"You dropped down from the sky? If I may ask, where do you hail from, my lord?" Her bare skin seemed to shimmer with a soft, rosy hue in the twilight, a striking contrast to the water around them, stained crimson by the steady flow of Mori's blood. Despite the unsettling sight, she appeared unbothered, calm as ever. Yet, Mori, with a subtle motion, kept the blood from drifting toward Hestia. He did not know what it would do to someone else. And we should keep it that way.
Mori let his body loosen in the water as he contemplated how to answer the question. Where did he come from? Another universe? Or just in a faraway galaxy? He scrunched his brows as steam rose lazily in the air about them.
"I... do not know? Well, I mean— Gah!" He splashed the water with his arms in a flapping motion, like a fish out of water. The water suspended itself, almost frozen in time, before it fell into the pool. "It is complicated, alright? I fell into a black hole."
The goddess only raised an eyebrow at his remark.
"A black hole?" Hestia's voice was measured, but her arched eyebrow betrayed her scepticism. "How does one simply fall into a black hole, my lord? They are not exactly... casual stroll destinations."
Mori sighed, running a hand through his damp hair as he tried to piece together a story that made sense. Can't tell her too much. "Look, it's not like I planned it, alright? One minute, I'm floating through space, thinking I'd get a few centuries of peace to rest up, and then—bam! I'm dragged to the centre of the universe and into the black hole. Make sense?"
Hestia blinked, her face a mask of intrigue. "The centre of the universe? My lord, you do have a flair for the dramatic. And yet, somehow, you have survived an ordeal that would have obliterated anyone else."
And a whole lot more. "Yeah, I guess. Lots of battles, scars and memories. Many memories."
It had started to rain during their conversation, and large droplets were falling from the sky in heavy rivulets. Mori guessed why she was here, but none could be confirmed without asking. Hestia sat in the hot spring, brown hair damp with moisture. Her fiery eyes remained fixed on his face, making for an awkward scene with the two of them naked in the tub.
Oh, we are naked. His face blushed at the thought of what was hidden under all the water and steam. With a quick motion of his hand, the rain cloud overhead dissipated, leaving only the dark, starry sky above. The cool air brushed against his skin, but Hestia did not react to the sudden shift in weather. Her fiery eyes stayed fixed on his face, unwavering and calm, making the situation feel all the more awkward for him.
"So, may I ask why you have come to my home?" His tone was casual, but his words carried an undercurrent of suspicion. "Not that I mind visitors, but you don't exactly seem like a tourist."
A giggle escaped her lips before she answered, soft and melodic, like the gentle crackle of a hearth fire. "You are quite the peculiar one, are you not? I did not think a god as renowned as you could be so... bashful."
His body stiffened, his blush deepening. He waved a hand dismissively, sending a ripple through the water. "Bashful? Nah. Just... uh... caught off-guard is all." He leaned back against the edge of the hot spring, his arms draped over the sides in an attempt to feign nonchalance, though his tense shoulders betrayed him.
Hestia tilted her head, a teasing smile curling at the corners of her lips. "Caught off guard by a simple question? Or something else entirely?" Her gaze flickered momentarily to the water, then back to his face, a glint of mischief in her eyes.
"Hey, I didn't say that!" Mori shot back quickly, nearly splashing water again as he gestured emphatically. "You're the one making it weird, not me!"
She laughed a warm and hearty sound that seemed to lighten the tension in the air. "Alright, alright. I'll stop teasing—for now." Her expression softened, the playful sparkle in her eyes giving way to something more thoughtful. "But truly I came here out of curiosity. My niece spoke of a great Monkey King, a warrior above the heavens. I wanted to see the one who could claim such a title." Her expression became earnest, her teasing demeanour replaced by quiet reverence. "To hear such tales is one thing, but to witness their truth is another. I wanted to see the god behind the stories."
Mori blinked at her sudden sincerity, his fingers drumming lightly on the stone edge of the spring. "God, huh?" How I hate that word. He rose from, his blood, thick and vibrant, seemed to follow him as if tethered, pooling momentarily before being drawn into the air. It hovered like a crimson haze around him, faintly glowing under the light of the stars.
Hestia's gaze followed him, her expression unreadable. Despite the raw display of power, there was no fear in her fiery eyes, only quiet curiosity. "You don't like being called a god," she observed softly. "Why is that?"
He sighed, running a hand through his damp hair. "It is not that I do not like it. It's just..." He paused, his words catching in his throat. How could he explain it? That the word 'god' felt like a shackle? A title he never asked for, never wanted? He clenched his fists, and the blood swirling around him dissipated like smoke, fading into the night.
"Being called a god makes people expect things," he said finally, his voice tinged with frustration. "They think you're invincible, perfect. That you have got it all figured out." He turned to face her, his crosshairs gleaming in the dark. "But gods bleed, too. We fall, we break, just like anyone else. The only difference is, when we do, the whole world feels it."
His thoughts returned back to Generation X and all the other men and women killed for his rebellion, their faces etched into his memory like scars. Each of them believed in him and fought for him. Had died because of him. Their voices echoed in his mind, a cacophony of faith and despair. Dean...
"You are here because of Zeus," he said. He was tired of this talk now. His mood had been soured. "I saw him command you to determine if I was an enemy. Friend or foe."
Her eyes widened by a fraction, but he saw it. How many times did he try to believe in gods that maybe, just maybe they would be good? "You're here because of Zeus," Mori said, his patience wearing thin. The conversation had soured his mood. "I saw him command you to determine if I am an enemy—a friend or foe."
The ruse was over, and his mood spoiled. "You are a fine person, Hestia, and my doors are welcome to you anytime, but Zeus and the others..." his voice trailed off. They don't trust me," Mori finished, his tone sharp with frustration. "And honestly? I do not trust them either. The gods have a way of seeing what they want to see. They judge, they command, and they use. That's all they ever do."
He would not be surprised if this all boiled down to another fight against the gods; Mori versus them. But I am injured; I can't do the things I was able to do. Whatever the blackhole had done to him had caused serious damage, and he needed to get it fixed as soon as possible. This whole meeting was useless, he fumed. All I did was vent my anger to a willing-to-listen goddess. Hestia stared at him, her eyebrows furrowed, trying to make sense of the situation.
"Peace, my lord. I mean no harm, but to learn of your feats and to see you in the flesh."
He turned away from her, his broad shoulders tense as he stared at the starry sky. The water rippled gently around him, his blood no longer staining the surface but swirling beneath, hidden. "You say you wanted to see the god behind the stories. Well, here I am. Not some legend. Not a king above the heavens. Just a guy trying to make sense of a world as broken as the people ruling it." And failing miserably. He stepped out of the water, letting the cool night air sting his damp skin.
"But let's not pretend your visit changes anything. Zeus will get whatever report you send back, and I'll still be the guy they don't trust."
Hestia stood as well, her movements slow and deliberate. The steam from the hot springs swirled around her like a protective veil. "Perhaps it doesn't change anything for Zeus or the other gods," she said, her voice calm but firm. "But it changes something for me. I see you, my lord. Not the stories. Not the fears or doubts of others. Just you. And that matters."
He paused, caught off guard by her sincerity. For a moment, he didn't know how to respond. "Maybe," Mori muttered finally, his voice barely above a whisper. "Maybe it does." Without another word, he turned and began to walk away, the starlight reflecting off his blood-speckled skin.