amygdala
genre: angst, fluff, smut, fantasy, romance, greek god au
pairing: hades!min yoongi x oc (persephone)
summary: while they met under the most unconventional circumstances, there seemed to be a spark bloom about which each was uncertain. what can the future hold for them?
rating: 18+
warning(s): swearing, mentions of an orgy, greek gods being over-excessive, jealousy, drinking, self-consciousness, mild depression
word count: 1.9k
credits: thank you to @okiedokrie for beta reading
banner resources found here: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
a/n: this is for @k-vanity summer event "A Midsummer Night's Dream"
prompt(s): love affair; "I’ve been alive for seven hundred years, and you’re the most annoying person I’ve ever met."; "Why are you falling for me?"
this is a prequel to dionysus and jamais vu, my own little hades and persephone universe. def more to come in the future 🌼
Why?
Why was he here?
He watched with bored scrutiny as his brothers mingled among the partygoers. Why had they talked him into this, he’d never know.
He would have much preferred the solace of his home, his dogs by his side, and the comforting glow of the cooking channel. A faint frown creased his face as the raucous laughter filled the air.
He needed alcohol. And tons of it.
Pushing himself off the wall, he made his way over to the bar. With some effort, he squeezed through, waving his hand to get the bartender’s attention. Just as he was about to order, someone slapped him on the back, making his knees buckle. Yoongi’s expression darkened as he turned to the culprit. The party host himself, Taehyung, stepped back with his boxy grin.
“Why the long face, Yoongs?”
“Trying to get a drink,” he mumbled.
“We gotta get you the good stuff,” his speech slightly slurred as he gestured to the vast array of drinks.
“I’m not trying to get fucked up like you,” Yoongi warned.
“I’m pretty sure no one can out-drink the God of Wine,” Taehyung teased.
Yoongi rolled his eyes as Taehyung ordered a bottle of Ambrosia, filling his cup to the brim. “Stop mopping around and go mingle. If your brothers can do it, so can you!”
“I wouldn’t call what they do mingling,” Yoongi muttered.
Sure enough, Namjoon whispered to a giggling nymph–shocker–and Hoseok had two sprites in his lap. No doubt they’d be leaving soon, if not now. Figures the God of Thunder and the God of the Sea would abandon their brother in his time of need.
He glanced at his phone with a sigh. She wasn’t coming. He should have known he’d get stood up. It wasn’t like he and Minthe were “official”, but it would have been nice for her to attend the party with him. Secretly, he felt things were going downhill over the past year. She became distant, always having an excuse to reschedule a date.
Yoongi thanked Taehyung for the Ambrosia, sipping it slowly. It perked up his mood a bit as he walked around the party. People would attempt to bring him into a conversation, but he shied away, giving them a sheepish wave.
Instead, he walked into another part of the house, looking at the paintings and sculptures with interest. He had to give Taehyung credit for his collection. Of course, Athena and Apollo deserved their flowers, too. After all, he bought some of their pieces from them. Just as he entered another room, his eyes met bright ones…in a state of undress. She shrieked as he spun around, red blooming on his face.
“I-I-I’m s-sorry. I didn’t think anyone was in here!”
The voice that spoke almost put him in a daze. The melodic tone reminded him of wind chimes. She rambled on as she slipped on the white strapless dress.
“N-No, I should be apologizing! I spilled red wine on my dress…well, my friend's dress, and I couldn’t find the bathroom–gosh, why did I come here? I’m not supposed to be here! I can’t believe Artemis talked me into coming and her stupid brother, argh…my mother is gonna kill me!”
Tears began to form as she started to hiccup.
He turned to look at her, breathing a sigh of relief to see she was fully clothed. Her beauty enchanted him. Yoongi blinked as the haze dissipated, set his drink down, walked up to her, and pulled out a handkerchief.
“It’s going to be okay. The stain isn’t so bad.”
She took the handkerchief, mumbling out a thanks, and plopped down on the couch. “It’s a silly thing to cry over. I just…I don’t know, but I feel like I don’t belong here.”
He snorted, grabbed his drink, and sat beside her. “Don’t I know it?”
She glanced at him curiously. “What do you mean by that?”
Yoongi took a sip of his drink before answering. “I got dragged here by my brothers. Apparently, I've been sulking too much than normal.”
“It sounds like your brothers and my friend could be friends. I got dragged here by her, too. For her, it's because I don’t get out enough and only study.”
“What’s wrong with studying?”
“That’s what I said! I’d rather be in my garden or curled up on the couch,” she pouted.
Wow, she looked cute, pouting like that, he thought. Even the flowers in her hair seemed to move on their own. Fluttering their petals whenever she spoke, or her expression changed. He nodded in agreement. “Yeah, I’m missing my dogs right now.”
Her eyes widened in surprise. “You have pets?”
“Uh-huh,” he pulled his phone out, searching for a picture to share, “Too many to count. They’re my babies.”
She scooted closer to look at his phone screen. She let out a squeal as he flipped through the pictures. “That’s Cerberus. Don’t let him fool you; he’s the sweetest. That’s Holly…the brown one. He’s spoiled…well, they all are. And that lil furball, the black cat, is Pluto.”
“They are the cutest! I love animals. Never got to have pets growing up–mom wouldn’t allow it, but I love them.”
Yoongi smiled, putting his phone away. “Whose your mom? Have I met her before?”
She bit her lip, looking away from him. “Well–”
“Persephone!!”
Panic crossed her face at the sound of her name. Just then, a muscular man stumbled in with an equally attractive woman in tow. His face was completely red from the ambrosia, and he pointed at her before looking at the woman.
“See sis, I found her!”
