Archive of Our Own ^beta

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Despite sneaking into his bathroom to completely erase every speck of growing tiresome from his complexion, Hades could still feel the weight of Persephone's prescense from feet away. He made haste soaking in his bath of crystallized bath salts, not even taking time to let the stress seep from his aching bones. Not that he ever seeked success doing that anyways, but there was still hope under the layer of never-ending disappointment.

Only when he walked out of the wash room freshly coated in his scent of pine and smoky indulgences, he found chocolate brown eyes peering at him immediately from the doorway of the illumination from the  bathroom. Brown eyes that automatically snapped close, as if she knew she had been looking much too long. Caught. 

He couldn't help the amused smirk that alit his features, leaning against the doorway softly to cross his forearms over each other. Persephone had even lifted his velvet covers over her mouth to avoid further suspicion, thinking that she had done something. 

"You don't have to pretend that you are asleep if I already know you are awake." He kept his tone soft; steady. Yet the amuse bled through. Still the poor woman didn't budge, only rolling over in avoidance, facing the dark.

Well already he's found an interesting aspect that she shared effortlessly with his best friend. Maybe Thanatos would be a good friend. When she had the energy to speak that was. 

"Okay." He sighed, making a show of eneciating the sigh. "I suppose I shall make my way to-" He got halfway through the room before a feminine sigh sounded, triggering a calculated stop in his tracks. And he believed that Persephone would be so much more stubborn than that. 

"No, wait! Please come back, I was only laying here." Hades turned to face her in all of her glory. The sleeves of her sweater were stretched to her elbows, fiery red curls a mess on top of her head. The small detail humanized the immortal in ways that had never made as much sense to him as it did now, and he toppled for it. There were still those nasty eyebags rounding under her eyes, but he knew that they improved with her rest since yesterday. Even just awakening from sleep she still had that heavenly glow, her prescense louder than any noise. She was beautiful even in the darkness. But still...that deadness in her eyes broke his still heart. 

"Don't apologize for something so small. I still find it very interesting how you believed you'd just get away with pretending." 

He was teasing her, and she knew it. Knew it because her eyebrow rose, plump lips in a frown. He shone with her personality. Please don't whisk away, he thought with every ounce of hope, I won't allow it. 

"As I find it very interesting why you were making such noise in a sleeping woman's washroom. For somebody with such a reputation of being silent you love to make noise." Her eyes shone like the stars as he held him, her tone equally as teasing but matter of factly. He would wait to tell her that this was his room she was sleeping in, just to keep her on her toes. 

Temper. Even a snap of an attitude he'd never expect from her. He liked it solely for the unraveling of the events from the previous days. 

"I see somebody is very much the morning person." He smiled as he took a seat a good measure of space away from her on his bed, watching as her eyes found everywhere but him, shoulders slumped as she toyed with a piece of the velvet covers. 

"I am." She simply whispered. "In mother's realm I would watch the sunrise from my bedroom each morning. I rose with it." 

The chill of the air bit his skin as he fought the urge to cringe. At the stupidity of his choice of his words because it ultimately led to her sadness. In a realm of darkness, in a realm that was underground, it was blatant knowledge that the sun would never shine. Already it has changed her so much to adjust. Adjust under a situation she would obviously loathe. Guilt offset in his stomach. Looking at her now...at her avoiding his gaze...he wondered if he made the wrong choice of bringing her here. Even if she chose herself to stay. 

But looking at that shallow dark in her eyes, only to compare it to the day they had met, he didn't regret it. He didn't regret it at all. Because even if it took worlds of fighting and patience, he'd map a route of helping her find herself again. And in that route he'd walk it with her. 

"We may not have a sunrise, but we have something so much more astonishing." Not the moonlight either, but something he'd keep etched in his memory to show her. "I could show you, unless you prefer the element of surprise?"

Persephone's head slowly turned, eyes holding his with seconds to simmer in curiosity. Then they went blank. As if the emotion was never there in the first place. Fates how he loathed it. 

"I'm afraid I'll sleep in. I still feel exhausted." Her mouth was moving. And his thoughts were screaming to a void of wanting anything but those words. So when she rustled to put her head on the bed again, Hades sighed and stood up. 

"Of course. But just to let you know, you nailed the timing. In Greece it would be sunrise now." They both woke at the same time, and that provided some oddity of comfort. 

