Crown Him part 8
Pairing: god of spring!TimothĂŠe x goddess of the Underworld!OC
Warning: brief depiction of god-slaughter and war and mention of smutty times 18+ only
A/n: Well gang it's finally fucking here. The angst starts comin' and it don't stop coming now. I can also officially say this is part 8 of 10, so literally the rest of this series is gonna be mostly tragedy, as the myth goes. But with a little flavor and flair đ! Lord willin' and the creek don't rise, even part 10 won't be the end for these two, so don't be too bummed out! Only 4500 words boohoo đ˘ Standard issue: DNI blank blogs, ageless blogs, and those who serial like fics instead of reblogging. I will block you. Every time. Also take a look at my other face claims for the pantheon & company mentioned here!
Aggravating in all forms, TimothĂŠe thought with a scrunch of his nose. His arms flexed as he readjusted his grip on the pot in his arms. The fragrant scent was inescapable, especially at his chest as it was. He rolled his eyes with a huff. Conspicuous and attention-seeking were apparently transferable traits.Â
The streets of Del were quiet and bare as TimothĂŠe marched forward, his deed in his grasp. He would have preferred some noise, some distraction. Instead, with only the crunch of loose gravel under his sandals, too many thoughts played and replayed in his head. Hermesâ words. Mentheâs words. Zeusâ relayed message. His motherâs relayed grief.Â
His jaw clenched. It wasnât fair. Why was he the only one who cared about his happiness? He and Aidonea, that is. Stomping a little harder, a little faster, TimothĂŠe made his way into the palatial home they shared. With the reverberations of his footfall, he honed in, getting out of his own head and seeking out. Where was his wife? His emotions were clouding his ability to feel the thrum of the Underworld, the whispers of his loveâs mysteries. TimothĂŠe shook his head, trying to shake the chaos inside him straight. But he was too frustrated. Itâs fine. He didnât have to use the powers he was still trying to develop, he just needed to think.Â
Though it was late, he was not at her side, so he knew that she had not gone to bed yet. Work-life balance was something they were still working towards which meant Aidonea was sure to be in her study still. So he made his way there.
Back pressed to the door, he shoved it open. And as his eyes fell upon the goddess therein, the tension in his shoulders, in his jaw, in his pursed lips, all relaxed. He even thought about smiling.
âPlouton.â
Her gentle smile was like a hug, warm and comforting. TimothĂŠe wanted to fall in and curl up in it like a cat sunning itself. âMy husband. What have you made? I felt a surge of your power.â
Ah. Yes, that. The reason he was here. âNot what you expect.â
He placed the large fragrant potted plant on the table.
With a curious set to her brows, Aidonea studied it. âWhat plant is this?â
âUm, I only just created it.â
âAnother new one?â
âYeahâŚâ
âWhy do you look guilty?â
He sighed. âFirst of all, I want to say that Iâm not sorry about what I did, I just feel guilty because I feel as though I should have involved you more.â
âTimothĂŠeâŚ?â
âThis is Minthe.â TimothĂŠe finally admitted. Aidonea blinked at him once. Then again.
