#like soft eurydice???? alright

[pbpsbff]

trying to find lola tung on bway videos but everyone wants to repost the same clip of wait for me reprise like I DONT CARE ABOUT IT. SHOW ME FLOWERS. SHOW ME ALL I'VE EVER KNOWN. SHOW ME HEY LITTLE SONGBIRD.

[justacynicalone]

Aurelius

Aim in life:

He has no idea what he wants, his mind is still stuck with the goals his father imposed on him, so all he knows to work for is Aetia, and nothing else. Everything he does is for the kingdom, and on rare occasions, himself and the people he cares about.

Tarot Card:

The Hanged Man

Associated songs:

Sober to death

Step on me

Mama’s boy

St. Valentines 

Quizzes they’d fit in!!

The King

Blood in a lamb’s wool

Name analysis: 

Full name of Aurelius Caleb Vasilios I

Aurelius meaning Golden one, often used for royalty

Caleb meaning dog, which is an animal that fits him and also faithful, whole-hearted, and bold

His surname, Vasilios meaning royal, or kingly

Backstory:

He was raised as the one and only Prince, his father had stuck to monogamy rather than the royal's usual harem of beauties.

Despite this, his father was not a good person, forcing him to constantly follow along with his ideals and prejudice against the common people.

His mother on the other hand was raised as practically elven royalty, which was one of the many reasons that his parents had married in the first place, an arranged marriage that ended in his mother and father truly loving each other.

Aurelius' Father taught him strictly to hate all those who weren't of "noble" race (i.e. Human, Elf, Dwarf, and those above.), and also intense homophobia. Aurelius was able to unlearn the racism as he grew up, especially so around Desiderio who was half-drow himself, but the homophobia was something his father taught with an iron fist.

Aurelius has moved  away from that, he is not homophobic or anything, and treats most people in his country with as much equality as he can, working through laws to fix this as he moves forward. But he has a sort of …

He doesn’t like loud things because of how much his father used to shout. He finds comfort in music and enjoys playing violin and flutes. He is quite talented in magic due to his elf heritage.

Aurelius and his mother are actually quite close, she is alive and well supporting of her son. Aurelius' mother does not support her husband's prejudice but still does nothing about it, too dismissive of it as small things.

He hates disappointing people, he constantly feels like he is. He is slightly clingy, as in he will hang on to Desiderio’s clothes when they’re standing next to each other, or stick close to Eurydice when she’s around. 

Aurelius is a soft spoken kind of person. He is kind, and thinks of everyone as equal. He has a tendency to throw himself into his work when he wants to avoid something, and is hard headed when it comes to his goals, he would do anything to protect those he loves.

He has a sort of toxic positivity about him, he’ll try to convince himself that everything is okay, even when it’s not. He knows what his father taught him is wrong, and what he put him through is wrong, but he can’t help but defend him when told about his wrong doings.

Even if he knows the system is corrupt, he is convinced he can fix it, although his main idea of fixing things is keeping it the way it is. He doesn’t understand how he can fix things around him, and is scared of what will happen when he does. If his father was gone, maybe he could heal better, but he isn't. His father is alive and well.

He loves with his whole being, once he loves a person he would do anything for them. He loves like a dog.

Connections:

Aurelius and Desiderio were childhood friends, and Desiderio is currently Aurelius’ royal advisor. Aurelius and Desiderio have been best friends since they were young children, the only genuine friends each other had 

Aurelius and Eurydice get along alright. She often liked to tease him when they were younger, but was much more focused on caring for Desiderio. Eurydice cares for Aurelius, that is obvious, but to her he is not her first priority, Aurelius understands this and keeps a sort of distance. They aren’t exactly really close, but Aurelius respects Eurydice for how she cares for her family and how she takes on responsibility. They both have a sort of mutual understanding of how they’re both the eldest of their families and are controlled by their father’s. Aurelius sees her as an older sister figure, this is not returned.

Aurelius and Cato have a sort of awkward relationship, they got along alright and Aurelius would even consider them to be sort of friends, bonding over their mutual care for Desiderio, but they never really talked to each other much. 

Aurelius and Athanasia …

How he speaks:

He has a regal tone, his voice hardly ever falters, a strong and loud voice. When he’s nervous his voice goes soft, or sometimes even much too loud, so loud he snaps and shouts at people when he doesn’t mean too. 

Physical Features:

He has naturally white hair that he wears in a dead-mom style ponytail, and blue eyes. He has a weak right shoulder and knee from ‘falling’ down the stairs as a child. He never found out how he fell. 

Notes: 

...

He is 26 years old

INFJ

[shanastoryteller]

Happy Pride!!! More Zagreus as a patron god pretty please?

a continuation of 1 2 3

Thanatos worries about Zagreus.

His mother is home and he and his father are no longer at odds and he acts like it’s enough for him, like it means nothing for him to continuously fight his way through the realm only to die on the surface.

He still manages to fight his way to the surface, but it’s taking him longer and longer.

Maybe it’s because he keeps turning the heat up so high.

“Are you alright?” he asks, during the few moments they can spend together after Zagreus has pulled himself from the Styx, hovering in the alcove of the palace.

He doesn’t go to Zagreus’s room anymore. Every time he does he has to force himself from looking at the bed that Zagreus doesn’t sleep in, has to stop himself from looking at Zagreus too long. In his bedroom, he doesn’t know where to put his eyes. It’s easier, here.

“Hm?” Zagreus asks, “Oh, yeah. Why?”

It’s like Zagreus isn’t here even though he’s right in front of him. His affection is as warm as ever, but it’s not like that’s ever prevented Zagreus from trying to leave him before.

“Nothing,” he says. “I think Dusa was looking for you, before.”

“Was she?” he looks around curiously, but when she’s not in sight he just claps him on the shoulder and says, “Well, I’ll catch her next time.”

He’s walking away again, to fight, to die, and Thanatos wishes he wouldn’t. That he’d at least rest, first.

But Zagreus has always hated being confined by the palace.

~

“Want to come on an adventure?” Zagreus asks, grinning.

Eurydice squints suspiciously. “What are you up to now, prince?”

“I could use a nymph’s help,” he says honestly. “And you’re my friend.”

She scowls at him before rolling her eyes. “Won’t I get in trouble for leaving Asphodel?”

“Only if we get caught,” he answers honestly. He may not have been born of chaos, but he was saved by it. If he hadn’t learned to stay out of his father’s eye when he needed to, he wouldn’t have gotten away with any of this.

He brings Eurydice to Patroclus’s clearing, to the lush forest and plants and patches of farmland that’s growing every strange thing he and Patroclus could think of.

Patroclus waves as he walks up, a softness and ease to him that he hadn’t had before Zagreus had looped him into helping him explore his mother’s powers. “Who do you bring with you, stranger?”

“Someone who can help!” he calls out, the looks down to Eurydice. “Right?”

Her eyes are huge and she grabs onto him, nearly shaking him she’s so excited. “Right!”

[apotatouwu]

A Library Date?

Albedo x fem!reader

Fluff?

Royal au; both of you just chill in a library

a gift for a friend :>

Sitting in a large library with walls filled to the brim with shelves of books, was Prince Albedo of Kemia and Princess (Y/N) of Liyue. An awkward silence was upon them however, as the two royals sat— each with a book in their hands.

How did they get into this situation? Simply put, Queen Rhinedottir urged Albedo to find a spouse. Rhinedottir contacted the King of Liyue as she had heard of King Rex Lapis' quiet daughter, and pursued on her quest to find her son a significant other. It did not take long for the kingdom's crown prince to convince his younger sister to venture away from the nest.

What the young princess didn't expect as she entered the castle belonging to the Kingdom of Khemia, was the introverted prince she was told to meet.

And now, Princess (Y/N) is currenty sitting in a soft chair, reading a book from the library shelves; Albedo doing the same across from across the large room.

Flipping from page to page, with an abundance of words stitched on every page, the young lady propped an elbow on the armrest, hand providing support to her head. In her hands was a script of a play about a pair of star-crossed lovers separated by conflicting families, whose story ends in tragedy.

Smacking the finished script close, (y/n) sighs and relaxes into the chair once again, closing her eyes after the disaterous finish. (y/n) suddenly jolts up as soon as she hears a voice speaking to her.

"Finished reading, Princess (y/n)?" Prince Albedo asks, looking up from his own book.

(y/n) sits up to meet his gaze. "Yes I have. Though I was about to read another. Would you give me some recommendations?"

"I see you have just read 'Romeo and Juliet'. Might I introduce another play written by the same playwright?"

"..."

(y/n) looks around the multiple shelves placed on the walls. She has already read the plays written by the most wellknown dramatist in Mondstadt, so a new author to read is a must.

The Liyuean Princess stands up and walks to a shelf the her right. Out of the thousands of books displayed in front of her very eyes, none caught their attention. A hardcover did catch her attention, but its title displayed the name of a certain play, whos hero died after disrupting the society's social chain.

"Macbeth was an ambitous man who became prideful after his ascension to kingship."

"gaH-"

"...?"

"Please do not scare me like that, prince."

"You had been standing with your hand grasping the cover, so I stood to see if you were alright."

'He isn't wrong..' (y/n)'s brain thought.

(y/n) had read every single one of the books contained in her own library back in Liyue. And even if she had finished reading the entire catalogue, a new delivery of books would arrive. To find a book in a room similar to her second home that she hasn't seen yet is and will be a challenge.

"I have.. read a plethora of books in my time. It is increasingly difficult to read another that I do no have back in my father's palace."

Albedo giggled, "You speak with a similar vocabulary as your father, has anyone told you that?"

"And you seem very knowledgeable of many stories, Prince Albedo." (y/n rolled her eyes jokingly.

"I have read every book in the castle walls, but I would not call myself knowledgeable."

"So have I. Have you read the story of Orpheus and Eurydice?"

"I have. A tragic tale of a husband whose wife was bitten, and travelled to the underworld to revive her."

"The story of Oedipus?"

"A man who was destined to murder his own father and marry his mother? Unfortunately. If I may, why are you bringing up titles with tragic endings?"

"That, dear Prince Albedo, is for me to know, and for you to find out."

...

An hour had passed, filled with a conversation— or a challenge, depening on who you ask— of books and their plot. The book-lovers spoke of their love of stories, not noticing the blond woman standing by the door.

"Princess (y/n), your brother is here for you." Queen Rhinedottir exclaimed, suprizing the two royals in the room.

"Ah, please excuse me," (y/n) returns the books to their places, "It seems that I must go."

"Think nothing of it. I look forward to speaking with you again, princess."

(y/n) leaves as the queen looks at her son after bidding farewell.

"I expect a grandchild by next year, son~"

my bad for the rushed(?) ending skshsjdb writing block hit me hard :,)

this has been in my drafts for 3 weeks and i hate it skdbdbd

[insufferablelust]

Revelation (Spencer x Reader)

imagine thats Older!Spencer :)

Warnings : Dom!Spencer x Sub!Reader, heavy daddy kink, belting, shameless smut, a bit of size kink i suppose, pet names, degradastion by name calling, punishment, squirting, gagging, just a dirty dirty daddy Spencer smut, subspace and huge  fluff! and reader is his goddess. :)

Masterlist Here.

All you could feel was exhaustion, exhaustion that lingered from the very tip of your skin to the rattling of your bones. The soft musk of Spencer’s scent filled the room so nicely, bringing you to an edge of calmness, you are home— with your love, your baby, your daddy.

You smiled as you tug your scarf down , placing it gently above the couch before you call out to the very man that owns your body and soul, “Spence?” the exhaustion was prominent in your voice, even though tried to brush it off.

“In here, kitten! wait a sec.” He yelled, jogging down from the kitchen to where you were sitting at the couch, He smiled tenderly with the kitchen towel perched on his shoulder, he looked so domestic, so much of the boyfriend-ness of him yet the way he holds himself is daddy, your daddy.

He immediately gathered you up on his arm, plopping down next to you and bring you to straddle his waist, “So pretty, so so pretty, i miss you, kitten.” He whispered, pressing a delicate kiss on your lips as his hand rest on your throat- the very side of your pulse.

You giggled a little, nipping his lower lip, pulling back only to whisper a tiny “i miss you..” kiss “daddy.” Heaven is what you are, he thinks. Because here he is, having the knowledge of everything, absolutely everything this word has to possibly offer yet.. nothing, nothing feel as complete as you. as having you perched on his lap, being good.. such a good little girl.

“Look at me.” His voice changed a little, it was deeper, huskier that it caused the sweet nectar flowing down south from the heat of your belly. God, your eyes snapped to his.. your socks covered feet tucked under his knees as he gently, just gently press his palm against your pulse, tightening his grasp— not enough to choke you yet enough to draw a pleasure filled gasp emitting from your sinful lips. “daddy—“

“Shush, been a good girl, haven’t you?” He cooed gently, his other hand slide itself around your waist to gently rub your back with calming warmth. “Uh huh.. The test went well today..” You murmured, eyes still focusing to his as you latched onto his strong arms.

You are 10 years his junior, you practically met when he was holding a lecture on the academy where you trained to be an agent.. an FBI agent just like him. The first gaze you laid upon each other, ignited the fire like no other, the desire and lust and.. gentle itching feeling of blossoming crush embedded deep inside both of your insides, practically screaming at yourselves to just.. get to know each other.

Getting to know each other, you did. It started off as a nervous filled dates, though he was a proper gentleman, bringing you on classic dates to libraries where you would borrow books you both haven’t read or something you just want to read and then reading it together on the window sill. Your first kiss was over a cup of coffee perched on the sill with Anna Karenina on your lap and Russian Literature on his, the kiss was magnificent that you were sure that if soulmates were real, he was— is your soulmate.

The first time you were intimate with each other was a rather cliche experience, cliche and romantic. After the 5th official date where he asked you to be his, you both went to his place which funnily was only a block away from where your apartment building sits. Rounds and rounds, you both savored the moment like you were made for each other; Ares & Aphrodite, Apollo & Calliope, Orpheus & Eurydice. The first one was gentle, desire filled love making against the bed, where he touched your skin like he touched your soul, where he kissed your lips like he kissed your fluttering heart, where he thrusts into you like a mad man, your mad man.

The next round varies, from the one where you were both on the edge of the bed when you accidentally slipped out the word “daddy.” which only made him thrust harder with an impossibly loud groans of “Call me that again—fuck!”. There was one where he choked you, fucking the soul out of you that you both ended up on the floor— not even bothering to stop by then. After the 4th round, you were both spent.. spent and absolutely basked in heavenly reality— reality that will always engulf you both.. Soulmates.

“You’ll nail it, i know you will, daddy knows best doesn’t he?” He chuckled, but his gaze darken, his grip tighten, and his head.. his head tilted in a mocking way, not mocking your ability of course but rather.. ‘Daddy Knows Best, Doesn’the?’ You knew then he found out, found your dirty dirty little secret that you tried to keep hidden (or at least for the most part)

You see, a week ago, Spencer left for a case— a pretty short one though you were desperate every time you separated from each other. You missed him so much, missed spencer but also.. you miss your daddy, your rock, your dominant. You missed his touch, missed his cock, missed his kisses, fuck you missed him so much that you were willing to break one of his most important rule. ‘No touching yourself without daddy’s sole permission, and no cumming without his permission too.’

You knew you could’ve asked, could’ve begged for him to make you cum over the phone but you couldn’t.. one part because you knew he was busy, and you had to wait at least until midnight to get him to call you.. but the other part of you, the nasty brat he calls it, was eager to be punished, to be settled back on its place. You craved the way his palm.. those genius palm slapped your ass and cunt raw until they sting so painfully that you knew you wouldnt be able to sit down tomorrow. You craved the way you were on the brink of consciousness as his hand choke your neck like he owns you.. and yeah.. he truly owns you.

So you did the most obvious, you touched yourself, you came without his permission, and you used the new vibrators he specifically asked you to not use it until he comes back. 3 rules broken and you were happy.. giddy about it. But know that he knew, you felt.. almost guilty, lust still covered you, the severe thrill still clouds you but you feel guilty, guilty that you have disappointed your daddy.

“Daddy, I—“

“Shh, Good girls gets to speak, Brats like you gets nothing.” He hissed, demeanor changed 180 as his grip tighten as much as he could and his palm goes from giving you calmness to slap your ass cheeks like you were his punching bag. You mewled and whined, before he hoist you up his arm, to move both of you to the bedroom.

“Gonna show you just what nasty desperate kittens like you get, gonna ruin you like a rag doll.” Thrown you into the bed like a rag doll is exactly what he did, you bounced a little before propping your body with your elbows to watch him sauntered over to the closer. “Was going to make you a nice dinner pet, romantic and shit, but you just had to be a slut.. for daddy huh?” He said from the closet, making you bit your lip in guilt.

“Please daddy, i’m sorry!”

“Told you to stay fucking quiet.” He rasped, pulling a few things from the closet, then making his way back to where you were laid, clothes already off. “But, i was just—“ He cuts you off by pinching your nipples hard as he placed a handcuff, a belt, and a gag— a ring gag to be exact.

“Since you can’t keep your filthy whore mouth shut, i’m going to place this—“ He grabbed the gag, carefully scurrying it around your head, “There you go, looking like a cute slutty brat that you are.” He pats your head, before securing the handcuffs around your wrist up above your head.

“Aw my baby drooling already? You’re practically begging to get your face fucked, princess.” He cooed, god he’s so different in private like this, he knows every one of your weak spots, every word that makes your heart leaps and your pussy clenched, every damn move and touches that have you begging for more, yearning for more, and being so needy over it. A man like Spencer, thrived in the feeling of having control over something for extensive amount of time, he doesn’t mind not being the typical alpha male on the streets, but here in his sheets every night— he’s the predator, and you my darling, is his frail prey.

The only thing you could let out is a pathetic mewl as he slapped the skin of your gorgeous breasts, his gaze hungry as he trailed them down your body, your gorgeous curves, it almost as if he’s worshipping every damn mark and inch of skin— silently thanking whoever made you possible for how your body just as it is.

“beautiful, could be eating you out right now, but you decided to be bad.” He tsk’d, causing you to whimper and buck your hips which he slapped your thigh for, “No buckin’ up on daddy. Be good.”

Be good,

Be good,

Be good, Y/N.

Suddenly, suddenly your eyes droops just a little, you were still so still you held in your breath, your cheeks warmth as you feel yourself entering the very very fuzzy space where the only thing that exists is Y/N and Daddy. Be good, she has to be good for him because she has disappointed him again for being a— your thought were cut short as he cup your cheek, noticing how your body language changes, your daddy always knows after all.

“Shh, you’re good princess. hey are you with me? want me to stop? take the gag off, little one?” He cooed, as you momentarily shake your head with such eager, gesturing for him that no.. no you don’t want him to stop, you did a bad naughty thing and you need to be punished. Spencer has spent all his time studying your behavior, your every little detail— expression, body language, every damn thing to know just what it is you want, you need, you.. crave.

“Alright but if you feel any discomfort you’ll tap daddy with your legs okay? you can even kick him, daddy won’t mind..” He chuckled, which earned a strangled laugh from you— “Oh go and speak now angel, love watching you all messy and drooly.” He laughed, before flipping you so that you were laid face down with your ass up as your hips being propped up by a pillow.

Crack!

So sudden , it was so sudden, the loud impact sound of his belt against your skin echoed on the very walls of your room. Your head thrown back as your saliva steadily running down your chin, your eyes breaming with tears, and you let out a very very adorable strangled cries. “Fuck, thats it, take it, take your punishment and maybe, just maybe daddy’ll be a little lenient towards you tonight.”

Crack!

Crack!

Crack!

