The middle head was the wild card, but the goddess even managed with that one alright. By the end of their exchange it looked like the beast had grown quite taken with her, and despite himself, Hades was impressed. The dog didn't seem to become taken with very many people. Maybe it liked the high pitch thing she kept doing. Hades was never going to do that himself, but he did think it was worth noting. So was the information about water sources. The goddess had her quirks and flaws, but Hades did appreciate how willing she was to share information. He didn't understand it. But he appreciated it.
“The larger, cleaner one tonight then,” Hades said nodded. It seemed counterproductive to clean a three-headed dog in a dirty lake, and it wasn't like Hades would mind the walk. He'd spent too much time trapped to ever mind another walk. He didn't say anything about the goddess coming, but he figured that was implied if the goddess decided she wanted to accompany them, and not implied if the goddess decided she'd rather do something else. Hades did not care whether or not the goddess was coming, and was determined not to. But maybe Hades would take the dog to see her that night. Or just in the general area. Just in case the goddess did want to come. It would be impolite if he didn't do that.
Hades blinked when the goddess spoke again, and looked at the dog. He didn't know where the animal could have gotten an idea like that, but if the goddess was right, the dog was wrong. Hades was not anybody's. The dog wasn't even technically his. He'd just given it a name out of courtesy. That was all. If the dog wanted to leave him, and just disappeared one day, Hades wouldn't be surprised. But that was the dog's business. It could do what it liked. Hades didn't care one way or another. The goddess and the dog were wrong. When she talked about not being alone, Hades pretended she was referring to the animal having three heads.
“I don't think this dog would be able to find time alone if it tried,” Hades said. His eyes darted. He didn't have as many siblings as Philotes, but Hades understood not being able to have any time away from them better than probably anyone. He also understood the other side of that. One wouldn't be nearly so hard without the other. Even if he didn't verbally acknowledge it, Hades could see a little of what the goddess was trying to do. When he'd first met her, all he'd wanted was for her to go away, but now, he didn't mind if she stayed as much. He'd let her stay with the dog for awhile longer, and then that night they'd go find the lake. It probably wasn't everything she wanted exactly, but it was a step. He'd start small. Hades was learning how to protect and serve this subject. Eventually he'd learn, and learn the others. It wouldn't be easy, but Hades didn't expect anything to be easy. If Hades believed in anything, he believed in a steep learning curve.