smile like that?

It took a lot of will power for Kyungsoo not to stare too openly at Jongin, to stare at him as he worked and to not notice how his muscles glistened in the setting sun. The work day was nearly at its end and he felt like he had been doing nothing but staring at the god the entire day. He had snuck glances at Jongin while stacking the bricks, while moving the sand from one side of the yard to the other, and even when he went to take a drink, he could not help but watch as Jongin either continued to work - breathing so loud that Kyungsoo thought the man would collapse before him - or took a drink himself, watching as the water drew slowly down into his throat. And then another drop, and another.

Kyungsoo had to cough to hide his little gasp when Jongin proceeded to strip of his borrowed shirt. As if it weren’t bad enough that the god’s arms were glistening in the sun, but now the sky beat down on his entire, naked chest, and Kyungsoo could not drink enough water to satisfy his thirst.

He tried to look away, but Jongin seemed to know he was hiding his eyes from glancing over at him.

“You wouldn’t be so red in the face if you weren’t wearing all of that.” Jongin said, nodding toward Kyungsoo’s attire. And maybe he had dressed a bit more reserved today. Maybe he was hiding his own body for fear of rejection.

Though, what rejection was he thinking about? He couldn’t be rejected if he didn’t even ask the burning question in his mine.

Be mine. He wanted to say - he wanted to ask, really. But he also wanted to demand, to take and keep. Was it blasphemous to want to keep a god? Maybe it was, but if that was the case, Kyungsoo would go down to Hades a sinner, and he wouldn’t even mind.

He often wondered why he didn’t just say the words he was thinking aloud. But then he remembered what there was to lose - what loving a god meant. He had never seen it before, but he knew the stories, knew the consequences of loving a god.

No one ever really lived to tell the tale. All the stories were passed down from rumors and family members, friends that had witnessed the affairs burn down.

Gods were destructive and consuming. They took all of what a mortal had to offer and then crushed it in their fists like it was nothing. Kyungsoo had memorized as a child the stories of the great love affairs with gods - he romanticized them and even prayed to have a love so bright and fierce as the ones told in stories. But then he had seen the way love had consumed his elder brother - and even though he had fallen for a mortal just like himself, his brother had been so entirely infatuated and taken over by that love that he hadn’t been able to think of anything else.

His brother had gone days without eating just so he could save up money to send secretly to his lover. And his brother had nearly killed himself worrying if she was okay at home, where destructive guardians and abuse met her.

And when Kyungsoo’s brother had finally ran away with her - with enough saved money to keep them afloat while he found a job in a bigger city - his mother had wept. Kyungsoo didn’t understand love because his mother had loved, still loved, his elder brother and yet he had not seen that. He had chosen to love this other girl, to put all of his time and effort into this other being that did not even share blood with him.

Kyungsoo had abandoned hoping and praying for a love like that of the gods. He had sworn off of it even, choosing completely to stay with his parents, especially after his father had grown ill, and he had sworn he would love no one but his family until the day he died.

He didn’t even think he had the capability to love anyone.

So it was ironic and damning when Kyungsoo saw Jongin that night - even as he was bent behind one of Kyungsoo’s mother’s guests. It was ironic that even at first glance Kyungsoo knew this man could destroy him. Knew it and fought against it so much that he wanted to pound his fists into the air and ask why me?

“Did you not hear me?” Jongin asked after a while, taking Kyungsoo from his thoughts. He had nearly forgotten the god had said something, far too wrapped up in his own self pity party to truly pay attention. Had the god ever been ignored before?

And had any mortal ever lived to tell of it afterward?

“No, I apologize.” Kyungsoo said quickly, going around the god and trying not to focus on the way his skin glistened. Gods only sweat when they wanted to, he had to remind himself. So obviously there was some motivation behind this.

Jongin scoffed, the sound echoing through Kyungsoo’s head and making him still for a second as he lifted another sack of dirt, dragging it across the small expanse of their property. Despite living in such a poor village, his family was one of the most well off. Even with his eldest brother having run away from home, and even with his father being ill, unable to work.

Kyungsoo remembered briefly what his mother needed to do to create this sanctuary for them and all others in need. And it angered him even more that this god was mooching off of their generosity - if only because the god was interested in wooing him.

He was a nobody and would never deserve a god’s attention - but he was also of the mind that the god’s did not deserve mortals’ love, either.

“You told me weeks ago that you would teach me how to be mortal.” Jongin said, which made Kyungsoo raise his head from what he was doing, curious as to where the god was going with this, “But the way you’re acting…seems far more godly than I would have thought.”

At that, Kyungsoo’s eyes narrowed and his brow crumpled.

“What do you mean by that?” he asked, trying not to let the hostility show in his voice.

The god laughed and shook his head, not able to hold back a small fit of laughter before he answered Kyungsoo.

