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‘As the ever-persistent Prince Zagreus continues his pursuit across the realm it is upon his now rather routine escape of Asphodel into the lush bounds of Elysium that this story takes place…’
“What? The story doesn’t usually start right in the middle of a run. You’re going senile old man,” Zagreus huffed to the ever present, disembodied voice that insists on haunting him through his every position.
It wasn’t even a particularly interesting go so far. He faced Meg at the end of Tartarus. Had sweated his way through the fields of Asphodel slaying the Hydra yet again before now arriving at the steps to Elysium. By all means, this was now standard in his job description. There wasn’t much time to dwell on the musings of an old potentially senile poet; however, as Zagreus had finally made it to the first choice of doors. Taking in the refreshing cool air of the realm of heroes, Zagreus set his sights towards his choice of doors. An Aphrodite Boon. He was sporting her eternal rose pendant after all why not try to impress and gain her favour.
As the door swung open, Zagreus found himself face to face with all too many flame wheels. Sighing heavily, he readied Stygius for combat.
Many close calls and a bit of singing on his hair Zagreus emerged victorious ever eager to accept his reward from lady Aphrodite
“Hello there young Prince, how's the new employment treating you? I always did say jobs were the destroyers of love, but who knows maybe your love isn’t too far from your job,” Aphrodite quipped. Her smile delicately playing across her too-perfect features.
“Hello there lady Aphridite the job is going well and I’m quite certain I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Zagreus replied politely for he genuinely was at a loss to what the goddess of love could possibly be referring too.
Sure, things between him and Meg had been rocky, but he believed they were working on that. Trying to find steady footing amongst the numerous attempts on each other lives in the pits of literal hell. Which really only left… Thanatos… no he couldn’t let himself get distracted by that right now he needed to focus.
“Oh, that look says otherwise my dear. Remember this is my whole domain but please do continue to play coy only makes my part that more exciting,” Aphrodite giggled before offering him his choice in boons.
“Thank you, my lady, for your generosity and I suppose your cryptic warning about my future love life ordeals. Might I request that I not embarrass myself?” Zagreus asked as charmingly as possible whilst picking his choice. Aphrodite's eyes sparkled at this.
“Oh, my dear that's half the fun,” She announced, “oh and do be careful with that one love it’s been known to stray from its path before.” She advised, regarding the prince's choice of boon.
Before the prince could get a word in to ask what the lady of love meant by that enigmatic warning, she was gone leaving behind the scent of something all too familiar to Zagreus but still not something he’s ever been able to put his finger on the exact origin of.
For a time, he assumed that it must be some scents of the overworld that he had not experienced yet but perhaps intrinsically knew due to his mother's heritage as the goddess of spring. That was proven wrong when he finally got up there and was unable to identify the smell with anything the Lady Aphrodite was actually associated with. Roses? Nope. Fresh apples? Nada. Even the seaside was a lost cause though he was aware that was more of the Lord Poseidon's domain than Aphrodite’s.
Upon asking around other people -including the Olympians- what Aphrodite smells like they all gave varying degrees of answers
Fresh blood from Ares, old scrolls from Athena, freshly made wine from Dionysus.
It became increasingly obvious to Zagreus that her scent shifted to that of which the person in her presence desired the most. Which as the goddess of desire made a lot of sense really.
Still, that left Zagreus even more confused. How could he be so oblivious to not know the scent of which he desired the most. It was an eternal head scratcher, that was for sure and something to keep his mind occupied while he fought through the next several floors with relative ease.
It wasn’t until he was clearing a level with those damn Greatshields that trouble struck.
It was mostly his own fault what happened, but he’ll vehemently deny it if anybody asks.
Upon testing the new boon, Zagreus found it inflicts the charmed curse on foes for a good stretch of time. However, this status also applies to him if her were to somehow be on the receiving end of saying a Greatshield deflecting his casting and sending it back towards an unaware and un-reacting Zagreus who took the brunt of the charm head on.
He felt it in his chest first. A soft kind of tingling stir that quickly turned into fireworks as it spread throughout his body. Warmth and love coursed through his veins as his mind flickered through all the memories he's experienced of such rare glimpses of the sensation. His early years with Nyx stepping in to mother him. His blossoming bond with Cerberus as he grew and more recently in his younger years with Megara before he threw that to Tartarus.
