#doomed relationship

Asclepius had always wanted a baby sibling that would stay. His father is constantly having half bloods ofcourse but none but him have ascended to godhood.

They wither and they die and eventually all of them leave.

So ofcourse he was thrilled when his father informed him that not only has he finally found his mother but that she had given birth to a child, an immortal child.

Dionysus meanwhile had heard all about his big brother from his mama as he grew up and is somewhat nervous but overall hopeful about meeting him.

He was an adult in mortal years but barely more than a babe from a godly perspective and Persedione liked to joke that her eldest would wrap him in protective shrouds once they finally met because he was just too cute.

2 children, one mother and a bright hope for brotherhood and love that will not survive being hit over the head by reality.

At his core Asclepius is someone willing to ignore the cracks creeping up through their foundations so long as he keeps getting to play happy families and at his core Dionysus is someone who refuses to look away from the damage rought by men with too much power and too little empathy.

Their brotherhood was doomed from the start but lasted long enough to dig its roots in and leave a mark.

They know each other better than anyone save their mother, which means they know exactly what to say to make it hurt.

As far as Asclepius is concerned things didn't start to go wrong until Dionysus started being difficult and picking fights with their father for no reason.

As far as Dio is concerned, the cracks were already their upon their first meeting when Asclepius chose speak down to their mother about 'causing all this trouble over nothing.' As if she hadn't been abused, raped and cursed by those who should have protected her.

Asclepius has an easier time admitting that their were good times, largely because he still doesn't understand why Dionysus had to ruin everything when they were all so happy.

Dionysus will take longer to admit it but thats because all those good moment hurt. Asclepius was an amazing big brother to Dionysus for that brief period before the rot became too much and still is an incredible son to his father.

But Asclepius is a terrible son to their mother and Dionysus cannot stand back and watch his mama be treated like this, even if it means losing the bond he and Asclepius were tentatively beginning to build.

Asclepius refuses to acknowledge that any chance of them being a happy family was ruined by apollo long before either of them were born.

He continues to make excuses to justify his fathers behaviour at the cost of their mother.

He refused to recognise the damage because the only one suffering for it was Persedione and his mother was always so strong so what did it matter?

Then he's being told his mother is gone.

That his bright, headstrong mother who always needed Apollo to tell her what to do so she wouldn't embarise herself isn't coming back.

That the woman who raised him with love and kindness, with kisses and laughter and ethereal dancing who was somehow so 'clumsy' that her bruises never had a chance to heal before she was sporting new ones is dead.

That the goddess who always put others first and was too fearful of her husband to dissobey him unless it was for anothers sake took her own life.

His mother is gone and his father is barely alive thanks to what Dionysus did to him.

And he's so angry guilty but he won't admit to it because admitting it means acknowledging that his baby brother was right.

It's too late to change.

His refusal to listen had already cost him his brother and now its cost him his mother.

All he has left is his father and he cant lose that

So instead he digs in his heals and bites back twice as hard when Dionysus lashes out knowing that nothing he says will land even as every word the other spits at him cuts like a knife.

The truth is his mother is dead