“That right there. Gods are serious and hard, uncaring even. And here you are with a completely serious face, trying to act as if nothing at all affects you. I know this affects you,” and the god gestured down at his glittering torso, which only made Kyungsoo cringe, still trying hard not to look, “And I know that you’ve been sleeping on that Hades’ damned couch for the past few weeks, even though there is a perfectly good bed in the next room.”

At that, Kyungsoo stood absolutely still. He hadn’t even realized that Jongin would care about such a thing. The thought had never even crossed his mind. In fact, he had been angry thinking that the god hadn’t even cared a tiny bit about the fact that Kyungsoo had given up his bed for him, even if it was on his mother’s instruction.

“I…” but he didn’t know what to say before Jongin was interrupting his already messy thoughts.

“I won’t let it happen anymore.” Jongin said softly, voice turning from grave and absolutely serious to soft and maybe even a little warm. He meant what he said, and it definitely had an ounce of human emotion lying behind the words. Kyungsoo could tell that he was completely serious, and that he meant everything he was saying.

He wasn’t too sure what that meant for him, not yet, but he was surprised to see Jongin acting - emoting - like a human.

“Okay.” Was all Kyungsoo replied with, setting the sand bag down where he was standing. He knew he wasn’t going to be able to work the rest of the day, not when all of his thoughts were focused on Jongin. And not even just his body anymore. But…all of him.

And he didn’t want to admit that in those few moments, he hadn’t seen Jongin as a god. No, he had seen him as a person with a heart. And that scared him because he knew that was how it all started.

That was how mortals fell in love with gods.

~

Sorrow:

Jongin had been with them for nearly two months when Kyungsoo began to forgive him. And really, it was such an idiotic reason originally to be angry with the god. He had wanted to travel with Kyungsoo, to show him the world, and to…love him, really. But, to Kyungsoo, it had just seemed extravagant and overdone. It had been far too soon, far too early for the things that Jongin had offered him.

And yet, Kyungsoo found himself wanting some of those opportunities now. He especially felt it when he was sitting on the couch in the living room that night, cool breeze running through the entire room with the windows open even a little. It was starting to grow cold out - and Kyungsoo knew autumn was approaching quickly.

“Kyungsoo.” A voice said in a whisper, just behind him. He was startled out of his place in his book for a moment, eyes going wide as he glanced back to see Jongin standing there with his borrowed clothes fitting loosely on his frame. They were borrowed from Kyungsoo’s father, a man that - though he was almost just as tall as the god - was far thicker than Jongin probably ever would be. The clothes hung loose on his body, one shoulder dipping down to reveal the god’s collarbones. Kyungsoo found it hard not to stare.

And at such an innocent part of his body, too.

“What is it Jongin?” for the past few nights, Kyungsoo had heard the god rolling around in bed, trying so hard to find a comfortable place to sleep. The bed was not entirely too small that the god could fall off in doing so, but Kyungsoo was sure it was much smaller than the beds Jongin was used to. Especially as he was a god that had likely slept with many lords and ladies. Shared beds with Kings and Queens alike.

Kyungsoo found himself growing jealous for an insurmountable reason. But he ignored the feeling and let Jongin speak freely - let him push his worries on him without resentment.

“Come to bed.” And Kyungsoo was struck by the absolute desperation in the god’s voice. He sat silent, just staring at him with wide eyes as he tried to determine if he was being serious or not.

“What?” he wondered aloud, trying to sort this out in his head.

“Come to bed.” Jongin repeated. “It’s not fair that you have to give up your home and bed for me. Not when I don’t deserve it. Especially when doing so makes you sit and sleep out here when I am in there.” He jutted his chin towards the other room, his whisper quiet enough that Kyungsoo knew it wouldn’t wake his parents. “Come to bed and just sleep with me. Just for tonight.”

Kyungsoo - without even hearing the rest of what could have possibly been on Jongin’s mind - knew what this would mean. He knew that even though the god told him to “just sleep” it was still a line to be crossed.

And he knew that he was weak enough to not only agree to the god’s suggestion, but also to lie awake all night thinking about how he was only inches away.

And how easy it would be to reach over and lay a hand on his face…or even to press his lips against Jongin’s…

“I…” Kyungsoo said instead, but was interrupted yet again by the god’s hand on his wrist, dragging him up from where he sat and crushing him against him before opening the door and making him step through into his room. Kyungsoo was surprised by the fast action, but did not fight it.

There was a part of him - and he was pretty sure that part was winning out right now - that did not want to fight against the god. Not when he looked so desperate and lonely when asking him to come to bed.

