AnimeWriterTycoonGirl: Happy Valentine's Day! I'm so sorry this took so long; I sweated a lot on this chapter.
I promise it won't take another year before the next chapter comes out. It was just…something about this chapter made it really hard to outline without jumping straight to the other parts without getting confusing. I don't know…writer's block can be a nightmare.
I'm sorry if this comes out a little boring or slow compared to the other chapters. I really struggled with this one but I hope I added enough humor and personal touches to make it seem real (as real as one can get with a multi-godverse).
Thankfully, I was able to come up with something by jotting random ideas I was rambling off out loud until something sounded good enough to work (I recommend this if you live alone with no one to judge you…like I do). So, sit back, grab some apple cider, tea or coffee and enjoy!
Chapter Warnings: Isidore has a mini panic attack, serious relationship talks, coming out reveal, Grimmjow and friends … and 'not friends,' Panthera and Grimm sibling talk [there's a lot of heart to heart talking in this chapter] and a quick date.
Chapter V
Isidore's smile held as he picked up his new tool, only to fade as he realized he had no plausible explanation for it should his family discover his gift.
Despite his newfound gifts and devoted soulmate, Isidore was left conflicted still as he realized with a jolt he couldn't simply talk off the sudden extra good fortunes. Sure, they had left him with a spirit soaring so high knowing there really are people out there in this huge – apparently round – world just like him, but these gifts…
Nothing outside of a courtship would be able to explain them given how poor the family was. While that was in fact the case, explaining to his parents and sisters that a god was the one courting him was going to incredibly difficult. Receiving the cure due to devotion is one thing, but receiving multiple gifts from a god?
No, they would never believe it. Gods were the ones who accepted gifts and sacrifices, not giving them to lowly mortals. Not unless they were truly that special. Now, Isidore had no doubt in his mind his family believed he was special, but…it was so hard to tell them. This wasn't like telling Claas. This was his family. It was going to be hard to accept their unmarried son was suddenly courted by a god. A male god.
Granted, a male consortship wasn't too bizarre, but it only really happened in high class families and among high ranking warriors. They were seen as worthy lovers after all. Plus, a god…a powerful, older than Zeus himself deity was the one to find interest in him. It just might be too much for his still very sick mother. He couldn't possibly reveal this…could he?
How would they react? What would this do for his family? What will others do should they find out? Could his sisters be put into danger as a result? His parents? Why didn't he think this completely through?
Isidore's eyes furrowed with increasing doubts and fears building up. Without realizing it, he clenched the pendant Grimmjow bestowed him tightly, the cold stone snapping him out of his self-induced panic. Just holding it in his hand quelled the anxiety he had been steadily building.
He lifted the pendant up closer. In his previous shock, he hadn't looked closely at it. The chain was a bright silver, gleaming in the early morning light. The precious metal wrapped delicately around an oval stone which matched Grimmjow's eyes and hair. The stone was flecked with much darker blue spots which swirled around in random patterns.
The silver came together in elegant designs, twisting into a swirl here and curving up there, all while ensuring the stone would not fall out. It was beautiful and he knew it would become his most prized possession despite having little appeal for expensive items.
Isidore forced himself to breathe in deeply and looked at the stone again, hoping it would continue to calm his nerves.
"Grimm…jow…" he mumbled softly, tracing a pattern on the pendant.
The stone glowed, much to his surprise, and with a bright flash, Grimmjow took before him once again, looking rather amused.
"So quick to test the pendant's power, aren't we?" he teased lightly, much to Isidore's mortification. He knew his little soulmate hadn't actually meant to summon him, but he wasn't going to ignore the chance presented to him. Besides, it could offer him an idea for his next courting step.
Isidore flailed about, his face heating up. "Ah-I…I had no idea…" he stammered, trying to look anywhere but at the amused smirk on the deity's face. "I'm sorry! Surely, I must have interrupted you. I'm so sorry!" he insisted.
Grimmjow laughed openly at his poor soulmate's expense. "Isidore relax!" he insisted, grabbing the embarrassed farmer by his shoulders. "I figured you hadn't actually meant to summon me, I came anyways because it qualified. I told you I would come when you called for me did I not?" he reminded kindly, his smirk softening to a tender smile.
Isidore looked down to the pendant still in his hand. "But I…I don't want to trouble you unnecessarily." He argued weakly, daring to look up. Grimmjow placed a finger under his chin and lifted it higher.
"I would rather you trouble me a thousand times before you hide anything worrying you even once, much less get yourself into a situation where you could get hurt." He insisted seriously, all traces of amusement gone. "Isidore…I promise I will protect you should the need rise for it. I will listen to you when you need guidance or are unsure of anything. Do not bottle up your fears and concerns around me." He added, his own concern growing.
"Now…as I am already here, would you like to talk? It can be about anything." The primordial deity insisted once again.
Isidore forced himself to relax, and looked over once again at the gifts by his bed. "I'm…unsure what to say to my family," he admitted, glancing back at Grimmjow. "I am certainly not ashamed of you…but…" he trailed off, unsure what to say next.
Ah, Grimmjow thought quietly. This was what was worrying him eh? He gently guided the young farmer onto the bed and sat next to him, a warm hand rubbing his back soothingly.
"Explaining a sudden change like this after so many years can be startling, I am sure," he agreed, nodding his head slightly. Isidore sighed in relief. Of course the wise, immortal god of light would understand his fears. "However, I cannot imagine the shock would last too long. I guarantee your family will be overjoyed Isidore."
Isidore's head tilted in confusion. "You truly think so?" he dared to ask before regretting it immediately. You fool! He thought harshly to himself. Why would you dare question the knowledge and authority of a god? He winced when Grimmjow removed his hand from his back. Damn…he went and insulted the powerful god, hadn't he?
"Why wouldn't they be? Every parent fears their children will grow up alone do they not?" The blue haired god asked back, crossing his arms over his chest thoughtfully, much to Isidore's surprise and much stronger relief. "You repeatedly doubted your own worth due to unfortunate prejudice, but imagine the relief your parents will feel knowing you not only escaped such a fate, but gained an invaluable suitor as your partner." He smirked.
