pomegranate

6

Liam's eyes shined when they crossed to the underworld. He didn't gasp, he didn't scream, he didn't laugh out loud. He just stood wide eyed, and absolutely gorgeous.

Zayn's eyes widened and he looked away. He took a shaky breath and looked down at his hands before he looked at Liam

"Come on now... there's more to see"

Liam frantically nodded and breathed out an excited "Yes please"

~~~~~

They walked across streets, people were laughing and talking. Homes looked well cared for and Liam even spotted a lady taking care of the tree

"It's so... peaceful here" Liam whispered

Zayn shrugged "Good people die too... people forget that. The bad ones are all in Tartarus"

Liam nodded "Do they treat you differently than they do each other?"

Zayn shook his head "No. They don't because I don't ask for that... and the dead happen to be more respectful than the living"

~~~~~

At Zayn's home they walked in, Liam looked around and Zayn watched him, he heard footsteps and pursed his lips

"Liam" Liam turned to him and nodded "Get behind me, please"

Liam nodded but obeyed. A few minutes later he gasped with his eyes wide open and jaw dropped

"Don't pan-"

"Oh gods, he's adorable!!" He said then got out from behind Zayn

Cerberus growled and Zayn tried to hold Liam back, but he didn't budge. He walked towards him and held a hand out

Cerberus sniffed Liam's hand then with one of his other heads he rubbed himself against Liam's hand

"Good boy!!"

"He's probably older than-"

Liam waved Zayn off and rubbed Cerberus' heads "Oh you sweet little thing..."

Which was comical, because Cerberus is significantly bigger than Liam

Zayn watched as Cerberus laid down on his stomach and licked Liam's cheek, Liam laughed and scratched his head

Liam then turned to Zayn "I can't believe you didn't bring him with you!!"

Zayn opened and closed his mouth "He... doesn't usually like people"

~~~~~

It was weird, seeing someone new in his home. Cuddled up with Cerberus who suddenly became an attached whiner when he's left alone

So when they went out to see more, Cerberus was with them. He took Liam's left while Zayn took Liam's right

They stopped outside a bakery and Liam frowned "It's too small for him..."

Zayn nodded and mumbled a quiet 'Yeah'

Liam looked at him with a smile "You go in, I'll wait with him"

Zayn frowned "I don't know what to get you though?"

Liam smiled and shrugged "I'm willing to try anything"

Zayn blinked and turned around then walked into the bakery, he waited in line until he reached the front

He was inside for less than 10 minutes when Liam jogged inside "We need to go"

Zayn frowned "Why? Do you-"

"Not me, Zee. It's Cerberus, I dunno what happened someone came to talk to me and he got all growly and all"

Zayn rubbed his face "I'm sorry"

Liam shook his head "No!! It's ok. Let's just go." He smiled "We can come back here another time"

We can just come back here another time

~~~~~

Zayn rubbed one of his heads "What happened to you? Do you only like him when I'm around? Or are you slowly realizing he's sunny? Or was it you being jealous?" He whispered

Cerberus just let out a breath, resting his heads on his paws as his eyes slowly closed. Zayn shook his head then watched Liam

He was standing in the middle of the garden and frowning, he tuned to Zayn "Is this grass fake?"

Zayn nodded "How did you realize?"

"It's making a weird sound..."

Zayn motioned for Liam to come towards him, Liam listened and walked towards him. Zayn picked up a remote and pressed a button on it

The grass separated and a pool appeared under it

Liam's eyes widened "Now I wish I had a swimsuit..."

Zayn watched him "I can... get that taken care of"

~~~~~

The owner of the bakery arrived at the same time the clothes Zayn ordered did. They apologized for not finishing what Zayn ordered and prioritizing them

But Zayn just said it's fine, took them and thanked the owner for delivering them

He walked back inside and gave Liam the bag of clothes, Liam thanked him and walked away to change

The door then opened and Zayn rolled his eyes seeing Hermes, Hestia and Dionysus.

"What are you 3 doing here?"

"Ruining your date"

"Not a date"

"Ok, we are ruining your apology date"

Zayn rolled his eyes "Well you can-" but he stopped when he saw Liam "Fuck..."

Liam laughed "I hope that means something good" he looked at the others and waved before he ran out

Hermes and Dionysus both smiled "Guess we're swimming" they said before they ran

Hestia walked towards Zayn and took the box from his hands "Go, I'll take care of this."

~~~~~

Zayn doesn't remember when was the last time he laughed this hard. Someway, somehow, little Liam had managed to drown the two bigger gods with his feet on their heads

Maybe they let him do it, maybe they didn't. Zayn doesn't want to speculate

Hestia laughed too, seated on the edge with the plate of treats beside her. Cerberus was just glaring

Zayn doesn't get it...

Eventually the 3 went inside, slipping on their lanky forms while they did. Liam swam towards the edge and rested his head against it, watching the sun slowly go down

Zayn stayed away for only a moment before finding his place beside Liam, Liam smiled at him before he focused on ahead

Zayn rested his feet on a dented part of the pool and bent his knees, he put his hands on the smaller ones hips and rested Liam on his lap

Liam just dropped his head back onto Zayn's shoulder and fully slumped against Zayn, before he pulled away

"I'm sorry I wasn't-"

"No." He said then wrapped an arm around Liam's waist "No. it's ok"

Liam smiled at him "Are you sure?"

Zayn nodded, Liam then relaxed against him once again. Resting his head on Zayn's shoulder and an arm went around Zayn's neck and fingers against the small hairs on the back of Zayn's head

"Are you even comfortable?" He whispered

"Yeah" Zayn replied, also a whisper

The most comfortable he's been in a long time