His feet guided him to his beautiful door, every bone in his body begging him to look back. And when he did, at the body that was rolled over and still as death, he knew that this woman would change every aspect of his life without even a thought. Her words gave him peace for the morning. 

"You weren't loud, by the way." He never denied it. "I just have habits that are impossible to break." 

Her voice was breaking. She was mere seconds away from a breakdown and he could detect it. Could feel the tug of some incredible force inside of his heart calling. But he could also feel the invasion in her tone, as if all he yearned for was her lonesome. Except nobody deserved to be alone. Not like this. 

"We all do, Persephone." The click of the doorknob would signal that every word spoken would stay concealed inside of this room, inside of this moment. "And I believe that breaking them both ruins parts of us and fixes us at once." 

Shutting that door for the day on her would be a habit he'd avoid at all costs.

~

Hecate felt refreshed. More refreshed than she had in years, because the environment she had forced herself to forget now enveloped her energy in the comfort she once experienced every single morning. Hecate allowed herself the luxuries of vanity as she readied herself in silks of pure lavender, pulling her short black locks into a tight ponytail. The Titaness promised herself since the beginning of the new era that each day would be a power move, and dressing accordingly to that rule was her zone of happiness. Not that she dressed to impress the people that surrounded her (the crossroads were ever-quiet), but she did it because it was all deserved for her. She had fought to build this powerful name, and she would fight only further to uphold it. 

Which is why striding through the electric hallways of the House of Hades with the powerful click of black heels made her feel even more at home. For once, the surface was aligned with the exterior. 

Except power was interrupted when she strode into the kitchen, the smells of hickory bacon, savory sausage, fluffy eggs, sugary lemonade, perfectly spiced cinnamon bread were all tainted by waves of sleepy shadow. Quiet snores radiated from the sleeping source across the table, Hecate's eyes wondering to the drooling God of Death sleeping in the chair of the table, his head resting on top of the cherrywood without so much as a care in the universe. She rolled her eyes, striding to the man with contained force. 

Hecate analyzed the features she glossed over the day previous. His build was muscular, the veins of his forearms saying hello under his thinly layered shirt. His hands were also insanely large compared to hers, corded with muscle and vein, resting on the table in front of him. His tiny lips were defined in an intense cupid's bow that would of been considered attractive if it weren't for the drool that leaked from his throat. Slender eyes confirmed his relations to Nyx without a doubt, even his wideset nose the equivalent to his mother's. Glossed over short black hair was styled to perfection atop his skull, and she wondered if he qualified as one of the men that awoke with an effortless style. The black mustache that outlined his lips was an interesting choice. 

All in all, Hecate was convinced. Convinced that this man had done good by the Underworld, and was secure in his position. Even if walking in on him asleep the first morning of her arrival was unprofessional, she would let it slide for now. Everybody in the entirety of the universe knew of Hecate's intense business savvy. 

Lifting her slender but toned arm, Hecate snapped, projecting a noise charm over the action so the sound bled through every inch of the room. The sleeping god shot up at the alarm clock with solid surprise. Hecate remained unfazed. 

"I'm awake! Damn, will I ever catch a break?" Thanatos exclaimed as he slouched in his seat. Only his entire face changed at the questioning features of the goddess above him. "Why am I not surprised?" 

"Why am I not surprised that I find you drooling all across the table on my first day back?" She looked like perfection as she crossed her arms across her chest, only to radiate authority. 

Thanatos sniggered at the stance, nonplus shocking through the goddess at his reaction. He seemed indifferent as he reached for a cup inches away, following with the black coffee that he poured. 

"Awh don't look at me like that, little mouse. You almost look scary." Anger richocheted through her. 

How was this...this...amateur evoking such reactions from her? And how dare he speak of her height as if it defined her character?

"Little mouse?" She echoed with exclamation. Thanatos lifted the solid black coffee to his lips, shock running through Hecate like the speed of light. Except the opening was too great that she painted her features to mask a devilish smile. 

"Well no wonder you are so insulting in the morning, only the most evil of monsters drink coffee black." 

Thanatos's face was the definition of offended, looking at Hecate with utter disbelief as his eyes shot to the steaming drink in his hands as if it were the most divine thing in this universe. 

"I will stick this amazing coffee up-" 

"Thanatos! You are awake!" The booming figure of Hades strode through the double arches across the room, Hecate pleased at Thanatos's jaw reaching the floor. "And now that you are awake I expect that you said a very polite good morning to Hecate?" 