“Just for tonight. And then you can have the bed and I can sleep on the couch, or you can continue to be a stubborn human.” Jongin’s words were whispered, but they still made Kyungsoo blink back in surprise, still unsure how to respond. He hadn’t exactly planned for something like this, and how were they supposed to…? Kyungsoo found himself looking at the bed, confused. It wasn’t small, but it wasn’t exactly large either. There would be enough space between them, sure, but Kyungsoo could just imagine how the two would end up in the morning, and suddenly a fierce blush was rising on his cheeks, which he hid with a cough and then in going immediately to climb into the bed.

“Just tonight.” Kyungsoo said in a whisper as soon as he had turned his back to Jongin, letting the blanket drape over his body slowly. He didn’t watch to see what Jongin’s reaction was, didn’t turn to watch the god move and make the bed dip with his weight. No, instead he turned his back and continued to face the opposite wall, pretending as if this was completely normal.

Even though his heart was beating wildly in his chest and he was pretty sure Jongin could hear it.

It was silent for quite a while before Jongin finally said something - and when he did, his breath swept warmly across Kyungsoo’s neck, raising the hairs on his nape and making his eyes widen, more alert than he had been since first meeting Jongin.

“Thank you.” He whispered slowly, breath caressing Kyungsoo’s neck and making him shiver for a brief moment, which obviously the god caught, making him pause. Neither of them said a word further, not even a “good night” to one another.

No, instead Kyungsoo tried to sleep. He tried forgetting that a powerful god was lying beside him. And he tried to forget how very attracted and possibly in love he was with Jongin.

He wouldn’t fall prey to his charms and gods damned good looks. No, not tonight, and hopefully not any other night after.

~

Kyungsoo was a fool.

He was a fool to believe that this would be a one night thing, a fool to believe that he did not harbor feelings for the god, and a fool to believe that his feelings would not come in the way of his every day life. Especially when it came to Jongin.

And Jongin was everywhere.

He was in the kitchen the next morning after he awoke the first time, and he was in the kitchen every morning afterwards, as well. While Kyungsoo still slept, Jongin was awake and helping Kyungsoo’s mother prepare breakfast.

The thing was - Jongin was usually a late sleeper, and here he was looking more energized than he had in so many weeks. Kyungsoo wondered what it was, but didn’t let himself be fooled again by thinking it had anything to do with him.

He wasn’t about to become victim to a feeling that he had sworn off of.
Jongin was also everywhere else, as well. He was in the market - following after Kyungsoo almost like a lost puppy while he went to buy the food for the day. He was in the yard when Kyungsoo was simply moving bags of sand here and there, trying to clear away debris that the wind had blown in over night. The days were getting colder, the wind harsher especially now that autumn was upon them, and with each passing day Kyungsoo just felt more and more drawn to Jongin.

When night came, the god would not even speak the words, asking for Kyungsoo to join him in bed. It was almost an unspoken agreement between them now. Jongin would keep the door open until Kyungsoo had finally found his way inside the room, tucking himself in under the blankets and burying his head into one of the pillows along the headboard.

And every so often, Jongin would rest an arm around Kyungsoo’s middle, and he would find himself burrowing deeper into the god’s chest, not even caring for the lack of distance. He was too tired to complain, too tired to put up that wall of his, and he found himself even going so far as to sigh in contentment when Jongin wrapped an arm around him, when Jongin buried his face in Kyungsoo’s back and breathed him in.

His mother had an inkling of what was going on between them, but she said very little of it. She was not one to judge, not when she had seen so many different kinds of love in her many years. And for that, Kyungsoo was grateful. But, on the other hand, he did not want this to become a regular thing. He did not want to become so used to Jongin’s presence in his bed that he would grow depressed and lonely without him there.

A god’s love was not eternal, despite the fact that they were immortal.
Kyungsoo could not hope to be loved by this god - no, not forever. This was a moment, a passing moment at that, and he had to stay on this straight path without getting distracted.

If he allowed for Jongin to distract him and take him from this path, he would be lost.

But maybe he wanted to get a little lost.

“You’re quiet tonight.” Jongin whispered at his back, as the two settled into bed. His parents had long gone to sleep and there wasn’t a sound in the entire house except for the sound of their breathing, and then the wind blowing across the house outside. The windows were closed because of the chill, and the house creaked every so often, a storm threatening them on the horizon.

“I don’t really have much to say.” Kyungsoo whispered back. But Jongin seemed to sigh and shake his head.

“I know that’s not true.” And as much as that was true - as much as Jongin called it right on target - Kyungsoo wasn’t about to admit that. He didn’t like admitting his feelings, and how much he honestly, truly wanted to say something about how much he actually enjoyed Jongin’s presence there with him in bed.

How it had become a small comfort, and how he was scared even thinking of letting Jongin go - of releasing him to live his life however he wanted to.

And yet, he also had to wonder why the god was still here, and why he seemed to care so much and so deeply for him despite the fact that he was mortal, despite the fact that he would grow old when Jongin did not even age a day.

