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motorcyclistmad · 10 months
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Summer Search 2023 Begins!!!
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darklordofthesimp · 1 year
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Anything IV (König x Reader)
Summary: A lack of information from the chain of command results in König mistaking you for an enemy sniper.
Requested by: Literally fucking everyone.
A/N: WHY WAS THIS SO HARD TO WRITE???
Category: Angst || Hurt/Comfort || Forced Proximity || Enemies to ?
Warnings: Graphic language
PREVIOUS CHAPTER
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You were exhausted. 
Sleeping was a luxury that you couldn't afford, not that you hadn't been trying. You weren't fond of the night terrors that came to visit whenever you closed your eyes. They were the worst part of it all, you thought. 
It was early, too early for training but, nonetheless, you slowly crawled from your bed. It didn't take long to get ready but it did take time to pull yourself from the mirror. 
You couldn't stop staring at the reflection. Saying that it was you staring back seemed far-fetched in all honesty- the creature you observed was unrecognizable. You considered some makeup to cover the bruising, but there was nowhere to hide the ragged divots in your face, dragged through by your own nails. 
You couldn't hide a swollen nose, puffy eyes and a busted mouth. Your jaw was ballooned, and although the stitches were finally out from your face- the scars remained. You decided that no amount of money could hide your ugliness. Everyone knew what you looked like, everyone knew how fucking disgusting you were. It was almost more embarrassing to try and hide it, than to embrace it and pretend that you didn't care. 
But you did. You cared too much. 
You threw on some sweatpants and a hoodie, your training gear hidden beneath. You needed coffee- you needed something. Anything to get your blood moving in your body and force some adrenaline through your system.
You were so early.
You didn't want to go. 
You'd been attempting to train with König for a couple of weeks now, never engaging in conversation and never looking him in the eye. Ghost had volunteered himself to chaperone your sessions and since then you'd been able to work more comfortably, though you knew it was selfish. 
It was nobody's job to have to babysit you. This was an elite fucking task force, the best of the best and you had to be nursed back into health by one of the most renowned soldiers in the British Special Forces. It was embarrassing for everyone, to say the least. You felt disgusting, you felt pathetic- though, you supposed that's exactly what you were. 
Fucking pathetic. 
You'd expected the gym to be dark, the lights off and abandoned at this early hour. Especially on a Saturday, there was no one at work. Those who lived on base  would usually leave the night before to go drinking or camping, crawling back in shame on the Sunday afternoon. Ghost would be around but this early in the morning you knew he'd be out on his motorcycle, waiting for the sunrise to light up the highway. 
Upon further inspection, you realized that the door was open. The blinds were still down but the light was on, illuminating the hallway you stood in. There was a low hum from inside, melodic and seamless. You raised a brow as you approached, peering into the doorway. 
Your heart skipped a beat at the sight of König. 
The beast was leaned over, singing a wordless tune that you didn't recognise, voice as smooth as silk. He was laying out the foam mats, running his fingers over the raised surface until it was completely flat. Finally, the sniper stood straight to observe his handiwork with a nod. 
He was larger than life when he stretched his arms over his head, groaning at the movement. Some part of you, deep down, was in awe of his sheer size. The other, more dominant, part of you reminded you that he'd been too big for you to stop. 
You were frozen in place, unable to move and unable to take a breath in fear that he'd hear you. König's senses were sharp and the slightest noise would tip him off to your gawking. 
When he sat down on the bench with a solemn sigh, your blood began to simmer beneath your skin. 
"Did you want to come in, Birdy?" König's voice was gentle but you still jumped at the sound of it. A gasp slipped from your lips at the exposure and he tilted his head at the noise, leaning his elbows against his knees. 
Your mouth dried. How did he know that you were there? You hadn't made a sound. 
"Not particularly," you cleared your throat, as he pulled the balaclava from over his head. Dark hair spilled from beneath the fabric, messy and thick. He never kept a mask on when you were around, regardless of whether it was a balaclava or that damned hood. 
"I thought we were past this," he sighed, putting the mask down by his side. He never turned to face you, giving you the option to leave without the pressure of his gaze. 
I thought we were past this. 
Heat flushed through your system like a volcanic eruption, originating in your chest and shooting across your nerves. 
"Past you ruining my life?" You offered as calmly as you could manage. "No. No, I'm actually not past it."
"I meant," König corrected firmly, turning around to face you with narrowed eyes, "are we not past this." 
While he didn't say anything different, the meaningful stare told you enough. 
Are we not past you coming inside every time, even though you say that you won't? 
You stared at him for a long moment, that emerald gaze unwavering. It was nothing like what you'd seen that night, he was a completely different person. You wondered when he would snap, you wondered when you would snap. 
You saw hints of the man you'd encountered sometimes during sparring, never with you but occasionally with Simon. He targeted König, always making a point to put him on his ass but a part of you wonders if the soldier was letting him do it. It was almost too easy sometimes, as though the man had just given up halfway through. 
You stepped through the doorway tentatively, eyes never leaving König's. He held his body so still that you wondered if he was breathing, reminding you of the way a snake freezes before it strikes. 
You moved to the other side of the mats, sitting down on the bench opposite your partner. 
"I figured you'd be up," König rubbed the back of his neck, his shoulders relaxing the second you took a seat. "I got you a coffee." 
You blinked at him. 
"What?" 
"I got you a coffee?" The words were uncertain now as he leaned back slightly. He gestured towards the cup tray beside him, two drinks in foam cups steaming at his side. 
You couldn't force a response from your lips- you couldn't do anything, really, other than gawk at him. Why he'd gone out of his way to get you a coffee was beyond you, obviously he was guilty but you'd made it clear you wanted none of his pity. 
"Don't overthink it, Birdy," König raised a brow. "It's a coffee. Just take it." 
"Yeah," you rasped. "Yeah."
But you didn't move. 
Your limbs felt like they'd been filled with lead, your heart beating against your ribs violently. Grabbing the coffee shouldn't have been an issue, getting up is not difficult, so why were you not responding to mental commands? You felt helpless, the realization that your mind and body were no longer yours to control- rather you were ruled by fear that you couldn't grasp. 
You clenched your jaw tightly.
Move, Birdy. 
The Austrian tightened his lips awkwardly, fingers running through his hair like an anxiety tic. The both of you sat in uncomfortable silence before finally he reached for the cup, standing to his feet. 
You remained deathly still as he approached, stopping a safe distance away before he stretched his hand out. The semblance to extending an olive branch was too obvious not to take note, although you'd be the first to snap any branches this man offered. 
But this wasn't some stupid peace twig. This was coffee. König had bought you a drink. You just needed to take it, you needed to move. 
Move, Birdy. 
"It's just a coffee," the man offered you a weak smile but you could see the apprehension in his gaze. He was wondering if you were going to break, every fiber of his being preparing to restrain you if you had another episode. 
If you had another psychotic break over a fucking cup of coffee, you'd be out of the 141 for good. 
Move, Birdy. 
It's just coffee. 
"It's just a coffee," you whispered. 
Your fingers wrapped around the cup, the heat jarring from your thoughts. König let loose a shaky sigh that you knew you weren't meant to hear. You'd become so unstable that even the man who had destroyed you was afraid. 
Your skin brushed against his as you forced yourself to tighten your grip, the brief touch electrifying and jarring. 
He snatched his hand away as though you'd burnt him with the contact. It wasn't like you'd never touched beyond the incident, you sparred with him nearly every day. But that was sparring, this was not. 
König took a seat, his gaze averted and his nails digging into the bench. You took the first sip, eyes never leaving his form. 
Just a coffee, Birdy. 
You took another swig,  reminding yourself to taste the drink. You thought of the texture, the temperature, the flavor- anything to ground you from your thoughts and drag you back to reality. When your mind began to settle and you could finally register the taste, your eyes widened. 
It was exactly your order. 
You almost choked.  
Before you could ask anything of it, the soldier returned his attention to rest on you, briefly taking in your visage. He was still concerned, the twist of his mouth clearly apprehensive. 
"We've never really spoken about what happened," König rasped, the vulnerable tremor in his voice ringing clear. 
Your spine straightened and the cup creaked beneath your grip. 
"Because I don't want to talk about what happened."
"You can't avoid it forever, Birdy," the man bit, sharp and surprising. You leaned away from him, taken aback by the frustration woven through his tone. He always made an effort to be calm and speak in dulcet tones, going against his nature to appear disarming  wherever he could help it. 
The smouldering coals in his gaze reminded you that König was neither soft nor gentle.
"No," you snapped, "but I can avoid talking about it with you."
König grit his teeth. 
"Who else was there, Birdy?" He hissed, leaning his elbows onto his knees. The question was rhetorical but you almost felt compelled to answer him.  Those jade  eyes flashed with a bitterness that you couldn't understand, intense and pleading. "It was me and you and no one else."
"What do you want me to say, König?" You spat, standing to your feet. Rage blistered through your being, buzzing beneath your skin and electrifying your nerves. You wanted to throttle him, you wanted to grab him and shake him until it finally shut him up. 
"I want you to just listen to me," the soldier implored, moving to stand but thinking better of it. You saw his hesitation, the understanding that once he stood up it wouldn't be a conversation it would be intimidation. 
Shut up. 
"I don't want to hear a word from your fucking mouth," you growled, pointing an accusatory finger at his frozen silhouette. "Unless it's to get me back on the job that you stole, I don't want to hear a thing from you."
Just shut up. 
"I'm trying to fucking apologise, Birdy!" 
Shut up. Shut up. Shut up. 
"Just shut up!"  Your voice had escalated into a barely legible scream, storming towards the seated beast. You pushed through the barriers of his personal space, but König stayed solid, his eyes hard and his mouth set. 
You were toe to toe, nose to nose and eye to eye. 
Your mouth twisted into a sneer. 
"You think you can buy me coffee and that's it, we're friends?" Your voice was low, and your fingers dug into the thighs that you stood between. His cheek twinged at your grip but other than that, the mountain of a man made no move to budge. He observed you from beneath his lashes, his eyes as hard as stone and you wondered if he was breathing. 
"No," König replied simply, his words tracing your lips. "What I do think is that we need to get past this, one way or another." 
You glared at him, your fingers trembling against his legs. 
"I'll get past this, the day I can look in the mirror and get past the mutilated thing staring back at me." 
"I'm sorry-" he began but you grit your teeth, leaping to interrupt those goddamned words from leaving his stupid mouth. 
"I don't want-"
König's hands suddenly landed above your own, holding them tightly as a growl tore from his throat.
"Listen to me." 
You fell silent immediately. 
Emerald eyes searched your own, imploring you to just hear him, even if it was for a moment. If you were going to ignore everything he said, he wouldn't care because at least he got them out. At least he knows that you've heard them. 
"I'm so, so sorry for what I did to you, Birdy." König murmurs, swaying forward and taking up precious inches in the space between you both. His eyes were soft, vulnerable as he bared himself. "As far as I knew, you were an enemy sniper and I was trying to protect my family. I know that you understand that, Birdy, because the 141  is your family." 
You stared at him, furious with the tears burning your eyes, embarrassed by your emotionally fragile state. 
"I know that you don't want to forgive me, I don't expect you to. It's okay to be angry but you have to help me fix this. For both of our sakes, Bird, let me fix this." The words were whispered by the end of it, searching your features with hopeful eyes. 
"I don't trust you," you wanted to shout at him but the sentence was venomless on your tongue. König's lip quirked upward, his shoulders pulling into a small shrug. 
"You trust me enough."
"I don't trust you at all." 
There was venom in that and the soldier's features became solemn once more. You were not his friend, you did not forgive him and you would not be tricked into believing that this was something worth just getting over. 
"You trust me enough." König repeated himself, raking over your silhouette from head to toe meaningfully.
Suddenly, you realized where you stood. 
Wedged between his thighs, your fingers gripping his legs and his hands covering yours. You flinched backward, eyes flickering at your proximity. You could taste his sentences on your tongue, so close you noses would brush if you had moved an inch. 
You had allowed yourself to be in a room alone with König and willingly put yourself in his grasp. 
A cough from the doorway had you leaping apart from the man as if you'd been burnt.
Your chest heaved as your heart smashed against your ribs, begging to be let loose from its constraints. A low exhale fell from the man beside you, as though reminding himself to breathe. 
"Well," Price whistled, shifting on his feet uncomfortably. "That's sure a sight at 6am." 
You cleared your throat, rubbing the back of your neck. A lot had happened in the time that you and König had confronted each other, none of it was easy to explain. In fact, none of it was easy to even understand yourself. 
"We were just waiting on Ghost," you rasped, shrugging nonchalantly. 
Price raised a disbelieving brow but up didn't press, only shooting König a look dripping with warning. He didn't like that you were alone in here with him, but the man had no right. He was the one that assigned König to you, he was the one that took him in as your replacement. 
John Price was just as guilty as König, except his charge was betrayal. 
A sneer settled on your lips at the reminder.
"Well, guess you can meet our newest member a bit early then." 
Newest member?
König sucked in a breath from beside you when a figure moved around behind Price's frame. They stood straight, appearing taller than they were with confident posture. 
Immediately, you knew that they would be trouble. 
Not by the smirk gracing their lips and not even by the distinct look of distaste that was smeared across their expression- but, the way that they stared at you as though you were a challenge waiting to be conquered. 
Like you were easy game. 
"As the 141 grows," Price began, gesturing to the small part of the team in the room, "we need more members to join roles that were previously left to one person." 
Your stomach churned. 
"Obviously, Birdy, you've been our main sniper but now we need more than one." The Captain was careful with his wording, watching you as though you were a ticking time bomb set to detonate any second now.
You fucking felt like one. 
As you observed the newest addition, they stared right back, raking in your visage from head to toe. Their crooked smile had you on edge, had you unnerved- but it also thrilled you. This person saw you as a threat. 
They didn't see a broken bird, someone helpless. Behind the arrogant smirk and the cocky body language, there was a hardness to their gaze. They weren't underestimating you, they still saw something across your face that indicated that you weren't done. 
But they were ready to meet you head on. 
Your expression turned stony. 
"And who is my newest replacement?" You ground out, eyes never leaving theirs. A feral grin pulled at their lips, amusement flooding their expression. It fucking made you seethe. Price opened his mouth to either introduce them or reprimand your clear rejection, but the sniper stepped forward with a snort.
"They should have called you 'Sunshine.'"
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jungkookschin · 28 days
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demigod trials: fates intertwined
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synopsis: you met jungkook at camp half-blood when you were 10 years old. since then, your fates have been infinitely intertwined.
word count: 20k
pairing: son of ares!jungkook x daughter of hephaestus!reader
genre: camp half blood au, percy jackson au, demigod au, childhood friends to lovers, exes to lovers , enemies to lovers, jungkook is sooo in love, jungkook is emotionally constipated, THEY FALL INTO TARTARUS TOGETHERR, jk and y/n are supposed to be reminiscent of percabeth, y/n can wield fire 😳 , ANGSTYY, taehyung as a son of poseidon, namjoon son of athena, mingyu son of jupiter, mina daughter of venus,
warnings: death, angst, blood, kinda gruesome, SMUT (not explicit at all- it's told more in a poetic way), v card loss, many percy jackson references, character death (she comes back to life)
author's note
chapter 1 | chapter 2 | chapter 3 | chapter 3.5 | chapter four
“Missed me, inferno princess?” 
Jungkook stands in the entranceway of your hotel room, soft strands of fringe falling into his piercing brown eyes like the delicate curtains of a war chariot. He stares at you smugly, the most classic Jungkook smile etched across his lips. 
Jungkook is a demigod, meaning that one of his parents is a Greek god while the other is a mortal. In Jungkook’s case, his celestial father is Ares, the god of war- also associated with brutality and chaos. 
Those vaguely familiar with Jungkook would argue that he is the poster child for everything his father represents:
A ruthless warrior on the battlefield, his every step echoes the thunderous march of Ares, causing monsters and enemies alike to flee like waves of the Red Sea. Thick and muscular biceps you can’t even wrap both hands around, a sleeve of tattoos running around the circumference of his arm, and natural affinity to any weapon- effortless wielding a spatha, spear, javelin, or knife with precision and ease.
Jungkook also rides a Harley-Davidson motorcycle and has had the occasional fling with a daughter of Aphrodite- all echoing behaviors of his father. 
You beg to differ. 
To you, Jungkook is love. Jungkook is your spring solace after a grueling winter, Jungkook churns the gears in your brain and heart that stop functioning. Jungkook is your serenity after war- countless wars by which you both narrowly escaped the clutches of death. 
His presence fills your heart with the warmest, most nostalgic sensation. Endorphins fill the hotel hallway, and suddenly you’re 14, savoring the fragrance of  strawberry fields with Jungkook’s large hands on your waist as you soar on a pegasus over the harbor of Long Island.
You met Jungkook at Camp Half-Blood when you were ten years old. After your fifth grade volleyball coach turned into a giant cyclops and tried to eat you, you found yourself at Camp Half-Blood, a summer camp for children of Greek gods and goddesses. 
Nestled within Camp Half-Blood's grounds are the children of around 20 Greek gods, including the 12 Olympians and various minor deities. The enchanting aroma of strawberry fields wafts through the entire camp. As you explore, you'll find an amphitheater, Pegasus stables, a sword-fighting arena, and even magical cups and plates that intuitively read your mind, materializing the food of your desires. Don't forget the ever-so thrilling challenge of scaling the lava wall, which almost killed you, like, ten times.
It took you a while to adjust to the bustling life in Camp Half-Blood. 
Despite being a volleyball player, your athleticism waned in comparison to the other demigods. You sucked at archery, struggled with sparring, and could barely stand under the weight of armor. 
However, you quickly discovered that you excelled in the forge. 
Before Hephaestus even claimed you as his, you spent hours cooped up in the forge, constructing jewelry, engineering random gadgets and gizmos, and printing 3-D sculptures of your favorite anime characters. 
One day, when you were scaling up the climbing/lava wall, your left foot slipped from one of the ledges and a wave of lava washed over you. Gasps ripple through the crowd of demigods,  and you swore you heard the Hades kids sigh because they had the unfortunate obligation of preparing burials for campers.
Once the wave washed over, absolutely nothing happened. You were still hanging onto the climbing wall with both hands, and your feet found solace back on the stone ledges.
You heard more gasps, and everybody began pointing at something above your head. When you looked up you saw a red fiery hammer, the symbol of Hephaestus, the god of metalworking, volcanoes, and fire. 
Jungkook was only ten years old, but his voice resonated louder than anybody else’s. 
“By the blade of Ares,” Jungkook muttered, an awestruck look morphing into an amused grin gracing his lips, “our little warrior is Hephaestus’s kid!” 
Before inferno princess, he coined the nickname little warrior when you failed to even lift a Celestial Bronze sword. At ten years old, Jungkook always teased you and found the best ways to get under your skin.
You have a stupid theory that you’re genetically inclined to dislike Jungkook. After all, his father was one half of a millenia long affair with Hephaestus’s wife and your stepmom (?) Aphrodite. 
Jungkook, on the other hand, might actually be genetically predisposed to picking on you for how easily his dad bitched yours.
Anyways, what made you even more special was that you wielded the ability to control fire. 
The last child of Hephaestus who had the ability to do so died in the 1700s, meaning that you were a prodigy, an anomaly.  You immediately met with the camp director Chiron to discuss your special abilities, placing you in elite training classes with none other than the Ares cabin and your favorite person Jungkook. 
The head counselor in the Hephaestus cabin, Atticus Gonzales (he is dead now),  personally trained you in the forge, instructing you to engineer and construct contraptions that were lightyears above the proficiency of a ten-year-old. 
One morning, as you get out of bed, you spot a toolbelt resting on your bedside.
From H 
A gift from your father. 
Ten year old you marveled at the toolbelt before wrapping it around your waist. You quickly discovered its celestial magic, capable of summoning any tool you desired or envisioned. However, it had its constraints. It couldn't magically produce enchanted weapons; its abilities were limited to mortal tools like screwdrivers and mallets.