"She started it." Thanatos proceeded to grumble of the importance of black coffee and how all people should invest in the significant idealism, but Hades simply ignored the god with a wave of his hand, settling into the head of the table with ease. 

"Sometimes I feel as if I have a child instead of an employee." Hecate snorted. Thanatos on the other hand looked taken aback. 

"Why did everybody just wake up this morning and choose to abuse Thanatos? Do I look like a child to you? Oh wait, no, because this," His hands swept over his body. "Is six foot four inches of sexy."  

Hecate sighed into her lemonade, settling into her seat across from Thanatos at the table as she reached for a plate to begin her feasting endeavor. Yes, this was home. With clear add-ons, but home nonetheless.

"Mhm." Hades entertained with the flick of an eyebrow, ignoring Thanatos's foolery to get straight to business. "Well good news. Persephone has finally woken up. She has been awake since midnight." 

Hecate froze at even beginning to reach for a pancake. Every fibre of her being was set off at the revelation, the goodness inside of her instantly wanting to gather her wits and head to Persephone. Even across the palace she could feel her ebb and flow of power, only contained to go back to unstable every few seconds. All facts aside, it was crystal clear that Persephone wasn't in the correct mentality, and they had much work to do if they would work towards containing her powers. Hecate had already planned to offer her assistance. 

"How is she feeling?" Rhetorical. 

"She...she is the same. Exactly what you would expect." Hades's eyes were distant. Hecate couldn't break through them. "She is insistent on her rest, but I fear that letting her sleep her time away will not even be in the question." 

Even Thanatos looked solemn. Already the effects of the Flower Goddess's guilt had settled. And already Hades seemed to want to fix it. Blamed himself for it when he didn't need to. When it wasn't his place.

"And I agree, however, this process is one we will have to formulate with baby steps. Yes we will have to eventually need to drag her out of her space, but we also need to get her adjusted. She still hasn't met the bobble head yet-" 

"Hey!" Thanatos called with cinnamon bread stuffed in his mouth. 

"But we will get her adjusted. She seems most attached to you, Hades." Hades's eyes met hers. "Maybe spend more time with her? If she has decided to stay?" 

"She has. Which is miraculous in its own. However I can see that her motive is clearly rooted with staying away from her mother." At that obvious comment, Thanatos perked up, clearing his throat as if he had something important to announce. Two pairs of eyes made their way to the god. 

"Speaking of, in the little amount of my freetime between the time you had me working like a dog at Judgments, my Lord," Hades nodded towards him with a grin despite the scowl Thanatos presented, "I found the scroll for the guidelines made by Aphrodite and Hera themselves."

Hecate could see the gears turning in Hades's mind, churning in an attempt to register something he must of missed. Yet even Hecate's mind blanked at these supposed guidelines made by the two goddesses. What scroll did he speak of? How did it connect to this conversation? She knew that she couldn't explain it, but something nauseating settled into her stomach then. 

"What guidelines?" Hades questioned while intricately cutting into a thick piece of sausage. His tone almost aligned with annoyance, but also caution. As if fear that his plan would crumble. 

"Well, with Hera being the Goddess of Childbirth and Aphrodite being the Goddess of Love, clearly they did some digging together in case of a future scenario that almost akins to this one. And it turns out - in ancient lines - that if Demeter is to discover of Persephone's stay here then she can legally be taken back above ground."  

Fear completely took hold of Hecate with an iron fist, nausea falling over her in waves. There were so many questions she wanted to ask now, but opening her mouth would entail her tripping over her words. Hera didn't seem to be the type of woman to entrap a woman - an eighteen year old woman who was meant to make her own choices, not just as an eighteen year old but as a being - a woman in a situation that was as cataclysmic as this one. Hera had suffered, she should know the struggle. And Aphrodite? Surely from Zeus alone there had to be trauma she never wished for others to experience. 

"What the hell." Contained anger, raging inside of Hades - could be felt by Hecate. It was almost as if the energy was the color red, furious in its nature by also a ripple of grey; confusion. "There must be exceptions? In Persephone's situation, where she is as depressed as she is. And she is eighteen! An adult! Even as a minor she had the right to her own decision." The rise of his voice triggered Thanatos's response. 

"And I agree. However because this set of rules was created towards the beginning of Aphrodite's existence, it wouldn't surprise me that she made this purely to piss few people off." In her spiteful nature, Hecate wouldn't be surprised either. "But, I did find a loophole." 

