Sorry about the delay. The site was having some issues that wouldn't let me update stories or post anything until now.
Chapter 2 – A New Friend
Olympus.
Dad described it a few times in the past, but Hayden would never have expected it to be so…beautiful. Pure blue skies and floors made of clouds travel far as the eye can see beyond the gigantic golden gates. Despite hating the sun, Hayden feels oddly relaxed here and looks over at his dad to frown when he sees him. Anyone would look at him and see the frown, putting it down as disgust or loathing for the place but Hayden knows better after growing up with him. It's not loathing or disgust in the slightest. It's fear and dread. He's afraid, as if just seeing the great golden gates of Olympus is stirring up memories from his past that he'd rather stay in the past.
"Dad?" He asks in concern.
Hades takes a second before he looks over at him. "I'm fine." He fiddles with the cuffs of his jacket, anxious and nervous about being here.
"Dad." Hayden says firmer and Hades sighs.
"Did I tell you what happened last time I was here?" He asks and Hayden shakes his head no. "It was the day I was thrown onto that island with the other villains." He confesses.
"What happened?" Hayden asks but knows his dad may not want to talk about it. Surprisingly he does.
"I heard about the villains being rounded up and, without thinking, I let my anger get the better of me and stormed the place. I was surprised that the gates opened for me like they used to even though I was never welcome after the even with Herc-u…Hercules." He corrects, not using his favourite nickname for the God. "I didn't think at the time. I just was so angry that I broke into the council meeting and instantly I started raging at Zeus and Hera. Said things I really shouldn't have and didn't even stop when Zeus asked me to calm down. Turns out, he was at the meeting trying to convince the others not to throw me in the island along with the other villains. The underworld was his biggest point as I was the one running it, a very important job to the circle of life. After all, without death, life cannot begin anew. They had pointed out that the Fates were doing my job for me really but overkilling in the process which I never stopped them for like I was supposed to. Seeing me there, they turned on me and warned that I was this close from being thrown in with the others on the island." He reveals, holding up his thumb and finger an inch apart. "Zeus pleaded with me and the council, saying that if I did a better job running the underworld then I should be allowed to stay. I was angry at him even considering it and said something I hated myself for the second I said it." He looks down, struggling to keep his cool right now as his hair flares red at the memory, but his anger is for his actions and not them.
"What did you say?" Hayden asks.
Hades takes a calming breath, but Hayden hears the choked emotion in his voice. "I…told Zeus that if he was locking the villains away like that then he was no better than dad." Hayden is confused as he never mentioned his dad before but knows now's not the time to ask. "It didn't matter that I apologised right after. It was the line I crossed that broke Zeus." He looks at Hayden. "He couldn't stand to look at me as he said: 'if that's how you feel, then you are no better than the rest of them'. I was still in shock that I didn't notice Ares and Poseidon coming up behind me until they grabbed me. I resisted straight away and started fighting against them with all I had." He looks down and shakes his head. "It wasn't until one of the balls of hellfire I was using to fight back hit Dionysus that Zeus finally intervened. Dionysus is the youngest one out of us all, those born on Olympus at least, and was hurt badly by it. He didn't get back up and was lying there in pain. We all saw him as the baby of Olympus, and everyone was in shock. Zeus wasn't, he was in rage at me and threw a lightning bolt at me. I was dazed long enough for him to pin me down. I heard him chant a prayer in Greek and next thing I knew my power was gone. I realised why after. Zeus was holding an ember and it had stolen my powers. He then took me back to earth, dragged me kicking and screaming to the island and threw me just past the boundaries of it. He gave me the ember out of a final ounce of brotherly respect then the barrier went back up and I never saw him again." Hades sighs out. "Not until now. I was so angry with him, with all of them for so long, but it always wore away at me like a bad ich. I really was the villain that day."
"Is that why you were worried about having kids?" Hayden asks knowingly.
Hades looks at him in shock. "Who told you that?"
"I kinda figured it out from all the worried looks you had when raising me. You thought I didn't see them, but I did, and only in the moments I said that I wanted to be just like you." He admits.
Hades sighs but then nods. "I was afraid they'd be like me. It's why I always hoped you wouldn't have the darkness in you like I do. Raising you showed me that it was possible and that I had nothing to worry about. I just wish I could have been there for your sister too but," He shrugs. "No chance of that now."
Hayden puts a hand on his arm comfortingly. "Maybe it's not. If you just talk to her…"
"She wouldn't forgive me for abandoning her, Hayden. You can't change the past." Hades sighs sadly.
"No, but we create our own future." He forces a smile on his face. "Now, come on. We have a party to attend. No backsies."
Hades smirks, raising an eyebrow. "Is that so?"
"Uh-huh. No ifs. No butts. No coconuts." Hayden denies with a smirk, a real smirk, of his own.