And even more recently with…
Zagreus let out a yell as the Greatshield he was just trying to charm slammed into him, snapping him out of the trance. Forced to ignore the feelings rushing through him for now, Zagreus pushed on decimating the remaining Elysium warriors.
Putting his sword down to catch his breath Zagreus realised he now had a newer more insistent problem mainly in his leggings as currently poking out and bulging the hem of his tunic was his now incredibly hard penis.
“Gods this is not happening right now,” Zagreus cursed shifting his head to the sky in annoyance. “You’re kidding me, right? One little charm curse really?” He huffed now addressing the wardrobe malfunction directly.
With no sign of the problem going away by itself Zagreus resigned himself to sorting it out the old-fashioned way. Looking around Zagreus managed to tuck himself into a mostly concealed corner of the room and tried to get as comfortable as he could on the plush green grass or what grass was meant to be at the very least. Having felt the real thing now on several occasions Zagreus knew there was a stilted kind of inorganic feel to Elysium grass that real grass just didn’t possess.
Sighing once again he acknowledged that there were definitely worse places for this sort of thing to occur, like in Asphodel. Trying to get off in that searing heat would be nye impossible.
Before he could really get started though there was an insistent squeak from his pocket as Mort protested suddenly being squashed by the prince's sitting position.
“Oh, sorry Mort um could you maybe have a little wander around the room for a bit I need to uh take care of something personal,” The prince explained to the tiny mouse like companion.
He knew that Mort wouldn’t travel far, fearing to be away from the person he has chosen to protect, should anything happen but at least he wouldn't be in Zagreus’s pocket lest he say anything embarrassing during... this. Who knows what the charm curse is capable of.
After an indignant squint from the little rodent, he obliged and hopped out of the prince’s hand, scampering off to investigate the now disarmed traps scattered around the place.
Taking a breath now Zagreus carefully unrobed enough to let his member fall free from his leggings. And no he did not let out any sort of moan at the sensation of fresh air on his throbbing cock thank you very much.
Taking himself in his hand he decided due to the curse having him be so worked up there wasn’t really any need to imagine anything as it wouldn’t be too hard to get where he needed to go.
Despite this decision, his mind provided some visuals anyway because when did Prince Zagreus potential god of blood get his way ever.
The first image was simple enough, just his bedroom messy as always: his desk and mirror on one wall, his Scrying pool and bed on the other. It was what or rather who was in his bed that was what his mind was more leaning towards. Pale grey hair tousled into a messy nest completely opposing its usual neat and tidy curtains. Curtains which would usually frame a stoic face now showing a rather relaxed expression, half lidded amber eyes and a soft smile playing on perfectly plush lips.
Zagreus gasped as he began to move his hand up and down his shaft sending waves of pleasure through his body.
The bed sheets lifted as a muscular arm reached out his arms to beckon the prince towards the bed enticing him to an unforgettable time.
Zagreus felt himself speed up as, in his mind, he dove into his bed and into the arms of his dear Thanatos whom he wouldn’t let himself admit he had been craving for some time.
Desire coursed through him. The need to run his hands up and down his chiselled chest and abdomen, to kiss those lips, to leave wet hot bite marks down the reapers neck and shoulders.
Most of all he desired to know what the God of Death sounded like when these things were done to him. What pretty and downright pathetic noises could Zagreus entice out of that walled off man.
“Oh, Gods, Than,” Zagreus huffed his mind playing with the idea more. Imagining it wasn’t his hands on himself but the calloused hands of a scythe wielder. It not his own voice he was hearing but that of the one who he desired most
‘That's it, Zagreus, I’ve got you love. You can let go, I'll be here to hold you tight,’ he would say sweetly into the prince's ear as Zagreus easily submits to becoming a moaning babbling mess beneath the harbingers' request.
“Holy darkness Than, please, please!” Zagreus bit out feeling his approach to the edge nearing, his muscles tightening and his arm speeding up more so.
‘That's it darling, how I love seeing you like this,’ Thanatos teased. ‘Let me see you fall apart.’
And just like that Zagreus felt his release, Thanatos’s name on his lips. He groaned his way through the waves of orgasmic pleasure before going completely limp in the grass as he caught his breath.