That ripple of new energy was put on pause at the word loophole. Everything had a loophole. Especially in Olympian culture. 

"Which is?" Hecate breathed. 

"In black print, specifically from Hera, it states, Only whenever an immortal between the ages of sixteen and thirty years old is legal to stay in a realm away from their biological parentage by marriage. If the marriage is observed by another entity and approved by one-half of the parentage is this law applicable." 

The entire planet stopped on the midst of its axis. Chills shot down Hecate's bare arms at the ghost of his words. Marriage. A tie that was sacred in their culture. Something that would carry for the rest of the ages. Her eyes connected with Hades and it was so silent she swore that she could hear a pin drop. 

They had one chance. One chance to keep everything silent. If they were to go down the route of risking their chances with Demeter, that was. But the safer option was the one that would change life for the God of the Underworld forever. So now it was down to decision. Decision that Hecate knew Hades wouldn't allow himself to make on his own. He was too good. Too good with keeping his word for Persephone. 

"Marriage." Hades uttered, like the word was alienated on his tongue. "So marriage is the only safe, only legal way out of this." 

"With approval. But that would entail you striding up to Demeter and asking for Persephone's hand. And we both already know how that would go." Hecate was speaking against her entire train of thought.

The room was sober in its desperation. Hades was deep in his conversation of internal thoughts while Thanatos was distanced. The three would do anything to come up with a situation that was worthy enough to birth into existence. 

"You're wrong." Thanatos spoke in Hecate's direction. "You're wrong because the rule said nothing about her mother, it said one-half of her parentage. Zeus. Zeus is her father and in technicality the approval you recieve from him is applicable to the rule." 

Oh my Gods. Thanatos was correct. One-half was the golden number, and in that number this entire event could work to their advantage. If and only if everything went enroute smoothly - including the union of the God the Underworld with the Goddess of Spring, if they so chose to go through with seeking Zeus's request. 

"You're a genius, Thanatos." Hades exclaimed in a whisper. 

"Well yes I am." Thanatos tipped his cup to the praise and took a long sip of the bitter substance. "So what are we going to do, boss?" 

Both minor gods looked to the major, and although there was hope in their awakening, Hades looked every bit of in the struggle as he was on the inside. Hecate wanted to speak words to reassure him, but she knew that something as large as this was not her place. 

"I'm going to have to talk to Persephone. I promised that I would never decide for her. This isn't the way I imagined ever getting married, but if I must, then I'll do it for her." 

And in his decision, the silence that followed carried until the end of their breakfast. 

~

Day. 

Dawn. 

Dusk. 

Night. 

Sunrise. 

Sunset.

And the moon with all of it's infinite darkness. 

Celestials, stars and all of the world's ever-lasting natural astonishments ran through Persephone's mind in a pathetic attempt to self-soothe the goddess. Tear stains stayed bleeding into her cheeks as the lump in her throat seemed to never leave. She was choking on her tears, clutching one of the long pillows in between her legs and abdomen in some stupid effort for comfort. She absolutely hated how her selfish mind begged for the hug of her mother, only to remember what she had done. The bite that accompanied the memory was too much, too much pressure coupled with endless despair.

These blankets smelled of him. It was puzzling how much they did. Pine, smokey secrets and the scent of his wisping shadows. Every time she tried to scream out her sobs, the scent stopped her. Persephone almost hated the little detail, but knew with all of her immortal broken heart that she couldn't. Hades meant well, and Persephone wanted to be independent, but secretly she wished to cling to someone. Anything. And he was the closest thing she felt to comfort in this unknown place. 

Persephone had counted every single tick of the clock since his dismissal. It had been four hours and thirty-two minutes precisely. Her stomach was empty but not at all hungry, eyes raw and puffed. But the tears didn't stop. And sleep wouldn't come. There was just too much to swallow. So instead she invited the pressure on her skull, the migraine the equivalent to hell. Her eyes were so dry she was convinced they'd bleed. And oh Gods, her heart! The poor girl's heart was still beating but not at all thriving. This wasn't living, it was surviving. 

Would she always feel this way? Wanting to stay concealed behind closed doors just in fear of the tragic world with all of it's surface? Her life would never be the same. It would never match the magnitude it had before. Even with all of the previous restrictions from Mother, the Flower Princess felt destined to fall. 

Or to destroy. 

