AnimeWriterTycoonGirl: Well, THAT was dramatic, wasn't it? I told you I'd be back in short timing. Can't leave poor Isidore in that state.
Thank you to everyone for your responses and kind words. I'm thrilled to bring you this next part of the chapter, which I can assure you is one of the three happiest chapters in this story for all three main characters.
I'll leave the results of last chapter's question a surprise, so get to reading! Have fun!
Chapter Warnings: Heart-to-heart, swearing, brief time skip, first sexual encounter (followed by …?) and marshmallow fluff.
Chapter VIII
….
Grimmjow felt peculiar while Panthera was down on Earth trying to coax the important question out of Isidore.
'Perhaps we shouldn't have made a vow to keep the truth to ourselves until he asked.' He mused. At the time, the brothers had made the vow to avoid blurting it out thoughtlessly and scaring their young lover, but it felt like Panthera was struggling with something.
Neither of the gods were able to read minds, with the exception of each other's, but if either of them felt any extreme emotions, the other tended to get a second-hand sensation. Right now, it felt like Panthera was nervous as hell.
Grimmjow sighed as he put his scroll away; he had been researching some new places to take Isidore. Panthera wasn't exactly someone who thought before he acted. The idiot must have put his foot in his mouth already …
Hold on, the mood seems to have changed to be … amorous? Huh, that didn't take long, Grimmjow mused, impressed that he had been able to explain the situation so quickly and resumed reading.
Hmm … Isidore had really liked Eire, so perhaps he would also appreciate Engelond, which had redheads as well but wasn't as cold. Then again, the Central African Republic had so many animals he'd definitely love to see.
Just as he finished considering the African continent, Grimmjow felt a jolt of pure fear and remorse flood his entire body. The shock seized his entire frame and he dropped the scroll as his heart pounded in his chest.
"What the hell?" Grimmjow swore, trying to slow his heartbeat. It didn't stop the feeling of dread, however, which meant Panthera was really upset with something.
'I'd better check what's going on down there,' Grimmjow decided, and immediately headed toward Kamarina.
He found the two in the olive groves, with Isidore screaming at his brother while scrambling to put distance between them, and Panthera on his hands and knees pleading for forgiveness.
"…What the hell is going on here?"
Both god and human looked up in surprise (and horror) to see Grimmjow.
Isidore trembled. "Grimmjow …" he managed, more tears falling.
The god of light immediately went to his side. Isidore clung to him, sobbing. Grimmjow looked between his young lover and his brother, who looked crestfallen. The other god had an idea of what happened and sighed.
"Alright, it seems we need to have a discussion."
Isidore couldn't bring himself to breathe, devastated that he had done something so terrible right in front of the god who changed his life. A gentle hand caressed his back and Grimmjow attempted to soothe him out of his hyperventilative state.
As the mortal couldn't speak, Grimmjow turned to his brother, who for his credit, looked incredibly guilty.
"Pan, explain yourself."
Panthera slumped against the tree closest to him. "I came down to talk to him and give him my summoning relic, as you already knew," he trailed off, looking at Isidore, who was still full of tears but piercing a hole into his chest with a hardened expression.
"I think the proximity to me confused him, and when he said he felt as comfortable with me as he did with you, I kissed him without thinking much about it," he continued before his eyes cast downward. "Then he called out your name. Isidore … I really, really am sorry. That was unacceptable and I know it."
Panthera looked like a kicked puppy and even Isidore felt some pity for him despite his anger and feelings of betrayal.
"Isidore … care to add your side to the story?" Grimmjow asked calmly.
Isidore wasn't sure why the god didn't want to immediately kill them both for this blatant betrayal of his trust and heart, but he was unbelievably grateful that Grimmjow was giving him a chance to explain himself. So, the mortal took a deep breath to calm his nerves and tell his version.
"Everything he said was true. He said I could ask him questions about anything, and we spoke for a short while before he gave me … this bracelet," he murmured, eyeing the jewelry with apprehension. Despite his shock, he didn't have the heart to remove it.
"When he put it on my wrist, I felt … a sensation I'm used to feeling whenever I'm with you," he continued. "That scared and confused me, and he kissed me when I said this. In the shade … I almost mistook him for you. Grimmjow … I'm so, so sorry!" Isidore clutched at Grimmjow's tunic once more, his guilt crushing him.
The god of light sighed softly and hugged the mortal tight as he looked toward the god of darkness in exasperation.
"Well, that could have gone better, now couldn't it, Pan?" he remarked dryly. Panthera avoided his eyes, still remorseful for hurting their soulmate. "Isidore, love, I'm not upset with you. I AM upset with Panthera for his lack of tact, but this is not the place to have such a long conversation."
With that, Grimmjow snapped his finger and the three of them were transported to what appeared to be a small island, with the coastline visible to the naked mortal eye. Isidore, who lived in a coastal town, was confused why they had to relocate to continue talking, but trusted Grimmjow to be making a decision that was beneficial to everyone involved.
In truth, Grimmjow just wanted a change of scenery, one that would hopefully calm Isidore down.
"In my defense, I mistook his confusion with me as the question, so I just went for it," Panthera mumbled as he grabbed a pebble to skip it across the ocean. Isidore furrowed his eyebrows.
"What question? I was confused and worried I was having unfaithful thoughts when you kissed me," he argued.
Grimmjow bit his lip. When a vow is made, a god can't break them so casually, or risk a penalty. These penalties could range from physical pain to, at the most extreme, losing their powers or immortality for an extended or even permanent amount of time.
"Isidore … Pan and I had something important to tell you, but because we were foolish enough to make a vow to wait until you asked the right question, neither of us can explain ourselves," he said, feeling frustrated. "We vowed because we were worried about overwhelming you. Thus, we cannot direct you to the question either. You have to ask it on your own."
Isidore frowned. He was well aware of the importance of a god's vow, but he wondered why the brothers made one if it was supposed to be something he was meant to know. Either way, it was now up to him to find the right question.