"Well then. We'd best not keep them waiting any longer then, shall we?" Hades asks before walking up to the giant golden gates, nerves twisting in his gut, and is surprised when they open for them. Sure, Zeus had invited them but seeing it happen…
"Dad? You're thinking again instead of moving." Hayden's voice draws him back to reality and he smiles at the boy.
"Oi, stop complaining, kiddo, or I'll get Cerberus to use you as a chew toy." He threatens teasingly and Hayden just smiles mischievously at him but says nothing. They both walk through the gates and the music instantly hits them. Now within the gates of Olympus, the party decorations are clear.
The cloud floor is coated in a light grey and colour changing balloons of white and grey float in the air, moving as if pulled by invisible strings. Silver glitter falls from the sky like snow and some even fires through the air as if blown by invisible cannons. Streamers hang from pillars of cloud and change colour from black, grey, and white, some even move to coil around other pillars as others take their place. Writing in glowing black letters hovers in the sky, somehow readable no matter how far they are from.
WELCOME HOME HAYDEN!
"But the underworld is my home." Hayden whispers but something must have heard him when the writing suddenly blurs in the middle before reforming with so that the message now reads: 'WELCOME TO OLYMPUS HAYDEN!'
"Forgot the comma." He whispers to his dad who smiles in amusement. Apparently hearing his nit-picking, a balloon suddenly zooms over and pops right over his head, silver glitter coating him. Hades laughs as he watches Hayden spit out the glitter which had landed in his mouth and ruffles his hair.
"And that's why you don't annoy a God or criticize their work, son. Even the decorations are out to get you for it." He warns teasingly and then frowns as he notices everyone now staring at them. He steps closer to his son, placing a hand on his shoulder almost protectively.
"Welcome, Hayden." A woman smiles kindly at the boy. "We've been looking forwards to meeting you in person."
"So, you've been watching me?" Hayden asks, leaning around his dad to get a better look at her.
"Always. We've watched over you from the day you were born."
"Oh Gods." Realising what he's done, Hayden then calls out, "Aphrodite?" His worry is clear and the most beautiful woman to ever live steps forwards in answer. "Listen, um, I know how…tense you guys can be about someone stealing your spotlight so what I said when I was five about you and her, it wasn't, I didn't mean it like…"
Aphrodite chuckles softly. "It's fine, Hayden. I found it rather sweet actually."
"Wait. What'd he say?" Hades asks, confused.
Hayden shakes his head no in embarrassment, but Aphrodite ignores his silent protests, smiling fondly at the boy. "When he was five, he saw a girl on the island and said that her beauty made Aphrodite herself grow jealous knowing that she could not look half as perfect."
"Oh, did he now?" Hades smirks at his son whose cheeks have turned pink in his embarrassment. "And who might this lucky lady be by any chance?"
"Oh, her name was Evie, if I'm not mistaken." She reveals.
"Aww, even his hair's turned pink now." One of them whispers and Hayden blushes further, putting his hands over his flaming pink hair. Hades chuckles and knocks his hands out the way to ruffle his hair, Hayden covering his face instead. If he cannot see them then it is not happening.
"Be warned, you don't get as much leeway now that you're older, Hayden." Aphrodite warns, though she's still smiling at the memory. "As you did before, just compare the next girl you're awestruck with to my long-lost daughter or something." He nods, not moving his hands away.
"Or boy." His dad casually adds, the others still smirking at Hayden with amusement.
"Alright, you lot, stop embarrassing my nephew-in-law." Another woman calls and Hayden looks up curiously to see a woman there, power flowing from her. He recognises her from somewhere, in the back of his mind. Maybe from one of the drawings his dad did when showing him his family on Olympus through his art.
For some reason, a name comes to him and he tilts his head at her. "Hera?"
"You told him about me?" Hera practically squeals to Hades and Hayden lets out a yelp of surprise when he's pulled into a tight hug. He lets his limbs hang limp in the person's embrace, but their strength is almost suffocating.
"Crushing…vital…organs…can't…breathe…." Hayden struggles out.
"Zeus, put him down before you break something." Hades orders lightly and a chuckle comes from the person's chest.
Hayden is slightly dizzy as he's suddenly placed back on the ground and feels an arm wrap around his shoulders to support him. He doesn't need to look back to know it's his dad. Looking up at the hug-attacker, he sees a Zeus whose smile puts the Cheshire Cat to shame. "Hayden! Glad you could make it!"
"Glad you got it right with the party theme. I can't really stand colour." He shivers and they all laugh.
"It is your party. Glad you told that boy at Auradon that your favourite colour's grey. Helped a lot with narrowing it down." He continues to smile, and Hayden wonders if one of his powers is infectious smiles as he can't help but smile back at him. "Now that you're both here, we can celebrate, and I would like to thank you all for Hayden's marvellous gifts!" He declares, waving a hand over to a space Hayden hadn't spotted until now. A mountain of wrapped presents lies waiting, no doubt who it's for. A rainbow appears out of nowhere to fly directly over the gifts and Hayden's jaw drops.
"Woah." Hayden gasps.
