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jamgetsbred · 1 year

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The King and The Bull

The monsterfucking chapter! If you find this one first, uh, there's some context missing but honestly it's erotica so go on ahead, partner. Who needs context for dick?

SUMMARY: Theseus is a young prince of Athens tasked with the impossible: achieve immortality by writing himself into the stars through his heroic deeds to cement his name, the one thing he ever chose for himself, in song forever. His first task after establishing his connection to his father's bloodline?

Slay the Minotaur, a monster of Crete that devours fourteen young people every year.

TRIGGER WARNINGS: Transphobia mention (very brief beginning confrontation, trans identity is a central theme of this story), Blood, Viscera (mentioned in Labyrinth fight), Physical harm, Death mention, lice (mentioned on the ship), rats (also on the ship), all sex is consensual

KINKS: Monster fucking, breeding kink, biting, blood, rough fucking, pregnancy risk, praise kink

Chapter III

Theseus groaned against his pillow as he awoke. His ankle felt like a swarm of bees rather than flesh and bone. He blinked the crust out of his eyes and almost immediately shrieked. It hadn’t been a nightmare- he was in the labyrinth. He was probably dead. A ghost. Killed by the monster. Monster- fuck, Asterion- wait-

Asterion was his pillow. Was being the key word; he no longer felt fuzz. At least, not near his own hair.

“A-Asterion?” He knew the other man was alive; he snored loud enough to wake Chaos. But he slowly peered over the mountain of the man’s broad chest.

Holy Hades. Despite all of the changes the Gods had made, or the curse, rather, Crete’s prince was still more myth than man. They hadn’t changed his fuzzy legs; in fact, he was sort of like a strange..bull-satyr. From the waist down, nothing had changed: his hooves remained as did his swishing tail which batted bugs in his dreams. Even atop his head he still bore his horns- one half broken- and ears that twitched with the breeze.

“ASTERION! WAKE UP!”

“GAH-”

The poor man had barely opened his eyes before his face was being yanked around by two far smaller hands. Theseus looked at every inch of his face; the Gods had left his permanent half snarl, his bad eye, but they’d given him a smile. A proper jawline that could form words. Eyebrows.

“Wake up. We did it. Poseidon praised, we did it.”

“Wh-what-”

“Feel. Your face. Touch it. TOUCH IT.”

“Okay, Theseus, I-” Asterion touched his face for the first time. There was a bit of a stubble on his chin. His hand traveled upward to his lips; to his sharp nose. His eyes grew wide as dinner plates as he grabbed Theseus by the shoulders, bolting upright.

“I. I have a nose.”

“YOU HAVE A NOSE!”

Theseus felt warmth in his chest as he held Asterion’s face. He didn’t wait; he was already kissing him. This was better than death. Better than living in the Heavens or Gods granting him eternal life. He’d given that gift to Asterion; a new beginning. He kissed Asterion’s nose, his lips, his cheeks, his eyebrows. The other man giggled, probably for the first time with his new throat. Eventually Asterion’s arms wrapped around him, taking initiative with a new kiss; a deeper one that made Theseus’s hands wander to his black hair and curl his fingers into it.

They broke for a moment to breathe as Asterion beamed. “We beat them. We beat my father.”

“We beat the Gods. We got you your face.”

“You gave me my life.”

“Asterion.”

“Yes?”

“Can I kiss you more?”

There was that soft smile again. Theseus found it oddly cute how his sharp canine could be seen. So he started there; he wrapped his arms right around Asterion’s neck and kissed him. He grabbed his black hair and tugged- feeling the other man beginning to get hard under his lap.

“Mm- Theseus-“

“Come here, my monster.”

That is exactly what Asterion did as he pushed the smaller man onto the makeshift nest, using his knee to grind into his already wet pussy. He kissed Theseus’s neck while his hands found the man’s tits to thumb over his nipples.

“Fuck, Asterion. Bite me, it’s okay.”

“You’re sure?”

“Mmhm.” Theseus gasped as Asterion sunk his teeth in just enough to draw blood. He peppered the spot with kisses before moving down to Theseus’s soft breasts, taking one in his mouth as his cock replaced his knee grinding against his lover. Theseus’s belly burned as he felt the pulsing, dripping head of his lovers cock against his waist.

“Asterion.”

“Mm. Busy.” Theseus moaned as the man’s teeth tugged on the bud of his nipple.

“Asterion. Put a baby in me.”

The other man paused. He looked up at Theseus with that same tender expression as the night before.

“You’re sure?”

“I will never find a man like you again. Or monster. I…I realize this is fast. But I think I’d like to be yours.” He spread his thighs, allowing even more of his lovers weight to press against him. “I want you to fill me up. I want to live life alongside you. I can’t say how long I’ll live, but I can offer you a hero’s eternity.”

“A hero’s life is never long. Or happy.”

“So take me here, while we’re young. While the Gods favor me. Asterion, you wanted a life of your own. I will give you all the gifts I can. Fatherhood is one I can give.”

“And companionship?” Theseus ran his hands through his monster’s hair. Asterion kissed his palm.

“I must sail for Athens before we join in marriage. By the time you see me next, I will either be swollen with child or we can try again.”

For a moment he wondered if Asterion would deny him. It wouldn’t exactly be wise. They didn’t have a true plan- even one of getting them both out of here. But Asterion looked down at Theseus’s belly, and kissed just above his navel.

“Children.”