It wasn’t until much later once back in his own room did Zagreus register the amount of embarrassment that is appropriate to be felt when one realises that not only is the domain he just got off in ruled and over seen closely by his father but also, he is constantly followed around by a narrator so nosy he might as well be an intrusive thought.
“By the Gods I really hope no one saw that, I’m never taking a boon from Aphrodite again,” The prince vowed, collapsing into his bed for a time.
The next few runs Zagreus did were thankfully Thanatos free. As much as he had come to enjoy running into the shadowy figure on his travels, the prince didn’t think he could bring himself to look the reaper in the eye. Not for a long time at least. Of course, it couldn’t stay like that, and it was in the fields of Elysium no less that Thanatos decided he wanted another rematch in their little competition.
“Don’t get your hopes too far up there,” Zagreus teased, trying desperately to grasp at some sense of normalcy so the other god wouldn’t be suspicious of his awkward demeanour.
“Please that's the only thing not up for me right now,” Thanatos muttered.
Not quite understanding what he meant by that, Zagreus went to question him but was met with the blasted purple orb of a witch's spell. Fine but he was bringing this up later.
“That was a good run hey Than? But I think I still got more than you,” Zagreus announced dashing up to where Thanatos had teleported himself to.
“Unfortunately, you are correct in only that regard,” Thanatos stated. It sounded harsh but Zagrus could hear the slight smile in his tone and the way his eyes shone down at him.
“Say what was it that you said before we started? Something about everything but your hope being up? What did you mean by that?”
Real smooth Zag The prince chided himself.
“You’ve got Mort with you I see,” Thanatos said gazing down at where the small companion resided.
“Yes, well he’s becoming a bit irreplaceable really,” Zagreus stated. “And he means I get to see you more often.” He added quietly.
Glancing up at Thanatos, Zagreus found his eyes met with a beautiful smile the likes of which nearly melted him into a puddle.
“It’s good, dear prince,” He smirked. “Means I can keep a better eye on you when you’re out there.”
If it weren't for the rejuvenating spirit of Elysium keeping him up right Zagreus is positive he would’ve died right there on the spot.
Mortification doesn’t even begin to come close to the blood chilling sensation that clawed its way through the prince's whole body. His stomach fell as if he were falling into the Styx. His mind froze as if Demeter herself had blown ice directly on to it. And worst of all Thanatos was still just standing there. Smug smirk on his face
“Y-you saw that?!” Zagreus all but yelled throwing his ever-heating face into his hands.
“If it's any consolation it was mostly an accident. I heard you call and wanted to see if you needed me, so I looked through Mort who just so happened to be taking a cursory glance back at you while he was wandering around the room you were in. I didn’t see much else.” Thanatos explained
“But you probably heard everything oh my gods,” Zagreus bit out remembering very clearly how he had moaned the reaper's name several times in the moment.
Thanatos didn’t deny that part. Because he couldn’t. And really the smug face he was putting on was a front. When he had realised what was going on he stopped his job right in its tracks to get somewhere more private to watch and listen. Shame had peered its righteous head but Thanatos had no time for the likes of it, as the god he was definitely more than beginning to fall in love with was moaning his name so pathetically Thanatos had to restrain himself from zapping back to the underworld right there and then to join the prince in his activities.
“That I did, yes,” Thanatos admitted. “Listen Zag-” The reaper began going to place his hand on the prince's shoulder. It was however shoved away.
“No, Than. Gods. Please just go. I'm already beyond mortified. I just- can’t deal with any more embarrassment right now,” Zagreus insisted, turning away from the reaper.
Thanatos lowered his hand, a stricken look crossing his face before being replaced by his ever-present stern glare
“Right. Yes. Of course. Whatever the prince desires.” He mocked before disappearing.
“So then instead of just telling him, ‘I thought the idea of you getting off to me insanely hot and attractive please can we fuck’ you just what? Disappeared?” Megaera summarised while they both stood around a table in the lounge area.
“Well, he didn’t exactly give me a chance did he. He told me to get lost after he realised what I had seen.” Thanatos explained dumbly
“Yeah, well if you had caught me jacking off, I’d probably feel the same way,” The Fury shrugged.
“Thanks for the support, Meg,” Thanatos said flatly.