Kyungsoo didn’t want to continue thinking about that though, didn’t really want to continue thinking at all at the moment, so he just sighed.

“Good night, Jongin.” He murmured, huddling closer to the god in bed and trying not to let the more sensible part of him scream and cringe away from the contact. Half of him wondered what to even call this sort of relationship - was it a relationship at all? While the other half of him just told him to shut up and sleep already.
A few minutes had passed, and he was already dozing off into sleep, wrapped up in Jongin’s strong arms, pressed up against his chest with his eyes closed, before he heard the faintest whisper.

“Sweet dreams, Kyungsoo.”

~

In the morning, Jongin laid in bed content for a while. He always woke early now, whereas before he had met Kyungsoo he had slept for more than a good sum of the day, waiting until the sun was halfway in the sky, waiting until the day was nearly halfway done.
But now he woke with a vigor - a set goal in mind. He wanted to wake to watch Kyungsoo sleep, his lips trembling slightly with each intake of breath. He wanted to watch the slight movement of the mortal man’s chest as he slept there before him, their limbs tangled together and the warmth of Kyungsoo’s body right there against his.

Jongin could barely remember the last time he had stayed long enough to watch any of his mortal lovers wake from their slumber. He always either left after he finished with them, or left before they even had the chance to wake from their sleep. But with Kyungsoo it was different. The two of them had yet to actually sleep together - in the more physical sense of the word. This was just…sleeping. But it was also breathing together. It was finding comfort in each other’s warmth, and Jongin was sure that Kyungsoo wasn’t averse to sleeping beside him. At least, not anymore. Why else would he continue doing so every night for the past two weeks?

And so, the words that slipped out of Jongin’s mouth that morning when he saw Kyungsoo stretch and breath a sigh…well, they weren’t the words that he meant to say.

Or maybe he did mean to say them, but then why did he feel this crushing sense of regret and sorrow upon letting the words escape? Why did he feel like his chest was going to cave in when Kyungsoo responded to the three simple words that Jongin whispered?

“I love you.” Jongin had sighed - words so gentle, sweet, and caring that in any other circumstances they would have been met with the same, a reaction that would have been answered maybe with an “I love you, too.”

But instead it was met with, “What?”

Jongin’s face fell as he looked over at Kyungsoo - looked over and saw the face that the mortal man wore as an expression. It was a mix of surprise and something else that Jongin couldn’t quite fathom. It was a human emotion that he had yet to come across, had yet to see flash across Kyungsoo’s face. And maybe that was a good thing, but all he felt building in his stomach was a deep regret for saying those words.

So it was only natural for him to flee, and for the next words out his mouth to be a muttered, “I’m sorry.”

~

Solace:

Jongin was gone for two days before he came to his senses.

It took him too days to think through everything that had happened, and to wonder exactly what Kyungsoo’s response had meant - what his frail “what?” had meant in relation to Jongin’s confession. And it had been a confession, too, because what else could he have called it?

Jongin did love him - more than he had probably loved any other mortal in all of his immortal life. He remembered his last lover, the one he had come across after she had been brutally murdered by a band of men. They had paid for what they did to her, had paid dearly with their lives. And Jongin had made sure that they received nothing but brutality upon their descent into Hades’ territory. His uncle had only asked for little in return for sending them to Asphodel, and his half sister Persephone had only grinned viciously at his request, wanting nothing more than to see those men burned and tortured for harming Jongin’s now deceased lover.

Remembering his past lovers was painful - his mind so full of painful memories. Jongin had been apathetic at the beginning, completely and utterly lost in the realm of not caring for anyone or anything in his life. He ventured to earth far too much, slept with far too many, and did not care more for anyone or anything than himself.

Until that first night when he had meant Kyungsoo - all the while he had been taking a girl from behind. In Kyungsoo’s bed.

The memory made him laugh a little - how the mortal man had just stared and refused to say a word. He didn’t stare without reprieve, of course. He glanced for a moment, watching uninterested, before he scoffed at the scene before him and then went to set a slip of paper on the nightstand. He had left only seconds later, leaving Jongin to finish his job and then disappear into the night.

But the mortal had enough of an impact on him that he had returned. Jongin had returned and watched him curiously, wanting nothing more than to get to know him and get close to him.

He had made a mistake at first, and that had cost him severely. It had cost him weeks of Kyungsoo’s precious time.

And it had cost him a deal with the goddess of love - a bargain so that she would help him win over the mortal’s heart. Jongin did not yet know the price of her help, and did not know truly what she had done to make Kyungsoo more open towards him. Because he could see the mortal becoming more open, more carefree in his presence. It was a miracle of sorts, he supposed. Kyungsoo allowing Jongin to share his bed, to share his thoughts and feelings even in the slightest of ways. Aphrodite and her children were surely behind it.

