Well, I'm surprised that there are some people that are looking forward for this story's update...despite not reviewing...nevertheless, I can't neglect this site. AO3 is always the backup that I can fall back to.
"So, do I have your permission then?"
Hades smiled fondly down at Zeus, or at least that is his own version of a fond smile if it weren't for the sun overcasting behind him, causing it to create a looming shadow over the King of the Gods. He was having a hard time not to suppress a shudder as electric blue eyes gazed down upon him, the shadows giving off the illusion that they're glowing. The mere factor of his attire and the way his hair flows against the laws of physics weren't helping either.
"…Yes. You have my permission to court him."
A smirk grew upon the thin lips of the Underworld Lord, looking satisfied at the answer.
"Splendid…" He spoke.
Then he brightened up a bit as he smiled.
"SO! How are the wife and kids doing?"
"…"
"…"
"…You just HAD to ask that, did you?"
"What?! Can't I spend some time with my cute little brother?"
Zeuse grimaced as he pinched the bridge of his nose and let out a sigh. He had a feeling that this is going to be a long afternoon…
He highly doubt Dionysus' latest batch was enough to make him drunk.
Today was rather beautiful.
Sure there were sunny days but for some odd reason, Persephone felt like that this was going to be good.
Perhaps it was the way that Helios was positioned (probably giving Apollo a break from his chariot duties), or the way that the flowers by the woods seemed rather nice today and actually felt like creating a wreath for his mother as a gift.
Or maybe a surprise visit from his best friend from childhood, Yuuko.
"Seph, your work is amazing!" Yuuko exclaimed happily while looking around at the field of flowers, no doubt thanks to Persephone's hard work.
The spring god blushed a bit as he gently touched one of the blossoms a bit.
"Well, I tried…" he replied modestly, analyzing the appearance of the hyacinth. The violet-blue color turned out to be marvelous as Persephone caressed the petals before deciding to pick a few for his wreath project. He had recall how Apollo gifted him a single bulb of the said flower a while back on Olympus, saying that only he can make it the most beautiful if he could have him.
Which was rather flattering…but he doesn't know what the second Sun God wanted him for. Maybe as a personal gardener?
"And you succeeded!" Yuuko pointed out, stopping by one of the rose bushes and smelled the blossoms, relishing their sweet scent. "You truly have a gift for this."
Persephone let out a soft hum, still bashful from the praises that he was receiving. Honestly he didn't really deserve them.
"I have my mother to thank," he said, gazing at the patch of violets. The god gently caress the deep purple petals, feeling their velvety texture. "She taught me everything that she knows. It took some bitter work but it was worth it."
Yuuko stood up and turned to her best friend with a sympathetic smile before walking over to give him a one-armed hug.
"You're the best at what you do, Yuuri…don't you forget that." There was a sense of genuine honesty and reassurance within the soft tone of her voice, almost akin to how an older sister was speaking to the younger. While Mari was the blunt and straight to the point kind of woman, Yuuko was the kind and supportive.
Yet something about them using his other name…set him at ease somehow.
Like the weight of the world, or at least a piece of the world was lifted off of his shoulders. Literally speaking…he still have some bit of sympathy for that poor Titan after all. But he kept that fact to himself. His mother doesn't like to be reminded of the rebellion against the Titans, he didn't want to know what would happen to anyone who expressed any form of sympathy against their former enemies.
Nevertheless, it was the thought that counts.
He looked up to his oldest friend and gave her a soft smile.
"Thank you, Yuuko."
Yuuko just returned the smile with a bright one of her own before giving him a tight hug.
"Ah, just keep being you!" Then she gave him a hearty pat on the shoulder. "Come on! Let's get to flower picking!"
—
He didn't like this.
He didn't like this at all.
His intended mate was with someone…an ocean nymph nonetheless!
Not that he had anything against nymphs, they're truly beautiful creatures. He even have some local ones dwelling down below in the Underworld. But that was besides the point.
The point is that his Persephone was with a nymph.
And he seemed rather friendly with her, and vice versa…what really ticked him off was that the nymph touched him! And hugged him nonetheless! Hades grimaced as he practically glared daggers at the observing orb, wishing that he had some sort of ability to at least push that nymph away with only a thought.
He was supposed to do that! Maybe he should get rid of that nymph somehow…
…No, he can't.
Not after he had gone through all the trouble and asked his baby brother his permission. He had to do this right after all. Just because Hades is the Lord of the Dead, doesn't mean he's ungentlemanly. He has a reputation to uphold.
