Winter's Embrace
Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews. I hope that you all enjoy this chapter.
Chapter 3
The Ambrosia did help a bit. Honestly, it was overwhelming. Everything was so bright and warm here. He'd spent his entire life in the Underworld, never once venturing out of it.
Itachi told him stories of the mortal realm, of course. But he'd never gone to Olympus either. Their father was the only one of the Big Three who didn't venture there. (The other two being Zeus and Poseidon.) His mother hadn't gone to Olympus since long before Itachi was born and she rarely spoke of it.
Right now, his family seemed all that he could really think about. "Mother, father, brother…how I miss you." He could only hope that his blonde companion didn't hear him say that.
Now where was he? Oh yes. Never did she mention how bright it was. It hurt his eyes. He kept them shut most of the day.
His only saving grace was Naruto. "Are you crying?" The Sun Deity was very dedicated for a man he'd only kissed twice. The blonde had yet to leave his side.
"No. The light it hurts my eyes, even with the drapes drawn. I'm used to minimal light being from the underworld. It irritates my eyes." Sasuke wasn't lying, but he wasn't telling the full truth either. More likely than not, the Winter God was weeping and he knew that." I'm upset yes, but I'm not crying." Still, Naruto didn't have to know that!
The other Deity was desperately trying to salvage his dignity and his pride would never recover, if the blonde actually caught him crying. "It'd be okay if you were. I would understand. This has to be hard for you, being away from your family. Have you ever been to Olympus before?" Naruto wipes away the tears. Damn it! He really had been silently crying!
The Winter God knew that he should be ashamed or enraged that the other deity had caught him in such a vulnerable moment and to a degree, he was. Just not as much as Sasuke knew that he should be! The blonde was just so damn kind. He cared. He really did seem to truly care. Perhaps he was a way of the Fates telling Sasuke that they didn't completely hate him. They just mostly hated him.
The Winter God still couldn't understand how Naruto could bond so strongly with someone he barley knew. But at the moment, it was a balm on his battered soul. He'd take what comfort he could.
After all, Naruto seemed more than willing to provide as much comfort as he needed."If you're warm, I could take your cloak off you. Everyone knows who you are now anyway. I'm sure you have something on underneath it." So why not take advantage of it? That and he was right about the cloak.
"Alright." Sasuke nods in consent as he allows Naruto to slide the cloak off of him.
There was no real reason to object. He had modern trousers on. Though Sasuke as almost certain they were called pants these days.
They were modern compared to the rest of his outfit because Itachi had gotten them for Sasuke awhile back. Just one of many birthday presents the other Deity had gotten for him over the years. The pants in question were dark blue and probably made out of silk or satin.
Naruto observes all of this with a grin."It really should have been a crime for you to cover up like that. You really are beautiful." Much to his delight, Sasuke didn't appear to have a shirt on underneath his cloak!
Sasuke glowers at Naruto. It was likely he considered that an insult to his masculinity. The blonde chuckles, but soon figures out that was the wrong response. The Winter God now looked like he wanted to kill him!
He should probably apologize. "In a very masculine way." It wasn't like he had meant to insult Sasuke.
Luckily, the other Deity seems to accept his apology, but that's where their private conversation was cut short. "I do hope I am not interrupting anything." Zeus walks inside the temple.
"Zeus! Can you please unshackle him? Naruto looks at him hopefully.
Jirayia signs in response. "I talked to Demeter. She pleaded with me to do so. I hope Sasuke that you are not foolish enough to try to run, if I agree. I will find you. If I have to send the Harpies after you to do so, I will not hesitate." Naruto gulps at this because he knew that the King of the Gods never made idle threats.
Sasuke nods."I understand. I won't try to escape." As if the gorgeous God was going to say anything else, Naruto thinks to himself.
"Very well." The God of the Sky yanks off the shackles, shattering them with his brute strength.
Zeus's strength was always amazing! "Damn, Pervy Sage you are really strong." No matter how many times Naruto saw him display it, it was still an inspiring thing to behold.
"Of course. I am the King of the Gods, after all." He walks away as if was the most natural thing in the world for him to break shackles as if they were nothing (and for Zeus, it probably was)!
Once he was gone, Naruto looks at his beloved in concern. "How are your wrists?" The blonde would probably lose it, if the other man had actually been hurt over something that wasn't even his fault!
"Alright." And Naruto instantly knew that Sasuke was lying.
The Sun Deity highly doubted that he was alright. "Let me see." So he grabs Sasuke's hands to prove it.
Dammit. Those shackles had been designed to keep Titans chained up. Sasuke was strong. But he was nowhere near as big as a tighten. The weight of the shackles had left quite the indent on his creamy pale skin, forming deep purple bruises.