"I know my occupation in Crete is not as highly revered as other gods like say…Athena, Apollo, Zeus or Dionysus, but a god is still a god. Others would jump off a cliff for a chance to gain a divine lover." He pointed out. "Heavens knows the news tends to spread quick with how quickly mortals love to gossip and brag."
Isidore flinched once more in alarm. "I would never flaunt such a thing like that!" he insisted, eyes wide with shock. "I could never take advantage of your powerful status like that for my own personal gain!" he added, shaking his head violently.
Grimmjow chuckled. "I know you wouldn't," he soothed, pulling the shocked mortal closer to him. "I adore your humbleness and kind spirit. You are the type to work hard for your rewards, never demand them easily. I simply brought up other comparisons as a reminder of your much more modest character.
"You are not greedy or spiteful. I could offer you unlimited possibilities no mortal can offer, such as revenge against those who wronged you…but I know you wouldn't, knowing very well I could." He added.
Isidore frowned. Yes…that was true; were he truly bitter enough, he could simply ask Grimmjow to avenge him, whether with his own power or through consulting other gods. But it didn't seem right. He relayed as much to the god next to him, who nodded.
"I am tied to you by the Fates, but even without this chance to call someone my other half, I could see how beautiful your soul is, Isidore." Grimmjow praised, running a hand through the red hair he adored so much. "Your parents will be proud, if not somewhat confused by the suddenness of it all. I'm sure your sisters will be excited for you as well." He added.
Isidore looked down at his lap. "I hope so," he muttered, clenching his hands into fists. "I'm mostly worried about how they will react to you being a man." He admitted.
Grimmjow couldn't help himself; he simply burst into laughter, moving away from the surprised mortal to catch his breath. "By the Fates that was precious!" he managed, placing a hand on his chest as he tried to regain his composure, still grinning ear to ear.
Isidore blinked; well he certainly wasn't expecting that reaction, though he was relieved the god wasn't offended at least.
Grimmjow wiped the tears out of his eyes as he finally calmed down. "Isidore, my sweet red-haired simpleton…you truly think that will bother them when you literally have an immortal consort with unlimited power?" he asked with amusement still etched into his tone and face.
Isidore scowled; he had thought it rather serious. After a moment of quiet pouting he sighed. Grimmjow was right. Being the consort of a god ranked higher than anyone bothering to care that it was a homosexual relationship. The gods choose whomever they desire, regardless of age, gender or color of skin. He was being irrational.
"I'm sorry…for being so foolish…" he admitted reluctantly. He was still hopelessly nervous nonetheless.
The deity's expression softened as he lifted the mortal's chin to look at him. "You are only a human…you cannot truly understand how trivial some matters can be when you are still following the rules of mortality," he comforted before pulling away with a grin.
"Although … technically I am not bound by flesh the way you mortals are. I could easily change into a woman should this form not be pleasing enough for you." He teased.
An eruption of red stronger than any expulsion by the volcanic Vesuvius blossomed across Isidore's face while Grimmjow desperately tried not to laugh at him.
Aether…Grimmjow…as a woman? The young farmer's mind blanked at the notion, trying and failing to imagine a feminine version of the man in front of him to no avail.
"Yo-yo-you…as a…fo-fo-form…wha…huh?!" he managed in alarm, causing Grimmjow to lose any grasp on his control and start laughing again. The human's face remained flushed as he waited for the god to stop. He swallowed thickly. "Forgive me. I know you were trying to be helpful…I simply can't imagine you in any other way, despite knowing all my life I was expected to marry a woman." He admitted, the color starting to ebb away.
Grimmjow stifled his laughter with slight difficulty; such an adorable simpleton he was bound to, though no fault of Isidore's own. Mannerisms had dictated how he was supposed to live, and he supposed he needed to be grateful the young man wasn't so rigidly bound by them.
Would he have given up his male form for him? Without so much as a moment of hesitation…but only if Isidore asked of him. He had pride in his masculinity, but as a deity, knew there were more important aspects of life. Such teachings would eventually come to the youth, once he became an immortal.
"Isidore I know your family will not be ashamed of you…and even if they are…the shame does not have to be permanent." Grimmjow said with a gentle smile. "I can call a few favors to Cronos if needed and the memories can be removed from their minds should it come to that, in the worst-case scenario. Either way, you will not lose the love of your family. I swear upon my power." He promised.
Isidore finally cracked a smile at the end of Grimmjow's speech. "Thank you Grimmjow…that truly meant a lot to me. Though I sorely hope it will not come to altering their minds." He added hastily.
The deity chuckled. "No…I don't think it will come to that." He agreed. "But it never hurts to have a contingency plan." Here, the god stood up and stretched. "For now, I believe you have some words to exchange with your loved ones. Do not hesitate to call me again, Isidore. I will always answer within moments."
The mortal laughed softly as well as the god faded away with that same grin on his face. He looked at the pendant with a gentle smile, and though he felt foolish, pressed the stone to his lips.
"Thank you, Grimmjow…I look forward to our next arrangement." He said, feeling a wave of warmth wash over him in response, knowing it was his soulmate's way of saying he heard and felt the same way.
It took a little more courage on his part to head into his mother's chambers at the back of the house, but after a few more minutes of deliberation, Isidore knocked on the door and was welcomed in.
Iason was already there to check on Mannara's health. Both were understandably surprised to see their eldest child standing awkwardly in the doorway.
"Isidore? Why aren't you tending to the farm?" Iason asked with obvious concern. In addition to the olives, Isidore also tended to their small plot of land which grew most of their food like grain and vegetables.
Isidore cleared his throat and looked to his mother. "I was hoping to see if you were feeling any better, for starters." He began, berating himself for taking the easier conversation.
Mannara smiled. "I'm still rather tired, but I have been able to sleep restfully for the first time in months and much of my pain is gone. Thank you for asking dear." She laced her fingers into her husband's hand.