Then Hades blinked as he noticed the nymph gave his future mate a pat on the shoulder before releasing him and went to pick flowers.
"Huh, so they're not like that…"
Talk about making first impressionable mistake…but at least he didn't have to do anything DRASTIC. He was not like his siblings…or his nieces and nephews. Now that he thought about it, NONE of them have a stable relationship…well, save for some.
But he's getting off topic here…he had to wait until his little flower was alone, and that would be the moment that he would make his move.
"I hope he would like this…" he said to himself, looking down at the narcissus blooms in his hands. "A bit out of season but it would be worth it!"
Hades bundled up the pale white flowers and made sure that they were all presentable. When they were he wrapped them up in a ribbon that had his signature black color. He gave them one final look over and smiled at his work. Then he grabbed a few drachmas to pay the boatman and left for the River Styx, which would lead to the surface mortal world.
"Yuri! I'll be heading up to the surface world! Keep things together while I'm gone." Hades called out, and the Underworld nymph appeared in a gale of black smoke then materialized into his humanoid form at his side.
"Sure, your royal pain. What are you going up for? Collecting wandering souls of the dead yourself?" Yuri asked.
"No, nothing official like that. This involves a more...personal errand." Hades said, a smile growing on his face.
"Oh dear Gods above, don't tell me it involves that flower boy god in training." The young nymph groaned. He had to deal with his Lord's constant gushing about this spring god that he had been making goo-goo eyes at for a while…not to mention seeing his Lordship stalk him like a creeper was just sickening.
"Maybe...~" Hades trailed off teasingly.
"Ugh. I don't know why you like him so much. He's so...weird." Yuri trailed off, making a face at the last word.
Hades cocked his head to the side as he stared at him with amusement.
"Enlighten me, Yuri," he spoke with his usual tone of coyness. "How did you find my future consort "weird"?" It never hurt to ask, but it always helps to see from another perspective.
"Well for starters, his fucking name!" Yuri began. "He's the son of Demeter, the Goddess of Bountiful Harvest and he's a God of Spring, practically the beginning of life…yet his name indicates "Destroyer"! The End of All Life! Death Incarnate! How can someone so flowery have a badass name like that?! It doesn't make any sense! If it weren't for the fact that Demeter is such a smothering mama, she would have named him so that he would get picked on!"
Hmm…it would seem that Yuri had a long list of reasons when he mentioned starters.
"Well, you certainly have your share of opinions." Hades said as he got closer to the river boat and hailed down the ferryman.
"I just call it like I see it. But what I can't see if how you like him so much." Yuri said.
"Well you know what they said, Yuri, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. You ought to know after all." Hades said as he paid the boast master and got onto the wooden ride.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Yuri asked in a challenging tone as he raised an eyebrow. From the looks of it, he seemed to be in denial.
"Well I've seen the way you look at that Centaur from the Surface. Otabek, isn't it? Not that I blame you. He is a handsome fellow." Hades spoke with a grin and gave a wink.
At this the Underworld nymph blushed hard and he growled, looking every bit a pissed off kitten.
"S-Shut up! That's not how Beka and I are!" Yuri stated, stomping his foot angrily.
"Ah, you even gave him a nickname. How cute." Hades countered with a giggle.
"I hope you fall into the river again and the souls strangle you! Go up and see your flower boy already!" Yuri snapped and disappeared in an angry puff of smoke. The dark lord watched as the smoke slowly dissipates from view before letting out a hearty laugh.
"He's such a Hell-kitty," Hades cooed as soon as Charon rowed in. The hooded man let out a grunt before letting his lord upon the boat.
"If you ask me, he's a cat that should be neutered." He heard the elder god grumbled. "So, the Surface World, milord?"
Hades smiled as he gave the ferryman an affirmative nod. "If you please, Charon."
And with that, Charon sets off of the shore with his oar before slowly rowed them to the other side of the River Styx.
Hades looked down at the small bouquet of daffodils and smiled.
This idea is going to work. It took him a good century to actually finally do this but better late than never no?
Once Hades had made it to the other side, he traveled up to the surface world of the living where there are some secret passageways created by himself since he first entered the Underworld. He popped his head out from the soil and looked around the vast meadow where he knew Persephone would be. And sure enough he saw his chosen beloved sitting under a tree, tenderly stroke a flower like a parent to their child.
Hades smiled widely and stood up at full height and started to walk over to the pretty young deity. But then he stopped dead, no pun intended, in his tracks when he saw something. Something more horrifying than the death he personifies.
...It was someone else sitting right next to his beloved Persephone.
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