Chapter Text
“...Buddha…are you…”
What is going on? My head hurts so bad. Why are people yell—
Buddha loses consciousness completely. The medical team works hard to stabilize him, using anything they can, including magic and modern human medicine. Deities are hard to treat; especially ones like Buddha, who was human before he ascended, because their true form is neither human nor purely celestial. Deified Mortals are only one of many names that can describe humans who ascend to the spiritual world with a purpose to be worshiped. Gods are those born from other gods and never lived in the mortal world.
Deified Mortals still hold on to a certain amount of their humanity, which often rejects mythical or magical treatments. The deity side of them rejects modern human medicine. The medical team work quickly to save ‘The Awakened One’.
After a long 108 days of intensive care, Buddha awakens in the medical ward of Valhalla, brought here by Brunhilde, after being terribly wounded in the Ragnarok. Slowly becoming conscious, he lies in a bed surrounded by a glow of bright healing magic, continuing to treat his most deadly wounds.
“...wha—Ahh” Buddha’s head throbs behind his eyes as he tries to sit up, a feeling of sharp pain practically splits his skull in half. The surrounding glow intensifies for a few seconds, his headache fading. “Well, that fucking hurt. Where the…hell am I?”
Medical rooms in Valhalla differ greatly from the mortal world; draped in beautiful linen cloths, feature beautiful paintings that are nothing but calming, and have all the high-end medical equipment in existence. The bed is soft and supports his body perfectly to allow for maximum healing.
He slowly loses patience trying to grasp what is transpiring. “I keep telling you! My name is not Buddha; it is Siddhartha Gautama. Where am I and why am I here?” Buddha is calm and collected but frustrated at the medical staff continuing to call him by the wrong name. The last thing he remembers was being in Nepal, wandering the countryside of a small village, with a large crowd of people asking for his advice and wisdom.
I have never heard of a place called ‘Valhalla’. My desire is only to return toward that village. My followers need me.
A tall, dark-haired woman approaches his bed and sits softly at the edge, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.
W-who is this? And why is she looking at me like that?
“Buddha, it's Brunhilde. Do you remember who I am?” She speaks softly, reaching for his hand, caressing it tenderly.
“My name is not Buddha; it is Siddhartha Gautama. I also do not know who you are. Can you get me out of here?” Staring into the most beautiful green eyes he had ever seen, he spoke with a tone laced with frustration and a hint of hopefulness.
“Yea. Soon. Okay? I promise to get you out soon.” Tears stain her pale face as they race down her cheeks. Deep down, Buddha knows she is telling the truth.
A few days later, Buddha is told he will go home, but he has to agree to stay with Brunhilde until he regains some of his memories. Having survived so much, he didn’t anticipate the... completely perfect chance to live with one of the most beautiful women he’d ever encountered!
How did I get so lucky?! She is tall and beautiful, with stunning green eyes, and she is strong as hell! It’s fucking hot!
Giddiness flows through him at the thought that he could get close to her. “This is so exciting. To hell with what happened to me. I don't need my memories if I get to live with her. I need to find out if she has a boyfriend, hehe.” A grin of satisfaction stretches across his face; the odds are in his favor.
Just as he leans back in the oversized lounge chair, the door to his room opens as a tall man with silver-white hair strides towards him; confidence and charisma radiate off of him. This stranger instantly captivates Buddha.
Whoa…he is so fucking handsome! That outfit perfectly suits his muscular body, and that eye patch stuns. Is that…a leaf tattoo across his forehead? Interesting. But nothing compares to his golden-yellow eye…I cannot look away.
Buddha continues to watch the handsome man come closer, eventually taking a seat in the other oversized lounge chair next to him. The chair struggled to contain his substantial, robust physique, giving him a kingly air. Crossing one leg over the other, the man makes himself comfortable before turning his attention back to Buddha.
“Well, this is quite a beautiful room. No wonder they brought you here,” his smooth, deep-toned voice fills the space, not loud but commanding. A soothing sound to Buddha’s ear, sending shivers down his body, goosebumps breaking out with a subtle tingling sensation. “I do hope they have been treating you well.”