"… does it have to do with why Panthera thought it was acceptable to kiss me?" he ventured. Though the brothers could not verbally respond, the two of them nodded curtly. "… I need a moment to think." He decided, taking a step away from the two gods, having calmed down enough to try and think the situation through rationally. The twins nodded said nothing, Panthera continuing to glumly throw rocks at the ocean.
'Alright … before he kissed me, …Panthera tried to make me feel better about feeling confused. Why was I so confused in the first place?' Isidore thought to himself.
The mortal farmer thought back to the sensations of desire that coursed through him each time he came into direct contact with the god of darkness. The feeling was exactly the same sensation he felt whenever he was in contact with Grimmjow. Could that be the question they were looking for?
Isidore looked up. "Grimmjow … why does it feel like I have a connection with Panthera when I already have you as my soulmate? It can't be possible to have more than one soulmate at a time … right?" he finally asked after mulling it over.
The brothers let out a collective sigh of relief; either of those questions satisfied the vow's condition. The pressure on their shoulders lifted and Grimmjow smiled gently at their clever mate.
"That, Isidore, was the right question," he praised, ruffling the farmer's pretty hair. "And the answer is; yes, it is entirely possible to have more than one soulmate if the conditions are there."
Isidore blinked in shock. "I'm bound to both of you … and the same in turn?" he gaped. Two lovers … that couldn't be right.
"Recall that Panthera and I are not just brothers; we are two halves of one soul," he reminded kindly. "Pan even explained a bit further what that meant not too long ago, correct?"
While Isidore was thinking over his questions, Panthera had filled Grimmjow in on the type of questions their lover had asked before the fiasco happened.
Isidore froze.
"…We sort of just woke up and knew what we were supposed to do. For instance, when Grimmjow and I were still one being, we were already designated as the god of light and darkness. Same went for everyone else who was born from the Nothing."
"You two were one being?"
"Huh? I thought Grimmjow told you that already? Worthless twin … anyways, yeah, we were originally one singular being who controlled both aspects of light and dark, but it became a bit much for one being to successfully maintain. We were always there, but working in parts.
"After a while, the two of us came to the mutual decision to part, and that's how we came to be. Grimm's always acting like he's the more responsible one, or like he's the elder twin, but like he said when we first properly met, we both simultaneously existed to avoid actual conflicts like that.
"We are one soul, but two different people with completely different personalities and thoughts."
Not only this, but there had been other hints that both twins gave. Why else would it be so important that Isidore meet Grimmjow's brother if not to ensure they get him used to the idea of a second soulmate?
The farmer groaned and dropped his head into his hands. "I'm such a fool."
"No, it was poor judgment and timing on our part for failing to explain properly," Grimmjow assured him, wrapping his arm around the mortal.
"… Just to be absolutely clear, neither of you are upset by the idea of … sharing me?" Isidore stammered toward the end, his face flushing at the implication.
The dual gods grinned. "It's not even worth feeling jealous," Grimmjow assured. "It would be like being angry at a part of myself for loving you."
"We can both love you without issue because we are one and the same," Panthera promised. "The last thing either of us wanted to do, however, is hurt you. Your allegiance thus far has always been with Grimmjow. If that's how you want to keep it … I'll respect your wishes."
"And if you want to pursue a relationship with Pan, that's perfectly fine with me. The choice is entirely yours, Isidore."
Panthera shifted uncomfortably. "So … what are you thinking?" he asked. This day had been a clusterfuck, and it would make sense if Isidore decided he wanted nothing to do with the god of darkness after the stress and guilt he had put him through.
Isidore was quiet as he processed the information he was given. Sure, he was upset that neither god had considered telling him outright, but they all knew that it would be a lie to say he would have taken the information well right away either. He had been so torn up just by having a male lover, the idea of having two would have wreaked havoc on his mind.
Still, as distraught as he was for Panthera kissing him while he was still oblivious to everything, he had found himself really enjoying it. Kissing Grimmjow was wonderful, and made his heart soar. Whereas Panthera's kiss had his heart racing with passion and want.
If his experience with Grimmjow was like flying free, soaring above the clouds, then his brief experience with Panthera was like nestling next to an active volcano; boiling hot and exciting for entirely different reasons. And as much as he adored Grimmjow and everything he had done for him; the farmer couldn't help but yearn for more of that volcanic euphoria. And since the two were accepting of him …
Steeling his nerves, Isidore strode up to Panthera and chastely kissed him on the lips, then rushed to Grimmjow to do the same, his already pink cheeks glowing further.
The gods froze as they processed his wordless choice, and the silence was broken by Panthera, who laughed loudly as he stepped forward to crush his little soulmate in a bear hug. Grimmjow chuckled, running his hand through Isidore's hair.
All three felt so much lighter and at peace. The twins especially felt better knowing they could be completely honest with their lover from now on. And Isidore felt relieved that he hadn't been unfaithful after all.
Not to mention he was unbelievably honored that he was blessed with not one, but two amazing beings to call his beloveds. Certainly, he would need to spend a little bit more time with Panthera to ensure everything was fair between the three of them, but he doubted either twin would be against the idea.
The farmer looked out at the sea, breathing in the salty air with a smile on his face. "This island is so beautiful," he said as he listened to the waves crash. "Are we very far from Kamarina?"
"Kinda. This island is in the far east. Past China, even. I wanted our conversation to be somewhere beautiful to help put you at ease," Grimmjow said. "I know this is a lot to take in."
Isidore nodded, crouching down to pick up a beautiful shell that had vibrant colors. "It is confusing, and a little scary." He admitted, turning the shell over. "But I felt deep down how right it was to kiss both of you. I can only imagine you two were feeling the same … and I'm so happy."
Panthera sighed. "You have no idea how long I've wanted this," he murmured, keeping under the shade of the palms. He naturally wasn't a huge fan of the sun.
Grimmjow, who enjoyed basking in the sun frequently, allowed himself to fall onto the soft sand and relished the sensation. He hadn't done something like this in a while. "Yeah … this is nice. I'm glad all three of us are on the same page now."
Isidore moved to sit next to the sun hating god, still holding the shell. "I'm sorry for reacting the way I did," Isidore said, leaning into Panthera. The god of darkness jolted in surprise as Isidore rested his head on his shoulder, but smiled and wrapped his arm around the farmer.
