"Hah... Hah... Hah..." A soaking wet Atreus panted for breath, hands on his knees, as he stood on a stretch of beach. The cables he used to tow the boat finally removed from his shoulders, letting him recover his stamina as much as he could.
He was not alone on that beach. And the boat was not alone in the water.
Cheers fell upon him from all around, dozens, hundreds, uncountable people covered the stretch of beach, some of them waving banners of a large and muscular man alongside a smaller, less muscular boy. The words "Muscle World Tour" emblazoned in bright red letters.
The final stretch of Atreus' seafaring journey had been guided by the ships that now surrounded their boat. Guided to a part of the beach that had a security cordon erected around it that kept the crowds away. It was like when they travelled through Greece but amplified several times. There had been some attention moving across the continent of Asia but nowhere near as much as when they left Europe. Though in fairness, most of their time had been spent travelling across empty and frozen wastelands so a lack of crowds or attention was an obvious consequence of that. And from there across the vast open ocean that made the Lake of Nine look like a puddle. This was the first return to a truly populous land since western Russia, and Atreus was seeing the first flickers of attention and admiration Kratos had ignited in those days had swelled to a raging bonfire.
"HaHA!" Kratos shouted a laugh as he leapt from the boat to the shore in one bound and began posing for the crowds. "My boy! Pose for your admirers! They appreciate your hard work!"
It was certainly hard work, Atreus wasn't going to deny that. Months of hard labour to pull the boat under his own strength, pushing his body to its limit every day. The efforts had more than begun to show. He had started this journey with the appearance of a boy, and he still retained it. But he had grown, upward and outward. His body had gained a measure of mass, of muscle, of tone. A step toward a godlike physique, though if he had the choice, he felt he would rather keep this level of bulk rather than continue until he looked like his father. Or his 'father'. Perhaps it would be worth talking to Kratos about that.
But for the moment... He raised his arm and the crowds cheered. Yeah. This wasn't bad at all.
"Like this, boy!" Kratos cajoled him, posing with one arm outstretched to one side, the other curled to point in the same direction. His body leaning away from the pointing arm. Atreus mimicked it, tensing his muscles to show them off. From there, a continuing sequence to show off different parts of their physique.
"Excuse me!" a large and muscular man broke through the cordon, or rather was intentionally let through the cordon. He had the wrinkles to show his age, but the mass and shape to prove he took good care of himself, of a kind with Kratos. "You cannot just park your boat here!"
"Wait, what?" Atreus asked, looking up at the suited man. "Weren't we escorted here–?"
Kratos on the other hand, grinned as he cut the younger god off. "I see! You wish to challenge me?!"
"To protect the people of this state?! Of course I do!" Curling his arms inward, the stranger flexed. His shirt, jacket and tie exploded into shreds of fabric to reveal that yes, he was indeed of a build with Kratos. All bulk, muscles upon muscles. "Who are you?!"
"Ha! I am the Mighty Kratos! This is my boy, uh, the Swift Atreus!" Kratos declared, fumbling for an instant to give the young god an epithet. "Who challenges me?!"
"I am Ronald Schwartzwelder, and I will be the next Governor of the great state of California! If you want to park on this beach, you have to go through me!"
"What's even happening right now?" Atreus asked quietly.
"We're putting on a show. Do a little talking to your fans while we're here," Kratos answered just as quietly, before speaking loud enough the crowd could hear once again. "I will accept your challenge, fellow disciple of the gymnasium! Let us demonstrate our physicality that men and women may marvel at our majesty!"
What followed was a good minute of flexing, making their pecs dance, followed by several bodybuilding poses in sequence. Atreus, deciding he didn't really need to see that, opted to take Kratos' advice and talk to the bystanders.
"Yo bro, your workouts are insane!" one of the young men holding a banner exclaimed. "How in the hell you rockin' that kinda weight with that lean physique?!"
"Uh, I just don't bulk up easy I guess?"
"H-Hi!" said a blonde girl somewhere around his own age, what he assumed was her mother hovering over her. "Y-You're really strong!"
"Well thanks! I–" He felt a warmth. An odd feeling, one that was a little alien to him, though he had felt something similar before. Was it her feeling that he was experiencing? It was pleasant, if a little intense. "I work pretty hard I think."
