A/N: Guess who had an idea and had to write it down? (My writing slaves that's who). (This thing is also on AO3 and FanFiction.net!).
Apollo got himself drunk (Or, as he calls it, ‘a little tipsy’). Dionysus decides its time for him to take a break and they end up talking.
Non-shippy, but it is about love. Trigger warnings: Mentions of alcohol and drunkenness.
Much too lovely a night for commitment
Apollo let out a joyous, drunken laugh. ‘That I just had the chance to meet a lady like you tonight!’ He looked at the lovely woman in front of him, who hid her blush behind her hand.
‘You’re too kind.’
‘Never to someone like you!’
She giggled. ‘Are you sure you didn’t drink a little too much?’
‘Perhaps, but what would it matter?’ He slightly tilted his head.
‘Maybe you should take a second look at me in a minute or so…’ she carefully adjusted her necklace. ‘So I know that you are sure about it.’
Apollo winked. ‘I’ll be back in a moment. I hope it doesn’t feel like forever.’
He turned around and strudded away, a little unsteady on his feet.
As soon as Apollo was out of his sweethearts’ line of view, he felt someone tug on his arm. ‘Hey, who…’
‘Come, Apollo,’ he heard a firm voice say.
‘What are you…’ He looked aside, to his brother Dionysus, who was giving him a sly smile.
‘You need some fresh air. You’re drunk.’
‘No way, only a little tipsy…’
‘Come.’ Without further complaining, Apollo followed him out of the ballroom, into the garden, from which one could see the river. In his hazy state, Apollo couldn’t remember what river it was again. In which country were they even? Italy? Egypt? America?
‘Why don’t you take a look at the Rhine and maybe you’ll calm down.’ The Rhine! Then this must be… uh… ‘I know what you are thinking. It doesn’t really matter where we are.’
‘No?’
‘No. That's for when you’ve sobered up a little.’
‘Ah.’
They both got quiet. After a few minutes, Apollo felt his brain getting clearer. ‘We’re in Germany.’
‘Yes.’
‘Cool.’ He sighed, still more than a little tipsy. ‘Why did you think I needed some fresh air?’
Dionysus rolled his eyes, which Apollo did not notice. ‘I just saw you talk to that girl… Marlene? I am not sure. Before that, you were talking to two other girls, and even before that to some guy. I thought I’d come knock some sense into your head.’
‘I am very sensible.’
‘Uh-huh.’
‘I love them all! Every single one! Genuinely!’
‘Yes, Apollo, you do, that’s the problem.’
‘Why is it a problem? I just like… all of them. Everyone. I have enough time and love for all too.’
‘I know, ‘Pollo. I think, when you’re more clear-minded, you’ll realise why some others don’t see it that way.’
Apollo stayed quiet for a few seconds. ‘Hmmm.’
‘What is it?’
‘I just can’t choose. They’re all so amazing.’
‘All of them, now?’
‘All of them. And I cannot choose.’ He swayed around a little and sighed. ‘Tell me how you chose, Dio.’
‘Huh?’ Dionysus looked at him. ‘What?’
‘How did you manage to choose? You must have known a lot of great guys and gals too, yet, you managed to pick one of them…’
‘Choose Ariadne as my wife, you mean?’
‘Yes.’
‘Well, I… I just think she’s the best. Maybe not the most beautiful, the kindest or the smartest of all women ever, but certainly the best. And of course she is beautiful and kind and smart, too...’
‘How did you know that she was the best? I mean, it has been close to three thousand years since you got married…’
‘Four-thousand,’ Dionysus muttered, ‘Close to four-thousand.’
Apollo slowly nodded. ‘Insane, dude. That is long. How did you… know she was the one when there was so much time ahead of you?’
Dionysus shrugged. ‘I just did. How did you know you loved those four pretty things just now?’
‘I just felt it!’
‘Well, then.’
‘But that is different! That is short love. You picked someone for the rest of your lifeeee.’
‘I knew, Apollo.’
‘Ah. You sure?’
‘Yes,’ he answered, through gritted teeth.
Apollo didn’t catch the annoyed tone. ‘Haven’t you ever regretted it? Even for just a moment?’
Dionysus lifted his hand with the intention of slapping his brother across the face. When he saw Apollo’s drowsy look, his anger ebbed away. Maybe Apollo was clearer now than he had been ten minutes ago, but he was still drunk. Dionysus’ gaze trailed off.
‘Eh… sorry if I…’
‘Sh. I am thinking of an answer.’
Apollo nodded and looked back at the Rhine. The steady stream made him feel calmer.
‘Apollo?’
‘Hmmm?’
‘I have never regretted it, not even once. Of course there are arguments and fights and ups and downs, but I don’t regret getting married to Ariadne and making her immortal. That…’ he took a deep breath. ‘That does not mean that it was wise to get married when we were so young. I don’t think either of us realised how long forever really is, or what immortality really meant.’
‘After she died, it took you a few years to get her back from the Underworld...’
‘I felt like it was expected of the gods to forget their mortal loves.’
‘And you did-not.’
‘No. Even after two years, I didn’t. I went to get her back. And I would do it again. Still, it was naïve. It turned out beautifully, but it was extremely naïve.’
Dionysus slowly spun around the ring on his finger, suddenly very aware that it was there. ‘Yet, you, you are almost five-thousand-years old. You are not that naïve anymore. You could go and choose someone.’
‘But I wouldn’t know who! Maybe, if I could marry all of the nine muses, then I’d do it, but I ca-hant!’
‘Just do it! I couldn’t marry a mortal princess either!’
‘No-ho…’ Apollo breathed deeply and sunk down onto the ground. He looked up at the stars and sighed. ‘It’s a lovely night, Dionysus…’
Dionysus looked up, at the stars. ‘It is. Shame I am spending it with my drunk brother.’
‘No, you don’t mind,’ Apollo muttered.
‘Hm.’
‘I am a little tired…’
‘Did you promise those girls and guys anything?’
‘I… nothing I can’t do tomorrow?’
Dionysus sighed, but it ended in a chuckle. ‘Let’s get you home, then. I’ll bring you to your wives.’
‘What?’
‘Nothing.’ Dionysus helped Apollo up again.
‘You should tell Ariadne you love her,’ Apollo muttered.
Dionysus raised his eyebrows. ‘I do, ‘Pollo.’
‘Do it again.’
‘I will,’ Dionysus quietly agreed, before teleporting both of them back to Olympus.
A/N: I kinda stole the ‘all the nine muses’ from @bfire92...Go read her fic, she wrote three gods and a new apartment, it's good (That being said, I díd ask permission to use it and it isn’t that big in the fic).
