by Gina Carra
Yeah, you did, but you’re an asshole.
Persephone scoffs as she laughs. What do you mean?
You’re Fall and Spring. You couldn’t control them because they’re not meant to be controlled. As a higher god, your radius for bringing life to the world is just that now. Flowers are blooming all across Earth simply because you’re there. When it comes time for Fall, Autumn’s power will activate, and the flowers will die and you’ll return to the Underworld with me.
I’m going to assume the Fates told you all that and you’re not just a really good guesser.
Don’t you already know?
Yeah, she does. She can see the memories of Hades talking to the Fates as if they are her own. So six months.
Well kind of, there’s only a week until the next full moon.
Oh thank god.
That’s blasphemy.
Well, I’m kind of blaspheming myself then, aren’t I?
Go talk to your friends. I’ll be here.
Get out of bed, lazy ass.
She can feel Hades smirk as Persephone refocuses on the voices around her.
Hebe’s voice hits her first. “-n asshole who is just staring at me and not listening to a word I say. Flowers suck. Hades is the worst. Oh shit, she frowned. I think she heard me.”
“Fuck you.”
Hebe beams. “You wish.”
Persephone meets Hermes’s eye. “I don’t wish. I’m a married woman.”
Hebe snorts. “Yeah, sure.”
Persephone doesn’t laugh.
Demeter practically squeaks. “You’re what?!”
Persephone pats the couch on either side of her. “Sit down, it’s a long story.”
Hebe blinks as Persephone finishes explaining. Demeter stares at her blankly as if she didn’t hear her.
Hebe lets out a long breath. “Wow. So you didn’t invite us to your wedding and now you’re our supreme leader.”
Persephone whines. “It’s not like that.”
Demeter cuts in. “So it’s just six months at a time. And you’ll be back one day every month during that.”
He looks at Persephone for confirmation and Persephone nods. “Yeah, it seems like that’s what the Fates decided.”
Demeter’s lips twitch until they’re spread in a wide smile. He tackles Persephone in a hug. “That is the best news I’ve heard all year.”
Persephone relents and cuddles into him.
Persephone can tell Hades is trying to ignore them, but it’s as if Hades blushes when Demeter hugs her. Hades is trying to work and it’s distracting to both of them to be aware of what the other is doing. They’ll manage though.
Hebe pries Demeter’s arms off Persephone. “Okay, babe. Don’t kill her.”
Persephone makes a face. “Babe? You’re gross.”
Demeter hums happily. “Some of us elope to the Underworld, but the rest of us helpless, lesser gods have to have affairs with married women.”
Persephone looks between them, skeptical of that word choice and finally has time to ask the questions she’d been...well, dying to. “So it’s just sex?” She already knows it’s not.
Demeter and Hebe look at each other guiltily. Demeter speaks for them. “Honestly, Seph. We don’t know. We’ve been kind of distracted taking care of our daughter. We haven’t talked about it.”
Hebe makes a face. “Don’t call her our daughter. I fucked her.”
Persephone can feel Hades blush again and it only gets worse as she accidentally accesses the memories Hebe is referring to. Persephone closes her eyes and focuses on the last time she kissed Hades in the field surrounded by flowers. Hades follows suit.
Persephone lets out a breath. “This is going to be tricky.”
Hebe snorts. “I should think.”
Persephone refocuses on her. “What? I wasn’t talking to you.”
Hebe rolls her eyes. “I was talking about planning your wedding.”
Somewhere in the Underworld Hades trips and falls on her face.
It takes five minutes for Persephone to stop laughing long enough to explain what happened to Hebe.
A week later, Persephone sits outside the house and stares out at the meadow. Can you come yet?
Hades sighs. Stop asking. I already told you, you have to wait for sunrise.
Persephone falls back on the grass and stares at the sky. “Helios, HURRY UP!”
Hades tsks. You’re going to upset Selene.
Can you come yet?
I cannot wait to punch you. You’ve asked that a million times.
