Chapter Text
Here they are, at the mall unable to return home until they both have outfits for prom. Neither of them had any idea what they were looking for so Hypnos scrolled on his phone looking at ideas as they walked aimlessly. Dionysus didn’t seem to mind the fact that Hypnos was clinging to his arm tightly. Hypnos didn’t really seem to notice he was doing it.
“Hey Dio…” Hypnos’s voice was almost too soft for Dionysus to hear.
“What’s up, my Dream Cloud?” Dionysus asked, looking at that smaller teen attached to his arm.
Hypnos’s face turned a visible dark red as he kept his eyes on the ground. “Do you umm…think it would be ok if I wore a dress to prom?”
Dionysus smiled. “Well, I want you to be comfortable and confident in whatever you decide to wear to prom. I know you’ll be gorgeous in anything. So if my little dream cloud wants to wear a dress, I wouldn’t dare tell you no.”
Hypnos looked up at Dionysus to meet his loving gaze. “I-if that’s true I think I’d like to wear a dress.”
Dio grinned, “Then let's look for a dress first, and then I’ll find a suit to match.”
The two of them walked around the mall much like they had before only this time they had a goal in mind. They made their way to one of the mall's dress stores. The ladies that worked there looked at the two of them a bit weirdly when they walked in. Dionysus was quick to notice how uncomfortable their stares made Hypnos, his grip on Dio’s arm became a bit tighter and he seemed to grow stiff. He wasn’t going to let them stare at his dream cloud like that. So a plan quickly came to mind.
Dionysus ruffled his hair. “What style are you looking for?”
Hypnos thought for a moment before he spoke up smiling, his nose scrunching up as he did so. “Like fluffy and flowy and long. Kinda like the skirts I wear…”
“Well, I am no dress expert so why don’t we ask someone who works here?” Dionysus suggested as he eyed the ladies at the front desk.
Hypnos glanced nervously at them, “Ummm I don’t know they don’t look friendly.”
Dio ruffled Hypnos’ hair reassuringly and guided them towards the workers. Once they were in front of them it made their judgmental stares impossible to ignore. Hypnos didn’t speak so DIonysus did, “Excuse me?” he asked in the nicest voice he could muster. One of the women made eye contact with him. Dionysus flashed a smile at her, the smile he used to gain people's trust he was good at this, a friendly person. “Hi, I’m not a dress person and my friend here would like to try on a few, do you mind helping us?” His gaze towards her was dearing, if she spoke the words she was clearly thinking he had a witty response.
“Our dresses are made for women, I don’t think we’d have anything that would fit him.” She gestured to Hypnos.
Dionysus opened his mouth to speak but before he could a familiar voice caught his attention. “Dionysus?” He turned his head to the back of the store where a woman with brightly colored pink hair stood with a hand on her hip. She wore a rather revealing but professional dress.
“Aunt Aphrodite?” He almost laughed. He hadn’t seen her in almost 5 years.
She shook her head as she walked towards them, “Not your aunt anymore hun.” That's right she divorced Hephaestus. “I didn’t know you and Hermes lived around here?” She raised an eyebrow a small smirk on her face.
“We moved recently,” Dio told her. He felt Hypnos’ grip on his arm tighten, and he was probably getting overwhelmed.
“For that Charon fellow, I would imagine, anywho. What brings you lovely’s here, to my store?” She smiled, shooting the women at the register a look.
Dio grinned and looked at the teen attached to his arm, “Hypnos and I are going to prom together, he wants to wear a dress. I was asking for help cuz I’m not a dress person but these ladies weren’t being very helpful.” He glared at them and they stiffened as Aphrodite did the same.
“Why, might I ask, did you not help these boys?” Her voice held more venom in it than Dionysus had ever heard from her before. “Is it because they’re guys? You think they can’t be interested in feminine clothes?” Both of them nodded and Aphrodite held out her hand, “Your name tags. Now.” They faltered, glancing at her open hand and her face. She snapped her fingers and the girls quickly took their name tags off their shirts and handed them to her. “You’re fired, I don’t want to see either of you here or at any of my locations again. Now be gone.” She waved them away. Not wanting to anger her anymore they were quick to leave.
Once gone Aphrodite’s demeanor did a full 180. She put on a friendly smile, the one Dionysus remembers her having at family get-togethers. “Now, Hypnos. You want to wear a dress to prom?” She spoke motherly towards him, and Dionysus looked at him and noticed how his grip on Dio’s arm loosened at the tone of her voice. Hypnos nodded. “And you two are going together?” She looked at the both of them and smiled when Hypnos nodded eagerly. “Well, this is a special occasion then. Let me close up since my employees seem to be bigots. I’ll be right back boys.”
Dionysus watched as she walked over towards the entrance to the store and pressed a button and a metal gate began to fall from above the door slowly. She flipped the “open” sign to “closed” and then returned to them quickly. “Dio my dear, mind if I borrow your adorable boyfriend to take his measurements?”
Both the teens blushed deeply and Dio rubbed the back of his head, “I-I umm sure. If it’s ok with you, Hyp.” He looked at the curly-haired boy next to him.
“I don’t mind.” He beamed and so did Aphrodite as she pointed at a couch wordlessly telling Dio to take a seat. Which he did.
“Now come with me dear, I’ll help you find a prom dress you’ll just adore.” She motioned for Hypnos to follow her and he did. Dionysus watched as they disappeared into the forest of fancy dresses displayed on racks and mannequins.