Lily-painted eyes fixate on the stunning person in front of him, mesmerized by his entire presence. Mouth slightly agape, releasing hot breath as he scans the person from head to toe. Buddha is finding it near impossible to speak, as his thoughts are consumed by his strong, solid, and beautifully sculpted body.
“I only came here to see for myself that you were not dead.” I was certain you would not live through that fight. How wrong I was?” Buddha emerges from his trance, awakened by the silky smoothness of the words. The golden-yellow eye focuses on his bright lily ones as their gazes lock onto one another. For a moment, the room is silent with only a quiet rhythmic breathing Buddha cannot control. His heart pounds in his chest at what feels like a thousand beats a minute.
Why is my heart racing so fast? I hope he cannot hear it. Say something! Anything!
The handsome man breaks eye contact to stare out the large window, coating them in a natural golden warmth. After what feels like hours, he stands as he re-situates his long, flowing, white coat. “In any event, I have this message for you from divinities. I wanted to deliver it personally” In one swift movement, he leans forward towards Buddha, faces only inches apart.
Hot, minty fresh breath delightfully fills Buddha’s senses as the man whispers, “Your betrayal of the gods is unforgivable, and you will pay with your life. I will see to it myself if I have to.” The deep voice and sharp golden-yellow eye penetrates Buddha’s very being, shuddering in response.
Fuuuuck me! That is intense. I don't know who you are, mister, but damn!
Just as the handsome man turns to leave, he reaches into his pocket. “Here, I know this one is your favorite. Enjoy it, as it might be the last one you get to enjoy.” A small item is tossed to Buddha, and he catches it effortlessly. It is a blueberry-flavored lollipop.
He knows my favorite flavor?! He must have feelings for me…yeah, definitely. The harsh words are probably just how he flirts. Okay, Mister Handsome, let's see what else you've got.
The man turned, his gaze fixed ahead, and the sound of his shoes on the floor filled the large room as he walked towards the door. Buddha realizes he never got his name. Speaking for the first time since the man arrived, he cannot hold back the absolute joy and excitement he is feeling. “Hey wait! What is your name?”
The man stops suddenly, pausing for a few moments before turning back to Buddha. Veins in his neck and temple became prominent. His brows furrowed. Saliva sputtered as he aggressively responded, “How dare you insult me?!” This is just another thing you will come to regret. No one insults the Ruler of the Underworld and lives to talk about it.”
Storming out of the room entirely without another glance back, Buddha stares into the space where he just stood; eyes wide, stunned to silence. After settling back into the lounge chair, he inspects the lollipop before unwrapping it; savoring the sweet blueberry flavor as it consumes his tastebuds.
“Mmmm. So good. I feel like I have been missing this since I woke up.” His body sags deeper into the chair, all muscles relaxing at once. “I don’t know why he got so angry. I really just wanted to know his name. Brunhilde has to know who he is.” Looking up at the ceiling painted with white fluffy clouds, he reflects on their interaction. “He was definitely intense and seemed to be dangerous. But I cannot help but feel like I have just…FALLEN IN LOVE!”
Buddha has been staying with Brunhilde for two weeks now. It has taken him a while to get accustomed to learning he is no longer Siddhartha Gautama since he died thousands of years ago and ascended to the heavens as a deity named Buddha. People still worship him from all over the world as the symbol of meditation and wisdom. Now that he has basically relearned who he is, he felt it was time to venture out and start living his life again.
Buddha lazily lounges in a hammock, enjoying a nice cool breeze and sucking on his favorite blueberry lollipop. “Hey Brunhilde, who is the Ruler of the Underworld?” Gaze up at the passing clouds, tone casual and light.
Silence is her only response, and when he realizes she isn’t saying anything, he looks over at her while she sips tea at a nearby table. This is not the reaction Buddha was expecting; her face is drained of color, her eyes wide and wavering as her full body trembles slightly, sweat beads at her temples. She is too stunned to speak, too scared to move.