"Eh, I deserved it. But I appreciate your concern." The elder man said warmly before looking out to the sea. "I'm sure you don't get to go to the coast in your town much, Isidore. why not take a dip in the ocean while we're here before we bring you back home?" he offered.
"That sounds like fun!" Isidore beamed, grabbing Panthera's hand and dragging him out toward the sea, his smile brighter than the sun. Panthera sputtered, not expecting Isidore to include him in the activity. Still, his protest died as Isidore divested himself of his clothing.
Though he had an idea of how Isidore looked unclothed from sharing Grimmjow's memories, he was struck by how lovely their lithe and lean farmer was outside of his work clothes. "Alright, alright, I'll come too." He grumbled good-naturedly.
Both gods removed their own robes, leaving Isidore to discover neither of them wore underclothing. As a Greek, he was more than comfortable being around other men naked, but he found his breath getting caught in his throat as he stared at his drop-dead gorgeous soulmates.
Grimmjow as was sun-kissed throughout his entire body as Panthera was lacking of it. Both had chiseled muscles nearly blemish free. Panthera had a few scars covering his pectorals (and as Isidore would discover soon, a large jagged one on his lower back)
The mortal could not help but notice with amusement that the twins shared more physical characteristics when he glanced down. Larger than he expected, but nothing barbaric.
Laughing, he pulled both of them into the water. Despite being the middle of the harvest season, the water was pleasantly warm. Diving underneath, Isidore emerged with two sea stars, his eyes wide in excitement.
"What are these things? I've never seen one before!" he giggled as one of them wiggled in his hand.
Grimmjow grinned and explained to the best of his ability about the various sea creatures that existed in Poseidon's domain, lovingly sticking the sea star in the farmer's hair, causing the farmer to laugh.
Panthera waded into the water at a more leisurely pace; content to watch his lover have fun. That is, until the mischievous mortal swam behind him and dragged him underwater unexpectedly. Coughing and sputtering as the other two laughed, he grinned wicked and blasted two large pulses of dark energy at the water, splashing both of them.
"Hey! That's cheating, Pan!" Isidore pouted.
Panthera momentarily froze, a blush creeping around his nose as Isidore called him by Grimmjow's nickname for him, before resuming his wicked grin.
"Should have thought of that before dragging me under, huh?" he teased, warming up another orb of darkness. Isidore yelped before dipping under the water to avoid being knocked over by a large wave.
Grimmjow, meanwhile, doubled over laughing as he joined his brother in blasting the water to continually splash at each other and their soulmate. The three of them conceded after a while, warming their bodies on the beach before Isidore sighed.
"I should get back home," he explained sheepishly, reluctantly pulling his clothes back on. The gods shrugged; it's been well over an hour, no reason to keep delaying the farmer during his busiest season. Grimmjow willed his robes back on while Panthera haphazardly threw his back on. With a snap of his fingers, the god of light transported them back to the farm.
"We'll leave you be for now. Enjoy the rest of your day, Isidore," Grimmjow leaned in for a gentle but sensual kiss. Isidore closed his eyes as he clung to the sun kissed god just a little longer. At least, until he heard Panthera clear his throat, looking at him expectantly.
Flushing, Isidore looked back and forth between the two gods, before shuffling closer to the paler god of darkness, intending to give him a shy peck on the lips. He jumped as Panthera pulled him level to his chest and devoured his mouth in a possessive and far more carnal manner. When the god released the mortal after what felt like an eternity to Isidore, he was left breathless. Panthera chuckled darkly.
"Yeah, enjoy the rest of your day … Essi." He rasped before placing something in Isidore's hands in his stunned state and fading into the shadows. The mortal glanced back, but Grimmjow had also left. He then looked down and smiled brightly despite his … frustration.
In his hands was the large, pretty shell he had found on the island.
…..
To say Panthera was having a great time was an understatement. After that day, Isidore had shyly summoned him several times over the past two weeks. Grimmjow too, of course, but Isidore wanted to try and spend equal amounts of time with his lovers. He noted that Grimmjow was called in the mornings and daylight, while he was summoned around dusk.
He appreciated his soulmate's thoughtfulness; recognizing Panthera wasn't a huge fan of sunlight.
Panthera brought his own version of courtship gifts, insisting he wanted to go about things properly. He had given his soulmate rare herbs that could be used for medicine, that his healer father had appreciated (Iason accepted them under the impression that Grimmjow had gifted them), some handmade tools he personally carved from stone from Tartarus, as well as a gorgeous saddle to make riding Anatoli more comfortable.
Isidore admitted he wasn't comfortable sharing his extra good fortune with his friend and family, and Panthera encouraged it, even. He didn't want to put his lover into an awkward position.
The gods were even given gifts made by Isidore as well. He dug up clay and stones, then molded and baked them himself, creating bracelets for both of them. The two of them loved their gift, immediately placing a charm on them to ensure they would never erode or wear out even after centuries or millennia of usage (or they hoped, anyways).
Panthera was admiring his bracelets, made of dark black clay and inlayed with rich blue stones (he recognized them as azurite and lapis lazuli in their raw form) when he felt Isidore summoning him as the sun was close to setting. He grinned and waved at his brother, who was in the main room looking over star charts, before heading down to Crete.
Isidore was waiting by the olive trees as per usual. He was seated on the marble bench Grimmjow recently requested (demanded) from the god of creation, Ikkoroth, who the Greeks knew as Hephaestus. Panthera casually appeared behind his lover and covered his eyes from behind, making the mortal flinch violently.
"Boo." He teased as Isidore wrenched himself away in slight panic. The god laughed at Isidore's flushed and irritated expression.
"Pan! That scared me!" he groused, scrunching up his nose the way Panthera loved. Whenever Isidore was scared or annoyed, he'd frown so cutely the merciless god of darkness couldn't help but want to keep teasing him.
"Sorry Essi, I couldn't resist." He insisted, dipping down for a quick kiss to lift his grumpy little lover's mood. It worked, and Isidore relaxed into Panthera's touch. "Wanna head somewhere fun?" the god asked, a bright idea in his head.