The blonde kisses the marks, not thinking about it. Naruto was largely a creature of instinct. Sasuke…not so much. He probably should have guessed that the object of his affections would bulk at such a display, much like a skittish horse.
He pulls his arms away from Naruto. The blonde frowns. He didn't like that Sasuke was evading his touch. He knew the darker haired God had enjoyed their kisses. Well Mei had warned him it might take the other man awhile to warm up to him.
"My father is also a God of Medicine." Alright. It was probably cheating to show off his pedigree like this, but whatever worked!
Sasuke looks down at his arms. He felt a warm tingling sensation. He blinks when he saw that bruises were starting to lighten. The blonde had literally kissed it better.
"Oh. Forgive me. I thought that you were…forget it." Sasuke feels his face heating up in embarrassment.
He probably shouldn't have assumed things. "Well that too." Nevermind. Naruto had been trying to seduce him.
Though Sasuke, did admire his honesty."…If nothing else at least you are honest." That was an attractive trait.
He should've suspected that the Sun Deity would say something strange next though. "Yep! That's me. I'm totally a Boy Scout." His manner of speaking really was just so foreign.
What in the name of Hades was a Boy Scout? "Boy Scout?" Sasuke cocky his head to the side in confusion.
Who would send boys out to scout anything? That just seemed counterproductive. Why wouldn't you send grown men? "Nevermind. It's a human term. I forgot you don't get out much." Naruto offers him his arm.
Sasuke hesitates, but takes the blue eyed God's arm. Naruto had been nothing but kind to him. And truthfully, he didn't want to face Olympus alone. He'd never admit that out loud though.
"Where are you taking me?" Because only the Fates could ever truly understand what went on in Naruto's mind.
The blonde could be planning on taking him anywhere, really. "To meet some of the others. If you are going to be in a trial, it's a good idea to try to get some of the jurors on your side." Oh right. The trial. Actually, that wasn't a bad idea.
That surprised him a bit. "So you are capable of thinking with something besides your dick. I was beginning to wonder." Sasuke knew that taunting the other God was a bit childish, but he couldn't help it. Naruto made it ridiculously easy.
"Alright. I deserved that one. But really who could blame me? Have you look in a mirror lately?" The blonde leads him outside the temple and teleports them to a nightclub.
If nothing else, Sasuke knew that he'd never be bored around Naruto."Yes, you did. You may continue your flattery. It amuses me." The other man was endlessly entertaining.
"Good. I definitely wouldn't want to bore you. Over there, the one with the brown here…that's Kiba. He's the son of the God of Wine. He owns a nightclub in the mortal realm. He's a friend of mine." Naruto grins at him.
He'd heard of nightclubs before. "Nightclubs…those places humans go to get drunk and to find lovers? Loud music?" Sasuke was almost positive that was their purpose.
"Yeah, those are nightclubs. That's good. Damn you really haven't left the Underworld before. You weren't kidding." The Sun God laughs.
The Winter God didn't particularly care for that response. "No, I wasn't." Was Naruto mocking him?!
Naruto puts up his hands in a gesture of peace. "I'm not picking on you. After all this is over, I can show you the mortal realm if you like. There's so much to see and do. You won't have to hide anymore." Naruto smiles at him.
He really was excited at the chance to show Sasuke the Mortal Realm. "That's kind of you. But I just want to return home." The blonde deflates a little when the other Deity walks over to Kiba and brushes off his offer like it was nothing.
Naruto lets out a small sigh. Dammit. Who knows what kind of horror stories Hades or even Persephone might have told Sasuke about the mortal ream and Olympus. From his perspective, it probably was perfectly logical to want to get out of there as soon as possible. It still hurt though.
"Hello." Sasuke smiles at Kiba.
Fortunately, the canine lover seemed to be in good spirits. "Oh hey! So you're Hade's and Persephone's kid. Nice to meet you. I'm Kiba. That's Gaara." He introduces all of the Rookie Nine Deities and one red head as he looks at Sasuke expectantly.
"Sasuke." Well at least Sasuke was playing nice so far, Naruto thinks to himself.
Thankfully, Eros was already on the case."Welcome Sasuke." Gaara gives the other Deity look that presumably was designed to warn Kiba not to do or say anything stupid.
"Well met." Sasuke nods.
Kiba tilts his head in confusion. "Well met? Damn you talk like the Originals. So is it true that you've never gone to the mortal realm?" The canine looks at Sasuke in an utterly baffled way as he offers him a glass of wine.
"It's true." The Winter God nods.
