#Hercules is a mix of Hercules and AM

[ikkyfics]

Dave Lizewski taking care of sick reader? 🤭

With You

Dave Lizewski x fem!reader

Summary: “You’re good at this, you know?” “Good at what?” He asked, one eyebrow raised. “Taking care of me. Being sweet.”

Warnings: none - just fluffy

A/N: this is my FIRST request from Dave, so yeah, maybe I'm a little emotional - anon, hope you enjoy reading <333

Masterlist

Dave found the day strangely quiet without you. He couldn’t tell what was worse: the growing worry ever since you stopped replying to his messages or the odd silence from the other side of the door when he knocked for the third time. The phone was still open to the last message you had sent earlier: “Allergic reaction hit, I’m wiped out. I’m going to sleep, love you <333.” But since then, absolute silence.

“Please, let her just be passed out from sleep…” He muttered to himself as he finally heard a sound coming from inside.

The door opened slowly, creaking with that dramatic sound that he would have found funny under any other circumstances. And then he saw you: standing, with a limp posture and a lost look, as if you had just snapped out of a trance. Your hair was all messy, your eyes swollen, and your nose slightly red, making you look even more adorable despite the clearly exhausted expression.

“Dave…?” your voice came out in a dragged murmur, your mouth opening into a silly smile that brightened your tired face a little.

You looked relieved, even though you were holding onto the doorknob to avoid toppling over. The allergy meds had clearly left you out of it.

Dave furrowed his brow, stepping forward quickly. The stuffed bear he was holding wobbled awkwardly.

“My God, look at you! You’re all…” He stopped, as if searching for the right word, but gave up. “…limp. You’re super limp. And not in a good way.”

You let out a hoarse little laugh, the sound too light for his liking.

“I am limp. The meds are strong, Dave…” you tried to point at him, as if revealing some secret, but the movement was so slow it looked like it was in slow motion.

He didn’t hesitate anymore; he kicked the door open with his foot, entering as if the house was his. With the other hand, he dropped his bag full of junk onto the living room floor before looking at you again. Dave looked like the very definition of a worried boyfriend, staring at you with wide eyes and a distressed expression.

“Okay, you shouldn’t be standing. You know what? Come here.”

“What? Dave, I’m—”

Before you could protest, he stepped closer and, with careful movement, slid one arm firmly under your knees and the other across your back, lifting you off the floor with ease. You let out a surprised sound, almost a squeak.

“Dave!”

“What? You clearly can’t walk on your own. Don’t complain, you like being pampered.” He said with a little smile, but his eyes still held that worried gleam.

Your body went limp against his, tired from the meds and sleep. The warmth from him and the comfortable smell of his sweatshirt (some mix of fabric softener and his perfume) were practically an invitation to close your eyes and rest. But instead, you glanced at his arm, your brows furrowing slightly in confusion.

“You… working out?”

Dave, who had been focused on getting you to the couch with the utmost gentleness, almost tripped over his own leg. He looked at you, his cheeks starting to redden.

“Huh?”

“Your arms…” Your voice sounded a little drunk from the exhaustion and meds, and you let your hand rest on his bicep, lightly feeling it as if it was an important discovery, “…they’re so strong.”

His face instantly turned bright red. Dave tried to keep his composure, but a nervous laugh escaped, his voice a little high from surprise.

“You’re saying I’m strong? Holy crap, write this down, ‘cause I’m gonna remember it.”

“Hmm, working out secretly…” you murmured, your eyes almost closing from sleep while your hand stayed resting on his arm. “My boyfriend turned into Hercules…”

“Okay, no more delirium. That’s the meds talking, not you.” He chuckled softly, finally reaching the couch and placing you down with such care, as if you were made of glass.

You sank into the cushions, letting out a sigh of relief. Dave knelt in front of you, his eyes scanning your face as if looking for any sign of deterioration. His hand reached up to brush a strand of hair from your cheek.

“Seriously, you really worried me. Don’t disappear like that again, okay? I almost lost it.”

You blinked slowly, your voice coming out quieter now.

“Sorry. I just… passed out. Allergy meds are my kryptonite.”

He nodded, still with that tense, worried look on his face. His hands rested on your knees, warming your skin through the thin fabric of your pajamas.

“It’s okay. I’m here now.”

The simple phrase made your chest warm in a way that had nothing to do with the allergy or the meds. Dave stayed close enough for you to feel his breath, his soft, tender blue eyes watching you. That look of his, full of affection, made you forget any discomfort or unease.

You smiled, your head leaning slightly against the back of the couch.

“You’re good at this, you know?”

“Good at what?” He asked, one eyebrow raised.

“Taking care of me. Being sweet.”

His smile widened, even though he tried to seem nonchalant.

“It’s because I’m the best boyfriend in the world. This is just the basics, babe.”

Before you could reply, he started adjusting all the “tools of war” — as he called the bag full of tissues, medicine, and the teddy bear. Slowly, you started to close your eyes on the couch. He turned just in time to see your head tilt, your face still tired but relaxed. For a moment, he hesitated to make any noise, almost as if he was standing next to one of those cartoon bombs that exploded at the slightest sound. But then you let out a soft groan, your unfocused gaze opening again.

“Why are you standing there… looking at me?” Your voice came out slow and soft, a silly smile playing at the corner of your lips.

Dave chuckled softly, crossing his arms and tilting his head.

“I’m trying to figure out if you’re going to sleep or pass out. There’s a difference, you know?”

You let out something like a laugh, but quickly coughed lightly after. He frowned immediately, his worried look back in full force.

“Okay, that’s enough. You need to eat something.”

“I’m not hungry.”

“You’re always hungry.”

The truth hit you like an uncomfortable reminder, but you didn’t have time to respond before he was already in the kitchen, opening and closing cabinets. The noise echoed through the house, much louder than usual, and you slowly turned your head to follow the chaos happening in front of you.

“Dave…” you called softly.

“Stay there and relax. I’m making something nutritious for you.”

The dramatic tchan-tchan-tchan sound of the fridge opening made you bite your lip to keep from laughing. He looked so determined, as if he was about to save the world instead of, probably, causing a disaster. You let your head fall back onto the pillow, watching the show.

In the first few minutes, Dave seemed pretty confident. He even hummed something softly as he put a pot on the stove. But then came the sound of something popping too loudly — followed by a muffled curse.

“Everything okay over there…?” you asked, lifting your neck to peek into the kitchen.

“All under control! Just… Just didn’t know rice could stick so fast.”

“Dave…”

“I told you, it’s all under control!”

The smoke began rising slowly, and you had to bite your tongue to keep from laughing as he ran to the sink, holding the pot like it was a ticking time bomb. The sound of water hitting the hot metal was followed by another worrying sizzle, and he jumped back.

“Okay! No rice. Nobody needs rice.”

“Give it up, I’m not even hungry…”

“No way!” He shouted back, regaining his composure. “Cooking is overrated anyway. Want to know what? Chicken broth counts as soup. You’re drinking this, and you won’t complain.”

He raised the chicken broth box as if it was the definitive solution to all the world’s problems. You laughed again, feeling your cheeks burn from the effort.

“My hero…” you murmured, letting the laughter die down as another yawn took over.

Dave sat down beside you on the couch, placing the steaming bowl on the coffee table, his expression still stubborn but his eyes soft as they watched you closely. He reached out to brush another strand of hair from your face, letting his fingers rest there for a moment near your cheek.

“I tried, okay? I swear I tried.”

“I know.”

The warmth of his hand was comforting, as was the feeling of knowing he was there, trying — even if clumsily — to take care of you.

And the broth wasn’t that bad, I mean, it was a little bland, but it was drinkable — a few spoonfuls.

You let out a light sound, closing your eyes and letting your head fall against his shoulder. Dave relaxed, slowly wrapping an arm around your back to pull you closer.

“It’s okay. I like your disaster.”

He chuckled softly, pressing a quick kiss to the top of your head.

“I like you too, even doped up and laughing at me.”

“I’m having fun…”

“And I’m happy you’re laughing.”

The silence came gradually, comfortable and warm. You could feel the steady rhythm of his breath next to you, his arm still firmly holding you close. You were fine. Because he was there.

The comfortable silence of the couch was only interrupted by the soft sound of the TV, where some random movie — hastily chosen by Dave — played without much importance. He had insisted on putting on some light comedy, arguing that “this always helps when people are sick.” You, still a little doped up and sleepy, didn’t have the strength to question it. Now, sitting next to him, your head resting on his shoulder and your legs stretched out across the couch, you felt completely at ease.

Dave looked at the screen every now and then, but the truth was, he spent much more time looking at you. Your lips slightly parted, your nose a little red from exhaustion, and the way you breathed slowly, almost in sync with the ambient music of the movie… He couldn’t help but smile.

“Are you comfortable there?” he asked softly, even though you weren’t exactly awake enough to answer.

Your only reaction was to murmur something unintelligible, snuggling even closer against his shoulder. Dave swallowed hard, frozen, as if any movement might break the delicate moment. Gently, he stretched his arm around you, pulling one of the blankets he brought and draping it lightly over you.

“Done. Now you’re officially a human burrito. Best medicine there is.”

You responded with a muffled grunt, the words drawn out, barely audible:

“Mm… you talk a lot.”

He chuckled softly, shaking his head.

“Sorry. I’ll let you sleep.”

For a few minutes, Dave made every possible effort to focus on the movie, trying to ignore the comfortable weight of your head on his shoulder and the soft sound of your breathing. But then, in the middle of the silence, you began murmuring again, your voice trembling and almost childlike.

“Dave… you’re so handsome…”

His eyes widened. He froze in place, his gaze shifting away from you as if the comment had hit him straight in the heart.

“What?”

“Your hair… so fluffy…” You murmured, your voice fading at the end of the sentence. Then came another silence, and he thought you had fallen asleep again. But then: “And your muscles… you’re strong, huh? I could lick your abs if I wasn’t like this, you know?”

Dave’s eyes widened even more, his face turning as red as a tomato.

“What? I— You would…” He whispered desperately, as if he could have a conversation with you in your lethargic state. But you just smiled sleepily, still with your eyes closed, your fingers awkwardly trailing up his arm, giving soft taps on his bicep.

“And that’s all mine…”

“My God…” He murmured to himself, completely stunned. The smile that escaped his lips was inevitable, small and affectionate, as he lowered his eyes to you with an almost silly look.

And then came the silence. This time, definitive. Your chest rose and fell in a calm rhythm, and Dave realized you had, in fact, fallen asleep. He stayed there for a moment, motionless, just absorbing the scene. The movie was still playing on the TV, but he could hear nothing but your peaceful breathing.

Carefully—very carefully—he took his arm from behind you, slowly getting up.

“Okay, time to take you to bed. Better than sleeping all crooked on the couch.”

You didn’t respond, obviously. But when he crouched down to lift you, the gesture was so gentle that you barely moved. Dave held you as if you were the most precious thing in the world, one arm around your back, the other under your knees.

“My God, how do you manage to be both cute and heavy at the same time?” he murmured, as if you could answer.

You just snuggled further into his arms, resting your head on his chest. He smiled, feeling his heart beat fast under the weight of your presence.

When he reached your room, Dave kicked the door open with his foot and walked over to the bed, gently laying you down on the soft mattress. He bent down, pulling the blanket up to your shoulders and adjusting the pillow under your head. For a moment, he just stayed there, watching you sleep. Your relaxed face, your lips curled into an almost imperceptible smile.

“You don’t even know how beautiful you are, do you?” he whispered, more to himself than to you.

When he got up, turning to leave, you murmured again, your voice almost inaudible:

“Stay…”

Dave stopped mid-step, his heart leaping in his chest as he heard the word escape your lips in a trembling whisper. He turned slowly, unsure if he had heard it right. Your face was still buried in the pillow, but he could see the corner of your mouth forming a soft pout, your eyes half-closed as if you were making a monumental effort to fight off sleep.

“What?” he asked quietly, leaning forward.

“Stay…” you repeated, in a slightly whiny tone, your fingers clutching the blanket he had arranged over you.

Dave stood there for a second, completely unsure of what to do. His mind screamed that he should leave, let you rest, but… how could he? How could anyone resist you, with your drawn-out voice and eyes still shining even under the weight of the medication?

“Okay,” he finally answered with a sigh of surrender. “I’ll stay.”

He lay down beside you, settling on the bed and leaving some space between you, but soon you used the last of your strength to pull him closer, your hands softly clutching his shirt. He lay down with you, not resisting, and as soon as he was lying on his side, you curled up against him like a lazy cat, your head going straight to his chest.

“Mm… best pillow…” you murmured, your voice muffled against the fabric of his shirt.

Dave chuckled softly, shaking his head.

“You’re completely drugged, you know? Tomorrow, you won’t remember any of this.”

“I will.”

“Aha.”

“I remember you’re cute. That you take care of me.”

He opened his mouth to respond, but the words didn’t come out. Instead, he looked away to hide the goofy smile that grew on his lips. His fingers started to drum on his arm, as if they were thinking of something, until they gently went up, once again squeezing his bicep like before.

“Nice…” you commented again, now with a sleepy smile that made Dave snort with amusement.

“I think I should stop coming here when you’re sick. This antihistamine is messing with your brain.”

“No, it’s not,” you retorted, dragging the words out. Your eyes finally opened a bit more, meeting his. “I speak the truth. You’re the best boyfriend in the world.”

Dave turned red to the roots of his hair. He opened his mouth, closed it, and opened it again like a fish out of water, until he managed to murmur:

“Do you say that because I’m taking care of you?”

“No.” You pulled the blanket with your hands, turning your face to the side as if pouting, but your soft voice still sounded like pure sweetness. “I say that because it’s true.”

Dave felt his chest tighten in a way he couldn’t explain. Carefully, he adjusted himself in bed until he was lying next to you, finding the position that made you most comfortable. Your body automatically curled up against his, your head finding a perfect spot against his chest.

“Best pillow,” you murmured again, a satisfied smile playing on your lips.

“Okay, okay, I got it. I’ll put this on my resume: ‘Boyfriend who doubles as a pillow.’”

The muffled laugh that escaped from you warmed his heart more than he expected. For a few seconds, the room was silent, except for the soft sound of your breathing and the calm beating of his heart. Then, with a slightly softer, almost shy voice, you murmured:

“Thanks for taking care of me, Dave.”

He looked down at you, where your face rested against his chest, your eyes almost closed again. One of his hands moved up, gently caressing your hair, his fingers running through the strands with absurd care.

“You don’t need to thank me, silly. It’s kind of my job, right? To be the best boyfriend in the world.”

You smiled, your eyes opening just enough to look at him.

“If I wasn’t sick, I’d die from kissing you so much right now.”

Dave let out a surprised laugh, his expression melting with both love and amusement at the same time. He tilted his head a little to look at you more clearly.

“Well, then you’d better get better soon. I’m counting on it.”

You laughed softly, closing your eyes again while snuggling closer to him.

“I’ll get better. For you.”

Dave felt his heart tighten in his chest once again, the goofy smile on his lips refusing to go away. He continued stroking your hair, his movements slow and careful, as if he wanted to make you fall asleep faster.

“If you keep saying these things, it’ll be you who kills me, you know? Because I won’t be able to handle it.”

“I’m just telling the truth…” you whispered, your voice already fading into sleep.

Dave stayed there for a while longer, listening to the soft sound of your breathing as he watched your relaxed face against his chest. He knew he’d have to leave at some point, but… not now. Not while you needed him.

And, if he were honest, he needed you just as much as you needed him.

“Sleep well, okay?” he murmured softly, pulling his arms around you gently. “I’m here.”

And, for the first time that afternoon, you fell into a deep sleep, knowing that he was really there.

[isuckatwritingsobenice]

Can you write something with Alastor and the song won’t say i’m in love from Hercules? he didn’t want to like the reader but does?! 💗💗

A/N: This is definitely his song, and I love this so much so thank you for this request!! I know it took me forever to write this but at last my brain is working and I am finishing requests :)) I hope you enjoy!!

Navigation!!

Warnings: Alastor on a high horse, mentions of losing control, hell, Alastor in himself because wtf ?!?!?!

Won’t say I’m in love

The fiery glow of the neon lights of Hell never seemed to dim. It was a place of chaos, energy, and control, and no one embodied that more than Alastor, the Radio Demon. His power was unmatched, his control over the world of Hell absolute, and he was content in that dominion. He preferred it that way—structured, perfect, with no room for vulnerability. Emotions were for the weak. Love, especially, was something that had no place in his heart. At least, that’s what he told himself every day.

But that was before you.

You had entered his life as an unexplainable force—a puzzle he couldn’t solve. You were strong, independent, and you had a charm that disarmed even his most guarded walls. The way you carried yourself, a perfect mix of grace and defiance, made him twitch with both admiration and frustration. And worst of all, you were unbothered by him. You didn’t quake at his power like so many others did. You didn’t cower when he spoke. Instead, you stood your ground, and that intrigued him. It unsettled him, too.

He never asked for any of it. Alastor liked his life clean, his emotions compartmentalized, and his relationships dictated by his terms. But you? You made him feel something—something he wasn’t prepared to face.

It started with small things, things he tried to ignore, but couldn’t quite dismiss. There was the way his thoughts lingered on you when he found himself alone in his lavishly decorated, soundproof room. The soft smile you gave him after every conversation, the way your eyes twinkled with mischief. And then, there was that infernal feeling in his chest whenever you entered the room. A tightness he couldn’t explain. The Radio Demon wasn’t supposed to feel these things. He was a creature of control, after all.

