"Hades!" he turned, seeing a flushed Persphone stomping towards him.
"Sweetness! To what do I owe-" Hades started, but his words died when he saw her expression. Fury.
"I cannot believe you! You go on and on about how much you 'respect' me and then you go and treat me like a child!" She screamed, finally reaching him and putting her hands on her hips. Hades swallowed nervously.
"Kore, I don't know what you're talking about, but-"
"Oh cut the crap Aidoneus." She snapped. Hades flinched at his younger name, painful memories springing up before he had a chance to think. "I know all about your little side project and I am so disgusted by you!"
Hades' head was spinning. He had never, ever felt this kind of rage radiating off the tiny goddess. At least, never directed at him.
"Kore, I genuinely have no idea what you're talking about. Can we go to my office and discuss this in private?" He reached a hand out, wincing when Persephone slapped it away.
"No! And that's another thing! You insist on calling me that ridiculous name and I hate it! I hate the way it makes me feel, and I hate how you're the only one who still uses that. Everyone else can figure out how to use my name but you're obviously too ancient to learn anything new! I hate how old you are! I can't stand it! I swear, its like-" She kept shouting, but Hades was too numb to catch most of it.
It was like his brain shut down at hearing those poisonous words from his love. The only thing he could feel was his insides crumbling away. This was truly the way she felt? All this time, hiding a true hatred? His face was set but he could feel hot tears burning behind his eyes. He shook his head, trying to maintain some kind of grip, and caught the end of her tirade.
"You are just like him. Just like Kronos and I can't stand to be here one more minute. I have to get out." She finished, breathing hard.
Hades raked his hand through his hair and took a shaky breath.
"Ko-Persephone, I am truly sorry. I had no idea you felt that way." He said quietly, knowing if he rose his voice he would break. She gave a vicious grin that seemed out of place on her.
"I bet you are. You were too stupid to notice or too desperate to care. Its pathetic, really." She clicked her tongue and looked him up and down. Hades felt a cold fear squeeze the life out of his heart.
Pathetic? The darker self doubts he had almost buried after Minthe were rising, trying to swallow him whole. His whole body tightened, feeling just as lost as all those years ago. But some small, logical spark still protested. Kore would never call him pathetic. She loved him. But the evidence in front of his burning eyes was too plain to ignore. Hades gulped and tried to start again.
"I-I know I'm n-n-not, I mean, I know I'm-m broken, b-but-"
Her harsh laugh startled him into silence.
"Broken? Honey, you are shattered beyond repair. Maybe that bitch nymph can be satisfied with the pieces but I would never settle for someone so low." She crowed.
Hades was frozen in place, literally. There was frost forming on his shoes, the ground around him, and starting to creep up the walls and window. Persephone put one hand on her cheek, cooing sarcastically.
"Poor cold-hearted baby. All alone, as always." She bent closer to him to whisper, "I can't believe you actually thought I liked you. That someone like me would, no, could ever really tolerate you. What will everyone say now that this little flirtation is over?"
"That's enough!" Persephone and Hades both jumped at the whip crack voice.