What the hell is wrong with her? She looks as though she has seen a ghost. But she is a Valkyrie. How is she scared of a ghost?
Briefly, he glances back behind him to see if there are any ghosts in the area. Once he realizes there is nothing but a perfectly kept-up rose bush, he turns back to Brunhilde, who is still shaking in her seat.
“Uhhh, what the fuck is going on? Did you see something?” Looking around to see if he had missed something.
“H-how do y-you know the Ruler o-of the U-underworld?” Her voice shakes, eyes consumed by fear, body still frozen in place.
“I don’t. But a guy came to see me the day I left the hospital and wouldn't tell me his name but called himself the Ruler of the Underworld, whatever that means. He was soooo fucking handsome! I’m sure you would agree. Unless you don’t like guys, which is totally fine. I don't care. I like both, so who am I to judge—”
“W-what?! Hades came to see you?!” Buddha's incessant rambling was quickly interrupted by Brunhilde’s reaction. Now he was stunned into silence and sat still, only moving the lollipop from one side of his mouth to the other with his tongue.
After a generous pause of them just staring at one another, Buddha breaks the silence, “Ohhhhh so his name is Hades? Okay. Kind of a handsome name. Definitely fits that hot bod and piercing golden eye. And that unique eyepatch is something else. But in a good way.” Buddha lounges back into the hammock as he is now satisfied at knowing the name of his mystery man. “Oh, and that leaf tattoo. So unique. It gives him a certain softness…weirdly. I cannot wait to see him again!”
Brunhilde was now pacing around, muttering quietly to herself. “Absolutely not! You will not see him again! Do you have a death wish?!” She is unhinging. Her eyes and body shake as she adamantly discourages him from seeing Hades again.
Buddha crosses his arms across his chest, one hand fiddling with the lollipop leisurely hanging from his lips. “See, that's what I don't understand. Why is everyone threatening death? It's a total mood spoiler. Everyone just needs to chill, relax, and just be happy.” Leaning further back into the hammock, he closes his eyes, thinking of the gorgeous man, Hades.
“You really don't remember, do you?” Brunhilde’s voice is soft, almost defeated. Buddha raises one brow, opening that eye to glimpse her. Realizing she has settled back into her chair, he settles back into his comfortable position, both eyes closed. “Remember what? Obviously, I don't remember any of my deity days.” The hammock swings slightly with a refreshing breeze, tendrils of his long sea-foam green hair gently wisp around; he had not yet put it up in his usual large bun.
The silence is deafening, but Buddha really doesn't understand why she is acting this way. Nonchalantly, he makes a statement that digs deep. “Hades is a god; I am a Deified Mortal; we are on the same team. Obviously, he wouldn't kill one of his own.”
A mouse-like response from Brunhilde was not what he was expecting at all. “You betrayed the gods. He has every reason to kill you.”
“Ehh. I’m sure everything will be fine. That was the old me. He can’t hold me to it if I don't remember. Love is all about forgiveness.” Not even bothering to open his eyes, he continues to suck the flavor out of his lollipop, mood cool and casual.
“Promise me you won't go near him. Please. We almost lost you once. I cannot lose you again.” The plea hit Buddha deep within his core, now turning his full attention to Brunhilde. Only now is the gravity of the situation really settling in.
A deep, exaggerated breath escapes his chest. “Fine. Okay, I promise not to go near him.” The response is one of sincerity with a bit of mockery, a child giving in to a compromise they never wanted to agree to.
A month later, Brunhilde brought Buddha up to speed on the Ragnarok battle of Gods versus Humans, including how he betrayed the gods by joining the human’s side. This made more sense to him as he knew he would make the same decision today even after forgetting everything that had happened before. Connection with humans comes naturally to him; he was once human himself. He loves humans, imperfect as they are. The riches of living like a god never appealed to him, that he was certain of even if he doesn't exactly remember.