"…Sure. Do you have a place in mind?" Isidore asked, curiosity and excitement clear in his eyes. Both gods found that the formerly isolated farmer was obsessed with traveling to different parts of the world. So, most dates ended up being anywhere but Greece (except that one time the two of them brought him to Athens and reunited him with Sunnera).
"Yeah, I know a great place. You've been there before, even." He admitted, before pulling the smaller man close to him and transporting them to the same island they visited when Isidore accepted him. "Remember?" he asked coyly.
It was dark outside, save for the beautiful bright full moon and clusters of stars above them. The gods of the moon, stars, night and brightness were working hard tonight, Panthera mused as Isidore admired the night sky (which looked even later than it was in Kamarina).
Panthera could see better than his mortal counterpart in the dark, so he watched as Isidore's eyes widened as it dawned on him.
"This is that island to the far east!" he exclaimed, looking around. It looked different without the sun, but he couldn't say it wasn't still pretty. Panthera chuckled.
"Yeah … I discovered something here a few days ago I thought you would love to see, but it's deep within the heart of the island. Take my hand, I know you can't see as well as I can in the dark," he said, offering his hand to the younger man.
Isidore took his hand without hesitation, though he wondered why the god didn't just bring them directly to the part he wanted to show him. When he relayed this to Panthera, the god laughed.
"I wanted to spend just a little bit more time with you before we got there. It's a … journey over destination kind of trip." He explained as he guided them deep into the jungle. And the prolonged skin contact was a definite plus, he kept to himself with a smile.
Isidore made a noncommittal noise as he tried to look around. "I guess so. Hey, there won't be any of those jungle creatures you showed me, will there?" he asked, slightly worried.
Last week, Panthera brought Isidore to a jungle, where he showed him what predatory cats, especially his favorite – the panther – looked like. While originally fascinated, Isidore had been terrified by their sharp teeth and claws and intimidating features.
Panthera shook his head. "Don't worry; even if there were any on this island, I'd protect you before anything could happen to you. You have my word." The god vowed, his dark eyes flashing as he pulled the mortal closer to his side, just in case he was still nervous.
"…ok. Where are we anyways? I only know this place is farther than even India." Isidore asked, always curious. Panthera smiled as he carefully pulled his lover down a path full of roots.
"You won't know much about this place, it's an island nation. Its people call it the Ma-I [ancient Philippines]. I think. I don't actually pay as much attention to the living world as I probably should." He admitted. "Trust me, you are going to love this."
Isidore smiled. "I'm happy just to be with you, Pan." He said sincerely. The statement made the god pause and yank the smaller man into his arms, deftly melding the mortal's lips with his own. Isidore clung to the god's broad shoulders as Panthera pressed him against a tree, grinding against him.
After several mind numbing and ecstasy filled moments, Isidore pulled away to gasp for breath. Panthera smirked and carefully put the frazzled human down. "Don't say things like that to me, Isidore, I'm not sure how much longer I can stand it." He rasped in his ear, causing the farmer to shiver despite the humid climate.
Isidore found himself blushing far more with Panthera than he ever did with Grimmjow, and he wasn't sure why. Steeling his nerves, he grabbed the god's hand, begging with his eyes to keep moving.
The two moved in silence for a minute before Isidore broke. "I … don't know why you always have that effect on me," he admitted, his face still burning.
Panthera leered. "What effect would that be, Essi?" he cooed, knowing damned well what he was talking about. He laughing as Isidore gave him a frustrated look. "I'm kidding. The truth is, I have far more experience in the sexual department than Grimmjow. He's not pathetic, but I've had many, many partners before. I probably come off as more … erotic." He deduced.
Panthera was comfortable admitting his affairs of the past. They would remain in the past, after all.
Isidore, for his part, did not seem jealous. It made sense that before he was born, at least one of his soulmates had taken on a few lovers. "I see … so that's why I always feel …" he mumbled, feeling embarrassed by his own body.
Panthera smirked briefly but didn't press the issue. "You know how Grimmjow doesn't have any children? Well, I can't say the same thing. In fact, most of the denizens that control the underworld are my offspring." He admitted.
The gods of death and the dead, several nymphs, and judges of the underworld called Panthera their father. His influence over the underworld was rivaled only by The Fates and his eldest son, the King of the Dead himself. Needless to say, Panthera used to be a very busy god before apathy kicked in and he transferred most of the underworld responsibilities to his offspring.
Isidore looked at the god next to him in shock. "You're the father of the gods of the dead and underworld?" he gaped. Panthera nodded.
"Yeah, but you know them as Hades and Thanatos, among several others. I'll introduce you to some of my children once you're an immortal so you don't feel nervous about being around the underworld." He said calmly.
He was being honest with Isidore because he didn't want any secrets between them anymore, but he was terrified that his former life would scare off the mortal.
"… I would love that." Isidore said after a few moments of consideration. "I understand many of my people are terrified of Thanatos and the judges of the underworld, but they're simply doing the jobs they were born to run. It would be an honor to meet your extended family, even if I am a little nervous about it." He admitted.
Panthera bit his lip; he was tempted to tear both of their clothes off and take the man right there among the trees. Fuck, but he loved this gentle, considerate creature!
Still, he barely restrained himself on the grounds that he wasn't sure if Isidore was even ready for that, that and it would be extremely uncomfortable among all the roots. So instead, he pressed his lips against the side of his neck before tugging the mortal none too gently along the path.
"… We'll be there shortly. Just bear with me," he promised, picking up the pace. Isidore found himself lightly jogging to keep with his hyper focused lover. "Ha! Here we are."
Panting slightly after running for five minutes through a dark and root covered jungle, Isidore didn't immediately notice his surroundings. When he finally looked up, he audibly gasped.
Somewhere deep inside the jungle, the two were standing in front of a massive body of water, with a stunning waterfall flowing between two gargantuan trees perched atop large boulders. Various flora and an opening among the trees allowed the full moon's silver light to pour down, illuminating the area and giving it a mystical illusion.