"I saw! Um, I-I like your tattoos! What do they mean? Are they a language?"
"Oh, yeah! They're, um, I was raised in M–" Nope. "Norway. They're Norse runes. This one," he pointed to his neck, "means 'logm hugr,' which means 'steady mind'. Then there's 'fortune to strike,' 'strong arm' and 'quick hand'," he continued, noting each on his arm and hand.
"You shouldn't have tattoos at your age," the mother commented.
"Mom!"
The boy smiled. He understood. It wasn't about him. It was about her daughter. "It's a part of my culture. Like, aspirations. My mother hoped I would be strong and smart, so she made sure I'd remember what I should try to be." A better explanation than saying they were slightly magical... Maybe. Atreus didn't actually know and she wasn't around for him to ask anymore. Either way, they were a gift worth appreciating.
"That's so sweet," the girl said, which only raised the mother's concern higher. "Um, c-can I get an autograph?!"
"Me too!"
"I want one!"
Atreus frowned. "An autograph? You mean like a signature?"
"You don't know what an autograph is?" the mother asked. "Is Norway that different? It's a signed message given to someone who admires you."
"Mom!" the girl hissed again.
"Sure, I guess that's okay," the boy shrugged, smiling at the girl who was now having trouble looking at him. He took the notebook and pen from her hand, considering what he should write before deciding on 'Steady mind, strong arm, courageous heart' in both Norse and in English. "Um, what's your name?"
"Amanda?"
"Here you go. It's, uh, it's the first time I've done one so I hope I got it right."
The girl looked at it, her mouth opened, before she looked up at him with a beaming, toothy grin. "I love it! I love it! Thank you so much! Good luck, Swift Atreus! Loggum Hugger!"
A mangled pronunciation but it was too cute for him to care. By the time he moved on the competition between muscle man and muscle god had developed into actual wrestling. Or... A pantomime of actual wrestling. Each of the two burly men trying to show off without showing the other up. A celebration of muscle and athleticism as they casually tossed one another about like ragdolls, 'dropping' each other into the ground in ways that looked painful but weren't. All the while, Atreus kept moving across the front of the crowd talking to strangers. If nothing else it was helping his grasp of English to the point he more or less went from conversant to fully fluent by the time the show was over.
"You are a man of might and conviction, Schwartzwelder!" Kratos declared.
"And you, Mighty Kratos, are a man who holds true to his ideals!" The two men clasping hands sounded like a clap of thunder, their biceps and triceps bulging with power. "You and your son may move on. Let me be the first to welcome you both to the United States!"
A fresh wave of cheers roared from the crowds as the confrontation concluded with peace, camaraderie and mutual respect. A real feel-good moment for everyone involved. Kratos and Atreus fetched their belongings from the boat and were escorted through the crowds to a vehicle.
"Evening, fellas," a familiar voice said as a lithe, olive-skinned man leapt out of the truck cab. "Or I s'pose it's morning in this neck of the woods. You two have sure been busy running about since you left Greece."
"Hermes!" Kratos cheered on seeing his half-brother. "A welcome sight! How are you, brother?! How fares Olympus?!"
"'Bout the same as you left it, to tell you the truth. Nothing new under the sun and from what I can tell, Father and Apollo like it that way. Oh, no offense meant, Nephew!" the messenger of the gods added as he realised Atreus was actually new. "As for me, well I've been a bit busy keeping things tidy for you two as you were rolling up and down Asia. God of travellers and all, kind of my wheelhouse so it's left to me to make sure you two don't get into too much trouble with anyone. Oh, though I get the feeling I'm getting a bit of unasked for support from a certain guardian huntress, but you didn't hear that from–" Suddenly, out of nowhere, a meteor that looked eerily like a shaft of green light punched down directly in front of Hermes, catching the tip of his nose. "... No one. Anyone. You didn't hear that from anyone because that's a thing that didn't happen."
"You've been protecting us?" Atreus asked.
"Sure have, boss! Family's family, and hey thought I might do you one for the whole 'figure out which mountain to climb' bit. Got a bit hairier than I expected with the crater you left in Siberia but what's a favour without a little extra effort, eh?"
