It was his first day back to work. At least his sons were happy about it. Before they had settled down for their morning nap, they had been overjoyed with wanting to play with Daddy in the middle of his office. They must have missed coming here. But now they were asleep tuckered down in the covered playpen.
Hades leaned back in his chair, his feet up on his desk. He wasn't even pretending to look over the pile of papers that had been placed on his desk to review. His second morning coffee sat beside him cooling as he played a game on his iPhone. He didn't want to get too involved with anything.
He had an important meeting about to begin.
Possibly sooner than he thought; before he'd even finished the thought, there was a knock on the door. But without waiting for a reply, Cato poked his head into the office. That was how it worked, if he remembered. You knocked, then went in. Or, at least, that was how Zeus had done it. But he didn't remember that Zeus had owned the building that he did most of his knocking on; he hadn't had to wait for permission.
"Hello!" he said brightly.
Hades assumed this would be the case. That was why he had left his side door open instead of making the new addition to the Greek family have to navigate his public office with his mortal employees. With the sound of the greeting, Hades kicked his feet off the desk and spun his chair to face him. Yup, same dumb glint in the new one's eyes as when he had last seen him -- Miami must not have crushed his innocent glee yet. Part of Hades was pleased by that fact; innocence was a virtue he had always honored.
Another part of him despaired in that same fact. That meant he would be bearer of bad news to the blissfully innocent. "Hello, [Young One]. Close the door and sit down. We need to talk."
The young god nodded and took a seat, pausing to wave to the twins. They giggled and waved back. New person! "What do we need to talk about?"
The little girl, also in the playpen kept her back to the young god. He was no interest to her, not when she had a pop up book. Hades waited until he was completely seated and no longer waving at his sons, "You and your father."
Oh. Cato's smile fell a little bit. His uncle didn't sound pleased... "Were you able to get any further in reviving him?"
"Yes and no." Hades tried not to frown more than he normally did when talking to people outside of his normal inner circle, but it was a touch disappointing that he had to crush this boy's good mood, so early in the day even. Perhaps he should have scheduled this meeting for later in the day. He would consider that for future bad news bearing. "But not in anyway that helps you. Do you know I'm pretty sure you ate your father's soul, continuing a family tradition of consuming relatives?" The Dark One wasn't one to beat around the bush.
The new god blinked at him. "I don't remember doing that," he said honestly. Suddenly he had the mental image of eating a cake shaped like his father's head with a fork and knife. It was an amusing image... but even his dulled social sense told him not to giggle in the presence of this man.
"Good." That meant it wasn't intentional and that made Hades feel better, somewhat, about the whole affair. He was certain the new god wasn't lying. It took a good while for a person to lie well and even longer to stand a chance against Hades face to face. "But that doesn't negate the fact that you did. That is going to pose you some problems." Mostly one problem, it started with an H ended with an A and had an ER in the middle.
Ah, they were of like minds. Cato frowned and murmured, "Hera. Is she still mad at me?" ... "That was a stupid question."
"Still?" Hades repeated the word because it honestly confused him, "That would imply there was ever a chance she would stop being angry at you. She cursed you at your birth, [Young One.]"
Hades had a good point. He sighed and slumped. "I didn't... I don't know," he said, shifting uneasily in his seat. "She has a right to be angry. I would prefer it not come to violence, though."
"Would avoid her for a little bit longer than, if I were you." Hades tapped his desk lightly, not out of nervousness, not out of annoyance, merely to drum away the looming silence when neither of them spoke. The silence was oppressive and would only make the whole affair more difficult for the boy. He didn't need anything more ominous. It was bad enough the new god was having a sit down with the Greek god of death and Hades understood this. "But that is why I am telling you this first. Didn't want to her to launch at you like a missile without you knowing. Since you ate his soul, I didn't have it to bring him back."
While helpful for Hades' boredom, the tapping was slightly nerve-wracking for Cato; ironically, it matched up perfectly with the worried heartbeat in his chest. "So he's not coming back," he said. He didn't sound surprised. A little sad though, and yet, relieved.