One evening, while working at his desk in his broadcast station, Alastor heard your voice coming from the hallway. He frowned, fingers stiffing for a moment as your laughter wafted through the walls, an innocent sound that rattled him. He took in a sharp breath, trying to refocus on the task at hand. But you always had a way of getting under his skin, your carefree nature filling every corner of his mind.

“Alastor,” you called, voice light and teasing, yet there was a warmth to it that made his chest feel tight. “You’ve been busy again, haven’t you?”

He straightened up in his chair, forcing his usual, confident smile. “Of course, darling. There is always work to be done when you’re as… influential as I am.” His voice was smooth, controlled—his mask firmly in place. He wouldn’t let his heart betray him now. He wouldn’t let his emotions control him. Not again.

You stepped into the room, standing in front of him, a soft smile tugging at the corners of your lips. The soft golden light from the room framed your silhouette perfectly, and for a moment, Alastor was lost in the sight of you. He immediately shook himself out of it, tightening his grip on his cane.

“You’re always so serious,” you remarked with a playful glint in your eyes. “You know, sometimes you look so… tense. It’s like you’re afraid of something.” There it was—the gentle teasing, the ease with which you could slip under his armor.

Alastor narrowed his eyes, but his voice softened. “And what, pray tell, should I be afraid of, darling?”

You shrugged, but there was something knowing in your gaze, something that made Alastor’s heart skip a beat. “Maybe you’re afraid of letting someone in. You’re always so careful, like you’re hiding something.”

The Radio Demon stilled, every muscle in his body tense. He had expected many things from you—curiosity, defiance, maybe even annoyance—but not this. You had hit a nerve. He couldn’t let you see that, though. He couldn’t let you see that he was vulnerable. Not to you. Not ever.

“Ha,” he scoffed, though it came out more strained than he intended. “Fear is a human emotion. Something I don’t concern myself with.” He stood abruptly, moving toward the window, his back turned to you. “I control this world. There is nothing to fear. Nothing at all.”

You didn’t reply right away, and that alone threw Alastor off-balance. He could feel your gaze on his back, and for a moment, he hated how much your presence made him feel out of control. He wanted you to leave, to stop probing into the parts of him he had buried so deeply. But when you spoke again, your voice was softer, gentler.

“I don’t think it’s fear,” you said, almost as if speaking to yourself. “I think you’re afraid of caring. Of letting someone in because you’ve been hurt before, and you’re not sure how to handle it.

Alastor froze. His heart pounded in his chest, a harsh rhythm that made his blood run cold. How dare you? How dare you see through him with such ease? He whipped around, his usually smooth demeanor replaced with a rare intensity.

“Enough!” he barked, his voice sharp and commanding. “Do not presume to know me, darling. You know nothing about me.”

For a moment, the room was tense with the weight of his words. His gaze was cold, and his body was rigid with anger—he couldn’t let you break through his shell. But to his surprise, you didn’t flinch. You didn’t cower. Instead, you just watched him, an unreadable expression on your face.

“Then why does it bother you so much when I talk about it?” you asked, your voice quiet but steady. “Why does it bother you when I point out what’s right in front of you?”

Alastor’s breath hitched, but he quickly masked it with a forced chuckle. “You’re foolish, my dear. I have no time for emotions. They’re irrelevant in my world.”

You smiled then, but there was something bittersweet about it. “If they’re so irrelevant, why do you care so much when I leave? Why do you get upset when I don’t come to see you for a while? Why does it hurt you when I don’t call?”

The words hit him like a thunderbolt. Alastor’s smile faltered, the mask slipping just slightly. His mind raced, and for the first time in ages, he didn’t know what to say. He had no control over the thoughts swirling inside him, and that terrified him more than anything. This wasn’t supposed to happen. He wasn’t supposed to be vulnerable.

“Get out,” he said softly, his voice colder than ice. “Leave.”

You nodded, and without another word, you walked out of the room, leaving him alone with his turbulent thoughts.

Later that night, Alastor sat alone in his private room. The darkness around him was suffocating, but it was the only thing that kept his emotions at bay. The walls shook in the room, crackling to life, playing an old, familiar tune—a soft, slow ballad he hadn’t heard in years. It was a song you loved from your favorite movie. Hercules.

His fingers clenched around the armrest of his chair. No. I’m not in love. I can’t be.

But the more the song played, the more Alastor realized how much it mirrored his own feelings—how much he had been lying to himself. He had tried to keep his heart locked away, tried to convince himself that he was in control, that he didn’t care. But the truth was undeniable. Every time you smiled at him, every time your voice lingered in his ear, something inside him had shifted. He cared. He cared deeply, and he didn’t know how to handle it.

He closed his eyes, the song pulling him into a haze of emotion he wasn’t sure how to escape. He had spent so long maintaining control, ruling Hell with an iron fist, but with you—with you—he was powerless. Every wall he built up was torn down with a single glance from you. And it terrified him.

“I won’t say I’m in love…”

Alastor let the music wash over him, his chest tightening with every word. Maybe he was in love. Maybe he didn’t want to admit it, but he was. And as much as he hated to admit it, he didn’t want to lose you. Not ever.

And so, Alastor sat in the quiet of his room, his heart aching with a truth he couldn’t deny any longer.

The next day, you found yourself once again in front of the Radio Demon. You didn’t know what to expect—whether he’d pretend yesterday never happened or if he’d try to distance himself even more. But when you walked in, you saw him standing there, just as imposing and powerful as ever, but this time, there was something different. His eyes softened when they met yours, and for the briefest of moments, you saw a flicker of vulnerability.

“I was wrong,” Alastor said quietly, the words heavier than you expected. “I… care. And I won’t deny it any longer.”

You blinked, taken aback by the sudden confession. But as his usual confidence returned, you saw the sincerity in his eyes. Despite all his control, despite all his bravado, Alastor cared for you. And, in a strange way, that made him more real than he had ever been before.

“Thank you,” you said softly, a small smile tugging at your lips. “I think I knew that all along.”

And for the first time, Alastor didn’t feel like he had to hide behind his mask. The truth was out, and for once, he was okay with it.

He was in love.

With that realization, Alastor’s world began to shift, just as his heart had. No longer the Radio Demon solely driven by control, he had found something far more complicated—and far more precious. Something he had never expected, but had always secretly desired.

And as he stood in the same room with you, he realized that maybe, just maybe, letting go of control wasn’t so bad after all.

[biblicallyaccuratemoth]

hello moth, do you have any tips for making your voice sound more feminine? Totally asking for a friend and it’s under no circumstance that I want to sound more feminine because I want to be trans but can’t an am hoping this may be a hint to my parents I want to!!! Anyways ✨bye✨

Hello!

I found a lot of ‘official’ voice training videos to be really confusing and overwhelming. What I found that works for me was, instead of focusing on nebulous concepts like ‘resonance,’ I instead focused on learning impressions!

I chose some fictional characters that had voices I liked and worked on emulating them. For me that was Meg from Hercules/Rose Quartz from SU (both Susan Egan,) Lillith from The Owl House, and Frieren from the dub of After the End. From there I picked lines I liked to practice the voices and tone, and eventually mixed the impressions together to create ‘my’ voice!

[goldenherc9]

A Golden Adventure

"This is a story for our amazing Coach and owner of an island that is mysterious in every way, hope you like your Christmas present Coach!"

In the heart of a mythical forest, Coach Chet and Captain Hercules Gold of the Golden Army Team embarked on a quest of legendary proportions. Their mission: to find Odin’s spear, Gungnir, said to grant unparalleled power to its wielder. The air was thick with anticipation as they ventured deeper into the enchanted woods, guided by ancient runes and whispers of old.

After days of navigating treacherous paths and deciphering cryptic symbols, they arrived at a clearing bathed in an ethereal golden light. There, embedded in a stone pedestal, stood Gungnir. Its aura was both mesmerizing and intimidating, radiating an ancient energy that seemed to pulse with life.

Hercules, ever the cautious leader, studied the spear with reverence. “This is it, Chet,” he murmured, his voice filled with awe. “We’ve found Gungnir.”

But before Hercules could devise a plan, Coach Chet’s curiosity got the better of him. Driven by a mix of fascination and an inexplicable urge, he stepped forward and reached out to touch the spear. The moment his fingers brushed against its surface, a brilliant burst of golden light engulfed him.

Hercules shielded his eyes, struggling to see through the radiant glow. When the light finally dimmed, he stared in astonishment at the figure standing before him. Coach Chet had been transformed. His once mortal form now shimmered with divine energy, and his eyes glowed with the wisdom of ages.

“I am the new Golden Odin,” Chet declared, his voice resonating with newfound power. “With this spear, we shall lead the Golden Army to greatness, and protect our realm from any threat.”

Hercules nodded, a proud smile spreading across his face. Together, they had not only found Gungnir but had also unlocked a destiny greater than they had ever imagined. With the power of the golden Odin on their side, the Golden Army Team was destined for legendary glory.

[sunnysidevans]

Hopelessly Devoted To You - J.Seresin.

Summary: After an accident that has you toying on the edge of life and death, you find yourself agreeing to save your beloved. You are then face to face with who you truly are and where you truly are supposed to be.

Pairing: Hades!Jake Seresin x Goddess!Reader

Warnings: 18+, mentions of death, mentions of blood and accident related injuries, swearing, fluff, arranged marriages(like so tiny) - like one mention of (y/n) but mostly none.

A/N: Helloooooooooo world!!! I am here with a halloween fic, I have not seen any of these written for Jakey yet and I wanted to give it a shot. I know this can be inaccurate to greek mythology but I have attempted to put a mix on that along with disney's hercules. Forgive me for not producing any work recently. I am endlessly thankful for all of you.

italics indicate flashbacks.

Red and Blue hues with the wail of the sirens seemed out of reach. The world seemed to stop under the fluorescent lighting of the hospital. The words on the paramedic’s lips fell on deaf ears as she wheeled in the gurney.

The doctor yelling for doctors was almost muffled as you stood there, dress torn and blood dripping down your arms, some of your own blood falling against your eyelashes as you blink.

“Sweetheart” the voice was soft, a comforting hand placed on your skin as you jump, looking over at her. The woman smiled sweetly, a gentle arm around your waist as she began to lead you through the emergency department.

“C’mon honey, let's get you cleaned up” her voice is soft, her touch even softer. She tried to hide your eyes from the curtained room, your feet stopping the two of you, breath catching.

“The curtain is closed” you whisper as she nods slowly, running a comforting hand up and down your back, “yes hon”. Looking over at her, your lip quivers, “that means he’s dying”. She shakes her head and encourages you to keep moving down to the room at the end of the hall.

As she closes the curtain, she hands you a gown. “Let's get you out of that” she smiles at you softly and begins to help you pull the stained dress of your body and tying the blue hospital gown around you.

“This is gonna sting” her voice is muffled again as your eyes stare out into the active emergency room.

Doctor after Doctor made their way into the curtained room, you watch as another white coat makes their way in and another comes out, pulling bloodied gloves off their hands. You walked away with only scratches, skin stained red from not only your own blood but his.

“Here sweet girl, I got you something to drink '' the same nurse pulls you from your thoughts, a small smile on her lips as she sets the cup with ice and can of ginger ale beside you.

“I know it’s not much but” she shrugs with a smile, opening the can and pouring the liquid in. “Is he gone?’ she was surprised at the sound of your voice as she looked up from the cup. She sets the can down and moves to stand in front of you. Pulling the stool over she sits down to be more level with you.

“They are doing everything they can for him” she reaches out and rests a hand on your knee. “I promise you, now, is there anyone I can call for you?” it had been hours you’ve been there and this was the most she got out of you, with a shake of your head she nods and hands you the cup of ginger ale.

You sip on the straw slowly as she smiles sadly and makes her way out of the room and shutting the curtain gently behind her. You stared blankly at the white sheet.

Stepping into the room the nurse stops short at the now vacant room, the gown sat on the floor in a pile, “we’ve got a runner!” she yells and quickly runs back to the nurses station. The rain poured as you ran, not a care at the burning of your feet against the pavement. The way your chest was heaving as you made it up the church steps.

You push open the door as the priest turns at the intrusion at such a late hour. “Ma’am, are you okay?” He is quick to set aside his book, rush down the steps to meet you at the open doorway. Your chest heaves as you shake your head, walking ahead past the pews and to the front of the church.

Falling to your knees in front of the cross you close your eyes and pray.

“I will do anything for him to stay” you whimper, hands together in prayer as the church then goes dark. “Will you do anything?” The voice was soft, gruff but almost comforting. Opening your eyes, you look around you. Everything was dark, a shiver down your spine at the cool breeze.

“Anything, please” you pleaded as the voice chuckled darkly, “oh child, all this for a man?” your eyes follow the room, unsure of where the voice was coming from. “You know how the saying goes now don’t you?” he questions your silence as you shake your head quickly, a sniffle on your lips.

“A soul for a soul” his grin was cheshire as he stood behind you.

Watching the sobs shake your shoulders, he reaches out to place a hand on your shoulder but then a hand replaces his own. A gasp is ripped from your body as you are then back on the church floor on your knees and a paramedic is beside you and lights shone brightly in your face.

Days went by, days spent beside your beloved’s hospital bed as you continued to think about the saying playing over and over.

A soul for a soul.

Taking his hand into your own, you sniffle and watch as his fingers shift slightly. You stand from the chair slowly, “Zack?!”. You are quick to drop his hand and run to the door pulling it open quickly.

“Hurry! I need a doctor in here!” you are then gently shoved from the room as nurses and doctors make their way inside. You go to protest as the gentle hand is placed on your arm, “Sweetheart”.

Turning at the sound of her voice, she smiles gently. “C’mon, let's give them time and get you some coffee?” she questions as you turn back to the room. You nod after a few minutes, following her to the elevators. The room was full of white coats, multiple doctors it seemed almost euphoric, the whole room in white.

“How long have you and Zack been together?” the nurse whispers, sitting across from you as you look up at her, hands around your own paper cup. “Um, 3 years” you reply, taking a sip from the flimsy lid. “How sweet” she hums as she watches over your face, the way your eyes were everywhere but hers.

“We were uh, on our way to eloping, uh when the accident happened” she nodded sadly, “I’m sorry”. You set the now empty cup down and look at her with a sad smile, “do you have a chapel here?”. 

The nurse, you now learned her name was Doris held open the door for you, the chapel was cold and vacant. You walk in slowly, looking back at her with a small smile, “thank you”. She nods and heads down the hall with her own soft smile.

Looking around the room, you take the candlestick and use the matches to light it. Walking to the front of the room, you kneel to your knees and close your eyes. You felt the cold chill again as you began to pray.

Praying to anyone who’d listen. Your eyes open and the room is dark, looking around you, the room is the same as it was in the church a week ago. “Still willing to do anything for him?” The voice is softer than before, still gruff. You nod, eyes looking around the room for him. “Anything” you whisper, eyes falling on the figure at the back of the room, only making out his silhouette.

“A soul for a soul dear” he breathed as you turned to face the front of the room, looking at the faint reds that danced around the black.

“What does that mean?” you ask softly as he chuckles, “I give him his soul and I take yours in exchange” you gasp as he’s in front of you then, “and you will come with me, stay with me here” he motions to around him, the dark fog lifts as he motions to the dark but subtle kingdom.

“Are you the devil?” you whisper, eyes looking up his silhouette till you meet his eyes, green and soft. “No Darling '' his grin is wide as the cheshire cat, he holds his hand out to you “Hades, King of the underworld”.

+

The hand on your shoulder is gentle, pulling a gasp from your chest as you turn to face the hand attached. “Sorry” the voice is soft, attached to a small smile. You smile at her, “Hi Natasha”. She smiles and holds her hand out to you as you take it gently.

“Are you okay?” she asks as you follow beside her, hand staying in hers. “Yes and no,” you reply. You’ve been in the underworld now for years. “What is it?” she holds the door open gently as you follow her in the dark room, it was time for dinner.

“Thinking about my old life is all” she nods softly as she motions for you to sit. “Are you unhappy?” The voice is gruff as he enters the room, dressed in casual black slacks and a black vest. You roll your eyes, turning to face him with a raised brow “would it matter if I was Jake?”.

He unbuttons his sleeve, rolling up the one and moving onto the other. He never let you refer to him as Hades, always his name before he became the king. Jake. “I suppose not,” he smirks, sitting down at the head of the table and pulling himself closer. You sigh, sending Natasha a small smile and sitting down in your respected chair. “How was your day?” he asks softly, setting his fork down gently. “It was okay” you reply, looking over at him with a raised brow, “and your own, your majesty?” he chuckles, shaking his head.

“I’m not a king here” he replies as you shake your head. “You are a king wherever you go” he smiles and nods slowly. “Did you finish the library?” you ask softly as he looks up from his plate and sets his napkin down.

“Why don’t I show you?” he stands and holds a hand out to you. You take it and follow behind him. 

The underworld wasn’t bad. You had to admit you were almost happier down here than you were above. It was hard to be upset and unhappy when the man beside you gave you anything you requested. The halls were quiet as he pulled the ring of keys from his back pocket, you watched closely as he unlocked the door and held it open for you. “Go one” he encourages as you smile, walking past him as a gasp falls from your mouth softly.

The walls were lined with books up to the ceiling. You turn to him, a smile on your lips. “Thank you” you turn back to walk along the wooden bookshelves, running your fingers along the spine of the books. “You know” he makes his way beside you, hand falling to the small of your back. His touch was gentle, which always shocked you.