Obviously, Sasuke wasn't sure if he should take that as a compliment or an insult. "Oh man. You are seriously deprived! There are lots of gorgeous mortals there and all sorts of fun things to do!" But Naruto was definitely getting irritated.
Naruto glowers at Kiba for the gorgeous mortals line! He was trying to become Sasuke's lover! He didn't need his friend to help Sasuke find mortal lovers! He knew that he was just trying to be friendly and make conversation, but still. That was not fucking helpful!
"I'm not in the habit of taking mortals to my bed. They are too fragile." Sasuke shrugs and Naruto mentally breathes a sigh of relief at this newfound knowledge.
Gaara seemed happy though. "FINALLY! Someone who understands what I have been saying for centuries!" The red head had never really cared for taking mortals to his bed that much.
Which was rather ironic considering he was a God of Love. "Well yeah you have to be somewhat gentle with them. You don't wanna break them in half. But some are beautiful and it's very easy to seduce them." Though Kiba certainly liked mortals well enough..
"He's right about that. They are very easy to seduce." Shikamaru yawns.
Shikamaru was the son of Morpheus. Morpheus was the Greek God of dreams. Perhaps that was why Shikamaru constantly looked like he was about to fall asleep so much of the time. He was a genius though and a very good friend.
Naruto had had quite enough of this debate though. "Right. Well I'm going to let you all debate this and show Sasuke to his room." So he leads Sasuke off.
"Are they always so loud?" Sasuke looks at him.
Naruto shrugs. "Yeah. Usually. They are great though. You just have to get to know them." Alright, maybe his friends hadn't made the greatest first impression on his future lover.
Because Naruto was confident that they would be. "Well they do seem friendly." Eventually. Eventually, Sasuke would totally become his lover!
He just needed some convincing. "So this is your room for now." Giving him a nice room, would be a good start! (Well at least in Naruto's mind, anyway)!
Sasuke found himself in a white marble room. There was a king sized canopy bed. It was covered in red silk sheets, blankets, and pillows. There was a handsome wardrobe, a large sundial, and assorted fine wines, foods, and ambrosia on a coffee table. There was a plush couch as well.
It was a mix of Ancient Greece and the modern day. Sasuke found it odd that there would be modern items like coffee tables and wardrobes, along with the sundial. But he decided it was probably better not to question it.
Sasuke glances around curiously. "It's nice. An unusual combination of modern and the old days. But nice." Mercifully, he seemed to like it well enough.
Naruot nods approvingly. "Most deities here like it mix it up some. Don't know about you, but I can't live without my Internet." Seriously, the Internet was awesome and he highly recommended it to all the other Deities whenever he got the chance.
"What's the Internet? I hear some humans talking about it sometimes. But I never really understood what they were talking about." Sasuke admits.
Oh boy. "Oh wow. Come on, I'll show you. Mortals sometimes come up with really cool stuff!" Apparently, Naruto had a lot to teach Sasuke. So he immediately boots up his laptop. "You can just type in whatever you want to find into the search engine and click on one of the results." And to prove his point, he types in Persephone and Hades.
"That's mother and father. But these pictures are horribly inaccurate. Father and mother look nothing like that." Sasuke frowns.
Well Sasuke was kinda missing the point here."Well yeah. Humans generally have to use their imagination when it comes to our looks. It's only natural they'd be wrong. But see, tons of stuff." That was okay though. Naruto was more than happy to explain.
Sasuke nods. "That is a powerful magic. I'll have to explore it more later." The Winter God then proceeds to stare at the laptop in a thoughtful manner.
"It's not magic. Anyone can do it." Naruto shrugs.
"Good" Sasuke nods in acknowledgement as he Swalks over to the bed and lays down on it. The sight of Sasuke's ivory skin against those sensual red silk blankets was too much for Naruto. He was a God, not an Angel. He flits over and soon joins him on the bed.
"You know if you get lonely here…if you ever need comfort, I'd give you that." The Winter Deity struck Naruto as being someoen who would appreciate the direct that's what he was going to do!
Sasuke blinks. He didn't know what to say. This was a deity who wore his heart on his sleeve. That just wasn't how things worked in the Underworld.
It seemed a verbal response was not needed though. He gasps when he feels Naruto's lips against his own for the third time. This was getting to be a habit, he mused.
"Nhhh." Sasuke moans into the kiss.
Naruto was on cloud nine. It had only been a few hours. But it had felt like forever. He'd never get enough of the other man, he realized. His lips were still so soft and cool. There was a certain mint flavor to his kisses, fresh and pure.
He wanted more. No he NEEDED more. He wanted to ravish the darker haired God. "So good." Naruto caresses his cheek, before returning back to kissing Sasuke with an all consuming passion.
