Kingdom Come

Chapter Three

She silently tapped on the styrofoam cup in front of her. The warm liquid emitting a steady stream of steam up into the air as the temperature was getting quite cold. Rosé glanced at her wristwatch, counting down the seconds before her superiors find out she's been gone for about ten minutes. Why? Because, apparently, the twin brother of Artemis (or, as we call her on earth, Jisoo), Apollo, left Olympus for some unknown reason, "so, do you have any ideas as to why?"

"No, I don't. He told me where he was going, but not why. He just said he had some business to attend to and left," Jisoo rested her head in her hands, staring out into the busy streets, "you know, it really isn't much of a problem that he came down here... the problem is that Apollo is next for the thrown."

"What? How is that a problem? Isn't that what he's always wanted?"

Jisoo stayed silent for a moment, her eyes busy following the cars and people passing by, "sure... well at least it was. Just a few weeks ago, he admitted that he didn't need the title anymore; didn't even want to be a god anymore."

Rosé furrowed her eyebrows. Doesn't want to be a god anymore? Were they talking about the same person? There were a few reasons why a god would want to give up their power: to raise someone from the dead, a punishment for some heinous crime so that they won't suffer death or something worse, they let their powers get to their head or they've fallen in love with a human... it just didn't seem all that possible. Apollo was the ideal image of a god, exactly why he was next up to the thrown. Sure, gods and goddesses don't die, but they do retire their titles after a while.

"When I asked him why," Jisoo continued, moving her eyes away from the window, "he couldn't bring himself to answer me. He looked embarrassed, but I saw something genuine in him. Now, I just have to find him. All I need is a reason. Once I get that reason, I'll decide whether I should leave him here or not."

"So, you're still letting him choose, huh?" Rosé had once wished that she were given a choice to go with Ten, but they didn't even spare her the thought. Now, she was fine with it. Olympus was just so plain and dull. Always so lonely. The only entertainment anyone got was from the humans they'd watch live their day to day lives. And honestly, she didn't miss it.

"Of course. I'm his sister, I want what's best for him. If he really wants to become human, I'll help him."

Rosé just eyed her, feeling the need to just go back to work; she's been gone for about fifteen minutes now and she still had her patients, "I have to get back."

"Wait-"

"We can continue this some other time. But, for now, I have to go."

"Wait, one more thing," The woman turned, glancing at the goddess staring up at her, "how's Ares?"

"It's Ten," she corrected with a smile, "and he's doing just fine."

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"...I swear, it was the most horrible thing," Lisa took a huge swig of the beer inside her bottle, scrunching up her face a bit at the burning sensation it sent down her throat.

"I mean, is a dream about being short really that horrible?" the man beside her chuckled, holding a bottle of alcohol of his own in his right hand limply.

"Yes! I just can't imagine being as short as Yeri." the man chuckled, but quickly silenced himself as he took a small chug of beer.

"How is she? Yeri, I mean." Lisa glanced at him, aware of the lingering feelings the man had for her best friend.

"She's been well. You should really come by to visit, Jaehyun."