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It was almost customary for Gods to be born in unusual ways. Athena had sprung from her father’s head fully grown and dressed in armour. Dionysus’ mother was vaporized so Zeus sewed the fetus into his thigh for the rest of the pregnancy. Hell, Thanatos himself was a fatherless God, being brought into existence by the great power of Mother Nyx alone. So when Zag suggested the idea of creating children, it wasn’t entirely out of the question.
Zagreus had grown into his Godhood gradually, Thanatos had seen it. He was not the same man he was when he had started breaking free of his Father’s house all that time ago. His body rippled with energy with every move he made, and power was etched into the lines of his face. The more he aged, the more his true nature showed through. He was practically radiant, which continued to make not staring at Zagreus difficult for Thanatos, not that he hadn’t had that problem when they first began courting. There was no doubt in his mind that the God of Life could accomplish such a task as creating a new God, but they were both unsure of Zagreus’ limits.
“Do you believe you can do it on your own?” Thanatos had asked,
“I don’t know yet if I’m honest, Than, but I want to try.” Earnest eyes had pierced Thanatos’ gaze and subconsciously Zagreus had taken his hands in his. His warm fingers spreading heat on Than’s cool skin. Than looked deep into the eyes of his lover, his husband. This was completely unexplored territory for the both of them. Deep down Than was scared of what could happen if this went badly. What Zagreus was suggesting was no small feat.
But they had to try.
“I’ll do everything in my power to help you then,” Than whispered, planting a small kiss on Zag’s cheek. A sweet smile pulled at Zag’s lips and eventually spread to Than’s face. Zag pulled him into a tight embrace and they stayed there for a while. The thought of having a family, children, of his own was amazing. Half of him, half of Zagreus. The thought crept into his mind and curled around his heart.
“Would I be a good father?” Than asked pulling away to look at Zag’s face once again,
“You’re the only person I’d ever consider raising children with, Thanatos,”
“But what about my work? I’m always away from the house, and who would take care of the souls if I couldn’t, and-“
“Thanatos, my love, we will always find time for them,”
“I just don’t want this to be a mistake,” Than admitted, averting his eyes. One of Zag’s hands came up to grace his cheek, bringing his face up to meet Zag’s eyes again. Zag leaned forward to press a gentle kiss against the God of Death’s forehead, which he knew always soothed Than.
“It won’t be, I promise,” Zag whispered gently. Thanatos let the slight smile once again return to his face. Zag would find a way, he always did.
Although making a God proved to be more difficult than Zagreus had expected. He had gathered piles of books and scrolls that were even remotely related to the topic and studied them vigorously, learning all he could. He asked Nyx about her children, went to Chaos looking for knowledge about creation, and even went as far as to ask his own mother what it had been like to carry him.
All in all the process wasn’t necessarily complicated, it was actually quite simple. The problem came with the difficulty of energy, bearing the burden of bringing life into the world was painful, draining, and could often end in the loss of life. Even Gods who did not come the “mortal” way caused pain. It was unavoidable. Zagreus finally realized this to himself one night while alone in his study, surrounded by his research. If he wanted to create a child it would be a sacrifice.
He didn’t tell Thanatos about the pain he expected to come with creation, only the plan in which he had to attempt such an act. Being the God of life and Blood, Zagreus knew this was his domain to control. The essence of life was something he felt he could wrap his fingers around; something he could give generously or withhold cruelly. Blood was his main source of power, a way he could connect to the body, so he decided it was best to incorporate it into his ritual.
One quiet night (or day?) he and Thanatos gathered the necessary items from their quarters and headed away from the House of Hades. They walked down a small and unkempt path of messily laid stones to an old underworld temple. How old Zagreus didn’t know, all he knew was that when he had first stumbled upon it, it looked to be unused for possibly centuries. However, it was quiet and safe and had a breathtaking view of Tartarus. With a little elbow grease and a couple of work orders from the house contractor, Zagreus had managed to turn it into a calm hideaway of sorts. It was a place where he and Than could take breaks away from the prying eyes in The House and just relax in each other’s presence.