ââŚThe nymph?â
âYes.â
âYou⌠turned her into a plant?â
âYes.â
Aidonea opened and closed her mouth a few times, finally setting on: âI didnât know you could do that.â
He shrugged. âI just changed her life energy.â
ââJustâ he says,â Aidonea muttered as she rolled her eyes. âSo you mean this is reversible?â
âSheâs still alive. I could change her back whenever I wanted to.â
âWhat was her offense?â
âHarassment over jealousy.â
The face Aidonea pulled brought the guilt of leaving her out of the loop back. âJealousy?â
TimothĂŠe flicked at one of the large serrated leaves, causing the scent to spike and stick to his fingertip. He grimaced. Annoying chit. âShe has been antagonizing me about your previous relations.â
Aidoneaâs eyes narrowed at the plant and TimothĂŠe may have imagined it, but it seemed like its stalk shivered. âA fault I knew her to be capable of. I called myself sparing her feelings the first time I addressed her about you and I. She told me she had more pride than to mistreat you for our past.â Aidonea swept it to the corner of her desk without another glance. âAs she clearly lied to me and aggressed against you in blatant insubordination, I believe she can remain this way for as long as you like, my love.â
TimothĂŠe preened the tiniest bit, happy to be validated and supported in his choice. He bowed his head a bit in acknowledgment and turned to leave feeling much lighter. Then he paused at a thought, looking over his shoulder to declare, âAlso I want new sheets.â
Aidonea frowned, befuddled. Then shrugged. âSure, pick whichever color you like.â She looked back down to her work. âExcept pastels; you are blinding enough to wake up to each morning.â
TimothĂŠe made a noise of affront. âI have not lost that much of my tan, how dare you!â
âI will mistake you for a statue soon, I fear.â
âYou are the meanest wife Iâve ever had.â
Aidonea smiled briefly then let it fall, searching his face. For what, he wondered? Not remorse, surely, for he had meant it when he said earlier that he did not regret what he did. But if he was being honest with himself, he may have been a little embarrassed under the unapologetic righteousness. That it had to come to this. But the nymph had been spoiling for a fight since he arrived and delaying giving one to her had only brought them to where they are now. And with it, his satisfaction.Â
His queen regained his attention, coaxed his fallen gazeâ when had he looked to the ground?â back to her own and regarded him openly. âYou had every right to exact the punishment you saw fit of a transgression against you from who is supposed to be a loyal courtier. I trust your judgment, my king.â
The reassurance made him straighten, re-steel his resolve. Then he nodded perfunctorily. Swallowing, he let his gaze settle on the scrollwork before her. âWhat are you doing?â
âAnswering prayers.â
âIn your study? That should be more happy work, should it not?â
She breathed a humorless laugh. âWe are not invoked for the same things, my love.â
His brows drew in on themselves, only able to guess at what the contents one may pray to the sovereign of the dead and afterlife for. TimothĂŠe placed his hand over hers. âCome, Plouton. Give to those of the living who call out to you from a livelier place.â
They gather her scrolls and her charcoal styluses and he leads her to a random village square in Del. There, Aidonea sent blessings while surrounded with the calming bustle of her shades at work, going about their duties as she went about hers. TimothĂŠe organized her stacks and grouped them by content as he hummed windingly at her side.
From then on, she did so every time she went to answer mortal prayers, with and without TimothĂŠe by her side. She would simply walk the streets of Del, surveying the common goings-on and find a spot to sit with her scrolls of the risingâs requests.
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(They fucked on sumptuous silken, ruby red sheets that night.)
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It had been awhile since last she had spent time with Cerberus, so she decided to take them on a walk. Relieved from their constant duty, the dogs gleefully split apart and relaxed.
RuscÄusâs big head was on her lap as CernĹo playfully wandered the area, butting up to greet and shades and get pets. BÄryllusâs sharp green eyes were alert and watching the goings on.
CernĹo trotted up, nudging something against her hand to encourage a game of fetch. She grinned indulgently to the canine, wrapping a hand around the bone and pulling her arm back for a throw. Then paused before launching it.
âWait, Cer, whose bone is this?â
Slender arms slung around Aidoneaâs shoulders from behind as the scent of dark berries and fire nuzzled against her cheek.
âIâve tracked you down, wife divine.â
âI was not hiding from you,â she smirked.
âI did not say you were, only warning that you may not be able to any longer even if you try. I am becoming quite adept at reading the Underworld! Getting even better at separating your aura from the ambient mysteries of you that suffuse the lands.â Aidonea praised his growing skill and he preened and basked in it momentarily. His chin tilted over her shoulder as he peeked in on what she was working on. âMore prayers?â
She hummed in affirmation. The number was idly increasing and she had intended to send an envoy to uncover why. But TimothĂŠe had a way of unwittingly distracting her. Aidonea made a mental note to do so the next time she saw Thanatos. Or maybe Hermes.
