AN: I need a break from Hades and Persephone. So let me drive you crazy with THIS pairing instead. This was supposed to be Cronus' childhood days and Tartarus and Gaia's childhood days but it became something else instead. A totally different monster. This mini-fic/side-fic will not hinder my writing of Dirge of Hell. However... more Primordials and Titans yay!

Warnings: Incest, Sexual content, Language. Read at your own risk.

Crouched in a secluded cave, away from all prying eyes, Gaia, the great goddess of earth, quietly shook with sobs. Her long, leafy locks of hair and fair hands veiled her sad expression from the world.

"You know, if you're unhappy with your marriage, you should do something about it instead of crying here uselessly. I could hear your pathetic sobbing all the way down to my realm."

A young god clothed in fire, bones and chains stepped from the shadows. His muscular body seemed to be composed of black rocks with veins of lava running through the cracks. Dangerous and deadly were the first words one would describe his atmosphere. A signature arrogant and ruthless smirk always adorned his handsome face and this time was no exception.

"Tartarus… you're here again," the goddess replied, wiping the river of tears from her fair cheeks. "What do you want this time? Let me guess, my suffering pleases you."

Tartarus shrugged as he approached the beautiful goddess. "It's not as satisfying as my run with Eros a while ago but close enough."

"I don't need you feeding off of my pain, you parasite." She stood up and shot glares at her older brother. "I already have enough of that in my own household."

He scoffed and rolled his eyes. "And you're a masochist for having invented your dysfunctional household."

She frowned. "A masochist? What does that mean?"

"It's a word I invented," he replied, crossing his arms vaingloriously. "It means someone who enjoys pain."

Gaia chuckled at that. "What, did someone enjoy your punishments?"

It was his turn to a wolf-like grin. "You have no idea. You see, little sister, I get souls of varying depravity. I recently discovered a level of depravity where one suddenly stops screaming 'stop' and start begging for more. That soul forced me to be creative."

"Aww, that must have been really hard for you," Gaia mocked.

"Really? You're going to subtly call me stupid? You?"

She smirked knowingly but didn't reply. Tartarus, disliking her cocky attitude, closed the distance between them and whispered maliciously in her ear, "I'm not the one who married Uranus."

Gaia's face closed off, her eyes deadened, as she took a step back, almost running into the cave wall, and held herself. She was still very raw from the argument she had with her husband.

Like a shark smelling blood, Tartarus preyed on her vulnerability. "You made a mistake, didn't you?"

She didn't answer.

"You regret him."

"Stop it," she whispered.

His hands slowly crept to hold her trembling arms steady. "Oh, but it's not your fault," he continued to whisper evilly. "You're the victim here. But the funny thing is you're the victim of your own creation. You had such lofty dreams of happiness. And now here you are, falling apart because of him."

She moved to push him and slap him away but Tartarus was quicker. He caught her wrists in midair and held it above her head.

"Keep your poison to yourself!" she spat. "Uranus is my pride and joy and I do not regret having him."

Tartarus secured both her wrists against the wall with one hand so he could cup her cheek with the other. "It's me, Gaia. You know you cannot lie to me. You may not regret him but you feel unhappiness with him. Come, tell me what hurts."

"You're asking me to bleed for you but you will savor every drop of blood spilled."

"Yes," he answered shamelessly.

Her lips curled to a seductive smirk. She tugged her hands slightly, asking for permission for freedom. Tartarus granted her permission and braced himself against the cave wall instead, effectively caging her. Not one to be outdone, Gaia caged him as well by placing her arms around his neck. Both of them were thoroughly enjoying the power-play.

"You know me, Tartarus," Gaia whispered in low tones. "No one can ever hurt me unless I care deeply for them."

"It's unfortunate that you're not smart enough to entrust your heart to someone who would handle it with care," he whispered back.

She growled and grasped a fistful of his hair only to tug it forcefully until his throat was exposed against her. "And who would that be? You?"

Tartarus laughed at that, managing to look down contemptuously on her even though it was a position she forced on him. "Do you want to dare?"

