do you ever think about how Percy and Thalia—specifically as the two children of the greek big three born after the oath was made—are literally paying for their existence?
do you ever think about how Thalia crossed the country to get to Camp Half-Blood and picked up a few others along the way and how she was hunted not only because she was powerful but because she wasn’t supposed to exist? do you ever thing about how there was no protective border until she stood on that hill and fought and died and paid for it with her blood and her life? do you ever think about how she entered Artemis’ service in order to stall a war and potentially the end of the world? do you ever wonder if hunting dangerous monsters with her fellow hunters is enough of a penance to make up for her life?
do you ever think about how Percy got to Camp? how the one thing that made his story diverge from Thalia’s was that his mom was there and (sorta) died to protect him? how he had to return the bolt not because Zeus honored him with a quest but because he decided Percy’s birth incriminated him? do you ever think about how he took on the burden of the prophecy because if he didn’t, Nico would have to start paying for his life? do you ever think about how he was stolen and erased and thrown into another war because if he continues to live he has to be on the front lines?
do you ever think about the fact that it is canon that these two are stuck with the yoke of their fathers’ decisions weighing them down because the Styx has no way to punish the gods but their mortal children are ripe for the taking?
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the
Organization for Transformative Works
Whumptober 2022 Day 14: "I'll Be Right Behind You"
Characters: Stephen Strange, Wong
Summary: Stephen's no stranger to choosing who lives and who dies
Stephen struggled to keep the gateway stable as Wong tightened the restraints around the villain, "Strange has an aversion to killing people. We do not share this sentiment." He then looked over to his friend and whispered, "what do you think we should do with him?"
Their prisoner, Gnuatryon, coughed and spat out blood, "Strange." He drawled, dragging his violet, cat-like eyes up to meet Stephen's. "The weight of Death drips off you as thick as molasses. You're a man who is more familiar with dying than living. But tell me, have you ever killed?"
Stephen swallowed, "yes."
Gnuatryon bared his fangs, "are you prepared to do it again?" At Stephen's hesitation, he continued, "did you forget I have an entire world under my command? A world on the brim of disaster. I am simply leading my people to a better future. Would you not do the same?"
The two sorcerers looked at each other, unsure. Stephen asked, "could we support the inhabitants? Let them live in secret on Earth?"
The other man shook his head, "doubtful. He's had most of the natives under his command and control for so long that they seek to kill anyone that isn't of their species."
"But they're still innocent?" Stephen reasoned. He looked through the wavering gateway to the other side. The ground beneath them was crumbling and the sky was quite literally falling. Women, children, and entire families were lined up at the gateway for refuge. A girl no older than fourteen held tightly to her younger brother, tear tracks glistened on her face. They made eye contact through the haze, and Stephen saw the fear of prey in her gaze turn into the hunger of a predator. He gulped.
Wong nodded sorrowfully, "however, if we grant them access to our world, they're sure to massacre us. No matter which we choose, someone is going to die."
Stephen shook his head frantically, "no. No, we can-"
Gnuatryon laughed hysterically, "you cannot be both the creator and the destroyer, Strange!"
Stephen stared wide-eyed at the prisoner. He had sworn an oath to do no harm, but how could he hold that oath while also fulfilling his duty to protect the Earth? He looked over at Wong, who seemed to be thinking along those same lines. "I'll be right behind you," Wong assured.
"You're right," Stephen confessed to the alien, who in turn looked at him expectantly. "I can't be both, but if saving my world means the end of yours, then so be it. I chose the path of the destroyer."
The prisoner gaped at him, "you can't! You'd be murdering millions!"
Stephen stared at his boots, "but I'd be saving billions."
"You coward! You'd just let us die in the name of logic? You're no better than the Mad Titan that decimated our forces all that time ago!" Gnuatryon was practically pleading with him now. "You're a monster. A heartless man who cares for no one."
"I'm sorry," Stephen apologized and hoped Gnuatryon could see the sincerity on his face, "I don't see the harm in letting you stay in our world if that's any consolation. You could live."
Gnuatryon turned away and closed his eyes, "no. I'd rather die with my people. It's only fair."
Wong spoke up, "are you sure?" Gnuatryon nodded slowly. "Very well."
Stephen watched through the gateway helplessly as Wong released Gnuatryon. He couldn't help but be reminded of all the people he had manipulated into sacrifice, if it could even be called that. Wasn't convincing someone to kill themselves no better than killing them yourself? The world on the other side would be ending soon. Stephen spotted a man wiping tears away from a woman's face. He really was a monster, wasn't he?
Gnuatryon stepped through the gateway and was immediately met with a toddler waddling her way up to him. He stooped down to pick her up and pressed a kiss to her forehead. Somewhere just over the horizon, the ground was giving way to lava. People started scrambling for the gateway, desperately trying to escape their inevitable deaths.