“Hm?” turning to the side, you smile at him slightly. “You ask and I deliver, do I not?” he grins as you giggle and nod. “You do Jake, you do” you whisper, running a comforting hand along his shoulder and giving it a gentle squeeze. “I appreciate it, it makes me feel connected to my life” you whisper as he chuckles, nodding. “Are you missing it?” he asks softly as you nod slightly. “I miss… sunshine sometimes and flowers but I’m not unhappy” you look at him as he nods, shoving his hands into his pockets. The door creaks as it is opened slowly, Hermes peaks his head in, “Sir”. Jake rolls his eyes, turning to his friend, “Bob, please just Jake” he nods and adjusts his glasses.

“Uh, Zeus is here and uh he’s insisting”  he is shy around you, as you smile kindly and send a small wave towards him.

“I’ll be right there, will you be okay?” he turns to you, hand on your shoulder gently moving to the nape of your neck, thumb against your jawline. “Go, sounds important” you nod against his palm as he kisses your temple gently and makes his way out the room.

He walks beside Bob, adjusting his sleeves, “she's adjusting'' Bob makes note as Jake chuckles. “She is slowly, thank you” he nods as he pushes the door open to the banquet room, dark and covered in grays and reds. Zeus stands in the middle with hands on his hips.

“Zeus, what do I owe this pleasure?” Jake asks as Bradley turns to face the god. “It’s far from a pleasure Hades” he seeths as Jake can’t help but roll his eyes. “Then why are you here?” His places his hands on his hips as Bradley sighs. “I’ve kept your secret long enough but there has been some developments” Bradley looks at him through his lashes. “And those developments are what?” Jake asks with a raised brow.

“She’s Ares’s daughter” he whispers as Jake’s movements stop.

“Excuse me?” he asks as Bradley nods. “He was talking about it today with Poseidon.. How his beloved daughter was now fully missing” Bradley shoves his hands into his dark slacks.

“How-” Bradley cuts him off as he nods. “Him and Aprodite thought it may be better for her to have a better life without this… mess” Bradley continues, “they lost contact with their source who’s been following her, they know she's disappeared". Jake sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose.

Leaning against the door frame, you can hear the soft grunts from behind the mahogany door as well as the two raised voices. “My lady” Bob’s voice is soft as he calls to you, turning to face him, he smiles. “He would kill me if he knew you were standing here” you shake your head and turn back to the door at the raise of Jake’s voice. “She agreed to come down here! She agreed to this life and just because she is Ares daughter changes nothing!” he seeths.

You frown, your father was a god?

You step back from the door quickly as it's then ripped open and you are face to face with Zeus. You push past him to walk into the room, “Jake?” he has his back towards you, the black of his suit almost darker in the room. “Is what you say true?” you fight back from almost seething towards him.

You stand taller as he keeps his back towards you, “talk to me Hades''.

His shoulders slack at the sound of your voice, deep and also filled with pain. “You’ve kept me down here knowing my parents are up there” you whimper, the tears flowing down your cheeks in rivers. “I’m sorry” his voice is gruff as he turns to face you.

“Ares is your father. But, you agreed to come down here and live this life in exchange for his life” Jake reminds you as you approach him slowly, pushing a finger in his chest.

“I never knew them, remembered anything about this world and you’ve taken this from me” you whisper, rushing out of the room quickly. 

+

The kingdom was silent for days.

You spent days in the library. Locked doors and Cerbeus sat in front of them, growling anytime Jake approached. “You are my protector you know” He crosses his arms over his chest as the hound growls again.

“Sweetheart” Jake stands at the door, hands in his pockets as he looks at the door, almost pleading and praying you’d open it. He hears the lock click and you open it gently.

“Good boy” you pet one of the three heads on the dog, letting him into the room and onto the black couch. “Yes?” you ask, hand on the door as you had the urge to slam it into his face. “I think, I think we should talk, '' he pleads as you raise a brow. “Should we?” you tilt your head as he sighs, head falling in shame. “Yes,”  he nods. “I see” you nod watching his face. “Over dinner?” he asks as you nod slowly, moving back into the room and shutting it behind you.

“You have to give her time '' Natasha makes note from her place at the end of the hall. “I-” she shakes her head to stop him, “You do, she is hurt and feels betrayed by you Hades" He sighs as he looks at his friend. “Bring her for dinner please?” he asks as she nods.

You lean against the door, listening to the two of them as Cerbeus watches you from the couch, leaning his heads down with a heavy sigh.

Two hours later, you hear her soft knock against the wood. “(Y/N)” she whispers as you sigh, opening the door to her smiling face which slowly falls as she takes in the look in your eyes. “I know” she nods, moving past you slowly as you close the door behind her. “I don’t know the full details…” she trails off as you sit back down in the maroon arm chair.

“He lied to me. I belong in the upper city not down here” you snap, head falling as you shake your head. “It’s not your fault” you whisper as she moves to sit in front of you on the coffee table, placing a hand on your knee gently.

“I am not taking his side, or anyones but hey” she reaches over to gently encourage your chin up to meet her eye. “He’s a mess since you’ve been ignoring him, I think you should listen to him” she whispers as you roll your eyes with a small smirk. “You of all people encouraging me to talk to hades?” she laughs as you smile. WIth a nod, you stand and pick up the dress she left on the sofa.

Making his way into the dining room, Jake’s heart was quite literally on his sleeve. He was nervous you would stand him up and stay locked away in your library. He stops at the sight of you standing by the table, standing in a dark emerald dress that fell to the floor, a small smile on your lips.

“Hades” you nod to him in respect as he stands in front of you, hands at his sides, almost stunned. “I should’ve never shunned you out. You deserve to tell me your side of the story…” he nods slowly, walking closer to you. “Come, let’s go talk” he holds his hand out as you take it, following him out of the dining room and down the hallway. He opens the door in front of him, encouraging you out into the garden of his home.

Smiling, you walk out into the plants that lined each side of the walkway. He watches the way your eyes filter along every flower that lined the garden. Sitting down on the bench, he sits beside you with a slight huff.

“How do we know he’s my father?” you ask softly after a few minutes of silence. “The word has gotten around Olympus of your disappearance, he’s put it out there from what I understand” he responds, neither one of you looking at the other.

“I’m sorry you had to witness that conversation” he adds as you shake your head. “Bob warned me I shouldn’t have been listening,” you admitted as he nodded beside you. “I um-” he swallows almost nervously as you then look over at him. 

He takes in the softness of your eyes, the small smile on your lips. “If you would like to go to the upper city I am not going to stop you” he whispers as you furrow your brows slightly.

“But I-” he shakes his head, “you’ve been here with me for almost five years… I think you’ve done your time” he nods sadly as you nod. “Jake” you reach over, taking his hand gently in your slightly manicured fingers. “I appreciate all you’ve ever done for me” you whisper as he nods at you sadly. “I will set it for you to head up there in the morning then?” he asks as you nod.

“I will let Zeus know” He stands, hand dropping from your own as he makes his way inside, not daring to look at you over his shoulder.

Morning came a lot faster than you expected. Before you knew it you were there ready to board the boat that would take you to Olympus. Natasha stands beside you at the docks, Cerberus at her side. You turn to face her as the boat arrives, hugging her tightly.

“I appreciate you” you whisper, hugging her tighter as she smiles, arms wrapping around your waist. “Be safe my dear, bring your light to the upper city” she whispers as you smile, pulling back to bend at the knee to the hound beside her. All three heads leaning forward to lick your cheeks, you giggle.

“You behave for everyone down here” you scratch under each of their chins with a smile. “Ma’am” the seaman stands from the boat, a slight scowl on his lips.

You stand, looking back at Natasha and make your way to the boat. You climb on with the help of the seaman and pull the bag with you, sitting down where he instructed. The underworld got smaller and smaller the further you went, Natashas small wave could be made out in the distance.

“Next stop, Olympus!”

Everything was so much brighter. It almost was blinding as you made it to the docks of Olympus. Looking around at all the people around you, standing slowly as the boat comes to a stop. Multiple signs of “welcome home!” or “she has returned!”. You frown slightly, climbing off the boat as Zeus, who introduces himself as Bradley, meets you at the end of the dock.

“Welcome home” he smiles, hand held out to you.

“I have someone who’d like to meet you” he grins as you take his outstretched hand, looking around at all the people. There were more people than you were used to. “I will get you settled of course but this someone has been itching to see you” Bradley adds as you nod slowly, the knock on the wooden door pulls your focus back to the home you stood in front of.

An older woman opens the door quickly, a gasp on her lips.

“Ares!” she screeches, moving down the steps and wrapping you in her arms. You stand still for a moment, almost frozen. Soon, an older man is behind her at the door and has a smile on his lips. “My oldest daughter,” he smiles. The two of them stand back in front of you, smiles on their lips.

“Ares and Aprohdite, I present to you, your oldest daughter” Bradley grins as you smile at the two of them. “You can call us Sarah and Tom” Aphrodite points to herself and then to the man beside her.

“Come, let us get you settled” Tom’s hand reaches out to you as you gently take it and follow the two of them inside. 

+

Olympus was bright. Flowers thrived in the gardens as well as the sun shined brightly. Settling into it was hard for you, it was nothing compared to the underworld.

You’ve been in Olympus for almost a month. “We are holding a gala” Aphrodite smiles, hands together in pride. “To celebrate your homecoming” she holds her hands out to you as you nod, slowly pushing food around with a fork, almost like a teenager. “Honey '' Tom sits up in his seat, setting his fork down onto his plate with a clank. “What is it?” he asks as you shake your head,setting your own fork down and turning to him with a smile, “nothing, that sounds lovely”.

The two smile and resume their meal, you couldn’t help but wonder if Jake would make an appearance at this gala. “Will Hades be invited?” you ask softly, looking at your parents who both drop their silverware. “Of course not” Your mother seeths, you nod slowly.

“Sorry I asked” you reply and take your plate and stand from the chair, walking out to set it in the sink and out into the backyard. Sitting down on the grass you sigh, looking out at the clouds. 

“You are miserable” Natasha comments, setting the suit out on his bed, Jake paces the room, dressed in his slacks and undershirt. “I am aware” he seeths, pulling the button-down over his shoulders. “You miss her” she smirks proudly as he sighs. “You are in luck then” she adds as the envelope is held between her two fingers. He looks at the envelope with furrowed brows, “what is this?” he asks, taking it and stopping himself from ripping it open.

Your handwriting.

He knew the soft pen stroke as well as the small heart you added at the end of his name. “They are holding a Gala in Olympus for the return of Ares' daughter, and it seems she wants you there '' he opens the envelope slowly.

“Hades,

Please take this as a formal invitation to the Gala here in Olympus. The homecoming of the beloved eldest daughter of Ares and Aphrodite is to be celebrated!” 

He tilts his head. “She did not write this” he comments as Natasha sighs. “Do you want to go? I will arrange it with Hermes” she crosses her arms over her chest, in a scolding manner as he sighs. “I do not know” he replies, tossing the envelope onto his desk, walking out of the room with a slam to the door. She sighs, hands on her hips.

Jake sits in the dining hall, Cerberus sat beside him and lays his heads in his lap with a deep sigh.

“I know” he reaches down and scratches at the top of one of his heads. “I miss her too” he whispers as Natasha smirks in the doorway. She pulls the invitation from her pocket and makes the RSVP and gently slides it back into the return envelope.

+

The day of the gala approached quickly. You were thrown into gown fittings quickly. Every single gown didn't feel like you. As you sat in the backseat of the limo. The maroon gown sat against your skin delicately.

Your mother wanted you in a white gown but that felt too pure for you, almost a reminder how you made it here.

“Miss” you look up at the sound of the driver's voice, you’ve learned his name is James. “Yes?” you ask, sitting up slightly as he smiles at you in the rearview mirror. “We are here” he adds as you nod slightly, looking out to the crowd of people. You gulp, sitting back in the seat and twiddling the strap of your handbag. “Ready?” he asks as you nod, smiling at him as he climbs out the seat and makes his way to your door, pulling it open.

As soon as the door opens the lights are almost blinding as you climb out with the assistance of James. “Thank you” you whisper as he nods, giving your hand a reassuring squeeze. Your eyes land on your parents, quickly making a beeline to them, following behind them in the venue with a smile on your face.

“You okay sweetheart?” Your moms voice is soft, hand on your arm as you nod and give her a reassuring smile. “Let’s mingle!” she encourages, arm linking through yours.

The soft clinking of glass quiets the chattering room, you stand beside your father, glass of champagne flute in hand. “Thank you all for being here tonight” Ares’s voice booms through the room, a grin on his face.

“We can't thank you all enough for coming” he looks over at Aphrodite and then back at you. “My girl is home” he holds his glass up as the crowd cheers.

You smile, looking around the room as you notice the door at the end of the room opens and closes quickly. “It’s been a long journey but I can’t thank the gods enough for my girl” he pulls you into his side, a kiss to your temple as your eyes stay trained on the back of the room.

“And now we have our new Hera” Aphrodite adds as your eyes snap to hers quickly.

“Excuse me?” you ask, now moving from your fathers side as she smiles. “Bradley is searching for a wife and it's you” she whispers as you are quick to shake your head.

“I am gonna have to object” the voice is deep, a gruffness that you knew immediately.

You turn and there in his black suit, maroon dress shirt tucked into his slacks, stood Hades. “Jake” you breathe, a smile spreading on your berry stained lips. Jake was never so happy to see that smile.

He tucks his hands into his pocket, “This is no wedding” Ares adds as Jake nods, looking at him with a smirk. “Sure, but there will be no wedding happening” his green eyes follow over to you, lifeless until they meet your face, a small smile makes its way on his lips.

You are quick to move from your fathers grasp and down the steps into Jake’s awaiting arms. Wrapping your arms around his neck you tangle your fingers in the small hairs at the nape of his neck, holding him tightly against your body. “Shhh” he whispers in your ear, holding your body closer to him as if molding the two of you together. 

The sound of glass shattering pulls you from the bubble you tried so hard to grip onto tightly. You turn to the sound and find your father seething. “What makes you think you have any right!” He points towards Jake, making his way to the two of you.

Jake is quick to put a protective arm around your waist and push your body behind him. “I don’t but I know an unhappy woman when I see one” Jake adds, your hand grips his bicep tightly.

“You have no right to make a claim against her” Jake laughs, a full belly laugh. “Technically I had made a claim on her first, she agreed to come with me” Ares’s face is burning as he looks between the two of you.

You move from behind Jake and look between your parents. “I love him” the two of them gasp. “He’s protected me and cared for me all these years and yet you didn’t have the decency to come looking for me!” you breathe as your mother places a hand over her heart.

“I’ve been with Hades for over five years! On Top of the years I spent in that shitty place with the shittiest man I ever met!” you yell, tears are now flowing down your cheeks. “Yet, Hades came to me, he came to me and let me save a man who did not love me, who had not once cared for me” you turn to Jake who stands there with his hands in his pockets, head down.

“And yet the most heartless man of Olympus cares for me" you look back at your parents. "He turned his whole world around for me” you walk to Jake as his head snaps up, looking at you. Taking his hand you turn to your parents.

“So no, he does have a right to claim” you smile at him sadly then back to your parents. “And I am not going to be the next Hera and will not be marrying Zeus" you smile towards Bradley who has a friendly smile on his lips.

"I am going back to the underworld with Hades, where I belong” you whisper, giving Jake’s hand a squeeze as you turn back to him.

“Take me home” you whisper as he grins, wrapping an arm around your waist, following beside you out the door. "Sweetheart” he whispers, stopping you at the end of the steps.

“I am hopelessly devoted to you and only you Hades” you face him, sniffling as the tears roll down your cheeks.

“I meant everything I said, I meant all of it” you whisper as he reaches up and cups your cheek and gently catches the tears with his thumb. “I’ve been devoted to you since you first came to me, since you first agreed to come live with me” he whispers a smile on his lips. "From the days you fought so harshly to get away from me" he grins as you can't help but giggle.

Thud.

The sound triggers him to look up from his book as Jake raises a brow. He then hears your screams as he drops the book and takes the steps three at a time. He is quick to make it to your room and pushing the door open quickly.

You continue screaming, throwing the vases against the door, knocking over furniture. "(Y/N)" He makes his way into the room, dodging the framed photo being thrown at him.

"Hey!" he grabs hold of your hands as you scream. "Why are you keeping me here like a prisoner!" you push his hands off you as he sighs. "You agreed to this" he reminds you shake your head, sobbing.

"I just want to be free! I didn't know I'd be locked away in a tower like a princess!" he sighs, hands on his hips. "You have free reign here, you choose to lock yourself up in here, what do you want? I will give you anything you want" you sniffle, turning away from him, "I just want my life back".

"He's moved on you know" Jake whispers as you turn to him, "what?".

He nods, hands on his hips, "he found someone new, shortly after you were brought down here with me"

Panting you move closer to him, pushing against his chest as you seeth. "you monster"

“Hades has a heart in there?” you rest a hand on his chest over where his heart sits, he chuckles. “I’ve found it more with you” he admits, pulling you closer to him.

“I am sorry about the way you came to me but I am not sorry for bringing you to me” he admits as you nod, sniffling and standing up on your tippy toes to pull him down from his neck.

“Shut up and kiss me Hades” he grins, pulling you in by the waist, kissing you as if his life depended on it. You grin, arms wrapping around his neck as the two of you part, nudging his nose against your own. “Let’s get you home” he grins, arms wrapping around your waist securely. 

“Cerby!” you squeal, running to the three-headed dog that meets you at the door, you fall to your knees and catch him, laughing as he tackles you to the ground, licking over your face.

“Hi!” you laugh as he pants above you, letting you stand back up, kissing all three of his heads. “Someone's home” Natasha smirks from the top of the stairwell, as you smile up at her.

“Yes, yes I am, you are stuck with me!” you grin, watching as she makes her way down the steps. Jake’s arm wraps around your waist from behind, a grin on his lips. “But, her things must be moved into the suite” Jake grins as you smile, looking over at him with a chuckle.