âWhere have you gone?â TimothĂŠe murmured with a kiss to her temple before finally rounding her and kneeling at her side. He reached over and patted RuscÄusâs side. âSomewhere inward I cannot follow, and I donât like that. Come back to me.â She laughed at the faux pout in his tone.
âYou are a glutton for attention.â
âYour attention,â he corrected with a teasing roll of his eyes.Â
As he did so, the corner of his vision caught a glimpse of something new in the area. A statue near the road. Well he had been commissioning new ones left and right, though he doesnât remember an idea for this crossing in particular. Honestly, good on Daedalus for taking the initiative to add more without his express direction. TimothĂŠe moseyed over to admire the handiwork, but his pleasantly curious expression fell as he got closer. âHold on, is that me?âÂ
âNothing wrong with your eyes.âÂ
âYou knew of this? You arranged this? You got a statue made of me?â
âThe other half of this union was being woefully underrepresented and is still soundly outnumbered by your aversion to moderation.â
âWhyever would I simply want a moderate amount of depictions of you?â
He marveled at the figure for a bit, his likeness posed in serene repose. That woman was still full of surprises, it would appear. How had he got this passed him?
TimothĂŠe rounded on her, narrowing his eyes teasingly. âWhat other secrets are you keeping from me, Hidden One?â
A coy smirk adorned Aidoneaâs lips. Mischief. Sneakiness. A novel but welcome sight from her. TimothĂŠe gasped a bit theatrically, eyes widening in realization.
âThere is something else. What are you up to? What have you done?â
âI was only told this rising that it was ready.â
He waved for her to stand. âWell?? Iâm not the god of patience and delayed gratification! Lead the way!â
RuscÄus grumbled to have his comfy nap disturbed, but he eventually rolled off and let her leave, though not without a little huff of disapproval. Aidonea took her husband by the hand and they walked from the bustling streets to the far less congested grounds surrounding their temple home. A ways passed, but not so far as the path to Elysium, Aidonea showed him an archway that hadnât been there a fortnight ago.Â
She pushed open grand stained glass doors and TimothĂŠeâs jaw dropped.
Half cave and half greenhouse, the space was encrusted with moonstone, jade, and emeralds in the walls and ceiling. The green tint to the room gave it a calm but hopeful air. And bathing under it was a sizable empty field of dirt.
âThe soil is from aboveground,â Aidonea explained and he wasted no time dropping to his knees. TimothĂŠe sank his hands splayed wide into the soil and sent his chaos out. âThanatos probably looked like an actual gravedigger.â
âI can do anything I want with this,â Timmy murmured as he analyzed the soil, diagnosing it. âOh, I can hear you,â he comforted absentmindedly, not talking to Aidonea. He heard it as clearly as a mortal's prayers, the soil beseeching aid, telling him its pains and imbalances. His brows furrowed, forlorn and empathetic as it cried out to him.
Aidonea placed her hands on his shoulders, seeing the way he reacted. âIâm sorry. I did not expect this of my gift.â
âNo!â He shook his head, grinning at her over his shoulder. âItâs okay because I can fix it. Itâs a little saltyâ a lot saltyâ a little dry. Some compost would be great, but itâs all doable, baby. Itâs good foundation, I can definitely heal it and grow anything I want from this.âÂ
Reassured, Aidonea smiled with a little relief as she gently squeezed his shoulders. âOf course you can, Kthonia.âÂ
She had intended the epithet to delight him but not thrill him as it did. âKarpophorosâŚâ she continued, her hands trailing down his arms. âObrimoâŚâ she whispered in his ear and he shivered. Chaos ran down from his shoulders, into the earth and made it ripple out with the epicenter where his hands disappeared below the soil. Asphodels sprung up only to wither in the deficient earth. âOkay, yeah, I never thought Iâd say this but, divine, you must leave me.â
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Megaera finished up her report of the beach of Styx and its recent overcrowding; how they were needing to reallocate resources. Why were so many dying penniless? What could possibly be the shift that was taking place?Â
Aidonea rubbed at her temple. âGive a message to Thanatos for me. Have him send a delegate to investigate this influx. Assist Tisyphone with surveying the new shades with no toll coins and get back to me as soon as you can.âÂ
The Erinye bowed. âWith haste, your majesty,â she assured and turned to leave.