He and Gnuatryon held eye contact as the gateway spun to a close. He heard the people cry out in disbelief and fear. The girl from earlier was looking around frantically for her missing brother. She would never find him. Stephen knew because he saw his body get consumed by the lava a moment earlier.
He let the portal collapse and suddenly he couldn't hold himself up. He felt a firm grasp guide him down to the floor, "easy." Stephen watched where the gateway had been, and to his shock, felt tears begin to form. He had just killed an entire planet. He was no better than Thanos. Wong held him as he sobbed. "I'm right here, Stephen. It's going to be okay. I'm right behind you."
A Brotherhood Deacon instructing others how to kill in the most efficient ways, Hisakawa Yoshihiro is the best teacher available — and would be even if he wasn’t the third son of Hisakawa Kagegorou. He’s read all the books and studied until he got migraines. He has a respectable kill count under his belt, considering he rarely leaves Sakyamuni unless he’s taking students on educational field trips. His cordial appearance with gentle eyes and pleasant smile deceive anyone who doesn’t know better. He’s a wicked educator. Despicable and devious. He expects results and has no sympathy for those who can’t get the job done. What he’s asking isn’t hard. A little efficiency and a decent gun are all anyone needs. No, he did not shoot himself in the foot — figuratively or literally. Stupid rumours about teachers are commonplace. Everyone knows that.
Ina Howell, dark-haired, blue-eyed, and a long way from the sleepy Welsh village of her childhood. She’s brought a piece with in the form of her younger brother, Lewys, and cousin Ghenha. Working at a research hospital in Seattle, her goal is simple: find a cure for her brother’s genetic illness before it kills him. He says they’ve got time. She knows better. She didn’t become a doctor by accident. All those books she read while studying informed her of the terrible things coming to her brother before he dies. She won’t let that happen, and why can’t her bosses understand her urgency? She told them what she needs to do, but they drag their heels. If she weren’t so level-headed she’d think there’s a conspiracy, and the annoying Japanese man harassing her isn’t helping matters. Although, his expression when he fails at lecturing her is kind of cute.
Ina and Ghenha sat at the kitchen island with steaming cups of tea before them. Around the apartment: chaos. Paint and wallpaper samples, brushes and other paraphernalia lay strewn about, some with notes scribbled on and others screwed into balls.
"I said the first was too cheap," Ghenha commented, sipping tea with a smug air.
"The last one seemed more desperate," Ina replied. "I feel sorry for him."
"Hire him, then."
Ina snorted into her cup. "Guess you didn't hear."
"What?" Ghenha asked in a flat voice. Past experience said it could be a number of things, from inappropriate remarks, flirting or a general feeling of ick.
"He was telling me about other jobs in our neighbourhood, and he mentioned having done a police officer couple's bedroom." At this, Ina leaned forward and assumed a conspiratorial expression. "He's sorry to say, they're lesbians." She sat back and rolled her eyes. "There goes the neighbourhood, right?"
Ghenha crossed her arms, looking very unamused. "So, what? Does being gay make 'em less good at their job?" She flung a hand towards her head in a dramatic pose and said in a gruff tone, "Oh, hold me lace hankie! I'm all overcome! Our neighbours have gone full skittles!"
Ina frowned and asked, "Full skittles?"
Ghenha smirked. "Taste the rainbow."
Ina burst out laughing. "Why, mine good cousin, how could you say such a thing?" She sobered, adding in a wry voice, "You know we English are buttoned up as a straight jacket."
Ghenha pulled a face. "Did he call you English? Bloody idiot."
"Hmm." Ina sipped her tea. "It's that generation, I suppose."
"Didn't say nothing to him?"
Ina shook her head. "I just won't hire him. Shame. He was nice enough, aside from the rampant homophobia."
Ghenha snorted into her cup, slopping tea on the counter.
Tag list: @guardians-of-las-vyxen @hyba @illthdar @rae-writes-the-thing
Third son to Hisakawa Kagegorou, mastermind behind the Brotherhood of assassins, Yoshihiro’s role is to train those who might become assassins when they’re mature enough. Kagegorou has never sent Yoshihiro out on a job until now. With several missing or dead members, Yoshi has no choice, but to do menial labour. The one thing he never considered was lacking the will to do to the job.
Having moved from her home in Wales to Seattle to pursue a career in medical research, Ina Howell looks far more sweet and passive than people expect. With a whip cracking wit and more smarts than she knows what to do with she’s noticed by the wrong people. The higher up the chain she gets the more she realises it’s not about her being “too smart for her own good”, it’s the things she’s learned aren’t what the people in charge want getting out. She’s got two jobs - aside from her usual one - connect the dots and save lives and find out who put out a contract on her before the assassin assigned to the job gets over his reluctance to carry out the order.