The thought brought tremors instantly down her body. Even with the heavy creme sweater and leggings, she felt cold. Something told her it wasn't because of the temperature. Rolling over in the four-poster bed, Persephone finally sat up and sighed with a grimace. Truly her sinuses were inflamed. Incredible how immortal healing did nothing for the intermingle of her emotions and appearance. 

Hilarious how she had been sleeping in a room she knew close to nothing about. Chocolate eyes swallowing the enormous bedroom around her, her breath was swept away at the personality the room seemed to shout. It didn't match hers whatsoever, but it told a story. Paintings of splashed red, grey and black watercolor forming the largest tapestry on the wall next to the towering doors told the story of birth and battle, inquisition and resolve. In front of the tapestry was a mountainous work desk of pure black, ink and scrambled papers cramed out of inorganization. The occupant clearly was a hard-worker who was too in their workspace to even organize that little corner. Next to the black desk stood a singular bookshelf full of a small collection of stories, organized by color beginning with the darks that eventually faded to light. Curiosity became her as she allowed feet to prode to the bookshelf, fingers running through the titles. A loveseat of a deep, romantic red was beside the shelf. 

On the wall in front of the bed stood a grand mirror and chest, the top organized with an array of candles, scents and intriguingly enough - a fluffed scarlet pillow with a gorgeous diadem on top. The crown was large, meant to fit a male's head no doubt. Persephone spent more time than she probably should have peering at the item, because when she looked up again her eyes met with almond peepers she had never knew the existence of. 

"Oh so he let's you sleep in his room and touch up on his crown, huh? I've known him for centuries and we haven't even approached that basis." 

The male voice made Persephone jump back, her entire demeanor changing at the sight of the unknown figure. He was tall, with hair of raven black and a body that unleashed curious shadows. Persephone was reminded of Hades on Olympus, and a part of her was soothed. 

"Woah, woah, woah! I didn't mean to-" The male began, only to be interrupted by the sound of clicking heels. He sighed before she even came in, the Titaness of Witchcraft scowling the man before she could even process his entire stance. 

This ought to be interesting. 

"Thanatos you moron I told you to let me do this alone." Persephone almost laughed at the height difference between the two. Of how this woman was two heads below the man and telling him off. 

"Yes you did. But did I listen, little pain in my ass? No." Hecate shot eyes of fire to him, Persephone nervous that she was about to witness a murder. It was enough to make her intervene. 

"Uhm, hi. I'm still here." Waving for good measure as she said it made it effective. Both gods looked to the woman and instantly calmed, straightening next to one another. 

"My apologies." Thanatos - the god she had never met - was the first to speak. "I didn't mean to startle you. I am Thanatos, Hades's second-in-command. If you are ever to need anything I am at your aid." Thanatos placed a hand upon his heart and bowed, Hecate seemingly pleased with his manners. 

Thanatos tried to meet her eyes, but the access was denied. There was a trip over the pause with his confused expression, but Persephone gathered her words and eased her anxiety, trying to swallow down the previous sobs from this morning. She hoped he didn't notice the flicker that overtook her features, a sad excuse of a smile on her full lips. Her fingers went to adjust a curl behind her ears. 

"I'm Persephone." There were only two words, but it was enough. Her social meter was already exponentially falling and the conversation had just began. 

Still Thanatos seemed to ignore the small endeavor, smiling back warmly. It was as if he knew she was trying - and that was enough. 

"And you are lovely." Please, Persephone hoped, don't say it out of pity. Say it because you mean it. "Anyway, I need to get back to work. Have a beautiful afternoon Persephone, little mouse." Then he was running out the door because Hecate's hell fury eyes followed him. 

Only whenever Thanatos was out the room did Persephone chuckle. Not because of intention, but because meeting the man gave her genuine joy. At the sound of the laugh Hecate looked to her with gleaming eyes, the smile on her face gorgeous. 

"Sorry if he was bothering you, Thanatos has quite the personality." Persephone allowed herself to sit upon the bed, triggering words to rise in her newly unlocked memory. 

Oh so he let's you sleep in his room and touch up on his crown, huh? His room.  That would piece together why he was sneaking around in the bathroom this morning, why he was the first person to see when she awoke and Gods why his bed smelled exactly like him. Her cheeks heated while she remembered mocking him for their little exchange this morning. Instant embarrassment settled into her gut - she must of sounded so stupid. She fought the blush. 

But what could that mean? Her sleeping in his room? Nothing. Maybe it meant nothing at all. Maybe that just meant he cared about her comfort. Considered her fragile feelings. 