"It's so beautiful …" the mortal said breathlessly. Panthera grinned.
"Oh, you thought this was it?" he asked cryptically, before crouching down in front of the water. Sending a small pulse of dark energy into the water, the god waited.
The algae in the water reacted to the dark matter by bursting into color, a vibrant electric blue (which suspiciously looked like Grimmjow's hair) spreading throughout the entirety of the water, making it look even more mythical.
"…" The results left Isidore completely speechless as he took in the gorgeous scenery. It also helped his mortal eyes see better. Panthera was smiling softly, the water's light bouncing off his handsome features.
"Wanna go for a swim?" he asked, stretching out his hand to offer to the spellbound mortal.
Isidore grinned, and the two quickly lost their clothing to step into the glowing water. The farmer was pleased to find the water was even warmer than the ocean had been, and he let Panthera pull him to the center of the lake.
Dipping underneath, Isidore realized it was freshwater, and opened his eyes to see the beautiful underwater world with small fish whizzing by and the brightly colored corals shining blue from the algae.
Emerging for air, he locked eyes with Panthera, who had found a small alcove slightly to the right of the waterfall not too far away. Isidore swam over to him and sighed deeply.
"This has to be one of the most beautiful sights I've ever laid eyes on." He admitted, looking up at the full moon directly above them.
"… I agree." Panthera said, staring directly at Isidore, who was bathed in the moonlight, his vibrant hair washed out slightly but still colorful, his facial features illuminated and striking. Isidore caught him staring, and smiled bashfully before snuggling closer to the god.
"This is so wonderful, Pan. I don't know how I could ever thank you enough for finding and bringing me to such a magnificent place." He said, nuzzling into his lover's chest. Panthera wrapped an arm around the slighter male.
"Trust me, Isidore, I am more than pleased just to be in your presence," the god assured him, dipping down to kiss him. Isidore happily accepted the kiss, climbing onto the god's thick thighs to wrap his arms around Panthera's neck as they deepened the kiss.
Mere seconds later, Isidore was acutely aware of how aroused both of them, no clothing to separate them. The farmer tensed, feeling nervous. Panthera pulled away, correctly guessing what was causing his lover to panic.
"Hey… hey, don't worry. I'm not going to force you to do anything you don't want to do," he assured softly, stroking a hand through Isidore's damp hair down to his chin. The farmer looked away, feeling embarrassed.
"But … what if I want to?" he dared to ask, his face reddening at the bold question. Panthera blinked, surprised that Isidore was making the first move. The god grinned, lifting Isidore's face to stare him down with a lust filled gaze.
"Then I'll be your guide to the world of ecstasy," he purred low, his eyes burning a deep sapphire blue, causing the mortal to shiver from its intensity.
"… but …" Isidore trailed off. As badly as he wanted it, (and by barely shifting his weight he could feel how much Panthera wanted it too) he couldn't forget about Grimmjow.
Grimmjow, who had been his first soulmate and opened his eyes to the world around him. Grimmjow, who had made him feel beautiful despite his unusual coloring. Grimmjow, who had been the first who made him feel safe and loved. Was it right that his first time should be with the god of darkness, not light?
Panthera, for his part, only inhaled deeply to calm down his feverish desire. He understood where Isidore was coming from, and his smirk lessened to be more friendly. "Perhaps he should be joining us then?" he asked, genuinely wondering if the small mortal who barely came up to their collarbone* would be able to handle two men at the same time his first time.
Isidore sputtered and shook his head rapidly, also imagining such a lewd event. "N-n-n-n-no way! I couldn't never!" he stammered. "I just … is … is it alright to do something like this … behind his back?" he managed to get out.
They both wanted this. That was clear. However, Isidore would feel guilty if it seemed like he was going behind Grimmjow's back.
Panthera hummed and shrugged. "Alright, I'll ask him." He said casually, before tilting his head back and his eyes glowed a bright blue, not unlike the algae around them.
'Oi, you busy?' he called.
Grimmjow grunted as he was interrupted from his nap and realized his brother was using their connection to talk to him.
'Not anymore.' He grumbled. 'What's wrong, is Isidore ok?'
Panthera heard Isidore panic and plead with him not to bother his brother, embarrassed by the idea that he was asking for Grimmjow's permission, but ignored his cries while he conversed.
'Oh, he's definitely ok … if you catch my drift.' The sensual tone immediately filled Grimmjow in on the activities his brother was hoping to achieve. 'Thing is, he's worried about taking the next step and feeling like he's betraying you. You don't actually care who takes his virginity first, do you?'
Grimmjow paused. Though he had been hoping to claim such an important milestone in their relationship, Isidore asking for his blessing proved how much trust he had already put into both twins. More importantly, it was true that Panthera had more experience, and he wanted his soulmate to feel loved and cared for during his first time. When it came down to it, Panthera was the perfect god for the job.
'I trust you to make his first time memorable, Pan,' he finally admitted after a long pause. 'Be gentle with him though!' he warned. The god of darkness chuckled through the link.
'Will do, brother,' he agreed before severing the connection.
Isidore froze once the glow left Panthera's eyes, his next breath hinging on what Panthera said next. The god smiled darkly.
"He gave his blessing … so shall we begin?" he asked, his voice low and velvet. Isidore gasped in relief and excitement and nodded, his eyes squeezed shut.
Panthera wasted no time pulling their lips together, coaxing Isidore back into the mood, which was not that difficult, he noted with glee.
The god deepened the kiss as his hands began to trace Isidore's back, snaking their way down to his waist, then to his hips and finally grabbing at the mortal's lean but ample backside. Isidore, to his credit, only yelped briefly and resumed his ministrations, reaching up to tangle one of his hands into Panthera's hair, the other lightly tracing the scars on his chest.
The two men groaned as Panthera shifted them, turning to press Isidore's back against the alcove, one hand guiding Isidore's legs to rest on top of his shoulders. Their tongues battled with no clear dominance. Panthera rocked their hips together, grinding against his soulmate. The two men groaned in bliss as the friction soothed the burning itch that they both felt.
