Chapter Text
But grace, how sweet it sounds
Claimed and loved for nothing
Redeemed, was lost, now found
Can I hope? Can I change?
Can I erase a past that has caused so much pain?
Wash it clean, white as snow
Surely there's hell to pay, but I'll never be the same
Wisdom of Love
"I don't understand what's so special about him."
"Of course you don't understand," he teases, amused and tender. "You're still a child. I and everyone else would prefer you to keep it that way... red?"
"Everyone says I'm a child! It's not fair!" he whines. "And it's boring. How am I supposed to understand if they won't let me?"
"Because you are a child," he whispers, cupping his face gently. "Stop being one and maybe I'll consider explaining it to you. Until then, Jimin, sweetheart: you're better off playing among all these cute nymphs." He kisses him on the forehead. "Now, tell me, does it look good on me?" He straightens up in front of him.
Jimin pouts, cute and childish, looking away. He laughs before hugging him, showering the boy with fluffy pink hair with kisses. Jimin is tempted to take off the flower crown so he'll stop teasing him.
"Jin's mean too. I thought you’d help me,” Jimin huffs, disappointed, even offended.
“I support you growing up and having more than one lover, but for that, you’d have to dress up a bit more,” Jin announces, patting his arms. “When that happens, I might consider you to be my lover. The most tender of all.” He purrs affectionately. He almost falls flat on his face from the person who was snatched from his arms.
Jin snorts, frowning.
“Don’t go near him and don’t touch him,” growls the man with long hair and a white chiton next to a hammition with elegant decorations on the edges. Jimin sighs in exasperation and Jin rolls his eyes.
“You should consider letting your son grow up, Jeonghan. At this rate, the poor thing will die of boredom,” Jin opines, resting his cheek in his palm.
“He doesn’t need anyone else,” Jeonghan argues, not wanting to hear opinions about what his son’s life will be like. "Come on, I found a place where pink trees grow," he says with a loving smile and a sweet demeanor toward his descendant. Jimin's eyes light up, expectant. He nods enthusiastically and leaves with him.
Jin rolls his eyes. Jimin wants to be treated like an adult, but he behaves like a child. So funny.
Jin sees his reflection in the lake. He has a crown of red flowers on his head, made by Jimin. Sometimes his uncle Jeonghan—Demeter—is so smothering with poor Jimin—Kore—that he feels sorry for him. At the same time, he admits it's nice to have him like this. Scantily clad, wearing those loose peplos, wandering around like a child and available to help him get ready and look good for his encounters with Jongin—Ares.
It's painful for Jin to admit that he has a slight attraction to Jimin, a consequence of the skin he displays. Virgins are too dangerous, if anyone ask him, however, he has also felt this attraction to another god in the same condition.
One who trains a lot; reads a lot; gives a lot of advice and shows zero dedication to personal satisfaction in the way Jin knows it: Namjoon—Athena—god of wisdom, war and civilization… a boring and impotent man, if they ask Jin. He says he's frigid, just to annoy him. He'd be fascinated to be able to ignite that spark of carnality in him, to make him less of a virgin and more flirtatious in that virginity Jin only had at birth.
Or to make him not a virgin at all.
Jin sighs, playing with the water. Jin wants to convince him; he struggles to understand how it's possible that a god has no impulses of any kind. Who could reject him? He's Jin—Aphrodite—god of carnal love, of beauty. HOW DARE HE?! Perhaps that rejection arouses a morbid curiosity in him, given that no other man or woman has rejected him so categorically and in that, Jin wonders, does Namjoon even know what love is?
It's knowledge that must be experienced to be truly understood; it's not enough to read about it, to dream about it, you must live it. That's why it's so complicated and few can grasp it. Among them, he, as the God of carnal love and as the father of the god of romantic love, his little Sehun—Eros—who's playing around. He's rather mischievous; that serpentine nature helps in these moments when he longs to experience something new.
"Are you busy?" someone asks from behind him. Jin smiles, flirtatiously at the person he sees in the reflection. As he stands up, he's taken by the waist and then given a soft kiss on the god of war's lips.
