εραστής του θανάτου {Lover of Death}

I

"Brother, you never had your fair chance to truly break the rules, did you?" Hypnos asked Thanatos.
"What rules would those be?" He replied, believing the question laughable.
"Surely you've wished to lie with a mortal?" This made Thanatos sputter in disbelief.
"Why would I wish that, dear brother?"
"Mortals believe we are mere myths, it would be much easier for one to develop feelings for you. Besides, you would be given a fresh beginning. She would not be your kin, of course..." He trailed, making the idea sound better and better.
"Who would let me forge a relationship with them? Did you have a particular woman in mind?"
"I've heard talk from the Keres of a woman who has attempted to kill herself multiple times, and that today is the lucky try. Perhaps you could find her above, or wait for her soul to be defiled by the sisters."
"Do I have any prior obligations here?" Thanatos inquired, feeling a new resolve.
"Not a one, however, when you return, you will have them to answer to."
"Let us hope I am there for a while, then." Hypnos smiled, happy his brother may finally get something he wanted.

****
Thanatos transported himself to the mortal realm, and looked around in earnest for the woman he was to save. He spotted her about to walk into traffic. He gave a nervous yell and ran down the sidewalk. He grabbed her arm and pulled her out of the way of a speeding sedan, pressing her scrawny body against his. It seemed as though time slowed down around them.
"What- why would you do that?" she panted, angry, beating her small fists against his chest.
"You're welcome, watch out next time." He spoke coolly for almost losing her to the Keres. This was the woman who was supposed to love him? He would've laughed; it was fitting, a suicidal girl and the god of death.
"I want to die!" She yelled at him.
"I promise that you don't." He glanced at the cross around her swan-like neck. "Killing yourself is a sin."
"What are you, my guardian angel?" She asked, angry and embarrassed.
"Something like that," He could almost see a red string around her finger leading to him.
"You don't just — do that!" She was bawling him out and he didn't like it.
"Listen to me, I just saved your life," Thanatos held her fists in place against him. He was confused, why wasn't she grateful?
"You should not have done that. You don't go around interfering with other people's lives. Were you born yesterday?" She was looking up at him with anger in her eyes, he hoped that would change soon.
"I'm new to this place, yes," he answered coolly, knowing the truth.
"Fuck! Why are you so weird?" She tried to push herself away but he was holding her in a viselike grip. She grimaced. "Fine, what do you want, weirdo?"
"I want to protect you." His patience would have been tested had she not been destined for him.
"I don't need your protection, I need the opposite, in fact."
"I know what would have happened if I allowed you to be struck by that vehicle." He hoped to get her to understand his correctness.
"Me too, dumbass! I would have died! Like I wanted!" As angry as she was, tears started to form and roll down her flushed cheeks.
"Why do you desire death?" Thanatos asked sincerely, moving a hand to wipe away one of her salty tears.
"I have nothing. No job, no friends, no boyfriend, and now no place to live. I don't want to be homeless in this city, I'd die far worse than anything that could happen here." Her eyes drooped, she was exhausted.
Thanatos could understand her pain now, and saw why she wanted death. "Surely there is something worth living for. What about your family? It would destroy them if you were to die,"
"I'm sure they wouldn't care."
"Believe that if you like, but tell me what you picture at your funeral, who's there?"
"Some holy man and the grave digger. No one who would have been there has been a part of my life for the last few years."
"Perhaps you have that idea, but tonight when you go to sleep, you will dream about it. You will see the lives you have touched, and how they will miss you eternally."