"Isidore … stay still for me for just a moment," the god rasped as he turned darkness into a slick liquid dripping down his fingers.
Isidore panted, but did his best to comply. He felt like he was burning from head to toe, and shook from the effort to not squeeze his legs against Panthera's neck as the god traced his entrance with the self-made lubricant. The mortal grunted as the first finger went inside him, feeling strange and extremely intimate. The water was doing nothing to make this any easier.
"Feels … weird …" he hissed through his teeth, his heart pounding through his eardrums. Panthera shushed him and resumed kissing him to distract from the odd sensation. Purring into Isidore's mouth, Panthera used his other hand to grab Isidore's throbbing length and soothingly stroke up and down.
The ministrations helped the young man relax, and the god took advantage of this to add another finger as he increased his grip on Isidore. Isidore broke away to gasp out loud at the amplified pressure, his one hand griping Panthera's hair tightly, the other reaching for the god's shoulder.
Panthera moaned and felt Isidore's dick twitch, and murmured a spell to keep the mortal from releasing too soon. Isidore sobbed out, his chest heaving as he felt the sudden tight sensation at the base of his length, preventing him from coming.
Meanwhile, Panthera had successfully massaged his third and fourth finger inside, rotating slowly but wide to ensure Isidore was comfortable. He sucked Isidore's tongue into his own mouth, letting Isidore set the pace. Isidore moved his hand from Panthera's hair to the back of his head to keep them as close as possible.
When he felt Isidore was thoroughly prepped, he used the remaining slick to coat his own length and broke away to stare into his lover's eyes.
"You good?" he asked, giving the mortal a final out in case he was scared to go further. Unable to trust his own voice, Isidore nodded enthusiastically, his breathing ragged and eyes unfocused. Panthera thought it was the most beautiful thing he's ever seen. "Ok then." He murmured.
The god lined himself up and pressed down on Isidore's shoulders, sinking him down onto the god's sizable dick. The two cried out in unison at the sensation as Isidore sunk lower and lower until his hips were flush with Panthera's.
Isidore threw his head back as much as he could, his head barely brushing against the rocky wall behind him (Panthera quickly grabbed him to avoid head injury) as the air was knocked right out of him. He felt so full it couldn't possibly be real. It burned, but not nearly as bad as he expected it to. Still, his member throbbed just beyond the sense of pleasure in unison with Panthera's seated deep inside of him.
Panthera, to his credit, held still until Isidore's breathing was no longer uneven and halted. The god slowly rocked up and down, pushing Isidore into the wall with each sway of his hips, his speed increasing in increments.
After only a few seconds of searching, Panthera struck gold, his cockhead brushing against Isidore's sweet spot and having the mortal seeing every star in the sky above them.
"Fuck …" Panthera groaned as he felt Isidore's insides squeeze him twice in a vice grip. The newly deflowered farmer was so tight and perfect, his dick nice and snug inside his channel. The god sucked bruises under the mortal's collarbone and along his chest, knowing fully well how embarrassed he'd be if the marks were visible above his clothes. Isidore cried out with each thrust, his hands twitching as he had no idea where to put them.
"Essi … baby … grab my hair. I fucking love that." The god grunted as he paused between his hickies, feeling Isidore's nervous energy.
The mortal complied, taking generous handfuls of Panthera's hair, and gripping tight with each rise and fall. The two men's grunts and cries were drowned out by the gentle roar of the waterfall, with no one but the moon bearing witness to their coupling.
"Yeah … FUCK … just like that," Panthera groaned at the beautiful spikes of pain. "Tell me what you want. Tell me what feels good. I'll give you the fucking stars if I have to." He rambled, running his uneven nails up and down Isidore's back, causing some light scratches.
The water violently sloshed around them as they continued their coupling. Vaguely, Isidore noticed Panthera sped up just a little faster each time he tugged on his hair, a moan spilling from his kiss swollen lips. The god really loved the sharp pain, he realized with a blush.
"Pan … fa-fa-faster please!" Isidore begged, his eyes so blown out that Panthera barely saw a honey brown ring, the mortal was so caught up in his bliss. Ever the pleaser, the god picked up the pace, making them both cry out in pleasure.
After a few minutes, to avoid causing discomfort, Panthera pulled out briefly to remove Isidore's legs from his shoulder and placed them around his waist. His thrusts would be a little less impactful, but that was hardly as important as Isidore's comfort.
Isidore whined when he was left empty for those short moments, though he sighed in relief when his thighs were no longer burning and the god settled back into him, his ankles instinctively locking behind Panthera's back.
"Don't worry about hurting me … squeeze as tight as you feel you need to," the god assured him as he bent forward to regain the angle he lost. Isidore complied by taking one hand and digging his nails into the god's shoulder while the other continued to pull tight at his hair.
Isidore had never felt such ecstasy before. Each thrust felt like he was being used for Zeus's target practice; white hot lightening flashing throughout his entire body, his toes curling involuntarily as his insides jerked and jolted about, his innards throbbing just as badly in want and need as his neglected member.
Panthera was beyond thrilled as he felt Isidore tentatively buck his hips to match the speed of his lover's thrusts. For a former virgin, he was a fast learner.
The immortal traced his hands all over Isidore's body, noting the way the mortal's breath hitched when he found an erogenous zone and tensed when he pressed against something that he wasn't comfortable with. Their soulmate was exceptionally responsive and expressive, he noted with glee as Isidore's face revealed all his passion, discomfort and pleasure while he experimented.
For example, Isidore seemed to really like having his waist and neck grabbed, shuddering in desire when the god held him there, controlling the speed of their lovemaking. He was also a fan of the hickies being marked all over his chest. However, it was clear he was not a fan of being bit.
"Ungh … Pan … please, please … I need to … I wanna …" Isidore babbled as time went on, tears beginning to spill from his frustration at not being able to cum. He yanked on the god's hair once more before he crushed himself against the god's larger frame, trying to gain some friction to relive the pressure. The god of darkness chuckled at Isidore's desperation.
"Mmmhmm. Do you wanna come, Essi? Would that make you happy, baby?" he growled into Isidore's ear, before worrying his teeth on it, teasing him further by slowing down.
