It had been a few days since she started at Halo and it felt like her coworkers were avoiding her. Today was the first day she noticed she had lunch break the same time as someone else and they didn’t change their schedule. Val entered the break room of the salon, her salad container in one hand and her water bottle in the other. She took a seat at the empty table in the center and started to eat her salad when the door to the room swung open.
Valentina turned to face the entity that entered the room. She took in the man before her, recognizing him as the guy two stations down from her. It was the first time she’d seen him away from his station all week, her curiosity about him was pretty high at this point, seeing as she’d already introduced herself to all of their other coworkers. She was pretty sure his name started with a W? Or was it a V? Either way, she raised her hand to him in greeting as she swallowed her mouthful of water.
“I don’t think we’ve met, I’m Valentina but most people call me Val.” Her hand reached out to him for a handshake, looking up at him partially through her lashes.
He doesn’t know what the thing is. He just knows that he was a complete idiot to venture into the Upperworld this close to the end of year, when everyone is celebrating and enjoying time with friends or family. Most of the people he’d known on Mount Phoenix were still there, but somehow it still feels like he lost the most important people in his life - Eros excepted, maybe.
It’s just not that easy to forget even temporarily that his brother is not talking to him anymore. Nevermind all the centuries in which they had hardly even seen each other, somehow it’s harder now that he’d gotten used to being close to him again and now here he is, unaware of where his brother might even be. To not even start about his wife...
He finds himself lost despite being in such familiar surroundings, and more often than not his feet take him to places he used to go, as if somehow trying to reintroduce some semblance of the old normality into his life. It is a feeble attempt and he knows it even as he allows his feet to guide him to wherever they deem the most appropriate.
So it’s probably not surprising per se that he ends up near Babylon - and maybe it’s even more than just coincidence. Perhaps whatever sixth sense he has guiding his actions and steps knew to bring him here at this exact time, because as he comes to a stop and glances at the building, he sees a familiar shape exiting.
It’s not strange for the demigod to be there in the middle of the night. In fact it’s stranger for Hades himself to be there at this time, but then their first meeting had been quite alike to this one and so he finds himself remembering that exact moment, a small, reminiscing smile appearing on his face.
“Did you hit your head, or were you always this stupid?” It was a harsh question, but it seemed like a fair one, given the circumstances. It did no good to let Wonshik harbour the delusion that he could have handled the situation alone. “Last time I checked, this is the second time I’ve saved you from some scumbag. A thank you would be nice.” Not that he needed a thank you, really. The other male could stay mad at him, he didn’t care.
If he hadn’t known better, though, he would have thought Wonshik had done something really stupid like gone looking for a fight. But he was smarter than that, Yoongi was sure. “Is Babylon so slimy that there aren’t, like, rooms? At least go to a hotel or something. Alleys are wonderful places to get raped and murdered.” He sighed, running a hand through his hair. There was blood spattered on his sleeve, he noticed. Taemin wasn’t going to like that. He was going to love explaining this.
“But fine, next time I’ll leave you to your own devices. I’m sure it’ll work out great.”
Jihoon’s hair had started to become a mess, the dyed strands becoming darkened as his roots grew out. He always dreaded going to the hairdresser, but after his last attempt at coloring his hair on his own...Well, he didn’t want to repeat that, so he made an appointment at Halo. He needed a trim, anyways.
When he walked in, he immediately felt a strange wave of anxiety wash over him. It wasn’t unusual for him to get a bit worried, but this place was much nicer than any other place he had been. He hesitantly approached the front desk, but still managed to sound somewhat confident saying, “I have a hair appointment with Wonshik.”
Of all the presents he’d gotten, this was the one that made him feel the most anxious. He wanted this to go well, he wanted Jimin to love the gift. He had taken ages to pick it out, standing in the store for a long time discussing what would be the rarest, what would be the least likely crystal for the other man to have. He didn’t know if he was going to have it - and that worried Wonshik more than anything. He hoped that Jimin liked it and that he didn’t already have it. He smiled at the man. “I got you something, I really hope you like it. I’m sorry this is late.” Christmas was a hard time for Wonshik but he knew it wasn’t really an excuse.
