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]

The moment Zeus got back to Mount Olympus, he watched John through a scrying crystal. He had seen that John had been working on his magic, though he was a bit surprised that he seemed to be fairly advanced.

He could step in any time if he needed to to stop John if he took a step out of line, but right now, he was trying to protect his little brother, so Zeus decided that he was going to let this play out.

Still, Sherlock slept on, through one day, then the second.

Zeus knew that John was going to have to leave London soon, and Fates had told him what was going to happen, thought to Zeus it seemed to be the only conclusion.

Zeus knew that his brother would be back... and soon.

[ihadabadday]

John kept Sherlock in his arms, holding and rocking him. He kept his power flowing over the many. This was one of the few times he did not keep to his routine. He stayed awake and focused on protecting Sherlock from prying eyes. He was grateful the two winters were not back to back.

But he would do anything for Hades. For Sherlock. He would protect him at the cost of his own life. Which he would hate to do. But he would do it.

[seaweed_writes]

Wakefulness came slowly for Sherlock. His eyes were still closed, he could only see darkness, but he could feel that he was awake... alive.. He tried to open his eyes, but they felt like they were made of lead.

He groaned, very softly, turning his head slightly. Why wouldn't his eyes open? His mouth felt as dry as the desert, his lips were parched. His tongue touched his lips, wetting them slightly.

Another low groan came from deep inside of him.

[ihadabadday]

"Take it easy. You're going through a rough time right now." John whispered to him. He carefully helped him drink water, wanting to take care.

How would he tell Sherlock the truth? He gave a soft breath and closed his eyes. He shared his memories with the man. Letting him see things.

[seaweed_writes]

Finally, he opened his eyes, blinking his eyes several times, trying to make the room stop spinning.. They were red, like Hades were when he was in his normal, god form.

He took a couple of sips, gulping it down weakly.

"Persephone..." He said, his voice low and weak. "It's... you.." He shook his head and closes his eyes, ans when he opened them again, they were blue like Sherlock's.

"John?"

[ihadabadday]

John pulled back and smiled softly. "How are you feeling?" he asked softly. "Are you hungry? I can get you food?"

He had seen a glimpse of his love under the human. Of course he cared for the human as well. It was all so odd. But, he would do this. Do this for himself and for Zeus. He had seen how the man had been without his brother, and then the hope of his brother returning...

[seaweed_writes]

Sherlock rubbed his pounding, aching head.

"I feel.. weird... like there is something else... stuffed inside of me..."

Sherlock looked at John, a worried look on his face. "John... what's happening to me? Why am I seeing all this strange things, and feeling so strange?"

You are a god... you... can help me.. right? Please tell me that you can... "

[ihadabadday]

John let out a sigh and stroked his cheek, like he had done to Hades all those countless years ago. During his first life. He let out a soft breath and kissed him, just like that first time.

"I am." He said as he pulled away, "You are Hades reborn and right now the power is inside you, waking up. The transition from mortal to god is not an easy one Zeus told me. But I... I will protect you through it. Even... Even if you do not wish to see me after it is done."

[seaweed_writes]

Sherlock looked at him, confused. "I am.... Hades?" He asked. "No.. I'm just... Sherlock Holmes. I'm no god." He shook his head. John had to be kidding.. He was just a normal mortal. He couldn't be... a god..


Could he?

"Wait.. you talked to ... Zeus.. like.. the god of gods.. the king of all..?" This was just getting stranger and stranger by the moment.

[ihadabadday]

He nodded and gave a small chuckle. "It's all strange, but it is life."

John kissed his head. "Mmm. I do not know how it works honestly. I often thought of Hades as invincible, no one being able to touch him. I was wrong in those thoughts."

He sighed and strengthened the spells about Sherlock.

[seaweed_writes]

Sherlock brought his shaking hands up to his face.

He watched quietly while John.. or Persephone? spoke some weird words over him.

"You are serious. Aren't you?" He said, in a voice as shaky as his hands. "I.. You...really think that I am a god, don't you, John.. or am I supposed to call you Persephone? I... don't know how any of this works.."

He still doesn't believe that he is a god. There is no way that it could be I am... the god.. the one that this man in front of him.. loved.. decades or centuries before he was even born?

[ihadabadday]

"John. You can call me John." He said.

He could feel his heart crumbling. Maybe h wouldn't get his Hades back. But he didn't let that show. He would ease Sherlock through this and leave. It seemed like the right thing to do now.

He fiddled with the stone that sat at the end of a chain around his neck. One that he never was without. He couldn't bear the thought.

[seaweed_writes]

"I... gave that... to you.." Sherlock reached out and touched the stone. "It's... supposed to have a flame, isn't it?"

Sherlock shook his head again, blinking a couple of times. He looked at the stone again, but the recognition of it was gone as quick as it had arrived.

