Fate is a cruel thing.
None that Kronos did to protect Perseus from love served its purpose. Because in the end, it was worse.
When love is pure, Titan King, it knows no bounds.
You shall know this the best.
You shall understand this the most.
The one who traded a god's essence to find The Queen's love again shall be acceptable of this fact.
In the end, they all fell in love with him.
Apollyon.
Phoebus.
Smintheus.
Delian.
Loxias.
Pythian.
"When it is meant to be, the universe finds a way to make it happened." Apollyon/ Phoebus/ Smintheus/ Delian/ Loxias/ Pythian/ Apollo finds this saying so very true now.
But it also hurts.
It hurts even more when the love is reciprocated.
Perseus accepts him. Perseus loves him with the same passion, desire, obsession, crave, want, need. Apollo cannot describe it enough, but he would always say that his love is just a bit more.
His journey started with insults and splatter of gold and tears of sorrows. His journey halted with anger and resentment and likeness. His journey is still away from its end... but it is stable with love.
The turbulent change in his situations and emotions had been too much for once.
Now, he lives with the most unpredictable being, he would say.
Perseus' moods are like the sea, always changing. His ways are like the sea, always new. His hair are like the darkness of the Underworld, blacker than the Night. His eyes are brighter than any jewel. Really, Apollo cannot say enough for his beauty.
But in Apollo's heart, this tastes like destiny. He does not need his domains to prove anything.
Destiny.
The Titan King has a feud with destiny.
Afterall, who wouldn't when the destiny was to die by the hands of one of his own children? Oh, but he defied fate! He defied destiny even!
Perseus was his enemy. He could have been his greatest power or his greatest weakness.
Kronos never comprehended the possibility of him being both, his power and his weakness.
All for those eyes.
Kronos sighed. His favorite was now defying him. And Apollo was defying every possibility he could, it seemed.
Kronos wanted no more but to snap the golden god's neck. But he resisted, all this for his heir.
Oh, what all was he doing for that young god! Sometimes, The Crooked One couldn't believe in himself for showing this favouritism.
Alas, through this, he found his love; his Queen. And nothing mattered when Perseus brought a smile on Rhea's face. Suddenly, in that moment, it was all worth it.
Everyone knew, The Crooked One loved no one, and nothing but his Queen.
He would raze the universe if she asks.
Personal loyalty. Perseus' flaw was personal loyalty and maybe, just maybe, Kronos could learn something from it.
Did you know, dear reader?
The Crooked One has a flaw.
And his flaw can be anything but excessive pride.
Fates gave him powerful domains, Fates gave him a grudging acceptance as a scar.
Oh, Titan King, is this why you hide the young god from finding love?
Is The Crooked One afraid?
Oh, dear. Everything's changed. Everything's changed.
Rhea helped him accept it.
His fate defier was defying his orders and the golden god was ignoring his warnings, but Rhea asked him to let it slide. He did as she said.
When Perseus skipped a meeting to go to the beach with Delian, Rhea again told him to let it go. And Kronos did.
Different situations. Different excuses. And a lose leash on his orders. Every time, Rhea told him, asked him to let it go.
He was eons old, so of course, it was inevitable for the realisation to settle. He recognized the lesson Rhea was trying to teach him.
It was an assurance that Perseus would not be stolen when loved. The moral was a simple one, love would make him smile even when it seemed pointless to.
Kronos had mused, Perseus' potential to be cruel would truly make a beautiful legend if it blends with love and care.
They would write his story with ink made of gold, Kronos smiled. Because of course they would do so, he would make sure of it.
That dusk, Kronos called Perseus and smiled at him when the young god stood before him glaring.
He ruffled Percy's hair and patted him on the back and told him of his new acceptance.
Perseus smiled at him so bright that Kronos could have faulted himself as a father.
Oh, maybe he should start working towards becoming one. Not someone who commands and demands, that was King Kronos. The Crooked One believes, he would be called father if he ruffles Perseus' hair more, maybe if he pats his back more, maybe if he smiles more at him, maybe if he is more accepting of Perseus' capability to love and care. Yes, this would do.
And just for the heck of it, he decides he would tease his son for choosing the god with the most tragic fate when it comes to love.
Perseus could defy it all.
Kronos would still hold onto the affection.
Rhea would always smile and her green eyes would shine oh so bright.
And Apollo would rise and fall in love, this time knowing that it was meant to last.
The end.