He wondered when the goddess would come to claim her price - and how severe it would be. But he wouldn’t know what that price was if he didn’t return and ask Kyungsoo what he had meant the other day - if he didn’t return and find out how the mortal man felt towards him, truly.

So when Jongin returned, he fell to his knees before the man, and looked up at him - whose eyes were far too wide and surprised. Jongin wondered if Kyungsoo thought he wasn’t coming back.

“I am so sorry.” Jongin said first, his head falling to stare at the ground.

He had walked onto Kyungsoo’s family property to see the man working at finishing off the wall his mother had commissioned of him. It was nearly done, even though it had taken several months to finish. It was the money that was the issue, Jongin knew. Some weeks they didn’t have enough money to buy another set of supplies, which left the project only half done.

But now the wall was coming up, wrapping around the property. Jongin felt it was ironic. While his internal wall was collapsing, this one was being built up, slowly but surely. Kyungsoo was determined to finish it.

And Jongin was determined to help him.

“I meant what I said the other night. Meant it more than you could possibly know.” He started, shaking his head. He was going to try not to regret these words. Because he didn’t regret loving Kyungsoo. “When you…” he shook his head, starting over, “The expression on your face scared me. I thought ‘how could I have possibly just confessed this great thing when he cannot possibly love me back?’. And I worried that you didn’t love me back, because how could you? I am a god, sure, but you are a mortal. There are so many things that could possibly take me from you. Or you from me. I just - .” but Jongin was interrupted then.

“Shut up.” Kyungsoo murmured, his words not so harsh as they were abrupt. Jongin’s eyes widened, looking up at the man and trying to identify the expression and emotion on his face. He still had no clue at all what that emotion flickering in the mortal’s eyes was. He couldn’t find the name for it.

“W-what?” he whispered back, but Kyungsoo shook his head fiercely.

“Shut up, Jongin.” And then, just as abruptly as his words had been, Kyungsoo was bending down towards where he knelt on the ground, and kissed him.

It was like Light springing from Darkness - and Jongin was completely and utterly speechless, just letting the mortal kiss him. And kiss him, and kiss him, and kiss him…

When the mortal man pulled away from Jongin, both were wide eyed and surprised. Neither had really seen that coming, not even with the help of the other gods. No matter the bargain with Aphrodite, Jongin never would have imagined actually winning Kyungsoo over - of actually getting the chance to kiss him. So he wasn’t really sure what to say now.

“You…” but even just that small word was interrupted, Kyungsoo doing the talking for once. He was such a quiet, unassuming mortal, but he had something to say now. And Jongin made sure to listen.

“Just shut up. Just shut up, Jongin.” He insisted, “You came into my life by accident. Came into it that night and I haven’t been able to forget you for one moment since then. Do you know how many of my thoughts revolve around you? Do you know how hard I’ve tried to forget you and not fall in love with you? I hate the idea of falling in love, hate it even more because you’re a god and you could disappear at any moment. You could eventually come to the conclusion that I’m not worth your precious immortal time, or that there are far more beautiful or handsome mortals out there worth your attention. Any of that could happen, and I fought so hard against falling in love with you.” He scoffed at himself and Jongin remained silent as he listened, “But then you kept pushing your way in. You were determined, weren’t you? Determined to make me feel something for you, and not only that, but admit it like I am now. You were determined to crush my heart, all the while reviving it at the same time.”

Kyungsoo paused for a moment, trying to catch his breath. Jongin had never heard him speak so much, nor had he heard him express his feelings for quite so long. His eyes only widened when the man continued.

“And here I am, trying to confess back to you, trying to ask you to stay. Please stay, and please don’t leave again. No matter how bored you get with me. My life is already too short compared to yours, and I think if you leave me again…” Kyungsoo’s eyes were brimming with tears now and Jongin couldn’t stand it anymore.

He stood to his feet, towering over Kyungsoo now, and reached his hands to wipe the tears away, just making more slip into their place, streaming down Kyungsoo’s cheeks before Jongin had the chance to catch them. Jongin didn’t like seeing Kyungsoo cry, and this was merely the first time. He wasn’t sure he could take it again, if it ever did happen again. Jongin bent his lips to Kyungsoo’s flushed skin, kissing away the salty tears and not caring how intimate of a gesture this was. He didn’t care.

“I’m not going anywhere.” Jongin murmured against Kyungsoo’s warm skin, “I won’t leave you.” And he promised that, deep in his soul. He had never voluntarily left one of his mortal lovers. It was always them that left him - whether that was of their own free will, or due to death.

Their confessions and promises were short lived as Kyungsoo’s mother stepped from the house, eyes soft and gentle as she looked at the embrace her son and Jongin were sharing. It was a sentimental moment, and when Jongin glanced up to see her there, he bowed very deeply, showing an immeasurable amount of respect towards her.