“Look I say just give him some time and space and then maybe I don’t know ambush him in his room or something to explain yourself. It’s worked for me in the past.” Megaera suggested.
“I fear he was a lot more impulsive in the past,” The reaper humphed.
“Still worth a shot, right?” She patted his shoulder “Look there he goes now you can teleport in before he even knows it.”
Thanatos looked up to find the fury was correct and Zagreus was conversing with his mother in her favoured corner. If he went now, he could maybe sort this whole thing out.
“Fine but if this ends badly, I blame you,” Thanatos said pointing a finger at her. Megeara only smiled her toothy smile.
“It won’t end badly little reaper now go get em’.”
Ah sweet bedroom my old friend Prince Zagreus thought longingly as he walked down the corridor to his bedroom. The longing mood was interrupted suddenly by a very familiar gloomy presence.
“Thanatos,” Zagreus greeted attempting feebly to keep the red blush from spreading to his face
“Hello Zag,” Thanatos greeted warmly. More warmly than Zagreus was used to all things considered
“You’re in my room,” he stated dumbly
“That I am,” Thanatos replied equally as dumb.
A silence stretched between them before Thanatos spoke up
“Look about earlier I uh wanted to tell you something that I didn’t get a chance to tell you before you made me fuck off,” he said quickly
Zagreus lifted his gaze. His eyes were curious but cautious. “And that was?”
“I, well- I wasn’t um. Hang on let me-,” the reaper stammered “I found the idea of you finding pleasure to the thought of me very enticing and thought you should know that.” He finally managed to get out.
Silence.
Well except for the loud and ever rusty cogs turning in Zagreus’s head.
“You… liked… it?” he asked slowly, taking a tentative step forward.
Thanatos nodded.
“I nearly abandoned the job I was on to join you where you laid,” he admitted quietly.
Another step forward.
“You… wanted… to join?” Zagreus said, his mouth hanging wide open.
Thanatos nodded
Zagreus was close enough now he would be able to feel Thanatos’s breath if the god ever decided to stop floating several inches above him.
“You… like… me?” Zagreus looked directly at Thanatos' now blushing face be damned.
Before the prince could process properly his lips were swept up into a kiss as Thanatos wrapped his arms around his waist to hoist the prince up to be in line with him.
The shock he felt subsided quickly into desire as he melted into the kiss quickly, snaking his arms around the reaper's shoulders.
It was surreal. He felt weightless. His mind was blank and coursing all at once everything in him focused entirely on the one in his arms.
They parted slightly but, not for long, as Zagreus dove again to kiss Thanatos again feeling drunk on the sensation it brought him to be kissed back just as eagerly.
“Holy gods, Than you have no idea how long I’ve wanted this,” Zagreus sighed as they finally broke apart resting their foreheads together.
“Mmm? And how long is that?” Thanatos asked.
“Uh actually I’m going to be truthful and say I didn’t fully realise it until the incident with the charm curse.” Zagreus admitted shyly
“You got charmed? That’s why you were doing that?” Thanatos demanded nearly dropping the prince
“Yes? What? Do you think I make a habit of relieving my desires in father's realm where he is constantly watching? Gods Thanatos no it was strictly necessary in the moment,”
“Well knowing you and your resentment towards him I wouldn’t be surprised,” Thanatos murmured, nudging his nose into Zagreus’s face lightly.
The prince smiled, “Yeah I guess I can’t blame you for that,”
Thanatos smiled back, kissing the prince once more just because he could.
One would think, as beings of the underworld, warmth and comfort would be the least accurate descriptors of either one of the gods that now resided in the prince's bed. Alas that just wasn’t the case. As Zagreus curled up tightly against Thanatos’s bare chest, he took a deep breath in and realisation dawned on him.
“It’s you,” he smiled up at the reaper.
“It’s me what Zag?” he asked, confusion lacing his eyebrows.
“You’re what I’m smelling whenever I meet with Aphrodite. I can smell it right now,” Zagreus explained, his smile widening as he lifted himself onto his fore arms to lean over Thanatos.
The reaper in turned smiled. “Is that so my darling, well I’m awfully flattered.”
Zagreus kissed the beautiful smile before settling down again. Sleeping soundly for the first time in a long time.