Pjo stranger things au in which even after the gods take an oath to claim their children, Steve remains without a parent. He’s a half-blood no question about that, he’s been at the camp almost his whole life, has been on missions, fought honorably in battles, has the scars to show it.
Still, even after the last child at the camp has been claimed and the Hermes cabin has become surprisingly empty, Steve remains without a mark. He keeps a brave face, tries not to let his sting. His father never wanted him, why should his mother be any different?
He doesn’t even mind staying in the Hermes cabin. He has been here all those years, it’s become his home, his family. Now that there is enough space he even gets his own little room, right across from Eddie, whose counselor for the Hermes cabin and right after Robin and Dustin, Steve’s best friend.
“Ya, know,” Eddie says, arm slung around Steve, who wills his heart to beat at a normal pace, “I bet if Hermes could claim you, he would.”
He is actually not that far off. The Gods are watching their children. And all of their hearts ache when they get to claim a new kid at the camp and Steve’s face falls slightly as he remains without a parent. Most gods don’t care about their siblings’ children, but there is something about Steve the gods can’t ignore. Tragic hero, so lonely, so brave, so filled with love despite everything.
There is a rumor quietly echoing through the halls of the Olymp that Steve remains unclaimed because he is Hera’s child. It’s a scandalous suggestion, a heinous rumor, a forbidden truth. Spreading it might be enough to cause another war. The goddess of marriage having a child with a human? Unthinkable, and yet. Everyone knows that marriage doesn’t equal love, knows how spiteful Hera is, how most of her children are hated. No one could blame her for the affair really, if the rumors were true, if anything the gods are surprised she didn’t snap sooner with Zeus having affairs left and right. But if the rumors were true, they definitely would blame her for not claiming Steve. Steve who protects the younger kids fiercely, how cares so much about everyone.
It hurts one goddess especially. Aphrodite looks down at Steve and aches. Aches how he thinks that he is hard to love, hard to want, always easy to leave. Who despite that fear won’t stop giving pieces of his heart out, who loves so much even though it hurts. Sometimes when Aphrodite watches Steve, he already feels like one of her own. She loves her children easily, constantly, it’s impossible not to for her yet at the same time she loves them on purpose. And as she watches Steve, she can’t help but love him too.
She reaches her breaking point on a warm summer night. After the bonfire, Steve goes down to the lake, sits at the pier, legs pressed into his chest in a poor imitation of a hug. He looks at his reflection in the lake and wonders why. Why is he so hard to love? It’s silly really, all that had happened was some new Ares kid talking to Eddie. Tall, muscular, pretty and the guy had made Eddie laugh. Steve’s thoughts had spiraled from there on.
He’s so busy licking his own wounds and wallowing in the feeling of not being wanted that he almost doesn’t notice the goddess emerging from the lake like she had once emerged from the ocean at the cyprian shores. Steve startles when he does notice her, before he quickly bows.
“My lady,” he greets her politely, always the charmer.
“There is no need for that, Steve,” she says kindly and Steve looks back up at her. She is truly the epitome of beauty, dark, bouncy curls, deep brown eyes, dimples around plum lips. Steve is not stupid, knows the goddess appears in the form you most desire, he is just glad he is alone. Robin would never let him live this down.
“What can I do for you?”
“I’ve come to make you an offer Steve,” she explains. “I want you to devote yourself to me.”
Steve gasps, stares at her a little shocked. She can’t blame him.
“Why would you want my devotion?”
She can tell he isn’t asking why she wants devotion, but why she specifically wants his devotions, why she would want him.
“Because I love the way you love,” she says with a smile. “I love the way you love and that makes me love you. I admire your devotion, the affection you hold for your friends. If I could, I would claim you as my own. But I can’t, so I am offering my patronage instead.”
Steve still looks a bit struck, surprised a goddess would want him like that, would appreciate the way he loves. Steve had always bounced back and forth between being too much and not being too much. No one has ever said that they loved the way he loved.
“What would being devoted to you entail?” he asks, knowing there very often is a catch when it comes to the gods.
But Aphrodite means no malice.
“It would essentially be the same as being my child. I will come to your aid, I will love you, I will lend you my gifts if needed. Only that since we are not bound by birth, you would have to take a sacred oath. Become a…paladin is the name your Eddie would use, I belive.”
Steve likes the way she says it. Your Eddie. His Eddie. It sounds almost too good to be true, being wanted like that, being offered a family like that.
“Would I have to move cabins,” he blurts, overwhelmed by al his emotions. Aphrodite laughs.
“Don’t worry, I wouldn’t dare to tear you away from the people you love so dearly. I believe you are friends with my children anways, strengthening that bond a little will be enough. But I am sure you and Chrissy will make sure of that.”
“Then I take the oath,” Steve decides and goes down on one knee. “I devote myself to you, goddess Aphrodite. I will worship at your altar and fulfill your quests. I am yours as you are mine.”
There is a tingling sensation as he finishes his oath, warm spreads through him and he can feel himself be filled with Aphrodite’s love. It’s a lot. It’s everything. Gently, she reaches out and cradles his face in her hand.
“Go on then, my brave little hero,” she whispers. “I think you have a bonfire to return to, friends, family, your beloved.”
“He isn’t my beloved,” Steve mumbles, blush on his cheeks.
Aphrodite just raises a brow. Steve knows she can see into his heart, he knows he can’t lie to her.
“Remember that you are loved,” she tells him and Steve will try his best.
He leaves the lake, a tattoo of a circle with a cross at the bottom carved into his wrist. Aphrodite watches him leave, casts a little blessing on the red string connection Steve’s and Eddie’s pinkie fingers. She knows her paladin doesn’t need the extra help. He just needs love and she is willing to give to him all.
Speaking of books it’s been a while since I’ve seen one of these posts going around & I’m curious so everyone could you tell me what you are reading rn in the tags please
I came into my room and there was a web directly across the inside of my doorway even though it had only been a couple of hours since I last walked in here. Of course I immediately thought of this old Far Side which is never too far from my mind
what they dont tell you about growing up as a very lonely little girl is that you grow up and still a part of you remains that very lonely little girl
From a former lonely little girl to those of us who are still hurting: sometimes that’s not true. Sometimes you do find your people, even if it takes a long time. They love you and you love them, and you treasure it all the more because you once were (but no longer are) lonely. You don’t have to be forever hurting. I hope all of you - especially you, OP - find your people soon <3
Everyone who reblogged this and said something like, “These are all so good!” Or, “I can’t choose!” - you have extended my life by at least fifteen seconds. Each.
I also love it when people say what dynamic they chose, and which characters (fanfic or original) fit it.
Fans, nonfans and even hatewatchers please reblog this! I’m very curious to see what the major offboarding points were, to help with a personal project I’m working on.