She snorted, letting him go and putting as much distance between them, which was not much, showing that she was done playing with him. "Of course not. I'm not that stupid."

"Honey, did you just admit that you're stupid?" he grinned roguishly.

"Get out of here," she grumbled, turning her head to the side. "I'm done with your teasing, brother."

"Alright, just give me a minute," he said before roughly cleaning up the tearstains on her cheeks.

"Ow! That hurts!" she complained slapping his hands away while holding her sore cheeks. "What was that for?"

"I'm making a little improvement on your ugly face. Ruthlessness suits you better than tears," he said with a short shrug.

"Tch, your concern is almost touching. I just might cry again," she mocked playfully.

Tartarus gaped as he placed a hand on his chest. "Ah, I've never been more offended in my life! You make me sound like I have a heart. Ugh, now I feel dirty." He shivered exaggeratedly.

She giggled at his antics, genuinely amused by him. As a final revenge, she climbed to her tip toes and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Thank you," she whispered. "I feel better now."

He rolled his eyes at her while he wiped his cheek in disgust. "You make it sound like I care. You're delusional," he replied as he walked out and disappeared into a hole in the ground that wasn't there before. After a few seconds, the hole closed up on its own as if it were never there in the first place.

There was a small smile playing on her lips as she stared at the spot where he disappeared. "Maybe I am," she whispered to herself.

888

A male silhouette emerged from the shadows of the red rocks. He was greeted by an intense symphony of screams interspersed by a disturbingly maniacal laugh.

Tartarus was high in a platform, laughing while waving his arms and hands in great flourishing gestures like a conductor of an orchestra. Fires would appear on a region his hand pointed to and screams would soon follow. The hazy shadow didn't interrupt the sadistic lightshow and simply let his brother finish his composition.

In one grand, enthusiastic lift of his arms, Tartarus played his finale as he set his whole realm on fire. The shadow behind him clapped enthusiastically when he turned around to bow at the audience.

"That was impressive," remarked the shifting darkness.

The pit god smirked. "I'm always impressive, Erebus."

The shadow hummed thoughtfully. "What has got you in such a grandiose mood? I almost thought you were showing off to someone."

"I'm not sure myself," Tartarus sighed with an ecstatic smile, still feeling euphoric from the music. "I just felt inspired all of a sudden. Is that unusual?"

Erebus grinned. "Does this have anything to do with your visit above?"

"What? No!" Tartarus snorted. "Whatever gave you that absurd idea?"

He shrugged. "I just noticed a pattern, that's all. You are almost always in this mood when you return from your upstairs visit. What did she say or do to you? I want details."

"She?"

"Oh, don't play dumb with me," Erebus exhaled, suddenly exasperated. "Especially me. The blank look doesn't work on me. I'm not like Father, you know. Come on brother, confess!"

He sneered at his brother. "There is nothing to confess."

The shadow crossed his translucent arms and smirked. "She kissed you."

Tartarus' eyes widened then he turned a murderous glare on his brother. "Were you spying on us?"

"Aha!" Erebus jumped excitedly. "I was right! I can't believe I was right! Ha!"

The other god seethed and cursed under his breath. "You were guessing?"

"So you went upstairs because she was crying—"

"I didn't."

"—and you were concerned."

"I wasn't."

"Then out of gratitude, she kissed you—"

"She didn't."

"—so now you're happy."

"I am not."

"Will you deny, deny until the end of time?"

"I will."

"Which means I got all of that right!" Erebus declared triumphantly.

"That's not how the universe works!" Tartarus yelled as he threw several fireballs at his brother.

"Ah but!" He dodged. "That." He ducked. "Is how." He jumped. "You work." He somersaulted. Two large boulders suddenly appeared at his side and squashed him while he was in midair. Erebus laughed as he emerged fluidly from the seams of the highly compressed rocks like the immaterial shadow that he was and then he leaned against the boulder.

Tartarus paused and fell into a thoughtful stance. "I think I just thought of a new sort of torture – sewing mouths shut."