“If you don’t like it, or anything just tell me.” He said as he handed over the small package that was wrapped neatly with some decoative string around it. “I won’t be offended.” Although he would probably die a little on the inside, he just really wanted this to be perfect. He wanted Jimin to know how much thought he’d put into this, so Jimin knew that he’d cared a lot about it. “I hope you had a great christmas.”
“Really? You didn’t have to get me anything. And don’t worry about that you know I wasn’t around, mutually busy and late, it’s all good.” Minute surprise dissipated into a grateful smile regardless his wishes for the male to use his money for something actually important or save it up, not that he knew what his friend’s money situation was and Jimin had not made it his mission to find out. He still worried on occasion, about every detail wrapped within the job Wonshik had taken to doing, even if he expressed full support for the other’s choices and tried to act to the best of his ability to back that claim up as well.
“Oh no stop right there, I’m sure it’s lovely. Thank you hyung.” Quick smile given he accepted the packet carefully and examined it for short moment, attempting to guess what it held inside but curiosity got the better of him so Jimin proceed to unveil the surprise in store for him. Involuntary laugh bubbled forth, glancing briefly to his friend as he tried to summarize that week into words without coming off as too dismissing
“It was nice to get a small break to be honest. I did enjoy seeing my grandparents but.. ah well, it’s different in a way. They live in a different kind of world from me, I guess.” It had been easier, for one, but still terribly awkward and hurtful. Not to say he had not tried to enjoy time spent with them, which he had to a degree but everything they had went through was still present in the words left unsaid and gestures falling short. Close to walking on eggshells they already knew were broken. It was nice still. Emotionally taxing, but nice regardless. Progress was and always would be a positive aspect in life.
“I just hope you didn’t spent too much for this..” It had to be something small, which could go either way honestly but once eyes fixated on the contents as it had properly been exposed Jimin was stunned into silence, mouth softly falling open. No way. No way. A noise which could most closely and accurately be described an unintelligible squeal that has been cut short by suffocation of a thin pillow escaped sometime between that precise moment and when he hesitantly reached to lift the crystal for closer viewing, gaze glinting with disbelief much as quiet giddiness.
“Do you-- do you know-- this is a rainbow aura quartz. Right? Yeah. It is. I never thought I’d have one in my possession because it wasn’t really on my shopping list-- I mean not that I didn’t want one it just wasn’t the kind I thought might uh, be.. as beneficial. It’s still wonderful and wow I’m holding one-- you know it’s told to be a fairly good healing and balancing gem for self and especially great with relationships that need releasing negative emotions and turn it into a harmonious tie, even with letting go for some people.” He’s rambling here and it’s not helping the warmth seeping all over into his system and heart was clouding coherency, neck flushing with the strength of it and eyes threatening to water as he dived into the realization how rare a moment this was and who he shared it with. Wonshik had gone out of his way to gift him something he knew was and would be of importance and value to the demigod, and was sitting here worrying about his reaction?
“Oh, what the heck.” A quiet, breathless laugh escaped him as Jimin finally turned to look at his friend, crystal held firmly in grasp as he nearly lunged towards the older for a tight hug, mood elated and most certainly heard in voice as well. He obviously liked the gift, the fact the other even doubted if he would was ridiculous.
“Wonshik.” There’s a part accusation in the way he uttered the name, but he’s smiling so wide it was entering the line where it almost hurt which overpowered it greatly, as did the sincerity in next words spoken in hushed tone, intimate and heartfelt above all, “Thank you. It’s perfect. Still you didn’t have to oh my god-- but thank you so much.”
Wonshik was caught off guard by the question. He didn’t really expect questions about J. He hadn’t told Icelus his history yet. He knew that the other man had seen his body and knew that the marks on it had been caused by his ex, although he’d been drunk when he’d asked Wonshik about the marks and their existence. He kept planning on telling Icelus about everything that happened to him but he hadn’t gathered enoguh courage to tell the other. He knew he would cry and he knew that it could change everything. He’d stayed for four years and he knew that people would wonder why he would have stayed, there were questions he was frightened to be asked. He had been young, he had been inexperienced and he’d ended up in over his head with no real way to get out.
