Inexorably drawn

Chapter 2

  Shocked at the rare and sudden feeling of Zagreus hugging him, Thanatos feels the skin on his cheeks gain a rozy color.

"Zag...!"

"Hey! Welcome home." Zagreus eagerly tightens the hug, his heart beating faster than ever with excitment.

Thanatos looks around, more worried than excited of their interaction. Thankfully the west balcony is out of the king's sight, but he still can't simply ignore the smug Archilles watching them. He has a reputation to uphold after all. Maybe not as feared as Hades', but if mortals aren't afraid of death, they won't be afraid of anything.

"I think you've hugged me long enough Zagreus." He says in his usual calm demeanor, trying to push the Prince away with not much effort.

Thankfully for him, Zagreus gets the message. He laughs it off and releases him.

"Sorry. I just can't help it."

Fearsome death turns around a bit, glancing at the bloody river Styx and all the traveling souls inside it.

"It's alright. I never said to apologize."

"Good! Cause I was going to do it again anyways." The Prince grinned, his yellow and red olive leaf crown blooming with life.

Thanatos catches one of Zagreus' olive leafs that flew off the crown. He holds it in his palm tenderly, looking back at Zagreus.

"You're quite messy still. I remember when your father confronted you about those leaves that you always leave behind. Said even Cerberous' hair don't spread everywhere that much." He explains, smiling slightly at the memory.

"Really? It's not that bad now, right? It was just a small problem. I can sort of control it now." Zagreus ponders.

"Right. Like how you control the vermin population?"

"That is another story Than!" Zagreus frowns, rolling his eyes as the God of death lets out a soft chuckle.

Zagreus takes in the sight of Thanatos smiling, suddenly being reminded of why he was so eager to see him back at home. After all the hard work and bloodshed, coming back to the sight of Thanatos is all Zagreus needs to find his energy again. The prince realised that soon after Thanatos wasn't showing up at home or in his runs for almost a week.

"Do you have any free time Than?"

The question sends a wave of pain right into the god's heart. He knows well about the importance of his duties and how endless they can be, but hearing Zagreus ask him that only complicates his feelings more.

"I, uh..." He crosses his arms, letting his large scythe rest on him. "I don't think I do...I'm sorry Zagreus." The pain in his voice is real as he takes a step closer to the prince, asking him to be patient a little longer.

"It's okay Than. I can wait for you. We'll see each other out there after all." The Prince murmurs, hugging death's neck with his arms and pulling him close to a kiss, his firey feet tip toeing so he can reach up to his lovers lips easier.

They both know how hard being separated like this is. No matter the circumstances, the time they get to spend together is far less than what they'd like it to be. It can't be helped however, so both choose to remain silent and keep on waiting.

What makes life different from death is that life gets to choose its own different path every time, making each day or night interesting and unique. Death, however, is one way out and everyone, if not killed in some other way, end up dying this way eventually. It is what binds mortals together no matter how differerent their lives are. It's what makes them mortal. What makes them alive.