Isidore returned the smile brightly. "I'm relieved to hear it. Is there any more of the potion left?" he asked curiously, still reluctant.
Iason held up the vial in question. "I wasn't sure if she was supposed to consume it entirely, so I only gave her a quarter of the cure." He admitted. "Luckily, it seems to have worked well, so I will give her more tonight after dinner."
Isidore nodded. "That seems reasonable. It truly is a miracle cure." He mused out loud.
Mannara chuckled. "Due in part to our own little miracle of having you for a son." She praised, bringing a flush to the young farmer's face. "To think our precious Isidore would earn the respect of an ancient deity." She looked to her husband with pride, who was also beaming.
"Absolutely," he agreed. "You really came through for your family son. You should feel so proud." He added.
Isidore took a deep breath; this was it. It was a perfect opening and he couldn't ignore it. He closed the door behind him, confusing his parents.
"I…actually wanted to speak with you about that," he began, kneeling on the ground to speak at eye level. "Aether came before me yesterday as I was returning home to not only give me the cure, but offer a proposition." He managed, not looking at either of them.
Mannara's brow wrinkled in concern. "I should have known. No god is truly that generous without calling for favors in return." She fretted.
Isidore shook his head rapidly. "No! Nothing terrible, per se. I was caught off guard when he told me all I had to do was pray for seven days and nights. As it would turn out…the Fates seemed to have an entirely different path for me to take."
And so Isidore finally shared the truth with his parents, of the true meaning behind his new pendant, the proposal made by Aether, and even showed them the sickle to prove his travels to a strange world far in the west, where there were so many who looked just like him, but paler.
He left very few details out, save the kiss he shared with the immortal. He felt it might be too much for his parents to bear, let alone his own shyness regarding the memory.
Iason and Mannara were quiet the entire time he spoke. In fact, their faces were practically blank as he spoke. Not out of disgust or shock, but simply allowing their son to speak without interruption.
When he finished, they looked at one another, still silently taking in his words. Isidore felt a lump grow in his throat the longer with every passing second they remained hushed. This had been a terrible mistake, he thought with dread, as seconds agonizingly ticked by. He shouldn't have said anything…they were going to be repulsed by him…why did he…?
Iason's sudden laughter broke him out of his melancholic thoughts, and the youth could only stare in shock as his mother joined in.
"What a relief! We were worried you were going to say you were bound to be his slave or something horrid!" Iason managed through his chuckles before rising up and beaming at his son. "Isidore, we couldn't be prouder of you." He declared.
Isidore blinked in surprise. Now it was his turn to be left stunned into silence. "I…what…I…?" he stammered, completely lost.
Mannara pulled herself up with the assistance of her husband. "Isidore…you had nothing to fear. The courtship of a god is a high honor. Surely you did not believe we would cast you aside because a male god took you as a lover? It only shows how truly special you are." She stroked his brightly colored hair as though it corroborated her claims.
"How many people can say they earned the romantic interest of a god? There is an exclusive number of people who can claim that right, and you are one of them." She added. "Isidore…above everything else, I am so happy you found someone who will love and cherish you dearly. That was my utmost fear; that you would be alone once your father and I passed." Her eyes had softened in her sadness but remained bright with her happiness.
"That's any parent's fear," Iason chimed in, patting his son on the shoulder. "And truly, what greater honor is there than to be able to know our son was deemed so worthy by the gods? We will be able to rest far better at night knowing you will always be taken care of."
The pressure that had formed in Isidore's chest evaporated immediately, though the heaviness seemed to transfer to his eyes. "But…but…the family line will end with me. The Karousakis name will not be passed on." He argued lamely. Why he was protesting his own good fortune he could not say.
Mannara pursed her lips. "That might be true, but I would rather the name die out than you miss out on your own happiness." She declared. "Besides, your sisters will still pass on our family lineage one way or another."
She warmly clasped his hands into hers, a twinkle in her eye he hadn't seen since she first grew ill. "Isidore my child, you must learn to care more for yourself and your own happiness." She declared sternly were it not for her tender smile. "You have worked so hard for this family. You are entitled to love and happiness just as anyone else would be."
The young farmer chewed on his bottom lip nervously but swallowed the last of his anxiety, looking up to his parents in gratitude. "Mother…father…thank you," he managed sincerely with a bright smile.
Iason chuckle. "Isidore…we're your family. We could never love you less for anything short of murder." He snorted as he ruffled his son's hair. "Now that everything has been cleared up, go get ready. Those trees won't tend themselves you know." He teased.
Isidore laughed as well as he exited the house. The rising sun felt even brighter today, he noted with amusement. Idly, he wondered if Grimmjow was somehow responsible for that.
High above in the heavens, Grimmjow was in a less than sunny mood, pacing the inside of his den deep in thought. Damn…he was really stuck about his next courting prospect. Sure, he could take the young man to more countries, but which one? Would Isidore see him as lacking originality though? Gift giving wasn't an easy option either; he shied away from fancy things for himself. Even worse, it was practically a requirement to offer something. Whoever required this needs to be punched. Hard.
With a self-pitying groan, the god collapsed onto one of his couches and ran a hand through his hair. Fuck…this is why he had never gone out on many romantic romps in the first place; he sucked at them.
He wasn't a social god and he hadn't been attracted to literally anyone else before … if you didn't count his lecherous twin as part of his own personality of course. So, while he might have seemed smooth to Isidore, who also lacked a lot in the romantic department, his flirting skills were abysmal compared to other gods at best. Would it be sad to ask his own opposite half what he should do next?
Probably. The worst-case scenario, Panthera would mock him for the rest of his life about it, adding more fuel to the fire in their 'sibling' rivalry.
Thankfully, it was still very early in the morning for Greece, so all of Panthera's energy would be focused on his job right now, not prying into Grimmjow's mental moment of weakness. The god of light let out another groan as he realized how derailed his thoughts were becoming.
Someone knocking at his door was almost a welcomed reprieve from thinking, the deity grumbling to himself as he peeled himself off the couch. Unfortunately, that meant he had to go out and do another thing he didn't like.