“Why don’t you both come inside? I think we have some things to discuss.”

Kyungsoo glanced up at Jongin briefly, a flash of fear striking his face like lightning did the sky. But Jongin just smiled warmly at his lover and placed a hand in his, bringing it to his lips. He had not been truly happy like this in so very long. It had been more than a century since his last lover had died and he had never thought he would achieve bliss like this again. So he pulled Kyungsoo along with him, going to see what the mortal woman had to say…

It was a long conversation, and though Jongin had never intentionally wanted to hide what he was from the woman, not really, he made it a point to tell the truth to her now. He told her of his origins, who he was the son of, and this surprised even Kyungsoo. A son of Zeus, a prince of Olympus, was sitting in their shabby little kitchen in the middle of nowhere. They were both stunned and Kyungsoo’s mother could not stop bowing to him, calling him lord. But he stopped that, placing a hand on her shoulder.

“There’s no need for that. I came to you and asked you for lodging. I lied about my origins at first because I wanted to get to know your son. Now that I have…” and he paused, a small smile stretching his lips, “I wanted to be sure to tell you the truth. It would have come out eventually, anyway. I love your son.” And Jongin didn’t miss the grin that lit up Kyungsoo’s face.

“You have been so good to us.” Kyungsoo’s mother said, continuing to bow and send prayers of thanks towards him. He just shook his head, glancing over at his mortal lover, sharing a look with him. Neither could say a word, until the mortal woman mentioned Jongin taking her son away from her.

“Please, if you take him away from us, treat him well.” She said simply, but Jongin’s eyebrows shot up in surprise and he shook his head.

“No, no.” he started, “I don’t plan on taking him away. He’s all that you have.” And the mortal woman seemed to be on the verge of tears. Such rich emotions crossed her features and now Jongin understood the emotions that had flickered across Kyungsoo’s face before. Devotion and thanks perhaps, is what he could have called them. But it was also more than that, and he still did not know the whole of it. It would take more than a few months, maybe even more than a few years for Jongin to understand the full capacity of human emotion. Maybe he would never understand it completely.

“Jongin…” Kyungsoo whispered beside him, and it was such a frail, unassuming whisper that it took all he had not to get down on his knees and listen to what Kyungsoo would ask of him. He was so completely in love with the mortal, more so than he ever would have thought. He waited for Kyungsoo to finish his thought, “What do you plan to do here, if you don’t want to take me away?”

The god was struck then, of the thought and memory of Kyungsoo’s original refusal to go with him anywhere. His question was less of him begging to remain here, and more wondering what else Jongin could possibly want here, if he had originally wanted to travel the world with Kyungsoo and show him things outside this dreary village. It seemed to him that it was Kyungsoo accepting the possibility of leaving this place, but also hoping Jongin wanted to stay.

And he could see it in Kyungsoo’s mother’s eyes as well - hoping that this powerful god, a son of Zeus - did not take her youngest child away.

“I just want to be with you. I don’t care what that entails. If it means working in the market for a living, building walls around the entire village with you, or simply waking up to you every morning.” Jongin had nearly forgotten that the mortal woman was there, but he sighed and turned back to her, “If you and your husband are willing, I would stay here with you. I would help cook and clean, help build the rest of that wall.” He jutted his chin towards the front of their home, “I would do anything you ask of me. It does not matter whether I am a god or not. I will help in any way possible.”

There was a bout of silence in the house and then there was a lurching cough and a door was opening. All of their heads picked up, eyes all wide as they saw Kyungsoo’s father finally make an appearance, standing there on the threshold of his room. The door had not been opened many times since Jongin had arrived, and in fact he had never even met the man.

But when he stood there, sick and frail and seemingly ready to cough up his lungs, his voice came to a jolt above their shocked silence.

“You take care of my young man.” He said, voice stopping when he coughed, the mortal woman he called wife getting up to go to him. He waved her away, taking a step forward, but still holding onto the frame of the door. His face had softened and his voice, trying to go for a whisper, sounded more like a dying cat’s last purr, “Please take care of him.”

Jongin could understand the man’s words - could at least understand the emotion behind them. Because it was desperation in his voice that Jongin sensed, and he had felt the same thing so many other times in his life that he knew it without even having to guess. He had felt desperation when his first lover had died - the feeling of just wanting him back. And then again and again with his few lovers after that. All mortal and all so fragile. He had felt desperate to save them in some manner, and yet he had failed at such a simple thing. To keep them alive.

He felt that now, with Kyungsoo, but he was stronger than he used to be, wasn’t he? He could pull some strings, keep him safe until he grew old. Jongin wanted to make sure that his lover lived a peaceful, yet vibrant life with him. Not some half-assed attempt at happiness that only ended in destruction.