Your first task was to forge a Celestial Bronze knife for none other than the boy who miffed you like no other, Jungkook. 
Celestial bronze is a special metal forged on Mount Olympus, the home of the gods. According to Greek mythology, it is the one of the only metals that is capable of vanquishing monsters, meaning that demigods would have to wield Celestial Bronze weapons.
As a ten year old, forging a Celestial Bronze knife was not an easy feat, and it was even more painful with a ten year old Jungkook over your shoulder the entire time. You wanted to strangle him the entire time.
You first had to invoke the blessing of Hephaestus, offering a sacrifice to your father to guide you through the forging process. Getting Jungkook to just sit still was a quest on its own; he wouldn’t stop bouncing around the forge and you were horrified that he would knock something over or set the place on fire. 
Next, you had to heat and melt the celestial bronze, a task you were instructed to complete with your own fire. 
Though it was established that you wielded flame manipulation, it was difficult to spark your own flame without the assistance of gas or a lighter. You must have sat in the forge for an entire day, grunting and groaning as you willed yourself to spark a flame from your fingers. 
Jungkook was absolutely no help at all.  He was the least encouraging person and kept asking to place the Celestial Bronze in a preheated fire. 
Eventually, you willed yourself to ignite a spark, and the fire spread over the entire sheet of metal. You and Jungkook were so thrilled that you actually hugged before staring at each other uncomfortably and backing away. 
Next, you shaped and formed the blade in accordance with Jungkook's wishes, which wasn’t so easy because he kept changing his mind about the shape of the blade. Afterwards, you quenched the blade in water before enchanting the knife with a protective spell. 
15 years later, three wars, countless battles, a plethora of dead monsters, and yours and Jungkook’s lives are still forever intertwined. 
-
You and Jungkook are 25, and you have been to hell and back together, literally. 
The answer is yes. You did miss Jungkook and your face dissolves with utter relief as you run into his arms and melt into the safety of his embrace. 
You hadn’t seen Jungkook in an entire year. Last year, your father Hephaestus asked if you wanted to spend a year with him in the forge of Mount Olympus, working on a top secret engineering project. 
You had just returned, requesting that your father open a direct portal to Camp Jupiter, the camp for Roman demigods. 
Camp Jupiter stands as a training ground for Roman demigods on the West Coast, offering a structured and disciplined environment akin to the Roman legions. Adjacent to this formidable camp, New Rome emerges as a concealed city, a testament to ancient Roman architecture combined with modern amenities. 
Camp Jupiter differs from Camp Half-Blood because New Rome is a fully operational city where former members of the Roman legion, upon completing their service, could choose to reside. Graduated members of the Roman legion had the options of going to university, building a family, and seeking employment within the city, which also provided a barrier against Roman monsters. 
Currently, you and Jungkook are in Camp Jupiter for a special gathering with fellow demigods in your generation and the Praetors of the Roman Legion. The Praetors Mina and Mingyu are essentially the commanders of the Roman army, overseeing operations and making crucial decisions for the camp's well-being.
Yours and Jungkook’s generation of demigods is deemed particularly special because yours is the first generation of demigods to live beyond your teens.  Typically, demigods were monster bait and were either eaten or murdered before they reached their 20’s. 
Yours and Jungkook’s generation changed the tide, with almost 100 demigods reaching their mid 20’s, dubbing this the beginning of the Golden Era of the Demigods.
For you and your friends to be called to a meeting with the Praetors- it concerned you slightly. But after all you had been through, nothing seemed to scare you. Instead, all you’re thinking about is how much you missed Jeon Jungkook.
You haven’t seen Jungkook in a year, and you take a moment to relish the man who’s been to Tartarus and back with you. 
Jungkook’s in ripped jeans, combat boots, and a seemingly brand new orange Camp Half-Blood T-shirt. He looks the same, except a little leaner, and maybe a little taller. 
“Missed you a lot, Jungkook the Relentless,” you muse in return. 
Jungkook’s features crumble in disgust, before he, in his dramatic nature, theatrically flicks his head back, soft and wispy strands falling back onto his head to reveal his handsome forehead. 
“Inferno princess is cute,” he claims, a grin peeking from the frown he just could never maintain around you, “Whatever you said,” he pauses, “It lacks creativity, it’s not clever, it’s not smart. I give it an F.”
You scoff amusedly, nudging his chest with your left shoulder before marching past him. 
“Whatever, stupid.”
“Wait up, inferno princess,” he calls from behind, speedily catching up in a single stride, “Why didn’t you answer any of my Iris messages? Didn’t miss me at all over the past year?”
You shrug, pressing the down button on the elevator as you and Jungkook step in. “My dad probably blocked you from calling. You know how he feels about you.” 
Muzak fills the elevator, and Jungkook scoffs, rolling his eyes. “Just say you didn’t want to see me, inferno princess. Hephaestus loves me, personally thanked me for keeping you safe all these years.” 
The noise that leaves your mouth falls in between a scoff and a gag. “You? Kept me safe? You would’ve been dead in seventh grade if it weren’t for me,” you tease.
“Gotta give it to you there, inferno princess. This knife has killed more monsters than you’ve ever seen in your life,” he teases, unsheathing the Celestial Bronze knife you forged for him when you were ten years old. He always keeps it on him, and it makes you happy because it means he still cares
You lean against the elevator railing and raise a brow at him. “Is that so?”
He smiles smugly at you, the same stupid Jungkook smile that never changed after all these years. “It definitely is so.” 
He smiles at you, toying with his lip as his eyes shamelessly glaze over you. His features fall into a pout. He opens his arms again, and you waddle over for another hug. “Gods inferno princess, I missed you,” he whispers,” You ignored me for a year-”
The elevator door swings open, and you’re greeted by a greatly amused Namjoon and Taehyung. 
Taehyung whistles. “Hope we’re not interrupting.”
You gently shove Jungkook away with your forearm and greet Taehyung and Namjoon with a huge hug, each arm encircling one of their necks.
Just as it’s been a year since you’ve seen Jungkook, it’s also been a year since you’ve seen Taehyung and Namjoon. You met Taehyung, son of Poseidon, when you were 12 years old and he stumbled into Camp Half-Blood after single handedly bringing down the Minotaur. 
Namjoon, son of Athena, came to Camp Half-Blood a couple years after Jungkook. After devising the strategy to defeat Kronos in the Battle of Manhattan, he was given the honor of redesigning Mount Olympus in accordance to his architectural preferences. 
Being in Olympus for a year, you really were able to relish in Namjoon’s creations. The Greek-style temples maintained their traditional charm with innovative twists. You had the opportunity to walk through the most beautiful of gardens, special flowers bred by Namjoon specifically for Mount Olympus. 
You’ve known them for so long that they’re practically your brothers. Both are wearing Camp Half-Blood shirts- Namjoon’s is a little tight and tattered so you reckon it’s the same shirt he adorned in high school. 
Everyone’s back together. A warm wave of nostalgia washes over you, and you feel at home.
“So little Ms. Olympus is finally back to the mortal world?” Taehyung teases, meandering around playfully as he lazily swings an arm around your shoulder. 
“Oh? What about Mr. Olympus over here? I ran into him all the time up there,” you gesticulate towards Namjoon who scoffs playfully and pushes his glasses up the bridge of his nose. You worked with Namjoon occasionally on Mount Olympus to construct his architectural plans for the godly city, so it hadn’t been that long since you’ve run into him.
“Didn’t get the chance to live there like you did. Gods, was I envious of you when I heard you were moving! The gods all know I would be the better option.”
You shoot Namjoon a theatrically annoyed glance, rolling your eyes the same way Jungkook does. 
“I’m kidding,” Namjoon asserts, “I’m infinitely proud of you and all your accomplishments.”
You smile, pressing the friendliest of kisses on Namjoon’s cheeks. “Thanks Joon, love you the most.”
“Yea, well,” Taehyung begins, “You’re bearing witness to the only demigod to ever take up residence in Tartarus and Mount Olympus, so you better put some respect on her name.”
You grin, rolling your eyes as you press another kiss to his cheek. “Thanks for the warm welcome, Tae.” 
You momentarily pause, shifting your gaze from Namjoon and Taehyung to Jungkook. “What? You guys aren’t gonna say hi to him?”
Taehyung makes a psh sound with his lips, “I see this guy everyday.” He skips over to Jungkook, throwing an arm around his shoulders. “You want a kiss too?” Taehyung teases, about  to press a kiss to his cheeks to which Jungkook pushes Taehyung away with his infinite strength.“Gross, dude.”
Taehyung smiles, his combat boots skipping against the gravel of New Rome. “Gods, I feel like we’re 17 again- discovering all this Camp Jupiter shit, meeting the Romans- doesn’t it all bring you nostalgia?” Taehyung continues, carelessly skipping through the gravel with you. 
“Remember when we were 14?” you add, “And you, me, and Joon had to go through that Labyrinth?” you recall, chills running down your spine at the very memory. 
“Gods, that was the worst,” Namjoon adds, “And you broke your ankle so I had to carry you through the labyrinth? Yea, I remember that.”
“Hey, at least, you got the laptop of Daedalus,” you add, “I mean, that thing even had an international credit card programmed onto it, and gods remember the fake ID’s? We got so drunk on your 18th birthday- the party ponies came and everything. That was ridiculous.”
Jungkook cheekily smiles at the memory, and Taehyung detects it immediately. “What, Jeon? Smiling because you remember how shitfaced you were? You could’ve gotten a DUI on a pegasus if it weren’t for me.”
Jungkook can’t help but smile, “Gods Taehyung, you’re dumb.”
Taehyung shrugs, “But I’m your favorite.”
Reunited with your friends, you’re home.
-
Over the years, you’ve observed the multifaceted aspects of Jungkook’s character. 
There were special occasions by which he became rigidly serious- his pupils morphing into flames, a feature he clearly adopted from his father. 
You witnessed this firsthand when you were 13 when you and Jungkook were on a quest now dubbed the Quest of the Eternal Night. 
Los Angeles, the city of Angels home to all the glittering allure of Hollywood became shrouded in darkness. The mortals all assumed the famine was attributed to an extended solar eclipse when in reality it was the Greek monster Lamia who intended to conceal the entire world with darkness, starting with Los Angeles.
Once a beloved queen of Zeus, Lamia’s life went to shit when Hera, out of jealousy, mercilessly murdered Lamia’s children. Overwhelmed with grief, Lamia transformed into a child-devouring monster with a snake-like lower body. From the waist up, Lamia was the most beautiful woman you’ve ever encountered. Lamia resembled the little mermaid, her long orange hair reminiscent of warmth from the sun, perfectly framing her face and enhancing her mesmerizing glow. 
At the time, nobody in Camp Half-Blood  was aware of the true nature of the threat, just that it was most likely a monster.
Given the prevailing uncertainty, the Oracle presented herself at the daily campfire, revealing the prophecy to the entirety of Camp Half-Blood:
In shadows' grasp, the forge's child shall dance,
Beside the warrior, fire's fierce advance.
Through the endless night, a tandem in step they weave as one,
A celestial key, by blood begun.
Within shadows, echoes of a tragic tale,
Redemption blooms as darkness lifts its veil
In an instant, everyone's gaze shifted to you.
“In shadows' grasp, the forge's child shall dance,
Beside the warrior, fire's fierce advance.”
Not a single camper could contest that this was about you. Forge’s daughter, fire’s fierce advance- it dawned on you that the weight was on your shoulders, and you may be heading towards your impending doom.
A fight broke out between Jungkook, Namjoon, and Jinyoung son of Hermes over who would accompany you on the quest. Beside the warrior, fire’s fierce advance, indicating that the quest called for a warrior to your side.
Through the endless night, a tandem in step they weave as one,
What made you feel especially at unease was that the prophecy explicitly called for two demigods as opposed to three. In Greek mythology, the number three was associated with balance and completeness. Three celestial spheres governed the world- Zeus ruled the sky, Poseidon ruled the sea, and Hades presided over the underworld. There were three fates that determined the destinies of mortals and deities. The guard dog of the underworld Cerberus, had three heads. 
Three was a lucky number in Greek mythology, so why did this quest call for two?
“You fucking kidding me?” Jungkook mocked, crossing his arms as he stared at Jinyoung in disdain. He pointed at Jinyoung, singling him out in front of the entire camp. “This guy is a candidate for the quest? He’s a son of Hermes. All he does is send letters and shit.”
Thirteen year old Jungkook was a menace to society. 
Chiron, the camp activities director who was also a centaur (horse from the waist down and human from the waist up), cleared his throat and cast Jungkook a look that screamed boy, sit down. 
Jungkook clenched his jaw, acquiescing nonetheless, sitting on a log while glaring bitterly into the campfire. 
The night sky stretched above, adorned with a myriad of constellations depicting Greek heroes such as Hercules, Perseus, and Achilles. It was like the stars were mocking him, casting doubt that he would be selected for this quest. 
But he had to be chosen. He was positive he was the only demigod equipped with the skills to keep you safe on your quest. Jinyoung and Namjoon didn’t hold a candle to him.
The prophecy called for a warrior, and he was a warrior. He was the most talented offspring of his father, the literal god of warriors. It had to be him. 
Namjoon pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose. “With all due respect,” he begins, “We’re not going to send Jungkook’s dumbass on a quest alone with Y/N. He’d get both of them killed with his recklessness.”
Jungkook didn’t take that well. “I won’t,” he sneers, gesticulating with his hands dramatically, “None of you guys know Y/N like I do. I’m a warrior, and I’m going to protect her.” he states matter-a-factly.
Namjoon was probably one of the only demigods unphased by Jungkook’s abrasion. 
“Jeon, you might be a warrior, but there’s absolutely nothing in that head of yours. Sure, the prophecy calls for a warrior, but not a complete imbecile like you,” Namjoon spits, rising to his feet. “This quest needs someone with the capacity for strategic warfare, which my mother is the goddess of,” he declares, “The city is covered in darkness, so we’ll have to move around strategically. Your dumbass would walk straight to the enemy.” 
Jungkook stands at that, immediately squaring Namjoon up, hardened pupils daring Namjoon to back up his words with action. 
“He’s right, Jungkook,” Jinyoung adds, “You want to go on the quest because you want to protect Y/N. I want to go on this quest because I know our assets are compatible and that we work well together.”
“Y/N and I have the best chemistry out of everyone in the camp.” A bold claim by Jungkook, eliciting a few gasps from the gallery, and you tilt your head because you don’t believe that to necessarily be true.   
Jinyoung stands, “You know what Jeon? You think you’re the shit because your dad’s the god of war. Even as a Hermes kid, I guarantee I can beat you in sword to sword combat,” Jinyoung unsheathes his Celestial Bronze sword, and Jungkook’s pupils glitter against its shine.
“Winner goes on the quest,” Jungkook obliges, unsheathing his own Celestial Bronze sword, a wave of conviction clouding his aura. 
Chiron stomps his hooves on the terrain, demanding the attention of the camp. 
“That’s enough,” he declares sternly, “There will be no fighting. It will be Y/N’s choice. She gets to choose.”
All eyes drift towards you, putting you on the spot. 
You open and close your mouth repeatedly like a dying fish, not having a single clue how to respond. You wish Chiron would decide for you. You see yourself being fine with all three candidates, but you don’t even have the courage to consider making a decision. 
Jungkook cuts you off.
“I swear on the River Styx that I will complete this quest successfully, protect Y/N, and return safely.”
Jungkook’s sudden declaration elicits a collective gasp from the campers. 
Swearing on the River Styx meant making a promise so serious  it couldn't be broken. The River Styx was a sacred river in the Underworld, considered to be a boundary between the world of the living and the realm of the dead. Oaths sworn by the river were binding and unbreakable.
Swearing on the River Styx was incredibly wreckless of Jungkook, and he suffered severe reprimanding from Chiron for doing something so callous. 
And that was basically it. Jungkook already swore on the River Styx so he had to go through with the quest. That made your choice a lot easier, since you were pretty much indifferent to choosing your partner. 
Jungkook didn’t lie. He most certainly kept his binding oath.
After navigating through the mazes of Los Angeles, scaling the Hollywood sign, and coursing through the animatronics of Disneyland, you and Jungkook encountered your final foe, Lamia.
Lamia had the ability to psychologically torture her victims, eventually revealing that Jungkook was the perfect candidate for the quest because the psychological torture had no effect on him.
You liked to joke that it was because he didn’t have a brain.
Lamia cast a curse upon you, plunging you into a trance of your most haunting memories. You were transported into the scene of your mother's murder the previous year, forced to relive the moment a million times over. 
The flame you sparked from your fingers as a makeshift torch immediately went out, and you were rendered a screaming crying mess as you rolled on the floor with your fingernails scraping against the pavement.
The only light you perceived was the light reflected off Jungkook’s Celestial Bronze knife, the same one you forged years before when you were ten years old. 
Seeing you like that, Jungkook became so angry, his pupils exploded into flames and he immediately decapitated Lamia, returning light to sunny Los Angeles and sending Lamia into the depths of Tartarus.
-
When you were 19, the Earth mother Gaia, a primordial deity and the very essence of the Earth awakened from her slumber. Her goal was to overthrow the gods, wipe out humanity, and destroy Camp Jupiter and Camp Half-Blood so that she and her offspring, the giants and monsters, would reign over the world.
Obviously, that wasn’t good so you and six other demigods ventured on a quest to the homelands Rome and Greece to incapacitate Gaia. You were responsible for engineering a flying magical warship to transport said  group of seven demigods to Rome and Greece- and it was arguably the largest project you’ve ever taken on.
You still remember when the Oracle presented herself and read the prophecy aloud to the entire camp. 
"In realms of ancient twilight, seven shall heed the call,
To storm or fire, the Earth shall fall.
Forge’s armor, a shield against fate,
Through the ancient homelands, they navigate.
A choice profound, in shadows deep,
To banish Gaia's wrath in fiery sweep.
In storm's embrace or fire's light,
Seven demigods shall rewrite the ancient night."
After the Oracle announced the prophecy, you felt personally victimized and were ready to throw the towel in to drown yourself in the Atlantic Ocean.
To storm or fire the Earth shall fall?
Nothing was definitive, but that basically meant a child of Zeus or Hephaestus would be designated to vanquish Gaia, and since you’re the only child of Hephaestus who can wield fire, you were left in a sheer state of terror. 
Forge’s armor? 
There was no doubt in your mind that it had something to do with you- and your intuition was accurate. 
You would soon be embarking solo into the depths of the Hephaestion (temple of Hephaestus) to recover the armor your father forged for the Olympians in the original war against the Titans. You needed this armor to defeat Gaia’s offspring, the giants, because the armor bestowed its wearer with the divine capabilities of their demigod parent. 
That was great and all, but you didn’t understand why you had to travel solo to retrieve it.  You didn’t know what perils lay ahead, and to your luck, there was another prophecy- just for you. The fates consistently chose you for perilous quests- you were obviously their favorite.
"In forge's embrace, beneath Hephaestion's grace,
A child of fire seeks the lost, a sacred trace.
Through tunnels deep, where riddles guard the way,
Guardians forged in flame demand a price to pay.
The armor forged for gods, in shadows it lay.
Alone she tread, the quest's weight to bear,
A solitary journey through trials and despair."
A solitary journey through trials and despair- how exciting! 
You wanted nothing more than to be with Namjoon, Taehyung, Jungkook, and all your friends. If you had it your way, you would bring the other six demigods with you, but the prophecy made it clear: Alone she tread, the quest’s weight to bear.
Your final moments may very well be under the ruins of the Hephaestion, and no matter how you screamed and cried, there would be nobody to save you, just miles and miles of dirt and terrain. 
By this time, it had been a year since Jungkook started riding his Harley Davidson motorcycle. 
