#persephonette

The God of the Underworld was in love.

The Goddess of Spring was in love.

The only issue for many was who they were in love with, and that was each other.

A Goddess whose powers were the first breath of life should not love the God whose duty was to house those passed. It was just absurd, and it didn’t matter if they didn’t get to know him because she should know better. There were other Gods who roamed the realm she was already part of who would be better suited to compliment her powers if her Mother would let her wed them - at least, that’s what they believed.

But Marinette continued to venture to the barrier between life and death, and she greeted the three-headed guardian at the gates with such familiarity. When Adrien saw her, he came alive with a smile and took her hand in his own to walk with her. For as dead as the Underworld should be, it was alive if only cold. Again, the night was cold and most often quiet, but the Underworld managed to be more active - of souls coming, of other Gods, Nymphs, and lesser immortals going about. If they desired a true quiet, there was always the fields where the flowers glowed all around.

“Marinette…?”

“Yes, Adrien?”

“I… hm…” He bowed his head as they sat among the asphodels, trying to get these words right. After finally not feeling alone, he didn’t want to accidentally scare her away. “... Have you… been asked by other Gods if you would wed them?”

“Mmm… not really. Maman doesn’t like most of the other Gods. I believe she intends for me to never wed at all.”

“Really?”

Marinette’s head bobbed and she waved a hand over the asphodel beside her. “You know, she’s been trying to stop me from seeing you… lots of the Gods figured out I was coming here and have been trying, but at this point, it’s my immortal life, right? I’d like to decide some things for myself, thanks.”

He chuckled a little and closed his eyes. “Still, it must be nice to have people that care.”

“Psh, care? They ‘care’ about what I’m supposed to do, not about what I want to do. Maybe I want to meet other Gods, and maybe I want to marry one at some point. And maybe I want to choose who that God is instead of the one that’s the most compatible with what I’m supposed to be doing.”

Adrien felt like he was being told something, but he was wrapped up in his head somewhat. “So… if a God you knew got permission to wed you, would you accept?”

“Depends on the God.” Turning to peek her way, her bluebell eyes met his. “After all, you’re the only God that knows me…”

In his chest, he felt his heart speed up. She knew - and he was catching up with her words as she stood up.

“I have to go… I’ll see you again, soon?”

He couldn’t even find the words; he only bobbed his head with wide eyes and a throbbing pulse as she walked away.

  Darkness, gloom, despair…

 Such was the Underworld – such was the fate of man in death – all to flow into his realm like the many rivers that flowed through as well. And yet, Adrien oversaw it all in his unending life, his green eyes dulled at the monotony of it all. As much as he might wish for change, he didn’t ask for anything. It was by his luck he ruled this dim place; what sort of ruler would he be if he complained?

Of course, he might not say anything about his own wishes, but misfortune didn’t tether him into remaining. A brief trip into the living realm would perk up his spirits however brief, and then he could wallow in silence for another century.

Stepping out of his realm, he inhaled, smiling at the bountiful bloom of a fresh Spring day. Impeccable timing since it appeared to be the first; even the powers that willed the plants to life still clung to the wild grass and flower petals now gazing skyward. But, his brows furrowed upon reflection and re-examining the powers that reached the border of his domain, he hadn’t felt it before.

 A new god? Or perhaps, one he’d never met before?

 Tilting his head, he decided to follow it back, towards the one who sourced Spring.

 … And he had to contain a gasp.

 Goddess of Love be beside herself with envy, who was this gorgeous being in the field on her lonesome? Such softly sun-touched skin and eyes as blue as the Sea God’s tides with flowing hair with the depth and shine of the raven’s wing, he’d never seen this Goddess before. He could make out her lightly speckled cheeks, and by the gods, the blinding smile she wore upon her pink petal lips as a ladybeetle touched upon her hand.

Adrien brought a hand to his chest, feeling his heart stir in ways it hadn’t for eons. He knew not who the Goddess might be, but by the sky itself did he want to know.

 And yet…

 Looking down at himself and his eyes glancing to whence he came, how could a Goddess like her – nay, why would a Goddess like her even allow him to approach? And as much as he might, he knew that he mustn’t. The divide between their worlds was far too great, and though immortal they may be, he would be a danger to her and the life she wove.

Wishing he could will his beating heart to cease, he bowed his head and turned away, knowing he should not linger any longer.

Marinette didn’t see him again after the first day of Spring and all she could wonder was why. Obviously, they had been another God, and yet, they had stayed back beside the trees. It was so peculiar to her especially since her mother always warned against her being alone, saying things like the other Gods would immediately take her away the instant they saw her.

 But she was still here, in the field with her ladybugs, unapproached and untouched.

He had walked away and she recalled catching the briefest look at his face.

 Why had he seemed so sad?

 Looking down at her hand as the usual ladybug landed light upon her finger, she raised the precious insect close to whisper, “Tikki, please, show me where that dark God has gone.”

Little Tikki’s antennae twitched and she hesitated, standing still on her Goddess’s finger. Marinette pursed her lips a bit.

“Tikki, is he a vile God?”

The little bug’s antennae shook.

“Then why do you hesitate? Is it because of mother?”

The antennae moved up and down. The Spring Goddess sighed, shaking her head, “Don’t worry yourself over mother. Besides, other Goddesses have already met the other Gods yet I have not.”

 Tikki’s antennae fell and the tiny creature did seem to sympathize. They sat barely a few seconds in silence before the spotted shell upon the bug’s back opened, revealing her glossy wings. Taking off, she hovered in wait and Marinette rose to her feet, beaming. “Thank you, Tikki. Please, lead me on.”

