Work Text:
Ares is in the middle of a war when he notices something is wrong.
It is rare for Thanatos himself to appear in the heat of battle, but death is usually still present. Instead, Ares watches a soldier fully impaled by a spear, a normally mortal wound, attempt to drag himself off the battlefield.
The Keres circle eagerly overhead, but they don't land. The soldiers here are still too alive for their taste.
Ares cleaves a man in two, half in frustration, half in desperation, but even this doesn't kill. Instead the man groans pitifully, reaching for his detached legs.
Ares lets out a scoff and disappears from the battlefield. He will get no satisfaction here.
His first stop is Olympus, but his relatives are no help. Mostly they gripe about failed sacrifices. They didn't realize the cause until Ares mentions Thanatos.
"It's unlike him to be so lax in his duties," Zeus complains. "He hasn't even reported back about Sisyphus."
"Sisyphus," Ares echoes darkly, beginning to piece together an idea of what had happened.
He appears at Sisyphus's palace with a battle cry, kicking the doors open and storming inside.
"Where is he?" Ares snarls.
Sisyphus remains very calm despite being faced with a furious war god. Ares would admire the courage if it wasn’t infuriating.
"Lord Ares, I'm afraid I simply don't know who you're talking about," Sisyphus claims, falsely.
There's an unsatiated bloodlust thrumming beneath Ares's skin. He glares at Sisyphus, sword already in hand. "You wished to live forever, king? Well, there are far worse things than a peaceful death."
Ares is methodical with his blade. If death were a concern, then Sisyphus would die several times over long before Ares stops. Instead, Sisyphus can only make desperate pleas and hopeless prayers for the end to come.
There is a room in the palace that is empty, save for a large box, just big enough to hold a man. On top of that box rests a scythe that Ares instantly recognizes. He sets it aside and lifts the lid.
Inside, lying completely still and wrapped in chains is Death. Only his eyes move, squinting against the sudden brightness, but clearly terrified.
"Lord Thanatos," Ares whispers, relieved. "It is I, your humble student, Ares."
He reaches for one of the manacles binding Thanatos. The closest description is that the metal feels cold, but it's not that, it feels like an absence. Despite his strength, Ares cannot break it.
Ares scoops the smaller god out of the box and cradles him in his arms. "All will soon be well," Ares murmurs soothingly. "The king is lying in a pool of his own blood, deeply regretting his life choices. I ensured that his coming death could not be considered peaceful."
Thanatos remains still, bound by the chains. The only indication that he can even hear Ares is the slight relief that shows through his eyes at Ares's words.
"I cannot free you from these chains myself, but I know who can."
Ares grabs Thanatos's scythe, then he pictures weapons, armor, the forge, and they appear at the entrance to Hephaestus's workshop.
"Hephaestus!" Ares shouts as he enters the smoky chamber. "Renowned artificer!"
"Don't play at flattery with me, Ares," a grim voice calls back. "It ill-suits both of us."
"This is serious, brother. We need your aid!" Ares shouts. He glances down at Thanatos and explains, "Hephaestus isn't fond of me, but he will help once he knows the situation."
"Did you get stuck while fucking my wife again?" Hephaestus replies with a bitter humor. But his voice is drawing closer.
"He has…fair reasons for his distaste towards me," Ares concedes to Thanatos, slightly chastened but not ashamed.
Any further comment is cut off by Hephaestus approaching in his wheeled chair.
The smith god takes one look at Thanatos, chained and unmoving in Ares's arms, and lets out a long-suffering sigh. "Right, follow me."
Hephaestus turns and heads back into the depths of his workshop with Ares close behind him.
After a few moments of awkward silence, Ares says quietly, "Thank you for helping him."
Hephaestus scoffs. "Like I wouldn't. If it was you tied up, I might let you stew for a bit, but a Chthonic…they've never done me wrong."
"Even so," Ares murmurs.
When they reach the forge, Hephaestus slowly stands, and with a gesture the bellows spring to life. "Set him down there," Hephaestus says abruptly, pointing to the chair he'd just vacated, waiting for Ares to do as he bid before continuing to speak. "Don't you worry, Lord Thanatos, I made those chains, I can certainly unmake them."
"Is there anything I can do to help?" Ares asks, feeling awkwardly at a loss just holding Thanatos's scythe.
"You can stay out of my way," Hephaestus grumbles, lightly pushing Ares back. Ares doesn't fight him, which makes Hephaestus chuckle grimly.
Hephaestus wastes no more breath on talking, leaving Ares to simply watch as the smith works.
Hephaestus has only just let out a shout of triumph when Thanatos gasps loudly and begins to float from the chair. His hands reach out, grabbing at air.
"Your scythe, Lord Thanatos," Ares says, stepping forward and holding out the death god's weapon.
Thanatos grips the handle and instantly vanishes in a shock of green light.
After a moment of stunned silence, Hephaestus bursts into a roar of laughter and settles back into his chair, tossing the broken chains carelessly to the floor.
"What?" Ares growls at him. Thanatos is worthy of the highest respect, Ares may not be able to stem the snide remarks the Olympians direct towards the Chthonic deity, but he will not tolerate outright mockery from Hephaestus.
"Not much of a talker, is he? Pretty enough, I suppose, in a severe sort of way." Hephaestus smirks. "Certainly caught your eye, eh?"
Ares glares. " You are spending too much time with Aphrodite, brother."
That sets Hephaestus to laughing again. "I barely spend any time with my wife, as you well know, brother, " he retorts. "You clearly worship the…well, the air he floats on, I suppose."
"I don't have to listen to this," Ares snarls, bristling. "Thank you for your aid. Farewell." He whirls around and marches out of the workshop, Hephaestus's teasing laughter following behind him.
—
The next battle Ares attends, everything is as it should be. Men die and are immediately pounced upon by the Keres. There's a feeling of release each time a man falls and doesn't rise again, as if everyone on the battlefield is relieved things remain in their proper order.
It's still a surprise when Thanatos appears at the end of the fighting. He rarely graces battlefields like this one. Thanatos hovers, slowly turning, as if looking around for someone.
Ares sheds his mortal disguise, pulls off his helmet, and approaches, calling out, "Lord Thanatos!"
Thanatos spins and lowers himself so that rather than floating over everything, he's just high enough to be at eye level with Ares. "Lord Ares," Thanatos says, returning the greeting.
Ares halts his advance merely an arm’s length away. "You look well," he offers.
Thanatos inclines his head and says, "I didn't thank you for rescuing me before. So, thank you, Lord Ares. And for taking care of…the king as well."
"It was the least I could do, Lord Thanatos," Ares replies earnestly. "I trust the king is rotting in Tartarus, regretting his choices."
Thanatos nods stoically. "Lord Hades was furious with him."
"As he should be," Ares growls softly, a warning, a threat for any who would dare harm Thanatos in such a way.
Thanatos floats slightly up and down and then says, "Please also pass my thanks along to Lord Hephaestus, for his help."
Ares can't keep the grimace from his face, despite his best efforts. "I will do so, you have my word."
The barest twitch of his lips is the only outward sign of Thanatos's amusement, but for Ares it's more than enough. Maybe one day he'll be lucky enough to see Death smile, and if he's very fortunate indeed, maybe Thanatos will smile at him.