Thorns

Part III

While you felt like those stairs and corridors were an infinite path when you were going to the room to take the seeds, the travel back to the common areas of the building was nothing for you, mainly because you weren't even seeing the stairs or the walls in your way: as you ran, you had only one thought, that is, reaching the entry room and seeing your husband and his generals.

I know they won. I always knew they would. But my heart will only calm down when I put my eyes on them.

You arrived at that room at the same time as them, judging by the sound of the doors through which each of you entered closing behind your backs. You stopped near your door, in silence, staring at the three individuals covered in sweat and blood, and thanked the universe for their return.

Hades was the first to notice you there, soon followed by the officers, who bowed their heads in respect despite their conditions. You ran to them immediately.

You stopped and looked into your husband's eyes, and your lips trembled when you saw the glimmer in them, but your first words were not for him.

– Nurses! Servants! Our King and his men are back! – you yelled at both sides, at the corridors through which the requested groups arrived – Take them to the emergency wing now, and take their weapons to the smith!

When they were about to leave, you turned to the officers.

– I'm glad all the three of you are back. Now, please, accept the necessary assistance and take some rest.

They thanked you for your reception, then left with the nurses.

The silence was back in the room when you saw yourself alone with Hades, and you spent an incalculable amount of time without breaking it, only staring at each other, as if making sure you both were really there. It wasn't that you feared the possibility of not seeing each other again: you couldn't die so easily, after all. But to love is to worry, and you were both worried with what happened to yourselves during your separation.

However, just like the issues between you were taken away when you were distant, they came back with you when you reunited.

Hades was the one who tried to break up the tension, doing it with a smile. He was also the first of you to speak.

– It was quite a forest you grew out there.

You didn't reply.

– You and Beelzebub-san make a really formidable duo. I myself am impressed with what you've produced – he continued – Speaking of this, I've sent him here to check on you. Did he come already? Where is he?

You were still quiet. A wrinkle of worry was noticed on his forehead as his smile faded; finally, your silence was starting to preoccupy him, who took a step ahead and looked into your eyes.

– What is it, y/n? What's wrong? I sensed your technique from the battlefield and knew you might get tired after it, so I asked him to give you some medicine. Did he do it or not? – he looked at you from head to toe, as to examine your conditions – Are you really feeling strong enough to stay on your feet after using those seeds?

You haven't changed your dress since the episode with the messenger at throne room. Hades raised one hand to touch the spot of the fabric where there was a stain of the officer's blood.

– You didn't even change it, my dear...

You took no time thinking of what you were doing. Before his fingers reached you, you slapped his hand away, then closed your fist and punched his left rib.

Hades gasped, curling over himself and making all the possible effort to lean on his bident and not fall before you. You bit your lip and, for a second, you were worried that you might have exaggerated: sometimes, you still forgot that, as a goddess, your physical strength was ten times the usual for a human being, but soon your husband recovered, straightening up and staring at you in disbelief.