— — — — — —
Hypnos stood in an open space of the store, he was T-posing as Aphrodite took his measurements. At first, he wasn’t too sure about her, she seemed a little stuck up but after she fired the rude ladies he figured she couldn’t be so bad.
“What do you see in him, hun?” She asked as she wrapped a fabric measuring tape around his chest.
Hypnos tilted his head a little to watch her, “Dio?” She hummed. “He’s nice to me. Treats me like a person, and he lets me ramble and when I mess up he doesn’t get mad!” Hypnos smiles. “He’s hilarious too and he doesn’t mind being a little vulnerable around me. I feel safe and like myself with him.”
Aphrodite smiled, “Good, I was worried he was all alcohol and jail time there for a while. I am glad he’s straightening up.”
Hypnos gave her a look and watched her as she wrapped the measuring tape around his waist. “I haven’t actually ever seen him drink before. He’s told me he does but he’s never done it around me.”
She smirked a bit and Hypnos watched her lips as she mouthed something he couldn’t make out to herself. “That shows he cares, such a gentleman my little brother-in-law. Well, my ex-brother-in-law since I'm no longer married to his brother.” She laughed a little and continued tucking some of her long pink hair behind her ear. “I might not look that old but I used to change his diapers.”
Hypnos giggled, she really didn’t look old at all, her skin was so clear. Her hair was long and healthy, she was fit too. He titled his head again but this time in a questioning manner. “How old are you?” He asked innocently, everyone should know you never ask a lady their age but Hypnos wasn’t everyone.
“Old enough to be your mother.” She chuckled as she wrote down his measurements on a sticky note. “Now, hun, let’s browse dresses hmm? Pick out as many as you’d like, and try them all on show little Dionysus, pick your favorite and I will fit it to these measurements. In just a few days you’ll have your prom dress, darling.” Hypnos smiled wide, his nose scrunched up as he did so.
He was finally going to a school dance with Dionysus of all people! In a dress too! Hypnos began his search for the perfect dress, Aphrodite followed him advising which dresses were appropriate and which she thought would suit him best.
Hypnos found that dress shopping was fun. The different styles colors and lengths all amazed him. Aphrodite noticed the smallest things about him. He learned that red was truly a good color paired with his skin tone and that gold seemed to fit him just as well as it fit Charon and Thanatos. Of course, Aphrodite had never met Thanatos but apparently she knew Charon, but only because Hermes talked about him to her a lot. Hypnos liked a lot of the red more modest dresses but a few of the more revealing ones he liked as well, although he was worried they wouldn’t meet the dress code. When he voiced that concern Aphrodite had said. “To hell with the dress code! If you feel nice that is all that matters.” With a smile that made him feel comfortable.
She didn’t force him to try on any of the dresses that may or may not meet the dress code. She respected his choices and even managed to clear all of Hypnos’ second thoughts about wearing a dress to prom away. He was frankly quite grateful she had such a way with words. Dionysus did too but he was nowhere near as convincing as Aphrodite.
At some point, Hypnos had found a few dresses he’d like to try on. So he now stood in the changing room, Aphrodite and Dionysus waiting for him outside. The first dress was a deep purple, with red and gold accents along the hems. The dress had a skirt that came down to just above his ankles and it flowed beautifully behind him as he moved. It had a poofy top and a gold and purple belt. When he walked out his face flushed and his hands collapsed in front of him it was clear that this dress was going to be Aphrodite's’ favorite.
Dio’s eyes were wide and he awed. “Wow, Hyp, you look stunning.” Dionysus laughed breathlessly.
“I know, right? He looks good in just about everything.” Aphrodite said, elbowing Dio in the side. “A real keeper, this boy.” She winked at him and it brought a blush to Dionysus’ face.
Hypnos tried on a few more dresses but only once he put the last one on did he truly know it was the one he wanted. The dress was black with gold and red star-like patterns on it, it was frilly with several elegant layers. The top was a bit skimpy, the fabric being see-through on the sides it was solid where his chest needed to be covered and the straps were thinner than a girl in high school would be allowed to wear but Hypnos wasn’t a high school girl, and could probably get away with it.
He stepped out of the dressing room with a smile on his face and by the look on Dionysus’ when he saw him. Hypnos didn’t need feedback on the dress; he made eye contact with Aphrodite and said “This is the one.” He said with a grin.
Aphrodite nodded and asked him to change back she took the dress and promised it would be adjusted properly to his measurements before prom and then based on the dress Hypnos picked out Aphrodite told Dionysus she had just the suit to match. So Dio entrusted her with that responsibility and allowed her to take his measurements too.
When Hypnos asked how much they owed the shake of her head brought tears to his eyes. She had helped them so much already and now she was telling them the prom outfits were completely free. Dionysus hugged Aphrodite and so did Hypnos.
It was a good day, Hypnos had determined it was an amazing day. Dio and he walked home together, the cool night air bringing the day to a close. As DIonysus walked him home he couldn’t think of anything that could ruin the day it made him braver than normal. Dionysus was about to leave, Hypnos stood in the front door staring at the back of his crush's head as he walked away.
“DIO!” Hypnos yelled as he ran towards him, Dionysus had just enough time to turn around before Hypnos tackled him into a hug. “Thank you for everything.” He muttered his face mostly hidden by the fabric of Dio’s clothes. Dionysus chuckled and hugged him back the feeling of his arms wrapped around him made the moment so much more comforting.
“You’re welcome.”