You didn’t count, you lost track of how many times the harsh leather has hit your skin, now burning with tremendous guilt and burning lustful desire. Your tears soaked the pillow case like a damn river, yet he didn’t relent not until he felt like you’ve learned your lesson.

and honestly.. you wouldn’t ask for anything else.

-

“Pretty girl, so so good for daddy shh, come here.” He wrapped you up in his arms as he remove the gag and handcuffs altogether, you were a panting drooly mess as he presses tiny loving kisses on your forehead— body completely engulfing you in his warmth. “D-daddy.. am i.. am i forgiven?” You hiccups, looking up at him to seek for comfort.. for his forgiveness, his his his.

“Oh sweetheart, i wasn’t mad at you, was just putting you back on your place. You’re so so good for me.” he cooed, gently easing you up his lap, trailing his fingers from your hair down to your arms, your tummy, and heading further south. “I love you daddy... thank you for correcting me.”

Spencer could drown, drown inside your pretty eyes, just get lost in it forever, until he suffocates and die a happy man. He would be the prisoner in your version of heaven no doubt, he was never a religious man, but if there’s a higher power— it’s you, a damn goddess— his true revelation.

“I love you too, sweetheart. Let me take care of you okay?” He whispered, positioning you properly, your back against his chest, your head adorably tucked under his chin, and your thighs spread with his knees below yours. You were a giggling mess, hazy in your space but so so drunk on pleasure, “Please please please!” You whimpered greedily, trying to grind down on his bare cock.

“Patience is virtue, angel. Let’s get you nice and ready hm? know you’re too tight to take all of me.” He whispered, which resulted in you yelling— cutting him off a little way too loudly.

“But i can! i can take it, daddy! please let me show you!” God you didn’t know what you did to him, what your damn gorgeous eyes did to his psyche, to his cock. Begging like that, making him wants to ruin you, making him wants to release the very very hungry beast inside of him— ruin ruin ruin you oh so beautifully.

“Alright, you asked for it. Don’t go blabbing about being too full, you brat.” He smacked your thigh before positioning his hard, thick hard long cock on your entrance, slowly pushing his impossible length up your tummy. “Oh! oh oh! daddy!” You cried, cried and mewled like a kitten.

His length was not even halfway in and yet you were filled so fully that your head spins. “Take it, just a lil more, doing so good.” He rasps, feeling your cunt impossibly tight around his cock, warm and snug. “Please daddy...” You whimpered, not even know what the pleading was for but you pleads for him— with him.

When he finally got all his length stuffed deep inside your weepy cunt, his mouth nip and bite at the skin of your neck, trying to hold back the grunts as he moves slowly, thrusting up to your tight cunt.

“Fuck so damn tight, kitten.” You shuddered as the tip of his cock hit your spot perfectly, he was in so deep that all the sound that dripped from your lip was ‘ah! ah ah! d-‘

“Take it, take it, take it.” Was all he chanted as he settled you so you seated up right on his lap, before bouncing you up and down his length. Spencer was deeper this way, way way deep inside your walls, massaging every pulsing need you’ve held for awhile.

“So big! so— oh! please daddy faster!” You moaned wantonly, bouncing yourself up and down his cock, gasping as he places his palm on your tummy where the imprint his cock nestled deep inside you was so prominent that he cried out loud. “Feel it huh? feel it deep inside your tummy?”

“Yes yes yes oh fuck! S-Spencer!” You knew just how much he loves it when you moaned his name, so even in your fuzzy space, you moaned it, because you love him and he was practically fucking the living soul outta you. “I love you— fuck me i love you, gonna cum hm?” He whispered, moving his hand down, down down down then pressing his thumb on your clit to rub it.

“Daddy no! no i-i’ll make a mess!” Of course he knows this, knows that the burn on your ass constantly slapping against his thigh turns you on like nothing else, knows that his cock was filling you up so good that you could practically feel him inside your throat, knows that the rubbing of his thumb will have you squirting on his cock in no time.

“But daddy— shit, daddy wants you to make a mess, go on little one.. make a big mess.” And so you did, you did hard— squirting on his cock like river was streaming down your cunt, your walls pulses around his cock like a vibrator and the grip was like vice, sending him to absolute bliss himself— cumming inside you shortly after as you shake and writhe above him.

“I love you Y/N fuck— fuck i love you so fucking much.” He fucked you through your and his orgasm like a mad man, burying his face on your neck as his cum was buried inside your cunt. You were panting so hard, body still shaking as he leave trail of kisses on the column of your throat before tilting your head to kiss your lips softly.

“D-Daddy?” You meekly whispered, lips trembling as you spoke after he hummed, “can you stay inside? want to keep you inside please..”

And who’s Spencer Reid to deny his goddess’s wishes

-

xx,d

[echoghost1]

Fic-mas Day 03: Star

Title: Back In Your Orbit

Summary: Lancer's new unit on Greek Literature, aka mythology, shouldn't be a problem for Danny. Even if the stories have connections to the constellations, and constellations are stars, and stars are in space, and, oh no.

Word Count: 639

Characters: Danny Fenton & Mr. Lancer's English class

Warnings: None!

Oh this makes a bit more sense if you've read Wes Weston and the Quest to Find Danny's Obsession first.

don't mind me slipping in under the wire for my own event it's fine. don't worry about it.

You can read below or on AO3!

Danny slipped into his seat in the back just before the bell rang and let out a soft sigh in relief. He did not need to get in trouble for being late again.

Mr. Lancer gave the room a quick once, nodded, and then stood up.

"Today we will be starting a new unit," the teacher started. "Over the next two weeks, we'll be going over classic Greek literature."

The obligatory groan at the word literature forced Lancer to pause his explanation.

The teacher sighed and took a moment to compose himself.

"I'd like to start by seeing what you know."

Another groan from the room.

"Would myths count?" Sam asked.

"Why yes actually!" Mr. Lancer beamed, "can you share an example with the class?"

"Well I know the western zodiac each has their own story, but my personal favorites are the story of Orpheus and Eurydice and the tale of Persephone."

Danny perked up when Sam mentioned the zodiac.

Danny knew the zodiac stories. He's the one who told them to her.

One night when they were stargazing in the park after a long ghost hunting patrol to unwind. He had only meant to tell her one or two as he pointed the constellations that could be seen that time of year, but he ended up getting a little carried away.

Which of course, thinking back on it now, was a little embarrassing.

He felt a buzz of energy as he thought about the stories.

Stories about the stars.

But then Sam mentioned that final myth. The name of the Goddess.

The name of his…

No!

The name didn't mean anything else.

It was just a name.

It didn't mean anything.

"Mr. Fenton, are you alright?"

Danny opened his eyes and found a very concerned-looking Mr. Lancer.

"I…" Danny hesitated, "sorry I was just thinking."

"If you think any harder you'll hurt yourself," Dash teased loud enough for everyone to hear.

Everyone chuckled at that.

Even Tucker.

Danny shot a quick judging glare at his best friend, who just shrugged.

Lancer went back to the front of the room to continue his lesson.

Danny would have preferred to have been ignored instead of being made the center of attention like that. Don't teachers know how embarrassing that is?

They were students once, weren't they? It can't have been that long ago that they forgot, right?

Danny slumped in his seat and tried not to linger on the embarrassment.

Then he felt something shift in his pocket and tap against the plastic desk chair.

Curious, he took a peek and noticed something dark and jagged poking out.

He didn't remember putting anything like that into his pocket. Or anything at all actually.

He reached for the mysterious object and before he had even fully touched it, he could feel the energy coming from it.

It felt so familiar. That pulsing of energy felt just like his ectoblasts.

But then he felt the object with his hands.

It was rough and the edges crumbled slightly as his fingers brushed up against it.

This was a rock.

There was a rock in his pocket.

But it wasn’t just a rock.

It was full of ghost energy.

His ghost energy.

“Persephone,” he whispered to himself.

He pulled his little planet out of his pocket and cradled it in his hands as carefully as he could.

Why had he been trying to avoid thinking of her again?

He loved his little planet. His precious Persephone.

Oh, but she was falling apart now.

Was it because she was no longer in orbit? Fixing that would probably help. It was the best way to have gravity after all.

He ended up being so absorbed in worrying about what he was holding that he completely forgot he was in class.

That is until the bell rang.

[h0tch-r0cket]

Infatuation (18+) {a.h.} : chapter 5

summary: you needed a job. aaron hotchner needed a babysitter. the rest was inevitable.

word count: 5.5K

warnings: explicit language, drinking alcohol, smoking, building tension : )

table of contents

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

"Y/N?" Jack called out from the kitchen of the Hotchner home. You had picked him up from school, like always, and he was working on his homework as soon as possible.

"What's going on, Jack?" you asked as you placed your finger in between the pages of your copy of The Centaur which you brought with you to keep you occupied.

"I need help with my math," he said softly.

You put your bookmark in the novel and headed into where the little Hotchner was awaiting your help. You sat down across from him and glanced down at the papers that were sprawled out in front of him. "What do you need help with?"

"Well, Ms. Kingston showed us today how to add and subtract with three digit numbers like 100 and all that stuff. I get confused when you have to borrow from one of the other numbers when you subtract," he said as he tapped the pencil on the table, a habit you noticed Aaron did as well when he was working on his own work.

"Alright, let me take a look here," you said as you grabbed the paper from him.

After a few minutes of explaining the way you go about subtracting the numbers to Jack, he got it pretty quickly. "Thanks, Y/N!"

You ruffled his hair as you stood up from the table. "You got it. If you need me, I'm just going to be in the living room, okay?"

"Okay," he said as he moved on to the next parts of his worksheet.

You settled back onto the couch, bringing your knees up to your chest as you read the novel. You were just reaching one of your favorite parts, your attention glued to the pages in front of you. It was the part where George, the father of the story, had spent his very last dollar to bring home a sandwich for his wife even though he and his son were stranded for the night because their car broke down. There was something about the sentiment, the idea that he would give up his very last dollar, that always warmed your heart.

Just as you finished up the chapter you were on, the small pitter patter of feet coming into the living room interrupted you continuing on with your reading. You looked up from the book to see Jack coming towards you, taking hard steps as he walked.

He plopped down on the couch next to you and let out a low sigh. "What's the matter, kiddo?" you asked as you placed the book neatly on your lap.

"I want dad to come home already," he said quietly as he swung his legs against the side of the couch.

"I know you do, Jack. But hey, he should be here soon. Want to watch a movie in the meantime?" You weren't sure what else to do for him. It was the first time that Jack had ever expressed that sentiment to you.

He nodded his head lightly, not saying anything to actually answer your question verbally. "Alright. As long as you finished your homework," you told him. He simply nodded yet again, his face more somber than normal.

You tried to figure out why he had the sudden mood change from when you picked him up from the bus. You thought maybe he was just tired or perhaps he wasn't feeling good. You knew that most kids always wanted their parents around when they were sick.

As the different possibilities ran through your head as you looked for a movie that the two of you had yet to watch, Jack's small voice piped up from next to you. "Y/N?"

You turned your head to look at him to already be met with his gaze. "Yeah Jack?"

"Can I sit with you?" he asked softly.

You nodded your head and straightened yourself up more on the couch so he could sit on your lap. As he quickly scooted into your lap, your copy of The Centaur fell underneath the couch.

"Sorry Y/N. I'll pick it up," Jack said as he went to reach down and grab it. You pulled him back up towards you and let his back rest against your frontside.

"It's alright. I'll get it later. Pick out a movie to watch," you told him. You passed him the TV remote and let him scroll through the different family movies, hoping that he would find something to occupy his thoughts until Aaron got home from his lectures.

------

As much as he tried, Aaron Hotchner could not focus on the lecture that he was giving in his class. As he sat at his office desk at the university, he flipped through his notes which to anyone else other than him would not have made any sense at all with the way that the thoughts were not cohesive and the exhaustive amounts of abbreviations that littered the pages.

He planned the day's lecture to be about Orpheus and Eurydice, lovers tragically torn apart, but he couldn't gather his thoughts cohesively to provide his students with what he deemed to be the proper lesson.

His thoughts were foggy. Jarbled. He thought he would have shaken the thought of the way your hands touched the day prior. But it was all he found himself thinking about. He wasn't quite sure why. It was a simple accident.

A simple accident that made him want to rethink the way he had been so closed off with you. The way he was always curt. He craved more, despite the fact that he knew he shouldn't pursue anything with you.

He rubbed his temples, sighing in defeat. At that point, the lecture was going to be what it was going to be.

Aaron gathered all of his things in his satchel and headed down to the auditorium before his students filed in. He shed himself of his suit jacket, leaving him in a baby blue dress shirt and tan slacks. He organized his notes yet again and placed them in order on the podium that was in the center of the room.

His students filed in soon after, a chorus of Good afternoon, Professor Hotchner, How are you Professor Hotchner? coming from them.

Aaron gave everyone a few minutes to settle in before glancing at his watch for the time. He clapped his hands together once loudly to get the attention of the class. The side conversations slowly died down, only a few soft murmurs being heard through the crowd.

"Alright folks. Let's settle in. I know today is Friday and you all are eager to get out of here so I'll try to make this as quick and easy as possible," he said, projecting his voice so that everyone could hear him. "I'll run through attendance quickly and then we'll get started."

After taking attendance and marking the absentee students, Aaron grabbed the textbook for the class from out of his satchel. "If you all could open to page 265 that would be absolutely fantastic." Synchronous opening of textbooks and flipping of pages filled the auditorium as the students quickly followed Aaron's instructions.

He began to walk in front of the room, arms crossed over his chest as he glanced out into the sea of students. "Now, does anyone have any ideas as to what the story of Orpheus and Eurydice is about?" He looked into the crowd, being met with blank stares, eyes glazing over, and even a few students nodding their heads back as they fought the calling of sleep during class.

Not one student raised their hand. He caught the students glancing at one another, hoping that someone, anyone, would have the answer. But there was no such luck.

Part of him wondered if you knew the story. You probably would know the tale like the back of your hand, being that you seemed to be meticulous with whatever it was that you set your mind to. He was curious to see just how much you knew about mythology.

He decided that the next time he saw you, he would try to find out just that.

Focus, he thought to himself.

Clearing his head of you as much as possible, he rolled his sleeves up and walked to the whiteboard, uncapping the black Expo marker that laid next to it. "Orpheus," he said as the marker squeaked on the board as he wrote the name down, "is the son of Apollo and Calliope. Well, that is according to some accounts. Some people say that Orpheus had a different father," he clarified. Aaron turned his attention back to his students, pushing his glasses up on the bridge of his nose. "Can anyone at least remind me as to who those two figures are in mythology? Apollo and Calliope?"

A hand rose in the middle of the auditorium slowly. "Yes?" he said, letting the student know that they could answer the question.

"Well, Apollo is considered to be the god of poetry and music. Calliope on the other hand, was one of the nine muses. She was the muse of history," the girl answered.

Aaron shook his head, placing his hands on his hips and he continued to pace back and forth in the front of the room. "Close. Calliope is actually the muse of poetry. Clio was the muse of history," he explained. "But I'm sure you knew that, right Ms. Sinclair?" he said with a small smirk on his face.

The girl nodded and scribbled down some more notes in her notebook, frantic to capture each and every word that Aaron uttered throughout the rest of the lecture.

Aaron took a brief pause and scanned through the crowd yet again. When he noticed one of his students clearly scrolling on his phone rather than focusing on the lecture, he debated about whether or not he should say something. But when the student started to show his phone around to those near him, he knew he would have to address the obvious distraction from the lecture.

"Mr. McMillan, if your phone is more important than listening to the rest of this lecture, which does cover a large part of your final, please be my guest and take the rest of the day for yourself," Aaron said as he raised his hand towards the door, suggesting that the boy leave the auditorium. He watched as the boy's face turned a shade of pink as he slipped the phone into his pocket. Aaron mouthed a small thank you to the student and continued with the lecture.

"As I was saying, with the help of Ms. Sinclair, Orpheus is the son of Apollo and Calliope. Eurydice," he said as he wrote the next name down on the board and drew a line connecting the two names together, "on the other hand was a beautiful Spartan princess. She married Orpheus. He played her beautiful songs on his lyre, which is just a smaller version of a harp. Orpheus was an exceptional musician. But that makes sense considering who his parents were."

He leaned back against his desk, partially sitting on top of it. He crossed his feet and rested his hands on each side of him on the desk to hold himself up. "However, tragedy struck the young couple. Eurydice was bit by a snake and died. Orpheus was heartbroken. So much so that he only played the most somber and melancholy songs on his lyre. "

Aaron paused for a moment, letting his students jot down their notes onto their paper. "But that didn't discourage Orpheus from fighting for his true love."

Aaron pushed himself off the desk and started to pace again, rubbing his thumb against his pointer finger as he walked. "He was not willing to give up so easily. So, he came up with a plan."

He walked over to the whiteboard again and wrote the word Underworld on the board. "Now, what are some things you know about the Underworld?"

"It's Hades' domain," a student called out.

Aaron drew an arrow from the word and wrote Hades underneath it. "And Hades is?"

"Zeus' brother," the same student replied.

"Very good. What else do we know about this Underworld, the realm where the souls of the departed end up in Greek mythology?" Aaron probed.

"River Styx!" another student called out enthusiastically.

"Mhm." He added another line to the diagram and turned to face the student that answered. "What about the River Styx?"

"I don't know. I just know it's there," the student laughed.

"Fair enough," Aaron said with a small smile. "We'll be covering that within the next few lessons so I won't worry about drilling it into your heads for the time being. One thing that I do want to mention is Cerberus, the three headed dog that guards the entrance of the Underworld. That will be important for the rest of the tale of Orpheus and Eurydice."

Aaron paused yet again, settling back onto the top of the desk but this time he was fully seated on it, his legs dangling off the side. "Now, Orpheus, being heartbroken at the loss of his wife, came up with a plan. He decided to travel to the Underworld to try to regain his love."

"That's crazy. Who would want to go to that place? I mean, I get it he loved the girl but is that even possible?" a student asked.

"It was a wild plan, I will give you that. But Orpheus succeeded. He traveled to the Underworld and managed to strike a deal with Hades after playing his music for him. The ruler of the Underworld was so moved that he granted Orpheus his wish to bring Eurydice back to the land of the living. Hell, the stories even say that Cerberus, the ferocious guardian of the entrance of the Underworld, was howling in despair of the pain Orpheus' music suggested."

A hand rose amongst the crowd. Aaron took his glasses off, gently biting down on the end of the arm of them. He raised his eyebrows at the student, allowing them to speak.

"There's no way that he got her back that easily. Greek mythology seems to, for the most part, at least stem from some kind of tragedy," the student said, clearly not believing that the tale would end happily ever after.

Aaron took his glasses out of his mouth and shook them in the direction of the student. "Excellent observation, Mr. Roth. That brings us to the next part of our tale. Hades gave Orpheus a stipulation; his wife would be brought back to the land of the living as long as Orpheus did not look back at her while they were still in the Underworld."

He hopped off his desk and hooked his glasses onto the collar of his shirt as he continued with the lecture. "Orpheus made the journey back to the light, but he turned around too soon, full of excitement to be reunited with his wife. She vanished before his eyes and he was heartbroken yet again."

"So the moral of the story is to be patient and have trust in the situations that you find yourself in?" a voice called out.

"Precisely," Aaron said, his voice soft. He glanced down at his watch. "I think that's enough for today. For the next class, think of a time in your life where this story applies. A time where you were impatient and lost something that you worked so desperately hard to get. Class dismissed."

The students filed out of the room quickly, allowing Aaron to follow behind them with his satchel tucked under his arm, the same fervor coursing through his veins to get home. He wanted to see Jack.

He wanted to see you.

