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There's someone in his cell.
At the start, Hades didn't notice the figure. It was easily mistaken for the shades that either tormented him or showed him undeserved pity. However, over time, Hades noticed slight movements from the figure. Initially, they were so subtle that one might think they were imagined, but the figure, draped in a dark green cloak, actually moved its fingers from time to time. It was more of a small twitch, but the moment Hades paid attention, he realized that he had a cellmate.
"Who are you?" His voice, despite his efforts not to scare the person in the corner of the cell, received no response. A familiar silence loomed between them, but Hades, eager to initiate some form of conversation, pressed on.
"I barely saw you. I was absolutely convinced that you were just another shade here." Still, the only answer Hades got was silence. A heavy sigh escaped his lips. There was no reason to try to start a conversation when the person in front of him obviously didn't want to talk. Hades didn't blame him. Seeing the unspeakable tortures his father is known for, the former ruler of the underworld could understand his cellmate's silence.
Shades came and went. Several of them approached the figure sitting at the end of the cell, but none of them could see the face it concealed. Some offered food to Hades, but he refused. His thoughts drifted to where Cerberus usually sat. It had been a few nights since his faithful furry companion had come to keep him company. Melinoë must be on the surface, fighting the army of Chronos that was trying to reach Mount Olympus. Hades could only shake his head at his daughter's stupidity and naivety. There was no way his siblings and the rest of the Olympian gods could be truthful to Melinoë, even in such a crisis when everything they knew was falling apart. How many lies had they already told his daughter? How much truth had they hidden from her in their sweet words and praise? Hades could only guess when all he could do was think about how much he had failed everyone, and most importantly, how much he had failed his family.
Is Zagreus safe?
Hades often wondered if his father had taken pity on his grandson and decided to keep him trapped in time with his wife Persephone. Hades longed to have her in his arms again. Persephone always knew what to do, she always managed to find a ray of hope even in the worst situations. But she's not with him now, and maybe that's for the best. Hades doesn't know what he would do if his wife saw him like this.
The days and nights keep passing, or at least Hades thinks they do. Without Cerberus at his side, it was hard to determine how much time was actually passing. However, thanks to the little shades that try to keep him company like clockwork, Hades can more or less determine that at least a few days must have passed since he last saw his daughter. A shade moved a small plate of fruit towards his hand. It didn't have the fruit his wife loved the most, but it's always a nice gesture. Hades' eyes wandered again to the figure that had not moved even a millimeter since it came here.
"Are you hungry?" Hades asked as he slowly took the plate from the small hands of the shade. As expected, the hooded figure still didn't say anything. "I don't need it, but it's always a luxury," he tried to convince the figure as he handed the plate to the shade. Despite placing the plate in front of the covered feet, there was still no movement. Hades let out another sigh. He couldn't shake the feeling that he should know the person in front of him, but nothing came to mind.
What did his father intend when he gave him company? Was this another form of torture he didn't know about, or had his father decided that sitting alone was enough for him? As an act of pity, he gives him a cellmate? However, deep inside, Hades knows that his father's sinister actions are meant to plunge him deeper into despair and helplessness. Taking his eyes off the hooded figure, Hades began to wander, lost in thoughts of his past life.
He recalls the initial years he spent on the surface before being compelled to rule the underworld. He remembers the feeling of relief and hope when he and his brothers and foster siblings were free from the grip of their father's war. Chronos was defeated and everyone looked forward to a better tomorrow. However, this could not be the end of their problems. Hades remembers sitting with Zeus next to him when he revealed a hideous secret to him.
"I didn't want it to happen again…" Zeus' voice was quiet as if he was afraid someone was listening in on them. "I didn't want it to end like this." Hades could only stare in horror and disgust at his younger brother, but could he fully blame him? This war gave them wounds that will never heal, but still. The death of Zeus's wife with an unborn child in such a cruel way left Hades unable to find words to describe how he felt towards his brother. Shame and disgrace might have been the best words to describe what Zeus had done, but Hades didn't say it out loud and he didn't tell the others either. Later, many years later, the truth would come to light in the form of Athena, but then Hades couldn't look him straight in the eyes anymore, knowing what crime Zeus committed.
Maybe that's why he didn't want to find love at first. Love means sacrifice, empathy, and feeling pain if something happens to your love ones. But the moment he looked into Persephone's eyes, he knew he could take the risk. Despite their unexpected first meeting, Hades immediately granted her permission to return home to her mother on Mount Olympus. However, Persephone did not want that, she chose to stay with him and gave him the love he didn't think he could feel. He recalls her laughter and warm smile as her hand caressed his cheek. He cherishes their sweet moments together, lying in each other's embrace on the bed. Though they never spoke it out loud, he knew that Persephone wanted to be a mother. But Hades was too afraid to let that happen. The fates had told him that it was impossible and that he would only make his children suffer if, by some miracle, they survived. Nevertheless, Persephone wanted to try, and Hades let her.
