Last chapter, everybody. Thank you everyone who favourited/followed/reviewed this story! It really means a lot to me! :D
Also I have noooo idea who said that "life is about Plan B" stuff, but I like it very much.
7.
Had the Earth Mother been fully awaken, she would have howled in sheer anger, causing devastating earthquakes (far worse than what that pesky God of Seas could do) all over the globe. But no, most of her mind was in deep slumber therefore she was unable to go on a proper rampage.
So instead she just sighed in anger and disappointment.
Her plan seemed to be perfect. It looked like it was working. And it was working for a while. However, it seemed even Gaea did not know the gods as well as she thought she did. She thought they would abandon Hades in the times of need. And they did, out of selfishness, out of indifference, out of fear and pride. All but one.
Poseidon.
Of course. Like father like son, it seemed. That demigod, Perseus Jackson was full of surprises… so was his father. Poseidon defied everything the Earth Mother had predicted and hurried to his brother's aid. It was strange really: Gaea was sure Persephone's absence will crush Hades. Yet for some reason, the God of the Underworld regained his strength just because his younger brother visited him every day and showed concern for him. In the end, what Hades needed was not a lover but a companion down there. This was most unexpected. But it happened. Curse the Fates.
Oh well, moving on.
After all, life, even immortal life was nearly always about how well you could execute Plan B.
The Earth Mother was far from being run out of ideas.
...
Through the history of mankind immortals had been charged many times with the inability to change. Usually it was said by their own half-blood children. It just goes to prove that it's true.
Most of the time, anyway.
Because there were occasions, even if rare as the blue moon, when some of the gods changed (a little). Though it usually took a monumental event to do that. But it did happen. However no changes had ever been bigger than this one.
This time it affected at least two gods. Maybe even more.
Yes, a close-to-death experience tends to have this much of an impact.
Poseidon didn't stop his visits to the Underworld during those weeks Hades spent in his bed. First he kept up the daily routine. Then, after seeing Hades gaining some more strength, he narrowed it down to every two days. Then three, and finally two occasions per week. But he kept up his visits, no matter what. He was supposed to stir up a smaller hurricane on the day he was planning to see his brother? Then screw the hurricane, he didn't give a crap about that. Heck, the others' opinion didn't matter either. In fact, Poseidon was actually keeping distance from the rest of Mt. Olympus.
He kept talking to Hades. His brother was always awake yet he was listening to everything Poseidon spilled. The God of Seas started to notice many things. Hades became even more silent than before… but it wasn't an unfriendly silence. He didn't really know how to explain it. It seemed that Hades became more like Hestia: a listener. His brother no longer grimaced just because somebody was close to him, he didn't scowl, didn't make malevolent comments on something, just lied there and listened, usually with closed eyes.
So Poseidon started experimenting a little. He began to complain about somebody here and there, mainly about Athena. Hades didn't react in any negative way. Poseidon wanted to push him more, see where his limit was, but held himself back: his brother was still far from being completely healthy. The last thing he needed was stress.
In the meantime he seemed to get to know his elder brother better. When he wasn't talking, Hades was, in a slow, hoarse voice. He himself didn't really seem to care about what he was saying.
And then once Poseidon asked this:
- I'm going back up now. Wanna send a message to anybody… Persephone, perhaps? – it was another test: seeing just how grumpy Hades still was.
Hades let out a long sigh.
- No. Nothing. Thanks, but… I have nothing to say to them.
That was new. Poseidon was sure the old Hades would have sent a 10-meter long list of all the swears and curses he wanted to scream into the others' faces.
After a while Hades finally stood up, with a little help at times. He was still somehow fragile-looking, even though he was no longer that thin. He also limped a little. Not much, but it was there. Yet against all of this, he seemed… calm. He wasn't angry, wasn't embarrassed, just… relaxed. Poseidon had to ask why it was. Hades shrugged and said he had no idea. The two settled for that. They also came to an agreement. Poseidon kept up his visits, willingly. After Hades gaining enough strength to go back to govern the somewhat chaotic Underworld, Poseidon only came down every one or two weeks. During his time in the mortal world he collected news, gossips, new topics, so when he went down next time he could talk about many things.
This weekly brotherly reunion quickly became a habit for the two.
Poseidon, finally free from all that worry, was extremely happy most of the time. When he realized his brother would not fade, he actually nearly kissed his wife and hugged Triton to death from happiness. Poor kid, he thought his father had lost it. Poseidon had to assure him of the opposite.