 She knew the way in which the God had fled, but beyond the trees, Tikki had to guide her. It wasn’t far, but when they reached the ominous cavern, the Goddess felt something she rarely ever encountered: cold and decay. Raising a hand, she let the powers that clung to this area touch upon her, just to see what it truly was. Very little of her powers seemed capable of weaving through it before fading out.

This was no mere cavern – it was a barrier between the living realm and the afterlife. Still, this was where Tikki brought her.

 “… How strange. That sad God belongs to the Underworld?” she asked softly, her brows furrowing. Though she personally knew little of the realm itself, that God had appeared so… well, he wasn’t what she’d expect from the many stories her mother or father had told. Perhaps someone more frightening, with wicked eyes and a sinister grin, but the God had bore none of those features.

 Taking a step forward, she soon took another, placing herself before the barrier. Tikki flitted madly by her ear, trying to draw Marinette away, but the Goddess lingered by the entrance nonetheless.

She’d never felt this cold before and yet, she never expected the Underworld to be so bright. If she had to describe it, it honestly reminded her of the night sky given the way the crystals and gems inlaid into the massive chasm’s walls glowed. And though she could see so many, they were quite high up or at the fair end of the domain she walked through. It was eerie, but beautiful; quiet, but she could sense life somewhere within.

Without Tikki to guide her, Marinette decided to follow that trail towards whatever held life within it. She was cautious, of course, passing by the rivers that flowed through, and keeping quiet as she passed the almost incorporeal forms of mortals wandering the banks. Peering further down, she could even make out a line standing at a dock and there was a boat approaching. Though curious, she didn’t approach and decided to venture elsewhere.

Gliding herself over the river, she continued to walk on the other side, rather surprised how she found solace in this realm. But, if she thought about it, death was just relative to her powers over life. There was no reason she couldn’t be here when all she made would eventually come this way too. And she rather liked feeling alone for once. Even out in her fields, she always felt like she was being watched, but here, there was nothing like that. Walking on, she felt herself drawing closer and gasped when she did reach her destination.

Never had she’d seen such boundless field of asphodels before nor had she’d seen them shimmer like they did before her. And the dark grass growing around them only highlighted the twinkling leaves and petals like fireflies in the meadows above. Was this truly the Underworld? This was the realm where mortal souls came after death? She’d seen the way they lived above; was this terrible for them? Personally, Marinette would love to be here, and she didn’t miss the way the asphodels seemed to change color in her presence. One bloom in particular caught her eyes – how it glimmered with a little more pink to its bloom.

Smiling, she knelt down beside it to have a closer look.

 “What are you doing here?”

 He knew he must’ve startled the Goddess from the way her head whipped in his direction and he almost apologized. ‘Almost’ because he couldn’t summon the words from his lips as he gazed at her and how she shined with an ethereal light in his domain. Was that because of her light of life? Or was it the asphodels in the meadow surrounding them? Maybe it could be both, but no matter what, it seemed wrong of him to gaze upon her.

Adrien had to remind himself that she was the Goddess of Spring, and of all the places she should be, it wasn’t the Underworld.

 “… Do you know where you are? This isn’t a place for a Goddess like you.”

“Mmm, no, I think I can be here.”

 He didn’t expect her to say that and was thrown off again, just watching her quietly as she stood up, straightening out a few extra folds in her dress. Once she finished, she clasped her hands behind her back, humming. “I wasn’t stopped at the cavern’s mouth by the barrier. And aside from feeling cold, I don’t really feel weakened down here. Wouldn’t you say that’s a little strange?”

 “I… might, but you are a Goddess still,” he said slowly, but was puzzled at the predicament. Most Gods, even beings like those over the domain of the Sky and Sea, had their powers dampened. The only exceptions tended to be those who delivered mortal souls to the gates. Shaking his head, he took a step back. “Oddity aside, you should return. If the others find you’re gone, who knows what they’ll do.”

“They can wait. It’s not like I don’t intend to go back,” she said, waving a hand. “Besides, I just found you. It would be rude if we didn’t talk like before.”

He blinked, confused at what she meant, but then felt his face burn. “Oh… uh, did you… did you see me?”

 Drat, he should’ve turned invisible, but while he scolded himself, she stepped forward. He didn’t realize until she was right in front of him, too, almost making him jump back.

 “You didn’t approach me when I was in my field… Why not?”

 He didn’t know which was worse: being unable to answer because he didn’t know how, or being unable to answer because he was distracted. Few Gods dare be this close to him and they often worked with him, but this Goddess, as beautiful as the life she wove, was a hairbreadth away. His hands shook; he wanted to reach out to her, but remembering his black-tipped fingers, he could not. While being in the Underworld might not harm her, he definitely might.

 “… I’m Adrien. It seems like you may not know, but I rule the Underworld. I’m not supposed to go out there unless called upon. Also, as Gods of the opposing domains, our interactions should be minimal at best.”

 The Goddess’s lips parted – though, she wasn’t frightened; merely surprised it seemed.

 “I thought they tried to keep the handsome Gods around mortals. Weird…”

“Handsome?” He felt his face heat up further. He wasn’t unfamiliar with compliments, but who was she to call him handsome when she was so radiant?

 It seemed she noticed her error, or was embarrassed by her mouth getting away from her because after a beat, she covered her face with her fingers parted enough that he could see her eyelids close. “Oh, I’m sorry! I meant to just think that, not say it outloud…! Can we start over real quick? Hi, I’m Marinette, the Goddess of Spring…”

“… Hi, I’m Adrien, God of the Underworld.”

 He could feel his heart beating in his chest. Curse such traitorous organ; he hoped she couldn’t hear it.

 However, unbeknownst to him, Marinette’s heart beat in similar fashion.