Answering the fucking door.
Unlike some other gods, who would flaunt their fanciness and wealth, his home could not simply be entered without permission. A spell Panthera and him had worked on together to make sure no one came and went freely. They would have to alter it once Isidore is immortalized, he thought idly.
With a heavy sigh he waved his hand and unlocked the damned thing while making sure he looked presentable in case it was someone higher ranked than him. Wouldn't do for someone like the far more ancient god of the Sky or even the Fates to see him moping about.
Much to his disappointment, and some annoyance, it wasn't one of his superiors. They would have been easier to deal with.
Instead, bouncing around in excitement were younger and much nosier gods and goddesses. The four pushed their way in, a lavender pair of eyes glimmering with excitement.
"Is it true?" Amara, goddess of love, asked boldly, leaning in oh so closely. "Has our favorite grumpy Grimmy found his soulmate?" she pressed with an eager grin.
Grimmjow groaned loudly. "Who told you?" he groused, shoving her out of his personal space and walked back inside.
Xianla, otherwise known as Artemis, giggled as she made herself comfortable in Panthera's favorite chair. "Aw, come on…you didn't honestly think we wouldn't have noticed how much better your mood has been?" she teased, bright yellow eyes lit with curiosity.
Hermes, who long ago decided he liked his Greek name, leaned against the wall with a slight leer. "Sooooo? Come on, we all wanna hear what he's like?" he drawled.
Grimmjow gave him a disgusted look. "Fuck off Hermes," he snorted before raising an eyebrow at Xianla. "Panthera isn't going to be kind if he sees you in his chair." He warned.
The goddess of hunt paled and moved to a different spot. Grumpy as Grimmjow could be, few of the younger gods stuck around Panthera long in fear of his temper (excluding the even fewer who slept with him, and those were even warier).
Amara huffed loudly. "Oh, come on! Quit stalling! Tell us, tell us pllllleeeeeaaase?" she whined, trying to use her ample breasts to sway him.
The primordial god stared at her blankly. "That never worked before and it won't work now." He deadpanned, brushing her off yet again. The ruler of love was hardly swayed.
"Come on Grimmy! Yaya only gave me the gender and name! I'm the goddess of LOVE, I need to know!" she pressed.
'So Yachiru blabbed huh? …shocker…' he thought to himself unsurprised before letting out a sigh. "He's a Greece olive farmer and that's all I will say." He announced, figuring they would leave if they got what they wanted.
Hermes raised an eyebrow. "That's it? Come on, is he at least pretty?" he ventured before cowering when Grimmjow scowled at him again. They didn't get along very well, especially not after a prank the messenger had played on him that nearly blinded the older god. Would he have healed? Yeah, but that wasn't the point.
Pannera, a low-ranking goddess of brightness, finally spoke in lieu of a fight between the messenger and god of light. "We're sorry if we seem like we're pestering you, Grimmjow, but it's been ages since the last god found their soulmate and…well…we're all just very curious since you've always been somewhat of a loner." She explained bluntly.
Grimmjow relaxed a little; he wouldn't admit it to the others but Pannera was as close to a good friend as he's ever had, especially since they work together often. So, the god returned to his favorite chair and conjured an image of his beloved smiling and playing with Panthera still disguised as a horse.
The room was silent as they studied the image, which was broken by Hermes' snort of laughter.
"A redheaded Greek? That's new." The blonde teased only to recoil at the irritated look everyone gave him.
"Shut up Herms…no need to be a dick because you can't find your soulmate yet!" Xianla snapped, turning her nose up at his crestfallen expression before transitioning back to Isidore. "He looks so kind and happy." She added with a bright smile.
The blue haired god smiled back. "Yeah, he has a heart of gold too. Works from dawn to dusk to provide for his family, and hardly asks for anything for himself. It's a bit of a problem for me." He admitted.
Amara raised an eyebrow, dumbfounded. "What do you mean? You're not struggling to court him, are you? Just give him a ton of money and shiny things so he won't need to provide for his family anymore!" she suggested.
Grimmjow furrowed his brow. "It's…not that simple." He argued, trailing off. Fuck…was he about to admit he needed help?
Pannera rubbed her chin thoughtfully. "He's not very materialistic, is he?" she accurately guessed.
The older god sighed. "That's exactly it. Whenever I tried to buy him anything disguised as a mortal, or even now, he always hesitated or outright insisted it wasn't necessary. Most of the objects he uses are strictly practical. It's been making courting him harder than I expected." He conceded.
The goddess of love pursed her lips. "Well, that's not normally my style. Most mortals love to be showered in gifts and glory. Sounds like you'll have to get really close and personal with him." She declared.
Four pairs of eyes stared back at her in confusion. Amara sighed dramatically. "Honestly, I think I know what I'm talking about here guys," she drawled before rolling her eyes. "Humble creatures still crave love and attention, but don't want to seem greedy or using the other person for money-oriented gains. That sounds like the kind of person Isidore is.
"So, in order to court him properly, any gift you give him is going to have to come directly from the heart. Nothing overly flashy or expensive which could overwhelm him." She added, before suddenly pouting. "It's cuter than most common forms of love, but definitely a little more boring in the gift department." She whined, causing everyone to roll their eyes at the very materialistic hypocrite.
Xianla crossed her arms over her chest. "She makes a good point; what sort of things does your farmer like to do in his spare time? Surely he has some hobbies?" she pressed.
Grimmjow furrowed his brow. "Not really…he really does tend his land the whole day." He confessed, not feeling much better.
Hermes shrugged. "Well…new farming tools or even workers are practical and considerate right? Even if it is a super boring gift like Amara said." He added with a cheeky grin, much to Grimmjow's ire.
The ugly scowl remained long after the messenger shrank back. "Giving him regular gifts like that don't carry that much thought, practical as they might be." Pannera argued for his sake. "Courting still has to be personalized. Maybe you could extend your generosity toward his family somehow?" she suggested.
