In Plain Sight - AU - Locked to seaweed_writes

[ihadabadday]

No one knew how long Gods had walked among the mortals. They just knew they had. Some remained in their country of origin, some branched out and traveled. Others started business or charities. Some just went through existence simply being. Belief didn't have much to do with how the Gods chose to lead their lives.

This tale though, it focuses on the Greek Gods of old and Mount Olympus (which is a real place and traditionally is where Zeus is said to live with Hera).

John Watson didn't care for the politics of the Gods that surrounded them every day. He had other things to focus on, to pay attention to. Like medical school, and then the military. It wasn't until he was shot and laying in the desert, bleeding, did he whisper things to the God of Death, to Hades. To a god he didn't believe in. Blood whispers they were often called. And gods hardly paid attention to them, most believed they were the whispers of dying men.

But John Watson survived when others with the same injury had died. What was different about him?

He returned to London on an army pension and a cane. He shuffled through his life, a constant ache in his chest, like there was something missing. Though he had little to no idea of what was missing. He helped others where he could, donating his time and what little money. A homeless veteran (it boiled him so to see those who helped their country be left behind) once called him a beacon of light.

A beacon of light huh?

Most days he didn't feel like one. Most days his mood was dark and everything was shit.

One night when he was limping slowly back to his dismal bedsit, something caught his attention. He glanced down an alley and saw a tall man dressed in black, being mugged by some ratty youth. The man was far too posh for this neighborhood. So why was he here? But that didn't matter. John, on two strong legs, charged into the alley and used his cane to knock the criminal away. He didn't notice, but there seemed to be a light around him, an otherworldy aura to him.

He held the cane like a sword and pointed it at the would be thief. "You need to leave here." John commanded. It had been easy for some to forget that he had been Captain John Watson of the Fifth Northumberland Fusiliers in Her Majesty's Army.

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[seaweed_writes]

Sherlock frowned. He was not playing this game.

He crossed his arms, looking almost petulant.

"You know bloody well what. Why did you do that to me?"

[ihadabadday]

John stared at him for a moment and then went back to his book. It seemed they were going to be playing this game now. He was patient. He could be patient. He had eons now, like Sherlock did. And in the mean time, he would continue to grow his power and learn more about his station, and the part of him that was descended from Ares.

He turned the page in his book, a soft smile on his face. The story was about a brilliant homicide detective who could nearly solve any case that came across his desk. His partner was a former doctor who chronicled the odder cases they worked on.

[seaweed_writes]

Sherlock stood there for a moment, waiting to see if John was going to say anything else.

When it was obvious that he was not, he shrugged and walked back to his throne, slumping down once more.

John knew damn well what he meant, and if he was going to be an arse about it, then Sherlock would wait. That plug wasn't going anywhere until John gave him an explanation, he decided. Winter, Spring, Summer or Fall. He didn't care how long it took.

He could wait.

[ihadabadday]

John emerged from his room days later and looked at Sherlock. He didn't say anything as he crossed over to where Sherlock sat.

He stepped up and watched him for a moment, noting how his hair danced with the flames. He smiled and then put his fingers on the man's chin, tilting his head up.

"You want to know why I kissed you?"

[seaweed_writes]

Sherlock looked up as his chin was tipped up. He looked uninterested, but of course he really did want to know.

"You didn't want to tell me then, so why should I think that you are going to tell me now?" He snapped. His hair flared just a bit, he really wasn't in the mood to play games right now. He needs to come right out and say it or bugger off.

[ihadabadday]

"Because I wanted to Sherlock." He answered, "Because I like kissing and... I like you."

They bickered, they argued, they often got angry at one another. But they were all the other had for these past several years. And it was either deal with it or continue to argue for the next however many eons.

[seaweed_writes]

Sherlock looked at him like he had a second head. He cocked his head to the side. John... liked him? It made no sense. They fought and Sherlock tended to use him as a fuck toy. He had to smile at that. John still looked distended, that plug was still inside of him. He kinda wanted to remove it just to watch how much came out.. but not yet.

"Why?" He asked. It was an honest question. He really had no concept about the concept of being liked, or loved.

[ihadabadday]

"Because no matter how much we argue, or fight... We still have each other. We are the other has." John said, "It was either be miserable and hate you, or not."

John wasn't sure how Sherlock would take to that. Admitting that. He let out a breath, wondering if the man was going to send him away. Or just scoff.

[seaweed_writes]

He didn't send him away, or scoff, he still sat there, staring at John, trying to figure out what to say or so next.

"The fact that that we have each other means that you have to tolerate me. But that still doesn't explain why you would actually like me. There is a different between tolerating and liking another being.

[ihadabadday]

"I don't know. I just do." He answered, "Something has changed in the past several years and... I don't think I want to go back to what it was before."

John let out a breath and then stepped back. "That's why I kissed you." With a nod, he turned to go back to his room.

[seaweed_writes]

"John." He said, while John was walking away.

"What.. has changed in the last years?" He isn't asking to be an ass, he is truly, honestly trying to understand John, and how he feels.

[ihadabadday]

He stopped and turned to look at Sherlock. He was quiet for a moment. "I don't know Sherlock. Just something has. And I don't think it's so much of a bad thing."

John smiled at him before slipping into his room.

[seaweed_writes]

Well, that was less than helpful.

For a moment, Sherlock just sat there, pondering over what John said.

Finally, he threw up his hands in defeat and stalked into John's room after him.