“Is that so?” Natahsa questions as then she notices the slight shimmer of the rings on both of your left fingers. “Oh my god!” she laughs, running to hug the both of you.

You smile as you embrace her tighter, this is where you belonged.

In the underworld beside your beloved.

If you enjoyed this, you can find all of my other work here, in The Library.

likes,comments and reblogs are always welcome! I love hearing everyone's opinions!

[twisting-echo]

Why I ship Snow White and Hades?

Before we get into this, I will state again that I am aware of Snow White's canon age, so I have her aged up to 18 in my headcanon.

(And whatever is blue and underlined is a link!)

I've said some of this before on an anonymous ask, but I'm going to further elaborate.

In my headcanon, I ship Snow White and Hades because I'm attracted to their chemistry and emotional connection. I'm also a sucker for May-December romances and height differences. In my headcanon, Hades is 6'5" and Snow White is 5'1". Their relationship dynamic is heavily inspired by Fluttershy x Discord (Fluttercord).

Also considering that in Greek mythology, Hades' wife is Persephone, who is the goddess of spring, nature, flowers, deer, death, and reincarnation, these are all things that coincide with Snow White too well.

The symbolic connections between Snow White and Persephone consuming the poisoned apple and the pomegranate are because, in both tales, the fruit represents temptation and hidden consequences.

The apple offered to Snow White by the evil queen is a direct reference to the biblical story of Eve and the forbidden fruit. Snow White’s apparent death after consuming the poisoned apple parallels the concept of resurrection. She is revived by true love’s kiss, symbolizing rebirth and redemption. 

In Greek mythology, Hades gave Persephone the pomegranate seeds while she was in the Underworld. The story goes that after Hades abducted Persephone, she became his queen in the realm of the dead. During her time there, she ate six pomegranate seeds. This act bound her to the Underworld, ensuring her return each year. As a result, Persephone spends part of the year with Hades (autumn and winter) and the other part with her mother Demeter (spring and summer). The pomegranate thus symbolizes her connection to both life and death. 

They both ate the fruit given to them as gifts, not knowing the consequences.

Since Hades isn't married to a Persephone of his own, and considering how he behaved towards Snow White in the book Mirrorverse: Pure of Heart, let's just say Hades clearly has a type~ 😏

In my Disney Mirrorverse headcanon, Snow White and Hades visit each other a lot in their respective universes. Hades will have coffee, tea, and other baked goods with Snow White at her cottage. He'll watch/help her pick flowers and spend time with the woodland creatures. They also knit together as a relaxing pastime while they converse. (Hades can knit! I've seen him do it in the episode Hercules and the Tapestry of Fate!)

Snow White will bring him cookies, cake, and coffee while he's having meetings with the other Disney villains and Greek mythology characters in the underworld. She also helps keep track of the souls that newly arrive and tries to soothe them the best way that she can. Snow White is also allowed entry to the Elysian Fields despite being alive, and she and Hades will indulge in whatever they enjoy together there.

When I made Hades and Snow White start to take a romantic interest in each other, I found their relationship to be quite an intriguing mix of contrasts and complements. Below, I listed some aspects they appreciate about each other:

Hades’ Perspective:

Snow White’s Kindness: Hades, being the god of the underworld, finds Snow White’s pure-hearted kindness and compassion refreshing and endearing. Her ability to see the good in everyone could soften his often-cynical outlook.

Innocence and Purity: Snow White’s innocence and purity are a source of fascination for Hades, who is surrounded by darkness and souls. Her light brings a sense of balance to his life.

Resilience: Despite her gentle nature, Snow White has shown resilience and strength in the face of adversity. Hades admires her inner strength and determination.

Snow White’s Perspective:

Hades’ Wit and Charm: Hades is known for his sharp wit and charm. Snow White is drawn to his charismatic personality and finds his humor delightful.

Protective Nature: Despite his dark exterior, Hades has a protective side, especially towards those he cares about. Snow White appreciates his loyalty and the sense of security he provides.

Depth and Complexity: Snow White is intrigued by Hades’ complex personality and the layers beneath his godly facade. His depth is something she finds fascinating and worth exploring.

Their relationship is a blend of light and dark, bringing out the best in each other while navigating their differences.

Everyone knows that Snow White suffered an intense anxiety attack caused by the huntsman, who is overcome by moral guilt and spares her life, but the damage is done. Snow White is faced with two terrible truths: the queen wants her dead, and she no longer has a place to live. She must survive in the forest without food or means to support herself. This sudden shift triggers an anxiety attack, which is shown metaphorically throughout the horrific "dark forest" scene. In other words, the trees were not her friends when she was having a panic attack. How do you guys think Hades reacted when Snowie told him what she went through?

Let's just say he'd be prepared to wipe out an entire forest for her if she'd let him. But she wouldn't, because she'd remind him that the forest is the home for all of the woodland animals and that she actually likes trees, despite what happened; trees are important. In other words, "Only Snow White can prevent forest fires."

Speaking of woodland animals, it's time to talk about two of my favorite little silly billies. For the record, I love the platonic love that Snow White, Pain, and Panic share. It's too precious to me! They love her and she adores them! She is their mommy and they are her babies! They would do anything for her and she for them. X3

Anyway, Pain and Panic's close friendship with Snow White. Their quirky personalities add some chaos to her peaceful life. These silly imps are known for their shape-shifting abilities and their loyalty (albeit reluctant) to Hades. And Snow White's gentle and nurturing nature would likely shine through. Here's how their friendship plays out:

Pain and Panic's Perspective:

Gentle Touch and Kind Words: Snow White, with her gentle demeanor and kind heart, approaches Pain and Panic. They’ve only ever known Hades’ wrath, so when she offers a hug or a comforting word, they freeze in shock. Their shapeshifting abilities momentarily falter as they process this unexpected kindness. It’s like a splash of cold water on their fiery, chaotic existence. Over time, Snow White’s consistent kindness begins to chip away at their skepticism. Maybe she genuinely cares. Maybe there’s no ulterior motive. Slowly, they allow themselves to lean into her touch and accept her words. It’s like a fragile plant unfurling after a long winter. Pain and Panic might not express it outright, but gratitude blooms within them. They steal glances at Snow White when she’s not looking, wondering how someone so pure can exist. Maybe, just maybe, they deserve this kindness—even if it feels foreign. 

Shape-Shifting Shenanigans: Pain and Panic transform into various creatures, specifically a rabbit, a chipmunk, and birds, to comfort her or make her laugh. They also use these forms to assist her with chores and cooking. They even disguise themselves as dwarfs to join her in the mine. 

Comedic Relief: Snow White's gentle nature clashes with their mischievous antics. They'd accidentally spill things, knock things over, trip over their own tails, and create chaos in her cottage. Snow White would patiently clean up after them, giggling at their clumsiness and finding them endearing. Snow White finds joy in their company. Their slapstick antics amuse her. She laughs when they squabble over disguises. Their friendship lightens her burden.

Loyal Protectors: Despite their flaws, Pain and Panic would fiercely defend Snow White. If the Evil Queen sends poisoned apples, they'd be there to warn her or even take the bite themselves (only to regenerate, of course).

Inventive Solutions: Need a quick escape from the Queen's huntsmen? Panic could turn into the torso of a buck and Pain into the rump, whisking Snow White away. Their unconventional methods would keep her safe. Plus, they'd make a noble steed for her and gallop around the forest.

Copyrighted Merchandise Enthusiasts: Pain and Panic's love for copyrighted merchandise would lead to quirky gifts. Imagine Snow White receiving a "Magic Mirror" or a "Poison Apple" mug from Panic and a "Fairest of Them All" or a "I'm Grumpy Deal with It" T-shirt from Pain. They'd enjoy their Disney merch together.

Snow White's Perspective:

Motherly Care: Snow White treats Pain and Panic like her own little imps. She fusses over their well-being, ensuring that they wash their hands before every meal, that they eat their veggies, and that they get enough rest (even though they're immortal). Imagine her tucking them into bed with tiny handknit blankets. (She actually lets them sleep with her in her bed as her cuddle buddies.)

Kindness and Patience: When Pain accidentally shape-shifts into a clumsy creature, Snow White would giggle and help him regain his form. She'd patiently listen to Panic's anxious rants and offer soothing words.

Tea Parties: Snow White's cottage would host delightful tea parties. Pain would spill tea on the tablecloth, and Panic would fret about staining it. Snow White would laugh, saying, "It's just tea, my dear imps!"

Protective Instincts: Snow White becomes fiercely protective. When Hades threatens them, she stands between them and (gently) tells him off. She won’t let anyone harm her babies, even if they’re shape-shifting demonic minions.

Gifts of Kindness: Snow White will gift them cookies and other baked goods. She also knitted them scarves because she worries about them catching a cold.

Song and Dance: She sings and dances with them all the time. The best way I can describe what kind of songs they sing is in this link (Pain is Steve, Snowie is Hayley, and Panic is Stan). And the best way I can describe what kind of dances they do together is in this link (never imagine them doing this dance without the sunglasses).

In this whimsical friendship, Snow White's nurturing spirit would keep Pain and Panic out of trouble, and they'd add a touch of chaos to her fairy-tale life.

The screenshot of this paragraph above is taken from @skyselfships (I Read Mirrorverse Pure of Heart) post.

For those who don't know, Mirrorverse Pure of Heart is a novel set in the universe of Disney Mirrorverse.

So what I love about the screenshot of the paragraph above is that even after Hades basically left Snow White to die, he did have enough of a heart to think about making it up to her if she did die. The thing that stuck out to most is that he'd make sure that she made it into the Elysian Fields.

The Elysian Fields were hard to reach, but for those few who were deemed worthy, they were promised an eternal life of relaxation, beauty, and amusement. The Elysian Fields, also called Elysium, went by many names. It was sometimes called the “White” Island, and more often it was referred to as the Islands of the Blessed. 

There were never storms on the Islands of the Blessed, and snow never fell. The only notable weather was a gentle, refreshing breeze that blew in from the west and an occasional light sprinkle of rain. Elysium is covered in golden flowers. The grass, trees, and water were dotted with fragrant blooms.

The Islands of the Blessed were an idyllic and pristine afterlife free of suffering, pain, and hardship. However, the heroes of legend were the only ones who were admitted because, for most people, the pastoral pleasures of Elysium were entirely out of reach. Only the most distinguished mortals, typically the sons and daughters of the gods, had ever gone there.

After learning all of this, it means that Hades doesn't let just "anyone" into the Elysian Fields. I think it shows so much about his character and the impressions she left on him in Mirrorverse: Pure of Heart. 

Recognition of Purity and Goodness: Snow White’s character is often associated with purity, kindness, and an unwavering belief in the goodness of others. These traits, while not traditionally seen as “heroic” in the sense of physical bravery or grand adventures, embody a different kind of heroism. By allowing her into the Elysian Fields, Hades might be acknowledging that true heroism can also be found in the purity of one’s heart and the impact of their kindness on the world.

Breaking Traditions: The Elysian Fields are typically reserved for heroes of legend—those who have performed great deeds and shown exceptional bravery. By admitting Snow White, Hades could be challenging these traditional criteria, suggesting that the definition of a hero is broader than previously thought. This act could symbolize a more inclusive and compassionate approach to who is deemed worthy of eternal peace and happiness.

Character Development for Hades: Hades is typically portrayed as a villain, but allowing Snow White into the Elysian Fields could show a more complex, albeit softer, side to his character. It might suggest that even he can recognize and reward true goodness, hinting at the potential for change or redemption. This adds depth to his character, making him more than just a one-dimensional antagonist.

Look at Cerberus! Isn't he the cutest thing?! Don't you just want to pet him?! X3

Anyway, we are still talking about the screenshot of the paragraph above, and Hades allowing Snow White to rub Cerberus’ belly is a hugely symbolic gesture that can be interpreted in several ways:

Trust and Acceptance: Cerberus, the fearsome three-headed guardian of the underworld, is typically portrayed as a fierce and loyal protector. Allowing Snow White to rub his belly suggests a level of trust and acceptance from both Hades and Cerberus. It indicates that Snow White’s inherent goodness and purity can even tame the most fearsome creatures.

Softening of Hades’ Character: This act could also signify a softer side of Hades. Hades showing leniency and warmth towards Snow White and Cerberus highlights his capacity for kindness and change. It adds depth to his character, suggesting that he can appreciate and reward gentleness and compassion.

Interplay of Light and Dark: Snow White, a symbol of innocence and light, interacting with Cerberus, a creature of the underworld, creates a beautiful contrast. This interplay of light and dark emphasizes the theme that goodness can exist even in the darkest places and that kindness can bridge the gap between vastly different worlds.

Closing argument:

Snow White and Hades rule the Underworld with compassion, ensuring that lost souls find solace. And they adopted Bambi, Flower, Thumper, and Thumper's sisters, Blossom, Violet, Daisy, Ria, and Tessie, as their children. (Blossom, Violet, Daisy, Ria, and Tessie are daddy's girls.)

🚫IF YOU DO NOT LIKE THIS SHIP, PLEASE DON'T COMMENT OR REBLOG 🚫

🚫 IF YOU DON'T LIKE MY HEADCANON PLEASE DON'T COMMENT OR REBLOG 🚫

[11queensupreme11]

We already have the Percy baby au but are we also in that same au "The biggest custody battle ever"?

We start with the normal baby Percy, where instead of a teenage Percy we have a baby Percy, but this au is also a mix of the pregnant Loki au

In the PJ universe, Sally got pregnant and gave birth to Percy normally and since Percy is Poseidon's only daughter she gives her a little attention and affection, but during the night baby Percy is taken across the magic bridge, I forgot the name sorry) to the ror universe and reappears in loki's womb exactly the same way it happens in pregnant loki au

By then we all know what happens so I'm going to skip the part where the Norse and Greek family get attached and start to love baby Percya, my interesting idea comes after this

Meanwhile, in the ror universe, Loki gives birth to baby Percy, who during the gestation period became a deity, I will explain more about this concept below:

for the divining of baby Percy I am based on two myths the birth of Dionysus and the creation of the Milky Way, in the first myth it is said that after showing his real divine form to one of his lovers it is pulverized leaving it in the dust only the baby she was pregnant with and to avoid the death of the fetus Zeus opened a slit in her thigh where he placed it until birth and because he was generated for three months in a divine body when he was born he already possessed divinity, In the myth of the Milky Way, Ivy is tricked by the Antenna into breastfeeding Hercules, but he suckled with such force that he hurt the goddess's chest, who with a scream moved away and ended up spilling her divine milk towards the sky, ending up like this for creating the Milky Way

Percy had already been born when she was transposed into the Ror universe, but as she didn't yet have the Achilles curse, her little body would disintegrate, so to prevent this from happening, Bifrost placed Percy in Loki's womb (I can't think of a specific reason, maybe he was just the closest compatible person at the time? I kind of like to think that Bifrost is conscious and chose Loki thinking about his compatibility with Percy)

for being generated for another nine months (or less) in a divine womb, Percy's humanity was being consumed by Loki's divine power (imagine red paint and white paint, a small portion of the two was mixed which resulted in a pinkish tone, Now imagine that this same pink tone for months received small amounts of a new shade of red, the shade of pink that was once a perfect balance between red and white has now become a new shade of red, you and I know that this shade before it was pink but anyone looking at it now would be unable to know that as the pink/white tone has been diluted to the point where it almost doesn't exist; this is exactly what happened to Percy's human genes, they were consumed and eventually erased by the genes loki's divine genes until all that was left were ror poseidon's also divine genes)

In some myths it is said that a large part of Hercules' strength comes from the fact that he was suckled by the divine milk of Hera (who had the strongest milk among all the goddesses), so drinking Loki's divine milk would be the final nail in the coffin to kill Baby Percy's humanity (mainly because Loki spent several months breastfeeding Baby Percy, unlike Baby Hercules who was only breastfed once by Hera)

Meanwhile in the PJ universe the gods finally discovered where baby Percy went and how to get her back, Poseidon tells Sally that he is going to get their baby and after much imputation on Sally's part he agrees to take her along, the two of the other Greek gods use the Bifrost of their universe to reach the ror universe

That's when all the shit happens:

With an explosion of light from the Bifrost, the PJ Greek gods, enter the ROR universe and meet their ROR counterparts.the first thing Sally sees is baby Percy and she screams for her baby and that's what breaks everyone out of their trance, Loki is obviously offended as a random human screams that it's his baby's hand, pj Poseidon holds her arm stopping her to run towards Loki

The ror gods are exuding a huge murderous aura, especially Poseidon and Loki, so PJ Zeus begins to explain that they are from another world and that in fact Baby Percy is the son of PJ Poseidon

OBVIOUSLY the ror gods do not accept this explanation and a huge fight ensues, the ror gods and the PJ gods are arguing about which of them has the right to the child, and then someone (probably ror Eris) proposes to decide this in a divine court/judgment, the PJ gods argue that ror Zeus will be partial to his brother so everyone decides to bring in another Zeus from another dimension (maybe the Zeus from "BLOD OF ZEUS")

The entire trial would be a much more violent version of that biblical tale where King Solomon had to judge which of the two women was telling the truth about being the real mother of the living baby and which of them was lying and was actually the mother of the dead baby

The PJ gods argue that Percy's biological parents are Sally and Poseidon since it was his seed that impregnated Sally and it was she who originated, carried, cared for and breastfed Percy until she was kidnapped from her crib and taken to this world

The ror gods argue that they are also Percy's biological parents since Loki also carried, cared for and breastfed Percy, they also emphasize that Percy is a complete God and not a demigod therefore it would be impossible for Sally to give Percy the necessary care

