ΗΑΔΕΣ (underworldly) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2017-05-18 19:20:00 |
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Nico was nervous as he waited for his dad at the restaurant. It wasn’t often he got places first when they were meeting but all morning he’d been fighting this nervous energy until finally he’d gotten in the car and driven, carefully, over. He was playing with his water glass while he waited, rolling the half full glass back and forth between his hands while watching the entrance. He gave Hades a small smile when he saw him come in, taking his hands off the glass slowly as he settled back in his chair, trying to force himself to look more at ease than he felt. “Hey dad.” *** Hades was looking forward to trying this place, brand new and destined to become one of the hottest spots to grab a bite in the OC. It was pretty swanky, and at the heart of it was a French-Vietnamese opium den and chef’s parlor (just without the opium, as far as he knew) - overall, the restaurant was a classy chophouse, only the best in steaks, with a seafood bar that seemed great. They were right near the beach, how could you fuck up such a great concept and location? Especially with drink names named after Pulp Fiction characters - yep, he would consume a Vincent Vega and down the hatch it would go. He arrived a couple minutes after one, really having no idea what the fuck Nico wanted to tell him. Probably nothing good so he’d need alcohol to brace himself - and help calm him, because less of his hair that turned into flame, the better. “Hey kid,” Hades smiled a bit, having utilized the skills of shapeshifting to give him the very human appearance. He didn’t proudly wear his special brand of beauty today, and that was better for being in public. Especially after the Oscar win, when he was recognized more often. “Let’s order first and then you can drop the bomb?” The waiter came by, looking professional and polished, and Hades immediately asked for something with tequila. Thanks. *** Nico could probably have gotten away with ordering an alcoholic drink but he didn’t want to try it. He was good with just water. “I know it’s a steak place but I was thinking about getting one of their burgers. That way if I don’t eat it all - it’s easier to reheat leftovers.” His appetite had never been huge and even less so when he was worried about something. He waited until the waiter came back with Hades’ drink to place his order for lunch, idly picking at his napkin as he tried to gather his thoughts. He still didn’t know what he was going to say but he needed to figure it out soon and he knew it. “Okay - you need to promise me you aren’t going to freak out okay?” Nico blurted out as soon as they were alone again. “I’m fine. Will’s fine. Sans...Nobody’s hurt okay? It’s just something from the dreams bleeding over and being true in this life too.” *** The kid could get what he wanted, and if Nico wanted a burger then so be it. Hades went for a steak himself, because he needed something bloody and still mooing to sink his glamoured teeth into. Maybe a fancy tart for dessert - he’d probably need dessert, right? Stress eating? Sipping on his drink, he quirked one of those villainous brows - for now, nothing turned into fire. Alright, there were those occasions he couldn’t quite control his temper though and hearing it’s just something from the dreams surely never led to anything except pain and despair and dramatics. “Well, nobody’s hurt, so...” He set the glass down briefly, rubbing the back of his neck. “What happened in the dreams?” *** Nico had to bite back a laugh when he saw his dad quirk his brow that way - it was weird how many mannerisms he noticed he shared with his dad from time to time now that he was an adult. “Well...you know my friend Percy right? At least you know who I’m talking about?” He said once he had the urge to laugh under control. “Apparently...I show up in his dreams and we’re cousins in them. His dad is your brother, not Zeus but another one, and we were wondering if we might be related here so we did a DNA test. One of those that you buy and then send the samples away for analysis. I used the card Mom gave me for her account to pay for it and - they came back positive. You’ve got another brother I think. And a nephew,” he said, the words coming out of him in a rush. He knew if he stopped talking he might not have the guts to finish so he wanted to get it all out at once. *** Hold up. What? By some miracle of godly proportions, Hades managed to not burst into flame right then. It took some reeeeeeeal high levels of patience and zen though, attempting to find his happy place. Kind of a