The elder god crossed his arms in thought. "That could work," he admitted reluctantly. "But I'd really prefer to give him something. I just wish the fool wasn't so damned modest." He complained.
He had praised the boy's humble soul when he had been feeling down, but it was causing him so much difficulty in finding something that would appease his need to give the farmer gifts without overwhelming him or feeling greedy…or worse, guilty for accepting said gifts.
"Maybe…but this is your soulmate we're talking about. A poorly thought out gift can sour a romance in any stage, young or seasoned." Amara countered. "If you want to secure his heart, you will have to pay extra close attention to what he likes. You've been around him for what, a few days?" she asked.
The light god nodded, so she continued. "Well…think carefully about anything he might have shown interest in. Was it something he liked for himself, or maybe something he thought would be good for his family? Didn't you talk about interests at all?" she pressed.
Grimmjow thought back. Of course they had discussed various interests. Isidore clearly had intelligence despite his poor upbringing, and really seemed to love animals and travelling. That much had been clear when he was introduced to Panthera as a horse, or seeing a different country.
He sighed. "Well…he likes animals, but I doubt he'd accept or be happy to tend to multiple animals so I'm not sure I can utilize that one too much." He threw out. The others nodded; live gifts could be tricky.
"I'm especially fond of animals, but I doubt he'd appreciate a deer, bear, or hawk as a gift." Xianla chuckled as she mused out loud. "Still, what about a horse to use around the farm? Practical and something he likes right?" she guessed.
Pannera shook her head. "But horses are expensive to humans. He would likely feel pressured to accept such a gift with his modesty." She reminded gently, causing the goddess of the hunt to pout.
Hermes shrugged. "What if it was a common horse from another land then? He probably could care less if he gets a purebred or not. You fulfil the gift giving portion of the courtship, he's happy." He offered, the first serious recommendation he's made since coming here.
It wasn't a terrible idea, though Grimmjow knew he really would prefer to give his lover the best of the best. It would also look bad on him to give such meager courtship offerings, even if they were the ones Isidore preferred.
Xianla perked up. "Well…there's several thousands of breeds of horses…why not ask Hiawatha about a hardy but still well-bred horse? He'd get a breed no other Greek has, and you'd feel better?" she suggested.
Hiawatha was the true name of Poseidon. Contrary to what the Greeks thought, Zeus, Poseidon and Hades were not at all related. In fact, Hiawatha was inducted into his role and sired by a different ancient god…but for simplicity's sake (and his apathy regarding it), the god of the sea never bothered to correct them.
Grimmjow frowned. Sure, if Hiawatha wasn't so difficult to associate with. The short tempered (and just plain short) god was even more of a loner than he was. They rarely associated with one another as is.
"That's assuming he's bored enough to entertain the idea. I would have an easier time picking out a horse myself." He countered with a self-deprecating groan, shaking his head. "This is getting pointless. There's more I can do besides driving myself insane finding a right gift. I know he loves travel. Maybe I should just take him to a country he's never been to." He decided.
Xianla's eyes brightened. "Ooooh, that would be super romantic too if you go to the right place! Two gifts in one even!" she declared.
Pannera nodded. "And he could even choose a gift of his own in the place you visit. Very clever, Grimmjow." She praised.
The oldest god in the room smirked. Who knew … his easiest option would be the best one after all, with the addition of hopefully getting these nosy brats out of his house faster (excluding Pannera…she was the only one not getting on his nerves).
Amara hummed. "True…but now it's a matter of where to go." She mused, deflating his hopes of solitude.
He really couldn't help his groan of frustration at this point. You would think after so many years of spending very little time with others, they would get the message that he didn't want their help.
"Why the hell does my courtship choice have anything to do with you? And don't say because you're the goddess of love; that excuse gets old quick and only works for one of you!" he snapped, eyes darkening from sky to a chilling ocean blue.
Xianla and Pannera stepped back; they valued their safety over gossiping. Amara, however, was not put off in the slightest. That, or more likely she wasn't paying attention to how close she was to getting thrown out on her ass.
"Aw come on, Grimmy! We all know you've never taken any lovers before. We just wanna help is all." She pouted with a curl to her lip, much to his irritation.
It was one thing to be celibate by choice, it was quite another to be mocked for it by one of those most unfaithful, self-absorbed and unbelievably vapid goddesses in the realm. His patience was running thinner than the wine Greeks loved to water down with this lot.
Hermes, for his part, seemed to recognize how close the primordial god was to losing it, and cleared his throat. "He's got a point Mar... that type of gift giving should be personal and definitely thought out with Isidore's taste in mind and not yours … despite your immense knowledge in the topic." He added somewhat hastily at her affronted look.
The goddess of love looked ready to protest before being nudged by Xianla, finally noticing the foul mood brewing in the older god and sighed dramatically. "Fiiiinnnnneeee," she whined as she stood up and brushed herself off. "Maybe I can come off a little pushy, but it's only because I meant well." She sniffed to everyone's exasperation.
The auburn beauty gave a dramatic sigh and flipped the hair she was so proud of. "Alright, I get it. I know when I'm not wanted." She pouted, pointedly ignoring Grimmjow's snort of derision. "Some people just cannot accept good help when it's offered to them." She declared, walking out of the house without another word.
Good, the god of light thought darkly. The less he heard her speak the better. Of all the popular gods, she was the most pretentious in his eyes. Hermes was quick to follow, uttering a brief farewell in an attempt to garner better standing with the ancient god. Good luck with that; he could hold a grudge, and Panthera still flew into a rage whenever he saw or heard about the little prankster; the 'joke' had almost cost him his eye too.
Now, all that was left was getting Xianla and Pannera to leave too. They hadn't been nearly as nosy or pushy, but he was already annoyed thanks to Amara, so his tolerance for houseguests was nonexistent.
The moon goddess bowed her head in respect. "Grimmjow, we apologize if we invested ourselves into your personal life. I merely wanted to congratulate you on finding your true soulmate." She expressed her regret sincerely.
