Zagreus threw Aiges, the Shield of Chaos, a final time, falling gracefully to his knee as the shield tore through the last standing Strowgbow. Taking a moment to reconcile and catch his breath, Zagreus lifted himself up and spun around on his heels. Despite the heaviest of battles, Zagreus always found a way to maintain his charming glee.
"I can handle myself out here, you know" Zagreus spoke, brushing the blood and dust of Elysium off his garments. "I always look forward to your visits, regardless."
"I really couldn't tell" Thanatos rebutted, casting a doubtful and disapproving look over the Prince.
"What? That I'm no gallant in distress, or that I take pleasure on the rare occasion that I get to see your face?"
Thanatos' disgruntled expression tightened as he looked away, barely letting out a sound as the air caught his throat. His eyes wandered and he subconsciously admired the grand hoplites that towered over the chamber, briefly pondering if they too found themselves in complicated situations with the men they shared battle. He let out a sigh as he approached his cheeky, yet endearing, counterpart.
"Zag… I, we, want you to come home. Voluntarily." Thanatos' gaze targeted Zagreus, flicking between his heterochromia eyes. He felt the muscles in his chest tighten, fearing the rejection he knew was soon to come. "It's not just you involved in this anymore. This affects everyone now. I can't keep helping you like this." The rising conflict became too much, and he broke his gaze, again staring out towards the ruins of old and broken soldiers.
"I can't… You know I can't. I didn't ask for you to do this." Zagreus sensed his friend's uneasiness, and conscious of the way he would often vanish at the slightest quarrel, he took a few gentle steps towards Thanatos in an attempt to comfort him.
"You didn't. In fact, you didn't ask anything of me. You didn't even possess the decency to tell me you were leaving." Thanatos pointed his eyes towards Zagreus once again, stopping him in his tracks. That charming glee draining from his face by the second.
If the Death Incarnate was honest with himself, this chapter of the Prince's life did not come entirely as a surprise. There was always an unusual aura following Zagreus throughout his existence, and while neither of them knew that Mother Nyx indeed did not give birth to him, it was obvious to all subjects of the Underworld that Zagreus did not belong. Some, primarily the Fates, would treat Zagreus with such contempt for his differences, treatment that Zagreus had come accustomed to, so much in fact that Thanatos theorised it was contempt that had generated so much resilience in Zagreus. What did come as a surprise to him, however, was the way in which he decided to leave. As far as he was aware, he and Zagreus shared a bond like no other in all of the Underworld; an unwavering friendship forged from childhood and tested by time. To leave with such secrecy was an offense that Thanatos found almost impossible to forgive.
"Do you understand the way it must have felt to hear the news that you had abandoned your family?" Thanatos tightened the grip on his scythe, his lips curling down in disdain. "And yet, you force us all to relive that feeling time and time again?" Zagreus took a moment to consider his approach. No doubt an uncomfortable topic for them both.
"Please, Than…" Zagreus' voice became increasingly unsteady, as he observed the obvious pain he had inflicted on his friend. Although never his intention, he recognised that often conflict avoided equaled conflict multiplied, and accepted that perhaps this was the price he would pay for avoiding such a painful goodbye. "I thought of you, and hoped you'd understand… Please try to understand."
Thanatos wielded his scythe in front of his body, staring through it towards the Price. "I have tried to understand you, Zagreus. After everything, I have even aided in your futile attempts to escape this place. It is you who refuses to understand me."
Zagreus quickly swallowed his guilt, momentarily, and turned out of the way of Thanatos' charging strike. The two men again entered into the dance of battle, but this time the air was thick with remorse. Echoing clangs sounded off the walls of Elysium as their weapons clashed once, twice, a third time, and more. The weeping spirits could be seen poking their heads out to watch the commotion, being careful to remain their curiosity from being too obvious.
"I don't want to fight you, Thanatos," Zagreus shouted as the sound of metal on metal again bounced through the camber. "I never wanted to leave you, but what option did I have?"
"We all have choices, Zagreus. You're a fool to think that I wouldn't have supported your decision. All you had to do was come to me. Instead, you chose to treat me like a stranger." Thanatos again fired consecutive blows toward Zagreus, with increasing force. It was as if his words possessed Pomegranates.
Zagreus found himself crouched to the ground, and with burning desperation, he projected himself up and towards Thanatos, crashing between his body and scythe. He hooked the edge of his shield onto Thanatos' blade and with great force, he knocked the weapon out of his hand and watched it rebound a few times before finding its place on the ground.
Thanatos took this opportunity to throw himself towards Zagreus, knocking them both to the ground in frustration. Thanatos anchored his hand on Zagreus' throat before softly, but with great resentment, speaking. "You didn't care to even say goodbye. Not even a note."
Zagreus again found himself lost for words, the guilt of his actions, or lack of action rather, bringing him into a stunned state. He took a moment, now that he was close enough, to really study the expression on his friend's face. The hostility and disdain were obvious, and quite frankly he so rarely saw this side of Thanatos that until this moment he was too startled to see the sadness and heartache in his eyes. Once he realised, however, his response was clear and quick to follow.
Zagreus initiated a wrestle as he fought against Thanatos' hands, soon finding a way to roll Thanatos' on his back as he straddled him. The heartache across Thanatos' face never wavered, but Zagreus did take note of the slight flicker of incredulity, or perhaps even embarrassment, that brushed across his expression.
"Saying goodbye to you was the hardest part of this endeavour," Zagreus spoke softly, with a kind smile gracing his face. He hovered over Thanatos with deep and heavy breaths, small drops of sweat trickling down his face and eventually falling onto Thanatos' chest. "I couldn't find the courage to do it, and for that I am sorry."
