Edited

o-o-o-o-o

The carriage was in silence.

Something that Tenma was both thankful for and loathed at the exact same time since she could feel the gazes of Hades and Pandora both on her. It also didn't help the fact that her eyes ached, pounded almost behind her lids and her nose had yet to stop bleeding—it was getting there though, slowly. Tenma had given up trying to cover it and just let the blood dribble down her face and off her chin, into her hand that was cupped in her lap.

A tut had Tenma's tea-brown eyes sliding to Pandora. "Perhaps she is not fit enough to act as your guard if she cannot last more than ten minutes in a fight without pushing herself so much that she causes herself a nosebleed."

Tenma just shot the female raven a dirty look, finally using the back of her hand to wipe her nose, which just resulted in smearing the wet blood about.

"Now, now Pandora." Hades gave a tense smile. "No need for such words. Tenma is still recovering from having her soul reattached, I had expected a possible reaction like this."

Tenma just slumped back against the side of the carriage and gazed out of the window. She ignored Hades and Pandora as they continued to converse; it seemed that Hades wasn't happy with what Pandora had said and her appearance beforehand.

Tenma felt the corner of her mouth twitch.

She didn't realise when she had fallen into a dreamless sleep but she was aware of when she was awoken by a light touch of nails sliding against her cheek before brushing some hair from in front of her eyelids. She blinked her eyes open, finding it hard to want to keep them like that. Blinking several times helped eat away at the tiredness in the corner of her eyes and she found her gaze drifting to Hades, whose own gaze was on her.

"Sleep well?" There was an almost teasing tone. Tenma simple gave a tired groan, raising a hand to run her eyes but was stopped when Hades gripped her wrist.

"What?" She barked, bring up her other hand to rub her eyes and Hades didn't stop her this time for whatever reason.

The raven didn't tut or tighten his grip on Tenma at her tone. He just silently watched the brunette rub the sleep from her eyes. She'd been sleeping so peacefully, undisturbed by any dreams or unsettling imagery that haunted her psyche, that he didn't want to wake her up. But alas that wasn't possible, he had to make sure she cleaned herself up before he did anything else; his gentle smile hid the deviousness behind his eyes at the thought.

As the brunette continued to rub her eyes, Hades turned the wrist in his grasp to look at the dried blood that stained her tanned hand. Tenma's own eyes followed shortly after, it clicked a moment later that he'd stop her from using her bloody hand to rub her eyes—no doubt it wouldn't have turned out so well.

She let out a breath as the dull ache from behind her eyes appeared once more, this time nowhere near as painful. Thankful for this, Tenma used the heel of her palm to rub her eye again while waiting for Hades to speak.

"Let us get you cleaned up, yes?" Hades climbed from the carriage and tugged at Tenma's wrist to get her to follow him. The ex-saint stumbled before finding some footing.

"Pandora, please have some cloth and water brought to my studio." Hades turned his dark cerulean eyes onto the other raven as he continued, "Also have drinking water and fruit brought too. I'm sure Tenma could use some, yes?"

Tenma nearly snorted in laughter.

Keyword: nearly, because Tenma was sure Hades just demoted Pandora to messenger duty. Probably he was still annoyed at her appearance at Sanctuary?

Pandora smiled tensely. "Of course."

Tenma watched as Pandora stalked off in the direction that no doubt the kitchen was in. Her eyes moved to Hades as she saw him shift and head another way, she instinctively followed him at a slower pace but enough so she wouldn't be left behind… almost acting like a shadow, perhaps.

She swallowed and noticed how dry her mouth suddenly was; the dried blood had begun to agitate her skin.

As they arrived at the grand studio, Hades immediately headed for his painting, not even sparing her a look and Tenma took that moment to just observe the horridly stunning piece of art before her eyes flickered back to Hades as he made a gesture for her to perch on the stairs.

Not having the energy to want to be stubborn about it, she just went along with it. As Tenma sat, she leant her elbows on her knees and once again ran her hand up and down her face before rubbing the lower half to try and get rid of the dried blood. When that didn't seem to work, she began to pick at it with her nails.

She hissed lowly as the scratching only made her skin sore; Tenma sighed, too tired to feel any sort of annoyance or guilt or whatever she should be feeling right now. She'd… ponder on it later when her head wasn't hurting as much and she'd regained some energy.

The sound of the door startled Tenma and she flinched, tea-brown eyes flickering upwards with heavy lids.

It took a moment before she realised she'd been sleeping and was no longer sitting on the step—instead was leaning against a pillar.

What? When did she…

She was briefly aware of Hades dismissing whoever it was that entered. Tenma glanced up at the sound of feet approaching; Hades and he was carrying a tray.

Tenma just watched as he knelt and settled on his knees; his long gown flowing to elegantly lay spread out on the marble floor. Hades placed the tray down and grabbed a white cloth, dipped it in the bowl of water and gently took hold of her bloody hand; where he started to clean the blood away.

Once her hand was clean, he went to move onto her face but Tenma grabbed his wrist, glaring as she took the cloth from said wrist's hand and dipped the cloth to dampen it again.

Hades just tut at the action, watching as Tenma cleaned her face. Once her face was clean, Hades smiled, holding up a cup of water.

"Drink, Ten-ma. I'm sure with the blood loss, you could use it."