The temple looked modest from the outside, simple, white stone pillars holding up a roof with blood red curtains draped between them. The inside is where Zag had really put in the effort. There were several comforters and cushions placed around the room for easy leisure. Flaming torches fixed to columns glowed brightly with an ever burning fire to light the room. There was a pool in the very center filled with glistening, cool water perfect for bathing and healing. There were towels and blankets all over the place as well as pillows. The back wall had a modest bed pushed up beside it as well as a table and some chairs for when he and Than took longer breaks to really enjoy each other’s company. Intricate carvings with embedded bloodstones lined the walls as a finishing piece to his little project.
Zagreus closed the curtains behind Thanatos and walked to the center of the room. He sat down and set down his bag beside him, Thanatos quickly following suit. There was a moment of silence between them as Zag stared into the pool before them. Than’s fingers brushed over Zagreus’s clenched knuckles. He hadn’t even realized he had been making a fist until Than gently opened up his hand to lace their fingers together.
“I’m right here.”
Zag let out a shaky breath and squeezed Than’s hand a little tighter. He looked over at his lover and gently caressed his face. His lips came easily to Than’s cheek and left a small kiss there. Than knew the plan as well as Zagreus, now they just had to go through with it.
Zag took the candles out of his bag and began lighting them. He placed them around the pool while Thanatos brought out a small knife and bowl and set them on the floor. Zagreus took off his chiton before stepping into the pool. His feet moved through the water gently as he walked down the steps and deeper until he was standing in the center with the water at his waist.
He said a prayer to Chaos and the Goddess Nyx, masters of creation and darkness. He focused his thoughts on the Goddess of childbirth, Eileithyia, as well as his own mother Persephone, who both brought life. And finally he spoke a blessing from himself and Thanatos, their shared power emanating from his sentiment to concentrate all the energy in the room.
Thanatos handed the knife and bowl to Zagreus and he allowed himself to close his eyes. Letting the circulation of blood in his veins flood his thoughts. Carefully, he put the knife to his palm and cut a thin line, bleeding his strange blood-ichor into the bowl. Thanatos took the bowl from him and did the same, the golden blood flowing freely from where the knife had been. Zagreus took a long slow breath and finally began to really harness his powers.
He held the bowl in his hands and focused his thoughts there. Essence of both him and Thanatos intertwined as liquid. Ripples cascaded over the edge of the water and began to churn as Zagreus used more and more effort. His brow furrowed as he raised the blood from the bowl and held it in the air, murmuring ancient things under his breath. He let the liquid pour out into the pool and used it to turn the whole body of water red with flecks of gold.
Than looked on in astonishment. “You summoned the river Styx.”
He took his cue to join Zagreus in the pool and quickly dipped into the blood red water. Zagreus was practically vibrating with energy, and a soft glow now came from the God of Blood’s body. Than closed his eyes and held Zag’s hands in his, putting their palms together like Zagreus had told him to earlier. Zag lowered their joined hands deep into the blood. This is where Zagreus really had to focus as he brought his and Thanatos’ power together. He felt Death’s patient and slow rhythm and used it to ground him. It almost felt like a heartbeat. The blood was rushing in his ears as he started to feel the effects of his power on his body. He had to keep going.
Zagreus used all his might to concentrate the blood and combine it with his energy to create Life. It was a slow and gruelling process, but he could start to feel something forming. A splitting headache was making his temples ache and his arms were shivering with exhaustion, he still had so far to go. He felt the blood before him sculpting and moving itself in tendrils of liquid gushing under his influence. Thanatos cautiously let go and Zagreus went into the final stage of work.