“What?”

“Children,” He repeated, beginning to press the head of his cock into Theseus’s entrance. “You’ll be swollen with my children. Full to bursting.”

“Is that so?”

“Do you wish it, my Prince?” His eyes were playful as he teased the head of his manhood into Theseus’s pussy, making him moan. “I need clear direction.”

“Fill me up. I demand it.”

“As you wish.” Asterism pushed fully inside of him. Theseus could feel himself being spread to the limit; he could see the faint outline of his lovers cock in his lower belly. He needed more of this. He squirmed, begging for him to move.

“Oh, Asterion- please- Please fuck me.” A large hand swung one of Theseus’s legs up over his broad shoulder as Asterion started a steady pace. Each time he pulled out almost to the head before slamming inside of him. His entire body moved with each thrust as Theseus threw his head back. “Mm! Ah, Gods- A-Asterion-“ His lover leaned down, growling low into his ear.

“By the time I’m done with you, you’ll be fucking bed bound.” The thought of being claimed, being bred by the same monster he’d fought not a day before stirred something in Theseus that he hadn’t known to ever reach for. Words alone shocked his system as he finished early, clenching around Asterion’s cock. His back arched uselessly; his moan almost a scream as his oversensitive pussy was used.

“So lovely. Such a strong Prince. You’ll be such a good man for me, a wonderful father. Yes. I’ll make you heirs many times over, my King.” Asterion was rougher now as his speed increased. He grasped the plump flesh of Theseus’s hips with just enough force to redden the skin, but he once again sank his teeth into his shoulder as he felt his cock begin to pulse. Again and again he filled Theseus to the brim as their moans echoed off of the walls of the inner chamber.

Theseus struggled to find enough air as the sensations hit him all at once: the bite, the hot cum filling his belly, the warmth of Asterion’s body locking him in a perfect breeding press. He clung to the other man as he came down from the high, his head resting on Asterion’s sweaty shoulder. His love pressed a kiss to his forehead and pushed some of the sweaty hair out of his eyes.

“You took it all. Gods, you really took it. Not a drop spilled.” Asterion patted Theseus’s new swell; it was barely visible, but already his thoughts ran wild with just how big he would grow. He wouldn’t be able to hide just who he belonged to.

“Mmhm. I came to kill you, do you think I came to Crete so willingly if I had a bad constitution?” That made the former Minotaur chuckle, the large man giving his ass a firm smack.

“Good breeding stock. Looks like boarheaded princes like you are good for something other than fighting, eh?” Asterion rolled onto his back and pulled Theseus on top of him. The Athenian did not protest as he let his muscles relax. Asterion even coaxed a yawn out of him; his fingers scratching his scalp making his eyes begin to droop.

“Mm-hm,” Theseus popped his wrist, making Asterion wince and take the hand in his to plant a kiss at the joint.

“You’re sleepy again.”

“I am not. You’re just delusional.”

“That wasn’t a yawn I heard?”

“No-“ His lips pulled against his teeth without his consent as his body fully embraced another yawn. Why do my eyelids weigh so much? The room faded away as he felt strong hands rub up and down his body, then the deal was sealed when he was tucked into another thick pelt. His skin and bones melted to butter, the only thing tethering him to consciousness being Asterion’s gentle humming. For the first time in many years sleep came easily.

#tkatb3 #monsterfucking nsfw #long read #breeding kink #ftm breeding

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jamgetsbred · 1 year

Text

The King and The Bull

Slay the Minotaur, a monster of Crete that devours fourteen young people every year.

KINKS: Monster fucking, breeding kink, biting, blood, rough fucking, pregnancy risk, praise kink

Chapter III here

Chapter II

If he were honest with himself, Theseus had expected to be terrified to go into the labyrinth. Standing before the two doors that towered over his head, he felt like he was in a museum rather than about to face his own death. Even the guards moved with a certain blase to the whole ritual. Brutality was routine here.

Probably happy they no longer have to accommodate us.

“Goodbye,” one guard offered as they were shoved into the inky darkness. The last thing many of them saw was his sorry smile in the last sliver of light.

With the door closed Theseus’s group immediately erupted into pandemonium. The children clung to his legs, even Eleni pressed her back to his. Everyone wept.

“T-the-sus,” Adrian had tucked his head into Eleni’s skirt. Eleni herself whispered to him.

“Your plan, Theseus. Are we to wait here?”

“Yes. Hold the thread. If it goes slack, do not come for me. I do not know if I’ll be able to hold on to it in the fight. Stay together. Stay warm.” He draped the cloak he’d asked to wear inside around them (of course, as much as he could in the darkness). Now at least his gladius’s hilt wasn’t trapped under fabric.

The Prince of Athens turned into the hall. Eventually the faint light gave way to the gaping maw of void. But there was no sound from the monster- Asterion- from the depths. At least he could find comfort in the fact that maybe the beast was in slumber.

“Theseus!” Orion squeaked.

“Yes?”

“Careful!”

Theseus grinned. “I know.”

Eleni was the last to hold her gaze on his back, watching his blonde curls fade into the darkness.

Granted, he’d stumbled around blind in his home before in the dead of night looking for figs or bread, but Theseus had never seen darkness like this. Or, well, it would be more apt to say how he didn’t see at all. He kept the thread tied around his right pinky finger, the same hand that followed the wall. At least it was smooth- he hated to think of accidentally bumping his hand into old viscera that still clung to this place. He could swear he saw his hand in the dark, but knew it to be a trick of his mind. Even his brain could not comprehend oblivion. His nose was a different story. As he continued his near silent walk down the halls he was hit with the smell of rotting flesh and copper.