"Aha-ha!" Kratos laughed. "I appreciate your efforts to assist, Hermes! But do I seem the type who needs help or protection?"
"Blundering into what's now your third continent with no mind to who you might piss off is where I'd say so, yeah. No offense meant, just doing my job."
"Does that mean that thing on the beach–?" the boy asked. It had been strange and sudden for them to get a very explicit escort and welcome. They hadn't gotten anything like that crossing into any other country.
"Might've greased the wheels a touch," Hermes admitted 'humbly', brushing off the shoulder of his tunic. "Americans can get a mite testy about foreigners wandering onto their shores but the pair of you being a bit of a mini phenomenon at the mo', figured it wouldn't be too far outside. Plus you got that fella that'd be a shoo-in for a Kratos worshipper and he'd be all about doing a meet and greet thing. Worked a treat, eh?"
Kratos' dismissive attitude seemed to ebb away. "You were responsible for my facing Ronald Schwartzwelder?"
"You might say."
"Then I take back my earlier words. Thank you, Hermes."
"All in a day's work. Any road, fetched you this beauty as well, courtesy of my delivery company." The winged god slapped the truck with his palm. "You want a workout then dragging this big fella around will do you a world of good!"
"Delivery company?" Atreus asked. "I thought you ran a hotel."
"Nephew, I'm a hyperactive insomniac as the mortals would probably call it. I do a lot of things and I still need more stuff to fill my time. Like tidying up after you and your lummox of a parent! Anyway, job done, off home, have a good time in Americanland!"
And with a flash, the messenger of the gods was gone.
"... I always admire his work ethic," Kratos said with a respectful nod. "Come, boy! New adventures in the land of the eagles await!"
"Yeah, right."
As Atreus moved to follow the god of strength, he heard a familiar whisper. One he had only heard once before. Hermes delivering a message to him specifically.
"I'm sure she's very nice, Nephew but careful chasing ghosts. There's a reason this side of the family don't talk to that side much now anymore. Bad blood. Bad mess. You're liable to get yourself into a mess you can't get yourself out of."
The boy looked around, unsure who was around, who was listening. "I can't do nothing," he said quietly.
"You can do whatever you want and that whatever starts at nothing. I won't stop you. Doubt any of us would. You make your own choices, Nephew. But by the same token, if it all goes pear-shaped, we can't pull you out. If you'll get involved, remember. Don't fall afoul of Hades. I'm the only one from topside who has to deal with him and trust me, you don't want to get on any side of his. Good, bad or ugly, they're all bad and they'll all lead you to a pit you can't crawl out of."
The voice whispering on the wind disappeared. "Thanks for the warning," Atreus mumbled even though he didn't know if he appreciated it. It was dangerous? He knew it was dangerous. They wouldn't want to or couldn't help? He never expected them to.
He couldn't stand by and do nothing, not when someone was asking for his help. Not when he had a chance to make things better.
-(-)-
"WHAT'S GOING ON?!" Atreus yelled over winds that roared so fiercely and so loud that he could barely hear the words escape his own lips.
"WE CONFRONT THE NEXT STAGE OF YOUR TRAINING, MY BOY!" Kratos yelled back, standing stout and proud in the face of winds that were tearing apart buildings in the distance. "NATURE DOES NOT CONTROL US! WE ARE GODS! WE STAND IN DEFIANCE OF MERE WEATHER!"
"ISN'T ZEUS A GOD OF LIGHTNING?!" Atreus argued back as a bolt flashed and struck a tree barely hanging on by its roots. The now burning tree near ripped apart all at once, scattering flames into the whirling winds.
"YES!" Kratos confirmed. "THE SKY, STORMS AND LIGHTNING! ALL THE MORE REASON NOT TO COWER! IF IT IS NOT HIS DOING, IT WOULD BE SHAMEFUL TO COWER FROM IT! IF IT IS HIS DOING, WE MUST MEET THE CHALLENGE HE PRESENTS US IN GOOD CHEER! HA-HAAAAAAAA!" With a mighty leap, Kratos... Was immediately taken up by the winds of the tornado the moment his feet left the ground, cast about like a ragdoll as the storm continued to rage.
