#typheous

Ok so I wrote:

“An offer so delicious, I’m almost willing to reconsider looking for them.”

What if Typheous did accept it? What if he decided that Zeus was in fact their offering and chose not to keep searching? Chose to rule and keep Zeus forever locked away?

How would that change dynamics? Would Zeus even have stayed as long after that, on the chance he manages to escape or is saved again?

Would he even accept being saved if Typheous is under the impression that he’s a sacrifice? I mean, who hasn’t had the thought that ‘a little bit of pain is nothing if it means my family is safe’ and I feel like Zeus is king of that.

(Child who saved his sibling, fighting the titanomachy after realising their father wouldn’t just stop, fighting against the giants, staying to fight Typheous after everyone else leaves, etc)

Or would he just be glad that someone came at all? That he was important enough to them that they wouldn’t let him suffer like that?

How long do you think it’d take though? Weeks? Years? Centuries? Of hiding before they realise they’re not being chased?

Where the come back out of where they hid and no one cares? Or perhaps it’s been so long, that the day Zeus was chained is considered a festival?

He’s paraded in chains, covered in ichor, fresh and dried, and scarred all over. The day Typheous won. The day his family comes back out and from the crowds of people watch the man (their brother, father, husband, friend, and king) who used to stand so high, stumble in chains. Haunted eyes, body thinner than a mortal could withstand, and a gaze that flits right over them, unable to recognise their appearances.

Even though they look much like they had the day they left.

(Reference to my fic: Come with me, where I wrote “He finds himself memorizing what they look like, the mannerisms, and the like as he waits.”)

Would they fight? His siblings come for him as he once did for them? His children by his side as they aim to free him from his captor?

Or would they leave him be? A deal unspoken but made, nonetheless. A god-king for his people. The loss of one for the many.

A brother broken, only ever to be seen again once a year.

A father lost, existing in torment.

A husband gone, a wife never truly a widow.

A king whose new throne lies in the chains on his limbs and the cold stone painted in his ichor; who bears an unseen crown that sits as heavy as ever.

A man left to rot. Who will never die but feels as though he had. Whose fight has long since disappeared as he lies there, voice hoarse and body barely moving.

Zeus looks around, checking on his family as they argue about what to do. They all were carrying bruises, cuts, and wounds from Typhon. He sees ichor dried onto their skin.

Thunder roars, momentarily stopping his family’s discussion. His body feels like it’s burning, his mind clouded by the feeling. Things were supposed to be better. There wasn't supposed to be more. THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO BE SAFE.

Zeus closes his eyes and breathes. He has to calm himself. It wouldn't do for him to give in to his rage and grow careless. Slowly, the thunder quiets down to dull rumble and he opens his eyes again.

The other gods were talking about fleeing. About leaving Olympus and defending their own domains or hiding from the attack. It's hard to blame them.

The storm giant was far stronger than even he thought.

The council starts screaming at each other, growing louder and louder. It's fairly easy to hear the growing terror and hysteria in their voices. And it’s not fair. It isn’t fair. It’s not.

They don't want to be here. And they shouldn't. He doesn't even- he can't… They should- “Go.”

There’s silence and Zeus realizes this is the first time he's spoken since they'd convened. He feels their stares and the weight behind what he'd said hits him. He told them to run.

But is it not right? Gaia has sent Typhon after him. Not them. They were only caught up in this mess because they had sided with him. He glances around and sees hints of relief. The idea that they would not have to take to the field again…

It has to be the right decision.

“Go,” He speaks again, “I will not stop you.” And he won't. He'll be too busy to even consider finding them soon enough. His family starts speaking again. This time, it's to decide where to go.

Some speak of Egypt. Others wonder if going across the seas would bring them safety. He finds himself memorizing what they look like, the mannerisms, and the like as he waits.

Hera and Poseidon are speaking off to the side and he watches as her body relaxes, a soft smile coming to her face as their brother no doubt agrees to let her come to the sea. Today, her hair is golden and tied back in a simple plait. Her eyes are silver and shiny like the stars at night.

As always, she is the most beautiful and radiant being he’d ever laid eyes upon.

Zeus watches as they all start leaving. And soon enough, it was just Hera, Poseidon, and himself. His brother nods to Hera before disappearing and he hears her come up to him.

“Poseidon has offered me protection. I'd be back with our uncle and aunt.” Oceanus and Tethys lived very, very deep inside the sea. It is a good idea and should provide adequate protection.

“That’s good.”

“I noticed you didn't speak with anyone. Do you have somewhere else in mind?” She asks and he can feel worry coming off her.

“Something like that.” He says. He knows she hates it when he responds like this. Hera’s left eye twitches as it always does when she’s annoyed.

“I see. Are you heading north then?” He shakes his head. “I do not wish to play games with you, Zeus. Just tell me.”

“Love, it isn't that I wish to play games. I just think that it's obvious where I'm going.” Her eyebrows furrow and her lips make a line. It doesn't take long for realization to hit and for her to grow concerned.

“You’re not leaving? But Typhon will- you're going to fight him!” She screams at him and he stands up. “Call the others back if you think we can win than they should-!”

“NO!” He bellows. “It is safer for them and you, if you all are out of my way.” She had stepped back when he yelled and he felt guilty.

“You… you are scared.” His wife states.

“He’ll destroy everything if he is left to his own devices. Someone has to stop him from killing off mankind.”

“It doesn’t have to be you.” The thunder’s howl is deafening.

“And who else can, Hera? They were barely standing. Our family was in pain. Our siblings and children exhausted, reliving the horrors of war. We had just barely settled into peace after the giants!” He turns away and he can hear the bolt crackle as he gets worked up.