Follow the smell of rotten flesh. That must be the beast.

Suddenly his muscles locked. Footsteps. They shook the walls and loosened pebbles from the ceiling.

“I smell you, little Prince.”

Shit. Fuck. If he stayed still enough, perhaps the creature wouldn’t find him.

“You want a battle. You want glory. Fight me, little Prince, and die gloriously.” Theseus crept along the wall. The beast’s voice sounded like it came from everywhere at once; he certainly couldn’t hide.

Darkness and silence enveloped him as he tried to keep the breath in his chest. Seconds had begun to stretch into an eternity. He couldn’t see his enemy; had no way of knowing when the first strike would come other than sound or smell. Now every minor shift was a monster, every little rock he crushed under his heel could be crunching bone between its jaws. He kept his mind focused on his hand and the smooth rock it followed.

Until the rock became wet. And blew hot air into his hand.

“Found you.”

Theseus did not have the speed of Achilles, but his foresight was the only thing that kept the ax from splitting him from crown to cunt. Hot stinking air followed the downswing of the Minotaur as Theseus drew his gladius and shot blind; feeling a splatter against his leg as the beast groaned.

“A fighter! Finally! Some fun!”

As the beast made to shove him against the wall, Theseus dropped to the ground- the mountain of flesh missing him in the black. Quickly he scurried to his feet, but not quickly enough- he felt a hand grasp his ankle and begin to squeeze, claws piercing his flesh like paper. The pressure made him cry out as he felt the bone begin to give way.

“You have a beautiful voice, Prince of Athens.”

He felt the hot breath get closer to his foot, and he shoved his sword in that direction. Again he felt his gladius connect- but not as deep as he’d like. The fur kept his steel from slicing too deep. The Minotaur bellowed angrily as Theseus freed his leg to roll away from him. Now the copper smell overwhelmed him, and the pain in his ankle spread up his side like a fire in his blood.

“You cut me. You’ll pay dearly for that, Princeling.”

“My name,” He snarled, cutting blindly in the dark only to feel his blade sink into bone- no- horn- “is Theseus.” With a great cry, he brought all of his weight to push up against the blade. The Minotaur cried out as the tip of one horn was broken off of his head, falling uselessly into the void of blackness.

“Theseus. As if the lion needs to know the name of the gladiator. I will kill you and eat you raw.”

“And your name is Asterion, Prince of Crete- I will flay you alive.”

The beast paused. At least, Theseus couldn’t hear any more movement. Suddenly two hands- giant enough to grab his hips and then some- yanked him toward the wet, coppery breath further down the hall. He stared into the void that spoke to him as something dripped onto his face. Blood.

“You know my name.”

“I know your sister,” Theseus made to swing again, but was stopped as one of the hands pinned his wrist. Instead, a knee held the left side of his body in place under the monster’s colossal weight.

“Ariadne?”

“Who else? I am not hear to speak to you of pleasantries and your family!” He spat into the dark. It was a good idea, until the wet mucous hit him in the face as it dripped back down. He’d had brighter moments.

“You will now. Before I kill you or you kill me. I want to hear of them- my family. What do you know?”

“Make me.” An ax blade met his throat, threatening to split skin.

“You will talk. Or I will slit your throat and drink your blood.”

“You’re vile.”

“You are insufferable.”

Theseus huffed. Perhaps with conversation the beast would relax. Just enough to open a window for him to grab his gladius. After all, it only took one good swipe to slit a throat clean. He’d cleaved through meat back home. Bull tendons couldn’t be too entirely different from the thick rope of ships, or the neck of a strongman of Sparta. It was also difficult to simply chat with a throbbing ankle and his heart pounding in his ears.

“Fine. Your sister is well and beautiful. Very pretty, actually. She is meant to be wed if my court is to be believed. To some faraway King, at the behest of your father. Your father is a vile man who uses you as a threat, as he has since your birth.”

“What of my mother?” He did not expect the monster’s voice to sound gentle. Well, as much as one could without proper lips to form sentences easily. He still sounded like he was growling every word and straining to form syllables; but Theseus could almost imagine his furrowed and worried expression.

“Your mother is..I. Well. I don’t know. I am a prisoner here, not a royal. She was not at dinner.”

“I want to know one more thing.”

“Ugh, what?”

“Why did you hesitate?”

Theseus balked. Even pinned, he had the nerve to laugh in the Minotaur’s face. “I did not.”

“The blow to my neck. You struck true. But there has been no intent. So, why?”

“I- I did not expect you to be able to speak.”

“My humanity troubles you?”

“Your humanity complicates you.”

“Ah.” He could hear the wretched beast’s smirk in his voice. “I will show you my humanity.” The fact that the Minotaur threw Theseus over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes would go with him to the grave, early or not. He’d never felt so humiliated. Especially as his sword fell uselessly from his hand.

“Put me down, you damnable brute! Where the fuck are you taking me?”

“To see.”

“Stop being so cryptic, damn you to Hades!”