Demeter peeks his head outside. “You waiting for her?”
Persephone tilts her head up where she lies on the grass to look at Demeter. “She’s taking her sweet fucking time.”
Hades ignores her.
Demeter smiles. “You know she can’t control it.”
Hades chimes in. For someone who despises me, it almost seems like Demeter is taking my side right now.
Don’t push your luck, babe.
...babe?
I dunno, I heard Hebe say it to Demeter the other day.
I thought we already discussed how terrible you are at pet names.
Well you call me flower girl and it’s somehow cute, but I can’t really call you death girl.
I mean you can.
But I won’t. I know you don’t love gendered titles.
“Persephone.”
Persephone blinks as Demeter waves his hand in front of Persephone’s face. “Huh?”
Demeter pouts. “You can’t keep zoning out like that with her. It’s gonna get you in trouble.”
He’s right.
“I really don’t like that you guys team up against me so often.”
Demeter smiles. “Maybe I’ll like this spouse of yours after all.”
I know he’s not your dad, but Persephone…I really want to impress your dad.
Just get your ass up here.
Few more minutes.
“Demeter?”
“Yeah, Seph?”
“I really hope you like her.”
Demeter sits on the grass beside Persephone and pets her hair. “If you love her, I really don’t stand a chance.”
Persephone smiles and closes her eyes. Just a few more minutes.
✽✽✽
Eros frowns as color starts to filter into the sky.
He mutters to himself. “Fuck off, Sol. I’m not ready yet.”
He’s not the only one who had heard about a new higher god. There has been murmuring about it for a week now. His favorite rumor is about how jealous Hercules is and how she’s going to want to level up.
But the sun rises and as soon as it does Helios is wrapped around Eros, tugging Eros’s back to his chest and pressing his lips to Eros’s neck. “Give them some time, but you’ve gotta go to her. And leave your quiver at home this time.”
Eros sighs, it’s a shaky sound. “I don’t know if I forgive myse—”
“It had nothing to do with you. If there’s one thing we can all agree on now, it’s that this whole thing was just a mess of fate. Your arrow demanded to be fired, they fell in love, they fought for each other. We didn’t know it would come to this. It’s not your fault, Cue. This was meant to happen.”
“It feels like my fault.” He squeezes Helios’s hands in his.
They’ve had this conversation so many times. Helios doesn’t know what to say anymore. He knows Eros feels this overwhelming guilt for the pain he caused, but he also knows that pain was unavoidable, and it has nothing to do with Eros or his arrows.
Regardless, Eros had ‘pulled the trigger’ and he can’t erase the memory of watching Hades’s love fade before his eyes. Not only once now, but twice. It went against everything he stood for. He never wants to touch anything made from lead ever again.
Helios squeezes him tighter.
He listens as Eros’s heartbeat gradually slows down.
They’ve been beyond words for a while now. A touch is all they need.
&
nbsp; ✽✽✽
Persephone’s eyes are laser focused on the horizon as soon as she sees a hue of pink.
She blinks and there’s a cloud of smoke.
Hades is standing a few feet off with her back to them. She turns with a confused frown that quickly melts into a smile.
Persephone scrambles to her feet as Hades runs towards her.
As soon as they have their arms around each other Persephone presses her face into Hades’s neck and their connection surges. They both take a deep breath and release it. They’ve been to Elysium, but it never felt like this. They pull apart slightly just so they can bring their lips together. They kiss slowly, only as if to prove that they finally can.
Persephone threads her fingers through Hades’s hair and pulls back. “I swear to the gods if you don’t let me fuck you now—”
Hades laughs, light and innocent. “Baby, if you think you’re the one doing the fucking you’ve got another thing coming.”
Persephone pushes her back to look at her face.
Hades is blushing, but there’s lust in her eyes.
Persephone shakes her head. “You liar. Acting all naive.”
Hades shrugs innocently. “Hey, naive doesn’t mean I bott—”
“Ahem.” Demeter clears his throat and Hades turns white.