Brunhilde has to attend an important Valkyrie meeting that Buddha can not attend. They are at the arena where the Ragnarok was taking place, which is boring. The liveliest thing in that place right now was Buddha with his eccentric, free-spirited outfit; his blue fades on full display with his hair pulled back in a high bun encased by a circular gold crown. The peach-tinted glasses and long gold earrings brought the look together; his personality was on full display through his outfit.
Buddha takes a walk to liven up his mood in the dreary and lifeless arena. The place was pretty much empty as the next battle wasn't for a few days. As he walked around the outermost walkway, he came across an area that was clearly the center stage balcony, meant for royalty or the top-tier gods. Wandering closer without going in, he sees a large, intricate throne, beautifully decorated with what looks like Norse-style designs.
Checking to make sure no one was around, he quickly and sneakily slipped onto the balcony with the intent of just getting a closer look at the throne. His hand slides along the smooth dark wood, tracing the designs with his fingers.
I wonder who gets to sit here. They are definitely important if they get to claim this throne.
Curiosity made him sit on the throne slowly, but he wasn’t impressed afterward. “It’s a beautiful throne but so uncomfortable. Who would want to sit here?”
“That would be me.” A deep stern voice echoes on the balcony, amplifying the voice even more. Buddha quickly leans over to the side of the throne to look back towards the entrance. Hades stands before him, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. His beautiful golden-yellow eye shines with the blue rune in the eyepatch. Just a captivating look with his perfectly styled silver-white hair.
“Well, no wonder you're so uptight and cranky. Maybe you should get a cushion or something.” The quick-witted, cheeky response was the only logical response to Buddha, and it only brought to light the truth. Buddha looked serious because he thought his suggestion was warranted, as the throne really wasn’t comfortable at all.
“What did you just say?! I’ll have you know—” Hades’ face turned beet red with anger, temple veins popping.
“Hey, so are you dating anyone? If not, go on a date with me. What kind of food do you like?” It was as if the anger that consumed Hades didn't exist. Buddha had his own agenda, and that was to get Hades to fall in love with him. Then, Hades wouldn't want to kill him. The logic is sound with no holes; it was perfect.
Buddha stares at Hades, switching a blueberry lollipop from one side of his mouth to the other, hands free, waiting for Hades' response. Hades froze, unable to speak and looking dumbfounded.
“Well? I’m waiting. You know it is rude to keep a potential date waiting for too long.” Buddha leans back into the chair, making himself as comfortable as possible as he looks out into the empty stadium.
“I don’t know what you are scheming up, but it will not distract me or the other gods from taking our revenge on your betrayal. Mark my words, ‘Awakened One’, you will suffer with every fiber in your being. I promise you that.” The deep-rooted anger intensifies the already commanding voice. Buddha’s body reacts to the intensity, with anticipation of pleasure.
Buddha swiftly stands and saunters over to Hades. His hand lightly lands on the ruler’s shoulder. Hades is taller than Buddha thought and looks up at him, still chewing and sucking on the lollipop, sometimes clinking with his oversized canine teeth. Hard muscle tenses and ripples under his touch, sending yet another shockwave of anticipation through his body. “Settle down; you are big mad right now and ruining the vibe.” Buddha pauses as he eyes the hard muscles under his hand, savoring the warmth they give off.
He slowly slides his hand up the defined bicep to the toned shoulder. Hades does nothing to stop him, saying nothing; still and frozen. Once his hand settles on the top of his shoulder, he pauses and looks back up at the golden-yellow eye, filled with rage and confusion. “So you're single, right?”
This seems to push Hades over the edge, and he lunges for Buddha, but he doesn't catch him. Swiftly stepping to the side, he eyes the fuming god. “Wow, you are still big mad with big feelings. Once you calm down, we can talk about where we will go on our date.” Hades lunges again, and this time Buddha takes off running.
Looking back while he runs, he yells at Hades, “Catch you later, babe. I'll be back soon.” With his tongue sticking out, a blue tint covers the entire surface. Laughter echoes off the walls of the arena space as Buddha jogs back to Brunhilde.