Noah Sebastian x You ||Hades & Persephone — Modern AU||
Chapter 1
Chapter 2: Coincidences
Warnings: Mild cursing||language.
She expected to forget him. Not immediately, of course. The mysterious dark-haired stranger from the bookstore was attractive, funny, and oddly easy to talk to. It was normal for him to linger in her thoughts for a day or two. The problem was that a day or two passed but everytime she heard a song she study the voice of the singer and discover if it was him. But no… it was getting ridiculous. . Then a week. And you still found yourself thinking about him. “Music guy.” You didn’t even know his last name or if he was a modern country musician, perheps just a music tech with a lot of personality. Three days after the bookstore, you were at your favorite coffee shop. A small place filled with plants and mismatched furniture. The kind of place that encouraged people to stay for hours. You was waiting for her drink when she noticed someone sitting alone by the window, black hoodie, headphones on dark hair. A sketchbook open on the table. You heart skipped. —No way.— For a moment you wondered if you should say hello. Then immediately felt ridiculous. What if he didn’t remember you? What if you imagined the whole connection? Before she could decide, the barista called her name. You turnen, grab your drink, decisive to talk to him. And by the time you looked back— The seat was empty “Gone.” Like you imagined him. You felt a little disappointed, but he was someone famous, probably he was hiding from the crazy fans. Were you a crazy fan? No, you haven’t heard his music… Now how you can find him… you wanted to talk to him, know him… but famous people hide more than they want to. All you had now was a memory, lucky you.
~~~~~~~~ Later that evening, Noah sat in the studio trying—and failing—to focus. A producer was explaining something about a track. Noah nodded occasionally just pretending to listen but, l his thoughts kept drifting. Back to the bookstore. Back to the girl sitting on the floor surrounded by gardening books. Back to the way she’d smiled. It was annoying. He didn’t get distracted like this. Especially not by strangers and the headaches, was the worst part. Since he landed on Nashville he had this mugrianes and they were more and more unbearable.
“You okay?“ Noah blinked. “Hm?”
“You haven’t heard a word I’ve said.“ The producer sighed. “You’re somewhere else.”
Noah leaned back in his chair. Unfortunately, the producer was right. “I’m okay man, just this headaches. Probably the jet lag from Europe is hitting late.” Both man laughed. “You should go and check it out, after all it’s been a while since you had a full medical checkup.” Noah shrugged his shoulders then rub the back of his head. “Yeah, should book an appointment when I get back to L.A.”
Noah shut his eyes for a moment the headphones rest on his neck and sighed, then the pitch black veil from his eyelids turned into an image, distortioned silhoute of a woman in sorrow bend on her knees. He opened his eyes his breath quicklly raise as his heartbeat. Was he seeing things now? Was he dreaming?
“Noah? You okay?” The producer placed his hand over his shoulder.
“Told ya man. It’s the jet lag… “
The producer gave him a gentle squeeze over his shoulder and Noah nodded in reassurance. The producer move on the panel and continue talking, Noah tried his best to ignore what just happened, but the damn headaches were not helping.
Back at the rental airbnb he found himself alone, Jolly and Bryan had headed to a local bar leaving him a note. He took a picture of the note and send it to the group chat with a caption added. “It’s the 90’s or wtf you writing on post its!” Noah took the bottle of wine he bought earlier and opened it, didn’t even bother to find a glass, he toss his shirt to the bed and sat on the edge of the mattress. As he scrolled down on his instagram he stopped at that local place instagram he used to go with Jolly while in Nashville. A garden with his favorite bagel shop… he read outloud. —The farmer’s Market: Buy $15 dlls on products and received a plant! Let’s help our planet.— Noah move aling through his phone but then the mysterious girl appeared on his head, “fuck”, she was a local and probably she will spend thousands of dollars just to help her ftaher’s friends and locals. Would she be there… probably she already forgot about him, and he tried too hard to forget that face, those doe eyes and fuller lips… “Damn it!” He cursed under his breath and laid on the bed, he groaned, the bittle of wine still on his hand.
He shut his eyes and there it was again the same “vision”. He opened his eyes and gasped. “Jetlag… jetlag…” He repeated himself. Trying to not freak out. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The following Saturday, you visited a local farmers market. You loved places like this: Fresh flowers, Handmade goods, People selling things they genuinely cared about. And of course the good causes. She might not known her father’ life here but many people have visited you and making sure you settled,, friends of your father helped you through the crazy move and now you wanted to give back a little of that kindness. You wandered between booths carrying a canvas tote bag. A vendor handed you a small packet of sunflower seeds.
“These are good luck.” You laughed.