The motorcycle was a gift from his father, and was presented to Jungkook in the form of a Rolex watch. With a press of a button, the watch unfurled and morphed into a sleek Harley Davidson motorcycle.
Jungkook was a talented rider, maneuvering swiftly through the hills and slopes of Athens, gripping the handles so tightly that his knuckles became white and the wounds on his hands reopened.
You clung tightly to his waist, finding solace as you rested your cheek against the back of his leather jacket, reveling in the warmth of his body while you had the chance.
You were scared out of your mind.
Jungkook evidently feels the same way, the look of apprehension on his face something you will never forget. He grimaces, utter trepidation enveloping his features as his eyebrows furrow and his eyes reflect a sense of unease. His hands, once steady, now betray a subtle tremor, and the air seems to thicken with the weight of his anxiety.
Braking abruptly at the entrance of the Hephaestion, the motorcycle veers sharply, casting dirt onto the ancient ruins. It's his way of telling Hephaestus to go fuk himself for having his nineteen-year-old daughter tread through the temple’s ruins to her potential doom. With a spiteful glare at the ruins, he mounts his vehicle and helps you off the motorcycle, watching as it folds back into a Rolex watch on his wrist.
His heart melts when he sees how glossy your eyes are. Jungkook hates the gods- nothing but deadbeat parents who fucked and reproduced like animals. He hates this stupid quest. 
For a very brief moment, Jungkook dares to imagine life as a normal person. A luxury he would never experience in his life: normalcy, and he knows it’s pointless to covet for what he doesn’t have but he can’t help but desperately delude himself into thinking that he’s dropping you off at class, your first day of work, to hang out with your friends, and not on a dangerous quest. 
In an alternative universe, University Y/N and Jungkook would be a campus couple. Gods, if the circumstances were different he would have confessed years ago. He just hasn’t because the very act of loving is selfish when you’re a demigod. 
Jungkook can’t confess to you and then die the very next day. And assuming that you do feel the same way and choose to become his girlfriend- he just doesn’t know if he’ll randomly drop off the face of the Earth and he can’t bear to think of you just waiting for him, sobbing on your knees by the barriers of Camp Half-Blood. 
Perhaps he’s projecting his deep-rooted fears onto you. If Jungkook ever gets a taste of you then loses you- he knows he would never be the same.
Gods, it’s cynical, but it’s true. 
He pulls himself out of his little trance.
“Y/N.”
Jungkook looks at you, sees that you’re trembling- scared shitless. 
“Take this.” He slides off wristwatch and puts it onto yours. 
The gesture has you tearing up, and once a single tear falls from your lashes, Jungkook’s brows furrow thoroughly. “Y/N. You’re one of the strongest demigods I’ve ever fucking met. You’re going to make it through. You’re going to find the armor, and once you’re done, we’re going to take care of it.”
Jungkook sounds confident in his conviction, and it almost rubs off on you. 
You pout. “I-I I have to fight too.”
“No. No you don’t. I’m going to fight for you. Look. If you’re not safe, take the watch off. It’ll magically appear on my wrist, so I’m going to assume that you’re not okay and go in there if it comes back to me.”
“Except you can’t do that,” Namjoon points out from above. A glorious, beautiful white pegasus lands adjacent to you, neighing and rearing on its hind legs. Its two passengers dismount the pegasus and intervene between you and Jungkook.
“You can’t interfere with the prophecy, Jungkook. That’s going to make things worse.”
Jungkook’s body uncomfortably stiffens, and his jaw clenches. “So you’re going to let Y/N in there alone? We have to do something about it.”
Taehyung sighs, joining the conversation. “Kook, if something happens, we’ll know. We’ll sense if something happens to her. You’re going to make things worse if you follow her. You can’t.”
You nod in agreement. “I’m gonna keep the watch. It’s the same thing as bringing a weapon in there. It’s fine- and who knows- I might have to ride the motorcycle over a volcano or some stupid shit like that,” you mutter, “But Jungkook, you can’t come after me. If I die, then it’ll be by the gods’ will, but I swear on the River Styx that I’l get you that armor, even if that means my life is at risk.”
Jungkook’s expression hardens at that. 
“Don’t say that,” Namjoon mutters, “You’re going to jinx it.”
Taehyung sighs, pulling you in for a hug. He rests his head against your neck, and you can feel his hot breath tickling your skin. “Good luck Y/N. You got this. You’re the most capable demigod I know. You got your tool belt?” He asks, pulling away and checking your waist. 
Sure enough, your tool belt was wrapped securely around your hips, just like it always was. You nod. 
“Then you’re going to succeed,” Taehyung declares, “You got that thing strapped on you? Nobody can do shit to you,” his gentle smirk comforts you. 
Namjoon hugs you next, pulling away to place his glasses on the bridge of your nose. Namjoon’s glasses, a gift from his mother that allows the user to see the most successful strategy for any situation.
You scowl. “Aren’t you going to need this?”
Namjoon shakes his head. “I have my brain and that’s all I need. You need this.”
You smile and face Jungkook. No words could convey the emotions on his face. He approaches you and hugs you tightly, eyes squeezing shut in anxiety and anguish once you melt in his embrace. “You got this, inferno princess. Let’s give hell to those stupid giants.”
You nod at them, running off into the ruins of the temple of Hephaestus.
-
You face countless trials, mechanical automatrons, and fire obstacles that only you could have ever survived. And you were right- you did have to ride Jungkook’s motorcycle over a volcano. Crazy.
With the armor in your hands, you throw off the wristwatch, knowing that Jungkook would appear in minutes. Since the quest was complete, you had every right to call on your friends, and you knew they would arrive without fail. 
Anyway, had you known that just beneath the thin layer of dirt lay a pit straight to Tartarus, you wouldn't have called for him. The magical warship you engineered appears above you, and Jungkook plummets onto the dirt like a meteor. 
Mingyu son of Jupiter, Mina daughter of Venus, Rose daughter of Apollo, Namjoon, and Taehyung secure the armor and load it onto the ship. Its celestial glow was nearly too much for the interior of the warship to handle. 
Although the armor was safely loaded onto the ship, you weren't as fortunate.
The ground underneath you cracked, and you plummeted into a pit that led straight to Tartarus, the deepest pit of the Underworld where monsters, titans, and giants are imprisoned.  Jungkook almost immediately jumps in after you, prompting  the others to meet you guys at the Doors of Death.
You both fell for what seemed like hours, Jungkook’s strong arms securely wrapped around you, holding you tightly. You don’t know if it was days or hours, but you plummeted for what felt like forever. 
He refuses to let you go no matter how weak his arms become, and despite how fast you plummet, Jungkook tells you that it’s going to be okay every 1000 feet of your rapid descent. 
The atmosphere in Tartarus is noxious, causing boils to erupt on your skin, burns to sear, and intense headaches to course through your body- even before you slam into the terrain of Tartarus. 
Given that you survive falling into an infinity high pit, you and Jungkook are likely to die from the toxicity in the air. 
After what feels like a millenia, you perceive the ground from thousands of feet in the air.  
“Jungkook!” you scream, “Wrap your arms around my waist!”
He obliges, maneuvering your body so your back is pressed against his chest. 
Then, you get the work. 
Retrieving nylon fabric and sturdy rope from your toolbelt, you intertwine the rope around the fabric, fashioning the parachute's framework with the added support of metal tubing. Handing Jungkook a specially crafted two-person harness, he allows you to slip into the loops before he follows suit. 
You attach the harness to the metal framework and deploy the parachute,allowing you and Jungkook to drift to the ground.  
Upon landing, you stumble on your knees, hyperventilating as the adrenaline courses through your body. Jungkook joins you, also dropping to his knees as he gently cradles your face. He appears just as disoriented, resting his forehead against yours. “You good?” he asks, chest rising up and down. 
You nod before you fall into his arms, sobbing. 
“Thank gods I’m with you,” he murmurs into your skin.Jungkook embraces you tightly, his hands moving soothingly up and down your back. Once you've calmed down, he assists you in getting back on your feet. “We’ll be okay,” he states, holding you by the crook of your arm. “I’m here. I got you.”
Tartarus is an ominous realm with a combination of shadowy chasms and rugged terrains. Heavy clouds loom overhead, casting a dark veil across the landscape. The ground is uneven, marked by deep crevices that seemingly stretch into infinity. Unsettling sounds permeate the air, forming an eerie symphony of the cries and moans of monsters.  
You and Jungkook quickly fall ill to the noxious atmosphere in Tartarus. 
Jungkook’s handsome face erects boils, and he appears more ill with each passing moment. 
“Kook,” you nudge him with your body, “You alright?”
He nods, gulping. “‘m good, inferno princess. Worry about yourself.”
You pause. “You’re clearly not okay.” On cue, Jungkook stumbles to his knees, and you fall to yours as he rests his head on your shoulder. You’re not sure why you’re not as affected, but you always knew that it was relative to your immunity to fire. 
Suddenly, an idea appears in your head. 
The River Phlegethon. 
The River Phlegethon is a river coursing through Tartarus, made entirely of molten lava.
It is said to consist of healing properties that keep monsters alive. It may work on demigods too. 
You rush to the River Phlegethon, submerging your metal water bottle beneath its fiery surface before rushing back to Jungkook. “Drink this.”
“What the fuck-”
You force it to his lips and down his throat. He gazes at you with despondency, like you’ve betrayed him horribly. He clutches his throat, retching and coughing at the sensation of molten lava down his throat. You eye him back like an insane person, bringing the bottle to your lips before you gulp down the rest of the lava. 
The only way to describe drinking molten lava is painful, excruciatingly horribly painful, even with your immunity to fire. But after a moment of torture, you feel good as new. 
It must have had the same effect on Jungkook because the boils vanish, and the familiar youthful glow returns to his face. 
“Gods inferno princess. Thought you were trying to kill me,” Jungkook jokes. 
“Holy shit. I can’t believe it actually worked!” you exclaim to which Jungkook scowls. “So you shoved that down my throat when you weren’t even sure-”
“Well, well, well. Demigods in Tartarus. Now that’s a sight I didn’t think I’d ever see. And it just so happens to be the same demigods who banished me down to this pit.”
You and Jungkook whip your heads to the direction of the voice. Lamia, the same monster you encountered on the Quest of the Eternal Night.
 Seeing Lamia again for the first time in years makes your knees buckle. There was no doubt in your mind that her abilities would be enhanced within the depths of Tartarus. 
She still adopts the appearance of a monster with the grotesque combination of human and serpent, her coiled, snake-like body merging seamlessly with a distorted human upper torso. 
Jungkook, reckless as ever, doesn’t hold back. “Lamia, you tried to kill Y/N! You committed a sin, and you’re reaping the consequences! Now leave, or I’ll kill you again!” Jungkook roars, causing Lamia to scoff as she slithers.
“A grandson of Zeus,” she sneers, “Just like your grandfather. Stupid. Reckless. Selfish.  Demigods are no different from gods. Hera murdered my children, and I will murder every single one of her descendants in return.”
Jungkook grimaces, instinctively stepping in front of you to shield you with his larger frame.  “Then take it out on her. Believe me when I say I’m not the biggest fan of Hera either. We are not her allies. Just go on your way, and we won’t have a problem.”
Jungkook is especially talented at bluffing. He knows he doesn’t have the advantage on Lamia’s home court, and you can tell how terrified he is by the way his body trembles. 
Lamia cackles, a Grinch-like smirk spreading across her lips as she goes for Jungkook’s weak spot: You.
Her red eyes look straight into yours and you begin trembling uncontrollably. 
She compels your mind with millions of
distressing and heart-wrenching visions, flooding your hippocampus with agonizing memories that aren’t even yours. The overload is so intense, and  you feel the barriers of your brain expanding, threatening to implode. 
The intensified influence of Tartarus seems to be amplifying Lamia's powers. 
She no longer simply wield the ability to psychologically torture with the victim’s own memories, she can harness the most agonizing memories of the history of the world to lead you to your demise.  
Gruesome visions from World War 2 relentlessly flow into your mind.  
Your brain synchronizes its rhythm with your heartbeat – thump, thump, thump. Each beat sends a jolt through your body, and your breath hitches in your throat when your mind drifts to a vision of the Allied and Axis Powers marching towards one another. 
The memories relentlessly infiltrate your mind, and you find yourself understanding the ruthless mindset of soldiers who were not merely bent on killing but also on torturing and annihilating- annihilating everything. 
Victims of chemical warfare desperately tear at their skin, their heads exploded by gunshots. Gradually, you start feeling the effects of chemical warfare creeping over you, prompting an agonizing scream as you instinctively claw at your own face.
Suddenly, a gun magically materializes itself a few yards from you. 
With tears relentlessly running down your face and hives protruding from your skin, you crawl towards it, not minding that your fingernails are digging into poisonous terrain because you’re hellbent on ending this agony.  
Jungkook quickly engages Lamia in combat with his sword. Jungkook bitterly laughsl in amusement when Lamia unfurls wings from her sides, soaring around him. Of course she can fly.
Flying around Jungkook, Lamia claws and slashes, leaving a deep cut on his bicep. Grimacing in pain, he falls to his knees, clutching the wound. His expression contorts into agony, the pain becoming so excruciating that sensation from his arm starts slipping away. He tries to wiggle his fingers, but he can’t. 
His ears ring, prompting a groan as he bites his lip, striving to mentally overcome the pain. Lamia's maniacal laughter echoes in his mind, but the throbbing in Jungkook's arm drowns it into a dull background noise.
From the corner of his eye, he sees you in the midst of your psychological torment, crawling towards a nearby gun. 
His face falls when he realizes the scenario Lamia is attempting to placate.
“Fuck,” he mutters under his breath, immediately rising to his knees and kicking the gun into the River Phlegethon. 
Regret immediately washes over him as he watches the gun fall into the depths of the River Phlegethon. Your hysterical trance may actually compel you to jump into the river to go after it.  
You were immune to fire, but Jungkook isn’t so sure that you’ll survive a bath in the river of fire.
He winces, trying to mentally overcome the intensifying throbbing in his arm so he can finally finish things.
Jungkook hurts so much seeing you like this: sobbing, ripping your hair out, writhing in agony at Lamia’s infliction.
Lamia had already taken a part of you when you were 14, leaving you shivering and trembling in the eternal darkness of Los Angeles. Jungkook would be damned if he let it happen again.
When Jungkook was 14 years old, he sent Lamia to Tartarus by decapitating her. He thinks  this time, he’ll get rid of her for good by shredding her into dust, leaving no mercy.
He’ll make her death the most painful one he’s ever inflicted.
With flames in his pupils, he charges towards Lamia, slashing up with his sword to cut off the bottom of her snake tail. Before it hits the ground, he slashes it for what must have been a hundred times, cutting her tail into such tiny pieces that the wind carries her remains away.
She howls in pain and Jungkook takes that as an opportunity to leap up and tackle her to the ground. He holds her down with his good arm, his strength easily overpowering hers. 
He starts by cutting off her arms, shredding her arms into nothing but dust. He finishes the job, leaving nothing but her head. It’s bloody and gruesome, but it’s everything Jungkook is used to. 
He makes sure to slice off her fangs as he picks her up from her long orange hair. 
Practically drenched in Lamia’s blood, Jungkook turns his head and sees you lying like a dead sack of potatoes by the River Phlegethon. The tips of your fingers are lying in the river, meaning he killed Lamia just in time.
He runs over to you and immediately fishes a canteen of nectar from his backpack, setting your head on his thigh as he puts the nectar to your lips, feeling thankful as you respond by weakly sipping on it.
Putting a hand on your forehead, he feels that you’re absolutely burning up. After weakly sipping  on the nectar, you gasp like you’ve breathed your first breath.
Jungkook immediately pulls you into his embrace, his eyes full of so much relief. “Gods, inferno princess. I’m so happy that you’re okay.”
You sob into his shirt. “I was so useless, I’m sorry. You saved me. Thank you so much.”
Jungkook holds you even tighter, allowing you to sob into his shirt as he savors the sensation of having you in his arms, alive and okay. 
Jungkook pulls back, fingers combing through your hair and tucking a strand behind your ear. He hands cradle your jaw, his thumbs wiping your tears away, until he realizes that he actually smeared Lamia’s blood on your face. 
“Oops- sorry, I got blood on you,” he sheepishly mutters, biting his lip. 
You giggle at that, wiping the blood away with your sleeve before your eyes drift towards that large gash on Jungkook’s arm.
“Gods Jungkook!” you exclaim, reaching into your magic toolbelt to pull out some healing properties. Your magic toolbelt always materializes what you need just in time.  
“Oh this?” Jungkook looks down at the gash on his arm that is now foaming, bloody, and turning a shade of green, “This papercut? Don’t even worry about it.”
You scoff, quickly cleaning the wound and wrapping his arm in bandages. Jungkook always pretends like he doesn’t feel any pain, but you don’t miss the way he winces in pain when you begin to apply pressure on his wound.
Once the task is complete, your gaze shifts to the decapitated head of Lamia. Her eyes are void of life and color. Without a doubt, Jungkook had completed his duty successfully.
You narrow your eyes, examining her head, devoid of the snake's lower body, claws, and fangs. 
Your chest aches as you exhale shakily. 
Lamia was the most strikingly beautiful being you’ve ever encountered. You’ve met the goddess of beauty Aphrodite multiple times, and you dare to entertain the idea that Lamia surpasses her beauty.
Aphrodite has the kind of beauty that was glamorous and attention-commanding.  
Lamia, on the other hand, was naturally radiant. Her look could not be easily imitated by artificial means. She was a sculpture, a form of art that would never be replicated.
No wonder the queen of the gods was so envious. No wonder the king of the gods was so utterly obsessed and smitten with her. 
Her beauty is a reminder that at her core, Lamia was a human being. A tragic soul whose children met a ruthless end by none other than the gods you served. Her long, soft, and luscious orange hair cascaded across Tartarus's harsh terrain, comfortingly beautiful against its vile surroundings. 
You wanted to cry. You wanted to weep for her as much as you wanted to kill her.
Eyes lifting towards Jungkook, you force a slight smile. “Ready to finish the deal?”
Jungkook looks at you and nods, unsheathing the knife on his waist, offering you the very celestial bronze knife you forged for him when you were ten years old. 
You find yourself torn between tears and laughter. For some reason he always kept that stupid knife with him. You would never tell him, but it made you so emotional- like the knife was a symbol for yours and his unbreakable bond. 
“You got this, inferno princess.”
You nod, gulping nervously as your fingertips brush against his, your fist closing over the handle of the knife. 
You’re on the verge of bringing Jungkook’s knife down on her head, your features harden as you prepare to end Lamia for good, seeking retribution for the torment she’s inflicted and the lives she’s taken. 
With a scream you will yourself to bring the knife down. 
Until you don’t. 
Your features soften, and the celestial knife falls with a thud.
You cast a glance at Jungkook, and he responds with a nod, seemingly grasping your thoughts.
His right hand entwines with your left, and he closes his eyes. "Oh gods, I implore your mercy upon her soul. May the fates consider her past, the loss of her children, and the wrath from the queen of the gods. I offer her head as a solemn sacrifice." 
As he speaks, your fingers tighten around his, clinging onto his every word, sobbing in relief that he shares your sentiments of grief for her poor soul, even after she tried to kill you both.
With a shaky exhale, you continue. “Kindly extend your compassion to her spirit and reunite her with her offspring in the Fields of Asphodel. Anywhere but the Fields of Punishment would suffice. Please, shower your mercy upon her.”
And with that, you hold the celestial bronze knife up and bring her millenia long suffering to an end.
-
Following your encounter with Lamia, you and Jungkook continue your journey, navigating through the rugged terrain, weaving between jagged rocks and hiding in concealed potholes.  
Unfortunately, monsters are literally built to sense demigods so it isn’t long until you encounter another monster.
The next monster you encountered is Cheimarrhus. Cheimarrhus is less of a monster and more of an elemental force: the essence of coldness in Tartarus. 