challenge though, because this was some extreme fuckery going on here. “You took a DNA test...behind my back...with some kid who is...I have a brother I’ve never met? And you’re telling me this, I have a brother I’ve never met??” he stuttered, trying to piece together the how and why of everything - he was angry, yeah, and upset. But it also felt like whatever heart and feelings he possessed, had been shat on. By multiple parties. “What is - no, I don’t want a refill!” he snapped at the waiter, who looked like he was about to piss his pants after stopping by to ask if another drink was necessary. “I mean, yes. Yes, I do. Extra tequila in this one, thanks.” Hell. *** “I didn’t want to tell you we were doing it in case the results were negative. Didn’t want you having to worry about it if there was nothing for you to worry about.” Nico said, his voice shaking a little bit. He hated disappointing his dad or upsetting him, always had. Just now - even more. “His name’s Poseidon. Percy’s never met him. We’re pretty sure it’s your side we’re related through though because that’s how it is in the dreams and mythology.” He looked up almost shyly. “I’m sorry for not telling you sooner.” *** How in the name of the gods could he have a brother (named Poseidon?) that he never even knew existed? Hades was well aware that his parents weren’t exactly winning awards for their skills at child rearing anytime soon (they’d ignored him to the point of damaging levels and spoiled Zeus, catered to his every whim - and look what happened, he turned into a scuzzy politician) but not telling their sons about another out there somewhere was pretty low. Maybe Poseidon was a half-brother. A father’s indiscretion, since apparently having kids and not acknowledging them ran in the family. Or maybe Zeus knew about it all along, and just never said anything. Hades wouldn’t put it past the fucker. “Nico - “ He knocked back his second drink, chugging it until nary a drop remained in the glass. “You can’t do things like that. Next time just talk to me.” Please let there not be a next time though. His charcoal briquette of a heart couldn’t take it. “Well, so I guess we’ve all got some stuff to figure out, then.” *** “I promise next time someone shows up that I think I might be related too, I’ll let you know before doing a DNA test. I really am sorry Dad. I was scared of what would happen if I told you I guess. How you’d take it. How your health and all would take it,” Nico said playing with his water glass. *** He was immortal, so it was unlikely he’d have a heart attack - but Hades was pretty sure what Nico meant to say was ‘I didn’t want to give you an excuse to inadvertently set your hair aflame.’ Which, alright, fine. The Lord of the Dead could see that. “Do you want me to talk to him?” he asked about Percy. Also really craving another drink, since he’d poured the second down his throat like it was water. “I mean, hell. I don’t know. That’s gonna be awkward either way.” Maybe he should just figure out who the fuck Poseidon was before talking to the alleged kid. Damn, his head hurt now. But at least the food came, so he could sink his teeth into his steak. It would help to tear up something. *** Nico was picking at his food as he thought about how to answer that question. “I told him we didn’t know about his dad so I’m pretty sure he won’t be asking you to tell him stories about what it was like growing up with him. But yeah - I’d like you to talk to him. Get to know him. He’s family after all right?” He gave Hades a half smile as he picked up one of his fries and bit into it. *** Apparently he is, was Hades’ sarcastic thought - but he shouldn’t blame Percy. He was just a kid. Nico also was just a kid - this wasn’t the first dumb thing they’d done, nor would it be the last. So, you know. More shit to look forward to - the joys of being a parent. It was a lot different than hearing from Luke that Thalia was his potentially his niece, and then confirming it - Hades knew Zeus, and knew Zeus wouldn’t even acknowledge Thalia anyway so it was doubtful he’d be rushing to tell the brother he hadn’t spoken to in about twenty years. There weren’t a lot of great stories to tell the girl, but Hades promised her he would try. He felt like shit that he couldn’t promise the same for Percy. “Yeah, I’ll...see what I can do,” he grumbled, cutting into his steak and only feeling mildly placated as the blood oozed out. Mmm. “I’d want to know why my mystery brother hasn’t been in touch with his kid, but I’m sure there’s a story about that too.” Guess that means he should start by talking to Zeus. Great. *** “Maybe he doesn’t know about him?” Nico said with a shrug as he