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Apollo filled his goblet with more wine as everyone around him celebrated his lover's death. Good riddance, he was awful anyway, no one will miss him, this is the best thing to happen to Rome since his father's rule, even Apollo doesn’t miss him! He swallowed his wine in one go and went to refill it again.
Each off handed comment felt like a stab to the heart. They all commended Narcissus for his bravery and strength, called him a hero and worried when he disappeared. Hearing people praise his persona for murder made him sick. Apollo's hand shook as he took another generous sip of wine.
“Apollo! There you are! We have been looking for you everywhere man,” Hermes no, Mercury appeared out of nowhere making Apollo nearly drop his goblet.
“He- Mercury! Where did you come from- wait we?” He barely had a moment to ask another question before his brother dragged him away from the amphoras.
They weaved through the crowd at top speeds. Dancing around couples and friends, tip-toeing the edge of the lake Triton called a party spot, and just barely avoiding tripping over the rocks. Usually Apollo could keep up with him but he may have emptied a small amphora, or two. It was some of Bacchus’s weaker wine anyway. He thinks.
Herm- Mercury slowed down near the deeper end of the lake, Apollo kept his gaze forward keeping the water out of his sight. After attempting to right himself (and his cup, goodness Mercury that’s a waste of good wine) Apollo finally focused to see who Hermes had brought him to.
Oh.
“There you are, darling!” Aphrodite Venus squealed in delight when she saw him, “We were just talking about you! I am so sorry for your loss.” Her voice reeked of fake sympathy. Swirling her wine like she was about to ask for the latest gossip, which knowing Venus she most likely was.
“I am curious about a few details I must admit,” Cupid said as his form shimmered, “Specifically their relationship, no offense Apollo but you must admit the two would have made an adorable couple.”
Once the love god finished speaking his form finally solidified, Apollo wanted to vomit at the sight.
He looked like a copy of Commodus, from when they had just met. Happy, sane, gorgeous(not that he ever stopped being gorgeous), alive. It was a far cry from the corpse he had buried just yesterday. He downed the rest of his wine.
“Goodness Apollo, you two had broken up like a decade before this,” Eros Commodus Cupid. Cupid commented, passing Apollo his own cup, “Here, you need this more than me, sweetheart, it’s the strong stuff.”
Apollo reluctantly took the cup, attempting to keep his gaze forward while taking tentative sips. Oh he needed this.
“Don’t,” he took another gulp, “fucking call me that, alright?” Apollo finally found it in him to relax, this was one of Dionyous’s nicer wines. He must have been drinking a newer batch.
“How much have you drunk?” Mercury laughed when Apollo swayed after barely any of the wine.
“Barely anything, why?” Apollo lied.
“Well if you’re gonna be a little loose lipped, might as well tell us. What do you think of Narcissus?” He nearly spit his wine out at the question.
“What- why would I have any thoughts on him?”
“You know! How’s it feel knowing your ‘dear heart’, that’s what you called each other right, was killed by another?” Commodus Cupid asked, leaning in as if it might convince him to respond. Seeing Commodus’s face so close just made him wanna vomit.
“Well.. I-“ He downed his wine again, “Pff I don’t have any thoughts on him, don’t care one bit, ” He slurred his words as he spoke.
“Darling, you’re gonna throw up,” Venus giggled, “You are sure you don’t care?”
“Positive,” Apollo's words slurred further and his vision blurred. All he could focus on was Commodus Cupid standing in front of him.
He didn’t see Mercury snickering and pushing him into the lake.
Apollo didn’t have time to react, before he could even yell at his brother he hit the waters. He starts thrashing at the waters and tries to swim up, he attempts to open his eyes and goes stock still.
Commodus’s dead body floated right above him, this is what he remembered Commodus looking like last. His eyes looked lifeless and his mouth just kept mouthing the words, you blessed me. He attempts to swim up but Commodus is choking him. All he can see is Commodus mouthing you blessed me you blessed me you blessed me-
He cant breathe he can’t breathe he can’t breathe he can’t- get off get off he just needs to swim up-
You blessed me you blessed me you blessed me You blessed me you blessed me you blessed me- get off get off get off of him.
He surfaces and claws his way out of the lake, and immediately vomits on the ground.
“Ewwww man it wasn’t that big a deal,” Hermes- Mercury- who cares they're the same anyway!
“Fuck off,” he stumbled forward trying to stand, but falling forward and getting caught by Commodus- Eros- CUPID, it’s Cupid who looks like Commodus.
“Whoa there, maybe you didn’t need that drink,” All of them laughed a little until Apollo pushed Cupid off of him.
“Apollo? It was just a prank, unless you do care about what happened with Narcissus. They could have been such a cute couple-“
“UGH!” Apollo yelled and stormed off hearing them whisper to each other, what’s his problem? It’s just Commodus. I say he’s jealous.
He teleported to the sun palace and just collapsed on his bed, he wishes they would all just forget that they ever dated. He wishes he didn’t have to think about Narcissus ever again, or Commodus.
~~
Aphrodite watched the screen with keen interest, Apollo had always been odd about Commodus. Perhaps she would learn something new to use.
“Commodus blames me for his death,” Lester answered the Hephaestus child.
“Hm, you know I’m not really shocked, Commodus would be that petty,” Hermes said boredly fiddling with the drachmas he had bet.
“I think there’s more to it,” The moment she leaned forward Apollo proved her right
“Probably because I killed him,”
The entire throne room was silent, and exploded seconds later. Everyone yelled over Apollo's explanation of Commodus’s death.
“HE WAS NARCISSUS?!”
“I COMFORTED THAT BASTARD-“
“HE LIED TO ALL OF US?!”
Their voices all layered over each other, but Aphrodite was just filled with excitement. So that was why Apollo had acted so strangely whenever she asked about Narcissus. He wasn’t jealous at all, oh she was right to be interested.
She can’t wait to see what he reveals next.