Of course, the Norse ror gods also enter the discussion, I argue that if Bifrost chose the ror gods as parents, it is because he judged that the PCs would be incapable of properly raising the child, Grandpa Odin is not willing to let anyone take away his granddaughter. of the family and Uncle Thor (who will be a secret romantic yandere hahaha) won't let anyone take his niece (and future wife) out of his reach

This arouses the interest of PJ Zeus, who now really wants to take Baby Percy back (maybe he will also discover that Percy is essential to the future survival of Olympus) PJ Poseidon argues that he will take Sally and Baby Percy to live in Atlantica

which is countered by ror poseidon who points out that the tides over PJ Poseidon's domain are tainted and who asks why he didn't take Percy to live with him sooner (think that before the trial boz Zeus analyzed each of the worlds and how were the conditions of the parents)

I just imagine Sally crying and begging them to give her baby back, PJ Zeus says that if they want a child so much, just ror poseidon and loki make one instead of stealing one from a pair of worried parents

of course the ror gods are being supported by the other ror pantheon, everyone fears and hates Poseidon and Loki but they still love baby percy who is so cute and charismatic always trying to pull her hair and smiling whenever she is held by someone

Loki is not moved by Sally's crying and absolutely denies that anyone other than him has the title of Percy's mother, Ror Poseidon seems to me like those men who find it disgusting to create someone who has no biological ties to you but the way he is a hypocrite he will probably become the number one defender of that saying "father is the one who takes care"

Meanwhile baby Percy is being held by boz Zeus who is in the judge's place, she doesn't even have the mental capacity to understand what is happening so while the tension and the desire to kill grows she is playing with some toy until she feels hungry, at that moment she cries and boz Hera says that she is probably hungry and at that moment both Sally and Loki get up with the intention of going to Percy to breastfeed her

This is the breaking point because after seeing Sally get up Loki tries to attack her, the PJ gods defend her and in the end they all decide to determine custody in a battle to the death, so now years before Ragnarok the gods are organizing the coliseum to carry out the greatest battle that has ever happened, God against God with only one objective: to have custody of baby Percy

This conflict is so big and violent that it makes all the confusion that generated the Trojan War seem like child's play, baby Percy is literally the new golden apple that started a war between worlds, in the background the PJ and Ror Éris are wondering if MAYBE Baby Percy isn't actually a descendant of one of them

honestly it's very difficult to write an idea and in my head it had much more detail, I can't even imagine how exhausting it must be for you to write a fanfic, you DEFINITELY have my respect I would also love it if you could present how you think the ror poseidon would react, I tried but trying to write about him seemed impossible, and thank you so much for that comment you wrote about how I should be a dark romance writer, it inspired me and I'm really going to start organizing myself to start writing and post on my tumblr 😘😘😘)

first off, this was so beautifully written, i was entertained by every word you typed 😭 you are very big brained 🧠

i can just imagine, as an act of desperation, maybe one of the pjo!gods would (zeus??) would mention the great prophecy and how percy, as one of the children of the big three, would be a strong contender for being the prophecy child that could save/raze olympus

but that would be a huuuuuuuuge mistake to mention because that would just make the ror gods pissed 💀 they're essentially asking for percy back just so they could use her, plus, none of the ror!gods would give a shit if the pjo universe was in danger, they'd be happy if they were all to die

either way, i definitely see the poseidons having a whole cat fight in the middle of the court. idk, maybe one of them tried to teach percy how to say 'dada' and the other one just lost his shit 😂 as for sally, poor woman's gonna need to be guarded 24/7 cuz she's in the BIGGEST danger in here. not only is she human, but she's claiming to be percy's mother, i definitely see some gods trying to assassinate her when the chance comes

[cartoonsbrainrot]

Yes, I'm still in my Greek myths phase. And yes, I'm going to mix it in with the universe of the Disney movie and animated show.

That being said, here's a bit I had for Zagreus if he showed up in the Hercules tv series:

Zagreus (rambling): "Look, I mean, it's not like I was ever a part of this feud with uncle Zeus and the rest of Olympus to begin with. And I know that dad hates Hercules with a burning passion...*chuckle* burning

...ANYWAY! I just think that since we're now going to school together, and we're cousins and all that, I don't see why I can't just be friends with him. After all, he took me, me, into his circle of friends on my first day there, when the other kids at ProAc were calling me the walking dead and running away from me. And Hercules doesn’t even know who I am, or who's kid I am.

So, what I'm trying to say is that I love dad, but I won't let him have a say in what people I choose to associate with."

Melinoe: "Are you done?"

Zag: "Yup. Sooo, what do you think?"

Meli: "I think you're an idiot."

Zag: "Hey! I asked you to help me with my speech, not to insult me. So, is it good?"

Meli: "Not even close. But don't sweat it, no speech will ever be enough to stop dad from blowing up."

Zag: "...Yeah, I know."

Makaria: "If daddy gets mad at you, just say mommy had no problems with it. Easy."

Zag: "Pin them against each other, that's genius! Why didn't I think of that?"

Meli: "Again, because you're an idiot."

And, to make it funnier, Zagreus is 16, while Melinoe and Makaria are 13 and 8 respectively. IDK, him asking his little sisters for help seemed like a cute idea.

[iboatedhere]

Heya! If you are still taking prompts then FirstPrince sailboat AU please? 😁⛵

Or garden hose if that's already been suggested! 🌞

If you so fancy ❤️

A little F1 AU?

---

Henry leans against the railing on the lower deck. He looks down at the dark water and watches the lights dance across it. 

It’s past midnight, but Port Hercule is wide awake. Yachts packed in like sardines in a tin, music blasting, beats and lyrics mixing together and creating a jumbled mess of noise. People are talking and singing in French, English, German, and Italian, and there’s a splash as something or someone hits the water, followed by raucous laughter. The smell of burnt rubber, high-octane fuel, and grease still lingers in the air, mixing with the heavy scent of cigar smoke and gunpowder from celebratory post-race fireworks.

Henry would rather be anywhere else, like behind a door that locks. Without people knocking for autographs or photos. Without women offering things he’s never been interested in. 

He wants to go home to his little cottage on the outskirts of London, where there’s plenty of room for David to run and no cameras, reporters, or team principals. 

He just needs a moment of peace, and the little bubble he’s created here will have to do.  

“Henry…”

Henry closes his eyes as the bubble bursts, and Alex’s footsteps echo down the stairs.  

“Someone said you went this way,” Alex says as he steps onto the deck, an entire bottle of champagne in his hand. 

He’s in a suit, jacket on but shirt unbuttoned nearly halfway down his chest. Henry’s seen him in this fit more than in his fireproofs. 

The suit is high-end, of course, and every designer is clamoring to dress him. He’s been on the cover of more fashion magazines than Henry can count. They’ve been popping up in his caravan, and he has a sneaking suspicion that Bea is to blame. 

“Remind me to have that person fired,” Henry says dryly. 

“You can’t fire Cash,” Alex says. “I’d be sad.” 

“God forbid.”

Alex laughs, loose and easy, drunk and happy. 

That’s the whole point, that Alex is happy. 

Alex is everything Mercedes wanted Henry to be. Alex fills in the gaps where Henry fell short. 

Henry wants to race; that’s all he’s ever wanted, but Alex is here to perform. 

Alex is vibrant and outgoing. He’s good on camera and in interviews. He is intelligent and funny, with zero reservations about letting everyone know it. He brings attention and new viewers to the sport, dating this hot, young starlet or that rising pop star. 

F1 sponsors want to pay him, men and women want to be with him, and Henry…Henry just wants him. 

“Why aren’t you celebrating?” Alex asks.

“I don’t know exactly what there is for me to celebrate.” 

“Umm, hello,” Alex says, gesturing to himself with his free hand. 

Above all else, Alex is good at racing, having come in first or at least on pole in the last five out of seven races. 

“Congratulations to you on your win,” Henry says as Alex takes a long swig from the bottle, tipping his head back as it spills down his chin and neck. 

Henry’s knuckles go white on the railing. “But you’ll have to forgive me for not wanting to celebrate my own performance.”

“Okay, first of all,” Alex says, pressing the bottle into Henry’s hand and gesturing for him to drink. “We’re a team, so my win is your win—don’t fucking roll your eyes at me—and P6 is nothing to get upset about. You’re in points. That matters.”

“You should tell my brother that.”

“I will. Is he here?”

Henry snorts. “This isn’t exactly my brother’s type of party. It’s not really my type of party, either.”

“Do you mean a fun one?”

“I’m fun,” Henry says as he playfully shoves at Alex’s shoulder. “I am, but this isn’t me.”

“It’s not me either,” Alex says, and Henry laughs. “Why is that funny?”

“Because it’s such a lie. You’re made for this.” 

“No, I’m just good at acting like I am. This isn’t me. This isn’t how I was raised–yachts, champagne, and women hanging off of me constantly, only using me for a photo op.” 

Henry wants to argue that that’s not him either, especially that last bit, but his father’s legacy looms too large, and Henry knows his privilege. 

“Well, I must say you’ve caught on very quickly. And I wasn’t raised on a yacht. It was a thirty-foot schooner.”

Alex laughs. “Yeah, that makes sense.”

Henry’s fingers tap against the bottle as he pulls up fond memories of off-seasons spent out on the sailboat with his family. “My father taught me to sail when I was very young.”

“Was that before or after he taught you how to drive? Or was that just in your genes?”

“He taught me,” Henry says softly, pushing those memories back. 

Alex nods and doesn’t push. “Do you still have the boat?”

“Yes,” Henry says. “Docked at St. Katherine.”

“You should take me out sometime,” Alex says, soft and eyes locked on Henry, and Henry nearly drops the champagne bottle.

“If you’d like,” he says, voice barely a whisper, but the way Alex’s gaze drops to his lip lets Henry know he’s heard.

[murfpersonalblog]

IWTV S2 Ep2 Musings - At the Chateau

More random musings; this time specifically about The Hunt at the Chateau.

I hate these two wenches specifically, but NGL, they look cool here.

Ohhhh, AMC knew what they were doing, going RIGHT for my ovaries! 😍 DADDY TUAN PHAM! 😍😍

Sincere is one thing. HONEST is another, though. Y'all knew those Americans were sus, Armand. They're not buying that "Bruce" BS, Louis, don't sleep on them!

I am SO BUMMED that we didn't get to SEE this scene; I was so excited!

Now I'll never get to see Louis so bored out of his skull by Santiago's thespian charms that he starts snoring in the middle of the play. U_U

Mr. I Could Not Prevent It, what were YOU doing to protect your man? You slaughter random innocent fledglings just for blinking, but you let your whole coven plot Louis & Claudia's demise right under your nose?

Bull frikkin crap!

Daciana been knew. U_U

Who is the coven LEADER, and the coven MASTER?

"COMPLICIT" finna be my favorite word this season, istg.

SO well said, Louis; as this beastly monstrous coven has TWO heads, these SNAKES, this immortal Hydra that only dies when Hercules cuts its head off and cauterizes the wound.

I am SO ready.

I loooove this transition frame; the Moulin Rouge as the most famous French theatre in pop culture, as Louis snaps his sad photos and Claudia whoops and the Theatre Louis sets on fire takes them hunting to a chateau they'll set on fire.

Reminds me of what Lestat said: "there is a veil between us; but it is a THIN veil." Louis will never be "one" with y'all. He's already bound by "a cord you cannot see, but it is real;" all your Mind Gift's mindscrewing can't un-screw Lestat out of Louis' blood! 😜 Louis drags that camera EVERYWHERE, ducking behind the lens, seeing the world thru a Glass Darkly; a warped perception of time & space. Cuz he's STRUGGLING; looking for God; looking for ("the wrong kind" of) love in all the wrong places.

Look at the things he takes pictures of! He's documenting DEATH; a MASS MURDER--"you are chronicling a suicide"--as the coven rides their bikes to the house they're gonna KILL everyone in. This isn't a mere road trip; this is a HUNT.

Equestrian statues & triumphal arches--monuments of blood-soaked imperialism & colonialism.

Hedonistic bacchic revelries. "I want food, I want sex, I want to go home."

Meanwhile, Claudia's high as a kite, on cloud 9.

EVERYBODY, Claudia? As they pan to Louis? "I hate you both!"

I wanna throw up when I remember Claudia's ashes got mixed with the coven's when the Theatre burned down. U_U No justice, and no peace. Claudia, I would've become the most notorious Parisian poltergeist in history--the Pope himself would've had to come up to perform the exorcism, on god I'd make my death everyone's problem.

But the LOOK on Louis' face, omg.

Whole 5 stages of grief in reverse:

Acceptance: he TRIES to "be one with us," taking on the "collective hunger;" smiling (fake AF) as he tries to soak in Claudia's ecstasy; riding in Armand's sidecar, flirting with the "Maitre," cozying up with his potential new beau

Depression: knowing full well he hates the rampant bloodlust & violence, the carnage in the chateau on fire behind him

Bargaining: Mr. I Only Eat Once Every Other Day, refusing to take part the the slaughter but still standing by--you are all COMPLICIT--while they were being killed; and agreeing to have Armand teach him how to be a better killer by honing the Mind Gift, etc.

Anger: The Fire Gift WHENNNNNNN? Foreshadowing AF! Claudia, you WILL be avenged!

Denial: Lestat WHO? Being told straight to his face that Armand knows he's lying, knows he's been collecting alimony & child support checks from Roget, knows Claudia wants to join the coven that set up a frikkin shrine to the dude, knows Santiago's a cheap imitation of Lestat, knows DreamStat's gonna keep haunting the narrative, I can't

An EFFED UP Gothic Romance.

The book stans who keep complaining about this show are just willfully ignoring what AMC's doing here. There is PLENTY we can complain about absolutely! But overall this adaptation is a slam dunk.

[snowmantita]

What are Hades, Persephone and Poseidon's Reaction to Disney's Hercules?

Looking at their personalities, Poseidon would hate him and give his motto of what a god is but on the side of Persephone and Hades, they would love him because he does everything he can to achieve his goal and putting aside his divinity to be with the woman he loves.

I must admit that, while I was drawing I started to watch the movie and a couple of chapters of the series, I haven't seen Hercules for years and seeing it now as an adult, I had mixed feelings, I also remembered why I loved this movie, I am very grateful for this ask because I could go back to my childhood and remember what I love.

[sundaysplayzone]

Commonly Asked Questions.

I get asked the same 3-5 questions all the time, so I thought I might make this new lil pinned post to help everyone out! But first, I want to thank you all for visiting my blog!

Do you take requests?

No, I do not.

Are your commission open?

Yes currently! Honestly now a days they’re almost always open. You can check them out on my website HERE!

Are you okay with gift art?

Of course! I would be flattered! If you’d like, you can find most of my characters here on toyhouse (I promise to update it soon!)!

How do you get the retro/vhs effects on your art?

I actually made a tutorial on that here! But honestly at the end of the day it’s a lot of “I plug this picture into several different apps and video editing software.” I wish I could give you a simple answer, but there is no easy way to do it that’s the same every time. I rarely if ever do it the same way back to back. Some colors look better when edited in Photoshop, some in Photomosh Pro. I pay almost $100 a month to have access to all of the software I use to make these effects because it’s part of my job. But luckily you can find so many free tutorials and apps out there, you just need to be curious and try new things!

What do you use to draw?

Another vague answer whoo! Sorry, but I use so many things to draw! But usually it’s sketch/ink/color/shade in Paint Tool Sai, and then move it to Photoshop to add the background, effects and details. I also use Procreate and Clip Studio from time to time. When it comes to traditional, it’s usually standard cardstock or a mixed media sketchbook. Then I draw and color with microns, copic pens, jelly rollers/gel pens, prisma colored markers and copic markers. 

Did you draw the backgrounds in your art? And if you use screenshots, where do you get them?

In the majority of my pictures, I use screenshots from old cartoons. I get these screenshots from the shows themselves. My friend is kind enough to set up a program that takes snapshots hundreds of times during the show. Then when the episode is over, they send them to me. I then spend HOURS, going through thousands of images and delete all but the good pieces. A majority of the time they take a lot of editing to be usable. I have to clean them up, remove character and scale the images.

This isn’t always the case however! I do often draw my own backgrounds! If you ever want to know, feel free to ask!

As for the more aesthetic/abstract backgrounds, I make those myself! I spent far too much money buying licenses and rights to use tons of different patterns and vectors. With those, I love recreating authentic backgrounds in the style of those seen in the 80s and 90s!

I see you draw a lot of Transformation/Chubby/(insert common movie trope here). Are you a fetish artist?

No, I am not a fetish artist. Do I draw art that might be someone’s fetish? Do I take commissions from people with a fetish for this subject matter? Yes, of course. But people need to realize, furry characters alone are a kink to some people. For me the difference is in how it’s drawn. And I personally do not draw my art in a way that sexualizes the piece.

I love drawing transformation scenes, people being swallowed by a monster, extra big tummies, but not because it’s something that I find hot. I just like drawing fun scenes. I get bored of just drawing a character standing in place all the time. I like drawing wacky scenes! 

A lot of my love for these come from cartoons. Edmund getting turned into a cat in Rock a Doodle. Hercules getting swallowed by the hydra. Kaa hypnotizing... everyone xD It’s just a story telling tool and sometimes it’s fun to draw! I’m not into hypno but I do like drawing big, colorful eyes. I’m just whatever about tf but I love drawing the swirling magic effects and the character changing from human to animal. It’s just cool to me!