"What are you... or we.. supposed to do now?" He asked, his voice raised in frustration. He didn't understand, and he didn't like not understanding.

[ihadabadday]

John was sitting on his bed. "Whatever we want." He answered as he looked up. "In the Overworld, humans go on dates, have relationships. But we did it backwards. We were forced into this. I know you especially didn't want this." He let out a breath.

"I know we're stuck rotating around each other forever. But I don't want to spend eternity hating you." John shrugged a bit, "If that makes sense."

[seaweed_writes]

"I don't do... dates... or relationships. That is a mortal concept that we gods are above." He said, the word 'dates' said with utter disdain.

"Even if I wanted to, I can't take you to a restaurant or buy you pretty things or whatever other trite bullshit those mortals do to try to buy other people's affections." He swept his hand in a circle. "Look around. This is hell, not some bustling city with shops and stores and... people." He almost spit out the last word.

"I don't know what you want from me, but I don't think I can give it to you, whatever it is."

[ihadabadday]

"I know." John looked at him.

He and Fates had found a way to sever the bond. To return John Watson to the mortal coil. It would only be a matter of time until he returned.

That's what Sherlock always wanted, right? To not be saddled with a companion.

He had heard rumblings of some of the Gods changing the way they did things, becoming modern, more human. To seem more approachable, to encourage people to come to them. Sleek skyscrapers and contracts were replacing the old.

[seaweed_writes]

Sherlock studied the man. There was a lot said there in two words.

He looked.. almost... sad. But why was he sad, didn't he wants this, or maybe it was because he knew that whatever it was that he wanted, Sherlock couldn't give it to him?

He just wasn't sure.

When there was nothing else coming, Sherlock threw up his hands again. "Then what do you want me to do?" He asked, getting more frustrated by the moment. It was obvious that Sherlock couldn't care for this man like he wanted, so what did John want from him?

[ihadabadday]

"Nothing." He answered. John looked to one of the plants in his room. He would miss this place, oddly enough.

"I don't want anything from you. I just wanted you to know."

[seaweed_writes]

"Oh... okay." He got the distinct sense that there was something else here, that John wanted to say or do more, but Sherlock was not a mind reader, even with all the powers that he had. If John wanted to tell him something, he was going to have to say it.

"Well, if there is nothing else then.." He turned around and went back to his throne room. There was something going on, but he had no idea what it could be. He shrugged it off and went back to work.

[ihadabadday]

John swallowed and watched him go. Well. At least he didn't suspect anything. For now. He knew Sherlock resented him here, just wanting a plaything, but getting a companion instead.

Time later, he went to Sherlock, watching him for a moment. "Can you remove the plug?"

[seaweed_writes]

Sherlock had been deep in thought, trying to figure out the enigma that was John Watson, and exactly what it was that he felt for the man but he seemed no closer to solving that mystery than he had been before.

He was surprised for a moment when John came up to him and asked that. It was still only very early spring, it wasn't like he could go back to the Overworld yet.

Or.. did he want more from Sherlock?

That seemed unlikely.

"Alright. though I have to wonder why." He said, in a clipped tone. He waved his fingers and the plug disappeared. He was not disappointed though by the wonderful flood of his own come that flowed like a river down John's thighs and into a puddle onto the stone floor below.

Sure, he could clean it, but he didn't think he was going to. He liked the reminder permanently stained into the ground.

[ihadabadday]

"Thank you." John nodded to Sherlock and retreated back to his room. He got in the shower and cleaned himself up. Without a word he dressed and then left Hell.

Part of him didn't want to go, to leave, but he knew that he wasn't what Hades wanted. He was a companion, not a toy. And John wanted more from it.

The process was not easy. It was painful and it felt like he was being ripped in two. But soon enough he was returned to the Overworld with the funds he would need to start his life over again.

[seaweed_writes]

Sherlock couldn't help but watch John walk, still slightly leaking towards his room. Well, he guessed, he wasn't quite ready for round three, but he would come around soon enough.

Or Sherlock would make him come around.

He only half paid attention when John left his room. He was, of course, free to wander anywhere in Hell that he wanted, and the an sometimes took a walk around to stretch his legs, so he thought nothing of it.

Sometime later, about the same time as Sherlock noticed that John hadn't come back yet, which seemed like an unusually long time to be gone, he felt a pain. It was low and dull at first, but it grew and grew until he was crumpled on the ground, writhing in pain.

He, the lord of Hell, felt like he was burning from the inside, and he had no idea why.

Then, as suddenly as it was there, it stopped. He felt no pain, but he felt.. empty inside, like a part of him had been burned away.

In a flash, he searched every single corner of Hell, but here was no John.

"FATES! COME TO ME!" He yelled up towards the heavens. He ran to his scrying crystal and immediately got the attention of Greg. "HERE! NOW!" He demanded.

[ihadabadday]

Greg appeared in a swirl of light, looking quite exhausted. "Yes?" he asked.

He saw the state of Sherlock and knew it wouldn't be long until the man figured it out. From his ages of knowing Sherlock, he knew the man would have wanted this. To be free from the companion he'd unknowingly gained.

But right now, seeing his state, he wasn't so sure.

[seaweed_writes]

"WHERE IS JOHN?" He demanded, grabbing the collar of Greg's robe and jerking him forward towards him. He had never, ever been bodily towards Greg before.

When Greg was just a few centimeters away, he growled, his eyes glowing red, the flames atop his head burning a bright, hot almost bluish color.

"WHAT. DID. YOU. DO."