emet_sulk | Inbox for Expiation

There's a bit of a shocked silence from Hythlodaeus. An entire month?..

"... I suppose that for the time being I'll have to be content with spending our waking hours together."

He stares in confusion before he remembers: Hythlodaeus doesn't have any concept of commerce.

"...I suppose I could conjure us a bed we could sleep in each night. As a temporary measure," he says.

And, as usual, Hythlodaeus perks up the moment he gets what he wanted.

"Your generosity has always been one of your better points~ Would it last long enough? I like to sleep in sometimes."

"I don't know. Anything I create does seem to last as long as I need it, however... Which may well mean the bed will shrink once I wake up."

And dump Hythlodaeus on the floor. That would be an amusing sight actually.

Wow, rude! :'( Then he would have to spend the whole day languishing in a chair and doing nothing because he is clearly so hurt as to be unable to do any work. How sad.

"Hmm... Remind me, are you still an early riser?"

He presses his lips together. He can see where that question is leading.

"...No. I prefer to sleep these days. It passes the time more quickly."

Eternity is quite lonely, you know?

"Ah, then I needn't fear a rude awakening!~" He looks pretty happy at that, even though he would be able to puzzle out why exactly Hades prefers to sleep in nowadays. At the same time, as far as Hythlodaeus is concerned, sleeping in is good for his friend, prone to overworking as he is.

"You know, it would be a curious experience to awaken before you do. I've only ever gotten to see you sleeping during your naps."

"I don't look any different sleeping in a bed than I do taking a nap, you know."

At least, that's what Hades believes. What he hopes. Suddenly he worries whether he has some kind of sleeping habit that his friends have never mentioned.

Sighing, he gestures. "Make yourself at home. I can make something if you haven't yet eaten."

"Ah, but it's the context that matters. Not that I don't find it endearing to see you napping, of course."

Though Hythlodaeus did have a bit of breakfast, there is obviously no way he would refuse Hades's cooking (as well as another chance to have have his friend do something for him).

"Oh, would you? I'll have a seafood salad, then, and a couple bruschettas, and an orange juice. Do you have dessert?"

He shoots Hythlodaeus an exasperated look.

"What sort of food do you think I keep here?! I will make you a normal salad and some toast. I have no juice either, only water."

He releases his friend's hand and moves towards the kitchenette. As can be spotted over his shoulder, if Hythlodaeus is so inclined (and he probably is), the coldbox - the fridge - is rather bare. Hades is not particularly extravagant with his meals.

Hythlodaeus only grins to himself smugly; of course, he never expected Hades to actually cook what he demanded, but it is still fun to rile his friend.

At the same time he does take the chance to peer over Hades's shoulder into the fridge. It's... just about as empty as Hythlodaeus would expect. If left alone, Hades might well only draw sustenance from bread and water, concerned with other matters instead.

"Goodness. Is that sorry state of your larder the reason why you've grown so thin?" He asks cheerily, poking Hades in the side for good measure.

He shrugs self-consciously, trying to shut the fridge before Hythlodaeus can poke more fun at him.

"No. I just-- I never saw much point in making extravagant meals after...what happened."

Food became meaningless to someone who existed only as a disembodied soul.

"We can eat out instead if you prefer."

Hythlodaeus just wraps his arms around Hades's neck, leaning onto the other man's back - just to be annoying, but also to embarrass him.

"And you could show me how this 'commerce' works? Then again, I would still quite like to have you make something for me! 'Tis not every day the great Emet-Selch himself cooks for me."

Hades pulls a face but, as Hythlodaeus knows all too well, it's very easy to get him to cave with the right amount of cajoling from the right source.

"With this short notice, the best I can do is a sandwich. Will that satisfy your luxurious taste?"

Maybe...he'll make that soup for Hythlodaeus tomorrow. The one that the Garleans named in his honour.

"As long as you add the special ingredient," Hythlodaeus replies with a grin. Of course, he wouldn't say no to a bigger meal, but he'll take what he can get... and it's not like he can't goad Hades into going out to eat in a couple hours.

"What special ingredient?" he asks blankly as he opens the fridge again and starts pulling out items to make the sandwich.