In short, when I draw these things, it’s like I get to draw scenes from cartoons and movies in my style. It’s so wonderful to attempt to emulate some of the effects and details they used in movies from my childhood. It’s not about the hand changing into a paw for me, it’s the magical sparkles and how it’s so bright and vibrant compared to everything else. Where you see it go from hand to paw, that’s what I love drawing about tf art! Or being able to exaggerate the body and make a character look weighty by making them really round. Getting to draw a comically big mouth, giving a fun and interesting perspective shot. I think that stuff is so neat! Because it’s art!

I don’t care if it is someone’s fetish. I’m not drawing it in a way that’s sexual. Heck, it even says I wont in my TOS! Everything is G-PG here in Sunday’s Playzone! I’m not here to make that kind of content. It’s okay if adults have fetishes, and so long as you and others aren’t sexualizing my art, all is well!

[seedsinmygarden]

HLC And Their Disney Prince/Princess Twin

I was (and still am) a HUGE fan of Disney Princesses (and their lovers!) and just generally of Disney overall! I loved figuring out these characters' Disney twins, it took quite a bit of reading between the lines I think. Enjoy!

Word Count: 1,538 words

Tags and Warnings: None.

--

OMINIS GAUNT - Aurora from Sleeping Beauty

He’s literally Sleeping Beauty?? Look at this man and tell me he isn’t beautiful. Look at him. LOOK AT—

Not only is he just as beautiful as her, he also sleeps. A lot. Is it canon that he just naps everywhere and anywhere? I think so. (I like to think he prefers to lay in the sun because the Slytherin commons/dorm room remind him too much of home.)

He also has a beautiful voice. Not necessarily a singing voice (that remains to be heard), but tell me you don’t fall asleep listening to audios of him… just me?? Well, this is awkard.

On a more morbid note, he was cursed at one point (thanks mom), very similar to how Aurora was cursed. (Their situations aren’t the same, granted.)

Also has a great sense of style— he is a PRINCE, he has to have a good sense of style.

SEBASTIAN SALLOW - Aladdin from Aladdin

Same ambition and mischievousness, and their ability to lie and steal? Unparallel to none.

We all know Sebastian is amazing with wooing a person to his side… it worked on us, didn’t it?

They both have besties that are so, so loyal to them (while also setting their boundaries) and willing to do whatever it takes to help them through whatever it is they’re going through, whether that be granting wishes or trying to get them on a better path in life.

Doesn’t care how he looks from time to time. Would probably run around in rags if he wouldn’t get detention for it.

AMIT THAKKAR - Mirabel Madrigal from Encanto

Amit is the type to love his friends and family, no matter what they put him through.

Willing to handle any sort of bullshit that comes his way because he’s scared of being alone.

Just like Mirabel, he doesn’t any powers and his extensive knowledge on astronomy doesn’t exactly do very much to when it comes to making his career… so he feels useless. It’s up to those close to him to let him know that he really is valued.

All the sad stuff out of the way— he has PASSION!!! That’s one area he and Mirabel really match. Whatever, whenever, he’ll do it and he’ll get it DONE.

Also!!! “The stars don’t shine, they burn… and the constellations shift. I think it’s time you learn, you’re more than just your gift!” (”All of You” is a banger)

GARRETH WEASLEY - Ariel from The Little Mermaid

Red hair, hand-me-down {trinkets}… must be a Weasley.

I was VERY CLOSE to picking Hercules, but Ariel fits Garreth a little more to me… and there was someone else that fit Hercules MUCH better LOL

Anyways. Garreth, like Ariel, has a lot of sisters! And he has a fascination for the unknown. (I personally headcanon that Garreth has five older sisters.)

He loves to explore and experiment with his potions, mixing and matching different ingredients in an attempt to make… whatever it is he wants to make. We won’t judge.

He also longs to be a part of the greats. There’s a lot of Weasleys, his name is gonna get lost among those that have done something, so he has to do something AMAZING, or be something amazing, for the world to know Garreth Weasley. Part of their world. (Not that he wishes to leave his family behind— he loves his family! He just knows there’s more out there for him than a slow, little life in a borough.)

NATSAI ONAI - Mulan from Mulan

Like Mulan, Natty would do anything for the people she loves, the people she calls her family.

She is also an incredible fighter, as we’ve seen in duels, and is willing to sacrifice herself for the good of the Wizarding World.

Similar to how Mulan disguised herself as a man (her father) to sneak into the ranks of the Imperial Chinese Army, Natty can disguise herself as an animal and sneak around the jungle should that ever come of use.

Natsai means to “make good.” That’s pretty much most of what Mulan is trying to do— she’s trying to make good by protecting her injured father from having to go back into battle, and Natsai is trying to make good in taking out Harlow to ensure he doesn’t taunt the Hogwarts Valley again.

POPPY SWEETING - Anna from Frozen

Like Anna, Poppy is brilliant, brave, and courageous. She would have easily been a Gryffindor had she not been such a hardworker and so, so loyal to those she loves.

Speaking of love and loyalty, Poppy loves and will do anything for the animals she sees as her own children half the time. Her Olaf is Highwing!

She’s a little quick to fall, I imagine, but she’s also quick to learn.

Such excitement and pride over one thing, or one person or one accomplishment, will have her in the stars! She has so much love inside that she’s always eager to exude it.

Also, Anna’s actually good with animals in general, too! Then again, so are many of the other princesses, hence why this point comes last haha.

IMELDA REYES - Vanellope von Schweetz from Wreck-It Ralph

This is a girl who loves racing with a PASSION, just like our Imelda. The adrenaline gets Imelda going, going, gone, just like Vanellope.

And she prefers her hoodie over a dress as we saw in the first Wreck-It Ralph movie!

Vanellope is very charismatic, very talkative… once you get her going, she is GONE. Imelda isn’t exactly talkative, but rather, you just have to know the right thing to talk about with her (cough cough Quidditch cough) and she’ll talk with you for hours on the topic.

I considered Lightning McQueen for Imelda… but he’s not a Disney Prince/Princess. “I am speed.” would have been my main point.

ANNE SALLOW - Anastasia from Anastasia

They’ve both got wits, they’re both strong, and they have a mouth of daggers that can and will make anyone SWEAT.

Anne also cares very much for the people she calls her family, as Anastasia does.

I also feel like Anne is one of those girls to gladly be someone’s love. Like if she falls in love, she’ll fall in love hard. Any hardships they go through are her hardships too. Maybe it’ll take a bit for the love to happen, but it happens.

Anne has lost a full year of her life thanks to the curse, while Anastasia lost multiple years thanks to her memory loss. Anne may not be a secret princess or whatever, but she certainly should be treated like one, goddammit!

EVERETT CLOPTON - Hercules from Hercules

Much like Hercules, Everett starts off as just kinda. Eh. Like he’s a guy. He’s just a dude. He doesn’t get his glowup until after Hogwarts and when he does, he gets MUSCULAR. He gets the hot-after-high-school kind of glowup. The glowup no one expected.

Hercules doesn’t quite understand what it means to be a hero, and Everett doesn’t understand what it means to be a good guy. They both learn eventually.

Both are dumbasses. Dumbass himbos. Enough said.

LEANDER PREWETT - Beast from Beauty and the Beast

He started off kind of cruel, but then you warm up to him, truthfully… or you help him learn the error of his ways in classic “I CAN CHANGE HIM!” fashion. (I don’t think I would have liked him as much if it wasn’t for Scarlet including him in the reacts!)

He has a lot to learn in being kind, and maybe a lover will help him with that much like how Belle had helped Beast.

I don’t know if he’s RICH rich, but the Prewett family is one of the Sacred Twenty-Eight. Which essentially means royalty in the Wizarding World, whether that be rags or riches. Aka, Leander is a prince.

Leander is VERY OFTEN described as a bully, which certainly matches the criteria for how Beast becomes… well, Beast. He just has to be careful not to bully the wrong person… or get bit by a werewolf.

LUCAN BRATTLEBY - Merida from Brave

Not only do they have the same crazy curly hair, Lucan is all so determined to forge his own path.

He doesn’t need a romantic love to succeed in life, he has everything he needs right there with his amazing friends and family.

Speaking of his family— I headcanon that he has five younger sisters (like Garreth, but the opposite!) so he’s got quite a few to handle and many of them are fun to be around, much like how Merida has her triplet younger brothers always causing chaos.

They are also fighters. They like to fight. Lucan with his Crossed Wands, and Merida with her bow and arrows. Neither of them never miss.

PROFESSOR FIG - Merlin from Sword in the Stone.

Let me state the obvious… Old Man Mentor Who Is A Wizard Educating A Child. In the most barebones sense, that’s their character archetype.

Both are also very wise, yet kind of absentminded when it comes to others? I find it often unfair that MC was essentially thrown into this adventure, but I understand Professor Fig wanting to keep it going to complete what his late wife had set out to do.

Merlin believes in “Brain over Brawn” and that rings true with most of Professor Fig’s actions, interactions, and reactions!

[raisinchallah]

you know tho season 5 is often actively bad and i am kinda lukewarm on season 6 i do find it really interesting i dont feel like xena follows a similar pattern of shows falling apart towards the end of their run cuz its a show that constantly reinvents itself and never really feels out of ideas like sometimes the ideas are really bad but its never unambitious and its honestly so fascinating how much it grows and changes i honestly would be mentally quite curious what a season 7 would look like since i feel like its very much a show u can stylistically group into 2 season blocks where season 1 and 2 are like the gradual progression from being hercules the legendary journeys to figuring out what xena is but keeping to a more lighthearted tone and freely mixing drama and comedy in fun and inventive ways and season 3 and 4 are the most ambitious experimentations with plot and structure and the gradual cordoning off of comedy from drama and defining what xena as itself would be and seasons 5 and 6 are like more into the meta elements and extremely operatic tone tho season 5 is kind of off the wall due to multiple showrunners and revolving door of writers but the twilight of the gods and antony and cleopatra and such are all high drama to the extreme and are a distinct tonal shift from season 4 and a lot of those changes are picked up and ran with in season 6 and idk makes me wonder what would have been done to a season 7 what the newest shift in the show could have been and where it would have taken it but u know what that would have been 2002 and tbh best to not be on television in 2002 ill be real

[masterwords]

the shape you take

Summary: Hotch is sad. Jack is just about to turn 18, Hank is spending the summer with his mom and he's dwelling on the empty nest. Morgan has just the ticket: sea, sand, food and naps. Fun in the sun and the sack. While exploring a nude beach one night they find a little more than they bargained for. (Part of The Chicago Times series)

Pairing: Hotch/Morgan

Words: 8.8k

Warnings: sex (not explicit details, just "hey they're having sex" type thing), food & alcohol, mentions of Foyet’s knife, scars (both of them), murder/corpse/blood, an inappropriate boner situation...

Read on AO3: the shape you take

Notes: This is my first entry for @imagining-in-the-margins CM Summer Sunshine Fic Challenge. I used one of the NSFW prompts but this is basically PG-13 because I don’t really write smut, just some sexy vibes. The prompts I chose were: Character A finally convinces B to go to the beach with them. Turns out it's a nude beach mixed with The sun makes Characters sleepy, so they take a nap. (They take a lot of naps. They're old.) There are a couple more from the list that I hope to write for before the challenge is finished, but we’ll see where the summer takes me! The end here is purposely left open for a special surprise...another collab with @domestikhighway58! Because writing with hwy58 is a dream and I want to do it all the time. To be unveiled soon-ish. (How's that for noncommittal?) (I'm posting the whole thing here, I haven't done that in a while...do you want me to go back to that or keep just linking AO3?)

**

Win by persuasion, not by force.

All spring Derek had been dropping hints. Little ones at first. He would add feta cheese to salad one night at dinner, or watch Hercules with Hank when he knew Aaron was going to be coming home from work or a run. Nothing big, but he knew Aaron would pick up on it eventually.

As they approached summer, the tactics became a little less subtle. There was a brochure stuck to the freezer, and a bottle of Greek red wine opened after dinner on Derek’s last day of work for the summer. Aaron had been done a week earlier. They waited to celebrate until everyone was finished and on summer break.

“Are you trying to tell me something?” Aaron asks, pouring the wine and watching the boys set the table. Hank likes to fold the napkins while Jack sets out the silverware. Too many years separate them and yet Jack has been drawn closer to him in the last few months as he realizes how close he is to moving out, not seeing his little brother every day. He’d waited years to have one and it feels like it’s over way too soon. He wants to go to college in New York, but Hank makes him want to stay in Chicago instead. The thought of not being here, of missing big milestones, is crushing. Some small part of him thinks he knows how his dad must have felt missing his milestones for work – first words, first steps, first day of school, first everything. He’s going to move to New York and he’s going to miss all sorts of big moments.

“I’m not trying to tell you anything,” Derek replies, scooting between the counter and Aaron, pressing in so close they barely have room to breathe. “I am telling you something.”

“When?” Aaron asks, because he knows better than to ask stupid questions. If Derek has the brochure and he’s laying it on this thick, he’s already booked the trip. And that’s okay, because Aaron spent too many years in complete control of everything and watching it all fall spectacularly to pieces...he’s shockingly willing to go with the flow these days.

At least to some degree.

“Jack leaves for New York on the 19th, Savannah’s picking Hank up on the 22nd, and my mom and sisters leave on the 25th. So, we’re leaving on the 25th. We’ll drive them to the airport and then hop on a plane ourselves.”

“When do we come back?”

“I booked the hotel for two weeks but...let’s just play it by ear huh?”

Play it by ear. That phrase would have struck fear into Aaron’s heart a few years ago. Sometimes he still feels like he’s going to make plans and then get a phone call that pulls him back to the BAU. It’s a hard habit to break even after all of these years.

“Two weeks in Greece. Where?”

“We’ll fly to Athens, spend a few days there, and then take the ferry over to Milos. I booked us an ATV rental so we can go wherever we want. We can do some day trips to other islands, go hang out on Crete and do all your nerdy shit...plus beaches, food, hiking, nightlife. Our room on Milos has its own private saltwater pool.”

“Private?” Aaron likes the sound of private. He’s not very interested in all that nightlife type stuff but a private pool? That he can get behind. Of course, if Derek asked him to dance he could hardly turn him down.

“I’ll show you pictures after dinner.”

Jack’s going to be 18 in a few months. This is his last summer of high school. He’s decided to skip sports and summer camps in lieu of spending two months living with Sean who has done good things with his life in his time since being released from jail. Sean who has earned, in Aaron’s eyes, his shot at redemption. What Aaron learned as a young teenager being packed off to boarding school, Sean had to learn through just over three years in a small cell, stripped of his liberties. Better late than never. Jack is old enough now to handle himself anyway, he’s more than proven his own responsibility in their years living in Chicago. He drives all over the city, he doesn’t break curfew, he’s really a little too good. It scares Aaron sometimes that he’s not out there causing trouble. Giving them hell. Just another way he thinks he’s broken his son.

He knows that isn’t the case though. Since Jack turned twelve, he’s had Derek and Fran and Sarah and Desiree and Savannah. He’s always had Jessica and Roy, he never doubted his mother’s love for an instant. His support system is full of incredible strength. Aaron knows that even if he’s failed, none of them have. But this trip to Greece, he can tell it’s Derek’s way of trying to pull him out of this spiral he’s sauntering into. This deep well of sadness at his son growing up and moving out, this empty feeling that he’s losing the last part of Haley that was never his to keep in the first place.

“What are you hiding?” Jack asks over dinner. He can tell they’re sitting on something. They’re terrible at keeping secrets.

“Not hiding anything,” Derek says, handing Hank his plate full of cut up steak and salad. “I just told your dad where I’m taking him for summer vacation.”

Jack rolls his eyes and huffs, visibly relieved. “Finally. I thought you’d have to take him all the way to the airport for him to get it.”

“I had a lot going on,” Aaron says a little defensively. It isn’t like he didn’t see Derek’s hints, but his mind was simply not present enough to try and guess why Derek was going crazy for Greece. “Final exams, your trip to New York…”

“Dad.”

Aaron throws his hands up in exasperation and smiles. “Take it easy on your old man. This is a hard time.”

Jack stops at that, he knows the idea of him moving out is killing his dad slowly. They’ve been on their own together for so long now he’s a little scared himself. “Well, you guys have to send tons of pictures.”

“Of course.”

Aaron cries when he hugs Jack goodbye at the airport. He manages to wait until Jack is far enough away that he doesn’t see it, but Jack knows it’s happening, he knows his dad cries easily so he doesn’t turn around. He saves him the trouble of trying to hide it. And he calls the minute his plane lands at JFK to let his dad know he’s safe and just as planned (and on time), Sean is waiting for him.

Savannah shows up a day early unannounced, her flight was changed due to weather. She sleeps in Jack’s room and spends a little more time in the city with family than expected. It’s a nice surprise for them all, and keeps Aaron from feeling too gutted at Jack’s absence. Having a full house means he’s making coffee and planning meals and making sure everyone is taken care of, it hardly leaves him any time at all to worry about whether Jack is getting into trouble in New York. (He’s not. Nothing too bad anyway. Sean might have encouraged him to live a little...but they’ll keep that to themselves. Sean is reformed, he’s no angel.)

When Savannah takes Hank, and it’s just the two of them for a few days, they spend their time preparing their house to sit empty for weeks. They have people lined up to come check on things, get the mail, mind the yards but for the most part it’ll just sit. They pack their bags and eat off of paper plates in the days leading up to their trip. They empty their cupboards and refrigerator. It feels like working in the BAU, never being able to keep anything perishable on hand just in case. Aaron always joked that it was incredible that none of them ended up with scurvy.

At the airport, they walk Derek’s mom and sisters to their gate. Off to Hawaii, a vacation paid for by he and Aaron. A sort of thank you for taking care of them, for helping with Hank, for everything. “All inclusive means all inclusive, mom,” Derek says as he wraps her in a hug. “You put on the little bracelet and you don’t pay for a damn thing. You want a piña colada? You get one. You want a meal? You get one. Don’t skimp okay?”