When she assumes humanoid form, her skin becomes icy blue with silver hues. Her hair cascades like frozen tendrils, and her eyes gleam with an otherworldly coldness. 
The aura surrounding her is so frozen cold that your flame is nothing but a mere candle.
You aren’t able to construct anything with your tool belt because Cheimarrhus simply morphed into an elemental force when you attacked. What is a hammer going to do against a snowflake?
It isn’t just that. Her  mere presence is enough to extinguish your flames, physically weakening you to your knees.
On the earthly realm, Khione is the goddess of snow and winter. Cheimarrhus seems to be the Tartarus version over her.
After hours of treading away from Lamia, you and Jungkook sit in a concealed pothole, warming yourselves with a makeshift fire sparked by your finger. Jungkook sits closely by you, wrapping an arm around you while you rest your head on his shoulder. 
“Thank you Jungkook,” you murmur, “Thank you for saving me from Lamia. Gods, I was about to jump in the River Phlegethon- I could have died.” You burn your eyes into the lively flame, finding solace in its orange and red hues. 
Jungkook looks at you incredulously. “Inferno princess,” he expresses dumbfoundedly, “We’re in this together. We’re a team. I would give my life for you to survive. You’re key to defeating Gaia. The others can’t do it without you.”
Your gaze remains fixed on the fire. You shake your head. “Don’t talk about losing your life so easily. I would give my life for you to survive, Kook. I already played my part by retrieving the armor from the Hephaestion. I’m not needed anymore.” 
Your declaration is solemn, but you truly do mean it. You’ve played your role in accordance with the prophecy. Jungkook, Mingyu, Rose, Mina, Taehyung, and Namjoon would fare well without you.
Jungkook’s features harden. “Then I’ll make sure we both make it.”
A smile adorns your lips, and Jungkook thinks that the loveliness of your smile would bring life to flowers even in the heart of Tartarus. You nudge him softly with your body. “That’s true. We’re both going to make it.”
“That’s right, inferno princess. Atta girl. None of this death talk anymore. It’s depressing.”
You snuggle into the warmth of Jungkook’s body, enjoying the brevity of peace in the deepest pit of hell- until something feels off. You immediately jerk away from him, eliciting a look of concern from Jungkook. 
“Would she mind that we’re -like- cuddling right now?” you ask.
Jungkook frowns. “Who?”
“Seraphina. I mean- you haven’t mentioned her once this entire time. Don’t you miss her?”
Seraphina is Jungkook’s special friend, or talking stage, or something like that. In your opinion, she’s easily the most beautiful girl at camp, even amongst her siblings in the Aphrodite cabin. 
Before you left on the voyage to Greece, you’d seen Jungkook and Seraphina meandering around camp, holding hands, making out behind the Ares cabin. 
He blinks at you with a sense of disbelief. “Inferno princess,” he deadpans, “We’re literally freezing our asses off in Tartarus. She’ll be fine.”
You shake your head. “Even in Tartarus, it doesn’t feel right. Seraphina’s my friend-”
“She’s not my girlfriend,” Jungkook cuts you off.
“But I saw you-”
Jungkook shakes his head. “We’re just messing around. She’s about to break things off with me anyways. It’s a rite of passage in the Aphrodite cabin- breaking a boy’s heart. Bonus points if it’s an Ares kid. She thinks she’s playing me but I’m playing her.”
You frown. “Oh.”
Typical of an Aphrodite kid. Aphrodite cheated on your dad with Jungkook’s dad, and you can’t help but feel scorn for her. You thought Seraphina was better than that.
Jungkook playing along with it is kinda icky too. You decide to call him out for it once you return to the mortal world. 
As a Hephaestus kid, it’s definitely in your nature to judge the antics of Ares and Aphrodite kids.
“Are you sure you’re not just bringing it up because of Jaehyun?” he raises a brow at you and pulls you from your judgemental trance. 
You scoff. “Seriously? How much longer are you going to bring that up?”
Last summer, you kissed Jaehyun, son of Apollo after the daily campfire ceremony. He had just returned on a quest to retrieve the Pythian bow. The Pythian bow is a golden bow with arrows that never miss their mark. The very existence of the Pythian bow guaranteed the precision and accuracy of all archers.
When news came out that it was stolen, Jaehyun, Namjoon, and Nayeon, a hunter of Artemis, were sent on a quest to Yellowstone National Park to get it back.
When they returned, Jaehyun announced that the Pythian bow was stolen by a giant and offspring of Gaia, Tityos.
Tityos was said to have lusted after Leto, Artemis and Apollo’s mother, and attempted to violate Leto during her pregnancy. Apollo and Artemis who were still in their mother’s womb were not pleased by this and slew Tityos with their arrows once they were born. 
When Jaehyun announced to the camp that Tityos, the offspring of Gaia, had returned from Tartarus, a bone chilling unease dispersed through the assembly of demigod campers. With hindsight, you realize that this was only the beginning of Gaia’s revival. 
Back then, you were so relieved to see that he returned safely so you ran into his arms and kissed his cheek. It was a heat-in-the-moment thing, and when Jaehyun turned his head- well, that was your first kiss. 
The  weight of it settled uncomfortably in your stomach when you realized that Jaehyun was all in for you. Letting him down was heart-wrenching,  and you still feel terrible for breaking the guy’s heart.
Crazily enough, Jungkook witnessed the entire thing during a walk back from the woods. Once you pulled away from Jaehyun, Jungkook approached you both, slow-clapping like an evil villain. Jaehyun glared intensely at Jungkook, who scoffed in disdain before sauntering back to the Ares cabin. 
He made you feel like shit and you were still pissed about it.
“Gods Y/N, I had to bleach my eyes out after witnessing that. I deserve to be compensated,” he sasses.
You shake your head in disbelief. “That was my first kiss, Kook. And now I have to think of my first kiss with your deplorable face in mind.”
Jungkook’s lips curl smugly. “Good.”
You glare at him. “Is that all you have to say? Asshole.”
He shrugs. “Just give me a hug, inferno princess. We should get back on our feet soon.” He opens his arms, prompting a disdainful expression from you.
Your eyes drift towards the bandaged wound on his bicep, and your features soften. “Does it still hurt?”
Just looking at the thing made your arm throb. Disgusting shades of green and purple peeked through the sheer bandages. “Hold up, let me clean it.”
You reach into your tool belt, the materials in mind magically appearing. 
As you undo his bandages, Jungkook’s features curl in agony, wincing at the re-exposure. You use sterile gauze to wipe the wound before dabbing it with petroleum jelly. 
Jungkook’s arms are thick, but you treat his skin as if it’s the most delicate substance. Gently cleaning the wound with an antiseptic solution, you rewrap it with a sterile bandage, ensuring a snug fit.  
“It should have been me.”
You lift your head, staring at him with a look of curiosity, your eyes flickering around his features to detect any insincerity. 
You  know what he’s talking about, but you still feel the need to ask. “What?”
“Your first kiss,” he replies, flexing and extending his arm in comfort now that it was freshly bandaged. “It should have been me.”
He looks right at you, his expression hardened- perhaps to mask his vulnerability or to convey the sincerity of his confession. 
With his features so stoic, you take a second to admire how handsome he is. 
Even with his face battered and bloody, he resembles a sculpture. Every feature aligns to create the most handsome person you've ever seen. 
Your breath catches in your throat. You open your mouth to respond, but nothing comes out. 
He relents on his stoic expression, a subtle warmth enveloping his features as he releases a light-hearted laughter. “You don’t have to say anything. I just wanted to let you know,” he looks around and rubs the nape of his neck, “Tartarus isn’t the best place to make a confession, eh?”
You laugh in disbelief, “That was very Jungkook of you,” you comment, tucking a strand of hair behind your ear.
He smiles, dusting his pants off to stand up, offering you a hand. You take his hand, standing, and at that moment, your makeshift fire extinguishes. The temperature plummets, and the night becomes impossibly dark.
Jungkook immediately unsheathes his celestial bronze knife, assuming defensive stance as he conducts a 360 degree scan of his surroundings. 
There is a clear threat, but he can’t detect any presence. 
You stand back to back with Jungkook, hair rapidly whipping against the fierce winds. The plummeting temperature sends chills through your skin, nearly freezing you solid.
 You will yourself to blaze a fire from your fingertips, but to no avail. You exert more magical energy into at least sparking a flame, but the force of the frigid winds snuffs your flame out every time.
Suddenly, an evil cackle echoes throughout the atmosphere.
“Foolish demigods, entering Tartarus unprepared," the voice resonates with an eerie chill. "In the realm of perpetual cold, your feeble flames are but futile flickers. These days, Tartarus really likes cooling down." The freezing air intensifies, making it harder for you to even draw breath.
You attempt once more to summon a flame from your fingertips, determined to defy the numbing cold. However, the frigid winds persistently resist your efforts, extinguishing any spark you manage to conjure.
“Reveal yourself,” Jungkook utters lowly. 
“Isn’t the cold to your liking?” As she speaks, she becomes  louder, her voice ringing in your ears and making you wince. 
Particles of snow begin whirling around in tornado formation ahead of you, the tornado becoming thinner and thinner until it morphs  into humanoid form. The woman who appears has icy blue skin, hair cascading in frozen tendrils, and a glacial aura that crystallizes the air within a three foot vicinity. 
Taking in her humanoid form, you finally realize who she is, and you gasp. “Cheimarrhus.” 
You don’t realize how much your lips are trembling until you hear your own voice- the way you said her name sounded nothing more than a chatter. 
She smirks. “Well done, young demigod. I applaud you for recognizing me. The power-hungry Olympians have practically wiped my name from existence. The gods all know that Khione is threatened by me.”
The face of Khione, the goddess of snow and winter on the earthly realm appears in your mind. 
Jungkook eyes you before lying straight through his teeth. “That’s not true. You’re in our curriculum at Camp Half-Blood: Tartarus Monsters 202. They don’t even teach you in 101 because you’re too advanced and powerful.”
Cheimarrhus seems to be pleased by that, satisfaction enveloping her features before she sneers. “The giants must be the center of the 101 course. I swear they get all the attention.”
You nod in agreement. “Of course. But you understand that’s standard, right? They don’t dare let the younger demigods know about you because they would have too many nightmares.”
Cheimarrhus cackles, licking her lips.
 You and Jungkook eye each other, awkwardly laughing along with her to hopefully appease the blizzard. 
“SILENCE.”
You flinch, taking a step back, Jungkook reaching for your hand to stabilize you. 
“Do you take me for a fool? You demigods and your lies. Typical,” she spits, her anger causing the temperature to plummet even more. “Now demigods, suffer. I will win Tartarus’s favor by freezing you to death.”
“Hey! We were just trying to be nice!-”
Her body morphs into snow particles, whirling around before it disperses throughout the atmosphere. 
You look at Jungkook, ice crystallizing around strands of his hair, his skin an unhealthy hue of blue, and his lips trembling. You’re sure you don’t look much better because his features morph into horror when he looks at you. 
“Y-Y/N. L-let’s take the motorcycle and get the outta here.”
“What about th-the monsters?” 
“Fuck that, we’ll freeze to death first.”
You nod in agreement, and Jungkook presses a button on his watch, watching as it unfolds into a Celestial Bronze Harley Davidson motorcycle. You zoom off on the motorcycle, arms locked around Jungkook’s waist. Gods, getting on the motorcycle was probably a worse idea, the frigid air rushing against your face as the motorcycle accelerated. 
Cheimarrhus is relentless, trailing on you as rapidly as she matches the motorcycle’s speed. 
“Jungkook!” You call out, “This isn’t working!”
The motorcycle comes to an abrupt stop and you both tumble onto the ground as the watch returns to Jungkook’s wrist. 
You crawl around the ground, sobbing and looking for Jungkook. “Jungkook, where are you? Please Jungkook, please!”
You hear him shuffle towards you before he helps you up from both armpits. You both tread to a nearby pothole, settling into it while you cling onto each other, desperately clinging to each other’s body heat.
The side effects of frostbite can be fatal. In highly severe instances, the freezing cold penetrates human tissue, causing body parts like toes, fingers, and noses to freeze and eventually fall off. 
You close your eyes, nestling in Jungkook’s embrace as you prepare to welcome your final moments. 
“Jungkook?”
“Hm?”
“I had a crush on you from -like- 12 to 15. I thought I should let you know in case, you know.”
“Gods inferno princess, didn’t we agree to not talk about death? It’s just an average day for us demigods. Frostbite, freezing to death? What does that even mean? It would never happen to us,” he muses, blue lips curling up into a teasing smile. 
You push your face into the now sopping fabric of Jungkook’s shirt, laughing. Who would even laugh in a situation like this? 
“So what’d I do to make you stop liking me?” he asks, looking down at you. 
“Nothing, you just didn’t like me back,” you shrug, your shoulders barely moving in the freezing cold. 
“That’s not true. I liked you the moment I laid eyes on you. That’s why I was such an asshole. It was the only way 10-year-old me knew how to flirt.”
You cease your motions, your frosty eyebrows scrunching in confusion. “You always had a thing for Aphrodite girls. I didn’t know.”
“It was only because you never batted an eye at me. Had me heartbroken.”
You shake your head in amusement. “Gods, I think that’s the craziest thing I’ve ever heard, even in Tartarus.” 
“What do you say? Do you have it in your heart to give me another chance? I want you for real. I want us for real.”
After the incident last summer, you swore you wouldn’t ever make any spur-in-the-moment decisions, until your frosty fingers cup Jungkook’s cheeks, and you kiss him. 
Jungkook seems a bit taken aback, but reciprocates your kiss with equal fervor, placing his hands on the small of your back to stabilize you. The ice on your lips melts, and at that moment, everything seems okay. 
Gods, you feel so warm on the inside that the temperature outside seems to gradually rise.
You pull back, eyes flickering around your surroundings. The blizzard is gone. Cheimarrhus is gone. Somehow the warmth returned, making even Tartarus feel like a tropical paradise. 
In relief, you pull Jungkook in for another kiss. He holds your cheeks with his rugged palms, practically drinking from your lips in reprieve. 
The sound of thundering footsteps pull you away from each other. 
Yours and Jungkook’s heads whip towards the sounds of the footsteps, and there stands a thirty foot giant. 
The giant is colossal in stature, the stony texture of his skin giving him an appearance as if built from the very rocks that surrounded him. The monster has a horrifying and booming presence, its malevolent aura casting an ominous feeling in your gut.
The giant blinks at you and Jungkook, the most nonchalant look cloaking his rugged features. 
Momentarily, you consider the idea that the giant might not see you- but no he does- because he dismisses your mere existence with a wave before sauntering back to a hut a kilometer away. 
“Holy shit,” Jungkook mutters. 
Every footstep the giant takes induces vibrations through the terrain, making yours and Jungkook’s teeth chatter just as much as Cheimarrhus’s blizzard did. 
“Sir! Excuse me, sir! Can you help us?!” Jungkook’s voice echoes throughout the atmosphere and your heart drops into your ass. 
Giants were the direct offspring of Gaia, the Earthmother you were on a quest to kill. 
If Cheimarrhus didn’t kill you, then this giant would surely be the one to finish the deal. 
The giant slowly turns around, eyes narrowing at you like you’re the scum of the Earth. You shudder in anticipation.
“Follow me to my hut,” is all he says, turning back around and walking steadily towards his hut.
You and Jungkook quickly scramble to your feet, fingers intertwined as you trail behind the giant, leaving a few meters in between you and the giant. 
The giant turns around again, and it’s like the whole earth rumbles. “What are you doing? Hurry up!” You and Jungkook cast questionable glances at each other, but nonetheless scramble to the giant’s side. 
After a few odd moments of walking,  the giant speaks up. “So, how’d you two get to Tartarus? I’ve never seen any demigods around here before.”
A giant starting a casual conversation with you in Tartarus was not on your bingo card for this year. 
Jungkook told the giant the entire story eliciting a deep sigh from the monster. “That’s my mother, always insistent on wreaking havoc. She banished me and disowned me, her son for the same reason- because I refused to fight your father.” He looks right at Jungkook, and at that moment, a lightbulb appears above your head.
The giant you were addressing was Damasen.
Damasen was originally a giant created by the Earth goddess Gaea to serve her in her plans to overthrow the Olympian gods.
 He was designed to be the bane of Ares, Jungkook’s father. Damasen was quite literally created to embody the antithesis of the war god’s essence, the only being designed to incapacitate Ares. 
Ultimately, this backfired on Gaia.  While many giants were naturally hostile towards the gods, Damasen differed in nature. Damasen rejected war, with a gentle heart that rejected the brutality often associated with Ares. 
“You’re Damasen” you exhale breathlessly. 
“Correct, daughter of Hephaestus. Come in my hut and have soup, then I’ll send you both on your way.”
Damasen the Friendly poured you and Jungkook bowls of drakon soup, chunks of drakon meat floating in the broth.
“What about you, Mr. Damasen? Why don’t you tell us your story?” you implore, heartily sipping down the soup.
Damasen smiles. “It’s just as I said. I rejected war, resulting in abandonment from my mother. Instead, I chose to live a peaceful life on Earth as a farmer. I befriended other mortal farmers, and we lived in harmony planting wheat and barley,” he shrugs, lifting his mug in a fatherly way as he takes a sip of hot water.
You and Jungkook exchange dumbfounded glances. A giant living peacefully among mortals was absolutely unheard of.
“It was a peaceful millenia,” he continues, “Until a drakon escaped into the mortal realm and began ravaging all the farms. I couldn’t let it be. I slayed it. My mother banished me to Tartarus, cursing me to slay the drakon everyday for the rest of my life.”
On cue, a drakon roar reverberates between the walls. Damasen casts a dark look to the outside of the hut and immediately springs into action.
You and Jungkook watch dumbfoundedly as Damasen slays the enormous creature and walks to the hut like returning from a walk in the park.
“Damasen, you’re amazing,” you express in awe, to which Damasen shrugs.
“You demigods may rest on the hammock. You both look awful. We can continue this conversation once you wake,” he says, pointing towards a hammock made from drakon skin in the corner. 
Jungkook wants to protest, feeling unsafe about sleeping vulnerable in the presence of a giant, but he’s too tired to process anything. 
He plops onto the hammock, welcoming you with open arms as you both sink into the sheets, falling into a restful slumber after the most difficult hours of your life.
Jungkook wakes first, eyes blinking groggily as his eyes venture towards you, sleeping peacefully in the crook of his armpit. Careful not to wake you up, he gently lifts your head with his palm and gently places it against a pillow before standing from the hammock.
Damasen sits on the kitchen table, structured from Drakon bone, reading a Guide to the Underworld by Persephone and Demeter, a book that must have blown into the pit of Tartarus.
He takes a seat by Damasen. “Sir, we need you to lead us towards the Doors of Death.”
The Doors of Death stood as the sole gateway to the mortal realm. Gaia and her giants had seized control of these doors, enabling monsters to surge back into the mortal world with alarming speed. You and Jungkook had to enter the mortal realm through the Doors of Death, sealing it off from Tartarus’s side while the rest of the crew would work on closing the doors from the Earthly side.  
Damasen shakes his head, and Jungkook becomes slightly intimidated. This giant was designed to kill his father, the most fierce warrior amongst the Olympians. Though Damasen claimed a life of peace, what  if he changed his mind? Damasen could crush Jungkook with his bare fists. 
 “Son of Ares, I already told you that I chose to leave a life of peace. I do not wish to involve myself with pointless affairs.”
Jungkook grimaces, taking a knee on the concrete floor, a sign of respect for the Greeks “Sir, please. I’d do anything. We won’t survive without your guidance.”
Damasen lifts his gaze from the book to Jungkook, seemingly trapped in intense contemplation. “There is one thing you can do.”
“Whatever you need, I’ll try my best to do it for you,” Jungkook implores.
“My pocket knife,” Damasen responds, “It was the only belonging I carried from the mortal realm. The drakon knocked it into the River Phlegethon, and it’s been sitting at the bottom since. The child of Hephaestus can retrieve it for me.”