Theseus had no concept of the path they took. Worse still was the fact that the red thread had been lost in the scuffle, he would have to find the place the Minotaur had captured him in order to recover it. After a few minutes of walking he could finally see, at least a bit, that there was a faint amount of moonlight beginning to give shape to the walls of the labyrinth. As soon as the moonlight washed over him in what seemed to be a clearing, the Minotaur dropped him to the ground. He bit his cheek so hard it drew blood as his ankle wailed at the impact.

“Look upon me, Prince of Athens.”

“You can’t force me. Cut me down, you coward.”

“Look.”

“Fuck you.”

Once again, his old friend the ax tilted his chin up to see the monster he’d been fighting. As the stories said, from the shoulders up and navel down he was a bull. The Minotaur, now lacking one horn tip, glowered at him with his mother’s eyes- Ariadne’s eyes. His eyes of course were the only human part of his face; his snout was wet with blood and gods knew what else, his upper lip mangled into a permanent snarl. All across his body were stories of his father’s pridefulness and how it had punished him. Even his skin was sickly pale, his eyes milky; he squinted so much Theseus wasn’t sure he could see even in his good eye without the distorted but healed tissue. The Prince of Athens didn’t dare let his eyes wander further down. For some reason, when he focused again on the beast’s face, his brow- well, his brow bone- was furrowed in confusion.

“You didn’t scream.”

“Why would I? You look like a half man, half cow, thing. Exactly what I expected.”

“The Gods. You are the son of a God.”

Theseus began to scoot away, slowly using his elbows to move. “Yes. Poseidon.”

“And you did not scream when you looked upon me.” The larger man suddenly was upon him, but not touching him- simply looming. “You can lift my curse. The Muses told my mother upon my birth only one born of the Gods could-”

“What? Don’t tell me- that somehow I’ll make you human.”

The bull nodded.

“Well I am the son of a god, and I am doing nothing for you.” He spoke before he thought. What would happen if he helped this wretched creature? Politically it would take a lot of power away from Minos, something that would fair well for Athens and neighboring Kings. And he wouldn’t be eaten alive. “I-..Fine. What do I have to do?”

“Lie with me.”

Curses. A thousand curses to the Fates.

“Lie..with you? You mean-”

“Couple. With me. For a night, at the very least. I would be human by morning. As my mother was forced to lie with the Bull of Crete to make me, I will be unmade by one of Poseidon’s sons.

”

Theseus sat up, now inches away from the bull’s face as the other looked at him. His wide brown eyes weren’t desperate; hopeful, rather. He could see Asterion’s tail swishing across the ground.

“You..won’t kill me, if I lie with you.”

“I won’t kill you if you don’t. You took the time to hear me. That is enough.”

He pondered it for a moment. In truth, he’d had many lovers- but had never let any of them have any control in the bedroom. He’d never even let anyone inside of him. He doubted that this monster- Asterion, had experienced it either.

“Fine.”

“Fine?”

“You may have your way with me. But don’t expect me to act the part of a wanton mistress at a brothel.”

“I wouldn’t expect you to. Also, I’ve never been to one. Can I touch you?”

“You already pierced my skin. I don’t see why you’re hesitant now.”

“Fighting is different.”

“Fucking really isn’t.”

“Mm. Noted.” The Minotaur approached him fully. First, he picked up Theseus’s ankle as though the other prince were made of glass. He ripped a piece of his own tunic, fashioning a sort of bandage as he used a cord off of his own clothing to tie it together. He looked up at Theseus, rubbing his thumb over the swell of a bruise through the cloth.

“This is..not great. But it will be better for you.” Before Theseus could even thank him, Asterion began to let his hands wander over his body. Slowly, he worked his way up from his ankles to his legs, then his thighs.

“You are pretty, Prince of Athens.” Heat rose to his cheeks as Asterion continued his journey up his frame, eventually coming to the hem of his tunic. He lifted it to expose his underclothes, ripping them open as Theseus yelped.

“Gods! Warn me! It’s fucking cold in here- Ah, Ah-” Two fingers were now experimentally moving between his lips, exploring the heat they found. Asterion found his clitoris quickly, and began to move his fingers around it. Theseus couldn’t help but buck into the touch- closing his eyes as he stifled a moan.

“You like this?”

“Hm- Haaaa shit- yes. I do.”

“I wonder…” Asterion bent down, moving Theseus’s thighs apart. Soon the young prince felt a tongue exploring his pussy, licking slowly up center to suck on his clit. He nearly screamed; instead he found Asterion’s long mane and pulled. The Minotaur answered by flicking his tongue around the bud, swirling and sucking.

“H-holy- Asterion, please, please, I’m going to cum-”

“Cum?” With a slurp, Asterion’s head popped up from between his thighs.

“Yes, I. I don’t want to finish before you. If we’re bound to have each other, we might as well do it properly. I..I want to please you. Just how big is your prick, anyway?”

“I’m not a prick. And I’m very tall.”

“Your cock.”

“Oh. Um. Average?”

Theseus sighed, sitting up to push the man onto his back. Asterion blinked up at him, but didn’t open his mouth to protest. His eyes got wider when Theseus freed himself of his tunic; fully exposing his breasts and body to the air while letting out an unhappy hiss at the cold. His nipples immediately hardened, which Asterion reached up to cup his hands over as Theseus climbed him like a mountain to settle on top of his still clothed cock.

“What- what are you doing?”

“They’re cold. You’re freezing.”

