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“Just give him back!” Hades shouted into the maelstrom called a universe.
The answering voice was distorted, grating in his ears—like a hundred voices unfolding.
“What
will
you
give?”
Hades swallowed. There was a lot he could give, but nothing of consequence, nothing that would matter to the universe.
“We are
waiting.”
It's displeasure shivered down his spine. He had called upon it, diverted some of its attention to him and his selfish request. It grabbed for him, felt it pouring into his cells, creeping along his nerves, seeking his truth, his intention.
“Myself. I give myself.”
Humming vibrated around him, shifting colors, and then laughter.
“Silly creature.”
“What do we want with you?”
“Fragile.”
“Fickle.”
“Nothing
to
keep.”
Panic gripped him, a new feeling for him. But he couldn’t fail; he had come so far; he was so close. Hythlodaeus was almost in his grasp again, could see those sparkling eyes, hear that beautiful laughter. The only one who ever understood him—who’d touch the frown between his brows with uttermost gentleness and tell him to relax, to let the solution come to him.
He was Hades. He had built lifes, had built empires, and crumbled them into dust; he wouldn’t succumb to something minor like the universe. But that would entitle honesty. Hades had never been honest, neither about his feelings, his wants, nor whom he loved.
But the universe was watching him, had crawled into his very soul, grabbing for his core. It could read his lies.
There was only one thing left.
“What do you know about love?”
There was a pause.
“We never
understood it.”
“I can give you the love I feel for him.” It would be hard. Giving up this feeling, the spark inside him that encompassed more than the world and everything beyond. He was sure it'd leave him empty and shaken, but maybe—just maybe—he could find it again, with Hythlodaeus by his side, and this time…
“We accept.”
…this time he wouldn’t be a coward.
“Hades, wake up.” Something poked him in the cheek.
He opened his eyes. Dancing eyes and smiling lips watched him. A person crouched beside him, long hair in a braid, a hand outstretched, a finger poking him. He swept away the hand and fought himself upright. His fingers touched sand, and his legs lay in water; an ocean stretching before him.
“What happened?” His head was…empty.
“I finally found you.” The voice was melodic, filled with joy and laughter.
“Found me?” He blinked, trying to understand how he came to be here, where he should be…who he was. There was nothing. Just a vague feeling this shouldn’t have happened.
“Come Hades, let me show you around.”
Hades. Was it his name?
Hands helped him up before fingers closed around his wrist and dragged him along the beach. In the distance, palms swayed in a breeze, and flowers blooming, their colors shifting in the sun.
“Who are you?” he called. And the other turned, beaming.
“I’m Hythlodaeus,” he said with sparkling eyes. With one step he was close, taking Hades’s face into his soft hands. “And finally, you've come to me.”
Feeling those fingers on him felt so right. Did they know each other? What had happened?
Did it matter?
Somewhere, he felt as if the universe was laughing at him. Not that it really could do that, or?
Ah, little creature, now show us what love is.
“Hades?” Searching eyes blazing to the depth of his soul.
Suddenly Hades felt lighter, as if a weight he had been carrying too long had shifted and was breaking away, just a trickle and then faster and faster.
He couldn’t tear his eyes away, couldn’t escape whatever had caught him.
“Stay with me?”
Hades swallowed, furrowing his brows, closing his eyes when soft fingers touched the lines between them. “Yes.” Because he knew in his heart, it was the only possible answer from here on, and forever.