“No-”
“I’ll do it,” you declare, sitting up from the hammock.
Jungkook cuts you off immediately. “Sir, is there anything else I can do? I don’t want to put her in danger.”
Damasen shrugs, “That’s all I can think of. I’ll let you know if I come up with anything else.”
You shake your head, joining Jungkook and Damasen at the kitchen table, sitting on one of the drakon bone chairs. “I can do it. I’m immune to fire.”
Jungkook glares at you, and you respond with an even more fierce glare. Damasen, studying the dynamic between you and Jungkook, releases a sigh. “Child, does your father know about your relationship with this son of Ares? I imagine Hephaestus won’t find that very favorable.”
You stick out your hand, partially ignoring Damasen’s comment about Jungkook. Damasen uses his pointer finger and thumb to shake your hand. 
“Call me Y/N. If I retrieve the pocket knife from the River Phlegethon, join us on our quest. You can return to the mortal world and work as a farmer on Camp Half-Blood. We’re looking for a manager for our strawberry fields.”
Damasen shakes his head, “Your efforts would be futile. Even if I tried to leave, we would walk endlessly until returning to this hut.”
“Damasen,” you implore, “You deserve so much more than this. You deserve to see the stars, the sky, the moon. We need you.”
“If you retrieve the knife, I will guide you towards the Doors of Death. I will not be able to provide assistance beyond that,” he stubbornly responds, refusing to change his stance. 
You don’t realize you’re holding your breath until you exhale. “Okay. Where’s the knife?”
Jungkook scowls deeply at you. “Y/N. It’s dangerous. We can do this a different way.” He redirects his attention towards Damasen. “Anything else. Just let me know, anything that a son of Ares can do, I will do.”
“You already killed Lamia. At the very least, I can do this. I’m immune to fire, I’ll be able to survive at least 5 minutes in the river, and I can come back up to the surface if I need to.”
Jungkook shakes his head, “No. You’re not doing it.”
You frown deeply at him. “What, so you think I’m too weak to contribute to the quest?”
“What? No- that’s not what I’m saying. I just want you to be safe.”
You place both palms on his shoulders, looking at him straight in the eyes. “Jungkook,” you declare firmly, “Drop the Prince Charming complex. We’re in Tartarus. I wouldn’t try if I knew I couldn’t do it.”
Leaving him dumbfounded, you face Damasen. “Lead the way. I’m ready to jump in when you are.”
Jungkook clears his throat. “Damasen, give us a moment to discuss. Please.” He pulls you by your wrist to a corner of the drakon bone hut. You’re not necessarily secluded and Damasen catches heed to every word. 
Jungkook shifts uncomfortably. “You’re sure you can do it? You’ve never walked into a fire, let alone swam in one.”
You dismiss the notion with a wave. “I have. I saved some mortals from a house fire last summer. At the very least I can do five minutes- maybe ten if I try hard enough.”
Jungkook eyes you suspiciously, but you refuse to relent on your stoicism. Of course, you’re lying, but Jungkook doesn’t need to know that.
“Fine,” Jungkook relents, “But you’re making a silicone harness, with a fire-proof string, and I’m pulling you out after three minutes,” he compromises, features hardening. 
That’s all you’re getting, and you are going to take it if it means getting this over with more quickly.
“Damasen, if you give us a minute, I’m going to construct a makeshift breathing apparatus. Jungkook, I won’t make a harness, but I can tie a string around my waist. Pull me out after three minutes.”
You begin pulling things from your toolbelt, leaving Damasen to marvel at it. “Hephaestus technology, huh?” he beckons, “Your father must love you a lot to provide you with something like this.”
You shrug, “I guess. Man doesn’t talk to me much. It’s whatever,” you respond, quickly brushing off the topic as your hands quickly assemble a makeshift breathing apparatus from titanium alloys, ceramic composites, and rubber seals. 
-
Anyways, without delving too much into the details of yours and Jungkook’s excursion to Tartarus, you can safely claim you and Jungkook soundly escaped Tartarus.
Damasen was not so lucky.
That didn’t mean, however, that you and Jungkook weren’t on the brink of death when you narrowly escaped Tartarus through the Doors of Death.
Writhing on the floor, you vaguely remember Taehyung whisking you in his arms, willing the water from the surrounding lakes to form a wave, carrying himself back to the ship. 
Meanwhile,  Mingyu, son of Jupiter, soared through the air carrying an unconscious Jungkook from the crooks of his armpits.
You and Jungkook must have laid idle for quite a while in the ship’s corridors, and your friends, in their infinitely loyal nature, sat by your bedside for the entire time. 
Rose, daughter of Apollo and one of the demigods on the quest, remained by your side throughout, using her most powerful healing properties to save you from returning to the Underworld as a dead spirit. 
Her voice was the very first thing you heard when you woke up.
“Gods Taehyung, you fucking idiot, don’t pour more than half of a cup of nectar into the canteen! It needs to stay refrigerated!”
“Damn doctor- I’m trying my best here!”
You blink groggily, closing your eyes shut at the sunlight seeping through your eyelids like you have a sun allergy.
“Rosie?” you breathlessly express.
Rose drops nearly spills the canteen of nectar onto her pretty dress and whips her head towards you.
“Praise the gods, Y/N!” she squeals, reaching out to embrace you before she rapidly recoils her arms, “Oh shit, I don’t want to hurt you, but Gods Y/N, I’m so fucking happy you’re awake!”
You shake your head, sitting up on the bed, allowing Rose to cup your cheeks and rest her forehead on yours. 
“‘m fine Rosie, I feel brand new,” you mumble, and she finally reaches her arms out to tightly embrace you, tears of relief streaming down her face, soiling the fabric of your T-shirt.
“Gods Rosie, are you crying?” you express, a teasing giggle leaving your lips.
She playfully swats at your shoulder, “Yes Y/N, I’m fucking crying! I was worried sick! You fell into freaking Tartarus for Gods’ sake! We were so worried that you wouldn’t make it back, and to just-to just- to just see that you and Jungkook are okay- Gods, I’m so happy!”
The sounds of more cries echo across the walls, and you lift your head from Rose’s shoulder, blinking like you might be hallucinating because  Taehyung is sobbing, like actual tears streaming down his face.
You don’t think you’ve seen him cry since you were 14, during the Battle of the Labyrinth.
And as much as you want to make a teasing comment, you know you shouldn’t encourage his toxic masculinity any further.
He’s using his large palms to wipe the snot seeping out of his nostrils, and you and Rose simply look at each other, not knowing what to do or say. 
Should you comfort him? Should you say something? 
“I need to pee,” is all you muster in response. 
Rose laughs, rising up, wiping her palms on her jeans. “Want me to come along?”
“Duh.”
At that moment, you feel a large palm wrap around the circumference of your wrist. 
“Don’t go,” is all Jungkook mumbles, resting his forearm on his eyes to shield himself from the sun. He opens a single eye, and you feel your heart skip a beat- the sun is perfectly reflecting off Jungkook’s skin, making his brown irises appear the prettiest shade of hazel, and he’s looking at you so needily you wish you could  stay with him forever.
He tightens his hold on your wrist, pulling you towards him- you resist slightly so he doesn’t pull you on top of him in front of everyone. “Shit baby, we made it. It’s you and me inferno princess, the only demigods to survive Tartarus.”
And with that, the hand on your wrist moves to the back of your head, and he pulls your lips toward his, kissing you deeply like you were made of the sweetest nectar. You’re a bit taken aback, but you kiss him back just as passionately, eyes shutting in relief because Jungkook is okay.
He almost died several times in Tartarus protecting you. He laid his life down to save yours, and Gods, you hate to admit it but Jungkook is your handsome warrior, your Prince Charming, your man.
You would do anything for him.
You only pull away from each other when the sound of a canteen clatters on the floor. 
“Apollo’s Arrows!” Rosie backs away, nearly toppling over a nearby chair, a palm clasped over her mouth, “What happened in Tartarus?”
“What the fuck, Jeon!!” Mingyu gasps. 
Your head whips to your left, and the rest of the crew is standing in the doorway. Namjoon, Mina, and Mingyu are gaping at you, meaning that the entire crew witnessed the kiss. 
“Surprise..?” you squeak.
Mina, daughter of the Roman goddess Venus, quite literally leaps onto the bed, enveloping you in the tightest hug she’s ever bestowed. “I knew it! I swear, my mom told me you two were designed for each other in a dream! Gods, is Jungkook the first guy you didn’t reject?”
Your cheeks flush at that. 
The goddess of love herself claimed that you and Jungkook were designed for each other? Did the fates also weave this into their tapestries?
Jungkook raises a brow. “How many other guys did you reject?”
Mina squeals, “Jeon you wouldn’t believe it- I’ve got a whole list right here, lemme just pull it out-”
Namjoon walks over, placing a soft hand on Mina’s back. He looks up, addressing you and Jungkook. “I’m happy for you lovebirds, but if you’re all healed, we need you guys back up on the deck. We’re sailing into the Sea of Monsters.”
Taehyung stands,  the sclera of his eyes fading from a bloodshot red to a crimson pink. He and Jungkook exchange knowing glances, and Taehyung approaches, offering Jungkook a handshake, (or a dap?), to which Jungkook obliges before Taehyung reaches into his pocket for his pen. 
He puts it on display, holding it between his pointer and thumb, biting his lower lip in jubilation, a smirk spreading across his lips. 
He pushes past everybody, shoots up the stairs, leaving the rest of the crew to only perceive the sound of Taehyung’s pen clicking and transforming into a sexy Celestial Bronze sword. 
Jungkook stands, twisting his neck around to ease tension before he leans down to place a brief, but sweet kiss on your lips. “Gotta go babe, get some more rest.”
And with that, Jungkook disappears into the corridors, Namjoon following his lead. 
Mina and Rose join you on the bed, the three of you sitting in bestie formation. 
“Firstly,” Mina begins, “Are you okay? Gods Y/N, you survived fucking Tartarus.”
You nod, recalling everything that had happened in the pit, from your experiences with Lamia to deep diving into the River Phlegethon. “It hasn’t hit me yet,” you murmur, “but I guess that’ll have to wait until after we finally get rid of Gaia.”
Rose and Mina wrap you in a hug, their love and friendship seeping into you, and the feeling is tangible, so you allow yourself to melt into their embrace. A hug. A hug from your best girl friends is all you need right now.
They pull away, and with a giggle, Rose asks “So what happened with you and Jeon? Don’t tell me you lost your virginity in Tartarus-”
The sound of someone clearing their throat cuts Rosie off, and the three of you immediately whip your heads towards Mingyu, son of Jupiter, who had apparently been there the entire time. 
He’s leaning against the doorway, the hilt of his Imperial Gold sword sticking up from the scabbard hooked to his belt.
“He’s been here the whole time?” Mina deadpans to which Mingyu scoffs and shakes his head, taking a seat on the wheely chair by the bed. 
“Daughters of Venus, Apollo, and Hephaestus, and none of you could detect the presence of another demigod?” he teases. 
“Ugh whatever,” Mina muses, “It’s just because your energy is too weak. Not much to detect anyways”.
Looks like it’s just Mingyu and the girlies.
Or one Greek demigod with three Roman demigods, 
Or just four distant relatives through their godly parents just hanging around (except godly DNA wasn’t really a thing).
Mingyu dismisses her claim with a wave of his hand before rolling over to give you a side hug, “I’m glad you’re safe Y/N, and I’m happy you and Jungkook found each other. At least one good thing came from this.”
You blush, thanking Mingyu.
“That guy is like head over heels for you, he looks like he could take a giant on by himself for you,” he teases, to which Mina nods enthusiastically. 
“Oh yea Y/N, anybody could tell that Jungkook had a thing for you- you were probably the only  one who didn’t know,” Rose agrees.
That makes you redden. You rewind all your previous interactions with Jungkook like a cassette, regurgitating anything that could possibly be interpreted as romantic, but nope, nothing arises. 
You pause, thinking back to your quest with Lamia at 14. 
Jungkook was so adamant to go on that quest, and you always assumed it was because of his obsession with winning. He wanted to claim the fame and glory that came with completing a quest. He had the time of his life killing ferocious monsters and he could make his dad proud while stroking his own ego. 
Quite honestly, it never occurred to you that he accompanied you on all these quests because he liked you. 
You open your mouth to say something, but the wretched growls and howls of a sea monster cut you off. The upper deck shakes, rubble from the roof falling onto the ground.
You four give each other knowing looks and bolt up the stairs. 
-
The next two weeks on ships were the most cathartic weeks of Jungkook’s life. 
He takes every chance he can  romance you, savoring what could have been the past five years. Needless to say, Jungkook  is madly in love.
It was the middle of the night, and the sound of your alarm blared in your ears. That meant you were needed for duty on the upper deck.
All members of the crew took turns guarding the upper deck to protect the ship against sea monsters, wind spirits, and any other murder-inducing apparatuses. With a yawn you stumble towards the bathroom, quickling washing up before heading towards the stairs. 
Mingyu and Namjoon are leaning against the railings of the ship, appearing like literal death after being on guard for eight hours. You nod at both of them and Namjoon gives you a brief hug before disappearing down the stairs.
You head towards the figurehead, peering at the endless sea and the large crescent moon as you let the wind blow in your face like Rose from Titanic. 
Lost in your thoughts, you squeal when a hoodie-clad Jungkook sneaks up behind you and snakes his arms around your waist. He rests his head in the crook of your neck, making the gesture to sniff deeply, which gets him an elbow in the abs. 
“Such a barbarian, Kook,” you murmur. 
“What? I love your B.O,” he teases. 
Disgusting. He’s so gross. So disgusting, and you are disgustingly in love with him. 
You swirl around, leaning on the edge of the ship to face him so you can cup his face and sweetly kiss him. You love the texture of his tan skin- much more keratinized than yours- the calluses on his hands and the rough texture on his face somehow makes you feel safe in a weird dermatologist way. 
This time, Jungkook doesn’t kiss back, just keeps his eyes open so he can admire you, laughing a bit when you pull away from him.
You bite your lip, crimsoning to the shade of Cupid’s bum. “What?” you pout. 
Jungkook shrugs, eyes never averting from yours. “Nothing,” he replies nonchalantly, “You’re particularly lovely tonight.” And he means it. 
Under the moonlight, you become more mesmerizing. The night sky and chilly breeze sets the ambiance perfectly. If Jungkook could, he would park the ship by a nearby island and take you on a picnic date by the shore. 
You don’t feel lovely- you’re exhausted and quite honestly you kinda want to die but Jungkook never fails to see the beauty in your impurities. 
“You should get some rest. You were on guard for like eight hours today” you respond softly. His eyes, though filled with love, are tired with dark circles beneath, and you immediately become concerned for the well being of the man.
He grins, his pupils following your every movement and you don’t realize that Jungkook is slowly inching towards you. You look worried out of your mind and he can’t even take you seriously, thinking you’re the most precious thing in the world. “Did you even sleep? And you’re on guard next,” you beckon.
He looks at you like you’re crazy, scoffing playfully with a hand on his heart. “Babygirl thinks I can’t handle being up for more than twenty four hours? ‘m not a boy anymore, I’m a grown ass man.”
“A grown ass man that needs to sleep,” you point out, gaze hardening. 
Jungkook pouts at that, arms sneaking around you as he pulls you closer. “I wanna be with my girl. Send me back to Tartarus if that’s so evil.”
You rake your fingertips through his hair, shaking your head while you laugh at his comment. “And I want my handsome boyfriend to get sleep so he can be his best when he’s on guard duty.”
He lowers his head and whines into the crook of your neck, nibbling on the skin in retaliation. 
“After your guard duty today,” you whisper, “Come by my room. We can spend the night together,” your voice in itself makes Jungkook freeze. You sound so alluring, and Jungkook can’t help but fall victim to your seduction. 
Greek heroes were known to have fatal flaws: tragic downfalls that led to their bitter demise in all the classics. Hercules’ fatal flaw was impulsivity. Achilles' fatal flaw was his arrogance. Jungkook thinks that his fatal flaw is you. He’d burn the whole world if it meant you were okay.
He pulls away, somewhat surprised while he scans your face for any hint of unseriousness. “Okay,” Jungkook acquiesces, “But call me if you need anything.” With another brief kiss, he turns around and stalks back to his cabin.
-
For the past five minutes, you’ve been sitting at your desk. A sewing machine from your tool belt is placed in front of you, and you must be out of your mind because you’re actually sewing black lace lingerie. 
Of course a daughter of Hephaestus can engineer and sew.
Staring at your reflection in the mirror, you compare the fabric with your body to ensure the lingerie looks as appealing as possible. 
You think you look good but you can’t help the self conscious thoughts seeping into your mind, and thus you resist the urge to smash your head into the sewing machine. 
You briefly consider throwing the scraps of fabric into the trash can and pretending this never happened, but at the very least, you should see the lingerie through before deciding to go through with it. 
You don’t know what it is, but you are aware that you have some twisted fantasy in the deepest trenches of your heart about seducing your man, a sultry look in your eyes as you beckon him towards you before smothering your body in every crevice of his. 
You want him to be enamored with you; you want him to be mesmerized beyond comprehension, and you want to give yourself to him completely. 
Gods, this was a dark thought but you and Jungkook were on a dangerous, life-threatening quest. Who knows when either of you will meet your treacherous demise? You might as well adopt the whole fuck it, we’re going to die anyway philosophy and carry out the little silly adventures you’ve dreamt of, especially while you’re alive. 
You slide the lingerie and look at yourself in the mirror- you don’t even recognize yourself. 
You must be out of your mind.
-
Jungkook suffers through a long eight hours of waiting around on the upper deck, slaughtering sea monsters, negotiating with Greek guardians, and killing the occasional goddess.
He knows he shouldn’t be distracted during a quest, but he can’t help but visualize your face every time he closes his eyes. Jungkook’s had a crush on you ever since you were 10 and a decade later it stubbornly refused to fade.
He is alright with that.
If anything, he should be thanking Aphrodite for finally letting you and him happen because he has more of a reason to fight- more of a reason to conquer.
For you. It was all for you.
He’s pulled from his trance by the footsteps of Mina and Taehyung, meaning that it was their turn for guard duty and his shift was up. Jungkook bites his lips to hide the smile of ecstasy threatening to swallow his  entire face, and he realizes he must be ass at hiding his expression because Mina eyes him with pure suspicion.
He doesn’t care.
He zooms down the stairs, whizzing through the hallways before stopping at your door. He takes a deep breath, wiping off the dust from his clothes. He probably smells, but that’s okay. What nerd even has time to shower on a quest to save the world? 
Opening the door, the softest gasp leaves his lips.
His hands fumble the Celestial Bronze knife in his grasp, and it falls to the ground with a clack clack clack. 
Jungkook is starstruck, and he inhales shakily before he kicks the celestial knife to the side before swiveling around, ensuring no one was peering through the cracks before he closes the door behind him.
The room is decorated with candles, and no matter how the ship heaves and hoes, the candles remain in place, their flames still shining brightly and swaying with the movement of the shop.
Thank gods he’s dating a Hephaestus girl who can do freaky things like mechanically engineer non-flammable, non-movable candles that still retain the sultry ambiance of a normal candle.
He licks his lips.
In the middle of the bed, surrounded by rose petals sits you, in sheer black lace lingerie, staring at him innocently like you haven’t a clue how you’re twisting and turning his insides.
The lingerie fits you perfectly, accentuating every line and curve on your body and Jungkook truly truly thinks that you’re more beautiful than Aphrodite herself.
“Hey, Kook,” you whisper and Jungkook thinks he’s going to have a heart attack because he’s heard your voice millions of times but still thinks it sounds so sweet, beckoning him over to you.
He gulps. 
What a woman you are.
