Mortal, But At Least I'm Free

Chapter 28

"I'll do it," Louis whispered and looked to Harry. "I'll go. Then you can have the life you've always wanted." Harry couldn't believe what he was hearing. The rest of the world seemed to disappear, the voices of the gods debating, discussing, and just arguing in general, all seemed to fade as Harry turned to look at Louis.

"No, no I'm not losing you Lou. I'm not."

"Harry," Louis said patronizingly. "I have to pay Hades for what I didn't do. That's how it works. I had a deal with him. And, I can't just expect this to go away. There are consequences for my actions. I've been learning that for ages now. I knew what I had to do, and I didn't do it."

"No, there has to be another way Lou. There has to be. There has to be," Harry could hear the pleading in his own, whispered, voice.

"I'm so sorry Harry," Louis kissed the back of Harry's hand gently, all Harry could hear now was the pounding of his heart, as he felt his vision spin and his knees start to buckle.

"Louis!" Harry reached out to him before Louis could offer his solution to the debating gods. "There is no version of life, mortal or immortal, that I want if I can't have it with you. Please. Please Louis. Please, don't. Don't leave me." Harry hadn't realized he was crying until Louis reached up to wipe a few tears away, gently kissing the tear stains that Harry thought would live on his skin forever. Tattooed in honor of his heart that would never heal from this bad a break.

"Oh Harry, not even the gods above could separate the two of us forever. I'll find you again," with a gentle kiss on his lips, Louis let go of him and stepped away.

And the world came crashing back down around Harry.

The colors all seemed garish and too bright now. The noise was deafening. Apollo was bleeding from his lower lip, it looked like Artemis had punched him because Hermes was holding a thrashing huntress. Zeus, Hades, and Aphrodite stood near, talking in hushed, rapid tones, moving their hands quickly. Demeter and Hera talked conspiratorially. Other gods talked at all different levels, offering opinions and unlistened to solutions. Harry couldn't breathe as he watched Louis step forward.

"I'll go." The subsequent silence felt even more deafening. It was disorienting. "I'll go. I was supposed to collect a soul for Hades. So it's mine that should be taken."

Both men were surprised by the overlapping voices that followed Louis' declaration.

"No," Artemis deflated.

"That works for me" Apollo looked smug, and started to look Harry up and down.

"I think there may be another solution," Hades was the most hopeful voice.

The twin gods glared at each other, and Hades rolled his eyes at the others.

"What are you suggesting Hades?" Zeus asked the question Harry didn't have the courage to voice.

"I'm suggesting a deal I think we can all be satisfied with," Louis didn't love the sound of that. He stepped back and took Harry's hand again. Harry felt like Louis' hand broke the spell that had held him frozen, in a breathless bind.

"Go on," Demeter encouraged the lord of the Underworld to continue.

"We do what young Artemis has suggested. We take their souls, and give them a new chance at life. Both will be mortal, both will have forgotten this life. And if they are true soulmates they will find one another again."

"We know this much," Apollo grumbled under his breath.

"Shut up Apollo," Hera spoke up uncharacteristically. Harry tried not to laugh at this unexpected interaction.

"If you're both ready?" Hades let the voices that had started up, settle back into a silence. "If they find each other again then we let them go. We let them have a beautiful, happy, mortal life. However, if they don't find one another, both their souls are mine. No negotiations."

No one spoke.

Harry could feel Louis crying without holding him. It was a silent ache in the air and in his chest. This was their chance. They both knew it.

"Is that agreeable to each of you?" Zeus spoke, and they nodded. They didn't have to speak about it, they just knew.

Standing side by side, watching the distant ocean Louis rested his head on Harry's shoulder.

"Can I hold you Harry? Before they take us away?"

"I'd love that Lou," sitting down on the cliff face, Louis pulled Harry as close to him as they could get. Louis kissed Harry's neck, and whispered "I love you"s against his skin. Harry let himself sink into this love, let himself rest against the warm body of the man he loved.

This had all happened so fast. Were they crazy to do this? What if they didn't find each other again? What if they weren't really soulmates? How did they know, anyway? It was with that thought that Harry felt the hot tears falling from Louis' eyes, splashing on his cold skin.

"Hey. Oh Louis, come here." Harry turned and wrapped Louis in his arms, pulling him into his chest. Louis' silent tears turned into silent entire-body-shaking sobs. Harry just held him. Rubbing his hands up and down Louis' back, whispering soft assurances, and slowly running fingers through his unruly hair.

"I'm scared Hazza," Louis' whisper was muffled against Harry's chest.

"I know. But we'll find each other again."

"What if we don't?" Louis looked up into Harry's eyes.

"We'll find each other Louis. I know it. I feel it in every part of myself. I'm going to find you again. And no matter what it takes, I'm going to convince you to love me."

"I could never stop loving you Haz."

"I know Lou." Louis laughed softly and kissed Harry's exposed collar bones, gently sliding his hand around Harry's neck.

"I want to be with you forever Hazza."

"I love you Lou."