âMegaera, before you go, could you please take Minthe with you? The scent is giving me a headache.â
Megaera snorted and hefted the large pot effortlessly. âNot a novel feeling in her presence. Our king certainly created with accuracy.â
Without the heavy fragrance in the air, Aidonea could focus again. Clear her mind a bit more. What hour was it? What more did she need to finish tonight? She looked at her task list and saw it to be uncommonly sparse. Sheâd really fallen out of the routine of using it as she spent more and more of her risings outside of her study. Her darling husband had done a fine job of coaxing her out of her seclusion.
Now that she thought about it, routine was something she had all but abandoned since the wedding. Easing out of the honeymoon and back into her duties had not been seamless and she could admit to herself that balancing the responsibilities to her position as queen and her position as wife leaned heavily one way one rising and the other way the next.Â
It wasnât necessarily a change she disliked, but change certainly wasnât her strong suit like it was TimothĂŠeâs. How long would she need to adjust? But the benefits of having him far outweighed her difficulties.Â
The tender smile that had begun to spread on Aidoneaâs face fell abruptly.
There was an unwanted visitor in her home. And from the faint crackle of electricity in the soles of her feet, sending the gentle sensation across the surface of her skin up to her fingertips, a damning feeling fell over her like a shroud. Aidonea made a quick stop by the Infernal Armory before moving through the shadows.Â
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TimothĂŠe stomped towards the entrance of his home again. He felt the shift in the Underworld, the way another oppressive aura had forced its way in, demanding it make space for them. The closer he got, the more he recognized the rumble under his feet to be the low, reverberating growl of Cerberus.
Could it be Hermes again, back and bolder? He told him all those risings past thatâ.
The messenger god was not the one stood at the maw of the Underworld.
Zeus frowned and settled ice blue eyes on him from where he still stood upon his chariot.
TimothĂŠe sized up the god, the cut of his jaw as he lifted it proudly to look down upon him. Nothing about him suggested this would be a pleasant visit. So TimothĂŠe abandoned hospitality immediately as Zeus did by invading their home unannounced and unwanted.
âZeus Xenios,â TimothĂŠe greeted with a mildly sarcastic tone. âWhat could bring you to our home this rising without invitation or permission asked?â
His great jaw clenched before he spoke, cutting to the chase. âYouâve been missing for months. Your mother is worried sick. Sheâs poisoned the mortalsâ fields with her bitter tears. Theyâve salted the grounds.âÂ
Breath caught in TimothĂŠeâs chest as he thought of the soil in his gifted garden, salted and malnourished. It was his own motherâs weeping whoâd done so. He never wanted her to worry. He just wanted to do what he did want. âTell her Iâm fine, that Iâve chosen to live here with Aidonea.âÂ
âHermes told her you were fine. Her tears did not stop. She wishes to see you.âÂ
âWell, I cannot just leave to assuage her!âÂ
Zeus sneered. âYou must! She is your mother and your place is with her!âÂ
âAidonea is my wife! My place is with her! Though, you may be a little foggy on that concept,â TimothĂŠe spat, his temper returning with a vengeance. âI willingly ate the fruits of this land! Knowing I would never be able to leave, knowing I never wanted to leave! This is my home now!âÂ
Zeusâs eyes flashed, as if lightning streaked in his very irises, but TimothĂŠe did not back down. Rooted like a tree, he stood tall, eyes fixed and hard as jasper on the sky king. Zeusâs voice rumbled like thunder as he spoke and stomped forward into TimothĂŠeâs space. âYou may think yourself more important because Aidonea has handed you royal status but I am still the king of the gods. You will return to your mother. You will return aboveground. You will do so because I sayâ.âÂ
âWhat you will do, is take care of how you speak in our domain, dear brother.â Aidonea hissed as she made herself known, removing her helm and slipping out of the shadows. Zeus shrunk a bit under her glower. Demeter had once mentioned that Zeus was a little fearful of his older sister, a fact sheâd overheard from Heraâs gossiping lips, readily corroborated with by Poseidon. Zeus maintained his bravado, speaking with his chest at her.Â