"Being the god of beauty is exhausting," Jin whines with feigned weariness. "Existing and being the beauty of the entire world is so tiring," he dramatizes, making Jongin laugh. "Will you come to my temple? I've been feeling a bit lonely lately." He pouts. Jongin's smile widens, lustfully.
“You can always come to my temple if the loneliness becomes unbearable,” Jongin suggested. Jin’s flirtatiousness turned to offense. He distanced himself from Jongin, repellent.
“Me? Looking for you?” he inquired, disgusted, resting his elbow on his hand and pointing at Jongin. “I don’t look for anyone, not even you, darling. Whoever desires me, seeks me out and if I’m in the mood or feel like it, they’ll earn my company,” he explained condescendingly. “Don’t be mistaken in thinking you’re in control of the situation, because you’re more than wrong. Do you understand?” Jin is an overly proud god and that’s precisely his reason for being.
Who expects that love just happen on its own? What kind of man stands still when he sees the object of his desire? An impotent, repressed and pathetic man. That's why he favors those who are direct, that's why Jongin is his favorite lover: he pursues him like a dog and is clear in his intentions. To emphasize his position, Jin takes hold of him through the thick fabric he's wearing, pressing his soft member. Jongin lets out a groan with an embarrassed smile.
"Y-yes, I understand."
"Okay. You learn fast. Now" the pressure softens into a caress "Let's go to my temple, it'll be night soon and I want to be ready when the time comes."
"Let's go." Jongin agrees.
Some distance away, someone witnessed the gentle discussion and couldn't help but snort. Hurried footsteps catch their attention. Jimin approaches in haste with a beautiful arrangement of pink flowers in his hand. Small and delicate. Sakuras, roses and tulips. The pink-haired man stops, panting and looks around for Jin.
"Isn't Jin here?" Jimin asks, searching for him.
"He went to his temple with Jongin," he replies to the one who asked.
"Oh... I wanted to give him this," Jimin exhales, holding the bouquet. "It's really pretty, but I don't know if they'll wilt… Dad took me to see some trees that have these flowers. Jin would really like them," he says with an excited smile.
"Definitely," the other laughed, touched. Jimin tilts his head.
"Namjoon... Do you want some?" Jimin offers the arrangement. Namjoon sighs softly.
"You know what I think about these kinds of gifts," Jimin says, looking down, disappointed. They've had this same conversation many times. What's the point of a fleeting gift? A gift that has nothing more than its short lifespan? Giving Namjoon a gift is complicated and because of this, Jimin can't often indulge in his usual gift-giving habit. Disappointed, Namjoon extends his hand. "However, this time, since you stood up, I won't deny them."
"Namjoon is so contradictory!"
"Sometimes," Namjoon agrees with a smile.
"Hey, what do you think of Jin?" Jimin asks, curious.
"His self-respect came after his egocentrism and lust. He's not a god I can respect, to be frank," he replies honestly.
"Hmm," Jimin grimaces.
"He is what he is, nothing will change; try not to hang around him too much. Your father doesn't like the idea of you hanging around someone who could take a part of you, okay?" Jimin shakes himself, on the verge of a tantrum, wondering in his head: Why is everyone so insistent on preventing him from moving forward?
"What's wrong with not being a virgin? I don't understand," Jimin protests.
"There's nothing wrong with it," Namjoon sighs, shaking his head. "The thing is, you're a kid and it should stay that way." He gently strokes Jimin's hair. Jimin sighs in disappointment. It's so absurd.
"You wouldn't change, so why should I?" Jimin argues.
"It's different," Namjoon counters. "It's getting late. Go to sleep before your father comes looking for you, as crazy as usual."
"Okay... Goodbye, see you tomorrow," Jimin says quietly. As he walks away, Namjoon notices Jimin's clothes slipping down. He tilts his head; he should give Jimin more brooches. His chiton slips off one shoulder, exposing his leg more than it should be. With nothing else to do, Namjoon also heads toward his temple, far from Jin's temple, where Jin is copulating with Jongin. Namjoon wonders what love and beauty can come from being with so many people for mere vanity.
Jin likes feeling desired and needed by everyone and it's a nuisance to Namjoon. He doesn't understand it and he doesn't want to. It's confusing behavior. For him, it's not beautiful, much less love.
Although, how to define love?