The primordial god inwardly groaned. Trust the brightness goddess to be the most likely to make him feel guilty for his behavior. "I'm sure that was the case, and I appreciate the suggestions, but for now I'd really like to have a few moments to myself before Panthera gets back." He grumbled.
The girls nodded in understanding and left without another word, much to his relief. Grimmjow collapsed on one of his couches, sighing in relief that he was finally alone. Of course, he was still stuck without a clue about where or what he wanted to do next for Isidore.
He had to talk to Panthera about this. Crude as his twin was, they were technically both responsible for courting Isidore even though the boy was yet oblivious of his dual soulmates.
That alone was something to discuss. Yes, he wanted to spend time with Isidore and get the human comfortable around him before revealing he was actually two gods. But replaying everything that has transpired over the past few days, he knew deep down it wasn't right to shove Panthera to the side. He wasn't just his twin; he was literally a piece of Grimmjow himself. The act practically screamed that he was ashamed of his other half, even if it wasn't true.
On the one hand, he could continue courting as he was now, but it could lead to Isidore feeling a bit betrayed that something so significant about himself had been withheld from him. Yet on the other, the mortal could be overwhelmed by the mere thought of having two soulmates instead of one. Not to mention … well … Erebus wasn't a particularly adored god by the Greeks. Many feared him like they do Hades or Thanatos.
Urgh … had he known finding his soulmate would lead to so much inner strife he wouldn't have rushed in to meet his destined lover without thinking more about what to do first. The god shook his head, he was already struggling to find a courtship gift, he didn't have time to stress out about this too.
A ripple of dark energy pulled him from his thoughts, and the god looked up to see Panthera shrugging off his work clothes into more comfortable loungewear. The light side quirked an eyebrow at his twin's physical state.
"What's with the burns and scratches?" he asked, rising out of his seat. The god of darkness sighed with obvious exhaustion.
"Remember how I said I was going to go dry until Isidore fully became ours?" he countered, stretching his arms. At Grimmjow's frown and curt nod he continued. "Let's just say some of the nymphs of the underworld reacted poorly about it. Had to throw some into the eternal pit to avoid causing a scene.
Grimmjow grimaced. Ugh. That place was terrible. Panthera was one of only three gods who had access to the pit of eternal darkness, the other two being the god of death and Mr. "King of the Gods" himself. It was a terrible place filled with the worst of one's truest nightmares. Souls of the damned were often thrown in to reflect on their worst deeds. It was also a cruel holding cell for immortals and gods who were acting out of control.
Panthera writhed about as his healing powers caused his skin to itch, knitting itself back together. The burns would fade in a few hours. "So … what's causing you grief? I could feel some of it on my way home." He grunted as he dropped into his favorite chair, sighing as the leather sank around him.
"Isidore." Was his brother's simple reply. The darkness god frowned, so the light elaborated. "I'm stuck where we should go next in the courting stage. Take him to more places without any gifts involved or get him a practical but still valuable gift? You know he's so damned modest he'd be reluctant to take anything too nice."
Panthera scratched his head. "Fuck, that's true." He grumbled before sighing loudly. "We would end up with a soulmate who's simultaneously difficult and easy to please." He groaned, lifting his head toward the ceiling. "Lay it on me; what ideas did you have so far?" he asked.
"Not too many. I was thinking about maybe getting him a horse since we know he loves animals." Grimmjow started, abruptly interrupted by Panthera's snort.
"True…or maybe he just enjoyed riding me." He chuckled darkly, causing the other twin to roll his eyes. "But in all seriousness, why are you struggling with this? A horse would be a great gift! It's practical and personal at the same time." He argued.
Grimmjow gave him a look. "Modest, remember? He might feel overwhelmed if we give him such an expensive gift." He reminded, watching his brother's face fall in disappointment.
"Ugh. Fucking modesty. Why is that a holy attribute again?" Panthera whined.
"You know why." Grimmjow uttered flatly. "Everything is still so new and confusing for him. Accepting such a large gift so soon into the courtship might be too much for him. I'm not going to lose him by appearing desperate or overly affectionate. At least not within the first month." He admitted after a moment's pause.
"…You're acting like a fucking pussy you know that?" The god of darkness blocked the bolt of white energy shot his way and rolled his eyes. "I'm not saying this just to be a dick; you're being overly cautious. Since when have you ever been so worried about what people thought? This is Isidore … he's our soulmate. I sincerely doubt anything we do would actually scare him off."
Grimmjow frowned. "How would you know that? We've never had any serious love interests … and yes, I'm disregarding your disgusting flings. We've seen how some gods push and push until they've effectively scared off their own lovers. I don't want us to be like that. Isidore deserves better than that."
Panthera nodded, lacing his fingers together. "I still think we should get him a horse regardless. I don't think it's a terribly large gift to offer within a month of courtship to be honest. It's not like we're offering him a house made of gold and precious gems." He countered.
Grimmjow barked out a laugh. "Ha! I dread the look on his face were we ever to bring something like that up!" he teased. The brothers shared another laugh before falling back into silence. "Maybe an Arabian? They're a sturdy breed and not obscenely expensive in the human horse." He offered after several moments.
Panthera perked up. "Yeah! Let's get a black one!" he suggested excitedly despite Grimmjow's groan of annoyance. "Hey! Grouse all you want, you know I made a damn good-looking horse! He'd love it." The darkness god insisted.
Letting out a long-suffering sigh, Grimmjow relented. The twin gods set out immediately to hunt down the perfect stallion or mare. Panthera wanted a stallion, but Grimmjow was convinced Isidore would be more comfortable with a mare. It took nearly three days, but the dual gods were finally able to find one they both liked.
Then, it came down to how to offer the gift to their consort. Surprisingly, Panthera came up with an amazing courtship location for their next date. The downside for Grimmjow; he wanted to be there. He had been during the last date and he wanted to continue being a part of it. It was only fair, and the light god had no choice but to agree.
Having finally come up with a plan, the gods relaxed and waited for their date night to draw closer.