"Isn't it obvious?"

The grin on Hythlodaeus's face does not bode well for Hades. The bard raises a finger to his own lips, assuming an annoyingly angelic expression.

"'Tis love, of course~"

He immediately splutters, almost dropping the loaf of bread he's handling.

"You-- absolutely incorrigible man...!"

His cheeks are pink and he slaps a knife down with more force than necessary.

Hythlodaeus giggles openly, happy that his antics had the desired effect. He didn't even have to work for it!

"Ahh, still as shy as ever, aren't we?"

"I'm not shy!"

He almost yells the retort as he sets to carving slices of bread for their sandwiches. He focuses pointedly on his work rather than the embarassing man hanging off him. Incredibly, he finds that once the embarassment wears off, he is actually angry.

"You don't understand, just how much I..."

He bites his lip. His heart is thundering in his chest. How to put into words the longing and misery of twelve thousand years, working towards a goal that seemed so interminably distant, that grew more difficult with each era as man grew stronger, more resilient. And knowing now that he would never get to spend time like this with Hythdlodaeus except here - well, why wouldn't he latch on?

So what if he did put love into everything he did for his friend-turned-partner?

"We no longer have eternity," he mutters, resisting the urge to stab his kitchen knife into the cutting board. "So I would thank you not to mock my feelings."

Hythlodaeus is silent for a little while. The outburst, though amusing initially, is unexpected, and even without his sharp aethersight Hythlodaeus can feel the change in his friend's mood, the tension and upset. Yes, it's similar to the way Hades would get angry with him before, too... but it's also different.

After a few long moments of this heavy, tense silence Hythlodaeus... shifts his hold around Hades a little, resting his head on the other man's shoulder properly and closing his eyes.

"Did you truly think I was mocking you?"

It's a simple question, but much like Hythlodaeus himself there are layers under that simplicity; after all, for all that Hythlodaeus might laugh about Hades being shy or not open with his feelings, Hythlodaeus's own deeper affection and adoration is often hidden under the jokes and cheer.

"I don't know. I don't know any more."

After having built a picture of who Hythlodaeus was, all the little mannerisms that he has forgotten suddenly jar like the colours of an amateurish painting. He knows Hythlodaeus liked to tease, but had he always felt this undercurrent of irritation with it? He knows Hythlodaeus was laidback, but had it been to the point of being spoilt?

He sucks in a deep breath, lets it out. No, he's the one who is different now. Hythlodaeus has always been this way.

(Hasn't he?)

"Nevermind. Forget I said anything," he mumbles eventually.

Once again, Hythlodaeus can sense that something is wrong - and that in itself feels... wrong. With how close they were, how long they've known each other, there was no more place for true irritation or distance between them, except for the most unusual and serious of circumstances. But this was the usual teasing on his part. How could it go wrong?

... Hades has been through too much. Hythlodaeus has to remind himself of that. His friend - partner - has been through things he would never even be able to fathom. Perhaps that is the reason - and yet part of him is still confused that it could ever be. Why wouldn't things stay the same between them, even after all these years?

Hythlodaeus takes a deeper breath as well. Well, it's not as though it would be hard for him to apologize.

"I did not mean to make light of your feelings, Hades," he says softly. "Though I may tease, I am truly grateful for them. After all, I'd hoped that my own would be returned for many years. I was simply never brave enough to voice them."

And just like that, his anger deflates. As easily as Hythlodaeus manages to provoke him, Hades just as easily forgives his friend. He tips his head, leaning it slightly against his friend's.

"I am the one who should be apologising," he says quietly. "You haven't lived the millennia I have. 'Tis not fair to expect you to tolerate my anger."

If only he could forget the past twelve thousand years.

"I know you love me," he whispers, taking one of Hythlodaeus' hands. "I love you too."

"I have oft been the recipient of your ire," Hythlodaeus replies with a smile, squeezing Hades's hand. The confession makes his heart skip a beat pleasantly, and he nuzzles into his friend's neck.

"But I must say, I would rather be the recipient of your affection. Whether in words or otherwise."

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