Naruto runs his hands over Sasuke's chest, reveling in the muscles he felt. While Naruto was built for raw power, Sasuke was all sleek subtle strength. Whereas Naruto was built like a lion, Sasuke was built more like a leopard.
Fuck! He'd never been kissed before. Sasuke was aware his other lovers had desired him. They were wanton. But none had ever kissed him like this.
No one had ever dared to conquer his mouth with their tongue before. He felt every corner of his mouth being mapped and seduced. Claimed. Yes, claimed was the word he was looking for. Naruto was trying to claim him via kiss.
"Stop!" Sasuke firmly pushes Naruto away from him.
Naruto looks at him in confusion. "What's wrong?" Why did the other man want him to stop?
He clearly liked it! "You're trying to seduce me." Well yeah, he was trying to seduce the Winter Deity!
That was the entire point of kissing him like that! "Obviously not hard enough. I know you desire me too. You wouldn't kiss back like that if you didn't." The Sun God really didn't understand what was so complicated!
Apparently, Sasuke did though. "Naruto, don't try to seduce me. I don't know what's going to happen after the trial." Oh.
That was different! "Since now. I told you that I'd make sure everything was okay." All Naruto needed to do now was to make sure the trial went well for Sasuke!
Then he'd be putty in his hands! "You really shouldn't make promises like that. You don't know if you'll be able to keep them." It was so simple!
He just wished that the Winter Deity could see that!"I know I can keep them. Get some rest, okay? You look exhausted." Sasuke looked so tired and sad.
"Alright." Hades' youngest son sighs.
Naruto could fix that though! "And Sasuke? My temple is the one straight across from here. So if you want to visit my bedchambers tonight or any night after, third door on the left." And with that, Naruto heads..after giving Sasuke a rather cheeky wink!
Sasuke rolls his eyes. "Sun Gods are so fucking arrogant." And he gave into the childish impulse to chuck a pillow at the other man's retreating form. Naruto deserved it!
Meanwhile back in the Underworld, Itachi paces. He knew that Sasuke would face a trial soon. If it was later discovered that Sasuke had a brother and they hadn't informed Zeus, it'd end in disaster. If he was ever discovered the consequences for his parents could be horrific.
"I understand my son. You need to go to Olympus and tell Jirayia. He might show mercy if you reveal yourself." His father sighs.
Well that was one down. Now, he just needed to convince his mother. "You're making the right decision. But that doesn't make it any easier." Well that had gone far better than Itachi had ever expected. Things must be dire, if even Persephone was agreeing that he should go to Olympus!
"I'll go speak with Kisame before I leave. He deserves to know." Itachi sighs and flies off to find his lover.
This wasn't going to be pretty. "Itachi, how did the Gathering go? Wait why do you look so upset?" The blue skinned God looks at him curiously.
"Sasuke was discovered thanks to Deidara unhooding him. Demeter saw. He is om on Mount Olympus. There will be a trial on the next full moon. I must reveal myself. If I am discovered later…" Well, Itachi was sure that Kisame was smart enough to fill in teh blanks.
Naturally, he proves him right. "It won't end well." The Son of Poseidon was not a simpleton, after all.
"Exactly. I wanted to spend the night with you. I do not know what will happen after the trial." Just one night and then the Winged God would go and face whatever judgment Zeus handed down to him.
"I'm glad that you came." And with that, the two of them spent the night in each other's arms.
The morning came all too quickly for Itachi's liking, but nonetheless...he leaves for Olympus at first light. Itachi had never been there before, but thanks to his mother, he knew the way.
Figuring that it would be better to address the issue head on, Itachi immediately presents himself to Zeus. "Hades and Persephone have two sons. Sasuke is the youngest. I am the Eldest. I throw myself upon the mercy of the court. We meant no ill will. Neither of us wished to leave our parents and the only home we had ever known."
"You have done well to admit your secrecy. You and Sasuke shall stand trial together. As you came here of your own free will, I assume that you are not going to be foolish enough to attempt running off?" That was a logical assumption on Jirayia's part.
Itachi nods. "No, My Lord. I will naught be that foolish. Of that much, I can assure you." He could only hope his honestly would result in mercy for his family.
"Excellent. You may stay with your brother for the time being then. I am certain that Demeter will be eager to meet with you as well. Sasuke's response to her has been…less than warm." Zeus sighs.
That didn't surprise Itachi in the slightest. "Thank you." He would have been shocked, if Sasuke did take to their grandmother immediately. "You are a most kind and understanding ruler." The eldest Son of Hades decides that it was best not to dwell on the matter though. He quickly bows to Zeus respectfully and darts to find his foolish little brother.