Isidore responded by crying out, babbling in nonsensical words that didn't even sound Greek anymore. Panthera took pity on his young soulmate, reaching down to remove the restraint, pumping his hand up and down once, twice, and a third time before Isidore finally peaked.
Believe it or not, Panthera was being kind. Given his experience and stamina, the god could very easily fuck straight through the night, but knew Isidore would lose his sanity if he kept edging him.
The mortal cried out so loudly it startled some nearby birds as he finally reached his release, the water between them turning a cloudy white before diluting into nothing. Panthera grunted as the grip on his dick became impossibly tight, and allowed himself to spill into his lover's inner channel.
The mortal slumped against his ancient lover with his chest heaving, too tired to swim at the moment.
Panthera sighed in satisfaction as he held the exhausted Isidore in his arms, rubbing a soothing hand up and down his back with an extra circulatory motion whenever he grazed his lower back.
Isidore stirred at the warm feeling after a few minutes, wearily lifting his head to place a chaste kiss to the god's jaw before returning to his resting place at Panthera's hollow of his throat.
"How're you feeling, baby?" Panthera asked, not even pretending to be out of breath. And for some reason, the new pet name felt just as endearing to him as Essi, so he kept using it.
Isidore took several deep breaths to slow down his still pounding heart before he looked up at Panthera with love and admiration in his eyes.
"That was the most wonderful thing I've ever felt," he said honestly. Sure, he was damned close to passing out, and his lower back felt a little sore, but he felt so much closer to the god of darkness. He shivered slightly despite the warm water, however, as Panthera pulled out him, the residue of their lovemaking sticky and strange.
"Does your lower back hurt? Any soreness?" Panthera asked, mildly concerned after seeing Isidore flinch a little. Less than three months ago, the god wouldn't have given a shit if he'd been too rough in the sheets with his flings. But Isidore was different. He would always be different from the rest.
Isidore wanted to insist he was fine, but the sharp look coming from the elder male made him admit he was still a bit tender.
Panthera sat him on his thighs facing away from him and gave Isidore a full body massage, starting from the shoulders down to his calves, in between his inner thighs and working his way back up and repeating the motion. The mortal sighed in bliss and tilted his head back until he was looking at the god making him feel even better.
"You're amazing. Both of you." Isidore said with an upside-down smile from Panthera's angle. The god chuckled as he wrapped his arms around Isidore's stomach and pulled him close.
"Oh yeah? How's that?" he asked, soaking up the farmer's adoration. Isidore nuzzled his chin.
"In just about the time span of a lunar cycle, you've went from being a stranger to … well, this," Isidore relaxed fully against the god behind him, their nudity prominently acknowledged. "And that neither you nor Grimmjow seem to feel any jealousy or lack trust in each other. I'm very grateful to have two loving and considerate soulmates."
Panthera purred low in his chest at the praise, the words doing plenty for his ego and his libido.
"… You up for another round?" he growled in the younger man's ear, then promptly laughed when Isidore jumped in surprise when he felt Panthera's erection make itself known.
"Wh-wh-wha… you want more already?" Isidore cried out in alarm, horrified by the god's short, or lack thereof, cooldown period. His ass was still sore from the first time, he thought with a pang of worry. Of course, Panthera had been putting his nimble fingers to work ebbing that pain away, and was currently trying to coax his own soft member back to life.
"I'm a greedy god, Isidore. You would have found this out sooner or later," Panthera teased as he placed kisses up and down the mortal's spine and collarbone. "What's your answer gonna be, baby?"
If Isidore really wasn't up to it (literally or no), he'd relent. However, he'd at least try.
"I-I-I'm … I'm not …" Isidore was pretty flustered by the sudden new pet name and to his surprise, found himself stirring despite himself. The god behind him snickered and turned the mortal around to face him.
"Essi~ …" Panthera cooed, kissing his temple over and over, but denying him any mouth-to-mouth service. "What's it going to be? Yes or no?" he asked, trailing up his back with one hand and down his thigh with another.
"… one more time couldn't hurt." Came Isidore's meek response, helpless to his own body's desires and Panthera's ministrations.
…
Hours later, Panthera held his very tired lover against his chest as he waded underneath the waterfall to the indoor cavern that was hidden there. There were some algae still glowing inside, which allowed him to see the strip of land that he hoisted himself and Isidore on to dry off.
Summoning their clothes as well as his own furs kept from his bedroom in the heavens, he wrapped Isidore and himself in the soft pelts and held the mortal close to him to warm him up.
Isidore ended up surprising both of them by pushing for a third and even fourth round (after a short but well needed break), having been more curious to try new things, fully experimenting his newfound sexuality and his likes and dislikes.
As it were, Isidore liked being called baby. A lot. As well as having Panthera's hands around his throat, but without any strong grip, and he liked having his hands pinned above his head. He still wasn't a fan of being bitten, but Panthera had allowed Isidore to bite him a few times, revealing that he was into rougher things. Their little lover was turning out to be surprisingly kinky.
Panthera snorted as he imagined Grimmjow's face as he'd accuse him of corrupting their soulmate. He had promised to make his first time memorable, after all. He bit his lip as the noise stirred Isidore from his drowsiness.
"Mmhhm? Pan? Where are we?" he slurred, so used to the waterfall by now his brain was choosing to ignore the sound so he could get some well needed sleep.
Panthera ran a soothing hand up and down Isidore's back, hushing him softly. "We're still on the island. I didn't want to disturb you. Sleep, I'll bring you back to Kamarina in a few hours once you've gotten enough rest." The god promised.
Isidore yawned. "I love you, Pan." He whispered, somehow having enough energy to muster a shy blush despite everything they've done together. He ducked his head under the pelts at Panthera's shocked yet elated expression, embarrassed.
"Aw, come on, Essi," He cooed, peeling back the furs to see Isidore's face as he put his full weight atop the mortal to pin him down. "You can't say things like that and hide your beautiful face from me." He scolded with a smile before kissing him gently. "But I love you too."