"He didn't. I know I really didn't look it but I enjoyed it." She tried to push for a smile, but the second to last word felt so foreign she felt silly speaking. "Is this...Hades's room?" 

Hecate's brow rose in amusement, clearly fighting the tug of her lips. "It is. Speaking of he wants to have lunch with you in about two hours. Getting some food into your system would be good. That and he wants to speak about some things." 

A red eyebrow rose in questioning. Although the thought of food was nauseating, she pushed down one part of Hecate's words to focus on the other. Persephone's energy was close to nothing, and if Hades wanted to speak to her then the subject would likely be heavy. What she wanted matched exactly how she felt, and she didn't want to leave this room. Leaving it would entail too much movement, too much function after taking so much. 

Her silence must of been evidence of her wishes to deny, because Hecate sighed and sat beside her on the bed. Persephone couldn't explain it, but Hecate's prescense was soothing. It made her feel calm to be around someone who didn't expect something out of her. 

"I know how hard this is for you." Hecate's tone was soft. "I understand that being in this place could possibly be one of the worst situations for a woman who thrives in the day. But this place...it's full of zen and magic that is trashed on. I will never try to sway your opinion. You have suffered so much that that alone is another foreseeable evil." Hecate was furling and unfurling her fingers together, and Persephone couldn't tear her eyes away. Was she shaking?

"But I will tell you that we mean well. I don't want you to be alone and learn that being this way is the only way to live. Because seeking comfort in a ghost town will only kill you internally. And that's not living. That isn't genuinely living." She spoke as if she had stories of her own. As if there were secrets on her lips that were too powerful to keep behind. Persephone wanted to invade. Wanted to learn of what crafted her in such a way to talk with a tone that skittered over her bones. 

But Persephone knew more than anybody else that trauma lived in your head. She wouldn't push her, especially when Hecate knew the importance of not pushing Persephone. 

With a sigh, Hecate gathered her purple skirts and stood up, walking over to the bathroom. In that short time (truly it didn't feel short at all) Persephone kept quietly to herself, thoughts finally put to sleep. Only whenever Persephone heard the bath running did her lips move against her own will. 

"Hecate?" The Goddess of Witchcraft stepped from the bathroom, holding a towel of pure white in her arms. "I would like to know if there is anyway you could help me. With my nightmares." 

She wanted to stop then but Hecate's expression seemed to beg for further information. It took Persephone way too much time to gather her words, but Hecate seemed to have the patience of a saint when it came to the Spring Goddess. 

"I have found that over the years my nightmares reflect my reality. They become worse and worse with stress, and right now, I can barely sleep. And when I can, I can't do it soundly. I want to dream. I am eighteen and I don't even know what it feels like to yearn after a dream." Tears were rising to the surface while that stupid lump struck her throat like glue. 

She couldn't look up at Hecate. She felt too pathetic to do such a thing. Under her gaze, her skin sizzled where the Goddess of Magic would touch her with her eyes. There was no judgement, but Persephone's heart screamed. 

Legs moved, a rustle of movement. Hecate's words followed. 

"Look up." The tone was so authoritative that Persephone's chocolate brown orbs met hazel. "You are no little girl, you are a goddess. A goddess who has overcome and will work through her tragedies. The real heroes are the women that admit their fall, that work through it with stride. Even if it means asking for a sleeping drought to dream the dreams you deserve to be dreaming, you will still be a goddess. Not because you were birthed as such, but because you are one by heart." 

Hecate didn't break eye-contact until she was turning away, daring Persephone to run for the things she would need to fight for. And damn, did it work. Suddenly she wanted to rise to her feet and bring her speech to existence. She wanted to conquer and climb the mountains she simply stared at in the past.

Although the Goddess of Flowers still felt overwhelmingly empty, the words left more of an impact than could ever be stressed. 

~

It was almost depressing how nervous he felt. How Hades was damn near - well, he wasn't entirely sure how old he was, but he just knew he was old, and was tripping over a luncheon with a woman he had already had in his arms. He told himself this wasn't a date, despite Thanatos squaking about how much it really was, and that this conversation would all come down to business at the end of the day. But this was anything but business. It was to be the most awkward conversation of his life. 

Because this was about marriage. Something that although shit on by his family members, was still recognized as sacred amoung Olympian culture. Marrying Persephone would mean living a life tied to her, making her the Queen of the Underworld and weaving her into future myths told by mortals alike. He already felt endlessly attracted to her, in a sense that wasn't at all just physical but also a call mentally, but who would ever want to be married to him of all people? He didn't stand a chance. He might as well blow this to oblivion when there was still time. 

