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.

Comments

[seaweed_writes]

It was a boring few days. Sherlock went to check in on John a couple of times a day. He was sleeping fine and deep, so the god let him rest.

Sherlock had to admit that it was nice to get back to his normal job. He let Fates do his job in the Overworld while he ferried souls. It felt like home.

When John finally woke up, sleep tousled and shirtless, Sherlock had to smile. He was quite handsome, even when disheveled.

"I assume you sleep well. then?"

[ihadabadday]

"I'm not sure why I've been sleeping so much." John yawned as he made his way over to where Sherlock sat. He smiled at the man and leaned up to kiss him.

"I did sleep well. I kept dreaming of you." He said honestly.

[seaweed_writes]

"I suppose that your body is getting used to being a demi-god. That would be me guess." Sherlock responded, then leaned into the kiss. He still wasn't used to kissing, or being kissed. Even with his old John, that wasn't something that was done. It wasn't unpleasant, but it was just strange and something that he was getting in the habit of. Still, he wasn't initiating the kissed, not yet at least, he was letting John, which was fine with him for now.

Sherlock smirked when John said that the man had dreamed of him. "Oh, more of those dreams when I was smoking cigarettes and we were chasing criminals?" He asked.

[ihadabadday]

He nodded and made himself comfortable against Sherlock. "Mhmm. It's weird. It's like I'm seeing a potential could have been if we were both human."

John ran a hand through his hair and let out a sigh. "When do you think I can go back to the Overworld?"

[seaweed_writes]

"Why would I want to be human?" Sherlock spat, but he pulled back knowing that part of John was still and would always still be human.

"I will be like it was before. You can travel to the Overworld from the night of the Winter Solstice, to the night of the Spring Solstice. No more. Anything else will cause havoc in the Overworld, death and destruction of all plant life. That is the curse of Persephone."

[ihadabadday]

"Don't knock it until you try it." John huffed.

"Not even when I gain control of my powers?" He asked sounding a bit... Downtrodden. John had thought he might be able to visit, to see people. Unlike last time. Things had changed in the hundred years he'd been gone.

[seaweed_writes]

"I don't think that you will be able to, lest the Overworld suffer for it." He responded, then he looked at John's defeated face and tried another tactic. "You need to consult the Fates. He might be able to tell you. I only know what he has told me, and what I have deduced." There was a chance that his brother might know more, but he didn't want to go to Zeus unless he absolutely had to. He would for John, but not unless they had exhausted all the other resources.

"Fates! To me!" He yelled upwards, towards the Overworld.

[ihadabadday]

John let out a sigh. He knew Sherlock was right. He had felt the pain of the dying around him, of being in the Overworld before his time. Before Persephone was needed.

So he tucked himself against Sherlock, feeling far too cold, and wanting the heat coming from the man.

Greg appeared in a swirl of lights, an eyebrow arched, lighting the cigarette between his lips. "Yes?"

[seaweed_writes]

Sherlock wasn't phased in the least that he had John in his lap, snuggling close to him. It wasn't like Greg didn't know what was going on between them.

"Greg." Sherlock said, still looking at John. "John will not be able to visit the Overworld until the next Winter Solstice, correct?"

[ihadabadday]

Greg pulled his cigarette away from his lips and let out a stream of smoke. "Correct. His abilities are tied to the seasons. As he gain control, he might be able to go up for short periods of time."

John nodded, listening to the Fates.

[seaweed_writes]

Sherlock nodded his head. He did feel a bit bad for John, but he could still go up to the Overworld and get books or whatever he wanted for the man. Or maybe...

“Greg, as Hades I run Hell. Is there something that Persephone can do in relation to the seasons?”

[ihadabadday]

He let out a breath as he thought. "In the past, Persephone, as the Queen of Hell, has carried out the curses laid upon the dead by the words of men." Greg replied, "Or the curses laid upon men by the dead and dying."

John watched Greg, thinking about what he was saying.

[seaweed_writes]

It was close to what Sherlock had been doing in the Overworld, where he was letting mortals sell thier souls for what they desired. Of course, this John didn’t know him.

Was that something that John would want to do? The man was still semi human and he lacked a lot of Sherlock’s cruelty and lack of empathy.

“Will you take the mantle of Persephone, John?”

[ihadabadday]

"Persephone of the Seasons or Persephone of Hell?" He asked. The mantle of the Persephone of Seasons had already settled over him. But to do more things with Sherlock, to be able to go to the Overworld at certain times...

He would... He would have to bury his emotions for it.

[seaweed_writes]

“If John were to take the mantle of Persephone of Hell, what would it entail exactly? Would that allow him to take short trips to the Overworld?” He asked Greg, knowing that John wanted to know as much as he did.

[ihadabadday]

Greg nodded. "Yes, it would." He answered.

John looked at Sherlock and then to Greg.

[seaweed_writes]

“And I assume, as the Fates, that you can’t telk us whether he should take it or not.” He asked Greg, then looked at John.
“It is your descision either way, if you want to take it or not. I assume it will not affect our relationship?” He reverted the question back to Greg again.

[ihadabadday]

Greg just took a long drag from his cigarette. Bad habit he knew, but he didn't care. He merely nodded. He could tell them about things, but not advise. It was their fate to decide.

"It will not. You two have bound yourselves together as Hades and Persephone, whichever mantle of version you choose to be is your decision. For all intents and purposes, you two are just as married as Zeus and Hera. Though, that might not be the best description. Though Sherlock should buy you a ring John, make an honest man out of you." He winked and then vanished.

[seaweed_writes]

Sherlock sighed. “He us maddingly unhelpful, that one. I’m not sure I still count him as a friend.” Greg was really his only friend before John came along. He really did care for the god as a bit of a big brother. Heaven knows he preferred Greg over his actual brother.

Which reminded hm, they were going to have to talk to Zeus sooner than later.

[ihadabadday]

John hummed. He then tilted his head and looked up at Sherlock. "He's still a good man. I think..." He then ran a hand through Sherlock's hair, teasing at the curls a bit. He smiled. Happiness. It was such an odd feeling.

[seaweed_writes]

“Yes. He is a good man.” He admitted. Sherlock was quiet for a moment, enjoying the moment, just them together.

“Do you think you are going to take the job?” He asked. Sherlock wasn’t sure what John would need to do to officially take the job.

[ihadabadday]

"Possibly. It would mean more time with you..." John mused. He ran his fingers over Sherlock's arm, humming softly.

"I do want more time with you."

[seaweed_writes]

Sherlock smiled. “You have the rest of eternity to be with me.” As a demigod, Sherlock honestly wasn’t sure if John would live as long as him. Assuming the man didn’t get tired of his lack of empathy and knowledge of human emotions. He had felt them for 48 hours, but that wasn’t nearly enough time to come to terms with them.

[ihadabadday]

John hummed softly and nodded. He shifted and pulled away from the other man. He got up and dusted himself off.

"I look forward to it." He then turned to go back to his room.

[seaweed_writes]

Sherlock watched him go. He figured that the man had some thinking to do alone, or something.

A short time after John had left that the scrying crystal pulsed a glowing pattern for a few times, then he heard his brother's voice.

"Hades. To me. Now. Bring that... pet with you. We have things to discuss."

Before Sherlock could respond, the crystal went dark again.

"Fuck." Sherlock sighed. He changed back to his normal form, 9 foot tall , pale gray skin, wearing a toga like robe, his head topped in fire.

He headed back to John's room

"John, we have to go." He paused in the door, forgetting that this John hadn't seen him in his true form yet.