————

"Oh! You sank my battleship!" you hollered dramatically as Jack managed to get another one of your ships clear off the board.

"Yes!" he shouted, throwing his fist up in success.

You were happy to see him going back to his normal, happy self. Whatever was bothering him earlier had managed to subside by the time you were done watching The Lion King.

The familiar car alarm chirped in the driveway, causing loyal Buster to run to the door in anticipation to see his owner.

You felt almost the same degree of excitement flowing through your body. It was the first time you were seeing Aaron since his touch was embedded into your head. You were wondering if things would be different. If he would be different.

As the front door opened, Jack ran over to his father and wrapped his arms tightly around his waist. "Hey buddy," Aaron said with a small chuckle as he patted Jack's back.

"I missed you today," Jack said quietly as he looked up at his father.

"I miss you everyday," Aaron said with a smile. His gaze turned to you and he kept the smile plastered on his face. "How's it going, Y/N?"

"Pretty good. Jack just sunk my battleship...again," you joked, feigning annoyance.

Aaron's smile grew a bit wider, the dimples on his face making another appearance.

You couldn't help but smile at him. His smile was contagious and gorgeous. You felt like it was such a rare occasion that he smiled, even though he was smiling more often around you, that you always studied the way his face looked so you would never forget it.

Aaron headed into the kitchen with his things with Jack following close behind. You followed a few moments after, ready to gather your things and head home.

When you came into the kitchen, you saw Aaron place a hand on his hip as he looked down at Jack who held his hands together tightly in a pleading motion.

"Come on, Dad! It will be fun," Jack begged. He put on a big smile for his father, trying to convince him further to whatever idea he had planned.

"Alright, Jack. I wouldn't mind that. Ask her," Aaron said as he turned his attention towards you. You felt yourself get nervous, not sure as to what it was that Jack was about to ask you.

Jack took a step forward and planted himself in front of you as he looked up at you with big, puppy dog eyes. "Y/N, do you want to stay and have dinner with us?" Jack asked excitedly.

"Oh," you said with shock. Your stomach fluttered at the thought of actually staying and spending time with Aaron, even if Jack was still there. But the rational part of your head was yelling at you to leave. You already were thinking about Aaron too much and you were sure you would be even further doomed if you were subject to his charm and wit for the night. "Maybe another time, Jack. I think Esmé was planning on making a nice fancy dinner tonight."

"Please, Y/N," Jack pleaded. "Stay with us and eat." He held his hands firmly together again in a similar fashion to how he was begging his father to go along with the idea in the first place.

You clicked your tongue and scratched the back of your neck, unsure as to what other excuse you could come up with. "I don't want to intrude on the time you and your dad have together, buddy."

Aaron crossed his arms across his chest and you saw him raise his eyebrows for a quick second behind his glasses. "Stay, Y/N. I'm a pretty good cook," Aaron said with a smirk growing on his face.

You felt your stomach twist further into knots at the thought that one, Aaron wanted you to stay and two, that he was going to be cooking some sort of meal for you.

Aaron, on the other hand, felt desperate. He wanted—no, he needed you to stay. He wanted to learn everything there was about you. He wanted to know your passions, your fears. As his eyes searched yours, he saw the battle that was going on in your head as to whether or not you should stay or go.

He was hoping you couldn't see the way he crossed his fingers together subtly, a silent prayer that you would stay.

He didn't know what was coming over him. All he knew was that at that moment, he didn't want you to leave the house. He had tried to push you out of his head all day, but seeing you here at his house and your gorgeous smile, it was taking everything in his power to keep his composure as he felt himself succumbing to his desire to want to be close to you.

You weren't sure what it was but the way Aaron was staring at you, his eyes soft, it was as if he was subtly begging you to stay.

You knew you shouldn't. You already were feeling things that you never thought you would for the man. But a part of you was curious to try to figure out if he was feeling something similar.

"Alright, fine," you said defeated, throwing your hands up in the air. "I'll stay." Jack let out an excited yell before running back into the living room.

You could have sworn you saw Aaron exhale deeply once you came to your decision, as if he was relieved that you were actually staying. "But I'm telling you now Hotchner, if you're not as good a cook as you say you are, there will be hell to pay," you teased as you pointed your finger in his direction.

And to your surprise, Aaron laughed. He genuinely laughed. It was a sound that was pure music to your ears, something that you wished you could have turned back time to get it on a recording.

"I promise. I am a good cook," he said as he turned around and began to take out some different pots and pans.

You walked next to him and leaned up against the counter. "What exactly are you planning on making?"

He turned his gaze to you, a smug look growing on his face. "Well where's the fun in that? It's a surprise," he said quietly, leaning closer in your direction.

You caught a quick whiff of his cologne, the smell of cedar quickly filling your airspace. You bit down on your bottom lip, the closeness to him becoming almost too much to handle.

His warm honey eyes darted down to your lips and back up to your own eyes. He cleared his throat and stood back up straight, starting to pull some random ingredients out of the cabinet in front of him.

You shut your eyes for a second, disappointed by how quickly he stood away from you. "I'll be in the living room with Jack," you said. He nodded silently, making his rounds in the kitchen to cook.

As you made your way into the living room, you couldn't help but think about how close he was. You could have reached your hand out and stroked his cheek. You could have been putty melting in his hands.

Aaron watched you walk out of the kitchen, knowing that you wouldn't see his eyes raking across your body. Your perfume lingered in the space where you were in the kitchen, reminding Aaron just how close his face was to yours, how he could have pulled you by your cheeks to brush his lips against yours.

He wanted you. And he wasn't sure how much longer he could hold back.

———-

"Oh my god," you sighed in content as you took a bite of the food Aaron prepared. He made fettuccine alfredo with chicken. All from scratch.

His eyes shot towards you as he heard the sound of satisfaction fall on your lips. He raised an eyebrow at you, taking a bite of the chicken that rested on his plate. "So, did I live up to your expectations?"

"Mhm," was all you could muster as you took another bite of the pasta.

You watched as Jack twirled the pasta around his fork. He popped it into his mouth and gave his dad a thumbs up. "It tastes good, Dad. I could eat the whole pot!"

"That's an awful lot of pasta," you joked as you took a small sip of the chardonnay that Aaron had poured for the two of you. He insisted it made the meal but you were wondering if it had different indications than what he led on.

"Yeah it is but I could eat it," Jack said. Aaron rolled his eyes jokingly at his son's active imagination.

A few minutes passed and you all were eating in content. This time, there was a much more comfortable silence that fell between you all, something that you could easily get used to.

"So, Y/N, what made you pick up an interest in Greek mythology?" Aaron asked, clearly ripping off the bandaid he had been gripping to all day. He had to know. He wanted to know more about you.

"I took a class in high school, actually. And from there, I've done most of my learning on my own. I don't know," you laughed softly.

God your laugh. Aaron would never get over hearing it. He took a sip of his wine and glanced at you over the rim of the glass, watching you absentmindedly twirl your fork around in the pasta.

"I just find it interesting that there's so many stories that they came up with and they all have some sort of deeper meaning to them."

Aaron nodded in agreement, finding himself entranced with your words. You were right of course. There were so many things those stories explained, like the natural world or even as something simple to not be selfish.

"That's why I like them so much. The interpretation of them all varies and you can learn so much," he added.

"I like the ones with Jason and the Astronauts," Jack interrupted. Small laughs from you and Aaron filled the space between you at Jack's mispronunciation.

"Argonauts," you and Aaron said at the same time, correcting the young Hotchner.

Jack scrunched his eyebrows in confusion. "What's the word?" he asked.

"Argonauts," Aaron repeated.

"Astronauts is cooler," Jack concluded as he took another bite of his chicken. "Can I be excused?"

Aaron glanced at his plate and pointed his fork in the direction of his son's food. "Eat another bite of chicken and you can be."

Jack scarfed down the chicken quickly and left the table.

Realization hit you rather quickly.

It was just you and Aaron. A tinge of pink fell across your face at the fact that you were alone with Aaron.

You cleared your throat and shifted in your seat, sitting up straighter. "So, how did your lecture go today?" you asked.

Aaron shrugged his shoulders and kept his gaze on his plate. "Could have gone better, I suppose."

"What did you talk about?" You took another drink of your wine and this time, it was you glancing at him over the rim of the glass.

"Orpheus and Eurydice."

"That's a good one. Heartbreaking in the end but I like the story of it all," you admitted.

Of course you knew it. Aaron figured you would. He wished you could have been in his class. You clearly knew so much about the subject matter and he was becoming impressed the more you spoke.

"It's definitely one of the sadder ones," he agreed.

You placed your fork down on your napkin, full from the delicious dinner you just ate. "I think it's one of the best representations of agape in Greek mythology that there is," you added, running your finger along the rim of your wine glass.

Aaron felt his nerves go wild.

Agape?

How the hell did you know about that?

You certainly kept him on his toes.

"And you know about agape, the Greek word for the concept of self-sacrificing love. I have to say, Y/N, I really wasn't expecting you to be so well versed in the subject," he admitted. "But figures, a smart girl like you would go above and beyond to learn about whatever you set your mind to." He took another sip of his wine and his eyes were looking at you more intently.

You definitely felt your face blush at his words. You tried to keep your composure as best as possible, but how could you when he was being so fucking charming and looking at you the way he was?

"I am just full of surprises," you teased, making your voice almost a whisper.

You watched as Aaron licked his lips and raised his eyebrows. "You most certainly are," he agreed, his words coming out with an exhale. "Question for you though."

"Hm?"

"What makes you think that the tale of Orpheus and Eurydice is full of agape?" he challenged.

You took a moment to try to cohesively get your thoughts together. Well, as best you could with the way Aaron was looking at you.

"Well for starters, the man literally went to the Underworld to try to get his wife back. It was an unheard of feat. And the fact that Orpheus was willing to do whatever it took to get her back just shows how much he couldn't live without her. How much he loved her."

Aaron nodded slowly, finishing the rest of his wine. "You make a good point there," he said after he swallowed the chardonnay.

You nodded in agreement. You couldn't believe that you were engaging in such a deep conversation with Aaron. But it felt so natural. So right.

You glanced at the clock, seeing that it was almost 9pm. "I think I better get going," you said quietly. You pushed yourself away from the table and placed your dishes in the sink.

When you turned around to go grab your things, you bumped into a solid mass.

Aaron.

He grunted lightly at the contact, a flicker of his smile dancing across his lips.

"Sorry," you said quickly as he looked down at you. You stared at him for a second, as he did to you, before pulling yourself out of your trance and stepping around him to grab your belongings.

"Not a problem," he said as he placed his and Jack's dishes in the sink. "Let me walk you out." You nodded silently and watched as he grabbed the pack of cigarettes off the counter.

He patted the bottom of the carton against his palm before taking one of the cigarettes out, resting it between his lips as he walked with you towards the door.

He opened the door for you and you turned to say your goodbyes.

As much as you truly didn't want to.

"Thank you for dinner," you said with a smile.

"Don't worry about it," he assured as he leaned against the doorframe, the cigarette bouncing between his lips with each word.

"Enjoy the rest of your weekend, Aaron."

"You too, Y/N."

You headed to your car, settling into the driver's seat quickly, your brain still reeling from the events of the night.

You glanced back towards the Hotchner home and saw Aaron still leaning against the door frame, the faint orange glow of the lit cigarette piercing through the darkness of the sky.

You pulled away from the house and headed back home, watching as the Hotchner home disappeared from your rear view mirror.

Once you got home, you opened the door and pressed your back against it, still shocked with the overwhelming feelings that were still in your stomach, your head. Everywhere.

Esmé turned her head around towards you from the couch. When she saw your shocked and speechless expression, a shit-eating grin grew rapidly on her face. "Spill...the...details...now," she demanded as you sat down next to her on the couch.

As you were retelling the way you and Aaron had a few more moments that night, your phone dinged.

"Don't be a fool! Answer it!" Esmé hollered, smacking her hand gently on your leg.

Your heart fluttered when you saw the name of the person texting you.

          ��                                        Aaron Hotchner

-You left your book here. I found it under the couch when I was straightening up.

                                -Oh, I totally forgot about it! Sorry! I'll grab it on Monday.

-The Centaur, huh? You really are a bit of a nerd when it comes to mythology aren't you?

                                            -Maybe. But it's also just a good book in general.

-I'll have to give it a read then.

                    -I'm going to test you on it if you do read it, just so you're aware.

-I'll be counting on it.

-Goodnight, Y/N.

                                                                                            -Goodnight, Aaron.

You sighed loudly, trying to ignore Esmé who was staring at you with wide eyes. You clutched your phone tighter in your hand and turned to look at her.

"I'm in such deep shit," you admitted as you leaned back on the couch, resting your head on the headrest.

——

authors note:

i hope you all enjoyed this chapter! i also hope the lecture part wasn't too boring. i figured it was a good change of pace.

thanks for reading! i appreciate the support <3

see you next chapter!

-jordyn

[rodeoxqueen]

Can u make hcs DMC boys x s/o who lost her memory after an accident in a battle? Like 'I don't remember your name but I remember I love you so much' ^3^)

Howdy Anonymous,

I am quite fond of when love surpasses all circumstances. I am even more fond of writing those moments; This is one of them. 

Thank You For Requesting,

Rodeo 

Dante 

“Oh god oh fuck.” 

He’s panicking internally and blaming himself for not protecting you. At least you’re not dead, but now you can’t even remember your own name. 

Everyone feels so bad for Dante, seeing how his eyes lose their spark at the realization you don’t know who he is. You’re the love of his life, and he’s just lost you in a way that might even be worse than death. 

He’s always by your side though. When you awaken and question why there is such a good looking man holding your hand. 

Even when you have amnesia he’s a flirt. 

“Do you remember me?” 

“No, not at all.” 

“Do you know my name?” 

“No. I’m sorry.” 

He sighs, rubbing his thumb along your knuckles. This was harder than he thought. Dante looks down at the ground, thinking of all the memories of you and him. His blue eyes almost well up seeing you next to him in bed, kissing his cheek and holding him in your arms. Is this all gone? Is he forced to see you have to start over and forget everything you’ve done together? 

 Suddenly, he feels your grip on his hand tighten. He looks up to your uncertain expression. There’s something in your pools of (eye color), a dim spark. 

“What’s up, sweetness?” He asks. 

“I-I don’t remember you.” 

“Yeah, we’ve been over that.” He bites back calling you Finding Dory, knowing you might actually think that’s your name. He shuts up immediately when your other hand reaches over and cups his face. 

“But..but I remember that I must have loved you very much.” A semblance of your old smile ghosts your face, and he almost sees you as you were before again. 

Dante instinctively covers your hand with his and presses his grizzled cheek against your palm, the loving touch soothing his mind. 

“I’ll always love you more, babe.” 

Once you regain your memories, Dante will be more protective. If you never do, Dante will gladly walk the road to recovery with you, your love a constant despite the circumstances. Either way, he’ll never forget that moment of vulnerability between you two. 

Vergil 

He will be inconsolable if you lose your memories of him. It was already so hard for him to open up again and now he’s lost you. 

You wake up confused and sometimes you see a white-haired man in blue reappearing and disappearing by the door. He will have a hard time seeing you gaze at him like a stranger. When you sleep, he sits nearby you and thinks of the times you used to have. Only the moon is the witness to his grief. 

Dante and Nero ain’t having it. 

“Come on, Verg. She needs you right now.” 

“Dante, she doesn’t even know her own name. There’s nothing I can do.” 

“Dad, don’t be a deadbeat with your own girlfriend/wife.” 

“Please do not say that. It is already a very difficult situation for me.” 

One day, while bedridden, you watch as the flirty middle-aged man and his punky but polite nephew drag the man in blue into the room and lock the door. 

“Ah, I never got your name.” He sighs. 

“Have you known yours?” 

You say the unfamiliar name and his sorrowful gaze intensifies. 

“I am Vergil.” 

The two of you stay in silence. 

“Did we know each other?” You asked. Vergil sat on the chair, hands on his lap. He seemed uncomfortable. 

“We did.” 

He thinks of all the times you would look at him with that loving and warm gaze. Nothing good in his life truly lasted, didn’t it? 

You scooch to his side and he returns your eye contact. He stills when he sees a sense of recognition in you. 

You hesitate at his cold eyes. But it seemed whoever you were before liked the chill. He seemed more withdrawn, less intimidating to you than he was trying to show the rest of the world. This man, this memory in flesh, seemed to mourn you. 

“I’m sorry my lost memories gave you any grief.” 

“It is not your fault what happened.” 

Blurry memories flashed through your mind. All of blue, white, and of shared warmth. You grab his arm. Your words found their way into the air. 

“You loved me, didn’t you?” He looks at you with half a smile. He shifts himself so he is facing you. 

His fingers slowly tuck your stray strand of hair behind your ear. 

“I did as I do now.” 

“I think I do too.” 

Vergil never leaves your side again. To see that your love is ingrained and stored in your heart and not your mind, gives him hope that perhaps you will never truly leave him. He protects you like a treasure and it doesn’t matter if your memories come back or not, he will love you forever. 

V 

“Oh, woe is me. I am made to fall apart but why does my Little Wanderer need to suffer?” 

When he finds out you don’t remember him, he cries a few tears in his lonesome. His Little Wanderer has strayed too far and like Orpheus, he cradles your ghostly form and sobs for his love. 

He will never leave your side as you rest, his cane against your bed. 

Even his familiars are affected by this. Griffon has lost his witty playmate and Shadow her beloved giver of pets. 

“Damn, Shakespeare. Shorty can’t remember jack shit.” 

You sit, eyes blank as you admire the bird and the panther by your side. 

The lanky and tattooed man who sits by you is very soft to you. You remember him mumbling poetic words to you as you half-slumbered, his fingers tracing your face. 

Nico and Nero do their best to leave V alone, knowing he needs peace after what happened. 

“Are they yours?” You gesture to Griffon and Shadow. 

“They are. But they are also yours.” You scratch Shadow’s chin. V smiles. At least you have the muscle memory of knowing where your “darling little kitty cat princess” likes to be pet. 

“Have we met before?” V nods. 

“Little Wanderer, we have met and our roots intertwined.” 

You are quiet at this statement. V offers his hand to you, your own joining his. 

“Oh shit, Shadow. They’re having a moment. Let’s dip.” The bird leaves, riding the big cat out of the room, the intelligent feline’s tail closing the door on the way out. 

“May I demonstrate?” 

“...alright.” 

Your hand is taken by him as he presses your embraced palm to his chest, his crying heart beating sadly under his palm. As your skin touches him, you feel his pulse speed up. Almost as if his heart begs to be felt under you. 

The sensation recalls your own. Who you used to be would lay her cheek upon his chest in the rising sun’s company, the birdsong an encore to his lulling heart. 

V lets out a small noise of startlement as you place his own palm above your breast, your own muscle thudding and joining the duet. Your face is slightly pink, eyes widened in shock of your shared affections for one another. 

His green eyes light up with joy as he understands your silent words. 

“Oh my beloved Eurydice, how you have yet to truly leave me.” 

The two of you embrace, a constellation not yet smitten by the universe. 

The lovers will not wane in their union, and they will defy all the stars to find each other again. V knows very well he will accept either path you take. Whether you remember who you were or not, you will always look at him the same. 

[btxtreads]

Epirus || Choi Soobin

Part of the Olympus Falls Series 

➴ Pairing: Choi Soobin x Reader ➴ Word Count: 11.5k ➴ Genre: Fluff, Angst, Slowburn ➴ Warnings for this teaser: none ➴ Warnings for this fic: mentions of war, death, mentions of death, soul exchange, ghosts/spirits, a trial, implied smut, a disappearing fetus

Even when chosen one succumbs to the fields,

the hero will never yield.