Sweat broke out across his forehead and his breaths were laboured. He had the body in his grasp, but he had to create a soul to inhabit it. The glow from before had spread throughout his body and was concentrated at the veins, making it look like a bright tapestry laid across his skin. The water was spilling out the sides of the pool as Zag created bigger and bigger waves. He steadied his hands and creased his brow as he attempted to fuse a life force to the body, but his energy was quickly beginning to wane.Tears shed from his eyes and he grit his teeth. He could feel the body of his child starting to crumble. He was failing and there was nothing he could do.
“Let me. You may know life, but I know souls.”
Zagreus felt Than’s articulate hands move towards his as he took over. Thanatos’ powers surged through the water and Zagreus felt it move through his veins. Death was an incredibly powerful force. He took Zagreus’ wrists in his fingers and Zagreus gripped back. Their foreheads pressed together. They both glowed now. Zag couldn’t tell apart their energies, as if it were like they were being fused.
Thanatos suddenly whispered, “I need to take a piece of you.”
“What?”
“A piece of you and a piece of me, to make their soul.”
“Will it hurt?”
“It’s not a physical piece. It’s a part of your life force. As Gods we can withstand such a drastic transfer of power. You’ll feel something leave but it will return in time.”
Zag didn’t hesitate. “Do it.”
If anything, Zagreus was relieved. Earlier he was scared of bearing the burden of their child on his own, but now Than was here. He had promised he would do everything in his power to help Zagreus and he would see that promise through. Zag waited for a moment to feel Thanatos take a part of him but was surprised when Thanatos joined their lips instead. The kiss of death. Deep within himself he felt something shift, something that would stay shifted forever.
As their lips parted he heard Thanatos sigh in relief. He let go of Zagreus’ wrists and took the child in his hands. Zag finally opened his eyes to meet Than’s and then quickly looked back down to the water where their hands were still submerged. He brought his fingers around the head and neck to support it and together they lifted their child from the water.
She was a beautiful, healthy baby girl with delicate grey skin similar to Than’s that was dotted with white freckles that looked like stars. Her head was covered with thick, black, curly hair that stuck up like Zagreus’ did. Than and Zag gasped when she opened her little eyes for the first time. Her irises were the piercing gold colour of Thanatos’, but her sclera were pitch black like the eye Zagreus had from his father. She stared at them in wonder with blinking eyes before letting out a small cry. Zagreus quickly stepped out of the pool and swaddled her in a warm blanket.
“Mind her head.” Thanatos whispered, running his fingers along her soft tufts of hair. They both sat at the edge of the pool and admired their daughter. Than kissed Zagreus on the cheek and suddenly realized his lover was shaking. He took their daughter from Zagreus’ arms and helped him up. Zag stumbled a bit as they walked to the bed and collapsed onto the blankets in exhaustion. Thanatos removed his armour, made him drink some water from a pitcher, and tucked him in. He sat down beside Zagreus, cradling their child close to his chest.
“How’re you feeling?”
“Like I just fought through a million of my father’s underworlds.”
“Why didn’t you tell me it would be so enervating on you?”
“I didn’t want you to worry.” Zag weakly smiled over at Than.
“I’m more worried now, Zagreus! Look at the state you’re in.”
“Oh I’ll be fine, just need rest is all.” Zag looked over at his worried lover and moved to hold his free hand. He brought the grey knuckles to his mouth and pressed a kiss to them. “Let me sleep for the rest of the day and then we can deal with everything else, ok?” Some of the worry cleared from Than’s expression, Zagreus always knew how to calm his anxiety.
“I love you.”
“I love you too.”
Zagreus allowed his eyes to fully close as Thanatos left to grab a basket and some blankets. Stuffing the basket with a soft, cozy quilt, Thanatos gently laid their daughter down so she could comfortably sleep and placed her beside Zagreus. He took Zagreus’ hand and brought it up to curl his fingers around hers. Then he finally took off his own armour and slipped under the covers to cuddle behind Zagreus, wrapping his arms around his waist. They both fell into a deep sleep, having finally welcomed their child into the world.