Isidore stretched as he entered his room, the sunlight just beginning to fade. The two weeks had been pretty quiet. Since the olives were already gathered and sold off, he had very little to do for his trees until the next harvest came. The money he had raised in Syracuse had been more than enough to pay for repairs or other necessities with leftover coin to spare.
The best news was his mother. Day after day, she regained her strength, the mysterious illness that plagued her growing weaker with every dose of the potion. Karin and Yalena no longer were stuck handling every chore, as Mannara insisted she wanted to regain her health by moving around and performing her typical tasks.
The days seemed brighter with her recovery, and his whole family was being very supportive of him, especially the girls. They were overjoyed he had found a soulmate, not caring in the slightest that he was being courted by a male. Yalena in particular was excited for other reasons; she pleaded to her brother to somehow introduce her to her patron goddess, Hestia.
Isidore had laughed and assured her he would try his best, but he didn't want to overstep his boundaries by demanding so much. Everything was still a bit surreal. He would wake up clutching the pendant he already treasured so much.
He dared not say Grimmjow's name out loud again though. He had been so embarrassed the first time he called him by accident. After so many days without contact though, he was beginning to miss the brightly colored god. Should he try reaching out to him again, he wondered as his hand already moved toward the necklace.
"How now Isidore … have you been missing me?" a familiar voice teased gently. The young farmer whipped around in surprise. Sure enough, there was Grimmjow, smiling softly as he leaned against the opening for his window.
The mortal smiled brightly. "Perchance I was, dare I ask the same of you?" he teased right back. The primordial god chuckled, reaching for the hand clutching his pendant and kissed the back of it.
"More than you'd ever know." He swore, still smiling as he intertwined their hands before tugging him closer. "I apologize for the drawn-out delay; I wanted to ensure everything would be perfect tonight." He offered mildly.
Isidore dared to run his free hand across the god's face, brushing aside a few stray hairs. "Apologies accepted. I appreciate all effort you have provided me so far. I truly do." He promised.
Both god and human found themselves trailing off, simply enjoying the serene peace and comfort of their company.
Grimmjow chuckled once more. "I seem to be getting myself distracted despite myself. Shall we?" he asked, still holding Isidore's hand. The youth nodded excitedly. "Alright; close your eyes and don't open them until I say so." He instructed.
Isidore did as he was told. A few moments passed and then there were sounds of birds and various aspects of the outdoors softly ringing in his ears while a breeze fluttered his clothes. Despite desperately wanting to see where they had gone, he obediently kept his eyes shut.
"Alright. Open them." Eagerly, Isidore did, and scanned the area with curiosity and excitement.
They were transported to a grassy plain, with mountains few and far in the backdrop. The sun was only slightly higher than when they reunited in his room, meaning they were not near the island of Eire. Behind him he heard an animal snort, and to his immense pleasure, it was Grimmjow's stallion, Panthera.
The farmer laughed as he gleefully rubbed Panthera's muzzle, causing the horse to whiny. "Hello again you!" he greeted happily as he struggled to reach the massive stallion's ears. The horse ducked down and nuzzled him back, just as eager to see him again.
'I told you he liked me,' came Panthera's smug voice through the brothers' telepathic link. Grimmjow refrained from rolling his eyes. This was for Isidore, he reminded himself calmly before capturing the mortal's attention once again.
"You have taken such a liking to him, I thought we could go out for another ride." He explained, patting the disguised god's long neck.
Isidore perked up, thrilled with the sweet gesture. "I would love to! Thank you so much!" he said warmly as he attempted to mount the horse. To his surprise and pain, the horse shook its head and backed away from him. "Huh? Did … did I do something wrong?" he asked, hurt by the rejection.
Grimmjow chuckled. "No, no. nothing like that. Panthera is going to be my stead." He explained, only adding more confusion. He gestured with his hand. "That, is your ride."
Isidore turned his head and froze. Calmly grazing was a sleek black horse with a beautiful white marking of a near perfect circle on its chest. The graceful animal looked up, shook its mane, and walked over to Isidore with no verbal instructions. The orangette was lost for words as he shakily pet the beast's neck.
"It's…beautiful." He managed finally, mesmerized. Sure, he adored Panthera's stockier and muscular build, but this one was svelte and graceful, and it captivated him.
"He's an Arabian purebred." Grimmjow helpfully explained with a smile as Isidore continued to gently greet the docile animal. "He's also yours." He added.
"What?" Isidore pulled away from the horse in shock. "He's … mine?" he repeated dumbly before shaking his head furiously. "Oh no! I-I-I couldn't! He's so beautiful and of high breed, he deserves a better owner than a humble olive farmer." He protested, yet couldn't help but turn back to the stallion with obvious longing.
Grimmjow snorted; he knew this would happen. Panthera grumbled under his breath at the amused look on his brother's face. The god feigned a disappointed look. "Don't you like him? I searched for many days to find you the perfect breed, and then a few more finding the right stallion and training him for you." He pouted slightly.
Okay, it might be a little underhanded to guilt the boy into accepting his gift, but anyone with eyes could see Isidore already loved the horse.
Isidore bit his lip, torn between guilt for not appreciating Grimmjow's gift and worry about how expensive it was. In the end though, his love for animals won out, and he gave in with a small sigh. "I'm sorry if I sounded ungrateful," he offered with a sheepish smile. "He's beautiful. What is his name?" he asked as he continued to pet the Arabian beauty.
Grimmjow smirked, satisfied that his lover accepted his gift without too much complaint in the end. "I have not named him. I figured that honor should go to you or your family. After all, he is yours." He added sincerely. Isidore's face felt a little warm. He was so touched by the god's consideration and kindness. Care to give him his first ride?" he asked.
The young farmer nodded enthusiastically, eager to ride a horse again. It had been so long since their first official courtship.
The deity helped the mortal onto his horse, and quickly mounted his own. Isidore was thrilled immediately with the speed and nimbleness of his horse. His horse … he never thought he would ever see the day such a miracle occurred to him, he thought fondly as he laughed and cheered during the spontaneous race between his stead and Panthera. (Despite wanting to make Isidore happy, Panthera refused to lose to an ordinary horse lest his pride be shattered.)