“Oh, believe me...I won’t be…” Desiree says with a smirk and Sarah agrees.

“Gonna make sure I drink every drop you paid for.”

“Girls!”

Fran still can’t believe she’s going to Hawaii. She’s never been on a plane that’s gone farther than Virginia. She’s never been west. She’s anxious to fly over the ocean, but more than that, she just can’t believe her son is in a place now that he’s married and buying tropical vacations for her and his sisters like it’s nothing. If you asked her where she saw her life going when her husband died and she was thrust into being a single mother struggling to survive on the south side of Chicago, this wouldn’t have ever occurred to her.

“Be safe on your trip,” she says as she hugs Aaron around the neck. “Don’t let him do anything dangerous. I don’t want any pictures of him jumping off of cliffs or swimming in the open ocean.”

“I don’t want any of that either,” Aaron says, knowing with absolute certainty that if Derek wants to do either of those things he won’t be able to stop him. He’d like to say that he wouldn’t be doing those things, but if Derek grabbed him by the hand and asked him to jump off of a cliff into the crystal blue water, or climb down off of a boat and swim in the open sea...he isn’t sure he could say no, even if he wanted to.

“Don’t let him eat too much cheese, it makes him sick,” Fran adds, still holding Aaron’s neck. He nods.

“I know.”

“And you! Don’t you worry about Jack or the house or...anything. Don’t get sunburned. Eat good food. Smile. Have fun. Make memories.”

“You too.”

(x)

He’s drunk on sunshine and the sound of waves. On blood red wine and salty, briny cheeses and oil soaked olives. Decadence never appealed to him, but being here on their private patio, his feet dangling in a small private pool and staring out at the Aegean Sea that’s about as lazy and warm as he feels right now he wonders why. Derek is sleeping on the bed just inside the sliding doors, bathing in glorious sunlight. A cat nap, he said over an hour ago. At their age a cat nap tends to turn into an afternoon lost to dreams.

They started the nap together, lazy and lounging, twisted tangled limbs and feather soft kisses as they drifted off. But he was hungry so he got up before he managed to fall completely asleep. Untangled himself from Derek’s sweaty grip and padded barefoot toward the fridge for some food. Cheese and olives left over from their breakfast, an apple sliced with some honey. He’s practically starving by the time he’s sitting on the balcony with a plate on his lap watching the seagulls and the cats battle for scraps that the tide left behind.

He’s never loved the beach. Sand gets everywhere, it smells bad, and people are rude. They rarely stay in their own areas, you have to fight for a space. Too crowded. He wonders how people find it at all relaxing. But this? Overlooking the beach from his own balcony, this is good. No sand, all ocean as far as he can see. Islands in the distance. He counts them off mentally, notes which ones they’ve already traveled to, visualizes his way through them. Storing those memories tight in there. He doesn’t want to forget a moment and he’s afraid he already has.

Beside him is a journal, just a little notebook filled with shorthand and chicken scratch, things he wants to do and things he wants to remember to tell Jack about. It calms the storm in his mind to have it all written down.

Jack is pulling away, naturally, but Aaron got a text the day before with a photo of him eating with Beth and Sean. She insisted on seeing him when she came on a work trip, and Aaron thinks she’s more beautiful than ever. He still loves her a little, he never really falls out of love with anyone. People imprint on him and he can’t let them go. It doesn’t make any difference, he knows Derek still feels the same about Savannah. It just works for them.

“How long did I sleep?” Derek’s voice floats through the room, out onto the patio on the breeze. His words are jumbled and muffled by the pillow his face is still smashed into. Aaron smiles.

“A while,” is his reply. He’s trying to let go of itineraries and timelines. He’s trying not to look at clocks at all, really. Clocks remind him of time passing and he’s better off without that on his mind. “Not too long.”

“Mmmfff…” Derek mumbles and Aaron can hear the sleep smile, the way his eyes are still closed and he’s considering whether to let himself go back to sleep or get up and rummage through the cupboards himself. His shoulders are a mountain of bronze and Aaron glances back into the room, thinks about the way they would taste, the skin salty and warm against his lips. He’s tempted to get out of the pool, and then he decides he might lay a trap instead to get Derek to come to him.

“I have a snack,” He offers. It’s almost too easy. “I might share it with you.”

“What’s the catch?” Derek asks, sitting upright and scrubbing his hands down his face. He’s sweaty, the humidity drenches his skin and he needs a shave again already. Aaron can’t take his eyes off of Derek out here, it’s like the light is in love with him, it paints him in a way that Aaron can’t resist. He’s carved from the cliffs and chiseled by the hands of the gods. Meanwhile, Aaron is pretty sure he just looks like a drowned rat. His hair, a little too long for his taste, hangs limp where it would normally be mussed up and messy against his will. An unruly mop, now tamed by humidity.

“No catch.”

“Alright, then what’s it gonna cost me?”

Aaron smiles and tilts his face to the sky expectantly. He’s waiting for Derek to appear above him. “A kiss.”

A kiss is a dangerous thing and as they slip easily into the still pool water unclothed, Aaron thinks they’re bound to end up back in the bed sooner rather than later. The water is a cool break from the oppressive heat of the afternoon sun. Aaron dunks himself first, goes under like a torpedo and slicks his hair back from his eyes when he surfaces. Derek put a headband on him the other day and on principal he hated it, but he didn’t take it off either, at least not for a while. It kept the hair out of his eyes. Derek said he looked cute. The water works just as well now. Derek stares at him in awe and smiles, thumbs smoothing over the droplets that cling to Aaron’s eyelashes.

“You are gorgeous,” he muses, hands cupping Aaron’s jaw, leaning in for a kiss. They wrap around one another, limbs tangling, turning and bouncing weightless in the aquamarine. “Do you even have any idea?”

Aaron hums. It’s a delighted sound that Derek craves, it means he’s in the mood for a little more than kissing. Moving together in unison, their bodies making ripples across the otherwise calm surface, they can’t seem to keep their hands off of each other. Aaron envisioned historical site visits and hikes, ferry trips between islands, all sorts of excursions and so far the thing he’d explored the most was the expanse of Derek’s body. With two kids at home, they don’t get as much alone time as they’d like and it’s just about all they can think to do now. They’re going to have to stay an extra week just to actually experience more than just the inside of a hotel room.

“Wanna go inside?” Derek asks, nose pressed against Aaron’s shoulder, littering kisses amid saltwater droplets. Aaron moans deep and sonorous.

“Absolutely,” he smiles, head lolling back, adam’s apple bobbing dangerously. Derek licks and bites, lifts Aaron into his arms and turns until he’s floating on his back, Aaron on top of him. He kicks and pushes them toward the steps, dipping below the surface once or twice, turning until he’s on top, acrobatics they’re old pros at a week into this hotel. Dancing in the water has become a sort of specialty. Naughty synchronized swimming. Neither of them wants to get out, the foreplay is just as fun, chilly fingers working at delicate skin, hips rocking and muscles twitching.

Inside, they dry off quickly and leap into the bed before their skin adjusts to the temperature of the room again. The sex is languorous and slow, they have nowhere to be, no one expecting them. Afterward they shower, still touching, still kissing, they almost head back to bed except they’re both starving. They come to an agreement that they need to make their way into town for dinner after discussing the possibility of one more quick fuck. It isn’t in the cards, though. Derek is about to gnaw his own arm off he says, so they dress and start their slow evening walk. The ATV sits in its spot waiting for them to take some interest in something other than sex and a walk to town.

They’ve eaten at the same restaurant the last three nights in a row, it’s never as busy as the others and the owners don’t mind the way that they want to just sit quietly and eat their way through small plates of everything with bottles of wine. They’ve tried a lot of the menu, and now the cooks are just sending the plates on the fly. Testing things out.

The owners, an elderly couple with gnarled hands and twinkling eyes the color of the Aegean, like to listen to their stories (the less terrible ones anyway, they spare them that). They look at these two men, Aaron with his salt and pepper hair that’s definitely got a lot more salt these days lighting up his temples and Derek with his goatee that’s shimmering with silver sparkles and they can’t believe they carried guns and caught serial killers. “It sounds like a movie,” one of them says in a thick accent that makes Aaron melt. “It can’t be real.”

But they have pictures. The two of them in the office, candid shots that remind them of days gone by. Days they miss with every fiber of their beings but wouldn’t repeat for anything. Days when taking a nap seemed as absurd as the sky suddenly turning bright yellow. Now, missing a nap is ludicrous. They get off work in the early afternoon and siesta before they even decide what to make for dinner. Vacation just means more naps, and it does seem crazy that there was a time in Aaron’s life that he needed to carry two weapons or that he was put in the hospital by a serial killer. It’s like a different life, a different person. He can understand why they don’t exactly believe him.

“Baba ganoush,” Derek says as soon as they sit down. It’s become his favorite food in the world since they landed in Athens. Since they made their way from Athens to Milos. He’d eat it with a spoon if that were socially acceptable, he likes it that much. And here, they drench it in olive oil and pine nuts and thick green parsley. Aaron chooses small plates of seafood that make Derek squirm in his seat, prawns with their eyes still staring at him and octopus tentacles purple and swirling and spiraling over the edge of the plate dramatically. Aaron is an adventurous eater now. He always had it in him but his job made him paranoid and sick, ulcers eating away at him from the inside. There are still plenty of days when he walks around with an ache deep in his stomach, but it’s less to do with food and more to do with how his body functions after Foyet played mad surgeon with him.

Aaron’s favorite is the fried anchovies. It’s the only thing Derek has tried that he won’t touch again. “It’s like cat food with extra salt. The bones are like little razors,” he’d said, swallowing it only because he didn’t want to be rude. He really wanted to spit it into his napkin.

Their table is full of tiny plates, dips and seafood and breads. Olive oil and bread is a constant. Derek can’t remember the last time he ate so many carbs so happily. They’ll get full and lean back, sipping their wine contentedly until there’s room and then eat a little more. Whatever doesn’t get eaten is taken back to their little hotel fridge and they’ll snack on it the rest of the night and maybe even for breakfast, though they do like wandering into town to find food for breakfast just after the sun has crested the horizon.

“So, I was thinking,” Derek says as they walk back to the hotel hand in hand. They each have a to-go box in the other hand. “You wanna go check out that ancient theater they got up on that hill? Go drop this off, grab the ATV and explore?”

“You mean leave the hotel room for more than food?” Aaron asks with mock surprise.

Aaron smiles and nods before Derek can respond. He can’t imagine anything better than absorbing more history. They’d made plenty of stops while in Athens but nothing so far here. He’s nowhere near his limit. “Leave the notebook,” Derek tells him when they drop off their food and grab a blanket. “You can write it down later.” It might be hot during the day but it gets chilly at night, the briny wind coming in off of the sea is bound to make Aaron shiver. He used to poke fun at him for how his blood seemed to run like rivers of ice, a blessing in the heat when he wants to wear his suits on a case in Florida but when they’re in Alaska and his lips are nearly blue even in his big puffy coat it’s a little problematic. He’d always run cold, but after Foyet, after his heart stopped and too much of his blood was spilled...he can’t seem to shake a chill when it settles in his bones. Here it’s only a minor inconvenience, nothing a blanket draped around his shoulders won’t fix in a snap.

The ATV ride is nice. Aaron clings to Derek’s back, relaxes against him with his hands on his hips and watches the scenery creep by. They don’t go fast, this is the most new that they’ve seen in days. He’s taking it all in.

They’re the only ones in the carved marble and stone theater for a long time. It’s just before sunset, close enough that all of the tourists have ambled away from the other sights and headed for the higher ground, the places they can get their pictures so everyone they’ve ever (or never) met can see what they see. Selfies are king and everyone wants the shot. They aren’t interested in that, they don’t even have social media. For a variety of reasons, perhaps, not the least of which is simply that they covet their privacy.

That doesn’t stop them from taking hundreds of photos, though. They just keep those photos close.

Derek takes pictures of Aaron, his aquiline profile against the glow of dawn, his feet in the sand, his thick fingers against the delicate stem of a wine glass...all of the little pieces of him that he adores so much. A former bomb tech, Derek obsesses over small details. The way the early morning sun plays with the silver at Aaron’s temples or the band-aids he’s always got over skinned knuckles and broken nails. Aaron favors a wider angle, candid shots from far away, admiring the way Derek seems to fit into the strange lunar landscape, terrain created by ancient gods. He looks crafted from their sunbeams and Aaron can’t get enough of the way the sun plays with his skin. He aims his camera as Derek splashes through waves, as he jumps from the highest rock he can find with slicing precision, as he leaps into the ocean from a small boat. He captures Derek napping on a hammock on a boat in the middle of the sea before he lays his camera down to do the same. He clicks the shutter when Derek is laughing at a story he’s being told or learning how to do something new with that intense look of determination and curiosity.

In their old age, they’re kind of obsessed with each other. And neither of them feels bad about it.

“Let’s take our clothes off and have some fun tonight,” Derek says with a slow grin. He’s not even worried Aaron is going to say no, they’re too far in now. Aaron has scaled rock cliffs for him, climbed down (and then back up) ladders and ropes and through steep canons of red rock to get to a secluded little beach. They’re sitting alone in the center of an ancient Greek theater and Aaron is so wrapped up in the idea of watching a performance or a speech here that he doesn’t even give Derek’s question any thought, he simply agrees. Fun sounds good. Fun with Derek always sounds good.

“What kind of fun?” Aaron asks curiously, already knowing that he’s going to do it regardless of the answer. He’s loosened up but he’s still Aaron Hotchner. He doesn’t like to be kept in the dark. Surprises make him uneasy. And more to the point, the idea of sex on the beach is less than appealing no matter what. It doesn’t matter that his husband is a bronze sun god, he doesn’t want sand in his mouth or his ass and that’s pretty final.

“We’re pretty close to a beach that lets you drop your trousers...go all natural...”

“Nothing too crazy. I don’t want sand inside of me but...maybe just…” he starts, ready to suggest that they start fooling around at the beach and head back to their hotel for the rest. He stops mid-sentence when an elderly couple amble past them, two rows down, hardly seeming to mind the conversation they’d been privy to moments before. They lower their voices anyway.

“Please. I did all those boring castle tours.”

“They weren’t boring,” Aaron mutters a little indignantly. Derek kisses his knuckles and smiles.

“No, they weren’t. They were awesome. I just think you’d have a great time...it’s really freeing taking your clothes off. You could use a little freeing.”

Aaron thinks about Jack going off to spend most of his summer in New York. His last summer at home as a child and he wants to be away for most of it...Aaron can hardly begrudge him that, he saved up money all year in order to do this on his own. He’ll be home next summer and they’ll spend the whole thing together as a family, doing everything and doing nothing, Jack promised him that. It’s a give and take with a grown child. But then he thinks about Jack going to college in a year and it makes his chest ache. Around that kind of tightness he thinks he can’t handle any more freedom. They still have Hank. Sweet little Hank who went from only child to youngest and is about to go back to only in many ways. His grasp of the situation is tentative at best, it’s going to be a big adjustment. Derek sees the darkening in Aaron’s eyes and pulls him close, kisses him on the temple. “I know. You don’t need more freedom. I get it. But I want you so bad I can hardly stand it…I’m your ball and chain, baby...you can’t get free of me.”

“I don’t mean to eavesdrop,” the woman says, startling both of them. The couple is now closer, standing over them from behind. Aaron freezes against Derek’s chest, mortified that these people heard them talking about their rabid libido, but he can’t be bothered for long. Her husband looks mortified. She looks pleased. She’s wearing bright blue pants and a white shirt, she’s clearly gone out of her way to match her surroundings. He can’t quite place her accent. “But I overheard you mentioning finding a...natural...beach? We go every night. You’re right, it is freeing. I’ll show you the beach we like, Harold get the map. It’s busy in the daytime but it empties in the evening. Most families head up to the church to see the sunset, leaving the beach to us.”

Aaron is mortified but Derek is beaming. “What’s your name?”

“Catherine,” she says and Aaron watches the flush in her cheeks when Derek takes her hand and kisses it. “This is my husband Harold.”

“Pleasure to meet you,” Aaron says, shaking Harold’s hand.

She hands them her map and Aaron looks at it intently, though he doesn’t bother to tell her he’s already practically memorized the thing. It’s folded in his journal back at their hotel. She points to the beach and to the cove with a smile, her massive collection of gold bracelets crusted with jewels dragging and making the sound of wind chimes. She smells like peonies and roses with a faint underscore of denture cream. He likes her instantly.

“Will you be there tonight?” Derek asks. She smiles bright with her crimson painted lips and nods. Harold, a little more reserved but no less flashy in his brown suit and gold chain, gives a little shrug.

“More than likely. We just can’t stay away. You take a bottle of wine and a blanket, you find yourself a little nook and you enjoy yourself. What more could you want in life?”

Derek nudges Aaron with his elbow. “What more could you want?”

Aaron can think of a few things, perhaps, but he smiles and offers agreement.

The sunset is glorious, and Derek really wants to head down to the beach right away but Aaron looks tired. He didn’t take a nap earlier and it’s catching up to him now. There’s a special little flicker of premonition that comes with knowing a person as well as Derek knows Aaron, and he can see the future: they’ll get to the beach, and Aaron will fall fast asleep if they lay down on the sand. The conditions will be too perfect. He’ll have to practically carry him back to the hotel, and there will be no sex.

That won’t do, so he compromises. “Let’s go take a little nap,” he says, pressing his nose to Aaron’s cheek. “We’ll head down to the beach when it’s almost dark.”