To save Olympus and finish the war,

Is everyone’s final goal thus far.

The son of Zeus stands high and proud,

While the other watches happily from the ground.

The war is to end when the other is safe and sound,

To break the chains keeping Olympus bound.

Y/N collapsed on the floor, her mind racing a mile a minute.

Joonhyuk is dead.

From behind her, she can hear Ari—daughter of Aphrodite and Joonhyuk’s girlfriend—break into hysterics.

Bongjoo—son of Demeter—fretted over the girl and Beomjae—son of Athena—wracked his mind for solutions to the current dilemma.

“What do you mean my brother is dead?” Y/N muttered from her spot at the floor.

No one bothered to reply.

In that one corner, she never felt as alone as she did.

She just lost her little brother, the boy who has been by her side through everything—her little protege who never let the title son of Zeus get in his head.

Joonhyuk, the savior of the prophecy, is dead.

Beomjae’s eyes softened as Y/N pulled herself up.

“He—Joonhyuk can’t die, guys. The prophecy said he’s the hero, the son of Zeus. He’s the only son of Zeus so—“ Y/N stuttered out.

Beomjae approached the girl with a soothing pat on her shoulders.

“I-I know, I don’t understand either, Y/N,” Beomjae sighed.

“We can’t win the war without him,” Bongjoo mumbled.

“Is there any way to get him back?” Ari sobbed. “I love him—I want him back!”

Y/N whirled around to the grieving girl, fire in her eyes as she snarled.

“Can you stop being selfish for once?!” Y/N growled.

Ari cried harder as she glared at the daughter of Zeus.

“Y/N, that’s enough,” Beomjae mumbled soothingly as he pulled the angry girl away. “I can think of a way,”

“What?”

“Souls have been saved from the Underworld before, through diplomacy and negotiation with Hades,” Beomjae offered.

“Do you think it’ll work?” Ari asked weakly.

“I think so,” Beomjae sighed.

“I think we can pull it off and reason with Hades—after all, it is the war of the gods we’re fighting,” Bongjoo sighed, still comforting Ari.

“Okay, not to be pessimistic—but this is Hades we’re talking about,” Y/N said. “One: we’re not fighting the war of the gods—we’re fighting the war to save Olympus. If you haven’t noticed, Hades is the god that hates Olympus. I doubt he’d care,”

Ari opened her mouth to talk, but Y/N continued her rant.

“Two: This isn’t a Disney cartoon. You can’t just go down and go all Hercules and steal a soul off Styx—Styx doesn’t even have the souls. We won’t know where Joonhyuk is,”

Ari started to cry once more as Beomjae sighed.

“Well, do you have any other solutions?”

Y/N stopped talking, lips pursed as she thought of another loophole.

There wasn’t.

“Well?” Beomjae asked.

Y/N sighed, grabbing her coat from a nearby rack.

“Fine, but I’m going with you,” Y/N said, grumbling under her breath. “If this fails, I told you so,”

Y/N pulled on the loose threads on her jacket as she groaned.

“I can’t believe this is happening right now,” Y/N hissed.

“Better believe it, we’re here,” Beomjae scolded as he cleared his throat as he looked up at the gigantic door leading to Hades’ castle.

“How exactly do we get in?” Bongjoo asked, flinching as Ari scoffed.

“The faster we get in,” Ari said, stomping forward and pushing the other three demigods out of the way. “The faster I get him back,”

Y/N blinked as Ari pounded on the gigantic wooden door with a scream.

“Hades, let us in!” Ari screamed hysterically. “Let us in!”

Y/N pulled Ari away.

“Calm down—we don’t want to infuriate the god—“

Click!

The four demigods looked over at the wooden doors swung open.

Another wooden door was visible at the end of the hall.

Ari brushed Y/N’s hand off her shoulder to shoot the girl a glare.

“You we’re saying?” Ari hissed as she stomped in the castle with an arrogant pep in her step.

“That’s it—we’re going to die,” Y/N said, smacking her lips as she followed Ari into the hall.

As they neared the second door, it swung open as well—and they were met with a man their age.

He was decked in a black turtleneck and jeans as he slumped on the throat—head propped on his palm as he looked onto the group.

“Hi,” he sighed, straightening up. “What can I do for you?”

His voice was so deep, charming—simply alluring.

There was no reply as the demigods looked at each other.

Y/N stepped forward, clearing her throat as she looked at the boy straight in the eyes.

Very cute boy—with long legs, jet-black hair, bright brown eyes, upturned lips.

“We would like to speak with Lord Hades,” Y/N spoke, voice firm and determined.

The boy smiled, chuckling silently as he tilted his head.

“You are speaking to Hades,” The boy laughed.

Y/N’s eyes widened as she turned back to her companions.

By those words, Ari was gaping, Bongjoo looked confused and Beomjae just looked downright shocked.

“Y-You’re Hades?” Ari asked, holding a hand to her mouth. “I thought you’re like 43? You’re not 43—you’re cute!”

Hades blinked on his throne before looking back down at Y/N, coughing awkwardly.

“I—uh—I look like this usually,” The god muttered as he fidgeted in his throne.

He cleared his throat before smiling once more.

“Anyway, what can I do for you?” He asked.

Y/N was mesmerized as every move of the boy made the diamond jewelry on his body glint in the firelight.

She shook her head as Hades looked at her expectantly.

“My brother—his name is Joonhyuk, son of Zeus. He’s the hero of the prophecy for the current war, but he died,” Y/N spoke.

“Prophecy?” The god asked, furrowing his eyebrows. “Like, the war of Olympus prophecy?”

“Yes,”

The god look taken aback as he opened his mouth.

“Oh, but,” Hades frowned. “he’s dead, and even I can’t dictate what the fates would decide. If he’s dead, he’s dead,”

“He can’t die, my lord,” Beomjae started, stepping up next to Y/N. “He’s our only chance at winning—and you’re our only chance at getting him back,”

Y/N turned back to the god as he only tilted his head.

Beomjae launched into a monologue of explanation.

“Orpheus and Eurydice—you gave Orpheus a chance to get Eurydice back,” Beomjae reasoned.

“I knew he was going to look back,” The god shrugged. “Wouldn’t cost me a soul, so—“

“Please, Hades,” Ari pleaded.

“I don’t get paid for this shit,” Hades sighed, running a hand through his hair and smiling tiredly over at the demigods. “Fine. There is a way,”

“We’ll do it!” Ari said, stepping up. “What is it, my Lord?”

“I need a soul in exchange of Joonhyuk—there needs to be a balance,” Hades sighed. “There are other ways but this is the guaranteed—fastest—way,”

Y/N turned over to her friends, who started to talk amongst themselves.

“Guys? What do we do?”

Ari started to tear up once more, and Bongjoo looked lost.

For the first time, the son of Athena was lost for words as his shoulders slumped.

“I-I don’t know,” Beomjae said silently.

“Look, I’m really sorry,” Hades said, frowning. “But that’s the way—even gods have rules to follow,”

Y/N screwed her eyes shut as she stepped forward more.

“I’ll do it,”

All heads snapped over to her.

As she opened her eyes, her gaze locked with Hades.

“If I do this—there’s a guarantee that Joonhyuk will survive, right?” Y/N asked.

Slowly, the god nodded.

“Yes, you have my word,”

“You swear?”

“I swear on the River Styx,”

There was a strike of thunder, sealing the deal.

Y/N closed her eyes and breathed deeply as she turned back to her friends.

Ari’s tears started pouring out as Beomjae gasped in shock.

“Y/N—“

“Bongjoo—make sure you three make your way up with Joonhyuk, alright?”

The boy nodded sadly.

“Beomjae—You are so smart,” Y/N smiled softly as she patted the younger’s hair. “And with you and Joonhyuk fighting side-by-side, you’ll win this,”

Beomjae only regarded the girl with soft, sad eyes.

“Ari,” Y/N started, taking the girl’s hands. “We may have had our differences—but I know you, and I know you love Joonhyuk. Can you tell him I love him, too?”

Ari sobbed harder as she launched herself on the girl.

When they pulled away, there was a hand that landed on Y/N’s shoulder.

The girl tensed up as she felt Hades’ tall presence behind her.

“I’ll take care of you, don’t worry,” Hades soothed before looking up at her companions. “Joonhyuk will be outside the throne room,”

As the other demigods bid their goodbyes and made their way out, Y/N turned around slowly to look over at the god.

“Lord Hades,” She said softly, bowing.

“No! No, none of that!” The god rushed, burning red as he shook his head fiercely. “And—uh, call me Soobin,”

“Soobin?”

“That’s my name,” The god nodded slowly. “Hades is just the title—but, uh, I’m Soobin,”

“Soobin,” Y/N mumbled, letting his name roll on her tongue before she looked back up at the god—boy—with a frown. “Shall I proceed to the Fields of Asphodel, then?”

“No,” Soobin said, smiling softly as he shook his head once more. “I’ll show you to your room upstairs.”

“Why?”

“Because I feel bad for you, for essentially keeping you here against your will,” Soobin shrugged, walking forward as Y/N followed behind him. “Letting you stay in the castle instead of being lost in the Fields is the least I can do—you technically aren’t dead, anyway.”

“If you really feel bad, you’d let me go back with my friends,”

The boy turned his head back, shooting the girl a sympathetic look.

“I’m really sorry, but you know I can’t do that—it’s either one of you or him. You were the one that wanted to stay,”

“Yeah,” Y/N pursed her lips as she looked out at the window they were passing—catching a quick glimpse of her former companions.

This time, there was another figure—a tall boy with brown hair—following them. Joonhyuk.

“I know,” Y/N sighed sadly as Soobin shot her a sad smile.

“I hope you at least like your room,” Soobin offered as he threw open a set of double-doors. “Take a look,”

Y/N sat on the couch, uncomfortable as Soobin sat across from her—completely immersed on the novel he held in his hands.

“Big library,” Y/N squeaked out.

Soobin smiled as he set his book down.

“You didn’t have to say yes to accompanying me here if you were that uncomfortable being with me, you know,” Soobin said, eyes amused as he looked over at Y/N.

“No, no, it’s fine. I’m great!” Y/n said, as she reached out to take a random scroll of parchment nearby. “I’m just going to read this parchment!”

Soobin chuckled as he turned back to his book.

Y/N cleared her throat, wincing at her awkwardness as she unrolled her parchment—eyes scanning the words on the paper.

Today, I took a stroll on the beautiful gardens of the Underworld. I particularly loved the Scintilla blossoms and the Gumamelas. Strangely, there was a bush of white roses with golden outlines. I’ve never seen anything quite like it. Maybe it was being grown for me?  I feel like he really is in love with me—despite what my family tells me. I do feel more and more endeared to Hades—Soobin. I grow more and more in love.

Persephone.

Y/N blinked as she let her hand run through the parchment.

“Persephone,” She mumbled.

“What was that?” Soobin asked, raising his head once more.

“Oh, nothing,” Y/N shook her head as she passed him the parchment. “Just—uh—read a little something,”

“Ah,” Soobin winced as he glanced at the handwriting. “Persephone.”

“You must really love her to start a whole flower garden for her, huh? And a new type of rose?” Y/N asked, tilting her head. “I want to be loved like that—I mean, minus the kidnapping—No offense.”

Soobin chuckled as he rolled the parchment once more.

“None taken, seeing as I didn’t grow a garden for Persephone, or make a new kind of rose for her,” Soobin shrugged. “or even kidnap her. I did none of those.”

“What?” Y/N blinked.

“Hm, how do I start?” Soobin smiled, adjusting his sitting on the couch. “I saved Persephone. I didn’t kidnap her,”

“But Demeter?”

“Demeter nags. She nags a lot,” Soobin snorted. “But no, I didn’t kidnap Persephone or anything—I never even married Persephone, or wanted to. I didn’t like her like that. I didn’t like anyone,”

Y/N pursed her lips as Soobin fiddled with his thumbs.

Y/N furrowed her eyebrows in confusion as the god narrated his story, laying himself and his history bare in front of the demigod.

“So, if that all didn’t happen—what exactly happened?”

“Well, I saved her—she was in an open field. There was a god rampaging that day, and he saw Persephone. Left alone, who knows what could happen to her?” Soobin shrugged. “She was a sweet kid and I was there anyways, so I figured—sure, why not? She did stay here for a while, I accommodated her though I kept telling her to go back to her mom in Olympus. She didn’t want to. It felt rude to kick her out, so I didn’t,”

“So, what gave Demeter the impression you kidnapped her?”

“I don’t know,” Soobin shrugged. “She just came down here and started calling me a kidnapper. Persephone didn’t defend me or anything,”

“Why did you make Persephone go back and forth, then?”

“Please,” Soobin snorted, smiling at the girl. “That’s not true—notice she’s not here? It’s drought season,”

Y/N nodded slowly, processing the information as Soobin cleared her throat.

“I never made her go back and forth—I never wanted to be with her. I never wanted to marry anyone, really,” Soobin said as he mumbled under his breath. “I don’t even know why I’m telling you this,”

“That’s got to suck—Why?” Y/N smiled sympathetically as she tilted her head.

Soobin cleared his throat as he shrugged.

“I—uh—think Aphrodite hates me? I’ve never loved anyone or had anyone fall in love with me,” He said. “It’s not like I don’t want to, it’s just that I haven’t felt it, so,”

“I don’t understand,” Y/N said—curiously taking the bait to peek into the life of a god. “gods fall in love all the time—you guys literally have sex all the time,”

Soobin laughed.

“Sex, sure—I had it,” Soobin smiled. “But never love. It’s scary—have you seen Orion, Medusa, Helen, Cleopatra?”

“Not all love stories end in tragedy, you know.” Y/N said, frowning as Soobin shrugged.

“My life is a tragedy—I’d be more surprised if my love wouldn’t be,”

As Soobin shot the girl a small smile and returned to his novel, Y/N had an epiphany—Hades was never the villain of the story.

Hades was just a victim of Olympus—thrown away and used as a scapegoat when he was just a kind and gentle creature too shy to defend himself from all the allegations thrown to him by the gods playing protagonist.

Hades—Soobin—was just the misunderstood outcast living under the shadow of Zeus and Poseidon.

It was her next to Joonhyuk—and Beomjae, Ari and Bongjoon.

Maybe, for the first time, she finally found somebody understood how she felt all these years.

It just so happened he was the god of the dead.

Y/N laughed as Soobin scrunched his nose, grip tight on his fork.

“I’m not the god of death, okay? I’m god of the dead.” Soobin scoffed as he stabbed into a plate of ambrosia. “Death is Thanatos.”

Y/N shook her head as she took a bite of her eggs.

Soobin looked at her with a tilt of the head.

“You know—you’re technically a soul. You can eat ambrosia by the bulk now,” Soobin said, pointing over to the big serving plate of ambrosia in front of him.

“I—um—like the sense of humanity,” Y/N smiled, shaking her head.

Still confused, Soobin nodded.

“So, um, are you busy today?”

Y/N looked up, raising an eyebrow at Soobin.

“I mean I have nothing to do here, so—“

“Right, right,” Soobin said, coughing awkwardly. “I just—have a free day? I was thinking maybe I could show you around the castle.”

Y/N bit her lip, smiling softly.

“Yeah, Okay,” She said with a chuckle. “I’d love that.”

After breakfast, Y/N found herself taking a stroll at the castle gardens with Soobin by her side.

This time the boy wore a loose, white, collared shirt, black slacks and black dress shoes—the whole ensemble fitting him just right.

His hair was styled delicately—black hair perfectly parted by his forehead.

He looked ethereal.

Y/N shook herself out of her stupor as Soobin bent down to admire the sunflowers growing out of a small patch in the gardens.

Soobin turned to Y/N waving her over, making her smile and press closer to the flowers and to Soobin.

“Sunflowers are actually my favorite,” Soobin confessed as he caressed the petals of the flower. “These are one of the first plants I had growing here. Don’t you think they look pretty?”

Y/N smiled as she reached out to the flowers herself.

“Pretty,” she agreed.

She wondered how these flowers, especially ones that thrived on as much sunlight as it could muster, prospered underground in the world of the dead, but as she looked over to Soobin who smiled fondly at his garden, she realized that she was with someone who could do the impossible.

Soobin looked over at her, chuckling as he stood up.

“What’s your favorite flower?”

“Roses,” Y/N answered without a beat.

A look of recognition flashed in Soobin’s eyes as he dragged her over to another area of the gardens.

“Remember when you read about the white and gold roses that I made?” Soobin smiled, presenting her with a rosebush in full-bloom.

“Oh,” She gasped. “Oh, wow.”

Soobin smiled, letting his hand wander over the bush and pluck a rose off—expertly cutting it off.

“Soobin—the thorns—“

“Here,” he smiled, giving it to the girl.

Y/N blinked as she looked over at the rose—no thorns.

“I—no thorns?”

“Nope,” Soobin smiled as Y/N reluctantly accepted the flower. “Nothing can hurt you here, Y/N, not even a flower—so don’t worry. I got you,”

Y/N smiled as she smelled the flower in her hands.

“It smells nice,” She commented as she looked around, smiling at the gardens. “It’s beautiful—everything is beautiful,”

Soobin smiled, letting his eyes dance on her face as he echoed her words.

“Beautiful,” Soobin said, his hands reaching out to brush Y/N’s hair away from her face. “You’re beautiful.”

Her shocked eyes snapped over to his equally wide ones, but none of them pulled away or made a move to stop the action.

Then, she smiled.

“You’re beautiful, too,”

It was dangerous—what she’s doing— growing fonder and fonder of the boy who swore up and down that was scared of falling in love.

It’s alright.

This feeling was probably nothing, anyways.

Y/N smiled, leaning on the gates of hell as she chuckled.

Soobin groaned as he rolled his sleeves back to his elbows, wiping the sweat off of his forehead.

This time, the boy wore a loose grey hoodie and kept his hair undone.

He looked so, for a lack of a better word, boyfriend.

Y/N winced—she just called the god of dead so boyfriend.

That was disgusting.

Still, she couldn’t help but observe the male as he picked up a gigantic red ball and tutted at the three-headed dog.

“Cerberus. Here, buddy!” He whistled before throwing the ball up.

The dog—dogs?—yipped as they shot up for the right head take a bite of the ball.

It, then, leaned down to place the slobber-covered ball by Soobin’s feet.

Soobin frowned, looking back at Y/N.

“You know, I still can’t believe you convinced me to play ball with Cerb,” Soobin deadpanned as Y/N walked forward—black skirt trailing behind her as she wrapped her arm around Soobin’s.

“Aw, come on—you’re having fun, I can tell,” Y/N laughed as Soobin sighed, picking the ball back up.

Y/N laughed at the sight—the ball was the size of an extra-large-sized Yoga Ball that almost engulfed Soobin.

“You come here and throw it, then!” Soobin humphed, passing the ball over to the girl.

Y/N yelped as her hands made contact with the slobber-covered ball.

“Soobin—“ She started to whine before she looked up to see Cerberus’ three heads looking down at her with bared tongues and a furiously wagging tail.

“Uh,” Y/N started, stopping short when hands wrapped around hers and a body pressed on her back.

“Okay, just uh—Throw the ball up so he doesn’t crush the spirits coming into the underworld,“ Soobin guided her. “and then—uh—step out of the way so he doesn’t crush you too. It’s not fun,”

Y/N nodded stiffly as Soobin adjusted her grip on the ball, his hands falling down to her waist.

“Okay, and go,”

Y/N threw the ball up.

As Cerberus leaped up to catch the ball, Soobin’s hands gripped her waist and roughly pulled her back and out of Cerberus’ way.