She immediately pushes away from Persephone and bows at the waist. “Sir.”
Demeter sighs and tries not to be affected by the respectful act, but everyone knows he’s weak for attention. “Oh please, I’m the one who should be bowing.”
Hades stands quickly. “Please don’t ever bow to me.” She makes a face.
Demeter’s lips quirk. “You don’t like being worshipped?”
Hades laughs nervously, eyes glancing over to Persephone to check her progress. “I don’t even like being looked at, sir.”
Demeter waves his hand. “Stop calling me sir. It truly is unnecessary. You’ve already married into the family, haven’t you?”
Hades’s face turns red and Persephone wraps an arm around her waist, glaring at Demeter. “You’re freaking her out.”
Demeter shrugs. “She married you. What’s scarier than that?”
Persephone pouts.
Demeter turns to walk inside. Persephone can’t stop smiling as she looks at Hades and they turn to follow him in, side by side. “You’re meeting my parents, this is so domestic.”
Hades smiles shyly. “This feels like a weird dream.” She pauses. “Actually, this feels like a nightmare.”
Persephone’s eyes go wide and she stops before they walk in the door. “A nightmare?”
Hades shrugs. “Some people are scared of snakes. I’m scared of being in a room with more than three people. Well, alive people.”
Persephone sits down on the spot, right in front of the door and Hades sits with her.
Persephone’s quiet and Hades is confused. “What are we doing?”
“Preparing.”
Hades tilts her head. “How?”
Persephone shrugs. “However you need to.”
Hades blinks but slowly understands. She takes a breath and lets her eyes close. She focuses on her breathing and thinks about when she was with Persephone and Autumn, or when she was with Persephone, Demeter, and Hebe last month. She’s done this before. Maybe not…very successfully, but she’s done it. She opens her eyes again to find Persephone staring at her. “What are you looking at?” It’s a dumb question, but Hades can’t help herself.
“You.”
Hades smiles and her nose crinkles a little as she does.
Persephone’s grin grows wider at Hades’s expression. “You’re so cute.”
Hades ducks her head. “Stop.”
“No.”
“No one calls me cute.”
“I do.”
Hades whines.
Persephone tsks. “You’ve never done that before. You stole that from me.”
Hades looks up at her, exhausted. “We share a mind, Seph. I’m not really keeping score.”
Persephone blinks, eyes going wide with shock. “Wait, I can’t hear your thoughts right now.”
Hades’s eyes widen too. “Oh. You’re right. I guess…”
“When we’re in the same world it’s just through touch.”
Hades nods.
She stands up and offers Persephone her hand.
She tugs her up and they lace their fingers together as they walk in, connection surging once again.
Hebe ruins the moment. “Please tell me you guys didn’t bang on the porch.”
Hades takes the risk. “Not yet.”
Demeter drops the spoon he was holding and Hebe falls out of her chair she’s laughing so hard. “Oh my gods! I didn’t expect that!”
Hades looks at Persephone like a puppy who’s not sure if she did good or bad.
Persephone grabs her chin and presses a kiss to her cheek.
Hades relaxes. Hebe is loud.
Persephone snorts quietly. She glances over and sees Demeter watching them. It’s not that hostile glare he had last time. It’s a soft curiosity. He smiles as Persephone meets his eye. Persephone shares the moment with Hades and they quietly celebrate through their connection.
Demeter meets Hades’s eye. “I made breakfast.”
Hades looks at Persephone and Persephone looks at her. They understand each other in a moment.
Hebe sighs. “You guys can’t do that with the rest of us here.”
Hades blushes and bows on instinct. “Ah, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to. It’s just that…I don’t know if I’ve ever had breakfast.”
Demeter tenses.
Hades tenses in response and is confused as to why Persephone’s emoting amusement.
Demeter points at a chair at the counter in the kitchen. He looks into Hades’s eyes. “Sit.”
Persephone squeezes Hades’s hand. “I’m gonna let go, okay?”