“I’ll warm up soon.” Theseus leaned forward into Asterion’s touch in order to capture his mouth in a kiss. It didn’t taste amazing; his diet was mainly meat after all. But it accomplished what Theseus was truly after. He felt the beast’s cock begin to stir between his loins, pushing up against him as it throbbed; it encouraged him enough to start rocking, sliding the clothed prick between the lips of his pussy as Asterion moaned, a sound that rumbled deep in his chest that reached out to spark a fire in Theseus’s belly. Asterion’s hands moved from his tits to hold his hips and squeeze his ass.

“I-is this it?” Asterion looked at Theseus through half lidded eyes as the smaller prince took the cloth in his hand, ripping it away to reveal his cock. It was almost as big as his forearm, and thicker. Precum dripped from the slit as it throbbed against Asterion’s thick black fur.

“Is what it?”

“Is this..all we have to do?”

“I mean, lying with you seemed pretty literal. I..Um. You’ve never had sex.”

“No. But-” Asterion reached out, taking Theseus’s arm away from his cock even as he panted. He wanted nothing more than touch, it physically pained him to stop the Athenian prince. After all, Theseus looked precious on his lap; his lips were red from kissing, his breasts on display leading to his muscular belly and thighs.

“You could fall pregnant from this. Do you..even want children? Have you considered it?” His hand trailed down the other man’s leg, making circles with the tip of his claw as he watched Theseus’s expression. He was biting his lip, his hand had moved to begin to pick at a fresher looking scar on his other wrist.

“I want children of my own. Yes. I always just sort of assumed I would die a childless King.” He leaned back on Asterion’s haunches as he spoke, petting his fuzzy leg. “Men treat me as though I am not their equal. Women view me as- well, it’s complicated. It’s kind of like I’m not even-”

“Human.” Asterion finished, sitting up to meet his eyes. A bitter smile spread across Theseus’s lips that looked more like a snarl; it didn’t reach his cheeks.

“Yes. Human. I..I thought that in killing you, I would cement my legacy. That my name would be remembered by all of Crete, all of Greece. But we are both victims of our parents’ pride. We’re victims. Ariadne, my mother, yours, we are the play things of Gods. They accept that Zeus can turn into a swan and fuck someone but can’t accept that I am different. I’m not a fucking eunich, I’m not a half-man, I- I am-” Tears were falling from his eyes as Asterion reached up to brush them away. Just like his sister. It was the first time in years that anyone had asked what he’d wanted. Now he wasn’t sure. Glory, gold, purpose.

Asterion pulled the weeping prince into his arms, tucking his head under his chin.

“You are Theseus. Prince of Athens. And we’ve both had an..interesting day. I vote, if you wish, we sleep on this matter. Come. You’re shivering.” Asterion lifted Theseus with ease, careful of his ankle, and brought him to the nest of shed linens and furs stacked up in the corner. The smaller prince didn’t object as the Minotaur curled up around him, enveloping him in the warmth of his fur and flesh. Theseus had not lifted his head from Asterion’s chest.

“You see me as Theseus.”

“Yes. It’s who you are; you saw me as Asterion and a monster, but that is fine. I am both things.”

The Minotaur’s ears lifted in surprise at the sudden kiss; his tail swished excitedly as Theseus snuggled back into the soft squish of his body.

“You could be my monster. I’ll sleep on it.”

Theseus could feel Asterion’s entire hind moving with the sheer ferocity of his tail wags. He could’ve sworn that the man, when he thought Theseus was already asleep, whispered excitedly:

“I’m his monster.”

Chapter III

#tkatb2 #long read #monsterfucking nsfw #but not quite fucking #mainly foreplay

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jamgetsbred · 1 year

Text

The King and The Bull

Got bored, wrote a kinky re-imagining of Theseus and The Minotaur. Comments are welcome but bear in mind I'm not going to edit this to hell since it's for fun! I write academic papers enough so my hee hee porn writing isn't going to be held up to the same scrutiny. Thanks!

Slay the Minotaur, a monster of Crete that devours fourteen young people every year.

KINKS: Monster fucking, breeding kink, biting, blood, rough fucking, pregnancy risk, praise kink

Chapter II here

My son.

Theseus’s heart nearly stopped as he heard his mother call his name.

“Theseus, my son, please.”

His anger felt like Prometheus clawing his way through his chest with flaming hands. Every inhibition in his body burned in the face of his rage. He turned and met her tears with a smile that spread to his eyes.

“Please? Please? You beg me now, of all times to grovel?” His laugh was the bark of a hound. Aethra recoiled as if he’d slapped her.

“You will die, Theseus. You will die if you go to Crete, you foolish boy!”

“Boy! Ha! I am only valuable to you in death. Yes, all of a sudden when my fate is assured you’re losing a son. Would you have begged Clymene not to go to Crete?”

“And I’m sure you feel like a man in this moment. Abusing your mother! Taking my only child from me!”

“Taking your child? I am a son of Poseidon born to a mortal woman. I am your only tie to Olympus personified. I am not taking your child; I am taking your pride.” Even Achilles, a man gifted with the speed of Hermes, could not have struck Theseus quicker. Aethra’s hand trembled as her son kept his eyes fixed on the pillar he now faced. His cheek felt like molten lead; the same melting rage set his jaw and raised his voice. The person that spoke was unfamiliar to both of them.