“I guess you could say that.” He answered softly. He just didn’t know how much to tell Hades, or even what to tell Hades. He wondered why the other would be curious about his ex and maybe he had been so messed up by the man who had been four years his senior and had had all the power in their relationship that people could just tell. “Why the questions about my ex?” He ran his hand through his hair.
“You could say he was the worst thing that ever happened to me.”
Hades hums at the response he gets, giving a short nod with his head to show he understands. His visit to the young male was originally to check up on him and make sure that Wonshik had been alright ever since their last encounter. The question is just something he asked because he read somewhere that asking questions like this can help you get closer to others. People don’t tend to open up without a proper reason, after all, and what better reason is there than a question asked?
“I see,” he nods his head again, then sends a tentative smile over at Wonshik. “I was just wondering,” is what he says to explain himself and his choice of sudden questioning. “You’re getting better, though, right?” Another inquiry, this one of his own making. “Whatever he messed up, you’re working to make it right again?” He’s not entirely sure if he’s allowed to ask these questions. Aside from his brother, he’s never had this type of conversation with many people, after all.
“Moving on, getting ahead, finding a better life for yourself and all that,” is what he clarifies, just in case Wonshik has no idea what he’s going on about. “Figuring out there’s much better people out there and also a better someone for you.”
A small envelope was pushed under the door of the others apartment.
Hades,
I am sorry to do it this way. I am, but I didn’t tell anyone in person. I sorta made the choice quickly, I - well I haven’t been the same since Ice and it’s not his fault. I just, I fell in love with him and he was perfect, and he is. He is and I miss him so much, I can’t breathe because of how much I miss him. I can’t go to the underworld, I can’t be with him but staying still, staying in our apartment, working in the place we met, the place we first kissed stares at me every day and it hurts. I need time to heal, I don’t know if he told you, but he asked me to move on, to find another lover - but how can I when I sit around hoping he’ll just walk through our door. If you see him don’t tell him, don’t tell him I was so heartbroken I stopped being myself. Tell him I love him, that I will always love him and he will always have my heart.
Thank you for being my friend, thank you for caring for me even after I broke up with him. If you need me, you know my phone number - I’ll write maybe.
Kim Wonshik, Son of Freyr, Hairstylist to the Gods.
When he finds the letter, he reads it where he’s standing, eyes flashing over the lines with such speed that he’s done after a few seconds. He takes a moment to pause, look at the name signed at the bottom, then read through it once more. The words he read hurt his heart a little, but on the other hand they speak of more of a willingness to try and get better than the demigod had portrayed the last time they met. And so Hades is glad for Wonshik’s departure. Even if he mourns letting go of another friend, he is glad for the freedom it will give the demigod, and hopefully the boy will find a new happiness in his life, a new person to love perhaps.
He walks further into his apartment, closing the door behind him, and heads over to the living room. There’s a particular closet there that he opens up, for a moment just looking at all the memories it holds before he puts the letter and envelope in there with the rest of it. All he can do is wish his friend the best, and hope that Wonshik will find something better out there. Other than that, he can only send out good vibes, hoping that a little hint of what he wishes the demigod to have will eventually reach him.
He closes the door of the closet, closes the door on yet another facet of his life on the island, and returns to the rest of it with another tiny piece of his heart chipped off.
Wonshik laughed a little, “I don’t think we’re the most dangerous looking guys going but we can try it.” he said with a laugh, “we can get out of the haunted escape room, right?” He was excited, he’d never done an escape room before, but he was pretty pumped and sure that they could work it out together. Well at least he was certain Aura could.
Her friend had once told her to try and do one scary thing a day - or at least every other week - but Aura hadn’t quite been working on her scaredy-cat nature. Taking the opportunity to go into the escape room, even though it was dark and absolutely haunted by ghosts, seemed to be a brave choice. It was just one that she knew she would regret. “Y-Yeah, we can do it!” she nodded, though was already clinging to the hem of Wonshik’s jacket, “But should we go and buy some holy water? Just in-case the ghosts are real?”