“And before you ask, I engineered the door to only open for you,” you giggle, watching Jungkook as his fingers tousle with the upper hem of his shirt, throwing it off to reveal his Greek-god build. Before he gets to the bed, he tumbles out of his sweatpants, leaving them on the floor- not even thinking. His mind is only on you.
He doesn’t say anything, and he knows damn well that a stupid door isn’t what he’s thinking about. He reaches the bed, crawls to you, and with his knees on the bed, he lifts you like you’re nothing as he holds your body from your waist as he kisses you.
He kiss kisses you, his tongue in your mouth, moaning because you taste sweeter than you usually do- and he’s not sure if it’s because of the show you’ve put on for him, or because he’s falling more in love with you everyday. 
The skin to skin contact is more real than ever. You’re so close that there isn’t a gap between your stomachs. All he can feel is you and the texture of your lace lingerie, and he absolutely melts into the feeling of you. 
He groans.
That night, he gives himself to you completely because he belongs to you.
He remembers the whole thing so vividly. 
On top of you, his eyes were lidded and his vision was blurred from the pleasure seeping throughout his body, sending chills down his spine, but he still refused to look away from you.
He remembers how beautiful you were underneath him, moaning his name and telling him you loved him.
With every thrust of his hips, his vision became more blurred- perhaps from the pleasure or because he was crying, vision clouded by tears because he’s so in love, and he never wants to lose you. The fire from the candles seems to burn more intensely, and when he reaches climax, the dreamy haze of you- your body and face- beneath the glow of the candles is all he sees. 
While the fire from that night set his heart ablaze, it was also your very flames that charred his heart to a crisp, leaving Jungkook as nothing but an empty shell of his former self. 
Exactly one week later, you died.
You, Jungkook, and Mingyu soared thousands of feet above Camp Half-Blood. The claws of your mechanical dragon Pulchra tousled with the physical form of the evil Earth mother herself: Gaia. You sat on your dragon, directing her to ascend higher and higher.
Mingyu, son of Jupiter, who was equipped with handy dandy flying skills, held Jungkook as he followed in pursuit of your dragon. As he darted through the clouds, Jungkook delivered fatal blows to the Earth mother.  
Since Jungkook returned from Tartarus, he and Mingyu had been preparing a strategy to kill Gaia for good. 
Gaia was the mother of the Earth, so taking away from her playing field and to the skies provided Jungkook and Mingyu with an advantage. 
Mingyu, harnessing the power of the tempests, would conjure a storm, disorienting Gaia with lightning and wind. Jungkook would deliver the final blow with the spear of Ares- the same spear you retrieved from the Hephaestion, and the same spear Ares used to kill Alcyeoneus in the original Titan war. 
But before Mingyu had the chance to summon a gust of wind, you used your flame manipulation to morph into a ball of fire to incinerate Gaia to death, engulfing Gaia and yourself in fire before blasting away like a meteor, leaving a trail of fiery residue in your wake. 
That marked the final glimpse Jungkook saw of you.
Gaia’s death meant the successful completion of the quest, and Camp Half-Blood and Camp Jupiter erupted into cheers at the demise of the evil Earth mother. Mingyu and Jungkook, on the other hand, were in shock as they remained stagnant in the atmosphere, watching the fiery residue simmer into nothingness. 
Mingyu touches down softly on the earth,  and Jungkook stumbles on the ground, falling to his knees.  Campers from both Camp Half-Blood and Camp Jupiter roar with excitement, welcoming both men with jubilation.
Jungkook is unable to move, palms and knees still planted onto the ground, grappling with the weight of what he just witnessed. The cheers seem distant, drowned out by the echo of your fiery departure. Jungkook, typically fierce and resilient, allows panic to infiltrate his being, and it isn’t until Rose pushes past the crowd and falls to her knees, her palms desperately shaking Jungkook’s shoulders. “Where’s Y/N? Jungkook?! Where the fuck is Y/N?”
Unable to conjure a response, Jungkook opens and closes his mouth, desperately scanning Rosie’s face for a hint of jest- like Oh! Just kidding! Y/N is right here!- but she’s not kidding, her hardened features indicative that nothing could ever be more serious. 
Jungkook's agony manifests in a heart-wrenching scream, tears streaming down his face as he  bangs his fists into the ground. 
Rosie’s face drops and she clasps a palm over her lips. At that moment, Taehyung, Mina, and Namjoon push through the crowd, frantically scanning through the waves of people for you. Taehyung’s face turns grim at the sight of Jungkook sobbing into the ground, and Namjoon starts crying. 
The cheers from the campers dwindle into silence. 
"Legions, to the West! Each camper is to conduct a thorough search for Y/N. Mobilize all pegasi, airplanes, and flying apparatuses immediately!" Mingyu roars, and the camps erupt into a panic, fleeing into different directions to prepare for a comprehensive search. 
After 24 hours of hunting, you never appear. 
Jennie, daughter of Hades, confirms your death, and Jungkook’s heart plummets to his stomach. 
-
The atmosphere at Camp Half-Blood is heavy with sorrow as campers of both Roman and Greek gather at the foot of Half-Blood Hill.
In the center of a clearing, a makeshift altar is erected, adorned with offerings and mementos that speak of the adventures and camaraderie you share with the camp. Symbols are scattered for each quest you successfully complete. Copies of your favorite books litter the ground, along with your favorite foods, figurines of your favorite anime characters, and prototypes of weapons and trinkets you engineer.
Each camper is presented a red bead adorned with the emblem of a flame to celebrate the daughter of Hephaestus that shines so brightly. The bead is intended to be threaded onto the necklaces worn by all Camp Half-Blood members, each bead representing a year spent at camp.
“Today, we gather not only to mourn the loss of a brave demigod but to celebrate a hero whose legacy will forever echo through the boundaries of this camp,” Chiron’s voice resonates with a mix of sadness and reverence.
As Chiron speaks, campers take turns sharing anecdotes of your courage, weaving a tapestry of memories that paint a vivid impact you have on those around you.
In Mingyu's embrace, Rose weeps openly, her tears flowing freely as Mina recollects the adventures the three girls embarked upon the quest to defeat Gaia. Tales unfold—of mastering swordplay, battling sea monsters, concocting healing potions, and dedicating free time to handcraft makeup and serums.
Mingyu is next, clearing his throat before he awkwardly retells stories of meeting you for the first time. Mingyu, son of the Roman god Jupiter, appeared at Camp Half-Blood randomly after having his memory wiped.
Most approached Mingyu with hostility while you and Namjoon welcomed him with kindness, showing him around camp and becoming his friend. Mingyu shares the tale of your and his encounter with Hercules on an island before entering Greece—a confrontation that angered Hercules and ended with him buried under a mound of macaroni (a lengthy tale). Mingyu sheds a tear before closing off, and to be quite honest, he still bears the weight of witnessing your death and not intervening. It would haunt him forever.
Jaehyun, son of Apollo and your first kiss, is up next. In a heartfelt moment, he openly declares his love for you in front of everyone, and while he has every right to mourn and grieve in a way that works for him, the few that know about you and Jungkook shift in discomfort.
No one utters a word about your blooming relationship with Jungkook, and unless Jungkook explicitly tells them to, their lips remain sealed.
Love is a beautiful thing. At times, some find themselves so enamored with another that they become compelled to openly declare and proclaim their love to the whole world. Arguably, an intimate, more private love is even more ideal. Loving someone discreetly creates an intimate connection known only to someone and their love, completely unburdened by the need for external validation, and that’s the type of love Jungkook intends to share with you.
Once Jaehyun sits down, the echo of Taehyung’s stomp captures the attention of all the campers.
“Y/N’s not dead,” Taehyung claims, “and I know she’s not.”
Namjoon eyes his friend with daggers in his pupils, but Taehyung refuses to relent.
“I’ve been best friends with Y/N since we were 12,” he seethes, “I would sense it if she were dead- so respectfully, we need to stop moping around and we have to find her.”
“Tae,” Jennie, daughter of Hades, rises and places a soothing hand on his back, “I sensed her death. I’m sorry, but she’s gone.”
Taehyung shakes his head and brushes Jennie’s hand away. “I don’t give a fuck. Y/N is alive.”
In a rage of anger, Namjoon stands up and strikes Taehyung in the face. “Taehyung! Sit down. You’re tarnishing Y/N’s image and causing more pain for everyone here with your delusions. Y/N is in Elysium, and she’s at peace. Let her rest in peace.”
Chiron clears his throat and approaches the boys. “That’s true. She served well. Y/N has been on quests since she was 11. She was a diligent soldier. She deserves rest.”
Taehyung, clutching his face where Namjoon hit him, remains calm and shakes his head. “I would agree if she were actually dead, but she’s not. Isn’t that right Jungkook? Don’t you feel it?”
Jungkook, who has maintained a solemn silence until this moment, lifts his head from his hands. His gaze sweeps over the assembly of campers, then shifts to the shrine erected in your memory, finally locking eyes with Taehyung. Despite his swollen and puffy eyes, Jungkook stands, drawing his sword. "One hour. In sixty minutes, I’m leaving on a quest to find Y/N. Join me if you want or stay if you genuinely believe she's gone. We'll reconvene here. Pack your shit. This journey may take a while."
And you would think that a quest involving the strongest Roman and Greek demigods would lead to something, but it was like you never existed- every trace of you was gone. 
The crew had a small glimmer of hope when they came across a piece of scrap metal from your mechanical dragon, Pulchra, drifting in the Atlantic ocean, but it led to nothing. 
Jungkook scoured the entire world, yet you were gone, gone without a trace.
-
In the aftermath of the tragedy, Jungkook secludes himself, grappling with the guilt and pain of not being able to save you.
He leaves Camp Half-Blood for good, moving halfway across the world to Korea to live with his mother and pursue mortal education.
Typically, the whole mantra is Demigods have to stay in Camp Half-Blood to protect themselves from monsters!1!! But Jungkook, 20 years old and the strongest Greek demigod alive, doesn’t have any issue with that. Without a moment's hesitation, he ruthlessly eliminates any monster, adversary, or demon that dares to approach him.
Once, while Jungkook is hanging up his mother’s wet clothes on a clothing line, a hydra approaches the granny neighbors living below him. He doesn’t know what the mortals see - maybe a gigantic husky - but his granny neighbors living below him are scared nonetheless, screaming while the hydra squares them up.
Jungkook encountered a hydra on the quest of the Eternal Night when he was 14 - the key was to not cut off any of the hydra’s heads because it would only grow more. Instead, he hopped down a whole story and used his celestial bronze knife, the same one you crafted, to cut the hydra from its lower calf, causing the monster to crumble into dust.
Following that incident, his granny neighbors were likely even more frightened of him than the hydra, but he truly, truly could not bring himself to care.
He no longer even enjoys killing monsters; his fiery soul and obsession with combat faded into nothing but emptiness.
Jungkook is empty. So, so empty. He hates the gods and refuses to speak to his father, despite countless attempts from Ares to reach out to him.
Instead, he immerses himself in a hedonistic mortal lifestyle. His Harley-Davidson motorcycle is still a familiar sight, roaring through the streets to bars in Seoul, clubs in Itaewon, and occasionally cruising along the coastal beaches of Busan.
It takes him some time to fully embrace the hookup culture, but one drunken night at a bar leads him down the path of one-night-stands and sneaking away in the middle of the night. The first girl, whose name he can't recall, is attractive and makes the first move. With nothing to lose, and alcohol in his system, he goes to hers.
It's okay. It isn’t anything special, but he finds himself unable to finish, and on the journey home, a sense of self-disgust washes over him.
On a chilly December night, Jungkook finds himself at Cakeshop, a nightclub in Itaewon. Around winter, Mina, who is visiting family in Japan, decides to pay Jungkook a visit and accompanies him to the club for a few drinks and a night out.
Of course, Jungkook is delighted to see an old friend, no matter how horrible his condition was the last time he saw her. He takes her out to a few meals and rents out the neighboring flat for her.
Amidst the lively chatter and laughter, the duo enjoys a few drinks, exchanging stories and catching up on the time they spent apart. As the night unfolds, they explore the different sections of the club, from the energetic dance floor to the cozy lounges, where they sit continuing their conversation.
Mina tells Jungkook stories from Camp Jupiter — how she has risen through the ranks and been promoted as Praetor of the Roman legion, and Jungkook is genuinely happy to hear it.
Gasps resonate throughout the lounge, and when Mina and Jungkook turn their heads in the direction of the commotion, their faces drop. The most facially aesthetic woman he’s ever seen gracefully maneuvers through the crowd, prompting the masses to part like the Red Sea.
Her gaze fixes on Mina and Jungkook, and without any invitation, she assertively joins them in the lounge. Seating herself directly across from them, her presence transforms the lounge into an exclusive VIP area. Security personnel, clad in sleek black suits, swiftly cordon off the lounge from public access, blocking away any crazy men and women who try to leap at her.
“Hello Mina, dear. You look lovely tonight,” the woman says, pulling lip gloss from her clutch purse and reapplying it to her lips. Mina sneers at the woman, but she doesn’t seem to notice or care because the woman immediately redirects her attention to Jungkook.
Aphrodite.
“Jungkook, dear, I need to talk to you,” she states, voice becoming rigidly serious.
Jungkook and Mina exchange looks, the disdain in her eyes appearing like she wants to leave and Jungkook nearly obliges because he certainly isn’t the biggest fan of the goddess either.
“You need to talk to your father,” she solicits, not even having the decency to look at Jungkook while she addresses him, her eyes focused on the compact mirror in her manicured hands.
Aphrodite was arguably one of the cruelest goddesses, even more so than Jungkook's father, Ares. Love and war work in tandem, but love is the subtle dagger concealed in a silk glove. Aphrodite's influence wasn't just about the sweet intoxication of romance; it was a weapon, a potent brew of desire that she skillfully wielded to manipulate the hearts of both gods and mortals.
And she won. Jungkook let Aphrodite win because he was so tired, so defeated.She allowed Jungkook to be with his love for three mere weeks before ripping her from him in the most horrific way.
“Respectfully, fuck you.” Jungkook stands, preparing to leave when a piercing glare from Aphrodite halts him in his tracks, instantly enveloping the entire room in an eerie stillness, stopping time. 
“Jungkook, dear,” she repeats, her voice more menacing, "You're well aware of the consequences when demigods show disrespect to gods. It weakens us, and the delicate balance of the world hangs in jeopardy. Considering that your father, a god, is desperately trying to connect with you, you currently hold a position of advantage. I recommend you take a seat and engage in a conversation before that advantage slips away."
Jungkook grimaces, exchanging worried glances with Mina before sitting down and placing his palms on the table. 
“What is it?”
“Your father wants to speak with you,” she begins, “and he’s heartbroken that you won’t give him the chance for a conversation. I can’t deal with a heartbroken boyfriend, it’s affecting our relationship.”
“Mom, that’s selfish,” Mina intervenes, “Jungkook’s been through enough, and you came all the way here just for that?”
Aphrodite’s features soften, and she looks at her daughter sadly. “That’s not all. Jungkook needs to return to Camp Half-Blood,” she adds, to which Jungkook shakes his head. 
“I’ll talk to Ares, but I’m not ready to return- not yet,” he grimaces. 
“Jungkook,” Aphrodite places a palm on top of Jungkook’s, “I understand how you feel. I truly do. You loved Y/N, and the way you felt for her- it was of the utmost honor.  But Jungkook, your friends need you. Though Gaia is deceased, the battle isn’t over. Remnants of her children remain, and Flame Warden has overtaken my husband Hephaestus’s forge in Mount Olympus.”
Hephaestus. 
Jungkook inwardly recoils at the mention of your father, Hephaestus, and he cringes that Aphrodite is claiming Hephaestus as her husband, even after her ongoing affair with Jungkook’s own father. 
“Hephaestus,” Jungkook says, “Does he- does he even care that Y/N is dead?” Jungkook whispers, eyes reflecting despondency. 
Aphrodite softens infinitely. “Of course he does, sweetie. As you're aware, it goes beyond the cosmic structure for gods to nurture connections with their demigod offspring. Hephaestus bears numerous regrets, and even rescuing Y/N was beyond his capacity. His disheartenment led to the infiltration of his ember forge- he hasn’t been the same since Y/N died.”
Jungkook glowers at that, pulling his hand from Aphrodite’s. “So the forge you’re referring to- is it the same forge where Celestial Bronze is created?”
Aphrodite nods. “Now that the Ember Forge has been breached, the Hermes Express faces a disruption in delivering celestial bronze to Camp Half-Blood and the Cyclops' forges. The demigods at Camp Half-Blood are currently unable to craft weapons. As we enter the Golden Era of Demigods, celestial bronze is crucial for arming ourselves and defending against the threat of monsters. As you're aware, the collaboration of a god and a demigod is essential to defeating a giant. Jungkook, your assistance is paramount; we need you.”
Jungkook’s brows furrow. “The Golden Era of Demigods?”
Aphrodite acknowledges with a nod. "Your generation, my daughter Mina, and your companions are on the brink of their 20s. In Greek and Roman history, this is an extraordinary development. Typically, demigods meet their fate in their teens, yet now, the significant strength of demigods in their 20s is unprecedented. Jungkook, we stand at a unique opportunity to eradicate the menace of monsters once and for all."
Jungkook looks down, his lip caught between his teeth. "You vowed to change your ways. The gods made promises to recognize their children and to at least talk to them," Jungkook seethes, frustration evident. "Mina’s right here, and barely a word has been spoken to her. Progress won't be made unless the gods acknowledge and take responsibility for their shortcomings."
Aphrodite frowns, “Mina doesn’t want to talk to me! Isn’t it good parenting to leave your teenage daughter alone? The gods are trying their best, Jungkook. Your father is trying his best.”
Mina places a soothing hand over Jungkook’s fist.
“Jungkook, you should go,” she expresses gently, “The Ember forge…” she trails off, “Y/N would want you to do this. Her siblings in the Hephaestus cabin need the celestial bronze. Do it for her.”
Her words plunge Jungkook into a whirlwind of memories: the moments you spent forging his Celestial Bronze knife, the way he annoyed you to hide his colossal crush on you, and how he has carried that same Celestial Bronze knife ever since. 
Aphrodite nods in agreement. “Do it for Y/N-”
Jungkook slams his fists on the table. “Don’t speak of her.”
Jungkook knows very well that Aphrodite could have obliterated him on the spot, but she showed mercy by smiling and nodding at Jungkook. 
“Fuck it. I’m doing it. Fuck it,” Jungkook murmurs, much to Aphrodite’s delight and Mina’s satisfaction. 
-
The quest now dubbed the Quest of the Ember Forge was triumphant, and it marked the beginning of Jungkook’s return to Camp Half-Blood. 
He reimmersed himself in the camaraderie of camp life, and now that he and his friends were of age, they spent hours in the Big House drinking, reveling in their newfound adulthood. 
It brought Jungkook so much joy to see Namjoon loosen up, laughing at the stupidest jokes Taehyung made while they downed shots of soju and played Mythomagic, an old card game from their childhood. 
The laughter echoed through the room, mingling with the spirited discussions about the recent quest, reminiscences of past adventures, and plans for the future. They toasted to their victories and shared stories of their individual journeys during the time apart. 
Even Chiron, the wise centaur, couldn't resist joining in the festivities, regaling them with tales of ancient mythology and imparting wisdom in his own humorous way.
The once-burdened weight on Jungkook's shoulders lifted, replaced by a renewed sense of purpose and connection. 
For the first time in two years, Jungkook felt at peace, at home, and disallowed the plague of guilt to overwhelm him as he laughed with his friends. 
-
Jungkook resumes sword fighting in the dueling ground, becoming the sword fighting teacher for all the cabins. 
Out of all the campers, there is one kid he absolutely adores: a 13-year-old Jungwon, another sibling of Jungkook’s.
Jungkook finds himself observing Jungwon from a distance, the spark in his eyes reminiscent of a younger Jungkook. Soot covers the younger boy's face, and sweat drips from his armor like he’s been out there for hours.