Y/N yelped as she stumbled, falling back.

Soobin groaned as he fell down, Y/N’s weight crushing him.

“I—am so sorry—“ Y/N stuttered, turning around.

Immediately, both of them froze with bright red blushes.

Soobin’s hands rested on her hips as she sat directly on his lap and hovered over him.

Soobin gulped, eyes locked onto Y/N as she burned redder.

“Oh, um—“ Y/N rushed, pulling herself off of Soobin. “Sorry,”

“S’okay,” Soobin smiled softly, a fiery red blush on his cheeks as he gestured over to the chimera. “But—uh, look. Told you you’d get crushed if we didn’t move,”

Indeed, Cerberus was plopped down on the place where they previously stood—middle head happily gnawing on the red ball.

“Oh, that’s uh—great—“

Soobin and Y/N turned away from each other—the latter with a soft smile on her face.

He gets cuter and cuter by the day.

Soobin chuckled as Y/N propped her elbow on the dining table, staring fondly at the boy.

This time—the god wore a silk black shirt with a collar, then an expensive-looking black blazer over it.

Y/N had to hold her praises back because dear gods, he looked so good.

“So,” Y/N spoke. “Do you want to hang out today—“

Immediately, Soobin frowned sadly and sighed.

“I wish I could, but I have work,” Soobin shrugged sadly. “God of dead things to attend to,”

“Oh,” Y/N said dejectedly, looking back down on her plate.

“I’m really sorry,” Soobin frowned, reaching out to place his hand over hers and running his thumb over the back of her hand.

“No, no—it’s okay! It’s your job, of course you have to go,” Y/N shook her head, before her eyes widened with mischief. “but that doesn’t mean you have to go alone,”

Soobin raised his eyebrows in confusion as Y/N perked up.

“I can go with you—I promise I won’t be a distraction or something!”

“I don’t know,” Soobin said, scratching the back of his head as Y/N gasped.

“Come on, please?” Y/N pleaded, intertwining her hands with his and giving it a gentle squeeze. “It’ll be like take your daughter to work day—except I’m not your daughter and the work is, you know, death,”

Soobin laughed in amusement as he tilted his head at the girl.

“I don’t know, Y/N—You? My daughter?” Soobin snorted. “No, thanks,”

“What—I don’t have the daughter of Hades spunk?” Y/N scoffed in mock offense as she held a hand to her chest. “Frankly, I’m offended,”

“Do pray tell,” Soobin shot back, leaning his head on his free palm as he squeezed their intertwined hands. “Who’d be your mother, then?”

“No idea,” Y/N quipped as she looked up in thought. “Who?”

As he looked over at the girl, Soobin muttered under his breath unknowingly.

“How can I imagine you as my child when I keep seeing you as the mother of mine?” He mumbled.

The statement was not fallen onto deaf ears as Y/N shot her head over to Soobin.

The boy’s eyes were only trained on their intertwined hands.

Y/N chuckled awkwardly, blushing as Soobin realized that she heard him.

“Stop being cute,” Y/N giggled as Soobin burned red.

“Why did I just say that?” Soobin mumbled to himself once more.

“I can still hear you,” Y/N laughed, reaching out and brushing his hair off of his forehead. “I promise I’ll behave,”

Soobin sighed.

“Okay, but just because you asked me to!”

Hours later, Y/N and Soobin stood in the middle of a barren field with cloudy gray skies.

There were hazy white figures wandering around.

One of Y/N’s hands gripped Soobin’s hand, the other clutching on his sleeve as she looked around.

“What is this?” Y/N asked, eyes confused.

“This is the Hall of Judgement,” Soobin smiled, wrapping his arm around her figure. “Don’t be scared,”

“I’m not scared,” Y/N said, pressing herself closer to Soobin—making the boy smile. “Just, uh, don’t leave me,”

“Okay, follow me,” Soobin laughed as they neared a soul of a female girl in war-gear. “Hello,”

The soul flinched, turning around swiftly with a fierce glare.

“Who’s there?” The spirit demanded before looking at the two. “Wait—Y/N? Daughter of Zeus Y/N?”

“Aris?” Y/N asked, eyes wide as she pulled herself from Soobin. “You’re—“

“Where—You were missing?” Aris gasped.

“Aris, I— you’re in the Underworld,”

“Oh, the Under—Are you dead? Wait, am I dead?”

Y/N’s eyes turned sad as the girl gasped in realization.

“What’s the last thing you remember?” Soobin asked, stepping forward and letting a hand rest on Y/N’s lower back.

Y/N’s hands reached behind her back, clutching his as she smiled at him.

“And you are?” Aris’ challenging tone was back.

“Aris,” Y/N started gently. “This is Lord Hades—the god of the Underworld,”

Aris’ eyes widened as she gasped.

“I-It’s real—“ She said as she observed Soobin. “You’re—I really am dead,”

“I’m sorry, Aris,” Y/N sighed. “But what’s the last thing you remember?”

“Um,” Aris started, voice quivering as she gathered her thoughts. “I was—I was talking to Joonhyuk—“

“Joonhyuk, is he okay?”

“Yeah, yeah, he’s alive,” Aris said. “He, uh, told me he came back to finish the war and save us all,”

Y/N smiled gently as Soobin squeezed her hand.

“Okay,” Y/N said softly, urging Aris on. “So, you were talking to Joonhyuk? Then?”

“Oh, uh, we heard that, um,” Aris’ eyebrows furrowed as she worked hard to remember the details of her dead. “We heard there was a breach in our defenses over at the bridge—Cyclops attack, so I went there. It was a big flock. I led the army and next thing I know—I was on my way here,”

Soobin nodded softly as he leaned in and whispered to Y/N’s ear.

“I have to talk to the judges, would you be okay with her?”

“Yeah, Bin,” Y/N smiled softly as Soobin pulled away. “I’ll be fine,”

The boy shot her and the spirit a small smile before striding over to a large black tent.

“Y/N?” Aris asked, eyes turning confused. “Why did you call Lord Hades ‘Bin’?”

“Oh,” Y/N chuckled, realizing that not everyone was familiar with his real name. “That’s his nickname—he likes being called by his nickname,”

“Ah,” Aris nodded. “Well, are you here to be judged too?”

Y/N smacked her lips before shrugging.

“He told me I didn’t need to—I’m not really dead and I’m staying with him anyways,” Y/N said.

“With him?”

“His castle is so big—there’s so much rooms!”

Aris furrowed her eyebrows as Y/N’s eyes shifted back to the black tent—waiting for Soobin to exit.

“Y/N?” Aris asked, tone grave. “Why aren’t you fighting up there?”

Y/N’s eyebrow raised in confusion.

“What do you mean why am I—“ Y/N gasped in realization. “Do you guys not know—Do you all think I abandoned you?”

“Didn’t you?” Aris blinked in confusion.

“No—of course not!” Y/N shook her head rapidly. “In order to get Joonhyuk out of here and back to life, someone had to stay so the souls were balanced in the Underworld. A life for a life, so I gave up mine—so he can come back and fight for you all,”

“Oh,” Aris nodded slowly. “They—Beomjae, Bongjoo, Ari and Joonhyuk never told us. We figured you just up and left,”

“I-I didn’t,” Y/N’s eyes turned sad.

“Why are you staying with Hades, then?” Aris asked, crossing her arms before she gasped with wide eyes. “Is he—Did he kidnap you like he did Persephone? Is he—“

“No, he’s not like that!” Y/N said, sighing in frustration.

Her eyes wandered back over to the tent as Soobin exited, making a beeline for a nearby flock of child spirits with a smile.

The boy crouched down, eyes soft as he talked gently.

“I love being with him,” Y/N said, eyes soft as Soobin continued to converse with the children—reaching out and ruffling the hair of one. “He’s nice, kind, considerate, charming—“

Soobin looked over at Y/N and smiled, winking before he turned back to the kids with a chuckle.

Immediately, her heart pounded in her chest.

Gods, she was doomed.

Y/N cleared her throat before looking back at the girl.

“I’m happy to be here,”

“But it’s not exactly Olympus—“

“I know, and I’d rather be here with him,” Y/N said softly.

The girl flinched as a figure in a dark cloak approached them.

“Im Aris—Daughter of Ares, you must proceed to the Judgement Pavilion,” The figure spoke in a muffled voice.

“I—This is it,” Aris said softly, eyes downcast as Y/N nodded to her.

“Good luck, Aris,” Y/N mumbled, watching Aris shoot her a small smile as she followed the figure to the tent.

A hand landed on her waist, making her heart stutter as she looked up to see Soobin smile down at her—his figure towering over her.

“Hey,” he greeted as he looked over at Aris’ departing figure. “Good to go?”

“Yep, yeah,” Y/N nodded smiling up at him. “Come on, let’s go home,”

“Actually, let’s go on a walk,”

Y/N gasped as Soobin pulled her towards River Styx.

“Come on, over here,” Soobin smiled as they walked by the river bank.

As the clear waters of the river flowed gently, a soft haze floated above it.

The haze contained hundreds of different artifacts streaming back and forth.

“I—I thought they said that the Styx was polluted because of the lost hopes and dreams and stuff?” Y/N asked as she marvelled at the sight.

Yeah,” Soobin pointed down at the water. “Some of the dreams fall down,”

Y/N looked down at the water just in time for a broken baseball bat to fall out of the haze and sink into the water.

“Oh,” Y/N winced.

She reached out to intertwine her hands with Soobin.

“I take a walk here sometimes, when I want to think,” Soobin softly smiled as they continued walking. “Seeing all these lost hopes and dreams remind me that I’m actually pretty fortunate to be where I am right now, even if I’m not doing such a good job as the god of the Underworld,”

Y/N frowned, squeezing his hand as she reached out and brushed her hand against the haze.

“Soob, you are doing amazing,” Y/N said smiling softly as her hand grasped on an object in the haze.

Immediately, her vision sparked—showing her a quick memory of a child forced to give up his dreams of being an actor to be a doctor.

“What did you see?” Soobin asked curiously as Y/N pulled her hand out of the haze to find a rusty Oscar Award. “Ah,”

Y/N sighed, releasing the award back to the haze.

“So, you see the memories, huh?”

Soobin nodded, tugging her along as he continued walking.

“When the memory is strong enough,” Soobin shrugged, smiling as Y/N continued to run her hand through the mist.

When her hand gripped on a small square item—she pulled it out.

It was a velvet box.

Soobin looked down at the box, stopping his walk as he opened his mouth and let out a soft ‘oh’.

Immediately, Y/N pried the box open and she was shot into a memory of a girl whose dream was to get married to the love of her life—but she wasn’t able to because he was a soldier that died fighting in a war.

“She said no?” Soobin said as Y/N returned from the memory, her thumb softly caressing the small diamond atop the rusting gold ring.

“He died,” Y/N mumbled softly as she closed the box sadly, returning it to the haze.

“Oh,” Soobin said, eyes downcast. “A lost love,”

Y/N nodded sadly as she looked back up at Soobin, who was silently observing the passing stream of lost hopes and dreams.

She can’t be like that girl with the lost love.

“Bin?”

“Hm?” He looked back down at her with a small smile. “What’s up?”

She’s got to take a chance.

Mustering all her courage, she inhaled softly and locked her gaze with him.

“I love you,” Y/N said firmly before her gaze wavered, looking back down. “Or like—I’m not really sure what love feels, so I can’t say for sure,”

Soobin blinked in confusion as Y/N gulped.

“Anyways,” Y/N nodded. “I like spending time with you, and everytime I look at you or talk to you, my heart just deadass wants to sprint out of my chest,”

Soobin blinked, body tense as Y/N ranted.

“Everytime you to hold my hand, or pull me close or brush my hair, I—I really want to kiss you and I literally just stop myself. It’s at that point where I’m really going crazy and if I don’t knew what you feel in the next hour, I’m going to lose my mind,” Y/N pleaded as she looked back up. “So, please, just say something so I know what to do with myself,”

Soobin only gaped—eyes shifting around speechless.

“Binnie?”

His mouth opened and closed in shock as he stood—unsure what to do.

His eyes flew behind her pulling her closer to his body to avoid the water of the Styx splashing on them as a person—a demigod, from what Soobin felt—stumbled into the Styx.

Y/N’s hands clutched his arms as she heard the pained screams of the demigod falling into the Styx.

When the screams silenced, Y/N softly pulled herself out of Soobin’s grasp.

The boy looked down at Y/N.

“Y/N,” he started softly.

“I should have known,” The girl only smiled softly, nodding.

“Wait, Y/N—“ Soobin said, reaching back to grasp her arm and frowning when it was pulled out of reach.

“No, it’s okay—You have a mess to clean, Lord Hades,” Y/N nodded.

Soobin’s eyes turned sad as he looked back down at the demigod underneath the Styx, running a hand over his face.

“Soobin,” Soobin said, looking over at Y/N. “You call me Soobin, remember?”

“Please don’t make me do something that will make me feel closer to you,” Y/N said, furrowing her eyebrows as she bowed. “I’ll make my way back to the castle, my Lord,”

Soobin can only watch as Y/N walked away from him.

Soobin sighed in frustration, throwing his head back in exhaustion as Y/N didn’t appear for breakfast with him yet again.

One of the spirits serving him came out, refilling his glass of nectar.

“Where’s Y/N?” He asked softly.

“She ate her breakfast early, my Lord,” the soul replied.

Soobin furrowed his eyebrows as he set his fork down.

“I don’t understand—didn’t you say she ate at this time yesterday?” Soobin asked, growing frustrated.

“Yes, my Lord, but she changes her eating schedule often,” The soul replied, eyes downcast as she bowed in apology.

Soobin calmed himself down, breathing deeply.

“I-I see, I’m sorry, thanks,” Soobin ran down his face as he stood up. “I’m done eating,”

The souls serving him bowed and started to clean up as he left the dining area.

It’s been a week since he last saw any trace of Y/N—much less heard.

He missed her.

He wouldn’t admit it, but Soobin even dressed up today—remembering how Y/N once mentioned she liked it when he wore clothes that made him look more teenaged liked his face and not “a half-dead CEO”.

Soobin sighed, clutching the ends of his black windbreaker as he stopped in front of Y/N’s bedroom door.

He never made his way over to here, no matter how much he wanted to.

He wanted to give her space—she obviously didn’t want to see him.

In truth, he never replied to her because he didn’t know what to say.

He never thought about whether or not he was in love with her to be honest—he just wanted to be with her.

With that thought in mind, he nodded to himself and cleared his throat.

He placed a soft knock on the bedroom door and waited.

There was no answer.

He tried again.

No answer.

He sighed again, running a hand through his hair.

Maybe today’s not a good day.

As he turned to make his way out, his ears heard the distinct barks of Cerberus—along with a laugh that was all-too-familiar to him.

He made his way over to the nearby window, looking down to see Y/N laugh as she played with Cerberus.

With a smile, he made his way down—leaning at the door as he watched Y/N pat one of Cerberus’ heads as the other snuggled her and the last one chewed on their ball.

Y/N hummed as she scratched the back of the dog head’s ear.

“I do, I do like Soobin,” The girl ranted. “But like, I’m stupid, you know? He’s a god—a cute god, which is way worse,”

Y/N sighed as the dog tilted its right head.

“Like, he told me he’s never even fallen in love before—at all—so what makes me think I’m better than Persephone, right?” Y/N snorted. “Like I’m in way over my head. Persephone—really?”

Soobin pursed his lips, exhaling slowly as Y/N frowned to herself.

“I mean if he didn’t fall in love with Persephone—fat chance of falling in love with me, right?” Y/N cooed as Cerberus’ right head barked. “You didn’t have to agree,”

“Y/N,” Soobin said, walking forward.

Y/N flinched, wincing as she turned over to Soobin.

“You didn’t hear all of that, right?” Y/N said, clutching the skirt of her dress.

Her hair was down in pretty curls—she was dressed in a long, flowy, white dress.

Soobin only smiled softly as he looked over at her.

She looked beautiful.

“Can we talk?”

At Y/N soft nod, he turned back to lead her to the gardens—smiling softly at her soft cursing.

As soon as they stopped by the rose bush, Y/N sighed.

“You know, this is the part where you break up with me,” Y/N said, her hands tracing the gold outlines of the petal of a nearby rose. “but since we’re like, not dating or involved in any way at all, I’m assuming this means your’e kicking me out of the castle to the Fields of Asphodel—or the Hall of Judgement or something,”

Y/N bit her lip as she looked over to Soobin, who only put his hands in his pockets with a smile.

God, she hated that he looked so good even when he was booting her out.

“If that’s the case, can I like change into comfier clothes before you cast me into eternal damnation or something?” Y/N asked, chuckling nervously.

Her nervous smile fell as Soobin soflty shook his head.

Y/N sighed, screwing her eyes shut as she fiddled with her thumbs.

“I messed up, didn’t I?” Y/N said, scratching the back of her neck.

She looked back up at the god, who only smiled wider.

She hated how her heart still pounded at the fact that he was smiling at her.

Y/N cleared her throat as she nodded.

“Well then, I’ll—uh—escort myself to the Fields. I know the way,” Y/N said with a deep breath. “Uh, thank you—for taking care of me even for a short while. Sorry I screwed things up,”

She turned to leave, biting her lip as she felt tears spring up to her eyes.

She swallowed down the lump in her throat as she turned back to Soobin.

“Uh, since I’m here, I just—I wanna tell you that I’m angry at myself for falling in love with you, but there’s not a thing that I regret from that,” Y/N said, sighing as she smiled over at him and tried her best to hold her tears at bay.

Soobin’s eyebrows furrowed slightly.

“I’m not going to lie—I still love you. I think even more than i did when I told you the first time, and I’m grateful to have spent all these moments with you and for having met the man behind ‘Hades, the god of the dead’ title,” Y/N continued, gathering her thoughts as she fiddled with her thumbs. “And, um, Olympus is missing out of you, because you’re so perfect!”

Soobin’s smiled, eyebrows raising in surprise.

“And, I hope whatever you do or get up to in the future—you’d be okay, and happy,” Y/N said, nodding her head. “Because, the thought of you being sad makes me sad—though, obviously you wouldn’t care about that,”

Y/N furrowed her eyebrows as her mind snapped into attention at Soobin’s lack of response.

She nodded to herself, pursing her lips.

“Yeah, okay, I’m saying too much,” She turned abruptly. “I’m gonna go now,”

As she took a step forward, a hand grasped onto her wrist to pull her back.

She stumbled, letting her body follow as she was turned around.

Before she could say or do anything, she felt his soft lips crash on hers.

As soon as she felt him clutch her waist, Y/N swore she fell in love with him all over again.

Her heart skipped a beat as she let her hands reach up to run through his hair, eyes falling closed as she melted into him.

It was like the world could melt and break down all around her, but all that would matter to her was Soobin’s lips on hers.

Soobin smiled as he pulled away, leaning his forehead on hers with a soft chuckle.

Y/N blinked—stuck in a daze.

“Wha—“ Y/N started, looking up at him. “What was that?”

Soobin laughed, leaning back in and brushing his nose with hers.

“I love you too, genius,”

“Oh,” Y/N’s eyes widened as Soobin brushed her hair away from her face. “Honestly, I’m a bit disappointed we spent a whole week skirting around each other—that was so much wasted time,”

Y/N’s eyes softened as she sighed, brushing her lips on his and wrapping her arms around his neck.

“I’m sorry,”

“It’s okay,” Soobin smiled. “We have all the time in the world to just—stay here,”

“Here?”

“Here with you,” Soobin nodded. “When I’m with you I feel nothing—I’m not the Lord of the dead, or Hades, or some weird godly outcast. I’m just Soobin. I feel nothing but you,”

Y/N breathed deeply, closing her eyes.