“You,” He took a step forward. There was no need to touch her. “Are a wretched woman, who made my childhood a torturous existence. A half life. What did you raise me to be? Nothing more than a bride. You did not raise the son you claim to lose now, the son that marches to Crete, the son that will kill the Minotaur. Where will you be when my name is written into the heavens? You will be an afterthought. My glory will be my own. You, Aethra, will be forgotten to ash and dust.”

Her hands and shoulders shook as she wept, her coughing and spluttering making her body double over. She grasped his hand, then his ankle as he tried to step away.

“You will go to Crete.”

“I will.”

Theseus left the house with a sword and a scroll strapped to his belt. Bound for Athens, and a ship with black sails.

Chapter I

Even with his father’s gifts Theseus couldn’t help but be faced with his many miseries. The chains clamped around his wrists and ankles dug weeping blisters into his skin. Blazing sun fried his nose, cheeks and scalp; his fiery hair didn’t offer much protection for the young hero. Worse still, even with his skin flaking off around him that didn’t compare much to the rats. Wretched vermin that fucked, ate, birthed and died all around the brig. For weeks he listened to this cacophony of sounds: rats, coughing, weeping. He was somewhat sure by day three he could hear his bones creak from the cold.

By the second week he was caked in his own sweat and filth, gasping for any breath from the air holes he could find. His body felt like it was being pulled apart. The tunic he wore was certainly a mess; his breasts were raw from how little protection it offered from the splintering hack job of a floor. Yet he still grinned; because there were children here: sacrifices to the Minotaur as young as ten. Theseus braided hair, spun handmade tops, and taught them songs. Other older sacrifices like himself in their early 20’s joined him. The littlest one, Penelope, reached for his hair as he tried to pick the lice out of her scalp.

“Are you going to save the Minotaur?”

He chuckled, smoothing her hair. “No, I’m going to save us. I have to kill the minotaur, Penelope.”

Penelope’s face scrunched as he flicked a bug into the darkness. She huffed, crossing her arms.

“What if he’s nice? His Papa put him in there. What if he didn’t hurt people? What if he’s just sad?”

Theseus smiled around the hairpin between his lips. “The minotaur is a beast. Killing him will end his pain. I’m helping him by helping us.”

It was quiet at first; but the prince of Athens could hear the waters slow and the ship's low, droning groans as it began to lose speed. He was the first person to shout “BRACE!” as the ship’s abrupt halt nearly sent them flying. Penelope clung to his neck while he grabbed onto Orion’s wrist to keep him from breaking his spine against the steel bars of their cell.

Finally, the ship settled.

Only one or two soldiers came to collect them. Two men that looked like prisoners in uniform spat at their feet, huffing as they opened the cell.

“Rise, oh children of Athens. To your deaths you go. March, march.” Theseus carried the two youngest; poor Adrian couldn’t lift his head, and Priscilla barely opened her eyes. The guard didn’t bother to re-chain them, simply allowing them to shuffle along to the deck to meet their killers.

Sure, maybe he hadn’t expected fanfare, but maybe..a little pomp for the sacrifices that fed their monster would’ve been appreciated. Instead, Theseus looked upon (really, squinted at; the sun cast everything in a white curtain) a silent crowd. Three figures stood on the dock awaiting them. King Minos he knew of from his father. A tyrant of a man who demanded an endless flow of Athenian blood in exchange for the single split skull of his son. He knew less of Ariadne or her sister. Of course he’d only been told by the sailors what most men would probably want to know: only tall tales of beautiful eyes and firm bosoms. One soldier was obsessed with Ariadne’s ankles, so much so that Theseus at one point wished he’d worn the longest dress possible himself.

Minos was an ugly man. His smile as Theseus was pushed forward off of the gangplank was like an open suture.

“Ah, the Prince of Athens. Welcome, Son of Aegus.” Son was spat at him like a gauntlet was thrown. All of Crete held its breath.

Theseus simply grinned and bowed. “King Minos. Yes, a prince of Athens is no greater in value than her people.”

“Yes. So it seems you aren’t of great value at all. Die well, Princeling.” Some of the peasants gasped, some of the men roared with laughter. Theseus’s smile remained plastered onto his face, painting himself with pleasantness. Most would look for his smile- but only one person in all of Crete followed his eyes.

Princess Ariadne’s gaze had been fixed on him since he exited the boat, but now he saw her plainly. She was delightfully pretty- the same way he’d been groomed to be when he was younger. Fit to fade into the decoration of a room. But Ariadne’s personality was easy to see for those who saw her earrings in the shape of stars, the pendant of Daedalus around her neck. Her dancing skirt. Her worn sandals. He searched for what he needed: the slight bump on her right finger.

She can write. She can read. She probably learned under Daedalus, master of the labyrinth himself. Theseus tucked that into the back of his mind. Right now it was difficult to think as he made the long walk to the palace carrying two children with no sandals on hot stone. So instead his mind wandered to other things as buildings passed, and the people’s faces watching the death march blurred together. He thought of glory, of men- women- men? At his every beck and call. Crowds would roar his name, babies would bear the name he’d made for himself in attempts to capture his glory. His father Poseidon in the heavens would make him immortal among the stars. Only when he reached the palace did he stop to take in his surroundings; which were mainly white marble. Every so often he’d see columns with beautiful golden veins, but for the most part Minos kept a plain home. The real prize could be heard throughout the palace, and felt in his feet. At first Theseus thought it was the earth shaking; but then, Penelope whispered as she trembled.

“He’s screaming.”

“What?”

“Big bull man.”

