Who: Hades & Persephone (with Cerberus) What: Return Home From the Underworld Where: Their House When: Early in the morning of 9/16 Warnings: none
[Dear Persephone,
If you are reading this, clearly I didn't get back in time to rip it up. I left at 1:49 AM and ventured into the Underworld. I took Cerberus with me. Hopefully, I will be back by dawn. If I'm not back when the sky is lightening... Well, feel free to become concerned. I just needed to go. I couldn't keep putting it off anymore. Even without the Devil's power, I'm still drawn to it. As much as I wish I could be free of the Underworld, I still need it.
I love you.
I love you so much.
-- Hades]
Persephone read the letter once more, fear gnawing at her gut as she paced about her bedroom. It was early yet, and Delaney hadn't woken up demanding attention. The twice former Queen of the Underworld was left with nothing but horrible thoughts. In truth, most of her time in Hell was foggy memory, but she was grateful for that. What she remembered was bad enough.
The stillness of the morning was broken by a low howling. The Gates of Hell had opened for the second time this morning, and Cerberus stood now in the backyard at his/their full height and statue, howling as low as a a monstrous triplet voice box would really allow.
Persephone heard the noise, bolting out the door and down the stairs and running for the backyard. Her heart was thudding so hard that she could hear her pulse in her ears. Please be okay. Please be okay.
Cerberus turned all three of his heads first toward Persephone's scent and then to the sound of her breathing and footsteps. It was at the sight of her that the beast seemed to remember that it/they shouldn't be twenty feet tall. Perhaps it was the sight of her in her glamour that brought about the realization. The Hellhound shrunk down then to the size of the huge three-headed Great Dane.
No longer hidden in the shadow of the beast, Hades could be clearly seen laying in the grass, clutching his blade in one hand and a bed sheet composed sack in the other.
Persephone kept running, sliding to the grass next to Hades. Carefully, she started to check over his body and see the extent of any injuries he had sustained. Please be okay.
His body didn't tell the whole story. He was bruised, yes. And scratched. But what was more telling was the far away stare Hades had. His eyes only drifted over to her when she drew near. “[... Persephone?]”
"[I'm right here...]" she murmured, leaning over and kissing his lips. "[It's okay. You're home now.]"
He returned the kiss softly at first, but then as he released both blade and sheet, he boosted himself to deepen that kiss. The feel of her lips and the warmth of her body brought more understanding to him, or at least that's what Hades believed. Laying back down in the grass, he kept one hand along her hair, “[How long was I gone? It feels like a long time.]”
"[About five hours,]" Persephone murmured, running her fingers over his chest. "[Let's get you inside...can you move?]" She was so worried for him, but this was not the best place for them to stay.
Hades nodded and pulled up to sitting, “[I feel great except in my head.... So, I can get up. Can I find my way inside is another matter.]”
Persephone stood, gathering up his things and offering a hand to him. "[Come on. I'll get you inside and you can explain what happened.]"
“[Things get hazy near the end. Cerberus had to bring me out. That I remember...]” Hades began to explain as he took her hand and was ready to be led. The beast looked up at both of them and simply trotted into the house. Clearly, the two gods knew their way in. He/They were done. Hades gave her hand a gentle squeeze, “[The Underworld is confused and it made me confused.]”
Persephone carefully led Hades into the house, nudging him upstairs and into bed. "[I'm putting you on bed rest for a bit, honey.]" She dropped his things in a nearby armchair. She crawled into bed with him, wrapping her arms around his torso.
His mind was clouded, but he remembered certain things as he tried to relax in their shared bed, “[Pick up my children for me then and bring them here when its time after bringing Zale to school. Zale needs to go to school and I need to see my sons...]” Hades understood those two things as he wrapped his arms instinctively around her.
"[Okay...I'll do that,]" Persephone murmured, snuggling close to him. "[You'll tell me what happened afterwards? Won't you?]"
“[It was all weird, love. Everything was disjointed. His angels blocked the sky wherever I looked up in this dark glow...]” Hades murmured in return, his eyes slipping shut as he held her tighter to his cool body. Bringing her close helped him focus and focusing pushed the Underworld's confusion more and more out of his own mind where it belonged.
"[You're here now and safe,]" she cooed, smoothing a hand over his hair. "[That's really what matters. We can figure the rest out later.]"
“[I'll feel better in a little bit.]” And probably wonder why he was upstairs in bed, but that would be for later. His fingers lingered and smoothed along her spine as he stared to the wall, sorting out his thoughts. “[Everything was in chaos...]”
"[But you survived...which was a big if...and don't you ever, EVER run off like that again.]" In all the confusion, she'd almost forgotten to scold him. Almost.
Her scolding brought his dark eyes to her, “[What was I going to do? Leave with you staring at me with your big sad blue eyes?]”
"[It was scarier this way,]" Persephone remarked, giving him the big sad blue eyes now.
Her sad blue eyes didn't have the power they would have had. They didn't stun lock him into place and make what needed to be done impossible. Now, they made him stroke her hair gently, “[Shhh. Either would have been scary. You got more sleep this way. Worried less time than you would have.]”
Persephone smiled a little, tapping a kiss to Hades' lips. "[Yeah but now I won't sleep for days. You can't slip away...I won't allow it.]"
“[Shhh,]” Hades whispered lightly again against her lips, his hands sliding down her once more to rub her back in all attempts for comfort. He held her close to his body, the unspoken promise that for now he wouldn't be going anywhere. He was here with her. “[You act like you being awake for days is a threat. You can keep me company.]”
"[Well you should sleep. Nowish. Get your head back together,]" Persephone murmured, glancing out the window. It would be time to take care of the business with the children soon.
Hades shook his head, “[I doubt sleep would put my head back together. Sleeping rarely does.]”
"[Rest then...okay?]" she leaned in, tapping a kiss on his forehead. "[I'm going to shower and have coffee and get the kids...okay?]"
He nodded a little, grabbing her hand and kissing her palm before releasing her and curling up to his side. What he really wanted was to relax in the basement but... the bed was a lulling kind of comfortable and warm. Letting out a soft breath, he pulled the sheets more over him. “[Feel free to forget to close the door to the master bath.]”
Persephone laughed softly, slipping out of bed. She could worry for her once-husband later. Now she had to worry about the kids and her ability to stay awake. The breakdown would come when it would...and when it did she hoped to be curled up in bed with Hades.
Summary: Due to the unfinished business in the Underworld, Hades has to return to his former kingdom. Persephone wakes up to find him gone and panics. When Hades does show up disoriented, she gets him to the safety of their bed.