“You know,” she started. “When I told you I loved you I really wasn’t expecting you to love me back, so if you’re just forcing yourself to love me back then I—“

“I’m not,” Soobin said, shaking his head as he let his hands fall down to grip her waist again. “Look at me, Y/N,”

The girl opened her eyes, frowning as she locked gazes with Soobin.

“I’m not forcing myself to love you because it’s not hard to fall in love with you, okay? And I really do feel so lucky because you chose to fall in love with me,” Soobin said, hand softly lifting her chin and lips softly placing a peck on hers. “You are extra-ordinary, and I can’t believe you fell in love with me even if you’re stuck here like some prisoner—“

“Soobin, I don’t feel trapped here,” Y/N smiled, hands reaching up to cup his face. “Not when I’m with you,”

Soobin smiled happily, chuckling as he leaned back down to press another kiss on Y/N’s lips.

Y/N furrowed her eyebrows in confusion as a group of Empousa stood in the throne room in front them.

Soobin, sitting on his throne next to her, rubbed his forehead in stress as the Empousai listed their demands.

He reached out, grabbing Y/N hands and setting it on his lap—squeezing it to relieve his stress as he looked back up at the Empousai.

“You know you’re in Tartarus for a reason, right?” Soobin said with a sigh.

The leader of the Empousai scoffed.

“We believe we are misjudged,” the empousa sniffed. “we demand that all empousa be taken out of Tartarus—immediately,”

Soobin groaned, head falling back on his throat as he grumbled.

“Baby, my head hurts,” he whispered over to Y/N.

The girl shot him a sympathetic smile—squeezing his hand as she turned to the Empousai.

“You’ve killed demigods, correct?”

“For a good cause!”

“No,” Y/N shook her head as Soobin looked over at her. “You killed them to take over the world—That’s called ill-intent. No matter how you spin this narrative, it’s called murder,”

“No, we are doing it for the greater good—Olympus knows nothing!”

Soobin blinked in wonder as Y/N’s gaze turned fierce, standing up and sauntering over to the unruly monster.

“As far as I’m concerned, you’re dead. If I were you, I’d go back to Tartarus, accept I’m a monster, take my punishment, and do better when I’m reborn,” Y/N hissed at the Empousai before turning around and walking back over to Soobin. “Take these demons back to where they belong,”

At Soobin’s affirmative nod, the spirits dragged the Empousai back to Tartarus—nothing but their shrill screams to signify they were ever there.

“That was something,” Soobin blinked over at Y/N as she chuckled, sitting in his lap and kissing his lips.

“You know I never butt in, but I’ve seen how stressed out you were these past few weeks over them—I had to do something,” Y/N smiled as she leaned her head on his shoulder. “Besides, they’re like the bratty cheerleaders that were mean to be in middle school. Sweet revenge,”

Soobin chuckled, laying a soft kiss on her temple.

Y/N pulled away and smiled at Soobin as he caressed her cheeks—eyes soft as he gazed at the girl.

“What?” Y/N asked. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Like what?”

“Like you had a mind-blowing realization about me,” Y/N narrowed her eyes.

“Because I did?”

“What?”

“I want to marry you,” Soobin quipped, smile widening at her shocked expression. “Surprised?”

Y/N blinked before scoffing, punching his arm.

“Stop making fun of me,”

“I’m not kidding,” Soobin laughed, letting his hands run through her hair and his forehead attach to hers. “I’ve been thinking it over for weeks—I want to marry you,”

Y/N furrowed her eyebrows as she clambered off of Soobin, crossing her arms.

“Bin—Getting married is serious, okay? You’re a god—you can’t just marry whoever you want,” Y/N said. “Your wife is going to be queen of the Underworld,”

“Don’t you want to?”

Y/N’s head snapped up to Soobin, who also stood up and walked over to her—hands buried in his pockets as he tilted his head at her.

“Don’t want to what?” Y/N asked.

“Get married,”

“With you? It’s a god damn dream come true,” Y/N chuckled as Soobin smiled, taking her hand. “But I’m not fit to be the queen,”

“Yeah, you are,” Soobin snorted. “with how you handled those Empousai? I’d say you’re perfect already,”

“Binnie, you’re just saying that,” Y/N rolled her eyes as Soobin shook his head.  

“You’re already perfect, Y/N,” Soobin said, smiling as he pulled a ring out of his pocket and fell down to his knees.

Y/N blinked in surprise—not even a sound or a peep or any movement from her as her eyes followed Soobin.

“I was supposed to plan this whole thing in the gardens, propose to you the greek way by tossing you an apple and then do it the modern way with romantic lights and a ring and everything—but I couldn’t wait,” Soobin shook his head, taking her hand and squeezing it. “Please, marry me,”

Y/N pressed her hands to her mouth as she gasped.

“I’d be the king and you’d be the queen—and we’d be so in love and we’ll have a lot of godly kids,” Soobin chuckled as Y/N laughed, tears welling up in her eyes. “and we’ll run Underworld—just you and me together, like it’ll always be,”

Y/N bit her lip, holding back her smile as she cleared her throat.

“Are you sure you want this?”

“More than anything in the world,”

“Then, yes.”

Soobin smiled, an emotional laugh bubbling out of his lips as he slipped the ring excitedly on her finger.

Y/N smiled as she marvelled at it, Soobin standing up and pulling her close to him.

“I’m going to marry you,”

Y/N giggled, leaning forward and placing a deep kiss on his lips.

Soobin laughed through the kiss, hands desperately clutching on her hips as he pulled away.

“My queen,” he whispered against her lips.

Three months later, Y/N and Soobin giggled amongst themselves as they talked about everything and nothing.

Their hands were intertwined, Y/N’s diamond ring glinting in the firelight as the book Soobin was reading was thrown haphazardly at the side.

“What’s the first thing you’ll do when we get married?”

“Consummate it,” Soobin snorted, bursting out with laughter as Y/N slammed a hand down his chest.

“We already did, doofus!”

“Well, we can do it again,” Soobin said, wiggling his eyebrows. “Wanna try tonight?”

“You are insane—“

The couple was interrupted as loud knocks sounded on the door.

“Come in,”

“Lord Hades, my lady,” The spirit stuttered as it bowed. “An iris message appeared at the throne room,”

Y/N rose up slowly, furrowing her eyebrows at the spirit.

“An iris message? Throne room?”

Soobin stood up, frowning as he followed the woman down to the said room—gaping at the rainbow in the middle of the room.

“Oh, wow, it’s been a long time since I saw one of these in the throne room,” Soobin commented as he neared the message.

“It happens?”

“Yeah,” Soobin shrugged. “Last time it happened was Hercules, I think,”

“That’s amazing,” Y/N smiled as she peered into the rainbow.

She gasped as the face of a tall figure manifested—features all-too-familiar.

“Joonhyuk?”

“Y/N!” Joonhyuk screamed as he slammed his hands on the desk in front of him in relief. “Are you okay?”

“I’m good,” Y/N furrowed her eyebrows. “How—It’s been months, why are you only calling me now?”

“The war isn’t over yet, Y/N,”

“It’s not?”

Beomjae popped up next to Y/N with a worried face.

“Y/N, we cracked the prophecy,” He said. “You have to get up here,”

Soobin walked over, a soft frown on his face as his hand rested on Y/N’s waist.

Y/N looked up at him, frowning.

“I can’t. I have to stay with Soobin—Hades, I mean,” Y/N shook her head. “I exchanged my soul for yours, remember?”

Joonhyuk’s eyes turned worried as he glanced at the boy next to Y/N, hand tightly wrapped around her torso as he frowned.

Y/N reached up, softly cupping his hand and squeezing it.

“Is that Hades?” Another voice asked from the iris message.

Y/N paid no mind as she turned, looking over at Soobin.

“Bin—“

“I sort of knew it,” Soobin whispered as he pressed a kiss on her forehead. “I just wish it wasn’t this soon,”

“Baby,” Y/N said, pulling away and cupping his hands. “what are you talking about?”

Soobin only sighed as Joonhyuk and Beomjae gaped, Ari appearing next to them equally as shocked.

“Baby?” Ari asked in surprise.

“You and Hades?” Beomjae asked as Joonhyuk sighed, shaking his head.

“There’s no time—Y/N you have to leave him. You’re the only one that can save us,” Joonhyuk said. “Go now,”

Beomjae turned to Joonhyuk with worried eyes.

“Why me?”

“It’s what the prophecy said,” Joonhyuk said in frustration. “and there’s a magic barrier around the chains—no one can break it but you, just like the prophecy said. So, come here now,”

“Why?”

“If you break it the gods can wake up to save us—why do you have so many questions?” Joonhyuk said, eyes leaking tears as he almost cried in exhaustion. “Y/N, please. This is our one shot,”

Y/N bit her lip as she turned back to Soobin, burying her head on his chest.

“No,”

Soobin’s eyes widened as he looked down at the girl.

“What?”

“Y/N!” Joonhyuk called, but the girl only waved her hand through the message to disconnect the call.

There was a moment of silence, before one of them moved.

Soobin’s heart panged as she felt Y/N’s shoulders shake with sobs against him.

“Baby,” Soobin sighed, gently pushing her away and wiping her tears. “I think you know what has to happen,”

Y/N shook her head.

“No,” She whispered. “I don’t want to,”

“Babe,”

“I’m not going, Soobin,” she said, body shaking as she sobbed even harder.

Soobin sighed, smiling sadly as he let his eyes take her in.

“You know,” Soobin said, brushing hair away from her face. “I was fixing our wedding already,”

Y/N looked up at him, tear-stained eyes drinking him in for all it’s worth.

“Bin,”

The boy bit his lip as he squeezed her hands softly.

Y/N closed her eyes as tears start to silently roll out of Soobin’s eyes.

“I was dreaming that we’d get married soon, and then I’d be the king, and you would be the queen—the most beautiful goddess queen to ever exist,” Soobin said, holding back the quivering of his voice as he cleared his throat. “We’d have a lot of children playing around, and it’s just you and me for eternity,”

Y/N opened her eyes cupping his face.

“Soobin, Soobin, look at me,” she mumbled as she lined her gaze with his. “There has to be another way,”

“It’s the prophecy—there’s no other way,” Soobin shook his head, tears now free-flowing. “It has to be you,”

Y/N cursed, leaning her forehead on his.

“I—I can just not do it,” Y/N said. “You won’t get affected, you’re not in Olympus. We can just stay here, they don’t deserve to be saved,”

Soobin sighed.

“Baby,”

“They pushed you away, Bin,” Y/N said, cupping his face. “They made you an outcast, they made everyone think you’re evil—“

“Y/N, they’re my family and yours,” Soobin said, eyes pained as he breathed. “Baby, you have to go,”

Y/N’s eyes shook as her lower lip quivered.

“B-But I love you,”

“I know,” Soobin said, smiling as he cried. “And I love you too—but you know you have to go,”

Y/N nodded her head, as she sobbed.

“Soobin,” Y/N started. “I love you—more than anyone else I’ve ever loved before, more than anything I’ve ever loved my whole life,”

Soobin smiled, leaning forward and pressing a harsh kiss on her lips.

Tears flowed out of both of their eyes as their hands intertwined.

Slowly, Soobin pulled away with a smile.

“When you die, I’ll be there—for you,” Soobin said, nodding to himself. “I’m going to pick you up myself, and if you still want me, we’re finally going to get married. You’re going to wear a beautiful white wedding dress. You’re finally going to be the queen and we’re going to fall in love all over again—and we’re going to have a lot of kids and we’re gonna run the underworld together, okay?”

Y/N bit her lip, nodding.

“Okay,” she said, caressing his cheek. “Wait for me,”

“I will—no matter how long it takes,” Soobin said, pressing another desperate kiss on her lips as he pulled away. “Remember that I will always love you. Now go, and don’t look back,”

Y/N let herself look at him one last time before turning her back.

Not even when she heard him collapse to the floor, sobbing.

With tear streaks on her face, Y/N found herself stumbling into the tall building and into the elevator to the top floor.

Y/N bit her lip as she held back her tears, hands clutching her torso as she cried.

As soon as the elevator doors ring open, she faced Beomjae, Joonhyuck, Bongjoo and Ari at near the entrance to the border—surprised to see her.

“Y/N,” Joonhyuk started.

Y/N promptly ignored her as she marched forward, past the barrier and turning the key shoved inside the chain.

There was a bright shimmer as the chains dissolved.

Seconds later, there was the large crack of thunder.

After a few minutes, the entrance to Olympus opened—Y/N being met with her own father.

“Joonhyuk,” Zeus boomed as he neared his son. “you have saved us all. The war has finished,”

Immediately, Y/N broke to a loud sob—falling into a heap on the floor as she clutched her stomach.

“There, there, daughter,” Zeus soothed. “I know it’s been hard, but the way is over—we can celebrate!”

Y/N didn’t reply, crying harder as her hands tightened on her stomach.

Hera observed the girl sadly.

“This war is not without casualty,” Hera commented. “I can feel the grief of a mother who lost her child,”

At those words, Y/N cried harder as she curled up.

“Take me back,” Y/N mumbled. “Bring it back,”

“She’s—“ Joonhyuk said, eyes widening in horror as Y/N grieved.

“Yes, why would you think she broke through the barrier, child?” Hera explained. “Only a god could—a god like her child, who gave up it’s spirit and godly essence to his mother to save you all,”

“We killed a baby,” Ari gasped, sitting next to Y/N. “Your baby with Hades—I’m sorry,”

“Is she a goddess?” Joonhyuk asked, eyes trained on his sister.

“Not yet,” Hera hummed. “but she is promised,”

Joonhyuk frowned, looking over at Hera—eyes burning in recognition.

“Epirus—“ Beomjae gasped as he reached the same conclusion as Joonhyuk. “This is the Phyrric War all over again,”

“King Phyrrus of Epirus—the man who sacrificed too much to win,” Hera nodded grimly. “Your sister sacrificed everything to win this war—her love, her happiness, her husband and her child. Congratulations on your win, boys,”

Hera nodded at the two as he neared Ari and Y/N, laying a soothing hand on her shoulder as Artemis and Aphrodite approached the grieving girl.

Joonhyuk’s sad eyes locked onto his sister.

A win at much too high a cost.

70 years later, a bed-ridden 90 year-old Y/N lay in bed—eyes trained on her great-grand daughter with a smile.

“Grandma!” The kid bounced as she held up her book.

Y/N sighed softly as the kid clambered up the bed.

This child looked so much like Ari.

Y/N smiled fondly at the memory of the late daughter of Aphrodite.

Right after the war—Ari never left her side, having found out about her and Soobin.

The girl was obsessed with her tragic love.

While Y/N never married or fell in love with someone else ever again, she was happy to have witnessed Ari and Joonhyuk grow as a couple—and soon, parents to a healthy baby boy—Donghwa.

That boy grew up to have a daughter—Bongsoo, named after Ari’s other best friend and Donghwa’s uncle, Bongjoo.

Said daughter bounced her way into her grandma-aunt’s frail arms.

“Bongsoo,” Jiyong, Donghwan’s wife, chastised the kid. “I told you to be careful around grandma,”

“Grandma, I’ve been reading!” The kid exclaimed—waving her book. “It’s about Hades,”

At the mention of the god, Y/N perked up—eyes softening with love as she turned over to the girl.

“What about him?”

The kid made a fart noise, crossing her arms.

“He sucks—he kidnapped Persephone,” The kid said.

By the doorway, Donghwa arrived to watch with a sad smile—having known of his aunt’s story with Hades.

“Bongsoo,” Donghwa said softly. “Don’t say that,”

“But he did!” Bongsoo argued.

Y/N tutted her tongue as she softly patted the area beside her.

“Let me tell you about Hades, a good man and a good god who never kidnapped Persephone and was never in love with Persephone,” Y/N said as Bongsoo settled on the spot next to her.

“But, grandma, the book said so!”

“Let me tell you the real story,” Y/N smiled softly as Jiyong wrapped her hand around Donghwon, listening in.

“Once, there was a big, big war. There was a boy that wanted to finish it, but then he died. So, his friends and his sister went down to the Underworld, but Hades said that he can’t come back to life,” Y/N started.

“But why?”

“Because there are rules, little one,” Y/N smiled, poking the girl’s nose. “There has to be a soul that stays to make sure that there was balance in the world, so the hero’s sister stayed with Hades instead so the hero can go save the world!”

“Wow,” The child gaped.

“At first she was scared of him, but then he was so kind and gentle—she fell in love with him and he fell in love with her. Soon, she was going to be married with her and she was going to have a baby,” Y/N narrated, straight from her memory as the thought of Soobin and her lost child resurfaced in her frail, fragile heart.

“Then what happened?”

“Well, Bongsoo, one day the girl found out that she had to leave him because she needed to save the world too. Her baby died while saving the world. Until now, she still thinks about him—and she always wishes that Hades thinks about her too because she loves him so much,”

“Oh,” Bongsoo pouted. “Is the girl still alive?”

“No,”

“Do you know her grandma?”

“Yes,”

Donghwa smiled in sadness as his aunt’s eyes sparkled.

“Grandma, you do?” Bongsoo gasped. “Can you tell her that I’m sorry for judging Hades, and I hope she gets her happy ending, and get married to Hades soon,”

“Of course,” Y/N smiled softly as she urged the child to her mother. “she says to go eat some dinner,”

“Okay!” Bongsoo squealed as she made her way out of the room followed by her mother, leaving Donghwa.

“Auntie,” Donghwa started as he walked over. “You didn’t have to do all that,”

“You know how much I’d defend him—of course, I had to,” Y/N hummed, closing her eyes.

“Alright, well, I’ll go get dinner,” The man sighed, kissing her forehead. “I’ll be back to feed you afterwards,”

Y/N didn’t reply, turning sleepier and sleepier as Donghwa left.

She closed her eyes.

——

It feels weird.

For once, Y/N felt no pain in any part of her body as she shot up abruptly.

No pain in her back, head, feet, waist—nothing.

Y/N lifted her hands in wonder to gasp as the diamond ring on her finger—Soobin’s ring—glistened under the florescent lights.

Another detail she also noticed was the lack of wrinkles on her hand—just like it used to when she was young.

When she was—

Y/N stumbled over to the vanity, gasping and grasping her face as she only saw a hazy figure on the mirror.

It was her—she was almost transparent to the fact that she almost looked like mist.

She then realized she was wearing something too puffy—this wasn’t her regular pajamas.

No, she was wearing a white ballgown with diamonds encrusted at the bodice—a wedding gown.

Her hair was styled neatly, a ring of her favorite white and gold roses from Soobin’s garden embedded with beautiful jewels sat on top of her head.

Even her shoes were jewel-encrusted—the platform heels felt so light, yet she can see the diamonds glinting at the straps and the heels.

Y/N turned, gasping as she saw a body on the bed—her dead, 90 year-old body.

She was dead—she was dead, and wearing a wedding gown.

She felt expensive, regal.

Like a queen.

Picking up her dress as she realized it, Y/N bolted out of her room—stopping short at the dining table to smile at her blissfully unaware family as they dined.

They’ll be alright.

Y/N smiled as she nodded to herself, continuing her way out of the house.

She saved the world—it was finally her time to be happy.

As soon as she stumbled onto the front porch, her eyes trailed over to a tall figure wearing a tuxedo at the end of the driveway.

The man was tall—too tall for his own good as he clumsily rocked back and forth on his heels.

His black hair gently swept around with the summer breeze as he fawned over the rose bush that Jiyong carefully tended to.

Y/N walked over slowly, heart pumping fast as she smiled delicately.

She drank in the first sight of him she’s seen in 70 years.