The woman sighed in exasperation, walking over to her. “Persephone! Is this where you’ve been hiding the whole time?!”
I’ve been alive for seven hundred years, and you’re the most annoying person I’ve ever met, she thought to herself.
Persephone seemed to shrink away on the couch. “Hey, Artemis.”
“Don’t ‘hey Artemis’ me. I’ve been looking everywhere for you! I’ve been babysitting this dweeb for the past two hours!”
The man’s face twisted in annoyance. “Listen, no one told you to watch me.”
“I told you not to try to drink with Dionysus, Apollo.”
He sucked his teeth before settling his attention on Yoongi. “Uncle Hades!”
Yoongi’s lip slightly twisted as the God of the Sun lifted him in a bear hug. “I didn’t think a sourpuss like you would come to one of these!”
Persephone watched in wonder as he was lifted like a ragdoll. She tried not to snort at the expression on his face. He was anything but amused.
“Hello, Apollo, Yoongi is just fine.”
Once he was set down, he brushed his jacket with a frown. “I see you’re starting to take after your father.”
“Not too much, but that’s what everyone else says.”
“Uh-huh,” he glanced at Persephone with a tiny smile. “Nice meeting you, I’m gonna go find Namjoon and Hoseok.”
Stay.
The thought crossed Persephone’s mind as she watched him walk away. There seemed to be an ache deep down. But why? Why did she want him to stay?
Artemis poked her friend with a frown. “Earth to Sep. You in there?”
She shook her head. “Y-Yeah.”
“Let’s get you a drink. A real one this time.”
She let Artemis and Apollo lead her back to the bar. By now, things had taken a wild turn. People’s inhibitions were loosening more. Persephone stayed close to Artemis as she ordered them drinks. She tried looking for Yoongi in the crowd but couldn’t find him. So that was Hades. The big evil God of the Underworld, at least that is what her mother had been known to say.
”Stay away from those Olympic Gods!”
Persephone held back the urge to roll her eyes. Sure, Zeus and Poseidon had a less than savory reputation, but Hades…Yoongi didn’t seem like that. Artemis handed her a champagne flute and turned to observe the rest of the party.
”Are you alright?”
”How do you mean?”
”Yoongi didn’t try anything, did he?”
Persephone blinked at her in disbelief. “Why would he?”
Artemis shrugged, taking a sip of her drink. “He is one of the big three; they got a reputation.”
”He’s different. I don’t think he’s like them,” Persephone thought aloud.
”Whatever. They’re all the same,” the Goddess of the Moon grumbled.
Persephone loved her best friend, but she didn’t get it. Artemis made a vow of chastity long ago, as did her mother, Demeter. While it had been an option for her, there had to be more to life than vows and rituals. She felt she was destined for something greater. It didn’t take long for her to be shaken from her thoughts as the host returned to the crowd.
Taehyung appeared, jumping on the bar. “I hope everyone is enjoying themselves! It's that time of the night when it's about to get nasty!”
The cheers grew louder as the young Goddesses watched everyone remove their clothing.
“What the hell–”
The lights darkened as the music took a sensual tempo. People began pairing up all around the room. Persephone tried not to gasp, seeing what a particular nymph and Zeus were doing in the corner. Moans grew louder, making her discomfort grow. Naked bodies writhed around her. She backed out of the room, reaching out for Artemis until she got pushed backward. She almost cried out until someone caught her. The warmth of their hands radiated on her skin. She could barely make out who it was until she was led outside to the backyard.
She blinked a few times as the torches surrounding played tricks in the night.
“Y-Yoongi?”
He nodded, still holding her hand. Persephone glanced down at it, and he dropped it, as red covered his cheeks.
“Sorry. Are you alright?”
“I-I’m fine; just was not expecting all that.”
He chuckled nervously, pushing his hair back. “Yeah, I didn’t sign up for that.”
She returned a smile. “Same.”
He cleared his throat trying to grow the courage to ask her more questions, something about her. She wasn’t like her. Far from it.
“So Persephone–”
“Sep!”
Fuck.
She turned away from him to see Artemis running towards her. She carried two coats and purses in her hand. “We’re leaving now! I’m gonna kill Taehyung for that! Wait until Athena and Hestia hear about it!”
She continued to fuss as Persephone gave Yoongi a look, making him snort.
The Goddess of the Moon punched in a number angrily. “Damn, rideshare won’t be here for another ten minutes! I’m going up front. You coming?!”
“Y-Yeah, I’ll follow you out.”
“Better be. Bunch of horny, sweaty gods ruining a perfectly good party. Stupid orgies!”
As she stormed off, Persephone gave Yoongi a pout. “I guess I gotta go.”
“Oh, I understand. It’s crazy in there. Don’t want to get caught up in all that.”
“Agreed.”
The flowers in her hair closed slightly as her mood saddened. But why? Yoongi wished she could stay outside with him and talk all night, but it was selfish of him to think that. He didn’t deserve any happiness, and that wasn’t in his future.
“It was nice meeting you, Yoongi,” she whispered.
“You too, Persephone.”
“Maybe I’ll see you again,” she said, her eyes hopeful.
Damn. What was happening to him? She seemed to have him under a spell.
Why are you falling for me? He wanted to ask.
“I–”
“Persephone! Hurry up!”
She winced, frowning at her friend’s voice. Glancing at Yoongi, she took a purplish flower from the ground and handed it to him. “It’s a pomelia. It kind of reminds me of you. It means kindness. You’re not like your brothers; you’re more than that.”
She squeezed his hand before running off in the direction Artemis called her in. Yoongi glanced down at the flower as a small smile appeared.
