[RL w/Hyacinthus, Artemis, Various Gods:] The Absence of Light

[sine_sole_sileo]

Apollo's vacation had been going well-- he and Hyacinthus had taken advantage of the boy's holiday from school and took time to relax on Olympus; they traveled here and there, but never for too long; they hunted, they watched movies, delighted in each other; all in all, it was a welcome respite from the stress of the community's needs

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[bloodiedrebirth]

The first thing Hyacinth noticed when he woke up was the lack of warmth. It was there one second, and gone the next. He reached out, only to pause as Apollo sat up suddenly, seemingly in a panic, and he watched the god with widened eyes, watched him fall out of bed, and try to grope for something that was not there, as if he couldn't see.

Why- what was- Hyacinthus froze. Apollo, he- There was something horribly wrong. It was almost as if someone had thrown a veil over him, rendering him cold and dead and lifeless; his skin, normally so robust and flushed was now deadly pallid and even his hair seemed to have taken on cold tones, as he had while he was in Tartarus, only this was even worse.

The cry of his name shook him out of his stupor, and he moved over, sinking down beside Apollo and resting surprisingly calm hands around his shoulders. "Apollo, I'm here. I'm here."

[sine_sole_sileo]

Wide, blank eyes blinked once, twice-- Apollo hadn't even known the boy was still in bed with him. He lifted his pale hands and felt for the boy, the comfort of his presence deadened by the fear of what was wrong.

He trailed his fingers down the boy's arms, over his strong shoulders, up his neck, through his hair-- it was horrifying, to know he was there but unable to see him. Cupping his cheeks (they were so warm), Apollo whispered, pale eyes searching a face he could not see, "Τι έχει συμβεί σε με?"

("What has happened to me?")

[bloodiedrebirth]

His eyes. They were so pale, neither dark brown nor fiery amber-red. Hyacinthus couldn't speak for a moment, could only let Apollo run his fingers over him as if to make sure he was there. What was going on? Could Apollo not see? He looked around the room. This was not Olympus- this was Hawaii. How had they gone there? Neither of them had transported them there surely.

"I do not know," he answered, his gaze returning to Apollo, unease and horror slowly crawling into his heart. He placed his hands over Apollo's, trying not to wince at how cold he was. The only time he'd felt Apollo this cold was when he lay almost dead in that icy cavern in the Arctic. But this was so much worse. He could not see, he looked dead, and even his voice had turned lifeless, more so than anyone else he'd ever heard.

It was not the haunted voice of Charon, but it sounded so close to Hyacinth's ears.

"We are in Hawaii, Apollo," he murmured after a while. "We- we should go back to Olympus. To see what has happened, and to seek the lady Artemis."

[sine_sole_sileo]

"Hawaii?" Apollo repeated, brows furrowing, the same thoughts running through his head-- how had they gotten here? He let the matter go when Hyacinthus suggested they return home-- he chuckled low, humorlessly, shaking his head.

"No... I cannot take us. You may be able to, but I? No... no, if I cannot see, if I cannot heal, what hope is there that I may be able to return there without aid?" He tore himself away from the warmth and comfort of Hyacinthus and stood on shaking legs, unsure of where to go from here. The room felt so vast, so empty-- he couldn't even remember where the dresser was.

"If we are to go, we must make ourselves presentable to Father."