Then came the Winter Solstice, 21st December.
Poseidon sat completely relaxed on his throne as the meeting went by. This, however, could not be said for the rest of the gang.
Hades was sitting in his simple stone chair completely motionlessly and quietly. He made no movements, no sounds at all, his eyes were closed and his head bowed down a little like he was sleeping. He wasn't, but only Poseidon knew this. The God of Seas scanned the others' faces carefully and had to fight himself to hold back his laughter. The gods were nervous beyond belief. Zeus hid it the best, though. Hermes' sandals constantly started flapping their wings rapidly and Apollo unconsciously summoned a pencil and started playing with it like he was waiting for motivation for a new poem. Those were the most obvious signs. Everybody else was just… nervous, fidgeting in their places, sending awkward glances at the completely still Hades. Poseidon couldn't suppress his smile. It must have been very unnerving for them.
Most of the meeting was the many reports of the gods about their realms and duties. It was a necessary but completely boring thing, even when they were at war. Ares' report was the most interesting. He hardly found any opportunity to mess with the Giants' armies, probably they were protected by Gaea herself. This just went to show that the Earth Mother was more awake than ever. This, of course, didn't brighten the mood.
- Hades, your turn – turned Zeus towards the motionless god, no doubt preparing himself to wake him up somehow and to endure the flow of curses aimed at his head.
Hades immediately stood up, surprising (and even maybe scaring) everyone. Poseidon's smile grew wider. Only he knew that the God of the Underworld was actually listening to the whole thing and only looked like he was sleeping.
Hades said his part: that he managed to make some order in the Underworld that got chaotic during his "invalidism"; the new chains of the remaining Titans were still holding firmly; Iapetus was still completely useless (Percy Jackson brainwashed the Titan in the River Lethe); and the process of the building projects Daedalus was executing. Usual, formal stuff lacking any personal opinion or emotion. After it he sat back onto his "throne", taking up the very same pose before.
Silence followed. Everybody was still waiting. Poseidon had a really hard time holding his laughter back. Hades finally acknowledged the expecting glares by lifting his head up a little and asking softly:
- Did I miss something important out?
Zeus stared at him.
- No – he finally said.
- Then my report is over – said Hades slowly and let his head fall back and closed his eyes.
He did none of the things the others were expecting from him.
After a longer pause the meeting finally started up again. The rest of it was uneventful, boring and ordinary. Poseidon wasn't even paying attention to it, rather scanning the faces of the others. They were hilarious. Except Zeus. Zeus remained unreadable.
Finally the meeting was over after what it seemed like forever. The gods quickly poured out of the room, leaving Zeus and Hades for last. Poseidon was the last one stepping out of there but instead of hurrying away, he stopped and quickly pressed himself against the half-closed door, peeking into the room through the crack.
Hades was still sitting on his throne not moving an inch. Zeus stood up with a heavy sigh and walked to the middle of the room. He looked around and then turned to Hades.
- Come here – he waved.
Hades immediately obeyed. He slowly walked up to his youngest brother, limping a little.
- Yes? – he asked.
Zeus inhaled deeply.
Then launched himself at Hades.
The God of the Underworld didn't even have time to react before finding himself in a very tight hug. Poseidon almost dropped his Trident at this, but managed to hold onto it a second too soon. Zeus was actually hugging his eldest brother and he was… crying?
Holy crap.
Hades blinked in confusion but didn't make any moves to push his brother away.
- I'm sorry… I'm so sorry… I… I'm just glad you are back – mumbled Zeus, blinking rapidly to vanquish the tears from his eyes. – I'm so glad it's over…
- So am I – murmured Hades and returned the hug.
Poseidon smiled.
Had any of the demigods been present, there would have been eyewitnesses proving that the Big Three, despite everything they ever did and said, needed each other more than one could imagine. Heck, it seemed Zeus wasn't such a cold-hearted god after all. He blocked the others out through the Familylink because he didn't want the others to detect his worry and fear for his eldest brother. It would have been nice trusting his family, but meh, it was Zeus for Chaos' sake. Of course he wouldn't open himself up. Not in a million years.
So in the end it was good seeing the two of them like that.
Poseidon heard a small slip from behind his back. He quickly turned around, finding Hestia standing not far from him. The Goddess smiled warmly, no doubt knowing about the scene going on in the throne room. Poseidon returned it then the two of them quickly hurried away from there before Zeus would catch them.
Let it stay their little secret forever.
Thanks for reading! :D
Until next time!