Hades squeezes back, keeping Persephone from letting go. Persephone hesitates, worried Hades needs her, but then Hades releases her hand.
Hades sits at the counter and Persephone moves across the room to sit on the couch with Hebe.
Hebe opens her mouth to talk but Persephone presses her hand over Hebe’s mouth. “Give me a minute to make sure she’s okay.”
Hebe rolls her eyes as Persephone watches Demeter and Hades.
Demeter slowly explains his connection to the harvest and his love for cooking. He explains some eating rituals, like the three meals a day and how they each have certain expectations.
Hades finds herself responding easily because she has so many questions.
Hebe licks Persephone’s hand, but she doesn’t move.
Hades glances over at Persephone and they share a soft smile. Hades nods toward Hebe and mouths ‘I’m okay.’
Persephone nods and slowly turns to angle her body towards Hebe and lowers her hand.
Hebe pouts. “You’re rude.”
Persephone snorts. “What else is new?”
Hebe grabs Persephone’s hand and Persephone lets her trace patterns on her hand, arm hanging limply in Hebe’s grasp.
She only does this when she’s really anxious. She thinks it’s subtle. Persephone’s never corrected her.
Persephone keeps her voice low. “What’s up, Hebe?” Over the last week, all three of them have been talking with each other but now that Demeter is finally distracted, Hebe takes the chance to talk to Persephone on her own.
Hebe doesn’t look up. “I don’t love my wife.” She hesitates, frowning. “I mean I do, I just…”
She glances over at Demeter who’s dropping some scrambled eggs on a plate in front of Hades. Hades stares at them with an expression of disgust but Demeter encourages her to try it. Persephone’s got a lovesick grin plastered on her face, staring at Hades when Hebe looks back at her. Hebe snaps in her line of sight.
Persephone coughs. “Sorry. Yeah, you’ve been in love with Demeter forever though.”
Hebe blinks. “I—Wh
at? No, I haven’t. This is new.”
Persephone deadpans. “Oh really?”
Hebe hesitates. “...yes?”
Persephone shakes her head. “No. You guys have been eye fucking for at least the last forty years.”
Hebe drops her head in her hands. “I’m a terrible wife.”
Persephone tsks. “Hebe, you’re straight and married to a woman. I think you’re being the best wife you can be.”
Hebe pouts. “I can actually take advice from you on that ‘cause you’re married too now.”
Persephone glances at Hades briefly to see her finally put the scrambled eggs in her mouth, expression going from trepidation to joy. “I’m not really married.”
Hebe looks between them as Hades points at the eggs and smiles at Persephone. “You’re more married than me and Herc ever were.”
Persephone tears her eyes away from Hades. “She’s so young though. At least you knew her when you married her. There’s so much I don’t know about Hades.”
Hebe stares at Persephone. “You’re fucking kidding, right?”
“No?”
“Persephone, you share a mind with her.”
Persephone shrugs. “Yeah, but I mean, do you go around recounting all your traumatic moments constantly? It’s not like I dug through her past. It hasn’t totally come up yet.”
They both stare at Hades. Hebe hums. “It’s weird. I’m actually drawn to her as if she’s a child under my care.” Persephone raises her eyebrows, wondering why Hebe’s ability would include Hades. “There’s so much about life she’s never experienced. I mean, look at her. This is her first time eating breakfast. Youth is all about firsts. She’s older than all of us, but she’s the youngest one here.”
Persephone knows Hebe doesn’t say that as a metaphor. Hebe has an instinct to care for children. She knows what they want or need so she can shepherd them to adulthood. It’s not common for her to have that sense for a god, especially not one as old as Hades.
Persephone can’t help but ask. “What does she need?”
Hebe laughs lightly. “You.”
Persephone blushes and watches Hades choke back a moan as she tries a piece of bacon. Persephone tries to subtly press her legs together at the sound, but it’s not subtle at all. “Well, she’s got me. For better or for worse.”
Eventually Demeter calls for them to gather at the table. They dig into their meals and Hades wants to cry.