Hades didn't do it out of boredom and instantly stopped when he could see the less than calming effect on the new god with his ever-judging eyes. He was watching him actively, perhaps too actively but Cato was an unknown variable and it was hard not to analyze in such a situation. "His return is unlikely, at best. So, have you made any decisions with this new life of yours?"
"I don't know. I think... I don't see myself running the hotel. I think my-- [Aunt] is supposed to get it. I... I'm not sure. I never planned on having to do anything..." His voice fell a little, as if he was sharing a deep secret that was borderline treasonous. In his mind, it was. "Father intended on it."
Father intended on it. The words brought borderline treasonous thoughts to Hades as well. Not against a king, but against his sister. With a renewed neutrality toward Zeus, he was dutifully on Hera's side, desiring entirely to return her husband to her but with the young god sitting across from him in all his zest for life and positive outlook after escaping the prison of his father... Hades couldn't help empathize and he lowered his voice as if to actually tell a secret, "[Let me tell you something, Young One. Figure out what you actually want in life. Don't let the world dictate to you and crush you.]"
"[I suppose. I just don't know what to do yet, is all,]" said Cato. His words came out easier in the old Greek; Zeus had thought almost constantly in it, speaking in other languages only out of necessity. To the dead sky king, all other languages, while quaint, had been inferior for his mind. "[I don't... don't want to go down Father's path, I guess is what I do want. But I want to do something well... You didn't just invite me here to tell me all this, did you?]" he asked, looking back to his uncle. "[You, um, look too serious to just be giving me advice.]"
"[This is my normal face. You must not have been paying attention in your father's body when I was around.]" Hades wasn't surprised. People rarely paid attention to him unless they wanted something from him or he was making a demand of them. He had come to accept it, even if it was a bit of a dry joke right now for the new god "[What do you mean your Father's path?]"
"[Power. He meant well. He really did.]" The young god was quick to come to his jailer's defense. "[He wanted it for all of you, too, but he wanted to be king still. I-I think he didn't know how to be anything else. But... in the end, he realized what a mess he made by trying to keep it all in place with him on top. I don't want to hurt my family, I just got them, you know?]"
"[There are no more kings. Not for us. No kingdoms, no power over each other, no dominion. That all fell with our pure divinity. Don't let its phantom trap you like it did your father.]" Hades made sure the young god was paying attention to his words, catching his eyes with his own black ones. It was important. Hades could only imagine how direly important understanding this truth was for a being that had spend its entire existence in Zeus' brain - a god, who as far as Hades could tell, never understood or accepted it. "[Besides, even if there were kings, the age of divine right for them to rule this family is over. It doesn't work when people can simply ignore you or move away.]"
Getting up, he sighed a little, craving a cigarette but knowing he couldn't have one. Instead, he went over to his mini-fridge and grabbed himself a yogurt. Just as good. "[Power is overrated anyway. One either goes mad with it or it becomes their chains as they endure the burden of it.]"
"[It seems that way. But without it, we die,]" the younger pointed out. He paused for a moment and then added, "[I have to get papers. Shiri told me so. Otherwise, I don't exist. Also, I'm] Cato." He'd forgotten to mention that earlier, and now seemed as good as time as any. He hoped changing the topic would at least get that dire expression of of his kin's face. He didn't know quite why, but it deeply unnerved him.
"[Different kind of power. You're not talking about what sustains our immortality. If control did that, we would all be ghosts.]" Hades returned to his seat with his snack. His expression didn't change much even as he mixed the fruit at the bottom of the cup with the little plastic spoon that came with it. One day, Cato would understand the deep frown lines around the older god's mouth and his piercing gaze was just his neutral expression and he would never want to see truly dire. But Hades didn't explain that fact any further and instead nodded, "[Yes, you do need documents, which are a complete hassle in this country and this time period but having a name is a good start. Is that your given name or your family name?]"
"Um... [Given. I like the sound of it. I forgot about last names...]" He looked up, wanting of Hades' opinion. "[What do you think?]"