traded his fries for biting into his burger. It was better than the last burger he’d had when he was out to eat. They hadn’t insisted on cooking it to well done for starters. “I haven’t told Hazel or anybody else yet. I wanted to talk to you first. Didn’t want you finding out from someone else. He’s probably not going to show up in your dreams. He seems to be dreaming about the same place as Hazel and me.” *** “Could be, I guess.” If he didn’t know about Hades, then maybe mystery brother didn’t know about his kid either. Nothing surprised this God of the Underworld much anymore, that was for damn sure. “Poseidon’s only been a blip on the radar in my own dreams - both episodes, or whatever,” he said. The first one was mainly focused on his desire to get back at Zeus for being a magnanimous asshole, the second - well, it was pretty much the same. Just add in Storybrooke, a Wicked Witch as a love interest, and a bunch of bumbling incompetent idiots trying to rescue some pirate’s soul from the Underworld. Hades had ended up basically the same way in both sets too - alone. Banished. Erased. That sort of thing. “We’ll see what happens,” he managed a grin and stole a French fry off of Nico’s plate. “Any other secrets you’ve been holding in, kid, that you wanna share?” *** Nico laughed when his dad stole a fry, shaking his head as he took another bite of his burger. “I’m thinking about asking Will and Sans if they want a place off campus next semester? That kind of thing?” He joked, relaxing a bit now that the danger of his dad turning into flame head had passed. He thought for a minute before shaking his head. “What about you? What’s going on with you? I’ve been wrapped up in my own mess and haven’t been home a lot I know.” *** “Gonna make Sans the third wheel? Well, why not. It’ll lower the price of rent,” Hades said - or he could just buy them a place, whatever. A big enough place so that it wouldn’t feel like Sans had to constantly be around a lovey-dovey couple no matter which way he turned. Wasn’t like Hades didn’t have the money or anything. But he’d have to see. He tried to strike a balance between spoiling his kids and letting them fend for themselves, which was a valuable skill - of course he’d always be there if they needed him, but he wanted them to be able to stand on their own two feet also. What was going on with him though? Let’s see. Besides figuring out he was related to everyone? He was getting reeeeeeeal tired of being related to people. “Not much, just having a bunch of meetings to get the next movie shoved into pre-production,” he shrugged. Hades was nonchalant, but he worked like 18 hour days. All the better, to avoid his dreams. “You’ll be home for summer, that’s good enough.” *** “Well...I was worried about how much Will was around but when I talked to Sans about it he said he didn’t mind. He likes Will and they get along really well. And you know the three of us sharing a place makes sense because lowers rent and bills and stuff. And you know Larry - he’s kind of attached to me. For a dream skull that shoots lasers and we aren’t sure if he actually has feelings. He hasn’t tried to shoot me with his eye lasers lately so I’m taking it as he likes me,” Nico said with a smirk. “Just try not to go all flamehaired in the meetings. That could go really bad. Or...go really good depending on how the studio execs take it. I kind of want to see the looks on their faces now.” He said, picking the pickle that was hanging out of his burger off before taking a bite. “I’m planning on doing nothing but relaxing for the first couple weeks of summer break. This semester...took a lot out of me but I got my prerequisites out of the way so I’m glad about that. I’m looking forward to getting some family time with you and Hazel and Meg.” *** Sometimes, it was difficult to not go flamehead when dealing with studio execs - but Hades could usually keep himself in check with Meg there to soothe his frazzled nerves and cool down his temper (which was notorious in elite Hollywood circles - don’t piss him off, was the general rule). “Family time, now that sounds good to me,” Hades grinned a bit. He was looking forward to his son being home for the summer. These past few months had been a little rough on him too (Meg dying, having to wade through the River of Lost Souls to save her, being in a coma then dreaming of being erased from existence, the surprise niece that couldn’t stand him for shit he didn’t do, even after her boyfriend tried to break into his goddamn house), but he would never actually admit it. He’d just enjoy the time he had with his family. That really was the best remedy, for the whole flamehead thing anyway. |