What was Atreus supposed to do now?! Kratos was an idiot!
"HAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" But again, the feats of gods continued to surprise as Kratos whipped his arms against the winds in a mighty swing that in itself redirected the air currents. Then, "HAAAAAAAA!" Again, twisting the currents to suit his aims as with the air pressure of his movements alone, he somehow shaped the tornado into a much more compact form, seeming to hold the focal point of the rapidly shrinking natural disaster. For a brief moment, those winds were able to continue ravaging that much smaller space, and Kratos' arms besides, before the god of strength swung once again with the shape of the tornado in his arms as he cast it upward. Crashing and shattering the shape of the storm as it broke upon the clouds.
Tearing winds and lightning became pouring rain. And lightning.
"HAHAHAHA!" Kratos laughed loudly and proudly as his arms bled freely. "YOU SEE THAT, ATREUS?! YOU SEE WHAT PURE MIGHT CAN ACCOMPLISH?! ARE YOU SURE YOU DON'T WANT TO BECOME MIGHTY ATREUS LIKE YOUR OLD MAN?!"
"The storm's gone, you can stop shouting!" Atreus called out as he ran toward his supposed father.
"WHAT?! YOU NEED TO SPEAK UP, BOY! DON'T WHISPER!"
"Oh," Atreus muttered as he realised on getting closer. Not just Kratos' arms were bleeding, but also his ears. Hugging a tornado had a lot of nasty side-effects, it looked like. He raised his eyebrows, then pointed to his own ears.
"WHAT?!" Confused, Kratos touched his own and found the source of the problem. "OH. ONE MOMENT." With a force of will, he recovered from his injuries. "AHH, ahh, ah, there we are!" the bulky god confirmed with satisfaction on getting his hearing back. "DID YOU SEE THAT, ATREUS?!"
"WHY ARE YOU STILL YELLING?!"
"I JUST WRESTLED A TORNADO, ATREUS! OF COURSE I WILL YELL SO ALL MAY HEAR OF MY TRIUMPH! COME! WE WILL FEAST!"
"FEAST? WHE–" The boy stopped himself, refusing to yell like the god of muscle-brains. "Where would even be open right after a tornado? Or, during, I guess."
"WHERE INDEED! COME, BOY!"
And so Atreus was led, without any time wasted on hesitation by Kratos, away from the devastation of the tornado. Back past what had once been the truck they were using as transportation but was now an overturned wreck. Back to the outskirts of town where a squat building with a roof section lit in yellow.
Waffle Hearth.
"Just as expected!" Kratos declared, striding toward the building and throwing open the doors. "GOOD PEOPLE! HEAR MY TALE!"
"Oh, good, the yelling is back," Atreus muttered, backing off a step to get away from the noise.
Kratos turned as he walked into the restaurant, posing with each step as he passed the empty tables, flexing at the staff. "A TALE OF BRAVERY! OF VALOUR! OF THE MIGHTY'S TRIUMPH OVER THE MIGHTIER! THE CLOUDS THEMSELVES QUAKING IN FEAR AT THE PROWESS OF THE MIGHTY KRA–Tohhhh!" A bellowed declaration of victory diverted by a sudden groan of pain as the god of strength folded in on himself around his crotch.
Or more accurately, around the dainty shoe buried in said crotch from behind. "Quit your hollering you overgrown slab of beef-fried beef! You're scaring away all my customers!"
"You don't have... Customers..." Kratos wheezed, folding in on himself further until he dropped to the floor completely, cradling his crushed pride.
"Sure I do!" From behind the fallen god, a small girl stepped up first on his leg, then onto his back, to hop down in front of him and attend the new face. She wore a cheerful, friendly smile. No, Atreus knew that was wrong. Not just a friendly smile, a welcoming smile, a greeting smile. A smile that didn't just offer acceptance, it promised it. Her dark hair styled in tails on either side of her head. Short. Shorter than Atreus, but gifted with womanly curves. "Atreus, right? I've heard a little about you. My name's Hestia. You can call me Auntie Hess."
-(-)-
A/N: This chapter seen very very early on THE GREAT FORBIDDEN P! FEAR THE P! LOVE THE P!