Hades took a moment to consider and then pulled out a book that looked like someone had set it partly on fire at one point. He had been incredibly lazy about choosing his own family name. Lot just meant veiled and that was just a translation of his own name. "[Well, what do you want it to mean? Something close to your divine nature?]"
The boy shrugged. "[I... I don't feel like I have that. I simply am. What I have, I gained from Father. But I am not him, either. I don't think Hera would appreciate it if I took any of his names.]"
The older god nodded and flipped through the book. He could work with that. "[I don't suggest you take one of his names either.]" He flipped through the book, careful about some of the more singed pages. "Avari [is an American name that means 'of the sky'...]" For someone who had been born with wings, the sky was not a stretch.
"Cato Avari. Avariiiiii. Caaaaaaatooh Avari." Rolling it around his tongue, he shook his head. "[I like the idea of an American name here. I was born here...]" He paused and considered a new thought, "[That means I am not a Greek god. Kind of.]"
"[You have the technicality I want. I would love to kinda not be a Greek god.]" Hades put aside the book, he was done with it. It fell disregarded at the edge of the blotter that protected his desk. "[The Greeks are traitors. I'd like to think my personal disdain for them is what literally bankrupted their country recently. But then again, I also don't consider myself a god anymore at all.]" With that, the Dark One shrugged.
Cato blinked, but decided against arguing with his uncle. He had been far, far too kind of him. He was all too aware that at present, he depended on his family's kindness. "[I have been wondering, though. What does this mean? If we... live on worship, I have no worshippers. How am I even alive still?]"
"[My personal theory on your life and existence is that you owe a majority share to devouring your father's soul and are piggy-backing off his renown. I have no evidence on that, however. It is just my theory.]" Hades wasn't the god of new life, so he accepted the fact that he could be completely wrong but no one would able to refute him. And if they could, fine. That would mean a truer answer if one existed. He finished his yogurt cup and put it aside in the little trash can under his desk, "[And it's not all worship. Some of it is just renown, the human race's acknowledgment and the tie we have with what is holy to us. I can't remember the last time I felt someone directly worship me...]" And he would probably stop them if he did. He wasn't an irresponsible god to someone who respected him enough to worship. Worshiping him didn't help a person.
"[That makes sense,]" he agreed. "[I'm very confused. I wish he'd lived; it wouldn't be such a mess.]" He couldn't even decide on a name... how was he supposed to spend eternity?
"[If it makes you feel any better, I am almost certain that it would still be a complete mess.]" Hades wasn't the best bringer of comfort but it was easier when he couldn't remember the last time something wasn't a complete mess in his family to point this fact out. "[You'll figure it out. At least, you'll figure it out enough. I've been outside my father for thousands of years now and life doesn't make sense to me half the time either so...]"
Cato laughed. "[Good point, good point!]" He sighed and brushed back his hair. Ironically, where Zeus had needed to keep every follicle in place at all times, it seemed his last child couldn't seem to get any of them to agree on a spot. "[Can I get back to you on the name then, and we can... go from there? I think I need time to think on what I want to do. I mean, if that's okay with you... it's your money I'm living off of. I feel bad.]"
"[It is your name.]" Hades shrugged a little, "[In the meantime, I can get things in order for your documents. I loathe to do falisify stuff like this but I've found enough loopholes in the legal system of this country to make people exist without breaking too many of the laws. Just one thing...]" His voice hushed once more because once more he was sharing a secret with the new god but unlike before, now he did grow dire. He didn't look very different, ironically, his frown remained but it was all in his piercing black eyes as they locked onto him, "[Stay out of trouble and out of Hera's way. If it comes down between you and her... I see myself in you. I'll admit to you that but that doesn't help you in this case. I like her more than I like me.]"
Really? He did. Cato smiled, taking the words as a compliment, as he couldn't see if it wasn't, and he liked his uncle a lot. Well, yes, there was a warning in there... but he liked him! "[Thank you. You've been a great blessing.]"
