The Arrows Of Love || VMIN

The Task

Taehyung loathed three things in his immortal life- having his wings dampened, halting in the middle of massacring a carefully put together marriage by none other than Hera himself, and seeing his father ill in heart.

And in the name of Styx, was he encountering all three at once.

The youthful god had been aiming his lead-tipped weapon on a couple at the altar, amused at the thought of the inevitable outcome of his action; when his father's distressed cry for him flashed under his eyelids like sparks of electricity, causing him to abandon his impudent play right that instance, hasting to Olympus.

If that wasn't a misery pernicious enough, by the order of the King, the Hyades had chosen today as the fateful time to bring the vegetation of earth back to life, and heartlessly refused to stop even for a moment when he politely asked them to give him a way back to his home.

So now, finally back in his own palace, water dripping from the sodden feathers of his folded wings, he stood before his father like a "wet crow on an olive branch" (Jeongguk's respectful words from the past).

"Dry those wings of yours, Taehyung. Though you have only ever drank ambrosia in your life, don't think having been struck by the King's strength at such close proximity will leave no trace."

Seokjin spoke, reclining on his throne, an arm thrown over his eyes. The fallen cerise lapel from his shoulder sloth on the bejewelled gold armrest, right feet resting idly on the cushion below, left one tucked under it.

"Father," the younger god coaxed the other, voice blooming on the empty hallway, throbbing the silence of conscious, rosy walls into delighted affection for the dear youngling who had once crawled on them. "Who has done the offense?"

"Listen to me, boy," the older raised his voice, deceiving in his resistance, "go get some rest. And no crime was done against me, I apologise for calling you suddenly."

Oh.

Taehyung quietly walked towards the other's throne; climbing the stairs of his pedestal, kneeled on the stray cushions beside, clasping his father's dangling palm with his own.

"What is it, father?"

Seokjin pulled his arm down from his eyes at the coo, looking back at his son's purposefully rounded, cerulean eyes, the same as his own; rosy cheeks appearing fuller as he pressed his lips together, tilting his head to a side.

"Manipulating this weak father of yours with those lovely charms, aren't you, rascal?"

"Is it effective, my Lord?"

"To my utmost misfortune." Seokjin sighed, straightening his back; dainty fingers running through his son's hair, ruffling the golden strands, the younger god's chin nearing to rest on his thigh. "And you're well aware of the answer."

The most favoured of portraits of himself, if he was to pick among thousands of lakhs getting made every day, Seokjin would say; the ones with a toddler Taehyung in them. Playing on his lap, crawling on his back, in utter awe of his tiny torch, bow and arrows; drawing them as such meant instantaneously gaining endless blessings from the god of beauty himself.

Aphrodite with his son Eros, the most auspicious and beautiful sight to ever be witnessed.

Taehyung broke into a grin, like one of those rare rainbows that broke in the night sky, which only few on Gaia were fortunate enough to look upon.

"Tell me, father, what is it? I will ruin the reason for all it's worth, tell, who has made your heart sore?"

"Shameful as it sounds," Seokjin moaned in sorrow, "it's a mortal of Gaia, Taehyung- a human called Jimin."