death defied | Glowfic Constellation

on_my_way_again

The river Styx, like most of the Underworld, follows no consistent, constant geography. Instead, it's in a constant state of flow, shifting and changing its banks and course as the realm itself rearranges its structure.

That is only one of the many ways the realm has of keeping its reputation as inescapable, Lord Hades's rulings being the only thing that can grant one permission to leave. This has happened only a handful of times in history, all of them exceptional in one way or another. And as far as the living and the vast majority of the dead are aware, this is an absolute fact of the world, as unchangeable as gravity.

This is not to get into the fact that, unless you were sent to the bowels of Tartarus for punishment, you would have very little reason to want to escape. There was a brief period during which the Asphodel Meadows were flooded with a burning river a few centuries ago, but the Queen of the Underworld has long since dealt with that and the land of the dead is actually a reasonably pleasant place to spend eternity in.

Very few people are aware of the one exception to the rule, taking the form of the Prince of the Underworld, Lord Zagreus. He has been the first and only person to ever escape against his Lord Father's wishes, and although he cannot stay on the surface for very long due to an intrinsic conflict between his godhead and his mortal blood, he has become proficient enough at it that it was made into a job, finding security flaws and other issues that might jeopardize the so-called inescapability of the realm.

Now one of the few fixed structures of the Styx, the small pool of it which ends right in front of the hall at the House of Hades, sees its surface bubbling once more before the god of life's figure emerges from it, blinking some crimson liquid away and cracking his joints to get rid of the phantom pain from his most recent death. The water slides off his body and clothes with preternatural haste as he walks up the steps and past the long line of shades standing before his father's throne and desk to petition for one thing or another.

"Hello once again, my friend," he says, nodding a greeting in the direction of Hypnos, god of sleep and official secretary of the Underworld.

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death_incarnate

Than mumbles something into Zag's hand but doesn't protest any further.

on_my_way_again

Good good so Zag can focus on snuggling and sleeping.

Zzz.

death_incarnate

Despite everything, Thanatos wakes up first. It's been... seven hours and thirty-seven minutes, by his estimates. That was much longer than he'd expected, but spying Zagreus lying there, snoring quietly, one of his arms lazily draped over Thanatos, he can't bring himself to regret it. He feels... he's not sure how he feels. It's one of the good kinds, though, he's managed to learn to tell that much.

He carefully turns around so he can look at his lover more properly without waking him up, and other than a small grumble Zag seems undisturbed. Thanatos reaches down to run his fingers along the side of Zagreus's ribs, trying to find the spot where he cut him, and it's easy enough to feel the different texture of the scabs.

It's his name's initial. He's sure Zagreus didn't notice, at the time; he probably thought Thanatos had just sliced once or something. Next time he looks at himself in the mirror, though, he'll see it.

It's... slightly embarrassing, Than admits to himself, but also makes him feel a warm fuzzy feeling that he doesn't quite dislike. He'll keep it.

on_my_way_again

Zagreus stays fast asleep for nearly another full hour. When he stirs, his first instinct is to tighten his grip on Thanatos and pull him closer.

death_incarnate

"Zag?"

on_my_way_again

He opens his eyes and blinks blearily. When he notices Thanatos there, he smiles. "Hey, Than."

death_incarnate

It's such a tiny thing, this smile, and it's been six hundred years, but it still sends his heart aflutter to cause it, every time. In lieu of responding, he leans over to kiss Zag.

on_my_way_again

Oh good, that's a pretty great thing to wake up.

Except: "Ow."

death_incarnate

"Ow?"

on_my_way_again

He shifts his weight a little bit so that it's more evenly distributed around his back and legs and more specifically less focused on his butt. "I'm feeling last night. ...yesterday."

death_incarnate

"I don't know if I should have been gentler or rougher."

on_my_way_again

"Than, are you trying to get me riled up again? Because I have this morning wood and I am into it."

death_incarnate

"So what you're saying is that you want to be covered in marks next time anyone sees you."

on_my_way_again

"Wouldn't be the first time, now, would it? And it's not like people are not used to seeing me beat up."

death_incarnate

This seems to amuse Than for some reason.

on_my_way_again

"...what is it?"

death_incarnate

"Nothing you won't like, I hope."

on_my_way_again

"Alright... but is that a yes or a no on the beating me up front?"

death_incarnate

"Isn't Meg better at beating you up than I am?"

on_my_way_again

"...well, yes, okay, how about we rephrase that to 'use that wonderful gauntlet on me some more until there's no part of me you haven't cut'?"

death_incarnate

"So the answer to my earlier question was 'rougher'."

on_my_way_again

"I very emphatically want you to use me like a stress relief toy."

death_incarnate

"I don't think I feel particularly stressed."

on_my_way_again

"Thannnnnn come onnnnnnn just fuck me uuuuuuuup," he whines, turning around (and wincing when he rests his weight on the wounds on one of his buttocks) so he can wrap one leg over Thanatos and poke him with his dick.

death_incarnate