“THEN WE’LL FIGURE IT OUT!” She shrieks back. “We can talk with Poseidon, we can do something, anything, that isn't this!” He knows if he turns back to face her, he’ll see her tears and lose his resolve. And he can't.

He stiffens as she leans on him, strands of her hair tickling the back of his neck.

“Come with me. Please. I'm sure Poseidon will let you hide with us.”

“Someone needs to fight Typhon.” Her hands hit his back and he can feel anger rolling off her in waves.

“Fine.” She hisses. “But don't expect us to risk our lives to save you from your own stupidity when you finally realize you're in too deep.” The weight is removed and she takes off. All that's left is him. His cheeks are wet like he's stood out in the rain.

“Gods, love, how could I not know?” Zeus whispers to the empty thrones. He wipes his face and grasps his bolt.

Poseidon might, you know what, no. He will kill his brother at this rate. The moron stands before them all, clearly out of it, and proceeds to award the demigods. The part where Zeus thanked him for his help was nice but he also saw the slight stumble when his brother appeared.

He knows it's not just in his head. Apollo has been staring at the sky king just as intensely. His nephew keeps glancing from his father’s face to the leg. To which, if their resident healer is concerned- maybe the situation is serious.

Maybe it's because he’s been staring but he can see Zeus is favoring his right leg. He figures it must be his brother’s pride getting in the way.

He tries his best not to storm over when Zeus calls forth his son. Poseidon knows his brother won't do anything to Percy- at least not when he owes them both. Zeus was a very good actor, it appears, as he speaks of granting godhood.

No one else noticed him flinch as he moved his leg.

His brother would freak out if he made a scene here. Not that the younger wasn't nervous already. The sky god kept glimpsing at him. Good. Maybe if Zeus thinks he's angry he’ll wrap this up and stop aggravating the wound he just had stitched.

His attention gets switched when he hears Percy decline godhood. Worry and Grief flood his gut as his son chooses to give up the offer for others. His son will die; by his own choice.

He will have to make piece with it. Just as it was with Sally’s choice, he will not force Percy. Poseidon closes his eyes and breathes deeply.

As soon as the demigods have left, he’s going to drag Zeus off to rest whether the fool wants it or not.

——————

Typically, with celebrations, the party-goers are in a good mood. Both Poseidon and Zeus, however, have not. Hades may not have had the best relationship with them but even he can tell something isn't right.

The sea god has been glaring at their youngest brother since he appeared. From his understanding, they had defeated Typheous. Again, typically, he's known them to be ecstatic after winning.

Yet Zeus‘ eyes dart from Poseidon to the door. Perhaps he had said something out of line and now feels guilty? Even so, his brother would have fessed up about it and they'd both be angry.

Not whatever this was.

Once the demigods are gone, Hades watches as Zeus excuses himself and walks out as quickly as he can. Poseidon already following, he notices Zeus add weight onto the frame of the doorway.

Zeus was hurt.

He lets his wife know that he'll be back and trails after the duo. He stays back a bit and as Poseidon gets closer to their brother he gets louder.

“I told you to come to me!” The sea god hisses and moves closer to the younger’s right. Zeus keeps walking, ignoring the elder’s attempts to assist him. “What in Tartarus possessed you to do this?”

“Go away, Poseidon.”

“Go away? Go away?” Poseidon splutters, once again trying to help. He gets rejected again. “Gods damn it, Zeus if you don't let me help you; I will carry you.”

Zeus spins around and ends up bracing himself on one of the ruined pillars from the battle. Hades can make out red eyes and a range of emotions on his brother’s face. Anger, shame, sorrow, all on display.

“Why does it matter? Why now!?” Zeus cries. “It didn't matter then! It doesn't matter now!”

Poseidon is quiet.

“What do you mean by it doesn't matter?” The sea king is not loud but his voice carries. “Typheous ripped out your tendons- he basically told you that you couldn't trust us and ripped them out of you. Your son had to sew them back up.”

Typheous had what?

Hades can hear the rage boiling underneath the words Poseidon speaks. The winds around them gather and Zeus flinches. Shies away from… from the storm brewing. “The worst part of it, Zeus? The worst part is that you believed him. You could have died thinking that we… that I wouldn't fight to save you.”

There's a pit gnawing at Hades as he listens in. A part of him wishes to leave and let this moment slip from his mind. His brother's words, though, keep him frozen in place.

Zeus is shaking and he does not answer. Instead, the youngest of them goes to move- and Poseidon grabs him quickly before he can fall. Hades hears him curse and mutter something about a second time.

“I told you to let me help. I didn't leave you with Apollo that long ago and you've been putting pressure on that leg this entire time.”

“Why can't you just leave?” The pain in Zeus’ voice hurts. Poseidon hugs the younger close

“I made that mistake last time, Zeus. Remember, ‘I promise to go straight to you once I'm sewed up,’ and then having never done so?” Zeus makes an odd sound and the winds calm.

“Typheous wouldn't have killed me, by the way. He vowed to kill all of you in front of me before he’d do so.” Zeus decides to say when Poseidon starts to carefully pick him up. “He would have just chained me and consumed my flesh until then.”

“You… you do get how that’s worse, right?” Poseidon's voice breaks a bit but he sounds as horrified as Hades feels. Zeus says he does know.

Hades doesn't move even as Zeus starts directing Poseidon to his room. His brother have long since disappeared when Persephone arrives, worry apparent. He doesn't know if he should tell her what he heard or if he should wait.