“I didn’t know Thanatos wore tuxedos now,” Y/N hummed.

The figure only tensed slightly, before there was a familiar laugh.

He turned around, brown eyes softly landing on her as he shot her a smile.

“Nope, but I’ll tell him it’s a good look,” Soobin said, eyes raking down at her figure with a soft smile. “You look beautiful,”

Y/N laughed, tears pouring out of her eyes as she reached out to kiss him—tears pouring out of her eyes as they shared their first kiss in seven decades.

The first kiss for the eternity to come.

Soobin’s hands ran through her hair as he kissed her back, a smile permanently etched in his lips as he pulled away.

“I’m never letting you go again,”

“I’m never, ever, going to go away,” Y/N said, smiling happily.

Her smile dropped as Soobin’s hand trailed lightly over her stomach.

She smiled sadly, hands reaching down to bring his hand to her lips.

“Let’s go,” Y/N said, smiling as she tugged him lightly to place a soft peck on his lips. “I believe we have a wedding to get to,”

Soobin smiled, laughing as he nodded.

“Okay,”

Finally, he got his happy ending.

[agentwashingcat]

Dancing

First Hades fic here we go. Featuring Than and Zag cause I love them. This is all fluff. Just so much fluff.

Cross posted on AO3!

Zagreus lifted up the music player, letting out a noise of surprise. Maybe he should have asked Achilles for help. It was fine though. Probably.

He ignored the looks shades were giving him as he made his way back to his room. It didn’t matter what anyone else thought of him. There was only one person's attention he was after, and it certainly wasn’t the attention of any of the shades milling about his fathers house.

Setting the music player down, Zag ran around, quickly tidying up his room. Just in the nick of time too, since a moment later the room was bathed in soft green light, and a bell tolled, signifying Thanatos’ arrival.

“Zagreus?” Than hovered over the floor, tilting his head down towards Zagreus, looking unamused as usual. “You wanted to see me?”

“I did!” Zag answered cheerfully. He reached out, tugging on Thanatos’ hand. “Join me on the floor a moment, will you?”

Thanatos did as he was asked, looking uncertain as his feet touched the floor. “Now what?”

“I’m working on it!” 

Zag hit play on the music player, a soft melody filling the room. Something Orpheus and Euridyce had cooked up especially for this moment. If everything worked out, he definitely owed them each a bottle of ambrosia.

He held his hand back out to Thanatos. “Dance with me?”

“Dance with you?” Than remained uncertain for a moment, before chuckling and rolling his eyes fondly. “Sure, Zag. Do you know any dances?”

“No, but I’m sure we can work something out.” Eurydice had only known solo dances, since Orpheus was always playing the lyre, and Achilles and Patroclus hadn’t known any at all. ‘Too busy doing other things,’ Achilles had claimed. Zag hadn’t been sure exactly what he’d meant by that, and had decided it was better not to ask.

The two of them mostly just moved around in slow circles, enjoying the company and the time together. For once, Zagreus was content to be quiet, eventually resting his head against Than’s and smiling softly to himself.

He heard Than chuckle softly, and then the feel of soft lips against the side of his head. “I don’t think I’ve ever not heard you speak for this long, Zag.”

“Well I can always change that if you’d like to hear my lovely voice.” Zag shifted to let their foreheads rest together. “It’s just… nice. Being here, like this. With you.”

“I agree.” Than was smiling for a change, looking genuinely happy in a way Zag rarely saw. He would have to do things like this more often if this was the result.

Zagreus moved his hands to cup Than’s face, pulling him in eagerly for a kiss. Thanatos responded in kind, pulling Zagreus closer to him.

“I need to get back to work,” Than mumbled against his lips, although he didn’t seem in a rush to move.

“Surely the shades can wait a few more minutes, hmm?” Zag tugged Than towards his bed. “I’m sure Hermes can handle it.”

After a moment, Than relented, allowing Zagreus to drag him towards the bed. “Alright. Though if anyone asks-”

“No one will ask. And if they do, I’ll take the blame.”

Than laughed. “Well then, the clock is ticking, Zagreus.”

“Then we’d better hurry.” He grabbed Than’s shirt, tugging him in for another kiss. “Before you disappear on me again.”

Than smiled against his lips. “For the rest of the day or night, I’m all yours.”

[ahtsumu]

HEAVEN (IS A PLACE ON EARTH WITH YOU)

MAJOR SPOILERS FOR CHAPTER 120

pairing: nanami kento x gn!reader

tags: angst, fluff, chicken soup for the soul ; wc: 2k

synopsis: he lives.

Nanami Kento wakes up with the taste of ash in his mouth.

His fingers twitch first–– the ones on his right hand tighten their grip on the handle of his sword when they recognise the familiar object. The ones on his left feel the bumpy ridges on the floor. Tenji blocks. What?

And then his eyes open, blinking rapidly as the fluorescent-lit world comes into focus. Only when they set on the severed arm next to his head does Nanami remember where he is. Why he’s holding his sword. What he was doing before everything went dark.

Meiji-Jingumae Station.

Instantly, the blond sits up–– feeling his spine pop as he does–– and scans the empty subway station for a patchwork doll-looking spirit. The sound of his neck cracking as his razor-sharp gaze rotates left and right echoes through the station. Oddly enough, the popping joints don’t feel like byproducts of time and age. For the first time, his stiff bones feel like evidence of unuse.

Nanami Kento feels like a pair of ballet shoes that need to be broken-in before being worn. New.

He hasn’t felt like this in years.

Mahito isn’t here. Excluding the maimed bodies of ex-humans that surround Nanami’s sitting figure, the subway station is completely empty. Is it over? A sinking feeling unfolds in Nanami’s stomach as he runs through the possible outcomes of the fight. The worst case scenario is that everyone is dead, he thinks as he brushes the dust off his clothes and stands up, still on alert for any unwelcome surprises. Nanami pauses as he considers what the best case would be, then.

It’s so foolishly optimistic he’s afraid to put it in words.

But miracles happen. The fact that he’s alive is proof of that. Well… Nanami hovers a hand over his wrist and pauses. Does he really want to know? This must be how Orpheus felt bringing Eurydice back from the underworld, he muses, letting his hand drop back to his side. Afraid to have been cheated of resurrection, yet even more afraid to check.

A thought, wrapped in hazard red and flashing all over, suddenly pushes itself to the front of Nanami’s whirring mind. It’s not necessarily a question; in fact, he doesn’t even know what he needs to know about you right now.

The whole thought is just two words and it’s your name.

A second thought puts a calming hand on the first one’s shoulder. It’s alright. You’re at home. You’re probably curled up in bed right now, a book in one hand and a steaming mug of chamomile tea in another. Nanami smiles softly and imagines crawling into bed beside you, falling asleep with you in his arms. That’d be nice.

He’s done enough, hasn’t he?

It’s time to go home.

ii.

“Nanami Kento.”

His head jerks up at the sound of his name, but he fails to pinpoint where it’s coming from. Even if he could, it’s not like he’d be able to see who said it.

Everything is black.

“Am I dead?” he rasps. His voice echoes through the space, each morpheme layering over another like an endless canon.

“Yes. But you don’t have to be.”

Regardless of the events that had occurred in Shibuya, it’s still jarring to see the heart of Tokyo–– or at least, one of the hearts of Tokyo–– at a standstill, looking like a ghost town. Nanami’s sharp blue eyes dart around the intersection, noting how much worse the destruction the city has been dealt looks under daylight.

Daylight. He freezes. It was nighttime when he arrived at the station. The fight’s probably over now. How long has he been out? Frantically, Nanami feels for his phone in his trousers' pockets, muttering a string of curses when he realises that the device isn’t in any of them.

Deep in his left pocket, however, his fingers brush against a 10,000 yen note and a thin red card with the words “Pleasure Doing Business with You” engraved in gold.

Nanami hails a taxi back.

iii.

The thing about souls is that they exist before the body does.

So they also die after the body does.

And that means a soul can live without a body. (For how long is another discussion.) But the fact of the matter is that after the human body’s death, the soul remains living for a period of time. And in that time, humans are most connected to the Universe.

Some can even speak to it.

Fewer can bargain with it.

“A binding vow with the Universe itself.”

Nanami nods. “I have…” an image of your face flickers behind his eyes “…unfinished business on Earth.”

“The hero cheats death for love.”

“I’m not a hero,” he replies firmly, “I’m just a regular guy with some irregular abilities. And I’m not cheating death.” He wonders how to phrase his next words without coming off as an ingrate. “The fact that I’m here right now means you planned this all along.”

It’s 8:27 AM on November 1st. That’s the date on your phone. Nanami found it sandwiched in the crack between the sofa cushions after looking around the first floor for your familiar figure. You also have around a hundred missed calls and even more unread texts. “I’m so sorry for your loss”s and “are you okay?”s clutter the screen, all from names he recognises. As he scrolls through the notifications, it becomes clear why you’d left your phone in the sofa.

At some point, the “sorry”s become oppressive.

So you know he’s dead. Or, he quickly corrects, you think he’s still dead. Thankfully, he was only gone for a few hours. Maybe that’ll make his unexpected appearance easier to process. Nanami sets your phone down on the coffee table and silently walks up the stairs, making a beeline for the bedroom. Slowly, he pushes the half-closed door open.

The curtains are shut and messily so, like you’d just yanked the fabric once on each side towards the middle before moving on. The thinnest streams of light peek through the cracks you’d left in your haste, each seeming to stop and pool at the figure curled up on the queen-sized bed in the middle of the room.

Nanami feels something cold reach for his heart and squeeze.

You’re asleep, curled into a ball wearing one of his old sweatshirts, your face buried into a pillow with discoloured streaks everywhere, likely the doing of your tears. Letting out a guilt-laden breath, Nanami treads carefully to your side and places a hand on your shoulder. He gently shakes you.

And your eyes, puffy from crying, flutter open.

They meet a familiar pair of thin blue ones.

For a moment, you just stare at the man in front of you. The sunlight coming through the curtains ricochets off Nanami’s golden hair, forming a soft halo around his head. A small–– slightly apologetic–– smile plays at the corner of his lips as he shoves his hands in his pockets.

“Ken?” you breathe, sitting up instantly.

“Hi, sweetheart.”

That can’t be him, you think as you stare up at Nanami with wide eyes and a hanging jaw.

“But Ieiri said you were burned everywhere. And your eye––” you touch your own, you don’t dare touch his “–– she said it was gone.” Ieiri had also said that there’d been a hole burnt through his chest. That Itadori saw him disintegrate with his own eyes. That he was gone forever. This can’t be Nanami.

“Yeah. I, uh, died,” the blond says, looking down at the ground. “But then I made a binding vow with the Universe and… I came back to life.”

A moment of silence passes.

“If I touch you––”

“I won’t disappear.”

“Promise?”

Nanami feels the red card in his pocket. This, he thinks, must be the reassurance Orpheus needed but never had.

“I promise.”

Your arms around his waist are a little firmer than usual but Nanami doesn’t mind. He’s just glad to be in bed beside you with the curtains drawn (properly this time), holding you closer than close, feeling your steady breath on his neck.

When your hands briefly tighten around his side as if to check that he’s still there for the tenth time that hour, Nanami grins and finally asks, “What?”

“I just… can’t believe that you’re alive,” you murmur into his chest. It’s firm–– always has been–– but the feeling of the muscle and bones pressing back against your face brings you a certain peace you never thought you’d crave. “A binding vow with the Universe… is that even possible?”

Nanami laces your fingers together. You admire how his skin buzzes against yours, each pulse of the blood pumping through his veins a reminder of his still-beating heart.

“I think it’s similar to how reality is composed of layers that show themselves depending on the viewer,” Nanami says slowly, looking up at the ceiling. “For example, humans can’t see cursed spirits. That layer only shows itself to sorcerers.”

You hum in agreement.

“And so whatever it was I made that binding vow with… I think, in that moment, it let me see through another layer of reality.”

His words hang in the air as the two of you dissect them.

“What was the deal you struck?” you ask, peering up Nanami’s face.

The weight of the red card makes itself known in his pocket. “If I tell you,” he says, shifting so that you’re at eye-level, “you can’t give me shit about it.”

You nod.

Quickly, he reveals his end of the bargain. Anticipating your disapproval right afterwards, he shifts so that his chin rests at the top of your head.

“Kento––”

“You can’t give me shit about it.”

“… Fine,” you huff with a roll of your eyes. But you’re not pleased–– and Nanami knows–– and the conversation lulls to a stop.

(Your bodies stay intertwined.)

He waits for you to speak again–– because you always do–– so he’s not surprised when, minutes later in a quiet voice, you ask, “Did you see heaven?”

Nanami pauses. Did he?

“I think I did.”

“What did it look like?”

His eyes flick down at your face before looking back up at the ceiling. And he smiles.

“Like this.”

i.

Mahito’s hand on his charred chest. Haibara. Itadori. Haibara. Itadori. Flowery words that wilt into curses. “You got it from here.” Feeling his body crumble away into dust. Blackness.

All his memories swim past his eyes. He sees his parents talking at the dinner table, his childhood friends crawling over playground equipment, the Jujutsu Tech second-years grinning as he bows in front of them, the first cursed spirit he ever exorcised, the dull-faced employees at Sachs, Itadori’s optimistic grin…

And then, you.

You with that look of concentration on your face as you sit in silence across from each other in the living room, feet propped up on the coffee table and noses buried in your respective reading materials.

You with flushed cheeks and reddened lips as he pulls away from the kiss to quip how it’s completely inappropriate for you to be interrupting him while he’s working, even if it is from home with a small smirk–– despite how he tugged you onto his lap in the first place.

You, sun-drenched and beautiful, laughing your head off in the passenger seat as he drives down the Shuto Expressway with both hands on the steering wheel, complaining again about your shit taste in music and begging you to throw on some Beatles tunes but still humming under his breath when you play another Britney song.

He’ll miss you.

Death is inevitable–– this much he and all sorcerers know–– so dying has never been a big deal to Nanami. And he’s never had a specific idea about how he’d die.

But as each moment flashes by and disappears in the periphery of his mind, Nanami realises that if death is inevitable, then dying like this, with you as the last thing he sees, is the best way to go.

Not everyone gets to die with heaven already in sight.

[timetravelingkayak]

Five Tracy Chapman’s All That You Have Is Your Soul / Hadestown parallels, or the “ATYHIYS and  Persephone’s part of Chant II are the same song” thesis:

1.

ATYHIYS: Oh my mama told me [...] She say don't give or sell your soul away [...] Hunger only for a taste of justice Hunger only for a world of truth

Cloud Machine (see Working on a Song p. 256): Mother, what have I done? Squandered the gift that you gave me + Way Down Hadestown: A lie for a lie! And your soul for sale + If It’s True: And it isn't for the few To tell the many what is true

2.

ATYHIYS: Well I was a pretty young girl once I had dreams I had high hopes I married a man he stole my heart away He gave his love but what a high price I paid All that you have is your soul So don't be tempted by the shiny apple Don't you eat of a bitter fruit Hunger only for a taste of justice Hunger only for a world of truth 'Cause all that you have is your soul Why was I such a young fool Thought I'd make history Making babies was the best I could do Thought I'd made something that could be mine forever Found out the hard way one can't possess another

Chant II: When I was a young girl like you Sister, I was hungry too Hungry for the underworld When I was a young girl Now you know how it tastes The fruit of Mr. Hades’ ways Sister, it’s a bitter wine-- Spit it out while you still have time Take it from a woman of my age Love is not a gilded cage All the wealth within these walls Will never buy the thing called love + Way Down Hadestown II: Oh, it was a mistake alright! And now you gotta pay And pay And pay for it, for the rest of your life!

3.

ATYHIYS: I thought, thought that I could find a way To beat the system To make a deal and have no debts to pay I'd take it all, I'd take it all, I'd run away Me for myself first class and first rate But all that you have is your soul

Way Down Hadestown: And your soul for sale Sold! To the king on the chromium throne [...] Mr. Hades is a mighty king Must be making some mighty big deals Seems like he owns everything Kind of makes you wonder how it feels + Way Down Hadestown (Reprise): The deal is signed? Yes [...] I did what I had to do That's what they did too + Any Way The Wind Blows: Eurydice was a hungry young girl A runaway from everywhere she'd ever been [...] In the end, you’re better off alone

4.

ATYHIYS: Here I am, I'm waiting for a better day A second chance A little luck to come my way A hope to dream, a hope that I can sleep again And wake in the world with a clear conscience and clean hands [...] She say don't give or sell your soul away 'Cause all that you have is your soul

Road to Hell (Reprise): It's a sad song But we sing it anyway 'Cause here’s the thing To know how it ends And still begin to sing it again As if it might turn out this time + Flowers: Dreams are sweet until they’re not [...] Nothing, nothing gonna wake me now Flowers I remember fields Of flowers Soft beneath my heels Walking in the sun I remember someone Someone by my side Turned his face to mine + Livin’ Up On Top (NYTW): Why would he trade the sunshine for a couple of nickels and dimes? [...] Give me the sky that you can’t buy Or sell at any price And I’ll give you a song for free ‘Cause that’s how life oughta be! [...] Let the world we dream about be the one we live in now!

[sxnyarostova]

blazin’ hot (or freezin’ cold)

sequel to this

The wind blows in and comes knocking two days after Allegra’s arrival into the world. It’s something that Eurydice has been expecting anyway, an inevitable visit that can’t really be delayed much longer. 

“Are you sure you want to do this?” Orpheus asks quietly. Both of them are standing by the door, Allegra tucked in the crook of Eurydice’s arm. “We don’t have to, you know. We could get Mr. Hermes to send them away; he’s really good at doing that.”

“It’s alright,” Eurydice replies, voice so soft that it takes her by surprise. “It’s going to happen someday; might as well let nature run its course.” She nods at Orpheus, who in turn presses a kiss to her forehead and opens the door.

There stand the three sisters, kitted out in their mostly-identical outfits. They look out of place on the doorstep of Eurydice and Orpheus’ humble cottage, contrasting sharply against a backdrop of varying shades of green and brown. Eurydice steels herself and glares at the tallest of them, Atropos. “Hello,” Eurydice says, voice cooler than the wind that had enveloped her. “Can I help you?”

“Look at that hair,” Lachesis says somewhat condescendingly, stepping forward to get a better look at Allegra. Instinctively, Eurydice snatches her baby away, stumbling slightly. “Don’t touch her,” she snaps. Orpheus steps in between his wife and the three sisters, expressionless and frowning. “What do you want?” he asks.

Clotho shrugs fluidly, a smirk on her face. “We just wanted to see if the little one would be as fun to play with as her mother,” she says. 

Eurydice flinches involuntarily. “If you toss her around like how you did me,” she starts, voice getting louder and louder, “I will never forgive you.”

“We’re immortal, honey,” Lachesis drawls, crossing her arms. “We don’t need the approval of mortals like yourself.”

“You’re all infuriating,” Eurydice replies, her brows furrowing and the many creases on her forehead deepening as she speaks. Orpheus sets a reassuring hand onto her arm, meeting her gaze with his brown, doe-like eyes; don’t work yourself up. Taking a deep breath and calming herself, Eurydice says, “State your case and leave.”

“Your daughter’s got quite the road ahead of her, you know,” Atropos says, shrugging. “Gonna make a name for herself.”

“Good to know,” Eurydice mutters. “Are you done?”

“One last thing,” Lachesis sighs, and she sounds resigned; that’s a first, Eurydice thinks. “We won’t do her like how we did you, Songbird. Thought you might like to know.” And with that, all three of them disappeared just as quickly as they had come.