Yup. Hades definitely saw himself in the new god - that was the same stupid optimism he had when he was freed from his father's stomach and saw the light of the sun and the expanse of the world for the first time. Poor boy. Maybe he would hold on to it. Maybe it wouldn't all come crashing down into a broken psyche bolstered up by sheer will. "[You're welcome. I don't hear that I'm a blessing a lot.]"
"[Did you need anything else from me, Uncle?]"
"[I called you here mostly to tell you to stay alert because your father isn't coming back.]" There wasn't much Cato could do for his uncle unless he was going to somehow hand over his father's soul. "[I also wanted to check in on you. There's only so much I can determine from your cellphone and room service bills... But don't worry about the costs. The economy's poor right now. Throwing money at it will help it out.]"
"[That's true. I feel like I should be able to repay you somehow. You're-you're sure there's nothing I can do for you?]" Clearly, he was eager to help. Or, just as likely, prove that he was actually worth the damned prophecy that had spurred his father into kidnapping him before he was even born.
If he had said the second part, Hades would have completely understood. He had made his own father know quite clearly what his worth had been. The first one to feel Hades' wrath in FB Tartarus had been Kronos. "[I'll make you a deal. Figure out your life first, then we can discuss how you can pay me back.]"
Cato considered. Then, "[Deal!]"
"[And remember what I said.]"
Another enthusiastic nod from the blond. "[I promise, Uncle.]" He did very much want to prove himself, especially to the god who seemed to be one of the few that trusted him without a second thought. Part of him counted up his allies like tokens, but it was easily swept away with the raw emotion of fulfillment. "[When do you eat next?]"
His uncle was already on his ninth or tenth thought about Cato, but that was because Hades never stopped thinking. Ever. But now he had to consider the seemingly simple question. When did he get to eat next? Besides snacking... "[Let's see. I have a meeting... no, two meetings before lunch so... probably a while now before I have anything substantial. Why do you ask?]"
"[I'd like to go to lunch with you, of course. I mean, if you're not busy and you want to.]"
Someone wanted to go to the lunch with him? And didn't want something out of it? So novel. Usually that only happened if the person had given birth to one of his children. "[I can call you when I actually have time to have lunch. I usually have lunch here with my little ones.]" He motioned then to the playpen holding three of his children.
"[That's okay. I should have planned with you earlier,]" said Cato. Admitting his mistakes came easy; he had a feeling they would be numerous from here on out, and he wanted his kin to know he did not mean them. "[Let me know when, then? I would like to do it at some point.]"
"[If you want. Just stay out of trouble and try to enjoy yourself. You're finally free and in control of your own life.]" Hades could vaguely remember the same thrill that had hung around his own shoulders like a mantle as he and his siblings fought against their power. Finally being free and in control of their own lives. "[And stay away from dice. Even though you might have your father's luck, there's no reason to risk it.]"
Dice? Oh. Cato laughed. "[I promise.]"
"[Good.]" Hades wasn't sure if it was a promise Cato could keep, but now that he promised it he would hold him to it. All of it. And if the new god did get on Hera's bad side, he wouldn't feel bad about it anymore as he could consider it a broken promise. It was all about technicalities. "[I suppose we're done. If you have any other questions or needs getting used to Miami, just tell me, yes?]"
"[Of course!]" Cato stood and gave a small bow of respect to his elder. "[Stay safe. I will see you later.]"
Hades waved him off as he stood to loom over his children in their pen. They were becoming impatient for Daddy and seemed to know they could soon have his time. "[I'm going to tell you the same thing I told Thanatos and Hypnos, there's no need to bow to me. Stay safe yourself.]"
"[Oh, sorry!]" He nearly bowed again out of apology but then caught himself halfway through, jerking back up like a puppet, and turned to leave. But not before giving a wave to the children. The boys squealed and waved back happily, while the girl gave him an icy, wary stare. Creepy, he thought to himself as he walked out of the door, then felt bad for having thought bad of his niece. No, cousin, cousin. Sighing a little, he headed for the bus stop; he could practice the titles of his family anew while he waited.
Summary: Cato is summoned to Hades' office, and the two chat about his future and place in the world.