“Set an alarm.” That means he’ll sleep all night if they don’t. Derek heeds the warning and sets his alarm for one hour.

There isn’t anyone on the beach when they show up and make their way around to the little cove their new acquaintances told them about. During the daytime they imagine the place is flooded with people, flesh and kissing and as Harold put it with his wry little smile: “debauchery”. He’d told them about their first time, showing up just after lunch and feeling as though they’d joined an orgy. They enjoyed themselves fine but prefer the solitude of dusk. Derek thinks the daytime hours would be a kick and a half and plans to get around to a trip on his own down that way, but with Aaron he’ll stick to the dark.

“How about right here?” Derek asks, spreading the blanket up next to the cliff wall. They have a perfect view of the sea, the last bursts of sunlight barely cresting the horizon and fighting with the silvery shreds of moonlight filtering through blinking stars. They each have a bag full of provisions, snacks and drinks, flashlights and other beach necessities that they set down on each side of the blanket to pin it in place against the breeze skating in off the sea. Derek wastes no time at all stripping, his shorts are around his ankles immediately and he’s tearing at his shirt before he even steps out of them. Aaron is a little more timid, but he gets there. He’s looking around, over his shoulder, out at the sea for fishing boats, anyone whose eyes might be on him.

He hadn’t been cold before, but now his skin is flush with goosebumps and his nipples could cut diamonds. He folds his arms over his chest and bounces on the balls of his feet a little. Derek wraps his sun-soaked arms around Aaron and shares the warmth from his internal furnace.

“You’re a big baby.”

“I know.”

“Huge.”

“I’m aware, thank you.”

Aaron has always been self-conscious, his scars are huge and eye-catching. They look exactly like what they are: knife wounds. They don’t look like they could be anything else. He imagines how he’ll explain them without frightening people, and it inevitably ends up with him leaving his shirt on to save everyone the trouble. It makes people visibly uncomfortable. And his back? Well it’s a little easier to explain away through lies – bicycle wrecks, falling out of tree houses, the kind of stories that indicate an idyllic country childhood spent in the open air getting into all sorts of trouble. He doesn’t feel bad lying about those to strangers. They’re messy. But the scars on his front, there’s no good excuse for those. They’re severe and precise and there’s no palatable explanation for them.

But Derek’s chest is scarred too, a huge track of melted skin all the way down his sternum. Hotch looks at that and sees incredible strength and resilience, he sees triumph over his captors, he sees survival. What Derek accomplished in that cabin on his own makes Aaron swell with pride for him. Derek oozes confidence – the scar is a story that belongs to him, and when people ask he just says it was an on-the-job injury the same as the bullet scars, the same as anything else. And he says it so casually that no one really bothers to ask for more information, they just stare in awe at this miraculous man in front of them. But Aaron can’t seem to gather that same kind of confidence without his suit and tie. An on the job injury that involved nine stab wounds? What kind of thing is that? And all he really had to do to get out of it was stay awake. It’s hardly as impressive.

He doesn’t have much time to consider it because he feels a soft tickle at his ankle and looks down to find a cat. Scruffy and orange, the cat purrs loudly and slides against his shin one direction and then back. Glancing around, he realizes it isn’t the only one. They’re surrounded by curious cats. “I read about this,” Hotch says in awe. “They live in these caves.”

“Just a bunch of cave pussy, huh?”

Aaron gives Derek a disapproving look but cracks a smile anyway, he’s funny, he can’t help it. His crass humor has only gotten worse as he’s gotten older. In mixed company it makes Aaron blush.

“Let’s see where they live,” Aaron says. Derek jumps at a chance to explore a little of the area and honestly the idea of wandering through a cave completely naked is a little thrilling. Aaron digs around in his shoulder bag, past the bottle of wine and plastic cups and to-go container of bread and oil and cheese from dinner earlier until he finds his flashlight. They had headlamps too, but he didn’t think they needed to go that far into the cave. Not at night anyway. He’d heard that some of these caves connected directly to the sea on the other side, more like a tunnel, but he isn’t keen on going that deep tonight.

The follow the trail of cats back into a large cave not far from where they set up their little evening rendezvous. Aaron’s flashlight sends a flood of hazy yellow ahead of them and throws the walls and rock formations into striking shadow figures. “You smell that?” Derek asks. He was prepared for the smell of cats, this cave was probably a natural litter box but this smell...isn’t cat-made. He would know this smell anywhere.

It’s death. More to the point, it’s blood, the sickly metallic tang of fresh blood. It doesn’t immediately call their attention to danger, it could be anything. An animal the cats killed, they have to eat too and these cats are scavengers.

“I might not hear well but I can smell just fine,” Hotch replies, noting that the further in they go the worse the smell gets. He’s picturing another cat, maybe, or a mess of seagull and feathers. He’s anticipating a gory mess...but what they find is worse.

There is no mess. It’s a body, sure, and there is blood...but it’s not cat food. It’s a young man, younger than they are anyway. Probably in his thirties though it’s hard to tell in this light. He’s lying on his back with a stab wound in his chest, a crimson bloodflower spreading slowly over the white linen of his button down shirt. Aaron can’t even help it, he lets out a long, miserable sigh and looks at Derek in the sickly yellow glow of the flashlight. “Damn.”

Aaron instinctively crouches beside the body and reaches out to check for a pulse, knowing with certainty that he won’t find one. Still, if there is any possibility at all of life, he can’t stand and watch it fade without doing anything. There is no pulse, no breath, the skin is cooler than it should be. He hasn’t been dead long but he’s absolutely dead.

“So much for sex on the beach,” Derek mutters, and Aaron shakes his head. All thoughts of wine and picnics and making out in the ocean breeze are dashed from his mind. He hasn’t been with the BAU in years, and yet the change is almost instant. He goes from Aaron enjoying his vacation to Hotch working the case. Derek’s change is immediate as well. Just like putting on a new pair of clothes.

“Did you bring your phone?”

“It’s in my pants. Stay here with him.”

“I’m naked, Derek. Bring me my clothes or the blanket or something to cover up with. Please.”

“We’re both naked. It’s a nude beach, Aaron. If we’re down here in clothes don’t you think they’re going to immediately suspect us? Check out more of the area, see if you can find anything useful.”

“Oh, yeah. Sure. I’m going to wander naked and barefoot alone in this cave. That sounds smart.” He’s biting back with sarcasm and he doesn’t like it. Derek doesn’t deserve that. “I’ll do what I can.”

“Where is SSA Hotchner?” Derek asks, returning the sarcasm in spades. Aaron groans.

“He’s old and retired, trying to avoid dead bodies and killers. He’s tired.”

Derek hums, content in the knowledge that he’s bullied Aaron into at least scoping out the site to see if he can find anything else. That’s a stab wound, he could tell, and the weapon wasn’t in the victim. He hurries back to the blanket, suddenly worried that he left Aaron in the cave unarmed and barefoot – what if he steps on the knife? What if the killer is still in there? He moves faster, rifles through the bag for another flashlight and finds his phone hanging halfway out of the back pocket in his shorts. He thinks about putting them on but remembers what he’d said and doesn’t. He does grab a towel from the bottom of the bag and decides he’ll offer it to Aaron. He’s not worried about being naked in front of the police but he knows Aaron battles with his insecurity and he’s not eager to make it worse. Not right now.

He calls the police and directs them to their location before going back into the cave and offering Aaron the towel to cover himself up. Aaron looks at him with so much love in his eyes, sparking embers in the shadowy cave and once again he mourns the ruined plans for their evening.

It doesn’t take long for police to show up with huge flood lights they set up at the mouth and string along the craggy roof of the cave. The whole place is lit up like daylight and Derek scoots until he’s shielded a little by Aaron and his towel. Maybe he should have grabbed one himself. He’s never been self-conscious but this harsh light makes him feel like he’s been put under a magnifying glass.

While they waited for the police to show up, Aaron managed to find few footprints that don’t belong to he or Derek, some blood on the wall, and a knife half buried in the sand about ten feet from the body. He had nearly stepped on it. Still, potential danger aside, he can’t believe it’s this easy.

The police, three of them, rush toward the body and push Aaron and Derek back while they examine it for themselves. One of them, the man in charge, speaks English.

“You found him? How long ago?”

“About ten minutes. We called right away.”

“What were you doing in the cave?”

“We followed some cats in. We were curious about where they lived and how many there were.” It sounds flimsy even as Derek says it, but it’s the truth. He doesn’t make his pussy joke.

“The body is still warm. The killer can’t be far away.”

“There’s a knife in the sand over there, and footprints leading further into the cave. I don’t know how far in they go.” Aaron stops himself before he goes into everything he’s already figured out about the body. He can’t help it, this is second nature. Derek asked him where SSA Hotchner was, and it turns out, he may be incredibly tired and rusty but he’s right here.

“I don’t think the killer meant to do this.”

Derek shoots him a funny look, eyebrows raised. He recognizes the tone of Aaron’s voice. He’s already got a profile. That fast. He’s naked, wrapped in a terrycloth towel, ready to deliver the damn profile to police officers who barely speak English in a cat filled cave. Aaron has taken control of the entire situation, and even though he’s a naked tourist they’re all listening to him. They’re all looking to him. Derek has to think about baseball statistics being rattled off by his grandmother in order to keep the resulting erection at bay. He uses the flashlight, turned off now because there’s plenty of light in the cave, to hide it. He’s barely successful.

The best part is that as he watches, he realizes that Aaron is standing taller. He’s not trying to hide his scars, his stories. He seems to realize that standing there the way he is, those scars tell a story that is riveting and the officers can’t look away. Maybe there is some power in them and what he’s survived, maybe they’re to his advantage after all. Maybe the way they make these officers uncomfortable is useful.

“What makes you say that?” the lead detective asks, tearing his eyes away from this scarred man in a towel to glance at the body again. Aaron feels bad for him, it’s pretty obvious they don’t deal with things like this here very often and they’re all visibly shaken. Probably petty theft and some vandalism, tourists behaving badly, that sort of thing. Not murder.

Aaron would rather be just about anywhere else in the whole world right now but he’s here, and he’s going to help them out the best he can. At least they seem, so far, to believe that he didn’t have anything to do with it. Either that or they think he’s about the stupidest man they’ve ever come across and eventually he’ll just give himself away. The thought almost makes him smile but he maintains his composure.

“This crime scene is messy. It looks like there was someone here, maybe two people, and my guess is that the victim surprised them while they were otherwise occupied. The victim doesn’t have any defensive wounds but he does have some hair caught between two of his fingers on his right hand and a smudge of what looks like lipstick on his arm.”

Bright red lipstick. Aaron’s stomach fills with a kind of dread that he used to thrive on. The kind that leads him right to the person who held the knife.

The police are all staring at him with their mouths open, incredulous. The detective who speaks English is translating to the other two quietly, at least he hopes he’s translating and not condemning him.

“I think his killer was older, probably a man. Most likely self-defense. The state of the scene makes me think that the person who killed this man was afraid and as soon as the knife went in, they ran away. They most likely didn’t stop to see if the man was dead before they ran. I would look for an older couple who seem rattled, or who check out of their hotel room abruptly and leave the island. They’re afraid of what they’ve done, but I think you’ll find this wasn’t premeditated. This man most likely threatened them in some way. I would expect that the knife probably belonged to him.”

“How do you know all of this if you are not the killer?” the officer asks. Aaron and Derek both expected that question a lot sooner. Aaron had been thinking about telling the police to check the man’s pockets where they would likely find jewelry or something from the woman, perhaps the man. A gold bangle bracelet or a chain. But they’re starting to suspect Aaron knows too much so he keeps that to himself. They’ll find that on their own.

“I’m a retired FBI Agent.”

“We both are,” Derek chimes in, ready to stop being just a naked bump on a log. He’d been enjoying Aaron somehow running the show but he wants in on the action now. He’s kind of an adrenaline junkie. “We worked with the Behavioral Analysis Unit hunting serial killers all over America.”

The police stare at them for a moment and start laughing. “You retired and came here on vacation to relax only you cannot get away, the killers follow you,” the officer says. “It’s amusing, no?”

“Is it?” Derek asks with a laugh. He gives the officers all of their information, including the number to Emily’s desk at the FBI to check their references. Their alibi for the estimated time of death was flimsy, they’d been napping in their room until they came to the beach. No one could vouch for their whereabouts, but they were complying and it didn’t seem like the police suspected them.

Back at their hotel, they ready themselves for bed. Washing up, brushing their teeth, going through the motions. Aaron takes his mess of evening pills and Derek checks that their doors are all secure. When they meet up in the bed, they both lay silent side by side, exhausted yet wide awake. They’re both buzzing with the excitement of a case they don’t get to work and the only way to alleviate that kind of charge is by getting physical. That part is easy. The bed sheets are peeled back and in they slide, ready to settle the score. “Back there,” Derek says between hot breathy kisses. “You were so damn hot I could barely handle it.”

“Yeah?” Aaron asks, a little coy, smiling into the next kiss. “How close did you come?”

“My grandma had to tell me all about Hank Aaron’s stats…” Derek whispers desperately, rocking his hips against Aaron’s thigh. He’s thinking about the cave again, about the way Aaron became Hotch, about the power in the way he stood. About the way he squared his shoulders and didn’t shield his scars from sight but claimed them, claimed his survival, claimed a showdown with a prolific serial killer. Aaron smiles and knows exactly what to do.

“Hank Aaron had 3771 hits in his career,” Aaron whispers hot and slow against the pulse in Derek’s throat. He moves lower, dusting kisses along his collarbone, along the ridges of his scar. “755 home runs…”

Derek moans as Aaron glides down his abs and finds his destination, and with one hand Derek pushes Aaron’s head so he’ll stop ruining the stat trick, so he has something else to do with his mouth. Even that’s turning him on now.

The phone rings as they lay panting in bed, spent and happy, ready for another shower and a dip in the pool. Muscles twitching, chests heaving, neither of them any closer to being ready for sleep. Derek answers, hums a few times, nods and thanks whoever is on the line. Aaron has a guess.

“That was the police, they caught the killers.”

“Harold and Catherine?” Aaron asks and Derek nods, feeling that same pool of warmth spread again in his groin.

“They were in the cave to feed the cats and probably to get busy. You remember all their bling. Catherine and all that gold, I’m not surprised. He grabbed her by the hair and Harold knocked the knife out of his hand and stabbed him. They ran through the cave to the main beach, the police caught them by Catherine’s engraved necklace under the guy half buried in the sand. He ripped it off her neck. Doesn’t sound like the police are gonna do much to them, this guy had a record and is wanted in Athens for the rape and murder of a tourist a few years back. Sounds like a piece of shit that got what was coming to him.”

Aaron smiles and nods before yawning. “Shower?” And just like that he’s turned it off. Case closed. Hotch is back in retirement and Aaron just wants to shower and take a dip in the pool with his husband. He wants to resume vacation mode. They get into the shower and wash the case off of them with ease, soap suds and slick skin and smiles. It doesn’t take them long before they’re dancing slowly in the shower, just small sways and circles, Derek’s hand settled at the curved small of Aaron’s back, Aaron draped over Derek’s shoulder.

“Let’s have a snack” Derek says, always thinking about food. Aaron nods. “I have something I want to run by you...”

“I have a guess,” Aaron replies with a smile, turning his face toward Derek’s and kissing him. He’s been waiting for Derek to bring it up. “You want to extend the vacation. You’re not ready to go home to the empty house either.”

“We’re already all the way over here...what if we just pop over to Italy and spend some time there?”

“Just pop over to Italy huh?” Aaron smiles dreamily and rests his cheek against the mound of Derek’s shoulder, swaying again beneath the shower. The water is lukewarm and feels heavenly against their sandy sticky skin. He’s content to stay here for a bit longer dreaming of more travel. They don’t have kids who will be home for another month, they’ve got plenty of time and resources. There’s no good reason not to. “Okay. Let’s do it. Let’s go to Italy. Why not?”

[katerinaaqu]

Did you ever watch/listen to the musical Hadestown? Its songs are great and it's generally seen as a really good retelling of Eurydice and Orpheus, though I am not well versed enough in greek mythology to confirm or deny the latter. Just curious how someone with more in depth knowledge thinks of it!

I have heard of it although i confess I haven't watched it or listened to it yet just bits and pieces and a little bit of synopsis. I would definitely be willing to check it out independently and see what this is all about like as a complete work. But is great that they do not use any of the myths that have been done before hundreds of thousands of times but they used a criminally underrated in my opinion myth such as Orpheus and Eueydice.

One thing I really liked though was the style of jazz music they used which you do not see often. The way it is set up does give me some Paris the Musical vibes as well and I like the creativity with the way they introduce some characters let's say in the song road to hell. I also liked how they seem to have like a mix of Tim Burton and Spirited away vibes with their plot devices. They seem to create some sort of an interesting dystopia world for work and all making some sort of statement for industrial society and the way workers have to basically bind themselves to their work to earn a living.

I also like the idea that they do a similar thing to Disney Hercules aka they do not try to retell the myth per se but rather use the myth as a tool to tell a story. For Disney it was a satire for Hollywood while in here it is more like they seem to want to pour some food for thought for the audience to the world that we live in and somehow give it a twist of the time of Great Depression times (1930s) with the jazz music.

Cannot form a full opinion about it since like I said I haven't fully seen it but to be honest like with Paris the Musical I would be interested to at least get a look and see what narrative tools they use to transfer this story to the stage. They do seem to use the material nicely if I judge from the synopsis but I would need to check it out.

Given your ask you got me curious to explore at least a bit of it and see what it is about so I can form an actual opinion about it.

Thanks so much anon! 🙏