“I will.” Jongin promised Kyungsoo’s father, and beside him he could see from the corner of his eye Kyungsoo’s expression of relief, as if he almost expected Jongin to say no. Jongin turned in the next moment to bury his face and lips in Kyungsoo’s neck, making the poor man blush and squirm beneath his touch. He only chuckled before whispering against his skin, “I promise.”

~

Jongin had expected nothing more of the night. He hadn’t expected Kyungsoo’s mother to make them a meal filled with nearly every rich ingredient she owned - telling the two that it was a day for celebration, and of thanks. He had tried to protest, telling her that there was no need, but she just shook her head, demanding he sit down and eat.

He hadn’t tried to argue with the mortal woman further after that.

It was later that night, sitting up in bed with Kyungsoo that Jongin felt such astounding happiness. He had found a place where he belonged, a place he never wanted to leave. And though he wanted to take Kyungsoo with him around the world, to travel to unknown places and to climb mountains, he was content to just lie there beside the man, watching his chest move up and down.

Kyungsoo had fallen asleep after a long conversation between the two - talking about what would happen next, and Jongin being adamant on just letting the wind take them where it would. Fate had a crazy way of bringing people together and he was just glad it had brought him to Kyungsoo. Jongin only hoped that the Fates let him remain at his lover’s side.

Unfortunately, with the sound of birds wings flapping precariously outside - a sound that was not natural so late at night - Jongin knew that bliss and happiness was going to be short lived.

He had one idea of who it would be waiting for him outside the small house, and he feared what her price would be for the advice she had given him, and also the time she had allowed him to spend with Kyungsoo, all the while distracting Jongin’s father from knowing he had disappeared. Only a few gods could convince the King of Olympus that there was nothing amiss, and Aphrodite happened to be one of them.

“Yes, my Lady?” Jongin asked upon stepping out of the small house. Before he had gotten up from bed, he had kissed Kyungsoo’s forehead, tucking him into the blankets and smoothing a hand down his back, hoping this would not take long and that Aphrodite did not ask for a price that he could not pay.

The goddess was beautiful - obviously one of the most beautiful in all of Olympus. Jongin remembered the wars that had been fought between mortals because of her, and he wondered if this would be the cause of another war between the gods. If she asked him for more than he could pay, he would go to the ends of the earth to not only protect his lover, but also to make her pay for tricking him.

He truly hoped that was not the case here.

“I told you the mortal would fall in love with you.” She said, quirking her head to the side with a faint smile. If Jongin blinked, she appeared blonde in one moment, and in the next she was brunette. Aphrodite appeared as how the viewer wanted her to appear. She appeared as the most beautiful woman on earth, but for those that weren’t necessarily attracted to women, she appeared more masculine. It was why she was dangerous. She could make anyone see what they wanted - a trick, and illusion. And the goddess had a way with words too. She always got what she wanted - no matter the cost to anyone else.

“You did.” Jongin replied, waiting for her to say the words, to tell him by what price he needed to pay. But the goddess just chuckled, shaking her head.

“Had you waited long enough, you would have seen that he was already falling for you, Jongin.” She said in a dainty voice. “Would have seen that you needed no help from me whatsoever. I did give him a push in the right direction, though. I whispered in his mind that love was not as bad as he thought it was. Whispered that loving a god would be worth his time.” The goddess quirked a dangerous smile - triumphant already without having named her price. “There is still the price of my help, though. Maybe you’ll see it as less than what was owed, or maybe you’ll see it as more than what you can handle to give up. Either way, a price must be paid.”

Jongin remained quiet for quite some time, processing this information - that he could very well have ignored Aphrodite’s help and instead made Kyungsoo fall in love with him, himself. He could have forgone asking the goddess for anything at all. No, instead he had been a fool to believe that she would not trick him into thinking he was lost without her.

Love and lust were a dangerous pair, and sometimes the line was blurred between the two. Aphrodite strode the line between many things, and the one she balanced on right now was between helpful goddess and damned trickster.

“Name your price, Lady. I will pay it, whatever it is.” At that, she only laughed.

Aphrodite strode forward, placing a hand on Jongin’s shoulder. She was shorter than he was, but really not by much. The top of her head reached about his nose, her eyes staring at his neck as if she would lunge forward and like a wolf rip his jugular from his throat. He tried not to cringe at her being so close. Sometimes Aphrodite was said to be more dangerous than Artemis, and his half sister goddess was a huntress.

“Your immortality.” She finally whispered, still circling him. “You must give up your immortality to be with your mortal lover. And it’s not really my price, but I am the one offering you happiness and protection right now. You see, if you do not give up your immortality, you will lose the mortal eventually. He’ll be self conscious and too protective of his heart, though he’s already given it to you half of the way. He won’t understand why he keeps aging and you remain young - he’ll understand it to some extent, he knows that you’re a god, but he won’t understand why the Fates were so cruel to torture him like this.” She clicked a tongue at him, “And when he’s lying on his death bed, he won’t tell you he loves you. He’ll ask why you didn’t help save him from mortality. He’ll ask why you didn’t give up everything to be with him, because that’s what mortals know of love. They know sacrifice and pain.”