They rode for at least an hour before Grimmjow suggested it was time for a break. The two men laid in the grass while their rides (really just Isidore's stallion) recovered from their race. Isidore sighed in happiness.
"Thank you." Was his simple statement.
Grimmjow rolled over toward him and grinned. "Of course. I knew you would love the horse. Don't worry about training him either; I meant what I said earlier about having him trained." He explained.
The mortal shook his head. "I'm sorry. That wasn't what I meant … though I am sincerely grateful for the horse as well." He admitted, looking back up at the stars. "I meant … thank you for choosing me. Of all the people you could have found worthy … you decided upon me as worthy of becoming your soulmate. This means more to me than even I could possibly understand."
Grimmjow's expression softened, and he reached out to cup the orangette's face. "I confess I had no choice in determining my soulmate," he divulged, glancing up at the sky as well. "That responsibility belongs to the Fates themselves. They chose you for me, and I still struggle to find a way to thank them for granting me this generous gift.
"I have never felt peace and happiness like this before, and I know you must feel the same." He added though his brow started to furrow in disappointment. "Before a month ago, I had no idea who you were. I took it upon myself to learn as much about you as I could before I approached you." He confessed.
Isidore gulped in dread; he must have learned about his past then. The mortal struggled to keep a neutral face. "Oh?" he managed out quietly.
The deity nodded. "Yes. I am so sorry you had to suffer so many years in silence." He said in remorse, his hand warm on the young man's cheek. "Let it be known that you are entirely worthy of love, Isidore, and I am honored to be the one to share my heart with you." He declared.
The warmth of Grimmjow's hand seemed to be spreading across his face, Isidore decided fretfully as the god's statement sunk in. He couldn't reply. Not right away anyhow. So, he let his actions speak for him, nuzzling closer into the god's warmth.
This was beginning to be a pattern, Grimmjow thought with a bittersweet smile, as the young man moved even closer. Propping himself up, the two of them continued to sit in silence as the sun began to descend behind the faraway mountains.
The god perked up. "You know? I've always found the setting sun to be my favorite part of the day. Hundreds of years later, I finally figured out why." He smiled.
Isidore blinked, confused until he focused on the colors surrounding the sun. The sky was bathed in a fading red-yellow color … much like his own. The farmer laughed and tried to wiggle away. "Flatterer." He accused, a smirk on his lips.
Grimmjow snickered and tightened his hold. "It's the truth, I swear upon my powers." He vowed. He really was a fan of sunsets though. It was the perfect blend of light and darkness, where his two primary powers coincided. It was only made better knowing that all this time, he was enjoying the coloring of his future partner. The Fates really were a clever bunch, he thought with a quiet snort.
Panthera whinnied in the background, upset about being left out. 'Oi, save some smooth talking for me you prick!' he groused. The god of light elegantly flicked off his mirror twin, doing so in a way that left Isidore oblivious. 'You dick.' He grumbled.
Fortunately for him, and less so for Grimmjow, Isidore pushed himself up. "Oh! We should go riding a little more before it becomes too dark. I really want to get used to … my horse." He managed with a shy smile.
Sighing mentally at his loss of skin contact, Grimmjow agreed for his young soulmate's sake. And if he was squeezing Panthera's sides a little harder than he needed to, well … that was just an unfortunate coincidence.
The four of them arrived back in Kamarina after another half hour of riding. Isidore froze suddenly as they walked back toward the farm, a look of uncertainty.
"Hm? Is something the matter Isidore?" Grimmjow asked in concern, cutting off the slew of slanderous words coming from his irate twin.
The mortal fidgeted. "Somewhat," he admitted. "I truly love the horse. I do … but where is he going to stay?" he asked. Surely, he wasn't going to leave this beautiful beast out without lodgings. He could get stolen or wander off on his own.
Grimmjow grinned. "Ah, is that all? Not a problem, I had already planned ahead for that." He assured, coaxing the confused farmer to walk behind his house. The orangette's eyebrows shot to his hairline.
A sturdy, good sized stable had been set up behind his house during their trip. All the amenities needed to care for a horse – ten of them to be precise – were already meticulously organized and stored away. The stallion obediently walked into the first stable and began grazing on feed which had been already prepared for him.
The olive farmer was both touched and impressed. It would be humorous to explain to his family, he thought fondly as he watched Panthera helped himself to some water, but overall, he was truly touched.
Grimmjow and Panthera shared a telepathic grin. Ordering some nature nymphs to build and supply the stable while they had their date had been child's play for them. Adding more than one stall was clever too; because Herms the goat was also enjoying the amenities offered, Isidore discovered with delight.
The farmer threw his arms around Grimmjow, overjoyed with his gifts. The god chuckled and assured him it was all his pleasure, but now it was time to take his rest. Barely suppressing a yawn, the farmer agreed, bidding farewell to his new horse, Herms and Panthera.
The god of light returned him to his room, and stayed until the mortal fell asleep. Satisfied, the two gods returned to their home.
Panthera wasted no time punching his brother in the arm, muttering about bruises as he stormed off. Grimmjow could have cared less, falling asleep that night with a triumphant smile.
AN: Thank you so much for continuing to read my story! I'm working very hard to get other chapters out, I promise. It will not take an entire year to write the next one I swear. See you all next time.
*I assume a lot of you might be confused about who the gods/Bleach characters assigned to them are. Some I bet are easier to recognize than others, but others probably need an answer key. These are the characters introduced so far, I'll update as the story progresses:
Amara – Rangiku
Hermes – Kisuke Urahara
Xianla – Yoruichi
Sunnera – Sui Feng
Pannera – Ururu
Hiawatha – Toshiro Hitsuguya
Jinn – Isane
Apollo – Uryuu (I originally thought about Byakuya but I think I'm going to use him somewhere else)
Fun Fact: Panthera was disguised as a pure black Friesian.
Ciao~!