âThis needs to be handled, Aidonea.âÂ
âIt already is. TimothĂŠe is my husband. He has chosen to stay here. Demeter can stop her dramatics, she even knows heâs safe. Heâs not missing, heâs home. If you are the king of the gods, then tell her to get over herself and do her job.âÂ
âYou know I do not interfere with the pantheonâs allotted domains.âÂ
She raised an eyebrow. âAnd yet here you are.âÂ
âTo request that he return to his grieving mother!âÂ
âWho chooses to grieve at this point! Sheâs been told heâs well and happy and yet she throws a tantrum because she wants him back with her!âÂ
Zeus sighed, breaking from the strain of the argument. He does not often have to argue. His wife and sister being the only ones who ever do so with him. And while tuning Hera out came easy, Aidonea posed more of a threat. Moreover, her parlays would always be aimed at him instead of misdirected to another.Â
He held his hands up, placating her. âPloutonâ.âÂ
âDo not call me that! You are so full of shit! You will not placate me!âÂ
âYou see the position I am in!âÂ
âYes! In my domain! In our home! Demanding we defer to Demeter because she is becoming a thorn in your side! Disrespectful and completely lacking decorum, though neither of those are foreign to you.âÂ
He bristled, electricity sparking at his fingers.Â
Aidonea saw and goaded his ire. âOh, do call it down, Jupiter, call your lightning down! Youâll do worse damage to the mortals than that fool Demeter is blubbering all over the lands.âÂ
He visibly restrained himself, huffing out his nose like a bull enraged. âA compromise. We will meet on Olympus. You and TimothĂŠe will come, meet with Demeter and we will all reach a favorable decision going forth. You know that is the only acceptable course of action.âÂ
Aidonea said nothing, her anger darkening her entire countenance and unease rippled through Zeus as his own shadow seemed alive below him. But he didnât dare take his eyes off of Aidonea.Â
âLeave us.â She began to walk towards TimothĂŠe, her back to Zeus.Â
He backed away towards his chariot that brought him there. âTwo days, Aidonea. Meet on Olympus by daybreak in two days.âÂ
âGo away!â She hissed in Greek, shooing him over her shoulder impatiently.
TimothÊe had never seen his wife so⌠angry. Unlike the fierce Titanomachy statue where her ferocity was devoted to winning a war, the sharp pinch of this being personal gave him the image of a storm given flesh. Aidonea even appeared to⌠blur around the edges; as if her body was unwittingly becoming shadow, forgetting to hold onto corporeal form.
TimothĂŠe grabbed her hand and it snapped solid under his touch. She squeezed it and TimothĂŠe pulled her close, into his arms so that he could press a kiss to her forehead. The tendrils of her hair returned to coils instead of formless wisps of darkness. The wrinkles of her frowned brow smoothed under his lips.
The rustle of packed soil and whimpering sounded as Cerberus bellied their way over to the royal couple. One large head nuzzled at TimothĂŠe as the other two did so with Aidonea.
TimothĂŠe breathed an amused sigh, turning now tired eyes down to his love. âMy place is next to you, as I told him. I am yours.â
âAnd I yours. We chose each other, a concept he surely cannot fathom.âÂ
TimothĂŠe pressed his forehead against hers. âWoe to whoever seeks to cleave me from your side, Aidonea. My love, there is no limit to the chaos I could unleash for you.âÂ
She cupped his cheek, not responding directly to his words. âCome, my king. Let us calm ourselves.â
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Sandwiched between the unforgiving smooth black marble of the recessed bath and Aidoneaâs comforting weight reclined on his chest, TimothĂŠe was making his way towards relief. The geothermal water piped in from an underground spring steamed with the soothing scent of minerals and salts around them. His muscles tried to relax, his mind tried to calm. But he could not when he could feel his wife thinking.Â
Aidonea had a brilliant mind, vast beyond his knowledge. She saw backwards into the past more times than most people blink in a day. Countless lives, mortal and immortal alike, she had watched begin and end. Her mind was an abacus, a machine, constantly taking input and trying to follow it âtil itâs natural end. But knowing it was their relationship she was lost pondering, he refused to let her travel her mental prediction tree.