The mortal giggled as his breath tickled his neck, the god getting comfortable on top of him. Within a minute, Isidore fell asleep, his own breath wisping against Panthera's chest. Panthera stroked his hair, staring at the sleeping mortal amidst the faintly glowing algae-lit cave.
Panthera and Grimmjow have been alive for thousands, hell, hundreds of thousands* of years. Yet, the god of darkness has never felt such peace and happiness whilst holding his sleeping lover in his arms. Warmth seemed to be spreading throughout his entire body, making him smile involuntarily. He never knew he could love anything as much as he did Isidore in this moment.
He closed his eyes and sent the mental image of Isidore sleeping peacefully to his brother, proof he kept his word about taking care of their soulmate. The god could feel Grimmjow's relief and longing at Isidore's evident happiness.
'He's so damn gorgeous, isn't he?' Panthera asked rhetorically. Grimmjow, from his side of the mental link, hummed in agreement.
'He really is something else,' the god of light agreed. 'How was he?'
'Great: he was very clear about the things he liked and disliked. Not to mention, very expressive,' Panthera leered, teasing his other half with brief images of what transpired earlier.
Grimmjow bit his lip at the various images flooding his mind, focusing especially on the one of Isidore crying out during his first orgasm.
'…I'm glad at least two of us could enjoy themselves. Some of us had to get started with the preparations.' Grimmjow remarked dryly, though Panthera could hear the touch of envy of not being there with them for Isidore's first time.
'He'll be thrilled to spend the next round with you; he wouldn't stop worrying about you before and after.' Panthera noted, not even remotely bothered that Isidore would be thinking about the other god. Grimmjow had been his first for everything else … it only made sense he'd wanted him to be there.
'Yeah … I'm sure he will be.' There was a smile in Grimmjow's voice. 'I'm reaching out to the council about the immortality request, but they'll definitely want both of our inputs given the circumstances.' He warned.
Ah yes; the divinity council. A handful of gods sat on the council and awarded immortality for mortals based on a variety of reasons. Though most soulmate requests were accepted smoothly, it was still a process that had to be done.
The only exceptions were mortals who had been prophesized to bring calamity to the gods. Those were not only denied, but were forced to have an underworld god or spirit chained to them for the remainder of their natural life. This was done to immediately end their lives should they be suspected of plotting against the gods.
However, the twin gods of light and darkness had no such concerns for their beloved Isidore, who couldn't possibly be a threat to anyone.
'Yeah, yeah … I'll be on my best behavior and shit,' Panthera grumbled. The two of them had more seniority than essentially all the gods on the council, but it wouldn't hurt for them to follow the protocols without causing any issues, lest they affect Isidore's approval chances. 'But I still can't stand that bitch-ass Sunnera.'
Sunnera was famously known for her wisdom and good judgement, which is why she was on the council, so it would actually be in their favor since she was personally delighted with Isidore, but her bitter feud with Panthera would be tested.
The two had clashed centuries ago regarding a dispute involving the trial of Orestes*, and his daughters, who the Greeks knew as the Furies. As goddesses of vengeance, Panthera had argued they had been right to hunt down the man she pardoned for murdering his father's killer, who was supposed to be taken by his daughters instead. Sunnera insisted vengeance had been served regardless, and the debate became heated. The two hadn't been able to communicate cordially since.
He couldn't even attempt to be civil about it now, since Sunnera would perceive it as him trying to influence her vote. So, the god of darkness promised his brother that regardless of the decision, he would attempt to make amends afterwards.
'… Try not to talk to her directly too much,' Grimmjow sighed, already dreading the upcoming council. 'We're doing this for him, after all. Just hold in your pride for an hour for an eternity with him. That's more than a fair trade.'
Isidore hummed in his sleep, shuffling closer to Panthera's warmth. The god instinctively wrapped his arms tighter around the slumbering mortal with fondness in his eyes.
'I can handle that,' Panthera agreed softly, pressing his lips against Isidore's temple.
'It's late; you should bring him back to Kamarina and return to the underworld to perform your necessary tasks for this region,' Grimmjow reminded. At his brother's groan the god of light insisted. 'Come on, Pan. We'll have all the time in the world for him later on.'
Begrudgingly Panthera pulled himself and Isidore upright, swaddling his lover in the furs, and transported the mortal back to his room. Panthera glanced around with mild interest after settling his lover into bed, having never actually been inside Isidore's room.
It was humble and filled with only the necessities. It matched their farmer well, he thought fondly. He disappeared into the darkness without another thought, leaving Isidore to curl around the pelts, who breathed in Panthera's lingering scent with a soft smile.
AN: Alright! I have to admit something:
The entirety of this story was created solely because of the waterfall scene. I literally created an entire story JUST because of this one image I had of Ichigo and Grimmjow having sex in a glowing lake with a waterfall. Note how it was originally not Panthera who was supposed to in the scene. I ended up creating him on a whim and loved his character enough to make him a second soulmate. Since he has been having a hard time lately, I gave him this scene (and because ya'll voted for it!).
Hope ya'll liked it! It was a lot of fun for me to write after holding onto the image for the past three years. Anyways, there's plenty more to go before the story ends. But let's clarify a few things.
1*: I never made this clear at the beginning, but Isidore ISN'T the same height as Ichigo, and is actually significantly shorter than Grimmjow and Panthera. In the cannon manga/show, Ichigo is 181 cm (5'11½"), but in my story he's 167 cm (5'3") compared to Grimmjow (and Panthera)'s 186 cm (6'1"). Our ancestors were much shorter and typically lacked the proper nutrition to give them height. And remember: Isidore is NOT Ichigo. This will be important later.
2*: For the sake of my perception the godverse, the ancient gods were around WAY before there were even recent humans. The popular gods were created around the same time as humanity.
3*: For anyone familiar with the story of Orestes, I'm taking some creative liberties here as well. The furies were not borne of the darkness, obviously, but I'm trying to define Panthera's massive influence over the underworld.
Alright, the first twin had his fun … how about Grimmjow? Gonna be hard to top the waterfall scene, but I have faith in him. I will see everyone soon. Happy Valentine's Day!
Ciao~!