The creases of disdain between Thanatos' eyes began to soften, and as if being awoken from a trance, the realisation of their proximity settled in his mind. Almost speechless, the bewildered Thanatos managed to let out a short breath of air carrying the beloved nickname of his friend.
"Zag…" he let out. His expression softened almost completely, heat building in his soft, pale cheeks.
"This apology is long overdue." Zagreus spared no moment to lean in and capture Thanatos' lips with his own. Instantly the tension is lifted, and sparks soar. It becomes quite clear that an apology is actually not the only thing that is long overdue.
Heeding his lack of resistance as permission, Zagreus reaches a hand up across Thanatos' cheek, sweeping it gently through his hair above his neck, tenderly pressing his face into his own, as if to say 'stay right here in this moment with me.' Thanatos takes his time to process the sudden turn of events, before eventually sliding his arms around Zagreus's waist. Remembering to take a breath, their lips break away and their eyes open to meet. Sweat continues to find its way down their faces as their bodies begin to melt into each other.
Almost impatiently their lips find each other once again, this time in aggressive haste. Their tongues begin to dance and their hands become curious, exploring the trails of their muscular builds. Despite never having been closer, there is an overwhelming feeling that there is indeed too much space between them which they desperately need to fill. Zagreus, feeling considerably more brave and in control of this affair, reaches under Thanatos' robe and begins to study his bare chest with his fingertips. Thanatos lets out a small shiver, tightening his grip around Zagreus' waist and eventually finding his grip around his thighs. Thanatos soon notices a bulge begin to press against his thigh, and it isn't much longer before a bulge of his own begins to form. Zagreus shifts his weight across in an effort to rub himself against the mound below Thanatos' garments.
"I never intended to hurt you, please know that" Zagreus adds, a grin once again pulling at his mouth. "But I'd like to make it up to you."
Thanatos lets out a deep moan, cutting it short once he heard the sound escape his throat. He struggles between the instinct to give himself entirely to Zagreus and the contradicting instinct to keep his dignified composure. However, he says nothing and reaches his hand down to find Zagreus' throbbing member.
Zagreus on the other hand shows no willingness to restrain himself, and lets out a bellowing grunt from the overwhelming pleasure. He finds himself lacking patience and begins to rock his hips back and forth, taking advantage of Thanatos' tight grip. Their lips clash again, and Thanatos can feel Zagreus' body begging for more. Finding the required composure, he swiftly throws himself on top of Zagreus and they once again lock eyes; this time sharing an intense expression of relief and intense anticipation.
"This isn't exactly what I had expected when I came out here to find you," Thanatos informs, slowly building up speed as he massages Zagreus' cock - who finds himself increasingly unable to form sentences.
"Well, I… Hnng, I have to be honest…" Zagreus reaches down to grab Thanatos' ass, pulling his body forward to press his member against his own. Thanatos' continues to jerk Zagreus' cock, and now he too can feel the motion of his hand against his member, which only motivates him to increase his speed and intensity. Thanatos' breath gets heavier as he begins to get himself off along with the Price. "I am very… glad… you found me." Zagreus manages to finish his sentence, graciously taking in the sight of his long-time friend giving in to the pleasure they now share.
Thanatos takes note of the desperate expression on Zagreus's face and the incredibly stiff erection. He shifts his weight down to bring his lips to the heat of Zagreus' groin, and takes his manhood it in his mouth without hesitation, tasting the delightful droplets of arousal that formed at the tip. Zagreus lets out a grumbling moan that transitions into a charming giggle. His mind can barely believe this is real, and he is overwhelmed with excitement.
Feeling satisfied with his work, Thanatos pulls himself away from Zagreus' shaft, licking his lips with anticipation and settling himself between his thighs. Zagreus spares no moment to grab Thanatos' face and pull him in for a deep and longing, almost thankful, kiss. When they finally break away, Zagreus reaches his hand to his lips and puts each finger in his mouth, one at a time, generously covering each digit with moisture and building anticipation for what is to come next. He reaches down to Thanatos' cock and covers it in his saliva, in an attempt to help move things along.
"Please," the Prince whispers. "I need you, Than."
Those words jolt through his spine like lightning, and Thanatos quickly encourages the tip of his cock to meet Zagreus' entry. He watches Zagreus' face intensely as he begins to apply pressure. Barely a few minutes ago he was prepared to beat his friend into the River Styx, but now he finds himself afraid to cause even the slightest discomfort. Thanatos presses on, stretching Zagreus' tight hole around his ever-throbbing cock, using all this will to not completely lose his restraint. Pressing in and out, he slowly builds up the tempo between them, but soon feels an impatient Zagreus begin to rock his hips in a plead to give him a pounding.
At this point, Thanatos completely loses it and breaks his composure. He fills Zagreus up with everything he's got and trusts with such desire it feels as though the walls of Elysium may fall to rubble. Zagreus' face fills with heat as he throws his head back in response to unimaginable pleasure, his back deepening an arch with every forward motion.
"Than, I… I need…" Zagreus croaks out, eyes closed and hands intensely gripping Thanatos' thighs, desperately pulling him in deeper and faster with each attempt to bring him to the point of climax.
"I've got you," says Thanatos, as he grabs Zagreus' cock to finally relieve the pressure. Cum shoots out of his cock like white ribbons, falling over Thanatos' stomach and his own, both wet with beads of sweat.
"Gods-" Thanatos, completely unable to regain any dignity, in any sense of the word, fills Zagreus with his wet, sticky excitement. His back stretched, chest pointed towards the Surface as he indulges in the intense pleasure wholeheartedly.
His body, shaking with an overflow of orgasmic sensation, collapses on top of Zagreus - who welcomes his hot, sweaty, incredibly sexy body with open arms, forming a tight grip around him that says 'I will always keep you right here.'
The spirits, the ones who decided to linger for the show at least, disappear into hiding once again.