Theseus listened closer now; she was right. Anguished moans echoed off of the walls. It felt like the sound crawled up his spine and over his skin.

Horrid creature, he thought. Soon he and the other sacrifices were piled into their new accommodations: plush beds with high columns and pressed silk clothes prepared for them sitting on top of the covers. Combs were left in the bathroom along with fresh olive oil soap along with various beauty tools to scrub under nails and cut hair.

“Do with this what you will. Enjoy.” The guard who had escorted them exited, leaving Theseus and the others to prepare themselves. By the time he’d scrubbed all of the dirt, sweat and grime out of his skin and fixed his hair up into something remotely respectable (he’d just snipped until it looked right) and pinned his tunic into place with his fibula the sun had descended to sit just above the horizon. Of course, he could also tell it was time for the feast by the way everyone had started to lift their nose to the smell of meat. But Theseus didn’t bother moving from where he sat on the edge of his bed. He stared at the blank wall across from him- imagining the minotaur. Half bull, half man; how could he kill the living personification of a god’s wrath? He couldn’t even kill the hatred that festered in his own heart.

But emotion could not be killed. Flesh could. The minotaur was half man- and that was man enough.

Now I just have to find a sword.

He’d wished for a bow and arrow, but shooting into pitch black would be a waste. Moreover, he needed to know he hit his target if he could not rely on sight. Morbid as it was he needed to feel the flesh rend to steel; arrows would not be heard over a roaring monster.

“Athenians, please join us at the feast in your honor.” A more polished guard stood in their doorway with a lumbering stature and broad chest. Theseus rose, being the first to follow. He needed to get the internal map of these halls in his head; look for landmarks. A chill came over him when he passed the third hallway with little to no adornment.

He has purposefully left us with nothing to remember.

Finally Theseus saw the gentle dancing of various lamps and was hit with a wall of smell; people chatted as many flitted about the banquet table to get their fill. Lords and their wives, Minos’s court, and very few wealthy peasants all took turns gawking at the new elephants in the room. They were all made to sit directly beside the King, who spread his arms wide in his chair carved with images of his monster. His son.

“Welcome to Crete. Feast upon our good will to you; as you have provided for us your lives, we provide you with one last meal. Feast well. Drink well.” He raised a goblet, to which most of Theseus’s comrades answered except for the littler ones or those too bitter about their own destruction to look up from their untouched plates. Theseus himself did not toast, instead turning to Penelope, who fidgeted with her plate of beef.

“Look at him, Penelope,” Theseus whispered, smirking. “He’s so prideful he needs a dinner throne.”

“I bet he has a bathroom throne!”

“Oh, I’m sure his chamber is gilded.” Across from him, Eleni snorted. She was his age and had shared the burden of taking care of the others on the ship. Even she couldn’t be bothered with Minos’s merriment- mocking him was much more fun. Her lip quirked just a bit. Enough for Theseus to catch it as he brought his cup of wine to his lips.

“Eleni, there’s a joke in you somewhere.”

She tucked a piece of hair behind her ear, red rising to her cheeks. “I don’t have one.”

“Of course you do. A prideful King sits in the most ornately carved wooden chair that he’s currently soaking with gravy. You could take up hours on the Agora with that material.”

Just as she was about to speak, it was Orion who ceased his giggling fit to shout “MINOS SMELLS!”

For a moment you could hear the sound of the distant wind. All of the previous faux pleasantness had been sucked out of the room like a vacuum; all eyes on Minos. That was, until Theseus’s laugh boomed like a lightning strike. He patted Orion on the head. Maybe it was the wine he’d been sipping that brought the humour back to his cheeks. Not a single Athenian eye was dry- of all the wit and cleverness their people were renowned for, Orion had killed a King where he sat by calling him stinky.

“To the smelly King Minos, who demands more than he ever lost!” Theseus hollered, raising his cup.

“To King Minos, tyrant and pissant!”

Laughter now roared from every corner of the hall. Minos was floundering in a sea of insults, which as a host he was expected to take as good natured fun. But his cheeks were aflame, and it looked like he was ripping Theseus apart several times over in his minds eye. Gone was the awful smile that greeted them on the dock.

Searching the room, Theseus caught Ariadne’s gaze with the ghost of his smirk still on his face. He winked at her before he stood.

“I’m afraid I must rest. A long journey and a short feast makes for a pleasant sleep. Excuse me, gentlefolk, to my dreams.” He only broke contact with the Princess when he turned on his heel, moving now just assuredly enough that a guard did not try to escort him. A captain stepped forward as he crossed the threshold.

“Sir,”

“I know the way. Thank you, Captain. I would like one last moment to myself before my demise, if you can find it agreeable.”

He huffed. Theseus continued to walk and found that the man did not follow. Instead, as he rounded a few corners he heard lighter steps. If he hadn’t hunted in his youth as much as he had to he would not have heard them at all.

“Prince of Athens.”

Her voice was like a melody. So the Princess had followed him.

“Princess of Crete.” Theseus turned and bowed low; his nose almost kissing the marble beneath him. “I am Theseus, son-”

“Son of Aegus. Son of Poseidon. Your mother is Aethra. I know of you, Prince of Athens.” Ariadne’s gaze warmed the back of his neck and ears. “Rise. Really, I’d like to see you without wine on your upper lip.”

Theseus rose, taking her hand in his. It was soft except for the callous on her middle finger where she placed a pen. “A pleasure, Princess.” He kissed the freckle on the top of her knuckle.