“Do they come with instructions for life too?” “If they did, I’d be rich.” “Fair enough.” You and the vendor chuckled and She tucked the seeds into her bag secured them. Then turned— and walked directly into someone. “Sorry!” The other person steadied you before you could stumble. Strong hands that could wrap around your arm without even forcing, a warm grip too gentle. You looked up. “Noah.”
For a second both simply stared. Neither speaking. Neither quite believing it. Then Noah broke first. “Okay.”
You laughed nervously.. “What?”
“At this point, this is getting suspicious.” “I was literally about to say the same thing.” The tension vanished. Instantly. He clear his throat and fix the strap of his backpack. Rub his face with a hand and sighed. “Shit I am sorry but I do remember you just can’t recall your name.” You blinked twice. “Oh, yeah it’s (y/n)” Noah shakes your hand again the grip too warm and gentle but firm. “Well (y/n) nice to meet you, again.” Both laughed awkwardly but cute. As if they’d picked up a conversation that had merely paused instead of ended. Noah glanced around the market.
“You shop here often?”
“Something like that… I started today!” His eyebrows rose.
“Really?” “Why?” “I come here all the time when I travel to Nashville. It’s like relaxing.” You stared. “You have a soft side under all those scary tattoos.”
Noah chuckled so charmingly. “No, is just.” He stares back at you.” I like the hoemmade stuff like people put too much care and effort to create something for a stranger. You can see how excited they get when you are interested on a $20 dollar mug they probably messed up while painting at it.”
Noah chuckled taking a sip of his coffe on the cardbaord cup. “We share same thought…”
Noah looked just as confused and thrilled. “Really about what?”
You smiled blushing. “The way people sell things they cared about”
Noah arched his ebyebrow behind his shades, fate hadn’t been ready for same shared thoughts. “I’m not a hippie tho.”
“Oh Noah! You can’t say those stuff that’s bad!” Both laughed making the people turn to them and give them didapproval grimces. They ended up walking together. Not intentionally. It just happened. One conversation became another. Then another, Book, music, movies,travel. Noah was sharing his airpod with you, a Bad Omens Song blasting on the earpiece. “I can’t believe I never heard your band! You guys sound awesome!” Noah grinned like an idiot and proud. “The good news is from now on you can listen to us.”
At some point at noon they stopped at Noah’s favorite bagel shop and continue their conversations. Childhood stories. The strange old cemetery near downtown that you liked visiting because it was peaceful. That one made Noah laugh. “Most people don’t list cemeteries as relaxing.” “I know.” “You really are weird.” You bumped his shoulder.
“Says the guy who sketches in coffee shops wearing all black.” “That’s different, and I am not sketching, I like to write words. Randomly… It helps with the creativity and inspiration from when I want to write a track.”
“It is not.”
“It absolutely is.” You rolled your eyes chuckling. Noah smiled. And suddenly realized he hadn’t smiled this much in weeks, maybe months.
An hour later they reached the edge of the market. Neither seemed eager to leave. Which created a problem. Because eventually someone had to. You shifted awkwardly. “Well…”
“Yeah.”
“Guess this is where normal people say goodbye.” “Probably.” A pause. Then Noah did something unusual. Something he almost never did. “Can I get your number?” You looked surprised. Then pleased. “That depends.” His eyes narrowed. “On what?” “You promise not to save me as Gardening Girl.” Noah laughed, a genuine laugh. The kind that escaped before he could stop it. “No promises.” “Then I’ll just add it myself.” You typed -Gardening girl and add it to the contact list. . And Noah laughed. “Maybe that way you won’t forget me.” Noah removed his shades and stare at you, he wantes to ahow you his moat honest look. “I could not forget your name (y/n),not now when your mere presence today made me good today. Thank you for that.” After a long pause both shift awkwardly. “I guess I’ll see you around in your next visit to Nashville.” “Sure! I will call to see if you still in town trying to not murder plants.” He chuckled neevously. “See you then Noah…” You wave but Noah pulled you into a hug, a warm friendly hug. “Later…” And with that both took their own paths, wanting to look back, but no one did. Too proud to make a romantic scene. That night, after exchanging exactly three texts, you fell asleep smiling holding that phone like it was your lifeline. Across the city, Noah lay awake staring at his ceiling. Unable to explain why he felt like something enormous had just shifted. Neither of them knew that somewhere beyond the mortal world, ancient powers were beginning to stir.
The King of the Underworld had found Spring. Not through destiny written in stars. Not through prophecy. Not through divine intervention. But through coffee shops, bookstores, and an embarrassing number of gardening books. And somehow, that made it even more dangerous.