Descendants: Dawn of the Fighters

vi. Asswipe

Father said nothing as he left my room, he simply turned around, and strolled out.

Like a parent turning their back on a child throwing a temper tantrum.

I refused to come down for dinner, I didn't even want to be near him. I climbed out of my window, shimmed down with a rope I've always had stored under my bed, and stroad across the fields of death before me. 

I never liked anything about this place, hell, I honestly couldn't see what my mother loved about it. It's so dark and gloomy, wandering souls and their cries echo across the fields, and the shrills from Tartarus are no better.

Tartarus.

Defined as the "hell of hell", it's the worse place to be down here in the Underworld. But of course, you have to have a special type of hell for the worlds truest monsters. Not only does it hold the worst kind of people, but it also holds down the Titans. 

The Titans were those who rose up against the Olympians in the Great War, most of them found favor in my sadistic grandfather, Kronos. After the war, they, along with Kronos, were thrown into Tartarus, never to see the surface or know any peace for all eternity.

I try my best to ignore the souls as I race across the field, and a small house comes into view. Well, honestly, it's really not all that small; it's about the size of the house father and myself live in. I finally make it to the front door, out of breath because I ran so fast.

Before I can even managed to knock on the door, I get hit in the head with it.

This bitch.

Not to my surprise, it's Asswipe, looking pissier than ever.

"Oh look, I see the fuck-up fairy has graced us with her presence!" Of course, he has to be an ass.

"I wonder, is your ass jealous of the amount of shit that just came out of your mouth?" This one actually manages to make him laugh, and the look he had before disappears.

"So, Buttercup, let me guess. The little princess decided to sneak out." He leans against the doorway, and annoyingly arrogant smirk across his face.

"Trust me Asswipe, if I wanted to walk out the front door, I could have." I try to look past him, but he keeps blocking off the doorway.

"Looking for someone?"

"Is Cerberus here?" His expression darkens at this remark, he turns and strides back inside.

I'll take that as a yes? I follow behind him and look around, this place hasn't changed much since the last time I was here. The décor is similar to father's, but there's actually a comfort in it here that I don't find in that dreadful place.

"We have a guest." We enter the main lounge area and I find Cerberus sitting in a chair by the fire, his nose stuck in a book. He looks up and immediately his expression is filled with delight.

"Midnight! I'm surprised to see you here!" He sets down his book and comes up to greet me. Instead of wearing the clothes he wore before, now he's cleaned himself up in a nice dress shirt and dress pants. 

"It's good to see you." I find so much comfort in his arms as he embraces me in a hug, a warmth I missed.

"However-" He looks down at me with a disapproving look,

"Your father doesn't know you're here, does he?" Damn, he was always quick to figure shit out.

"Oh no, dear old daddy let me come here, right after I told him I'd lick his boots." Cerberus laughs a deep hearty laugh at my retort, and a smile returns to his expression once more. 

"Seeing as you're already here, it can't hurt to have you visit for a bit. Fenris," Asswipe turns to his father,

"Could you please see to some tea and snacks?" He simply nods before leaving the room, I sit across from Cerberus near the fire as he wraps a large blanket around me.

"You really shouldn't be sneaking out Midnight, you know how he gets when you do that." He's lecturing me, but his words are gentle and kind. Out of everyone down here, Cerberus has always been able to see the toxicity between father and I. 

Everyone, but one person.

"Say, Cerberus..." My voice changing seems to draw his attention,

"Is... where's Fang?" I hear a large clatter behind us, and we turn to find Asswipe standing with a tray of food and drinks. His expression looks... broken. He sets the treats before us, and leaves without a word.

"What's his problem?" God, I hate his attitude sometimes. Cerberus's deep sigh catches my attention,

"Fang, well..." Cerberus seems hesitant on giving his answer, and this terrifies me.

"Fang isn't here anymore, Midnight." Pain, sheer utter pain envelopes my chest, and it's like I can't breathe. I heave over, trying to catch my breath, and Cerberus is right next to my side in an instant, rubbing my back. 

"No... it can't... Not him..." I can't stop the tears from streaming down my face, I can't handle this. The pain, the agony, all of it. It hurts, it hurts so much. 

"I'm sorry..." Cerberus's broken voice only worsens the pain in my chest, and I can't stop the sobs from leaving me. Cerberus understands, and he simply continues to rub my back as my sobs echo throughout the room.

~~~

After about an hour of that, I've finally calmed down enough to eat a bit and drink, but I feel drained. Empty.

"I won't ask the details, but was it... quick?" Cerberus nods, pain in his eyes.

"He was happy, to have known you managed to find happiness." My eyes grow moist once more, but I swallow them down.

"I'm so sorry Cerberus... I know that you saw him as your own son."

"He was my son." As guardian of the Underworld, people learn to fear his name. His aura, his shear will, all of it is to be feared by all. But no one knows this side of Cerberus, his gentle touch, the pain he feels, the tears he sheds. 

"I..." I don't know the right words to say to him in this moment, I can't comfort him the way I did as a child. I don't have a right to, I've been gone for so long.

"Do not blame yourself child, none of it was on you." I meet his eyes, and he has a sad smile,

"This place was never meant for you, Fang of all people knew that better than anyone. He helped you to find the life you always wanted, and I'm glad you did." Only with Cerberus and his family did I ever feel guilt for leaving, only them. They were my family, and they loved me more than my father ever could.

"I'm sorry you had to come back here, but I'm glad you at least are healthy and well." I tighten the blanket around me, suddenly remembering Zeus's words.

"Cerberus, what's going on? Why are the gods summoning their children?" He is reluctant to reply, he simply stares at the burning flames, considering his words carefully in his mind.

He's not supposed to tell me.

Damn my father.

"Tartarus, has been breached." His words chill me to my core, I can't believe them. Tartarus, has been breached?

"How?!... I mean, how many-?!"

"About fifty souls managed to escape, but Kronos was thankfully not one of them. However, we still aren't sure if or how many Titans managed to. No one knows what happened, or who did it to say the least. They were quiet after they managed to escape, but then about two days ago, they made a move against the gods." I'm shocked, to think they moved on them so quickly is bizarre, especially if Kronos isn't leading them right now.

But then again, they did have a lot of time to prepare with his help in Tartarus.