Jongin was standing absolutely still, his entire body taut as he listened to the goddess go on and on about what he must give up. And how if he did not, the reaction Kyungsoo would have years from now. She was offering him protection if he only gave up his immortality.

But could he do it?

“If you release your immortality, if you choose to live the rest of your life as a mortal, I will protect you with all of my might. I have a special place in my heart for broken things, for those that love so fiercely as you do. And as your mortal does, too, despite the fact that he does not show it so often. I will pull strings with the Fates if I must, to ensure you both live long lives - you both live meaningful lives at least. I cannot promise you will not die young, or that your lover will not die of some tragedy. But I can promise that the years you two do share will be happy, and that this will be a love you will remember even when you are lost in the Fields of Elysium, or even when you have reached the Isles of the Blessed - it will be a love you will remember in every life you live.” The goddess stopped circling him then, looking into Jongin’s eyes with a question in her own.

She smiled softly, a caress of an expression.

“So?” she asked him, “What do you say?”

And Jongin did not have to think twice - did not have to hear her say the words again, or the promises she had just made. This love was eternal, even if he no longer was. Even if Kyungsoo never would be. Jongin wanted it so badly - he wanted a happy ending. A place where felt safe.

He wanted solace with Kyungsoo, and damn he was going to get it.

“Take it.” he said fiercely. And then even stronger, “Take it and let us be.”

So the goddess only chuckled and placed both of her hands on the sides of the young god’s face, breathing a deep breath before closing her eyes and with that powerful voice of hers, a voice that could make any god do her bidding, she breathed out a command.

“Then let it be.”

~

When he woke in the morning, Jongin was not beside him. And he panicked.

Had the two not just professed their love to one another the day before? Had Jongin not promised just last night - in front of both of Kyungsoo’s parents - that he would promise never to leave him?

So it should have been completely rational when Kyungsoo tore apart their room - and it was their room now, seeing as the two had shared it for near on two months now. He searched for any type of note, any sort of sign that told Kyungsoo where Jongin might have been.

It took him only a few minutes to tear the whole thing apart, to upend several surfaces and to dig under cushions and books and masses of paper. By the end of the few minutes it looked like a creature out of Tartarus had come and destroyed the room. And Kyungsoo was almost to the point of tears before the door opened with a creak and there stood Jongin.

At least in some ways it looked like Jongin.

His eyes no longer gleamed quite so powerful as they had before, his skin no longer seemed lit by a heavenly essence that spoke of his godly origins. He still stood tall, but there were bags beneath his eyes that told Kyungsoo of the exhaustion he must have been suffering from. And he looked so…human in that moment that Kyungsoo could not think of a single word to say upon his appearance. He just stared.

And so Jongin did all the talking.

“I know that you did not fall in love with me like this, and I know that I do not look or probably feel the same way that you knew me to be. I am…” Jongin paused, pain lacing its way into his expression, “I am mortal now, just as you are. And…and if you’ll still have me, I am yours for however long we both shall live. Whether that is until tomorrow, next month, next year, or when we are both eighty. I am yours, and I hope that I can still call you mine.”

Kyungsoo was speechless, not knowing what to say at all. Had the god really given up his immortality? And why?

He had an idea on the why, but he did not feel strong enough to ask the questions burning through his mind, begging him to speak them and offer doubt to both of them standing there. He did not want to doubt anymore, he just wanted to live.

Kyungsoo wanted to live with the person he loved the most - whether he was a god or mortal.

The only response Kyungsoo gave was a step forward - a step into Jongin’s arms - and then a mouth pressed up against his lover’s lips.

It was a desperate kind of kiss - one that he had never experienced before. Their kiss prior had been perhaps a little desperate and too late, but it was a relief to finally kiss Jongin that first time. Now it felt like a prayer, a whisper, an outcry to keep him there by his side. It was everything wrapped into one. It was a home, a safe place, a family.

And when Kyungsoo broke the kiss off, he did so panting and breathless. But he needed to get the words out before he lost himself in another kiss, another desperate fight to keep Jongin right where he wanted him - which was right there in front of him.

“You’re mine.” Kyungsoo said, a fiery passion burning its way up into his throat, which only made tears start forming in his eyes. He had never cried so much in his life. “You’re mine and you’re not leaving again. Not ever.”

At that - at his passionate declaration - Jongin just laughed and shook his head, exhaustion still wearing thin on him.

But he nodded and leaned forward to press another, lighter kiss to Kyungsoo’s lips before he whispered, “I won’t leave you. Not ever.”