How many times had he held her in his arms while she slept, when he couldn't close his eyes because of the stress he felt? Persephone assured him that he would be a great father but he didn't want to believe it, he had too many untreated wounds, problems that he preferred not to reveal to be a good example for his unborn child. And the fear that he might hurt them just like his own father did, but Persephone assured him that he wasn't Chronos, that he wouldn't end up like his father. However, this thought was still on the back of his mind until the birth of his first child.
Zagreus was so tiny in his hand that Hades wanted to ask Persephone if it was normal, but then he saw the fire from his son's feet go out. After that, everything was a blur. Hades remembers his wife's screams, the cries his heart couldn't bear, and the dead child being taken from their sight as he held Persephone tightly in his embrace. Later, she didn't come out of her room despite his best efforts. His wife remained in a depressed state, and he didn't know how he could help.
Her leaving hurt him more than he could stand. And to make things worse, the baby that everyone believed to be dead had come back to life. Hades couldn't even bear to look at the baby, let alone hold it in his arms. This baby was the reason why Persephone had left. Part of him even wanted to believe that this was not his child but some impostor to replace his dead son. But the truth was crueler, the child in Nyx's arms was indeed his son, and there was nothing he could do about that fact. Hades knew that Zagreus should have been with Persephone. He knows how much this child meant to her, and he would give the child to her care, but no one knew where she was hiding.
So Hades did the most sensible thing for him at the time to escape his guilt and pain. He shut down all his feelings and didn't let his son reach him.
Hades closed his eyes, trying not to think about how much he had failed his son as he grew up, his eyes opened again, and began to look around the cell. The hooded figure was still sitting and did not move or speak. Hades wonders if this figure's behavior is normal or maybe the reason for what Chronos did to them, nevertheless Hades has stopped trying to talk to them, there is no point, they have plenty of time he can wait until the hooded figure in front of him starts talking or shows any signs that they are alive.
"I miss him," he said quietly to himself as his eyes fell to the wet, cold floor. He started thinking about his family again. Zagreus, his stubborn boy, was as stubborn as he is. He managed to repair their family when all he wanted was to stay in one place and not heal. He had to do something he thought he would never do he killed his son. Even if Zagreus doesn't hold it against him anymore. Hades still can't forget his son's eyes when he first time sent him to the house. Their fights after Persephone's return were more considered sparring and a rather strange kind of father-son bonding. Hades still can't get over what he tried to do back then. Years of ignoring and neglecting can do a lot to a child as they grow up, Hades knows that all too well. However, his son remained kind and polite to everyone around him, making Hades feel even more ashamed when he thought about it, his apology was nothing to repair the hole he had created between them all these years.
His son didn't forgive him at first, of course. Hades would be surprised if he did. However, over time, their relationship actually began to change. He even started smiling a little when he heard his son coming out of the Pool of Styx. Zagreus looked so much like him, but his behavior was closer to his mother Persephone. He didn't even notice how his eyes became sadder as he continued to think about him.
“What are you think you're doing, boy?” Hades looked down at him as Zagreus held him by the waist like his life depended on it, well technically it did.
“Ummm, hugging you? This is a normal thing between a son and a father, right?” Zagreus said awkwardly as he let go of him. Hades could only narrow his eyes. “During a fight? Enlighten me boy what your strategy was because if it was to confuse me I can assure you, you did it."
“Well, sort of,” Zagreus scratched his head. "I wanted to see if I was very close to you I could dodge your laser attacks" A short snort escaped Hades' lips. "And to think that I thought you would stop surprising me by now" Zagreus just rolled his eyes. "Let's just get back to fighting shall we?"
Hades sighed at the memory. He still remembered how warm his son was under his arms. It's quite disappointing that their only close contact with each other was during their fights. The small sound of chains caught his attention. The hooded figure moved slightly, but it was probably because of the footsteps that could be heard behind their cell chamber. Hades knew that it was neither the sounds of Cerberus nor Melinoë's footsteps. His shoulders tensed, knowing what was about to happen.
Traitors and followers of Chronos entered the chamber. The moment they came, the shades disappeared from view. Hades prepared himself for what they could potentially do, but they only gave him a wide berth. Hades' watchful red eyes scanned them as they moved closer to the hooded figure. For a moment there was an uneasy silence in the cell. Satyr Vierophant and Wretched Thug grabbed the hooded figure's arms to get them to stand up. Only when Hades saw from the corner of his eye how the figure waved its leg wildly, showing a flash of fire from its large cloak. The former ruler of the underworld feel that time itself began to slow down for him. The hood fell off they head, revealing his unkempt black hair. Zagreus arms began to struggle wildly from the traitors' grip. He could finally see his face. His son's eyes, which were always full of pride and confidence, were replaced with fear and terror as the traitors tried to take him from this cell. Hades didn't even notice something snaps inside him.