"Sasuke?" Surely, the God of Winter would be around here somewhere!
Itachi searches desperately and then sighs in relief when he hears the younger Deity's voice. "Brother?" Sasuke swiftly to his feet and races over towards him.
It couldn't be real, could it? Itachi wasn't in Olympus. Did he get caught? Did he turn himself in? A million scenarios raced through the "young" God's mind.
"Yes, it is me. I turned myself in. If I was discovered later, it would have only made things worse for our family. We are to stand trial together and will be staying with each other until that time." Oh. So that was why Itachi was here.
Sasuke knew that it was wrong, but he couldn't help...but feel relieved that his big brother was there. "I am so glad you are here." Itachi might drive him made half the time, but he knew that the other man cared for him.
Together, they would find a way to get through this. "I couldn't leave you alone to face all this." Somehow.
Sasuke sighs in relief. It was so good not to be alone here. Well he hadn't been alone. Naruto had been there offering "comfort."
Sasuke rolls his eyes at that. What Naruto was really offering was probably to ravish Sasuke or maybe the other way around. Sasuke didn't delude himself. Naruto radiated the aura of a more…assertive lover.
He'd likely want to be the one who did the mounting. But that was an issue for another day. It might not even be an issue at all. Why was he even thinking about this?!
Oh damn. "Brother, why are you rolling your eyes at me?" Itachi had caught him rolling his eyes.
That was embarrassing. "I'm not rolling my eyes at you. I'm rolling them at Naruto." Really embarrassing.
"Who is Naruto?" His brother cocks his head to the side in bewilderment.
Right. "He's the Sun God who made the vow not to tell grandmother about us. The one who kissed me at the gathering." Itachi had no idea who the Sun God was.
"Oh the one you are smitten with." Itachi smirks.
"I am NOT smitten!" Sasuke swats at his brother indignantly.
Itachi didn't seem to mind though. "Whatever you say. What did Naruto do that caused you to roll your eyes so dramatically?" He chuckles.
"He offered me comfort." Sasuke shrugs..
"I'll admit that I did not get a very good look at him at the Gathering. But what I saw was certainly appealing. I know that you take men to your bed on occasion. Forgive me, but I do not see the issue?" When Itachi put it that way, everything sounded so simple!
Nothing was simple with Naruto though! "He's just so damn…arrogant about it. I swear it must be a Sun God thing." Sasuke huffs.
"You are huffing. How adorable." Itachi laughs.
Whatever, as humans said. "Anyway, that is what happened. How did Kisame take it?" They both had more pressing concerns to worry about than his love life.
Kisame and Itachi were an odd match. Truly, it was a case of beauty and the beast. But they were inseparable. Sasuke never doubted for a moment that the Son of Poseidon loved his brother. The same was true of Itachi. Their bond was seemingly unbreakable.
"Better than expected. He knows if I was discovered later on, it would only be worse for our family. He was very understanding. I already miss him terribly. We don't all have handsome blondes waiting for us on Olympus willing to provide comfort during this perilous time." Itachi sighs dramatically.
"You are such a jerk sometimes!" Sasuke glares at him.
"Of course. But you love me anyway." Itachi smirks.
At that same moment, Demeter was pacing in Zeus's temple on Olympus. She didn't know what she was going to do about Sasuke.
Clearly Hades and even her daughter had poisoned the boy against her. But she was an immortal. The one advantage she had in situations like these was time. In time, he would come to see the truth. She was sure of it.
"It seems that you are a grandmother twice over." Jirayia observes.
"What?!" The Harvest Goddess cries in disbelief.
What did he mean by that?! "Sasuke is the youngest. Itachi is the eldest. Itachi has turned himself in and will await his judgment at trial. He is going to be staying with Sasuke. I thought you should be made aware of this immediately." Demeter could only gape at her King.
He was telling her that she had not one, but two grandsons! "Thank you. You are a most kind and generous ruler." The Harvest Goddess could scarcely believe it!
"Itachi speaks like you. I suppose it's a start." He chuckles.
Well that was something. "He does? Well that is good news. I am glad that he is at least well educated." Demeter sighs in relief at having at least something in common with one of her grandsons.
"Yes, he does." Zeus nods.
"I must speak to them immediately. Forgive me, My Lord. Do I have your permission to do so?" She looks at him hopefully.
Jirayia waves at her, dismissing the Goddess. "Of course. Go to them." He gives her permission to leave his presence and seek out her kin.
Demeter quickly rushes to the temple Sasuke and Itachi were staying at. She wasn't sure how she would make this right. But she would make it right or she wasn't a Harvest Goddess!