“Kid!” Jungkook approaches, unsheathing his sword. He tilts his head and grins. “Care for a duel?”
Jungwon grins, raising his brows before licking his lips. If anything, Jungwon 100% emits the fiery, combat-crazed aura Jungkook is renowned for. There is no doubt in Jungkook’s mind that this kid is going to be a beast.
The dueling ground buzzes with anticipation as other campers gather to watch the showdown between the seasoned warrior and his spirited protégé. Jungkook and Jungwon circle each other, their swords catching glints of sunlight. 
With a sudden burst of energy, Jungkook lunges forward, his movements swift and precise. Jungwon, fueled by determination, meets each strike with resilience beyond his years.
In a final, calculated move, Jungkook disarms Jungwon, ending the duel with a victorious flourish. The onlookers erupt into cheers, acknowledging the mastery of their esteemed sword-fighting teacher.
Jungkook stalks over to Jungwon and helps him up before tousling his hair. “They gotta send you on a quest soon. You’re more than ready.”
Jungwon’s eyes sparkle as he addresses Jungkook. “Seriously? Can you put in a good word for me to Chiron?”
Jungkook nods, but a sudden realization overtakes him.
He doesn’t want to send Jungwon on a quest.
Jungkook's not keen on the idea of sending Jungwon on a quest, at all. Quests are rough, life-altering, and there's a chance Jungwon might not make it back in one piece. The thought of putting his younger sibling through all that hardship and potential danger sews seeds of peril into his consciousness.
On one side, there's a deep desire to shield his younger brother from harm - no way in hell would he let any monsters or giants destroy the innocent twinkle in his eyes. On the other hand, he understands that quests are an inevitable part of a demigod’s journey - it’s not like he wants Jungwon to get soft.
While Jungkook is frozen at that dawning realization, he follows Jungwon’s train of vision to a familiar face in the distance.
It's Isabella, a daughter of Hephaestus, casually strolling with her friends near the dueling arena.
He doesn’t miss the twinkle in Jungwon’s eyes and the blush flushing his cheeks as he turns his head to keep his eyes on Isabella.
Jungkook throws up that night.
-
One year later, Jungkook visits Mina, Rose, and Mingyu at Camp Jupiter to aid the Roman legion with dueling lessons. 
There, a budding romance blooms with a descendant of Apollo, Sofia. 
It’s not like Jungkook means for it to happen; he had sworn off love for the rest of his life. Yet, he couldn't ignore the way Sofia's eyes lingered on him. And when she found her way into his hotel room at night, Jungkook couldn't bring himself to ask her to leave.
-
After that trip, Sofia visits Jungkook at Camp Half-Blood. 
Sofia is now Jungkook’s girlfriend and he feels content. 
Night after night, Jungkook pays a visit to the shrine dedicated to you, a ritual of remembrance and honor. Sofia, understanding and respecting his feelings, never presses him to share the details of his relationship with you. 
Over time, as Jungkook finds solace in their growing connection, he starts bringing Sofia to join him in leaving offerings at your shrine. In those moments, a sense of closure and the gentle warmth of moving forward envelops Jungkook's heart. It’s time to move forward.
That is, until he runs into you. 
262 notes · View notes
penny00dreadful · 4 months
Text
Spies AU - Part 7
Part 1 Part 8 AO3
20th October 2015
Steve was thinking of Eddie. All the god damned time. 
And not only when he was alone in his bedroom or the shower where he could indulge himself in his filthiest fantasies of pinning Eddie face down on the nearest surface and fucking him until he couldn’t speak anymore or getting him on his knees and putting that snarky mouth of his to good use.
But it was all the time.
Eddie had invaded his brain like a sickness. Coiling around nearly every thought.
Steve couldn’t even look at the chairs around his dining room table anymore without his mind being invaded by thoughts of being tied down and teased until he was fit to explode.
That and he had been so fucking bored for the first few weeks while his shoulder healed. The Agency’s medics gave him no leeway, practically locking him out of the training room so he couldn’t sneak in and punch some dummies, putting strain on his shoulder.
Angie had snapped her gum at him and given him a glare along with a very firm "No."
He was still not fully healed and wouldn’t be for another month but he was allowed to take part in some light training as long as nothing was too focused on the arm or shoulder in question.
So that had left Steve with a lot of free time on his hands. 
And all that free time was filled with thinking and imagining and fantasising and he felt like he was going fucking insane.
He felt obsessed.
Even at work, even when he was supposed to be paying attention, like right now, Eddie was in his head.
Steve glanced to the side, taking in the nervous man with huge glasses he was supposed to be escorting through the small private airfield so they could get him on a jet to safety.
Fred, his name was. Steve didn’t know his last name but that didn’t matter, he didn’t need to. All he needed to know was that the man was an investigative reporter who had dug a little too deep into Henry Creel and didn’t properly cover his tracks.
So now he had a large bounty on his head and The Agency had stepped in to stick him on a plane to god only knew where.
His final destination was another thing Steve didn’t know and didn’t need to know. All the information was being kept firmly under lock and key. No chances were allowed to be taken with a charge under the protection of The Agency.
He wasn’t on his own either as he walked Fred through the echoling empty halls of the air base that had been cleared out as a precaution.
Flanking Steve and Fred at either side were two bodyguards in the stupidest getup Steve had ever seen.
The black combat gear and machine guns held loosely in front of them were all standard, if unnecessary but that wasn’t the stupid part.
The stupid part was what they were wearing to protect their identity. Big motorcycle helmet looking things that only came down as far as their nose, leaving their mouths free to bark out orders or whatever fucking reason they’d been designed that way.
They were like reverse face masks and they looked fucking ridiculous.
The guards seemed to think they were the hottest shit, though. Swaggering alongside Steve and Fred like they had the biggest balls in the whole building.
Steve rolled his eyes internally as he glanced over at Fred who had drifted from his side, slowing down, lost in his own thoughts, his gaze wandering out the window towards the small jet waiting for him.
Steve grabbed him by the arm and pulled him back to walk beside him.
“Away from the windows.” He muttered.
He had no idea if Eddie would be sent out to make this guy disappear but he wasn’t taking any chances. 
He had shown Steve mercy twice, but Eddie didn’t get the kind of reputation he had by being lenient.
He could be camped out on the roof of one of the adjacent buildings that were visible through the windows with a damn sniper rifle or camped out in a dark corner or strapped to the fucking ceiling for all Steve knew.
“Good call.” The guard next to him said, using a tone like Steve was a child who’d just agreed that ice cream was in fact a bad idea for dinner.
He did allow the roll of his eyes to show externally that time, bringing his gaze around from one guard to the other.
He had to suppress a snort at the fucking helmets. Seriously, who the fuck designed them?
Despite the safety precautions and identity masking, Steve still recognised the voice of the guy who'd spoken to him. 
He'd heard it around the halls of the Agency for the last few years, though he never had a face to put to it but that didn't matter, he didn’t much care what this guy had to say to him.
They were on the same side, they worked for the same company and though the guy was a few years older than him he clearly thought that also put him a few ranks above Steve which was a ridiculous notion.
Few people at the Agency knew that Steve was at the top in terms of skill, kills and completions, that wouldn't have been great for security.
But even so, it should have been obvious that Steve was the one in charge, given that he was the primary escort up until Fred was due to step onto the plane.
He wasn't even supposed to be here but the threat had gotten too dangerous and Steve was called in at the literal last second, pulled from his junk food tv binge that he’d been looking forward to all damn week just as he had sat his butt down on his lovely couch, barely a half an hour ago.
He didn't know what to make of the silent second guard, the one due to escort Fred onto the plane and hand him off to other Agents when they landed.
He had only responded with a nod or a shrug whenever he was addressed, keeping his mouth sealed tight.
Whatever.
If the guy wanted to be obscenely serious about his job Steve wasn't going to stop him.
As they approached the giant air hangar doors with the sound of the jet engines carrying across the flat airfield and over the wind, ready to take off the second Fred and the guard stepped on board, Steve took another glance around.
Everything seemed fine, there was no danger presenting itself, no sign that Eddie was lurking around a corner ready to jump out or phase out of the fucking walls or whatever but something felt… off.
Steve threw a hand out, stopping Fred in his tracks and keeping him just inside the air hangar doors.
He stood watching and waiting for something or someone to pop out of the ground and attack.
The space in between the building and the plane was like No Man's Land, flat and empty and they would practically be visible from space the second they stepped out to get to the jet. 
It was extremely unsafe and he couldn't shake the feeling that something had already gone wrong.
There was something itching at the back of his head telling him to look.
"Something the matter, Agent?" 
It was the cocky guard who had spoken to him before. The one who was due to stay behind and see the plane off safely with Steve.
Steve shot him a quick look, not acknowledging his question, letting his eyes slide over Fred and then turning back to glance around the room again.
His eyes fell across the silent guard.
And then he saw it.
The silent guard had a mouth on him. 
Soft and pillowy pink lips with a sharp cupid's bow. The same ones Steve hadn't been able to stop thinking about for weeks now.
Months.
He didn’t let the realisation show on his face, pulling out every ounce of his training to keep himself looking neutral as he tore his eyes away and spoke to the Agency guard.
"No. Sorry." Steve shook his head, furrowing his brow a little. "Guess I'm just being overly cautious."
"Nothing wrong with that." The Agency guard smiled, clapping Fred on the shoulder suddenly and making him startle. "Better safe than sorry."
"Right." Steve nodded, only just a little bitchy. 
He couldn't help it. 
With an impatient wave he gestured the Agency Guard and Fred forward, allowing himself to get in step behind them, putting himself between them and Eddie as subtly as possible.
Nothing about Eddie's body language told him that he knew he'd been uncovered but Steve wasn't taking any chances.
Eddie was a trained fucking killer and that was what he was here to do. He probably would already be on the jet with Fred if Steve hadn’t been called in at the last second, securing another mythological kill that people would scarcely believe had actually happened.
Killed in mid-air while on an Agency plane.
Insanity.
It wasn’t just that Eddie was incredibly dangerous and this was clearly what he’d been contracted to do right now, but Steve had also started to get the distinct feeling that having an Agent escape from his clutches not once, but twice now on top of losing his mark, Fred, was not going to go down well with Creel.
But he could hardly let Eddie kill the person he’d been charged to protect just because it might get him in trouble with his big bad boss.
So just as the Agency guard and Fred stepped out onto the air field, Steve struck.
He threw himself to the side, using the element of surprise to wrench the gun out of Eddie's hands and slammed him with full force back against the wall, while Fred and the Agency guard reeled back in shock.
Steve had him pinned with his recovering arm, holding Eddie down across his chest and his other hand pressed the wrist of Eddie’s dominant hand against the wall.
The impact forced a grunt from Eddie and his head cracked against the concrete, the impact softened by the helmet that was jostled and tumbled down to the ground with a loud clatter, revealing those fucking curls spilling over his shoulders and those fucking eyes that haunted Steve’s most debauched dreams.
Out of the corner of his eye, Steve could see the Agency guard had shoved Fred behind him, keeping one hand on his arm both to make sure he didn’t get too far away and to keep awareness of where his charge was.
“Get him to the jet!” Steve shouted over his shoulder, never once tearing his gaze from Eddie who was looking at him like he wanted to eat him alive. 
Or be eaten.
“Shit.” The guard muttered. “I’m gonna miss my kid’s birthday party tonight. Come on!”
He and Fred disappeared from the hangar as Steve and Eddie continued to stare at each other.
Steve leaned forward as he heard the jets gearing up and taxiing away, getting quieter and quieter the further they got.
He got so close their noses were brushing, they were breathing the same air and he could barely keep his gaze in one spot, darting them between Eddie’s eyes, his nose, his hair, his cheeks, his lips, his whole face.
“Your mouth gives you away, baby.” Steve whispered with a smug smile. He could almost, almost feel the touch of their lips together but he didn’t move any closer.
He didn’t move away, but he didn’t move any closer.
If they were ever going to kiss, and dear god Steve hoped they would, even if they were trying to kill each other, he didn’t want it to be like this.
“You spend a lot of time looking at my mouth, sweetheart?” Eddie grinned back at him, his voice just as low and tilting his chin up almost in a challenge, causing Steve to lean away just a little.
Steve hummed, neither confirming or denying.
“Gonna leave me with a handprint on my wrist this time?” 
Every single one of Eddie’s eyelashes were visible to him this close up as they spoke so, so quietly to each other, almost like they were sharing secrets. 
Eddie pressed himself a little closer causing Steve’s arm to slip up, resting just under his collarbones now. 
“Or my neck?”
Steve grinned. “Only if you ask nicely.”
Eddie bit his lip as the distinct sound of the jet taking off into the air sounded around them.
“You lost me my mark, sweetheart.” He said, light and lilting with a small put on pout.
Steve nodded. “Suppose I did.”
At some point Eddie’s free hand had migrated to Steve’s hip and he settled it there. Just to feel, to touch. 
“That’s going to be very difficult to explain.”
Steve couldn’t help but lean into him a little more with a grin. “Should I be worried?”
And then…
And then Eddie paused. 
“Would you be?” He asked, his voice soft and curious. Not a hint of the previous bravado or flirtations to be heard.
Steve felt his smile slip from his face and his stomach drop straight through to the ground while his brow creased in concern. 
“Should I be?” Steve asked, uneasy.
When Eddie didn’t answer but just kept looking at him like he was trying to figure him out, Steve stopped his punishing press against the wall. 
He brought his hands up to cup Eddie’s face, brushing his thumbs against his cheeks.
Eddie closed his eyes and leaned heavier into his hands, like he relished the contact, the support. 
Like he hadn’t been touched so tenderly in a long time. 
Steve’s heart rate kicked up, he was filled with fear and electricity as Eddie’s other hand came to rest as a mirror to his first, on Steve’s hip and he clutched down tight. 
Like he was trying to ground himself.
Steve closed his own eyes and tilted his head down, pressing their foreheads together.
“Baby.” Steve whispered into the barely there space between them. “Do I need to be worried?”
The sound that Eddie let out of his throat, a terrible broken thing that Steve knew, he knew Eddie hadn’t meant to make, shattered his heart into a million tiny pieces.
Steve took a deep breath. “You don’t- I could… it doesn’t have to be like this. You could come away with m-”
Steve found himself suddenly shoved back, hard. Those hands on his hips pushing him away, a leg coming up to entangle with his, purposefully tripping him up and sending him crashing to the ground.
Eddie was still standing, staring down at Steve with wide glossy eyes. 
“I’m sorry.” It whooshed out of him like he’d been punched. “I can’t-” he snapped his mouth closed, swallowing. “I can’t.”
Steve didn’t have time to say anything. Eddie had turned and was running back through the building before Steve could even sit up.
There was no point chasing after him. 
If Eddie didn’t want to be found he wouldn’t be.
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20th October 2015
Steve shoved his way through the large door, ignoring Flo’s protests. Hopper barely glanced up from his desk where he was hunched over a mountain of paperwork.
He didn’t say anything while Steve stormed closer, coming to a stop right in front of him.
“I need to talk to you about my informant.”
Hopper continued to scribble away while Steve stared, mouth held in a firm line and hands on his hips.
He let the silence continue for a few seconds before he said, “I want to bring him into the fold."
"I expected as much." Hopper muttered, head still down.
"So,” Steve almost grumbled, feeling like a teenager asking his dad if he could stay out past his curfew just this once, “I need to talk to you about it."
Hopper still hadn't looked up at him, just blindly waved a form at him over the desk.
"Go. Bring the kid in. Add him to your brood, figure out where he'd benefit from in training and so on and so on." 
Steve hesitated, his mouth trying to form around words that wouldn’t come. 
Fuck, how was he going to explain that Eddie wasn't exactly in the same league as Dustin or Lucas or Max?
"It's… it’s not as simple as that, you don't even know who I'm talking about yet-"
"Don't need to know.” Hopper shrugged, still concentrating on whatever he was writing, it wasn’t Steve’s business but he was using his good pen, the fountain pen and he was taking care to make his words legible and neat so it was something important. “You've brought in six kids in the last nine years and each one has been exceptionally talented and proved themselves a huge asset to the Agency. I trust your judgement here, Steve."
He bit his lip, trying to not let all of that hit him too hard. "Right."
Well.
This was going to make things a bit more awkward.
Hopper still had the form held out to him and when Steve had still made no move to take it, he let his hand drop and finally looked up, gesturing Steve to sit when he saw his unsure expression.
He just hoped he wouldn’t lose Hopper's trust after this.
"Start speaking."
Steve sat heavily, propping his head up on his hands, elbows on the desk in a way that would have had his father bursting a blood vessel if this had been his office.
But it wasn’t his office, it was Hopper's office and Steve was safe here.
"He's not exactly… he's not the same age as the other kids I've brought in."
Hopper’s moustache twitched. "How young are we talking?"
"Um. My age."
"Don't you think that's a little old to start physical training?"
"Honestly?” Steve looked down and began to trace the wood grain of the desk with his finger. “Not really, but he's already trained. Has been trained for… about as long as I have."
Hopper huffed out a sigh. “What are you not telling me?”
Steve grimaced, unable to look up. “He’s high up with Creel.”
There was a pause. 
“How high up are we talking?”
“Very?”
“Stop dancing around it, kid.” Hopper’s knuckle rapped against the desk. “Tell me who you’re talking about.”
“It Kas.”
Steve could hear the creak of leather as Hopper leaned back in his chair. 
“Hilarious.”
“I’m being serious.”
He glanced up to find Hopper watching him, observing him like he was some kind of puzzle to be solved.
“You are aren’t you?” He leaned forwards, elbows on the desk, a mirror of Steve’s body. “You really believe this kid is Kas?”
“He is. He’s real and…” He could only think of brown sad eyes and a worried mouth muttering ‘Would you be?’ 
“I want to get him out.”
Hopper continued to stare at him. It was almost unnerving. “Does he want to get out?”
“He… yeah. I think so.”
“You think so? You haven’t discussed this with him?”
“No,” Steve shook his head, “I wanted to bring this to you first before I gave him any false hope.”
Hopper’s moustache twitched again and Steve couldn’t be sure if he was frowning or pursing his lips. “And what makes you think you can trust him?”
Steve took a deep breath, taking his elbows off the desk and sitting up straight. If he was going to reveal this information, he wanted to approach it dead on.
“You remember those two goons I took down in Zagreb?”
“Uh-huh.”
As far as the Agency knew the job had been a bust and Steve had just managed to get out by the skin of his teeth. He’d kept his mouth shut about everything, mostly for Eddie’s own safety. He didn’t want it leaking that he’d killed two of his own for Steve’s sake. Both because it could put Eddie in incredible danger if it ever did get out but also because half the Agency would think Steve was making shit up because Kas was a fucking urban legend.
“I didn’t take them down. He did. I was…” he glanced down at his hands again, twisting his fingers before remembering that he had to be brave about this, looking back up at Hopper, “I’d gotten myself into a situation. You know our intelligence was wrong and that they knew I’d be there? I got captured and strapped down. Honestly it wasn’t looking good for me but then he was there and he played it off until he could get them away from me and he… killed them.”
“With your gun?” Hopper deadpanned, a little disbelieving.
“Yeah. Then he let me go and…” Steve shrugged. “I don’t know Hop, I think he’s trapped. He’s a good guy who doesn’t want to be doing what he’s doing.”
“And you don’t think he did all of this to maybe gain your trust?”
“No, maybe before I would have thought that, but not anymore.”
“You’re sure about that?”
“Yeah.”
Hopper stared him down again, a furrow in his brow.
“And you haven’t revealed you knew the identity of Kas before now because you knew we’d want to bring him in under less… friendly circumstances.”
“He’s not the enemy, Hop. He’s in a bad situation. Like Max, like El, like half the people who work here. Why shouldn’t he be given a chance like the rest of them?”
Hopper let out a heavy sigh, rubbing his forehead with his hands and stayed silent for a long time. Steve could practically smell his hair burning.
