Self Control

Chapter III: Ancient Shadows

Waking up and coming out of the warm darkness is something I never wanted to do, but I eventually manage it. Rustling around, I sit up in Hades lap and stretch my arms over my head. Gazing down at him, I smile softly and stay snuggled in his lap. The rain pitter-patters on the glass windows, and the thunder is a distant roar outside, but still there. It seems that the storm still hasn't blown over. Knowing Zeus that is probably his warning for me to chew Hades out when he wakes up, for going after another god.

An answering boom of thunder replies to my thoughts, bringing an amused smile to my lips. Zeus can smite me. I am proud of Hades for standing up for himself like that. Not taking my crap with other men. In all fairness, it has been quite a while since I have last cheated on him. Over nine hundred years, if my memory serves me correctly.  It just never really interested me to cheat on him, no matter what. Only after a harsh argument did I go to rant to my mother or seek company. Not terribly often.

Hades stirs, his arms tightening around my waist as he moves a bit more before slowly opening his eyes and blinking down at me. "Is it still raining?"

"Yes" I answer, twitching him a smile and pulling out of his arms. I don't bother looking at him as I pad over to the fireplace and put a few more pieces of wood in to fuel the fire a bit longer. I walk back over to him and reclaim my spot in his arms, which is warm and inviting. I curl back up and grin. "You are warmer than usual."

He scoffs and laughs, leaning back into the couch. "I am not even going to dignify that with an answer." He takes a deep breath and looks up at the ceiling, loosening the blanket from around us in response. "This is nice."

"I agree" I whisper softly, wiggling a bit and changing my position so that my back is pressed against his chest. I haven't had this kind of company in so long. Company that doesn't want anything from me. It's nice. Definitely. And it is with Hades, which is... even nicer, in a way. Certainly different. "It's been a while."

"It's been never for me" he counters playfully, his tone soft but with a serious note.

"Oh..." It hits me. He never cheated on me once, and I never did this with him before, so no... he hasn't ever done this before. Wow.

"Well, now you have" I point out, leaning back into him to hide my guilt despite the tremor in my voice.

"Indeed. Since we are here today, what do you want to do?" he asks softly, sighing and looking down at me curiously.

I shrug, not particularly interested in going out in the rain at the moment. "I have a few things in here to do. Not many, though. Or we can just teleport out of here and find something to do for the day."

Hades sits up a bit straighter and let’s go of me, stretching his arms over his head. "I guess. I need to stop by Olympus soon, anyways. If you don't mind doing that, then we can go wherever you want after."

I smile and slip out of his arms, standing up and holding up a hand. "Give me a moment to put on a dress and we can go." I spin around, not bothering to wait for his answer as I jog into my room and to my closet. While I am pulling on a soft brown dress, I hear Hades laughing.

"Why don't you just flash change like the rest of us?" he asks, and his laughter continues through the doorway.

I rearrange the straps on my shoulder and walk back out to him barefoot, rolling my eyes. "Because I don't want to close my eyes and be in a different outfit. I want to change. Unlike you," I gesture at his new pair of jeans and clean shirt, and smirk. "You gods are going to get fat if you keep doing that."

He snorts and offers me his arm, brushing a hand down his shirt absentmindedly. "Come on."

I don't let my smirk drop as I slip my arm through his and close my eyes, focusing on Olympus. The bright light I am so used to gathers around me, warming my skin. Alright, Olympus.