"Zeus, I was trying not to spoil him." Hades whines softly, though clearly not trying to take it away from him.
"Hey, we have a right to spoil him!" One calls out, glaring at him but clearly not having any real hatred when he follows this up by sticking his tongue out at him. Hayden giggles and Hades rolls his eyes at the boy.
"Oh, go on." He permits, nudging Hayden towards the gifts and the boy doesn't hesitate before running right over to the presents. He's half tempted to dive into the pile like a swimming pool. "And no diving!" His dad calls and the others chuckle in amusement at Hayden's dramatic pout before walking like a toddler sulking the final few steps to the gifts. "Stop it, brat."
"Make me, old man." Hayden insults, sticking his tongue out at the man.
"Old?!" Hades exclaims, though his hair remains its natural blue.
"Oh, I love this already." One God whispers to another and they're all smirking with amusement at the father and son who begin throwing verbal insults at each other in a creative, but light-hearted battle of wits. Hades wins by threatening not to give him his present if he doesn't show some respect. That catches Hayden's attention.
"My present?" His eyes light up, clearly excited by this more than the mountain of others lying in wait behind him. "Where is it?" He asks, knowing it wouldn't be with the others.
"You will have it soon, and any pouting or childish sulking will make it delayed further. Understood?" Hades raises an eyebrow with his threat.
"Yes, my darkness." Hayden mocks, bowing to him for good measure.
"Good. Now, go open your presents, spoilt brat." He orders and Hayden turns back to the pile, pulling the closest one. Unfortunately, it just so happens to be one of the lower ones supporting the rest and the whole pile wobbles violently.
"Oops." He says, sounding extremely young as he says it and they can't help but aww at him. Hayden's suddenly lifted up to avoid being hit by the gifts which decide to collapse then and the gifts swim along the floor, filling up the space there. He chuckles. "Again! Again!"
"I'll give you again, you brat." Hades growls, holding his son up with inhuman strength and Hayden just smiles at him, kicking his arms and legs like a little kid wanting to be put down.
With a sigh, Hades sets him down on an empty spot on the floor and Hayden begins opening his presents at last. After all of them are opened, they play games Hayden's never tried before but manages to best his dad in several of them (for once in his life). They then eat a ginormous feast which results in a mini-food fight between Hayden and some of the other Gods and Goddesses. Hades tries to ignore it until a stray bit of cake hits him in the face and he burns that particular Goddesses' meal. She doesn't complain as she just replaces it, but the food right ends right there, all knowing not to work up Hades' temper if they can help it. They're trying to restore their damaged relationship, not strain it further after all. Hayden feels very sleepy after all that, his fairy side from Maleficent making him not have the full stamina or hunger as the others do. They aww when he leans against his dad, starting to sleep on him. The awws only further when Hades doesn't push him away but instead smiles lovingly at him, moving his arm to wrap around his son as he eats his meal. Hayden groans when he's gently shook awake by his dad who tells him they're leaving soon.
He follows him towards the gates when Hades stops him and smiles at the boy as he casually reminds, "Oh, just remembered. I got a present to give to you, don't I?" Hayden is suddenly wide awake and full of energy as he grins at his dad, bouncing with excitement. Hades smiles with amusement as he then lets out a high-pitched whistle. Hayden is confused until, from behind one of the pillars, a puppy runs out and not just any puppy.
It looks like a Great Dane, coming up to the height of Hayden's knees, with fur as black as coal and eyes as dark as the midnight sky. However, what's most curious about it is the fact that it has not one, not two, but three heads. Its several large ears flap as the pup runs towards them and its big tongues flop out is mouth. It wobbles slightly as it runs as if the multiple heads are causing it to be slightly unbalanced when one leans to the side too much. It runs right up to them and woofs with excitement when it sees Hayden, jumping up at him and knocking him to the ground. Hayden instantly finds himself being licked to death and giggles until Hades snaps his fingers, the puppy running off the boy to sit next to him instead. Its two outer heads each tilt to the sides (opposite from each other) and the middle pants excitedly. A front paw is lifted in the air and it watches Hayden, extremely cutely to watch.
"It's mine?" Hayden asks in shock, looking up at his dad as he's still sat on the floor.
"She." Hades corrects and smiles down at his son. "And yes, she's all yours. Much better minion than Pain and Panic, that's for sure."
"Didn't know Cerberus was having any. Though he was a boy to be honest." Hayden comments, smiling at the pup, his new minion and ever faithful pet.
"He is. His girlfriend isn't. They only had the one and I'm giving it to you." Hades informs and watches as Hayden reaches out to pet the pup that licks his hand in response but seems calmer than before. "Got a name for her?"
Not answering straight away, Hayden smiles softly and pats his lap causing the pup to jump onto it, lying down calmly as he hugs her. "Cerbie. I'm naming her Cerbie. After her daddy." He pets the pup and Hades smiles lovingly at his son. The others smile at the scene, thankful that Hayden was born into the world as he's having a change on the God and all for the better.