“Okay well…” he said eventually. “I don’t think we can have him active as an Agent. It would be too risky. If anyone finds out who he was, there’d be mayhem in these walls. But-!” He held his finger up as Steve opened his mouth to argue back. “We might be able to hide him. If he complies. In a few years then maybe, maybe we could bring him in.”
“Okay,” Steve nodded frantically. It was better than anything he could have asked for. “That’s… I can deal with that.”
“You’re damn right you can.” Hopper grumbled, looking over the desk at him again. “You understand I wouldn’t be doing this for anyone else other than you?”
“Yeah I… thanks Hopper. I think it goes without saying that this needs to stay strictly between the two of us. For now.”
Hopper rolled his eyes. “Obviously. Don’t tell me how to do my job, kid.”
“I’m not, I swear.”
Hopper waved his hand with a sigh, signalling it was time for Steve to go and while he had assumed Hopper was about to go back to scribbling, he instead pulled a decanter of an amber liquid and a glass out of his desk drawer, pouring himself two fingers before taking a sip.
Steve took that as his cue, leaving Hopper to stare into the whiskey in his glass. He just had a hand on the door when Hopper spoke again.
“Our intelligence was wrong in Zagreb?”
Steve turned, “It was.”
“Your mark wasn’t going to be there. But they still knew you would be. You said they were there for you?” He asked.
“Yeah.”
Hopper finally tore his eyes away from his glass. 
“No one outside of this organisation knew you would be there, Steve.”
Steve swallowed, his heart thudded and he clutched a little tighter to the door handle. 
“You think we might be compromised.”
“I always think we’re compromised, it’s how we’ve survived this long. But this is very…” Hopper swirled his whiskey around before tipping it back his throat, “suspicious. Say nothing to anyone. Including Robin, we can’t take any chances here. But keep your eyes and ears open. Understood?”
Steve gave a curt nod. 
“Yes, sir.”
Part 1 Part 8 AO3
Divider by firefly-graphics
@geekymagicalpotato @estrellami-1
Big thanks as always to @hbyrde36 for the magnificent beta work and to the STWG for their motivation
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jokerislandgirl32 · 3 months
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I Don’t Know What You Did, Did To Me…
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Your Body Language…
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Speaks To Me…
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Song Credit: Chris Brown - Under The Influence (Body Language)
Please don’t come at me for using this song, I just really relate to these lyrics when it comes to Zach…Also I know there’s an argument as to whether it’s body language or body lightweight….I’m in the body language camp, but I might be wrong…
Song and a little scene from my Wild Violet AU included under the cut! TW for suggestive themes/drug mention/cursing in song!
Zach walks by in a full motorcycle suit, black leather with red accents, his helmet under his arm. He winks at Violet who stands wearing her cousin Paige’s riding gear and holding Paige’s helmet.
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His gear looks something like this.
Zach: *cups Violet’s chin between his thumb and index finger before walking to a motorcycle,* “Are ya coming?”
Violet: *stuttering, feeling her legs turning to jelly,* “Y-yes…”
Zach smirks, nods, and walks to the motorcycle.
Violet’s cousin Paige sneaks up beside her, Paige: “What’s wrong with you? You look like you’re gonna pass out or something…”
Violet: “It’s him…He’s driving me crazy….”
Paige: “Why’s that?”
Violet: “Just look at him…”
Paige: *both eyeing Zach’s back as he gets on the motorcycle* “What about him?”
Violet: “Don’t act like you don’t know….you liked him first…”
Paige:*snickering* “Ohhh, is it his body language? Haha…Yeah he’s pretty attractive…”
Violet: *swallowing nervously as Zach looks back at her expectantly* “No…It’s not just that…”
Paige: “But that’s not helping?”
Violet: *blushing* “No….no, it’s not…”
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pendulumstarway · 2 months
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Meet Blythe Denton, an Ancient Gear user set in the 5D's universe. He's a shady, sly man who relies on fear tactics and manipulation to survive in the slums.
Backstory stuff under cut!
Content warnings:
Motorcycle accident
Loss of limbs
Eye trauma
Attempted murder?
Not the most detailed or fleshed out, but for what I do have:
Blythe was born in Satellite, and ended up becoming one of its many orphaned children. Less because of his parents died, more because they abandoned him due to financial reasoning. Blythe ends up staying at an orphanage for a good portion of his life. Once he's a teenager, he starts dealing in shady business and makes some money by smuggling in high-demand high-priced items. It's a dog eat dog world out there, he has to do what he has to do.
Eventually Blythe got all buddy-buddy with a guy from Sector Security, ended up getting some really high-priced and rare items smuggled into Satellite. They were decently close friends, 'til his buddy went MIA for a week. Turns out his cop friend ratted him out due to pressure. He backstabbed Blythe and tried to be a coward and run off, not wanting to face the consequences. Absolutely infuriated, Blythe tracked down and chased his ex-friend on his motorcycle, ready to beat him down.
They duel and other sector security gang up on him. Blythe's d-wheel is slammed against a wall and spins out, sending him flying off violently. His arm gets mangled by his own machine and becomes unsalvageable. Blythes helmet is destroyed, and the impact breaks the right side of his face. He's transported to a hospital in Neo Domino, his arm is amputated, and he needs surgery and stitches in various places. Alongisde that, his left leg is rendered permanently injured from said accident, and Blythe lost his right eye.
After he's stable, Blythe's arrested and thrown into jail. He get his first marker, which is the tear-streak line under his right eye. [Not including the broken line marker.] His buddies have to gather up everything to pay his bail, and he's taken back to Satellite.
Wracked with anger and grief, Blythe dedicates himself to seeking revenge. With nothing but his mouth and his other working arm, he manages to build himself a working prosthetic, and then a fully functional cybernetic eye. Since his leg didn't need amputation, and therefore cannot be replaced by a cybernetic device, Blythe designs himself a sword-cane. It's a great way to defend himself, while also accommodating his chronic injury. He ends becoming part of a mafia/hitman situation, since that's the only other way he can think of making proper money- and acting out his revenge. He's got people to pay back and take care of anyways.
Until the reformation of Neo Domino and Satellite, Blythe takes the lives of anyone, really. Money's money, and he's making a decent living off of it. Once full access is open to Neo Domino, he's given his biggest job. Yusei Fudo.
This happens Pre-WRGP, before Bruno's arrival/addition. Assuming it's another team wanting the win, Blythe's initially hesitant, but with the sum offered he'd be able to move from Satellite and maybe even quit this gig altogether.
Unfortunately with the rest of Team 5D's present, Blythe's caught, and gets the snot beat out of him. He's given another chance to finish the job, and fails miserably once more. It's argued he did so on purpose, but nobody can be sure. In a twisted manner, he ends up becoming a contact of the teams. He's got connections in the shadows, and he proves to be useful.
Although, he does camp out to hide from authorities, and steal the teams snacks. Much to their dismay.
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werewolfenthusiast · 6 months
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the irony of them saying that uve never seen a motorcycle and then just being as straight up wrong as possible 😭😭😭 so so funny
HELMETS SAVE LIVES ‼️‼️ protective gear saves lives !!! my mom was in a bad crash and she fractured her skull Through the helmet but the only reason she’s here today is because of protective gear . got flung like 20 feet but only got road burn on her hands cuz of leather jacket and proper clothes. wear helmets . dress appropriately . drive safe . thank u for my ted talk
it’s funny too cause how is seeing a motorcycle gonna help me understand anything. and i mean okay yeah i don’t ride them but my bsf does and thankfully they’ve never been in an actual crash but there’s been a couple very minor accidents and even those leave nasty scrapes.
also i literally have a scar on my knee from when i crashed and the engine of a MINI DIRTBIKE burnt me. and that was at my school camp, that was one that was meant for children. but i was wearing shorts, i didn’t have any protective gear
like these things are dangerous which is why you should wear the safety gear 😭 they don’t make it for fun it DOES protect you the reason people survive motorbike crashes is BECAUSE of the safety gear.
i’m glad your mum is okay and i endorse this PSA
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motorcyclecamping · 11 days
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youtube
New Gear & Tips for Motorcycle Camping & Cooking
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thecarshowguy208 · 2 months
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youtube
Beautiful 1957 Chevy Wagon & Camper! So Well done it gets its on Minute of Fame on youtube! Beautiful Color, well restored, 1957 Chevy wagon, all the camping accessories, chrome cooler 50's style camping gear, matching 50's style luggage and beautifully restored camper. Matching wheels on the wagon and camper!. #carshow #carshows #customcars #oldred #motorcycles #chopper #choppers #custommotorcycle #custommotorcycles #oldschoolmotorcycles #hotrod #hotrods #coolcars #thecarshowguy208 #trifive
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ravynfyre · 2 years
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So, story time, chilluns.
Helmets will save your life. I don't care what you are doing, if the safety gear includes a helmet, FUCKING WEAR ONE. I mean, things like being a motorcycle cop or a construction worker are pretty simple. It's part of the uniform. You don't use the helmet? You don't get to work.
But let's talk about other things. Like skateboarding. Or bike riding. Or *riding a fucking horse*. Rock climbing. Motorcycling period. Or *riding a fucking horse*.
I do not give one fucking shit if it is "not cool". Wear the fucking helmet.
This past ten days, I was away at a camp in the bowels of hell in the midwest, literally sleeping in a tent and riding equines all day. Rather, I *should* have been riding equines all day... But on day 2 of this 10 day trip, the mule I was riding (not mine, but a reliable mule borrowed from a friend) tripped while trying to climb out of an 18 inch deep creek. She went down to both front knees, then began to scramble to get her feet back under herself, and somewhere in that scramble, around about 3 seconds in, and 30 feet of rodeo bullshit, I came off her back.
I hit the ground *hard*. My entire right side, starting with my bad shoulder, then rolling to my *head*, and then my hip and knee slammed into the earth. Granted, it was only a fall from roughly six feet in the air, but it was at speed with velocity, and I have mass. I am not kidding when I say I hit *hard*. I genuinely was not certain if I had died for a few seconds, and that was fucking scary. And then for another *minute*, I had to try and remember hot to breathe again.
See, I'm not sure if I have ever come right out and explained this here before, but I *used* to be a firefighter. I did the job for 12 years, and was set to do another 12 years before I retired. But while on duty one day, I was injured severely enough that I could no longer safely do the job anymore, and that was all she wrote. Severe nerve damage to my cervical spine, right shoulder, right elbow, and all the way down into my right wrist and hand. (Yes, I am right handed. I used to draw and sketch and paint and carve, and losing the dexterity I lost really. fucking. *sucked*.)
Hitting the ground in the ass end of literally nowhere, I landed on that shoulder *first*. I didn't break anything, but I feel pretty confident in saying that I at least partially dislocated it. I sprained or tore muscles in my hip, and I am honestly not sure what all I did to my knee.
The one part I'm not worried about, however, is my head. Because, yes, I hit my head just as hard as I hit my shoulder. (pretty sure I bounced off a tree or two while I was still in the saddle, too. at least, that's what the bruises and scrapes seem to indicate. I honestly do not remember.) See, I was wearing a helmet. A dorky, english style, ugly, stupid looking riding helmet, instead of my usual baseball cap with my "Queer and Angry" pin on it, or my crushed up cowboy hat with the rainbow ribbons as a hatband. It was honestly the first time I had ever worn a *helmet* while riding, even though I had bought one a couple years ago. They're stupid looking. It's not *cowboy*. I'd look like an idiot... or a coward.
But the person I was riding with wore theirs (although, unfairly, their helmet actually looked like a cowboy hat, so I was feeling all sorts of put out about that) but since they wore theirs, I sucked it up and decided that this wasn't MY mule, and, what the fuck. who would even see me out in the ass end of nowhere wearing a brain bucket anyway? I wore the damn helmet.
The helmet that I now have to replace, because it took that hard of a hit that I would not consider it safe to count on, really, anymore. The helmet that probably saved me from a massive concussion last week. Maybe worse.
All I know is that when that bitch of a mule came trotting back after a couple minutes, I was able to slowly climb back into the saddle and ride my way out of a place where there was literally *nowhere* emergency services could have landed or driven to retrieve me. It took another 30 minutes of riding to even GET to a place that would have been accessible to anyone NOT on horseback. I was able to climb on, hold on, and ride out safely, if in excruciating amounts of pain, because that helmet saved my life. If the mule hadn't returned, if I hadn't decided that fashion wasn't as important as safety for the first fucking time... at the very least, they would have had to send a literal horseback posse into the backwoods of a river valley in a national forest, with no access for even so much as a four wheeler, and *hope* that I hadn't hurt myself enough that I would bleed out in my head during the HOURS LONG ORDEAL retrieving me would have been.
You know, AFTER my friend would have had to leave me there and ride for help, since there was also literally NO phone coverage either.
So, here I am today, everything along the right side of my body is stiff as shit and feels like it's been through a meat grinder. I haven't had more than two consecutive hours of sleep (maximum of four a night) in a week because of pain, but I am here to tell you all:
Wear. The fucking. Helmet.
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motorcyclistmad · 3 months
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2023, where has it gone?
Another year has passed and what a year it has been. The first 5 months were plagued by work issues, a battle to get the Milkfloat MOT’d and absolute chaos. From the difficult start, we made the most of the opportunities going, starting with a brilliant time at the last ever spring edition of the Adventure Overland Show just outside Stratford Upon Avon followed by a week camping down in…
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junksprungs · 6 months
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I was browsing a few websites trying to buy a german police leather jacket,and now every fucking ad im shown on here is for camping gear and motorcycle boots
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dayiifayoutdoors · 8 months
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What are the advantages of a rolling waterproof duffel bag?
Get ready to pack your belongings swiftly and confidently with these exceptional waterproof duffel bags. A waterproof duffel bag is a remarkably versatile companion that accommodates various adventures, whether it be air travel, camping, hitting the gym, embarking on lengthy motorcycle journeys, or practically any activity you can imagine. It stands tall against challenging weather conditions and shields your precious items from getting soaked. This is precisely why investing in a waterproof duffel bag is an excellent decision. Crafted from waterproof materials and fortified with features like welded seams, these bags ensure that moisture remains at bay, safeguarding your belongings.
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So, if you're on the lookout for a multi-purpose waterproof duffel bag that caters to all your needs, here are my top selections: First up, we have the Best Roll-Top Waterproof duffel Bag.Designed specifically for water sports enthusiasts, this dry bag boasts an airtight and waterproof construction, making it the perfect companion for your boating escapades.
While most dry bags rely on a roll-top closure, they often take the form of simple tubes that resemble rolled-up camping tents. This design can make it challenging to locate your belongings within the bag.
However, the High Roll Luggage Bag Dry Bag breaks the mold by introducing a roll-top closure design tailored for luggage bags. This innovation ensures hassle-free packing, effortless carrying, and utmost protection for your gear, keeping it dry and secure.
With a generous capacity of either 50 liters or 80 liters, this bag offers ample space to accommodate your essentials. The waterproof fold-over seal, conveniently situated on the side of the bag, allows easy access to the main compartment without compromising its watertight properties.
Furthermore, this bag is constructed using robust PVC material as its outer shell, guaranteeing durability and longevity. It also features two compression straps that ensure an extra-tight seal, offering peace of mind during your adventures.
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However, it's important to note that while this bag ranks among the sturdiest airtight luggage bags available, it is not designed to withstand prolonged submersion. With that in mind, does this waterproof luggage bag capture your interest?
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anitravelz · 9 months
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Road Trips & Camping
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Motorcycle Camping Setup
I love flying and going to new states and new countries. I love to submerge myself in cultures and get to know the locals.
But........
I also sometimes need to spend some time alone in the woods communing with nature. And if you couldn't tell from my profile picture, I enjoy taking my motorcycle on these trips. It's a chance to leave my computer behind, disconnect, and take some nature walks. I usually bring some books and a journal to write in, space is very limited so not to many luxuries. I typically try to find "backpacking" camping gear. It's light weight and compact.
My motorcycle is the Kawasaki Versys X-300, a very small Adventure Touring bike. I have the small side boxes that you can get from the manufacturer, but decided I wanted something bigger than the Kawasaki top box and went with Givi and got a 46 liter box. It's enough for a one person tent, sleeping bag, and a small camp kitchen. I feel like the ride is as fun as the camping. I tend to map out winding roads and leave early enough to not be rushed. I bring snacks to eat at rest stops and a lot of water, riding can make you thirsty.
I'm going to cut this one short as I am going on a small afternoon adventure that I'll tell you about next time.
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11summits · 10 months
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there's been so many campers, RVs, motorcycles on the road. I've got a secret lake I plan on driving up to (and hoping no one else knows the secret) to camp and take out the SUP. When I get home, there's like five packages waiting for me, so going to wash my hair with fancy new shampoo, eat a big lunch, and get the gear packed up. I'm so joyful with the warmer weather.
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kanjukucompany · 2 years
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【A3! Translation】 Golden Hathi (4/11)
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previous chapter / next chapter
(translation under the cut)
(glitch text ignore)
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Taichi: This is the Indian film theme park, 'Bollywood Studios'...!
Taichi: It looks just like that movie we watched the other day! Awesome!
Misumi: Look, look~ that building looks like a castle!
Tasuku: It's a lot bigger and more authentic than I expected.
Izumi: It really is. Let's see, studio...
Tasuku: By the way...
Hisoka: Yawn...
Tasuku: Why did he come.
Hisoka: Chikage forced me to join.
Chikage: We're supposed to be giving them performance advice, so wouldn't it be a good idea to have someone who can dance?
Hisoka: ...This is definitely revenge for Easter.*
Chikage: I don't know what you're talking about.
Azuma: Now now, since we're here, try to enjoy yourself too, Hisoka. Think of it like a trip.
Hisoka: .....Okay.
Tasuku: Like I said earlier, it's not a--
Azuma: Maybe they sell Indian sweets, too. We can go look for them together.
Hisoka: ....! I want to go. Indian sweets... I'm looking forward to them.
Tasuku: Sigh.
Omi: Oh well, it's a theme park after all. Why don't we just say that having fun is also part of the training camp.
Tasuku: .....So be it. You were also asked directly by Director, right, Fushimi? Was that okay?
Omi: Of course. This was a great opportunity, even at work people have been asking me if I needed some time off.
Tasuku: I hoped that was the case.
Misumi: Over there, and over here too! There's so many different things to do here~.
Taichi: Oh! That! What's that called again... Y'know the thing that looks like a cute little motorcycle... but like a car!
Chikage: Do you mean a tuk-tuk?*
Taichi: That's it!
???: You can ride those throughout the theme park.
Izumi: Oh, hello.
Inda: Hello, and welcome. I'm Inda, the manager of Bollywood Studios.
Izumi: I'm Tachibana, MANKAI Company's director. Thank you so much for this opportunity, we're very grateful.
Troupe Members: Pleased to work with you.
Inda: Same to you all, let's get to work.
Izumi: Yes, let's.
-
Hisoka: There's so many food stalls lined up...
Omi: Can you eat while walking? They sound good.
Azuma: There's also a souvenir shop over there.
Taichi: And so many curry shops!
Inda: Some of our shows, souvenirs, and so on, are geared towards Japanese people....
Inda: As for the curry shops, some were actually opened by locals, others are more famous and popular, and there's a few who are very particular about their cuisine.
India: I especially recommend that shop over there.
Inda: I stumbled upon it when I was looking for curry, and instantly fell in love after just one bite.
Inda: I asked them if they could possibly open up a shop in the theme park.
Chikage: Heh, if you talk it up that much, I'm curious to try it.
Izumi: I want to eat some too!
Omi: Haha, as expected of you two.
Tasuku: Fine, but you guys can do that after we're done with everything.
Inda: Let's move on to the next location.
*reference to the 'Rabbits Party!' event, hisoka forces chikage to join lol
*this is a tuk-tuk , also pictured in taichi's event SR unbloomed
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