He barely noticed his body moving wildly towards the traitors without his will, killing them instantly and making them disappear into the dust of sand. Hades' arms caught his son before he could fall to the cold floor.
"My boy," Hades crouched down, still holding Zagreus in his arms. Zagreus seemed frozen, like a doll. "Son?" Hades tried again to get his attention. "Did they hurt you? Talk to me." Still silence, as if the muffled scream he had heard a moment ago didn't even happen. "Zagreus." Only then did his son's head lift to look at him. Hades felt the last remnants of warmth he had disappear the moment he saw his son's face.
"What did they do to you?" His voice was quiet and his eyes widened slightly. His gaze began to search for any visible injuries. Zagreus' long black hair was matted together, his cheeks were slightly haggard, and there were numerous wounds on his face. Hades gently grasped his head to get a better look. There was a nasty wound in front of his son's eyes, making him unsure if Zagreus could see properly or at all. What scared Hades the most, however, was his son's stitched mouth, securely sewn shut with gold thread.
"I'm so sorry," Hades murmured. He didn't know what else to say as he gently adjusted his hold on his son. Zagreus appeared calm as he lay in his arms. Hades reached out to assess any further injuries. He noticed that Zagreus's clothes underneath his coat were tattered and ill-suited for walking. He also observed chains wrapped around Zagreus's ankles, connecting to restraints around his wrists, causing a frown to crease Hades's brow.
"Did Chronos do this to you?" At the mention of the Titan of Time, Zagreus shuddered in his arms and snuggled closer into his chest, like a small child looking for a place to hide. Hades felt angry for the first time in years. His father could torture him as much as he wanted, but his family shouldn't have anything to do with it. Hades' eyes continued to wander. There were plenty of broken bones that had not healed properly, many bruises and scars, and most disturbingly, there were stitches all over Zagreus' body, as if the Titan of Time had torn him apart and then put him back together. But how could that be possible?
"Why Styx didn't take you?" The question fell on deaf ears as Hades delicately grabbed the end of the golden thread that held Zagreus's mouth closed. Only muffled groans of pain could be heard in the cell, several shades came out to see what was happening, but none of them dared to approach. Hades was preoccupied with pulling out the golden thread as quickly and gently as possible. It wasn't until he was halfway through that he could see something else on his son's body.
"No... don't tell me he..." On Zagreus' bare chest, there was a large stitched wound where his heart should have been. Hades touched the spot with his finger to confirm his fears. "He took it from you" he said bitterly, as he finally understood why his son was in such a condition. Zagreus had managed to free himself from the time prison and confront Chronos, who, as punishment for this, decided to take Zagreus' heart and encase it in a time bubble so that Styx could not reach him.
"Why?" Hades doesn't know what to feel in this situation now, a lot of scenarios appeared in his head about how his father- no. How this monster cut and reassemble parts of his son. How many tortures his son had already gone through? How many things his eyes will never forget when he was alone with the titan of time when his body couldn't escape to the cold embrace of the River Styx? Hades felt sick at what Chronos could do to his son. He finally managed to pull out the golden thread.
Zagreus' head dropped in anguish, and a gut-wrenching scream escaped from his throat, reverberating through the dimly lit chamber. The raw agony of his pain filled the air, as Hades closed his eyes tightly, enveloping his son in a protective embrace. He keenly felt the warm tears streaming down Zagreus's face, a heart-wrenching testament to the intensity of his suffering.
Hades gently whispered to his son, "It's okay, Zagreus. Everything will be alright," although he knew these were empty promises as his son's head lay on his chest. His weariness was evident, the lines of exhaustion etched on his face. "Close your eyes, Zagreus. Let Hypnos take you from this place," he urged softly, hoping for a peaceful escape for his son.
Zagreus attempted to speak in a hoarse whisper. "F-father" but his voice failed him, prompting Hades to quiet him quickly. "It's okay, boy. I'll ensure no harm comes to you again," Hades reassured, feeling a pang of guilt at how readily his son ceased the struggle and closed his eyes to grant himself a moment of reprieve. Once more, the cell fell into silence.
"I promise..." Hades still cradled Zagreus in his arms, holding him with tenderness. His piercing eyes meticulously scanned the surroundings, vigilant for any potential threats lurking in the dark. A deep sense of perplexity enveloped him as he pondered why Chronos had chosen to return his son. However, amidst this confusion, one thing remained certain. If Titan of Time sought to reclaim Zagreus, he would have to wrench him from Hades's lifeless grip, and Hades was resolutely prepared for such a confrontation.
"I won't let you down, my boy," Hades hopes that at least this time, the Fates will be on his side.