Chapter 2

Persephone stood outside in the cold breeze, listening to her phone ring. Goosebumps rose on her skin and she pulled the thin jacket the Moirai had lent her tighter around her chest. The call went to voicemail. Her face fell as she ended the call, but a text pinged her phone almost immediately afterward.

Hades: Sorry, couldn't pick up the phone. Do you need anything?

She frowned a little at his formal response. He was probably busy anyway, it was Friday night after all.

Kore: Oops, sorry to bother you. Everything's fine, see you on Monday!

But before she could put her cell back in her coat pocket, another text appeared.

Hades: No wait

Hades: You're not bothering me. What's up?

What should she say? "I had a few drinks, do you think you could pick me up?" That would be a bit of a fib, she had only had one, but…she wanted to see him. She was getting really tired of clipped, professional conversations at work. This was a perfect excuse, right?

Kore: I was kinda wondering if you would mind giving me a ride. I've had a bit to drink…

She watched his text bubble load and bit her lip in the meantime.

Hades: I'll be right there. Where are you?

A smile tugged at the corners of her mouth as she started typing back.

-Lore Olympus-

Hades weaved past fellow patrons to the back exit of the club. Gods, he didn't want her to know he had come here too. What if she thought he had followed her? Or worse, what if she didn't? The impression of him sitting alone at a bar…at a club…doing work…on a Friday night…that'd be even worse. He made short work of finding his car in the lot, bringing the engine to life with the touch of a button. Showing up this quickly would be fine, she'd just think he'd been working late at the office.

He got in the car and took a deep breath to collect himself. Why in Tartarus was he this nervous? Why did her even agree to come get her? He was supposed to be keeping his distance. His brain reassured him that he was just doing this as a favor to a friend, preventing her from trying to get home drunk. But he knew his real motivation: fear that she'd find someone else to go home with. Fuck, not that she was even going home with him! She just wanted a ride; he needed to calm down.

He pulled up in front of the club and reached over to open the passenger-side door. She greeted him with a grin, "I really appreciate this, Hades." The air left his lungs for a second as she stepped into the car. His eyes ran up long stocking-clad legs ending in steep black heels and blood rushed to his face. Shaking his head as she climbed in, he brushed off her gratitude, "Of course, I was wrapping work up anyway. You look…." His brain finally caught up with his mouth and pivoted, "…like you've been having fun." She smiled at him and let out an airy laugh, "No, no, I know you were going to pick on me. This isn't what I usually wear and I'm honestly kind of regretting it now. I forgot how cold it gets outside down here, heh."

"Oh! Here, let me help," Hades quickly shimmied out of his coat and earnestly offered it to her. A delicate pink hand squeezed his as a thank you and Persephone wrapped the coat around her. He couldn't help chuckling at how big it was in comparison to her. "You know, you look like a kid playing dress up." She stuck out her tongue at him teasingly, "Then I better act like a kid too, huh? 40%, by the way." He raised an eyebrow at her as if to say, "What about the coat?"

"Hmm. Fine. 35%." Hades shook his head and let out a low laugh. Persephone felt a little shiver run down her spine at how deep his voice was. She was surrounded by the warmth of his coat and the smell of his cologne, her heartbeats skipping a bit. There was silence in the car for a moment before Hades posed the question, "Where to?" He saw her bit her lip nervously before turning those big, beautiful, expressive eyes up at him. "Can I…can I just go home with you?" Oh gods no, he couldn't let her do that. That would be a terrible idea.

"If that's what you want." Goddammit.