Tenma sighed and gingerly took hold of it, only waiting a moment to start drinking as to make it look like she wasn't dying of thirst. She didn't want that smug face of Hades (correction: Alone's face) looking at her in amusement.

"You made a comment earlier." Tenma started, brows scrunching together after swallowing some water.

"Which comment?" Hades inquired, eyes flickering with the familiar amusement. "I spoke plenty."

He received an unimpressed glare. "You're not funny."

Hades lightly chuckled, showing that yes, he more than likely found it funny. Or at least found her reaction funny, Tenma didn't want to spend time thinking about it and so she didn't.

"I mean when you made a comment about..." Tenma frowned, trying to recall exactly what he had said.

"Now that I have Pegasus stood beside me; all Saints, Athena and every last being in the world may forever rest in eternal death." Hades leered, an arm reaching out and wrapped around Tenma's waist to pull her to him.

"You said that with me by your side, it guaranteed that you'd win." Tenma murmured.

Hades hummed. "I did."

Tenma shuffled, bring a knee to her chest. "What did you mean? Me being on your side doesn't guarantee you'd win anything."

Hades gave a fangless smile. "I think you'll find that it does, my dear Pegasus."

Tenma frowned, both at his vague answer and the pet name. Hades stood and made his way back to continue working on his masterpiece, leaving Tenma to eat the apple and satsuma she'd been given.

"That wasn't much of an answer!" Tenma called after him in annoyance, grumbling under her breath. Hades just chuckled again, not answering. Tenma scowled, picking at the skin of the satsuma.

I'm not going to have my questions answered anytime soon, am I? She thought angrily, biting into a slice of the orange fruit.

His Pegasus was such an amusing person to watch when frustrated.

Indeed is she, came another thought, perhaps…?

Yes, Hades nodded, his mind made up about his next course of action, even if he'd decided beforehand that he'd put this… action, off a little longer—but nothing is better than the present, right?

He set his paintbrush down again.

Hades watched Tenma for a moment, watched the way she used her nails to pull the pith from the satsuma slice before she ate it.

Hades tilts his head. "You were confused about the Pegasus armour, yes?"

Tenma blinked, her chewing slowly down as she glanced up at him. She swallowed her mouthful. "Yes…?"

Hades retreated down the stairs towards Tenma again, said person standing as he got closer. She twitched as Hades invaded her personal space, so close that their noses almost touched.

But Tenma stood her ground, resisting the urge to take a step back.

"Athena has robbed me of you since the age of Myth. I'm not letting you go any more." Such brutal honestly that all Tenma could do was blink.

"What?"

That didn't answer anything about the Pegasus armour.

Hades chuckled, raising a hand and brushed his fingers against her cheek as Tenma tried to process the sentence.

"Robbed—age of—what?" She stammered out, taking a step back to get some space between them but Hades followed her, swiftly grasping her forearm. She gasped and tugged her arm to get him to release her.

"Let go!" Tenma hissed, eyes flickering angerly as she struggled to get a grasp of what was happening.

However, Hades dragged her to him so they were nose to nose again. He leered down at her; Tenma flinched at the look. "If you won't believe me, I'll simply have to go about any way to make you do so. I'm sure you'll remember everything to do with this war and the reason behind it as well."

And with that, Hades other hand seized her jaw and with a strong burst of his Cosmos, Tenma gasped. The dark and heavy feeling weighing down both physically and mentally. Her knees shook as the pressure on her mind increased, she cried out at the pain.

It hurt! That was all Tenma's mind could form, the pain from earlier was nothing to the feeling of claws digging into her brain.

Tenma's body shook, her hands coming up to claw at the hand that clenched her jaw in a weak attempt to slow the agony in her head.

She tasted copper at the back of her mouth, she gagged feeling the blood dribble out the corner of her lip.

And with that Tenma's eyes rolled to the back of her head.

It is a pleasant evening, she noted with a soft smile as noted the beginning of the stars forming in the evening sky, no doubt they'd be shining brightly tonight.

Tucking some loose hair behind her ear, she continued her walk through the forest towards the lake, being careful to not jolt her bag of food too much.

Arriving at the large tree surrounded the lake, she was met with the familiar sight of her Cosmos grown flora. Turning around when she heard movement, she grinned as long wild black hair entered her vision.

"Good day, my Dear?" He asked; honey gold eyes shimmer with curiosity.

She laughed sheepishly. "Yes, although mother has been on my case all day about my mysterious excitement."

He chuckled along with her.

"Say, Hades." She suddenly spoke, the raven hummed as they settled down on the ground. "You know that I was talking about the armour sets that Athena was have created."

"Yes, you've hardly contained your excitement at seeing them being made." Hades chuckled again, eyes half-lidded as he watched his Dear unpack some of the food she's brought along. She laughed sheepishly again, rubbing the back of her head.

"Well, there was this one set that wasn't letting anyone take ownership of!" She babbled, continuing her story. "But when I was walking past with Athena this morning I felt it calling to me! Athena was surprised but very happy about the cloth choosing me to become its owner! She was a little confused about why it waited so long but either way, she agreed to let me start training!"

Hades paused, brows shooting upwards at the news. "Really? You have been wanting to train to become one of her Saints. What is the armour called, my dear Persephone?"

Persephone grinned widely. "Pegasus!"