"That's a nice stone. You care for it a lot, don't you, John?"

[ihadabadday]

This was breaking him. Seeing the fragments of his love. He smiled.

"Yes. I do. It was given to me by someone special." He answered.

"Rest, I'll get you something to eat." He was up and moving, leaving the room.

[seaweed_writes]

"Oh.." He said softly. "Who was it?" He wasn't sure that John had heard him, because he was already turning around and heading out of the room.

Sherlock ran his hands through his hair What the fuck was happening? He was Sherlock Holmes, graduate chemist and all around arsehole. He wasn't a god... He was just a regular person.

Then why did he dream of Hell, and a three headed dog and a river of souls and a stone throne?

[ihadabadday]

John was in a tit. He stomped outside to find Molly, a frown on his face. "Molly!" he shouted.

They had been in the US for almost two months. Luckily Sherlock could run his company from here with a computer. But the man wasn't happy.

"Molly!" He never usually shouted for her like this. But he was... Displeased.

[seaweed_writes]

Demeter... Molly.. turned her head from where she was standing in front of her field of grain.. It was still early, and they were no higher than her ankles, but soon they would grow taller than them both.

She turned to him, worry showing over the slightly annoyance of him yelling at her.

:"Yes, John, what is it?" She asked. She had been most patient with him through these trying times, but even her patience had an end, and she got more and more worried as hte days and months went by, that John was getting worse, not better.

[ihadabadday]

"Sorry..." He rubbed his forehead when he stopped in front of her, "The Southern Hemisphere is calling for an early winter. I... I need to go early. Will you be okay with him?" He asked.

It had not been easy these past two months. Both he and Sherlock were being stroppy bastards.

[seaweed_writes]

Immediately, a warm smile filled her face. She touched his cheek gently. "Of course." She answered. "I would be proud that you trust me to look after him for you. I swear upon my life that no harm shall come to him. Go to Sydney, and do you job in the knowledge that he will be looked over by the gods."

[ihadabadday]

John stepped over and hugged her tightly. "I am sorry I have been so ill tempered lately. Zeus said it would take time. But I didn't think it would take this long." He glanced back towards the house and then kissed her cheek.

"I do love you Molly, you have been a wonderful friend."

He pulled back and smiled at her.

[seaweed_writes]

Gently, she touched the spot where he kissed her. She cared for him deeply. She would do anything to see him happy again. Molly could only hope that something would unlock the final key to letting Hades out, but even as an Old God, she didn't know what it was. And if Zeus did, he couldn't, or wouldn't say.

It seemed that the Fates deemed that Sherlock was on his own, on this journey.

"Go, my little one." She called to him. "Go be with your winter, and when the first springs come, you will be reunited with your love."

[ihadabadday]

John waved at her as his power took him from the grain belt to Sydney in a moment.

He sat down on the couch he kept in his flat here and sighed. He wanted to be with Hades and help him through this. But it seemed Fates had other plans.

--

Molly brushed her hands off and went into the house. Sherlock was often found in the sunroom, working. So she headed over there. "Did John talk to you?"

[seaweed_writes]

Sherlock had been working at his computer. As soon as she came in, he closed the lid and turned to her, a scowl on his face. "Yeah, he said he had to leave, and that I wouldn't see him for months." Okay, that wasn't exactly what he had said, he thought to himself, but that was all she needed to know

He was in a nice little strop, arms crossed, mouth turned down in a frown, body posture stiff.

"You don't have to babysit me. I'm a grown man.. and a god it seems.. I am quite capable of handling myself." He said, dismissively.

[ihadabadday]

Molly shook his head. "Unfortunately for both of us, I do have to babysit you." She chuckled, "In your weakened state, you would be easy target for those who wish to do you harm."

"I know you and John are both upset at this. But it is for the best." She smiled softly.

[seaweed_writes]

"Upset?" Sherlock jumped to his feet, stalking over to her. "What the hell does John get to be upset about? I was perfectly fine being a chemist with his own company the youngest in London, thank you very much!" He flailed his arms about and gestured wildly as he spoke.

"Then this... handsome man shows up one day and tells me that he is a god and that he lost his lover and then he..he.. seduces me.. and tells me that I am his long lost lover.. and now I dream of Hellfire and Cerberus and rivers of dead souls and I'm supposed to be okay with this?"

His voice ramps up as he speaks until he is almost screaming. "How do I know this isn't some trick of his, telling me that I am a god.. putting these.. memories in me.. and you are in on it too one big joke, lets fuck with this little human, his life is insignificant. We an play with him and when he's broken get a new toy!"

Sherlock had no idea that as he spoke, his eyes grew red, or that his body was cast in a soft halo of flame.

As soon as he stopped speaking, they were both gone.