Except he couldn't physically get up from his seat. He sat in front of succulent wines, chocolate-covered strawberries, crisp breaded sandwiches and every delicacy alike. He was a god. One-thirds of the universe. He would act like it for her. 

But how in hell can you marry someone if they don't even know your favorite color? Or he her favorite drink? Was he insane or was it his sibilings for constantly deep-diving into these things with the blink of an eye? It took nothing for the union of Aphrodite and Hephaestus. Even less for another handful of couples that he was unfortunately associated with. 

All thoughts were put to rest at the sight of the woman who entered the room, the days behind them like a grain of salt and marriage being the only thing he could dream of when he saw her. 

The Goddess of Spring was divine. Her red hair looked absolutely soft to the touch, woven to a complex braid that hung over her shoulder - little wisps and whispers of red hair peeking to add character. And damn, how she wore navy blue. The gown was sensational on her body, velvet that hugged all the right places yet still flowed to the ground. Long sleeves were a beautiful touch. 

He could marry this woman. He would. Because never in his life had he felt the way he does when she walked into the room. Their eyes meeting only contributed to the magic, his feet suddenly moving and their bodies close as he approached her. 

Persephone was looking down, mascara giving her eyes the flutter that matched a butterfly. He had seen her without makeup and was still devastated over the sight. 

"What's your secret?" He breathed, catching her gaze. The smile that won his features took no effort at all. Victory. 

"I'm not sure what you're playing at?" 

"How do you always look so perfect?" It was blunt, but also ballsy. His accent only added to the fire that took her cheeks, so scarlet that it was as red as her hair. 

"You see I believed once that I had the secret to that, but then I met you." Their eyes never broke apart. But when he cleared his throat, it was almost as if the magic of the moment had dissolved, Persephone moving for the table with haste. 

He hated it. He hated how he knew these next few months would be by far the most excruciating for her, and all he could do was stand by. Hades needed more answers. 

"So I was told that we have some talking to do." Persephone sat into the chair he kept outstretched for her, pushing her in with ease. Only when Persephone was accommodated was when he took his own seat. 

"We do. And I understand that what I'm about to explain may be much too process, so I'm here to answer all of your questions. With an ultimatum of course." A smirk. 

Her chocolate brown orbs found his as she made a face. "An ultimatum? From the devil himself?" He thrived when she smiled. "Why am I not at all surprised?"

"Well Goddess of Spring, you didn't think this was going to be simple, did you?" The flicker of his fingers in mid-air resulted in a China plate floating towards the redhead. "For every item of food you eat I will gradually explain the situation. Nutrients are important. Even if they're useless for us immortals, that is."

Her eyes were analytical as they took in the plate and the plates of food on the table. They both knew what he was doing here. She couldn't avoid it. 

"You're serious?" To that all he could do was wink, grabbing a plate himself and already beginning it with the mixed vegetables.

"As serious as death, dear." 

"Then we have a deal. I want you to start from the beginning." She moved for the pile of buttered rolls, placing one on her plate and making a show of tearing pieces from the bread, popping it in her mouth. Hades was pleased. 

"So eager. Maybe adding some of that lovely chicken will convince me further?" Persephone rolled her eyes at him, gathering the thigh of the cheesy garlic chicken in front of her. 

"Who knew that the God of the Underworld could be so demanding?" She smirked. 

"Only when it comes to something I want." He allowed her time to process that. "Anyways, Demeter obviously knows nothing of your location. It turns out that in my efforts to get you down here Hecate ran into Hera, who was completely aware of your presence. You were invisible to the eye but Hera could feel you." 

Hades was amazed that Persephone hadn't dropped the fork by the fear that engulfed her. "You're telling me that my step-mother knows of my abduction but said nothing?" 

It took everything not to flinch at the word abduction. But that was what had been done. An abduction. 

"Indeed." He paused to chew on the savory roast. "Hera was insistent that you come with us. And considering that it has been days and Demeter has yet to bust down the gateways of the Underworld, we can absolutely trust my sister."

Before going on, Hades's eyes monitored Persephone's progress with her plate, only carrying with his words when he saw her cutting the chicken for more of its taste. 

"As I said last night, it was not at all in the plan to keep you here. I provided you with a choice in my realm as a woman and you chose to stay. Therefore on your own will, I consider that enough. But certain measures are...illegally preventing me from keeping you here, Persephone." 