TimothĂŠe was only certain of two more risings with her. And he wanted all of her in the present.
His hand rose from the water; the sound of it trickling from his cupped palm and falling back to its surface and along her skin broke the relative silence. He smoothed his hand down her arm, feeling the familiar softness of her that heâs traced countless times with hands and mouth alike. âDonât think, Plouton, just feel. Just be here with me.â
Her form melted into his and he knew he had her back. She sighed as her head tilted backwards, rested on his shoulder and her eyes closed.
âTell me of your garden.â
âIâve decided to grow in there the old fashioned way. After healing the soil and a brief impatience to see sprouts, I just used enough chaos to get them to break ground. They will develop a bit more rapidly here than aboveground, but the trunks are still green.â
âWhat did you plant?â
TimothĂŠeâs smile crooked. He ducked down and murmured the answer in her ear like it was a secret. âA pomegranate grove.â
The chocolate diamonds that were her irises twinkled as they opened again, pinning him with a look. âSentimental.â
âGuilty.â He shrugged. âThat accusation the least of what I can be charged with. âDisgustingly adoringâ is what Thanatos leveled at me when I told him that I can't wait to give you the best of them when they grow. Iâll pick the fruit that bends the tree with its weight. That when we part it, the myriad seeds will sit like gathered ruby and garnet pebbles. The juice will be bright and refreshing on your tongue. And it will taste of the love I put into growing it for you, to fortify your body and keep your heart strong for me.â
âAnd at which point of that did Thanatos cut you off?â
âWouldnât even let me get to the part about the seeds! Such dour help we keep in him.â
âEven more lucky we are to have Spring among us.â
âI suppose so.â
Aidonea turned at the trace deprecation she could here in his voice, maneuvering to straddle his lap with a sure face. âWe are fortunate to have you here, TimothĂŠe. I am fortunate to have such a partner as you. You are unparalleled.â
TimothĂŠe cupped her face, his thumb tracing her cheekbone and he watched as the water dripped down her jaw. âI never sought more for myself until I saw you in my forest. I am fixed to you, Aidonea. I cannot be removed.â His eyes lowered as his hand did, he followed its path as it brushed down over her chest. Palm pressed to the warm skin, ichor pumping rhythmically there. âMy heart is here. To leave you would be a surgery.â
âI thought we were not to speak of such things.â
He smiled. âRight, as always, my wife. Occupy my lips otherwise.â
They kissed and washed each other languidly until their skin pruned. It was the intimate reset TimothĂŠe needed to rest easy that night.
â¨đđ¸đ¤đ¸đâ¨
It sickened her, truly. This fucked up family and the way they spilled each otherâs ichor like it was nothing. Like it was not precious.Â
And there was TimothĂŠe, laying absolute waste.Â
He dove in with no hesitation. He looked like an avenging angel; so beautiful, so wrathful, merciless in the damage he dealt. His purple chiton ichor-streaked, his eyes vibrantly green, almost drunk off his own powers. Having fun.
Those who tried to stop him were met with profound pain, left altered, his touch indelible as he embraced his chaos. Thorns spreading like gooseflesh along their skin. Their bones turning to bark as branches reached forth from their extremities. A terrible feedback loop of his anger and his powerâs instability.Â
Could he face his mother with such malevolence?Â
Could he watch Aidonea do so?Â
But then he looked over plant-morphed bodies leaking gold into the earth and saw her. His eyes softened, releasing the rage as his gaze rested on his heartâs desire. The one he was doing all of this for.
Face streaked with othersâ ichor, he smiled at her.
Aidoneaâs eyes snapped open to her meditation sanctum with a shaky gasp.