"I'm glad. I'd be lonely if only she could inspire you." The rock Erebus was leaning on suddenly exploded into flames, which made the god yelp and roll on the ground helplessly. But the flames stuck on his body stubbornly burned.

"Keep talking," Tartarus goaded with a frightening smile reserved for his most sadistic of moods.

"Alright! Alright! I'm sorry, I'm sorry! Will you kill the fire?!" Erebus stayed panting on the ground as the flames slowly died out, prolonging the punishment. They both glared at each other for a long while until both parties were satisfied. Finally, Erebus stood up and dusted himself. "On a serious note, Tartarus… she's married."

The pit god cocked an eyebrow. "Your point?"

"Shouldn't you be looking at… more available prospects?"

Tartarus snorted and doubled over with laughter. "Oh gods," he exhaled breathlessly. "You're hilarious! I don't know about you but in case you have forgotten, I'm not looking for anyone. I can't look for anyone. I'm Tartarus!" He gestured all around him. "I can't have anyone desiring happiness around me. I'm a prison: pain, torment, and all the wonderful things that make me who I am. I can only take and take and not give anything back."

He approached the precipice of the platform they were standing on and looked down imperiously on all the shades writhing below him. "This duty of mine, being the universe's executioner and justice-bringer, it takes a very special heart." He looked at his brother, gone was the light of amusement from his eyes. "A very black and a very small heart."

Erebus smiled kindly. "Keep telling yourself that," he said as he slung an arm around his brother's neck. "But I know what you're not saying. You're just not confident that you can make our little sister happy so you won't even try."

"I can't make anyone happy. That's just how the universe works," Tartarus answered with a shrug. "Besides, like you said, she's married."

Erebus gave his arm a comforting squeeze. "I'm sorry."

Tartarus immediately ducked and backpedaled. "Ugh, this is disgusting!" he exclaimed as he dove behind a random boulder and literally retched. "All this talk about feelings and heart and sexual life partners is making me sick!"

Erebus covered his mouth, trying not to get sick himself. "I-I uh, I think I should… I'm leaving! It was sort of nice seeing you. Bye, brother!" With a silent wisp, the god of darkness was gone from his realm.

The red-haired god smirked from behind his rock. "And that is how you work."

888

"Gaia!" The moment Gaia step forth on Othrys, she was enveloped in a fierce embrace by his first son and husband, Uranus. "Gaia, please, please forgive me. I was not myself when I said those hurtful words to you. I did not mean anything by any of those. If you cannot forgive me as your husband, then please forgive me as your errant son." He pulled back a little to plant a kiss on her forehead, before he leaned his own against hers. Uranus stared deep into her eyes, willing her to see his sincerity. "I love you," he whispered. "I shouldn't have said anything like that. I'm sorry."

Gaia smiled and slowly brought her hands to hold his beautiful face. "I love you too. I love you so much that your words carry so much weight in my mind. You're the only one who can undo me with just a mere glance. So please, promise me you won't hurt me? In word or deed, let that be the last time and I shall forgive you."

Uranus smiled as bright as the light of heavens. "Yes, I promise," he said as he brought her hands down to kiss her knuckles and deliberately let his lips linger there. Noticing her hungry stare at their contact, he smiled mischievously. He turned her hand around and gently sucked on her wrist, swirling his tongue in sensual circles. He locked his heated gaze on her and watched her flush in pleasure.

"Let me make it up to you," he breathed, in between open kisses as he slowly climbed up her arm all the way to her shoulders. "Let me please you this time," he whispered in her ear before placing an open mouthed kiss on the column of her neck, deeply inhaling the scent of nectar from the corner of her jaw.

"Oh?" Gaia purred with half-lidded eyes as she raked her hand through Uranus' sky-colored hair. "Are you asking for permission?" She turned her head back and kissed him. Without hesitation, he deepened the kiss, their hands running on each other's sides and tangling, until they were both moaning and breathless with desire.

"No," he replied sweeping her off her feet and carrying her to their bedroom. "It's a promise."