Her entire face crumbled. He felt like he was putting her through this wicked game of messing with her emotions and he just wanted to end the explanation here. Ask her to marry him and her yes would be enough. But there were still details he couldn't graze over.

"So you're not keeping me here? You're going to make me leave?" The shadowy tug in his heart coupled with her sad eyes broke him. He wanted to reach for her. 

"Absolutely not. You will stay. No matter what anybody else wishes you may stay." It took seconds for the girl to grab her fork again and contain her obvious shaking. "Its just that simply there are rules that are hard to ignore. Ancient rules that entail your parents know that you are here. But that rule has too many risks. If Demeter is to find your location then even I can't deny her taking you away. She could rage war and it would be legal."

"All because of some rules? That's ridiculous." He was becoming accustomed to her agreement on this situation. 

"In every way. But like everything else, there is a loophole. One that...you may find unpleasant. And if you do, then I will take no offense to it." Liar. He was lying for his ego. 

"Well it can't be terrible. And this loophole? If it is done, my mother technically can't take me legally?" 

Silence. He realized then that uttering the words into existence would shape them both forever. This legacy he built would either crumble or grow. It all depended on them. 

"Yes. If you marry me, if you become the Queen of the Underworld - my wife - then your mother wouldn't be able to reach you."

The collision of his words and her reaction was insanity, because this time her mouth was agape, the entire fate of the Underworld hanging on an axis of her decision. Persephone was frozen, hand grasping her fork so tightly he feared she would break sterling silver. Say something, he wanted to scream, trying to reach her eyes. But they were glued to a plate, empty and lacking of anything at all.

His heart fell to his stomach. He shouldn't feel this way. Did he truly believe there was ever a chance in the world that she would agree to marry him? Under what circumstance? Fates he was so stupid. Immortality came with it's fury. This would be one.

But her response was one that he didn't expect.

"Do you truly believe you can love a monster?" A monster. Is that what she - the most heavenly creature on this earth - thought of herself? It was like a slap to the face. Had she even seen him? Heard the stories? He laughed with spite.

"Oh love, what if I told you the monster is me?" The one who ruled death. The one that is Death.

"But why would you want to marry me? I've done so many cruel things. And I-" His shake of the head silenced her, the scrape of the chair against pristine tile taking her by storm.

Hades strode to her, knowing that what he was to do would probably earn him a slap in the face, but desperate times called for desperate measures. Hades knelt beside her chair, on two knees and tipped his head to look only to her. Not the lights, but how her eyes captured them. How the deep scarlet lowlights of her red hair sung to the candlelight. She was breathtaking, and the way she stared back, one would understand that this, that they could work. If a woman could get the God of the Underworld on his knees, then she could achieve anything.

"Look at me." He whispered it, the glassiness that shook her eyes dripping to her cheeks. "You are not a monster. In times of darkness you may feel that way, Persephone. But you are anything but. You are light. And in that I have found a friend. I know that you feel like me denying you may be a favor, but what man does not fall to his knees just by the sight of you? And your mind? Your mind is what shines. I saw every speck of your light, but I will stay for that darkness. The darkness gives power." Tears rolled down her face. She didn't struggle against his gaze.

"How do I fix it?" She sobbed, fingers roughly rising to fight those tears. "How do I fix me?"

He wanted to touch her. Not romantically, but to soothe. He wanted to hold her and whisper all the things she wouldn't believe. Because she didn't need to be fixed. She needed to find her control. To best that bastard on Olympus and her treacherous mother. The scars would heal, if they found their stitches.

"Marry me. I know we're doing everything backwards. I know that I know close to nothing of you as you do me. But in our marriage, I can promise to you now, I will help you overcome this. I will help you master this power. You can wield it. I will train you and accompany you through every mission. Thanatos and Hecate are at your aid. I am here through this journey. I am not her. I will never decide for you." She let out another sob at the mention of Demeter, moving forward to find his hand. She grasped it as if he were her lifeline. She needed him.

"Just please...marry me, Persephone. Become my wife." His free hand found her cheek, wiping tears of salty liquid and eye makeup away from her soft skin. He relished the feeling.

The clock was ticking. Drums were playing somewhere and his heartbeat was accelerating tick by tick. The sands of time were cruel, swift.

But the Goddess of Spring was swifter. And her confirmation changed his - both of their lives forever.

"Yes."