“Never again,” Eurydice pants, absentmindedly stroking her daughter’s forehead with her index finger. “Gods, that was-”

“Terrifying,” Orpheus finishes, shuddering slightly. Grinning a little in an attempt to lighten the mood, he says, “I have a newfound respect for you for having lived with those assholes at your shoulder all your life.”  

“Don’t swear in front of the baby,” Eurydice chides half-heartedly, but she’s smiling as well. “I don’t think we’ll be seeing them for a while. What do you reckon?”

“Gotta agree with you on that one,” Orpheus says. He loops his arm through Eurydice’s and starts walking inside, gently taking Allegra from Eurydice’s arms. “Now, c’mon; it’s chilly out here.”

[ver-writes]

Prompt: Artemis & Zag friendship? Maybe first meeting, or second meeting, or meeting on the surface to hunt together?

Thanks for the prompt anon this is really sweet!!

***

Zagreus was excited--more than usual--to go to the surface. It has been difficult to manage, but finally, he and Artemis would meet in person to go on a little hunt.

"Little" because Zag would die shortly. But Artemis knew that now, after they had been able to exchange plans between offerings of boons and ambrosia over several runs.

She agreed to wait patiently for him to escape, she and her nymph friends and Callisto hoped for big game near the underworld's entrance.

"What are you smiling about, boy?" his father demanded as Zag appeared from the Temple of Styx.

"Just some plans with some friends after this," Zagreus said casually, brandishing Coronacht with a grin.

They fought, still never easy for Zagreus, but he managed to be victorious thankfully. He quickly dashed out into the open surface world beyond.

He waited for a moment, and then bit his lip. He looked around, but didn't see Artemis or her friends anywhere.

Maybe they couldn't make it.

He tried not to pout, and continued walking around, looking out to the sea.

And then suddenly, he was tackled to the ground.

"That was pathetic," Artemis chided. "We have a lot of work to do, don't we girls?"

She had him pinned easily, and his cheeks only flushed with embarrassment for a moment before he burst out in an excited grin.

"Lady Artemis! I'll be the first to agree, as I've only ever had to hunt things that were dead or near enough."

She laughed and pulled him to his feet, clasping his arm happily. She waved a hand to the trees nearby.

"Everyone, this is Zagreus," she introduced.

"Um," he said, waving nervously. "I don't see--"

And then he blinked. The trees shifted and shivered, and suddenly he realized that some of them were nymphs, poised for the hunt and nearly invisible to his inexperienced eyes.

"Wow," he breathed.

"Did you invite us to gawk or would you like to join the hunt now?"

Zagreus gave a weak cough. "I would love to, if only for a moment. It sounds delightful."

"Oh, ah, we thought of something for you," Artemis said then, waving one of the nymphs forward. "This is Callisto. She's quite talented and clever and--" Artemis cleared her throat, and Zag could've sworn her cheeks were tinged with gold. "And she made this for you."

Callisto gave Zag a warm smile, and held out a small bottle toppered with a loop of twine.

"Water from the Styx, enchanted to help the dying stay alive for a little longer," she explained in a voice that reminded him of Eurydice, smooth and enchanting. "Ah, and please don't tell your Lord Thanatos about it."

Zag laughed and took the bottle. "Thank you so much, this is so kind of you," he said. "I won't tell Than, don't worry. Our secret."

He tossed the string around his neck, and breathed a sigh of relief.

"Ready now then?" Artemis asked.

He nodded, shouldering Coronacht.

They moved together then, Zagreus doing his best to blend into their nearly invisible group. They moved easily over twigs and logs and everything else customary to the woods.

Zagreus... did not.

His feet caused greenery beneath them to sizzle and smoke, despite the snow coating the forest floor. And his general athleticism lent itself to combat and brute force. Stealth was definitely not his area of expertise.

Finally, one of the nymphs made a sound--like a bird would make? Of some kind, maybe?--and their party slowed.

"There, Zagreus," Artemis whispered to him, her voice as soft as a pine needle falling to the forest floor. She pointed and he could see what he was pretty sure was a boar, shuffling through the woods ahead. "Be our guest."

He nodded, and went as quietly and seriously as he could. He crept up to get a clear shot, drawing back Coronacht, and--

He misplaced the weight of his back foot, and he slipped, tumbling over a loose rock that had him falling in a tangle of limbs and his bow.

The boar gave a snort, and ran off.

Artemis snorted, letting out a laugh that Zag was happy to hear, only wishing it wasn't at his expense.

"Oh gods, this is so embarrassing," he said.

The other nymphs were polite, but he could still see their shoulders shaking even though they covered their mouths.

Artemis wiped a tear from her green steaked eye. "I'm sorry, Zagreus, I don't mean to laugh," she said, laughing, and not convincing him.

He laughed too, though. "It's alright. I'm sorry I scared away the prey."

"How can you fight Lord Hades," she managed, "but not even manage to land a hit on a boar?"

"There is much for me to learn, I suppose."

***

Thanks for the prompt again, I hope you liked it! Thanks for reading!

[pomegranates-and-blood]

Σέργω (νοσταλγία deleted scene)

νοσταλγία Masterlist

Σέργω (stérgōto): love (mostly of non-sexual affection), to show affection, to be content, to acquiesce (Ancient Greek)

Pairing: Ivar/Reader

Summary: So, another deleted scene/chapter. This takes place between chapter 26 and 27. It’s just filler stuff that I particularly liked cause it’s the closest thing I can get to fluff without making myself feel insecure.

Word Count: 1.6k

Warnings: Aside from the usuals to this story, mentions of poisoning.

A/N:Yes this is one giant thing of me just referencing Orpheus and Eurydice’s story and making a lot of parallels between Persephone/Hades and the Reader/Ivar. That is about it.

Self indulgent? Yes. Unnecesary? Also yes. Do I love it tho? Another yes.

Taglist: @youbloodymadgenius​​ @heavenly1927​​ @toe-vind-ek-jou​​ @xbellaxcarolinax​​ @pieces-by-me​​ @angelofthorr​​ @samsationalwilson​​  @peachyboneless​​ @1950schick​​​​ @punkrocknpearls​​ @ietss​​ @psych0crybaby​​ @revolution-starter​

And calm slowly but surely starts returning. Granted, it is slightly disrupted by the ‘diplomatic’ visit of one King Harald, who, according to Ivar, probably comes to Kattegat as a subtle reminder of the deals Ivar once made and to gauge at how stable the marriage proves to be.

And the possibility of children, which is not something you had considered before.

And something you won’t start thinking about now, definitely.

You smile in greeting, try not to recoil in disgust when the man with the inked face presses a kiss to the back of your hand; and for once stay quiet and only watch.

The nights that he spends progress simply enough, though you do notice Ivar goes to bed by the time you’ve already fallen asleep most of the nights the King spends in Kattegat, presumably talking with Harald, and you notice Hvitserk be colder than you could have ever believed him to be, as he smiles at the older man.

Even Ubbe, in all his apparent calmness, seems on edge during the time the other man spends in his brother’s kingdom.

The realization he is very much a threat, especially now that he has grounds to feel wronged by Ivar; is something you don’t know what to do with, how to feel about.

“Is he…a threat?” You ask one night, laying on your back in the darkness of the room you share with the man they made to be your husband.

Ivar sighs, “No. He is an ally. He is…angry, but nothing to be worried about.”

The low cadence of his voice, the choice of words…a part of you wonders if Ivar is truly trying to, in his own way, soothe you.

“You angered a great many people marrying me, didn’t you?”

“Just Harald.” He grunts, getting more comfortable.

“And me.”

Ivar smirks, “You won’t go to war against me.”

“For now,” You concede with a breathed laugh. After a moment, you whisper, “What will you do with him?”

“Giving him a looser leash in York will keep him happy. When Stithulf is dealt with and winter passes, we will raid from York again,” Ivar explains, closing his eyes again, “We’ll see then what we can grant him to keep him settled.”

You hum in response, letting your eyes fall closed. Too late you think about what you’re doing when you move closer to Ivar, one of your arms intertwining with his and your cheek resting against his shoulder. You feel him tense under you, and though you wait a few breaths in silence, he doesn’t move. He may not be breathing. With a sigh, you mumble, “I can poison him and make it look like an accident, you just say the word.”

That does manage to make a short laugh leave Ivar’s lips. You pretend to ignore how it trembles past his lips, how his breath is still uneven before he goes back to the unnatural stillness.

Though you consider moving back, wishing that he can relax again, you don’t move. He is too unbelievably warm for you to do anything other than closing your eyes and letting his controlled breaths lull you to sleep.

____

You eye the man with the inked face from your place at the other end of the long table, and, laying your chin on your husband’s shoulder, you silently demand his attention.

Ivar turns his head slightly towards you so, making good use of many late hours teaching him your tongue, you whisper, “I don’t like him, not one bit.”

He chuckles, and a strange pride fills you at being able to make him laugh.

In the accented and still rough Greek, he replies, “Me neither.”

“I don’t appreciate how he looks at me.”

Ivar smiles at this, a lot colder, a lot more…cruel. You know he delights himself in knowing he has you while others want you; especially someone like this King.

“He always wanted what he cannot have. But Harald is harmless.”

“No one is harmless here. Your people ar-…”

“Our people.” He corrects, switching to his own tongue. You roll your eyes.

“The people of Kattegat may be my people as well, but not…Vikings. You have strange customs and even stranger…moral values.”

“Didn’t you promise your love in exchange for an army?” He taunts without hesitation, making you narrow your eyes at him. Ivar offers only a shrug and a mocking smile in response.

“How else was I supposed to get one?” You intone after a moment, tilting your head to the side.

As the night progresses, though you find yourself offering too many fake smiles, you also find yourself learning a lot about the world -and family- you married into.

“And your wife…”

“Ex-wife.” Ubbe corrects, you remain in silence for a moment or two before you continue.

“Your ex-wife, she was…happy with this arrangement?”

“More than ‘happy’, I’d say.” Hvitserk points out, and a smiling Ubbe knocks his cup with his.

“Gods above,” You mutter to yourself, and the Princes laugh. Rolling your eyes at their reaction, you lean closer to your husband, whispering, “When you told me about her, you could have told me…about all that.”

Ivar only shrugs, a tension that only comes up, you’ve noticed, when that particular blonde is brought up coiling around his shoulders and back.

A woman that wasn’t so aware of the dark eyes of King Harald studying her ever since he arrived in Kattegat would have let her hands settle on her husband’s back; but you only stay silent and listen with an absent smile to the tale some rugged warrior starts telling.

“Did anyone tell you about Harald and the Princess he was supposed to marry?” Ivar asks by your ear a while later, bringing your attention back to him.

“I’m guessing it is a good love story.”

“There’s better ones.” He replies, and a smile starts to spread on your face.

“Like?”

He returns his gaze to the feast going on before you, and instead of replying starts telling you of a young Harald that set off to become worthy of a princess that -even though Ivar does not see it, and you are certain the protagonist of the story did not either- was never of a mind to marry him. He tells you of how he found her again and she had already married another, a man that, when it comes to land or titles, was lesser than Harald.

He tells you of how her husband was killed in front of her, and how there’s whispers that she tried killing Harald under the guise of seduction only to be stopped and slaughtered by the King’s brother.

He finishes the tale, and you consider the story in your mind as you chew on a few almonds.

“You feel sorry for him, don’t you?” Ivar asks, incredulous. You turn wide eyes to him, and before you can give form to your explanation, the Viking chuckles, “You do. Gods, woman, you’d let someone escape Hel if they told you a love story, wouldn’t you?”

“I…It was tragic. Moving.” you insist, still betraying a smile at the expression on Ivar’s face, “Stop it, it’s not a fault to have a soft heart.”

He laughs, probably at you, but you find yourself still smiling like a fool. Ivar leans back on his seat, and after a breath of hesitation -that you pretend to ignore, but you both know you’ve noticed- grabs your hand in his and intertwines his fingers and your own.

“Alright. Explain to me why it is that some old fool thinking a princess could love him enough to wait for him is…moving.”

You shrug, your eyes on the stark contrast between his hand and yours where they lay on your lap.

“He loved a woman she never was and she…well, she never loved him at all. Yet Fate brought them together, again and again. It is a tragic tale, as most love stories are, and…”

“And you like tragic stories.” Ivar finishes for you, and you roll your eyes.

“I don’t like them, they just…it’s easier to tell a tragedy than a happy story,” You lean closer and once again resting your chin on his shoulder as he looks back at the feast, you whisper, “Harald’s story with his Princess wouldn’t be one to tell if it weren’t tragic. With her death, with that fallout, the illusion of how happy they could have been, of how perfect everything could have been, remains alive.”

“Is that how you feel about that commander of yours?” He asks suddenly, and when you lean back in surprise he only grabs your hand tighter and keeps his eyes ahead, “You think of how perfect everything could have been with him?”

“Narses?” You ask, incredulous, “No, why would I-…?” Realization dawns on you and you narrow your eyes, “You can’t be jealous of a dead man.”

For a moment you see the clear tell that you’ve struck a nerve, but Ivar recovers quickly enough, leaning closer to you and eyeing you with a barely-there smirk in place.

“You were jealous of a slave.”

“Former slave. A slave you freed, and didn’t tell me about even when she became my friend.” You point out, furrowing your brows at the way his smile grows even more smug.

“I married you,” He reminds you, but you roll your eyes. Ivar chuckles, knowing, “Doesn’t help much, does it?”

“It should to you!” You insist lowly, “I never let him marry me, and he was…”

“Perfect?” He supplies bitterly.

“Someone that didn’t abduct me.”

“And why did you let me make you my wife then, hm?”

Because I wanted to, because it was the one thing that let me stay.

“The Gods only know.” You reply, mock annoyance on your voice, because you cannot bring yourself to be upfront, you cannot bring yourself to give away this truth just yet.

____

Thank you so much for reading!

I’ll try my best to get a one shot done today and post it, but in case I can’t, here’s wishing you a fantastic end of 2020 and an even better start of 2021. Love you!

[lovesbitca8]

Asks that have sat too long...

Finally clearing out my inbox from like, November. 

@beau-pigzy said: Heyyy! I'm such a big fan of yours and loved your Dramione series! Thank you so much for the great and brilliant stories that you've provided for the audience (Well, Dramione fans though). Will be rooting for you! P.S. Your portray of Lucius Malfoy is such a bad ass and genius, and damn, that last chapter was a nice cherry on top. Love to reread again and again haha.

Lucius is my main squeeze.

@sri1997 said: Rereading 39 Part 1 in anticipation of Part 2 - "there's only one thing she wants from the Malfoys and he isn't here" - Isn't that the one thing we all want ? 😏😏

*raises hand*

@peachykeenqueen said: Came to your account for the Auction! Finished it right before chapter 39 was released and I’ve managed to go back a read both The Right Thing to Doo and All the Wrong Things!!I love the way you tell their stories! You’ve got me laughing, crying, and absolutley beaming and I’m so beyond excited for chapter 40!!!!

Apologies for the delay, but I’m so glad you loved it! (around chapter 40 lol)

An Anon said: AND OF COURSE YOU'RE GONNA END IT WITH THE TRIAL, JUST LIKE THIS WHOLE WONDERFUL UNIVERSE STARTED IN TRTTD. u tricky genius. I love it. I dont want it to end. I want it to end. wut have u done to me. Question: how is blaise such a good friend and where can i find me one of him. Also: where the hell did u learn to write. I want to send them a thank you note

An Anon said: one can only IMAGINE the trauma that will permeate the wizarding society, generations emotionally broken oh my goodness it hurts me 😭😭

Yep. Very similar to our Muggle histories. 

An Anon said: i’ve just plowed through the rights and wrongs series and am now nervously anticipating the ending of the auction and i just wanted to tell you i am FLOORED by your writing. i’m obsessed and in awe and so grateful for your existence ❤️

❤️❤️❤️

An Anon said: Should have titled this chapter “Draco Has Some Really Great Friends Who Love Him More Than He Knows.” Don’t mind me. I’ll just be in the corner crying over these Slytherin babies.

Yessss. I love those little snakes.

An Anon said: i have complete and total faith in you 100% but how how how are you going to wrap this up in one more chapter i’m dying! i’m so excited to finally know how this ends but also so sad i’ve been on this journey now for what like a year and a half now? sunday’s won’t be the same! this chapter had me everywhere! the scene with blaise pansy and draco and the viewing and pansy trying to save hermione (for draco) broke my heart for them all they are such ride or dies i’m glad hermione is going to bat for them too. i’m glad pansy’s free, now we just need blaise and draco and oliver. i was screaming at everyone this whole chapter like “oh my god you’re all like so silly you don’t even know! blaise didn’t even do most of the things you’re trying to punish him for! tell them that he wasn’t holding gulianna as a slave and the lengths they went to to protect her!!” lmao. but i know the info has to be saved for the right time, hopefully that’s what his american lawyer is for and that fact plus bellatrix will be enough to keep him safe. “bring him home, hermione” broke me, i am ruined, i simply can’t express. i know this is a story about draco and hermione but god did you ever do a fantastic job making me care about the supporting characters i am so soft for blaise caring about draco at his own expense 🥺. anyway fantastic 39 part two i applaud you. can’t wait for the final chapter which comes just after my birthday so i’m counting it as a personal gift for me hahaha

Okay 1 - Happy Belated Birthday; and 2 - thank you for emotionally transporting me back to Chapter 40 with this Ask.

An Anon said: Me, an ASOIAF stan watching everyone go crazy over Draco and Hermione being "siblings" is hilarious AF. It's fictional incest. Why exactly are you worrying about if the baby is going to look alright? You're all worrying about the wrong thing. Anyways it is just me or them being siblings just adds spiciness to their relationship LMAO

I have also been in fandoms with that sort of “spice” so I was UNPREPARED for the “sibling-backlash” lol

@teacher-with-bad-handwriting said: I’m literally crying while reading about Blaise wanting to help get Draco home, even if it means he might have to stay in Azkaban.They had such a pure friendship in TRTTD, I’m glad they’re still ride or die in The Auction

I love bromances. I love men who are comfortable enough with themselves to let their fondness show. 

An Anon said: Okay okay sorry for bothering you but when i tell you i just screamed when i saw that you uploaded the new podcast episode. Like I've been waiting for the 39 part 2 recap. And I dont know if you have an upload schedule cause i basically binged the whole auction and the podcast. Just amazing to hear how much work you put into each upload. Much love to all you three ❤❤❤

That was one of my fave episodes, so I’m glad you were looking forward to it!

An Anon said: I’m rereading ATWT in anticipation of TA ending and I just came across my favorite line in the history of fanfiction: “Fuck, we’re both such idiots. I hate us so much.” I FORGOT ABOUT THAT LINE AND IT IS THE ABSOLUTE BEST I NEEDED TO THANK YOU FOR IT.

I should change all my story synopses to just that. 

An Anon said: A very random thought came to mind several months ago and has been pestering me ever since. I don't expect it will be answered in The Auction so I'm finally going to ask. How's Professor Binns? Did he even notice anything? (Also, Hogwarts was still being used as a school right? But it was also Voldy's HQ? Have I remembered/interpreted that correctly? Were there children running around Voldy's HQ?) Anyways, can't wait for the final chapter! Thank you for every single thing you do!!!

L.O.L. Professor Binns is probably still teaching, Death Eater infiltration or no. The children and classes had been moved to upper floors while Voldemort was there, but Binns just floats in, teaches, and floats out. 

@rethinkthesituationnn said: I just have to say how beautifully done the Orpheus & Eurydice reference in The Auction was. That’s all. Now, I’m just going to furiously refresh until chapter 41 is posted. 🙃

Thank youuu. I probably had the most fun writing that chapter out of the last third of TA.