“What I speak to you about it..Not all pleasurable, I’m afraid.”

“Oh?”

“You mean to kill my little brother.”

A passerby would’ve thought Demeter had cursed the very hall they stood in. Suddenly the marble which had been a pleasant coolness on his burnt heels turned to ice. His skin prickled. No one had spoken of the minotaur as a person; only a beast. To kill someone’s little brother was different than slaughtering a wretch. In this case they were one in the same.

“I..I do.”

“You have no weapon.” The honey in her eyes had turned to a calculating blaze of fire. “And you did not come here to die. You came here for him.”

“I came here to stop the killings. Your brother’s life is not worth the hundreds of souls he will consume as he ages.”

“Certainly not.” She looked at him from his toes to the crown of his head. “He is not a verse in your song. He is a living thing.”

“I-”

“You will hear me. Princes are notoriously deaf to the pleas of women, but you will hear this, Theseus Aegemedes. If you want to kill my brother, you must first know his name. His name is Asterion. He is twenty years old, like you, and he loved to play when he was a child. He would pretend he was a hero, Heracles. He is now older, meaner, and blind in one eye after one of our soldiers struck him with a spear when he was still small.”

“Why do you tell me this?”

Ariadne bit her lip. From the way she flinched he could tell she’d drawn blood. Her nails dug into her palms.

“Because…I love him.”

“If you loved him, you would not have told me his weaknesses.”

“I love you, too. Or maybe I love your courage. Glory didn’t bring you here, to Crete. To your death. You came with barely a plan, and your name.”

He laughed; it was honestly half of a sigh. “I’m afraid you’re mistaken, Princess. Glory did bring me here.”

“Then you are a dull witted man for an Athenian King.”

“Prince,” He corrected. “And yes. I...Have had to earn my name, in more ways than one. This would cement me as who I am. Theseus. It is all I want people to remember.”

“And in all the ages of Greece, not a single Prince or King would want to be remembered for his kindness? Would you scorch all of Crete for your name too, or just those you find monstrous? Justifiable to kill?” She stepped forward, looking up at him. He could’ve sworn the lanterns burned brighter now. “Where does that stop, Theseus?”

“I-”

“It doesn’t. Memory is a living thing. You would always need another monster. And eventually, it will become you.” Her shadow seemed like its own beast as it curled in the firelight. He felt like she could consume him whole. Her words alone flayed his flesh from his bones, down to his core. He hadn’t realized he was weeping until she brushed the tears away from his cheek, smoothing over his tan skin with her thumb. She found the scar on his lip and held her attention there.

“You’re not a monster, Theseus. Has anyone told you that, in all of your labors? You were never different. You were never accepted, either. Just as you are.” His heart began to race. There was no way she could know- no- he’d kill her before she told anyone else. He could so easily grasp her throat and squeeze. Squeeze until she stopped, until all of this went away.

“What do you know of me? What do you know of the things I’ve felt?” He could kill her. She would take his secret to her grave.

“Because I was always a Princess. But only when I grew did they call me Ariadne.” The fire inside of him that threatened to consume them both in its wake died with her admission. She knew more of his experience than he ever thought. Gently, she kissed the scar on his lip. “I know you are good, Theseus. You’ve lost yourself in what it means to be a hero, what it means to be a man. Sometimes the most heroic thing a man can be is kind. You will go to the labyrinth.” She opened his tunic and he didn’t stop her. From under her skirts she produced a gladius and thread which she pressed against his chest.

“You- you give me my life?”

“I give you your life. Because I know yours is worth the hundreds you will save; and my brother's life was over once he entered that wretched hole. He is more of a ghost than man. Save him, Prince of Athens, and you will make a fine King. Here is my gift to you; go tomorrow not a lamb, but a lion, Theseus of Athens.”

He wished he could live in her arms forever as she kissed him once more. Theseus tried to remember the sweetness of her lips and the taste of fresh figs. Eventually they broke from each other, with Ariadne cradling his face in her hands with such tenderness you could’ve mistaken them for a couple.

“Go, Theseus.”

“I’ll come back for you.”

“I know.” And so the Prince of Athens turned from her, Ariadne, Princess of Crete, to walk to his chambers. He left her standing there in all of her radiance; from the beautiful plaits in her brown hair to the gold on her fingers. Because he would come back. She would wait for him.

When Theseus eventually found his quarters, he slowly slid down the wall with the gladius and red thread in his hands. His lips pulled back against his teeth as he wept.

Must a man be cruel? Does brutality make a King? Or can I be kind, but where has kindness gotten me among my fellow men? Mocked. Chided. He’d attempted to hug his father once and had been struck. Yet, his heart also tugged when he thought of how much better he could’ve grown up in a world that was gentler. How many times had he been harassed by men at the market growing up? Ariadne was right. He stared at himself in the reflection of his sword. Eventually he would run out of monsters; he would grow old and ornery. He would grow selfish and stupid and prideful.

He did not know how to be a man without all of the machismo that came with it. But he could learn. He could try.

Theseus had been lion and lamb both, in his lifetime. Now he wondered who sat in front of him; what sort of hero he could call himself.

Only one way to find out.

A final gift, this time from himself to Asterion. Theseus spent the rest of the night crafting a burial shroud. The least he could do was kill him with kindness.

Chapter II

#tkatb1 #yeet sex happens later sorry lads

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